A step to fulfilling the FIVE YEAR dream of Clean India...

!!The swacha Bharat Abhiyan!!

Good things, they say start from home..!! 

I could see spectators  filled with varied feelings of anxiousness, approbation or probably motivation as the swish activists of the Vibgyor High progressed from one center of the Kolhapur city to another on Saturday evening  of  15^th November, for their  consequential  social cause.  About 250 young enthusiasts dressed alike collecting garbage from streets in their garbage bags, a sophisticated array of succinct placards bearing in them the messages of “CLEAN INDIA, GREEN INDIA”; “Less Pollution is the best solution”; “Hamara Bharat, Swacha Bharat”; a few others leading the group with Banners, while the other handful among them cleaning the roads with brooms were seen.  Needless to say, and obviously understood to every Indian,  it was the Swacha Bharat Abhiyan movement. Every pedestrian and passerby stared and almost stopped to watch such an amazing initiave.  The short and snappy quotes accentuated the entire movement all the more, where as the similar dress code was a cherry on the cake. 

Vibgyor staff at the ralley

 You can imagine the handsome young men dressed in white tshrts and blue jeans whereas the beautiful ladies in their white kurtas and blue jeans too.  A white cap added on to the much needed zeal and boosted everybody’s spirits.  It was basically a three hour bustle, incorporating the entire staff of the school both teaching and non teaching.

The ralley served more than its purpose.  As the Principal Mr. T.Balan quoted, “This one day cleaning of dirt is just an iota of what we intended.  Whats noteworthy is the message that we wished to convey to the commoners, and I’m glad we were successful in our bit in stirring minds and create an awakening”. 

As a PR student, I wouldn’t  mind saying this in a way served as  an epitome to a Corporate Social Reponsibilty for the organization.  Also the grandeur of the school’s upcoming Annual Extravaganza  “VIVA 2014”was introduced through the medium of this ralley.  And more importantly we as a group were happy to give our bit to this rewarding initiative by our Honorary Prime Minister for the betterment of India. 

Me proudly holding one of the placards

Now you my readers would feel what exactly was I doing with the staff of Vibgyor??  So let me proudly tell you that I work there as the Speech and Drama coach and feel glad that I do.  Such organizations with their novel initiatives quench the thirst of many “eager to learn” souls like me.

Just like  most of you may have assumed, it  wasn't a mere Slacktivism or probably flaunting ones share in the taken responsibility or rather swaggering in the whole of the city, unlike many other self obsessed exhibitionists,  but a lot more than that.  It was a conscious effort, an ode to our motherland, a sign of being the young Indians, and of course; A STEP TOWARDS FEELING HAPPY AGAIN.

Thus we not only taught our kids to maintain hygiene, or preached them and others of being clean but did the cleaning ourselves and enthused so many others for the same too. Everybody from the Principal  to the ancillary staff actively participated in it.  Now this is exactly how we lived up to the saying of “Good things indeed start from home”

Morning Walk

Bliss, Shelters and Suburbs...!!!

I constantly marvelled at dad’s dynamism and excitement for something like a morning walk.  He went not on a daily basis though, but when he went it did make his day.   A group of middle aged and  predominantly old men,  but the invigorating energy that escorted them made them younger than us,  and  the panorama of it made me equally reviving too.   Not surprisinngly, they all come from affluent families with a thriving business, a handsome number of grand children each,  accept for my dad..!!(don’t worry dad, u too will soon be one among them).  They have toiled enough in their youth and now just making themost or rather  enjoying the fruits of the seeds that they had sown then. 

You can easily witness this assemblage of approximately 27 members,(25 now after the sad demise of two)placid and ageracian men in the morning @ 7, walking to gether laughing, cold  to the world around and lost in themselves.  The eldest member of the group is about 75, most of them in the late 60’s,and dad as usual the odd and the only one in 40’s.  Untold and ambivalent though, full and pure white is the code that they prefer when joining each other for the walk.  They now have their own little 10 year old farm house and a small gym, on the way to the other side of the village, and they have to cross a short area of hilly region for this. This is why the group is named as the Pahaadi group derived from the sindhi and hindi word ‘pahaad’,  meaning hills in english.

