Chasing Rainbows…Capturing Sunshines
A few weeks back I met Padma, now in her early twenties, chatting with her group of friends as she walked towards the bus stop to catch a bus home. Instant recognition brought warm smiles to both our faces. Greeted by “kemon achho didi? Tomar bon, ma? Shobai bhalo?” (How are you didi? How’s your sister, your mom? All well?”) I wondered how she’s remembered exactly who I am! We parted ways after a few minutes, and on my way back home, I realised, there isn’t much that I had forgotten either.
I met Padma when I was in school. She was one of the 260 “Rainbow Children” that stayed on the covered rooftop of the school building. The middle one of 3 sisters, she had always been the more popular one, always smiling, always happy. Not that she had enough reasons to be happy 24/7, but even as a child, she chose happiness over other things I guess.
The Rainbow Children of Loreto Day School Sealdah, Kolkata are a famous lot. Not because they’re street children who were given a chance at a better life by Sr. Cyril, but because they made the most out of that one chance. As a student of LDSS, when I look back at my time with them, I remember how we helped them with their studies.
And I also remember how we grew to become better human beings in the process. It wouldn’t be a lie if I said that every interaction with the Rainbow played a huge role in shaping me as a person. Every day was an experience and every conversation an eye opener. From the cushioned life I had back home, I would’ve otherwise never realised that there are different realities existing at the same point in time. I would have never known the feeling of ‘doing something worthwhile’ with my time would result in better sleep.
Coming back to Padma. Yes, she was one of the brighter sparks. When she was in college, she was one of the 5-6 girls who toured Europe to speak to students of various colleges about the Rainbow Programme. I remember her telling me how nervous she was before the first interaction, and how they warmed up to the idea amidst all the cheer and adulation they received from the college-goers there.
Padma is now working at the pathological section of one of the renowned hospitals in the city. And that makes me proud. Because I grew up under the watchful eyes of a person who believed in giving a fair chance to everyone and creating an environment where everyone was equal in terms of the opportunities they received. It makes me proud because for me, Sr. Cyril can do no wrong…and Padma stood as yet another proof.
Her life could have been completely different as a street child. We tend to ignore that among the homeless population, children are one of the most vulnerable category – be it due to unhealthy living conditions, lack of protection, limited access to education, being exposed to the traps of child labour, beggary, child abuse, child marriage, exploitation and discrimination. As per data quoted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development last month in the Parliament, there are more than 1 lakh street children in just the 6 metros in India.
It’s time we opened our eyes to what children can do given the opportunities they deserve.
(Data source: CRY - Child Rights and You)
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