Netala trip report
K.S.Ramamurthy and K.C.Sundaram visited Netala School during 9-11 November 2011. This is the first visit of the SODEWS officials after the commencement of the current academic year (1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012).
Before proceeding to give a detailed report on several aspects of the school, a significantly noticeable aspect was the brilliant work done by C.V.Poornima, who within a short period of three months has improved the quality of the school academically and administratively. We expected to spend a lot of time to obtain data on several issues but were pleasantly surprised to note that these were already prepared in a basic format updated after the commencement of the new academic year. The significant contribution of Poornima was visibly seen in a phenomenal increase in student enrollment from 80 to 120 and the good impression of the local people having about the school.
Accounts
Upto September 30th 2011, the funding of the school was done by Aid India, Chennai and SODEWS has taken over from 1st October 2011. Periodical statement of accounts has been submitted to KKSF that will continue. School maintains two bank accounts - one for the funds made available by SODEWS and the other from collection of tuition fees and small donations. Accounts are well maintained and adeqaute proof have been given on cash and bank holdings.
Students and fee structure
There are a total number of 120 students of whom 83 are boys and 37 are girls. We observed that there are no students in 7th class as in the previous year the strength in the 6th class was too low to have admission in 7th class this year. In the current year there are 12 students who will move to 7th class next year. Obviously there will be no students in the 8th class in the academic year 2012 – 2013. With the increase in strength, the school is expected to have reasonable strength from the academic year 2013-2014. The trend indicates that with a slight improvement in the infrastructure details of which are stated in later paragraphs that the school is expected to have not less than 150 students from the next academic year. The tuition fee structure is such that the kindergarten students are charged a maximum of Rs. 200 a month; 1st and 2nd standard students Rs. 220; 3rd to 5th Rs. 250 and 6th to 8th Rs. 300. But it is observed that there is no uniform collection of fees. Depending upon the economic condition of the parents of the students, the principal has exempted some students from paying full fees. In fact 18 students pay no fees at all. We accept this situation as this renders a valuable contribution to the social welfare of the rural poor. The school has collected around 1,65,000 so far from tuition fees and the total fees collected at the end of the year may not exceed 2 lakhs.
Staff
There are 10 teaching staff including the principal and 2 administrative staff. Three teachers have B.Ed degree and four have university degree and two are twelfth pass. One of the twelfth pass is a computer instructor - very smart and quite capable of teaching the children. One aspect that has been brought to our notice is the high rate of attrition of B.Ed degree teachers. However, a stable situation has been noted and the quality of teaching seems to be good for a rural based school. SODEWS attempt to send a full time teacher / administrator so far has not been succesful so far. Periodic visit by Poornima, Sundaram, Satya and Ramamurthy has an impact. The principal is still on a lookout for a teacher / administrator to be added to the staff strength particularly in the view of the strength is likely to go up by at least 25%.
School
The school has classes upto 8th. The government has recognised upto 5th standard. It is expected that the government will accord approval to 6th standard from the next academic year as the education department seems to be satisfied with the overall performance of the school including the present infrastructure. This move will pave way for the recognition upto the 8th standard in due course. A copy of the government report by the District Block Education Officer (DBEO) expressing satisfaction about the school is enclosed.
Computer education
Computer classes are held thrice a week giving about three hours of training.
Transport
The school provides transport at a cost of Rs.10,000 a month to bring children from villages which are more than 1.5 - 2 kms. The children pay a nominal charge of Rs. 100 to the school. This facility has been a major factor for the improved strength of the school. In a PTA meeting, which we had, the view of the parents and the committee members was that the school strength would grow considerably if the school had its own mini van. The capital cost of getting a mini van is likely to be around 6 lakhs. The parents emphasise that this will not only improve the strength of the school but also provide a safe commuting to the school during the peak season (about 4 months).
Infrastructure to be developed
There already exists a playfield, which requires a protective wall (because of mountainous area there is no level playing field). Heavy floods in the recent monsoon destroyed the wall constructed earlier. It was observed that the construction of the wall was not of the desirable standard, which led to the destruction. We have discussed this subject in complete detail including the use of the stones that have been washed away to minimise the reconstruction of the wall to an acceptable standard to withhold any fury of flood in future. Estimate for this project is under preparation.
We have obtained an estimate for 8 lakhs for the construction of two classrooms measuring 400 sq. ft. each. Additional rooms are justified as it was observed that in some classrooms students belonging to different levels are accomodated. SODEWS is trying to identify a possible donor for this.
Until a few months back there was an access to a land belonging to another private party for the pathway from the mainroad to the school premises. The private party has now refused to allow the use of the passage and the school has made temporary arrangement from the road. The principal finding the temporary arrangement inadequate and slippery has approached the government to provide a piece of land to lay a path to the school from the main road. The government authorities have approved the allocation of land for this path and an estimate to the tune of 2.8 lakhs has been prepared. The principal has agreed to use the funds collected by way of tution fees with an additional input from SODEWS for laying a good path.
New project – Mid day meal scheme
It is desirable to embark on this noble project to help the poor children. In our discussions with the principal we learnt that to supply two rotis and a cup of vegetables would cost about Rs. 10 per child. On the basis of having 130 children and staff it would cost Rs. 1300 a day. If implemented from 1st December 2011 upto 31st March 2012, it would cost about Rs. 1,10,000. For the next academic year with about projected 160 students and staff, the total annual cost would be Rs. 4,00,000 (250 school working days in a year). While SODEWS would try to get donors for this project, KKSF is requested to get some sponsors.
