I happened to chance visit an old age home in the fall where I witnessed the gloomiest picture of life. Elderly parents, grandparents, singles, widows were living a solitary life. There was so much vulnerability and helplessness written in the eyes of those who once guided our steps into the world. I have often questioned myself that why is our generation so hesitant in taking up responsibilities with patience and endurance? Why we shrug at the prospect of selfless service?
I realised that all they need at this departing juncture of their lives is a caring hand, a warm hug, a keen listener and a strong support to handle their withering conditions. Even though they care less about material presence but they have to struggle for their basics. I learnt that many are silently praying for their end so that they are liberated from the wilderness of being deserted and alone at an age when infancy revisits. KRITAGYA is a segment of this awareness. I knew that I had to do something to offer our gratefulness to them and to make them feel wanted and special.
I decided to form a voluntary group called Kritagya which means Gratitude. My friend Abhilasha Agarwal who’s a responsible mother of two bright children, an author and a philanthropist joined me with her high flying spirits. She is an awakened and compassionate soul and together we were like two separated pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. The calling in our hearts paved the way and soon we found an enthusiastic bunch of virtuous souls who were willing to row the boat with us.
We not only formed an amazing group of individuals with an unqualified matching of thoughts .The efforts and events left us completely satisfied and enriched. By conducting group events we aimed at creating awareness towards the conditions of the old and poor. The reason was to converge the right energies to the right cause...and to be able to develop a system wherein we could provide more to those who needed.
Giving is a more satisfying process...In a way I believe it is more of a “self” service then a social service because of the seamless joy it creates, it cleanses our overworked minds of all the vices, we gather more and more blessings that help us flourish and rise above our pettiness.
Kritagya has completed a year now and has gone to various old age homes located in Kolkata, West Bengal. Lot of volunteers have come forth with the blazing torch of kindness and love and have walked the path with us. Our group members range from young teenagers to aging adults who have been generous and have boosted our spirits. Our special acknowledgement goes to late Mrs Shanti Devi Daga who believed in our efforts and shed a sum of her savings towards our cause in the last days of her life... We are thankful to Late Mr Ashis Sen to encourage us when we were faltering and walking alone on the redundant path.
The various events that we have conducted are as follows:
October 16, 2009: Diwali Prayer Candles and Diyas, sugar free sweets, snacks & clothes distribution and cash donations at Little sisters for the poor Old age home at AJC Bose road with 200 inmates. We enjoyed to light up candles and pray with them.
November 12, 2009: Cheshar Homes housing 33 inmates and Lawrence D’souza Old age home housing 15 old women. Distribution of blankets, body lotion, hair oil and sweets for winter season. We cherished the moments of sharing and listening to their experiences of life.
December 20, 2009: Breakfast and gifts on the eve of Christmas at St Josephs Old Age Home (Little Sisters of the Poor), Kolkata. We loved to listen a 99 year old sing Christmas carols for us.
January 14, 2010: Distributions of rice, pulses, oil, flour, sugar, potatoes, clothes and cash at Nirmal Hridaya, Kalighat on the eve of Makar Sakranti. We were touched by the desperate condition of a dying mother remembering her thankless son.
March 7 2010: On the Eve of Holi, distribution of cakes and snacks at Daya Dan Jorabagan, home for Autistic Children.
April 24 2010: Monsoon Distributions of umbrellas and raincoats at Cheshar old age homes and a few old people on the streets. We celebrated the 85th birthday of an inmate and laughed and had fun with them.
Oct 3 2010: Distributions of Shawls, fruits, snacks, sweets, potatoes, rice, pulses at Navanir Home for the Aged housing 100 inmates out of which 84 are desolated women. We are touched by their smiles and love. We enjoyed when they sang for us and greeted us with kind words.
