The Indian Standard | MAR 2021

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BY JANANI

SILENTGURU Perspective on transformation and how his faith is his identity

NIVITA SRIRAM On loss, grief, youth and how her mental health journey has ever-evolved

CARESPACES

Conscientious Artists Rallying for Ethical Spaces in the Indian Arts: a home that prioritizes healing.

SOORAJ SAXENA On self-love, introspection and how he transformed his life over the years

NAIEM REZA

On bridging music & mental health; how he influenced change in his community

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 07

10

Theme Explanation

Radiance By Janani

A Reflection by Nivita Sriram

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33

43

CAREspaces

An Interview with Shivani P

Energy by SilentGuru

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55

62

An Interview with Sooraj Saxena

An Interview with Naiem Reza

Special Thanks

03

THEME

EXPLANATION

ENERGY

we are all connected. the way we interact with each other is vital and telling - no matter how you perceive the world, one fact remains that we contain and give off energy. when we interact with others, in subliminal messages we can convey our true feelings and that identification is just as important as knowing someone's name. the importance of healing yourself first is indescribable since we have the ability to affect everything and everyone, just by being yourself. heal, nurture, and cherish this life. we all are connected and that energy that we create when we come together, vibrates profoundly throughout the world.

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pg 3

TRIGGER

WARNING

&

DISCLAIMER

This magazine may contain detailed information regarding anxiety, depression and suicide. Please read with caution.

The interviews, stories and entries in this magazine are included with the approval of the respective creators. All correspondence and interaction occurred prior to the publication of this issue.

CAREspaces Statement and Disclaimer: Statement of Support: If you are feeling at risk of harm or like ending your life and are in the U.S., please call the suicide hotline at 800-2738255. If you feel like you need more emotional support from members of the community, CAREspaces is a non-profit providing free peer support from members of our community. Feel free to click here to sign up for a session."

Disclaimer: The information available on and through and discussed in this magazine are presented in summary form and based on experiences as a supplement to, and NOT a substitute for, the knowledge, skill and judgment of qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, lawyers, and health care professionals

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M Icreation ND

pg 5

THEME

EXPLANATION

ENERGY

creation

our thoughts become our reality. when we sit in our mind, we can start to imagine how we want to live our life. our thoughts become our reality. just truly understanding that sentence is key because the confidence and intuition knowing that your mind creates our reality can be life changing. it is a wide concept to stay positive for this reason. it is vital to only think thoughts that are uplifting and kind, but at the same time, allow yourself to feel your emotions in a healthy manner. your thoughts create your reality. we are a creation and we ourselves, can create.

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RADIANCE by janani

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pg 8

my heart trembles at the sight of a mirror. i feel the cold air rushing through my body as i walk up to the bathroom. fear. anger. disgust. i feel the emotions creep to my head and my body fills with heat. sadness. grief. pain. i open my eyes and finally look. my own face staring back at me; i see it how it is. the fear melts as if the sun finally touches the snow. that debris that lived so long was only in my mind. the sadness that filled my heart melted with ease and it left a face that was just looking back. for the first time, i felt the sun when i saw myself.

pg 9

a reflection by

NIVITA SRIRAM

pg 10

pg 11

I didn’t know I was depressed at 16. At 16, I didn’t know that feeling lonely, misunderstood, unheard, and experiencing sudden loss could lead me feeling as ‘low’ as I did. Now, I recognize how 16 year old me felt in the moment - I was angry with the world, and I constantly felt rejected and neglected by those around me. I felt that the universe always dealt me the wrong cards. What I didn’t know was that it wasn’t my fault.

As it was for many people, high school for me was absolute hell after my freshman year. My first year of high school was amazing. It was everything that I had expected. A large friend group, football games, school dances, constantly hanging out with people I loved being around. But that quickly changed. I lost everything, to some classic, (I will now say) stupid, unnecessary - yet very, very harmful, high school drama. I felt alone. I was lonely, and had no one to turn to. I didn’t have any friends at the high school I went to. I felt embarrassed, hopeless, negative, and confused. Day in and day out, all I could wait for was for June 2014 when I would graduate from high school and move on to college. To start fresh. To make friends that actually had my back. Grow and learn from my mistakes. Figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Heal from the last four years of my life - years that I didn’t realize at the time, would shape me into the woman I am today, the one writing this for The Indian Standard.

Entering high school, I was quite happy, optimistic, slightly naive, and had joy for life. I was so excited to grow older and have “the best four years of my life” as we’re taught to believe.

Middle school wasn’t the best either, but I still trusted people. I let people into my corner maybe a little too much. I wanted to be everyone’s friend, and maybe came off a little desperate to those who didn’t want to reciprocate. But I pushed on, and didn’t let the rejection bother me - at least in the beginning.

pg 12

My ‘lows’ started the beginning of my sophomore year. I was the one to answer the phone call that every family fears. My paternal grandfather passed away, and it was the first time my parents and I dealt with this deep grief together, away from family. We had lost the patriarchal figure of the family from my dad’s side. I didn’t have any friends who had dealt with loss or could truly understand how I felt. I was unsure how to go about life. I wanted to enjoy my high school years, but felt guilty doing so. Naturally, my father was dealing with his grief and so was my mother. At that age, I didn’t know how to be there for my parents when I myself was still comprehending what it means to lose someone. As a child of immigrants, I was constantly living in two worlds - and that ripped me apart.

Within 9 months, I lost my maternal grandfather because of a bus accident. To this day, I haven’t properly healed from losing my grandfather (who has always felt like a second father to me) in such a sudden, horrific way. I’m not sure when I will. As I reflect while writing this, I can understand the emotions 16 year old me was experiencing. I was angry, hurt, confused, sad, vulnerable, and most of all - I felt lonely.

I have never felt as lonely as I did from that point on for the next two to three years. I was angry - angry that my family and I had prayed continuously for days that my grandfather would recover. I was furious at how someone could be so careless while driving a truck that collided with the bus that my grandfather was in. I was sad - sad that I could never hear my grandfather’s loud, distinctive voice that would fill me up with joy. I was sad that I could never hear his booming laughter while my cousin and I would sit with him on a wooden swing as he told us stories. I was sad that I couldn’t explore Chennai with him anymore and see India through his eyes. I was sad that I couldn’t hear his praise, his encouragement, and learn from his cheerful attitude. I’m sad that he isn’t here to see who I’ve become today.

