Runner Id: 2008TASV1261

Meet Aarti. 5'6'' MBA , USA Working for a Catastrophe Risk modeling company in the US. Intrepid Sportswoman, A Never-Say-Die Attitude Runner Id: 2008TASV1261

Since Aarti went away to the US a couple of years back, (From my oh so limited perspective), I believed that her world was pretty much about "I need to complete my MBA, get good grades"...then it moved onto 'I need to get a job, a good job'; And then a few interviews and a change of city later she landed up in a great job with a financial firm. I was sooo wrong. There was so much more to her. A few days ago her G-Talk status message started sounding a little strange "Aarti did 10 miles", "Aarti did 11 today". And when I asked her about it, she sent me an email...which I think have forwarded to most of you reading this :) She's running a fund-raiser marathon. 13 Miles. This one's to help raise funds to provide education to kids in India.

I was a little intrigued by 'this whole-marathon-thing...and as I dug around, I saw the enormity of the issue and the difference the program is making ...in its own way. Child Literacy: As I read through the net, I began to get a sense of how important a social issue Child Labour and Child Literacy is. It is perhaps a very strategic lever which can be used to transform society. On a macro level, when you look at the numbers, its astounding! And on a micro-individual level, take a moment, delve into a child's mind and feeling and see how it would be - to live amidst domestic violence, poverty, to have to work everyday to eat that next meal...to see all those 'other kids' in thier fancy uniforms...well you get the point. I put a small montage together... a picture does speak a thousand words...

The Asha Marathon Program: What began as a single city, single digit participation in the marathons has now become a mulit city program in the US and in other parts of the world. People are encouraged to participate, and if not complete the full marathon, partially do so. They are given coaching classes, support as required...and funds can be raised by each runner...just like Aarti is doing. All the money goes out to fund Asha's programs around child literacy in India. The money raised is just one of the outcomes - people are willing to take on personal challenges to run the marathon - many running in successive years; coaching programs have been set up and its being held in multiple cities. Coming back to the issue of child labour... I guess there have always been moments of empathy, sympathy, anger, frustration and a whole host of emotions one has felt with the issue of Child Labour and Education.

This moment is a call for action.

If you would like to do some Armchair Contribution - click the link below. You can donate using a credit card...

Donate Here

By the way - its not elaborate procedure at all - took me about 8 mins...and perfectly safe.

Every rupee, and dollar, euro counts - so whatever your 'denomination'... do go ahead and give - nothing is too small.

And in case you want to forward the 'donation' link to people:

http://tiny.cc/cBIiu

NB: None of the images on this post come from me. They have been picked up from the public domain on the internet. I just put them together in a video format. Music from Enigma - I hope they pardon any IP issues in the view of supporting child literacy programs.

Hiking in the Nuuksio National Park

Nuuksio National Park Well - not really a hike, more like a Nature Walk. Last weekend, a couple of friends and I set out at 10 in the morning to Nuuksio. Antti is a practicing psychologist who also teaches at the local university and Jarko is a Chi-Gung Trainer. A chance conversation at a party a few days ago led to the Nuuksio National Park - also known as Noux. Finland has some really amazing hiking trails. and the Great Outdoors is greatly enouraged as a form of recreational activity. And Nuuksio is perhaps the one closest to the Helsinki city. More a Nature walk, it has jogging and cycling tracks. It also has a trail for horse riders! Just before we started off on the main Walk, Jarko also took us to a more private one - a private hill of sorts so to speak. When I asked about the appropriatness of entering private area, Jarko replied that 'Nature areas' are pretty public - meaning even if a Finn owned a forest area or an island, other Finns have complete right to walk around...they dont get stopped. If you wanted to camp overnight you could, but sometimes it may be appropriate to speak to the owners. But there you go - complete freedom to walk the trails! Our day comprised walking to three destinations - lakes to be precise. The first was a larger one, and there was already a family there by the time we reached the spot. After a brief rest there, we then moved onto the second one. Here, the two of them had no inhibitions getting out of thier clothes to do a little skinny dip. Nudity is not a problem here - with the sauna culture and is pretty much a done thing. I was too Indian to try anything :) Enroute to the third lake, we also climbed this little hill and actually took the time to stop for a while and rest. It was a most beautiful experience - where all you could hear was the wind amidst the trees, a few birds...and this bee that kept buzzing around me! It felt so wonderful, I think we even nodded off to sleep for a while. When we went down to the third - and I decided to take a dip (with my shorts on, of course)... and for those who know I dont swim - i pretty managed to get wet...the water was just right - about 18 I would say. Another break through - my first Finnish Lake Dip. :) Here's the official website with maps and directions to get to Nuuksio - Getting to Nuuksio - Maps and Directions Have fun!

