The Sky is the Limit....

Ashok Korgaonkar...The Sky is the Limit !

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. – Eleanor Roosevelt

As young kids we nurture many dreams—some want to be firemen, pilots,actors, doctors. The

list is endless.Living in a tiny one-room flat in a congested  city one often dreams of living

in a spacious  residential complex  nestling in the clouds.As a young man with a lower middle

class upbringing in a Worli chawl in the early 60s and 70s, Ashok Korgaonkar  would gaze

 wistfully at the city’s changing skyline, fascinated with the new skyscrapers which had begun to

mushroom. Perhaps  even dreaming of living in  them, which spurred him to  study architecture

at  the Rachana  Sansad Academy of Architecture. Despite opposition from conservative family

members, he stood his ground, pursuing his course  and paying his fees  with small odd jobs.

Today, he is a celebrity—the Mumbai-born, Dubai-based architect is the founder-MD of

Archgroup Consultants, and has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the creator of the

world’s tallest hotel---the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai.

A candid tete-a-tete with the man who made his dreams come true……..

Way back in the 60s &70’s it must have been tough to raise money for your fees. How did you manage?

Yes, those were difficult times.. one will agree that a person will always value his achievements and success when it is earned the hard way. For the first year of my academic studies I had to depend on my parents. By the time I completed my first year, I was  well versed with drafting, tracing and model making. I started taking small assignments which used to cover my fees and other expenses to some extent. I also used to help many of my senior students to complete there sessional work.

After my second year of architecture,with increased self confidence due to the model making works, I started taking up interior fit- out contracts. All these things had to be managed along with my regular studies and my sessional works.Inspite of this, I always made it to the top 5 ,completed my architecture in first class and ranked second in Maharashtra in the year 1980.

Did you face a lot of opposition from the family?

I was the first person in my family to opt for architectural studies—a  profession which  in those days was not affordable for a member from a lower income group family .We were barely able to make ends meet. All my other siblings having opted for the traditional science and engineering  I faced some hurdles  but I  managed to persuade my folks .

In the 80s when you moved to Dubai, what was the scenario?

After completing architecture,  me and my wife Arti(who was my classmate), wasted no time and took up a job in Bahrain. First and foremost aim for working in  the Gulf was to immediately start earning after we started our married life. For someone who had lived in the  chawls of Mumbai,the Gulf was a pleasant surprise. It was a completely different lifestyle --the strikingly obvious experience was neat and clean roads, disciplined traffic, and most importantly, law abiding citizens.

During 80’s even Dubai was not developed as much as 20 per cent of what it is today. It was a city with a population of approximately 1 million; it was not a spread out city but had only few commercial pockets being targeted for development. Those were the days when day to day life was very easy in terms of moving around the city, less traffic, quiet  communities etc which is contrary to what it is today with people from around 190 countries and a population of 7 million .

How about developmental changes over the last few decades?

I would say it was developing at a reasonable rate--- nothing like the mad rush somewhere in 2001 when the city saw rapid progress. Post 2001 to 2008 was a complete turn –around: the desert was changed to a oasis,a model city which every developing country in the world has appreciated. (The United States Post even went to an extent to say that what Dubai has achieved in the last 10 years,  New York city took 150 years, which in itself put Dubai on the world map of being one of the fastest developing cities). His Highness Sheikh Mohamed said “Recession gave us the time to take a breather, stop and analyze” Dubai invested heavily in developing the infrastructure when the property prices hit rock bottom and in the last few years of recession Dubai has developed world class flyovers, metro and airports etc.I have seen one thing consistently happening in Dubai for last 31 years and that is CHANGE… in lifestyle, in communities and, at professional levels.

The initial years must have been difficult... Did you & your wife work for architects there and what kind of projects did you handle?

We started our working careers in Bahrain moving to Dubai 2 years later in 1982,where we worked in a consultancy firm called as Al Wasl Al Jadeed Consultants for 10 years from 1982 till 1992.During those 10 years I worked on many interesting projects such as Interstate Taxi and Bus terminus, quite a few Mosques which was again entirely a different experience,large scale community parks,and Dubai cricket stadium a project which was shelved half way through due to some unknown reasons.Along with these projects I also worked  on community villas and residential and commercial buildings

Designing for the Emirates must have been a major turning point...Do tell us about your experiences.

