These are the lads I have met in Assis ghat who are self motivated and self funded doing social work. I just admire that unlike so many of us, they see a need and then do something about it. They have told me that the more work they do together the tighter they have become and the more work they want to do when they see results. Plus I think they also got fed up just hanging around drinking chai. All of them are in their 30's, have been freinds since childhood and have been more than helpful and respectful to me. I also see that they know all the long term foreign residents who also have only good words about them.
From Left to Right;
Kush, aka temple guy. He guides tourist to the many temples or ghats by day and is a silk factory worker by night. Everyone knows and likes Kush.
Punkaj, aka King Kite, he is the guy who cut 16 kites in one day. He is doing his PhD in economics at Varanasi University. He admits he thinks too much and needs to learn meditation to calm down.
Rajesh, aka the Ring Leader. He has a restaurant and small guest house in Dharamkot, Dharamsla which is open for about 8 to 9 months of the year and the rest of the year he does social work in Varanasi and takes a holiday to Arambol for New Year.
The Advocate; he dresses like a dapper advocate but is a silk sari painter instead. I am not sure when he works because he always seems to be having a day off. Very quite, only little English but always a big smile sporting well combed, oiled, jet black hair.
Missing from the photos is Laughing Baba who giggles way too much and helps out now and again with whatever is going on and Baskar. Baskar has to a saint as he has taken upon himself the job of working with the police to provide a descent, religious funeral to all the unclaimed bodies of homeless people. I will be going to learn more about his work in a few days.
So here's to people all over the world who get involved in helping their communities, the world need more concerned people like you. Thank you !!
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