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Prof Sunil Puri, Registrar of Shoolini University, completed his PhD almost 40 years ago and has remained associated with teaching at various Agricultural universities before joining Shoolini in 2007. In an interview with KHYAATI SHARMA, he talks about the priorities and plans for the University. Here are the excerpts from the interview:

How many courses are run by the University? Which are the most popular courses?

Presently, we have 74 courses running in six faculties. One of the most popular courses is Pharmacy in an undergraduate programme. We have a far lesser number of seats than the number of applicants for this course.

The other popular programmes are the Basic Sciences courses and Biotechnology courses in the postgraduate programmes where students seek admission as our research facilities are really good.

In management courses, MBA is most sought after. Although, the seats are fewer but we are planning to increase the MBA seats from 180 to 240 from this year. Every year, management tries to look after each and every aspect of the courses so as to deliver the best to the students.

What new courses are planned for 2018?

There are many courses which are planned this year. MSc Yoga is one of them. We are going to start some courses on the integrated programs in Engineering so that students who opt for this course can save at least one year. One of the prestigious programmes of Shoolini is the “Elite Programme” wherein only students are admitted who have more than 85 per cent of marks and the department provides fellowships to such students.

Then, in Biotechnology, we have the Summit Research Programme, where we have only 10 seats and the number of applicants is more than 100. Other new courses which we are planning to start include PhD program in Civil Engineering. Nanotechnology and Genomics which are some of the latest fields are about to be taken over by the university.

How can students approach you with their problems?

There are two ways. The first option is through the internet. There is an email i.e. care@shooliniuniversity.com where students can simply drop a mail. Those mails are checked daily. Even if the students don’t want to send mail, the other way is that he/she can write an anonymous letter also. They can also approach verbally and discuss the issue. Any student who approaches us regarding the complaints and suggestions, we take it very seriously and action is taken very instantly.

Does the university have an anti-harassment cell too?

Yes, we have various committees. We have a sexual harassment committee and grievance committee too. When the matter is very serious and it comes to our notice, the grievance cell takes it over. We always try to resolve the problem of the students within the university premises. We have been successful and fortunately, our students have been very nice and cooperative. In my experience, I never heard any case of such a serious matter that cannot be resolved on our own basis.

What are Shoolini’s plans for the newly introduced courses?

The recruitment process of faculty has already started. We have advertised for many of the posts and to give a glimpse of that, we have received more than 1000 applicants from all across the country that is willing to join us for the new courses as well as the existing courses.

In addition to this, we are also focusing on the infrastructure. For example from the next academic session, we are starting up with BSc (Hons) Agriculture. We have already established farms and the inauguration was done on February 18. One of the farms is about 100 metres away from the university and the other is 2 kilometres away from the campus.

What are the various scholarship schemes which are offered by the university?

We have various types of scholarships. Broadly, there are two types of scholarships. One is awarded by the university and the other is awarded by the government to the students. Our policy is that the students should be made aware of those scholarships, particularly during orientation programmes.

Within the university, we have many scholarships. First is the sibling scholarship i.e. any brother-sister or two sisters or two brothers joining the university. Next, we have scholarships for the single girl child. We also provide BPL scholarships which is a great success along with SC/ST scholarships.

Besides, Inspire scholarships are also there. Those students who qualify for DST programmes get scholarships. We have a separate wing in the office that looks after the scholarship programmes of the university only. There are other scholarships also which we call “earn while you learn”.

Do you keep a record of the alumni?

Yes, we have a proper alumni record. Any student who is passing out has to fill up a form providing their contact details. Every year, there is an alumni association meeting in the university. To the best of my knowledge, more than 3000 students are there on the alumni list maintained by the university.

How do you ensure the confidentiality and accuracy of the students’ records?

Well, my colleagues do a very good job. They know that records are very confidential and we don’t pass them on. On the other hand, we are transparent on aspects that are important for the students.

How is working with Shoolini different from other educational institutions?

When we established this university, we decided to run a system part of agriculture and traditional universities. Credit and the choice-based system were adopted by Shoolini in the year 2009 when none of the traditional universities had this system. Even the UGC came up with the choice based credit system in the year 2015. Shoolini’s system is the best, be it in education or research or any academic area.

Any experience of your lifetime which transformed you?

