Marriage celebration cum school reunion

Saturday morning, 27th Feb, 2016, on the wheels were Prati, Sara, Kanchi, Nutu and me... As we left behind our respective houses, slowly after years it was when we all were together. Heading towards the event of one of our school days friend Suppu's wedding. We all seated comfortable in Prati's Amaze which actually amazed us while she drove. It was so much fun to be together after so many years. Everyone was busy in their lives and different career that they chose post our SSC. Though few of us were in touch but not all. Ideally we should be talking about our lives or at least about the old days but... .... they were yawning. Indeed Saturday weekend is meant to be relaxing while we forced ourselves to get up on usual time of weekdays and get ready. Not that getting ready was a matter of complaint, it could never be for girls 😜 but getting otta bed was surely a pain. The other peer pressure to keep us silent was TO-SAVE-MAKEUP-TILL-THE-LAST-CLICK... yeah we took pains to get ready, look hot and gorgeous in our own ways and the mission was to get the best shot at the reception. There were hours left and we didn't wanted to ruin our morning efforts of hours that we took sacrificing our precious sleep. But girls can never be completely quite as well no matter even if their makeup is at high stake... 😅 The mouth opener was outdated songs that were being played by Prati. Agreed that she gave us a ride but that doesn't mean to give us headache with those songs from 80's or 90's. We made faces and comments came from everyone on each song being played... Fun was getting started. The fact that we were all together was the good reason for us to know that we all were back to the memories of our childhood. While I took different selfie of everyone from the front, Nutu was damn busy with her phone, checking out her makeup, Sara, despite threatening her that her makeup will be ruined doze off, Kancu is a silent one. So me and Prati were only left with chatting. We are school days best buddies. I was more of observing how she was driving. IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME MAN! I said myself. I was completely mesmerised and went to the day dream of myself driving a car and taking my parents and friend out with me.
Well, secondary if they would risk their lives to fulfill my dream. 😂 I do feel it's a great task to drive, that too a four wheeler it's much big task, to manage accelerator, gear, steering, everything along with being present minded on road as well as inside with the passengers, but on the other hand I feel it's what do many people could do so it'll not be that difficult too.😉🙆

As we reached, getting out of car was as if someone put us to furnace, it was HOT. We climbed upstairs and reached the hall. All our eyes wanted to see was our friend Suppu in the bridal look. There was time for it, we were thirsty and there came tray of soft drink and two of us picked the orange ones while others were black. Other girls too wanted orange one, they waited... Came the next guy with only one orange filled glass... Again few waited. Finally next time he brought all orange glasses... Hehehe.... Yeah we love orange one, all of us. We slowly started our philosophies about marriage, the theme effect probably. Few said they hate it, few said they will wait for it, few happy about it while few with no thought about it. We all had our own perception about it. Though we all agreed... EK DIN KARNI PADEGI-NO MATTER WHAT! 😂 This is India after all.
Our bride came and like every bride, she was looking the most beautiful. It was her day indeed. She was the heroine of the event. The traditional Maharashtrian wedding started. We had other three Maharashtrian buddies in the group. Sitting next to Prati, I was asking her about the meaning of the ceremony, though less knowledge we have about the ceremony but I was excited about the whole event. I love to see the marriage  ritual being performed. I just get divine feeling. As it's said, "MARRIAGES ARE MADE IN HEAVEN BUT PERFORMED ON EARTH." So was this ceremony taking place on earth in front of us. The wishes came straight from the heart while witnessing the wedding for our friend,"Love is wonderful to be fallen in,
But more pleasurable is the journey to live that love within...
The divinity of a marriage have thrived from heaven to earth,
May your life blossom in this relationship ahead in this path..."
We all showered the colourful rice slowly on the couple on it being said, "SHUBH MANGAL SAVADHAN" by the Pandit. It felt funny and cute to do like that. I've seen and heard about it on TV before.
After the ceremony of SAATH PHERE the bride and groom went to get ready for the reception. In between for those who got bored and were yawning we clicked lots of selfie and Nutu clicked best pics of our newly married couple. They not only looked beautiful but were very notorious and looked very happy together.
Our stomachs were roaring for the food. Meanwhile stepping towards it we met one of our school teacher. She was very happy to see us all grown up from little girls to young ladies. Indeed she don't recognise us but it's not expected either. Faces are always remembered though names might get forgotten.
We ate our stomach full. The food was delicious. Sara and I had more of our focus on the desert, being it's fan. It was Strawberry Basundi, a new experience.   YUMMMMMMM....
We stepped back to the reception, alive for the click on the stage. There was long que which we all hate but couldn't help. Doing masti together diverted our focus and we reached the couples quicker than we thought. We congratulated the couples. Our friend who looked gorgeous from far shocked us from near view. MAKEUP over and above required was put up. This became the gossip amongst us as we drove back...
We fought for the next song to be played, we cheered up for even the saddest songs.
Most exciting number was, "CHADHI MUJHE YAARI TERI AISI JAISE DARU DESI... We shouted the lyrics in sync as it was what we felt. Even before this trip ends we had more plans being made. Our dream being making road trip to GOGOGOGOGOAAAAAAAA...
Without much ado everyone dragged me for movie NEERJA. I wanted to see it but I had told home will be back at evening which got into late evening as movie ended around 8pm! I didn't wanted to see this movie on that day, because we had such blasting day and watching a serious movie like this will shift the mood from north pole to south I knew. But we wanted to see a movie together and it was it. We were all in shock as it ended. I MISSED MY MUM so much during whole movie. I wanted to hug her tightly. I LOVE HER THE MOST... MMMMUUUAAAHHHH MOM 😘

