“CLOSE YOUR EYES, OPEN YOUR MIND AND FOLLOW YOUR HEART”

 Face to Face With Karna Shakya

 Karna Shakya, an entrepreneur who needs no introduction in tourism industry. A versatile personality who has made an immense impact in the nature and wildlife conservation and has made a huge social contributions in the lives of people and society through his social works, philanthropy, and the most importantly positive outlook. He is a nature lover who loves to dream . The personality of Karna Shakya has made him a writer with the best selling books such as Soch, Khoj etc and has also produced a film “pal” which all aim to promote optimism in the society. He has the ability to transform his dream into reality.  Many people has benefitted from his life experiences and his optimistic attitude. This interview was taken on February 12, 2012 by the students of British Gurkha College for the college annual magazine “BGC Voice”.In this interview he has talked with us about his life, work and positive thinking which are as such:

Negative thinking doesn’t seed in empty stomach. It brews in the always- wanting , never-ending greed and avarice of the people.

1. We have seen the conclusion of Nepal Tourism Year 2011. In your opinion has it been successful to its objectives?

>>  “Never Ending , ever changing” is a well known cliché for tourism in English. Tourism can’t remain stationary . It always has to be agile and active. So in this context, I think  Nepal Tourism Year 2011 has been successful. Tourism was remodeled with new objectives and  it brought positive changes in the lives of people cause the development in tourism has multidimensional effects in all other aspects of development.

2. Don’t you think that we haven’t been able to develop the tourism  in Nepal as per the potentiality and attraction our country holds?

>> We have always been in the forefront in the development of tourism. So, far the tourism development   is considered,  we are in a very good position and ranking in whole South Asia. At the same time, it is quiet true that we have been bestowed with natural bounty and huge tourism potentialities that haven’t been completely explored . So they need to be developed subsequently. All the halt and disruption in tourism activities and development are accounted for the instable politics and corrupt politicians. Otherwise , I have positive view in our tourism development.

A business man  always seeks profit by hook or crook but an entrepreneur is not always profit motive

3. The other well known aspect of your personality is your involvement in social entrepreneurship and philanthropy?  How did you get motivated in such social activities?

>> I didn’t have preliminary wish or thoughts to get involved in social activities. The circumstance and situation led me to inevitable and inescapable position which drove me to get involved in social activities. The reason that I got involved in social activities has full personal bearings. I had to mourn the death of my dear wife and my 1^st daughter within the span of 3 months due to cancer. I tell you nothing in the world gives you more pain than to hold your own child’s dead body in your hand. At that time there was not even a single hospital for cancer in Nepal. So with the strong motivation I set out to open a first cancer hospital in Nepal and I did succeed also. I transformed my pain into power which gave me new outlook of life. So problem must hit you hard if you must succeed.

4. How in the midst of all the present conditions of dysfunctional governance, widespread despair, depression and bleak prospects of future could one develop upbeat or positive attitude towards things?

>> I have always been emphasizing  this thing in my life. Negative thinking doesn’t seed in empty stomach. It brews in the always- wanting , never-ending greed and avarice of the people.  Hungry people in this country are working hard to satiate their hunger but the people who have the deep thirst and hunger of greed opt for shortcut measures for the quick gain. Look our politicians, what they’ve done to the country  to fulfill their fetish wish of earning tons of money.  And the another crucial thing is that you have to know yourself. You have to know your limits, capacity and potentiality. You shouldn’t expect for more than you can truly achieve. In a nutshell, don’t compare yourself with others. Be your own competitor. And try to look at the positive side of the things and focus onto the solutions of the problem rather than brooding in the problem itself.

5. You have written many books like best selling Soch, Khoj, ma sakchhu etc and recently produced and made a film , Pal. In spite your busy schedule, how do you manage your time in all these activities??

>>What you have to know importantly is that you must have to enjoy what you’re doing. It is a great art. It’s really about time management.  I have a habit developed since from my childhood that I get completely incapacitated to do the things that I can’t enjoy but when I enjoy certain things I will see it to the end. So you have all the time with you when you do the things that you truly enjoy.

6. What will give you more satisfaction , either as a business man earning profits or as a social entrepreneur making impacts in society?

