Today's news

No much to say that has not been already said!
I wish something more tangible could be done.

Our youngest student at SMS

Vandana, is hardly 6 months old, about a month ago her sister Ramkumari asked me if she could bring her sister to school, I said yes and the next day she brought that tiny girl, when we saw her we asked her to take her back home as she is too young, and to bring her when she is more than one year.
Few days ago she came to me crying, asking again to please take my sister in school, I said she is way too young. She replied, "my mother work all day and I have to stay home with the baby".
We had no choice but to take her, actually in this way we can also give her milk, which the mother can give only early morning and in the evening.

We are so sorry

To inform all of you that the 14 months old boy with encephalitis Manish has left his body at the hospital this morning, our condolences goes to the poor family.
We will use the donation we have received for his treatment towards the treatment of Hema's father who as we said in in hospital on dyalisis, he needs at least 700 rupees per day for hospital fee and treatment. He will have to do this for the next tree months.

The First Anjali

Yesterday we picked up a girl from the street, Anjali, she is... maybe 3 years old, she was in a real state.

We took her to our SMSS kindergarten and we left her in the caring hands of our women.

I went back few hours later and here is Anjali again.

One gentle Indian woman was with me, Indu, she gave some nice new clothes for Anjali to wear. And when she was ready she had a nice meal with our kids.

We have begged the sister to bring her to school every day, for Anjali's good let's hope she does!

A letter I wrote in 1999

Bharatji, please wake up!

I have to admit, I am not Indian, meaning I was not born in India, at least not this lifetime. Nonetheless I feel more Indian than many Indians I have known. I have lived here for more than 15 years. I love India and I love its people, since I first visited in 1980 I have seen many changes take place, many for the good and many for the worse.

I have been thinking of writing this article since I took this photo in 1995 in Jaipur. I felt it really described India as it is,a sleeping Bharat Varsa that it is almost impossible to wake up. Practically passing peacefully and unconsciously from sleep to death.

I know I am rubbing salt on an old open wound, I am sorry. I also have a very deep open wound and it gets worse every day that I spend here.

Last year a friend of mine from Italy came to India with his wife and two children. He is a yoga teacher and his wife is a masseur. They are ordinary people living in a somewhat ordinary environment on the Tuscany hills.

They also love India very much. This time they went South and then took a train from Coimbatore to New Delhi. On the journey they had their first meal. As usual the waiter came along the carriages taking orders for thalis and they also ordered one thali each. This time they were quite surprised to be served in a nice thick plastic thali with lid. They had their meal, as did many others on the train.Towards the end of their meal they saw that all, and I mean ALL the passengers who had their meal just opened the windows and elegantly threw the thali complete with plastic cup and lid out of the window, confident that this was the way.

My friend’s older son Sunanda who is now 13 was shocked. He asked his father “dad why are they throwing the plates out of the window? You thought us that we should not throw anything because we have to have respect for Mother Nature and not litter the country side”

My friend was somewhat embarrassed and did not know what to say to his son Sunanda. They finished their meal and then my friend thought he had to show his son the proper way of disposing of the thali. They collected all the thalis, five in all as there was also another friend with them and then he and Sunanda walked half of the train to go to the cafeteria carriage, there they met one of the waiters and proudly handed over the pile of plates to him. The men took the plates with a big smile on his face, opened the window right then and there and threw the plates off as usual. The consternation and disbelief of my friend, and the embarrassment he felt in his son's witnessing this was too much.

They walked back to their seat and kept quiet. After a while Sunanda asked his father “ Dad how many trains are everyday running up and down the Indian country side? And how many people are everyday having their meal on these trains? There must be an incredible number of plastic plates scattered all over the country, why it is like this?

Bharatji, Wake up please.
Why do we have to waste so much energy and time reinventing the wheel?
It has already being invented long ago.
It has been very common to many cities’ administrations in the last few years to ban the use of plastic bags. They thought this would solve the problem.
How can you ban plastic bags? The all consumer world moves around it, is there any country in the world who has successfully or for that matter has at all considered banning the use of plastic bags? Of course not!

