Alvir Sadhwani

Community Resource Mapping (Jaisamand, Rajasthan)

Born in Singapore and raised in Los Angeles, Alvir Sadhwani first developed an interest in India when his family moved to Calcutta for a year at the age of eight. Since then, he has taken every opportunity available to spend time in India whether the purpose were to visit family, volunteer, study abroad or travel with friends.

Alvir has an obsession with traveling. One of his fondest memories is drawn from an exchange program in Delhi. Every week he had the luxury of opening a map of India, selecting a place, and with no plan in mind he would head out with his tattered, yet trusty backpack. When he actually was in Delhi, Alvir could be found volunteering as English teacher for underprivileged youth. He drew inspiration from one of his students, who despite dire circumstances, had a drive to voluntarily teach younger children in his community.

Alvir has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from U.C San Diego, and plans on attending law school upon completion of his fellowship year.

alvir06@indicorps.net

Anjali Dotson

Rural Women’s Health (Kutch, Gujarat)

Anjali went to college in coastal Maine, where life as a vegetarian was tough. To keep her mind off of the plight of the lobster, she plunged headfirst into starting a women’s Ultimate Frisbee (UF) team and co-chairing the Bowdoin College Judicial Board. These experiences quickly taught Anjali the true value of giving back to one’s community. After graduating in 2004, Anjali moved to Portland, Oregon to work in a biomedical lab studying the cellular mechanisms of psoriasis.

Anjali traveled to India several times as a child and was lucky enough to have a mother whose love for her homeland was contagious. Anjali wants a chance to know India and contribute to its future. Indicorps is the perfect opportunity to combine her enthusiasm for service, interest in health, and desire to connect with her roots.

Things that make Anjali tick: laying out in a UF game, climbing mountains, losing to her brother in Scrabble, taking photographs, eating without utensils, and making people laugh.

anjali06@indicorps.net

Ashish Gupta

Grassroots Development Laboratory II (RJ) (Bagar/Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan)

After spending much of his childhood in his birth city of Mumbai, India, Ashish left India at the age of 13 to live in Australia, and later in the Middle East. He graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Economics. Leaving India during his formative years had a major impact on his identity as an Indian.

After college Ashish worked as a business consultant in technology. Although Ashish immensely enjoyed his time at the firm he was still searching for something where he could make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. At the same time, he was starting to re-connect with his Indian identity through his parents and the tight-knit Indian community in which they live. There was a growing sense that to be proud of who he was, he had to do something about it. Indicorps provided the right conduit.

Whether by chance or fate, Ashish returns to his father’s homeland of Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan to work in the Grassroots Development Laboratory (GDL) for two years. He is excited about working to find innovative grassroots solutions to development in India that are also nationally relevant. He is also looking forward to re-discovering his family’s roots, and his own identity.


ashish06@indicorps.net

Bidisha Bannerjess

Eco-Clubs for Children (Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu)

As a Bengali raised in Kansas, Bidisha Banerjee believes that beauty, integrated ecosystems, and the greater good are inseparable. Introduced in high school to Food Not Bombs and the local organic farming network, Bidisha studied Environmental Justice (and English) at Yale University. After graduation, Bidisha's journalist colleagues challenged her to report on a story about dumpster diving for gourmet food in the Washington, D.C. area.

Through working on this story, Bidisha soon began volunteering at a community-supported organic farm. As her commitment to gardening and food security grew, Bidisha moved to Hawaii with her partner to live and work on an off-grid taro-and-tilapia farm.

During her fellowship year, Bidisha will help establish eco-clubs with the Tamil Nadu Organic Farmers' Movement. After her fellowship year, Bidisha plans to attend Divinity School to engage with Hindu and Buddhist environmentalism.

bidisha06@indicorps.net

Ketki Sheth

Mentor Rural Women Leaders (Pune, Maharashtra)

With a desire to cultivate her sense of civic responsibility and a greater understanding of India on a personal level, Ketki Sheth will be spending her fellowship year promoting rural women leadership in Rajgurunagar, Maharashtra. Throughout her life, Ketki has enjoyed the beauty and strength in women and is looking forward to being a part of a process that will bring out that potential.

