What Can We Do?

As a citizen of India, distressed by the pathetic condition of law and order, education, poverty and corruption, I have been pondering on "What Can I Do?" to make a difference. There are so many people who are illiterate, poverty is rampant, corruption is at its peak, and so many other things. I am sure many others feel the same. In the recent past, I have taken some steps in the form of trying to set up a library for Fatehpur Inter College from where I did my 12th, working with AID-TAMU. Apart from these action oriented deeds, I also started reading a lot of books, and the material on the Internet. I am a student and just like any other student, I also have limited financial capabilities. Many of my friends argue that they want to do something, but their career has absolute priority, and any other time they have left at hand, they devote it to entertain themselves, often consisting of movies, going out to parties, sports, music and a host of other things which center around "self" entertainment. I have begun to think the modern education, and a pressure to earn a LOT OF MONEY and secure a career leaves them a selfish individuals, and isolates them from the pain of other less-fortunate individuals. More on that later, lets focus on the topic at the moment. So, for all those people who are marred with pressure of building a career now, and have limited financial capabilities, I have tried to reflect upon the question in the lines below. To remind you, the questions is "What can I Do?":

The First Step:

Well, for the starters, I think we can begin by making ourselves more sensitive about the problems of the world that may not directly affect us, but are still are important that someone addresses them. Being more sensitive brings awareness about the issues and you understand them better. A better understanding of the issues would then enable you to get more involved, ignite a fire in you to reflect on it as an individual, and pave the path for you to answer the question "What can you do" to make a difference. May be you would dig deeper to know more, or may be you would write to the authorities, or just to your friend, send email to prime minister, write to other individuals such as newspaper editor, prime minister, chief election commissioner, chief information commissioner, police chief; basically raise your concern, make them aware that you are concerned. More importantly, you will develop an positive attitude, and start seeing an opportunity in every problem, rather than merely shrugging it off saying "India ka kuch nahi ho sakta". This is, in my opinion, the most important step in the journey of trying to make a difference.

more, laters.....

Dream India 2020

On January 27th, I was in Austin for a party at Ashish's place where we met Vivek Sao. Vivek Sao co-founded DreamIndia2020, an NGO working for child education. They inspired a whole bunch of us, hence the post here. There were three recent graduates with engineering degrees and working as IT proffesionals in Mumbai where they started going to Slums and Utilize their weekends teaching kids. The interests gradually increased and many other freinds started to come along. Today, they are a registered NGO and are workin in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad. Below are two news clipping from CNBC and DD news respectively.

To know more about the NGO, please visit http://dreamindia2020.org

Press Articles: http://dreamindia2020.org/DiOnMediaPress.do

Weight Gain and Weight Loss: A Retrospect

Recalling the days when I used to be active in the sports such as (1) Swimming and (2) Weight Lifting and was often found in shady Hotel 8 gym with Aaich and Gangu trying to work the iron, is today a pleasant feeling, imagining myself several kilos lighter. Several things went wrong in the past 5 years and I was found in worst of my shape at whopping 186 Lbs (~84Kgs) in 2005 about 43 Lbs (20 Kgs) more than my wieght of 143 Lbs (65 Kgs) in 2000. Here is a list of what went wrong.

1. No Exercise
2. Bad Eating Habits
3. I Dont Care Attitude
4. Not knowing what to do

Let me explain the point 4. I knew I was gaining weight, and I would sometimes feel really motivated and being cautious of what I eat etc. For example, I stoppped eating Chips and Coke. Also, sometimes I used to go to rec center jogging both ways. But I didnt loose weight. I used to swim, or play volleyball or even do weights. But I didnt loose weight. Frustrated with not seeing any results, will give rise to the point 3, resorting back to giving up and conforming to points 1,2 and 3. I think this is the case with many other people. I want to make a note that in all these efforts, what I DID NOT do is:

1. I didnt not change my menu (Dal with Tadka, Sabji made with cheapest walmart oil , source of lot of bad fats), Bread Butter breakfast (White bread, no fiber).
2. Used to drink full fat milk
3. Didnt hesitate in eating cookies, chocolates and other sweet items
4. Lots of tea/coffee with LOTS of sugars.
5. Friday parties, Alcohols of all types
6. Didnt care about Protien, Carbs, Fat and Fibers balance in my diet.

I can pin point these things today, but back then I didnt care to look through the menu in so much depth. The problem was rooted in my neglect about the nutritional values of various foot items. Being from India and a habit of eating what is served on the table, had ensured that I live the curse of neglect. Perhaps it is the price of outsourcing your food to your mom in the begining and then your hostel mess later, and then the servant when you start working as a software proffesopnal. Worse, handing it over to the menu designers of Pizzas Hut and Nirulas of Delhi.

In the recent past, I have tried to fix my bad eating habits and I can gladly say that I have come back to my old waist size of 32 and weight of 158 Lbs. The next 8 to 10 pounds are gonna be hard to loose, but I know if I continue, I can achieve it.

Mayank Sahu - Portfolio and Documentary

This video is about Youngest Music Mastero, whom many world renowned musicians have called a miracle in music. Mayank Sahu is the youngest musician, winner of limca book of world records at the age of 4.....more details about him at http://www.mayanksahu.net You can imagine his talent by listening to the famous Ghulam Ali ghazal "Chupke Chupke" that he sang prefectly well which todays musicians such as Anu Malik and Himesh Reshamiya will never ever dare to sing....Its considered to be a Ghazal of 7 Tal, which is not easy to sing by anyone......the video is available here.http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1472825714630185575&q=Mayank+Sahu&hl=en