A group of about 5-6 of them initially used to go for the walk, but the escalating number of people and their regard and interest in favour of the walk helped them concieve the novel notion of this farm house.  They  all invested  sum of approximately 20,000/- each 10 years back, and are now enjoying its opulence and luxury.  The farmhouse is in the near by village at a distance of about 15 minutes  from our place and the watchman  stays there with his family in a small house which is a part of that area.  He looks after it and serves them all with a neem stick thus helping them stay hale and hearty apart from stimulating them.  He  also ensures that the place is maintained squeaky clean and immaculate before their  influx in the morning and there is enough water for each one of them. After finishing their exercise they return at 8.30. Depending upon their mood at times 9 also.  Their ‘adda’ (favourite hang out spot) is the  Vada paav centre which marks the end of the other village and the start of our’s. On Sunday’s they all have their breakfast there, and the usual days, they just have their revitalizing  cup of morning tea. They then advance to gether for their own houses. Some of them proceed to the vegetable market  with a white chit in the white shirt’s  pocket, usually handed by the daughers in law and at times the wife too. They carry it not that they want to dutifully buy everything told, but with the fear of  a good commotion if they forget to buy a tube of ‘fair n lovely’or the ‘parachute oil’, which men mostly tend to forget, or at times are shy enough to buy it due to the presence of an aquaintance at the shop..!!  Besides, who would want to foecefully come to the market again?

Enjoying their rest time after the walk along with awaiting for their refreshing tea...

This morning enjoyment is just not enough for these oldies.  Apart from all the fun in the morning, they take pleasure in atleast 10 first-rate extravagant treats a year for wide-ranging reasons like the birth or the engagement of a grand son or some times if somebody just wants to toast for their success, or possibly the accomplishment of a very old desire.  There is no compulsion or a rule as such. Hard drinks is their prime importance, to be precise: requirement.  Once they have that, everything else is fine.   Their trip to Goa once a year in the month of July is a big time urge and this something that they all have consistently  been following since more than a decade.  I am sure nothing in the universe can curb them from missing this trip with their most beloved ones, not even the most sombre business or family issue.  Not all 25 go for the walk everyday, or are able to join them for the monthly treats everytime.  But this awaited yearly jaunt is attained by the maximum no of them as long as it is something actually serious or inescapable.  Narayan uncle residing in the main city, has a jaggery factory and thanks to him!! None of the members have to ever squander money for jaggery for house use.  Every season he gets it in well packed polythins and gives it to each one of them, immediatly after the production. Such a unsullied fresh jaggery melting in the mouth brings in a different delight alltogether.

‘’The supreme advantege is that there are certain members who compulsarily go for the walk everyday, which is why the irregular ones are also obliged to join them.  When ever we want to go, or are late at times due to indolence, we have a satisfaction that atleast someone will accompany me.  And this is one reason why the group has stayed till now. Its 14 years for our togetherness now’’,  blissfully and proudly says dad. We are all very attchaed with no hard feelings, but only love and admiration for each other.  I cannot evoke of a single incident of misunderstang or unwanted issue  since  I’ve been amidst them. We may forget the world when together , but this inturn helps us to be ourselves, to recognize ourself better, we get an opportunity to   celerate  what we are as an indivisual. This also helps us  standoffish from the worldly tensions, he ended.

What say..?? Do you still feel that  people only in cities have all the fun and enjoyment in life..?? Just a bias contemplation pal! Better keep out of it...!

Monika Jasuja

 

Tete-A-Tete with Padmini R (Their mentor)

Tete-A-Tete with Padmini R (Their mentor)
This is an interview with Ms Padmini R, the PRO of Garden City College, Bangalore.

Chinese: The language known to be the toughest in the world.  Lets see how these students hailing all the way from China have been able to cope up with English so far... 

1) How have your experiences been so far?
Ans: Its a blend of good, bad and of course lots of humour.

2) How is the response from the students?
Ans: They were very reluctant initially.  Sometimes a bit lazy as well.  But now they are gradually developing their interests and improving on their consistency as well. 

3) How about the attitude of the students?
Ans: The students come from y affluent and wealthy families.  They are well pampered and self indulged.  So a lot of leniency is required on our part.  Temper doesn't work with them.  But in case we are polite and kind, its very easy to convince them for anything.

4) How is their attitude towards each other?
Ans: They are very friendly and helpful towards each other and share a good bonding as well.

