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Tamil Nadu: Remembering Viji

July 27, 2007, 4:22AM MT

By Sharon St. Joan

A remarkable life of caring for children and animals

A remarkable life of caring for children and animals

Some of you may remember that some time ago, we posted a story called, "Who would leave Manek Bashi"? about an innocent little dog who was abandoned on the streets and then taken in by a woman who ran the Parasparam Ashram for disadvantaged children, and who also cared for homeless dogs and cats.

More recently, Devika shared with us the story of Jemmy, a dog, who was taken by thieves from the Ashram, and then, amazingly, returned.

Very sadly, the kind and remarkable woman, Viji, who cared for these children and animals, has passed away unexpectedly. Devika, the Founder of Cattitude, who, in large measure, supported the cats and dogs being cared for at the Ashram, has written the following words in memory of Viji.

My story of Viji

By Devika Khazvini, Managing Trustee of the Cattitude Trust

Viji is an institution in herself, down here in Chennai. For very many years the Secretary of the Language Dept of the Goethe Institute (originally the Max Mueller Bhavan), she was loved by every student who left the place, and every time I popped in to see her, with my monthly cheque, or cat food, I would find some of her fans around her.

In 1997, Viji and an erstwhile colleague started the Parasparam Trust to help semi-orphaned girls. She believed that while children who lost both parents immediately came under the care of philanthropists, the children of single parents in underprivileged homes, suffered terribly while the one parent tried to make ends meet.

The magic of Parasparam Ashram (she did not like to call it an orphanage) was that the girls were made to feel special, never treated as charity cases, taught to take turns in running the ashram, given skills like screen printing and tailoring, and the love and confidence to face the world. Today seven are gainfully and happily employed.

When the cats, who used to live on the grounds of the Max Mueller Bhavan were ordered off the premises, a battle ensued between Viji, who used to feed them, and the authorities, who instructed all the students and staff to immediately stop feeding them. After two days of watching the helpless and hungry cats, Viji started calling all the animal welfare organisations and ended up speaking to me (Cattitude was in its early days). I bought her time, and helped with trapping, cages, etc....it was a terrible time, as many cats died post-op in Chennai, and those who survived were transported to the Ashram, but...there wasn't enough space and everyone was inexperienced, and some of the cats did not survive...then I decided to take this on full-time, raised funds, started to be regularly in touch, and we created our shelter bit by bit, sterilised the cats (my wonderful vet, Dr Priya, would accompany us to Batlagundu and do a whole lot of dogs and cats - Viji already had a few dogs rescued in Chennai).

Slowly our 15 cats became 36, the dogs are now 11....the girls number 22. Chennai is strewn with the many people she quietly helped with loans, with food for their animals, with her patience and love. She never thought twice of going a long distance to take a sick pup to the vet for someone, to feed and treat any number of street dogs, to go that extra distance for a human or animal in need. And she has left us.

Teaching the girls to love the animals

She was born into a Brahmin family but is a child of the Universe; her children come from every kind of background imaginable and Viji was most particular about preserving the secular nature of Parasparam. She taught the girls to love the animals, and to take pride in caring for them, and eventually our shelter became so lovely that visitors from around the world would spend ages there...Parasparam in Tamil means "mutual" and the exchange of love and compassion between the children and the animals is something many can learn from. When I rescued a handicapped cat, it was the handicapped girls who told Viji "Amma, please tell Aunty to send her to us, only we can understand her". Regi is now the Rani of the cat shelter.

When Jemmy, our latest rescue was kidnapped, Viji and I were in such a terrible state that we were both making vows and praying and calling each other several times a day. When I dropped into her office to hand over something, we looked at each other and both burst out laughing, she said "you look terrible Devika" and I said "you look awful Viji", as we were such wrecks. She made a bargain with Sai Baba and when we got Jemmy back, swore off milk sweets for life.

Sadly for us, she only had to go without them for a short short while.

She is now with the cats and dogs whose loss so anguished her, over whose deaths she would agonise while we discussed what we could have done differently. She is also with Vadivel, the one boy of Parasparam, a lovely, smiling boy who worked hard for the animals and whom we lost to illness.

Her dream was to build a proper shrine for Baba, and we all contributed to it, and recently it was completed. When she visited Shirdi (his pilgrimage place) with her family recently, she selected a beautiful marble image of him. She said "Devika, Baba will be coming to us soon".

Ironically, the man who promised to carry the idol has left Shirdi with the precious package.

Baba is on his way to Parasparam. And Viji is on her way to Baba.

May she rest in peace.

What you can do

Devika's husband has posted some photos of the Parasparam Ashram, in memory of Viji. You may see them by going to

http://planet-lynx.net/ppam.htm

Devika has written to Best Friends that the many supporters of the Ashram will ensure that the children there are cared for.

However, Devika is concerned about the 47 dogs and cats at the Ashram shelter, since the full responsibility for their wellbeing and continued care may now rest with The Cattitude Trust. This will be an ongoing, significant expense, which they will have great trouble meeting.

If you'd like to pledge your support for these rescued animals, during this difficult time, you may contact Devika Khazvini of the Cattitude
Trust at:

copycatt@hathway.com

To read the stories about Manek Basha and Jemmy, two of the dogs rescued by Viji, please go to:

http://network.bestfriends.org/international/news/6483.html

http://network.bestfriends.org/Blogs/PostDetail.aspx?g=1ab1ab37dd654d36b15aff4357c7b0ff&bp=2569

http://network.bestfriends.org/Blogs/Admin/ManagePost.aspx?bp=4501

http://network.bestfriends.org/Blogs/Admin/ManagePost.aspx?bp=4501

Photo: Viji, with Porcupine, one of her favorite feline survivors

Comments

Posted July 28, 2007, 1:50AM by devika

The lady in the photograph is indeed Viji, with Porcupine, who was handreared by the children. As for the link to the photographs, Sharon has just pasted it lower down, it is the Planetlynx one.
Devika

Posted July 28, 2007, 2:29 by sharonstjoan

Thanks, Devika,

We've made a couple of corrections. It should be clearer now.

Thank you.

Posted July 27, 2007, 1:37 by PamelaB

A question, please. You (the story's poster) mention at the end of the story that we can find photos posted by Devika's husband of the Parasparam Ashram. Unfortunately, the suggested link to the photos is missing.

It would be wonderful to be able to see these pictures. Do you think that you might be able to post the link?

Also, is Viji the woman in the photo?

Many thanks for this news. Always it is inspiring and helpful to the rest of us to read about such courageous and devoted souls.