A memorable Diwali morning

Diwali @ Hyderabad has always been memorable for me for different reasons. First time it was more of romantic reason, last time it was the darkest- after calling up 19 people in hyderabad I found no one free for me, ended up the night watching Hannibal 1 & 2. This time I did not give a second thought when Nischal called me up to go to Kukatpally , Rickshaw Puller Colony Govt School to meet the 11 students selected for ILP + Premalayam scholarship program. Manmohan and Narayana were accmpanying us.

It is often said you have to be good listener to be a good speaker. True, but  when you’re sitting with people talking in an unknown language you can do your best if you act as a perfect observer. I always enjoy observing people even when I am sitting with friends in a cock-tail party amidst a heated argument. Whao ! it is fun as well as knowledge gainer. I want to pen down a few things I observed this diwali morning.

1. Speech of the Premalayam lady : She was simply awesome. The way she included all the points in her speech, much appreciated. It is not always about doing good works, how you communicate it out with all details, rules and pre-conditions-- that clearly depicts the whole purpose.

2. The story of the muslim girl : One of the selected candidates was describing her background and why she needs the scholarship. She has been fighting with her parents and relatives who were against her study. But she stands alone, earning money by teaching here and there for her own study. "I want to be a teacher, and when I will have some money I will start organization like you to help poor students like myself"...... That was enough to draw tears from everyone's eyes.

3. Praveen's  anti-journalism : When the above girl was crying one lady from Premalayam (Must be an India TV and AAj-Tak fan) opened her digi-cam to catch the 'breaking news' scene. Praveen, the hard-core realistic as always forbade her from taking snap. Small incident-- But I enjoyed !

4. Narayana's speech : Narayan's speech (followed by Manmohan's speech in english) about ILP and then on communication spiced up the occasion. He started with the glamour touch (USA origin) then filmy style (One day suddenly he called me up.....) and William Adams style body language during the communication speech. Nice !

5. 'What's your name' : It was a small break in between. I was sitting alone in the last bench. Suddenly, the two girls sitting in front of me, turned back to me and asked "What is your name?" Whoaa! I am finding it difficult to admit, but ....no! no! I was not under-estimating them.

LEARNINGs

I want to value the time I spent by writing a blog always by penning down the learnings, rather appropriately 'things for future'

1. A scholarship to worthy people can  really ignite his/her aspiration and notion towards life. This should be next target for 'Maheswar Nath memorial trust'.

2. I was thinking some fund-raising events for the library. But in a place like mine, where people think hundreds of time before spending Rs10, the concept of fund raising event for a non-profit trust have to be very very innovative. 2-3 ideas are clicking.

3. Touch of glamour+ humour+ body language should be there in a good speech.

4. You should take care of the basic needs of the students who are representing your NGO with scholarships.

5. Two breads with a bit of jam can make wonders for some occasions.

6. Of course, how to make good start to a diwali day !!

-Zing