I, Sulekha, a student of Harikeshiya Vidyalaya Pawapuri, am a resident of Puri village near Pawapuri Jalmandir - the Nirvana land of Tirthankar Mahavir where countless Jain monks, nuns and pilgrims come to visit.
Many children and people like me keep looking at them, and seeing our pitiable condition, they used to give us some money, rice, biscuits and other eatables in our hands, which made us happy. But how many days could we survive like this? We have very difficult circumstances. We do not have houses to protect us from cold, heat and rain. Living in kutcha (temporary) houses, we get two meals a day only when our illiterate parents are able to earn some money by working as labourers. In such difficult circumstances, going to school was a dream for children like us.
Bhagwan Mahavir wanted to change the future of children like us, that is why one day while returning from Jalmandir in her bright and white clothes, children like us surrounded the revered Tai Ma and spread our hands in front of her. She asked, ‘Do you go to school?’ The children said, ‘No’. Tai Ma again asked, ‘Do you want to study?’ All the children said, ‘Yes, but our parents do not have money for our education.’ Tai Ma said, ‘Don't worry about that.’ She hugged all the children and established Harikeshiya Vidyalaya in Pawapuri. We all belong to the caste of the same Harikeshiya Muni and hence Tai Ma named the school as Shri Harikeshiya Vidyalaya.
Today we are being trained in education, dance, music, painting and sports through good teachers. Parents are very happy as we are getting free education, books, dress, nutritious food. After scoring 92% marks in class five, I got the opportunity to study in Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir which is recognised by CBSE. Now I am in class VII and Tai Ma has taken the responsibility of teaching many children like me free of any cost.
Pujya Tai Ma, I am extremely happy to see you today. Tai Ma, it is because of you that I got the opportunity to sit in a train for the first time. While coming from Pawapuri to Pune, I saw a new world - in which I saw big buildings, children wearing new clothes, malls, restaurants, parks. All these are thrilling worlds for me. Pujya Tai Ma, the place where I am staying is also a new world for me and I thank you for that. Pujya Tai Ma, you thought about the future of us children. You have taught us to live self-reliantly and with self-respect. Only a divine personality like you can make the dreams of neglected children like us come true. Tai Ma, you have decorated and groomed our scattered and lost childhood. On behalf of Harikeshiya Vidyalaya, I thank you and your devotees from the bottom of my heart. Tai Ma, the children of Harikeshiya Vidyalaya want to see you. We all miss you a lot.
