Ready to Leave

I'm still in Kolkata and feeling guilty about being away from the project. But I'd rather finish what I came here for than have to come back every now and then. This time when I get back to the project I hope to stay put for a couple of months at least before I even consider a break. At least, that's my plan. But as we all know, things don't always work out as planned.

The news from the project is good. The whitewashing work is over and the iron windows in the "staff building" are being painted. Hopefully, by today or tomorrow, it will all be finished. According to Bansi "sab thik hai". Those words worry me because in the past whenever people on the project had informed me that "all is well", I've had to go back and clean up a lot of mess!

School is going ok with Bansi and Nilambar following the routine I chalked out for them. Class 4 kids are busy finishing the assignments I had given them. But yes, they could do with some actual teaching. I can't wait to go back and make it up to them.

I'm glad I've given up the flat in Kolkata's Santoshpur. I feel relieved, in fact. It's great to be in Mitali's place. Don't have to worry about food or getting my clothes washed. And what's more important is that I am not wasting money on a flat that I rarely use!

Mitali's address was being used for Dakshinayan anyway. Yesterday we got the parcels that Yvonne sent for the school. I haven't opened them as yet as they are so neatly packed that I don't want to tamper with them. But I am curious to see what's in them anyway. There are four parcels in all.

Graham, a volunteer, is expected on the project on the 25th. That's great because we will have an English teacher. I am quite looking forward to his presence. Hope he'll like the project.

That's all for the moment. Hope my next post will be from the project.

Still in Kolkata

As the title suggests, I am still in Kolkata. Hopefully, I will be able to go back to the project by the end of next week. There's still a bit of work left here and perhaps we'll be able to wrap it all up by next weekend.

Today, of course, I am busy with the "move". I've packed most of my stuff and at the moment waiting for the electrician to show up to "unplug" my electrical fittings -- fans, switch-boxes, etc. Then I need to go out and find a mini-truck that will be willing to transport all this to Mitali's home. It will certainly crowd up her place!

I've been in touch with the project every day. I usually call at the crack of dawn to ensure that everyone wakes up on time and also give instructions for the day. According to Bansi all goes well at the project. The school is doing ok and actually, now that construction work has come to a stand-still, there's little else to do. Even the garbage pit has been dug up. Only some whitewashing and painting work is left. I got news that Balai will start work on that today.

Poor Balai, he's desperate to get married. People in his village have been egging him on. He got his house repaired, then he dug up a well so that his wife would not have to go to the pond to have a wash. And just when he was all set, his prospective father-in-law came to him. Unfortunately, he entered the wrong house by mistake and guess what? He decided to get his daughter married off to the son of the house owner!!! Poor Balai. He's terribly disappointed. Naturally. But above all, is convinced that he is not getting married because he hasn't finished work at the ashram! So now he has decided to come and finish the work at the ashram, seek Baba's blessings and then go and get married. Hmmmm.....

Today is Valentine's Day. I never liked the idea of earmarking one day in the year to show "love". But this year, because the "self-appointed moral police", I have decided to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day.

Sunday in Kolkata

For once I am glad for Sunday. The past week has been hectic and tense. Sometimes up and sometimes down. I'm glad to be able to just lol around and watch tv. Fill my stomach with junk food. Perhaps listen to some music and be online.

I just got off the phone. I was talking to Bansi. He says construction work is over. Some labourers are digging a pit in the eastern corner. This is going to be the garbage pit. Yesterday, the children dung plastered the classroom floors. Great. The place must be looking nice and clean and well-kept. So when am I going back? I still don't know. Soon I hope.

Dakshinayan's website needs revamping. So I called Tejpal this morning to enquire if he can find the time to do something. He has promised to find time. But I know he's too busy. I do hope he'll find a solution to this problem.

Tak's Birthday

I had posted this entry at the rediffiland site. But many people complained that they couldn't open the site. So I'm now back to good old blogspot. I also felt that it would be a good idea to post re-post this particular entry here. I was first published on 1st February.

