The big picture – practice what you preach
When I was a little girl and things looked bad, my papa used to talk about the big picture. It was his way of explaining to his hurting child that what seemed dark and gloomy at that moment was actually a tiny part of a big picture full of colour and light that we...
Anything that does not grow dies..
Anything that does not grow dies where the words almost whispered by S, as I sat helpless hearing the ominous words that were slowly but surely obliterating my carefully constructed dream of many moons. A dream that perhaps seeded when the little face on this picture...
project why versus planet why
To many die hard project why supporters planet why is an aberration. I can understand their reaction as at first sight the two may seem totally incompatible. I beg their indulgence and beseech them to keep in mind that both emanate from the same source and have come...
everything is a great question…
“Creation is a manifestation of the one’s many ideas… every idea one step away from being alone… The meaning is for us to discover. Creation is only a stimulus. All we have to do is respond. And respond well. Everything is a great question waiting for a great answer.”...
A blurb for project why
I was recently asked to write a blurb that would describe project why. I knew this was no mean task as in many ways pwhy defies all logic and all attempts at containing it within any limits are vain.I did set about trying to find the few words that would at best...
a unique haircut
Last Friday our very special friend Andy had a haircut. But this was no ordinary haircut. Everything about it was noteworthy. It brought together a wonderful human being from Seattle, a hearing impaired girl from a Delhi slum and a little cat who decided to grace the...
citizen why
Citizen why is the name of a new blog created by our dear friend and supporter Andy. The base line of the blog says: A place for the people of Planet Why to share their stories.I met Andy a few months back on the net, in one of those dark moments when one is...
karate kid
There are moments at pwhy which are incredible and moving. These are the moments that make you forget all the bad times, the struggle, the dejection, the angst that is part of any one engaged in the kind of work we do and these are the tiny cameos that make it all...
for a bag of chips
Sunday was truly staggering in more ways than one. On the way back from Utpal's school I banged my head on the edge of the car door and it was a stunning blow. Somehow it was ominous in more ways than one.As I lay down to catch a few minutes of respite I switched on...
a staggering sunday
Normally the first Sundays of every month are special. This is the day when the motley crew that goes under the name of 'Utpal's parents' sets out for the long drive to his school and spends time with him. Every month the set of parents is different - barring a few...
Tiny pioneers
When one embarks on a new journey one is always a little scared and a tad nervous particularly if one is an adult and the journey is somewhat uncharted. It is not so with children. For them everything new is a thrilling adventure be it a walk to the nearby park or...
a chilling wake up call
The tragic death of four tiny school children in Mumbai brings to fore once more the terrifying reality of the safety of our children and the alarming conditions prevailing in our cities. The illogical school system compels parents to send their wards to faraway...
a big boy now
Seeing Utpal is always a celebration and I must confess that since he has gone to boarding school I do miss seeing his little face and incredible smile.Yesterday was a special day as we had to give the first instalment of our land and we all knew that this had to be...
a ray of hope
Little Anisha came visiting. It is always a delight to see her sunshine smile even if it sometimes it takes some time coming. My thought went to just about a year back when we feared for her life that seemed to hold on by a breath.But children have a way of making up...
the girl child
India may have its first woman president but it is going to be a long time before the girl child in India gets the same right as her male sibling. What is tragic is that it is often the mother, a girl child herself, who treats her that way.No mother will ever accept...
new vistas- new dreams- new journeys
Once again we are ready to set sail on a new journey, one whose course is still uncharted but one we know will have safe and bountiful landings. As a rock pile slowly gets transformed into an island of hope, we too have decided not to wait but get going by setting up...
the society of schools
I have been watching, with utter dismay and deep concern, the plight of parents running from pillar to post to get their children admitted to nursery in a schools across Delhi, India's capital city. The nursery admission saga has been going on for quite some time in...
The wonder that is India
Sunday 20 January will remained engraved in my memory for times to come. I normally shy away from TV appearances but when a leading Hindi channel called to say they wanted to do a programme on pwhy I accepted more for the sense of elation it gives my team. At that...
