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'Beta mere liye please Ola book kardo'
Done, mom
'Beta woh cab ka number kya hai'
'Beta woh cab driver ka naam bolo'
My colleague was constantly interrupted last year by his mother's calls for helping her book Uber. Continued in the thread below:
Done, mom
'Beta woh cab ka number kya hai'
'Beta woh cab driver ka naam bolo'
My colleague was constantly interrupted last year by his mother's calls for helping her book Uber. Continued in the thread below:
A big foodie himself, Saurabh got very irritated as he could not enjoy his meals because of his mom's constant interruption. He jokingly told me that yaar Mahi, 'tu ये Uncle Aunty ko ये सब Ola Uber book करना क्यों nai सिखाती है, you know all this well toh सिखा ना'. Contd..
I gave it a thought that instance but most of my time got occupied in the job. I discussed it at home and they were very happy to hear that my boss believed in me to take up something like this. Contd..
Since I knew that I have to get in touch with people between 50+ years of age, I have to start with distributing pamphlets around my area. I spoke to the newspaper वाला in my area to helo me circulate the pamphlets about 'The Social Paathshala' classes for the elderly. Contd..
The Social Paathshala. I was randomly sitting with mom and discussing as to मेरे ये venture का क्या नाम रखु. Since it was related to social media learning for the elderly, we thought of using old coined word related to school. Contd..
Gurukul sounded too dramatic. *Insert Mohabbatein bg music*. Google my Godfather helped me see synonyms and choose paathshala. That's how the name was coined. All thanks to mom who suggested me the idea to use a Hindi word in the name 
Contd..
Contd..
The Social Paathshala idea started in June 2019. I reached out to publications on my own to see if I stand any chance to get featured. Curly Tales & WhatsHot was kind to feature me https://curlytales.com/social-media-workshop-elders/ https://www.whatshot.in/mumbai/social-media-workshop-for-the-elderly-e-509547 But I got an extremely low response. Want to guess?
5. Yes, I only got 5 responses out of the 500 pamphlets I distributed in my area and the 2 publications that featured me. I was disappointed. I stopped dreaming about this and continued my routine life. Work. Eat. Sleep. Contd..
The Social Paathshala dream came to a halt. As pandemic happened, I got a lot of time in my hand. My mom suggested me to restart The Social Paathshala again. I wasn't sure. I thought that why will elderly people opt for online classes? Contd..
Their children can help them. Why will they pay me? Mom told me to give it a try. I didn't refuse. I dug out few email ids & wrote about my classes to them. To my shock, Mumbai Mirror & Mid-Day published it in May 2020
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/things-to-do/05-things-to-do-today/articleshow/75853366.cms https://www.mid-day.com/articles/dont-miss-today/22804203
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/things-to-do/05-things-to-do-today/articleshow/75853366.cms https://www.mid-day.com/articles/dont-miss-today/22804203
As I woke up the next morning, I was flooded with phone calls where people wanted to learn everything related to technology. Some had only 1 phone while few didn't have laptops. How would I teach if they were using the same phone to connect with me and use it at the same time?
But, not everybody sails in the same boat. There were still a lot of elderly people who had access to either a laptop & a phone or 2 phones. I started to concentrate on what I can do and not on what I cannot. My first ever student was a 67 year old advocate Uncle. Contd..
He sounded so excited when he called to tell me that he wants to learn EVERYTHING. He didn't have any list and this was the cutest thing I had ever heard since lockdown happened. Haha. He paid me the money immediately for teaching him on one-one basis. We started the next day.
I helped him to open a Facebook account in the first session. Seeing so many friend recommendations, he got confused & decided to not pay attention to FB since he called it a waste of time. Lawyers are very choosy on what they spend time on. I helped him write on my FB wall.
That was it for Facebook . Lol. He found it a waste of time 
that was super adorable. We continued to learn Amazon thereafter, followed by shopping on marks and Spencers, followed by sending location on whatsapp and so on..
that was super adorable. We continued to learn Amazon thereafter, followed by shopping on marks and Spencers, followed by sending location on whatsapp and so on..
