Very Touched...

Yesterday, 29th of June- was a wonderful day for me and Ram and our core team at Nishumbita...after long we had performed before hyderabad audience... (pics coming soon) we performed the plays we took to Kolkota and Chennai. It was like a mini Children's Theatre Fest! Kids always give their best and so many smiles one day makes you go blissful in life.

But as the title of my blog goes I am writing to mention a special greeting to my dear Thulasi... Can't express how glad I was to have u around me at my special moments there... we might not share too much every time but what you've given me and Ram with just your presence every time is unfathomable! Love you!

And I also want to mention that I love u- Chitta and Prasoonetta... I could feel what it means to have family at your special moments!

Talent unearthed…summer camp and the kolkota trip

Quite amazing how at the time of need, you discover new things about yourself… be it the smallest detail like you pout when you are disappointed or that you are as responsible as a king can be, at the time of calamity…

Those were the thoughts that came into my mind when I found a few details about my own self in a span of two weeks. Let’s go by Episodes-

EPISODE 1: 20-23^rd of May

To begin with – I was surprised that I could do Photoshop quite satisfactorily when I designed a poster for Jashan 2008- Ram’s Summer Camp for children between 4 to 16 years of age. I would be happy if you could take a look at it:

(Well in connection to this I can’t but mention my sweety-pie nephew – Nandan- who stayed with me to attend the camp: pls click the links below to see snaps in picasa of the summer camp culmination day program):

THE SUMMER CAMP

EPISODE 2: 30^th of May- 7^th of June

Before I start my next big discovery let me share an apprehension of mine:

I + Kids = Disaster.

The point is I love kids and so long as they are crawling and toddling I can be a best nanny to them but once they start going to school I treat them as friends. Now this can be problematic- as being friends, according to me, means the other one has to be responsible for his/her actions. Only in such cases I will back them for their efforts and support them when they want to improve themselves. This, however, works differently with kids. They are way too small to realize the ‘responsible’ part of being friends. This mismatch of opinion and reality had made me think that I might be bad influence to the lovely beginners of life. And hence my apprehensions towards my dealing with kids!

So when Ram said our team was not just supposed to give technical support but also personal care to a 25 children team, which was taking part in the 5^th National Children’s Theatre Festival in Kolkota, my insides churned. I am sure you’ll agree with me if I say -without my apprehensions itself the task was quite challenging.

But considering that children’s hero- Ram – would be there to handle them and the hope that others like Vikram, Raghu, Deepak, Avanthi and Sudha Didi (the teacher) would be better equipped than me, I stayed cool till the trip began. Little did I know that soon my assumptions…or rather our assumptions would go for a toss!

30^th May, 2008 at 4 in the evening the team (excluding Sudha Didi as she was supposed to board the train from Katkat) with 25 kids, boarded the train to Kolkota – the Super Fast Faluknama Express.

Once all was settled I was feeling on top of the world first because it was going to be a week's holiday, away from work and of course with Ram and for theatre...what can be better?

Well...before I had felt enough of reveling on the matter it was dinner time. There was lot of food as every parent was suppose to bring assigned food for all of us. So began the whole exercise of brain storming between me and Avanthi to figure out how exactly to serve the pulihora, dadhojanam and biriyani.

To conclude... the whole affair of serving the dinner was such a dog's breakfast that out of stress and shouting, me and Ram had a fight for such a silly reason and I ended up crying. The good part was that we patched up in less than two minutes (as Usual) and the bad part of it was that I had a weird feeling it is just the start...nothing looked hopeful and the way children were around and above Ram I thought I won't even get to spend time with him...

You must be wondering (at least a few of u) what must have gone wrong with the dinner serving...well, when you have 25 children insisting (read it as practical stubbornness) that they would eat junk and drink cool drink (both prohibited as they were going for a performance and could not afford to lose their voice), shouting at the top of their voices and running around in the train because of their new found freedom, one suddenly complaining of stomach ache started crying, the other insisted that she should have a middle berth while sleeping and so on and so forth ...they didn't actually seem like kids to me!!! To top all this is my habit of taking up responsibility(extremely annoying for myself and also injurious to my health) made my head reel at the end of it.

