Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Business with a purpose..

Business with a purpose..

  • http://www.atulyakalaindia.com


Monday, December 24, 2012

A battle to be fought on two fronts!

A battle to be fought on two fronts! 

- on Legal / Political front and on an Individual front

On one hand the incident represents a complete failure of police, law, and political leaders and on the other hand it is a social failure – failure of our society.
From the current movement we can assure that people have realized the importance and need of fighting the battle at legal and political level. On this front we need to fight against the Hitlerism of Govt., open ‘Gunda Raaj’ of Police force, and loss democratic rights. Hence, we will not discuss it here. 

But we must also realize at the same time that it is a social failure. What do we mean by a social failure..?
Social failure is a phenomenon where different individuals fails to do their work – parents, friends, teachers, sisters, wives, mothers, brothers, and peers.

Failure of parents to inculcate values (respecting dignity of an individual without gender/caste/social status) in their children – not referring to girls but the boys (individuals) who commit such crimes.

Failure of friends to discourage such thoughts / discussions / activities which eventually lead to such major crimes. (Here not only boys but girls can also contribute significantly – we are sure that each one of us know what we talk and encourage in our talks)
Failure of teachers to create an environment where each individual is given due respect – starting from teachers giving due respect to students (without any discrimination).

Failure of sisters / mothers / wives to raise their voice against every instance of domination, especially from males in the family/society. Raise voice and not tolerate domination from a male whether he is her brother / father / husband or son. A female doesn’t need to fight (in literal sense) with their family members but talk / explain / convince / negotiate with them to give them due respect.

Failure of brothers / peers to guide / talk / stop their peers at each and every occasion whenever they feel the need. Also, there is a failure of each male in the family/society to support females in getting their due respect. When a sister/mother/daughter is fighting for their rights it is responsibility of the brother/father/son to support her.

Failure of an individual to be a ‘human being’ – ignoring crimes / victims / incidents until they affect him/her directly.

On one hand when we continue with rally / protest asking for the rights / justice, we must also start the long fight / actions at our own houses / family / school / college / friend-circle.

As a lawyer / policeman / politician / criminal – is a brother / son / father / uncle / friend of someone in the society and after all a human being. And when they fail to do their job all of us around have failed to perform our responsibilities at some level…

Let’s fight… Let’s start with correcting our own acts first…


Saturday, April 7, 2012

Oh ri Duniya...

Oh ri duniya, Oh ri duniya,
Aye duniya, aye surmayee aankhein ke pyaalo ki duniya oh duniya,
Surmayee aankhein ke pyaalo ki duniya oh duniya,
Satrangi rango gulalo ki duniya oh duniya -2 times

Alsaayi sejo ke phoolon ki duniya oh duniya re,
Angdaayi tode kabootar ki duniya oh duniya re,
Aye karwat le soyi haqeeqat ki duniya oh duniya,
Deewani hoti tabiyat ki duniya oh duniya,
Khwahish mein lipti zaroorat ki duniya oh duniya re,
Heyyy insaan ke sapno ki niyat ki duniya oh duniya,
Oh ri duniya, oh ri duniya, oh ro duniya, oh ri duniya,
Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai? – 3 times

Mamta ki bikhri kahani ki duniya oh duniya,
Behno ki siski jawani ki duniya oh duniya,
Adam ke hawwa se rishte ki duniya oh duniya re
Heyyy shayar ke pheenke labzo ki duniya oh duniya,
Ooooo…oooo…hoooo….hooo…ooooooooo…
[Gaalib ke maumin ke khawabo ki duniya,
Majazo ke un inqalabo ki duniya] – 2 times

Faize firako sahir umakhdum meel ki zoku kitabo ki duniya,
Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai? – 3 times

