'The frame of the book is finished, now it's matter of finding time to write it.' While saying this, Manil looks at me. In her eyes I can read her thoughts, thoughts on hundreds of stories that she has collected in her mind, and that one day deserve to find their way on paper.
I am sitting around the table, having a cold beer, caressing one of the dogs, enjoying the nice evening breeze, and wondering how the farm looked like thirty years ago, when everything started - like all modest but heroic stories - from nothing... I can only believe her words, and those of her beloved husband - and I do - and thinking of the picture that I saw in the office: a piece of waste-land, a little house and a couple of trees. This could have remained a forgotten piece of land, somewhere in the middle of South India, that travellers definitely would have avoided on their trip from South to North. But it isn't. Thanks to two people, Rajen and Manil, their ambitions, their ideals, and maybe the most important, the love and respect for each other, this place has become one of these small paradises on earth, that I can enjoy, right now, far away from home, without having planted one tree nor flower seed, without having put a brick one on the other to build a decent house, a school, a hostel, a production house, stables, an office, or a meeting building.
Has this all been realized by two persons only? Of course not, many people have been involved in their project. But Manil and Rajen had the idea, and their message, and the message was good, as no one would have stepped into their project if the message wasn't attractive and stimulating for others to participate. They did not only plant seeds of trees, flowers, crops or whatever, they also planted the seeds of their personal message into the heart of hundreds of people, into the soul of the children they are taking care of, and into the minds of their staff, local and foreign volunteers and supporters, all willing to do a contribution, because they know that it's good.
This reads like a tribute to Manil and Rajen, and it definitely is. And why not? Aren't they one of those anonymous heroes who probably will never get a statue, or have a street named after their name? it's surely their wish to remain in all modesty behind the curtains, rather than being honored on stage, blinded by the spotlights. But nevertheless, we should cuddle them as precious beings in this world that has become too materialistic and individualistic We can't take the efforts they have made for granted, as a palm-tree takes many years to grow, a deserted piece of land even more to become fertile, and the virgin brains of a child need the right input to get educated and to prepare itself for the future. So that the child will remember the place where it once has collected its first seeds, and how it can keep on watering and fertilizing its inner seeds, to become a beautiful and strong plant.
I am patiently waiting for the book to come...
Martin Vansteenkiste, Belgium
A grassroots NGO in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India
