They have hardly any memory of their parents as they were separated from them a long time ago. However, they are not feeling the absence of the warmth they expect to get from their parents and other near ones in the place they have been staying and studying. Their home is now Matra Anchal Kanya Vidyapeeth where they are getting the warmth of affection and guidance from those running the orphanage cum school. The little girls have come from all parts of India, even from the far-off states like Nagaland and Tripura. Some of them had come when they were not even two- year- old. Now they are students of class VIII. Established by Sadhvi Kamlesh Bharti in 2000 in the holy city Haridwar, the orphanage cum school has a come a long way. It would soon be upgraded to class X after it gets affiliation from Uttarakhand Board.
The delight-tinged excitement is writ large over the faces of the girls who are mostly in their teens now as a new temple is being built in the ashram premises, modelled under the South Indian architectural style. A cosmetic company from SIIDCUL- Lotus- has taken the initiative of building the temple. There is a Lord Rama- Devi Janki temple. But now, a new one is coming up which would house idols of Lord Krishna, Hanuman ji and mother Durga. The temple is coming up in response to the demands of the students.
“How can we celebrate Janmashtami, marking the appearance day of Lord Krishna, as the only temple we have here is dedicated to Lord Rama?” asked Vani, one of the girls staying and studying here under the benign guidance of Sadhvi Kamlesh Bharti. The elderly lady who is like mother to the little girls was left thinking over what to do. Many came forward to contribute to the building of the temple and things started.
Housing 75 girls at present (17 married off till date), this Vidyapeeth has students studying from the nursery to class VIII. They also learn stitching, martial arts, handicraft. “Once a visitor steps in the girls welcome him or her with a glittering smile. A cup of tea is served soon. The spirit of hospitality they show to the guests is really exemplary,” said a visitor to the residential school.
It is learnt that a day school is being run at Kharkhari where nearly 95 students study. Those from the nearby villages also come. On Tuesday, an entrepreneur Arun Saraswat came to the school to distribute woollens among the students. The students welcomed him with a devotional song ‘Achyutam Keshwam Krishna Damodaram’ sung in chorus. “Such are the sanskars we are inculcating in the children,” said the beaming school principal Mamta Agarwal. On special permission, visitors are allowed in the Matra Anchal, she added.
Asked whether the people residing in the colony would be allowed to visit the temple after it is completed, the founder of the residential school Sadhvi Kamlesh Bharti said, “It is a bit difficult as the entry of the outsiders might pose a security risk to the girls. They are growing up here under our protection. The temple is being built here as we do not want the girls to go out to visit a temple outside during festivals,” she added.
The students have been given their names by the Sadhvi, depending on their temperament, likes and dislikes.
“A girl who was reticent when she came here was named ‘Vani’. Each child has a different story to tell behind her name. They are different from one another in their mental disposition. However, they all love Sheru, the dog. Sheru sits calmly when the girls pray and escorts them from the place where the prayer is held to their rooms. National days like the Independence Day and the Republic Day are celebrated through cultural programmes here. We are imbuing them with all types of sanskars so that they grow into ideal citizens of the great country,” she added.
