Changing face of India -Entrepreneurs at grass root level

Have you ever seen an ignited mind... Ignited with innovations, bursting with ideas. The spark in the eyes and the joy on the face is something beyond explanation. I witnessed it when my sis came in running full of energy to announce that they have a project to do. Their ideas, their effort. Funded by Deshpande Foundation these kids could give wings to their dreams and prove their credibility with results in 2 months. An organization dedicated to creating entrepreneurs at college levels.

I wouldn't have thought much of it had it not been for the fact that my sis hails from a small town in Karnataka. The foundations reach and wish to touch the rural and semi- urban students amazed me. We see a lot of organizations interested in cultivating new ideas with the help of younger generation but their reach almost always is limited to cities or big towns.

India has a young workforce and they are brimming with ideas. All they need is conviction and a conducive environment that can bring out the best in them.

The whole idea of forming groups and asking them to come up with various ideas is wonderful. They didn't expect the idea to generate revenue. They wanted it to bring about a change, however minimal it might be. The pilot project would get 2 months and if the idea was really good and the foundation believed in it then it would be promoted to a full scale partnership or organization.

This not only helped these kids to think out of the box, but it also made them aware of the surrounding infrastructure. It made them bold and mentored them to present their case with conviction. The salient points to be highlighted came around by way of intense discussion thus developing their inter-personnel skills.

The project gave them a lot more than what it expected. And most importantly it opened new avenues for a young enterprising India. Thumbs- up to Deshpande Foundation and their effort in bringing about a change in the country's youth and on a macro level creating self sustainable entrepreneurs with original ideas. You can reach them on http://www.deshpandefoundation.org/

My wish for India…

Was reading excerpts from ‘Imagining India: Ideas for a new centaury’ by Nandan Nilekani, Co- chairman of Infosys. It left me with a feeling of optimism and belief.

When he says “I still think that after a long and convoluted path, after many a stumble and wrong turn, a different kind of moments seem to be upon us. For the first time, there is a sense of hope across the country, which I believe is universal. There is a momentum for change, evident in the enthusiasm of our younger legislators, the mushrooming of civil society organizations, and activists fighting in the courts for reforms in governance and for the protection of fundamental rights.”

I want this to be true … I want it to sustain and I want it to materialize on a larger scale. It is high time that we look beyond divisive politics, vote-bank accumulation based on caste and reservations. It is also time to stop shying away from our responsibilities and duty towards our country. It is our responsibility to vote, question the government for flouting duties, revolt against bribery and promote literacy on whatever scale that we can afford.

Ours is a young country, that’s capable of capitalizing its resources. Today we are seeing a rise in interest in various fields – complex science and technology to entrepreneurial ideas with low capital. More and more youngsters are dreaming big and achieving it. However, there remains disparate growth with problems galore – illiteracy, malnutrition, superstitions and poverty.

But like Nilekani I believe that we can overcome these- slowly but surely. What’s needed is an undeterred faith in this dream. Dream of seeing India as a self-sustained & progressive nation as a whole. As we usher the New Year… I look forward with this dream in my heart and belief in our capabilities.