An Angel - Shivade kaku

An Angel - Shivade kaku! 

Organ Donation came into our life quite unexpectedly. Alongwith it came some souls whom I never expected existed in today's world.

In January 2017, two of us had attended a Club meeting in an upmarket area of the city. The Organ Donation Presentation was the reason for us and the club members gave us an opportunity at 11:00pm. Our impression of that group obviously was strained. In the group we met an old lady. She was all smiles, with an orthodox saree and simple looks, seeming out of place there.

After a month, the same lady came to meet us at our weekly ReBirth meets. With the same enthusiasm as the earlier meet, she expressed her desire to work for Organ Donation awareness. Until then she had got more than 1000 Eye Donations forms filled.

Every meet of ReBirth after that day we experienced that smiling face, never talking much, only validating everything that was happening in the meet.

In 1st October 2017, we had a wonderful Event, Rangathon, at Amanora. It was intriguing to see Shivade kaku manage to attend this fun Event, 20 km away from her home. She had come there on Bus! The only reason for all the effort was Organ Donation!

As time passed, she started giving Presentations on Organ Donation. Over the next one year she carried on this zeal to such a level that wherever and whenever she found some scope of Presentation, she would directly approach the concerned authorities, fixed the date and time, or gave the Presentation then and there. No inhibitions at all. It was unbelievable to see her give Presentations in Banks, Yoga centres, Government offices, and once even to a Dhol-Lejim group during Ganeshotsav.

She, at 75 years of age, was living alone. When you expect at that age for the children to serve their Parents, she brought her married daughter, who was seriously ill, to her house, looked after her for six months and allowed her to go back only after she completely recovered.

In October 2018, both of us had gone to an IT Company for Presentation of Organ Donation. She had no role to play there. But attended only to support me. 

Someone in that Company asked me whether she was my mother. This was a moment of joy for both of us. Really, in Organ Donation work, she supported me just like a mother!

She then, during ReBirth meets, started sharing about her career as an officer in Irrigation Department. We came to know that inspite of working in a Goverment department she had successfully been honest and uncorrupted for the entire career.

In May 18th, 2019, I got a call at 1:00pm from Indumati, our volunteer. Shivade kaku and Indumati were scheduled to visit a Hospital for Organ Donation activity at 3:00pm. She was concerned about Shivade kaku, who had confirmed about their 3:00pm meet at 12:00noon, but not answering her call at 1:00pm. Within the next hour we got the information of Shivade kaku passing away due to heart attack. It was a rude shock!

In the next couple of hours, Shivade kaku who had practically worked till her last breath, her eyes were donated and then in another couple of hours, her body to a Medical College.

A week before this incidence, kaku had shared that after all her various medical Operations including a heart Operation, she didn't know how or why she still lived. She had then shared that maybe the reason for her life was the awareness of Organ Donation!

People earn a lot of wealth in their lifetime, others earn Name and Fame. But, everyone fails to take along any of these after they expire. After death, it's called a 'body' and not even with their name. 

But Shivade kaku took with her all the wealth of love, empathy, selflessness, discipline and caring. It's a vacuum we can never fill.

An Angel had visited this Earth. We were blessed to experience her. She shared, she laughed, she taught us the way to live life, and she left.

Shivade kaku.... An Angel touching our life!

Fit as a fiddle..... Crisis Management - 1

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem” - Phil Donahue

The first thing that hits the mind when a calamity hits is to escape. Escape from the scene, escape from the place, escape from the world! 

But does it solve the issue? Rather, complicates the challenge. 

What did Japan do after the twin atomic explosion? We have n number of examples in history of great characters who have bounced back after a crisis…. and bounced back big time! 

The first thing we do in a crisis, by default, is to stop taking care of ourselves. The hair is not done, the clothes are not ironed, the whole physical appearance is shabby. 

Internally too there are a lot of changes taking place. The breathing becomes fast, the blood pressure is abnormal, the digestion process is strange, the sleep takes a beating. 

The first step for Crisis Management is to look after ourselves. 

Exercise resolves most of the issues mentioned above. It regularises our breathing, it leads to a strong heart and the digestion process becomes normal. Exercise increases our mental power and makes us emotionally stable. 

