By Yogesh Jhanwar And Naman Kashyap
Residential School for Blinds, an institution based on charity and donations in Raghuvir Nagar – Delhi, managed by Akhil Bharatiya Netraheen Sanga provides academic, residential and vocational support to blinds free of cost. It is indeed, a thankless task for the society by the society. But THAT IS NOT WHAT MAKES it unique. The matchless quality of this school is that it also provides a platform for the students to fulfill their spiritual quest of life and develop their internal personality apart from learning the ROPES TO struggle IN TODAY’S world. If one enters the school at the dawn of 5:30 am, the blind students are seen singing sweet Kirtans and chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra.
Nadia Nath Nimai Das alias Nagendra Pratap Singh Rathore, 25, an initiated disciple of HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaja is the joint secretary of this association and the pioneer OF spreading Krsna Consciousness and sharing his love and experiences WITH the children “with other abilities”. He was introduced TO Krsna Consciousness in 2008 when he came in contact with devotees from ISKCON, Punjabi Bagh. Having once tasted the nectar himself, he WAS naturally inspired and inclined to share his experience with the students in his school. What follows next is an exceptional journey of these students from taking their baby steps of devotion to giant progress they are making NOW.
Since Students here are also trained in music, Nadia Nath Nimai prabhu started kirtan sessions in school. Seeing the overwhelming response of students, he started to narrate them the Lord’s pastimes from Ramayana and Bhagwatam. By now their hearts were fertile enough to take to THE process of chanting. Gradually all the students started daily group chanting with him. As the students matured the importance of bhakti and chanting was imparted to them. Then a trip to Delhi’s East of Kailash temple was student’s first exposure to ISKCON. But the best was yet to come. When devotees of ISKCON Punjabi bagh heard about tender bhakti sprouts of students, they decided to visit the school. A wonderful kirtan and a lecture were delivered. Temple devotees were amazed to see their response during kirtan. Student’s intelligent interaction after the lecture was very impressive.
“Students became much more enthusiastic and serious for their bhakti after devotees visited the school”, tells a spirited Nadia Nath Nimai Prabhu. Devotees from temple paid A few more visits to spend time with students, listen to them and answer their questions. Students were then introduced to the GBC Gopal Krishna Goswami maharaja who kindly guided and inspired them by revealing a secret “Don’t think that you are blind and the rest world can see. This whole world is blind. Only devotees can see things in true perspective. So actually you see.”
The students undergo a very strict regime in school. Starting from morning 7am to 9pm, they have continuous engagements. Apart from this schedule, they daily chant in group, perform arti of their Lordships in a small temple situated in school courtyard, hear from Nadia Nath Nimai prabhu on spiritual topics for 30 minutes and read Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata in Braille. Also DVDs of Mahabharata, Krishna and Ramayana are played, which they listen during or after meals. Students have become well versed in all the pastimes of Lord Rama and Krishna. Name a pastime and they can elaborate it.
4 of the older students have also started guiding 14 new recruits on the importance of chanting. There are total 59 resident students out of which 52 chant regularly with 9 students chanting 16 rounds daily. Students from other religion also actively take part in all the spiritual activities along with reading the Holy Koran and offering namaaz. During Janamashtami festivals OF 2012 & 2013, students performed kirtan at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh temple to the surprise of visitors and devotees alike. Many devotees were in tears, touched by the purity, simplicity and expertise of the students. One can see them performing live at www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/livedarshan/ on 18th august 2014 at 5:00 pm.
“These students have a really tough life. They have very strict schedule as well. Apart from studies they have to learn vocational skills too. Therefore, they are always short of time. Moreover, once back home, it’s hard for them to maintain their standards.” says Nadia Nath Nimai prabhu who is now planning to extend this program to an orphanage in Nangloi, Delhi.
Books are Basis- The same holds true for these students too. Nadia Nath Nimai prabhu is determined to help these devotees to have access to the books of Srila Prabhupada in a language they can read- Braille. However, since BBT doesn’t have any Hindi publication in Braille, this seems to be a long haul. Nevertheless, Nadia Nath Nimai prabhu is unfazed and has even acquired a Braille printer recently as donation. Therefore we humbly appeal to the BBT to help these devotees by proving Hindi pdf copies of books of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada would certainly be very pleased if we can pass on his mercy to these sincere seekers. Nadia Nath Nimai prabhu can be contacted on npsr214@gmail.com.