Of a Library and a New Friend

by Tito

They say a good thing is always followed up with something equally bad. And sometimes...though not quite that often, mind you...it gets followed up with something good again. Take this for instance. I met Shreya, a classmate of mine, online. Met her, in the sense, that I got to know her really well. I had met her before...but its only now that I realised just how great a friend she actually is. And we got to talking on a plethora of things...we tended to drift away from one topic to another quite often. And on one of these 'drifting offs,' I suddenly got reminded of Mustard Seeds, and she being a book lover, how much she'd actually like becoming a member.

So, on one fine Sunday, she came over and we made our way to Maura's place (I missed out on the 'Aunty' intentionally. I call her that, but it sounds better to call her just Maura in print). She'd get back a few minutes later. Gautam Kaku was there, and so was the same library I had grown up loving so badly. Shreya summed it up best: she told me she could spend an eternity sitting amidst and surrounded by all these books. We book lovers, all of us, are sort of like that! It's like...we get lost in this mystic land in our minds, and frankly, I can't think of a better place than Mustard Seeds to do that. The homeliness and this cosy feeling you get really fills you up in a strangely simple way.

And then Maura came over and I introduced Shreya to her, and we got to talking again. It was evident from the look on Shreya's face how much she really liked the place and Maura already. And me, well, I got reminded of how I'd felt almost the same way around 6 years ago! Some things never change.

After a few rounds of 'Parcheesi' with Boy Basu, who, by the way, had also already ridden on me, and made me carry him around for a while (I was only too happy to oblige), Girl & Boy Basu, Shreya, Maura and yours truly then sat down to watch a DVD I'd given Maura earlier: The 'Concert for George'. We warmed up to the songs pretty quickly. Maura and I are HUGE fans of George Harrison, and amidst sing-a-longs of 'My Sweet Lord' with Gautam Kaku playing the 'khol' alongside (the fusion sounded uncannily beautiful) and 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' with Clapton's wailing guitar solo in the background, we had loads of much needed fun. 'Much needed' as I had a test the next day, and this happy moment surrounded by goodness was all that stood between a happy Arnab, and a dismal grouch.

As the saying goes, All things MUST passs, and it was time to go home. Shreya had made a new friend, and I had introduced a new friend to an old one, and Mustard Seeds had a brand new member to boot! Oh, and might I mention that the test went great too, after all!

So, I miscalculated: ONE good thing got followed by TWO good things this time!)

PLEASE DONATE to people in Nandigram

nandi-donate
Originally uploaded by dalbhat

Mustard Seeds Library is now collecting specific items for the people in Nandigram to take to a relief center that Mahasweti Devi has set up.

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An email from a very reliable source writes the following:

I managed to speak directly to Mahasweta di this morning and here is what she has asked me to circulate:

1. Her address IS being used as a collection and despatch centre for relief materials for Nandigram victims. For those who do not have it, it is:
W 2C, 12/3 Phase 2, Golf Green, Kolkata 700095.

Children's warm clothes, new (not secondhand) lungis and dhotis for men. sturdy saris in wearable condition, rice and dal are welcome.

2. If money is being donated, it should be sent to Account no. 24941, Canara Bank, Sealdah branch.

3. Mahasweta di has been focusing on working with a doctors' group at Nandigram. The contact person if anyone wishes to help with the health centre there in any way is Dr Devapriya Mallick, 9830510911.

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I encourage everyone to bring their donations to the library, and we will take the load to the drop-off point on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Although we mustard seeds are small, we can make big efforts together!

-Mauraunty

Harry Pottermania at Mustard Seeds

Yesterday Mauraunty picked up the MSeeds Library copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last installment of our favorite wizard series. We'll be making a list of who gets it after who...
And today, believe it or not, Harry showed up in the form of a Mustard Seed dying to know what we all think about the books (and films) so far. So here are a few of our comments as they come in:

Which was your favorite book so far?
Ruku: The Goblet of Fire. There was a lot of action and I really liked the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Harry and Cedric were mighty brave. At last, it is also an emotional book, after Cedric dies.
Puja: The Goblet of Fire...but I haven't read the last one yet. I like the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the Yule Ball.
Pallavi: Deathly Hallows -- because it answered all the mysteries and questions that were hanging from the other books.
Momo: Probably the third one, Prisoner of Azkaban. If you ask which is the worst one, I'd say Order of the Phoenix: pretty boring compared to the others. Azkaban is different from the others, really unique.

Did you look forward to the final installment?
Ruku: Sure, but I’m not so excited as everyone else because I don’t like the concept of the HP series coming to a finish.
Puja: Yes- because I want to know what happens to Harry Potter.
Pallavi: Very much! It was the ending and I have been a die-hard fan of Harry Potter and I was waiting to find out what happened at the end.
Momo: Not really. It has been too long a wait and I lost interest. Well, everyone in the world is excited about this last one -- even if they do not like HP!


