Story of Maharashtra school libraries' a-telling.

A rich tapestry of ideas and a united perspective

'What is a library? What books in our childhood did we read?

What use of books and space? 

With what tools do we all these trace?

Who might give answers to what?

FGD, Interviews, to survey or not?

Peripheral and the centre intertwined such

The study became larger and yet retained focus.

Busy folks, ill ones, all joined forces, 

Shared ideas and promises of more resources

Another meeting suggested

In-person interaction requested

This was such a wonderful beginning

Of the story of Maharashtra school libraries' a-telling. 

- Written on 27 Sep 2022. 
- We had just begun a new research study on the status of libraries in Government elementary schools in Maharasthra. 

The Need for Sleep

A thought revolves each day

Hovers, tempts, berates

Thookam thevaiya?

Jhopechi garaj aahe ka?

Ki ninda di lora hai?

Kya sona zaroori hai? 

Urrakkam avasayamene?

Le sommeil est-il nécessaire?

No matter how it is asked or the times-a-many

My body responds, 'Yes, indeed!'

It shuts down with my laptop on

And refuses to wake up as alarms gong.

It walks slow, thinks slow,

Stays on in sleep zone.

It is a hungry beast

At least 8 hours of rest it feeds. 

- Written on 21 September 2022. 
- Overheard a conversation between students at TISS and came up with this later on. 

Twin Power (Adi Adu)

- win power rocks this land

With hugs and smiles they play their hand.

Winning hearts, they slay battles,

Parting from them, the heart rattles.

They talk, they read, they puzzles solve,

They sing, they dance, they unite all. 

They write comics dark yet with sunny bees, 

They write prophesies of grit and peace. 

They love Gobi Manchurian and mangoes

They are adorable even in midst of mosquito woes. 

It feels too soon to say goodbye, 

Adi and Adu to meet you again soon I will try. 

Stay well, stay safe, stay happy

- Written on 18 July 2022. 
- Was saying farewell to Adi-Adu in Chennai. 

Being Alive

Being alive. What does it mean?

Shallow breaths and head splitting?

Ache and dizziness with every movement? 

Nausea that even water elicits?

Sounds, sights, smells make no impression. 

To register anything feels an achievement. 

Is that being alive, immersed in yourself, 

Floating somewhere in cotton world?

Ah! Bliss. Scored finally. 

Meds obliterate thoughts, focus, personality. 

What pain? Nothing can penetrate

Guilt, worry, deadlines. Everything fades.

 And then you wake up, drenched, drained.

The head throbs as an unmatchable refrain.

Which is better? Which is being alive?

Would you choose suffering or rather die?

It is a choice I have had to make often times

I forego meds that rob me of my mind

What use comfort if there is nothing of you

In that body on the bed, just a shell that is called you?

- Written on 11 August 2022. 
- Had been unwell for sometime and was in a bad shape with a new training to go to in Assam on 15 August. Was worried. 

CLIx Growing

Propped up by meds, I enter the training

A new state for CLIx, we are growing.

I wonder if I will have energy to sustain

There is no one but me for this phase.

Then we begin to converse, building rapport

Concerns are the same in education wherever you go.

Students do not talk in English, they are shy

Afraid of failing, loss of face, they do not try.

They lack vocabulary and grammar know-how. 

- Written on 20 August 2022
- Went to Assam on 15 August for 2 weeks of training. Had been a harrowing month with illness and tiredness and meds. How I managed, I dunno. 

(Happy) Ganesh Chathurthi 2022

This year has been a tad difficult. 

I want to remember, yet not, 

So many challenges, the tiredness, the near rot

The many helping hands and hugs, the will to move on. 

O Obstacle Slayer, to pray to you, I first learnt. 

Your stories I heard galore,

You seemed too good to be true, I deplored :)

With your brother I sympathised, though you no ill-will I bore.

Today, no one is around to remind me of your birthday. 

Not that I celebrated, but there is an ache. 

So from them to you, Ganesha, revel away,

Have plenty, make merry, this is your day, have your say.

- Written on 31 August 2022. 
- Self-Explanatory. 

Happy Teacher's Day! 2022

The last two years showed your grit,

As challenges you overcame with wit.

While schools have reopened,

The learning loss persists.

We have yet miles to go

Before our dreams in reality exist.

We know you will, as you always have,

Strive, persevere, make a difference in students lives.