>>  I am the worshipper of both goddesses Laxmi and Sarswati. I equate money to sweat. So I will be really unhappy when I don’t get return for what I invest.  In the same way, when you think you create. When you create, the ultimate benefit goes to the society and helps it to grow. It’s like lighting your candles from the light of my candle. And one thing, I don’t want to call myself a typical businessman but rather call myself an entrepreneur. A business man  always seeks profit by hook or crook but an entrepreneur is not always profit motive. He values time and hard work. He is creative, innovative , original and inventive.  Entrepreneurs never hold everything for themselves ,  they want to share their ideas and believe in multiplier effect of intellectuality.

You need to be a proactive kind who just doesn’t wait for the situation and circumstance to lead them but instead have the ability to take a lead and think about the future and alternatives for the problem.

7.  Do you have likings for any politicians of our country??

>> Yes I do like some politicians of my time. They are Bisheshwor Prasad Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh and King Mahendra.

8. What would have been your priorities if you were made the Prime Minister of Nepal?

>> I have written about this in my book “soch”. These  are hypothetical speculations. But 8 years ago when I started the book , I had written in it that if I were made the prime minister then the first thing I would do is commute to Singha Durbar in Safa tempo. I think the present Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai  has read my book as he is following the same suit. The things which needed to be addressed with the most urgency would come in my focus and then accordingly I would mobilize human and economic resources  to address the problem.

9. How was your student life??

>> As a student , I was not good in studies. I loved to play, swim and fool around. Books never caught my fancy. Even I used to steal money from my father’s pocket sometimes. The interesting thing is that I had never imagined myself to pass the S.L.C. I had no hope at all. But fortunately I passed in the third division . I was very jubilant at that time.

And that game is two types: short game and long game. Short games takes you nowhere except for momentary leap of fortune

10. What is the formula of your success?

>> You should have the  idea about your destination. You should be able to decide the right thing at the right moment.  If you don’t take right decision at the right moment then you will miss your destiny. That is what I tried to convey in my film “Pal”.  There are two types of people in this world: proactive and reactive. You need to be a proactive kind who just doesn’t wait for the situation and circumstance to lead them but instead have the ability to take a lead and think about the future and alternatives for the problem. Reactive persons are vulnerable as they don’t have measures and strategies with them when the crisis befalls. So you need to be proactive to be successful. And of course you should have the capability to transform your dreams into action.

11. Don’t you think that Nepalese youths are being unable to tap the limitless possibilities , potentialities and resources of the country?

>> Yes they are unable. That’s what I have been telling . We are like “hanuman” who despite having immeasurable power and strength doesn’t know about his own true strength.  We are not poor for not having the enough resources but we are poor because we are foolish enough not to recognize the treasure gold .

12. Do you have any intention to go into politics?

>> I am not a political animal at all. So I am very happy at what I am and I do not have any desire to involve into politics. Let me tell you one thing that never once in my life have I knocked on the door of any politicians for my personal benefit for which I am very proud of myself.

13. What do you like to  do in your leisure time?

>> I like to do painting and enjoy cooking  very much .

14. What is your view about life ?

>> I think life is like a game. And that game is two types: short game and long game. Short games takes you nowhere except for momentary leap of fortune but if you really want to reach your destination you have to play a long game. And remember three essential things that one must have in life which are honesty in soul, responsibility in shoulder and understanding in mind. Then one can live a true life.  Besides this, it is also a compromise. You need to compromise with many things and many people to get adjusted. But having said that, it doesn’t imply to the dreams and ambitions  as even in my film “pal” points out that you can make compromise with your life but not with your dreams.

15. On the present situation lots of youth being hopeless in the country’s situation are backpacking to get into foreign countries. What do you have to say for them?

>> I do not have any issue for youths going abroad . I think they need to go to abroad to  see, explore, learn and earn. But at the end I think it would be very wise,  significant and noble to return back to the country for investing  knowledge and skill that they had learnt in abroad. But I still say to youths that there are many unexplored fields and potentialities in our own country so it would be better if they give pursuit to those things inside the country rather than flying abroad  feeling hopeless. But one thing is true that you can only be a boss or a master in here only not in abroad. In abroad you can’t have status more than that of a slave or second class citizen.

16. At the end, what  do you want to say to our college students or our college magazine team?

>> First of all I would like to congratulate for the magazine . And continue your  good work in future too. And when  you are confused and despaired then close your eyes, open your mind and follow your heart.

