Pramal Lad

Manav Sadhna: Lok Mitra Fund Report

2010-08-29T17:16:00.000+01:00

The following is touching report sharing stories of remarkable impact made by the NGO Manav Sadhna in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Please take the time to read the good work done (including work with Rohan!).

Lok Mitra Funding Report

(stories of the children helped by funds raised from the UK)

India - 2009-2010

2009-08-15T10:12:00.001+01:00

Please visit www.pramalinindia.blogspot.com where I am sharing my recent experiences in India as an Indicorps Fellow. Content on this blog is out of date (although still interesting!).

Indicorps /// Service for the Soul

2009-06-07T17:21:00.004+01:00

The Indicorps fellowship is a profound personal experience and an opportunity to understand participatory development through intense voluntary service. The structured program encourages participants to leave their comfort zones, place others' interests before their own, test their own potential to affect change, explore their relationship with India, and understand what it means to lead by committing themselves to innovative grassroots projects. Indicorps believes that giving one's time and energy, without any attachment to the outcome, regardless of the circumstances, is an unparalleled personal experience in service. At the same time, the fellowship is a chance for fellows to address their own identity, recognize their personal boundaries, and understand how to produce change in their environment(s). The fellowship is deeply rewarding, a transformational and challenging personal journey, and part of Indicorps’ collective experiment for change.

Approach to development:
Indicorps’ approach to development involves a total investment of body, mind and soul into the process of “being the change.” Fellows take individual personal responsibility to execute and complete projects, defined in partnership with local development organizations, that address particular community challenges. Recognizing the project as a foundational cornerstone or platform for change, Indicorps pushes fellows to actively test their and creatively explore the possibilities of community-oriented leadership.

More about the Fellowship program:
The first month of the fellowship involves an -intense, physically and mentally rigorous, month-long orientation to India, the Indicorps philosophy, and practical living. In conjunction with grassroots fieldwork, Indicorps also requires fellows to attend periodic workshops that encourage participants to deepen their understanding of Indian development, to reflect, to share progress, to collectively solve problems, and to re-energize. Some fellows opt for a second year to broaden their understanding of development and take leadership in managing projects or Indicorps programs.

The fellowship has stringent documentation requirements and promotes self-accountability. The program is carefully crafted to consider long-term impact and to defy common critiques of both international volunteers and the organizations with which they work.

Indicorps provides a nominal stipend to enable fellows to live simply and work in India for the duration of their fellowship. Basic room, board, and fellowship-related travel are covered by Indicorps or the local project partner organization. Indicorps is a total immersion program and encourages fellows to be a part of their communities to the greatest extent possible - including attempting to live within the means of their location.

Melting in India....

2009-03-14T08:04:00.000Z

So, it’s been two weeks since I arrived here in Ahmedabad and it has been HOT. Currently around 38 degrees and rising…!

I have had sufficient time to settle in and I’m now getting stuck into various projects here at Manav Sadhna. My accommodation, although basic, is full of life. Waking up to the sound of peacocks, I would walk down stairs from my second floor room (with a fan to keep me cool) around the front where the regular peacocks would be roaming, to the backyard, past the Gaushala (Cow home) to the reach the outdoor bathrooms / sinks where I freshen up, shower etc.

Letting go of many of the luxuries I’ve become accustomed to has been an integral part to making India my new home. Rooms are quite dusty and things aren’t usually spotlessly clean (although relatively hygienic). People have been very friendly and welcoming. I’m sharing my room with Simon, an Australian Architect who has come to help out on design projects building pre-schools for 5 weeks – I’ve ended up helping him out by acting as a translator with his builders!

Manav Sadhna family is very warm, led by Jayeshbhai and Virenbhai. Every morning, there is a Prathna at 10.45am – and that’s about it for organisational planning. In fact, Jayeshbhai calls Manav Sadhna an Unorganised Organisation. It’s more of a ‘flow’ where volunteers and people come, serve, leave, come back… etc. No particular structure or project definitions, targets or deadlines. I.e. the opposite to what I’m used to back in the UK, therefore it’s taken a while to just relax and go with the ‘flow’.

Food here has been great – as you’d expect. I’m eating well and drinking lots of water, so health has been fine. The odd few mosquito bites but other than that, I’m good. It is hard to get good sleep sometimes, especially when it’s hot in the room and you’re sleeping on the floor. The ceiling fan feels like a fan heater on full heat!

Projects that I’m working on include building a walkway at a recently renovated Blind School, supporting Health Projects / awareness camps, working on constructing pre-schools, and each evening, I’m volunteering at Seva Café. Seva Café is an initiative born out of Manav Sadhna to promote the experience of selfless service and paying it forward. Guests come to eat, they are greeted and served in line with the Indian saying “Guest is God” and then when it is time to leave, they choose what they want to pay. The concept being, that the person before you paid for the food you are eating today and your contribution goes towards the next days food. Volunteering there is hard work… first time I went, I was washing dishes for 4 hours, and the last time, I was co-ordinating orders with the canteen staff! Crazy and busy, but lots of fun and meeting new people all the time.

Although I’ve only been here for a short time, I’m learning a lot about life in India and about myself. I’m missing family and friends a lot however, there are many good friends here to visit when I do feel home sick (Thanks Sunilbhai!).

Photo of me and Sunil bhai after Holi Festival!

INDIA 2009

2009-02-12T09:55:00.001Z

I have set up another page to update on my time in India. I fly on 28 February 2009 and hope to volunteer for 3-4 months before looking for longer term projects.

Keep up to date here: www.pramalinindia.blogspot.com

Volunteering at Manav Sadhna, Ahmedabad

2009-02-02T08:00:00.000Z

From 1 March 2009, I will be a volunteer at an NGO based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat (India). Called Manav Sadhna (meaning 'service to mankind'), it is located on the outskirts of the Ramapir no Tekra (one of Gujarat's largest slums).

As I'm sure by now, most of you will have seen or heard of Slumdog Millionaire, you will be able to conjucture up images of what this experience may be like. Although dramatised somewhat, it is still a city slum that I will be based at. The work / service required will vary from spending time supporting children's education programmes to developing sanitation facilities in difficult areas of the slum. As I'm quite new to this, I am still unsure exactly what I'll be doing - all I know is that my sleeves will be rolled up and ready to help out as much as possible where ever the need may be!

Ahmedabad is a very cosmopolitan city, once being the capital of the state of Gujarat. It has a bustling culture with vibrant shops and places to see/visit. I've been there twice as part of the Learning Journey (YouTube Promo), an 8-day social development trip I co-organised last year. This is one of the main reasons for my growing affection for this place!

(Photo: Running a discussion session in India with Learning Journey Group, Sept 08)

To read about more about Learning Journey visit my other blog.

World Economic Forum 2009

2009-01-29T13:43:00.003Z

The World Economic Forum is currently happening in Davos, Switzerland. An annual gathering, this has become a meeting point for international leaders, politicians and change-makers.

One of my favourite authors, Benjamin Zander (author of Art of Possibility) speaks on "Managing Complexity: A Different Approach".

Please visit the webcast of his very amusing and insightful session here: WEBCAST. Ben talks about living with possibility and uses similar ideas from the Landmark Forum. One of the quotes I like from his father - "There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing".

Ben talks about three ways to react to the future and expands further as he speaks:

Resignation
Anger
Possibility

I hopefully will add more notes once I get a chance! From understanding assumptions holding us back to thinking outside the box, this is a very inspiring session.

How to move from a downward spiral to realm of possibility.

Cool photos from London eye at night

2008-12-19T16:26:00.004Z

Taken on Wednesday 10 December 2008 on Sony P120 (at 3mp)

Connecting the dots... Steve Jobs

2008-12-07T21:32:00.002Z

Steve Jobs, CEO and Founder of Apple and Pixar, delivering a speech to 2005 graduates at Stanford University.

This speech is only 15 minutes long - if you do anything today, please watch this - makes your think. For me, Steve articulated how I'm feeling right now.

In particular, he talks about connecting the dots...

You can't connect the dots as you go along looking forward. It is only very clear looking back.
So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in the future.
You have to trust in something.. gut, karma, God, destiny.
Believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path, and that will make all the difference.

Also, he speaks about finding what you love to do. To ask yourself everyday, "if this was the last day of my life, would I do what I'm about to do?" - knowing that if you answer 'no' too many days in a row, you need to change what you're doing. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition and everything else will become secondary.

You've got to find what you love. Your work fills a large part of your life, so you've got to love what you do. You've got to keep looking for what you love doing.

Keep looking. Don't settle.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Why Should Anyone Be Led By You?

2008-12-03T00:42:00.005Z

Why Should Anyone Be Led By You?

Co-Authors Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones

PwC Asian Business Forum was host to Vijay Patel of Waymade Healthcare plc and Professor Gareth Jones, visiting professor at INSEAD and Fellow of the Centre of Management Development at London Business School.

I found Prof Gareth Jones talk particularly interesting and thought it would be useful to share my learning's. I first came across Gareth's work when I was studying at Economics at the London School of Economics and a friend of mine had a copy of an article from the Harvard Business Review entitled "Why should anyone be led by you?" (pdf). I took a photocopy of this and managed to learn the key points, using it to my advantage in many interviews. Hence, it was an absolute pleasure to meet the man who came up with this thinking. What follows is a collection of notes I jotted down during the talk.

First born children have a monopoly in the world of CEO's – they seem to develop natural leadership due to having so much attention as a children (guess what – I'm first born!)

Important questions: What do followers want? What do the people you aspire to lead want? From the survey conducted, this is what followers wanted:

COMMUNITY – they want to feel part of something greater, some type of clan. E.g. PwC laptop bags can be seen all over London and you know they belong to a certain group.

SIGNIFICANCE – a leader will recognise you, he will participate at all levels including the lowest (e.g. janitors) and make you feel special. E.g. when Bill Clinton meets people, he shakes hands for an extra second and has a way to make you feel like the only person in the room.

EXCITEMENT – followers want to be excited. Leaders can often excite others through their passionate commitment to clearly articulated personal values and to a vision.

AUTHENTICITY – followers want at leader who is a real person, doing real things – someone who brings their 'real self' to work, rather than saving for evenings and weekends.

You spend most of your adult waking life at work – it had therefore better be meaningful!
Definition of Leadership – "effective leadership excites people to exceptional performance"
Leadership is:

Contextual
Relational
Non-hierarchal

What do Authentic Leaders do?

Sensory to people – "smell the gravy" – know what's going on before someone has to tell them. This is a skill you can get better at.
Sense situations – know and show enough. (e.g. walk around more)
social distance – appropriate levels of intimacy
Compelling communication – e.g. Barack Obama – capacity to energise a room with compelling communication is electric.
Uses emotions (need to know them first) to energise and liberate others

Authentic Leadership has the power to transform organisations and enrich lives.
Important to have honest leadership discussions – someone to feedback to you, be it a life long partner, friend or trusted advisors.
Vijay Patel said one comment that had impact on me – "always live outside of your comfort zone".

Visit the website for useful articles and more background.

C.K. Prahalad, Indian Management Guru

2008-12-02T11:10:00.005Z

If you wish to refer to one of the greatest Indian business thinkers, C.K. Prahalad should be on the top of your list. He needs no introduction; every management student in India and internationally knows the name C.K. Prahalad. He is known not only for his prolific works also for his management perceptions and strategies.

CK Prahalad is a professor, researcher, speaker, author and prominent consultant. Business Week has called him "a brilliant teacher at the University of Michigan and also described him as "maybe the most influential thinker on business strategy today.

In addition to serving as the Harvey C. Freuhauf Professor of Business Administration at the University Of Michigan Business School, Prahalad specializes in corporate strategy and the role of top management in large, diversified, multinational corporations.

In 1994 he co-authored the bestseller, Competing for the Future, with Gary Hamel. Translated into 14 languages, it was named the Best Selling Business Book of the Year in 1994. Prahalad is particularly well known for the work he has conducted with fellow strategy expert Gary Hamel. This includes the articles The Core Competence of the Corporation (Harvard Business Review, May-June, 1990), Competing in the New Economy: Managing Out of Bounds (Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 17, No. 3, March, 1996) as well as the bestselling book Competing for the Future: Breakthrough Strategies for Seizing Control of Your Industry and Creating the Markets of Tomorrow (1994).

He has won numerous awards. The most recent include the McKinsey Prize three times, the SMR-PWC award, and the ANBAR Electronic Citation of Excellence.

A prominent world-class guru, Professor Prahalad has consulted with the world's foremost companies, such as Ahlstrom, AT&T, Cargill, Citicorp, Eastman Chemical, Kodak, Oracle, Philips, Quantum, Revlon, Steelcase, and Unilever. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of NCR Corporation, Hindustan Lever Limited and the World Resources Institute and services on the Board of Directors of NCR Corporation, Hindustan Lever Limited and the World Resources Institute.

His latest book, 'The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits', proves that the future will develop from serving the poor, because the innovations that are developed are superior– top quality, low price, high volume and world-scale. Only the best innovations will work for both sides of the equation, those in poverty and those in the "developed" countries.

Books by C.K. Prahalad

The fortune at the bottom of the Pyramid (August 25, 2004)
Competing for the future (Co-authored with Gary Hamel)
The Future of Competition: Co-Creating Unique Value with Customers (2004 - co-authored with Venkat Ramaswamy)
In search of excellence
Multinational Mission: Balancing Local Demands and Global Vision (1987)

C.K. Prahalad is also the author of numerous award-winning articles. Harvard Business Review awarded the McKinsey Prize to him three times for the following articles:-

"The End of Corporate Imperialism", co-authored with Kenneth Lieberthal (1998)
"The Core Competence of the Corporation", co-authored with Gary Hamel (1990)
"Strategic Intent", also co-authored with Gary Hamel (1989)
"The New Frontier of Experience Innovation" published in Sloan Management Review won the SMR-PWC award for the best paper published in 2003
"Weak Signals vs. Strong Paradigms", published in the Journal of Marketing Research (1995) was awarded the 1997 ANBAR Electronic Citation of Excellence
"The Dominant Logic: A New Linkage between Diversity and Performance" (1986), co-authored with Richard Bettis, was selected the Best Article published in the Strategic Management Journal for the period 1980-88
"The Role of Core Competencies in the Corporation" (1993) received the 1994 Maurice Holland Award as the Best Paper published in Research Technology Management in 1993
"A Strategy for Growth: The Role of Core Competence in the Corporation" won the European Foundation for Management Award in 1993

Source: www.ckprahalad.com/

Links:
http://www.12manage.com/methods_prahalad_bottom_of_the_pyramid.html
Fortune at the bottom of the pyramid book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fortune-Bottom-Pyramid-Eradicating-Poverty/dp/0131467506

Top thinker!: http://www.thinkers50.com/?page=biography&ranking=1

PwC Diwali Event with Alpesh Patel

2008-11-19T22:46:00.004Z

PwC Hindu Network in conjuction with the India Interest Group put on a colourful Diwali event on Monday. Tasty food followed by bollywood dance by two employees went down a treat. This was followed by a meaningful speech by Graham Ward CBE, one of PwC senior partners and also someone who spends 5-6 weeks in India each year as part of his role with the UK India Business Council.

The Guest of Honour was Alpesh Patel, of Praefinium International Asset Management Company. Alpesh is a very funny guy having heard him speak before (he hosted the charity auction for UnLtd India event earlier this year at Mishcon De Reya). He spoke about G20 Economics in a manner that President Bush would understand... (you had to be there!).

Alpesh is well known in the financial world, he has been a regular columnist in the FT and Asian Voice. He is a "Deal Maker" for sourcing high value investments in India on behalf of the UK Government. He has a passion for India that was inspiring!

Also in attendence was Arvind Chopra, Head of the India Interest Group and also Partner responsible for bringing Abdul Kalam, ex-President of India over to PwC. (You can guess what clients he works on... Tata's, Reliance etc!) Interesting to get his insights on the future of Indian economy in the face of this global crisis.. and it wasn't optimistic.

Chain Reaction... Connect, Collaborate & Commit

2008-11-19T13:44:00.006Z

On Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 November 2008, a combined total of over 700 people came together in one massive tent (and a few tent rooms) to invoke a conversation on social change, combined with opportunity for constructive collaboration and action.

Chain Reaction is a first in the sense that such an event brought together the Third Sector (Volunteers, NGOs, Social Entrepreneurs), Government, Corpororations, Private Sector and young people. (See the website for a lot more information about speakers/attendees).

Community Links was the organisation who created this event with a whole host of other partnerships. The main reason I was actually excited about this event was the chance to engage with two of the speakers... Sir Richard Branson and Sri Nipun Mehta. And guess what - both of them couldnt make it!! Nipun had visa issues and Branson.. well, probably got caught up on some global deal!

The line-up was actually impressive even without the above two. Who else was there?

