Indian Chai Inspiration - Chai for Cancer

T(ea) for Teetotaller - Alakta Kar
“Tea or coffee?” My standard answer: “I don’t drink tea or coffee, thank you; Or alcohol, for that matter. 😉 I’m a teetotaller and I get high on my own spirit!”

That was pretty much my association with tea or chai, a beverage for which I had no time or space. However, a very hot idea in 2014, changed that and now chai has found a very special place in my life in a big way.

Our dear Viji Aunty* shared an idea that she nurtured in her heart and head - Chai for Cancer. A simple way to raise funds for Cancer patients who are on the programme run by Max Foundation for the treatment of CML and GIST. While the treatment itself is often covered by the programme, patients always need additional funds for travel, board, lodging, blood tests amongst personal other expenses. They often drop out of the programme because high costs are an impediment to continuing the treatment. The hot idea was a cup of tea! Something so routine but one that could make a big difference to many cancer patients in their brave journey. With a minimum donation of INR 100, it was a chance to meet interesting people and contribute to a great cause at a Chai for Cancer adda.

My first reaction to hearing this brilliant idea was to grab a date to host an adda. We got to know later, that addas were only being hosted by volunteers of Max Foundation.....which meant we had kind of barged in to be hosts. Oh well! The thing is that our home is always Open House - we love having people over, so it was the most natural thing to do this to raise funds for such a great cause. The response from our family, friends and neighbours was beyond amazing! 

 

 In 2015, the idea got hotter. My husband Salim’s 50th birthday was coming up. What better way to celebrate a milestone birthday, than hosting an adda? May 17th was the day we opened our doors to friends, family, neighbours, their friends and families. They, in turn, opened their hearts with very generous donations. The love and affection was palpable. Chai for Cancer 5 p.m.onwards, turned into a dinner party. It was indeed one of the most overwhelming get-togethers at our place making it a most memorable 50th birthday celebration! That was also the year that Viji aunty was doing the #100SareePact. She dedicated her 39th saree to Salim’s 50th, the Kars and the Abubaker-Kars. The photo session for the pact sowed another idea. 

 

2016 and voila! One of my most favourite creations - Viji Venkatesh’s #100SareePact - a coffee table book with all her photos and posts brimming with positive energy. It was ready just in time for the Chai for Cancer season. Our adda was the perfect occasion to unveil it! Again, it was chai, chatter and magnanimous donations towards the cause. 

 My parents (Mekhala and Aniruddha Kar) did the honours and cut the ribbon to launch the book, which is dedicated to Venky Uncle. Each day, a story is woven together with a beautiful saree. Readings from the book at the adda, by Avinash and Ekta, made it perfect.

Chai for Cancer is an event that we are proud to be associated with. It has become a family ritual - beginning with chai, going on till dinner and later.

 Each year has turned out to be more overwhelming than the last if it’s even possible! We are humbled and awed by the love, generosity and goodwill of the people in our lives. And that has become the tradition for our Chai for Cancer addas.

As we get ready to host our 5th adda in the 5th year of Chai for Cancer, I see an inadvertent pattern. Every year, our adda has been bundled with an event which ends up being doubly special to us. The 2018 chapter is a double milestone celebration as we dedicate my mother’s 75th birthday to this great cause.
https://www.facebook.com/626582580763408/videos/1734315139990141/
Seems like chai is here to stay in my life. This teetotaller couldn’t have asked for a better way to enjoy it.

*Viji - A dear family friend, motivator, inspirator and role model who has infectious levels of energy. We know and love her from our days in Venezuela in 1979. She also is the Regional Head of Max Foundation in India and South Asia.  

Meet our writer, Alakta Kar: 

After quitting a full-time career in Advertising, Alakta had an enriching experience being a full-time mother to two. During this two-decade labour of love in helping her children (and many others) master and enjoy the art of learning, she actively kept in touch with technology. She enjoys making photographic gifts and keepsakes; conceptualizing / designing professional digital photobooks.
She is the Co-founder of Maatraa - a culmination of a dream and a passion for language and grammar. It brings together the best of her in working with youngsters in the space of communication skills, bundled with creativity and technology. 

Editor's Note: Do you want to host a Chai for Cancer Adda? Find out how! http://chaiforcancer.org/about-chai-for-cancer/

Chai for Cancer is an awareness and fund-raising campaign, now in its fifth year.

It is the brain-child of Viji Venkatesh, Region Head (South Asia) – The Max Foundation, and the Chairperson & Managing Trustee of Friends of Max, a registered charitable public trust.

“Our slogan is ‘Drink To A Cause’. I thought a simple association between cancer and a cup of chai which is everyman’s drink would have recall value as well as bring a sense of comfort and normalcy to the feared condition”, says Viji.

 

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My name is Gowri Mohanakrishnan and I'm a tea planter's wife. I started this blog because one of the things that I wouldn't want us to lose in a fast changing world is the tea story - a story always told with great seriousness, no matter how funny - always true (always), maybe a tall tale, long, short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull. You will find yourself transported to another world! 
 
Happy reading! Cheers to the spirit of Indian Tea!
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https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/