| A letter from women of this world to educated men… | |||
My fellow educated human-beings,
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amount of undesired sex endured by women is probably greater in marriage than in prostitution”, says Bertrand Russell in his book “Marriage and Morals”. Is this right even today or not?
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Please do remember, in spite of all, we always love you. Yours Sincerely, Women of this world
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The discrimination starts much before when the doctor says,” It’s a girl.” Do people kill girl-foetus even today or not? And who is party to this unimaginable crime? Aren’t they all doctors and paramedical, educated professionals? 
Sanjiv Shah
She has a fragile body, an anxious body language, agitated voice. If you look at this small bundle of energy, you won’t believe what she has done in and with her life. First and foremost, she is an M.B.B.S. doctor. She had joined Oasis when she was a student and she says that Oasis added important values of humanity and selfless services in her training as a doctor. During the same period while she was a medical student, she was diagnosed as having Juvenile Astrocytoma [a type of brain tumor] and Pulmonary Tuberculosis, which are both serious illnesses. She was in tremendous stress, but, again, she says, thanks to Oasis, that she took the illness positively. The seeds of limitations of allopathic medicines and importance of alternative medicines were sown during her illness.
Right from beginning, in every Oasis camp and gathering, like many other youths, she used to share her dreams of serving the poor of India and other third world countries. Mother Theresa was her ideal. But unlike many others, her passion to serve was so authentic that it only grew with time. After completing her studies, equipped by the lofty idealism of making life more meaningful by service to humanity, she joined a private hospital at Vadodara. But she felt some guilt pinching, the biting of conscience-that she was not doing the right thing by serving the rich when poor people were so under privileged. As part of some “crazy” experiments facilitated by Oasis, she went to stay in slums for about 1 to 2 months to experience their living conditions. The experience in her words, “This exposure brought me closer to the reality of millions of underprivileged people of our country. They would share from whatever was in their home even if they were not sure about where the next meal would come from. I was astonished to see the greatness of their heart despite their poverty and felt ashamed of the poverty of my heart.While staying amongst them, I also witnessed the amount of physical abuse, mental torture, hard life, ill health, humiliation etc a poor Indian woman has to undergo. At the same time I felt proud of them as I could see them as tough warriors balancing between being a mother, loyal wife and most hard working, earning member of families.” Of course, Neha left her job. It was adieu for life time. After getting married, she had to |
shift to Bangalore where she promptly started health service centers in the slums around her area. While working there for years in a dedicated way, she realized that people were visiting her centers again and again with the same illnesses. She also observed that many patients suffered from severe liver or lung diseases leading to early death. All these experiences compelled her to introspect. She had to find out some solutions and interventions at an early, tender age. Thus Oasis, ASHA – Adolescent Students’ Health Alternative- was born. The help from volunteers slowly brought out another component of this activity viz. involvement of Women/housewives for educating these underprivileged slum children. Today, Neha and her core team of extremely talented and dedicated women friends are teaching health classes as a year round supplementary course to hundreds of students in municipality schools. “ASHA of Oasis” has spread to Surat in Gujarat and is dreaming to reach more and more children in different cities in the coming years. Was all this easy? The answer is obvious - serious illness, fragile health, social pressures for traditional career, and with all human weaknesses, she did this. How? With her sense of gratitude for everything, with her unflinching passion-come what may-, and her dedication that’s so overpowering, life had to bow to her. What gives her so much of strength? Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy has been life long inspiration for Neha- “It is only with great fortune and immense grace of God that you have got the opportunity to serve the ignorant, diseased and suffering humanity. If you dedicate yourself completely in a selfless way, you realize the unlimited power within you.”
Neha says, “I have no regret whatsoever about leaving the conventional career and serving poor people like this. I never cared for earning and being wealthy. Having millions of rupees in my account, has no comparison with what I have got today in my heart. I have a definite, important role to play through Oasis Movement, I have been able to recognize my mission and for that I feel very happy, very grateful to Oasis and God.” Imagine a few more such educated youths emulating Neha’s example in future. Imagine them working for educating billions of children of our country. Thank you Neha for living your dream!
