Delhi’s Bharosa didi

The scene is out of any MTV music video — a hot afternoon in New Delhi’s dusty Okhla Industrial Area, where a group of musicians stagger towards a blue gate at the end of a cracked, red-bricked wall. Waving their long tresses and flashing their creative tattoos, they enter a care home for street children. Nearly 100 children cheer in unison and run towards them, for it is a Music Basti workshop (more on that in a little while).

The children are more eager to talk to a thin 23-year-old girl than the young artists. “Bharosa didi, why didn’t you come last week?” complains 11-year-old Rukmini. Bharosa didi refers to Faith Gonsalves, founder and project coordinator of Music Basti, an NGO that works with street children or children-at-risk in care homes of the Dil Se Campaign. In partnership with the Delhi Government, this campaign seeks to ensure that the most vulnerable children in urban areas have access to nutritious food, basic healthcare and proper education. Music Basti basically provides them an opportunity to explore music and also express themselves. It helps more than 400 children annually and has a volunteer base of 500. The core team comprises 12 people. “Everyone can relate to music. It is science, therapy and education, all rolled into one. It brings communities together and has the power to bring about a change in the society. I decided to have music workshops because it is fun, edgy and everybody gets involved instantly,” explains Faith.

The idea

Faith began the NGO in 2008 while in college (Lady Shriram College, New Delhi). “This concept was on my mind for a couple of years. It just needed the right time and people to work out. I spoke to a lot of people and organisations. And in 2008, my dream changed into reality. It was difficult to convince people about this idea as I was still in college. Another major challenge I faced was funds. But eventually everything fell in place,” says Faith, who grew up in a house where looking beyond conventions is the norm. Her father, Gabriel Gonsalves, spent decades working to uplift various communities in Bihar. Her twin sister, Pattie also helped with Music Basti and later went on to work with other NGOs and UNICEF. “My parents are very supportive. They understand me so well and without their support nothing would have been possible,” she says.

Social initiation

The Mangalorean started working with The Youth Parliament Foundation (TYPF) in 2006 during her first year of BA history. She was tired of the competition in academics and the inhibitive atmosphere of the system. “It was ridiculous how much time we had to put into schoolwork, clearing our boards and then trying to get into a good college. The system seemed so arbitrary and there was no real chance for personal growth. So I joined TYPF to work alongside young people to help bring a change,” she says.

Two years down the line, Faith decided to start something on her own. “The same education system that limits our growth has even less tolerance for arts. There is no proper training for arts or art educators. So I had this idea to take arts to children, who have even less chance of getting an exposure to it.”

Workshops

The Music Basti workshops are held once a week at care homes and usually last one to two-and-a-half hours. The artists are only given a travel allowance, as Music Basti is run with the help of small grants and donations.

The regular workshops of Music Basti introduce the children (six-18-year-olds) to Indian classical music. The kids are encouraged to sing, play music and write songs. At times, artists (both Indian and international) are invited to perform — this exposes the kids to a range of genres.

“These kids have never been asked for a feedback. They are not very confident. Initially after every performance, I used to ask them for their opinion but they couldn’t express themselves. But over time, they gained confidence,” adds Sikander Moitra Kumar, who works with Faith at Music Basti and is studying MPhil history at Delhi Uuniversity. “Ever since I began attending Music Basti’s workshops, I am not afraid of performing. Earlier we knew nothing about music. Now not only have we learned but are slowly more confident in our abilities, and we just want more opportunities to learn and perform!” says 18-year-old Akshay*, Ummeed Home for Boys, New Delhi. Adds eight-year-old Bina*, Kilkari Home for Girls, New Delhi, “Bhaiyya log (The musicians) sang and taught us songs. They teach us to make our own songs too. The music helps me study better. I really enjoy these workshops, and my favourite song is Kanha Re.”