We take this moment to celebrate you,

To commend, applaud all that you relentlessly do.

- Written on 4 Sep 2022. - Self-Explanatory.

P. E. N. D. I. N. G.

P. E. N. D. I. N. G.

So many tasks unending. 

The road so long, the skies grim, 

Work chokes, eyes brim. 

Even as one sits to write

The mind summons points trite. 

And even that gets not typed

As calls come in with matters hyped.

L. A. S. H. I. N. G.

It seems every moment one takes a beating. 

The world seems against one

As events unravel, things get undone.

P. E. N. D. I. N. G.

That word keeps looming.

Threatening. Sleep depriving.

The word keep taunting.

It is difficult to keep breathing.

Panic is onsetting.

P. E. N. D. I. N. G.

Life is on hold: A thing of past this living.

Joy in work: A thing of past anything fulfilling. 

Pride in professionalism: a gone case.

Quality: A dream so nebulous, no longer need to chase.

P. E. N. D. I. N....

- Written on 4 July 2022.

- Self-explanatory. I do not even want to list all that is due. I seem to be doing something all the while and accomplishing / finishing nothing. Some feat. 

The Best Place

Home is a feeling not just a place, 

The feeling of comfort and love and being safe.

It is the sheer acceptance of loved ones,

The readjusting of schedules in silence. 

Acceding to a different palate, different tastes. 

Late night talks despite a hectic work pace. 

Thoughtful planning to take precious offs,

Sharing, probing, caring through interactions all.

Letting be, letting in the other into one's personal space.

A place to belong, people warm: a home, when you find it, is the best place.

Thank you for sharing your home with me.

It has become mine too in my memories. :)

- Began on 7 June. (1st 4 lines). Completed on 11 June 2022 the rest.

- I had something else in mind, but some turbulence in the plane took my mind away. 

- This is inspired by my primary hosts in the City of Joy. 

The True Gifts

Memories are made in moments

Silly, mundane, and the fun ones

Through late night conversations,

Groans at bad, very bad, puns.

Noonish jaunts to shops

And buying sprees that hunger halts

Ice creams and kulfis

And late night soirees.

Trips to old haunts,

Bits of a recaptured past.

Co-opting members unwilling or not

Even silences speak a lot. 

Singing sessions (and screeching ones too)

A short stay, so much to do. 

Through all the grumblings, moanings and teasings

One realises afresh one's blessings

So many people to love and cherish

These precious moments: the true gifts.

- Written on 5 June 2022.

- Post a family dinner out with 05 cousins and their families at Barbeque Nation, Acropolis, Kolkata.

The trip 2-7 June has been awesome despite not being well and doped on meds. 

A New Angel in Heaven

A smile on her face and greeted us at the door. 

I looked away blinking furiously at the floor. 

I could still not believe 

We had come to grieve

The death of one so young, sweet sixteen. 

The garland around the photo frame needed to be seen.

She hugged me tight, I hugged her tight too.

I had lost someone recently, but this loss should be taboo.

How does one lose a child and cope?

Yet, as I knew she would, she showed.

With grace, with tears, with smiles and memories

Of cakes baked, videos shared and dogs and puppies.

At the door she sent us off, recommending bird watching. 

I remembered that flamingoes in Aztec tradition represent healing. 

I prayed the family may together find peace

Also a note to an angel above to lovingly guide the new one be at ease.

- Written on 21 May 2022.

- A friend, an ex-colleague, lost her daughter in a freak accident. We went to visit her. 

Mizoram - May 2022

It was misty, it rained, it was windy

But people trudged on willingly. 

Helping, up the hill scrambling

Clicking, posing, admiring, chattering.

The beauty of Mizoram is to be seen in person

The cold winds and warm people is a wonderful combination

Today as we climbed down I thought

This camaraderie can never with the same set again be got

As I mulled, I became sad

The views then soothed me glad

I have said this before

Memories stay, even if people go.

'Till we meet again' sang Team Mizoram

'I hope soon' sang my heart in response.

Will miss you MZ and MZ Team (old and new)

Oh! I so hate to bid adieu.

- Written on  14 May 2022.

- Work trip that was filled with so much pleasure. 

#Mizoram #CLIx #nature #beauty #ReikTlang #Aizawl #TeamBuilding

Posted on FB first

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158175266861230&id=692626229

Mother's Day 2022

Mother's Day!

She taught me to ponder, to question, to fight. 

She taught me to speak up and not compromise. 

