I am a little girl residing in Pemana village, I have a story to tell -

We are currently doing a project in three districts of Rajasthan  for providing drinking water solutions in Rajasthan. In the course of the project, I just realised, how scarcity of drinking water is so closely related to the condition of women, particularly, Girls. Let me take an example - 

We went to 'Bhilo ki Basti' a village Hamlet in Pamana village in Jalore district. We found that there is no drinking water source which is closer than five kilometers from their home. Its a total of about five hours job, two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, that women do to fetch water per day. Generally, the job of fetching water is that of teen-aged girls, who go this far, in extreme climatic conditions so that they can fetch drinking water for the family. A sight like this is very common in the villages of Rajasthan. 

At 'Bhilon ki Basti', all these women told us that young girls are never sent to school, because they have bigger responsibilities at home. During the younger years they have to babysit siblings, and do house hold chores, when mother is out of the house, as soon as they are a little older they have to go and fetch water so that mother can be relieved and can do other things. None of these women in this picture are literate, and they have no plans to send any of these young kid-girls to send to school, either.

Compared to that ,all these boys at the back,in the picture go to school, come back home and play in the locality. They end up as school dropouts generally, and when they grow bigger, they go and work in fields. When I asked these boys, what would they become when they glow older, most of them had no idea, one odd answer came as 'police'. They seemed playful, cheerful and much healthier than the girls.  This vllage has a female sarpanch, that too belonging to the SC community. 

This lady with a little child in her lap, is the sarpanch. When I asked her to sit on the 'khat' with me, she refused and preferred to sit on the ground. The reason was explained to me later - one she belonged to the SC community, Other the men from the village who were with us , including her husband, who is called 'sarpanch pati' were supposed to sit on the 'khats'. Her 'POSITION' even if she is a sarpanch, is secondary. Will education help these women? I do not know.

If a 'tanka' ( a tank, with a catchment area for rain water harvesting) like this can be constructed near 'Bhilon ki Basti', probably the girls and other females in the locality do not have to go far to fetch water,they can have an easier life and the girls can probably go to school. We earmarked a place in the basti for the tanka to be constructed on a piece of land which belonged to Sita Devi, the lady in blue, towards the right side, in the picture above, who is a defense widow, estranged by her children, yet a strong and progressive women. Sita Devi agreed to access her land to the panchayat so that 'tanka' can be constructed. The work of accession of land will have to be completed with in the next twenty days, so that 'tanka' at 'Bhilon ki Basti' can be included in IWRM plan.


As part of IWRM project, we go to the village, for a VWHSC(Village Water and Sanitation committee), a 25 member committee, and train these 25 people so that they become empowered to generate drinking water solutions in their village, and to look after the existing resources. We take an account of the existing resources and mark them on a rough map, we estimate their water demand (drinking water - humans and animals and total agricultural demand) in the next fifteen years, based on projections, then we assess their existing resources and plan for the future resources, a lot of raw data is collected regarding populaion, SC and ST sections, number of people having no access to drinking water, literacy, school, health and hygiene etc.

All this data would be refined and be added to a state MIS system, as part of the project. We go for a transit walk around the village to have a look the existing resources, we do water quality tests, take measurements, assess capacity, take GPS readings, make a note about the recharge or the repairs required at these existing resources. Then we take proposals from the villagers for the construction of new resources like the one at 'Bhilon ki Basti' and include them in IWRM plan for the village. This plan is them given to the district administration for approval. We also suggest the ways in which the funds can be generated for these plans from different state government schemes. In the implementation phase we will get the funds transferred to the Village Panchayats, do some hand-holding when the construction work begins, give them technical assistance and then transfer the project to the village people. We have finished this work in 98 Gram Panchayats in Bhinmal and Sanchore blocks to Jalore district, in the first phase, in the next phase we have started our work in Ladnu, Didwana and Pali districts. The total project cost is about 3 crores and the project is funded by EU (Europeon Union).

My little ladies - we do all this for you.

A video  - of our work at Pamana village in Sanchore block of Jalore district. 

Writing...

"Writing, at its best, is a lonely life. Organizations for writers palliate the writer’s loneliness, but I doubt if they improve his writing. He grows in public stature as he sheds his loneliness and often his work deteriorates. For he does his work alone and if he is a good enough writer he must face eternity, or the lack of it, each day."  Ernest Hemingway

 As a writer, I like what Ernest Hemingway says - I guess this is primarily the reason, why writers generally exist at the edge, in the outlying, observing the world, interacting with humans, making a connection with the life that existed, exists and will continue to exist on this earth and yet being at the outskirts of the world and the humanity.

 A writer can make his way through time and can make a connection with a life that existed in distant past, or he can live in the moment, sing the songs of the life around him, a writer, while he does that, tries incessantly, to capture that moment of eternity, that defines life and the very essence of it.

