Our Stories

Zahidarians visited Missionaries Of Charities Home For Destitute Women on the 1st March 2017 to share love and smiles with them. Meeting these women living in seclusion, talking to them and making them smile was a task as majority of them were not mentally healthy. Still they responded to the Zahidarians and their gestures exhibited their hearty welcome to the Zahidarians.

Zahidarians visited Prem Dham, Dehradun, on 26th February 2017
Clara, Tanya, Milli, Palak and Gehna, the students of Carman School Dehradun along with the Principal Mr. Greg Mann and Benhur School’s Principal Mr. Francis Moore visited Prem Dham, Old people’s Home for the service activity on 26th February, 2017. It was just knowing the people in the Home, sharing smiles and happiness and making them feel that they are not alone. This Old age home “ Prem Dham” is run by Fransescan Sisters of Our Lady of Graces. It has the capacity to accommodate 40 people, both male and female.

Zahidarians visited St. Catherine's Home, Goregaon in Mumbai on

 During my visit to Kolkota for the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of CISCE , I took out time to visit an orphanage in the city . Though I googled and got a list of centres , with addresses , directions and phone numbers , still it was difficult for me to choose one for the Zahidarian Activity because I was somewhat new and all alone in the city for this kind of work . First I thought to contact some local school Principal to help , guide and accompany me in my endeavour but soon dropped the idea , thinking that may be he / she would not be interested for a visit to an orphanage . So I contacted one of my ex BHS friend , now living in Kolkota and requested him .Barun Ghosh , a retired Air Force officer, gave me a keen year and at once got ready .The same evening he texted me the details of Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Home , along with the permission and timing .Late night he phoned to tell me that he himself , his wife and Dr Shantanu Mukherji , his bosom friend , would be accompanying me for the Zahidarian Activity . I thanked the Almighty for the favour .I started alone but now we were four to visit the place . In excitement I called one of my friends Mr Xavier Llewelyn , Principal , Sanskar Academy , Coimbatore, who too was in the city and told him about my plan . Without ado he accepted my proposal .On the 3rd of November at 10.30 in the morning , five of us reached Rahara , the place where Ramakrishna Boys' Home is situated , spread in almost 25 acres of land . The Secretary Swami Jayanand was waiting with his assistants to give us a warm welcome . He offered us fruits , sweets , tea / coffee and then introduced us to the Boys' Home and deputed senior Swamis to ensure that we had good time in the orphanage .This Home houses around 650 boys of all age groups . Neat and clean dormitories , dining halls , libraries , infirmaries , 10 + 2 school , skill development centres , mini ITI , facilities for variety of games , an auditorium and strict discipline are the main attractions of this place . The school for the orphans is open for the non orphans too and is one of the good schools of the city .Its academic results and the alumni add grace to the 75 year old history of this home and the whole show is run by donation and meagre government grants .This Home is celebrating its Platinum Jubilee this year . Swami Jayanand told me that they have several branches in West Bengal and one branch houses 430 Muslim children and looked after in the same manner . He said , " Mr Khan I am very happy to see you in this campus and this is after years some Mr Tariq has visited this place ." He stopped, then concluded , "The reason is that outside this campus the air is polluted , contaminated and divided . " We met children in their dormitories , on the field and in their classrooms . They were happy and everembracing . We sang for them , they sung for us . We had wonderful time knowing and feeling the lives of orphans . Heard heart melting stories and listened to the future plans of the students staying here . Subodh said , " My aim is to be a doctor .Whatever would be my earnings , I would spend all on my Home . This orphanage is my home , father and mother ." It was 2pm when a Swami ji came running to take us for lunch . He told us that we were already late by half an hour as lunch time was 1.30pm .We were taken to the dining hall , where the food was served .Dal , subzi , chawal , dahi aur machchi . While we were leaving, the Secretary Jayanand ji reappeared .He stood with folded hands and said, " Swami Vivekanand ji has told us that the poor , the illiterate , the ignorant and the afflicted are God's most loved special creatures and everyone should know that Service to these alone is the highest religion . " He smiled and continued , " Whenever you feel like bathing in peace and tranquility visit any of our centres or any centre where poor , homeless or orphans get shelter , you will come to know the real life and would get an opportunity to see the different hues and variant colours of what you call , Jeevan or Zindagi ." With this we departed .The children flocked to touch our feet , smiled , said bye but left us only when we promised to return again . I thank Barun Ghosh and his wife, Dr Shantanu Mukherji and Mr Llewlyn for making this visit possible and for proudly wearing the Zahida Scarf throughout the Zahidarian Activity . God bless Zahida Foundation and the Zahidarians .God bless all . 

