Is it Service?

Today was an interesting day with debates and counterpoints. It started with my question to Prasad asking who doesn’t agree with Gandhi. In brief he listed four categories of people: Hindu extremists who believe they are superior and right, capitalists in search of the rupee at any cost, Markist and Maoist revolutionaries that want to create change through force,and Dalits, the former untouchable, who think they should fight for their rights at any costs. So not all are Gandhians here. Some just give lip service, and the practitioners are in the minority.

My interview for the day was with a fireball named Manimala, a whirlwind of energy, focus and drive. She is President of the Institute where we are staying and is actually employed by the government to spread the work and action of Gandhi. The debate with her was whether service is service if you are paid for it. She says that her current leadership is a type of service because it benefits others and is aligned with her value for improving the human condition. On the other hand. she feels that when she offers herself in service for no monetary gain or benefit it is a purer form of “social work”. Both are valuable but distinct. Additionally, we discussed sustainability. I noted that we are very strategic in America, planning for sustainabily of our efforts as leaders, where as with Gandhi related service, sustainability seems to be a natural outgrowth and not planned for separately. She suggested that leaders should examine first what is worth sustaining. By that she means, what is the intrinsic value of the work and does is improve mankind. If not, perhaps it shouldn’t be sustained. Once that condition is met then she described the creation of self-reliance, empowerment and ownership as key ingredients to the sustainability of not only the outcome but also the process to get there. How clear and simple is that? We ended the day at an elite Institute of Technology, India's comprable MIT. They take the top 1% of 800 applicants each year. Our debate was Gandhi's relevance to the 21st century and the advances in science and technology. We had a room full of spirited professors and students with whom to engage and it was very lively. No consensus, of course, but food for thought. Would Gandhi be using the internet as a tool for organizing non-violent protests against remaining inequities in his country? Would he be railing against the fact that Hyderabad has become the silicon valley of India? What would he think about the ongoing deteriorating relations with Pakistan or the fact that at the Republic Day Parade today, the might of the armed forces were front and center? Notable Gandhi quote: I don't want followers. I need to be my own follower. I know that I don't live up to the convictions that I espouse. At best, we are fellow pilfimrs. I'm not a guru. We are all in the journey together. That was the spirit of debate today-a continuing journey to understand but with the common resolve to do some good in the world, one step at a time. The next two days are pure tourist, Jaipur (the Pink City) and Agra (the Taj Mahal). I'll post pictures upon return!