Find your creative connection with her
MOTHER EARTH IS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

We all live in nature, though quite unconsciously! Busy in our routine, jobs and other errands, we get completely absorbed and engulfed in them and feel overwhelmed and saturated. Mostly, we just wait to take a vacation and rejuvenate amidst the scenic landscapes. However, sometimes all we need is to take a pause- to feel the nature around and within. Such is the philosophy of Dr. Anju Dave Vaish, who connects people with Nature, through her fun and engaging workshops. The motive is also to inspire people to have a conscious and sustainable lifestyle, as they eco-connect.

Earlier, people did not have much of accessibility and affordability to go to scenic exotic places. They did not have visually rich information that can help them appreciate the planet and natural wonders. But yet they had a rhythm to live in harmony with Nature. There are beliefs and rituals of worshipping Sun, Moon, trees, mountains and rivers, almost in every culture of the world. Because, through generations of civilizations mankind had learnt about their dependency on these resources. But now the rituals or worshipping is just symbolic; as people have started moving away from these direct channels of life force attuned to the modern urban supply chain systems.

Today, we have all possible resources to go places. But we are busier- choosing luxury, managing calendars, wardrobe, accessories, steering through crowd and chaos…and the biggest of all taking pictures and selfies just as we land. This era is more caught on with flashing off, rather than absorbing and living in the moment. We probably never pause to feel and explore the CONNECTION that we have with Nature- the one who has created and who is within us. This unawareness puts us at a distance from our creator. The result is that we make many unconscious decisions that impact our health and our ecosystem negatively.

Anju has been doing fun workshops for building awareness among youth through her initiative TRY for GOOD. Whether it is eco-selfie contest, expressing love for nature on a valentine’s day, doodling or painting eco-bags,  she has been on the roll with the credo of building healthier environment, better communities and happier you. Being a brand and communications strategist, she aligns these workshops for corporates, for their internal branding, employee engagement, motivation and CSR goals.

Anju feels that her background in Botany and innate interest in creative expressions makes Eco-connect interesting. Winning accolades in visual arts and advertising career, she mostly dabbles into abstract art forms and cartoons, as she integrates Science and Arts for Sustainability. But the biggest of all is her belief in Nature as a school of constant learning and growth.

The workshops are primarily based on imagination, recollection, expressions, interactions, and of course creative expressions. These not only help people to de-stress, but makes them more self-aware and explore and strengthen their creative connection with the elements of Nature. There is a feeling of harmony, inner peace and joys that one feels through this connection. There is inspiration, mindfulness, acceptance and unlocking one’s creative potential. Above all, it helps one appreciate nature and nurture her within and around. This consciousness can make humans sustain their own basis.

With rapid urbanization there are rising issues of landfills, pollution, traffic and commotion. We all hope for better environment and communities, but millennial just took this a little ahead to share their ideas to build awareness with artworks, teasers and some actionable points for the most pertinent areas in our societies today. The youth were invited under “Spaces for Good” exhibit, organized by TRY for GOOD which builds awareness for sustainable environment and communities.

The youngsters from colleges and corporate were excited to participate in this concept. Maximum participation was for the topic of MY WEDDING. There is a hind sight to this beautiful celebration, which we cannot ignore as we grow in terms of population especially in the urban areas. As per the UN up to 40% food produced in India is wasted. Statistics say that India hosts approximately 2.5 crore weddings every year contributing to maximum food wastage. Besides, there are traffic jams, parking hassles, and undue ostentation impacting the ecosystem and the society negatively.  The exhibit gave an important platform to the youth to express the kind of weddings they want; based on old traditions, no expensive trousseaus, using eco-friendly or recycled material, giving left overs to animal shelters and most important of all- limiting the number of guests or doing a faraway wedding followed by reception.

The other topics receiving great enthusiasm were MY TRANSPORT and I CONSUME & DISPOSE. Consumerism has shifted to developing economies. But can we afford to ape the western materialistic or the use and throw lifestyle- given the fact that India has about world’s 20% population with only 2% of its landmass. The youngsters did express the ways to embrace eco-friendly lifestyles. There was also a topic about ME & THE OLD/DISABLED. In the race of our never ending materialistic acquisitions, our priorities shift and inadvertently, we leave those behind who may need us the most. Do we take out time to meet such people in our community? The youth came up with touching expressions for the same.

There were over 50 entries received which were juried by eminent people in the sphere of Arts and visual artists from around the world– Bosuk Lee, Visual Artist and curator from South Korea, Ashwin Dalvi (Ex-Ex Chairman-Lalit Kala Academy, Rajasthan) and Anju (Initiator,TFG) from India, Roya Delkhosh from Iran, Dimbeng from Paris and George Callison from the US- all being visual artists in the sphere of sustainability.