I think grief at any amount is traumatizing. The way that grief impacts us is often unrecognizable until years later. After years of coping with this loss, I’ve finally come to terms with why it’s been difficult for me to move on from my grandfather’s passing. My grandfather was the one who made me feel so connected and at home in India - where my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and ancestors were born. As a second generation American kid, I always felt my grandfather was the anchor bringing me back to my roots. When he passed, I had lost that. I lost a sense of connection and belonging.

I didn’t have peers whom I trusted to open up to - let alone other friends my age who had experienced something similar. My grades slipped, I had no interest in anything. Maybe I wasn’t only grieving the loss of my grandfathers. I was grieving the fact that high school really wasn’t as I thought it would be. I was grieving close friends I had lost for reasons beyond my control. I was grieving that I didn’t belong; too “white-washed” for the Indians I knew, too “different” for kids at my school. At 25, I don’t blame them. But, I do wish that people heard all sides - and gave others a genuine chance. I wish the high school environment was more gentle towards students - and that students were more gentle towards each other. I wish teachers took a chance on their students and cared for them, the way they claimed they did. I wish teenagers weren’t feeling pressure from every angle, and had the resources and support to deal with their struggles.

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pg 15

I remember going through the days like a checklist, trying to just get things done. I would go to school, only looking forward to the bell ringing to go home. Once I was home, it was a different battle. My dad was still comprehending losing my paternal grandfather - and now, trying to support my mother who had lost her father in an extremely difficult way. My mom was trying to cope with her grief while supporting my father - all while being my pillar of support and strength during the perilous times of high school. And then there was me, trying to comprehend everything, while making sure I did well in school and extracurriculars, while also trying to be there emotionally for my parents, and myself. As an only child, I felt that I had to be the strong one for my parents, and myself. I became numb. I stopped turning to others for support. Up went the walls, the inability to let others in. I remember making a switch in my brain - time to lean on yourself, and yourself only. No one in the world has your back like you do.

My parents offered many, many times the option of transferring to the nearby high school where I had made friends towards the end of my sophomore year. Repeatedly, I refused. Sometimes, I wish I had transferred to spare myself from the emotions I went through despising every minute of every day. I think this is where my personality developed - stubborn, a slight attitude, and wanting to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. As I’ve gotten older I’ve had my own parents, friends, and co-workers tell me I’m stubborn, have walls up, am closed off, or that I’m hard-headed. But wouldn’t you be, too? In my head, transferring to a different school was synonymous to letting others know they had won, and that I was weak. My worst nightmare.

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Until recent years, I never thought deeply about why I had become guarded. At sixteen, I felt that everyone close to me had either left me, betrayed me, or turned their back on me. The world was not a friendly place. I didn’t feel the support I needed from anyone except myself, and my mom. All these years, I truly believed that showing emotions openly was a sign of weakness. People who showed affection or emotion made me uncomfortable. People who received this love and affection from others made me jealous. Why didn’t I receive this type of love from people? What was I doing wrong? What did I do to people, to distance themselves from me? Well, to receive love, you have to give love. And learning how to give love after being hurt has been quite the journey.

I was the happiest the day of graduation. I remember coming home after the graduation ceremony so excited, relieved - almost elated - that this phase of my life was over. I left high school not trusting people, closed off, with the highest concrete walls up. Finally, after years, I felt optimistic. The next 4 years were amazing - I truly, genuinely had the best college experience. I met my wonderful, loving boyfriend and made life-long friends.

But, it wasn’t because the universe had suddenly dealt me the right cards. It was because I made it happen. I was lonely during high school, but I learned to be comfortable with solitude - something I think everyone can benefit from. There does come a sense of discomfort with ruminating in your own thoughts, but you learn to block everyone else’s opinions and voices out.

I allowed myself to heal, to grow, to recover, and to move on. I learned what I needed to do for myself to keep myself happy. I constantly told myself that my grandfathers would want me to be affectionate, caring, thoughtful and trustworthy. And most importantly, I let people in. I let people see my weaknesses, my vulnerabilities, my deep, deep sh*t. I learned to trust people again, and it has been the most freeing feeling.

This last year, I’ve been more intentional about showing affection to those close to me. I’ve been thinking about the impact that those 4 years had on the person I am today, and I think parts of me have gotten softer, more gentle with the world, and myself. Being alone somehow made me more comfortable in my own skin - what did I have to lose, anyways? I’ve learned to give others second, third, maybe even fourth chances. That’s all I wanted at 16- another chance. I’ve learned to be unapologetically me - a confident, assertive brown woman in the United States who is often seen as someone with an “attitude”, and that’s okay. I’ve learned that there’s always room for growth. I recognize now that my inability to trust others made me closed off - or made me appear cold, and emotionally unavailable. What I’ve learned over time, is to slowly let that side of me go. If I’m not affectionate towards those around me, how can I expect them to give me the love that I so badly wanted? How would I become more confident, secure and sure of myself if I didn’t work on my flaws, too?

Working on yourself isn’t easy. It’s hard. It takes time, introspection, reflection, and a lot of forgiveness towards yourself, and others. The last 10 years were a difficult, tiring journey. Without the support of my parents and boyfriend, I wouldn’t have the confidence and self-conviction I have today. Believe it or not, some of the same close friends I had during my first year of high school are some of my closest friends now. The friendships have flourished only because we all did our part in healing, recovering, forgiving, and moving on. Keep the friends that genuinely care about you - and let them in. The more vulnerable I am with my friends, the more supported I feel - which is something I wish I knew eight years ago. We’re human- we crave to belong in our world, our social groups, our communities, our professional worlds. What I didn’t realize until recently, was that I have the control to remove myself from spaces that make me feel unwelcome, unwanted, ignored, and unheard. Forcing myself to stay in these environments deeply impacted my mental health in the past - and I noticed it happening again after college in the professional world. So I took matters into my own hands, as we do when we grow.

pg 17

I think we undermine the impact our work lives have on our mental health. My mental health severely declined in 2020 due to family stresses, but also due to toxic work environments I found myself in early in the year. In June of 2020, I began freelancing in the digital marketing and social media space. The opportunity sort of fell in my lap, and I ran with it. I now work with a team of WOC freelancers and it has been the most liberating feeling I have experienced. Working with people who acknowledge me and my struggles, while pushing me to grow professionally and personally has significantly reduced any self doubt, imposter syndrome, and anxiety I had. I didn’t realize how empowering (as cliché as it sounds) it can be to work with people who listen to you, who value your work, who wholeheartedly support you. But again, this opportunity would not have happened - or be going so well - without the difficult situations I had been in previously.

