Together we can make it a better place to live

Working as a volunteer has changed my view towards life. All of us want 'the best' in life but the sad part is that 'the best' is not defined and has no end to it. We look for things to simplify and in bargain complicate our life. 'Fear of loosing what we have and desire for more keeps us busy'. By the time we realise what we lost its too late.

We forget to live and love our life, we grab every opportunity and things that come our way, forget we have to return favours back to the world to make it a better place for our children and us.

The peace of mind and satisfaction of helping while working for the less fortunate makes it meaningful. If each of us returns even 1%, the world would a better place to live.

What is missing is kindness, love and affection. It was once a better place than it is today.

Nature takes care

Working for these children taught me : 'be happy whenever you can' & 'make best of what you have'. Given to their circumstances, an adult would breakdown or get addicted to some vices. But these children have dreams to be someone. They are street smart and understand things and are matured for their age. They believe in 'don't give up' but 'find a way'.
How to live life under tough circumstances, how to make the best of situations these street children know best.
All they need is basic education to read, write and speak english/hindi.

life as a volunteer

Last few months I have been busy, trying to work on something new. Worked for an NGO, which caters for the street children. It was a good experience, learnt a lot about them. Felt bad for the children as some of the kids are so eager to educate themselves, but are denied by their parents and circumstances. The younger kids are at the mercy of their parents and teachers in charge, and can hardly voice their opinion. They are used by their parents to earn money and forced to work. When in NGO they are bound by too many restrictions as they are too many in number for the few salaried staff to handle.

Few of them are talented, but with nobody to guide them they will soon be lost in the crowd. But the kids love to read, write and solve picture puzzles. Most don't prefer going to schools as they are treated badly they say.

Happy Diwali

Wish you all

A Very Happy Diwali

& A Prosperous New Year.

As usual people are busy celebrating the festival, beginning with Laxmi Puja and exchanging sweets with thy neighbours and friends. Crackers bursting in mid-air illuminating the sky defeating darkness, with its sparkles.

Bringing happiness and cheer, rebonding relations between families and friends here is Diwali the festival of lights.

Happy Diwali once again .............

What a recession ?

For some time now all of us have been hearing about recession, pay cut, price hike of day to day essentials and how difficult it is to manage household expenses.

But with the arrival of Diwali one wonders, recession ? hmmmm ?
the endless traffic jams and crowded shopping malls filled with people busy shopping around. The roads appear like crowded Virar local, one can hardly think of moving across. People of all class busy buying clothes, gift items and sweets.

Say the word recession, and the expression is worth watching, and it starts yeah the prices of potatoes, onion and tur dal is unaffordable and so on.......
With the groceries unaffordable how can one go for shopping clothes and gift items.
So much for the recession !

Why should others speak for you?

Why should you expect others to speak for you:

• in the bus almost regularly: Everyone knows that the first 3 seats are reserved in a bus, yet many people don't care to get up when they see the handicapped or old people standing in the bus. The worst thing the old/handicapped people,don't speak and stare at others standing around expecting them to speak on behalf of them, to get the seat for them. Why? can't you speak for yourself ?


• problem with ladies in a bus: either the ladies seat is occupied by the men or men keep loosing their gravity in a moving bus and sway like loose creepers drooping for support on the nearest women. Rarely a women retaliates, except for giving a dirty look and moving ahead. Why? doesn't she just turn around and humiliate him for this behaviour so he doesn't repeat it?

Public pandals a commercial activity and inconvenience

Ganesh Chaturti the beginning of festivals, which is also a big commercial activity in Mumbai. Huge pandals are erected right in the middle of lanes creating inconvenience and traffic jam for everybody. But surprisingly it becomes a part of the routine and people passby without a word. Huge donations are collected in the name of Ganesh puja, have any of us wondered what happens to the money collected through offerings, which people blindly offer while praying. Is it put for any social purpose or ?

Instead of having so many pandals, if collectively it could be done only in a few handful places wouldn't it save the inconvenience? Also people could enjoy the festival and the purpose of this public gathering without causing inconvenience. Though some of the idols, themes and decorations are extremely beautiful, one tends to miss viewing them as they are too many in numbers and scattered everywhere.

Swine flu : could following an old custom prevent it?

I had gone out for some work and on my way found many people covering their face with a mask. Not the recommended one, but similar to that. Most of them tied the kerchiefs around their face. The fear of getting infected with swine flu can be felt as you see people carefully covering their nose and mouth when in a crowded place.

