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Nowadays, India has many “immersion programs” which provide a similar experience. One such program is the Shodh Yatra, a journey across rural India to uncover innovation at the grassroots. Founded by IIM Ahmedabad professor Anil Gupta, the cohort of yatris (travellers) walk approximately 250 kms in a span of seven to eight days. The route chosen has no regular road, rail or water connectivity – making it particularly challenging. Yatris meet villagers, farmers, artisans, micro-entrepreneurs, looking for oddball innovations. The Yatra is conducted during extreme climatic conditions – either at peak summers or winters –  because most grassroot innovations seem to happen during the most adverse conditions.

Excerpted from Yatra – The Journey to Social Entrepreneurship by Gijs Spoor and Apoorva Reddy