How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were? Asked Satchel Paige

Hmnn… let me see…

1 when I wake up on a Saturday morning at 10 am and have nothing critical to achieve that day
3 when I’m sick with fever and cold and just need to sleep and be cared for
5 when I see my rose plant’s flowers opening, like I’ve seen it for the 1st time
8 when the people I wanna be friends with, don’t include me in their get togethers
10 when my favourite couple on ‘Nach Baliye’ wins
12 when I’m laughing with friends- like every joke is the funniest one I’ve heard so far
14 when I notice the guy my heartbeat stops for, is looking soooo good in his new shirt
16 when I’m jiving with Selby, still the best jiver in town (wearing his new shirt ;)
18 when I’m standing up for what I believe in- irrespective of what other people think of me
21 when I’m driving and tapping on the steering wheel, to the beat of ‘dhinchak’ music
25 when I look good in a saree
30 when I see so many friends (same chronological age as me) falling in love, getting engaged and married
45 when I’m caring for 73 year old mum and aunt in law’s physical, emotional, mental, spiritual needs
60 when yet another person I care about leaves CRY
80 when I’m so tired of standing for 1 hour and 10 mins in a crowded train, I wonder when the journey’s gonna be done

They say “you are only as old as you think you are” and I think I am 1 and 80 in the same week!
Thank God life is just a temporary assignment!

What a badge can do!!

I wore the “I stand for child rights badge” right through the campaign until the telethon 2004. I wore it because I do stand for child rights and I felt a sense of responsibility to enable others to do so too. For someone who cannot remember to change her earrings and gets irritated with any kind of jewellery/accessory after a day, wearing it for a whole year was an expression of my commitment to children.

I would have worn it after the telethon too- only its symbolism changed for me and I can’t be dishonest with myself to save my life 

Over the year I wore it, it attracted the attention of many strangers with whom I was able to talk about child rights. Some of the most memorable ones are-

1. On my birthday I got stuck in a Virar bound train (wearing a saree was making it more fun!) and got chatting with a middle class Muslim girl in train who asked me what the badge meant. Got carried over to Mira road and ended up getting off with her and discussing some kids she knew who needed money for education. Asked her to call Laxmi R for more information. Later, she called back later to ask for clerical job.
2. Met some college students in train to Borivali wanting to volunteer- met Rachana from KC on a Monday on my way back from Sophias in bus and she began volunteering that Wednesday!
3. Met a man in ST bus from Borivali to thane- spoke at length about CRY s community based approach
4. Met an girl from an event management co. girl in train to Bandra.. took Melissa’s no.
5. Met John a driver of BIS kindergarten student.. shared how he ensured he got both his girls to go to college and focus on studies and today younger one has job with Tata!! Was so proud that they are both independent!
6. A man on a plane trip used it as starting line to chat me up! I had to mention that my husband dropped me at the airport and pretend to sleep to shut him up!

It also strengthened my family’s commitment to child rights- my very spotlight shy husband volunteered to get people to sign the children’s manifesto appeal letter at a public stall outside our church. A distant cousin and family friend joined us at that stall. My father took to wearing the badge at every family/social gathering and talking about his “daughter’s commitment” as his own. My 70 plus mother in law bunched pinwheels into tens and diligently counted the badges into tens too, so it would be easy to handle for me and other volunteers at various stalls. My brother got his youth group to take it on and spread the campaign and word. My big joint family (that’s Selby, me and 6 in-laws) signed the appeal letter (after reading it very carefully) right before our family lunch for Easter and almost all of us wore the badge to the restaurant. Soon, child rights and CRY went from being ‘Adele’s job’ to our family cause.

But the most precious memory for me is when Vitthal Lad asked for my badge. We met at aqsa when Swati and I went to check out the beach for the pinwheel planting and he wanted to wear one proudly too. Was so happy that he wore it on the second day of their child participation workshop at aqsa too.

What wonders a single badge can do!

A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer

where did I come from?
why am i me?
who put the sun to sleep?
and why can't i be free?

if i call your mum granny,
why do you call mine by name?
if you love us both equally,
why don't you treat us the same?

why did you tell a lie?
don't you know its wrong?
how come it's not right when i
answer the phone with a song?

who invented table manners?
what an idiotttt!
i'd rather talk while eating
it feels better in my gut.

answer me my questions
i want to know now.
if you're so grown up,
how come you don't know how.

All of us are equal

All of us are equal
Yet so far from same
All of us are equal
From one source we all came

No one knows the answer
Why each of us is unique
No one can make sense of
What binds us- strong and weak

All of are equal
Connected to each other
All of us are equal
Leader, servant, teacher, brother

Together we are stronger
Our differences lets understand
When we're on the same side
Our rights we can demand

All of us are equal
Say it along with me
You and I are equal
Together we can be free

LOOK! It's children's day!

Look inside, there’s a child within you
Waiting to take risks, to have fun, to play
Let that child be free today
Hope you have a wonderful children’s day

Look around, there’s a child near you
Waiting to be noticed as he serves us each day
Let that child be just a child today
Hope he has an unusual children’s day

Look at the media, smiling children in every hue
All dressed up to be put on display
Let those children have a real say
Hope they have an authentic children’s day

Look outside; there are children in every view
Waiting to be something more than numbers on a survey
Let children be India’s most important citizens, not just today
Hope they have a perennial children’s day

What can i do?!

She’s just as old as me, she likes singing too
But she works in my neighbour’s house, oh what can I do?!
She cannot go to school, no summer hols for her
When they’re watching TV, she’s put in the kitchen to stir

I asked the neighbour aunty to let her play with me
She was really surprised, but said ok, come at 3!
We sang all the hindi songs, at the bottom of the stairs,
The people passing up and down were smiling, (some had glares!)

We had such a good time, and I made a new friend,
My parents were proud of me; they said “you’re starting a new trend!”
She’s just as old as me, she likes singing too,
And now it’s got me thinking, what’s the next thing Seema and I can do?!

by
Adele's inner child

Why C.R.Y.?

I joined CRY in September 2002 after waiting for 4 months at home for a job that would allow me to do workshops with children. Got news about the vacancy from a batch mate who had done her internship in YW, CRY that same year.

Had just finished my masters in human development (earlier called child development) and I had so much fun at the interview with CRY that I knew I had the job!!

Since then I discovered more and more each year that every life experience I’ve had in my own childhood and youth was to prepare me for doing what I do at CRY. I’ve discovered one of my key life purposes within and through CRY- to enable children to know and stand up for their own rights.

That’s what keeps me here and keeps me going- knowing that I’m fulfilling my life’s purpose, my calling and more so through an organization that is willing to go the whole mile with this goal.

To me, the movement for child rights is very real, very personal and relevant for my whole life. It’s always worth fighting for- within CRY, outside CRY and even within me.

Why Blog?

why should I blog?
why shouldn't I?

to be or not to be...
one of the many, that is,
that's my eternal question

I want to be 'set apart'
different from the crowd
searching, finding, living
driven by the purpose I'm created for
my way
my truth
my life

welcome