I first met him 3 years back, with a strong determination in my head of saying “NO” for I always disliked engineers and I had not liked his photograph. Little had I known that I would accept the proposal in just one meeting! I was totally convinced that we were poles apart as I was this bubbly, talkative, always smiling/laughing person and he was this serious, mature typical IT guy but I had a great tuning with him in the first go because our thoughts were quite similar and we bonded pretty quickly. He loved the fact that I was a dancer and said that I must continue it. We were on the same page of understanding life and its meaning! Agreeing to disagree on the same old typical social norms where woman is stuck with kitchen all day and only husband works! Rest is history!
He introduced me to TheRodinhoods! He asked me to start my own dance classes! He helps me make costumes for my dance competitions! He assists me with the household chores as much as he can! Even if that results in fights with his mother, he doesn’t back out! Because he is true to his ideologies and thoughts! Now that’s one ideal man I have! That’s Alkesh for you!
We have our share of fights and arguments and all that couple-y stuff! But we have stick to just one rule! No matter how huge the fight is, never leave the room and sleep outside or stop talking which ultimately helps us bounce back to normal quickly! That’s the key to our relationship!
We both had attended TRH OPEN HOUSE that took place in Mumbai in January! There was a cute girl explaining her journey of Blueberry trails, Bootstrapped and I’m Lovin It!, the very pretty Sudeepta Sanyal! While giving the presentation she mentioned that her co-founder was in the audience and because he is shy, she was doing all the talking! At that very moment, Alkesh turned to me and said, “We are going to be like them! You’ll do all the talking part and I’ll handle the technical part.”
So here I am standing behind him, supporting his very old dream of being an entrepreneur! We are starting our very own company in a month and half. I would request all of you to review the idea and let us know if it’s worth all the efforts and his resignation from a well-paying job! We are a start-up couple with a dream of making it BIG!!
We are Alkesh and Purvi, the doers!
It’s a product oriented company where the first thing we are developing is an application! This will be custom made for the candidates (who buy it from us) fighting for the local body election of Pune in February 2017.
‘A feedback (related to social problems, their political views and change in their views since last local elections etc.) will be collected from people, which after analysis, will give meaningful insights to politicians. These insights will be the only thing that will be shared with the politicians.’
They can use this data and the problems registered by people during their election campaigns and promotions which will make them have an upper hand over others and have a precise propaganda.
Now, this whole thing has 3 benefits!
- The first and most important, people will have their long pending issues (might get) resolved and will have a direct chance to reach to the politician!
- The candidate earns bonus points for connecting with the masses.
- Last but not the least, fetches us money and a gives us a sense of satisfaction of helping the society.
So, I have lots of doubts and questions that I would like to have answers to. Please help and be all muhfat. I’m married and have learnt to take criticism well..;-)
Questions:
- Something similar does exist but do you guys think this is different and achievable?
- Is gamification of the feedback (inspired from Alok’s blog on gamification) being collected from people, a good idea as people from all the backgrounds will take it and serious questions might put off many?
- How can we make more and more people to give us their feedback?
- Do you guys see any problem (social/political) or error arising in this whole thing?
- Alkesh’s friend (and ex-boss), a senior manager in a top services company for 11 years had expressed interest in starting the company together (being a co-founder). He has a service company mind-set (start slowly with services, work on core product only in free time or when revenues are sufficient) where he wants to develop some android/iOS apps, websites and software for others but is not keen on this idea (of creating a niche product). What should we do?
- Any other views, queries and suggestions that you can provide us with?
I am immensely thankful to Asha whom we met during the 24ADP conference in Pune and she asked us to write down this whole thing!
I hope I have not tested your patience because if you are reading this last line, you have read the whole thing which in itself is self-explanatory!
-Purvi Wanjara Thakkar
(@browsingmind)
A Rodinhooder | Creative Writer | Dancer
www.browsingminds.wordpress.com
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rajeev kocher
Hello Purvi,
Nice noble idea. Collecting all the feedback & help politician connect with masses & they might actually solve the issues or long pending problems.
If we look through all of this as business idea (to earn money), there will be few points you need to consider before earning any money:
1: Always remember all the politicians or even aspiring politicians in India hardly buy anything, they want everything for free. No matter how high position he holds, politicians still want even pettiest of things for free.. Example : they have rally in some place they expect there followers to put tent for free. Banners shall be financed by followers – followers are just happy with there pic in banner along with there favourite leader. Tho’ followers also earn lil bit in kind/money with being close to leader. That’s a game of politics.
2: Leaders already know they problems & they can count problems better when in opposition ; just won’t resolve it when they hold the office .Some good leaders do too.. but good are hard to find.
3: Once you approach leader, they’ll be very happy & even praise you for doing social work. But, don’t expect money for social cause & if you are not ready to share for free…. Politicians never forget.
But this can lead to something very important & big, get all the feedback, analyse all the problems, you’ll be reaching masses anyway for collecting data, you’ll be connecting with Janta (Public) on day to day basis.. give little bit extra time to raise voice for there problems & try to solve them…& you, yourself can be a great leader who’ll actually solve problems & do good for society.
P.S: You two look great together; stay happy; stay blessed.
asha chaudhry
hi purvi,
it was awesome meeting you in pune! i remember in my session when i asked if there were any rodinhooders in the house, you were the first to proudly put your hand up!!
lovely story you two have 🙂
on the idea – there are a few similar ones – one i recollect is NetaG. how will you be different from them?
https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/netag-the-power-of-politicians-in-your-hands
Purvi Wanjara Thakkar
Hey Rajeev!
Thank you so much for thinking over it so thoroughly and sharing your views!
We have been thinking over these same points for a couple of days now. We even talked to people who work closely with these politicians and they told us nothing different. We were very optimistic in the beginning thinking that use of technology in elections (as done by Modi) will lure them and make them buy it! But, that’s not how it works I guess!
Anyway, we’re now deciding whether to continue this ahead or not!
Better stop early than being sorry, Right? 😉
P.S- Thank you for the kind words on the photograph!:)
Purvi Wanjara Thakkar
Hi Asha,
Well, NetaG is an amazing platform where it takes people’s problems to the politicians and their actions back to people.
Our product would have given people’s political insights and views along with the problems to the politicians!
This data would have reached to the politicians after a detailed analysis in a very smart way, helping them to get the strategy correct for the benefit of people (actually themselves)!
I still don’t know if we’ll go ahead with this idea and hence used past tense everywhere!:)
P.S- I had anticipated that you would ask that question! I was waiting for that to come and I was ready! Now, You see why I was the first one to put my hand up! 😉
Thank you for the help!! Much love! 🙂
Purvi Wanjara Thakkar
P.P.S- This is something that gave us the boost!
Just when we were refining our idea, we came across this article and it gave us hopes: Economic times
So, we were convinced that it would work but boy, wrong were we!
asha chaudhry
hey purvi,
pls also start doing some more market research before you start/give up on the idea. start with surveys. have you spoken to any local body politicians?
should you go ahead with the idea, i reckon alkesh should still hang on to his job and not quit basis this one project. in fact, if at all, start by treating it as a side project.
pls read rahul varshneya’s post – https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/how-side-projects-can-be-your…
and this interview of another rodinhooder couple! – https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/kolkata-couple-builds-an-onli…
and let’s get some more feedback from other rodinhooders!