MUMBAI (Bombay)

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February 13

Landed 00:35 at the Bombay airport.

Long queues. Björn and Margaretha met us the warm night. Arrived in a nice apartment high up in the Spastic Society's House. To bed at half past three.

Sleep. Tea on the terrace. Had breakfast there.

A walk in the surrounding areas. Passed the old colonial houses, new high-rise buildings under construction with bamboo scaffolding. Animals and humans.

Lunch on the terrace.

Sightseeing with Vadana and Diane. First we visited the Gandhi Museum of Mani Bhavan in central Mumbai (Bombay). There were lots of books - a library with collections of books related to Gandhi's works. There were also a large number of scenes that showed the realism of the people and environments and important events in Gandhi's life. Photos and letters also documented his life.

Jihangar Museum with contemporary art. Took tea in the museum cafe.

Boat trip from Gate of India, in the Bombay harbour.

Went into the Taj Mahal Hotel to "wash our hands", looked at and bought some view cards. The hotel had its most impressive entrance in a narrow street, not out towards the open area of the sea!

When evening came we dined with Mithu Alur and her mother. Nice home, cosy with lots of Swedish stuff. Good food as Mithu herself partially cooked it. We also sang a couple of songs - "Friendship" was particularly appreciated. Then we went home with the driver who waited outside.

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February 14

After breakfast by minibus to visit Dharavi in four so-called inclusive classrooms. These primitive schools are located in the real slum. As a guide we head the head of these inclusive / integrated classes. The ages were between 3 and 5 years for subsequent inclusion in the government schools. The teachers (only young women) were very proud but had very little funding for educational materials. The children were very attentive to us and to their teachers. They sang and showed their skills with joy and pride.

Colaba - centre for special education - from class 1 through class 5 + a class of "mentally retarded". The school was located in an old military base. We were greeted with flower garlands and a mark on the forehead by Mrs. Bannerjee and some of the handicapped children. The classrooms were small and separated by draperies. Here we again met happy children and teachers. One example was a teacher who told us about water purification and the importance of this. Another taught about traffic hazards and rules and a third gave a history lesson with great feeling.

Teaching was consistently in English even though the children’s mother tongue was different. Mrs. Bannerjee was the former headmaster of a prestigious Mumbai school. She had tried to integrate the disabled in her previous school but failed. She was retired now but still full of enthusiasm for the important tasks. The last hour we went into the kitchen and cafeteria. There were a number of examples of toys, models and ornaments made of simple everyday objects and their waste - recycling in other words.

We had lunch at a typical Indian restaurant. Lots of small dishes served on a tray made of stainless steel. Good!

Visit to the Cottage Industries and Bombay Store. I bought some small items. Gudrun bought the first salvo kameez, red. Long way home. Skilful driver in the improbable traffic.

Dinner on the terrace. It was Valentine's Day. Mithu took part together with a Canadian couple and their niece who would stay a year to soak in the Indian culture and to study integration of handicapped girls and boys. It was a nice evening with the moon at the zenith. Went inside to work on some translations of Swedish songs into English.

Slept well.

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February 15

(About Spastics Society of India Spastic Society of India )
 

"At home" again in the Spastic Society. Formal welcome by the traditional ceremony. Incense and crushing of the coconut on the entrance stairs. Incense.

Walking tour in classrooms. The premises were very efficient. Facilities were extraordinarily spacious for being in India. There were about 120 children.

From Segregation to Integration.

Students involved in sports of various kinds. They also had their own cricket team. Even severely disabled could go up in the exam and then they had a printer that printed out the answers of the students not able to write.

The mothers were of great importance. They often came and assisted. Therapists travel out once a week to provide support for mothers; Physiotherapy, training to undress and on, etc..

SSI was opened in 1991, officially 1993. The Lutheran World Federation has been responsible for a substantial part of the building and is today partly responsible for the maintenance. In the cellar it was like a museum that exhibited devices developed and now manufactured in part by the SSI. Some of disability aids had Swedish original.

Mobility Aids in slums and rural areas with a small amount of financial resources.

Teachers Training. Courses. Materials with ideas - think tank created by innovative teachers. Lecture halls are hired out at times when classes are not occupying the premises.