We hugged  each other bye and the day became one of the most memorable one to be recorded in here on my blog.😊

Tillu

Waiting outside the Operation Theater, we were praying God for safe and healthy baby. Whatever it may be but may it be with normal health was our wishes.
On 11th June, 2014 at 7.54am there came new member in my family. Timid, tiny, Tillu... Weight mere 2kgs but gave us happiness of tons! :-D
Almost everyone of us had tears in our eyes... :’-) tears of happiness, joy, contentment, fulfillment of dreams.
That was the day I learnt what happiness of a child mean. Though I've become bua (aunt) but I felt no less than being mother.
After showing us once, nurse took baby back for check ups. After long wait of 1hr or so we could see him back. Nurse handed me the baby and I could see small face with button sized closed eyes, small more, pink lips, still chubby cheeks suitable to his face, rest body wrapped in cloth.
The feeling of holding him in hands couldn't be explained in words.
He is most tiny baby in the hospital and hence all nurses gave him name as Tillu! :-D
We are yet trying to come out of our happiness to think about naming him. :-)
One thing is sure, GOD is great to have created this universe and these day to day life is also only possible coz we could born like this.
Being parent is the greatest happiness for any person.
Looking forward to many amazing incidents that I would experience with my baby, my Tillu! :-*
He is apple of my eye, our eye...
Learning yet new form of LOVE, love for a child! :-*

I was also an innocent child someday!?

There is a small baby girl in front of me, sometimes crying, sometimes smiling, sometimes sleeping, sometimes playing, sometimes confidently looking at everyone, sometimes cautious, sometimes dancing, sometimes stationary, sometimes adorable, sometimes stubborn... The baby is enjoying herself, that's coz she has her mother standing besides her at all times, giving her full attention of hers, to her her daughter is the centre of attraction, her world is around her only!
Looking at this, all I felt is, even I was a baby years ago and even my mother would have taken all sort of efforts to carry me, to nurture me, to make me happy she too have sacrificed so many things, to my obstinate behaviour she would have handled it all with patience and care!
Babies are so innocent when they're small, not concerned about who the person sitting next to them in the public place is but they only know who takes care of them and that is their MOTHER and when this known person is near them, they are care free and comfortable! :)
How innocent they are when they know nothing much of this world but only that now they belong to this new world, which might be old to their souls but for their new beginning it's altogether a new world...
I wish I would have remembered all childhood memories...

Meri bholi bhali MAA...

Janam janam ho tu hi mere paas Maa...
Janam janam ho tu hi zameen aasman...

Ye hai khabar dil mein kahin Rab rehta hai, magar mere dil mein rehti bholi bhali meri Maa...
Mere dil mein rehti bholi bhali meri Maa...

Pagli hai duniya Rab ko manaane
Mandir mazaaron tak jaati hai
Ghar mein hi mere hota hai teerath...
Mujhko nazar jab Maa aati hai...
Mujhko nazar jab Maa aati hai...

