If you haven't yet received a What'sApp or email forward or checked these stories out on Facebook, well, we have packed these two stories in one for an easier read. So what's making these stories the most read in the last few days? Is it women power? Or the fact that while Hillary Clinton couldn't become the first woman president of the US, these two Indian women have triumphed in their own way in areas that affect one the most: The neighbourhood? Yes, your immediate locality is what matters the most - will Donald Trump help in fixing your street lights or make the potholes of your service lane disappear? Well, City Spidey salutes them both, and to the ever-growing readers who are drawn in by what we always believed in: The power of hyperlocal news.
Story 1: This Jal Vayu Vihar resident creates history!
November 6, 2016, will go down as a memorable day in the history of Jal Vayu Vihar, Noida. The reason: The male-dominated managing committee of Jal Vayu Vihar Community Centre (JVCC) will have a woman member for the first time in its 20-year history. For Vijay Kapany, former headmistress of the Khaitan School, Noida, this was no mean feat. Breaking gender stereotypes never is!
Run on Vijay Kapany!
Post-retirement, when most would have had it easy, Kapany chose otherwise. She felt it was time for her to give back to the community she had called home for the past 22 years. Surprisingly, she fought the elections and won unopposed!
Kapany never had it easy in life, and it steeled her determination even more. She lost her husband, late wing commander MS Kapany, 20 years back. She took on the reins of her family and brought up two kids single-handedly. And the residents of her community know her for exactly what she is — a woman of grit.
But taking on the male-centric JVCC managing committee proved difficult even for her — twice she had to almost withdraw her name from the list.
Kapany with her daughter Jasleen
Recalling some of her thoughts, she says, "I have had to handle innumerable kids in my 32-year career as an educationist — shaping their careers, their lives. I wondered how difficult it would be to convince adults. It was a challenge, but I was able to convince them that I was equally capable of doing what male committee members could.”
Community service has always been very close to Kapany's heart. She volunteers for a Noida-based NGO, Baal Vikaas Bhaartee. Employing methods such as storytelling, she helps underprivileged children build confidence and positivity.
Kapany believes that life starts post-retirement. "That's when you can do things you have never previously had the time for," she says. She knows how to enjoy life, and her packed daily routine says as much. “My day starts early, as I participate in laughter yoga at the community centre. Then I head for golf, and come back home to do a relaxing round of cards with my friends. I also take long walks in Noida stadium and, if I can make time, attend Buddhist chanting sessions in the evening," says Kapany with an infectious smile.
Her agenda for JVCC
More workshops for underprivileged children
Increased group activities and get-togethers for senior citizens
A cleaner JVCC
Initiatives to celebrate festivals as a community
Workshops for children to hone their skills
Improving the standard of the JVCC library
Bettering the quality and variety of food served at JVCC
Story 2: He threatened to run her over, but no stopping this RJ and her road stars
Lifting the concept of Gandhigiri from the film Munna Bhai MBBS, residents of the upscale Purvanchal Royal Park in Sector 137, Noida, have applied the idea to an initiative meant to make the road in front of their apartment complex a safer one.
Armed with roses, a group of five Purvanchal residents have been standing by the road and stopping drivers from taking an illegal turn. “Instead of taking a U-turn, which involves a bit of extra driving, most people in the area take the easy way out by simply taking a sharp turn through a narrow gap in the divider. This is dangerous,” says the very vocal Richa Aniruddha, a popular RJ and a Purvanchal resident.
There is grit behind Richa Aniruddha's charm
The campaign, which was launched on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, involves educating drivers on why they should not be taking the wrong turn. “We talk to them politely, request them to use the U-turn and give them a rose,” says Richa.
The campaign was stopped during Diwali “to avoid bad blood and confrontation during the festive time”.
Well, they would know. There was one instance in which the driver got so furious that he threatened to run them over. Another time, a woman from a prominent media house got very abusive. “We told her that by violating a traffic rule, she was setting a bad example for her co-passenger, her kid. That was enough for her to blast us off,” laughs Richa.
Purvanchal residents on job
Most of the time, however, drivers listen and apologise. The biggest achievement so far has been stopping school buses from taking the wrong turn. “We told them that if they continue to violate the rule, we would complain to the school authorities,” says Richa. And it worked.
There are about 20 residents of Purvanchal involved in this campaign. They communicate through WhatsApp, and whoever is free volunteers to come out. As long as there are five people, they go ahead with the campaign. As of now, there are two slots: Early morning, during school-going time; and evening, between 6 pm and 8 pm.
A rose is what errant drivers get along with a message
The group "tweets" about its campaign to Noida Authority and Noida police. And indeed, seeing its efforts, Noida police has come forward to help.
"They have been very supportive," says Anirudh Phadke, one of the residents involved in the campaign. "They have already come a few times and issued challans to rule-breaking drivers. They have also told us we can call them whenever we need to.”
More importantly, seeing their work, other residents have started showing interest in the campaign. “I want to salute you," a neighbour told Richa the other day.
Not an RWA initiative — there is none at Purvanchal now — the group is entirely composed of professionals who put in their bit whenever they get the time.
Of course it helps that Richa is a radio jockey, a TV anchor and the editor of a school magazine, and shares a personal rapport with the top officials of Noida Authority and Noida police.
Gandhigiri these days needs some dadagiri too.
