NATURE OF NATURE SO-SO VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND (9th August 2010, 1900 Hrs)

Catastrophes and devastation of nature is another side / nature of nature and most importantly, it always engulfs the poor with death and endless miseries for life. Nature of nature is so-so very difficult to understand while the modern day scientists and researchers have tried to their hilt to control such mishappenings with modern day inventions and discoveries... yet, it is always the nature who has had the last laugh to teach us humans endless valuable lessons, but we still never learn from our mistakes and egoistic nature.

For 100 odd hours, Vidarbha recieved heavy rainfall till Sunday (8th August) morning... a phenomenon that many in this region have not seen in the past few years. Even before the poor farmers could resurrect themselves from the past few years of drought situation, the heavy rainfall has this year washed away their crops in watery grave... farmers in Wardha district are the most affected and they will have to again borrow money to buy those precious seeds once again and sow them to hope, the second time nature will not play traunt with them. Such calamities and devastation by nature’s fury will not even stir one bit the city-folks, who will be busy partying in rain dance in the outskirts of city to enjoy their weekends. Political leaders will worry about the Common Wealth Games where in 1 lakh crore rupees have been swindled to stake National Pride. What a sham!

On the contrary, while there have been excess rainfall in the region, there are more than 200 odd villages in Bihar, which are facing drought... no water! I remember last year there was a similar situation in the same state, where in farmers were protecting water for irrigation with their guns to save it from nearby villages... contrasting to the scene of devastation in Leh, where the cloud burst took hundred of lives in a split second... Ahmedabad faced flash floods on Saturday because of heavy rainfall. There must be more of such happenings in various parts of the nation, which has not been reported by the media but then why we always live by the same attitude of BHAGWAN BHAROSE (God’s mercy)? Where are the scientific tools and gadgets that can forewarn mishappenings in advance? Why the respective scientists and officials, who keep vigil 24 x 7 always seems to be giving us the wrong predictions and the same excuses time and again? Why the head of the nation, the Prime Minister is so incapable to implement a more effective system to safeguard the poor population of the nation?

Crops, cattles, houses, belongings and lives are lost and washed away in floods, if not, all these things are sold to survive famine... while crores worth of food grains are being allowed to rot by the nation’s incapable system to feed the hungry and the poor. Yes, we will all march in white clothes, burn candles and lay flowers when a terrorist strike us... but we will never even bother to say a silent prayer for all those who die in nature’s fury... as long as one is not affected, we will all close our eyes, conscience and party hard to enjoy life and complain when the power supply goes for even ten minutes to blame the system. But I really keep asking myself all the time, who will save the poor from such calamities and disaster? Will we ever respect nature so that nature respects our existence? It is so-so very difficult to understand nature’s nature... Nature please have some mercy for the poor...

ONE OLD MAGAZINE (9th August 2010, 1530 Hrs)

I am old now & my son committed suicide because of debt. My daughter-in-law needs just one old magazine from all of you... will you not send one, so she can earn to save environment? The widow wants to lead a decent dignified life by working hard for her children... will you not help her with one old magazine??? Please... a sincere request from an old farmer who has lived all my life to feed the nation... a big thank you to all of you in advance!

address:

Johnny D

support 4 suicide farmers families

C/o Swapnil Barai
House No: 200
Opp: Dr. Harne's Hospital
Dhantoli Chowk
Wardha: 442001
Phone: +91 89830 04533

ONLY THE JAPANESE CAN ACHIEVE SUCH A FEAT! (6th August 2010, 2145 Hrs)

While our nation is busy fighting tooth and nail to build the CWG Stadium in time with crores and crores of money being gobbled by the authorities, I was indeed amazed by an article in the newspapers to see what the Japanese Farmers had achieved way back in 1993 by thinking way ahead of time to create the paddy fields into an art canvas. Truly amazing are the precision, dedication and devotion of these farmers to use computer technology and all thanks to one man’s creativity!

 

Koichi Hanada, a clerk of Inakadate village hall was requested to increase tourists inflow by his superiors… for months he wondered how to do the impossible in the rural northern part of Japan until one fine day, he saw school children planting rice paddy for their projects. The students had used two varieties of rice paddy – one was dark purplish stalks and the other the usual bright green ones. The canvas was born in Koichi’s head and that is how the Paddy Art was born, which has become a big hit in Japan.

 

Every single year since 1993, farmers of Inakadate village have created images by using rice paddies as colours and their fields as the big canvas to give Paddy Art a new dimension. From small art form to the latest football ground size depicting Samurai Battling a Warrior Monk, the size of images have been growing steadily since the last 17 years to draw the growing media’s attention and millions of curious tourists. In 2009, as many as 1,70,000 visitors visited the village to see the Living Art Form! Japanese known for its amalgamation of high technology, painstaking perfectionism and one of the most ancient cultures growing rice can only achieve such a feat… truly-truly out-of-this-world!

 

Unfortunately Inakadate village is facing hard times from its shrinking population, a crushing debt load and declining revenues from agriculture. So far the farmers have failed to accomplish financial benefits from their creativity as visitors who come to Inakadate village don’t spend much to see the Paddy Art… sad and very ironical that such a magnificent art form is being discouraged by the world instead of being encouraged! I wish, farmers of Inakadate will be ultimately recognised for their creative art form and be rewarded to lead a better life in near future!

L.H.S = R.H.S (3rd August 2010, 0950 Hrs)

 

I must confess that I was very poor in Mathematics during my schooling days. I must also confess that in our modern day’s life, majority of us have failed to make a use of the subject in our every day life… no, I am not talking about addition, subtraction, multiplication and division… we all do the simple mathematical solutions… however, when life gets complicated, we often forget to make use of the subject…

 

Mathematics as the subject have taught all of us that L.H.S (Left Hand Side) is always equal to (=) to the R.H.S (Right Hand Side)… however, if you don’t provide the right solutions to the problem, you will always get a zero. The way I looked at these two short forms (L.H.S & R.H.S) of Mathematics, I have marvelled as to why till now someone else or I have never thought about its importance in solving our every day problems. It is so simple to understand these two to make life Quadra Errada Demonstrandum (Q.E.D). I must confess that I always enjoyed writing Q.E.D at the end of every problem…whether my solutions were right or wrong hehehehe…

L.H.S to me means LOOK for HIDDEN SIGNS which equals the R.H.S, which elaborates as one will get to know one’s REAL HIDDEN STRENGTH… when one looks at both the sides one will automatically find the solutions to any problems in the world. So simple yet we humans have often overlooked this aspect of Mathematics in life. The reason I am writing about these two sides is because it can be applied to everything in our lives, yet we love to complicate things (like I used to do in solving Mathematical problems in school :) to get a big zero heheheheh) to increase our woes and never solve the problems of life.