But we have all the developed countries in the world with a proper collection and disposal system of not only plastic bags but also all the daily wastes. Why can’t India do the same? Why do we waste time and money to try for this useless exercise of no plastic bags? What about plastic bottles, are we to stop people from buying drinking water? And what about plastic cups, specially the little chai cups? They have replaced the old and virtuous cullar, or clay cup.

The whole world was looking with envy at India’s wonderfully ecological system of leaf plates, leaf bowls and clay cups. You could feet a million people and just dump the waste outside your door, three days later there would have been no trace of the mess. Now you walk in front of a Chai shop or a Sadhu Bhandara and you see the same leaf plates (thanks god they haven’t been replaced yet) and with it you see thousands of plastic cups and bowls. Yes ,three days later the leaf plate is gone as ever before, but what about the cups and bowls? They will be there for the next 10,000 years.

But no one knows about it, and who cares anyway! I will not be here 30 years from now!

Bharatji if you allows me I would dare to suggest a solution,
Only one and very simple, EDUCATION!
There is no other way out of this mess believe me. I have seen it so often especially in the last few years. A brand new Ford Ikon with a Delhi plate passes by, supposedly inside is the cream of India’s middle class. The automatic window glass goes down and what you see, an empty bottle or a plastic bag with remnants of puri and subji flying out. If this is the behavior of the good and educated citizens, what hope is there?

Bharatji if you start educating your teachers now, and if in turn they educate their students maybe few generations down the road India will be what it should be, Bharat varsa,the Pride of this Planet Earth. It is the most wonderful country in the world which could have such an incredible potential for tourism.

Just last February an organized tour of about 70 people came to Vrindavan, Mathura U.P. from London. All well to do family from the Gujarati community in UK. After traveling with them to Kumbha mela in Allahabad, Varanasi, Citrakut and then Luknow, this people where so disgusted that unanimously admitted, “India is a huge toilet and a huge rubbish bin!”

Just two months ago I was in New York traveling on the Metro, a black woman with her little daughter on the pushchair came in. The mother handed over to the little girl (at the most two years old) a toffee, the little girl opened the sweet and popped it in her mouth, Just coming from India I was watching and waiting to see her just drop the wrapping casually as I have always witnessed in India. To my surprise the little girl folded the wrapping and then calling her mother’s attention and handed her the plastic, the mother took it, opened her bag and dropped it inside.

All this was done very casually, I would say naturally.
How is it that here in India it is done naturally the other way around?

Where have they gone the glorious citizens of Dwaraka Puri? Where have they gone the Sages and Rishis who have unlocked the secrets of eternal life? Where have they gone the rulers of the planet like Maharaja Pariksit? And where have you gone Bharatji?

Why if you are entering a queue from a side road will no one ever give you way and let you in?
Why does open sewage have to be there even though it is well known that it is a cause of malaria and other deadly diseases?
Why when people build a new house are they allowed to just connect their kitchen and bathroom waste to a pipe pouring out on the side of the road?
Why do five hundred million people have to pass stool on the side of the road?
Why is there not a single water tap which is not leaking?
Why are women treated as work animals?
Why you don’t wake up Bharatji?

Signed
A crying soul who loves India

I am still here!

In the last few days I have been literally swept away by soooo many things, I don't have time now but I do have lots of things to share with you, I am just giving few lines here and later if I get the time I will write in details.
a. Hema's father status has changed, they have closed one kidney and now he is on dialyses or whatever, Hema's mother came again and they need 600 RS per day to keep him alive, I am just waiting to get more info and also I am waiting to see if some of his children's sponsors are wishing to help. More later....
b. Dr. Raju from Delhi a very famous ayurvedic doctor has come yesterday and he has started ayurvedic treatment to many SMS children, some with TB others with kidney problems, epilepsy and what not. More later....
c. We have almost finished our new Data Base program which will run on Microsoft Access, this is a big step forward to proper data record and management, a nice devotee from Mumbay....... our pranams to him has spent the last three days with us on the computer writing the program, he was telling me that his work is worth 100 US$ per hour. we offered him a nice meal at the MVT restaurant and he was more than happy! All glories to the devotees and the brajabasi.
more later..... have a good day! Jay Sri Radhe!

