Gagan Sethi: Bravery is contagious

For over three decades, Gagan Sethi has been at the forefront of India’s civil society movement, building institutions, mentoring grassroots leaders, and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. A co-founder of Janvikas, his work has spanned minority rights, Dalit empowerment, gender justice, and community-led governance. Along the way, he has helped shape and nurture several important civil society initiatives, including the Centre for Social Justice, Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan, Sahjeevan, Drishti, and the HID Forum. In this episode, Sethi sits down with his long-time colleague and friend Sushma Iyengar, founder of Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan. In a reflective conversation, they revisit his early life as the child of a family shaped by Partition, his formative years working with rural communities, and the moments that shaped his lifelong commitment to justice and equity. Grassroots Nation is a podcast from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. For more information go to www.rohininilekaniphilanthropies.org or join the conversation on social media @RNP_foundation.