Joining Shoolini University definitely transformed my vision. Initially, when I was working with the government universities, my outlook towards the private education system was very narrow. But when I became a part of the private university education system, my vision also broadened.

SHAINA CHAUHAN

Shoolini University, in cooperation with partner organisations in various countries, has been organising joint programmes to promote international scientific collaboration. So far 50 students have been a part of this foreign exchange programme. This year the university is expecting 5 foreign exchange students and sending out 11 students to Korea, Taiwan and UK.

Shoolini University has established ties and friendly relations across various other countries including Korea, United States, Afghanistan etc. The students and faculty both have the opportunities to join the same.

The Office of International Affairs handles the cooperative activities between Shoolini University and foreign universities and institutes, including creating partnerships, facilitating student and faculty exchanges, and organising joint research collaboration.

Shoolini University helps its students to get higher study opportunities in foreign universities. Shoolini representatives also regularly travel abroad for more international collaboration and to review its existing collaboration with partners abroad.

This year Shoolini has three students from Afghanistan namely Ahmed Walled, Paryana Tahiri, Raisa Saboori for MTech CSE and two students from China. Two students from Shoolini University, Tanya and Pragati are going to the University of Arkansas, USA. Three students, Deepika, Deeksha and Shaina are visiting Gachon University, South Korea.

Two students, Jashjeet Singh Dhupia and Akhil Sharma are going to Inha University. Two students, Abhinav and Ikshiva Rojhe are going to Sichuan University. Two students, Hardika Sharma and Chaitanya Modgill are going to Taiwan.

VAISHNAVI SOOD

Moringa, popularly known as drumstick, which has been added as a flavour to sambar for years, may soon be introduced as a water purifier adding another important use to this miraculous plant. The discovery can prove to be a huge turning point in our fight against many water-borne diseases and meeting the requirement of potable water for people around the globe.

A doctorate student, Amanpreet Kaur Virk has been studying the water purifying properties of moringa seeds for around 2 years now. She proudly filed her first patent on ‘compact and portable herbal water purifier for drinking water’ in October last year describing the use of drumstick seed powder as a natural water purifier.

The idea evolved as an attempt to solve the problems of clean and safe drinking water and help curb many of the water-borne diseases. Amanpreet credited this idea to her guide, Prof Saurabh Kulshrestha who initially suggested the use of Moringa seeds as a water purifier as a topic for her research.

This patent is critical because of the increasing scarcity of freshwater with water pollution levels rising at alarming rates. Today, about one billion people lack safe drinking water and more than six million people (of which 2 million are children) die of diarrhoea every year. Waterborne diseases still kill on average 25,000 people in developing countries every day while millions suffer the debilitating effects of these diseases.

Virk said most of the currently available technologies are not affordable for many people living in the rural areas and the chemical substances used in the process have many adverse effects on the health too. She further added that around 75% of water gets wasted, (which cannot even be used for irrigational purposes) in the RO systems which have become quite popular in recent years.

The herb, Moringa oleifera is commonly referred to as drumstick and also referred to as a miracle tree. Every part of the plant has some medicinal properties as well as high nutritional value. Moreover, being an edible substance, it also has no adverse effects on the health of people unlike many other chemicals presently used in the process of water purification.

Sharing the progress, Amanpreet informed us that the patent is in its testing phase right now. Dip-bag containing extremely safe and edible M. oleifera seeds was used to purify portable drinking water. She said the dip-bag has been successful in the removal of many pathogenic bacteria within a short span of 10-15 minutes. She said just an amount of 50 mg is enough for cleaning 500 mL of water. The seed powder has proved to be bactericidal in nature meaning to permanently kill the harmful bacteria present in the water. She shares the dip bag has also proved to be efficient in the removal of heavy metal contamination and toxic dyes.

Talking about the plans for the commercialization of the idea, she says they have planned to create dip-bags just like tea bags for its wider use. But making people aware of this technology and convincing them about the same shall be the major challenge during the final phase of commercialisation, said the Shoolinian.

Amanpreet Kaur, who has been staying in Himachal Pradesh for the last five years, hails to the Ferozeshah village of the Ferozepur district of Punjab. She completed her schooling and graduated from Shahid Ganj Public School, Mudki and D.A.V. College, Amritsar respectively. She also topped her batch when she completed her MSc from Shoolini University.