Till, I started the movement even I had overlooked these two sides, even though in life I have used them more often than not without knowing the full forms, which I had coined only a few days back. I was truly amazed because when a guy like me, who hated Mathematics so much can coin the full forms to understand life, I wonder why the top economist of the country (Dr. Manmohan Singh, our PM) has failed to apply them to solve the problems of the nation… instead his so-called able learned cabinet ministers have complicated every single citizen’s woes by increasing the steps to solve a problem.

Solutions seems to be nowhere in sight and imagine this has happened ever since our Independence. None, I repeat none of the ministers, who claim to serve the nation has even bothered to build enough FCI Godowns to safeguard food grains to make our nation self-sufficient and healthy, instead all they have cared to do is accumulate crores and crores of black money by every single means. While in the last 63 long years, our nation has seen malls, multiplexes, flyovers, high-rises, swanky airports, hotels, restaurants & bars have been build in great numbers, we as the nation have not even bothered to build the most essential thing for our nation – Sufficient FCI Godowns!

 

Our Finance Minister may claim in pride that the economy is growing at a faster pace of 9% but as an economist why has he overlooked this simple solution to allocate funds to build enough godowns for our nation’s better future on war footing. While we may have achieved to find presence of water in the moon, our hard worked poor farmers’ produce are being allowed to rot in open to the tune of 58,000 crores every single year. Our billionaires may acquire foreign companies to make our nation’s proud, none of the 331 so-called rich have bothered to donate godowns for the sake of nation’s future. Well, the least said about our Agriculture Minister’s callousness to kill more farmers every year will hardly matter to his ambition to be the head of the ICC… I wonder what will he achieve by cricket? Will the crores worth rotting food grains be saved he one is creating records in cricket… does constructing godowns take 63 long years to complete?

Ironical and really pathetic that a simple solution to construct enough food grains godowns for the nation was not and is not on the HIGH PRIORITY for the government of India and yes, on the 15th of August, we will play patriotic songs, unfurl the tri-colour, talk of freedom, show-off our patriotism and what not… Wake up young generation if you really want to make the L.H.S = R.H.S… Only you can change our nation… so look for hidden signs to find your real hidden strength to prove there exist simple solutions to every problem.

Q.E.D!

VIDARBHA 11 DISTRICTS RUN IN NOVEMBER – DECEMBER (31st July 2010, 1325 Hrs)

For 45 days, I will be running on the roads of Vidarbha in the month of November – December covering all the 11 districts and near about 200 villages / small towns & main cities of the region to spread awareness and raise funds to support suicide farmers’ families. The months from mid-November to December, the region witness the harvesting season and maximum farmers’ suicide are witnessed.

200 Villages, small towns & cities will be touched & covered during the 45 days run through the 11 districts of Vidarbha

1). To raise funds for Vidarbha farmers’ widows and their children

2). Generate awareness about the ill-effects of suicide

3). Spread awareness about the use of paper envelopes made by farmers’ widows to save the environment

4). Spread awarenesss about the benefits of organic farming

5). Cultivate grassroot culture among the school children to protect environment

6). Trees plantation drive

7). Teach farmers to construct bhaands around their fields to increase ground water table

8). Request people to contribute old magazines for paper envelopes making unit

9). Request more farmers’ widows to join the small unit of paper making envelopes for “Vidarbha Widows Earn-to-save Environment”

Through this post, I would like to request one and all to come forward and donate generously in whatever ways one may or can to support this event… I know it is very challenging indeed to be on the roads for 45 days but my determination and devotion to do more for the farmers’ widows in Vidarbha is what is keeping me going to make this movement bigger so that in near future there are lesser farmers’ suicide in Vidarbha.

Farmers work zealously to feed the nation and the least we all can do is to help them continue farming and not quit farming to migrate to cities, while the government sits carelessly to claim proudly that the nation has the audacity to allow wastage of 58,000 crores worth of food grains every single year when near about 40% of children are dying in the nation because of mal-nourishment… I really wonder as to why these children or the poor, who have no access to food are not fed with all these food grains… not only the wastage will provide life to the poor and hunger but also strengthen the nation…

Tomorrow the month of our Independence will commence and I am indeed amazed that since the last 63 years the government of India has not even bothered to build enough FCI Godowns to store the total produce of the farmers of the nation safely, who toil hard in hot sun and heavy rains to feed the nation… indeed this is the biggest shame and the most serious issue that our government needs to tackle in war-footing… because only day before yesterday I read in the papers that our Supreme Court has finally woken up from its 63 years’ sleep to state – “Wasting even a single grain of food is a crime!”… so I wish to ask will the Supreme Court prosecute all the Prime Ministers of the Nation since our Independence in 1947? Will justice prevail or just melt like ice and vanish in vapours…

Obviously, it is the later which will happen as always to vanish in just vapours and next year the wastage of food grains in the country will raise to more than 60,000 crores and the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister will once again go to sleep for another 60 odd years… Imagine 80% of the yearly produced food grains are still stored in open air to rot and we the nation proclaim to the world that ours is the fastest growing economy… Is this really the growth of our nation? I leave it to one and all to think about…

INSPIRING ANGEL (28th July 2010, 1455 Hrs)

As I had written earlier that angels are visibly invisible for all of us, and only, when they enter your life, you will be able to see them and feel their presence. They come from nowhere to provide help, support to make you feel blessed. A beautiful angel came to lend her helping hands through Facebook… and she is a management student. What really amazed and made me feel happy about her is that she is young and feel so much for the serious national issue that she has come forward with a promise to do something concrete as soon as she will start earning.

