There was an unruly mob of 700 odd people in a land isolated from the main city. This was near the labor camp of the construction site of FLAME. They had gathered around the school for the children of these laborers who were learning, working on computers and getting their mid day meals for the last 6 months.
People had supposedly gathered on an announcement of the gentleman in charge that there would be a flag hoisting ceremony on the Independence Day.
The 700 odd men and women consisted of people from different regions of the country. From Rajasthan to Orissa and from Bengal to Gujarat. From Tamil Nadu to Haryana. People with little hope for a better life. They were mostly unskilled laborers, earning their daily living working in the harshest of conditions. Rain, sunshine and severe cold. They have no choice but to work.
The gentleman in charge emerged from the small shack that can hardly be called his home. Used to living the plushest of Army Quarters, here was this man romanticizing his existence even in the worst of living conditions.
Suffering from Typhoid. He refused to move to a hospital. Even his elder brothers scolding and his boss’s orders did not convince him to get hospitalized at a time when his speech was slurring and he was having fainting fits. Because he felt FLAME had to start on 9th of September 2007. He walked up , in his full Army Uniform with all the medals proudly on his chest , to the flag post, and many memories of his army days went past. The images of an Army Flag hoisting and complete protocol, totally contrasted with this ceremony.
And he spoke after the flag hoisting. And what followed was spontaneous and something very few people can even imagine. The entire incidence was completely spontaneous and extremely emotional.
The 700 men and women raised their hands and said a quiet prayer and vowed that they would get the FLAME campus up and ready by the 9th of September 2007 without any compromise and complete dedication. When the oath was taken, the General was moved and he announced that he would like to see that all their children don’t end up becoming laborers like them. He said he would want that all their children become educated and officers and in positions of honor. A frail woman stood in one corner. She was better dressed then most people in the gathering. She quietly walked up to the General and told him that she vows that she will make her son a bigger officer than him one day. The claps were loud and everyone there was almost in tears.
And then a Carpenter from Rajasthan raised his hands and took out a Rs 100 note and asked the General if he can donate half his daily earning to the School. And more followed. Workers, Engineers, Contractors all donated. At the end of the day, the school had gathered Rs 40,000 by way of donations.
Could FLAME have had better dedication than this? Could FLAME have had a better leader of men and women? Could there have been a better instance of complete passion?
Should we all in the periphery not be setting aside our personal agendas, our egos, our small frailties and do our bit for a dream we call FLAME? Think of this. I urge you all!
Parag Shah
Chairman,
Foundation for Liberal And Management Education (FLAME)
Jaideep Bungalow,
Plot No. 2,
Prathamesh Park,
S. No. 150/7,
Baner-Balewadi Road,
Pune 411 045
Tel. Nos. 66401800 & 66401801
Fax No. 66401802
MS INDIA
http://www.flame.edu.in/
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14 comments:
Honestly, this above all convinces me that FLAME really is going to work out. It constantly amazes me to see the amount of care and dedication everyone involved in this project puts in.
From Mr. Parag Shah, who has taken time out of his many enterprises to work on the campus, talk to us, and reassure parents to General Mehta, who works even while he's sick. To the workers, who some of you complained about. People who have no vested interest in the school, and whose children might not even get the chance to go to it, all pitching in for us.
Those of us that were there on the 13th know that while the campus is undoubtedly beautiful, it's no walk in the park. It is muddy, and slippery, and there was equipment everywhere. Yet all of those people remain there, and work their hardest so we can have something that resembles the comforts we have at home.
I think this, and this alone, should inspire each and every one of us to work our hardest everyday at FLAME. For all of these people who have no connection to us, but show more spirit and dedication that we have during these past few months.
What have we honestly up until now? We've bitched about laptops, assignments, and the campus. Astonishing, isn't it?
These people have all given themselves to building a campus. I think it's time for us to work on building a reputation for FLAME that is equivalent to the work these people have put in.
I must say that i agree with Pranav, hands down.
The hard work, sweat and determination with which our campus is being made and planned i really feel that we, especially as the first batch should indeed make them proud and really light up the name of Flame.
I have to say that i am honestly very excited.. at the same time, i am indeed very guilty for bitching about the small issues that seem like a trivial thing now - laptops, assignments.. it doesnt matter what we have and what we dont, i really want to make a huge effort to make my experience at Flame the best.
I have to say that i am going to take inspiration from these hard workng individuals and make sure that i show that that it indeed was all worth it and will always be.
I am proud to be a part of FLAME today.