Freelancing has opened numerous doors for me, including writing for The Indian Standard. It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone many, many times. But if I hadn’t experienced solitude and relying on myself for motivation, I wouldn’t be in the creative space. If I hadn’t gone through those hell-ish 4 years of high school, I wouldn’t be writing this piece for The Indian Standard. I wouldn’t be working to give underrepresented brands and businesses the support to make their voices heard. I wouldn’t be paving my own path to (hopefully) educate others on our diverse, and always changing world. I wouldn’t be writing to bridge my worlds between the US and India, while attempting to raise awareness to the second generation Immigrant experience. And I wouldn’t be confident that I could do it regardless of the judgement and lack of support, just like I was stubborn and confident enough that I would get through high school, and finish off my four years strong, without experiencing the discomfort of being alone.

I think sixteen year old me would be proud. I think she’d admire that I’ve become exactly who I wanted to be when I was in high school, confident - and heard. Sixteen year old me wanted nothing more than to have friends, to be respected, and most of all - to be loved. Twenty-five year old me feels all of that, and much, much more. I feel blessed beyond belief. I feel that I belong, and I feel I’ve finally found my place in the world. I feel happysomething I didn’t think I would feel to this extent when I was sixteen.

Mental health is a journey, and will continue to be for the rest of my life. However, I’m confident that I can handle whatever life throws at me. I mean, what could be worse than what I went through ten years ago? I don’t know, but it’s okay. That’s life, and unfortunately - or fortunately - a lot of life is out of our control. What we can control, is how we view and treat ourselves, others, and our world. I’ve become kinder to myself and the world not everything will go my way, and that’s expected. But I hope that if anything, after reading this, you give yourself another chance- and give others a chance, to try again. I hope you give love, and receive the love that you deserve. I hope you support others, even when you feel that your life isn’t going the way you wanted. I hope you speak up for yourself, but also give a voice to the unheard. I hope you create spaces for you to belong in, while also building a world for others to feel welcomed, supported and understood. I hope you work towards becoming the person that sixteen year old you wanted to be. I hope you become the person that sixteen year old you wanted to be.

pg 18

CAREspaces Conscientious Artists Rallying for Ethical Spaces in the Indian Arts

pg 19

COMMUNITY HEALING

S P H E R E S

O F

S U P P O R T

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CAREspaces is a referral service, 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization of like-minded individuals who are building the first “safe & brave space” for members of the Indian Arts community. When the #metoo movement rippled through India about 2 years ago, members of this community shared experiences of sexual and nonsexual misconduct in Indian creative workspaces, and cried for help to a shockingly unresponsive, largely confused community.

These acts of misconduct ranged from lewd comments to r*pe, & uncomfortable conversations to financial harassment. Individuals who endured such misconduct in silence did not have a platform to be heard, heal, or solution such complex issues.

The rich tradition of the art form coupled with misused power dynamics & tangled intersectional issues, reinforced the stigma around sexual/nonsexual misconduct, which suppressed the voices of both survivors & concerned members who tried to rally for accountability & safety within these spaces. Members of this community often operate in workspaces that are severely undefined & lack accountability, a code of conduct, and formalized procedures. This leaves members questioning if certain behaviors are customary practices as a result of fostering creativity in informal spaces, or if they are truly detrimental behaviors that need to be addressed.

CAREspaces is home to a volunteer team of passionate artists & multi-disciplinary professionals who merge their professional expertise with their experiences in the Indian Arts space to build the nuanced, systemic change this community desperately needs. This team creates and shares tools to prioritize healing, enforce accountability, and promote learning in the Indian arts community through a layered model that puts every individual of this space at the center of the experience of recovery and support.

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SPHERE 1 T H E

I N D I A N

A R T S

C O M M U N I T Y

Reflection to Recovery

R E F L E C T I O N

Although our Indian Arts community is strengthened by the passion it shares for the arts, CAREspaces has used the events in the #metoo movement to REFLECT on the weaknesses within this Indian arts space.

We lacked the infrastructure and vocabulary to process and respond effectively to the systemic problems within the community. This made it difficult to prioritize survivors' healing.

Systemic weaknesses in our community are normalized without repercussion or accountability when we are reacting on a case-by-case basis rather than finding long term preventative measures.

Organizations that have visibility did not prioritize the safety of survivors and available reporting services lacked transparency.

The community assumes that superior talent implies superior morality.

Members do not question a system when they aren’t directly affected.

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R E C O V E R Y

The various actors that are involved in this community deeply affect the experiences that an individual may have.

There are many types of INTERACTIONS between STAKEHOLDERS that are characteristic of our community.

Members of the Indian arts are constantly interacting and collaborating with one another in various spaces and capacities.

Every CAREspaces thought process begins with our "STAKEHOLDER APPROACH," which acknowledges the various roles of members in our space, and how those roles shape our interactions with one another.

Artistes co-artistes Rasikas/connoisseur Organizers Artiste hosts Parents Students Teachers Supporting Members - photographers, videographers & technical support We believe that a foundation of empathy, active listening, and professional conduct between members, can begin to mitigate instances of misconduct and support the overall well-being of the Indian Arts community.

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SPHERE 2 C A R E S P A C E S '

T O O L S

&

S E R V I C E S

Healing, Learning, & Accountability

"You're not alone" H E A L I N G

Our upcoming peer support service will hold space for individuals to receive support on a 1:1 basis, from those who have the socio-cultural context to be able to provide culturally-sensitive support to promote an individual’s healing and growth.

How: Our peer support providers (CAREleaders) are trained through a comprehensive and interactive curriculum that covers the Indian arts space, active listening and accurate empathy, referrals to resources, and intersectional variables. We strive to mitigate any conflicts of interest and maintain privacy on all fronts.

"Experiences & conversations are meaningful teachers"

LEARNING

The education team encourages learning from shared experiences and honest conversations while providing members of our space the vocabulary to convey such experiences in productive and actionable ways.

How: We aim to articulate and contextualize facets of our Indian Arts space while drawing attention to the various interactions between members of our community.

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"In a space where there is systemic misconduct, we want to enable systemic change."

- CAREspaces

"Accountability breeds response-ability."

A C C O U N T A B I L I T Y

Our legal team will work with our community to uphold integrity, ask tough questions, & promote an ethical, formal, and professional foundation for our creative community.

