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Recent write-ups by Shikhar Pathak

Forever When I'll be in a state of zero Youth also may have changed its colour Only the last stop will remain yet to cover I w...

Tuesday, 9 February 2021

Creating waste segregation awareness in Bahraich

 By Step2wardsMankind

The recent problems with garbage disposal in Bahraich has made people realise the importance of waste management and segregation. The challenge now is that people are not aware of how to start segregating their household waste. This lack of knowledge is becoming a bottleneck to the solution for waste management in the city. Through this project we plan to spread awareness among people, including the domestic helps, on how to segregate the household waste correctly..

Challenge

Small cities likeilike Bahraich facing a crisis with regards to waste management . As a solution to this problem, the govt is trying to enforce waste segregation at household level. The challenge here is that people are not aware of how exactly to go about doing this. There is lack of readily available resources or training to help people in this matter.

Solution

The project is designed to educate general public (including the domestic helps) on how to segregate household waste. By displaying posters with pictorial representations on waste segregation and by conducting awareness camps at residential areas we will help people overcome their hesitations and start the very essential habit of segregating their household waste.

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Long-Term Impact

We plan to reach out to around 150 plus households directly through this project. We hope the successful implementation of waste segregation in major part of these households will further lead to a cascading effect and thousands more start the practice of waste segregation. Ultimately this will help the authorities resolve the waste management issues and lead to a healthier environment in the city as well as neighbouring towns (where the waste is currently being dumped).


Saturday, 5 December 2020

Fighting Depression -Not A Survivor But A Winner

 


Fighting Depression-Not A Survivor But A Winner

Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner
Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner

Presenting here the  journey of  a SURVIVOR BECOMING A WINNERREAL STORY of FIGHTING DEPRESSION.
This is the thing which I always wanted to share, which I always have been asked to share - Every minute details about the phase of destruction of everything and more importantly the long phase of healing from it, today I am here to share all the tragedies and agonies I went through.

CHAPTER -1: THE DAWN.

Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner
Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner

It all started somewhere around FEB,2017 and no one apart from a Lady with persona of an Angel and curly hairs could sense it, even I was unaware of the fact that this might be the stage 1 of all the severe damages waiting for me.
I kept refusing to her of even any sadness!
Boards were around the corner and I was very sure of acing it with flying colours but still some sort of sadness started covering my mind
Yes, I was going to enter into the disastrous phase of DEPRESSION.
We gave our last exam everyone bid farewell, but due to all the inner faults I kind of missed meeting few really close people and I do regret this thing till now.

CHAPTER -2 : THE EMERGENCE.

Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner
Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner

I went to Lucknow and joined a coaching centre, I fooled my mind and made it busy in studies for a week or so, I started feeling adapted but one day I still don't know why but instead of having an auto for municipuliya I booked a taxi for kaisarbagh and came back to my hometown as if something pulled me here
I asked my parents to admit me in my previous school but few things happened and led me to again to leave for Lucknow!
Now living in a villa all alone with just a caretaker who leaves in evening - that was lil weird.
I always felt incompleteness - I used to sit in the school and even in my coaching and think of - what the hell I am doing? Very quickly, I made many friends, won many competitions but for the very first time these things failed to give me any Joy.
I always felt sense of some rawness within myself.
Remembering an incident of may, I became so valnurable that I fell for a cyber bully! Though I managed to tackle him but that thing costed sleep for 2 days - added this just to convey that how week and vulnerabile we become against the vultures of society while dealing with DEPRESSION

Due to a family function I had to come to my home town , we were celebrating 50th wedding anniversary of my grandparents and amongst all the happy faces , I curse myself for spoiling the pictures with my dull face.

CHAPTER -3: ALARMED

Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner
Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner

3 June was the day of our board result and despite getting A1, it came with no happiness and joy.
Now, This was the time when I got agonized - I was confused of what's happening - I was sane, stable ,normal but at the same time anxious and sad without any proper reason.
I kept blaming myself for next 40-50 days - those 6 weeks went in just finding peace.
I should not be blabbering much about this time as June and very much of July just passed monotonously playing my part - NO REASON TO BE HAPPY
Still I was yet to enter that face of DEPRESSION where even breathing becomes next to impossible.

CHAPTER - 4 : THE ERUPTION.

Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner
Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner

JULY 30 , I was in my house and I don't know why but I called daddy that day just to spend some time talking to him.
I have no idea what I said , but the next day I found my parents at my Door - They probably had sensed something wrong from my voice but the worst way in which a son can greet his parents was to yell so hard on them.
I just have some bad pictures from those couple of days
Throwing everything - I chewed my phone battery ,broke the specs and throwing everything in my way, afterwards Sleeping and waking up acting as if nothing happened.
That was probably the first mental outburst I suffered - what was worse was seeing my parents reaction to it - THEY FREAKED OUT. Eliminated my name from CMS and asked me to see some good psychiatrist, but I refused.
Though that was a big mistake of mine they agreed on me staying in Lucknow and got my name into one of our locals schools - with the condition of not attending the classes but just to give the exams.
I tried to put a clear distinct in my thoughts for the psychosis kept ruling me.
Steadily the situation kept worsening slowly - slowly, I was losing interest in all the things.
Days passed with a smile on face talking to friends, calling relatives normally ,trying hard to act normal but they always figured out - resulting in me upsetting them.
This was the time when things were a bit in my control to cope - but whenever thinking about the cause - I always had a loop coming over my mind every single reason led to the other and finding the root cause was like impossible!
It's not always break up, studies or money.
Sometimes it is just unavoidable state of mind Though this was that stage of DEPRESSION where anything effects 10 times and unfortunately this is the time when most of the bad things occur to us.

CHAPTER - 5 : FATAL

Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner
Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner

September came as probably the worst month in my life.
To share an incident and I am really very guilty about it. I was roaming around ganj market one night and I saw two unprivileged kids asking for ice cream
"Will you accompany me to the mall"
They agreed.
I bought them ice cream amd while having the dessert - I started crying in front of them , and eventually freaked them out.

4th September - I attended a class and my god that day was the day which many people must have remembered - almost thousands of people must have experienced the true meaning of seeing DEPRESSION
Though they were lucky to be the surrounding and not the system
That day was the noon of trying hard to undo the feelings, evening of immense guilt and night of a planned escape from all this
I kept going to restroom and called all my loved ones asked them to forgive me - Cried all alone
Coming back home, from kapurthala to munshipulia - that ride - it will always remain the most important ride of my life
That was filled with self questions, escaped three accidents in that 10 minutes - had no sense of surrounding, kept thinking of the thoughts of after life, thoughts of life in heaven being so good and relaxing and much better than the life of suffering with no solution - that I am living here, that ride was not accompanied by co-passenger but with the mind being occupied by the thought of quitting - with no control of mind I gave 500 rupees to auto wala, he kept calling me for change but I kept walking.
I came home told grandpa - That I'll have a sound sleep today after ages.
Thanks to the drugs and sedatives I slept for like 40 hours straight - Woke up in completely strange environment from the hustle of Lucknow to the calmness of countryside
It gave instant stimulation to my brain - I dove into the world of spirituality - figuring out the only way to continue living would be to live in some sort of monastery - but alas! This decision was so difficult being the only male child in entire family , for a moment they agreed but later even I thought to fight against the chemistry of my brain!
Every relative ,family, family friends became my only world for a month - The Outer world meant nothing to me - they suffered my outbreak, they cherished my smile
Regular visits to the psychiatrist and neurologist at the same time were the only time of me being in vicinity with the outer world Now I got medications to fight with  DEPRESSION and DEPRESSION to fight with the side effects of drugs
I started feeling that this will become my new life - DRUGS and TRANQUILIZERS would last forever.
Parents lost all hope if I'll ever be able to continue my normal life
Then around October I binded up courage and had a class at my local school - the teachers were supportive - had major mismatch with the students
After few months when I won with that phase all of them literally wanted to be friend me as soon as possible.
Now Diwali came as a major festival and I decided to cheer myself up Celebrated the day, but unfortunately after diyas and worship - I suffered an attack [ attack due to DEPRESSION ]
[ I don't remember much cause of medicines but I am sure I had hit myself with an iron rod for so many times till I went unconscious and remained in that state for almost next 60 hours ]
That was the year of either not sleeping for many days or not waking up for many!

CHAPTER - 6 : RAY OF HOPE

Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner
Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner

November finally came with positivity ,with all the types of treatment I finally managed to attend the school as well as evening coaching - interacting with the world
In the process of healing I lost some part of myself, also became completely unaware of surroundings - it took me like another 4-5 months to get full control of myself and the surroundings while fighting with after effect of drugs viz absent-mindedness, chronic pains, strain
After few days I lost three important people in my life within few months and I will always regret of not spending any quality time with my greatgrandmother who blessed me the best childhood - Rather made her cry for my stupid mental disorder [ DEPRESSION ]
2017 was lethal - Year I never lived
2018 was normal - I started fixing my life faced many challenges - Fought with all of them.

