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Shalini Gupta, 55, is a Masters in Economy from the University of Lucknow and a Doctorate in Management from IIM Ahmedabad. She has two daughters, Advika and Gayatri. Gayatri was blessed with neurodiversity called trisomy 21, loosely known as down syndrome. Shalini works extensively in the neurodiverse space, promoting social inclusion and social entrepreneurship. She is one of the founding members of The Art Sanctuary, which is a charitable trust set up in 2019 by trustees from varied fields such as design, music, and the corporate world which works towards skill - upgradation of persons with intellectual challenges so that they can be included in mainstream society.
Shalini believes that raising a neurodiverse child can be a joyous journey and this conversation in itself is the proof of it. It is very heartening to listen to her talk about the various phases of her life along this journey from being a corporate logic driven person to accepting the challenges bought by Gayatri’s condition and taking the less-travelled paths of workshops and pranik healing for her; from being depressive to starting support groups and helping out those in the same boat. Her energy, honesty and positivity are very contagious. I am sure this conversation will leave you in good vibes as it did to me.
Small Big Wins started in middle of 2020. The primary objective has been to talk to people who are not so famous or known but have done exceptional work. Most of these conversations are with people who have done some real solid social good, while also holding up their selflessness. Their wins in their own words. You be the judge, whether Small or Big.
Coming to my latest conversations with Swami Atmananda Saraswati ji, I would first share in a few words my own journey of searching the higher. This started somewhere in 2012, from reading, listening to Osho, then spending months at Isha Foundation Ashram doing everything in the book there, listening to some globally “famous” masters, I ended up at home. Home meaning our own timeless Indian scriptures – Bhagwad Gita, RamCharit Manas, Upanishads, which reveal that, where only a few blessed revel. I learnt about Adi Shankaracharya and his contribution to Sanatan Dharma. Hearing discourses from different masters, once I came across a discourse on “Atma Bodha” by Swami Atmanada Saraswati. When I tried to google him, I could not find anything. Somehow deep down the searches, I found some co-ordinates to reach him. This resulted in increased interactions and my knowledge seeking got a definite direction. If at all, these conversations would be valuable and known, it would be for Swami Atmananda Saraswati.
It is my great fortune to bring “Who is My Charioteer” to the audiences. For someone Small like me this is a Big win! The Part 1 of this series is titled “Fundamental Understanding about Life”. You will find these conversations starting Episode 59. Just search for “Who is My Charioteer” in the title.