Vaishnavi’s grandmother is among the oldest residents of the basti. Her father works in housekeeping, and her mother is a cook, both striving to give their children a better future through education. A Class 10 student and a bright learner, Vaishnavi dreams of continuing her studies and pursuing dance.

“Today was the first time I stood on such a big stage. I was scared, but I overcame the fear — and for the first time in my life, I feel like I have achieved something,” says Vaishnavi Gaikwad.

Paalvia Foundation, in collaboration with Bhagyashali Bhavishya Shiksha Foundation, has been conducting creative interventions at Burma Shell Basti to empower children through art, music, and storytelling. Over the past year, these sessions have nurtured confidence, creativity, and aspiration among the children.

“Our work with children from bastis and differently-abled homes is not about charity — it’s about opportunity. Art gives them a language to express, to aspire, and to be seen for their potential rather than their circumstances. Vaishnavi’s presence on the TEDx stage is a reflection of that belief — and she will go on to inspire many more girls,” said Vaibhav Paliwal, Founder of Paalvia Foundation.

The children at the basti regularly participate in songwriting sessions led by Subhrojyoti Roy Chaudhuri, a scientist at TCS and musician. These sessions help them articulate their feelings and co-create songs such as “Biryani” and “Soch” — poems that reflect their daily joys, friendships, and the beauty of their surroundings. Both pieces were performed by Vaishnavi, with “Biryani” being her favorite.

Special thanks to Sonali Rasal, landscape architect and poet, for mentoring Vaishnavi’s performance, and to Virendra Nirmalkar, organiser of TEDx-Kharadi, for believing in people and giving them opportunities to be heard.

“Vaishnavi has done wonderfully on the stage. She will lead the community tomorrow, and for sure, she will do wonders in her life. We were glad to have her with us, and we wish her all the best for her future.”– Virendra Nirmalkar, organiser of TEDx-Kharadi

The post From Basti to TEDx: The Inspiring Journey of 15-Year-Old Vaishnavi Gaikwad and Her Poetry Performance appeared first on NRI News.

MUMBAI: Godrej DEI Lab, the diversity and inclusion initiative of the Godrej Industries Group and Westland Books, today announced the launch of “Queer Directions” (QD) – a new publishing imprint dedicated to amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices across genres spanning non-fiction, poetry, and eventually, fiction. With plans to launch six compelling titles this year, the collaboration signals a deep commitment to inclusive storytelling and representation. 

At its core, Queer Directions will celebrate queer expression, identity, and lived experiences. From insightful memoirs to imaginative narratives for younger readers, Queer Directions aims to build an ever-expanding bridge between queer creators and readers everywhere.

Parmesh Shahani, Head of Godrej DEI Lab and author of Queeristan, will serve as Series Editor for Queer Directions. Shahani said, “The idea is to build a bridge, not a border. At a time when queer rights are being challenged across the world, this imprint stands as both an act of solidarity and a space to nurture fresh, authentic voices from within the LGBTQIA+ communities. It will showcase the rich diversity of queer lives to straight allies and non-queer readers.”

Westland Books, which has steadily built a credible LGBTQIA+ list over the years – from Queeristan to recent acclaimed fiction by Unmana and Santanu Bhattacharya – now takes a bold step forward with this focused publishing programme.

“It has been a long-cherished hope that someday we would be able to launch a thoughtful, inclusive, and truly intersectional imprint that is focused on discovering and nurturing new voices in the LGBTQIA+ space. Queer Directions is that,” said Karthika V.K., Publisher at Westland Books. “‘And we couldn’t have found more supportive and engaged partners than Godrej DEI Lab and series editor Parmesh Shahani to help shape and enhance the impact of all that we publish in QD.”

With the launch of Queer Directions, the Godrej Industries Group reaffirms its continued investment in social equity and inclusion. The imprint, as a creative endeavour, will be a testament to the power of partnerships in shaping inclusive narratives and imagining progress for all.

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PUNE: To preserve and promote the ethos of Indian Classical music, the ‘NaadMudra Mahotsav’ organized by Alpha Events is being held from Friday 8th March to Sunday 10th March from 6 pm to 10 pm. The three-day Mahotsav will be held at Keshav Baug, DP Road, Karve Nagar. Entry for the festival will be free and open to all on a first come first served basis.

The three-day festival will begin on Friday, 8th March with a melodious vocal performance by Dhananjay Hegde, a disciple of Pt. Vinayak Torvi and Pt. Venkatesh Kumar. His performance will be followed by ‘Rutusamhar’, an opera featuring music, poetry, and dance inspired by the verses of Mahakavi Kalidasa. This special program will see the performances of vocalist Aparna Panshikar, a disciple of Pt. Bhaskarbua Joshi and Vidushi Meera Panshikar, Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar, the disciple of Gaanasaraswati Padma Vibhushan Kishori Amonkar, and Kathak Dance exponent Sharvari Jamenis, disciple of Pandita Rohini Bhate.

Aparna Panshikar has conceptualized the program of ‘Rutusamhar’ and has composed a unique presentation based on a collection of Mahakavi Kalidasa’s verses describing the various seasons of the year in the form of traditional Bandishes. These vocal compositions will be presented by Aparna Panshikar and Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar, while Sharvari Jamenis will express the poems through her dance.

Day two of the festival will begin with a soulful Sitar recital by Mehtab Ali Niazi, son and disciple of Sitar Maestro Ustad Mohsin Ali Khan of the Bhendibazaar Gharana, while the day will conclude with the blissful vocals of Vidushi Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande.

Aparna Panshikar’s vocal renditions will see the opening of day three of the festival, while the festival will conclude with the heartwarming performance of Padma Shri Pt. Venkatesh Kumar.

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