Committee and PTA meeting
On the 11th of November, we took part in the executive committee meeting of the school followed by a meeting of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) which was attended by about 65 people. The meeting revealed the admiration of the people for the manner in which the school is been administered. The principal and the teachers are devoted and take special care of the children particularly the weaker students. The parents were particularly happy that two of the children from the school have been selected for Navodaya, a central government school. These two children happen to be the only two to have been selected from Uttarkasi. Taking advantage of our presence in the PTA meeting, we stressed the importance of community participation in the activities of the school particularly when it comes to development project. The people present assured us that they would offer ‘shramdan’ and provide material support as much as possible for them. The local participation was stressed taking in view of the long-term plan for it to be self-reliant. This was endorsed by the people present in the meeting as well.
We had also suggested that the executive committee which has 10 members be reorganised to have 9 or 11 members and that only active persons should be elected to the committee.
School future plans
It is our observation that the school will have to be supported upto March 2014 for which SODEWS is approaching various individuals and organisations to extend support. This recommendation is being made, as we believe the school is producing students of quality who come from extremely poor family. SODEWS would be approaching organisations such as Azim Premji Foundation, which has announced its intention to set up high quality primary schools in rural areas particularly in states like Uttarakhand. SODEWS with its vast experience in the quality improvement of primary education will take all efforts to take partners such as Azim Premji Foundation. The enthusiasm shown by the participants in the PTA meeting provides ample proof of their desire to shoulder responsibilities gradually. The school will become a middle school from the academic year commencing April 2012, which will pave way for it to become a higher secondary school in due course.
SODEWS will continue to send its staff periodically on short-term assignments not only to monitor the performance but also to assist in teaching and administrative matters.
Our mission was fruitful particularly because of the assistance rendered by Principal Rajmati and other staff.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The way to die.
Camp: Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Saylorsburg, PA
At this camp, in the eigth chapter of the Bhagavadgita, death is discussed at length. I am pasting below one of my earlier posts and a mail I recieved from Ramu Uncle. I just spoke to Ramu uncle. This unique lady, an inspiration to me, died exactly the way it is being described in our scriptures. She went to the to local Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna) temple, complained of some unease, chanted "Narayana" three times and just passed away. My humble pranams to her.
E mail from Ramu Uncle
"Satya who was to come with me has cancelled his trip as his mother passed away yesterday. You met her in Tirupathur. The old lady died of heart attack and even at 88, she never wanted to trouble anyone. love. ram uncle"
My earlier blog
A Life well spent.
Camp: Yelagiri, Tamilnadu
I was expecting to meet my friend, V. Satyanarayanan (Satya) , at Yelagiri on Thursday, August 4th, 2011 and spend a few days with him. In addition to seeing his mother in Tirupattur, about ten Kilometers away, he was to discuss our charitable work. Instead, he called from Chennai to tell us that he has postponed his trip by a day.
Satya came to Yelagiri on Friday August, 5th. The reason he did not come on Wednesday was that his mother, who is eighty five years old, told him that she was busy and can’t meet with him on the day suggested by Satya. The minute I heard that his eighty five year old mother was so busy that she could not meet with her son, I said to him I have to meet her. I like the fact that she has a life, a busy life at that. Not your typical, counting the days, mami.
So, on Friday we were off to see this eighty five year old lady. She is independent, lives by herself, has a very active political and social life. She wears a Kosaam Podavai, the typical south Indian Brahmin style traditional saree.
In the State of Tamilnadu, anti Brahmin rhetoric is the very basis of the rise of many a political party for over fifty years. The fact that a lady who has by her dress code made no secret of her caste and rose to become a city councillor, for twenty three years, is no small feat. When we reached her home, there were three people discussing their problems. I am sure they were seeking her help in navigating the bureaucracy.
She is well known to all the powers to be in the government machinery. In India, the maxim “who you know is more important than what you know” is very apt.
This sprightly lady has no problem putting her contacts to good use. She was immediately on the phone talking to people to help these folks. I am quite sure that only because she has a great track record of getting things done, people still keep coming to her. Politics and government offices are now dominated by non Brahmins or sometimes even Brahmin haters. It is her zeal to help those in need, regardless of the caste or creed of the person, that comes through. That is why a phone call, a push, a nudge, a plea from her works. Even a die hard anti Brahmin has to heed her call, knowing she has nothing to gain, personally. All she wants is to help her “friends”.
She is very clear what she wants to do with her life. She can teach all a thing or two about priorities. She is not one of those waiting for death. I am convinced that it is her interaction with so many people that keeps her young. She has no time for Alzheimer’s, Dementia and other old age related phenomena generally seen in people of her age.
She inspires me. May the Lord bless her with good health.
At this camp, in the eigth chapter of the Bhagavadgita, death is discussed at length. I am pasting below one of my earlier posts and a mail I recieved from Ramu Uncle. I just spoke to Ramu uncle. This unique lady, an inspiration to me, died exactly the way it is being described in our scriptures. She went to the to local Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna) temple, complained of some unease, chanted "Narayana" three times and just passed away. My humble pranams to her.
E mail from Ramu Uncle
"Satya who was to come with me has cancelled his trip as his mother passed away yesterday. You met her in Tirupathur. The old lady died of heart attack and even at 88, she never wanted to trouble anyone. love. ram uncle"
My earlier blog
A Life well spent.
Camp: Yelagiri, Tamilnadu
I was expecting to meet my friend, V. Satyanarayanan (Satya) , at Yelagiri on Thursday, August 4th, 2011 and spend a few days with him. In addition to seeing his mother in Tirupattur, about ten Kilometers away, he was to discuss our charitable work. Instead, he called from Chennai to tell us that he has postponed his trip by a day.
