Everyone A Changemaker
Ashoka Innovators For The Public
Recent Episodes
Jasmeen Patheja is the founder of Blank Noise. Jasmeen was born and raised in Kolkata. Her family, traditional Punjabi business people migrated from Burma in the 1960s. Jasmeen attended one of the city’s best schools, but was always told she should prepare to be married by the time she turned twenty-one. Jasmeen always had the urge to use her creativity to make a difference. After studying psychology, Jasmeen was admitted to the esteemed Srishti School of Art Design and Technology in Bangalore. Wherever she went, she was haunted by the experience of being harassed on the streets, even as a young girl wearing her school uniform. In Bangalore, she knew her peers at the Srishti School had experienced similar sexual harassment.
During her time in college, Jasmeen found ways to express her fundamental belief that an artist should engage directly in the process of social transformation. With her interest in the dynamics between the artist and the audience and public artwork, she produced Blank Noise as her final project for a course on communications for social change.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:
● The state of Defenselessness of the body is our birthright
● Defenselessness is a positive thing
● Be in our power everywhere not just in public spaces
● Building a committed community to intervene and be responsible in safeguarding women
● Creating a safe space for survivors to be heard
Subscribe To Everyone A Changemaker
● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WXoA5uYcYUtiu0KO8AQm6
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ashoka
● Website: https://www.ashoka.org/en-in
QUOTE: “If everyone takes up the responsibility of caring for and protecting one another, while refusing to tolerate sexual violence and being unapologetic about it, our country and the world would be a safer place to live in.”
Parag Mankeekar is the founder of RealLives Foundation. Parag, a doctor in a rural village near Pune, transitioned from individual patient care to addressing broader public health issues. He created a comprehensive health education system to bridge the gap between social behavior and medical treatment. As a hospital administrator, he resolved disputes, revitalized the institution, and prioritized public health. After experiencing the Gujarat earthquake, Parag recognized the need for disaster education among young people and founded a non-profit organization to organize camps and develop educational games.
Parag's approach involves utilizing schools, government agencies, and young individuals to spread awareness about disaster preparedness. Through curricula, disaster camps, and simulation games, information on personal safety and community responsibility is effectively reinforced. This multi-pronged approach ensures that the knowledge is retained by children and also shared with older family members and the broader community.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:
● Travelled all over India on a scooter to experience other people’s lives
● Industrial Revolution killed the ability and creativity of humans
● Find inspiration in the stories of others, but ultimately forge your own unique story
● Teach about humanity and real life experiences in schools
● Incorporating educational elements within games
● If life is a game, then only games can really teach you about life
Subscribe To Everyone A Changemaker
● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WXoA5uYcYUtiu0KO8AQm6
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ashoka
● Website: https://www.ashoka.org/en-in
QUOTE: “If we consider life as a game, then it is through games that we can truly learn about life's challenges, including issues like climate change, and the multitude of experiences we encounter in the world.”
Shannon Olsson is the founder of The Echo Network. Shannon, originally from rural New York, has spent 22 years listening to nature and building sustainable communities in India. With a Ph.D from Cornell University and experience at the Max Planck Institute and National Centre for Biological Sciences, she combines her scientific expertise with non-science sectors to create impactful change globally.
As a chemical ecologist with over two decades of experience, she is a sought-after science consultant, sustainability advisor, and global speaker. Shannon works with organizations, companies, institutes, and governments worldwide to integrate empathetic science into their sustainability planning and climate action initiatives.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:
● Achieving sustainability by bringing different sectors together
● Sustainability cannot be achieved through shortcuts
● Sustainability balances reducing consumption with uplifting communities
● Building a community of experts who generously share ideas and resources
● CHANGE scares everybody
Subscribe To Everyone A Changemaker
● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WXoA5uYcYUtiu0KO8AQm6
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ashoka
● Website: https://www.ashoka.org/en-in
QUOTE: “Sustainability involves uplifting communities in need while also reducing consumption. It is about finding a balance where both ends can be met simultaneously.”
Beena Chintalapuri is a founder of Internet Freedom Foundation. With expertise in cognitive psychology, historical and cultural personality types in India, and applied behavior modification, Dr. Beena has identified triggers, responses, and error patterns to correct them through behavior modification.
Dr. Beena is transforming the perception of prisoners from being seen as a liability and outcasts within the prison system, to becoming a group of skilled professionals who can apply the principles of cognitive psychology to solve some of the most intricate issues facing the prison industry.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:
● Inmates were returning with a new crime
● Prisoners require training more than therapy
● Developing their mindset more than their skills through training
● Education on how to reintegrate into mainstream society upon release
● Trained ex-inmates are inspirational and have a compelling testimony
Subscribe To Everyone A Changemaker
● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WXoA5uYcYUtiu0KO8AQm6
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ashoka
● Website: https://www.ashoka.org/en-in
QUOTE: “Prisoners don't have to face inhumane living conditions in the prison. Treating them with genuineness and respect and educating them on the consequences of criminal behaviour can change the course of their lives.”
Apar Gupta is a founder of Internet Freedom Foundation. Apar grew up in an upper-middle-class family in New Delhi. During his schooling years, Apar had two major interests that started to define the later years of his life, literature and technology. Apar's inclination towards social sciences led him to pursue Law, which not only aligned with his personal interests but also fulfilled his family's desire for a secure degree with promising career opportunities. After graduating from college, Apar first took the route of law practice, where he worked at a number of leading firms while also establishing his own.
Apar believes that by engaging regulators, courts, and legislative bodies to transform grassroots campaigns into civic action for digital rights, he will be able to protect the constitutional liberties of vulnerable populations in India who are at risk and strives to advance human freedom in the digital age for all Indians.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:
● Indian telecom companies currently rely heavily on revenue generated from data services
● Digital divide exists in India
● Net neutrality
● Governance frameworks, safeguards, and institutional processes required to analyze effects of technology implementation
Subscribe To Everyone A Changemaker
● Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WXoA5uYcYUtiu0KO8AQm6
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ashoka
● Website: https://www.ashoka.org/en-in
QUOTE: “As internet access continues to grow in India, public-led digital rights advocacy is crucial for ensuring accountability and protection of fundamental rights.”