It was Diwali time and our trust had arranged a small get together at a street child shelter. The aim was to distribute sweets and crackers along with new sets of clothes, tailor made for each kid staying there. It was 5 in the evening and I was thinking that we need to hurry up as we had been planning to go to our flat on the way to see the progress of the construction of our apartment. We booked this apartment some 3 years back and still I had not been able to see a minimal structure erected there, leave about the walls and doors etc. But what fun it is to enjoy the undergoing construction pillar by pillar. Anyway that is a different story, which I might write separately. My primary concern at that moment was only to be able to reach the construction site before it started to get dark and also to meet the time line to reach the child shelter, as it would take a an hour of driving.
Before I say anything further, let me tell you a bit about our trust. This trust works basically to support the aged and to improve the girl child education. On a micro level, we have identified one of the old age homes in the city, a govt. girl’s high school, and a primary school which caters to education of kids from very poor families. Besides these, the trust also aims to uplift the youth by providing financial support, whether for higher education or as a loan to start a small business. The other activity which the trust indulges in is supporting the child shelter which I mentioned in the earlier paragraph. Actually this trust is started by my ex-house owner and a senior ex-colleague. He opted for voluntary retirement a decade back, much earlier than his actual age for superannuation, and certainly he would have achieved a very higher role in that organization had he been continuing. I wonder for the enthusiasm he carries for taking up the issues for a cause. It feels quite simple, the work our trust carries out, but at a closer look it is quite monotonous and tedious. It needs you to be constantly in touch with the people you are targeting to help and also it needs you to think about long lasting solution for the needy. It’s not just a temporary once in a while feeding the poor, rather, this work needs a lot of effort to make them feel that you care and also that you belong to them. And that's what makes a trust-work more meaningful.
As we started from home it was a bit late of course but not as much to worry about. It took an hour around when we reached our apartment site, although still it was not dark yet but the shadows had started becoming longer. We were quite amazed to see the sudden progress in construction work. The concrete had taken up some shape and an empty space accentuated by the structure of pillars and roof tops built over one another had been given some definition by construction of brick walls over it. I was happy now as I could identify that space as my future house. I looked at the watch and thought that we had some more time to go around, as the child shelter was quite near from that place. So out of sheer responsibility (I am serious) we went ahead inquiring with the site engineer about the work and also suggested few smaller points to be taken care in our portion. I don't know but I wonder how this guy will be managing with these smaller suggestions, as here we understand that to suggest is our birth right and every prospective flat owner will interpret, perceive and visualize his own design and will try to shove it down to this guy.
Now I thought, its better that we should be getting started or else everybody would be left waiting just for us to start the function. It should not take more than ten minutes from here I thought, but what a journey that was! the traffic was overwhelming, vehicles were not even inching a bit, looked like few vehicles had locked the traffic near the next roundabout and had been creating this chaos. I was lucky that I knew an alternate way, and took left turn from the next by-lane and managed to reach the shelter almost on time.
From the parking place itself I could hear the chirpiness in the air, the kids were running around. A few of them helping out with keeping chairs and arranging things for the function. We said hello to all of them, its quite amazing to get their response, some of the kids are so enthusiastic and they would laugh and smile and come to you to say hello and try to joke with you. While some of them are quite shy types who just give a smile back and get back to their place or to their group. Kids are of varied age groups right from four years to sixteen or so and I could see the mischievous brightness in their eyes, especially in those of the smaller ones. Of course the older ones are turning quieter or may be trying to understand the world outside and getting ready to take on it on their own. Every time I visit this place I wonder how with the minimal amount of resources available, while sometimes it would be difficult even to get food for a day also, these kids are able to keep such a high spirit. Whereas we keep asking for more and more, the yearning never dies for us, what makes these kids to stand the hardship and smile. I have observed few kids being very good at studies. I always want to do something more, to make them achieve something better, but I don't know when will that be possible.
