The New Activists

Gone are the days when khadi-clad activists would accost passersby on street corners. Gone are the days of armchair philanthropists with more talk than walk. The new activist is not only more socially and economically savvy, but they look the part too.

Right at that stage of the evolutionary calendar when the race to ‘make it’ in the world begins — when wrapped in self-indulgence many begin their experiments, and adventures of varied kinds — a few choose to go off course. They are equally, or rather, more accomplished than the herd chasing six-digit salary packets. It’s just that they have a higher calling — society. With an abandon, these young people have embraced a new zeitgeist of idealistic visions which they see no reason to temper. They are fuelled by a desire to make a difference, and choose to be social change-makers.

The enduring image of activists and social workers has been that of a khadi-clad, gaunt, do-gooders who in reality looked more impoverished than the masses they aimed to emancipate. They were emphatic talkers who were well-versed in theories of social change and its ilk — all of which hardly translates to action on ground. The enormous value they placed upon change, transformation and movement were just that — something intangible that spawns nothing concrete.

Not so, with the new wave social workers. In fact, besides the ideals, these nouveau activists have nothing in common with their predecessors. No distributing pamphlets, sticking posters or sporting slogan-boards. No noisy speeches on shaky podiums.

And definitely not the torn jhola (bag). They carry smart laptop bags instead. They hate to waste paper, so campaigning is mostly virtual, done over the Web. Facebook and other social networking sites are the preferred platforms to announce movements. What’s best, they are well-educated. Armed with university degrees, and sharp intellects, these young social workers apply their mind to social problems, and tackle them with a hitherto unseen focus and clarity; their approach clearly solution-driven.

Bangalore has its share of them. In fact, with its title of a vibrant technology innovation space, this city is seen as an ideal laboratory for social experiments and have lured a whole set of young change-makers.

This is precisely the lure that drew 23-year-old Keerthi Kiran, a graduate from BITS Pilani, here. He runs Grassroutes, a fellowship programme “which funds youth to go on roadtrips across India, discover and work with change-makers, do their bit to change the world and inspire more youth into social action”.

While at college, Kiran and friends — Abhilash Ravishankar, Sriram, Shravya and Goutam — were part of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Leadership cell. Their experiences working with underprivileged women and children urged them to work in the social sector. They set up a group, Youth Factor (Yofa) to “work on engaging youth into social action through novel and exciting initiatives”. The underlying philosophy of Grassroutes is more or less the same. “Young people need to know why they want to bring social change. To ask the right questions, they need the right exposure and experience,” says Kiran. They decided to base Grassroutes in Bangalore because here, among all other Indian cities, Kiran, found the right climate for social innovation. “Bangalore is the best for all kinds of start-up activities. This city encourages people who want to do different things.”

Kiran chose to be a social activist for two reasons: One, the inherent challenge that the development sector posed. Second, his passion for the cause. “I was always interested in the state of the country and our society. I could see that anyone ready to apply his mind can bring about tangible, sustainable results. I could do something, instead of just talking about it.”

Kiran has been working in the development sector for two-and-a-half years. Ignoring the traditional milestones of passing out of college and grabbing the most well-paying job has been rewarding for Kiran. At the end of every edition of the programme, he gets his validation — “When a young person understands why India should be a welfare state,” he says.

Kakoli Das took a little while to heed her social calling. After graduating from the National Institute of Technology, Silchar, she worked with a couple of MNCs in India and the US, before coming back to Assam, her home state. Her move to Assam was a byproduct of socio-cultural forces, and the weather of unrest in her state. “I saw a huge disparity — the abundance on one side and the utter lack on the other,” she says.

A slew of social disparities played out in her mind for a while, and she decided to tackle income generation. She chose the craft sector for multiple reasons. Almost 70 per cent of the Assamese population depended on handloom or handicrafts for their primary or secondary income. Almost every house had a loom. The maximum impact, Das realised, would come if she worked within this sector. Also, the people by tradition had fantastic skill sets — weaving and craft.

“There was excess labour, ready infrastructure, and also the skill. All that was required was the monetisation,” says Das, explaining the logic behind her decision.

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_the-new-activists_1430217