The spot of ink!

"We dress for the jobs we want, forgetting that most salaries are tailored to afford dressing for the jobs we have."

From the start of Friends' Society (FS, more than 16 years ago), I've been interviewing (~observing) people, at times to decide if I wanted them with me in FS, to at times, did I want to collaborate with them or be associated in any ways. As I became a professional, these observations started in the form of formal interviews.

I am sure, the reverse is true as well, I've been observed, interviewed, interrogated, so on and so forth.. But this is to share the story from this side of the table!

Recently, for a partner organization, I agreed to conduct some interviews. It was a position lying vacant for more than six months. The hiring manager was very particular of what he wanted - the role being a mix of being a leader, but being able to perform the most routine tasks with efficiency. To find this, a tough one. I had already interviewed and rejected at least a two dozen candidates for the role.

So here I was, waiting for the candidate, completely unsure of what to expect. The application was pretty interesting, two separate letters, one Resume, and a brief profile by the coordinator who had recommended her. I was told that she was hand picked by her Fellowship Team (the Gandhi Fellowship) and there-after nominated to us for this specific role.

I'm amazed, an interview that was meant to be just another interaction, has left me with lingering thoughts for more than a week. For the first time, I've broken the professional norm to reach out to the candidate post the interview, and I wonder, what was it that got me so engaged?

I am a person who would not remember the colour of my clothes, let alone what I wore yesterday or day before. But, I have a clear memory of what this candidate wore for her interview: a white Kurta, with a deep black ink spot on it. It defied every norm of the formal world. You are supposed to dress up for an interview in your finest, at least that's what a career advisor advised me once. First impression is the last impression, ensure that you put forth your best foot forward. Remember, the words are to be calculated, speak if you know, be polite, respond affirmatively, so on and so forth. And contrary to all of this, here was a candidate, who was absolutely reckless, rather careless. She walked in the interview without a hint of being bothered about the ink, or her (over?) confidence.

To my own surprise, for someone with an OCD for perfection, none of the "out of norm" things bothered me. Rather, I noticed most of it, but all of it went unnoticed. Unnoticed, until I read a buzzfeed article on the millennials and the poor choices of pretense!   

And bang, I realized why this specific interview had left it's lasting impression. Since having joined the corporate world, I have been surrounded by people who consciously dress, make studied choices of what to speak, what to think, what to eat, what to drink.. At times, a lot of it is superficial, done for the sake of it: smiles for being professional, hand shakes for being courteous, eating for sake of networking, etc. It's always about making an impression and ensuring it fits the norm, more so during interviews, because, first impression is the last impression!

In all this artificial-ness, this interview was a breath of fresh air. Here was someone without any pretense, without a showcase, without putting up fronts. She was candid in her responses, brutal in her assessment, and raw in her approach. It stood out more in contrast of the corporate office where the interview was being conducted. The raw-ness was completely out of context, and it stuck through!

While today's millennials pursue jobs to get their millennium dreams come true, a few programs try to enable the human instincts and utilize this young talent for nation building. This candidate was recommended to the organization by one such fellowship, the Gandhi Fellowship! And, It seems the candidate I met was not an exception, but part of an exceptional cohort. In literal sense, I could feel the rough cut diamonds were being crafted through the experience of their fellowship (evident from the alumni profiles on their website).

I've hired Teach for India Fellows based on just a call or even based on just reviewing their Resume, and have never had to regret a bit. It seems, Gandhi Fellowship is going to be in the same league!

Poetic Perspectives: Access to Love

Poetic Perspectives: Access to Love: There is sorrow, there is pain And old hurts come up once again I don't know what I should do I don't know how to relate to you Ther...

Desidereta

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly. And listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant, for they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, for they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for there will be always greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements, as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble. It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of life.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is. Many people strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love. For in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings, for many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

The author is the poet Max Ehrmann (1842-1945). It was written in the 1920s.

Next big challenge for India/your community

(What do you think is the) Next big challenge for India/your community:


Triple bottom line sustainability: An overall approach to People, Planet & Performance!

As I see it, there has been a dual core existence to human civilization - one that looks at profits (the Capitalist) & the ones who look at humanity (the Philanthropist). In recent years, the field of "environmental conscience" has emerged. Apparently, these are three different nodes, though they are not quite singular by nature as they are portrayed. Rather, triangulation of these signify the core of our existence. Irrespective, very less attention is being given to work on all of these together to achieve common good.

During my Masters', I interned with the Institute for Sustainable Development, an organization that concentrated on targeting a triple bottom line approach in businesses and communities. They have shown it, it is possible to earn profits while doing social good and being environment friendly. There are quite a few of such sporadic experiments across the globe, but need a lot of attention and efficiency to create adaptable replicable models.

