Our friendship spans over half a century, tracing back to our high school days in Palari in 1968. Ramashankar was always the sharpest, quickest mind in the classroom, possessing an unyielding sense of self-respect. Even when the family’s financial conditions were fragile, his pride and work ethic were untouchable. He would work tirelessly at his father’s tea stall, deliver newspapers, and cycle 15 kilometers daily to complete his schooling—all without a single complaint. Seeing his journey reach international acclaim fills my heart with a joy that words simply cannot describe.
Shri Nandkishore (Nandu) Jaiswal (Childhood Friend, Ramtek, Maharashtra)