I've heard somewhere that man learns to survive in every challenging circumstance...though a far off thought, I mentioned it as one of my reasons for survival and victory during this trip. By next day afternoon I had quite become the ring leader of the lion troop that I was going with.

But little did god think of ending my suffering there and I knew that I was right in thinking - this is just a start!

When we reached the station - 31st of May- two human beings had come with a bus to receive us all. So we- Ram, I, Avanthi and one man from the 2 ppl who came to receive us, sent the kids with the rest of the team to board the bus while we waited till the other team members would drop the kids safely to the bus, come back and take all the luggage with us. It was a fool-proof plan except that Ram forgot to handover the tickets for the kids so that they can exit the railway station. So we saw Deepak coming back to us in some time to collect them. After he went in some time one of the team members called saying Deepak had not reached where they were (it was already half an hour since he left) and that he had no mobile to contact...tension... then we saw Deepak coming our way..thank god we thought...he had lost the way (was the staion so big I still don't know). So he was sent back with proper guidance and an instruction that he should just usher the kids out and immediately come back to us with the tickets to help us take the luggage tot he bus.

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

Apparently Deepak became so involved in kids safety (for which there were already 3 others) that he went straight to where the bus was...hmmm... so after realizing this fact and that it had already been an hour and a half standing on the station we decided to hire a trolley to carry the luggage till the bus... that was the first 'bokka'- 150 straight-

We reached the exit and again realized that there was an exit where you needn't show tickets so relieved we came out and rang our so called guide as to where the bus was...great news was that the bus was parked nearly two kilometers from the station...oh shucks!

The trolley didn't approve of the distance on the road so again we were stranded this time on the road...Deepak found us in some time (another half hour)... we coaxed a trolley guy to come as the bus driver said buses are not allowed anywhere around the station parking...another bokka- 100 straight-

Finally we got near the bus...but wait- the bus- it looked more like a police van without any grills on the window...never mind...next stop Heera Hotel...2 star it seems...

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

The hotel guys had given us the accommodation in one of their sister concern hotel called 'Meena Guest house'... we climbed three stories which actually resembled a haunted building...we saw the rooms that actually seemed squashed between the walls of the hotel...bathrooms fine but with insects...ok I don't remember much after that on that day...kids crying that they wanted a spacious, airy room and that they've never seen a place like that, that they are hungry, that they are sleepy .... everyone pacified, parents apologized to, dinner served, had, sleep... something inside the brain said it would not be so bad...( I was right)

Next morning- 1st of June- brought much more than the pestering calls from the parents- right from 5 in the morning- The place looked less gloomier...a little more airy and people helping each other...after all it wasn't so bad!

one more thing managed...bravo!

Evening we were suppose to join the rally that begins from Victoria Memorial and goes till Rabindra Sadan where the festival was going to be conducted.

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

none of the taxies would take more than 4 ppl, also they had to be paid 50/- each (all for a ten min drive) and the budget wouldn't allow more than 3 taxis with such a price tag...so again 'bokka' ...5 taxis and off to Victoria Memorial...beautiful palatial space with a small pond...

The rally was good and we enjoyed the performances...except that one child kept puking and the other kept going to the toilet and we elders stuck in all these...(trivial by this time)

At8.30 p.m we decided to go to the hotel...we thought looking at the weather...it would be pleasurable if we all walk down the what-so-ever little distance...kids agreed too.

We started walking...and walking and walking and walking...kept saying we've reached ...but...once the kids started complaining even the elders lost their senses...no vehicle would come to that direction...the market was open and the kids had to be saved from the stare of the local ppl and pimps eying them...we were scared but alert to the core. Finally the hotel reached...now the hotel looked almost like a heaven.

One more lesson learnt...things are farther than they appear...again pacifying crying and fighting children, serving, eating and sleep...

Next morning- 2nd- was the day to finish whatever remaining work was there on the sets. A new found confidence was seen in all the team members and kids also seemed to be enjoying themselves...why I still don't know.

Evening little kids who can't walk were sent in the taxi and the others walked down...mission neatly managed. the program culminated and we came out of the auditorium.

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

It was raining and no vehicle would come towards the direction of our hotel. hmmmmm...god's great.

