Grassroots Nation

In part 2 of this conversation, Jagdeesh Rao talks about the longstanding collaboration between theorists, researchers, practitioners and the government that has resulted in deepening our understanding of the commons. If you haven’t listened to part 1 yet, we strongly encourage you to do so first! Jagdeesh Rao is in conversation with his colleague Irina Snissar Lobo. This interview was recorded in Goa. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

For more than three decades, Jagdeesh Rao has devoted his life to addressing one of the most complex challenges of our time: the stewardship of the commons: our shared resources and the collective responsibility they demand. A close collaborator of Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom, he is a co-founder of the Foundation for Ecological Security and served as its chief executive for nearly 20 years. The organization is widely recognized for its thoughtful, deeply grounded approach to managing shared natural resources and for reimagining how communities can come together to protect them. In the first of a two-part conversation, Jagdeesh is in conversation with his colleague Irina Snissar Lobo, and they reflect on his early years in rural India, his enduring connection to nature, and the difficult lessons he has learned in working to safeguard both ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

For over three decades, Gagan Sethi has been at the forefront of India’s civil society movement, building institutions, mentoring grassroots leaders, and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. A co-founder of Janvikas, his work has spanned minority rights, Dalit empowerment, gender justice, and community-led governance. Along the way, he has helped shape and nurture several important civil society initiatives, including the Centre for Social Justice, Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan, Sahjeevan, Drishti, and the HID Forum. In this episode, Sethi sits down with his long-time colleague and friend Sushma Iyengar, founder of Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan. In a reflective conversation, they revisit his early life as the child of a family shaped by Partition, his formative years working with rural communities, and the moments that shaped his lifelong commitment to justice and equity. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

In this conversation, Dr Anita Patil-Deshmukh, Executive Director of Partners for Urban Knowledge, Action and Research (PUKAR), speaks with Natasha Joshi, the Chief Strategy Officer at Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies about the journey that led her from medicine to development work. Together, they reflect on her formative years in a family shaped by activism, the early household lessons on equity and justice that influenced her worldview, and the dissonance she experienced when ideals at home did not always match the realities outside it. Dr. Patil-Deshmukh shares how her medical training at Grant Medical College and decades of work as a neonatologist in the United States, along with her public health education at Harvard University, deepened her understanding of health as a matter of dignity and rights. She reflects on her return to India, and how her commitment to addressing urban poverty, social determinants of health, and youth-led knowledge production shaped her leadership of PUKAR. A thoughtful conversation on listening, unlearning, and placing research in the hands of those most often excluded. This conversation was recorded in Mumbai. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

In this conversation, Dr Rajesh Tandon, the founder of PRIA sits down with Nikita Rakhyani to revisit the journey of an organisation born out of a deep belief in people’s power to shape their own futures. Together, they reflect on PRIA’s early days, the ideas and values that defined its mandate, and the conviction that knowledge, democracy, and development must be rooted in participation. Dr Tandon shares why working with people has always been central to PRIA’s work, and how letting communities lead continues to be both a principle and a practice. A thoughtful look back at decades of learning, listening, and collective action. Learn more about PRIA at www.pria.org or on Instagram @pria.india. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

Dr. Rajesh Tandon, founder of Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), reflects on the ideas and experiences that shaped an organisation dedicated to democracy, civil society, and citizen participation. From his early academic journey—from IIT Kanpur and IIM Calcutta to a PhD at Case Western Reserve University—to a pivotal return to India during the Emergency, Dr. Tandon shares how witnessing the gap between institutional thinking and people’s lived realities transformed his approach to development. In conversation with Nikita Rakhyani, who leads New Initiatives at PRIA, this episode explores why meaningful participation, shared power, and letting communities lead remain essential to creating lasting change. Recorded at the PRIA office in New Delhi. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

A chance meeting, political upheaval, finding one’s community, falling in love: each of these has a profound impact on the course of one’s life. In this final episode of our miniseries, we hear from four of India’s most prominent social leaders about some of the early influences that shaped their careers. This is a mini-series from Grassroots Nation that presents some of the key themes that have arisen in our conversations with some of India’s greatest social leaders. Each episode will explore a set of ideas: from watershed moments in India’s history that have left lasting impressions, to reflections on how their personal philosophies took shape and how they see their work contributing to the larger efforts of nation building. This is the final episode in our miniseries, where we present important themes that have arisen in the conversations with the guests of Grassroots Nation. These episodes showcase what shaped their thinking, their relationships, and how small acts form the basis of collective action. Featuring Maya Daruwalla, Aruna Roy, Bunker Roy, Ravi Chopra and Devaki Jain. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

