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Unsung Heroes
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Amitabh Shah
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It is not always that we
find an Ivy League college pass out ignoring the lure of corporate world and
with it the fat pay check, and luxurious lifestyle that comes with it. Some
individuals decide to trot the path less trodden and in their own way find success
in it. One such individual is Amitabh Shah.
He was born in Ahmadabad,
Gujarat to affluent parents. Amitabh Shah was a state level tennis champion at
the age of fifteen and his dream was to be a professional tennis player. His parents
found out a way for him to go to the United States in a student exchange
programme, to a small town called Talladega, in Alabama. The incentives for
the young Amitabh were that the host was a tennis coach, and he had received a
full scholarship.
Amitabh excelled in
education, securing top rank in school and then he joined the University of
Alabama to do his bachelor’s in computer science. He topped the University
exams. Even in Alabama, he was a member of the ROTARACT club, which is a part
of Rotary International. The club promotes the culture in young people to
address the social needs of their communities. He topped the class and joined
Hewitt associates as a lead system configuration analyst in 2001. Like any
other young person he enjoyed his carefree life in Atlanta, Georgia working
with Hewitt Associates. His father was unhappy with his lifestyle and asked
him to do a Masters in Business Administration to get some meaning and
direction in his life. Taking his father’s advice he applied to University of
Texas and he got a full scholarship. He decided to visit Ahmadabad for a month
before joining the course.
On his way to India in the
year 2004, he was watching a Hindi movie Swades in the aeroplane. The story of
the protagonist who comes from NASA and changes the lives of the people in his
rural village touched his heart. That was probably one of the pushes that he
needed. Amitabh Shah was raised by his nanny Kamlaben who was close to him.
Straight getting down from the plane, he went on to meet her. He found her
sitting on the roads of one of the city squares in a miserable physical state.
Amitabh felt bad. He took her to his home where he came to know that Kamlaben`s
son used to beat her and make the eighty two year old lady do all the
household chores. She used to get food only one time a day and weighed just
twenty five kilograms then! Amitabh nursed her and within two weeks she showed
signs of improvement. Thus began a pivotal journey in his life. He took her to
Suvarna Mandir an old age home, near the Isckon temple in Ahmadabad. Here he
found out many such people whom their families had abandoned. He met Savita
Bai whom her son had left here with the promise of taking her back to home
after two days. There were numerous others who were ditched by their families.
Amitabh mobilized his
friends, young as himself, who were mostly preoccupied with playing sports or
hitting the gym. They started visiting the old age home every evening and soon
he had forty five people visiting the old age home, which was housing forty
people. He had just asked his friends to come with him, but indirectly he gave
a platform or a cause to his friends, the youth who were ready to be of help
to the society, but did not have a direction. Indeed a visionary person is one
who permeates his vision among all. He understood that youth from all the
social strata can easily contribute two hours a week for societal causes. He
realised that with the largest number of young people in the age group of
18-30 years in the world, India can do magic by utilising its youth base for a
variety of causes.
Amitabh had a full
scholarship from the University of Texas for his MBA and his non refundable
flight ticket was also ready. He had suddenly found a new call in his life, to
dedicate his life in his own way for societal causes, and he enjoyed his work.
He started YUVA Unstoppable in 2005 with the aim to mobilise the youth to
dedicate their time for creating a better world. Slowly people started to join
his cause. His father was not happy with his decision to miss out on his MBA
and do societal work, but he convinced his father that he will do his MBA, but
only from Yale University, as its focus was on leadership and management and
the institute was number one in non profit management. Two years after
starting YUVA, Amitabh went on to do his MBA at Yale, but he had already
gathered enough momentum for his cause. He was coordinating the activities of
YUVA through Skype from his college. He had also a good support from his
friend, a firm believer in the cause; Marmik Joshi, a co-founder and the
current President of operations in India. After his MBA stint he declined a
half a million dollar from JP Morgan, to work in Wall Street. All he did was
because he was motivated to do something for the people of his country. He
came back and had a small stint of six months with Mr. Narendra Modi who was
then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, learned a lot and then diverted his full attention to YUVA.