Janam janam tu meri ardaas Maa
Janam janam tu mera ehsaas Maa
Sach ka pata dil mein hi hai
Par mujhko ye pata mere dil mein rehti bholi bhali meri Maa...
Mere dil mein rehti bholi bhali meri Maa...

Bachpan se ab tak Maa se kya seekha main yeh jahaan ko batlaunga...
Jab naaz hoga tumko bhi mujh pe wo din yaqeenan main laaunga...
Wo din yaqeenan main laaunga...

Janam janam hun tera vishwas Maa
Janam janam rahoon main tere paas Maa...

Inn khwaahishon, inn koshishon se pehle to magar mere dil mein rehti bholi bhali meri Maa...
Mere dil mein rehti bholi bhali meri Maa...

Mana bada hoon
Tanha khada hoon
Kaise jiyunga yoon jo chhoda...

Chup na raho tum
Kuchh to kaho tum
Achcha chalo phir daant lo thoda...
Achcha chalo phir daant lo thoda...

Maa Janam janam ho tu hi mere paas Maa
Janam janam ho tu hi zameen aasmaan...

Seh lunga main sab sahke bhi
Keh doonga yeh magar mere dil mein rahti bholi bhali meri Maa...
Mere dil mein rahti bholi bhali meri Maa...

Loveliest song of Phata Poster Nikla Hero! :*

No nonsense acceptable! :-|

One day when our maid, who is always very much in hurry and busy, who always run away even without informing that her work is done but when we find her missing we have to conclude her gone, came for work Mom could catch hold of her and asked if she would like to have TEA coz to our previous maid we would give tea and breakfast. Her reply was, today I'm getting late! And she went.

Next day Mom prepared it ready by the time she completed her work so that her time is saved and that day her reply was, time pass mat karo na!
And Mom was stunned o_O and was like, ja fir! :-/

All of us others who noticed the incidence were ROFL! :-D

From next day whenever our maid comes one of us ask her for tea and another answers time pass mat karo!
And we all ROFL! :-D

Life of all working people is really busy no doubt but few are very serious about it like our dear maid! :-)
:-P

A letter from newly wed daughter

Dear mom,

Like every normal girl, I was excited about marriage right from my childhood days. I never thought beyond the time that I would spend happily with my prince charming. But today when I am married, I realize that marriage is not all roses. It’s not just about being with your beloved and having a gala time. There is so much more to it. It comes with its own share of responsibilities, duties, sacrifices and compromises. I can’t wake up anytime I want to. I am expected to be up and ready before everyone else in the family. I can’t laze around in my pyjamas throughout the day. I am expected to be presentable every time. I can’t just go out anytime I want to. I am expected to be sensitive to the needs of the family. I just can’t hit the bed anytime I want to. I am expected to be active and around the family. I can’t expect to be treated like a princess but am supposed to take care of everyone else in the family. And then I think to myself, ‘why did I get married at all?’ I was happier with you, mom.  Sometimes I think of coming back to you and getting pampered again. I want to come home to my favorite food cooked by you every evening after a nice outing with friends. I want to sleep on your laps like I have no worry in this world.  But then I suddenly realize, had you not got married and made such sacrifices in your life, I wouldn’t have had so many wonderful memories to hang on to. And suddenly, the purpose of all this becomes clear- to return the same comfort, peace and happiness to my new family that I got from you. And I am sure that as time would pass, I would start loving this life equally as you do. Thank you mom for all the sacrifices and compromises you made. They give me the strength to do the same.
Love you.

Tujh mein hai SHAKTI!

Today while watching the episode of TV serial, Devon ke dev MAHADEV. I came across this scene where Devils were attacking few women and they were calling Devi Parvati for rescue. Maa came and with her power the devils ran away merely by looking at Maa forget about having fight with her!
Later what Maa said attracted my attention, "Tum mujhe pukar sakti ho madat ke liye lekin swayam prayatn nahi karti apni raksha ke liye. Har naari main meri shakti maujud hai usse bas iska abhas nahi hai. Yadi nari chahe toh kisi main itni himmat nahi hai ki wo usse apmanit kar sake. Tumhe bas sahas karna hai apne haq ko paane ka."