The effort to reach out for others is the ultimate blissful emotion any human can really have. I am sure each one of you reading this post will agree with me because each one of us have felt such a blissful state in our lives many a times… the inspiring angel has enliven the state within me and I know she will do a lot when the time comes to support the cause.

Prerana Sharma hails from Greater Noida and is pursuing MBA in International Business from Birla Institute of Management Technology. She joined the Events in Facebook to show her support like many others and over a period of time took active part to encourage me through her comments. Each time she used to tell me that if there is anything I need, she would be there… this assurance surely was very valuable and encouraging for me to get strength to do what I am doing. Once we were chatting and Prerana said, ‘I really wish that my studies finish fast so that I can support the movement both financially as well as with her active part in helping the suicide farmers’ families.’ Wow! I felt a strange indebtedness towards this beautiful young girl for her commitment even when she is just a student. I know for sure that Prerana will do many things in her life to achieve greater heights and will spread joy with her radiance in many-many lives. 


Oh yes, Prerana was inspired when I recently shifted from Mumbai with bags and baggage. She wrote, ‘By shifting to Vidarbha you have shown your single minded determination and I am really happy for the decision.’ What is more noteworthy about her is that she is spreading the word fast about the movement among her friends’ circle and even asking them to support the cause. Honestly, I have no words to thank her for all the things that she has been doing to support the widows of Vidarbha.

There is a misconception among the elders that the younger generation are not aware about the national scenario forget about world. However, I will beg to differ here because it is the younger generation who have come forward to support the movement and yes, they are well aware about the current situation of the nation and the world. For many of them, with whom I interact… I have seen their zeal to do something better for the nation in various fields… now this is something really beautiful as the younger lot will nurture a better future for not only their kids and families but also the nation. In my quest, I am truly blessed with all the inspiring angels, who have joined hands to help the suicide farmers’ families in Vidarbha…

Before I die… Vidarbha should become ‘suicide free’ and become famous for its cotton. I know all these angels will never let this movement die even after my death to one day see ‘Suicide Free Vidarbha’ in near future!

SHREYAS TALPADE SUPPORTS WIDOWS OF VIDARBHA (26th July 2010, 1500 Hrs)

I must specially mention the name of actor Shreyas Talpade for his undying support to support the suicide farmers’ families in Vidarbha with much gratitude for his effort and assurance to do more. I have known him since his IQBAAL days. I have enjoyed interviewing him for his humaneness rather than being a star from Bollywood. And from that instance, we have often bumped in various parties and inspite of his growing stature in Bollywood as an actor of true substance, he always remained a person with great humility.

 

I left a message on his cell requesting him to contribute with old magazines for our small unit. The next day, Shreyas called and was amazed to know more about my devotion. He promised me that soon he would send me the magazines and said that I should feel free to ask more of his help for the movement. Truly, I was moved by his gestures because many from Bollywood have not yet come forward like he did. No hard feelings though as there have been very few actors, who have come forward to support the cause in their own special ways. Jaya Bhattacharya, Nausheen Sardar Ali, a well-known director (prefers to remain anonymous though) have all been very supporting with their invaluable support to see this movement growing from strength to strength.

Shreyas and I had been talking over phone since the first message and one fine day, I received a huge packet with old magazines from him. When I called to thank him he revealed that since he didn’t had many old magazines, he asked his man Friday to collect from three raddiwalas all the magazines to send to me. He has even spread the message to all his friends in Bollywood to collect old magazines for the cause. His assurance that if the movement requires anything, he should be informed made me feel very proud of his commitment. I know for sure Shreyas is the man, who will not go back on his words and his support will always be cherished with much gratitude. I wish to thank him through this post for all his help… thank you Shreyas, thank you so very much!

KHURJHADI EXPERIENCE – PART II (25th July 2010, 1130 Hrs)

 

I really had no option whatsoever but to stay for the night at the village. There was another house that I visited with Prashin. Darkness had engulfed the whole village, first because of the dark clouds and secondly there was no electricity supply. Khurjhadi is accustomed to live life without 12 to 16 hours of power cut daily… I wondered if we are really living in the 21st Century India… Mr. Manmohan Singh are you listening please?

The rain was still pouring and in the dark evening Ujwala’s son led me to late farmer Kawadu Anandrao Petkar’s house. I met widow Usha now in her 40s, who has been leading a painful life since 2006. 45 years old Anandrao Petkar committed suicide on the 21st of February 2006 because of debt, which had risen to 1.60 lakhs. The four children – Surendra (eldest is soon to be married) was earlier working in Pune but after his father’s death has taken over the reign of farming; Nanda (next in line), daughter has been married; Kunda is pursuing Nursing Training in Pune and the youngest son Mayur is a class Xth student. The Petkars have 4.75 acres of land and they grow cotton, soyabean and dal…

Widow Usha with son Mayur

Anandrao’s father and mother are old in their 70s. The compensation money of 1 lakh given by government was spent in paying electricty dues and daughter’s marriage. I managed to convince Usha to join our small unit and eldest son was happy to know about our project, something that will bring in extra money in the house. They all assured that they would work hard to be part of the unit with great enthusiasm. After a while we returned to Prashin’s house.

Father of (late) Kawadu Anandrao Petkar

 

My dress was still wet and immediately mother and son made a nice bed for me and requested me to rest. While we were interacting, I was touched by their reply when I said – ‘Me tumala tras dilo na (I gave you trouble),’ to which Ujwala replied – ‘For us you left Mumbai and in such heavy rains pedalled all the way from such a far distance… this is the least we can do for you.’ Emotions overflowed within me to hear such sweet soothing words and I wonder why we city dwellers cannot be like the villagers… Ujwala got busy preparing food and I wondered who give these widows so much strength to work all day in fields and yet when they are back home, they have the energy to do the household chores… if men have a misconception of being superior, they should really compete with these women… then they will know how superior women are in reality!

