The AICUF Story!

Our life is full of changes. Each one of us goes through certain changes in our personality, in our attitude, and behaviour. However it is we who must decide in what direction we must change; whether good or bad.  Come read our newsletter The AICUFer and think about the society and the change that it needs. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7JveaTe2hFdWE1GRk5ydXFxRmp4X1lUUUZtazlXcTJCeEU4

Hey! Are you aware of the benefits of yoga? Are you privy to the misconceptions that surround the practice of yoga? Yoga is not just beneficial but also impoortant for one's health. Want to know more about it? Come read our newsletter: The AICUFer.  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7JveaTe2hFddHpVYUJub0JxU28

A Testimony of Sorts- Raising the Bar Studying in a city like Mumbai after being in Chennai for seven years is unsettling, to say the least. The people are different, their mindset is different and most of all, their behavior with respect to time is different. Mumbai, like Kolkata and Bengaluru, has a number of ‘Red Light Areas’. The general attitude towards Commercial Sex Workers and these Red Light areas is probably the only place where Mumbaikars are backward. The younger generation, however hasn’t quite decided where they stand as debates and discussions happen on a regular basis. I must admit that on some occasions we even joke about these Areas, and the events that occur there. When AICUF organized this event, ‘Raising the Bar’ as a part of Ujali, I was intrigued- no; everyone was intrigued. The seminar room was crowded to the point where people abandoned chairs and sat on the ground. The women from San Mitra trust introduced themselves, spoke to us about their work and t...

So this year's Ujali pretty much showed the world why it's so different from the other mainstream events. The underprivileged, the unheard, the unseen but very much existent came forward and told us about themselves, their lives, and the atrocities that society commits that brings them to tears on a daily basis.  We had Household Help , Bar Dancers , Commercial Sex Workers and people from the famous Warli tribe come and enlighten us about their current lifestyles and spoke to us like parents. Such love and care from someone who didn't know any of us, moreover someone who's been shunned and ignored for most of their life moved us all to tears. The outlet of these emotions is the whole point of this series of posts. We hope you like them. ​​ Those steep turns never met a sunshine, Those black mornings haunted great depths. The harmless nights became a memory And all moonlights drowned the dreams, of a better morning. When those bitter nights yelled and ruled, th...

My mind is where I belong All free to do this; All free to do that. Setting sail on my ocean of notions, Free to drop all my emotions. This essence of freedom, Gives me eyesome reasons: ‘Life is a beautiful process, And beautiful thoughts are what I posses’. This new scent in the air, Is fair. Introvert I used to be, Extrovert is what I am. For Freedom is the only thing I crave for, And the only thing I live for. -Aarzoo Malik  Miranda House  University of Delhi

So Dongri was an enlightening experience, and those who didn't go regretted, repented and whined about it for days. For this very reason, when the trip to Kamathipura, in Grant Road was announced, we received a whooping response! (remember, this was during the Holiday Season). We have a tie up with an NGO called "Oasis", and they have a Day/Night care center for the children of Commercial Sex Workers. On the 29th of May, 2015, we decided to go pay these beautiful children a visit. This was the second visit during the vacations as part of our “Kids and Smiles” theme. "There weren't a lot of children because a lot of them had gone home, so we, the enthusiastic volunteers, outnumbered the children present", said Riolia, the Human Rights Commission Co-ordinator with a sheepish grin.  They were very eager to know about and interact with us. We all introduced ourselves, following which they sang for us a welcome song. Then we taught  them some action songs...

I am a parasite, With the world, as my host. I receive what it offers me the most, A world with its absurd facts, never spurs me. I am made to adhere to the norms, in many distinct forms. You compare me to him, this makes me dim. You strangle me with fear and then... I roar; alone on the shore. I am a parasite with a life; on the tip of a knife. -Aarzoo Malik  Miranda House  University of Delhi