Thursday, June 26, 2008

On Thinking Outward

Occurs to me that there are hardly any chance meetings in life. Sometime ago, I arrived at the conclusion that every single person we relate with in the course of our lives have been put there as a sort of a mirror - or a gauge ... a means in other words to help us expand minds, hearts, perspectives, beahviour patterns. Knowing this entirely shifts the way we see and do things. Why am I writing about this today? I don't know ... maybe I went for a walk all by my lonesome and had the uncanny feeling that I was everyone else and vice versa. A feeling of oneness with human kind. But its true. Someone in its infinite wisdom (or game of dice!) is definitely playing relay tag with us.

I took my 2 month old to a restaurant recently and standing at the door was a beggar with an infant tied to her bosom. She stood there trying to feed the baby and retaining some semblance of modesty all at the same time. We spoke and turned out that our kids were the same age and we were both nursing our children and only the circumstances were different. Only that. I get porridge and nuts and vitamins to ensure my good health and she gets whatever she can scavenge for. But somehow, beyond the obvious pity and the sudden need I had to really cry, I re-learnt a lesson in fortitude. I don't get so tired at the end of the day anymore.

Which brings me to an important issue. We simply must start a soup kitchen type of place. Of course there is enough food for everyone ... its simply not getting to those who are hungry. I was thinking of approaching hotel kitchens to take away whatever they think they can discard everyday - I know for a fact that most of it is unspoilt. I mean if it were home, we would be re-heating it for next day's lunch box or something. But we need a place and municipal permission. If anyone has any bright ideas, write to me please. I'm looking as well.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to the Bangalore bloggers meet being organized by Gazal. Shall write about how it went soon :)

10 comments:

amna said...

that's a great idea you have. ur daughter is very very cute :) and like an idiot i missed the hyd bloggers meet :(

Prats said...

Its all so touching, yes. Should work things out and carry it forward.
And yes! Looking forward to meeting all of you.

Tys on Ice said...

i kinda know what u mean..after becoming a father, i feel connected to all children...it crosses my mind that it could be my son doing the cartwheels on the roadside for a few rupees...everything feels so heart wrenching sometimes...need to sponser some children's education...we need to continue supporting that school lunches in ur aunts school...

do wht u hve to do, mads..take tht step...everything will work out ...it always does...

as for the soup kitchen, enquire with the municipality if they can give u a place to work out from...from there on things will become easier...logistics will be the biggest hurdle...start something small...so that u can learn the ropes without getting overwhelmed...find one hotel to help u....the rest will follow...once u achieve in making a viable solution, others will follow in ur step.....remember once u told me?...if all of us feed one person more when we eat, it will end world hunger...if we educate one person more it will bring about world literacy....

if every human being helps just one person more...it will ease a lot of suffering out there...

Madhumita said...

Great to see all your responses. I'm talking to one of the five star hotels today - that will be the least of our problems. Big issue is space. I think we should approach one of the corporates as part of their corporate social responsibility programs. Any ideas?

Sairekha said...

I just saw your post! :( Damn! Else could've caught up with you over lunch... :( Been thinking on similar lines... Would love to talk about this. :)

Gazal said...

great idea madhu.yes the corporate houses could be roped in.

somehow i feel the school kids could do a wonderful job of making a difference in the lives of those,who are not so...instead of the mindless trips they are made to take in the name of field trips.

let me know,how we can help

--xh-- said...

a good initative, but as u pointed out, space will be the biggest hurdle... If you ever need a volunteer, I am ready to help... lets hope this initiative moves ahead...

Madhumita said...

Hey Anoop - going to a few schools tomorrow to see if we can get space on their campus. Shall mail you about it :)

Prats said...

hey Madhu....time to list out those favourite books for me...please, please....can you do the tag for me....check it out at my blog

Monika said...

i know how u must have felt like... i always used to feel bad when i used to see small children and babies suffering on the road but after i had my son who is about 7 months old now i somehow wonder how they manage and we crib abt 10 thousand other things....

r idea is nice, i know of a hotel in delhi which doesnt throw away any waste food instead they feed it to poor people... i guess this should be made a rule everywhere....

if u ever want to do something like this in blore... ping me i will be intersted


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