Satya came to Yelagiri on Friday August, 5th. The reason he did not come on Wednesday was that his mother, who is eighty five years old, told him that she was busy and can’t meet with him on the day suggested by Satya. The minute I heard that his eighty five year old mother was so busy that she could not meet with her son, I said to him I have to meet her. I like the fact that she has a life, a busy life at that. Not your typical, counting the days, mami.
So, on Friday we were off to see this eighty five year old lady. She is independent, lives by herself, has a very active political and social life. She wears a Kosaam Podavai, the typical south Indian Brahmin style traditional saree.
In the State of Tamilnadu, anti Brahmin rhetoric is the very basis of the rise of many a political party for over fifty years. The fact that a lady who has by her dress code made no secret of her caste and rose to become a city councillor, for twenty three years, is no small feat. When we reached her home, there were three people discussing their problems. I am sure they were seeking her help in navigating the bureaucracy.
She is well known to all the powers to be in the government machinery. In India, the maxim “who you know is more important than what you know” is very apt.
This sprightly lady has no problem putting her contacts to good use. She was immediately on the phone talking to people to help these folks. I am quite sure that only because she has a great track record of getting things done, people still keep coming to her. Politics and government offices are now dominated by non Brahmins or sometimes even Brahmin haters. It is her zeal to help those in need, regardless of the caste or creed of the person, that comes through. That is why a phone call, a push, a nudge, a plea from her works. Even a die hard anti Brahmin has to heed her call, knowing she has nothing to gain, personally. All she wants is to help her “friends”.
She is very clear what she wants to do with her life. She can teach all a thing or two about priorities. She is not one of those waiting for death. I am convinced that it is her interaction with so many people that keeps her young. She has no time for Alzheimer’s, Dementia and other old age related phenomena generally seen in people of her age.
She inspires me. May the Lord bless her with good health.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Six week Religon camp
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam
Along with my wife Geetha, I am attending a six week residential course at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, located in the Pocono Mountains. (Arshavidya.org) Even though this six week format has been offered for at least a decade and my wife has attended a few of the camps in the past, only this year I have the confidence that even if I am not physically present at work, everything will be OK. My partners instill a sense of confidence in me that everything will be fine at work. The good thing is I am very much in touch with my office thro phone and internet. (This is my ego talking) The course started on October 12th, 2011 and ends on November 20th, 2011.
The course is intense. The day starts at 5.45 a.m. with Abhishekam to Lord Dakshinamurthi. At 7.00 a.m. we have guided meditation with Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati (TV) for half an hour. From 8.15 to 9.15 it is Yoga with a certified instructor. (Well, I miss the Yoga classes as I have to do my own Pooja in my room) Then at 10.00 am it is Samskritam (the proper way to say it) (Sanskrit) classes. I feel like a school kid again, back in Mahbub College Higher Secondary School, Secunderabad. At 11.20 a.m. it is Brahadaranyaka Upanishad with Swami TV. At 12.45pm it is lunch time, my favorite part of the camp. Kalpathi Ramachandran (KR) is the chef in charge of the kitchen. I hold him personally responsible if I put on any weight in this camp. At 3.45 pm., it is chanting time with Suddhatma, the General Manager of the Gurukulam. At 5.15 it is chapter eight of the Bhagavad-Gita,with Swami TV. After evening Arati at 6.30p.m. and Satsang at 8.00 p.m. with Swami TV, it is time to call it a day.
I go on to the gym for an hour’s work out on the stair master and I burn about 450- to 550 calories. I am trying my best to skip dinner but the food is too tempting. Too much love put in by KR in the food.
The other day I was sitting with KR and he was telling me all about his life. I was not only moved by his story but was amazed at his resilience. I don’t know how much he has listened to the talks by the various Swamiji’s but I noticed how he put all that is taught here in practice in his life. In fact, that is “Practical Vedanta”.
A few years ago, when I wanted to do some Pariharams and poojas in Kerala, I went to Palaghat and stayed at his home. The love and affection shown by his wife Revathi, his six children and Chitthappa is something I will always cherish. I was telling KR about my new passion for writing blogs. He said that he will sit with me and go through his life story and I should share it with all of you. He is now 49 years old. I will be doing that in the coming weeks and I have his explicit permission to share his story. Please wait. Be patient. I promise you it will be interesting.
Along with my wife Geetha, I am attending a six week residential course at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, located in the Pocono Mountains. (Arshavidya.org) Even though this six week format has been offered for at least a decade and my wife has attended a few of the camps in the past, only this year I have the confidence that even if I am not physically present at work, everything will be OK. My partners instill a sense of confidence in me that everything will be fine at work. The good thing is I am very much in touch with my office thro phone and internet. (This is my ego talking) The course started on October 12th, 2011 and ends on November 20th, 2011.
The course is intense. The day starts at 5.45 a.m. with Abhishekam to Lord Dakshinamurthi. At 7.00 a.m. we have guided meditation with Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati (TV) for half an hour. From 8.15 to 9.15 it is Yoga with a certified instructor. (Well, I miss the Yoga classes as I have to do my own Pooja in my room) Then at 10.00 am it is Samskritam (the proper way to say it) (Sanskrit) classes. I feel like a school kid again, back in Mahbub College Higher Secondary School, Secunderabad. At 11.20 a.m. it is Brahadaranyaka Upanishad with Swami TV. At 12.45pm it is lunch time, my favorite part of the camp. Kalpathi Ramachandran (KR) is the chef in charge of the kitchen. I hold him personally responsible if I put on any weight in this camp. At 3.45 pm., it is chanting time with Suddhatma, the General Manager of the Gurukulam. At 5.15 it is chapter eight of the Bhagavad-Gita,with Swami TV. After evening Arati at 6.30p.m. and Satsang at 8.00 p.m. with Swami TV, it is time to call it a day.