Way back in 1992 when we started our professional practice in Dubai: we had designed and completed few projects though, not on a very large scale. Then we received an invitation to participate in a design competition organized by none other than Emirates Airlines for one of their projects-- a Desert Resort

Unfortunately, we did not bag  the project. But, the top management of Emirates had noticed our talent and ability to create designs extraordinarily. That’s how we bagged the first ever project with Emirates in 1999--the Al Aqaa Beach Resort, a 200 -room five- star hotel. This was the stepping stone to our success and with no looking back we embarked on our journey.

Since then till 2005 we completed many prestigious projects for Emirates Airlines and the Chairman of Emirates Airlines His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. To name the ones which has earned wide recognition are Emirates Head-quarters, Grosvenor House Business Hotel and apartments, The West Inn, Dubai (Five star Hotel),Green Lakes Towers etc.

 Subsequently you also designed offices, malls and hotels... how did the JW

 project happen?

Emirates Airlines wanted a hotel that would  reflect the soaring ambitions of the airline and the city, by creating an iconic tall structure with a futuristic design . When they decided to develop Marriott Marquis Hotel, without any second thoughts, work was awarded to us and this time there was no competition or any bidding from other consultants.

What are the high points and what was the biggest challenge you faced

 while designing the JW?

The form of the towers is inspired by the trunk of the Date Palm, a symbol highly evocative of the Arabian culture and heritage.  Building is designed in the style of Expressionist Architecture. The project experienced shortage of concrete, manpower resources and scarcity of skilled labor but with collaborative approach of the stakeholders,we were able to minimize the impact. Due to recession there was a Cap for cash flow per month for the project.The contractors had to complete the work in the stipulated time with a limited billing per month. This also required resource management which was managed by the Archgroup Project Management and design team.

The Guinness mention  is undoubtedly a major honor...what do you feel about it?

To be honored with such unparalleled distinction is truly satisfying: a special mention of  my team which worked tirelessly. This is now 27^thtallest tower in world and a Guinness record for the tallest hotel in the world, it can’t get any bigger than this

What are your major upcoming projects in UAE(specifically Dubai)?

Currently we have a mixed bag of projects ranging from commercial, hotels, and villas, residential, educational and industrial developments. Few to name them are Headquarter Tower for Landmark group (Owner: Mickey Jagtiani), Hotel Extension for Le Meridian, Gate community villas for Dubai Silicon oasis, Aviation College for Emirates, Flight Training Facility for Emirates and residential towers for a private client.

We started our operations in India  in Nov. 2008 and now we have offices in Mumbai and Pune. We have completed budget hotels in Pune,Banglore,and Delhi and currently working on budget hotels in Chennai and Goa for Premier Inn Hotels ,UK based group.

Finally....Mumbai's skyline (which fuelled your dreams) in the 70s and 80s is a far cry from what you see today? Do you feel that development has been haphazard? What according to you can alleviate the city's housing woes?

Mumbai is a rapidly growing city and demand for space is increasing day by day but the scope for horizontal growth of city remains restricted  as it is an island city. There is obviously no other option but  to grow vertically. High rise buildings are needed to meet demand but along with that we also require supporting infrastructure for smooth functioning of these high rise developments. I see many high rise buildings for middle income group  spaced at merely 6mts distance from each other, depriving habitants of  the very basic necessities such as natural light and ventilation. Water for many high rises is supplied by alternative source of water such as well water from tankers. This shows our infrastructure is still lacking  basic utilities such as water and power and is way behind what is required actually.Post construction proper façade maintenance is a must  else they become obvious eyesores.

