Update from Michael Richardson, International Anita Award Winner 2010
And now Jaipur . . .
We were told we may find Jaipur more ‘cultural’. That is an apt description ! Far from New Delhi, this is probably closer to my perception, such as it was, of India. In the same way vistors to London only scratch the surface of England, I think this is true of any travellers visitng any major city.
Downtown Jaipur is still bustling, don’t get me wrong, but it is a different kind of activity.
Here in Rajasthan, they have their own identity, and their own customs, styles and behaviours. This is true across all the different states in India.
Rajasthan is a very colourful place to be sure. There is still the warmth and welcomenes from the people, and also the animals – and there are many ! Camels, Elephants,, cows (naturally) poultry, goats and dogs.
Apart from one Labrador I saw at Delhi Station, I have only seen what I call ‘Generic-Indian-Dog’. They are ALL the same shape, size and attitude, and only vary very slightly in colour.
I know my fellow companions have already written about the organisations we have visited, so I won’t dwell too much, but it would be perhaps remiss if I didn’t share my take on the experience too.
I was as you might expect deeply moved by what we have seen. yes it was upsetting. yes it was tough hearing harrowing stories and at times almost too much to bare. In my book, no child aged 6 and above should have a sexual history. Nor should they have a controlling drug habit, or be exoloited, mentally or physically toturured, and having to sleep rough at the train station or surrounding areas.
And yet it happens.
The work Taabar do is inspirational, and their boys are a testament to the care, commitement, counselling, health checks, diet, safety and above all the love the recieve from the dedicated team.
Thes children have been taken from circumstances we find difficult to comprehend. Through Taabar they have a chance to live the rest of their childhoods as they should have been from the start.
Children are children, the world over. They need food, shelter, guidance and love. They need education and most importantly they need choice. These children have been denied these fundamental rights in their previous lives, but mercifully they have them now.
They did not want our pity, they are not interested in the emotional effect their stories would have on us. They just wanted to play ! they wanted to touch, bond, hug, and laugh with us. We had a great day.
The sun was shining and at the park we took them to they had space to run around and of course the enevitable cricket. Their passion for Cricket knows no bounds, apart from the boundary for six runs !
There are a couple of charts stuck on the wall at Taabar. Nothing special by our powerpoint presentations sitting on your hard drives, no slick presentations – just a hand-ruled and written A2 ‘spreadsheet’ with passport sized photographs of boys from previous years.
headed at the top, one word:
REPATRIATION.
A more compelling document, I doubt I will ever see . . . These are the success stories.
Please take a moment to read more about Taabar and the support we give through The Body Shop Foundation via the other links and sites.
So, on to our sight-seeing in Jaipur. I feel I have gained a thorough understanding of the culture !How best to try to summarise here ? COMPLEX would be a good word. From religion, the various gods and their complicated incarnations, the caste system, the Mahurajas & Marhuraganees – howed they lived and governed.
Food: as I mentioned Rajasthan has regional variances, and these also extend to the colours of clothing and fabrics, and the dancing, as with all India regional !
Maybe another good overall impression is INTRICATE !
There is so much detail here. Tiny, Tiny detail. The patterns, the geometry, the architecture – so much ornate decoration. it’s like human compensation for the harshness of the landscape and the climate ?
So now we are heading for Agra, home of the Taj Mahal . . .Crossing into another new state, another new city, and yet another new experience.
M x
Children are children, the world over. They need food, shelter, guidance and love. They need education and most importantly they need choice. These children have been denied these fundamental rights in their previous lives, but mercifully they have them now.
