Be a follower, but also be a leader: Small Initiative makes the difference.

(On the backdrop of fight against corruption)

Driving in Pune is a real challenge. If you are able to drive in Pune, you can drive anywhere in the world. I take more convenient route to reach the office. This route has less traffic signal and leads towards highway. I believe on defensive driving. However one day at one signal, I somehow miss the red signal while turning towards left side. All vehicles behind me did the same thing. They followed me and drove without notice of red signal. Next day when it was red, I stop and all vehicles behind me also stop! It happened on couple of occasions.

On last Saturday, we went to Marathi Comedy Drama. My wife had already booked tickets over phone. When we reached there to collect tickets, lot of people were standing and making a crowd. There was mess at ticket collection window. Nobody was bothered standing in a queue. I just requested the crowd to be in a queue. As all people were educated nobody resisted and formed a queue.

I would like to tell you about the psychology of the people and mass.  Take a recent example of crusade against corruption declared by Anna Hazare. We all are suffering from this disease. Corruption is the way of life. Anna Hazare and team came forward. And now every common man is the follower of Anna.

We are in the society where majority of the people are followers. If you take simple initiative to make the difference, you will get the followers. Following is not bad, but their energy needs to be channelized.  Each path is only one of a million paths. Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path. But there should be somebody who makes the path. Anna Hazare is making the path by putting his heart in it. Leader does the same thing. When you follow somebody you should find the heart it.

But my intention is not to ask you to be only a follower and even Anna also does not expect this. There are lot many thing where we can make the difference. Every human being has the huge potential.  One small lead makes the difference. If you are the first at the traffic signal, you can take a lead by respecting the signal. You will see followers behind you.

Two years back, one clerk in nationalized bank denied to give the demand draft to my wife (http://healthwithayurved.blogspot.com/) and asked her to get it from another bank. He had claimed that he was very busy and the day was for the disbursement of pension to pensioners. He was rude with pensioner and was giving the excuses. Will you spare him?  She did not.  She made a formal complaint to manager, nothing happened.  She complained higher ups and even grievance cell of the bank and it worked. The clerk had to face the disciplinary action and the Chief Manager of the area was at our home to apologize. The issue was not denying the demand draft; the issue was his behaviour with the customer and poor pensioners.

The problem in our society is we care a lot about our time. We feel that we do not have a time. At another side, we have lot of time to spend on social networking sites, parting etc.  We allow others to abuse our right. Have you find out another escalation route, if somebody is not responding properly?

Anna will not be there with you when any government official would ask the bribe for doing your work. You have to resist and take a lead to take that matter at appropriate platform. The time has come not to be in the victim role. One small lead makes a difference, not only in your life but others also. It is upto you if you want to be follower and leader.  

That may be the reason why Anna Hazare’s movement asks everybody to be another Anna Hazare (I am Anna).

Inspiration! Underprivileged children, visually impaired girls, common man and Anna Hazare

Underprivileged children, visually impaired girls, common man and Anna Hazare

Back to our colony, is an open space. Sometimes, families of pot vendors take halt at night there. They have different members in their families including kids. And when I see them from the window, I always surprise the way they survive. The poor kids get brick or old tyre. One sits on the same and other pools. They enjoy the ride. They are poor. They do not have costly toys, but they find out the way to enjoy their life.

Our company (DSM India) believes on corporate social responsibility. Our employees also believe on their social obligations. As a part of CSR activities, company has a tie up with World Food Programme of United Nations. There are other activities where employees participate actively. Recently we adopted one school for visually impaired girls at Alandi, near Pune. These girls are abandoned by their family members. This school is run by blinds for blinds.

They are cheerful and happy. Every year 20-30 girls are admitted in the residential school. Children do not have footwear to wear. They do not have enough cloths, uniforms; they do not have enough sources for running the school. But still children appear for SSC examination and the result is 100%. They do not have regrets. They enjoyed the life and find out the ways to engage themselves. These girls have same feelings as we have. They like Sachin Tendulkar. They enjoy world cup and they also contribute to the society by donating the money which they earn from selling the handmade crafts and candles. They also enjoy the joy of giving.

One thing children certainly accomplish, and that is that they love and wonder at the people and the universe around them. They live in the midst of squalor and confusion and see it now. They see people at the moment and love them and admire them. They forgive and they go on loving. They may look at the most vicious person, and if he is at that moment good and kind and doing something that they can be interested in or admire, there they are, pouring out their hearts to him. There is no criticism in their minds and hearts of those around them.

Most importantly, they do not curse their fate. They live the life in true sense. All these children are inspiration to us. I salute these amazing kids.

PS: While writing this blog, the news of victory on government by common man lead by Anna Hazare came. Anna Hazare, 76 year old “youth” is a new youth icon and role model for new generation. People want actions and they become active if somebody like Anna Hazare energizes them. Now the time has come to join the movement.