Innovative Strategist---- Snehal Mantri

Innovative  Strategist---- Snehal Mantri

Snehal Mantri,( director—marketing),plays a pivotal role in defining and executing several growth-driven strategies, which were instrumental in elevating the brand to a position of industry leadership. Since the inception of Mantri Developers in 1999, Snehal is also deeply involved in the conception, planning and development of new projects. including the prestigious Mantri Square - the largest mall in India spread over 1.7 million sq. ft . Snehal was honored with the “Female Real Estate Professional” at the Realty plus Excellence Awards 2011, Best Marketing Professional of the Year Award at the CMO Asia Council held in Singapore in July 2011 and Women of Gold Award :

The company’s focus has been mainly in the south….are there plans to diversify to other parts? 

South would remain our primary focus; however we have expansion plans in Pune too.  The aim is to scale up our operations ten-fold in the next five years. The group has identified explosive growth areas in the field of real estate development encompassing residential verticals as a key growth area, where it is present in medium and luxury segments and ultra luxury segments. Other sunrise area’s where growth is expected are: hospitality segment,integrated townships, commercial(office and retail),IT SEZs and education.

Tell us about your luxury home project..Mantri Espana

 Espana is an ultra luxurious project reminiscent of Spanish colonial architecture unifying the Mediterranean style with modern design-patterned arches, tiled courtyards, red roof and terraces along with expansive windows and open spaces The project comprises of three, four- and five-bedroom apartments of in the range of 2,635-10,245 sq ft, located at Sarjapur Road, one of the fastest growing residential areas in Bangalore.

What are the exclusive highlights of this project?

There are 5 swimming pools, including an indoor heated pool, a grand atrium with a lounge area for each tower, jogging/walking trail, outdoor exercise area with equipment,a 9-hole mini golf course, ATM booths.The project includes telemedicine unit which is equipped with emergency medicines, detention facilities, nurses and paramedical staff and 24x7 facilities for consultations through vid­eo-conferencing. Residents of will also get personal care from Apollo Hospital.It is the first project in India to introduce ‘serviced homes’ with home concierge. The services include health care, beauty salon, maintenance professionals, domestic help, school pick-up and drop, banking facility and lunch carrier service, among other things.

What inspired the concept of Augmented Reality? How effective has it been?

 With an increased penetration of smart devices in India, we wanted to use a innovative marketing strategy like AR to connect directly with our target group and offer them a digitally engaging experience. ‘Augmented Reality’, gives a 3-D tour of real estate properties for a closer experience and provides a panoramic view of the interiors along with a virtual walk through of the property. The whole idea behind launching this application was to help the customers get a 3 dimensional view of the project, thereby helping them in making a decision in buying their dream homes. This approach has been very effective as customers feel confident and satisfied while making decisions of investing in properties.

 The Digital Interactive Mannequin—it is an unique concept but is it better than one-on-one interaction?

 The digital interactive mannequin conceptualized by Mantri Developers interacts with the customers and educates them about the company and its upcoming projects with just at a click of a button. This has successfully managed to attract a lot of eyeballs and create a buzz as customers can have their queries answered as and when required by them. In terms of technology innovations, we have introduced Smart Homes in collaboration with CISCO, which offers wide range of controls for every gadget or appliance in the house. 

Spacethetics—very innovative, how successful has it been?

Spacethetics is a single window home decor consultation store launched to assist the residents in designing the interiors of their home with consultation of reputed interior designers. This specialized store offers a complete solution for the entire interiors requirement and  has been very successful as our customers do not have to go hunting for different things. Spacethectics offers wide range of products so that the interiors and décor are personalized as per customer’s requirements and specifications. Spacethectics sources the material from India, Italy, Europe and China.

Women must take charge of their finances

Aditi Kothari, Exec. Vice President at DSP BlackRock Investment Mangers spearheads the Winvestor initiative by DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund to inspire and empower women with financial knowledge, enabling them to become confident of taking their own financial decisions.In 2007 she completed her MBA from the Harvard Business School .

Aditi

Why is it important for women to be in charge of their financial future?

