The 80 year old Teacher Who Sold her House to Run a School for the Underprivileged

Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan
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Growing up, young Beula Gabriel would watch with fascination as her mother – a doctor based in Secunderabad in present day Telengana – would bring home rural girls, educate them and then help get them enrolled for training to become nurses. Watching the efforts made by her mother instilled the value of education on the young eight-year-old, something that would determine the course of her life.

school teacher sitting at her desk


Beula Gabriel grew up knowing exactly what she wanted to become – a teacher who would help children who could not afford education.


She achieved that dream with the St Joseph’s Secondary School that she founded in 1993. At a time when parents were being screened as acutely as children for admission to schools, Beula went a different route – she prioritized those children who had been rejected due to academic, social or financial reasons. 

Elderly teacher beside her students


Today, the school boasts a strength of 300 students every academic year with classes from kindergarten to tenth standard, with most students coming from the lower middle class with parents working as rickshaw drivers, watchmen and manual labourers. While some pay a nominal fee, most children are educated for free. As can be expected, the school runs on goodwill and often faces various hardships with the school unable to even pay the rent to the building landlord at times. 

Beula Gabriel’s children chip in too when they can with the finances. Things got so hard that the teacher even ended up selling the home she lived in to pay for the school salaries and rent, just to ensure the children's access to the education they deserve did not get taken away. 

Even after thousands of children have successfully passed out of her school over nearly 3 decades, Beula Gabriel continues to work hard to teach the young children who walk past the doors of her school. 

She can look back with pride though – the first generation who passed out from here are today doctors, engineers, financial advisors and armed force personnel across the nation. 

All thanks to an 80-year-old woman who took a chance on them when no one else would.

teacher standing besides her students

Author's note:


Since 2017, every year, I take up the #BlogchatterA2Z challenge and focus on showcasing lovely real-life heroes from around the worldThe aim is to remind you that there is still plenty of good human beings all around you... to inspire you to smile once more.

Want more stories of compassion? 

I have Hundreds of 'Heroes of Kindness' to brighten your day here. 
Earlier editions can be viewed from the links below:

2017 edition (Articles - 40, Heroes - 67)
2018 edition (Articles - 34, Heroes - 52)
2019 edition (Articles - 31, Heroes - 42)
2020 edition (Articles - 30, Heroes - 64)

The 2020 Edition is also available as a book on Kindle too, if you want it that wayyy! (IndiaUS)

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29Comments

Let me know what you think.

  1. This is such a beautiful story. It warmed my heart. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Heroes like her make our world a better place. She's such a wonderful soul and a great inspiration.

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  3. Another inspiring story that makes me ashamed that I am doing nothing to better this world.

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  4. Wow! What a beautiful and inspiring story! Thank you for bringing such stories to us, Dr. Roshan! And to discover she lives in the same city I live in. Would love to meet her post the pandemic. This series is a gem. #BlogchatterA2Z

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  5. Beula Gabriel is doing such an amazing job by supporting those children who have been rejected due to any reasons. this series is so heartwarming and inspiring Dr.Roshan. thanks a lot for sharing this with us.

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  6. We are proud of Beula Gabriel, she is doing an amazing job by supporting and providing necessary education to those who were not able to get basic education coz of social or financial reasons. Thanks for sharing this with us.

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  7. Selling your home to educate children who are not related to you - amazing! This is such an inspiring story!

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  8. Such an inspiring story of a determined woman! Her story instills hope and love in my heart and fills the soul with pure feelings. God bless her and her students. Thanks for sharing her story, Dr. Roshan.


    - Swarnali

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  9. I loo forward to your heroes of kindness series as it leaves me with hope. Beula Gabriel and a lot of people like her are the real heroes who are helping build a future for India.

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  10. Such a beautiful and heartwarming story, at a time when everyone is feeling helpless it's great to learn about people like her. So much to learn from her kindness and grit. Thank you

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  11. I don't know too many people who would give up something of their own to help others. Which is why Beula Ma'am is such an inspiration. Thanks for bringing her story to us.

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  12. Another gem from your treasure chest, Doctor Roshan. The unsung heroes of India.How I wish they make it to front page news. But media thse days is controlled.

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  13. Such an inspiring and heart touching story. Beula ma'm is an inspiration to many

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  14. Thank you for sharing her story. It's so heartwarming and inspiring. Thank you for writing this.
    Deepika Sharma

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  15. When the whole world was/is actively participating to win the rat race of Money, Luxuries, status building, this strong lady Beula Gabriel chose to contribute her bit in building the future of the nation i.e.kids, I take a bow to what she is doing for underprivileged kids even after so many hardships. Kudos!

    Archana
    archusblog

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  16. Hats off to her and her dedication and efforts. Real heroes don't wear capes, sometimes they wear sarees!

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  17. Thanks for sharing these stories.. They are the real hero's who take such heartwarming initiatives.

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  18. Such a beautiful story .Beula Gabriel is doing such an amazing job by supporting those children

    https://momcaptureslife.com

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  19. Ms Gabriel is a rare gem and she is has set a benchmark of pure devotion to serving mankind. Thank you for such a heart warming post.

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  20. What a beautiful thing to do! She is indeed a rare gem! <3

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  21. Such an inspiration she is!! Hats off and loads of respect. Thanks for sharing.

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  22. This is such an inspiring story and thank you so much for letting us know about her.

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  23. Thank God such people like her exist on this Earth... Makes us believe in the presence of humanity. She is a true hero. Thanks so much for sharing such stories through your blog with us.

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  24. This takes courage and strong will to go agaianst the society and do something great.. thank you for giving us little strength with this story.

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  25. Heroes of kindness, humans of the earth... these are the people who’re preserving kindness and laying down examples for everyone to follow! Loved the story and the inspiration that outlines this shero!

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  26. Souls like her uplift the teaching community and shape the world into a better place. Kudos and respect

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  27. teachers are so important and having teachers like these is a blessing! hats off to her

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  28. True example of great teacher. I am loving this series. Hope more and more people take inspiration from these good deeds
    Sreeparna

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  29. Thank you, Dr Roshan for bringing these stories to us. I would like to connect with the school. I am a career counsellor as well and would like to help students in any which way possible to help them make right choice of careers. I would be glad if you could connect me with the school.

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