How: Our upcoming legal services will manage interactions between stakeholders, refer members to tangible, tailored resources, and will hold CAREspaces just as accountable as any other organization or individual in our space. Look out for new services and products launching soon.

"You have the power of choice" R E S O U R C E S

CAREspaces believes that a big part of healing is the power of choice. To extend that power to every individual of our community, our team is working on building a nuanced directory of culturally relevant legal, mental health, learning, and general community resources to share with our community. The CAREspaces Team will act as a bridge between our community and these resources to find tailored solutions to care for every individual.

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SPHERE 3

C A R E S P A C E S '

E X E C U T I V E

T E A M

Bridging the space between the individual & the communtiy The executive team consists of multi-disciplinary individuals who have long-term experiences in Indian Arts space. This team leads the change in our community by merging their professional expertise with the Indian arts context to deliver nuanced services that are culturally meaningful and comprehensive.

Each member of this team shares a vital part of themselves through their PURPOSE & LEADERSHIP

determination vision Janani Ramesh (she/her) Co-Founder, Creative Head

pg 26

Neha Krishnamachary (she/her) Co-Founder, Head of Finance

My passion for teaching pedagogy and inclusive learning

I began to feel uncomfortable with the silence that riddles

paired with my academic background in biology and

the community. After working tirelessly to enact change

healthcare, fueled my vision to help find more long term

during the #CarnaticMeToo movement, and aligning with

solutions that were responsive, sensitive, and unifying.

like minded individuals, I realized there was so much more work to be done.

accountability

expression

intention Krithika Rajkumar (she/her)

Ratirpriya Suresh (she/her)

Head of Legal & Compliance

Lead UX UI Designer, Head of Design

Aisvarya Chandrasekar (she/her) Illustrator & Interactive Designer

My teachers valued by personal safety and well-

I believe in creating meaningful layered experiences

The Indian Arts community has helped shape my

being. CAREspaces has been an avenue for me to

with the user at the center, not personal opinions at

language of choice, my artistic expression. I rely on

assist the Indian arts space to ensure that our

the center. Help me help you find your voice in the

this very expression to communicate my abstract

culture and art forms are passed on in the most

space and rekindle the love of learning the arts in

observations or complicated emotions. I hope to

ethical and safe way.

their purity.

share change using a language with which I am most fluent.

articulation inclusivity Sachin Pendse (he/him)

Sutikshna Veeravalli (she/her)

Education & Peer Support Leader

Education & Peer Support Leader

I have learned about stories of resilience and

I offer people the words they may or not have

determination, of passion and joy. I feel really lucky

realized they needed. I would like to help people

to leverage my background in practicing and

identify their needs and resolve gaps in

studying peer support to facilitate safer and more

understanding through mindful conversation. I

supportive community spaces.

believe conversations about boundaries can and

clarity

should be made accessible for anyone.

awareness

precision Guhan Venkataraman (he/him)

Content Editor & Consultant

Priyanka Dinakar (she/her) Legal Researcher & Data Analyst

I’ve become more aware of the hurdles Indian

I have always looked for spaces to be myself. I have

classical arts face, and I've wanted to make a

an affinity for educating myself on intersectional

difference. I have strive to do my part in bettering

issues, and learning more about such nuances

the lives of individuals through bringing more clarity

through a research perspective. I am now connected

to the nuanced aspects of our community.

with people who care about creating safer spaces.

Silpa Penumatcha (she/her) Social Media Intern I always glorified artists and the Indian arts community, but there were always underlying issues that I was unaware of with stigmas that prevent change. I hope we can change this culture so that members are more respected and safe.

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SPHERE 4 C A R E L E A D E R S :

P E E R

S U P P O R T

P R O V I D E R S

Advocates at heart, activists in spirit.

CAREleaders are the first, most immediate layer of support that CAREspaces offers an individual. CAREleaders reflect the power within an individual through the process of peer support - the act of sharing experiences with one another.

CAREleaders are trained through a comprehensive and interactive curriculum that covers the nuances of the Indian arts space, active listening and accurate empathy, and intersectional variables. These peer support providers work the executive team to bring referrals to resources into meaningful use to promote an individual's healing.

"I WILL CENTER THE INDIVIDUAL BY...

perserverance

Bhavani Ganesh (she/her)

freedom Aditi Druv (she/her)

liberation

Meera Seshadri (she/her)

"...prioritizing their voice and their story as the

"... listening first. I will emphasize their safety

"...identifying and harnessing their unique

center of their peer support session. I will let

within CARESpaces. When ready, I will work with

strengths, working collaboratively to develop

them know that their experience and the way

them to navigate their feelings, and create a plan

and build tools of self efficacy and resilience. I

they feel is valid and welcomed in this space.”

for their safety, establish (or make stronger)

will help them articulate their emotions, assert

boundaries around their needs.”

their boundaries, and act bravely in their truth.”

pg 28

introspection

belonging

compassion Vaibhav Iyer (he/him)

Snehaa Sudarshan (she/her)

Hari Bhamidipati (she/her)

"...not just stating that their voice matters but

"... being a shoulder to cry/lean on, a

"... first focussing on creating an environment,

giving them the power of choice. I will always

tool to allow them to guide themselves

which is comfortable and positive - one that

encourage peers to be vulnerable and open,

through their thoughts and struggles. I

provides for a safe and open conversation. I

and validate that this vulnerability is a

will be their voice of love, reason, and

intend to not dictate the conversation, but

strength, not a weakness.”

compassion when they need it.”

rather work on this journey together.”

reliability resilience Shravya Gurrapu (she/her)

Swetha Vedanaryanan (she/her)

"...honoring the importance and power of their

"...listening, without judgment, and considering

voice and narrative in peer support sessions

each situation with empathy. I will communicate

(CAREsessions). I will embark on a shared

with the individual as if they have been my

journey of trust, growth, vulnerability, and

dearest friend for years, passing no judgment and

compassion to empower peers to pursue their

offering tidbits of my personal experiences while

goals and to carve their own narrative.”

also maintaining the status of a professional

vulnerability

CARELeader.

trust

empathy Harini Ganesh (she/her)

Devyani Nighoskar (she/her)

Chitra Iyer (she/her)

"...sharing the kind of empathy and love that I

"... being an empathetic listener. I will not try

"...giving voice to those who have been

would like to receive. I will make them feel like

to intectualise their feelings, rather provide

rendered voiceless; to hold space for each

their story is valid, and their voice is heard.”

support in a way that the individual feels

story; and to do everything in my power to

comfortable to better articulate and express

help a survivor reclaim their agency in

their emotions and find the trust and strength

whatever form it may take."

to take the healing journey together.”

pg 29

SPHERE 5 A N

I N D I V I D U A L

be sustained

The core of a community & its experiences

static

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you."

