Getting to Know Our Indian Partners!

Tulsi Luha

Courageous, young, adventurous, and bright!  Those are words I would use to describe Tulsi, the first person you see when you enter the Phillips office in Pune.  Our main office in India!  She always welcomes every one with a smile, even when she is swamped with work.  Tulsi is always willing to do whatever it takes to keep the front office of Phillips running smoothly.  Not only does she do all the administrative work, and organizing of activities, she also participates in making sure visitors are welcomed with a Pooja.  

Tulsi grew up in Gondia, a small village that borders northern Maharashtra.  It takes 18 hours by train to get there from Pune! Tulsi's is very close to her family and takes this trip at least a couple times a year. She grew up living with her grandparents, parents and 2 brothers, (Kapil and Navin), and a sister, (Nisha). Tulsi was known as the Brave Girl. When she was only 12 years old, her Father and Sister were almost electrocuted. During monsoon season her Father had touched an electric cord and then her sister tried to pull him away but she was also caught by the electrical current. Tulsi remembered that her Father showed her where the main switch was to shut off the electricity. She was short and had to jump several times but she finally shut off the electricity and her Father and Sister both survived.

 

 

Tulsi loves spending time with her family.  Hiking, going to the beach and exploring! They all are an inspiration to her but especially her Mother and Father!

 

Tulsi went to school in Gondia and received her MBA-HR. Tulsi always wanted to be the best she could be and her Grandmother always encouraged her. When the lights would go out, (and that happens quite often in India,) Tulsi's Grandmother would hold a candle for her to study by all night! Tulsi's Grandmother would also give Tulsi pocket money to buy school books!  Tulsi was very close to her Grandparents and gives thanks for their encouragement to study and go to college.  She lost them 4 years ago. 

Tulsi won many writing awards while in college. She won first place in the inter – state competition, on the topic "AIDS & it’s awareness" from the Member of Parliament. She also won an award for her essay on the autobiography of ManoharBhai Patel, Father of Prafull Patel, Civil Aviation Minister of India. The college has a trophy for winning these awards! Tulsi was also part of a dance group while in college!

Tulsi's first job was Management trainee in Cease Fire Industries in Pune. She was selected in a Campus Interview among 60 candidates. Tulsi traveled the 18 hours by train, all by herself at the age of 23. Courageous! (I am not sure I could have done that). Tulsi then roomed with 5 other girls from the Gondia area. Her first job profile was to sell fire extinguishers to companies. Tulsi was the first woman to sell 50 fire extinguishers in MIDC area like Chakan in Pune. She made history in sales for the Company and her boss still keeps in contact with her. This was Tulsi's first achievement in her career. Tulsi then moved into HR and joined Savali Management Consultancy. Tulsi joined Phillips Corp. in March 2010. She won the Brand Ambassador Award in 2013. Tulsi thinks of this award as her biggest accomplishment in her career.

 

Tulsi has lived in the same area of Pune (Nibin Kondwa) since 2008.  Tulsi now lives with her 2 brothers, Kapil and Navin.  They recently moved into a new place and performed a Pooja to bless their new home!  

Tulsi loves working at Phillips.  She feels like they are her family!  She has enjoyed so many happy moments with all of her co-workers.  

 

Tulsi enjoys reading and writing.  Especially, Shayari (a Urdu word meaning poetry).  Tulsi sent me a sampling of her poetry.

“It’s seems I know you from many years…. 

I met with you with no fears….

Emptiness between you & me…

Carry my face always in tears….

It’s seems I know you from many years….

Remembering the days of our cheers..

Touching the soft toys my teddy bears…

I don’t know why I find you always my near…

Please come back my darling dear..

It’s seems I know you from many years….

Your sweetest voice whispers are always there …

Your love makes the strongest love layers…

I am glad to have you with our nice pair…

Who else are here? To whom I can share..

Missing the way your cares…

It’s seems I know you from many years…. “

Tulsi has recently, since her marriage, started eating meat.  No beef, tho!  Tulsi had been an eggatarian for the past 8 years. Her favorite foods are still eggatarian!  Palak Paneer, Chana Masala, Fried Brinjal, Kala Gulab Jamun, Curd curry rice.  Tulsi loves to cook! 

