Finding One’s Aim
This morning we visited a school called Purkul Youth Development Society that serves underprivileged kids in the town of Dehradun and the surrounding rural areas. The school started twenty years ago when a wealthy economist moved to the area to study yoga. He saw issues with the education system and began to tutor students after school: first four, then eight, then a small class. Soon he realized that he needed to start his own school. PYDS currently teaches 500 students from grades 1-12. The school specifically focuses on recruiting children from remote areas who may not have had the opportunity to go to school. 150 of the students live on-campus and PYDS provides meals, dental care, and health care for all of the students. Because of the essential care it provides, PYDS is open almost year-round, with 2 two-week breaks in summer and winter. Amazingly, the school is run entirely off of charitable donations.
The first thing I noticed was a large poster on the wall outside with the students’ pledge on it. It talked about many things, including selfless action, environmental action, kindness, and most importantly, the value of hard work and aim. Our first activity was with the 11th grade students making clay sculptures in the art room. Besides joking around about the anatomical incorrectness of my gorilla or Jacob’s elephants, we talked about the subjects we studied and the paths we wanted to pursue. It was interesting to me that all of them either had clear goals of what they wanted to do, or at least ideas of what field they wanted to study in college (all of them were planning on going to university).
After art we played some Indian athletic games with the P.E class, one that was tag-like, and one that was dodgeball-like. Earlier I had told some of the students I was a dancer and while others played more games Zoey and I went up to a dance class. We were taught a short namaskara, or formal pre-dancing bow, and then some basic Kathak movements, a classical northern Indian dance. In return, I taught them a short contemporary floorwork combination.
I am struck by the importance of dance in India and the number of people who can do it. Everywhere I go I introduce myself as a dancer and the response is always positive. Dance is often in the top three things when I ask people what hobbies they have. Oftentimes people enjoy doing Bollywood dances, Hip-Hop, and the other kinds of dance they see on social media, but classical/traditional dance is also very important in the culture. When we visited a Shiva temple later that day our guide was telling us how one of Shiva’s forms is Nataraja, lord of dance. In turn, some people worship Shiva by dancing. In the United States many people still learn Tik-Tok dances, and people might learn salsa, hip-hop or voguing, but to me none seem as integral to the culture as dance is in India.
Today we began our day bright and early with breakfast, then loaded up on the bus for a two-hour bus ride to the Purkul Youth Development Society. I had such an amazing time there.
Right away, we paired up with their eleventh graders and went to the art room. They taught us how to make different clay statues and bowl. The students were very helpful and friendly. It didn’t take long for us to be joking around with each other like we’d been friends for years. We all had a good laugh about my elephant which was looking in two different directions with different sized legs.
We talked about what sports we like to play, and of course, volleyball came up. They told us they wanted to see us play because we’re a “volleyball school,” so we all headed down to the outside sports area to play. They taught us a few different traditional Indian games, which after a while of running around confusedly, we finally started to understand. Then, we played volleyball; MMS vs PYDS. It was a heated game with a crowd sitting above us cheering us on and commenting on every play. After the volleyball game, we ended the sports time with basketball, before heading up for lunch. While we were eating in the dining hall, a bunch of the fifth graders came up to us, asking us questions and wanting to play sports with us, which was really sweet.
Sadly, we had to say goodbye to the school children and take another bus ride to Old Rajpur to see a temple where people come to worship the deity, Shiva. Our tour guide told us about the history of the temple and Shiva’s significance in the Hindu culture. We hiked into a beautiful forest to admire the scenery and stretch our legs.
Next, we walked over to a small mountain village to have high tea with Gitu, Shantum’s wife, and learn to cook traditional Indian pakora and halwa. We had some delicious chai and talked to Gitu about the land and the settlements there. I really enjoyed today. It was dusk when we started our return drive, and getting to see everything lit up on the bus ride back to the Sri Ram Ashram was really special.
