My dear friends,
Today, the 1st of August, our BRIDGE completes ten years.
As I stand at the threshold of this momentous day, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. A decade is no small milestone in the life of any initiative. What began as a simple desire to ease the sufferings of a few families affected by the loss of their breadwinners has grown into a journey that has positively touched the lives of more than 250 families. That is reason enough for all of us who believed in this dream to feel fulfilled.
No bridge is built by one person. Ours certainly wasn’t. So my gratitude is due to many people who helped add stones on our BRIDGE.
First and foremost, I thank God, who inspired us to transform adversity into opportunity. Many of you know that my family and I were blessed with a miraculous escape after a serious road accident near Salem in 2015. In the days that followed, one thought refused to leave me: our story had ended in happiness, but countless others lose their breadwinners in similar accidents and are left to rebuild shattered lives alone.
That thought became the seed from which A BRIDGE Over Troubled Waters was born, exactly a year after the accident. In many ways, BRIDGE has been our humble attempt to return a favour that life so generously bestowed upon us. Through every challenge, every difficult decision and every small victory, I have felt God’s hand sustaining us.
My family members embraced this idea as their own from the very beginning, giving generously of their time, resources and prayers. I had to deny them a lot of family time after embarking on this journey.
The top leadership of The Economic Times where some of us work, permitted us to embark on this “noble journey” (as one of them called it then), even as we stayed focused on our ‘day job’, so to say.
My colleagues at ET, especially Baloo Sir, who held my hand in those uncertain early days and introduced me to several remarkable people in Bengaluru who would later become pillars of BRIDGE.
TJS George Sir, despite his advancing years, spent countless hours with us discussing the blueprint of BRIDGE. His wisdom shaped many of our early decisions, and his generous contribution of ₹5 lakh gave us the confidence to begin. George Sir is no longer with us, but the conversations we shared remain among my most cherished memories. May his noble soul rest in peace.
Bala Malladi Sir, then CEO of ACT Fibernet, believed in BRIDGE almost instantly. I still remember walking out of his office after our first meeting with a sense of reassurance that our dream had found a strong ally. The moving BRIDGE film that many of you have seen was conceived and produced entirely by the wonderful ACT team. For several years that followed, BRIDGE has been enriched by the generous contribution from ACT.
Sudha Murty Ma’am, then Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, not only extended financial support but also shared invaluable guidance that continues to influence our work even today. Her insights, especially on identifying deserving beneficiaries, have remained an enduring compass.
My heartfelt thanks also go to CR Sukumar, my former ET colleague in Hyderabad, who tirelessly mobilised support through his network, particularly from Megha Engineering, whose generosity sustained many of our initiatives in the early years.
Sabarinath, another dear former colleague, opened doors that eventually connected us with Smt Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives, whose support helped us meet several of our early expenses.
Ajit Kumar Varma Sir from the Income Tax Department recognised the sincerity of our mission and guided us through the process of obtaining tax exemption certificates. More importantly, he became an ambassador for BRIDGE, introducing prospective donors and offering invaluable advice whenever we sought it.
Our auditors—Omprakash Sir, Bharath Sir and Bijaya of BOCO—have stood with us from the very beginning, refusing to charge us a single rupee for their professional services. Their generosity has gone far beyond accounting; they have personally supported several beneficiary families as well.
My gratitude also goes to Prakash Pillai from Mumbai, who has remained one of BRIDGE’s strongest ambassadors. His regular financial support and his efforts in bringing friends and organisations, especially Wonderbiz Technologies, into the BRIDGE family have been invaluable.
A special word for Kris Gowda, our fellow traveller from day one, who spent countless sleepless nights designing our website without expecting anything in return.
There are many others whose names may not appear here but whose kindness arrived precisely when it was needed most. Please know that your generosity is permanently etched into the story of BRIDGE.
I must also acknowledge another extraordinary group—our quiet monthly contributors. These are individuals and families who have consistently set aside a portion of their income so that another family may rebuild its future with dignity. Michelle, Vishnu, the families of Shaji Thomas, Austin Scaria, Geetanjali, James CC, Anitha, and many others—on behalf of every beneficiary family whose life you have touched, thank you. May God abundantly bless you and your loved ones.
Why We Chose Not to Celebrate
As our tenth anniversary approached, the core team debated whether we should organise a commemorative event. Such a programme would undoubtedly have helped create greater awareness about BRIDGE and perhaps attracted more supporters. Yet, after much deliberation, we unanimously decided against it.
The reason was simple. From the day BRIDGE was founded, we had resolved that every rupee entrusted to us should reach our beneficiaries. We have consciously avoided spending from the contributors’ pool on publicity, celebrations or administrative expenses. Organising a large anniversary event would have required several lakhs of rupees—money that could instead support families struggling to rebuild their lives. We felt the better celebration would be to continue quietly doing what we have always done. I hope you will agree.
Moments of Joy, Moments of Pain
This decade has gifted us countless moments that will remain with us during this journey. Almost every week, we receive messages of gratitude from families whose lives have been changed because BRIDGE chose to care; students proudly send photographs holding their certificates of merit, made possible because BRIDGE stood by them; elderly parents tell us that they never miss a day praying for us. These moments remind us that compassion has a ripple effect that extends far beyond what we can ever measure.
But this journey has not been without heartbreaks. Despite our best efforts, some families have continued to face unimaginable tragedies. Supporting grieving families is not merely about financial assistance; it demands time, patience and emotional resilience. Entering another person’s world of pain is never easy. Sometimes we are viewed with suspicion. Sometimes we feel helpless. And often, we carry their grief home with us. The emotional burden is real. Yet, after ten years, I can honestly say this: every pain has been worth it.
The Journey Continues
As we celebrate this milestone, I want each of you to take a quiet moment to feel proud of being part of this journey. More than 250 families across India have crossed troubled waters because you chose to care. Their smiles are your reward. Their hope is your legacy. Their future is your gift.
Our journey, however, is far from over. There are many more families waiting on the other side of despair, hoping that someone will build them a bridge. I have no doubt that, with your continued love, prayers and support, we shall continue to walk alongside them, one family at a time.
Once again, thank you everyone for making the past ten years possible. May God continue to bless you and your families abundantly.
Shibu
A BRIDGE Over Troubled Waters
The Anchor for the Anchorless
Ph: 9739218181