AH ! IT LOOKS GOOD

Studs Terkel, author of "Working People Talk About What They Do All Day And How They Feel About What They Do" (-What a long Title!) has the following quote: "The automated pace of our daily jobs wipes out name and face- and in many instances, feelings...I am only a machine, moans one spot-welder. I am really caged, says a bank-teller. Terkel devotes his book to exploring how to bolster the attitudes of working people everywhere and make them happy about what they have to do anyway. It seems the number of people who truly find savor in their daily routine job is woefully small, making this wide world look more like a vale of tears from which we hope for release someday.

Terkel cites a few inspiring examples like the Indiana Stonemason who looks upon his work and exclaims , Ah! It is good! ...And the Chicago piano tuner who seeks and finds the sound he was seeking exclaims, Ah! It is good, just what I wanted ! And a bookbinder who saved a piece of history by stitching together the worn-out-dog-eared pages of an antique book and patching it up utters a similar exclamation of joy. The Brooklyn fireman who saved a life, a child or a cat, said the same thing. It is encouraging to listen to them.

If Terkel had come over to meet A.D.S.N. Prasad at the little village called Agili, Sendhivakkam P.O, Madhurantakam Taluk, Kanchipuram District, eighty kilometres from Chennai, he would have gleefully gathered yet another example of "Ah! It is good!" for his book. The occasion was a tour of the Pamella Martinez Pathway Agro farm for Children, First Phase nearing completion and receiving finishing touches. I happened to accompany him that day. His joyful vociferation suddenly reminded me of the person who said it first long ago, pleased with the results of his own endeavours. I think the reader knows. It was said by God first.

When Prasad suggested that we say a special prayer of thanksgiving on the spot, it was no small coincidence that I chose to read the very first page from the Bible I had brought along. The Book of Genesis. When God began creating the Heavens and the Earth, the Earth was at first a shapeless chaotic mass. God said then, Let there be light, and light appeared. God was so pleased with it that He said, "Ah,Now it is good!" He divided the light from the darkness. He called the light Daytime and the Darkness the Night. We would need both in due course. Ah, it is very good! said God, gleefully.

Then He separated the vapours to form the sky above and the oceans below. Again very pleased with His Handiwork He ejaculated, Ah!it is so good, really, come and see! And so on, the bursting forth of grass and fruit, stars and seasons, sun and moon, fish and birds. He looked at them all with great pleasure and blessed everything abundantly and everyone individually at every stage, conveying His infinite bliss and wanting the whole creation to share in His happiness for ever. Somewhere along the line we seem to have forgotten that original message of joy.

With that Prasad took me on a guided tour of the Facility, pointing out the completed Residential Buildings, the pool, the Dorm, Dining hall, Classrooms etc. and explaining the plans for four more phases of construction. When completed the project will be the home for 200 children with every needed facility for body, mind and soul. Integrated special education and comprehensive care for 500 children. Prasad untiringly took me by my elbow and guided me into each and every building describing each area. We went through the various residential quarters and building built with great taste and beuty.Each of these residential units appeared to be highly well planned for families who could live in these units with absolute comfort and all the residential quarters were being tastefully furnished with attractive sofa sets, comfortable cots, foam beds and pillows,etc Prasad pointed out there were two types of staff residential quarters and quickly described the differences in terms of space, in terms of more room for living,etc, he showed me a dozen quarters all ready for occupation, I was imaging how fortunate one should be to occupy one these wonderful quarters. After this we visited the guest and director's quarters very tastefully built, which could accommodate at least three families with good comfort, with a marvelous open to sky area which was planned as a garden opening from the living room.