Tulsi is Hindu, she fasts once a month for Lord Ganesh. The Elephant God.  Tulsi also fasts every Tuesday for Maa Durga.  Hindus believe that Goddess Durga protects them from the evils of the world and at the same time removes their miseries.  Durga in Sanskrit means fort, a place that is hard to overrun. Another meaning is "Durgatinashini" which literally translates to 

"The one who eliminates suffering".  Durga is depicted as having eight or ten hands. These represent eight quadrants or ten directions in Hinduism. This suggests that she protects them from all directions.

Tulsi married a handsome young man, born & brought up in Kolkata, India.  They met on a matrimonial site, Jeevansathi. Com.  They started liking each other’s thoughts, and opinions.  Once they found they were compatible with each other they involved their parents.  The two families got know each other and decided there could be a marriage.  Tulsi and Sanjay were married on 13^th July 2013.  Tulsi has told me, since the day I met her, that she was looking for the man of her dreams!  I believe she has found him.   Tulsi is very happy!  

There were several rituals performed at Tulsi's wedding. 

"Kanyadan"

Tulsi's Father gave her new husband, Sanjay, a wheat ball. This ball is made by the Priest and inside is a coin.  The priest gave this ball to Tulsi's Father, he then gave it to Sanjay along with Tulsi's hand as a gift from him.  

 

“Saat Phere” ( Seven Vows of wedding )

This ritual is significant in Hindu Weddings. The seven vows or seven steps are of great mythological importantance. Tulsi and Sanjay walk around the “Hawan Kund” Holy Fire. With every round Tulsi and Sanjay make one promise to each other. It is only after these Pheras that they are declared as man and woman, (husband and wife).

 

 

Tulsi is keeping with the tradition of wearing the mangalsutra necklace and the sindur, (red colored powder) in the part of her hair.  Both are symbols of marriage.

When I asked Tulsi where she would like to travel one day, she said to visit Dave and I in the US.    I truly hope that one day, while living in Canada she does get to come visit us.  We have enjoyed getting to know such a sweet young woman! 

Tulsi is willing to go where ever destiny takes her with her new husband.  Tho... she really would like to go on a cruise. Sanjay has promised her that one day, they will cruise!

Tulsi is leaving Phillips and Pune on November 15th.  She will be going home to visit her family for a few weeks, then off to live with her in-laws (whom she loves dearly!) until her visa comes through to move to Canada with her new husband, Sanjay!

I am sure everyone at Phillips is going to miss you soooo much! I know if I ever come back to India, it will not be the same without you!  You are an inspiration to me!  Dave and I wish you happy travels and good fortune for all your life!  

Getting to Know Our Indian Partners, One Indian at a Time

Jyoti Gaikwad

Jyoti is the most passionate, compassionate and unselfish woman I met while in India.  The first time we spent any time together was in Delhi.  She was interviewing candidates for positions in the Delhi office.  We had been there for 2 days and we were stuck in a car for more than 2 hours on our way back to the airport.  Jyoti was on the phone the whole time  following up with people she had interviewed.  I know she was exhausted.  I asked her why she didn't wait til she got back to the office.  She said she enjoyed pairing good people with a great company and didn't want to lose any one that she thought was a good fit.  She really enjoys helping people and being in recruiting is such a great job for her.  She has been with Phillips for a little over 2 years and the part she loves most about her job is the contact she has with people.  She enjoys meeting and getting to know new people.  If she could change any thing it would be more involvement in the final interviews.  

Jyoti has been heading up the charity project in India for Phillips.   After a lot of research, they decided on "Concern India Foundation". This is a charity that is all over India.  They support under privileged children, women in crises, and the elderly.  Last years goal was 50,000 rupees and they exceeded their goal by 25,000 rupees.  

The web site is: 
www.concernindiafoundation.com

Jyoti has lived in Pune most of her life.  Her Father was in the Indian Army as part of the Peace Keeping Force.  He died in the war with Sri Lanka in 1987 when Jyoti was only 5 years old.  She was raised by her Mother and has a younger sister and brother.  