Mithus thesis was finished 1999. She received a PhD in London.

Canada contributes today to the financial operation of the SSI.

Went north of Bombay to an area that formerly was outside the city - to the Job Training Centre. Here we were again received with flowers, coconut crushing etc.

First, a brief presentation of the centre. Gathering in an auditorium at the top of the building. Here there was a special ceremony. Students danced, among other things, a girl with Down's syndrome who danced with her teacher. Then a group of boys danced a traditional dance with many intricate symbolic tours.

Lunch. The food was cooked in the centre's kitchen.

This was hands-on training designed to transport disabled persons into society. They simulated workplace; printing, tailoring, kitchen, gardening, weaving, manufacturing of assistive devices, advanced computer training. Just over 50% were able to leave for normal working life. An important element of the certificate was given to provide evidence of competence from the centre.

The visit ended with tree planting.

Back.

Now there was again a big ceremony where all in the house participated. National anthems and flags and flowers. Candy for all children.

Met in the church hall. "Address from the staff" with the church emblem made of flowers. All guests received "testifies". Songs were sung, we sang "Friendship" and “The Love of God”. Gifts were awarded.

Visiting Fabindia in almost the same district. Textiles and textile articles were purchased.

Dance show in the courtyard of teachers and therapists. Decorations in the garden and terrace. After dinner on the terrace with the school staff. Thali-dinner on banana leaves. Sang "Thanks Canon" in English. All were taught this song. Mithu stayed for a while. Packed.

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February 16

After breakfast a song with the children and some mothers. The staff was of course with us. “Itsy-bitsy spider”, which they already knew, plus some other songs. It started with the school's choir singing in Swedish, Indian and English.

To the airport. Diane came with us.

GOA

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Travel to Goa, about 1 hour by air and 1 hour by taxi to the Hotel Villa Bomfim. Shower and rest. Coca-Cola at the pool in beautiful tropical surroundings.

Walking to the sea via the many small shops. Strolled along the beach until the sun went down. Dinner at Busobongo where Mithus son Nicky worked. He suggested food for us. Nice terrace under the stars.

Looking into a few shops on the way back. Björn, Erik and Gudrun took a swim in the pool. Erik was in talks with a night watchman who earned only 500 rupees per month. He came from Orissa and was expected to send money home to his parents!

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February 17

Sleep. Breakfast outdoors. Walked to the center - about 3 km. We changed our departure from Goa to a day later. We had been given the wrong departure date. Went back and then down to the beach and the nice breeze. Bought on the way home the wall hanging for Gunnar. Went home and showered, wrote briefly in the patio. Had dinner at the hotel, BBQ. Discussed with Nicky about the tour the next day. Then again briefly at the pool in the moonlight.

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February 18

American breakfast.

Taxi all day. A relative of one of the hotel staff was driver. The market in Mapusa. Thereafter Panjii, the capital of Goa. There we bought some small items, including a pair of small figurines. Continued on to Old Goa. Just before we got there our driver stopped at a shop that was created for the tourists with a lot of money. To their disappointment, we bought just a small wall decoration, but there were precious stones, carpets and other things at high prices.

Visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus Francis Xavier's shrine. Ignatius Loyola was portrayed as a Christ statue, three meters high. Cathedral Se has the biggest barrel vault among Asian Christian churches. Both churches belong to the World Heritage. Dungeons under part of the cathedral. Here the Inquisition claimed many victims. According to the document 16 000 cases were settled here.

Tropical Spice Plantation

Sat down at a "coconut kiosk". Went on the narrow dusty roads to the Tropical Spice Plantation. A symbol of the tropics. We were shown around by an initiated 'Ayurveda doctor'. He had medicine for almost all ailments. Margaretha got medicine for her stomach - honey and extracts of plants - and behold, she got better. It was interesting to see the growing amounts of the spices we tasted and sniffed at. The owner was Portuguese. Thirteen families worked there. The salary was not paid directly in cash, but the staff was paid by accessing a third of the harvest. This part could in turn be disposed to give the servants a profit. This was considered for education for children and for clothes. The owner of the plantation invited all when it was time for a wedding party, and so on. No chemicals or pollutants at all were used here in Goa plantation products.

