I was born and raised in Bethel, Connecticut, by parents who emigrated to the US from India in the 1970s. I am grateful for the experience of growing up with these two distinct and unique cultures – the American one that I was born into, and the Indian one of my ancestors.

Trees, plants, animals and this incredible natural world captivated my attention from my earliest memories onward. The awe and joy from learning about this world around us was coupled with a deep sense of pain and loss for the suffering of all beings. My ancestry follows the Jain faith, which believes all beings have souls. At its core, Jainism espouses valuing and taking care of the environment and our fellow species while minimizing harm and living with non-violence towards the self, others and all beings.

From this start, I’m grateful for the journey that took me through this world, providing a chance to work alongside and learn from so many dedicated and passionate individuals. Open Rivers was founded in 2017 to create a space for on-going exploration and testing of new ideas and ways of being while supporting individuals, communities and all beings. These many experiences highlighted the power of continually weaving varied expertise, knowledge and learnings into what we do and how we work. Our lifelong classroom means opportunities and lessons never cease, so we must make space to integrate and update as we go forward.