There are times when I pick a book not so much for the content but for it's colorful coverpage. Hence at the bookstore when I spotted a Violet-orange book which had comething to do with the IIMs , I decided to buy it. Joker in the pack is one such average book. Two bored IIM grads get together and pen down their experience through the eyes of a middle class boy, Shekhar Verma.
The book did manage to hold me till the end, (Yeah, I was looking for reasons to quit thinking about doing an MBA). And I was successful too. As the book proceeds into the life of Shekhar Verma from Delhi, it talks about cricket, bollywood, the effervescent campus life in a shady college in DU. Then comes into picture his girlfriend who makes it to the IIT and he ends up in IIM-Bangalore.
The book slowly tells the tale of his struggles on campus, may it be to survive a hell week planned by his seniors to rag him or managing to score good GPAs all seems to be an extravagant description of a campus life. Thankfully the authors, Ritesh Sharma and Neeraj Pahaljani, did not rant about Shekhar's break up with his girlfriend of three years, otherwise it would have taken away the little charm that the book tries to spell with its youthful approach
As you read the book soon you realize that it has a few elements that any college going kid would relate with.
So if you have a day to spare, do read this one, not so much for the language but just to flashback in your old times.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Favourite stories
These are two stories I loved working on and which eventually added a lot to my life..
Child's play..
For tourists who like to experience the local flavour with local transport and local food, these enthusiastic kids play the perfect guides on the Mumbai Magic Tour
Hello and welcome to Mumbai Magic Tour. My name is Priyanka and I am your guide for today,” says a perky Priyanka Parit (16), one of the five youngsters from non-governmental organization Akanksha as we start a four-hour journey through the architectural and cultural heritage of Mumbai city. We accompany Michael Corwin, a tourist from New York, as we discover the many facets of the island city before returning impressed.
Meet five teenagers from varying difficult backgrounds, Priyanka, Shirajul Khan, Parveen Ansari, Kavita Pawar and Sana, who have been trained by Deepa Krishnan of Mumbai Magic Tours to work as guides for foreign tourists. Among the other personalized tours is ‘Mumbai Local’, Krishnan’s brainchild that sees these children taking foreigners around the city to experience Mumbai’s unique culture in all its forms.
“I was super-excited when our Didi at Akanksha told us that a tour operating company was going to interview us to be tour guides. Plus we were promised a good amount of money — around Rs 500-Rs 750 per tour,” says Parveen (16), a gleam in her eyes. Parveen says she loves to shop for clothes and accessories but also understands that she needs to support her family as well.
“I always used to donate some amount of my profit to Akanksha but I thought that was not enough. That’s when I got the idea to involve these kids from Akanksha in my project. I interviewed 15 children and selected five of them,” says Krishnan. These five children were trained for three months, during which they received training in diction, language and were also made to learn scripts to be brought into play during the guided tour.
For the tourists, it’s a chance to experience the local flavour of the city along with local modes of transport and local food, with bright and enthusiastic kids playing guides. As Krishnan fondly says: “Mumbai Local through the eyes of local people.”
The voyage begins from the Gateway of India and includes spots like Mumbai University, Mani Bhavan, a scrumptious treat at Swati Snacks, a walk through Bhaji Galli in Grant Road and finally, a peek into Dhobi Ghat.
It’s all about learning for the children. Every tour teaches them to handle tricky situations, at times cater to nasty tourists and learn from their mistakes. Shiraj (19), a first year commerce student, says: “On my first tour I forgot to carry the handouts and script. But thankfully because the tourists were not aware of it I managed my show well.” In tight situations, of course, Deepa ‘Di’ is only a phone call away and always eager to help them.
Narrating another incident, Priyanka says cheekily: “While on a similar tour I had to put up with very demanding clients. They wanted to visit Chor Bazaar and Haji Ali that were not part of the itinerary. They were also adamant about buying mangoes in the off season.” These children are not only talented but are also academically inclined. Akanksha has identified their skills and have channelised them into social work and social leadership.
“I must congratulate Deepa for this concept which is so novel and impressive. I was very excited about it,” says Michael who loves to meet local people of the places he visits. He adds: “It’s good to see that these children are doing such a wonderful job.” At the end of the tour, one comes away remembering what Krishnan said: “After all, everybody in the game must get something out of it.”
A soldier for society..
At the age of 80, this man wants the Indian Development Foundation to continue bringing change through an army of volunteers, not fundraising
A soft-spoken man dressed in a humble white veshti and kurta greets visitors with a childlike smile at his office-cum-residence in Jogeshwari. Quite proudly, he says: “I gave up ties and coats a long time back. I can connect better with the average poor man dressed this way.”
