Mamata

�Cele�ratin� Ma�mata!

mamata.indd 1

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mamata.indd 5

28/7/14 5:32 PM

Reflecting back on what you mean to me…brings back a flood of memories…

I first met you at your home in Bhavnagar, when Aditya was just a few days old. My first impression of you was that of a quiet, gracefully dignified, friendly and warm hearted person.

During the time that I worked at CEE, I got many opportunities to get to know to know you better and even though we may not meet very often now, you still hold a very special place in my heart!

Although I never really worked on your team, you always cared to listen, were willing to help and were a role model for us novices. I would often climb up to your office and brainstorm new ideas with you, always depend on you for running your impeccably discerning eye over whatever I wrote, sought your feedback and looked forward to your words of critical appreciation.

Your creativity, language skills and efficiency were indeed admirable. Your ability to respond to any sort of upheaval calmly and continue to move ahead was enviable. But what I most respected you for, was your ability to manage both your professional and personal life with equanimitywhatever the challenges. For me you were not merely a respected senior colleague, but also a guide, mentor and friend who represented an efficient working mother, impeccable hostess, responsible caregiver and dependable human being.

Some of the best memories I have are of the fun times we had when our children were growing up. Our visits to the schools, lunch at the crèche, discussions about life and of course the panipuri parties at your lovely home when the 226 gang hung out together.

On your retirement, I wish you many more years of creative indulgence. We look forward to reading your new books and hope that you will now find the time to do a lot of the things that you have been too busy to do till now.

Call Me!!

With very fond regards,

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Kirtida

28/7/14 5:32 PM

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mamata.indd 8

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This picture and the smiling faces always remind us about the good times we had at Ahmedabad with you and the 226 gang!

What I always loved and admired about you – Your communication – written, oral, body language..... everything perfect!

Your special ability to give wonderful titles to projects, books, chapter, etc., etc. giving you the title of ‘Title Queen’ among the triad.

Your chocolates ladoos !! yummmmy – haven’t even tasted anything even close to that till now!

Party planning and mamaa/masi parties at your house Your perfectly pleated starched saris and the way you carried them

Avanish

Your jet black hair (though even I started graying even while in Ahmd itself)!!

The warmth, excitement and rigour you brought to all things done together

You have made our publications more readable, projects more doable, parties more enjoyable (and eatable!!) and life more memorable !!

Many many happy returns of the day Mamata! Life begins at 60 too!! Vinita and Dhriti join me in wishing you the same!

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mamata.indd 11

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Elegance and simplicity - you combine these qualities seamlessly. You will be missed especially the time we have spent together, laughing, sharing and working together. Having known you for over 2 decades, for me you are my senior, my friend and someone I have learnt a great deal from.

It is always fun being around you as we bounce 'over the top' and crazy ideas. You were there for me gently encouraging and scolding as well. No idea how it will be when you leave.

Don't go na... Mamata.

CEE has been a home to you, and I guess it will always be for most of us. I know you will cherish the wonderful memories, people you have met and the friendships that have bloomed over the years. As you embark on the new phase in life, I wish you the very best. Stay happy Mamata and venture into territories unknown as well, just as an adventure. Enjoy this phase.

Madhavi

mamata.indd 12

28/7/14 5:32 PM

Let me congratulate you for having completed a fruitful association of around three decades with CEE and entering into another phase of life. I am sure, your hard work and diligence has greatly contributed to the growth of CEE in its educational activities. I hope that the youngsters in CEE will strive to follow your stellar example.

It gives me immense pleasure to share that I am one of those opportune who have had closely associated with you officially as well as in personal capacity. I am confident that you will find the same success and happiness in retirement that you experienced during your time in CEE. I wish you the best in your future endeavours. Retirement will surely offer you many new opportunities, which I know you will embrace whole-heartedly.

Please keep in touch, and with best wishes.

Rajeevan

mamata.indd 13

28/7/14 5:33 PM

Haunting memory: when I saw you first time at CEE was that at the VIKSAT parking area where in a white car you and two kids were seated and a beard man opened the door and you and kids went out; you were carrying a white big bag and walking towards one of the old huts at VIKSAT (later on I came to know that was Kiranbhai) coincidently very recently I saw him with beard while collecting RPG mango from Studio Lawn and for a moment my mind reached that spot where I first saw you together with kids.