प्रकाश सायामिसँगको कुराकानी

प्रकाश सायमी

प्रकाश सायमीको कविता संग्रह “गालिबको  चिहान र अरु कविता “का केहि कविताहरु हालसालै पढेँ |  पहिलो कविता गालिबको चिहान पढेँपछी फेरी धोहोराएर पढेँ | उनको सरल र मिठासयुक्त शब्दहरुले दिमागको अन्तरङ्गलाई नछुने कुरै भएन | लेखकको रुपमा मैले उनलाई येही किताबबाट चिनेँ | र पछी खोतल्दै जाँदा प्रकाश सायमीको व्यक्तित्वको आयतन मेरो कल्पनाको भन्दा धेरै माथि रहेछ भन्ने कुरा मलाई आभास भयो | उनको परिचय कविमा मात्र  सिमित  छैन | उनको साहित्यिक पाटोको कुरा गर्दा उनका  मुक्तकसंग्रह , निवन्धसंग्रहहरु प्रकाशित छन् | त्यसैगरी उनले थुप्रै गीति एल्बम पनि प्रकाशित गरेका  छन् | फिल्म सम्बन्धी किताबहरु पनि उनको प्रकाशित छन् | नेपाली सिनेमाको जग हाल्न उनको भूमिका उल्लेख्य छ | सिमाना, अवतार, पृथ्वी जस्ता चलचित्रहरु गरी जम्मा ६ वटा चलचित्रहरुको निर्माण गरेका छन् | नेपाली साहित्यको पुष्पपुञ्ज  शंकर लामिछानेको भक्त उनि आफ्नो घरको नाउँ समेत लामिछानेको कृति “गोधुली संसार “बाट नामर्पण गरेका छन् |  उनलाई संचारक्षेत्रमा संचारदुत भनेर पनि चिनिने नाम हो | उनले थुप्रै  रेडियो एफ एम हरुको स्थापना र संचालनको जिम्मा सम्हालिसकेका छन् | उनको व्यक्तित्वको आयाम यहा उल्लेखित भन्दा धेरै फराकिलो र ठुलो छ जसको म अझै अनविज्ञ छु | तर सारमा मैले पाएको प्रकाश सायमी एक बहुप्रथिभाशाली, मृदुभाषी र सृजनाको धनि व्येक्तित्व हुन् |

 “BGC Voice” नामक हाम्रो कलेज “ब्रिटिश गोर्खा कलेज”बाट निस्किने बार्षिक पत्रिकाको लागि २०६८ साल फाल्गुण ४ गतेको दिन म, सुजन श्रेष्ठले  लगाएत बिकास राई र अरुणा राईले प्रकाश सायमीको अन्तर्वार्ता लिएका थियौ जसको पूर्ण अंश सविस्तार तल प्रकाशित गरिएको छ :

सिनेमाले नै साहित्य पोख्ने हो | सहित्यको जिब्रो नै सिनेमा हो |

१ शिक्षा साहित्यमा कतिको आवश्यकता  छ ?

>> शिक्षा हरेक कुरामा आवश्यक छ | साहित्यमा पनि त्यही अनुसार आवश्यक पर्छ | अहिले हाम्रो देशमा शिक्षाको अभावमा धेरै कुरा बिग्रेको छ | राजनीति, ट्राफिक , जनजीवन सबै बिग्रेको छ | त्येसैले शिक्षा जनम जत्तिकै अनिवार्य छ |

२ तपाईले चलचित्र क्षेत्रमा पनि आफ्नो छुट्टै पहिचान बनाउनुभएको छ | यस क्षेत्रमा लाग्न कहिले र कसरी प्रेररित हुनुभयो ?

>>चलचित्र मेरो सानै देखिको रुचिको बिषय हो | म बच्चामै साथीहरुलाई आइग्लास्बाट कोठा अँध्यारो बनाएर चलचित्र देखाउँथे | यसरी मेरो चलचित्रमा रुची गयो र २४ बर्षको उमेरमा उगेन छोपेल पछिको कान्छो निर्माता बनेँ | तर मलाई चलचित्र बनाउनुभन्दा पनि त्यसलाई बुझ्न जरुरी जस्तो लाग्छ| चलचित्र  विद्यालयको पाठ्यक्रममा पनि समावेस हुनुपर्छ भन्ने मेरो मान्यता छ |

३ त्यसो भने के हामीमा अझै चलचित्र संस्कृतिको विकास नभएको हो ?

