Interview

Prabhavati Dwabha

Founder, Director, Ramana's Seva Samiti / Ramana's Garden Home for Children
Rishikesh

Dr. Prabhavati Dwabha is the founder of Ramana's Garden, a home for children in India that provides education, food, and healthcare to those in lower castes, whom might otherwise be neglected in society.

Why did you start Ramana's Garden?

In 1994 — after I'd been living in India for 20 years — there were a number of children living at risk of death, starvation, abuse, child labor, and child prostitution was increasing daily.

I felt that the only solution to the vicious cycle of poverty and abuse that was entrapping thousands of women and children was to provide them with a loving home, proper nutrition, quality education, and vocational training.

My first attempts to help were made through governmental agencies and I found it was impossible to get the funds directly to the people in need. It was then that I started my own NGO.

What is Ramana's Garden's vision?

Ramana’s Seva Samiti vision is that every child regardless of caste, creed, or social-economic background has the right to quality education, proper nutrition, and primary healthcare. It is our primary intention of help in the abolishment of the caste system though providing the highest levels of education possible in India free of cost to the lowest castes in India.

It is our further intention to empower women through literacy and vocational training so that they can generate their own income and thereby gain power in their own households and communities.

What is the mission statement?

Say Yes Now

Y Youth	N Nutrition
E Education	O Opportunities
S Service	W Womens’s Vocational Training

Youth: We believe that the future of India today rests in the hands of her children. The world needs people who are capable of doing new things, creative people-inventors and discoverers-individuals who will use their energy and imagination to shape the future, not merely adjust to the existing wrongs.

Every child in Ramana’s Garden is accepted unconditionally, as they are. Human relationships are fundamental to all learning. These youth face the world with curiosity, confidence and each other. They are given the freedom that encourages them to be responsible for themselves and each other.

Creative and independent thought makes them aware of other people and helps them accept their differences. We strive to create an environment where children can find out what they love to do and do it better.

What is your operating budget? What would you do with more funds?

US$50,000 per year. I would build more housing for children at risk.

Outside of funding, what are some of the biggest challenges you face? What are you frustrated by?

The lack of government funds appropriated for our rural village women and children’s welfare ever reaching them.

What is your dream for the NGO?

That we will be granted the Ashram where the Beatles visited, a large government property lying in waste for past 15 years, that still has the capacity to be transformed into a loving home and school/vocational training center, for over 1500 children and 300 destitute women who are at risk today on India’s streets.

What would you consider your NGO’s greatest accomplishment?

We insure that every child studying or living in Ramana’s Garden will enter the job market with sufficient skills to secure a valuable position for themselves. We install in every child studying or living in Ramana’s Garden a sense of well-being and compassion for their fellow travellers on this journey through life.

We empower every child growing up at Ramana’s to be encouraged and enabled to take risks and grow into an integrated, unique human being with the self-confidence and courage to create a new harmonious humanity. It is all happening now.

What are three things about your NGO what you wish people knew?

• That it is possible to make a difference in thousands of lives with very little.
• That to be given the opportunity to give is a gift.
• That we are all one family.

Do you think media accurately portrays the issues your organization represents?

No.

How can people get involved?

They can share their funds, their energy, or their lives with us. They can visit our website to see all the ways possible.

Have you always worked in the NGO field?

No, never. I was a Hollywood actress before coming to India.

Did you have an inspirational figure in your life growing up?

My mother certainly was an inspiration, though at the time I didn’t understand it. She ran a trading post for the Navajo and Ute Indians on the reservation outside Cortez, Colorado. Only problem was she seldom took anything in for trade and just went on giving and giving to the Indians - difficult for a 7-year-old who wants to know why the Indians get everything when all I wanted was a new shiny bicycle.

“There but for the Grace of God go I," was always her answer.

Are there other selfless leaders out there you admire? If so, who and why?

I have been so blessed living here in India for past 30 years to have known many great masters and teachers, each one a light in the darkness of ignorance. Ramana Maharshi, Osho Rajneesh, H.W.Poonja (PapaJi), J. Krishnamurti, Neem Karole Baba, Siddhi Ma, and too many others to name with the gratitude I feel. In this moment I offer my hands and heart in service in tremendous admiration to Ma Amrita Amma Ji.

Why? We all walk the same path, taking different roads, detours, and freeways. These masters go tirelessly, guiding us with maps and directions despite all the wrong turns we take, bringing us home to our true selves.

If there is one place or issue out there in the world you could personally explore, what would it be?

At this very moment 20 dams are being constructed on River Ganga. They have already done irreparable damage to the environment and to endangered species like the Himalayan trout, villagers' crops that were buried in cement and construction debris, villagers' drinking water that has been poisoned, villagers' homes that were destroyed by the blasting, and the list goes on.

If they are completed as planned, Mother Ganga will disappear completely into underground tunnels to feed the dams. Her destruction is eminent if these dams are not stopped. One lone man who took a fast unto death to stop them succeeded for 7 short days. Now with a corrupt court order they are building again at an increased speed. Ganga is the water source for two-thirds of the population of India. Her destruction will be the beginning of a rapid end to millions living on her banks.

How was the grant given by explore through the Annenberg Foundation used?

