Individuals can make a difference: part one

Today when most institutions are coming under the strain due to mismatch between rising social aspirations and declining ability of public and private system to deliver, will it not be useful to recall the contributions of those individuals who have kindled a ray of hope. SRISTI honoured many such distinguished individuals in the  annual function at Satwik traditional Food Festival last week.

Rivers are becoming dirty every where, unworthy of being called holy but sewage still flows into them. Except in District Hoshiarpur where Kali bein originates. This  river in which Guru Nanak is believed to have got enlightenment, was filthy, polluted and full of aquatic weeds. It has become completely nirmal, clean, thanks to the voluntary participation of the people all along its 160 km stretch till it meets beas and satluz . How did it become possible? Ask Baba Balbir Singhji Seechwal who achieved this distinction.  There were many others whom we honoured from around the country including Gujarat to create new role models for our younger generation.

Who doesn’t bemoan the decline of cultural diversity today, but what do we do about it. There is one person, who has played an extraordinary role in creating opportunity for those folk artists in Gujarat who otherwise might have abandoned that art form without support. He is shri Joravar Singh Jadav, Lol Kala Foundation, who has linked about 5000 such artist from around the country and the state in a network and has been creating opportunities for them with in and outside the country.  In honouring him, we honour ourselves. He has published 86 outstanding books/monographs on people’s knowledge, art, skills, stories. One I particularly liked was for example on motifs in traditional art forms depicting livestock or their parts to symbolize diverse cultural values of conservation and reverence.

Late Dashrath Majhi achieved before he died at the age past 80 in 2007,  what most people will consider impossible.  He dug, single handedly a 15-20 feet wide and 360 feet path over 22 years through the mountains In Gilahuar village, Gaya district, Bihar. The path reduced the distance by 80 km to the nearest town.  We honoured him posthumously. Should not we add a lesson about such achievers in our school text books to encourage our children? They should be empowered to realize the enormous power that resides in the heart of those fortitudinous souls which create public goods through private efforts without any expectation of returns.

Will share with you about other outstanding social change agents (some will call them social entrepreneurs) honoured at SRISTI function next week. Till then, please welcome new year and celebrate happy XMas, with a promise to practice some steps that enrich our life by making life of other less privileged more meaningful and  joyful in the spirit of servey bhavantu sukhinah… There is no other way, we can find true happiness.