How will you get your hands on the last book?
Ruku: As you know there is a nice and friendly library where I live so I never need to buy books.
Puja: From Mustard Seeds, after Ruku or Takai finish it!
Pallavi: I bought it. Well, my father bought it with money that I had saved up (Pallavi is one of her first members from long ago...all grown now!)
Momo: Through my school or Mustard Seeds. I'm fifth on the list at Mustard Seeds.

What do you think happens?
Ruku: I think Harry IS going to die because everyone says that if Voldemort dies, Harry has to die. Because when Voldemort went to kill Harry, by mistake, he inserted one of his qualities into Harry. That’s why Harry can speak Parseltongue so if Voldemort has to die, something will happen to Harry…I think Harry is the last of the horcruxes.
Puja: Voldemort dies and Harry lives, by conquering him.
Pallavi: I already read it. I thought Harry was going to die -- and Voldemort with him.
Momo: Well, I already KNOW what happens so I don't have to THINK what happens. But before I knew what happens, I thought that probably Rowling would jeopardize Harry. Just like Sir Arthur Conn Doyle did with Sherlock Holmes.

What do you think about the movies coming out? Do you prefer the books or the movies?
Ruku: The films are quite good but the best one was Goblet of Fire. I prefer the books to the films because the story has to be shortened up in the films so I don’t think they are complete.
Puja: The books. But I like the movies too because the acting is so good and when you watch, you get the exact feeling!
Pallavi: The book. But movies are actually a must for those who have read the books. After watching the movies, when you are reading the book again you can actually give a reality picture to the characters then.
Momo: The books! There is no question or consideration.

How do you think JK Rowling is feeling these days?
Ruku: She’s feeling quite sad on one side, and on the other side…quite excited because she herself cannot believe that she has finished seven books.
Puja: She's feeling sad since she's finishing the books. It is like somehow getting lost from a big world of fascination. She's quite a good author and she writes as if she herself spent time studying at Hogwarts!
Pallavi: She's feeling lonely -- parting from her very best friend. She's a mind-blowing genius!
Momo: I am not JK Rowling...that's a good question. OK, from my point of view she must be impatient and disturbed about the latest book coming out and what the reactions will be. As an author, she's attractive. She matches the style of the readers. Many authors just write as they themself would like the book to read, but I feel that she thinks about her readers and what they will like when they read the books. She's universal.

What have you learned from HP so far?
Ruku: I learned to have confidence in myself rather than to depend on others, and to be brave whatever I do, whatever happens. He has also taught that he always hopes for the best and is prepared for the worst! One girl in our school got a letter from Harry Potter, she wanted an interview. She asked about his hobbies, about the films, etc. and he gave all the answers; it was printed in our school magazine. Seems like a nice guy!
Puja: That evil can be conquered by love!
Maura: That it is fun for an adult to get carried away in their imagination sometimes too!
Pallavi: Courage and patience, and fate.
Momo: Orphans can be famous too! Oooh. tricky one. Courage! Simple living -- the life at 4 Privet Drive.

Any other comments?
Ruku: Harry Potter is a very good looking guy!
Puja: Daniel Radcliffe is quite handsome!
(Editor: What's going on here????!!!!!)
Pallavi: I will go on reading them until I don't have eyes anymore! I don't want Daniel to leave the movies!
Momo: Hopes someone takes up the job of writing more Harry Potters! For example, the return of Harry Potter by MOMO!!

A Visitor from Portland

Another thrilling interview by Momo

Two weeks ago, when I visited Mustard Seeds I found new face in the library. It was Maura Aunty's friend, Shara Alexander, who was visiting India with her daughter for two weeks to explore Kolkata a bit. Since we have our blog going, and always need some new material I decided to grab a notebook and a pen, and get down to the business of interviewing our friend!

Shara comes from Portland, Oregon (northwest USA) and says that she likes India. This is, in fact, her second visit to Kolkata. In her previous visit she went to Darjeeling; and she visited Santiniketan during her stay this time.

When I asked her what she thinks of Mustard Seeds Library, she said that she likes the wide variety of books here, and she especially likes the relationship between all of the members.

I was wondering how Shara came to know Maura Aunty. Well, the answer to that is that Maura Aunty and Shara met in Japan twenty years ago, in 1988, in a Japanese-American exchange program in University. That's a good long friendship!

When asked about the PEOPLE of India, Shara replied, "they are humorous, intellectual, curious, innovative, and broad-minded." I also asked her about the population of India – and she said, "thank God she's going home!" What I think she means by this is that she is used to a less-populated place, so may get a bit claustrophobic staying on here. She also had some comments on the dirt and pollution here, when I brought it up, "Despite the fact thats India has a very rich culture, it has not developed from this angle of environment preservation and protection."

I asked her about Indian cuisine too. She said that she has taken up an addiction to the Bengali sweets, especially since the misti-wallah knocks on your door to sell them. One day he knocked just after she had finished a typical Bengali meal. That was synchronicity! She said Indian cuisine is one of the best in the world! In fact, she is planning to make a few dishes for friends back home upon her return.

