The girls in an orphanage near my home are a great inspiration  ― for, they live so joyously, fighting all odds, seeking no sympathy, eager to give more love than they receive, says SHASHI DIP

Every year I celebrate my birthday in a unique way. My idea of a celebration is not a grand party at a five star hotel, a holiday to an exotic destination or buying expensive jewellery. If I did any of this, I would be happy, no doubt. But the happiness would be transitory and would soon fade away.

With so many friends praising my grand party or commenting on my newly acquired jewellery or the beautiful pictures of my holiday, I might even be on top of the world, following the great boost to my ego. But after the praises died down, I would soon feel empty inside.

These fleeting pleasures don’t bring me everlasting joy. And because of the emptiness that transitory happiness leaves, one has the tendency to crave for more to fill the emptiness that can never really be filled. In fact, these passing joys and pleasures only leave a spiritual vacuum.

The author Shashi Dip (wearing white salwar kameez and orange dupatta) sharing joyous moments with residents at the orphanage

I don’t want to sound pious, but you must believe me when I say, from my experience random acts of kindness, however small, really do make a difference in the world and in the lives of others.  They have given me immense happiness that may not last forever, but definitely for a longer time than those short-lived pleasures.

I love to touch the lives of people and my bonus, if I may so, is their sparkling smiles, when I hold their hand to help them face life’s many challenges. They inspire me and teach me how life is so beautiful, when we share small things in life.

I can never forget January 20. To me it’s a special day. The day God bestowed me with the gift of life. But January 20, 2020, was a super special day, I would say much more special than any other of my birthdays. The birthday celebration, too, was the best I ever had in life. Actually, it was a pre-birthday celebration.

A day before my birthday, we went to an orphanage 5km away from the housing society I stay in Kandivali, Mumbai. The orphanage was known to my younger sister who had visited it three to four times earlier. I was accompanied by my sister and both my children.

The author feeding her birthday cake to a resident

The orphanage had 15 members, 13 teenage girls and two caretakers. I took food boxes and a cake for them. We chose a day before my birthday for the celebration, as it being Sunday (January 19, 2020) all the girls were home. As soon as we reached there, they welcomed us with hearty smiles, hugs and namaskars.

While my sister had already experienced the positive vibes of the place, it was an incredibly pleasant feeling for me and my kids to be welcomed so warmly by the residents.

All the girls happily squatted on the floor, while they made me sit on a diwan. My sister and kids too sat on the floor with them. Since the girls were well groomed, bubbly and studying in good schools or colleges they were able to talk in fluent English. They started introducing themselves one by one, so charmingly and endearingly.

I saw all were energetic, dynamic and smart. Listening to them was so inspiring as they gave brief introductions on their present status, their voices full of pride and satisfaction. There was not even a hint of any one of them seeking sympathy. I complimented each one of them ― we were simply loving the interaction. What we exchanged was pure, spontaneous love, not adulterated by any artificiality or sugar-coating.

Shashi Dip applying tilak to a resident

When it was cake cutting time, they said, “Didi candle blow karo naa.” I replied, “Nahi re, darlings, main candle nahi bujhhati birthdays key din, humey candle jala kar rakhna chahiye; yehi hamari parampara hai.”  (No darlings I don’t believe in blowing off candles on birthdays, we should keep candles burning; it’s our tradition.)  

Listening to my loving homily, they started giggling, and said, “Didi ,you are so simple and innocent.” I sprinkled water and one by one put Tilak on their foreheads, and they reciprocated with the same gesture. Then an unbelievable surprise, which nobody had imagined, was a birthday song composed by them. They sang the song with so much zeal and warmth that I was touched beyond words. They demonstrated their great talent in such a beautiful way, which, indeed, was a precious gift for me.


After spending around two hours with them, it was time to depart. The atmosphere was so emotional. Love was overflowing in all directions. It was oneness at its best. They held our hands and asked innocently, “Didi fir se aaoge naa?” (Didi, you will come again, wont you?)  I said, “Yes betas, we will keep visiting. God bless you all.”

Their requesting me to come again was a great message in itself. They feel hurt when people just visit them and donate them things and think they did a noble deed. What they really need is love and time of people who can feel their sentiments, just the way parents feel for their children. They have not seen their parents, and nobody can fill up that gap in their lives, but love and compassion has the power to give them hope.

I called them twice in this lockdown period and they were super delighted. One girl was thanking me for remembering her name. My 5 minute talk made them believe that all visitors are not the same.  A couple of  residents have shared their phone numbers with me and now they are connected like other friends.

For me, these girls are a great inspiration ― for, they live so joyously, fighting all odds, seeking no sympathy, eager to give more love than they receive.

Shashi Dip is a thinker, bilingual writer, poet, columnist, social activist and an author of the book ‘Waves Within (Horizon and Beyond)’. She is associated with various literary associations and has written more than 200 blogs, 500 quotes in Hindi/Urdu and English and 100 poems in both Hindi and English.

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