No One Knows Her, But She’s Doing What Governments Couldn’t 💧 | Kalpana Ramesh | iSmart Shiva

No One Knows Her, But She’s Doing What Governments Couldn’t 💧 | Kalpana Ramesh | iSmart Shiva

 https://youtu.be/85Fnc32y_ds?si=aTjR51ch7r_v2uoX

Can you imagine after bansilp I got a call from Rashtraati Bhavan and suddenly when he said I'm connecting you to the president of India  I cannot give up even one square in I want this well as it is one of the dialogues was sort of a soft threatening project. I am responsible for the funds. Government will not give a rupee. This is a clause in that. My journey was never easy. >>  >> 100% sure.  I still have that video.  >>   >> What was the first thought ran through your mind? Shock. I mean, I'm getting a call from Delhi. That's all I was completely  sometimes I feel for water. You've turned an allaala. You closed anal. You've encroached an allala. You made something smaller. You cut a stream. You've done so much of massacre for water. sanitation. She said, "Madam, last week   do you know in our country 70% littering youth What is your life's philosophy? >> I think live every day one day at a time is not in my hands but I'll become a better person than yesterday.  >> That's my goal. What are you trying to prove? And your life is short. Can you make four people happy around you? >> I think that should be the goal. You be positive, you make others positive around you. You be negative. You see a woman in a house, if she's not okay, the whole house is not okay.  support and urban flooding. Best solution. Professionals. Hi ma'am, welcome to my show. >> Thank you Shivan. Thank you. It's I think it's a privilege to be part of your show. No, it's our privilege to have you. like you have that much strong connection with water. Yeah. Actually 15 years like when I was doing my design practice but I grew up in Bangalore by the lake. So almost every evening watch the regatas there but I never imagined invatation actually first restoration is we added two wells. Okay. During everyone was distributing food. I wanted to distribute milk because I saw a lot of children, youngsters, pregnant women. So I thought I should distribute milk. So when I was doing that, there were lot of shacks. I saw a round structure next and it actually was a large irrigation well. Mhm. >> Because I I I moved out some you know garbage with some people and I saw it was a large park half of the park has become the road now. >> Okay. Half park started throwing garbage 6t 7 ft 5 ft garbage restaurant waste beauty parlor waste then uh generally construction waste debris. So not I was already wearing mask because of co but I had to put two three masks and a restaurant of fish chicken and raw meat waste. It was just a toxic state. >>  >> Then I went and asked the uh you know government can I take up the cleaning of this well said that's almost like a dumpyard and people keep dumping no matter how much we clean it the dump keeps coming back. So first thing is a dump stop. So every day we used to ask sanitation workers to remove the dump night we also kept some people so that people don't dump you know they also told ma'am they planning a link road here road. effort. We need to see then by the time they gave me proper permission every day I used to show up later just you know clean up. So we started cleaning up. >> Uh I know if I find that well I definitely want to save it right. So when we started opening it and I found a beautiful large irrigation well there's a small well outside and attached is a larger well >> then they go to the chinabi which is more deeper or it could be the rivers so connected that opened up so it looked beautiful as uh my enterprise and my own personal funds I started putting it because every day was a revelation for me excitement I didn't even you know actually go and ask anybody we started doing it ourselves and when we found water so we finished work Okay. >> First time I  saw this entire twin wells >> filled with water. Wow. >> 9 lakh lant. It's about 28 ft deep. 28 ft normal ground water. During the monsoons there is a oozing that happens within the shallow layers under the shallow layers water keeps oozing into it but it was all completely closed up right so there's no way water would actually go in >> so and I saw for the first time a road actually the road is sloping towards this entire long stretch and well so this makes a beautiful rain garden rain garden. Rain garden is what you make you know it is a beautiful garden on top but underground we make storage systems. So water filters on top and it will get into the ground. >> So that's the concept of a rain garden. a flooding low. Imagine lacks and lacks of liters of water. It used to go in every few days 5 ft 6 ft water used to go down and next year around the same season he said you did something in that stretch with that well and that but we are getting good water in our bs. I was so thrilled but see the impact of what we are doing. Then I understood catchment. Okay. 16 million LC. How much? What is the breadth of that? It's made of lime. >> Bowi means well. Everyone knows Gachi Bali for its IT industry. >> But the Gachi Bali its name came from this humble well. It's filled with garbage and top brim. There's mattresses. There is all kinds of things you can't even make out. We did anou with them. Then we started opening it up. wells can be in private properties mazjid or mandr. So they there may be multiple ownerships also. >> So first we I try to find out who is the owner and uh take a sort of letter or make an agreement with it so that we can peacefully restore. Maybe somebody says go ahead but later on somebody might come and fight. I'm always careful. You always take a letter. People that don't trust you, people that trust you, people. So all