Conversation between Dr. Aloka Nanjappa, Salil Chowdhury’d daughter.

I had the rare privilege of conversing with Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, an exceptional scientist and nation-builder. This unique opportunity allowed me to gain insights into his remarkable contributions and their impact on both scientific advancement and nation-building. Our transformative conversation left a lasting impression on me, reinforcing the significance of human potential and innovation. This encounter serves as a powerful reminder of the profound influence individuals can have on society. Enjoy the conversation.

Chethan Anant is a South Asian Classical bansuri (bamboo flute) player, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and music educator based in Chicagoland. He has studied the Raagdhaari Sangeet Classical Music tradition for most of his life. He has been fortunate to study under esteemed gurus, including Pandit Ronu Majumdar, Pandit Shyam Kane, Pandit Vikas Kashalkar, and Pandit Arun Kashalkar. Chethan has been teaching music since 2016 and has shared his new generational perspective on classical music with more than 50 students. He spends months each year studying with his gurus in India and extensive time practicing at home. Saurabh Kumar began learning tabla from the age of five from Smt Bindu Pathak and later received training from Shri Nishad Parmar. Since 2016 he has been learning from Shri Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee at the Pandit Jasraj School of Music Atlanta. Saurabh is currently a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at Stanford University. He is an avid Zakir Hussain fan and treasures watching and listening to Zakir Sahab whenever possible.

Maya Vishwakarma is the Founder and Chairperson of Sukarma Foundation. A native of Mehragaon village in district Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh (MP), India, Maya has lived in San Francisco, California, USA, for nearly a decade and distributes her life between two countries. She is known as India's 'Padwoman,' and has tirelessly fought against society's deep-rooted decision that devalues the existence of menstruation among women. Sukarma Foundation is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization working on improving the lives of rural Indians. Key initiatives (or Karmas) by the foundation include educating women about the importance of female hygiene and sexual health, empowering them through employment opportunities via sustainable businesses, providing telemedicine facilities to people in remote areas with a want of timely quality medical assistance, making primary education available to children and adults from impoverished sections of the Indian rural population and many more. You can donate, help and learn more about the foundation: https://sukarmafoundation.org

In this Chaitime, we talk to poet, singer, songwriter, and inventor Kavish Seth. In this episode, Kavish talks about his musical journey and his latest single, Hindi Kavish has also conceptualized an innovative project, Zubaan, a music project that aims to create platforms for collaboration between independent music artists from different corners of India. Chapters have started in Odisha, Varanasi, Deoria, Kausani, Khetri, Nagpur/ Wardha/ Gadchiroli, Mumbai, and Kolkata, where around 30 artists have been collaborating and performing all across the mainland. Kavish has also created an innovative instrument, Noori, which allows him to play different kinds of music using the same instrument. Kavish graduated from IIT Bombay but chose to pursue music and connect with people.

In today's ChaiTime, we talk to Shri Anand Mahadeo Ganu, Founder-President of Garje Marathi Global, and Dr. Sanjay Bhandari, a leader and key contributor to Garje Marathi Global projects. Mr. Anand Gaju is the Founder-President of Garje Marathi Global (www.garjemarathi.com), a nonprofit registered in California, USA. Garje Marathi Global is a platform for 'Non-Resident Marathi' and 'Back to Motherland Marathi' ( परत मातृभूमीला मराठी) who value knowledge, education, and entrepreneurship. GMG has four main objectives: Networking, Mentoring, Giving back to society and our roots, and celebrating the success of Marathi around the world. Dr. Sanjay Bhandari is the Founder and CEO of a Stealth mode Start-up. Previously, he held positions as President & CTO at MEMSIC Inc., CTO and Sr. VP mCube (now Movella) and has won several awards, including EE Times/EDN Start-up of the Year award in 2012, "MEMS Start-Up of the Year" by MEMS Industry Group in 2014 and "MEMS/Sensor Device of the Year" in 2015. He has 69 filed patents, including 27 granted US patents. Today, we will talk about the organization and GMG's upcoming event - Garje Marathi Global Excellence Summit 2023 ICC, Milpitas on July 29, July 30, 2023. You can register and find all the information at: https://garjemarathi.com/event

Background Music - Morning Ragas by Ravishankar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n91Vhdrrkss)