- Maya Angelou

vitality to sustain

When a community is able to prioritize the untold story within every individual, it inherently prioritizes the story of the community as a whole. CAREspaces is not only the first Indian Arts safe space, but also the first organization to acknowledge and prioritize an individual’s healing within the fabric of the Indian Arts community.

dynamic

By centering the needs of individual members within the larger

Indian arts community, CAREspaces promotes this community’s well-being through a culturally-sensitive, layered response that

allows the energy of recovery to RADIATE to and from its core -

available power the individual.

C

pg 30

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A Promise To Every Individual

static

"We will...

Listen first. Validate next.

Be a voice of love, reason, and compassion.

Identify and articulate one’s unique emotions, and act in their truth.

Provide one the uninterrupted energy, the available power, to make their own choices.

be sustained

potential

In a world where “self-care” is over-marketed, over-saturated, and commercialized, CAREspaces removes the onus of care off the shoulders of “the self” only to allow that responsibility to be

vitality to sustainshared by the community - to take care of one another and heal together. Community healing then becomes an act of shared energy. An act of sharing the available power. The act of sharing the vitality and strength to sustain and be sustained. A community with the potential energy to recover and repair is

available power

then able to experience the energy of change in motion -- from static to dynamic, stagnant to evolution.

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pg 31

AT A GLANCE

PHRASES

DO

NOT

THAT

PROMOTE

"In order to learn art, you have to listen to the guru no matter what, even if they are emotionally and verbally abusive. Learning art is not easy but going through this will eventually be worth it."

HEALING

"He/She won't do all that. They must have been provoked or enticed."

"That's just how it is, if you want to get anywhere."

"Are you sure you're not misinterpreting??"

"Nothing will happen to them. Only your reputation will suffer. Don't say anything."

"Don't get depressed by these things, they happen."

"It will affect our progress if you bring this up.

Please don't."

That's just how it is, if you want to get anywhere.

"Who will hire you if you say this?"

These things do not happen in our community.

"Why should they remain with that company then? Let them go elsewhere."

"It's not like that. They see something special in you."

"It's not like that. They see something special in you."

(staying silent) "What was she wearing? " pg 32

"Stop making it a big deal."

"You're wrong"

[not saying anything/laughing it off]

PHRASES

DO

THAT

PROMOTE

HEALING

"How can I help?"

"What would make you feel safe right now?"

"In the spirit of good will and transparency, I wanted to share something with you, and I trust you keep this intention in mind..."

"How can I help you right now?"

"I am here for you."

"You don't have to tell me, but I'm always ready to listen."

"How can we work together better?"

Do you feel comfortable?

"Does that work for you? You are always welcome to say no. We'll discuss what else we can do,"

"I respect you"

"Art does not come before the humanity of any individual! How do I center this in my teaching philosophy?"

"I just wanted to let you know, I noticed ___, and I'm here to advocate for you. Let me know if I can ever help."

"I believe you."

"Where can I learn more about formalizing this space or working towards making the Indian arts more safer and welcoming?"

"If you do not wish to be given hands-on corrections, let me know and I will honor your wish."

"How do I normalize talking about harassment and harm with collaborators who interact with my students?"

(see something, say something)

"Are you okay? I am here for you, if you feel comfortable sharing." pg 33

It’s come to my attention that I have been pretty negative my whole life. I never really saw myself in a positive light. I always wanted to be someone that was radiant and kind but I really wasn’t taking care of myself, therefore couldn’t take care of the people around me as much as I wanted to.

I never really saw myself in a positive light until recently; I now see the world in such a different perspective. Not only do I see the good in the universe but I really see the bad as things that we can change - we’re not all hopeless.

Positivity is not necessarily looking at life and only seeing good things. It’s acknowledging the bad and knowing that we can all help it. It’s hope, faith, and true compassion. It’s almost unbelievable how much we can change our reality by just having positive thoughts.

pg 34

BO D Y preservation

pg 35

THEME

EXPLANATION

ENERGY

preservation

to keep and treasure is to preserve. sometimes, as we go through life, we see that each day passes by so quickly. time has such a barrier on our growth: "i'll start working out tomorrow"; "i'll start making my company once I have ____"; "i'll begin to improve myself once i have time" we put these constraints on ourselves and at the end of the day, the only way to preserve is to acknowledge that your body is worth preserving. grow with yourself and understand that you are worth it in the most absolute sense.

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an interview with

Beauty by Shivani P pg 37

Hey my name is Shivani and i’m 21 years old. I am intrigued by astrology, my star sign is Leo. One thing I could eat everyday is cereal. I am a Beauty Content Creator Instagram, Youtube & Tiktok : @Beautybyshivanip Twitter : @Beautybyshivani I hope that everyone reading this is keeping well and safe. I think we can all agree that we have definitely had a tough year with the pandemic. For me relatable took effect… I had a lot of time on my hands during lockdown, I started to create content that displayed eyeshadow looks on Facebook and Instagram, then explored Youtube and Tik tok. I want my Youtube channel to eventually be a place for people to learn, ask questions, talk to me about their life story, get to know me, and get to see my journey in the beauty industry. I took pleasure making videos of eyeshadow looks but I wanted to make my videos, pictures and reels, more helpful, interactive and relatable. So I started to create content with more detailed makeup tutorials, tricks and tips, getting interactive on instagram stories, question time and instagram lives.

I had the opportunity to work with Asiana Tv for their Asiana Bridal Show London 2019 at Grosvenor House. Asiana Tv has a ton of things to talk about. A few are Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle. It was a chance for me to develop new skills and show my makeup skills off at a catwalk. From the experience I learnt how to adapt my makeup to different lighting, how makeup would look on the camera and how to also to work under pressure. It was truly a dream come true.

I am now looking to study further into the science behind beauty. Beauty is a topic of interest for me. I take the time to enjoy the industry by watching shows, creating content, supporting businesses and reading further into the industry. I am a firm believer that beauty is science and more people need to look at it in that way.