I go on to the gym for an hour’s work out on the stair master and I burn about 450- to 550 calories. I am trying my best to skip dinner but the food is too tempting. Too much love put in by KR in the food.
The other day I was sitting with KR and he was telling me all about his life. I was not only moved by his story but was amazed at his resilience. I don’t know how much he has listened to the talks by the various Swamiji’s but I noticed how he put all that is taught here in practice in his life. In fact, that is “Practical Vedanta”.
A few years ago, when I wanted to do some Pariharams and poojas in Kerala, I went to Palaghat and stayed at his home. The love and affection shown by his wife Revathi, his six children and Chitthappa is something I will always cherish. I was telling KR about my new passion for writing blogs. He said that he will sit with me and go through his life story and I should share it with all of you. He is now 49 years old. I will be doing that in the coming weeks and I have his explicit permission to share his story. Please wait. Be patient. I promise you it will be interesting.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
My Charity Work
What is my charity work?
My children know that their dad is engaged in some kind of “Social Work”. Like most of my friends, acquaintances and relatives, they don’t know what exactly I do. They know I am doing something to help people. I have talked to my children about the need for us as a family to help the less fortunate amongst us. We, meaning people who can read this blog, are truly blessed. Knowing that half the world goes to bed hungry is very sobering. That we can walk, talk, see, have a roof over our head, and have food on the table is a great blessing. Having grown up in a third world country like India, I don’t take anything for granted. Everything is a gift from God.
I look around. I look into myself. I see a lot of suffering, a lot of pain. There is a great philosophical debate about “free will”. How much of the suffering that we see or experience is truly a choice we made. That is the will of God. We are helpless. It appears that in certain areas I have it better than some. But suffering is common to all of us. Fortunately, some of that suffering can be alleviated. We can do something. For example, how can elderly people fend for themselves? What can a child do if it is abandoned or both parents are dead? I know that seniors are a neglected lot. Some seniors are neglected because their children are abroad. In some situations seniors want their independence and in some cases neglect is due to economic reasons. I have met and I know many such people.
I was involved in charity work in an unorganized manner for a few years prior to meeting His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswati the Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in 1989. Being a Sanyasi and a Peetadhipathi, his idea of helping people by going to their communities is absolutely revolutionary. Starting schools, colleges, hospitals are all his ideas. At his behest I, along with a few others, formed the Kanchi Kamakoti Seva Foundation (KKSF) and obtained a Sec. 501 (C) (3) tax exempt status. Later in 2000, I was involved in the formation of AIM for Seva, an innovative idea in education, particularly for tribal people and residents of remote villages, started by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati. I would never have the opportunity to meet some amazing people or see the “other” side of some people, but for my charity work. These people have influenced my thinking a lot. Also, my two daughters, who are idealists and would like to help the whole world, have always shown their concern for the downtrodden.
I have visited orphanages, senior citizens homes, school for autistic children, Veda patasalas, schools and hospitals. There is a crying need for us to do something. Presently, all my charity work in India is done through SODEWS. Helping me in this matter is Ramu Uncle. He heads SODEWS, which does remarkable work in Tamilnadu and has taken under its wing a school in Uttarakhand. Poornima assists Ramu Uncle in his work. Poornima has a Masters in Social Work. Great people, great team, great souls.
We are on the lookout for a five to ten acre parcel of land. The idea is to build an orphanage to house 100 girls, a senior citizen center, a Goshala (for cow protection), an NRI center so that volunteers from across the globe can stay and work, a recreation place, computer / library center. There will be regular classes in Yoga, meditation, religious chanting, bhajans. The search for acquiring land has been going on for at least a year. In India, buying land is not easy. We always find out at the last minute that some hidden legal problems exist. There is no concept of Title Insurance.
If you are wondering why I would want to combine senior citizens with orphans, it is to give each an opportunity to show and receive love. The senior citizens will feel a sense of self worth. They will also be involved in gardening, landscaping and all other activities generally denied to them for a variety of reasons. The orphans will receive the most important ingredient in their formative years, love. The orphanage will be unique in many aspects. The girls will have all the comforts which my children had growing up. They can dream big and money will not stop them from getting into the school or college of their choice. NRI children will be transformed as a result of their interaction with our girls and seniors. They can share their talents and knowledge with children who will love and respect them, unconditionally.
Please pray that Ramu Uncle and Poornima are successful soon in acquiring the land we are looking for in and around Jolarpet. We chose Jolarpet because land prices are still affordable. Also, Ramu Uncle lives in Yelagiri, a beautiful hill station, about 3500 feet above sea level, which is a forty five minute car ride from Jolarpet. Jolarpet is half way between Chennai and Bangalore. You have to go through fourteen hair pin bends to get to Yelagiri. Land prices in Yelagiri have shot up through the roof. The going rate in Yelagiri is about Two hundred thousand dollars an acre. In fact, a kind soul from the west coast of the US has agreed to give us two acres of land in Yelagiri. God Bless him. We may use that land to build a senior center and for NRI’s to stay. Let us wait and see how things shape up.
My children know that their dad is engaged in some kind of “Social Work”. Like most of my friends, acquaintances and relatives, they don’t know what exactly I do. They know I am doing something to help people. I have talked to my children about the need for us as a family to help the less fortunate amongst us. We, meaning people who can read this blog, are truly blessed. Knowing that half the world goes to bed hungry is very sobering. That we can walk, talk, see, have a roof over our head, and have food on the table is a great blessing. Having grown up in a third world country like India, I don’t take anything for granted. Everything is a gift from God.
