AFS India

Happy to have delivered one of the keynote addresses at @IndiaAFS’ School Meet for southern zone, so graciously hosted by @SSVM_Schools, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, with the overall theme being “Ripple Effect: From Inner Awakening to Global Action”. The meet was very well organised and attended by a large number of school Principals, AFS Coordinators, teachers and students from #TamilNadu, #Kerala, #Telangana, #AndhraPradesh and #Karnataka! @AFS @LavanyaaSarwin @ssvminstitution @SSVMintitutions @ssvmins @ssvmschools @ssvmins @EduMinOfIndia @MinOfCultureGoI

On behalf of @IndiaAFS, I was happy to have addressed the @AFS Asia Pacific International Symposium 2026, in Indonesia on “Shaping the Future: AI and Innovation in Intercultural Education for Global Peace and Prosperity", in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of AFS Intercultural Program in Indonesia, Yayasan Bina Antarbudaya (AFS Indonesia) @binabud, supported by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education @Kemdikdasmen and @brin_indonesia. Since travel to #Jakarta was not possible due to #volcanic-eruptions, joined the symposium online from #Bali!

Delighted to be speaking on “Shaping the Future: AI and Innovation in Intercultural Education for Global Peace and Prosperity" at the AFS Asia Pacific International Symposium 2026, in Indonesia, in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of AFS Intercultural Program in Indonesia, Yayasan Bina Antarbudaya (AFS Indonesia), supported by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education @Kemdikdasmen and @brin_indonesia! @AFS @IndiaAFS @dtobst @binabud

Happy to have hosted @IndiaAFS’ Annual Volunteers’ Meet in Goa, coinciding with 20 years of @AFS in India. Also addressed almost 100 volunteers drawn from various parts of India and emphasised that much of what AFS India has achieved is by virtue of its rock-solid team of self-motivated volunteers, highly evolved host families, best-in-class member schools and the celebrated alumni. This period has been an eventful one, comprising two decades of embracing global citizenship values and transforming young lives. I also emphasised the transition of AFS from year-long programmes to short-term ones and from donor-funded programmes to student paid ones. May AFS India continue to grow from strength to strength, the global geopolitical tensions notwithstanding!

Happy to have delivered an hour long talk on ‘De-conditioning of the Mind for Breakthrough in Performance’ for around 250 students of one of the top-most institutions of Chandigarh- Yadavindra Public School, Mohali @MohaliYps. Glad to have had a highly engaged audience. A special thanks to its Director Maj. Gen. TPS Waraich, VSM** for the courtesy extended to me. Thank you @IndiaAFS for lining this up! @AFS @yps_patiala

It was wonderful knowing Ranjana Iyer all these years on AFS India’s Board of Directors. AFS organised a farewell at Delhi Gymkhana to bid adieu to this dynamic lawyer from Bangalore! @IndiaAFS @AFS

Had very useful advocacy meetings with several U.S. Congressmen, Senators and their teams at the Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.! @CapitolHistory @visitthecapitol @caphillartwalk @uscapitol @CapitolAlert @IndianEmbassyUS @CSISIndiaChair @USISPForum @USIBC @USAndIndia @Interior @AFS @IndiaAFS @washington