Wednesday, September 1, 2010

A mother's life saved!

India has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Thousands of women still die every year in our country due to complications related to pregnancy, child birth or abortion. Recently we were able to save a life of a tribal (Jenukuruba) woman due to selfless service of some of our staff and people from the community.

Kuramma, probably around 30 yrs of age, was pregnant for the 6th time! She had consistently refused to go to any hospital for ante-natal care or even allow health workers to examine her. She lived with her drunkard husband and 5 children in one of the most remote colonies of H.D.Kote Taluk called Dammana Katte in Nagarhole Forest area.

On 11th August, Kuramma started bleeding profusely. She probably was in her 8th month of pregnancy. Her husband did not bother to do any thing about it. Seeing her condition, a Muslim woman named Amina who stayed in the same haadi, called the 108 ambulance service. Kuramma’s relatives refused to go with her to the hospital, citing that they had never been to a hospital before. Her husband too refused to go with her! Amina, despite opposition from her own family, convinced them to come along with her and transported Kuramma to the Taluk Hospital.

On seeing the condition of the woman, the doctor at the Taluk General Hospital sent her to Vivekananda Memorial hospital, Saragur in the same ambulance. Amina and the others accompanied her.

When I saw Kuramma for the first time, she had already lost considerable amount of blood. She was papery white and the baby had already died in-utero. She was suffering from 'Abruptio Placentae' - a condition resulting out of untreated hypertension during pregnancy, where the placenta separates prematurely leading to massive blood clot behind the placenta and death of the fetus. Some times the condition also leads to derangement of blood clotting - a condition called Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), which if not treated promptly, is fatal. She urgently needed blood transfusion. Unfortunately, on that day we did not have any compatible blood at our blood storage unit. Hence she had to be sent to Mysore for further management.

Now, Kuramma’s relatives refused to go to Mysore and said that they would take her back home. On seeing the relatives backing out, one of the staff working in our RCH Dept, a young man named Punit, who had unsuccessfully pleaded with Kuramma to access care previously, volunteered to accompany her to Mysore. As his blood group was the same as Kuramma's, he was prepared to donate blood in case it was required.

At Mysore, after certain sophisticated tests, it was proved that Kuramma indeed had DIC. She needed 4-5 units of both packed blood cells and also fresh frozen plasma to save her life. Obviously these were not available at Cheluvamba Hospital. The whole night, Punit ran around, getting all investigations done and arranging for blood and plasma from a private hospital. Mr.Shashi Kumar, a Good Samaritan, came to know about the problem and supported Punit. Meanwhile, Kuramma delivered a dead baby, but the doctors did not given any assurance that Kuramma would survive. Punit also donated his own blood.

After four blood transfusions and similar number of plasma transfusions later, Kuramma showed signs of improvement. The Govt Health Worker (ANM), who was supposed to take care of Kuramma, made an appearance only after senior officials of the Health Dept were informed about Kuramma's plight. Other staff from SVYM went the next day to relieve Punit. Punit refused to leave Mysore until doctors told him that Kuramma was out of danger! Most of the cost for the treatment was borne by SVYM.

Kuramma is now completely well and back with her family. She has promised that she will undergo sterilization after a couple of months. I really do not know whether she will ever understand how her life was saved or the people who saved it. But for every one who did their bit, nothing could possibly beat the satisfaction of seeing a mother go back to her young children.

Is this not what selfless service is all about?

Dr.Bindu Balasubramaniam
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Vivekananda Memorial Hospital, Saragur

Visit of officals from the US Consulate, Chennai

(L-R): Mr.Jagadish, Ms.Arnold, Ms.Mukherjee, Dr.Nagaraja Rao & Dr.Balu

Ms.Corinna Ybarra Arnold, Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Consulate Chennai, visited our Mysore center on 27-Aug-10. She was accompanied by Ms.Ratna Mukherjee, Cultural Program Advisor and Mr.Mysore K.Jagadish, Director of the American Library at the Consulate.

They interacted with the students of the Non-Profit Management course and also with the students from University of Iowa who are in residence at Vivekananda Institute of Indian Studies for their South India Program. They then held discussions on a wide range of topics with Dr.R.Balasubramaniam and his team at the Mysore Center.

Further, they highlighted the various programs being propagated by the US Embassy in India. They suggested that we find suitable candidates to participate in their cultural exchange programs. They also briefed us about the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, which focuses on preserving a cultural site, cultural objects or cultural expressions.

Mr.Jagadish assured us that he would help us secure the membership of the American Library at the Consulate, a move that would immensely benefit the students of VILD and VIIS.

An educational tour for 'Prerepana' children



Project 'Prerepana' had organized an educational tour for children of its learning centers (Kalika Kendras), to Somanthapura, Shivanasamudra (Bluff) and Talakadu on 21-Aug-10. These children hail from the slums in Mysore City and this tour was a first-of-its-kind experience for them.