I look around. I look into myself. I see a lot of suffering, a lot of pain. There is a great philosophical debate about “free will”. How much of the suffering that we see or experience is truly a choice we made. That is the will of God. We are helpless. It appears that in certain areas I have it better than some. But suffering is common to all of us. Fortunately, some of that suffering can be alleviated. We can do something. For example, how can elderly people fend for themselves? What can a child do if it is abandoned or both parents are dead? I know that seniors are a neglected lot. Some seniors are neglected because their children are abroad. In some situations seniors want their independence and in some cases neglect is due to economic reasons. I have met and I know many such people.
I was involved in charity work in an unorganized manner for a few years prior to meeting His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswati the Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in 1989. Being a Sanyasi and a Peetadhipathi, his idea of helping people by going to their communities is absolutely revolutionary. Starting schools, colleges, hospitals are all his ideas. At his behest I, along with a few others, formed the Kanchi Kamakoti Seva Foundation (KKSF) and obtained a Sec. 501 (C) (3) tax exempt status. Later in 2000, I was involved in the formation of AIM for Seva, an innovative idea in education, particularly for tribal people and residents of remote villages, started by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati. I would never have the opportunity to meet some amazing people or see the “other” side of some people, but for my charity work. These people have influenced my thinking a lot. Also, my two daughters, who are idealists and would like to help the whole world, have always shown their concern for the downtrodden.
I have visited orphanages, senior citizens homes, school for autistic children, Veda patasalas, schools and hospitals. There is a crying need for us to do something. Presently, all my charity work in India is done through SODEWS. Helping me in this matter is Ramu Uncle. He heads SODEWS, which does remarkable work in Tamilnadu and has taken under its wing a school in Uttarakhand. Poornima assists Ramu Uncle in his work. Poornima has a Masters in Social Work. Great people, great team, great souls.
We are on the lookout for a five to ten acre parcel of land. The idea is to build an orphanage to house 100 girls, a senior citizen center, a Goshala (for cow protection), an NRI center so that volunteers from across the globe can stay and work, a recreation place, computer / library center. There will be regular classes in Yoga, meditation, religious chanting, bhajans. The search for acquiring land has been going on for at least a year. In India, buying land is not easy. We always find out at the last minute that some hidden legal problems exist. There is no concept of Title Insurance.
If you are wondering why I would want to combine senior citizens with orphans, it is to give each an opportunity to show and receive love. The senior citizens will feel a sense of self worth. They will also be involved in gardening, landscaping and all other activities generally denied to them for a variety of reasons. The orphans will receive the most important ingredient in their formative years, love. The orphanage will be unique in many aspects. The girls will have all the comforts which my children had growing up. They can dream big and money will not stop them from getting into the school or college of their choice. NRI children will be transformed as a result of their interaction with our girls and seniors. They can share their talents and knowledge with children who will love and respect them, unconditionally.
Please pray that Ramu Uncle and Poornima are successful soon in acquiring the land we are looking for in and around Jolarpet. We chose Jolarpet because land prices are still affordable. Also, Ramu Uncle lives in Yelagiri, a beautiful hill station, about 3500 feet above sea level, which is a forty five minute car ride from Jolarpet. Jolarpet is half way between Chennai and Bangalore. You have to go through fourteen hair pin bends to get to Yelagiri. Land prices in Yelagiri have shot up through the roof. The going rate in Yelagiri is about Two hundred thousand dollars an acre. In fact, a kind soul from the west coast of the US has agreed to give us two acres of land in Yelagiri. God Bless him. We may use that land to build a senior center and for NRI’s to stay. Let us wait and see how things shape up.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Education and its impact
Education and its impact
All names, except Ramu Uncle's have been changed to protect the identity of my friends.
All my social work in India is done through my cousin, Ramu Uncle. His real name is K .S.Ramamurthy . He is 78 years old and has very progressive ideas on everything. His father was a Freedom Fighter and Gandhian. There were many days, may be years when the family has struggled with poverty. Going to bed hungry was not something Ramu Uncle has not experienced. Even today, he is proud to talk about it. He is humble. I like that. That is the atmosphere Ramu uncle grew up in. Ramu Uncle went to college at night, worked for the US Embassy in India, and later for the Government of Botswana as Deputy Post Master General. He returned to India to work with the less fortunate people. He did not just preach about the need for equality, but practiced it at his own home. Two side notes: One, Ramu Uncle’s younger brother, Cheenu, is married to my younger sister, Bhanu. I know Ramu Uncle, from about my age twelve, well before Cheenu married my sister. It is in the home of Cheenu and Bhanu that I met the people I am talking about. Second, Ramu Uncle and his wife Malathi have no children.
When the cleaning lady / cook (Chandra) used to come to Ramu Uncle's home to start her work day, he would insist that she eat first. This was generally not done in the India of forty years ago. I guess, in some homes even today. India is a very status conscious country.
Chandra’s husband (Sarathi) was a driver for a retired educationist, living right across the street from Ramu Uncle's home. Ramu Uncle drilled it into Chandra and Sarathi that their only son, (Ganesh) should go to college, get a degree, and work for a “big company”, just as he expects his nieces and nephews to do. Radical thinking for sure.
Education is not cheap. Given India’s population and the severe competition for college seats, and the proliferation of “for profit” colleges, the “donation” to get a seat in engineering school can be sizable. Given the limited income of the parents, Ganesh could not have imagined his parents paying for "donation", tuition, books etc. every year.
The prohibitive cost of education in India did not stop Ramu Uncle with going forward with his idea of educating Ganesh. When the time came, Ganesh should go to college. Period. He collected funds from his friends and admirers and helped put Ganesh thro college.
