1. What is Bodhicitta?

Etymologically, the word is a combination of the Sanskrit words bodhi and citta. Bodhi means “awakening” or “enlightenment”. Citta derives from the Sanskrit root cit, and means “that which is conscious” (i.e., mind or consciousness). Bodhicitta may be translated as the mind (citta) that is aimed at awakening (bodhi), with wisdom and compassion for the benefit of all sentient beings. 

A. Vision Statement:

Bodhicitta fosters leadership qualities in communities so that every being has an equal opportunity to thrive and realise their fullest potential. 

B. Mission Statement:

Bodhicitta Consulting brings together wisdom from many different political, philosophical and psychological schools of thoughts to nurture and develop the ideology of Leading with Love in its global community of Healer Leaders.

C. Brand Values:

Bochicitta Consulting prioritises values of Mettā (Loving Kindness), karunā (Compassion), muditā (Compersion), and upekkhā (Equanimity). 

D. Principles:

Bodhicitta Consulting engages with a compassionate and conversational approach, employing empathetic and thought-provoking narratives to connect with their audience.

Their communication style is consciously designed to be reflective and educational, while having a strong emotional resonance, eliciting feelings of empathy, understanding, and empowerment.

Bodhicitta prioritises articulating deep psychological insights in everyday terms, indicating a strong emphasis on presenting complex ideas in engaging and relatable ways.

The organisation embodies a compassionate guide that inspires introspection, encourages open discussions about difficult topics, and provides insights for personal growth and development.

I believe that mental health support and services must be inclusive, accessible and affordable for all, and especially so for people from marginalized communities. The current dominant culture globally doesn’t adequately acknowledge and uphold rights of persons to emotional and psychological wellbeing, and the impact of politics and policies on the mental wellbeing of a country’s people. The most visible narrative around emotional wellbeing hinges on the ideas of self-care, thereby invisibilizing community care. I believe it is possible to bring in a shift in the culture around mental health through changing policies, nurturing leadership of the affected community members to bring their voices at the center of policy making, and through leveraging good practices and innovations. As a mental health care professional and an activist, I wish to be part of a vibrant, passionate and driven team that works in collaboration with key stakeholders with an intersectional lens to bring transformative change in policy, practice and theory around access to mental health in India, to make mental healthcare support accessible to members of marginalized communities. 

Experience Summary:

As a psychologist, human rights activist and a researcher I have 11 years of experience of working at the intersection of mental health, human rights of queer persons, human rights of trafficked survivors, community leadership and policy engagement. After my initial training in Clinical Psychology which rested on a medical model, I’ve eventually shifted away from this model to understand mental health in the wider context of politics and marginalization perpetuated by exclusionary designs and systems. I believe that continuous self-reflection is an integral part of bringing changes within and in the systems one inhabits. I find meaning in working collaboratively towards systemic changes that make lives better. I strongly believe that for systems to work effectively and efficiently, it is important to find ways of engaging with the very people that the system wishes to cater to. Due to the layers of language, class, and other barriers, often it requires facilitators to help bridge these gaps. 2015 onwards I’ve been extensively engaged in co-designing and conducting studies to understand the impact of existing policies as well as the impact of gaps in policies. I have also been designing and implementing participatory campaigns to inform the policymaking process with the lived experiences and expertise of impacted community members, and good practices by professionals working directly at the community level. During the last 8.5 years of my work in the anti-trafficking sector I have sharpened my skills of evidence-based systemic analyses of phenomena, facilitating community consultations and participatory strategy planning for policy changes, and fostering collaborations among community stakeholders for effectively engaging with policymakers to build solutions for addressing policy gaps. 

Key Professional Highlights:

1. Through my individual practice as a mental healthcare professional, I have been recognised as a queer affirmative, trauma-focused counselor in India – leading to being enlisted in multiple referral directories,

2. Supported for-profit and non-profit organisations in Kolkata in supporting 10,000+ students and professionals in their career growth and professional development journey,

3. Ensuring learnings on survivors’ access to mental health care, victim compensation, rehabilitation, and justice are recognised and acknowledged by national and international stakeholders,

4. Co-led the process of supporting survivors’ collectivizing and leadership building leading to formation of Indian Leadership Forum Against Trafficking at the national level in 2019, and formation of Utthan in West Bengal in 2016,

5. Co-organising thematic workshops and events, and media engagements with feminist activists, mental health care providers, and GSM community members to raise awareness on consent and sexuality,