In.Dhi: Recent Episodes
UinDhi
Mukundarāga, is an interdisciplinary artist, combining scriptures, dance and art to express himself. He was formally trained as a biophysicist… specialising on how cells move and shape tissues during development. Currently he is learning Vedanta and Vyakarana at the Puri Govardhana Matha, under the guidance of Puri Shankaracharya.
Nivedita Aikat Saha is our favourite! And it's nothing less than a blessing for us to be able to share this space with her once again. We couldn't be prouder and happier! She was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, and acquired a BFA from Sir JJ Institute of Applied Arts, Mumbai, and spent over a decade working in the Commercial Arts (Advertising & Communication). Having moved to the Middle East in 2002, she received the opportunity and support to pursue her true calling, fulltime into fine arts. She followed her passion with a consistent effort towards seeking a foothold in the art world locally and globally. Researching and experimenting with various mediums and methods of making art have become her way of life. Her body of work finds its expression from her inner thoughts and visions. They are a reflection of what experiences & environment imprint on her soul & body. Above all, it is her mode of communication with humanity, at large. Her practice focuses on philosophical ideas expressed through diverse and creative forms of narratives. She is interested in keeping the old traditions alive yet in the process find new ones by providing an honest interactive space for dialogue and reflection. This is a transformative space that brings together people from different walks of life, cultures encouraging a community to think and dream about what it means to be together in this world. Mythology, Culture and Impacts of Faith are her subjects of research which have led her to travel and share ideas across many cultures and countries such a Kazakhstan, Germany, England, Malaysia, United States, Portugal, India and many others through performances, art calls, collaborative projects, biennales and art residencies. She fulfilled a Masters Degree in Social Sculpture and Connective Practice from Oxford, United Kingdom. Currently, she lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and operates from her private art atelier ‘Art Studio Meraki’. She has been actively travelling and working with both large and small communities (India and UAE) across various interdisciplinary projects/platforms, collaborating with people from various cultures, adopting various methodologies from her ongoing research and educational experience. Her prime focus involves extensive research on impacts of ancient culture and traditions on the current social landscape. She works associating herself into thought-provoking social mobilization projects with a soul aim of creating work that encourages positive shifts in the world in addition to being a healer. Nivedita says.. "I see the world as I am within, like an ocean of possibilities, like water open to transformations and constantly adapting to an array of containers that life has to offer". To follow Nivedita's work, please like and follow her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Studio-Meraki-107357887854573 and her instagram handle is artist_niveditasaha
The introduction and ending music is copyright free and is credited as follows: Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Ekadaksha Learning Center was established on 4th March 2010 by Bharathi, Archana, Bindu and Kanaka, in order to provide special education to children with special needs. The word 'Ekadaksha' has been formed combining two sanskrit words - 'Eka' which means 'Unique' and 'Daksha' which means 'Ability'. Ekadaksha Learning Center believes that every human being has a unique ability which makes them different from the other. The vision they hold is as follows: A society where Children with special needs are accepted and respected for who they are. A world where they can move towards their aspirations & become independent & responsible adults. And their mission is: to provide children with special needs the means – to explore, express & experience; to work hand-in-hand with the parents & other professionals who form the core of the child; to create awareness in the society about children with special needs. More information about them can be found here: https://ekadakshalearningcenter.in
Shri Rajarshi Nandy is a sadhaka par excellence and an adherent of the Sanatan Dharma. He is a technical writer by training, and a spiritualist by passion, currently working as a Contributing Editor for SirfNews.com. He is also the author of the book Adhyatmikta which can be purchased from Amazon and the link is as follows: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adhyatmikta-Rajarshi-Nandy/dp/1644290960 .. His book forays into Hindu spirituality from a seeker's perspective covering some of the core ideas of adhyatma and how to interpret them in today's time and context. Based on experiences and interactions with different Yogis and sadhaks, the book also contains an exploration of some common and uncommon deities from different branches within Hinduism. More on Rajarshi's work and knowledge share, please feel free to follow the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/swetavaraha
Vidhi has had a diversified portfolio starting from sales to HR to now being a health coach. What started as just an endeavour to be fit herself has now taken a turn to also help others become healthy and fit. She is a Nutrition Consultant with International Certifications. Practicing from last 11 years, she has also run wellness programs for renowned multi-nationals like Wipro, CGI etc. She is now practicing as an Independent Consultant helping clients get definite results. Her specialties: Weight management, Lifestyle disorders, Sports Nutrition, Low Immunity Levels leading to frequent Viral / Respiratory Infections, Joint Pains, Diabetes, Cholesterol Issues, Hair Fall, Low Hb Levels leading to fatigue & lack of concentration, Pregnancy & Kids Nutrition, Gastric Problems and post Menopause Problems. She also trains and mentors budding professionals in this field and looks forward to positively impacting many lives. Vidhi can be contacted through her Facebook profile which is https://www.facebook.com/vidhi.mundra.7 and on LinkedIn as well.