Pineapples grow between other vegetation everywhere. European industry was interested in crop production here, but unfortunately it was not sufficient for a large industry to be established.

Cashews grow on trees here. The actual nut set is similar to a parrot's beak on a pepper-like fruit. They were pretty tedious to harvest, but was one of the main sources of revenue for the Goans. Red and white flowers. Takes care of self pollination. You could burn the spirits of these fruits. A distillation apparatus was demonstrated. Good for diarrhoea, cough and colic. Could be used as chloroform. Here our guide informed about the fact that the fruit could be settled as she or he -fruits by counting the grains.

• Henna: The bride in the Hindu family.
• Papaya: In the kidney and liver problems. It can produce beauty cream.
• Neem Tree: The oil is used for skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema and also as insecticides on plants.
• Curry Leaves: Together with coconuts, it takes away cholesterol.. It produces insulin and adjusts blood pressure.
• Garam masala: Tree or shrub.
• Lemongrass: It can produce tea for headaches. Oil for insomnia, the bad skin.
• Chikkoo: Looked like figs. Eaten as fruit. A secretion from the plant is used as an adhesive or chewing gum.
• Turmeric: Good to wounds and infections. Acne. Asthma. For color. Cardamom + = turmeric saffron.
• Ginger: For flavour but also for other medicinal effects?
• Cinnamon: Hot oil + cinnamon would be rubbed on the bad joints, knees, etc..
• Chili: Strong Goanic spice.
• Lime: The sheets will be soap. Fruit + soda is good for flatulence stomach.
• Carom: Grew but there's no point.
• Bitter nut: Good for digestion.
• Banana: The plant provides only one harvest. The leaves are used as plates and animal nutrition.
• Jack Fruit: The wood is valuable. The fruit is not so sought after but edible, although there were more seeds than flesh.
• Pepper: Black pepper in the morning tea cleanses the system and prevents flatulence. Good for oily dishes. Enhances the taste of even the sweet fruit.
• Cardamom: The fruit comes in the soil on the roots. In the kidney stones. 2ggr/vecka of coffee or tea, boil and filter.

• In case of psoriasis: 5-6 drops of neem oil + one spice grains (2 pinches) are mixed into a paste applied to the skin. Twice per day for 14 days.  Then 1 per day for 14 days and then 1 time every other day for a month. This would provide a cure for three months at least.

We ate and drank well in the shade of palm trees. Next to us was a watering hole with a white egret and three water buffaloes that had a good time in the water..

Then back in the late afternoon. After encountering returning school children along the way we came soon to one of the leading Hindu temples in Goa.

A guide took us in and explained the symbolic meanings of various images and objects. Nearby there was a hostel for pilgrims. The oil lamp outside was famous. We then stopped at another Hindu temple. Besides pastel colours on the buildings there were decorations that reminded us of an amusement park. Extra jingle because it was the end of a festival. Went home and had to take detours because of roadwork.

Shower and change before it was time to go to the Busa Bong and to the terrace under the moon. None Nicki this time.

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February 19

We took it easy. We were on the beach under umbrellas and ate fresh fruit sold by Suchy. When we were tired of the beach we went to the shade by the pool. Rest and shower.

Took the night taxi to Nelaya = heaven. Amazingly beautiful architecture and the environment exclusively. Good food.

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Chennai (Madras) Chennai (Madras)

February 20

Gasket, breakfast, money, photography.

Taxis in good time. Had time to make a visit to Vasco da Gama. Gudrun bought a blue ointment kameez to Åsa. Then we went to the airport. Stopover in Bangalore where many step off, not so many on. Continued to Chennai (Madras).

Ravi with driver met up. Through the city to the Gurukul. We were installed in rooms with shower and WC. Got a card to display. We were invited to Radja at eight o’clock. The whole family gathered. This happened only once or twice a year. Three daughters with families and a son with his wife. All were active in the same spirit as their father. Buffet dinner. We sang thanks and great friendship. Got farewell gifts. Home to the Gurukul.