 

After 30 minutes, dinner was served hot… bhaakari (rotis made with rice flour), dal, thecha (chutney made by chillies & garlic with oil), onions and cut pieces of raw mango… my-my… I just canot describe the joy of having such a wonderful dinner in words… it is an experience that I shall cherish all my life… the love with which it was served… I ate more than I usually eat :)

 

By 9 pm I tucked myself in the new quilt (I guess that was made for me only, waiting for my arrival) and in wet clothes went to sleep. For a while I was looking in the darkness hearing the sound of the cricket wondering – who am I for them that they have so much trust, love and extended me such loving hospitality? Even before I was reaching to any answers, I was fast asleep. I slept like a baby and it was only in the morning with the cockaduldoo at 4.30 am, I woke up fresh with no sign of tiredness. The most wonderful part of the night was that there were no mosquitoes to disturb and the doors of the house were kept open without any fear.

The early morning ride back to Wardha was a beautiful and fast one… rain had stopped and I felt a joy within and know widows Ujwala, Usha and their children will surely work hard to set up the unit of envelop making once the monsoon is over.

RIDE TO KHURJHADI – FORT (23rd July 2010, 1950 Hrs)

 

On June the 17th, I pedalled my way to Khurjhadi (Fort), a village 27 kms away from Wardha in heavy rains. It was indeed the ride of a life time, however, I do feel there will be many more exhilarating experiences coming my way in future. Since I had decided to visit the village come what may, the drizzle didn’t stop me, little knowing it will take shape of heavy showers all my way.

 

No sooner I had left Wardha, the drizzle became heavy and I had to take shelter at a tyre repairing shop. I thought, I should have taken the bus instead of pedalling my way in such rain. However, deep down I was enjoying the rain. At the shop I met a lady, an LIC agent, who was very surprised with my cycle trip. We exchanged few minutes interacting about farmers’ suicide and government policies. She gave me direction to the village and said with a worried look – ‘The village is very far and it is raining heavily. Go safe.’ I thanked her and as rain stopped for a while, we both left for our respective destinations.

 

I presumed God was testing me and no sooner I left from the shop, the rain started once again and didn’t stopped till about 15 kms… I kept riding enjoying the rain and open expanse of fields on both side of the road. There was no sign of any villages as vehicles were passing by to and fro in high speed on the road. I was wet completely inspite of my windcheater. For the second time after covering 16 or 17 kms I thought I should come another day in bus… but I nixed the thought and said I have not started something to give away in the half way… yes, I was determined to reach to my destination come what may and I told my Sai Baba – Baba give me strength to reach my destination.

 

After 18 kms, the rain started once again and this time it was heavy. Once again my clothes, which became dry for a while got wet in one go… I was smiling to myself and wondering what the hell, I am enjoying the rain man! People in cars, trucks and two-wheelers were looking at me in amazement. The village was near about 3 kms away from the main road and the rain was so heavy that visibility was mere 5 to 6 metres… thirsty I opened my mouth towards sky to drink drops of rain and enjoying my struggle. It was dark and the thunderous blasts of clouds with lightening striking the open fields shook me once with a fear – what if it strikes me? I prayed to Baba and said – ‘Baba let my work complete here and then you may take me away forever.’ He listened and protected me to make me reach Khurjhadi.

 

One village man guided me to widow Ujwala Prabhakar Petkar’s house. Her son Prashin welcomed me and immediately served me with a glass of water and warm tea. His mother came in a little later and thought I was sent by Swami Vivekanand Trust. When I introduced myself and told them about my mission, they were very supportive. She updated me with what her husband Shri (late) Prabhakar Vasudev Petkar had to go through at the young age of 32 years to give away his life. The Petkars had nine acres of land but in the year 2001 – 02 flood took a toll on the whole village. There was no yield and rupees 20,000 loan rose to 1.5 to 2 lakhs and their four acres were grabbed by moneylenders for the small amount. Left with just five acres, Prabhakar committed suicide on the 8th October 2002.

Prashin with mother Ujwala

Life was tough for Ujwala to look after two young children, Prashin was just 6 years and Rushali was 9 years. I find women to be stronger than men in such circumstances to fight against all odds with bravado and Ujwala did just the same. She worked hard to send her children to school and today, her daughter is doing nursing training in Nagpur with the help of Swami Vivekanand Trust and Prashin is a class ninth student. She grows cotton, tur dal and soyabean in her five acres and have been fighting her war of loneliness with gusto.

It was getting dark and the rain was not showing any sign of stopping. The village’s entrance is a low lying area and the gushing high speed current water had blocked the way from both the sides. Neither anyone could enter or leave the village because of the high speed current. Ujwala told me to stay over at night and leave in the morning as it was dangerous to cross to the other side….

What happens next?... Read in my next post tomorrow…

DESTINY RULES… (22ND July 2010, 1220 Hrs)

Humans are born with pre-destined destinies and I superscribe to the fact, to many it is the belief that they can shape their own destinies. Each to his own, no offence to others who believe so.

19th June when I left for Mumbai, I had planned to be back within a week’s time. However, just two days before leaving, I got viral fever and had to cancel my trip. I had planned to leave Mumbai forever in the month of September as per plan but suddenly after my sickness and recovering I decided it would be better if I leave Mumbai in July itself and much to my friends’ persuasion, I finally left on the 20th once for all. Once I landed in Wardha with bags and baggage, I was so much at peace. Now I know this is where my destiny wanted me to be for the rest of the life.

In my wildest dream I had never thought I would take such a step before March 2010. People flock to Mumbai in search of jobs and here I am, left the dream city to find my calling. Since the last month, I have not been able to blog because windows 7 collapsed and the day I reached Wardha, Sagar repaired it immediately. Life in Mumbai had been very busy trying to arrange for old magazines for our small unit. Many people promised me that they would send some but there was only one person (a celebrity), who was kind enough and took the zealous effort to send 19 kgs of old magazines. And what makes this individual special and worth mentioning is that s/he didn’t even wrote her / his name in the sender’s address. It stated only Annapurna Building, Yari Road, Versova, Andheri… through this post, if at all s/he is reading, I wish to thank her / him from the bottom of my heart for the valuable contribution.