I would like to illustrate this point with an example: A few years ago, a young employee in our firm met with an untimely demise and left behind a grief stricken wife, the mother of his two children. Consequently she became the beneficiary of a sizeable life insurance claim and some company compensation money. Prying relatives and other kin were quick to spot the opportunity and offer to invest the money on her behalf. In her vulnerable state she may have even signed away her inheritance, had the DSP BlackRock team not intervened and guided her through a suitable investment plan, according to her particular risk tolerance level and future financial objectives.

I also came across other such incidents involving freshly divorced friends with a sizable alimony and some single friends who were earning a healthy income but did not have the confidence, interest or knowledge to make their own investment decisions.

What exactly is Winvestor?

Winvestor program is a financial awareness program for women to encourage them to find the confidence to make their own financial decisions. We believe that in order for women to be responsible for their personal financial futures they need to reach out to trusted financial advisors to help them. Simultaneously, they can try to educate themselves as much as they can from the internet or other introductory personal finance books.  

How are the priorities, aspirations, lifestyles and financial planning needs of women different from men ?

A woman’s expense priorities are rather different than that of a man’s, especially her husbands’. For example, a woman may want to spend on jewellery or bags and not feel it is very important to spend on upgrading the car! It is  that simple. An adult woman should be able to spend on whatever she wants even if she is not earning money. That is where investments can play an important part. Women today inherit money, they have savings from past jobs or they are given some money in their trousseau. If they educated themselves a little more about investing and were in touch themselves (independent of their spouses) with a financial advisor they would be confident in making all their financial decisions and would not feel dependent on or obligated to their partners or family members. They would be able to generate some income from their ‘corpuses’ (inheritance, past savings or trousseau money) and be well on their way to financial independence! I do believe a lot of marital stress can be alleviated if all women took charge of their own finances.

In other cases, women may also have to deal with unexpected and unfortunate events such as divorce and widowhood.

Which are the most basic questions/concerns that women have regarding finance?

Among women who attend Winvestor sessions, about 50 per cent said that they were not as confident and knowledgeable about financial matters as are men and were hence hesitant to make their own financial decisions. They said that they rely completely on their spouse, father, brother or other male members in their family.

According to a 2007 study on gender differences by Tahira Hira of Iowa State University and Cäzilia Loibl of Ohio State University, women are still less likely to be socialized in financial matters, find investment decisions stressful, difficult and time consuming. The study also found that it often takes a life event, like getting married, to prompt women to save and invest, whereas men were more likely to start investing gradually.The basic questions which most women ask are, “How do I make myself financially literate? How do I start investing and how do I know which products are right for me?”

What are some of the basic financial instruments a woman needs to know about?

Health insurance, life insurance (term plans), mutual funds and bank recurring deposits are some products that women in general should be aware of.

What has been the response to the financial literacy campaigns for underprivileged women?

We have organized a series of financial literacy campaigns in North India in collaboration with Sanchayan Society - a Delhi based NGO for underprivileged rural women dedicated exclusively to financial literacy for the youth and  adults.

These workshops spread awareness on concepts like inflation, investments, bank account savings; made women aware of concepts like NPS, Recurring deposits, FDs and Life Insurance among others. These programs were held in the local dialect and have been received very well.

Are there plans to conduct such campaigns in other metros?

Of course! Sanchayan does more work in North India, particularly in the Delhi NCR region. We are therefore keen to connect with other NGOs doing similar work in other regions in order to scale this initiative countrywide. Interested NGOs may get in touch with us at winvestor@dspblackrock.com.

What about rural areas where literacy is low?

We want to reach out to as many women as possible and again, are keen to engage with NGOs all across the country in rural and urban areas.

                                          

Beyond Pipes & Dreams !

An avid reader, passionate writer,  homemaker, dancer, animal lover and Chairperson of the Rs. 2000 crore pharma giant USV Ltd,  Leena Gandhi Tewari, heads the company which is India’s largest player in anti-diabetic drugs .  Their products are marketed to over 75 countries and  in India they are recognized for their leadership in the Oral Anti-Diabetic market .

Tell us about your early days....

