Gupshup: A Rollercoaster Ride of Memories, Debates, and Insights into Aging

Every Saturday, a group of my seniors and former colleagues, all over the age of 75, gather on Zoom for a free-flowing discussion session that we have affectionately named “Gupshup” (Idle talk). This tradition has been going on for about two years now, and it never fails to bring us joy and laughter, while also providing mental stimulation.

As I continue to age, I’ve come to realize that the elderly often exhibit peculiar behaviors. Our “Idle Talks” take us on a rollercoaster ride of memories from the past, with moments ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. We reminisce about missing links, joyous and sad times, small triumphs, and failures. These sessions not only serve as a great way to pass the time, but they also offer us a sense of connection and camaraderie.

During our most recent Gupshup session, we engaged in a fascinating discussion about the concept of the “Anand Pattern.” I took the stance that there is no fixed definition for the Anand Pattern; it is an idea, much like God. Just as each of us can interpret God in different ways and recommend various paths to reach Him, the Anand Pattern can be understood and approached differently by each individual.

As there is an agreement of sorts on the qualities of God among seekers of various kinds, the proponents of Anand Pattern will agree that it is a producer centric organisational design wherein the producer of an agricultural commodity (in case of Dairying; milk) is at the centre.

This sparked a lively debate with arguments and counterarguments. We are yet to reach a conclusive answer.

In the midst of our discussions, I mentioned two books that I found particularly interesting.

The first book is “Ending Poverty in South Asia: Ideas that Work,” edited by Deepa Narayan and Elena Glinskaya, and published by the World Bank. This book delves into the various approaches used by different organizations in their poverty alleviation programs

This book extensively covers various approaches which different kind of organisations have used for their programmes on poverty alleviation.

This book features twelve case studies, including one by Dr. V Kurien, the driving force behind India’s dairy industry focusing on the challenges and opportunities and achievements of dairying in India.

Another case study highlights the eChoupal initiative by ITC. eChoupal is one of the most innovative supply side rural business interventions evolved and led by Shri S Sivakumar, who brings valuable knowledge and expertise from his experiences at the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), Bhavenagar Vegetable Products Unit (BVP) and Gujarat Cooperative Oilseeds Growers Federation (Grofed).

I discovered this book through a post on Shri S Sivakumar’s Facebook page. Shri Sivakumar is an Alum of IRMA and had worked for BVP and Grofed before joining ITC.

It is interesting to note that Dr V Kurien the founder Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board ( NDDB) is the founder of IRMA and it was the Oilseeds and Vegetable Oil Project promoted, designed and implemented by NDDB that created BVP and Grofed. BVP and Grofed are now consigned to the history. However, during late 70’s to late nineties these and other sister organisations spread over major Oilseeds growing states of India were at the forefront of efforts to make India self sufficient in edible oils a goal that under the leadership of NDDB they almost achieved. But that is a matter for a larger debate.

I have been associated with all four organizations mentioned: NDDB, IRMA, BVP, and GROFED.

At NDDB, I joined as one of the earliest employees and served as the Executive Assistant to Dr. Kurien. Later, I became the Director of his Office, contributing to areas such as HR and training.

This book summarizes the broad lessons learned from these programs under four subheadings: 1) Invest in the collective agency of the poor, 2) Change the opportunity structure, 3) Involve Civil Society, Government, and the Private Sector, and 4) Follow principles, not models.

During the Gupshup I tried to score a point by emphasising on point four enunciated in this book; “Follow Principles not models.” But I did not go unchallenged. The discussion is still going on from Saturday to Saturday.

I had the privilege of being a member of the Management Committee of BVP and the Board of Directors of GROFED. Additionally, I served as a member of the Board of Directors of GROFED, an organization dedicated to promoting the interests of oilseed growers in Gujarat.

During my tenure as the Head of the Oilseeds and Oil Wing (OVOW), I achieved a significant milestone for IRMA. We were able to contribute a substantial amount of Rs 3 Crores to the corpus of IRMA. This contribution was made from funds generated beyond the project fund, as per the agreement with the donor agencies. It played a crucial role in supporting the institute’s mission and ensuring its continued success in the field of rural management.

The second book I mentioned is “Agricultural Value Chains in India,” edited by Ashok Gulati, Kavery Ganguly, and Harsh Wardhan, and published by Springer.

This book includes two interesting chapters on; 1- Value Chain in Dairy and 2- Value Chain in Poultry contributed by Shri T Nand Kumar, IAS. He was earlier the Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board.

Incidentally he was the first IAS officer to be appointed as the Chairman NDDB. Earlier he held several senior positions in the Government of India including Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

The data presented in the paper contributed by Shri Nand Kumar on Dairy Value Chain is interesting.

He has covered various aspects including Production, Procurement, Processing and Marketing in relation to Dairying. He has made some interesting conclusions both for private and cooperative sector as also for raising finances by cooperatives. He pleads for freeing cooperatives from Government control and interference, something that we have heard since ages. It is fascinating that a retired bureaucrat finds it easy to plead for freedom of cooperatives from Government control but is unable to do anything while in service.

These books have provided us with valuable insights and have sparked meaningful conversations during our Gupshup sessions. We continue to explore new ideas and perspectives, keeping our minds sharp and engaged. With each passing Saturday, we look forward to these discussions, knowing that they not only pass the time but also bring us joy, laughter, and mental stimulation.

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