By Lakhram Bhagirat
Hardship, poverty and want are the best incentives and the best foundation for the success of anyone, and for Mohan Singh no one knows as much as he does about poverty, hardship and the drive to be successful. Mohan is not your average 22-year-old nor does he consider himself above anyone. He is the epitome of humbleness and is forever smiling. I personally think he even smiles when he cries.
Many of us may know Mohan from Facebook as the funny guy who makes videos and posts them on his page “Laugh Till Yuh Kaka Rup”. His ability to create unique videos while capturing his viewers is what makes him the best at that, and he has even unintentionally influenced a number of other creators since his style of video dominate the local comedy pages now.
However, behind the funny man is a whole story that makes people question how after facing so much, he could spread so much joy without so much as a hint of anything that went on in his life. At first, based on the way he presented himself on social media I too thought that Mohan had it all together in his life, because there were no signs of the fact that he experienced extreme poverty, was forced to drop out of school, and started working from a young age.
Growing up for Mohan was like fighting a battle every day. His father left when he was five months old, leaving him in the care of his mother. Mohan attended the Saraswat Primary School at De Willem on the West Coast of Demerara and for him, it was an uphill battle. Many days he went to school on an empty stomach and came home half day, since there was nothing to sustain him while he attended classes. Additionally, he had to come home to take care of his baby sister while their mother went to work. All this while dealing with earlier trauma: When he was two years old, needing his mother more than anything else, life dealt Mohan a blow that he remembers to this day. Surviving became so hard for their family that his mother was forced to give him up and left him at an orphanage. It is an experience that he talks very little about, but vividly remembers. He says that his mother’s hands were tied, because she had no one to care for him and she needed to work because the family needed to be maintained. However, after about seven months, his mother returned and took him out of the orphanage. After he wrote the National Grade Six Assessment, Mohan was awarded a place at the Leonora Secondary School, but unfortunately, he was unable to attend after his mother sold everything and moved to Venezuela. He moved with her and there he spent one year before returning home. After he returned, he tried to get into Leonora Secondary to complete his education, but was refused the opportunity, after which he settled for the primary top of the Saraswat Primary School.
“I started working at that same age as a handyman/gardener that would usually assist persons with tending to their gardens, paint as well as various other domestic work. I would usually go to school and work on the weekends. I also worked at a shop before going to school in the morning. Name any simple domestic job, and I did it, just to be able to earn myself and my family some extra money. I would usually have to wake up at 4:30 every morning to go to the store I worked at to ensure that it was cleaned and to parcel and weigh out items for sale during the day. I’d usually finish by 8 am.”
During that time he lived at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, and after sitting the National Grade Nine Examination, he was awarded a place at Zeeburg Secondary to complete his secondary education. After completing classes at 3 pm daily, Mohan would go back to work until around 10 pm just to ensure that the family was provided for.
“It was especially hard knowing that it was six of us siblings and just our mother taking care of us. I’m the second of the six, so I took up the responsibility of looking after the others. Even though we had a step-father, he was not supportive. At points, I even worked hand in hand with her (my mother), cleaning the school (Saraswat Primary) and taking care of about 180 dogs belonging to a lady in the neighbourhood.
“I stopped after a while because I was beginning to get sick. I had developed a fungal infection on my feet. I managed to go to school up to Grade Nine, but I had to drop out because I couldn’t afford it any longer. I managed to go to the Technical Institute in Leonora, on the other hand, where I was able to receive a certificate in metal work engineering as well as welding. My mom worked in the interior for a period, leaving me to take care of my siblings. I had to cook and clean before going to the Institute, getting home most evenings at 11pm,” he tells me.
He, nevertheless, persisted and overcame. Now, Mohan is operating his own business and though it is now in its startup phase, it is already attracting attention. When I asked him whether he was always business oriented, Mohan said that he never dreamt that he would be in business not because he felt it was out of his reach, but because he had very little interest in it. He credits his struggles during his formative years which led him to become a go-getter and that resulted in the establishment of Mohan’s Corner.
Mohan’s Corner is not unique in its operations but it is much needed in the location at Lot 24 Public Road, East Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara. It allows for affordable and easy access to Internet browsing and calls, all stationery, gift items, snacks and beverages, all under one roof. Patrons don’t have to look far to fulfil their needs and do not have to go to various locations because at Mohan’s Corner, it’s a one-stop shop.
He said that starting up was very challenging for him, but he is grateful for the support of the amazing people around him. He is hopeful that his business venture will succeed.
Mohan is an exceptionally talented young man and despite his challenges and tough life, he continues to positively impact the lives of those around him. He is actively involved in charitable work where he uses his passion for acting and amazing voice. Additionally, he plays the jaal with the Dynamic Tassa Troupe.
“I believe that the reward for hard work is more hard work, so in five years, I do see my success but I also see myself working to ensure that my business is in a state of self-sustainability such that it can provide for both myself and my family. I see myself enhancing my talents and doing more for my community and the people around me, and I see myself playing a role in the success of others.”
(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
