Validation and sightseeing in Delhi

Today was the day of validation for all the training participants, each one of us was really excited to receive participation certificates were to be given by prof. Neelamghan NLLM-CMS at Meadows an international business school at Fareedabad India.
The very beginning session was led by Mr. Najmul Hoda (Assistant Professor) NIILM centre for management Studies. Later the session was proceeded by Prof. Neelmaghan who asked the participants to reflect back on their overall learning expectations from India and how far all of them managed to grasp over the things that they taught and facilitated for the last one week. Quite mix responses were aired by the participants that ensured all the participants have learnt many new concepts regarding microfinance and micro credit.
These responses of participants were:
• Women are quite proactive in India as compare to remote rural areas of Pakistan.
• Women of Pakistan have tremendous potential to join hand in hand with them to start a program that should shape their life.
• Linking microfinance with enterprise can be a feasible thing for Pakistan
• Loan insurance at small scale can be a workable model for Pakistan
• Concept of mobile banking is quite new and can be tested in Pakistan with working class families.
• In addition to learning aspects of team, it was greatly felt by the participants that a field visit to women self help groups was a need of time which couldn’t be made as part of training.
• Making cloth bags, paper plates, advancing in agriculture, embroidery with creativity, hand looms etc are the products that are already in the market of Pakistan but all is needed to have a channel of good marketing in Pakistan and aboard, while in India it has improved and transformed at grater level.

Having had diverse reflections of participants, Prof. Neelmaghan presented couple of videos on the outcomes of microfinance in India.
After this session, a certificate ceremony was held but before this session to happen a request to Madam, Musarat Qadeem was made to come on stage and say few words being the team leader of Pakistani group. She highly appreciated the hospitality and the learning settings for all Pakistani delegates by NIILM in India. She invited NIILM to come to Pakistan and experience the best practices of Micro finance and see some impressing case studies of a few women of our times.
Later a certification ceremony was held with vote of thanks by Prof. Neelmaghan (President NIILM).





In second half team planned to visit one of the holy places in Delhi known as Lotus Temple which is situated 12 km to the southeast of Connaught Place. Architecturally one of the most splendid temples of India, Delhi Lotus Temple is called so because it is built in the shape of a Lotus flower. The temple got completed in the year 1986 and rises to a height of more than 40 m. Located on Bahapur Hills, it is the seventh and the latest Baha'i houses of worship in the world. Bahai Temple of New Delhi is a white marble monument designed like a half-opened lotus.


Twenty-seven giant lotus petals of white marble spring out from nine pools and walkways of the temple. These walkways represent the nine unifying spiritual paths of the Baha'i faith. Exquisitely manicured lawns surround the building of the Lotus Temple. Silence is a prerequisite inside the New Delhi Lotus Temple. Also, one needs to take off the shoes while entering inside. Made up of marble, cement, sand and dolomite, this temple is often equated with the Sydney Opera House. Baha'i Temple in Delhi is often compared to the Sydney Opera House.

There is a simple, but outstanding high central hall in the temple where people sit and meditate. Petal alcoves of the temple are inscribed with stimulating quotes of the Baha'i sacred scriptures. Though the temple belongs to the Baha'i sect, it is open to people of each and every faith. The Baha'i religion, an independent one, places great importance on prayer and meditation as instruments for the progress of the human soul. Committed to the oneness of all religions and mankind, it traces its origins to its prophet Baha'u'llah, born in Persia in the 20th century.

Having visited the temple team came back to Medows to prepare for next day conference at an Indian Chamber of Commerce at Kolkata.