Rotary Spotlight

Q: We would love to know more about you! Could you tell us where you’re from, where you work, and any other community organizations that you are part of?

I'm a Sikh Punjabi with roots from the northwest Indian subcontinent. As a student of the Khalsa (an initiative process that resembles the Jedi), I've been an active volunteer since I was 5 years old, cooking and giving food to folks from various socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures. I currently cooperatively and collectively own two technology projects. SOGO is a software development company that is in the Govtech space ( DemocraSEE ), cocreating technology that improves civic engagement, empowers effective communication practices, and provides transparency between citizens and the government. The Cosmic Labyrinth is an educator owned collective focused on making volunteerism fun and educational, while empowering effective educators. The Cosmic Labyrinth is currently launching regenerative agriculture projects on public and private land that inspire consistent community engagement and food security. I'm also the co-producer and host of "Political Hope with Indy Rishi Singh", a podcast focused on people and ideas that generate hope in our world. I'm a board member of the non-profit, Cultivating Self, which is focused on supporting and rejuvenating the caregivers in our communities. I'm also an advisor for the community orphanage project, Yoga Mission, in Varanasi, India. This project houses and empowers orphans, educates local Dalit women to become educators, and provides after-school support and meditation education to over 500 local children. I've also recently been inducted as a fellow into the The Digital Economist Center of Excellence on Human-centered Global Economy, which focuses on compassionate economic policy systems change.

Q: What is your current occupation, and former occupation(s)?

I will always be an ardent Seeker. I seek harmony and potential. In that sense, I value the space of knowledge sharing. I've been an educator for the past 16 years, and continue to share knowledge and experience where it can support the community and individuals. My formal education was in medicine, where I spent 4 years of undergrad and 3 years of medical school. A mental breakdown in medical school led me to connect with meditation and Ayurveda. That's when I shifted towards a career in education and eventually becoming an education entrepreneur. I realized through my terrible experience in medical school, and in teaching hospitals, that I wanted to impact the lives of people before they were too indoctrinated in disease and dehumanization. Now, I not only educate young people, but I also get hired to introduce wellbeing practices to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and various large companies.

Q: Tell us about your family?

My family is very important to me. I'm very fortunate to have an incredible mother and father, and an amazing older brother and sister in law. My father was a carpenter and an incredible giver. He emigrated from India to Canada in the 1970's and worked hard to bring my mother and brother over. My mother grew up on a farm in Punjab, and got taken out of high school to work on the farm. In Canada, she worked for years in a sewing mill. We moved from Canada to the SF Bay Area when I was quite young. I remember watching my mom go back to school and college, where she earned a business administration degree. Still, she, and my father never lost their sense of tradition, culture, and values. My older brother is an amazing example of that. He has always been there for me and supported my transition to inspire systems change, rather than reveling in a status quo that causes more community harm than harmony. My family is my rock and is my moral compass too. I hope to continue their spirit with the way I show up in the world, in service and with intention and integrity.

Q: When you have some free time, how do you like to spend it?

I love to go to beautiful natural spaces and play the bansuri flute, a traditional Indian classical instrument. I also love to volunteer with organizations that are doing important work to transform broken spaces/people. I'm also addicted to celebrations, attending gatherings where folks share music, food, culture and laughter.

Q: We all have a dream vacation in mind. What’s yours?

My dream vacation is going to Bali and celebrating the community and the spirituality there. I hear that there are some monkey sanctuaries and I would love to experience them. I'm also super interested in volunteering there too!

Q: We’d love to know what one of the most memorable highlights of your life would be, something that would make the highlight reel.

I'm a big-time sports fanatic and athlete. When I lived in Manhattan, I joined a league that was having a huge tournament. There were all kinds of seasoned players in this league, including guys who played professionally in the NBA and the EuroLeague. I was fortunate to join a team that valued what I could add, which was 3-point marksmanship. We took the league by storm, many times as huge underdogs. No one expected us to do anything. I was dismissed by opponents every game we had. We channeled that into a championship victory and a moment of triumph as we held the trophy up at the end of the tournament. This experience reminded me how important good teamwork is, why we should ALWAYS play the game fully and show up with hard work and dedication, and how we should never underestimate the underdog (especially when we or our initiative is the underdog!).

Q: Imagine having an extra hour in your day, what exciting or relaxing activity would you choose to do with it?

I would write physical letters to people in my life who have affected me positively or negatively. I would write poems to them, or letters of gratitude, and even share the effects of our shared experience. I'd love to express my gratitude to so many people who I've shared relationships with. I'd also like to start an open letter-based relationships with people, much like all our ancestors used to do.

Q: Picture yourself stranded on a desert island, and you could only watch three movies for the rest of your life. What would they be?

Since I grew up with Bollywood AND Hollywood, my answer will include both. I'd definitely watch Andaz Apna Apna, which is a hilarious Bollywood comedy that is full of great comedic brilliance and hilarious songs too. Another go to movie would be Lord of the Rings (any of the original ones) because of its breadth of emotion. The last movie I'd resource would be The Gods Must Be Crazy because it is just so brilliantly funny.

Q: What unique talent or skill do you possess that sets you apart from others?

I practice the art of neuroplasticity, which invites me to be able to take any problem/issue/depression and turn it into potential harmony and possibility. This skill has taken me years of practice, diving deep into social issues in our world, and exploring and practicing Hope in those spaces. I practice the art of hope through this neuroplasticity. I no longer believe that "this is just how it is" when there is any suffering. I believe that, with hard work, creativity, intention/integrity, that suffering can be alleviated. This makes me special as most folks fall into cynicism regularly. I no longer prescribe to this. As an agent of hope, I show up in spaces that are stuck, and add neuroplasticity to individuals and communities.

Q: What inspires and motivates you? What drives you to be your best self?

I'm in reverence of all the saints, community leaders/innovators, and courageous peaceful warriors of history. Growing up, my mother would tell me stories about Sikh saints who nonviolently and sometimes violently, brought equality and potential to communities that were experiencing systemic oppression and harm. Today, I remember these true stories to show up in a meaningful way. I sense the tentacles of oppression rising again, and I draw upon the stories of saints and sages to show up with creativity, compassion, curiosity and courage. I also notice that when I am successful in transforming harmful situations into harmonious ones, I am reinvigorated in my being. I sleep so much better, I experience ecstasy so much more, and I invite much richer relationships when I'm able to transform systemic harm into sustainable harmony.

Q: We’re delighted that you’ve joined Rotary! Can you tell us what led you to become a member of our organization?

I believe that a sacred community is very important if we want to meaningfully and positively impact a community. The Rotary is a tremendous place where the baseline is focused on service. When I noticed the way that the Hilo Rotary shows up in the community I knew I had to join. The integrity of the members, and the diversity of its population also inspired me to join. I'm also super excited by all the Rotary leaders that are women, as I grew up with a powerful mother and love to see the feminine rise in power and leadership.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is considering joining Rotary?

I would attend some of the volunteer activities that the Rotary hosts. There are opportunities to support ecosystems and local gardening/farming needs. There are volunteer opportunities serving the vulnerable communities on the Big Island. There are activities that include celebrations too. I would attend a few of these and tune in with the people who make this Rotary what it is - a beacon of hope on an island community.