Phaniraj Sarakam – A Perfect Example of Undying Determination

It is the story of Phaniraj Sarakam, who never gave up even when life became challenging. These were no ordinary situations that come and go. Such situations would destroy most people, but challenges couldn’t do anything to him. Fondly called Phani, he lived with his small family in an area called Kancharapalem in Visakhapatnam.

The area where they lived was RP Peta, and his father was President of the Pydimamba colony, which resembled a slum because of the poor state of affairs in that area. His father, Sarakam Viswanadham, like most other family members, was always ahead in helping people. This attitude allowed him to be the President of that area. He used to look after the needs of the people there.

The Carefree Childhood

Phani, much like his father, was a happy-go-lucky child with helping nature. He mingled with all the people in his locality irrespective of their age or gender. He loved going on stage and addressing a large crowd. Stage fear that haunts most of us was alien to him. When he watched people speak on stage, he couldn’t help but notice things that people could have said things in a better way. Phaniraj Sarakam was always eager to go on stage and share his views on any given topic spontaneously.

While most students depended on the information provided by teachers, he was confident about an extempore even though he was an average student. His talent, however, never got an opportunity for a long time. Teachers always preferred toppers in the class for debates or elocution. It always took away the chance from Phani until his English Teacher in intermediate schooling gave him an opportunity which gave him a break as a spokesperson.

The Kindhearted One

Phaniraj Sarakam is also a philanthropist at heart. This trait compelled him to help Venkatesh Maha. He convinced his father to allow Venky (as he’s dearly called) to stay with them although the family was going through a financial crisis. Phani and Venky’s friendship proved to be lucky for the latter. Venky successfully made a commercial film in Telugu in the year 2018. He called it C/O Kancharapalem.

The story speaks of the lives of people in that place. Interestingly, one of the characters in the film is inspired by Phani’s elder brother, who runs a shop of clay idols of Indian Gods. Later they made a film called Uma Maheswara Ugra Rupasya.

A Life-Changing Incident for Phaniraj Sarakam

The kind of determination that Phani had never let him get disappointed by the lack of opportunity. He would come back home and exhibit his skills of expression among his playmates. Phani’s way of talking always captivated his audience. He could talk about anything under the sun and convince the listeners that it is the reality. Phaniraj Sarakam was the leader of a group of friends he would hang out with. The happiness of such a joyous child was snatched by a monster when he was only ten years old. Unfortunately, Phani became a victim of child sexual abuse.

A man whom Phani treated as his brother gave him the biggest blow in life. He scarred Phani’s childhood and changed the direction of his life. He was clueless about what was happening and why it was happening to him. Phani’s enthusiasm, energy, and spirit were affected by this incident. He would still meet people and talk to them, but Phani was always lonely from within. By his most vital expression skills, the Outbreak from that incident happened to be on attending a seminar based on child sexual abuse conducted world vision India in 2011. He stood in front of the crowd as a representative concerning age and addressed the issue.

The Right Direction

The turning point in his life came in 2002 when a puppet show in town caught his attention as a 12-year-old Phaniraj Sarakam was intrigued by the puppet show. It made him curious, and he kept going closer to get a better look at the show. The puppet show was being conducted by the people of an organization called World Vision India.

The organization aims to provide a better life to children who live in slums or other poor conditions. World Vision India achieves this goal by adopting slums and areas that fit this criterion. They came to the Pydimamba colony with the same intention and asked his father to adopt that place. His father readily agreed. An area left behind while the rest of Visakhapatnam developed would now get good roads, schools, and moral education to kids.

When Phani enquired about the organizers of the puppet show from his father that evening, he was very impressed by their idea of social service. The long-lasting impression compelled Phani to continue attending any session related to World Vision India whenever he got a chance. It was the beginning of Phani’s connection with the organization. When he came back from school, Phaniraj Sarakam found that a large crowd assembled in an area not very far from where he lived.

He noticed that the volunteers at World Vision India were talking to the crowd about HIV and creating awareness around the same. It was in 2002- a time when fear of the disease gripped the people of India tighter than the disease itself. As soon as Phani heard them, he dropped his school bag at his granny’s and ran to the assembly of people to grab the mic.

As usual, when everyone was shying away from talking about sensitive issues, Phaniraj Sarakam boldly spoke out everything he had learned about HIV at the awareness classes conducted in his school. The organizers, mainly Mr. Pragnan Kumar, were so impressed by Phani that they presented him with a gift for his flawless manner of expressing himself. Pragnan Kumar played a significant role in Phani’s later life too. The boy finally lived his dream of addressing a crowd and impressing them with his gift of the gab.

Golden Opportunity

Phani got more involved in the organization. In 2003 he got a call from the organization asking for him. Within a few days, Mrs. Shobha visited Phani and asked his parents if they’d send him to Bangalore for programs conducted under the National Movement of Working Children. It aims at bringing those kids back to school who have dropped out to earn a living for their families.

Since he speaks well, he was chosen to convey the message. Although his parents were reluctant in the beginning, they finally agreed, and Phaniraj Sarakam went to Bangalore. The program allowed him to meet people from all walks of life and have exposure to live’s the harsh reality. He realized that not all kids are as privileged as him to live with his family, go to school, and have food to eat three times a day. This experience sparked a desire to start a children’s club and join the United Nations someday as a representative of India.

When Phani told his father about this burning desire in him, he told the little boy to focus on his studies first and take up these activities later as an adult. Although his father brushed the idea away, Phani pursued it through his mentor Pragnan Kumar and project manager Thabitha Francis. Phani, with the help of his mentors, formed a children’s club by the name Prajwala.

He was the President of the club and took care of all the activities responsibly. Phani wanted to have a children’s club in all the 44 villages where World Vision India was present. By now, World Vision India had tied up with Play For Peace – an international organization started in the United States with a global recognition that gave exposure to creative leadership with the help of mentors Swathi and Agyath.

An Unshakable Willpower

His passionate involvement in social service affected Phani’s education. In his intermediate exam, he failed in two of the three subjects in the BiPC stream. He had to reappear for Physics and Chemistry. An interesting thing about the protagonist of this story is that he loves challenges. So, when Phaniraj Sarakam was told by his mentor Yoganand that he wouldn’t be able to get back to books anymore, he was determined to prove him wrong. His determination helped him clear both the subjects and regain his confidence.

His discovery of a stream in graduation was also a unique experience for Phani. He found an advertisement in a newspaper in a salon. He was very keen on going to Andhra University (AU) to study social work. As fate would have it, he didn’t get a chance. He settled for a B.Com in graduation even though he didn’t have an interest in studies. In contrast, that interest was sparked by two people in his life, K Nageswara Rao (KNR) and Kalyan, who was his friend, which changed his motto and made him realize the importance of education in life.

Phani’s sister Jagadeeswari, also studying social work in AU, told him about the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. Again, when people discouraged him about the exam and the lack of knowledge of Hindi and English. While he was working hard to prove the world wrong, he lost his father. Despite the significant loss, he continued to work hard.

A Dream Partially Achieved

Phani attempted the TISS exam thrice consecutively in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Phani’s zeal got him through the final attempt, and he was enrolled as a student there. He soon completed his education, and Phani worked as a Young Professional at Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP). Even here, Phani left a well-paying job when he was asked to compromise on his work ethic.

He currently works as the Ward Welfare And Development Secretary at Grama/Ward Sachivalayam. Phaniraj Sarakam still holds on to his dream of working and addressing the nation regarding child sexual abuse at the United Nations Organization. Let’s hope that his dream comes true at the earliest.

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