>>हो | हामीमा अझै चलचित्र संस्कृतिको बिकास भएको छैन | अहिले मेडिया कमिसन बनेको छ | त्यसले एउटा विधयेक ल्याउँदैछ जसअनुसार हप्ताको कम्तिमा ५ दिन नेपाली फिल्म देखाउनैपर्ने व्यवस्थाको प्रावधान छ | तर अहिले खुला बजारको कारणले गर्दा यो कुरा गर्न गाह्रो छ | चलचित्र विकासको लागि कानून पनि कडा हुन जरुरी छ | जस्तो उदाहारणको लागि कोरियामा एक ताका जापानिज र चिनीया फिल्महरुको बिगबिगी थियो | यस्तै बाध्यात्मक कानुनको व्यवस्थापछी आज कोरियन फिल्म कहाँ छ सबैलाई अवगत नै छ |

४. नेपाली फिल्मको स्तर निकै नै कम छ | यो सन्धर्भमा यस्तो कानुन ल्याउँदा दर्शकले आफ्नो मर्जीले फिल्म हेर्न पाउने अधिकारको हनन् त हुने भयो नि ?

>> फिल्मको स्तर बढाउनु त अनिवार्य छ | हामीमा खुला बजार छ | हिन्दी, अंग्रेजी, कोरियन आदि भाषाका फिल्महरुको बिगबिगी छ | हामीले बुझ्न के जरुरी छ भने एउटा फिल्मले हाम्रो संस्कृति, भाषा, जीवनशैली , भेषभुसामा धेरै नै असर गर्छ | जस्तो हाम्रा बच्चा बच्चाहरुले हिन्दी मज्जाले बोल्न र बुझ्न सक्छन् तर हाम्रो ठेट नेपाली भाषा चाहिँ बिस्तारै पछाडी पर्दै छ | त्येसैले सिनेमा भनेको साइन बोर्ड नझुन्डाइएको विश्व विद्यालय हो | यसबाट मानिसहरुले विविध कुराहरु सिक्न सक्छन् | त्यसमा चाहिँ हामीले ध्यान दिनुपर्छ  |

५. साहित्य र सिनेमाको सम्वन्ध कस्तो हुन्छ ?

>> साहित्य र सिनेमाको सम्बन्ध अन्योन्याश्रित छ | हामीमा सिनेमाको विकास नभएको मूल कारण भनेको हामीले सिनेमालाई सहित्यसँग जोड्न सकेनौं | सिनेमाले नै साहित्य पोख्ने हो | सहित्यको जिब्रो नै सिनेमा हो |

६. तपाईलाई मन पर्ने नेपाली फिल्महरु कुन हो ?

>>साइनो , सिमाना र सम्झना फिल्महरु चाहिँ मलाई एकदम मन पर्छ |

प्रकाश सायामिसँग अन्तरवार्ता लिदैं ..

७. कतिको किताबहरु पढ्नुहुन्छ ?

>> म धेरै समय किताब पढ़नमै दिन्छु| यसले दुइटा फाइदा दिन्छ | एउटा आँखाको ज्योति बढ्छ र अर्को यसले तपाईलाई ज्ञान दिन्छ | अहिले ई – बुकको जमाना छ | त्येहिपनी मेरो विचारमा किताब पढेको जत्तिको मज्जा ई-बुक पढेर आउँदैन | किताब पढ्नु भनेको नदीमा नुहाउनु जस्तै हो भनेर एक जना विद्वान्ले भन्नुभएको थियो | तपाईले बिवाह नगर्दा पढेको “मुनामदन “ र बिवाह गरेपछी पढेको “मुनामदन’मा फरक पाउनुहुन्छ | किताबसँग पाठकको स्मृति, कल्पना र छुट्टै किसिमको आनन्द गाँसिएको हुन्छ |

८. लेखकलाई केले राम्रो अथवा नराम्रो बनाउँछ ?

>> सबै कुरा राम्रो हुनलाई सत्यता नै प्रमुख कारक हो | सत्यतासँग लेखकको इमान्दारी पनि गाँसिएको  हुन्छ| लेखकले पाठकहरुलाई कत्तिको न्याय गरेर लेख्न सक्छ त्येसले पनि राम्रो र नराम्रोको मापन गर्छ|

९. तपाईलाई मन पर्ने पुस्तकहरुमा के  के पर्छन् ?

>> मलाई मन पर्ने किताबहरु त थुप्रै छन् | जस्तै फ्रान्स गार्फाको “डाईरी”, दोस्तोवेस्कीको  “नोट्स फ्रम अन्डरग्राउण्ड”,  सिनेमाको किताब “सिटिजन केन” आदि मलाई मन पार्छन् | नेपालीमा मलाई शंकर लामिछानेको किताबहरु सबै मन पर्छ | नेवारी भाषामा कवी चिर्हदर हृदयीको कविताहरु मन पर्छ |

साहित्य गान्धीलाई पनि चाहिन्छ र चार्ल्स शोभराजलाई पनि चाहिन्छ |

१० . नेपाली युवाहरुमा पढ्ने बानी त्यति पाइदैन | पढ्ने संस्कृतिलाई बढावा दिन के गर्नु पर्ला ?

