whose reponsibility is it anyway
Very often in the nightmare that Delhi traffic has become, one can see ambulances flashing their lights and blaring their sirens to no avail. Many times other vehicles could slow down and move aside and give them way but somehow they don't. The ambulance just has to...
give me a wet one!
The last few posts have been grim and and bleak so I thought that one needed to share some happy times, and no one can compete with our dear Popples when it comes adding a ray of sunshine to one's life.After almost two years Utpal came home for his Rakhi break. Home...
startling statistics
A report based on government data for the period 1994 - 2004 reveals the startling fact that over 800 million people or 75% of India's population lives on a per capita income of less than 2o rs a day. The report goes on to say that a person whose consumption is less...
feudal atavism
Many incidents of incomprehensible and inhuman rage made the headlines in recent days. On each occasion I held on to my urge to react as I felt that my words would have no or little effect. However the pictures aired yesterday on all leading channels broke my...
another miracle
Our lohar friends have always held a special place in our hearts. We have known them for over 7 years and have been impressed by their wise ways and their humane qualities more than once.In the last few months we saw a sharp decile in the number of children attending...
an incredible night
Welcome to the why women centre!Though the why women centre was born out of necessity it truly came alive last night when Firdaush our energetic volunteer from Paris decided to spend a night with the girls. It was a fun filled night but one where plans were made,...
the (mis)rule of law
Champa may soon lose her home, one she has lived in since she was a very tiny girl. Champa lives at the ill famed transit camp with her mother who works in homes as a maid.For the past few days Champa has not been able to comprehend why her mom has not gone to work....
the three wise volunteers of pwhy
One of the biggest asset of pwhy has been its band of volunteers. They have come from every corner of the planet and each one has left his or her mark. This summer we were truly spoilt as we had not one, not two but three superb volunteers: Lucy, Xiong and Firdaush.At...
slain not fed
The recent spat between a young athlete's coach and his mother has led to a child's future being held to ransom. It is true that in Budhia's case a solution will be found as he he is a media celebrity but the whole issue opens up a disturbing debate.In an answer to a...
to hear or not to hear
R and S are hearing impaired. R is 19 and S 14. They are both students of our special section and are real live wires. In the last years they have learnt many things from tailoring to cooking, from paper craft to weaving. R is a talented artist and S can cut and...
the neutrality syndrome
Yesterday India celebrated its 61st independence day amidst much fanfare and media hype. Once again promises were made from the rampart of the historic Red Fort and huge allocations were pledged to education and agriculture. Newspapers dutifully listed all...
number nine..
Over the past 7 years now, we at project why have been doggedly teaching batch after batch of slum children with a measure of success, if success is to be determined by examinations results. Many have passed out of school and joined the working world, others have...
back home
Little mehajabi is back home after a successful open heart surgery. For the first time in her tiny life she sleeps soundly, her breathing normal. Soon she will be returning to where she came from and resume the simple life her parents live in the confines of a...
reality hurts…
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails." said Henry David Thoreau and till very recent times I felt that way. Look with your heart, a maxim borrowed from the Little Prince is one I followed with conviction and I guess that is also why a project aimed at...
reality bites
Our decision to close down one of our primary centres may have perplexed some of our friends and well wishers. I must confess that it was not an easy one but the writing was on the wall and we had to stand by our initial mission: that of empowering parents to take...
cameos of another life..
Recent days have seen a plethora of disturbing images flashed across our TV screens: a 17 year old boy gets beaten to death by his teacher for not sitting properly; 5 disabled men consume poison in public as they lose their source of livelihood; a one day old baby is...
equal in justice
The sentencing of Sanjay Dutt yesterday once again renewed one's faith in the rule of law. As the court drama enfolded on TV channels one did tend to feel a surge of sympathy for the actor who has endeared himself in recent times as the genial Munabhai and quite...
reinventing ourselves
In a previous post, I had related how tings had changed in pwhy calling for a realignment of our forces and the need to reinvent ourselves. As fate would have it, I fell sick soon after writing that post and was forced to remain away from pwhy for almost three...
a tale of survival in India at 60
Yesterday morning Mehajabi came by project why with her mom. Today she will be going to the hospital and if all goes well, should be admitted for her open heart surgery.It has been a long journey for this little girl and her family. She was born a year ago in the well...