Probably one of the reasons
for his success in his venture of societal service where youth dedicates two
hours of their time in a week for any social causes is the positive mindset
that he has. In his words “I see a half filled glass of water as partially
filled with water and partially filled with air.” He says that we are always taught from
childhood to have a positive frame of mind set and he has actually trained
himself to see the good in every situation.
Like a body builder training his body everyday for physical rigours and
stress he trains his mind every day, by writing down ten things that he is
grateful for in that day in his diary. This he has been doing for the past
seven years. In his words, “I brainwash myself with positivity.” He sees
opportunity in every situation. “If someone owes money to me and is not
paying, I see other options.”
He is not judgmental on why
people don`t come forward to help others but states that this model of two
hours of social service a week can be
done by anyone who is interested to help the society. His message is that be
successful and do the thing that you love to do, if after that you want to
help us, you are most welcome to join. His model attracts people from all
strata, be a person from a rich family or a poor family; everyone is treated
the same. His work attracts interns from Harvard, Wharton, Yale who tries to
do their bit and devise ways how they can contribute to the initiative`s
success. This flow of ideas from various sources can to a large extent be
attribute to the good work that they are doing and also the organising and
mobilising capabilities of Amitabh Shah.
He credits the success of
YUVA to all the volunteers the people with whom he works. According to him all
these people are positive people, who come to him to do some good work. They
just needed a platform which he has provided. Even he gives the credit of
starting YUVA to Kamlaben, his nanny; who inspired in him to do something for
the society and not just stand by. He believes that the core team of fifty
volunteers who works full time for this cause are a vital part in the success
of YUVA. He is a firm believer of team work and expects people to enjoy the
work that they are doing.
He has received the Prince`s
prize for innovative philanthropy from Prince Albert II of Monaco for its
commitment in mobilising the youth to stand up and work towards the
development of the society. His dream
is to replicate this model of two hours of social service across the world,
through mobilisation of youth to create a sustainable model for development.
This model can have huge benefits to where ever it is applied and this
international honour will certainly help him move forward with his dream.
YUVA Unstoppable is working
in 40 cities in India, and through its work he intends to promote kindness
among the youth, to develop a better society. He perceives “kindness is a like
exercising; if you practice it becomes a habit.” IIM- Ahmadabad case study on the volunteers
of YUVA Unstoppable reflects that individuals dedicating two hours a week for
a year has 30% less probability of being corrupt, their confidence goes up by
50% and compassionate level goes up by 84%. In a society riddles with
corruption scandals this is a very bright news.
According to him “Compassion
is the sign of a great leader.” and leaders can be in any field. He has a
simple formula for achieving success; that is surrounding him with people who
are smarter than him. He works with people in his core team with whom he is
compatible. Being the positive person
that he is he tries to find avenues for success. “If I owe money from somebody
and he is delaying, I try to find other persons who can give me money.” He
always tries to find solutions to the problems rather than complaining about
the problems plaguing him.
YUVA Unstoppable has more
than 125,000 volunteers for their cause and they have helped 250000 children
in their education by teaching students at various municipal schools. They are
working on projects for digital literacy of children and skill enhancement for
better job opportunities. They have partnered with Intel and Microsoft in
their efforts. They are working on Vibrant Safai; a mission through which they
are tackling the problems of health, hygiene and sanitation. They have been
instrumental in construction of toilets in various municipal schools and
raising awareness about cleanliness in the society. They also work on
incorporating virtues of discipline, hard work and morality through their
curriculum to make them better citizens. They also volunteer and collaborate
with traffic police in maintain and
raising awareness about the traffic rules and regulations.
Amitabh Shah is an excellent
speaker and his ability to network seamlessly definitely helps him in his
effort. But, it is not always that we find an Ivy League college pass out
going out of their way in working for the society. His compassion for the less
fortunate strikes a chord with many but it is connect, motivating power that
prompts youth to come forward and work for the society. He has been able to
channelize the latent energy of the youth who were willing to do something by
providing them a platform, by providing them a direction. YUVA believes the
country needs a constructive revolution and the youth can play a major role in
this. YUVA acts to bring about a change in the society through the youth by
changing their attitude, increasing awareness and necessary actions. Amitabh
Shah has slowly but surely started the process of a transformed India.
