DYDcafé episode 14
Join us for an online café with Suheil Tandon, on 14 July 2020 at 7:00pm. Click here to join. Register with us here in case you have not registered earlier. Suheil Tandon is the founder of Pro Sport Development, an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to utilizing sport for the holistic development of children and youth. With 10+ years of global experience in sports management and coaching, he believes in the power of sport in catalyzing social transformation and today he works with diverse groups of youth. Pro Sport Development was awarded by the International Olympic Committee in recognition of their outstanding work in the area of sport for all.
DYDcafé episode 13
Founder of Global Network for Equality (GNE) and aims to reconstruct the lives of children of crime victims in India and to eliminate their social stigma. He became a lawyer to be more effective in his work and be able to enter prisons with less bureaucratic hurdles. Today GNE supports more than 564 children by way of imparting higher education, monthly livelihood support. He works closely with prisoners to improve their lives and safeguarding the wellbeing of children who deprived of proper parental care. Here is the summary of the conversation we had with Raja: Crime is a behavioral deviation. I wanted to meet people who have been impacted due to crime. When a person kills his/her spouse, children loose both their parents. I saw those children as children. If I am not doing anything, who else will do. This was my motivation. My challenges were many: I had difficulty to…
DYDcafé episode 12
Dhanya Ravi, a national and state award winning disability evangelist who aspires for a Rare-disease free and inclusive India!!! She has spoken at many events across the globe including TEDx twice to empower differently-abled people to improve their lives and careers. She is one of the founder trustees of Aasmaan Foundation Trust and a facilitator for an inclusive dance group called “The Invincible”. She volunteers audio reads for persons with visual impairments. Here is the summary of our conversation with Dhanya: I aspire for a Rare Disease-Free India. Each of us need to take this as a personal responsibility. Life is something to be lived and not escaped. At a personal level I am still the same person. I still have my struggles. I am happy when people tell me that my work is making an impact. Writing is how I make myself independent. I am living a life that I…
DYDcafé episode 11
Pavithra Shetty, a staunch believer in the potential of human body and power of meditation to attain it. She quit her job as a software engineer, explored yoga, found the deepest sense of happiness and decided to to pursue it as her career. A true example of how passion can be nurtured by connecting the faculties of our mind. Here is brief summary of our conversation with Pavithra. It did not take me much time to realise that I did not belong (to software industry). I tried to push it for two years and I kind of lost my sense of purpose. It is always good to try, even if you fail, you will not regret. I did not want to live a life of regret. We are robots there, cribbing during the weekend. I saved to survive for at least 6-7 months without a job. This gave me confidence…
DYDcafé episode 10
Dr. Chaithanya pursues two of her passions simultaneously : An Ayurvedic physician and a Bharatanatyam dancer. She started her dance training at the age of 4 and considers herself as a student as well as a performer. She is attempting to find common ground between Ayurveda and Bharatanatyam, her deeper areas of interest include Manuscriptology and dance movement therapy apart from clinics and research. Here is the summary of our conversation with Dr. Chaithanya. I hated sundays. I hated going for dance classes on Sundays. Everybody around me had been super supportive. I chose to be a Physician and Dancer, when I realised its importance. These situations helped me realise what I wanted to do in life. When I am among performers they call me a doctor and when I am among doctors, they call me a dancer. My mother inspired me a lot. She is a fighter. I have had…
DYDcafé episode 9
Sunil Koshy, a techie turned singer, music director and vocal coach. He quit his job with Intel, and went on to learn music at a Gurukulam in Chennai for 3 years. He has worked with legends in the industry including Hariharan, KS Chithra, Kumar Sanu to name a few. He is the founder of From Mug to Mike: A platform for bathroom singers and trained over 8000 bathroom and amateur singers. Here is the summary of our conversation with Sunil Koshy. Is that a conscious decision? My HR asked me before I quit my job at my first company. There is only one Yesudas, only one Jagjit singh, are you sure about this decision? I soon realised that the accolades and rewards that I received at my school and college were not enough. After a milestone, you still need to work. Believe in what you want to do. Too much…
DYDcafé episode 8
Meet Sreelakshmy Govardhanan, an accomplished Indian classical dancer and disciple of Sri Pasumarthy Rattaiha Sarma, who has created her space in the Kuchipudi world by dint of her immense talent and unrelenting handwork. She has been actively researching in Kuchipudi and creating new choreographies that echoes even with contemporary society. Founder and artistic director of Avantika Space for dance, where she moulds the next generation to master the fine traits of the pure form of Kuchipudi. Here is the summary of the conversation we had with Sreelakshmy. Transition from a psychological counsellor to full-time dance was not easy. When I was 28 years and decided to take my plunge, I did not look for acceptance. I was fortunate to have my dear ones who supported me along my journey. It was more difficult for my parents and they did have societal pressure. However, over a period of time, they managed…
DYDcafé episode 7
Meet KaviPrasad, an engineer turned lyricist of national and international acclaim, who is now working on his script for a movie. He pens short stories, poems, drama etc. Many of his creative works have gone viral in social media. An engineer by profession and holds a leadership position in an IT company of high repute. He also happens to run a company of his own. Here is a summary of our conversation with KaviPrasad. The Analogy of rubber plantations – It takes time to see results. Perspectives about work at a young age and how he helped to bring in an additional income and what is takes. The time you need to give and about being paid. Life goal being a kid – to come out of poverty – study well, earn a good job. The teacher who inspired to write poems – each one of us have a mentor…
DYDcafé episode 6
Sanoj NT, a Change Maker who is on a journey to transform lives of kids who have taken up begging at railway stations and railway crosses. Started Child in Rail, an Informal Mobile learning centre in railway stations for these children. Here are the main points from our online café with Sanoj. Personal incident made me to dare my dreams. When we touch and create an impact in someone’s life, the experience is very different. It gives more power to us. Working on a policy document for railway children, to help them live a more dignified life. Railway kids earn money through begging, so it becomes all the more difficult to transform them. These kids spend on alternate drugs, pay quota money and indulge in betting. They make money for someone else to enjoy. It is not surprising to see 14 year old mothers among railway children. When these kids…
DYDcafé episode 5
Abhijit is the creator of Project DEFY, that enables underserved communities to create an education for themselves, through self-learning spaces called Nooks. At Nooks, individuals (children and adults) learn what makes them curious, and caters to their needs and interests. Nooks are Schools without Teachers, Exams or even any curricula. They are controlled and managed by the learners themselves, who take complete charge of their own learning. Here is the summary of our conversation. People self organise Age no bar – Kids and adults work together at Nooks Our conventional education system creates people who are order takers At Nooks we try experimentation in education. We have no teachers, no exams, no curriculum. Individuals decides what, when and how they learn and then take help from others. We had to say ‘NO’ many times when it did not align with our purpose and that made it hard to find partners…