I grew up in Bandra which in the 60s and 70s was green and idyllic. My love of the jungle stems from this childhood of running barefoot and free to climb a tree or watch a lizard or a snake with fascination not fear. Later I went to Sydenham college and  Boston University.Being away from home was both exciting and difficult and it completed my transition into adulthood.

You recently launched your book " Beyond Pipes And Dreams "...What is it about?

This is a biography of my grandfather late Vithal Gandhi, who came from a very poor family in Ratnagiri.

I wrote this biography over a period of 7 years. It is backed by extensive research. He was influenced by the great leaders of our nation especially Mahatma Gandhi and Lala Lajpatrai. His own underprivileged background and his work in Mumbai slums stirred in him the desire to work in the field of medication and start a business in pharmaceuticals.

Were you inspired by him to take up business?

Everything about him inspired me. His humility and honesty on one hand and warmth and joie de vivre on the other.I had no idea about how important he was or how he played a role as an economist in framing of the policies of free India, in bringing about infrastructure such as the Vaitarna Dam or the BEST  and ST( State Transport) bus. 

As chairperson of USV  how involved are you in the day-to-day running of a huge empire? What  challenges do you face?

As the third generation in USV,  I look after our long term growth strategy and goals for the overall business and for individual units in the company--new areas to explore and what strategy we adopt. USV is known for leadership in diabetes and cardiovasculars. We also focus on gynaecology, pediatrics, nutritionals and a few other areas. We have expanded over the last 7 years into cosmoceuticals and neutraceuticals.

My challenges are of course ensuring that we are always nimble to face the rapidly changing environment….

Does the company have a research wing to improve on available drugs?

USV Limited has a very active research arm which works towards development of medications for the Indian market as well as international markets such as USA, Europe etc. In the Indian market, since we are the leading player in the anti- diabetic and cardiovascular markets, we have endeavoured to address the specific needs of patients who have to be on medication for their lifetime by bringing to them product offerings such as Glycomet SR. This is a patented sustained release form of metformin, which provides smallest pill size. For the first time  we have developed low dose pioglitazone triple drug combination.

Our research wing is also working on developing an oral form of insulin, which is the holy grail of research world-wide. This will enable patients to take insulin in an oral capsule form.

 You are a wife and mother--- how supportive is your husband?

My family is my backbone. With my husband I share a common interest in wild life.I have two children Vilas and Aneesha with whom we share active vacations which vary from a trek in Bhutan to skiing in Austria or safari in Kenya. As parents we are very proud that both our children are humble and conscious of carving out their identity from their own accomplishments.

Are you associated with any NGO?

 I have my own school called the Susheela Gandhi Center which I founded in 2005. It is named after my grandmother who was a doctor in the 1920s and a strong woman who inspired me. The girls are from underpreviliged backgrounds are taught subjects ranging from dance to computers, English, communication skills etc. In the last  7 years there is a perceptible change in their confidence, their school grades and even their behaviour at home which is more positive and respectful.

 What  advice would you give young women who want to have successful careers and a harmonious life?

I feel women are very capable of taking on many roles and making them all a success. It is a question of balance. There are times when one will choose to focus on career and then times when motherhood or something else will take the lead in terms of time (never in terms of importance). Then later career or hobby will come back to the forefront. Balancing our roles is what we must do consciously and well. We women can create our own blends in life!

Dharavi Eclipsed

Dharavi ( British Anglicised spelling Darravy, Dorrovy) is a slum and administrative ward, over parts of Sion, Bandra, Kurla and Kalina suburbs of Mumbai, India. In 1986, the population was estimated at 530,225, but modern Dharavi has a population of between 600,000 and over 1 million people. Dharavi is one of the largest slums in the world: it used to be the largest slum in Mumbai at one time, but as of 2011, there are four slums in Mumbai larger than Dharavi.The Kurla-Ghatkopar belt, the Mankhurd-Govandi belt, the Yogi and Yeoor hill slopes stretching from Bhandup to Mulund flanking the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) on the east and Dindoshi on the western flank of the National Park have all eclipsed Dharavi.