He was overjoyed to see how tech savvy he became in a span of 2 weeks. This was in May and mind you guys, he still calls to asks some basic, adorable doubts. I love it! An extremely social person, advocate Uncle spoke about me in his friend circle.
His civil engineer friend approached me to help understand his newly bought one plus 6 phone. I immediately agreed as I had started finding joy in teaching them. It was during these moments that I missed my dadi. I wish I could teach her these too but unfortunately, she was blind
I lost her in 2018. But after teaching my students, I felt good from within, I was happy to see them happy. During this period, I also taught an 85 year old Sushila Aunty whose daughter had called me to help her understand WhatsApp. When I heard about her age, I was shocked.
I didn't know if she would understand but her daughter still wanted to try. Guess what? I was successful. I showed her how to click a photo from her phone and send that to me on whatsapp. See it here. She was sooooo cute. I was tired, but I was happy.
Sushila Aunty being 85 years old had poor memory. She forgot all this. But thankfully she remembered my name and called me to take help to help her click a photo of the litthi choka she prepared for dinner that day. I asked her to put the phone on her speaker and guided her.
She found the camera, clicked the photo of the food and sent me. My goodness, she was so happy. She kept saying thank you. What had I done? Just helped her click a photograph. That call went on for 45 minutes btw. Because she was forgetful. Here's the litthi choka photo
I still have that call recording with me and I always listen to it, to remind myself that I am doing some little things in other's lives and making them happy. Fortunately, Sushila Aunty has neither forgotten me nor the camera 
phew!
Well, I had another task in hand. Guess what?
phew!Well, I had another task in hand. Guess what?
Teaching another 85 year old Sunita aunty. She was more forgetful that Sushila aunty. It took me 3 sessions to help her understand WhatsApp video call and how to send photos. She did it the very first time but forgot the next time. But, here's the photo. That's her on your left
Sunita aunty wanted to continue taking sessions with me to just talk to me, because she complained that no one is patient with elderly people but I am. So she found peace in talking to me. Not bragging but I really wanted to show you all the chat. I got so many blessings?!
Teaching these young oldies gives me joy. The Social Paathshala is indeed a blessing for me. I purposely keep the cost of my sessions @ ₹99 'cause I want to make a difference. The low cost may me reach more people. I will continue to write more experiences in this thread :)
I have been able to create a difference in the lives of more than 50+ people. Thank you God. Thank you Saurabh. Thank you Mom and Dad. Thank you Life 
Gratitude only
https://livewire.thewire.in/campus/the-social-paathshala-a-mumbai-based-young-womans-initiative-to-e-power-the-elderly/
Gratitude only
https://livewire.thewire.in/campus/the-social-paathshala-a-mumbai-based-young-womans-initiative-to-e-power-the-elderly/
@we_paathshala was very fortunate to get help from very noble celebrities also. I never knew that celebrities help without compensation. But @NakuulMehta proved me wrong. He proved that we both are true believers of hope & positivity. Thanks for being an exception
Here's Sushila Aunty speaking about me. *Blushes* I am so glad that she remembers my name
And here's a little sneak peek into how I explain enthusiastic Uncles during my personal video session. Nikhil Uncle called his wife to tell her what he's learning. Isn't this so adorable?
And btw, The Social Paathshala is not yet incorporated or trademarked. I have a long way to achieve that. Whatever clients I have earned till date is by word of mouth. All I can do is give a glimpse of some of my live sessions with other organisations. https://www.facebook.com/humcommunities/videos/3452220054828167/
A very beautiful initiative HUM Communities helps senior citizens get jobs. Did a collaboration with them.
You can see them below:
https://www.facebook.com/humcommunities/videos/662017704668516/
https://www.facebook.com/humcommunities/videos/649738789226127/
You can see them below:
https://www.facebook.com/humcommunities/videos/662017704668516/
https://www.facebook.com/humcommunities/videos/649738789226127/
