We live without limits to explore new things and new opportunities which maybe risky, but these are things we haven't done before, that need courage, that maybe difficult and we may have fear of doing , but then there is an abundance of positive energy in the universe which helps in pursuing our dreams, facing fear, dreaming and learning and moving on..a never ending journey......where few of us live this way..those who do our blessed. And these are things that pull us out of our comfort zone.

 

Sonali Patnaik : Professional Profile

Sonali Patnaik,

Director, Arupa Mission Research Foundation

Sonali is a gold medalist in Anthropology (Physical) with 17 years of experience in the development sector working towards social transformation and change. She is also an MBA (HR) and M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences. Certified in Gender Budgeting, Socio-Economic Impact Assessment and as a National Family Health Survey trainer, her work spans across different dimensions of determinants of food security and health ( nutrition, gender, WASH, livelihoods- farm/non-farm, institutional strengthening, human resources, ICTs, governance, disaster management among others). Having worked in India and United Kingdom she bridges Government, Business & Civil Society initiatives, CSR-implementation & advisory, brings together like minded people who believe in food and nutrition security as an essential primer to holistic wellbeing.

She worked as a Social/Institutional Development Specialist/ Consultant with NGOs, International Donors, Funders, Externally Aided Projects (World Bank, DFID, Action Aid India- Swabhiman, UNWFP-WFP Govt. of Orissa, Oxfam GB East India), consulting firms (CTRAN, TARU Leading Edge Pvt. Ltd., NRMC, Louis Berger), Research Organisations (University of Reading, United Kingdom and Asian Institute of Public Health), various State Governments & Central Ministries on behalf of different institutions. Currently, she is Director, Arupa Mission Research Foundation.

Sonali specializes in policy analysis, creating an enabling environment, evidence based research, theory of change, strategic planning, monitoring & evaluation, impact assessments, planning, social & institutional development, studies, safeguard frameworks, Strategic Environment & and Social Assessments, Resettlement Action Plans, Socio-Economic Vulnerability & Risk Assessments, project implementation plans, designing country/ region specific programmes, capacity building & training need assessments, training, knowledge management, stakeholder management, consultation, disability, disaster and livelihoods.

Her contributions to the health sector in Odisha include NFHS-3 (trainer, research & monitoring), consultant to health institutions and health sector reforms (DFID-BTAST), as an anthropologist she researched on sickle cell anaemia & ABO incompatibility among tribes, worked in remote tribal pockets on food security, livelihoods initiatives for WFP and others. At Pan India level, she designed Monitoring Evaluation & Learning frameworks (health & education) - Oxfam’s country strategy, UNICEF’s Communication Capacity Assessment, Govt. Depts. -for BCC (MoHFW, NACO, ICDS, Water, Sanitation, Rural Development), facilitated in developing Urban WASH promotion training module for urban functionaries (PFI/USAID)-Health for Urban Poor Project, State of Panchayat Report (Gujarat, Daman & Diu) for NRMC, TARU, Panchayati Raj Ministry (including health).

Arupa Mission Research Foundation received recognition under her leadership as one among top 20 Non Profits of South Asia (E NGO summit, 2015) for its child empowerment programme- SAISHAV (health, education & digital learning, child abuse prevention, child protection, WASH, CBDRM) and farmer training using ICTs. Now partners with corporates for prevention of sexual harassment of women at workplaces (OMAX Autos Ltd. T Cube Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Brahmani River Pellets Limited Orissa of STEMCOR group, UK). She cofounded a startup-  Quadraphic Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (IT -mobile apps, portals, software /other services, Staffing & Recruitment, Skill development & Capacity Building); Member of Livestock Development Group, University of Reading UK contributing to livestock & livelihoods research, ICTs, Research into Use. Sonali has many publications to her credit.

On compassion

Compassion is nothing but giving people a bit of yourself- either being a good listener, lending a helping hand , giving a bit of your heart and showering care, being empathetic.  It doesn't cost to be compassionate. On the other hand it enriches ones own experience, gives you a chance to feel, helps the pores of your heart soak in the unconditional love and peace. Compassion is healing not just for the one who needs it but for the one who believes in it and practices it too. Compassion helps us to learn and is a great teacher and healer.
     

