26 days of Iran-Israel-US war. We are worried about ourselves, our immediate worlds. We seem to be watching. Muted, passive. We are worried about safe passages through the Strait of Hormuz. Gas, Oil et al. Each one of us are worried about our local interests, local economic interests. Not about peace. Not about stopping the war. We cannot even mourn the dead. Why is this war? Any justified cause? Why is it killing civilians then? Why is this talk of a pause, why not an end?
GIZ’s Rajeev Ahal is ‘retyring’. Towards a portfolio of `scale-out’ and `scale-in’ for population level diffusion and impacts. Landscape level systems, economies. His new current portfolio includes: Executive Director, Himalayan Institute for Transformative Actions, HITA; Anchor, Policy engagement, Consortium for Agroecological Transformations, CAT; Associated with – Gulmeher Foundation, Shakti Foundation India; Support – The Kutumb, homestay, HP. More to come.
Trust matters. Traceability, Endorsement, Authenticity matters – through brand, label, certificate.
The past few weeks have taken us into reflections, conversations on the need, scope; structure, size; resources, culture et al of higher learning institute/institutions. More than organizations, networks, forums, and platforms. Conversed with people behind extraordinary institutional build-ups – ISB, IIMA, IRMA, NDDB, AMUL, and the current ‘leaders’. We are exploring whether we need one with an NF backbone. The response is a resounding yes. The scope, therefore, has to be bold, yet feasible, possible – IIMA’s ‘Intellectual nerve centre, excellence in scholarship, leaders, for Indian Industry’; Dairy Board’s inclusive sustainable milk, agriculture and allied; or prosperity of small and marginal farmers through cooperation; AMUL’s farmers’ prosperity through best value for customers in dairy and food; IRMA’s managers and leaders for sustainable rural prosperity, in rural India; ISB’s business thought leadership and research-driven business leaders for India and the world.
What will it be or this? Inclusive climate resilient circular/cyclical NF Food System in India and outside? More than research, evidence; more than training; more than supply chain management; more than quality control? Deep-tech, systems change, policy, movement, management, integration, strategy, leadership. Mentoring, Participation, Practice, Agency, Inclusion, People’s Institutions, Sustainability. Creating and spreading a discipline of science/practice/study.
No compromise on key HR, faculty; participants’ eligibility; quality research, education, learning processes, and systems. Globally bench-marked. Knowledge repository. Flagships: 100-180 day Senior Leadership; 1-year leadership for the working professional; 2-year management for the young executive leaders; 5-6 year integrated for highly talented. Cohorts would be small, not exceeding 100. 50%+ field, practice-centric pedagogy/andragogy. Case discussions, live labs, group learning. Partners/employers inclusion in mentoring, teaching, assignments.
Founders, Board, Team, Leader matter. Catching them young matters. Endowment, scholarships too.
Do we understand ageing? Dignified ageing. As the brain ages, our memory becomes weak. As muscles age, we may walk a bit slowly, we may work a bit slowly. We may have to move more. We may have to spend more time in the sun. Take rest, lie down, if not sleep. If arms and legs are hurting, as the nervous system ages, we may have to do some exercise. A little higher blood pressure, 150/90 or 160/100 mmHg is all right, as we age. We need company to connect, converse, talk, eat, walk et al. Let us not be lonely. Let us not stop working, reading, writing et al. Let us be in-charge of our lives till the end. Let us look at stages as: 50-70/75 years, middle age; 70-80/85, golden age; then old age.
Can we realize this HLI? Can we get a satisfying portfolio? Can we age with dignity, leaving legacies?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Being at it, relentless, inch-by-inch. In N? nirantarayoga for 7L.