Asha Kapoor doing Yeoman service

ASHA KAPOOR
Symbol of Motherhood
Numero Uno Educationist
Active Senior Citizen




Good Teachers - a species that is fast becoming extinct.... But even today at this age and stage of life one comes across a few names who stand out in the crowd and make us pause and be thankful that they are there to teach, mould and enlighten our children and the future generation. One such name is that of Asha Kapoor. It is because of teachers like her that we can still call this a noble profession. Today, when every thing is getting so commercial she has kept the faith alive with her dedication and sheer love for the teaching profession.

Asha Kapoor is the Director of Samsika Academy of Brand Management which she runs very efficiently and successfully with her son Jagdeep Kapoor who is an expert in this field and is known as a Brand Guru. She is a resident of Raheja Vihar and was blessed with two sons but unfortunately lost her son Sandeep Kapoor who expired at a very young age of 31 yrs. Inspite of this tremendous misfortune she has only become stronger and more determined to move ahead. Her husband Yashpal Kapoor, has his own business of handmade carpets and is also a Senior Consultant at Samsika giving his valuable advice for issues like sales, marketing, pricing and advertising.

She is supported in her work by her daughter-in-law Sangeeta Kapoor (Jagdeep's wife). She has done the illustrations for various books written by Asha Kapoor. The family is complete with her two loving grandchildren Samridh and Hansika who just cannot do without her.

Asha Kapoor has been in the field of Education, since the last 33 yrs. A double Graduate, MA, MEd., with specialisation in Behavioral Psychology and Languages, she is an expert in French and English. Earlier she was the Headmistress of Holy Family High School. She has taught thousands of Students to read, write and speak French and English. She is loved and highly respected for the patience, tolerance, warmth, personal attention and friendly ambience that she has been able to provide in the classes that she runs for teaching English and French. Her Students are full of gratitude and awe when giving the feedback about her classes. To quote one Nishant Sashidharan, "I learnt to read, write and speak French. I learnt to express myself without fear in a language which is very different from what I have learnt and done so far. The Theory I like best about
the Training Session is the beautiful ambience, the friendly atmosphere and the loving personal attention given by Madam Asha Kapoor". Incidently, he has scored 91% in French HSC 2003. She conducts the classes in such an organised manner with so much dedication and perseverance that the students cherish the experience of learning under her guidance.

Asha Kapoor has been honored with numerous well deserved awards. She received the "State Award" for Best Teacher on the 5th of September 1995 by the then Governor P.C. Alexander at Nehru Center. She was also honoured the 1991 Mayor's Award for 'Best Teacher'. Her relentless effort in the field of languages is an ongoing process. The personal attention and care with which she teaches is her greatest asset and inspiration for the students.

She was nominated for the Mahatma Gandhi National Grahak Seva Award for the year 1994 for her role in earning respect of the Student community. She has appeared on Zee TV in 'Chakravyuh' for a discussion on a social problem. Besides all these achievements she has one more talent which not many people know of, but she has shared with us. She has a wonderful way of expressing her feelings in words which become a poem. Here we present for our readers a short but beautiful poem by her. All laws of Life are subject to the will of God, Leave it to Him, don't object He can change them with a nod. God is the great Engineer. We are mere machines. Leave it to God to help us steer our objective through good means.

"PLANET POWAI" asked her a few questions:

Q1. How does it feel to have taught those many students, when they meet you as adults ?
Ans. It is a great feeling of reverence and respect to see them grow as responsible achievers in life and society. I have seen them spread their fragrance all over the world, who are now Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Marketing Consultants, Teachers, Hospitality Industry stalwarts etc.

Q2. What inspires you to be still teaching at this age ?
Ans. It is my tremendous love of giving value added teaching. For me, age is no barrier. My students make me feel young - enliven my spirits.

Q3. What do you think is the future of Powai ?
Ans. Powai is a growing township, mix of rural and urban surroundings. I as a Mother, love Mother Nature. I live in the lush green surroundings, lakes and serene and calm atmosphere. Future of Powai - very bright and promising.

TOI: Anna Hazare continues fast against corruption, slams Congress

Motormen Strike

Motormen Strike
The Motormen have held the Mumbai city to Ransom in the last 2 days. There was not a single Individual who was not forced to undergo immeasurable hardships. Whatever be the justification of their demands, the manner in which they have dealt untold hardships to the Mumbai people deserves to be condemned at the highest level.

Now that they have called their Agitation back, I would like to know who is going to pay for all the losses that the Mumbai City and its people have incurred. Many Offices remained closed and could not conduct their usual Business. Many Employees had to avail a compulsory Holiday where many would not be paid salaries. Unnecessarily commuters had to pay higher amounts to Rickshaws and Taxis to reach their destinations. Students were put through enormous troubles and many could not take their exams. Ambulances stuck in traffic Jams made a poor sight. Mumbai must have lost crores of Rupees as It could not Function. But the most Hardships must have been borne by the daily wage earners as they would have not been able to report for work and thus would have gone hungry.

I implore to the Maharashtra Government and the Indian Railways to question these Motormen and make them compensate for the untold hardships and loss of Revenue. Let their Demands be met but also let their two days salary be cut to compensate the State ex-chequer.

Regards

P.V.Ramakrishnan
Mumbai
4th May 2010

Alumni- A report

Dear all, Again we had a great rocking get together. We met at the HFHS School Alumni held at the Secondary Hall at the school on 13th Feb 2010 at 7 pm.
Members Present were Narendra Kamat, Bhooshan, Stephen, Raymond, Jagdish, Dharmendra Joshi, Dr. Chandra, William Fernandes with Wife, Ajit D'souza, First Timers Pravesh Gupta n Advait along with yours Truly.

