[Preface: This is in reference to continuation
of Operation Pyaas Phase 1, Reference to the blog link http://gladisheart.blogspot.in/2014/05/that-time-that-day.html
]
The
stage was already set and the tempo was sky high after success of Operation
Pyaas Phase 1 held in north and north-east parts of Mumbai. The volunteers were
already charged up with their adrenaline meters overflowing from the maximum. The fatigue level had reached its peak after the first event but still it was
not to be seen on the volunteer’s faces. All that I did was ask if this could
be replicated to Navi Mumbai and out came a unanimous response – “Yes.”
So
was it, Navi Mumbai it was on 31st of May 2014 from 11 am to 2 pm
under SNEH Foundation (www.snehfoundationindia.com).
It was never a scare to gather volunteers now but the biggest question arose
was to gather funds and most importantly the inventory for the event in a place
which was in need of such a kind of event but was short of volunteers from that
place. Again it all felt like a dream ending before it started since we were
nomads in Navi Mumbai and taking packets from where we stayed was nothing different than
suicidal planning of giving up on their chilled state. But again as it is said,
God is not short of angels and he sends one for your help when you need him. So
was the day again when a God sent angel called Clown Pinto (www.clownpinto.com) stepped into picture.
He was physically one single person but in reality of a battalion of 1000 soldiers.
We never looked back after he gave us a YES to join the event. Within few
minutes, we had a car and we had a place where the packets could be delivered
in Navi Mumbai. Things were all going as planned.
Not much did we ask God for but it is said, “Jab Bhagwan deta hai to chappar phaad
ke dete hai…” So was the moment when through one of my friends who worked
with AMUL India, we got in touch with their Mumbai marketing head and he didn’t
take a split second in supporting our noble cause by supplying 300 chaas
packets on account of World Milk Day on 1st June. It was an event
where on the inventory we never needed a penny to be spent. A dream come true
for the event as well as the need. We were all charged up for the day and on 31st
morning at 10.30 we were all set up in Vashi and ready to move. We never had a
plan but we knew whom to target and this time to add flavour to our event, the
AMUL guys were with us. So in 3 cars with 8 volunteers of SNEH and 5 from AMUL,
we all set up in whichever road we could get. The enthusiasm was amazing since
the volunteers never took a split second to approach the targets. This time the
targets were much wider going from cops, watchmen, LPG guys, construction
workers but even the sewage workers, garbage cleaners and for a change even few
elderly people who felt much better with a Sip-of-Relief.
It
was looking like Blitz-Krieg (Attack with Lightening speed) but the attack
consisted of care and respect by offering the people, who deserved a relief, chilled chaas packets. We never took a step back to follow our guide Clown
Pinto by having fun with the people who we were offering the packets as well as
hugging them, talking to them and at times reaching them in the places they
worked. An event it was filled up with fun, enthusiasm and a lot of adventure. At
times it felt like a Navy Drill when our leader Clown Pinto showed us how to
walk on small planks within seconds to offer the packets to people on the
opposite side of the plank who were working. His energy motivated us to the top of
our energy levels and it felt like playing hide and seek at times when we were
finding people working at their place, a place where probably heat was at its
peak with scarcity of light and maybe hygiene but our volunteers never did
think a second before entering such places. The support shown from AMUL guys
was nothing less than awesome and we never knew when we did get exhausted on
the chaas packets in around 3 hours’ time, such was the intensity and action
filled in the event that one could really not define how quickly did 180
minutes went buy.
Simple
as it is, the outcomes were no different from the ones in the first event. Smiles,
tears of joy, hugs, affiliation, care and what not, there were many emotions to
be displayed at the same time in this event. No for been a President of SNEH
Mumbai but been a human, I really say it was my pride to work with these people
who were nothing less than angels. It’s a simple message that SNEH Foundation
and AMUL want to display from this drive. We are humans so are the people who
strive hard for us in the heat. Operation Pyaas is not a 1 day event but it’s a
daily routine for all of us. Just a pouch of chaas or a bottle of water to any
such person on the street gets a smile. If 13 people on the day could bring
smiles to 300 individuals then I really wonder what 1000s who can afford a 5
rupee chaas packet a day can get to Mumbai. Are we looking at a revolution or
are we looking at a change in the thought process of people? Can a Mumbaikar
spare off 2 minutes of his precious time for the city he lives in and get smile
to 1 person in a day? Choice is all yours but this legacy of SNEH would
continue its working, now for Mumbai and in coming future possibly for the
citizens of India wherever its reach would be.
Regards,
Abhijeet Prabhu (Gladi)
President – SNEH Foundation Mumbai
[P.S. – link for photos : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152479392028126.1073741837.646003125&type=1&l=1be73f367d
]
