• By Bidisha Roy

Money, name, fame – she wants nothing; just wants to work selflessly. Her credo: “Duty with sincerity and honesty” takes into account the importance of hard work. She is a staunch believer in “Work is Worship” and “God helps those who help themselves”. She is no other than Purnima A Desai – a true cultural ambassador of India.

A motivating and dedicated teacher in vocal and instrumental music, dance, languages, and Indian philosophy, Purnima A Desai is the founder and President of Shikshayatan Cultural Center and Sriniketan Foundation, both based in New York. The philanthropic organizations, instrumental in encouraging and supporting Indian culture through music and art, promote the beauty, good will, and tranquility of Indian art and culture through in depth educational workshops teaching children and women Hindi, violin, dance, poetry, and painting.

Born in a Brahmin family in Kolkata, India in 1949, Purnima lived in there for 19 years, then moving to Delhi where she lived for 4 years. In 1972 she got married to Ashok C Desai, a pharmacist by profession. It was a brief one year stay in Mumbai, before she moved to New York in 1973.

Purnima’s liaison with the cultural world started in Kolkata at a very early age when she started learning Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, and Kathak dance. Highly educated with a number of degrees under her belt, Purnima, who is a B.A. (Edu. Hons)., C.C.O.S.W., M.B.A., Real Estate Manager., and Computer Programmer, never got disconnected from her cultural roots.

After a brief corporate career in New York, Purnima took a hiatus for her children. Mother of three daughters, Purnima founded the cultural organization-Shikshayatan, which means house of learning, in 1988 as she felt the need for such an organization to impart knowledge about Indian Culture to the young generation who are born and brought up in U.S. A. and who are deprived of the rich Indian cultural heritage. Shikshayatan opened its doors to all nationalities to come together for peace, harmony and team spirit and successfully and continuously offered vocal and instrumental lessons flexibly throughout the calendar year since its inception, providing a stage for young and old performers alike.

In 2015, she founded Sriniketan Foundation with the objective of building awareness through mind, body and soul evolution through various therapies. Each year, the organization showcases the talent of internationally renowned artists and recognizes their phenomenal talent, unrivaled contributions, and dedication to preserving the heritage of Hindustani Classical Music.

Purnima has celebrated many festivals of India, birthdays of saints, sages, patriotic leaders to give the knowledge of India and her sacrifices, morality, and spirituality.  She was blessed by saints, sages, spiritual masters like Amma, Sant Morari Bapu, Acharya Mridula Shastri, Swami Bua ji, dignitaries and diplomats- Hillary Clinton, Gary Ackerman Dr. Karan Singh, Dr. Abid Hussain, Lalit Mansingh, Neelam Deo, Shashi Tripathi, scholars, renowned artists- Sonal Mansingh, Padmini Ramachandran, Archana Joglekar, Pandit Ramesh Narayan, Partho Bose, Aditya Narayan Chatterjee and many more, poets – Dr. Bijoy Mehta, community leaders, world renowned astrologers and healers Swami Chakradhar, Shakunta Devi and many community leaders.

Purnima is an acknowledged vocalist who has many music albums to her credit. She has authored many books – a Children’s book, book of patriotic songs, and another that contains spiritual songs. Theater also fascinates her. She is a script writer, producer and director of small plays –Apna Desh Apne Tyohaar and Bal Ramayan for Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, NY. As a program director of cultural events, Purnima has produced and directed more than hundred cultural programs for youngsters and adults for various organizations, institutions, ashrams, temples, churches, libraries, schools, delegates, etc. And she does not stop here! She is a painter with proficiency in oil painting. She is a journalist too in her own right. She is publisher/editor of Abhyudaya, an educational and literary magazine in Hindi & English for children, youth, and adults.

She also completed her training in Reiki under the supervision of Dr. N.K. Sharma and Dr. Savita Sharma of Reiki Healing Foundation, world’s largest Reiki Foundation. She is now Kriya Acharya Reiki Grand Master.

She has received a number of recognitions, honors and awards. She is a recipient of Dharma Kalyaan Jyoti Madalsa Award by Maa Yog Shakti. All Brahmin Convention 2001 commenced by Brahmin Samaj of U.S.A. honored her with an award of “Excellence and Accomplishments for brilliance, versatility, expertise, dedication, commitment and dignifying Worldwide Brahmin Community through [her] prolific, meritorious contribution and glorious accomplishments in the field of cultural and Educational activities”. On March 17, 2006, World Business Forum honored her with the awards: “Person of the Year” and “Woman of the Era” at the Hilton Hotel in NY. She also received the “Samaaj Bandhu” and “Best Teacher’s Award” from the Probidhini Foundation; “Sangeet Vishaarad” on May 17th 2009 from Maha Mandaleshwar Maa Yog Shakti Saraswati. She received a citation from New York City Council for being “an outstanding citizen, one which is worthy of the esteem of both community and the great City of New York” on October 2, 2009.
Purnima is also a recipient of “AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE” from Universal Peace Foundation in 2011.

“I’m extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to acquire the best from both India and the United States,” says Purnima. “Over the course of my life both countries have given me so much opportunity and my gratitude for them is infinite. Now through my organization I proudly guide our young future generation to balance their life and remain peaceful and profoundly connected to both cultures.”

“My sole purpose is for children to connect to their roots and they should know what inspirational and enrichment they can acquire from their Indian heritage,” says Purnima.

According to Purnima, it’s ideal for Indian American people to embrace both cultures as merging idealism from their different values, beliefs, and norms. She feels absolutely blessed and overwhelmingly lucky to be a citizen while maintaining spirituality and enlightenment from her country.

“My heartfelt purpose is keeping people healthy physically and spiritually and to help the needy less fortunate people,” says Purnima. “We should all be mindful that wealth is not everything. I teach holistic health, healing, and proper nutrition. If you are healthy you can acquire wealth. But if you own lavish properties and have millions in the bank but are malnourished and sickly you can never enjoy life.”