Doug Vincent Reports on his trip to India
Oct 23rd Calcutta, India (pt 2)
It was an early morning flight to Calcutta (Kolcata as the locals call it), so that we could maximize our first day in this wonderful city. Upon arrival at the airport, our group was warmly greeted by RIDE Shekhar Mehta and our new Rotary hosts.
In a well coordinated fashion, we were transported to our respective host homes to unpack and relax, while we had the opportunity to get to know your new found friends and host families. Later in the day we toured the city and observed several cultural and historical sites. It was interesting to enter some magnificent temples and learn more about......
their meaning and the Hindu faith.
During the afternoon we were hosted at the famous Marble Palace for a personal tour by a Rotarian and family descendant of the original owner. This impressive mansion and museum has been passed down over many generations. The quality displays and rare artefacts were very impressive. As expected, many items were crafted from marble with public access to a large museum area set aside from the living quarters.
Later in the evening everyone gathered for much fun and fellowship with our new found India friends. The next day was one of the highlights for me, having worked on these matching grant projects for almost three years.
Our first stop was to view a new eye hospital which is one of many to be developed in the remote rural areas of this country. We have committed to funding a hospital here with a grant, so it was a wonderful experience to see the layout and design of this facility first hand. At a future date, we'll return to participate in a cornerstone laying ceremony of our hospital.
Local Rotarians have done an excellent job of developing the concept, where paid services for those who can afford it, will help sustain and fund free eye surgeries for the poor. Many cannot travel the distance to a city hospital, so the location in remote communities is appreciated.
An interesting concept included in the layout is a board room and meeting area that is transformed from a waiting room. In this way, Rotarians are drawn to the centre for meetings and activities, which gets them to the centre where they learn and become more aware of the project. Local Rotarians are rightfully proud of this model for providing quality medical care to those in need.
Many of you already know about our Healing Little Hearts project, promoting a Gift of Life surgery to poor children for approximately US$1000. each. So far we have funded 100 lives saved and are closing in on a total of 150 children.
One cannot imagine or describe the experience of holding a child, whose life you have saved. Imagine the expression of gratitude from parents making a mere $75. per month income. Without Rotary they would have no hope . . no way to obtain the necessary medical care needed to prolong the life of their child.
The meeting room was filled with anticipation and emotion as we arrived to a warm greeting with a lei of flowers placed around our neck. Fathers had taken time off their work to come with their family and thank us in a variety of simple, yet powerful ways.
It was a true "celebration of life" with speakers, gifts and warm emotional greetings of appreciation. For over a year I had anticipated this day . . I had imagined the emotional tears, embraces and hugs that would be shared. But nothing could have prepared me for the air of deep gratitude that permeated the atmosphere.
One by one, the children came to greet us, each thanking us in their own way. Some brought flowers while others presented their home-crafted thank you cards. Others struggled to adequately share their appreciation by simply raising their clothing to show us their scar. What a powerful gesture.
Parents were in awe of this face-to-face meeting . . in awe of their long awaited opportunity to look into the eyes of these guardian angels from Canada . . and to thank them for saving the life of their child.
Similar to their children, most parents did not know how to adequately convey their deep gratitude. Some hesitatingly embraced us with a warm hug, but you could sense their feeling that it was not enough. Some fathers hugged me so long and so tightly that I almost lost my breath.
And as a most humble indication of their thanks, some of the mothers dropped to the floor and touched our shoes . . . a very simple, yet profound gesture to convey their deep gratefulness and emotion.
I have had many great experiences around our Rotary world, receiving appreciation from beneficiaries of our work. But this day was truly a highlight of my thirty year Rotary journey . . . an experience that will be branded in my mind forever.
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