Zindagi Matters

In the dance between darkness and light, Rajat Nirula - Learning and Development Professional, learnt to find his rhythm in life. He has navigated his life through childhood trauma and Bipolar Disorder. He says, "At the end of the dark tunnel there is always light. Never ever lose hope."

Meet Vaishali, who journeyed through the shadows of domestic violence and emotional abuse, all alone, in a foreign land. Her story is not just of survival but of triumph over adversity.

Listen to her warrior echoes while journeying beyond emotional winters.

She is on a mission to break the silence surrounding domestic violence.

Let’s stand in solidarity with survivors everywhere.

"I feel so sad that her life, so bright, has been destroyed," says Mr Bakhshy.

Meet him (Amrit Bakhshy - 80 +), a carer to his daughter for the last 30 years, esteemed author, and former President of the Schizophrenia Awareness Association. With unwavering dedication, he has tirelessly championed the cause of mental health awareness, particularly focusing on schizophrenia. His profound insights garnered through personal experiences and extensive research, have empowered countless individuals and families affected by this complex condition. He continues to inspire hope and foster understanding. LIsten to his candid interview.

Empathy and resilience are the palpable themes of carers. Listen to the carer of a dementia patient talking about the challenges of navigating the ever-changing landscape of dementia.   Her experience is a poignant reminder of the profound impact dementia has on families and the extraordinary strength required in the face of adversity.

Welcome to another episode of Zindagi Matters.  Today, we're privileged to share the inspiring journey of a young caregiver - Nikita Lamba - who selflessly cares for her aunt- living with the early onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Join us as we explore the profound love, resilience, and dedication that drive her to navigate the complexities of caregiving in the face of Alzheimer's. This heartfelt interview promises to shed light on the unique perspective of a caregiver, offering valuable insights and hope to all who tune in.

Vishal Gupta is a maverick. He is an Engineer by qualification, a prolific author by passion, a criminal lawyer and a life coach by choice. And he has achieved all this while living with clinical depression and OCD. The quest for learning new things and courses does not let him relax. "I'm like a child; always curious to know and learn new things. Now I'm planning to learn percussion instrument - tabla," he says. According to him, mental health issues should not stop one from living an enriched life.

'Bipolar disorder is not me. My identity is much more than bipolar disorder. It is just one part of my life and I have no shame in accepting it,' says Nina, a scientist living with bipolar disorder. An in-depth interview with her where she talks about her life, achievements, and support system while living with bipolar disorder.

From childhood trauma to acceptance. Listen to the heartbreaking story of a young girl, a carer to her mother, living with mental illness.

Ashoka Fellow Dr Rajat Mitra, Clinical Psychologist, author, and professor, says that one needs to see crime as a behavioural problem. India still does not value psychologists' testimony in the courts as other countries do. Listen to the episode to understand various aspects of crime, culture and psychology. 

Dr S Kalyanasundaram, eminent psychiatrist and leading figure in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, diffuses some of the myths surrounding mental illness and offers a fresh perspective.

"I wrote pages after pages sitting beside my loved one in the hospital," says Dr Nirmala Srinivasan, who left her academic career and devoted herself to the cause of mental health.

Touched by the mental illness of her loved one, she established - FACEmi- a family advocacy group.

Listen to Ashoka Fellow Dr Nirmala Srinivasan talking about her journey and how she changed the perception of mental illness.

You came home with a trophy

but you can't celebrate with your mother.

She is there, she smiles

but you're a stranger to her

and she is a stranger to herself.

Alzheimer's has consumed her.

Let's 'know Dementia; know Alzheimer's'

from the people who became unknown caregivers to their parents.