July 10 continued

The first visit was to a regional boxing champion that had grown up in Jodhpur and had been helped by the association.  The association is that of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati that Laxman is a member of.  From there we went to Kishinji’s house.  He is the president of this association.  We also met the secretary here and one of his relatives who is a teacher now, but was raised in this slum area.  One of the biggest problems in these areas is illegal stills and the selling of alcohol in this section of town.  It’s so bad actually, that the police won’t come here unless there is a major raid of some sort.

Notice the 2 boys reading.  In all this mess and squalor, there is still a drive for kids to make something of themselves and leave the slums.  So different from the States, where we often see images of youth skipping school and dropping out.  Kids here would kill for a chance at school, but many have to drop out to work or bed just to eat and survive.

Notice the glass shards along the top of the fence.  This is to keep people out from the private polo grounds that are behind the fence.  While most of the rest of Jodhpur is a dustbowl, there are lush grass fields in some areas where people are not allowed in.

Next we proceeded to a village on the outskirts of Jodhpur.  This is Aryasmaj Pabupura.  The association built it.  The grounds are kept up by the youth that live here.  The main building to the left is a meeting room.  The area on the right is where prayer ceremonies, like the one I participated in in the morning, are conducted.  

Prayer area.  Notice the fire pit. Really beautiful construction.

The gym.

Water tank/well.

This construction site, pile of dirt, and rocks will eventually be a primary health center for the village.  I can’t wait to the status of the construction before I leave.

The interesting thing about the Aryasmaj is that behind it sits a local zamida or landlord.  He has since died, but his son now lives there.  The zamida had pretty much enslaved the village through bondage and usury practices.  But, the association and the village and the aryasmaj all worked together to drive him out... well, as much as they could.  Even though there's no law saying that villagers or people indebted to the zamida have to pay him back, it's part of the Indian ethic, that if they have a debt, they cannot and will not just walk away from it.  Plus, the zamida or his family could hire toughs to come in and make an example of 1 or 2 people and the whole village would then be put on notice.  But, by educating the youth, working together, and banning the stills and sale of alcohol in the village the village has emerged from under the shadow of the zamida.


Laxman said something to me the other day that I thought was absolutely brilliant.  he said, "Nurez, see that tree over there, go try and straighten it since it's growing crooked and has been for many years.  You won't be able to.  But, see that small plant there next to it, we can make sure it grows straight and tall."


To Laxman and everyone part of the association and the Aryasmaj, I say shabash!  You have done Jodhpur and the youth a great service which they will then continue and touch many more lives.  In that manner, your message will spread and many, many more plants will grow straight and tall.