Sandhya Mendonca is an Indian writer, author, biographer, editor and publisher. Born in Bengaluru (Bangalore) in the state of Karnataka, India, she gained a BA in Economics, Political Science & Sociology from St. Joseph's College of Arts & Science and an MA in Political Science specialising in International Relations from Bangalore University. She has a Diploma in Public Relations from the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. She lives in Bengaluru.
Sandhya Mendonca worked as a journalist [1] for over sixteen years before co-founding a media company with her husband and veteran journalist Allen Mendonca (1960 - 2009), Raintree Media, [2] of which she is the Managing Director & Editor-in-Chief. She is also the mentor at TheGoodCity.in, a web and mobile-based curated content platform, and the Festival Director of Under The Raintree women's cultural festival, [3] India's first multi-arts festival curated by women.
A native Kannadiga, Mendonca is a chronicler of the cultural history of the state of Karnataka through books published by Raintree Media such as Karnataka - A Cultural Odyssey,Raj Bhavan Bangalore - Through the Ages, [4] Marvels of Karnataka & more and many others. She is the co-author of Marvels of Mysore & More, published in 2012. This book has been hailed by author Shashi Deshpande, and editor-in-chief of Outlook , Krishna Prasad. In 2015, Marvels of Karnataka & More [5] was translated into Kannada as Karnatakada Vismayagalu (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ವಿಸ್ಮಯಗಳು).
Her book Disrupt and Conquer - How TTK Prestige Became A Billion Dollar Company [6] [7] co-authored with Mr. TT Jaggannathan (Chairman of TTK Group), was published by Penguin Random House in 2018. [8] It featured in Amazon Editor's picks of Memorable Books of 2018, and Best of Business & Leadership of 2018.
Random House also published her earlier book on the REVA electric car Reva EV - India's Green Gift to the World (co-authored with Dr. SK Maini), in 2013. [9] Her autobiographical stories are published in the Chicken Soup for the Indian Couples' Soul & Chicken Soup for the Indian Singles' Soul series, both a part of the international Chicken Soup for the Soul series, published in India by Tata Westland in 2012.
In 2019, she edited and published the Augmented Reality embedded Innovate Bengaluru, [10] which features the top 100 innovators and enablers in Bengaluru's ecosystem. The book was launched in April 2019 at the Innovate Bengaluru Festival, [11] which brought together over 300 Icons, Inventors, Entrepreneurs, Emerging Leaders, Enablers and Investors.
She co-authored with Nafees Fazal, the latter's memoir, 'Breaking Barriers - The Story of a Liberal Muslim Woman's Passage in Indian Politics' published by Konark Publishers in 2022. [12]
She co-authored ‘Busted - Debunking Management Myths with Logic, Experience And Curiosity’ with Ashok Soota, a pioneer of the Indian IT industry and Peter de Jager, a Canadian management consultant. It was published by HarperCollins Publishers / Harper Business in 2023. https://www.amazon.in/Busted-Ashok-Soota-ebook/dp/B0CB97C5J4
She extensively edited the autobiography of Justice Shivaraj V Patil, former Supreme Court judge, Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court and judge of the Madras and Karnataka High Courts. It was published by Sparsh Foundation in 2024. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Jan/22/justice-shivaraj-patil-releases-memoir
Mendonca hosts a podcast and talk show "Spotlight with Sandhya" that features one-to-one conversations on inspirations and journeys. She writes a fortnightly column, Female Gaze, for The Sunday Guardian.https://sundayguardianlive.com/user/sandhyatsggmail-com
Mendonca is an amateur actor and has acted in an original play about child sexual abuse Shadows on the Wall written and directed by Vijay Nair and a comedy about golf Sliced Balls written by Poile Sengupta. She most recently acted in Robi's Garden directed by veteran director Vijay Padaki of Bangalore Little Theatre. [13] She has written lyrics to a ballad In This Moment, set to music by Sriram Aravamudan.
In 2009, Mendonca started an informal initiative in memory of her husband, Under the Raintree, [14] that hosted play readings, artistic interactions and concerts. Starting with the dramatised reading of Anita Nair's Nine Faces of Being when it was a work in progress to concerts and talks, this initiative engages artistes with audiences in informal, intimate settings.
