Calcutta (or Kolkata)

Gareth and I spent almost 3 days in this huge city, which houses 17 million residents. You feel the size of the city the minute you touch down it spreads for miles and miles and feels so much more crowded and busy than Hyderabad does and that is saying a lot!

We were travelling with our friend and guide Tony Sargent whose involvement with OM and the Emmanuel Ministries date back decades. His love for India and obvious passion for this country and its problems is evident, you can also see how long his involvement here has been by his friendships with the team, one of which is a former student of the theological school in Glasgow he is head of.

After he had spent two days in our home in Hyderabad we travelled together to Calcutta - Gareth and I particularly wanted to visit slum schools projects and other community schools and orphanage and the general work of Emmanuel ministries, which also includes a HIV/Aids clinic, counselling etc etc.

Initially met at the airport by Mahadeb and his wife (a couple who run an OM operated school and church project in the local slum), we first visited their home. Their home was so welcoming and we sat for a couple of hours chatting, sharing stories, asking questions and eating their delicious home made fried chicken. Tony had also had a hand in helping them design and build their home, one picture in particular stood out of a piper fully kilted up brought back by Tony from Glasgow.

We then went on with him to Emanuel Ministries headquarters, which also have a few guest rooms, and is where we stayed for our visit. Meeting the temporary head of the organisation, Primela and her assistant Jeng a South Korean, we were again made so welcome and spent time getting to know each other and understand their work in the city. This organisation’s drug rehab programme has been used a model by the Indian government. Later we went onto a light show at the Queen Victoria Memorial, which explains the history of the city and then dinner with the group in the centre of Calcutta. We were actually giving others advice on the Indian menu, we must be eating too many local dishes!

The next day bright and early we spent visiting schools, an orphanage and slum projects.
Was a busy day full of meetings with inspirational people dedicated to caring and giving their lives to providing an education, hope and future to so many children. We met so many amazing children so focused on their education, and in the orphanage a four-year-old-child came up to me - taking my hand he wanted to show me the plastic table and chairs someone had given him. Brought here after his father died and mum has Aids, all he knows is his big brothers and sisters in the orphanage and the lower bunk of the bed he shares. Yet this place has provided him with such love and protection it broke my heart – his innocence remains despite such a harsh start to life and I pray his life continues to be full of hope.

We also had time one early morning to walk a very short distance from where we staying to Mother Teresa’s tomb and visit the ongoing work of her convent. It felt very peaceful being there, also giving us time to reflect on all we had experienced and felt. Her words of wisdom resonated with us in particular statements such as, ‘It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.’ spoke volumes.

We had a short tour around the city by one of the team from Emmanuel ministries, now an adult he was a former street kid, one of ten children who managed to stay within the center’s support programme as the others eventually returned to the streets, as this was all they’ve ever known.

Leaving Calcutta lunchtime the next day we felt so many emotions - challenged, encouraged, sad and inspired. Sharing this experience as a married couple was also special as often I travel to projects with work unable to share this with Gareth, so this was a growing time for the two of us also.