Monday, January 02, 2006
Thoughts…Ringing in 2006
Sent to friends and family (many from Portland Oregon, but also from various parts of India and other parts of USA) on Dec 29th 2005
Dear friends & family,
Hope you have had a chance to enjoy life’s little pleasures over this past year that just wizzed by - those precious refreshing moments that give you energy and enthusiasm; that help you to handle todays’ fast paced urban life and pressures that come with it.
A couple of days ago, while walking to my bus-stop just in front of my flats, I listened to a little 5 year old boy from the flat above ours. He was carrying his small backpack to school, his father held his little hand, while his sister walked a feet ahead. They headed to their school bus, which also arrives at the gate of our flats, early each morn. The little boy kept repeating a new word he had learnt at school that week perhaps - “mist” “mist” he kept saying. Then I noticed the fine mist of the early morning. It was beautiful, cool and wonderous. I looked back and showed him a drop of water on a blade of broad grass on our walkway; I told him that was “dew”. Did he learn another new word, perhaps he knew it already?
Another morning a few weeks back, again while driving to work, I noticed a flock of white (migratory?) birds (Egrets?) – tens of them, no hundreds…settled on the Agara Lake, half covered with green water hyacinth that grow in leaps and bounds on these small water bodies, multiplying in geometric progression. The other half of the lake was clear and clean. One moment later, I saw these beautiful white elegant birds in flight, although some were still on the lake. It was a beautiful site in the morning sun, refreshing. One day, very soon, the whole lake will be clear of the water hyacinth; Local volunteers will help with the cleanup much like they did with planting the saplings (now small trees) around the same Agara lake. I know that a couple of years ago, volunteers from Intel Involved program joined others in the community to plant those saplings around Agara Lake, opposite HSR layout.
I had the woderous pleasure of meeting so many of you this year…
We met our dear friends from Portland - Paru and family, Anandhi and family, Nalini and family, Anita R, Manju Raju (twice), Mary and Scott, Suri and Sashi and family (from Austi; We were in PDX together), Suresh Chittor and family, Venkat Gaurav and family, Chandrika and family, Ulhas, Paul Alappat; Even though we could not meet in person, I spoke on the phone to Jayashree Anand in Udipi, Usha Ulhas and Usha Ramanujam & family while they stayed in Chennai, I met Usha Ramanujam’s parents later when I visited Chennai. We also met some others from Portland - Alala Sundaram and family, Veena Iyengar and family (at Mac Donald’s in the Forum Mall in Banglore J and in Mysore during our trip there!) and Tulasi Sidarth (briefly at work at Intel).
I had the great pleasure of re-connecting with my friends from childhood, from WAY back when I was 2-10 years old, I mean! I met Banu (twice in Palghat and Bangalore), Padma (she visited last week from Warrangal), Sumana and family (in Chennai), Jaya (in Chennai). I will be meeting Usha Prakash and family (in Bangalore now visiting from Seattle) during the first week of Jan.
On Christmas eve day, we went to lunch at Leela Palace. They have a great buffet at this 5 star hotel (or is it 7-star?) on airport road – just opposite the Intel building. We had promised Maya this lunch for a long time and were glad to make it happen for her. We saw the lovely decorated Christmas tree and there was a beautiful ginger Bread house – life size and made with real cookies and icing. Made us think of the holiday season in Portland – the malls and all. For lunch there was a huge spread of salads and soups, main courses and more. There was a profusion of desserts – melting tiramisu, lemon parfait, black forest cake, mango mousse and lots of Indian sweets including kaju barfi and payasam…We were Rs. 2000 poorer by the end of the lunch but a fine setting and tinge of experience of the rich and famous, I think we had…and were (temporarily) quite satisfied and happy J
ASIDE: I found a site with top dessert names: http://www.toptastes.com/recipes/desserts2.htm
Straight from the Leela Palace I had to go to my 3 pm appointment. Since we were getting late, we decided to go all together – Maya, myself and Renganthan (he was much interested in the visit too). This was at a place in stark contrast to the Leela. We headed to a small little office on Bannerghatta Road. A narrow staircase, laden with dust and scraps of paper and dirt led us to the office of an org. called “Stree Jagrithi” (Women Awake! and Aware?). Geetha Menon is a founder of this org. and has dedicated over 2 decades of service to the cause of poor women - mostly domestic servants. Through Stree Jagrithi, she has provided a space for this un-organized sector of workers. I met about 25 women (all household domestic servants) and some 10 children. I spoke to them about some of the work I was involved in at SAWERA in Portland. Among them, that day was a woman who had just been beaten and threatened by her husband. She was fearful but feeling better sharing her strory that day in the safe confines of Stree Jagriti. There is so much going on here, I will have to talk to you about it all in a separate (dedicated) mail. Suffice here to say that the 1 hour we spent here, has moved me deeply and kindled my urge to get-involved and contribute to the need of my local community. Unlike the time at the Leela which was relaxed and fun, this visit just an hour later, got to my heart. The picture on the wall of the room flashes in my minds eye as I write this – a picture of a hand, with blue and gold colored glass bangles, and a slogan that said “No laws were made by silence” (or some such words)
Just some idea about the Stree Jagriti from google search…
Stree Jagriti in the news (a fund-raiser event for child rights work that the org. is involved in: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov102005/metrothurs1523172005119.asp
Mention of founder Geeta Menon: http://india.indymedia.org/en/2002/06/1507.shtml
And Stree Jagriti’s outreach to teenaged girls: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main1.asp?filename=In050104We_shall.asp
And Tehelka – the People’s paper….
