Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Kids always have a special place in my heart. They are so pure and divine that their company takes me to another world of joy. That is why I dint let my mind think twice before I chose to volunteer myself for the “Street Children Empowerment Program”.
I, along with the couple of my colleagues had to meet these people at a common place near allotted centre. There were few kids gathered in common place randomly scattered who were playing around paying least attention to us. Though they were amused by the sight of few decent looking educated people who came to meet them (who were us) , they dint want to pay an ear to what was told. Realising that we were not able to grab their attention, we started asking them about their interest to pull them onto the track.
The group had mix of children. So we started with education as it seemed a common platform to connect with all the kids. I was deeply shocked after what they said about themselves.
Muthu: A lad who looked at life with all despair. A School dropout with no hopes to study further after failing in 9th standard. Lived with daily wage of of Rs. 150 earned by working in a mechanic shop. Lost his father in a road accident a couple of weeks back. He expressed his disinterest in resuming his studies as that dint mean anything fruitful to him. He also couldn’t go to school due to lack of sleep. Now where did this lack of sleep suddenly come from??? From the sleepless nights that he spent at the railways station waiting for the railways reservation counter to be opened next morning so that he could get Tatkal tickets. By the way, where was he going? Nowhere. The tickets were supposed to be taken for some rich lazy ones who would not stand in the queue. And the police men forced this task on these poor li’l kids. If denied, they were brutally beaten up.
Suganya: A sweet li’l girl who was silently listening to us sitting beside her mother all the while. This girl looked much younger to her age. Almost 3-4 years younger. I just could remember one thing when I saw here. Big things come in small packages. She was studying in a local corporation school nearby. Her mother was so excited talking about here. I understood it when I happened to see the progress report of this little girl and was amazed too. All I could see is #1 marked again the rank in every exam. She also earned a lot of certificates and medals at school which were spoiled due to rain.
Ajith: A very impatient boy who kept rambling all the while. He goes to school, likes football and other outdoor games but dint anything to place with. Very good at mimicking voices though not trained, and can twist his body as he likes, though not a gymnast. He roamed around with a film roll and expressed his interest in painting and photography.
Karthik: One kid among this crowd who looked tidy compared to others, and was enrolled in the school. He carried a pleasant smile on his lips in spite of the hapless lifestyle. He seemed to be interested in studies and tried to interpret what we were speaking. While all the other kids, seemed careless, this one was totally thinking something very seriously. Something was troubling him. He took the responsibility to assemble the kids whenever we come. He wanted all of them to see a ray of hope to live.
Why was Muthu beaten up by the police?? How did Suganya’s certificates get drenched in rain? What was troubling Karthik?? Only after I spoke to them, I realised they were HOMELESS and I actually took some time to digest the fact. They showed a pavement with a couple of wooden boxes and clothes scattered around. Their kitchen was a common area with some vessels to cook. The pavement is their living room, their dining hall, their bedroom. When there was no home to live, how could they even imagine water supply? When I asked Muthu what’s the one thing that they want from me, I was totally not expecting the answer. He asked me if we could get provide them with a source of water for their livelihood. I wondered how could people even live without water?? Totally hopeless. Very disturbing.
After the whole one hour, it was time for us to leave. I had so many thoughts running in mind and I started walking. That’s when I observed Karthik silently standing next to me wanting to ask something but stopped by his silence. When I asked him if he wished to tell me something, he asked me something which completely moved me. He said, “There are many people who visit us randomly. They sit with us and talk. Spend some time and leave. They create hopes and we eagerly wait for them to come the next time but all in vain. Will you at least come again to help us??
I was totally lost in my thought that I dint answer. Then I realised my words were waiting to come out as tears !!!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Dad was completely occupied with his conference work last weekend. That wasn't the first time I've seen him toiling with those huge files but yes, it certainly was different from all those times I'd seen him. It was 12.30 in the night and the light was still glowing. My nights are usually late and strict 'NO' to the lights in the room when I'm sleeping. Now that it was my dad working, I couldn't scream at mum to switch off the lights. Neither could I sleep. {Sigh} So i got up and walked to my dad pretending to be a good egg. I offered to help him knowing very well that I'd be of no use :P His reply was a bitter pill because he asked me to fetch my calculator and help him finish the work. I cursed myself for being a little too obedient. Since I made the offer myself, the ways for evasion were blocked.
Though we dint share a common thread, dad sometimes wanted me to help him in the paperwork so that I get to learn something useful. Everything was Greek and Latin to me but it sure was a matter of pride, for I got to use the computer for something other than Super Mario and Paint brush. I couldn't help wondering why dad wanted me to help in spite of that fact being clear that I suck at basic math and my computer-fascination died ages back. And this time the culprit is the HR factor.
