[Dialogue] Hiraman Kokane

[icabombay@igc.org]

Dear Colleagues,

Judy and I arrived back in Mumbai early Monday morning and were able to get to Sankli Street without difficulty.  But the city has really been hit badly with these rains.  Everyone has a horror story about last week's unprecedented rains.  Of course, it is the poor who bear most of the pain of these  types of disasters.

Many of you have either worked with or know Hiraman and Suman Kokane, long-time ICA staff from the days of Nava Gram Pryas who now lives in Panvel, just outside Mumbai.  I just talked to Hiraman who is stuck in Kolaphur, about 200 miles south of Mumbai and hasn't been able to get home for days now.  His wife and kids had to escape their house as it filled up with water from the floods, taking all their possessions.  All they got were the clothes on their back.  The water filled up the whole house and Hiraman says all they have left are the four walls.  Judy and I intend to do all we can to help them replace their clothes and possessions and we thought some of you might want to help.  You can contact us at <icabombay at igc.org> directly and let us know what you would like to do.

For your informaton, Hiraman is working on facilitation with many companies and does marvelous work with workers and supervisors.   His kids all graduated at the top of their class and are doing well in college.

G&P,

Jack Gilles