First Orientation Session

The latest from i-dream is that we have designed a new 2 Day workshop for the students at the graduate and the undergraduate level. The idea is to go to the youths of the country and try to influence their mindset. A very difficult task, I can assure you.

I did my first orientation session regarding the same today at College of Education, a B.Ed college imparting training to future teachers. We know that this profession was once a worshipped one but today it has become a lot more commericalized. Nonetheless, a teacher still has enormous power in his/her own individual capacity to influence a large number of minds during their entire lifetime.

Students and other people present today liked the session, but when I asked them whether they would be willing to spend Rs. 300 to train themselves on environment, only 10 out of I think 70 odd people said yes. That is the irony of the situation. I asked them if I give you Rs. 500, what would they do with it. I heard all the typical answers like shopping, movie, good food etc but none came up with a socially relevant answer. That is certainly unfortunate but then that is also the reality. And it is against this mindset only that I am fighting.

The journey to a green tomorrow is a journey about joining the dots. The dots in this case refer to the people. It is not like we talk to some 100 people, educate them about environment and everything would be set right. This journey has to go on from one group to another, one institution to another, one area to another, one city to another and may be ultimately from one country to another country. Its a slow journey but trust me, its worth it. And I am sure and I hope that others will join in the journey as well, sooner or later.

My i-pod is enjoying the feel of this wonderful city of Delhi these days and with Dilli-6 releasing today, it has as usual got the perfect timing by switching on now, " ye shahar nahin mehfil hai, ye dilli hai mere yaar". Enjoy!