For me, it is the biggest challenge to create such models for developing countries, where we don't categorize as for-profit or not-for-profit, but we do good on triple bottom line approach.

long time...

At times I wonder, why a blog for me? This post is literally after an year... Do I call myself a writer? Or  is blog a vent-out for me? Neither... It is just that I need to get into my writing "mood" to write! ;)

Anyway, I was just feeling a form and had a few tricky questions (about me, yes!), answers o which actually served more of an introspection... Thus, thought of posting them... Watch out next few posts!

Rotary Peace Fellow

This morning, I received an email which carried this link: http://cgi.unc.edu/top/staff-blog/2011?q=darshan&x=0&y=0

If you've already opened it, let me clarify, I do not send it to blow my own trumpet. It's just that the article touched my heart, not cuz it was written bout me, but cuz it came from someone who I considered real close. Some one who had been with me through out the process that she writes about, rather it was her patience and her care that nurtured my passion to do what I wanted. She stood besides me, not only me, but every peace fellow through their two years, and then as a continuous locus of support. Rotary peace fellowship is an amazing program, but what makes it incredible is the extra support and care that the Rotary family renders. It is an opportunity for dreams to manifest in reality, which otherwise might have disappeared in thin air.

Let me not forget the peace fellows, the school and the cohort. All that she writes about, if I may say so, can happen only at UNC. The patience with which school endured my tantrums, the love with which my friends stood besides me, the care that my mentors and faculty showed, the affection of my host parents, the list can go on...

I never could pen my thoughts or after reactions of the peace fellows program. How could I? It seems impossible to capture all those emotions, all those experiences, everything in black and white. But, this link is a sufficient trigger to remind me how every one copied on this email has been a source of change in my life.

I'd not say thanks, I'd rather say, "Rotary Peace Fellows" let's rock it! :)

Love, Darshan

Celeb social work...

(the topic was given as a prelude to an interview... I had to express what I feel on that. With the guidance of Dr. Sud, here is what came out...)

Topic: "Celebrities, HNWIs and corporates play a powerful role in the Indian context as role models and influencers. How can these stakeholders leverage the power of ‘focus’ and ‘collaboration’, and use their ‘voice’ to generate widespread social change in India?"

Scenario I: The winning of World Cup tournament brought this country together like never before, Sachin being the uniting factor beyond any caste, creed and religion.

Scenario II: When the who’s who of Indian panorama showed up at Anna Hazare’s fast recently, did they give more credibility to the event or were seeking to get some of that credibility rub on to them? How can we perceive Baba Ramdev's proactive participation, when Anna had publicly snubbed him?

The above two, drawn from a plethora of incidences happening across India show two sides of the coin… In one, Sachin, the youth icon, unites this country across the borders; while in the other, a common man becomes a celebrity and every other celebrity is over shadowed.

Widespread social "change" cannot come through tokenism. All bollywood stars claim to be associated with some NGO or the other in purchase of credibility as 'sensitive' creatures. Even if some of them are 'genuine' they are rarely seen to use their 'star power'. They have their own limitations. Against that, bollywood has also seen silent players like Amrish Puri, whose social actions were never brought to media, but delivered sustainable change at grassroots.

The Nilekanis’, the Jindals’, the Tatas’ and hundreds of HNWIs have been quietly working for decades without making any noise. And this is what social change takes - quiet, persistent, honest ground level work. Social change requires focus and long-term commitment, not just a day spent outside Gateway of India to get some sound bites, courtesy hungry media. This was proved when Amitabh’s foray into politics completely stumbled in it’s first innings irrespective of his undisputed position in bollywood. They can attract the commoner's attention in public places, but it is about the right use of the generated hype, which can manifest itself in social change through persistent efforts of organizations associated to the celebs.

The above mentioned are facts, but it is also a fact that India is a country where celebrities are worshipped. A temple of Sachin and Amitabh, hailing of Sathya Sai Baba as God, looking at Amir Khan as savior of masses are not new to India. And here lies the crux… Social change is about mass movements that cannot happen with exclusion of some. It is about bridging the gap across the spectrum, irrespective of one’s motivations.

The conclusion for me being, it is about the intermediaries between the celebrities, the HNWIs and the social change medium, that is organizations like Innovaid and the ones working directly at grass roots. The onus lays in their hands; i) by guiding the course of celebrities in right direction; ii) for leveraging the ‘celebrity’ status of the who’s who in manifesting social change, through the right use of  ‘sound bites’, ‘public appearances,’ and; iii) the factor that makes them a celebrity, the collaboration of masses under their influence.