I promised to introduce some good friends so we all stay connected. Here goes Samuel Jacob, call him Sam or Sambo. Some talk more, work less (like me..I can see Vinisha clapping – (but hey, I bluff sometimes, don’t take me seriously) and some do it the other way round.Sam belongs to the latter category. Talk to him continuously for five minutes and all he does is smile back and nod his head like a vertical clock pendulum.
This guy was an asset for The Times of India desk in the 90s in Mumbai. He was so computer savvy that he was grabbed by the Internet edition for launch. He moved to Yahoo! Bengalooru.
And the hardcore journalist decided he had better things to do in life. He is now focusing on environment and agriculture and is working on a project to protect lakes in the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve buffer
zone of Tamil Nadu.
The photos show Vagai Kulam. The children are part of a Green Brigade. They help in monitoring the birds. The other pictures are of birds resting on trees in the lake. The trees are scheduled to be cut soon and Sam and his team are trying to stop that and get the place declared a sanctuary so the birds can continue to come here.
Good wishes, Sambo.
19 comments:
My best wishes are with Sambo...
We need many more people who can show the courage to give up lucrative jobs to follow their convictions.
my best wishes with him..that was really nice 2 read sir
Regards
Since you mentioned "The Times of India", I'm curious to learn what reputation the paper holds in India? Do they consider it liberal, conservative, biased, unbiased, leftist...? Also, in what class does The Hindustan Times stand?
Here is an anecdote about Samuel Jacob's eagerness to help those he doesn't know.
In mid-1997 I lived in a Western suburb of Mumbai and worked with the Times of India as Sam's colleague. A forever-broke sailor friend visiting with me from Bangalore approached Sam when I happened to be traveling out of town. He requested Sam, whom he had met barely a couple of weeks back, for a "bailout." Generous Sam readily gave him some money. It wasn't a small amount either -- could have been a sub-editor's wage for a month.
I feel rather miserable to report that my (now ex) friend never returned Sam's loan. At least not that I know of.
Sam left the Times in early 1998 (I think); I never saw him again. Thanks to dear Ramesh, I now have his picture!
Eleven years on, Sam's countenance still shines with compassion. Clearly, so does his chosen job.
Sam, this is a quick note to say how much I appreciate your decency: You never raised the issue even with me. Clearly, I saw in you some sadhu-like traits -- you seemed unattached, soft-spoken, generous and blissful.
I hope the goodwill you have earned will bring much success to your work. May the beautiful birds of Vagai Kulam always have a home!
the first pic is great...so many birds!
Come out and play, Ramesh! I just tagged you in my blog :D
Hi R. Ramesh. I hope you are having a nice day. This post made my morning. I love to learn of kind people living in service of others. I hope he succeeds in getting the birds' home declared a sanctuary. Thank you for sharing Sam's story with us.
sambo obviously motivates to think out of the box and think out the normal routine.... which might help to find solace.
"nod his head like a vertical clock pendulum", oh I love that expression and I can firmly see him doing it and smiling! A true dhamma person! Thanks, Ramesh!
Hello Ramesh, came here via Sai Charan's blog. Sam's story and the photograph are beautiful. I have saved the photograph! Good to know you!
Best of luck to Sam!
Hi Ramesh,
Happy to meet Sam through this post. Well, Sam took up such a good work, he is definitely a role model to all of us, wish him all the best.
Good luck Sam, be successful in getting the place declared as a sanctuary.
power to sam and may there be many more sams!!
My good wishes as well! Beautiful task to teach younglings in such a down to earth way - good luck!
...and an Indian, who does not talk - wow! :D
Best wishes to Sam.
Friendships lasting so many years always tug at my heart.
P.S: Finally posted something on my blog. Hope it will not disappoint you too much.
Thanks for writing this post, we need more people like Sam.
Nope, your comment isn't here. :S
It takes a lot of courage, I must say, leaving a much sought after job in ToI & moving to the role he has today.
Talk more, work less - Hell, editor? :O.. :D
I laugh more and work even more. Been reaching at 11 every night. Getting lotsa sighs from my folks at home :D
@ Saadia, Being a regular reader, I find ToI to be liberal, though not unbiased :)
Hindustan Times, not quite sure. Read it a couple of times and was too busy feeling the fresh breezy change from ToI. And then I was forced back to ToI. :)
Thank you, Vinisha, for the feedback. I really appreciate it.
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