We also felicitated the Batch of 85 who were in their silver jubilee. They were represnted by 6 members. U may catch Indraneel's Bhattacharya's pic in the PICS uploaded.

Father Francis Swamy made a spl Mention about the Batch of 1984 saying that it was the most vibrant batch he has ever come across with maximum attendance on 14th Feb 2009 arnd 32 and also on 13th Feb 2010 with 15 attendees. No other batch could bring in as many no of Ex students. A great Cheerio to all Members of 84.

We were asked to present our case as to how we managed to contact so many people and rally such a big gathering every time.

Ray spoke with great gusto as how we managed this show. We also highlighted the Fantastic Scholarship Fund that we are managing and the stupendous way in which we generated arnd two and a half lakh Rupees.
Everyone gave us a rousing applause and a standing Ovation. In fact every batch member wanted to know including younger Batch mates as young as batch of 2000/2006/2007 as to how we did this Networking and bringing of batch mates together every time for each get together.

I can only tell you guys one thing is that if there was ever a batch in HFHS which truly ROCKS in every sense, It is the Batch of 84. So lets pat our own backs with a silent prayer that we will get more into this fold this year and will truly create more Meaningful Things within our Batch.

A great Drinks and Dinner followed at Shri Krishna next to Ahura Centre.

we Winded around 12.30 with Ringing in the Valentine's Day and Dharmendra Joshi's Birthday.
We were Truly DRUNK, but with love, Happiness and joy for one another.

Warm Regards,

P.V.Ramakrishnan

--
The Managing Committee
HFHS Class of '84

Gone are our School days

ohhh......the days that r gone !!!!!!!

Gone are the days


When


The school reopened in June,


And we settled in our new desks and benches.


When we queued up in book depot, And got our new books and notes.


When we wanted two Sundays and no Mondays, yet managed to line up daily
for the morning prayers.


We learnt writing with slates and pencils, and Progressed To fountain
pens and ball pens and then Micro tips.


We began drawing with crayons and evolved to Color pencils and finally
sketch pens.


We started calculating first with tables and then with Clarke's tables
and advanced to calculators and computers.


When we chased one another in the corridors in Intervals, and returned
to the classrooms Drenched in sweat.


When we had lunch in classrooms, corridors, Playgrounds, Grave yards, under the
trees and even in cycle sheds.


When all the colors in the world, Decorated the campus on the Second
Saturdays.


When a single P.T. period in the week's Time Table,
on all days

Was awaited more eagerly than the monsoons.


When cricket was played with writing pads as bats,


And Neckties and socks rolled into balls.


When few played "kabbadi" and "Kho-Kho" in scorching sun,


While others simply played "book cricket" in the Confines of classroom.


Of fights but no conspiracies,


Of Competitions but seldom jealousy.


When we used to watch Live Cricket telecast, in others houses


or carry the pocket radio in the tiffin box


When few rushed at 12:45 to "Conquer" window seats in our School bus.


While few others had "Big Fun", "peppermint", "kulfi", " milk ice !"
and "sharbat !" at 1.0o Clock.
while others had vada pavs during breaks


Gone are the days


Of Sports Day,


and the annual School Day ,


And the one-month long preparations for them.


Gone are the days Of the stressful Quarterly,


Half Yearly and Annual Exams,



And the most enjoyed holidays after them.


Of tenth and twelfth standards, when we spent almost the whole year
writing revision tests.


We learnt, we enjoyed, we played, we won, we lost,


We laughed, we cried, we fought, we thought.


With so much fun in them, so many friends, So much experience, all this
and more.


Gone are the days when we used to talk for hours with our friends.


Now we don't have time to say a HI.


Gone are the days when we played games on the road.


Now we code on the road with laptop.


Gone are the days when we saw stars shining at night.


Now we see stars when our code doesn't work.


Gone are the days when we sat to chat with friends on grounds.


Now we chat in chat rooms.....


Gone are the days where we studied just to pass.


Now we study to save our job


Gone are the days where we had no money in our pockets and fun filled
on our hearts


Now we have the ATM as well as credit card but with an empty heart


Gone are the days where we shouted on the road.


Now we don't shout only at home on our loved ones,


Gone are the days where we got lectures from all.


Now we give lectures to all... like the one I'm doing now....


Gone are the days


But not the memories, which will be lingering in our hearts for ever
and ever and

to all my friends from HFHS Batch of 1984


Ever and ever and


Ever …


NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE ,


DONT FORGET TO LIVE THE LIFE THAT STILL EXISTS.

Live well, Love much, Laugh often!!!


P.V.Ramakrishnan

Annette Gonsalves

Dear all, It was great to meet Madam Annette on Facebook. I suggest all you guys could send her an invite though I have already done that on your behalf. I have also told her to join our Batch of 84 so that she could know what we are doing. Just on an update, we have all receipts ready and scanned and Stephen will be sending them out in a day or so.
Bhooshan has kindly consented to be part of the Managing Committee and we are delighted to have him aboard.
With The Scholarship Fund firmly in Place we are planning to take this movement to the next level. Lets see how this works. If any Ideas please shoot.

P.V.

Ms. Annette Gonsalves on FB

Managed to get an acknowledgment from Ms. Annette Gonsalves on FB. Thought other's could also say "Hello" and ask her to join the group. I think should would be surprised.