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.

In this episode of Grassroots Nation, we speak to Dr. Anita Patil-Deshmukh, Executive Director of Partners for Urban Knowledge, Action and Research (PUKAR), whose life and work have been shaped by a deep commitment to dignity, justice, and the democratization of knowledge.

Born into a family of political activists and freedom fighters, Anita grew up listening to conversations on equity and justice alongside her sisters—among them the late actor and feminist Smita Patil. Trained as a doctor at Grant Medical College, Mumbai, she later moved to Chicago, where she spent over 25 years as a faculty neonatologist. Witnessing the profound impact of inequality on public health pushed her to rethink the boundaries of medicine and eventually shift toward social science and community-led research. Since 2005, Anita has led PUKAR, a community-based research collective that places participatory action research with urban youth at the heart of its work on cities, culture, and community. A passionate advocate for the right to health and human dignity, her work explores the social determinants of health, urban poverty, and the importance of knowledge produced by marginalized communities.

Dr. Patil-Deshmukh is in conversation with Natasha Joshi, Chief Strategy Officer at Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. This conversation was recorded in Mumbai.

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