Living Philosophy Study Group – Chiranjeev Gurukul Shodhyatra 2024: Mitticool Wankaner Gujarat

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When the available resources are optimally utilised in adverse times, that is (true) intelligence!

(Chanakya Sutras)

If ever there was someone, who fitted this bill perfectly, it is Shri Mansukhbhai Prajapatiji.

So meeting him and studying his ecosystem was the objective. 18 Researchers strong team of applied eternal Indian wisdom started the trip with converging together at Mumbai Airport, donning Gandhi caps of embroidered LPSG and CG logos and wearing enthusiastic smiles and then travelled to the Clay Capital viz. Wankaner.

Leadership is often connected with men and women found in large corporations, often with degrees from Top global Engineering and/ or Business schools, frequently coupled with excellent communication skills and financial abilities. So in this sophisticated business world, when someone who hasn’t cracked even 10th grade exams and inability to speak English, and with no swanky Corporate office, and yet straddles fame and success with ease, doesn’t this call for a deeper study? Especially when the man in question is an inventor with 721 products to his credit, including a refrigerator using no electricity but works equally well. Also one who is helping to build a better world in all ways. Every year, this study group sets out on a field trip with the sole objective of making these secrets available to the rest of the world at no cost, yet presenting the findings in a most interesting manner! But there is more…

Shodh-yatra is but a 3 prong: journey of Discovery – Discovery of Leadership at the grassroots; Discovery of how various experiences and interactions impact us and our comrades; and most important of it all – Discovery of Self!

The first day included an inspiring visit to the Mitticool showroom, gazing at the myriad beautiful Mitti objects displayed there, was followed by a doubly inspiring tete-a-tete with the Swami (Leader), Shri Mansukhbhai Prajapatiji. He inspired us no end with his lofty purpose, unshakeable principles, nonchalant personality and record making products. That combined with his gripping life story and ambition taught multitude of lessons in nearly four hours of Samvad. Thereafter a visit to the Mitticool Home decor factory took place, where the Swami himself showed the entire premises and its processes with his trademark energy and deep insights! The Top 3 lessons of the day:

1. Svaarth se kaam nahin honi chahiye (No work should be done to merely serve oneself)

2. Mitti humari maa hai (Earth is a mother who nurtures all beings)

3. Mitti humari mool hai (We are all made of earth)

Day 2 started with study of the sacred Kautilya Arthshaastra, which has inspired this Shodhyatra. There was a greater sense of purpose when meeting the Mitticool family members that morning. First up, the group met with Rajabhai Prjapati, the younger son of Mansukhbhai, who had shouldered the responsibility of managing the splendid Mitticool outlet - the place is so full of eye catching attractive and useful items, that one simply feels like a kid in a candy store, wanting to purchase one of every product. Next, the group made their way to the sprawling factory of Mitticool, where there were large number of products being manufactured, through three methods – liquid mud, powdered mud and clay. There was the privilege of meeting the older son, Ravibhai Prajapati, a Ceramic Engineer, who ably directed all the operations at the factory. The group was ecstatic to get its hands dirty, literally, when they helped “shape the clay”, for a few items on the automated potter wheel. What a great bliss it is to create with one's own hands!

Next up, was a visit to the great rural innovator Mansukhbhai once again, at the first and now oldest factory and showroom of Mitticool. The group was exposed to various kinds of “Mitti” and also the various processes but the highlight of the day, was being able to hear the story of “Mitticool Refrigerator”, India’s and perhaps world only non-electric Fridge and its 5 year old journey of invention from the man himself.. The Top Lesson of the day – the Four Pillars of Mitticcol:

1. Nurturing tradition (through art/ craft/ skill)

2. Customer oriented-ness

3. Environment friendliness

4. Health and Nutrition

Working late, hard or intensely, served to energize the teams for Day 3 which started at 8 am with the customary condition and invocation. This was followed by team bonding through a one-on-one Feed Forward exercise. The group landed up at the Mitticool corporate office cum showroom one final time. While some interacted with the Swami (Leader) Mansukhbhai as a finale to the process of study/ exchange, the objective for most was to shop for the most interesting and useful items of Mitticool – providing endless benefits to individuals, society and environment. Cookers, Dinner sets, Water bottles, pots and pans, all made of clay, were all gleefully purchased. This was an essential part of the Shodhyatra, for, all the items which were spoken about thus far, were now being seen closely, touched, felt, admired and acquired.

The Shodhyatra did come to an end but was like no other earlier because the diversity of the group was brilliant consisting of men and women; age ranging from 14 to 70, profiles being student, employee, entrepreneur, consultant, teacher, CEO; from cities Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Ahmednagar.

Top Lesson: This diverse group followed their Dharm of “Shodh” every single minute of over nearly 70 hours - of a Swami – Mansukhbhai, who was creating Arth (prosperity) for his ecosystem by way of health, wealth, skills, livelihood and relationships! What an incredibly enlightening study trip it was!

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The foundation of Prosperity is energetic purpose-oriented activity!?(K.A.?1.19.35)