A 15-day train journey that takes one 8,000 kilometres across the length and breadth of India, covering 12 locations — Jagariti Yatra has been a great platform for current and budding entrepreneurs. We speak to four Hyderabadis, Bhavana Ravalla, Srinivas Chaitanya, Carol Rajala and Saawan Kabalavai, who went on this incredible journey and got to meet role models, change-makers and leaders who have made a difference to thousands of lives.
The group, which included people from different countries and different walks of life, started from Mumbai where they were briefed about what’s in store for them. “We then headed to the Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya in Dharwad, which imparts both education and arts and culture and Selco, a social enterprise that has been helping light up over two lakh households. We then went to the Art of Living centre at Bengaluru and had an hour-long discussion with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,” informed Bhavana; while Chaitanya added, “At each location, we would meet role models who shared their success story. Any business idea which worked in one geographical area can be replicated elsewhere and we come back and discuss how to go about it.”
Besides meeting a role models, at some locations, the yatris also had panel discussions. “In Bengaluru, we had various members as part of the panel including Rahul Yadav, co-founder of Housing.com, who spoke about digital India and their entrepreneurial journey,” says Saawan.
The group then headed to Arvind Eye Care in Madurai, who are on a mission to eradicate blindness at a low cost, and then they met M.S. Swaminathan in Chennai, who is termed as the father of Green Revolution.
Besides the Akshay Patra Foundation in Vizag, who gives mid-day meals and have played an important role in many students coming back to school, the yatris also visited the naval dockyard. “We tried to understand in what ways could entrepreneurs contribute to them. For example, they have a large requirement for marine paints, which is currently not done in India. The idea was to recognise what all can be localised,” says Chaitanya.
The group then headed to Gram Vikas, Berhampur, an NGO founded by Joe Madiath who has been working towards providing safe drinking water, toilets and sanitation to the rural public through community participation. “The idea was that the community participates and builds a better infrastructure. If you want to uplift the society, do it together,” adds Chaitanya.
They then headed to the Nalanda University in Rajgir and learnt more about their ideas on how to get it back to the times when it was considered one the best universities. The group then headed to Deoria in Uttar Pradesh where each group (42 of them) had to pitch business ideas on how to create employment which would be sustainable by itself.
In Delhi, they got to learn how the NGO Goonj functions before moving to Tilonia in Rajasthan, which they call one of the best stops. “We met Bunker Roy who started the Barefoot College, where they teach women about solar electrification among other things, so they can go back to their village and build it on their own, so they are self-sustainable. And not just India, women from across the globe including those from Latin America, Zimbabwe come down to learn.”
Their last stop was Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad. There are various points that each budding entrepreneur took back from the trip. And many lessons that they got to learn. It was also one of the best platforms to network with people with similar interests.
Chaitanya, 27, who started c6 agriscience, says, “For me, it’s about perspective. I used to get tensed a lot, I have now cooled down a bit. And I am inspired to work a lot more.” Saawan, 24, who is part of an NGO, Yuvatha, says “I found out that lack of education is the root cause of many problems. My effort, henceforth, would be to educate as many children as we could through the orphanages we have tied up with.” While Carol, 25, adds that “My biggest takeaway would be discipline. The trip was inspirational.”
