In this issue
• Editorial (pg. 2)
• AB Updates (pg. 4)
Know more about what’s AB up to? AB activity
and chapter updates, the plans for next quarter,
what is working, what is not.
• AB in Pictures (pg. 5)
Some snippets of AB activities …
For feedback or discontinuation of this newsletter, write to info@aksharbharati.org. Feedback is highly appreciated.
AksharBharati Newsletter
Editorial Board
• Editor: Santosh S. Patil
Editorial (sanpatil@in.ibm.com)
• Co-Editor: Tanuja Dunga
Dear ABians, (tandunga@in.ibm.com)
• Co-Editor: Manojit Bhatnagar
Another quarter through and here we are again to bring you up-to-date with (manojit@kqinfotech.com)
the happenings of AksharBharati. It was indeed a pleasure to see you all • Content Review: Rupali Gowande, Anurag
welcome the transformed ‘AksharBharati Newsletter’ with your feedback. Agarwal, Vijay Suryawanshi, Rodney
I take this opportunity to share a very special moment with the entire AB Martis, Kailas Narawade
family. It is heart-rendering to announce that we have crossed the 150-mark • Graphic/Photography: Various Volunteers
for the libraries set up across the nation. This has been possible only because
About AksharBharati
of the time, effort and wishes of you all.
AksharBharati is a sincere effort to enable
Last edition talked about how your donations are appropriately channelised, children from underprivileged areas (slums,
in addition to the quarter updates and volunteers’ experiences. In this rural and remote areas) to have access to good
edition, we continue to share with you our volunteers’ thoughts, and there is literature and to nurture the reading habits in
a section dedicated to the volunteer of the quarter. We also bring to you the them. Our philosophy is that good non-
2010 AB calendar. academic reading in addition to regular studies
help in the overall development of children and
I also am glad to inform you all that this quarter has been special in terms of hence shapes up their future providing them
AB reaching more and more people by means of TV channels, and Sewa fairs the wisdom of choosing the appropriate things
organized at various chapters. These initiatives have helped us spread the in life.
message of AksharBharati across wider section of the society.
We do this by setting up libraries containing
As we continue to grow our primary focus next few quarters will be on the brand new books in regional languages, Hindi
fund raising, since that’s going to be the basis for all of our growth in the and English on various topics like history,
coming months and we request all of you to contribute in whatever way to biographies of great personalities, moral
help raise the funds through your coordinators. stories, world affairs, novels/stories, activities
and so on.
Let us keep the spirit of the last quarter up and continue to be committed to
AksharBharati. Here’s wishing you all a Happy & Prosperous 2010 and hope This is an initiative by a few IT professionals
the joy of reading is spread across more states, more institutes and more (currently close to 300 active members) across
children. various companies from India in association
with Sewa International – an International NGO
Santosh Patil (IBM) based at Pune and funded by the donations
sanpatil@in.ibm.com from our volunteers, well wishers and
corporates.
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AksharBharati Newsletter
AB Goes Public
Vijay Suryawanshi (Volunteer, Symantec Chapter)
Akshar Bharati on IBN-Lokmat September 29, 2009
What could be a better day, than the next day of Daserra, that Akshar Bharati gets an oppurtunity to propogate the
good work being done by its volunteers in front of a leading Marathi TV Channel - IBN Lokmat. Children from Apang
Kalyankari Santha & volunteers of various Akshar Bharti Chapter, participated in this first ever television coverage on
Akshar Bharti
Anurag Agrawal (AB KQInfotech Chapter) gave the opening Introduction about how Akshar Bharati Project was
initiated and rationale behind setting up of AB community libraries. After the opening session Anand Khedekar(AB
EDS Chapter) explained the working model for AB and the various steps that are followed for setting up of the new
libraries; starting from a potential library location, initial due diligence, book stamping, opening up library and regular
feedback. While Abhijit(from AB Cognizant Chapter) shared various experiences of ABians, while setting up libraries,
which include the interactions with kids, NGOs and the get togethers.
Following up on Abhijit's speech, Manisha Ghatpande(AB IBM Chapter) went onto showcase how the community
work being done by AB volunteers gives them immense satisfaction. She also explained how the family members of
ABians are getting involved in this noble cause. Kailas Narawade (AB Coordinator) spoke about how the process of
selecting books and what kind of books are there in the AB book set. Mr. C R Kulkarni (of Seva Sahyog) explained how
AB has associated itself with Seva Sahyog, for the management of donation and account management process.
Vijay Suryawanshi (AB Symantec Chapter) gave updates on AB’s current state of affairs in terms of number of
libraries, AB chapters, the states where AB has spread, etc. He also shed light on AB’s near and long term plans. For
the Ending note Rupali Gowande (AB Media Team) did an appeal to IBN-Lokmat viewers for joining hands for
volunteer work, supporting AB by donations and potential new library locations.
AB got about 25 minutes of air time on IBL-Lokmat in it’s first ever television coverage.
On the auspicious date of Kojagiri Pournima on October 5th, 2009.“Abhiyaan, the mission” a NGO based in Pune city
was doing a cultural program of one of the famous Marathi actress-cum-composer Madhurani Gokhale-Prabhulkar at
Bharat Natya Mandir. Abhiyaan’s coordinators liked Akshar Bharati’s concept and decided to showcase Akshar
Bharati’s documentary in their program; so as to speard awarness about the AB drive through word of mouth. The
documentary was well received by the 400+ members in audience and they appreciated the workbeing done by AB.
AB got on the spot donations and books for our next libraries. AB bookmarks were distributed to all the members
who attended the program.
This was the first public display of Akshar Bharati outside Akshar Bharati’s event.
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AksharBharati Newsletter
4 Girish 100 CTS sure the donations are being used appropriately and that the children
Kulkarni are benefiting from them. To this effort, get-togethers were organized
5 Narinder 100 Whiteboard this quarter at the following locations:
Singh Labs
6 Sumit 100 Mphasis o Bharatmata Abhyasika, Parvati, Pune
Sonawane (Coordinating Chapter: IBM TPO)
7
o Krishnai English School, Chikhalwadi, Bhor, Pune
(Coordinating Chapter: Symantec)
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AksharBharati Newsletter
AB in Pictures
By Various AB Volunteers
Who said books are not fun ☺ working together; working for the better
Young kids being introduced to the benefits of Yoga No better feeling than the joy of giving
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AksharBharati Newsletter
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AksharBharati Newsletter
ABian Speaks…
Feedback, Suggestions, Experiences
When I got to know about AB which is working for children, I preferred to join it. Because children are the future of the nation,
so by helping them to build their future we can make a great nation. With this objective I started working for AB as a volunteer
and since then it has been 17 months of enriching experience.
In this time we have Organized Inter School Quiz competition, where we have already setup libraries to encourage them to read
more & more books and take benefits from them, make them competitive and nurture their reading habit.
Over all it has been a great experience and learning curve working with AB and to contribute something to the Society, which has
given a lot to us.
Thanks AB for making me a part of this journey...... -Deepankar.Biswal
Volunteering
o Library setup activities (site visits, due diligence, book transportation, library setup, follow
up activities, kids’ activities and competitions etc.)
o Road shows, fund raising, awareness building
o Back office activities (administrative activities, web site management, general management)
Donations
o Individual cash contribution
Donate a primary book set
Donate a secondary book set
Donate a entire book set
o Institutional fund raising effort
o Individual/institutional equipment support (book shelves, transportation vehicles,
computers or other related equipment)
To know more how you can help us, please contact us at info@aksharbharati.org or call Kailash on +91-9604533919.
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AksharBharati Newsletter
2010 AB Calendar
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