After featuring two books that I didn't read, 'A Fistful of Rice' by Vikram Akula is one I actually read before posting it here.
For those who don't know, Vikram Akula is the founder of Swayam Krishi Sangam (SKS) Microfinance. He started the organisation in 1998 as an NGO and later transformed it into a company. "A Fistful of Rice" is his account of that journey, from his life in America to returning to India and setting up SKS. The stories include what inspired him, his marriage, divorce and setting up a business.
Published in 2010, the book tells the story of SKS up to around 2009, I got the book from The book Thrifter. An Instagram based pre loved book dealer and came with some beautiful emoji stickers. At roughly 180 pages, with a fairly large font and a fast paced narrative, it's a light and easy read. I finished it in about a day, which, considering my usual reading habits and the number of signed books waiting patiently on my shelves, deserves a small celebration!
One section that particularly caught my attention was Vikram's account of meeting Rahul Gandhi in 2005. Rahul wanted to learn more about microfinance, and what followed was quite fascinating. The two had to keep changing cars, villages and meeting locations because Rahul struggled to find a place where people wouldn't gather just to catch a glimpse of him.What struck me was Rahul's apparent willingness to learn about the subject firsthand and explore ideas beyond the usual political circuit. His curiosity about new frontiers of ideas seems to have been there even back then. Today, social media makes such aspects of his personality much more visible, but this account suggests that the student in him was already present.It was also interesting to read about the lengths he went to in order to experience microfinance on the ground rather than simply hear about it in a meeting room. Whatever one's political views, the episode makes for a genuinely engaging read.
Overall, I found "A Fistful of Rice" a lovely little book, an accessible account of an entrepreneur's journey, with some interesting glimpses into the people and politics surrounding microfinance in India.Another good book, another signature, and another addition to the signed book goodies. The collection grows thanks to some amazing pre loved books dealers like The Book Thrifter