In 2015, Mendonca was inspired to form the SHE Collective Hub, giving expression to the voices of women through poetry and art for social good. In sync with artists like Shan Re and Romicon Revola, poets Poile Sengupta & Kavita Rajshekar, among others, she offered the forum of SHE Collective Hub to The Casa Foundation, the House of Hope and the Dream India Network. The House of Hope provides 24-hour care to over a hundred AIDS-affected orphans and their siblings. Dream India Network nurtures the most vulnerable and socially excluded children and provides them a safe haven.
In 2017, both these initiatives coalesced, and Mendonca created Under The Raintree women's cultural festival. [15] Held over three days in Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru, the festival had more than 200 participating artistes. More than 6000 people attended the festival. [16] [17] The 2nd edition in Nov 2017, was registered at the United Nations Partnerships for SDGs, [18] and provided the stage for 42 events across 7 stages, featuring the voices of over 150 Writers, Poets, Musicians, Artists and Scientists. [19] [20] [21] [22]
Mendonca frequently speaks and moderates panels at literary, industry and corporate events such as:
The TTK Group is an Indian business conglomerate with a presence across several segments of industry including consumer durables, pharmaceuticals and supplements, bio-medical devices, maps and atlases, consular visa services, virtual assistant services and health care services.
Bangalore or Bengaluru, the capital city of the South Indian state of Karnataka, India. The economy of Bengaluru contributes over 43.65% to the economy of the State of Karnataka, accounting for 98% of the Software Exports of the State.
Mayuri Upadhya is an Indian choreographer, dancer, entrepreneur and TV personality based in Bengaluru, India. She is also the Artistic Director of the Bengaluru-based dance organisation, Nritarutya.
Cricket is by far the most popular sport in Karnataka with International cricket matches attracting a sizeable number of spectators who are willing to pay more than the standard ticket price to get a chance to watch the match. The sports related infrastructure is mainly concentrated in Bangalore which also played host to the 4th National Games of India in the year 1997. Bangalore is also the location of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) which is the premier sports institute in the country. Karnataka is sometimes referred to as the cradle of Indian swimming because of high standards in swimming compared to other states.
St. Joseph's University is a private aided, Jesuit, higher educational institution run by the Karnataka Province of the Society of Jesus in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. It is one of the oldest educational institution in the state of Karnataka with a history of 142 years. It has been conferred with the award College of Excellence by the University Grants Commission (India). The institution was awarded a rating of A++ (3.79/4), in the 4th cycle of re-accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2017. It offers graduate, post-graduate and research education. St. Joseph's University has around 300 teaching and non-teaching staff and more than 5500 students. The university is located at Langford Road near Richmond Circle, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Shobha Karandlaje is an Indian politician from Karnataka who is currently the Minister of State for Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Third Modi Ministry. She was also Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister of State for Food Processing Industries in the Second Modi ministry. She is also the Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka and Member of Parliament representing Bangalore North since 2024, and represented Udupi Chikmagalur Lok Sabha Constituency from 2014 to 2024. She was a cabinet minister in the Government of Karnataka. She is a close confidant to former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
Kuppur Yalappa Narayanaswamy, also known as KYN, is a popular Kannada poet, scholar, critic, and playwright. He is currently a Kannada professor in the Maharani Cluster University, Bangalore. He is the author of many popular Kannada plays including Kalavu, Anabhigna Shakuntala, Chakraratna, Huliseere, and Vinura Vema. He has also translated Kuvempu's Shudra Tapaswi into Telugu. He is credited with adapting Kuvempu's magnum opus Malegalalli madumagalu into a 9-hour play. He has also written the screenplay for the films Kalavu and Suryakaanti.
Bengaluru, formerly called Bangalore in English, is the capital and largest city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than 8 million and a metropolitan population of around 15 million, making it India's third most populous city and fourth most populous urban agglomeration. It is the most populous city and largest urban agglomeration in South India, and is the 27th largest city in the world. Located on the Deccan Plateau, at a height of over 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level, Bengaluru has a pleasant climate throughout the year, with its parks and green spaces earning it the reputation of India's "Garden City". Its elevation is the highest of India's major cities.
