There are books we read for knowledge, books we read for leisure, and then there are books like "Middle Diamond of India" which we read to feel—books that give us goosebumps. I hail from a tier-three town in Gujarat and I'm trying to do my bit for Bharat through startups I've undertaken. Though I've never been to Jagriti Yatra, I could sense the experience by reading this book. I'll skip telling you about the experiences and insights Shashank shares, but I'll share my reflections on the Middle Diamond, of which I'm also a part.
I deeply believe in the idea of yatra (journey) for individual development. That's why I solo-travel—not for leisure, but to understand people and cultures across our union's various states. For the past four years, I've been traveling around 20,000 km annually. Through this book, I understood how such a yatra can play a vital role in national development. The concept and impact of journeying with like-minded people differ greatly from traveling alone. I feel every human soul has a quest, and when they embark on a yatra with doubts in their minds and hearts, that quest builds the individual. However, experiences like Jagriti Yatra inspire and connect people to come together for our nation's development.
Through my travels, I can say with certainty that one must journey to the hinterlands of our nation to truly understand it and its people. This experience led me to nurture the idea of my startup, a policy think-tank. The more I travel and meet people, the clearer my vision for my organization becomes. These journeys also help me birth small ideas that will create a positive impact.
I've spent about seven years with my endeavor, Idume Lifesite, where I was fortunate to work with many teenagers, most of whom were trying to figure out what kind of work they would do. I realized it's not the scope of work, opportunities, or monetary benefits that fuel passion, but finding meaning and discovering a deep purpose in whatever work they do. So, I started helping them relate to the deeper meaning of work and life, which I believe is crucial for individual development.
Somewhere in this book, I remember Somini Sengupta saying, "Aspiration is like water, unless given a path to flow, it can drown." This made me ponder how we can inspire our people's aspirations. Can the idea of the Democratic Republic of India truly do that? I ask myself this question. I felt we need to rethink this idea of democracy and bring about changes that suit us—a demographically vibrant and rich nation.
Fortunately, in September 2024, I had the opportunity to interact with Shashank Mani ji and other Parliamentarians about this. It ignited new thoughts in my mind, and I'm sure it will lead me to visit the Deoria constituency soon to better understand and add more value to democracy. This will help define the role of citizens in our nation, which is surely much more than paying taxes and voting in elections.
This book makes me wonder why we need to accept Socialism or Capitalism as our economic model. Why can't we create a Bharatiya Model of Economics that would be inclusive and led by entrepreneurs who will shape our nation's destiny, supported by the elite class, and together aid the vulnerable class? This is something we must build together for ourselves and for generations to come.
Of course, I strongly recommend you read this book, but more than that, I encourage you to take part in Jagriti Yatra as a life experience. At the very least, listen to the theme song "Yaaro Chalo" and feel the vibe to change yourself for the nation.