Notebook Distribution in Kanakapura- a photoblog

Sagar in the first post addressed me as ‘the feather-weight photographer’, that’s the first time someone else has called me a photographer, I was a self-proclaimed one before that, and to tell you, I would like to be addressed so more often, though the truth is that right now I have no credentials for being called one except for a camera.

I would kick start my blogging journey on Virtual Nikethan through a photo blog of the trip to Kanakapura me, Anand, Gireesh, Shubha and Pratima made last weekend.

We were there to distribute the notebooks collected from the notebook collection drive in Anand’s office. As we reached the school I was taken aback to see the almost the whole school assembled in the courtyard. Anand being a seasoned volunteer, made his way to the make shift stage where he was joined by Shubha and Pratima, whereas I suddenly pretended to be busy clicking pictures and Gireesh preferred to look on from behind.


Siddaraju introducing us to the kids.

Siddaraju, the field worker from VN in Kanakapura introduced all of us to the kids, and told them why we were there. Anand started interacting with the kids and advised them to make proper use of the notebooks and study well. On being asked that what they wanted to do when they grew up, one of the kids answered that he’ll do social service, it was heartening to know that the seed for doing good to the society was already planted in such a young heart.


Anand lighting up the ceremonial lamp along with two kids.


There were looks of absolute glee on the kids’ faces as they received the notebooks and shook hands with Anand. Some parents, with pride on their faces, looked on the proceedings as the other kids enthusiastically clapped for their friends.


A girl claps on enthusiastically

As Pratima, Shubha and Gireesh went on to distribute the notebooks mingling with the kids as they did so, I sat among the kids clicking pictures and showing them their pictures. Kids become excited so easily, amazed to see themselves in the lcd display, having a camera certainly is a compensation if you don’t know the local language, you can at least interact through the pictures.


You see with your eyes, I dream. A shy kid, after receiving the notebooks.


He was talking to his friends laughing and smiling, after realizing that I was clicking him, he gave me this charming smile.

After distributing the notebooks to students from all standards and even some to college students, as we made to go, a horde of students wanted to shake hands with us, overwhelmed and feeling like celebrities we obliged As we headed for Chunchi falls after a yummy cuppa coffee at Siddaraju’s place, we were already feeling satisfied at having spent the day well.

P.S.-My liaison with photography started a few months back when I bought the Canon S3 IS, I enjoyed clicking away to glory and the camera became a constant companion to my trips and excursions. I recently attended a photography workshop, which has stimulated me to take photography seriously, I need to buy a DSLR soon, but till then I’ll try make the best use of what I have. The idea, as Anand the ‘excel’lent volunteer suggested, is to start profiling NGOs in and around Bangalore pictorially.

Will we ever learn ?

Much has been talked about the nuclear agreement signed by the Indian government with the United States administration. Nevertheless, the talks concentrate on the political aspects of the deal, much less on the technical side. I have to admit that the more I read about the deal, the more I get confused.

As I try to understand more on the need of the deal, bigger questions pops up in my mind. Not being a political expert, I couldn’t fathom the ‘political mileage’ and ‘strategic advantages’ the country could gain from the deal, but the mere argument that the deal would revolutionize India’s energy sector makes me suspicious.

It wont take much brain to understand the need for some radical steps to address India’s growing power needs. To beat up China or to prop up the 10 percent growth much need to be done in the energy sector. But is nuclear the way to go ? I feel the propaganda is far from true.

Going nuclear way can only help us to generate more electricity, but that won't address all our energy requirements. Presently, only a small percentage of electricity generated in India comes from nuclear resources. A little more than 4000 Mwe produced makes the figure to just 3.4 percent of the total electricity generated. With the deal, we are just trying to increase that percentage. Atomic Commission admits that “Hydro potential and renewables must be exploited to the maximum possible extent and in as short a time-frame as possible” and it concludes by saying nuclear resources need to be exploited to address the long term requirements.