http://www.tehelka.com/home/20040501/default.asp
…
Yesterday (Dec 29th) I attended a talk by Mr. Narayana Murthy (founder and chief mentor of InfoSys). This was a keynote address to Alumni of NITW (National Institute of Technology Warrangal) at their 2nd annual international meet. My childhood friend Padma’s husband, Mr. Subramanyam, a current Prof. at NITW and Alumni, invited us. Mr. Murthy talked eloquently about how we can contribute to our communities and help create change. “A Leader sees every constraint as an opportunity” he said and continued to quote Kennedy “Wether you think you can or you cannot, you are right and you will”. He urged us to focus on “public good” and place it above “private good”. One day, the “public good” will be THE good for each of our private lives, he added. He had a lot of thoughts to share, much advice to give and many things to talk about, from his exemplary life. At the end, he appealed to the Alumni to make sure they contribute, in small ways or big…
I gathered from his speech that by just giving 2% of ones earnings away to causes close to ones heart, we would be richer by leaps and bounds; but poorer in a very insignificant and unnoticeable way.
I would like to wish you’ll success and happiness in 2006 and years to come…
….And because success is a journey, not a determination…
Wish you a wonderful journey in 2006… towards whatever goal you have set for yourself. I sincerely hope that you are able to take a few steps (if not many) closer to that goal … bravely overcoming the few backward steps you might have to take along the way.
I look forward to continuing communication and connections with you through 2006, and beyond J
Best Wishes from our family – Maya, Renganathan and my mother (Saroja mami) to yours!
-Sri
(Srilakshmi/Lakshmi/Cheema)
Dear friends & family,
Hope you have had a chance to enjoy life’s little pleasures over this past year that just wizzed by - those precious refreshing moments that give you energy and enthusiasm; that help you to handle todays’ fast paced urban life and pressures that come with it.
A couple of days ago, while walking to my bus-stop just in front of my flats, I listened to a little 5 year old boy from the flat above ours. He was carrying his small backpack to school, his father held his little hand, while his sister walked a feet ahead. They headed to their school bus, which also arrives at the gate of our flats, early each morn. The little boy kept repeating a new word he had learnt at school that week perhaps - “mist” “mist” he kept saying. Then I noticed the fine mist of the early morning. It was beautiful, cool and wonderous. I looked back and showed him a drop of water on a blade of broad grass on our walkway; I told him that was “dew”. Did he learn another new word, perhaps he knew it already?
Another morning a few weeks back, again while driving to work, I noticed a flock of white (migratory?) birds (Egrets?) – tens of them, no hundreds…settled on the Agara Lake, half covered with green water hyacinth that grow in leaps and bounds on these small water bodies, multiplying in geometric progression. The other half of the lake was clear and clean. One moment later, I saw these beautiful white elegant birds in flight, although some were still on the lake. It was a beautiful site in the morning sun, refreshing. One day, very soon, the whole lake will be clear of the water hyacinth; Local volunteers will help with the cleanup much like they did with planting the saplings (now small trees) around the same Agara lake. I know that a couple of years ago, volunteers from Intel Involved program joined others in the community to plant those saplings around Agara Lake, opposite HSR layout.
I had the woderous pleasure of meeting so many of you this year…
We met our dear friends from Portland - Paru and family, Anandhi and family, Nalini and family, Anita R, Manju Raju (twice), Mary and Scott, Suri and Sashi and family (from Austi; We were in PDX together), Suresh Chittor and family, Venkat Gaurav and family, Chandrika and family, Ulhas, Paul Alappat; Even though we could not meet in person, I spoke on the phone to Jayashree Anand in Udipi, Usha Ulhas and Usha Ramanujam & family while they stayed in Chennai, I met Usha Ramanujam’s parents later when I visited Chennai. We also met some others from Portland - Alala Sundaram and family, Veena Iyengar and family (at Mac Donald’s in the Forum Mall in Banglore J and in Mysore during our trip there!) and Tulasi Sidarth (briefly at work at Intel).