Prasad and I walked to the large dormitory unit which would house two hundred children and many staff. We visited each and every bay, each bay had many cots made up of concrete, it was really an innovative idea to save wood. Each of the dormitory bays had many such cots with ample area to place soft foam beds for each child. All these units were provided with sufficient bathrooms, closets for keeping each child's belongings.I exclaimed to him that every thing appeared to be well planned. At this point we were approaching a grand ramp. This reminded me of structural barriers which existed in all most all the public buildings of our country and I immediately expressed my happiness and satisfaction that even the disabled amongst these children will be very comfortable in this beautiful building, as it was highly disabled friendly. By this time I realised how thirsty and hungry I was, and I asked Prasad whether they had built a kitchen and a dining hall, Prasad steered me gently and took me to the large well equipped and well appointed kitchen which made me awe struck! I had never seen a kitchen of that scale and magnitude, it could well serve a marriage function. There were gleaming stainless steel contraptions, each of different sizes and shapes, Prasad described each of these equipment and its applications, such as making of 'Iddlis' 'Dosas' 'Chappathis' 'Rice",etc. He also showed me various grinders, kneaders, vegetable cutters, peelers, etc. I really ejaculated with a huge Oh!

Then we marched into the the dining hall which was so tastefully furnished with high class stainless steel dining tables with circular stools which could be folded when not in use.All the dining tables were covered with beautiful granite slabs, the whole thing appeared highly attractive. We decided to rest our feet some time and selected a six-seater dining table and immediately Prasad offered me lunch, which I welcomed quickly, we were served with steaming rice. Sambar, rasam, tasty 'Poriyal' and chappathis. We had a sumptuous meal. I thanked Prasad and complimented the cooks for the good food served to us.

After a heavy lunch I wanted to relax, but Prasad took me by my arm and gently directed me to yet another large building. He took me along and reeled out the nature of each of the areas of this new facility which would serve as the school for all of the children. I marveled at the way each of the class room was constructed and furnished, every class room was well ventilated with plenty of fresh air and light.All the rooms had well made desk and bench console tastefully painted and all of the class rooms had 'green black boards. Prasad explained to me each of the furniture in the class room including the writing board were made by Pathway's vocational unit at Koothavakkam, where considerable work was done by the mentally disabled adults of that centre. What a great contribution it is!!! I saw large and small classrooms which would serve various needs such as laboratories, classrooms, library, sports room,etc. I also saw a large well furnished and equipped assembly room which could seat 200 persons at a time.

With this we came out and we were facing a highly inviting, a good size, blue tiled swimming pool with clean and fresh water. Prasad showed me that this pool not only serve as a swimming pool for recreation and exercise, but also serve as a hydro therapy pool who needed anti-gravity therapy for children with disabilities, such as Poliomyelitis. I was also able to see various equipment such as dosage plant, filtration plant,etc.which would help maintain the pool in a perfect shape.

While the building aspects of Architecture remain a pure science dealing with construction, Vaastu is an allied science dealing with the social effects of living in different kinds of planned structures. More and more Engineers and Architects the world over are going back to Indian classical texts to adapt them to modern requirements, ensuring peace and prosperity for those who are going to live in them.Vaastu is an ancient science that blends the elements of Nature in a way that creates beneficial bio-electric magnetic energy that can bestow perfect health and wealth on the residents. The constructions here and the layout are quite perfect, the architect has obviously kept in mind the Vaastu. We lingered awhile at the Garden Nursery. Kamala was in charge of developing the garden. The name means, in Tamil, the lotus flower, as well as the orange. Which has been the cause of no small trouble to her.

I complimented. You are a Botanist, I presume added by way of keeping our conversation going. Horticulturist... Landscape Gardening, to be specific, she quipped. I realised I was dumb.

At this point I was distracted by a grey bird which flew very near us and settled quietly in a bush. We spoke in whispers in order not to drive away the bird. What bird is it, I wondered. A grey shrike, she said. See the strong hooked beak, hush-hush. Presently she drew my attention to another bird, low in the sky and close to our heads: A harrier. Montagu Harrier! she almost jumped with joy as if trying to reach the bird. Eagle, I interpreted. No, it is a Harrier. Kind of Falcon, she added: Eagles are big, Falcons are small and more friendly.

Exploiting this diversion, Prasad slipped away quickly to the paddy fields where harvesting had started, he appeared busy calculating the yield and how he can feed hundreds of children who needed food.

We had to adjourn our birdwatching to another day because the time was up and we had to get into the car to return to the city. I stood at the car door and with one wide sweeping gaze took in the lush landscape, wanting to mumble my appreciation from the depths of my being..... but instantly the voice was not mine and it was Kamala who lent her voice in the same breath clearly and audibly for all of us: Ah! It is Good!