 All great writers create words in that moment of eternity, but it is also a fact, that they all lead lonely lives.

We at IIHMR..........

Disclaimers First. This is not a funny video, this is quite a serious video. But the fun element inherent here is only going to increase in the years to come.

The story is simple - Three of my students, Khushboo, Janhavi and Sakshi made their Summer Internship Project presentation. Hard work done by them for about three months in the company and here they stand to present their work before their faculty. A Chinese research student from John Hopkins University, who was visiting IIHMR during that time, also asked for my permission to stand through the presentation. So we also have a guest there. She seems very interested in the beginning but towards the end she looks tired and bored, may be a little sympathetic towards my students.

The reason for her sympathy is that the project done by my students is ripped apart by me and my faculty colleague. I refuse to accept it, saying it was more of a data collection and less of research. Well, a usual B School routine!! My students are visibly shaken. They give interesting expressions. I am nothing less than a cruel master, almost ready to slaughter a prey, but then that's what I am.

The story ended like this - They had to revise the project, which meant getting some more data from the company, doing some in depth analysis, putting to use all that they learn in Research Methodology class, and submitting the revised project back to me.

This was a few months back. All three of them are placed now and would soon leave us, to join the corporate world. They will make it big I hope in the years to come. I wish them all the best in their career and in life too. But this video(recorded discreetly, without my permission, of course) remains a testimonial to this joy of learning, we want them to experience.

Today only, Sakshi came to me with a box of sweets, announcing that she got placed, and describing in an animated voice how 90% of her placement interview with Technopak was all about her internship project.

The fun in teaching, the joy of learning.....

Ghazal Ka Saaz Uthao, Badi Udaas Hai Raat....

A deep sadness sets in. Jagjit Singh is no more. Last time when I met him in a concert I told him that he merely sang popular ghazals in concerts and someone like me looked for more....he laughed and said, next time! The next time will not come. The one who was singing has closed his eyes. The loss is just so unbearable.

I discovered Jagjit Singh when probably I was eleven or twelve. The first of his ghazals that I heard was Kaagaz ki Kashti.. and the music, the voice and the poetry deeply touched me. It was a time when my own 'bachpan' had barely left me, yet the pain associated with that loss was so poignantly expressed through his music that it lasted with me, with in the layers of my own emotional fabric, forever.

Such was the magic Jagjit Singh created. His music remained with you forever and thus it was a close companion through my own journey through life. Poetry, use of a unique orchestra and his velvety voice gave expression to human emotions and created such a depth to it that it was impossible not to be touched by it. His music instantly struck a chord, with young and old, as easily as the touch of a wind, or the feel of the rain.

I just loved the image that he created with 'jhuki jhuki si nazar', or the way he streched 'darichon se tum mujh ko..', to create that impact, the way he sang, 'katl ki jab usne di dhamki humen, keh diya maine bhi dekha jayega', made me play that same 'sher' over and over again.I can go on and on.......

Jagjit Singh's music inspired me to paint, whenever I sprayed my colours on canvas, his music was a companion. I learnt to appreciate poetry through his music, at a later stage, I created my own poetry at times to his music, my own creative journey happened alongside, as at various stages of life, I happened to appreciate various forms of his music.

There is so much that is abstract about human existence, the feelings, the emotions, the thoughts, sensibilities..., the non physical form of our existence finds its expression in music and poetry and colours. Is it true that the physical existence is transient, but the non physical existence is intransient, it remains much after the transient self changes its form...? If it is, then it becomes axiomatically established that Jagjit Singh's music is immortal too. It will remain much after he is gone or we are gone too.

Music has an immortal existence, and with that, a kind of intransience is rendered to, our emotions, feelings of joy and despair, hope and despondence, hurt and pain, love and in a way to life itself ....

Kabhi khamosh baithoge , Kabhi Kuch gungunaoge, mein itna yaad aaonuga, Muje jitna bhulaoge....unforgettable JAGJIT SINGH...

The Cow stands in front of the school............

This is actually a very old joke. But I got reminded of it today, rather abruptly.

When we had to write an essay in school, we prepared an essay on 'The Cow'. but as most of the examinations in life come as a surprise, we were asked to write an essay on 'The School'. In such circumstances, one need not to give up so we managed the situation something like this -

The Cow stands in front of the school.
The Cow is white in colour.
The Cow gives milk, near the school.
The Cow eats grass around the school.
The Cow is called our mother in school as well.
The Cow has one calf, which plays in school.

And so on........

I had to sit through GDs for selecting management students. The topic given for the GD was - 'Working mothers make better mothers than housewives.'

The GD starts ...........

