A Report from Amrita Niketanam (Amma's Orphanage)

December 2003

The year 2003 was another year of growth and accomplishment for Amma's orphanage and the adjoining Amrita Sanskrit Secondary School. The construction work over the kitchen was finished, providing rooms for the female staff, a nursing station and a room for the isolation and treatment of sick children. A long awaited library and game room are now established, which the children are enjoying very much. Construction of additional school classrooms are planned for 2004 as the school continues to expand with 2000 local children now enrolled. Gardening is developing; students of each grade takes responsibility for a patch of ground, and plant flowers and vegetables, creating lovely spots of color in the open area.

The children continue to distinguish themselves at the annual inter-scholastic cultural competitions by winning first prize in most of the categories they enter. This year they presented a drama in Sanskrit - the first time in many years - and won first prize for it. (Sanskrit was normally the reserve of people of high culture and scholars, and it still is very unusual for poor children to have the opportunity to learn it). This year, the award-winning Panchavadyam temple percussion musicians broke new ground with an ensemble that included boys and girls playing together, rather than separately.

The special event of this year for the children was their attendance at the stunning, international four-day event, Amritavarsham50, in Cochin's international stadium, marking Amma's 50th birthday celebration for peace and harmony. Dressed in new clothes they were very happy to attend most of the programs. The event included India's top performing cultural artists many of whom play their music as a prayer to the divine. The Panchavadyam ensemble played at Amma's Pada Puja (ceremonial washing of Amma's Feet), the main event on the fourth day when crowds in the stadium had reached over 150,000. At the conference of top business executives from USA and India, held in the presence of Amma and the President of India on the third day, a few children were asked to participate. This was a very special opportunity for them. The children told the participants how the opportunity to come to the orphanage had transformed their lives.

Harish, aged thirteen, told how from childhood, he could remember nothing but fighting and arguments at home. His father was an alcoholic and had passed away. His mother was so badly injured by the beatings he had given her that Harish had to support her, his sick and elderly grandmother, and younger brother. At the age of 10 he stopped school and started looking for work each day. He managed to earn 50 rupees ($1.00) a day to support the family. He was very sad. When his mother told she would remarry, he feared the worst from the new stepfather. Knowing about Amma and hearing that she was giving a program in a nearby town he promptly decided to go and ask her if he could live at her orphanage. Finding that there were really no adults able to look after the boy, Amma agreed. Later she also agreed to let his younger brother join the orphanage. This is why Amma says that many poor children, even though they may have so called parents, are for all intents and purposes orphans. Now Harish is very happy. He had only heard of computers before coming to the orphanage, now he is studying how to use them. He played the lead role in the prize-winning Sanskrit drama presented by the school at the local District competition. He is top in all his classes and aspires to be a doctor. With his determination and faith in Amma he will surely reach his goal in life.

Maheswari, aged fourteen also told her story to the executives. She had also heard of Amma and wanted to live at the orphanage but the relatives caring for her did not agree. She had developed TB (Tuberculosis), and also had a hearing problem. Eventually she stopped going to school as she couldn't hear the teacher, and the school was too far to walk in her weakened condition. One night she had a dream of a woman in a white sari who comforted her. She heard that Amma was having a program nearby but she had no money for the fare. Suddenly a woman walked up to her and handed her some money. It was just enough for the bus fare, to and from the program. When she saw Amma she recognized her as the woman in her dream. But when she went for darshan it was so crowded she couldn't tell Amma her problem because of the rush. A few months later, she again succeeded in reaching Amma but this time she was crying so much that she couldn't tell Amma anything. Just as she was leaving the hall, Amma sent someone to call her back. At last, she could tell Amma her troubles. Amma told her that her TB was gone. She then put some sacred ash in Maheswari's ears and told that in a few days her hearing would be normal as well. She was cured. Her relatives then gave her permission to go to the orphanage. Now she is studying and planning to be a teacher.

Br. Vijayamrita Chaitanya, director of the orphanage, says that most of the children have similar stories. They have a close relationship with Amma. They visit the ashram for Amma's darshan several times a year. Amma often telephones to check on them, especially when she is on tour. Several times a year, groups of Western visitors to the ashram spend a day touring the orphanage and meeting the children. The children love to perform for the visitors who are always impressed by their dancing and singing ability. Sometimes the visitors share songs, dances and games with the children. The visitors are always struck by how happy the children are despite their sad backgrounds. They mention how at the orphanage they can really see Amma's love and compassion in action. There are always a few people in tears as the tour bus pulls away, and the smiling faces and waving hands of the children retreat into the distance.

This year a few children came to the ashram during the Christmas vacation. During their stay, the children spent as much time as they could with Amma, and the rest of the time they helped out in the ashram's printing section and did a little studying. When Amma returned from the huge, five-day program in Calicut, (26,000 people) they met Amma at the stairs of her house. Seeing their eager faces she asked, "Where are the rest of the children?" They told her the others had gone to their villages. (Amma encourages the children to remain in contact with their village and relatives.) Amma said, "Oh it's their playtime. They will play there and we will play here." When Amma told them about the record number of people at the program, the children said, "Amma, are you tired? We will massage you." Such is their innocent relationship with Amma.

Read about developments from 2002