Disclaimer: Words are not exactly as said in the show. I've written what I can remember. But meaning was definitely the same! :-|

10 ways to be a Great Parent

One of the nicest things about being a parent is that regardless of the circumstances of your own childhood, the moment you go from being ‘a girl or guy’ to being a parent, you suddenly ‘get it.’ That amazing feeling of exactly what it’s like to love something more than anything.
Here are Gurgles top ten tips on how to be a good parent…

1. Be involved in your child's life.
Being involved fully in your child’s life can be hard work, and more often than not means rethinking and rearranging your priorities. Lots of parents feel they don’t spend enough time with their children or that they have to sacrifice what they do for what the child wants. It’s important to get the balance right; if you work all week and can’t imagine a weekend looking after the children and need some ‘downtime’ yourself, make sure you make time for both. Take the children to the park, ice creams, read to them , spending quality time together but say ‘mummy/daddy needs an hour to catch up on emails/football etc’ to get the balance right.

2.Establish and set rules.
Make sure you and your partner stick to the same rules. It’s no good if Daddy comes home and lets the children have chocolate buttons after Mum has said they are only allowed a certain amount of chocolate if they are good! Establishing some ‘family rules’ with your children is a great way to communicate your expectations and be consistent in your parenting. Make sure there are no more than 3-5 house rules as too many can seem like lists and lists of rules which children would soon find tedious.

3.Avoid harsh discipline.
Many people use the same tactics their own parents used, and a lot of times that meant using really harsh discipline which can make children angrier and either more enclosed or more likely to take it out on others. Sometimes being a parent can make you very frustrated, especially when you have a whinging whining child (for no reason) and the child will not reason with you. The best thing to do in this circumstance is try not to make an issue out of the whinging by not getting cross. Laughing during a tense moment can ease the pressure off you and may even make the child stop the tantrum when they realise it really doesn’t work. Take a moment to stop, breathe, count to ten and carry on as normal with what you are doing. Your child will hopefully get the point that you are not interested in the tantrum and you can make light of it.

4.Explain your rules and decisions.
Always explain your rules and decisions so that your children know exactly why you are punishing/praising them and they can learn from this. For example, ‘Lucy, I am not going to give you your pudding until you finish your broccoli because you have to eat up your dinner before you can go on and have a desert’, rather than a simple no.

5.Treat your child with respect
Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the sheer dependency and enormity of raising children and parents do often view them as small beings who really should be grateful, have less tantrums, stop whinging, and stop arguing with their siblings etc. These are all ideal types of behaviour which we would love children to understand, but in truth, the ungratefulness, tantrums, whinging and so on, can be down to parents barking orders all day long, ignoring common courtesies toward the child, and in defiance, children ignore the parents altogether. The best approach would be to treat your child as respectfully as you yourself would like to be treated.

6.Help them feel safe
It is very important for children to feel safe and this can start at home by hanging family portraits around the house, or pictures of them with their siblings in their bedrooms -a great way of giving them a sense of belonging.
Try not to argue with your spouse in front of the children. If they are sleeping, argue quietly. Children may feel insecure and fearful when they hear parents bickering. Also, children will learn to argue with each other the same way as they hear their parents argue with each other. The best way to deal with this is to show them that when people disagree, they can discuss their differences peacefully.

7.Do Something Familiar.
Children love routine and ritual, and if there is a special thing you and your children love doing, make time to make it part of your day/week. A particular story you always read before bedtime or something you always say to them before they go to bed. Children love the repetition of something lovely and will remember these little loving moments as they get older.

8.Read together
No matter whether you have a tiny baby or a wriggly toddler, they all love to be read to. You may need to adapt what you read slightly, more colourful bold books for babies, and simple, funny or sweet stories for toddlers. A 4-5 year old will be able to handle slightly more complex story and interesting illustrations. Reading with your child creates a perfect bonding time together.

9.Find out one important thing about your child’s day.
Although this really applies to slightly older children, finding something important about what they did at nursery or the childminders or even if they had a day out with daddy, is very important. It shows that you are interested in what they do and involved in their world. As they get older this can work as they may tell you the good things but also comfortable enough to tell you their worries and fears.

10. Don’t worry about the previous nine items.
Just when you think you’re doing ok as a parent, then along comes an article like this one to make you feel like you are not doing the job right!? Of course, that’s not the point. All the goals we’ve listed are worth aiming for, but no one will ever accomplish all of them, every day. So don’t beat yourself up trying to do the impossible. If expectations seem to high, be realistic about it and try not to judge yourself against other parents… remember they are probably feeling like you do as well.

