Circus!

Kiran Sandeep Alex, originally uploaded by A.Mokashi.

January, 2006

Took the kids from the Vishwas Home for Underprivileged Children to the circus one weekend. 20 kids, we go in 5 auto rickshaws. Me in one auto with 5 of the smaller ones. Swapnil, who introduced me to Vishwas, and is a big favourite with the kids, handles the other ones. [Most of them have been found abandoned on the streets, or have been rescued from abusive home environments. But the trustee Mrs. Vyjayanthi Raman’s amazing care and concern have given them a chance to believe in a better life.]

We settle down. The smallest one, Kiran, on my lap. Great excitement. Learned that an auto ride across the city is one of the most thrilling things that can happen to you.
Kiran nudges the driver – “Uncle, uncle, go fast!”. Driver tries to smile it off and say it’s okay, we’ll try. Kiran is relentless: “Uncle will go faster than any of the others! We’ll overtake them all!”. Powerless in the face of such generous ego-boosting, Uncle drives like he’s in a Ferrari.

All along the way, I am shown important landmarks like “That’s the playground where we play!”, “Flyover!”, “Park!”, “Red Fort!” [the red High Court building]. The new Vidhan Soudha building of course had all of us nearly falling out of the auto on the left side, oooohing and aaaaahing. Never looked at it so closely before. [An auto ride, I learnt, is a real-life movie experience with ever changing scenes, so many colours, people, and the wind comes in from all open sides.]

Sandeep speaks about the Cancer Hospital where they went and performed a dance for the patients. He and the others were extremely moved by the suffering of the patients, tells me all about them.

Each time we come aside another of our 5 autos at traffic signals, they have to all lean out and shout and touch the kids in the next rickshaw. And tell them how our driver is far better than theirs. When the light changes, great tension. Will the other auto overtake ours, will we lose the Grand Prix?

At the traffic signal, a beggar woman comes with a baby. The boys look at her silently for a moment. Then one of them asks me “Aunty, do you have a 1 rupee coin?”. I find a 5 rupee coin. The coin given, Sandeep says “ So sad, isn’t it, aunty? We are such rich people - we have a place to stay, food to eat, good clothes to wear – they have to beg on the streets.” I agree and hold him close, I am unable to say anything.

We pass the Muslim Dargah on Jayamahal Road. “Taj Mahal!” Someone shouts, looking at the big dome. I start to correct them, then join in “Yaaaah, so beautiful, isn’t it?”

We get down at the circus. They see the giant wheel next door. “Can we go to Fun World instead?”. Another time, have patience! We go in and take our seats. Little Eliza falls asleep immediately. Refuses to wake up in spite of all bands and excitement happening. Then finally when the fat hippopotamus walks in, she opens her eyes wide and says “Is that a REAL hippopotamus?”

Back in the auto rickshaw, the older ones are a little sleepy after 3 hours in a tent in the sun. But Kiran wakes up again and is giggling away to glory. [He also cries with the same intensity, so am enjoying this while it lasts].

It is evening, we are going in the opposite direction, and the world is all new and full of wonder yet another time.

For more photos, click here.