Photo Courtesy : Harijan Sewak Sangh

77 years ago on 22nd February Mahatma Gandhi’s wife completed her journey on earth. Harijan Sewa Saagh at Kingsway Camp Delhi organized a memorial event. While some people were offering flower petals on her portrait Dr. Sita Bhambri said that Baa was against that ritual. I also learnt that she was not a modest wife, as I had believed earlier. She had a mind of her own. Sometimes she was critical of Gandhi. However she followed the path shown by him diligently, not because he was her husband but because she was convinced of the path shown by him to the nation. Kasturba managed the upkeep of the Ashram including the welfare of its inhabitants and visitors. I got to see the quarter in the Ashram where Gandhi and Kasturba stayed from 1030 to 1940 as and when they were in Delhi. A very modest house. It was colonial, double story with an open veranda with symmetrical architecture, multi paned windows, plastered yellow with greenery around. One time Gandhi asked Kasturba if she would also call him Mahatma like every one else? She looked at him for some time, smiled and walked away.

Dr. Iqbal Malik

(Vatavaran Rhizome)

An exemplary who has carved his own path of success with the power to imagine and the willpower to stay determined.

Sixteen years back Vipin joined Vatavaran NGO as an office boy . Soon his sincerity towards his work, sharp mind and his sponge-like ability to grasp became apparent. Knowing his potential, Vatavaran NGO invested to raise his work abilities . First,he was enrolled in an English speaking course and then in computer learning. As he continuously improved his abilities he was promoted. He was the Project officer when Vatavaran NGO was being transitioned to Vatavaran Rhizome.

Vipin spent the next ten years of his life in creating wealth but he never forgot what he had learnt and now he has returned to the Vatavaran Rhizome family. He would be happy to help people associated with Vatavaran Rhizome both in creating wealth, starting something new, managing it and making it self sustaining .

Written By :
Mahima Bobin

(Volunteer at Vatavaran Rhizome)

My Billu would not talk. But he was a great listener. He would respond to each word with his eyes. His waving ears were an assurance that he was with you all through. If no one ever heard you, Billu would, with great enthusiasm. Billu was a rare combination of a son and a soldier. He was lovable and obedient and he was always on the guard. Billu’s mother was a wanderer -a stray one, yet she became a recluse in the last few years of her life. She would often follow my father from a bakery where she used to be stationed all day. Popularly known as Haseena, this short trip from bakery to the gate was among her major movements during the day. Every day while my father left for his office and returned home in the evening, Haseena was like a dutiful wife walking just two paces behind him. In return, she was fed nicely and looked after well. In spite of all that affection, Haseena never entered the main gate of the house. She was very selective in her choice as far as her affection was concerned. And she showered all her affection on my father. I have heard that dogs have good sense judgment. In her judgment, she was correct as none of us was too fond of dogs. We would not care much except for my mother who was extremely humane at heart. One day Haseena died leaving behind three little puppies. All three puppies tried their best to wake up their mother. But, she did not wake up. So they latched on to her in the hope that she would feed them sooner or later. But nothing could reduce their hunger. In the night, someone removed her body leaving the puppies in the lurch. A few days later, daddy came to know that Haseena lay dead somewhere. And her puppies became what she was—wanderers. When daddy looked for the puppies, he found them distraught—barely able to walk. This was a huge pain for these beauties to bear. Daddy arranged for their milk and shelter. But, nothing could ease their pain and discomfort. They behaved like adult men and women who could not eat or sleep in times of trouble. How could it be tackled? The puppies grew restless day by day. Then daddy did something. He got the body located and arranged for her burial in the presence of her puppies. Since it was just the beginning of winter, Haseena’s body had not decomposed even after few days. They watched the whole episode wagging their tiny tails and continuously smelling her body. The puppies grew restless when the first snowfall hit their bodies. It started snowing while her grave was being dug. It must have been a very strange experience for these puppies. As daddy moved from there, these puppies followed him without any hesitation. At home, a small shelter was prepared for all three, complete with care and comfort, in the courtyard. Interestingly, they returned to normalcy once they were inside the shelter. Next morning, it was still misty outside and visibility was almost zero. My daddy left for our ancestral temple nearby. Once he was through with his prayers he came out. He found his shoes missing. He switched on his torch. To his astonishment, one of the puppies was very authoritatively sitting on one and holding the other shoe in his mouth. Once the torch focused on him, he moved aside offering the shoe to daddy. Next he followed daddy back home and very happily parked himself on the cushy doormat outside his room. Curiosity made daddy come in and out of the room to check if it was still there. Yes, he lay there all curled up with an occasional movement of his tiny tail. It was only 5 am and daddy fed him a sumptuous breakfast. Daddy was amazed with the kind of love he was getting from this little creature. He ordered that door of his room to be left open till the time this puppy was around. Hours passed by but this puppy would not move an inch. Daddy got ready for his office. As he was about to leave, this little puppy stood up and started scampering around him as if he would not let him go. This was strange, but he would not budge. Suddenly, daddy realized that he had not worn his tie. So he wore an elegant tie and proceeded to leave. But, surprisingly the puppy did not cause any further hindrances. He walked behind daddy covering exactly the same distance that his mother used to do. He stopped near the bakery. Then he came back and slept on the doormat. In the evening, the puppy left for the bakery and waited there till he saw daddy. Like his mother, he followed my daddy back home. Late in the evening, daddy looked at him as he lay on the oval shaped doormat all curled up. Daddy sat back in his room and penned a poem. This is how Billu was born! Billu was brown with black patches. His eyes were like those of lions and starry . He grew up into a big dog. Soon, he was daddy’s constant companion. Wherever daddy went, he would follow. He grew emotional. He developed understanding like humans. The entire family grew fond of him. Billu protected and pleased everyone. He was a new member of the family. He would want to play with them in snow. Snow fighting was his cherished sport. He would guard the house and would always be found standing on the right side of the entrance to the house. Main gate became a scary path for most of the visitors. He would easily identify miscreants. He became a terror for unwanted elements. Nobody would dare to come near the gate. He became very popular in the entire locality. Billu was a powerful protector for each and every family member. Even the neighborhood felt safer due to his presence. Billu was raised with love and without any expectation. Perhaps, this is what fuelled his passion to serve his master with so much of dedication. Billu had the ability to nab culprits. It was his natural instinct, he was not trained to do that. This quality became a curse for mischief mongers. He was being targeted by many but managed to save himself time and again. Billu grew into a brave soldier, discharging his duty against all odds. Then one fateful evening, somebody fed him a needle in a fresh bun. When his master arrived, he could barely recognize the sound of his steps and could smell his fragrance. He rose and tried to limp behind him but he couldn’t. Daddy was shocked and did everything to save him but it was too late. He breathed with ease one last time at the gate and never responded to anyone or anything again.

