Share
“These children need direction, and if we, the adults, don't give them that, then who will? We are to blame, if these innocent children walk the wrong path in life, because we failed to provide them with the education and resources when they needed it. People in my community used to call me mad, because I would work all day and then spend all my money on the education of these children. Honestly, working hard to earn money never gave me any sort of contentment. But now, when I see a smile on the faces of these children, I feel true happiness.” - Mahboob Malik, Founder, Maa Tujhe Salaam Foundation
44-year-old Mahboob Malik runs a small tea stall along the footpath at the Sharda Nagar intersection in Kanpur. To most people, he may seem like any other chaiwala. But nothing about this large-hearted man is ordinary. Mahboob has been making a significant difference in the lives of underprivileged children living in the slum areas of Kanpur, with 80% of his earnings from selling a few dozen cups of chai everyday.
Mahboob's journey began 8 years ago when he spotted young children begging on the streets and picking scraps from the garbage for their survival. He was reminded of the time he had been in a similar position and couldn't ignore it. Born to poor parents, Mahboob was forced to drop out of school after completing his high school education because of the family's inability to afford his fees.
As a family of 6, they barely had the means to afford a single meal a day. Yet, that never stopped Mahboob from dreaming big. When he was young, Mahboob had aspired to be a cricketer and make it into the Indian team, but his financial situation didn't let him pursue his dream. Eventually, his brothers were all forced to discontinue their education, as his father, the sole breadwinner of the family, fell ill. Mahboob shuffled through an array of low-paid jobs, from wood cutting to delivering tiffins, to make ends meet. Until, he managed to set up and run his own tea stall.
Seeing himself in these hapless children had sparked something in Mahboob, and he decided to devote himself to educating them, so they wouldn’t have to live the life that he was forced to live. He started saving up the money he earned from selling chai and met with the parents of these children to convince them to let the children go to school, because they deserved a better future.
“We started distributing free books, stationary, uniforms and chocolates to attract more students. These children were so used to their way of life that initially, they weren't on board with the idea of education, probably because they thought they would have to pay for it. But after hearing that there will be free books and chocolates, they were eager to come and join us. Today there is not a single child in my area who is deprived of education.” - Mahboob Malik
In 2017, Mehboon established Maa Tujhe Salaam Foundation. What started with a team of 5 staff, some volunteers and 10 students, is now an English-medium primary school in a small rented hall, providing free quality education and a wholesome school experience to 72 kids. Students at Mahboob’s school come from various deplorable backgrounds, and he welcomes them all with open arms. Some students are orphans, while others are being raised by single mothers who are conflicted with whether to send their children to work or school.
The work he put into uplifting these poor children, day in and day out, didn’t go unnoticed. Famed cricketer, VVS Laxman, learned about Mahboob and shared his story over Twitter, which went viral and put him on the radar of well-known news publications and television channels. Mahboob advertently credits the media coverage he has received over the years for serving as source of encouragement and motivation in keeping his mission going, even in the face of adversity.
“Whether it's the summer season, winter, or monsoons, I wake up at 4 am every day without fail and open my tea stall. I sell chai until 8 am, when my father switches shifts with me, so I can go to my school. I spend the whole day there with the children and return to the stall at 6 pm to work well into the night. This has been my life for the past 5 years, because I am working towards a dream - to build a school of my own, so these children can receive proper education and become doctors, engineers, lawyers, and everything they wish to be. There’s no limit to dreaming.” - Mahboob
Mahboob’s ultimate goal is to build a school, befitting of these children, that will allow them to pursue up to higher secondary education. But the only thing standing between Mahboob and his dream is money, or the lack thereof. Mahboob is currently so tight on finances, that he has been forgoing meals to make up for the costs of running his school. He is also behind on rent for the hall, and hasn’t been able to compensate his staff for the work they do. Mahboob has even availed a loan in order to keep his school running, and he’s still paying it off in monthly instalments, though there have been times where he has struggled due to not having any money.
Even now, he is constantly met with criticism for his desire to build a full-fledged school for his students, but it hasn’t deterred him in the slightest. It is all worth it, he says, for as long as these children are receiving the education they deserve, he is even willing to make large sacrifices. He is adamant on giving these children a bright future, and he will continue to hold onto this dream until he fulfils it. But he can’t do it without you. He needs your help to turn his long-standing dream into a reality.
“Today when I look at each wall in my school which operates from a small rented space, I see what I have built so far with my own blood, sweat and tears. Over 1,000 children have walked through the portals of this school, graduated with flying colours, and gone on to pursue illustrious careers. But right now, we only provide free education until class 4. So once the children complete their education here, we have to get them enrolled in a government school for higher studies. I wish to build a school so the children can study here until class 12, without having to worry about the fees.” - Mahboob
Mahboob's determination to achieve his dream is inspiring. He started with nothing and has now become a beacon of hope for these underprivileged children. His story shows that anyone can make a difference, no matter how small their contribution. You too can join hands with him, and help him build his dream school.
