Recently I had been a spectator to the remarkable
common-civic-sense of people of Tamilnadu. There was a big river of cars and
bikes waiting for this traffic signal to become green and flow. Somewhere in
the back the siren of Ambulance was heard and I turn around to see an ambulance
coming from some distance back. In no moment the car in the front and middle
start making way just as if the steamer were flowing in the river. I was
impressed what if same thing happens in other states and cities.
I have had chosen this day (Sunday, 15 Dec 2013) to spend with the special people
of a center about which I vaguely knew except for my friend who lend her bike
to me reach there. I always have had the belief that giving ones time was the
most precious gift one can give to another. "Money is important but not the only
and not the priority". Having done my prayers I left for the all-day event at
around 6AM. Since I was new to this place and had to look for important
signboards along my pre-destined route I preceded slowly. We (my friend along
after midway) reached this place at 8:30AM.
Here I learnt, later, it was a rehabilitation center for
street wanderers. The people brought here were not just poor but those whose life had
become worse than even dust. Thanks to the Rev. father Guttickal who founded
this charitable trust and gave home and reason for these people to live. The
transformation which I was told and could observe in the people brought here
was remarkable. To name it the place was called ‘Parisutha Narkarunai Illam’ in Tamil and meant home for abandoned people.
What we did here? We were here to sponsor the special lunch
for all the 200 residents of this Illam. Yes money was required and so 'the group' funded it. While the chefs got busy in cooking Biryani and others I took the
moment to visit around this place. I found it strange when some of the women
were locked inside chamber and they asked me to release them. They spoke Hindi,
Telugu and others. I was flattered by their language and so did I ask my friend
the reason for them being locked. I was informed later that one of them gave
birth to a son there itself and till date she doesn’t recognize her own, now 2 year
old son. Sister Macrina, I met, a strong hearted lady and the caretaker of this
Illam explains.
Some were found sleeping on streets in dying condition and
some wandering naked. Some were left by men after pregnancy while some
medically diseased were left for their fate. The reasons could be many but what was obvious that certain trauma had occurred with these people and they lost
their consciousness.
Today I could see many changed lives. When I saw the photos
of each of them when they were brought and compared them to today my eyes were
godsend. What a transformation! The hygiene had improved; they were
medically fit and disease-free. They prayed and sang and did their daily jobs
required. What more was astounding that there was no finite source of finance! In
what Sister Macrina claims, "God is the source and he is the caretaker".
Vegetable sellers from nearby market would send once in week a lorry filled
with vegetable. Randomly other people like us would contribute Rice, Dal and
other food grains.
Here I introduce the other members in this great cause who
came as the sun rose higher in the day. These were Prasad and his brother,
Murughi and his wife, Prakash, the three Karthik(s) and Saranya. We move to the
dining hall where we get the plates ready. After a small prayer we start
serving them. While serving I was moving to and fro capturing photos as well.
It could not have gone unheeded what I found difficult to comprehend then.
There was a sudden rush in their hands and mouth to eat the food. Many eyes
were staring at me and I could see the galaxy full of stories in them. I was startled
and my eyes slowly moistened. I felt very heavy at my heart and my feelings were very
different than earlier.
"I was lost in the silence of the nearby fields,
I was
freshened by the fast moving winds,
I felt wonderful away from the daily mundane,
I felt within me the human being."
Thereafter we had a group lunch and group photo. Shortly
after that we bade the sister and the place b-bye. Happy Christmas to all! :)
The address of the place:
Parisutha Narkarunai Illam
#150, Annai Marai Colony, Veerapuram
Avadi, Chennai- 055
Mobile: 9444864360 (Sister Macrina)
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