~ Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle - Napoleon Hill


 UANA (Uttarakhand Association of North America) and The Feel Good Foundation
Feel Good information centre - place for all cultural programs

Uttarakhand is blessed to have people who despite going abroad in pursuit of better opportunities, chose to come back and brought both tangible and intangible benefits to the region and those who stay here and devote themselves to betterment of lives in the region. I, along with my team, was fortunate to meet two eminent personalities here - Shri Sudhir Sundriyal and Mr. Pritam Dimri.

Shri Sundriyal dons multiple hats and all his efforts are focused toward educating the rural youth about limitless potential that agriculture holds in Garhwal and retaining them in villages. It was the first time I, along with the team, interacted with a person genuinely acting towards solving the problems at the grass root level. Armed with a degree in agriculture, he took upon the responsibility of showing us around the village and ensuring that we had a comfortable stay - something unheard of in Indian villages. The Feel Good foundation (Garhwali : Bhalu Lagad), was initiated by him to this effect. It doesn't come as a surprise that he was awarded by the Chief Minister for his work.


Shri Sudhir Sundriyal - a visionary & head, Feel Good foundation 

In fact, he also encourages urban youth to visit Gawani and work on the prevalent agricultural systems, even if for few months in a year. He could make us visualize even the financial potential this region holds and somewhere in my mind I made a promise to return here and work.

I have always felt that there are a lot of things we miss out on while leading busy,corporate lives. Minimum exposure to sunlight, shoe-bound feet that rarely touch earth and screen time that is often touted as the biggest reason for growing eye devices business. Everything leading us away from nature.
Shri Sundriyal helped us visualize an opportunity to learn and earn while leading a healthier life, and yes, I had the opportunity to use the machine in the above picture and plough a small piece of land.

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I met Mr. Pritam Dimri from UANA on Christmas Day 2017. He visited both the schools where Kitaab interns were teaching and talked to children (yes, Kitaab brought such enthusiasm among the kids that they happily came to attend school on a holiday!) . Amidst hundreds of pictures along with the excited students, I realized how UANA was helping bring about a change in the way things work in Gawani. Basic computer aid such as laptops and projectors were given to the schools and to the excited kids there who were eager to know how these things work.

Mr. Pritam Dimri from UANA motivating young children in a Devrajkhal school

While attending a cultural program at the Feel Good information center, he reminded the rural folk of the rich heritage they possess and how, along with UANA, efforts can be made to help barren fields  become green again and the dried rivers, perennial.
I also had an opportunity to be a part of the joint session where these problems of the village were discussed with us and our views were noted.
Mr. Dimri came across as a humble person, who despite working in the United States, continues to remain connected to his roots and is working proactively toward betterment of the state of affairs in his village.

Inspired I was, to say the least !