Let's talk #MissionHelp in any way you can - Hira Mehta

 

A deadly virus has locked down the world and disrupted our lives in such a harsh and sad way, that it will take years and years for us to recover from it. Economy, livelihood and the very freedom of living life has been snatched from us. We are losing loved ones and everyone is sailing in unchartered waters waiting to get to shore intact. No one was ever been prepared for this onslaught, and yet it has not stopped the human race  from being who we are - human. We all know from the ashes rises the phoenix and it is no wonder that everyone has joined hands to do whatever they can, to make it better for those who need help. Networking has worked wonders and become prime for helping the community, especially in this pandemic. There are many Covid soldiers out there, but there is that one untiring humanitarian soldier, Sailesh Mishra, that I admire, get inspired and who never fails to amaze me.

Sailesh Mishra, the Founder of Silver Innings, a Social Enterprise which is working towards creating an elder friendly world where aging becomes a positive and rewarding experience, through his Silver Innings Foundation, has once again stepped up. He has been tirelessly helping underprivileged and vulnerable families, single women, differently abled, transgenders, widows with monthly grocery and especially for senior citizens are struggling, since the virus struck in March 2020.  Even during this 2nd wave of the pandemic, since April 2021, Sailesh and his foundation continue to do good work and he has added-on three more humanitarian programs to help and serve others.

#MissionFoodDonation - Silver Innings for Humanity Foundation in association with Sushma Rana Malhotra, Food Partner & Founder, Aanyo's and delivery partner, Making The Difference (NGO) has been providing free homemade meal two times a day for people in quarantine in the Mira Bhayanadar area and also distributing ration to needy since a long time now.

#MissionFeedIndia - Providing free dry ration to underprivileged and vulnerable in association with 'Market Place'.

#Mission5000, Mission JOSH - Due to the surge in cases, there is now a huge demand for oxygen concentrators. Amid the massive shortage, social media is flooded with messages of people looking for oxygen concentrators for their friends and family. This initiative supported by Bollywood Singer, Tulsi Kumar, Actress Bhagyashree, Designer Sonaakshi Raaj, Special IGP of Maharashtra Dr Pratap Dighavkar, Global Business leaders Farhana Haque of Microsoft and Farzana Haque of TCS has set out to provide free oxygen concentrators to patients at home through their partner NGOs Sanjeevani- Life Beyond Cancer, Ladli Foundation and Silver Inning Foundation  in the Covid affected cities across India focusing and is prioritising those who require immediate attention (including cancer patients) in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Surat, Pune, and a few more cities. It is India’s first fundraiser that aims to provide oxygen concentrators with an idea behind being to save beds in hospitals for the use of severely impacted patients.

Support mission here: https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/mission5000

And of course, there is Sailesh's on-going #MissionSeniorCitizen of Silver Innings. Sailesh continues and will continue to help affected people who live alone or have elders at home as also address and resolve the micro and macro level issues of the elderly.

Support my friend, Sailesh Mishra in his heartwarming efforts. Write on   silverinnings@gmail.com or whatsapp 9987104233

It is said that together we can make a difference. If you cannot step out to help,  then like me, perhaps you can become the bridge, the voice for the cause and share information to as many people as possible. Things do not just happen, nor get resolved on their own, so what's the point of waiting for things to happen. Every day is a struggle and the truth is it is the time to act, join hands, donate  and support in any way one can....... and now it is up to you!

ABOUT

Sailesh Mishra, is an extremely dedicated social entrepreneur and Founder of Silver Innings, Founder of  'A1 Snehanjali’-Mumbai's 1st 24x7 dedicated assisted living, elder care home, author of a book titled 'REMEMBER ME - YOU, ME AND DEMENTIA', and a unique annual stage talent show for the 55 plus seniors to showcase their talents titled "UMANG" - organized by his silver innings foundation, since 2008. An exclusive referral search portal ‘Silver Innings Helpline" has also been set up. Contact: silverinnings@gmail.com or whatsapp 9987104233.

 

 

I am a mobile addict

Can I give up my mobile for a day? I wonder. I can't even imagine my life without a mobile today, even though there are many who may not agree. I know that there are strong and disciplined people out there who detox occasionally from mobile but I am not ready to admit I need that. Staying connected to people is life itself for me. I can't imagine a day without my fingers not tapping, swiping or watching flickering pictures and staying connected. I know the world is not going to end if I put that mobile away nor are my friends going to go away either.

