Lingamma and Meha, two 3-year olds who have been brightening up my mornings for more than a week now. Meha stands at the balcony and Lingamma stands at the mud mound below; every morning soaking in the colours, sounds and people of the morning. Both of them with sparkling wide eyes, full of life and excitement. Both of them fresh from the dreamy sleep of the night, talking a language of their own with the world.
Meha loves to shout out to the world – be it the vegetable vendor, the cars, the bikes and the occasional passerby – Ahoy! Ahoy! She goes in a language that none understand but everyone responds. She watches her grand-dad water the plants and is fascinated by the water forming a pool around her legs and making a waterfall from the drain-pipe on the balcony. She runs in and out of her house – happy and carefree.
Lingamma gets her bath by the roadside; cold and refreshing given to her by her 5-yr old sister. She splashes water around, wears her clothes of yesterday all excited that it’s her favourite frock. Sits on a granite slab and shares a meal with her 2-yr old brother and then starts her daily adventure by running up and down the small lane with speeding vehicles. She is careful though, her instincts to stay safe, alive and kicking protecting her. She rolls over the mud mound, picks up things that fascinate her from the road, throws them around and watches with amazement as the morning birds, insects and people move around.
Two very beautiful, happy, carefree and lovely children brighten up my day. One from the house from across my house another from the construction site next to my house.
Meha would possibly go to a good school, heavy school-bags, pressure of performance, make friends and have a normal development. Lingamma would probably move from one construction site to another, miss school, and make friends with other kids at construction sites.
I wonder how life would differ or be similar for these two lovely kids. I wonder what life has in store for them.
I wonder when kids in India would have a carefree, happy development with their Rights to Survival, Protection, Development and Participation held and met in equal measure without prejudice. It’s after all in our hands!!!
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