Conception to birth, toddlerhood to you – a capsule of Sudatta’s Journey.
- Vidya Shankar, Saraswathi Srinath and Sheela Kamath
Sudatta's Story
The year was 1996, when Vathsalya Charitable Trust – a prominent adoption agency of the day – announced a meet for adoptive parents. A similar group had already been formed, so the interest in having one such for Bangalore.
Vidya boldly interjected in this meeting, interrupted the meeting agenda, and took the mike to announce that an association of adoptive parents is much needed. In the coffee break after this bold announcement, 2 other families – the Srinaths and the Kamaths stepped forward and that chance meeting resulted in the start of Sudatta-Bangalore.
More meetings happened between these 3 families to formalize this thought of the association, between 1996 & 1997, till – in Nov 1997 a public function was held at Dr Sita Bhatija’s clinic – and a formal announcement of the launch of Sudata-Bangalore amid lamp-lighting by the older adoptee present. The function’s highlight was the sharing of the joys of adoption by the adoptive parents present and by the happiness & warmth of coming together as a group.
Over these 25 years, stellar teams conducted excellent and never before workshops and events for adoptive families, educators, social workers and aspiring adoptive parents. Our signature workshops once a year in November (celebrated as the Adoption Month) have had stars in the field of Adoption from all over the world addressing our parents at venues located in sylvan settings around Bangalore.
Many friendships were built, but some heart burns too, yet the boat was sturdy enough to sail on. SuDatta now stands tall, ready to welcome any family seeking kinship and support in adoption, willing to share their story and gain from others experience. World over, it is said that adoptive parents help adoptive families best, and SuDatta-Bangalore, is one example of such a relationship built over 25years, that has stood the test of time, despite crises in families, wobbly bridges in communication, gaining its sheen by the years!
As we step into the future, the next generation will take the baton and move Sudatta to the next level in providing support and succor to the adoptive parents and their loved ones and spread the goodness and cheer of being a member of this Association of Adoptive Families – Sudatta-Bangalore.
As founders, we watch with immense pride this germ of an idea grow into a strong institution, providing support in parenting of an adoptive child and wish this Association and all its Member Families the very best in their every moment with their loved ones.