these questions and that I for the first time I was facing all these things in first few wells even that side is a graveyard. >> Immediately I will get a list of messages. Mhm. So it was like pins and needles. And that time I realized community. It's like working on a sword's edge. >> You need to sort of burn in that thing and show them the trust. What have I done? what can I prove? what is the result I'm going to give lot of elder priest so he's the main person there >> is a old person he was very happy and uh I made theou and um when I finished that well and came one thing that really touched me was he told um Friday prayer me family I spend a couple of minutes you know praying for your family so I was so touched by that sometimes you know you see there's a lot of diversity different religions different types of people different strata of society differ and it's natural for everybody because our childhood how we grew up these are all different backgrounds. We cannot get everyone make it inclusive mindset. >> But after doing this work got me closer to community finally they all become close to me. After working with communities >> number of times uh I have assessed what I should talk >> and what I should listen how much I should listen we have to understand what is the need and do but in totality what I understood was okay 100% people if you take in any place 80% will not react to anything But whatever it is, good bad whatever 20% hyper they will say yes or no or be angry or show an emotion. This is in the 20%. >> Decision makers decision 20% decision makers react  20% one or 2% people only will be negative. Mhm. >> A negative waves 20% will take over >> and then the 100% also joins that opinion. So each one or two persons who is that negative elemental >> we have to find out what is it what why are they saying what they're saying >> if we are able to communicate with that 2% >> and make them happy but how to equate what they want >> 20% 20% next even the 80% will join and follow. So you have won the 100%. >> Okay. >> And what was more fascinating to me is I've studied architecture for 5 years. We have studied about water heritage structures updui seven years of research which I did with actually saw well in beautiful he called for a M >> volunteer but we want to document the steps of Telangana. >> M >> this happened around 2016 17 18 around that time. >> Then um already water conservation interest and also I love history and our heritage structures. So water heritage structures definitely I should be part of this team. I became part of the team. I'll actually go on ground. I will travel. I love traveling. It's a very interesting subject for me. I'll do that sir. He said okay fine you can do that part of the research. >> Okay. 33 wells. But can you believe today how many wells I myself I I know that I have walked into 340 or 360 stepwell so far and you know last week also we found another well So the villages also are excited. We went to villagers actually is like my guard. I always take him along because I don't know where I'm walking. Soh. Okay. So you be careful. We had a vehicle so we said we'll go. Of course, it was it became a little thick for us. Suddenly, we found a jeep forest ranger. Okay. Some people inje comes your goal. We looking for I think there is a well anything you call me. So we went >> and we found such a beautiful well. I cannot tell you beautiful untouched. See the moment more people come becomes a disaster. Every time we go there, we open a chips packet or we >> Actually, I want to tell you, if you follow the beer bottles, no, you'll find the best locations.  >> It's um it's not even funny, but it's true. >> Okay. >> In the middle of the forest somewhere.  You love that place and you want to enjoy a bottle. Can you not do a simple thing like carry it back? No. Fine. You enjoy. You love that place. You drank whatever you did. I don't think that needs any restoration. We documented that and it's a beautiful stepfell  and the depth and the scale of that stepwell the beautiful and uh the range officer then we showed him the pictures even he was shocked we found some two people that were walking there. >> Okay. Okay. They used to get their loot and they used to safeguard in this well. >> Okay, >> that's called we have satellite maps. We have all kinds of technology. We can find the water even just with an equipment. Today I I also read some books which I got some understanding. They used to understand the land ecology and land what kind of birds, what kind of trees, what kind of shrubs used to grow. Definitely there is water underground >> and pine land formations >> what we call slopes and you know a land formation. The last point where water could be stored inside and also antills. Oh no. >> Those antills are also markers and you know where water is. >> We restored two stepwells. One in Bikinur temple stepwell and one in Linget. Ling village. There are at least 50 60 wells in there. beautiful wells and every V the corner you find a well >> m >> and uh very few porters are there people are still drawing water >> within their homes and well culture is so preserved I I was thinking I should write a book or something on that ling and my friend who's an architect in Nashikuani I bought her and I showed her this village you know because I feel this knowledge should not be erased farmer also always hold on to it. This one, that one, you're doing that's the one that will feed your bwell. Every time rain water comes and ment let it go to the well let it revive and then your land will become water rich they started digging a well. So then that around that communities were built. Even if you see indust first they made sure agriculture is strong agriculture is it is it strong because how to feed people agriculture