Once again thanks to Santhosh S. we are kept updated about how day 2 – the day of Christmas went for the Yatri and would love to share with all of you who are not so lucky to be ont his trip…

Personally, it definitely inspired me and further encourages me to dream…but I remember something important someone had once told me – “It is important to dream…dream and dream….but between dreaming and making the dream a reality…there is one very important thing to do – to Wake Up and Take action ont he dreams”…

Having said this – here’s the journal for TJY Day 2 while I am off to plot the highs and lows of my life – you will soon know why… -

Date – 25.12.08

Mumbai – Trivandrum – in train

  

1^st day for us in train. The morning went in introduction of team behind the journey and also their roles in this journey.

 

Summary of the day –

-         Introduction of the TJY team and their Roles and responsibilities

-         address by Col.Patil - he basically touched upon the rules on train, the 3 Rs, and a bit on environmental issues

-         The timeline Introduction technique

-         Discussion within groups

-         Talk by Shashank Mani on Enterprise led development and entrepreneurship

-         Reflection on learnings from dabbawalah and Lijjat pappda

 

 

The TJY team

 

I am just recollecting few names that I remember. There have been lot more

 

Shashank mani and Raj  are in the management team

Col. patil – father of the train… J Train runs in his command

Ashotosh – off train activities

Rewati – Programming (on train)

 

Some of the other often heard names – Swapnil, Geetanjali, aradhana, Major…. I have forgotten their roles.

 

At this point I would like to highlight the facilities at the train. Read through and then you cannot hold your eyes opening wide and you hands coming together to appreciate the effort of the TJY team.

  

 

Facilities at train –

-         Plug points at every coach (That is why I am able to send you these mails…J )

-         The common room with Flat screens

-         The special bathing system on train

-         The public Announcement system in every coach

-         The exxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxlent fooooooood….. (The moment I think of food my mouth is watering.) I mean, nobody would have even thought they would get Chapati, bhaji, Bhindi fry, special cutlet, etc. etc and the taste is awesome… J I think I have tempted you more… That is enough I guess… J

 

 

 

Address by the war hero Col.Patil

 

The man who keeps the train moving – col. Patil spoke to us on various things. He was not firing bullets but he was firing questions at us. The first question was very easy – singing Vandemataram song. The second was a very difficult one – telling its meaning…! L

 

None could tell the meaning of the song, including me, a graduate in Sanskrit!

 

Then some ground rules – no smoking, no littering, no drinking and no special attention for special people… J That was a very decent way of telling… J

 

 

Then he introduced us to the 3 ‘R’s. Guess what the 3 ‘R’s are –

 

Refuse, reduce and reuse!

 

Then there was grievance handling by Raj on bathrooms…

for a query Raj taught us all an excellent technique of taking bath in cold water… J Do pranayaman and throw the water on your head, you will be able to take bath in cold water… J

  

The timeline introduction technique…

 

That’s a very interesting one –

 

 

 

we have to represent the highs and lows in our life using the line graph. Let me explain it to you with my life’s

Draw a line graph of your life too… See the ups and downs of your life… share it with your friends…

 

 

Discussion within groups

 

Our group is the F group… the Formula one group we call it… J

We are 13 of us, 2 girls in that. The male – female ratio in train is 3:1.

Our facilitator is Mr. Prabhal.

 

I mentioned you in my first journal about the one common thread that unites us all – DREAM. A dream for a social change.

Our group also had varied dream ranging from ‘setting us an org. to help beggars’ to ‘bringing reformation in education system’

It was very interesting to hear these dreams. I will compile them and send it later.

 

But for now… I am happy part of the fun filled group… Shudhya Sheel is a guitar player and he sings awesome songs… J So we are having a lot of fun.

 

I think I am probably the oldest in the lot. feel a little awkward… Thogh it is obvious to guess the age of my facilitator to be somewhere in 30s he says he is just 21! J That was a tough joke to digest…

 

Evening session –

We assembled in the common room.

Shashank Mani, The director of TJY, first recollected the 5 red lines – outer journey, inner journey, collaboration, innovation and bringing back.

 

Then he talked to us about ‘Enterprise led development’

As far as I can understand about it, it is a bottom-up approach of enterprise like the Lijjat Pappad (who statrted with just Rs.80 as the initial investment) and the dabbawalahs.

 

This is a new concept. Shshank promised to talk more about it later.

In the mean time you guys can also search the net for more info on it and pass it on… J

 

 

Some inspiring lines –

 

“what they (people like TATA) did to build the firm and not what they are today is more important.”

 

“Enterprise is less about education. It is not just about giving a book and making them read. It is beyond. Entrepreneurship comes by exploring.”

 

“success is about, who grabs the idea first and who is able to innovate out of that idea.”

 

“Applied materials, Silicon valley – moved from 80 million to 8 billion in 11 years as of year 2000. How did they do it? It is because of their innovation and collaboration.”

 

“Lead by your strengths. Identify your weaknesses. Collaborate and get there before anybody else can.”

 

“Disciplined collaboration is important. If the mission is bigger than all of us then there is disciplined collaboration.”

 

 

Some key questions from the participants –

 

These are some of the questions from the participants.

 

“India is known to be very collaborative country. we live in families. we are loving and help each other. But the west is known to be an individualistic. Then how this paradox exists in the corporate world of India?”

 

For this Shahshank gave the ‘disciplined collaboration’ answer.

 

Think over it and send in your views on this.

 

The other important question I think is also worth discussing is –

“How do we say the dabbawalas are successful?”

Are they really successful? what is success? How do we measure success? Is success just about increasing amount of money in your bank balance?

 

Let’s think.

 

 

That is how the day 2 unfolded. The Day 3 will be in Trivandrum. A busy day ahead. J TATA.. bye.. bye…

 

 

Here are some pictures below:

 

 

 

And to end with another inspiring song from Rang De Basanti – Roobaroo -