I have been called a maniac many a times because sometimes when I speak, people would be like, ‘Kya bolna chahte ho bhai?’ I have had difficulties making people understand my view points quite often. Not that I could not communicate my thoughts but mostly because the person in front of me would easily mark me a maniac listening to what I had to say; quite literally. I thank  SBI Youth for India for giving me a platform where my voice was heard. Well, the setbacks haven’t stopped me from doing what I truly love. My love for people has always exceeded the melancholy of negativity which has surrounded the human race for so long now.

Well, it has been a while since I wrote on this blog, but I have been occupied a lot over the past month. Not only have I been enjoying; travelling to Bodh Gaya, a 3 day extended trip to Ahmadabad, a journey in a crowded passenger train, meeting a 94 year old man who has been running a school all alone without money, a 29 year old storyteller who changed my perspective towards life, a talk at Reserve Bank of India, and the stories my children create in a small village of Haripur Krishna, I have also been learning important life lessons.

Well, I am about to start something more wacky; something which will push me to the limits, even more. Not that SBI Youth for India has given the fellows less on the plate to push them to the boundaries; another addition will add on to the fun.

Over the past one month, I have been working on a storytelling project with the children. We have been telling our stories through different media; drawings, writings, abstract paintings, puppetry and so on. Now, we want to take it a notch above.

Before starting to work in this school at Haripur Krishna, I was told that most of the students haven’t even touched a computer in their lives. It is then I had decided to try and establish a mini computer lab in the school. The next thing which was in my mind is to teach students Life Skills through storytelling. The activities we do through storytelling not only sow the seeds of creativity in these young learners but also show them a world where imaginations are not discarded but celebrated.

In February, we had launched one magazine by the name of ‘Palak’. The origin of the name also has a very interesting story behind it. When Mr. Kumar Shaw (a storyteller who visited us) and I were discussing to give a name to our storytelling team for a group activity, we asked the children to suggest names for it. Some names that came up were ‘Ready’, ‘Khiladi’ and so on. Generally silent Khushi spoke this time and said, ‘Palak’. We liked the name then and there. I was really mesmerized by a class 5 student giving a beautiful name such as this. And, not only did she give the name; she touched her eyelids, gave a beautiful smile and said, ‘Palak’. It was a moment to remember for a lifetime.

Well, these are just a few of the stories that I have in my mind right now. There are more at the back of it. 🙂

We have recently launched a campaign to arrange for funds to create a little difference in the lives of these amazing children. I am glad to say that we have received your love and unconditional support till now. We have been able to arrange 20000 INR in a matter of 2 days with over 1000 views on the video shared on Facebook.

Please support us in this endeavour of ours to bring happiness in the lives of these children. In our madness of creating beautiful stories.

Go on the link to see our work and support us: Palak – ‘A Story’ in making for the children in rural Bihar

See the video of our work at:  Palak – Breaking the monotony of Cynicism

PS: I will make up for my absence by doing something more crazy. Watch this space for more! 🙂