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Grassroots Nation, is a series in which we deep dive into the life, work and guiding philosophies of some of the country’s most great leaders of social change.

The podcast is co-produced by Vaaka Media.

Part personal narrative, part oral history, each episode gives you, the listener, a chance to revisit watershed moments in India’s past through the eyes of the country’s social architects and find out how they were the catalyst for their life’s calling.

Latest E-25

Gagan Sethi: Bravery is Contagious

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.

Subscribe to Grassroots Nation: Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Breaking Walls & Building Bridges: Dr Anita Patil-Deshmukh

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Mini Series - 07

No Observers, Only Participants

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E-23

Courage will Follow if One’s Goal is Clear: Dr Rajesh Tandon

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Where It All Began: Early Influences That Shaped India’s Social Leaders

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Mini Series - 05

In Sickness and In Health : India’s Public Health Story

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Mini Series - 04

Staying Grounded : The Spiritual Practices of Social Leaders

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