2007: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

Last year I came across a classic Korean film on this title. Just like having a fresh tea while reading newspaper in the early – rainy morning, I had a tranquil experience with the film. The story is about the relationship in-between a Zen master and his disciple. In the back drop of four different seasons in a Monastery situated in the center of a lake; with 360⁰ mountain range, it narrates how a normal man with very common deeds and misdeeds is transforming as an enlightened master.

Like haiku, the message from the movie is very simple and deep. All of us are crossing the four seasons every year. Most of us are doing the routine things in our every day life. We know that life is cycle and continuum. Then what makes value addition to our time? One can’t take bath twice in the same river (Lao-tzu). The life with time is such a dynamic and spontaneous. May be the seasons are same in ever year. But our experience with same season in every year is new. My experience with last year spring and this year spring is different. At the same time, in most cases, I miss to sense the changes. Even in daily prayer, just keeping me with closed eyes and looking my inner side for just about 2 - 3 min. it self is painful and not happening very naturally. My biological clock is programmed to see, which I prefer or which is directed. In these processes we seriously miss the musing message of nature. Surprisingly, I’m alienating with me! 

At least retreat like processes is helping me to re – treat the changes and developments with in me. Beyond Institutional mandate, to me, such retreat processes are refreshing and recharging the self in the given institutional environment.

1. This is me:

“Crossing half the sky, 
on my way to the capital, 

big clouds promise snow”

- Basho 

I’m native of Triuttani (approximately 70 KM away from this retreat centre), presently working in Panchayat theme, central office and associating with Tata – Dhan Academy (TDA) in its academic services. My father was a banker, mother is homemaker and younger brother is lawyer. This January, I got married (from then, I loosed my bachelor’s position; she became my master), started my family in Madurai. All my family members have given freedom and holds great trust on me. this regulates me to be more responsible to them.

After finishing my Pharmacy graduation, I had my PG in Public administration. Mean while I also attempted for civil services examinations (CSE). Even though I could not succeed with CSE, with those preparations I gained wider exposure in multiple subjects and it tuned my learning attitude in to higher levels. Then I went through Program in Development Management at TDA. In my 20 years of academic journey, the TDA life is greatly impacted me in terms of building confidence, diversifying my perspectives and looking things laterally.

The prime reason for me to find in DHAN is its professionalism, cordial peer group and the culture with which the space for learning well rooted. Of course, my interest in public services also played role to be here. With my six years of association with DHAN, I could feel that, my understanding related with development sector is reached some leaps and bounce. My motivation level in democratic governance and Panchayat sector were significantly improved. I could gain strong perspective with Panchayat theme. Apart from my readings and references, my discussion with senior colleagues of DHAN (especially with my program leader Mr. Singarayar, Mr. Vallnayagam and our E.D) enforces crosscuts in my assumptions and perspectives.

2. Retreating about Program Activities:

“Those falling blossoms
all return to the branch when
I watch butterflies”

- Moritake

This year I had different kind of experience by associating with several responsibilities. With Panchayat theme, my major responsibility is shifted to program activities and sectoral operations.

          

Beyond the field activities my involvement and contribution with respect to regularizing the intra program communications, working for “Panchayattu thoodhu” (our theme’s news letter), contact building with external institutions, planning and execution of program trainings (EDP, Panchayat Functionaries, training to Panchayat representatives), Symposium event and documentation, Updating the sectoral knowledge, value adding our program components - IMPACTS (Institution building, Micro planning and implementation, Poverty reduction, Advocacy for policy changes, Capacity building, Transparent governance and Self – sufficiency) and positioning the C – PAD (Center for Panchayat Affairs and Development) are some of the important areas flashing in my mind, at this point of time. Most important thing is that, all these efforts were not just one man show. The team involvement and support from my program leader is very significant to execute my roles.

During the past five years, the relationship with my program leader, Singarayar sir is key element to unleash my ability. The existence of a sort of Guru – Sishya relationship in-between us is helped me a lot. His collegiality and freedom created space for self – learning with in me. In many occasions, his bare foot experience with the community and development sector is sourcing energy in to me. Both in my official and personal affairs, I faith his suggestions and value it. Apart from this, as for as Panchayat team concern, I have acute disappointment.

           

The association with Tata Dhan Academy as faculty is very different experience. It is interesting that, I’m teaching in the same institution, where I have studied. But metamorphosis of a field person to an academician demands serious and continuous attempts (In TDA, we need to balance the both thing too). Performing the role of faculty is not just about delivering a series of lectures; more than that it is related with facilitating learning process to the students, pinching at high standards to match with other faculty members, branding TDA as center of excellence and lot more. The academy experience and interactions with peer faculty, sculptures my thought process and makes enjoyable with my role. Beyond the class room sessions, I have taken up the responsibility of “TDA Alumni Association” coordination. The alumni association just exists in the virtual mode. My concern is to build “SPARK” (Standardization, Participation, Activation, Realization and Keep – tracking) among alumni. It needs consultation and active support from our E.D, TDA Director and my alumni - friends. Considering the increase number of alumni, growing demand, new campus initiation and other related matters, in the coming year I think, streangtning the alumni will be one of my priority tasks. 