Born and raised in California, Ketki graduated in December 2004 from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in economics and psychology. Upon graduation, Ketki joined the Institute for International Economics in Washington D.C. and researched issues such as the global dynamic of famines - most recently in North Korea and China, and the upcoming domestic issues facing the Middle East. Deeply interested in understanding global phenomenon and human behavior, Ketki is excited about learning to contribute effectively to change and community while forging greater connections to her heritage.

ketki06@indicorps.net

Preeti Balakrishnan

Grassroots Development Laboratory II (RJ) (Bagar/Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan)

A semester immersed in her community in Brazil, a summer teaching in Baltimore’s inner-cities and her deep connection to the country of her heritage converge as Preeti Balakrishnan explores educational development in Bagar, Rajasthan. A Tamilian who has never been to northern India, Preeti is particularly excited to learn about this side of India and become a part of a holistic rural development initiative. A native of Boston, Massachusetts and recent graduate of John’s Hopkins University, Preeti has been involved in various community initiatives and is passionate about social justice around the world.

preeti06@indicorps.net

Prem Trivedi

Governance Reform Movement (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh)

A South Asian Studies and Political Science major at Columbia University, Prem Trivedi comes to India with deep interests in governance and collective political action. Last summer as part of an internship, Prem spent a week in Delhi for a crash course on India’s political system. Conversations with Ministers and government officials provided the view from the “top,” which deepened Prem’s interest in how grassroots political activism could catalyze personal and societal transformation. As part of Lok Satta’s election reform campaign called VoteIndia, Prem hopes to be a part of a powerful movement for people’s empowerment and governmental reform.

On a personal note, Prem is improving his Hindi, learning Telugu, and exploring Urdu. An enthusiastic social singer and ever-willing antakshari participant, Prem also hopes to learn Carnatic vocals.

prem06@indicorps.net

Prerna Srivastava

Empowerment through Microfinance (Jagadia, Gujarat)

Even though Prerna Srivastava was only in Sangli for a week, the memory is an unforgettable one - sitting on the side of the road with Vandana and a group of sex workers amidst towering piles of condoms, listening to them speak publicly about the importance of the condom distribution program – in that moment, Prerna felt deeply connected to these women. The experience resonated with Prerna for years afterward in what seemed, at the surface, to be a completely different experience – managing a warehouse operation. By taking the time to understand her warehouse employees as individuals, Prerna raised employee morale, gave them a voice in the development of training programs, and increased overall efficiency.

Similarly, Prerna hopes to view India, the country of her birth, through the lenses of her community, and collectively construct a textured image of their individual dreams, hopes, and potential. Through her Indicorps project, Empowerment through Microfinance, Prerna hopes to effect sustainable change both within herself and the community through a process of mutual humanization and understanding.

prerna06@indicorps.net

Priya Jindal

Governance Reform Movement (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh)

For Priya Jindal, a simple vacation to Egypt became a turning point moment in her life. Witnessing issues of child labor firsthand, Priya made a personal commitment to be a part of change in the world. Having studied Political Science and International Studies at Ohio State University, she will now bring her academic background and her personal passion to India.
Hailing from a family steeped in Vipassana meditation, Priya has a strong inclination to focus on the power and potential within. She also believes that it is each individual’s responsibility to change the world for the better; Priya says that if everyone thinks someone else will do it, nothing will ever change. Priya finally has the chance to do something about governance reform with Vote India, in Hyderabad.

priya06@indicorps.net

Radhika Batra

Grassroots Development Laboratory II (RJ) (Bagar/Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan)

With a B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley, where she gained experience tutoring teenagers through a nonprofit test preparation company, Radhika Batra has a profound desire to be a change maker in the country of her heritage. Before joining Indicorps, Radhika was an AmeriCorps*VISTA member at ACCION USA, a U.S.-based microfinance institution, where she conducted marketing and outreach activities.

Born and raised in Southern California, Radhika has a love for the outdoors, cherishes her family, enjoys international cuisine, and can often be seen sporting Lakers gear (during good seasons).

While in India, Radhika will be working on the Grassroots Development Laboratory, a holistic development project. She aspires to mobilize people to see the value in changing their own reality.

radhika06@indicorps.net

Sarita Vanka

Governance Reform Movement (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh)

One of Sarita Vanka’s favorite memories of India includes a train journey at age seven with her grandfather. A tour of the train’s engine room where the train engineer showed Sarita how each of the mechanical parts worked together helped her understand how the India she saw from the train widows--a place with many different parts and pieces -- came together harmoniously for a common purpose and identity.

With a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarita followed her interest and passion for the political process, and dedicated 9 months to a US presidential primary campaign in New Hampshire. With an additional year of fast-paced experience at the Governor’s office in Illinois, Sarita hopes to apply her knowledge and experience to help shape a national governance reform campaign with Lok Satta’s VoteIndia campaign. Sarita brings with her an enthusiastic spirit and a desire to learn more about a country to which she is forever linked, but only peripherally knows.

sarita06@indicorps.net

Shaila Parikh

Revolutionize the Camel Cart (Ahmedabad, Gujarat)

In returning to her family’s roots in Gujarat, Shaila will devote this year in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to redesigning the camel cart - a vital aspect of livelihood and transport in areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Born and raised in Southern California, Shaila immersed herself in religious and cultural activities throughout her life. Despite this, her understanding of India and her parents remained cursory. Through Indicorps and her project, Shaila hopes to deepen her appreciation for her culture.

