People of Action

Other than health, children, teenagers and the aged are also the focus of his activities. A school catering to pre-primary, primary and secondary children runs under his care. Unhappy with the fading values of today’s youth and thecompetitive world, the school is much gentler with the children who attend it. “We try to incorporate fun learning and creativity,” he says.

“Children who require constant care are those in the Standard X as they are caught up in a terrific rat-race,” he says. In keeping with his concern, he helped organise a hugely successful, six-session pre-exam workshop its unique feature being the chronoscope that calculates which part of the brain requires more work. Other sessions included de-stress/meditation, planning studying schedules and teaching summarisational techniques. “We are planning to hold another one this year,” he hopes.

“People may feel that the school caters to Hindus only because it is called the Bandra Hindu Association, but more than 35 per cent of the children follow other faiths. No donation or deposit is taken from any of the children and I arrange to sponsor the fees of those who can’t afford it,” he explains.

In keeping with this secular spirit, Manyal also organises annualall-religion prayer meetings where people congregate to light lamps and say prayers together. “In its seventh year, it’s a re-birth of a wonderful feeling of oneness,” he says.

Each week, the BHA holds seminars, workshops, symposiums and medical camps where youth and the aged can enjoy themselves and learn in the process. “One of our most successful workshops was one on computer literacy for senior citizens. It was wonderful to see those with techno-phobia, becoming excited about machines,” he observes.

Manyal has also organised a legal cell for women which runs every Saturday from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm. A couple of leading advocates come in to counsel those who have marital/property problems or face harassment in the workplace.“Most touching of all is the trust people place in us,” he says narrating how when the BHA was collecting funds for those involved in the Latur earthquake, suddenly, four unexplained truckloads of grains arrived at the gates and an anonymous caller directed that it betransported to the victims. Under his guidance, the BHA has indeed become what he likes to call, `a mission with a vision.’