Mandala
Learning to Accept
The Difference
beyond what is expected. Numerous people are
learning that their sexual orientation is unique
from others and are unsure about how to handle
it. To support these people, Suramya Life has a
helpline (+91 8090009868) through which it offers
free advice and guidance on their concerns.
The efforts that Anshoo and her NGO are making
are insufficient, and many problems call for
institutional intervention and transformation. This
is because an individual cannot battle against social
discrimination and marginalisation alone. She
says, “To bring about change that is accommodating
of those who are traditionally disadvantaged, a
Anshoo Srivastava creating a secure place for the LGBTQIA+ in the community The majority of people are unaware
that the LGBTQIA+ community is one of society’s most disregarded and marginalised groups. The only occasions we see them at all are when they are begging at the signals or at someone’s wedding for tips, or meeting in certain groups or locations if they are younger. We don’t know about their traumatic experiences, how they manage their sexual identity, stress, or the physical abuse they endure. The founder and director of the non-profit organisation, Suramya Life, Ms. Anshoo Srivastava, had a natural tendency to help those in need by offering counselling and support. She is attempting to improve the mental, emotional, and physical health of the LGBTQIA community through this NGO.
Anshoo claims that disregarding this community is only one issue; the prejudice and mental abuse they experience go above and
significant portion of our mental health activism involves engaging with the government and other commercial institutions and organisations.”
Anshoo is right in saying that raising people’s awareness of the problems faced by a section of our society is the first step towards bringing about change. Because of this, the Social Welfare Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Amity University have implemented awareness and sensitisation campaigns about the LGBTQIA+ community. The goal of the organisation is to give the Indian community a secure place where they can talk about their psychological and emotional problems.Anshoo hosts a number of awareness raising activities in keeping with their aim. They hosted Queer Eve – The Night of a Thousand Rainbows in 2022. Anshoo concludes, “We sincerely think that people can be empowered to overcome their problems if they are provided with sufficient coping mechanisms for stress, rejection, trauma, and failure. An individual who is psychologically healthy is most productive.”
10 LifePositive | JANUARY 2023
The Patron
saint oF Hope Cancer is a great
challenge in
itself, but
looking for a safe place
to stay during the
treatment makes it even
more daunting for the
victim and their family.
Mr Nihal Kaviratne
from Mumbai and
his wife realised this,
especially about people
from rural areas, in an
event he attended. They
felt that they needed to
do something about
it. He says, “I made a
promise that I would
do something to assist
the little ones and their
families.”
A beacon of hope for the cancer stricken families
have won the battle against cancer are able to fulfil their potential. This vertical provides timely assistance to their alumni—referred to as Judians—to complete their education, maintain good health, and lead successful lives, thus becoming a role model for others too.
The couple states that this was possible only because of the support they received from people which includes doctors and their partner hospitals who provided guidance and encouragement at every stage, united by the purpose of helping children survive cancer.
To make a difference, Mr Kaviratne and his wife founded St. Jude India ChildCare Centres in 2006 for children suffering from cancer who did not have a clean place to stay in the city. It initially started in Mumbai with eight children. Gradually, people started seeing their work and asked them to start this initiative elsewhere as well. Today, St. Jude provides quality care to more than 492 children and their families at 39 centres in nine cities in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Vellore, Guwahati, Delhi, and Varanasi.
Mr Kaviratne and his wife launched a new vertical in 2020 to ensure that children who
They thank the Divine and are grateful to their donors, patrons, and well-wishers who have put their faith in them and supported them through the years, making the struggles of the children easier.
The two good Samaritans are happy to have done their best for these young fighters who need a lot of support and hope from society. The children would earlier struggle with their parents for a clean place to stay, but this has changed due to their efforts. They have shown all of us how to reach out to those who need support by providing all fighters with a loving space to make their fight a wee bit easier.
- By Jamuna Rangachari
Mandala 11
Waltzing Through The Winter of Life
becomes easier since the younger ones assist
the older ones in getting the steps.
Line Dancing is done individually:
participants stand in lines and move around
facing different walls depending on the
choreographed routine. There are different
kinds of tempos—waltz, salsa, rhumba, and
so on. Marita says, “The main advantage of
Line Dancing over other styles is that you
don’t require a partner. You learn at your own
pace and are responsible for your own moves.”
Everyone has a good time as she does not
expect them to get the steps right. They are
told that if they make a mistake, they should
tell themselves that they have improved on the
choreography, pat themselves on the back, and Seniors dancing to the tune of lifemove on. Self-expression is encouraged and not
There is a common adage, “Dance like
nobody is watching you.” This saying comes from the thought that most people think they can’t dance and become self conscious when dancing, but Marita Nazareth, a corporate trainer, is altering people’s view with her “Line Dancing for Seniors” programme. We have a large senior population that is expanding year after year. Even though they are no longer leading busy lifestyles, they still have the capacity to give and want to interact with others and be heard. Hence, Marita had the brilliant idea of channelling this energy. “Too little is being done to access the abilities of elders,” she says. “They should be energised, not tranquillised!”
One way to keep seniors energised is to give them an opportunity to dance. Marita began Line Dancing classes for seniors 10 years ago. She now finds that it is much more fun to offer it to all age groups so that the interaction
the uniformity that most dance classes expect. Marita adds, “Dancing keeps one focussed and in the present moment since you have to try and remember the steps; so there is no room for worrying about personal problems! Our students claim it’s the best de-stressor they have during the week.” According to her, learning new movements regularly stimulates one’s grey cells and is a fantastic kind of cerebral workout. It is a great physical exercise that may enhance the motor system and help them gain strength, stamina, and flexibility.
In her capacity as a facilitator of workshops, Marita states, “I would love to offer regular edutainment (education and entertainment combined) sessions on topics like Stress Management, Physical and Emotional Well-being, and Creating an Exciting Future. Life begins at 60!”
Marita gives dance classes at Agatsu Foundation in Bandra.Her email ID is maritaofnazareth@ gmail.com