The tour started at 7.30 am from the Mysore Palace. The first stop was the Somanathapura temple, built in typical style of Hoysala architecture. Children were given a brief introduction about the place and the historical background of the temple. They were then grouped with their facilitators who took them around, explaining the magnificent sculpture of the temple. Children expressed their awe and wonder watching the star-shaped temple.

The children were then taken to Shivanasamudra (bluff), which is home to majestic 'Gagana Chukki' and 'Bhara Chukki' waterfalls of the river Kaveri. Beside this waterfall, there is a hydro electric power generating unit here, said to be the first in Asia. Children were enthralled on seeing the beautiful waterfalls and also learnt about hydro electric power generation. After lunch, the group proceeded to Talakadu, where the children enjoyed thoroughly in the vast expanse of sand and water.

In all, 70 children participated in the trip.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Sangoshti 2010

The first alumni meet of the Masters in Non-Profit Management (MNPM) course was held on 31-Jul and 01-Aug 2010 at Vivekananda Institute of Leadership Development, Mysore. Nineteen of the twenty four alumni attended the meet and gave valuable suggestions for improving the course. The first day focused on getting to know more about the kind of work the MNPM alumni are currently engaged in and how the course has helped them in their work. On the second day, Mr.Venugopal, former Joint Director of the MNPM course, took an inspiring session on ‘Youth and Nation Building’. He kept the audience enthralled through examples, songs and quotes. A session on scopes and challenges of MNPM followed. The alumni came up with valuable inputs for enhancing the merit of the course. They shared the need for better recognition for the course (especially when applying for government jobs), enhancing the placement opportunities, revision of the course curriculum and to increase practical learning. The meet ended on a very positive note, with everyone feeling inspired and enthused about their role in the development of our society. A decision was taken to form an alumni association.

The following paras capture the happenings of the two days:

Rangoli designs – all bright and beautiful,
Haldi – kumkum and roses,
Spreading a fragrance so colorful
A proud banner standing tall
Saying loudly – ‘A grand welcome to all’

Chole puri, sambar rice
Delicious vegetables
Never tasted as nice
Papads so crunchy
Mingling with giggles and chuckles
Gulab jamuns so yummy
Filling everyone’s tummy

A welcome note and a welcome song
An occasion so auspicious
The lighting of the diya
Festering a feeling of joy
A spirit of oneness
A mood so contagious

Enlightened faces
As each one traces
The journey so far
The pleasure of working
The challenges and the learning
The hopes and aspirations
For changing the nation

Together they were all
For a few years in the recent past
Attending lectures on development
Enriching themselves through practicals
Acquiring knowledge
Honing skills
Every day there lay
Memories that would stay

Nostalgia spread
As they met their friends
Their teachers - their mentors
Memories refreshed
Experiences reminisced
Amidst laughter and jokes
And discussions on recent trends

A film on Gandhi
Inspiring the group
To stand strong
Amidst their struggles
To work with sincerity
A determination...
To abide by the principles
Satya, Ahimsa, Seva and Tyaga

Dinner followed by strolls
A lot of catching up to do
Before bed time...
Everyone woke up
At the first sight of the sun ray
And assembled together to pray

Breakfast done
Time for some stimulation,
A talk on Youth and Nation building
Got everyone contemplating
Motivational Songs galore
Quotes that enthused more and more

A serious discussion
On scopes and challenges
For a course so unique
Developing leaders
To take on the charge
Of our nation building

24 leaders out in the field
A small yet a very strong yield
Welcoming more and more
To join - the next session
United they stand at the fore
Through the Alumni association

A moment of pride
A moment of joy
On seeing youth take charge
Making a difference
By offering their helping hand...

- Sharmila Govande

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

“So, are you basically Indian?”

This odd, but thought-provoking question summarizes my thoughts and experiences thus far at Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM). Am I basically Indian? The fact that I am Indian by ethnicity, but not by citizenship is the very reason why the question was posed in the first place. It was as if people thought that Indians were only constrained to India. Everywhere I have traveled in India during this stay, I always picked up on this feeling of being a foreigner in my motherland.

I first began this adventure by informing someone at SVYM of my interest in completing practical experience as part of my Tulane University Master of Public Health curriculum. After studying the website, I became well-informed with the services at SVYM and knew this would be a great organization to complete my public health practicum. I then informed a SVYM representative of the specific projects I would like to work on and the dates I would be arriving and departing Saragur.

Upon touching Saragur soil mid-June, I could not help but feel a bit lonely and isolated from the convenient world in America I have grown accustomed to. It was an unfamiliar experience to look out of the window to find endless fields of cotton plants and to wait in traffic due to goats, cows, and water buffaloes passing by. In the hospital setting, witnessing an aged woman with painful cataracts crying because there is no one to look after her or a young pregnant mom expressing her discontent with her seven daughters was a bit unbearable.

