Changing India – Step II

Dear All: As many of you are aware, one of the things I am working hard to make happen next year is “The Hope Summit*

Several of you have asked how you could help and what do I expect in terms of assistance and support. Some of you have also suggested possible agenda-items, participants, venues etc…

This is still work in progress but I expect to devote some significant time and energy to it in the coming weeks. There are at least three action items for the next few days.

1] I would like to set up some option(s) for readers and others to contribute/donate directly throught this website (using Amazon/Paypal)

2] It would be nice to have a wiki-like site on which an agenda can be developed in an interactive way. I am not very familiar with the latest software apps to accomplish this so if any of you have some ideas/experience with this, please leave a comment here or email me at jaidharma AT gmail.com

3] There is a need to have some fairly regular real-time interaction between various people who have said they would like to help me. I am considering Google/Yahoo chat and/or GoogleTalk/Skype (in addition to a real-time mobile bridge for readers currently in India). Additional suggestions/ ideas welcome.

I would like to schedule the first of this call/teleconference on 2nd December (Tues) between 530pm – 7pm IST. Pl. leave a comment here if you would like to join in. I would highly value everyone’s participation.

You will also notice some major design changes on the site in the next few days…Again, feedback on that will be very welcome.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!

* This is a working title and is likely to be modified/changed.

Related Posts:

A Response to Suriya’s “Open Letter to Shantanu”

Changing India – Step I

Changing India – One Step at a Time

Also Read: Changing India – Step III

B Shantanu

Political Activist, Blogger, Advisor to start-ups, Seed investor. One time VC and ex-Diplomat. Failed mushroom farmer; ex Radio Jockey. Currently involved in Reclaiming India - One Step at a Time.

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11 Responses

  1. vijay says:

    Would like to participate in the call.

  2. B Shantanu says:

    Vijay: Sure. You are very welcome. My skype id for all of you who would like to be on the call is “B.Shantanu”

  3. v.c.krishnan says:

    Dear Shantanu,
    I think I would like take the opportunity.
    Regards,
    vck

  4. Rohan Bhanot says:

    Regarding the wiki software, you can check this link:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wiki_software

  5. Pragya says:

    Shantanu,

    There is no link to the paypal/amazon website. Please add as appropriate. Also, as far as I know these donot work for Indian currency.

    Thanks,

    Pragya

  6. Pragya says:

    Oops…I apologize for this. I thought you were referring to the link already. Later realized that you plan to set that up.

  7. vinu says:

    nice set of posts … will read more a revert with a post on my blog!

  8. Dipinder says:

    http://twiki.org/ – for creating our private wikis !
    It also readily installs on LANs and we have been using it in KritiKal for knowledge management for more than 3 years now !!

  9. B Shantanu says:

    Excerpts from New agencies of political change by Swapan Dasgupta:

    Over the past fortnight, I have observed an unlikely scene in the bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi that is home to the BJP “war room” for the General Election. Each evening, a group of young men and women sit together on the lawns discussing the details of their intervention in the ongoing festival of democracy.

    Dressed in business suits and smart casuals, they are unlike most of the “youth leaders” you encounter in the offices of political parties. Most of them are young professionals working in the private sector. Most aren’t even members of the BJP and neither do they have any record of involvement in student politics. Some have taken leave from their jobs and others have put aside a few hours in the evening for the campaign.

    I met the winner of a leadership talent search organised by a leading media house. He is planning to join the party. One of the runners-up has joined the party in Gujarat. I also observed a meeting of a group of professionals who have come together under the banner of the Friends of the BJP, and have organised very impressive hall meetings in Mumbai.

    Many party old-timers have sniggered at these youngsters. “How many votes will they bring in?” is a question often asked. The answer is simple: Very few.

    The class these people come from complains the most but votes the least. They are often referred to as the Non-voting Classes. …

    The belief that it is a waste of time to pander to a small group of people who don’t as yet have the ability to garner bloc votes for a party may be based on expediency. I also think, it is a very short-sighted view.

    For a party a General Election fulfills many functions….A General Election is occasion for political parties to seek out and nurture talent.

    In the past, student activism on campuses was the breeding ground for politicians. Those who are at the helm of affairs in the BJP today were thrown up by the JP movement and the struggle against the Emergency. The rung below came to prominence through involvement in the Ayodhya movement. Today, student activism is either dead or mired in disreputable controversy. Being more career-minded than preceding generations, today’s youth are disinclined to waste their time in student politics. They want to get ahead in life. This does not mean they have shut their minds to politics. People are willing to get involved if they are inspired, believe they can make a contribution and if political parties can provide them a wholesome environment.

    To build on the future, political parties must undergo a mindset change.

    The future of these bright young people who are dipping their toes in the muddy waters of politics really depends on the extent to which the system as a whole can distinguish between the levels of politics.

    For starters, however, political parties can do their utmost of making them an agency of desired change. But this can’t happen unless there is a systematic process of moral cleansing — ridding parties of fixers, racketeers and dunderheads.

    Politicians must set an example. They have to be aware and sensitive. But, above all, they must have a fierce sense of right and wrong. Only then do they graduate to becoming leaders. And only then will politics become appetising.

  10. Scatterbrain says:

    I live in Jersey city, New Jersey and would like to do my 2 cents worth in encouraging the professionals entry into mainstream politics by helping out. For people situated overseas, a start can be made by helping in advertizing and fund raising. Anybody in the tristate area interested in brainstorming or meeting up for any such activities, please get in touch with me and we can get someting going.

    *** COMMENT by MODERATOR ***

    I think you missed providing your contact details for people to connect with you.

  11. Scatterbrain says:

    I can be contacted at rohangs@gmail.com in case anybody is interested in meeting up in Jersey city.

    Thanks,
    Rohan