And because we are in the mood

I want to also share with you the following:

Interestingly for householders Srila Bhaktisiddhanta has said the
following; an excerpt from “ A Ray of Visnu” by Rupa Vilasa Dasa

QUOTE
During this tour when Srila Sarasvati Thakura and his followers were
returning from a darsana of Saksi-Gopal, he noticed that his householder
followers refused to give alms to some poor people who were requesting
help. He then sarcastically described their attitude as, “Money should not be
given to the poor, distressed people ... if it is given it will be karma-kanda”.

[ Srila Saraswati Thakura was satirizing the attitude of his disciples who
were thinking that it was beneath them, as transcendental Vaisnavas, to
give charity to the poor, as though this were a continuing activity within the
realm of karmic activity.]

He stated that, “This type of consideration by householders expresses
miserliness, mercilessness, and lack of affliction at others distress.
From this attitude the heart becomes hard and money even for Visnu’s service,
which is the means of one’s own interest, disappears. Therefore, offense
in service (seva-aparadha) is invited. In order to guard against all these
hypocritical, sinful deliberations, Sri Gaurasundara in His pastimes used
to give help to lowly, distressed people. Even earned wealth is obtained by
the mercy of God. It is not incorrect use of wealth if some portion of mercy
is given to the requesting poor - it is its proper use! To distribute mercy
(prasada) is the compulsory duty of householder Vaisnavas. Even though
their (poor people’s) miserableness has been obtained through the fault of their
own karma .... they are still God’s people. Therefore, to give them help
is the compulsory duty of well-to-do people”.

Overwelming response

This morning the first email in my inbox was the following:
"Haribol,
£729.50 has been raised for Manish, 14 month old child.
ys Jambavati

I cannot tell how pleased I was and of course who can tell how pleased will be Manish's parents.
This is a photo taken few days ago at the hospital when still there was no hope for them, but now the tide has changed, sure there is hope.
We heartily thanks Ashik and Bijal Shah, Sureshbhai Pandya and many more for their contributions, you have gained more than you can ever imagine.
What follow is a statement from Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati Thakur is his Vrindavan Mahimamrita. By helping anyone reside in Vrindavan you are better off than many living in Vrindavan.

“One who helps others reside in Vrindavan by supplying them food, clothes, and residence accumulates a million more times the piety than one who resides there, because one who resides there delivers only himself, whereas one who helps others reside there delivers himself as well as those that he helps.”– Sataka 1, text 73, Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrta Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati Thakur

He needs help

Manish : 14 Months old,
Medical problem : T.B of Brain T.B. (encephalitis).

Father : Kundan Singh, Occupation: Watchman, education: 10th failed,
Mother: Sunita , House wife, No education,
Village : Javara , Near Maat.
Kids : 2 son, 1 daughter.
Boys : Dharmendra : 8 years old,
Daughter: Jyoti : 6 years old,


Case History
This boy got fever 1 month ago. Then father went to the local doctor and on the second day doctor asked father to take that boy to Apollo Hospital New Delhi. Got treated by Dr. Sudhir for two days. Then referred to Jaipur hospital got treated for 7 days. Expenditure 36,000 rupees, the boy got some relief.

Then referred to Mathura Dr. B.c. goyal. since last 10 days the boys is in the hospital. According to the doctor he need medical attention for at least 2 to 3 weeks. After the treatment there is a strong possibility of symptoms (Sequels) he may become handicapped, get paralysis or may lose his eyesight. (Money needed approximately –40,000 Rs)
Family history
Father took some loan for the treatment, now he has no money left for the future treatment. He is a farmer having small peace( 1biga) of land in the village. Not enough through farming therefore working as watchman in our SMS at night.