·
Words in
apostrophe’s commas are quotes from the person himself.
Excerpts of the interviews as conducted by Debangshu
Bhattacherjee in person:
I
was born and raised in Ahmedabad and I was only 15 years old and I wanted to
be a professional tennis player. My parents found out a way by which I could
go the US through a s student exchange program. I went to a small place called
Talladega, Alabama having a population of 6000 and I topped there in school.
After that I went to the University of Alabama to study bachelors in MIS in computer
science and was the university topper. At 22, I started working in Atlanta with Hewitt Associates and spent 80% of my
earnings on vodka, tequila and margarita. When my father found out, he said
that I was wasting my life, this is not our culture; you don’t know the
meaning of your life.He persuaded me to do an MBA. I decided to take a break
before joining. I applied to Texas and got admitted with full scholarship but
before joining I decided to take a leave of one month.There was magic in
Ahmedabad. It was during my flight from Atlanta to Ahmadabad that my life
changed. I was watching Swades and realised that I too had a baa, Kamlaben,
who had raised me like her own child, took care of all my requirements and
doted on me while I was growing up. It had been 6 years since I had last met
her. Hence, as soon as I landed, I went straight to her.” He adds, “I was
baffled on seeing her condition. She was 82 and was weighing 25 kilograms. The first thing she
uttered the moment she saw me was, ‘Tu aa gaya, ab main shanti se ja sakti hun
(I can die peacefully now that you have come). I learnt that she gets to eat
only once in a day and her son used to beat her and make her do all the
household chores. I couldn`t leave her in that condition. I took her to my
home, nursed her for two weeks and she gained 4 kilograms in these two weeks.
I dropped her at Suvarna Mandir, an
old-age home where I met Savita bai, and many other old people whom their
children had discarded. I decided that I would start visiting them more often
with a few of my friends. Within a week, the number of youngsters grew from
four to 40 and we used to play, talk and take care of these senior citizens. I
realised that while every youngster wanted to change India, they did not have
the right platform. I realised that be it a washer man s` son or industrialist`
son, everyone can dedicate two hours a week. My father was angry at my
decision and persisted that I do my MBA.
I only wanted to do my MBA, only on one condition,: that I will do it
from Yale University as it is number one in non profit management. I
coordinated the activities through skype and now YUVA is affecting the lives
of 250000 people. Many corporate have adopted schools through is and are
collaborating with us. I declined a
half a million dollar from JP Morgan to work for the society. I came back, had
a small stint of 6 months with Mr. Narendra Modi and there afterwards ,I have
been working with YUVA. In life there are no challenges. We are taught to be
positive, I have trained myself to see the good in every situation. Before
going to sleep I write down ten things that I am grateful for, for that day. I
write down every day for 6-7 years. I brainwash myself with positivity,
everywhere there is opportunity. If you are passionate and clear with your
goals, the world comes to you. I am lucky to work with so many positive
people. Every person that I meet says that I want to do something good. I
don’t take the credit for starting YUVA, it was kamlaben who inspired me. Not
everybody needs to dedicate their time to societal causes, though we have
50people fully working on this. We have people from Harvard, Columbia, Yale
trying to help us.We need doctors, lawyers, engineers. Take care of family, do
your work ,even after that you want to do something you can contribute, that
is good, You need to enjoy the work that you are doing; I enjoy this. Recently
on Jan 26, 2015 I received a prize from Prince Albert of Monaco for innovative
philanthropy. We got it because of the replicabilty of the model on a global
scale. The idea is to simply give them a platform, kindness is something which
increases with practice. Kindness can become a habit like exercising. IIM- Ahmadabad did a case
study on the volunteers of YUVA Unstoppable reflects that individuals
dedicating two hours a week for a year has 30% less probability of being
corrupt, their confidence goes up by 50% and compassionate level goes up by
84%.The sign of a great leader is compassion. I am very lucky and blessed to
have and be surrounded with smart people.
Reference: The following resources have been used for
the secondary research on Amitabh Shah
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