More about Gurukul

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February 21

Breakfast. Presentation by Prasanna. To Radja's room. Prasanna + Sam + another. Got a review of work, facilities and their background. Pocket Books. Gurukul has its own printing workplace.

Were treated with refreshments. Anna-Karin was contacted. Were invited to lunch at the Taj Coromandel, perhaps the finest hotel and restaurant in the city. Delicious food and service. Radja had a napkin of his own with emblems. Back home.

In the afternoon we participated in an exam in computer science and in a textile course for young girls at the Church Women's Centre. Beautiful girls in sari or salwar kameez clothing receiving their diplomas. These where girls from the slums who normally would not have had opportunities for such studies. These made it possible for them to have relatively good jobs. Prasanna gave an inflammatory speech to them, how they would behave as women, proud and strong. Margaretha was honoured to award diplomas and gave a short speech. We sang 'To the Orient'.

Now to Björn's tailor. A big tailoring with a great selection of fabrics. Erik became infected and took measurements for a dark suit in a good quality. Björn tried a Rajiv Gandhi-suit and a safari suit. Stopped shortly at one of the silk houses. Went home.  Next to the Gurukul was also commerce. Gudrun bought four salwar kameez!

At dinner with Prasanna and Sam. At their home there were also two daughters and a cousin of the girls. They sang for us and we sang back. Sam taught us, or was pre-singer to a local church song.

Home to the beloved dachshund who always wanted to play with Gudrun - who did not want to play.

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February 22

Breakfast. Prasanna with driver met us at 10 o'clock. Went to the Women's Christian College and was greeted by the rector and vice rector. Conversations at morning coffee. Visited the teachers' room with three English teachers. Escorted to a lesson with video production on the scheme. The girls reported in a nice way what the whole thing was about. Their project was based on a story with an element of incest and with another element of a handball. These presentations should be 10-15 minutes.

The school was over 100 years old. Many parents choose this particular school for their children. Courses at both morning (1000 students) and afternoon (250). The later courses had a significantly higher fee for these students must pay teachers' salaries.

Among subjects, the feminist perspectives. Media Applications.

The dean's name was Glory Christopher. Had studied in the United States.

Wages were: 12 000 rupees for a newly graduated and 25 000 for an older established.

Some students stayed at school. Dalits were given scholarship. 50% were Christians. Teachers have 2-3 classes a day. Approximately half of the students went to higher education after this school. An attendance lower than 75% means that students may start again at the same level.

Clubs: Dance, fashion, etc.

English lessons existed on several levels.

Went home and did some shopping. Prasanna and Radja invited to lunch at a very special restaurant run by a caste whose job was to truly serve others, to cook and serve traditional food with a very high standard.

Annalakshwi.

Sightseeing with Ravi. Stayed on the beach that was very broad. There bathed the locals, which meant that the women who had bathed their saris out in the salt water. Went to St. Thomas's Church, a Catholic neo-Gothic church established in the place where it is believed that Doubting Thomas was buried. Thereafter to a Hindu temple when the sun was going down. Around the temple was an interesting street life with authentic shops and vegetable trade. Went to Spencer Plaza. Bought a big bag. To Hotel Breeze and ate dinner. The driver took us home.

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February 23

PULICAT   

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Car to Pulicat. Prem and Radja's daughter was picked up on the road. Reception Committee. It started to rain. Visited the school. Pretty neat pupils closely in the pews. At an age as low as 3-4 years they write letters using both alphabets. When they are a year older, they write numbers. English was the general language of instruction.. The eighths class was the preparation for graduation tests. Right now, they were practicing writing and reading poetry. One student read "The Solitary Reaper 'in English - very quickly. We handed out cards and pencils.

A visit to a women's group. Since 1996, such groups existed in Pulicat. The group leader can remain in the position a maximum of two years. There are about 15 women in each group. Mixed ages - all had a right to be in a group. Now, there were over 80 teams and it was assumed that  soon 120 would be formed . These groups place great efforts to economy to cope on their own by saving all the small coins. "We want to be independent as much as possible, both in relation to the State and to the men". Sangam such groups are called . They create their own rules.. A woman was reading out the  defined rules of one group. The book was a worn little notebook. The bank book was also discussed. The bank books "signed" in the past with thumbprints. Now they had more learning to write their names.