5) What do the students like about GCC?
Ans: Like many others, they too love the ambiance here.

6) What do you want to say about them?
Ans: They are very humble, innocent.  They give and take with the right hand, which I like a lot.

7) Would you like to comment something about one particular student?
Ans: Yes!!! Liu Shuntiam, the eldest of all- is very innocent, very genuine, humble, consistent, a good artist as well.  Probably all adjectives fit him right.

8) Which part of teaching do you enjoy the most?
Ans: Every moment spent with them is an enjoyment for me.  But the time when they desperately want to say something or convey their message, and they don't get the words; their gestures, expressions are just worth watching.  I just love it!!!
        Also when they saw or see something, they use ''look look'', instead of saw or see, eg; I look look you yesterday. 
        For them delicious means nice.  So whenever asked about their experience; as in- How was the game? the answer is ''delicious''.  
        So these certain things, apparently small, but yet make up my day.  
Monika Jasuja
 

First memories growing up...

First memories growing up...
  On October 4, 2011, the Chinese students celebrated their national day at GCC, by hoisting their national flag along with some other Gardenians accompanying them.  In order to add a taste to their joy, sweets were also given to them.

The Chinese national day is celebrated on October 1 every year.  On this special day, the Chinese hoist their national flag and pay homage to their freedom fighters.

In order to make these students more comfortable and give them a feeling of homeliness, thus preventing their isolation, the college Co-coordinator, Mr Ajay initiated the idea of celebrating this day for them. 

The students came out gratified and thanked mam for her empathy.  ''We felt nice.  Thanks to everyone who supported us'', one of the the students said.

Though the students couldn't say much, their expressions did reveal how beholden they all felt.
Monika Jasuja

A tisket, a tasket, lunch in a basket!!!

 A tisket, a tasket, lunch in a basket!!!Every Saturday, the students of the English Academy are taken on educational tours and expeditions at places in and around Bangalore.  Accompanied by their mentor, they travel through the college bus.
 Hitherto, the students have been to various places like the Lal Bagh, the Big Banyan tree, Manchinabele dam, the Cubbon park, Vidhan Soudha, Vikas Soudha, GPO, High Cout of Karnataka, Rajbhavan, Planetorium, Iskcon temple, Prasanna Anjoneya temple.

They carry their lunch with them.

On these tours, not only learning, but the children look forward to them also as an outing as well as a change in the monotony of life. 

With teaching, it also serves as a good opportunity to know the students better and their attitude and behaviour outside the formal setup.  It helps in building a good student-teacher rapport, thus maintaining a healthy atmosphere, says the mentor. 
Monika Jasuja

Not because.....

Not because.....

 

If you see me walking with someone else,

that's not because I feel like,

but because you weren't brave enough to walk by me...

 

If you ever see me smile,

its not because I forgot you,

but because I'm tired of crying for you...

 

If you see me live again,

its not because I moved on,

but because I hate the fact that you can live without me...

 

So, if I fall for someone else,

its not because I wanted to,

but because you wanted to, for someone else...

 

Do tell and show some people, how much you love them,

cos if they really move on, you can never get them back...

 

Monika Jasuja

Bhaiyadooj: A festival of brothers and sisters. It falls on the 3rd day after Diwali and is celebrated all over the country.

Dear Honey...

 Bhaiyadooj: A festival of brothers and sisters.  It falls on the 3rd day after Diwali and is celebrated all over the country.

''I'll get you whatever you want, but you dare not step out of the house'',  ''Why are you talking on phone at this time and with whom?'',  ''Di, please don't tell papa, please!'',  ''Give me only 50 bucks, I promise, I'll return 60 after my pocket money comes''.

These sentences don't stop echoing in my ears today.  Wish you a very happy Bhaiyadooj dear honey!  Missing you a lot.  The cat and dog fights that we had, the way we teased each other, mamma getting irritated with us, daddy fed-up with our complaints.  I don't know when will these moments come back.

Life has changed here.  It has made me mature, I hope you too are realising your responsibilities towards our family.  I still remember our last meet when you said, ''Abhi bhi time hai, mat jaa''.  I know you are not very happy with my decision of being here, but trust me, I have not done any mischief that will make you scold me. 