Meet Dr Ananthan Ramakrishna Pillai, president and founder of Indian Development Foundation (IDF), formerly known as Indian Leprosy Foundation. As the organization turns 25, the octogenarian ARK Pillai is readying to launch ‘Project Goodness’, an initiative to make available basic education, health and development facilities to all, through the establishment of additional IDF gurukuls, bridge schools for rag-pickers and street children, arranging health camps and blood camps, honouring leprosy cured persons and networking with other NGOs to achieve the mission.
Having joined Central Railway as a junior assistant at the age of 20, Pillai quit despite successive promotions. “I found a government job to be very rigid and binding. I was over qualified, so I quit the railways and joined Clarion McCann,” he says, simultaneously replying to an email and chatting online with a volunteer. “One makes a lot of money in advertising but when I saw acute poverty around me I felt the need to do something for the underprivileged.”
Born in Malvelikari near Allepey, Kerala, Pillai belongs to a deeply religious family and has an array of degrees, ranging from a Masters in Sociology to a Diploma in Advertising and Journalism. He successfully completed his LLB degree from Government Law College and also finished a management course from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.
At age 44, he resigned from his high-paying job and gave up that lifestyle to be able to serve those suffering from leprosy ¿ and the consequent stigma — in India. According to him there were around 4 million leprosy cases in India before 1980. “Due to the social stigma attached to this disease, people used to fear doctors and hence the figures were on a rise,” he says.
Then, in 1984, he and his wife Shyama started IDF. With its meager resources and sheer hard work, it became one of the few organizations working for leprosy eradication. “My family had declared me insane. No one could believe that I had given up my career for a cause that was at such a nascent stage in those days,” Pillai says.
He adds: “Indira Gandhi had given a statement in the United Nations that India will be a leprosy-free nation by the year 2000. That’s when she urged citizens to work towards this goal.” Around the same time, Pillai happened to visit Germany and Switzerland as an honorary member of international NGOs like the German Leprosy Relief Association and Leprosy Work Emmaus in Switzerland. He is still a member of these organizations and has been advising them on various social projects.
“During one such visit, while collecting funds for the India project, I was questioned by a young German on why India cannot generate funds independently. I had no answer,” he says.
That’s how the self-reliance principle of IDF was born. Without taking any monetary support either from the government or corporates, Pillai raised an army of volunteers instead, a network of lakhs of them. After deep research, having concluded that nothing much had changed despite the Government of India and a number of doctors being involved with the cause, Pillai had made up his mind that awareness and advocacy were the key to satisfactory results.
“Dr Pillai is a media man,” says Dr Narayan Iyer, national co-ordinator of IDF. “He has always used mass communication and various media channels to spread the word about the issue. Through street plays and slide shows he attempted to attract the attention of a lot of youngsters from various schools and colleges in Mumbai.”
Pillai also wanted to put to use his area of expertise — management. Today, IDF has more than 15 schools operational in different states and tribal areas and 10 more in the pipeline. “I wish that my young volunteers take forward the initiative I started 25 years ago and continue with their good work,” Pillai signs off, optimistic as ever.
Child's play..
For tourists who like to experience the local flavour with local transport and local food, these enthusiastic kids play the perfect guides on the Mumbai Magic Tour
Hello and welcome to Mumbai Magic Tour. My name is Priyanka and I am your guide for today,” says a perky Priyanka Parit (16), one of the five youngsters from non-governmental organization Akanksha as we start a four-hour journey through the architectural and cultural heritage of Mumbai city. We accompany Michael Corwin, a tourist from New York, as we discover the many facets of the island city before returning impressed.
Meet five teenagers from varying difficult backgrounds, Priyanka, Shirajul Khan, Parveen Ansari, Kavita Pawar and Sana, who have been trained by Deepa Krishnan of Mumbai Magic Tours to work as guides for foreign tourists. Among the other personalized tours is ‘Mumbai Local’, Krishnan’s brainchild that sees these children taking foreigners around the city to experience Mumbai’s unique culture in all its forms.
“I was super-excited when our Didi at Akanksha told us that a tour operating company was going to interview us to be tour guides. Plus we were promised a good amount of money — around Rs 500-Rs 750 per tour,” says Parveen (16), a gleam in her eyes. Parveen says she loves to shop for clothes and accessories but also understands that she needs to support her family as well.
“I always used to donate some amount of my profit to Akanksha but I thought that was not enough. That’s when I got the idea to involve these kids from Akanksha in my project. I interviewed 15 children and selected five of them,” says Krishnan. These five children were trained for three months, during which they received training in diction, language and were also made to learn scripts to be brought into play during the guided tour.
For the tourists, it’s a chance to experience the local flavour of the city along with local modes of transport and local food, with bright and enthusiastic kids playing guides. As Krishnan fondly says: “Mumbai Local through the eyes of local people.”
