A day at "Dignity" - May 26th 2011

            I started my day off at the occupational therapy room by teaching bhajans to the psychiatric patients. I started off with a small Ganesha prayer and stated to teach them with the most simplest bhajans. Only half of them were able to sing, and you could barely hear a third of the people. That too, they were off pitch. One lady was super enthusiastic. She came and sat right next to me. She was absolutely off pitch and driving my focus away. I took this as a challenge. It’s not like she knew what she was doing anyway. They were so happy to sing bhajans as the beat was peppy too. Soon, the hour of bhajan singing passed away quickly.

            A coordinator then took me to a place called Dignity and Boys Town. On one side there was the boys’ dormitories, and on the other side there was the male psychiatric patients’ home, along with a few children who were somewhat challenged. I met the patients… it was really a sad situation. I saw a person who was like a midget… some were not in their senses. There were a few boys playing around there. The coordinator called boys, come here… and he called them by their names. Quickly I recognized that our Plano Tamil School is sponsoring one of those children. I then asked the boy if he remembers talking to us via the computer (Skype) and he said yes! Where’s Velu uncle? He started to look behind me check if he was about to come. I explained that I have come alone and that I’d tell uncle that he asked for him. He then took me on a tour around Dignity.

            We saw a paralyzed man with one working hand. He was in charge of cleaning the floors and mopping them. As per his health condition, he is not advised by the doctors to do such work. However, he has such pride in doing his job and gets really upset if his job is outsourced to someone with better health. He was so happy. I then thought, here we are with both working hands…usually whining to do our chores, and here’s this man with one hand… mopping the floors of a huge facility. It’s not about what we have or don’t have…it’s about our attitude.

            Some people had separate beds. They are recovering patients who clearly want to have their identity, their own clothes, their own bed and a job. I was told that this was a good sign as their pride is a sign of going in the right path. The place is well maintained by the patients. It’s a great concept that even the patients must have work so that they keep their minds occupied most of the time. Moreover, they need manpower and whom better to take care than the people themselves.

            Later that day, the coordinator took me to the counseling room where he enquired the whereabouts about a person who was recently rescued. His aim was to collect all the possible valid information about the patients’ whereabouts so that he can be restored to him family. Perhaps his family might be looking for him... but after figuring out whom their family is, their families sometimes refuse to take them back. They have plenty of people like that. That little boy must have asked about Velu uncle at least 5 times and he said next time bring me some drawing books, something to eat like chocolate, cookies or cool drinks...anything would do. He reminded me... don't forget! I smiled and said I'll surely come back and visit you.
            Upon returning back, I taught Balvikas class for the Model House Girls and they loved it. It was hard for them to grasp some concepts, but they enjoyed the bhajan singing and the story telling as well.

This day was very productive and informative as well.