From a career woman to mother of 60: How ‘Madam Maa’ gave a home to vulnerable children

Kanan Trivedi is an answering teacher and volunteer at The Art of Living, a humanitarian and educational non governmental organisation, which opened The Sri Sri Seva Mandir, the first free school in Andhra Pradesh in 2004.

This school situated in Guntur provides a lifeline for vulnerable children. They accept kids from difficult backgrounds — those affected by social and economic disasters, trauma, abuse, child marriage, or Naxal violence.

As a residential school for orphaned and abandoned children, they offer free education and meals to all in need, including children of Naxals and underprivileged families. What’s worth noting is that these children are the first generation in their family to be educated and employed.

Gujarat-based Trivedi started out as an independent, career-oriented woman struggling with anxiety, anger and bitterness owing to her job in the city.

In a quest to find respite from the frustrations of life, she found herself leaning into the teachings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and eventually began teaching meditation, yoga and breathwork, popularly known as ‘Sudarshan Kriya‘ herself.

Fondly referred to as ‘Madam Maa’, she says that her journey with children was truly unplanned. “It just happened,” she reveals.

Trivedi interacting with her children. (Source: The Art of Living)

Trivedi has been working in Naxal affected areas of Andhra Pradesh since 2001. Her extensive work includes rain water harvesting, collaborating with hospitals to deliver medical assistance to those affected by fluoride contamination, offering skill training to HIV infected sex workers, and rehabilitating them with mainstream jobs.

“But once I saw these children, I felt this connection. I realised what I wanted to do in life, what was the correct thing for me to do in life.”

“Most of these kids lack education, they are extremely shy and do not like to speak much. When sick or hungry, they shut down completely. But when I held them, there was peace in their eyes.”

Over the course of two decades, Trivedi has changed the lives of several children — some of whom have excelled in life and made her proud. “Raj Rajashree is one such kid,” she says. “She did her B. Tech from Hyderabad and is now an engineer.”

Kanan Trivedi with her children at the beach. (Source: The Art of Living)

Plenty of these children have become doctors, engineers, sports teachers, school teachers, and businessmen, and she takes pride in the fact that they all remain “connected like a family” even after all these years.

Recounting a funny incident, Trivedi talks about one of the children, Vedanta, who was fond of beehives. “He would often hit a beehive and get stung by a bee as a result. When he would come crying to us, he would tell us not to do anything as the honey bee had already doled out his punishment,” she jokes.

Talking about her biggest takeaway, she says, “So many people in this world struggle with limitations — be it social, financial, or limitation of time. I’m grateful to have gotten this opportunity to serve not only children, but also older people, animals and birds.” She is thankful to have found her purpose in the bigger scheme of things.