strong but in Telangana literally we are in The decken plate. >> Exactly. Water more rocky. So, in summers we will not have water. How will you drive agriculture and how will life exist? >> So import one uh incident that I will never forget is clean up. We did it with three high-end schools. >> We had uh Oakidge, DPS and some two three schools. When we started the cleanup, we had gloves, we had double gloves, we had everything ready because children are coming. You have to be very careful with the sewage water. Oh ma'am, it's smelling so much we don't want to go there. So much of protection and that. But nobody was bothered about >> dirty. They started worrying about um you know we don't want to do this kind of thing. >> So 10 minutes okay no clean up today sanitation workers every clean up we call GHMC. So I told the sanation workers 10 or 11 people each one of you. They're all sanitation workers means they clean roads, lakes, dirty sewage areas and any kind of work that they do. So and because all of them who were talking there are all more than 50 years, 60 years. We can't play with them because somebody showed and he And somebody said there's a lot of health issues. So  he told one story. So I was looking at the children. uncontrollable first time even I felt like crying because inspiring stories health is at risk your families are at risk but you're doing this kind of a They are in some cushioned world. They are unaware of her. >> They are unaware. But the first time when they heard their stories, you know, then they asked some questions. They interacted. Ma'am, we ready for clean up? I said, really? Clean up? Yes. Yes, ma'am. We want to. Don't do anything. Ma'am, we took so much garbage. We took so much garbage. So really every time I tell this even I tear up Shiva it is because it was very emotional you know moment it is it is a one moment We'll take it up. I told them they feel little happy and they also they won't forget in their lifetime ma'am at least 30 40%. So teachers and every sanitation worker many people after that ma'am till now I don't use plastic I use only my bottle you see I came to the mall I have my water bottle with meandi the way they get inspired tired. No, it's like amazing. They are the learning that comes out into the society. So many things even said we couldn't treat him. He was a very healthy guy. So how can you litter? Educated. So many quotes we see uneducated person is cleaning your litter. Every catchment conservation, every degraded stuff, all the you know degraded matter goes into the water bodies. Plastics, they don't disintegrate. But if they're exposed directly to the sun, greenhouse gases, >> they're very dangerous. reduce plastics, respect, the kind of work they do and they get paid very less for what they do and how they are managing their families. What kind of respect they get in the society? >> Only after doing this kind of work I come to know I understand. Many times we tell them you wear gloves, you wear shoes. Many places we have got them. biggest everything. So um starting from identification rainwater how between the fly I made a presentation to the zonal commissioner people are benefiting from it area it'll be nice we can also help restore so he was excited and first time they mentioned yes 234 wells I'll send my engineer and I'll show you first day when I went to the bed garbage. Madam, garbage bag is just flinging it like a football. It's just throwing it inside. and balcony there is one whole bag that came and fell. So this this was the first day and first day photograph actually when you go up the steps the first photo you see that that photo was taken from my phone. I'm not telling them. So I was thinking so many plans  have something new. So we have to go another path and years of work on ground taught me one thing. Every challenge is an opportunity maybe we can find something. So anyway though he um after understanding this thing the next thing was of course to get permissions uh to do this well arindu was the principal secretary but challenges it's a good thing that if government starts the work >> it'll be nice if you can help clean up the well sir government started cleaning up local politician he did he fairly did a lot of help initially and talking to people and putting this project together Monday the day I came the first day only I sketched the whole thing I don't like doing this autocad sketching I usually keep scribbling and sketching out of the Google images how to open this up and clean up. They're doing a good job. If I open up the well, it will connect to the aquifer guarantee definitely I will give and I'm 100% sure 24 ft someact it's also a risk. >> I still have that video. Of course, it was black water, you know, as if it just opened up like that. communities. It was written some 100 years earlier. one of it was in English and uh it was a proper printed booklet >> with some photographs >> that talked about a model village around trader he wanted to give five lak rupees to the king George hospital king George hospital Gandhi hospital okay So he wanted to donate because um hospital needed some funds. M >> name instead of your money going to one project >> I want to build some dignity homes for the poor >> we'll find any location that you find we'll find a location I want to build these homes and rental will have a class B class Cass homes it will support the hospital both it will support you know he wanted that location to be under his name >> that area beautiful story what kind of community challenges was the toughest challenge >> it was like working in old city. It was like um diverse. It was like a mini India >> Hindus Muslim community. It's a very diverse community. Everyone talks to you but everyone opposes also. Whatever we define definition for