Poetry Circle

From 30^th November 2010, Goa celebrated the centenary of its prolific poet, B B Borkar. Lovingly called Bakibab in Goa and Babha Borkar in Maharashtra, Poet Borkar impressed with his compositions in Marathi as well as Konkani. A lot of poetry readings were organised right through the year. The Department of Art and Culture supported the economic needs of all such events.  

At one such event, a group arrived from Kankavali, Maharashtra to participate in the poetry reading. They were preceded by a panel discussion on the plight of poetry among the younger generation. One panellist suggested that the Government allot more funds to promote the love of poetry among the students. One of the poetry lovers from Kankavali stood up to insist that the primary responsibility lay with the readers of poetry.

He mentioned the example of his team, which would meet regularly to involve in a poetry circle. Borkar came alive in the readings of his poems by the ones who were touched by his poems. Individual impressions united to impact the collective consciousness of the lovers of poetry. He emphasised that it was pathetic to want to read poetry only under the patronage of money.

Indeed, so often, so many ‘wants’ of the heart and mind are hostage the ‘needs’ of the paying pocket. What does it really take to celebrate poetry? A poetry circle needs basic space, some persons to recite and others to listen. The space could be indoors in someone’s home or some hall. In fact, basic space, shorn of all its fancy aids, is the best.

Money as a resource is a distant second to proactive participation in, not only, the poetry circle, but other activities of life. Human resource is primary for the success of every collective. It brings along innovative ideas and backs them with appropriate actions. When persons come together to connect in a focussed and consistent way, they unite to create the right impact.

When lovers of poetry ‘unite to impact’...

A Poetry Circle rises to dynamic effect!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

Seeds of Hope

‘The D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas’ is organised every year in Goa. Different speakers share their ideas. One of the speakers this year was the environmental proactivist and author, Vandana Shiva who shared her vision and mission through her presentation on the topic ‘Diversity & Pluralism: the foundations of Indian Civilisation’.

Her ideas seemed lofty as well as grounded as they are already being implemented through ‘Navdanya’ – a movement born of a perspective of an Earth Democracy in which every species and being has a future, every farm and all food is free of toxins, and no one goes hungry. The action plan involves the conservation and exchange of indigenous seeds in a sustainable, community centred and decentralized manner.

Vandana Shiva urged the audience to actualise the idea by planting the seeds of hope in the fields of action. Every possible space could be transformed into a garden of hope by cultivating organic crops, free from toxins. The gardens at home, the spaces in the school compound and even the balcony at the apartment could become a garden of hope.

When the seeds of hope unite a garden of hope is formed. Many such small gardens of hope unite to create a positive transformational impact on our collective predicament. But it is important to ensure the diversity of the seeds or the diversity of the methods is not sacrificed for the lure of illusory goals that seek toxic shortcuts.

So often, in other spheres of life too, choices are made which derail diversity. In a plural, interdependent world we cannot walk the selfish path that ignores the common good. So often, we embrace toxic negativity to get shortcuts to success but eventually we end up killing the rights of the others to live with dignity. The seeds of hope must celebrate the diversity paradigm.

The seeds of hope will ‘unite to impact’...

When the common good guides every act!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

Long Live

‘The King is dead... long live the King!’

In medieval times, the above line was said on the death of one king and the declaration of the new king. It symbolised the continuity of the ruler as the void created by the death of the incumbent leader was filled by the quick confirmation of the next occupant of the top position. It took away doubts of instability and ensured no confusion reigned in the minds of the people.

In Gadag, India, there exists a modern day version on the same lines. The Junior Chamber chapter at Gadag Betageri was finding it difficult to carry on. JCI membership is fixed at the age spectrum of 18 to 40 years. Rangu R Odugoudar and his colleagues were worried that the chapter would not live beyond them. They chose to ensure that Jayceeism would long live in Gadag.

In 1985, they founded the ‘Institute of Individual Development’ based on the philosophy of JCI. In 1987, they decided to start a Jaycee English School with emphasis on developing the personalities through training of soft skills. In 2007, a full-fledged Personality Development Training (PDT) was started for the students of Std 9. Sessions included discover yourself, public speaking, etiquettes, communication, leadership, goal setting, etc.

Top Coaches, G Balachandran from Calicut and S Sachidanand from Chikmagalur helped to put together the syallabus as well as a committed team of trainers from all over India who were ready to be part of the selfless initiative. An important part of the training team, Shiv Kumar passed away in 2013. But the program continued.

Rangu and his team were empowered to live their dream by all those who joined in the mission. The locals who joined into bring in resources as well as the others from elsewhere who gave their time and efforts... all united to impact and build on an enduring legacy. The inspirational initiative ensures that Gadag Betageri Jaycees lives long after its organisational death.

When we ‘unite to impact’ to build a legacy...

Dreams live long when we combine our energy

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

Winning

On Saturday the various chapters from BNI Goa participated in a cricket championship. Our team, BNI Aparant won all the matches enroute to winning the championship trophy. It all started with the resolve to undo the previous year’s lacklustre performance where we did not cross the league phase.

Indeed, it is important to learn from the previous effort to note the shortcomings as well as the successes. Team captain, Sujeet and team mentor, Dinesh decided to do all the right things and make all the necessary changes.

Foremost was the resolution to hire the services of a coach, Prashant Kakode. The onus of identifying competencies as well as nurturing the potential was now in hands of the expert who was from outside. His judgement was accepted by all as being in the interest of the common good of the team.