I heard an announcement that we should be starting our activity in a while now, and all the kids were asked to take their place on the carpet, that was put in the hall. the kids gathered immediately there. One could hear the anticipation in the air, sounds of whisper and also in between you can hear some of them giggling. I just tried to look into the direction I heard the giggle and as soon as I caught the eyes of one of the kids sheepishly smiling he turned his head the other way. Anyways first it was turn of sweets, but the wait was for the real one. They all were waiting for their new dresses. We were handed over with three lists of names. The dresses were arranged according to this list, so I needed just to call the names of the kids from this list sequentially. Every time I was about to start calling a name I could see the expectation on the faces of all the kids who were yet to get their packet, and subsequently slight frustration on the faces if the name called was not theirs. But it would not last for a moment also, as soon as one of them started to get up to receive the packet all of them will start to cheer and clap aloud. For a moment I went back to my school days, I found quite a bit of similarities, it doesn't matter whether deprived or not, kids are kids you can't take out the innocence from them.
After a while one of the other members volunteered to take up my duty, while I joined the other members sitting there. As we were going through the proceedings, I noticed a young guy, around 20 something and medium in his built, standing in the hall and I felt he was trying to understand what's going on here. I felt very proud of being involved in such activities and getting noticed as well, what if it is one on looker who is trying to appreciate the happenings. But then I felt that there was a kind of restlessness simmering within him as if he was looking for something. Suddenly his eyes caught mine, and as if to ask a question he made a gesture, I felt that he was trying to request something. I obliged him, got up from my place and went ahead to talk to him.
Coincidentally that guy also happened to be working in my earlier organisation but in a different unit in the city. He started inquiring about the event and asked what is this all about. Proudly enough, I told him why we had gathered there and then explained our activities and also told a bit about the history of the trust as well as a little about each of the members associated with it.
Then I thought I should also inquire what it is that had brought him to that place, this late in the evening. I was pleasantly surprised to know that they are a group of four to five guys who are all colleagues and joined recently their jobs, and these people are all interested to do their bit for the social cause. They somehow came to know about this child shelter and have chosen it for their work. He told me that initially they started with providing certain amenities to this place like arranging meals, clothes etc. They go around and collect money and they are not just donating the money but also supervising personally that the money is utilised for the purpose. But then, he told, they felt that it was not serving the purpose that they are able to help in catering to the daily needs, but from a long term perspective it was not serving the cause properly. They deliberated over it for long and decided to devote their time a bit more. Now one out of the group, in turns, visits the shelter daily in the evenings and they are giving tuition to the kids who are in the high schools. By this time I observed that the kids already noticed him, they greeted him with deep respect. He asked for our permission so that he can take a few kids upstairs for their studies.
I was completely overwhelmed, it is fascinating to hear and see people working with such a passion to do good for the society. I have come across a number of people, that too the youth, getting a plush salary in their first job itself, and their precious evenings devoted more to have fun and the weekends devoted more for pub hopping or mall hopping. Where I have seen guys more devoted to their self and their precious time than to think about others, that too of a child shelter. It was amazing; I was feeling happy for these guys, who are devoting so much of time and effort for a cause.
It is quite moving to think that in this world where on one hand we make our lives to move on with the desire to get or achieve so many things, even our social service activities are mainly a means to satisfy our own self. On the other hand there are people like our trust head for whom to do something for the society is the greatest passion of life. Where there is a group of guys, may be just out of college, but doing their bit so honestly, without any strings attached to it just for the sheer belief that they can make a difference for others life. It makes me feel that there is still hope alive, we have to just look around and we will find so many unsung heroes doing their bits.
Inspired, that's what I was, I drove back home. I wondered how long I can keep this spirit on but yes I will try. Anyway I know that my trust head is there always to remind me of my responsibilities. Maybe for now I am doing a little but yes, I know that my small moral support keeps somebody else going.
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