Guys- dont miss this one

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na

* ing Imran Khan, Genelia, Ratna Pathak, Manjari Phadnis, Anuradha Patel, Jayant Kriplani, Alishka Varde, Nirav Mehta, Ayaz Khan, Karan Makhija, Sugandha Garg, Prateik Babbar, Renuka Kunzru, Naseeruddin Shah

Very nice.

Funny without being in your face. It makes you think about the good moments you had in college, your friends and then you wonder - where they are now, what they are doing...hmmm.

Just imagine they made Friends into a movie, (Monica and Chandler getting married?), removed the the American show's cheesy style, throw in a nice Indian college type flavour

And you have Jaane tu ya jaaane na - An Aamir , Abbas Tyrewala's direction and a good cast.

The story begins with a group of friends heading off to the airport to greet some friends. And the chatter is filled with references to love lost, love won, mis-understandings and The Group. It does lend itself to a certain 'hot pakora' and chai (Or Beer and Pakora) mood. The movie meanders through a story that at times seems familiar and at times has its surprises. I didnt realise it - but somewhere along the way, I caught myself being interested in the lives of the people in the movie...being empathatic with this one, or angry with that one. Thats a sign of a good movie. The cast is an interesting mix.

Jay (Imran) - He is so much like Aamir - it was almost eerie - but quite tolerable. I think he may grow to be a crowd puller. He is the kind of actor that makes people would him want to succeed.

Aditi (Genelia) - She, well - she's cute - I guess you pull a pretty girl from St.Joseph's and she can most likely do! Hmm - on serious thoughts- she does a fair bit of acting...and the chemistry between the two is quite becoming. (Btw - A UK based girl, now in Hyderabad? What happened to Mumbai?)

As for The Friends - you can find atleast one person in your life who resembles atleast one of the characters...making it easy on 'Acceptability Scale'...an easy-going narrative style.

The Ratna - Naseerudin banter brings that light hearted fun at the right moments. You begin to forward to these as the movie progresses. "You can take the Rathore out of the Ranchod, but you can never take the Ranchod out of the Rathore!!" And of course, not to forget, Aditi's brother - the obnoxious painter genius who reminds his sister what it is to be true to ones heart.

For many of the girls - you will defntly have aasoon in your eyes at certain moments :) or perhaps those thoughts that take you back to yester years - reminding you of 'Him'

:)

And no, it does NOT have many 'Awwww , chooo cute' moments - which make it all the more enjoyable.

Rahman shows that he still hasnt lost his touch - the music complements the mood of the movie very well - light hearted and engaging. As for the dialogue- it has been a long time since I enjoyed a good line in a Hindi movie! There were times I was roaring with laughter (wonder what the neighbours thought) By the way - for all you Wannabe Macho guys - thats a good prescription - Beat someone up, Spend a night in jail...and ride a horse on the city roads!!

What ever happened to Viagra and Veerappan moustaches?

Anywhich ways - a total paisa vasool movie.

Go watch it with your girlfriend, boyfriend, gang...your favourite company. Its a refreshing movie. Check out my friend - Vishal's take [COMMA]on the movie - will make you smile