In today's ChaiTime, we talk to renowned award-winning Indian classical vocalist Mahesh Kale (http://www.maheshkale.com). In this conversation, we talk to him about his musical journey and his upcoming Stanford Jazz workshop, Indian Jazz Journey, with jazz saxophone virtuoso George Brooks. Details of the workshop are here: https://stanfordjazz.org/more-info/indian-jazz-journey-mahesh-kale-george-brooks-22/ Mahesh Kale is a San Francisco Bay Area-based Indian Classical vocalist renowned for specializing in Indian Classical, Semi-Classical, Devotional, and Natya Sangeet. After winning India's National Film Award as the Best Playback Singer for a classical piece in the film Katyar Kaljat Ghusli in 2016, Mahesh Kale has established himself as the face of Indian classical music of the new generation. Trained in the Gurukul learning system from the legendary Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Mahesh is among the most sought-after performers globally. He has performed extensively in India, USA, Canada, Europe, UAE, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Mahesh and his wife, Purva Gujar Kale, have established Indian Classical Music and Arts Foundation, ICMA (http://www.maheshkale.com/new/#icma). ICMA is a not-for-profit organization working towards preserving, nurturing, and celebrating Indian classical music through activities and projects to expose global audiences to this art form and to aid its sustainment through charitable initiatives.

हम रहें या ना रहें कल, कल याद आएँगे ये पल At Chai time radio today, we celebrate KK's legacy on ChaiTime with Vamsidhar, a prolific singer and prominent bay area voice. It is not just a regular episode but a heartfelt collaboration of two ardent, dedicated fans of KK. I hope you will like it and send your good wishes and blessings to our talented singer Vamsi. Indian playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, who was fondly known as KK, died unexpectedly last year on May 31st. The untimely news of KK's demise shattered millions of fans, but the only solace is that he went doing what he did best - singing and winning millions of hearts. KK was one of the greatest playback singers of the modern era, and it is a humble effort to pay tribute to him through his songs sung by Vamsi. You can listen to the complete songs and stay updated with Vamsi's singing at: Youtube channel link: https://www.youtube.com/@vamsimusic Tribute to KK playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4brP8Gc9ag&list=PLTE0qBLi0A3zBagQcbfoOPW_EPhaTkjED&index=9

In today's show, we play Saaz, Awaaz, and Andaaz presentation Rhythms of the legends with नितिन शंकर जी. It was an honor to listen to stories and hear melodious music from the rhythm master Nitin Shankar Ji on the latest episode of Saaz Awaaz and Andaaz. Nitin Shankar Ji is a legendary rhythmist who has remastered Sholay theme music with contemporary instruments and was the rhythm arranger for the 1942 love story Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge, Devdas, Hum Dil de chuke sanam, Bajirao mastani, Kalank and many more. He learned tabla from the great maestro Ustad Alla Rakha Sahab and Zakhir Hussian Sahab and has worked with legendary composers like Sachin Dev Burman, Rahul Dev Burman, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This program was telecast live using Facebook Live with Nitin Ji joining from Mumbai and our bay area artists and a live audience in Pleasanton, CA. There is more to come in Part -2. *Saaz Aawaz Andaaz* (SAA) is a Unique Musical Initiative of the East Bay Karaoke (EBK) group with an objective to preserve Acoustic Music; Melody of Acoustic Musical Instruments & to motivate and encourage music lovers, especially the young generation. It was started by Mr. Vilas Thuse, a big fan, and connoisseur of Hindi cinema music. This program was conceived and organized by Vilas Da, with the notable music personality of the Bay Area, Raju Chidambaram, and the great team of Saaj Awaaz and Andaaz. You can support SAA with your kind contributions to the crowdfunded initiative. https://gofund.me/5c9f827b *SAA Team* Concept & Design: Vilas Da Program Director: Raju Chithambaram: Director of Technical & Sound Engineering: Vamsi Dhar: Marketing & Admin: Kanika Wah Audio-Visual Support: Abhijit Purandare Photography & Event Support: Chetan Wakade Videography & Event Support: Megha Thuse Creative Art & Event Support: Divya Raman: Event Management: Gayatri Seethamraju, Gitika Sharma, Priti Nagda:

मेरी प्रिय कविता - सीताः एक नारी (Sita: Ek Naari) श्री प्रताप नारायण सिंह by Chai Time Radio

In this Chaitime, we talk to Annette Philip and Rohit Jayaraman from the Grammy-nominated band Berklee Indian Ensemble(https://berkleeindianensemble.com/). The band will perform in the SF Bay Area on April 7th, 2023, as part of their "The Shuruaat Tour," celebrating their Grammy-nominated album Shuruaat. The show in SF Bay Area is in collaboration with the Sankara Eye Foundation. An evening where cause joins creativity, this event will help Sankara Eye Foundation achieve the goal of raising donations for 1000 free eye surgeries as part of its Vision 2030: March to a Million initiative(https://www.giftofvision.org/the-shuruaat-tour). Founded in 2011 by Annette Philip, the Berklee Indian Ensemble is a world-renowned collective known for its global Indian sound that honors traditions while boldly experimenting with genre, culture, and multidisciplinary art. In July 2022, the ensemble released their debut album, Shuruaat, a collection of 10 songs featuring 98 musicians from 32 countries. Shuruaat was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Global Music Album at the 65th GRAMMY Awards.

