Into the Unknown

So here’s the thing. I’ve met a man…an Indian guy from Thiruvananthapuram. It came out of the blue, when I least expected it, and while he isn’t exactly as I pictured him, he is what I’ve been looking for. Compassionate, well-educated, well-travelled, distinguished salt and pepper hair, an infectious laugh and a flair for colour. He’s also quite a bit younger, and comes with some baggage – eight kids in Thrissur and another 12 outside of Thiruvananthapuram…all from different mothers…

And, as it turns out, different fathers.

We were coming back from one of the local temples last week, and I found myself walking with two of the three swamis who teach at this ashram. Swami Tattvarupananda and I got ttalking, and when he found out my career involved communications and that my passion is writing, he wasted no time in inviting me to help him rejuvenate the website for his gurukulum. Having no idea what a gurukulum was, I started asking questions.

Swami Tattvarupananda runs two centres for children who either have no parents or who come from dysfunctional and/or underprivileged families. A gurukulum is a centre where the children live…along the lines of an orphanage but never called that because, as Swamiji Tattv said to me, no child should ever have a label which implies that they are alone in the world. The kids are clothed, fed, nurtured, attend public school, play, do homework and help out as they would at home, all under the guidance of Swamiji and his team of staff and volunteers.

After a long conversation a few days later and a look at the amazing work he has carried out for more than ten years, I was hooked. When I leave here, I will be heading to the girls’ location in Thrissur for several days and then the boys’ residence in Thiruvananthapuram to get a feel for life there. Both locations are rural, so I’m expecting adventure. Initially, I will help him to re-write the contents of the website. I have a feeling, though, that this is the beginning of a continuing relationship. We’ll see…