Working with indigenous tribals has been one of the most fulfilling things in my life. From a small clinic at Brahmagiri to all the diverse projects that SVVM is running, it has been a very enriching experience till now. I have always maintained that development has to be about an expansion in the human and social capital of people and communities, for it to be sustainable and meaningful. … Continue reading
Rediscovering SVYM and sharing the joy of togetherness
Yesterday was a very special day. We had the Annual General Body meeting of SVYM at our VLEAD campus in Mysore. It was a day when more than 25 members of the organization came together for a day of fun, fellowship, formal & informal discussions and reaffirmed our collective commitment to make the world a better place.… Continue reading
Back to Harvard
It is now 5 years since I graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School. When we first came to the school 6 years ago in May 2009, the one and only Prof John Thomas asked us to write a note for ourselves. … Continue reading
An interview that had appeared in the Cornell Policy Review, USA
This interview had appeared a few years ago in the Cornell Policy Review, a journal of the Cornell Institute of Public Affairs, Cornell University, USA. My views on Micro-finance still remain the same.
Beginning the Financial year differently…
The financial year in India runs from the 1st of April to the 31st of March. The year usually ends with its own demands – books have to be balanced, receivables managed, creditors answered, salaries paid, reports to be written, donors to be spoken to…the list is indeed endless. … Continue reading
What does being a Tata Scholar mean to me…
Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (popularly known as J N Tata and who lived between 1839 to 1904) was one of India’s greatest business-industrialist icons. A patriot, philanthropist, and visionary, he is credited with laying the foundations and largely consolidating the position of Indian Industry and enterprise. … Continue reading
An announcement, with an appeal
I am happy and excited to write about an upcoming book that I am authoring. Tentatively titled I, the Citizen, the book is based on articles on development and citizen engagement that I have posted on this blog, edited to present reflections and perspectives on development from the point of view of an engaged citizen.… Continue reading
Marching Ahead…
This is a recording of a talk given by me on the theme ‘Marching Ahead’ on the 11th September, 2014 at Bangalore. The talk was organized by Yuva Brigade.
– Balu… Continue reading
Going beyond ‘Swachh Bharat’…building India’s social and human capital
There is now so much visibility and noise revolving around cleanliness campaigns and waste management around the country. If it is the challenge of disposal as experienced by the residents of Bengaluru or the media hype around Swachh Bharat, one is indeed impressed by the mind space that this issue is now occupying. … Continue reading
Talk given at Dharmasthala
This is the audio recording of the talk that was given by me at Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala to the Directors and senior faculty of RUDSETI, in the presence of the Dharmadhikari, Sri Veerendra Heggade on the 13th August, 2014.