The Inspiration..!!

Maa..!!

That is what everybody calls her. I saw her first time when I was on my way to work early morning. White dress, head covered with a scarf, all gray hair, in her late 70's. She comes every morning with her bags and books to teach underprivileged kids in that surrounding. One day I stopped by and went to visit her. She asked me to write down my details and contact number. She told me that she does this to every visitor and keeps the track of it in case she needs help. 

I was curious to know the reason for her passion at this age to teach kids without getting tired or sick. She replied "I gather well-wishers." Maa said the work she does is not great but the kids she has are. Kids are well mannered, well dressed and speaks very good English. All these 60 kids were picked up by Maa herself from the streets and she taught them every possible thing she could. 

I asked her how well are your well-wishers for you? She told me the incident when she did not have conveyance. It was a rainy night and she used to take evening classes for people who worked all day on streets and had passion for learning. That night she got hit by a heavy vehicle and broke her ribs, she was bleeding and could not walk by herself. She hired a Auto rickshaw and went to near by hospital. All the staff of the hospital recognized her and treated her the best way they can. At the time of discharge, she asked how much is the bill and the answer she got from them was unbelievable. Doctor said " Maa, I can not take money from you. You are the mother for all of us, I cant charge a single penny." Her eyes were full of tears when she completed this story. 

During this visit of mine, one guy came to meet Maa. He is the director of on export garment company. Once Maa told him that she wants to learn computer so may be some day she can teach the kids. That Director gifted her a laptop. Maa said if  I will say thank you then I might insult you by saying it but I will definitely find a word which suits to your kind donation.

Till date she had gathered 900 well-wishers and she remembers each of them with the date and time they visited her. She says "My arms are wide open for all who wants to learn, come to me and I will teach you how to fly."

I stood up from my place and hugged her, whispered in her ears "Thank you for being my inspiration, Maa..!!"

Chasing the Dreams..!!

Dream..!!

What a fascinating, exiting and adventurous word..!! 

Everyone among us likes to dream. Things we want to get, goals we want to achieve, desire we want to fulfill..!! Some of us wants to buy a car, house, abroad trip or may be  "Things to do before you die" type of dreams.

We have heard many times when people around us says, "Chase your dreams..!!" Did we ever try to fulfill someone's dream?? Believe me, you will find much more happiness when you are helping and seeing them getting things they really wanted..!! Because you never know sometimes their wishes are so small that you would just smile and ask," that's all you really wanted..??"

One of my kids at my NGO project has his birthday coming up this week and he is really excited like any other 7 years old might be.. I asked him about what he wants on his birthday and he replied "I've made my list." I was much more curious because he said list of things he wants, not just one gift.

And he started telling me one by one.
"I wanna fly like Superman wearing his T shirt..!!"  It was not a surprise as every kid wants to fly. Even I remember those days when every kid in my neighborhood tried flying with towel wrapped around neck and jumping off bed imitating Superman.

Second thing he wanted was chewing gums. The reason for gums he gave me was, " I heard it is sweet. I wanna taste it, is it really sweet like sugar??"

And His third gift on the list is " Visit me on my b'day, please." Definitely he will get all his gifts with a warm hug and big smile..

I don't like to chase my dreams, I prefer fulfilling dreams which other people have..!! You too try doing it, its good. It will make you smile, for sure..!!

Becoming more Human..!!

In 2009, I started helping one project where they teach underprivileged kids and help them with studies as well as extra-curricular activities. It was life changing experience, everything was new for me rather strange. I studied 7 years in my university and every time we had new technology for our betterment. My classrooms were full of laptops, projector and air conditioned. But this project was initiated for 32 kids and they were studying in 10x10 room which was 1/6th of my classroom size. In addition to that they had no fan in the room where you can smell garbage all the time as it was next to dumping zone.

I was sitting there quietly checking messages on my cell phone then one kid around 12 years old came to me smiling and said you have nice cell phone, how much it cost? I was taken aback as I didn't know what to say so I turned my back to another volunteer for answer. My friend smiled and hinted me to give honest answer. I told him the price of my cell phone and he said again with same smile that price is equal to my family's total income for 8 months. That was the moment when I thought change is needed here not in my university. Let's start helping not with money but with our knowledge which is far more valuable. I started working with them and teaching kids every day for two hours was part of my life.

My projects have been learning experience for me always, they teach me more then I teach my kids. Every day I was facing new challenges which was making my work more difficult, our kids from juvenile home and orphanage were shifted to another place, some old students of mine with new enrolled kids. Most difficult situation was to make understand 6 years old kid that why he is here without parents and why there is mother in every picture of my book but not in my life? Educating them in better way was my goal but their innocent questions were very difficult for me to face. But it was my dream to help them and I started taking up counseling myself and learned how to respond without hurting their emotions and make them feel home. I was studying their books every night so that I can teach them better way and tried to make learning process easy to learn faster and remember it forever.

Their unconditional love is my achievement and their dedication towards education is my happiness. Tell me what you will feel when one of your kids will come to you and say that, " One day I will be a big man like others and help needy kids like I am today, I will provide them good education." What will you say? I guess nothing. Tears will roll down and you can proudly stand in front of whole world holding hand of your kid who became little more HUMAN..!!