A Tale from the Tata Memorial Hospital

I have made multiple visits at the Tata Memorial Hospital [TMH], Mumbai; each time being for different reasons.

My first visit was as a Clinical Research Associate conducing trials at TMH. When I quit that job, little did I know there was going to be more than one association with the hospital.

Today, after almost 4 years, I found myself at the Social Service Department of TMH submitting a request letter to conduct storytelling sessions once a week at the Paediatric ward.

Its crazy how disparity hits you on the face. Just yesterday I was at an activity center in Worli conducting a parents orientation program. There, I found myself amidst educated parents and hoards of books waiting to be used.....and here I was today morning, at a small, simple playroom at the TMH Paediatric ward. The children there need some form of recreation which not only entertains them but also in some way keeps them still associated with the world and the children outside of the four walls of the hospital.

I am hoping to begin work soon. Anyone, interested to come over a be a part can call and let me know. Im sure, those kids would enjoy having some fun in the middle of their mundane routine each day.

While on my way back, I was introduced to Mr Rao. He has a little book stall at the entrance of the building. His mission is to spread awareness about the cancer. His pleasant personality drove me to him and we got talking. While on the topic of children, storytelling and parents, we decided to have small story like sessions for parents at the hospital which will give them more information on the disease as well as small counseling sessions on dealing with the issue.

He also had wonderful colouring books for children which had educative stories of cancer for them. I found the books to be really informative and at the same time learning was made fun.

We are hoping to work with the kids and their parents from some time next week.

Every story there will have a special place in my heart.

Let me tell you MY story

I grew up in a thriving reading and storytelling environment.

I listened to stories everyday, as a toddler. My mother says, I stared talking really early and used to tell stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharat to people on the train while we traveled to Chennai every year.

My father had subscribed to quite a few monthly magazines like chandamama, tinkle, gokulam etc. My grandmother would read/tell me stories from her tamil magazine 'Gnyanabhoomi', I used to love the mythological stories she told.

My father would also get me lots of foreign publications from 2 raddi shops in Pune....I used to wait for that. Every Saturday evening would be an addition to my book collection.

My Mama who stayed with us for a brief period inculcated regular reading. He had a membership at the local library near our home. I used to get mesmerized by his speed at reading. I used to silently challenge myself to finish reading books as fast as he did. There, I was introduced to Tintin & Asterix. Hardly understood much in Grade 4 but developed an interest to read.

The mystery behind the jalebi shaped alphabets and all my relatives reading so many magazines and novels intrigued me to learn tamil. My cousin who visited Pune for 5 days when I was in Grade 5 taught me the alphabets and encouraged me to read Tamil. Today, though slowly, I can manage to read tamil and enjoy some short stories.

My marathi teacher at school helped me discover the love for this language. She made the whole experience of learning marathi fun. I slowly started picking out marathi books as well and today, I can say, my marathi today, is as good as my mother tongue.

In class 8 during my summer vacations, I decided to open a library at my apartment community hall. I had my best friend to support me in this venture. We got hold of an old wooden shelf from the dumpster and I got all my books to display. I had 3 sack full of books. Bubbling with excitement, we numbered and labelled the books, made a register and charged each member a fee of Rs 2 :) for borrowing books and kids were also welcome to sit in the hall and read. It was the most wonderful experience to see everyone enjoy reading. Ofcourse it didn't last too long. One morning when we opened the hall, all my books were gone! They were all stolen. I cried over the HUGE loss but my dad encouraged me to look beyond the incident and start my collection once again.

10 years after this incident, I was taking a walk with my parents on the MG Rd walking plaza. It was a novel concept developed by the Pune, Camp Cantonment of keeping the entire road vehicle free on weekend evenings and let people walk around and have fun. While chatting with my parents, I thought, why not tell stories to children right here. The motive to promote storytelling and develop reading among children could be achieved right there.

There I was, this idea in my head, I headed to the Cantonment office the next day. Made a presentation on the idea and was lucky enough to have a small article in the papers the next day.

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY was born, on 13th May 2006.

There has been no looking back ever since.

Working with NGOs, schools, teachers, street urchins, woman's welfare associations, blind school, LMTYAS has always taught me something new everyday.

So I say, There's a lot you can hear by listening.

Share your books - LET ME TELL YOU A STORY book collection campaign

The concept LET ME TELL YOU A STORY [the concept and company run by me] is slowly expanding in Mumbai. We are trying to work with as many children as possible to revive and build on the habit of reading.

For same, this is a small campaign to collect children's books for the workshops that are conducted under our banner.

I request you guys to come forward and donate your old children's books [the ones you wish to part with]These books will be put to the best use by children ranging from the ages of 10 months to 15 years.

So clean up your closets and send your books to the different addresses below depending on the ones that are closest and most convenient to you.

In case you need information on the kind of books that you can send, please feel free to give me a call on my cell phone between 10 to 1 in the mornings and 7 to 10 in the evenings. - 9820229003

Typically books categories can include – picture books, comic books, children’s magazines, novels etc. Please note – Do not send school text books as they will not be part of the collection.

I have attached a copy of the brochure of LET ME TELL YOU A STORY. You can pass this email to your friends and colleagues along with the brochure so that they would know where the books are going and what use they will be put to.

Look forward to an overwhelming response from all you avid readers.

LAST DATE FOR SENDING YOUR BOOKS TO THE RESPECTIVE ADDRESSES WILL BE 6^TH MARCH 2010.

PLACE	CONTACT PERSON
Pune	Sarita Kulkarni G 703 Rohan Garima, Shivaji housing society, Off Senapati Bapat Rd, Pune 4110016 Phone – 020- 25635970 Please call between 12-2pm to know the timings for dropping the books
Mumbai	Vaishali Kulkarni 11E Harmony Tower, Dr E Moses Rd, Opp Toyota Showroom, Worli Naka, Worli, Mumbai 400018 Phone - 9820229003 Please call between 10am and 1pm & 7pm to 10pm to know the timings for dropping the books
Vashi	Lalitha Rajagopal Flat no 10, Bharat SHS, Plot no 40, sector 14, Vashi Navi Mumbai – 400703 Phone – 020-27666586 Please call between 10-12 and 4-6pm to know the timings for dropping the books
Chennai	Mathangi Ramakrishnan FOA Jains Advika, 55/24 3rd Main rd, Gandi Nagar, Adayar, Chennai 20 Phone 044- 42187512 Please call between 11am to 2pm to know the timings for dropping the books
Bangalore	Nisha Sekar No 223, Rosalvis Standish Rd, Austin Town, Vivek Nagar Post. Bangalore - 560047 Phone - +919035153543 Please call between 6pm to 10pm to know the timings for dropping the books
Delhi	Anjali Paranjape Flat 562 Bahawalpur Apartment, Plot no 1, Dwaraka Sec 4, New Delhi – 110078 Phone +919350563402 Please call between 10am to 6pm to know the timings for dropping the books

Many many thanks.

Love Vaishali

Concept Initiator - LET ME TELL YOU A STORY