An eye opener: Kanya Gurukul.....

Today we are preparing for the trip “Spiti Sojourn”. It is a trip for a cause which we shall be doing every year with friends to aid schools for poor kids. These schools have no funds and have to depend on donations or other income sources to sustain themselves. With all these constraints they try their level best to give the best of education and other facilities to the poor children.

Last weekend I went to a place called Bachganva Gamri, Lukhi Road, Kurukshetra, Haryana, on the invitation of a friend. I was there to photograph a Kanya Gurukul. When I stepped in I saw a different world. A big family type environment. School prayer was going on when I arrived, followed by the reading of the brief headline of news, yoga exercises and dispersal.

A beautiful building in the midst of farms, blue sky, white clouds and fresh air which we hardly see and feel in Delhi. It was a most sublime experience!!

I was informed by the Management that the fee is very nominal so that everyone can afford this quality education.

I went to the hostel and found it to be neat and clean. I had breakfast with the kids in their mess and enjoyed the good meal.

School gets over at 2 o’clock, after which the students rest for an hour followed by extra classes for home work and by 5:30 it is sports time.  I went to the ground which is big – in fact we do not have such grounds in many schools in our cities. I saw an old man, around 80, sitting on a chair and after talking to him I came to know that he is a volleyball coach and he used to run his own Academy and has produced many international players. He is offering his services free of cost to the Gurukul and he is with the team for the last one year. He started training the students from scratch and today this team is state champion in their age group. This gentleman is very hopeful that some of the players will get a call from the National team which was quite evident when I saw them playing.

Friends, coming back to the Tour “Spiti Sojourn”. We are going on a biking expedition from 7 June to 14 June 2010 to photograph Spiti Valley. After returning we will organize an online exhibition of the pictures to raise funds for the Kanya Gurukul. I need your inputs on the exhibition viz. what should be the cost of the prints (Should not be expensive), how can we go about progressing in this project to assist the Gurukul, your support, how you intend sharing this with your friends etc. I just cannot do this without your help!!

I also intend opening a Bank Account dedicated to assist these under-privileged children and would, therefore, need an inflow of funds. Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

Let us all get together and help in some small way in alleviating the misery of under-privileged children. There cannot be anything more satisfying than helping the needy!!