Blue Ribbon Movement
13 Jan 2015: For all those of you who wanted to support our work @ Blue Ribbon Movement, now is the time!
Our programs for gender (Avanti Foundation Young Women Leadership Forum) and civic engagement (NSS Community Connect Fellowship which is working on 1916 — A city savior) are both scaling up…
So, all your support — funds, resources (in-kind), contacts (with donors, press and others who could help), your good wishes and blessings will help take the work forward!
I find it useful to remind myself that this is OUR work — not the work of a person or an organization but of the force for good. The force that flows through all of us, the force that needs to be channeled, organised and grown.
So, what are you waiting for? Hop right on! Inbox me to continue the conversation :)
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20 March 2014: Over the years I have explored the idea of leadership deeply both in theory and action — from Ontology to psychological insights and from Integral theory to service learning. All of this translates into social change at Blue Ribbon Movement
And, the best of this comes together at Relead (www.re-lead.org), our flagship leadership development program.
I personally recommend this to everyone who intends to explore what should they do with their life and move their leadership journey to the next level :)
Relead happens at IIM — Bangalore and Fireflies Ashram from 27 May to 1 June 2014 and will be an experience of a lifetime!
Do spread the word :)
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21 March 2014:
At Blue Ribbon Movement, we believe that leadership will change the world.
But what do we mean by leadership really?
While it is an ongoing conversation, to me, leadership is a stand that one takes in ones life….
Begins with owning your life is your own — living by principles that you believe in and come from your experiences, and having the courage to own the consequences too….
It is living on your own terms and parameters — standing for what you believe is right (answers often come from within)….to weave a pattern of meaning into life….
Then it is about having the larger dream — of emptying yourself to let something much larger than you operate through you…..to harness the basic instinct we all have — of going beyond ourselves and reaching out for something more eternal…..
And it is a lifelong journey of growth, of empathy and co-working, of constant improvement, of contribution, of moving out of comfort zones, of inner alignment and of walking the talk.
Hope to explore a lot of these at Relead — www.re-lead.org
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4 Aug 2014: In the last two days, we had conversations with about 400 of the brightest youngsters in Mumbai for Blue Ribbon Movement’s NSS CCF.
We have selected 150 of those, who will go through an intensive year-long leadership program.
Having gone through the process, I am delighted at the quality of people opting to serve the country.
And, the program will help them discover themselves (rather than copy great leaders), understand democracy (rather than becoming dominating leaders) and transform the city systemically (rather than a one-off ‘fun’ project).
We have put together a world class program for them — so they are in safe hands too! :)
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18 Aug 2014: As Blue Ribbon Movement goes global, we splash across media around the world….
As an example, here is my recent project-visit to Argentina covered by a newspaper in Liechtenstein — here’s to a global movement for sustainability…. Sustainaware!!!
With projects, employees, friends and programs from around the world, we are the beneficiaries of technology that has made it so easy to connect and collaborate around the world…..in so many ways, the world feels like our playground!
Thank you Jan Peloza Alfredo Daniel Redondo Robin Schädler
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21 Nov 2014: Over the last week, we looked at a uniquely Indian approach to Sustainability — as a part of Blue Ribbon Movement’s participation in Sustainaware.
Sustainaware explores sustainability across countries. We undergo training and experience the challenges of each partner country.
The programme will culminate with the publication of a toolkit for educators of sustainability (to be translated into Hindi as well).
Some beautiful moments transpired, as young people from 9 countries (from Argentina to Liechtenstein) explored Gandhi’s ideas, experienced rural India and reflected on their inner journey.
The immensely warm hospitality in Ramnagar (a village with 4000 people) not only enriched the garba-playing visitors but gave the people a feel that we are now a global family.
As our participants performed for children at a primary school, they were no longer guests — they were friends! And through volunteering at Seva Cafe Ahmedabad, and Moved By Love, along with doing workshops on Gandhi and Integral theory, they explored a uniquely Indian approach to sustainability.
