RainbowMan: Keeping the Faith and Warmth this Winter

Harish Iyer blogs about how you don’t need reindeers to play Santa

A woman holds her son as she sits with others next to a fire to warm themselves outside their temporary shelter on a cold winter morning in New Delhi December 25, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

It’s been positively freezing over the past couple of days. As a Mumbai boy I can say with a fair degree of certainty that Christmas hasn’t been this cold… ever… well not since the last Ice Age, at least. I have been hiding under layers of shawls, sweaters and beanies and enjoying the excuse to guzzle gallons of hot chocolate. But I have been mindful of sharing my blessings with those less fortunate, both humans and animals.

Workers warm themselves next to a bonfire on a cold winter morning at a wholesale grocery market in the old quarters of Delhi (Photo: Reuters)

It was actually a little girl in the neighbourhood who showed us the way. Her family had just moved in and they had a tonne of cardboard boxes. She promptly lined them with newspapers and rags and placed them across the neighbourhood.

When I asked her if she was trying to place make shift dustbins for people, she said, “No no… I don’t want the doggies and kitties to feel cold. They can sleep in my boxes. Maybe later when mummy sees that they are good animals, I can take a puppy home!”

This melted my heart. So I volunteered to help her. We got all the kids interested in the project. We also decided that while the strays needed food, it would be best to fix a designated feeding spot so that they did not attack or follow people around for food in future.

There are stray cases of dog attacks, which get blown out of proportion. It is not out of malice that dogs attack. If you live a day as a dog, you would realize that every bit of love and compassion that we receive from a wagging tail, takes a lot of compassion, trust and empathy. They love us despite our behavior towards them.

Harish Iyer with his

We decided to feed strays near the municipal waste bin. It is huge and the strays frequent it anyway. This way, whoever wants to feed strays can leave the food at the bin and the strays can eat in peace, away from residential areas.

I was also happy to learn that my dear friend Sapna Bhavnani was on her own mission to spread love and warmth this winter. Sapna has been distributing blankets to the homeless. While it keeps people warm during winters, it can be used as a mattress during warmer months. This spunky young woman has a beautiful heart and a sharp mind that thinks of everything! Love you Sapna.

Commuters walk along the road on a foggy winter morning in New Delhi (Photo: Reuters)

I have also been reading many heart-warming tales of people welcoming Syrian refugees into their homes for Christmas. What a humane gesture. I wonder if anyone would be willing to do that for homeless people in India? Hey, I’m not judging anybody. I’m not sure I’d be comfortable hosting a complete stranger, especially if they had questionable hygiene.

I’m as flawed as everyone. But that is what I’m working on. I know that I have to conquer my demons before inspiring others. But maybe I can take small steps, just like the little girl in my neighbourhood.

After all, you don’t need reindeer to play Santa, you just need warmth and faith.

(Harish Iyer is an equal rights activist working for the rights of the LGBT community, women, children and animals. ‘Rainbow Man’ is Harish’s regular blog for The Quint)