Sarubai Lakshman Tambe
and her 4 children
Sunita, Sita, Sagar and Ravi

The story below tells the sweet history of how I met this dear family.  These two links... The Bliss Book - Both families - 2003-4  ...and...  Blissbook2005 - Ellora... contain the photo collages I have made after my visits in the Fall of 2003 and 2004.  The photos are ever so precious, I hope you will look at them. 

ONE REMARKABLE thing I see in the photos is the beautiful change in Sita since I met her. Below, in the red shirt, is "my" precious Sita.  The photos below were taken when I first met the family, 4 months after her abusive, alcoholic father died.  A "frozenness" can be seen in these photos of her...and then when you see the photos of her now (like this one sitting with myself), one can easily see how she is "drinking the love, like water in the desert"...and I have enjoyed ever so much, pouring it on!!   This photo of the two of us is definitely one of my favorites, taken December, 2004.

HER-STORY

I met this dear family in November of 2002, when I was visiting the ancient caves at Ellora.  Sitting one evening at the small boutique of my friend Dinesh, I noticed Sarubai and her three children living on the floor of the absolutely stark skeleton of her closed tea shop, next door.  I asked Dinesh to tell me about her, and he related that a few months earlier, her alcoholic husband had died, confirming my further questioning that he was also of the useless and violent type.  The visible situation of this nearly penniless mother and her children touched my heart.  So I asked, thru Dinesh, for eldest daughter Sita to come to us, and when she did so, I gave her a 500 rupee note to give to her mom.  Of course, great smiles and joy resulted. When Sarubai came over to talk to us, I told her I was sad she was without a husband, but yet very happy for her that she is now free of such troubles, anguish and disrespect.

Sarubai was working for the government, doing simple gardening work at the Ellora Caves, for about 1000 rupees per month, which is approximately $26.  The Rs 500/= which I gave her was one half-month's salary! The next few days, as I would pass by those garden areas where she worked, great smiles, waves of hello, and visits from the kids would greet me.   About one week later, the night before my departure, I was again sitting with Dinesh, and asked Sarubai to come over and visit with us.  Asked what she would do with Rs 2000/=, she said she would fix up her tea shop so she could do business there.  Of course I gave her that amount of rupees, and received lots more warm smiles.  Next morning was more fun and joy, as I arrived about 6 am for the bus out of town.  The bus stop is right in front of her and Dinesh's shops, and so she saw me sitting there waiting for the bus.  She made a cup of tea for me and brought it over.  We only exchange smiles and vibes, because I do not speak her language.  When I saw the bus coming, I motioned to her, and she came for the tea cup...next to which I had another Rs 500/=  folded in my hand, as I handed her the cup.  So, in a bit over a week she received 3,000 Rupees ($70), equivalent to 3 months salary for her. This is such joy for me, and I will never forget the smiles and happiness on the faces of Sarubai and her children.

Sitting on the bus traveling to my next destination, I realized that I had just adopted another family in India, and quite happily so.  I also was feeling so grateful to Simone, of New Zealand, pictured here with the family, for it is she who took these wonderful photos. Thanks, Simone!

More fun followed.  When I returned home from India, I had Rs 1,100/= in my purse, which I sent to her via postal mail.   Now, I always very much look forward to visiting Ellora again, to share smiles, hang out with her kids, see how they are doing, and see what nice thing I can do to help her further develop her tea shop business into something self-supporting.

DECEMBER 2004 UPDATE

Now their "shell" of a restaurant has been remodeled and is operating as a business. This occured in December, 2003, in one month of time, and Rs 30,000/= (approx. $700).  Sarubai's income has now improved to about Rupees 4,000/= per month (about $100).  The little fellow...Ravi...started his 1st year of English-speaking school in the December of 2004; and currently (spring, 2005) we are engaged in building a home for the family, on a small piece of land purchased (with help by Sarubai's younger brother) also in December, 2004.  Many thanks to those who have helped with donations.

If you are traveling to India, and wish to visit the absolutely awesome ancient Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves at Ellora, please do visit Sarubai and her children. Take a bus from Aurangabad (30 minues), which is about 4-5 hours from Pune; 8 hours or so from Mumbai. Be sure to ask the conductor to let you down at the Ellora Caves.  Across the street from where you get off the bus, you will see a nice long Blue-colored sign board over the restaurant "LAKSHMI ANANDA RESTAURANT". Three shops to the right is Dinesh's boutique named "VIBHUTI COLD DRINKS". Dinesh, and his brother Satish, speak good english, they will help you with any of your needs in Ellora, and of course will introduce you to Sarubai and her precious children.

ananda@samadhihermitage.org

telephone: (505-473-3560)

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