Sanvedana - Visit to Otur


‘Sanvedana’ goes to Otur.
	There goes a saying, "A single good deed done is better than a thousand planned". There is a quote, which goes, "How beautiful can a day be when kindness touches it".
There was something similar to these sayings done by Yashoda when she went to Otur and Narayangaon on the 7th February 2005. She was there to help the people with epilepsy and share her views on the same. The people of Otur and the girls of Kanya Prashala in Narayangaon were more than glad to have Yashoda amongst them on this day. They all shared their experiences and views on the topic and sought quite an advice from Yashoda. The day started with Yashoda meeting the people, the localities of Otur, a village about 100 Kms to the north of Pune city, on Nasik Highway. Here, the program was held at the Government Clinic, in the market area of the village. On behalf of all the people of Otur, Dr. Bankar paid respects to Late. Dr. Anita Awachat. He then introduced Yashoda to the people of Otur and asked Yashoda to adorn the photograph of Dr. Anita Awachat. The head nurse of the Government Clinic on behalf of all the localites then honored Yashoda. The program began with about 20 people present, with the empty places filling up in course of the program. Yashoda then spoke for about seventy-five minutes or so, on the topic. She spoke on her life and the problem of epilepsy, which she had been suffering since she was seven. She told the people present on how she came out of her problem, how her parents and family helped her to overcome this situation and how to live life with epilepsy. She asked those present not to lose hope and to have a positive attitude towards life.

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Also See
	Yasho's Story
	Epilepsy Marriage Bureau
	Activities from April 2007 to March 2008
	Activities from April 2006 to March 2007
	Singapore Epilepsy Congress
	Sanvedana - Visit to Otur
	Sanvedana - Trip to Soorya Shibir

She spoke on the good work taken up by and the projects handled by “Muktangan” She then told them about our group, Sanvedana and its working. She told how the group was formed and what it has done until now and what we intend to do in the days to come. She explained how Sanvedana runs a counseling centre in Pune and how it guides those with this problem to go to Trivendrum and get proper counseling and medications. The people of Otur expressed their delight on what Yashoda said and gave her and Sanvedana a round of applause.

She told very briefly about the surgery conducted at the Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute, Trivendrum. She discussed on topics like myths and facts about epilepsy, how to handle people with epilepsy, what to do if anyone gets a seizure and how to lead a normal life with the problem. She also asked the people with this problem how they can make their lives better and worth living. Yashoda asked those with epilepsy to make friendship with their medicines and never to miss out on them.

Everyone present was listening intently to what Yashoda was saying, and all were glad when she informed them that Sassoon Hospital in Pune does provide free medications to people from rural areas. She also told there a few doctors in Pune do conduct tests and EEGs free of cost for such people.

Then, there was a small question-answer session in which Yashoda cleared the doubts present in the listeners’ minds. She cleared all the superstitions present in their minds about epilepsy.

Then, Yashoda thanked the people for their co-operation and for sharing their problems with her. Then, with a small prayer, which she always says at her group meeting in Pune, she ended her talk. Dr. Bankar then conducted the thanksgiving speech, and profusely thanked Yashoda for coming to Otur and spending her valuable time and sharing her views with the people there. He said that after her speech, he could already see some hope on the people’s faces for which he again thanked Yashoda.

Yashoda’s next and final stop was Kanya Prashala, all girls’ school at Narayangaon. The speciality of this school is not just that it’s a girl’s school, but it is a school for those girls who are poor and if it hadn’t been for this charity school, these girls would be working in the fields or as maids or helpers.

The staff and the girls here were very, very happy to have Yashoda as their Chief Guest. Yashoda was honoured here by the staff members, who felicitated her in the traditional Marathi mode, with a shawl, a coconut or more precisely 'ShreeFal', and a rose. She was asked to light the oil lamp or 'Samai/Deep', another traditional custom of any program and which is done only by the chief guest(s) present for the program.

Yashoda was then introduced to the others honorary guests and the school girls by Mrs. ---------. Then was the main program of prize distribution and Yashoda was asked to give away the prizes to the girls, who were very excited to receive them from her hands. She was then asked to share her views and her ideas with the girls and the people present for the program.

Yashoda started her talk with the formal introduction of her group, Sanvedana and its working and how the group started and its present status and the plans for the future. She talked about the projects like, fighting against superstitions and helping people to lead a drug-free and addiction-free life, which were taken up by Muktangan. She said that all this could be achieved only if we have a positive attitude.

Yashoda continued her talking with the topic of Positive Attitude. She said that she was very happy to give away the prizes and asked those who got no prize to work harder for the next time and to keep a positive attitude that they will get it next year. She said that being positive is the key to success and to lead a happy life. She also spoke about her problem of epilepsy, before which she told the listeners what exactly epilepsy is. Then she told how her parents and friends helped her out of this problem and how they helped her to have a positive approach towards life. She told the girls that she could do so and lead a normal life as her parents helped her to engage in hobbies like singing, Origami, painting etc. She talked on the importance of hobbies in a man’s life. All through, the people were all ears.

Everyone applauded, when she expressed her desire to sing a song for the audience and when she sang, everyone was silent and motionless. But the audience’s facial expressions showed that they simply loved the song, which would help them to have a positive approach towards life. There was a huge round of applause after she finished her song.

There was more praise and clapping when Yashoda on the spot made a few Origami creations. The girls were awed by what Yashoda said and did. They seemed to be inspired by her. The girls almost gave her a celebrity status, the proof of which was the girls asking her for her autograph after the program.

After the song and Origami, Yashoda also asked the girls to keep living life with a smile, no matter how hard it is. She told them, after every pain, there is a smile and only if we don’t crib about our problems, will we be able to see the hidden beauties in life.

Then, she expressed her feelings of happiness and her good wishes for the girls. She said she was very happy to share her views with the girls of the school.

Then, generously thanking the staff of Kanya Prashala, she ended her speech.

After the program and after the autographs, Yashoda spoke to those with Epilepsy. She shared her ideas and they responded well. They asked her about the hospital at Trivendrum, the surgery and Yashoda was all glad to help them. She also told them about Sassoon Hospital and the facilities there. She also asked them to continue with their medicines and never to give up on life just because of this problem.

She told them about Sanvedana and the group’s working. They were told about the Counselling Centre and the meetings. They were asked to attend a group meeting in Pune and share their views with others having the same problem. What Yashoda said was grasped like voracious listeners and they were all awed on Yashoda’s confidence and thanked her for spending her time with them. They also wished her luck for her future and complimented her on her good work.

Thus, ended a great day for Yashoda and Sanvedana. Yashoda said that she was very happy to help the people of Otur and Narayangaon. She also saw some hope when a few showed their eagerness to come to Pune for Sanvedana’s group meeting. She said this was just the first milestone on the path of epilepsy-awareness campaign. She expressed her desire to help the people of rural areas in this concern and was confident that very soon, her campaign will be so large that no-one will be without the knowledge on this problem and even those with epilepsy will be treated the same way like other normal people. She was and is confident enough on what she wants and what she will do to achieve her goal.

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