TRI TURNS 8 ON LUCKY 13TH

Anyone who knows Anish Kumar, the co-founder of TRI, would know he has a thing for special days. When TRI launches an important initiative or makes a big announcement, chances are it’s going to coincide with some meaningful day on the calendar – whether it’s Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Summer Solstice, August Kranti or even another country’s special day (Fourth of July anyone?) – he loves to chime with an auspicious moment in time.

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So you’d think eight years ago he would have been frustrated to be randomly given a birth date for his latest and biggest initiative, Transform Rural India, right?

Because that is what happened when he left PRADAN with his colleague Anirban Ghose to create a new kind of NGO – one that did not specialize in a single area of rural development but took a revolutionary multidimensional approach to designing solutions for community-led progress:

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Wed, Jan 13, 2016

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is to inform you that in term of Rule 10 of the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, the above-cited Form INC-7, Form DIR-12 has been examined and marked as Pending for user clarification with the following remarks:

“Sir computer is slower than human, this is old queued mail. Do know that human officer has already issued registration.”

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And so January 13 it was – a number in the month deemed by many as unlucky. But instead of ruing happenchance, Anish and Anirban embraced the positive and looked for opportunities to flourish under this given number – because that is what they do.

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In Anish’s own words:

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“Lucky 13. People interested in the stars and astronomy will find many things that go for ??-??-??. Numbers 1, 13 and 2016 gives our life path number as 5, representing progress, adventure, opportunity and – most fun – possessing the curiosity of a cat. The birth flower for 13 January 2016 is the carnation and that is for friendship.

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But many people – including the likes of Churchill, Napolean and Columbus – consider 13 an unlucky number. It even has its own assigned phobia, triskaidekaphobia. Much of this comes from Judas, known as the 13th disciple who betrayed Jesus.

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However, in Indic culture 13 is very lucky. The Sanskrit word for 13, triyodashi, belongs to Lord Shiva and is said to bestow long life, peace and good fortune. In numerology 13 portrays focus, independence, creativity and a secure foundation with destiny numbers 1, 3 and 4 supposed to give intelligence, assuring growth and success. It's considered a mystical number with the divine feminine power to boot.

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Forget the evil Loki, in Marvel's Thor story, which is 13th god in the Viking pantheon. Instead think of Zeus, the thirteenth and the most powerful god of the Greeks. We like to remember that 13 is a symbol of growth and change. It encourages one to take risks and embrace new opportunities with open arms."

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We discussed at the TRIfluence that 2023 was an exceptional year. We couldn’t have asked for more. But the sobering realisation that we have to do MORE to do to usher in 'flourishing localities' that don't leave any behind makes us more responsible, more innovative and demands commitment to put in our best.?

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Our understanding on what and how to engage?has evolved very well. We have multiple use-cases under our belt, credibility and acceptance. The best way to commemorate 13?January will be to reaffirm our resolve to be our best selves. There are many tailwinds to our mission but to pick just two: Gram Panchayat Development Plan and Mahila Lakhpati -?they have had such massive opportunities with political and administrative will and our own experience and conviction of realisation. The onus is on us to ride the tiger and ensure our mission is not just hype.?

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Commemorations are special, giving joy and contemplation. There any more hills to climb on our unwavering quest for a?better?world.”

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Indeed.

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It turns out January 13 has been a special and auspicious day for us without the resonance of any historical marker. Indeed on our eighth birthday – with our Thoughtful Tarakki approach – we are embracing new opportunities to transform India’s languishing localities into flourishing communities.

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Happy Birthday, us!