Virk falls short of words while talking about her guide, Prof Saurabh Kulshrestha who was also her mentor for the project during her master’s degree. She also thanked Chandresh Kumari, a fellow PhD student who is also an Assistant Professor in the University for her contributions during the initial years of the research work.

She said that the entire faculty of Biotechnology is very sincere and always make all the possible efforts to provide students with the best of facilities and opportunities. She is appreciative of her experience at the Shoolini University with all the good and bad that came her way.

VAISHNAVI SOOD

Amit Sharma, the former Chief Operating Officer of a Philippine company, Copylandia Office Systems Corporation. He has led operations across the US, Australia and New Zealand for leading MNCs in the BPO world. He now works as an Independent Business Consultant and also teaches people the science of Mind Management. Here is an excerpt from his interview:

What is the most common question that you get as a Business Consultant?

“How do we change and make money?” that’s the first question I get from established organisations and professionals I generally work with. That is basically the reason they hire me. But, as far as young people are concerned, their questions revolve around how can we succeed in a certain number of years? Or how can we grow in our careers and questions like that.

Since, today we are living in an age of such rapid changes, what are the qualities and skills that you think we as students need to possess to survive and succeed?

As students I think what we are lacking is curiosity and perseverance. That’s a pain I see even when I hire people at different positions. Today’s generation needs to understand that ‘Rome was not built in a day’. McKinsey published a report earlier that there is a huge need for talent and then we have a significant amount of unemployment in the country. I think it’s a very silly problem to have.

We have the people and we have the jobs, we just don’t have the people who fit the jobs. This can be solved if they have the curiosity to learn new things and then they have to have the perseverance to put in that effort, get those skills and imbibe and practice to succeed. You will have to come out with a reasonable journey and you would have to learn.

There is so much of competition and stress especially in the corporate world. So, during your years as COO, how did you cope with stress?

Stress is having a lot of work to do in less time and when you are having less energy. First, be passionate about your work. If you love what you do, you won’t feel physically drained. Secondly, it is the mental drain. If you meditate, it increases your energy and capacity. You have the same day but you have more energy and you are more focused and that certainly helps.

You like meditation and teach people Science of Mind Management. ‘From Business to Mind Management’, how did that happen?

I have worked in industries where stress levels are very high. We have very high deadlines, tight schedules and crazy goals. I have worked in the BPO world and also in the retail industry. In both industries, stress was simply a part of the job. I had worked in diverse geographies, I could not sleep enough and I did not know how to manage that. It started off as how to make my energy levels right and then it was the team because we were losing people due to the same problem.

Secondly, I wanted to understand the science behind meditation and chemistry behind the brain. The more I read, the more I practised. As I saw the changes happening inside me, I thought of teaching it to others as well. I began with my colleagues within the organisation and then my clients and others. Everyone was just happy to have something else than alcohol to relieve stress. For me, it just became a nice cycle of learning and teaching.

What was your learning from your experience of working in different countries and diverse cultures?

I think human beings are same everywhere. We all have our own cultural biases, we all look at the world differently but the basic emotions are the same. The basic rule is “treat people the way you would like to be treated”. As an individual, my voice is loud and my body language is aggressive. ‘But even with that you can get away as long as you are showing respect and treating them the way you would like to be treated’ is what I learned.

What would be your message to the students?

 It is good to be ambitious. It is very good to be ambitious, there is no denying that. But ambition should be backed with the ability and the willingness to take the pain for it. It is like shopping in a store, if there is something nice you have to pay for it and that payment is going to be painful. In Life, it is hard work, reading, learning and practicing. That is your currency in the store called Life. It’s simple if you want something, work for it.

Lastly, any quick interview tip for all those who are graduating this semester?

Yes. It’s a quick tip but if you really want to crack it, you need to understand it well. We generally pick up the first job that comes our way but that’s not going to work in the long run. If you want to have a successful career, know yourself first and accordingly choose an industry you want to join and the company you want to get into. Getting through it would be the Interview.

Don’t try to sell yourself, understand the interviewer’s world. Every interviewer wants to know what you have done in the past, how you have done it and who you are. They would like to see your energy, your soft skills and know how you react and mange when things might go downhill. Have your REAP (Results Energy Attitude Processes) in line, communicate it well and your chances to get selected are already high.