>> यो प्रश्नको सवालमा हामीले मान्छे किन पढ्दैनन भन्ने कुराको ख्याल गर्नुपर्छ | हाम्रो देशको कुरा गर्दा अझै पनि शिक्षा सर्भसुलभ छैन  अनि आर्थिक रुपमा हामी कम्जोर पनि छौं | र मानिसहरु पढ्नलाई त्यति फुर्सादिला पनि हुँदैनन् | तर यो कुरा गौंड बन्न जान्छ किनभने सबैभन्दा व्यस्त मानिने देश्हरुमानै मानिसहरु धेरै पढ्छन् | बाहिर मानिसहरु ट्रेनमा, एरपोर्टमा, गाडी कुर्दा पढिरहेका देखिन्छन् तर हामी डाक्टर कुर्दा पनि नेताहरुको गाली गरिराखेको हुन्छौँ | सारमा के हो भने हामीमा पढ्ने मानसिकता नै छैन| अनि हामीमा सरकारको नीति नै गलत छ किनभने पढ्ने सामग्रीहरुमा पनि सरकारले धेरै कर लगाएको छ| उसै त आर्थिक अवस्था कम्जोर भएको जनताले महङ्गो किताब किनेर पढ्ने कुरा त धेरै गाह्रो हुन्छ |

११. पढ्ने संस्कृतिले मानिसको व्यक्तित्वलाई कसरी असर गर्छ ?

>> पढ्ने संस्कृतिले मानिसलाई कस्तो असर गर्छ भन्ने सवालको उत्तर चाहिँ हामीले हाम्रो स्थिति र अमेरिका , यूरोपको स्तिथि दाँज्दा हुन्छ | हाम्रो मानसिकता, सोच्ने शैली ,ग्रहण गर्ने शक्ति सबैमा सकारात्मक असर पर्छ |

१२. तपाईको विद्यार्थी जीवन कस्तो रहयो?

>> मेरो विद्यार्थी जीवन जेलबाट सुरु भयो | त्येतिखेर मलाई राजबन्दीहरुले खोलेको स्कूलमा भर्ना गरियो| म पहिले देखिनै कक्षामा जहिले प्रथम हुन्थें | तर ३६ सालको आन्दोलनमा लागेपछि मेरो पढाई बिग्रियो| एस. एल . सी . मा म प्रथम श्रेणीमा उत्तीर्ण भएँ | तर म बोर्डमा आउँछु भन्ने मेरो बुवाको खुब आशा थियो | म चाहिँ पढ्ने भनेपछी कहिले पनि घोकेर पढिनँ | जाँच मैले कहिले पनि रटेर अथवा मरिमेटेर  दिईन | एउटा रमाइलो घटना सम्झनुपर्दा, S.L.C.  मा अंग्रेजी जाँचमा मलाई बुवाले २ दिनसम्म कोठामा थुनेर राख्नुभयो | त्यसरी गुम्शेर मलाई पढन मन लाग्दैन | त्यो दुइ दिनमा मैले ४ वटा फिल्महरु हेरेँ| र म यतिसम्म बदमास थिएँ कि म रोल नो. १ भएपनि म कक्षामा कहिले उपस्थित् हुन्थिन | म सबैभन्दा बदमास बिधार्थीको रुपमा स्कूलमा चिनिन्थे| कलेजमा मैले आर्ट्स लिएर पढें | पछी भारतमा गएर फिल्म स्टडिज र ह्युमन साइकोलोजी पढें|

१३. तपाईको जीवनमा बिर्सनै नसकिने घटना ??

>> मेरो जन्मनै मलाई बिर्सिन नसक्ने घटना लाग्छ | म जन्मिनेबित्तिकै मलाई ठुलो बिमार लाग्यो | सबैले म मर्छु भनेर मेरो आशा मारिसकेका थिए | तर मेरो आमाको माया र आशले आज म जीवित छु | मलाई निमोनिया जस्तै रोग लागेको थियो | चिसोको कारणले होला भनि मेरो आमाले मलाई डालोमा शिरकले छोपेर चिमको तातोले रातभरी सुताउनुहुन्थ्यो | पछी मलाई सन्चो पनि भयो | अनि म जन्मेको दिन २१ मार्च world poetry day  पनि पर्थ्यो | र पछी म सौभाग्यले कवि पनि बनेँ |

१४. तपाइलाई साहित्य अथवा फिल्म छान्नुपर्यो भने कुन छान्नुहुन्छ ?

