Visiting Mamuni's Home

As part of an NGO that creates awareness on Dementia, and being its founding member I had conceptualized a few programs in the alternate living zone.

One of them was to celebrate birthdays – not in a self-indulgent manner but to brighten the day a few more people who are not as fortunate as most of us are – a visit to an orphanage for birthdays or a visit to an old age home for anniversaries.

So in October 2014, when a friend of mine wanted to spend some quality time in an orphanage on her birthday, I was excited to be part of that trip. She spoke to the Founder of a home in North Kolkata. We set out in her car that morning. My friend was the generous one here who did not let me share expenses of our transport costs (Drivers are expensive)

My friend picked some pens and chocolates for the kids from the local shop near the Home. 

As Durga Puja was nearing, some local residents approached us asking for donation for the local pandal as soon as we parked our car. This annoyed my friend as we were just visitors in that locality. She gave him a mouthful. He then silently retreated without argument. I sort of felt bad for that guy – He probably never imagined someone who arrives in a car can lose temper for just twenty thirty bucks.

I was in no mood to lecture or sermonize my friend because mental evolution is a different thing altogether – it needs a different level of perception and sensitivity.  For all you know he was just testing our generosity as he probably knew we were heading towards the orphanage and assumed - we have a large heart.

She is probably right – why should we pay, if we do not belong here? If I chose to donate, that would go against my friend’s rationale. We had two options - bigheartedness and petty mindedness. What we choose to practice reflect who we are. Enough said.

Knowing she is another year older, knowing we were about to meet orphans who are not as privileged as we are and knowing we will be visiting a Church in Bandel, immediately after exploring the orphanage and meeting the kids – ideally the state of mind should have been different – a little selfless, a little more generous with time, generous with appreciation, generous with compliments and generous with a few rupees. 

But then, that’s a different journey – mostly inward.

We visited a 37 year old conventional home headed by a dedicated person who was at the helm of affairs, for close to four decades. After an hour’s chat with the founder, we saw the entire place that spread over many acres, escorted by a young girl Mamuni who lived there and it is her pride and perspectives that made the entire narrative so different.

She showed us the property that had homes for over 50 children built on a self-sustaining model with a few farms, a bakery, greenery all around, ponds full of fishes and plan for a school. 

She made us meet a few kids who were practicing for a program in the evening. She mentioned there was an old age home nearby. That calls for another visit.

She wanted to fulfill her father’s dream by studying nursing. She addresses the founder as her father.

On our way back we visited Bandel Church. That’s another story again.

All that I remember about this trip is that  young lad who left crest fallen, obviously insulted by my friend's outburst and the young girl who felt eternal pride in showing us her home.

A little learning that day that will remain etched in my memory - was what you feel matters much more than what you do - for others.