The phone rang on Monday morning. It was Rani. I do not know why but I felt something was wrong. even before I picked it up. “There is some sad news about the Yamuna centre” said Rani. For a second I thought or rather hoped that she would say the waters are rising and we need to evacuate the centre. But that is not what she said. “The bulldozers have come, the police are there. The whole place is being raised”. My heart missed a beat. This time was no more a cry wolf situation. It was no more a cat and mouse situation when huts are broken but then people resettle again. This game went on for years. The wolf never came. But this time it has.really come. A court order has sealed everyone’s fate.
I rushed to the centre and was shocked at the number of bulldozers, police personnel and even the Rapid Action Force armed with batons and even tear gas shells. I wonder why. These are the gentlest people ever. As I walked along the muddy track towards the centre I saw the families quietly packing their lives and sitting down wondering what next. The children who normally greet you with loud Good Morning Ma’am were eerily quiet.
At the centre things were being packed hastily. The staff stood bravely but I knew their hearts were broken. Everyone spoke in almost a whisper as future plans were discussed. No one had the heart to engage in conversations. The mood was broken by someone who told me to move fast as the police would barricade everything. I sent the car away but did not have the heart to leave yet.I just sat, lost in memories of all the beautiful moments I had lived at this very spot over the past decade. Too many to recount.
It was time to leave. We retraced our steps to the exit slowly. As we reached the end the road we encountered the bulldozers who had begun their destruction. One was almost in my face. I wove my way past police, forces and batons and shields making me wonder why all this was needed. These people are not the ones that would engage with the police unlike our cockroaches. Quite frankly one felt disturbed.
Some of you know the Yamuna Centre, It was the most beautiful place you can imagine.amidst trees and green fields. The river at a distance, a gentle breeze always blowing. Once you came it was difficult to get one self to leave. I have spent many amazing moments there.
For the past decade Kabir and Azure hospitality have beeb feeding these kids a healthy scrumptious lunch a beautiful moment we will all miss.
The Yamuna children are very different. They are not spoilt by urban ways and live close to nature. They are grounded. They know things take time to grow and have learnt patience. But they have a thirst for knowledge and a burning desire to learn as they intuitively know that education alone can change their lives. Over the past years they have proven their worth. Some have secured their class XII and one is even working with us.
They too have dreams, dreams that we wanted to fulfil. I remember one girl wanted to be a fashion designer and another a teacher. How will be able to fulfil our promise? I do not know. But I know that we will leave no stone unturned and find a way out. I still believe in miracles and know the God of Lesser Beings will not let us down.
And taking of lesser beings. I am truly infuriated. Yes I understand fully the need to protect the food plain. Honestly no one should have been allowed to settle there. But they did. People from nearby areas have actually “bought” tacts of land and hire them to these poor people who leave their villages to come and tend to the land. The ‘owner’ rents out the place at quite a high price, a tithe that needs to be paid even if the crops fail. But that is not all. Look across the river and you will see buildings, a games village and a swanky temple. But they will not be touched! The divide between rich and poor is a reality we have to live with. A law for you and another one for you.
We wait for the decision of the parents before we decide our next move. If they move back to the village then we will work out an online programme. If they stay as some parents want their children to continue their studies, then we will set up a new place close to where they move. It is all fluid for now.
Today, the Yamuna children and staff hoisted the national flag for the last time. It was a moving and heartbreaking moment.
My eyes are moist but the tears are not falling.
One must keep the faith.
Au Revoir les enfants!