Full Circle
It was 2011. We had just successfully conducted years of adolescent girls program through 891 anganwadi centers in three hill districts of Uttarakhand. I had signed up to conduct my first Silence retreat for others at Sadhana Mandir ashram by the Ganges. The opening session was to be at 5pm. That afternoon, received a frantic … Full Circle
Mother Teacher’s place
A few years back, we were made Regional Trainers for adolescent health for the north-eastern states of India. As part of that, the first training was organised at Guwahati, Assam. With the place intimately connected with Swamiji’s experience with his Mother Teacher, we made way to the Kamakhya temple where he met her. This is … Mother Teacher’s place
Digression
Does one flow with the trend or does one follow one’s conscience mandate? What happens when one encounters the gap between one’s Knowing and Being. One such incident happened yesterday. The ushering of the New Year/spring festival is traditionally done in the hills with young girls laying flowers at the doorsteps of the houses and … Digression
We’ve come of Age !
Nagthath in Khalsi block of Dehradun district is home to Jaunsari tribes who constitute 33% of the population in the State. Since 2004, RDI has made localized efforts in offering its services to the people from this earlier hard to reach tribal population. Many interventions done include clinical services through our post graduate medical students; … We’ve come of Age !
Phooldei festival
Phooldei is celebrated on the first day in the month of Chaitra in mid-March. On this day, young girls conduct most of the ceremonies. In some places it is celebrated throughout the month with the advent of spring. The festival is celebrated both in Kumoun and Garhwal region of Uttrakhand. During this day young girls … Phooldei festival
Friendship
This afternoon, a lady in a beautiful Rajasthani saree, with her head covered, was assisting a man (with white hair) carry things at the construction site in the campus. When she was relatively free, I asked her where she was from and she said, ‘Badaun’ and then asked ‘would you know the place?’. My mind … Friendship
Women’s Day
On this Women’s day, I’d like to share about my predecessor Dr. Aruna Bhargava (in attached photo of 1994). I first met her at Sadhana Mandir ashram in 1992. Swamiji asked her to assign me some work, so was told by her (Ragini was also with her), to arrange the books in the library. My … Women’s Day
Blood in the thumb
As the images of students pursuing medical degrees from Ukraine making their way back to India pore in, one tends to reflect, can adjustments be made in the recently cleared NEP (New Education Policy)? Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam (the world is one family) had been proffessed by our sages long long time back. Can we have that … Blood in the thumb
Reminescenses
March 10, 1994. Dr.Shoba, Dr.Rajeshwari, Eileen and Al (from US) drove from HIHT campus to Veerbhadra temple (ancient Shiva temple), having loaded the car with fruits and flowers. The line of worshippers stretched for more than a kilometer and the temple grounds were crowded with sellers of food and makeshift market with wide variety of … Reminescenses