Shri Pandit Katti Narahari is a commerce graduate from Osmania University and is now a senior SAP ERP technology consultant and trainer to many multi-national companies worldwide. He founded his own company Katti Information Solutions in the year 2010. Presently he performs the role of a life coach, Guru, enabler & Mentor. He comes from the traditional family of astrologers from Madinur village, koppal district in Karnataka. He began his training in Jyotish shastra at the young age of 8, following the traditional Guru-Shishya parampara. He studied under the guardianship of his uncle katti Seshagiri. This intensive Jyotish training which he gained following the ancient traditional way, helped him to achieve depths of Jyotish with many traditional secrets. Pt. Narahari is also the founder of the Katti Academy of Jyotish Sciences. At his academy he offers Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Jaimini Upadesa Sutras, Brihat Jataka, Laghu Parasari and Saravali courses as the foundation of Jyotisha.
For more information please visit www.jyotishkatti.com
You may subscribe to Pandit Katti Narahari's YouTube channel for discussions and to learn https://www.youtube.com/c/PanditKatti...
Pandit Katti Narahari is a commerce graduate from Osmania University and is now a senior SAP ERP technology consultant and trainer to many multi-national companies worldwide. He founded his own company Katti Information Solutions in the year 2010. Presently he performs the role of a life coach, Guru, enabler & Mentor. He comes from the traditional family of astrologers from Madinur village, koppal district in Karnataka. He began his training in Jyotish shastra at the young age of 8, following the traditional Guru-Shishya parampara. He studied under the guardianship of his uncle katti Seshagiri. This intensive Jyotish training which he gained following the ancient traditional way, helped him to achieve depths of Jyotish with many traditional secrets. Pt. Narahari is also the founder of the Katti Academy of Jyotish Sciences. At his academy he offers Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Jaimini Upadesa Sutras, Brihat Jataka, Laghu Parasari and Saravali courses as the foundation of Jyotisha.
For more information please visit www.jyotishkatti.com
You may subscribe to Pandit Katti Narahari's YouTube channel for discussions and to learn
https://www.youtube.com/c/PanditKattiNarahari
Kumar Dipanshu is a marketing professional with keen interests in human psychology, spiritual advancements and world politics. He has co-founded a couple of start-ups, runs online Shri Bhagwad Gita Discourses for youngsters and loves mentoring budding entrepreneurs. In his spare time he can be found either cooking or enhancing his knowledge about Sanatan culture and working closely with young students and professionals, helping them succeed in their career through counselling, job search, soft skill development and conflict resolution. He is also involved in initiatives focussing on females on a career break to get back to the job market and he dreams of rebuilding the glorious Nalanda library one day. Dipanshu is also the author of a recently published book titled Next 5000 years. The main theme of the book is that we always talk about past 5000 years when it comes to preserving Sanatan culture.. With changing times and evolving challenges, we cannot expect past to solve everything for us. We need to be futuristic in our approach and start thinking out-of-the box to make significant progress and ensure the preservation of our culture.
