INSPIRING ELSAS

Padma Yangchan - ELSA, based in Leh was recently awarded the Nari Shakthi Puruskar by President Kovind for her stellar work in reviving the lost cuisines and weaving techniques of Ladakh. Padma has a designer brand called Namza , and runs a design studio and a café based on sustainable agriculture with a personal kitchen garden of fresh kitchen produce in the café itself.

Justice Gita Mittal - Justice Mittal is an ELSA who is the first Indian judge to receive the Arline Pacht Global Vision Award. The award is presented to a woman judge, to recognize her contributions to the IAWJ's goals which encompass promoting & protecting the human rights, promoting & empowering women judges who can help uproot gender bias, end discriminatory laws, advance gender- responsive courts and ensure access to justice. Justice Mittal is currently the chairperson of the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council and a member of many NGOs.

Dr Meenakshi Gopinath - She needs no introduction to most of us...MG, as she is fondly known, is the Founder and Director WISCOMP, an initiative begun in 1999 to promote the leadership of South Asian women in the areas of international politics, peace, security and diplomacy. In addition to her work on education, her research and publications also focus on issues of security, peace building, gender and politics. Her work in the area of enhancing excellence and equity in education spans over three decades. In recognition of her contribution to the field of women’s education and empowerment, she has received several awards including the Padma Sri Award, Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi Award, Rajiv Gandhi Award for Excellence in Education, Mahila Shiromani Award, Delhi Citizen Forum Award and many others. She was the Principal of our alma mater for many transformative years

INDEPENDENT PHOTOGRAPHER PORTRAIT AWARD TO SUJATA SETIA

The searingly stunning portrait by London based ELSA Sujata Setia won the Independent Photographer Portrait Award.
In the words of the judge, and an iconic photographer, Dan Winters Photography ~ "First and foremost, a breathtaking photograph.

This haunting image is a formal masterpiece. The context provided by the caption shifts our perception and gives us a more complex understanding of the subject. The photographer elegantly navigates a heart-wrenching situation with reverence and dignity". To know more click this link: https://bit.ly/ELSAlink1

EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD TO ANISHA JOHRI

Nanighar, in association with Rojkar Ananya, felicitated ELSA Kolkata Anisha Johri and her partner with the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Anisha and Ritu are celebrating 25 years of their partnership as corporate interior designers and 20 years as manufacturers of modular furniture. They are the only women entrepreneurs in modular manufacturing in East India. Hats off!

SMITA SAHA RAN A HEARING AID CAMP FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED

On March 3, World Hearing Day, C.C.Saha Ltd., under the direction of Kolkata ELSA Smita Saha, invited senior audiologists from Resound and Cochlear, multinational companies providing state-of-the-art hearing solutions worldwide. These audiologists interacted with patients of every age group, gender and economic class. They evaluated the extent of the impairment, performed audiometry tests, corrected the issues they were facing with their existing devices, and counseled them regarding the most suitable and advanced hearing aids, cochlear implants or speech rehabilitation protocols.

SAKSHI VERMA RELEASES HER BOOK- RAISING CAPABLE CHILDREN

ELSA Sakshi Verma, based in Kazakhstan, has been a prolific writer on parenting and children. Her book Raising Capable Children is now out and shared on many platforms including The Sikh Chamber: https://bit.ly/3i8tSJe.

Many of us are readers of her blog: https://tripleamommy.com/ where she writes prolifically on issues close to our hearts such as parenting a special child, the impact of the digital divide on women and more. Kudos, Sakshi!

A TIME FOR EBBY- BOOK BY BANGALORE ELSA POILE SENGUPTA

Ebby, the daughter of the eighth Father Ebon, is adept at a lot of things. But she wishes she could put an end to her father’s sadness and wonders how she could help. Until one day, she stumbles upon a treasure! Could it lift Father Ebon out of his gloom? Poile Sengupta narrates this fascinating story with emotion, enthusiasm, and a dash of drama.