Pardada Pardadi School 2021
We had the amazing opportunity to meet with some of the girls from Pardada Pardadi. Pardada Pardadi is an all-girls school in Uttar Pradesh, India. The mission of the school is to increase the attendance of girls in school and to help them complete school and college. This school has spent many years figuring out the best way to make school more accessible for families so as to increase the attendance and retention of female students. Part of their success is because they have created a system where the girls receive money that is deposited into an account every time they attend school. The girls then receive the money once they graduate.
On Thursday evening we were able to meet these young women within the comfort of our homes. We were split up into groups and started having some great conversations. I met with three girls that shared their very high expectations and goals for themselves. They want to go far in school and know what they want to do with their life. They were so confident and driven, it was inspiring. They shared how they study constantly for school. They wake up early to study and it is the last thing they do before going to bed. The girls in my group were bright, passionate, and dedicated to their education and future. When we went around asking what they like to do in their free time, they either said school or helping others. They were very genuine and kind. They always had a big smile and were eager to ask me about my life. You could tell they knew that school was an opportunity for a better life, and they were going to use it to the fullest.
On Thursday night, we had the opportunity to meet with students from Pardada Pardadi girls school. It wasn’t as nice as being able to fly to India and meet them in person, but it was nice to see them and hear from them. A lot of them shared interesting hobbies with us, like playing sports and traveling. The girls were eager to talk to us and we were just as eager to talk to them. I liked talking to them and if I get a chance to go see them in person (if and when this pandemic is over), I would gladly take that chance.
The girls that I talked with spoke about how they really wanted to help people. As someone who is looking into philanthropy, I really liked hearing that. We need people that want to help others, especially right now. Some of them wanted to participate in athletics and that is really cool to me. Some girls said that they want to go into engineering, a profession I also want to get into. The students I spoke with work very hard so that they can pursue their dreams in the future. That is very inspiring to me.
Our time speaking with the girls from Pardada Pardadi was an exciting change of pace from the more serious, and somewhat intense conversations we’d been having earlier that week. Instead of doing a lot of research into a person, we just asked questions to get to know them, and have a look into their lives.
I was in a group with Kira, Octavio, Minakshi, and Nahin. Although there were some technical issues, we prevailed! What struck me most was how dedicated Minakshi was to playing basketball. She said she spends around four hours a day. There were actually three national basketball champions on our zoom, her being one. When we talked about what a day in our lives looked like, I was surprised at just how much they study. I’ll admit to cramming for finals and procrastinating on some big projects, so I’ve spent a few days like that, but I can’t imagine that being the norm. Speaking with them encouraged me to examine the way I think about studying (and procrastinating). I enjoyed the small groups, and even though I was worried it might be awkward, it was a highlight of the “trip.” I spoke with a classmate, and we hoped for even more time in small groups for the next day’s Sri Ram Ashram zoom.
After we got back in the main group I got to hear some other girls speak. I was surprised to hear that so many wanted to be engineers! Near the end of our time together, I asked them what made them happy or brought a smile to their face. Many of them said going to school. Because they aren’t going anymore, several noted that they missed the social and extracurricular (basketball) aspects of school. This year I’ve become more grateful for the ability to go to school. Seeing my friends and interacting with teachers feels like a treat compared to online learning. Because of the changes Covid has brought, I felt what they said much more deeply than I would have had this been a normal year.
Video: Pardada Pardadi 2019
A short video of the Maitri Project visit to Pardada Pardadi girls school in 2019.
Filmed and edited by Devin Kumar (http://devinkumar.com)
When You Empower a Community
Pardada Pardadi Educational Society
After an incredibly bumpy 7-hour bus ride, we arrived in Anupshahr. We were coming off a long night of dancing and partying in honor of our last day at the ashram. Almost all of us were feeling tired and disoriented, traveling from place to place really took it out of us. I had no idea what to expect from our next experience at the Pardada Pardadi school for girls. The only thing I knew was that it was a huge establishment, providing education to about 1400 girls who came from the surrounding rural villages. Upon arrival, we were very kindly greeted by a group of students who had just finished their grade 10 exams; I immediately became energized by this bright group of students who were eager to show us around.
