What is Vatsalya Gram

The Wonder That is Mother. Every minute there are countless births in the world – whether it happens after years of toil and anticipation, or just by ‘accident’– however, commonplace this event may seem, it evokes awe and wonderment each time. Reams of paper and reels of films have talked at length about motherhood. To be qualified a mother, all one needs to feel is love for a child, and biology just doesn’t make someone a mother. Just like many would argue that Yashoda’s love for her beloved Krishna is at a much higher pedestal than Devaki’s who is Lord Krishna’s biological mother, likewise Reverend Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara’s motherly love for children and women in distress has resulted in the birth of Vatsalya Gram. In this, a destitute woman is given the chance of her lifetime to create her own family, thus reviving her feelings of love for a child, who is also disadvantaged thus providing a loving mother’s lap for children.

Unfortunately, the orphanages and old age homes of today’s times are not able to provide any sustainable growth and development for either children or old people – simply because the two are mutually exclusive in these homes. In a country, where veneration of the ancestors is still alive, how can we ignore the treasure trove of life-long experiences of grandparents that can be gifted to the Vatsalya children? The beautiful threads of relationships among self-reliant women, confident children and loving grandmothers are only possible in a Vatsalya community making this the first of its kind in the world. Reverend Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara’s life’s inspiration is to ensure a progeny that can withstand the force of time and the perils of over-development leaving a wonderful legacy of bright and self-reliant children for tomorrow’s India.

Vatsalya Gram is an avantgarde alternative to women’s shelters and orphanages simply because this is the only facility in the world where underprivileged children and women of every age live together as families and form enduring relationships as parents and siblings – thus eliminating the very need for orphanages and homes for women. Each Vatsalya family comprises seven children, a mother, an aunt, and a grandmother living in the security of their own home. The womenfolk are conscientiously trained for their most important role, of parenting upto seven children per home. This unique arrangement gives children and women a sense of community, thus encouraging an emotional connection of love and trust without any distinction of caste, creed or race. In addition, every Vatsalya child is provided with quality education equipping them with life skills for a fuller and better life. This in turn gives them a purpose for living – to celebrate life in all its beautiful hues!