The only option is the metro train. A few mins of walk and we got at the metro station at Rabindra Sadan...our hotel just three stops away...everything is fine...but the kids are scared and we are too as they outnumber us and they all have to be brought safely...And we did it!

Again I had to handle over-excited kids in the hotel...this time pouncing at the food they despised all this while...it still isn't a easy life I though!

Next morning- 3rd- the day of our performance... Extremley hectic ...after managing food, stay, mids and hearts...now it was time to manage the work of dressing up 25 kids in a limited time that too for 2 costume dramas...It went really well, the photographer took nearly 100 photos and was so happy that he gave all of it for free...

check them out:

KOLKOTA CHILDREN'S THEATRE FEST- OUR PLAYS

We made it to the hotel successfully that evening and children had a ball as they were given cool drinks and chips and what not...a great day...also I realized that sharing Ram's presence with the kids made him even more dear to me...the way he handled them and the way I handled them brought us close even more...

next morning- 4th june- sight seeing day- One temple, Science City, Picko Park...wasn't bad but mad as I had to handle travel sick kids puking all the way...The vans cost us a fortune but still it was trivial compared to the fun...oh forgot to mention the bokka- an unexpected 2000/- extra ...and you call kolkota a low cost city..I don't agree...

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

Evening we got to know that a Lightening Bandh has been announced in kolkota and that it might also be that the train are also canceled...well, we were taking the early train next morning...

we rushed tot he hotel..canceled the shopping...hurried to get whatever food we can get and whatever vehicle we can get to reach the railway station...men of our team running outside to arrange things and we ladies int he hotel handling the wailing kids...they were upset that they can't shop...so we pacified them and the men arranged everything.

next morning- 5th june- all up and ready at 4 int he morning...travel by 2 trolley trucks- one for the kids and ladies of the team and the other for the men of the team and the luggage. Mission manged well...

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

We just scrapped through the heavy storm and rainfall that attacked us while we were entering the staion...luggage and the men at the platform and the kids and ladies in the waiting room ... hmmm...god is not yet tired...

All hopes that Falaknuma would start at 7.45 am faded as they canceled East Coast express...what would happen if the train was canceled, where would we go with 25 kids..and with practically very little money....oh god give us the strength to cope!

All the stress was put on the station manager who didn't know the status of the train till 12 in the afternoon...finally we heard that Falaknuma will start at 5.30 in the evening...13 hours late from its usual time...We managed the kids and luggage from the evil eyes of the crowded kolkota railway station...boarded the train and then I realized the best is almost going to end...all of us enjoyed the moment a lot...

Right then we got th enews that a power plant had burst at vizag so they are stopping all the trains...hmmm...god is great!

Well...you might think everything was fine after that...no dears not yet...

But yes...you are right...we were not stopped and we reached the Hyderabad at midnight on 7th....

I so wish the trip would have never ended as it was the best in my life. I learnt that I can handle kids very well without getting them to hate me...All of them loved me so much that they keep insisting me to quit my job and join as a teacher in their school...they were all lovely...And I would thank everyone in my team especially Sudha didi for being sucha wonderful friend and guide...And Ram for giving me this opportunity.

NOTE: PLS COME BACK AGAIN TO THIS BLOG AS I'LL POST SNAPS OF OUR CONDITION ON THE PLATFORM IN TWO DAYS TIME.
Here are the pics link...apart from the pics at the railway station there are a few others of the kids...pls check:

AT KOLKOTA RAILWAY STATION AND AT THE WORKSHOP

To all those parents out there...I have a request...do not treat teachers as slaves and instead trust them if they ever take up the responsibility to care for your child... I know your concern makes you do certain deeds but believe me if you respect the teachers they will respect your feelings.

Thanks for reading till this...I know its long..pardon me for the mistakes in grammar.

Be Nice...

here is a forward sent to me by one of my friends...pls read it its worth it...