Abhishek Ganguli is a very versatile Creative Professional, independent filmmaker and explorer. He has been working for over two decades under his creative brand identity 'Learning System'. As a creative pro; his interests run in various verticals: * Film Direction * Filming & Photograhy * Acting & Modelling * Voice-overs * Anchoring * Camera work * Corporate Communications .. to name a few. Abhishek has over two decades of Experience in the Creative Field/Showbiz & Entertainment Industry and has been associated with Direction/Production of Feature Films/Short Films/Corporate Films/Music Videos/ Management Films/Travel Films & Premium Events. He has been operating under his Brand LEARNING SYSTEM & CINEMA FOR A CAUSE apart from working as a Creative Professional/Consultant with many other Brands. Takes N Talks is their recent Facebook Live initiative from the Cinema for a Cause Page where they have chats with inspiring individuals from all walks of life and that is already getting popular. For details around their work please visit their YouTube channel which is as follows: https://www.youtube.com/user/learningsystemabhi
Rashmi is a born optimist and a historian. She is a teacher by profession and teaches History. A reader and nature lover who wants to be the change, Rashmi, is a strong believer of Gandhi's talisman and the teachings of Bhagvad Gita. She appreciates life to the fullest and is currently working towards her doctorate degree. Correction @ time stamp 1:04:50, where it is said that Kashmir's culture is not composite, it means it hasn't amalgamated into one; certain variations among the Kashmiri society amongst various communities have existed throughout history. Even through these variations they have lived peacefully.
Shankar Kumaran comes from a Traditional Gurukulam Education which is a Six-year residential Sanskrit Medium Intense Ancient Learning System. He got introduced to various Ancient Indian Wisdom, like, Vedas, Upanishads, Yoga Sutra, Tarka Shastra, etc.; besides his Gurukulam Education, he has also completed his Bachelors and Masters in Yogic Science along with Masters in Sanskrit. Being in academia for more than 9 years, he has taught thousands of Engineering Students and Business Students Life Education and Yoga Psychology. He has organized and mentored hundreds of Camps and Workshops for a diverse audience like Students, Adults, Working Professionals, Married Couples, etc. As an acclaimed Life Education Coach and Yoga Psychologist, Shankar has trained more than 8000 people in the past 12 years. With his vast teaching experience and interactions with thousands of youngsters, Shankar has developed and perfected the “Neo Grihastha Model,” helping hundreds of people make their family life happier. Being part of a Joint family, he wears multiple hats, Family Man, Yoga Psychologist, Minimalist, Spiritualist, Counselor, YouTuber, Organic Farmer, Teacher, and an All-time Student.
More details can be found here https://shankarkumaran.com
The link to his YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFMb...
Renu Kaul Verma is the founder director of Vitasta Publishing Private Limited and specialises in both fiction and non-fiction. Her areas of interest are subaltern issues with focus on minorities and women. She is a former journalist, who has worked with major Indian dailies such as Indian Express and the Hindustan Times. She also publishes a monthly newspaper focused on Indian publishing Industry, called Book Link. Here's the link to Vitasta Publishing House and details around the work that they do - https://www.vitastapublishing.com
Sri Nithin Sridhar has a degree in Civil Engineering, and having worked in the construction field, he passionately writes about various issues from development, politics, and social issues, to religion, spirituality, and ecology. He is currently the Chief Curation of Advaita Academy - a video portal dedicated to the dissemination of Advaita Vedanta. He is also a Consulting Editor to the Indic Today Magazine. He was formerly the Editor of IndiaFacts - a portal on Indian history and culture. He is the author of six books. His first book ‘Musings on Hinduism’ provided an overview of various aspects of Hindu philosophy and society. His books ‘Sri Dakshinamurty’ and ‘Candrika’ enunciates upon the two prominent deities of Hinduism. His book ‘Samanya Dharma’ enunciates upon general tenets of ethics as available in Hindu texts. However, his most widely read book is ‘Menstruation Across Cultures: A Historical Perspective’ that examines menstruation notions and practices prevalent in different cultures & religions from across the world. He is based in Mysuru, Karnataka. He tweets at @nkgrock. He also has a YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChyc...
