...is very excited that our school program is reverted back to the normal morning hours from today (Monday, April 30) and the application for the license for the same is being forwarded to the concerned authorities later this afternoon. It has been very, very hot and the two weeks of afternoon classes was beginning to have a bearing on both the teachers and students. So now, everyone is happy...

Guria and Martha however, have their school from 11 in the morning till 4 in the afternoon...probably 'normal' for many of you but then few can go through the routine when the weather is 100% humidity and the temperature hovering around 37 degrees Celsius. Next week, Lum too would join them.

We are also keeping our fingers crossed as we await the arrival of Leah's two older sisters - the eldest one would be on staff here at the Hope Home and help with the kitchen and overall upkeep of our facilities. The younger one would be sent for some kind of vocational training. Please pray for divine wisdom to be bestowed upon us as we deal with each individual according to their needs, aptitude, priorities and alignment with the overall Hope Home Calcutta vision and goal.

Even in the midst of all this, we are flooded with requests for assistance for children...orphans, destitute, poor and needy...from different places. We appreciate your continued help and cooperation in making a difference in so many lives in this part of the world!

Sumila, Joel and Esther (Junmoni) at the hotel in Dimapur, Nagaland where we were camped for the past four days...they were SOOOOOOO happy to be back to civilization after the horror of five weeks in the name of government sponsored 'welfare'...Sumila even went out to the local market to get some Nagaland delicacies (everything that moves/crawls is consumed!!)

Sumila is planning to return end of next week to resume responsibilities at the Hope Home Calcutta. With her and Naomi and Esther being released, all of the girls are now out of government sponsored welfare 'homes'..only Jonah, Noah and Anupam are left among the guys...please do continue to pray!

Another long day of travelling to Khoibung - the original native place of Kezia and close to Luke's village. It was less back-wrecking than yesterday but travel through the rough roads of Nagaland's villages is certainly discomforting...but then, this is the place from where some of the children at Hope Home Calcutta came from. Being in these remote places one can now comprehend why the elders of the villages and guardians want the kids to be out there in Calcutta and Hope Home. Take for instance, of the five elder sisters of Leah, four have not even completed Grade 4 of schooling and the oldest is now 19!

We had a good time with Kezia's folks and spent the rest of the day planning the return of some of them to the Hope Home next week, although they would NOT stay in our building. The focus is to help them continue with the schooling and education and give them as much security as possible.

We plan to return back to Calcutta tomorrow afternoon and by the next weekend we should have a few more back in Calcutta!! Please keep praying!!

A fruitful day...Kezia and her aunty came over in the morning to our hotel in Dimapur (Nagaland). Then began a 3 hour difficult drive on inhospitable terrain through the jungles north of Dimapur to reach Athibung and Songhluh village where we met up with Lydia, Mary and LEAH! It was emotional and although Leah's parents were out there, she clung on to me and cried when we tried to give her back to her father! Ruth offered to stay back with the family in that village and the whole village were appreciative of this gesture. The extended family had a meeting later in the evening after I and Joanna left and decided to send back Leah to Calcutta next week along with Kezia and her aunt!

Lydia and Mary are in an English speaking school in their village and would continue with their studies there till such time we are given the license by the authorities.

On the school front, we were permitted to revert back to our morning school hours this morning by the local authorities from next Monday!

There are SO many things to be thankful for that we are not mindful of issues that present a challenge to us still!

Do continue to pray for Jonah (Ranjit) and Noah (Rohit) as they are still with the government sponsored welfare 'home'.

Posting a string of photographs including the ones of the Dalit boys from Orissa!

Sumila and her nephew and nieces - Joel, Esther and Naomi are on their way to Assam along with Sumila's mother on a train...they should arrive tomorrow early morning. Sumila plans to return soon along with Joel first and help him settle down in a rented place and with school.

The Dalit children from Orissa - Sanjaya, Amar, Amendra and Samuel are on their way to Orissa in a bus...we would have them return back to Calcutta over the next few weeks.

Ruth, Joanna and I are camped out here in Dimapur, Nagaland and spent the day in establishing contact with the families of our six boys and girls from this state. Tomorrow we are scheduled to visit Lydia, Mary and Leah's families along with Kezia and her aunt. Lum would also meet up with us tomorrow.

Back at the Hope Home, Supriyo is holding fort - he is now our administrator and a great blessing. Grace is looking after the hospitality part. Salomi started her Grade 11 classes today. Amit, Martha, Guria and Dorothy are in school. 

Pray that God would guide us in a very special way as we restore and rehabilitate each of the precious children who are part of the Hope Home Calcutta. It took years to build up our family...and it took one vicious, evil and malicious complaint to destroy it...but God is good and good all the time and we want to hold on to this faith and trust in God...

Peace to all!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 11 p.m.


