Usha Rajagopalan (top) with Sathya Saran at the Crossword book-reading and (above) Kapil Dev with Vandana Luthra at Athena for the launch of Praadarshani

For a good cause

Self help is the best help. Heard of the old adage? Well, former cricketer Kapil Dev was all for aiming at attaining self-sustainability for non-governmental organisations at the latest venture of NGO Khushii.

Athena, the latest nightclub in the Capital was the venue of choice as Khushii flagged off its self-sufficiency drive with ?Praadarshani?. A collection of products were sold under the NGO?s umbrella in order to raise funds for the various projects undertaken by the group.

Some of Delhi?s famed names took time off to personally endorse each product. While fashion designer Rohit Bal inaugurated the venture, designers Raseel Gujral, Suneet Verma, ad man Suhel Seth and entrepreneur Vandana Luthra took part in the goodwill programme.

The various exhibits of Praadarshani included eco-friendly pencils by Gujral, designer cards created by renowned British artist Ann Bellotti, ?Niqaab?, a decorative presentation range and a string of personal care products from the house of VLCC.

All these products were on sale under the brand label of Khushii and the profits will be utilised for the prestigious Neemrana Project that aims at rehabilitating life in India?s villages and the Khushii Cares project that works with migrant children at the railway stations of Delhi and Hamara Ghar, an orphanage supported by this NGO.

A series of motivational pictures captured by ace lensmen Rajan Kapoor was also presented by Suhel Seth the same evening. ?It is about time that non-profit organisations like Khushii stopped relying on government and international agencies and strengthened their financial status on their own. With Praadarshani, the Khushii family is not only making an attempt to stand on its own feet, but also trying to inculcate the mantra of self sustainability in other organisations,? averred Dev.

Celebrating this launch over award-winning wines from Chateau Indage Estate Vineyards, Athena lent a vintage charm to the evening. Said Vikrant Chougule of Athena, ?In cities like Mumbai and Delhi, Athena wants to look beyond the purview of pure entertainment and host multifarious activities ? this one being close to our heart as well.?

It?s all in the mind

Crossword Bookstore in Mumbai is known for hosting shows with a difference. This time around, it was Hutch-Crossword Book Award 2004 nominated author Usha Rajagopalan who took centrestage, at the book reading of her debut novel, Amrita. Even as Femina editor Sathya Saran looked on, Usha delved into the theme of mental illness and how it can threaten family stability and happiness.

The evening started with Rajagopalan reading excerpts from her book, the story of the bond between the mentally-challenged Amrita and her younger sister Maya. It is a moving story about Maya?s determination to bring her hapless sister within the fold of the family and society amongst frequent clashes with them.

The novel is a poignant study at various levels: it explores the psychological impact a mentally-challenged child can have on others in the family and the inability of adults to accept them as a part of life. Amrita exposes the hypocritical apathy of society towards a problem that does not concern them and the growing materialism and intolerance towards others.

Usha Rajagopalan worked as an editor at IIM, Ahmedabad and as Executive Assistant to Dr V. Kurien, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board, Anand, Gujarat before deciding to concentrate full time on creative writing. She has won the Commonwealth Short Story prize for three years, The High Commendation for The Freedom Fighter in 2003; for Friends in 2002; and the regional prize for Asia in 2001 for Corpse Keshavan besides numerous awards for poetry.

Photograph of Crossword event by Gajanan Dudhalkar