The links to his books are below :
https://www.amazon.in/Sabarimala-Confusion-Menstruation-Historical-Perspective/dp/9386473461/?fbclid=IwAR1q1GUY3yN_o5BrbTfni6Lr_Pp3EVEARlegSldxGEgQBWdnALSjPeoARng
https://www.amazon.in/SAMANYA-DHARMA-NITHIN-SRIDHAR/dp/8194282608?fbclid=IwAR3W7B2u0A9EG7iftv66yzhziy9Lhcx2xItBEeVdmY2uDEA1E4TwTMjIagQ
https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/8194868831/?fbclid=IwAR2dMHtgxGnNdFyvuSN2Oi85s1WUL475l0rfzgzzL-1ShYk81KGk0GwbpA4
The Kindle version of books are:
https://www.amazon.in/Nithin-Sridhar/e/B06WD38DP1?fbclid=IwAR3GKzioqYQX5HzP5WMQyaK5yq4HJ08LztmHUSMYAuLI3_Z-wPtHh_Kv12c
Rakhi Sengupta by profession is a lecturer of psychology for the past 22yrs, attached to Muralidhar Girls College in kolkata. Other than teaching she is a pranic healer, a practitioner of clinical psychology and integral somatic therapy . She specialises in trauma and grief therapy, where the body is the container of different emotions and her aim is to increase the space of the physical body to hold the emotions so that an individual can decide what to do while facing anything challenging, whatever trauma it may be. She also specializes in non-verbal therapy where the client is healed through sand- play, Clay, Movements, Colours etc. She believes that the journey to healing comes from within & as a therapist she just aids the necessary tools to her clients. Her hobbies include - Reading, Practising Yoga & meditative Yoga, Meeting friends. She believes in living life to its fullest & leaving the rest to the universe!
Bibi Russell is an incredible individual who is an epitome of strength, courage, resilience, grace, hard work and compassion. She is a Bangladeshi fashion designer, a former international model and an entrepreneur. Bibi Russell is a source of inspiration for every woman who wants to end gender-based inequalities and violence. Under the Slogan Fashion for Development to save craftspeople and help revive their dreams, she set up Bibi Productions in 1995. The brand has provided work for thousands of weavers and artisans. Development of handloom fabrics with colours that are non-chemically produced, thus environment friendly. She has received the title of Artist for Peace by the UNESCO in 2001 and is also the UNESCO Special Envoy. She has won the Peace Prize by the United Nations Associations of Spain in 2004 and is the UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador. Her collections have always been based upon the love of nature with people as the core of the brand. It is a global, innovative, ecological, creative and sustainable in which design, harmony and humanism come together. Bibi says... 'through art and design, it is my intention to sensitize and demonstrate the immense skills and expertise of the local artisans, to provide for employment opportunities, to empower women and to contribute towards eradication of poverty. This is my commitment.'