Three Management girl students from Jankidevi Bajaj Institute of Management, SNDT campus Juhu collected 30 old magazines from their seniors room to give me a call to collect it. Actor Shreyas Talpade, who I have known since his IQBAAL days, was so sweet to send me a little more than 10 kgs of old magazines. Shreyas has been very considerate and he took the effort to send his man Friday to collect old magazines from the raddiwalas in his area to realise how important it is to support such a cause. He is been very kind to even assure all his help whenever needed. Tejal Rajyagor, my ninth angel too chipped in with whatever magazines she could carry during our meeting in Mumbai. It is the effort that counts and honestly, I knew such a problem may occur, so I went to Mumbai. I managed to collect more than 100 old magazines lying in my flat. So for a start, we have managed to collect enough magazines to start with.

The paper envelop making unit will have to wait till the monsoon season is over because the dampness in the atmosphere will not allow the glue to stick well. Packing old magazines and carrying it to station to book from parcel office took a great physical labour but I was enjoying every bit of it for reasons really unknown to me. Even though I felt tired with hectic times, the joy that I managed to gather so many old magazines in such a short time is unparallel indeed!

Everything fell in places at the right moment as it has been destined… I was just doing what I was supposed to do. In India, there is an old saying – Daane daane pe likha hai khaane wale ka naam (In each morsel of food, the name is written of the person who will eat it) – From glitzy Bollywood Parties in Five-stars… here I am enjoying food in villagers’ houses in Vidarbha… destiny rules!

YOUR WASTE WILL HELP WIDOWS OF VIDARBHA TO EARN TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT (16th June 2010, 0940 Hrs)

In the last 12 years – 1997 to 2009 – India has lost more than 200,000 farmers @ of 48 farmers’ suicide every single day for 12 long years to suicide because of various government policies, drought, floods, MNCs’ exploitation and dominance, GM crops, poisonous chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Farmers are the most important community of the nation and surprisingly, instead of helping the farmers to keep continuing farming, we all have closed our eyes because we get food on our dining table without much struggle.

On the 12th of March, I realised that I was also like all others, who are writing, reading, discussing and doing nothing to help the widows of the farmers who have committed suicide. So leaving everything I dedicated my life to support the suicide farmers’ families in Vidarbha. I set my base in Wardha on the 16th of April and since then have been working with farmers’ widows and farmers while trying to understand the reasons of suicide and how I can help these poor widows towards self-reliance to lead a better life with their heads held high.

I started the one-man-crusade on the 18th of March, walked on the streets of Mumbai with a donation box to raise funds for the widows. However, I realised that by living in Mumbai, I will not be able to do much. So finally, last month I have shifted my base from Mumbai to Wardha and will spend all my life serving the widows of Vidarbha. In my lifetime (I really don’t know how many years are left of mine) all I wish is to see farmers’ suicide to stop in Vidarbha and the widows of Vidarbha to become self-reliant as a force that will not only earn their living but also help save the environment through various projects that we plan to execute as funds will start trickling in.

The first project of our movement is setting up a small unit of making paper envelops for kirana / general stores, who have been using plastic to harm the already harmed environment. I have already convinced two widows in village SALOD, who are eagerly looking to start the work ASAP… (please read the exclusive blog: http://support4suicidefarmersfamilies.blogspot.com) and visiting other villages this month to have more members in the team.

This is where your valuable contribution will play a major role to help these widows and nation’s environment. No my dear honorable citizen of India, we are not asking money from you instead in a very humble way, we request you to be kind enough to send us 1,2,3,4,5 or whatever you can, the old issues / used magazines lying in your home as waste, so that we can start making paper envelops, which will be sold to kirana stores… while the widows will earn money by making and selling these envelops, the awareness to safeguard our environment will also help the nation to shun plastic carry bags. If every single individual who is reading this post will send us used / old magazines per month, we will have enough raw materials to make these envelops. We are sure, you will not disappoint us and will send us all the waste magazines month after month… the widows of Vidarbha will be very grateful to you and bless you all from the bottom of their heart and so will the environment too!

Thanking you,

Johnny D

support 4 suicide farmers families

C/o Swapnil Barai

House No: 200

Opp. Dr. Harne’s Hospital

Dhantoli Chowk

Wardha: 442001

Phone: +91 98203 22549

Phone: +91 89830 04533

TWO VILLAGES WITH THE SAME NAME (15th June 2010, 1530 Hrs)

It was really an amazing experience yesterday when I headed towards the village Khurjhadi to meet two deceased farmers’ families. While I pedalled my way in hot sun, the serene beautiful landscape captivated me to a new high with the vast expanse of land in every direction, dark ploughed fields, cattles grazing far away, few village folks looking at me in amazement and one sweet old villager in cycle asked me – ‘Itne dhoop mein kahan ja rahe ho bhai? (where are you going in such a hot sun my dear?)’ I told him I was heading towards Khurjhadi.

The up and down terrain, zig-zag narrow roads, chirping of birds all around and some beautiful landscape – all in all, everything was asking me only one thing – ‘When will the rain come?’ I surely had no answer whatsoever and felt sad as I pedalled my way towards the village. After an hour’s ride I reached the village. However, much to my surprise I had reached the wrong village. The villagers did confirmed the village’s name is Khurjhadi but they also informed me that there has been no suicide in their village. In a way I was a bit disappointed but I was happy to hear that no one has ever committed suicide in this village.

The villagers told me that I was looking at Khurjhadi (Fokta) while their Khurjhadi was Jamata. The one that I was supposed to visit is in another direction and far away. So I had to turn back. While I was returning, I saw an old farmer ploughing the field. I stopped to click some pictures and interacted with him. He was an old farmer and must have crossed 65 plus years and yet he was working. I asked him Kaka (uncle) how many acres of land do you have? He was honest to confess that he had no land and is working as a labour there. I was really sad to hear his confession and thought – when child labour is considered a crime, why is that old-age labour not a crime? A soldier who protects and serves the country is retired after 55 years to get pension… but what about the farmers, who feed the nation has to work till he dies and never gets pension from the nation… WHY? WHY? WHY? Is this what we call RIGHT TO EQUALITY – India’s Fundamental Rights???

