Radhika is the Joint Vice Chairperson of The Shri Ram Schools. Under the aegis of Shri Educare Limited, an education consultancy company, she has been instrumental in setting up The Shri Ram Millennium Schools in NCR & The Shri Ram Early Years. She also serves as the Chairperson of the Indian Blind Sports Association & JPM Senior Secondary School for the Blind, the Jt. Secretary of The Blind Relief Association & the Hon. General Secretary of Delhi Crafts Council.
She has also been mentioned as one of the change-makers in the book ‘Why People Give’ by Ratna & Suhasini Vira.
When she is not working she enjoys music, pottery, and running half marathons.
She talks more about her life and the noble work she is doing with Women Shine.
How will you describe Radhika as a professional out there?
I have been raised to value work-to appreciate the outcomes just as much as the process that goes into determining them. This awareness encompasses not just the external world but individual strengths and challenges too. I am convinced that as professionals our biggest ask is to work on ourselves to identify and hone our strengths, to enable ourselves for the self and the larger purpose. My experience tells me that the moment we do so, we feel complete. In my case, this awareness has enabled me to not be apologetic about the person I am, and on the contrary, to take pride in my beliefs & what I stand for. This is what sets me apart and gives me the courage to do what I do.
About my work, I see that the more I work independently, the more I seek and strive for perfection, not just in what I do but in everything that I am responsible for. Also, as a professional, I need to come from a place of empowerment myself, if I have to be able to empower those that work alongside-only then can large visions become reality.
As a leader, I feel responsible for creating and nurturing environments and a culture where people speak and contribute freely to create the best, just as they propagate a value-driven work environment. Going forward, I recognize that as women leaders, we have to consciously work through the shackles of gender inequality for the gender, as a whole to thrive and prosper.
At the end of the day, a woman leader needs to judge herself on how she has been able to affect change about mindsets, allowing for more women to flourish in their chosen fields.
My favourite mantra- ‘You can’t wait for the right time to do some things. You must make time, take the bull by the horns and get into action mode.’
2. Tell us a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on the actions of others?
I think the work I do is all about creating positive opportunities for people who have been forgotten. For me, it’s important to pull people who are out of the circle back into it. Inclusion is what I work for. Some multiple stories and situations exemplify this-also many people that come together for the magic to happen. I would hate to take singular credit for anything.
3. What inspired you to work for the welfare of society?
As a young girl I was sensitized to the needs of others and brought up to appreciate the importance of contributing; this value was reinforced with my marrying into a family which is committed to and known for their philanthropic disposition.
My journey started twelve years ago with my joining the Delhi Crafts Council as a volunteer. My entry into this world was quickly followed by the realization that one’s background was inconsequential-one just had to work and prove oneself. Further, my interactions with the craftsmen not just made me aware of the power of their skill but also the challenges they face. It was here that I learned what it meant to give time to a cause, the importance of empathizing and being cognizant of different circumstances. I saw that it gave me joy-unlike any that I had experienced up till then-I find it hard to describe-however, I do know that working for others gives me joy & satisfaction; it guides me forward and inspires me to do more.
4. At which moment did you realize that you had achieved the initial extent of success as a social worker?
I would not call any particular moment a success but when people I saw people who we support & empower finding the strength to earn & sustain-it felt like success to me. I believe that when our interventions change and impact lives, create opportunities and question the status quo, it feels like success to me.
My journey with these institutions has inspired me to found the KARM Fellowship. I grew up in a progressive middle-class urban household where my parents always encouraged both my sister and me to chase our dreams and be independent. We were given the freedom to have & voice our opinions freely, which was and continues to be an exception to the larger rule. I believe that Education is the only way to challenge this mind-set-one that does not allow girls to think independently-that when women are educated, they will have the voice and the choice to live their life on their terms, creating both opportunities and empowerment.
We see that there just haven’t been enough opportunities given to deserving girls in our country especially for girls from disadvantaged homes.
I have always believed that education when used as a transformational force can drastically improve lives. It is more than a process of acquiring knowledge it has the power to provide hope, build resilience, and unleash possibilities that propel human, economic, and social development.
Through the KARM Fellowship, we endeavour to equip future women leaders through the key pillars of higher education, mentoring, community perspective, and life skills. With a carefully developed curriculum, the Fellowship will work with capable young women from a less privileged background, in tandem with their pursuit of formal college degrees.
This is done with the intent to widen their thoughts, enable professional dreams and enhance employability, to enrich their role in their spheres and beyond. Our goal is that these girls gain financial independence, and become leaders in their own right.
5. What is the long-term strategy of the organizations you are associated with?
My philosophy is simple – all the organisation that I serve should stay relevant-for that to happen we have to understand the changing needs of the people we serve and enable timely solutions which support them in becoming independent & self-sufficient.
6. Tell us about a time when you had to juggle your regular family responsibilities and deal with a sudden priority?
As for challenges there have been many and continue to present themselves in different ways. But doesn’t stop me from doing what I have envisioned.
I think the key challenge for me, much like a lot of other women, is how to provide ample time to each of my endeavours, including my family. There are so many areas I would like to contribute to, but time and resources are always at a premium, just like they are for most. Having said that, my family is my biggest support system. I recognize that I can do what I do because of them.
7. How does the work in the Shri Ram Schools fit your professional mission or experience?
I started working at The Shri Ram Schools in 2003. I was mentored by my mother-in-law,-the Founder of the Shri Ram Schools. Having been married into a family that firmly believes in an enduring value system, I learned from her the need to create a school that provides holistic education that contributes to the overall development of a child’s intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative and spiritual potentials, with a deep focus on values. The space of education is as rewarding as it is responsible. Allowing us the chance to shape the future of our country, keeps us on our toes, given its dynamic nature. Constantly in need of reinvention, learning is an infinite and continuous process, ensuring that we stay on a constant learning curve.
I also believe that Education should never be the right of only the elite and through SRF Foundation we make progressive education accessible to children in rural parts of India.
Today, we are touching the lives of close to 80,000 students, studying in 269 schools across nine Indian States.
Given my commitment to gender equality, I see that my work with the school blends in and shapes my larger goals beautifully.
Women Shine wishes Radhika Bharat Ram all the best in her endeavours.
-by Aditi Gupta
aditigupta0523@gmail.com
Author’s bio
Author’s bio:
A vivacious and lively girl living in Delhi, on her voyage for exploration of colours in life.
A glimpse of what she does: Read, write, eat, Repeat!