Examples of rules.

1. Stop the killing of female children
2. Only one child per family
3. Stop early marriages
4. Discourage dowry
5. Planting even small areas of crops
6. Using contraception
7. Keep children and environment clean
8. Keep water clean
9. All women should be involved in parent groups for their children
10. Developing children's skills
11. Participate in the other village development activities
12. With God's help we will keep our promises.

Lunch.

Boat tour on the lake. A sandbar separated lake and sea. These reefs are moving with the currents and the opening that was between the sea and the Pulicat Lake. We stopped at the place where the sea and the lake met. Fishing boats with colourful sails (blue and blue-green). The lake was very shallow and many fishermen went out of the boats. We saw fishermen with women on their shoulders.

Visited the data (computer) house. There was the daily training in computer science and programming. Among other things, Visual Basic was taught.

Went home in the dark. A lot of people on the main road from Calcutta along the coasts of southern India.

Dinner at the Gurukul.

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February 24

It rained heavily all night. Departure for Mutukadu. The car plowed here and there through deep puddles on the streets.

Beautiful place and warm but still cloudy. We kept inside all day with the good reading in the library. Nice young people were there for courses. Come from different parts of India to learn how to create sustainable development in rural areas with problems, mainly 'Dalit problems'. CReNIEO = Centre for Research on New International Economic Order.

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February 25

We awoke to a beautiful morning when the sun shone through the rain-soaked foliage.

Breakfast. Two taxis to Mahabalipuram. A taxi driver had waited all night.

An area of temples and giant sculptures, elephants in almost life-size. The world's largest bas-relief was carved into the vertical rock wall. Impressive view from the small hills. Very energic salesmans. Many workshops with sculptoring. It was a knocking in stone everywhere. Images were made based on the famous statues in India in all sizes.

Gudrun bought a Ganesha in stone.

Went home to Mutukadu. Time for lunch. We went to a luxury hotel right beside the sea, Fisherman's Cove. Light lunch under a parasol close to the water.

Home and then directly to a kind of  Skansen in Stockholm quite close to Mutukadu. Here it was demonstrated the handicraft that was typical for different parts of southern India. We also viewed a group that performed a symbolic dance.

Went back and packed. Coconut and conversations with Thomas. Back to Gurukul and then directly to the tailor.

Dinner at Connemara, a new luxury hotel with an especially fine dining under the stars, Raintree Garden.

During dinner we were entertained by a real Indian music group and dance by professional dancers probably belonging to the caste which is "allowed to behave" in this way.

Very good food. Home and slept.

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February 26

Last day. Gasket.

To Raymond for one last visit. Now it was Chris who came with us, Radja's secretary. Luckily the suit suited me. Opposite was the Victoria Technical Institute with a variety of craft products. There we found at last among others 2 lamp stands from Kashmir, a textile lamp to Anna-Karin, silk scarves, a tunic from Kashmir, a dancing doll to Barbara, a wallet and a large extra bag to carry home everything we bought.

Now we were invited to buffet lunch at Connemara. Prasanna invited. Then it was just to go home to pack and then to go directly to the airport. There we parted from each other half past five. Our plane left at six o'clock to Mumbai where we had to switch from the domestic to the international airport not far away.

Met an Indian Englishman near retirement who stated that he had been robbed of his money, ticket and passport and therefore had to return to Bangalore instead of proceeding to England. Eventually he was given  more than 1,000 rupees. We exchanged addresses and he would as soon as he arrived in London send money to us. We have yet to see them!

From port to port, it took 27 hours to get home.

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Spastics Society of India Spastic Society of India

Another link

SSI was founded October 2, 1972 at Gandhi's birthday based on his principles of justice and human rights. It turned to a group of children who had no school to go, as if they were taken care of would be hidden away in some corner. 1973 started the first special school for CP to provide education and treatment under one roof. The business grew quickly from a school in Colaba to a school in Bandra (National Centre for cerebral palsy). Next, set up the National Job Development Centre in Chembur. Then formed a higher teacher training and a municipal program in the slum, Dharavi.

