Thursday, November 12, 2015

Someone whom I admire- #madeofgreat





Mr Anil Kundra




A man of substance,
Who is he?
He makes do with little,
Or whatever he thinks he needs.


I see him with children, 
Who don't get him much, 
But they love him, 
Oh, ever so much!


He has patience and some more of that, 
Some greatness behind his human form, 
And kindness in those bright eyes.


What makes someone great? Is it the way he lives his life or the way he wants to do things that one day would make a difference? For many such dreams remain just a dream and its not long before one starts to get bogged down with family demands and their own corporate aspirations. 

I see a man, in his late fifties, changing my perspective about special needs children, once in for all. Anil Kumar Kundra has decided to follow his path in life. The only man who had the guts to realise his dreams. Yes, he has a family like everyone else does. He has beautiful children and a wife yet social service was something that actually bought him happiness and along the way- contentment. Which is the most important thing in life than anything else. And why do I say that? Because it's not just social service I am talking about. It's opening a whole new perspective of raising an individual with special needs. His residential school for Autism (Children and Adults) has made lives only better. I had the opportunity of staying there for quiet some time. And since it was in the outskirts I had thought that being away from the city would be difficult, that all i needed was a Mall or some fancy restaurants to be happy. 

The routine at Autism Ashram is unique, keeping the standards high and the service with all the humbleness that would outshine any institution in the world. The Mess is named in the memory the child- Shubri who used to study with them but passed away after a tragic accident when she was home with her parents. The mess has steel utensils to maintain hygiene with visual instructions that help the children staying become independent. The in-house cooks are amazing with maintaining the menu where with meals you get to have snacks in between. They do have a hectic work schedule and are equally amazing with the children. Mr Kundra is always around, keeping a vigilant check on what is happening. I have even seen him making a dish or two, serving the children because I guess he such a genius around everyone. 

Mr Kundra has chosen the location of Autism Ashram with one goal in mind- to keep oneself close to nature. The wide array of mango trees really is a pleasure to the eyes. The rose garden and the Zen Gardens with walking path where children get to develop their sensory feelings. The swimming pool has been added to give adequate exercise and play time during summers. And its all to the mastermind of Mr Kundra.  No doubt that Autism Ashram is visually appealing. 

He has also planned out the evening exercise programme where children have to walk for atleast an hour to keep them from being lazy also builds up a good appetite for the evening supper. The one to one caretakers being a vital part of the Ashram are like friends who helps them with their day to day chores. 

Mr Kundra himself lives a simple life. He has a one room cottage with no TV which he shares with his wife Mrs Jyoshna Kundra- who has an equally admirable persona. She helps him with the planning of the Ashram and supervises the caretakers, keeping an uptight string, in case things go out of hand. I really am at awe at how this very unique residential school for Autism, is such a habitable place to be. To open such a big place with their own funds, one needs to have a lot of guts. But what makes you understand them is their belief in themselves. 


Note: Autism, not many know what it is. And you need to. Really, when you see children or adults behaving in an unusual manner, remember that its you who feels uncomfortable, not them. 


Here are a few pictures that will show you the dedication he has towards making this place a heaven on earth. 

Sunrise @ Autism Ashram


The team with the students
The Shubri Mess
The entrance


Sunset At Autism Ashram
The accommodations




Click on the link to know more: http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com
Here is an amazing video  by Tata Motors in association with Lionel Messi.







So readers, here is an interesting contest for you where you might be the lucky one to get an #Amazon voucher of 750 Rs. Just answer the question: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TATA MOTORS ASSOCIATION WITH LIONEL MESSI?

36 comments:

  1. The story of a Legend in himself - that's how I will describe it in a short sentence. Very well written with snaps which enhance the simplicity yet greatness of the man.

    My answer: Tata is a name which any and every person can rely on for its honesty, commitment and perseverance. Lionel Messi is a legend who has carved his name in history books with total dedication to the game, simple living and improvisation which is seen with each game he plays. The association of Tata Motors and Lionel Messi as their Brand Ambassador will definitely give an edge to the Tata group over its competitors solely because the brand Ambassador also holds the same reputation of not letting his fans down ever, like Tata Motors who have given the best to the world over the decades. Its an exemplary association par excellence.