Sorry for not being able to upload the photographs taken over the past two days :-(


Sanjaya, Samuel, Amar and Amendra - the Dalit boys from Orissa were released yesterday and handed over to their respective guardians. As of now, they would return to Orissa and we would continue to provide for their welfare and education over the next two months. We plan to get them back and put up in rented premises two-at-a-time over the next few weeks.


Sumila, Joel, Esther and Naomi would be spending their last night at the government sponsored welfare 'home' - they are scheduled to return back to Assam tomorrow early morning along with Sumila's mother. One has to spend a night to witness to the horror that goes by the name of government sponsored welfare 'home' - like washing their dishes after meals in the toilet! 


One of things they accused us of is treating the children in such lavishness and comfort which they are not accustomed to nor do they deserve...one has to be present here to comprehend what we are up against! That was exactly the vision of the Hope Home Calcutta which we envisaged 12 years ago...that we would shower on them such things they had never experienced in their lives nor would even dream that they ever would!


All this leaves Rohit, Ranjit and Anupam in the boys welfare home. Please pray for their speedy release. Also, the local authorities accepted our petition to allow us to manage our school till Grade 6...this is a BIG move forward and an answer to prayers. 


I would leave for Nagaland tomorrow along with my daughter Joanna and Ruth (I have to pinch myself over and over again to believe that she is now on our staff!) and am not sure of the internet connectivity out there...but it would be a joy to meet up with Lum, Kezia, Luke, Lydia, Mary and LEAH!!! We do have some contingency plans for most of them...pray for God's leading and wisdom and provision...we are spending a fortune for all this travel and providing for the children...


Appreciate all of you for standing with us. Your letters and encouragement propels us to carry on the fight for truth, justice and freedom for each and every child of the Hope Home Calcutta!

April 22, 2012 - Sunday, Hope Home Calcutta, 5 p.m.

For the first time since Sunday, March 18 we were able to have a time of worship, praise and fellowship at the Hope Home Calcutta hall this evening. And although we were 12 of us, it was a tremendous experience for all of us to be able to revive our Sunday fellowship time. In the morning, we were able to visit an Anglican (Episcopal) Church - St. Paul's Cathedral using our Hope Home Calcutta van!

One important prayer concern is for Ranjit (Jonah) and Rohit (Noah) - we have no information and contact with their immediate family (ever) since the two brothers were brought to us by a Christian friend after the death of their father. It would be very difficult to have them released from the custody of the social welfare people without any blood relative being produced. Pray for a supernatural and divine intervention in their lives.

Spent the day consolidating the activities of the Hope Home Calcutta and planning ahead for next week. Ruth assumed her role as a teacher in our school program for Grade 1(along being the music instructor); Peter continues to assist in office work and Grace works out whole day as assistant in house-keeping (she is full of strength and energy). We were also informed by the social welfare people that Sumila and the kids from Assam (Joel, Esther and Naomi) would be sent back to Assam on the 25th. We would then make arrangements for Sumila to come over with the two older kids, rent a house and be with the kids while we await the license(s).

There are a lot of activities and on the surface looks complicated and fragmented. However, this whole experience is helping us to streamline our present activities and work towards the best possible option for each child on a one-on-one basis. We truly appreciate the tons of messages of support we receive from all of  you and thank you all for standing with us in this time of transition and need.

It was sound of music once again after a month as Peter, Salomi and Ruth restarted their violin practice at the Hope Home Calcutta and Grace, Martha and Guria get on with the dancing steps...tears of joy flowed from all of our eyes...it's still difficult to be your normal self with a truncated family...some still awaiting release and some with their families awaiting for our license to be issued! Sunday evening we are planning a praise time with Amit on the drums...

Pray for the Dalit children from Orissa...and also Anupam (from Calcutta - he should be released early next week). Sumila is still interned along with her nieces and nephew - Esther, Naomi and Joel...much prayer needed

One disturbing news is about Leah...she is down with cough (she had bronchitis when we got her at the Hope Home in November 2010) and without medication and very little food to eat her condition has compounded. They called us several times from Nagaland and we are planning a visit to Nagaland  next week. Pray for God's protection and guidance. Would also visit Lum, Luke, Kezia, Lydia and Mary...pray for God's provision for the travel and also for all that we need to get to these children...

Wednesday, April 18

Wednesday, April 18 was a very busy day for all of us.  We had to arrange some documents for Sumila, Joel, Esther and Naomi. The social welfare department people would send them to their native state Assam next week. We would then make arrangements to have them come over at the earliest. One thing we have learnt over the past four weeks - there is no standard procedure being followed by this one department of five people-everything they do and all of their decisions are arbitrary and often absurd. Most of what they say is verbal and very little is written down (as it could be challenged in a court). There are still absurd allegations, and often laced with malice and evil intent - like raising up our girls and supplying them to foreigners who visit us...please pray for God's grace and healing upon all the girls and boys, especially the older girls as they have to bear this humiliation yet defend what is truth and fight for justice.

