IPL #12 How can you drive change?
Guiding philosophies on social change
Great changemakers redefine society’s path with their vision and action. Imagine gaining insights into their philosophies and experiences—perspectives that could inspire you to shape your own journey and contribute meaningfully as a responsible citizen.
🎙 Podcast of the Week: Grassroots Nation
A podcast about India’s journey of transformation
🧁Why We Picked This Podcast
It’s not very often that you get a chance to sit in a room with people who will trade a comfortable life to serve the nation and more so work with the people and causes that impact the bottom of the pyramid. So when we came across the podcast Grassroots Nation, to get a peep into India’s story of transformation, we were overwhelmed with gratitude towards the people who have devoted their life, and long careers towards brining social change. From agriculture to micro finance, from prison reform to livelihoods - this podcasts deep dives into the life, work and guiding philosophies of some of the country’s true architects of social change.
We like that with immersive storytelling, traditional Indian music, and deeply personal narratives, each episode unpacks the philosophies that drive these changemakers. The easy-flowing conversations, crafted by the Rohini Nilekani Foundation, make complex issues feel personal, urgent, and hopeful.
🔥Why You Should Listen
If you are someone seeking a better understanding of how you can contribute to positive change, you should listen to the "Grassroots Nation" podcast because it offers a unique opportunity to deep dive into the lives, work, and guiding philosophies of some of India’s great leaders of social change. The podcast series aims to provide listeners with a chance to revisit watershed moments in India’s past through the eyes of these social architects and understand how these moments acted as catalysts for their life’s calling.
The variety of featured individuals, such as Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang, Mari Thekaekara, and Stan Thekaekara , and others listed with their areas of focus like traditional knowledge (Dr. Darshan Shankar), the justice system (Maja Daruwala), and rural credit (Vijay Mahajan) , provides you a broad exploration of different paths and motivations within the Indian social sector that as a responsible citizen you should be aware of.
The podcast is perfect for you if you are curious about the motivations and journeys of impactful leaders and enjoy personal narratives and in-depth conversations. It is a must listen for practitioners, students, and professionals working in the non-profit sector, social enterprises, and related fields
🎧 Dive Into These 3 Episodes First
1. Episode 20 featuring Mari Thekaekara, writer and co-founder of ACCORD, is in conversation with Dr. Roopa Devadasan, discussing her life's journey in social action, work with tribal communities in Gudalur, and focus on Dalit and Adivasi rights. The conversation explores the influences that shaped her thinking from her student days to her impactful work with marginalized communities
"We never wanted to build and build and build, and become huge and start an empire like a lot of NGOs do. And we said, “That’s one thing we’re never going to do…”
Listen on: Spotify | Apple
2. Episode 11 featuring Prof Madhav Gadgil, a renowned ecologist, in conversation with Professor Gurudas Nulkar, discussing his extensive research in the Western Ghats and his ecological perspectives. The episode touches on his early influences, academic journey, and his work on environmental policy and conservation.
“So not only did I become very fascinated by the birds and beasts and the forests, but also by the people and their culture, which is, I believe, an unusual combination."
Listen on: Spotify | Apple
3. Episode 15 featuring Vijay Mahajan, CEO of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and founder of PRADAN and BASIX, in conversation with Preeti Sahai, exploring his journey in establishing impactful livelihoods and social enterprise groups11 .... The discussion covers his early inspirations, the evolution of his work with the rural poor, and his efforts in the microfinance sector
“If I am into this bug about improving effectiveness, then the entity whose effectiveness I should improve is not some poor NGOs who are already doing their best in some ways, but the Sarkaar.”
💛 Listener Love & Community Corner
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