....my friends I would like to tell you that a working mother can better know what is corruption in the society. She can better teach her children how to tackle corruption. She goes out of the house and she finds that in order to get the work done, one has to pay money, she can actually teach her children how to take a stance against such a situation by not paying the money. Corruption in this country would end only if all mothers teach their children that they have to stand against it. Each one of us has to take a stance, only then corruption would end in this country. A working mother who knows better what corruption is, because she has to deal with it on a day to day basis can contribute to a nation also better by preparing her children to join the crusade against corruption. One Anna Hazare cannot do much, each one of us has to join the movement and I think working mother makes a better mother when she understands the realities of the world and imparts the right education to her children.............

How often do we take examinations in life with this kind of an approach? Fixed ideas, prejudices, incomplete information, restricted vision.........no wonder that we fail often.

M.F.Hussain's paintings on celluloid!

A creative genius forced me to return to the blog after a long hiatus. M.F. Hussain is no more, the news came, the newspapers are filled up with stories on the great artist. In one such stories there was a mention of the songs from his movies - some inspiration, and I decided to explore them. The songs forced me to write about a breathtakingly beautiful world that this great artist has created………
I would like to share four of the most beautiful songs from M.F.Husain’s movies. They are paintings on celluloid, accompanied with some very beautiful compositions and a kaleidoscope of colours. Every frame in these videos is beautiful. You can watch them over and over again.

The first song that I want to share is yeh rishtaa kya kehlata hai………………! This song has been shot in Rajasthan and it picks up all the vibrant colours from the palette, to create a lively, lovely painting. I am actually thinking of converting that still, in which Tabbu is swinging, wearing a beautiful yellow lehenga………..into a painting.



The second song is ‘meri payal bole chaam chaam’…..! A background of pastel colours, offset by a striking black dress worn by Madhuri, the ‘kardhani’ around her waist, the various mudras of classical dance shown by her………..



The third song is ‘Gaja Gamini, tu hai man mohini………….! When did I last saw such a beautiful use of red and yellow colours? The song speaks about various roles of a woman, the enchanting voice of Bhupen Hazarika………



The fourth song is ‘do sadiyan……! It shows Madhuri as Monalisa, a canvas filled up with blue, red, white and gray….., vibrant and has some of the most beautiful lines ……
Ek sadi ki shyaam jahan par ek sadi ka vahi savera
Samay na daale kahin bhi deraa……….

Neele rang ke is daavan mein kitne sukun bhare lamhe hain
Neele neele rang mein rooh ke saare geet ghule hain……….



It’s a breathtakingly beautiful world, a wonderful experience…………….Enjoy!

The Case of Winter!

WINTERS, are often welcomed by a running nose, cold and cough, getting cozy inside blankets and increased rounds of tea and coffee. Ever since I was a child, I have a tendency to not cover myself adequately as winter comes in because I want to enjoy the nip in the air and a certain freshness that winter brings in. There used to be a childhood pleasure in taking ice cubes out of fridge and rubbing it on hands and palm, and feel the frozen hands touching ones or other people’s faces. I guess I try to get the same pleasure as an adult when I let a chilled air chill some parts of my body when the winter comes. Resultantly, I always welcome winter with a running nose.

But that is not all. There is a false notion that I have too. I believe that if I cover my feet well, I do not stand a chance to catch a cold. That somehow immunes me, I believe to the vagaries of winter, and I am the first one, often, to start wearing stockings. Strong feet firmly rooted to the ground, help me in many other ways, but not do any good to my reddening nose, more often than not. I try to keep my woolens at bay and try to enjoy the changed weather as much as possible, a rather childish pleasure that is. No doubt I am considered a chilled out person even when I sport a running nose at the advent of winter and often be the first person to spread infection.

Its interesting always to read facebook reactions to the changing weather. These days they have been like this –

• I hate winters! :(
• I too hate winters.. just dnt like the all time cold, allergies with the weather... cn bear with summers but nt winters…
• wats wrong with winter??????? .......we glow during winters.....no need to apply sunscreen.......
• we get sweeeet sleep during winter aaaah!!!!!!
• I hate it in winters! Everythin gloomy! Esp. when maid takes an unannounced leave!
• I have to point out.....i like the rosy complexion that college girls get in the winter :)
• Wow! Winter Chai and mathari!!!
• .......for those who r healthy like me .....thick sweaters n jackets doesnot look good at all.....at dat moment i realise how overweight i'm......heheeee
• I hate winters coz there r many who don take a bath daily…yuck!
• ok i get it ....talkin about winters is controversial!! :P

Case in point !!! I can go on writing about good things that winter brings in terms of food, sunlight, complexion, coziness, lethargy, drinks…………….and so on. But I think I won't talk much. My last word would be – I LOVE THE SEASON. Hail Winters!!!