Although globally recognized for her performances on screen as a critically acclaimed Indian actress, Nandita Das remains deeply involved with her activism and social work. She holds a Masters degree in Social Work and is involved with various Civil Society organizations and movements. Over the years, she has actively campaigned against communal violence, violence against women, stigma concerning HIV/ AIDS and has raised a strong voice on the issues of child rights, disability and human rights. Not only has she voiced her concerns at relevant platforms, but she has also actively advocated for certain issues close to her heart at various social forums in India and abroad. In recent times, she has also produced & directed short public service films on issues like Education & Rainwater Harvesting.
 
International Talks


In introducing me, people often use the term activist or social worker. Neither is appropriate, especially as I personally know many of them who have truly dedicated their lives towards social and political change. At best, I consider myself a person who wants to engage with the world and raise a voice on issues that are of concern. But shouldn't this be the obvious way of being, if we want to be happy and peaceful ourselves? It is not easy to be in a blissful state of the world around us is plagued by many challenges. Mahatma Gandhi's words - Be the change you want to see in the world is my mantra.


After my M.A. in Social Work, I worked intensely with two different NGOs, and then when I stumbled upon acting, I found a powerful means to communicate. The choices in my film work have been heavily impacted by my experiences in social work. But doing both, needed time management and having found a new platform where my voice was being heard more widely than before, the nature of grass-root social work became more of advocacy. I was called to various forums to speak and I took this opportunity to raise issues of concern.


Since then I have given hundreds of talks within the country, and outside. Often they are to young people in colleges and schools. Then there are other social forums, specific target groups, and even audiences that I know a little about like associations of doctors or management experts etc.! But as I mainly talk about the need to involve oneself in social change and share my personal experience, I guess the audience could be anybody. I have spoken on many different subjects and have found this exercise rather rewarding. I get to meet different people, travel to acclaimed universities like MIT in Boston, USA and also to a small village in Darbhanga, Bihar in India. The interactions, questions and comments have helped me to become more sensitive to various issues and open to different ways of thinking.


As the talks in India have been too many, I am listing down some of the ones I have done outside the country, in descending order.


Speaker at:

  • South Asian Women in Media (SAWM), key note speaker,
    Lahore,Pakistan, October 2009.
    Topic : The Gender Identity in media


  • Eranos Tagung, Eranos Foundation
    Ascona, Switzerland, June 2008
    Topic: Identity and the Notion of the Other



  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
    Cambridge, USA, April 2007
    Topic: Women in Films, with focus on Fire



  • Hamilton College, NY Sate,
    USA, November 2006
    Topic: My journey of films and social work



  • AAPI (American Association of Physician of India Origin) Convention,
    Atlanta, USA, July 2006
    Topic: The role of women in society


  • Rietberg Museum for Lange Nacht Der Museen (long night of the museum),
    Zurich, Switzerland, September 2005
    Topic: A personal journey social work and cinema



  • The Alliance for a New Humanity (ANH) conference in Puerto Rico,
    USA, December 2005
    Topic: The power of the feminine



  • 15th National Convention of AFMI (American Federation of Muslims of India),
    Dallas, USA, September 2005
    Topic: Equitable education for sustainable development


  • Cornell University, NY State,
    USA, April 2005
    Topic: Personal journey from films to social work



  • Pan-Asian Youth Leadership Summit, Hiroshima,
    Japan, September 2004
    Topic: Building youth leadership



  • The Capital Women's Conference in London,
    UK, 6th March 2004
    Topic: Domestic violence



  • AAHOA's (Asian- American Hotel Owner's Association) Annual Convention,
    Houston, USA, April, 2004
    Topic: Women's empowerment



  • The Children's World Congress on Child Labour,
    May 2004, Florence, Italy
    Topic: Child rights and our responsibility



  • Annual Gala, SAKHI, a South Asian women's organization,
    October 2004, New York City
    Topic: What creates change?


  • Emory India Studies and Emory Vaccine Center (EVC),
    August 2003, in Atlanta, USA
    Topic: Stigma of prejudice - AIDS and social perceptions



  • Festival of India,
    August 2003, Atlanta, USA
    Topic: What is it to be an Indian?



  • South-Asian Conference for Youth Leadership,
    April 2003, Singapore
    Topic: Youth leadership and media



  • Annual Event of Manavi, a South Asian women's organization,
    November 2002, New Jersey, USA
    Topic: Rising communalism in India and its impact on women


  • Event of AASRA (Shelter), a South Asian women's organization,
    November 2002, Boston, USA
    Topic: A personal journey - from social work to cinema



  • Annual Event for Apna Ghar (Our Refuge), a South Asian women's organization,
    November 2002, Chicago, USA
    Topic: Representation of women in society and cinema


  • DePaul University Women�s Day Celebration,
    March 2001, Chicago, USA
    Topic: Women's empowerment and society
     

 Other participations

  • Member of the Advisory board of the Alliance for New Humanity.
    www.anhglobal.org 
     
  • Went to the Galle area in Srilanka to help in the rehabilitation work after the Tsunami disaster in January, 2005. After the visit, she wrote an article for the Indian Express sharing her experience and expressing her concern towards the Tsunami victims. To read more, click on the link below
    http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_full_story.php?content_id=64053
     
  • Participated in the Mumbai Marathon 2005 to raise awareness and funds for Aman Biradri, an organization working towards peace, justice and harmony.
     
  • Nandita Das, co-founded Leapfrog, a Civil Society Organization , working in the field of social communication and directed 4 PSAs one on Rainwater Harvesting and three on education.
     
  • Participated and Founded the International Special Film Festival in 2003 along with Brotherhood, an organization that works towards bridging the gap between children with disabilities and ordinary school children.
     
  • Worked as the project coordinator in ANKUR, a non-governmental organization, in the field of empowerment of women.
     
  • Worked in ALARIPPU, a voluntary organization as a trainer and conducted workshops for children and teachers, in the field of innovative education.
     
  • Participated in the Sangharsh yatra, a protest rally led by Medha Patkar and supported by various other activists and members of the Narmada Bachao Andolan.