the well to define the well property till where is the well till where is the support system till where it is M the stone gallery. So it became a big challenge. It was sometimes hitting the wall >> and I don't know what next to say. Then I told only one thing in a nice way. I cannot give up even one square inch. I be I am the voice for the well. One of the dialogues was means you cannot move a brick here. >> You don't belong to this place. You belong to another community. Many things. Oh, >> so sort of a soft threatening kind of a thing >> journey before after well restoration process next project work process. It's it's a it's really memory for life and it's also a book of learnings. M >> it's like so much learnings maybe I might not I might not even be so knowledgeable today. >> So this is that kind of a project. >> Yeah. How to handle the people how to hand multiple things >> government people work workforce >> and uh you know initially I put some well diggers and men I have that question. They're actually I got scared what they're going to because we don't know was completely a filled up place. So then I put 70 women uh and I and one day when they were all working I said can I take a picture with you guys and uh photo that's a very powerful photo for me even today here it worked they won't give money but they give their sweat and >> not only you see they didn't work like daily workers every >> day they used to come with enthusiasm actually removing garbage and picking it's not it's a very mundane work >> and you normally won't be excited but they used to come with excitement and evenings usually 5:00 used to sit and they enjoy the process In my 23 years of design practice, a lot of laborers on site and different different projects and deep well deep is Is it 10 ft? Is it 20 ft? Suddenly we saw 32 ft and 31 ft marker in a lime panel on the one side of the wall. 32 ft 32 ft marker. Then we said, "Oh my good exactly touch down for the well. Exactly. We went down we realized 28 ft 26. >> So those days they also and the Britishers did that they they were scared of heights and what the well could be. So they have marked that also. Today it tells us that in 3 and 1/2 years almost we are touching in getting into fourth year. In four years throughout summer there was 28 ft clean water in the well. Till that 28 we'll know what was your feeling. What was the first thought ran through your mind? So one random day I got a call from the PMO's office that they want to talk about this. I actually very project  shock. I mean I'm getting a call from Delhi >> and somebody is asking about a project that I'm doing locally in the city. genuine work. Not only our city officials but also somewhere from the center people are noticing this work. frozen moment. I didn't know how to react to this. Then uh they said uh time to send some visuals and we will they will also talk to the officials >> uh network and uh we'll just talk about this project. We just want to inform you. >> Okay, >> that was like really something and uh responsibility of this project became like multiffold. No, no, no. It was not complete. He mentioned this in March. >> Okay. >> Only when the water showed up, when the water came up and the structure showed up. >> Okay. >> Inca conservation work got on board. But still in the middle of a city such an effort is happening. He said yeah that was that was really something became a prestigious project for the government also.  I saw a whole bunch of officers who came there. Of course uh principal secretary gau and sinasa sadogar they were always there but the after that we saw a bunch of you know large media houses coming and covering the project CNN BBC uh we could see like a lot of buzz around it go I used to I felt that you know they they sort of owned it up a community moment when they saw that monkeyad I thought that community suddenly owned it up and the first time I was you know hearing from them and and and with so such pride. First of all, their property values have gone up. They never used to connect to what I say. But today they connect. Today when they come back and tell me morningument and when we hear music here. Wow. Just imagine look at the also were part of the transformation. Start date the government cleaning one and that but when after we got the funds >> 9 months straight. >> Wow. >> 10th month we were literally handed over. >> Okay. >> There were some small things before the inaugural 1 month or 2 months >> within a year it's actually 11 month. So I look at it I look at it like a  9 month delivering a baby >> literally like that literally like that for me because no challenges you know we have to go past this we have to go past this every challenge then I got this uh Gandhi welfare society they are the largest funer >> they said they'll take care of the entire so well I okay well including lighting fencing any and creating that museum basically connecting the project and how to make it sustainable museum maybe we can do a ticketed end 40 50 rupees ticketing what we need to maintain the well is money exactly >> okay support they can't generate money for maintenance. The well has to earn its own maintenance. >> So it should become a cultural hub where many events can happen. So there are lot of designers who come and do photo shoots for their branding. >> So branding is an opportunity. So may initially I thought okay ticketing will get some money >> and maybe some programs some money >> but later on if you understand photography events and branding >> jewelry branding clothing brands and first time Miss Universe >> she came and took a picture there >> and exactly where she was standing you know there was a pile of garbage >> and for me if I connect that pile of garbage And today even miss that place has become