God only knows

I always thought i was liberal, you know the kinds who is secular and doesn't really harp on one's religion.. Or so I thought!

Recently in college, we had to come up with a rundown for a documentary, as in what would we focus on- anything related to water. there were three of us in a team and we decided on Religion and Water. What i wanted to do was, to show how we Hindus treat rivers as goddesses and the belief behind that. Also about how some two rivers in India are not holy because they are 'male rivers'. so that was my perspective.

The other two people wanted to show how people pollute and dirty rivers in the name of religion. that dint go too well with me initially. how hindus throw garlands into rivers, visrajan of ganesh and durga, shradh etc. So while discussing this, i think i got a little defensive as we could only think of Hindus and our beliefs, due to which we end up polluting rivers. Strange, as the other two are also Hindus, and they seemed so much liberal. It pricked me somewhere, I felt that we are pointing fingers at our own religion while leaving out the others, which am sure would have equal vices.. Well Well..

They are young and shine like the sun

It was love at first sight for me – pristine kids, their bright innocent faces, the naughty smiles, and the affection which they shower on even a stranger. That’s when I realized that I have to do my internship at Freedom Foundation. Having confirmed my internship at Mussourie, I had to cancel it because of date problems there. While I was on a look out for an NGO in Hyderabad, I visited many a NGO. But the children at Diya made sure that I interned at Freedom Foundation.

Freedom Foundation has been the pioneer of HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse interventions, especially in the area of Comprehensive care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. Freedom Foundation had various projects under its wings, from caring for children, to counseling soon-to-be mothers who are affected with HIV virus, to providing treatment free of cost to patients. I interned at the Hyderabad Branch of Freedom Foundation in a project called Diya. Diya is a home for 28 HIV infected orphans. They are cared for, nurtured and well looked after. Every possible endeavor is made so that the children live a normal life.

It is not often you come across children who would welcome even a stranger with the widest of smiles; not everyday that you find children wanting to play pitthu and Ludo with you; it seldom happens that children come rushing towards you surround you to tell you about their day. But this is what exactly happened at work everyday. The children at Diya made me look at life with a different perspective. It was special, considering I normally do not take a liking towards children.


All the children are affected with the HIV Virus and had also lost their parents due to the same. The children are under regular medication and slight discrepancies are immediately worked upon. The project site comprises of one doctor, three nurses, two counselors, four care-takers, two cooks and the operation manager. All the employees at Freedom Foundation were extremely helpful and cleared my doubts regarding the services, medical terms etc. All the children are sent to English-medium school and their development is monitored. The Project Manager Mr. Jaya Singh Thomas was indeed a regular source of inspiration for me.


My stint at Freedom Foundation made me realize how much we worry about little things in life, is my friend angry with me, what will happen if I submit my assignment 3 minutes late, what if I score thirty one out of forty. The internship taught me to look at things from a larger perspective and not be narrow in my approach towards life. Having a flexible work environment, Freedom Foundation gave me my own time and did not hurry things up. They gave me freedom enough, true to their name!

At Freedom Foundation, I designed brochures, made pocket calendar and undertook documentation work. Also I made profiles of all the 28 children at Diya, which involved me to interact with them at a deeper level and not on a superficial level. This task was very enjoyable because each child is special and had different likes, dreams and aspirations.

The tiny tots left an indelible mark on me. Next time I go to Hyderabad, I would have these little friends to go to, who came, smiled and conquered our hearts.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

The forst time i did this celebrity look-alike thing four years ago, I apparently resembled Ringo Star the most..!!!:D

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Old photos - Family reunion

Soldier of (Mis)fortune

"Was your dad always on the border, fighting? How many times have you met your dad? He must be a stict army man.Aren't you scared of him?.!" I don't know whether to laugh at people's ignorance or scorn at them. There is a rooted mindset that the people have about the army- They epitomise the "stiff tight upper lip of an Englishman."



Our country is not one which respects our soldiers, but instead takes them for granted. It is the ignorance which lets them dvelve into a sense of nonchalance. The only time we acknowledge them is a Republic day or some condescending show like' Jai Jawan'. A friend was recently telling me that in US, every public shows starts off with a felicitaion to the armed forces. Here we start off with some crass joke which is not even worthy enough to register in the mind.



