There were a few events that happened this week that deserve a debate. UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) announced that they would be cutting their development aid to Vietnam, Russia, China and India. The largest cut would be 250 million pounds aid to India.… Continue reading
What becoming a ‘Dr’ meant to me
December 1986 was indeed a milestone for me. I was fully involved in establishing SVYM and was keen on taking to social work on a full-time basis. Coming from a typical Indian middle class family meant that I had to negotiate family sentiments and financial needs skilfully.… Continue reading
A year to learn and a minute to lose it!
A year at Harvard raises a lot of expectations. It is 4 days since I returned and people have been asking me about what I learnt, whether it was useful, how I would use this new-found knowledge and how it would impact my work.… Continue reading
The founder’s dilemma!
It is now more than a year since I laid down the office of the President and CEO at SVYM. When I founded SVYM in 1984, I had never imagined that it would shape into a leading development NGO in Karnataka.… Continue reading
My life at and after Harvard…
One year just flew by! It feels like I came to Harvard only yesterday, and it has already been nearly a year since I came here. When I announced that I would come to the Harvard Kennedy School, there were many questions – whether the program would be useful for me, whether I was seeking to give up my non-profit work and social activism, how would I fund myself through the program, on the sacrifices that my family would have to make, on my father’s health, etc.… Continue reading
Development and the Varnas…
Over the last year, I spoke at Universities in Canada and the United States on India’s development challenges. One question that repeatedly came up was on the issue of caste and how it was impacting India. India’s caste system has been much studied and researched.… Continue reading
Desire to stay honest…
A few days ago I was interacting with Gordon Zacks, the Chairman and former CEO of R.G.Barry Corporation, the world’s largest comfort footwear manufacturer. He is also the author of the book Defining Moments: Stories of Character, Courage and Leadership.… Continue reading
Ambitions and Aspirations…
Several years ago I was invited to speak at a HR convention in a reputed multinational company. My talk was well appreciated and one of the HR managers present asked me how was it possible to motivate people in the NGO sector while it was challenging to retain highly qualified achievers in the private sector.… Continue reading
What does the National Youth Day mean to us?
Jan 12:
Today is the Jayanthi celebrations of Swami Vivekananda. The whole country celebrates this event as the National Youth Day. As with other symbolic events, we Indians will reduce this day to just another ‘celebration’ and maybe a holiday in some places.… Continue reading
Adieu, dear Basavaraj…
Dr.Basavaraj Melligeri
1976 – 2009
“How difficult it is to sustain a fundamental attitude of rejoicing, which is more than simply being grateful for the good things that God has done. It takes courage and strength to rejoice in the face of life’s struggles, but that is the true measure of faith.”… Continue reading
The blog unites me with a friend!
The Internet has become such an integral part of our daily lives that we have begun to take it for granted. We now cannot imagine a world without the Internet and the Email. I find myself spending at least 2-3 hours each day using the net for my academic work and daily chores.… Continue reading
Disequilibrium and growth in SVYM
I was recently engaged in a conversation with the world-renowned leadership expert Ronald Heifitz about myself, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, what I am doing now and what I could possibly be doing in the future. Though the whole discussion lasted only about 20 minutes, it left me in deep contemplation.… Continue reading
The Science Revolution…
A couple of years ago, I was trying to find out how many rural students qualified for the Common Entrance Test (an admission test to enter Medical and Engineering colleges in Karnataka) and secured ranks within the first 1000. I was not surprised to know that only 6 rural students qualified to join medical colleges and 44 of them for engineering within the first 1000 ranks.… Continue reading
Electoral reforms: some ideas…
At the different places where I am talking, people come with all sorts of questions. Many want to know if they can actually express their displeasure at the candidates by exercising the option of saying ‘I will not vote for anyone’.… Continue reading
Making Democracy work…
Over the last 10 days, I have addressed more than 10 gatherings. Gatherings of Industrialists, middle class citizenry, workers from the food and garment industry and Bangalore’s pride – the software and services sector. My topic of discussion at all these places has been ‘Making Democracy work’.… Continue reading