Asha for Education-Bringing hope through education

I spend this saturday afternoon attending the general body meeting of Asha-New-York chapter.Asha is a group of volunteers who raise money here in the city of New -York by organising various events and then fund education projects in India.

I must admit i was amazed by this dynamic group-Most of them are in their 20's-young professionals working with Lehman Bros,Meryll Lynch,some doing their MS in noted universities ,some are software professionals and some are architects.

This enthusiastic group had met on a saturday afternoon to discuss an education project seeking funding for a school in the slums of Delhi.

I was truly impressed-This young crowd who works off like mad on weekdays could have easily chosen to hang around Manhattan on a beautiful afternoon and Party.

Yet- here they were -thinking about -Children who pick up muck and dirt in the streets of Delhi and thinking what fast track education could do to transform their lives.

These young Indians i would say are true citizens of India(so what if most of them have green cards and speak with a heavy accent).

They fondly remember their country and truly believe and live by the motto -Be the change you want to see!

The two blue lights represent the twin towers.This is the spot where they stood -TALL.
I saw this beautiful yet a very sad view from my living room window on sep 11th 2006.

Growing up in Nainital

I grew up in Nainital and it was loads of fun.My school was St Marys Convent and all my elder cousins were studying there too.Ranu was four years senior,Sita was three years senior and Manu was Two years ahead.
I guess i connected better with Manu because she was just 2 years older and i always felt i could share all my secrets because she would never judge me...So one can say she was my best pal during those growing years in school.
All the cousins would look forward to the Dusshera vacations because all of us would get to stay together in Amar Niwas. We would go on and on till dawn talking about all kind of things- Fashion,Clothes,Haristyles and most importantly Boys!
None of us had boyfriends but offcourse each one had a crush or a guy who was interested.So it was enough to add spice to our lives:))
Evenings were spend loitering around in the Mall Road mostly eating and checking out guys!

As time went by each one passed out of school to college and then got married!I have not had a chnace to meet anyone of them in the past four years.None of them know what my daughter looks like and i remember thier kids only as toddlers. All of them are in school now.

As i look back i can truly say those were the most fun filled and exciting years of my life!

Devanshi with her Gang!

(Pradyun,Jivitesh,Krish,Ashray and Devanhsi)

Love is...

A month back i was tested for skin cancer because of a rash on my skin. The results were to be out in a weeks time.

This was the longest week of my life but not a lonely one! Rajiv was there with me every second during this week telling me-" Nothing will go wrong..have faith...even if its positive i am there ...u dont worry."

I was amazed ...he was so cool and calm! comforting me all through this difficult wait time.
The results were out and it was good news-just a rash because of heat!

But i have to admit, it was like falling in love all over again with this cool dude who has so much of faith even in difficult times. H e is cool ,composed and so collected!
I know with him by my side nothing can ever go wrong!

Manhattan (New-York) view from my living room window.

Brain Drain!

Brain drain was an issue i had heard and dealt with mostly during debates and discussions. Currently i am seeing it happen here in front of my very own eyes!Most of the young Indians i know here in the US just dont wish to go back to India.

They admit-

- learning wise India offers better oppurtunities hence a brighter tomorrow
-Indian companies are offering very competetive salaries
-American culture and way of life is not for them
-American education system is going to make their kids dull
-American food is what they dislike
-The value of dollar is going to depriciate in the near future
-India has it all -fun ,good life and good money
-India is where their heart and soul is

But still most of them are trying all desperate things to keep their visas valid and seeking jobs in companies who can process green cards for them.
Now this is what i call draining away ones life for chasing the American Dream which is just a dream!

St.Josephs College, Nainital

Someone has said-This school was on top of a hill so that God could see everything that went on. It looked like a cross between a prison and a church and it was.Well this church like school and a prison like at times has given Rajiv some very great memories which he cherishes and keeps very close to his heart.

Rajiv spent nine formative years (class 2 -10 ) of his life in this school.This school has left a great impact on his personality.Impressions of little things taught in SJC are clearly visible on his day to day activities .

-Each time he sits down to write some notes he looks for a particular kind of a pen tip and writes in a very neat handwriting underlining headings etc.He then goes on about a particular teacher in SJC who was very particular about handwriting.

-He puts his socks together in the shoes in a very peculiar way....again taught in SJC.

-He never eats too much of watermelon though he loves the fruit.Why?Some guy in SJC threw up after eating too much of that :)

-Each time we sit down to watch a particular game-Cricket,Soccer and Hockey he never fails to mention the sports teacher of SJC.

There are tons of stories about friends ,teachers,dorm,sports and girls:) offcourse from Ramnee!which i have been enjoying .

I am glad there are still many untold ones about SJC which Devanshi will be told soon .

Bageshwar our home town in Uttaranchal

Time flies!

It feels like yesterday i gave birth to Devanshi...but yesterday is now 22 months ago!
Its amazing how time flies and how these tiny angels grow up so quickly.

A month back i used to put her to sleep but now she is the one who says-Mamma sleep!
A few days back i was the decision maker but now she is the one who decides what she wants to eat,what she wants to wear and when she wants to go for a walk!
Till a month back i used to tow her in her stroller but now she tows her doll stroller with Pooh sitting on it.

