From Loss To Love : Yamini’s Journey At A Dehradun Orphanage

"Mujhe apne aap pe bahut garv hai ki main kahaan se kahaan pahunch gayi hun"-Yamini’s self-reflective words (said with a smile)

As she walked into the Dehradun orphanage known as ‘Apna Ghar’, 9 year old Yamini Naithani had decided that she was not going to like the place at all. Having lost her parents at such a young age, she didn’t believe that she could be happy anywhere else. With her siblings in tow, she started observing her surroundings. What she saw shocked her.

The children around her seemed very happy. Although most of them were younger than her, they all looked to be enjoying the orphanage. The children used to call the heads of the orphanage - Mohammed and Nazia - papa and mummy. When Yamini asked Mohammed why, he replied, "Kuch time raho to tumhe khud se pata chal jayega" (Live here for some time and you will find out yourself). Eventually, she realised that Apna Ghar has been named as such because there is a family-like feeling and every child has an innate sense that this is their own home.

When she was young, she was a media aspirant. She used to love seeing journalists on TV, and wanted to be up there one day. With the support of her ‘mummy and papa’, she worked

hard to this end. But as she grew up and got to 8th grade, her career plans underwent a drastic shift. As she was the oldest, Nazia used to take her along to meetings with organisations such as Dehradun’s Juvenile Justice Board, High Court/Supreme Court etc.

Listening to the discourses and opinions there, she realised that she wanted to stay on at Apna Ghar and do good there. As she puts it, "Main inmein se hi nikli hun aur main inki

pareshaniyaan samajhti hun". She used to see the way Nazia and Mohammed were so loved and adored and decided that she wanted the same. And she really was (still is!) a role model for the children there who call her ‘badi didi’.

Now, she is the superintendent of the orphanage and could not be happier. She says she sees herself in the next generation and hopes that they will achieve even greater heights than her.

One thing that recurred in her answers is that all her success is due to Mohammed and Nazia. They give all the orphans career counselling and treat them like their own children. If they ever scolded her, it was because "voh apne bacchon ka behtar chahte hain".

Yamini says she never felt the want of anything as everything she needed was always provided timely. One incident of their life that she really remembers is from 10th grade. Throughout her school life she always had the support of her ‘parents’ and that was fruitful because she topped her school in her boards. She says that was the happiest day of her school life.

One thing she realised that day was "Jo paalte hain vo hi asli maa baap hote hain". It doesn’t matter who you are born to, your real parents are who take care of you and bring you up.

The Apna Ghar family!

Her last line to me was the most impactul part of the interview.

She said "Apna Ghar, Apna Parivar".

Apna Ghar is not an orphanage. It is a team, a family!

Written by Myra Kanshal

Myra wrote this article as a participant of the Media-Makers Fellowship's May'25 cohort.