"S.K. Shukriya had just left work in the canteen of a hospital. Due to the physical violence he had to face, he stopped going to work and school. Shukriya is very talkative, loves to cycle, involves in brawls and speaks only the truth.

 

         The first day I met him, he enthusiastically narrated several things about his life – the number of friends he has at home, his visit to the Nandankanan zoo, how the nurses at the hospital love him, how he avenges anyone who bullies him and so on.

 

     To make a start, that day I showed him satellite pictures of Bhubaneswar -> Orissa - > India -> Earth as seen from outer space. He seemed captivated. I also demonstrated an aspect of the relationship of the sun and the earth – ‘Jab yahan subah hoga, tab America mein raat hoga’, I said. ‘To jab waha din hoga, yaha

raat hoga?’ he asked. I was happy that he was observing a new concept sincerely.

 

        When Shukriya narrated me his visit to the Nandankaanan zoo, he told that the driver of the safari jeep did not allow him and his friend to sit in it. He said it as if that had no emotional impact on him. I realized how much he was used to being treated like that. Schooling is a long journey and though he is now in school, nothing is certain. I hope he gets well educated and suitably employed. Nandankanan zoo will still be around. Maybe then, he can enjoy a ride in the safari jeep."

-Mahesh Gandikota