I FELT IT worth reading , take time and please read thru....
Have Passion!
It was probably the April of 1974. Bangalore was getting warm and
gulmohars were blooming at the IISc campus. I was the only girl in my
postgraduate department and was staying at the ladies' hostel. Other
girls were pursuing research in different departments of Science.
I was looking forward to going abroad to complete a doctorate in
computer science. I had been offered scholarships from Universities in
the US ... I had not thought of taking up a job in India .
One day, while on the way to my hostel from our lecture-hall complex, I
saw an advertisement on the notice board. It was a standard jobrequirement
notice from the famous automobile company Telco (now
Tata Motors)... It stated that the company required young, bright
engineers, hardworking and with an excellent academic background,
etc.
At the bottom was a small line: 'Lady Candidates need not apply.'
I read it and was very upset! . For the first time in my life I was up
against gender discrimination.
Though I was not keen on taking up the job, I saw it as a challenge. I
had done extremely well in academics, better than most of my male
peers...
Little did I know then that in real life academic excellence is not enough
to be successful?
After reading the notice I went fuming to my room. I decided to inform
the topmost person in Telco's management about the injustice the
company was perpetrating. I got a postcard and started to write, but
there was a problem: I did not know who headed Telco
I thought it must be one of the Tatas. I knew JRD Tata was the head of
the Tata Group; I had seen his pictures in newspapers (actually,
Sumant Moolgaokar was the company's chairman then) I took the card,
addressed it to JRD and started writing. To this day I remember clearly
what I wrote.
'The great Tatas have always been pioneers. They are the people who
started the basic infrastructure industries in India , such as iron and
steel, chemicals, textiles and locomotives they have cared for higher
education in India since 1900 and they were responsible for the
establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. Fortunately, I study
there. But I am surprised how a company such as Telco is
discriminating on the basis of gender.'
I posted the letter and forgot about it. Less than 10 days later, I received
a telegram stating that I had to appear for an interview at Telco's Pune
facility at the company's expense. I was taken aback by the telegram.
My hostel mate told me I should use the opportunity to go to Pune free
of cost and buy them the famous Pune saris for cheap! I collected Rs30
each from everyone who wanted a sari when I look back, I feel like
laughing at the reasons for my going, but back then they seemed good
enough to make the trip.
It was my first visit to Pune and I immediately fell in love with the city.
To this day it remains dear to me. I feel as much at home in Pune as I do
in Hubli, my hometown. The place changed my life in so many ways. As
directed, I went to Telco's Pimpri office for the interview.
There were six people on the panel and I realized then that this was
serious business.
'This is the girl who wrote to JRD,' I heard somebody whisper as soon
as I entered the room. By then I knew for sure that I would not get the
job. The realization abolished all fear from my mind, so I was rather
cool while the interview was being conducted.
Even before the interview started, I reckoned the panel was biased, so I
told them, rather impolitely, 'I hope this is only a technical interview.'
They were taken aback by my rudeness, and even today I am ashamed
about my attitude.
The panel asked me technical questions and I answered all of them.
Then an elderly gentleman with an affectionate voice told me, 'Do you
know why we said lady candidates need not apply? The reason is that
we have never employed any ladies on the shop floor. This is not a co-ed
college; this is a factory. When it comes to academics, you are a first
ranker throughout. We appreciate that, but people like you should work
in research laboratories.
I was a young girl from small-town Hubli. My world had been a limited
place.
I did not know the ways of large corporate houses and their difficulties,
so I answered, 'But you must start somewhere, otherwise no woman will
ever be able to work in your factories.'
Finally, after a long interview, I was told I had been successful. So this
was what the future had in store for me. Never had I thought I would
take up a job in Pune. I met a shy young man from Karnataka there, we
became good friends and we got married.
It was only after joining Telco that I realized who JRD was: the
uncrowned king of Indian industry. Now I was scared, but I did not get
to meet him till I was transferred to Bombay. One day I had to show
some reports to Mr Moolgaokar, our chairman, who we all knew as
SM.. I was in his office on the first floor of Bombay House (the Tata
headquarters) when, suddenly JRD walked in. That was the first time I
