Umashanker Yadav

For me, entrepreneurship has never been only about creating financial success for myself or the people around me. It is equally about creating value for the people and businesses we work with.

One of my greatest satisfactions as an entrepreneur comes from seeing how the systems, technology and support we provided decades ago have helped our clients transform their businesses—making them more accurate, efficient and faster. When something we created years ago continues to make a difference in someone's business today, that gives me a sense of fulfilment that goes beyond financial success. We have always believed in standing by our clients and supporting them whenever they need us.

My simple principle is "Business with Dignity."

I tell my team and fellow entrepreneurs: Be proud of what you do, regardless of the size or scale of your business. Every honest business contributes to an industry, creates value, supports livelihoods and, in its own way, contributes to the building of the nation.

Entrepreneurship is not just about building a business. It is about building value, earning trust and leaving something better than you found it.

If something I create can outlive me and continue to have meaning for others, I would consider that my small contribution to the world.

We come into this world with nothing and eventually leave with nothing. Perhaps the real measure of our journey is not what we accumulate for ourselves, but what we are able to give back while we are here.

My thought process is, "I will try to make the world a little better than I found it."

In fact, my movie Drop Out is based on the same subject. I would advise the young generation:

Never drop out of life just because you could not follow the first plan.

Life is not only about success. It is about discovering who you are, finding what gives your life meaning, and having the courage to begin again.

Be patient. Good things take time.

The world is changing at an unprecedented pace and so is India. Technology, business, media and changing social behaviour have transformed the way we live, think and interact. While these changes have brought remarkable possibilities, they have also made us increasingly focused on the self—our success, our possessions, our opinions and our ambitions.

In this race to achieve more, we sometimes forget the deeper essence of life and the human values that give it meaning. We seldom pause to reflect on a simple truth: everything is temporary—even life itself. Perhaps this forgetfulness has contributed to a growing impatience, aggression and insensitivity in society.

This is where literature, cinema, art and cultural institutions have a responsibility far beyond entertainment. They must create spaces where people can pause, reflect, question, feel and reconnect with what makes us human. They can remind us of empathy, compassion, humility, relationships and the value of living together—not merely competing with one another.

Progress should not come at the cost of sensitivity. Development should not make us less human.

Technology may shape the future, but culture must help humanity remain at its heart.

At the heart of it all, I believe human beings are fundamentally good. We may hold different beliefs, affiliations, ideologies and interests, and sometimes we may strongly defend the principles we believe in. That diversity is a natural part of society.

What matters is that our personal beliefs and differences should not come in the way of our collective progress as a society and as a nation. We may disagree on many things, but there is a larger common aspiration that connects us: we all want a better life, a harmonious society and a stronger, more compassionate nation.

Perhaps the maturity of a society lies not in making everyone think alike, but in creating the space for different people to think differently and still move forward together.

We must learn to agree to disagree—not to end the conversation, but to reach a meaningful and constructive outcome.

Because ultimately, progress is not about proving that one side is right. It is about finding enough common ground for all of us to move forward.

One of the biggest lessons I have learnt through my journey in creativity is that, no matter how sincerely you work or how carefully you plan, you can never be certain of the outcome.

I experienced this deeply while making Drop Out. During production and post-production, there were moments when things simply did not happen according to plan. The music was getting delayed, decisions were getting stuck, and there were times when I genuinely did not know what would happen next or what I could do about it. The most difficult part was knowing that I had done everything I could, yet some things were simply beyond my control.

Even before the film's OTT release, there was another period of uncertainty and helplessness. Waiting without knowing what the outcome would be was perhaps more difficult than the work itself.

I have experienced something similar with the Ahmedabad International Literature Festival. In business, you can often work with numbers, systems and relatively predictable outcomes. But in creativity, you are dealing with people, emotions and responses. You may curate what you believe is a meaningful session, but you cannot be certain how the audience will receive it.

That, perhaps, is both the difficulty and the beauty of creative work.

You can control your effort, your intention and the quality of your work—but you cannot control how the world will respond to it.

And perhaps creativity teaches us something that business sometimes does not: to keep faith, remain patient and continue moving even when the outcome is uncertain.

One thing that has worked well for me in my journey is giving people space and giving due credit for their contribution. I have learnt that every person involved in a project, whether big or small, has a role to play—and every process has its own importance.

At the same time, I have to remain graceful with people and patient in every situation. In a collaborative project, one moment of arrogance, impatience or high-handedness from my side can sometimes jeopardise months of work.

I have realised that leadership is not about being a boss. If I start behaving like one, collaboration can quickly break down. People need to feel respected, heard and valued.

Every individual and every process also have the potential to influence the outcome. What may appear small or insignificant can sometimes create a major obstacle if it is ignored.

For me, successful collaboration is about respecting people, giving them space, acknowledging their contribution and staying patient—even when things do not go as planned.

Because ultimately, a project may have one vision, but it takes many people to bring that vision to life.

Dignity, Integrity and Character

Start With What You Have

To all the young creators and entrepreneurs, I would say: start with what you have. Do not keep waiting for the perfect opportunity, perfect resources or perfect circumstances. They may never arrive exactly as you imagine them.

Begin with whatever is available to you, take the first step and keep moving. When you genuinely believe in what you are doing and remain committed to it, support often comes from unexpected places and unexpected people.

I have also learnt that not taking a risk can sometimes be the biggest risk in life. Of course, every risk must be considered thoughtfully, but fear of failure should not stop us from trying.

You may not know where the journey will take you. You only need enough courage to begin.

Start with what you have. Believe in what you are doing. Take the risk. The journey will teach you the rest.

Never compromise on your core values.

You may change your plans, your methods, your profession or even your direction in life. You may have to adapt, negotiate and make compromises along the way. But do not compromise on the values that define who you are.

Success may come and go. Circumstances may change. People may applaud you today and question you tomorrow. But when everything else changes, your values are what remain with you.

Be flexible in your approach, but firm in your values.

Because ultimately, what you achieve in life matters—but who you become while achieving it matters even more.

Keep a space in your heart for those who stood by you and loved you when you needed them.

It does not mean forgetting what happened later, nor does it mean allowing yourself to be hurt again. It simply means choosing gratitude over bitterness and remembering the good without denying the difficult.

Because relationships may change, but gratitude should not have an expiry date.

Live with courage, create with conviction, treat people with dignity, remain grounded in your values—and never stop believing in the possibility of a better tomorrow.