Shaila graduated with bachelors degrees in Business Economics and Microbiology from UCLA. After college, Shaila worked for several years as a management consultant and credit analyst in New York. She has a strong interest in practical economics and intends to return to graduate school for her masters in International Affairs when she returns to the US.

Shaila is an avid snowboarder, soccer player and reader.

shaila06@indicorps.net

Sheel Mohnot

Microfinance Marketplace (Various)

Sheel Mohnot comes to Indicorps after spending four years living in Pittsburgh, USA and traveling like crazy for his work as a management consultant. Sheel had been searching for a way to connect with India and at the same time make a meaningful change with his analytic consulting background. He believes that some of the principles of organizational change in the US may apply to development in India. His Indian interest stems from numerous trips to India as well as influences from the Hindu Jain Temple Camp of Pittsburgh.

Partnered with www.kiva.org, Sheel will focus on building the infrastructure to enable individuals to lend to micro-entrepreneurs in India. In his free time (if any) he plans to take some guitar lessons and get better at Hindi reading and writing. He intends to pursue an MBA in the near future with aspirations to promote environmentally and socially conscious business practices.

sheel06@indicorps.net

Sheela Vishwanath

Grassroots Development Laboratory I (KA) (Hubli, Karnataka)

For the last six years, Sheela Vishwanath has been successful in the telecommunications industry, most recently as a Technical Sales Executive in the Global Enterprise division at AT&T (formerly SBC Communications). Sheela attended the University of Missouri and received a degree in Psychology. During college she whole-heartedly immersed herself into projects which included a mentorship program with disadvantaged schools, social research projects, and volunteering at a domestic violence shelter.

Growing up in a small mid-western city, Sheela did not have much exposure to Indian people. However, her fond memories of life in India until age four and her family’s emphasis to never forget her roots, led her to San Francisco in hopes of connecting with an Indian community.

Sheela comes to Indicorps with the aspiration to simply serve. She sees no inherent difference between herself and the millions in India that live in poverty. Sheela hopes to make a difference in the lives of Indians through programs focusing on sustainable education.

sheela06@indicorps.net

Sonal Singhal

Train Alternative Educators (Kutch, Gujarat)

A tried-and-true Midwesterner, Sonal hails from Huber Heights, Ohio. Sonal left Ohio to study biology at Washington University in Saint Louis.
Having last traveled to India at age fourteen, Sonal hopes that her eight year absence will allow her to experience India’s rich culture with new eyes. Importantly, Indicorps enables Sonal to explore India as an agent of change—not just a passive tourist. With her project ‘Training Alternative Educators’, Sonal will explore her passion for education. Sonal spent two summers teaching math with Breakthrough Santa Fe, a program that prepares underserved middle-schoolers to attend college. Breakthrough showed Sonal how learning can enlighten and inspire, thus transforming people, and therefore, communities. Sonal looks forward to exploring the power of education to affect change with her community in Kutch, Gujarat.

During her time here, Sonal will explore and learn about India’s natural beauty. She also hopes to translate her love for the guitar into love for the sitar.

sonal06@indicorps.net

Surya Kalra

Rural Youth Leadership (Rajgurunagar, Maharashtra)

Driven to learn how each of us can mobilize to change our own reality, Surya has partnered with Chaitanya in Rajgurunagar, Maharashtra to work alongside college students in community development initiatives. As an undergraduate at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Surya had opportunities to travel to India and Nicaragua where she was inspired by young people’s abilities, from adolescent girls in Bihar, India to high school students in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua, to be leaders, teachers, and catalysts for social change in their communities. She returns to India with urgency and excitement as she believes the grassroots sector in this country has much to teach her about organizing for lasting change. She firmly believes that the way we live our lives is a political and spiritual act, and that we can all become our own role models.

surya06@indicorps.net

Tanya Sehgal

Foster Learning Communities (Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh)

A recent graduate of Brown University with a B.A. in International Political Economy and Development, Tanya has always been interested in all things relating to India and/or politics. At Brown, she conducted a research fellowship on the impact of Bollywood on American cinema, and was heavily involved in the attempt of the South Asian Students’ Association to add a political and educational component to its organization. She also interned with the Indian American Center for Political Awareness where she had the opportunity to work with Representative James Langevin (D-RI).

Having had virtually no exposure to India as a child, Tanya’s semester abroad at the University of Hyderabad left her feeling jolted by India’s bright dynamism—a stark contrast to the stale hues that had painted her childhood in suburban New Jersey. It was then that she resolved to combine her interests and return to India hoping to move from observing its vitality to participating in its evolution.

tanya06@indicorps.net