Palchin mein baaten chali jaati hai hai,
Palchin mein raaten chali jaati hai hai,
Reh jaata hai jo sawera wo dhoondhe,
Jalta makaan mein basera wo dhoondhe,
Jaisi bachi hai waisi ki waisi, bacha lo yeh duniya,
Apna samajh ke apno ki jaisi utha lo yeh duniya,
Chitput si baaton mein jalne lagegi, sambhalo yeh duniya,
Katpit ke raaton mein palne lagegi, sambhalo yeh duniya,
Oh ri duniya, oh ri duniya, wo kahen hai ki duniya,
Yeh itni nahi hai sitaaro se aage jahan aur bhi hai,
Yeh hum hi nahi hai, wahan aur bhi hai,
Hamari hare k baat hoti wahin hai,
Hume aitraaz nahi hai kahin bhi,
Wo aayi zamil pe sahi hai,
Magar falsafa yeh bigad jaata hai jo,
Wo kehte hai…aalim yeh kehta wahan ishwar hai,
Faazil yeh kehta wahan allah hai,
Kamil yeh kahta hai,
Manzil yeh kehti tab insaan se ki,
Tumhari hai tum hi sambhalo yeh duniya,
Yeh ujde hue chand baasi charago,
Tumhare yeh kale iraado ki duniya,
Ohh ri duniya, oh ri duniya…
Hoo ri duniya…

source: http://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/duniya-lyrics-gulaal/

Reading List - Education


  1. Teacher (Sylvia Ashton-Warner)
  2. School Teacher: A Sociological Study (Dan Lortie)
  3. Learning to Labor: How Working Class Kids Get Working Class Jobs (Paul Willis & Stanley Aaronwitz)
  4. Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom (Lisa Delpit)
  5. The Element (Ken Robinson)
  6. Multiple Intelligences: Theory in Practice (Howard Gardener)
  7. The Language Instinct (Steven Pinker)
  8. In a Different Voice (Carol Gilligan)
  9. The Indian Psyche (Sudhir Kakkar)
  10. White Teacher (Vivian Paley)
  11. Rousing Minds to Life (Tharp & Gallimore)
  12. The Psychology of Literacy (Sylvia Scribner & Michael Cole)
  13. The Significance of Schooling: Life journeys in an African Society (Robert Serpell)
  14. Apprenticeship in Thinking (Barbara Rogoff)
  15. Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation (Lave & Wenger)
  16. What Video Games have to Teach us about Learning and Literacy (Jim Gee)
  17. Actual Minds, Possible Worlds (Jerome Bruner)
  18. Acts of Meaning (Jerome Bruner)
  19. Revising Herself: the Story of Women's Identity from College to Midlife (Josselson)
  20. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (Csíkszentmihályi)
  21. Ways with Words (Shirley Brice Heath)
  22. Animal Farm (George Orwell)
  23. Waiting for the Mahatma (R.K. Narayan)
  24. How Children Fail (John Holt)
  25. Divaswapna (Gijubhai)
  26. Tottochan (Tetsuko Kuroyangi)
  27. Summerhill (A.S Neill)
  28. What did you ask at School today? (Kamala Mukunda)
  29. Deschooling Soceity (Ivan Illich)
  30. The Open Classroom (K. Margaret)
  31. Redesigning Education (Lynn Stoddard)
  32. Proust and the Squid: The Story and the Science of the Reading Brain (Maryanne Wolf) Swami & Friends – R.K.Narayan
  33. The English Teacher – R.K.Narayan
  34. Bachelor of Arts – R.K.Narayan
  35. 36 Children

Friday, June 3, 2011

Super 30

Super 30, a distinctive programme that coaches students for the IIT entrance exam, has seen unparalleled success in the number of students that make it into the prestigious IITs each year. Its founder, Anand Kumar, selects 30 students from economically weaker families, provides them with food and boarding, and tutors them for a year as they prepare for the IIT JEE.

By 2011, 236 out of 270 Super 30 students made it into the IITs. We bring to you an exclusive interview with the man behind the success of Super 30. Pioneer, visionary and guru, Anand Kumar, as he talks of his inspirations, his plans for the future, his take on education in India, and the Indian Teaching Service he hopes to see become part of India’s blueprint for education.

How does it feel to see the running success of Super 30?
It makes me extremely happy. Many of these children left their homes, their villages, to come follow their dream; and to see this kind of result makes me very glad. This is the chance they need to break out of poverty and build a future for themselves.

