Yogakshemam 080924
Participatory swaadhyaay
Verghese Kurien (26 November 1921 – 9 September 2012), the milkman of India. Amul(s), Dairy Board, White Revolution, Operation Flood, Anand Pattern Cooperatives, IRMA, Tribhuvandas Foundation, Indian Immunologicals, Operation Goldenflow, Cooperatives in oilseeds and edible oils, fruits and vegetables, salt, electricity, tree-growing/commons et al, MIO, Dhara et al. India became self-sufficient in milk by 1998, and the largest milk producer in the world. Dairy programmes in the Soviet Union, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and China.
Blessed to be an alumnus of direct classes by K, IRMA, Dairy Board, NTGCF/FES, and intense association in situ at Anand, for 8 years, and thereafter. Master could transform our causes, needs, and criticalities into our dreams, values, and desires. And he let us learn to appeal to these to give ourselves, our time, energy, and resources. He taught us this transformation. Can we do this, now?
Can we be open to living, breathing, refreshing diverse alternative views, lenses, economics, career(s), and ways of working? Can we choose courage? Diligently, consistently, not rashly. We cannot change the truth by labelling, interpreting differently. Can we nudge change, bit-by-bit, byte-by-byte?
Should we be in start-ups, or take charge of existing ‘enterprise, mission, program, and organizations’? Or advisers or join on boards? Governance stewards? Independent directors? Devil’s advocates? Mentors to CXOs, influencers? Visioning, Design supporters? Communicators, articulators, champions, or resource builders – people, partners, knowledge, and funds? Strategy developers, Intelligence gatherers/providers, Learning facilitators, Technical supporters, Planners, Trackers, Monitors, and Evaluators? Networkers, forum conveners, and platform orchestrators? Or just plain consultants, expert advice givers, statutory compliance guides, or task-based resource persons? Or hybrid possibilities, portfolio(s)?
We have 168 hours a week. 70 hours (10 hours a day) are required for maintenance – sleep, food, exercise, etc. 40-60 hours for ‘work’, leaving 38-58 hours. Can we dedicate 15-20 hours for doing what we want, and 15-20 hours for learning? Some 70,000 hours in the entire lifetime, post schooling, for 7R. Reading books, articles, seeing films, videos, visiting places, communities, getting skills-tools, etc., apart from reflection and practice. Can we identify ‘classics’ – one has to read, see, visit, get – and read et al. Maybe at least 1000 each in our post-school lifetime. Can we?
A Student learns maximum in the moment when s/he wants to learn. Through stories, experiences, role plays, iterative exercises, groupworks, home tasks et al. When s/he asks. When s/he does, s/he practises. When s/he observes, writes, and shares. And when s/he teaches. Can we make it participatory, fieldwork-centric, skill-tool centric, exercise-centric, practice-centric, and experience-centric? Can we take them into learning loops? Can we help them to unlearn, reflect, inquire, pursue, and practice? Can we be true teachers, who do not teach, but help students to learn and go forward on their own? Can we remain connected, engaging, challenging, and inspiring, in ‘meaningful sized’ packets at a pace that works with student-learners? Both technical core, concept, content, and processes/practices; and ways, skills, and tools to take the core forward. Hard-soft skills. Being, doing, living, relating, leading, and serving. Can we do it?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, if teacher-learners are in flow streams. In N? dhaarayoga for 7L.
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