It was an enriching meeting Nirupma Chowdhary, at her residence B1/316, Tower 14, Silvercity. Her ‘joy of receiving’, which is emitted from the glow on her face when she talks of her present active routine, is an outstanding approach to life. She grew up watching her father and grandparents doing service for humanity and mother’s discipline in life, which got ingrained in her. Kashmiri by birth (in Jammu), she spent good years in Ranchi which gave her a good command on Hindi.
At present, after a fulfilling teaching career and family responsibilities, she has her hands full caring for the children and street animals. “Children empower you; one has to motivate them ‘to dream’ since they have potential but lack direction. Once they start dreaming their will to work beyond limit finds wings and then they start flying,” she shared her take on the children who do not get opportunity as others their age.
Mrs Chowdhary started working with such children in 2014 in a school for supplementary education, in Jammu, run by a foundation. Mohanji, the founder of the foundation, appreciated her dedication and bonding with the children. He told that her life is for these children; this gave her a definite direction.
Few years later to her home in Silvercity, her daughter told about a similar school running in Sector 137. She went and saw ‘Jamghat Pathshala’, a venture by Richa Anirudh who stays in Purvanchal Royal Park, giving free education to children. This was November 2021; some students were those who could not join school post-lockdown. Mrs Chowdhary joined and till now she teaches art and craft to children 5–15 years, all material is provided.
Evenings, Monday to Friday, Mrs Chowdhary teaches in an after-school programme for children in Sector-93 Community Centre sponsored by Sunshine society headed by Vaishali Joshi (resident of Silvercity). She is overall managing the centre.
Under Ammucare programme, run by Mohanji foundation, along with Shalini Mehta (resident of Silvercity) she organizes Annadan for children once a week. Street dogs are fed daily; in this she is helped by Arnaz of Eldeco Utopia.
Her societal commitments with dedication are possible only with the strong support by her husband, Vinod Chowdhary. “Blessed I am to have support of my husband and two daughters; the friends who have given me platform and opportunity, and those that team up with me,” is her expression of gratitude.
Nirupma Chowdhary in conversation with Shikha Sinha