Prakash Belawadi is an Indian theatre artist, film director, television and media personality, who's also a teacher, activist and a journalist. He hails from Bangaluru. He has participated in many seminars, conferences and festivals in India and abroad. He is a motivational speaker at events and TEDx conferences. He is also a mentor with the founding team of BISFF since 2010.
REVA University is a private university in Kattigenahalli, Yelahanka, Bangalore. It was established under the Government of Karnataka Act, 2012. It is managed by the Rukmini Educational Charitable Trust. The university currently offers UG, PG and several certificate/diploma-level programs in engineering, architecture, science & technology, commerce, management, law, & arts. The university also facilitates research leading to doctoral degrees in all disciplines. Dr. P. Shyama Raju is the chancellor of the university.
Vidushi Shashikala Dani is an Indian Hindustani classical Jal Tarang artist. She is one among the few musicians and presently the only All India Radio-graded female exponent of the Jal Tarang. She is a multi-instrument artist with concert and teaching experience in Jal Tarang, Harmonium, Sitar, Violin, Dilruba and Tabla. She is also an All India Radio-graded vocalist in the Gamaka genre of Hindustani Light Music.
Bengaluru Namma Pride March is a queer pride march that is held annually in the city of Bengaluru in Karnataka, India, since 2008. The march is organised by a coalition called Coalition for Sex Workers and Sexuality Minority Rights (CSMR). The pride march is preceded by a month of queer related events and activities.
Bhargavi Narayan was an Indian actress in the Kannada film industry, and a theatre artist in Karnataka, India. Her notable films include Eradu Kanasu, Hanthakana Sanchu, Pallavi Anupallavi, and Baa Nalle Madhuchandrake.
Sulagitti Narasamma was an Indian midwife from Pavagada town, in Tumkur district of Karnataka state. She performed more than 20,000 traditional deliveries free of charge over a 70-year period of service in deprived regions of Karnataka with no medical facilities. Her work was honored with the National Citizen's award of India in 2012 and the country's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2018.
Roopa Divakar Moudgil is an Indian Police Service officer belonging to the Karnataka cadre. She is from the 2000 officers' batch of the Indian Police Service and is the Inspector General of Police of the Karnataka State Police.
P. Shyama Raju is an Indian entrepreneur, philanthropist and an educationist based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He is the chairman and managing director of DivyaSree, he is also the chairman of Rukmini Educational Charitable Trust and the chancellor of REVA University, Bengaluru. He holds prominent positions and memberships in reputed institutions across India. He is also on the board of many companies in the field of infrastructure development, charitable institutions and welfare trusts. In 2017, the Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Siddaramaiah awarded him the Karnataka Rajyotsava award. He is currently appointed as the Chairman of the India ASEAN Trade Council 2022.
Madhu Nataraj is an Indian classical, contemporary dancer and choreographer who lives in Bangalore. She is the director of the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography and founded its performing wing STEM (Space.Time.Energy.Movement) Dance Kampni.
Prithveesh K. Bhat or Prathvish K. Bhat is an Indian Rubik's Cube speedcuber and mosaic artist. He has set several Rubik's Cube records, including two Guinness World Records namely ′Largest Dual Sided Rubik’s Cube Mosaic′, leading a team of 20 members and ′Most contributions to a Rubik's cube mosaic′, leading a team of 293 people.
Baiyyappanahalli or New Baiyyappanahalli Extension is one of the neighbourhoods in Bengaluru,located in the eastern part of the city. It is part of C. V. Raman Nagar in East Bengaluru. The area is a transport hub and popular for Baiyappanahalli metro station,Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal and Baiyyappanahalli railway station.
Sukanya Ramgopal is an Indian carnatic musician from Tamil Nadu. She is best known as the first woman ghatam player in Carnatic music. She is also proficient in carnatic vocal, violin, mridangam and veena. She received several awards including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy Award and awards from Madras Music Academy, Chennai.
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