A good way to look at how to become a good parent, is to try and enjoy the time you have with your little ones. Take a step back, take a breath, look at these little people you have created and spend time with them. It’s these moments with your children that make them feel loved. Leave the washing for another few minutes, have that chat with a friend on the phone a bit later and take those extra moments to spend with your children.

...read this article on Yahoo!

Mumma's Theory!

"Jo chehra humare khayalon mein hota hai, wo humein haquiqat mein kabhi nahi milta"

So, never expect too much and never compare anyone with anybody! We all are different and imaginations can very rarely become reality!

Mumma, Bhoooo……

Today I didn’t had evening class so I reached home around 7pm. When I knocked the door, Bro opened and I went directly in the Bedroom along with my Bag. Mom was in Kitchen but she saw me going in. After I changed, I came out from the room hanging the bag on my shoulders as I usually do when I go to class. I came in hall, Mom saw me as I passed by the kitchen. But she wondered as to why I hanged my bag around my shoulders?

As soon as I entered the hall Bro closed the door which was open since I entered. I dropped my Bag near the Sofa. Mom heard the noise of the closing door and asked who has come? Bro answered her that no one has come but I had shut the door and went to class. I quickly read my Bro’s evil mind and ran to the second room and hided behind the rooms door, carefully along with my Bag before Mom come out to see me. 

Mom entered the hall and murmured that this is not possible I always go class directly from office and I had informed her in the morning that I don’t have class in the evening but only in the morning. Bro started convincing Mom that I had said that class is from 8pm so I came home and went back. 

Whenever there is any such hide-n-seek game Mobile phone is bound to play its role in some or other way. No, my cell didn’t rang but I forgot it on the sofa. Mom took this as strong evidence that I was at home, as I hardly forget my cell phone at home. Bro attempted an excuse that in hurry I forgot it but Mom without paying any heal to Bro’s comments started searching me. I was having fun in dark room, I covered my mouth as was not able to control my laughter but I was consciously listening to whatever was happening. Mom opened the main Door to see if I’m hiding outside, but I was not there. Neighborhood door was open and Mom asked the Aunt if she saw me going down stairs? The lady denied that she was inside hence didn’t know. Mom murmured that our neighbors are of no use and returned back. Bro was smiling and trying to prove Mom that what he is saying is correct and I went to class. 

Finally, Mom approached towards the room where I was hiding, as she knows her daughter and her mischief! She didn’t give up. I went back more close to the wall. As soon as Mom entered I knew that she won’t be able to see anything and I shouted out loudly Bhoooo... 

Mom got scared and shouted and we both went out of the room, Mom was shivering, Bro and I were not able to control our laughter we were literally rolling on floor… Dad finally showed some signs of presence and smiled. Mom attempted to slap us but we escaped successfully! :P Mom joined us in the laughter ride after recovering from the thrill, horror and anger.
We all were laughing out loudly.
When such incidents take place, I and Bro keep on laughing till we go dead! Even if we stop for once, again when we see each others face we burst out into same laughter.
OMG! My stomach is paining; in fact my cheeks are also paining...
:D

Mom remembered that she forgot the chapati on the pan and it burned totally! Ooops...
But it was so much fun, Wow!!!!
:)

Other side of the coin

Me: Hi, so you are looking out for jobs?

friend: Yeah, I'm trying for Finance but it's tough to get there everyone wants minimum 5-7years of work experience!

Me: Ya, I have seen few vacancies on our institutes site whose requirements were such. I wonder how you can get experience until you actually start working. :)

friend: Let’s see if I get calls, I've applied at few places.

Me: All the best!

friend: So what would you like to do after you get the degree?

Me: Don't worry me don't like finance much...

friend: Ya ya, you Women always have some different criteria. You all want a job where there should not be much work, timing should be after 10am but you should be leaving office before 6pm, you want 5 working days job and weekend leave, blah blah...

