The opportunity to spend 2 weeks on a train in India with 450 students meeting change makers who are shaping India through enterprise promised to be a unique experience. A dedicated train travelled quite literally the length and breadth of this vast country of 1.2 billion people and 1.2 billion minds.The Jagriti Yatra certainly lived up to expectations: overwhelming, challenging, enlightening, entertaining, gruelling, and inspiring. Only in India would a journey of this distance and on this ambitious scale happen and only in India would you give a lecture on a moving train.

As a design resource person I interacted with the participants on the subject of graphic design, typography and branding and how this can play a role in social enterprise. As the country continues to develop, the value of art and design within society is becoming more apparent. Graphic design is a relatively new profession in India but the highly talented designers I met on the train were positive about the role they can play in the future. My plans to hold a Typography Summer School in India are back on track.

• About Jagriti Yatra:
• "A Journey of discovery and transformation... Jagriti Yatra is an ambitious train journey of discovery and transformation that takes hundreds of India's highly motivated youth on an 15 day national odyssey. The aim is to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship.The vision of Jagriti is to inspire young Indians living in the middle of the Indian demographic diamond (Rs 40 - Rs 120 per day) to lead development by taking to enterprise. By doing so, they can turn from job seekers to job creators."
• 1 train
• 12 destinations
• 15 role models
• 15 days
• 450 participants
• 9000 kilometres
• www.jagritiyatra.com