How former English teacher, 81, found begging on Chennai streets, is getting back on her feet

In a heartwarming turn of events, an 81-year-old former English teacher who was forced to resort to begging on the streets of Chennai has been given a new lease of life. Thanks to the efforts of a compassionate content creator. Mohamed Ashik, a 25-year-old, shared the emotional story of Merlin, the elderly woman, on his Instagram account, @abrokecollegekid.

Merlin, a native of Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar), had come to Chennai following her marriage to an Indian man. Over the years, she found herself destitute and forced to beg for survival.

Her past life in Burma revealed a different story altogether. She was once a dedicated teacher, imparting English and Maths lessons to young minds. Moved by her struggle, Ashik not only secured her a place in an old age home but also initiated an Instagram account for her, @englishwithmerlin, where she could continue her teaching journey instead of begging on the streets, reports The Indian Express.

In a touching moment, Merlin expressed her needs, requesting only “one saree, one blouse, and one skirt.” Ashik promptly fulfilled her wish, offering her a saree and proposing the idea of creating English instructional videos on Instagram. For each video, he promised to provide financial support.

Merlin’s newfound Instagram account quickly gained popularity, reaching a remarkable 5.67 lakh followers. Furthermore, she has now been relocated to an old age home, where she can enjoy a safe and dignified life.

The story took an even more heartening turn when one of Merlin’s former students, who had been taught by her as a child and lived in the same building, recognised her from the viral video. They reconnected via video call, marking their first interaction in 15 years.

Fondly, Merlin’s former students had affectionately nicknamed her ‘Gamma,’ short for grandma. Many of them reached out to her and encouraged her to move to the old age home.

This heartwarming story has garnered widespread praise on social media, with users commending the positive impact of the internet when used for such noble causes.

One user commented, “Mashallah… what a beautiful outcome… this is how the internet should be used,” while another emphasised, “If we use social media in a correct way, this is the output, the power of social media.”