“ZENPod”, Season 5, episode 10 featuring Ms. Savitha Rao Founder of “India Positive Citizen” & “Tulsi Shakti” initiative, An Activist and Fashion Entrepreneur, a Sustainability Champion, Fashion Designer, an Artist & an Explorer of Environment space.
Savitha Rao is focused on sustainability and social work. She is the Founder of the India Positive Citizen initiative. The vision is to inspire every Indian to contribute towards nation building with one action, once a week, every week. Building a great nation one India Positive action at a time.
“Spirituality is an Awareness that there is something greater than oneself. Something more to being human than just a sensory experince. A lifetime is sometimes not enough to experience it.”, says Savitha Rao in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan
https://www.indiapositivecitizen.com
An Activist entrepreneur Once she immersed herself in the environment space, Savitha felt alarmed by the inaction she saw around her. To that end, she conceptualised and ran a campaign titled, ‘India Kuch Kar.’ (India Do Something). The goal was to inspire the public to become active citizens, and the theme was public cleanliness. It was appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom she got to meet thanks to the resounding success of the campaign.
She is the author of :
- India Positive Citizen
- 500+ Ways to be an India Positive Citizen
- Putting India First : India Positive Citizen Perspectives
Currently she is writing a book ‘Made in India Movement’. The research for the book will result in regulatory changes that will power Indian Industry across sectors.
Through her non-profit foundation: Positive Citizen Foundation she leads on-ground initiatives to enable a kinder, joyous and more sustainable world.
She is the Founder of Tulsi Shakti : a first of it's kind initiative to inspire and empower people to enhance their well being in a safe, accessible, affordable and planet friendly way.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
From A Fashion Entrepreneur to a Sustainability Champion
Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Savitha Rao,
Founder of “India Positive Citizen” & “Tulsi Shakti” initiative,
An Activist and Fashion Entrepreneur, a Sustainability Champion, Fashion Designer, an Artist & explorer of Environment space.
https://www.indiapositivecitizen.com
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
“ZENPod”, Season 5, episode 9 featuring Ms. Lakshmi Mohanbabu
First Singaporean Artist to send her art to the Moon, an Architect, Fashion Designer, an Artist & a NFT Creator.
Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery.
She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator / Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts.
https://www.lakshmimohanbabu.com/
Lakshmi is a Singaporean Artist of Indian origin, an Architect and Fashion designer by training, who spent her formative years in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan. Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery. Her art has been featured as a mosaic animation on the largest HD screen in the world at Singapore's Suntec Convention Centre, displayed in prominent galleries, and is collected worldwide. The 5 Interactions designs now in space are being launched in the metaverse as a series of NFT art available at https://www.liqnft.com/gallery/collection/MOON
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator/Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts. An artist of many mediums, her art spans all facets of design, is multisensory and multidisciplinary, an intersection of Art and Technology.
Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Lakshmi Mohanbabu, an Architect, Fashion Designer, an Artist & a NFT Creator.
First Singaporean Artist to send her art to the Moon
Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery.
She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator / Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts.
https://www.lakshmimohanbabu.com/
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
A Techie who also makes Music!
Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Shri HK Venkatram – “HKV”, a Violin Vidwan, a “Ganakala Shree”, “Gaanavaradhi”, “Satyashree” and recipient of “Parur Sundaram Iyer Award for Senior Violinist“. HKV is also an ‘Asthana Vidwan’ of Sri Kanchi Kamokoti Peetam, Kanchipuram.
A Techie, Social Evangelist, HKV has also published a book, ‘TyagarajaVachanamrita‘ with text, transliteration, and translation of popular Tyagaraja’s compositions.
https://www.hkvenkatram.com/
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Nepali entrepreneur turns TRASH into CASH
Season 5, episode 7 of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Aayushi KC, A Social Entrepreneur and Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi , ♻️ A socially inclusive waste management platform dedicated to transform Nepal’s waste dumping sector to Waste Management sector.
Aayushi is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in Asia, & Asia 21 Young Leader in 2019. Khaalisisi has been recognized by Google as Google Business story in 2017.
“Spirituality is about being grateful and not taking things for granted. I try to replicate that in everything that I do. Working Hard and not taking things for granted” says Aayushi in her conversation with Venki Mahadevan.