All sports lovers particularly the cricket fans, are looking forward to India’s victory at the cricket World Cup next year. There is much discussion on strategies to be adopted and on the choice of captaincy. Avinash Kumar and Suresh talked to a cross section of students at Shoolini University to elicit their point of view:

Rishav Sharma (B.Tech Biotechnology) 4th year

Kohli has proved himself as a one of the best captains in recent times. I think he should lead the Indian side during the ICC World Cup which is to be held next year. Also, he’ll be exceptional under the mentorship of MS Dhoni.

Kanika Sharma (M.Sc Chemistry) 2nd Year

Kohli has been great as both, batsman and skipper for India, but has a long way to go in overseas matches. He underperforms under stressful situations, unlike MS Dhoni. He needs to gain a lot of experience to lead the Indian team in England next year, because he has never played as captain in an event as large as the WC.

Brajesh Srivastava- (B.Tech ECE 4th year)

With an excellent strike rate and fantastic leadership skills, Kohli is a great choice for captaincy in the World Cup. He has an excellent record in both ODIs and T20 matches. Also, he has MS Dhoni guiding him in building a strong team. The fact that he has leaded the Indian team at the U-19 World Cup to victory in 2003 justifies his position.

Apoorva Gurung- (B.Tech Biotech 4th year)

Personally, I think Virat depends too much on Dhoni’s guidance. No doubt, he plays well in all formats of the game but lacks the experience to lead a team as diverse as India. His aggression is sometimes a negative factor in the gentlemen’s game.

Saikat Ghosh (B.Tech ME 1st year)

Kohli has earned himself massive respect as captain and batsman. Dhoni’s guidance has been a contributing factor to his game play. He has become captain only after repeatedly proving himself. He’s one of the highest run scorers in recent times. He makes sure that the team chases unattainable targets.

Palesi Tyang- (B.Sc. Chemistry 2nd year)

India has earned a well-deserved 5-1 ODI victory in the recent South African tour of India under Kohli’s captaincy. He is experienced in all formats, including Test cricket. Also, he is the first Indian to score more than 500 runs within a single ODI series. Dhoni’s help is a boost for Kohli. I think upcoming talent in cricket must get chances to lead the Indian side to get exposure.

Sudarshan Sahu (B.Tech 4th year)

In every ODI Dhoni is the one making strategies and Kohli implements them in the field. Moreover Dhoni’s captaincy is distinctive to any other player as he can study the opponent’s game plan and his captaincy changes with the opponent’s mind. That is why I would vote for MS Dhoni to lead team India as a captain in the 2019 World Cup.

Sanjay Kumar (MBA 1st year)

I think Kohli should lead the team because he is young and aggressive in the field. Even though Dhoni is much better as a leader and in the field he shows greater team spirit than Kohli. However, Kohli has been handling the team well so far. I pick Kohli because if we see the past and the present matches so far he is getting better and better every day. Rest assured, Dhoni will definitely help him in the field.

ROSEMARY T

“The moment I stepped in this university I knew that I was meant to be here and with no regrets I can say that I am a proud Shoolinian” says Abinash Choudhry from Nepal who is a student in Shoolini University. He is currently pursuing B.Tech BioTech from the University.

Abinash says that his first impression in India is positive. He finds the people in India, especially the people from Himachal Pradesh very kind and friendly. He said that he hasn’t visited many of the places in Himachal or India other than Kasauli and he would love to explore more.

About his experience in Shoolini University, he adds – “The environment out here is so cool. The classrooms are so nice and clean and the teachers are very cooperative and friendly. Not just the teachers but the students are also very helpful. I have made lots of friends and some of them are really funny. They keep the class entertained, make us laugh and I love them so much.

When it comes to studies, currently I don’t have a favourite subject but I have chosen ‘Sex Education’ as my open elective subject and I kind of find this subject interesting. Many people take the word ‘sex education’ in a wrong way. In the class we are taught to give equal rights to the women and give them respect. We are born in a generation where the word ‘sex’ is treated as inferior and this subject teaches us to treat women equally. Therefore we are taught not to be ashamed to be born in this era.

I am interested in singing, dancing, writing Nepali poems and playing karate. My ambition is to become a great model and actor of Nepal or be it India. I am not too keen in studying B.Tech. Biotech but it is because of my parents that I am here today to fulfil their dreams and in a hope to live my own dreams too. For modelling I was inspired by a top famous Nepali model and actor Paul Sah.

