Nav-Jeevan

Newsletter November 2024

FAREWELL TO THE MOTHER OF NAV-JEEVAN, IRIS WILKINSON

On Friday, October 18, we received the news that Iris Wilkinson, Nav-Jeevan's mother, had passed away. Everyone was defeated. The school children had already gone home, the hostel children sat quietly staring at each other. We were shocked. We were in Nagpur at that time. In the evening we went to Iris' house. How strange it was to see her lying like this and how happy I was to have visited her that week. Even though we couldn't communicate with her anymore, it still feels like a last goodbye.

There were children and teachers who wanted to see her and offered condolences to her daughter Aneeta and son Raju and his wife Ann. They were all silent and said goodbye to the woman they loved so much. Iris was president of Nav Jeevan Sanstha for more than 20 years. Until recently, she visited the project every day. She had a listening ear for all the children. Her position has since been taken over by her daughter Aneeta Patel.

On Saturday, the next day, was the funeral. Friends, teachers and students were present.
Another day later we said goodbye in the church. Family members, friends and teachers spoke to Iris. Jyoti spoke on behalf of the teachers.

Iris met haar zoon Raju, 5 jaar

By her son Raju

An eulogy for the life of Iris Wilkinson.

If I were to sum up my mother's life, it would be: 'A long and fruitful life, in which she touched many lives positively and made a difference for the better'. Iris Wilkinson was born and raised in Allahabad, UP, where she did her schooling. For higher education, she studied at Isabella Thoburn College Lucknow, where she met and married my father. They moved to Nagpur in 1958. She taught at St. Joseph's Convent until she retired in 1990. Dozens of her students remember her fondly for being gentle and soft-spoken, but also firm. She was very accessible. Many students approached her for advice. Her suggestions were always very practical. One of her students, whose name is Jumana, told this story herself. She complained to my mom that another girl was constantly teasing her by calling her Jurmana. My mother asked her what the girl's name was? "Chadha," she replied. My mom suggested "just call her chaddi and she'll stop teasing you". And it worked like magic! In addition to her regular job, she also managed the diocese's orphanage, the Shishu Sangopan Griha. She told me that working with the orphans and abandoned children was the most fulfilling part of her life. There was a time when she kept the newborn babies who were most vulnerable in our home. So there was a row of cribs and a caregiver who worked under the watchful eye of my mother. Many of these children were adopted by families in the Netherlands and Norway. Annelies, who is present here, adopted two beautiful girls from Shishu Sangopan Griha, who are now mothers themselves.

All of these children felt an immediate connection and chemistry when they met my mother. Despite the passage of time, they now consider her to be their Indian mother.

My mother and Annelies founded Navjeevan Sanstha and the Dr. T.S. Wilkinson Memorial school. The logo is hands holding a diya and the motto is to lead to the light. My mother used to see children begging outside the church after services. She found that nothing was taught in government schools, so they lacked even the basic knowledge and no motivation to attend. She felt they needed one healthy meal a day as an incentive.

The school initially started in rented buildings. First in the Chatterton Hall. There were days when the hall was booked by other people, when my mother gave lessons under the trees in this church complex. Because they had to deal with street children, no one was willing to rent out buildings. With the help of donors in the Netherlands, they were able to create a boarding school in Godhani, which now has 300 students. Many of the ex-students are now employed as nurses, accountants and technicians. These are the success stories. My mother was happiest when she attended the school and refused to return home like a child.

It was only in the last few months that her health deteriorated and she was bedridden. In the end, no one runs forever and her time had come. She's definitely in a better place now. Finally, he quotes 2 Timothy 4:6, which would be appropriate for her life. "I fought the fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith."

By her daughther Aneeta Patel(facebook)

It was notable that many of the mourners who had gathered at the gravesite of my mother - Mrs. Iris Wilkinson - were past students of her school Dr. T.S. Wilkinson Memorial - rescued from the slums and streets of Nagpur- whom she had rescued and educated and now hold responsible jobs to support their families.

Nishat Nanjiani Sharma:
Mrs. Wilkinson was also a favorite with all of us SJC-ians with her mild temperament and never a harsh word, she brought her geography lesson to life and gave all her students fond memories of school life.

By her daughther Kiran Wingelaar(facebook)

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Mom. You have as a mother too many children to count. You are a mother to the hundreds of children in the school. God bless you. I'm so proud that you're my mother

There were also touching stories on Facebook from the adopted children from abroad.

By Swatee Span on facebook
She was at the beginning of my life and of many other children. She gave me a life, she gave me the love you need as a baby, she made me feel that my birth was wanted. She took care of me when I was seriously ill, she took me in so that I could survive. She is no longer with us. For 94 years she has been dedicated to others. So humble and so incredibly committed. She changed the lives of children in India forever. She believed in me and was proud of who I have become. I'm proud of her, of absolutely everything about her. Goodbye dear Iris Wilkinson, bye dear Indian mother. Rest in peace.

Aneeta, Iris and Raju

By Hemant Crum on facebook
On the photo with Iris Wilkinson and my adoption parents Hans Crum and Hansje Crum.
This photo means very much to me.
She came from India to Holland to visit the children which she had put up for adoption. As a baby (about 20 days old) I was taken to the orphanage set up by Iris.

When things were going very badly for me for a while and I was very ill, Iris took me into her home and took care of me until I was strong enough to return to the orphanage. She indicated that it was a difficult time because there was no baby food.
I am indescribably grateful to her for giving me a chance to survive. Iris Wilkinson rest in peace.
Aneeta Patel and Kiran Wingelaar (daughters) a lot of strength with the loss of your mother. It feels like I've lost a mother.

By Swatee Span on facebook
The two most important women in my life have come full circle. of which Mrs. Wilkinson was at the start of my life, but my mother made sure that I developed myself for the rest of my life and was allowed to form Swatee's individuality.
How symbolic that where it began 43 years ago it now ends. They are together, because my mom is there, despite her aching body, she always keeps going, because she is also a Mrs. Wilkinson for all those Indian children. And no, Mrs. Wilkinson is not replaceable. but gave my mom two daughters and with them love for live. In short, Mrs. Wilkinson was also a great example for my mother and an inspiring woman in her life.

Annelies van de Ven and iris Wilkinson

The children were always happy to see her. She herself was always happy to be with the children