From British Columbia to Bombay, Kane Ryan of Dirty Wall Project follows his heart back to Saki Naka slum where his non-profit has already built one school.
Five cities and 30 hrs later I’m officially back in India.
My first glimpse of India is through the glass windows of the exit corridor as I walk towards the prepaid taxi stand. Hundreds of families and people pressed up against the metal railing are waiting for their loved ones. I am standing there and about to pay for a taxi when I hear the faint call of “Kane sir” through the glass. I look up and saw a sea of people and hands waving, but no one I recognize. Then I hear it again ”Kane sir…Kane sir.” I look up again and see the smiling faces of the Saki Naka slum community.
I can’t believe my eyes. I had kept my return date and time a secret so I could surprise them the next day but as I look closely I see 20 people smiling and waving, and the only thing that keeps me from tearing up was is exhaustion! I hurry outside and run to the railing, grabbing at the hands of children who I haven’t seen in months. Bypassing security and the railing several of the woman and children come up behind me. They wrap my neck in a beautiful garland of flowers and welcome me home.
The older children grab my bags while the younger children hold my hands as I continued to reunite with everyone. Standing in the humid 30 degree air, eight minutes after arriving in India, I am surrounded by 20 familiar faces and I couldn’t be happier. High fives, hugs and pictures taken, we walk to the rickshaw stand as a mob of happiness, with the rest of the airport trying to figure out who I am and why these people are so excited to see me.
Five rickshaws pull up. We all pile in and head towards Saki Naka. It is now 1:30 am as we walk into the slum towards the school. More people awaken as my entourage and I arrived — and more reunions take place. I dump my bags in the school and join several of the woman, children and Ashley at Sujata’s home for Chai.
My head is reeling from the bounty of questions they ask me.“What took you so lo
ng to come back?” “Where and how is your mother?” “How long will you stay for?” “Do you have a girlfriend yet?” and “Why do you still not understand Hindi?”
We are all enjoying each other’s company but by almost 3 am eyes are drooping and it is time for sleep. Suresh has placed a towel and small mat on the floor of the school for me along with his own pillow. Fans are turned on and kids shooed away from the window.
Suresh and Shalu turn out the lights and I am alone in the dark of the school room. The last time I had lain down was in the relative luxury of my parents’ home in Victoria, British Columbia. The juxtaposition between that bed and my new bed on the floor of a school in a slum on the other side of the world is amazing. I hear slum dogs barking and fighting and the regular sounds of the community that I have longed for for months.
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I sleep uncomfortably for few hours, excited to be back. Ashley knocks on the door by 6 am and I once again join him, Sujata, and Rajashree and her family for Chai.
Morning is my favorite time in Saki Naka: the temperature is cool and the pace is slow. The lazy sun has not yet cast its harsh glare and the mood is set by the grayish purple of the morning as small fires add smoke to the air. Woman slowly emerge from their homes with small brooms in hand, yawning as they begin their morning rituals. Some begin with small pujas by lighting incense they wave around the doorway of their home to bless the day.
Children emerge rubbing their eyes, half clothed and tired, prodded along by their mothers. Men walk the lane ways carrying buckets of water by their sides headed to the communal toilets. People stop to greet me, surprised by my sudden emergence back in their world. They offer me their hands and sleepy smiles. Maheema sits beside me, her long black hair being expertly braided, looped and tied by Sujata. She quizzes and teaches me Maratthi phrases as I sip my sugary tea.
It seems like I have been away forever but after just a few hours back in Saki Naka it seems like I have never left. I feel instantly comfortable and at home in this small Indian community on the other side of the world.
Ashley and I then set out to officially start work, something I had been longing for. In the rickshaw he fills me in on the news of the community since my departure. A handful of recent deaths in the community have struck children, husbands and families up and down the pipeline. And I once again realize how fragile life in a slum can be. I learn of all the pending medical problems of individuals and families and start to formulate a plan to help.
First I wanted to treat the families to breakfast and thank them for making me feel so welcome. We order 50 plates of Idly (white rice like patty), 50 plates of Vada (deep fried bread like doughnut) and Sambar (red tomato curry and coconut paste), then we head back to the slum.
By 8:30 am Janvi Kindergaten school’s (built by Dirty Wall Project!) children are running up the lane-way dressed in uniform, and gathering outside the school. Some children hang onto their mothers; others giggle and play with their small book bags. It’s hard for me to explain in words how happy it makes me feel to see the hard work and support of DWP’s donors’ generous donations making such an impact.
For the next few hours women and children gather upstairs eating and chatting till all the food is gone.
It feels so good to be back — my first day in Saki Naka is busy and productive. So much is happening that I will be writing another post in a couple days to fill you all in on the rest of the day.
Fifty plates of food served to over 100 people – cost = 1988 Rupees or $46 Canadian.
Speak soon,
Sincerely,
Kane Ryan
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More Posts from Kane Ryan on Life As A Human
Photo Credits
All photos courtesy of Kane Ryan, Dirty Wall Project © Dirty Wall Project. All Rights Reserved.
“Kane Ryan with freinds from the Saki Naka slum community”
“Happy to have Kane back in Bombay”
“A young child in Janvi Kindergaten school’s, built by Dirty Wall Project!”
“Janvi Kindergaten”
“Learning at Janvi Kindergaten”
“Kane Ryan and a young friend”
Recent Kane Ryan Articles:
- Water Kids In The Pink City
- To be Loved — Part 2
- To Be Loved - Part 1
- A Death in Mumbai: Ganesh's Last Days
- Ashwini and Boomi
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