Dr. Abraham George met his Excellency, the President of India
Shri. K.R. Narayanan in early January 1998 in New Delhi. The President
expressed keen interest in the work of The George Foundation. The President
will be the chief guest at the formal opening of Shanti Bhavan schedule
permitting.
The inauguration is tentatively planned for early July 1998. The President's
ADC paid a private visit to Shanti Bhavan towards the end of February.
He was impressed with the children and the campus. He gave us a few
guidelines about the proposed President visit.
Shanti Bhavan is already abuzz with excitement for the Big Day. Music
and dance teachers have been roped in to train the children for the
inaugural function. A cultural program featuring performances by singers,
musicians and dancers is being put together in Bangalore at one end
and New Jersey at the other. Video films on Shanti Bhavan and on children
of the world will be shown. Refreshments and dinner have to be organised.
The event will end with fireworks.
Site labourers are working hard to complete the school building on
time. Lists of invitees have to be drawn up. The children's costumes
have to be sewn. A group of college students have committed themselves
to serving as ushers at the function.
The grounds are being readied for landscaping. Lawns have already
come up around the children's residences, and the vegetable garden is
yielding large quantities of homegrown vegetables for our use. Fruit
tree samplings are coming up slowly but surely.
Communication between Bangalore and New Jersey spans continents and
oceans but the miracle of modern technology makes it possible for us
to plan together. We are confident of the success of the function because
of the vision and direction of the founders of The George Foundation.
Our belief that we are investing in a noble and worthy cause the future
of the children of Shanti Bhavan will see us through.
