A Bond of Love: One Heart, One Soul

[Shahrukh Atpade]

In Kolkata, six different organizations were invited to come together for a Cohort meeting. Arrangements for everyone’s stay were made in a natural, beautiful, and captivating place, which filled everyone with joy. I was very eager to meet everyone and learn about the strengths they brought. Human emotions are important, but people often don’t wait for others to express their feelings, as no one understands their inner emotions. In this meeting, everyone openly and trustingly shared their thoughts. The stories shared by everyone had common threads—each had faced struggles at some point in life. Standing strong in tough times, taking on family responsibilities at a young age, and helping others—these were the common experiences reflected in everyone’s stories. Each person had accepted responsibilities at an early age. This shared experience fostered a sense of unity.

As our thoughts began to align, we started recognizing each other’s strengths. We created a shared dream for all of us, and later, we assessed our individual goals. We also discussed how and where we envision the Cohort in the future.

We visited a community where women, girls, young boys, and elders were present. They shared how, with unity and mutual participation, they solved the problems in their community without any political help. They formed a group that involved more than 200 women. This group worked on important issues like banning alcohol and stopping child marriages in their community. I realized an important strength among them: every person has strength, but it often goes unused. It was inspiring to see the women’s dreams for their village coming true. Hearing their stories made me feel very happy.

The three days we spent together are still fresh in my memory. It felt as though the collective strength of the world had gathered in one place, and with that strength, we are eager to transfer this power to the grassroots level in the future.

I have tried to write a poem on this. Please forgive me if there are any mistakes.

Bond of Love

One heart, one soul, together we came,
Dreams intertwined, like stars in a frame.
With the strength of unity, and trust in hand,
A new path emerged, where we all stand.

Threads of struggle, tied in one knot,
Together we lit dreams that can’t be forgot.
The memory of those three days still bright,
With the world’s strength, we felt the light.

Now, to the villages, this power we’ll bring,
With hopes united, the future will sing.

[Bayazid Bostami]

So Nice This.

[Santi rambari]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

[Manira khanam]

The poem is very nice.Thanks for your sharing. 

[Shahrukh Atpade]

Thank you @Sadia jafrin

[Sadia Jafrin]

The poem is wonderful! Thank you for sharing. 

[Shahrukh Atpade]

It felt like "one soul" because there was a deep connection among everyone present at the meeting. Despite coming from different backgrounds and organizations, the struggles, experiences, and dreams shared by all were so similar that it created a sense of unity. Everyone had faced challenges, and through open, trusting conversations, we realized that our emotions, goals, and hopes for the future were aligned. This shared understanding made it feel like we were not just a group of individuals, but one collective force, moving together with the same purpose and strength—like one heart, one soul. 

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Thanks Shahrukh, why did you feel like one soul? 

[Shahrukh Atpade]

Through community unity and collaboration, we can overcome any challenges. Seeking help from the right individuals is a smart move, as only through combined efforts can we achieve sustainable solutions.  Thank you For your comment @Dr. Suresh Sundar

[Dr. Suresh Sundar]

Very nice and inspiring.
A large number of issues can get solved if communities sit together and try to evolve practical solutions.
However, one must not shy away from seeking help from nearby resourceful individuals, development organizations and the Govt, whenever needed, to resolve challenging situations.
Best wishes,