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Children's Day Special
Share, Care and Be Aware 
by Ramendra Kumar 

November 14, is Children’s Day, the birthday of India’s most charismatic and popular Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Chacha Nehru loved kids and his birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day in his fond memory.

I am sure all of you participate in the celebration with energy and enthusiasm. Sports and games, songs and dances, plays and skits, competitions and commotion, fun and frenzy and lots more makes this day ever so memorable for you.

This year when you immerse yourself in the spirit of celebration I request you to keep in mind one thing.

Spare a thought for kids who are not as fortunate as you.

Think of eight year old Roshni who was crippled for life when the recent earthquake ripped apart her home in Jammu. Don’t forget the plight of twelve year old Bala of Nagapattinam. Last year he was dreaming of becoming a pilot. Today, almost eleven months after the terrible Tsunami snatched his parents away, Bala is having nightmares whether he will be able to scrounge a meal for himself and his kid brother. Shed a tear for Naina of New Delhi, who lost forever the light in her eyes when the shards of a bomb tore into her pretty face. Her crime - she was shopping for Goddess Lakshmi on the eve of the festival of lights.

Spare a thought also for Raju, the rag picker, Meena the maid, Sammy the shoe shine boy, Kaalu who works in dhaba, Ali who weaves carpets and million other kids like you for whom every day is the same. Whether it is Eid or Diwali, Christmas or Baisakhi, Independence Day or Children’s Day their life is a collage of hours and hours of drudgery, meagre food, no fun, and endless torture and trauma.

This Children’s Day set aside a few moments to thank God for giving you all that you have and also pray for those who haven’t enough.

So friends, do have fun, but share and care and be aware. And do write to me about what made November 14, this year, so very special for you. The best letter will find a pride of place on Bolokids.

Happy Children’s Day!

November 13, 2005

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Image courtesy: TribuneIndia.com