The Joy of Doing Good

Those who choose to use social work or even the new three letter word ESG as a marketing or self-promotion tool, will very quickly find that instant gratification is no substitute for the real value of spreading smiles and goodwill. Here are some tips

It was a summer morning in 2003 and as the CEO of Zensar Technologies since 2001, I was feeling a sense of satisfaction that the hard work of turning around the business and setting it on a path to success had been accomplished. As a team, we had decided to choose the path less travelled and chase the triple bottom lives of People, Planet and Profits (PPP) and not just bottom lines.

While a lot had already been done to become the most sought-after employer in the city and industry, pathways to successful social returns had not yet been laid. It was then that a meeting with Vandana Chavan, a former corporator and mayor of the Pune Municipal Corporation, happened and led to a series of path breaking social ventures. From community development centres to developing the bio-diversity park in Viman Nagar in Pune, to digital literacy, to the launch of the first Skills and Livelihoods Lighthouse in Aundh, Pune, it was the guiding hand of Vandana, that led us to city level and then national ambitions of doing good that we practice through the Lighthouse Communities today.

Another personality who has had major impact on me personally has been, Padma Vibhushan and Founder President of the Pune International Centre, Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar. From the time eleven years ago, when he first agreed to preside over our annual event to award innovative social projects done by students to multiple joint initiatives including collaboration for two books, “Facing up to China” and “India’s pathways to success”, Dr. Mashelkar has been a guiding light for the enormous width and depth of social good, we have managed to accomplish in the city and has always been available to lead and support good causes.

It was in the fitness of things that both Vandana and Dr. Mashelkar, were our guests at the installation function of the Rotary Club of Riverside, where I have been privileged to be the President, till June 2023.

Dr. Mashelkar continues to inspire thousands in Pune, India and the world and Vandana as our Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha has showcased and spread good words and deeds across India and abroad. Both have been role models for many who do good or aspire to contribute.

I can speak from personal experience over the last three decades that there is no better joy in our life than bringing confidence and smiles to thousands of deserving and underprivileged communities, through our words and actions. Doing good through active participation and not just writing cheques is rewarding in every way.

At Zensar, we were able to demonstrate that the level of commitment and retention in the company of the quarter and more of our associates who participated in social activity, was substantially higher than those who just chose to be employees in the organisation. And the quality and passion I see in the leadership teams at Global Talent Track, Lighthouse Communities, Educate Girls and the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, and all entities I am directly involved with and many others who have scaled their activities like Teach for India, Akanksha, Dasra, Social Venture Partners and the Rotary Clubs all over the world, underline the fact that there is no bigger joy than the joy of doing good.

Doing good through active participation and not just writing cheques is rewarding in every way

A word of caution for both businesses and individuals—those who choose to use social work or even the new three letter word ESG as a marketing or self-promotion tool, will very quickly find that instant gratification is no substitute for the real value of spreading smiles and goodwill, across large geographies and populations.

We have truly discovered this joy at our Rotary Club, where first time do-gooders rub shoulders with significant philanthropists and have chosen to empower and be empowered by activities ranging from building the Gundalwadi Dam, revitalising the Velhe village cluster, enhancing school infrastructure across Pune city and providing mentoring support to the Aspen Institute’s Global Opportunity Youth Network, initiatives to provide counselling, suggest skills and livelihood pathways and build micro-entrepreneurs in the city.

Young people in Western countries are now opting for purpose rather than just prosperity in their lives and shunning both companies and brands that do not demonstrate sustainability as a core value. Long may their tribe flourish and expand.

There are many in the city who are major supporters of social causes like Dr. Mashelkar, Vandana Chavan, Anu Aga and Meher Pudumjee, Rati Forbes, Umesh Jalan, Neeru Goyal, Narendra Goidani and Sudhir Mehta, who are all major evangelists and investors in social causes, and the common thread that runs through all is the passion to put service above self. As Meher is fond of saying, what is important is to think of what would benefit the beneficiary most and look at worthy social enterprises as entities from whom the corporate world has much to learn and not vice versa.

Our own extremely positive experiences with state and local government, Indian and global donors, corporations and individual philanthropists in our eco-system development work at Lighthouse Communities, has demonstrated the power of collaboration in the social sector. Long may such partnerships flourish and demonstrate the joy of doing good.