Living together in peace. Accepting differences and having the ability to listen to, recognize, respect and appreciate others. With mutual respect for sovereignty-integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit. Peaceful coexistence.
Wankhade Stadium dedicates a stand/pavilion to Rohit Sharma’s name.
India is sending seven all-party delegations to several countries to convey India’s message of zero-tolerance against terrorism and Operation Sindoor led by: Jay Panda; Ravi Shankar Prasad; Shashi Tharoor; Sanjay Jha; Shrikant Shinde; Kanimozhi Karunanidhi; and Supriya Sule.
In essence our grandparents led lower/middle class families. My paternal grandparents Ramulu and Kanakamma had slowly moved from Chandur to Hyderabad to Sunkenpally, 3 kms from Gundrampally and settled there. They practiced a portfolio of livelihoods: farm wage work, weaving, migration, priesthood, ayurveda, Jaanapada artist, Ramayana-Mahabharata story teller. They had five children – F, M, F, M, & M. First male child, starting as a weaver, moved to Mumbai to become a powerloom and textile worker. Last male child moved to Bhiwandi and became a teacher, headmaster and poet. My father was the fourth child, second male child. He stayed back in Gundrampally.
My maternal grandparents were from Veliminedu, 3 km from Gundrampally. They were weavers, master weavers and cloth merchants. They had 9 children – F, M, F ,F, M, F, F, M & F. My mother was the seventh child, fifth female child. First male child, a weaver, and healer, settled in Gundrampally. Second male child moved to Mumbai – Borivali and Dahisar – to become a labour contractor and building contractor. Last male child joined government service as a surveyor.
In 1-2 generations, most of our siblings and cousins have transcended into the middle class. Mostly in education, Government service, art, business, enterprises, etc.
My family – father and mother – practiced a portfolio of serial-parallel livelihoods, enterprise, leadership and related over time. These include: wage work; weaving; master weaving; powerloom; tailoring; master tailor/cutting master; tenant farmer; owner-farmer – dryland and irrigated; dairy, livestock; farm manager/caretaker; orchard contracts; building contracts; public works contracts; cloth stores; provisional/kirana stores; cycle stores; general stores; medical stores; community healthwork; mechanic; tractor-tiller service provider; facility management; event management; writing; land and water management; panch/conflict management; youth leader; dairy/farmers’ cooperative leader; support to cooperatives – wool, weavers, fishermen et al; panchayat leader; school committee leader; legal assistance/support; temple work; priest; social work; work with dalit, tribal and backward communities; political work; mentoring new generation leaders; SHG leader; SHG federation leader; entrepreneur; group micro-enterprise promoter; masala factory; neem factory; library; seasonal-short term, medium-term migration et al. Forefront in Razakar movement as a teenager. Youth, Community, Panchayat and Party Leadership at various levels, up to state level. In hindsight, intense and widespread exposure to livelihoods has happened to me at home.
Can we be lifeworkers? Can we be conscientious leaders, servant leaders?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Observing, trying and practicing. In N? aajeevikayoga for 7L.