Dr. Abraham George addressed the parents of the children of
Shanti Bhavan on January 25, 1998. He spoke in English, Staff members
Kannan, Christopher and Venkatesh translated his talk into Tamil and Kannada
Dr. George welcomed the parents. He told them their children were
wonderful and bright, just like his own children.
He came to India to start the school about three years ago, he said.
The idea occurred to him in America. He went to America after spending
his boyhood in India. In America he learned that all children, whether
black or white, rich or poor, are equal. The road to success for children,
he found, lay in opportunities to learn and excel, and in a good environment
in which to mature. His dream is that the children of Shanti Bhavan,
with their God-given capabilities will grow up to be achievers, find
good jobs and become successful.
Shanti Bhavan provides opportunities for children to excel. Dr. George
told the parents the children will start to dream of success and will
work hard to make it happen. They will have a life free of many hardships
their parents endure.
With the values they will cultivate in Shanti Bhavan, the children,
he said, will want to take care of their families when they grow up.
Dr. George told the parents that their responsibility was to encourage
their children, speak well of the school, and make sure their children
learn well and work hard. Children, he said, need to know that their
parents have confidence in them. He said he hoped the parents have the
same dream for their children as he has.
The parents were asked to make sure that their children do not drop
out of Shanti Bhavan. They should remain to complete their education.
Parents were assured that the principal and staff would do everything
possible to ensure that the children succeed.
Dr. George invited the parents to ask questions and to express their
doubts. The fathers spoke first. They wanted to know whether Shanti
Bhavan was a private or government school. He replied that it was private
and funded by the Foundation. They asked about the future of their children
once they completed high school.
Dr. George said that he would make sure they got into good colleges.
He would try to get sponsors for the children, but it was not a promise.
He said he would be able to speak of Shanti Bhavan children with confidence
to prospective employers to launch them into good careers.
Dr. George then said he would like to hear questions from the women.
A few expressed appreciation and gratitude to Dr, George. They said
that the children were happy and were doing well at Shanti Bhavan. The
grandmother of the child whose mother had committed suicide by burning
herself wished to publicly acknowledge the good that Shanti Bhavan had
done for her grandson.
As lunch was served, Dr. George had the children meet with their parents.
The parents informally presented their children to Dr. George. He was
happy he was able to get to know all the members of the Shanti Bhavan
family.
'The Children will dream of success and work hard to make it happen'.
