PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Responsibility of three younger siblings on his shoulders only ignited in Madan Singh Rawat an ambition for a better life, prompting a saga of struggle, writes Narendra Sethi

BORN in 1966 to Virendra Singh Rawat and Jasoda Devi in a humble home, Madan Singh Rawat's early life was marked by the shadow of poverty. However, he was nurtured by the strength and determination of his family. But when Madan completed 10th grade, his life was bogged down by loss the untimely death of his father. Suddenly, the responsibility of supporting three younger siblings fell upon his little shoulders. The devastation, while heart-wrenching, ignited in him an unyielding resolve to overcome the circumstances thrust upon him.

Guptkashi, a small village in the Ukhimath block, is where Madan's story begins. The village, a modest area of 24.62 hectares, was not enough to hold back his ambitions. In 1982, driven by the desire to carve out a better future, Madan set off for Delhi. It was a journey fraught with uncertainty, but his determination to succeed gave him the strength to venture into the unknown.

In Delhi, Madan's maternal uncle, Bachan Singh Negi, who had always been a pillar of support for the family, arranged for him to work as a helper on a tourist bus. The work was tough, and the city's unforgiving pace was daunting, but Madan saw this as an opportunity rather than a hardship.