Death does not blow a trumpet…

Every now and then we hear “The world is coming to an end” and every time the reason for an end varies….sometimes it is because of the tentative war or may be because of the collision of earth with some other planet or due to global warming, etc.

Recently, Maldives received a warning from the UN International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) regarding a potential threat to the country due to the rise in sea levels due to global warming. Since Maldives is one of the lowest lying countries in the world, it is the first one to face the danger of extinction. But if the ice sheet on arctic melts at this rate and the sea level kept on rising, the other countries are not too far away!!!

Oh! How can I forget? It is a natural tendency of humans to complete the task just before the deadline. Since the danger is on Maldives, it is on its toes to protect its country by adopting some environment friendly measures. Are the other countries still waiting for the warning? If yes, then I can predict worse. If no, then are we sleeping? It would be too late when we wake up…

When other countries are thinking of adopting some environment friendly measures, India is one of those countries who are still far behind. The lack of stringent actions in India would leave us in trouble. India is just 2318 kilometers from Maldives and we are still not concerned about our protection. It is good to follow the culture and traditions but not at the cost of the lives. Here comes Diwali and we are out bursting crackers and decorating our homes with different types of lights. Have we ever given a thought that all this triggers the global warming? The traditional Diwali which was called the festival of lights is now completely commercialized. It has now become a festival to display the prosperity. Most of us like to burst crackers although the fun is in just seeing the crackers burst. Why don’t we (India) take strict action against bursting crackers individually? If bursting crackers is a tradition, then let us celebrate it by gathering together at a point and at a particular time and not burst them individually. Do you know that after every Diwali, the pollution rises at alarming levels in India? Even after being aware of this fact that by bursting crackers and lighting diyas, electric garlands, etc., the pollution level is increased, we show a blind eye towards this issue in the name of tradition. India has tried to restrict the noise pollution that occurs during Navratri but what about the noise pollution caused due to crackers? More than humans’ animals are sensitive to noise and most sensitive are the birds. Have we ever thought about them? Take for example Dog…it can hear more than a human, so definitely the noise pollution is more dangerous for them. They simply run away from noise and so the lost dog cases increases significantly during this festival. Also, after Diwali, most damaged are the plants. Since they cannot run, we treat them as inanimate things. Don’t forget! Plants also live!

If the government is sleeping, let us wake up and take a pledge that henceforth we would not burst crackers individually and light lesser diyas and electric garlands every Diwali and Christmas. Also, “Charity begins at home”- so let us first start practicing it ourselves and then preach others. Let us switch off the monitors while we are out for lunch (for those working in computers). Also, if unused switch off your computers and TV. Being a responsible citizen, it is our duty to spread this awareness among ourselves.

Let us not wait for the warning---act now---spread the word.

The day I have been waiting for so long….

There were several instances when people asked me about the most memorable day of my life & I said that the day is yet to arrive in my life….

Today - 26^th July 2009! I can say with proud “The day has come!”… I am overwhelmed with a mixed feeling of happiness & satisfaction that I cannot express in words. Today I experienced what it means to live for others– the joy & happiness earned is for a lifetime & even more.

I always wanted to teach the underprivileged children because I always felt that knowledge is the biggest & the most valuable asset that one can share with others especially with the less privileged who due to certain circumstances are unable to devote time to studies. Also, I strongly believe that, “A leader is the one who under his supervision provides others with the opportunity to grow”. In line with my beliefs & ambitions, I registered myself with www.karmayog.com as a volunteer – a medium through which many NGO’s got in touch with me. One of the NGO “Dream India” which interested me the most was about teaching the underprivileged children. As these children live in slums & hail from very poor families, they do not have the sufficient means & time to study. Also, most of them don’t even go to school in order to support their family & supplement their family’s total income. I decided to volunteer for “Dream India” & got in touch with one of the volunteer’s named Jamuna. She introduced me to “Dream India” & guided me to talk to Mr. Gawarikar who has been involved in this initiative from the very start. I then talked to Mr. Gawarikar and we decided to go to one such place in Borivli on 26^th July–Sunday where Dream India teaches the underprivileged. I was very excited & was looking forward for this day.

I had a certain picture in mind about the place but never even imagined that the condition would be such. As soon as we entered the area, Mr. Gawarikar told me that we will have to go to a hut, catch hold of a kid and ask him to call other kids for a study session. Walking towards our destination, I enquired with Mr. Gawarikar about the age groups of those children and as to what all things should be taught to the children as this was the first time I would be teaching kids. He very patiently cleared all my queries. That was a slum area and people there were struggling to live each day. As soon as we reached the slums, we called a kid and asked her to get all the kids from nearby huts. She called all of them within minutes and all of us gathered in a nearby Temple. The youngest kid that came out of the hut was barely 2 years old and he had come with his bag on and a killer smile :)... I was introduced to the kids by Gawarikar Sir and they mixed up with me very soon. I started teaching the little kids and realized that it was noon only when Sir reminded me of it. When I informed the kids that I would have to take leave for now, they stopped me from going initially and then finally agreed on the condition that I would come next week also. This was a clear indicator that they had the spark to learn. They then bid me good bye by kissing on my hand. They also left me till the Rickshaw stand and kept saying bye until I disappeared. It was such a rewarding experience that I would cherish it throughout my life. This is also a new beginning of my life as it provided a new direction to my life...

The pain of parting from a closed one

I was happy because

I had adjusted to live without her…

Although it took very long

To be strong…..

I kept myself busy enough,

So as to not get time to remember those years…

It was very tough,

But I was trying to forget the pain of parting…  

I immersed myself in other activities,                               

and tried to compensate her absence to our parents...

Although it was very difficult to be so nice,

But I tried to follow her footprints and advice…

We somehow managed to live without her!!!

I was ecstatic,

She was coming back for sometime…

My joy knew no bounds,

It was like a festival for my family…

We were waiting for her eagerly,

After all, we would see her after a year and half…

Finally the day came when she and jiju arrived at Mumbai,

Putting all smiles on our faces…

Her arrival made our lives colorful,

I felt as if time had rewound itself…

I went back to those wonderful days of my life,

When all of us lived together, had heart to heart talks and   

shared all our happiness, woes and troubles…

A week passed by,

Now it was time for her to resume her duties back at her place…

I wanted this week to continue forever,

But as time waits for none, it didn’t wait for me….

Finally the day came when she had to part,

This was the second time she had to do this…

How can I tell her to not go…

She has to continue with her duty…

After all, this is what life is!!! 

I am sad today,
I am still trying to live without her…

After her departure,

my life seems to have come to a halt…

Emptiness has creeped into my life,

with loneliness killing me gradually…

I am trying to be happy,

to see my parents contented and to reduce their pain…


God help me and my parents to overcome the pain of separation from my sister!!!