St. Andrews College was a noteworthy experience. We spoke
to a classroom full of young people (Even the teacher looked like a student..
You know the kind) and they raised the issue of corruption. Being focused on
peace and harmony and the environment and all for so long, it was nice to
address something new. And Rakesh has a lot of knowledge on politics (the main
topic concerned with corruption) and almost everything you can think of, that
this turned into a friendly debate. I even stopped taking pictures for a little
bit coz it was so interesting.
And then Monika led everybody into an action song that we
learnt at the session with the Vaz Foundation. It was childish, yes, but the
smiles showed how much people were enjoying it.
Then we put up our street play at the entrance of the
college. I really liked the response. John spoke at the end about the whole
message to the crowd and this was the first time that when he asked them a
question, they shouted back a response on their own the first time itself.. And with full josh. And smiles. Gave a really
happy feeling to everybody.
In the afternoon we went to Lady Of The Sea Church at Uttan,
a rural area about a couple of hours outside of Mumbai. A whole bunch of people
came, including fisher folk and even some physically challenged people, most of
them children.
The program goes on and ya there’s the crowd, but this
girl in a wheelchair right in front (We find out later her name is Lakshmi and
that she was about 16) starts ‘dancing.’ She launches her hands and legs into
the air as the beat of the music starts and there is such joy on her face as
she watches the program.. We spoke to the Sister taking care of her after the
show. I don’t remember the name of her condition, but she could understand
everything happening around her, but she can't communicate. She would make
appropriate sounds to say how she was feeling, but couldn’t speak in words.
Sister told us just how happy she was to watch the dance and dance with the
music too.
After the show was done, John left some music on to fill
the silence. We approached Rohan, also in a wheelchair. He was looking sideways
and Sister Julie, his caretaker, tried to get him to look at us, and then she
told us that he was keeping his ear exposed coz he was listening to the music.
He loves music, she said, and anytime anything plays, he ‘dances’ by putting
his hands in the air and smiling. He had a condition called Dystonia, which is
a neurological disorder in which sustained muscles contractions cause twisting
and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. His arms and legs were all bent
and crooked. Sister Julie told us that his mother died at age 22 and his father
used to beat him, once even breaking his arm. They couldn’t even put a cast
because of his condition. And his arm had to heal like that only. Sister also
said he still loves his father. Whenever they allowed them to meet, Rohan’s
face would light up.
There is so much to learn from this special Soul. He
really touched us with his story in a way no one else did. Like Lakshmi, he
understood everything around him, but couldn’t speak. He was only 9 years old.
Rakesh asked to pick him up. Sister gently put Rohan in
Rakesh’s arms and Rakesh started dancing with him, singing the song playing.
Rohan’s arms go up in enjoyment and he presents the most beautiful smile to
Rakesh. And Rakesh starts talking to him.
“Hum tumhe apne saath le jayenge. Theek hai na? Poore
India ka darshan kara denge. Aur har jagah jaa ke dance karenge.”
The smile widens.
Sister says, “Mujhe chhod ke chale jaoge? Aise hi?”
The smile remains and Rohan’s eyes blink in approval.
“Very good then. You go with Rakesh uncle. You’ll forget
about me also.”
Rakesh says, “Haan now to Rohan will come with us only. Hum log bahut masti karenge, music
sunenge, dance karenge.. Aaoge na mere saath? Aa jaa.. Aa jaa..”
Then Rakesh starts rocking Rohan in his arms and singing
the song that’s playing. I just stand back and witness the love that Rakesh has
for this young boy. So many children like Rohan are spurned by society, with
people afraid to face them, interact with them. And here Rakesh was showering
truckloads of love on him. I saw the smiles on both their faces, and the
understanding and connection they shared, beyond words. It shook something
within, and it made me wish that people could just be open like Rakesh to everything
around him and share an unconditional love that this world so sorely needs. He
was truly exemplifying what we were here for on this journey. That was a very
powerful moment.
After this, I thought we were done for the day, but we’re
escorted to a place further inside Uttan. Here we put up a show on the side of
the road. It was a completely unique experience. The audience was mostly fisher
folk and their families. We spoke to them wondering how much they understood
and if the message was getting across. Later at dinner, one of the people from
there comes as a representative to tell us just how much they liked the
performances and the message and that they wish us good luck for the rest of
the journey. In fact, their appreciation was more than the urban areas.
Things really feel good when they come and you’re not
expecting it.
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