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, MP Peter Mandelson, Dragons Peter Jones and James Caan, Mark Thompson (Director General of BBC) in addition to the following:

Jeremy Gilley, Founder of Peace One Day
Its about the small things that make a difference... this message is what Jeremy decided to apply to global suffering from violence. His anger in the situation spurred this actor to take on a journey around the world to film "Peace One Day" to articulate the message of having one day of peace. Hearing the stories about the impact was powerful... for example, Afganistan military agreeing not to harm UN aid delivering much needed medical injections to millions of children.
(Watch the trailer - VERY good!)

Some of his comments:
"Music was a great driver for change"
"you can see images of people being displaced, living in poverty but to experience first hand it totally different"

Chris Grant (14a Conversations) who was comparing during the day with humour and energy, described the process of social change/entrepreneurism as being not like a ladder, but rather a climbing frame - its not linear or rigid. Its messy.

Quote: "There is not power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about" Margaret Wheatly

Steve Howard, MD of Business in the Community (BitC)
Adam Criozer, CEO of Royal Mail
Jane Tewson CBE, Co-founder of Comic Relief
Tim Smit, CEO and founder of Eden Project
Prof David Grayson, Prof of Social Responsibility Cranfield University

Sophi Tranchell, MD Divine Chocolate (thanks for the delicious free samples all day!)

Sally Begbie, International President of Globalhand

John Bird, Founder of the Big Issue

Jess Search, CEO Channel4 BritDoc

Jelani Erskine, LIVE magazine

Brendon Riley, CEO IBM UK

Ian Tuckett, CEO and Founder of Coin Street Community

David Robinson OBE, Community Links, PM Council on Social Action Leader

Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Founder and Director, Global Oneness Project
Eugenie Harvey, Co-Founder, We Are What We Do
Fiona Rawes, Director, Heart of the City
Mike Foster, MP Third Sector
Richard Hardie, Vice-Chair of UBS

Madhu and Meghna from MAM

Something I once heard comes to mind at this point - the power of associations. To be around the kind of people you admire, surround yourself with role models you aspire to be like and people who bring out that which energises you. Chain Reaction left me soaked with inspiration and a certain confidence from seeing others with a similar burning desire to make a difference... actually go out there and make that difference.

Thank you Chain Reaction.

Pramal

PS - to add more from my notes to above speakers when I get round to it!

Learning Journey 2008 - an unforgettable experience

2008-10-11T20:33:00.003+01:00

On 13 September 2008, 11 participants embarked on a transformational voyage to experience a different side of India. An experience to open their eyes, ears, hands and hearts to what it means to be a human being. To understand the challenges facing developing India and see how certain individuals had decided to stop talking and actually do something about it.

Laxmi Chhaya and I, had stepped up 8 months before to take on the opportunity to create this experience for willing participants. I was a participant the previous year, when Learning Journey was piloted - sitting here writing this today is testament to its long term impact. Laxmi, whom I consider the more experienced half of this partnership, had previously spent 4 months volunteering at Manav Sadhna (MS), one of the host NGO's for Learning Journey based in Ahmedabad.

Without sounding too 'cheesy' (which most sayings in India seem to be!), I have to proclaim that my 'Learning Journey' started back in January when I first spoke to the team (Meenal Sachdev, Dharmesh Mistry & Laxmi Chhaya). Laxmi and I went away and spent many hours simply pondering the purpose, vision and outcomes of what and how we wanted to shape the Learning Journey.

And so we did. Marketing kicked off quite quickly - getting a poster made up, creating a YouTube Promo Video and pulling together a list of contacts/events to attend. I certainly enjoy speaking to anyone about something I feel passionate about and so this was very enjoyable... on the phone, in person, on stage, on live radio, in the press... I was keen to make a very loud noise to make awareness about such a refreshingly new exciting concept.

As I was making my way round universities and corporate events, Laxmi was working hard setting up our days and nights in India - liaising with organisations and contacts in Ahmedabad and Kutch to ensure we would be as organised as possible (which will never be 100% in India - we learn the hard way!).

It just so happened that, as we sat our room at the Bharitya Vidya Bhavan for a Learning Journey 'Orientation', the clock had struck midnight in India on 15 August as she entered her 61st year of Independence. The room was buzzing as people walked out after 3 hours in which the scene had been set, expectations considered and new faces met.

I felt a deep sense spiritual welcome as my feet landed on the soil of Sardar Vallabhbhai Airport, Ahmedabad. It made sense to me to touch the floor to head and heart, as I mentally bowed down to Bharat Mata in a manner which felt like I was respecting a second mother. Looking back, she clearly picked me up and in loving embrace, said 'welcome, son, fear not for I am always here'. Now, as a reader, you may find this a little strange - but this to me is the most clear part of Learning Journey - the underlying spirit found everywhere, from Jayeshbhai (one of the key people who hosted us at Manav Sadhna) to the energy and enthusiasm generated by the participants - there was always a motherly feeling surrounding us that removed (most!) anxieties.

We had arrived a few days before the start of the Learning Journey to prepare final plans and meet organisations. A benefit we realised after is that this also helped us settle in to India (which you need a few days for) before hitting the ground running with the Group.

Bonding time - I get to speak to leaders and locals alike - hearing their story and being coached on how to make Learning Journey reach its full potential. Laxmi and I re-work several times, our detailed schedule with the benefit of several people at MS. Jayeshbhai was like a father to us and ensured we both felt comfortable and fully supported! It was a daunting prospect coming to India to lead a group having not had much experience myself and therefore this was very reassuring. I also see a new side of Laxmi - this quite retro (her trade mark Converse trainers!) young lady became a local in a matter of seconds... to which I followed suit! As we traded t-shirts for Kurtas, Trainers for Champals, we got ourselves mentally prepared for the coming week.

Before Learning Journey started, a few of the participants who came early, me, Laxmi and local friends went for a true indian bollywood experience - we went to watch the film "Rock On" - about a hindi rock band who go their separate ways and decide 10 years later to get back together and rock on. Actually very good movie.. catchy tunes! I stayed the night at Sunilbhai's house which is their family home (2 rooms inc Kitchen) on the outskits of the slum (referred to as 'Tekra'). It was quite an experience sleeping on the floor with a whole family and their dog! the dog happened to be sneezing next to my head which was a startling way to wake up!

Saturday 13th September
Learning Journey begins with an introduction to India by Jayeshbhai at the Environmental Sanitation Institute (ESI) in Sughad, located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

[to be finished...]

Our Deepest Fear by Marianna Williamson

2008-09-04T09:48:00.002+01:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented,
fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel
insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the
glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates
others

Shree Ashok Bhatt, Speaker of Gujarat Assembly

2008-07-18T17:56:00.006+01:00

I was fortunate enough to attend a talk by Ashok Bhatt, speaker of the Gujarat Assembly, at a restaurant in Birmingham. The event was organised by Overseas Friends of BJP (Chairman - Dr Surendra Sharma).

Seeing a window of opportunity to speak to him about Learning Journey, I sat next to him as he was eating. Pushing my Gujarati to its limits, I managed to get the message across.

To my amazement, he opened his speech referring to me and ConnectIndia (remembering my name!) and continued to speak with great passion about Indian challenges and his vision for the future. He did speak in Hindi, so it was difficult at times to keep up - but the jist of his message was mostly understood.

(to be continued)

Brilliant Networking

2008-07-09T13:03:00.004+01:00

After attending a very useful event on Networking, I thought I'd share it with others. Steven D'Souza, currently a Vice President at Merrill Lynch in Talent Management, gave a presentation on the basics of Networking and how to be more effective at it. Most of what he spoke about is found in his book "Brilliant Networking".

Worth buying. For more information visit some of these sites

http://www.brilliantnetworking.net/

To buy the book - Amazon

Fostering High Quality Connections

2008-07-07T13:48:00.010+01:00

How to deal with corrosive relationships at work , By Jane Dutton

You've sweated to prepare a grant report, working hard to make the case that your largest foundation backer should continue providing support. Your nonprofit desperately needs the grant renewal, but this time around, the competition is unusually stiff. You've put in late nights. Lots of coffee. You can't help but feel nervous as you enter a meeting with the foundation program officer.

The officer acknowledges you with a distracted nod. Seemingly preoccupied, he asks you to start your presentation. While you're talking, he barely makes eye contact. When you finish, he offers a perfunctory "Nice job" -- though you're not even sure he's heard you.

If these scene sounds familiar, you are not alone. For many organizations, disrespectful engagement such as this is the norm. The extent of incivility in the workplace is disturbing: 90 percent of respondents in one recent poll believed workplace incivility was a serious problem, and 75 percent of respondents in another survey said it was getting worse. According to another study, one-third of 600 nurses had been verbally abused during their previous five days at work.1

Often, the telltale signs that an organization is not a good place to work appear the moment a new employee takes a job. Consider the experience of an executive sales consultant, reported recently in the Wall Street Journal: "The day he hired on, his assigned mentor showed him his office and walked away without a word -- no tour of the office, no introductions to co-workers, 'in short, no information,' the consultant says. Later, in a meeting, a partner treated him like a piece of furniture. Pointing him out as a new hire, the partner said, 'I don't know if he's any good. Somebody try him out and let me know.'"2

Experiences like this are more than just unpleasant. Disrespectful engagement or nonengagement depletes energy, eating away at employee reserves of motivation and commitment, increasing burnout.

The key to transforming the workplace experience is to build and nurture what I call "high-quality connections" -- marked by mutual positive regard, trust, and active engagement on both sides. In a high-quality connection, people feel more open, competent, and alive.3

One of the best ways to foster these connections is by encouraging respectful engagement between coworkers. When co-workers engage each other respectfully, they create a sense of social dignity that confirms self-worth and reaffirms competence.4 Respectful engagement empowers and energizes, giving individuals a heightened sense of their abilities.5

There are five major strategies nonprofit leaders can employ to foster respect, and thus encourage quality connections, in the workplace: conveying presence, being genuine, communicating affirmation, effective listening, and supportive communication. Used in tandem, these tools can help eliminate the corrosive relationships that sap nonprofits of their creative zest.

Conveying Presence
Being present with another person means being psychologically available, turning one's attention to another. Attention is a precious commodity -- it is easily consumed, deflected, or distracted.
When individuals direct attention toward each other and away from distractions, they activate an energizing sense of mutual connection. "A five-minute conversation can make all the difference in the world if the parties participate actively," writes Edward Hallowell, psychiatrist and author of the book Connect: 12 Vital Ties That Open Your Heart, Lengthen Your Life, and Deepen Your Soul. "To make it work, you have to set aside what you're doing, put down the memo you were reading, disengage from your laptop, abandon your daydream, and bring your attention to bear upon the person you are with."6

When people converse at work, the positive emotion doesn't come from the talking. "The delight in conversation comes not from making sense," says social psychologist Joost Meerloo, "but from making contact."7

One organization that understands the value of conveying presence is the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research. The Ann Arbor, Mich.- based institute, founded in 1998 with a National Institutes of Health grant, investigates alternative therapies for cardiovascular disease. When my daughter Cara arrived for her summer internship in 2002, she was greeted by an assigned "advocate," a personal organizational tutor of sorts, who was available to help her decipher the institutional culture. The advocate ensured that Cara would have access to interesting work, in part by introducing her to the "right" people. With the advocate at her side, each person Cara met encouraged her to provide input, and expressed interest in her as an individual, providing her with dozens of personal contact points.

Being Genuine
To engage respectfully, bosses and subordinates must remove "fronts" by speaking and reacting honestly -- in part because people are generally good "authenticity detectors."8
When people act nice by edict, it does not foster quality connection, no matter how well intentioned. At one Michigan hospital, for example, administrators implemented what they called the "five feet, ten feet rule": Employees were required to say "hello" to those within five feet, and to smile at all those who passed within 10 feet. Rather than foster mutual respect, the regulation bred disrespect and cynicism.9

Contrast this with the experience of employees at the Foote Hospital in Jackson, Mich. Several years ago, when a hospital employee lost three close relatives, her colleagues spontaneously banded together and lobbied to change personnel rules so that they could donate vacation and personal time. Administrators agreed, and eventually formalized a time donation program, allowing employees to give their vacation days to one another in times of need.
The program signaled that the hospital and its employees were genuinely caring. In organizations that have such programs, respectful engagement often thrives.

Communicating Affirmation
Organizations that affirm employee value are breeding grounds for high-quality connections. This means going beyond simply being present to searching for the "divine spark in another"10 -- that is, their positive core -- and recognizing it publicly.

For most leaders, the notion of recognizing worthy employees is hardly groundbreaking. Yet, according to one study, more than half of North American workers say they are never recognized for a job well done. A similar percentage report they don't get any recognition -- even for outstanding performance.11

Organizations offer endless opportunities for genuine, transformative affirmation. One of the most creative I have seen took place recently at an Internet startup in Ann Arbor. Marty Johns, head of product development, took the occasion of a team's first meeting to have "introductions."12 But rather than having colleagues introduce themselves, he introduced each team member personally, offering his take on their unique talents, perspectives, and human qualities. He spoke about what he appreciated in each person, saying about one team member, "I brought Devon onto this team because of his deep insightfulness about our customers, as well as his quick wit and humor -- critical resources for us when we are on deadline." About another, he explained: "We are privileged to have Jocelyn on our team. Her standards are impeccable, her integrity a beacon to us all." The introductions took 20 minutes, and left several people visibly embarrassed, but it turned an ordinary routine into a foundation for respectful engagement.

Effective Listening
Listening is a form of respectful engagement, but effective listening requires effort -- especially at high-energy nonprofits, where distractions are the norm.

While people can comprehend an average of 600 spoken words per minute, speech usually flows at 100 to 150 words per minute. The gap is one of the reasons people at work have a hard time listening: Their minds search for other things to keep them busy.13 In addition, listeners too often focus on their own goals for a given conversation, instead of hearing what another person is saying. Many people listen as if waiting for an opportunity to make their own point.
Listening that engages respectfully has two features: It is empathetic and active. Empathetic listening is centered on the speaker, with the aim of learning about his or her point of view. Active listeners, meanwhile, are responsive listeners.

There are several ways to listen responsively. First, paraphrase -- expressing in your own words what you just heard someone say ("Are you saying that we are not going to meet our fundraising objectives this quarter?"). Second, summarize, or try to pull together the complicated flow of a conversation in a few "bulleted" points ("So you need more resources, more time, and more direction to finish the strategic plan?"). Third, clarify, asking questions and inquiring to ensure you understand the full picture ("What do you mean when you say you want to be more engaged in our programming?"). Finally, solicit feedback ("Do you get the sense I'm hearing you?").

Supportive Communication
Respectful engagement also depends on how we communicate -- what we say, how we say it, and how well we are understood. Supportive communicators express views and opinions while minimizing defensiveness and maximizing clarity.

Contrast that with unsupportive speech: sarcasm, negative comparisons, threats, dragging up the past, or framing debates as "win-lose" interactions. These forms of communication hinder a person's ability to tune in and understand a message.

One way to ensure that communication is supportive is to make requests, not demands. This can be tricky, because in the workplace, the goal of communication is often for one person to prompt another to complete a certain task. But when people make demands, they send the signal that blame or punishment will follow if the demand is not fulfilled. "Once you hear demands, your options are submission or rebellion," 14 writes Marshall Rosenberg, founder and director of educational services for the nonprofit Center for Nonviolent Communication.

Requests only work if you genuinely believe the other person can freely choose a response. Furthermore, requesters should employ positive language: Say what you want ("I'd like you to check with me once a week"), not what you don't want ("I don't need you to check with me so often"). Make requests specific, avoiding the hazards of misinterpretation ("I need updates from you on a weekly basis regarding our progress on fundraising goals" is more effective than "Keep me posted").

Another thing to look out for is evaluative judgment, which seeps easily into communications and undermines the possibility of respectful engagement, inviting defensiveness. The tendency to use judgmental language is a particular hazard for managers.

Supportive communication is descriptive, rather than evaluative. Consider these two statements: "You need to shape up in responding to client requests" versus "Three clients have complained to me this month that you have not responded to their requests."15 The first is a prejudgment; the second is a description of facts. Taking it a step further, supportive communication focuses on the impact of behavior, and is solution oriented ("It's not acceptable to have three complaints a month, because these clients are sure to go elsewhere. We need to win back their confidence. Let's do this by offering more than our contract calls for)."

Roger Nierenberg, conductor of the Stamford (Conn.) Symphony Orchestra, sees supportive communication as a vital part of his job. He uses direction, as opposed to criticism, to build trust and enable musicians to perform at their best. For example, instead of saying, "The percussion section is playing too loudly," which is a judgment, he issues descriptive direction: "The audience needs to hear the woodwinds."16

It's a subtle difference, but one that helps Nierenberg connect to his orchestra, and empowers the orchestra to connect as well -- to the audience.