For full story, please click here >> To know more about ASHA-Oasis, please click here >> For writing to Neha and getting involved in her project mail at oasis_rtu_blre@yahoo.co.in or asha_oasis@yahoo.co.in |
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Waris Dirie- Woman of unmatching courage |
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Waris- Ranma Khilelu Pushp is an abridged, Gujarati translation of the book ‘The Desert Flower’. It’s of a very rare kind, moving account of what it takes to search one’s mission. It is a story that traverses continents, spans worlds of human experience and human pain... Each one on the earth faces struggle, but once you read her story you will feel the literal meaning of ‘courage’ and are bound to get the inspiration to choose your life. She is a remarkable woman not only because she made her way from a goatherd’s hut in Somalia to the pages of Vogue and international fashion world; but because she followed her inner voice and stepped forward to help other little girls when there was no compulsion for it. She revealed her painful, intimate secret to the world and is now trying to help put an end to a tradition that has mutilated too many innocents for too many years. Waris Dirie was a victim once, but she never will be again. She is still fighting, still using her beauty and courage to take what she has learned to try and put things right. To read review by Taru Kajaria, Janmbhoomi Pravasi Click Here > |
An Oasis Publication Written by Waris Dirie Translated by Kshama Kataria
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“Hearty compliments for making Waris Dirie's book available in Gujarati. May yours and Waris's efforts help, the upliftment of women of kutch's rann region. A good seed sown with right volitions…brings right fruits at right time." Kusum & Vijay Shah, NuTech farm, Rayan, Kutch “Heartiest compliments and thanks for Desert Flower. Your work caused a disturbed night.” Sanjay Shreepad Bhave, Ahmedabad “I have gone through your translated-book i.e. Waris... in a single sitting in a bus journey.. Marvellous attempt.” Tarun Shah, Ahmedabad “The book goes straight to the heart and brought tears. I wish to share this book with as many people as I can..” Jaymin Bhachech, Bharuch For inspiring books, DVDs / VCDs of movies contact: the OASIS shop |
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| Editor's Note |
We request you to take this occasion as an opportunity either to push the 'boundaries' of your own freedom and/or to help others for it- as we know there are hundreds still stepping first steps towards their own freedom. The 'right angle' will compel you to introspect/think, the 'book of the month' will make you envy what a courageous woman can achieve and 'inspiration for right living' will complete the picture of human journey of togetherness. Wish you a introspective, thoughtful and actful Women's Day! - Team Alive
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Oasis, Bangalore has planned to carry out a candle light procession on March 7, 2008, an eve of International Women's Day in the slum area. This will be followed by formation of a human chain to reinforce Oasis's commitment to women empowerment. Oasis Women Development Circle, Surat has also organized mass awareness rally on 8th March. To celebrate INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day in its true sense, Oasis is publishing a booklet comprising the struggles of women of our times from all over the world, entitled Nari-jivanni Bhet. For more details check the publication basket.
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| Publication Basket | |||||
Women Special Books: At Oasis, we believe in women empowerment and have published couple of booklets which could be immensely helpful to women. To celebrate 'International Women's Day' you can choose to gift it to yourself and/or to others, it's a good idea! New Arrival: "Nari-jivanni Bhet"
Compiled by : Sanjiv Shah Pages: 40 Rs. 15.00 Want to ponder for a while- where are you standing- as a woman or as society- as far as freedom of women concerned? Nari-jivanni Bhet presents real-life stories of the women struggle from all over the world. It's a valuable experience to read/feel the struggles of present age women. "Laganiona Zanzavatma Maheki Shake Chhe Aa Jindgi…"
Written by : Sanjiv Shah Pages: 105 Rs. 50.00 Available in Hindi also. Are you struggling with your emotions very badly? And then, cursing the emotionality that you inherit by being a women? This booklet will help you to understand your emotions and also helps you to deal with it more confidently. "Waris- Ranma Khilelu Pushp "
Translated by: Kshama Kataria Pages: 40 Rs. 10.00
For Orders Please Contact : Pallavi Raulji Publication Co-ordinator, Oasis Publications the OASIS shop Vadodara, Gujarat For more information about Oasis Publications
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| Reflection |
Oasis Movement Friends,
I’m very grateful to you for providing me information about the valuable work that you are doing in India as well as U.S.A. Hearty congratulations for this precious service to human race!
With best regards,
Vimala Thakar
February 20, 2008; Shivkuti
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