"I have a Dream" - Rashmi Bansal.

Author: Rashmi Bansal

About the Author: Rashmi Bansal is a writer, entrepreneur and youth expert. she is a motivational speaker and mentor to students and young entrepreneurs. She is an MBA from IIM - Ahmedabad.

I have a Dream - First Published by Westland 2011.

On several occasions, I had these strange questions barking loudly inside me. The questions were simple yet blunt. I always thought, Is there no hope in today's world? Is there no humanity left? Is there no love for the other in one's heart? I did not have an answer to any of these questions until recently. And then I stumbled upon, “I have a dream”. After reading this book, I am hopeful again that “All is not lost in today's world”.

Written very succinctly by Author, Entrepreneur and Youth Expert- Rashmi Bansal, the book touches your soul and moves you beyond everything. It questions the very basic existence of you and me. All of us are here for a reason however very few of us find this reason and live it completely.

The book entails the stories of 20 unconventionally conventional idealists. These idealists have nothing in common except for the fact that all of them are committed to social causes. These are social entrepreneurs. The book talks about the thrilling, rough yet amazing journey of these next door individuals who made a difference in the society, for the society.

The book begins with a heart wrenching tale of Bindeshwar Pathak and his journey towards making a difference in the rural India through Sulabh Shauchalya. Then it it talks about Saloni malhotra, a young girl who dared to dream to create jobs in rural India. The other tale encompaases the heart touching tale of Sumita Ghose, a woman whose determination to empower the labourers of rural India during a very rough phase of her life, created a revolution. Another story of grit and passion is the story of a scientist, Harish Hande who was determined to bring light in the lives of labourers through solar lighting. And nonetheless the story of a young entrepreneur, Dhruv Lakra who employed and empowered specially abled people and made a difference. It takes you through a journey of many more such entrepreneurs leaving behind a mark on your heart, mind and soul.

Each story stands a testimony to the power of “one” single being's dream to make a difference to the nation that belonged to them. As Rashmi rightly says, " These stories say one thing loud and clear - change starts with one person could be someone next door".So while a typical middle class Indian is cribbing about the dirty streets, unemployment, pollution, lack of education and various other problems that are eating up our nation, the real Indians are out there getting their hands dirty and contributing their bit to the society. The society that is made up of you and me. And such real "HEROES" make the society worth living.

While I was reading the book, with every page that I turned, I was left wondering about one thing. Who are these people? The answer was straight, they are simple, humble beings like you and me. Yet they are different. They are different in their thoughts, actions and goals. While today's youth is running a race to make it to the corporate ladder, these dreamers, dreamt out of the box. They took the road less travelled.

If you are looking for a book that will change your thought process , “I have a dream” is the right pick. It is one of those rare gems that shines occasionally in your eyes and in your thoughts.