I have named my blog, comway, which stands for community way or common way if you please. So far my life has been over-whelmed by the word "community" and the power it hold in everyone's life. It all began in the early eighties when I started working in the Indian Express, Bangalore, at the command of my grandfather, the founder of the Indian Express Group. After having served at the Indian Express, I realised the power it held in the eyes of the common man. Sunanda K Datta Ray referred, at one of my meetings with him that Indian Express was one of the largest niche publication - a publication for India Lovers.
My journey into the world of segmental business communities started with the launch of the Business Publications Division of the Indian Express in April of 1994. Each publication , starting with Express Computer, Express Hotelier and Caterer, Express Pharma Pulse , Express Textile etc etc were Hits and got the involvement of community they served.
The journey into the world of communities continued with the launch of one of the largest exercises in India's Publishing history- the start of Strategic Newpapers with over 63 community titles and a large supporting portal www.strategicnewspapers.com, where each of these communities could interact. In later year the love for communities manifested in leading a german publishing house, DVV Media Gmbh to launch their India operations with a monthly magazine for the logistics community.
Right now I am consolidating my thoughts and trying to analyse the purpose of my life. I have come to understand the deeper meaning of the words, Community Wisdom, much different from the wisdom of crowds ..
Here is what I have chalked out for myself:
Be a good facilitator for individuals, organisations and institutions and help them to exploit their full potential with the use of different media communication platforms-- in other words be a nurturer of Community Wisdom. For this I have started a unique entity, Better India Foundation.
I want to study the behavioral patter of different social, cultural and economic groups/segments and come out with distilled wisdom which can be actioned in day to day business and professional life. Today's complex environs requires us to learn to surf on the waves and the wisdom got from communities could be life-savers. An idea called Institute for leveraging Community Wisdom (ILCW) and School of Business Wisdom (SBW) are presently being nurtured under the Better India Foundation.
I am very keen to study the delivery process of different media platforms, the mindset and aspiratios of media platform owners, and find out unique ways of collaborative working to benefit the business and professional community.
I would like to create a neutral platform for content generators, platform owners in different parts of the country and the world through an India-centric, India-betterment communication Platform called Better India Media Group (B!MG).
I am keen to create grid of all areas of essential wisdom for different economic groups and thereafter, create a global network of excavators, explorers, spotters and elucidators of information, news and views under B!MG.
How does one assess/spot the needs of a community --- try to find the biological links between each other and leading to their interdependence?
The answer is in being one with the communities you serve and listening to their experiences!
