A way of looking at Life!

“I feel my life is worth living!”

Indeed it is a life one would consider as worth living. Mrs. Mridula Shah is the satisfied human being who has made this statement.

Born in Ahmedabad in the year 1932, Mridula Shah has definitely come a very long way. She spent her entire childhood and adolescent life in Ahmedabad. She studied in a well reputed school in Ahmedabad. Till her 12^th standard she stayed in this city with which she associates many fond memories. However a very different life was awaiting her after that.She got married to a businessman, Vipin Chandra Shah at the age of 18 and shifted base to Mumbai. Thereby she attained her Bachelors of Arts degree in Gujarati from Wilson College. She stood first in her college. Her life after that was completely dedicated to social service and remains to be that way even now.

In the first fifteen years of her stay in Mumbai Mridula used to visit the children’s and women’s wards at Harkishan Das hospital from 9.am to 1.pm on a daily basis. She mainly visited the ward of the children, played with them, narrated stories and enjoyed every moment with them. This gave her immense satisfaction and pleasure.

She says that she is still overwhelmed with grief when she remembers an incident where a mother was profusely weeping when she lost her only son who was a patient in this hospital. They were villagers who had come to Mumbai for their son’s treatment. Mridual and her husband were not very well off at that time; however she did manage to gather some money and gave it to the mother to carry out her son’s funeral. Shah still remembers how that lady embraced her then and cried relentlessly.She also sat with the patients undergoing dialysis and gave them moral support.Mridula started a toy library in the hospital with the help of the Lion’s club in Mumbai.

Despite tragedies in her life like the loss of her husband she has remained undeterred when it comes to serving the needy.

Shah says the two main inspirations in her life are her husband who always encouraged her to do social work and her father who was a doctor and treated the poor patients for free.

She feels that self belief is the main motivating factor in her life, which still gives her the energy to do her work diligently.After having visited Harkishan Das Hospital for several years, due to some administrative reasons Shah was asked not to come to hospital anymore. This disappointed her a little bit but she took in her stride and decided to move on.

She then started visiting several orphanages in Mumbai. She feels very strongly for children and believes that most of them can do well in life if they are groomed in the right manner.

She visited orphanages like Ananda Kendra, Seva Sadan and Vatsalya.

She taught the students Mathematics and English. She says, “I do this for myself and not for anyone else”These unprivileged children are a bundle of talent according to her, but they fail to utilise their talent as they do not have concrete responsibilities in life.Mridula then wanted to teach poor children at her house in Napean Sea Road. She started this practice 40 years back and still continues to do so.She teaches around 30 students who live in slums and do not get access to tuitions or coaching classes. Shah strictly refuses to charge them even a penny. These students belong to the 5^th, 6th and 7^th and 8^th standards. Initially she wondered how she would manage to carry out such a challenging task. However things did fall in place. She classified them according to their classes and started teaching them in different batches.

She confesses that she does feel a little disappointed when these children do not take their studies seriously and they do not turn up to study.She celebrates festivals like Diwali and Ganeshchaturarthi with these children at her residence.

Social work according to her is to help the needy and the unwanted. Till date, Shah also visits a few old age homes where she spends time with the old people. She says they are mainly neglected parents who have become like her brothers and sisters.Very proudly she says “I feel so satisfied with my life.”

She prays to god to give her the energy to teach these students who do not have any kind of financial backing.

Mridula also taught the blind students for a few years at the Happy Home School for the Blind. The blind according to her are in a unique world of their own. She adds that they have a great sixth sense.

Shah hopes to never miss an opportunity to help the poor or needy. Even now at the age of 75 she wants to do everything she can for those who do not have the comfort and advantages that she has. However she does realize and points out that she could only do this all her life because she had a stable financial condition. There are many according to her who would like to help the others but fail to do so because of lack of finances.

She is exhilarated when she meets her old students who are now well settled, happily married and economically independent.The 75 year old is very thankful to her family and friends who have always supported her. She laughs and adds that though most of her friends sit at home or go to the houses of other ladies to play cards or just chat, all of them have always appreciated her efforts.

Her family is her strength. Apart form her husband who passed away many years back, her children have also given her unconditional support. Her daughter is an art teacher and also does her share of social work by teaching street children and organizing art exhibitions exhibiting the work of these children.

Her son handles the family business and has no problems with slum children coming home. Shah is extremely thankful to her daughter in law who handles the entire house and thus allows Mridula to do her social work with full attention.Social work is done by many people, but very few people dedicate their entire life span to it and Mridula Shah is one of them. Social workers do not like to publicise their work and so Shah was a little reluctant in the beginning to be written about. She feels that action speaks more than words and it truly does when we hear about the work done by her in the last 55 years.

It is remarkable to note that a lady of that era could do what she genuinely wanted to. She feels being happy and positive is what everyone should aim for. An optimist to the core, Shah says, “I will do whatever it takes to standby what I feel is right.”

Mridula Shah is one of those personalities who had the potential to help the others in need and one who used her potential to the optimum level. Like her there might many such individuals who can do their bit for the poor and the needy. Many of us make promises but fail to fulfill them. It largely depends on how one perceives social work. If people feel that they would be happier if they could help the others who need the support and concern, the world would definitely be a better place to live in. Every human being should realize his or her social responsibilities and do his or her bit for the betterment of the society. A good deed is always remembered by people and sometimes one should think beyond personal interest. Every little effort does make a difference.

P.S (I cannot publish her photograph as per her request).