To provide free education and all education materials, books, teachers, food, school uniforms, etc. for the schoolchildren of Ramana’s Garden.

Do you think it had an impact? How?

Yes. The children are healthy doing well in their studies, and discovering new avenues of creativity every day.

What was your biggest surprise when explore came to visit you?

Charlie Annenberg's genuine desire to discover the Spiritual “Magic” of Mother India, his thirst for the truth and a way to make real change.

Is it a good idea for grantmakers to visit you?

Yes, they need to see for themselves the miracle unfolding here.

Why is it important to be a selfless person?

We are one self manifesting in millions of forms. Until we understand and live that understanding we will suffer and create further suffering for others by believing the lie of separation whether it be through caste, creed, nationality, or gender.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

To lift the veil of ignorance that blinds us all to keep us bound in suffering, greed, violence, and the destruction of Mother Nature and each other.

What do you believe to be the biggest challenge facing our planet today?

Safe, clean drinking water and global warming. We cannot address one without the other.

What do you think will be our planet’s biggest challenge 10 years from now? 25 years from now? 50 years from now?

The same but much, much worse.

What is the key to living a happy life?

To live in total awareness: awareness of yourself, your thoughts, actions, intentions, attachments, and words. To live knowing, not believing, but experiencing, the oneness in all living things. If you live in this way you will live without harm to yourself or another being. If you live this way you will automatically live in gratitude and cease to suffer. Separation will be replaced with compassion and love.

Do you think you could have done this in any other country besides India?

Yes, in Nepal I helped to support a man building a project similar to Ramana’s Garden for 75 street children. It was a completely eco-powered project, and after completion the hotel mafia tried to take it over to be an eco-resort, and are still trying to do so. I honestly don’t know about working outside Asia in such a project. This is my first time.

What prompted you to first leave Hollywood for India?

After 8 years as a struggling actress I was very disillusioned and searching for something more. I was often treated, as many young struggling want-to-be starlets were, with little dignity and even less respect.

At an audition for a major role in a film the director gave me a book by a Spiritual Master in India, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. After reading his book I was on a plane in 8 days for India.

Did your friends and family protest your decision?

Friends, yes, everyone thought I was having a mental breakdown.

What were you main struggles the first few months, years?

The caste system, the timber, liquor, and land mafias. The low position of women in society. The lack of even simple knowledge about basic hygiene. Lack of medical care and education for the lower castes.

Do you think the caste system will one day cease to exist?

That is my dream. That is the reason for all our efforts in education. I know if it is to be destroyed it can only happen by equal educational possibilities for all castes.

Do the children question their Untouchable status?

Very few dare to question… but in our school, Yes, they go beyond questioning — they change it.

What happens if you have a child who is right on the cusp of the requirements for the school? What if their parents make, say, 1500 rupees instead of 1000?

Depends on the child’s abilities and the family situation. If they are justifiably living below the poverty line in spite of their parents efforts to earn a better living, we would say yes.

Where do you get toys for them to play with? What are the favorites?

We don’t have many toys. We have sports equipment, i.e., cricket, balls, badminton, volleyball, etc. They love games so we have as many board games as we can get.

What kinds of activities do you organize for the kids when they are not in class?

All children study Classical Indian Dance, art, theatre, crafts, and jewelry-making. The children also take part in every aspect of our food production and preparation, they do their own laundry from age 4, and keep their rooms and compound clean. In the summer they are in the Mountain Forest project and do reforestation and take care of the livestock there.

How many playgrounds for mountain villages have you had built?

One playground here at our headquarters and one for our Chamba Mountain school.

What has changed at the school since Explore's visit? Any updates?

We have gotten Government Affiliation for our junior high school. We now offer free education through the 8th grade.

Where do they go after Ramana's Garden, to continue their education?

We are only allowed by the government to offer up to the 8th standard. They then attend private high schools in the area and will attend colleges wherever we can get admission into good schools.12 of our 9th class students are studying in Rishikesh in this moment in private schools.

What are some of the favorite dishes at the café?

Pesto lasagna, gnocchi, all homemade pastas, mo-mos, Mexican taquitas, bagels, chocolate fudge cake, cheesecake, waffles, and above all, our organic green salads.

How many people usually come to eat there in one day?

One average, 20-30.

Where do they come from?

They are usually local tourists.

How many students are now at the school?

The most recent number is 65 boarded students and 157 from the nearby villages.

What is preventing the project of the Beatles' ashram from going through?

The Indian government is holding out for a better financial offer.

Where do you get your school materials?

From local bookstores, mostly the ones that supply the private schools in Dehradun.

What are the basic subjects?

The 3R’s, plus strong emphasis on Ecology and Environment.

Do you have any paid staff or are they all volunteers?

All teachers are paid, as well as the cook, caregivers, managers, and farmers.

Where do the English speaking volunteers come from?

All over the planet.

How would someone apply to come work there?

Contact me by email.

Who will take over your role as time goes by?

Hopefully the children themselves.

Where do you personally find to be the most magical moments in your day?

Seeing the children perform dance, theatre, and artwork. Seeing their joy in creativity.

Is there a reason to return to the States?

Only for fundraising and to visit my 95-year-old mother each year.