Life is a dream for these kids

"BEING A FOLLOWER OF VIVEKANANDA AND RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA HE IS GIVING EDUCATION TO THE POOR CHILDRENS . CHETAN KUMAR BHAT HAD STARTED AN ASHRAMS FOR THE CHILDREN'S WHO ARE WILLING TO STUDY IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES"

As an ardent follower of Swami Vivekananda, Saraswathi Bhat lives by the philosopher’s words: Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens. She immediately adds, “I believe so too.”
Despite being visually challenged, Saraswathi made it a mission to make sure the 60 children at Anatha Shishu Sevashram get the best in life.
The centre was started by her mother, H Parvathamma Hirematt, in 1942. After her death, Saraswathi was faced with the responsibility of keeping her mother’s dream project alive. “I am a follower of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sarada Devi. Their untiring efforts and contribution to mankind inspire me a lot. My husband, sons and I have looked after the children and tried to give them the best life possible,” says Saraswathi.
A typical day in her life begins with kids and ends with them too as she sees them off to school or college, packs their lunch bags and makes herself available to meet their needs once they return. All in a day’s work for Sarawathi, who considers it her life’s purpose. “It is my objective to make sure these kids do well. Apart from providing them with schooling and college education, I also make sure they get guidance when making a career choice. I have fixed marriages for some of the girls,” she said.
Her son Chethan Kumar Bhat adds that ashram inmates are like his siblings. He efficiently manages his studies and helps Saraswathi with taking care of the children too.
Varalakshmi K, an inmate, is living a dream: “I have been here since childhood. My mother couldn’t have provided me with a proper education. Today, I am pursuing my higher education at Mahavani College and would like to become a teacher. The ashram understood my dream.”
As president of his school, Class X student Deepak T M even expects a distinction in his life and says so with a sense of pride: “The kids at the ashram are far better than others who come from regular households. I have been part of the international robotics competition held at SAP and we came fourth. The computer training and spoken English classes have helped me improve my skills.”
It’s not all work for children here. They are taken on outdoor trips, the most recent being a visit to Mysore. “Extracurricular activities like painting, craftwork and dance keep them engaged, giving them scope to showcase their talents,” says Saraswathi.