The Beginning......

After almost a year of incessant search to have like minded people join hands to build a strong foundation in India, working towards the welfare of Dementia patients and their care givers along with other relevant/ associated projects, we finally found the key people for the governing body and got the foundation registered in Karnataka this month.

Valentine ’s Day this year, marks the conclusion of all formalities and documentation required for registration of the society Ramosara Foundation. With infant steps and humble beginnings, we are heading towards making a huge difference to our lives by bringing some changes in other’s lives. Each one of us is excited about our role.

While this was triggered way back in December 2011 by one of the members, who had no clue where to start this whole thing from, approached Help Age India for a guide book - who in turn directed her to Nightingale centre for Ageing and Alzheimer to gather more insight on specialized care for Dementia. After visiting the centre and having realized the task is humungous and more people will have to be involved in this journey, set out to find people who truly believed in the cause. Many volunteered to support this initiative and other related projects. Members happily travelled from across India to Bangalore, excusing themselves from their primary occupation and agenda to bring momentum to this project.

How the members were found and got together, can well make the content of another article which can be best shared by the one who took the first step. I will blog regularly regarding the achievements against the objectives set and this is, we believe, our first mile stone – Getting Together.

The governing body is an interesting mix of people of all age groups and from all walks of life. Their brief profile is given below:

Brief Profile of Members:

C. Balaram Reddy (President)

He cherished a similar dream to run an Old Age Home, in his village, for a long time. He agreed to be part of the governing body to assist the society pursue their objectives. He is the President of the Association formed for Nature City Plot Owners in Anekal and retired HAL Training Manager.

Leela Dass (Vice President)

A voracious reader, a Brahma Kumari, an enterprising person who runs two PG accommodations for young girls and boys in J.P.Nagar – eager to assist and support RSF aims. She is already collating her huge collection of books to be contributed to the Foundation’s Library.

Kakuli Nag (Secretary)

An Arts Graduate from Kolkata University with almost two decades of corporate experience. Kakuli had been a volunteer in Karnataka Spastic Society in the Creative Arts Unit, supported SHG in Bangalore by teaching embroidery, creating employment opportunities through her boutique. Published Author of Nesting of Thoughts and soon hoping to find a producer for a documentary on Dementia. For a living, she is working for an IT Solution Company.

Shibani Brahmo: (Treasurer)

A house wife, single handedly raised her children who are now independent and earning their own livelihood and Shibani has all the time to spare for our cause. When she was approached to be a member, she was more than willing to work on grounds to support RSF’s objectives. In the past, she has been engaged in insurance agency and sales in small scale, mainly home based operations.

Kamala S.G: (Assistant Secretary)

Kamala has done it all during her nine years association with an NGO Vidyanikethan, as Community Organizer and NCLP Teacher – Worked in Slums Women Development and Awareness activities, engaged in Self Help Group formation, Bank linkages, Documentation and Accounts, conducting trainings on Nutrition/Food, Health etc. She enjoys teaching students. Kamala hails from a village with a dream to run a school for children someday and on being approached by the foundation to be part of the orphanage project - she immediately agreed having found that the flagship shares her vision too.

Kalpana Mahalingam: (Member – Director)

While holding a responsible role in the corporate world leading Quality Team, Kalpana wishes to make a small difference in the world she lives in. She is an artist, conversationalist, a blogger and someone with a passion for learning new things. Fluent in German and currently dwelling on her French and guitar classes, She might be an ideal ambassador for RSF to take this to frontiers beyond our country when the time comes.

Ushashree Rao: (Member)

Usha is a Commerce Graduate from Kolkata University, who was engaged with an Engineering firm as Sr. Accountant cum Administrative officer in her early years of career and currently associated with a shipping firm. Apart from extensive experience in multiple roles in different industries for years together, Usha is trained in Small Enterprise Management Assts Program organized by Small Industries Services Institutes, Hyderabad. She now seeks solace in spiritual activities attending weekly study classes on Bhagavad Gita conducted by Vedanta – Kolkata and keen to invest her efforts in community initiatives.

Anup Agarwal: (Member)

Anup is a Physics (H) graduate with a degree/ diploma from Annamalai University and Apple. A successful entrepreneur and has been in Business for close to two decades. He is associated with Lion’s Club for several years and District Chairman for four years. His family trust sponsors Hospital Beds in Malda. He is also chairman of social activities for COMPASS i.e. Computer Association for Eastern India.
He is life member of compass, Calcutta Electric Dealer’s Association and Kolkata Police Club

Kalpana Ramamurthy: (Member)

A Lawyer by profession who conceptualized the webpage Vridhappi primarily to create awareness about the sensibilities of senior citizens and their needs in the minds of today’s youth, with a vision to have the best of infrastructure and likely the largest in India with international standards, which will be ideal “Home” for seniors. Recently Kalpana launched her own company that deals with LPO projects. She is currently negotiating with web designers to build a site that will provide all relevant information for the welfare of seniors. A go getter by nature and dedicated to the cause for a significantly long time.

Payal Modak: (Member)

Payal primarily hails from Bhubaneshwar and currently based out of Bangalore, completed her Masters in IT and worked for a reputed firm E&Y for a few years.  While she is a person of varied interests ranging from cooking, baking to hosting parties, sketching and painting - however as an upcoming interior designer, her current focus is to build her credibility and give her best in both worlds – Residential and Commercial Space. Her webpage Visualize showcases some of her recent works.

Sweta Tripathy: (Member)

With a new job, a five year old, and a family who supports in her inclination for social work, Sweta was ready to pitch in when a very important advisor failed to be present for Society Registration. She works for an Educational Institute and is a great example for all those mothers who complain of no time because their young ones keep them extremely occupied, to pursue anything else.

Sharada Bharaty (Bhubaneshwar):            (Special Invitee/ Advisor)

Sharada AKA PremArpita is the Chairperson at Sparsh, a voluntary organization in Odisha, tarot reader by hobby and has been associated with social work for over three decades. Meditation is an integral part of her life and a strong believer of OSHO.

Any volunteer who is willing to join us can write to Ramosara.foundation@gmail.com.  Please share name, occupation and brief profile along with membership fee of Rs. 4000/-

Please share your views/ suggestions/ support on facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/RamosaraFoundation
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Ramosara-Foundation-4869611/about