CHAPTER - 7 : VICTORY

Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner
Fighting-Depression-Not-A-Survivor-But-A-Winner

BOOM - 2019 CAME !!
The year from which I extracted everything I lost due to DEPRESSION
Gifted myself this year.
I lost 20 kgs of weight, wrote many beautiful proses, learned many new things, gained a real immunity against sadness.
Turned all the sufferings into a lesson and utilized that experience to improve life
Now almost every person knowing me adores me
I had no complains from my past
I daily add little values in life of people who seeks it from me - practicing spirituality, became a treat to talk to
Helping every potential first stage victim to not fall in the trap I did
I am now living with the mentality I always dreamt of -
STRONG AND HAPPY WITH VALUES
From being 24 months behind to being much more ahead of the time.
 I lost a little and gained alot.

~ Not a survivor but a Winner

   Sikhar Pathak

Monday, 19 October 2020

Being Morally and Constitutionally religious(Secular๐Ÿ’›)


Secularism means no discrimination against anyone in the name of religion.

religion is a particular system of belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this system.

At the same time, both  are very important for the  unity amongst every kind of people in any country. And in a place as plural as India it becomes even more .

What people should do?

Every religion states different type of belief system. But, the basic principle is spreading Kindness, empathy  and love. Unfortunately few people forget this and start believing only their own religion is the best one and other must be seen with different eyes . Because of this superiority the discrimination starts. In order to curb the hate we must let ourself get rid of the chauvinism and should practice our religion with all the dedication we want without hurting the sentiments of other considering that they are as good as mine and approach the same thing just in a different manner...

What government should do?

Government should not interfere in the religious belief system of the people. Even though different religions have different belief system, when it comes to public, government should take care of individual rights of the common people rather than religious belief of particular people. One religious belief should not be the problem or disturbance to other people. The government has to ensure this.

Where the problem starts?

When the people feel my religion is the best and start criticize others, the problem starts.

When the government start appeasing one religion and neglecting and underestimate the other religion, the problem starts. 

We can't just simply deny that our Government is not at fault :)..


When it comes to common and general public issues the government should equally treat all irrespective of the individual religious belief.

Yes it is really possible to be secular and religious at the same time. Yes the government should be unbiased and the people should be mature enough not to disturb others in the name of 'Religion'... I mean our religion is much more sacred than our politicians thought it to be....

Monday, 10 August 2020

Flute of Krishna (Janmashtami)

Come let me touch the strings of your heart, the tune in which world can smile.

Yes,  have ever heard the flute? No, not of TV.... The one which is wrapped with the scent of lips.... The Flute of 'Krishna'

How could you hear this form of Krishna while having this much of heat in your heart in the form of communal hatred....

The flute has a specialty, as soon as you hear its note, all the animals starts listening to it, however it fades, the next minute. Now from here, the journey of flute starts. After reconnecting the heart, you start drowning.... Then you get so drowned that any other sound stops coming in the ear. Then slowly flute starts lifting you little up from the ground, it generates waves in the body. 

When I see his flute,I wonder why Krishna chose flute amongst all the instruments... However resolving my query this tune of flute is making us more of human.

I did watch at many places..... Krishna is being worshipped as symbol of love with the flute. Every tune that came out of his lips shook the heart of people.

I couldn't understand where those people are gone who got fascinated by his character in Mahabharata... Having chakra, riding on chariot.... I'm yet to find the existence of those devotees , I guess even Krishna never wanted to play that hard part of his life.... But the form of Krishna... With feather of peacock, the form holding a flute with an innocent smile is found everywhere... A lover of this form could earn the same fate as his favorite devotees.

I can feel the melodious music coming out of every cavity of the flute... The music rising from the flute of his highness unifies the preachings of Buddha, Greatest Prophet (SAWS) , Jesus, Moses, Highness of Gurus to the Lord Mahaveera...... 

You'll not be able to listen to the music of  Krishna as long as there is hatred in your heart. How can Krishna and hate reside in the same place?....How come the melody of his flute propagate where there is hate, revenge, quarrel,vanity, chauvinism and thirst of blood?..

There is no boundation of your beliefs... but the only thing that is required is looking at Krishna with the heart full of love..... Then glancing at his flute carefully followed by peeking into your own heart.... If you'll manage to remove all the dirt mentioned before, then the words of the flute passing via your heart will give immense pleasure to your mind... so that the same land which was for you earlier, the place worthy to see only hate will turn out into the place to propagate kindness, love, smile, peace to make the biggest home of our life a place of Love and compassion for all our fellow beings ๐Ÿ’ž...


~Shikhar Pathak

#Janmashtami

#12August,2020