    You can choose my answer as the best if you feel I described it all well.. :)

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    1. Thank you UK! Thats an amazing answer. I am glad you liked my post. :).

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    2. Yes Sonia, Equally amazing post.. :)

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  2. Truly inspiring Sonia...to dedicate a life to Autism is commendable and needs lot of grit and determination...

    Lionel Messi and Tata motors are on a level playing field having similar strengths and working its way to the goals set!

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  3. Hi! Thank you for visiting my blog. i am so glad you liked my post. I loved your answer :)

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  4. So good to see some good (wo)men taking up work like this. Commendable and thank you for sharing.
    Is he related? Just guessing by the last name. :)

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  5. Hi. Dedicating life to autism is truly inspiring.
    Lionel Messi and Tata Motors are working on their own ways to reach their goals. Power within inspires to reach goal!

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    1. Thank you Chandrika. Great answer! Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  6. It is truly great that ordinary people make extraordinary efforts for the betterment of society. They are people with few words but great deeds. It was really inspiring to read about Mr. Kundra. As for the question on the subject, well it takes two to tango, they say...So two names, each great in their own field, come together to create something bigger.....the world is set to see more greatness flow...!...:)

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    1. Yes, Sunaina. It takes a lot of self discipline and dedication :). Thanks for the great answer :)

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  7. Tata Motors and Lionel Messi have many things in common. Firstly both of them have highly credible performance record. Secondly they are both made of great material. Indeed there couldn't have been any other brand ambassador than Messi for Tata Motors

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  8. Nice post .
    Tata Motors is a brand which is one of its kind , Trustworthy and innovative .
    Lionel Messi is a Legend and youth icon , a person who is extra ordinary talented ,energetic , confident & dedicated to his profession .
    So association of Tata motors and Lionel Messi is a Great Thing as both of them does not know tiredness and are committed to their brand value .This collaboration would definitely give an edge to Tata Groups over its competitors as the brand ambassador Messi hold the reputation of not letting down his fans as Tata motors has given the best to the world.

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    1. Thank you Ghazala, great connecting with new people. And thats a lovely answer!

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  9. You're so right autism does need its share of limelight. We shun what we don't know and to be able to give so selflessly ...he is certainly #MadeOfGreat

    To answer the question... both Tata Motors and Lionel Messi have built a solid reputation. This foundation is built on the sheer perseverance and self belief and the ability to not resting till they achieve what they had planned to. And once they reach that stage... its so easy for both to say Veni Vidi Vici and then move on...to higher and more difficult to achieve aims. They both have set very high standards, and if anyone does want to surpass them they'll have to work very hard indeed.
    Cheers to greatness. - See more at: http://baketitude.blogspot.in

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  10. Thank you so much! Yes, Autism certainly needs more attention :).
    Your answer is great!

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  11. Amazing post. Tata stands for honesty, simplicity yet shines through as committed to excellence and perseverance. In the same breathe Lionel Messi is a legend who has made a mark with his relentless dedication to his game. And thus the association is that of perfection and truthfulness.

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    1. Thank you Bharati....Such a great answer! Its getting tough to choose now.

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  12. An amazing deed being done by a noble soul. It was heartening to read your post, Sonia. Mr. Kundra is truly #madeofgreat. :)

    As for the expression of views towards the said association, I would like to answer through a stanza or two of verse:

    ---

    'What drives us from within is what makes us great'
    Belief in oneself, the zeal to put up a brave face,
    In the face of adversity, to stand strong against fate,
    That's how life is - it's an excellent goal to chase!

    To create a name for oneself, from the soil your feet dampen,
    To let critics enhance your effort, not let your spirits dampen,
    It's the journey that counts, more than having scaled the peak,
    To persevere so that it's your actions that have the loudest shriek!

    ---

    To sum up, I feel that this age-old adage rings true whenever I think of this beautiful alliance of an Indian Global Brand - Tata Motors and a Global Argentinian Sportsperson - Lionel Messi

    "Our Similarities bring us to a common ground; Our Differences allow us to be fascinated"

    That realization is truly #madeofgreat. :)

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    1. Thank you Poonam for visiting my blog. He is such a great personality too!
      I love love your answer!