Right off the bat, I became friends with two girls named Bhati and Swati. They guided me through their huge school and along the way we interacted with dozens of younger kids who were playing outside for recess. We shared with each other a bit about our interests and our passions; I learned that both girls were studying maths and science so that they can become software engineers. They also shared with me that they loved to play music and dance. Most of the girls who go to Pardada Pardadi are first generation learners, and through this institution they’ve had the incredible opportunity to receive a quality education so they can pursue their dreams. The girls spoke amazingly good English. They were kind and respectful, eager to learn, and they were great listeners. After spending an hour with them it was becoming very clear to me that there was something special about this place.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve been learning over the course of our trip has to do with service. We have met incredible leaders, who have dedicated their lives to serving a cause much greater than themselves. This has inspired a life changing and new outlook on life, and a greater understanding of what I seek to value.
During our time in India, we have met with Rinchen Khando, who has devoted her life to helping establishing, and running, The Tibetan Nuns Project. We have met with Dr. Metre who runs an organization called CORD, that helps empower women in rural communities. And of course, we have had the great privilege of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has been a huge proponent of secular ethics and non-violence. Here in Anupshahr, we have met yet another great leader, Sam Singh. He is the founder of Pardada Pardadi and former vice-president of U.S. South Asia DuPont. He worked hard his whole life so that he could give back to the community where his family has owned land for over 140 years. Sam is a visionary who decided he would dedicate himself toward improving the lives of thousands of young women in need. He is an incredible problem solver, and his ability to implement the organizational strategies learned in the corporate world has allowed him to overcome some of the greatest boundaries.
Last night, we got to have dinner at Sam’s house. We drove until we arrived on his beautiful property, out in the country, and for the first time on this trip we were able to enjoy a view of the stars. We ate a gigantic feast, outside on the rooftop level of his home. Dining with us, was a group of people from the United States who were visiting as part of a medical project. They had just finished vaccinating the whole school for typhoid. Our teacher, Sadanand, shared with us the significance of this project. He explained that when you dedicate your efforts toward improving the lives of others, often times you’ll attract people with special expertise who will be willing to contribute. I find it inspiring and uplifting to know that when we truly commit our hearts to selfless service, we can establish meaningful relationships, and therefor have access to great resources we can use to accomplish our goals.
After our bus ride from Sri Ram Ashram to Pardada Pardadi, we were all pretty exhausted, and hungry. I almost didn’t feel like I was ready to meet the school girls. However, as we pulled up we noticed that there was about twenty girls waiting at the entrance of the school to greet us with scarves; so really, there was no avoiding it. My class and I stood in a straight line across from them as they came forward and placed scarves around our necks. I thought it was a very kind greeting. The first girl who I made eye contact with was a very short girl with long hair, and a pretty smile. Her name was Nahid. She ended up being one of my guides along with another sweet girl named Sobha.
After eating lunch, the girls took us over to the campus to show us each section. This included the nursery / kindergarten classes, primary classes, and even the nurses’ office. As I toured the campus, with Nahid and Sobha, I noticed that all the girls that we passed, no matter what grade or age, were bright-eyed and excited to see us. I smiled back and tried to make eye contact with each girl. By doing this, I became more and more overwhelmed, and yet I still felt comfortable with their eagerness and excitement. They would wave and giggle to each other because they had gotten my attention, and I would laugh because of their cuteness. I think this made me more approachable. Once each group had my attention, they would rush up to me, in packs of about twenty, and exclaim, all at different times, things like, “Good afternoon ma’am!” Or, “Ma’am, how are you? What is your name?”
