Mataji can be seen around walking up and down the corridor, attending to a plethora of calls, welcoming guests to the Ashram, attending to children’s problems in person, looking after the kitchen, talking to more people, making provisions for the best of tuition classes, attending Parent’s-Teacher meetings, helping with the admin work- her presence radiating positivity, embracing all in the Ashram. Mataji has been a part of the Ashram ever since its inception. She took it upon her to work for the people and the betterment of society. Since then there has been no turning back. She works under the guidance of Gurudev ji, the founder of Manav Mandir Gurutul, lending her hand to the greater vision of Ashram.
“It was always my wish to make a change in our society and engage in Seva. The question was what and how to do it? When Gurudevji started with the thought of the Ashram, I knew somehow this was my calling. I met the kids and got to learn about them, I realized we could do a lot of things in this field. Every day I think about 10 different things- I can do this and do that.”
“Mataji has never stopped and continues to turn no card unturned to get the best for her children- her family! The children in the Ashram come from diverse backgrounds cutting across various socio-economic backgrounds. Whatever they have seen, they have learned. It is important to bring about change. You can’t bring about a change until you become a kid with these kids and learn to empathise and see things from their point of view. You have to think like the kid. “Sahi mainey met dekha jae toh inko badal ke hum khud he badal gaye hai”
Sanskars & Values play a very important role in the everyday functioning of the Ashram. “We make use of stories, the idea is to instill values and sanskars. We make use of very similar characters. With kids these stories stuck as teachings, sometimes it gives them a glimpse into their own life. The idea is to nudge the kids to initiate the change, the rest follows. Without telling them directly we make use of stories to help them change.” At Manav Mandir values are a part of everyday habits. “We do not teach them, we practice them every day.”
Kids come to Mataji with their problems-they understand that they have someone who will understand their worries and give them the best feedback. Anytime they hit a problem- the smallest one, they know Mataji is here to provide a solution.
“Our life is connected. You may be there I here but we never know when or how someday our lives would connect.”
“Mataji is our mother and father and mentor and guide, recount the kids.
Over the years, Mataji has seen things changing. Time has changed and so have kids. “Initially we had no resources, it was difficult to keep it like that. It was with 1E’s support in 2002 that we were successful to bring in teachers and in 2006 we were ready to send our kids for the first time to CBSE schools
“People become a part of our family, our donors are our family. They just do not help us financially but they become a part of this family, voh teh dil se judd jate hai.”
There is no one way of donating to Manav Mandir Gurukul. Some come and volunteer and teach the kids. Some help with the stationery, uniform, others come and spend time teaching & playing. Over the years many people from diverse fields students, teachers, public servants, families have come and volunteered their time to the Ashram
In this long journey, Manav Mandir Gurukul has grown from its humble beginnings to a luscious tree that continues providing shade to many, childhood to children, purpose to the un-purposeful, and smiles to all who have come under its shade.
“When we grow old, we lose out on the kids inside us it’s a two-way road, we learn from them and they also teach us”
Support Mataji’s efforts, and create a better world at Manav Mandir Gurukul.