With humbleness and love in our hearts we are marching forward and call upon you to take the torch forward with us. One thing I learnt at one of the events in Mother’s house was that we should never ask somebody to donate ....but we should only kindle the flame of love and compassion within hearts... true charity is to offer the savings from your sacrifice of the impulsive desires. So try to take the subway instead of the cab one day and give that saving to someone who would grace you with all his blessings. It makes a lot of difference.
www.kritagya.org
kritagya.gratitude@gmail.com
I realised that all they need at this departing juncture of their lives is a caring hand, a warm hug, a keen listener and a strong support to handle their withering conditions. Even though they care less about material presence but they have to struggle for their basics. I learnt that many are silently praying for their end so that they are liberated from the wilderness of being deserted and alone at an age when infancy revisits. KRITAGYA is a segment of this awareness. I knew that I had to do something to offer our gratefulness to them and to make them feel wanted and special.
I decided to form a voluntary group called Kritagya which means Gratitude. My friend Abhilasha Agarwal who’s a responsible mother of two bright children, an author and a philanthropist joined me with her high flying spirits. She is an awakened and compassionate soul and together we were like two separated pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. The calling in our hearts paved the way and soon we found an enthusiastic bunch of virtuous souls who were willing to row the boat with us.
We not only formed an amazing group of individuals with an unqualified matching of thoughts .The efforts and events left us completely satisfied and enriched. By conducting group events we aimed at creating awareness towards the conditions of the old and poor. The reason was to converge the right energies to the right cause...and to be able to develop a system wherein we could provide more to those who needed.
Giving is a more satisfying process...In a way I believe it is more of a “self” service then a social service because of the seamless joy it creates, it cleanses our overworked minds of all the vices, we gather more and more blessings that help us flourish and rise above our pettiness.
Kritagya has completed a year now and has gone to various old age homes located in Kolkata, West Bengal. Lot of volunteers have come forth with the blazing torch of kindness and love and have walked the path with us. Our group members range from young teenagers to aging adults who have been generous and have boosted our spirits. Our special acknowledgement goes to late Mrs Shanti Devi Daga who believed in our efforts and shed a sum of her savings towards our cause in the last days of her life... We are thankful to Late Mr Ashis Sen to encourage us when we were faltering and walking alone on the redundant path.
The various events that we have conducted are as follows:
October 16, 2009: Diwali Prayer Candles and Diyas, sugar free sweets, snacks & clothes distribution and cash donations at Little sisters for the poor Old age home at AJC Bose road with 200 inmates. We enjoyed to light up candles and pray with them.
November 12, 2009: Cheshar Homes housing 33 inmates and Lawrence D’souza Old age home housing 15 old women. Distribution of blankets, body lotion, hair oil and sweets for winter season. We cherished the moments of sharing and listening to their experiences of life.
December 20, 2009: Breakfast and gifts on the eve of Christmas at St Josephs Old Age Home (Little Sisters of the Poor), Kolkata. We loved to listen a 99 year old sing Christmas carols for us.
January 14, 2010: Distributions of rice, pulses, oil, flour, sugar, potatoes, clothes and cash at Nirmal Hridaya, Kalighat on the eve of Makar Sakranti. We were touched by the desperate condition of a dying mother remembering her thankless son.
March 7 2010: On the Eve of Holi, distribution of cakes and snacks at Daya Dan Jorabagan, home for Autistic Children.
April 24 2010: Monsoon Distributions of umbrellas and raincoats at Cheshar old age homes and a few old people on the streets. We celebrated the 85th birthday of an inmate and laughed and had fun with them.
Oct 3 2010: Distributions of Shawls, fruits, snacks, sweets, potatoes, rice, pulses at Navanir Home for the Aged housing 100 inmates out of which 84 are desolated women. We are touched by their smiles and love. We enjoyed when they sang for us and greeted us with kind words.
With humbleness and love in our hearts we are marching forward and call upon you to take the torch forward with us. One thing I learnt at one of the events in Mother’s house was that we should never ask somebody to donate ....but we should only kindle the flame of love and compassion within hearts... true charity is to offer the savings from your sacrifice of the impulsive desires. So try to take the subway instead of the cab one day and give that saving to someone who would grace you with all his blessings. It makes a lot of difference.
To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer. -- Mahatma Gandhi
www.kritagya.org
kritagya.gratitude@gmail.com
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