We were so close when we met in crèche with kids and spending time with them during lunch time, etc. You used to ask me what are the things Rahul & Abhimanyu likes to have and I said in the morning boiled eggs. I still remember your expression oh… then Aditya and Revati too I will try; and next day onwards you started bringing boiled eggs for them too in a small dabba and they enjoyed it having at crèche. Thereafter how swiftly time has gone and so much of incredible occasions/gatherings, etc. had together with CEE family.

The words are completely inadequate for what you have done for CEE family and your selfless act humbles me. I cannot believe that a complete down to earth Mamataben would take the time and go through the discomfort of donating your stem cells to me. You have made a huge difference in my life.

My transplant went well. You have given my body a chance to start working correctly again from all those unbearable situation(s). So far, so good, you have given me more time to be with all of them.

That is the best gift you have given me. That will ever remain with me.

mamata.indd 14

28/7/14 5:33 PM

I applaud you for your years of service and achievement. My heartiest congratulations and best wishes for your retirement, I will always remember the first day we met. I continue to benefit from your personal wisdom and expertise, and hope we will stay in touch and join for occasional social events. Have a wonderful retirement! After these many years of working together, I will need to adjust to the idea that you are no longer in the next office.

Mamataben, we have thoroughly enjoyed our association. I will always remember our trip together on scooter to Meenaben’s home at Ramdevnagar, Neha’s house, and Vasna for body check up, etc.

Again, congratulations on a well-deserved retirement. Few have worked as hard as you have.

I hope you will enjoy directing your energies into your other special interests.

Radha

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mamata.indd 16

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A soul-sisterhood of close to three decades... which included

Drafting and crafting Editing and titling Deadlines and show-and-tells Workshops and work-in-progress Scolding and nagging Mothering and mother-in-lawing Stamping feet and waving hands Celebrating and agonizing Shopping and auto rides Working and having fun Sharing joys and sorrows, lunches and churan And to a future which will hopefully include more of most of the above, as well as opportunities to do SUPW together.

And gracefully reconciling to being anachronisms in a fast-changing world!

Mamata: I have never met anyone who lives their values more steadfastly. Thank you for being just you!

Meena

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

Wishing you a very Happy 60th Mamataben.

It was a great learning experience for me to work with you at CEE and knowing you.

Though I never worked directly under you, you were always around with Meenaben and were so easily approachable, that I could come and talk to you very easily.

When I was leaving CEE and coming to Russia, you told me “Moscow jai ne Borsch banavine peeje, thandi ma health ma bahuj saaru rehshe�. Well I have learned to make borsch now and would love to share it with you and Meenaben on a cold winter day.

I loved the way, you are always maintaining a healthy life style, which I am trying to copy but am not able to do it. Whenever I think about you, I remember a slim, beautiful lady in a saree, with a purse on her shoulders and walking fast.

I wish you loads of happiness and good health in the new phase of your life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lots of love

Monal

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

Everyone retire one day, but what is important is how you spend the rest of your life to make it special and meaningful. Congratulations! Enjoy your retirement to the fullest.

J. K. Nair

mamata.indd 19

28/7/14 5:33 PM

Our journey through life is punctuated, By the people we meet.

Each person a coma, Telling us to reflect and learn We are taught strength, happiness, joy, friendship and love, But there are very few who teach us all this and also is an example in herself.

You are one of them Mamtaben.

Thank you for being there whenever I needed you and guiding me and showing me the right direction personally and professionally.

Will always be in touch with you Lots of love

Priya

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

“

I thought that my voyage had come to its end at the last limit of my power, that the path before me was closed, that provisions were exhausted and the time come to take shelter in a silent obscurity.

But I find that thy will knows no end in me. And when old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart; and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders.