 No doubt unending Love and everlasting affection is given only by parents to their children but here are some who find happiness in extending this love , affection , care and concern to the orphans , distressed and the underprivileged . Benhurites and Zahidarians are among those people . The Zahidarians of Benhur Schools today visited Nirmala Shishu Bhavan of Mother Teresa at Allahabad and celebrated X'mas with the children staying there who include 9 cute infants also . The Zahidarians spent lovely time there playing and singing .Santa Claus was the main attraction for the kids there .Zrn.Maaz Ahmed of class 8 dressed himself as Santa Claus and distributed gifts with the prayer that the kids stay healthy and smiling . Tomorrow is set for the clothes and blankets distribution to keep the needy warm during winter .Hats off to the Benhurites and Zahidarians , their teachers , instructors and the parents for keeping the torch of humanity lighted . Keep it up . You are Blessed ones .You are the Chosen ones .You understand the meaning of Zahida which is Godliness , piousity and care .To me this is Real Education , Real Care or what you call Socially Useful Productive Work ( SUPW ) . God bless Benhur Schools , Zahida Foundation , the Zahidarians and the Benhurites . Let us get inspired .God bless all . 

 Hats off to the young Ambassador of Zahida Foundation Mayank Garg for his service to the society .My appreciation means nothing Dear Mayank Garg , you have raised yourself in the eyes of God .Keep it up dear .God is with us .God bless Zahida Foundation .God bless the Zahidarians .God bless your endeavours. God bless . 

 Zahidarians Khusbu , Ayushi ( both now students of Amity University )  and Sanjeev visited Manisha Temple at Lucknow for Zahidarian Activity  with me, on the 28th of June 2018 . Manisha Temple is a Home for  homeless girls which presently houses two dozen girls . Apart from  shelter , fooding and lodging ,  education too is totally free . This  Home is run by Dr Sarojini Agarwal who will turn 82 in August this year .  This Home is run by community donations and the earnings of Dr Sarojini  's family . Since its inception in 1985 , Dr Sarojini has looked after ,  craddled , fed , taught and married 800 girls , whom she very proudly  calls,  her daughters . While talking to me she told how her life  suddenly changed from a professional doctor to a caretaker of girl child  . She recalled the day when in 1978 she lost her only 8 year old   daughter Manisha in a road accident . This loss was unbearable . Years  passed .Her husband and sons did everything to bring her back to normal  and finally they succeeded by forming a Trust named 'Manisha Temple .'  Dr Sarojini started the Home for homeless girls . Now she is a very  satisfied mother and during our coversation  very cheerfully she said, '  God took away my only  daughter Manisha , but now I am a mother of 800  daughters , all are Manisha to me . They are all well settled and take  care of me .They make sure to visit this Home every year and keep me in  touch . Many of them are working as teachers , Principals , Managers and  Accountants and are running their families . ' Charming , gracious ,  sweet and eversmiling Dr Sarojini now in her 80s, has been awarded by  many organisations for her great work . She has started  scholarships  too, for girls who come from economically weak families and are  interested in higher studies . Her Trust does not take a penny as grant  from the  governments .Sometimes she utilises the award money also to  release scholarships . She was very happy to meet the Zahidarians  spreading smiles and happiness . As it was her teaching time , we  requested her to give us the opportunity to teach her daughters . She  smiled , made groups of the girls and with necessary instructions handed  them to Zrn.Khusbu and Zrn. Ayushi to teach for one hour, making sure  that they will teach the kids with love . Then after the girls sang a  beautiful song for us ' Sona bachpan ... chandi bachpan ...and we  departed . Khushbu and Ayushi have promised that every week they would  visit Manisha Temple to teach the kids and share the workload of the  Sweet Mother -Dr Sarojini Agarwal . I salute the spirit , the dedication  and love of this Divine Woman . May God shower His choicest blessings  on her so that she stays healthy and eversmiling .Dr Sarojini is Zahida  to me -- a living example of -- piousity .Godliness and care . God bless  Zahida Foundation , the Zahidarians , Benhur Schools and the Benhurites  .God bless all . 

