Shivkumar

09.04.2006

A puny little thing, must not be more than 3-4 years old but talks like a 10 year old visits my house on his daily rounds. What daily rounds? It is his daily round with the hawker who sells Chaat (An Indian specialty short eats combo that is spicy and delicious). The man who runs this mobile cart on four wheels, brings shivkumar along to help him cleanup, wash plates and I am quite positive also to keep him some good company :). Shivkumar talks incessantly in his pittar-patter Tamil (One of the thousands of Indian Regional languages).

A sharp, shrill voice that can be heard almost till the end of the lane, shivkumar can talk about everything under the sun and its only been twice that I have met him now. The first time round, he was quite wary of me especially when I tried making friends with him. He was all ready to punch me till I started a exciting game with him. I asked him to hit my palm while I tried to swerve it away. He got quite engrossed in the game and ofcourse hit me quite a bit with his super reflexes. A game and some chocolates did the trick and atleast initiated our friendship with he revealing his name in grand style "ShivvvvKuuummmar!". He shared his chocolate with his Boss (If I may so call the Hawker). He was quite alert with the food orders too and speedily delivered them to houses in our neighbourhood. I was also quite impressed with his mathematical skills as he collected the money and swiftly got the change, checking it once before returning the change.

The second time around, I heard him right at the beginning of the lane apparently advising his Boss on the skills to run a profitable business and about how to treat their customers. Hmmmm!!! Quite an entertainer that he is, he has endeared himself to most houses in the neighbourhood. He rushed up to our house to get an order. He saw me and gave me a punch in my stomach remembering our game from the last time and in his characteristic style asked me, "How I was doing?". I was immediately excited to see him. I gave him a few sweets. Shivkumar, put them close to his eyes. This is a traditional way in South India to Thank God for the food provided and put the food in his pocket. He wanted to share the same with his boss. Shiv kept us entertained all through his stay.

He delivered our order and collected the money, counting the seven rupees owed to him in a jiffy and stayed on for a bit longer. His boss started moving the cart and immediately he rapped at his boss to wait on for him or he will punch him and rushed down to join his boss.

He left an indelible impression in my mind. Shiv, so full of energy, enthusiasm, and childlike innocence. After many years in the social sector, I have come to realise that sometimes children have to work and while this is truly undesiarable, it may not be so bad because, the children mould into the work role quite easily and make it their own learning ground just like Shiv. Though I know he would also immensely enjoy living a true, carefree childhood.

I look forward to meeting Shiv again soon and continue our journey of life, experiences and some pleasant memories together. Hopefully, I may be able to give him a childhood that he and millions others in our country truly deserve. I am optimistic!

Mumbai Marathon - It woke me up

22.01.2006

It's been exactly 24 hours since I slept after I came back from Mumbai. It's like I have come back with a renewed energy, drive, determination and enthusiasm to achieve our dream.

Yesterday, also happens to be a very special day for me as I

completed four years at Dream A Dream as a full-time employee. On 22nd Jan, 2002 I had embarked on this uncertain and yet clear journey of my life and never regretted it since. Everyday has been a new day - some filled with sweet

memories, some challenging days and some high-adrenaline days but never a dull moment. This is the spirit of Dream A Dream. It gives me the elixir of life, a drive to move on. As I was completing this fourth year - a variety of emotions gripped me; very similar to how I felt when I was joining

Dream A Dream 4 years back.

Vigour, energy, urgency, anxiety to get on with work and conquer the world with joy and happiness. I felt all this and more in the last ten days at Mumbai. This Mumbai marathon will be a very special one for me for many many

reasons.

I remember the first marathon, when I was a single man representation from Dream A Dream and I made a resolve that Dream A Dream will come back with a bang. The second had 7 and third had over 40 dreamers. The first Marathon we got lucky and raised Rs. 1.5 Lakhs, the second one we worked hard and did a Rs. 6.3 Lakhs and this one we are sure to get Rs. 8.5 Lakh and maybe we will get lucky and get some more.

This marathon was special:

1) Because a 10-year old pledged her pocket money to me. I was really moved by this gesture and it reaffirmed my belief that children are indeed the future we are nurturing.

2) A young 23 year old, jet-setting consultant chose Dream A Dream after researching over 100 NGOs and decided to run and raise money for us. He went all out and got money from every single source - from his maid who gave him Rs. 500 to his grandma who gave him Rs. 5000. He said, I am raising

money for children so I will be shameless. He was our largest fundraiser this year as he got us over Rs. 2.3 Lakhs. When I met him in Mumbai, I saw the same urgency and anxiety as I had as he leaves his corporate job to find

out what life has in store for him.