In the process, we took a step towards bridging the great gap between the developed and developing world regarding Sustainable Development.
More importantly though, we affirmed that the challenge is global and belongs to all of us — every meeting ended with a collective chant given by Vinoba Bhave, “Bolo re Bhagat, Jai Jagat (Glory to the world)!”
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31 Jan 2015: Today, 500 of us are going to walk from Churchgate to Azad Maidan as part of 1916 — A city savior campaign of Blue Ribbon Movement’s NSS CCF.
It is not a walk of protest or for any demands — it is a walk of solidarity to transform Mumbai.
At Azad Maidan, instead of a divisive, angry agitation we will hold a celebration and appreciation of the changes we have been able to bring about.
Instead of a rally where a handful of people ‘speak to’ a crowd, we have decentralised conversations where the conversation is between people — conversations of what are our possibilities, what are our commitments and what are we going to do.
And, it is not only young people cribbing about the ‘system’ — it is the ‘system’ itself, including MCGM, who will join us in this conversation, because our problems need everyone to jump in.
So, to me the BIG idea is not about the numbers or the occasion — but about sowing the seeds of a truly participative democracy.
I am convinced that it is this spirit of collective problem solving that will move the city, the nation and the world!
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25 March 2015: Wednesday Wanderings….
As the founder of Blue Ribbon Movement I have a right to feel blue…
In fact, it is a great idea to feel blue, sad, cynical and all of that before someone ‘takes offence’ and asks for a ban on feeling sad. Any happy people out there planning to?
So yes, I feel blue….and the only thing I feel more than that is the need to be in IIT. Everywhere I see, there are ads telling me to go to IIT. In newspapers, hoardings, buses….maybe even behind my toilet seat (I haven’t checked).
Have you noticed that ads don’t feature anyone with thick noses. I, being someone with a thick nose, plan to write an ‘open letter to the thin nosed people’ about it….if I ever manage to get time….
Who has the time? Who has the time? At the mall they understand this very well — so they have placed the ATM right in the middle of the food court. The water of course is quite a walk away…..but there is hope!
You can buy ‘packaged drinking water’ filled up a few hundred miles away, in a shiny plastic bottle, above MRP, paid to a non-Indian brand…..can’t make our own water in India, can we?
But I must pause here….this is already making me feel better….you know, the joy of posting on the Facebook timeline, signing a few online petitions, a few Whatsapp forwards here and there and a plan to ‘someday’ contribute….to change all this….it’s perfect…..
Meanwhile, I connected two of my very intelligent, opinionated friends on Facebook…..they sit on two opposite sides of economic policy (far right and far left). Both want a great India and a better world. They have promised they won’t come to blows.
Maybe they will talk. Two people with opposing views collectively searching for truth…..That, at least, I can say for sure, is good for the world.
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26 Nov 2016: The constitution is not an impersonal, sterile document that sits out there in cold courtrooms or law colleges.
Rather, it is my word, my promise to the rest of you Indians and your promise to me. It is the ‘rules’ that we have agreed to live by and hold each other accountable to, so that we may live a civilized and dignified life.
It is a sacred document because it applies irrespective of your religion, economic status or gender.
Let ours be a constitution that we guard with our life, whose violation we take very serious offense to and the one that we keep reinventing generation after generation.
Thank you, Babasaheb and all those who drafted it. Deeply grateful to you all.
#SamvidhanLIVE #TheJagrikProject Blue Ribbon Movement Youth Collective 5th Space Community Connect Fellowship — CCF
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26 Nov 2016: Anyone who was 18 years old when we adopted the constitution will be 82 years by now.
Which means anyone under 82 years of age has pretty much ‘received’ the constitution and had to make it their own.
What would we have liked in our constitution if we were to design it?
To reasonably answer that, perhaps, we must understand our current constitution fully first.