Jyoti Koul

(VEER : Spark of Rhizome)

        

Photo Courtesy : Barnali Ganguly

These days every bird is nesting. so if you see the nest, please do not go near it at all and don't look at it directly. If you wish to observe it, please do it subtly. Remember predators like crows and hawks are watching your movement and when you enter their territory they get more cautious. Do not let them know you've found a nest

Mohit Aggarwal

(Asian Adventures India)

Agar is a village in Rajasthan situated at a distance of 26 kilometres from Sariska Tiger Reserve. The name of this little known place will raise no eyebrows until you delve deeper… This village is characterised by clean and fresh air, simple lifestyles and homes which serve as economic units. These homes are either connected to the farms, or to the export-oriented markets[1] (mediated by middlemen). The people greet you warmly as you step out casually into the streets. You are served with the warmth of the people who invite you to their daughter's weddings. They serve you uncountable cups of tea/milk/buttermilk, welcome you into their homes, offer you whatever you like of theirs. And despite their vast expanse of valuable indigenous knowledge, they remain humble. The night sky shines brighter here, and it has an observation centre close by for observation.
In many ways, this village is a marvel. It has built dams and embankments, schools for both girls and boys, washrooms inside homes, and provisions for both electricity and water pipelines. Some may even argue that it is no longer a village, because of the stage of development it has reached. But it is truly off the beaten path, away from the city's evils. These dams and embankments have been built by a large amount of collective social work of the villagers themselves, with little government help. Being a characteristically arid region, the preservation of water is essential for the water to last for the rest of the year. It rains for only two-three months annually and sometimes lesser. These structures help in improving the groundwater table, so that water can later be drawn out through wells and bore wells. In the absence of these structures, the rainwater would have simply run off the surface and not retained for future usage. The objective of survival is what made the residents of Agar conscious of the need for water-preservation.
The barren hills have been turned green by the efforts of the people. Masti ki Pathshala contributes to this effort with the help of its school children who make seed bombs[3] and throw them from the top of the hill in all directions. Importance is given to the variety of seed sown, concerning the temperature, soil type, climate and benefits of the seed variety. Involving school-going children in this project sensitises the youth to the needs of the environment and brings them closer to nature.
It was in this remarkable village that Vatavaran Rhizome held its first meeting of all its Sparks. All the Sparks which were present introduced themselves and the different avenues of social upliftment in which each one engages. The approach to life which was adopted was holistic. The stars of the sky become your blanket while your back rests upon the cot. There was a collective effort in all the essential tasks- filling up water, cooking food, washing utensils and others. The harmony among all those attending the meet was astounding.
Masti ki Pathshala's interactions with the children are in a very innovative and engaging manner. The school is a centre focussed on imparting practical education based on alternative learning. The entire process is so unusual for the children that they yearn to come to Masti ki Pathshala even after school hours. They all have their own ways of engaging with materials around them, and no one dictates what is (or, is not) to be done. With the help of personalised learning for the children, the broader aim of this organisation is to prevent rural to urban migration. This will be achieved by creating avenues within the village itself, so the people will not have to migrate to the cities for opportunities of work. In this respect, the organisation also aims to provide vocational training to the children in their own fields of interest.
There are struggles in the village, as economic opportunities are still scarce. Women skilled in weaving carpets are unable to reap the full benefits of this labour-intensive work, as the middlemen take away a large part of the profits. A peek into the intensity of hard work: one square inch of the carpet takes two hours to weave. And as someone put it, just watching the process humbles you, and it testifies to values of patience, perseverance and hard work.
The other struggles are related to aspects of social and gender equality which seem to a long way ahead. Even when women earn and contribute to their family's incomes, they are deprived of an equal share of dignity. It is indeed heartening to see girls going to schools. But saddening to know that many of them are either engaged or married, and higher education is still rare among females. Menstrual hygiene and related issues are topics on which knowledge is scarcely imparted. Due to these and many other reasons Agar has a long way ahead for itself, towards sustainable development in not just economic but also social spheres. Masti ki Pathshala has begun work for the development of this region.
The path is rough, but the end will be rewarding.

Written By :
Mahima Bobin

(Volunteer at Vatavaran Rhizome)