Prince was a student of Balamandir and completed his graduation and is working in Flyjac, Cochin office. Coming from a very poor family background,he will become a beacon light for the upliftment of his family. While studying he was doing labour jobs to meet basic requirement till he joined Balamandir.
This is what Prince has to say:
It’s been almost two and half years, during which I have been working in Flyjac Logistics (Cochin) as an executive in the Import Department, both Air and Sea. I have been taking care of my family and leading a peaceful life. But every time I look back, my journey to this point never ceases to surprise me. It’s the greatness, love and wishes of our Madhavan uncle, Muthachan and our Amamma that has helped me reach here.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Prince. I am one of the Balamandiram inmates. I belong to a small family -with my mother and three brothers. When I was young, my father passed way. Then it was my mother who did everything for us. She struggled a lot for our livelihood and education. Because of which two of my brothers couldn’t study much. At young age itself they started doing small jobs to help my mother. It was me whom they sent for studies upto HSC. In the mean time, one of my brothers married and he shifted to another place. Then it became the responsibility of my second brother to take care of my family. Since he had not even completed 10th standard, he could not get a good job. He began working as a daily wager. So I couldn’t ask him to help me with my higher studies. I started searching for a job. Since I had done my HSC in Science I got a small job in a medical shop. I worked there with a minimal salary but was happy with that.
Then I wished to go for my higher studies, but my family situation pulled me down. And I kept aside all my wishes. One day I came to know about Balamandir. So I decided to go and inquire in person. It was in June 2009 that I took that decision and started from my hometown to Balamandir. Throughout the journey I was very anxious and tense about the thought of not getting an admission there. When I entered the gate I saw a man(whom I later called Muthachan) sitting there. After seeing me, he asked me to sit. On seeing him my anxiety increased and I forgot everything I wanted to say. In a short time, Amamma also came. And I still couldn’t say a word. They asked me why I had come to Balamandir. When I told them the story, I was told that they weren’t taking any more inmates, since it was already full and they were only open to students from 5th to 12th standard. I guess they didn’t want to send me away disappointed, so they added one more line saying that we will call you if any opportunity presents itself.
I felt dejected and went back home. After seeing me so silent and disappointed, my mother encouraged me saying, ”Be confident, just call them once again tomorrow and everything will be okay.” Even this couldn’t console me.
The next day as per my mother’s instruction I called Amamma again with all my expectations. If I got a negative response I would abandon my wishes and start doing a daily wage job. But the response I got from Amamma was really surprising, and she asked me to come and join the college on the next day itself. I felt very happy. Without wasting a single moment, I started arranging things to move there. On the next day Amamma also accompanied me to get an admission in the college.
That also was a strange experience to me, I usually went alone for everything. I felt very happy. I was the eldest inmate in Balamandir and I got the opportunity to take the responsibility of leadership.
The peaceful atmosphere there changed my life entirely and I got lot of opportunities to improve my personality. I never participated in any dancing programs because of my shyness. It was Madhavan uncle who shed my shyness away as illustrated by the following story.
Most of the kids would participate in the annual day dancing programs, but I would make myself busy by helping them and escape from having to participate. One day Madhavan uncle caught me and asked me why I wasn’t participating in the dance program. He asked me, “Do you have any physical problem?”
I said, “No, I don’t”. Then he asked me why I wasn’t participating and I couldn’t say anything. Then he asked me “So are you going to leave Balamandir or stay here?” The question shocked me and I replied that I wanted to stay. Then, with a smile, he asked me to dance in the programme and so I did, for the very first time. The three years in Balamandiram went by quickly. Once I completed my degree, Madhamama asked me whether I was willing to work for Flyjac Logistics. I accepted the same wholeheartedly and it remains an unforgettable day.
It was time to leave my Balamandir in Thirunnavaya and move to the Balamandir in Cochin. I found it difficult to leave the place, because we were all so attached to each other, like a family. Moving from there made me sad, but it was time for me to leave. It was nice during the initial days to be with them. I got a lot of love and respect from the younger ones. Even though I had to travel for almost three hours to my office every day to and fro, I did not want to move to any nearby places. I wanted to take care of the younger ones and happily live there. I took the responsibility of helping them with their studies, which was a great pleasure for me. But good times don’t always last. The people who prepared food for us frequently used to fight and scold the other kids, which I couldn’t bear. When they would unnecessarily scold the kids I questioned them. This made them angry on me and they started telling to everyone that I was behaving inappropriately towards the kids. And it became a big issue. Those who came to know about the issue interpreted it in a wrong way. I felt very bad, and I decided to move from there, not wanting to be a burden. When I left, one of Balamandir inmates also came along with me. He said that I want to live with you and I let him accompany me. And we took a flat for rent.
The next day I got a call from Madhamama, who asked me to take a ticket to Bombay. I got afraid and felt remorseful about the way I left from balamandir without tackling the issue. It was my first trip to Bombay, all the way I felt very strange and I couldn’t sit peacefully. When I finally reached, a Flyjac employee named Dutta came to pick me up from the railway station. It was very difficult for me to interact with him since I didn’t know Hindi and he didn’t know English but we communicated with each other in broken Hindi and English. Finally I met Madhamama and began to feel fear engulfing me. He started talking to me as usual and didn’t shout at me at all, instead, with a peaceful mind, he welcomed me and took me along with him to meditate.
This was a new experience for me. I simply sat still and closed my eyes, focused on my breathing, and it truly helped me relax. We sat like that for hours, and in between he started asking me about what actually happened, and I began answering his questions while meditating. After some time he asked me to open my eyes. When I opened my eyes and I felt my burden roll away.
I was then sent to the guest house with instructions to meditate and reflect as a test. But the travelling and emotional overhaul had left me drained and I fell asleep while meditating.
The next day, I went to meet Madhamama in his cabin and when he asked me about my meditation I told him the truth. He immediately sent me to a room to go and complete my meditation. After a few hours he asked me if I slept well! We shared a few laughs at the incident.
Then on the very same day I returned to Kerala, before I left the only thing he told me was this. Mistakes could be done by anyone, but person who could correct himself is truly great. He advised me to go and talk to the people who had spoken ill about me and made me realize that it was my mistake that I left Balamandir without speaking to the people directly. He advised me to go and meet those people with a gift and deal with the issue.
I promised him that I would do whatever he asked me to do and so I did. After reaching Kerala, I went and met them and apologized for my mistakes. I felt free and understood that life becomes easier when we learn to apologize for our mistakes. The moment we realize our mistakes and try to rectify them, our life will change.
I felt that everyone deserve somebody to makes them look forward to a new day and for me that person is Madhamama. I am now able to go through any kind of situation and face everything with a smiling face because getting angry or acting without thinking will create more problem. Right now, I am really happy with my life and it is all because of Madhamama who taught me to analyze the problem and act accordingly.
I recently went to attend the stone laying ceremony for a new Balamandir building and I felt very happy, knowing that I’m a part of this initiative and intent to do my level best.
I take this opportunity to thank Madhamama, Ammama, Muthachan(who is no more now) and my fellow Balamandir friends who have given me lots of experience, love, care, affection and made my life a successful one.