The new school term, the last of the academic year, began on Monday 22nd January but there were no lessons and only a half day attendance because it was Saraswarti's festival.
Saraswarti is the Hindu goddess of learning, music and the arts, so she has many devotees among teachers and those involved with the arts. School children often bring small gifts for their teachers and there are programmes of dances, songs and sketches by the children at some schools. Jhansi, our girl with very poor sight, goes to a special school in the village. Jhansi says she did two dances and other children sang songs. In the afternoon they ran races. Our High school children had half a day at school.
On Wednesday we had a very important visitor, namely the District Magistrate, of Gajapathinagaram district. He came with several advocates to meet the children and hear about them and about Prem Nivas. He wanted to get to know about organisations on his patch that provide a service to the people of India. He asked if we had any government help and of course the answer was no apart from providing the main medicines. He wanted to know about me and I told him the history of Prem Nivas. As Chief Judge he and his advocates kindly invited me and all the children and staff to be guests at a function at the Court Building to celebrate Republic day. He promised to provide transport for us to get there. He asked what he could do for the children. Swarti, our housemother, and Mr Venkat our teacher, told him that new uniform clothes would be very acceptable.
Thursday was marked by the Coming of Age Ceremonies for Nagamani. As a complete orphan, without any relatives, the traditional ceremonies associated with a girl starting her periods, maturing as they say in India, were performed for Nagamani by our staff and older children.
The first couple of days were spent in a little room into which only other matured people could enter. Nagamani sat on a mat and was washed with turmeric.
Her hair was dressed and sprinkled with yellow rice as a blessing by visitors. She applied kohl eyeliner inside her eyelids and people put red bindi mark on her forehead.
Staff and children gave money to buy gifts for Nagamani.It was decided that her main gift would be silver anklets.
Staff, from Shanti Nivas and from Prem Nivas came to bring Nagamani a half sari, jewellery and bracelets. Swarti lent her a very beautiful purple sari to wear as the others would be given later.
There was another turmeric wash the next morning and Nagamani put on her finery.
The staff and children had their flag ceremony and I was invited to pull the string to unfurl the flag and release the flower petals that had been enclosed within it. Just as the children finished their oath of allegiance the manager and staff of a local bank arrived ( a little later than arranged) to give the children nutrition packs - lentils, ginger, jaggery and oil.
Swathi's phone rang to say that the ordered maxi taxi was about to arrive to take the children to the Court and that a car would be sent for me!
On arrival at he Court the children gathered in the shade of a awning for tiffin - a breakfast of idli and chutneys. I was offered some and bravely took a plate but it was so hot with chilli that I passed it to a child and drank the offered sweet tea instead. The Chief Judge, who is also called the District Magistrate, and his staff engaged me in conversation until the official part of the gathering began. Formal introductions were made and the wish to do more for the socially deprived and neglected sectors of society were expressed. The Chief Justice was surprised that our home for HIV infected children, Prem Nivas, was not previously known to him or his staff despite having been in Gajapathinagaram for more than 10 years.
After more speeches and a couple of songs about India I was asked to tell my story and how Brighter Future started working with HIV/Aids children and adults. Everyone was impressed by my age and the things I have done for Indian people over the last twenty one years. I was presented with a garland of marigolds, a bunch of roses, a model musical instrument, made locally, and a shawl as a mark of respect. The children were presented with lots of material to make new dresses, tunics and trousers and a coordinating check material for shirts. Another guest at the function was the local state Bank of India manager and he too gave a gift of white dress material to the children. Altogether it was an event to emphasise how those that can must give social service. The absence of politicians from the event was notable.
When the official part was over we were all invited to see the judges' chambers and the court.
The children were impressed! My parting request was to be allowed two gas bottles for cooking as we are only officially allowed one.
That was the end of my day but the children went to Shanti Nivas to mark the opening of two new houses of the Dewan Foundation. More speeches, egg curry and not enough time to play cricket!
Saraswarti is the Hindu goddess of learning, music and the arts, so she has many devotees among teachers and those involved with the arts. School children often bring small gifts for their teachers and there are programmes of dances, songs and sketches by the children at some schools. Jhansi, our girl with very poor sight, goes to a special school in the village. Jhansi says she did two dances and other children sang songs. In the afternoon they ran races. Our High school children had half a day at school. On Wednesday we had a very important visitor, namely the District Magistrate, of Gajapathinagaram district. He came with several advocates to meet the children and hear about them and about Prem Nivas. He wanted to get to know about organisations on his patch that provide a service to the people of India. He asked if we had any government help and of course the answer was no apart from providing the main medicines. He wanted to know about me and I told him the history of Prem Nivas. As Chief Judge he and his advocates kindly invited me and all the children and staff to be guests at a function at the Court Building to celebrate Republic day. He promised to provide transport for us to get there. He asked what he could do for the children. Swarti, our housemother, and Mr Venkat our teacher, told him that new uniform clothes would be very acceptable.
Thursday was marked by the Coming of Age Ceremonies for Nagamani. As a complete orphan, without any relatives, the traditional ceremonies associated with a girl starting her periods, maturing as they say in India, were performed for Nagamani by our staff and older children.
The first couple of days were spent in a little room into which only other matured people could enter. Nagamani sat on a mat and was washed with turmeric.
Her hair was dressed and sprinkled with yellow rice as a blessing by visitors. She applied kohl eyeliner inside her eyelids and people put red bindi mark on her forehead.Staff and children gave money to buy gifts for Nagamani.It was decided that her main gift would be silver anklets.
Staff, from Shanti Nivas and from Prem Nivas came to bring Nagamani a half sari, jewellery and bracelets. Swarti lent her a very beautiful purple sari to wear as the others would be given later.
There was another turmeric wash the next morning and Nagamani put on her finery.
Friday 26th January was Republic Day, was very busy. Senior boys made a flagpole of a length of bamboo and decorated it. They learned how to secure the flag with the help of Mr Venkat our teacher.
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| Sampath and Ashok tie up the petals in the flag |
On arrival at he Court the children gathered in the shade of a awning for tiffin - a breakfast of idli and chutneys. I was offered some and bravely took a plate but it was so hot with chilli that I passed it to a child and drank the offered sweet tea instead. The Chief Judge, who is also called the District Magistrate, and his staff engaged me in conversation until the official part of the gathering began. Formal introductions were made and the wish to do more for the socially deprived and neglected sectors of society were expressed. The Chief Justice was surprised that our home for HIV infected children, Prem Nivas, was not previously known to him or his staff despite having been in Gajapathinagaram for more than 10 years.
After more speeches and a couple of songs about India I was asked to tell my story and how Brighter Future started working with HIV/Aids children and adults. Everyone was impressed by my age and the things I have done for Indian people over the last twenty one years. I was presented with a garland of marigolds, a bunch of roses, a model musical instrument, made locally, and a shawl as a mark of respect. The children were presented with lots of material to make new dresses, tunics and trousers and a coordinating check material for shirts. Another guest at the function was the local state Bank of India manager and he too gave a gift of white dress material to the children. Altogether it was an event to emphasise how those that can must give social service. The absence of politicians from the event was notable.
When the official part was over we were all invited to see the judges' chambers and the court.
The children were impressed! My parting request was to be allowed two gas bottles for cooking as we are only officially allowed one.
That was the end of my day but the children went to Shanti Nivas to mark the opening of two new houses of the Dewan Foundation. More speeches, egg curry and not enough time to play cricket!