The voyage begins from the Gateway of India and includes spots like Mumbai University, Mani Bhavan, a scrumptious treat at Swati Snacks, a walk through Bhaji Galli in Grant Road and finally, a peek into Dhobi Ghat.
It’s all about learning for the children. Every tour teaches them to handle tricky situations, at times cater to nasty tourists and learn from their mistakes. Shiraj (19), a first year commerce student, says: “On my first tour I forgot to carry the handouts and script. But thankfully because the tourists were not aware of it I managed my show well.” In tight situations, of course, Deepa ‘Di’ is only a phone call away and always eager to help them.
Narrating another incident, Priyanka says cheekily: “While on a similar tour I had to put up with very demanding clients. They wanted to visit Chor Bazaar and Haji Ali that were not part of the itinerary. They were also adamant about buying mangoes in the off season.” These children are not only talented but are also academically inclined. Akanksha has identified their skills and have channelised them into social work and social leadership.
“I must congratulate Deepa for this concept which is so novel and impressive. I was very excited about it,” says Michael who loves to meet local people of the places he visits. He adds: “It’s good to see that these children are doing such a wonderful job.” At the end of the tour, one comes away remembering what Krishnan said: “After all, everybody in the game must get something out of it.”
A soldier for society..
At the age of 80, this man wants the Indian Development Foundation to continue bringing change through an army of volunteers, not fundraising
A soft-spoken man dressed in a humble white veshti and kurta greets visitors with a childlike smile at his office-cum-residence in Jogeshwari. Quite proudly, he says: “I gave up ties and coats a long time back. I can connect better with the average poor man dressed this way.”
Meet Dr Ananthan Ramakrishna Pillai, president and founder of Indian Development Foundation (IDF), formerly known as Indian Leprosy Foundation. As the organization turns 25, the octogenarian ARK Pillai is readying to launch ‘Project Goodness’, an initiative to make available basic education, health and development facilities to all, through the establishment of additional IDF gurukuls, bridge schools for rag-pickers and street children, arranging health camps and blood camps, honouring leprosy cured persons and networking with other NGOs to achieve the mission.
Having joined Central Railway as a junior assistant at the age of 20, Pillai quit despite successive promotions. “I found a government job to be very rigid and binding. I was over qualified, so I quit the railways and joined Clarion McCann,” he says, simultaneously replying to an email and chatting online with a volunteer. “One makes a lot of money in advertising but when I saw acute poverty around me I felt the need to do something for the underprivileged.”
Born in Malvelikari near Allepey, Kerala, Pillai belongs to a deeply religious family and has an array of degrees, ranging from a Masters in Sociology to a Diploma in Advertising and Journalism. He successfully completed his LLB degree from Government Law College and also finished a management course from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.
At age 44, he resigned from his high-paying job and gave up that lifestyle to be able to serve those suffering from leprosy ¿ and the consequent stigma — in India. According to him there were around 4 million leprosy cases in India before 1980. “Due to the social stigma attached to this disease, people used to fear doctors and hence the figures were on a rise,” he says.
Then, in 1984, he and his wife Shyama started IDF. With its meager resources and sheer hard work, it became one of the few organizations working for leprosy eradication. “My family had declared me insane. No one could believe that I had given up my career for a cause that was at such a nascent stage in those days,” Pillai says.
He adds: “Indira Gandhi had given a statement in the United Nations that India will be a leprosy-free nation by the year 2000. That’s when she urged citizens to work towards this goal.” Around the same time, Pillai happened to visit Germany and Switzerland as an honorary member of international NGOs like the German Leprosy Relief Association and Leprosy Work Emmaus in Switzerland. He is still a member of these organizations and has been advising them on various social projects.
“During one such visit, while collecting funds for the India project, I was questioned by a young German on why India cannot generate funds independently. I had no answer,” he says.
That’s how the self-reliance principle of IDF was born. Without taking any monetary support either from the government or corporates, Pillai raised an army of volunteers instead, a network of lakhs of them. After deep research, having concluded that nothing much had changed despite the Government of India and a number of doctors being involved with the cause, Pillai had made up his mind that awareness and advocacy were the key to satisfactory results.
“Dr Pillai is a media man,” says Dr Narayan Iyer, national co-ordinator of IDF. “He has always used mass communication and various media channels to spread the word about the issue. Through street plays and slide shows he attempted to attract the attention of a lot of youngsters from various schools and colleges in Mumbai.”
Pillai also wanted to put to use his area of expertise — management. Today, IDF has more than 15 schools operational in different states and tribal areas and 10 more in the pipeline. “I wish that my young volunteers take forward the initiative I started 25 years ago and continue with their good work,” Pillai signs off, optimistic as ever.
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