Few will remember that in 1980 the average life span in India was 52 whereas now it’s 82. It is thanks to the ingenuity, presence of mind and advocacy of India’s public health workers that India has made tremendous advances in the space of public health in the past few decades. In this special episode you will hear from three doctors talk about the communities and cases that inspired their ground breaking work. This is a mini-series from Grassroots Nation that presents some of the key themes that have arisen in our conversations with some of India’s greatest social leaders. Each episode will explore a set of ideas: from watershed moments in India’s history that have left lasting impressions, to reflections on how their personal philosophies took shape and how they see their work contributing to the larger efforts of nation building. This is the fifth of six episodes that present important themes that have arisen in the conversations with the guests of Grassroots Nation. These episodes showcase what shaped their thinking, their relationships, and how small acts form the basis of collective action. Featuring Dr. H.D Sudarshan, Dr Armida Fernandes, Dr Abhay Bhang, Mari Marcel Thekaekara and Dr Rukmini Banjerji. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

A lifetime devoted to public service demands a certain kind of mental fortitude--it’s a fundamental requirement to keep up the drive and the belief in the possibility for positive change. In this special episode you will hear some of India’s most inspiring social leaders talk about the spiritual and religious influences to the activities and pastimes that have helped them stay motivated and inspired. This is a mini-series from Grassroots Nation that presents some of the key themes that have arisen in our conversations with some of India’s greatest social leaders. Each episode will explore a set of ideas: from watershed moments in India’s history that have left lasting impressions, to reflections on how their personal philosophies took shape and how they see their work contributing to the larger efforts of nation building. This is the fourth of six episodes that present important themes that have arisen in the conversations with the guests of Grassroots Nation. These episodes showcase what shaped their thinking, their relationships, and how small acts form the basis of collective action. Listen to Dr. H. Sudarshan, Dr AL Fernandes and Professor Madhav Gadgil speak of the spiritual practices and activities that keep them grounded. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

India’s environmental movement is unique because of its deep connection to social justice, indigenous rights, and grassroots activism. Unlike purely conservation-focused movements, many Indian efforts combine scientific inquiry, strong legislation with the protection of livelihoods and local cultures. It is a widely held view that conservation must work in harmony with the needs of local communities. India’s conservation efforts do face huge challenges due to rapid industrialization, infrastructure development, and conflicts with local communities. Scientific and social leadership in conservation has also strongly advocated an approach to ecology, equity, and social justice and this is what sets India’s environmental movement apart globally. In this episode, we hear from some of its stalwarts. Featuring the voices of Professor Madhav Gadgil, Dr Ravi Chopra, Dr Yellappa Reddy, Dr Kamal Bawa. This is a mini series from Grassroots Nation that presents some of the key themes that have arisen in our conversations with some of India’s greatest social leaders. Each episode will explore a set of ideas: from watershed moments in India’s history that have left lasting impressions, to reflections on how their personal philosophies took shape and how they see their work contributing to the larger efforts of nation building. This is the third of six episodes that present important themes that have arisen in the conversations with the guests of Grassroots Nation. These episodes showcase what shaped their thinking, their relationships, and how small acts form the basis of collective action. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

This is a mini series from Grassroots Nation that presents some of the key themes that have arisen in our conversations with some of India’s greatest social leaders. Each episode will explore a set of ideas: from watershed moments in India’s history that have left lasting impressions, to reflections on how their personal philosophies took shape and how they see their work contributing to the larger efforts of nation building. Today, in this second episode, the importance of institution building. Leaders bring with themselves a passion, a determination that translates into action; institutions strengthen these foundations, building for resilience and scale. Many of India’s most significant leaders in the social sector have been architects of systems, instilling them with values and cultures that take isolated efforts and transform them movements capable of addressing complex social challenges over the long term. But it all starts with an idea, a vision, a mission. Featuring the voices of Ashok Khosla, Darshan Shanker, Stan Thekaekara, Maja Daruwala and Bunker Roy. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

This is the first of a mini series from Grassroots Nation that presents some of the key themes that have arisen in our conversations with some of India’s greatest social leaders. Each episode will explore a set of ideas: from watershed moments in India’s history that have left lasting impressions, to reflections on how their personal philosophies took shape and how they see their work contributing to the larger efforts of nation building. In this first episode: we hear first-hand accounts from leaders who witnessed some of India’s most important historical events and moments. From the violent rupture of partition to the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to the Bangladesh War that left a devastating famine and refugee crisis in its wake to the horrific rape of Bhanwari Devi, each of these events left a profound impact on these social leaders and informed the course their life and work took. Featuring the voices of Dr Kamal Bawa, Aloysius Fernandez, Aruna Roy, Ravi Chopra, and Ashok Khosla. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.

