The Chetnaa Diary
- Anjali Lekhi
Part-1
We
always wonder what is important in life. What can make us happy or the
thing that satisfies you. And believe me the answer lies in the next lines…..
In
the fall of summer, our family planned a visit to Chetnaa in Kurukshetra which
was not far away from my Grandmother’s place. Chetnaa is an NGO founded some 2
decades ago in the small village of Mirzapur. With, sun taking our energy and
traffic testing our patience, we reached Mirzapur, a small village situated in
the outskirts of the Kurukshetra University. It’s often said that a great start
marks a much great ending. We entered the premises. There was a team of 7-8
boys standing there to welcome us and help us in carrying our luggage and
belongings to the destination. Their smiling faces and endearing greetings just
made me believe that it will be worth a visit. As we entered, my Grandmother
started telling us stories about Chetnaa and the locality. On the other hand, I
was very keen to see the place I have always seen in pictures and listened
success stories on phone.
After
10 minutes of walking we entered Chetnaa. That very moment, the children of the
class stood up seeing us and greeted us. They all were so happy to meet all of
us and the place didn’t feel to be less than home. As we entered in other
classrooms, all the children welcomed us with the same zeal. What’s important is
not that they were happy, the most important thing to look upon was that in
spite of not having enough opportunities in life they all had been taking a step
forward in their lives by coming to Chetnaa. Mirzapur, like most of the rural
areas in country marks a community where there was “Kachi Sadak” with
improper drainage facilities. And like most of the North Indian villages,
family livelihood depends mostly on agricultural activities. Hence it’s the
normal communities we see with the basic living problems that the person faces.
Even after that you will see all children present at Chetnaa with their copies
practising writing (in their beautiful handwriting) even after the end of their
exams. The working people of the Chetnaa who are the Educators were not less to
be appreciated. They were giving their 100% to the children in every possible
way.
In
such an atmosphere, there was me standing and thinking about my days in the
city with optimum facilities and even after that I yell for my small issues.
Then I look here, to those children who are captain of Hockey team (state
level), who are looking forward to achieve dreams irrespective of what they
have seen in their lives. My experience became more enriching when I started
playing with the children, who didn’t even know my name but were ready to make
me a part of their routine. That shows the simplicity, the love and affection you
get in a place like this. It is to be understood that all place cannot give
such experience. When you see children smiling at you, listening to you and
trusting you for everything think you ask them to do, you somehow feel
complete. It gives you satisfaction and somehow it adds a meaning in your life.
After all that’s what we are living for.
Asking
for change won’t help, but making that one through education can make a great
change and that’s what I have learnt and understood from Chetnaa. Not that I’m
saying all this because my Grandmother is one of the founding members of the
Organisation, but I appreciate the effort she and her co-worker have been doing
since years. Now when I see that smile on my Grandmother’s face I get all my
answers to her happiness which was always linked to Chetnaa. I being a social
worker have worked in many organisations but never have got that much happier
and satisfied which I got when I visited Chetnaa. It was worth the visit and
somehow to those smiles I have promised to come again and be a part of the
change making process very soon.
Love you Grandmother and Nanaji
Regards
Anjali - Anjali Lekhi is a student of Masters in Social Work at Delhi School of Social Wrok, she has previously worked with Society for All Round Development. You can send you feedback to her at lekhianjali@gmail.com.
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