You Are Creative!

Oftentimes we assume that creativity and innovation are the domain of the “creative types”. We straight away attribute this quality to the étudiant des arts. In contrast, I believe that everyone is creative. It is not a special gift graced only to a lucky few. Creativity is a phenomenon whereby imagination and new ideas are used to create tangible or intangible value. Also, it comes hand-in-hand with innovation and there is no innovation without creativity. The ultimate goal of both of them is value creation.

I believe that one’s curiosity ignites their creative side. Consequently, creativity is an articulation of one’s feelings. Be it developing new statistical model or penning down a new piece, one uses the tools to express the ideas that comes to them.

Recently I have been selected by NITI Aayog of India as an Atal Innovation Mission Mentor of change. The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country, based on a detailed study and deliberations on innovation and entrepreneurial needs of India in the years ahead (Ref - https://www.aim.gov.in/overview.php). There has been a lot of discussion about bookishness and the lack of creativity in schools. It would be a nice idea to start young people off early in such classes. Thereupon, as part of this innovation framework, Atal Tinkering Labs will be created to promote creative, innovative mind-set in schools. To date, 2441 schools have already been selected and by the end of 2018 over 5000 schools are expected to be operational with Atal Tinkering Labs, covering over 60 lakhs students in all the districts of the country.

I liked this concept initiated by the NITI Aayog, wherein ATLs will be hubs of innovation where young minds will accelerate their ideas to solve unique local problems.

To conclude, I firmly believe that creativity is about connecting the discrete and we each have an exceptional talent that enables us to stand out from the crowd.

(I also blog Here )