What has been your inspiration to set up Super 30?
Growing up, I had a keen interest in Mathematics, and spent many hours working on my subject. After graduation, I applied and got admission into the University of Cambridge. But my financial situation, and my father’s medical condition were factors that held me back, and I had to let go of the opportunity. It made me realize that there were many students in India facing the same situation. Despite being gifted students, with a strong academic inclination, poverty and inaccessibility to quality education held them back. If there was a way to help them, I knew I had to find it.

Who has been your role model?
There have been many, but most outstanding in my memory, remains my father, Rajendra Prasad. He passed away around the time that my admission into Cambridge came through. He always said – Son, whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly. Put your heart and mind into it. He had a good heart, and encouraged in us, the idea of giving back to society.

What advice would you give our readers that are aspiring IIT-ians?
I would advise them to read voraciously, and be thorough with the basics. One must never memorise or “ratto”; that is not learning. Instead, study the basics, and understand them fully. As you develop on this, use your imagination and then apply to new learning.

If you could be India’s Education Minister, what changes would you bring into the system?
To begin with, everyone must understand that education is not a commodity to be bought and sold. Right now, there are expensive private schools, and there are Government schools, and there is a great divide between them. Quality education is being sold to the highest bidder. That has to change. Education - quality education - must be accessible to everyone. Government schools must impart education of the same standard available at private schools. And excellence in quality of education must begin right from primary schools.
Secondly, the IITs that now allow only 2 attempts at entrance admissions, must make allowances for children from less privileged backgrounds, and give them 3 attempts at clearing the IIT entrance exams. You spoke of primary schools; what changes do you think we need to see in this sphere of education? As I said, the quality of education must improve, and this begins right at primary school level. Most importantly, we have to attract and retain good teachers. It is the teacher that can transform a student, and it is imperative our schools have good teachers. We need to change the existing policies, and re-look at the salaries we give them, the facilities and tools to aid them in the classroom. Why don’t we have something similar to the IAS, and IFS? The ITS – Indian Teaching Service. Something as prestigious, to attract and build talent in the education sector.

In your opinion, why aren’t there more schools like yours? Is this a difficult model to replicate?
Super 30 is a school that takes no donations. In this sense, yes it can be hard to sustain. But we have created a prototype, and we encourage the government, and corporate business, to replicate this model. In fact, several State governments have expressed interest in setting up something similar, drawing inspiration from the success of Super 30.

Any plans to expand Super 30 into Super 50 or Super 100?
Yes, why not? Super 30 started as an experiment with 30 students who showed potential. We had no idea the name would become so popular. If there are more children with the talent and determination, then there is always room for more.

What do you see yourself doing over the next few years? Any plans beside Super 30?
Well, it has been a dream of mine to run a school for children from lower income families, and from villages where quality education is not available. I plan to set up this school, for children from the 6th to the 12th standard. I am looking for land right now, for the school premises, and for a hostel for the children to stay. I want to give them a chance to think of going abroad, to study medicine, to attend Olympiads, and meet other students excelling in different fields of academics.

source: http://in.education.yahoo.com/news/yeduyahooindia/super-30-founder-start-school-20110603

more @ http://www.super30.org/

Friday, October 1, 2010

Join Hands with Aastha Parivaar

Join Hands with Aastha Parivaar

Aastha Parivaar –a federation of 14 community based organizations by sex workers across Mumbai and Thane –is an organization formed by, of and for sex workers. Living in shadows, these are women who aspire for a dignified, empowered existence and violence free society. Paradoxically, Mumbai and its satellite town Thane are hubs of large migrant population as well as sex trade. Aastha Parivaar, an umbrella organization of male, female

and transgender sex workers, does serious work for the community, from finding alternate means of sustenance to meeting their health care needs, working toward HIV prevention.

But Aastha Parivaar is a young organization and it needs your support! For the first time ever, sex workers across Mumbai and Thane, are coming together to put forth an edutainment program, Anand Utsav – an array of skits, songs, folk dances and children’s performances – now on 12th October 2010. The event is open to general community.

Passes already bought will still be valid.

