However, my dream did not end there. I saw myself again in front of the great blue gate. There was the man in white again. As before he asked me to open the gate and walk by. This time I told him that I would not do so. But he assured me that it would be okay. So, I opened the door and started walking along the same passageway. However, this time there was no stench; not even a clue of the previous ambience. However, on my left were youngsters sitting over desks and talking. When they saw me approaching I saw them standing in respect. I was baffled since I was only then as young as they were. I was hesitant to look to my right however, I could not help but take a peek. But things had changed now. There were no human bodies; instead, there were children! Children everywhere! They were playing all around, hopping and skipping all around. Two of them; I remember well, a boy and a girl pulled me into the crowd. I went along and joined them in their games. I do not know how long because I had a pretty good time with them. Then suddenly I remembered the carcasses. I turned to the man in white and enquired about it. He answered: “That was night and this is day.”

Back then, I didn’t really understand the meaning of the angel’s answer, and in fact, the whole dream itself did not make much sense to me then. As time passed by, I understood that God was asking me to change my night to day. There was a challenge placed before me, and it required perfect obedience. When God brought each opportunity before me, I stepped in, only to obey Him – mostly into the dark. But each of these dark places slowly transformed into daylight. When I first met people from the slums, I was appalled. I wasn’t ready to live for them. But now they have become the reason for my service to God. Now there was also a vibrant youth group, who looked up to me as their leader, simply because I chose to walk through the corridor. There is childlike life now at quite a few corners where once carcasses craved for the escape. I took you through a journey which was much an addendum of a personal note to the larger story. Let me now get back to our story, from where I diverted your attention.

However, though the nascent passion still gripped the serving spirit of these youngsters, a concrete idea or plan for selfless service did not materialize until early 2011. By then, these youngsters had already formed a small group named Last-Stitch. They were united through the teachings of Jesus. What inspired them was Jesus’ exhortation to transform the community with the Love of God. This was the birth of JanPragati. They did not have to wait long before opportunity knocked at their door.

Launched on the auspicious National Children’s Day (November 14) in 2011, JanPragati began a small school of 15 children, sitting under the shelter of a bare tree. The history of this movement traces back to a daunting search for a particular slum boy. In that particular search, we accidentally came across a group of families clumped together in a settlement in Gomti Nagar Extension, near the present-day Shaheed Path. There were children all around, and they clustered around us as if to ask us to help them. Not a single child was going to school. On inquiry, we saw the opportunity to make a difference. Initially it looked like a herculean task. But God provided a supporter to help us with the work. This is the beginning of Pragati Paathshala.

Those were the dark days of JanPragati, where our immature understanding made little progress. As much as it was a noble work, there was no direction. We were just taking a stroll through social work. It took around two years for us to understand the culture and social dynamics of the slum. Further research made clear a few things: these people were isolated even within the crowded busy city life. Therefore, any form of education would have to be informal and within the friendly ambience of the slum. Most families were dysfunctional, with abuse often being considered normal. Education for children would not have any effect until families, and consequently, the community as a whole were to be socially reformed. These experiential illuminations resulted in the creation of an indigenous and sui generis form of the education system, particularly catering to the needs of slum dwellers. The second result was the beginning of a new programme named Bhamini.

We began Bhamini as a program for mothers, but only as a means to help their children. Bhamini was an apt name because it means ‘beauty’ or ‘Glory’ in Sanskrit. If the mothers were helped, there was a better chance for children’s education bearing fruit. However, we soon realized that the mothers’ lives were often broken by the subjugation and abuse that existed in the slum. Reckoning the enormousness of women’s issues within the slums, our hearts were moved to help women; not simply for the children, but for the women themselves. Our women needed to be empowered in their self-esteem and equality with men. We do not teach our women to be perfect; we teach them to be brave.

Meanwhile, there was another movement that began budding in our lives. This is the movement that sought to save unborn lives and expectant mothers who are in distress. We began Mekhi’s home in 2016, which provides refuge to women in crisis pregnancy. Ever since it started, many women have sought shelter there. We work closely with the CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE of Lucknow. Most of our women are either cases of rapes or abductions. But providing hope to these women has been a joy for us. Under Bhamini, we also conduct natal programmes which provide means of sustenance for poor women. Infant mortality rate is highly proportional to the health of the expectant mothers and new mothers. So, it was imperative that if we could nourish these women with essential nutrients, we could reduce the possibility of infant deaths. So an expectant mother was cared for and nourished through her pregnancy, monitoring and assisting her in until delivery. The programme continued until the infant is one year old.

As part of the Speak Life initiative, we began speaking about the foeticide in India and other issues like pornography and sexual abuse. We have been reaching out to colleges and other institutions who allow us a platform to speak about such issues.

While we might be interested in beginning any new projects, the one desire that remains with us, is to expand our existing ones to other cities of India. We have gone through struggles and victories. Our experiences, accompanied by academic research, have enriched our programmes. We would not want to keep it constrained to Lucknow alone. There are far many paths yet to tread, there are many oceans left to sail.