Patrick McNamaraI recently returned from serving as a 2011 Fulbright-Nehru Senior Scholar in India. For 20 years, I dreamt about being a Fulbrighter. It seemed the time was never right to apply – starting a new job, going to grad school, getting married, moving, having kids – but finally I just did it! I left my job after six years at the Omaha Community Foundation and this turned out to be a life-changing opportunity to grow personally, professionally and spiritually. 

My family was with me for the first two months. Experiencing the overwhelming sensory overload that is India through the eyes of my daughters, who had never before seen such heights of opulence displayed next to such depths of destitution, was an awesome adventure for us all. Because we had kids, we were often invited into homes to hang out with other families. We celebrated Leora’s 8th birthday in Jaipur and Ilana’s 10th birthday at the Taj Mahal in Agra.

McNamara Family in front of the Taj Mahal

The Fulbright Program is a cultural exchange of academics, artists and professionals meant to build bridges between the people of the USA and other countries. My main program included (1) teaching social entrepreneurship; (2) doing a case study of conflict resolution of water disputes, then guest lecturing at the International Water Management Institute in Sri Lanka; and (3) helping to strengthen the community foundation movement in partnership with the Sampradaan Indian Centre for Philanthropy. 

Initiatives of Change in India

We had a number of opportunities to meet with people engaged with Initiatives of Change in India. (Read more about this in my blog) One of the most memorable was visiting Asia Plateau, the IofC Centre in Panchgani. The Indian team uses this inspiring place for training some of the country’s top business leaders and public officials. These trainings end up funding the operations and programs of IofC. This place is an incredible asset and the team based there is a particularly hospitable group.

A long-time leader in the IofC movement in India is R.D. Mathur and I had the opportunity to hear stories of his working with Frank Buchman, founder of Initiatives of Change, in the years after WWII. Mr. Mathur is the moral force behind the IC Centre for Governance through which top-level retirees from the Indian Administrative Service educate and train junior officers and others in anti-corruption, ethics and good governance.

My family also had the honor of hosting the past president of IofC International, Rajmohan Gandhi, and his wife Usha in our apartment in Delhi. When I told friends and colleagues that we had the Mahatma’s grandson in our home, they were dumbfounded.

Civil Society in Action

Activist Anna Hazare mobilized millions on the issue of anti-corruption. He has taken that fight to the corridors of power and challenged the government at the highest level. It was an amazing display of charisma, inspiration and, ultimately, power to persuade others. The movement energized people because all lives seem touched by this issue of corruption. Everyone I met could tell of some instance where they or those they know have been asked to or actually paid a bribe. (Although interestingly no one ever told me that they asked for and received a bribe!)

Anna Hazare breaks fast with coconut water given to him by a Muslim and a dalit, or untouchable, girl.

I was there when Hazare broke his fast after 13 days. The crowd cheered, Indian flags waved, and "victory of the people" was declared. Parliament had passed a declaration that they would accept the conditions of the Lokpal, an ombuds office to investigate official corruption, which Team Anna had made. “I hope Parliament won't go back on their promise,” Hazare prophetically said from the stage. In the breaking news from India at the end of December 2011, the Parliament had not passed the Lokpal bill, just as Hazare feared.

India is seen throughout the world's as a model of democracy. For all the challenges to governing a vast and diverse population, it has succeeded in so many ways. I believe this latest people’s movement against corruption will challenge other democracies to look at the power of their people to participate in governance. When a Star News reporter at Ramlila asked me what I thought of the gathering, I answered, “This is democracy in action. I think that Americans should learn from India – the world biggest democracy – about how civil society can play a role in social change. This is an amazing people’s movement.”

Indians (and all of us) need to look at what else, beyond the Lokpal bill, needs to be done on a personal or legislative basis in order to root out corruption from our lives and build trust with others. In the end, this is the greater power of a movement. While the systemic changes that may result are crucial, the real change in corruption is when people no longer accept or practice it in their own minds, hearts and actions.

My time in India gave me an opportunity to step back from my busy life and look deeply at my own heart and consider where God is at work in the world and how I am called to be a partner in that work. I am blessed that my family was with me for part of that experience and thankful for all the wonderful people I met in India doing righteous and life-changing work. I encourage others to consider applying for a Fulbright scholarship and share your skills and experiences with others… as well as learn more about yourself and the world around us.

Patrick McNamara is a University of Nebraska at Omaha International Studies Research Associate and Vice Chairman , IofC - USA Board of Directors.

NOTE: Individuals of many cultures, nationalities, religions, and beliefs are actively involved with Initiatives of Change. These commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily those of Initiatives of Change as a whole.