22 May 2024
The world needs aggregators. Because there are a lot of good organizations doing great work. Because we’ll always be stronger together. Because of the inherent distrust that needs to be replaced with collaboration & learning. And it’s rare to see organisations create a forum and then lend the platform to listen to everyone instead of selfish tom-tomming of personal achievements. Khel Paathshala seems to have been designed with these rare ideals, and was just a wonderfully executed pioneering effort to bring organizations and participant individuals together on stage, impressively without any prescribed narrative. Seems unreal, but Ashok, Shilpi and team carried this out with verve & humility, dreaming big and inviting thought leaders & role model girl leaders while staying grounded themselves. As a panel facilitator, I was privileged to soak in & distribute the energy of some outstanding speakers, and made connections in a very familial atmosphere. Not to mention the caring attitude of the organizing team, which looked after big & small needs, including that of my vegan diet. The mark of a good organization they say, is how much ownership each team member feels about what the organization is doing, and even without glossing over itself, OSCAR certainly won hearts with its care for everyone, almost metaphorically resonating the underlying theme of thinking about to greater good for all to be able to truly grow. Thanks OSCAR for daring to try something this ambitious; the world needs more organizations willing to shed insecurity and make such irrational attempts to bring the industry together. Yeh dil maange more!”