At 18, Lakhnarayan Bhagarathi, has a lot on his plate, not the least of which is pursuing his dream of one day becoming a famous biologist.
Bhagarathi, a resident of Line Path ‘C’, Upper Coren-tyne, has completed an Associate of Science-Biology (Diploma) at the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus, where he is to pursue the Bachelors of Science-Biology (Degree) in September.
A former student of Skeldon Line Path Secondary School, he had attained 14 CSEC subject passes in 2017, which gave him the courage to head to the University of Guyana.
However, Bhagarathi has not only been working to make his dream a reality; he has also been trying to play his part in making reality less of a nightmare for the less fortunate. He does so through his work with Service to Humanity (STH), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) created by his parents, Shanta Youngkam, a housewife, and his father, Surendra Bhagarathi, in January, 2018.
The NGO was set up in the aftermath of the mass lay-off of sugar workers at end of 2017—an event that was close to home for the younger Bhagarathi’s household as his father, a former Superintendent of the Skeldon Estate, was made redundant at the end of 2017.
“The purpose of the NGO was due to the mass number of school dropouts in Corriverton due to the closure of the Skeldon Estate,” the youth explained.
According to him, 250 meals are distributed once, twice or in some instances three times weekly to various schools to “motivate the students to attend and get engage[d] in learning.”
“For one year and six months to date, I served this organisation as its sole administrator where I engaged in multitasking activities, such as tabular works, record keeping; engaged in teamwork; oversee[ing] the internal operations; and engaged in planning to reach our objectives,” he noted.
He said his parents had a vision to assist the less fortunate and he decided to take up the mantle to assist them to fulfill that dream.
In addition to that, he said, Service to Humanity recognises that others are faced with other challenges in their everyday life and as a result “We are engaged in other activities such as distribution of clothing and food supplies to families, sponsorship for students, and stationery supplies for children, etc.”
He explained that he feels honoured and blessed to be able to assist with the NGO. “Just to bring comfort [to] the life of others. I make it my priority to wake at 6 am or sometimes sooner in the morning of the cooks/feedings and engaged in daunting tasks and working diligently with the team. I would ensure that everything is running well and in line before I leave to pursue my studies at the university. Sometimes I may have test the next day but I ensure all our records and NGO’s tasks are up to date and completed before I pay emphasis and interests to any of my work.”
Bhagarathi noted that attending the university has also been a challenging experience. “It’s been a rough road because funding is hard at times to go at least 8 to 12 hours a day and 5 days a week,” he said.
Added to that, since March, 2019, he has secured himself a part-time job where he teaches natural science subjects to Fourth and Fifth form students who will be sitting the CSEC examinations. “For some people who find science rough, I use my knowledge and try to simplify the concepts so they too can develop a love, passion and interest for science just as I once did,” he said. “I find that education is the most sophisticated weapon that anyone, old or young, can use to change the world and move forward,” he added.
He advises youths to try to always have a positive attitude towards education and life in general. He said, “Set goals early in life and work towards them. Make that goal a reality so everyone will look up to you and when you look into the mirror you see someone worthwhile.” He added, “Never let anyone try to bring you down in life because everyone of us is unique in our own special way and each of us have a purpose.”
Bhagarathi said he believes that Guyana has great potential, skills and talents, which requires the “proper utilising” of these resources. “Youths have the capacity to draft new ideas and strategies and as such bring about technological changes. This will be a big advancement in society since this is the era where technology is the way forward,” he noted. “Youths should be given a chance since it will allow other youths to be inspired and they will utilise their knowledge for a better purpose.”
