BAL ANAND – A home away from home

21st April 2007 dawned bright and Sunny. I had a leap in my step as I contemplated the day ahead. Kids have always been a source of immense joy to me and a day spent in the lap of their innocence made me send a note of Silent Thanks to Mastek Foundation and Richa Sood (face of IVolunteer) to make it happen.

I picked up Swapnil enroute to Vashi Station. We joined forces with Shama and Soumyashri at Chembur Station and armed with the directions Sunder had given us, finally reached BAL ANAND at Ghatla village after a series of funny twists and turns in wrong directions. Looking at the small nondescript 4 storied building standing before us, no body would have been able to guess what a powerhouse of love waited behind its doors, ready to enfold us. Rahul, Sunder and Rajesh joined us there with Richa. After a round of introduction with some members of the Trustee, especially the Founder Member Sulochana Devi, we were taken to the 2nd floor to meet the physically challenged kids. They were so delighted to see us and what a warm welcome we got from them, that too when they were meeting us for the first time. Makes you wonder do we really value the loved ones we are fortunate to have? How often do we have a warm smile for them? Why do we forget life is too short, and we all are such a storehouse of love? We got introduced to them, and some of their antics pulled at your heart strings. The camaraderie they shared with their house mother was apparent and each of them wanted to show off their achievements. Some of them had won accolades and laurels in different competition they had participated in. “If you have the will you can”. Not all of them get adopted and the oldest child is 25 years old. After all how many couples look beyond the physical disability at the soul. To us being normal often is often an excuse to get away with disabled minds.

After promising them to return again we went to the 3rd floor where the normal kids were being housed. Each different age groups had a different room to themselves with individual trained nurses to attend to their needs. The tiny tots ranging from 3 months to 1 year made you want to cuddle up to them and give them all the comfort they deserve. They deserve a decent family to call their own, with all the love which we all get. Some of them opened their arms to you waiting to be picked up. With eyes bleary from tears I watched my other colleagues’ cotton up to them and love them in each one’s own way. So what if we work in a corporate jungle, where emotions are always at loggerheads with materialistic gains, power; here there was unadulterated love waiting to be shared in all its benevolent power.

Some of the sisters also related the tragedies behind some cases. Swapnil was one year old and such a charming kid, always bursting into smiles; but fate has dealt a very mortal blow on him. He had been found in a garbage dump, left to the mercies of the element and animals, with half of his right leg from the knee downwards bitten off by a dog …. “Cruelty in its ugliest”. Makes you often wonder about the divinity of parenthood

We chatted with the children who were attending school. Some of them willingly climbed on to your laps showing off proudly their homework and what they have learnt. Then it was time for their lunch. What makes BAL ANAND so different from other adoption homes is the love the children get here and the hygienic conditions maintained, be it food or the way they are looked after. This loving care becomes apparent when those children willingly wanting to share food with us. God bless these souls.

We all bid them farewell, promising to come the next month. A new chapter in our lives had been unveiled which undoubtedly would leave us and our surroundings enriched.

I sincerely hope many Mastekeers would come forward, as often a healing touch can work wonders for a soul.