Entry Four: Celebrating a Special Birthday with Friends
My last day in Calcutta was a Saturday and it was the annual “Foundation Day,” which is the birthday of the sponsorship agency in Calcutta. It’s a big deal and is held in an auditorium in Calcutta. A bonus for me was that I saw Dr. Samir Chaudhuri there. Dr. Chaudhuri was instrumental in helping us start this sponsorship program in Calcutta. His Child In Need Institute is world-famous for the help it gives mothers and children in Calcutta. It was great to see him again after a number of years; between our mutual travels, we haven’t met up much lately.
There were a few short speeches but mainly the day featured extremely talented sponsored children and youth performing. There was fantastic dancing with performers clad in beautifully colorful costumes. The dances, like Calcutta itself, give great insight into the culture of West Bengal, the state where Calcutta is located.
There was also a wonderful puppet show with talking puppets – three feet tall no less – telling an interesting tale.
Then there was a musical yoga demonstration. I wish you could have seen this. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. Really. The grace of the children and young adults was stuff of legend. Flexibility? I didn’t think it was possible for the human body to move that way. In fact, in my case, it is very much NOT possible. I’ll never forget it.
As always, our sponsored children and the sponsored youth, those in their teen years, astound me with their talent. It’s hard to believe that they have grown up facing extreme poverty. But they have and they are overcoming it. And we’re part of that movement and it feels good. I hope sponsors know what a difference they’re making in so many lives.
I remarked to the gathered group that it would be easy to expect a child’s personality or persona to be seriously impaired by poverty. On the contrary, I believe that facing poverty and dealing with it has made these children better. They are wiser, more mature, more responsible and more appreciative than their counterparts who are better off and have been blessed with more resources
This was my last “official act” on this most memorable trip. Once again, what I saw and experienced ran the gamut. From the anguish
I felt at the situation of the families who had been relocated, to the joy and gratitude of the mothers and fathers in the villages, I left very encouraged and even more determined to help find more sponsors so more children can move up their own “ladders” and reach out and grab their dreams.
A final, personal note: I’ve been coming to Calcutta for almost 20 years, an observation I’ve made to the point that it’s tiresome. But over those 20 years, this organization has enabled me to make some really good friends there. Dr. Chaudhuri would fall into that category. As would Ms. Neena Singh, a current board member of two agencies with which we work in Calcutta. Neena is tireless, steadfast and as affable a person as you’ll ever meet.
A truly special friend is a guy I interviewed back in 1988 for the accounting position of the sponsorship organization we were just starting. Quite a nice chap, as they would say here with a British lilt, and a very good friend. His name is Ramdas Pai. This is the place where I find it easy to wonder where the years have gone. But somewhere during those 20 or so years, we recognized the talent Ramdas has and “stole” him away from our local agency and hired him as Children International’s Director of Global Expansion. His breadth of skills and diplomatic personality have served Children International very well.
For me, it’s been a joy to observe Ramdas grow. He’s a delight to be with and this trip was no exception. His keen observations and quick wit made a good visit even better.
I’d like to mention all the Calcutta staff members who are also friends, but the risk of leaving someone out is too great, so I’ll just tip my cap to them all and bid them thanks…from the bottom of my heart.
You can also read Jim's journal entries from the trip and comment on the Children International blog.
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