Jyoti went to the University in Pune and specialized in Human Resources.  That is where her love for helping people find jobs began.  While at the University in Pune  Jyoti did some traveling around India and found that she also loved traveling!  One day she would really like to travel to the US and also Canada.  I think this Boston t-shirt will encourage her to start there!!

Jyoti was married in June of 2006. The marriage was not a love marriage but not really an arranged marriage either.  Jyoti was living with her Mother upstairs from her cousins sister, Jaya.  Jaya got very sick and passed away, leaving behind her husband, Mahendra and a little boy, Swaraj.  Swaraj was very attached to Jyoti from his childhood. Jaya's mother proposed that Jyoti marry Mahendra as she thought that Jyoti would be the right person to take care of her grandson. Mahendra agreed but told Jyoti it had to be her decision and he would understand if she chose not to marry.   Wow, what a decision Jyoti had to make!  Not only did she need to think of what was best for the little boy but in India if Mahendra did not marry within the year of his wife's passing, he would have to wait 5 years before he could marry!  Jyoti loved Swaraj and did what she thought was best for Swaraj and married Mahendra.  She has never regretted her decision to this day!  A year after she was married Jyoti had another little boy, Chaitanya.  Her married life may have started off very unconventional, even for India, but she now has a Love marriage.  She loves Mahendra very much.  He is a wonderful husband and would do anything for his family. When I think of this story, I wonder how many of us would actually make the decision that Jyoti did.  Such an amazing and unselfish act of kindness that has turned into quite a love story!  Amazing family!  I admire Jyoti so much!

Jyoti lives with her husband, 2 boys, (Chaitanya and Swaraj) and her in-laws.  

Something most people do not know about Jyoti is that she has a beautiful voice!  She has won many national awards, was the lead singer in college and sang on the radio.  Jyoti sang for Dave and I in the van one day and we were amazed.  The song she sang, "ajeeb dastan hain ye" meaning, "It's A Unique Story" sounded like it was coming from the radio.  Jyoti also loves romantic movies, Bollywood style and adventure movies, Hollywood style.  (Turn your volume up and click the play button below)

 

Jyoti is fortunate to travel to work either on her scooter or in her car.  It takes about 20 minutes, which is pretty good compared to the time it takes lots of others to get to work.   Jyoti also enjoys riding on her scooter with her boys!

Jyoti  is not a vegetarian but her favorite veggie food is Puranpoli, a traditional dish of Maharashtra.  It is a stuffed Indian bread.  The sweetener in this stuffed bread is jagger.  It tastes like a very sweet sugar to me but the dish is yummy!   Her favorite non veg food is the breast of a chicken or fish.

Jyoti's religion is Hindu.  She explained to me that families have a God that they worship first but then they also worship other Gods.  In their prayer room or area there are statues of many Gods, but Ganesh is the main God that Jyoti's  family performs pooja's for.  Ganesh is the main God in the state of Maharashtra, which is where Pune and Mumbai are located.  The story behind why Ganesh is the main God is very interesting!  Ganesh's parents told Ganesh and his brother, Karthika Swami that the first one to travel around the world  would be the main God.  Karthika Swami thought he had this won because he rode a peacock and Ganesh was a little over weight and only had a mouse to help him.  Well, what a surprise when Ganesh walked around his parents and said " his parents were his world ", therefore he traveled around the world.   His parents then made him the number one God.  Karthika Swami was so upset that he left and went south to the Kerala area.  He is the main God in that area.  

Jyoti loves all the Hindu holidays and traditions.  She is always involved when celebrating at work.  She helped Dave and I get dressed for Indian dress day at work.  She knew all the places to go for material to make my sari, buy bangles and hem Dave's kurta.  

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Jyoti lost her Mother last year.  Jyoti's Mom was her best friend.  It is a tradition in India to perform an act of service in remembrance of your loved one.  For the one year anniversary of Jyoti's Mom passing, they went to an orphanage and fed the children.  They will do this every year in remembrance of her Mom. What a wonderful tradition.

From the moment I arrived in India I was in awe of all the beautiful colors of sari's and kurta's.  Take a look at some of Jyoti's!  Now this is India!!!!!

Jyoti, thank you for being such a great friend and for always being there  to explain Indian traditions for me!  You truly made my learning of Indian culture special.