Hansi Ke Favvare 2008
A traditional homage to
India’s national language and cultural heritage
By Nika Desai
After outstandingly successful runs during the past three years,
SewaUSA International (www.sewausa.org)
, a global non-profit service organization, presented "Hansi Ke
Favvare" – a Hindi play - for the fourth time in a row on Sunday
29th June 2008 at Global mall. This was a satirical comedy
evoking as much laughter as kindling one’s patriotic fervor.
This symbolized the characteristic tribute SewaUSA International
traditionally pays to the national identity of Indians in Metro
Atlanta.
 This
year’s Hasya Kavi Sammelan was dedicated to the model preventive
healthcare initiative called Gram Arogya Raksha. This is a
unique social development project aimed at training a local
village volunteer as a medical representative to act as a
consultant for the entire village for a year at a nominal cost
of 1 dollar a day.
He/she regularly visits each village that is assigned to
him/her. The district team comprises of able doctors and social
workers.
The network of Aarogya rakshaks works as an interactive team
that renders health-service to the people, and brings feedback
information of the beneficiaries to the service-providers. This
is a well-conceived, easily executable model and has been
functioning in an exemplary manner winning all-round praise. .
The Aarogya rakshak is a local person who enjoys the confidence
of the people and works altruistically dedicated to the
humanitarian cause.
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Dr. Prakash Gupta (one of the chief
guests) welcomes Shri Om Prakash Adiya.
Rakesh, the event co-coordinator presents the bouquet to
the chief guests |
The program was a veritable treat of mirth and merriment for the
host of Hindi lovers who were present at the venue. The program
featured two prominent Kavis from India -- Shri Om Prakash
Aditya, who is one of the Hindi poets known for his wit and
humor and Shri Rajesh Chetan, who specializes in ‘vyang’ and
renowned for his political satire.
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Shri Rajesh Chetan enthralls the
audience |
Shri Om Prakash Aditya regales the
audience |
Rajesh Chetan opened his score with a poem eulogizing NRIs
for their laudable contribution to America and to the world and
established instant connection with the audience. The poet
provoked uproarious laughter with his comments on uninvited
house guests, cricket and cell phones.
Kavi Om Prakash Aditya crafted imaginative poetry out of mundane
things in his own inimitable style. He sang about a hapless
school student’s struggle with subjects taught in class, a spiel
for politicians’ suitability as residents of hell and birds
celebrating Valentine’s day. Cleverly interspersed amidst these
narrations, was a reference to people who seldom laugh at his
jokes and his attempts to tickle them!
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The volunteers Nataraj, Mitesh, Gaurav,
Nitin, Poornima and Sandhya |
While the audience was engrossed in enjoying the satires,
children were busy with coloring the sketches of Mickey Mouse,
Cinderella and others.
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Opening scene from nukkad natak: The
villagers -- Amol, Nitin and Bhoomika – bring
their health concerns to the village chief, Sandeep |
To drive home the message an extremely short “Nukkad Naatak” was
enacted by some SewaUSA volunteers to highlight the process and
benefits of Gram Arogya Rakshak initiative. Through the short
interactive skit, it was demonstrated why preventive healthcare
initiatives are needed, how the Arogya Rakshak can take the
health-service to the people, and bring feedback information of
people to the service-providers.
The skit reinforced the point that providing basic medical care
for a village cost a pittance of a dollar a day.
Amitabh Sharma, an activist of the Indian society in Atlanta,
made a fervent appeal for donations. Unlike most other
charitable organizations that incur heavy overhead expenses,
SewaUSA stands out because of its austerity spending only about
2 % of total donations for its overheads. The audience responded
generously and within a few minutes, sixteen villages saw their
Arogya Rakshak Program translate into reality.
Soon it was time for a break as the audience were served with
wholesome home made Bhelpuri and mango lassi. With their
appetites for laughter still asking for more, the audience
returned to their seats for another round of uproarious
performances.
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After refreshment break, the audience
is ready for more entertainment
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Rajesh Chetan was back with poems that contained subtle
social messages wrapped in comedy. He bemoaned the neglect of
other games at the expense of cricket and called for restoring
the popularity of hockey and other sports. He was equally
critical of media’s obsession with frivolous news like the
Aishwarya-Abhishek wedding neglecting real issues of national
importance. The program instilled a sense of patriotism as he
rendered a piece highlighting the significance of colors of the
Indian flag and the flag pole. He appealed to the audience to
preserve and perpetuate the Hindi language by conversing in
Hindi at home.
Finally, Om Prakash Aditya sang two hilarious kavitas to the
accompaniment of loud applause by the guests. One was a
desperate plea by Sonia Gandhi’s followers imploring her to save
them and their party. The other poem parodied a prayer dedicated
to green currency notes.. SewaUSA volunteer Gaurav Verma thanked
the poets, sponsors and audience for their patronage. SewaUSA
volunteers honored the donors with a special appreciation dinner
at Palace restaurant.
SEWAUSA Atlanta's Kavi Sammelan was more than a fun-filled
evening of laughter for the Indian diaspora. The proceeds from
the event were donated to finance educational and literacy
projects in India. SEWAUSA International (http://www.Sewausa.org)
is the sister organization of SewaUSA Bharati, the biggest NGO
in India and committed to the upliftment of under-privileged
sections through various development projects.
SewaUSA Atlanta chapter is planning a cricket tournament in
association with Atlanta Cricket League during late
September/early October to help promote a bio-mass gassifer
project in Jammu and Kashmir. SewaUSA Bharati also has a
successful pilot of similar nature implemented in a desert
village of Rajasthan.
Please click here for the project report.
The lofty aim of SewaUSA International is “Nar Sewa, Narayan
Sewa” – to serve humanity is to serve God in conformity with the
teachings of the Hindu scriptures. For further information about
SewaUSA International’s activities, contact
atlanta@sewausa.org .
Let us unite to make a difference.
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