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Talks:
Three groups of students comprising of twelve students
each were asked to prepare talks on the three social issues
of voluntary simplicity, neglect of old relatives and substance
abuse. The students had to interview different types of people
related to the issue and had to tell their stories to the audience,
so as to be able to understand the various aspects of the issue
at hand. The leader was asked to hold a meeting with his/her
group and determine the kind of people to be interviewed and
to assign the task to the members of the group. Finally the
leader gave an introduction to the issue and called forward
various group members to share their stories with the audience.
After this the group leader concluded the talk having raised
some thought provoking questions in the mind of the audience.
Some
Sample Extracts from the talks
Voluntary
Simplicity: Today the traditional culture of satisfaction
of India is being replaced by the global obsession for "more".
More work, more material goods, more cars, more house..more
everything. What does this "more" leave in its wake? Less contentment
and lesser free time. Disconnection from nature and community.
And an environment that has been plundered of its natural resources
and polluted by the waste generated, all, by our desires. Our
hectic work-and-spend way of life takes its toll on our financial
well being, psychological health and personal happiness. The
commercial culture leads many to collect debt and live beyond
their financial limits. This ultimately leads to tremendous
stress. We spoke to a number of people and asked them how they
can adopt voluntary simplicity in their lives.
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Housewife
- My husband is a government employee. He also used to run
a part time business after office hours. His business left
him no time for our family and me. Then his health started
getting affected. He was diagnosed with high blood pressure
and diabetes. Whatever extra money he was earning in his business
was now being spent on doctors. It was then we decided that
he should stop the business and only do his job. Now he is
looking healthier, more rested. We have a little less money
but a lot more peace in our house. Without peace how can there
be happiness? For me voluntary simplicity means to be content
with what I get and not hanker for 'more' for which my husband
has to pay with his health. Teen
age girl - I am thirteen years old. Everyday I see ads on
TV of different brands of toothpaste. Seeing these ads we
have switched from using datum to toothpaste to clean our
teeth. My younger brother started squeezing out nearly one
inch long paste on his brush, just like the ads on TV. Because
of this we started spending Rs: 45 a month on toothpaste.
A week back I saw an article in the newspaper, where some
girls were promoting datun. They were from good families but
were actually selling datun on the streets of Rajkot!
I
was inspired and decided to switch back to using datun. I
realized that I need not spend my father's hard earned money
on products that only serve to make some company rich. This
is my one step towards voluntary simplicity. Student- I am
a student of class six. My parents insist on my using a fountain
pen and ink. So, that's what I use now. When I used gel pens
I had to buy a new pen every five days, sometimes even more,
as new designs were constantly coming. I needed six to eight
gel pens a month and would spend about Rs. 80 on them. But
ever since I started using a fountain pen, I spend less than
Rs. 10 on ink etc. Plus I save the environment from being
polluted by so many discarded gel pens. This is my way of
adopting voluntary simplicity.
The
talks inspired the audience to rethink the way they live. The
talks on substance abuse told of the helplessness of users and
focused on saying 'no' the first time to drugs, gutka, or alcohol.
The talks on neglect of old relatives told the stories of people
living in old age homes, people living lonely lives because
their children are abroad, and they also told positive stories
of parents living happily with the next generation as good examples
to follow. The play Seth Parmanand explores this theme in a
very engaging manner.
More
Pictures:
Theme
song: Sat chale to bath bane
Audience
Backstage:
Ms. Maninder J. putting finishing touches.
Girls!
They couldn't get their hands off the rouge!
The
Dhiras were awarded T-shirts with the Dhira logo printed on
it. Note also Ms. Usha Hassija amidst the children. She trained
the children for the three hit plays.
Ms.
Maninder J. addressing the audience. More talks
Poster
exhibition on view
Theme
song: Ye Dil na mange more
Theme
song: Sat chale to bat bane
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