Ananthapadmanabhan Guruswamy has been at the helm of many institutions in India. Before earning a B.Tech in electrical engineering from IIT, Chennai, Ananth’s early inspirations and explorations in education led him to teach and be associated with the Krishnamurti Foundation India in Chennai, where he taught at the school for 11 years. He then led Teacher Education at the Azim Premji Foundation, was the CEO of Greenpeace India before becoming Greenpeace International’s International Program Director, and CEO of Amnesty International in India. He subsequently helped set up and grew the Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives as its CEO. In recent years Ananth has worked with and mentored many next generation leaders in the social sector, resulting in newer organizations such as Socratus Foundation and Welive Foundation. All of Ananth’s work has been driven by a deep curiosity in understanding the world we live in, and in finding ways to better humanity by helping others, solving for problems and building communities. In this episode, Ananth is in conversation with his longtime colleague and friend, Divya Raghunandan. This conversation was recorded in Bengaluru.

Dr Abhay and Rani Bang both grew up in families with deep roots in public service. Dr. Abhay Bang’s parents were followers of the Sarvodaya movement and were deeply inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. In fact, he grew up in the Mahatma’s Sevagram ashram in Wardha Maharashtra. Rani Bang, born Rani Chari, was born into a family of politicians and freedom fighters. The couple met at Nagpur University, where they both completed their MBBS medical degrees, and obtained their MDs before getting their Masters in Public Health from John Hopkins University in the United States. The Bangs have always been committed to a life of service. After their studies, they returned to India to work in Gadchiroli, founding SEARCH, the Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health in 1985, where for nearly forty years, they have transformed health care and service. In this episode you will hear about how SEARCH has not only contributed to the community in Gadchiroli but has also contributed to global medical standards of practice and research. Their work on infant and maternal mortality, non-communicable diseases, malaria, women's health and so many other areas of medicine is highly cited and recognised. Through their work they have consistently demonstrated that it is possible to live in rural India and do high impact work, transforming lives on the ground while producing research of the highest level. Their publications and studies have been regularly recognized by international journals like Lancet setting global standards for medical practice. Even the WHO follows the standards prescribed by their work. They have received innumerable awards and commendations, from the Maharashtra Bhushan Award, Stree Shakti Puruskar, the Macarthur Foundation International Award and the Padma Shri in 2018. They have been honored for their service to public health the world over. Abhay and Rani Bang have also been members of various state and national level committees for health and economics. This interview is conducted by Suchitra Shenoy, a non-fiction writer who has worked extensively in the social sector. Additional audio: Landless peasants' struggle for Bhudaan land in Nawada, Bihar 16 August2017 by CPIML LIBERATION CC BY 3.0 Dr. Abhay Bang Leading Prayer by SEARCH for Health तारुण्यभान: लैंगिकतेविषयी न बोलल्या जाणार्‍या प्रश्नांचा उलगडा | Dr. Rani Bang | Sex Education by NIRMAN For Youth

