Tula and Sanjay, unlike their friends who chose to fly away to unknown lands for better future, had an uncommon goal.
A small query unnerved the couple. “Which is my birth day?” asked 14-year-old Vipul, adopted child of Sanjay, an engineer and Tula, IT professional; while the couple was busy preparing for first birthday bash of their biological girl-child Gulal.
“We both felt extremely sad,” said Sanjay. “Vipul’s question silenced us. We cancelled Gulal’s birthday celebration. Four-years have passed; but since we faced that query we have been celebrating one birthday for all our 16 children. December 25 is their common birthday,” he said.
Tula and Sanjay, unlike their friends who chose to fly away to unknown lands for better future, had an uncommon goal. They chose to settle down in Gujarat’s rural area and invested their education, dedication, entrepreneurial skills for better future of unknown kids.
Today, after hard work of almost two decades in villages near Rajkot, Surat, Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Patan, Kutch, the couple has been able to build up their mansion – Vishwa Gram and their precious possession – big fat Bhartiya family. They reside in Mehsana with four and half year-old Bharti – Gujarati, seven-year-old Shobha – South-Indian, ten-year-old Nikhil -Bengoli, nine-year-old Puja – Rajsthani (9) and fourteen-year-old Vipul – Gujarati….- They have a family of sixteen kids.
Before they christened these kids with a surname ‘Bhartiya’ and gave them new life with a common birth date, these kids spent their childhood dying. They begged on streets and stations, worked as carriers for drugs, witnessed gory crimes and suffered harshest of thrashings and brutal sexual exploitation. They survived because they kept running away from titanic tortures till they bumped into their long lost parents Tula and Sanjay who took them home.
Today, at their home ‘Vishwa Gram’, these kids are learning to live with creative discipline in an unconventional set up. A set up that is organised to return the emotions of childhood that the cruel conventional set up of outside world once robed these kids of.
In Vishwa Gram, they begin their day at six with Nature walk session. Spending an hour in natural surroundings every morning, these children learn to identify bird species and also learn botany. Their routine starts with lessons of self hygiene, and at breakfast they learn about healthy food habits. They learn to read and write and cook and clean. After lunch, these kids spin yarn and make about 75 meter Khadi cloth every year.
During early evenings, these kids spend a few hours learning various arts. “Children learn painting, clay work, pottery, origami, puppet making, experiment to make various utensils like solar cooker or learn carpentry to make small wooden items,” said Tula.
“Innovative practical sessions like making news paper, pamphlet for the village, making pots and lamps for sale – these activities arouse their curiosity. Curiosity leads kids deeper into creation and that helps to rekindle the sensitivities which are buried under their skin – thickened with crime and burnt with cruelty,” added Sanjay.
“When we rescue such a kid, she initially looks at us with doubt, distrust and disbelief. After a few days, while taking a Nature walk or doing innovative art activities suddenly she starts opening up, and the distrust gradually melts away. The feelings of curiosity, eagerness and pleasure…begin. And being able to see that lost spark restored within those tiny eyes – is the reward,” says Sanjay with ultimate optimism – a spirit that tirelessly works to weave cheerful ambiance at Vishwa Gram – where slum dogs indeed regain their million dollar smile.
