#LEAD #Bulletin #July #2016: 3rd Issue

To each, tasks to perform

tilling, scattering, seeding, planting

watering, weeding, pruning

tending the garden, the work of other hands

each of us together, caring

nurturing the fields for the harvest

Watering that which others planted

caring for their labours, 

joining those who went before

faithfully doing our part

planting, watering,

relying on God for the growth

the transformation

of each human heart

Writing this third issue is giving me the greatest feeling of satiety so far in our quest!

Within a short span we were able to identify one girl child, from a family of Zari workers, who to our mind is fully committed to hard work, and motivated for taking a lead for the change. She, despite her extremely unfavourable circumstances managed to pass the 12th examination with more than reasonably good marks, but because of her financial conditions was unable to pursue her studies at her own. Guided by our philosophy of nurturing selected children to a level where they themselves become capable, respectable and productive citizens of tomorrow, we discussed her case among ourselves. Mrs. Rehana Mazhari kindly agreed to sponsor her complete expenditure for her BBA study, and the Unity Degree College Management kindly agreed to make a sizeable concession in her fees. The child is proudly attending her BBA classes now at the Unity Degree College, Lucknow. 

Responding to our request to debutante authors to get their books published with LEAD Trust and become a LEAD Author, a young lady who is a student of B.Ed, sent a beautiful and heart touching novel. We closely worked with her offering our suggestions and the book is passing through the process of finalisation and hopefully we will let you know about it in our next issue.

For all this I sincerely thank, the entire team.

Liked it? Want to come along? Want to help the LEAD Trust raise a corpus of funds for the future journey? Buy LEAD Books, write a LEAD Book,subscribe to LEAD Events, sponsor LEAD Events, adopt a LEAD Student, Volunteer for LEAD Trust, or simply donate.

Thank you very much

Yours Sincerely,

Masood Rezvi

#LEAD #Bulletin #June #2016: 2nd Issue

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost

Friends,

Let me confess, while attempting to write this second issue I am feeling butterflies.

So, we have passed one more month. So, we have taken one more step ahead, and not without progress. I have new things to report. It is really great, something like watching your nascent baby grow, grow and smile! And all this could never have been possible without a concerted teamwork. I thank you all LEADers, the patrons, the trustees, and of all, those who are encouragingly watching the LEAD Trust, that even a single word of appreciation, a promise to do something, or just following us on the blog and the social media and a sweet smile all have been of great help. How great? Neither I can explain in words nor can you understand in words. Only the increased rate of heartbeat, or a beat that you feel you missed on seeing this issue, convey the true message.

Thank you all!

Talking about the ground covered since we established our base camp as I mentioned in the 1st (May 2016) issue of the bulletin, I would like to mention that as laid down in our Road Map – Miles to go (2016) – at point #2, we filed a request for information under the Right To Information Act, with the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. We have been informed through email that the application stands disposed of as on 30-06-2016. Once the formal reply reaches us and is analysed by our legal advisers, we will decide the next step to be taken in our campaign to get the use of these killer chemicals banned in India. We request all of you to kindly cooperate with us in this campaign, wholeheartedly, it affects the humanity and affects you directly. The use of these chemicals is resulting in an extremely high incidence of cancer. You are only exceptionally too lucky if no one dear to your heart has died of cancer in your own memory, or is not just helplessly counting his or her last few days suffering from this killer disease. Not only this, these chemicals are also known to have a retarding effect on the mental growth and development of your children. To know more about these chemicals please view the slides from the presentation made by our patron Prof B N Singh in the National Seminar on Growth with Justice or visit the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UNO site.

For the Kharif 2016 season we helped the Centre for Research and Development Gorakhpur in identifying a farmer volunteer in the village Sidhnath, Mianganj, Unnao, for testing aerobic rice Samba sub1 which, besides being submergence tolerant is also reported to be better in quality to Samba Mahsuri, and he was provided a mini kit of breeder seeds of the said variety free of cost.

On June 14 - 15, on the occasion of 27th foundation day of U.P. Council of Agricultural Research, Lucknow, a two-day National Conference was held on Mass Communication as an effective tool for Agriculture Development, Prof B. N. Singh delivered his lecture on On-farm Research on Aerobic rice Technology Testing and Dissemination in the said conference. LEAD Trust is collaborating in the digital propagation of his lecture slides, which are available here.

We reimbursed the registration fee, for application for admission in B.Com to an extremely needy girl student, whose father used to be a Zari worker but is presently having no work to do and the family is presently having no other source of income.

Last but not the least, we are proud and thankful to God that our very small, humble but sincere work in the right direction has been noticed by the right person at the right place and the right time. Mr. Lenni Montiel UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development has among others, started following us on Twitter. We are extremely thankful Mr. Montiel, and assure our fullest possible cooperation to you. Kindly let us know if we can be of any help in your sublime mission.

This is all for June 2016. Liked it? Want to come along? Want to help the LEAD Trust raise a corpus of funds for the future journey? Buy LEAD Books, write a LEAD Book, subscribe to LEAD Events, sponsor LEAD Events, adopt a LEAD Student, Volunteer for LEAD Trust, or simply donate.

Thank you very much

Yours Sincerely,

Masood Rezvi

#LEAD #Bulletin May 2016: 1st Issue

Never look behind boys

When you're on the way,

Time enough for that, boys,

On some future day,

Though the way be long, boys,

Face it with a will,

Never stop to look behind

When climbing up a hill!

While attempting to write the first LEAD Bulletin for the month of May 2016, a wild flight of  my nostalgia took me to Muzaffarpur, sometimes back in late 60s; my father passionately teaching me the above poem from my school book. 

And the lines go on echoing and echoing, into my mind coming back from the mighty Himalyas which I could see at the dawn far far away in the north, across the big blue Mann lake contiguous to the house, we lived in.

Back here at Lucknow, the LEAD Trust began its uphill journey with its incorporation in mid October 2015 and beginning with its humble first move in the form of publication of its début book Tightening Noose of Poverty, reached at its first base camp - the National Seminar on Growth with Justice - in April 2016 and here we charted out our future routes.

Success is at the top, boys,

Waiting there until

Patient, ploddy, plucky boys,

Have mounted up the hill.

The month of May 2016, was spent in some spade work necessary for our onward march. Two most essential tasks were completed. The accounts were streamlined and given to the auditors for audit and finalisation of the balance sheet and income expenditure statement for the first year, and building of our web assets of which this monthly bulletin is also one part. The LEAD Web assets consist of a seamlessly integrated network of LEAD Website, LEAD Blog, LEAD Page, LEAD Slides, LEAD Channel, LEAD Tweets, and this LEAD Bulletin. How much do you evaluate these assets in money terms? INR 1,00,000? Or more? Well that can be anyone's guess. But let me tell you the LEADers have not spent a single penny on constructing these assets from LEAD Funds, except the domain name and web space rentals and the expenses on accessing the Internet.  

These assets are a fruit of passion NOT of money! One thing which money could never, ever, buy!!

Liked it? Want to come along? Want to help the LEAD Trust raise a corpus of funds for the future journey? Buy LEAD Books, write a LEAD Book, subscribe to LEAD Events, sponsor LEAD Events,

adopt a LEAD Student, Volunteer for LEAD Trust, or simply donate.

Thank you very much

Yours Sincerely,

Masood Rezvi