WHY IS THIS POOR WOMAN SMILING?

WHY IS THIS POOR WOMAN SMILING?

© Lalita Arya


KHEL is a non-profit charity organization established by myself and Dr. Usharbudh Arya about 25 years ago in the city of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. KHEL stands not only for Kids’ Health Education & Laughter, but also Kindness, Health, & Education for Leprosy Families.
We try to interact and help with the basic needs of the people affected by leprosy, who live in “colonies” which they have established themselves sometimes with donations and sometimes by merely squatting on the land, mainly on the fringes of urban dwellings.
We contribute food and medical supplies, help with home improvement, provide for medical and other emergencies, upgrade their sanitary facilities, send their kids (yes, they do have normal non-infected kids) to school, and also give moral support.
Since it is essential that visitors and donors see how their generous donations are used, I sometimes take them to visit these people. There are times I hesitate to take guests there, and before going I always try to orient them at to what they will see.
Once when I took a group to visit on seeing their bare but essential necessities, one of them remarked, “These people are so poor and handicapped (to be politically correct now referred to as physically challenged) how come they seem happy and are smiling?”
One of the reasons for their joy was that so-called “normal” people were visiting. And this is where we as a charity organization differ from many others in serving these people, We actually go to their homes, sit with them, listen to their woes, their health problems, and also share in their celebrations of life.
Leprosy is not an infectious disease. It is a disease of the nervous system of the extremities of the physical body. When the nerves die, they become insensitive to external injuries, which lead to results that cause a person suffering from leprosy to lose fingers, toes, nose etc.
When we go with our guests, the residents bring their treasured old drums, tambourines and cymbals, sit in a circle on the mud floor in front of their cement homes built by us (formerly mud and thatch huts), singing in chorus or sometimes singly. Everything is so spontaneous that we cannot help but join in the chanting and clapping. Sometimes one of them will start a dance, a gentle twirling, so graceful and full of hand movements, we forget that they have no toes or fingers. Their faces reflect a serenity and peace not often seen in other places. It is such a joy and celebration of life, so blithe and jubilant, we forget our sorrows, as they do, rejoicing with them for the honor shared.
They display their pleasure of our acknowledgement of them as “normal” human beings. They are glad that we accept them as part of the colorful social fabric of which they are a part, in spite of their having to live on the fringes of urban limits. They feel they have much to be thankful for in being able to survive and sing about it. We come away entranced with an experience, relaxed and inexplicable, enriched with their display of the simplicity and exuberance of life.
We do come away with an energy gifted by them to us, but may we never forget that they still live on the peripheries of societies that still shun them because of ignorance.
Fortunately due to health education publicly imparted by both NGO’s and government departments, leprosy is hopefully on the decline at least in India.
I feel I can safely say this since for the past few years or so these colonies have not had any new infected patients seeking residence.

At this time of feasts and celebrations, this season of Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Eid, I wish to thank all our wonderful supporters who give generously to help us help these beautiful people observe their own festivals and celebrate Life in their own unique ways.
The residents of RamMandir, Indresh, Shivpuri, and Rotary Club settlements join with me in giving thanks to you, our generous supporters so we can keep them all smiling by helping to provide not only their basic needs, but joining them in all their celebrations of living.

A Joyous Season of Peace and Inter Faiths Observances to All.

The Heart is Happiest When It Beats for Others.

Please visit our updated website www.khelcharities.org. Thanks to Saumya and Urban Haas for this important contribution to KHEL.