Today, SSI is one of the premier organizations in India when it comes to working with developmental disabilities in children. SSI is a holistic program: diagnosis, early treatment and education under one roof. Vocational training and help in the transition to work in an open society. SSI has established cooperation internationally and nationally. The form has counterparts in more than half of India's 29 states.

Spastic is an umbrella term for various disabilities as a result of damage in that part of the brain that control muscle movements. 50% of those affected have normal intelligence or higher. Their fate has been graphically described as "an intelligent mind trapped in a body not falling". For SSI, this is at once the tragedy and challenge.

Financing

It is inconceivable to many of the poor parents could pay what it really costs. Every child entails extremely high costs. It has managed to get donors who "adopt" children and regularly pays for education and treatment of a child. Every year but will arrange a charity event. It has gåvoboxar out on the town. We also sell special cards for invitations, etc.On these cards is also information about SSI. I CAN is their motto. Each year there is an exhibition of what pupils can achieve.

From Sweden, the support came from the “Lutherhjälpen” as to 75% paid for the new national centre, which was finished 1993. Lutherhjälpen in turn, is supported by SIDA. This centre is very well adapted to the needs while rooms are airy and bright. Lutherhjälpen has established a special fund to provide income, which in turn goes to the SSI. There is also a well-established cooperation with Canada in the form of theoretical, practical and conceptual exchange.

The employees at SSI are generally highly educated with university degrees but they have low wages. One example is the woman who is financially responsible. She is a graduate like her husband, who earns about 40,000 rupees a month. She has about 6000 or 1200 Swedish kronor.

National Job Development Centre

NJDC is a special department of the SSI. Mithu Alur is a top manager.

Here are vocational training and rehabilitation.

Education in:

1. Computer literacy - Most people get work after training
2. Printing of various kinds - the Centre is committed to pushing special small print
3. Office work, writing in English, to carry telephone, receptionist, chores, etc. - Jobs are arranged in the centre or outside
4. Sewing, clothing, embroidery, bags, gloves, toys, etc. - The Centre receives orders from the outer world
5. Cooking and baking; usual food, conservation, etc. -- The length of the course varies according to student needs.
6. Manufacture and repair of assistive devices like wheelchairs and crutches.

New ideas / Challenges

1. Sheltered workshop. Giving especially those with  severe disabilities the opportunity to get out of the isolation in which they would otherwise end up - giving them confidence in a group community.
2. Gardening and farming. It has been shown that this is a good therapeutic effect in addition to providing job opportunities.
3. Assembling of computers and computer service together with industry specialists.

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Mithu Alur

Mithu Alur gave birth to her first daughter in the in 1966. The birth was traumatic. The daughter Malini Chib, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She was soon abandoned by her father who refused to accept a disabled child. Mithu had relatively good economic conditions. Her father was a diplomat for example in Burma. Mithu took her child to England to get the best possible service. When her daughter came of school age wanted Mithu go back to India to the knowledge she obtained in England to start a trend in India so that disabled children would have better opportunities. When her idea had matured, she connect with Indira Gandhi and was supported both financially and morally. So started SSI 1972nd

Since then, Mithu managed to associate many good employees: teachers, doctors, physiotherapists, accountants, lawyers, etc.

Today, her daughter Malini is on the way to a PhD in London and last year Mithu was promoted PhD in England on the subject: Invisible Children. A Study of policy exclusion. She showed in the thesis how the handicapped children in India has been totally forgotten, even though the Indian government has a program that provides work for disadvantaged children.

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Mrs. Bannerjee

An elderly woman. Former rector of a prestigious government school in Bombay. She tried to integrate the disabled into the school. It did not work. Now she wants to do exactly the opposite, that the Colaba school is to be known for being a good school with good results. Then, she hopes that non-disabled children should get there. The goal and ambition is "From Segregation to Integration."

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Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute

Founded in 1927 on the initiative of Bishop John Sandgren, who became the first Principal. Educate clergy, after 1985, also on an academic level. Gurukul then became a branch of the University of Serampore. Is now an ecumenical centre and director is Dr. K. Rajaratnam.

