I am Prabhu Shyam Chandwani, 21 years old, and I am now doing a BCA at St Agnes College in Mangalore, Karnataka.
Our situation was severe, to the point where my father and mother had to work really hard to feed us by selling chappal, clothes, and dried fruits. To make money, we had to go to several locations where there was a throng at the festival or event. We had to sleep near the gutter and road occasionally, which exposed us to mosquito bites and other nocturnal insects. After Dad died, Mom had to make sacrifices to care for us, doing domestic jobs for others. She occasionally went to prepare for wedding receptions and brought beautiful food and desserts for us. It was already too late when my mother realized she had contracted HIV/AIDS. She couldn’t do anything.
Later, Mama came to take us to her home in Kalyan, where she had to spend all of her money to treat her. Physicians and others were aware that there are no prophylactic medications or vaccines for AIDS. As my mother’s health deteriorated, she became concerned about our future. Jeeju assured mom that they would look after us, but mom knew they would make us wash, clean, and do our daily tasks. The situation and feelings were really negative, and it is difficult to convey.
Rajan Mama talked to my mother about Fr. George, also known as Father Baba. Fr. George sent his social workers, Rani Chechi and Kamlakar uncle, to Kalyan to gather information and discuss everything with my mother. Both my brother Pradeep and I were in poor health. So, Fr. George intended to strengthen us with Changanassery’s nutritious and healthful cuisine.
SD sisters were really lovely and offered me many life lessons. After 5 years, I needed to learn my mother tongue, so we decided to relocate to Father’s home in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, where I finished my 10th and 12th grades. Father taught me how to run the house and farm, as well as how to cook food. Slowly, I learned to make chappathi, then curries and bhaji. He trusted me with everything, so I knew I had to assume responsibility for the farm whenever he traveled, so I managed cows, food, watering plants, and money, and I learned to manage my time based on my obligations.
I also had the opportunity to visit government offices at Talati, Panchayat, Thahsildar, the RTO, the energy office, and Jilla parishad. As I mature, I understand how to respect and be patient in the office, and my father George corrects me when I do something wrong. I was quite concerned about our certificate, particularly the orphan certificate, which we must have in our lives
Smt K. Manjulekshmi IAS (brought up in Kerala), was Sindhudurg’s district collector. She used to pay courtesy visits to father. She has much respect for father. Father explained to Madam about our orphan certificate, which we were striving to obtain and were racing around government agencies while it was overlooked or ignored.
Madam asked father to forward my phone number. When I reached at the office, Madam directed the concerned officers to attend this subject quickly. The officers acted on a war-footing and compiled everything and delivered it to the Mumbai commissioner’s office, where we received the certificate after one month. Finally, Madam forwarded it to Father, and we went to receive the certificate. Hand’t she involved in this issue we would not have made it done in our lives. Madam, with much concern and generosity, arranged for the certificate.
Father taught me to be handle loneliness effectively, and I learnt that when a person learns to be alone, he gains the confidence to tackle obstacles and events in his life. Fr. George is a mother, father, grandfather, friend, and everything to me. I have learned five to six languages. I don’t know how to express my gratitude and joy for what Father has done in so few words. I was, am, and will always be grateful for father’s love, care, sacrifices, and support for me. I always wish fr. George a beautiful life and pray that God bless him with all of his job, mission, and health.
