All India House keeper’s conference at Hotel – Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
I am grateful to Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai team for inviting me to their all India conference of house keepers, as a guest speaker, for giving a talk about Rug manufacturing & maintance. I never knew that something that was a child’s play, once for me, would one day become a driving passion and bring me to this day and place.
They say that our childhood years are also the most impressionable years of life, don’t they! That’s definitely true atleast for me.. A huge family house literally located in the middle of a rug Factory, that’s where we grew up. Every evening this factory in our backyard would turn into a huge playground for all of us, i mean for all the thirteen-fourteen children living in our huge joint family. And our unique toys were all the things stacked around in this factory godown. I remember clearly, we jumped over rugs, tripped over things, played hide and seek, dark room, threw wool pom-Pom’s at each other…. and during all of this divine chaos also made friends with weavers & workers … we enjoyed every bit of our unique play in the company of our weaver friends, who would be amused and sometimes even annoyed with our naughtiness …
In the midst of this childhood play I developed a passion, a passion just by chance…and the rug manufacturing industry has become one of the driving forces in my life. This industry is very very old. Generation after generation these humble artisans have carried the art of rug weaving to this day. Toiling day and night to weave happiness for us with their hard work. Being part of their journey and showcasing value of their hard work is a fulfilling experience. Having done my education In fine Arts I do appreciate the Art and skill involved in making every piece. There are many delicate processes involved at every stage. And so for me talking about rugs and rug making with anyone is delightful. Every project that we do brings new learning and brings new experiences and that’s surely an enriching experience too. Thanks to our parents who gifted us our unique playground and our skilled friends in childhood where learning happened effortlessly.
I look forward to being part of many such engaging conversations in future also. And contribute my little bit towards the growth of this amazing industry.
Ms. Vasudha Jhunjhunwala holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. She is associated with the Art of Living since year 2000. Born and brought up in a pink city Jaipur, Rajasthan she currently resides in Amchi Mumbai with her family. For nearly a decade, Vasudha has inspired more than 10,000 youths with her teachings and social work. She has undertaken various projects and has been an instrument of change for its success. Juggling between home and work, in her spare time Vasudha likes to paint, write poems, learn music and play badminton. She is a Social Worker, Entrepreneur, State Coordinator of The Art of Living, Student of Sanskrit & Classical Music, Writer, Homemaker, Mother, Meditation Teacher, Public Speaker, Recipient of CSO-2014 award by Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam and has travelled in 30 Countries.
She is a quintessential deshbhakt. It is difficult to match her youthful Energy.
Vasudha is extremely passionate about her initiatives. One of the most successful projects lead by her was the ‘Vote For a Better India’ - A campaign that facilitated the voter registration process and lead to 5 lakh citizens new voter registration across India in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. Bringing more awareness to the people in the community she began the initiative ‘Mind your Vehicle’ - A project to sensitize citizens towards traffic discipline with 2000 volunteers in Mumbai. The project saw good media coverage. She was also the founding member of ‘Save Aarey’ project. In this project more than 300 volunteers cleared 5-truck loads of garbage from Aarey colony. With an aim to instill a sense of responsibility and nationalism among the youth, she has spearheaded several initiatives that included women’s safety drives, blood donation drives, cleanliness drives at railway stations and sea-shores, health and hygiene awareness camps and others.
Often people ask her what made her belief so strong to walk the spiritual path. She affirms that, “just like the light house guides the ship through darkness of night, our conscience guides us through decisions of life. For a smooth sail, just listen to it!”
The drought in Maharashtra had led to an increasing number of farmer suicides and Vasudha decided to contribute towards River Rejuvenation Project in the state. She along with her team revived around 22kms of Manjara river. The river Manjara rejuvenation in Latur District benefited 5 lakh villagers in its vicinity. Vasudha was also a part of the Solar Lamp Project. She was the catalyst in the distribution of solar lamps to flood-hit villagers in Orissa during Fani.
Her courage and valour gives her the skill to bring out the right perspective in every project she undertakes. Worry or Uncertainty are not words she rhymes with, Vasudha believes that’s Spiritual knowledge shields the flame of life from the winds of uncertainties. Vasudha is currently working on Project Pavitra. Since its inception this year, the project has imparted menstrual hygiene education to more than 2000 young girls in BMC schools and it aims to reach out to many more. She is also the founding member of SORT Club - Student's organization for Reform and Transformation. The club is now operational in 10 colleges in Mumbai. The project aims to remove the menace of substance abuse from the colleges of India. Vasudha is also working on a Happy Neighbourhood Project. The project aims to establish Happiness centers in societies to make societies stress-free.
If you meet her once, you would know that she has a very charming, intuitive, and jovial personality, her ideas and thoughts are ahead of it’s time. Her ability to perceive something new and unique in every individual is what draws people to her company. She gives a very comfortable and cool vibe something young students connect to and find easy to talk and open up to her about their problems. Make impossible, possible is her mantra. Her sessions are filled with grit, humor, inspiration, and some awespiring wisdom. People feel rejuvenated, energetic, experience clarity of thoughts, immense love in their hearts after attending her Mind and Breathe Workshops.
Mysteries of life intrigues her and even though she has traveled in 30 countries she found her best place within. She, by herself is a ‘Happiness Express’ moving swiftly on the spiritual path.
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Vasudha Jhunjhunwala 