Asafi masjid mosque

Lucknow, India -- The Gomti River flows placidly through the middle of Lucknow, one of the most historic and cultural cities of north India.

On both banks of the river the visitor can see the intricately carved mosques and palaces built by the nawabs of Avadh, the Muslim rulers who controlled this northeastern region of India for about a century in the late 1700s and first half of the 19th century following the decline of the Mughal empire.

Lucknow is the home of Omu Prakesh, leader of the 66 leprosy colonies in the North Region of India, which includes the state of Uttar Pradesh. Prakesh lives in the Adarsh Kushta Ashram leprosy colony located on the outskirts of Lucknow and a short drive to the airport.

Mr Yohei Sasakawa visits residents of leprosy colony ashram

This colony is home to 52 families, about 250 people. About 90 of these persons are affected by leprosy. 100 of their children attend missionary run boarding schools in some of the major cities bordering the Ganges River, including Varanasi, the holiest city in India.

Children of the leprosy colony

The colony is built on public land. It is surrounded by a high concrete wall. Within this enclosed space each family and individual has their own concrete block home which looks out on the central square with its communal laundry washing area, showers for the residents, and toilets.

It is a well kept, clean community space, and residents are happy to show visitors inside their homes, some of them brightly decorated with Hindu, Moslem and Christian pictures and posters.

About 90% of the residents of this ashram make a living from begging, earning an average 50 Rupees a day. They pool their earnings and distribute the money among the community according to individual need.

Colony musicians and singers

During an official visit there, the colony all turned out to cheerfully welcome guests from WHO, including Mr Yohei Sasakawa, Goodwill Ambassador for the Elimination of Leprosy.

After a walk around the colony, the men of the community gathered in front of the ashram hall to give a concert of Indian music, a lively rendition of celebratory songs to the accompaniment of tablas and other traditional instruments.

Colony mother with her child

Children, young people, and adults all gathered around the community musicians moving in rhythm to the songs and music, and responding happily to the rousing exhortations of the lead singer. Encore followed encore making it difficult to leave the ashram for the visitor's next appointment.

Finally, the visitors reluctantly pulled themselves away from the friendly relaxed atmosphere of the colony, but not before feeling that the high point of the day was watching the smiling faces of the people there as they joined in to sing welcoming Indian ballads in front of the community hall. Probably the best kept secret music venue in Lucknow.