Dad is a Commerce grad and he started his career in a marketing firm. My sister is a Computer Science grad and me, the bio grad. Three different poles. Math was my worst nightmare and I dint have the slightest clue of why commerce courses existed on the earth. I could better explain why amoeba was shapeless or why does DNA split when UV rays fall on it ! My medicine seat had gone for a toss because I was a little too playful and little less studious. I sacrificed it for my cousin who was among the board toppers ( wonder why such specimens exist in the family !) By the way, No thanks ! I'm happy without it. Me, Sis and Dad were three wickets who were eventually bowled by this HR factor.
It all started off with Sis, the first wicket. She was jobless after her graduation which stimulated the MBA bug in her. Dad could see her brains working sharper after she joined MBA. And with this positive effect, dad wanted me to pursue the same course. I had a free hand in decision making tho. Being aimless in life made me feel a bit at sea and so I chose MBA. Flunking in finance internals and lack of interest in ops, made me chose "HR". And hence the appendage to MBA :P The second wicket is bowled. Bowling the third wicket was a cake walk for the HR factor. Dad's experience promoted him to Personnel (HR) and Admin Dept. And now we're the three musketeers traveling an unplanned journey to the HR world.. I'm going to be a Junior HR executive in a month's time, sis is already a senior HR executive and dad, GM, Personnel and admin !!
No regrets by the way, for me it was a blessing in disguise !!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
I'm proud to be an Indian and have no regrets :D
But in the past few days, I came across few incidents which made me realize why the lifestyle of Indians echoed, WE ARE LIKE THAT "ONLY" !!!
1) Please tender exact change/fare:
Most common phrase - at railway reservation counters, bus stands, buses banks, where not ! My mum is very particular about me carrying a set of 10's, a few coins of each denomination whenever I got out, so as to avoid any delay waiting for the change. Yesterday evening was when I had to collect the project completion letter from the company. I started off with deep sense of relief that I need not see the employees frowning at me anymore giving awkward stares as if i haunted them in the name of corporate begging for data collection.
Since my mum was not at home, to remind me about the change, I carried my purse with few bucks needed for the to and fro travel. I boarded the bus and asked for a ticket to my stop. The conductor handed over a ticket for Rs.2.50 and insisting on the 50ps coin. I groped all over my purse to find a coin. Failing to find one, I gave her three rupees and nodded my head to indicate that I dint have the change.I was expecting to return the change to me , but to my astonishment, she dropped the coins into her bag and leaned back conveniently in her seat. I was in dilemma whether to ignore that as it was JUST 50ps or to ask her? Some how I hesitated to ask. The whole time i was wondering if she would have been fine in case I gave her two rupees instead of three !
This is absolutely silly when I talk about 50ps but it doesn't end here. How many times didn't the shop keepers place a toffee in your hand compensating for the non availability of the change?? Some times I wonder if this is some kind of toffee marketing strategy. Height of it is many of us don't care to refuse ! I bet the shop keepers or bus conductors fight till the end to get that rupee. Imagine the amount of 50ps or one rupee we have forgone, piling up to make a huge sum, would that amount matter then?????
Btw, I'm not a miser nor am I greedy, just that I have no "money-plant" at home. I guess none of us do...
2) Which God should I please????
Disclaimer: I'm not an atheist :P
There's this new program in one of the TV channels that's keeping my parents glued to the so called "Idiot Box". Its about the horoscope, the Doshams(errors) in the horoscope and the rituals to be performed to rectify the errors, the Gods one should please.There's this guy who's a scholar in astrology, who verifies your horoscope and recommends appropriate God and the type of ritual to be performed.
Today was the most hilarious episode. There was a letter from a guy which read:
Dear Sir,
I'm XYZ. I don't know what's wrong with my horoscope but I lost all the money which I earned till now !! I'm scared to start new business. Should I start a new business? If so, Which God should I please for the income to stay in my hand ? Please suggest :P :P
And I couldn't stop laughing at the reply given.
Dear XYZ,
Having keenly observed your horoscope, I found some errors. I can see that you're likely to earn a handsome amount very soon but I doubt how long you'll retain it. As per your horoscope you'll earn a lot but the money just flows out of your hand. So I suggest you to find a person with such a horoscope where the income stays in hand, then plan for a fixed deposit and property transfer to his/her name :D :D :D
Thank God, the astrologer dint say that he's the person with the suitable horoscope and would be best option for XYZ to transfer all his property to him..
ROFL !
If astrologers were to suggest the best time to start the business, what are Ansoff's and BCG matrices doing here? And yea, the income planners can apply for their retirement. Warren Buffet and Phillip Kotler would be replaced by astrologers :D
;;
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About Me
- Roo
- I'm lik this nascent oxygen ! symbol of life.. Mostly unstable..radiate lot of energy in the process of attainin stability.