The most beautiful part about the day was getting to meet the children. We went to the government high school in Basaveshwaranagar, Bangalore. When we arrived, the boys on the cricket team were hurrying to finish their hot lunch and go out to play. Off to the side I spotted the silver containers from Akshaya Patra. Suddenly, we heard the shrill ring from the bell that dismissed the kids for their lunch break.The kids ran with their plates and waited eagerly in line for fresh, hot Bisi Bele Bhaat and sweet. The headmaster allowed my sister and me to serve the fresh food to the students. After receiving hot food, the kids ran off to sit and chatted animatedly. Many returned quickly for seconds and happily received more food. Even when their break came to a close, many children still returned with boxes to take food home for later.
I had the opportunity to talk to many children before they had to go to class. They shared their dreams and aspirations of becoming pilots, engineers, lawyers, and sportsmen. I was nervous because of my poor Kannada, but I was later relieved because these kids were very forgiving and they knew excellent English. Being from America, I did not know what to expect in India. However, these kids reminded me of my best friends when they laughed and crowded around to see what they looked like in pictures. It was like being among my friends in my own school.
We also had the opportunity to talk to two students for a longer duration of time. The first boy’s name was John. He told us how his mother is a tailor and his father is an auto driver. He told us that he aspires to be an engineer when he grows up. The second boy’s name was Pradeep. Pradeep explained to us how he had recently made the difficult jump from a private school to a government school due to the costly fees. However, Pradeep showed no downheartedness and explained how he had made new friends and was getting a hot meal every afternoon too. He shared his dreams of becoming a pilot or sportsman when he grows up and also asked us inquisitively about studying tips and what it is like in America.
If this entire experience has taught me anything, it is that anything is possible. The entire Akshaya Patra organisation was inspired by Srila Prabupad when he saw some children fighting with dogs for food. This one story of compassion led to this incredible organisation that is striving to feed five million children every day by 2020. These children who have their carefree childhood taken by the hardships of life are given a second chance with nutritious food and a good education. This organisation is one-hundred percent about helping these children live happily and have a good future, and I am proud to support this cause.