June-Elleni Laine is a published author, spirit inspired speaker, international consultant and educator delving into the mysteries of life and death. She believes that through our frequency we attract who and what we need in order to grow and develop. For more than 28 years, June-Elleni has sketched recognisable portraits of people after they die to bring evidence to their loved ones that their consciousness survives. She also interprets their memories and messages. The photographs shown on her website gallery (https://www.june-elleni.com/spirit-po...) are shared by clients to validate the likeness after the session. As for the session today, she says... "Life is about feeling a connection and honouring our intuition. After that miracles can happen. Let’s have a conversation about that inner voice we call intuition!" More details around the incredible work that she does can be found on her website: https://www.june-elleni.com/
Our guest today was an award-winning actress and an incredible human being, Pamela Nomvete. Pamela was born in Ethiopia to South African parents. She spent her childhood in many different countries, and attended boarding school in the United Kingdom, later studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. After working as an actress in the United Kingdom, she moved to South Africa in 1994. In the 1990s, Pamela embarked on a television career, achieving fame in the South African soap opera Generations. In 2013 she published an autobiography, Dancing to the Beat of the Drum: In Search of My Spiritual Home. This book is available to buy on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733289674/.... Pamela practices Nichiren Buddhism. She has come to the realisation that her identity is that of a global African, and she would like to represent not just this African diaspora, but also those people who think they have no worth. Pamela says, “Every ordinary person is extraordinary in their own way, and every person has their own story to tell.” She wants people to see the value in themselves, and what they can achieve if they put their mind to it. You can find out more about Pamela, her work and get in touch with her through her website https://www.pamelanomvete.com/
It was a great pleasure and an honour to have Pandit Katti Narahari as a guest on UinDhi. We went through a stream of interesting aspects surrounding Vedic Astrology. Pandit Katti Narahari kickstarted our second series, The Dive In the Driver. A series where we aim to take a deeper look at these vast oceans of knowledge and whether we dive in it or not is always a personal choice or free will as it's preferably called. Pandit Katti Narahari belongs to a traditional family of astrologers and started learning under the tutelage of his uncle, Katti Seshagiri. He began his jyotish journey at a tender age of eight following the strict traditional way of guru shishya parampara. The intensive training which was taught according to the ancient traditional way, helped him to achieve depths of jyotish with many traditional secrets. He later graduated in the field of commerce and then entered the field of information technology. Katti is now a senior SAP ERP technology consultant and a trainer to many multi-national companies worldwide. He used Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Jaimini Upadesa Sutras, Brihat Jataka, Laghu Parasari and Savali as the foundations of Jyotisha. The Facebook page to Katti Academy of Jyotish Sciences is https://www.facebook.com/Katti108/ where you can reach out to him with your questions and also join in the regular sessions that he runs to enhance your knowledge and understanding surrounding Vedic Astrology.
Ruhin's purpose is to foster the futures in all its dimensions drives us endlessly to envision a bright light ahead. Enlightened from souls and illuminated for mind; we stand… ‘Spiritual, Sacred and Divine’. With a tagline - Live Life beyond the Perceptions, they have set out on a journey to achieve equality, oneness and universal brotherhood / sisterhood. Devashish Rawat, Founder & Management Head at Ruhin, is a mechanical engineer from Auburn University, USA, and Management Graduate (MBA-Marketing) by education. Presently he is a Doctoral Scholar in Management (Ph.D.) Rishab Pathak, Founder and Academic Head at Ruhin, and is a very dynamic and highly motivated Spanish Faculty with diverse academic background (M.A. Spanish, University of Delhi, 3 Years Advanced Diploma in Spanish, JMI University & SIELE B2 from Instituto Cervantes, B.A. Honours History, University of Delhi) with the professional experience in teaching the Language, Social Sciences and Life Skills for more than 10 years in Delhi NCR to academic, non-academic as well as professional learners. Chetanya Makkar, Co-Founder and Technical Lead, is a Computer Science enthusiast, with experience in programming, has implemented his knowledge in the field of Data Science. His aim to expand the horizon of online learning drives a sense of grit among all of us. With sheer passion and desire, he is keen on working towards a world with equity, unfathomable opportunities, and imperceptible boundaries. Samidha Makkar, the brain behind putting this initiative together, says that being a homemaker isn’t an easy task, it takes a lot of sacrifices to build the foundation of your family. And once you’ve embarked on this beautiful journey of transformation, there’s no holding back. Their website address is https://www.ruhineducation.com YouTube link : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm90... Email : connect@ruhineducation.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruhineducat... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ruhin-Educat...
Our guest today was the extraordinary explorer, researcher, and innovator in visual and performing arts, Pritha Kundu. Pritha has been practicing Bharatanatyam and Yoga for the past 19 years. She started learning more contemporary movement forms in 2003 beginning with her training in Uday Shankar Technique. She thrives on exploring any movement style that she comes across and adapting it in her practice. She also practices developing improvisational movement pieces that explore self-expression through dance that is not restricted to a particular style but constantly evolves and takes new creative forms. As part of her personal movement research, she is building a pedagogy focused to develop a structured and systematic technique that allows a person to create their own movement styles irrespective of their age, background, and prior training. She is also the co-founder of Aramandi to Attitude, a movement community and has recently won the WE-Award. You can find more details on her and her work here at her website: https://www.aramanditoattitude.com You may follow and subscribe to their YouTube channel which is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG66...