#TheJagrikProject #SamvidhanLive 5th Space Blue Ribbon Movement Youth Collective
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24 Mar 2017: Through Fools’ Forum we’re collectively ploughing the social-soil of the city and allowing seeds to be scattered…
Seeds of new ideas and existing communities, of local initiatives and global solidarity, of the possibilities of being moved by love….it is another stone-soup where we come and do some bucbuc (chit chat)….
We’re attempting this in a public space (instead of a paid enclosed hall) because it is time for us to move into the city more and more, engage with it not only from our homes and ghettos but also from where its people live….
Like most attempts, its likelihood of success is quite uncertain — but if you come (or invite others), it will increase by a little bit! :)
29 June 2017:
Communities are ancient but they are also the future of our organizing.
Today the state and corporations come in to do what communities cannot.
Right from policing neighbourhoods to enforcing contracts and from producing reliable goods to providing work, communities can do these more efficiently and effectively.
However, with the social fabric of cities not-yet-formed fully, we are yet to fully realise the power of coming together as communities for generative (and even structural) change.
At Blue Ribbon, one of the many journeys we are on is to reclaim the power of community — one of the places to do that is the Fools Forum!
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19 Sept 2017:
Are we, the middle class, are scared of our own power?
I’m starting to reach this conclusion seeing how people are responding to co-created events at Blue Ribbon.
Two things are emerging.
One : we love to SAY a lot (about being concerned about what is happening and need for change) but we are very reluctant to SHOW UP outside our own domains
(that event’s clashing with my aunt’s visit / my only day off / my dentist appointment)
Two : we love to CONSUME (when someone else is dishing out wisdom from the stage) but struggle to CO-CREATE
(offer sessions or hold conversations on themes that matter to us or bring our art into the political domain or collaborate)
Both of these apply to me as well. Hence, I am convinced about the need to hold spaces where we, the tribe of people wanting to catalyze change can come in and have conversations that matter to US (and not to event organizers) and initiated by us then and there (not through mind-reading).
Such spaces initially make people wonder what’s going on — they can’t stand the ambiguity of an unconference or imagine initiating a conversation in public about something that matters to them (main kaun hota hoon?)
But over time, I am sure we shall start shifting from pre-created events (where someone else is doing all the deciding and the talking) to co-created spaces (where we initiate what matters to us)
Over time, I hope we will take up these opportunities to show up in solidarity take the leap of co-creation. And that in turn will help us start connecting to what’s truly possible for us — our real power!
On that note, here’s me inviting all my Mumbai friends to come and join their tribe @ Ekatva on 2nd October @ Don Bosco ;)
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23 Sept 2017: I do not want power over anyone nor do I want to give my power to anyone.
This seems like a good starting point for organizing ourselves.
Any collaborations and joint action then will be in the nature of a dance — where two or more willing, consenting individuals associate out of choice.
They do not come together because one is more powerful, or the other is more deficient etc. They don’t join in the nature of a transaction of give and take (for money or otherwise).
Rather, they hang out as free human beings who see the value and joy of togetherness.
Such a collective then has each person owning their power and yet willingly combining it to create something much larger and powerful.
Such power is not created out of seduction or some overpowering ideology, out of charisma or the force of money or tradition.
Such power is born out of a simple and creative invitation, and it is held in place like any dance is — tuning into the music, we move and slowly our movements become more graceful and beautiful, more potent.
At Blue Ribbon Movement the intent is to co-create such a collective — it is a different journey from creating a collective with one central person or ideology surrounded by worshipers.
Free thinking people can be a pain but given enough time we can see the shared ground that holds us (the BRM spirit!) and learn to act together and yet out of independent free will.
Such a movement then, hopefully ceases to be violent and doesn’t force anyone to do anything at all. It relies on the seeing of the individual.
I feel there is a link between force and the use of money / hierarchy (which enables the application of this force). When we take out the force, there is much lesser need of these because each of us is standing in our own wholeness.
We have had cults and collectives that have come together at various times in humanity around a handful of leaders or around an overarching ideology.
We are at very early stages of this and it may never happen the way we imagine — but if it does, it will be a beautiful creation that is not bound by anything (including a “name” like Blue Ribbon) and yet will have the potency to birth a newer world for our coming generations.
