The Dandelion Field
Holding space for dreams to take root
In May this year, I decided to take a short break in the mountains. On our way to North Sikkim, we did a one day stop at Darjeeling, for our bi-annual review of MyPragati. We trekked down to the village where MyPragati has quietly been growing roots. I came back not with photographs or big reports, but with a handful of thank-you cards—handwritten by children in their own uneven, heartfelt words.
“Thank you for helping me study hard and make you proud.”
“You taught us selflessness and giving.”
“You made us smile more.”
Some words were clumsy, some sentences broken. But the rawness was striking. They weren’t just thank-you notes; they were seeds, floating like dandelions in the wind. And into this open space, aspirations have begun to grow.
That evening was filled with music, conversations, and some short presentations from the kids. One girl dreams of a Masters in History. Another wants to be a scientist. One wants to be a graphic designer and video creator. Some want to join the army. What moved me most is that not one said, I want to be rich. I want to be unicorn founder! (the last bit is my wiring to the startup world, which probably means little to people from the village)
When we look around, perhaps the real goal for all humans is sufficiency—the ability to stand tall, to create, to contribute, and to find freedom on one’s own terms.
Saraswati’s Story
If the children’s dreams are dandelion seeds, then Saraswati is the soil that nurtures them.
When I first began MyPragati, I knew I needed someone from the community—someone I could trust on the ground, someone who would carry the program’s heart. Saraswati, in her late twenties, had not managed to finish her graduation for lack of motivation. But she slowly stepped into the role. She is a quiet, demure young woman, who is very open about her vulnerabilities.
That honesty of being able to express without being judged is an asset and a strength a few possess.
Today, 3 years into launch, she runs the entire MyPragati program—finances, annual planning, teaching, and always advocating for the graduates. She has become not just a program manager, but the brand ambassador for her village. Her quiet confidence, and ever grateful attitude to life is refreshing.
Over the past two years, we have built a warm, well-designed classroom for after-school tuitions with a small library, a community hall for families to gather, and a community kitchen where love flows through food. This year, I decided we should go beyond the infrastructure list and invest into people. We experimented with something new: a city immersion week for the teachers in Bangalore. While here, I asked Saraswati if she would ever like to move to the city, to take up a job with more money and more exposure.
Her response was immediate:
“I want to continue to be the brand ambassador for MyPragati and work for my village.”
The glitz of city lights faded against the glow in the children’s eyes.
I am attaching a link to a video. One that has been worked on, with a lot of effort, time and dedication. Think of someone, in a remote corner of India, trying to speak to the world, full of noise, full of confident people, who have short attention spans. Yet we try to get our voice heard. Even if it reaches a few, we win. So share this video with your friends - for this is what hope looks like.
The Playground - Another interpretation
A friend who read my earlier post about playgrounds said something that resonated deeply:
“The idea that we can be a safe, open space for others, even passively, without fixing or directing their experience—just being there, allowing someone to unfold or explore, like a playground does, is a quiet but powerful gift.”
I was touched by the message. It has stayed with me, as the message was a beautiful way to encapsulate the entire post, and tell me that every thread in life is inter connected. This what MyPragati has become for the village. Not a rigid program, but a playground. A space where aspirations take shape freely, without being forced. Saraswati herself, in her quiet strength, embodies this—holding space for children whose opportunities extend beyond what she herself received.
A Personal Note
When I look at the thank-you cards, I realize that I must thank them back.
Thank them for helping me create a space in my own life—one that radiates meaning into everything else I do. My hard work at LVX feels more anchored because of MyPragati. The two worlds—entrepreneurship and grassroots community—are no longer separate. Perhaps one day we will incubate an entrepreneur from this very village. Perhaps one of these children will start something bigger than all of us.
For now, it feels like walking a starry path—uncertain, uncharted, but lit with the quiet glow of something meaningful.
The dandelion seeds have begun to fly. Where they land, only time will tell.
And so, this week, as we open support for MyPragati, we are simply tending the dandelion field—making sure the seeds continue to grow where they are meant to.
Enjoy the beginning of festive season!
