Opening newspaper in the morning is getting scarier by
the day for most. Greed, protests, intolerance and acts of hatred, abetment to
suicide, murder, molestation, missing paintings, confusing justice! Forget natural calamity- that’s something we
can’t do much about but just look at negative news, one after another, about insensitive
humans being thrown at us. It's a very disturbing trend. Some of these
headlines in the social space make you nauseous and wonder what’s happening to
society and people around us.
Is there no good news to share anymore at all? Is there no Hope? Things seem to be falling
apart in everything around us. A few days back, I get a whats-app message that
says “If you take into
consideration all the signs, there is no mistaking that we are living our last days and its the end of time. Surrender to the Lord.".. but where is the Lord. I thought he
resided in my heart- so what next? I hate negativity and often wonder why people
share messages of doom instead of hope.
So I decided, I am going to take you on a walk into the
realm of hope as there is a lot of it still out there. It is in fact, I realised, right next
to me in my own little world. Call them by any fancy name - activists, leaders
or change makers but for me they are just my friends who give selflessness and
hope a whole new meaning altogether. Let me introduce you to some of my
very own awesome change makers, I call friends.
RJ Anirudh Chawla, Big FM, who
saved a life by landing up at a suicidal listener’s home after receiving a call
and feeling uneasy about it. Prerana Langa, Yes Foundation, spreading the
hope of social change and smiles through 'Yes I am the Change' films. Shivani
Khetan who started Expresso Café with a simple thought and simple
beginning of getting people to share their life experiences over a cup of
coffee and coming forward to inspire others.
Then there is my unassuming shy friend Dipesh Tank who found a woman lying covered in filth with burn
injuries and helped her get back to a life of dignity. He undertakes school
book drive for a village and runs to the rescue of citizens in need of help at
the drop of a hat. The dedicated Sailesh
Mishra with his Silver Innings Foundation and a vision is to increase the
involvement of senior citizens and enhance their dignity in the community apart
from working relentlessly in the field of Dementia and Alzheimer.
Then there is Indrani Ray (and a bit of me, too) of Arunima women’s forum to interact and exchange thoughts on
issues concerning women in the Lokhandwala Complex area; Remila Puravankara, Taksheel Foundation, working to educate slum children and adults in the age group of
5yrs to 40yrs coming from neighbouring areas of Lokhandwala Complex; Ramaa
Subramaniam creator of Silver Innings Helpline, first of its kind one-stop portal
for seniors & Pride Club; Anita
& Anand Gurnani of '50young' bringing new adventures and learning into lives
of the 50+, Raheen JJ of NGO ‘Open your Arms' healing psycho-social problems faced by children; Bindu Bhonsle working for development of the less fortunate and in need; Sona Kumar of Sona Sarovar
Trust improving the living condition in the rural
areas through water conservation, employment, education, health,
awareness; Sapna Bhavnani involved in women empowerment projects and working for the upliftment of
women and children.
There are so many more of my friends working for education, environment, girl child, etc. In
fact in every field that we begin to think is eroding and losing hope. I can go on and on taking their names. Thankfully, even though the morning paper makes me
wonder each day, I am really never depressed at all and neither have I lost hope at all because I am
personally already walking the path with most of them and blessed to be around them. After all it is up to us, isn't it, to go out there and make good things happen around us.
Besides, when push comes to shove and things seem dark, I know for sure that there is loads of goodness in all of us and a wonderful group
of my friends out there, happy to do the good deed. I know there is Hope and true caring people that deserve
a big salute.
Be the beacon of light in someone's darkness....
Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile
No comments:
Post a Comment