But there are certain things that of course only you could give.  Yaad hai; when I used to sleep, and in case you entered the room even by mistake, I made a big fuss out of it.  But here I'm learning the art of sleeping in spite of all the worldly distractions which hurdle me from mastering this art. 

So much we used to fight, right?  Moreover, the T.V. remote.  How can I forget that?  That was the prime cause of our fights.  But now that its more than 3 months that I'm here, I don't recall even a single time of watching T.V.  I don't feel like, may be because no one to fight.  You took my Activa even for 10  minutes and blood used to start boiling, but now the Activa doesn't even exist for me.

There were so many times that we were the biggest enemies of each other, the bitter fights we had, our Macdi night outs, Maggi evenings, and of course our silence, that conveyed the feelings of the world over. 

I am very happy here.  But there is someone who is missing.  Someone who could buy me a sandwich, someone who could prepare me a Maggi in the mid night, someone who scolded me for being on phone for a long time, someone who angrily stared at my guy friends like they were his next target, someone who quietly stole 10rs notes from mamma's wardrobe and then blamed me, someone who could just be you.

Destiny brought us to gether in this world but may be fate had planned something different for us.  I think I'm destiny's favourite child to have a brother like you.  Love you!  Always stay special.

Monika Jasuja

Majesty and The three girls...

Majesty and The three girls:

Let me introduce to you the 'Majesty' of the group, Ms Nishtha Sood, hailing from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.  Though very jolly by nature and loves sneaking out with friends, Nishtha never fails to give her 100% to her work.  She's passionate about playing guitar and spends her leisure time surfing the net.  I've been with this 'Tom boy types girl', since the beginning of our college days.  I can surely say she's the most laid back person during times other than work.  I clearly remember the sentence she told me on the very first day we met, ''I'll do whatever you say'', but pity me; its just working the other way round. 

Next in line is 'The winner girl' of the group.  Very sensational and most wanted spinster, Kanika comes from the capital city Delhi.  Charming and gorgeous, she's very naughty at times.  Kanika keeps a keen interest in current trends, dance and outdoor games.  She did her 2 years in History Honors and is currently pursuing her BA in Journalism here, since she found better prospects in Bangalore.  She also practices healing and meditation in her daily life.  Intelligent and knowledgeable, Kanika enjoys every moment to the fullest.  Indeed, she's very different compared to her peers and this quality makes her stand out from the rest.

''We Rajputs like this, We Rajputs like that'', these are the most common sentences I hear from the tall, fair, beautiful and elegant Himani, whose from Jammu.  This so called 'Poor girl' of the groups best qualified with all those things that people usually say while talking about girls.  She's very innocent, most of the times childish and very very brilliant at blackmailing her friends to get her work done.  Himani wishes to make a bright carrier in the field of teaching.  She is blessed with a natural  beauty and a fantastic personality.

What do I say about myself?  My identity comes with my very own college.  They call me 'Clever girl', and find a great joy teasing me saying 'Bin pagari, full adhikari'. 

We all enjoy talking to each other in the 'ing' language and find a great joy in each others company.  After being together, the rest of the world hardly exists for us.  They've been very understanding as friends and and supportive like a family.  It started from a hi, changed to wassup?,  growed to 'oye pagal', tended to 'tu apna dimag mat chala', fell to 'thapad khana hai kya', and finally to, 'sambhal lena yaar'.  It really feels lucky to have such treasures in my life.

Monika Jasuja

Life is an ocean, u decide : Sink or Swim...

Life is an ocean, u decide : Sink or Swim...

I don't know if I'm the right person to talk about this, but my friends say I'm very formal and devoid of love.  Its not that I don't love, but may be my approach towards it is a bit different than yours.

We all have crushes, all want to love and be loved.  But do we ever reflect on the most important factor of right time?  Around me I see so many friends lying to their parents, being rude to them, disrespecting them and most importantly forcing them for an increase in pocket money.  And according to my experience hitherto, the basic reason behind all this is being into a relationship.

I don't ask you to stop being into a relationship, but at the same time you need to learn how to balance different things together.  Is it not sick on our part, that we disobey and abuse our parents, who've given us birth, taken care of us for more then 18 long years; just for the sake of a guy/ girl whose been with us just since a couple of months.  We forget our sleep if our lover is not well, but how can we forget the sleepless nights that our parents have spent just to comfort us?  I don't say forget friends and lovers, or stop treats and freak outs.  They too are necessary.  They too are an essence.  But at the same time we need to learn to prioritize things.  We need to be matured enough to understand what is how much important at a particular time. 