Me: Yup! You are right bro, because Woman know that after 6pm our family also needs us, when she will reach home there will not be food ready on the table but she will have to prepare it and keep it ready so that when her children and husband comes home she can serve them hot food when they are hungry. She knows that her children would need her for sharing their schools activity, they might need her to help them with their Homework; they might wish to spend Sunday time with their Mom. Others can come at home and go but for her it's not just a Mansion but a place where they dwell so she has the responsibility of its cleaning and dusting. Even though Men and Women would have spent equal amount of sleepless nights in studying, even though they would have worked hard equally at the workplace, even though their aspirations would be of achieving the same success, even though their Parents spend same sum for building their carriers but we always forget that the nature has itself made Woman different from Man. She can work with equal enthusiasm but she also knows that she is the one who is supposed to take care of her family, she is the one who is supposed to leave her Parents house, the one with whom she had spent so many year even though she love them so much but she has to leave them for that one Man even though you may call that Women are too emotional but she is the one who face that separation. She knows that she is supposed to carry a baby in her womb for 9months, she is the one who is supposed to take those pains and mind you those who go through only know it. Even though you may say that Woman is weak but God knows who can bear what and so he has decided who should bear that pain as well. She is the one who knows that her baby needs her, at that time she don't think that she had spent sleepless nights and studied but she knows that she will have to spend more sleepless nights and take care of her child. She quits her job and keeps aside all her aspirations which she had when she was young and single, but she knows that with time she needs to change her priorities. And she even knows that soon her child would forget all her sacrifices and may be when he grows up he would be more proud of her father that he is a Director but not of her mother who might be having equal degree and opportunities but she would have sacrificed all this for him who now thinks that Women are less successful. How many Men quit so that they can take care of their children? I haven’t yet heard of even one! May be my short of knowledge but I can bet that the ratio will be not that countable.

Don't forget, behind every successful Man there is a Woman. Had this woman have not been there you would have been forced to at least share the chores. It's her modesty that she quit for you, so that you as a Working person can grow with your aspirations and dreams and as a child you can know the values and love of being a human. It's comparatively easy to strive at work than to see your dreams dying in front of you or rather kill it by yourself with the known fact that this sacrifice of your might go overlooked. But the one who do so much will definitely not think such credits. She do it for she knows how to love.

For Mom...

My mom carried me in her womb for nine months...
She felt sick for months with nausea, then she watched her feet swell & her skin stretch & tear; she struggled to climb stairs, she got breathless quick; she suffered many sleepless nights. She then went through excruciating pain to bring me into this world. 
Then, she became my nurse, my chef, my maid, my chauffeur, my biggest fan, my teacher, & my best friend. She's struggled for me, cried over me, hoped the best for me, & prayed for me. 
Most of us take our mom for granted, don't do that for she is precious than anything you could ever get...
Love you Mommy!!! :*


read this on FB, it's really heart touching... ;(

My Super Women!

I'm these days busy with cleaning and washing for Diwali. And either I don't do it but when I decide to do, I prefer doing things in most perfect way possible.
So, I suddenly noticed that one corner of the shelf was left filthy and I was standing on the Stool and the place was a bit far so I forced myself to reach. And suddenly the Stool slipped and I hanged on the shelf. Only one of my toe was still on the stool, I grabbed the Shelf with my hands. Mumma quickly noticed some unusual sound and came for my rescue. She gave support to my back as there was refrigerator below me and if I would have fallen, I might have hitted my Spinal Cord with it. With Mom's support I stretched and jumped back on the Stool.
Phew! What a moment it was! Mom started shivering with this incident and I convinced her that I was fine. Got few minor scratches on hand but it was real fun! I felt like I'm some heroine and like typically they show that the girl slips and the hero holds her in his arms kinda romantic scene! (Can you imagine it?) It reminded me that! :)
Of course Mom can't lift me but her support was more than enough.
She still gets scared when I remind her that incident and hug me tightly. Ek mast Jadoo ki Jhappi ke mil jati hai mujhe.
Mumma, when you stands besides me, nothing can happen to me. :)
Love you Humesha! :*

Meet, Sindhu Tai Sapkal

TRUE GRIT A farmer's daughter, Sapkal was kicked out of her marital home at age 24, nine months pregnant. In a few months, she had found her mission: offering love, shelter and succour to orphans of all ages. She now runs four homes and was the subject of a recent award-winning documentary My family are those I adopt and those who support me. I think I will have to adopt the government next... they are yet to support me.
S I N D H U  TA I  S A P K A L , 6 2


