Building Bridges Where They’re Needed Most

A story that caught my attention recently was both moving and cautionary. It was about a once-brilliant engineer—a graduate from Frankfurt and a former product engineer at Mindtree—who ended up begging on the streets. His journey was not one of missed opportunities but of personal loss and the crushing weight of grief that left him adrift. It was a stark reminder of how life’s unpredictability can impact anyone, regardless of their qualifications or past achievements.

This story lingered with me, not as a tale of failure but as a nudge to consider how fragile life can be. While his struggles were deeply personal, it made me think about another aspect of our society: how hard it is for many, especially those from less privileged backgrounds, to stay afloat in a world that demands so much.

Considering the people who make our everyday lives function smoothly—our drivers, house help, and service providers. Many of them work long hours, making sacrifices to give their children access to education, hoping to see them rise above their current circumstances. Yet, in a world that thrives on connections, visibility, and access, how do these young people get their break?

Even for those of us with better access, navigating this competitive landscape to find the right jobs, clients, or projects can feel like a marathon. What about the children of those without these networks? The odds are stacked against them, and that isn’t something sheer hard work can always overcome.

A few weeks ago, my driver handed me his son Shankar’s resume. He’s a bright, hardworking individual, eager to make his mark. But stepping into the professional world isn’t easy when you don’t have the privilege of a network or mentors to guide you. I shared his resume with a few people in my circle, hoping someone could offer him an opportunity or even some advice.

I’ve tried to help several children of my support circle, including Shankar, as I know many of you have. But I don’t think any of us have taken it up as a personal mission to make a bigger difference. Often, we do as much as our time or interest allows us, but what if we thought about helping in a more intentional way and not leave it to the NGOs and bodies to do the work?

By giving a small push to this economic strata—helping one young person at a time move ahead—we’re not just transforming individual lives but contributing to the nation’s progress. A thriving society is built on the strength of all its people, and we can play a part in creating more equitable opportunities, however small the effort may seem.

This really isn’t about charity; it’s about empowering those who need a break to show what they can do. I think we all are capable of creating at least some ripples of change.

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