Vasudeva Kutumbakam
The Whole World is One Family

India a land that derives its name from one of the world’s oldest and richest civilizations - the Indus Valley Civilization. In fact, the every essence of the rich Indian philosophy deeply ingrained in its belief in ‘Vasudeva Kutumbakam’ - the whole world is one big family! The following Mantra beseeches good for all creation. Hindus believe that we are part of each other. If a part of us is healthy, the other part will be free of pain.

S a r v e y S h a a m S h a a n ti r b h a v a t u 
S a r v e y S h a a m P o o r n a m b h a v a t u 
S a r v e y S h a a m Ma n g ala m b h a v a t u

Which means:
Om May all become auspicious (healthy)
May all attain Peace
May all achieve perfection (fullness)
May all be blessed

O m S a r v e y b h a v a n t u S u k hin a h a
S a r v e y S a n t u Ni r a am a y a h a
S a r v e y B h a d r a a ni p a s h y a n t u
Ma k a s h c hi t d u k h b h a a k b h a v e t
O m S h a nt i , S h a n ti , S h a n ti !

Which means:
Om. May all be happy
May all be healthy
May all see auspiciousness
May none suffer.

The name of the Lord as Purusottum (Perfection personified) or as Jagannath ( Lord of Universe) represents a universality in time with the familiar fraternity of mankind May Peace prevail (Vasudeva Kutumbakam). The lord with his outstretched open arms held in the posture of an embrace symbolizes love and friendship. That is how he accepts everything, good, bad, and indifferent in his divine.

 The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would solve all the world’s problems - Mahatma Gandhi 

Connecting people, building bridges, to bring people on one platform without spiritual boundaries of religion and embark on a journey of discovery and to see what is important for all of us. A vision to create a future which will open doors to people who need us and bring them all together to work towards this possibility, this is why we see a need for Indus Leadership Forum.

The malaise our society is facing is sheer helplessness at what is happening all around us. We are totally paralyzed and sit around for a hero to come and do a miracle. We should but realize that the hero lies dormant within us. Our Political and institutional leadership is losing respect and credibility, societal crisis is deepening and there is disillusionment all over. We have now an urgent need for a deep understanding to be aroused in ourselves to make our way through this jungle out into the Open Space and finally to realize that the world is made up of nothing but relationships. We have to create this scenario for infinite possibilities. This critical shift has to be brought about which guarantees better life for everyone. We have to think differently and perceive differently and condition our minds and start seeing things on a larger perspective-to create global citizens in this constantly changing world. We have to equip ourselves and help others to cope with such changes. 

We should all resolve to a state of commitment and experience the unfolding of the universe. As Joe Jaworski very aptly puts it-"A Series of Predictable miracles."

Vision

To create: a national organization dedicated to bringing together leaders from various sectors in communities across the country-developing their leadership skills and capacity-and strengthening their commitment to work together on public issues.

The issue of leadership and how to improve it is a topic discussed by everyone today. Leaders are concerned with an organization’s destiny and ultimate purpose-whether it is a government, a corporation or an institution. Why does it exist? How does it fit into the larger context, and what are the overriding goals to be met? Under the complex and risky conditions of today’s environment, leaders are faced with unprecedented challenges in building a strong leadership equipped to deal with these challenges.

Although there is no single stereotype which can be applied to all leaders, we believe there are five key factors in the F o r u m development of good leadership for today’s complex environment.

First, the leader must have a compelling vision, as well as ability to translate that vision into reality. He must work to create a better environment, not merely react to that which already exists.

Second, the leader must be able to draw others around the vision and enroll them in his purpose. To act as a catalyst in this manner a leader must inspire trust in those around him, and to do this he must exemplify the highest standards of human conduct.

Third, leaders must have an approach that is both powerful and empowering to others, and which can and should be transforming. They are teachers or stewards, working with others in the organization as partners. They encourage personal growth and renewal- and seek to transform followers into leaders. They respond to the needs of their followers, and then encourage them to work together toward a shared goal.

Fourth, leaders understand the structure and design of their organizations. They recognize that a structure has a strong effect on the ability of the organization to perform, and adapt it so that it conforms to the larger purpose of the organization. To do so they must think systematically-to understand the big picture, while fully understanding how the smaller pieces fit into the picture to allow the larger organization to function effectively.

Finally, the leader must recognize the need for a balance between intuition and reason. The late Robert Greenleaf, a retired AT&T executive and later a Dartmouth College professor, wrote of this need in his essay, "The Servant as Leader" when he said that "... the leader needs to have a sense of the unknowable and be able to foresee the unforeseeable. The leader knows some things and foresees some things, which those he is presuming to lead do not know or foresee as clearly. This is partly what gives the leader his ‘lead,’ what puts him out ahead and qualifies him to show the way."

