Who knew that a 5-day leadership program would change my life forever, make me meet my hero and drive me to become a passionate leader.

I found my passion for community service and became an active contributor to blood donation drives, save water campaigns, aids awareness, child labour awareness, and literacy campaigns. I got in the eyes of my teachers who suggested me to participate in a five day training program sponsored by Lead India 2020, the second youth national movement. I applied for it, not caring for any wonderful outcome.

Like Lord Krishna has said in Bhagavad Gita – “Just Do It! Don’t worry about the results.”

Most of the training in the Lead India 2020 program was delivered to the students by their peers, Change Agents, who form the Lead India National Club (LINC) in their respective schools. Guided by a 10- point oath designed by Dr. Kalam himself, the ‘change agents’ embrace a new way of living. The graduates of the Lead India 2020 training program set high goals in life and become Change Agents to improve society. 

By the end of the training program, organisers and committee members recognized my talent and my vision to develop India. After my speech at the valedictory function, the National Coordinator of Lead India 2020, Dr N.B Sudershan Acharya, asked me to join the committee and organise more training programs. I was both surprised and scared. How will I fit in the shoes of a trainer fulfilling my duties as an organising member and youth leader of the movement altogether? 

As Swami Vivekananda once said “Humanity is greater than religion and service to humanity is service to god.” This thought was my mantra at Lead India & to teach youth about leadership, human values, and employable skills. He always believed that the transformed 540 million youth will lead India to become a developed nation by 2020, by eradicating poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment. 

In the process I trained in all aspects of physical, mental, social, spiritual, career and national development. Eventually they made me a youth trainer, and gave me the opportunity to conduct training sessions in more than twenty training programs, each consisting of 200 students. 

For me, it was a challenge to make every student think alike and work towards a common national goal. I trained those students in analysis of common problems of youth and how to overcome them and achieve our vision. I conducted village surveys to know the economic and general status of the people.

Just because I studied in a special school for the blind, I had no exposure to the outside world. This experience made me more confident in my leadership and public speaking abilities and expressing without hesitation. I understood the fact that even without proper education a person can build clarity of thinking and expression when encouraged properly. Most important lesson that I carry till this date was to treat everyone with equal respect, regardless of their education level or socioeconomic status.