flashing before me is a continuous flow of images young and old ailing crawling
of images young and old ailing crawling
of images young and old ailing crawling blind sick all hopelessly needing whose
blind sick all hopelessly needing whose
blind sick all hopelessly needing whose lives have touched me so here I am with
lives have touched me so here I am with
lives have touched me so here I am with the stories of Suresh and basappa Martin
the stories of Suresh and basappa Martin
the stories of Suresh and basappa Martin and Stella and my own story how I chose
and Stella and my own story how I chose
and Stella and my own story how I chose the less-traveled path that changed my
the less-traveled path that changed my
the less-traveled path that changed my life early in childhood my parents gave
life early in childhood my parents gave
life early in childhood my parents gave me a mantra touch a life every day I
me a mantra touch a life every day I
me a mantra touch a life every day I grew up watching my parents living a
grew up watching my parents living a
grew up watching my parents living a simple life full of compassion and care
simple life full of compassion and care
simple life full of compassion and care I remember much before the concept of
I remember much before the concept of
I remember much before the concept of CSR my father had taught me the
CSR my father had taught me the
CSR my father had taught me the importance of ISR that is individual
importance of ISR that is individual
importance of ISR that is individual social responsibility how much as an
social responsibility how much as an
social responsibility how much as an individual I go to the community when we
individual I go to the community when we
individual I go to the community when we came to Chandigarh in 1960 I was young
came to Chandigarh in 1960 I was young
came to Chandigarh in 1960 I was young and very keen to do my bit for the needy
and very keen to do my bit for the needy
and very keen to do my bit for the needy around us very soon my trust with the
around us very soon my trust with the
around us very soon my trust with the pain and suffering of others came up in
pain and suffering of others came up in
pain and suffering of others came up in a most unexpected way one evening I went
a most unexpected way one evening I went
a most unexpected way one evening I went to the market it was already dark and as
to the market it was already dark and as
to the market it was already dark and as I came out of my car I stepped on a
I came out of my car I stepped on a
I came out of my car I stepped on a small dirty heap of regs a pathetic
small dirty heap of regs a pathetic
small dirty heap of regs a pathetic great cry came out and to my horror I
great cry came out and to my horror I
great cry came out and to my horror I saw a leprosy stricken man in the rag he
saw a leprosy stricken man in the rag he
saw a leprosy stricken man in the rag he in place of his nose there were just two
in place of his nose there were just two
in place of his nose there were just two holes mutilated limbs and Lee
holes mutilated limbs and Lee
holes mutilated limbs and Lee he wounds the man was in great agony I
he wounds the man was in great agony I
he wounds the man was in great agony I closed my eyes and wanted to run away
closed my eyes and wanted to run away
closed my eyes and wanted to run away but better sense prevailed and I said
but better sense prevailed and I said
but better sense prevailed and I said Baba pardon me for stepping on you but
Baba pardon me for stepping on you but
Baba pardon me for stepping on you but why are you lying on the road his story
why are you lying on the road his story
why are you lying on the road his story was heartbreaking they were hundreds of
was heartbreaking they were hundreds of
was heartbreaking they were hundreds of them men women children all badly
them men women children all badly
them men women children all badly infected with leprosy no home no food no
infected with leprosy no home no food no
infected with leprosy no home no food no medication begging during the day and
medication begging during the day and
medication begging during the day and spending the nights on the roadsides
spending the nights on the roadsides
spending the nights on the roadsides under the trees on footpaths in Sun in
under the trees on footpaths in Sun in
under the trees on footpaths in Sun in rain in cold badly jolted by the cruel
rain in cold badly jolted by the cruel
rain in cold badly jolted by the cruel reality I rushed home and shared the
reality I rushed home and shared the
reality I rushed home and shared the whole incidents with my husband next
whole incidents with my husband next
whole incidents with my husband next morning we had an urgent meeting of our
morning we had an urgent meeting of our
morning we had an urgent meeting of our rotary club planning and action started
rotary club planning and action started
rotary club planning and action started almost immediately four years it
almost immediately four years it
almost immediately four years it remained my top priority and now they
remained my top priority and now they
remained my top priority and now they all are totally disease-free
all are totally disease-free
all are totally disease-free self-dependent their children going to
self-dependent their children going to
self-dependent their children going to regular schools and their residential
regular schools and their residential
regular schools and their residential colony a place of pride in chandigarh
colony a place of pride in chandigarh
colony a place of pride in chandigarh God had kept my eyes and heart open in
