Dream DISHA

Finally my long time Dream of DISHA came into reality. DISHA’s website, logo and services got inaugurated in a public function by Padma Shree Dr. Vijay Bhatkar on 6^th Feb.

Last few days I was busy with planning of this function and my team gave their best to make it a successful and memorable event.  Kudos Guys!

If I faintly remember it was my first year in IIM Ahmedabad when I had this idea hovering over my mind. I shared with some smart chaps around but going at grass-root level to make fundamental change wasn’t sound that interesting to folks dreaming about consulting and i-banks. Over the time my consulting career ambitions overshadowed my dream and I joined them in the rat-race.

Next few years I was desperate to climb value chains. Over the time I reached where I wanted and all set for a swanky consulting job in New York.  On a fine day in my US stay I asked is this my dream? If not what is that stopping me from pursuing what I am really passionate for? The answer was one of the most intimidating words in English language ….RISK.

It was RISK of leaving the certain career path for something uncertain. The RISK of stable life for something that might throw me into instability.  When these thoughts were hovering on my mind I came across these famous quotes which came to my rescue.

“A ship in harbor is safe – but that is not what ships are built for”…… John A. Shedd

John Shedd’s quote helped me to gather the courage I needed to resume the journey of DISHA.  When I came down to India and got a chance to visit my school to conduct Career Guidance Session, I told myself that I need to come out of my safe zone to do something substantial to make a difference. The below quote of Anis Nin rightly described my feeling.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” …Anis Nin.

I came down to Pune and shared my ideas with folks around. First it was Sahasrabudhe Sir Director, COEP which I still consider my second home. Then Dr. Vijay Bhatkar who accepted to grace the function as a chief guest and finally Prof. Mandake who is a timeless inspirator to all COEPians.  It could not have possible without the zest and zeal of SPANDAN members, whom I always consider as my extended family members.

DISHA has embarked its journey with blessings and wishes of you all. As I assured in the DISHA Inauguration function we will work hard to make it happen.  Ultimately, we are in business of Making a Difference !

Please Visit DISHA’s website here and Facebook Page to extend your support.

Plenty of Problems and Problem of Plenty

It’s been two weeks since I came down to city. It wasn’t a great time though. Pune has changed a lot and unfortunately most of it is not for good reasons. There are many things which can make you feel bad ….undsciplined traffic….corrupt system….’who cares’ attitude…..hopeless service providers and their helpless call centers are ones I recently experienced.

It might be because I am still in transition from west to east but fact is we have lot many problems around and one feel helpless for not able to change it. When I get time to come out of this frustration and wear my thinking hat ….I reached at the conclusion….we have a Problem of Plenty.

1. We have so many people that we lost important of human life
2. We have so many scandals and corruption that we accepted it as a part of our lives
3. We have so many vehicles that they don’t mind running on walking pedestrians due to lack of enough space on road
4. We have so many uncatched subscribers that last thing on service providers mind it to retaining the one who are there
and the list continues ……

When I was getting frustrated with this Chinta’s wisdom helped me to focus.
“One can’t change all of them but one can focus on what one feels he can change”

Starting from my school – LNHV

When I was working on the concept of extending DISHA I thought the best place to start is my own school.  It was great coincidence when within a day I landed up in India I got a call from the school that they would like to host me for a Career Guidance session for their students. I was excited for same.

This took me to down my memory lanes.  Jamkhed and its schools were pathetic when it came to competitive education.  Students’ development was last thing on school’s agenda. By hook or crook students used to aim to get high scores and then choose default careers. You won’t believe it was me who first appeared for NTS and IIT exams from my school.

Things haven’t changed much. Schools tried doing different things but they have their own limitations. Coaching classes still teach short cuts for success and computer institutes are functioning more like cyber cafes. Parents are helpless and still measure their kids on percentage barometer. Students are showing innovativeness in cheating in their exams.

I conducted 1 hour session in LNHV and emphasized that its students are not less capable of doing anything lesser than their urban counterparts.  I tried convincing them the importance of attitude, perseverance and hard-work from my own example. The session lasted with many good questions from the curious and inquisitive minds. I was overwhelmed when many students lined up after the session for my autograph.

I still feel pride that I started my dreamed journey from this school. I never spared a single exam and competition in my school and college days. The first helped to shape me intellectually and later shaped my personality.

But I was among few who made their own paths. I fear that there are many who can get lost in their career journey if they don’t get right direction at right time. One hour session will linger in student’s minds for not more than few days and when they face realities like lack of guidance, resources and facilities will they give up?  They urged me to do more than hosting such sessions.  This germinated concept of ‘learning centers’ in my mind. I will continue working on it in coming future.

New Dream, New Journey, New Destination

New year is always a time for resolutions. But I have done enough of them in past. This year I prefer dreams. Reason being simple, resolutions are more static whereas dreams are more dynamic. Resolutions are like rules meant for getting broken, dreams can’t be governed with any rules. Resolutions are more confined on the other hand dreams have no boundaries…..

I have a dream ….dream of making a difference. I started SPANDAN and then DISHA to make difference. They have served their purpose but same time gave me courage to dream further. I see real life problems around which can be solved with some dedication and devotion and I am resuming new journey to equip myself for same.  

While conducting DISHA over last 5 years I came across a problem of ‘Skills Gaps’ and ‘Lack of Job Readiness’ among many students. Same time there is huge divide between the rural and urban students. In the age of competitiveness and digitization I expect this divide to get widen further in coming future.

I dreamed to come up with the solution for this problem and expanded scope of DISHA to DISHA Career Development Institute.  I started marching on journey to develop students to help them to meet their destinations. Stay tuned for the interesting stories ahead.

Dream a Day

When I look back to the journey of my life I realize the importance of dreams. It’s only because of my dreams which made me to achieve extra-ordinary things though being an ordinary. Dreams weave magic. They make you to feel good, they stretch you to give your best shot at anything and they guide you towards your destinations.

When I was pondering on what I really want to do in my life the answer was simple.. DREAM!

Every day I would like to wake a dream and then enjoy the journey towards it. Dream a Day is effort to share my dream journey with you. I am thankful to many of you who encouraged me at earlier blog Final Destination. I will look forward to your comments/feedback/criticism.