Within the beauty industry we can go from being an International Makeup Artists to a Surgical practitioner who can for example, remove moles whilst still keeping the outcome of the surgery looking great to make each client feel the best after the treatment. They can also do procedures like nose amendments, dermal fillers to sculpt parts of the human body, teeth whitening, fat removal and many other treatments. This is when science comes into play a lot more than people think.

pg 38

How did you get into social media?

I started doing eyeshadow looks in college and used to take photos of the looks. As I got older social media got introduced to me.

Facebook was my first social media profile, it was facebook that allowed me to show off my interests and skills, by posting videos, pictures and interacting with beauty influencers. When instagram came about it gave me more of an opportunity to study the algorithm of a social profile that needs to be updated everyday to gain an interaction and build relationships within the beauty industry. Social media gives you a platform to give people knowledge as well as gain knowledge. I have loved creating content for the beauty industry and don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. I believe that there has to be a real interaction with the followers you have on instagram. This can only be done through time and consistency. For me instagram is not a full time job. It is a space where I can share content I love creating in an industry I am intrigued by.

How do you feel about the beauty community on social media?

When I first stepped into the beauty industry I felt welcomed with the support the community gave me by sharing posts, keeping up with content and giving out mua support in general. The beauty industry has always been one of the most competitive commercial spaces. When it comes to the beauty community on social media there are many sides to it. You have makeup influencers, stylists, scientists, aesthetic practitioners, beauty brands, cruelty free makeup, skin care specialist , professional waxer, nail artists, laser specialist, reflexology, aromatherapist… STOP ME because I could go on forever with things you wouldn't expect that would be classed as the beauty industry. I have felt comfortable enough to directly contact some of the beauty influencers out there and no matter how many more or less followers they have compared to you, they have all replied with such warming messages back. It is the equality between the community itself that made me feel confident and comfortable about joining the beauty industry too.

pg 39

Tell me about your mental health journey.

I am someone who enjoys socialising. Being sociable is a good thing but sometimes it can get you into things that you can get stuck in. I have personally had people I have built great relationships up with that have broken my trust or said things that have put me down and I can only imagine how common this is in the world. My mental health can be suffering from this at times but most of the time I like to prove that person wrong. My mental health is definitely not spoken about. It is more of a hidden topic that I get to choose when I want to talk about it and with whom. Mental health is usually caused by a buildup of emotions. When it comes to mental health I have learnt and sometimes advised others to stay strong, to do that you must break down all the things that cause your mental health to weaken. Then work on each one at a time with 100% focus. You will start to see yourself climbing your way out of all those problems, that was once all in one big bubble waiting to pop.

How do you feel about the brown community on social media and does it affect your work?

The brown community on social media has a big voice. Of course we have the stereotypical ‘Brown girl that shouldn’t post revealing pics” Social media can turn into a place where you are making changes to your content because of other people's opinions. Social media can be looked down on and can be seen as a time waste from the brown community more than a business tool or somewhere you can make money. I believe this stands for more of the older generations. I don’t blame them for not always understanding as they unfortunately did not have as many applications to build relationships, advertise businesses, share their thoughts or showcase their work on when they were younger.

Personally I do not think the brown community on social media affects me in a negative way.

So far it has been great and I have felt the love from all angles.

What would you like to say about your content?

My content shows who I am as an individual and shows how I engage with my followers. I love to host live sessions with my followers and talk about makeup and general things going on in the world. In addition to this I also do Q&A‘s where my followers are able to ask questions and find out more about me. The way I present the products and how to use it on my feed helps inspire my followers to try my makeup looks on themselves. I would love to be that face on your laptop or phone sitting next to you while you do your makeup with me. My content gives everyone, no matter what gender, colour, size, race or sexuality, the opportunity to learn and have opinions.

pg 40

S OvitalityU L

pg 41

THEME

EXPLANATION

ENERGY

vitality

to continue. to breathe. to walk. to stand. to emote. to prosper. whether we realize it or not, these are all conscious decisions. when we pay attention to our breath, we can understand what is a conscious thought and what is a subconscious feeling. how we decide to collect all this information and react, is indicative of our character. no matter how you perceive life, the only constant is you. so continue to breathe, walk, stand, emote and live.

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energy

by SilentGuru

pg 43

pg 44

Jai Varahi Thunai OmKareshwarer and Kalikambal Blessings Ganesha, Karthikeya, Bala and all the Gods and Goddesses and beings who help me write. Thank you

OM Sadness, despair, anxiety and overthinking. My life had been run over by the demons who have inhabited by head. I was lost for years, not understanding I had been wandering on a path that never existed My name is Aneesh Bairavasundaram, and I am now unrestricted.

Born and raised in the United States, identity - as many second-generation children may relate with - was not something that I was mindful of for many years. My family’s background originates from a long lineage of Hindu priests from the acclaimed Madurai Meenakshi Temple and Chennai Kalikambal Temple; faith was often considered a given - yet for me blind faith was not.

Faith is something which only came through observation for me. As a scientist at heart, I proclaimed that religion or faith was a primitive form of understanding the physical world and was invalid.

Although I made the claim, I was also not able to support religion or Gods’ irrationality aside from counterarguments. Many paths in spirituality existed and as a purely scientific experiment I decided to go on a path; to learn the scriptures and learn yoga to prove its invalidity which meant committing to the process.

As time progressed my doubts were growing, I had constant debates with Gurus and religious leaders. As I was reflecting on the journey thus far, I realized that it truthfully was all imaginative. I decided to stop continuing the “spiritual” path. As the path began to end, I stopped trying to understand and began just observing life.

Observation led to understanding: Energy = Presence. Something that is omnipresent cannot be understood without being acknowledged in the most objective manner.

pg 45

pg 46

pg 47

Shakthi has been something I have been surrounded around since I was young. I grew up with tales of Kali and the Goddesses’ might but beyond valor is their kindness and compassion. Energy’s consciousness is often not described, but energy’s conscious nature is in its presence. When we see a highly energetic person, we regard them as having a large presence regardless of their conscious thought. Similarly, I understood that I was simply not observing the presence which was omnipresent, and I was lacking awareness. Creation is Energy. Preservation is Energy. Dissolution is Energy.

Creation in Shaiva Agama is described as Shiva the Consciousness and Shakthi the Energy. Both are intertwined, yet both are unique in distinction; at Consciousness’ will, Energy plays. Everything in the world both animate and in-animate vibrate at different levels of energy. Energy is the heat of the fire; consciousness is the light. Fire’s purpose is a combination both to provide light and heat.

