My first awakenings in Deenabandhu Trust

No other place where I would rather be right now. It took me a little while to get here and some obstacles to take, but it’s all worth it. After some days of rest and reflection in Bangalore because of a broken toe which got infected, last Sunday morning I could finally make my way to Chamarajanagar, the village where Deenabandhu Trust is situated. I was lucky that somebody could drive me there, since the option bus-train-bus would be an expedition on itself, which was not so wise to do for me given my foot. Anyway, according to the people in Bangalore it would take us about two hours to get there. Now I already know that awareness of time is very relative and it didn’t surprised me that we finally arrived after almost six hours. Which also could have been four to be honest, but I think the man who drove had some kind of short-term memory problem. That’s to say, we had stop at least twenty times to ask for the way to Deenabandhu. Each time he nodded Indian style (so you never know if he got it or not) and then after 100 meter we had to stop again, where the same story began. With story I really mean story, because Indians like to talk a lot, especially when they have the feeling they can teach you something, which can take quite some time. By the way, awareness of direction is also something personal I’ve noticed… And of course we also had to stop during the trip for some cows that were crossing the road and they are absolutely not in a hurry too. Nobody is. Take your time and life as it is. So we did quite well actually according to the Indian standards and I’m proud to tell that I’m progressing every day.At the point at which I thought that we were never ever going to make it to Deenabandhu, driving around on a hilly bumpy road, two children came running out of a house and were asking us where we were going to. They ran in front of the car, showing us the way to the orphanage, where the boys of Deenabandhu’s Boys Home warmly welcomed me. In the blink of an eye, they pulled me out of the car and showed me their homes. Akka akka, look, this is my bed. Akka come. Akka look, this is what I made. Akka! Akka? I lacked hands, arms, eyes and ears for all these beautiful diamonds that wanted to show me their world. In the same time they were showing me a pure openness for which my heart completely melts, especially knowing where they come from and where they’ve been gone through at such a young age. Although I’ve seen some orphanages in poor areas before, this one is very special in its kind. One that shines so bright of love and acceptance, that it will open your eyes forever.

After my yoga practice in the morning, I’m fortunate to wake up again during my runs near Deenabandhu with Lokesh, who introduces me to all the facets of Indian life. Lokesh, being a diamond himself, with a Deenabandhu history, is for me a great example of how you can overcome obstacles in your life by doing your best, with the right intentions and a warm heart. He grew up in the Boys Home and left a couple of years ago to Mysore for his bachelor studies. Now, at the age of 21 he’s back and helps prof. Jayadev, the owner the orphanage, wherever he can. In January 2015, he’s going to Germany with a scholarship to do his masters. His whole being is one radiance of enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Besides our lovely runs in the morning, a good preparation for the Kilimanjaro climb in February, he also takes me to the local market to buy some fruit, shows me every place he knows in the area and teaches me everything he knows about the Indian culture. Always with the same smile, always yearning to learn about my culture, about my way of living and the things that I do. Walking around together in the neighbourhood must be some speciality for the local people. They look, giggle, talk and even a vicious policeman came the other day to ask Lokesh where he was going with me and what we were going to do and why. It doesn’t seem to bother him. He takes life as it is, with a big smile and a belief in what he’s doing, whether it’s his thesis on the existing ants in Karnataka or drinking a coconut with me on the corner of the street on our way back from the market.

These first awakenings make me very much aware of the fact that even when they are covered by dust, filth and red clay, some diamonds have the capacity to shine trough all layers of human existence. When they are provided with the right nurture, they can flower and grow. We’re in this together. Being a human being is being a small matter, but if we connect through love and compassion we can reach great things. We can help a child to reach the sky.