Jock Dalrymple and a friend, Gordon, visited the Home in the spring of 2006. The home is in Herbertpur, a small village west of Dehra Dun which was without a telephone when Jock Dalrymple first visited it in May 1980. It is now a growing town, situated on an important crossroads. And the Home, too, is larger, an extra floor having recently been completed, with Mega doubling up as architect and construction engineer.
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The children greeted Jock and Gordon shyly. After a siesta, Pema, Mega, Jock and Gordon had an extended evening chat, accompanied by packs of Mega’s army rum. He and Pema seemed unchanged, physically pretty well despite Pema’s dicey heart, and their spirits as ebullient and generous as ever.
One evening there was a concert, prepared by the children, a mixture of singing and dancing. They were still somewhat reserved, but Jock and Gordon were beginning to work out who was who, and gradually, too, learning something about their backgrounds. They were a mixture of orphans and semi-orphans. The youngest child was a little girl called Tenzing Yangzom, whose army father had accidentally blown his face off with a rocket launcher. She was adorable, bright and quizzical, and wonderfully well cared for by the other children.
One evening there was a concert, prepared by the children, a mixture of singing and dancing. They were still somewhat reserved, but Jock and Gordon were beginning to work out who was who, and gradually, too, learning something about their backgrounds. They were a mixture of orphans and semi-orphans. The youngest child was a little girl called Tenzing Yangzom, whose army father had accidentally blown his face off with a rocket launcher. She was adorable, bright and quizzical, and wonderfully well cared for by the other children.
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Among the older girls, one that stood out was Tsering Dolkar. Orphaned early, aged eleven she was working in a Tibetan hotel in Dehra Dun, when she was sexually assaulted by a teenage boy. That night she got a knife from the kitchen and slashed him so that he needed six stitches. As a result, her existence came to Pema’s notice. At a meeting of the Tibetan Women’s Association, Pema challenged the hotel owner about the way she employed such a young girl who had never had the chance to go to school. The next day, the hotel owner turned up contrite at the Home, and asked Pema to take Tsering Dolkar in.
After some days, on Sunday morning, everyone set off in the school bus for a picnic at a favourite spot, about eight miles away by some swing parks, near the river Yamuna. Before eating, the children played with each other with great verve on the swings and slides, while Mega and Gordon competed on the climbing frame. Again the children were good with each other and seemed really to enjoy each other’s company. The picnic consisted of poories and Masala potato.
After lunch, everyone went to a nearby dam. In the adjoining gardens, Pema gave a whoop of delight as she discovered – for the first time in 28 years living in the district - Medok Tsampaka, a flower which Tibetans associate with great good luck. The children celebrated with ice-lollies and some energetic tree climbing.
After some days, on Sunday morning, everyone set off in the school bus for a picnic at a favourite spot, about eight miles away by some swing parks, near the river Yamuna. Before eating, the children played with each other with great verve on the swings and slides, while Mega and Gordon competed on the climbing frame. Again the children were good with each other and seemed really to enjoy each other’s company. The picnic consisted of poories and Masala potato.
After lunch, everyone went to a nearby dam. In the adjoining gardens, Pema gave a whoop of delight as she discovered – for the first time in 28 years living in the district - Medok Tsampaka, a flower which Tibetans associate with great good luck. The children celebrated with ice-lollies and some energetic tree climbing.
On Monday, Jock and Gordon were due to leave at about midday. Pema showered gifts for Jock, Gordon and the sponsors. Before Jock and Gordon left, the children lined up and presented cards which each of them had drawn individually– ranging from tigers and flowers to dogs and Little Bo Peep! It was all too much for Gordon: as the children waved good-bye, after bear hugs from Pema and Mega, this six foot two, recently retired second row rugby forward burst into tears, so moved had he been by the children, and by Pema and Mega, who, twenty-five years after first opening their home and their hearts, continue to inspire in a quite wonderful way.