I am great at multitasking and creative thinking so what if I cut paste a wrong message to someone it was not meant for sometimes. So what if I hit auto text turning "dear" into "dead"...or "yoga" into "yoda"..and the one worst that I fear "peace" and not "pieces" (you know, the rest in peace one..I check this a 100% times over). In the morning, along with that cup of tea it's the newspaper and the mobile for me. Reading through whatsapp, facebook and the newspaper to check what happened before I woke up (well, it is another fact that I get up very late these days..retired you see!!!).  So what if the very next thing I do is to clear the chat of all those annoying good mornings, picture notifications and that one same message that pops up in each and every group like a tsunami on a particular day.... Okay, I do know it is a nice way to start a morning by wishing each other and I do appreciate your love, but no one needs a beep beep 365 days a year especially me, at unearthly hours. You are awake my friend, but my morning has not yet begun so then don't blame me for putting you on silent mode. Silent mode, indeed!!! ........ there I go checking whether you have wished me that morning. I don't want it to beep, I want it to beep, totally confused me.

You know what's funny. Let me tell you what makes me feel more sane than most mobile addicts. I don't text my family sitting in the same room or in the next room even if we are on the same group. Now that's what I call real crazy. So what if I use a missed call to my daughter, as a signal to come to my room. Now, that I think is an intelligent use of the mobile instead of shouting, is it not?

You may wonder what is it that I am missing out on by using my mobile consistently. You must also be thinking that I definitely need to be doing something else instead? That is never an issue with me. I work from home but get around a lot too doing crazy and fun stuff, in fact quite a lot than most people.....and when I am out the internet package is off because funny as it may sound, I just never seem to need it when I am with friends or out. I simply inform those I need to stay connected to during that day via sms that I am off whatsapp, etc. Simple but effective way to break away from face book and whatsapp because I become a photographer and need my mobile to stay alive through the day as I go click click. It's another story that once I am home, there I go posting all  those photos on social media. As corny as it sounds, I want to be able to watch a show without feeling the need to share a photo but then I am a pro at doing just that without looking at the screen. I know I will have that one picture of the many I went click click click looking over the mobile. Yes, I am a notorious shutterbug strong desire to capture every moment and  memory.

I love my sleep too, so switching off the internet connection the moment it is bedtime and that means the internet package of my mobile too is a done deal. Of course not the mobile calls, after all who knows who might need to call you. 

Besides I am also not one of those who think the theatre hall is the personal hall of my home. Yes, I do get up and tick off those using the mobiles in the theatre.  Silent mode indeed, but what about that annoying light that flickers in the darkness. Not to mention my counterparts who discuss menus with their cooks mid-movie or those who love to text or talk especially during a song sequence...Hello, I want to watch that song you know and I don't need additional disco lights from your mobile to enjoy it more!!!

I'm a good girl and don't text or talk when I drive even though you know, I am quite a pro and can do just that. I won't profess not to have done that before...but with a near disaster once, texting and driving is a definite no, no and even answering the phone today. My mobile definitely lies now in my purse hanging behind the driver seat completely inaccessible and away from temptation. Besides, I am just too much in love with life for that.

I just love mindlessly opening up applications, scrolling through and connecting with friends. Internet advises setting realistic limits for oneself of using the applications of not more than an hour or so in a day (not going to happen!!!) or for not longer than 15 minutes at a time (hmmmm!!).... Leave my mobile at home, switch off while on holiday. How stupid would that be in this crazy world where anything happens at anytime. 

Maybe I need to break up with my mobile..... even though I think I am doing fine.... 

My mobile is now my best friend, my love connection to my family and even more so with friends who I don't meet for months. Just maybe, just maybe, I am a mobile addict.......Maybe I do need to detoxify... May be I need to unplug from the unreal world to the world around me.. 

...........but then on second thoughts, I am already enjoying the best of both worlds... content to be on-line or off-line as I please.

Yes, I am a change agent

Everyone knows that I am a big entertainment buff, be it commercial cinema, theater or even a film festival showcasing short films. Hence it was not surprising that I once again this year requested my friend, Prerana, at the YES FOUNDATION to allow me to be there at their award ceremony celebrations.