He is 65 plus years old and working as a labour

The owner, who was working in the nearby field came and we interacted for about 30 minutes to know about each other. I did counsel them about the building of bhaand around their fields to increase the ground water table, switching over to organic farming for better future, plantation of neem trees all around their fields for organic manure, avoid poisonous chemical fertilsers and pesticides to help save Dharti Maa… the farmers are well aware of all these things but informed me that they have no choice because they don’t have enough money to sustain for three long years to switch over to organic farming. Even if they switch to organic farming, who will feed their families for three long years till the land regains its fertility to give proper yield? I did tell them they should atleast try with a smaller patch of land and gradually increase the area for organic farming.

However, in some small fields I noted there were organic manure lying in big heaps, which made me feel very happy. I only wish the government should start a huge revolution to make organic farming a mandatory in Vidarbha at the earliest. After a while, my disappointment not to reach the correct village was turned into an amazing experience interacting with those farmers.

CREATIVE LOGO DESIGNED BY SAGAR BARAI (15th June 2010, 1025 Hrs)

WHAT DOES THE NATION GIVES THE POOR FARMERS (13th June 1300 Hrs)

Government projects are sanctioned and farmers are forced to sell their fertile land for a meagre sum of amount paid by the administration to facilitate the proposed projects… with a false promise that they will be given another piece of land elsewhere … however, in most cases the land compensated are barren lands, where no one can grow crops… What does a farmer do then? Either, he quits farming once for all to migrate towards cities to do labour jobs to survive with his family or else…

Mind you, the story of suffering and miseries doesn’t end here… the money from the administration takes years to reach the farmer… if he is still alive. And imagine acres and acres of fertile land is being grabbed by government at cheaper rates (if the current price for one acre of land is 6 lakhs or more, then government pays just 60 to 80,000 rupees to the farmers) to increase the woes of the already suffering poor farmers. I wish, all the farmers can go on an indefinite strike like all the other employed professionals or else stop growing food for two consecutive years for the nation to realise how serious their problems are… ironically, these poor farmers don’t even think about themselves, instead selflessly they grow food for the nation… and …

What does the nation give them?

SUICIDE: They are forced towards the brink by the government policies, MNC’s marketing policies, GM seeds and exploitation by politicians, which act in unison against them to force the farmers to take the extreme step.

NO IRRIGATION FACILITIES: Since the last 63 years, only 15 out of the 87 irrigation projects have been able to serve the farmers to an extent that only 20% of nation’s farmlands are been irrigated.

FARMERS HAVE TO SELL WIVES TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN: Bundelkhand farmers had no option left but to sell their wives to moneylenders to feed their children. A 48-Hour Probe was ordered by NCW (National Commission for Women) on the 7th of September 2009, and that 48-Hour has still not complete for the Congress Government…

GRAB THE FERTILE LANDS OF FARMERS IN THE NAME OF STATE PROJECTS: Fertile lands of poor farmers are grabbed at peanuts by the nation administrations to facilitate big corporate giants to establish their billion dollar companies…

POISONOUS CHEMICAL FERTILISERS & PESTICIDES TO SPRAY ON GM CROPS: While the farmers have no option but to use them, no one is realising the real impact of these poison that is crippling the nation with diseases like cancer, chronic mental disorders, mental depression, hyper tension, kidney failures, nervous breakdowns, cardiac arrest, swine flu and what not… These poisonous chemicals are indirectly and directly are also affecting the farmers who are exposed to them towards mood swing, depression and other diseases… so that the medical sector can further suck the blood and money from these poor farmers.

CRY FOR MONSOON ECHOES IN VIDARBHA (11th June 2010, 1935 Hrs)

Clouds-clouds come to Vidarbha
Clouds-clouds shower on Vidarbha
Two years have been too long a time
Deprived farmers were forced to commit a crime

Poison is being consumed by crops, farmers and us alike
Once a boon, farming has become a curse today
Lives here have lost the will to live
Clouds please be merciful this year on Vidarbha

Children are becoming orphan at tender age
Widows have no more tears left to shed
Old helpless grandparents look in disbelief
Clueless about the future of Vidarbha

The dying soil has given up too
As poisonous chemicals seep all the water above
How long will the Mother Earth take it now
As the cry for monsoon echoes in Vidarbha!

Johnny D
11th June 2010

WIDOW ARUNA JIVAN BARADE – THE BRAVEHEART FROM VILLAGE SALOD (9th June 2010, 2340 Hrs)

Every widow has a tale to tell in Vidarbha. Even though each tale has the similar themes of debt and suicide, each life is a tale of trauma, miseries, suffering and the bravery to lead the life that has been gifted by their deceased husband, is so-so different from one another. My second trip to village Salod yesterday evening took me to deceased farmer Jivan Ramji Barade’s house.

Sheetal, the 13 year-young eldest daughter welcomed me and offered me a chair to sit and some drinking water to quench my thirst after pedalling for 30 minutes in hot sun. Her innocence and bright inquisitive eyes were questioning me silently as I enquired about her mother… ‘she will be here any minute now,’ she told me. Aruna Jivan Barade, widow of the farmer arrived shortly while I was trying to have little conversation with the kids (Roshni the youngest of the family is 10 years young)…

The first thing she asked was whether I was given drinking water or not… I nodded and in my broken Marathi told her why I had come to her house. The village Salod has an estimated population of about 6916 and since 2003, there has been only four suicide cases. 32 years young Jivan committed suicide on the 14th of May 2007 leaving behind Aruna with three little children, all below 10 years… Sheetal is 13, Akash is 12 and Roshni is 10 now and they are studying in Standard 7th, 6th and 4th respectively.

Widow Aruna with youngest daughter Roshni & eldest Sheetal

The Barades have just 2 acres of land and are considered to be the smallest farmer in the whole village. Debt is but obvious the only way out to some how make the two-ends meet in the poverty driven life and Jivan took loans from moneylenders to grow crops… the drought took its toll and with no money to return it… he thought the easy way out was ‘SUICIDE’. So gory and pathetic it is for any farmer to chose the easy route to escape the clutches of the loan sharks… How cruel can destiny be of the person who feed us all, to end his life, life that we don’t even bother to shed any tears or else feel any remorse. Every farmer’s death to suicide is the National Loss and Loss in the yearly food grains cultivated for the 1.2 billion Indians.