1 Pearson, C.M.; Andersson, L.M.; and Porath, C.L. Assessing and Attacking Workplace Incivility, Organizational Dynamics (2000): 123-137.
2 Shellenbarger, S. From Our Readers: The Bosses That Drove Me to Quit My Job, The Wall Street Journal (Feb. 9, 2000): B1.
3 Dutton, J.E. and Heaphy, E.D. The Power of High-Quality Connections, in Positive Organizational Scholarship, ed. Kim Cameron, Jane Dutton, and Robert Quinn (San Francisco, CA: Berrett- Koehler, 2003).
4 Margolis, J.D. Responsibility in Organizational Context, Business Ethics Quarterly 11, no. 4 (October 2001): 431-454.
5 Miller, J.B. and Stiver, I.P. The Healing Connection: How Women Form Relationships in Therapy and in Life (Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1997).
6 Hallowell, E.M. Connect: 12 Vital Ties That Open Your Heart, Lengthen Your Life, and Deepen Your Soul (New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 1999).
7 Meerloo, J. Conversation and Communication, in The Human Dialogue: Perspectives on Communication, ed. Floyd W. Matson and Ashley Montagu (New York, NY: Free Press, 1967).
8 Harter, S. Authenticity, in Handbook of Positive Psychology, ed. C.R. Snyder and Shane J. Lopez (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2002).
9 Employees agreed to talk to me about their experiences on condition that the hospital not be named.
10 Remen, R.N. My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging (New York, NY: Riverhead Books, 2000).
11 Kepner-Tregoe, People and Their Jobs: What s Real, What s Rhetoric? cited in Encouraging the Heart: A Leader's Guide to Rewarding and Recognizing Others, ed. James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1999).
12 Names used in this anecdote are pseudonyms.
13 Messmer, M. Improving Your Listening Skills, Management Accounting 79, no. 9 (1998).
14 Rosenberg, M. Keynote address to the 1999 National Conference of Montessori Educators, as cited in Rosenberg, M. Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Compassion (Santa Cruz, CA: PuddleDancer Press, 1999).
15 Whetten, D.A. and Cameron, K.S. Developing Management Skills, 4th ed. (Reading, MA: Addison- Wesley, 1998).
16 Rosenfeld, J. Lead Softly, but Carry a Big Baton Fast Company (July 2001).

SOURCE: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/fostering_high_quality_connections/

Asian Voice "e-paper" FREE

2008-06-24T15:20:00.002+01:00

Popular asian weekly newspaper Asian Voice (previously part of the Gujarat Samachar) is available free to read and download online:

http://epaper.asian-voice.com/

Worth checking out!

Abdul Kalam at PwC London

2008-06-13T16:42:00.003+01:00

On 10th June, PwC India Business Centre hosted a dinner with Dr. Abdul Kalam, a highly respected politician and visionary in India and around the world.

Introduced by PwC’s Chairman Kieran Poynter, Dr. Kalam was happy to acknowledge the growing realisation in the UK of the immense business opportunities in India. His speech, entitled 'Dynamics of Indian Economy' addressed the India Vision 2020 and India's journey to becoming a developed nation. He also recounted his experience in setting up a Pan African e-Network that connects 53 African states to address communication, healthcare and education needs which has evolved into his vision of a World Knowledge Platform.

He finished by defining key attributes of a creative leader, based on his experience, saying among other things that a leader must work with integrity and succeeds with integrity.
Please click on the pdf above to read the full transcript of Dr. Kalam's speech.

The evening continued with a presentation from Rachel Dwyer, Professor of India Cultures and Cinema at SOAS, on the influence of Bollywood in Indian culture.

Read in full Dr Kalam's speech. PwC Website.

I found the most useful part in the conclusion:

"My study indicates that the creative leadership is the most important component for attaining success in all missions. I would like to define based on my experiences:

Leader must have the vision.
Leader must have a passion to transform the vision into action.
Leader must be able to travel into an unexplored path.
Leader must know how to manage a success and failure.
Leader must have the courage to take decisions.
Leader should have Nobility in management.
Every action of the leader should be transparent.
Leader must work with integrity and succeed with integrity."

Good place to work... PwC!!

Ram & Hanuman - The Evidence

2008-05-20T18:26:00.005+01:00

After receiving an email forward with photographic evidence of the events and people of the Ramayan, I thought I'do a bit of research and found the following. Zee TV apparently did a story on what evidence is out there and the results seem conclusive... (not that I had any doubts to begin with!) Hanuman made his impact in Lanka and Lord Rama truly went over and recovered Mata Sita.

See links below for full story and photos:

Mil Gaye Ram Part I
Mil Gaye Ram Part II
Mil Gaye Ram Part III

Proof of Ramayan Photographs

Gandhi’s Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World

2008-05-14T18:08:00.004+01:00

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problem."

"If I had no sense of humour, I would long ago have committed suicide."

Mahatma Gandhi needs no long introduction. Everyone knows about the man who lead the Indian people to independence from British rule in 1947.

So let's just move on to some of my favourite tips from Mahatma Gandhi.

1. Change yourself.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world."

"As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves."

If you change yourself you will change your world. If you change how you think then you will change how you feel and what actions you take. And so the world around you will change. Not only because you are now viewing your environment through new lenses of thoughts and emotions but also because the change within can allow you to take action in ways you wouldn't have – or maybe even have thought about – while stuck in your old thought patterns.

And the problem with changing your outer world without changing yourself is that you will still be you when you reach that change you have strived for. You will still have your flaws, anger, negativity, self-sabotaging tendencies etc. intact.

And so in this new situation you will still not find what you hoped for since your mind is still seeping with that negative stuff. And if you get more without having some insight into and distance from your ego it may grow more powerful. Since your ego loves to divide things, to find enemies and to create separation it may start to try to create even more problems and conflicts in your life and world.

2. You are in control.

"Nobody can hurt me without my permission."

What you feel and how you react to something is always up to you. There may be a "normal" or a common way to react to different things. But that's mostly just all it is.

You can choose your own thoughts, reactions and emotions to pretty much everything. You don't have to freak out, overreact of even react in a negative way. Perhaps not every time or instantly. Sometimes a knee-jerk reaction just goes off. Or an old thought habit kicks in.

And as you realize that no-one outside of yourself can actually control how you feel you can start to incorporate this thinking into your daily life and develop it as a thought habit. A habit that you can grow stronger and stronger over time. Doing this makes life a whole lot easier and more pleasurable.

3. Forgive and let it go.

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

"An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind."

Fighting evil with evil won't help anyone. And as said in the previous tip, you always choose how to react to something. When you can incorporate such a thought habit more and more into your life then you can react in a way that is more useful to you and others.

You realize that forgiving and letting go of the past will do you and the people in your world a great service. And spending your time in some negative memory won't help you after you have learned the lessons you can learn from that experience. You'll probably just cause yourself more suffering and paralyze yourself from taking action in this present moment.

If you don't forgive then you let the past and another person to control how you feel. By forgiving you release yourself from those bonds. And then you can focus totally on, for instance, the next point.

4. Without action you aren't going anywhere.

"An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching."

Without taking action very little will be done. However, taking action can be hard and difficult. There can be much inner resistance.

And so you may resort to preaching, as Gandhi says. Or reading and studying endlessly. And feeling like you are moving forward. But getting little or no practical results in real life.

So, to really get where you want to go and to really understand yourself and your world you need to practice. Books can mostly just bring you knowledge. You have to take action and translate that knowledge into results and understanding.

You can check out a few effective tips to overcome this problem in How to Take More Action: 9 Powerful Tips. Or you can move on to the next point for more on the best tip for taking more action that I have found so far.

5. Take care of this moment.

"I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following."

The best way that I have found to overcome the inner resistance that often stops us from taking action is to stay in the present as much as possible and to be accepting.

Why? Well, when you are in the present moment you don't worry about the next moment that you can't control anyway. And the resistance to action that comes from you imagining negative future consequences - or reflecting on past failures - of your actions loses its power. And so it becomes easier to both take action and to keep your focus on this moment and perform better.

Have a look at 8 Ways to Return to the Present Moment for tips on how quickly step into the now. And remember that reconnecting with and staying in the now is a mental habit - a sort of muscle - that you grow. Over time it becomes more powerful and makes it easier to slip into the present moment.

6. Everyone is human.

"I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps."

"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err."

When you start to make myths out of people – even though they may have produced extraordinary results – you run the risk of becoming disconnected from them. You can start to feel like you could never achieve similar things that they did because they are so very different. So it's important to keep in mind that everyone is just a human being no matter who they are.

And I think it's important to remember that we are all human and prone to make mistakes. Holding people to unreasonable standards will only create more unnecessary conflicts in your world and negativity within you.

It's also important to remember this to avoid falling into the pretty useless habit of beating yourself up over mistakes that you have made. And instead be able to see with clarity where you went wrong and what you can learn from your mistake. And then try again.

7. Persist.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

Be persistent. In time the opposition around you will fade and fall away. And your inner resistance and self-sabotaging tendencies that want to hold you back and keep you like you have always been will grow weaker.

Find what you really like to do. Then you'll find the inner motivation to keep going, going and going. You can also find a lot of useful tips on how keep your motivation up in How to Get Out of a Motivational Slump and 25 Simple Ways to Motivate Yourself.

One reason Gandhi was so successful with his method of non-violence was because he and his followers were so persistent. They just didn't give up.

Success or victory will seldom come as quickly as you would have liked it to. I think one of the reasons people don't get what they want is simply because they give up too soon. The time they think an achievement will require isn't the same amount of time it usually takes to achieve that goal. This faulty belief partly comes from the world we live in. A world full of magic pill solutions where advertising continually promises us that we can lose a lot of weight or earn a ton of money in just 30 days. You can read more about this in One Big Mistake a Whole Lot of People Make.

Finally, one useful tip to keep your persistence going is to listen to Gandhi's third quote in this article and keep a sense of humor. It can lighten things up at the toughest of times.

8. See the good in people and help them.

"I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won't presume to probe into the faults of others."

"Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men."

"I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people."

There is pretty much always something good in people. And things that may not be so good. But you can choose what things to focus on. And if you want improvement then focusing on the good in people is a useful choice. It also makes life easier for you as your world and relationships become more pleasant and positive.

And when you see the good in people it becomes easier to motivate yourself to be of service to them. By being of service to other people, by giving them value you not only make their lives better. Over time you tend to get what you give. And the people you help may feel more inclined to help other people. And so you, together, create an upward spiral of positive change that grows and becomes stronger.

By strengthening your social skills you can become a more influential person and make this upward spiral even stronger. A few articles that may provide you with useful advice in that department are Do You Make These 10 Mistakes in a Conversation? and Dale Carnegie's Top 10 Tips for Improving Your Social Skills. Or you can just move on to the next tip.

9. Be congruent, be authentic, be your true self.

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."

"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."

I think that one of the best tips for improving your social skills is to behave in a congruent manner and communicate in an authentic way. People seem to really like authentic communication. And there is much inner enjoyment to be found when your thoughts, words and actions are aligned. You feel powerful and good about yourself.

When words and thoughts are aligned then that shows through in your communication. Because now you have your voice tonality and body language – some say they are over 90 percent of communication – in alignment with your words.

With these channels in alignment people tend to really listen to what you're saying. You are communicating without incongruency, mixed messages or perhaps a sort of phoniness.

Also, if your actions aren't in alignment with what you're communicating then you start to hurt your own belief in what you can do. And other people's belief in you too.

10. Continue to grow and evolve.

"Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position."

You can pretty much always improve your skills, habits or re-evaluate your evaluations. You can gain deeper understanding of yourself and the world.

Sure, you may look inconsistent or like you don't know what you are doing from time to time. You may have trouble to act congruently or to communicate authentically. But if you don't then you will, as Gandhi says, drive yourself into a false position. A place where you try to uphold or cling to your old views to appear consistent while you realise within that something is wrong. It's not a fun place to be. To choose to grow and evolve is a happier and more useful path to take

Source: http://www.positivityblog.com/

Shiva, Shivaa and Shivalingam - Fact, Fiction & Philosophy

2008-05-13T09:45:00.004+01:00

Ask the Pandit: We go to the temple and worship Shiva-lingam with devotion to Lord Shiva but we hear at school that Shivalingam represents Shiva-phallus. Is this true? A British Hindu Teenager

Answer: No, Shivalingam is a characteristic symbol of the formless supreme being with explanation as hereunder. It was the European Indologists of the colonial era who inflicted this translation onto the Shaivite Hinduism whereas in South India you will find noble surnames ending with the word...lingham, to denote not a phallus but their peity to the indivisible God Shiva, Shivaa and Shivalingham.

Introduction

A view that Shivalinga represents phallus and Shiva bhakta (devotee) Hindus are phallus worshippers is increasingly gaining ground among the Indian intelligentsia. It has direct relationship with the spread of English education and corresponding erosion of knowledge of Sanskrit in India. Originally the Colonial Christian missionaries in the 19th century floated this idea to malign the Hindu religion altogether but of late, attempts have been made by the Hindu intelligensia to rationalise and even eulogise phallus worship due to their dependence now on the English language. Another fall-out of predominance of English language is that non-Hindus, Hindu apostates and anti-Hindu scholars, having sketchy knowledge of Hindu scriptures and no knowledge of Sanskrit are relied upon more than the true exponents of Hindu dharma (religion) or the genuine scholars of Hindu scriptures. Commonsense demands that in matters of a religious belief or practice, the ruling or interpretation of its teachers should have precedence. However, that is not so in the case of Hindu religion. The root cause of this blasphemous thought about the Shivalinga was the Christian missionaries but now is the English language rendering of the Sanskrit word, “linga”, as “penis’ or “phallus”.

Meaning of Shivalinga and Vedi

The oldest available Sanskrit text on the worship of Shivalinga is the Linga Purana, followed by the Shiva Mahapurana. Both were compiled, in the 'present' form, during the great Gupta period of Indian history, from 4th to 7th century AD (as additions continued to be made up to the 10th century).The very first shloka of Section 2 of the Linga Purana, Part I, says: “The non-characterized (formless) one is the root of the characterized, (well formed) world. The manifest, characterized world, is called Prakriti (Nature), while the non-characterized, formless, one is called Shiva. Thus, the characterized one, namely, Prakriti (Nature) must be seen as the “linga”, meaning mark, of Lord Shiva.”

1. Shlokas 8 and 9 thereof further explain the theme: “As earlier said, Brahma Himself is the universe personified. Though non-characterized, He is the supreme lord. He is the seed (beej); He is the Womb (Yoni). And, the source of both of them is non-characterized Nirbeejo (Shiva). Thus, the Supreme Lord is both seed and womb and also the universe”.
[Incidentally a Yoni stone has been discovered near Allahabad dating back to c.14000 years.]

2. [Incidentally, in certain publications, like the English translation of the Linga Purana, published by M/s. Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi-Varanasi-Patna, under the title, “Ancient India’s Traditions & Mythology”, Vol.V, Section 2 of Part I, is shown as Section 3, because they have treated the Index also as a separate section.]
The above simile of seed and womb is also used in the Bhagvatgeeta, chap.14/3-4, where Lord Krishna says: “My womb is the great Brahma (Eternal,Cosmos); in it, I place the germ; thence cometh the birth of all beings, O Bharata (Arjuna). In all the wombs, where mortals are produced, O Arjuna, their principal base womb is the great Brahma, and I am their generating father.”

3. The Maitryopanishad, Prapathak 4, shlokas 1-2, explain how the word “yoni” meant the “source”. It says, fire, that does not get fuel is exhausted in its place of origin (yoni), so does mind calm down in its place of origin, when its passions get exhausted (in the absence of outside support)”.

4. According to Sanskrit dictionary, (Medini Koshakar), “Linga” means sign, (mark or characteristic), conjecture, a kind of Lord Shiva’s image, and rarely penis: the word is a neuter gender. In Sanskrit, the specific word for penis, is ‘shishna’ In the entire Sanskrit literature, especially in works on religion or spirituality, the word ‘linga’ has been used in the sense of a sign, a symbol, characteristic of something, and ‘yoni’ as source of origin. For example, the Brahmasutra,(Vedanta Darshan) says: “Aakaashastallingat”, (1.1.22), cosmos is the ‘linga’ (sign) of Brahma (Eternity). The Vaisheshik Darshan, (2.2.6), says, “Aparasminnaparam yugpat chiram kshipramiti kaal lingaani”, meaning, time’s ‘lingani’ (characteristics) are, before, after, together, swift, slow, in relation to somebody or something. If ‘linga’ wereto mean ‘penis’, how could ‘kaal’ (time) have five ‘penis’?The Brahmasutra (Vedanta Darshan) has used the word ‘linga’ 12 times and the Vaisheshik Darshan has used it 29 times. Every time, they have used it in the sense of formless God or a characteristic. The Upanishadas too have used it in the same sense.

