Karma Kurry for the mind, body,
heart and soul, By Jeroninio Almeida and Jyoti Nanda, published by JAICO. Contact Authors at: jerrylearns2learn121@gmail.com
This is a very interesting and
timely book and on the efforts of seemingly common people, who were courageous
enough to take the first step. It is a compendium of 26 brief biographical
sketches of people from various walks of life. These people excelled in their
chosen vocation, but decided to go further and contribute to society. They had
the vision and courage to look beyond narrow self-development and work for the
less privileged, poor and or voiceless.
The biographers have done an
excellent job of writing succinct and inspiring accounts of the lives of these
real heroes/heroines. The editors have done an equally commendable job of selecting
the widest possible array of work and level of intervention and background and
context of work. It includes stories ranging from environmental protection to
innovative education to medical intervention and provision of care services;
those who worked at international level to those who made a difference at the
level of a village or town; from celebrities to the least known names. But, the
common thread that ran across all the stories is the sensitive heart that gets
affected by the misery of others, passion to make a difference, struggle to
achieve what one believes in and innovation.
All stories are outstanding and
inspiring in their own way; but those that inspire the most are about the
struggle of disadvantaged people who rose to the challenges life threw at them,
overcame and continued to strive to help others in similar situations. Those
that deserve special mention are the stories of Subhashini Mistry, herself a
poor uneducated widow who struggled hard to raise her family and made good of
her resolve to start a hospital in her hometown; Javed Ahmad Tak, who despite
his 100% Disability, decided to help others and also continued to attempt
improve his own skills; a true story of “Never Say Die” spirit. Lakshamn Singh’s single-handed and gritty
efforts to deal with water scarcity in his village and consequent poverty and
DrChikholalThangsing’s efforts to provide compassion and care to victims of
AIDS; Sailesh Mishra’s untiring endeavors to create awareness and facilities
for the least understood diseases in India that afflict older persons i.e.
Alzheimer’s Disease(dementia) are inspiring.
This book is like a ray of hope in
this atmosphere of overwhelming pessimism. It is certainly curry for mind,
heart and soul. It satiates the hunger for positive examples of human courageand
compassion and instills a sense of confidence in the reader that all is not
lost yet! It evokes the mind to think about the real meaning of human life
which is way beyond running endlessly to fulfill one’s ever increasing desires,
heart to beat for the others especially the disadvantaged and the soul to find
fulfillment.
This is recommended for reading
by all especially children and young adults who need to be encouraged by the
lives of Real Heroes/Heroines who work selflessly for the betterment of other
human beings!
Anupama Datta
Director
Policy Research and Development
HelpAge India
Email: anupama@helpageindia.org
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
