This is a photo from one of the first Grassroutes day zero we organized. We have come a long way today that I am attending or participating in a Grassroutes event. I am really excited
In today’s talk I want to talk about 2 stories in less than 20 mins. One on context in the country and two on the stories around us and how they impact us
On July 19 th , Financial minister spoke at CII panel on Financial inclusion. His talk centered on rhetoric, on how it is important than what and how we are going to do it. He suggested private bank give access to BOP. It was not about any policy or law or regulation. It was plain rhetoric. Industry chiefs returned him the favour with equally strong rhetoric.
Worse is, what was reported. Two of the leading news dailies carried stories from the event and talked about how FM thought growth rate would be 8.5% than IMF’s estimate of 9.4%.
It left me wondering what do we as people want to read? I believe we are moving towards extreme right at such a fast pace that we may stop caring about the other half (or rather majority of the county)
I was waiting for my friend at India gate yesterday. Having seen it before I was looking around at the kind of people that I found around me. BTW That’s Rishab’s version of fundoo FB display pic.
Anil is a cameraman at India gate. There are 300 people like him around the place, giving photos within 5 mins at 30rs. He makes 20% of each photo clicked. He on an average clicks around 100 photos a day. On a good day going to 150. He was from Aligarh and was talking about how so few people create perceptions about an entire area. He told how the place was great otherwise. His dream was to quit this job and make it big. So I asked what big meant? If it meant going to Gulf. He candidly replied making a steady income of Rs.5,000
Looking at me clicking Manish pic and talking to me. Police saab came to get his hourly Chai. Manish is from UP and has been at India gate since 11 years, he is 20 now. Besides Chai he and his brothers also have water business where they sell water in outskirts shops. He through out had a smile on his face through out the conversation.
Satish is one of those 30 guys who develops those photos that are shot. He does around 250 prints on a good day. He has been doing this since 4 years but his brother have been around from polariod zamana. His dream is to rent others and move up the value chain.
These 3 guys are from Amethi, Madam’s constituency. They didn’t know who she was. They worked at PMO, Rashtrapati bhavan and are now at India gate. When asked about their age each one had a different number. But one of them took charge to tell me they were all around 18. They work from morning to evening for about 3 months on every project and move on. I got them a pic in front of India gate, clicked by Anil and developed by Satish
This is Rahul, 3 rd grader who goes to school in the morning and sells these fancy stuff in the evening. He was alone and walked past the crowd asking if they want to buy his stuff. He was enterprising and gave me a good bargain on a small ball that I bought. I did not have the heart to have him about his dreams. This is guy has a serious expression otherwise, and we had to do a retake to put the smile where it should always rest.
An lady who refused to give me her name and her story. Who picks these plastic bottles and sells them across the road. There are so many unknown faces and stories around us.
It’s easy for all of us miss these stories in this world of Glitz and glamour. Especially in the surcharged media projection of booming economy. It is easy to get carried away.
But all of us need those anchors, which help us find and comprehend reality. Sadly in life they don’t come in red text..
These stories were my search for anchors, my personal experiences. I hope all of you, if not anything are carrying those personal experiences which make you aware about the responsibility that you carry as young leaders in different spheres
Through Grassroutes we wanted to create young leaders (you) who are aware about the complex reality and are conscious about the social conditions and consequences of our actions. And to be part of the community you come from, rather than away from it. I guess Grassroutes in one of those unique programs where you graduate to be inclusive, rather than be part of an elite (less than 1% gets to IIT kinds)
I want to leave you with my last thoughts which are, India is getting renovated or rebuilt and it needs you to direct it towards the reality that you perceive.