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  13. Hats off to Mr. Kundra. I would love to visit the ashram and meet this wonderful couple. I have read about autism and know that we need a lot of kind people like the Kundras do their but to make life easier for those who are impacted by it. Tata Motors seem to be celebrating greatness of people like these through their own association with Lionel Messi, who needless to say, speaks to nothing but perfection! Glad to have dropped by here and thanks for sharing this wonderful post! :)

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    1. Thank you Canary! You should visit. In fact they love visitors who share their passion.
      Thanks for a lovely answer to the question as well :)

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  14. Great Thumbs Up to Austin Aashram and the man behind it.

    My answer to the question :
    Tata Motors has gained the goodwill from giving the best and innovative Automobiles and it is also known as one the best Automobile Manufactures. And if you see the Lionel Messi , his throughout dedication, zeal , targeted goal of life and technically soundness make him big, achiever and remarkable position in the world.
    As per me, the association of Tata Motors and Messi is a grand amalgamation of two legendary entities of the world, and their amalgamation will definitely break down the clutters and affect the cut throat competition of Tata Motors. Tata motors will sure get a huge preference by the fans of Messi. This will sure make a record on the of Tata motors in the world of production or may be the highest selling automobiles.
    Tata motor’s main target is to give an impression on the large amount of crowd and this can be achieved only through the Messi, because the youth generation is crazy for MESSI and this can be smart move and a great achievement for Tata Motors they positioned MESSI as their BRAND AMBASSADOR .
    In the nutshell, Tata Motors , Messi joining hands will definitely give more soundness in technicality of promotional strategies and Messi’s influence will influence the audience for choosing Tata Motors and expand the business drastically.

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    1. Thanks Bhawna :). I am amazed by your insight!

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  16. Hey Sonia,

    Visited your blog for the first time.But I must say, it is a wonderfully maintained one. Simply loved your Blog title "Half a cup of happyness", it seems so much realistic.

    Thanks for writing about Mr.Kunda. Such people really need to be brought to front and highlighted in media.The Kind of work he has done for Autism deserves its true share of praise across platforms. Hope his efforts continue to pour in and uplift those poor souls. The Pictures you have shared add a life to the blogpost. Continue to write about such genuine souls who live for the betterment of the world.

    Hoping to read more from you :)
    --------------------------------------
    My answer to your question: The person you choose to write about for #madeofgreat campaign is the perfect choice in my opinion. So is the association of Messi with Tata Motors, because both of them are committed to deliver 100 percent every single time. These two are behemoth brands which have dedicated themselves to perfection in their respective fields for years and years now.

    It is no coincidence that Messi himself drives a range rover which is a product of Tata Motors now. The brand has been known for its trustworthiness, simplicity, durability and reliability for decades now, A tie-up with legend like Messi whose commitment to his team and ability to deliver whatever is necessary every single time will take the value and goodwill which company has developed since 1945 to a whole new level of awesomeness. The fact that it took 16 months of efforts to get Messi in the driver's seat says a lot about how difficult it is to chase world's most gifted footballer. Hoping to see this association foster into a long term relationship.

    Messi reflects the Trust the soccer fans all around the world put on him while so does Tata Motors for the automobile enthusiasts across the country. Both of them have achieved feats unparalleled and have stood far apart from all their competitors, hope that this association turns out to be a value addition for both the sides. Cheers !!!!

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  17. Hats off to him! beautifully written! For me my mom is #madeofgreat!
    Tata Motors represent India. Tata is associated with reliability, performance and strength of automobiles. Similarly Lionel Messi represents football. He stands for reliabilty, performance and strength of his football team.
    http://dudekgmc.blogspot.in/ 

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  18. Autistic children are often looked down , not only by other kids (of whom I can understand, they are also children and know nothing about the problems) but also by the adults, which I find absolutely despicable. Only parents who have autistic kids could understand the pain and agony when autistic children are secluded from so-called normal kids! Most of the times, autistic kids have intellect normal or even more than other children...what they need is compassion, patience and love. Kudos to the man who has made this happen in the Ashrama...my respect for him. And, thanks to you Sonia, for letting us know about this wonderful endeavour..... :-)

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  19. Thanks for the great answer Shilpa :)

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  20. very well expressed and indeed Mr.Kundra is #madeofgreat

    well, here’s my answer for the legendary assioction between Tata Motors and Lionel Messie:

    Tata motors being the first Indian brand to associate itself with an international sports icon is truly being envied!. Yes! When two people with identical qualities merge, the brand power increases enormously. Just as expected Tata Motors is tasting it by the reach and vibrations it has created with its association with Lionel Messie.

