Pungidasa's Blog, page 3

Spreading Smiles Short Stories — A Unique way of raising funds

Spreading Smiles Short Stories — A Unique way of raising funds

Join hands to make an impact,

Why:
In a time when most charitable foundations are struggling to raise funds and make ends meet. There is a risk that many shall discontinue their education.

We can keep those dreams alive.

How:
By subscribing to Spreading Smiles Short Stories subscription.
All proceeds go to charity.
Paranga Vidya Kendra is a private school in Magadi that empowers the dreams of 500+ kids with quality education, free uniforms, free food and even transportation facilities. This school runs entirely on donations and philanthropic efforts.

Without funds the future of these kids look bleak.

Together lets empower dreams:

Fill this form:
https://forms.gle/xLZzhhyjWxwDsoLu7

Subscription fee: 100 INR

What is part of the subscription:
1. 10 short stories over 10 weeks. 1/week.
2. Typical Indian stories which can be read by all.
3. Delivery over Whatsapp or email.

Contact: Sunil Sathyendra aka Pungidasa for more information/sample stories.

Together lets empower dreams.

Kotumb — A must have app for Rural Youth looking for Employment !

Kotumb — A must have app for Rural Youth looking for Employment !

I had a conversation with one of my friends over the weekend, leading to some valuable insights. I had a call with Hemanth Mathad and we happened to discuss his ventures with enabling the Indian youth to be self-sufficient and have access to the resources that can find them the right professional network, skills and jobs. The interesting part was he said YOUTH OF BHARAT.

Hemanth along with his partner Mamta Dalmiya runs a startup called KOTUMB that sounds like a word in my Native Kannada that is akin to family. Over the course of the call, Hemanth told me about one incident that rather stuck with me and I decided that I ought to share this.

He told me that a young woman from a Tier 2 location ( a small district in North Karnataka) called them up and told them that she desperately wanted a job in Bangalore. She has completed her degree and doesn't know whom to ask for guidance or support and also whom to trust to get a job. KOTUMB Counsellors arranged for a discussion with her, understood her needs and strengths, and trained her in tackling an interview (which she previously had no idea as to how) and helped her land a job. The cherry on the cake is that all of this was done when lockdown restrictions were eased but meeting people face to face was not really preferred. He also said that they have impacted nearly 1500 rural youth which was amazing to me.

‘KOTUMB is a professional networking app for rural India ’ is what he said. I was quick to say, ‘ Why not Linkedin?’ - to which Hemanth was quick to point out that there are many rural youth are not much exposed to Professional Networking and therefore is an opportunity.

In his experiences over the last few years in acting as a bridge between the rural youth who seek employment and the opportunities that lie in wait for them, Hemanth informs that a lot of the rural youth have no one to guide them in making their career choices. Society decides what they should study, society decides what they should do. They do not know a knowledgeable person whom to consult to make a career decision.

KOTUMB acts as that interface that lets them explore a world that can be the perfect opening that they need. It helps them understand the needs of a job, difference between a job and a career, assess their skill sets and also find out what makes them employable.

A job in the BPO sector which looks at fluency of atleast two languages, the job of a dubbing artist that seeks skills that are not bound by a graduation degree, the job of an animator that seeks a creative mind or even sales - the very existence of such jobs is something that many of us do not even know or consider.

In pursuit of a standard set of jobs, Engineer, Doctor or Lawyer - the rural youth join courses that do not really suit them; in case they do not make the cut with respect to the top three jobs. Hemanth shed light on a pain point - when asked about what jobs they need -their answers are shocking - ‘Any kinda work is okay with us’. KOTUMB acts as this guide, friend, guru, mentor to these young minds to understand ‘how’ they can become employable, what skills are needed to secure a career and how to get access to these skills and jobs.

KOTUMB also enables rural entrepreneurs to find other opportunities such as incubation and mentoring by companies and individuals.

Sounds exciting, right? Best part is that KOTUMB is freely accessible via your smartphone.

It was absolutely heartwarming to see that there is an app that is helping the Indian youth in tier 2 and tier 3 location to reduce the gap in making informed career choices. In case you know someone that needs this information - feel free to check-in with KOTUMB and become part of this amazing family of people who are enabling INDIA to be truly #atmanirbhar.

If you feel you can contribute to these youth as a mentor or a guide, do not delay, register here and empower the youth with your knowledge.

