Have You Ever Scratched Your...Err...Soul!

Come, Let Us Scratch Our Body, Mind and Soul!
And, Those Of Others Too!

I feel thrilled to share with all of you one of the most novel, innovative, interesting, visionary, valuable and meaningful citizen sites on the internet where I was amazed to find thousands of co-travellers in the journey of citizenship.
Just now, when I logged on to the site, it was hit number 2,46,13,799  since 30 March 2007, when a bunch of enthusiatic senior IAS Officers with a vision launched it.
Here, as a responsive citizen, you can give a 360 degrees feedback and rate people, products and organizations. You can also be a citizen journalist, watchdog, blogger, diarist, money spinner etc.
You can scratch the body, mind and soul of anyone from Mother Teresa, Pratibha Patil, Lata Mangeshkar, Vidya Balan, Shah Rukh Khan, Laloo Yadav, Barack Obama, Osho to your wife, boss, colleagues, friends or even yourself. Just try scratching me on the site and I promise to reciprocate!
Well, the site is ScratchMySoul.com and please go to it straightaway!
Happy Scratching!
-CoolBisht

A bureaucrat with a social cause
Economic Times, 3 Feb 2008
He looks rather unassuming for the long line-up of credits that trails behind him. But that’s how the 49-year-old IAS officer, instantly grabs your attention. Sharply dressed smart in a black suit, Raghav Chandra’s eloquent manner is enough to make the conversation interesting. A bureaucrat, an author and an ideator - his idea of life is multi-faceted.

Author of ‘Soul, Mind, Body: Mapping the Global Citizen,’ Chandra conceptualised an idea that could help people become more socially conscious. The book was soon converted into a social profiling website - scratchmysoul.com - that delves into various aspects of an individual’s mind, body and soul. “I thought that there should be an avenue for citizens to express themselves. This can help them to become more sensitive to people and to their environment. If this helps them even in a small way, I would consider my initiative to be successful.”
He could well have been an entrepreneur - given that the site has already attracted nine million hits in nine months but he chose to continue as a bureaucrat. He had infact taken special permission from the government for seeding the idea but now it is operated by his friends.
A civil servant for 26 years, he is currently the principal secretary of the urban development department in Madhya Pradesh. A student of St Stephens College in New Delhi, Chandra went on to study economics and business strategy from Harvard University.
His passion for writing and his observations made him think of these creative and innovative concepts concerning the social milieu. “In the government, we meet such a diversity of people and there is just so much to observe. That gives us a lot of ideas which one wants to write down. The Internet offers you that medium and time to create something useful for prosperity. Hence in addition to penning a book, I thought the internet is a more powerful way to reach out to people,” he quips.
And this is not where he is willing to call it a day. He has already started work on his next idea, wherein he wants to evolve a similar concept for companies! “I want to create a methodology by which companies can be rated. I think that it is needed,” he asserts.
But it’s not just seriousness or profound thinking that one can associate with him. A man of many talents, he likes to make constructive utilisation of his free time. “I am a regular badminton player and like to play a game of golf on Sundays. Writing, travelling and listening to music are interests that I enjoy pursuing. I have written for various journals from time to time,” reveals Chandra.
As the conversation wraps up, he looks reassured that he has been able to convey his idea of a ‘social tool.’
His confidence and enthusiasm are almost child-like as he laughs away the fact that such ‘social’ thinking shows off a completely different side to him! “People should be allowed to scratch below the surface in a way which is beneficial!” he sums up with a smile.

India Today, 19 December 2007