Dreams of love and compassion - Yes, I dream

1^st January 2009; New Jersey, USA

He woke me up. It took me time to register his existence. I felt my stomach churn. My head was spinning; a big boulder seemed to be rolling in my skull. The little congruence capability made me realize that I was in a hospital. 

“Haven’t I told you to take your medicines on time?” his eyes were glaring with anger. I felt meek and helpless, unable to utter a word. My tongue was cut, as it happens during Epilepsy convulsions. He turned back, and went away, probably to see the doctor. I tried to close my eyes. A fierce pain shot from my eye sockets. This time is was really bad, I thought.  

I limped back home after a few hours. It must be a muscle pull due to the fall. Last what I could recall, I was practicing wall climbing in the adventure park, one step towards achieving my dream.

8^th November 2013, Dalhouise, India

Leela pulled the blanket, and rubbed some mustard oil on my sole. I didn’t like it, but she insisted that helps regain the strength. Leela was a helper in my school (my dream was fulfilled), where I had been working with the Epileptic patients, mostly children, to regain their motor skills. Soft rock climbing was a part of it. 

The boulder was rolling in my head, giving me the same helpless feeling I have been used to now. I think I drifted off to sleep, because I didn't hear the door open. I felt a familiar, soft but strong touch on my forehead. The fragrance of my favorite Body Shop calming oil filled the room. I instantly recognized the musk.

“Don’t say anything, I have put some ointment on your tongue, it will get better soon”, he said pouring a glass of cold chocolate milk shake, one hand still in my tangled hair, massaging the oil. He remembers my favorite drink, I thought. Bereft of emotions, I closed my eyes, and drifted off again.

“Power, money, fame, name – nothing could make me forget that day. It was snowing, almost midnight. My body was full of blisters, probably some sort of allergic reaction. The pharmacies were all closed, except one. You wore the heavy black boots, pulled the thick Canada goose, and off you went to buy a soothing ointment for me. That instant of compassion.. I want you back in my life.” 

His eyes were moist. Change was evident.  

 

A few years back, when I was in high school, I went to visit Tamanna School (www.tamana.org). The visit was a part of the social initiatives in my school, where year 12 students visit old age homes, blind school, and schools for kids with special needs. I got the opportunity to spend time with children (ages 6 till 16). 

Those two days are amongst the best days of my life. I got to witness humanity, truth, purity, love, compassion. There was no sign of pity or sorrow. Those moments were full of empathy for others, respect for each other, friendship and selfless love. They changed my life. 

I was a buddy to a not-so-little boy, 12 year old Bijoy, an epilepsy patient. He loved sun. His favorite seat was next to the window, which opened into the lush garden. As he drew the painting, his hands not fully under his control, but his desire so strong, I could see the sun rays fall over his innocent yet intense face. When his elder brother, Mr. Roy, picked him up that afternoon, I could see the pride in his moist eyes looking at the drawing sheet with a yellow circle and some streaks of blue.    

Epilepsy is a nervous disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures. Symptoms vary from person to person. There are several types of Epilepsy. The patient cannot drive or swim, it could be life threatening. 65 million people suffer from Epilepsy. Seizures can be controlled, but the disease has no cure. The seizure needs to action, no medicine, no injections. The most which we can offer to an Epilepsy patient is compassion, love and care.

Compassion spreads without any extra effort. A gesture of love stirs gratitude in us. It costs nothing.  

February 20th, 2015 is United Nations World Day of Social Justice. More than a thousand bloggers, across the globe, post today to spread this message, in a hope to spread love. Read my post on "how it all started" here - 1000Speak

Join us. Share your story with all of us and link up here. 

Join the Facebook group 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion. 

Social responsibilities towards our society - What I learnt at STS

St Thomas School, New Delhi, has been actively participating in social services since many years. As an Indian citizen, and a human, Thomasites are taught about working for the society, and for the people in need, is of utmost importance in a person's life. I have had a few personal experiences, which have played a pivotal role in my personality development. I will pen down a few of them here. 

1. National Literacy Mission (NLM)

NLM as a Government of India initiative has involed a lot of social groups, and education institutons to attain the goal of 100% literacy. Read more about National Literacy Mission Programme. the middle year students of STS used to follow  "Each one teach one". I helped Jyoti, daughter of my maid, in attaining reading and writing skills. Jyoti used to wash utensils, and help Geetha aunty (my maid). Sometimes she used to sit with me, and ask about school, teachers and friends. I used to give her some books. She used to love the pictures, and make up her own stories, because she did not know how to read. In class 8, when I was handed over the NLM kit, I got the opportunity I was looking for. I used to teach Jyoti every Wednesday and Saturday. She completed her basic reading an writing in around 6 months. STS held a special convocation for all the kids/ adults who had completed the books and workbooks provided by NLM. Jyoti accompanied me to shcool that day. She received a certificate of literacy. I was a proud teacher, a proud Thoamsite. 

TV advert promoting NLM

2. Social Service every week - Class XI

When I was in class XI (I think I need a reference here, this could be class IX or X as well. I will confirm and correct if needed), we used to go to a nearby slum to teach the kids. One daunting task, trust me, this was. I recall going door to door in the slums, the small jhuggis, sitting there, talking to the ladies, trying to get the kids out twice very week for an hour, to study simple reading and writing. This is not a movie scene, sometimes I faced doors shut on my face, sometimes parents with folded hands. Any how we did manage to gather 50 kids, and started teaching them. We used to sit in a Janta Flats park, and hold the classes there.  

A morning in a Delhi slum

We held a celebration on the final day of the program. I can never forget the shine I saw in the yes of the proud parents. Amidst laddus and samosas, there was cheering for STS girls. :) 

3. Tamana School 

As a tradition, class 12 students service the society for a week. I am not sure how it happens now. In my years, a couple of sections used to go to the blind school, located at Lodhi Road in Delhi. A couple of sections used to visit the old age home. And the Science section got the opportunity be be at Tamana School. (Tamana is a non-profit voluntary organization registered in March 1984, created solely with the purpose of helping the cause of mentally challenged, multiply disabled and autistic.) It was a life changing experience for me (year 1996). I spent 3 days with the students, learning how to love the sunlight, learning the colors all over again, learning to eat, learning to love. They were around 8 - 10 years of age. I met a few of their proud parents as well. I went out with them to play. I recall loosing in the balance game. What innocent fun it was. 

Back in 2007, I went to watch Taarein Zamein Par, with my husband. The movie is about a dyslexic child, and his art teacher, who volunteered in a special school as well. The song I present below, could be one of the closest to my heart. It brings tears to me, whenever I watch it, or listen to it.  

My mind meanders into thoughts. Is it really difficult to have a heart? 

Title song: Movie Taare Zameein Par (2007)

This post is dedicated to the A-to-Z blogging challenge - the largest Blog Challenge in the history of Blogkind. My selected theme is "memories of St. Thomas' "- my Alma mater. This is the nineteenth post of the challenge, and is linked to the letter S: S for social responsibilities: learnings at STS.. 

Linking this post to UBC too.