worth for a Miss Universe >> to come and take a photograph here. >> That was a moment for me of of celebration. And also these kind of branding >> the branded langas which they photograph there are all 10 lakh, three lakh, four lakh langas. Mhm. >> And when they do these uh you know photo shoots there that means that place is that much worth >> exactly >> actually not just that much worth it's worth much much more as Indians if you want to be futuristic >> it is not about innovation and technology% Aina if you become intelligent then you are the most futuristic in the world. Imagine that's the kind of wealth we had in terms of art, architecture, culture, um, religious, ritual, everything was so connected. Can you imagine after Bansil P, I got a call from Rashtraati Bhavan. >> Oh, >> and suddenly when he said, I'm connecting you to the additional secretary to the president of India. >> I just shook in my feet. I was like but when I got that call you know I thought some call and the moment he said Rajapati Bhan I was little you know uh I was shivering actually I don't know what they're calling me for but when they called me and they said I'm connecting you to the additional secretary to the president of India and then that's it I felt numb suddenly when I heard like president of India I'm like what I I asked him again like uh you're connecting me to whom and he said like Rakkesh Gupta sir then I said oh wow then he had a brief conversation with me and uh he said in a president retreat homestep well we really liked how you pulled up that well and brought it backit. So why can't we do revive the three-step wells in our rashi? I'd like you to give a presentation. Uh when sir tomorrow at 9 a.m. >> Mhm. >> I said uh okay sure sir. Uh I was so thrilled and I kept the phone. Then um I started preparing okay what what should I prepare and uh previous project a couple of slides and and to tell you the truth there are 60 lakh plus architects and designers across the country opportunity I got this opportunity so it felt too >> too good too privileged to be even even presenting a presentation or >> not getting the job even to present seemed like a huge privilege thing. So I prepared over the night they worked on some 3D and you know we um I told exactly how I want and we did that. Next day morning 6:30 I got a call and uh madam I said presentation  I said like um I thought presentation I thought online inform then I'll get back to you this then they informed Rakkeshan and he said like 9:00 take up be ready and uh you do the presentation sir said you can do it online so in uh correct 9:00 I was very prepared and all  that and the internet popped in our house and uh 5 minutes and before the call they have a lot lot of preparation 15 20 minutes you are on that call and suddenly internet popped my god I didn't know what to do I took my laptop top literally and went to my neighbor's house.  I connected, plugged up and I was ready and do on the dot nine o'clock he came on the call and >>  >> uh everything in the background and this managing situations >> you know anything worse also and next I never >> go back to uh or or sit in that problem I don't sit in that problem I I I see what next. Mhm. >> So and and use your presence of mind and do it properly. So I presented he was very happy.  At the end of the thing he saidpn I said sir Rashtraati  no there'll be lot of good and true true to the fact there are lot of people who are waiting to work with the Rashtraati Bhan. So I said sir Infosys we are already working with Infosys foundation and then he said oh it's a credible brand you should try and uh I presented to Infosys they were uh good with it and sir also had some conversations with them and that project took off so work but last when you finish the project I'll tell you and On that inaugural day and presidentu actually inaugurated the three stepwells. She launched it in March 2022 and 2023 we finished the project and inaugural day rojo evening I said can we do a program for madam >> at the stepfell. So they installed a stage and uh we did a beautiful event there. She was so impressed. lasting you should visit and on the inaugural day. Um he he called me he said Kalpn I told you when you get your funding government will open every door for you. You wanted the museum, you wanted this or how you want to drive the work, how you do the freedom is yours. >> But when you expect a fund from us and to work with the ban is extremely complex, you know, it's not easy. You might get demoted somewhere >> because that's the kind of process. It's not it's it's a government you're working with. So >> that's the kind of processes that you have to go through and it's a tedious process. M >> but when you get the funding >> permission they will give >> see that's what I understood even even before >> sir told me this even before that my 10 years of work even for bansal pit >> I only expected a letter  S I'll tell you that when I was living in Singapore you want to go to Malaysia and then Malaysia is just a bridge bridge crossed is the Malaysia city and I used to find it funny carrying passports and >> going on the other side. >> This whole country Singapore it was dependent on Malaysia for water. I used to think country mam how they are dependent on water. This was around 989 >> 1999 98 that those were the years we spent there. post that Malaysia, Singapore, they had uh some political issues and they cut off their water. So, Apuru around that time is when Singapore really worked hard and their president was a great guy. He really brought everything to the because for them it was the end game, right? And where where is your water you have to find. So, they made everything sustainable. Then how sea water how they would uh you know make it get it to drinking