A few times I was told how happy I looked, and many times I was asked what I was thinking, and why I was smiling so much. The tour didn’t last long, as the girls were soon out of school. Nahid and Sobha wrote their names on my palm in pen, so I wouldn’t forget. They told me how much they would miss me, and that they would be thinking of me until we saw each other again tomorrow. We hugged goodbye and off they went with a few other of their friends that they had previously introduced me to.
Later that night, we had the opportunity to visit the founder of the school, Sam Singh, who explained to us that his home and the property where the school is had been in his family for many generations. Sadanand pointed out the very amazing fact that Sam and Renuka, who helped him create the school, managed to always find a solution to the issues faced by the families in the village, and their daughters. For example, it is promised that if the girls have a 70% attendance rate at the end of each year, 10 rupees will be placed into an account for each day, and at the end of their time studying there, the money is theirs for their future. There is a solar lamp checkout system for girls who don’t have electricity at home, so that they can study at night. There were many other clever solutions to the problems faced by the girls.
We had a wonderful dinner afterwards. Sam was just as hospitable and welcoming as the girls at the school, which I thought was very fitting. The next day, I got to meet up with my girls again. We did many activities, such as “teaching” and hanging out with some primary school classes, and of course at the end of it all was a long goodbye with lots of laughs and love. I received countless hugs and many exclamations of, “I’ll miss you so much.”
Nahid and Sobha are by far two of the most amazing girls I’ve ever met. Even though we live on opposite sides of the planet and were only able to be with each other for a very short period of time, I know that I’ll remember them. They had a strong impact on my views about the need to empower and support girls. They are, after all, two of the most passionate ones I’ve ever met.
Gallery: Pardada Pardadi Photo Page
Click a photo to enter slideshow mode. Photos by Shmuel Thaler.
Gallery: LEAP School and Langa Township Photos
Click a photo to enter slideshow mode!
Photos by Shmuel Thaler.
Welcoming the Stranger
India thus far has been an experience. Just three days into the trip, we’ve shopped in the markets of Old Delhi, rode through rural India, and visited with the bright-faced girls at Pardada Pardadi. Each and every event becomes my favorite in terms of the pure joy I experience, and adds to my excitement as we move along. As I sit and type, we are heading back to the YWCA, where I will enjoy a brief respite after yet another hot day. It is incredible how Indians can function in this scorching heat, and be so kind to us as we experience their culture. Each and every thing that I see in this country both amazes and baffles me. How is it that they can drive without any set of rules and get from point A to point B unscathed? Or support a family on 30 rupees (less than 50 cents) a day?
To us westerners, their lifestyles are difficult to fathom. Nevertheless, my class can find common ground with the people we have met in more ways than one. The girls at the Pardada Pardadi school were eager to get the most out of their education because they knew what an amazing opportunity they were given to attend such a school. Also, just like us, they enjoy singing and dancing, which we saw when participating in an impromptu dance party. All of us made new friends, and I personally would return to help in the school if given the chance. The love and acceptance that we all felt, regardless of cultural differences, draws me further and further toward India. It truly is a beautiful place, and I am very happy to know that my visa is valid for another 10 years.
As soon as we pulled through the gates of the Pardada Pardadi school we were welcomed by a crowd of smiling girls, in bright green uniforms. As I walked toward them I was greeted by a beautiful young girl names Jassi. She smiled saying, “Hello ma’am! May I please ask your name?” At first I was taken aback by how polite her greeting was but this would come to be the welcoming salutation I received from countless other girls throughout our visit. As we sat for an introduction from the founder of school, Jassi and I continued to exchange smiles across the room. As we exited the room she took me by the hand and said she liked my smile. I blushed, returning the compliment.
