what were you reading ?

Last term break I tried some thing diferent. I friend of mine working in TCS, motivated me to go to a place called PARIVAAR. Started by an IIM C alumni, 2003 batch, it has been a story worth following. After 4 yrs in IIT Kgp, a year in infosys and B school education which a forunate few receive, Vinayak decided to follow his heart. In a rented apartment he decided to start Parivaar. So what was it all about.
Well he picked two kids of age 3 and 4 from the railway station. They neither had parents or relatives. No place to sleep and nothing to eat. Vinayak wanted to create a home for such children. His, desire........to give these kids every thing he received from his parents. Love, care, education , a place stay or in short a Parivaar, a family to live with.

After modest beging in 2003 April financed by earnings from teaching in Erudite, a coaching institute, Parivaar moved to its new infrastructure in Thakurpukur, Kolkata.
With support from IIM C alumni the first home to accomodate 50 children was created. Today the second phase is on the verge of completion. Total cost of this new residential area is some where around 1 crore.

Parivaar now accomodates around 135 children. What makes it different from any other destute home are

- They have a standard procedure of intake

- All the kids go to private/public schools, where they win their place by taking admission tests along with others

- Every child has his own uniform, set of clothes and set of books and stationery.

- Parivaar has incorporated special methods to teach children between 6 to 9 years so as to make them eligible for proper schooling.

if you want to know more about it you can go to www.parivaar.org .

WHY THIS BLOG?

Well a group of individuals are currently contemplating on issues regarding development of the children. One area where we are struck is that how to develop reading habits of these children. May I clarify that children of Parivaar go to reputed english and bengali medium schools of Kolkata. Mostly they are of the age between 3 to 10. We plan to make a small library so that they develop good reading habbit. What I expect from readers of this Blog?

- Suggest books mostly from your experience which you felt important/interesting when you were of the same age.

- The books maybe pictorial or short stories, fairy tales, comics........anything which you feel motivated you to read more.

Remember our aim is to improve reading habbits of these children. Ask yourself how this habbit made you a better person. Your experience will be of gr8 help to these kids.

Also if you have any old book to donate I feel there will not be a better cause. You can send them to Parivaar or mail them to me at

C-110, Hostel Block,IIM Indore, Pigdamber, Rau, Indore- 453331 .

I have a Parivaar brochure and a CD with me. Kindly send across a request for them if u need so.

Sumanta