Here, I am speaking as a member of Aarambh (www.aarambhiitkgp.com
), IIT Kharagpur and thats because it helped me to get this kind of experience! We had a drawing competition for Children from Deesha Seema
School, which is a residential school but hardly has facilities required and
the kids need someone to provide them with
stationary and give them opportunity to showcase their talents. They were all
fascinated by little things like colours we gave them and pencils as well (!!)
‘coz they got one per person which is rare to happen in their world. They all
were eager to put their imagination on paper and the way they did it, made me
realize that the imagination is wonderful gift mankind has and although they have
lack of many things and limited access to the world, they don’t lack
imagination. They too dream of a large
house, sporty car and beautiful backyard for their future!! It was very
disturbing to come out of that drawing sheet and realize the reality which
tells that very few of them will actually be in sound economic condition in
future if their education system and limited access to the world remains same.
I felt extremely helpless. All these colourful drawings on paper, which were a
direct reflection of their dreams and thoughts, will they be able to colour
them actually in LIFE? There was a girl, she knew me because she was in my
group for a museum visit which we had for them few days before this competition
and was in standard one. The competition was only for class 4th and
above. She was quite till elder kids were drawing, but later when they started
colouring, she kept telling me that she too wanted to draw and colour! I tried
my best to explain that she was small and we will give her a chance when we
come next time. She was in no mood to understand, she told me she cannot wait!
She knows that it will take a lot of time and she really feels like using those
new colourful crayons!! I could not help giving her a page from notebook (we
had limited sheets) and she did not care that her paper was not same as others.
In few seconds there was a group of children telling us how they also wanted to
draw and colour. It was possible and very easy for us to allow them realize their
imagination and dreams on paper but as we all know its not that easy in real life. We need full
society to make each one realize his/her dreams. The whole experience told us
that they too dream like us. Some dream even bigger than we do!! Yeah! They too want a colourful and happening life! They
have not seen the world and have no idea where they stand. We are the ones who
know it and as a society, we are the ones who can help it! Help them guys in
every way you can. I never went so close to life of needy people…not even kids.
Had only heard and just knew. This was first time I could read what they are
thinking and this is all I felt. Get into their life and it will make a way
better for them. So, when possible go
with all colours you have and fill their colour box….’coz they are capable of and
have right to – colour their life!!
P.S: bahut tempo me and feel ke sath likha hai... so excuse me for grammatical errors.