Apart from these activities, with people academy, working for Diploma in Panchayat Management – course content refinement and facilitating seminar classes are very memorable. This year with the support and motivation of Sivakumar (CDC) I have introduced with development journalism. These days I have initiated to write in the editorial pages in the Janasakthi newspaper. Writing in media is helping me to synthesis my understanding and obviously, it vitalizes my writing skill.    

3. Retreating about Organization:

Singing, planting rice, 
  village songs more lovely 
than famous city poems

- Basho 

I was amazed and feel proud about DHAN Foundation’s decadal growth and impact. Its diversification, reach and scale were great. It is touching all most all the contemporary development themes. At this point of time, I’m remembering the philosophy of “Growth brings Quality” coined by our E.D some two years back. Yes. There is no second doubt in our growth and contribution to the society and sector. But as a learning organization, internally we also need to re – treat our self to keep our standards. I don’t know is it right forum or am I right person to spell out the gray areas (In my personally perception). But I feel that, retreating myself is includes my organization and my relationship with that. I could see some five trends with in our organization, which may pull down our virtue in long run.

¨            People are becoming as task managers: These days I could observe, increasingly people are treating it as regular job, with out putting their heart in their roles. Several colleagues are doing things, which is directed or suggested by their respective heads. Very rare innovations and self – initiatives from the younger colleagues are coming up.    

¨            Drain of trigger: These days, the space and time availability for younger colleagues to interact with seniors is reducing. Because of this the development orientation and emotional trigger, which is crucial for shaping younger colleagues are getting drained. Of course people have options to relate with next level senior staff, but the intensity and impact will not be as same as expected.       

¨            Working with Comparative excellence: In most conditions we are operating in comparative excellence. We are the best among other development players in the contemporary arena. But are we concern about our own absolute excellence? Every one of us needs to retreat on this.    

¨            Performance assessment tools: I feel the assessment of individual performance (the annual performance enabling program or appraisal) need more trigger and scientific. So far, except my first appraisal event, I never had any value addition or impact over the appraisal processes. Even for the last appraisal event, I had just 25 min. (20 min. in peer group + 5 min. in panel) to evaluate about my one year work and till date I never received any feedback from HRD. Unfortunately such inconsistency creates less hope on those processes.

¨            Hesitations for taking responsibilities: These days voluntarism for taking responsibilities, performing multiple roles are less prioritized by our colleagues. Even for facilitating daily prayer (in central office) people are not coming forward. Such hiding back attitudes never help us to excel in our purposes.  

May be these are not outcomes but these are indicators (and all are inter – linked) which need to be validated by all of us. The responsibility of keeping our standards is the responsibility of us. Of course, we have several great souls with us in all levels, who put their heart and blood for the development of our institution. At the same time, we also need to look neutrally of our activities to renew our selves at least to value them.     

4. Retreating about Self:

A single yam leaf
contains the entire life
of a water drop

- Kikaku

The days of 2007 is filled with pleasant memories. In terms of learning opportunities, relationship with peer members, task accomplishment, self satisfaction, peace in family front all are blessed well to me. But I need to gear-up my contributions, especially in the field activities and in academic initiatives. I think the coming year will be grateful to provide such opportunities. The only and prime concern which is increasingly disturbing is my financial condition. After the retirement of my father by July’ 2007, the family responsibilities were pressurizing me. Being away from my native for the past six plus years is disturbing some times. I’m trying to balance the things. But to me, it is always easy to writing a solution in paper than to practice it. We are happy by limiting our desires but not through achieving it; is it so?                 

5. The next spring…

First cherry blossoms,
a cuckoo, the moon and snow:
another year closes

-       Sanpu

Time is highly volatile element. With my limited life experience, I get convinced in two things. Surrendering with the nature and keeping the mind empty. James Allen use to say, nature is retreating and renewing itself. A tree flourishes; falls; meditates and rejuvenates very naturally. Regeneration will happen with “conscious saranaagathi” with the nature. As said by Picasso, “the best work is not yet started; the master piece rests in the next work”, the attitude of doing better than my best is my second learning. The beauty of life is in its suspense. Let’s expect, except expect!

These days, need is not the mother of invention; Invention is the mother of need! What ever idiotic thing got invented, by marketing techniques the corporate are creating the need. Our consumerism reaches to the height of universe. In this condition constructing a society with alternative value system needs synergic and continuous action. The challenge ahead is bigger than our imagination. Let’s hope the next spring will enrich me with greater and significant contributions to society, institution, family and self.