The players were able to build on their strengths and work on their weaknesses by working to a plan. They put in the extra efforts that help one transcend the threshold of full on performance. They sacrificed small pleasures for the greater goal that beckoned.

The non playing members too played a role in helping out with resources, time and motivational support. Most importantly, members of Aparant were there to support the organisers as well as other teams. The spirit of sportsmanship gave further impetus to the winning spree.

All in all, the above factors united to create the necessary impact: Learning from previous experience, guidance from the expert, methodical preparation, widening the support base and sporting spirit. The same factors unite to impact in other spheres of life as well. It is a combination that increases the probability of winning.

Learn from the past, choose the right guide,

Work to a plan, widen the support, be sporting in your stride...

When we allow these to ‘unite to impact’

Surely, winning will seem so easy to surmount and ride!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

Lightweight

A stone weighing 70kg is lifted on the fingertips by five, seven or eleven men who chant the name of saint, Kamarali Darvesh at his durgah at Shivpuri about 25 kilometers from Pune. The saint, who died 700 years ago, is said to be buried in that durgah. Faith seems to turn the heavy stone into a lightweight.

The above miracle loses shine when we see four persons lift such a stone on their fingertips without chanting any name. So often in training programs, we use a similar activity to showcase the seemingly magical phenomenon. Four persons use only their finger tips to lift a heavy person sitting on a chair. Lightweight youth have used their fingers to easily lift even a 120 kg person.

The explanation is simple. Lifting a weight on finger tips by four persons is based on the fact that the foursome uses their force at the same time to lift up the load. They do not feel the entire weight as it is equally distributed on their fingers. Besides the fact that the raising of the weight is done on the principle of leverage, it is very important that the foursome lifts together in unison to create the needed impact.

When four efforts unite in synchronising, the weight is equally distributed among the four. When we unite our efforts we are able to take on greater tasks. This unity of efforts is done by aligning, belief, actions and goals in a team. The impact of teams is enhanced by their ability to unite efforts. To be better at team working, we must unite to impact!

Let’s ‘unite to impact’ our efforts in a team, every date

And BE BETTER at turning heavy tasks into lightweight!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

Unite to Impact

My tribe of trainers loves to use videos to underline the message. One such popular video was created in 2007 as part of the Lead India Campaign launched by the Times of India Group. It can be easily viewed on the internet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFs5vWxW-vc

The early morning traffic is blocked by a fallen tree. On either side, people await a solution to the problem. Some people seem resigned to their fate. Some curse the Government for not removing them from their misery. To make matters worse, the rain starts pouring and adding to the gloom

But a young child drops his school bag and ventures to push aside the big tree with his little hands. Put to shame, the onlookers, one by one start joining him. Little children, college students and practically everyone joins in. Together they are able to shift the obstacle.

What seems a huge hurdle is easily overcome when many hands come together. While the child’s innocent initiative triggers the coming together of enthusiastic support, it is also pertinent to note that the rest, who join in, keep up the persistence. The eventual success is because they unite to impact.

Henry Ford said so well that ‘Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success’. It is good to come together and keep together, but to be better at create the right impact we must work together with focussed intention. We must ‘unite to impact’ by team forming, team bonding and team performing.

A famous Buddha quote identifies two mistakes while walking the road… one is not starting and the second is not going all the way. So many good initiatives are reduced to nought because people give up before the initiative is actualised. We must choose to be better at sustaining a continuous commitment to the initiative we take on or the one we join in.

Let’s ‘unite to impact’ with focussed intention...

to BE BETTER at overcoming the obstruction!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

Persevere

Today is the beginning of the second decade of Monday Muse. It started on the first Monday of 2004, in response to the request from the then National President of JCI India, Rajesh Chandak. The Monday morning email was based on my speeches delivered on his theme ‘Touch to transform’. However by March 2005, I succumbed to the pressure of Monday mornings. I quit.

Many readers called or messaged me to continue. I was pleasantly surprised to note that the very people, I had huge respect for, eagerly waited for my mail. Within four weeks I was back with a new name: Monday Muse! From rewritten speeches that I had delivered, it transformed into fresh writing. While my speeches were based on reading, now my writing was based on learning. Most importantly it was based on the latest musings on Monday morning.

Save for a few Mondays, when I was out of internet connectivity, it was shared on email, blogs and other e-groups. On days, when the muse seemed lost, earlier musings would be rewritten in fresh context. The writing based on learning was now moving to loftier level of thinking. It was triggering positive transformations in my various roles as trainer, orator, counsellor and analyst. Indeed the biggest impact of Monday Muse was on yours truly.

Surely none of this would have been possible, if I had not persevered. While it is good to start things, we need to be better at persevering with the initiative. So often, so many of us give up on a good thing, after getting into the habit of doing it regularly. It may be the morning exercise or the learning of a new skill or the pursuit of a hobby or the nurturing of a relationship.

It is said so well that ‘the drop hollows the stone, not through strength but by persistence’. Giving up immediately when you start is bad, but giving up after getting in the groove is surely a tragedy. To persevere we need to commit ourselves to not giving up. It is about making the choice of proactive living in the present time and space. My achievement is not in writing Monday Muse over ten years, it lies in the fact that I have chosen to persevere.

Monday Muse sustains on a choice to persevere...
no other way to be better at a cause that is dear!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India