Dr Vikram Dravid has a rare dual expertise in both Western Medicine and Ayurveda. After his initial training in Medicine at Manipal, he spent time as a novice monk in South India, followed by four years studying Ayurveda and training under Ayurvedic clinicians in Pune, India. Dr Vikram is also trained in the Kerala approach to Panchakarma - the specialised bio cleansing procedures that form an integral part of Ayurvedic treatment. His work involves the integration of the entire human being, from spiritual awareness of the Self, through the mind, and into the body. Dr Vikram may be contacted for consultations and medical guidance at http://vikramdravid.com
Anne Kelly is a serious student of Theosophy and has her own YouTube channel dedicated to spreading the Theosophical message. She has built up a subscription of almost 5000 followers under the YouTube channel entitled ‘Living Theosophy’. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2AhBx8U4vSFAr39Tnh2UA
Anne has a background in public speaking and has been an on-air radio and television presenter for 30 years as well as a lecturer and motivational speaker on confidence building and communication and overcoming addiction.
As a labour of love and to be of service to Humanity, she recently began voicing Theosophical texts anonymously, and sharing her own experience from the study, digestion, practice and application of these sacred, ancient teachings across global social media platforms.
Theosophy is Humanity’s textbook – and belongs to all and solely to none. It cannot be bought or taught, but it can be earned and learned.
Nature is the true Church.
YOU are the temple.
It is all about You.
Rajarshi Nandy is professionally a technical writer based in Mumbai, but spends most of his time in pilgrimage and spiritual exploration. He was part of our series, The Extra of the Ordinary at UinDhi .. Rajarshi runs Adhyatmika portal. His tweets can be followed at @TheRajarshi
Parama Ghosh is the founder of her 6 year old namesake. She is a textile artist based out of Calcutta and by degree is a lawyer. She left a decade long career in law, where she was part of a few of India’s most noted law firms to pursue her passion in art. In February 2015, she started the brand Parama which is now a sensation all over the globe. Parama also has a loving definition of her brand - she calls it Stories on Fabric. Through threads, needles and weaves, the brand aims to share and tell everyday stories from Calcutta. And now if you ask why Calcutta? That’s because Calcutta, the city is her biggest muse. She has been translating picture postcards of the city on fabric, starting from yellow taxis, Howrah bridge, college street, dialogues from Ray’s movies, forgotten lyrics and old songs, poems, love letters and the list is endless are all part of her work. Parama works with Kantha, Batik, Jamdani and other traditional art, textile and weaves of Bengal and rest of India. They have their own set of weavers in Murshidabad and Phulia. Today, as we speak, Parama has 70 women working in their Kantha unit in Shantiniketan and about 35 in the stitching unit in Calcutta. The love for the mundane and the simpler things in life is what makes Parama unique. More details can be found at https://paramacalcutta.com Parama's Instagram handle is https://www.instagram.com/parama_g/
Needle and thread were perhaps in her blood, which she inherited from her mother. In her college days she used to earn what we called ‘pocket money’ by selling items of needlework. Later as she started to work full time, it remained as a hobby and sometimes she arranged exhibitions. After her marriage broke, she was faced with the challenge of raising her son as a single mother and earning living as well. Instead of looking for a salaried job she opened a small business of embroidered apparel, with her mother’s support, and courage, that only comes from desperation.
Her tiny little shop was opened without taking any loan. Starting very small, and proceeding one step at a time over almost two decades, her brand Vrindar eventually went from a tiny rented shop to a larger one, and finally to the present store that she owns. Over the years she has trained more than fifteen hundred women, mostly under-privileged. She never charges her students for their lessons; she only asks them to bring their own materials. Many of them still work with her, and some are even working independently. Presently around seventy of them work for Vrindar, earning their living. As Vrindar started to grow, she and her mother gradually developed some patterns and stitches that their clients call the signature motifs of Vrindar. They also appreciate the colour combinations that is unique of this brand.
