The children of Wondang-Ki orphanage showing off their bible- a fathers’ gift from Uncle Jimmy Teo from Singapore. (Morung photo)
Akangchila Longchar
Dimapur| June 19
20 girls and one infant were the cause behind the lengthiest smile I have ever smiled, on a fine June afternoon after which I realized that I had no vague idea how I was going to return the favour …It is two days before Fathers’ Day and I found myself walking towards Wondang-Ki Orphanage, nestled in the crook of Fellowship Colony, Dimapur. Wondang-Ki is a charitable foundation for orphans and also acts as a shelter home and an adoption centre.
I arrived during study time which seemed to cause quite a stir, cuz I had walked into twenty curious young girls, all students of El-Shaddai, Dimapur. A quick glance revealed a tiny girl practicing handwriting while some a few years elder were trying to figure out more complex sentences.
To take it from the top, I am here to do a story on these twenty girls correlating their stories with the impending Fathers’ Day celebration. Children can be very intimidating and I had the feeling that meeting twenty innocent girl orphans was going to be the ultimate test of my composure.
All the girls were also clutching blue books with them which Meribeni kindly explained to me were Bibles gifted to all of them in the spirit of Fathers’ Day by Uncle Jimmy Teo from Singapore. I learn from N.T Kikon and his wife that since none of the children at Wondang Ki has their biological father, and the day will be spent by holding a small program thanking God for his love. The husband-wife had encouraged the children to pen down their thoughts and feelings some weeks earlier and the excerpts are included in this page for the benefit of everyone who has a father but take him for granted.
During an extempore speech where all the girls spoke on Fathers Day, the most touching was a little girl who couldn’t say anything when her turn came. We skipped to the next girl and then the next and finally asked the girl if she would like to try again. She said ‘yes’ but still could not say anything. Finally, after a long wait she started her speech with I love my father very much and then stopped. She then apologized to everyone that “I really love my father very much but I don’t remember much about him.” Another child who could barely speak properly said remembering memories of her alcoholic father said, “My father mix brown…brown…and water…drinking and dieting (dying).” Listening to the other children speak about a father, it was obvious how much they miss their father and for those who never knew one, it was more than obvious that they were painting an image of a model father.
I laughed so loud when Apibeni Y. Kikon of class nine, one of the eldest from among the children narrated how the children have created their own vocabulary saying that some of the younger children had used works like ‘takating’ ‘washuping’ and even ‘how much o’clock it is’. It was even revealed that the children had once hosted American Idol but three of the children were eliminated on the grounds that one contestant sang in Hindi-which is clearly not allowed since it is ‘American’ idol, second contestant because he forgot the lyrics and the third for repeating the same line over and over again. The singing competition clearly came to an end when all three rejected candidates started crying.
Fathers Day is usually celebrated by presenting gifts to the father. And sometimes fathers’ no longer with us are given flowers at their graves. But we tend to forget an essential aspect- what about the orphans who do not have their fathers and the widows who do not have their husband. Therefore, while we jubilate and celebrate, let us also remember these least unfortunate people.
A short message for my dear friends who has a father…
Dear Friends, you are so fortunate to have your father with you, who is always by your side in everything you do. So always love him, respect him and obey him and always try to make him happy before it is too late. So that your father will be happy with you and live long. And our heavenly father will bless you abundantly.
Yanpolumi Odyuo, Class X
