1

TOUCHING THE HEARTS OF INDIA’S UNTOUCHABLE CHILDREN

Abraham George

“I wanted most to help the Dalit, the untouchable children of India. Most people believe that they don’t deserve to excel. I believe otherwise.”

Abraham George reflected his vision for alleviating poverty and social injustice in founding Shanti Bhavan—a non-profit organization that operates a pre-K-12 residential school in India which give poor kids the education they need, as well as boarding, meals, clothing, and medical care.

PHOTO FROM SHANTI BHAVAN

“Where were you in the Himalayas?” my children would often asked me. Often, my answers were brief. But I finally realize I have the urge to tell my story: There’s a need for me to explain why I was there, why I had to be a soldier. Looking back, I suppose that some stage in one’s life has greater impact on one’s future than all others. For me, it was these army experiences that have helped me shape much of my outlook in life. Though it was not a lifetime career to pursue, the discipline I best learned in the army, I can still apply in my life. I was born and grew up as a young man in Kerala, India. When I turned 14, I got admitted to the National Defence Academy. In my army days, I used to fire an artillery gun. Then sooner I

got injured by a dynamite explosion, recovered, and eventually I rose to the rank of a Captain. And after 3 years of service, my hearing got bad, which was the reason why I need to move to the US with my mother, to undergo a surgery only available there at the time. With my mom working at NASA at the time, I started a new life in the US, and became a professional in economics and finance.

I have spent the next 25 years in the United States. I have felt I have gone to another world. Eventually, I felt that I needed to come back. I should give something back, and work among the poor, and give the opportunity that I have. I was given a good education, good career, so now it’s my turn.

2

So I came back to tour in India after the longest time. It was a journey with my son Vivek, then 12, who had not seen India until then. Before the trip, I have told him stories about India’s great people and rich heritage. I wanted him to be proud of his origins.

I was disheartened by what the Indian society has become. My once beautiful and quiet hometown in Trivandrum, Kerala has become too congested. Delhi, for instance, has become too polluted, one of the worst in the world. There is so much injustice and inequality. The caste system is still an influential institution. I sought to understand what causes so much poverty, illiteracy, and health problems, mostly among women and children.

I decided to devote myself in charitable works. I founded The George Foundation in Bangalore. My work here aims to help the poorest of the poor. From here, the Shanti Bhavan school was born.

I wanted most to help the Dalit, the untouchable children of India. They are considered to belong to the lower caste, which makes them extremely poor. A lot of them are forced to get jobs, sold for marriage, and become victims of abuse. They lack access to any good education. Most people believe that they don’t deserve to excel. I believe otherwise. Give them the chance, tools and opportunities, they have the potential and can excel just as any other from a more privileged background. So I would give these children the same opportunities as the children of the wealthy and the powerful. It was a daring, pioneering act. I named it Shanti Bhavan—Haven of Peace.

Shanti Bhavan is a residential school. Just like a regular school, we offer pre-K-12

levels. Here, students are educated with the same subjects. At Shanti Bhavan, we give these poor kids the education they need, as well as boarding, meals, clothing, and medical care. Their families won’t need to spend for it. They grew up well, study hard, and see how they dream and make them real in their lives. It’s just so deeply gratifying to see them overcome their learning difficulties and trauma, and able to go beyond their challenging backgrounds, the crimes they experienced, and the sufferings they went through.

Many kids suffered domestic violence or sexual abuse. Others may have serious learning difficulties, like dyslexia and attention disorders. Some might have behavioral problems. By giving them the support, loving environment, and by giving special attention, these children are able to overcome all the challenges of their childhood. They turn out to be wholesome individuals. And many of them begin to display leadership qualities. So to finally see them in a graduation ceremony is very emotional for me. It is a long journey, spanning over 14 years, but the outcome is deeply gratifying.

The task of raising these children is not just a personal thing for; it’s a family thing, too. My wife, my sons are involved in this work. (My son Ajit George is school’s current Director of Operations) From us down to the teachers, caregivers, and even the cleaning staff—all are involved in helping all these children learn and grow up. It is a total combined effort. We are constantly encouraging the kids, motivating them, and guiding them. We make it sure children know and feel that they are loved, and that we will be with them throughout their journey. This is not just a one-time thing. It is something we do every day, and in

READ MORE STORIES ON INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

https://seameo-innotech.odoo.com/

some ways, through every moment of every day. And you can see the change happening, and so you build on that, and soon you find that the kids are capable of overcoming all that has been holding them back. You will see that they themselves want to be better human beings. Successful human beings. They have a desire to help their families, their communities, and then the rest of the world.

Today, we are facing greater challenges in running the school. We are constantly striving to improve the quality of the care offered to Shanti Bhavan children. At some point in our mission, we are affected by a lack of financial resources. For example, the mattresses on which our children sleep have been used for the last 20 years, and they literally flattened out, or too soiled. Blankets are torn. Sports equipment like sneakers, jump ropes, soccer balls—all these gear are in short supply. We would very much like to take the children on outings to places nearby but have no school buses for that. We also have a shortage of staff. Salaries are low, and family quarters aren’t available. As a result, it is difficult to attract quality staff members. If we overcome these challenges with better financial resources, we can offer better care, we can hire better teachers, and we can improve more our academic program.

But we continue to go on, and find solutions to these challenges. We look to the success we have had: the success of our students. Like Kumar and his former classmate Vijay. They are among the 14 students who once grew up in the slums and graduated in 2010, and now hold professional positions in several multinational companies. Like Shilpa Rij, who graduated in Shanti Bhavan, and succeeded to publish her memoir, The Elephant Chaser’s Daughter, about the story of her family, her struggles in overcoming all challenges. And like the students featured in Netlflix documentary, Daughters of Destiny (filmed by Veronica Roth)—their stories are told here, and the legacy of our school.

We are here to bring up the children, to love them and encourage them. This is what Shanti Bhavan really is.