Absurd & Outrageous

Even Amid Its Wealth, India Finds,
Half Its Small Children Are Malnourished
By SOMINI SENGUPTA
Published: February 10, 2007

MUMBAI, India, Feb. 9 — Even after India’s years of sustained economic growth, child malnutrition rates here are comparable to some of the poorest countries, and at times worse.

In this young nation, where 40 percent of the people are under 18, figures released by the government on Friday offered an alarming portrait of child health: Among children under 3, nearly half are clinically underweight, the most reliable measure of malnutrition.

Additionally troubling, the incidence of child malnutrition declined only one percentage point, to 46 percent, in seven years, according the latest National Family Health Survey. During that time, the economy grew at 6 to 8 percent; it is poised to swell by more than 9 percent in the current fiscal year, the government announced this week.

India’s economic prospects pivot in part around what it calls its demographic dividend.

But the child malnutrition rates put India roughly on a par with Burkina Faso and Bangladesh. Sudan posted better results, according to data compiled by the United Nations Children’s Fund, or Unicef. Malnutrition in China was about 8 percent, Unicef said.

And few days ago we found this news clip:
Indian Air Force is planning to buy 126 fighter planes. The IAF has sent a draft proposal on this to the government. The purchase may cost $6.5 billion
details: http://www.talkingtarmac.com/military/iaf-fighters.asp

No need of comment it is stark reality!

Another Hema

Today after almost two weeks of absence Hema has come back to School, I called her and asked why she was absent for so long.
She said that her father is in a hospital in Agra with both kidney failure. Then she said that the doctors have said that they will need 500,000 Rupees or US$ 11,357 for the surgery to replace one kidney, they also said that there is no certainty that it will work or be successful.
The father has 45 years and has 3 daughters and three sons.
It is such a large amount that considering the innumerable other casualties and needs we have it is not even thinkable of trying to help them.
Our commitment is there already as we have Hema, her two sisters plus two brothers in the school. Our prayers are with them.

Hema

This morning during recreation I was sitting on the playground and two girls came close, one said in a whisper, "Hema and her sister are not eating anything in the evening" at first I could not catch it as Hema was trying to stop her from talking to me, but when I understood I asked Hema, is it true that you do not have anything to eat at home? she lowered her head and said, yes prabhuji, then I asked what does your father do? she said drives a rikshaw, and your mother? she said I do not have a mother.
I asked further questions and she said that the father sometime does not work and he is the only one bringing some money in the family.
I told her to come and look for me at the end of the school time and before going home.
It just happen that a dear friend of us from UK has started to give me 30 pounds per month to help some needy brajabasi children, here's a nice opportunity.
I bought 10 kg flour , 5kg rice, oil, and vegetable and at 3 pm I handed over the bag to her. I gave 40 rs (1 US$) to buy any other things that she may need and I told her when it is finished to let me know. As you can see from the photo she was beaming.

The beginning

Haribol, I hope I will be able to keep this communication going, actually I really need it for myself, it is a place where I can dump my frustrations and hopefully joy as well.

Yesterday at the kitchri distribution we saw a little girl of maybe 8 months in bad shape, she had scabies all over her tini body, she was coughing very alarmingly and more.
We patiently convinced the girl who was carrying the baby to come to our school the next morning and we will give medicine as well as milk etc..

So this morning she came, our Doc and a devotee visiting gave her a bath, a massage with oil in the winter sun, new dress, milk, food and what not. at around noon the mother came, she was a woman or better say a girl of no more than 16 or 17 years.

She said i have to take my daughter, we tried hard to convince her that she should stay in school until 2:30 and then you could come and take her home, and again bring her back the next day and so on.

She could not really understand the benefit of what we were offering to her fragile daughter, so she took her away.

I told to myself that this is her karma and what can you do? There are so many other little children out there, so please do not get mental and hold on to this one, maybe she will come back another time.

Welcome

My dear friends and well wishers.

I have started this blog just now and will post my first text very very soon.

I wish you all the best.
- Rupa Raghunath das