why do I skip a meal

they ate food sumptuous,
we skipped our dinner today;
they filled their bellies,
we filled our hearts;
they with stomach filled taste,
we with pain felt night long;

this thoughtless urge to eat
every day and every night,
when the same repeats itself
again and again, again and again!

we instead chose to find meaning
in feeling the pain of uneducation,
that children unaccounted go through,
with our token hunger-striken night!

people have questioned the logic
of skipping a meal,
instead of just donating,
"why torture yourself thus?".

it is indeed that,
if one has only oneself to care;
but it is never that,
when we grow enough to share!

the pain and sorrow
of a million dying aspirations,
of unknown possibilities -
unaware dreams of undecided hopes!

if this we come to feel,
can we ever be how
we have been earlier,
when we didn't know?

- 15th July 2017 nayan

--------------------------------------------
note: I skip a meal every Wednesday night, and support the education of the rural underprivileged children through the wonderful schools of IshaVidhya

links: https://ishavidhya.org/donate-now/skip-a-meal.html

youtube: https://youtu.be/5qrV7-yxyCA

Why Support Isha Vidhya?

http://www.ishavidhya.org/rural-education-in-india.html

That the shine in their eyes bright,

must not go waste!

Inquisitive and fearless - these angels are our future,

and that’s why we must haste!

Holistic education, that enhances

their boundaries of perception;

Beyond literacy and skills, rudimentary,

that, into their full potential, they blossom and flower!

To bring rural India out from their poverty,

education of quality, to nurture and inspire,

is the only thing we can offer,

to make it happen!

When options, there seems many,

and why Isha Vidhya - remains, if the question,

and why I sold my car to support them –

then, the lines below shall have you convinced,…

Bilingual audio-visuals, storybooks and flashcards,

Math lab, learning aids for every subject and per class,

Creativity corner, poetry and story corners,

Wish list, promise list and speed read lists,…

Birthday calendars and activity heads in each class,

Honesty shop, library and the subject labs,

Reminder smiley badges for English speaking,

Clubs - ecological and environmental, IT, science, and many more,…

Football, volleyball, hockey, cricket, khokho, javelin, and more,

And primary students have fun in the Jungle gym,

Yoga and group activities on a daily basis,

Caring, loving teachers and coordinators as well,…

I have been touched by the happiness

of the children who come to these schools,

and the clarity in their thoughts in communicating,

that Isha Vidhya has been the moment of change in their lives!

There can be no doubt once you see for yourself!

The education quality being offered, that is

far far better than the schools I studied in –

And that is why I run for Isha Vidhya!!!

Join me my friend, who reads these lines from my heart,

and lend me your trust, and Isha Vidhya your support -

Spread the word, donate in cash or kind, visit or volunteer,

and offer this gift to more and more children!

- Nayan,

(while relishing the pain from the half marathon run today, and pondering how to get more support for Isha Vidhya…)

28^th Aug 2016, 6 pm

Hyderabad, India

My friend! Whomever you may be – I call upon you!

Please join me with some contribution, whatever is possible from your end. It may be as little as INR 100, or in some kind.  Even a drop of water is valuable in a world thirsty of education.

Read my full blog about Isha Vidhya.

I'm running an online campaign at http://bit.ly/makeAlife-ishavidhya
You can support through a donation, as per your choice.

You can also spread the word, if you feel convinced with what I have written after my personal experience. You can volunteer as well, if you wish.

Or, you can connect with me over Facebook, Twitter or Google+ to know more.