Mohan Ramamoorthy

mohan.ramamoorthy@thebanyan.org

The recent South Asia Fund Raising Group’s workshop in Agra, like other events, was an opportunity to network…

But I am not good at networking, relationship management… that doesn’t mean I am an anti-social… I can somewhat manage. Can talk about Banyan – taking liberally from Banyan Coords wonderful presentations…

Along the way, they invariably ask: “How long have you been with Banyan?” Now, I have two stock answers and use them depending on the need and occasion…

a) “Oh, I have been with The Banyan for the past three-four months only…”

b) “I have known Banyan and its founder trustees since mid-Nineties….”
 

Banyan, the Growing Up Pangs
There I saw this particularly striking and impressive youngster. Confident and impressive with loads of attitude. Seemed dedicated and passionate, a result-oriented bundle of energy. Deliberately careless and casual in cool chic jeans and tees.

In a split second, it struck old me… this youngster (gender, I will not tell you) is the personification of The Banyan, in the prime of adolescence.

Youthful Banyan. Raring to go and conquer the world. Impulsive actions and intuitive thinking. Emotions guiding the mind. Strategies born in action and out of genuine concerns. Method in madness and action in chaos. Heart in the right place. Constant tension between “activist” types and “professional” types that Banyan manages to take into its fold. Ask Chaitali!!

Grew incredibly fast, evoking admiration in friends and envy in critics/enemies. Fire in the belly of women in hurry (“So much to do and achieve for social good”, VG, paranoid about dipping energies, administering a dose of inspiration, said “Pausing is death”). But there’s no denying – Banyan has got it right and made the most of its adolescence..

Sadly, you can’t forever be an adolescent. Sadly again, you need to grow up, baby.

Banyan is at a critical juncture… How Banyan can professionalise itself without losing its unique creative chaos… (Is creative chaos too an integral part of the “Mor(e)” celebrated Banyan DNA?!)…

The challenge is to mature, while retaining the youthful exuberance of adolescence. Methinks, there is a struggle in The Banyan to maintain that fine, delicate balance. Each time there is a move to streamline something, there is concern (more often said than unsaid) if it would kill some unique aspect of The Banyan.

I dont know which path the youngster (I saw in Agra) would take – be a conscientious corporate executive or a radical activist. Either ways, s/he is born to make a world of difference. And, that is all that matters at the end of the day.

What next, Banyan? You will have to wait. One day, like the milestone Nimhans study, some H(arvard)BR prof. or someone will capture it for you!!