Most fundamentally, the responsibility for improving organizations, communities, and our society as a whole lies not in inanimate institutions or governments, but in people who will take personal responsibility for shaping the future, if only in the smallest way. The American Leadership Forum is committed to helping individuals make a difference.

Purpose

1. Primary purpose of INDUS LEADERSHIP FORUM meeting of 2 nd August would be to brainstorm and hopefully create a shared vision at the end of the meeting.

2. There are some similarities between India and US. There was a leadership vacuum after Second World War and Joe Jaworski and Gartner felt the need and provided the leadership to create ALF. Indian leadership is failing and Leadership renewal using a regenerative process can be meaningful. A process can be developed that is inclusive and collaborative and is aligned with the deeper Eastern values of non violence and Vasudeva Kutumbakam.

3. This is not a typical leadership building which the HR department in an organization promotes. Even though some of the elements may be in common. This is an inside out approach establishing cross constitutional linkages.

4. Create a shared vision but remain open as you invite and continue to grow. Each person will have something to add.

Proposed Agenda

1. Introduction of each participant: Name and what you really do?
    (Why are you here? What is your passion? What is your personal Mission?) Two minutes  
    each.
2. What is ALF? (Indira will present this, 10 minutes and 5 minutes of web)
    If possible she will show website www.ALFnational.org and www.ALFSV.org
3. How was it created? Our connection with founder Joe Jaworski (Dinesh will speak for 10 
    minutes)
4. What is the need in India/Delhi? Core team (20 Minutes)
5. Shared Vision- development (1 Hour) 

High Tea

6. a. What is the next step?
    b. What can be the revenue model that can work in Delhi?
    c. What burning need will it meet?
    7. What can I commit to do in the next three months? (Each person)
    8. Next Meeting?.

Joe Jaworski is the co founder of the Centre for Generative Leadership designed to help companies and other organizations develop the leadership required to shape the future. He began his professional career as an attorney with the Houston-based firm of Bracewell & Patterson, and in 1975 was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. During fifteen of his twenty years with the firm, Joe was a senior partner and a member of the operating committee. He also helped to found United Savings Life Insurance Company (which later became Transport Life Insurance Company), as well as the Alaskan Oil and Refining Corporation (now Tesoro-Alaskan Refining Corporation). In 1980, Joe resigned from the firm to found the American Leadership Forum, a non-government agency responsible for developing collaborative leadership to deal with urban and regional problems in the United States. Ten years later, he was invited to join The Royal Dutch/ Shell Group of Companies in London to lead a multi-national team of experts in creating global scenarios for the next thirty years. After his four-year assignment with Royal Dutch/Shell, Joe joined the MIT Center for Organizational Learning, where he continued to work with a consortium of leading corporations to build learning organizations. He is the author of Synchronicity, The Inner Path to Leadership.

The American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley (ALF-SV) is a nonprofit organization that brings senior level leaders together to build philanthropy, service and community in the Silicon Valley. Through its Fellows Program, ALF is creating a strong regional network of key leaders across private, public and nonprofit sectors. ALF-Silicon Valley is the fifth of seven chapters in a national network. ALF is committed to ethnic, gender and geographic diversity in its membership. Candidates for the Fellows Program are nominated by ALF Board Directors, Fellows, community and corporate leaders. ALF is dedicated to building a better Silicon Valley community by joining and strengthening leaders to serve the common good.

We pursue this OBJECTIVE by:

Bringing together a broad cross-section of leaders who are committed to building a stronger community Developing collaborative leadership skills to identify and deal with complex and difficult issues Providing leaders with opportunities to work together in ways that can make a difference. 

Each year approximately 20 leaders (Fellows) are selected to participate.
Indus Leadership Forum, 
#135/A4, Konark Apartments,
Kalkaji Extn., New Delhi-110 019
(India) 
Telephones: 91-11-6091061,6070983, 6070976 
Fax: 91-11-6090593, 
Email: vivek@fhed.org

in monthly seminars and a six day wilderness experience. The program focuses on collaborative problem solving, conflict management, community building, ethics and social issues in Silicon Valley. Each class develops a class project for the community. The eleventh class is now underway. Every class reflects the ALF diversity goal of half private sector leaders (corporate, small business, professional and media) and half public and nonprofit sector leaders (county and city officials, education, social services, arts, religion and community) and a labor leader. Graduates of the program, called Senior Fellows, are using the skills and connections from their ALF experience to impact both their work and community. Currently there are 200 Senior Fellows. Senior Fellows events expand the opportunities to meet across ALF classes and to learn and work together on community issues. In May 1998 the Board established the Corporate Citizenship Award which will be awarded to corporations meeting guidelines of corporate responsibility in Silicon Valley. The Corporate Citizenship Award is an extension of ALF’s Project INVOLVE! which has the goal of increasing corporate philanthropy and volunteerism in the valley. This project makes available a set of resources to local companies of all sizes to assist in the formation or expansion of corporate community involvement programs.

