I AM KANAK... AND HERE I AM
T oday was the first session of our P.D. Programme (2017). The 17-year-old Mahak had encouraged her 15-year-old cousin brother, Dhruv, and her own sister, Kanak, 13, to join the programme. God makes each one of us different… rather special. Kanak finds it difficult to open up… She is extremely shy and nervous. So, today, when I was encouraging our young-ones to tell us their names – while seated – Kanak’s name passed just like a ship passing by the night. “Beta, we did not get it,” I gently prodded, “Tell it loudly and clearly again.” “I am KANAK,” the little lady managed to gather more stream to tell us who she was! “That’s good,” I praised her for her courage, “Your self-confidence starts with your own name… believe in it… Believe that you are good… You have the right to be yourself.” I show our young-ones several inspiring videos. I have kept ready many gripping stories about Malala, the young Pakistani girl, now 19, who goes aroun...