Here are: theological education programs, courses, higher theological education (up to doctoral degrees), large library with reading room, archives, communication and data centres (with recording studio) and (since 1992?) A women's centre with the motto: Courage, Willpower Confidence (Church Women ' s Centre).

Gurukul is the first institution in India where the theological basis is studying:
• Women's history and situation of women
• Dalits' "
• Children ""
• Environment
• Development of rural areas

Ecumenism is important, to act and not just talking is important
About 26 million of India's population (which now passed 1 billion) are Christians (about 50% are Catholics)
At Gurukul are also some foreign students (currently from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia)
Gurukul (Serampore) is part of a network of six universities around the world (the other are in Hong Kong, Budapest, Oslo, Brazil and Canada). Two students each year are sent to one of the other universities for six months and Gurukul is receiving students in the same way.
 

Financing
Contribution from the Lutheran World Federation (in particular Canada and USA). Activities at Gurukul, including the printing and the media centre that allows some recording work.
Wages are low. The employees work largely voluntary. One example is Dr. Melanckton (PhD in Chicago). She earns 7000 rupees per month.

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Dr. Dr. K. Rajaratnam

Born 1920.
Dalit (see below) and related to the small group of Dalits who had the opportunity for higher studies. First PhD at London's School of Economics (where he also taught a few years. Then to the University of Madras (1955).
Has worked at the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva. Got tired of red tape and came to India. Holds now including the following items. For the record: He is not out of any wages, but trips and the like. (Many!) Is paid.
• Director of the Gurukul
• "" Mutukadu with CReNIEO (Center for Research on New International Economic Order)
• Founder of UELCI (United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (10-11 pc). (Prasanna took over as executive secretary-unpaid)
• President of NCCI = National Council of Churches in India. This includes all Christian churches except the Catholics, though they work anyway. You want to stand together and clear the "outside world" and work with political actions, demonstrations, protests, such as violence against Christians.
• Sitting in the Senate of Serampore and is driving for example as regards curricula.
Additional personal characteristics:
• Feminist! Have helped produce many women to senior posts, such as Prasanna who became India's first woman priest.
• Has made women's theology also compulsory for the male students.
• "Radja" is a doctor of theology, economics, philosophy and "Divinity".
• Tireless.
• Presented in a book that "Social Thinker and Intellectual Builder of Institutions, Committed To The Cause Of  The awakening and progress of the Dalit all over India"

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Prasanna Kumari, and Church Women's Centre

Prasanna teaches New Testament theology and is India's first female priest - a major event when she was ordained a priest - Margaretha was invited to the solemn ordination.
Prasanna is now head of the Church's Women's Centre, which primarily works to "lift" the oppressed women, irrespective of caste, colour and religion. It gives priority to widows, lonely and abandoned women. The centre wants to give them Courage, Will, Power and Confidence. There are educated and uneducated, rich and poor, - yes, all varieties. Justice and human rights is one that permeates everything.
To help underprivileged women training in different areas is offered to them so that they can become financially independent. CWC offers training in Household, Sewing, Computer, Secretarial Jobs and Printing. "Spoken English" for young women from the slums, and others who need it.
A counselling centre offers help to women who are in urgent need. Here they stay until their problems are solved. Although legal assistance assigned to women's interests must be safeguarded. There is even a "comfort cell" to accommodate those affected by flood, fire accident, etc.
Even women who are not from Chennai but working there can get housing at the centre.
"Let the day be the" voice solved 'voices will be heard across the world and every woman is the account she deserves and is treated as a human being with dignity in the same way as the man, created by the Almighty. "

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Dalit

In the struggle for liberation Gandhi invested considerable effort to bring about new laws that would eliminate the caste system. Gandhi created the term Harijan, a term for the untouchables. Harijan is a word for a God person. Gandhi said that these people as well as those who belonged to castes were created by God.
Lists - or schedules of groups outside the caste system, Dalits, and even groups of the original population of the Indian peninsula, were developed early in the 1900s in a program to provide new aid to these groups. This term has now been rejected by many of these groups. The term is too closely linked to a paternalistic approach and has strong links with a Hindu belief system which many of them reject. Today, however, many of the outsider groups call themselves Dalits - the oppressed.