Fast forward four years.
Ganesh has a four year degree in computer sciences. Armed with that degree, he got a job offer from one of India’s top software companies. As I write this, Ganesh works in London, is a project manager and manages a fifteen member team. That is the power of education. He has already bought an apartment for his parents to stay in, a car and the “need” for his parents to work is greatly reduced. All because of the four year college degree Ganesh got, thanks to the “out of the box” thinking of Ramu Uncle.
Ganesh has since married, another software professional, also working for a major Indian Software company and they are expecting their first child soon.
God bless Ramu Uncle, Chandra, Sarathi and Ganesh. And the new bride and the child to come. My best wishes to all of them.
All names, except Ramu Uncle's have been changed to protect the identity of my friends.
All my social work in India is done through my cousin, Ramu Uncle. His real name is K .S.Ramamurthy . He is 78 years old and has very progressive ideas on everything. His father was a Freedom Fighter and Gandhian. There were many days, may be years when the family has struggled with poverty. Going to bed hungry was not something Ramu Uncle has not experienced. Even today, he is proud to talk about it. He is humble. I like that. That is the atmosphere Ramu uncle grew up in. Ramu Uncle went to college at night, worked for the US Embassy in India, and later for the Government of Botswana as Deputy Post Master General. He returned to India to work with the less fortunate people. He did not just preach about the need for equality, but practiced it at his own home. Two side notes: One, Ramu Uncle’s younger brother, Cheenu, is married to my younger sister, Bhanu. I know Ramu Uncle, from about my age twelve, well before Cheenu married my sister. It is in the home of Cheenu and Bhanu that I met the people I am talking about. Second, Ramu Uncle and his wife Malathi have no children.
When the cleaning lady / cook (Chandra) used to come to Ramu Uncle's home to start her work day, he would insist that she eat first. This was generally not done in the India of forty years ago. I guess, in some homes even today. India is a very status conscious country.
Chandra’s husband (Sarathi) was a driver for a retired educationist, living right across the street from Ramu Uncle's home. Ramu Uncle drilled it into Chandra and Sarathi that their only son, (Ganesh) should go to college, get a degree, and work for a “big company”, just as he expects his nieces and nephews to do. Radical thinking for sure.
Education is not cheap. Given India’s population and the severe competition for college seats, and the proliferation of “for profit” colleges, the “donation” to get a seat in engineering school can be sizable. Given the limited income of the parents, Ganesh could not have imagined his parents paying for "donation", tuition, books etc. every year.
The prohibitive cost of education in India did not stop Ramu Uncle with going forward with his idea of educating Ganesh. When the time came, Ganesh should go to college. Period. He collected funds from his friends and admirers and helped put Ganesh thro college.
Fast forward four years.
Ganesh has a four year degree in computer sciences. Armed with that degree, he got a job offer from one of India’s top software companies. As I write this, Ganesh works in London, is a project manager and manages a fifteen member team. That is the power of education. He has already bought an apartment for his parents to stay in, a car and the “need” for his parents to work is greatly reduced. All because of the four year college degree Ganesh got, thanks to the “out of the box” thinking of Ramu Uncle.
Ganesh has since married, another software professional, also working for a major Indian Software company and they are expecting their first child soon.
God bless Ramu Uncle, Chandra, Sarathi and Ganesh. And the new bride and the child to come. My best wishes to all of them.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Books to Read and Movies to See
Indian Books and Movies
When I was on holiday this summer, I had my laptop with me and also had an internet connection, thanks to an Airtel “Dongel”. I was able to find out which are the best seller books and get information on various language movies, released in the past few years. Armed with this knowledge, my shopping for books and DVD’s was much focused. I recommend the following books for you to read and (please make the time) to relax. I know we are all busy but if we get our priorities right and treat ourselves, not a confused view of what is expected of us, we can make time to relax and enjoy these little pleasures.
1. Sadhguru – A biography about Jaggi Vasudev. Fascinating book to read. It is good to know that there are still such people around. The cover flap sold me. I always like to know more about such “off beat” people and also as to why so many young, smart, well educated people are his students and disciples. Here is the flap of the book.
“The thirst to be boundless is not created by you; it is just life longing for itself. This is the extraordinary story of Sadhguru a young agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a skeptic who turned spiritual guide. The book seeks to re-create the life journey of a man who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion, ancient wisdom with a provocatively contemporary outlook and a deep knowledge of the self with a contagious love of life. Sadhguru is equally at home in a satsangh in rural Tamil Nadu as at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In his early years, Jaggi Vasudev (or Sadhguru as he is now known) was a chronic truant, a boisterous prankster, and later a lover of motorbikes and fast cars. It is evident that the same urgency, passion and vitality echo in his spiritual pursuits to this day, from his creation of the historic Dhyanalinga the mission of three lifetimes to his approach as a guru. In Sadhguru’s view, faith and reason, spirituality and science, the sacred and the material, cannot be divided into easy binaries. He sees people as spiritual beings dabbling with the material rather than the reverse, and liberation as the fundamental longing in every form of life. Truth for him is a living experience instead of a destination, a conclusion, or a matter of metaphysical speculation. Drawing upon extended conversations with Sadhguru, interviews with Isha colleagues and fellow meditators, poet Arundhathi Subramaniam presents an evocative portrait of a contemporary mystic and guru a man who seems to pack the intensity and adventure of several lifetimes into a single one”.
2. Chanakya’s Chant: Fascinating book. The story goes back and forth from today’s political scene to 2300 years ago. Nothing has changed. Chanakya was a smart man. My friend Poornima Athreya recommended the book and I got it in Hyderabad. The flap says it all.