I salute General Mehta, I salute all the workers, I salute the management, I salute the spirit of being in Flame, i salute the proud feeling of being an Indian.
this makes me even more determined to contribute watever i can to flame.. and i take up a vow to give back watever flame will offer me,which i knw wud be the best..its time tht all of us give back our best to the whole FLAME team,be it be professors, helpers,cooks,workers ne1 and every1 who has been wrkin day and night to make a dream come true called FLAME...and i m truly proud and honoured to be a part of the FLAME FAMILY...
Im really glad to be a part of this upcoming institution coz I just learnt a lesson about determination which i dnt intend to forget throughout my life. Hats off to General Mehta and every person associated with creating FLAME in any way, big or small.
hv no words to say.. just tht I M PROUD OF BEING A PART OF FLAME.. nd being in d first batch
It's simply amazing & touching....... I never thought that this kind of a world still exists..GR8
By working hard n efficiently we need to help in accomplishing the dreams n wishes, which every body @ FLAME have for us.
“I am proud to be a part of FLAME family"
Hats Off to all who help directly or indirectly in creating these flames of FLAME
I am proud to be a part of FLAME today.
I salute Gen. Mehta n all the workers for givin in the xtra effort jus for our comfort .... thnk u alll ........... n after this i m completely convinced tht FLAME will be ready as soon as possi ... (since every1 who visited the campus thought tht it wldnt get completed on time)
n special thanks to MR.PARAG SHAH without whose dedication FLAME wldnt have been established ..
thanks once again Mr SHAH and also Gen. MEhta and his team of workers.
Thank u all once again.
to be honest, i didnt expect this at all. When pranav told me to read this article, i thought it might be something "important" like how to go about my assignments, or a better deal on laptops or something. By the end of reading this article, i felt a mixture of emotions surging through me: guilty for giving importance to petty issues like the ones i stated and for being negative about the completion of the campus, awestruck by the entire event, and most importantly, a deep sense of belonging and affection towards my university to be; my home, for the next four years.
After reading this article i feel a strong urge to do something for these selfless and dedicated people who are the very core of this university. I dont know what or how to repay their gesture but i hope i(along wit my peers)do something to express our gratitude to them.
I have renewed faith in FLAME after reading this article and i KNOW my future is in the best hands i can ask for. Im proud to be in the first batch of FLAME and i hope that we as a batch can achive the glory and excellence we are capable of and make this institute proud.
I agree with most of the comments that have been posted till now...but i seriuosly dont think theres anything about India in this...being Indian and all seems so irrelevant to me here...
It is FLAME that matters...whether in India or anywhere else in the world...and people like General Mehta...whether they're Indians or Pakistanis...I salute them...
I first read this story in the FLAME Express and after I read it I urged my mom also to read it. It shows me more of the greatness of the people there and dedication. I am very glad and proud (even if I havent met anyone here. Such strong feelings they evoke, its the kind of spirit that I have dreamed of...of people who support each other.. where all things are possible and there are no limits.)
Grazie to everyone.
It's all very moving yes..but i'm puzzled
I didn't uderstand the carpenter donating half his earnings part..for what? building a business school?
This is really amazing!! I am very glad to be a part of FLAME surrounded by gr8 personalities like General and Mr.Parag Shah.I am very much inspired and my aim is to give something back 2 FLAME and also 2 the society being an Indian.FLAME is going to be "THE BEST"- no doubt about it.Hatsoff to all the people who were involved in upbringing this institution.
Vistited Flames on Saturday 28 th june .Met few faculty members ,heard Parag Shah.Totall impressed and agree to their Motto of providing totally diff approach towards educating.
worth appreciating the time and money they have put in and for a social cause ,to educate our children with values of life along with theories of subject.
On website we still have lack of entrance test methods demo.I think we should have an video/audio file of speech of few persons from flame + students views,parent views.
A DVD or CD would have addded a lot to explain members of family who cannot phsically visit flames.
We know Flames does not nee to market itself but this things wld have helped parents to take decision faster.
Provision of Paid Lunch or Snacks for visitors wld have been welcome .Ofcourse Tea/coffee was served/
I am totally impressed by the plans and the motive behind the institutions and the persons putting money-time-and effort to give top class faculty and life values which are rarely available every where or available to few affluent rich families.
Clear example of motive of founders to give back to society which must have given them a lot.
India needs such mindsets and brains.
Sincere thanks to all people behind flames.
A child will be utilising every hour God has given in an proper planned manner ,which normally get wasted in metro cities in Fun-commuting -and other wasteful activities.
I envy the young generation who get such chance today,which we in our child hood nevr had.
I certainly wish to go back in past again and start studying at flames.
BKG
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