She taught me to revel even in small glories of life

She taught me to see the inconsistencies, the humour in strife. 

Death or Life is what one makes of it. 

The beginning is an end and the end a beginning.

She taught me to respect myself before others.

She taught me self worth was the best among all treasures. 

She taught me to improve, she criticised like hell.

Oh the times we had when at each other we yelled!

The next minute was tea time and we were at peace.

She taught me to compartmentalise thus with ease. 

"She is gone, you must miss her," people say.

But I can still hear her tell me that I am turning her hair more grey 😂

She has left a legacy that I cannot live up to

But then I am only making her words come true. 😜

"Potential wasted", "Head up in clouds" 

Her voice still resounds. 

But I know I can go onward for she gave me hope and faith. 

She taught me there was nothing that could stand in my will's way. 

She taught me that we never really fail. 

She taught me to chart my own path as I set sail. 

I can never be as good as her. 

I also did not learn all from this teacher. 

But we had loads of fun along the way. 

And people may go, but memories stay.

So thank you, Amma, for so many gifts

Treasured moments, togetherness even admist rifts. 😁

For teaching, persevering, challenging, 

For befriending, supporting, understanding. 

May you be free (in all senses) now

Wherever you are, take a bow 😜

For this too a scolding; I can construct the litany. 

But hey, it is a free world, and you taught me to push boundaries. 😜😂

- Written through 7 night -8 morning May 2022.

- Self-explanatory. 

Celebrate: This is not a loss.

'How do you feel?' 

'Be not strong, let go', say people

But the legacy left me is courage

To try, to smile, even when afraid.

To accept gracefully

Fate's decree. 

To not lament one's lack. 

To focus on blessings had. 

To strive to be better. 

To not let limitations deter.

Some who know me, know

How I have had to 'go with the flow':

To struggle to even walk,

To hold a pencil or to even talk. 

Through dark times and the times of happiness

Mom was a powerhouse relentless. 

Do I miss her? I know not.

I can still hear her at me scoff. :)

Maybe when memory fades

When of her voice, her face, there is just a faint trace.

Then I will mourn the distance. 

For now she is painfree. 

Charting her new path and as usual making merry. 

For now I am glad she won her toss. 

On her terms came death: Celebrate. This is not a loss.

- Written through 23-28 April 2022.

- Self-explanatory. 

Amma — Kamala Ramanathan

Sometimes words fail

For emotions are complex, thoughts frail.

A flat line can say a lot,

Gone. Breathed her last.

A relief from all the pain for her. 

For newer, better pastures, checked out of earth.

As people recount their favourite memories

I realise afresh her rich legacy:

A life well lived

With amazing grace and grit.

She was fading anyway

She to a shell was changed.

So, this is release.

May she be at peace,

Long lost, hard won. 

Cheers to my friend, my teacher number one.

Amma - Kamala Ramanathan

16 Sep 1951 - 20 April 2022: Earth journey marked done.

- Written on 20 April 2022 

- Self-explanatory. 

May whoever gets her eyes and skin stay blessed.

The End of an Era

The end of an era,

The end of Lata

The beloved voice of India

Irreplaceable, revered, multi-talented womaniya.

From the tumri to the ghazal,

From pop to classical

Her voice mesmerized

She sang and we rejoiced.

She could bring us a tear

She could emote pity and fear

She could make us laugh

She could inspire us to strive hard.

Itni shakti hume dena daata was an assembly prayer

For greatness, to better oneself she made us care. 

She took us on a journey of Ajeeb dastaan

Never wanted it to end, this beautiful samaa.

Romance was defined by the voice of this spinster

Tragedy to comedy she added to all intricate layers.

 

Her awaaz is her pehchaan

Ti gaati kiti chaan, ti hasti mahaan. 

With 50,000 songs in 14 languages

She has won the world through all ages. 

Bharat Ratna to Padma Bhushan

Awards could not catch up with this talent.

Death too cannot win, for she is legend.

Lata Mangeshkar, you will live on in the songs we listen.

- aWritten on 6 Feb 2022.

- Self-explanatory. 

Happy New Year - 2022

Happy 2022 Everyone!

_________________________________

For my annual diatribe read ahead. I really have not much to recap this year, though. There are more personal or local memories than global / national  ones currently. 

2021 - Goodbye time is at last here

You gave us hope and so much fear

You carried the 2020 legacy

You built on the pandemic driving us crazy

As more vaccines arrive in the market

More variants continue the lockdown effect.

