Former college teacher dedicates his life to being father to 12 HIV positive adopted children

A former college teacher, Ajay Sharma, in Uttar Pradesh, dedicated his life to being a 'father' to 12 HIV positive boys he adopted.

The samaritan calls his care home 'Satyakam Care Home' which has become a well known address in the town of Meerut.

The children, between 7 and 17, all have one thing common among them. All of them were born to parents with AIDS.

They lived in their homes till the time their parents were alive but were later abandoned and shunned by their relatives. And then they found a father in Sharma who brought them home to look after.

Sharma says he decided to dedicate his life to these kids after he survived a brain hemorrhage in 2004.

"The children here have lost their parents and were abandoned by their families and society. These are children who haven't known paternal love. I've been a teacher by profession. There has been an inspiration to do something different. I suffered brain hemorrhage in 2004, I survived it, got a second life, thought why not give it to these kids. I built a house where these kids could stay happily," says Sharma.

Kids could not emphasise enough that Sharma is their father and the care home is their home. A resident, Balwant Satyakam, said he and others were very happy to be there.

"The man we call father, yes we call him father, treats us very well. He looks after us like his own sons. We are like a big family and we are very happy here. This feels like home," said Balwant.

In 2004, Sharma suffered a brain hemorrhage and slid into coma for 15 days. After experiencing a close encounter with death, he says he understood the importance of being alive and decided to dedicate his life for the cause of underprivileged children.

He relinquished his job at a government- run college, and began teaching kids in the slums. In 2008, he met a kid who had been abandoned by his family for having HIV, and that was the beginning.

He has received help in his effort. His children are being taught by experienced teachers in their pursuit of education and seasoned medical practitioners look after their health.