“The year is 340 BC. A hunted, haunted Brahmin youth vows revenge for the gruesome murder of his beloved father. Cold, cunning, calculating, cruel and armed with a complete absence of accepted morals, he becomes the most powerful political strategist in Bharat and succeeds in uniting a ragged country against the invasion of the army of that demigod, Alexander the Great.
Pitting the weak edges of both forces against each other, he pulls off a wicked and astonishing victory and succeeds in installing Chandragupta on the throne of the mighty Mauryan Empire. History knows him as the brilliant strategist Chanakya.
But history, which exults in repeating itself, revives Chanakya two and a half millennia later, in the avatar of Gangasagar Mishra, a Brahmin teacher in small-town India who becomes puppeteer to a host of ambitious individuals--including a certain slum child who grows up into a beautiful and powerful woman.
Modern India happens to be just as riven ( what is this ?) as ancient Bharat by class hatred, corruption and divisive politics and this landscape is Gangasagar's feasting ground. Can this wily pandit--who preys on greed, venality and sexual deviance--bring about another miracle of a united India?”
The Other Side of Belief – Interpreting U G Krishnamurthi. Great but very heavy reading. UGK was 27 years younger than the more famous Krishnamurthi, Jiddu that is. UGK was a disciple of JK but later questioned many of the more famous observations of JK. Lots of interesting exchanges between JK and UGK. If you are a student and admirer of JK, you may not like some of the things said in this book.
Movies: I saw some great movies on my laptop with my headphones on.
1. Welcome to Sajjanpur- Hindi – A movie by Shyam Benegal. One of the cutest movies I have seen in a long time. An absolutely must see movie.
2. Jab We Met – Hindi – At thirty two years of age, if I saw this movie, my first reaction would have been “do such people really exist in this world”. As a 62 year old, I have a different take – I have met such people. I know such people. Beautiful movie. See it.
3. Metro- Hindi – Sad, but true depiction of life in a big city.
4. Strangers – Hindi - Scary – good move.
5. Atma Katha - Malayalam – I cried so much- more so after I met Ajay Prakash Dhanak – see my blog about him. Great movie. In fact, Bengali and Malayalam movies are the best.
6. Chupke Chupke – Hindi – For old times’ sake I saw this nearly 40 year old movie with Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amithabh and Jaya Bahaduri. Good, clean comedy. If you have not seen it, just see it.
When I was on holiday this summer, I had my laptop with me and also had an internet connection, thanks to an Airtel “Dongel”. I was able to find out which are the best seller books and get information on various language movies, released in the past few years. Armed with this knowledge, my shopping for books and DVD’s was much focused. I recommend the following books for you to read and (please make the time) to relax. I know we are all busy but if we get our priorities right and treat ourselves, not a confused view of what is expected of us, we can make time to relax and enjoy these little pleasures.
1. Sadhguru – A biography about Jaggi Vasudev. Fascinating book to read. It is good to know that there are still such people around. The cover flap sold me. I always like to know more about such “off beat” people and also as to why so many young, smart, well educated people are his students and disciples. Here is the flap of the book.
“The thirst to be boundless is not created by you; it is just life longing for itself. This is the extraordinary story of Sadhguru a young agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a skeptic who turned spiritual guide. The book seeks to re-create the life journey of a man who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion, ancient wisdom with a provocatively contemporary outlook and a deep knowledge of the self with a contagious love of life. Sadhguru is equally at home in a satsangh in rural Tamil Nadu as at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In his early years, Jaggi Vasudev (or Sadhguru as he is now known) was a chronic truant, a boisterous prankster, and later a lover of motorbikes and fast cars. It is evident that the same urgency, passion and vitality echo in his spiritual pursuits to this day, from his creation of the historic Dhyanalinga the mission of three lifetimes to his approach as a guru. In Sadhguru’s view, faith and reason, spirituality and science, the sacred and the material, cannot be divided into easy binaries. He sees people as spiritual beings dabbling with the material rather than the reverse, and liberation as the fundamental longing in every form of life. Truth for him is a living experience instead of a destination, a conclusion, or a matter of metaphysical speculation. Drawing upon extended conversations with Sadhguru, interviews with Isha colleagues and fellow meditators, poet Arundhathi Subramaniam presents an evocative portrait of a contemporary mystic and guru a man who seems to pack the intensity and adventure of several lifetimes into a single one”.
2. Chanakya’s Chant: Fascinating book. The story goes back and forth from today’s political scene to 2300 years ago. Nothing has changed. Chanakya was a smart man. My friend Poornima Athreya recommended the book and I got it in Hyderabad. The flap says it all.
“The year is 340 BC. A hunted, haunted Brahmin youth vows revenge for the gruesome murder of his beloved father. Cold, cunning, calculating, cruel and armed with a complete absence of accepted morals, he becomes the most powerful political strategist in Bharat and succeeds in uniting a ragged country against the invasion of the army of that demigod, Alexander the Great.
Pitting the weak edges of both forces against each other, he pulls off a wicked and astonishing victory and succeeds in installing Chandragupta on the throne of the mighty Mauryan Empire. History knows him as the brilliant strategist Chanakya.
But history, which exults in repeating itself, revives Chanakya two and a half millennia later, in the avatar of Gangasagar Mishra, a Brahmin teacher in small-town India who becomes puppeteer to a host of ambitious individuals--including a certain slum child who grows up into a beautiful and powerful woman.
Modern India happens to be just as riven ( what is this ?) as ancient Bharat by class hatred, corruption and divisive politics and this landscape is Gangasagar's feasting ground. Can this wily pandit--who preys on greed, venality and sexual deviance--bring about another miracle of a united India?”