Mari Marcel Thekaekara is a writer and co-founder of ACCORD – the Action for Community Organisation, Rehabilitation and Development. Born into a deeply religious family, Mari was brought up with a Jesuit Catholic education that taught her to question all her beliefs and developed a deep sense of empathy within her. She went on to join several institutes that shaped her passion for social action such as the All India Catholic University Federation, or AICUF, and the International Grail which is a socio-cultural movement grounded in Christian faith. Mari met Stan Thekaekara in 1980, a meeting that shaped the rest of her life. In 1984, Mari and Stan with their young family moved to the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, to work with the tribal communities of Gudalur. Their early work culminated in ACCORD, an organization which today works on multiple aspects of tribal rights and livelihoods. Mari has written extensively on the issues of Dalit and Adivasi human rights for national and international newspapers and magazines such as The Hindu, Frontline, Economic and Political Weekly, New Internationalist and The Guardian. Much of her research over the years has been focused on safai karamcharis, or the manual scavenger communities. In 1999, she published a book ‘Endless Filth.’ Her work has received international acclaim, including a piece she wrote for The Hindu on children of sanitation workers that won the Press Club “best article of the month” award in 2004. At every turning point in her life, Mari Marcel Thekaekara has chosen to lead the way with love and respect for the people around her. In this episode, Mari is in conversation with Dr. Roopa Devadasan, a Public Health expert and school teacher and former colleague. This conversation was recorded at the Bangalore International Centre in Bengaluru. For more information, reach us at www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org Additional Audio Malasar Tribe Promised Land Pattas, but Also Asked to Vacate by NewsClickin CC BY 3.0 Gudalur adivasi to vattakalie by Sivaraj Ravi Gujarat Officials Deny Continuation of Manual Scavenging by VideoVolunteers CC BY 3.0 Outlawed 25 Years Ago, Manual Scavenging Still a Reality in India by VideoVolunteers CC BY 3.0

This is Part 2. We recommend you listen to Part 1 first. Stan Thekaekara is a social activist who has worked with indigenous and Adivasi communities for over forty years. He co-founded ACCORD, or the Action for Community Organisation, Rehabilitation and Development and organisation that helped found the Adivasi Munnetra Sangam (AMS), a membership based tribal organisation with 4000 families as members. Stan is the founder of Just Change, an international cooperative linking producers, investors and consumers in an effort to reimagine a community-based trade and marketing system. Stan has served as a trustee of Oxfam GB and was Visiting Fellow at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Said Business School, Oxford University. This is part 2 of a conversation between Stan and Dr. Roopa Devadasan a Public Health expert and school teacher. This conversation was recorded at the Bangalore International Centre in Bengaluru. ADDITIONAL AUDIO Journey of Adivasi Munnetra Sangam by Adivasis of Gudalur The AMS Thaen Kootam (AMSTK) for the Kattunayakan tribe in Gudalur by Adivasis of Gudalur For more information, please find us at www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org

Stan Thekaekara is a social activist who has worked with indigenous and Adivasi communities for over forty years. Born into a deeply religious family in Bengaluru, Stan found himself grappling with his privilege at a very young age. These feelings, accompanied with his exposure to social action through All India Catholic University Federation, or AICUF, set him on the path to working with marginalised communities. After stints in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, Stan and his young family moved to the Nilgiris in South India, where he was involved with mobilizing the Adivasis of the Gudalur valley to fight for their rights. In 1986 he co-founded ACCORD, or the Action for Community Organisation, Rehabilitation and Development. Through his work in ACCORD, he also helped found the Adivasi Munnetra Sangam (AMS), a membership based tribal organization with 4000 families as members. In all his endeavours, Stan Thekaekara has set out without a larger plan and a belief that the community would find him and shape his purpose. In his life living and working with the Adivasis, he learnt the importance of balancing progress, with cultural preservation. In 2000, he founded Just Change, an international cooperative linking producers, investors and consumers in an effort to reimagine a community-based trade and marketing system. Stan has also served as a trustee of Oxfam GB and was Visiting Fellow at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Said Business School, Oxford University. Stan is married to Mari Marcel Thaekekara, the journalist, writer and co-founder of ACCORD. In this episode, Stan is in conversation with Dr. Roopa Devadasan a Public Health expert and school teacher. This conversation was recorded at the Bangalore International Centre in Bengaluru. This is part one of a two-part episode. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org

