Answer

I am sorry you are carrying such a heavy responsibility at the start of college. According to Jain Dharma, your situation should be handled with right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, patience, and practical effort.

Jainism does not teach helplessness. It teaches purusharth — sincere self-effort — along with aparigraha, sanyam, and responsibility without anger or hatred.

You should focus on three things:

• Continue education in an affordable way
• Start earning gradually through honest work
• Protect your mind from anger, comparison, and hopelessness

Explanation

In Jain Dharma, your current financial struggle can be faced through these principles:

• Purusharth: Do not give up. Even if your path is slow, keep moving. Study seriously, learn skills, and try to become financially independent step by step.
• Samyak Jnan: Make decisions with clear understanding, not panic. Calculate your fees, family expenses, possible income, scholarships, and part-time work options.
• Aparigraha: Keep your lifestyle simple. Avoid unnecessary expenses, comparison with richer classmates, and pressure to look successful quickly.
• Ahimsa in thoughts: Try not to develop hatred toward your father. You may feel hurt, but anger will burn your own peace first. Speak respectfully, but be clear about your needs.
• Kartavya: Helping your family and brother is noble, but do not destroy your own education completely. If you become stable, you will be able to support them better.

Practically, you can do this:

• Choose the most affordable education path that still gives you real skills.
• If you are doing IITM BS degree, study consistently so your money is not wasted.
• Look for scholarships, fee waivers, education support from Jain trusts, community organizations, or college financial aid.
• Start learning income skills: tutoring, basic coding, data entry, content writing, Excel, web development, or teaching school students.
• Try part-time work, but not so much that your studies collapse.
• Make a monthly budget for home, education, and savings.
• Talk honestly with your father: not with blame, but with clarity — “I want to study and support the family, but I need cooperation.”

Spiritual Understanding

Jain Dharma says that every soul has immense strength. Difficult circumstances are not the end of life. They are also a place where qualities like patience, discipline, humility, and courage are developed.

You may not control your father’s choices, family income, or past karma. But you can control:

• your effort,
• your habits,
• your speech,
• your studies,
• your honesty,
• your inner attitude.

Do not think, “My life is ruined.” Think, “This is my tapasya. I will walk step by step.”

A simple daily Jain practice can help you:

• Do Navkar Mantra daily with calmness.
• Practice samayik-like reflection for a few minutes: “I will not lose courage. I will act with honesty and restraint.”
• Before sleeping, do small pratikraman in your heart: forgive others, ask forgiveness, and release anger.

Takeaway

According to Jainism, do not give up your education, do not hate your father, and do not drown in fear. Live simply, study sincerely, earn honestly, seek help humbly, and build your life through steady purusharth.

Your situation is painful, but it can become the beginning of your strength.