From Divinity to Divinity: Professor P.K.Das

It was nothing short of a divine game. My spiritual guide Jagadguru Utkalapeethadheeshwar Dr. Swami Arupananda Acharya ji said I was to only apply for Post-Graduation in Anthropology at Vani Vihar, Utkal University although I had qualified for Life Sciences at JNU. I told myself there must be a reason. I cried when I didn’t receive a call for admission in spite of having a good percentage. I got a call from my spiritual guide saying “Don’t worry. A professor from that Department will surely call you today.” And behold the next call was from a Prof. P.K. Das, Faculty at the Department of Anthropology, Utkal University inquiring if I was really interested in joining because the intimation letter for admission had returned to the university, maybe the address was wrong and that I may not be interested being a science student, further, admissions would close by 3 pm that very day and classes would start from the next day. I jumped and informed that I hadn’t applied anywhere else and I had to join here. And so was asked to come for admission immediately. My other dilemma was how was I to reach the Department of Anthropology when I didn’t even know where Vani Vihar was being new to BBSR way back in 1995. But the Gods had other plans. My spiritual guide had already informed my father to take me to the University for admission immediately. Strange are the ways of divinity. Professor P.K.Das and my spiritual guide had never met before. Everything was taken care of by the divine energy.

Prof. P.K.Das, eventually was my guide and I had the privilege of interacting with him closely for gaining both knowledge on the subjects I was studying as well as on spirituality. There was a divine aura around him always I noticed and later got to know that he was a Sadhaka of the Mother Goddess Kali. During my first ever field trip which was marked with numerous events (I could write a book on it), there was discussion on how I got admitted in the University. I was informed that while other professors were not very keen to take me on as a student since my admit card had returned and there was no inquiry from my end although I had a good percentage and was a science student, Prof.P.K.Das was hell bent on having me as a student because he said the Mother Goddess Kali did not allow him to sit, sleep or eat, till he hunted for my application form from among many to check if I had left any other detail which would get him to contact me. He was ridiculed. But he searched persistently, found my form and rechecked. To his surprise, under the address there was the pin code under which I had scribbled our home landline phone number by chance. Those days in the application form there was space to only put in the address but not a phone number.

None can match him with regard to the knowledge and hold he had over his subject and the passion with which he taught. Amazingly, a walking talking library of information, knowledge, logic and views way beyond others. To top it, the compassion he had for people, his humility, his humour and love for life filled every moment we spent with learning and joy. I was proud to be his student and always looked up to him for guidance. It was not just a guru sishya bond limited to studies but there was a strong spiritual connect and discourse on values and morals. A connect bridged by the Mother Goddess.

And one fine day my spiritual guide Jagadguru Utkalapeethadheeshwar Dr. Swami Arupananda Acharya ji and Professor P.K.Das my guide in the plane of physical knowledge (Anthropology) met. Electrifying it was. Two people with amazing aura meeting and acknowledging each other’s knowledge and energy and discussing me. My happiest moments I guess. They both blessed me with a common message-“Your life is for people.  Always do for others and return the blessings” And that’s what I do to this day in whatever way I can. I gave my word to always do for others and to return the blessings.

All that I have to say to my guide Professor P.K.Das is that, “You are with maa now. You were most dear to her and so also your Sadhana. It hurts that in spite of a strong spiritual connect, I couldn't meet you more often on a physical plane. But, your teachings, values and energy will live on in me. The happiest day of my life was when the two of you (my spiritual guide and you) met and blessed me together. Five days before you went on to your journey to where enlightened souls go, I saw you every day in my dream calling me to meet you. I inquired and heard about your health condition. I was hoping to reach Bhubaneshwar on the 5^th of June 2016 evening to at least see you and touch your feet once. But I guess it is Maa's wish that you be with her sooner. It’s destiny- from divinity to divinity”

We always regret having not done enough for a person when we lose the person and that’s how I feel and I am sure others too when it comes to Prof. P. K. Das fondly called PKD. We also learn the worth of people when we lose them and that’s so unfortunate. Prof. P.K. Das will always be remembered as one amongst the best in the field of Physical Anthropology and as a most compassionate humble and spiritual human being. I can’t think of anyone being more humane than him. He was a lesson to us in his living and a lesson to us even now in his divinity when he is no longer in physical form. I sincerely wish that Utkal University and his students and I especially had given him even a bit of what he deserved in return because what he deserves remains unmatched for the great person, scientist and teacher he was.