Each time we thought the wave was done

You gave us a grander, newish one.

You have changed forever some of our industries

Not that it helped address climate change activities. 

Ripples will be felt for many a generation

As school children seem to socialise and learn have forgotten. 

Resilience is a word that we learnt to live

We again saw medics give and give. 

Essential workers have been our heroes

Sanitation workers, teachers, couriers - each the world so much owes. 

As families were locked in, neighbours stepped in

A new society, new ways perhaps has set in

Our world has both contracted and expanded

Home and work can they ever be now be separated? 

Protests work proved farmers as they fought steadily

The Left is still the choice of the Keralite and the Bengali

Sports is still dominated by news of Kohli

21 years later Ms Universe is from India happily.

Taliban rule in Afghanistan - a blow to democracy

The attempted coup in America - more evidence of fragility. 

2021 you have not been kind, 

There is so much to tell, but no words I find

As cases rise, we are never free

Of the vaccines and boosters' unending story

Events galore and yet just one lore

Covid-19 is still at the fore

Omicron, RTPCR, lockdown, section 144, isolation

These words have become a part of everyday conversation.

We are so weary as we ring you out

We so very much want to the pandemic rout.

2022, may you bring us cheer

May we see in-person our near and dear

May the world be healthy and safe

May education never ever again await

May peace and prosperity reach all

May happiness be your clarion call.

- Written on 31 December 2021.

- Self-explanatory. I am so very tired. I had a million events (it seemed) to record and I lost the thread as Omicron cases kept rising. 

Happy Diwali 2021! Post 02 of 02

Post 2 on Diwali.

Have a fantabulous day, weekend and year, everyone. 

Caution: Rhyme 2 of the day ahead.

Clean up the mess created

Of environment, of the world, of our lives interrupted.

Throw out the old ways and convictions

Of fossil fuels, of material consumption. 

Usher in new beliefs, new systems

Of equality, of inclusion, of perseverance.

Discard over work and tiredness as the mantra

For progress, success, find a new abracadabra.

Adopt a new wholesome policy

Of defining worth by being happy.

Find treasures buried deep in mind:

Aspirations and talent, in the rat race, left behind.

Polish them lovingly, carve out time

They will give joy and is that not prime?

Display your passions, your aspirations, 

Boldly walk towards their realisation. 

Burst your insecurities, your trepidations, 

Let them sparkle towards extinction. 

Celebrate the world as one

This Diwali, 2021.

- Written on 04 November 2021.

-Self-explanatory

FB Link: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157887580536230&id=692626229

Happy Diwali 2021! Post 01 of 02

Wishing you and yours a Happy and Safe Diwali 2021. 

Caution: My rhyme ahead, :) 

Lights! We need them so

In darkness we are tired, afraid, alone. 

Locked in, locked up, locked down

Our world has shrunk, thoughts tightly bound.

Now the world is opening up

Stay safe. Stay alert. Let not Covid reerupt. 

Diwali reminds that on the darkest of nights

If we persevere, we will triumph.

This festival is about victory

Of truth, of knowledge, of good, of plenty, 

Of sharing, of caring, of ensuring

That those around us are also thriving.

This festive season let us see light, 

The one within our hearts glowing bright

Of kindness, of sensibility, of the thirst to improve

Guiding us as towards prosperity and joy we move.

- Written on 04 November 2021.

- Self-explanatory. 

FB link: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157887500716230&id=692626229 

Making Memories

The anticipation of meeting

The smells and sounds of travelling

The wait at the signal

The walk to Room 1, the destination final.

Yes we met on Zoom and Meet

On Telegram Groups everyday each other we greet.

But the heat of the day, the thirst we feel

The loud voices that over masks distances heal.

The roundabout introductions

The teasing and the one-on-one conversations

The informal tour of the campus as a TISSian

That to even old timers now feels alien

The talk of cats and monkeys

And of shortcuts and libraries

Seeing the new home of the Centre

The sun beating down on us admist the banter

The stillness of air, the sweat, the tea, the brownies

The contrast of an actual classroom earlier and the terrace wannabe

All coalesce in one unforgettable memory

This is why the virtual can never beat physical reality. 

- Written on 15 October 2021.

- On 14 October 2021, a few of us Mumbai-based students and faculty gathered together to finally meet after a year and half of online classes.