    With both’s determination, dedication and power to conquer in their respective fields- their collaboration is surely a big hit and #madeofgreat indeed

    and if you haven’t read mine..please drop in at
    https://jeydv.wordpress.com/2015/11/17/madeofgreat/

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  21. Hi Sonia,
    great person and an interesting blog
    Indeed a nicely written post. I wish you good luck for the contest
    Here is my answer
    The association of Tata Motors with Lionel Messi is that of two greats. Lionel Messi has been exceptionally talented who with his hard work, determination and sacrifices has got better and tougher in his chosen sport so is the Image, reputation and quality of TATA Motors that have transformed brilliant ideas into masterpieces of engineering and created a brand and products that we are so proud of as Indians. Lionel Messi has transformed his body and the mind body co-ordination into a masterpiece of precision and excellence it would not be wrong to say that Lionel Messi is the TATA Motors of sports where as TATA Motors is the Lionel Messi of vehicles both giants in their own spheres driven by the drive to excel and lead by example. So Lionel Messi is the best choice for becoming the brand Ambassador for TATA Motors
    aaloke19@gmail.com

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  22. Your post describes #madeofgreat so well that it has winner written all over it. Good luck for your entry.
    Here is my answer.
    Like minds think and act alike looking at the track record of TATA Motors it has stood the test of time and built a business that was built using bricks of hard work on a foundation of trust. Authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation are the trademarks of brand TATA Motors. These same qualities are present in Lionel Messi who with his immense talent has made a mark for himself on the international football field .Facing all hardships he has worked hard toiling on the fields and in training sessions facing injuries and pressure to come out trumps and be a winner. Thus these two greats Lionel Messi and TATA Motors are made for each other .There association is a bond of two legends
    In case you pick me a winner my email id is : princess09hema@gmail.com
    Fingers crossed :)

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  23. Your post defines #madeofgreat to the hilt. Goodluck for the contest
    My answer is:
    Authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation are the pillars of strength on which TATA have built a brand that has put India on the global map. It is a brand that has stood the test of time just like Lionel Messi who tackles opposition on the field with his skill,agility,strategy,brilliance and raw power to reach and score a goal so has been the track record of TATA motors who has become a brand leader and a global giant. These qualities make TATA Motors and Lionel Messi perfect partners who stand for the same set of values thus Lionel Messi is the perfect brand ambassador to represent TATA Motors.
    Hope my best to be a winner here; do contact me for the prize at mahima2014j@gmail.com
    fingers crossed

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  24. Yours is a very well written post your .Its is a very nice description of #madeofgreat
    TATA Motors is a brand associated with performance, endurance and excellence. These words are also synonymous with Lionel Messi who plays as a forward and weaves his magic on the football field.Just as Lionel Messi is considered the best footballer in the world ,TATA motors which is Indias premier automotive manufacturer gives wheels to the people of India with its wide range of vehicles. Both believe in excelling in whatever they do and set examples for others to follow. They compliment each other as both are reliable trustworthy and leaders thus Lionel Messi is the natural choice as the brand ambassador of TATA Motors
    Please consider me as a winner
    Email: yagneshbjoshi10099@gmail.com

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  25. Your post defines #madeofgreat in an awesome manner.Very well written and interesting post indeed.
    My Answer
    Tata Motors is a brand that makes durable vehicles, with its MADE IN INDIA mark makes every Indian proud. It is a brand seen globally as Trusted, Reliable, Innovative and at the forefront of technology. In its journey since inception it has overcome all odds, competition, and adversities with grit and determination. These same qualities are associated with Lionel Messi who was very talented and hardworking from a very early age. With each game that he played he kept improving his skills and built a career to become one of the best player of professional football. There qualities make both TATA Motors and Lionel Messi giants who perfectly compliment each other and Lionel Messi the right and perfect Ambassador who stands for the same values that TATA Motors does.
    bhuwan198grover@gmail.com

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