People are like geodes

Today marked the second day of the tribal communities' exhibition, and if I thought yesterday had left me enriched, today only added more layers to that growth. Although some exhibits were familiar, I revisited them with fresh intent, this time to buy the ABC Malt my mom had asked about. I went along with my friend and professor, and what started as a casual purchase turned into a day of discovery.

My professor has always emphasized the power of networking and conversation. He believes that people, much like precious stones, often hide their brilliance within gems locked away, waiting to be discovered through meaningful dialogue. I never fully grasped that wisdom until today.

The first person who opened my eyes to this truth was a woman I had spoken to briefly the day before, Vimala, the kind-hearted lady who sold tea. Yesterday, we had only exchanged a few words about the flavor and quality of her brew. It was so good I began appreciating it like a seasoned tea aficionado. The aroma was captivating, the flavor mild yet full, suitable even for people who drown their tea in sugar. Unlike mass-produced green tea that demands a spoon of honey to be drinkable, hers was a gentle surprise that quite literally dilated my pupils.

But today, I saw another side of her.

Vimala turned out to be more than just a tea seller. She is a powerhouse of accomplishments:

2nd place winner for White Tea at the Trinitea Excellence Awards 2022 in Kolkata

 Certified for producing specialty tea by the Tea Board of India (2023), signed by Executive Director Dr. M. Muthukumar, IAS

Recognized by Thiruchirapalli Regional Engineering College’s STEP program for promoting sustainable enterprise with climate and social impact

2nd prize recipient at Solidaridad's Sustainability Awards

Awarded the title of "Progressive Farmer" by Krishi Jagran and Agriculture World 

 Winner of the Baduga Business Awards 2022 by the Badugar Vanigar Sangam

Special prize at the 1st Malaipayirgal Expo (May 2025) from Thotakalai Malaipayirgal Thurai, Nilgiri District

Titled "Passionate Entrepreneur" by KSC – Knowledge Sharing and Caring (2023)

She also received an award from the President of India Droupadi Murmu herself. The list was endless, and I was in awe. Here was a woman so humble, serving us tea with a smile, when behind her gentle eyes was a story of resilience, innovation, and leadership.

And then, there was Mr. Karuthoviyam ,someone I had completely overlooked the day before. He was just another seller to me then, managing his stall for JAYA BHEEM DRY FRUITS. But today, when we went to buy peanut chikki, something unexpected happened. As my professor paid through Google Pay, his name popped up. “What a unique name,” my professor said. A woman beside him laughed and joked, “I’m tired of hearing it!” That small comment sparked a conversation that slowly unraveled his extraordinary journey.

Mr. Karuthoviyam is a national-level gold medalist in karate (2012), an achievement he earned while in 12th grade in Mumbai. Through a sports quota, he pursued engineering at Sri Sakthi College. Now, he runs his own business in Dharmapuri and even once stood in the MLA elections, earning about 350 votes in hopes of triggering change.

What moved me most was his passion for martial arts as a tool not just for personal growth, but for societal upliftment. “People in villages have stamina and power,” he said, “but they don’t know how to use the path.” He sees self-defense as a way to help people find that path, not for individual glory but for the collective progress of the community. Today, his students in Coimbatore are national-level players, carrying his legacy forward.

Talking to him made me realise that change-makers are among us,often masked in simplicity, hidden behind a dry-fruit counter or a tea stall.

It was in that moment I understood why my professor insists on talking to people. Why he wants us to ask questions, connect, and network. Because unless we do, we miss out on meeting people like Vimala and Karuthoviyam, people who, like geodes, look ordinary on the outside but hold dazzling brilliance within. All it takes is a genuine conversation to break the surface and see the glowing lamp "the anaiyaa vilakku" they’ve been carrying in their hearts ll along.

And just like that, a simple exhibition turned into one of the most humbling lessons I’ve learned that greatness often walks beside us, quietly, waiting for us to notice.