I am Dyaneshwari, 23 years old and currently pursuing BA in psychology and English literature, in St. Agnes College, Manglore. I was born in Maharashtra, Asangaon, Thane District in the year 2001. My family’s circumstances were not very good and as I stayed in a rural village where education was not at all available and there was no proper availability of food. Many people in my Village died with malnutrition, unemployment and poverty.
People living in my village faced lot of problems and went through many critical situations, they were uneducated and this has been a trend for many years. They didn’t believe in education particularly for girls and women. As I was born in this village, I had to tread through same situations. My dad was really worried that even I would end up facing this poverty and my health was very critical at that the moment. Later, my dad got to know about a charitable trust where a priest takes care of less privileged. He handed me over to Father George Kavukatt, who was known as Father Baba among Adivasi’s, in a very critical state. I was just two and a half years old when my foster father, Fr. George Kavukatt, got me from my dad’s hand.
When Achan picked me I was in a very bad and critical state. I was malnourished and had low level of hemoglobin. My condition was so critical and worst that I didn’t even had energy to cry. The first priority which father made at this time when he got me in this bad state is that, to bring me up in good health and provide me with the best treatment and nutrition possible. My health and good life became a first priority for Achan the Narikunnel family including Rani chechi, her dad, mother and Achan’s Dad played a very important role in my growth and improvement of my health.
I stayed with many caring and understanding people. I got a good opportunity to stay in convents and l learned many good values and morals from them and they also have a great role to play in my successful growth. Achan came to visit me most often and always made sure that I was doing well and in good health. From first to 8th standard I studied in Delhi where one of Achan’s siblings, Sr. Betty, who took good care of me. Father was always caring and supportive towards me and he timely, used to contact sisters taking care of me in the hostel and asked whether I was doing well.
I think Achan’s whole life was filled with me and all other foster kid’s concern, worries love and care for us. We became a most important part of our Achan’s life even till now I don’t feel lonely and the thought of not having a family never bothered me because Achan’s love, care, support and concerns are more than enough for me to live a very happy life. Achan is now everything for me, I personally feel very blessed for being one of Achan’s foster child. I am the only girl child for him.
I completed my 9th and 10th standard in Maharashtra which is my native place, I also tried my best to learn my native language Marathi. When I asked Achan, why I had to leave Delhi and come to Maharashtra to study here, he would say that I needed to learn my mother tongue and Delhi’s climate didn’t suit me , he was very worried about my health. By this I felt more happy and felt cared for by Achan and I had already accepted him as my mom, dad, sibling, a good friend and everything for me. And l personally feel that.
Another reason why he gave me chance to study in different states is because he wanted he give me much experience and it’s good to know many languages, which can help me in future. He was so much worried about me, that he had come to the extreme to bring good and necessary fruits and vegetables to keep me healthy. While I was staying in a hostel in Banda he used to travel all the way from from Oras to Banda proving his love and concern for me. Later I completed my PUC in Kerala. Achan would rest only when he would be assured and satisfied with my safety. The sisters in Sacred Heart congregation took care of me and accepted me as their own. Achan used visit me wherever I was placed, taking care of my health and studies.
Currently I’m pursuing BA and I’m in very good health and very happy, it’s all thanks to Achan and people who put into their efforts to bring me to this level successfully. I got to stay in many convents and got a lot of experience from them, learned good values from them and learned how to carry myself in the social world. Achan played a very crucial role to bring me to this level of happiness and things I achieved. He has always been there to support me emotionally and taught me to be very strong and confident person. He taught me to stand up for myself boldly and corrected me whenever I go wrong. At times when I used to get corrections from Acha in my growing years I used to be a bit sad and often questioned his corrections but now I came to know that ,those corrections were for my own good and it has shaped me into a better person.