We were also able to secure admissions for Salomi (Grade 11) and Martha (Grace 7) in their respective schools. Amit continues to commute from his house to school everyday. It is amazing how quickly they have been able to re-adapt to their regular schedule.

Pray for Ranjit (Jonah), Rohit (Noah), Anupam as we await their release. In all of this, we KNOW that God is good all the time.

Would keep you all updated. Thank you for reading our blogs. Your comments are appreciated...

A very hectic day for some of those who have been released and are back in regular activities with the Hope Home Calcutta (although they are not allowed to live-in full time there). Ruth was busy with meeting officials of the Minorities Commission, Martha and Salomi with their school admissions formalities, Amit returned back to school after two weeks, Grace helped us restart our school program with lesser number of students and during the afternoons...and Dev trying to streamline the processes that make us the Hope Home Calcutta...pray for children still confined by the authorities. Pray especially for Rachel, who was forcibly taken away by her family members after she was released - back to the Muslim slum in the second largest red-light area of Calcutta. She was in tears and although we pleaded with them to let her return, some of the male relatives were adamant. Pray for God to move in a mighty way and enable Rachel to be back with us instead of forcibly being kept in that horrendous place by her relatives against her wishes.

Posting two photographs of Ruth and Marth..smile of freedom and relief after three weeks of tears and sorrow!

Just a quick note and a good one - Ruth, Rachel, Martha and Amit were released by the social welfare authorities this afternoon! Amit would restart his schooling tomorrow and Ruth assume her responsibilities from tomorrow afternoon. We would file complaints with the Human Rights Commission tomorrow against the holding back of Sumila...pray for wisdom and grace and insights...more news to follow tomorrow

At the St. James' Church this morning (April 15). Grace, Salomi, Guria and Dorothy were able to meet up and fellowship with Ruth, Sumila, Martha, Rachel, Esther and Naomi...it was good to see the girls smile and relax after 3 horrendous weeks...the guys have their interned home quite a distance away and were not able to join for the Sunday worship. We would be visiting them later this evening and keep all of you posted. Please pray for ALL the boys and girls to be released TOMORROW, APRIL 16

Not all but at least some of the Hope Home Calcutta family is being restored one by one...today at the small house of my mom where the vision of the Hope Home Calcutta was initiated 12 years back...

A mixture of good and sad news...the children from Nagaland - Lum, Kezia, Lydia, Mary, Luke and LEAH were sent back to Nagaland by the social welfare people. They would arrive Saturday morning. We have made contingency plans to relocate them in Calcutta very soon, especially the two smaller ones! Cannot make the plans public at present by seek your earnest prayers and chains of prayers for them as we plan out their welfare, education, music and future. We need God's direction and help every step.

Pray also for Ruth and Sumila, who had initially volunteered to stay on for Leah, Esther and Naomi's sake. They are now being troubled in being released and need URGENT PRAYERS...it has been emotionally very, very stressful.

We have plans to restart our school program from Tuesday, April 17 but in the afternoons between 3 and 7 p.m. We would still be able to provide dinner for the children at 7 and continue with their present level of education. Pray that the particular license that would enable us to regularize the school timings in the morning would be issued soon.

There is so much to pray for. There is also so much to be thankful for already. Please be patient with us. God has NOT given up on us yet...

Supriyo, who is now our Administrator was able to visit the guys yesterday afternoon carrying foodstuff etc. The authorities at the place where the boys are housed are very cooperative. They had a good time of fun, sharing and fellowship and Supriyo was able to encourage them. Keep praying for today as some of our children from Nagaland including LEAH are scheduled to be released today. Pray also for Ruth also as she seeks to come out now and continue with her responsibilities with the music project. Pray that God would over-rule all obstacles and difficulties and facilitate her and Sumila (both over 19) to come out and help us in the contingency planning. 

Grace, Guria and Dorothy (Dolon) at the Hope Home Calcutta this morning. Grace, at 18 and on staff can stay on. Children below 18 would not be permitted to live full time till such time they grant us the license. As already mentioned, the government department lost our original applications filed in November 2006 and have now insisted that we file a fresh application.


We are trying to return to some sense of normalcy - Grace has renewed her dance classes and Dorothy her piano lessons. 


We are extremely disappointed though that although Ruth and Sumila volunteered to stay on at the present interim Home (government sponsored), when they did ask permission to leave yesterday, the authorities refused - although it is illegal to confine any adult over 18 against her/his wished. We were able to file their complaint withe the Minorities Commission this morning and also have a conference with the solicitors this evening. Please continue to pray for justice to prevail and God to move in a supernatural way in these difficult times. Pray for healing - body, emotions, spirit... for all of the children