This is Prof. Anil Gupta and this pic is from the article that can be found on the front page of BBC news site. Well, as I had missed this evening's EPL games so I opened the BBC site to get my EPL update, specifically chelsea's shocking loss to liverpool, but right there on the front page even before I could click on the sports link - I saw Prof. Gupta's familiar face.

It's interesting to know how I heard of Prof. Gupta for the first time. It was a june afternoon, I had got an admit to IIMA. I was back in Haridwar for a while before the joining. One fine afternoon while checking my mails, I found one from Prof. Gupta - he had read my review of '1984' on the online-literature site ( yes, the same review which I posted in one of the posts few days back) and he had mailed me to tell me that he liked them. That's when I first heard of Prof. Gupta.

Next I came across him in one of the courses that he took for us - ISPE (Indian Social & Political Environment). In a curriculum replete with courses on finance, marketing and strategy - this was an interesting and welcome change. And it's in this course that I got to know of his dream to bring rural innovators to fore. It's a very interesting concept and he works on it with full dedication. Few of my friends thought that he sticks to his ideas and convictions rather than taking note of contrary view. But I have no issues with that, I guess that's what differentiate thinkers from entrepreneurs. When thinkers plan something they chose to get into everyone' shoes to figure out, how would each one of them feel on their journey together. It takes a long time and you never start the journey. Entrepreneurs just put on their shoes and run to their goal. Others can join them if they want or just be spectators. And Prof Gupta, nominated by Business week as one of the stars of Asia, is one such achiever with a mind of his own.

If you meet him, and he is a busy man trust me, you will realize that his white beard is just a deception, he stands tall, absolutely upright, walk briskly, talk in a strong and firm voice and has a logic that can be best described as business like. He is fit as Federer from what I have seen of him. Even though his work with rural poor may give you an impression that he would resort to ideas of compassion and care and equality to drive his point, but trust me his logic is far more potent and convincing. In my second year while I was working with a NGO in nearby village, we consulted him for few things and it was amazing how he could understand the reality of rural existence and translate it for "never been to a village before" B-school grads.

I missed a great chance to go on Shodhyatra with him to laddakh when I saved my course bidding points for just a shade too long to ensure I end up getting all the finance courses. Result - I did get all the fin courses but was left with enough points that could have pretty well taken me to a trek across laddakh and a chance to know this man better.

I think what I admire most about Prof. Gupta is his unflinching dedication to a worthy cause. A cause that makes a life purposeful. A purpose greater than buying the swankiest apartment, latest gadget and finest car. May be each living soul needs a purpose like this but not many have guts to go and pick one for themselves. I hear this constant calling to use my empowerment to empower others, not to waste what I have in structuring debt transactions but to go out there and contribute to the society in a meaningful way. But at the same time, whenever I see that stylish Lamborghini parked outside an expensive restaurant, i hear another voice that calls me to go and get one such toy for myself.

One can either provide his life with means or meaning and right now I have chosen to work on the first, but thank god that there's a Prof. Anil Gupta out there who has chosen the latter for himself.

Hats off to you Sir !!! I hope some day, I can gather enough guts to emulate you.

-sid

PS: Here's the link to the BBC story on Prof. Gupta by Peter Day-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6279929.stm