In the university my daily schedule is quite tight and busy. After taking my classes I usually practise dance and also practise karate. I am looking forward to do well and come out as a bright student and make my teachers and parents proud of me.

I am so glad to be a part of Shoolini University. The campus is so beautiful and everything is so green. The university is very clean and it feels lively. My future plan is to work for some big industry. Apart from working I also want to give a try in modelling. I would love to visit here even after my graduation. And I am definitely going to suggest my friends and relatives to visit India and especially Himachal Pradesh at least once in a lifetime.”

“We are science students and had no idea about Business. BEST taught us how we can transform a scientific idea into an impressive Business proposal. There were a lot of things that we learnt and those sleepless nights were definitely worth it. ”, said a team member who attended the innovative science programme at Bengaluru earlier this month. They were among the top 20 applicants and participated in the 9th edition of the BEST ABLE competition from 12th to 16th February.

Biotechnology Entrepreneurial Student Teams (BEST) programme is an innovative talent search programme that aims to encourage entrepreneurship in the field of life sciences by identifying student teams and encouraging them to come up with scientific ideas that have commercialization potential.

A team of five students consisting of Uma Shankar Upadhya, Pratibha Thakur, Prakrati Garg, Aaliya Ali and Kepika Thapa submitted their project on the topic, ‘Removal of toxic dyes and heavy metals using Moringa Oleifera’. The team credited this opportunity to their guide, Prof. Saurabh Kulshrestha for motivating them.

VAISHNAVI SOOD

On that Monday morning of August 28, 2017, when I raised the window shades of the aircraft before our landing I got the first glimpse of Korea and began to get those butterflies. As we touched down at the Incheon Airport in Seoul, I felt a sudden rush of emotions that can never be expressed in words.

“A girl who never stayed out of her house alone for a single night got a chance to cross the national borders and explore a foreign land amid those unknown faces. Of course, she said yes but only her heart knew the anxiety that accompanied this overwhelming joy and excitement.”

I was glad to have my four Indian friends by my side and we wanted to celebrate that moment. Suddenly, being surrounded with those unfamiliar faces also felt a bit weird. But, meeting our mentor calmed all the anxiety I had. We even went to eat outside with her and the food was delicious. But on the very first day we realized, finding vegetarian food and eating out was not going to be easy in the coming days.

The first few days were blissful. I was curious about my new surroundings and even the differences were exciting. But, as the initial excitement began to fade, anxiety started to set in. I had anticipated it wouldn’t be easy but I didn’t know it would be so hard. I felt lonely and found my confidence shaking. I had no clues how to deal with it. I tried reading articles about the experiences of other exchange students from around the world as I found it hard to express and cope up.

It took a little time but once things began to make sense, it was easier to adapt. I began to relax and enjoy my new environment. Taking responsibility for my choices and deliberately deciding how I spent my days finally returned my confidence and gave me the much needed satisfaction.

In the process, I met people from various cultures and made friends from different countries. My four Indian friends from Shoolini who came with me in this Program have also made a huge difference to my Student Exchange Journey. They encouraged me in going out of my comfort zone and supported whenever I needed them. They would never hesitate in pointing out my mistakes either. Sometimes, I would get upset over it but later I began to appreciate it. Their support and being there for me has meant a lot to me.

These Last three months are filled with overwhelming moments and wonderful memories. Standing at the Eulji Observatory, with the view of Punch Bowl on one side and North Korean mountains on the opposite side left me wonderstruck. It continues to be one of my favorite moments in South Korea that I will never forget. 

Exploring these beautiful places and getting closer to the culture of a new country was a unique experience in itself. The Korean culture and traditions are very interesting with quite a few similarities with the Indian Culture. I was amazed to see so many traditional games of Korea that have clear resemblance to a few of our Indian games. On the other hand, the Korean Dishes are extremely different from Indian food. Though, love for Indian Curry among the Korean people is well known.

I always found Koreans to be very helpful but some of them are shy, especially with the foreigners. Language Barrier created another challenge for us in Communicating with the native people but learning a bit of Korean language helped us a lot in the later days. The way they prefer Korean over English or any other Foreign Language is something we have admired too. 

Throughout this journey, there had been a lot of things that I learned and explored. This whole journey is an experience that I can never forget. It has helped me to grow as a person. Now, I can confidently say that no other country in the world could have been a better destination for my first trip abroad than this beautiful land. 

