Quick Notes from Indore – Part II

Continued from Quick notes from Indore

8th July: Have been sleeping an average of 5.5 hrs a day for the last 8 days. Am completely exhausted and drained…but feeling very positive and hopeful – more than ever before that change can happen

7th July: The last few days feel like an incessant series of phone calls/ meetings/ discussions; I have found myself talking for 14-16 hours every day; Throat finally succumbed on 7th July afternoon; LK pitched in for part of the interactive session at Vivekananda Institute.

Later in the evening, finally gave in to the temptation of “Chaat” at Vijay Chaat House (Sarafa, Indore); Topped it with “Fresh fruit juice” served in a glass infected with a million microbes…Stomach gave up by 7th July evening.

Highlights of the visit:

  • Interaction with 50-odd vilagers in Simrole (a rural area on the outskirts of Indore)
  • Presentation to students at IIM-Indore
  • An extempore speech in Hindi at Abhyas Mandal, Indore (my Hindi is at its best in the last several years)
  • Presentation to employees of Impetus
  • Interaction with a small group of very active and extremely well-read politically conscious citizens (Lok Maitri Samooh)
  • A private dinner with a select group of 20 very successful professionals, businessmen and businesswomen in Indore
  • A presentation to Indore Management Association

Other notable meetings:

  • A combined meeting with Young Jains of Indore, Jain Engineers Society & JITO – very interactive
  • Discussion with students of Daly College and 3 other schools
  • Discussion at Kothari Institute with some bright and energetic students from Indore and nearby towns

Total time spent online in the last 7 days: 3 hours.

Surprise of the week: The sarpanch of Simrole Panchayat concluding his speech with my tag line: Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!

Best Vote of Thanks: Dushyant Kumar’s unforgettable line:

कौन कहता है आसमान में सुराख़ नहीं हो सकता, एक पत्थर तो तबियत से उछालो यारों

Kaun kehta hai Aasman mein surakh nahin ho sakta, Ek paththar to Tabiyat se uchchalo Yaaron …

Rough translation: Who says you can’t make a hole in the sky, how about hurling a stone at it with conviction?

Saddest Sight of the last 8 days: A young girl of 8 or 9 yrs of age, selling balloons at a traffic crossing in Delhi; Time: Midnight.

Most Inspiring Meeting of the last 8 days: A brief meeting with a young physically handicapped school teacher who commutes 40kms on his mobike each day to teach children at the government school in Simrole village (He does not have to. The government in MP offers physically handicapped teachers a choice of schools in any city/town they wish). There is hope.

Related Posts:

Quick notes from Indore

Changing India – Step III

Some news coverage here.

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. B Shantanu says:

    I forgot to add:

    Biggest casualty of the visit: Email backlog (at least 50+ that must be replied to)

  2. Nishka says:

    Awesome.
    Are the folks in India being unbrainwashed by media etc or are we getting worse?

  3. S Maharaj says:

    Your account of th egroups you have talked and interacted with fills the readers of your Blog with hope and happiness.

    Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!

  4. tarique says:

    nishka ,i want to thank u from the bottom of my heart for ur commentary on the role of diamond firms in worldwide terrorist acts . we need more people like u in india to save this country from going to the dogs . i hope u will highlight the role of DTC (diamond trading company ) and its executive miss varda shine in the recent mumbai attacks to enlighten our readers .

  5. Nishka says:

    @Tarique,
    Thanks man. Unfortunately, what I know is only from reading and it is general knowledge amongst many folks who are concerned about India.
    Debeers is corrupt as hell and involved with India which would give any normal person cause for worry given Debeer’s history in Africa – they have wrecked most of the continent.
    The attached link pretty much sums up the impact of MNCs (new neo colonial models) in India.
    http://www.portraitofindia.com/liberal1.htm
    (Indias liberalization – boon or curse)

  6. tarique says:

    nishka , add the n.m rothschild owned rio tinto mining to de beers DTC combine and u will fill find no place on earth with expensive natural resources is safe in this world . nearly 1400 policemen and paramilitary forces have lost their lives fighting rio tinto sponsored naxals and it has gone mostly unreported .

  7. Nishka says:

    Tarique,
    You know a lot.. Maybe a website will help

  8. Anupam says:

    This is a great effort Shantanu.
    I have one complaint, jut vijay chhat house, what about Sarafa at night and Nagori shikanji. Ajay didn’t take you there.

  9. B Shantanu says:

    Key Learnings from the outreach initiative:

    • There is a very strong under-current of dissatisfaction in urban India and amongst youth; The youth are sceptical and will not be swayed unless they to see a serious and credible effort, with high calibre leadership at the helm
    • Our strategic road-map is too high-level and will need to be filled in with a lot more detail (e.g. how and when do we expect to get from 70 to 1500)
    • Our policies need to be displayed more prominently on the website – even if they are work in progress
    • We will need to have a very clear and credible strategy regarding fund-raising so that potential supporters can believe that they are backing a credible and “likely-to-win” team (this perception is very important, as I am sure all of you realise)
    • “Feet on the ground” will be/are critical as we build our organisation. How are we hoping to get supporters (not just leaders)? Why would they join FTI? Adharshila will help, I feel but it has been slow so far. Should we be devoting more time to it, I wonder?
    • Slides generally do not work well (in most cases). They are not very useful if one needs to rouse an audience; Even if they are used to convey information, brochures/pamphlets may be more helpful.
    • A good grasp of the local language is *essential*. This helps in breaking the ice and creating a strong emotional connection which may not happen with English (even though the audience may be well educated and fluent in English)

    I would also take this space and opportunity to formally and sincerely thank all FTI members, particularly Ajay and LK without whose support and effort, this would have remained a pipe dream. I am also truly grateful to everyone who contributed and supported in whatever way they could.

  10. raman says:

    *** COMMENT EDITED ***

    hi shantnu
    good that u leave mp its not a land of devlopment of young mind
    u mised only

    evry where chutput neta
    kiling of mother by son for 4 rs (4.07.10 raj express)
    rape and live burning of a 12 yr girl by four boys (11.05.10)
    100 of mba and engineering college producing chain snacher and bike chor gang
    rest of other on poha shop the worst of ever seen nashta

    not last and not the least statment by cm of mp “digvijay singh”
    we cant make road it will effect the tyre industry in mp

    hope mp should be stated same as like vihar in india

    it is not minni mumbai, it is minni vihar

  11. Anupam says:

    @Raman

    Interesting thoughts Raman..I take offense when you referred Poha as worst ever Nashta, that has nothing to do with post. Where are you from? and Why hate Poha for tha poor condition for MP.

    I was in MP last December and I see lot of improvements..I drove at least 1200 KMs in MP and I see develoment, a lot has changed in last 8-10 years.

    Anupam