How long does it take to become a known member to an unknown family?
For most us, this question may seem as alien as the isolation that succumbs around it. Most of us are privileged, to live and feel loved in the shelter of known faces around us. It is something we often take for granted as we grow up.
That random Sunday, when we headed towards Chennai, we didn’t even know how beautiful sometimes life can seem to be without the shades of pretense or protection. Samarthan, the social service club of IFMR, aimed at making this society, a happier place to live in, teamed up with “Bhumi”, to organize a painting camp at Gracious Homes, a home away from home for children who have lost their loved ones.
After some moving around, we finally managed to reach there and to our surprise, we found a lot of children waiting. Within minutes, we were their family. The acceptance in their world, made us feel vainer than they did.
We painted, laughed, danced, had animated conversations and discussed movies. Though not many of them knew Hindi, but love transcends all languages.
It was a very special day for all of us. When we were coming back, we hardly spoke to each other. That random Sunday, we left a little part of ourselves with the kids.
Team Samarthan has taken up a great initiative and we hope to attend many such camps in the days to come.
As I sign off, I just have a thing to say; sometimes you create better stories with strange faces, to be with them, without expectations, without demands and just letting life go by, quietly. Stay for long and you will be one of them.
Urmilesh
(PGDMB-15) With Prabhav Mishra, Ramya Ramakrishnan, Snegaa, Surbhit Srivastava, Karthik RM, Sundar Nagarajan
Pic Credits: Kartik RM
Team Samarthan Batch 15 (Ashwani Rajendran, Ashutosh Pandey, Sruthi Gadhar, Swetha Raghu)