>> यो प्रश्न चाहिँ मेरो लागि आमा छान्छस् कि बुवा छान्छस् भने जस्तै हो | मलाई दुइटै प्यारो लाग्छ| यदी दुइटै भयो भने मात्रै म जीवित हुन्छु होला जस्तो लाग्छ मलाई |

१५. साहित्यको क्षेत्रमा लागेर जीवन्कोपार्जन गर्न सकिन्छ कि सकिदैन ?

>> साहित्य गरेर खाना पुग्छ कि पुग्दैन भन्ने सवालमा चाहिँ म के भन्न चाहन्छु भने यसमा खान त हैन जीवन जिउन चाहिँ सकिन्छ | किनभने खान त मान्छेलाई जत्ति खाए पनि पुग्दैन तर सहित्यले मान्छेलाई उज्यालो र आत्मसन्तुष्टि दिन्छ | म बाँचेको छु भनेर देखाउन साहित्यको आवश्यकता पर्छ | त्यसैले साहित्य गान्धीलाई पनि चाहिन्छ र चार्ल्स शोभराजलाई पनि चाहिन्छ |

प्रकाश सायमीसँग सामुहिक तस्विर....

१६. हाम्रो कलेजलाई यस अन्तर्वार्ताबाट के भन्न चहानुहुन्छ ?

>> ब्रिटिस गोर्खा कलेजसंग मेरो मिठो सम्झना छ | यस कलेजले राष्ट्र कवि माधव प्रसाद घिमिरेलाई गरेको सम्मान र सत्कार अझै पनि मलाई अधबुत लाग्छ | नत्र आचकल हाम्रा कलेजहरुको साइन बोर्डहरु मात्रै ठुलो हुन्छ तर हाम्रा कवि, सहित्यकारहरु बिर्सिदै गई राखिएका छन् | यस्तै कामको निरन्तरताको म भविष्यमा पनि अपेक्षा गर्दछु |

१७. हामी जस्ता युवाहरुलाई के भन्न चहानुहुन्छ ?

>> हाम्रो देशका युवाहरुले देश बिदेशमा बसेर धेरै कर्म गर्नुभएको छ | देशले मलाई के दियो भनेर सोध्ने हैन कि मैले देशलाई के दिए भन्ने सवाल महत्वपुर्ण छ | त्यसैले युवाहरुले जहाँ गए पनि जे गरे पनि कर्म गर्न छोड्नुहुँदैन |

 

 

The world changes with the educated children

An In-depth Interview with John Wood, Founder and Board Chair of Global Non-profit Room to Read

 

Recently, I interviewed John Wood, Founder and Board Chair of Room to Read, an international non-profit organization which seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.

Mr. Wood started Room to Read after a fast-paced and distinguished career with Microsoft from 1991 to 1999. He was in charge of marketing and business development teams throughout Asia, including serving as Director of Business Development for the Greater China region and as Director of Marketing for the Asia-Pacific region. John brings to Room to Read a vision for a scalable solution to developing global educational problems, an intense focus on results, and an ability to attract a world-class group of employees, volunteers, and funders.

Rahim Kanani: Describe a little bit about the inspiration and motivation behind the founding of Room to Read.

John Wood: It all started a little over 10 years ago with a humble plea by a school headmaster I met in Nepal: “Perhaps, sir, you will someday come back with books.” At the time, I was on a much-needed vacation from Microsoft and trekking in the Himalayas. On the second day, I was invited to visit a rural school in Bahundanda, and when I arrived, the headmaster offered to show me the “library.” Having spent countless hours in my local library and immersed in books as a kid, I foolishly expected to see a similar setting. Imagine my shock when I found there were no desks, no chairs, no shelves and, most importantly, no books for the 450+ students. I couldn’t believe it, and it was at that moment when the schoolmaster spoke his fateful words to me about returning with books. Little did he know that I would consider it a personal challenge; here were hundreds of students who wanted to read, but simply didn’t have any books. That just seemed wholly unfair to me and I vowed to help.