God had kept my eyes and heart open in
God had kept my eyes and heart open in that chance encounter with one man
that chance encounter with one man
that chance encounter with one man basappa that changed the lives of so
basappa that changed the lives of so
basappa that changed the lives of so many families forever and transformed my
many families forever and transformed my
many families forever and transformed my own life some years back sister Jaya
own life some years back sister Jaya
own life some years back sister Jaya from Mother Teresa’s gonna wander knees
from Mother Teresa’s gonna wander knees
from Mother Teresa’s gonna wander knees seeking help for heart surgery of a
seeking help for heart surgery of a
seeking help for heart surgery of a small boy we started raising funds
small boy we started raising funds
small boy we started raising funds immediately but by the time he had the
immediately but by the time he had the
immediately but by the time he had the money the boys Suresh had died this
money the boys Suresh had died this
money the boys Suresh had died this tragedy shook my conscience my husband
tragedy shook my conscience my husband
tragedy shook my conscience my husband and I resolved to promote a free heart
and I resolved to promote a free heart
and I resolved to promote a free heart surgery project for poor children from
surgery project for poor children from
surgery project for poor children from then onwards more than six
then onwards more than six
then onwards more than six hundred free heart surgeries have been
hundred free heart surgeries have been
hundred free heart surgeries have been done under of a rotary heart line
done under of a rotary heart line
done under of a rotary heart line project which include children from
project which include children from
project which include children from India Uganda Pakistan Nepal Afghanistan
India Uganda Pakistan Nepal Afghanistan
India Uganda Pakistan Nepal Afghanistan mullavey Rwanda and Zimbabwe the tragedy
mullavey Rwanda and Zimbabwe the tragedy
mullavey Rwanda and Zimbabwe the tragedy of salacious death proved to be a
of salacious death proved to be a
of salacious death proved to be a harbinger of new lease of life for so
harbinger of new lease of life for so
harbinger of new lease of life for so many children and also a great gesture
many children and also a great gesture
many children and also a great gesture of extending hands of friendship to so
of extending hands of friendship to so
of extending hands of friendship to so many countries friends if you close your
many countries friends if you close your
many countries friends if you close your eyes for a moment how do you feel what
eyes for a moment how do you feel what
eyes for a moment how do you feel what do you see total darkness this is how an
do you see total darkness this is how an
do you see total darkness this is how an elderly lady in Uganda hulu agonda felt
elderly lady in Uganda hulu agonda felt
elderly lady in Uganda hulu agonda felt for 10 long years total darkness during
for 10 long years total darkness during
for 10 long years total darkness during this period several grandchildren were
this period several grandchildren were
this period several grandchildren were born somewhere married but she could not
born somewhere married but she could not
born somewhere married but she could not see them she knew them only by their
see them she knew them only by their
see them she knew them only by their voices then in August 1998 a rotary team
voices then in August 1998 a rotary team
voices then in August 1998 a rotary team of a pelvic surgeons operated upon her
of a pelvic surgeons operated upon her
of a pelvic surgeons operated upon her eyes then her dressing was removed the
eyes then her dressing was removed the
eyes then her dressing was removed the lady went wild with unexpected joy when
lady went wild with unexpected joy when
lady went wild with unexpected joy when she saw several of her grandchildren for
she saw several of her grandchildren for
she saw several of her grandchildren for the first time I was fortunate to a part
the first time I was fortunate to a part
the first time I was fortunate to a part of that first medical mission that went
of that first medical mission that went
of that first medical mission that went up from India to Uganda and operated
up from India to Uganda and operated
up from India to Uganda and operated upon that lady and many many more people
upon that lady and many many more people
upon that lady and many many more people from then onwards a span of 18 long
from then onwards a span of 18 long
from then onwards a span of 18 long years we have served in more than 12
years we have served in more than 12
years we have served in more than 12 countries in Africa and deprived areas
countries in Africa and deprived areas
countries in Africa and deprived areas of India in over 30 medical missions
of India in over 30 medical missions
of India in over 30 medical missions countless lives have been changed lives
countless lives have been changed lives
countless lives have been changed lives are changed and thousands of people can
are changed and thousands of people can
are changed and thousands of people can walk after polio correctives
walk after polio correctives
walk after polio correctives jurys through our medical missions hives
jurys through our medical missions hives
jurys through our medical missions hives are changed when vision is restored to
are changed when vision is restored to
are changed when vision is restored to hundreds and thousands of people after
hundreds and thousands of people after
