Vine Veracity
An experience of empathy, care, love, joy and togetherness!
It was a beautiful morning. I could feel the warmth of the sun in winter season on my skin. Finally, the day had come. After “Footprints ‘09”, the Dehradun Chapter, I was in surge to initiate my internship. It was Tuesday, 3 November 2009, 10:00 a.m. I entered the gate of ‘Latika Roy Foundation- for people with special needs’ with a hope to experience the true realms of life.
I was positioned at the ‘Resource Centre’ as a ‘Volunteer Communication Coordinator’ in place of Mrs. Utpala Deb (on maternity leave). A brief introduction with all is just not enough to get started. I began my six weeks journey from folding and sealing the newsletters named ‘Leaf’ (500 of them!) to be dispatched. My first day lesson taught me to be tangible and fast.
I catered my responsibilities with respect and patience. There were times when the internet did not work or the page downloading was really slow. It delayed my work. Yet I always tried to complete my work on time. Looking after internal and external communication, writing press releases, press invitation and articles (for website www.latikaroy.org ), preparing press kits, data entry, making posters, contributing suggestions for the next edition of the newsletter, visiting other LRF projects (Latika Vihar, Karuna Vihar, College for Vocational Training (CVT), Early Intervention Centre (EIC)) and Welham Girls School (with Neha Joshi), drawing and painting in charts for the fairs and exhibitions, contributing to ‘fund raising’ (selling its calendars, face painting), gathering news about disability and the foundation, maintaining records of the events, assemblies and meetings, assessments, seminars and workshops, visits, celebrations and other activities taking place in its respective centers, designing the page for forth coming events of the week and updating the bulletin board every Monday to maintaining the file of the newspaper cuttings, articles and the bulletin board items. I actually loved my avocation!
I was introduced to the entire LRF staff at the ‘Calendar Launch’ at Karuna Vihar on Friday, 13 November’09. I was made in charge of writing press invites, pre and post event press releases, preparing press kits, inviting and dealing with the press on 23 November’09 at ‘The Sir Ratan Tata Trust’ distinguished lecture series on Education and Inclusion (A place in the choir) by Dr. Martha Rose, Dean, Special Education, Salve Regina University, United States along with other eminent speakers like Bro. Dominic Jacob (Principal, St. Mary’s Academy, New Delhi), Priti Kirbat (Director of Astitva, a woman’s empowerment organization in D.Dun), Dr. Rakesh Kumar (Secretary Education, Govt. of Uttarakhand), Dr. Sanat Mohanty (Chemical Engineer from IIT Mumbai, PhD from University of Minnesota), Dr. B.K. Joshi (Director of Doon Library and Research Centre) and Jo Chopra McGowan (Director, Latika Roy Foundation). The press included The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Tribune and Garhwal Post. Selling Karuna Vihar calendars and envelopes made by children of CVT to the guests at the event (with Rizwan) was also a tactic!
Dehradun Disability Forum (DDF), a ‘badhte kadam’ initiative, is a rendezvous of all the organizations of Dehradun dealing with disability. Face painting at DDF on Saturday, 28 November’09 to celebrate ‘World Disability Day (3 December)’ was again loads of fun and a new avenue for fund raising! And guess what??? My photograph was there in the newspaper (Dainik Jagran, Hindustan Times, Hindustan) the very next day. ‘A good deed done lift us above ourselves’, isn’t it? Well, LRF encourages the use of colourful activities as it helps in spreading the spectrum of colours into the lives of special people. It renders them a renaissance of hope and justice from the boulevard of their broken dreams.
Early Intervention Centre, a place for the little ones with disability is a small wonder in itself. Here the day starts with a prayer “Itni shakti hame dena data….,” continues with nursery rhymes and work dynamically towards the healthy development of a child. Interaction with special children made me realize the essence of a beautiful life and how these kids are special in their own way. Learning Pottery at Latika Vihar actually sensitized me on how to mould and carve with care. Painting and chart making with my colleagues and pasting stamps on newsletters along with Priyam was a task done by me after almost five years!
Latika means ‘Vine’. Similar to its meaning, the organization is climbing up in the field of social welfare and development particularly in the vicinity of disability with the support of its staff, volunteers and donors. The amalgamation of various activities, events, workshops and visits has made the LRF icon translucent. The degree of transparency within the foundation is maintained to a level where its staff knows what lies beneath the cravings. For me, it was indeed a ‘Vine Veracity’. It was an experience of a new relation, celebration, expression, felicitation, exploration, realization and motivation.
The aura at my working place was laudable. My amiable colleagues were indeed supportive and were always there to steer me. (Thanks to all). Deepak (COO), the volunteer in charge helped me mend my ways when I was wrong. Down the memory lane, I’ll carry along with me those kind words, gestures, loving smile, warmth, kindness and appreciation which has always kept me in high spirits and has enhanced my capability to produce a better output. This has helped me to keep an optimistic approach towards work. Saying ‘Sir and Ma’am’ at LRF made them feel too big. So I tried my best to avoid this habit of mine, but in vain. I remember Jo saying to me, “Nobody calls me Ma’am out here!” with an astonishing smile, the very first time. Surprisingly, at Moy’s birthday (Jo’s youngest daughter) on 17 November’09, she actually hugged me! Whenever I was busy updating the bulletin board, she used to cross me at the alley of the front office. (Wow! What a coincidence!). She used to smile and remark “Oh! Good” seeing me working and I felt happy to be noticed.
What was there will be submerged in the shadows of remembrance. What I need to say is rationalize your thinking and show empathy. These special people are worth your love and not your sympathy. Forget about the world, they have nothing else but just to mock at it. What you need to do is…..
“Heal the world…
Make it a better place…
For you and for me…And the entire human race…
There are people dying….If you care enough for their living….
Make a better place for you and for me….”
Article by Ritika Beck
