Anand Shah Yes, he's a Harvard graduate. But don't expect a guy in a
suit or someone with a six figure salary. In fact, he's traded in
all his savings to change lives.
What used to be a whiz kid with blonde-dyed hair in a Houston
high school, is now Anand Shah, the founder of Indicorps, rubbing
shoulders with the likes of the President of India. He's on an
unrelenting mission ... to bring service to hearts of people,
to make it "cool" to give.
Together with his two sisters, Rupal and Sonal, Anand started
Indicorps
to give young Indians in the U.S. a transformative chance to serve
in rural India. This year, five girls and four boys (ages 21-26)
are doing social work in India, taking second class trains and
drinking masala chai. More fellowships are planned for the next
year, senior-corps program is appended, and many other countries are
taking note. The party has just barely begun.
His intensity of conviction, creative methodologies and sincerity
in purpose makes Anand an inspiration with all that he does.
On Wednesday, April 30th, hear from a young leader who can not
only talk the talk but who really walks the walk. This event is
hosted in our home and there is no cost to attend; please RSVP for
more details.
The Birth of Indicorps In Anand's room, you can find many books by Gandhi. One of them
is titled 'My Life is My Message', a line that's etched in
Anand's heart.
After graduating from college, Anand looked for ways to apply his
skills for social benefit. He became a teacher; but that
wasn't what he was looking for. For a whole year, he went to India to
study the 'Bhagavad Gita'; that also wasn't quite it.
Then it hit him. Something that Emerson described this
way: "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is
no path and leave a trail."
Instead of going for the bigger house, better car, and the next
promotion, this 26 year old literally went the other way --
he lives in a simple apartment next to Gandhi Ashram in India, his
primary transportation is a rented three-wheeler rickshaw and his
only reward is an extra hour of sleep.
All this to light a candle inside young hearts, a candle that
will continue to light many others. And if you look at Anand, you see
proof positive that it works.
Other Indicorps fellows are following suit. Kabir Kumar, for
example. "I have visited India 24 times -- you wouldn't believe --
to attend 23 family weddings," he says. After his first three
months as an Indicorps fellow, Kabir is already a changed man:
"I have experienced myself and gained an insight into who I am.
I will never be the same person again."
Their slogan really sums it all up: service for the soul.
Read More ...
Anand (rt) with his mentor