I am greatly thankful to my Professors at Shoolini University for trusting me and to Gachon University for giving me a chance to study in their institution for one semester. I am blessed to have so many people who supported me throughout this journey and made it even more memorable.

Aman Kumar

“Never chase money as someone else will always be richer than you. Never chase fame as someone else will be more famous than you, but if you aim at excellence money will come and adequate fame will come”. Noted Economist, Journalist and former union Minister Arun Shourie said while delivering Guru Talk here at Shoolini University on October 6.

He was addressing the audience in the Yogananda Guru Series colloquium, a regular event at the University for all the students and faculty members of the university. Arun Shourie who is one of the tallest among Indian Journalists, has been a Minister of the Indian cabinet under PM Vajpayee and most importantly is a mesmerizing speaker and great author. He shared some valuable life lessons and success mantras with the audience.

He started on an interesting note when he told the students that he is one of the three editors in India who have been dismissed and the only one dismissed twice and they should learn from this that there is life after dismissal.

Lauding the efforts of Dr PK Khosla, Vice Chancellor, Shoolini University, he said, one man can make a difference as was evident from Dr. Khosla who has set up an institute that developed at such a fast pace in a short span of time. He said that it was his vision and determination of setting up an institute which could provide the best of facilities and environment to students for a next level learning process that he accomplished his goal.

“I am happy to learn Biotechnology is one of the key faculties here as it is a discipline of the future, which binds me to the university”, he said. Excel in your subject and you must also fight for ideology of excellence in our society which is an important and difficult task. We must become messengers of ideology of excellence, he added.

Shourie said, “In your life pick up one social issue that does not concern you anymore but an average citizen of the country. If you want to be truly selfless, help someone who cannot do anything for you in return.”

His talk was followed by a Q&A session in which students asked him about the economy of the country and other issues of national interest. Vice Chancellor Dr Khosla thanked Arun Shourie for the visit and for giving an illuminating lecture.

SHAINA CHAUHAN

Internationally acclaimed cricket legend Yuvraj Singh, who is also a cancer survivor, inaugurated a Sports Stadium named “Yuvraj Stadium” on the Shoolini University campus on October 3. Yuvraj, who was given a warm welcome by the faculty and students on his arrival, was on the campus to encourage the students who had been working for his NGO, YouWeCan.

The NGO works for the welfare of cancer survivors and helps out those in need. For the last three years, the students of Shoolini University have been part of YouWeCan social project which is involved in the detection and treatment of cancer. The students have been holding awareness drives and organising detection camps supported by doctors in different areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Yuvraj planted a tree sapling on the university campus. As a symbolic gesture, he was asked to plant a Kashmiri willow which is used for making cricket bats. He then played cricket for a while with the members of the YouWeCan team. Also, he had a separate meeting with the members of YouWeCan volunteers where the students showcased their contributions so far. He appreciated the work done by them and complimented their commitment.

He later attended a function at the Open-Air Theatre which overflowed with students. He distributed prizes and certificates to students who had been actively participating in the YouWeCan project and also special star awards were given to students who had done exceptionally well outside the classroom. In a short speech delivered by him where he also said “The service you do for others without any selfish motive is of the highest kind.”

He later met Vice-Chancellor Prof PK Khosla, the trustees of the university and senior faculty members over tea. Prof Khosla presented him with a book “The Autobiography of a Yogi” which Yuvraj accepted and promised to read.

Yuvraj, who had helped India win several international matches, hit six sixes in a single over during the 2007 ICC World Cup. He holds the record for fastest T20 fifty by scoring the runs in 12 balls against England and became the first all-rounder to score 300 plus runs and to take 15 wickets in a single World Cup. He was detected with a cancerous tumour in 2011.

In March 2012, Yuvraj was discharged from hospital after completing the third and final cycle of chemotherapy and returned to India and finally staged a remarkable comeback into the Indian national team. The same year he set up the YouWeCan Foundation, a non-profitable organisation.

The Foundation aims to help cancer patients and survivors to get access to treatment including raising funds for underprivileged patients. It also supports survivors through rehabilitation and creating a better life for themselves without having to live in the shadow of the disease. “The focus is to educate the masses so that nobody fights cancer alone, and towards creating awareness and eradicating socio-psychological stigma attached with cancer”, as per the aims of the NGO.