School for Children of all Castes

Today while Ramona was sorting the children profiles she saw that some of the children there do not have a surname. She asked the teachers and they did not know the last names of all children. She checked the admission register but there she could not find it, either. So she asked the children but they could not or did not want to tell it. Finally she came to ask Purnendu and he told and explained why some children hesitate to tell their names.

In India the structure is like that that the family name identifies the caste and many of the children whom we are sponsoring come from poor and illiterate families of one of the lower casts. Unfortunately in many parts of the society here these castes are still considered as untouchable. This can be a reason that maybe parents tell their children not to say their last name as they are even ashamed because of it or afraid that we would not let their children come to school anymore. They might not know that we don’t have this mentality and that we don’t think in this way.

I don’t believe in this caste system and see that this is a very bad factor of the Indian society. We are open to help people irrespective of caste and religion. For me all humans are same, no matter from which religion or caste they come. I see my God especially in children and have open arms to embrace them. In this way it doesn’t matter to me at all what their last name is, but for the administration of the school it will certainly be helpful. So in the next days we will tell the parents that we need their children’s last names only for the administration and that their children are most welcome in our school. It is sad that it is necessary to do this but I see this as a step and as an example for others that everybody should be treated in the same way. No child has less right for education than any other.