A recent review said, “I am 80+ and would continue to read this book whenever I feel low”

Visit Amazon to get your copy of this wonderful read.

MANISHA SINHA - THE SLAVE'S CAUSE: EDITOR'S CHOICE

US-based ELSA Manisha Sinha is a renowned historian, currently serving as the Draper Chair in American History at the University of Connecticut. A talented award-winning author, her recent book, The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition was featured as the editor’s choice in The New York Times Book Review, and was one of three great History books in Bloomberg News. In honor of Women’s History Month, she shares a day in her life as a historian, why history excites her and three women in history she admires! Read on here...

BOOKS BEING READ AND DISCUSSED BY ELSA BOOK CLUBS

ELSA INSPIRE

We bring experts on various topics of professional interest to alumni and students.

Mark your calendar for the first in this series on
Saturday, March 19th, 4-5 pm.

In partnership with FICCI FLO's Greater 50, ElsaInspire brings Adwaita Nayar of NYKAA Fashions to share lessons learnt during her journey - moderated by our Chennai ELSA Sucharita Mukherjee - herself an entrepreneur of repute as the co-founder of Fintech Kaleidofin. We will also have 2 students from the LSR Entrepreneurship Cell on this Fireside Chat for some immersive learning.

Register: https://bit.ly/3MkS60m

Watch out for more in the same Series-
• Financial Planning
• What it takes to succeed in Media

If any of you have topics you would like to see covered, please email ec@lsralumna.org

THE FIRST DRAFT

On: Sunday, March 20th, 4 pm

Bangalore EC presents ELSA Kavitha Iyer, from the batch of 2000, speak of her experience as a journalist and editor for over 21 years, spending most of her career writing about Indians on the margins -slum dwellers, landless labourers, small farmers, indigenous communities & women

Her first book Landscapes Of Loss: The Story of an Indian Drought, published in 2021 by HarperCollins, won the TataLiteratureLive Best First Book 2021 award in the non-fiction category. Curated by Priti David

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://bit.ly/ELSA_EVENT1

Join us live on Youtube -
https://bit.ly/ELSAblrYT

We' would love to hear from you! Talk to us:
ec@lsralumna.org

ELSA RISING

Here is the link to the ELSARising event for those who missed it:
https://youtu.be/PhSBm4YaGKg

ELSA Rising 2022- An ELSA Advocacy event, in partnership with OneBillionRising, to eradicate violence against women and others.

Full credit to all of you who came and stayed till the end! Thanks to all of the ELSAs who made the movement of OBR so much stronger by lending their voice to it and all the other stalwarts. We also express our gratitude to the Himalayan Queer Foundation.

It was so nice to have a tribute to Kamala Di paid by Dr Meenakshi Gopinath , and also a very special rendering of a few Faiz lines by Bulbul’s artistic mother!

"What is a show without an audience and heartfelt thanks to all of you who made your appreciation felt even in this zoom space with virtual clapping and foot-stomping and calls for encores!"

ELSA BANGALORE CHAPTER

LSA Bangalore Chapter had a wonderful mellifluous Holi Baithak with the Nightingales from Bangalore - Chandrima Sanyal and Malvika Natrajan singing their way into the hearts of the ~ 80 enthralled audience, accompanied by the frequent birdsong in the garden of the gracious host - another ELSA Sarita Bakshi!

The impromptu guitar playing and singing by visiting ELSA Vandana Kohli, Suchitra Padmanabhan, Chandrima Pareekh & our 'chhhupa rustom' Tanya Mitra was the icing on the cake! To more such events full of joy and camaraderie! Hats off to the impec

ELSA CANADA

Notes from Anu Vijh, co-founder of LSR Alumni in Canada: 25 ELSA’s across the greater Toronto area kicked off their 2022 activities on International Women's day, over a virtual meeting where they outlined the plan /schedule of meet ups for the group for the upcoming year. They also invited Anju Virmani, a DU grad & one of the top 100 women in Canada for a fireside chat with ELSA Anubha Mehta, Anju kept the group rapt as she shared her personal life story of resilience!