The area of present-day Dharavi was predominantly mangrove swamp before the late 19th century, inhabited by Koli fishermen.However, the fishing industry disappeared gradually as people from different states moved in and set up  readymade garment and embroidery units as well as tanneries. Now picture this, you’re in the market for a premium Cerruti Leather Wallet, but with a limited budget. Dharavi’s the place to be. What’s better is, that even though Dharavi may deal in certain imitations, the quality is amazing, in most cases better than the original. 

 The district has an estimated 5000 businesses^[ and 15,000 single-room factories: goods are exported around the world and turnover is estimated to be between US$500 million and over US$650 million per year.In a city where house rents are among the highest in the world, Dharavi provides a cheap and affordable option.The area has severe problems with public health, due to the scarcity of toilet facilities and inadequate water supply.

There have been many plans since 1997 to redevelop Dharavi like the former slums of Hong Kong such as Tai Hang.The latest urban redevelopment plan proposed for the Dharavi area is managed by American-trained architect Mukesh Mehta.The plan involves the construction of 30,000,000 square feet (2,800,000 m²) of housing, schools, parks and roads to serve the 57,000 families residing in the area.

There has been significant local opposition to the plans, largely because" 1). existing residents are due to receive only 269 square feet (25.0 m²) of land each, 2) Only those families who lived in the area before 2000 are slated for resettlement and  3) Residents  fear that some of their small businesses in the "informal" sector may not be relocated under the redevelopment plan.The government has said that it will only legalize and relocate industries that are not "polluting."

Dharavi features prominently in Danny Boyle's 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, where several of the child actors in the film are from the Dharavi slum.Other notable films depicting the slums include Deewaar (1975), Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay! (1988) Parinda (1989), Sudhir Mishra's Dharavi (1991),  Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal (2007), Rajeev Khandelwal's Aamir (2008).

Light By The Liter!

How A Plastic Bottle is Lighting up Lives! 

Millions  around the world live in slums and shanties without basic amenities such as proper water, electric supply, inadequate daylight. Many often resort to kerosene, candles, or inventive wiring for light, risking health and safety in the process. Many simply go without.Proper electricity is not a common option, especially in the Philippines, which has the highest electricity rates in Asia. Filipino entrepreneur and activist Illac Diaz created Liter of Light to provide informal settlements in his country with a cheap daytime lighting source that can be produced and distributed locally. The Mumbai Chapter of Liter of Light is already rendering yeoman service to many slum pockets in the city.

Illac's solution was astoundingly simple:  a clear plastic soda bottle filled with water is installed in the roof as a skylight. The water refracts the sunlight as it streams through the bottle, dispersing the rays 360 degrees, thereby illuminating the entire room. The recipients of the solar bottle bulbs, who pay about $1 for the bulb and installation, save money on electricity and cut back on pollution and fire hazards.

Illac is a social entrepreneur known for his innovative ideas for the marginalized Filipino. His breakthrough projects include the Pier One Seaman’s Dorm and the My Shelter Foundation’s low-cost earth bag homes. He also studied Management at the Asian Institute of Management. He has won several awards for his work: among them, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology US$100K Business Plan Competition, Innovation Entrepreneur at the 2007 Philippine Entrepreneur of the Year, the Jaycees International’s 10 Most Outstanding Young Persons of the World 2006. He was a model and collegiate athlete.

Another pet project—The Earthbag School! This scenario is hardly new in Philippine schools. Problems in the education sector have dramatically increased in the past few years, with the lack of classrooms growing by a whopping 586 per cent. The shortage of classrooms prompted concerned organizations to take matters into their own hands --Illac was roped in for structural design. “In addition to the basic requirements for making the building less expensive and more typhoon-resistant, we also wanted to come up with a design that would be more conducive to teaching and learning than the dark and hot box layout typically used in that part of the world. Illac was roped in for technical support and Cement giant La Farge Semento supplied the cement for holding the structures together. 2007---The beautiful weather was a perfect background to the amazing completion of the first earthbag school in the world.

A pow-wow with the Mumbai Liters

What is the Liter of Light exactly? What is the concept?