saw 'appro JRD'. Appro means 'our' in Gujarati. This was the
affectionate term by which people at Bombay House called him.
I was feeling very nervous, remembering my postcard episode. SM
introduced me nicely, 'Jeh (that's what his close associates called him),
this young woman is an engineer and that too a postgraduate.
She is the first woman to work on the Telco shop floor.' JRD looked at
me. I was praying he would not ask me any questions about my
interview (or the postcard that preceded it).
Thankfully, he didn't. Instead, he remarked. 'It is nice that girls are
getting into engineering in our country. By the way, what is your
name?'
'When I joined Telco I was Sudha Kulkarni, Sir,' I replied. 'Now I am
Sudha Murthy.' He smiled and kindly smile and started a discussion
with SM. As for me, I almost ran out of the room.
After that I used to see JRD on and off. He was the Tata Group
chairman and I was merely an engineer. There was nothing that we had
in common. I was in awe of him.
One day I was waiting for Murthy, my husband, to pick me up after
office hours. To my surprise I saw JRD standing next to me. I did not
know how to react. Yet again I started worrying about that postcard.
Looking back, I realize JRD had forgotten about it. It must have been a
small incident for him, but not so for me.
'Young lady, why are you here?' he asked. 'Office time is over.' I said,
'Sir, I'm waiting for my husband to come and pick me up.' JRD said, 'It
is getting dark and there's no one in the corridor.
I'll wait with you till your husband comes.'
I was quite used to waiting for Murthy, but having JRD waiting
alongside made me extremely uncomfortable.
I was nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I looked at him. He wore a
simple white pant and shirt. He was old, yet his face was glowing. There
wasn't any air of superiority about him. I was thinking, 'Look at this
person. He is a chairman, a well-respected man in our country and he is
waiting for the sake of an ordinary employee.'
Then I saw Murthy and I rushed out. JRD called and said, 'Young lady,
tell your husband never to make his wife wait again.' In 1982 I had to
resign from my job at Telco. I was reluctant to go, but I really did not
have a choice. I was coming down the steps of Bombay House after
wrapping up my final settlement when I saw JRD coming up. He was
absorbed in thought. I wanted to say goodbye to him, so I stopped. He
saw me and paused.
Gently, he said, 'So what are you doing, Mrs. Kulkarni?' (That was the
way he always addressed me..) 'Sir, I am leaving Telco.'
'Where are you going?' he asked. 'Pune, Sir. My husband is starting a !
company called Infosys and I'm shifting to Pune.'
'Oh! And what will you do when you are successful.'
'Sir, I don't know whether we will be successful.' 'Never start with
diffidence,' he advised me 'Always start with confidence. When you are
successful you must give back to society. Society gives us so much; we
must reciprocate. Wish you all the best.'
Then JRD continued walking up the stairs. I stood there for what
seemed like a millennium. That was the last time I saw him alive.
Many years later I met Ratan Tata in the same Bombay House,
occupying the chair JRD once did. I told him of my many sweet
memories of working with Telco. Later, he wrote to me, 'It was nice
hearing about Jeh from you.
The sad part is that he's not alive to see you today.'
I consider JRD a great man because, despite being an extremely busy
person, he valued one postcard written by a young girl seeking justice.
He must have received thousands of letters everyday. He could have
thrown mine away, but he didn't do that. He respected the intentions of
that unknown girl, who had neither influence nor money, and gave her
an opportunity in his company. He did not merely give her a job; he
changed her life and mindset forever.
Close to 50 per cent of the students in today's engineering colleges are
girls. And there are women on the shop floor in many industry
segments. I see these changes and I think of JRD. If at all time stops and
asks me what I want from life, I would say I wish JRD were alive today
to see how the company we started has grown. He would have enjoyed it
wholeheartedly.
My love and respect for the House of Tata remains undiminished by the
passage of time. I always looked up to JRD. I saw him as a role model
for his simplicity, his generosity, his kindness and the care he took of his
employees. Those blue eyes always reminded me of the sky; they had the
same vastness and magnificence.
(Sudha Murthy is a widely published writer and chairperson of the Infosys
Foundation involved in a number of social development initiatives. Infosys
chairman Narayana Murthy is her husband.)
Article sourced from: Lasting Legacies (Tata Review- Special Commemorative
Issue 2004), brought out by the house of Tatas to commemorate the 100th birth
anniversary of JRD Tata on July 29, 2004 .
BE NICE TO PEOPLE ON YOUR WAY UP,
FOR YOU NEVER KNOW,
WHOM YOU WILL MEET, ON YOUR WAY DOWN.

