Today was an experience we will not forget, apart from the Polio Immunisation awareness we experienced which is reported on a separate posting we were royally entertained by Rotarians from no less than 4 Clubs in Tumkur.
We started at 6.30am, coffe break at 7.20 and just managed to escape the City boundaries at about 8.40. Breakfast was laid on at the home of the President of Tumkur East Rotary Club who then invited us to take part in the Polio Awareness rally reported elsewhere.
Before having lunch at the President of Tumkur City’s house we visited a part of the Siddaganga Mutt campus (more of which later) where blind children from poor families from a wide are taught and trained.
As we approached this facility we passed through the annual cattle auctions, these are working beasts not the sacred cows found roaming the streets. We made time to walk through the throngs of farmers and their stock after visiting the school. By the intense interest shown in us by these inquisitive people we assumed that few westerners had probably witnessed this annual event.. One of the many privileges we feel we had today.
(Video to follow soon)
After our lunch AG Asha Prasanna Kumar invited us to have a restful hour or so at her “mansion”. A successful local couple, her husband runs a regional Highway Contracting company, they looked after us well with fresh coconut, teas coffees and walks in their grounds full of tall palms, banana and beetlenut trees.
Then on to a local beauty spot to take in the sunset followed by a further visit to the Siddaanga Mutt Campus. This school has 9,600 students again from the local region. As we arrived, at around 7pm, they were ALL sat in a large square for evening prayers. These prayers were in honour of the Swamiji, this guru set up the centre some 80 years ago, he will be 104 this year. As well as the school the centre provides free, simple but nourishing food for the destitute in the area.
As the students rose and departed the spotted us and wanted to know where we were from, why we were there. It is easy to see why these bright, but initially destitute students, find it easy to return some of their future earnings to the institution.
The Swamiji makes himself available for devotees to pay homage to or obtain solace from him after each prayer session, we were also given the privilege of doing so, being introduced to the frail old man by Asha.
(Video to follow soon)
This day to remember was topped off by a hearty meal on the way out of Tumkur hosted by Rotary Club of Tumkur South. The friendship we are receiving from our Host clubs is great, although it was noted by one that “if it was not for Polio, we would not have met!” …. back to the reason we are here, this time at least.
No comments:
Post a Comment