Android Users - https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...
Non- Andriod Users - Visit www.kotumb.in

Life Is Beautiful — A Theatre of Human Emotions

Life Is Beautiful — A Theatre of Human Emotions

It's with utmost happiness that I share this news. " Life is Beautiful - A Theatre of Human Emotions" is my next book in the short story genre, releasing on 5th of December.

These stories are filled with people and their stories that traverse various spectrum of emotions and symbolise that "Life is Beautiful"

The stories are available only as an e-copy. ( PDF). You can buy the book directly from me.

https://forms.gle/FhowUTJAw189A2zA6

( Fill this form, make the payment, the pdf shall reach you via email or whatsapp, enjoy the stories whenever you find time and feel like reading)

I have an additional request : can you help?

I hope I can take you as partners in this rebellious venture of ours... Do let me know if you happy to help...

Anonymity of a phone call

Anonymity of a phone call

I love phone calls. I happen to be on phone calls most of the time and I find it very much a happy thing.

More than phone calls being happy. Phone calls make the connection between people without having the opportunity to meet them at our best. I dont have to be dressed perfect, dressed presentable or dressed in matching attires. I can have a lazy day, wear the same dress for a week, a dress that is slightly torn and faded. I dont have to comb my hair, worry about dandruff on my shoulders and listen to thirty thousand tips from relatives.

Best of all I can sit how ever I want, sleep in weird positions and still take the call, connect with people far far away in Geography, memory and intimacy. The anonymity of the phone call gives me the luxury of being me at all times yet maintaining the thread of a few conversation that simply are needed.

I can have no dress on. Still speak to you with fondness. The other side will not know. Shall not judge, shall not care. Shall not see. Shall not observe.

I can have bad breath, I can still be on the bed, I can still have my breakfast, I can still carry my beard, I can still be cool with unkempt hair, Un-pressed dresses. I don't have to be presentable.

I may have to make small talk but then I am always free to make my own facial expressions, groan in the quiet comfort of my own space if the conversation goes away. And the best part is the opposite side of the spectrum is also with the same liberty. They can also equally invent another opportunity and tell me that they have another call, another assignment, someone calling them and cut the call within no time.

I sort of lose this comfort when I am going out - be it to buy the groceries or attend a social gathering.

I need to do a lot of chores. Look presentable, iron those flaws, wear my happy mask and smile away to glory. I have to worry about needless things - the perfume, the nail colour, my hair and the bun, the colour of the saree someone else may wear. I have to maintain social standing, look dignified. The Dhoti and Banian, the bare chest with a spurt of hair growth aint cutting it.

I am conscious of judgement, I am wary of small talk, I am out of my comfort zone. I am to talk to people that I am not comfortable with, never see again, others who feign interest but are judging you by the smell of your fart or the lack of it.

When I go outside- which I hardly do - I am like a beast that is in a imaginary prison. I have to say the right words, look my part and wear the masks that make me acceptable. I am indulge in this dance of rituals that personally carry very little meaning.

I am cool with wearing a faded shirt, old jeans and look like I have had a bad day but have a conversation, enjoy the evening in peace.

I am sorry, I don't need free advice on how to look nice, how to look perfect for marriage. What my plans are for marriage? Why don't I trim my beard, chop off my long hair and look the way you want me to.

My love story

My love story

We have been dating for over a decade now.
We have become quite serious about each other since almost four years.

Its been steady going,
Everyone knows about us. We have explored our boundaries.

Broken up once or twice over the last year, been on and off at times, its been rugged in the time of the pandemic.

But we are somehow sailing through.
It's been tough with support not really forthcoming from everyone including our own family, kith and kin.

It began in the last benches of college, scribblings my thoughts.
I could not have ever perceived that I would fall in love, go through these factorial of emotions and still stand true...

Poetry and I, we have forged an eternal bond,
One that could easily last a lifetime...

Working out Loud — 50 facts about me !

Working out Loud — 50 facts about me !

Working out loud for me has been an absolutely wonderful journey .

Whether it be, meeting people, building connections, tapping into empathy and exploring our life with simple exercises.

