They belonged to a rural tribal colony in the ‘catchment areas of Idukki dam’. Away from the city their settlement lacked every nuance of development and growth. They didn’t posses the land in which they toil and live in. They didn’t have good roads and transportation facilities. They were unaware of the urbane lifestyle and they didn’t even know what sophistication meant. Yet they were happy with life …!!
“Chechi
penne... (elder sister)”, they called me to their side. Moved by their love and
innocence I slowly walked to them. It has been long since I was
called so affectionately. The two little angels, Geethu and Radhika, smiled at
me lovingly and it was an invitation into their world. Surprised by the unusual
visitors and although a bit shy and reticent, it took only a few moments to
shed off the veil of strangeness between us.
It
was during one of the official visits to Idukki that I met the two little girls
at an ‘Anganawadi’ (courtyard shelter – an initiative by the Government of
India as a part of the Integrated Child Development Services). It was really
sad to see the ruined building, a place where these tiny tots marked their
entrance into the world of letters and wisdom; Anganawadis are in a way equal
to the ‘Lower and Upper kindergarten’ in rural India.
Our
attempt was to find out innovative renovations which can catalyze the
metamorphosis of these kids; to equip them in better ways to meet the
challenges of the modern world. Children are the key to happiness and as Paulo
Coelho rightly said “A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for
no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all
his might that which he desires.”
It
was time to bid adieu to the little ones. But it was not a farewell
forever. I am looking forward to a return journey to this beautiful world to
keep the promise made to them. When children fill our world
with love and joy the best thing we can provide them is an atmosphere for their
blossoming into a good Human being.
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