hundreds and thousands of people after their I person lives are changed when a
their I person lives are changed when a
their I person lives are changed when a new face is given to the most inhuman
new face is given to the most inhuman
new face is given to the most inhuman Rwanda genocide victims and many others
Rwanda genocide victims and many others
Rwanda genocide victims and many others with severe congenital defects as also
with severe congenital defects as also
with severe congenital defects as also fire and acid victims in Africa demons
fire and acid victims in Africa demons
fire and acid victims in Africa demons so much abused and neglected live in
so much abused and neglected live in
so much abused and neglected live in agony and shame with torn genitals or
agony and shame with torn genitals or
agony and shame with torn genitals or uterine tumors sometimes paying 10 15
uterine tumors sometimes paying 10 15
uterine tumors sometimes paying 10 15 kilos in our medical missions miracles
kilos in our medical missions miracles
kilos in our medical missions miracles are performed to restore health and
are performed to restore health and
are performed to restore health and dignity to their lives unlimited smiles
dignity to their lives unlimited smiles
dignity to their lives unlimited smiles are generated when I take toys balloons
are generated when I take toys balloons
are generated when I take toys balloons and chocolates for children in the
and chocolates for children in the
and chocolates for children in the hospital wards a huge reward for such a
hospital wards a huge reward for such a
hospital wards a huge reward for such a small gesture friends some of the great
small gesture friends some of the great
small gesture friends some of the great lessons I have learned are not from any
lessons I have learned are not from any
lessons I have learned are not from any book or in a classroom these lessons are
book or in a classroom these lessons are
book or in a classroom these lessons are from the open book of life lessons of
from the open book of life lessons of
from the open book of life lessons of patience tolerance love gratitude above
patience tolerance love gratitude above
patience tolerance love gratitude above all the lesson to smile and laugh at the
all the lesson to smile and laugh at the
all the lesson to smile and laugh at the big tragedies of life and yet to have
big tragedies of life and yet to have
big tragedies of life and yet to have the courage to say the two important
the courage to say the two important
the courage to say the two important African words Hakuna Matata no problem I
African words Hakuna Matata no problem I
African words Hakuna Matata no problem I learned that under the skin color of
learned that under the skin color of
learned that under the skin color of blood is same in all of us that the
blood is same in all of us that the
blood is same in all of us that the pangs of hunger pain of a sick child
pangs of hunger pain of a sick child
pangs of hunger pain of a sick child tears of a mother have the same sorrow
tears of a mother have the same sorrow
tears of a mother have the same sorrow world over in Ethiopia I was playing
world over in Ethiopia I was playing
world over in Ethiopia I was playing with Martin a toddler patient always
with Martin a toddler patient always
with Martin a toddler patient always happy and giggling in spite of great
happy and giggling in spite of great
happy and giggling in spite of great pain because of multiple surgeries on
pain because of multiple surgeries on
pain because of multiple surgeries on his little
his little
his little a local doctor asked him Martin how do
a local doctor asked him Martin how do
a local doctor asked him Martin how do you communicate with Mad Men since you
you communicate with Mad Men since you
you communicate with Mad Men since you don’t speak English Martin said Oh sir
don’t speak English Martin said Oh sir
don’t speak English Martin said Oh sir that’s no problem ma’am always smiles in
that’s no problem ma’am always smiles in
that’s no problem ma’am always smiles in my language Martin taught me an
my language Martin taught me an
my language Martin taught me an important lesson how without words we
important lesson how without words we
important lesson how without words we can reach out to another human being all
can reach out to another human being all
can reach out to another human being all it requires is a hug a warm smile
it requires is a hug a warm smile
it requires is a hug a warm smile unloving hurt sometimes even a shoulder
unloving hurt sometimes even a shoulder
unloving hurt sometimes even a shoulder to cry on in Rwanda working with us
to cry on in Rwanda working with us
to cry on in Rwanda working with us Stella a nurse laughs very heartily
Stella a nurse laughs very heartily
Stella a nurse laughs very heartily every now and then one day I asked her
every now and then one day I asked her
every now and then one day I asked her how can you love in such gloomy
how can you love in such gloomy
how can you love in such gloomy atmosphere Stella became pensive and
atmosphere Stella became pensive and
atmosphere Stella became pensive and said if I don’t love it out I’ll go
said if I don’t love it out I’ll go
said if I don’t love it out I’ll go insane in the midst of so much pain
insane in the midst of so much pain
insane in the midst of so much pain suffering and death Stella was a living
suffering and death Stella was a living
suffering and death Stella was a living lesson for me how laughter can lighten
lesson for me how laughter can lighten
lesson for me how laughter can lighten tense atmosphere sometimes I ask myself