While watching this, a thought crossed my mind.... the burkha system of covering the face is really useful and handy here. They are already protected before even we became aware of swine flu.

At times like these, such a custom is blessing in disguise & it had a positive side. Though I do not support this custom personally.

Bandhan of convenience

I was happy to see my brother, who stopped by on his way home. Did the traditional aarti, offered sweets and tied rakhi. Wish my younger bro had come too. Will try by the weekend, he says. Looking forward...... Well, sometimes a festival of convenience.

Raksha Bandhan : now a festival of convenience

Today is Raksha bandhan a special day, when sisters tie rakhi to their brothers. I am looking forward for my brothers, but they are busy as usual in office, and will be free around late evening. Busy working 15 to 18 hrs a day.

Back in my childhood, we had a great time. They too would look forward for this day. Dad gave them some cash to give me when I tied them rakhi. Those days raksha bandhan was a symbol that brothers would protect their sisters and take care of them. The gift was just a gesture of love. Well, now things have changed and its only a festival of convenience.

Over a period of time lot has changed. I realized that boys value such festivals mostly during childhood and then only in their later years when they have settled in their life. In the middle years the relation does not have much value, as they are too busy making their career, money, marriage, children, house etc.

Once settled they realise oh raksha bandhan! ; my sister?
Years pass by and we drift apart, too busy in our lives to notice what the other is doing. Sisters no more look for their brothers to protect them. Life teaches them to live and tackle their problems.

In this busy world, every one is running after money, money and money. They want to make property, bank balance and class/status. Everyone is so busy, nobody wants to stop and think: how much do I need, am I missing something, is this what I actually want.
I hope my brothers value this relation as much as I do.

Happy Raksha bandhan to all of you. Do find time and let your sister know that you value this relation too.

A return gift from: nature to mankind

Like most of the Mumbaikars I was eager to have a look at the high tide expected at 2.03pm. Lots of people were present with their families to watch the high tide. The sea was raging and the waves lashing on the sides as if saying something. As the waves lashed the rocks, it appeared as if someone was churning the sea and throwing up all the dirt it had accumulated over the years. The salty, muddy, sticky water tasted bad as it spread over us through the breeze.

The police were very cautious, so as not to allow any one near the sea. Though people were standing and watching the lashing waves they were cautious as not to get themselves wet. Many felt if only the water was clean, clear and blue as we watch on TV.

We all know about water contamination, which is a big problem, like the Ganges in India, which is used as a sewer.
We read in newspapers when a big industrial ship sinks or after radioactive waste has been dumped, pollutants are regularly thrown into the water all over the world. Industrial waste is the biggest factor for the high levels of pollution. Not to forget the chemical waste such as mercury and pesticide.

All this pollution kills life in water and has consequences on its surroundings. It has already affected the marine life and eventually humans will be victims too. Diseases, which can be deadly to humans, circulate in contaminated water. Knowing all this, we look for a clear blue sea.

Isn't it time we realize that we have been abusing the nature. The Sea is the most abused and for once its returning what we hurled in it a abuse in its own way. A return gift.

A Concert preview at a signal

Yesterday was like any other day, but with me things didn't seem to be right. I had gone to visit a friend and was upset by the way things turned out. On my way back home I took a cab and as I was pondering over the happenings my cab stopped at one of the signals. I just looked outside, there was a car next to my cab and in it was a boy of around 25 yrs sitting on the driving seat lost in his music. A second later he was swaying his head and hands as if he was giving some concert.
While I and the cab driver watched him in amazement, he was quite embarrassed when he noticed us as the song came to an end.

For the first time, I didn't mind the red signal and as the signal turned green the cab driver and I burst out laughing. His performance was good and it made my evening. By the time I was home I was in a cheerful mood.

Thanks stranger you made my day.



18th July 2009

My first leap

Hello everyone

My first attempt to write my thoughts and feelings on issues that matter to me and for the people I care.

There are moments when I want to scream & share my views but busy as the world is of the people around us, things get bottled up inside and at the end of the day one can just hope may be later some day shall express how I feel.

Months and years pass by and the thoughts appear like piles of garbage leaving a bitter feeling inside oneself.

So taking this first leap to express myself in the form of blog,
how good is this decision only time will tell.




11 July 2009