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REKHA MODY
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Rekha Mody has played an active role in developing and promoting Indian Arts and has founded several institutions, including Garutman Pvt. Ltd, Habiart Foundation, Divya Chaya Trust and Stree Shakti, The Parallel Force.
She edited the book, A Quest For Roots, in 1999.The book contextualizes the experience of women in India from the earliest recorded times to the mid-20th century and documents the lives of individual women, whether well known or little known, whose lives have contributed to the identity and concerns of Indian womanhood. Living women have not been included as they are still making history.
Garutman Pvt Ltd was founded in 1985 to promote quality Indian literature translated from Indian regional languages to English and promote them internationally. Amongst the books published are:The Mechanics of G.O.D., a spiritual dictionary by Thomas Easley; Once A Blue God, a novel on Lord Krishna by Ramesh Menon; and Separate Journeys, a collection of twenty two short stories from regional languages edited by Geeta Dharmarajan .
Divya Chaya Trust, founded in 1984 provides social, economic and educational support to 1000 children in need and has established income generative programmes for women from lower income groups in both urban and rural areas. Some of the projects undertaken are: Save A Child Trust, U.K., initiated by DCT, which sponsors around 300 children; Upvan, a non-formal education project for street children; Kusum Sarovar, a project to provide education and care for tribal and poor children;
Pallavan, an income generating project for women of lower income groups in both urban and rural areas; Karam Bhoomi, a project for research and rural development according to the Gandhian principles that village planning should be done at the village level.
Habiart Foundation founded in 1989, is a non-profit organization to promote contemporary and traditional art. It has organized more than 250 exhibitions. In 1992, it organized an art event, White Nights, highlighting the work of international artists, including etchings from Russia, highlighting Russian culture in India. The exhibition was sponsored by Lalit Kala Academy and the Russian Embassy.Amongst its other important projects are Sphote, a creative protest against terror 2001 to 2002, supported by 150 artists from India and Nepal, was exhibited in New Delhi at Parliament annexe on 13 December 2002. The Peace Panels were presented to the Parliament, SAARC and the UN representative; Art for Peace, an exhibition held at World Economic Forum Davos,2005; Redefining Mona Lisa 2004 –2006 a project involving twelve artists from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Italy, and U.S.A; Art Fair India 2007 Kolkata & New Delhi is another important Habiart initiative .
Stree Shakti, The parallel force is a dynamic forum aiming at ‘Networking for Action’. This forum provides a platform for joint actions as well as for collection, systematic processing and distribution of information related to women’s issues in particular and general networking. The movement aims at being a catalyst for fundamental social changes. Stree Shakti has instituted three awards:
- Dayawati Modi Stree Shakti Samman, instituted in 1998 for ‘A woman who dared to dream and had the ability to translate the dream into reality’
- An Annual award for Woman Scientist of the Year
- Jan Seva Samman to be awarded to Honor a woman politician.
Positions held:
- Founder director of Radio Net Work Pvt. Ltd. first F.M. Radio of Calcutta
- Director, Sotheby’s India ; organized the first commercial auction in 1992
- Treasurer of All India Women’s Education Fund Association (AIWEFA) from 1994 to 1997 (the parent body of Lady Irwin College)
- Returning officer for AIWEFA and Governing Body of Lady Irwin College election in 1997
- Fund-raiser for an international meet for women in October 1998 -‘Women on the March’,
- Adviser for CAPART for Gramshree Mela Committee in 1987-1988
- Adviser India Habitat Centre New Delhi 1989 - 1992
- Adviser for Dayawati Modi Kavi Shekhar Samman from 1994 to 1997
- Member Board of Governors Mody Institute of Education and Research,1999 - 2002, Laxmangarh, Rajasthan,
- Member international Committee on Integral Humanism Mahabodhi Society of India.
International Experience
- Organized podium discussions on India in Frankfurt Book fair 1986
- Actively involved with establishing UK Save A Child Trust since 1987
- Japan 2000. Represented India in a meeting with Reverend Uchida in Tokyo
- Participated in GOPIO meet in Zurich 2000
- Participated as an observer in UN Peace meet August 2000
- Delegate Occupational Health Conference Bangkok 2003
- Organizer Two Decades of service Divya Chaya Trust U.K Nehru Center 2004
- Chair, Fund raising Committee Women Work & Health 2005
- Founding member Women Founders Collective New York 2006
- Selected among the three hundred women of the world as an Asha Woman
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