Few people want to plunge into a life of risks, where perhaps the lure of green is not much. the situation in the army is so grim that in June this year, that the war gallantary award winners decieded to return the medals to the president. It's a big step to return medals like the Param veer chakra, Maha veer chakra. Why was it that the fraternity was pushed to the brink? the fact that the government recognises their valour by giving them Rs 1500/month as a part of the award? That it's just a mere formality on the government's part to decorate them? That they are recognised one just two days - Army day and Republic day.



In the media, Armed forces is treated like something not worth enough to mention. What if 10 jawans die on LOC.. they are there to die afterall! A mention on the fifth page would be enough. Recently a Major i knew, and a captain passed away in the Indo- China border as his helicopter crashed into a hill. But the front page of TOI said " Shiv Sena seeks quota for the Marathas". Yes the news may be important enough, but what about people who seek to do somethin which probably you and I wont dare to? The family, meanwhile cringes with pain due to the ignorance of the media, government. For us, soldiers who die is just a mere number. Nothing beyond that!

The unkown soldier lives on....

I’ll follow you into the dark

An impromptu plan at nine pm to go hiking. Staying in a village atop a hill does have its few benefits ;). Ten of us set off for a hike, which not only ushered us to the sheer misty beauty but also let go of the trivial matters in college and be exalted about leaving behind the eternal flow of assignments behind, even if for a few hours.

It felt as if I am escaping reality with a blank mind (literally).We began by going to
guest house, not escaping ananya sir’s stare. We noticed him staring at us slyly. He thought we could not see him, but alas! We crossed the campus boundary and commenced. The climb at the beginning was not steep; my past experience of night trekking helped;)

There were lots of mismatches. Kotha in floaters which were in a shredded state; Akashi in her night shorts; Keerat and I in Jeans; and others without torches--the motley crew. Kotha’s floaters came nearly fifteen minutes through the climb. But hats off to him, he managed the entire trek for about 3 hours bare feet.

We tried clambering the hill behind our campus, walked along the misty mountain top which adjoined other hills in the area. The only light we could see was the college much below us besides the dim light of the VERY FEW torches! The faller of the night was Darpan with around seven and the greatest fall was that of Kausik ‘ Kichu hobe na’, when he slipped down while Anisha, me and Akashi trying to hold on to him. Very filmy! Like saving a lost brother;-)

The misty mountain top was breathtaking, losing oneself in the light of the moon with the swish of raindrops on your face .Singing in the rain, Keerat and I getting nostalgic about Leh, realizing the we girls are no lesser, not having to opinionate, jus letting go of yourself and keeping a blank mind… guess it doesn’t make much sense, but heck! Only if we could freeze in time! Like I always say, small things in life give more joy!!

Hilled....

I get up at seven, cheerful about the long day at college, looking forward to the classes and then Times Of India dissapoints me because it says, 'Sunday Times.' Then i realise that it's a Sunday and I would have the same routine like any other day starting at Nine AM and finishing at Eight PM. Suddenly all the cheer and brightness fades away.... My weekend starts on Wednesday night and ends on Thursday night. Welcome to Lavale, Symbiosis Knowledge village.

I think, but I don't want to...

It all comes back to me today.I am listening to Matchbox 20.l should be ddoing my assignments nowor reading my newspaper which i buy eveyday but fail to read it citing unavailability of time. but why am I reminded of it today? just because I spoke to a link.. Tonight a lot of references were made , I feel the emotions,understand them and do nothing about them

I always believe in being happy and that things will take form in sometime. I try to be happy when I am cringing with pain and sorrow inside. I hate to bare myself and be vulnerable to others. I may pretend to be vulnerable, does it mean that I am?Just because I do not confront you, does not mean I am naive and believe every word you say. Falling while pretending not to, not falling but pretending to.Self respect figures high. That explains why I do not say one word I want to,make that one phone call which I long to, one message that I yearn to send. There is nothing AT ALL which precedes my self-respect and esteem.

I do not intend to do anything , but maybe i should... at least for myself and my satisfaction.why should I demean myself to a notch lower and behave the same.The emotions of guilt,pain and pride will remain irrrespective of wat I do.