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Our train pulled out of Amritsar Station at 2.30 am Friday morning, eight hours behind schedule. It was the beginning of a long day’s travel – the sun rose then set before we finally arrived in eastern Uttarakhand at the small town of Banbassa on India’s border with Nepal.
Banbassa is located in fertile, flat country only about 150 km south of Nepal. In between are several mountain peaks well over 20,000 feet in altitude, including giant Nanda Devi at 26,400 feet. A kilometre south of Banbassa is the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission, established in 1948 and managed by the Shipway family from Tasmania, Australia, who have devoted their lives to this undertaking. The Good Shepherd was our destination - we had come to visit our nephew Brad and his wife Miriam who have been working here as volunteers for the past several months. Over 100 orphans and otherwise destitute children are housed, fed, cared for and educated in a happy, supportive environment. They range in age from babies to young adults. Also on the property is a separate, new hostel for people with leprosy.
The Orphanage is partially self-supporting from dairy and cropping activities on its 60 acres of land, and a further 50 acres on short-term lease from the Government. But the centre is cash-strapped and relies heavily on donations from supporters – the expenditure of every Rupee is agonized over. We were impressed with the happy and friendly demeanour of the children living here – they are obviously loved and well cared for. It was clear to us that this is a cause well worth supporting. Here’s how anyone can.
We spent three days experiencing life at the Orphanage with the children, staff and the several international volunteers currently on-site. On Wednesday we accompanied Orphanage Director Rick to the leased 50 acre jungle plot, currently planted to wheat. It’s not kangaroos that raid the crops here, but wild elephants. The journey took us across almost-dry river beds and through small tribal villages. Rick assured us that the gunfire in the jungle was from Indian soldiers exercising, not something more sinister. We later drove to the India/Nepal border crossing and looked across to Nepal. Along the road from Banbassa, rows of heavily-laden Nepalis on foot slowly made their way back home after several months’ labouring in India. The border crossing is adjacent to an impressive hydroelectric-related river barrage built by the British in the late 1920s, and still operating. Unfortunately photography is not permitted in the border area.
Back at the Orphanage Lee Tuan did some cooking for the staff and volunteers, conjuring up Australian pasties, curries and apple pies. Her two assistant kitchen boys were me and a very smart young Orphanage boy Sonny who we predict will one day be an accomplished chef (if he’s not the CEO of a national telco). We bought the ingredients from the markets in Banbassa, a ramshackle but well-stocked town. Coincidentally it was Brad’s birthday when we were at The Good Shepherd, and Miriam too bought supplies from Banbassa, then cooked up a storm of butter chicken, vegetables and rice for the birthday celebrations. And ice creams for all the kids. Needless to say everyone was appreciative as Orphanage finances normally dictate a basic vegetarian diet only, with any frills a rare luxury.
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