Rakesh, a seventh-grade student with a quiet gaze and a blueprint in his heart, doesn’t just dream of machines—he dreams of movement. His fascination with bridges, circuits, and metro lines began when he saw a documentary on E. Sreedharan, the man who built India’s lifelines. 

“I want to become an engineer,” Rakesh says, “so I can build things that help people reach their dreams faster.””

His academic journey is marked by precision and curiosity. He once built a working model of a metro train using cardboard, magnets, and a salvaged motor. His teachers call him “the silent architect.”  

“My father works in a spice warehouse, and my mother in a textile unit. They work hard, but they always ask me what I’m designing next. My grandfather tells me stories of engineers who built railways and dams. I want to build something that lasts.” 

Rakesh’s strength is nourished by the Vikas Bhojan Yojana, a community initiative that provides fortified school meals to children in underserved areas. “I love the khichdi with peas and chana. It gives me energy to think and sketch. I feel lucky to get nutritious food every day.” 

After school, Rakesh sketches bridges and metro routes in his notebook and plays cricket with his friends. His hero is E. Sreedharan, not just for his engineering—but for his integrity. “He built things that changed lives. I want to do the same.” 

In the quiet corners of the classroom where he draws, surrounded by books and ancestral echoes, Rakesh is preparing not just for exams—but for impact. His dream is not to wear a hard hat—it is to design a future that serves others.