In his well documented research work, Bharatiya Pratik Vidya, (Hindi), published by the Bihar Rashtrabhasha Parishad Patna, 1959, Dr. Janardan Misra has explained in great detail as to how, in their study of phallus worship, European scholars found out that in many countries of ancient Europe, (including England, Ireland, Greece), Egypt and Japan, certain people practiced witchcraft before the image of phallus: how some of them concluded that OSIRIS as God and ISIS as Goddess, worshipped by ancient Egyptians, were the corrupt forms of Hindus’ “ISHWAR” (God) and “ISHWARI” (Goddess): how two of the scholars assumed that the Hindus worshipped male and female sex organs. The question is, even if Shivalinga was mistaken as symbolising penis, following the vulgar meaning of ‘linga’, how the European (and even Indian) scholars got ‘vagina’ out of ‘vedi’ (pedestal) of Shivalinga. The only answer can be that once Shivalinga was assumed to mean Lord Shiva’s penis, the ‘vedi’ (pedestal) was automatically presumed to be vagina, being complementary to each other. It is noteworthy that in South India, the word ‘linga’ still continues to mean a mark or an indicator. Hence, many people there have their names like Ramalingam, Bhoothalingam, Mahalingam, or so. The Shivopanishad, 124, says: “Let it be understood that heart is the best abode of Lord Shiva. Hence, the Linga represents Him, that is ‘Omkar’, and the Vedi (Pedestal) represents the lotus like heart.”

Origin and philosophy

In the Shiva Mahapurana, chapter 5, shloka 10-11 of the first (Vidyeswari) Samhita, sage Suta tells a gathering of other sages: “(Lord) Shiva is the supreme God. So, He is called formless, nishkala (non-characterized), but at times He also takes form, so He is also called characterized”.6
In support, sage Nandikeshwara narrates the following episode: In the ancient (pre-historic) period, (Shvet Varah Kalpa), when the earth was submerged in water, a fierce fight ensued between Brahman and Vishnu on the question as to who of the two was superior.
To teach them a lesson, the Supreme God (Lord Shiva) appeared between them in the form of a burning column (Shlokas, 27-28/Ibid).7 Emerging from the ocean, it rose on to go into the sky. A symbolic replica of that burning column is called Shivalinga, a mark of the formless God, Lord Shiva.
A similar account is given in chapter 17, Part I of the Ling Purana. Seeing this huge burning column, both Brahma and Vishnu exclaimed with astonishment: “What is this most wonderful fiery column, imperceptible to senses? What is there below it and above it? Let us first find it out”, (chap. 7, shloka 13-14/Ibid).8 Thus, Brahma went upwards and Vishnu went downwards into the ocean to find out the reality of the new phenomenon. After long years, both of them returned to their original place.
While Vishnu admitted his failure, Brahma falsely claimed that he had reached the summit. But, an Aaakashvani (celestial voice) exposed his lie for which he had to suffer the curse of Lord Shiva. Now, Brahma and Vishnu together prayed to the fiery column to reveal itself to them. In response, there was a big sound of ‘A U M’ – ‘A U M’. A little later, Vishnu saw AUM’s first syllable ‘A’ on the south of the column, syllable ‘U’ on the north, and syllable ‘M’ in the middle, denoting Brahma (god of creation), Rudra/Shiva (god of death or dissolution and regeneration) and Vishnu (god of maintenance, who keeps the world going), respectively.This very episode is narrated in greater detail by Brahma to his Manas (Intellectual) son, Narada, in chapters 6 to 10 of the 2nd (Rudra) Samhita’s first (Srishti) Khand, of the Shiva Mahapurana, relating to Creation. After first appearing in a non-characterized form of a fiery column, Lord Shiva assumed a characterised form and explained to Brahma and Vishnu how He Himself functions under three heads, namely, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra, (chap.9, shloka 28). 9 Accordingly, Lord Shiva distributes the work of creation to Brahma, of sustenance of the world to Vishnu and of dissolution to Rudra. He also lets the Saraswati (Knowledge) part of His power (Uma) go to Brahma, the Lakshmi (beauty and wealth) part to Vishnu, and the Kali (strength) part to Rudra. Lastly, Lord Shiva directs Vishnu to always protect and remove the sufferings of the world, created by Brahma. He then directs both to work in close cooperation. Interestingly, Lord Shiva warns that, if a devotee of Rudra denigrates Vishnu, all his pious deeds shall go to waste. Having said so, Lord Shiva vanishes, (chap.10/shloka 36 Ibid).10 Soon after this, Brahma adds that “Vedi” (Pedestal) symbolises “Mahadevi”, meaning Uma or Parvati, (consort of Lord Shiva) and the “Linga” thereon symbolises Lord Shiva. It is called “Linga” because, after pralaya (total annihilation), the whole world gets absorbed in it, as the word ‘leen’ (in Sanskrit) means ‘absorption’, (chap. 10, Shloka 38/Ibid).11 ‘Vedi’, symbolising Mahadevi or Uma is obviously a later addition.

Concept of Ardhanareeshwara, (half-male, half-female god).

The above account, based on the original sources of the Linga Purana and the Shiva Mahapurana, shows a gradual march from the non-characterised (formless) God to three characterised functional gods, as off-shoots of the Supreme Lord (Shiva), namely, Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra (also called Shiva). With the passage of time, we find the emergence of the concept of Ardhnareeshwara (half-male and half-female god). The origin of this concept seems to be Brahma’s above mentioned assertion that the ‘Linga’ represented Shiva and the Vedi represented Mahadevi (female Deity).
The connected story is given in chapters 2-3 of the Triteeya (Third) Shatarudra Samhita. It explains how, following Lord Shiva’s directive, Brahma started creating various subjects (through his mental faculty), in his own male form. But, he was sad to see that they did not multiply. He felt that there must be some way to make his creation multiply by itself, to be self-sustaining. In the process, he thought of procreation through a male-female combination, called “Maithuni Srishti”, (procreation through sexual co-habitation). The question arose, how to get the female partner? For it, Brahma needed help from the Supreme Lord, Shiva. Brahma did deep meditation (tapasya). Now, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a half-male and half-female body. Granting Brahma’s wish, the Lord separated His female part, the Supreme Power, called Uma or Shivaa. Brahma made his submission to goddess Shivaaa, “I have been creating all beings, but they are not multiplying, because I am unable to create the female partner: kindly help me. Please, be the daughter of my (intellectual) son, Daksha. Goddess Shivaa created another female body through the middle of her eye brows. On behest of Lord Shiva, this new female body (Jagdambika) agreed to become daughter of Daksha. Thus started the process of sexual procreation, (Maithuni Srishti). How Brahma directed his (intellectual) son Daksha to marry a beautiful girl and to start procreation, do tapasya (meditative sacrifice) to get Jagadamba as his daughter Sati, married her to Rudra (Shiva), etc., are narrated in other chapters. Incidentally, according to Rudra Samhita (Second), Shrishti Khand, chap.16, Brahma divided himself into two parts – half- male and half-female. The male part became Brahma’s son, named “Manu” and the female part became Brahma’s daughter named “Shatroopaa”. The two got married and started the process of procreation of the human race. So, Manu is considered the original father of mankind and the first law-giver. Both the above versions, (Lord Shiva’s appearance of Ardhanareeshwara and Brahma himself creating Manu and Shatroopa), are repeated in the Seventh, (Vayaveeya), Samhita, part I, chapters 15-17. All these episodes make it clear that the basic purpose is to narrate, in allegorical form, various theories relating to the creation of the universe, origin and evolution of life on earth, of the human race since its beginning as a unisexual body and its later development into bisexual one. These theories of evolution and development seem to have simultaneously given rise to poetic imagination of seeing every god with a female consort, namely, Brahma with Saraswati, Vishnu with Lakshmi, and Rudra (Shiva) with Parvati. This phenomenon also brought with it, multiplication of gods and goddesses.The common Hindu prayer to God is, “Twameva Mata cha Pita Twameva…” (You are the Mother, You are the Father…)

Conclusion

Coming back to the subject of origin of the concept of Shivalinga, let us recall that the burning column, as the first mark of the formless God, had arisen from the ocean. The ‘Vedi’ (Pedestal) of the image of that burning column, (Shivalinga), must necessarily be the mark, symbol or ‘Linga’ of the ocean. To call it Lord Shiva’s consort, Mahadevi (Uma or Parvati) is illogical. To say or think that the Shivalinga and the Vedi represent the male and female sex organs, respectively, is all the more absurd. Here is what the renowned (late) Swami Sivananda, founder of the famous ‘Divine Life Society’, has said in his book, “All About Hinduism”, (p.270): “Linga represents the formless Shiva – Shivalinga speaks to you in the unmistakable language of silence, ‘I am one without a second. I am formless….’ A Curious, passionate, impure foreigner of little understanding or intelligence says sarcastically, ‘Oh, the Hindus worship the phallus or sex-organ, ….’ Linga is only the outward symbol of the formless being, Lord Shiva, who is the indivisible, all-pervading, eternal, auspicious, ever-pure, immortal essence of this vast universe, who is the undying soul seated in the chamber of your heart, who is your Indweller, innermost Self or Atman and who is identical with the Supreme Brahman.”

[Incidentally, the Mahasivapurana is a huge compilation of seven Sections, called ‘Samhitas’. Each Samhita has 20 to 55 chapters. Some Samhitas are divided into Parts, called ‘Khandas’. There is a lot of repetition. With slight variation, the same episodes are repeated in other chapters or another Samhita. Many episodes describing the origin of minor ‘Lingas’ defy the very philosophy of the Shivalinga. Such episodes abound in later Samhitas. The European Indologists had their own ideas of the European paganism and Greek mythology which corrupted the original meaning into sometimes base translations. The Colonial Christian missionaries used the base translations to malign the heart of Hindu Dharma and as a result the confusion has become almost endemic at its core. Its removal is a gigantic task. Perhaps an apex Hindu religious body, adequately funded by rich Hindu religious endowments and donations from others, can undertake it by engaging true scholars on this work.]

(Ram Gopal)(Author can be contacted at e-mail : ramgopal_94@yahoo.com )

References:
1. Alingo lingamoolam tu avyaktam lingamuchyate. Alingah Shiva ityukto lingo Shaivamiti smritam.(1). (Linga Purana, Part I, Section 2).
2. Yathavatkathitaashchaiva tasmaad-Brahma swayamjagat: Alingi Bhagvan Beeji, sa eva Parmeshwarah.(8) Beejam yonishcha nirbeejam, nirbeejo beejamuchyate; Beejyoni pradhananamatmakhya vartate twiha. (9). ( Ibid).
3. Mam yoni-r-mahad-Brahma tasmingarbham dadhamyaham: Sambhavah sarvabhootanam tato bhavati Bharata.(3) Sarvayonishu Kaunteya moortayah sambhavanti yah; Taasaam Brahma mahadyoni-r-aham beejpradah Pita.(4). (Geeta, chapter 14).
4. Yatha nireendano vanhi swa-yonishu-upshamyati; Tatha vrittikshaya chitta swa-yonishu-upshamyati. (Matraiyopanishad, Pra. 4, Shlokas 1-2)
5. Hridyantahkarnam jnyeyam Shivasyaayatanam param ; Hritpadmam vedica tatra Lingamonkaramishyate. (Shivopanishad , Shloka 124).
6. ShivaikoBrahmaroopatvannishkalahparikirtitah.(10).Roopitvaatsakalaastadvattasmaatasakanishkalah: Nishkalatvaanniraakaram lingam tasya samaagatam. (11). (Shiva Mahapurana, First (Vidyeshwari) Samhita, chap. 5)
7. Puraa Kaaley mahaakaaley prapanney lokavishrutey: Ayudhyatam mahaatmaanau Brahmaa-Vishnu parasparam. (27) Tayormaanam niraakartum tanmadyey Parmeshwarah, Nishkalastambharoopen swaroopam samdarshyat. (28). (Ibid)
8. Kimetad-adbhud-aakaaram-ityooscha parasparam;/ Ateendriyamidam stambham-agniroopam kimutthitam. (13) Asyordhvamapi cha-adhascha aavayorlakshmeya hi .(14). (Ibid, chap. 7 ).
9. Tridhaa bhinno hiam Vishno ! Brahma-Vishnu-Harakhyaya;/Sargrakshaalayagunair-nishkalo-aham sadaa Hare. (28). (Ibid, Second, (Rudra), Samhita, First, (Srishti), Khand, chap. 9 ).
10. Tatah sa Bhagwan-Shambhuh kripya Bhaktvatsalah: /Drishtya sampashyatoh sheeghram tattraivantardheeyat. (36). (Ibid, chap. 10)
11. Lingavedirmahaadevee lingam saakshaat-Maheshwarah :/ Layanaallingamityukta tattraiva nikhilam jagat. (38). (Ibid)

Source: http://www.hinducounciluk.org/newsite/circulardet.asp?rec=80

Ego and Spirit

2008-05-09T18:48:00.002+01:00

Imagine this scene if you will.

Two babies are in utero confined to the wall of their mother's womb, and they are having a conversation. For the sake of clarity we'll call these twins Ego and Spirit.

Spirit says to Ego, "I know you are going to find
this difficult to accept, but I truly believe there is
life after birth."

Ego responds, "Don't be ridiculous. Look around you. This is all there is. Why must you always be thinking about something beyond this reality?

Accept your lot in life. Make yourself comfortable and forget about
all this life-after-birth nonsense."
Spirit quiets down for a while, but her inner voice
won't allow her to remain silent any longer. "Ego, now
don't get mad, but I have something else to say. I
also believe that there is a Mother."

"A Mother!" Ego guffaws. "How can you be so absurd?
Youv'e never seen a Mother. Why can't you accept that
this is all there is? The idea of a Mother is crazy.
You are here alone with me. This is your reality. Now
grab hold of that cord. Go into your corner and stop
being so silly. Trust me, there is no Mother."

Spirit reluctantly stops her conversation with Ego,
but her restlessness soon gets the better of her.
"Ego," she implores, "please listen without rejecting
my idea. Somehow I think that those constant pressures
we both feel, those movements that make us so
uncomfortable at times, that continual repositioning
and all of that closing in that seems to be taking
place as we keep growing, is getting us ready for a
place of glowing light, and we will experience it very
soon."

"Now I know you are absolutely insane," replies
Ego. "All you've ever known is darkness. Youv'e never
seen the light. How can you even contemplate such an
idea? Those movements and pressures you feel are your
reality. You are a distinct separate being. This is
your journey and you're on your own. Darkness and
pressures and a closed-in feeling is what life is all
about. You'll have to fight it as long as you live.
Now grab your cord and please stay still.
Spirit relaxes for a while, but finally she can
contain herself no longer. "Ego, I have only one more
thing to say, and then I'll never bother you again."
"Go ahead," Ego responds impatiently.

"I believe all of these pressures and all of this
discomfort is not only going to bring us to a new
celestial light, but when we experience it, we are
going to meet Mother face-to-face and know an ecstasy
that is beyond anything we have ever experienced up
until now."

"You really are crazy, Spirit. Now I'm truly
convinced of it."

-by Dr. Wayne Dyer in his book "Your Sacred Self"

DFID India - Resources

2008-05-09T11:58:00.005+01:00

Useful reading to get a background on the development side of India, published by the UK Department for International Development.

These can be mainly accessed via the India 'country profile' section of the DFID website.

See http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/Transforming-RL-India.pdf for Transforming Rural Livelihoods in India.
See http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/india-factsheet.pdf for the 2008 India factsheet.
See http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/hiv-india.pdf for Our story and responses to HIV/AIDS in India .

The India Country Plan from 2004 is on the website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/capindia.pdf but will soon be replaced by a new CAP - see http://www.dfid.gov.uk/consultations/past-consultations/india-cap.asp for the consultation exercise (now closed) for the new strategy for the period up to 2015.

'Supporting security, justice and development - lessons for a new era' is at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Pubs/files/security-justice-development.pdf

Also, Rough Guide to a Better World - great easy to read publication giving an outline to poverty in the world and what you can do about it.

Ignited Minds – unleashing the power within India

2008-05-08T11:50:00.005+01:00

By APJ Abdul Kalam

Book Review and Summary/Quotes

From the back cover:

Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power within India examines why, given all our skills, resources and talents, we, so obviously capable of being the best, settle so often for the worst. What is it that we as a nation are missing? At the heart of Ignited Minds, is the belief that the people of a nation have the power, by dint of hard work, to realise their dream of a truly good life.

Kalam takes up different issues and themes that struck him on his pilgrimage around the country as he met thousands of school children, teachers, scientists, saints and seers in the course of two years. The result is a book that motivates us to get back on the winning track and unleash the energy within a nation that hasn’t allowed itself full rein.

Purchase Ignited Minds on Amazon.

Chapter 1 – The Dream and the Message

Dream, Dream, Dream
Dreams transform into thoughts
And thoughts result in action.

SUMMARY
Spirituality must be integrated with education. Self-realisation is the focus. Each one of us must become aware of our higher self. We are links of a great past to a grand future. We should ignite our dormant inner energy and let it guide our lives. The radiance of such minds embarked on constructive endeavour will bring peace, prosperity and bliss to this notion.

Chapter 2 – Give us a Role Model

Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning. – Mahatma Gandhi

You always give a message to dream. Tell me, why dream?