With 37 years of Airline flying and transitioning as the youngest woman Jet Commander (B737) in 1989, Captain Nivedita has flown Turboprops, Boeing as well as Airbus planes. Brave, bold, and determined, she succeeded in transforming her passion into her profession. When just 26, Capt. Nivedita Bhasin became the world's youngest Woman Jet Commander in 1989, creating a record. After flying for three decades, finally, she has retired from flying but not from encouraging and motivating young girls while still following her passion and hobbies.

मेरी प्रिय कविता - सतपुड़ा के घने जंगल (भवानी प्रसाद मिश्र) by Chai Time Radio

Celebrating the legacy of Rashtrakavi Shri Shrikrishna Saral with Dr. Jagdish Vyom by Chai Time Radio

Children's Day is celebrated across India to raise awareness about children's rights, education, and welfare on 14 November every year. Today, it was our honor to celebrate it in our studio with Dr. Jagdish Vyom Ji, known for his remarkable contribution to children's literature. He has written many novels, stories, and poems for children. He is a pioneer in creating awareness about understanding child psychology and writing poetry to touch the cord of young readers. His poetry on children is prevalent and part of the school syllabus in many schools all over India. Today, he read some popular children's poems written by various Hindi poets and also talked about बाल साहित्य (children's literature) in detail. He also recited his poems along with his granddaughter Ayra. You can listen to all of this on Soundcloud:

On this Chatime, we talk to Dr. Pallavi Sharma, a poet, painter, professor, and dear friend… She paints with her pen, writes with her paintbrush, and makes her way to our hearts.
Pallavi is a multidisciplinary artist whose research interest concerns Asian American women's cultural production and activism. She is a board member of the Asian American Women Artists Association and founder and director of 'Inner Eye Arts,' a nonprofit arts organization working for the visibility of Asian American Artists in the SF Bay area. Pallavi's work has been exhibited in the US and abroad, including at the Queens Museum of the Arts, the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, the Aicon Gallery in New York, the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, and the Taubman Museum of Art in Virginia, among others. Her works explore the theme of marginalization, patriarchy, and misogyny and examine the notions of memory. She has published two poetry collections, कच्चा रंग (Kachcha Rang) and कोलतार के पैर (Koltar ke Peir)। We talk to her about poetry, paintings, community and more. You can find out more about her work and get in touch with her at: https://www.pallavisharma.com

आज अध्यापक, लेखक, कवि, संपादक, नवगीत एवं हिंदी हाइकु के विकास के लिए सतत प्रयासरत डॉ. जगदीश व्योम जी के साथ स्टैन्फ़र्ड यूनिवर्सिटी के KZSU 90.1FM पर बात करने का सौभाग्य मिला। सरकारी महकमे में कुशलता से बड़ी बड़ी ज़िम्मेदारियों का निर्वाह करते हुए भी सतत साहित्य व संस्कृति की सेवा में जुटे रहे जगदीश जी। अनेक प्रकाशन, अनगिनत उपलब्धियाँ, और बहुत ही सफल प्रवास है उनका लेकिन मुझे सबसे ख़ास लगा उनका सरल, विनम्र स्वभाव। आसमान सा व्यापक दृष्टिकोण लेकिन ज़मीन से जुड़ा हुआ नम्र, मृदुभाषी और सबमें प्यार से घुलमिल जाने वाला व्यक्तित्व। आज की ये मुलाक़ात हमेशा याद रहेगी। डॉक्टर व्योम जी का बहुत आभार, धन्यवाद और शुभकामनाएँ। आप उनसे जुड़ सकते हैं उनके ब्लॉग के माध्यम से: vyomkepar.blogspot.com

Rungmunch is a nonprofit organization founded by Smita Karhade and Madhaw Karhade in 2016 with a passion for theater with the desire to give back to the community. Within 5 years of its inception, Rungmunch has donated over $250k for various causes and helped raise $500k. GITPro awarded Rungmunch "Charity Organization of Year - 2016". It's a platform where driven actors, directors, dancers, musicians, singers, and playwrights of Indian origin come together to produce great theater to raise funds for a worthy cause. Rungmunch operates with a philosophy that. "as an attendee or performer in any play, movie, or musical show, we enjoy every moment of it, and while doing so, if we could be the reason to put a smile on someone's face, then it will be more satisfying." #For CommunitiesByCommunities #EmpoweringArtistsForBettermentOfCommunities #MakeADifference You can find all the information about the cause, its events, and opportunities to volunteer at: https://www.rungmunch.org Please join them in their upcoming event, "Azadi ka Mahotsav" (Saturday, Sep 24, 2022 10:00 A.M to 7:00 P.M. University of Silicon Andhra 1521 California Cir, Milpitas, CA 95035)

Raskhan Madhuri by Chai Time Radio