Ah well yet another rare creation of mine!

RAJAVENU- THE CUT-THROAT LIAR MEETS HIS MASTER

Not everyone can lie! This isn't an opinion but a fact.

Rajavenu, seemed to have mastered the art of lying. And was quite impressed with his own capabilities that was shared by very few. But the day was close when he would meet his ultimate master in disguise.

Initially what began as a way to pull a leg or too, was now a habit that came naturally to Rajavenu. As his fate brought him closer to the date he was to meet his master, our man got frequent opportunities to lie under anyone's nose...quite literally!

One fine day a huge crowd assembled before a huge mansion not far away from our so very favorite Rajavenu's place of dwelling. Curious as all to know what was of such an importance, Rajavenu, with his dear friend, walked towards the house. After all, curiosity is bad only for cats and not for intellectually evolved living beings like human beings!

After a few obvious questions starting from what and how, Rajavenu got hold of the primary information required for his next and probably the ultimate lie that would make him eligible to find his master.

Well...it sure is human tendency to twist and turn the facts along with spicing it up a little, but to altogether forget the facts and being able to produce a convincing lie is a rare art. Well equipped with this rare art as Rajavenu was, it wasn't a surprise that he became the crowd puller to tell the public in general what had happened in the mansion where an old man's dead body lay in bits and pieces.

Here is the story that Rajavenu cooked to the horror of the crowd...(Gasps and contorted faces of the listeners is your part to imagine...after all I am not an accomplished writer you know!):

The dead man was a well-known astrologer of the north and knew that his death was approaching him. With an intention to avert his death, he shuts himself up in his house. He removed all the possible Weapons of Destruction (Not the one that US was searching...well it never materialized though). But death caught him at night. The celling fan in his room came crashing down while he was sleeping and cut him down into pieces.

Awestruck hearing this story, people retreated out of sheer horror.

Next thing Rajavenu had to go through was a gyan class from his dear friend who would not let him become an estranged being beaten up by people because of his excess creative talent.

Determined to channelize Rajavenu's creative talent, his friend advised him to take up writing as a profession. (Perhaps he belonged to a school that believes that lie is just another imaginative way to express.)

As guided by his loyal friend, our man Rajavenu ended up at this highly creative and probably the most precious friend that his friend had got- the famous movie director who made only laugh riots!

As he was waiting at the Director's house, Rajavenu observed the posh lifestyle- the French Window, the tastefully done drawing room and wondered how would his life turn out to be once he becomes a writer.

The director came in with a warm smile on his face and sat down to explore the possibilities of Rajavenu being accepted as a writer in the film industry. Without a moment of delay Rajavenu narrated the long list of his creative writings- that were never written- never even thought off. And to top all that he started flattering the Director for all his laugh riots and commercial hits. When Rajavenu asked him the reason behind him making only laugh riots or happy ending films, the Director grew a little serious! Pointing towards the open French Window that was facing the beautiful lawn he narrated his secret that led him hate tragedy and take up the whole task of making people laugh...

Director's Story:

"Mine was a happy family! I, my wife and my little daughter Sara. This window used to be her favorite. She never took the door but always jumped out of the French Window to reach the lawn. One day a rabies infected dog somehow made his way to the lawn. It bit my little daughter when she and her mother where playing in the lawn. My wife helplessly witnessed the horrifying seen and became insane. Till date she imagines Sara to be playing with her. Look there she is thinking Sara is playing with her...(A lady appears in the lawn..she is calling out Sara's name and pretending to play with her). This is my story. And that is why I make happy ending films. there is enough sorrow in this world."

The Director wiped his tears. Rajavenu didn't know how to express his grief over what had happened to this dear entertainer when suddenly the kid also appeared in the lawn and started playing with the lady. Unable to digest that he might be seeing the dead, Rajavenu asked the Director if he can see the kid with its mother. The Director got furious and accused Rajavenu of gesticulating with him. Rajavenu freaked out as the mother and daughter jumped in through the open French Window.

Rajavenu ran for his life and reached his friend to tell what happened with him. Listening to his rather expressive narration of what happened at the Director's place, his friend replied:

Lie at short notice is not just your specialty friend! You have a master in that case you know! Well...congratulations, for all the imaginative stories you cooked up at the spur of the moment you've earned the chance to write for his next film! But sure he wasn't going to let you think that you've convinced the master of the craft in believing the lies you said...