With an email to friends and family, I started a book drive and a year later in 1999, I returned to Bahundanda to deliver on my promise, bringing with me 3,000, books via a convoy of yaks. I’ll never forget the wide-eyed looks and bright smiles of the kids when they opened up their new colorful storybooks—the first time many of them had ever seen or held one. It was a life-changing experience. It ignited in me the desire do more, and that’s when a one-time act of kindness turned into my life’s calling. So I took a leap of faith, quit Microsoft, cashed in my stocks and launched in 2000 what would later become Room to Read. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I have never looked back.

I think the wise headmaster put it best, and spoke for many people in developing nations, when he said, “We are too poor to afford education, but until we have education we will always be poor.”

Education is a hand up not a hand out, and with it, children and families can improve the socioeconomic conditions for themselves, their communities, countries, and future generations. That is why Room to Read exists.

Rahim Kanani: Fast-forwarding to the present day, how has Room to Read evolved since its’ founding in terms of resources, reach, and results?

John Wood: In my wildest dreams I could not have predicted that we would be at the point where we are today—a global organization made up of 400+ passionate and driven employees working with tens of thousands of communities worldwide and impacting the lives of millions of children by giving them the chance to fulfill their right to an education.

We now have our first decade under our belt, and we’ve moved beyond just donating books to Nepal, to improving literacy and education for girls in nine countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zambia—where we will launch operations later this year. Through our worldwide network of over 11,000 libraries and 1,400 schools filled with nine million books in English and 25 indigenous languages, as well as scholarship support and life skills training for over 10,000 girls, Room to Read has served as a catalyst for systemic change and influenced the educational journey of five million children so far. That certainly makes me proud, but our work is far from done. Our goal is to bring literacy tools and high quality education to 10 million by 2015 and we plan to reach that milestone by continuing to engage teachers, administrators, parents and governments and broader communities as co-investors in our work, and the future of their children.

Rahim Kanani: As a many-time recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, how would you characterize Room to Read in the context of the social enterprise sector?

John Wood: We have a story that people want to hear: changing the world in a positive way. And the fact that we’re focusing our work on children and developing programs that are sustainable and effective gives our investors something to point to. They can see our results, and they know that their support will directly affect the lives of children.

From the beginning, we started with some important basic business principles—that we would be efficient, accountable and results-driven. I strongly believe it’s necessary to take the best of the business world and combine it with the best of the NGO world—in fact, I tell our team that we want to run Room to Read with the compassion of Mother Teresa but with the focus and tenacity of a blue-chip company.

There are many small steps that together add up to create a very efficient organization—whether for profit or nonprofit. Our clients are the children we serve as well as our supporters. We believe they all deserve the best. In the case of the children, this means the highest quality education we can provide. For our investors, it means coming up with programs that are cost-efficient and sustainable. We tell donors exactly how much it costs to build a school, publish children’s book, establish a library or to support a year of a girls’ education. So, what you get when you make a donation to Room to Read is a very direct, very tangible result.

Rahim Kanani: What is the relationship between the localities in which Room to Read operates, and that of local government?

John Wood: Our partnerships with in-country governments are key. Because we work mainly in government-run schools, our success depends highly on the buy-in and participation of all levels of government. It’s a co-investment, and the key to long-term sustainability of the projects.

Take for example our partnership with the Ministry of Education in India. Room to Read is working towards strengthening the government’s efforts to meet its goal of universalizing quality elementary education for all children. In a just eight years of working in collaboration with the government public schools and local NGO partners, Room to Read has impacted the lives of over one million children of India.

And just recently we received exciting news from our team in Cambodia, that following a year-long effort, Room to Read along with other local NGOs moved mountains to get the Minister of Education to approve minimum standards for school libraries throughout the country, as well as double the salary for librarians, who are now paid for two shifts to support a full day’s work, nationwide. Without the government, these successes wouldn’t be possible.

Even in Vietnam, our staff worked closely with the government to establish 30 minutes of “reading period” with the goal of improving the reading skills of primary school children. These periods initially started in a dozen Room to Read libraries and we know that schools in other districts and provinces are now eager to sign onto the program.

We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and ingenuity by which community members participate in achieving the project goals—in fact in 2010, 100% of our school projects were constructed with community engagement—and we will continue to work closely with governments and local communities to ensure our programming remains culturally and contextually relevant and that our programs are sustainable.

Rahim Kanani: From a leadership perspective, what have been some of the critical challenges you have overcome or key opportunities you have seized, which significantly contributed to the success of Room to Read?