Before I begin to share the heart warming experience I had, let me tell you what it is all about. YES, I am the Change is a social program of YES FOUNDATION which was launched in 2013. The initiative, which I must applaud, brings together the youth of our country to share social change that they have witnessed through the medium of short films. Everyone dreams of making films and it is this platform that spring boards the dreams of many. The initiative invites people from all walks of life to a challenge where the subject is shared 6 am in the morning and a deadline of 101-Hour begins to make your film and submit it.  Amateurs and film makers participate by making social cause films of up to 3 minutes duration and the wait for the winners begins. This year over 5 lakh entries were received by the YES FOUNDATION making it the largest movement of showcasing social causes indirectly leading to an unexplainable change in the film makers themselves turning them into change agents for society. There were multiple categories in the challenge such as the Corporate challenge, the Not-for-Profit, Student and the Open Categories making it the world’s largest social cause movement.  What further fascinated me was that all the films submitted are available for use of Not-for-Profit NGOs and associations who are unable to make films themselves to use free of cost.

The contest had ended and then came the day of the awards ceremony that bustled with life at the Nehru Centre on January 29^th where I sat looking at the smiling youth all around me. Chatting with them I realised that it had not just been about making a film and submitting it to the jury. It was now about the journey that they traversed to another world and emerging a better human being that had made them happier. The evening mood was set by an interesting panel discussion titled “Role of mindset transformation in nation building” with Meghana Gulzaar, Vikas Bahl, Jacco Cillers, Radha Kapoor and moderated by Namita Vikas. Interesting inputs from the panellists on how important it is for the media and film makers to be involved and even more on being responsible in using their power medium was an interesting take. Chief Guest Vidya Balan enthralled the audience with her thoughts on the event and referring to her experience as brand ambassador for the sanitation campaign. Director Umesh Shukla and other dignatories added charm by gracing the event.  For me a personal moment of pride was listening to my friend Prerana Langa, CEO of YES FOUNDATION taking on stage and leading her team to a beautiful culmination of a social change film making contest so lovely and well organized. 

However, that was just the end only of Day 1 as it was followed by the film festival over the next two days at the Indian School of Design and Innovation conference hall that showcased the best films of the contest.  Sadly I missed the first day due to prior commitments but  Sunday  was one of learning with interactive discussions.  Shalabh Sahai, Co-Founder and Director of iVolunteer and Tom Alter, Actor shared their thoughts and experiences in the volunteering and cinema space. It was an interesting debate with Cyrus Dastur, the founder of Shamiana Arts with Tom Alter, who suggested using real people for social awareness and documentary films; as he explained how the stance and the acting poweress stands true when you bring true to life heroes on screen to perform instead of actors.  It was indeed interesting, and a big thanks to the foundation for giving an opportunity to me and the young film makers to get up close, as it is not often one gets opportunities to interact closely with people of such caliber.

The same day, we were introduced to two film makers, Kuljeet Chaudhary and Leena Kejriwal, who last year had participated in the film challenge, which had changed their lives making them true agents of change.  Kuljeet Chaudhary, who won the last year’s Popular Choice Award for his film “Probably Paradise”, spoke about his amazing story from a night in Diwali when he and his friends decided to save animals from abuse starting with a cow whose tail was tied to fire crackers leading onto him creating a help forum on face book for animal abuse. When he was asked, what is the one thing an individual can do to help, he put it so simply and humbly “feed glucose biscuits to stray dogs”. On the other hand, here was Leena Kejriwal, an avid photographer and artist whose film became a thought process that has today started a movement she calls “MISSING”.  MISSING is an art project that brings issues of female trafficking onto our walls of public spaces with a black stencil of a girl made from iron sheets, forged and painted pitch black. The stark black stencil is hopeful of creating awareness about the millions of young girls and women who disappear from their homes and are pushed into the flesh trade in India. Both these amazing human beings are on face book.  I certainly made it a point to connect with them and am seriously contemplating how to get that stencil on a wall soon, after all I am a woman myself.

The entire day I spent there, I must have seen over twenty or more awesome films such as ‘The Stand-up Comedian’ on parent care, ‘Dua’ about elderly care, ‘Ehsaas’ about a rickshawalla who teaches act of kindness, ‘Muted’ about beggars stuck in silence forever, ‘Boxes’ about learning beyond education and many more.  It was indeed a Sunday well spent. Me, not a film maker and just an ordinary person never felt more involved and touched by the films that showcased so many causes that we never can even imagine.  It got me thinking as to how much do I contribute to society. Well, yes I do in my own small little way by volunteering with friends doing social work, but this movement got me thinking.  Films are such a powerful medium to spread the magic word and so I decided that I am going to be a change maker of sorts myself. I have started doing my bit by sharing one film every two or three days on my face book page and if I touch even ten friends a day, I think I have succeeded in creating a small little twinge in a heart somewhere…. And I am sure that somewhere, sometime, someplace that heart I touched will reach out to another and thereon another and we will be on our way to a better happier place.