water even their sewage water the water that they use the ground water how they recycle how they put it back right from their garbage to water to everything they made it zero waste and they made beautiful ex but I think they came to that point because they came to a point where the water to their country was cut off. I feel  one week you know cut off everything you're not getting water basic soap five things first thing that stands out is cleanliness >> people they really behave >> we don't throw our waste we keep our waste we put it in designated areas we don't we don't do whatever we feel like we don't spit why because of the huge penalties >> because the country is maintained like this but the moment we land in our country everything  is okayed >> yes I throw in the airports I I litter the toilets I do anything um independence day and republic day you sing national anthem and patriotism why do you know in our country 70% youth youth in our country people don't even suppose you don't find a bin Sri Lanka is even better when I visited Sri Lanka I never found a bin in a public area Singapore Lana you find waste bins Sri Lanka you don't even find that you know what the guide told us you open everybody's purse madam they will have everything they have to go to their home office or go anywhere and then only dump >> okay >> they cannot dump in public area then that's not allowed if you keep a bin >> you don't even have a responsibility to throw things inside the bin so you don't care for all That who does it? Most of the youth sha most of the youth me responsibilities duties and responsibilities equate any country this you can learn from Singapore it's not only the rules it's not only the penalties it's the responsibility of the people that you see there how they use public transport they don't do a mob a pret and a queue they don't push rush everything is systematic right from your playtime in a garden you come back you know your parents because it's a responsibility that child needs to do this lunchtime I think you see one sea of people exactly 12 on the dot >> oh yeah >> and then you see a sea of people go back to work exactly in like half an hour everything is clogged everything is time but you know what Singapore drives 15 minutes you will go from east to west country they have the top educational institutions in the world. >> Sustainability they top the world cleanliness, cleanliness and many many things at top the world today right from marketing strategy to to even coming to competing in the business world. They top the world in so many things >> because of their mind >> because of their discipline because of their behavior change because of the mindset. country we have so many rich heritage and diversity but our diversity you know diversity you know you we just it's not like that different different religions people from across the globe >> this is one thing that you should learn from them the kind of discipline that I have seen and how they adapt to it rules But what have you done as a responsibility? I think that's where we fall back. And the day we learn to be responsible citizens, we don't need smart cities. We need smart citizens. We need absolutely smart citizens who know how to keep our country clean. We have to understand our own responsibilities. >> So this is something I see in that country. Discipline, responsibility, they're very dutiful. They follow the rules. They pay the penalties. One very interesting thing I like about Singapore is you cannot abandon your parents. You will be behind bars. You'll be in the jail. If you don't take care of your parents or you leave them somewhere, >> you will be behind bars. I feel that should be there in our country. So I think all of that makes a country, all of that makes a society, all of that. So it starts from family values then society then your community then your village then your city town and country reflects who we are. Yes. Most influential person you should be able to survive. It doesn't matter. Every day you should work. Every day you should try to achieve something. It's not about money. Sorry to interrupt. So you have to work. So parenting parenting is very important. I think I think influences in life you know as a child childhood memories precious >> and I think that is the very important face of influence everything my mother you know she always used to tell she used to always tell also 99 ways are wrong there will be only one Right path you have to find that 99 >> but one path will take you in the right direction. So you have to keep coming back to the right path strength to survive. He was a lung cancer patient >> and when we discovered it she only had four months to live. She came back home and she started the washing machine. She was just like a normal person. Shocking comfortable. This is like it's life and death, right? It's literally saying that situation. Everyday morning she used to get up. She used to pray. She used to do her normal cooking and all take care of everything. She never cried. She never felt bad. She said it's it's part of life. What happens you should not question. That is one quality. I will learn from her that whatever situation comes okay it's okay we go with the flow story there is one tea stall which is also an encroachment >> okay um very old person kadu She was about 40 45 years. >> She had her son studying in college and her daughter was married. She was running the tea store. She used to see me cleaning the lake. She say then one day. Mhm. have to ask for the funds. With that we have to see and next. Then she then she went one day and 500. She gave me this 500. Oh my god. And really I was so  I was so emotionally I couldn't speak that day because 600 800 rupees profit she might make in the whole day 500. So I felt I have