I Need to Tell You of The Things Which Happened to Me When I Said "Yes"

Because I ended in such a good place

Feb 12, 2023

I have been a strange one.

The first thing I think I learnt in life was the power of the word “yes”. It seemed to be imbued with magic, like Alibaba’s “Khulja Sim Sim” - it opened doors to strange, exciting - sometimes frightening - always exhilarating - adventures. When I look back, the thing I bless the universe most for is to make me foolish enough to blindly go for adventures.

And life has taken me to strange places.

On the stage as a choreographer (once!), as a member of a quiz team (once!), as a feature film producer (twice!), as a failed collaborator to the biggest film directors of India (two of them!), a radio producer (for a year!), as a multi-level marketer (a phase of my life I am most sheepish about, but with the most learning!), a film reviewer (a full year of it!), a poet (two books!), a podcaster (two ongoing shows!), a newsletter author (ongoing - you are reading it!). And I am not even elaborating on my work-life as a reluctant accountant (from the time my dad nudged me into it, against my wishes - and I am ever-grateful to him for it!)

I have embarrassed myself, made a fool of myself - and possibly made a life for myself, because of it. The one thing which I have learnt, in my own way, is to be there in the moment, when required.

But there is one ‘yes” which I am eternally grateful for.

I guess we all, in our own small or big way, silently or not-so-silently, do things for people who can do with help, support, a hand, a presence. To formalise this in a beautiful way has changed my life in no small way.

I remember the first time I really understood what it meant to do things for people without any expectations, was when my school, St Xavier's, asked us students to visit a home for old people on Lower Circular Road. We took sweets, board games, cards and - bigger than anything else - our company. We used to sit on beds, on chairs or on the floors, and talk to these incredibly lonely people. They touched our cheeks, looked at us and started to cry, or fished out crumpled, barely legible letters and asked us to read them. We got familiar with a lot of these gentle souls, and just to see their faces light up when we entered the halls where they slept or in the clean but bare halls where they sat silently, was itself a treat for us.

I think those few visits had a lasting impression on a whole lot of us. And even as we got busy making careers, finding our fulfillment in our own ways, it was nothing which ever left us. Small things, small gestures, helping causes which friends supported, contributing during disasters.

But three years back something interesting happened. Firstly, I started to look at the end of a formal career, with much lesser years ahead then behind! Secondly, I wanted to start something which would keep me interested (and interesting!!) for times to come. But more than anything I yearned to work in the social sector, but in a meaningful way, where the years of what I had unlearned and learnt, could be used in some way or the other.

I guess the thing about the universe giving you what you really want, is a truism like no other!

Ujwal Thakar, a dear acquaintance, and a philanthropist to the core, asked me to look at something called SVP, Social Venture Partners. He said "I know this will interest you." And did it?

I investigated it, and found it had been set up ten years ago by Ravi Venkatesan (ex-Chairman, Microsoft India) and had wonderful people from the corporate and business and social communities in its folds. And best of all, it didn't just believe in supporting non-profits with funds, but by using the expertise of each of its partners - everything they have learnt in their lives - to guide and mentor the non-profits to achieve what they set out to achieve.

I was as excited as one can be.

It’s been a journey of complete humility and enchantment. Because I have seen a host of people of all walks - professionals, industrialists, homemakers and businessmen - all come together as equals, and mull on how to offer their talent and expertise to guide NGOs to achieve what they so valiantly set out to do. In this time, I have seen how NGOs struggle not because they don't have funds, but because they have nobody to guide them through the quagmire of systems, processes, laws, dispute resolutions, responsibility structures; how to expand, how to increase impact, how to use social media, how to resolve issues of logistics, et al. And that's where SVP partners brought in their talent, experience and generosity to guide them through the complexities.

This guidance and involvement of SVP helped a host of NGOs navigate the terrible times of COVID with grace, equanimity and sound strategies to soften the blow.

In India, SVP is in 7 cities (Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmadabad and Pune) with upwards of 400 partners, assisting 36 NGOs. Worldwide SVP is in 8 countries with 3500+ partners. I feel safe and at home in SVP, and have found my wife and son come aboard in their own ways, as lead partner and youth mentor respectively.

Epiphanies and wishes often lead us into areas which stretch us, and then expand us as human beings, and then finally give us the gift of being able to do something for everyone who reaches out.

I thought the monikers of "poet" and "podcaster" were enough to make me happy. Who would have thought that being a philanthropist would first and foremost change me, as I see how small things bring such huge changes in the world around me.

As SVP gets into its second season of Fast Pitch, a signature event of showcasing non-profits to the world at large, I invite anybody who is interested in mentorship and companionship to come aboard. Would love to have you in this journey of giving and sharing.

Know more about SVP here.
Know more about Fast Pitch here.

The Uncuts

Discussion about this post