Through Shikshayatan and Sriniketan Foundation, Purnima Desai has been promoting the beauty, goodwill, and tranquility of Indian art and culture in the USA for the last 35 years.
Current Position: Founder & Director, Shikshayatan Cultural Center and Sriniketan Foundation.
Known For: Promoting Indian classical arts, education, wellness, and spiritual growth.
Major Recognition: ‘Person of the Year 2006’ award from World Business Forum, and ‘Ambassador of Peace’ from Universal Peace Federation.
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By Bidisha Roy
Mrs. Purnima A. Desai is a distinguished cultural leader, educator, and humanitarian dedicated to serving the community for decades. She is the Founder of Shikshayatan Cultural Center and Sriniketan Foundation in New York, through which she promotes education, classical arts, wellness, and spiritual growth. Honored with titles such as ‘Ambassador of Peace’ and ‘A Loving Light’, Mrs. Desai continues to inspire lives through her selfless service and vision of a harmonious and enriched society.
Shikshayatan and Sriniketan, two philanthropic organizations promote the beauty, goodwill, and tranquility of Indian art and culture through educational workshops teaching children and women Hindi, violin, dance, poetry, and painting.
Purnima ji was born in a Gujarati Brahmin family in Calcutta in 1949. Recalls she, “I started my cultural journey in Calcutta. At Shikshayatan school, I learnt Bharatanatyam, Manipuri and Kathak.” Moving to Delhi in 1968, while doing her MBA, she continued with her passion for music and culture and choreographed dance dramas.
A year after getting married to Ashok Desai, a pharmacist, the family moved to New York in 1973.
Shikshayatan, house of learning classical arts
In New York, Purnima worked briefly for two top banks – CITI and Chase before taking a break to bring up her three daughters: Kaveeta, Komal and Tejal.
Returning to her passion for the arts, she started performing and choreographing at Gujarati Samaj of New York. In 1988 Purnima founded Shikshayatan to impart knowledge about Indian culture to the young generation. Functioning from her home in Flushing, Queens, it is open to all nationalities and offers lessons in vocal and instrumental music. It has trained several loyal and dedicated students who have supported her organization by performing in churches, temples, community events, Diwali celebrations, public libraries and schools.
“I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to acquire the best from both India and the United States,” says Purnima. “Now I proudly guide our young generation to balance their life and remain peaceful and connected to both cultures.”
Each year Shikshayatan showcases the talent of internationally renowned artists and honors them for preserving the heritage of Hindustani classical music.
Service through Sriniketan Foundation
In 2015, Purnima started Sriniketan Foundation to fulfill the dream of her late father. “After the death of my mother, he was alone. So, he told me to do something for seniors so that they don’t feel lonely.”
Sriniketan Foundation aims to build awareness about balanced lifestyle through mind, body and soul Evolution. The Foundation promotes spiritual growth by organizing lectures, discourses, seminars, workshops, comedy shows, etc.
Purnima Desai has celebrated many festivals of India, and anniversaries of saints, sages, and patriotic leaders to disseminate knowledge about India. She has been blessed by gurus like Mata Amritanandamayi, Morari Bapu; dignitaries including Hillary Clinton and Dr Karan Singh; and renowned artists such as Sonal Mansingh, Padmini Ramachandran, Archana Joglekar, and Pt Ramesh Narayan.
Accomplished artiste and impresario
Purnima is an acknowledged vocalist who has many music albums to her credit. She has authored a Children’s book, a book of patriotic songs, and one of spiritual songs. She is a scriptwriter, producer and director of short plays – ‘Apna Desh Apne Tyohaar’ and ‘Bal Ramayan’ for Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. As a program director of cultural events, Purnima has produced and directed more than a thousand cultural programs. She is a Kriya Acharya Reiki Grand Master, having learnt under Reiki grandmasters Dr. N.K. Sharma and Dr. Savita Sharma.
Though Purnima Desai is an institution by herself, she has been bestowed several honors and awards. She was conferred Dharma Kalyaan Jyoti Madalsa Award (Loving Light) by Maa Yog Shakti. All Brahmin Convention 2001 honored her. World Business Forum presented her “Person of the Year” 2006 and “Woman of the Era”. In 2009 she received a citation from NYC Council and in 2011 “Ambassador for Peace” award from Universal Peace Federation.
A true cultural ambassador of peace and harmony, Purnima has emerged as one of the most respected Indians in the USA.
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