If you are wondering what WOL is then head here www.workingoutloud.com

One of the best exercises so far has been “50 facts about you”

Here are facts facts about me-

1. My name is Sunil Sathyendra and people call me Pungi.
2.Pungidasa is my pen name. I am a writer by passion and a Engineer by profession.
3. I write in English. Poetry and short stories mostly. I have written around 5000+ poems till now, approximately 100 short stories.
4. I have self published 5 books. They are "13", "Colourful stories in Black and White", "Amma" in short stories genre and "Untitled Verses" and "Swayambhu" in poetry genre.

https://linktr.ee/pungidasa — You will find my books here.

5.I am born and brought up in Bangalore, the I.T city of India. I have lived my entire life in a circle of 15kms.
6. I live with my mom and sister. My father passed away when I was 13.
7. I have completed my Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communications thanks to scholarships.
8. I believe in paying things forward. I volunteer to educate kids on rural schools.
9. I have been the highest contributer for CSR at my office location for three years in succession. (I have even met the president of the company for this in 2017)
I have led a team of 300 volunteers over 5 years clocking more than 15k hours of CSR effort. I am very proud of my journey of Spreading Happiness.
10.I am also a zero waste enthusiast, living life sustainably is a personal goal. I compost, use a bamboo brush, make floor cleaners. I inspire others to do it as well ...
11. I love to speak. Give me a mike, I will talk non-stop.
12.I am an ENFJ personality.

13. Some of my hobbies include Photography, Philately, Gardening, Collecting rocks.
14. I love to travel in buses, trains.
15. Beaches are my favorite destination.
16. I love sunsets and cloud formations .
17. I am a hard-core romantic.
18. I am 28 but I still don’t know how to drive a 2 wheeler or a 4 wheeler.
19. I am afraid of water, heights and dogs.
20. I have a lot of friends and we have a lot of intense conversation.
21. I am very vocal about Mental health awareness, gender equality and freedom.
22. I cry during farewells.
23. Needless to say, I love reading books, mostly thrillers.
24. Binge watch movies in hordes. I have seen close to 90 television series so far.
25 I love to grate coconuts, cut vegetables.
26. I love to pose in weird poses. I make pun-videos and weird stuff.

27.I wanted to be a cricketer, an archaeological expert, historian but finally became an engineer then an author.
28. I believe in the power of possibilities, empathy and that life is beautiful.
29 I have trouble remembering passwords.
30. I was a very silent individual until college but then now you don’t see me silent at all.
31. I want to learn how to play a flute, become ambidextrous.
32. I speak in various accents. I used to dabble in mimicry.
33. I make very bad jokes. I want to become a stand up comedian.
Gabriel Iglesias aka Fluffy, Trevor Noah, Micheal Mccintre are my favourite comedians.
34. I was an average student academically.
35. I collect old things.
36. I have had issues with self image. I survive dark days and forge ahead.
37. Most times I am a good listener. Feel share their secrets with me.
38. I love to walk to places. Its relaxing.
39. I like to meditate.
40. Deeply inclined towards spirituality.

41. I want to travel to Europe. Australia, Africa.
42. I want to enter the social sector once I hit 40’s
43. Hospitals scare me the most. Sight of suffering and blood is something I cannot shake.
44. I am/was addicted to social media.
45. I want to write more and more books and reach as many people as possible.
46. I find joy in little things.
47. Mango is my favourite fruit. I am a vegetarian.
48. I want to visit the Himalayas one day, Learn about Buddhism and maybe even meet the Dalai Lama.
49. I am mad about food, love to taste all kinds of food.
50. Kung Fu Panda is one of my favourite character.

What next ?'
You can always get in touch with me. I run a short story subscription ( English) and subsequently plan to generate funds for NGO’s with this subscription from 2021. You can join in and support me anyway possible.

I find Indian bus conductors fascinating. Specially the ones that ply on market routes !

I find Indian bus conductors fascinating. Specially the ones that ply on market routes !

They are a tribe of people that get to manage the entire financial aspects of the bus without much fuss. Thousands use the bus each day and yet very few people get a free ride

1. Always on vigil for people on the foot board, giving people tickets and they know if they have given it to you or not.

2. Bosses of empathy - will help find you place to sit for senior citizens, ladies with kids hanging on them.

3. Always knows if somebody is fooling around by not having a bus ticket.

4. Excellent communicators, most times will know multiple languages.

5. Will help you unload luggage, load them, help you locate your kins on the bus too...

6. Keeps the perfect inventory of tickets, knows just by looking at you if you are sure/ confused and looking for directions. They know every choultry, function hall, temple like the back of their hand.

7. Always ready to guide you, if not this bus take the other one.

8. The bus is not theirs but yet they take care of it, as if its their wagon.

9. Expert negotiators : When it comes to finding change. Solving heated problems amongst the passenger at times.

10. Knowing if a pick pocketer is on the bus or not.

#storiesofindia #storiesunheard #storiesthatmatter

Loved the article.

Loved the article. Explains so many aspects of my personality and the people around me. The questions too are very thought provoking…

Saved it for another visit and deeper analysis. glad I found this page…

Plastic free July 2020

Here is my journey with Plastic free July 2020. This is my second year doing it.

Last year I had decided I would not eat any chocolate that came with plastic packaging. This year too I carried it on and added biscuits and chips this month. So it was upto 5 biscuit packets/2 to 3 Lays packets from being consumed.Additionally I went ahead and made my own soap bars using Pears soap which is 98 percent glycerine and made 5 to 6 soaps with various other additions like Neem, tea tree oil,Aloe vera gel.I made Aloe vera gel with Aloevera grown at home. Very simple to do.Started composting — with #zerowastetolandfill mindset. The composting reduces the green waste we send to the landfill — vegetables and fruit peels generated daily. Follow the link below to find out more.

https//www.instagram.com/wormrani

Lemon and rose bio-enzyme with left over citrus peels and flowers after puja are used to make a plastic free/detergent free cleaning liquids used to clean the floor, utensils and even washrooms. Made one batch of lemon and rose bio enzyme.Made a natural shampoo with soap nuts. It makes the hair smell wonderful and removes the grime and keeps the roots strong.Did some carbon offseting with planting 5 trees with Grow trees. https://www.grow-trees.com ( you can do it too its just 85 rupees per tree)Collected around 13 kgs of Ewaste and gave it away to Saahas . They collect e-waste and make sure it is recycled in a clean and sustainable manner.Started to grow micro-greens in the natural pots of grated coconuts.

Continuing from previous months

I use bamboo brush instead of plastic brushesI use tooth powder instead of tooth paste that come in plastic containers.I don’t use any additional cosmetics, powders, gels etc.Using our own cloth bags whereever needed and flatly refusing plastic everywhere…

I had no difficulty doing this — all it took is some determination and some google search… I was set.

What did you do this July? Did you reduce your plastic consumption ?

What was your excuse to not compost at home?

If I can do it. Why can’t you ?

Disrupting the known — Experimenting with the unknown ( Short Stories Subscription by Pungidasa)

For over 4 months, I have been running a short story subscription.

Each week, one story sent via whatsapp or email. The stories are widely put under 5 categories and the readers can choose their favourite genre and they shall recieve their chosen genre.

Sharing here my experiences doing the same.

I was not new to writing or to short stories. I have been writing since a decade and have 5 published books.

( https://linktr.ee/pungidasa )

But this subscription model was something I was experimenting for the first time.

I was very apprehensive about the whole process. It was new and in general, new things take time for people to adjust.I was always excited about each week. I was enjoying the process of writing, the instant feedback from the readers was a thrill.I had expected very less people and 20 of them turned up and said “Pungi, we believe in you”. The second subscription was actually the litmus test. 40% of the original ones came on board and got their friends on board too…It was a very different experience for me to cater to a niche audience, write stories in a particular genre. (For those who know me, know my lack of patience.)

Things I learnt from this subscription was that,

Each dream starts with a single step.Asking for too many opinions is dangerous to health.Stick to your staple ideas, experiment along the way. Keep the content good and the growth shall follow.Things are difficult in the beginning but the thrill of doing something new is a fuel that keeps you going.Things in actual reality are a lot more easier to handle than when they are in your head.

I started this subscription banking on my instinct and also because I wanted to try the idea of disrupting the known scenario and looking at unlimited opportunities…

I have written 20+ new stories ( in 4 months. It usually took me 8–10 before)

I have met 6 to 7 new readers and the feedback has been very positive. ( It’s an introduction into a whole new network- a whole new possibilities)

Closing the blogpost with the pitch :

Incase you are interested to join the experiment and read unique, custom curated stories that are exclusive to a select reader group.

Do drop an email to pungidasa@gmail.com and get a sample story and decide for yourself.

Or if you are already convinced that the subscription is for you/you want to gift it to somebody who loves short stories.

Go ahead and enter your details here : https://forms.gle/XF2LSKh9kXwTEAqo7