Each passing day she shows a sign of development , utters a new word .It makes me happy offcourse but i do realise time is flying and i have fewer moments left to enjoy my little ones childhood!
I know time really flies !

Charlotte -North Carolina

Its time to say good bye to Appt 1446 South End Square in Charlotte which has been home to us for a year now. It has been a wonderful stay here in Charlotte and i will carry some very fond memories with me forever . Yes its difficult to say good bye...not only to the people but also the apartment or the space where one has spend some good and bad times.This space naturally has become a part of my day to day life and thus a part of me!

I guess home is where one feels safe ,secure,joyful and positive....it really doesnt matter even if its some other country and i have felt very much at home here in appt 1446 Charlotte-North Carolina.

Joy Ride!

Its been a joy to sit beside Rajiv and watch him drive.

A new ME!


Six years back i passed out of Tata Institute of Social Sciences.I remember the day i graduated....it felt like i could counquer the world,save the environment and solve some if not all social problems.

Six years later i am a mother of a 21 months old baby and i find my self struggling each day with a new Parenting issue-Where to draw a boundry line and say a -No...what kind of environment should Devanshi be exposed to...what eating habits do i want to inculcate in her..etc..etc.

Yes ..its a new ME!!

currently i do not think much about saving environment,urban issues,poverty and education...i have issues to tackle at home.I have realised i have an important role to play-to bring up a balanced ,happy child who will be functional and successful !
I guess if each one is able to do their share by raising kids who turn out to be confident,sensitive and good human beings half the problems in the society are going to be resolved!

Meaning of Devanshi.


A lot of people have asked me-What does Devanshi mean?
Why have u given your little one this long and never heard name?

There are two reasons for choosing this beautiful name

1. We gave her a name starting from the letter D as it is her horoscope letter.

Dev means-God
Anshi means- a part of

So if we combine the two it is Devanshi or Dev ka ansh -Part of God or Divine.

2. We also chose Devanshi as Rajivs horoscope name is Dev.So it would mean- a Part of Rajiv.

A Place to call Home

In the past 14 months in the US we have had an address change several times.Hotel Maroitt has been home for us in Chicago ,for sometime in New York and in Charlotte as well.
River Drive apartment on 31st floor was home in New York for three months.
The address changed to Gateway Village in Charlotte and currently Camden South End appt 1446 is home for us .
To be frank moving around so much doesnt bother me a bit.
I have realised home is where heart is and my heart is with my loved ones- Rajiv and Devanshi .With both of them by my side i am gladly willing to call every new address our home sweet home.

This little Girl of Mine


A tiny turned up nose.
Two cheeks just like a rose.
She's something Heaven has sent.
This little girl of mine.

No one will ever know,Just what her coming has been.
She’s all the world to me.
She climbs upon my knee.
She’s something Heaven has sent,
This little girl of mine.

My Passion for Bags/Purses/Baggets/Johlas....and it continues

Red,Muroon,White,Black,Green,Brown,Grey,Pink,Parrot green...leather,cane,thread,mirror work...
u name it and i own it!
Owning bags started as a passion for fashion but has become more of an obsession with me.Or truly speaking it has been so since the time i was a little girl.My mom tells me as a kid also i hoarded purses!

Its surprising but my little one too loves bags ....she already owns three bags and plays with them for hours !
I am thrilled ...i can finally pass my prized possessions my bags to her.

I am thankful for.....

Exactly a year ago, on 27th April 2005 we set out from India to the Unites States of America!
We were leaving behind a place called home to venture into an unknown land with a 7 month old baby.
But after a year if i look back it will be fair enough to say -Its been like home.This has been made possible by number of forces and i am thankful for them....

-Thanks to the booming software business, not a day goes by without seeing a new Indian face in the city!
-Big cheers for the High speed internet connection-i Catch on first film reviews ,latest in Bollywood,Politics,Cricket minute by minute as they unfold .
-Thanks to the gujju community who are running a good grocery business here-never miss Haldirams,Khakras or chats here!Its all readily available.
-Thanks to the geeks who upload all the latest hindi films,shows like coffee with Karan,Indian Idol episodes online-catch them all.
-Reliance India Call...the connection is fast,clear and cheap...talk to folks back home 3 times in a week.


I guess there are many more things i need to be thankful for which have made our stay in this faraway land feel just like home!
But in the end i would stress on the fact-It feels like Home but definately not home!

Centre For Science and Environment-New Delhi

It was a dream come true when my summer Internship was finalised with CSE.
I spend a month as an Intern and my interest in environmental issues soon became a passion just like other CSEites who breath,eat ,dream and think only environment!
I was among the few lucky ones who got to work with this organisation for nearly three and a half years.
These were years full of adventure,new learning,discovery,passion,hard work and offcourse fun.

CSE and CSEites continue to be a green part of my life and i am greatful for that!

Our Manna from Heaven

A wee bit of heaven drifted from above
A handful of hapiness ,a heart full of joy
The mystery of life so sacred and so sweet
The giver of joy so deep and complete
Precious and Pricelss and so lovable too
The worlds sweetest miracle

Devanhsi...Its you!