Showing Off

We visited a non-formal school and old age home in Kolkata today, one of the many non-governmental organizations that caters to care and education of under-priveleged children. We were shepherded into the tiny classroom where nearly thirty children sat for what we thought would be a sit-in on normal classroom procedure. Instead, the children put on a dazzling performance that included song, poetry, and dance. Coaxed by Addison, I pulled out my camcorder to catch a couple of minutes of the performance.

But initially I was quite uncomfortable. For one, these children seemed to have gone out of their way to come on what was technically a holiday, just to perform for us. Was my presence inconveniencing these children, their teachers, and their families? Did they feel they had to put on a show for my entertainment when it should have been me who would serve them?

But what has bothered me more throughout the trip is that I feel personally uncomfortable filming or taking photographs of people in this city and in any city. How could I justify filming someone who I've never been introduced to, never interacted with, and will probably never meet again? Was it right to share what was truly a unique experience with family, friends, and even the world when I had absolutely no relationship with those who I had filmed?

Yet, after having filmed these incredibly talented children and their performance, I think the decision was a good one. I at first felt uncomfortable because I thought their performance was a show for my entertainment at the cost of their education and I believed I had no personal connection with the children.

But, to look at it another way, this performance was not merely for my entertainment but to showcase the unique and magnificent ability of each child. Despite unfortunate circumstances that could prevent progress, these children have been given a chance to succeed and truly have in every way and we have gotten to see this progress firsthand through performance. Furthermore, this performance wasn't at cost of education; it was education's creative expression through art.

Far from having no personal connection with these kids, each one manifested the same hopes, desires, and abilities of the children we see and continue to see in Manovikas Kendra, Future Hope, and in all of our experiences with children. I know these children intimately because they are the happy children I played with at family parties, the optimistic children I have worked with in years past, and the talented children I will continue to work with at Future Hope.

In the end, I took Alex's words to heart when I thought of the performance. These children are, after all, children and when they've mastered a new dance or memorized a new song, they want to show it off. I was just lucky enough to be there when it happened.