Aayushi KC is the Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi Management Pvt. Ltd., a waste management platform that currently connects waste workers, in an industry with more than 13,000 waste workers, to waste sellers. Aayushi’s goal is not just to create a company, but a waste management industry in Nepal.
Khalisisi is a social enterprise disrupting the recycling industry in Nepal through connecting waste entrepreneurs with the public on an innovative digital platform.
Khaalisisi works to digitally empower the informal waste workers/stakeholders to increase the diversion of recyclable materials away from landfills. Aayushi works to raise public awareness of recycling in Nepal and ultimately hopes to create a waste management industry in the country. The 200 plus waste entrepreneurs involved with khaalisisi have been able to earn 35% more income and also found a respectful space for themselves in this industry.
Aayushi KC is looking to change the world by working towards a zero-waste goal in Nepal. The former USAID worker-turned-social entrepreneur founded Khaalisisi Management Pvt. Ltd. (Khaalisisi.com), which currently connects more than 13,000 recyclable waste-buyers to waste-sellers, helping to substantially increase the diversion of recyclable materials away from landfills. She is also active in trying to change public opinion when it comes to the importance of recycling and the waste-collectors who facilitate it.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Nepali entrepreneur turns trash into cash
Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Aayushi KC, A Social Entrepreneur and Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi , ♻️ A socially inclusive waste management platform dedicated to transform Nepal’s waste dumping sector to Waste Management sector.
Aayushi is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in Asia, & Asia 21 Young Leader in 2019. Khaalisisi has been recognized by Google as Google Business story in 2017.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Season-5, episode 6 of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Ranjani ~ Gayatri,
Ranjani & Gayatri, the sister duo are world-renowned versatile musicians whose musical contributions include studio recordings, television performances, radio programs, concerts, festivals and lecture demonstrations.
Ranjani & Gayatri gave their debut performance at the prestigious Indian Music Group, Mumbai at the age of 13 and 10 respectively.
You can reach out to Ranjani-Gayatri on https://www.ranjanigayatri.com
“In Carnatic music, Spirituality is the backdrop of all compositions, lyric wise. Every profound/elevating experience that we have had, has been where we have been singing, so music for us has been the bridge where we have experienced Transcendental or profound moments”, say Ranjani-Gayatri in their conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.
Ranjani and Gayatri owe their rich musical heritage to their Gurus, Sri T.S. Krishnaswami who taught them violin and Sri.P.S. Narayanaswamy, who guides them now. They had their initial vocal training from their mother Smt Meenakshi Balasubramanian and their father Balasubramanian, played a pivotal role in shaping their musical values.
Even as toddlers, showed an uncanny capacity to grasp the subtle nuances of Carnatic music - Gayatri could identify over a hundred ragas when she was barely two and a half and Ranjani could delineate complex rhythm patterns at age five.
The sister duo have given many thematic concerts and have an extensive repertoire consisting of gems of the Trinity, old and contemporary Tamil compositions and other languages including Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi. They have performed in prestigious venues/festivals like The Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, Southbank Centre in London, Ravenna music festival in Italy, Cross Culture Festival in Warsaw, Poland, Bengal Music Festival in Dhaka, Esplanade Theatre in Singapore and the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai to name a few.
Ranjani-Gayatri have won numerous awards and titles in recognition of their contribution. To mention a few –
· Kalaimami from the Government of Tamilnadu,
· Gana Padmam from Brahma Gana Sabha.
· Rama Gana Kala Acharya
· Lifetime Achievement Award from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
· Sanskriti Award from Sanskriti Pratishtan, New Delhi,
· Titles of "Vani Kala Sudhakara" from Sri Tyaga Brahma Gana Sabha,
· "Sangeetha Kala Siromani" from Chennai Cultural Academy,
· "Isai Jyothi" and the DK Pattammal Award from Aanmajothi, the cultural wing of Saraswati Vidyalaya
· "Sangeeta Vedantha Dhureena" from Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira Bengaluru in 2018
· "Nada Kalanidhi" from Shanmukhananda Sangeeta Sabha, Delhi in 2019.
· "Isai Peroli" from the Kartik Fine Arts Chennai,
· National Eminence Award from Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, Mumbai
· Kalki Krishnamurthy Memorial Award
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Ranjani - Gayatri,
Ranjani & Gayatri, the sister duo are world-renowned versatile musicians whose musical contributions include studio recordings, television performances, radio programs, concerts, festivals and lecture demonstrations.
