Keynote by Dr. Ganesh Devy

Dr. Ganesh Devy delivered a very light-hearted but candid speech with mentions about the state of tribals in India.

What touched me about this gentleman is his simplicity and honesty...not just about what he knows, but of the fact that he also knows what he does not know. Very few people of his stature have the elegance to accept that.

One thing that Dr. Devy mentioned during his speech really moved me not for just the content of what he said but also due to the fact the he actually felt what he had to say - a kind word about us as a group of people, a body of enthusiastic volunteers and not a funding body. This one statement exuded feeling when he said that he did not accept funding from us because he wanted to deliver to us the kind words without compromising what he really feels - that we are a great group - by accepting funding. His words where honest, his gesture that he has not come to the conference with open palms but with folded palms as a tribute to our work.

I felt good, felt much appreciated, nay elated, and after many a such maudlin remark, I did not see any substance to the talk. I was interested in knowing, during the keynote about the current work as well as prospects between AID and Bhasha Tribal Academy - can we exchange organizational knowledge? have we a roadmap to achieve common ends in the long term? how can AID as an organization contribute more to the betterment of adivasis? From a keynote, I expected something of value other than a feeling of (over) achievement or extremely enthusiatic approval of our work. Yes, there was a smattering of other ideas and suggestions but not sufficient to hold one's interest or evoke people to think further about the subject being delivered.

Like Ravi mentioned in his closing remarks, we as organizations have a long way to go; I really wish Dr. Devy had elucidated a plausible path it in front of the packed auditorium.