3) A volunteer decided to do the 42 km full marathon this year. We saw Krishnamoorthy long after we had finished our run and finished eating lunch. He still had 4-5 km to complete but he did not give up. He completed it. I think he deserves the loudest and longest applause for not giving up. An inspiration as to how everyone of us should be.

4) This Marathon had two people doing the 21-km run and without any hesitation decided to also raise money for our project. Their enthusiasm and excitement all through the days leading to the Marathon egged me to go all out and raise funds too. Thank you Mr. Mahesh Srinivas and Mr.

Chandramouli for inspiring me and bringing in more people to join our dream.

5) Last year, I promised myself I am going to bring children next year and we had 12 children with us. 7 from Makkala Jagriti and 5 from Ananya. Personally, a very proud moment for me because this trip is going to be in their memory for a long long time to come.

6) This Marathon we proved and reinforced our belief that only partnerships will work. We had a collaborative project of 3 partners joining us at the Marathon - Ananya, Bosco and Makkala Jagriti. I believe we made a strong statement that we are working together in our endeavours to improve the

quality of life of children. We are finally driving home the point that we can do wonders with partnerships.

7) I am proud that I was part of a run that had a Mentally Challenged child who is participating in the Marathon for the third consecutive year. He walks 2 steps and sits down but does not give up. His parents and well-wishers constantly egging him on.

8) I am proud that I was part of a run that had a very old man who walked alone with a placard that read, "Running against Corruption, Politics and AIDS". Wow! This man made me stand in my tracks and strengthened my resolve that I should never give up hope.

As I stood at the doorway of the Mumbai Local Train heading towards my destination in the early morning sun. The sun shone a bright orange of happiness, hope and strength and as I looked down I saw filth, slums, children in unhygienic conditions and I dropped a tear. Its not time yet to

rest! Work to do, so let's hurry up.

Still dreaming...

Mohammad

13.12.2005

I met a young kid some days back, Mohammad and was instantly connected to him. He sells gas-lamps at a small shop. Short, twinkling excited eyes - a chatterbox. "A big cylinder refill is Rs. 85/- and a small cylinder refill is Rs. 60/- and please don't ask for discount sir, its a fixed rate.." he rambles on non-stop. I get my refill done and wait to get some change. He promptly gives me a 500 rupee note and asks me to get change from a nearby petrol bunk. "what! he is asking me to get change..no way", I try to wriggle out of the situation bt he is too good with his words..pat comes the replies,"i have already gone there 3-times today and they will not give me change, you can get it and moreover you look older."

This kid had confidence, the gift of the gab and a evergreen smile. I ask him why he works here and why is not in school. He says he had a fight with his best friend in school and since that day he has dropped out of school. I ask him why not another school. Mohammad says, "There is no other school I wish to go, that's it, I have decided" and he runs off across the road for some reason..leaving me to go...

Before I leave, he rushes back and gives me a million dollar smile...:) I go home, with more questions, more doubts and yet a strange happy feeling that Mohammad will be just fine even if he never goes to school.

Looking for Inspiration

22.09.2005

Today, I look for Inspiration

Today, Yesterday and for many days now..

I look for Inspiration

Inspiration in my words, throughts and expressions

Inspiration in the birds, in ants and in people around

Inspiration in my deepest passions and...

Inspiration in children, in family and among friends.

But, I seem deserted...

lonely and lost...

I look for inspiration.

Anyone find it...

please send it to me...

For I need it to fulfil my dream

A dream for a better tomorrow.

A prayer for my sweetheart

Its Sunday 30th December 2001, It’s a surprising pleasant Mumbai morning. I am waiting for the 8:37 am local to Belapur. It’s a crowded morning. Revelers going to town for a fun Sunday and ofcourse people working too. You may ask "on a Sunday?" – well, Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan!

The explorer in me says – don’t lose this opportunity – you are in town on an early Sunday morning – go out and discover Mumbai – that’s what you most like to do. However, after 3 hours of sleep last night – I am not so sure; so I ask the explorer to go talk a walk.