Ranjani & Gayatri gave their debut performance at the prestigious Indian Music Group, Mumbai at the age of 13 and 10 respectively.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
"ZENPod”, Season-5, episode 5, featuring Ms. Julie Lewis, Julie Miles Lewis is a British motivational speaker, author, personal leadership specialist and founder of Mountain High. An Author of the C-Suite Best Seller book “Moving Mountains – Discover the Mountain in You”
Julie has been bestowed with MEA and the MENA UAE Business Awards. She is a professional member of the National Speakers Association and a Million Dollar Round Table Selected Conference Speaker. She is the Brand Ambassador for Land Rover Middle East.
You can reach out to Julie on https://julie-lewis.com
“Spirituality is a critical dimension of our life. For me, it’s relationship with yourself; with others; with Nature. It’s about our core values; about our purpose; our passion. It is a sense of feeling that there is a higher force in you!” says Ms. Julie Lewis, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.
Julie is a Professional speaker, an Adventurer, Entrepreneur, Resilience consultant and an Author, who challenges and changes the way people THINK, ACT and DREAM.
She offers customized corporate mastermind retreats, and adventures in Resilience through Signature Expeditions, PolarExpeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica.
She has three decades of experience in leading multi-national teams in challenging and unpredictable environments giving her a leading edge when it comes to ADAPTIVE RESILIENCE.
Over the last 17 years, she has led multi-national teams of women and men on 61 Expeditions to over 20 countries including Nepal,Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, Africa, South America, Iran, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, India, Borneo, Malaysia, Svalbard, Russia, Norway, Oman, South Africa, Vietnam and Antarctica.
Julie holds a degree in Sports Science from the UK and is a Member of the International Positive Psychology Association. She holds prestigious certifications in Psychology, Resilience and Wellbeing from reputed universities such as Penn, Univ of NC, Yale etc. She has also completed Level 1 and 2 of the ZEN Leadership Training. In addition, she is also a certified Advanced Stress Management Instructor.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Julie Lewis
Julie Miles Lewis is a British motivational speaker, author, personal leadership specialist and founder of Mountain High. An Author of the C-Suite Best Seller book “Moving Mountains – Discover the Mountain in You”
Julie is a Professional speaker, an Adventurer, Entrepreneur, Resilience consultant and an Author, who challenges and changes the way people THINK, ACT and DREAM.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
“ZENPod”, Season 5, episode 4, featuring Shri Amarjeet Singh, also known as the “Sporty Sikh”, the only 60 year old blind person in the world to run 101 half marathons. Amarjeet has till date done over 200 plus runs and that is the official tally.
Sighted till age 13, he started losing vision gradually and attained the condition of Total Blindness at the age of 40. A Mountaineer, Swimmer and Runner, he started participating in sports & adventure activities at the age of 48.
Amarjeet has successfully completed(four times) a Walkathon of 300Kms long, from Mumbai - Shirdi walk for the blind.
“If you are there in this world, it is due to the grace of God. Have faith in God, Do good deeds with good thoughts; this is spirituality says Shri. Amarjeet Sporty Sikh Singh, in his conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.
Amarjeet has successfully completed a Walkathon of 300Kms long, from Mumbai - Shirdi walk for the blind four times
He has been featured prominently in several inspiring international videos and international books.
In addition to Running, Amarjeet is also a mountaineer and Swimmer. He has successfully done treks in parts of Himalayas, more than half of the Sahyadri ranges, Himachal, Rajasthan and Goa and topping it all off with a successful Kailash Parikrama Yatra.
Some of Amarjeet’s stupendous achievements :-
The only blind person to :-
· To complete 160-km run/walk from Mumbai-Pune.
· Paramotor at the altitude of 1,000 feet above sea level (for about 10kms.)
· Scale 19,830ft. high Dolma Pass in Kailash Parikrama, Tibet (China)
· Completed 1,100ft. rappelling from Takmak Point in Raigad Fort, Maharashtra
· Over the Age of 60+, in India to run and walk from Mumbai-Pune (approx 160kms).