AK: “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts. Thoughts result in actions. Friends, if there are no dreams, there are no revolutionary thoughts; if there are no thoughts, no actions will emanate. Hence, parents and teachers should allow their children to dream. Success always follows dreams attempted though there may be some setbacks and delays”

Which are your favourite books that you loved and which have shaped your mind?

AK: “Four books in my life have been very close to my heart. I cherish reading them. The first is Man the Unknown by Dr Alexis Carrel, a doctor-turned-philosopher and a Nobel Laureate. This book highlights how the mind and body both have to be treated in an ailment as the two are integrated. You cannot treat one and ignore the other. In particular, children who dream of becoming doctors should read the book. The will learn that the human body is not a mechanical system; it is very intelligent organism with a most intricate and sensitive feedback system. The second book, one I venerate, is Tiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural, which provides and excellent code of life. The third is Light from Many Lamps by Lillian Eichler Watson which has touched me deeply. It illuminates how we live and has been an invaluable guide to me for fifty years. And the Holy Quran is, of course, a constant companion.”

Who is our enemy? (Question by School boy in Gujarat) “Our enemy is Poverty” – an answer which came from a school girl, to whom the book is dedicated.

Ancient India was a knowledge society and a leader in many intellectual pursuits, particularly in the fields of mathematics, medicine and astronomy. A renaissance is imperative for us once again to become a knowledge superpower rather than simple providing cheap labour in areas of high technology.

SUMMARY
A nation’s wealth is the young generation of the country. When they grow up, who can be the role models? Mother, father, and elementary school teachers play a very important part as role models. When the child grows up, the role models will be national leaders of quality and integrity in every field including politics, the sciences, technology and industry.

Chapter 3 – Visionary Teachers and Scientists

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. - Goethe

Albert Einstein – “We owe a lot to the Indians who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discover could have been made”

Quoting C.V. Raman, who said in 1969 while addressing young graduates:

“I would like to tell the young men and women before me not to lose hope and courage. Success can only come to you by courageous devotion to the task lying in front of you. I can assert without fear of contradiction that the quality of the Indian mind is equal to the quality of any Teutonic, Nordic, or Anglo-Saxon mind. What we lack is perhaps courage, what we lack is perhaps driving force, which takes one anywhere. We have, I think, developed an inferiority complex. I think what is needed in India today is the destruction of that defeatist spirit. We need a spirit of victory, a spirit that will carry us to our rightful place under the sun, a spirit which can recognise that we, as inheritors of a proud civilisation, are entitled to our rightful place on this planet. It that indomitable spirit were to arise, nothing can hold us from achieving our rightful destiny.”

AK: “The one thing I have learnt after more than forty years of working in three departments is various projects and programmes is that you will succeed as a project leader as long as you remember that the project is bigger than you. When the project leader tries to make himself out to be bigger than the project, the enterprise suffers”

SUMMARY
Vision ignites the minds. India needs visionaries of the stature of J.R.D. Tatam Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan and Dr Verghese Kurien, to name a few, who can involve an entire generation in the mission-driven programmes which benefit the country as a whole.

Chapter 4 – Learning from Saints and Seers

For the society to prosper there are two important needs. They are: prosperity through wealth generation and cherishing the value system of the people. The combination of the two will make the Nation truly strong and prosperous.

Conversation with Pramukh Swami:
AK: “…what can be our vision now [since Independence]? Since the last fifty years, India has been a developing country. It means economically it is not strong, socially it is not stable, in security aspects it is not self-reliant, and that is why it is called a developing country… TIFAC (Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council) have give thought to what should be the next vision for India. How do we transform a developing country into a developed country in the next twenty years? We have identified five important areas to transform India – education and healthcare, agriculture, information and communication, infrastructure and critical technology… How do we create people with values to carry out such a big vision?”

Swamiji: “Along with these five, you need a sixth one – faith in God and developing people through spirituality. This is very important. We need to first generate a moral and spiritual atmosphere…

…the stronger the spiritual wealth, the stronger will become all other forms of wealth. We rarely provide what is really needed. We provide everything else, clothing, food, shelter, but with all this we should also provide spiritual wealth.

The unification of science and spirituality will be essential to take benefit of science and technology to mankind. In 1911, Sri Aurobindo wrote in the Song of Humanity: “A time will come when the Indian mind will shake off the darkness that has fallen upon it, cease to think or hold opinions at second and third hand and reassert its right to judge and enquire with perfect freedom into the meaning of its own culture and tradition.”

Rig Veda: ‘Aano bhadrah kratavo yenthu vishwathaha’ – ‘Let noble thoughts come to us from everyside’

SUMMARY
Our spiritual wisdom has been our strength. We survived as a nation the onslaughts of invaders and the numbing effects of colonialism. We have also learnt to adjust to the rifts and divisions in our own society. But in the process of all adjustment, we also lowered our aims and expectations. We must regain our broad outlook and draw upon our heritage and wisdom to enrich our lives. The fact that we advance technologically does not preclude spiritual development. We need to home-grow our own model of development based on our inherent strengths.

Chapter 5 – Patriotism beyond Politics and Religion

I do not care for liberation, I would rather go to a hundred thousand hells, ‘doing good to others (silently) like the spring’, this is my religion. – Swami Vivekananda

For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool.

I call to my people to rise to greatness. It is a call to all Indians to rise to their highest capabilities. What are the forces which lead to the rise or fall of nations? And what are the factors which go to make nations strong? Three factors are invariably found in a strong nation: a collective pride in its achievements, unity and the ability for combined action… all nations which have risen to greatness have been characterised by a sense of mission. It is because our sense of mission has weakened that we have ceased to be true to our culture and ourselves.

SUMMARY
There are success stories among failures. There is hope among chaos, promise among problems. We are one billion people with multiple faiths and ideologies. In the absence of a national vision, cracks at the seam keep surfacing and make us vulnerable. There is a need to reinforce this seam and amalgamate us into one national forum.

Chapter 6 – The Knowledge Society

Wisdom is a weapon to ward off destruction; It is an inner fortress which enemies cannot destroy. – Thirukkural 421 (200 BC)

Maharishi Patanjali said in the Yogasutra, “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”

That is something addressed to all of us. It is the people of a nation who make it great. By their effort, the people in turn become important citizens of their great country. Ignited minds are the most powerful resource on earth, and the one billion minds of our nation are indeed a great power waiting to be tapped.

SUMMARY
Ancient India was a knowledge society that contributed a great deal to civilisation. We need to recover that status and become a knowledge power. We must learn from our mistakes to achieve a better standard of life. A developed India will supplant a spirit of defeat with the spirit of victory.

Chapter 7 – Getting the Forces Together

Determine that things can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way. – Abraham Lincoln

SUMMARY
We need to adapt the implementation of our programmes and policies into a mission mode to succeed. Progress cannot be swift and far-reaching if the path is full of potholes. The abundant national resources, human and material, remain to be fully utilised.

Chapter 8 – Building a New State

If I were to look over the whole world to find out the country most richly endowed with all the wealth, power and beauty that nature can bestow – in some parts a very paradise on earth – I should point to India. – F Max Muller

…the upshot is that India is poor as a nation in spite of its enormous wealth because it does not focus on value addition, be it in the mineral or biodiversity products or even grain or fish. (AK sites example of beryllium metal)

I realised then that if something is at stake, the human mind gets ignited and working capacity gets enhanced manifold. Challenges throw up opportunities… start risking your own position for a mission. Either I deliver or I go. With effort and perseverance you will succeed. There is always a risk involved when we venture into something new. After all, the process of birth itself is a risky affair. But then the infant starts breathing … and life follows, with all its hopes and aspirations. Breathe in thoughts of success and you will be a success.

SUMMARY
The way to development is through purposeful activity. The young especially have to be guided properly, so that their lives find a proper direction and their creativity is allowed to flower. To facilitate this, certain educational reforms must be initiated.

With regard to improving the pace of development, Centre-state efforts should be coordinated in a few key areas and efforts across sectors and organisations integrated and taken up in a mission mode. The mindset must change, showing a willingness to take pragmatic risks. Success will follow.

Chapter 9 – To My Countrymen

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,
Where knowledge is free,
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments…
My father, let my country awake.
- Rabindranath Tagore

What I have tried to tell you in this book is that we must be aware of our higher self and view ourselves as citizens of a developed nation. We are a great civilisation and each one of us born here must trust in the wisdom of this civilisation. Our scriptures tell us that there is no barrier between us and the world, that we are the world just as the world is in us. It is for you to put yourself in tune with the music of the universe.

Students should get ready to transform India into a developed nation. Ignite your minds and think big.

A teacher once said, “Give me a five-year old child. After seven years, no God or Devil will be able to change the child.’ Will all teachers be such gurus?

And to God the Almighty! Make my people sweat. Let their toil create many more Agnis that can annihilate evil. Let my country prosper in peace. Let my people live in harmony. Let me go to dust as a proud citizen of India, to rise again and rejoice in its glory.

Song of Youth:

Other books by Abdul Kalam:
Wings of Fire - Amazon
India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium - Amazon

Websites:

www.abdulkalam.com - Abdul Kalam's official homepage - check out "Billion Beats" e-paper
www.indiavision2020.org - This site is meant for discussing strategies for building a strong India by 2020, the vision of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam ; and for creating an awareness about India's Vision 2020.

TED Talks - Excellent

2008-05-01T14:34:00.004+01:00

What is TED?
TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an invitation-only event where the world's leading thinkers and doers gather to find inspiration. The website publishes the talks from these events.
Here are just a few ones I liked:

Richard Branson: Life at 30,000 feet
Richard Branson talks to TED's Chris Anderson about the ups and the downs of his career, from his multibillionaire success to his multiple near-death experiences -- and reveals some of his (very surprising) motivations.

Amy Tan: Where does Creativity hide?
Novelist Amy Tan digs deep into the creative process, journeying through her childhood and family history and into the worlds of physics and chance, looking for hints of where her own creativity comes from. It's a wild ride with a surprise ending.

Stephen Hawking: Asking big questions about the universe
In keeping with the theme of TED2008, professor Stephen Hawking asks some Big Questions about our universe -- How did the universe begin? How did life begin? Are we alone? -- and discusses how we might go about answering them.

V.S. Ramachandran: A Journey to the Centre of your Mind
V.S. Ramachandran explores how brain damage can reveal the connection between the physical brain and the mind -- focusing on three startling delusions.

For a complete list of talks click here.

Taj Mahal - A Vedic Temple?

2008-04-28T18:00:00.004+01:00

Was the Taj Mahal a Vedic Temple? The Photographic Evidence presents photographs that belonged to the Archaeology Survey of India that shows the evidence of how the Taj Mahal and other buildings were pre-existing before the foreign invasions of India, and were originally Vedic temples and palaces. There are also other papers and articles on websites accessed through this page, such as the most interesting paper: "The Question of the Taj Mahal"

Visit Stephen Knapp's website - this is a great resource with a lot of free information and online books available: http://www.stephen-knapp.com/

Also checkout:

Coverage about Taj Controversy on the BBC - easy summary of both sides of the debate
The Taj Mahal: A True Story by N. P. Oak - Online version of this book that goes into detail about the Taj being a Shiva Temple.
Taj Mahal of Tejo Mahalaya - Tejo Mahalaya means Temple of Shiva and this article speaks about the need to re-write Indian history to portray what actually happened.

Makes you wonder ... sometimes the World does not recognise the true value of Hinduism lying dormant in India. It has been covered up by the many rulers who have taken control of India since the true vedic days. Its time, I think, to re-write history as it should be...

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

Mind Tools

2008-04-23T18:00:00.004+01:00

Beating Procrastination
Manage Your Time. Get It All Done.

If you’ve found yourself putting off important tasks over and over again, you’re not alone. In fact, many people procrastinate to some degree - but some are so chronically affected by procrastination that it stops them achieving things they're capable of and disrupts their careers.
The key to controlling and ultimately combating this destructive habit is to recognize when you start procrastinating, understand why it happens (even to the best of us), and take active steps to better manage your time and outcomes.... (whole article)

The Art of Filing
Managing Your Documents... and Your Time

Have you ever sat there while your boss stands over you, desperately searching for that missing document he or she needs RIGHT NOW? Or have you kept a client waiting on the phone for several minutes while you've searched for a status report?

If you have, then however organized and effective you are in your day-to-day work, your boss and your client may have a less than perfect opinion of you, because in a key encounter, you've let them down. And if it's your job to help people, how much of other people's time are you wasting if you can't find the information you need when you need it?

You owe it to yourself to file effectively, however boring this may seem. Imagine how much more impressive it would have been if – when asked – you'd smiled, accessed a well-organized filing system, immediately found the document, and quickly given the answer! (...whole article)

USEFUL TOOL - Google Desktop - i.e. Google search you entire computer! (files and programmes from a little search box on your desktop)

Source: www.mindtools.com - more useful articles on Time Management, Stress Management, Communication Skills, Memory Improvement, Leadership Skills, Problem Solving and Practical Creativitiy.

Richard Branson's Autobiography

2008-04-23T13:43:00.005+01:00

Richard Branson: Losing My Virginity

This book was a great read. Its entertaining, thought-provoking and very inspirational. Branson is a character which can be summarised in a few words; money, creativity, and women. This book explores all three and how he has become Britains most successful entrepreneur valued at around £4 billion. (In comparison, Alan Sugar is only worth £800 million!)

Buy the book on Amazon

Read an 'Interview with Richard Branson'

This is a brilliant interview (5 pages) and gives you an insight into how he balances his family and career.

Speed Reading

2008-04-22T17:48:00.004+01:00

The Extraordinary Reader -by Clive Lewis and Anthony Landale

Just completed reading this book that explains how the brain functions and how to apply this knowledge to be able to read faster, understand better and remember more. It is very well written, and with only 95 pages, its easy to read and refer to. Plenty of exercises and clear tips - if I practice the recommendations of this book, I should have tripled my reading speed (currently 240 words per min) in three weeks!

Buy the book at Illumine Website for £10 plus £1.50 postage.

Some useful tips I picked up from the book:

The "limbic brain" - is the emotional part of the brain, and when we are able to engage this in learning, our internal settings switch to 'high priority' - the impact being to significantly improve our ability to retain information.
How to form a habit - neural pathways for each time you do something - and the more you do it, the stronger the pathway gets (think of driving a car). You eventually get to a stage where it is automatic, i.e. it becomes a habit.
To install a new behaviour you need: Commitment, Repetition of the action and Emotional Intensity.
The importance of resting and taking breaks whilst studying to optimise recall - every 25 - 45 minutes
Effective reading -starts with assessment of the document, rapid pre-read (10 mins max), drawing a Mind Map and then skimming.
Importance of Mind Maps and how the brain works (free video information on mind maps)
Techniques for establishing a higher base speed: Bouncing, Grouping, Momentum and Guides.
Motivation and mental attitudes for reading as well as advanced techniques such as peripheral reading.

Global Oneness Project

2008-04-21T11:50:00.003+01:00

This is an amazing project that I came across whilst researching Manav Sadhna and Jayesh bhai, of whom they have made a short video and released. Visit www.globalonenessproject.org for more information.

"The Global Oneness Project is exploring how the radically simple notion of interconnectedness can be lived in our increasingly complex world" - About Us Page

One worthwhile idea is the FREE DVD ("Living Library") they post to you so that you can screen the short video clips with friends and relatives. I have done this and as they promise, a DVD arrived in the post today which I shall be sharing with local people shortly! Also, the website has downloadable discussion guides and posters you can use (e.g. if you are in university and want to hold a viewing followed by discussion).

My favourite clips including the Indian ones I initially was looking for are linked below.

Short Films Online:
Global Oneness Project Trailer
Jayesh Patel - Living Service
Sewa Cafe - Love All, Serve All
Not Just a Piece of Cloth - Goonj

Lead India (Times of India)

2008-04-21T11:46:00.002+01:00

LEAD INDIA - A Times of India Initiative

On August 15, we embarked on an ambitious journey — a unique talent search which has the potential to make a huge difference to India. We began a hunt to identify new leaders for a new India, men and women with the vision and ability to empower India with the kind of political leadership that is so conspicuous by its absence.

The Lead India campaign stemmed from our belief — and overwhelming reader feedback — that even as India takes giant strides towards fulfilling its undoubted potential, it is doing so despite, not because of, its political leadership. ‘‘Good people don’t want to join politics’’ is an oft-heard lament. And yet, good governance is the cornerstone if India is to overcome the many hurdles that threaten to slow its journey to developed nation status.

