Give them a New Ray of
hope today
No one has ever become
Poor By Giving
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Born and raised in a family of professionals in Kolkata, India, Urmi Basu received her primary and secondary education in the same city. Her father was a doctor and her mother a healthcare administrator. Both her parents were seriously involved in activities of urban and rural development which influenced and prompted Urmi to choose the career of a social worker. After fifteen years of professional work Urmi set up a small non - profit named New Light in Kolkata in 2000 with a seed money as
little as Rs 10,000/- along with two other young people from the Kalighat red light district. The mission of the organization is to promote gender equality and fight violence and abuse of women, girl children and young people.That small initiative today provides care and support to more than a thousand people. The organization also works to fight against child prostitution and trafficking for the purpose of sex- trade. For the last many years Urmi has been a trainer and resource person for innumerable government and non profit organizations.
Krishna Mondal is one of the founder trustees of New Light, living in the red light districts of Kalighat in Kolkata, India. Krishna, for the last fourteen years has been a beacon of light for her community while helping the women in prostitution and their children escape the vicious circle of violence and abuse that is integral to the life of women in prostitution. Being a representative of her community she sets the classic example of how one can challenge adversities and rise above ones station in life in a caste-bound culture.
Being an empowered and compassionate symbol of the marginalized community of prostitutes, she is able to leverage the dynamics of class and caste structure within the community and take actions of affirmation and inclusion with a force and courage that is exemplary. Her sensitivity to issues of power and control as shown by the pimps and brothel owners, allows her to create a role of a vigilante for the young girls of the community. Through her active intervention a large number of young girls have been rescued from the inevitable destination to brutal brothels where extreme abuse in the hands of traffickers and pimps is the order of the day. Her humble and self effacing demeanour endears her to all members of the community. She is viewed as the ultimate refuge for innumerable adolescent girls or women who has been trafficked and inducted into the vicious and dangerous world of sex trade in the city. Her keen understanding of her immediate environment and the hidden mechanisms of operations of brothel owners and pimps allows her to strategize and execute rescue operations that would leave individuals with extraordinary academic training baffled
Falguni Bhatt Sanghvi,a painter, sculptor, ceramist and installation artist was born and raised in Baroda, Gujrat. With her heart set on a creative journey she completed her Bachelors and Masters degree in Fine Arts with specialisation in sculpture from the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda in 1999. Falguni's art is all about deconstructing stereotypes of thought and practice reflecting an intense and deeply sensitive relationship with her surroundings as well as her state
of mind at any given point in time. Credited with a number of distinguished solo shows at home and abroad ( Jahangir Art Gallery , Mumbai, Hacienda Art Gallery , Mumbai and Amigos Del Nepal, Barcelona to mention a few ) the artist is currently creating a new language of expression for the young people from marginalised community. Her studio, Aorang ,in Kolkata has become a refuge and destination for survivors of trafficking and domestic violence who use clay and fire to reclaim the wholeness of their identity, body and spirit.
Mr Bishnukant Jha ( born 1951 ) hailing from Darbhanga district in Bihar completed his education from R V College Dalsighserai. Before moving to Kolkata in 1977 as a young professional he worked extensively in the rural areas of West Champaran district. Having completed his LLB degree from the University of Kolkata he began pro bono work with the Missionaries of Charity in 1980. Since 1991 he has been the holding the
position of legal advisor by appointment to one of the best known and significant charities under Mother Theresa handling matters of adoption, transfer of property, acquisition of gifted land on behalf of the charity, last Will and Testament , probate and letter of administration. He is one of those rare individuals who had the opportunity to work closely both with Mother Theresa and Sister Nirmala for more than a quarter of a century. New Light has been the recipient of his valuable experience and guidance since its inception.
A lawyer by profession and a sportsman by passion , Sreyash Basu Dasgupta is the youngest member of the Board of Trustees at New Light. Having an intimate and ringside view of the development of New Light as a project over the past two decades he is gifted with a remarkable understanding and empathy for the young adults in the marginalised community. In addition to his legal expertise he also brings in new ideas and innovative ways of solving problems that arise from day to day operation of New Light.