Pratibha - A YUVA initiative

By Charul Bansal

November 14, 2010- This day will always bring back to us fond memories of the best children’s day we have ever had. We visited 5 venues across Hyderabad to conduct the drawing competition “PRATIBHA”, a YUVA and NSS BITS Pilani Hyderabad  initiative, for 1000  underprivileged children. The event was received well by the participating organizations like KRUSHI, BHUMI, CNN Thanda School, Schools at Thimmapur and ANANDA MARG.
 

Experience at KRUSHI
  

November 14, 2010- This day will always bring back to us fond memories of the best children’s day we have ever had. We visited the KRUSHI home to conduct the drawing competition “PRATIBHA”, a YUVA initiative, for the children. KRUSHI is dedicated to orphans or children with single mother, started by H.E Shri Rameshwar Thakur and supported by the Saikorian Association, housing boys of the 6-19 age group.
 

KRUSHI is dedicated to orphans or children with single mother, started by H.E Shri Rameshwar Thakur and supported by the Saikorian Association, housing boys of the 6-19 age group.
 

We were welcomed with warm handshakes and vibrant smiles. Greeetings such as “hi anna”, “good morning, akka” and children’s day wishes filled the atmosphere for the next few minutes. Their manager, Mr Robert, a retired principal, received us cheerfully and conducted us around the ashram. The place was more than welcoming with its red building with garden on all its sides. There was also a football field, a basketball court and some place for volleyball. There were swings too in one corner for the tiny tots. Moreover, the ashram had to its deposition a solar water heater, an RO water purifier and a computer lab with about 20 systems. Catering to our inquisitiveness, Mr Robert also informed us that the children went to a government school nearby, where many teachers were paid by the organization itself. He further added that a fair share of the elder boys were pursuing a course in polytechnic.
 

Shortly, the place was bubbling with activity. Kids started pouring in from all corners. They were delighted to receive their Mickey caps (courtesy DISNEY) and cheerfully posed for photographs. They were more than happy to accept the seven of us an audience to their various talents: singing, dancing, drawing etc. The children were very excited about the idea of drawing and painting, and unleashed their imagination and creativity on the theme “My Education, My future, My Hyderabad”.
  
As soon as the sheets and the paints (courtesy PIDILLITE) were distributed, they started painting and drawing with great enthusiasm. The older ones used rulers and other stationery to make huts, some symbols etc. While the younger ones, abandoning all boundaries, made animals, aeroplanes and even India’s flag(they were recently taught the same during Independence Day celebrations). Sixty-Three of the total 80 children participated.
 

After collecting the sheets, we started distributing chocolates (courtesy CANDYMANN) and biscuits (courtesy ITC). Having painted for (an hour) the kids came around in well formed lines and gleefully took the eatables. Surprisingly they politely informed us if by mistake anyone of them was being treated to a second helping. After this striking display of honesty, next in store for us was a subtle reminder of our duty towards keeping the surroundings clean. Immediately after the drawing competition, they started cleaning the place, wiping off the spilt water, picking up the chocolate wrappers etc. but the most memorable incident was the spontaneous response of a 16 year old to a song about telangana. He said, “We don’t belong to either Telangana or Andhra but to INDIA.” Another small boy painted the tiranga on our hands and faces. 

We were totally bowled over by the gestures of these young kids. Finally, it was time to bid adieu. Gathering their goodbyes and thanks, promising them we would come again soon, we started on our way back. As they ran behind our auto waving and shouting feverously, mixed emotions like joy, satisfaction, sorrow and hope overwhelmed me.  It struck me that we had taken far more from them than what we could give. And that realization is what YUVA is all about.