Mariamma Nygam becomes Kiaan to many children for a better future

Ms Mariamma Nygam has been a teacher for 38 years at the reputed St Paul's High School of Belagavi. If she had pondered about self-development, she could have married, raised a family of her own and settled down easily in life. But, that was which she never thought of nor bothered about indulging in.
A new path and all alone: Instead, she chose to tread a new path all on her own for the betterment of society and that too for the care of children infected with the dreaded Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). As most of you are aware, it’s a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. And, if it is not treated it can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS, for which there is no effective cure as of now.

Set up in 1856: Saint Paul’s High School is a private Catholic primary and secondary school for boys located in the Cantonment area of Belagavi. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1856 and is located adjacent to St Joseph’s Canossian Convent School, its sister school and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Family Rosary of Fatima.

Austrian Jesuit to step in first: Father Charmilliot, an Austrian Jesuit first stepped into the compound of St Paul’s as the chaplain of Our Lady Mount Carmel chapel which existed on this premises. From that day onwards the Jesuits have made it their abode while their nationalities continue to change over a period of time. To start with the school had Austrian and German Jesuit fathers, later replaced by Portuguese Jesuits paving the way for Indians of the Goa province.

Students of all castes, and religions: In the beginning, there were four classrooms with 60-70 students. Now, the strength has crossed 2,000! Although the school was meant primarily for the Catholics, gradually it opened its doors to students of all castes, religions, ethnic backgrounds and colours.

Induamar Arma Lucis: According to the educational institution the motto of the school is Induamar Arma Lucis which in other words means us put on the armour of light or ‘Be a light to others, bring light to the world around you by your words, and above all by your actions’. Lakhs of students might have had their schooling here but there is no record available to ascertain on the number of them who adhered to the school motto. But let there be no doubt that Ms Mariamma Nygam religiously practices the school motto even to this day.

Kiaan comes into being: It is not as if Ms Mariamma Nygam thought of the welfare of society once she retired from active service. She says-“I was born and brought up in Belagavi, started working as a Teacher in 1981, retired after 38 years of service. While I was in service at St Paul’s I have seen many people facing difficulties and have been working with widows, orphan children, old age people and all. I didn’t want to get married and have a family of my own because I wanted to be of service to others. When I was in service at St Paul’s had gone to a place to give some classes for students infected with HIV. It was there I got interested and felt this section of the society deserves proper attention as it was neglected and I decided that I should do something…

…New home from 2019: In 2013 along with another person we started this home for the HIV-affected children. In 2019, suddenly the home broke up in the sense the other person separated and I registered my own home. There were no difficulties to start with as I already had some children in and around Belagavi with whom the home continued…

…KIAAN with 13 children: I registered the home as KIAAN and now I have 13 children. One is doing commercial practice and it is completed. Another boy is doing ITI in Electrical and he is in the second year, and one boy is studying in Bengaluru. There are three children studying in the 10th standard, and the rest are studying in different lower standards…

…In passion no difficulties: When something becomes your passion you find no difficulty because you know this is your own baby and you want your baby to grow. I don’t like to attribute some circumstances as a difficulty as I have taught for 38 years in St Paul’s and many children have passed out of my hands…

…No aid from governments: But I don’t avail any financial assistance from any of the government departments. However, having felt that I have helped most of my former students now it is their turn to give back to society. So, whenever I am in need of something I share the requirements with my students and they are quick enough to respond with the needful. Some arrange for the things required, some pay for the auto ferrying the children, and some pay for the three helpers who take care of the children in the form of their salaries. This is how I run the home…

…Home donated by Keith Machado: I am living in the home donated by Keith Machado. He is an industrialist and Keith Machado doesn’t charge me any rent nor do I pay for water but pay for electricity consumption. Many of my students voluntarily keep paying for the expenditure of different months. As of now, I am not getting big donations to quantify but whatever contributions being generously made are enough to run the home without any hassles. The state government-owned Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) helps me in providing the medicines required for the health care of my inmates. If it is not related to blood, I take my children to my St Paul’s boys, many of whom are doctors. In that way, there are no problems so far.