She has always had a kind of wanderlust in her and wanted to explore the indigenous designs and crafts of our state, which took her to the interiors of Bankura and Purulia. There she has conducted workshops with tribal women, encouraging them to work with their indigenous motifs. While interacting with tribal communities, her green thumb got a new impetus. All along, she has tried to make Vrindar an eco-friendly enterprise. Their fabrics and materials are predominantly natural, mostly cotton and silk. Carry bags are made in-house, using old newspaper and cloth. For many years she had been planting trees and plants in her neighborhood, cleaning plastic waste in an organized way. But in the rural areas, for the first time, she could involve herself with organic farming, rainwater harvesting, well digging, planting of fruit trees on a much larger scale. This led to the idea of Prana.
For quite some time, she was feeling an urge to take her tree planting efforts from my neighborhood to the other parts of her city, Kolkata and beyond. As she shared her ideas with some of her friends, she received very positive reactions from them, and hence a small group was formed. The group is called Prana, which means life in Sanskrit. The aim was to start small, planting around five hundred trees in Kolkata and suburban areas in one year. They ended the year with more than 800, and the number has grown steadily since. Her son, who is a young entrepreneur himself, is also helping her with this project. Prana not only plants trees, but also tries to ensure their survival. Urmi has come a long way from the day she took a difficult decision to not try for a salaried employment, but still has a long way to go. It has been a journey worth every moment, that has not only given her strength, but has also helped others to be independent.
You may visit Vrindar at 129 kakulia road, Dhakuria by appointments given the pandemic and more details on Urmi's work can be found at Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vrindarurmi... and on her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/vrindarurmi
A session close to our heart was the one where we sat down to chat to Mrinalini Kher and the team of Yuva Parivartan.
Mrinalini Kher who took over the Kherwadi Social Welfare Association’s operational activities back in 1998 together with Kishore Kher, and started the Yuva Parivartan Movement. This movement was started to guide the unmotivated school dropouts and to help them in becoming economically independent by imparting livelihood skills to them. In the year 2003 the movement was formally launched by the then President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The main objective of Yuva Parivartan was to mobilize youth and provide livelihood training to enable more number of youth to become financially independent and lead a productive life. We are also joined by Shital and Laxmi who have been part of this movement and will hear more from them on the impact these course in their lives.
Yuva Parivartan means transformation of youth. The movement brings the unmotivated school dropouts from the underprivileged background and gives them a direction to lead economically independent lives through vocational training. Mrinalini Kher was born into a family with integrity and a passion to work for others. Her husband always encouraged and supported her to take up challenges. A passionate social worker by choice, Mrinalini has been working tirelessly in the Social Welfare Sector for over 20 years and is one of the most dedicated resources of the Yuva Parivartan Team. She is a firm believer in the Empowerment of Women, who she believes are responsible for strengthening families, particularly in the economically backward societies of the country. For the last 25 years she has served as Honorary Secretary & Trustee of Kherwadi Social Welfare Association (KSWA). Today Yuva Parivartan is one of the largest NGOs in the field of Livelihoods with a National Presence in 16 States. She currently leads various activities of YP in the Livelihoods space. Her work includes implementing the Yuva Parivartan Institute for Entrepreneurship Development that conducts Skilling Programs for the Government and the Corporate Sectors.
Mrinalini was closely associated with the Spastic Society. She has done Honorary Work with the Seva Sadan Society Gamdevi Orphanage, and is also Honorary Secretary & Trustee of the Inner Wheel Club of Bombay Trustee of Blue Star Foundation. More on their work can be found at https://www.yuvaparivartan.org
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://uindhi.wordpress.com/2020/11/22/bibi-russell-and-dear-memories/
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://uindhi.wordpress.com/2020/11/17/living-theosophy-and-dhi/
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://uindhi.wordpress.com/2021/04/17/sen-ruhin-education/
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://uindhi.wordpress.com/2021/06/19/its-all-about-movement/