I was also curious about where Shara came from so I asked a few questions about Portland as well. She taught me that Portland is also known as The City of Roses, and has probably the best transport system because everyone bicycles there. The city is primarily against the Bush government and there is a lot of citizen participation in making positive changes for the greater community.

What's her occupation? She takes care of rental houses, she looks after her two daughters, and she also designs gardens that are safe and intriguing for children to play and adventure in.

Since Portland seems like a very progressive place, and Shara seemed like a progressive thinker, I asked her what she would suggest about the problem of pollution in India - She replied that we should plant more trees, create more garden/green spaces, provide better mass transportation for everyone in the society.

Her final message to all the Mustard Seeds members (except for Maura Aunty) was... Keep Maura on her toes!

Patai talks about a big secret near him!

First I went to the shop in the complex where we live, and thought that we can make this place a secret hiding place! Then, I went insideit but I saw it was very dirty. So I called some of my friends and they said that they could help me. They asked if they could join me in cleaning it up. I said "Yes!" and "We can make a club but then you will all know the secret!" The secret is that cleaning it up was a special surprise for Maura Aunty.

Maura Aunty is my best adult friend in Vidyasagar and she always talks about cleaning the Earth, especially right around you. I think Maura Aunty will some day know the secret. Today is the best day to tell her.

* Patai (whose good name is Alokan) received an EARTHINKERS certificate for organizing the kids he plays with every day to clean up a section of our campus. Happy Earth Day!

We Did It!

Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to let you know this exciting bit of news since you have all been diligently dropping your coins in the RCFC coin caddy located atop the books on Japan in the library. Today we had a visitor from RCFC who came to pick up our contribution of Rs. 110. This money was not only collected from generous children who decided to pop in a portion of their pocket money, but also from the sale of our used stamps at the library.

Now the coin caddy sits empty waiting to be filled up again so tell people you know about the work of RCFC, which provides free medical treatment to village children with polio and other orthopeadic problems. They stay at the centre while recuperating and are offered food, education and rehabilitation that goes very far once they leave.

Keep up the good work!

Holi Fun!

by Tokai

This year, Holi took place on 3rd March...with the full moon. The people in our complex wore their old clothes and gathered together in the big park where all the kids usually play. Holi is the festival of COLOURS that celebrates the coming of the Spring season, and we smear color on people with powders, or spray them with powders mixed in water. It's messy fun! We should not use poisonous colours as they are harmful to the skin, we need to find safe colours to play with. We need to play safely too, not putting the colours in the eyes of other people. Holi is a time to have fun and it is a time to simply enjoy yourself – fun out with all of our friends. We wait eagerly for Holi to arrive every year. No one is fighting during Holi, we are all happy to be with each other.

Here is a photo Mauraunty took from her flat while some of the kids were playing!

Exams are here – and members are gone...

Things are a bit quiet at Mustard Seeds Library...exams are on.
Hope everyone is back soon.
Thanks for this great photo, Jojo!

That Winning Feeling

By Malini

All this month we have been practicing at our school, Calcutta International School, for our Sports Day, which happened
today. My class had two races and so did my brother Bapu's. One was a race that you didn't have to do anything, just run across. And one was a race that you had to hold a lemon on a spoon and walk across very fast. I won first in the lemon race. For Bapu's races, he tried very hard and ran fast, but not fast enough. He came in fourth for the clown race. In the clown race, he had to put on a party hat, run a little, then put on a paper clown collar, then a run a little more, the open up a
jar, dip his finger in red paint and put a spot on his nose! The other race he didn't have to do anything. That's called the Flat
Race. The clown and lemon races are called Fun Races.

Before the race, I knew that my friend Chianna was going to be second. I don't know why I knew but I had a feeling...and she was second! I wanted to be first and I knew I was going to be. I knew my mother was going to say, "I'm so proud of you, Malini!" I imagined all this BEFORE the race and it came true. The reason I won the race was because Chianna's lemon fell and I went ahead of her.

The medal I got was gold with a red ribbon. We are going to celebrate tomorrow for our Sports Day at a restaurant. We have invited my uncle and aunt to eat with us too. At school, my brother and I got ice cream. We bought ice cream for our friend Eunchon too. She is in Class III. I am in Class II. My brother is in Class I. That means 1-2-3 backwards!

I think I won today because today was my Grandma's birthday and she gave me luck.

I couldn't believe I won!

Tribal Dancing: My Own Experience

On 23December, our school took part in a cultural event at the Children's Book Fair held at Central Park right here in Salt Lake. It was a great experience for me because it was the first time I did something from school...outside the school.
The name of our group was "Matir Tane" (which means 'Attraction of the Motherland'). We did dances from tribal India, wearing their dresses, copying their culture, and copying their dancing styles, etc. It was really enjoyable for me to dance up on stage. We had to do a lot of practicing for it, but at last our labour was successful.
The full programm was telecasted live on television. And our teacher was also extremely proud of us -- which is always a wonderful feeling!

By Srijata