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2 Oct 2017: On the occassion of Ekatva: The 3rd Fool’s Forum, I want to express my oneness with the ‘other’ in my life….
As a man I am one with the struggles of all genders including with women, the sisterhood represented primarily in my world by Suruchi Aulakh
As an Indian I connect to the shared heritage of South Asia including with Pakistan with Naseem Khan Achakzai
As an urban guy I express my shared roots with rural India including Kapil Jain
As a colonial subject, I express shared humanity with my ex-colonizers including Elsie Bryant
As a citizen, I express my gratitude with the government including Anuj Gupta
As a non-party politics person, I reaffirm my solidarity with party politics changemakers including Ruben Richard Mascarenhas
As a “WHO” axis of social change I celebrate my co-existence with the WHY axis (Ravi Badri) and the HOW axis (Jithin C Nedumala)
As Mumbai Alternative communities, solidiarity with all the alternative communities around the world including Bangalore’s Aikyam Sandeep Anirudhan
As a 30 something I acknowledge my oneness with the tweens (Ananya) and elders-generation represented by dad
Many other divides including of the ‘employer’ (Pranali our maid), solidarity with the struggle of castes (represented in my world by Vasudha Ratawal and Priyadarshini Ohol among others), with the other regions of India (particularly North East represented for me by Indrajit Sinha and Supriya Khound)
Being physically alive, my ekatva with those who are no longer physically manifest including Shreyas Thaker and Rooshikumar Pandya
As a living being, I want to acknowledge the existence of my mac (under repair) and phone (recently cracked) as well as the multicoloured toy-lizard that is keen to be my pet
And finally I want to cherish and relish my connection with you (the reader) across space (wherever you are) and time (whenever you read this)
Ekatva ❤
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3 Oct 2017: The rare occassion of me reading a newpaper reveals news about two ‘movements’.
One, my prime minister declaring Swachh Bharat as a movement (and later 5 states as ODF)
Two, that Zee as a people’s movement completes 25 years.
I’m not gonna tally Maharashtra as ODF status with the rare sighting of a person defecating on tracks only day before yesterday — I think Swachh Bharat has traction.
I won’t even ask how a private limited company that brought in cable TV now proclaims itself to be a movement — perhaps it is.
But I am enjoying this fluidity to use the word ‘movement’ that is being exercised.
I think its a fluidity that I must also exercise — using words the way I want them to
So here’s my attempt
As the prime minister of myself, I claim to be a media mogul (on basis of this one facebook post).
And in my own republic I use the word ‘movement’ ONLY for anything that is
- citizen owned, citizen supported
- open for participation by multiple types of entities : organizations, individuals and networks
- has a direction of its own, co-created by its members in an active inquiry
Hence, I re-affirm my right to call Blue Ribbon a Movement (it was a lie at some point, or perhaps an intention but I said it anyways. Maybe these guys are also saying it as an intent and perhaps these two — Zee and Swachh Bharat can really be peoples movements if we owned them more and its owners let-go of them more too)
For now, I am not accepting any petitions on this matter in my republic — Zee is a TV channel and a profit making media conglomerate (my best wishes to it) and Swachh Bharat is an initiative of the current government of India in line with its larger vision (best wishes there too!)
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23 Oct 2018:
Presenting….the BLUE heart!!!
💙
Available to express universal love, the love that each of us experiences towards other human beings, animals, plants and even inanimate matter!
The Blue Heart reminds us of the blue skies that we all share and the blue planet that we all live on….and is an expression of the love that makes this world truly stay together and move….
While the red heart has shades and complexities and layers and layers (and has been overused), the blue’s shades remind us of different degrees of universal love (from non-violent sky blue to highly spiritual purple)….
This is a place where we all meet….the space of oneness and Ekatva….
This is the love we gotta spread like a wildfire….and get things moving!
And before we know it, transformation will happen, emerging out of the blue!!
Blue Ribbon Movement