Padmashri Dr Darshan Shankar is the Chairman of the Indian Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Managing Trustee of Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) & Founder Vice Chancellor of the Trans-Disciplinary University (TDU) in Bengaluru. Born into a family of modern scientists, Dr. Shankar has always stood for innovation in education from a very young age. While working on problems of development and healthcare, his outlook throughout his career has been one for combining eastern traditional knowledge systems with western science. He began his career in 1973 at the age of 23, at the University of Bombay, where he designed and implemented a postgraduate program based on ‘experiential learning’ that won the Commonwealth Award in 1976. He went on to work on issues of tribal development in forested tribal talukas of Maharashtra for the next twelve years and from 1985 to 1990, Dr. Shankar directed an all India Network of NGOs called Lok Swasthya Parampara Samvardhan Samiti (LSPSS) which is a network of individuals, groups and organizations working to revive indigenous systems of primary healthcare in India. In 1993 he moved to Bengaluru, and co-founded the FRLHT, TDU and a 100-bed healthcare research centre called the Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. For his contributions he’s won several national and international awards, such as the Normal Borlaug Award in 1998 for efforts in conservation of wild populations of medicinal plants, Columbia University’s Award in 2003 for revitalisation of traditional health-care systems in India, and was also conferred with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2011. Today Dr. Shankar is an educator, researcher and inspiration for young people. A pioneer in reimagining formal education systems, he has always advocated for building more multicultural institutional frameworks that can foster creativity and individuality for the people that enter it. In this episode, he is in conversation with A.V. Balasubramanian, a biologist and molecular biophysicist who founded the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems in Chennai, which works on sustainable agriculture. Having shared interests of science and traditional knowledge systems, Balu and Dr. Shankar’s association began in 1986, at a tribal village near Karjat. Additional Audio: Traditional Knowledge Digital Library - A collaborative effort by CSIR and the Ministry of Ayush by Ministry of Ayush I-AIM Healthcare Hospital! by I-AIM Healthcare Our customers recommend us to others for many reasons! | Listen why | I-AIM Healthcare Center by I-AIM Healthcare

Maja Daruwala has been an advocate for human rights and social justice for over four decades. Born in 1945, as the second daughter of Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw, Maja grew up in the cantonments of India, where her early syncretic experiences impressed upon her the fraternal and plural nature of India, then still a young nation. Maja Daruwala went on to study law in England and became a Barrister at Lincoln’s Inn. Her interests have always lain in protecting civil liberties, gender equality and systemic reform. For over twenty years, Ms. Daruwala was the director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, an international NGO that advocates for the protection of human rights across the Commonwealth with a special focus on prison reform. In more recent years she has been the Convenor and the Chief Editor of the India Justice Reports. These reports are the first of their kind - reports that measures the standards of the Indian Justice System - the police and prison systems, the judiciary and legal aid system in India. The report leverages a comprehensive data set to see how the system has shifted - for better or worse - over time. Maja Daruwala is in conversation with Gautam John, a fellow lawyer and CEO of the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. In this free wheeling conversation they discuss Maja’s early inspirations, her work in law, and her important contributions to reforming and improving upon India’s mammoth justice system. Grassroot Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and has been produced by Vaaka Media. For more information, including additional resources please go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org. AUDIO USED: Black July Protest in Downing Street | tgte protest by Lanka Media News The CHRI JOURNEY: IN OUR OWN WORDS | CHRI by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Legal awareness material 'Apnar Legal Aid' A Play on the Right to Legal Aid of Indian Prisoners by CHRI India Justice Report: An Explainer by Tata Trusts

Dr. A.N. Yellappa Reddy is a renowned environmentalist, a former indian forestry services officer and member of the Lok Adalat or Karnataka High Court for environmental project initiatives. Throughout his career, Dr. Reddy has actively championed the conservation of natural forests, water systems and rehabilitation of endangered flora and fauna. Born in the small village of Adugodi to an agriculturist father, Dr. Yellappa grew up with a deep and abiding respect and fascination for nature and science. After earning degrees in Agricultural Sciences from the Coimbatore Agriculture College in 1960, and then a postgraduate degree in Soil Sciences, he dedicated decades to the Indian Forestry Services and also served as an Administrator of Forests. As a key member of the Forest Services research wing he developed innovative eco-restoration technologies and bio-strategies for the restoration of native vegetation in the most degraded areas of the Western Ghats. Dr. Reddy was instrumental in the formation of several important environmental laws, such as the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act of 1976, and the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980. He is well known for his work in reviving the concept of Sacred Gardens or Pavitra Vanas where indigenous knowledge from tribal groups and ayurveda is combined in growing gardens. Dr. Reddy has always advocated for the idea of an ecological economy, one where economic gain occurs through taking ownership of decentralized ecological services. Dr. Reddy retired as the Secretary of the Department of Ecology, Environment and Forests for the Government of Karnataka, and now spends his time as an author, educator, and role model for many young environmentalists. Today he is in conversation with Maya Chandra, a filmmaker and communications specialist who is the founder of Maya Films. This conversation was recorded at his residence in Bengaluru. For more information, go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org