Of Quakes, Clowns And An Incredible Book Launch!
ServiceSpace
--Viral Mehta
5 minute read
Nov 8, 2011

 

In some traditions it's considered an auspicious sign when the earth trembles or the first rain of the season falls. This Saturday's launch event for Infinite Vision -- sandwiched between a gentle earthquake and refreshing showers -- had both! :)

An Evocative Start: 165 people gathered to celebrate the values at the core of this special story. It was a packed house, standing room only. The diverse and vibrant crowd that assembled in Berkeley's elegant Sutardja Dai Hall included professors, students, poets, social enterprise leaders, business consultants, activists, medical professionals, and more. The event began with a few centering moments of silence, followed by a hauntingly beautiful violin performance by Divya Ramachandran -- during which the audience was invited to close their eyes and consider what it means to lose sight. Clearly there would be nothing ordinary about this launch.

Diving Into the Aravind Story: Aravind's youngest founding member Thulsi Ravilla shared with us a fascinating presentation on "The Upside Down Business Model" of Aravind, giving an overview of the baffling organization that focuses on marketing to the poor, gives away most of its services for free, and yet makes a sizeable profit. Berrett-Koehler's founder-president Steve Piersanti spoke next, opening with a quietly powerful line: "This book was the reason I got into publishing" and going on to explain the strong resonance between BK's own mission ["Creating a world that works for all"] and the Aravind ethos, and detailed his deep belief in the power and relevance of Infinite Vision.

The Women of the Hour: Co-authors Pavithra Mehta and Suchitra Shenoy sparkled on stage as they shared their own personal journeys, from daily readings with Dr. V for four years, to a unique collaboration that spanned six years and yielded a work of art and heart. They then had the audience riveted with readings from the book, with topics ranging from how inspiration can be found in the least likely of places (a make-shift earring on a blind, rural African girl); to Dr. V’s gift for framing the right questions; and actual journal entries from Dr. V -- inspiring notes to self, flaming with sincerity and rooted in a quest to become a perfect instrument. The authors chose to end unusually, by reading from the very end of the book, leaving us with the key takeaways that they'd gleaned from the still-emerging Aravind story. As they left the stage, the whole audience rose in an inspired standing ovation, and many reported not being able to stop their tears.

 

An Inspiring Panel: The authors were followed by a medley of four speakers. Seva Foundation's founding member, Suzanne Gilbert shared how at Dr. V's directions, she switched her PhD research focus thirty minutes into their first conversation over three decades ago ("And I haven't looked back since"). Dr. Dick Litwin spoke with gentle humility about the miracle of seeing "medicine practiced wholesale" at his first eye camp in Pondicherry and of the profound effect meeting Dr. V had on his life -- "When I was with him he had a way of making me feel like I was capable of much more than what I was doing." Amanda Greco, formerly with the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford, shared her delightfully serendipitous connection with Infinite Vision. Not only has she visited Aravind several times as a leader of Stanford's "Service Learning Program", she also lives *literally* a stone’s throw away from Pavi, and played a vital role in the book. Sonesh Surana regaled the audience with his energized description of how Dr. V had reeled him -- an uncertain Comp Sci researcher at Berkeley -- into Aravind's generous vision, by whipping out a couple of photocopied articles related to his research and telling him he had to come set up wireless tele-ophthalmology links for rural India. By the end of their reflections, the auditorium was palpably charged with the spirit of the Aravind story and the deep-rooted universal values that animate it.

 

A True Celebration: An Open Mic was led by the legendary activist-clown Wavy Gravy, who shared a wisely hilarious story from the Sufi tradition, and kicked off sharings by others who felt moved to express their own connection to the Book, the Man, and the Work. The evening came to a fitting conclusion with a deeply moving Dedication of Merit, led by the Abbott of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, Rev. Heng Sure. Afterwards, the authors were whisked away to their first signing table where they also received gratitude for their work in hugs, beautiful flowers and plants, and touchingly inscribed cards. Of course, the event itself was the result of the tireless behind the scenes efforts of so many in the Service Space posse, keeping the refreshments coming (including CF mom's up-till-1:30AM sweets-making), the gift table stocked, and the pay-it-forward books flowing outward. And to no one's surprise, the event was beautifully choreographed and emceed by the effortless-as-ever -- Nipun.

 

Ultimately, Infinite Vision inspires a clarity of values and emboldens big, service-minded dreams. But more than anything else, it is a story that brings us closer to our own unfolding. How can we be the greatest instruments of our deepest calling?

 

May the ripples of the evening reach far and wide, fanning a flame where conditions are ripe -- and sowing seeds everywhere.

 

With gratitude for co-creating an amazing space

 

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Many of you have asked how you can contribute to the project. As with all Service Space initiatives, things spread in a very demand-pull, organic way. With that said,

 

How to Share it Forward:

    If you were touched by the book, write your own review on Amazon

    Follow updates or write a note on the Facebook Page 

    Share the book Website with resonant friends

    Suggest an event -- as you know, the authors are gifting 100% of their royalties to Aravind’s sight-restoring work. Their intent is to share the story wherever there is alignment. Upcoming events in the next two weeks range from a 400 person session at Columbia University, to living room discussions. Write to info (at) infinitevisionaries.com


Overheard about the Event:

 

" I was just blown away at the enormous impact that Aravind has made. Just hearing Dr. V's voice for the first time ever gave me goosebumps. Thank you very much for the invitation and the gift of Infinite Vision."

" It's given us renewed inspiration to think more about following our own internal goals."

"More "wows" per square inch than any book I've ever read."

"The book reads "perfectly"-- it tackles the intellect while preserving the knockout waves of spirituality that are a treat and a gift! Many thanks for taking this journey for the rest of humanity."

"How lucky we are to learn and love and expand from you both and Dr. V"

"You guys are amazing, inspirational. I will do my part to deliver Dr. V and your light to all my med students and residents for all my life."

 

Posted by Viral Mehta on Nov 8, 2011


5 Past Reflections