Information about the Yathra:
Previously I got the information about the yathra from the article published in EENADU magazine. From that onwards I was following the updates of the Pallesrujana.
Preparations made for the Yathra:
From the experience of Previous Yathra, this time I planned to participate actively and also I purchased goodies for children in the school. While making these preparations I learnt a lesson from the Brigadier Ganesham Sir. Actually I made a small book with help of printouts. It consists of the persons who gave the meaning to their life, like Kalam,Gandhi,Vivekanada, Shivaji..etc. I thought that children will read it and they will get motivated. I showed this to Brigadier Sir. Then, he asked me a question. All these great people got motivated by studying this kind of books?. Then, I said No. He explained to me, Motivation didn’t occur by studying this kind of books, Surroundings will creates the motivation and also children at their small age can’t understand it, they will understand everything along with the age. Brigadier sir explained about the difference among the Donation, Charity and volunteerism. He told to me, you have done good job. But, it is up to your satisfaction only that you gave something to someone. You never thought about the children, whether it will be useful or not?. We don’t have to do the things for the sake of ourselves. We have to do volunteerism, where we have to do things by the perspective of others and we shouldn’t expect anything from the others for our work. Then, I realized and didn’t give those small books to the children. So, for me yathra started with a great lesson from Brigadier sir.
Reason for Participation:
I participated in this yathra with two main objectives. Among them one is, I had a very good experience of Chinna Shodha Yathra 6 held in Adilabad District. Positive changes occurred within me. My way of thinking and attitude changed. I got relationships with unique people of various fields. So, to experience the same things again I participated in Chinna Shodha Yathra 7. The other reason is, to get rid of my friend sorrow feelings by showing him a new environment, situations and explaining the objectives of the yathra as well as pallesrujana. When I was planning to come for this yathra, my boss didn’t approve my leave. Then, later on is sent a mail to him regarding pallesrujana and its objectives. Then only he approved my leave.
Experience in this Yathra:
I have learnt so many things from this Yathra by interacting with the Co-Yathries and from the great stories of Grass Root innovators narrated by the Brigadier sir. Nature also played a vital role to forget about the daily routine life.
With Yathries:
Coming to Interaction with the Yathries, I have interacted with the people of software industry, students, employees, Designers, persons running organizations, Professional Photographers..etc. So many topics came to discuss among us, they started from Tell me about you, Daily life of yathries to topics on corruption, villages, government and politics. My observations about the Co-Yathries were everybody has awareness about the current situations and they have some ideas to overcome problems. All the yathries were sharing their views and also they had good sense. Especially girls participated in this yathra were amazing. They never felt uncomfortable in any situation; they are co-operative for sharing the works and to express their views. We shared our good and bad in our lives. I have learnt so many things from the yathries, about genetic engineering, solid waste management, life sciences, agricultural technology, ideas to make a entrepreneurs, interior designing, IITIAN’s life, options available after completion of Intermediate, ideas to give the right information for the people searching in internet, how to shoot the videos with handy cam and tripod, how to get rid of sorrows, the way of expressing, how to search a better place..etc. The discussions at the end of everyday were awesome. Mainly I liked the debate about the topic on “villagers need toilets?.”. Everybody expressed their views in smooth manner. Although it was a debate, but nobody dominated with his/her ideas. This was another important unique quality in the yathries with my observation. Everybody gave their hand in the dynamic situations. I thought these qualities came to the yathries by the starting interaction session with the Brigadier sir.
With Brigadier Sir:
The interaction with the brigadier sir started from the railway station. After completion of our introduction, he slowly started about the objectives of this yathra and the pallesrujana. He explained about the principals to be followed in the yathra. Whatever he said, everything has a strong meaning and impact on the yathries. Especially about the four gurus nature, villagers, yathries and me. The way everyone has to behave with the villagers. The quote that impacted me was “Be like an empty pot. Then only u will grasp the knowledge from the villagers, otherwise water will be overflow and u won’t get any knowledge”. He narrated many stories about the grass root innovators, among them story about Mallesam garu with his innovation ASU machine was inspiring. His story will be forever in the history. Brig. Sir knows how to start his interaction with the villagers?. How to deal with the children very well. His initial words will give attention to everybody and gave confidence to the villagers that they won’t spoil us. They were “we are not a government people, priests belongs to missionary and a company”. He will never give up anything in adverse situations also. Every interaction with him was a lesson. In the second day night, we were talking with the MANAPURAM village people around 9 PM in the night. We reached that village by walking 13km. Because of that much distance, so many yathries got tired. But, Brigadier sir continuously talking with the villagers with same energy, interest and his face feelings never shows tiredness. Then I remembered the quote, “If u doesn’t have a passion, there won’t be excellence and the commitments towards work will be gone after some time.” Then I thought, all these things are possible with his passion towards the things what he was doing.
With nature:
Generally, I read in books that “we have to protect the forests. Because, forests will give us fruits, water, wood, medicines and hospitality”. But, I never had seen it before. Of course I didn’t experience it. But, here I saw the things what I read in books. It gave very pleasant atmosphere, hospitality, tasty fruits, and super pure quality water more than RO water. Sounds from the forests are quite interesting. Those seems to be like cycle chain, rupturing sounds..etc. We observed these things because, vehicle horn sounds are very less. I personally suggest the people who are frustrated with their works and the mind is not pleasant. Please go to this kind of greenery places. We thought that “we are having so much facilities and entertainment”. But, that is wrong. They were enjoying very well better than us with the nature with great health, food and hospitality.
With the Villagers:
We had a great opportunity to meet 100 year old person and his wife. First, one of my Co-yathri Akhila informed to me about that person. Then I asked, his wife is also alive?. Fortunately she was also alive. I thought their relation made them to live for more years. Without knowing about us, villagers provided good hospitality. Their words were honest, truthful. They don’t know about jealous, cunning. If we ask them regarding anything, they will tell everything with lot of patience, even if they are carrying loads on their heads. Their smiles are real. They will share everything with us. Really they were enjoying a lot in a green atmosphere with great stamina, nutrition food and great hospitality. They were very fortunate.
My Observations in the villages:
By mistake, in my bag TDS meter (to check the purity of water) was present. With this I checked the water sample in villages. As we go on from down to top of the hills water purity was increasing. Almost in every village, they were simply inviting the people to the marriage by painting the wedding card at their compound wall. We had a great opportunity to visit the cashu nut making place. We knew the entire process of making. In every village, school was located in a place surrounded by fewer homes to ensure pleasant atmosphere in school.
Experience in the return journey:
I heard in my childhood that “If we do the good things, it will give impact to us in a good way later”. But, in my experience it occurred very quickly after completion of Chinna Shodha Yathra 7. Everyone departed from Srikakulam district before 8 PM. But, my train schedule time was 11:30 PM. So, I decided to sleep for some time by keeping 3 consecutive alarms in my mobile. Then I slept. After some time, I wake up unexpectedly and saw the time in mobile. Already three alarms gone and also the time was 11:55PM. With small hope I went to the platform quickly. My fortune works for me to reach my home in the scheduled time. Again, Brigadier sir words came to my mind. “We have to do anything by volunteerism without expecting anything from the things we are doing. If good happens, we will be happy. If nothing happens, no need to care about it.”. In my case good happened, so I am happy.
Finally I completed Chinna Shodha chinnasodhyatra-7-impre-yaminiYathra by learning new things and new relations |