the silence is killing
A few minutes back an email from a dear friend entitled: the silence is killing dropped by my mailbox.It is true that it has been over 20 days since I last wrote a post. The reason: a nasty viral flu that got the better of me.The last three weeks were spent between...
all grown up
It is always with a tinge of sadness that a parent sees his child walk out of the parental home with confidence and determination. And yet it is something every wishes for its child and strives for.Seven years ago, when we seeded project why, our dream was to one day...
midway mysteries
I am now convinced that all activities of project why seem to be ordained in some way. At every step that led us from barely 50 kids to over 500 in 7 short years via open heart surgeries and more, we felt guided by some invisible spirit. To the unordained and oft...
one year later..
It was just a year ago that a little red bag sat packed in a room in my home and that I wrote one of the most difficult letter of my life as little mr p set out for his first day in a boarding school, after bidding a poignant farewell to his mom in her first rehab...
picture perfect
This is not a painting or a touched up photograph. It is s snapshot of our 'class in a box' - a.k.a as our manav kalyan creche - and was taken by a visiting friend.What makes this class so special is that it is the initiative of two barely literate slum housewives who...
whose family is it anyway
I have been watching the recent on-goings of the Presidential elections. I have nothing against any candidate but could not but wince when I heard our prime Minister defending the lady candidate's past with the words "she cannot be held responsible for the...
changing egosystems..
“Trying to save ecosystems has more to do with changing egosystems.” said Don RittnerLast week a visitor from Europe shared his dilemma about choosing a new car. His main concern was carbon emissions and thus his choice a small car though he was a person who could...
bake a cake
When Kiran got admitted in an upmarket pubic school.. it was a dream come true for her family and for all those who love her. Admission woes were soon forgotten as she set of in her sparkling uniform to conquer a new world.It would be a big challenge to see her...
depend on them…
Don't believe in miracles - depend on them said Laurence J Peter and that is what we have been doing for seven years now. If you need to know whether miracles exist or not,just read on.Manu who you see in the picture used to roam the streets dishevelled, uncared for...
a different QOTD
The recent plight of HIV+ve children has been making headlines. Denied school, then readmitted, then targeted. As usual once again it is good copy for the media and we have picture of the little souls with their faces blurred but ever so recognisable flashed on the...
just another day at project why
Friends often gently remind me to talk about project why particularly when tend to digress on larger issues or as was the case lately, wander into deep introspection.Maybe the mere fact that I can indulge in the above proves that all is well at project why. But still...
and there is always tomorrow.
Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that...
Remembering mom.
She left seventeen years ago. Every year on this day I remember her; write a few words, light a lamp, place a garland on her picture, sit quietly in her favourite spot in the garden or make her favourite dish. Then everything is put back into some corner of one's...
a woman of substance
A few days back an acquaintance who is a jet setting honcho of a huge MNC was house hunting. He finally zeroed on a flat in an up up market district of our capital city. The rent a whopping 550 000 rs a month! Mind you it is not a bungalow, just a second floor in a...
the heat is on
The heat is on. The weather girl predicted a whopping 45 degrees with a sweat factor of 27% making it feel like 48 degrees. The sensible thing would be to stay at home, away from the sun and the scalding wind. True that is an option for some of us, provided the...
the preppies
We have a new class. It is one we had to create by force majeure. Though we ourselves believe that children should not be made to study at too tender and age, sometimes noblesse oblige and you have to bow to the rule of the day.So much to our sorrow we had to take the...
a milestone for project why
The arrival of Pritpal is a real milestone for the special section of project why. Pritpal is an occupational therapist and will work with the children every morning. This will be a quantum leap for many kids and is bound to help them have a better future.My thoughts...
all god’s angels
All God's angels come to use disguised said James Russell Lowell. We have had our share dropping by project why in all shapes and sizes to help and guide us, and like all angels flown away before we even realised who they were. However, there has been one little angel...
a salvo from the heart
We all love positive stroking; come to think about it, it is something we need. We have had our share but often it is more lip service than a salvo from the heart.Usha is a special educator from Jan Madhyam an organisation we network with and has been coming to...