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.
-
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.
Hi! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My site covers a lot of the same subjects as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site :)
I’m now not certain where you’re getting your information, however good topic. I must spend a while studying more or working out more. Thanks for excellent information I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.
wonderful put up, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must proceed your writing. I am sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on several websites for about a year and am anxious about switching to another platform. I have heard very good things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!
Attractive part of content. I just stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to claim that I get in fact loved account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment or even I fulfillment you get entry to consistently quickly.
I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?
Howdy are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!
Wow, awesome blog layout! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you make running a blog look easy. The full look of your site is magnificent, as neatly as the content!
I don’t even know the way I stopped up here, but I believed this post was great. I do not know who you might be however definitely you are going to a well-known blogger if you happen to are not already ;) Cheers!
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
Hey, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
You completed a number of fine points there. I did a search on the issue and found a good number of folks will consent with your blog.
I real delighted to find this website on bing, just what I was searching for : D as well saved to my bookmarks.
I like this web site very much so much wonderful information.
Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I’m hoping you write once more soon!
Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback? If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any support is very much appreciated.
As a Newbie, I am permanently searching online for articles that can aid me. Thank you
Normally I do not read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice post.
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
I was very happy to find this web-site.I wished to thanks for your time for this wonderful learn!! I positively having fun with every little little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
I do trust all the concepts you’ve offered on your post. They are really convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. May you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thank you for the post.
I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thanks , I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
I enjoy, result in I discovered exactly what I was taking a look for. You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
What i do not realize is if truth be told how you’re now not actually much more smartly-appreciated than you may be now. You are so intelligent. You know therefore significantly in terms of this topic, made me individually believe it from so many numerous angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be interested except it’s one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs great. At all times deal with it up!
I just couldn’t depart your website prior to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often in order to check up on new posts
This website is mostly a walk-by for all of the info you wished about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll positively discover it.
I just like the valuable information you supply to your articles. I’ll bookmark your weblog and test once more right here frequently. I’m fairly sure I’ll learn a lot of new stuff proper here! Good luck for the following!
An fascinating dialogue is worth comment. I feel that you need to write more on this topic, it won’t be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers