At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring some of the meaningful and powerful stories from around the world to empower and motivate our growing community of entrepreneurs, investors, management students and aspiring entrepreneurs. This week we invited yet another purpose-driven entrepreneur Dr Mala Bhandari for an interview with us to know more about her inspiring journey so far. She is a Leader, Social Entrepreneur, Change Enabler, Speaker and Founder Director of SADRAG. Let’s learn more!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with her:
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey as a social leader, please;
With PhD in Sociology from the University of Delhi, my areas of research have been Women, Work and their Quality of Life. I have a three years Post-Doctoral research experience in Gender and Development from the University of Pune, Maharashtra.
I belong to a conventional family from Punjab. My parents spent their life in Delhi, working hard to give me the best possible. Liberal upbringing, I had the freedom to choose my career. Being a restless child, I was an odd one out in the family. I raised strong objections on social practices particularly those related to women and young girls. I did not like the social customs, rituals, traditions and the male powerhouse that I felt around in family and neighbourhood. My yearning to work for raising women’s economic, social and cultural status got an impetus when in school, I led a rally against the practice of Dowry, so common at the time of marriage. I shouted slogans like Dowry Nahi Lenge -Nahi Denge! When my family came to know, they made fun of me.
Studying the subject of Sociology in college was a turning point in my life. I learnt the basics of social issues with the lens of Sociology. I related myself to the subject. Later my marriage with an Air Force officer gave me an opportunity to travel and learn the existing social realities in various regions. I engaged in academic and action research with several institutes and organizations and wrote many research papers. I presented these papers at conferences and seminars. I visited other countries for knowledge sharing on the issues of child rights & basic education, child protection, family research and women empowerment.
The year 2004 was the year of strong decisions about my life and work. Finally, I shunned all the lucrative options and decided to work through the not-for-profit sector with a personal commitment for underprivileged women, children and youth. To change the existing realities of life for the disadvantaged, I got together with others and we founded Social and Development Research and Action Group (SADRAG), the Not- for- profit organization. With the vision of Equality of Life for All, we envisioned the life of dignity and self-respect for women, children and youth through building the inclusive communities that are safe, literate and have access to a decent livelihood.”
True to self, since 2004, I have been working in the community and have never looked back. During the initial years, there were many roadblocks but the faith in self enabled us to work in a mission mode. Today, SADRAG is bringing a positive change in the lives of thousands of people through direct interventions in Districts Gautum Budh Nagar, Hapur and Ghaziabad in the state of U.P. In line with the vision and mission of the organization, the major areas of intervention are the three pillars of Inclusive Communities: Education, Protection and Livelihood. Through ChildLine Greater Noida, we have rescued children from child labour, child marriage and have supported the survivors of sexual abuse.
How do you find the industry/niche that you’re in?
I am in the social sector and work through non-profit mode. This sector has undergone several changes over time.
1 – There has been tremendous growth in the sector. The number of non-governmental organisations has considerably increased. At present, there are more than 31,00,000 registered NGOs in India which are working in different regions of the country.
2 – There has been a change in the approach of this sector from that of charity to the development. We have a vibrant development sector that complements govt. In social development and also monitors planning and implementation of welfare schemes and programmes for the people. The sector is strong enough to raise social concerns and provide solutions to multiple socio-economic and cultural issues confronting the nation.
3 – The working of the sector has changed over time. The development sector is more organised and impact-oriented these days. We use improved tools of identification, mobilisation and intervention for an impactful change in the life of people in the community.
This sector has worked hard to change the status of development indicators like education, health and livelihood and has a long way to go.
What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation?
I always want my Today to be better than Yesterday. I believe that our Today is the basis of a good Tomorrow. So I invest in my today for my better tomorrow.
In other words, the constant yearning to do better, to improve, gets me moving in the morning.
When I wake up in the morning, I prepare a list of things to do during the day. I see which program needs my intervention, where the teams need my support, what needs to be documented and presented etc. My wish to complete the maximum tasks is what brings me to the office. My work motivates me.
What challenges/obstacles did you face in your journey so far?
Lots of challenges –
1 – Creating a name for SADRAG was the major challenge. Marketing our ideas, brand and winning the trust of donors, partners and the community have been paramount.
2 – The non-profit sector does not have a very good reputation. There are all kinds of people entering this sector thinking that NGOs are a good way to make money. When I joined this sector, I had a few social change leaders in my mind. I have always wanted to follow their ideals and work honestly. When people ask me Why did I join this sector when I am highly qualified. ? It pains me because its qualified people who need to be in this sector and work for respect and dignity to others.
3 – The constant struggle to be all in all. Managing and leading operations, partnership alliances and deliver on the ground have been quite a task in itself. Grooming the teams for a responsible role has been a huge challenge.
What comes first for you – money or emotions?
Emotions so I joined the social sector. I don’t understand why there is so much inequality around? When the Constitution grants equality on account of caste, class, colour, gender and creed then why people are discriminated against? Why do those in power misbehave with those without the power.
I can’t tolerate injustice meted from one person to another. I am emotional and my decisions are more often emotional than logical or rational.
How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
Like anybody, I agitate but then I manage by telling myself immediately Hey! It can be done, don’t worry, I will see it later.
I have a weakness which troubles me. I reply impulsively. Later I feel that I could have handled the matter differently and much better. But time once gone is gone.
When I was young, I used to run after everything. Now with age, I let loose many things. And I see that things are falling well.
I fall, I stumble but then I get up and get going! – This is the mantra of my life.
What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person?
Many things –
1 – My belief in self has helped me grow in life. I consider each day as experience in new learning. My quest for learning is endless. This strategy of being a student / a learner throughout has helped me grow as a person.
2 – I firmly believe that no person can be 100% perfect and we don’t even need to be so. All we should strive for is trying to do our best possible.
3 – Stay honest to yourself and others. Keep moving inch by inch towards your goal. Enjoy the journey and always remember – Where did you start, Where are you coming from and where you want to reach?
How important is Success? Should we really run after it?
Success is a relative term. It differs as people define it differently.
I don’t like when people talk of higher values to others but practise any such hardly.
Working persistently and sincerely are the keys to success.
Don’t worry about success and don’t run after it. Success will come to you if you work sincerely.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Don’t expect overnight quick results. When you see someone in a Mercedes, always think, How much hard work he/she must have done to sit in that car!!
Work earnestly to stay & make a space of your own.
Work towards sustainable growth
Be true to yourself. It’s only then that you will remain true to others.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
