He was an ordinary man with extraordinary compassion. He soared through the skies but was deeply moved by the plight of children on the ground in Mumbai. He sprang into action, raising a mere 50 rupees, and ignited a movement. His life was cut short before he turned 40, but his selfless work continues to grow and thrive even three decades after his passing, positively impacting the lives of countless children across India. This is the story of Rippan Kapur, the founder of CRY – Child Rights and You.
The Origins
Rippan Kapur’s mother and father both migrated from Lahore (now in Pakistan) to New Delhi in the wake of the partition of British India in 1947. Rippan, along with his twin brother Vippan, was born in 1954 in the national capital. After a few years, the Kapurs moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) for work and settled there. Rippan attended school there and later secured a job as a purser with Indian Airlines.
Growing up in Mumbai’s Worli amidst wealth and despair, luxury and disparity, Rippan’s childhood was marked by a deep empathy for the less fortunate. It was during these formative years that he first witnessed the stark realities faced by underprivileged children, an experience that ignited a fire within him. Rippan’s upbringing, influenced by his mother’s altruism and his father’s professional integrity, instilled in him a sense of duty towards society.
Rippan’s tenure as an airline purser with Indian Airlines provided him with opportunities to witness India’s diversity and the glaring disparities that existed. His interactions with disadvantaged communities during his travels further fueled his determination to act.
The Genesis
In 1979, at just 25 years old, Rippan Kapur rallied six friends to contribute ₹7 each, raising the required ₹50 to establish an NGO called Child Relief and You – CRY.
The genesis of CRY was not a sudden epiphany but rather the culmination of years of contemplation and introspection. Rippan understood that the plight of India’s children required collective action, and he embarked on a mission to galvanise society into addressing this pressing issue. Rippan’s vision for CRY was simple yet profound: mobilise resources and empathy to secure the rights and dignity of every child.
He started small, utilising his family’s dining table as the first office in Bombay (Mumbai). The table, surrounded by friends and dreams, became the birthplace of CRY – a testament to how a simple idea can grow into a nationwide force for change.
The Battles
The early days were not easy. Fundraising meant face-to-face interactions, selling greeting cards, diaries, and calendars crafted by eminent artists and photographers. Through sheer dedication and grassroots efforts, Rippan and his team managed to mobilise significant funds, igniting hope where there was once despair.
What Rippan envisioned went beyond charity; it was about justice for every child in India. In a time when child labour was viewed as a norm, Rippan stood firm in his belief that every child deserved education, love, and a chance to thrive. He challenged societal norms and built an organisation that aimed to involve every citizen in this noble cause.
Rippan’s commitment to CRY was unwavering, even as he battled personal health challenges. His unrelenting dedication to the cause often meant juggling his responsibilities as an airline employee with his role as a visionary for child rights. Colleagues remember Rippan as a man possessed by a sense of urgency, always pushing for more, driven by a profound belief that no effort was too great in service of children.
The Evolution
Under Rippan’s stewardship, CRY quickly evolved from a grassroots initiative to a national movement. The organisation’s pioneering efforts in fundraising and advocacy brought attention to the systemic issues affecting children across India. Rippan’s ability to inspire and mobilise diverse stakeholders—from corporate leaders to ordinary citizens—propelled CRY to new heights of influence and impact.
This evolving organisation funded individuals and groups who were passionately committed to transforming the lives of children. Pioneers like Shantha Sinha for the eradication of child labour, Andal Damodaran, Gloria D’Souza, the Kurriens of CLR, innovators in education were all supported and funded by CRY with minimum fuss.
The Transformation
Rippan Kapoor’s health deteriorated, and he died suddenly on 10 April 1994, as quietly as he lived, at just 39 years old. His passing was a profound loss for CRY. But the people who shared his vision and compassion continued his legacy, inspiring a new generation of changemakers to confront injustice and champion equity and equality.
When the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed by India in 1992, CRY began to work on this aspect. Thus, by the year 2006, CRY has developed from originally an organisation providing welfare relief for children to an organisation advocating for children’s rights and reinvented itself as Child Rights and You.
This transformation was needed because CRY believed irreversible change was possible when children, parents, community groups, and local governments come together to identify, address, and resolve the issues that constrain children.
The Legacy
Today, CRY stands as a beacon of hope, working with 102 local NGOs across 19 states in India, touching the lives of over 30 lakh children. Rippan Kapoor’s impact extended far beyond his lifetime. Despite his untimely passing in 1994 at the age of 39, CRY continued to flourish and evolve, impacting the lives of millions of children.
His legacy lives on through the dedicated individuals and supporters who carry forward his vision—a vision of empowerment, and relentless pursuit of child rights. In conclusion, Rippan’s life and work exemplify the transformative power of compassion and action. His legacy is not just the story of an organisation but a testament to the enduring impact of one individual’s unwavering commitment to social justice.
In a world often dictated by wealth and privilege, Rippan exemplified that change begins with a single person’s conviction. His story inspires us to look beyond our circumstances and envision a world where every child’s potential is nurtured and celebrated. As we commemorate his life and legacy, let us carry forward his spirit of empathy and action. Let us pay heed to his call to make a difference, no matter how humble our beginnings are.
Written by: John Roberts, Regional Director, South, CRY – Child Rights and You