This understanding helped me for the first time look outside of the Ego which I and the community had been building together for years.

Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati Blind faith is something that I detested. Coming from the American perspective I always tried to find an “answer” and until then I disregarded the practice- often at my own detriment. As I began to receive more answers and understandings, I realized the place of blind faith. Blind faith leads to unwavering selflessness and true commitment.

What is blind faith? Essentially a form of performing action without understanding the inner workings of how and in some cases why. True sacrifice comes from the early stages of performing action without necessarily understanding where it may lead. A dream to manifest often uses this concept to begin to create.

For example, if someone had an idea to start a clothing business, regardless of how much they may read on the topic, they are following the path or belief that their peers or mentors may have taken. The Upanishad says “Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati” which loosely translated means “that which is believed, manifests”. This concept ties in the importance of ShivaShakti balance. pg 48

Although I could call myself Aneesh, I did not understand my purpose which let way for all these demons to run. I have been fortunate with my father, and many Gurus who through conviction shared their Energy and the ultimate compassion of the Goddess’s grace, it all connected. I was not understanding what was right before me; to look inward, I had to observe outward. I understood for the first time the ownership of action is ego.

For the first time, my life meant something to me. I began the bhavam of enjoying and building my life – and Tad Bhavati, there it manifested.

Happiness, Peace, Love, Care, Faith, and Gratitude. My life is now under the Lord’s hands. The demons who once lived in my head, now tremble in the presence of Shakthi, passion. I am on a path and with balance of Energy and Consciousness I have understood that I am to bring others onto my path.

The title SilentGuru came to me, which is also a title given to the Guru of Gurus not for a title to call myself but rather to help others find the path and to walk together towards a Global Spiritual Consciousness. To ultimately provide the Energy for many who feel their life is constricted. For those out of balance, to guide them towards balance which in turn will help realize their purpose.

As my mental health and strength grew, I decided to provide both allopathic and spiritual mediums to children of immigrants through Bala Vihar and propagate the importance of both Mental Health workshops and therapy as well as the spiritual relief and cleansing which will help one have the strength to get through recovery.

SilentGuru Trades grew out of the necessity which I lacked during my growth both as an individual but also as a member of the community. Faith is a duty, not a choice; the mind, body and soul all are part of life is what helped me understand my own purpose.

All praise to the great Shiva/Shakthi.

pg 49

an interview with Sooraj Saxena "when you stop chasing the outside world, you are forced to go inwards"

pg 50

I've always been a story teller in some ways and I have made it a priority of mine to hopefully inspire other storytellers. I think it really is important to know your own story and that's how I identify myself as a server in this life. Outside of that, I have always loved creating. I love dancing, cooking and just putting ideas out there and bring it into fruition.

I was working at a smoothie place and I noticed that working for someone else was extremely tiring. I knew then that where I give up my control is where I have my issue.

At the time, my dad was actually creating a product to screen for breast cancer. It was to be a low cost, portable device that you can take into villages in India. He wanted to bring access of this technology to different women in all these places that may not be able to afford it. So, then they asked me to make a video. At that moment, I hadn't made any videos like that so I decided to go for it and fell in love with the process.

What is your brand and how did you come up with the concept?

Shvkti. The "V" is an upside down "A" I made it that way because I believe feminine energy is what inspires us to be the most creative. I wanted the name to be a marriage between Shiva and Shakti combined.

Over the years, the essence of the brand has changed. It used to be so aesthetically based and now I focus more on what I am trying to say. Shvkti stands for Story Telling At its Core - Helping Empower Human Story Through Film. Where ShvkTEA comes in, is just the act of enjoying a cup of chai but also do so while understanding my own story through self awareness. It's just sharing your story and allowing people to see themselves in you, and in doing so, you give permission subconsciously to tell their story; thereby allowing them to harness their own power.

pg 51

How did you understand the differences between ego and spirit and what did that journey look like?

People like to think that it is one massive moment that will make you change your whole life. But it's not like that - growth is not linear in that way. When I was living in San Fransisco alone, I would go to the ocean by myself and I wouldn't sit with any music or anything - I was just drawn to the big body of water that was in front of me.

I would ask myself a ton of different questions: "why do I care about the validation of others"; "why am I so into the validation from women"; "what am I doing with my life" and so on. I felt lost.

I was guided by my intuition and I would get clarity on what I should be doing when I was alone. When you cut off all distractions, that inner voice is so strong, especially when I was by the ocean. When I was in pain, I would just embrace that too and I would recognize when my ego took over and made me want instant gratification.

I had to stop it all. I literally deleted all social media, stopped partying and moved back home.

pg 52

Did you face struggles with toxic masculinity when you chose to love yourself first?

Absolutely. I was always in touch with my feminine side primarily because I have A LOT of girl cousins. So I have just been surrounded by feminine energy my whole life.

I overcame this by just embracing the things that made me more feminine. I would not try and stop myself from crying - I would allow myself to feel all my emotions. I know that a lot of toxic masculinity is to not show emotion and for me, I knew that wasn't natural since I genuinely just expressed myself.

I would also just take myself out on dates. I would go on these long hikes and then drive to this place called Top of the World and put out a tapestry, drink chai and meditate.

pg 53

Describe your mental health journey.

So a lot of my mental health journey was self-inflicted. I can say that now since I've stepped back and realized that it really just came down to drug use. I started smoking at a really young age and that just was a catalyst for everything that was to come.

I had to stop everything because I was so extreme. We would do so many different types of drugs in one day and it was continuous. When I decided that enough was enough, my life turned around. My judgement was clearer and I realized I could make my thoughts calm.

Drugs really was the reason for my mental health srtuggles and for that I am glad I went through it.

Stopping everything has changed my life. So much so, that now if people bring up specific drugs, I would have to either leave the room or have the conversation change because just the mention of it made me so anxious.

I changed my life around the day I stopped this attachment.

pg 54

an interview with

Naiem Reza

It’s an overwhelmingly prideful feeling to get to a point in my life where I am given the opportunity to share my story, especially as a minority musician. I’ve grown into a lifestyle full of false modesty, where I just share my music and art with others with the small hope that it may bring some positive impact or introspection in their life. It’s always been a challenge for me to acknowledge my own accomplishments in life, yet I am able to recognize my ability to help others understand theirs. My journey as a musician started at the age of 10, when I picked up the clarinet and guitar and played in the school band. I was quite passionate about both instruments and quickly accelerated in the band programs that they had to offer, ultimately placing in national competitions. However, when I entered high school, several unexpected life hurdles came about which not only impacted my mental health, but also my passion for music.

pg 55

What inspired you to fuse mental health with music?

