Tag: Bablu Lal

shuktara home for boys with disabilities - 2015 January - Raju and Sumon on the set of LION

shuktara on the set of Lion film

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First trailer for LION released!

Lion is a film that resonates with many at shuktara - it's the story of a boy who gets lost after boarding the wrong train and ends up in Kolkata, far from home. Adopted by a couple from Australia, many years later he goes back to India to search for his family.

When Lion was filmed last year in Kolkata four of the boys from shuktara were called in by the production team to be part of the film.

Here are photos of Raju, Ashok, Sumon and Bablu on the set.

shuktara home for disabled youth - 2016 August - Ramesh, Rajesh, Bablu Lal and Sunil

Accidents happen

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We obviously prefer to give you good news and happy stories but the reality is when you are caring for a large number of young people living together accidents do occasionally happen.

About a week ago Rajesh damaged one of his fingers by slamming it in the kitchen door. He spent the night at hospital where they bandaged his finger.

A few days after his overnight stay he was taken back to the hospital for the dressing to be removed. The medical staff decided to keep him there for a few days so that his finger could be operated on. Clearly his finger needed slightly more attention than we originally thought.

Rajesh came home from hospital August 3rd - still bandaged and he says in a little pain - but home!

Read more about Rajesh...

Colours of Holi

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Happy Holi!

According to Wikipedia:
"Holi (होली) is a colourful and happy Hindu holiday celebrated primarily in India on the last full moon of the lunar month of Phalguna at the end of the winter season. It falls in either late February or early March. It is also known as the Festival of Colours."

At shuktara Holi has a long history - every year everyone at shuktara throws coloured powder and liquid colour in bright, vibrant hues at each other, the staff and friends who come by. For days afterward the colour is still visible on faces, hands, and clothes as it slowly fades. Holi is a wonderful holiday, one that everyone participates in and completely enjoys.

Rakhi at shuktara

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Every year in August the 'sisters' of shuktara come to the boys home and tie rakhi on the wrists of their 'brothers' to show their affection. Across most of India the same thing happens - with brothers and sisters who are related by blood but also when that strong family bond is felt between unrelated people. It is a celebration that everyone at shuktara can participate in, and everyone enjoys this festival immensely.

[from Wikipedia] Raksha Bandhan in Sanskrit literally means "the tie or knot of protection". The word Raksha means protection, whilst Bandhan is the verb to tie. It is an ancient Hindu festival that ritually celebrates the love and duty between brothers and their sisters. The sister performs a Rakhi ceremony, then prays to express her love and her wish for the well being of her brother; in return, the brother ritually pledges to protect and take care of his sister under all circumstances.

The festival is also an occasion to celebrate brother-sister like family ties between cousins or distant family members, sometimes between biologically unrelated men and women. To many, the festival transcends biological family, brings together men and women across religions, diverse ethnic groups and ritually emphasizes harmony and love. It is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Śrāvaṇa, and typically falls in August every year.

shuktara - Anna, Sunil and Bablu Lal 2006

Anna, Sunil and Bablu Lal in 2006

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shuktara - Anna, Sunil and Bablu Lal 2006

Hard to believe this photo of Anna, Sunil and Bablu Lal was taken in 2006. Both Anna and Sunil had been with shuktara for seven years, since 1999; Bablu came later.

We thought it was a photo worth sharing with you - these three young men have more serious disabilities and would not be able to live on their own. They will always have a home at shuktara.

Sumon, Raju, Bablu, Ashok and LION film friends

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Like many of our boys, Saroo left his home on a train for a bit of excitement, and ended up in a care home here in Kolkata.
The only difference is that Saroo finally landed in Tasmania and found his family again through Google Earth.

His life story, starring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman, is being filmed in India and Bablu, Ashok, Sumon and Raju all had small parts to play – interestingly enough, in a scene very much like some of them have lived through themselves – in a Government Home.
Read the amazing story here:
A Home at the End of Google Earth

Thank you to Hilary Niederer and Miranda Harcourt for putting us all together, choosing Ashok, Bablu Lal, Sumon & Raju to be part of this amazing story, known as LION – but especially for the generosity and love from Anurag, Ambica and Sunny – Assistant Directors taking time out to visit us yesterday during filming.

shuktara - Raju and Sumon
Raju and Sumon listening to direction for their parts in the film

 

shuktara - Raju, Bablu, Sumon
Raju, Bablu and Sumon take a break from filming

 

shuktara - Sumon, Raju, Bablu & Ashok
Sumon, Raju, Bablu, Ashok and friends from the film