Liter of Light is a worldwide movement, based on an idea that originated in Phillipines.The concept is very simple - a 1.5 litre soft drink bottle is filled with water and bleach, which is then stuck to a roof, with some part of it above the roof and the rest of it, inside the house. When sunlight falls on the upper part of the bottle, water defracts the light and the bottle illuminates- equivalent to a 55-watt bulb.

How long does  this bottle last and why is bleach added?

This bottle lasts for 5 years (the bleach has nothing to do with illumination, it is used to keep the water clean and from preventing algae etc from growing within). The material used for preparing and installing these bottles comprises of materials of everyday use - a soft drink bottle, and plastic sheets. The glue, the most important component, is specially made for this project from Germany. Apart from being eco-friendly, this bottle helps reduce electricity consumption, which is a very costly affair in a city like Mumbai. 

What is the cost of installing  the bottle?

The cost of installing this bottle in one home in Mumbai is zero. The glue is sponsored,  the only cost incurred is the soft drink bottle. We are appealing to people , asking them to collect the bottles  instead of them discarding them. People can collect 1.5 litre Coke bottles and get in touch  with us at literoflightmumbai@gmail.com.

Who are the members of your core team?

The core team in Mumbai consists of  Priyanka Bhosale,  Akilesh Subramanian, Amar Kharate,  Harshraj Madan,Abhishek Sawant and Karan Pathak. Priyanka is a writer at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, Akilesh a PR professional and former student of University of Mumbai, Department of Civics and Politics  is associated with Labour Education And Research Network (LEARN). Abhishek Sawant is president of the District Youth Congress, Mumbai. He is the General Secretary at Labour Education And Research Network (LEARN) and is the guiding force behind its association with Liter of Light, Mumbai. 

Amar Kharat a former student of Globalisation and Labour Studies, TISS, works at the grassroots, connecting with the community about our various projects.Karan Pathak an event management professional  is involved with marketing for Liter of Light, Mumbai. Harshraj Madan is closely associated with Sanskaar India Foundation, an NGO that works in areas of education, development, etc. 

Prajakta Bhosale-Goyal: Prajakta is a PR professional based in Gurgaon. She handles, along with Akilesh, the PR work for Liter of Light Mumbai, advising the team about events and general publicity. 

How did you first hear about this unique project?

Dr. Sudha Mohan, associate professor, Dept. of Civics and Politics, University of Mumbai, who also teaches one semester at Switzerland's University of St. Gallen, got an e-mail from our coordinator for Liter of Light Mumbai, Leoni Runge describing the movement and their desire to visit the city and conduct some workshops and installations. Dr. Mohan, who herself has been very enthusiastic and encouraging about projects out of the ordinary, shared this project with some of her students.

Akilesh and Priyanka accompanied the visiting group of students. They got in touch with their friends at LEARN, Amar and Abhishek, who readily agreed to support this movement.

Is this a full-time occupation?

The core team members are working professionals who devote tremendous amounts of time and energy to Liter of Light, Mumbai. They meet once every week to discuss the movement's progress. They are not getting paid for this and are doing this out of their own interest. 

What  kind of guidance  and help did you  get?

Liter of Light, Switzerland, parent organisation, visited Mumbai last year (October) to train people here to carry their work forward. This training involved conducting pre-visits to slums to identify houses where this light would be most beneficial, preparing the bottles, i.e. gluing them to plastic sheets and finally, installing them by boring holes in the roof and gluing this bottle there. Workshops were held  at Worli Koliwada, Backbay Depot and Reay Road with about 10-15 bottles installed there. Liter of Light, Mumbai was  launched very recently.The Mumbai Chapter is also  looking for more people to join in and support the project by:
1. Organising collection drives in their localities/ societies
2. Joining in workshops, where they will be  trained  to install
3. Help  identify those slums that could benefit from this project
4. Spread the word

Our upcoming projects include: installations in slums in the city (people may approach us for installing such bottles in slums near their homes) and tie ups with a few NGOs are in the pipeline