Throughout my journey, particularly the remainder of my childhood, I never really understood the concept of my own wellness and the consciousness that is needed to understand it, likely because I lived most of my childhood with every bit of institutional privilege that allowed me to live myself much less disadvantaged as others. When my mental health was compromised as a child, I never truly recognized it, I just let it consume my mind, and my time. Over the years I lost touch with my own music, and many of my family and friends had realized that my creative energy had become dormant. I was grateful enough to have a supportive family and friend group that guided me through this dark point in my life as a child to find a silver lining, by unlearning and taking the time to understand others and understand situations that I am privileged to be in.

This conscious thinking opened a door for my new found eagerness for public health and non-profit work.

Whenever I would visit my parents back in Dhaka, I would take time to unlearn and appreciate my cultural identity while pursuing my passion for field-work in the nonprofit world. These experiences began to intersect as I realized how much of a theme music had been able to set throughout these experiences, bringing me out of that dormant state of a creative drought. I found myself creating music that had heavily been inspired by my variant mental states and surroundings, which helped me achieve an individualistic sound, that also allowed others to listen to my music while having the ability to gain perspective of how feelings can be translated into sound.

Tell us about your background with music and what peaked your interest?

As I began to pursue this concept of creating music that is social cause driven, I had been given many opportunities that to this day I am so incredibly grateful for. My first major collaboration was a charity collaboration with Penn Masala, Kavita Seth, Raaginder, and Yash Raj Studios. Being only in my early twenties, was a huge opportunity for me. I then continued this concept but teamed up with incredible creative artists, especially dancers to create content that showcased diaspora culture and its intersection with social causes that were important to me - gender equality, mental health, social justice, minority creatives, and more. pg 56

My single Escape was the biggest release I’ve had as a musician. I take so much pride in this composition, as it was an incredibly dynamic project that was 3 years in the making that truly highlighted the sound that I was going for as a musician, as well as a pivotal part in my mental health. I worked on this project with over 8 artists internationally with one intention: to do something different, yet seamlessly connected across all musicians involved. This was the single for my debut EP, Godspeed, which I released with MannMukti in 2019.

The Journey Through the Great Escape: The composition starts off with an eerie opening with beautiful Carnatic vocals (Deepikaa), which then transitions to the first verse - a effortless round of konnakol (Sidd Kel) that transitions to a fiery yet intentional verse Saheer and a beautiful chorus layered with soulful harmonies (Marcus). The song is inspired by the instance of a thunderstorm, which to me was symbolic to my journey with escaping the fears I had encountered throughout the journey of my mental health. The climax of the song is met with a stunning classical violin solo by Raaginder, which is settled with a somber Dilruba outro that The Lost Strings closes out with.

Naiem meets Poonam & Priyanka: A few months after the release of Escape, I was honored to have had a heartfelt conversation with the incredible South Asian fusion dance duo, Poonam & Priyanka, who had caught wind of the song and found the intent of them relevant in their lives at the time. From there, the rest was history! It was an incredible experience to work with Poonam & Priyanka to see them bring my song to life through movement and soul.

Stories of Water: My debut album, Stories of Water will be releasing this year. This album goes through both my interpersonal and interpersonal journey with mental health through a fantasy narrative. This project is something that is deeply personal to me, but is created in a way that can be interpreted by anyone. What I am most excited about is the fantasy narrative that you see throughout the project, inspired by my childhood and keen fascination for magic. The make-believe characters throughout the album represent temples and institutions that I have faced in my life, as well as oppressors. Rain Wallah (with ROYAL, Fadi Jano, Doyel Das, and Vanraj Shastri) was the first single I released for this project and is inspired by the cycle of destruction, which is represented by a mythical deity I call the Rain Wallah. The entire song has no words at all, and takes the audience through a 3 part journey that represents the cycle. pg 57

pg 58

pg 59

Do you feel like you are supported by the South Asian community for your endeavors as a musician?

Yes and no. In many ways, the South Asian community has been incredibly supportive of my music, but based on the level of inclusion that the support has. Though I am an incredibly spiritual person with a keen interest in all religions, I do find myself dealing with many disadvantages that Muslim Americans deal with in our community, which I find hurtful and disappointing especially when I consider my family and the climate of global affairs that we see today. I think what needs to be understood is that there are minorities and institutions within our diaspora that are treated unfairly and poorly by the oppressors that share the same ethnicity as us, as well as so many cultural commonalities. I have absolutely been a victim of racism and microaggressions within our community because of my heritage and the stereotypes oppressors associate with it. I hope to use my music to promote the message of unity and togetherness, and I feel that the stories in my art if anything, give people a different perspective on life experiences which to some, and even myself, can attribute to unlearning for the better.

pg 60

“kanksantah karmanam siddhim yajanta iha devatah |ksipram hi manuse loke siddhir bhavati karma-ja" “Those who long for the result of an action worship with rites the divine energies, for, in this mortal world the success of an action comes immediately” [Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Jnana Sanyasa Yoga, 12th verse] what you decide to do with your life has an independent energy. when each action that you take combines, the energy that accumulates is extremely powerful and creates a strong vibration. therefore, do not wait for tomorrow. devote your time and efforts today and spend time on projects that that will allow you to contribute to this world. in this way, you will able to achieve whatever you want, merely through energy.

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pg 61

SPECIAL

THANKS

this month is all about change. our thoughts create our reality and when we digest what that truly means, we can understand that we cannot afford even one negative thought. life can take many turns, as we know, however when we align ourselves mentally with what we want and we truly envision that, we can make it happen. today, energetically feel yourself grow, and you will. thank you to the people who have come into my life this month. i could not express my gratitude enough as you all have helped and inspired me more than anything. thank you to those who left, thank you to those who stayed and cheers to those who are to come.

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credits

MAR 2021

Cover MIND A Reflection by Nivita Sriram CAREspaces Contact the Executive Team Information & Session Sign-Ups Contact the Peer Support Team Design Contribution page 17-30 BODY An Interview with Shivani P SOUL Energy by SilentGuru An Interview with Sooraj Saxena An Interview with Naiem Reza Energy Back Cover

VOL 2 ISSUE 3

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