And so, we decided to provide a platform to the good men and women out there who refuse to be daunted by the system, and struggle against massive odds to make life better for their fellow Indians. We invited them to come forward and use the Lead India programme as a springboard to public life.... read on

Muhammad Yunus on Poverty

2008-04-19T15:09:00.002+01:00

"We create institutions and policies on the basis of the way we make assumptions about us and others. We accept the fact that we will always have poor people around us. So we have had poor people around us. If we had believed that poverty is unacceptable to us, and that it should not belong to a civilized society, we would have created appropriate institutions and policies to create a poverty-free world." -Muhammad Yunus

Thirty years ago, in a remote village of Bangladesh, a modest economics professor took thirty dollars out of his own wallet and loaned it to a group of women looking to start a small business. Told by nay-sayers that he'd never get the money back, the amount was repaid in full. Muhammad Yunus went on to found Grameen Bank in 1976, out of a conviction that it is small acts like this one can move people out of poverty. Today he is a Nobel Peace Prize winner who, starting with one simple loan, has influenced millions.

Source: KarmaTube

Indicorps /// Service for the Soul

2008-04-17T20:14:00.003+01:00

After my Learning Journey experience, I was able to discover in more depth the opportunities presented by Indicorps for UK / USA based individuals who want to contribute to India's development through service-based placements. Below are some useful notes/background on the organisation. Alternatively, check out: http://www.indicorps.org/.

About Indicorps:
Indicorps is a non-partisan, non-religious, non-profit organization that encourages Indians around the world to actively participate in India's progress. Indicorps' programs are designed to build principled leadership, empower visionaries, inspire collective action, and unite India towards a common vision for the nation by productively engaging Indians around the world with the development of the country that defines their identity.

The core fellowship program aims to inspire a new generation of global Indian leaders through structured one- and two-year grassroots service opportunities in India. Indicorps firmly believes that contributing to the development of India at a grassroots level will help Indians around the world better understand their heritage, explore ways to strengthen the global Indian community, and encourage civic responsibility at home in their respective countries. Indicorps projects embody a firm and demonstrated commitment to promoting peace, inclusiveness, secularism, and the empowerment of India's people by encouraging action and understanding at the most grassroots levels.

Further, Indicorps aims to strengthen non-profit organizations in India. Indicorps recognizes that building capacity within local Indian organizations is essential to sustainable change. By placing fellows with small, high-impact grassroots organizations, Indicorps aims to bring new skills and perspectives to our partners. During their fellowship, Indicorps participants dedicate themselves to understanding the beneficiary communities and developing the strength of local partner organizations that have a long-term stake in the projects.

Indicorps' Philosophy of Change:
"By engaging talented young Indians from around the world to tackle India's most pressing challenges, we can nurture a new brand of socially conscious leaders with the character, knowledge, commitment, and vision to transform India and the world. "

Useful links:
Indicorps founder, Sonal Shah won India Abroad Person of the Year 2003 for her efforts behind Indicorps. Read a copy of press releases here: India Abroad - Sonal Shah. (8.84 mb pdf)

Sonal Shah's Acceptance speech for the above award: India Abroad - Acceptance Speech (4.89 mb pdf).

YouTube - Profiles and Promo Videos

A Teacher's Lessons for Business Leaders

2008-04-16T16:54:00.004+01:00

Ron Clark is known as "America's Educator," but his formula for motivating students applies beyond the classroom by Carmine Gallo

One of the most inspiring leaders I've met in the last several years does not run a Fortune 500 company, did not launch a startup in his garage, and has not led an army. He's a schoolteacher. But his persuasion skills are so effective they should be adopted by anyone who manages anyone.

Ron Clark taught elementary school in North Carolina. After watching a program about a New York City school that had a hard time attracting qualified teachers, he decided to head to New York with the goal of teaching in one of its toughest schools. Clark eventually landed a job doing just that—in Harlem. He asked if he could teach a class of fifth-graders who had been performing at a second-grade level. The school's administrators wanted to give him the gifted class, but Clark insisted on the underperforming students. In one school year, Clark's fifth-grade class outperformed the gifted class. Clark became Disney's teacher of the year, a best-selling author, an Oprah guest, and the subject of a made-for-TV movie, The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry. When I was writing my last book, Fire Them Up! I caught up with Clark to discuss how managers can use his techniques to motivate their teams. Here are some of the things he said:

Raise expectations. Students and employees will improve their game in response to a challenge. When Clark walked in to his Harlem class, he announced what seemed to be an absurd goal: The class would test at grade level by the end of the school year. Once the students learned Clark was serious, they responded and began to act like the successful students he had known they could be. One month later, after Clark had seen the results, he began to express a vision nobody had dared to dream—they would outperform the gifted class by the end of the year. As a leader, your job is to think one step ahead of the rest of your team and then equip it with the tools and confidence to get there.

Explain why before how. "It's not enough to set a goal," Clark told me. "You need to tell your students why it's important to reach that goal. For my students, it meant a better future. I told them why they needed to know a certain subject, how it would be an advantage to them in their lives."

When it comes to inspiring your employees, the "why" is also often more important than the "how." Why should they exceed quarterly sales goals? Why should they improve customer service scores? Show your team how accomplishing these goals will improve their lives as well as the lives of those around them.

Encourage celebration and praise. In Clark's book, The Essential 55—his rules for success in the classroom—rule No. 3 is applicable in almost any business setting: If someone in the class wins a game or does something well, we will congratulate that person. Clark believes that anyone—student or employee—will do a better job when he receives praise. But he went one step further in his class. He encouraged the students to celebrate each other's achievements as if they were a supportive family.

He writes: "If you want a team to be successful, you have to create […] an atmosphere where everyone on the team is proud of each other. If you set a goal and everyone is working toward that goal as an individual and not as a team, it can be intimidating. But if you feel like you have the support of an entire team […] then you can set the goal as high as you want because there is no fear associated with it. Every person on that team will want to contribute to achieving that goal because they are doing it together."

Show genuine interest beyond business. Clark cultivated a sense of curiosity and respect in his Harlem classroom, requiring students to respond to a question with a question (his rule No. 6). "You are far more likable and respectful when you are asking about the thoughts and opinions of others," Clark writes.

Showing a genuine interest is a consistent theme among inspiring communicators. Motivating is about bringing out the best in people, but people will not listen to your message until they know you care. Show you care about them personally and you will bring out their best professionally.

Be positive and enjoy life. Clark's can-do spirit is infectious. His words reflect his optimism, and he refuses to let any of his students speak the language of defeat. Rule No. 50 is simply: Be positive and enjoy life. Clark told me a leader must set the tone, especially with the words he chooses to use. It is up to the leader to set high expectations, to praise people, to believe in them, and to do whatever it takes to help people meet their goals and have fun in the process. Despite the challenges Clark faced as a teacher, he remained optimistic and steadfast in his belief that his rules would unlock the students' potential. His passion and positive energy allowed him to see opportunity where everyone else saw obstacles.

Clark's rules are intended to draw out the best in students. They can also help bring out the best in any team. And by inspiring your colleagues and employees in the workplace, you become the kind of person people want to be around.

Buy his book - "The Essential 55"
Visit Ron's Website for more info: http://www.ronclark.info/
Useful Download: Top 10 tips for adding Creativity to the Classroom

Source: Business Week

Learning Journey 2008

2008-04-14T16:52:00.002+01:00

13 - 21 September 2008.

£350 for Students / £450 for Professionals.

Check out http://www.connectindia.org/ or join facebook group "Learning Journey 2008"

Learning Journey // Ahmedabad (Part 1)

2008-04-12T11:54:00.002+01:00

Connecting with India: My Learning Journey
(This is a report on the 8-day Learning Journey to Ahmedabad and Bhuj to discover a different side of India, of humanity and of myself) 15 - 22 September 2007

Click here for a PDF version: Learning Journey Report (17 Pages).pdf

(Right click and "Save Target As" because file is 3.5mb)

As the plane door swings open, that ever so familiar warm dusty air devours my British-born body. As we alight the classic Air India plane, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport welcomes me and my brother, Amal, to Ahmedabad, the once capital of Gujarat.

We are about to join a group of 9 other participants from the UK who have also been selected for this once in a lifetime opportunity – the “Learning Journey” – aptly named by Connect India, a UK based organisation. A girl dressed in a simple Indian top approaches us, we recognise her instantly from our Orientation from a month ago – it was Pooja Warier (part of Connect India and UnLtd India). She had come to collects us from the airport to take us to Sugadh, where we would be based for the first half of the journey.

Day 1

Environmental Sanitation Institute (Sugadh) – a toilet museum and our home
Awaking after limited sleep due to a combination of heat, jetlag and excitement, we leave our simple and clean rooms at the Environmental Sanitation Institute (Sugadh) (“ESI”) to walk out on to the white marble veranda over-looking a beautiful landscape garden.

We begin the orientation by playing games that make us look quite ridiculous – which had the desired effect of breaking the ice quickly, before we sit in a circle on the marble floor to discuss introductions and objectives.

Jayesh Patel, a dynamic social worker wedded to Gandhian philosophy and one of the founders of Manav Sadhna arrives to speak with us. He provides a warm welcome to the Institute, then explains that 80% of disease is water borne and therefore preventable by clean sanitation. This simple reason was what led his father to set up the Environmental Sanitation Institute, or ESI. Jayesh and his father Ishwerbhai Patel had designed preventative methods through the introduction of low cost sustainable toilets for the poor, combined with personal hygiene training to combat waterborne disease. ‘Jayeshbhai’, as he was more affectionately called, also introduced us to his approach to selfless service by seeing God in nature.

Drishti – an NGO with a vision
After a hearty traditional lunch, we set off in Jeeps to Drishti (meaning ‘vision’), an NGO with a difference. Drishti believes in building capabilities of NGOs and communities by using various forms of media, a process through which they are empowering the underprivileged to communicate their stories in the public domain.

Energetic, bubbly and someone who clearly loves communicating, Nimmi Chauhan introduces us to Drishti. “40% of married women in India have been beaten or slapped” she says, opening our eyes to plight of millions of women. She goes on to explain how Drishti assisted NGOs fighting such problems by setting up a media campaign including short but high impact videos. The result has been to give many women courage to speak up after seeing the footage of other women who have shared their experiences. As we saw this and several other short clips, we all sat their stunned by our first glimpses of the challenges India is facing. “The camera is our weapon”, courageously speaks one of the NGO volunteers on film.

How much does the Indian television media actually connect with the people of her country? How influential has Bollywood been to highlight the issues? Directors such as Mira Nair or Deepa Mehta have begun to make noise in this highly influential industry, but the question remains as to what extent TV is representative of the wider population.

Nimmi said something that echoed Jayeshbhai’s approach, which was that her work was not charity. It was in fact volunteering – and she stressed the importance of being clear why you want to do any kind of voluntary service.

A peaceful evening meal experience followed by world-class entertainment
On returning to Sugadh for our evening meal, we find a candle-lit room full of conference delegates about to eat a meal in silence, in the belief that it inspires personal reflection, contemplation and gratefulness. Several of us were asked if we would like to volunteer in serving food to them, so a few of us promptly wash our hands a get stuck in. Afterwards, the Learning Journey group all ate in a similar fashion (well, most of us tried to!).

After a few technical hitches, evening entertainment begins as we sit anxiously on chairs outside in the soothing dusk air. A group of youngsters from Manav Sadhna put on a world-class performance of drama, dance and music that has literally travelled the World, promoting the fundamental principles of Manav Sadhna – love and peace towards all of mankind. Jayeshbhai then delivers a touching speech, giving an insight into the extremely talented children who had just performed for us. One boy used to be a shoe cleaner, earning 2 rupees a time, working as hard as possible to pay for medicine for his sick father. Another boy also demonstrated similar love and commitment to his father, collecting batteries to empty acid and reselling. The acid would burn his hands because he would be opening batteries without protection (more stories).

Day 2

The fight against caste discrimination being lead by Navsarjan
Navsarjan (which means “new creation”) works with the Dalit community, or ‘untouchable caste’, with its primary objective to strengthen the non-cooperation movement against the caste-based discrimination in Gujarat. Manjula Pradeep, a Director of Navsarjan, explained some of the immediate issues addressed by her organisation such as violence against Dalits, ensuring primary education, eradication of manual scavenging and implementation of land reforms.

As we sat in one of the school classrooms at the Navsarjan Dalit Shakti Kendra, we became guests of a school assembly, brought to life by a colourful dance by selected children. We were given a chance to interact and ask questions – which ended up with the each child standing up and stating which profession they wanted to join (as you might guess, cricketer and doctor where popular choices!). As we walked around outside, something inside me had been ignited, a feeling of anguish as much as love and compassion being around such transparent children. I thought to myself, what had these children done to deserve anything less than normal self-respect? Had it not been for Navsarjan, they would have also been confined to a life of cleaning up excrement, often with bare hands, and marred by social exclusion and degradation. How is this possible in such a sacred land, gracefully known as “Dharma Bhoomi”, (translates to a place of righteousness) where millions upon millions of human beings are treated in such inhuman ways? The Government of India has apparently set up systems, e.g. the reservation system where by each company must employ a specific percentage of Dalits, Tribals, and ‘other backward castes’ (or OBCs) to combat discrimination since it was officially outlawed in 1950. However, Manjula made us aware of the harsh realities and failures of the government action to resolve the miseries affecting the 160 million Dalits in India.

“I’m a Dalit, How are you?” is an emotional YouTube video created by Navsarjan and Drishti to raise awareness. After watching this, especially the interview of the school girl towards the end, you will momentarily experience the suffering of her people. I ask myself the question, in this emotionally charged state - can I just sit here? Or will I do something about it?

Railway Children providing living example of generosity
After lunch, we headed to Ahmedabad Railway Station to visit Railway Children, an international charity which operates at large railway stations across the World. It has been found that runaway or abandoned children were most vulnerable during the first few days or weeks after leaving home and few NGOs were targeting early intervention when the opportunity for family reunification, protection and developmental opportunities are greatest. We visited an example of one of Railway Children projects, carried out by ASAG (Ahmedabad Study Action Group) which seeks to provide much needed contact and support for children who find themselves alone at the Station.

The overwhelming experience of sitting on the floor, immersed by runaway and abandoned children, in the place they call ‘home’ was surprisingly comfortable to me. As we sat on a plastic sheet put on the floor for us, you begin to notice the different shapes and forms, deformities, and worn out clothes covering these somewhat excited and happy children. One of the children starts to give out ‘paper soap’ to our Group, which he would normal sell at 2 rupees each. “Don’t do that, otherwise how will you make any money”, say’s one of his volunteered carers, to which he responds “no worries – they are our guests for once in a lifetime”. I thought of the Hindu saying “atithi devo bhavah” (Guest is God). Wise words which comes from the same nation where this child, who clearly has few material possessions, is prepared to give all he has as gifts to these momentary visitors. At this moment I discovered that even when one has nothing, he can still give love – something that came in abundance in what appeared to be a nominal gift. I thought about how much abundance we have back home and how relatively ungenerous we are.

Love all, Serve all – Manav Sadhna and Gandhi Ashram
In the afternoon, we arrived at Manav Sadhna, the NGO based at Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad (mentioned earlier). ‘Hridayakunj’ is the small cottage on the banks of the Sabarmati River, which became a place of great historic value when Gandhi resided there from 1915 – 1933, bringing with him the Satyagraha movement. We spend some time wondering around the calm, peaceful museum and heritage site – and witnessing where Gandhi once rested, meditated and spun yarn.

Manav Sadhna is located in a school-like building next to the Gandhi Ashram, a proximity which evidently keeps the Gandhian principles upon which Manav Sadhna is modelled very much alive. The organisation is comprised of a young group of dedicated individuals working for the upliftment of poor and needy children. There appears to be an endless influx of foreign volunteers associated with Manav Sadhna and many speak highly of its quality and impact in the local community.

As we walk into the playgrounds, we appear to be sanctified as guests by being offered paper hats and a paper flower to wear around our necks. A drum roll… and before you know it, a Dhol is blasting non-stop beats as an ocean of happy children surrounds us jumping up and down. As someone who is usually first to hit the dance floor at a party, I lead the way and go crazy with the children! The other participants follow when they realise how much fun this was.

As we enter the main building, in traditional Hindu style, a chanlo/tilak is marked on our foreheads and a rakhi (with a doll hanging on it) is tied.

The never-stop-smiling face of Jayeshbhai is momentarily broken as his begins to speak to talk to us about the spirit of Manav Sadhna. “When Head, Heart and Hand are in Harmony, only then shall we experience Peace.” He truly put into practice what he preached demonstrated by the hundreds of joyful children that seem to float around him like a sea of love. “When the ego dies, the soul arises”, he continues, as he speaks of an overflow of compassion when we stop being so self-centred. “Sharing is caring” Jayeshbhai says, in a simple, clear and comical manner and tells us a fables about such principles.

Manav Sadhna is inspired by the Gandhian principles of truth, non-violence, uplifting the poor and oppressed, promoting health and sanitation and to educate the poor masses. After speaking to volunteers and reading the colourful displays on the walls, we realise this is a movement adapting these ideals to the current and complex issues facing not only India, but the world. It became clear how Manav Sadhna wishes to plant the seeds of hope and inspiration among all people, especially those children who have been neglected by society.