Some of Amarjeet’s significant Awards include :-
· Star Believe Award, By Star Sports
· International Sikh Acheiver’s Award in Sports, By SatSri Akal Charitable Trust
· Best Sportsman of the Year, By National Sports Club for the Blind, Mumbai
· Star Achiever, Best Sportsman, By AnaamPrem
· Marathi Gaurav Puruskaar, Blind Marathon Runner Award, 2016
· Mumbai Mayor's Award for Divyaang- GAURAV PURASKAAR
· Inspirational Runner Award 2019
· Mumbai Road Runner's Award for Inspirational Challenged Runner of the Year
· Vaisakhi Khel Ratna Award, By Sikh Community, Ahmednagar
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
You can reach Amarjeet on on +91-9821362022.
Social Media teaser for Shri Amarjeet “the Sporty Sikh” - Season 5
Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Shri Amarjeet Singh, also known as the “Sporty Sikh”, the only 60 year old blind person in the world to run 101 half marathons. Amarjeet has till date done over 200 plus runs and that is the official tally.
Sighted till age 13, he started losing vision gradually and attained the condition of Total Blindness at the age of 40. A Mountaineer, Swimmer and Runner, he started participating in sports & adventure activities at the age of 48.
Amarjeet has successfully completed(four times) a Walkathon of 300Kms long, from Mumbai - Shirdi walk for the blind.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
“ZENPod” - Season-5, episode 3, featuring a Teacher and Champion of Children, Ms. Sharanjeet Shan, a globally recognised social entrepreneur, and recipient of the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year awardaned a recipient of the first Chancellor’s award from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Her work hasreached about 500 K learners and about 30K teachers.
Sharanjeet is Executive Director for the Maths Centre, and has championed Maths, Science and Technology education for children in South Africa for 25 years. She has conceptualized and managed many projects in Maths, Science, Technology, ECD & has Published world class training materials and primary school text books in mathematics, skills development and ECD materials.
Sharanjeet has published several books including an autobiography ‘In My Own Name’ in 1985 which subsequently became a school text in England.
“It does not suit my nature to believe in creation, Nature, divinity, in one kind of God; and yet, as a hard cord mathematics and Quantum Physics person, if I look around me, the beauty of Universe, the complexity of Mother Nature says to me that there is a Higher power!” says Ms. Sharanjeet Shan, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.
After studying for a full four years for Medicine, she was thrown out of family and India as a result of a traditional clash, that turned into banishment. Sharanjeet Shan spent her adult life in England, studying, working and writing. She gained a first degree and a masters in Social Science: how slavery colonialism and patriarchy came about. She taught Maths and Science for twenty years in England at various levels moving into management positions over a period of thirty years including an Office for Standards in Education inspector. In 1995, Sharanjeet was invited to lead Maths Centre in 1995, transforming a small and struggling project into the widely respected institution it is today and to lead developments within the new dispensation of the South African Maths and Science delivery. The Centre works with some 500 disadvantaged schools enabling Teacher and learner development in Maths, Science and Technology.
Constantly seeking anti-poverty solutions, Sharanjeet is committed to serving children and young people into the fourth Industrial revolution, promoting critical and creative thinking through STEM subjects at all levels of schooling. Her Maths Centre conducts advocacy campaigns for parents, business, industry, children with disabilities and promotes language connections.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Sharanjeet Shan, a globally recognised social entrepreneur, and recipient of the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year award aned a recipient of the first Chancellor’s award from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Her work has reached over 500 K learners and 30K teachers.
Sharanjeet is Executive Director for the Maths Centre, and has championed Maths, Science and Technology education for children in South Africa for 25 years. She has conceptualized and managed many projects in Maths, Science, Technology, ECD & has Published world class training materials and primary school text books in mathematics, skills development and ECD materials.
Sharanjeet has published several books including an autobiography ‘In My Own Name’ in 1985 which subsequently became a school text in England.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Season-5, episode 2 (part 2) of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Triveni Acharya
A Lifelong Humanitarian, a Woman Who Has Been Fighting Sex-Traffickers since 1993.
One of the 100 women achievers awarded by the President of India. Triveni co-founded the “Rescue Foundation” in the year 2000.
https://www.rescuefoundation.net
“Spirituality is Search for meaning of Life, something that cannot be explained in words, that is different from the real world, your Spirit. Listening to your inner voice, fighting against injustice, service to Humanity, maintaining your
self-balance is Spirituality:,”, says Triveni Acharya, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.