I had the great pleasure of re-connecting with my friends from childhood, from WAY back when I was 2-10 years old, I mean! I met Banu (twice in Palghat and Bangalore), Padma (she visited last week from Warrangal), Sumana and family (in Chennai), Jaya (in Chennai). I will be meeting Usha Prakash and family (in Bangalore now visiting from Seattle) during the first week of Jan.
On Christmas eve day, we went to lunch at Leela Palace. They have a great buffet at this 5 star hotel (or is it 7-star?) on airport road – just opposite the Intel building. We had promised Maya this lunch for a long time and were glad to make it happen for her. We saw the lovely decorated Christmas tree and there was a beautiful ginger Bread house – life size and made with real cookies and icing. Made us think of the holiday season in Portland – the malls and all. For lunch there was a huge spread of salads and soups, main courses and more. There was a profusion of desserts – melting tiramisu, lemon parfait, black forest cake, mango mousse and lots of Indian sweets including kaju barfi and payasam…We were Rs. 2000 poorer by the end of the lunch but a fine setting and tinge of experience of the rich and famous, I think we had…and were (temporarily) quite satisfied and happy J
ASIDE: I found a site with top dessert names: http://www.toptastes.com/recipes/desserts2.htm
Straight from the Leela Palace I had to go to my 3 pm appointment. Since we were getting late, we decided to go all together – Maya, myself and Renganthan (he was much interested in the visit too). This was at a place in stark contrast to the Leela. We headed to a small little office on Bannerghatta Road. A narrow staircase, laden with dust and scraps of paper and dirt led us to the office of an org. called “Stree Jagrithi” (Women Awake! and Aware?). Geetha Menon is a founder of this org. and has dedicated over 2 decades of service to the cause of poor women - mostly domestic servants. Through Stree Jagrithi, she has provided a space for this un-organized sector of workers. I met about 25 women (all household domestic servants) and some 10 children. I spoke to them about some of the work I was involved in at SAWERA in Portland. Among them, that day was a woman who had just been beaten and threatened by her husband. She was fearful but feeling better sharing her strory that day in the safe confines of Stree Jagriti. There is so much going on here, I will have to talk to you about it all in a separate (dedicated) mail. Suffice here to say that the 1 hour we spent here, has moved me deeply and kindled my urge to get-involved and contribute to the need of my local community. Unlike the time at the Leela which was relaxed and fun, this visit just an hour later, got to my heart. The picture on the wall of the room flashes in my minds eye as I write this – a picture of a hand, with blue and gold colored glass bangles, and a slogan that said “No laws were made by silence” (or some such words)
Just some idea about the Stree Jagriti from google search…
Stree Jagriti in the news (a fund-raiser event for child rights work that the org. is involved in: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov102005/metrothurs1523172005119.asp
Mention of founder Geeta Menon: http://india.indymedia.org/en/2002/06/1507.shtml
And Stree Jagriti’s outreach to teenaged girls: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main1.asp?filename=In050104We_shall.asp
And Tehelka – the People’s paper….
http://www.tehelka.com/home/20040501/default.asp
…
Yesterday (Dec 29th) I attended a talk by Mr. Narayana Murthy (founder and chief mentor of InfoSys). This was a keynote address to Alumni of NITW (National Institute of Technology Warrangal) at their 2nd annual international meet. My childhood friend Padma’s husband, Mr. Subramanyam, a current Prof. at NITW and Alumni, invited us. Mr. Murthy talked eloquently about how we can contribute to our communities and help create change. “A Leader sees every constraint as an opportunity” he said and continued to quote Kennedy “Wether you think you can or you cannot, you are right and you will”. He urged us to focus on “public good” and place it above “private good”. One day, the “public good” will be THE good for each of our private lives, he added. He had a lot of thoughts to share, much advice to give and many things to talk about, from his exemplary life. At the end, he appealed to the Alumni to make sure they contribute, in small ways or big…
I gathered from his speech that by just giving 2% of ones earnings away to causes close to ones heart, we would be richer by leaps and bounds; but poorer in a very insignificant and unnoticeable way.
I would like to wish you’ll success and happiness in 2006 and years to come…
….And because success is a journey, not a determination…
Wish you a wonderful journey in 2006… towards whatever goal you have set for yourself. I sincerely hope that you are able to take a few steps (if not many) closer to that goal … bravely overcoming the few backward steps you might have to take along the way.
I look forward to continuing communication and connections with you through 2006, and beyond J
Best Wishes from our family – Maya, Renganathan and my mother (Saroja mami) to yours!
-Sri
(Srilakshmi/Lakshmi/Cheema)
# posted by Sri Renganathan @ 1:22 AM 