tense atmosphere sometimes I ask myself
tense atmosphere sometimes I ask myself what do I offer my existence on this
what do I offer my existence on this
what do I offer my existence on this earth what do I owe to my country to my
earth what do I owe to my country to my
earth what do I owe to my country to my family to my subordinates must you and I
family to my subordinates must you and I
family to my subordinates must you and I not ask of ourselves such questions more
not ask of ourselves such questions more
not ask of ourselves such questions more than often for me giving back is based
than often for me giving back is based
than often for me giving back is based on my deep conviction that all i have is
on my deep conviction that all i have is
on my deep conviction that all i have is the result of the generosity of so many
the result of the generosity of so many
the result of the generosity of so many while saying this i wonder is it not our
while saying this i wonder is it not our
while saying this i wonder is it not our ego that we feel it is always the poor
ego that we feel it is always the poor
ego that we feel it is always the poor the less privileged who are in need and
the less privileged who are in need and
the less privileged who are in need and we the effluent and well placed are
we the effluent and well placed are
we the effluent and well placed are helping them I believe no one is an
helping them I believe no one is an
helping them I believe no one is an island we all are
island we all are
island we all are indent in so many ways if one morning my
indent in so many ways if one morning my
indent in so many ways if one morning my cleaning lady doesn’t turn up my
cleaning lady doesn’t turn up my
cleaning lady doesn’t turn up my household comes to a standstill if the
household comes to a standstill if the
household comes to a standstill if the garbage pickers are absent the whole
garbage pickers are absent the whole
garbage pickers are absent the whole neighborhood starts safe stinking if the
neighborhood starts safe stinking if the
neighborhood starts safe stinking if the doctors and nurses are absent people are
doctors and nurses are absent people are
doctors and nurses are absent people are start going I think each of us is a
start going I think each of us is a
start going I think each of us is a giver and a receiver both I know as an
giver and a receiver both I know as an
giver and a receiver both I know as an ordinary housewife I don’t have much
ordinary housewife I don’t have much
ordinary housewife I don’t have much expertise but I also know that as long
expertise but I also know that as long
expertise but I also know that as long as I have something to share to care and
as I have something to share to care and
as I have something to share to care and always be needed and I’ll add value
always be needed and I’ll add value
always be needed and I’ll add value howsoever small to the society and to
howsoever small to the society and to
howsoever small to the society and to myself my young friends I have shared
myself my young friends I have shared
myself my young friends I have shared some of my humble experience here with
some of my humble experience here with
some of my humble experience here with the hope and wish that along with your
the hope and wish that along with your
the hope and wish that along with your academic studies you will also master
academic studies you will also master
academic studies you will also master the technology of being human and being
the technology of being human and being
the technology of being human and being needed and closed with a short parable
needed and closed with a short parable
needed and closed with a short parable there were two angels in heaven named
there were two angels in heaven named
there were two angels in heaven named Asha and there Asha was constantly busy
Asha and there Asha was constantly busy
Asha and there Asha was constantly busy flying between heaven and earth carrying
flying between heaven and earth carrying
flying between heaven and earth carrying heavy load of letters from Earthlings to
heavy load of letters from Earthlings to
heavy load of letters from Earthlings to God with requests for wealth power
God with requests for wealth power
God with requests for wealth power property progeny marriage etc when there
property progeny marriage etc when there
property progeny marriage etc when there was mostly free and relaxed very seldom
was mostly free and relaxed very seldom
was mostly free and relaxed very seldom flying between Earth and heaven because
flying between Earth and heaven because
flying between Earth and heaven because she carried only rare messages of
she carried only rare messages of
she carried only rare messages of gratitude to God saying thank you God
gratitude to God saying thank you God
gratitude to God saying thank you God for giving me the opportunity to do the
for giving me the opportunity to do the
for giving me the opportunity to do the right thing the kind of thing the loving
right thing the kind of thing the loving
right thing the kind of thing the loving thing and make me feel needed my friends
thing and make me feel needed my friends
thing and make me feel needed my friends it’s up to us up to you and me which
it’s up to us up to you and me which
it’s up to us up to you and me which angel do we
angel do we
angel do we they’re to approach thank you for making
they’re to approach thank you for making
they’re to approach thank you for making me a part of 10
me a part of 10
me a part of 10 [Applause]
”
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