seen this for a fact that  people in the low income groups people in the higher up income groups I see lesser of that poor families low income groups they have such a big heart earnings almost one day earning 500 I still I still have that 500 note Fore. She used to see She used to tell me. Mhm. >> But the point is it is all part of the game. So really literally and every achievement is after a very very tough journey >> right >> it is not easy >> because then there's no fun there you just everything comes easy >> what is mean by happiness for you >> happiness means I think being content it's a thing in your mind happiness Are you at peace with yourself? Are you at peace? >> You are detached. It is the rule of life. Whoever is born has to die. But if you understand these things from another spiritual level or something, you at peace with yourself outside you're not agitated. You're at peace. >> When do you do you believe in God or nature? >> Absolutely. I believe in God and nature also. I feel nature align every of your thought process. Suddenly you will get a call you'll meet someone. So that's nature's way of aligning things for you. >> God is a very strong believer. what you ask God 15 20 years >> because I feel we evolve as a person and as you keep evolving your desires also change and you come to a point that you you don't want anything anymore you just want peace so whenever you go to temple you just ask for peace that's it >> you ask for a peaceh peace I find  which is my lake. >> Wow. >> I keep fighting with so many people but I'm looking at my lake. I'm looking at thing that gives me immense peace. >> Okay. >> And if you are going to take back every fight to your house or if you're going to take back everything back home then you can't live peacefully. M >> then everything you cannot make it part of your life some things you have to disconnect happy family these are the things >> I think um at least I can tell about my life so I don't know about others but what I feel is we never looked at each other like a competition >> okay We never try to do that. Most of them want to women they want to you know go higher up the career ladder which is very good >> but you leave the children uh unattended or you uh you know the work at home you're not interested when this happens. See, I feel a woman is made to do certain things, right? We can feel and that emotion a woman has you know even when I want to cook a mealot. So emotion even if you see right from your mother um sister your wife whatever we you know as women we can apply that emotion >> and as men they are made to do certain things you know they're very very good in strategizing how the u you know family works or what is the overall perspective of how the family should be run uh maybe finances it is definitely their strength women finances no doubt but efficient I don't know because most of us are not interested it's not that we don't know we can take up and do with all these untimely deaths and all that we need to be we need to understand everything >> but the point is a competition parents mind always looked at poor old uh people who need our help. >> I think that's the first thing because marriage is between families >> between individuals only initially it is between families. So you have to adopt this family, you have to adopt that family also. You cannot be I and you and you. I think that's where all the differences will merge. You know, I don't like this about him. I don't like that. I don't like this. We got married very early. So, literally, we grew up together. So, there was no telling you this fights we tell, you know, you don't do this, I don't do this. >> But when we grew up together, we just grew up together accepting the positives and negatives of another person. acceptance problem you you cannot accept only his beauty or oh he looks handsome that's the only accept no you have to accept another piece also of himakren accept means what don't try to change you be who you are allow the other person to be who you are >> the moment conflict started >> then the comes the conflict because you are touching somebody's space >> that personal space >> there's nothing personal between husband and wife but still there is a personal space when you when you touch that space you the moment you say you are not like this you become like this then you are um altering their belief >> right you're you're changing them in a certain you just accept accept first accept and don't try to change each other and don't compete with each other that is another thing I want to tell >> it doesn't matter whatever you earn >> always 20% afford so what is this fight for money what is this fight for thing and one day all of us are going to die and become that mud right you're just going to go away just like that You're not going to take a single thing of anything. Be it name, fame, money, whatever it is, it's all going to go away. >> So what is the fight for? What are you trying to prove? And your life is short. Can you make four people happy around you? >> I think that should be the goal. You be positive, you make others positive around you. >> You be negative. You see a woman in a house, if she's not okay, the whole house is not okay. >> Yes, ma'am. So somewhere accept somewhere believe in the other person and trust. >> What is money in terms of you ma'am? >> I feel money is a concept but I don't I or we don't look at money as a material. >> The moment you start looking at it as a material then friends, you know, families, your goal never ends. When Romesh was MD of a software company, there's X amount of money. >> At 50, he decided to move into a college. So, he's a professor at Triple. There's a huge difference between what is money here and what is money here. >> Mhm. >> But the point