Savera - A new morning

When I first joined Savera, a school for kids with special needs, it was with zeal to do something for these kids. To help make their lives easier in one way or the other, probably by serving them. I had absolutely no idea of what I’d be doing, seeing or learning there. So I joined the school with no presumptions and this helped me to not only give and serve the little ones better but also to receive so much more from each child, more than I could possibly have imagined. Each child was special in his/her own way. Each child was; is a bundle of love.

The first day kicked off with introductions. Mam introduced me to all the kids and half a minute for each kid was about all that it took to establish that initial bond of love between souls, whose bodies may be maimed but their souls are whole.

The next few days are now some of my most treasured memories of life. Though now I am back in Amritsar, there are times when the faces of these children flash in my mind, each one trying to grab my attention. Each one expressing love in her/his own special way.

It was during my time in Savera that I asked a friend, “How would you define God’s creation?” He replied,” Everything that is unscientific and illogical is God’s creation.” In keeping up with all that I have learnt during my school years, I said,” How about the Universe, the Sun, the human body…..all these are God’s creations but we study them under science.” And he said,” Science is man’s perspective of looking at God’s creations.” What he said struck a positive note with me but the enormity and the terrible beauty of his words actually sunk in with an experience I had in Savera.

One afternoon after school was over and the curtains separating the two groups of students were drawn apart, Ayushi called me from the other end of the room. A young girl of, I guess, 10years, Ayushi suffers from Ataxia and needs help moving around.

For her, speaking every word is a challenge in itself. Unable to get out of her chair due to being ridden to it for life, she looked at me from across the room, gave me a beautiful, warm smile and using her eyes called me to her. Once with her, she uttered,”baithjao (please sit).”

That day Ayushi, with her silent gestures, taught and showed me what no other, with their bodies whole and unharmed, could ever teach me. The power of love, love as God meant it to be. Sheer, unadulterated love.

Science is man’s perspective of God’s creations but Love is God’s perspective of what he created. We teach these children how to survive in society but they taught me how to live.