Totally Confused

Tomorrow morning , what to make. Is it puris and curry or chappati and chana. So exciting.

Will the jackfruit  get ripe by tommorow. or will I have to wait? Should I make haste and make it to a curry  ready  early morning. If it is sweet then it may not  be good.

The sweet smell of two football sized jackfruit in the kitchen is intoxicating.

How happy when you know the wait is worth it.

 I am not talking about the jackfruit but about tomorrow's breakfast. Will I bungle it again  as usual or make it worth the while.

Let me make a difference this time.Take a deep breath and release quietly.

Blessing in disguise

Once upon a time, many years ago, in a small  suburban place called Manganam in the Land of latex called Kottayam lived a young man called ,"kuttan". During his heydays  he was the MGR of the place, helping   the needy and always there for every one.

Just like the wheels of time  is always on the move so was the fortunes of this young man. The onset of bad days cast its temporary spell for a good 25 years to follow.

As time moved  on,he left the shores  to a faraway land to start life afresh amongst unknown people and surroundings far away from his family.Much so much to become a not so known  to the next of kin as time went by as visits were  less frequent and far between..

The salary was not very  handsome but enough for self and to keep the flow of  payment to creditors  steady.However  like every  other human being from the first salary  earned off shore   a sum quite big in those days was sent.

The joy and happiness of receiving money from abroad was evident. But the first thought  was not of  spending it  but choosing  to hand it over to Fr. Chandy who is no more today for the welfare of the  orphans under his care then.This was a  thanksgiving to God..

After a long gap of so many years  with no creditors left , free soul just imagine receiving  a sum with an extra zero to what was received 25 years ago once again for the end use of children.

This is what is called a blessing in disguise.

Love times Amma & Daughter

I just  put across the idea ' No change is too small, as big was once small.' . I was intent on raising some funds  towards the Carmel School  and Ashalaya where I pitch in for about three days a week..

My 75 year old mom appreciated the idea.She was the first to jump into  the bandwagon of donors.
I can't give huge sums but if you collect from different people the amount can get bigger.

She definitely had a point there.

She chuckled as she handed me the cheque  to be filled in. I was awe struck at her cheerfulness in  giving me the cheque. This will add to our placing orders for books and stationery or perhaps towards a  kids school fees for a year as best Elizabeth decides.

How she promotes education. She took care that her maid's children at least finished SSLC and over the years  always goaded us to help  her  in this cause.I really don't think richness is measured by a person's bank balance. Richness is measured by being a good human being .

Today my day was made when she handpicked some of her sarees and gave them to me. She said,' Don't buy if you wish to wear some  of these just come and take from  here". She served me food with love.She takes pride in cooking and serving her children and grand children . She keeps  us together , subtly indicating united we stand but  divided we fall.

 I must definitely mention what I had missed out in life is getting poured out in full .I am enjoying every ounce of it with love. I am blessed.

Simply thanks Chandra

Chandra is a nice human being.
Not because of the cheque she handed over. It was the eagerness to do something by involving her family. So simple yet thoughtful.
This would go towards the cost of books or  perhaps the fees of two children for a full year.
This reminds me I don't need to be a Bill Gates or Warren Buffet.
Being an ordinary person knowing that there are extraordinary  people always willing to help make it a better place to live in is very encouraging.

“No change is too small, For big too was once small”.

http://www.bangalorecares.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=110&app=33

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With or Sans Education!

"Educating the educated"  an article by CK Meena under Hindu Metroplus on 16th March 2011 ruffled some  thoughts yet once again.

An instant flashback of an early morning  scene happening just outside my kitchen window at 6.30 a.m

Scene I
Two boys aged 12 and 13 with sacks big enough to hold five adults slung across their shoulder, tightening the string holding the rolled up pants  in place, gingerly hoist themselves on  the wall to land into  a vacant site .

Location  a newly added area of Greater Bangalore with just six houses land locked  with just one entrance to and from the main road  a kilometer away.Garbage disposal not yet organised but invariably dumped in vacant sites as it is an emergency always.

The boys are unaware  that I am watching them from my window. The boys are full of energy early morning and enthusiastic about  getting a good catch from this site.

They pick some iron pieces, empty water bottles,  some plastic pieces and throw them  on to the road. all the while talking . They jump back onto the road and pick up  the pieces and put into their sacks  is when I talk to them through the window.

Scene II
What are you doing?
 Just picking up these useless things , we are not robbers, we have not come to steal. We will go away now.

Why aren't you going to school?
I have some liabilities to clear after which I will go back to a hostel and study.This boy  also has some liabilities that is why we dropped out of school.

You can go to school and study and still clear your loans.
No response at all

You are telling lies , you both don't like to study just telling some excuses that is all.
Okay tell me what liabilities  will a small boy like you have??

I have a liability of rs 5000/.This amount was borrowed to treat my brother for burns.( in the process he shows me some fresh wound on his leg).I have to clear it. I get Rs 200 every day by this  rag picking. I have cleared a major amount . Only a little is left.Soon I will clear it  and join a hostel and study.  This boy  has a couple of thousands as loan taken for his sisters marriage.

Okay.
By the way I have completed 5th std.I can read and write and can read bus numbers also.

Don't you think with better education you can get better jobs??
This  is more than enough. Even without studying further I can manage.

Okay I have some milk covers and some  plastic bottles  and iron pieces do you want them?
yes akka please give.

Meanwhile I  bring a garland of milk covers washed and neatly  hooked on to a metal wire daily  numbering more than a 100 and a  plastic sack with junk material. I hand it over to them and ask them  to  give the metal wire and the  plastic sack back. They empty it on the road and promptly hand  it back to me.

Next scene. the boys are busy counting and dividing their booty. no one gets more , no one gets less.

Now next year I should find you in schools.

Now  they realise they are hungry.
We are hungry can you give us something to eat?

I hand them the  chocolate sandwich wafers  already in my hands  and give them.
They are so happy. They tear it open say a shy thank you  munch on it and tell me "Barthini akka" .

I certainly felt a lump in my throat.We educate our children to the highest level, yet they find it difficult to make choices. But here  is a child who is clear about his responsibility  and goal in life without  a University degree and will dole out  management techniques  from real life experiences.So confidently expressing I have studied till 5th. That is enough I can manage. This brought a  fresh surge of thoughts in me. How true.

 Lot of lessons I have learnt in life.I love teaching.  I have an opportunity to teach underprivileged children . I saw and admire  how children pool in their limited or next to nil  resources to help a  fellow being to buy books and continue education, or how they share their shoes, uniform which they have outgrown with the needy few.

This set me thinking, now I have to raise funds for  the school catering to the intellectually challenged and  underprivileged to give them  better facilities. What will be the response  when I go to the privileged few??

Will it be an exercise of educating the educated first??