Triveni co-founded Rescue Foundation in the year 2000 with her Late Husband, Mr. Balkrishna Acharya, sheltering survivors in their own home and assumed its presidency. The organization is devoted to the "rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation of victims for human trafficking from different parts of India, Nepal & Bangladesh and sold for forced prostitution", and has been conducting "brothel raids" since 1993. The organization frees roughly 300 girls a year, and also provides counseling& job training.
Triveni has won several awards, some of the significant ones being;
· Stree Shakti Award for Women Entrepreneurs
· Asia Democracy and Human Rights award by the Taiwan Foundation by Taiwanese president
· Civil Courage prize of the Train Foundation, awarded annually to those “who resolutely combat evil”
· Humanitarian Honoree of World of Children award(twice)
· Thomson Reuters’ “Stop Slavery award”
· Dare to Dream award
· The Rajiv Gandhi Manav seva award
· Iconic Woman of the year award by Indian Merchants Chamber
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Season-5, episode 1 of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Triveni Acharya
A Lifelong Humanitarian, a Woman Who Has Been Fighting Sex-Traffickers since 1993.
One of the 100 women achievers awarded by the President of India. Triveni co-founded the “Rescue Foundation” in the year 2000.
https://www.rescuefoundation.net
“Spirituality is Search for meaning of Life, something that cannot be explained in words, that is different from the real world, your Spirit. Listening to your inner voice, fighting against injustice, service to Humanity, maintaining your self-balance is Spirituality:,”, says Triveni Acharya, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.
Triveni co-founded Rescue Foundation in the year 2000 with her Late Husband, Mr. Balkrishna Acharya, sheltering survivors in their own home and assumed its presidency. The organization is devoted to the "rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation of victims for human trafficking from different parts of India, Nepal & Bangladesh and sold for forced prostitution", and has been conducting "brothel raids" since 1993. The organization frees roughly 300 girls a year, and also provides counseling& job training.
2003 - Inaugurated Rescue Foundations Mumbai home supporting 100 survivors
2005 - After the tragic death of her husband, she took over rescue foundation as President.
2007 - Expanded rehabilitation operations, inaugurated Boisar home, a project on over 50 acres of land complete with multiple facilities such as training centre, recovery care centre, agriculture area etc.
2009 - Expanded rehabilitation operations to Pune, inaugurated Pune home with capacity of 100 survivors
2017 - Expanded rehabilitation operations to Delhi, Inaugurated Delhi home with capacity to house 100 survivors
Triveni has won several awards, some of the significant ones being;
· Stree Shakti Award for Women Entrepreneurs
· Asia Democracy and Human Rights award by the Taiwan Foundation by Taiwanese president
· Civil Courage prize of the Train Foundation, awarded annually to those “who resolutely combat evil”
· Humanitarian Honoree of World of Children award(twice)
· Thomson Reuters’ “Stop Slavery award”
· Dare to Dream award
· The Rajiv Gandhi Manav seva award
· Iconic Woman of the year award by Indian Merchants Chamber
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Curtain raiser - Season-5, episode 1, of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Triveni Acharya,
A Lifelong Humanitarian, a Woman Who Has Been Fighting Sex-Traffickers since 1993.
One of the 100 women achievers awarded by the President of India. Triveni co-founded the “Rescue Foundation” in the year 2000.
https://www.rescuefoundation.net
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Season-4, episode 10 of “ZENPod”, featuring Colleen Clines, Co-Founder & CEO - “Anchal”, a non-profit social enterprise.
Colleen was named was named one of Public Interest Design's Top Global 100 designers. Colleen was also awarded the NABWO Humanitarian award.
Colleen used design thinking to create innovative solutions for tackling social inequalities and reform traditional textile manufacturing practices.
“Spirituality for me is about Love and Belief that there is a bigger world outside of me and I really need to contribute to that and that’s my purpose for being here”, says Colleen Clines, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.
“We felt compelled to take the project beyond the classroom with the conviction that our design training, in collaboration with local leadership, could address seemingly intractable social and environmental systems. The women we met became our sisters, sisters we had to fight for.” - Colleen Clines, Co-Founder & CEO of Anchal
“We both had linear projections for our careers. Then I saw that we could have more impact than I ever anticipated as a young woman. So I jumped onboard and we decided to make a go of it!” - Maggie Clines, COO & Creative Director
Colleen values how design can become the tool for sustainable solutions to gender inequality, social injustice, and environmental degradation. She combines this passion as a social entrepreneur and impact designer through her work at Anchal. A Louisville native with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Kentucky, Colleen earned her Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). During her time in graduate school, she initiated the founding of Anchal alongside her sister Maggie after a trip to India.