A rock pile…
A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral wrote St Exupery. How right he was.For me this piece of barren line ceased to be barren from the moment we decided that it was the one chosen to...
a bag of miracles
When Utpal fell into my lap almost 4 years ago he was scalded, swathed in bandages and quite frankly not a pretty site. And yet as I held his fragile body and looked into his incredibly beautiful eyes I knew this was no ordinary child but a very special emissary who...
just getting through the night
To many this may just look like a barren piece of land, and it is just that if you look with your eyes. But today I ask you to look with your heart just as a little prince did in a marvelous fable and said: What makes the desert beautiful is that it hides a well...
moving times – movie time
This would make any teacher go ballistic and hurl a string of unkind words at the child who stands mortified not quite understanding why his valiant attempt at forming words meets such rage!The truth is that in most cases both are right: the teacher is unaware of the...
to hold on to their wings
Planet why is my most cherished dream but till two days back it was just that: a dream. True that I am used to dreaming and must confess that I have turned quite greedy as many of my dreams have turned into reality over the past 8 years, but planet why often seemed...
the new toast of town
Thew new toast of town is undoubtedly the Nano, or Tata Motors new 100 000 rs car! Everyone wants one: the young girl who was till date quite happy with a scooty, the three wheeler owner, the lads who have still not finished paying their EMIs for their still gleaming...
If not for you
I have been battling with myself about writing this post as I know that if I do write it with honesty and candor it may peel off some of the carefully pasted layers that has fabricated what I look like today. I thought the glue was strong and the image would withstand...
dance with your heart
Two years ago when pwhy was facing one of its proverbial financial crisis, our indomitable friend Isabelle decided to do something. Knowing Isabelle it had to be something unique and it was. On July 29th 2006 a heart warming event was held to help pwhy survive. Since...
Tommy can you hear me
Tommy can you hear me sang the Who in their famous rock opera way back in 1970! Soon we at project why will be singing Rinky, Saheda, Pooja can your hear us!These three lovely hearing impaired girls who have been with us now for many years will soon be able to hear...
If I had a hammer
If I had a hammer...I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters goes the age old lyrics of Lee Hays and Pete Seeger.I remembered this song when the Mitchells came to project why on the very first day of 2008. they had come all the way from Spain where they...
The ides of January
Come January 15th we run the risk of getting stopped by the police and asked for an identity proof or give the reason for our staying in Delhi. This is what the administrative head of the city decreed some time back. Nothing wrong as this is something that happens in...
not only dream but also act
This morning S dropped by at the women centre to discuss our road map for planet why. It was not a matter of convincing ourselves, or anyone else for that matter, of the validity of the project. It even makes good business sense were it viewed solely as a business...
brand project why
Pwhy has its own special way of celebrating special occasions; one may even call it brand project why and 1 January 2008 once again reflected this.It was a bitterly cold crisp morning as we set out bright and early ready to make the best of this first day of the new...
yet another tale of two Indias.
It was half an hour past midnight, half an hour into the 2008. A young ice cream vendor was braving the bitter cold in the hope of making a few more rupees and maybe set the tone for the New Year. A short distance away another man took the wheel of his car after...
You’ve touched my life like an angel
If I ever saw an angel, it was in your eyes. You've touched my life like an angel... Thanks for being there for me!Four years back a little angel dropped into my existence. True that he was scalded and scorched and did not look very pretty but his incredible eyes were...
of cakes, ladoos and sewaiyan
Xmas was celebrated in earnest at the women centre. There was a tree, streamers, stars and bells, pictures of Santa drawn by the kids and much merriment. There was home baked Xmas cake and presents for all.Sophie who had planned the party made a little speech...
for everything…
In many schools across our city where English is taught children are often heard singing the following prayer:Thank you for the world so sweet,Thank you for the food we eat.Thank you for the birds that sing,Thank you God for everything.Strangely this prayer transcends...
party time at pwhy
It was party time at project why and everyone was busy sprucing up their dancing shoes and rehearsing the latest moves. Even little Komal who has just learnt to stand did not want to be left out!This year we were truly privileged as we had not one but two parties. One...
nanhe is back
Nanhe is back. After a long break.. a few months actually. Nanhe is back after long negotiations with his mom as often the battles with moms are arduous and foregone as it is almost impossible to deal with the passion and lack of logic of a mom's love for her...
busy being grateful
Life in the past eight years has been an exhilarating roller coaster ride with a medley of wonderful experiences, sensations and events that hit us at such a staggering pace that one often did not quite have the time to savour them fully.I guess it was because one was...