Big B Promises College 10 Years Ago, Villagers Crowd-Source Funds to Construct It!
Almost a decade ago, superstar Amitabh Bachchan had laid the foundation stone for Srimati Aishwarya Bachchan Degree College in Barabanki.
It is incredible what wonders can be achieved when people come together and pool in their resources. This is the story of the residents of a place called Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh.
Almost a decade ago, superstar Amitabh Bachchan had laid the foundation stone for Srimati Aishwarya Bachchan Degree College in Barabanki.
The superstar had donated ten bighas to Daulatpur Panchayat for construction of the college amid much fanfare.
Photo Source
He had also even given Rs 5 lakhs to the village.
Ten years hence, on that same area of land, stands a college. The credit for this goes not to the Bachchan family, but the villagers, who took crowd-sourcing funds for the construction.
Satyawan Shukla, who had taken the initiative to construct the building, was soon joined by other villagers, who contributed as much as they could. For example, Rammilan Shukla donated 13 acres while other villagers started donating money. India Today reported that the construction of the college started on November 17, 2017.
Affiliated to R M L Avadh University, Faizabad, the college will be offering B.A. and B.Sc courses.
Speaking to News18, Ramesh Chandra, a resident of Daulatpur, said, “When Amitabh Bachchan announced the degree college in their village, we were convinced that the fate of the village will change. But even after 10 years, nothing has been done.”
“So everyone decided to crowdfund the college as youngsters had to go for higher education and the nearest college here is 30 kilometres away.”
Photo Source
At a time when most of us crib and criticise the inaction of authorities, these villagers took control and changed things for themselves.
Another story we brought to you was that of Shyam Lal, a resident of Saja Pahad village in Koriya district of Chhattisgarh who spent the last 27 years of his life digging up and enlarging a pond.
Shyam was all of 15 when he decided to do something about the drought that prevailed in his village, killing many of the villagers’ cattle and leaving their fields dry. He did not give in to the jeers and taunts that the villagers would often hurl at him. He decided that he would not stop before he had revived the pond.
You can read all about his incredible story here.
Compelling, isn’t it? If you or someone you know have done something similar, do tell us your story.
(Edited by Shruti Singhal)
Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: [email protected]
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!
If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.
Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-
By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let’s ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.
Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?
This story made me
97
121
89
167
Home
Read
Watch
Contribute