Love is the most divine feeling and something happened to a person.  It is indefinable.  The more we know about it, the less we understand it.  Its a basic necessity that everyone needs.  We must make the most of it and enjoy it to the fullest, but we need to look at certain factors like with whom and the time.

Our parents have given us birth.  They are the ones to bring us into this world.  Thus they deserve complete rights on us.  Whichever step we take, whatever we do, where ever we go; how ever far we are from them, they should know where we are, what are we doing and for what purpose.  believe or not ; the moment you feel you are going to hide a certain thing from your parents, I'm sure you're taking a wrong step which is why you bare reluctant to discuss the issue with them.  But, our family, especially our parents are the only ones who were, are and will always stand by us in all in all walks of life, in spite of knowing the worst in us.  It really feels nice when your family supports you as a friend and your friends stand by you as a family.

We are here for the basic reason of study and experience.  It is our duty to concentrate on our studies and work.  I don't expect you to be a book worm, nor am I so, but at least spend your time constructively.  The are so many extra curricular activities we can indulge ourselves in, then why choose to do these ''extra extra curricular'' activities?

So many of us repent for our past.  How much ever successful and bright our future is, past is alas the same.  But yet its never too late.  We all have an speakable secret, an irreversible regret, an irreplaceable loss, an unreachable dream, an unforgettable first love, still life is about being happy anyhow, cos everything in life has to be summed up into three words, 'it goes on'.  So you can still make the most of your present and one day this will be your past, which will overlap your previous past.  Once on the walls of a theater, I read, ''Life is a movie in flash back, so after many many years, when you see it, make sure it is worth watching'', isn't it true?

Just imagine, after many many years, when we come to GCC with our children we should have good memories to cherish for.  Instead of the punishments and regrets that we faced, we must rather have memories of love from our teachers and respect from our friends.  Cos love from friends and respect from professionals, every one gets it, but why not try it the other way round? 

Thus, above all the fun had, all the love shared, fights made, its our family, our degree, our dignity and most importantly our experience that will matter.  I may sound a bit selfish and self centered, but just think on the aforesaid topic and start working on it.  May be not very soon, but once in life, when you look back at others, you will surely realize, you are somewhere ahead.  Its at that point of time when you will really feel contented. 

So many of us are unable to sleep at night in spite of lying on the bed.  We think on stupid topics over and over again, but if we work hard and indulge ourselves in various things, we're already so tired with our work and simultaneously satisfied with ourselves, that the moment we lie on the bed, we're fast asleep without a secondary thought.  And why call it work? Once you start loving your work, it's no more a work, in fact an enjoyment.  So a reply for the ones who ask me why do I keep working all the time?  I don't guys.  In fact i enjoy more then you all.

So once in life, do fall in love; not necessary with a person, but with a dream, an idea, an ambition, for it will give you a new reason to wake up with a smile.

Monika Jasuja

Just That I Love You...!!!

Just That I Love You...!!!

Early in the morning when I want to be with you,
its not that I like disturbing you,
its just that I want my day to start with you...

When I talk loudly,
its not that I want to create a nuisance,
its just that I am so much engrossed in talking to you, that I hardly notice the world....

When I'm asking you where are you and for what,
its not that I'm trying to pervade your privacy,
its just to ensure that you are safe...

When I'm possessive about you,
its not that I'm trying to put you in a cage,
its just that I'm trying to protect you...

When my name flashes on your mobile again and again,
its not that I don't want you to finish your work,
its just that I always want to stay connected with you...

When I am not able to tolerate you shouting at me,
its not that I cannot tackle your harsh words,
its just that I can't accept the fact of I being the reason behind it...

When I behave silly,
its not that I'm not mature,
its just that with you, I feel like being myself...

When I'm working hard, ignoring my health,
its not that I want to tense you,
its just that I want to achieve enough to lay the world in your toes...

When I cannot sleep without your goodnight,
its not that I'm addicted towards you,
its just that I want my day to start as well as end with you....

So when I sound  crazy,
its not that I'm out of my mind,
my heart whispers,
ITS JUST THAT I LOVE YOU...!!!

Monika Jasuja
Garden City College.