  Zahidarian Activity : The students of class 12 , under the able  guidance of their teachers Zrn Minakshi Srivastava , Zrn Mustaqeem Ahmed  and Zrn Sheetal Ahuja visited the Rajkiya Mamta Vidyalaya at Ashok  Nagar for their activity . This centre of the city houses more than a  score of mentally and physically retarded boys aged between 7 to 18 .  Four of them are  locked in a room when visitors are allowed as their  behaviour is unpredictable and they suddenly turn outrageous . The  Zahida team requested the caretakers to let them meet the outrageous  four also .The Superintendent Dinesh Kumar permitted .They too were  brought to the hall with the others . No doubt they entered in a rage  and seemed to be in a very bad mood but the Zahidarians showed their  skill to control them .They turned on the music and started dancing  .Some resisted in the start but within moments they too joined the  dancing .The effect of music on their minds can be seen in the videos .  It's common knowledge that music improves mood , increases intelligence ,  enhances learning , concentration and even wards off the effects of  aging . Hats off to you Zahidarians for taking the help of music to  improve their mood and make them smile .The videos and pics forwarded by  you clearly portray that you are born to smile and make others smile  .Your great service of sharing happiness with the distressed , sick and  the deprived would inspire the youngsters to be of some help to the  society .  Kudos to Zrn Sharbeen , Zrn Laiba , Zrn Nofda , Zrn Abdul  Razzaq and Zrn Faraz for the Zahidarian Activity of 11th of April . With  all my blessings I am posting few lines of the beautiful poem My Credo  Of Life , composed by Pat A Fleming with the hope that you will read it  and understand the true meaning of life : ' Let me live within the  moment ; Let me feel all that , I can ; Let me cherish life , for all  its worth , With everything I am ; Let me not forget matters , In the  scheme of everyday , To live each precious moment , In a kind and loving  way ; For this moment now , is everything , Nothing matters but today  ,So I'll willingly embrace it , And not let it slip away ; For it passes  all so quickly , And one chance is all , we get . And a life of wasted  moments , Is a life filled with regrets .' So Zahidarians keep up the  good work , keep smiling , keep inspiring and keep making a difference  .You are the Chosen Ones .God bless Benhur Schools , Benhurites and  Zahidarians .God bless all . 

 Zahidarians have their own ways  of recreation .Their continuous ,  commendable efforts of sharing smiles and spreading happiness , joy and  laughter sometimes leaves me wordless .It becomes difficult for me to  choose a suitable word to praise their Activities .It happened yesterday  ( 7.3 2018 ) also .Class 11 students finished their last paper and  planned to conduct Zahidarian Activities with their teachers .Within an  hour , the arrangements were made and the two teams of Benhurites  , both boys and girls , left for two different destinations to  Celebrate the eve of International Women's Day . The teams conducted  Zahidarian Activities at Bachpan Child Care Centre , a school of Special  Children , and at Lepers'Ashram . They organised Cake cutting ceremony  for the dozens of children , celebrated Holi with them , danced , sang  and played with them for hours .The visuals portray the enjoyment , fun  and frolic , the efforts to make someone happy , the attitude to share  smiles , spread happiness and laughter . I salute this spirit of  Zahidarians who are becoming the role model of other school going  children . This is the reason  why I call the Zahidarians , The Chosen  Ones .I am really blessed to have students and teachers who love serving  the society and take it like Worship .I pray that this zeal of the  Benhurites and Zahidarians is blessed by the Almighty and their love for  piousity , Godliness and care gets strengthened . God bless Benhur  Schools , Zahida Foundation , the Benhurites and the Zahidarians .God  bless all .