My eyes fall upon a beautiful young girl – 10 feet away, beautifully dressed, looking calm and composed. Hmm… time to fall in love and fall in love I did. She was the most beautiful persona I saw this morning and she was with a bunch of kids her age and older. Sitting at the Kurla station with harmonium in hand – waiting for the busy CST train. It’s a Sunday so hopefully the moolah will be good on the trains and if they are lucky they many get to eat today. Some of the thoughts probably going through their young minds. The kids played, fought and generally hung around – but this one was different – she was probably 4 years – maybe 5 years old. She sat there in all the commotion – quiet, young, and scared – as if searching for someone – searching for someone she can cling to – hug and let go of the life she has. She probably wondered if she deserved this when she looked around and saw a young father delicately hold his young son – caress him, hug him and kiss him. I wonder too – Did she deserve this life???

More children come in – some in their teens – they seem to organize this whole bunch of kids – directing them to platforms and trains that will be theirs for the day. Most kids seem lazy unwilling to carry that heavy harmonium and trudge along the packed trains – singing and begging.

My sweetheart looks on – I could not figure out if she cared less about what was going on around her or was just scared and wondering how she got here. A few elder kids came along – tried to fiddle with her harmonium – she immediately got offensive –"hands off that harmonium!" – I wonder if she loved it so much or just too scared that if something went wrong with the instrument – she would get beaten up.

The look in her eyes never left me – that look that reminded me of my little niece the same age but it was different. My niece has the look of being loved, being happy, being pampered, spoilt and look of hope for the life ahead. My sweetheart had a blank look, a look that questioned her existence, a scared look and a look longing for a little love, a hug and nudge – anything that would be warm and tell her – "Don’t you worry my darling, I am here for you." Did she deserve this life??

The look followed me – I missed the 8:37 local and it was 9:26 now. My feet were stuck to the ground refusing to move. Deep down her look hurt me – where it hurt the most and a tear rolled from my eye – it was not a tear of pity or of sadness – It was I believe a tear of guilt – Why did she deserve this life??

Her brother came along – moved her out of the gang and made her sit away from the other children – no complaints, no questions – she quietly moved with him and sat where she was told too. The sun had risen and was shining blindly on the platform, blinding her eyes – but she sat on. Her brother slapped her – no tears, no questions – she just gave him the cold look that hurt me deep down – where it hurts the most. I got a glimpse of her upclose. Well-dressed, clean face, her hair done beautifully like that of a young Krishna and those really small fingers and dirty long nails. But, those fingers – they were so tiny, so small and cute. I wish I could touch them, hold them delicately in my hands and take her along into my dreamland of love, joy and happiness. She had a gash on her shoulder probably from constantly carrying the harmonium around. She never let go of her bread provider – clinging to it like her life depended on it – not for a second did her hands rest. Her life definitely depended on the instrument. It was after all her only source of daily bread.

In the meanwhile, older women came along – completing a few rounds of the local trains. Some children cheered and ran ahead to hug them and cling to them. Probably their mom. The warmth that mom’s provide is definitely a universal phenomenon – the children’s faces immediately lit up as soon as they saw their moms. But, how many children can one lady handle – There was one on her lap, another clinging to her sari pleading to be on her lap, another clinging to her and longing for a warm look, a warm touch and ofcourse some food. Food they did get – tea and biscuits – they ate happily – not hungrily but contentedly. They were probably happy they got to eat today. My sweetheart looked on – no mom came by to hug her, grab her, love her and give her food. She didn’t seem to mind or complain. She looked on – a cold look, a scared look with not a tear in her eyes. The look that hurt me – deep down where it hurts the most. The 9:26 CST arrived – her brother grabbed her hand, the instrument still clinging to her left shoulder – they jumped into the packed train and went away.

I said a small prayer for my sweetheart.

On my way home – a saw a young child clinging onto her dad learning to take the first unsure steps of life – scared but confident because she had her dad beside her. A young boy was learning to drive a bicycle while his dad hung on from behind, encouraging him to chug on – take on life and promising him that he will never leave his side – be with him always. A young kid enjoying the Sunday morning scooter ride with his dad and a family taking their kid out on a Sunday picnic – dressing the kid in his best Sunday dress – designer goggles and all and promising him that they will give him the best of everything in life. My sweetheart didn’t probably have any of this – all promises broken, probably promises not even made. She learnt to take her first steps when she had to go get her own food, learnt to get on with life when kids beat her up, defending herself – sometimes with tears sometimes quietly. She is today fending for herself in the crowded Mumbai locals – singing, creating music – bringing relief to the stressed souls of Mumbai but yet can’t find a single soul who can touch her heart -–who can hold her tiny little fingers and tell her, "don’t you worry darling, I am there for you". I dread to imagine what the life holds for her – she will probably come out strong and take on the challenge that life has given her – she may succeed – but will all kids like her?? Do they deserve this life??