ALF-SV Senior Fellows are participating in three programs that were originally class projects: a mentoring program at Lincoln High School in San Jose, a wefare-to-work committee whose goal is to develop sustainable work options for welfare recipients; and a 24/7 teen Hotline for which Senior Fellows have found funding and operational support. The website of the Silicon Valley chapter(www.ALFSV.org), one of the more active branches due to its location, among the seven chapters of American Leadership Forum(ALF) all over US. Indira has been active in this leadership forum with a mission "Joining and Strengthening Leaders to Serve the Common Good" and you know of my connection with Joe Jaworski, author of Synchronicity and co founder of American Leadership Forum. This is a unique organization which brings leaders from various walks of life together. Off course, we have CII, ASSOCHEM, FICCI etc. each with different flavor and we feel that there is a need for this kind of integrating forum. We can also benefit from their experience by creating communication channels and projects of mutual interest. I can invite Joe to come to India to launch it as well as help in mentoring it..

Indus Leadership Forum, 
#135/A4, Konark Apartments,
Kalkaji Extn., New Delhi-110 019 (India)
Telephones: 91-11-6091061,6070983, 6070976
Fax: 91-11-6090593, 
Email: vivek@fhed.org 

INDUS LEADERSHIP FORUM

Indira is a senior fellow at ALF and has been an active member at the San Jose Chapter of ALF. Dinesh is working with Joe Jaworski at the Global Institute of Responsible Leadership. Indira and Dinesh both have recently had a long discussion with Joe, Founder of ALF and Evangeline, Executive Director of ALF. After a very productive meeting again with Don Watters, President of National ALF and Evangeline, National Executive Director American Leadership Forum, Indira and Dinesh want to take ALF to other countries in line with Globalcitizenship concept. Due to their natural connection with India, they are considering proposing an Indo-U.S. ALF chapter first as the INDUS LEADERSHIP FORUM. An emerging country like India, with it’s vast resources and intellect could very effectively use an organization like ALF to help her deal with the real issues of illiteracy, poverty and religious strife. Amidst the poverty there is tremendous wealth, materially and in knowledge/intellect, and no dearth of well meaning individuals. Bringing them together to address issues of local and national interest including trade and economic interests could be beneficial to all involved. Both of them felt very connected with the concept and philosophy of The Global Institute. As we become a smaller and more and more interdependent world, it is imperative that we think and act in ways that are globally responsible. We have one earth and are one people, beyond the superficial divides of race, religion, ethnicity etc. All environmental and natural resources belong to all of mankind and as such sharing and protecting these resources becomes the common responsibility of all of us. These words beautifully reflects some of the core issues "A cultural divide between a materialistic worldview and an emerging worldview that focuses on the development of consciousness and that embraces the more subtle dimensions of human perception and experience......".]

Indus Leadership Forum,
#135/A4, Konark Apartments, 
Kalkaji Extn., New Delhi-110 019 
(India)

Telephones: 91-11-6091061,6070983, 6070976 
Fax: 91-11-6090593,
Email: vivek@fhed.org 

How do we start?

Step 1 will be to identify about fifteen core group people from different areas. We have five now in the core group and you all decide whom you would like to invite in the core working group. We want a mix of active leaders in the core group to meet on Aug 2, 2002 in Delhi. The mix may include Government Officers (Bureaucrats), Politicians, City Government, Lawyers, Judges, Doctors, Business leaders/consultants, Military leaders, NGO leaders etc. Step 2 Identify trustees, agree on revenue model and raise funds. Step 3 Call a follow up meeting when there is funding (about three to six months after the first meeting) and appoint a full time Executive Director to pursue the agenda. Step 4 Select the first team of leaders. It might take six months to a year before you can launch the training program for the first batch from the first meeting on Aug 2, 2002. 

(Dinesh Chandra)
www.Globalcitizenship.com
www.FHED.org
2198 Bentley Ridge Dr.
San Jose, Ca. 95138
408-274-4246
408-210-3834( Cell )