Megha Aryan, OP
Archana Kak Kumar, the daughter of a Kashmiri CID officer, lost both her parents in a terrorist attack. But she fought the odds to become a social worker bringing solace and happiness to many like her
It is a story of courage, faith and love. When a five-year-old Kashmiri girl lost her parents in a terrorist attack, her world completely shattered.
Today,Archana Kak Kumar is 44 years old. She has learnt from life ‘to give and take.’ “I could never fully repay the debt to the many unknown people who have helped me. I know I may not be able to do a lot. But I want to try my best to bring happiness in others’ lives as long as I live.”
Fondly known as ‘Maa’ by many deprived and needy people in the state, she has been working enthusiastically for destitute women, orphaned children and for girls’ education. After the death of her parents, young Archana was looked after by her relatives till adolescence. She never planned to become a social worker. Instead, she chose to follow her instincts, which was what she did at the age of 14 when she parted ways from her not-so-cooperative relatives to live life on her own terms and conditions. “God was always there for me to show me the correct path. Strangers supported me more than people I knew well. And it taught me that human relationships are superior to blood relations,” she says.
“I didn’t deliberately plan to get into social work but in my heart I always wanted to help needy people,” Archana says. “I know how it is to want something. As a child, I did not get a proper education after my parents died. My relatives would always engage me in household chores and unlike my parents they thought education was for male members of the family. So, my dream to become a CID officer like my father remained a dream.”
Archana is not associated with any organisation; she extends financial help to the needy entirely from her personal savings. “I never wanted to associate with big names and work under their banner. For me, it’s not the brand that matters but the real work done for the deprived people.”
With the support of her husband Niraj Kumar, who is a Professor in the Xavier Institute of Management, and her daughters’ encouragement, Archana has always been confident of being able to keep on working for the welfare of the society. “I feel lucky to have an understanding and supportive life partner and wonderful children,” she says.
The family prefers to celebrate birthdays and other important days in an orphanage or old age homes. “I have lived in an orphanage for many years till I got a job in the government sector. So I know that what people call an orphanage is a home for others.”
Since 2000, Archana has been doing a variety of social work. She has worked as a counsellor for college students who are depressed; she often visits blind schools and distributes Braille scripts; she teaches yoga and moral science at a government primary school in Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar; and she has taken on the responsibility of arranging for the education and treatment of young girls suffering from thalassemia. Besides, she has recently started a project ‘Shraavani’ under the National Youth Project, Orissa in memory of her elder daughter, who passed away two months ago. “From now onwards whatever I do for society will be in her name. I didn’t lose only a daughter, but a guide and a friend as well. She was the light of our lives. This wound will take a long time to heal,” she says, softly.
The project ‘Shraavani’ aims to empower the girl child. Under the project, she has adopted two children whose health and education costs she will bear. Her daughter was an avid reader; so with her collection of books, Archana will soon open a free library in her name for poor people in the city.
Archana has been travelling to the remote areas of Orissa and to different cities and towns single-handedly taking her work forward. When there is a shortage of funds, she never hesitates to ask people for help. “Funds are a problem but I try to manage. Sometimes I get donations without asking, and sometimes personal calls work too.”
Someday, Archana hopes to expand her project ‘Shraavani’ across the country.
