EARLY CHRONICLES

PlanetChronicles retrace the early days and happenings of project why.

April 6th 2004

Fragility

April 11 2004 One year, one year has gone by since the terrible day we had to come to face with the murder of two beautiful children. Two babies murdered by some sick mind. Whatever the reason, if reason there is, one does not destroy a life that has not even begun Children are trusting. For them adults are those who protect them. Then imagine the dismay when the adult becomes the destroyer. And the helplessness of the child, of the parents, of the caretakers. The despair, the hurt, the utter sense of having failed. It also brings to the fore the question of security of a child in a big city. Rohan and Puja's death has not been explained, the perpetrators of the crime still roam free, free to hurt other children. Rohan and Puja have to be kept alive in our memories. The commemoration of their tragic death will remind us of the necessity to fight for the basic right of every child: the right to live!

In a 100 years

Bimla

Went to see Bimla After one hour spent trying to locate her in the maze of the hospital, we got to her. She lay alone in the ICU, an oxygen mask on her face, and forsaken.. Her husband and mother-inlaw have practically abandoned her,and she lay there, in silence, tears in her eyes.. I held her as best I could with my green gown and mask on my face, after a while she murmured in an inaudible voice: look after my Sapna and my Monty..
Later, in the scooter, I thought to myself how dependant an Indian woman was, and how totally helpless, if she did not have the support of her husband and his family.. And yet how fiercely loyal to her children, and how brave and dignified in the face of such ignonimity. I could not help myself but raise my hand in a silent and very private salute.

March 29 2004

Dr M.

March 31st, 2004. Dr M.. Yes that is what she must be called now. 
I remember the time when we had just come to Giri Nagar, and had been *introduced* to Mina. She sat crouched in front of her house hurling profanities in a strident voice. Everyone called her 'Kabaran' as her husband earned a living from buying and selling junk. No one had a kind word for her. A few months later she came bleeding from the head, her husband having beaten her. He was drunk and had thorn all the food in the gutter. her children were hungry and she wanted money. That day we gave her some money.I learnt that the husband was alcoholic and abusive, like many alcoholics the world over. A pattern started evolving and needed to be broken. How long would this woman feed her family by begging for help. I decided to give her a job, much against everyone's advice, my staff and the community. But I put my foor down, though I rarely do. 
Mina started changing, though there were still moments of wailing and busing. Her husband still drank and the beatings continued. No amount of counselling helped, on the contrary the fact that Mina had a job became cause of resentment. But I knew I was right, it was just that something was missing, I could not define what it was. A few weeks ago, someone needed to be taken to the hospital and no one was around. On the spur of the moment I decided it would be Mina, yes Mina the illiterate, loud mouth, abuse hurling' kabaran'! She did a good job and so the next time someone was to go to hospital,it was Mina who went. 

Today, Mina has become our *medical coordinator*. She has not only established a superb network within the daunting maze of Safdarjung hospital, but earned the respect of staff and doctors. When I recently went to visit one of the admitted ladies, I was pleasantly surprised to see how Mina steer me through barrages of security, how everywhere we went someone or the other wished her, and how proudly she introduced her *madam*. But the best is yet to come.Mina has earned the respect of her husband who has not only stopped drinking, but is also the one who suggested that Mina stay with patients at night, who drops her to the hospital and who cooks and cleans and looks after their four children when she is on 'hospital duty'. And one of my most moving moments was when they both came home one night to pick up some money, and I saw the look of mutual pride in their eyes. They looked like a couple in love! Well done Dr Mina!

March 12 2004

And they call her China

China. A funny name for a woman from Bengal.  wonder why she was called that A chit of a woman with a determination that would make many envious. China's husband is a house painter with very little work. There are many like him around Nehru Place. The wives and children are those you often find begging at the red lights.China has three little girls; Rinki, Pinki and Lakshmi But they do not beg. China has other dreams from them and she is determined to make them happen. 
She has put her little girls at projectWHY and she cleans utensils in private homes to fulfill the needs of her little girls. China has been an inspiration to me and a source of strength. particularly at times when things look difficult. 

March 22 2004

Blessed

There is something special and even blessed about projectWHY. Today we added on 2 more groups in two different locations and suddenly we are almost a 100 children richer. This is due in great part to our conviction that education does not need infrastructure, but can be imparted in the simplest way possible: an open space, a protection from the sun and dedicated teachers.. At projectWHY we have such teachers. They sit in what would be inhuman conditions for some, and teach their students with love and commitment. One cannot but be proud of them and of the girls in administration who without batting an eye lid make into reality any dream I may have.

March 9 2004

she stood alone

An incident occured today. Strange or prophetic that it should concern a woman. We had been wanting to shift Utpal's family from the area they lived for a long time. Both parents drink and the surroundings were conducive to their weakness. I have never sat in judgement as I believe that each one of us has something we are not always proud of It is also true that circumstances play a large part in such matters. But anyway I felt that the family would have better chances close to us. 
We found them a little room near my office and I thought that matters were settled. However society is far more cruel than I could have imagined and when they reached the new place with their luggage, many women started abusing Jhunu saying that they did not want their neighborhood sullied. I was called and my heart went out to this poor woman, standing quietly next to her bags, in total silence. What is it that makes us act in such a manner? I just stood by her, and held her and let my silence convey what I felt Soon, someone came and told me they had found a new place in an adjacent slum we all helped them move and stayed with the little family for a long time. I remembered Mary Magdalene... As I lay awake, late that night, I had just one thought in mind: to make Jhunu independent and have her learn a skill that would give her back a rightful place in society.