Anchal is based on the philosophy that we can create positive change in the world through collaboration in design. We are a team of designers, storytellers, activists, and dreamers.
With backgrounds in design, sisters Colleen and Maggie Clines lead the organization by placing design and collaboration at the center of Anchal’s practice.
It all started in a design studio. Colleen Clines was taking a graduate seminar at the Rhode Island School of Design that took her on a trip to India in 2009. Through local leadership, Colleen was introduced to the exploitive world of the commercial sex trade and the lack of opportunity for women in the community. It was in this moment she was inspired to design more than beautiful landscapes, she was determined to collaborate with the NGO using design.
Colleen leads the overall strategic and operational planning for Anchal’s programs, partnerships, expansion, and execution of its mission. In 2013, she was named one of Public Interest Design’s Top Global 100 designers. She was awarded Sacred Heart Academy's Heart Award in 2015 and Presentation Academy's Tower award in 2014. Most recently Colleen was named to Louisville Business First’s 2016 Forty under 40 List, and awarded the 2017 NAWBO Humanitarian Award. Colleen has shared Anchal's mission and design thinking model as a keynote speaker at gatherings including the Fair Trade Federation National Conference, NY NOW, the Ali Center's Daughters of Greatness Series, Creative Mornings Louisville and Alt Summit.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
Season-4, episode 9 of “ZENPod”, featuring Bhawani Singh Shekawat.
Bhawani is the CEO and Trustee – UK/Europe for “The Akshaya Patra Foundation UK”. www.tapf.org.uk
He is the Co-Founder of Adhyayan Asia and serves on the Advisory board at HaikuJam (UK) where he advises the start up. He was associated with Erehwon Consulting where he helped business and leadership realise their potential. Bhawani is a listed speaker on the London Bureau of Speakers and he speaks on Leadership, Purpose and suggests that at its core - every Enterprise ought to be a Social Enterprise.
He is a Faculty and member of the Advisory board at the Vedica Scholars Program and Vedica Women’s Alliance V-WA(www.vedicascholars.com)
“Spirituality is coming in contact with a very-very best version that you are; call it the spirit, soul or your deepest self. It is experiencing that ‘SELF’ in the most honest and least judgemental manner”, says Bhawani Singh Shekawat, in his conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.
We are all born geniuses and the purpose of human life is to find an interface for that genius... and food can truly be the catalyst for that interface.”.. says Bhawani
After a career of a few decades in the Corporate world in Asia, Middle East, Africa, North America & Europe, where he led large multi-national business and global teams in organisations including Nielsen, Reckitt Benckiser and Coca-Cola, Bhawani has now committed himself to a life of service, particularly for. I have now completely dedicated myself to playing a part in making our world a better place, particularly for our children. He currently leads the Akshaya Patra Foundation – a global leader in Food for Education as CEO Europe and as a Trustee on the Board.
He is a mentor, a top leadership coach and advisor. He serves on a number of Boards in a Non-Exec and advisory capacity, including The Adhyayan Foundation (Co-Founder), The Vedica Scholars Programme and Women’s Alliance and Haiku JAM. A highly sought-after speaker and thought leader, Bhawani is a listed member of the London Bureau of Speakers on Customer Centricity, Insight, Innovation and Leadership.” Bhawani lives in London, UK.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the world’s largest NGO-directed school meal program, feeding over 1.8 million children every day. Since its founding in 2000, the organization has grown to serve millions of children and recently served it 3.5 Billionth meal.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation www.tapf.org.uk (meaning = a vessel which never runs out of food) is the world’s largest, and perhaps the most celebrated school meals program. The program has witnessed quantum growth on the one hand but has also received tremendous acclaim for innovation, strategy, impact and scale. Currently we serve over 1.8 million children every day and have served over 3 billion meals! In the UK, we serve a large number of homeless and children suffering from Holiday hunger. As a leader of this organisation in Europe, Bhawani leads Strategy, Innovation and Initiatives around Akshaya Patra’s Social Enterprise.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
