Snehajwala - The Story Of Life !!

THE STORY OF LIFE!!


God is here among the 22 inmates of “Snehajwala” – the old aged home in Kottekkad, Palakkad. They live here with joy and pleasure hiding all their sorrows inside. At times, they do cry in silence remembering their past where they lived with their children and loved ones. Now they have nothing more to do or to get. All that they expect is only one thing – their “death”!!



Thankachan, the all in all of Snehajwala is everything for them. Some calls him brother, son and even father too. He is like a cherub for all those who live here. Snehajwala is a service society that came into being on 15th August 2002. It is as an abode for all the children of God who are physically and mentally weak, in abject poverty and ailing with no roof over their head and abandoned by their parents and children.

The main inspiration to do such a service was after a visit to the isolation ward of District Government Hospital Palakkad, where 16 people, both men and women suffering from various incurable diseases where put together without providing proper food or medicines. Hardly twice or thrice in a week will the staff go to this ward and give them something to eat, when they cry aloud in hunger. People eat, drink and excrete in the same place. Dogs, cats, cows and pigs also keep coming here to eat the debris as the ward was near to a forest area and people seldom comes here. – says Thankachan.
It’s only because of the people in the city that he’s able to meet all his expenses. He doesn’t have any source of income or bank accounts to meet the expenses everyday. Per day he needs to spend about Rs 2000 to 3000 for food and medicines. Within these 6 years of service 23 people have died due to age related reasons and diseases. He himself will make arrangements to cremate the dead body as per the religion in which the person believed.


With very innocent smile they will welcome each and everyone who comes to meet them. I am happy here, I’ve nothing more to give or get, I don’t want anything, I’ve my father(Thankachan),he’ll take care of me till I die. That’s enough for me. – says Madhaviamma who is an inmate of Snehajwala and A great fan of the Malayalam film actor Mohanlal.
There have been days when I’ve cried thinking about how to feed this people the next day as there won’t be any morsel of food in the kitchen. But, solely because of the God’s grace someone will call me up early in the morning telling that they’ll sponsor that days’ food because it’s their daughter’s birthday or their father’s death anniversary or something like that. That’s the only news that can make me happy than anything else. - says Thankachan with a smile. He is unmarried and has got two brothers but, he visits his relatives once in a blue moon.


Along with Thankachan Sister Rosily of the S. D Convent (Sisters of the destitute), Kottekkad is also there at Snehajwala to take care of the inmates. She takes care of the health of these people and provides them with medicines in proper time as she’s the nursing superintended of the District Government Hospital, Palakkad.
I’m happy to take care of these people, now this is my home. I cook, wash and clean here and at times I do play with them or read out stories for them. It’s a wonderful experience. My colleagues use to ask to me why do I spend my salary here, but I’m happy to spend my salary here rather than doing anything else. - Sister Rosily said.


In short, “Snehajwala” is like a heaven for all those who have lost everything in life. It gives them a hope in life. They smile amidst tears when they are here in Snehajwala.

My interview with the Member of Parliament

INTERVIEW
With Adv. M.B. Rajesh, Member of Parliament



Adv. M. B Rajesh is the M. P of Palakkad, he’s a very familiar person to the people of Palakkad as he was born and brought up here. Even though he’s an advocate by profession, he is more into politics. He joined the Students Federation of India (S. F. I) during his college days and he became the state president also. He has done many notable services during that time. While he was doing his L. L. M, he became the state president of Democratic Youth Federation of India (D. Y. F. I) and dropped his studies. Later, he became the Communist Party candidate of Palakkad during the 15th Lok Sabha elections and won the election with the second lowest margin.
A chat with him about his two months of experiences at the Parliament and as an M. P and much more....



1. How is your experience so far as an M.P?
I had two types of experiences. One is that am getting more prominence everywhere. I’ve been to Delhi many times before but, after becoming an M. P, when i get down at the airport, am getting warm welcome. I need not carry my brief case or i need not open my car door, things have changed a lot. This was not the case before and i know this is not going to be the same always.
The second experience is that, so many people are approaching me every day, a minimum of 100 people. Most of them are coming to get the Prime minister’s Relief Fund (P. M. R. F) issued. There are so many people, in very pathetic situation. Not even having a shelter and proper water facilities. I could do something for them at least with my M. P fund.
2. How do you differentiate between your profession as an advocate, a student activist, a youth leader and now as an M. P?
I have chosen the profession of a lawyer to be against corruption and to social service. But, later when i joined the party, i couldn’t continue all the time with my profession even then, through S.F.I and D.Y.F.I i was able to many things. Now, I’ve become an M.P and I’ve got power, so i am becoming more answerable. I might lose this power at any time but, till the last moment I’ll be aware of my social responsibility and I’ll do the best of what i can to help the people.
3. We know that Parliament is entirely different from any other government offices, how did you feel while you got into the Parliament for the first time?

I’ve read A.K.G’s (a communist leader) auto biography, in that he has told that, ‘Indian Parliament is a mesmeric World. Its beauty and elegance might change you a lot. So never forget about what you are and how did you get over there’. I’d kept this in mind when i enter into the parliament for the first time. There are about 300 crorepati’s in the parliament this time, for them, their job as an M.P is just a side-business. But, for me this is my main duty, to work among the people.

4. How about your agenda for the development of Palakkad and for solving the problems?

Palakkad is my own place and so i very well know about every nook and corner and the problems of the district. This will help me to make my work easier. The first problem i introduced in the sabha was that of bank merger. Ie, 7 small banks are going to get merged with the State Bank of India (S.B.I), State Bank of Travancore(S.B.T) is also going to get merged like this. We can’t allow this because S.B.T is Kerala’s own bank and if it gets merged, many people will lose their jobs. Then, i was able to attend the railway budget and got a good result out of it. Now, we are trying our level best to bring ‘coach factory’ to Palakkad as early as possible.
5. The election manifesto of the Communist Party for the 15th Lok Sabha elections said that, more importance will be given to increase the standard of education and for the goodness of students. As a person who started the political life as a student activist, what do you have in store for students?
As Lenin (former communist leader) said, there are three things that every student should do, ‘Study, study and study’. That is duty of every student. Best education system with very finest technologies will be provided for them. Everybody says that politics makes students worse, but politics doesn’t mean to hold a flag and go for a rally alone. It’s meant for good reasons. In my case, politics have brought me to this position.

6. Do you have any family background as a politician?
No, In fact, my parents are anti-communists. I had strong oppositions from my family. As i was the eldest son, father expected a lot from me. He wanted me to become a successful lawyer and at last a judge. But, i hardly did practise only for just two years. There have been days when I was not allowed to get in to my home. I’d my own decisions for everything. I’ll do whatever i feel is right; i did the same in case of my marriage also.
7. A lawyer and a politician, both are more or less related to social service. How do you get satisfied for the services rendered to the public?
As i said earlier, now as an M.P, I’ve become more responsible. Other than being in the sabha, i need to be among the people. I’ve to take part in marriages, inaugurations and even at the funerals. Even if I’m not an M.P I’ll continue with my services. Anyways, I’ve decided not to go back to the court again. After my tenure gets finished, I’ll get more time to read and write and to bring about people’s needs. Economics is my favourite subject which i always love to read and write about.
M.P is an M.A Economics degree holder along with L.L.B and he’s the author of three books. In his busy political life, he has Mrs. Ninitha as his life partner and daughter Niranjana.