'In the morning a distressed family
of the alcoholic brings him to Muktangan
and admits him to the center while saying ‘Don’t bother to inform us even if
dies in due course…’ By the evening I get a phone call from his mother. She
asks… ‘Has he eaten yet?’ I ask ‘How come you need to know it, you said there
is no need to inform you even if he dies…?’ ‘This is the first time he is
staying in an unfamiliar place, thought he might not be comfortable, that’s why…!’
says the empathetic voice!
Anil Awachat, popularly and
fondly known as ‘Baba’ in his close circle (which encompasses almost the entire
humanity), was sharing his experience at the inauguration of the 10th season of ‘Dene
Samajache’, देणे समाजाचे (I owe it to society), an incredible and outstanding effort by Late
Dilip Gokhale and his wife Veena Gokhale of Artistry, Pune.
‘Initiated
in the year of 2005, this innovative initiative of providing a platform to all
the Non Government Social Organization working for Community Development at grassroots
level, to showcase their work, interact with and seek appreciation and support
of the society at large. The exhibition organized by Dene Samajache (देणे समाजाचे) at
absolutely zero expenses for the participating organizations and any such
organization gets this opportunity only twice. The funds required to organize
this event were also raised from the society and 90 NGOs have put this opportunity
to the best use till date since its inception…’ said Veena Gokhale, the
incredible lady who takes this selfless cause ahead after the sad demise of her
husband and founder of this altruistic concept.
The website of Artistry was inaugurated at the hands
of Anil Awachat and a short film on the concept and its journey so far was also
screened at the occasion. Audience was surely moved with the modest yet
insightful presentation of the cause by Veena Gokhale and the intriguing dialogue
Baba had with the audience in his usual unpretentious style. However it seemed
that the audience for his small talk should have been little different as major
part of the audience was like-minded and already showing their concerns in
their own way for the disparity and unbalanced society he was talking about.
The generation and the class that is either unaware or indifferent about these
aspects of the modern society should be addressed and brought face-to-face with
the facts that it conveniently overlooks.
The exhibition is open for 3 days
from today for public free of charge at Harshal
Garden Pune and the least every sensitive and sensible member of society
can do is visit it to learn about the inconceivable efforts these organizations
are taking for community development in general and for the well-being of underprivileged
class of society, in particular!
If you are in Pune, go… have a look and contribute whatever you can;
you will feel little better yourself, believe me!
Participating NGOs
Education Sector
Shree
Yoganand Foundation (020-24227792)
Women Empowerment Sector
Bhagini Nivedita Pratishthan Pune
(020-24459734)
Sahsamwedana Maitree Gat (9657272743)
Swayamsiddha Sewa (9881669053)
Rural Development / Organic
Farming
www.lokpanchayat.org
For Disabled / Deprived Members
Kshitij Foundation, Akola (9850322678)
Maitri Charitable Trust
9820281329/9820110371
