I BOUGHT A BABY FOR RS.500. DID I DO THE RIGHT THING?

My mentor Luise Hansen when visiting Kadalur last month, found a little baby, a girl child. A complete somalia-type under nourished baby with its alcoholic parents near a temple begging.

The mother of the baby was well and healthy. The father too was fine. They looked happy with begging and merry making. They seem to drink daily. They both were using the baby for begging. The mother pinched the baby, made it to cry and created a sense of pity for people who wanted to help them. That was how she got money. Believe me, the baby looked like a little monkey with very thin legs and hands. She looked like she was mentally retarded too.

Luise was moved and shocked and asked her if she can give the baby. The mother said, "Give me 500 rupees. You can have her". Luise and Aurelio werent prepared for this and they returned to Auroville.

The baby seemed to have apppeared sadly in Luise's dreams.

And on January 9th last month, I go with a couple of Svaram team guys, Gnanavel and Shanker to rescue the baby and admit it in a good orphanage. We got into a taxi, went to Kadalur, found the lady with the child. Took the mother and the child to an Orphanage near Ariyaankuppam. A good home for the homeless children. The person who was running the home was a young educated gentleman named Karthik. He checked the child and spoke to its mother (who just wanted to get rid of the baby for money as soon as possible!!) She said she will not ask the child back and asked us NOT to return to her at any circumstances.. What a mother! In a country where motherhood and femininity is the core strength, the most powerful bond that keeps the Indian families united...

Then after the formalities.. We promised to help the home and the child. Luise had given us some money which we gave to the home as an initial amount for the care.. We were happy that Mr.Karthik accepted the child. Later, we dropped the mother at her place and gave her Rs.500. She demanded for more. She insisted once again not to give the child back to her!! We left the place with a sigh.

Nearly after a month, I, Luise and Aurelio visited the home to see the child. Its health had improved a lot and it was smiling at us. It could recognize me and was smiling.. Seems she is not entally retarded. She still had cough though. She is safe and happy now. Her mother had called her Rajeshwari and Fatima(yes 2 names ). She had a new name now. Selvi..

Selvi now has a promising future. We are now her parents in a way.

Did we do the right thing by buying her from her mother?

---------------------That was the post----- And now..

...... It has been almost 2 years since she has been rescued. I visited the Home that she is growing. She is so happy and identifies me. She regains her health, the children's home takes care of her so well, all the children love her immensely as she is the youngest of them all. She smiles at me, plays with me and is absolutely comfortable with me. She is being supported by my Austrian friends Luise Hansen and Aurelio.

And today The Sunday Times of India has carried a story about it. I am ofcourse happy. I wanted to share that story with you all.. here is the link:http://epaper.timesofindia.co...

And here I present some unpublished pictures..

Selvi then...

Selvi now...with me