Vatsalya Gram: Manifestation of Shakti As Mother | Sadhvi Rithambara Is A Public Speaker And Nationalist Ideologue

Bharat has nearly 3 crore orphans, though according to some activists in the field, this number could be 7 crores. Of these, about 5 lakh have access to a shelter or orphanage. Only around 4000 children are adopted per annum. These arid statistics bury the heart rending story of lakhs of children who do not know why they were abandoned in some dark alley, or at the doors of an orphanage; what crime did they commit. There are no official figures about destitute women, but, various data tell us that the numbers could run into lakhs. In our mind, these two marginalised sections of the society have no commonality.However, there was one person who thought of creating loving and caring families by bringing together abandoned women and orphan children way back in 1980s. That noble aatman is Sadhvi Ritambhara, a young sannyasin at that time. She took inspiration from Yashoda Maa and her child Krishna. This dream began taking shape in 1990s. As the number of families swelled, the project called Vatsalya Gram moved to Vrindavan in 2003. Vatsalya Gram means Village of Motherly Affection.This book is a heart-warming story of the families of mother Yashodas and their Bal Krishnas who have grown into a wonderful community under the benign watch of motherly figure of Didimaa, as revered Sadhvi Ritambhara is now called affectionately by her Vatsalya Gram families, her disciples and well-wishers. There are many stories here of abandoned women who found new purpose to their lives, of young women who were inspired to work for the society. For them it was, Vishwa chi majhe ghar (Sant Gyaneshwar-meaning, world is my family).Today hundreds of children who could have ended as unseen people in the dark margins of the society, have found higher purpose in life as young patriotic citizens, as successful professionals, and highly educated housewives balancing their professional lives very well. Vatsalya Gram is not just a place where Didimaa has created happy families, it is a mini-universe by itself. Many projects and activities have evolved from it. Vatsalya Gram is a model that our policy makers should study and think of adopting in their policies for orphans and abandoned women. These stories of Vatsalya Gram of Didimaa will elevate you and inspire you.