Preference for orphans: Ms Mariamma Nygam informs-“When it comes to admission to the home, I prefer orphans because their parents have died of HIV and they have no place to live. Yes, I know that HIV is getting eradicated and people are coming to know about it. But, still, there are HIV-affected children staying in the villages being badly treated by their relatives. For instance, the mindset works like this, my mother’s sister is my own, but her husband and children are kept at a distance and fed with separate plates and things like that. They also do not allow their children to mingle with these children. So, whenever I come across such cases through counsellors I take them…

…My home religion is Humanity: Most of them are with their grandparents. The grandparents are also old finding it difficult to look after them. So, such type of children I prefer to take and I am a bit choosy while selecting the children. I like to take them when they are small so that they grow up with values, the right values; they don’t go and pollute others. And my home religion is humanity. I believe that they should see God in you and celebrate all festivals…

…Celebration of all festivals: Every festival is celebrated and Raksha Bandhan, I celebrate very grandly for the simple reason that they are from different homes and call one another Akka (Sister) and Anna(Brother). You name the festivals Ramzan, Bakrid, Raksha Bandhan, Nag Panchami, Ganesh, Dasara, Diwali…everything we celebrate in the home…

…Rejoice with full love and play: I also take them out during festivals and for picnics as I don’t want them to feel their home as a hostel. I want them to rejoice in their home full of love, and play like other children. I don’t like the very word hostel and I can never withstand anyone calling them orphans; they are not orphans when I am there as they call me Amma(Mother). How can they become orphans when they call me Amma? That is my funda in bringing up these children…

…Welcome them just like our parents: Most of the time I am here to welcome them when they return from school in the same way our parents used to welcome us when we returned from school. All these children are from the Kannada belt and as a result, they know no other language other than Kannada. I am persuading them to become conversant in other languages as well and they will be moving to different places sooner or later for higher education and employment. Slowly, they are trying to learn other languages…

…All go to one school: As of now, all of them are going to one school where they can study up to 12th standard but I don’t encourage them to continue after 10th as I want them to do skill-oriented courses so that they can keep going ahead in life rather than retaining them in the same place which will also be difficult to manage…

…Given by parents and not God: Sadly, all children were pointing at God for their challenging predicament. But, they all had to be slowly convinced that their health condition was due to their parents and had nothing to do with God. It was difficult for them to believe so but at the same time, they were guided to forgive their parents and instead love and revere them. It is very difficult when they fall sick and the fever temperature shoots up to 104 and 106 degrees…

…Off springs free from HIV: There is nothing like a permanent cure for HIV but they can marry HIV-positive persons and one needs to consult a doctor for the required injection so that the required precaution is taken care of. Usually, the child of the HIV parents will be testing HIV negative! That’s the reason HIV is found less now…

…Salary and Pension benefits money to charity: To a query Ms Mariamma Nygam replied-“Yes initially I invested most of my pension benefit money to my home, for construction, providing infrastructure and things like that. Of course, I have spent enough of my money, but it’s okay we need to spend also and I have no regrets…

…Let it be our social responsibility: In her message to society Ms Mariamma Nygam asserts-“What I would like to tell is, it is our moral responsibility to help others as a social responsibility. I keep telling my boys, that whatever we do keeps coming back to us whether it is good or bad. If you get one rupee, at least 10 paise you should give back to society. So, this will be the way to make society a better and happier place to live…

…Everything keeps coming back: Whatever good work we do gives us the happiness, and glow on our faces of contributing to our own limitations. Don’t end up in amassing, amassing and amassing. In realistic terms, how much do you really need to lead a good life? Ultimately, you need only six feet below the ground! Why then keep collecting for the children; Let them earn for themselves and instead give your money for good things back to society.

Ms Mariyamma Nygam, a Kiaan to HIV children: Kiaan means the grace of God; enduring one. It is also a boy’s name sharing Sanskrit and Irish roots. From all aspects, Ms Mariamma Nygam has transformed herself into a Kiaan for the less privileged HIV children deprived of affection, love and tender care from their own blood relatives.

-Manohar Yadavatti