When I showed Aruna the sample of paper envelop and told her about the small unit that we plan to start in Vidarbha, she showed great interest. The simple reason being she has leased her two acres (45 minutes long walk from her house) for Rs. 3000 /- a month and is currently working as a labourer in her own fields. Now imagine how nature plays a cruel joke on the poor… who has to work in her own fields to earn few extra bucks, so she can feed her children and send them to school. Aruna got Rs. 1 Lakh as compensation from the government and she was brave to refuse to pay the loan amount because she says, ‘I don’t know how much my husband took and I don’t have money, so tell me from where I will pay? I don’t have enough to feed my children so how can I pay their loan? I refused point blank and some how am managing to see my children grow.’ Hats off to Aruna for being so brave to face the situation to see her children get the best from life!

Aruna trying her hand at making an envelop

Aruna is barely 30 years and she has a long way to go to see her children grow into fine earning citizen, so she can enjoy the rest of her life in peace and little comfort. Sheetal knows her responsibilities and promised that she would study well to become something important in life. I assured her that after her 12th grades, the movement will support her for her higher education. While tea was being prepared by Sheetal, I showed Aruna how the envelop is being made… she tried her hand and deep within I was so happy to see her trying with so much passion and eagerness. Sheetal too would chip in to make the envelops to help her mother. As is the village custom, after tea, Sheetal brought a small box, in which there was saunf and ajwain…

Sheetal offers me saunf & ajwain in a customary way

I was touched and took some to chew them to find relief from my long ride and once again become fresh to head to another farmer’s house. More in details about the next deceased family in my next post…

THE TENTH ANGEL (6th June 2010, 1855 Hrs)

Finally on Friday, the 4th of June the Tenth Angel arrived through FB mail… Supriya Manjunath has been friends since last 8 plus years… now what is more surprising is that we met online on Yahoo chat and got to know each other better and better as the years went by. And finally, after chatting for two years, I happened to visit Bangalore and we met in person. It was an amazing meeting in many regards. Supriya even introduced me to her husband Manjunath.

After the meeting, we started talking over phone on and off. As usual, we both loved wishing each other on our birthdays without fail, something that was common to both of us. Interaction with Supriya was always fun and very joyful. In fact, last year we did lost touch because she was having a hectic schedule at her domestic front. We had stopped chatting because of phone calls. Out of the blue in FB, I got her invite and once again things were the same.

In total, I must have mailed to more than 50 plus people to support me for a year… and the Tenth Angel took her time to arrive. However, on Friday I was very happy to get Supriya’s confirmation and when I called to thank her… she told me… 'this I am doing because I believe in my Johnny and what he is doing…' How sweet it could be to one’s ears to hear the trust and confidence in her voice!

Through this post I wish to thank all my ten angels from the bottom of my heart. The Ten Angels are:

Mr. G A (Writer-poet) – Kerala

Mrs. Shachi Bhanushali (Housewife) – Hyderabad

Miss. Nausheen Sardar Ali (Well-know TV actress) – Mumbai

Miss. Bhumika Chedda (Fashion Designer) – Mumbai

Mr. Prem Nath (Well-known Architect-Designer) – Mumbai

A well-known Architect-Designer (prefers to be anonymous) – Mumbai

A well-known Bollywood Director (prefers to be anonymous) – Mumbai

Miss. Tejal Rajyagor (Works for GiveIndia) – Mumbai

Mrs. Payal Gidwani Tiwari & Mrs. Jyoti Gidwani (Celebrity Yoga Instructor – Housewife respectively) - Mumbai

Mrs. Supriya Manjunath (Housewife) - Mysore

TRIBUTE TO ALL THE RAGPICKERS ON THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (5th June 2010, 1420 Hrs)

We often look at them with disgust because of their dirty clothes and smell oozing bodies… however, if they were not part of the solar system, our world would have been under the heeps of waste plastic bottles and other unwanted things long time ago. On the World Environment Day, this post is my tribute to all the ragpickers, who selfishly clean all our unwanted wastes to earn a meagre sum of money after scavenging all day long in hot sun and rainy days in the dirtiest place of the earth to save the earth.

Have you ever thought how they have balanced the environment without really knowing how to pronounce the word or else know the meaning of the buzz word in the world scenario? It is the hunger in their stomach and their poor condition of living that has made them to selfishly (they do it to earn some money, so I termed them as selfish) clean all the garbage that we so-called educated throw without a single thought about spoiling the environment. Isn’t it strange that people who are educated, are actually endangering the environment by splurging on their comforts while uneducated poor people are the ones, who are protecting the environment while earning money out of the wastes?

There are global conventions where in billions of dollars are spent for the comfort of the official respresentatives from various countries, ironical though, we will never spent money on the real people who are cleansing all the wastes from the world, just because they are poor. The difference between them and us is simple… while we will talk big and do nothing, they say nothing but do everything. Action speaks louder than the words – this quote aptly describes the two sides of human’s callousness.

A mere 10 minutes power cut in metros makes everyone swear the government for the inefficiency, ironically, a 12 to 14 hours power cut in rural India is silently taken in stride with a smile to get accustomed in every day’s life. While the villages of India contribute the bigger chunk or percentage to save environment, sadly once again, they are never even mentioned anywhere for their efforts and contributions, while in cities, there will be Tom, Dick and Harry shouting aloud buying the media to say how they have saved the environment by bragging doing such and such thing or else switch off lights for one hour for just one day in 365 days and then they claim they have saved the world…

These ragpickers are not at all helped or supported by our government or environmental bodies. While their efforts, which has a such a big impact on environment, goes unnoticed by one and all, they are not even provided with protective gears to spend 8 to 10 hours in toxic wastelands. On top of all that, their service doesn’t even get any pay hike or else pension from the government. Instead we look at them with disgust, little forgetting that it is because of them we are enjoying a better environment. Hats of to all the ragpickers in the world, who are doing what we educated fellows can never even think of doing to save environment! It is truly a boon and a curse to be born poor but it is the poor who always plays an important part to make lives better for everyone!

Time we wake up from our sleep before it is too late!

