KOCHI: “Father, can you find me a bride as I want to get married soon?” The question from 35-year-old Ajith Varghese to none other than Mar Thoma Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostom took everyone by surprise. Pat came the reply from the prelate: “I will try.”
It was a memorable day for Ajith and 54 other differently abled students from Vikas School, Tiruvalla, who got an opportunity to spend a day with Mar Chrysostom, magician Gopinath Muthukad and singer Amritha Suresh on Tuesday. The programme ‘Wings of Dreams’ was organised by the A P J Abdul Kalam Trust with the support of Hotel Crowne Plaza.
“In fact, I have to thank these children as this is the first time I am coming to such a big hotel. It is because of them that I could eat delicious food from this hotel,” said Chrysostom, who turned 100 this year.
During the interaction, several children came forward extending birthday wishes to the bishop. “None in the world is born as a complete person. Everyone has some kind of shortfalls. So these children are like any other ordinary person to me,” he said.
Singer Amritha Suresh said despite being a sad day in her personal life, she could forget everything after spending some hours with these children. “Meeting Mar Chrysostom was also a special moment for me. Spending time with these children made me realise they are highly talented people who can do things like others,” she said.
Magician Gopinath Muthukad showcased some tricks, including his new creation ‘metro train’. Using a magic trick, he brought out a dummy coach of metro train by waving cloth pieces. He also performed a trick to make a portrait of Mar Chrysostom from pieces of cloth. “It was a special experience for me. I saw the children enjoying the tricks I performed,” he said.
The organisers of the event said most of the differently abled children were from financially backward families. “Majority of the students have come to Kochi for the first time. Most of them have not even visited a luxurious hotel before,” an organiser said.The children also gifted bead necklaces made by them to Mar Chrysostom, Muthukad and Amritha Suresh. The programme that started at 11 am continued till 5 pm.