Looking Back – Two Years of Living Dangerously
Just over two years ago, I took a step which felt dangerous, uncertain and hugely risky…As I wrote on my blog at the time (October 2008):
So what exactly do I plan to do?
First, I am reducing my hours of “paid employmentâ€. Starting this December (2008), I will be working part-time on two or three different ideas/companies. Most of this work will have to do with innovation, entrepreneurship, venture capital…
…Second, I am setting aside at least two days a week to do things which I loosely combine under the umbrella of political reform/ political activism.
Two years into this, I am pleased I took the plunge…I am less angry and more hopeful today than I was then. My commitment to bring about fundamental change has become stronger…The journey has not been easy…but it has been very very worthwhile. In particular, the meetings, the travels, the discussions and the opportunity to hear different views and ideas…All of this has been enormously satisfying – intellectually as well as at a deeper, almost spiritual level. Through this journey, I am beginning to understand what “Dharma” means. That said, the task ahead of us is monumental…and we face enormous challenges…As I mentioned elsewhere,
What we are attempting could make the difference between a country that survives, prospers & becomes a model for heterogeneous societies around the world and a country that is breaking apart, in the throes of a civil war, with woeful infrastructure and extremely restive population.
At the same time, I strongly believe…
…we really have no choice. As my friend Surendra Shrivastava of Loksatta mentioned in an email some days back: “We are not born politicians like many, we are in politics not by choice but because of compulsionâ€
The work is far from over…this journey has just begun…We will need hundreds amongst you to join us…and thousands of supporters…A lot more will need to be done…and clearly it will be impossible to achieve any of this without your sustained support and encouragement.
Looking Back: Photograph taken at Simrol, near Indore, July ’09.
But in these two years of living dangerously, I have become more hopeful, more confident and more certain that this can be done...This is within our grasp..and we are not alone.
In 2011, I will maintain my focus on connecting with like-minded groups and trying to bring them together for concerted action. I hope to undertake at least two outreach events and many more meetings, discussions and talks spread throughout the year in different cities. I have been very fortunate to receive the support of many amongst you in this effort – mainly in terms of arranging talks and meetings in various places. I am grateful for this. There has been no conscious/deliberate effort at fund-raising so far – I hope to focus on this as well in the coming year. As for my personal expenses, I am managing well so far – learning to maintain the thin line between “needs” and “desires”, helped along by the grace of Prabhu Shri RamChandra and MahaDev and with complete and unwavering support from my wife.
This is going to be a long haul…but there really is no other choice…My two biggest frustrations remain almost unchanged:Â 1] not enough amongst us willing to take up this challenge and 2] not enough time in the day for all that we wish to do…
Somedays it feels like we are dreaming the impossible…but there are days and nights when all this looks so worthwhile – and so achievable…
To those of you who wonder how could you help, I would suggest three simple things: 1] Please spread the word (offline as well as online – in particular on facebook) 2] Please conside if you can volunteer your time for a few activities (some desk-based, others involving limited public interaction) and 3] finally, please do let me know if you can help organise meeting(s), discussions or fund-raising dinners in your city/town for me. In 2011, I intend to spend increasing amounts of time on the ground..so no place, city or village is out of bounds – especially one with a bunch of committed and passionate people!
This post would be incomplete without my heartfelt and sincere thanks to everyone who helped in numerous ways over the last two years in furthering this initiative, in particular (in alphabetical order) Dinesh, Dominic, Jasmin, Jyoti, friends at LSE, at LBS, from IIT Alumni groups, Naresh, Promod-ji, Kris, Ram, Radhakrishnan, Ranjit, Rajesh, Rohith, Sanjay, Shanth and many many others + the entire team at FTI, especially LK Kandpal, Ajay Anand, Sanjeev, Dipinder, Somnath, Ashish, Anil, Anupam, Geeta, RK Atri, Suresh Anand, Vishal, Ashok, Anubhava, Kamal, Swapnil and Mayank – thank you all.
Ine the meantime, the dream lives on…Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!
Dear Shantanu
I’m pleased you find this more satisfying than simply writing about the mess in India. When we get engaged with our society at a deeper level, we do get a sense of journey: in which we are together. That is better than the sense one gets as an observer – merely recording and noting the problems we face.
And I’m not quite sure we ought to think we are politicians by compulsion. There is NO compulsion, ever. Even in the worst situation, people can choose to disengage. Even in the best situation can go wrong if we don’t have good politicians.
What we are doing is developing a culture of citizenship. And for those who can do more – such as the educated classes – we are looking for a culture of citizen-leadership.
India will ALWAYS need good politicians, whether the country choose them at the hustings or not. Once this current journey is completed, and good politicians and good policy installed in India, the future generations will still need to display the same vigour and commitment to India that FTI has displayed.
Your contributions have been exemplary. True leadership is what you’ve displayed. It is a good example of what can be done even within our limited capacity of funds and time. Imagine what we can do when the entire educated class of India combines behind us. The journey will become so much easier.
One more thing: Anyone reading this may please note – that they are EXCEPTIONALLY LUCKY to get good leaders like Shantanu who are willing to step forward and take India from the brink. You make your luck, however, in the end.
You need to become a Shantanu yourself – that is the highest level to aspire for; or you can put in a LOT OF EFFORT to support Shantanu and FTI.
If you don’t do that your luck will remain on paper. In the end, people like Shantanu have to win elections – and not just one seat, but at least 300. That’s when the reform will BEGIN. Till then you face an ever rotting and decaying governance system.
So just like Shantanu took the plunge, I suggest you consider taking the plunge. It is doable. But not by one person alone. We need thousands of leaders to step forward, and lakhs of supporters – including LOTS OF FUNDS. Please contribute generously to FTI.
Regards
Sanjeev
Can I add – everyone’s primary responsibility is towards himself and his/her family. If everyone did that well then there would be no problem in India to take care of!
So please do not stretch yourself financially. True, citizenship does make a call on a part of our finances, but time is equally if not more valuable.
Instead, I’d suggest that educated people of India step forward with a bit of their time and money. Those who aren’t contributing time to FTI could contribute funds and reduce the need for anyone to contribute both time and money.
Every small contribution will add up and the task of reforming India will become easier. For instance, FTI could do with about Rs.10 lakhs immediately, for increasing our internet presence and finding more leaders.
Regards
Sanjeev
Regards
Sanjeev
Shantanu: I wish you good luck and the best in your efforts.
Sanjeev: Please send me the link where i can find the bank infomration. thanks.
” for increasing our internet presence ”
for writing articles like these: http://sabhlokcity.com/2010/11/clearing-the-mist-around-max-muller/