Thank you Jaywant Ji

Life is a constant mix of drama and melodrama. We all meet people who pull us down for reasons only known to them and then we also meet people who bring us up for the same reason.

In this course of pulling down and elevating, what I have become is something you all can see; but the point of utter significance here is the people who have helped me elevate. One such person who plays a significant role in my life is Jaywant Ji. His full name is Jaywant Naidu. Professionally he is a musician, a CA, but as a person he is a motivator, a thinker, a doer, a believer, a timekeeper, a friend, a guide.
My first ever rendezvous with Jaywant Ji was at a meeting of a non-profit-organization as a volunteer. There, he had ideas like everyone had, but what was distinct about him was that he knew how important it is to get the work done. And he always had a refined plan in mind that could make things happen.

I have been associated with him for over three years now and each time I only respect him more for the way he brings out the best in people. I can’t think of one single incident alone to thank him. But I sure would take this opportunity to thank him for all the wonderful things he does to make this world a beautiful place. Thank you Jaywant Ji for being ever so kind, jovial, patient, for having the tolerance to ignore things that hurt and move ahead, for practicing more than preaching, for making time for all the people who seek your company…for just being you! Thank you Sir! :)

Thank You Bhairav!

It was a pleasant evening in the early part of the May month of 2013, the place was Howrah Station. I and my sister along with several other students and teachers from Hyderabad were there to attend an International convention on music and culture at the prestigious IIM Kolkata. As we alighted from the train, a group of well guided boys came towards us, confirmed our participation and very promptly helped us with our luggage and route to the bus station where we were to be picked up to reach the destination. We assumed that they were IIM Students, but much later we got to know that they were volunteers from various schools, colleges and even working professionals who chose to work for an organization to help its effective functioning.

One of the volunteers amongst them became my friend for life. He is called Bhairav Shah. A guy who helped people without thinking twice; he ran from pillar to post to get any work done with or without his involvement…all he knew was that the work had to be done and within the time stipulated. I happened to observe him and he was omnipresent during the convention, for once I thought he was possessed. His tireless efforts along with his friends made the program a great success. The extravaganza ended after a week.

Typically a friendship in which we meet each other in person very rarely and stay several thousand kilometers away mellows down and dries up as a “good-to-know-you-are-around” friendship. But what elated my senses was that my friendship with Bhairav was not following the trend.

It was during this summer that my mother was returning to Hyderabad via Howrah after visiting her brother, when she got stranded at the Howrah Junction due to an unconfirmed ticket problem, my cousin accompanied her, but that didn't quiet help. We couldn't help her either, because of the distance. In a situation such as this, all that occurred to me was Bhairav, having known him for just a year…I was too hesitant to ask him to offer help, but with my mother at the needy end…I had to. I called him up and he agreed to help, like he was just there to help me, without any second thoughts, without any sighs, no drama-plain humanity. He worked out things neatly for my mother and she reached home without any worries. Receiving mom at the station and having hugged her and felt her, sent a quick flush of relief throughout me and surprisingly as I reached home Bhairav calls to check if Mom reached.

I have seen friends come and go in my life, but this gesture left a deep impression on my mind. So much kindness, so much selflessness, I am indebted to you Bhairav. I can never thank enough for wht you have done. I still want to thank you! 

Thank You!

Thank you! These are two very powerful words, the value of which we miss out on receiving and giving, more often.
I have heard people who are friends with each other say..."No Thank you, no sorry in friendship"... and I have also seen people reflect bliss on their faces when a genuine "Thank You" is expressed. The world is a mixed bag of people and their theories vary from one another about everything including gratitude. Gratitude, I feel is one of the very crucial things that helps in the well-being of the society. Gratitude encourages people to work more...help more, it motivates individuals to look forward to life, gratitude creates a belief in minds, that things are not as bad as they seem to be!

A week from now "Thanksgiving Day" will be celebrated in the USA. A festival(harvest season) to offer gratitude to the almighty for giving us the food that helps us live healthy. Festivals of similar kind are observed throughout the world, the core concept of which is to offer gratitude to the almighty. Onam, Baisakhi, Akshay Tritiya, Gidi Padwa, Bhogi, Bihu festivals in India, Chuseok in Korea, Tsukimi in Japan, Ikore, Incwala in Africa reflect the same sentiment.

Having shared all this information, I would like to bring you back to the thought that a "Thank you" matters not just to the gods, but to the people and all the beings you co-exist with on this earth.

With this... I want to keep you informed that for the next few weeks I will be sending gratitude to all the people and things that my memory has been able to capture by writing events that make me respect people more,mentioning their names and reflecting my happiness and gratitude towards them. This is a small step towards creating a peaceful world around me. I hope you appreciate this and also emulate this if you like.

Love.Peace.Happiness.Gratitude!

Niru