Rising early morning, breathing in the fresh air, listening around to the birds chirping has its charm. Exercising gives us the best chance to tackle the hard day. 

Diet is the next thing that takes a beating in times of Crisis. Either stop having food, which is the case in 90% of cases, or they overeat. 

Ensuring to eat normal food at the designated time intervals, like breakfast, lunch and dinner will be sufficient. Avoid extremes like the quantity of food, too spicy, too oily, too much sweet. 

Sufficient Exercise and proper food is the first step towards the solution in any Crisis. 

We are because of our Body, without it, there is no world! 

Crisis Management

Crisis Management 

At various stages of our life, we meet with Crisis. The Crisis may be short-lived or in some cases carries on for years together. 

A baby waking up from sleep and not finding its mother anywhere near is a Crisis for it. 

A teenager when finds the one with whom they dream of living the rest of their life, suddenly deserting, is a moment of Crisis.

A businessman facing Bankruptcy is a Crisis. 

A Tsunami hitting a village is a Crisis.

A Pandemic faced by the world is a Crisis. 

How do we handle Crisis? 

By ignoring it? 

By complaining about it?

By generating sympathy for us? 

Or….

By Managing the Crisis? 

The strength of our Character is reflected in the way we face the Crisis. 

What exactly do we have to do to manage a Crisis?

Could we develop some tools, some Rules, some discipline to Manage a Crisis?

By managing a Crisis, do we ensure of getting over it?

Maybe not. But we give ourselves the best chance to tide over it. 

Just like a Surfer uses the wave to his benefit, could we also, attempt to ride the wave and turn the moment to our advantage. After all, in every crisis lies an opportunity. 

Opportunity to gain experience, knowledge, networking, learn skills, strengthen the relationship, and tread on a path that was never walked by anybody. 

Let’s attempt to define Crisis Management in the following blogs. 

Karma - the only truth

Karma …. the only truth! 

Jaydeep, my soulmate, works for a Corporate. A busy schedule doesn’t allow us to meet often. Hence, once in a blue moon when he calls on weekends to plan a walk together, I readily accept. Sharing our heart out is the hidden agenda. 

On one such occasion, as I walked out of our Society Gate, to join him on the Main Road, a kilometre away, an odd incidence happened. 

Just as I moved outside the Gate, a man riding on a bike passed by and before he realised, his Bike skidded and bang…. he fell flat on the tar road! At 6:00 am, with no one around, I went running towards him. Somehow separated his bike which was lying over him. By that time some more passer-by came to help. This man, with his face lying down was not moving at all. All of us were frightened. One young man succeeded in finding the man’s mobile and gave it to me. 

As I took the mobile, I found that it had blood on it! I gathered enough courage to operate it but it was locked. I tried to press this man’s thumb on the mobile with the hope of unlocking it but failed. Organ Donation awareness Activities had me discussing brain-death Case a lot. Never experienced this live. But before I could come to any conclusions, this man, by god’s grace started moving. 

In minutes, he was sitting, trying to figure out what had happened. He unlocked his mobile and dialled his wife’s number. I took it over and informed his wife about the incident. 

By this time, all the people around were assured that this man would be fine and they dispersed from the site. I remained there waiting for his wife to arrive. This man had heavy tools tucked into his Bike which gave indications of him working in some Construction Site. In the meantime, his wife came running down the road, crying. After her arrival, I remembered about Jaydeep and hurriedly left them. 

I walked down the road, still trying to gather myself from the shock. In about 10 minutes, as I was about to reach the Main Road, I received a second shock! The same man, with the tools, tucked into his Bike, crossed me and went away for his work! 

Some minutes ago, it was not sure whether the man lived or ….., the same man, instead of going home and resting, rode to his workplace! 

The pressure of running a family is so huge that even the question of life and death didn't refrain him from doing his work. 

While some of us, for the slightest of reasons, take a holiday. 

We go through the whole of Mahabharata to hear the most important message of Karma from Krishna…… while for some, hunger ensures that they follow the Rule of Karma, with or without their Will. 

Second Innings

In Cricket, Test Matches are played in two innings. 

Football and Hockey are played in two Halfs.

