"Mey Chitrakaar banna chahtah hun" "Mey Scientist banna chahtah hun" . These were the dreams of those 2 brothers Nilesh and Dinesh, who welcomed us heartily with great enthusiasm and respect for us to their home. This happened yesterday in our Phulenagar slum visit outside IIT.
The brother's enthusiasm to show what they know, their handmade crafts, hip-hop dance moves they learned, their innocent questions asking us about our home?. Wah! The burden in my heart reduced once i was looking in to the happiness and joy in their faces. The surroundings didn't come into the picture in my mind. I was content with what I saw in the boys house.
This is Nilesh's drawing of his favorite cartoon Ben 10, he is the one who wants to become an Artist.
My first view of the place where they lived was so bad,roads filled with plastic and waste everywhere, children playing without chappals, sewage overflowing on roads, houses so cramped and everything that you definitely wouldn't like to have in your surroundings. But this does not hinder the glow in the childrens eyes. Nilesh's eldest brother discontinued his studies after 8th standard to work, to feed his family. Dinesh wants to be a scientist, but how he gonna achieve, that is a question right now unanswered. let's hope for better life of the brother's.
This was my first visit to a slum. It was quite shocking in two ways, one their surroundings and way of life and two their mentality. Though my interaction and knowledge their is limited, but one interesting point which I myself do not know completely is their intention to grab.
Nilesh's second eldest brother was operated due a hole in his heart, from kind donation of student's and professors of IIT Bombay. Their parents wished to payback the amount in form of dues every month, but they were heartily refused.
This to a surprise changed the view of our insti people to them, they began to visualise us as a way of getting money for their needs!! (needs irrelevant). From this incident we have realised that we shouldn't approach these people in an NGO way, were they give something to these people(in form of medicines, textbooks etc) which is undoubtedly exploited ( means they show to them that they do not have anything and make money out of those things by selling them) by these people. I am not offending them but they are used to such sort of life. Who is to blame? I have no answer. GRA is planning to conduct a survey of these people to know their financial, educational, social standards. Let's hope everything goes well for them and we know the truth behind the foggy picture.
The brother's enthusiasm to show what they know, their handmade crafts, hip-hop dance moves they learned, their innocent questions asking us about our home?. Wah! The burden in my heart reduced once i was looking in to the happiness and joy in their faces. The surroundings didn't come into the picture in my mind. I was content with what I saw in the boys house.
My first view of the place where they lived was so bad,roads filled with plastic and waste everywhere, children playing without chappals, sewage overflowing on roads, houses so cramped and everything that you definitely wouldn't like to have in your surroundings. But this does not hinder the glow in the childrens eyes. Nilesh's eldest brother discontinued his studies after 8th standard to work, to feed his family. Dinesh wants to be a scientist, but how he gonna achieve, that is a question right now unanswered. let's hope for better life of the brother's.
This was my first visit to a slum. It was quite shocking in two ways, one their surroundings and way of life and two their mentality. Though my interaction and knowledge their is limited, but one interesting point which I myself do not know completely is their intention to grab.
Nilesh's second eldest brother was operated due a hole in his heart, from kind donation of student's and professors of IIT Bombay. Their parents wished to payback the amount in form of dues every month, but they were heartily refused.
This to a surprise changed the view of our insti people to them, they began to visualise us as a way of getting money for their needs!! (needs irrelevant). From this incident we have realised that we shouldn't approach these people in an NGO way, were they give something to these people(in form of medicines, textbooks etc) which is undoubtedly exploited ( means they show to them that they do not have anything and make money out of those things by selling them) by these people. I am not offending them but they are used to such sort of life. Who is to blame? I have no answer. GRA is planning to conduct a survey of these people to know their financial, educational, social standards. Let's hope everything goes well for them and we know the truth behind the foggy picture.
As a review to this post Kshitij was telling me that,by continuous interaction with the children there,playing with them,teaching them, inspiring them and with constant touch with their parents, they see us as a member of family whom they can trust and share. That is more than a give-take relationaship. That is the true love from hearts which can melt stones and change anyone
ReplyDeletehi.......abt d slum!...gud to see dt it did hv a profound effect on u!....u cud try contactin those two kids vnevr possibl........n inspire them hw to get productive!.....they hv to b taught hw to reach their goals....... u might b wondering hw to help d rest .....jus strt wid two! ur lov fr them wil automatically increase tht number.....plus onc u strt wrkin u cud save ur salary to help them!....this sunds very small but onc u strt doin it gets bigger!..... best part is! guide them.....n u cud encourage dt kid by givin him sum colors n sum painitngs so dt he cud improve ....jus a push is enough ....
ReplyDeletewell writtn ! :)