The Healing Touch

Among all the sensory perceptions we have, which is the most vital and integral one?
Eyes- See / Ears- Hear / Mouth – Speak / Nose- Smell / Skin-Touch / Feel
Just try to imagine if these organs are not working,
What if the Eyes can’t see? – You are alive.
What if the Ears can’t hear? – You are alive.
What if the Mouth can’t speak? – You are still alive.
What if the Nose can’t smell? – You are alive.
What if the Skin can’t feel?– Sadly, you are “ just a vegetable”.

So Touch is the core of life and responds to the universal language of love or rejection. You will all wonder, what triggered in me suddenly, to contemplate on Touch?
It was an anecdote shared by HGS—one that left an impression on me.

A psychologist was working with children in Bala Mandir, providing counselling and emotional support. One day, a gentleman volunteer, an engineer by profession who used to work with hard bricks and mortar, posed an unusual question: “How do you counsel an infant who has experienced physical trauma?” The psychologist paused. Her work usually involved communication—talking alleviates pain, listening, and responding. But an infant? A baby who doesn’t understand words and who only knows how to cry. What would she do? She admitted, honestly: “I don’t know.” The engineer gently said, “Come with me. I’ll show you.”

He led her into a room where an infant lay crying, wounds visible on the child’s face. Without saying a word, he picked up the baby and slowly, tenderly, caressed the skin near the lacerations. And to the psychologist’s amazement, the child stopped crying. The baby, who had known only pain and fear until then, had calmed… simply by the gentle reassurance of touch. The engineer turned to her and said, “This is how you counsel a child.”

Later, I came to know that in neonatal care, we practise what is called Kangaroo Care—where pre-term babies are held skin-to-skin against the caregiver’s chest. This simple act of holding them close not only stimulates bonding, but also promotes healing and provides emotional security. You may all wonder who the “Engineer” was- You guessed it right! It was “Balu Sir”! This answered many questions I had – when I was volunteering my time to spend with KG children. More often they were drawn to touch me and try to get a feel of me.

This usually happens with institutionalised ‘children’ Even the Kathai Teacher (Ms. Kalpagam Narayanan -one of our oldest members – both by her biological age and years of service in BM) has shared similar experiences while getting closer to children. Now I could understand and appreciate more. Their tiny hands reaching out are not just seeking attention- they are searching for love, care and connection. Their hunger for physical proximity is their thirst for love.

My father used to say something that has stayed with me: “Take for cheapest price and give for a higher price in life, but remember – cheapest price for anything is “Money” and highest price for anything is “Time”.  He said this because money is manmade and you can make more, but time is God-made and the amount we have is limited. The strange thing in this world is— no one really bothers about time wasted. But everyone is careful with money… which, in the end, is the cheapest of all. If this story resonates with you… if you believe in the silent strength of presence, the healing power of touch, and the value of giving your time where it truly matters— we invite you to volunteer your time and love for the caring process of our Infants and toddlers. There are always little hands reaching out, waiting to be held. Your time could be the most precious gift you ever give.