Color My World

In life many things happen on purpose though it takes a while to realize this. In the beginning of the year I met someone who opened a new avenue of opportunity I had hitherto not known. She teaches in a leading public school and also runs an NGO that helps in supporting education of children that hail from economically challenged strata of society. It was a chance meeting and from the next day, I found a new purpose to join hands with her for the cause for which she works whole heartedly with her equally devoted daughters.

Filling colors on the vacant canvas of life for the children whose eyes gleam when you help them in solving their problems gives a joy that cannot be compared. The education system that they hail from rarely addresses the grass root basics on which a strong foundation can be built. As a result the children try hard to understand but for no fault of theirs, have to struggle hard in coping with the syllabus. Coupled with the fact that these children are taught in the vernacular media where the transliteration of the main subject leaves you squirming, when it comes to subjects like Science and Mathematics. Every time one has to use tongue twisters for something very simple for words like radius, rectangle and so on.

During the brief association, I have realized that the most compelling way to communicate with the children is to relate every problem with the day to day things and the uptake is not only quick but the response in understanding is much better.  How I wish, the educationists found a easy way to make the teaching a song rather than an excruciating exercise.

Capt Trisha Mohan felecitated by Air India on 07 Mar 2017

Telling stories to the children makes them see the life in a new perspective. A recent news of the decommissioning of INS Viraat, a frontline Indian Navy aircraft carrier prompted me to to share the story of INS Vikrant, where I had the privilege to serve many years ago. The number of questions that came to me from them left me groping for answers.

A recent interaction with Captain Trisha Mohan the only woman pilot who flies a Jumbo( Boeing 747) in the subcontinent, not only made a compelling story to share but also awareness of what women can achieve. Hailing from a socio economic background that does not often put women on a very high pedestal, the story resonated very well. I am thankful to Captain Mohan for sharing some lovely pictures of the aircraft and her that I shared with the children. It almost gave the wings of desire to the young ones who too now nurture a dream to fly high.

Lt Swathi Patharlapaali of Indian Navy

In our everyday lives there are many heroes who not only rose to achieve what they dreamt for but also made a mark for themselves. A recent story of Lieutenant Swathi Patharlapaali of the Indian Navy who is a part of six member crew of Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini to circumnavigate around the globe is no less inspiring. Coming from an extremely humble background, her mother worked as a maid in the Naval Park and father a help in the Naval Dockyard canteen at Vizag) she joined the Indian Navy with true grit and determination.

Ms Nutan Chaturvedi teaching children at the NGO

This Holi, the idea of coloring the life of a lesser privileged child gives a joy unparalleled and I wish one day the children whom likes of Ms Nutan Chaturvedi( the founder of the NGO) nurture become citizens of a country that everyone can take pride in. The melody of the long lost Petula Clark’s classic ‘Color My World’(Must hear www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJhOsfzwDjY) coming from the lips of these children rings in my ears, this Holi.