Rabindranath Tagore

Purvi

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

When I think Mamata, I think of professionalism, passion, commitment, dedication, someone who takes up a task and then completes it to perfection. And then I think of warmth, care and concern... And of course, ethnic elegance - always picture perfect in her crisp sarees and bindi :) She’s a wonderful person, an institution by herself and CEE won’t be the same without her... One of the founding pillars who embodied the values and vision of CEE...

Wish you many happy and productive years ahead, Mamata.

I doubt that you’ll ever stop working :)) Lots of love.

Rasleen

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

Dear Masi

Love, love , love ...... and affection, and guidance, and ..... the list goes on.....

The very thought of writing has numbed us.

Remember the good old days where we lived like a family.... the numerous get togethers, which meant a lot of food... and posing for pictures on the staircase at Masi’s home... seeing several generations come and go by....

What to write...... there are lots to write. Is it something to be written..... not sure..... it is beyond words....

Suzanna, Sanjana, Ann and Sunil

mamata.indd 23

28/7/14 5:33 PM

This is to share that I have learnt so much while working with you in the last two years. Feel grateful and thankful to you. You will be missed.

Wishing you the best as you begin the next phase of your life.

Warm Wishes.

Carol

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

People come and go but some special ones make their place in our heart forever.... You are one of them... Very lucky to have got opportunity to work with you. Your graceful talk and walk has always inspired us.

We wish you a very happy and healthy 2nd inning of line.

Manisha & Vipul Sanghani

mamata.indd 25

28/7/14 5:33 PM

Greetings from Mumbai. It is difficult to imagine that you are retiring and I hope that the retirement is only a technical formality while you continue to develop inspiring environment education material and inspire several more professionals.

For all of us, you are the spirit and face of CEE we deeply respected. Though I was less fortunate to spend only a year at Ahmedabad with you, your intentional and unintentional guidence left a deep personal and professional impact. I thank CEE to have let me work with you. I certainly hope that our paths cross again and I get to learn more from you.

Laxmikant

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

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mamata.indd 27

28/7/14 5:33 PM

Projects, there were many In need of crafting and drafting They came to life under your care To become creative things with a life of their own They gave us our highs; the lows, where are they?

The craftings and draftings, were they not lessons for life?

Life, I found my anchorage Under your care and advice Beautiful indeed it is Asking for more and balance

Balance, you showed us, lets one have all and more.

Mamata, To stand up and be resolute, Is no mean feat To see what others do and do not Is highly difficult To listen to all Needs a great will To be the message is an inner calling.

Celebrating you Mamata for all that you stand for!

Rajeswari

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

Learning A brief spell Up the spiral and into A tree house And words would be gently Told off Paragraphs shushed into behaving.

That scenario Monthly ritual in Glimpses of my present past For teacher too and the corridors of Delhi Colleges Bound me, Unknown, to you.

And yet In other places, seeing you swing your legs undeterred by the sari Talking to an old student (who now holds her own) Perched on a classroom desk.

I leanrt (like other lessons, on making curd rice for instance) To keep the heart and the mind Wide open With much love and best wishes

Pooja

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

mamata.indd 30

28/7/14 5:33 PM

The highs and lows, the ups and downs, the best and the worst--we have been through lots together.

But there is life beyond CEE, and a very good one, no doubt with its own highs and lows. Welcome to that life, dear friend, which is now the queendom of ALL the cats!

And may we enjoy some of the best together while being there for each other for ever.

Kiran

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

I remember when we all were in the Writing Group (RPG Building) , your hair style ‌..sari style ...same as now.

I really thank you for your support and encouragement when we were together.

May your days ahead be filled with Joy and triumph.

Mary

mamata.indd 32

28/7/14 5:33 PM

I feel fortunate to have worked under your guidance since I joined CEE. It was sheer luck that after a gap I got to work with you again. You have groomed me with so much affection and patience like a true ‘guru’. I always admire you being so hardworking and simple in your way of living. You have been inspiration for me. It gives great sense of moral support to know that you are there. It is hard to believe that you are retiring and would not be around. You are so special for me that I cannot express it in words. But I know you will hear my heart.

I always wish if I could continue working with you. Wishing you good time with your family and loved one!

