What is it that makes a hero? Is it incredible strength? Is it fearlessness in the face of danger? Is it a skin-tight suit distinguishing you from the rest? The answer to all these question is of course no. We all recognize that there is something beyond these things that makes one a hero.
Everyone has a hero and Prasad Thutta is no different. In this beautiful story shared by Prasad we get a glimpse into how a real life hero demonstrated in no small way how one individual was able to uplift others and help many people on their way on the journey of life.
Although originally born in a city in India called Hyderabad, Prasad Thutta’s hero story begins right here in sunny South Africa. From very humble beginnings, Prasad’s parents were very poor and growing up they could hardly afford food for the whole family. There were even times when they used to sleep without food.
Prasad and his two younger brothers studied in government schools where the conditions were very poor. By God’s grace and elders blessings they managed to do well in school. Exceptionally well in fact, Prasad was 1 out of only 2 who passed out of 60 students in matric that year. The failure rate acutely illustrates the poor quality of education in those schools.
But, as Prasad himself will tell you, all the credit for Prasad’s success goes to his best friend’s father Mr. Sharma. Mr. Sharma comes from a middle class family, but he has a very big heart and he will go to any extent to encourage people who are willing to study. Mr. Sharma comes from a “Brahmin Family” which makes Prasad’s story all the more interesting. “Brahmin Families” in India are very reserved and, for the most part, they keep to themselves and do not mingle with other people. They are purely vegetarians so anyone who is a non-vegetarian can only dream of entering into a “Brahmin’s” house as doing so is kind of forbidden.
Mr. Sharma however did not bother about all these formalities. He happily allowed Prasad and his brothers to enter into his house. He used to teach Prasad Maths, English and Accounts and he used to wake up at 4 am every day to teach Prasad from 4-6 am and also 7-9 pm in the evening and all of this for free. Because of all his hard work Prasad managed to pass matric.
The day Prasad passed matric Mr. Sharma came to Prasad’s house and asked his dad, “What’s next for Prasad?” Prasad’s dad suggested that Prasad could possibly find some job and carry on with his life, but Mr. Sharma refused. He insisted that Prasad must carry on studying. Prasad’s father however informed Mr. Sharma that there was no way he could afford further education.
Amazingly, Mr. Sharma promised Prasad’s father that he would take on the whole responsibility of Prasad’s University Fee, and helped Prasad graduate with flying colours. Furthermore, Mr. Sharma allowed Prasad to stay at his place for 7 years during his studies and provided food, bed, tuition fee, and pocket money. Mr. Sharma helped Prasad, not because he could easily afford it, but because he also came from a poor background when he was growing up, so he knew how education can change peoples’ lives.
After graduation, Prasad managed to get a good job, saved some money and moved to the UK where he studied post-graduation in UK and met his wife who is from SA – where they are now settled. Prasad stresses that whatever he is today, it is only because of Mr. Sharma. Without Mr. Sharma Prasad would not have risen to the heights he has managed to achieve.
Every time Prasad goes to India he visits Mr. Sharma but, true to his nature, he never expects anything in return for the help he has given, he has in fact helped many people in the manner he helped Prasad. All he expects is ‘A Cup of Tea” that’s all. But he feels so happy inside to see those he has helped settled in their lives, happy that he invested in the right people for the right reason.
Since Prasad has established himself he has been trying to help and educate children in the same manner that he was helped. Prasad collects funds through organizing cricket matches and from friends and family to help poor children. You can find Prasad’s page at v-Care. Prasad does this because the children he helps will grow up one day to help others. This is the way he has chosen to repay his debts to Mr. Sharma.
Prasad’s story is a wonderful example of how someone like Mr Sharma was able to leave a lasting impact in the lives of so many. His actions were not grand, yet it is clear that he was a worthy role-model to Prasad and a genuine hero. ONE IN A MILLION.
But Prasad’s story also leads us to ask the question – what really does make someone a hero? Comic books are a great medium to try and understand the answer to this question as comics are filled with heroes (and villains) – mysterious characters clad in elaborate costumes. But comics recognised that it was more than just the suit that made the hero. Spiderman does not differ from the Green Goblin because he has a better suit or even because he is better at fighting or has no fear.
So, in what regard then does Spiderman differ from the Green Goblin? Surely the only difference between Spiderman and the Green Goblin lies in what they use their abilities for. Spiderman uses his abilities for good, the Green Goblin uses his abilities for evil (in the caricatured manner of comics of course). Spiderman is different from the Green Goblin then because he is benevolent and this is why he is a hero. The Green Goblin is malevolent and this is why he is a villain.
But what exactly do we mean by calling Spiderman benevolent? Well in the first instance we must mean that Spiderman does good deeds. The Green Goblin is malevolent because he does evil deeds. But what is so good about Spiderman’s good deeds? Most of the time he swings around beating people up. He brutalizes people in a similar manner to the Green Goblin. Spiderman’s deeds then aren’t good because of what he does.
Why are they good then? Surely they are good because of why he does them. He acts as he does in order to help people. His INTENT is to give in the manner in which he is most able. What makes Spiderman’s actions good then is his Intent. It is what sits behind his eyes that make his actions good. Spiderman is benevolent solely because he has a benevolent intent. It is this characteristic and it alone which makes him a hero.
This then is what makes a hero, the benevolence of his/her intent.
It is important to recognize that, on this criteria, anyone can be a hero, not just comic characters with super-powers. We see examples of this all around us. We see exactly this illustrated in Prasad Thutta’s story.
What truly makes Mr. Sharma a hero is his intent, it is what sits behind his eyes that makes all the difference. By not expecting anything in return he demonstrated that his reason for giving in the manner he did was solely to help Prasad. He demonstrated that he had a benevolent intent. It is for this reason that he is a hero because he illustrate the core characteristic that makes a hero a hero, namely a benevolent intent.[1]