The location was not a place where you expect to
learn a life lesson – it was the SILC Center in Pune, at the Learning &
Development Rendezvous, an event of the L&D Global Pune Chapter, on the 8th
of October; on the menu was an eclectic mix of a Power Negotiation Panel
Discussion and a Leadership Masterclass; these are not things that lead to such
esoteric things as Life Lessons – nonetheless, the surprise item floored me,
and touched my heart… The Meeting With
the founder of Snehvan
A SOFTWARE ENGINEER ON A DIFFERENT PATH
What do you do when you are a software engineer?
Especially if you are from village? You go to the rarified environs of a
Software company, and earn money and create a better material future for
yourself and your family; even going abroad in a few cases, perhaps leaving
India for good in some cases. These are
stories you have read ad-nauseum in the news; you have read of the CEOs of
American companies who left India, plastered all over the media, almost daily. Well, above them all, ahead of all us,
stands tall and proud one man I met, or rather, I had the fortune of meeting –
Mr Ashok Deshmane, who happens to be the founder of Snehvan…
INTRODUCING SNEHWAN…
On a routine visit to his village, he saw something
that changed his life… in his own words as reported in Sakal Times, “I visited the village for celebrating
Diwali. The drought situation was at its peak, and many peope didn’t have any
reason for celebration. I visited the places of farmers who commit suicide.
Children of farmers had to leave their education due to extreme poverty. Some
people were leaving villages and going to big cities in search of livelihood.
In that process the children had to quit their education”
Now this is something some of us do note – But do nothing about it. The difference
is that Mr Deshmane, and his friend Anil
Kothe, decided to do something about it. Not meaningless words – and not
just the sporadic donation; they decided to start a project called Snehvan. Again, going back to his
reported words, “We decided to bring home
the children from the families of farmers as well as labourers who were forced
to migrate and children forced to leave education. Kothe has provided a 5-room
house without rent for the project”
Their website – I strongly suggest you visit and
spend some time on it, and introspect – also forcefully makes this point; Scorching heat, lack of rain, drought is
eating up the land and the result, giver of food, health and nutrition are
giving up their lives. Hope against hope has given way to dire desperation.
These are our farmers and their families, who have been plunged into a darkness
and lack the basic needs of life. Nobody extends any respite for the poor
families who are fighting a losing battle against the whim of nature. But what
about their kids? Do they really deserve to be a part of this tragedy? Aren’t
we able to give them a hand of care, love, safety, education and everything
they deserve?
“Snehwan not
just an initiation but a hand of स्नेह, Love and care for these destitute children. Its an oath which
is taken to give a new ray of hope to those kids who belong from poor family or
lost their parents in this drought. These kids are at a risk of being exposed
to many threats and dangers like child labour, child trafficking, sexual abuse,
extreme poverty, physical & mental abuse and homelessness. Its an
initiative for those children who are not getting the light of learning due to
growing turbulence in the surrounding environment. Snehwan endeavours to bring
into the consciousness of the children their hidden potential and seeks deeper
level of social transformation in them.”
“He himself
experienced the hardships as a child, faced due to the poor economic conditions
of family. He knows how it feels to live with the fear of losing his family,
not having food for a day and selling off books for just few meals. He started working night shifts at his
company so that he can dedicate his day time to work for the drought affected
kids. He rescued 20 kids and given them shelter in Pune, but he realised
just rescuing them is not enough. They deserve a better- life of dignity, a
home filled with care and love, along with health, nutrition, education and
vocational training facilities to fulfil their dreams.”
PLACING COMMUNITY ABOVE SELF – LESSON FOR US ALL
There are some people in this world still present,
who place community above self; Mr Ashok Deshmane, who is one such, actually
quit his job and has dedicated his entire life to taking care of the education
of the children of farmers who have been hit by tragedy; he is supported
wholeheartedly in this life project by his wife and his parents, and his
friend. I had the great fortune of spending some time with Mr Deshmane, and
intend to visit his place, where he now takes care of 25 children. This
software engineer, who could have had the material world at his feet – decided to
do something about an issue rather than
watch from afar.
CURRENT DREAM
His current dream is to take this project even
further… if you, the reader, are
interested, you can donate – links are present on the site {Disclaimer – I am not connected in any way
to Snehwan, neither have they asked me to advertise, this is done just on the
basis of the deep impression this man’s sacrifice has left on me. I have done
what due diligence is feasible for me as of now, and am giving the results of
my due diligence below, in the Bibliography}
IN CONCLUSION
In conclusion – I can only say here is a man who is
actually contributing to the society in a practical way, sacrificing his time –
or should I say, gifting them his and his family’s time, and is actually
enjoying himself. In the process, he is also gifting back to society, and in a
small way, is helping to make it a better place – especially the farmering
segment, which – as my previous and ongoing series on profitability in
agriculture reveals, needs all the help it can get. Finally, Mr Media, we read
regularly of the people who have left India – how about treating us to such
real stories of people in India who are helping to make India a much better
place? Don’t they deserve much higher Media presence?
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND EXTERNAL LINKS:
Wow ..This is the real social work....There are lot of people who are doing such work without any advertisement...As they don't baad to show them...They are real hero and I salute them
ReplyDeleteAgain, thanks Nidhi... do visit their site; and I will also put up a follow-up article after visiting their place near Pune...
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