Slum kid schools and a hand to my people!
By Dr.Nicolas Rao
12 Sep 2009
What city do you live in? What neighborhood?
I have now relocated to a hilltop house.converted to a school in a slum in Bangalore. I love the place!! My home is close enough to the slum for me to be a part of it and in the past few months I have become one of them!!
We have a very happy Kindergarten school with two charming teachers, two hard working cooks/helpers and the the slum has now grown around me to encompass me as one of their own.
Geographically it is in Roopena Agrahara, Madiwala, Bangalore, India
This link should help: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolasrao/3871870052/http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolasrao/3871870052/
This other one will give you my perspective from the terrace: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolasrao/3865689282/in/photostream/
If you have got this far then you will know where I live.
What are some adjectives that describe your neighborhood?
An area that is being improved by the government, but it sits slap bang on the edge of the slum. But speaking of slums; this one is not bad looking with concrete roads and all, it is what happens inside that is the problem.
Nonetheless, the women and the children love ours school and are constantly with us. We have Adult education programs every week.
We also have parties, birthday parties for the first time for many and the people are in love with us. We sing and dance with them. We also play cricket with the youngsters. Check out StartingpointIndia.com to know more.
How long have you lived there, and what brought you there?
I arrived there on the 25 of May 2009, saw the need and agreed to come and help. I returned on the first of June, moved into the empty building in the middle of the slum - quite exciting actually - a few scary moments but not really! I moved in on the 7th of June. I had 40 hopeful students between the ages of 305 -5 years and 24 have made it over two months now.
The school itself is exciting. I came here because from childhood, I was involved in Education. I am a life trustee of the Madras Seva Sadan Trust, Madras - founded in 1928 by my grand uncle Sir. Mutha Venkatasubba Rao, Chief Justice and British regent before Independence and my grand aunt Lady Andal, Venkatasubba Rao, Padma Bhushan for Social service.
So it was not new, but different. I left the EC of the Madras Seva Sadan in 2002, because of the boards tending towards extreme commercialism, which did not go with my feelings. I find more happiness here with my slum children, slum servants and good city teachers.
What is your favorite thing about this place? Your least favorite?
Living again. In 2006 -my eldest son Staff Sergeant Noel R. Rao passed away and was buried with full hero's honors in Arlington National Cemetery, USA. He helped children in Afghanistan, Pakistan and wherever he was, an Indian hero in the US. Enough has been said about him for me to repeat here.
I guess it is my reason for living again, after my own child went to be with Jesus, to take care of His children who have no one to do it themselves.
Do you feel that you belong there?
Yes! Yes! This is my world and my country, I love to go to Germany and see my native village, but for now this will do. I am after all half Indian and most of my life has been with Indians.
What is the most common misconception about where you live?
That it is dirty, dangerous and unfriendly. It is the opposite, I have never been loved up so much, never had such a large family. Fresh veggies - cheap everyday, lovely weather and solace!
What do you need when you are surrounded by a 100 smiling faces shouting " good morning Uncle" ever time I open my bedroom door.
The elders love me, the women treat me with respect, the grandma's are my buddies and the kids - the beat description!
What is a special fact about your city that you have to live there to know?
Can I start 5 schools like my own by the end of 2010. Can I make it 30 all India by 2012.
The slums are cleaner and cooler than Chennai, where I come from!
What aspect of your city do you secretly love?
The people and the weather!
Anything else you'd like to add?
I have just begun!