The Other Side of Belief – Interpreting U G Krishnamurthi. Great but very heavy reading. UGK was 27 years younger than the more famous Krishnamurthi, Jiddu that is. UGK was a disciple of JK but later questioned many of the more famous observations of JK. Lots of interesting exchanges between JK and UGK. If you are a student and admirer of JK, you may not like some of the things said in this book.
Movies: I saw some great movies on my laptop with my headphones on.
1. Welcome to Sajjanpur- Hindi – A movie by Shyam Benegal. One of the cutest movies I have seen in a long time. An absolutely must see movie.
2. Jab We Met – Hindi – At thirty two years of age, if I saw this movie, my first reaction would have been “do such people really exist in this world”. As a 62 year old, I have a different take – I have met such people. I know such people. Beautiful movie. See it.
3. Metro- Hindi – Sad, but true depiction of life in a big city.
4. Strangers – Hindi - Scary – good move.
5. Atma Katha - Malayalam – I cried so much- more so after I met Ajay Prakash Dhanak – see my blog about him. Great movie. In fact, Bengali and Malayalam movies are the best.
6. Chupke Chupke – Hindi – For old times’ sake I saw this nearly 40 year old movie with Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amithabh and Jaya Bahaduri. Good, clean comedy. If you have not seen it, just see it.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
My Astrologer
My astrologer
From a very young age I have been fascinated with the science of astrology. I use the word science very deliberately. At every opportunity I would consult an astrologer to peer into the future. What is in store for me, my wife, my family, and my children? Even on this trip to India (between July and August 2011), I had the horoscopes of the Kumar family. Though I am choosy as to whom I show my family horoscopes to, I was on the lookout for a “one on one” with an astrologer but to no avail. I don’t think my father ever consulted an astrologer. My mother has always discouraged from seeing an astrologer. I have no idea where I get this trait from.
Our family astrologer, Sri Agni Sharma passed away a few years ago. His predictions were so good that if I start talking about them now, it would be hard to believe. That’s OK. By a strange set of circumstances, I was introduced to and met my present astrologer, Sri Jagannatha Swami. Sri Swami is based in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. He holds a PhD in astrology. Fortunately for me, he is internet savvy and understands my needs. He is very well versed in English.
As a service to my friends, I introduce Sri Swami to anyone who wants to consult with him. Strict confidentiality is maintained and I bow out as soon as I send the first e mail. I am pleased that many of our folks, both here and in India have contacted him. Before you jump to any conclusions about this, just look around you and examine your own life. I have had my share of ups and downs. If I am going thru a rough patch, I like to know how long this will last. I can’t say what role astrology played in my life. But this much I know: The late Agni Sharma was always on target and told me how long any phase would last. For example, if someone is going thru Sade Saath sani, or Ashtamatthil Sani, they would wish they were spared of the troubles they are enduring. I don’t know of a single person (except Kanchi Paramachrya, who is no different from Lord Rama or Bhagavan Sri Krishna) who has not had his share of misery in his journey of life.
About a decade ago, I met a friend of mine in Hyderabad, who quit his job as a software engineer and is engaged in fulltime research on Indian Astrology. According to him, Indian astrology is based on statistics. The way he explained Indian Astrology to me, it made absolute sense. While it was great to hear that from my very rational friend, I was always hooked on astrology.
At my age, I don’t ask too much about my life. I know I am not going to become a race car driver or the President of IBM or a Hindi movie star or a “Bada Vakil”. I want to know about my children.
From a very young age I have been fascinated with the science of astrology. I use the word science very deliberately. At every opportunity I would consult an astrologer to peer into the future. What is in store for me, my wife, my family, and my children? Even on this trip to India (between July and August 2011), I had the horoscopes of the Kumar family. Though I am choosy as to whom I show my family horoscopes to, I was on the lookout for a “one on one” with an astrologer but to no avail. I don’t think my father ever consulted an astrologer. My mother has always discouraged from seeing an astrologer. I have no idea where I get this trait from.
Our family astrologer, Sri Agni Sharma passed away a few years ago. His predictions were so good that if I start talking about them now, it would be hard to believe. That’s OK. By a strange set of circumstances, I was introduced to and met my present astrologer, Sri Jagannatha Swami. Sri Swami is based in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. He holds a PhD in astrology. Fortunately for me, he is internet savvy and understands my needs. He is very well versed in English.
As a service to my friends, I introduce Sri Swami to anyone who wants to consult with him. Strict confidentiality is maintained and I bow out as soon as I send the first e mail. I am pleased that many of our folks, both here and in India have contacted him. Before you jump to any conclusions about this, just look around you and examine your own life. I have had my share of ups and downs. If I am going thru a rough patch, I like to know how long this will last. I can’t say what role astrology played in my life. But this much I know: The late Agni Sharma was always on target and told me how long any phase would last. For example, if someone is going thru Sade Saath sani, or Ashtamatthil Sani, they would wish they were spared of the troubles they are enduring. I don’t know of a single person (except Kanchi Paramachrya, who is no different from Lord Rama or Bhagavan Sri Krishna) who has not had his share of misery in his journey of life.
About a decade ago, I met a friend of mine in Hyderabad, who quit his job as a software engineer and is engaged in fulltime research on Indian Astrology. According to him, Indian astrology is based on statistics. The way he explained Indian Astrology to me, it made absolute sense. While it was great to hear that from my very rational friend, I was always hooked on astrology.
At my age, I don’t ask too much about my life. I know I am not going to become a race car driver or the President of IBM or a Hindi movie star or a “Bada Vakil”. I want to know about my children.
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