[Assam] A 'different' kind of visit to Assam

Sun Feb 11 23:04:00 EST 2007

Alpana-ji,

  You are right. These brave folks are idealists drawing pleasure in helping others. Your visit and accounts will inspire others to follow in their footsteps (and support these organizations.)
  For Parijaat Academy Assam Foundation is also providing support and here in DC (and in Texas) www.ashanet.org is trying to find ways to get involved more.

  Umesh

"Alpana B. Sarangapani" <absarangapani at hotmail.com> wrote:
      Thanks for your kind words, C'da. 
  However, what little we do is literally nothing compared to what these people are self-lessly doing for others. We wanted to highlight just that again. These institutes were rare in Assam when we were growing up. 
  These people who are running and working tirelessly in these institutes are souls with a higher calling and came to this earth from a different plane than many of us, (excuse my bringing spiritual stages/belief here). But however you put it, they are the heroes of Assam. And even if one isn't inclined in spiritual beliefs, it can be readily agreed that support for the unfortunate amongst us only makes practical sense. 
  Thanks again.
  With best regards,
  - Alpana

---------------------------------
  From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
To: "Ram Sarangapani" <assamrs at gmail.com>, ASSAMNET <assam at assamnet.org>
CC: Partha Gogoi <pgogoi at tmaresources.com>, ashadeep at onlysmart.com,Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at earthlink.net>, parijatacademy93 at yahoo.com,Lukose Cheruvalel <snehalaya at sify.com>
Subject: Re: [Assam] A 'different' kind of visit to Assam
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 20:37:32 -0600

      blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li  {padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;}        Bless your hearts, Alpana and Ram. We are proud of your efforts.

  c-da

  At 7:58 PM -0600 2/11/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
  We just came back from Assam from a short trip. Trips are always short, even though we spent a few days more than usual.

   This trip was a bit different as it was one of the most fulfilling ones we have had. We ignored the usual frustrations with erratic power supply, or the fact that phone service is just as bad, or of the traffic congestions etc, etc. This time we availed the opportunity to visit a few places where a few people are making a big difference in the lives of many.

   Snehalaya

   Some of you must have already heard of Snehalaya and of Fr. Lukose of Don Bosco. Chandan da had introduced netters to Snehalaya and about the excellent work that Fr. Lukose and some volunteers (including a young lady from California) are doing.
  Snehalaya has several centers in Guwahati, and is basically a shelter for abandoned or runaway children who have no place to go. The centers provide food, shelter, and clothing for these children. Many of the older children go to school during the day. The center also provides a place where the children get involved in extra-curricular activities, such as , learning to cook, singing and dancing, reading and writing, and generally try to take care of themselves.
  Fr. Lukose and his small band of volunteers pick up these children from the streets of Guwahati and bring them to their shelters.
  During our visit, the children sang a beautiful song, welcoming us, and the girls danced to a song that was beautifully choreographed.
  The glint of hope in the eyes of those children managed to put a big lump in our throats and made us wonder whether we had let our lives go by just like that.

   Parijat Academy

   We were introduced to Parijat and its founder Uttom Teron through a video presentation by Ankur Bora of Austin (at Rajen Barua's home).
  So, we made plans to visit the academy at Guwahati. Alpana also made sure to pack some children's books, puzzles, and flash cards. These we understand (later) were a big hit with the children.
  The academy now has 54 young children, and 8 (mostly volunteers) teachers. The entire Teron family has put their hearts and souls in making sure that the poor and unfortunate in the surrounding 7 tribal villages have a place where their children can get some basic education.

   As it was the year-end, we could not, of course, meet any of the children, but we could hear their laughter and playfulness through the thin, mud walls of the couple of classrooms.
  The Teron family also invited us to a fabulous lunch (baali-bhat) - cooked outside, and we ate under the trees. This was just out of this world, and their hospitality knew no bounds.
  Alpana tried to hone in some new skills by trying out dhaan-jara etc.
  We are also trying to organize an agricultural project for the future, so that the academy can earn some operating expenses in the long run and the children can get some hands-on experience..
  Parijat is located in Gorchuk, Pamohi in Guwahati. Here is their Web site again (we had got this address from Ankur before):  http://www.parijatacademy.org/

   Ashadeep

   Mukul and Anjana Goswami run Ashadeep, a rehab for mentally challenged women. They have several centers, and even a day school.
  The women are housed in a safe and secure environment. Besides some mental-health help, the women are taught some basic survival skills, where possible.
  Both Mukul and Anjana, along with their small group of people, work tirelessly and often way into the night.
  I have kept in touch with Mukul for a number of years. He has related some of the most poignant stories of mental illness. Many of the people working at Ashadeep (including the Goswamis) often cannot draw a paycheck, but there is a tacit understanding and the urge to help out each other when necessary, but all the while making sure the rehab is run smoothly.  
  We visited their locations at Silpukhuri and Fatasil, Guwahati.
  Here is their Web site:  http://www.giveworld.org/ashadeep/ashadeep_profile.htm

  Amar Ghor

   As some of you may be aware Amar Ghor is a shelter for elderly women.  Ms. Rini Kakati wrote about this shelter some time ago in this forum. The shelter was established by Ms. Suchibrata RoyChoudhury (daughter of Sri.Ambikagiri RoyChoudhury). This is probably the first of its kind in Assam, and it was an eye-opener to realize that Ms. RoyChoudhury had the foresight to establish such a center.

   Many of the women in the center are able live there comfortably, and without being a burden on their families.
  One wishes there were many more centers like this throughout Assam.

   Right at the beginning, we mentioned that the trip was 'different'. It was different because of the many experiences we encountered when visiting these places. It was also different, as we realized that there are still a set of people in Assam who are willing to put others before self, and that too with lifetimes of commitments. We are sure there are many more unsung heroes out there, and this is just a small sample.

   We urge netters to do what they can. Even small contributions go toward helping a section of the often disadvantaged and cast away members of our society that have very few places to turn to.

   Of your contributions, no one will ever know that you gave, but the fact that you did, may help put that innocent smile back on a child's face, and make life a lot easier for some person in unfortunate circumstances. And most of all, it should touch your soul.

   Attached are some photos we took. Please follow the links below:
  http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EatGrRuyasXVg

   http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EatGrRuyasXZQ

   Unfortunately, we forgot to take the camera to all the places.

   Thanks for reading.

   Alpana & Ram Sarangapani
  Spring, Texas, USA

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Umesh Sharma
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Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
website: www.gse.harvard.edu/iep

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