is you don't look at life like that. you just I'm so peaceful seeing that he's not in this tough corporate job and he loves doing what he's doing >> educating the people. So >> yeah and and so that is the goal. >> So it's not the money we tune to money like when when the money is lesser you live accordingly. >> When the money is a little more you stretch yourself. >> So money is just a concept. Money should not decide who you are. >> Money never decides who you are. goes to all the credit goes to him. Whatever you want your children to become, you become what you want them to be. Sometimes it's good to fail. It's good to fail. And if we should fail miserably. Oh >> fail you rise. You cannot keep winning all the time. You have to lose. You have to. So in my journey also there are lot of failures. There are lot of people who question me in the wrong direction. >> But today I don't react to anything. I just listen. Let it be the worst of worst things they're saying. You listen process slowly you take your action. M >> there's no need to react for everything. There's no need. It's not a compulsion. >> Yeah. What you react what comes to >> exactly but how you want your body to be how you want to be at peace depends on how you react. >> What is your life's philosophy? >> I feel whatever you are living for right your your parents you have to take care of them. you have married a a partner so his life also you are responsible for your child so I feel your duties don't give up your duties >> keep on doing that social work do only social work I don't believe in that >> while balancing everything at home I'm doing social work if I'm not able to balance I should sit quiet and do things at home only because I'm capable of doing things parallelly multitasking I'm able to manage >> how you balance me >> I look at one day at a time >> okay >> I never look at the whole picture even the bansal story taught me that so many years so much of planning you can make any plan but God will do another plan live every day one day at a time >> even my projects also I said it's okay let me achieve something so every day I do something for water either I'm giving awareness or I'm building a change or I'm doing something at the lake or some work is moving in one of the projects every day that's it I'm happy jaradi is not in my hands but I'll become a better person than yesterday. >> That's my goal. But I believe I can become that if you want to follow in this path. It doesn't matter whatever battles come. It is in your mind that you have to win your own battles. There's no one else that will fight your own battles. You have to decide. You have to do and you have to be there for yourself. >> Mhm. Others are all support. It is about you changing. You have to change. >> You have to accept that something is wrong with you. You have to change. Stop changing the world. >> You change yourself. The world will change in front of your eyes. This is what I believe. And believe me, right from your maidervant to everyone will teach you something. learn. You open your eyes and be ready to learn. Even a sweeper who does your cleaning will teach you a lot of things. >> Three words. Thank you. Please. Sorry. Thank you to my mom for bringing me into this world and uh inspiring me to do day. There's not a day when I don't remember her because any achievement I go to her photo I stand there and say this is for you this is to you this is I dedicate to you any award anything anything I keep in front of our photograph because no strength no upbringing is why I'm here today sorry means I tell sorry to my family that I don't know because of my passion maybe I put a lot of things that you had to adopt you know adapt and uh change some things in your life because I was not with you sometimes but I will also say this that I tried my best to be there for you all whenever whoever needs but uh social workload sometimes I get dragged into because of passion because of doing things. So I forget myself and do things. In that sense if I hurt anyone my family is when in one uh definitely I have to say sorry to though they are very very happy with me but I feel that somewhere like I told you 80,000 9000 for but I don't want to say that somebody is helping you somebody is there and thank you to so many people There are a few friends they don't expect anything I need this money for something you know to restore a willak few days they will give they they will you know ask the motivate their friends or if they cannot they will give themselves So because the moment I ask they will give no matter what friends. Thank you and lot of volunteers  and families who believe in my work. Thank you to them and lot of gratitude to God because that divine power nothing might happen. So uh gratitude to God and gratitude to the universe >> who who has shown me thousands of people in this journey. >> Thank you. Sorry I please you understand >> please don't disrespect your country oh don't spoil our heritage don't spoil our tourist locations. Keep it pristine. Respect India. 365 days. Be patriotic towards your country. Country. Why are we telling other countries are great? Why is not our country great? Our country is also great. our roads, our lakes, our water bodies, everything can become like what you see in other countries. >> Thank you so much ma'am in many people inspire. >> Thank you so much and I I feel that many more people should adopt this journey. >> Definitely. How was the podcast ma'am? >> Podcast was really good. I mean I enjoyed talking. I went on and on. It was not uh show off something >> genuine. You want to get somebody's thoughts and you want to inspire the world that that is your goal. It doesn't look like I felt like chatting with some friend. Thank you so much. >> Thank you ma'am. Thank you.