John Wood: I think the biggest obstacle was convincing people to care about these issues. Education for the children of the developing world is a very over-looked issue. 773 million people around the globe (!) are illiterate. But since 98 percent of them are in the developing world, this is a problem that is somewhat easy to overlook. My job, from day one, was to convince people that this is a relevant and critical global issue.  After all, problems cross borders like never before and education is the best-proven long-term ticket out of poverty.

Fortunately, a lot of people listened. We now have one of the widest and most-effective fund-raising networks in the world, with over 10,000 volunteers in 56 cities running Room to Read fund-raising chapters. Together, they collectively raise over US$12 million per year. That is a lot of money in the developed world, but it’s a hell of a lot when you take it into places like Cambodia or Nepal or Laos where for every $12 we deploy, we can bring access to a library to one additional child. Also, about half our funds are raised from outside the US, so this movement has become quite global. That was not without a lot of hard work on the part of our team—we are constantly on airplanes, in a jet-lagged haze, but we turn on our “A” game when it’s time to ask people and companies for support.

Rahim Kanani: What makes the education sector in developing countries different from other sectors?

John Wood: Let me paint a picture for you: this morning, 300 million children across the developing world woke up and didn’t have the privilege of going to school—and at least twice that number do not have access to a library. That statistic saddens me every time I share it with people, but I do so in the hopes angering them into action to correct this moral failure.

Unlike the West, many developing nations simply don’t have the resources or systems in place to educate students; yet, education in the developing world has been proven to be the best ticket out of poverty, so an investment in this area yields amazing long-term benefits. And numerous studies have proven that when children are educated it causes a positive ripple effect of informed decision-making around health, career and family for generations to come. Education simply changes everything.

Children’s education is an issue that crosses borders and resonates with people in every corner of the world—and it’s incredible that Room to Read is the convergence point as we lead a global movement to provide every child with the ability to attend school and learn to read.

Rahim Kanani: Separate from more capital and manpower, or other tangible assets, what are some intangible assets you need in order to be successful on the ground?

John Wood: Community engagement is key. Even with the support of governments and school administrators, it’s really the communities that contribute to the success of the projects. The support of one village elder or the word of mouth from one community to the other, can have an immediate impact

For example, in Rajasthan, India we faced some resistance in a Muslim community to educating girls in the village. Over the course of many visits and conversations with the village elders and fathers, we were able to turn the tide toward support for the girls. Now, more than half of the students enrolled in school are girls, and the community even built a secondary school so students could continue their learning! The first girl ever in this community to complete 8th grade back in 2009 is now being treated as the local celebrity. She told us, “When I graduate, I hope to become a teacher and give back to my community who has provided me this opportunity.”

You can’t buy or force that kind of support. It has to come from within. It has to be driven by the community, not imposed.

Rahim Kanani: As Room to Read continues to expand, paint for a moment a portrait of the organization’s position–as you wish it would be–five years down the road.

John Wood: Simple: every child, regardless of gender or where they were born, receives a quality education and become a literate adult. There are 796 million illiterate people in this world—two thirds of whom are women and girls. That means there are millions of kids who have been failed by this modern world, and every day we miss in educating them, is a day we can’t get back.

As we enter our second decade, I can say that I’ve never been more excited about Room to Read than I am now. We’ve got an incredible team of leaders and staff that will take the organization to a new level of success. Most recently we welcomed Tim Koogle, founding CEO of Yahoo! to our board of directors and we continue to build our staff of experts. I’m confident that we will reach millions more children with our projects and raise awareness of the critical issue of literacy and gender equality in education to people around the globe.

I’m really looking forward to taking our work to the next level and making sure millions of children become fully literate and independent readers, and to closing the gender gap in education so that more girls have the opportunity to learn and thrive as educated women. We’re leading a movement—a movement that is certain to make a dramatic change in the world. Our goal is to reach 10 million children with quality educational opportunities by 2015.

Rahim Kanani: And lastly, how has your own inspiration and motivation evolved since the founding of Room to Read?

John Wood: I am more optimistic than ever, but also more impatient. Optimistic because, while we started with nothing and had to boot strap the organization into being, we have now reached over five million children in nine countries across the developing world; but impatient because there are hundreds of millions of children who need us and communities that have never heard of Room to Read. The fact that hundreds of millions of children don’t have books at their disposal is ridiculous.  That can change, that must change, and we will be one of the major players who do indeed change that reality. I now know that we are playing for higher stakes than ever. And that every day we lose is a day we don’t get back.

So with that, thank you for the interview, and now, back to work!