"Be like a ladder, not like a leader. If you become a ladder, then everyone develops themselves. And try to love all, serve all” says Jayeshbhai.

Living Service - Global Oneness Project Video about Jayeshbhai and Manav Sadhna.
Jayeshbhai and Anarben: Partners in Services – descriptive blog entry by a visitor to Manav Sadhna.

Day 3

Every Child in School… Pratham, a NGO with courage to think big
At the regional headquaters for Pratham, we meet this charming couple, Harini and Aditya Natraj, who seem to be like the many once city workers and who have now found their ‘true purpose’. As we sit in one of their training rooms, Harini enthusiastically explains how Pratham provides educational opportunities to child labourers, street children and pavement dwellers. The motto of Pratham is ‘Every Child in School and is… Learning Well’. This is the largest NGO we visit; it is massive and now has reach over 21 states with programmes aimed at pre-school education, accelerating reading technique, developing writing skills and basic arithmetic. Harini speaks with empowering vision and explains to us models of sustainability with education. Education must be fun to encourage learning, so Pratham has devised a unique interactive tangible learning approach, and packaged in such a way that it can be made available to distant villages. As a result, in the last 10 years, more than one million children have benefited through Pratham Programmes.

As we drive between Pratham offices and the slum schools (where Pratham is active), I negotiate to ride the motorbike with Pankhaj so that his colleague could take my seat in the jeep – a totally worthwhile trade except for the unanticipated side effect of my hair blow-dried for some time after!

Lunch was in Barista, the air conditioned up-market espresso bar, a welcomed break from the baking heat of the summer sun. I was slightly disappointed to find that the chilli paneer did not taste as good as the stuff back home, but Dharmesh’s birthday cake was delicious… well, what was left available for eating anyway!

SEWA – Self employed women power!
After lunch we visit ‘Shanti Kendra’, a centre run by SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association). Dharmesh, one of the Journey Leaders, encouraged my to engage with the women (in Gujarati) as we sat down in a thin room face to face with women workers. I was blown away by the passion and energy with which Madinabhen spoke to me – her conviction to the cause was clear. She described vividly how she, a Muslim, and her fellow Hindu sisters would unite to overcome tension in the region. As she described her struggles, you could see the life emanating from this leader of her community. One seriously powerful woman. We take a walk outside to see the women making bidi’s and agarbattis.

In the evening, we visit the central offices of SEWA, one of India’s largest trade union organisations for poor, self employed women workers. After we manage ourselves through numerous women and floors, we finally get to a padded floor room. A PowerPoint presentation is delivered which explains SEWAs main goals – principally to organise women workers for full employment and self reliance. We learn that SEWA is both an organisation and a confluence of three movements – the labour movement, the cooperative movement and the women’s movement.

As the sun sets, we head to Agashiye Restaurant for a roof-top terrace banquet with guests from Manav Sadhna and Indicorps.

Day 4

Heritage Walk to discover the old city
We discover the historical city of Ahmedabad with a Heritage Walk. The walk began from the picturesque Swaminarayan Mandir in Kalupur and ended in the glorious architectural legacy of the Jumma Masjid, covering in between the numerous pols, havelis, ornamental facades, workplaces of artisans and number of magnificent Hindu and Jain temples.

Slum tour: Stepping into the lives of slum dwellers – literally
This was perhaps the single most powerful parts of the Learning Journey. We immersed ourselves into a slum tour (Ramapir no Tekro), which took around 3 hours and probably changed the lives and perceptions of everyone who went on it.

After walking for 20 minutes, we eventually reached the actual thick of the slum (which most of us though began 20 minutes ago!). We were surrounded by small shacks and crowded spaces. As we continued to walk, we crossed over one of the sewers pouring into a stream. After carefully crossing the bridge, we came across piles of rubbish – and the rag-picking children, trying to find select pieces they can sell on for money. This was Gujarat’s largest slum and rag-picking was big business, which usually involved lower caste or dalit women and children separating trash into piles of plastic, paper and other materials to sell on to recycling barons (“middlemen”). I roam ahead and see some boys picking trash, next to which hungry cows and dogs are looking for scrapings. The stench of urine from the open toilets is overwhelming in the blistering heat as I gulp, realising that this is how they make their living.

As we progressed, Jayeshbhai, who was guiding us, seemed to know everyone single one of the 150,000 residents of the slum. He introduces us to one of the Manav Sadhna families and we take the opportunity to go inside their home. They have a small TV, a mirror on a shelf and pictures of Bollywood superstars on the walls – iconic of the dreams and transformation they are seeking?

We keep walking through until we come across many a new construction – a building that seems so clean, so strong and standing so proud in the midst of poverty. A place of hope and strength – this is the new Community Centre. An amazing building, built completely out of recycled materials and incorporating all faiths into its architecture. The complex has a large circular space in the middle, several classrooms and computer suites. We discover that this building has been a central focus for many of the slum dwellers, for it provided something solid and robust, a sense of family and unity they could rely on.

I see a dog in the corner, she is a mother and her body is withered showing her bones. Underneath, are two puppies trying to feed – analogous, I thought, to the situation of most mothers in the slum.

I think we all walked away incredibly humbled – with a renewed sense of gratefulness for what we have been blessed with.

Sewa Café – living is giving
Volunteer Anjali Desai explains the vision behind Seva Cafe, a pay-it-forward restaurant in Ahmedabad, where each patron makes a donation toward the next person's meal. Devoted to the principle of "think globally, act locally," Anjali describes how this communal experiment in giving reminds us that every individual act of goodwill resounds in the collective human consciousness. (Watch the YouTube Video, also YouTube Video 2)

We head back to Sugadh to collect our bags and make our way to the bustling Ahmedabad Railway Station – to board the 7 hour sleeper train to Bhuj, in the northern Gujarat district of Kutch. Our friends from Railway Children manage to come and find us as we share another cup of chai, engaging in more testing Gujarati conversations. The stations is nothing like Euston or New Street… it appears even more crowded but with an added layer of dust and character. The station is a mini-ecosystem with its range of stores and food outlets to inhabitant ‘koolies’ (porters) and homeless people. It is here I realised where our parents get the incessant need to over pack – I’ve never seen so much luggage per person at a station!

On the way Bhuj, some lucky participants have the opportunity to sleep in the non-AC carriage – Amal being one of them, recollects it being a ‘good experience’, with the full range of sights, smells, and sounds!

Learning Journey // Bhuj (Part 2)

2008-04-11T00:47:00.003+01:00

(continued from Part 1 - Ahmedabad)

Day 5

We arrive in the morning to Bhuj Station and make our way to Pranav Farm Resort, the health-retreat style accommodation that would become our home for the next few days. There is a swimming pool (which we did not get round to using!) surrounded by beautiful gardens, with our 2-bed round huts sitting in clusters like some kind of smurf village. The accommodation here and in Ahmedabad was clean and relatively simple – it would have felt uncomfortable visiting slums and then coming back to a 5-star hotel! After unpacking, a quick wash and powernap we have breakfast. Fully loaded up, we jump in our cars to visit Abhiyan.

Abhiyan, the umbrella NGO
Abhiyan is an umbrella organisation covering 30 NGOs and 450 Villages. Sandeepbhai and Sushmadidi host us at the Abhiyan office and enlighten us with a very informative and interactive presentation. Abhiyan set out in the late 80’s to create, nurture and enable communities. To build local leadership and confidence, through a sense of belonging and combined ownership.

Sushmadidi explained that the following factors made Abhiyan successful: commitment to locality; Acceptance of vulnerability and ability to ask for help and collective strength of all or “constructive transformation”.

After a ‘big-picture’ insight, we are able to see huge difference in environment compared to urban Ahmedabad. Kutch is a sparse land with different NGOs operating at large distances apart. Kutch has been made famous for earthquakes and we discover that not all efforts have been good.

KMVS – women’s self sustainence and empowerment
We have lunch at KMVS, one of the NGOs Abhiyan supports. KMVS (Kutch Mahila Vikas Sanghathan) is a collective of self-sustaining producer groups of over 6000 rural women. In addition to producing crafts, KMVS works on a range of empowerment/development issues such as savings and credits, legal aid, environment, health, education and local governance.

Due to KMVS’s sustained efforts over the past decade, these women have helped each other, their families and their communities extricate themselves from a vicious downward spiral of commercial exploitation by middlemen and traders.

HunnarShala – reconstructing communities
We take a drive out to the earthquake hit regions to see new sites being developed with housing for people made homeless by earthquakes. HunnarShala, an earthquake-relief NGO has been working out here on reviving old construction techniques and promoting new eco-friendly techniques of construction. Its aim is to reinforce the dwellings in durable matter for the poor populations, to encourage the integration of craftsmen in the processes of current constructions and to promote economic and ecological local materials.

It was saddening to find how long many had waited, but also pleasing to see how house proud they were now. An idea I picked up whilst backpacking previously to India is to take balloons where ever you go. They make great toys being so simple and easy to carry around. I inflate a couple and play with the local children – it’s great to see how within in a matter of seconds all hesitations and language/cultural barriers disappear and we are having fun like fellow villagers!

I recollect what Sushmadidi said about what makes Abhiyan successful and saw it in practice out in the field.

A Thread of Life - Shrujan
To provide contrast we then visit a more established NGO called Shrujan Trust, whose main objective is to provide design, marketing and training support to the traditional handicrafts sector of Kutch to make the artisans economically self-reliant. The organisation works as a kind of cooperative; It was quite interesting to see how the men created simple patterns with ink on sheets of cloth, packaged with bundles of expensive colourful thread and then sent these out to the women in villages. Shortly after the women would send back the finished products so that they can be taken to market. We see examples of the beautifully intricate ‘craft-womenship’ that are available for sale in the refreshingly cool air-conditioned shop.

Shrujan was started with artisans of one village in Kutch in 1969. Today, it offers help to over 3,000 women and 200 men in 120 villages of the Kutch district. We meet one of the founders of Shrujan, whose wife was recently chosen as a Laureate of the Rolex Awards for her plan to ensure the survival of an exquisite art form in a way that creates a sustainable source of income for the women of Kutch.

“Thread of Life” – Shrujan – is the beautifully carved motto on the stone outside the entrance. The website is particularly good example of the work – http://www.shrujan.org/.

Day 6

VRTI – institute devoted to developing innovative agriculture techniques
We begin the day by visiting VRTI (Vivekananda Research and Training Institute), formed in 1975 to make village economies self-reliant and sustainable. We take a walk around and discover how VRTI works on a range of issues from watershed management, agriculture, animal husbandry and eco-restoration. It was especially interesting to see the experiments they were conducting on alternative farming and bio-gas (plenty of cows around to support this work!).

KMVS Mundra – central office and distant shores
We first visit KMVS offices and have a discussion in the hall with select members of this organisation. A combination of midwives and other workers join us later. We discover how these women have been working since 1989, primarily as a collective of rural women focusing on development and empowerment issues around, handicrafts, savings and credits, legal aid, health, environment and citizens’ rights. They also run a radio programme – a powerful tool for women to relate to other women speaking free of men!

Having lunch was insightful – sitting on the floor with these local women interspersed between us. My conversational confidence had increased and I no longer hesitated. After a delightful insight, we travel out to a fishing community.

Even with the windows wound up full, air conditioning on max, the first thing to hit us was the stench. Stinking drying fish combined with salty sea air was putrid. As our cars drove up to the make-shift homes of these families, we begin to see a vast landscape, miles upon miles of sand and in the distance we see Mundra Port, famous for its ship building and being a central point of trade. Mundra is in fact one of the national “Special Economic Zones”, and currently receiving significant investment from the wealthy Adani Group. Walking around I didn’t feel anything special about what I was experiencing. As we walk around we see fences made of drying fish (e.g. Bombay duck) and the huts in which the families resided. As I walk in front of one of the huts the children come out, interacting with us. I notice their mother cooking food, with flies all over everything. Speaking to the fishermen, they tell us that every few days they have to pay for a tanker to come and deliver fresh water since the sea water is to salty for any kind of use. Combined with difficult prices received for fish, they are struggling to survive. As some of the girls retreat to the cars, we all decide its time to leave for breathable air!

Although it was uncomfortable to be in such a strong smelling environment, it was a powerful way to experience their lifestyle. People treat these fishermen as untouchables also, because when they come into the villages they bring the smell, the same one that was causing us to retreat.

We spend the remainder of the day in discussion. What are the challenges being created by economic advancement? What is the integrity of multinationals and is there any value to their promises to consider locals? We saw first hand the impact of the port development to the detriment of the Mundra fishing community. Is this the price we need to pay? Can anything be done?

Discussions and role plays
Full of energy for discussion, arguments and thoughts we begin the evening activity of a role play/group discussion. We are put in three groups – local village NGO, fishermen community, and the Company (i.e. Mundra Port Corporation / Adani Group). The position to argue: Adani Group wants expansion of the Port and we are to argue for/against this in front of a panel of Government Officials. Some interesting, and somewhat entertaining and even heated debate followed, before the judges went away to decide a verdict.

Day 7

Building bridges that connect national resource to local needs – Setu
Setu, meaning "bridge," is a NGO formed in the aftermath of the 2002 Kutch earthquake, to coordinate relief efforts and distribute resources based on localised need. Under the guidance of Abhiyan, Setu developed a vast local network that bridged the information gap between affected villages, the government, and NGOs. Setu’s current role, similar to its role during the relief efforts, is to collect accurate information to guide and implement development procedures. Setu bridged information in both directions: (1) Setu collected information at the village level and centralised it for use at organizational levels; (2) Setu took information from central bodies and distributed it through its village hubs to inform locals about government schemes and other rehabilitation efforts. In this way, Setu has played a pivotal role in numerous interventions involving village resources, health, education and livelihood.

We visit one location, Dhamadka, where Setu operated, and got a fantastic opportunity to visit a vibrant small village. After a short walk, we sit down on the floor in what seems to be the town centre (a big open space with a Mandir at the front!). A group of men join us – they look like they have just walked out of a bollywood movie as gangsters, but behind the oil slicked hair and hasslehof-shirts, we discover that these are the men with power in the village. They are the elected chiefs and local government or “panchayat” members. To our surprise, we find one of the women sitting there to also be a member!

We speak about the challenges faced in the village – such as electricity, school buildings and water supply. They explain how with the help of Setu, the local government has begun to consider their requirements. We get to see some of the evidence of progress made so far and walk around further, experiencing more great village life!

Train ride home and live entertainment Antaksharee
The train ride home was one of the most enjoyable social aspects of the trip! We spend endless hours playing Antaksharee, to the amusement (and probably eventual annoyance) of fellow travellers. It gets so late that the carriage lights go out for everyone to sleep, so we decide to stop playing and just chat. Due to the size of our group, we are spread over several carriages, so I manage to hop between a few to enjoy a variety of social gossip!

Day 8

Concluding thoughts and constructive action to take away… from Indicorps Anand Shah
“What does it take/will it take for change?” – wrote Anand Shah, one of the founders of Indicorps, on to a small chalk board as we all sat round in a circle on the veranda at ESI.
Anand, also a Harvard Graduate, sat quite simply on the floor in his kurta speaking with conviction of purpose. He spoke about how to challenge our thinking and to step out of our comfort zones.

He mentions Thomas Friedman’s “Golden Straight Jacket” as a way to describe the future and globalisation. Globalisation is inevitable, but there are two inherent struggles here – a drive for prosperity and development versus the desire to retain identity and traditions.

Anand continues to describe the shortage of people with the kind of thinking necessary to drive the right kind of change for India. From our visits to a variety of NGOs we saw the variation in leadership abilities. This is what Indicorps does I guess – brings the outside of the box thinking into the NGOs that would benefit from it most. Enabling projects to get much needed leadership, enthusiasm and skills as well as enabling eager Indicorps Fellows to get an amazing growing experience.

We come to some sort of conclusion to his initial question – What does it take for change? … People It takes people – a paradigm shift in peoples thinking – that will cause change. It was quite an open question with an open answer. Not specific to India, UK, your home or your community or even the World. “One should try and the leave the world better off by your existence”, said Anand. I share my opinion that I felt it was also leadership; genuine and integral, that was necessary to drive forward responsible change.

Another memorably quote to that came to mind from previous reflection session was:

“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” - Lila Watson

To lead or even simply serve in India, one must consider his intentions carefully.

In Summary
There are two India’s. The developing India and the developed India. One resides in the cities and the other in the villages and slums. The pace of progress in the cities makes every Indian proud. However, it hurts to think that the shine from this golden India is blinding the world so that they cannot see the poor India, which unfortunately makes up large numbers.

I have discovered a glimpse, a day-in-the-life type experience of a person in poverty facing the type of challenges they do. I have experienced the joy, simplicity and innocence of slum children. To realise that money, wealth, clothes, lifestyle… ultimately are meaningless. When you look into the eyes of a child in poverty, you only get truthful expression – and when they show you love and joy, it is a pure sincere experience. Similarly, when they express sadness and distress, you feel it. You really feel it.