Understanding the truth that the worldwide nuclear energy generation is a minuscule 2% will give us some hint on how feasible these plans are. United States who pushes aggressively for the deal generates only 4 percent of its electricity requirement through nuclear resources. Apart from France, who invested much on the nuclear technology in the 70s and generates about 78 percent of its electricity which accounts to 16 per cent of its total energy consumption, none of the nuclear majors are interested in investing in this field. America, on the other hand, is betting big on bio fuel. Europe goes the wind and solar way and Russia thinks about coal and gas. Even China is reluctant in investing much on nuclear energy. The commercial potential of nuclear energy is identified way back in 50s, but still none of the biggies are interested in the energy. Are there any fundamental reasons behind their aversion to nuke power ?

Left front rightly pointed out the cost of nuclear power. Even with the best available technology, energy generated through nuclear means can be 8 times costlier than that generated through conventional means. It can cost more than thrice that of renewable energy. Do India still believe that we can maintain the competitive advantage given we give in that big on our energy needs ?

Several countries in the west, particularly Germany and Spain, are on their way to close down plans because nuclear energy is not considered as ‘clean’. One side, there are risks of accidents – the infamous Chernobyl - and on the other, there are waste disposal issues. In 1999, Germany bought law to shut down all plans and ban new ones from starting.

The bigger issues are with the decommissioning of the plants. In January this year, seven nuclear reactors have been decommissioned in Europe, four in UK, two in Bulgaria and one in Slovakia. To decommission its four plants, it will cost British taxpayers 103 billion Euros. If France - with its 58 reactors - decides to decommission the reactors, the bill will be at least five times higher. India may not face this problem immediately, but this definitely is worth a consideration.

A safe and easy way to waste disposal is not yet found out. France tries to bury its nuclear waste in a site near Beure, but the fact that the soil and aquifers will be contaminated for next ten thousand years makes France plans questionable.

Europe is heading in the right direction. The European Council takes nuclear energy out from the list of renewable sources and directed its members to produce 20 percent of its energy through renewable means.

Despite all the protests, the deal might go through. But still, we cannot call this the ‘energy of the future’. An increase in renewable energy and reduction of consumption through energy-efficient industry, habitat or life style might be a head straight solution for the future, but does anyone here care much about it ?

Swalpa blog maadi...

"You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings".
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein.

A seasoned and 'excel'-lent volunteer. A feather-weight photographer. A tarzan-ish nature-lover. An alternate energy-driven 'classical' singer. A thoughtful online tutor. A 'buy'-cycle rider. A 'Harry'-ed newcomer. An 'edgy' blogger. And a couple of Houdinis. What happens when such a motley crowd gets together? Nope. Not a recipe for disaster. But an enthusiastic and fun-loving group of volunteers.

We are a bunch of young and not-so-young volunteers in Bangalore, who work for an NGO called Vidyanikethan. Under the 'excel'-lent guidance of Vidyanikethan's oldest volunteer, Anand, we have so far volunteered for teaching and 'sponsor-a-child' programs at Vidyanikethan. But, we think it is time to take this volunteering to the next level. We brainstormed last week, under the influence of cheesy pizza, aerated drinks and Prarthana's snacks, at iVolunteer's Bangalore office in Koramangala and came up with a set of ideas that we now want to implement.

The first idea that has been implemented is this blog. Our 'light' wonder, Sur, came up with this idea of hosting a group blog and here we are, a week later, already posting. Good going, I should say. Well, you aint seen nothin! Fasten your seat belts people; we are about to take off on an exciting journey, taking up new projects on the way. We believe that together, we can make a difference in the society.

A few basic terms to familiarize yourselves with the Vidyanikethan life:

'The Song' - Gireesh's soulful rendition of a classic Hindi song on the way to Bandipur.
'The Sighting' - The spectaculr sighting of a jungle fowl in Bandipur, courtesy our new age tarzan, Nisarg.
'The bike' - Adarsh's bicycle. Need I say more?

Virtually yours....The VN Volunteers.