Swami Bichitrananda Kalyan Ashram has about 14 children with 3 of them in higher secondary level and the rest younger. This was my second visit to the Ashram. I had once visited it about 4 years back. Then, with my mother’s help, I had found out about this Ashram. The Ashram had a caretaker who had been looking after the children since about 1946 and was about 86 years old then, which makes him 90 today. A happy lean old man is he. I asked him what does he want. Guess what, all of his very few requests were only for the children. Even for the most selfless people, after going through 90 years of trials and tribulations, it is hard to imagine to be as unattached as him. I had found that then the children did not have proper blankets to sleep under. Hence donated a blanket for each one. However, this was rather an unhappy experience as I could not bring a smile in the children’s faces. So the question is whether it is important to meet the necessities of these children or do something that would bring a smile in their faces. Or do something that will keep their minds healthy.
The children have pretty much a routine life that comprises meals, study, schooling, prayers and an hour’s time of sports. This time, I decided to do a mix of things that could make them smile and also help in keeping their minds healthy. The Ashram had just got its water purifier, which is a must and common thing in Indian household. The Ashram did not have any electronic equipment. However, the Ashram did have a small, probably 3 decade old television. No refrigerator. For sports, they had a worn out cricket bat and they had just lost their cricket ball. This time, I decided to give them a television, a soccer ball, a chess board, three cricket balls and two ludo sets. My would be life companion also supported my thought and provided a cash amount, which is definitely a significant amount compared to the Ashram’s operations and funding. Well, I had done a bit of thinking before I decided on these items. A television would keep the children abreast of what was happening in the outside world. The Ashram is situated in my hometown Cuttack and the inhabitants, in my opinion, have scarce knowledge about what is happening around the world, may it be technology, travel, politics, sports, and entertainment etc., things that would keep their minds occupied and healthy. Well, the television did bring some excitement and smiles to their faces much to my innermost satisfaction. On the other hand the purpose of the small range of sports items was to bring out the interest of the children as per their personality, may it be in the form of physical, strategy or simple ludo games. Involvement in a range of sports can help the children exercise both their mind and body.
The visit did give me ample food for thought. Unmistakably, I have not forgotten about the education of the children, which according to me is one of the most important aspects in the development of the children apart from providing the basic necessities and compassion. The idea is to help the children grow both physically healthy and mentally thinking that could enable them to earn a living for themselves or taste independent life. There is definitely plenty of things that can be done to make their lives better. Judging using the lens of absolute truth, the children have shelter, timely meals, basic education and clothing, which are luxury for many others around the world. The next question is where one should direct her /his efforts. Towards the most needy? Well, for one I am certain, one can only know by taking the next step....by experiencing ....