A vision, a dream and mission – call it what you want, but we met many individuals, leaders of NGOs, who so evidently lived up one in mind. They taught me what it means to live a life that makes a difference to the world, regardless of the size or scale of the problem. That anything is possible if you believe it so, especially with the overwhelming power of love and compassion.

I’m inspired. I’m ready to roll my sleeves up, get my hands dirty and purify my heart.

PRAMAL

Acknowledgments
I would like to thank first and foremost Connect India: Meenal Sachdev, Dharmesh Mistry, Pooja Warier, and Meera Manek. Without their vision and dedication, this experience would not have been possible.

In addition, I am grateful to the following people: Jayeshbhai Patel and everyone at Manav Sadhna/ESI who welcomed us into their home and lives, redefining our understanding of love and service. To all those who have fed us along the way and provided us a comfortable bed to give us much needed rejuvenation, and of course, the people of India – you may not realise, but you gave us much more than we were ever able to give you. From the bottom of my much more evolved heart, I thank you.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

2008-04-10T21:13:00.005+01:00

This is a summary of the 7 habits of highly effective people and can be found on his website (www.stephencovey.com). I purchased the audio CD and it was very useful and easy to follow. Check out Stephen's website for a community you can log into and access a whole range of (free) resources and e-learning tools!

Habit 1: Be Proactive
Your life doesn't just "happen." Whether you know it or not, it is carefully designed by you. The choices, after all, are yours. You choose happiness. You choose sadness. You choose decisiveness. You choose ambivalence. You choose success. You choose failure. You choose courage. You choose fear. Just remember that every moment, every situation, provides a new choice. And in doing so, it gives you a perfect opportunity to do things differently to produce more positive results.

Habit 1: Be Proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. You can't keep blaming everything on your parents or grandparents. Proactive people recognize that they are "response-able." They don't blame genetics, circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behaviour. They know they choose their behaviour. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behaviour. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn't, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather. All of these external forces act as stimuli that we respond to. Between the stimulus and the response is your greatest power--you have the freedom to choose your response. One of the most important things you choose is what you say. Your language is a good indicator of how you see yourself. A proactive person uses proactive language--I can, I will, I prefer, etc. A reactive person uses reactive language--I can't, I have to, if only. Reactive people believe they are not responsible for what they say and do--they have no choice.

Instead of reacting to or worrying about conditions over which they have little or no control, proactive people focus their time and energy on things they can control. The problems, challenges, and opportunities we face fall into two areas--Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence.

Proactive people focus their efforts on their Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about: health, children, and problems at work. Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern--things over which they have little or no control: the national debt, terrorism, the weather. Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expend our energies in is a giant step in becoming proactive.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
So, what do you want to be when you grow up? That question may appear a little trite, but think about it for a moment. Are you--right now--who you want to be, what you dreamed you'd be, doing what you always wanted to do? Be honest. Sometimes people find themselves achieving victories that are empty--successes that have come at the expense of things that were far more valuable to them. If you ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step you take gets you to the wrong place faster.

Habit 2 is based on imagination--the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfil it. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.

One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life if to develop a Personal Mission Statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life. You create your own destiny and secure the future you envision.

Habit 3: Put First Things First
So live a more balanced existence, you have to recognize that not doing everything that comes along is okay. There's no need to overextend yourself. All it takes is realizing that it's all right to say no when necessary and then focus on your highest priorities.

Habit 1 says, "You're in charge. You're the creator." Being proactive is about choice. Habit 2 is the first, or mental, creation. Beginning with the End in Mind is about vision. Habit 3 is the second creation, the physical creation. This habit is where Habits 1 and 2 come together. It happens day in and day out, moment-by-moment. It deals with many of the questions addressed in the field of time management. But that's not all it's about. Habit 3 is about life management as well--your purpose, values, roles, and priorities. What are "first things?" First things are those things you, personally, find of most worth. If you put first things first, you are organizing and managing time and events according to the personal priorities you established in Habit 2.

Two Keys to Making Deposits

Deposits need to be frequent and consistent. The closer the relationship, the more frequent and consistent the deposits need to be.
Deposits do not occur until the recipient considers it a deposit. You simply don't know what constitutes a deposit until you understand the other person. If your motives for making a deposit are not sincere, others will feel manipulated.

Remember that when it comes to relationships, little things are big things.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Think Win-Win isn't about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration. Most of us learn to base our self-worth on comparisons and competition. We think about succeeding in terms of someone else failing--that is, if I win, you lose; or if you win, I lose. Life becomes a zero-sum game. There is only so much pie to go around, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me; it's not fair, and I'm going to make sure you don't get anymore. We all play the game, but how much fun is it really? Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie, and it tastes pretty darn good! A person or organization that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:

Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments
Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others
Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone

Many people think in terms of either/or: either you're nice or you're tough. Win-win requires that you be both. It is a balancing act between courage and consideration. To go for win-win, you not only have to be empathic, but you also have to be confident. You not only have to be considerate and sensitive, you also have to be brave. To do that--to achieve that balance between courage and consideration--is the essence of real maturity and is fundamental to win-win.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Communication is the most important skill in life. You spend years learning how to read and write, and years learning how to speak. But what about listening? What training have you had that enables you to listen so you really, deeply understand another human being? Probably none, right? If you're like most people, you probably seek first to be understood; you want to get your point across. And in doing so, you may ignore the other person completely, pretend that you're listening, selectively hear only certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. So why does this happen? Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. You listen to yourself as you prepare in your mind what you are going to say, the questions you are going to ask, etc. You filter everything you hear through your life experiences, your frame of reference. You check what you hear against your autobiography and see how it measures up. And consequently, you decide prematurely what the other person means before he/she finishes communicating. Do any of the following sound familiar? "Oh, I know just how you feel. I felt the same way." "I had that same thing happen to me." "Let me tell you what I did in a similar situation." Because you so often listen autobiographically, you ten to respond in one of four ways:

Evaluating:- You judge and then either agree or disagree.
Probing:- You ask questions from your own frame of reference.
Advising:- You give counsel, advice, and solutions to problems.
Interpreting:- You analyze others' motives and behaviours based on your own experiences.

You might be saying, "Hey, now wait a minute. I'm just trying to relate to the person by drawing on my own experiences. Is that so bad?" In some situations, autobiographical responses may be appropriate, such as when another person specifically asks for help from your point of view or when there is already a very high level of trust in the relationship.

Habit 6: Synergize
So put it simply, synergy means "two heads are better than one." Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. It is teamwork, open-mindedness, and the adventure of finding new solutions to old problems. But it doesn't just happen on its own. It's a process, and through that process, people bring all their personal experience and expertise to the table. Together, they can produce far better results that they could individually. Synergy lets us discover jointly things we are much less likely to discover by ourselves. It is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. One plus one equals three, or six, or sixty--you name it. When people begin to interact together genuinely, and they're open to each other's influence, they begin to gain new insight. The capability of inventing new approaches is increased exponentially because of differences. Valuing differences is what really drives synergy. Do you truly value the mental, emotional, and psychological differences among people? Or do you wish everyone would just agree with you so you could all get along? Many people mistake uniformity for unity; sameness for oneness. One word--boring! Differences should be seen as strengths, not weaknesses. They add zest to life.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have--you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Here are some examples of activities:

Physical:- Beneficial eating, exercising, and resting
Social/Emotional:- Making social and meaningful connections with others
Mental:- Learning, reading, writing, and teaching
Spiritual:- Spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self through mediation, music, art, prayer, or service

As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish. Not a pretty picture, is it? Feeling good doesn't just happen. Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you. You can renew yourself through relaxation. Or you can totally burn yourself out by overdoing everything. You can pamper yourself mentally and spiritually. Or you can go through life oblivious to your well-being. You can experience vibrant energy. Or you can procrastinate and miss out on the benefits of good health and exercise. You can revitalize yourself and face a new day in peace and harmony. Or you can wake up in the morning full of apathy because your get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone. Just remember that every day provides a new opportunity for renewal--a new opportunity to recharge yourself instead of hitting the wall. All it takes is the desire, knowledge, and skill.

Source: http://www.stephencovey.com/

Downloads:

7 Habits Posters - this is EXCELLENT!
7 Habits Profile - Self Scoring Guide
Franklin Covey Library & Resources Page

Example of material available on website:

Free University Courses

2008-04-09T20:54:00.000+01:00

No tuition money? No problem! There are many top universities that offer free courses online. That’s right, more and more universities are following the open movement and are offering some of their courses for free. And the contenders are not your third class institution, they are international universities of an Ivey league calibre.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Access the free MIT courses

There are More than 1,800 free courses are offered through the school’s OpenCourseWare project. Courses are in text, audio and video formats and can be translated into a number of different languages.

2. Open University
Access the free Open University course

The Open University is the UK’s largest academic institution. The school’s OpenLearn website gives everyone free access to both undergraduate and graduate-level course materials from The Open University. Courses cover a wide range of topics, such as the arts, history, business, education, IT and computing, mathematics and statistics, science, health and technology.

3. Carnegie Mellon University
Access the free Carnegie Mellon courses

Carnegie Mellon University offers a number of free online courses and materials through a program called Open Learning Initiative. OLI courses are intended to allow anyone at an introductory college level to learn about a particular subject without formal instruction.

4. Stanford University
Access the free Standford courses on itunes

Stanford University, one of the world’s leading academic institutions, has joined forces with iTunes by providing access to Stanford courses, lectures and interviews. These courses can be downloaded and played on iPods, PCs, and Macs and can also be burned to CDs.

5. University of California, Berkeley
Access the free UCLA courses here

UC Berkley has been offering live and on-demand webcasts of certain courses since 2001. Hundreds of current and archived UC Berkley courses are now available as podcasts and webcasts. Courses cover a wide range of subjects, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer programming, engineering, psychology, legal studies and philosophy.

6. University of Southern Queensland
Access the free USQ courses

The University of Southern Queensland in Australia provides free online access to a number of different courses through another OpenCourseWare initiative. Each of the five faculties are available and cover a broad range of topics, including communication, science, career planning, technology, teaching and multimedia creation.

Source: http://www.vincentcassar.com

Peaceful Warrior (Movie)

2008-04-08T15:31:00.009+01:00

"It's not the destination that brings happiness, but the journey."

Peaceful Warrior (2006) is a film about a gymnast who is in need of mental training to achieve his life ambitions. An accident causes him to shatter his leg and through the help of Socrates, this random friend he meets, he is able to compete once again in the championships. The movie is jam packed with words of wisdoms and great inspiring quotes.

What makes this powerful is that fact that it is based on the true lifestory of the man behind the film, Dan Millman.

Watch the trailer below or go to http://www.thepeacefulwarriormovie.com/.

Some useful quotes from the movie:

1. Life has three aspects: Paradox, Humour, and Change.
2. Paradox: Life is a mystery; don't bother figuring it out.
3. Humor: No matter what circumstances, do not lose your sense of humor.
4. Change: Do not be so sure in life; anything can change.
5. There is never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments.
6. This moment: The past and the future do not matter; all that matters is now, this moment.
7. It's not the destination that brings happiness, but the journey.
8. The ones hardest to love are the ones who need it the most.
9. Take out the trash from what's inside your head.
10. Empty your mind.
11. Anger, hatred, and violence are only products of fear.
12. People are afraid of what's inside of them; when you are alone lying on your bed, do you feel empty?
13. If you lend someone $20 and they don't come back, it is probably worth it.
14. When making a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich, you must first apply the peanut butter.
15. Every action has its price and its pleasure.
16. Everything has a purpose, even this, and it's up to you to find it.
17. A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does.
18. I call myself a Peaceful Warrior... because the battles we fight are on the inside.
19. A warrior is not about perfection or victory or invulnerability. He's about absolute vulnerability.
20. There is no starting or stopping - only doing.
21. There's no greater purpose than service to others.
22. Everyone wants to tell you what to do and what's good for you. They don't want you to find your own answers, they want you to believe theirs.
23. I want you to stop gathering information from the outside and start gathering it from the inside.
24. People are not their thoughts, they think they are, and it brings them all kinds of sadness.
25. Death isn't sad. The sad thing is: most people don't live at all.
25. What the time? The time is now

Untouchables / Dalits / Broken people of India

2008-04-06T20:06:00.002+01:00

"I'm a Dalit, How are you?"

Below is a powerful short video documentary highlighting the plight of the 160 million dalits or 'untouchables'. It is made by Navsarjan, a strong force in the fight to remove caste discrimination in India.

Backpacking in India 2006-07

2008-04-05T16:05:00.004+01:00

Incredible India : 5 weeks backpacking North India

24 Dec 2006 to 27 Jan 2007

I will shortly share my experience travelling Rajasthan and other areas of North India.. with useful links, photos, and travel info if you're going there.

Watch this space!

Charity Focus / Smile Cards / Nipun Mehta

2008-04-05T01:41:00.005+01:00

Charity Focus - and its Founder Nipun Mehta - are some inspirational stories you should hear if you want to learn about serving others and development work.

NHSF article that I found by Nipun Mehta and well worth a read - guaranteed:
"Find your Passion and turn it into Positive Action".

Really inspired by this dude.

YouTube Videos worth watching (in order):

Smile Cards - describes a project encouraging random acts of kindness that demonstrates the power of small things to transform society.
The Seed of Revolution - describes one example of kindness that illustrates how small acts coming from one's goodness of spirit are what make up a revolution.
The shift from "Me" to "We" - comments on how modern culture makes people think they need to acquire things in order to feel complete and recalls the ancient idea that in giving you are fulfilled.
Strand in the Collective Quilt - explains how, when you see yourself connected to all life, you can't help but express your joy.
Sweeping the Streets - gives an example of an act of kindness that illustrates how generosity connects us to other people.
The Values of Charity Focus - talks about the values behind his organization, like selfless volunteering and focusing on small things, which allowed his team to discover the power of many.

Link: Karma Tube - Inspiration video version of youtube!

Meditation

2008-04-05T01:07:00.007+01:00

Meditation - Alternative Therapies - Kathy Sykes

Kathy, physicist with a PhD, explores a mriyad of sources to understand if there is any conclusive scientific evidence behind meditation. From Kathmandu to Maharishi Mahesh "Vedic Village" in the USA, she discovers meditation from different angles and comes to the conclusion, which us Hindu's were aware of a long time ago (we did invent it of course!) - meditation is incredibly powerful at healing a vast array of ailments as well as having positive impact on normal individuals. (Read more here)

I was particularly interested by the effect of Meditation to reduce blood pressure and stress levels, producing happy hormones that impacted health. Depression and heart disease are two areas I have experienced in my family and apparently, Meditation can remove/reduce both.

Well - I got the ball rolling by taking my parents to Yoga (at Niran Kari Bhavan, West Bromwich - Dr Praveen Kuman is the Yoga Teacher) and when I go along after a tiresome day at work, I certainly feel much more energised afterwards.

Me thinks I need to put my money where my mouth is and try out meditation seriously... perhaps force myself to sit in peace for 30 mins daily (esp now as I'm off work for a bit)... lets see what happens!

More info on BBC Alternative Therapies - and to get Free Guide click HERE

Further Pschological evidence on this including "mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy (MBCBT)" is found here.

Link: 20 practical tips for quieting the mind

Pain can be a good thing...

2008-04-05T00:45:00.002+01:00

Perhaps this may just be the optimist in me, but as I lay here resting my operated broken foot, I have come to empathise what others have to go through when enduring similar kinds of anguish. In fact, its not bad now, but the real 'learning experience' was in hospital.

I was in a nice private ward with a flat screen TV and good food. Got quite bored actually by the fact that there's no-one to speak to either side of you (as you usually get in NHS hospitals!). So it got me thinking... just lying here, your back starts to ache and you get fidgety. After watching another lame film you try to read, but the affects of anesthetic are still floating around your blood so you just don't have stamina to read very much before feeling sleepy.

My auntie (foiba) has been in hospital many times for arthritis and my father recently had by-pass heart surgery. When we go an visit, you imagine it must be tough but also quite relaxing resting in bed as they do. However, its only when your stuck there yourself you realise how frustrating and uncomfortable it is... going for a pee 'in the toilet', changing your clothes, having a shower - to mention a few luxuries you start to miss!

I feel like I can relate more to a patients suffering.

Another thing that was actually quite fun is the nurses... they provide entertainment when to relieve the boredom. I ended up leaving with a bit of a (positive) reputation!

Welcome to the my blog

2008-04-03T19:13:00.000+01:00

Having seen so many useful blogs out there, I figured its about time I set one up to use it as a place to share my thoughts, opinions and websites. I'm going through some sort of journey of discovery so I hope this becomes a place for personal reflection also.

Hope something useful actually comes out of this... enjoy!

Pramal

Indian Cover Pop-videos

2008-04-01T23:46:00.001+01:00

MUST SEE - these are HILARIOUS!!

Michael Jacksons Thriller

Aqua - Barbie girl - Gujarati!!

Shakira - Gujarati version!

Crank That Curry Sauce