The First Post

So I'm not exactly working a corporate job, in fact I'm very lucky to be working for a start up social enterprise that is seeking to connect farmers to organic produce markets (more on this later). And perhaps I should clarify I'm not exactly a Gandhian. I have a lot of respect for Gandhi, and I had the opportunity to live a fairly simple lifestyle for a year when I was doing a fellowship in rural Rajasthan. I was partnered with an organization that works to empower farmers through livelihoods, access to education, and through building a coalition.

I had a chance to immerse myself into rural life, and attempt to truly understand the community of farmers I was living in. I often wondered if my life was simple by convenience, for what could I really spend on in a village. Additionally, I was constantly conscious of existing gaps between my previous life and the lives of the villagers around me- and aware of the fact that people around lived simply due to budget constraints rather than by choice. Now I've moved to Delhi, a city that is on the other end of the spectrum of the India I was beginning to understand last year. I've decided I'm going to try to live as simply as possible, meaning carefully discerning between my needs and wants. So for the next 11 months I'm going to take on one of Gandhi's vows, and see how they relate to my life in the city, and my life in a business environment.

I often discussed the relevance of Gandhian values with my peers during my Indicorps year. We pondered the how applicable these values were our lives today, and if Gandhi that tapped into something deeper, special, or was just crazy. And maybe it's all those things. Maybe it's crazy. Or maybe I'll really learn something. I thought through which vows I felt would be the most difficult, but the truth is they all require thought, discipline, and careful self-awareness.  

Perhaps more than anything I'm curious. After all, Gandhi was all for experimenting with his values and his truths. By the end of this week I'll pick a vow, and then see how it plays out for a month. 

Ahimsa Nonviolence Satya Truth Asteya Non Stealing Brahmacharya Self Discipline Aparigraha Non-Possession Sharirshrama Bread Labor Aswada Control of the Palate Sarvatra Bhayavarjana Fearlessness Sarva Dharma Samantva Equality of All Religions Swadeshi Use Locally Made Goods Sparshbhavana Remove Untouchability