Individual games like Badminton, Tennis are played in best of three or Five games/ Sets. 

What is the difference between the First and the Second Innings? 

In the First Innings, we are fresh, our strategies are not known to the opponents, though nervous initially, we tend to be courageous, we are open to new ideas. 

But, we are not knowing the field conditions, the opposition strategies, the synchronisation of the teammates amongst themselves takes time.

While in the Second Innings, we now have experience with us...... experience of the playing conditions, our teammates, the game of the opposition, et all.

The initial nervousness is now replaced by tiredness, if we are lagging behind in the game then maybe Self doubts. 

But then what does the Second Innings implify? 

The Second Innings gives me a chance to regroup, to re-strategise, to rectify the mistakes from the First Innings. It gives me a Second chance to Win!

More than 5 months of Lockdown has literally halted the smooth flow of our life. It’s going to take a huge effort to restart everything like earlier. 

But.... 

It’s the Second Innings which has given me one more chance to Win! 

Let me regroup, restrategise, rectify. 

Let me dig deep into my energy levels. 

Experience of the First Innings will help me to play a different game. 

There will once again be a clean slate to write upon.

The Second Innings will be my chance to surge ahead in life. 

Of course I will play to win!

But, 

This game will no more be of gathering wealth and achievements.

It’s no more about winning and losing. 

More than anything else......

My Second Innings will be for Peace and Happiness! 

Courage

Courage is not absence of fear, 

Courage is inspite of fear. 

Courage is not violence,

Courage is absolute Peace within. 

Stepping out and hitting a six is bravery,

Courage is staying at the wicket in unfavourable conditions. 

A road accident may instigate us to have a squabble, 

Courage is to ensure that the other person is safe and if needed admit him into Hospital.

Swantantrya Veer Sawarkar in Jail for 27 years, yet keeping the spirit of freedom for his Country alive is Courage.

Shivaji Maharaj plotting to escape in Agra when his death is inevitable from the enemy, is Courage. 

Amitabh Bacchan facing the situation inspite of going Bankrupt at the age of 57, is Courage. 

Pulling out swords to fight is an act of bravery but not Courage. 

Courage is depth of Character. 

Courage is Responsibility.

Courage is absence of Ego.

Courage is selfless love for our dear ones. 

Courage is Sacrifice. 

Courage is Persistence, Consistency, following your path to destiny inspite of hurdles. 

Courage is being stable in Crisis. 

Courage is being a Pillar of support inspite of being shattered within. 

Let’s be Courageous! 

Small Victories

Crisis brings forth many emotions.... fear, frustration, irritation, anger, depression, nervousness... all together.

How to come out of it? 

The Pandemic has hit the world big time. So far there doesn’t seem to be a solution for it. 

For me, last some weeks have been a revelation. People knowingly or unknowingly have been doing some interesting activities. 

A friend, a Furniture shop owner, has been busy in his Kitchen preparing different recipes for his family. 

Another, who never liked exercising, is skipping consistently and has already reached his first goal of 1000 skips at a stretch. His next goal being 2000 skips. 

While yet another friend, who until now behaved like a kid himself, has been adoring his new-born baby and helping his wife take care of it day and night. 

The question is, will these activities help them tide over the crisis? 

Will the clouds of despair be cleared by these small acts?

Maybe not. 

But, when I do an activity consistently and succeed in it, I feel good about myself. It gives me a self confidence which can’t be matched by listening to a Guru or praying to the almighty. Amidst the desert of unsurety, sadness, loneliness, this small success acts as an oasis of hope. It makes me feel good about myself. If I repeat a number of such small victories in different phases of my day to day life it will act as the fuel for doing further positive acts in my field of Profession. 

After all, a farmer, not knowing whether it will be a good season or will he be affected by a famine or floods, keeps on tilling his land and keep the seeds ready to sow. He knows only one thing, 

‘Let me do my Best,

He will take care of the rest’.

Let’s involve ourselves into meaningful activities and enjoy the small victories. We cannot escape the big challenge but these small victories will give us confidence to achieve similar small victories in our Profession too, which when added over a period will result into the ultimate victory. 

The Pandemic is temporary but our will power is permanent. Let’s Rock!