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Play Time

By Anup Patel '04

It’s a little past three and my baked eyelids are begging me for some rest from the blistering sun. I am currently visiting Nirmala and her school hostel in Anchola to learn more about the various activities run throughout the day.   Trying to keep pace with Nirmala has left my body depleted in energy.   I am banking on my midday nap for refuel from this long, weary day.   As I lie flat on a chilled marble bench ready to submit to a deep sleep, a swarm of children slowly tiptoe towards me.   They have just been unleashed from class and my midday nap is none of their concern. Within minutes, I can feel five pairs of legs crawling over my spine.   Each child has assertively put a stake on my back as to declare a residency of their own. The other munchkins, determined to keep me asleep, yell a cluster of shushes and softly whisper “sleep, sleep, uncle!” in my ears. To reassure themselves, they periodically open and shut my eyelids.   Realizing my nap today was not meant to be, I start to growl like a fuming tiger and the kids release their claws and scurry away.   Using my bench as a dungeon, I decide to capture all of the naughty kids and tickle them silly. My routine, soothing midday nap abruptly turned into a boisterous hour of playtime.   I usually become extremely aggravated by the smallest of glitches in my regular sleeping patterns. But that day was different. It was my first acquaintance with a school hostel and among many other things, I quickly learned to never try to take a nap during recess. I also realize that when you spend time with children, children are not the only ones who benefit. That one hour of playtime made me more refreshed and alert than any nap I have ever taken.    Afterwards, my entire body had a glowing sense of calm that could not be dimmed by any means.

Witnessing the children’s unblemished joy, relentless energy, and sparkling imagination made all the difference in the world. Their youthful spirit transcended into my body. Images of my childhood immediately splashed into my head and I remembered what it felt like to be a kid again.   Playing with the children helped me realized my problems weren’t as deep as vast as the ocean’s breath. I started to giggle at my recent frustrations, discover new ways to get lost, and seek pleasure from simple, ordinary things.

I was able to reach an inner peace through such wild pandemonium because of the children’s affection.   They knew me for less than an hour and yet established enough trust to mount my back.   The children’s claws felt like a gentle masseuse untying all of my tense knots.   Their thunderous voices felt like a warm lullaby sang by mother. They did not see me as an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) or as a man who still knows very little Kannada; but rather, they saw me simply as an overgrown trampoline and jumped on the chance to play. And it is not as if though I have some type of magic wand that draws children towards me.   All children merely want one simple thing: attention. Simply give them attention and see how quickly and robustly, affectionate bonds can be formed.

Did You know?

Indicorps offers a variety of programs and opportunities that encourage leadership and civic engagement. While the fellowship focuses on empowering people willing to do whatever it takes to affect change, we also have local volunteer programs in India, an established internship program, an emerging domestic program, an effort to engage late-careers seniors in development, an online volunteer opportunity site, and more....

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See images by Kajal Patel, a talented UK-based photographer, that are part of an Indicorps project to capture the journey of India's people. Her work particularly focused on widows and the nature of the rag-picking industry in Gujarat's largest slum.

Aasma

Learn about the Indicorps / SAATH partnership, started by Indicorps intern Ajlai Basu, that has lead to Aasma - a volunteer-driven school for street children near the Indicorps office in Gujarat.

The Fellowship

The next fellowship applications are available for fellowship classes starting August 2008 and January 2009. To apply, click here.

Inspiration

If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.

- Lila Watson