How it all started
We came together as a group of young individuals were brought together by the quest to build a better nation. Initially, the discussions between us took place online and the quest was the same – to find solutions for the challenges that the nation faced. There were various options considered and often discussions lead to a spontaneous outpouring of solutions that ranged from effective service delivery organisations to a new political party.
The Leadership Enquiry
When we examined the different frameworks that existed it often left us dissatisfied. Deeper inquiries lead us to the discovery that most organisations and institutions lacked leadership and also an understanding of what leadership is. The conventional understanding of a leadership position is that
· It is a powerful position
· It should be coveted and maintained and
· It is an opportunity that must be acquired for oneself
While the above may be true, it is critical to understand that leadership is an opportunity to serve. We found that this understanding was minimal or completely missing. The entire enquiry around leadership lasted around six months and we finally got started.
The Learning Journey
While we were able to observe, analyse and reflect on the systemic forces that create these conditions – what we wanted to do was create something that was entirely out of our direct experience.
Ever since, we have been on a journey of learning, one that teaches us how to do what we wish to do. Since the journey was fraught with many uncertainties, many of the founding groups found it difficult to continue on this journey and moved on to things that they felt were more tangible.
We chose to commit ourselves to a long-term, holistic transformation agenda as opposed to setting up schools for orphans or hospitals for the needy. We chose to commit ourselves to grooming individuals who, in turn, will create the schools, hospitals and opportunities for livelihood etc.
Rasoolpura - Hyderabad's largest slum!
Having arrived at this understanding that leadership development is what we will commit ourselves to – we adopted a large slum of more than 100,000 people with an intention to understand how grass-roots leadership can be enabled so that it transforms the community sustainably. It took us two years of striving to discover ways in which this can be done, and what we have been able to achieve in the last two and a half years is remarkable.
Freedom Under Construction
In 2006, Rasoolpura Government High School was being used as a garbage dump. Children were attending classes in the midst of filth and stench. To improve conditions for students, 150 volunteers gathered at midnight on August 14th, broke down the crumbling walls and rebuilt three new classrooms.
What started then as an activity is now slowly, turning into a movement.In the last 4 years, 2500 volunteers have built 23 government school classrooms, 12 bathrooms, and planted 2300 saplings. More importantly, 2500 young Indians celebrated their freedom to build India. 2500 young Indians became citizens.
