When I asked why, he replied that he was going to make one for Kashi and one for Mantu. He explained when the community had performed on International Children’s Day, November 14th, the sweepers in the play did not have proper brooms. Now that Kashi and Mantu will be playing the role of two sweepers in our Christmas drama on December 23rd, he will make sure this detail doesn’t get overlooked again. This is one of many reasons why I have an open-door policy on my office.

Amazing Rambabu

Rambabu has an uncannily perceptive and creative mind. At the time of the IGA Conference, along Tangra Road there were many decorative booths called pandals. They are constructed with bamboo poles and colorful cloth house statues of Durga, Lakshmi, Kali, and other deities. Every year Kolkatans erect these elaborate structures in honor of the three goddesses dearest to Bengal’s heart. On the last day of each goddess’ festival, or puja, the pandals are rapidly dismantled and the statues into the Hooghly River. This year, Rambabu caught the pervasive puja fever. He harvested the leftover bamboo poles used for the conference to make his own pandals, one for each goddess, behind the workshop, on the verandah, and in the backyard. He saw the celebrations around him and captured in his own way the spirit of Kolkata’s holiday season.

In a similar way, his inspiration to make the brooms came from his observation of what goes on around him. In the backyard, some fallen coconut tree branches had been collected in a pile near the wall. They were waiting for someone to come along and put them to good use. Rambabu of his own accord made the association between fallen tree limbs and the drama’s need for proper brooms. He took the initiative realize that association himself. Most importantly, that association and that initiative sprung from a sincere desire to make a positive contribution to the immediate needs of the community.

When Rambabu first arrived in 1998, this sort of thing would never have happened. Rambabu’s adjustment to Asha Niketan’s way of life has been challenging, both for him and the community. He sometimes may have difficulty expressing himself, but at the same time the rest of the community sometimes has difficulty in understanding him. But slowly, slowly, everyone in the community has come to mutually understand each other’s needs and to want to contribute to the community. It may have taken 10 years, but in my mind this coconut brooms are symbolic of how, with time and compassion, the fostering of mutual relationships can result in this kind of beautiful collaboration.