Donation passes are available for `1000/-, ` 500/ and `200/-. The proceedings from the donation passes will go towards the education of sex workers’ children. They are marginalized not only because they are children of sex workers, but also because several are themselves infected or affected by HIV. Intervention for sex workers’ children is vital for they are also most prone to enter the profession.

Show your support to Aastha Parivaar. Be there for the event!

We look forward to a long term relationship with you. Let Anand Utsav be the beginning!

Venue: Hotel Rangsharda, Bandra Reclamation

Date: 12th Oct, 2010

Time: 7 pm onwards.

Email at manager@aasthaparivaar.org.in.

Tel: 2368 6636 / 2659 2350

Visit us at www.aasthapartivaar.org.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

SAHAYATA - Collection Drive for Leh Victims


The recent cloudburst in Leh has created havoc on the lives of all those affected. Hundreds of lives have been lost, houses have been destroyed and people have lost everything they have. According to Mr. Anshu Gupta (Founder, Goonj) who recently visited the site - "180 recovered dead bodies, 400 missing people, hundreds of houses totally crumbled, heavy loss to crop, cattle and property is not a small loss. Many families have been wiped out completely; even the dead bodies are still under the 6- 7 ft. of mud, which suddenly entered their homes as they were sleeping. The prime concern is the upcoming winter. In winters the temperature of Leh goes down to -20 degree celcius. There is also a bigger question of food security as the affected people have lost the stocks they created to use in the 6 months of harsh winters.

To offer whatever assistance we can in their time of need, Pankhudi Foundation is doing a collection drive for the victims of the floods. We are collecting money and other items that will be needed by the victims to now and in the coming months to re-build their lives.

Material Contributions:

  • Good quality woollens and blankets (Important)
  • Tarpaulins and thick plastic sheets
  • Export surplus or Cotton cloth for making sanitary napkins
  • Cooking and water storage utensils or buckets
  • School material- toys & games, stationary, notebooks etc.
  • Lanterns, candles, matchbox, torch & batteries

Material contributions must be packed in plastic gunny bags to make storage and transport easier. All contributions will be sent to Goonj for further distribution in Leh.

Monetary Contributions:

  • Monetary contributions must be in the form of CHEQUES / DRAFTS ONLY in the name of “GOONJ”(No cash accepted).
  • All your Monetary contributions are eligible for Tax Exemption under 80G.
  • For receipts purposes, Please write the following information behind your cheques/drafts – Name, Address, Phone No. and PAN No.

Taking material to Leh is costly and difficult therefore GOONJ will be using the money we raise to buy materials from cities near Leh.

The LAST DATE for sending in your contributions is 10th SEPTEMBER 2010 .

For contributions please provide your details HERE.

Or contact one of our Sahayata representatives in your city:

CityNameContactEmail
BangaloreMr. Anuj Bhargava/ Ms. Chhavi Arora+91 9739137485 / +91 9740375954sahayata@pankhudifoundation.org
DelhiMr. Amit Garg/ Mr. Vaibhav Khandelwal+91 9971006580 / +91 9310121285sahayata@pankhudifoundation.org
HyderabadMr. Rajesh Kumar Singh/ Mr. Ramesh Kolluri+91 9704165208/ +91 8008099898sahayata@pankhudifoundation.org
MumbaiMr. Abhishek Shenoy/ Mr. Aditya Karandikar+91 9920396422 / +91 9004991505sahayata@pankhudifoundation.org
PuneMr. Shrikanth Iyer/ Mr. Sachin Agrawal+91 9730580513/ +91 9604895693sahayata@pankhudifoundation.org
Other locationsMr. Rohan Honawade+91 9986203352sahayata@pankhudifoundation.org

For any other queries, email us at sahayata@pankhudifoundation.org Visit our Facebook page: Raahat - Collection Drive for Leh Relief Corporate Letter: Sahayata: Collection Drive for Leh Flood Relief

About Goonj (www.goonj.org): Goonj is a recognized non-profit with initiatives running across 20 states in India and several awards to their credit including 'Indian NGO of the year' in 2008. They played a huge role in bringing relief to the victims of the Bihar Floods in 2008 and the Karnataka and Andhra Floods in 2009.