I wonder!!

I say a small prayer for all my sweethearts out there!

I AM NOT ODD I AM UNIQUE

I AM NOT ODD I AM UNIQUE 

FROM DUST AND TOIL I WAS BORN 
TO THE SAME MOTHER AS MY BROTHER 

YET I AM DIFFERENT AND HE IS NOT 
HE IS THE PEARL OF HER EYE 
I AM THE COAL UNTOUCHED 

HE LAUGHS, CRIES AND MAKES MERRY 
I WASH, CLEAN AND WORK FOR HIM 

HE STUDIES 
I WORK 

HE LIVES 
I HOPE TO LIVE 

WILL IT ALWAYS BE LIKE THIS 
YES SAYS MY MOM 
YOU ARE A GIRL, HE A BOY 
YOU ARE A CURSE, HE A BOON 
YOU LIVE FOR HIM, HE LIVES! 

I WISH TO BE ME 
NOT ME AS THE WORLD SAYS 
I DREAM BUT WITH LIMITS 
I WISH TO BE FREE TO DREAM 

AM I ODD, I ASK 
HE REPLIES 
YOU ARE NOT ODD MY CHILD 
YOU ARE UNIQUE 
JUST LIKE ALL ELSE 
YOU ARE ONE IN A BILLION 
BORN TO LAUGH, SMILE AND LIVE 
YOU WILL MY CHILD 

Nanny Rents Out Baby for Begging - My Reflections

Written on 8th November 2009

Recently, I came across the below news item and I experienced a series of emotions from anger, angst, shock, sick and hopelessness. How could a human being become so inhuman was my question. Is this a preview of what the world has come to. I spent some time reflecting on this and I saw the need for rethinking many aspects of our life today.


The need for better scrutiny, police checks, reference checks when hiring people not because we don't trust and respect people but because we rather be safe than sorry.


What the maid did was shocking and unpardonable. However, what bothers me is that where was her humaneness lost when putting the 7-month old child through so much pain and hardship. Was it desperation or greed? Was it a personal need or was it a personal greed? The question arises around how much was the couple paying her and if they were paying her fair wages?


It also puts into question the highly unorganized nature of the domestic work sector. What can we do to organize this sector so that not only fair wages are paid but also proper background checks can be conducted.


A big question concerning me is the insensitivity of the couple to leave the baby in the care of a stranger. Again, was it their need or greed that both the couples had to go to work? What kind of understanding and sensitivity was built in them that a 7-month old baby cannot be left along without intensive parental care. Didn't they realize that or didn't they care? Can we just point fingers at the maid and not at the couple? Where is their responsibility for their child?


A larger issue is around the policy around maternal / paternal leave. Do we need to relook at that especially in the current context where families are becoming nuclear, both parents need to work to make ends meet and leave policies currently don't support this lifestyle change. In many european countries, mothers get upto 1-year maternal leave and sometimes even fathers have the option for flexi-time. Doesn't this raise the larger question around some of our archaic labour policies and maybe these need a relook.


The parents didn't file a complaint. Which I found surprising and disturbing. Didn't they want the guilty maid to be tried in the court of law or were they too worried about their own embarrassment of the mistake they had done. Didn't they realize that letting the maid go could be dangerous as the maid might do the same in another household and where is the couple's responsibility towards the larger community here. Aren't they just being self-centered there?


I understand a lot of the above is speculation based on a news report but the questions remain and I think a larger debate is needed around the protection of the rights of children in our country which get violated every minute in this developing country.


Nanny sedates baby, 'rents' him out to beggars
TNN 6 November 2009, 01:07am IST


BANGALORE: The worst nightmare of working parents entrusting the care of their children to nannies became a reality for a city couple recently.


As soon as they would kiss their little one goodbye, the nanny would feed him and get him ready - for a day of begging on the streets of Bangalore. Instead of milk, the baby was fed sedatives; instead of the clothes carefully put out by his parents, she would dress him up in rags. Read more...


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Nanny-sedates-baby-rents-him-out-to-beggars/articleshow/5201477.cms