The Bangalore-based band Swarathma recently performed for Music Basti’s children. Even after three-four hours of nonstop performance, they did not want to call it quits nor did the children want them to. They made a complete production, exclusively for the children. “The children were enthralled. They listened to them, swayed to their music and laughed at their jokes,” recalls Faith. Advaita, Vishal Dadlani, Kailash Kher, Dr Madan Gopal Singh, Shabnam Virmani, Suchet Malhotra, Five8, Cyanide, Drift! and international acts like Carrie Newcomer, The Xylopholks, Gebruder Teichmann, Aditya Balani Group, Yale University Gospel Choir, David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir and Warren Mendonsa have also performed.

Eleven-year-old Heena* of Kilkari Home for Girls, describes a typical Music Basti workshop: “We sing songs, learn music and also meditate. I really like meditating. In one of the sessions, we were taught the difference between right and wrong, about the ways to change our lives, and I felt that I can fight to make the world better.” Adds 13-year-old Jasmeen*, Khushi Home for Girls, New Delhi, “We really like our teachers. We have a lot of fun together. After the classes, we listen to songs, and they bring their friends or family whom we enjoy meeting and talking with. We never want to miss a session!”

Music Basti’s interactions with kids is not limited to the care homes. As 17-year-old Lalita* of Kilkari Home for Girls says, “We have performed at Hard Rock Café, Bal Bhawan etc and have learned about different instruments and kinds of music. I want to continue learning music. We are not only taught music but tested on what we learned.”

Challenges

“I started this NGO when I was still in college. So getting funds and convincing people were the biggest problems I faced. The NGO is mostly funded by donors. We approach companies to make a donation or people volunteer themselves,” says Faith. So far, Music Basti has reached a lakh through public programmes and online content.

Another challenge she initially faced was getting a steady stream of students. “The children wouldn’t talk to me in the beginning because I am a quiet person but I made the effort to go that extra mile,” says Faith. “Things are better now as the NGO is more popular now.”

But initially, it must have been difficult to balance academics and work? “It wasn’t that hard to balance studies and work. My parents and friends were very supportive. We were a team of 12 and we divided all the work, so I was not burdened by the responsibilities. Also, many volunteered, which made it very easy to balance everything,” she says.

Faith, who used to sing with Artists Unlimited and continues to perform a fusion of jazz and funk in New Delhi, believes music is an underdeveloped medium in India. “Musicians are not trained formally nor are they formally trained to teach. This is a problem we face constantly. To get good trained musicians is difficult at times,” she says.

On top of her mind

Faith is currently working on the album, Dhanak Dhin, which means rainbow lyrics in Urdu. Music Basti created it with the support of local artists like Suhail Yusuf Khan, Abhishek Mathur, Five8, Shubh Saran and Smiti Malik and over 50 former street children of the Dil Se Campaign. The album that celebrates the voices of children-at-risk will be released online on December 10. “Before attending Music Basti’s workshops, we used to sing but knew nothing about sur or taal. After learning music, we know the difference and how to use these elements,” says Sabiya, Khushi Home for Girls. “We have met so many people, started to learn the guitar and write songs. I have also recorded one (Saavan Kabhi Jaana Nahi with artists Shubh Saran and Smiti Malik for Dhanak Dhin). Through Music Basti we learn so much about the outside world.”

Award time

Faith is the recipient of two awards — The Karmaveer Puraskaar (last month)and the CNN IBN Real Heroes award (July). “I found out through e-mail that I had been nominated for the Karamveer Puraskaar. Another awardee nominated me on the basis of the work I have done. After a month, I was told I have been selected for the award,”she says. So how did she feel after getting the award? “I was happy and content,” she surmises.

Future plans

Faith plans to pursue a master’s in development studies. But that is on hold for the moment. What will happen to Music Basti, then? “I am still trying to figure that out. Nothing has been finalised. We have some plans but it will take time to finalise anything,” she says. Though she chose to not work and start an NGO, Faith doesn’t regret a minute of it. Whenever she sees the smiles on the faces of the kids, Faith knows she has found her true calling.

— saloni877@gmail.com

* name has been changed