The exhibit is open from March 10 till 20, 2019 at Spaces for Good, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur. Lamp lighting was followed by panel discussion with Sheela Chitnis, chairperson MSSI (Mumbai) who talked about need of compassion in the community. She shared her thoughts on how little time and care can nurture the old and disabled for better health. Dr. Abhinav Dinesh, Director-BITS Mesra, Jaipur talked about the importance of awareness among youth to form the future sustainable societies. Dr. G.P.Singh, Botanist and Environmentalist talked about how human actions impact climate action, and how immediate little steps can help see the bigger change.

Lamp lighting by Sheel Chitnis (Chairperson, MSSI, Mumbai)

About TRY for GOOD/ Initiator

TRY for GOOD (TFG) is a social initiative that conceptualizes & builds awareness for sustainability, especially among youth. Besides, it does consulting for campaigns for environment and community healthcare for NGOs, and other CSR initiatives. In the recent past, they had done nationwide Grow Safe food campaign and their work was also showcased on Science Express. TFG initiator, Anju was also invited for speaker presentations at prestigious global sustainable Advertising & Marketing forums.

Spaces for Good’ is an extension of the same which promotes a culture of consciousness through creative expressions, and also inclusion of those who are outpaced with rapid urbanization. In this exhibit- the topics on which the millennial have shared their ideas are My Wedding, My Transport, My Consumption & Disposal and Me and the old/ disabled in my community. The topics were carefully chosen by Anju who is a creative communications professional, pursuing sustainability actively. She initiated this as a campaign with interactive sessions at the colleges to build awareness and interest. Being a cartoonist a cause artist, she also did teasers for each of the topic herself. Anju had a done a solo exhibit of cartoons on sustainability on the Earth day in 2017. Her partner Sanjul Vaish leverages the concept sharing strong synergies, while some other key influencers and community members extend all possible support.

THE EVOLUTION OF CONSUMPTION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS MODELS OF TOMORROW

This thought-provoking session addressed one of the biggest ‘elephants’ in today’s corporate boardrooms – the question of unprecedented levels of consumption of material goods around the world. The World Resources Institute has thoroughly researched the threats of growing consumption as well as the innovative business model that works in a resource-constrained world in an effort to imagine a future economy that supports human development, environmental stewardship and business success. Discover the magnitude of the challenges/opportunities, and hear about innovative solutions that will see future markets thrive without the need to sell more stuff to more people in perpetuity.

“At the professional and personal levels people are always keen on making profits or go for materialistic acquisitions. In today’s scenario esp. the developing countries, which already have many prevailing issues of population, pollution, waste management etc., there is another challenge rising up i.e. “consumerism” and “infrastructure development”.

Both these issues are inevitable! But the need of the hour is that we collectively realize that none of these should happen at the expense of our ecological assets. Because environment affects everyone. What it all needs is massive “awareness build”. Businesses and Organizations have great opportunity of addressing people through “internal and external communications” to bring the change. On one hand we need innovation; on the other we need some “conscious quotient” among us all.” Dr. Anju shared these thoughts through her cartoon rich presentation “Aping West, East may go South” at the event by Sustainable Brands, Istanbul.

In Europe & US, ‘Net Positive’ image of a business is important to get customers. Are these brands adopting similar approach while marketing in the developing regions? There must not be a replication of the use-and-throw economy or excessive consumerism like that of the affluent West. The true marketing potential may be in creating progressive and sustainable economies which have answers in conserving resources, using alternatives, societal upliftment, innovating sustainable solutions, and building clever campaigns to stimulate collective consciousness.

Anju speaking at the World Marketing Congress 2017 at Taj Land’s End Mumbai, on Purposeful Marketing

Anju at WMC-Mumbai

Anju with Mr. Goodvertising- Thomas Kolster

To avoid the use of one time use disposable plastic bags and promote the use of cloth or jute bags for buying vegetables and groceries, this workshop was organized. Visual artist from Iran and Concepts Artist Anju brought together interest in youth who participated with great enthusiasm and contributed their time for the cause.

 Paint your own bag workshop with Roya Delkosh and Anju

BYOB is a fun cartoon series conceived with the observations around.  With all possible common lame excuses given by the people who do not carry bags!! While there is single time use disposable plastic bag ban in several countries including some key cities in India, we all know that the habits of “convenience” ride over “consciousness”. There are innumerable excuses given by junta and we see plastic bags keep finding their way back :((.

Please do share with all your network. Accept friendship of all the “wallas” probably to share this bit and bring the change for the much necessary. Welcome to add more excuses. Let’s see what all got covered and what more could be there….Enjoy! Check the series here.

Check some of the cartoons here

TRY launched eco-selfie contest on February 14, 2017 on the valentines’ day to connect with the youth engaging them to express their love and care for nature. The response is going great.