OUR GRATITUDE
FOR A GLADDENING GIFT FROM THE BENTHINS,
WHICH IS INSPIRING POETS

Visitors to our Agro Farm have greatly marvelled at the captivatingly picturesque sights and scenic beauty they encounter as soon as they step into the vast expanse of land which houses the Pamela Martinez-Pathway Agro-farm for children.

We have received generous testimonies to say how impressed they are by the unfolding spectacle as soon as they step into the farm, the ineffable influence it has on them, the sublime quickening of spirit it brings upon them, the subtle vibrations, etc etc . One young student from a city college even sat under a tree and wrote down a poem about the place.

We begged him to give us the poem for printing it in our journal, but he said he was yet to complete it, which he intended to do at some leisure. For though the words had been scribbled on a piece of rather crumpled paper (apparently lent him by one of our children, hurriedly torn from a school notebook, with his ballpointpen that wasn't writing too well), good poetry is emotion recollected in tranquillity, with somewhat better writing material at hand, he said. He was still under the powerful spell of poetic emotion in our place , and he would have to sit and think calmly and recollect the experience at another time, or perhaps he would lie on a couch in vacant or pensive mood (which is reportedly Wordsworthian way): "For oft, when on my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood, they flash upon that inward eye, which is the bliss of solitude". Our young poet quoted the lines from Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud", concluding his short poetry lesson for us.

I have already used some of his words above in describing this place, but further reference might involve copyright violations, and so we agree to remain with an eager expectation. We did invite him to come back soon, if he would agree that this was a most tranquill place for recollecting the emotions. We shall provide the Wordsworthian couch, and comfortable stay, as befitting a budding poet who would be our guest of honour.

I said budding, because he mentioned with modesty and a rather shy smile that this was the first time he was moved to attempt some lines of his own, though he was always an avid connoisseur of classical poetry. We congratulated him profusely and fervently encouraged him on his vocation, and conveyed our longing to receive a signed manuscript..

I then ventured a suggestion to Prasad that we also provide a Writer's Retreat in a corner of our land, so that budding poets, as well as fully blossomed ones, can find the ideal environment in our facility for their literary output, away from the noisy clamour of the city where we can't imagine anyone writing poetry. Besides, the writers would have the pleasure and privelege, from time to time, to work with the children in gardening, cooking, cleaning, washing, or playacting or something. It would be a great boon to our students and staff to be able to interact with poets.

While taking leave, the young man was happy to give us a glimpse of his poetic theme: It was just one continuous and abundant thanksgiving: I am thankful to God for letting me be here today, I am thankful to be with these children, indeed I am thankful for everything in my life, my heart is overflowing with thanks, thanks, thanks.

Thanks to the human heart by which we live, Thanks to its tenderness, its joys and fears, Thanks to the meanest flower that can give me thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.... These last three thanks were from Wordsworth, according to our friend, but he was now listing, in the same inspirational refrain , the abundant blessings with which his life felt so overflowing.

Prasad and I recalled that it was the same sacred theme that our Patron, Judge William Sheffield, had repeated again and again in the course of his address in this very place a few months ago when inaugurating the construction work by turning the first sod of earth: Dear children, dear staff and teachers, and co-workers, everynight while you go to sleep never forget to thank God; say in a few words to the great God Almighty your gratitude for all the comforts and utilities and benefits and blessings He is showering upon you, and is going to shower upon you day by day in this wonderful place, upon each one of you, because each one of you is unique and special in His eyes....

As soon as I get our young friend's poem I am going to present the manuscript to Mr and Mrs Joe Benthin with my own personal regards and gratitude, said Prasad. Benthins visited the agro-farm and their visit led to lasting improvements: Mr Joe Benthin, who hails from Denmark, is a great artist and a painter. He has painted some 25000 square feet of building area in a most beautiful way. When he toured through the agro farm facilities he conceived some wonderful ideas about enhancing the enchantmant of the place. He along with Mrs Benthin started painstakingly measuring each and every wall and area to our utter amazement. We wanted to know why, why was he doing that. We were simply puzzled.

Mr Benthin said that though our buildings were indeed great and built with great care and perfect architecture, they needed artistic finishing touches here and there, which would break the visual monotony and unrelieved uniformity. He further continued and said that these buildings did cry for some delicate personal touch and we need to think of various murals, which could be depicted on the walls. We discussed in great length regarding the modus operandi and ways and means to achieve this. We decided to write letters to the Secretary, Karnataka Kala Parishad, Bangalore, where Joe Benthin is an honorary faculty member.

In response to our letter and invitation a cheerful contingent of 25 junior and senior students lead by their Professor agreed to visit the agro farm and paint murals on the walls of the new buildings.

Prasad and Chandra discussed with the Professor from Kala Parishad regarding various things, such as, the type of murals to be painted, depicting children-friendly things,type of paints to be procured, brushes to be bought, the facilities they would need to stay and work,etc. After these discussions this student contingent along with their teacher arrived at the farm with clear artistic ideas. The budding artists had a great field day at the natural and highly eco-friendly farm, for the members of the mural team merged with the rural farm environment naturally and felt quite at home, and loved every minute they stayed, according to their happy reports and reminiscences and other emotions recollected in tranquillity.

They were assisted by all our men available at the site, and provided with ladders ,paints,etc. In just four days time this team painted nine beautiful murals on the large walls of the farm building, each of the murals depicting the children and their enchanting pleasures. It was a joy to see the beautiful blending of colours: blues, reds, yellows... Children playing with kites. Travelling in a world of animals. Travelling by a train. These three murals are indeed a great visual feast to the eyes, as are all the others, which are admittedly the basic inspiration for the poet whose visit we described earlier.

I stood silent for a while looking at the murals, and Prasad woke me from my reverie with a sudden "What are you thinking?"

To write some poetry, I said, with a sudden inspiration.

--------Kiru