On 15th August 1947 India gained its independence with much sacrifice. The day is celebrated with deep pride, feeling and respect for the nation and all those who contributed toward its creation.

Like any other year, our children wished to commemorate the day with poetry, songs, dances and a theatre play at the school and, to everyone’s joy, there were as many sweets, fruit and puri-sabji as possible!

Many friends and some members of the local Rotary International Club (Benares) celebrated the day with us; the latter kindly donated stationery to all of our 300 children and planted new trees in the schoolyard.

We were also graced by the presence of a beautiful black cobra, then delicately moved to a safer area for all!

It has been a beautiful day, spent in harmony talking about the past, but above all about the present and future of India: about children and the importance of formal education for their wellbeing, as well as that of their families and the nation as a whole.

Namasté

                           Guru Ratna