Life is a forward progression and not a regression of the past. This life we live is a vehicle that takes us to the destination we destined to reach but there is no google map for that destination. The destination that’s so unique as our individual lives, There is no duplication but we cross path, travel together but still every men and women has their own journey, own story and their own mission to accomplish before we kiss a good bye to our life.
All said, every year is a good year and the yesteryear traveller is better than before and he is more prepared for life in every new year. My review of this year is so blessed to say that I had my own ups and downs but worth a million dollars of experience, I have gained in this year. My life was all about my passion, my growth, my family and my progress. It was always more about me than about others. The year 2015 is beginning to think beyond me, myself and I, the year where my passion transformed to compassion.
Every tough situation was a blessing in disguise to understand life from a different lens. On the career front won few awards, honoured with a PhD and could publish my second book. On the family front could manage the expectations and some unavoidable circumstance not to mention the recent floods in Chennai had his own havoc on my native home, nevertheless blessed to see nothing really changed our love for family.
I am grateful to 3 situations that changed my perspective about life.
  1. The first act is to donate the earnings from my 2nd book “Everyday Life Champion “to educational charity cause. The royalty money went to support 45 Children full year educational needs and it was a great personal gratification.
  2. The second act was triggered by TEDXHyderabad event and specially Mr.Ramanjaneyulu inspirational speech on Farmer’s suicide and need for pesticide free organic foods. We started a Facebook campaign along with like minded friends ably supported by Mr. Ramoo and CSA to collect a fund of 400,000 Rs to help the farmer’s family in distress. This campaign was an eye opener and it showed me how insensitive we are to the community which works for us day in day out to bring a safe and healthy food to our plate. The question that kept me awake all through this campaign was “how urban people can make a difference to this issue?The quality of food consumption determines our quality of life. Pure, Natural and organic food is real life style rather than processed, neatly packed and high priced corporate junk foods are the curses. The only way you get Quality food is when you directly buy it from Farmers who takes utmost care to bring us the organic and natural food. The question is how I can help the farmers to do that from urban population point of view. Here are few points 
• If each of the urban population donate a small affordable amount that could provide the minimal relief and the satisfaction of saving one farmer from brink of suicide is nothing less than any great honours of the world. 
• The corporates have very important role, more importantly we need Employee Farmer Champions who can spread this word among employees. Think about we run a fund raiser campaign in the company and also help Organic Food Store from CSA (http://sahajaaharam.in/) to set up stalls in your office premises for few days. Wow that would be a killer initiative. 
• The Start-up ecosystem has significant role as well, we can conduct Agro-hackathons and innovate in the Agro space. Request our friends in Start-up space to include this as one of the subthemes in the Innovation events. 
• How about Farmathon (Farmer welfare Marathon), Run to save our Indian Farmers. The donation we receive can be of great relief but also think about the Awareness. 
• NRI friends can spread the word to the community establishments in respective countries. How about a simple mailer about this initiative and seek for help.
The reason to list all these options is to remind that there is a long way to go and we can do much more than what we think we are capable of.
3. The last but not the least is recent Chennai floods which had a personal impact to my parents as well as to our community at large. Once again collaborated with a friend and raised a considerable fund through Milaap crowdfunding site to help the people who were in dire need for food, shelter and medicines. I was humbled by the passion and compassion showed by fellow men and women across the globe to share funds and also great work done by the people on the field, risking their own life.
I cannot overemphasize the experience, learnings and more importantly an individual potential to do most and more of life.I feel this is just the beginning, a tip of the iceberg and wish I could do more in the years to come.
Thank you friends, colleagues and my dear family. You are always been my pillar of strength. God Bless.
Wishing you all most and more of Life in 2016. Godspeed
DC*