In a hall lit by a glittering chandeier and carpeted with hand-woven rugs, Sindhutai Sapkal, 62, stands in her crumpled cotton sari. out in her crumpled cotton sari.She wears no jewellery, only a large black bindi and a warm smile.
Small, self-effacing, with a weathered face, she has travelled from Pune to the Indian Merchants' Chamber headquarters at Churchgate to accept the award for woman of the year from the IMC Ladies' Wing.
“Life is its own reward," she says, in colloquial Marathi, thanking the panel as she is handed the trophy and citation.
A farmer's daughter from Wardha, Sapkal was abandoned by her husband at age 24, when she was nine months pregnant. Over the intervening years, she went from beggar to fund-raiser to manager of four orphanages and beloved Mai to more than 1,000 orphans.
Along the way, Sapkal gave up her daughter so as to remain impartial to her other children, forgave and nursed her husband on his deathbed, then reconciled with her child after 20 years.
It is this remarkable journey that draws people to her everywhere she goes. At the IMC, the glittering socialites and industrialists' wives in the audience hurry forward to touch her feet and pose for photographs with her.
The following morning, as Sapkal steps out of her taxi in the middle-class Maharashtrian area of Shivaji Park, Dadar, for lunch, passersby stop to greet her and touch her feet; restaurant managers escort her through waiting crowds.
Some congratulate her on the success of Mee Sindhutai Sapkal, a film based on her life that won four National Awards this year. Others want to know how her children are doing.
To anyone who offers to help, her response is the same: Give what you can so I can continue my work.
Sapkal's orphanages all run on private donations -her one smiling complaint about her life is that the government has not stepped forward to help.

“Whenever I am invited to speak, I end my address with a plea for donations," she says, smiling. “Bhashan nahin toh ration nahin (Without speeches, there will be no groceries)."

And no groceries is not an option. “I decided early on that I would be a mother to any orphan," says Sapkal, “whether a child of a few days, a destitute woman or an old person."
The journey to that decision began in 1958, when Sapkal was married at age nine to a man 20 years older.
“At age 12, I was sent to my in-laws' home, where I was beaten, mistreated and overworked," Sapkal says, speaking with a calm, smiling simplicity.
“Then, at age 24, after a domestic dispute, I was thrown out of their home."
Sapkal, nine months pregnant, delivered her daughter in a cowshed soon after, cutting the umbilical chord with a sharpened stone. “To support us, I sang and begged on trains," she says. “I tried to commit suicide thrice, but now I know there was a reason why I survived."
Sapkal's adoption efforts began when she was still destitute and her baby still an infant. “I would see urchins living on railway platforms and try to take care of them," she says. “We would share what food and shelter I could find."
Then, six months after her daughter was born, she made her toughest -and some say most brutal -decision. “I left my daughter at a social welfare trust in Pune," she says, her brow furrowing. “I wanted to be sure I would never discriminate against another child because I loved my own more."
For the next 13 years, Sapkal cared for street children and urchins with what funds she could raise from her singing and begging and with donations she solicited through powerful speeches -Sapkal is a Class 5 dropout but loves poetry and has a natural oratorical skill.
In 1986, she finally registered her first orphanage, in Amravati.
As her movement grew, word spread and donations began coming from temples, trusts and well wishers.
Then, nearly two decades after her first orphanage was opened, Sapkal got word that her husband, then 75, was ailing and alone. “He was an old man and an orphan. I had to help him," she says. “I told him, I cannot be your wife but I can look after you as my child."
Ask about forgiveness and Sapkal says she actually attributes her success to her husband. “By deserting me, he gave me a chance to do noble deeds," she says.
But through the years of noble deeds, Sapkal worried constantly that her daughter would grow to hate her. “I worried that she would never understand why I had left her," says Sapkal, her brow furrowed again. “But now she is with me again and I believe I did the right thing."
Last year, Sapkal was invited to speak at a Marathi literary event in San Francisco. It was news coverage of this trip that brought her to the attention of filmmaker Anant Mahadevan.
“I read a headline that said `I have 157 sons-in-law' and it made me sit up,"Mahadevan. “We were destined to meet. She feels that the film has done her good and I feel the same. It made me a better filmmaker."
The film travelled to several international film festivals this year. “It has helped spread the word about my mission," says Sapkal, with a bright smile.
“People now come to me, offering to help. It has made my movement famous." 
NAMED WOMAN OF THE YEAR THIS MONTH BY THE IMC LADIES' WING Sindhutai Sapkal at a meet-the-press event held in a conference room at the IMC building in Churchgate earlier this month. Sapkal was in Mumbai to receive the IMC Ladies' Wing Woman of the Year award.

Source: Hindustan Times

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