We were led around the school by a group of girls who showed us numerous classrooms filled with students. At one point, we walked into an open courtyard that contained swing sets and slides. The yard was teaming with young girls in Pre-K and Kindergarten. I hopped on the swings as the elder girls giggled at my childishness, that directly contrasted with their disciplined politeness. Soon the he girls began playing a game with a ball that I wasn’t familiar with. I watched as I pushed two little ones on the swings.
As we continued our walk, I returned to Jassi. I was amazed by her spunkiness. Every word she spoke was accentuated by some little movement or facial expression to play up the drama of her sentences. Although all of the girls spoke basic English Jassi spoke quite eloquently, with a noticeably larger vocabulary. Later on I told her I was interested in chemistry. She quickly pulled me away to show me their incredibly impressive Chemistry Lab. I felt her light up as I peered into the cabinets to read the labels on the bottles of chemicals. After a bit, we joined my classmates and the other girls in the main room of the school. There we chatted and sang to each other. We bonded over our mutual love of music. Although neither party knew what the other was singing we listened to the melodies and smiled in appreciation of the songs.
After our ice breaker games, we were ushered to a classroom where we turned on music and began an impromptu dance party. The girls danced beautifully with a grace and elegance that greatly contrasted with the jumping and fist pumping that we usually call dancing in the U.S. It was nearing time for the girls to go home, so I said goodbye to Jassi and she made me promise that we would see each other the following day. I promised and we hugged goodbye.
When we arrived the following morning the girls were eagerly waiting for us in front of the school. I got off the bus, immediately hearing Jassi’s voice calling my name. She ran over to me with another girl named Anu. They both rushed to tell me that we would be going to their village that day and would get to go to their houses to meet their families. Jassi told me that she had told her mother all about me and that she couldn’t wait for me to see her home. We got back on the bus and in a few minutes we had reached the village. Anu and Jassi grabbed my hands and began leading the group through the village. We stopped at one of their teacher’s house who is currently on maternity leave with her three-month old daughter. The family quickly began moving furniture around to make a place for everyone to sit. They served us tea and biscuits. I sat holding the baby, marveling at the difference in hospitality between the U.S. and India.
After tea, we continued to Anu’s house where we met her family. Her beautiful mother greeted us warmly and introduced us to their buffalo who was laying in the courtyard. Anu showed us the way to the roof where we could see the tops of the other houses in the village. We continued on toward Jassi’s house and she urged Anu to run ahead to make sure our welcome was ready. Jassi looked at me and put one hand on her face. She explained that she was worried and embarrassed because, unlike Anu’s, her house wasn’t cemented. I assured her that it would be beautiful regardless. She pulled me ahead of the group and ran to the front of her house. Her sister greeted me and Jassi introduced me to her mother. She gave me a hug while Jassi’s sister asked me about American culture. Her little brother sat next to me and Jassi said that he was going to walk with us because his school was on the way back to the bus. I held hands with both of them as we walked off toward the road. We passed a grain field and Jassi turned to me with a gigantic smile. “This is my field and this, this is my water pump,” she stated with pride. She skipped over to the pump and moved the hand up and down twice, producing a steady stream of water. She asked me if I liked it and I told her it was amazing.
After we returned to the school we had a short activity and then it was time to go. We loaded our bags onto the bus and huddled up for a group photo with the girls. Everyone embraced their new friends. Jassi and Anu grabbed my hands. Jassi asked me to stay longer, though she knew I couldn’t. Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged the two girls. We stood for a few moments putting off my inevitable departure. Jassi promised to never forget me and I promised the same as I climbed onto the bus, with tears now streaming down my face. I looked out the window where Jassi and Anu stood with similarly tear stained cheeks. As the bus pulled away we waved goodbye to each other and I watched as the whole crowd of girls marched back toward the main entrance of the school. I have only known these girls for a little over 24 hours yet I made connections as strong as those that I have with friends I’ve known for years. I had no idea when we first pulled through the gates at Pardada Pardadi that I would leave with a new kind of love in my heart, and an appreciation for the openness of a young stranger.