Boarding and lodging is available at SVYM. I stay at the Staff Quarters in Saragur, and eat daily, sometimes even thrice a day, at the canteen in Vivekananda Memorial Hospital. Simple South Indian meals such as chapati and rice meals are available daily, along with fruits from SVYM’s organic farm. The Founder, President, Chief Executive, and other staff of SVYM all stay in separate living spaces at the Staff Quarters itself. In my place specifically, there is a western-style toilet and hot water for bathing. Internet access is also available at Vivekananda Memorial Hospital for staff, students and volunteers. Drinking water is also provided at the hospital free of charge via Aquaguard purification.

Shortly after becoming better acquainted with this organization’s activities and better accustomed to this lifestyle, I became inspired by the endless hospital facilities provided by SVYM and by the apparent appreciation from patients and tribal members for SVYM’s presence.

The health activities at the Vivekananda Memorial Hospital are beyond impressive. Activities are carried out beyond the hospital walls, which include outreach activities such as the mobile health unit, thematic medical camps, and tuberculosis control program. SVYM promotes equitable, high-quality health care as another one of its initiatives to ‘care.’ Particularly, I am involved with a project through SVYM’s Community Development Services. The purpose of this project is to provide sustainable health care to tribal communities through education and awareness. The first step in achieving this goal is to take a baseline survey of the basic health status of the individuals in the tribal villages. This department carries out the initiative to ‘serve.’ Finally, the SVYM initiative to ‘lead’ is promoted through the training, research, advocacy, and consultancy (TRAC) team. SVYM trains the leaders of tomorrow by developing graduate and post-graduate courses for students from all over the world.

Prior to coming here, I had no idea what to expect because I had never stayed in India without family by my side. Breathing in the clean, crisp air of Saragur, I feel at peace with myself and my surroundings. It is as if the air itself is intoxicating. Thinking about my interactions with all the gracious people of SVYM and everything I have experienced thus far in the program, I am forever grateful. I have developed many new friendships with the people of SVYM, who have all taught me to live life to the fullest through compassion, joy and service.

Finding laughter, joy, peace, faith, and appreciation within fellow social servants and within myself made me realize that this is what is most important – inner growth. With this inner growth, one then able to serve its fellow neighbors in order to help promote the universal good. After much reflection of the trip and my experiences as an American-born Indian in Saragur, I realized that at this very moment I am more “Indian” than I have ever been. I realized that it does not matter where you were born or what you sound like. As long as you are true to yourself, that is all that matters. I feel very fortunate to have gone on this life-changing experience with everyone. I have learned so much about my religion, my culture, and most importantly myself. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason, but now I believe it more than ever.

Puja Anand Cuddapah
MPH Candidate
Department of International Health and Development
Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
Email: puja.cuddapah@gmail.com

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Success stories from Vidya Kiran

Chandrasekhar lost his parents in his early childhood. He and his younger brother are living with their grandmother in a small village in Hunsur Taluk, Mysore District. His grandmother works as a daily wage labourer (coolie). He scored 78% in SSLC and joined Hunsur Govt College for PUC, Commerce. In his holidays, he goes to Madikeri and works as a labourer and earns some money, with which he is pursuing his education. Inspite of all the difficulties, he studied well and scored 86% in PUC. He now wants to do his graduation in Mysore.


Sagaya Mary is one of the consistent performers in the Vidya Kiran team. Her father left the family when she was a kid and her mother works as a maid servant. They live in her uncle's house. She has an elder sister, who is studying to become a teacher. Mary is a hard worker and has scored 80% in PUC Commerce.



Mahendra is a visually challenged boy (blind in one eye) and comes from an agriculture background. He traveled 50 km everyday to go to college in Mysore. He scored 84% in SSLC, studying in a Kannada medium school. He took up PUC Science in Maharaja's College, Mysore and has now scored 76%. He wants to become an engineer and is awaiting his CET results.


Somashekar is a bright boy. His father passed away recently due to an illness, plunging the family into an economic crisis. His uncle supported his family to some extent. He worked as a coolie in a construction plot and earned money for his education. He has scored 78% in PUC Commerce and wants to continue his education.

Vidya Kiran is proud to be associated with many such talented rural students and is helping them to realize their dreams. If you wish to contribute for their education, please write to vidyakiranmysore@gmail.com for details.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Achievements of the 'Vidya Kiran' program

The 'Vidya Kiran' program supports needy students in Mysore District who are academically bright but economically disadvantaged, to continue their college education. This program is being supported by Asha for Education - Silicon Valley chapter.

Out of 65 students in the 2nd PUC batch (Science & Commerce), 57 have cleared their exams held in the month of March 2010. 11 of them have passed with 'Distinction' and 28 have secured 'First Class'. In the Science stream, the subject wise pass percentages are as follows: Physics 93.6%, Chemistry 93.6%, Maths 87.2%, Biology 86.5%, Computer Science 100% and Electronics 100%.

The 1st PUC students too have fared very well, with 100% passes.

Success stories of selected students will be published in this space shortly. For more information on the program, please contact the coordinator Ms.Jyothi Lakshmi at vidyakiranmysore@gmail.com