A Republic Day with a Difference

On a bright sunny morning of 26^th January, 8 MFGites started from campus towards Madhurmayee Ashram, a home for 55 destitute kids, consisting majorly kids of prisoners.

With a single minded goal of educating the kids about health and hygiene, we marched forward, beating the overwhelming Saturday laziness that afflicts all of us.

Despite some logistics barriers, we retained our energetic spirit. The Projector was too big to fit into our cab, so instead we came up with the novel plan of taking a white bed sheet instead into which we projected the image. We reached the ashram at around 10 in the morning. After getting a warm welcome from the kids, we started our work. Tied the white bed sheet from a window, and connected the laptop to the LCD projector. The excitement of the kids was palpable.

We showed a ppt on health and hygiene, followed by some very interesting educational videos on the same topic, which also included a National award winning short animation video on sanitation. We also gave a First-aid kit to them. This was followed by snacks distribution. After the session, we moved to see the new upcoming shelter for the kids, being constructed near Jharpada Jail. It has the capacity to house around 200 kids and is almost 90% complete. The kids would be moving there in March.

The whole experience was extremely heartening and this was by far one of the best Republic Days we all ever had.

I Would like to thank my team of good Samaritans from MFG Reach and MFG Akanksha, who came forward with brilliant ideas and executed this initiative with such finesse. Saswat, Roshni, Saurav, Ritwik, Rakesh, Sweta & Amrita. You all are wonderful people, and I really appreciate this special effort of going that extra mile, and doing your bit towards the society. God bless!

JLT

A majority of people I run into these days, probe me with a very sweet question, “Nazia, why have you stopped blogging?” Although I feel flattered, it makes me feel guilty that my weekend blogs has been unintentionally transformed into monthly now.

Its not that I have stopped writing completely, just that I have delved into official writing these days. And it gives me as much delight if not more. But will definitely try to be more regular henceforth.

So winter has descended on BBSR like a warm embrace, and believe me it’s the best season to be here. Now that Inox has opened up, week nights have become livelier. With a steaming hot coffee cup nestled in my hands, watching a late-nite movie in the awe-inspiring Inox with a blood-red embellished decor, after a back-breaking hard day of work. That’s heaven for me. I just need one more thing in life. KFC at BBSR. And I would be all ready to settle down here! J

I had such a gala time in Mumbai during the Christmas eve. Apart from gorging on heavenly delights and my ultimate fav, McD & KFC, I shopped like a maniac. People are extremely fit and health conscious there. May be they work out in gym like crazy, ‘coz they don’t restrain themselves when it comes to food. Didn’t get to see a single obese person!

Books…

”The Troubled Man” by Henning Mankell is keeping me busy these days. After finishing all the books by Alex Rutherford, I needed to read something contemporary. Now that William Dalrymple is going to release his next book on the Afganistan War, I am sure, I would have plenty of good stuff to read. If you are a voracious reader, its good to have like-minded friends in your circle. And I am really blessed in this department. As most of my loved ones, are big time into books. We buy latest releases, share and discuss the storyline threadbare, argue and criticize each other’s favorite authors and finally laugh it out! Nothing more invigorating than that!

My fetish for watches continues…Recently I got a beautiful one with baby pink mother of pearl undulating dial and tiny sparkling Swarovski crystals all around it. Total yum!

Ok this much for now…

Cheers!

Nazia