A Shodh Yatra is a journey for the search of knowledge, creativity and innovations at grassroots. It’s a journey where like-minded individuals walk together, sharing thoughts and discussing new ideas.

Our purpose is to seek out and learn from those creative individuals and communities that are working to improve their lives. They are the grassroots innovators, the inventors and entrepreneurs, who are developing innovative new solutions to the problems around them. The HoneyBee Network has organised many similar events in India and through their endeavours helped unearth hundreds of new ideas and innovations. We aim to do the same here in the UK.

We will be walking in the East of England region visiting educational, cultural, historical & community centres and meeting with groups and individuals who are using their creativity to develop a novel approach to overcome a problem or issue.

The walk will be led by Anil Gupta, who is Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. Professor Gupta is the organiser of the Honeybee Network of social innovators and runs the National Innovation Fund supported by the Government of India. Twice a year he leads walks in rural India to search for rural innovations and tap the knowledge within local communities; the UK walk is based on these ‘Shodh Yatras’.

Anil Gupta will provide an inspirational leadership for our walk, as well as enabling us to make interesting comparisons with entrepreneurship in India.

The walk will last one week, and this will give participants the space and time to reflect on their experiences and share ideas and learning.

The facilities will be basic but comfortable. Our aim is to keep things in tune with the reflective nature of the walk.

The name Honey Bee signifies a philosophy of discourse which is authentic, accountable and fair. A honey bee:

The idea is that when we collect knowledge from people we should ensure that people don't become poorer after sharing their insights with us. Further, we should also connect one innovator with another through feed back, communication and networking in the local language.

There is a small team based in Cambridge and led by Katalin Illes & Ruth Thomson who form the committee of the UK Network and who are making the arrangements for the pioneering 2008 Shodh Yatra UK.

• to support the Shodh Yatra UK 2008 through publicity & potential participation

• to identify outstanding grassroots innovators & entrepreneurs who should be involved in the journey and share their experiences with the participants

• to develop awareness of the values & underlying philosophy of the Shodh Yatra and the HoneyBee Network
• to help the future growth & recognition of the UK network of grassroots innovators & entrepreneurs

Also if you have local knowledge it would be great if you had suggestions for meeting rooms / sleeping / food / transport arrangements!

If you’re interested in finding out more there will be a meeting with Anil Gupta in Cambridge on the afternoon of 28th May for potential Associate members.

Katalin Illes, Anil Gupta, Ruth Thomson