With lots of love and warm regards.

Preeti

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

'You are one of the persons from whom I drew inspiration for embracing motherhood.'

Trupti

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

I think I have learnt the most about CEE’s work of 30 years through your work.

That’s essentially 30 years of your life at CEE doing what you love. My biggest takeaway from our several interactions at meetings, teacher workshops, material development workshops, jury panels, etc. has been to understand where someone comes from, and what they want. Then tailoring our initiatives according to that need.

At other interactions over lunch and chai, I’ve learnt quite a few household tips on everything from cooking to ‘work-life’ balance. Our latest one on the Indira Nooyi interview. Well, I hope you get to keep and cherish your crown, if you’ve found it in the first place!

I hope you have a wonderful time now doing the things you like and even enjoying not doing anything at all! Now you don’t have to scramble to work and you can truly experience flexitiming. I hope you get to travel, I think you like that and to be able to do all the things you’ve had at the back of your mind. I hope we get to meet sometimes and talk about what we’re doing once in a while.

Annie

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mamata.indd 37

28/7/14 5:33 PM

Come to think of it, we have known each other since 1985 (perhaps we met once before that, when you and Kiran visited Pune, but I am not sure) when both of us joined CEE just a couple of weeks apart. It took me until I retired to realise that we had been more than just mutually civil and cordial colleagues.

Vivek

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

It is my luck that we had been working together for many years. You are so loving and caring person irrespective of position. I can’t express my feelings in words! I miss you!

Wish you good health and happiness always!

Mani

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

Searching Souls, that "MATTERED" Life is a journey…

Few relations stand the test of time…

Some relations never tire!

There are many realms In our lives And behind each growth There's a mentor…

In our formative years During the daily chai chores Steering our (s)tables, with Meena Echoes of laughter around the 226 party tables The clutter and chaos... "brainstorming" Searching for the titles that "MATTERED" With the fear and jitter The reviews of my “life” Broken down blindly Silently within me and Shared some with you For the reasons never known to me

mamata.indd 40

In the course of our lives We have seen many a teacher…

After every step An undeniable partition…

Here comes one such moment…

When you've chosen to say adieu for the nonce However, brief the teaching sessions have been Their values are limitless Just as the rules of grammar, The lessons you've taught, seldom change In this Centre Your lessons and memories, shall seldom fade..

We shall part only to meet again...

Kindly and Courteously!

Ramjee

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

It is difficult to stand against the wave, You did it gracefully.

It is difficult to remain sane, when somebody tries to malign, You faced it with courage.

Though you were stressed out at times, Your silence was strength.

Your inner strength and courage to remain firm in all situations, I Respect.

mamata.indd 42

28/7/14 5:33 PM

CEE was like a family and I am really really lucky to have you in my life. You are like an elder sister.

The 226 meetings that had become part of our work, whenever I was upset, when monu did not rise up to expectations you and Meena will always listen to me and advise me how to guide him.

Because of my health reasons I shifted to Kerala, I did not think for a while about what I was going to miss. It was only when I settled down I realized what I was missing. I will not be who I am right now without you.

It has been my pleasure to work with you over 25 years and I would like you to extend my sincere congratulations on your retirement.

I miss you Mamataben as much as I miss CEE which is and will always my second home.

Thank you very much for your kindness.

Sarala

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mamata.indd 44

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Indiraben Ambikaben

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mamata.indd 46

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मामताबेन आप के साथ काम िकया बहुत ���ा लगा ! आप के जैसे कोई िमलना म�ु �कल ह� !

All the best ! ભાનાભાઈ

mamata.indd 47

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mamata.indd 48

28/7/14 5:33 PM

It is 14 years that you have guided me. Hard to believe that you are retiring!

When I joined CEE in 1999, every CEE publication I saw then was of Meena and Mamata. When I was posted in CEE Goa, Ocean Omnibus was my guide book. The panels developed by us on Sea Turtles are still loved by each and every student on the turtle nesting beaches in Goa. You are a greatest inspiration and support in the work I am involved in.

Wish you all the Best

Sujeet

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28/7/14 5:33 PM

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