FIRST WIDOW CONFIRMS TO BE PART OF THE SMALL UNIT (4th June 2010, 2200 Hrs)

Yesterday I purchased a bicycle to pedal my way to all the nearby villages, so that I can save money spent on conveyance all along. And today morning, for the first time after so many years, I pedalled my way to SALOD, a village that is situated 10 kms away from Wardha. The heat surely turned my hands in a well-tanned colour and by evening, it was hurting a little. However, when I was pedalling my way to the village, I felt nothing at all. In fact, I enjoyed my ride in an amazing way looking away the dried landscape of the surroundings, cattle resting in whatever little shade they got, ploughed fields and some farmers still working in hot sun.

As soon as I entered the village, I enquired in a shop about the two cases of suicide. Fortunately, I met brother of the deceased farmer Prakash Bhagwan Jhod, who had committed suicide in 2005 because of debt. The brother refused to talk to me and told there was no one at home, inspite of my request to share some information. I approached the next house of the deceased farmer Jivan Ramji Barade… the house was found lock. So I had no choice but to return back, when immediately I thought about the Gram Panchayat Office. A little boy in cycle was too happy to guide me to the office.

I was given water to drink and then I got to know of two more cases that had happened long time back in Salod village. From there, when I reached deceased farmer Bapuram Sitaram Bhosari’s house, it was locked too. The last one was the house of deceased farmer Prabhakar Ramrao Sagare’s house. Fortunately, the family was at home. I was welcomed, given water to drink, followed by orange squash and then a small box was handed to me. When I asked what was it, one of the daughters told me it was supari (beetlenut). I chewed on two small pieces and wondered that why such warm hospitality is missing in today’s urban life? Inspite of the poor lifestyle they lead, the villagers have a very big heart to welcome a guest, truly amazing and worth mentioning.

P R Sagare left behind three daughters and his widow wife in 2003, when he committed suicide at the age of 35 years because of debt. He was also suffering from high sugar level and since he couldn’t take the every day harassment of the loan sharks, he gave up on life. The eldest daughter have been married away and the younger ones are both doing their Diploma in Education from Deoli, in the hope to become teachers in coming years. The widow wife revealed that they had got married at a very young age of 16 or 17. She was talking to me in Marathi, which I could understand but since I cannot speak the language all that fluent, the youngest daughter Vaishali was translating to her mom. It is really heartening to see the pain in their eyes for missing the only important person in their lives. It has been seven years now and I can well imagine how the young daughters must have faced the situation to find one day, their father is no more.

Shefali, widow of P R Sagare and Vaishali

I told them that I am planning to involve all the widows to start making paper envelops and establish a small unit, which will help them earn some extra money. I gave them the samples and asked if they would be interested to be part of the team. I was really happy because the daughters along with the mother gave their ‘yes’ to me. So here I am, we are all set now to start making these envelops to save the environment in our own small ways while the widows of Vidarbha will start earning some money to support their families in a small way. The ride back home was very amazing because now we have the first member of our small unit! And when I came back home, I got my TENTH ANGEL also… truly a good day indeed!

THE EIGHTH ANGEL CONFIRMS HER CONTRIBUTION (3rd June 2010, 2355 Hrs)

Even before she gave me her confirmation to support me for a year, I knew well before hand that I can always count on Payal Gidwani and her mom Jyoti Gidwani, whom I have known from the past one decade. The wonderful aspect of our friendship has been that without fail, we used to wish each other every birthday… even if we have not talked over phone for a year.

In my earlier post I had written about the nine angels and there I had mentioned that one angel would confirm later… so finally today I got Payal’s confirmation as she was busy with her hectic schedule. Payal and husband Manish Tiwari are yoga instructors, who train celebrity clients in Mumbai… prominent among them are Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan.

I met Jyoti Gidwani at Fashion Designer Seema Roye’s studio and since we both are Sai Baba’s bhakt, we related almost instantaneously. And since then, we have kept in touch over phone and at times do catch up once in a while. Amazing are some relationship that are always there to help each other at such times… May Sai Baba bless all the angels with more bigger heart to change the world in their own small ways… Om Shri Sai!

WIDOWS OF VIDARBHA WILL SOON START TO EARN TO SAVE ENVIRONMENT! (2nd June 2010, 2130 Hrs)

Right from the very beginning I have always believed that widows of the farmers, who have committed suicide, are going to be a force to reckon with in near future. The only drawback is that the world has so far treated them as an object of pity, rather than the force of the future. Hence, there has been no progress at all.

I have been visiting villages and interacting with them, trying to understand their needs, aspirations and the will to lead a life of dignity with their heads held high. Even before I came to Vidarbha, I had thought of various plans that would be implemented in a slow and steady manner over a period of time under – support 4 suicide farmers families – project. In another 15 days’ time, we plan to set up a small unit of paper envelops to be used by kirana (general / ration) stores, first in villages and gradually as we grow, it will be taken to the cities’ shops as well.

Initially, I am working on teaching them the art of making these envelops and will provide them with papers (magazines’ sheets) and material for glue. Once we are able to get at least five or more widows, who are willing to be part of the small unit, we will start making these envelops. First, we will start from their respective villages and give free 50 / 100 envelops to the shops for trial. And then these envelops will be sold to shopkeepers for a price, there by generating earnings for these widows. While the these women will be earning, indirectly in their own small ways will be saving environment by reducing the use of plastic bags, which is used so extensively in every part of the nation.

Even though, the government knows the ill-effects of all these plastic bags that is affecting the environment, they are simply not bothered at all about it. I still remember, in my school days I used to make paper envelops in my free time with the magazines’ sheets and sell it to earn my pocket money. Truly so, how handy and environment friendly that experience has been for me to utilise it in Vidarbha today. Pray that very soon, we the family of – support 4 suicide farmers families – are able to supply these envelops to all the Mumbai shops and generate awareness among the urban population about the ill-effects of plastic bags.

The journey has just begun with a bright age-old idea that I learned in my school days.

The small project has multiple benefits:

Widows will be able to work in their free time in their respective homes to earn some money (will depend on the number of envelops they make in a month).

Paper envelops are environment friendly and so will help save the environment in a small and steady manner.

The paper envelops will generate awareness to shun plastic bags, which is bad for environment.

Shopkeepers will play a vital role to bridge the gap between the customers and the family of – support 4 suicide farmers families –