I wished to start posting the entries here from the 1st of February. But yesterday was Tak's birthday and after the bonfire and birthday party, I was too tired to switch on the laptop write about it.
It was a Sunday. So there was no teaching to do. But still it was quite hectic for everyone. The girls did a lot of washing. Bansi and Nilambar went to get the windows welded. There was toilet cleaning, etc. etc. Everyone was busy. But in the evening, Bhola came with the cake, chips and pepsi cola and we gave Tak a surprise. I think she was expecting something of this sort because we had celebrated Bansi's birthday in a similar fashion. I think the cat was out of the bag when I mentioned that we'd have a bonfire. And even though I called it the farewell bonfire for Renee and Karoline, I'm sure Tak guessed that the "birthday party" was in the offing.
It went off as usual. The bonfire was lit by Bansi and Suman. Tak cut the cake. We ate some. Drank some cola. Sat around the bonfire. The girls talked amongst themselves. The men kept quiet. Then it was time for dinner. I decided to skip dinner. So did Renee, who was not feeling too well. She had been out in the sun for a long time and we suspect she had sun stroke.
In fact she was quite ill this morning. I felt a bit bad about letting her travel to Kolkata like this. But it made sense that she should go to Kolkata instead of staying here. Not that she wanted to. Her travel plans were made and Kaz and she were scheduled to leave anyway. In Kolkat, if need be, she can see a doctor. Here that would not be possible.
Dani and Tak are left on the project. They are leaving for Kolkata tomorrow. I will leave with them too. I'll probably catch the bus at Poreya Haat as I have to make labour payment, etc. before I leave. Besides, they will be busy with police work. I don't want to be hanging around in Godda for three hours. I hate going there.
Nilambar taught for the first time in this school. He attended my class in the morning to see how I teach and then he was on his own. I'll have to work out a routine again. There will be no volunteers. So it will be up to me, Bansi and Nilambar to teach five classes. I'm sure it can be done.
The plastering of the wall is almost complete. A few more hours of work and it will be all over. Tomorrow they will fix the welded windows in staff quarters. And then we will call Balai to whitewash the rooms and some portions of the boundary wall. I want to give construction work a break -- mostly because we have run out of funds.
Bansi has gone home for the night. He'll be back tomorrow morning. He'll have breakfast here.

Change of Scene but No Change!

This post comes to you from Kolkata. I'm here on personal business this time. But that does not mean I'm not doing Dakshinayan's work. I'm going to use this opportunity to get in touch with all those who have been supporting our work to see if they wish to continue supporting us, write a monthly newsletter, etc. etc.

I spoke to Rahul yesterday and he's very surprised that the solar panels haven't arrived. I hope he will be able to speed up the process and I will be able to take them back to the project with me when I return. When do I get to go back? I don't know. As soon as I can, I guess....

Things are fine on the project. The volunteers have left. Bansi and Nilambar are taking care of classes Nursery, One, Two and Three. I've given class Four kids a lot of work to do and so they will be busy till I get back. Construction work is over. So there's no pressure on those who are there. The project will keep ticking till I get back. I'd love to be back as soon as possible because this is the best season to be out there. The Palas will start blooming soon. Oh what a wonderful sight that's going to be.

I've been so busy with meetings since I came here that I haven't been able to visit Renee who's at Woodlands Nursing Home ever since she arrived in Kolkata. She was ill with a bad stomach on the day she was to leave. The situation got worse when she arrived in Kolkata and so she decided to check into a nursing home instead of a hotel. Wise decision. I just spoke to her and she said nothing was seriously wrong. She was dehydrated and of course had diarrhoea. She's fine and will probably be out of hospital in a couple of days. Karoline is with her. So they are both fine. I'm relieved.

I met Danielle and Katherine for a quick lunch yesterday. They were their usual bubbly self. It was nice meeting them and I hope they will enjoy their travels. They left for Varanasi yesterday.

Well, that's all the news I have to offer at the moment. It's time to get ready and go for yet another meeting. Suman's not here to serve breakfast so I guess I'll just pick something up on the way.

And for those who have been following the blog, I have decided to keep writing here. The other website seems to have some glitches. Some people have written in saying that the site does not open! That's sad. I'm glad I didn't write much there. So visit this place whenever you find the time. And please do write in once in a while so that I know I'm not talking to empty space!