My
feelings for Aamar Nijer by Frederic
This is the story of how I got involved
with Aamar Nijer…
I am a 28 year-old French guy. My
studies led me to get a Ph.D., in particle and astrophysics.
But I was not satisfied with it: finally, what's
the point in trying to know what is happening in
some part of the universe when so many people on
Earth are waiting for some help to live decently
as human beings? Moreover, I think God has called
me to devote at least a part of my life to him and
give as much as I can to those in need. On the second
hand, India has always fascinated me since childhood.
It all started with a picture of Taj Mahal and then
I got interested in the history, culture, religion,
and food… everything in this country that has so
much to teach!
I obviously wanted to travel to
India, but I did not want to go as a tourist, but
with a purpose and a way to interact with the citizens
as much as I could. When I think about this now,
it seems that God had a plan for me and prepared
me during many years, to what had happened now.
I don't have space here to relate this story, so
let's jump to the point. In April 2001 for the first
time in my life I learned the existence of Missionaries
of Charity Brothers: like so many people, at least
in France, I used to think that only sisters were
belonging to the order of Mother Teresa of Kolkata…
I got interested in it and once
I had the opportunity, I contacted the brothers
living in Paris. After a few weeks, I had my first
experience with them as a 'come and see' and I enjoyed
it very much for many reasons, among which the presence
of three Indian brothers and regarding their apostolate,
for instance visiting lonely people in hospitals.
After some time, I asked to have a second experience,
but this time not in Paris nor in Western countries,
but in India, in Kolkata. This is the place where
everything started, where Mother lived. This would
be the opportunity to live in India during a few
weeks and definitely not as a tourist, but close
to the Indian people…
The brothers agreed to my request
and it was decided I would go to their 'mother house'
at the beginning of March 2002. During the weeks
before the departure I read some things about Nirmal
Hriday in Kalighat and saw pictures of this place.
I felt something very strong and 'knew ' I would
find something there.
I was thus delighted to learn, a
few days before my departure, that the apostolate
of the brothers with whom I was going to live, consists
in going to Nirmal Hriday every day to take care
of the patients. What would happen?
All the things I found in the few
days after my arrival in Kolkata did not disappoint
me: all I was looking for was there and from the
behaviour of the brothers I know I adapted very
well and quickly to the way of life and the work
in Kalighat. Indeed, I found something there: people
to love fully for the first time in my life…
But at the same time I still 'felt'
something more was to come… and this was the meeting
with Korak Day who was a volunteer there. We understood
each other at once, and I shared many things. He
told me about his project called " Aamar Nijer"
for all the unloved people of the world, of his
will to take care of some of the patients of Nirmal
Hriday once they have to leave the place… A few
weeks earlier he brought a young mentally retarded
guy to his home from Nirmal Hriday.
I started to think about it and
more so, during those times I started to face my
first difficulties with the MC life, now that I
had seen it from the inside during more than a week!
This is not the place to tell about these problems,
but I understood I could not become a Missionary
of Charity brother. But still, did I have to leave
them so quickly and join Aamar Nijer? It seemed
so crazy!
All my doubts disappeared once I
went to Mother's tomb. I felt her presence and it
was as if she told me clearly not to fear anything
but go and take care of the patients of her "
first love", through Korak. A few days later,
I moved to Aamar Nijer - My Own Home and we started
to live a family life together with Nitai, this
guy who used to live in the street.
The first days were not so easy,
mostly because I had to get used to Nitai and he
had to get used to me… But slowly we learned to
like each other, and some events made us become
very close to each other, for instance after I injured
a knee and he advised me and Korak in ways to take
care of the wound…On the other hand, we were living
a very simple life, without light in the bathroom
nor in the kitchen, having very simple food based
on rice and boiled vegetables… with which my stomach
would get upset after some time, despite my will
to have it and share it with the other members of
the family. But since Aamar Nijer is a place for
love, they never complained about it, and fed me
with food what my stomach is accustomed to…
We have also been going through
many ups and downs, organizing everything to enable
Aamar Nijer to grow up, and welcoming new members,
earning money… This is certainly the most difficult
thing: to find ideas and make them become real with
the help of people having the knowledge, without
making compromises that would spoil the spirit of
Aamar Nijer… I am confident in its success.
Aamar Nijer is about love for everybody
in this world… And love always wins.
If
you want to talk to Frederic or if you want to write
to him, then please Click
HERE]
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