Past Events
Bijli Bachao : Energy Conservation
A short humorous animated story of a real life incident. Where young children guide elders to conserve energy for a better 'Tomorrow'.
Coalmal ka Golmal
This humorous video in Hindi primarily talks about the complicated situation in 2015 that occurred when the Government invalidated the allocation of coal blocks to private companies. Those that had coal mines and allocations were all left in quite a lurch.
The Mayo Global RSC 2017
9 Jan 2017
Laxmi Dhaul was invited as a keynote speaker in the Mayo Global Round Square Conference for 11-13 year olds from 08 Jan 2017 to 14 Jan 2017. The theme of the conference was ‘Making Every Drop Count’. Water touches our lives in many ways. The next generation of adults will not have water in abundance unless they are sensitized and encouraged them to seek innovative solutions. Along with the Video presentation three movies made by Prithvi Media with the central theme of water were shown on the 9 th Jan.
On the 10th Jan Environmental videos made by Prithvi media from the Chimis World series were shown to 60 volunteer delegates . Mita Nangi Goswamy VP SEED was invited to address the delegates on the Ecological footprint of Water
Environmental Conservation Association
November 2016
Environmental Conservation Association, a NGO from Pune has organised amazing programs on cleanliness, planting trees, pollution , compost pots etc. for schools. They are working closely with the 200 Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Schools. Prithvi Media is associated with the ECA and shared all the animated videos made on environment with them. At this event in Nov 2016 we shared 200 videos dubbed into Marathi with the teachers. Prithvi Media believes that by creating environment related animation keeps up the interest in the children and sensitises the children.
Screening of 'Chimis World' to kids from Victoria Orphanage
December 8 2015, Goa
Screening of 'Chimis World' to kids from Victoria Orphanage, Saligao at a Lunch organised by lovely Waheeda Souza of Terrafirma Real estate - Goa, at Banana Beach Club,Baga Goa.
Book Reading "Ayi Tendulkar - three lives two countries" ( Marathi translation of Shadow of Freedom)
June 28 2015, Kolhapur
Book reading at the book shop Akshar Dalan which was attended by over 100 people organised by Akshar Dalan along with Nirdhar. Sameer Deshpande moderated the lively discussion and a lot of enthusiasm and interest ensued. (Kolhapur is just 100 kms away from Belgaum.)
Book Launch : “Dr Ayi Tendulkar-Two Nations, Three Lives” (Marathi translation of "In the Shadows of Freedom") by Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul
April 13 2015, at the Moolgoankar Hall, ICC Trade Towers, Pune
The Book was launched on 13th April 2015 Mr. Dileep Padgaonkar (Former Exec Managing Editor, Times of India) Mr. Kiran Thakur (Editor Tarun Bharat publications, Belgaum) and Dr. Karuna Gokhale (Editor Rajhans Publications) presided. The book has been published by Rajhans Prakashan, Pune and translated into Marathi by Miss Sunita Lohokare. The venue was Suman Moolgaonkar Hall, ICC Trade Towers, Senapati Bapat rd,The book is a true story of three lives trapped between pre war fascist Germany and colonial India fighting the British for its independence.
Prithvi Media produces "Bin bijli sab suna"
April 2015
A seven minute video in hindi commissioned by BSES to show the consequences of Power Theft in cities. Stealing power or even tampering with electric meters is a punishable offence. If caught a fine and imprisonment of 3 years could be levied on the culprit. The video has been made to show all this and also to highlight the social stigma that is attached. The video shows "Auntyji" who along with her son "Tiger" are caught stealing electricity and how family pressure brings them around to prevent further theft !
Jodhpur One World Retreat
March 22 2015, organised by the Indian Head Injury Foundation at Meherangarh fort and Umaid Bhavan
Meet the Author & Book Discussion - “In the Shadow of Freedom"
January 11 2015, Hosted by Nalanda International Management School, Mulund, by Wordsworth book Club and ‘Hooked To Books’ Book Club
Enthusiastic and interested participants who were curious about many aspects of my writing and experiences. A cake with an image of the cover of the book in real icing was later cut to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the book clubs formation. A memorable event !
Visit to Ekal Abhiyan schools near Belgaum
3rd January 2015
Visit to the Ekal Abhiyan schools in Mugvade Village (in the village school) and in Bandekarwade Village (In the local Shiv mandir) both in Jamboti district. The children were alert and happy to recite the verses and shlokas and their dancing and Yoga skills! The Acharya's and teachers were also very nice.
I was happy to contribute towards the upkeep of one of the Ekal schools in memory of my late daughter in law Shital. Ekal Abhiyan is a wonderful organisation with thousands of schools all over India. Their aim of taking one teacher schools to remote villages and teaching values and culture to young children is truly commendable!
World conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) organized by UNESCO.
10th-12th November 2014, at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
UNESCO has focused its work on education to address three key sustainable development issues: climate change, biodiversity and disaster risk reduction. Through the 2 day summit organized in November 2014 in Japan where over 1000 participants from 112 countries attended-a Global Action Programme (GAP) on ESD was formulated to generate and scale-up ESD action. Its aim was to reorient education and learning so that everyone has the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that empower them to contribute to sustainable development – and make a difference, to strengthen education and learning in all agendas, programmes and activities that promote sustainable development.
WWF was one of the many agencies represented in the event through its centres in Sweden and India to make presentations and suggestions. I attended the conference in my capacity as Advisor to Environment Education WWF India and as promoter of Prithvi Media a platform for environmental education through media.
Book Discussion - The Sainik Farm Book Club, New Delhi
October 30 2014
The Sainik Farm Book Club, New Delhi invited me to a discussion on my book "In the Shadow of Freedom". It was hosted in the house of Mr Neal Mehra.
Workshop in Missamari, Assam
October 18 2014
Prithvi Media conducted a workshop on Environment for over 125 middle school students from 2 Schools in Missamari . Laxmi Dhaul and BhaktiVeda Dhaul introduced Chimisworld to them and showed them thought provoking animated films and made them interact on various environmental issues. The children were from the Kendriya Vidyalaya and the Army School, Misamari .
Workshop in Guwahati
October 16, 2014
In association with WWF India, Prithvi Media conducted a workshop on Environment for 100 middle school students from 6 Schools during the 10th Festival of Books for Children on 16th October organised by Anwesha Guwahati, at Chandmari AEI Guwahati . Laxmi Dhaul and BhaktiVeda Dhaul showed thought provoking animated films and engaged the children by making them take a pledge to "Remember, Realise and Respect" the environment . The workshop culminated in all the children taking part in dancing to Chimisworld Rap and Green Parade.The 6 schools in Guwahatti , Assam were 1. Maharishi Vidya Mandir (Rajgarh) 2. Miles Bronson Residential School 3. Holy Child School 4. Oakland English High School 5. Maria's Public School 6. Sudershan Public School
3rd Kushwant Singh Literary Festival
10th -12th October 2014, Kasauli Club, Kasauli
The 3rd Kushwant Singh Literary Festival held in the Kasauli Club from the 10th -12th October 2014 was dedicated to the Army and the great work they do for the country. The theme was telling a story. It was a true meeting of minds as the speakers and participants were from all walks of life! 11th Evening, Lt General Davar from Kasauli introduced Laxmi Dhaul's session on the book "In the Shadows of Freedom". Warm sunny afternoons and chilly evenings in a picturesque and quaint hill station gave the intellectual discussions an unique backdrop. The presence of Sardar Kushwant Singh was palpable and as each of his admirers and friends spoke about him and as per Laxmi Dhaul in some small way she was connected to the witty but humane and much loved Sardar Kushwant Singh!
Svatch Abhyan.
2 October, 2014 Belgaum.
Laxmi Dhaul was the Chief Guest at Visveswaraya Technological University (VTU) Belgaum for the Gandhi Jayanti celebration. Her presentation was on Gandhiji in Belgaum as he had presided over the All India Congress Committee session in 1924 in Belgaum! Laxmi Dhaul also spoke on her family’s personal experiences with Gandhiji. Gandhiji had laid down certain procedures before her parents wedding in Sevagram Ashram under his guidance which were relevant to the Svatch Abhyan initiative. On the morning of the wedding her parents both had to clean plots of the garden, clean the Goshala and the water closets. They were also instructed to read Chapter 12 of the Bhagvadgita each day for the rest of their lives !
Media and Environmental Education
27 September, New Horizon B ed College, Bengaluru.
Laxmi Dhaul does a session on Media and Environment Education at the workshop on Education for Sustainable Development organised by WWF India
"Sufi Music and Sufi Dargahs" for INDUS Members, Mumbai
28 August, Mumbai.
In the Shadow of Freedom
21 August, Nehru Centre Library , Mumbai.
In Discussion with Ms Jeroo Mulla and Mrs Usha Thakkar
In the Shadow of Freedom.
11 August, Bombay Gymkhana Library.
‘From Goa to Germany, via the Nazi's and Gandhi'- History Hour discussion, Goa
April 3, Xavier Centre of Historical Research, B B Borkar Road, Alto Porvorim, Goa 403521, India.
This is a first hand account of the life of Ganpat Tendulkar, a young man from Goa, who in the early 20's was sent to study abroad! It discusses his stay in Weimar Germany , his marriage to one of Germany's foremost screen writers Thea von Harbou and his return to India in 1939. The story takes a different twist when he joins Gandhi's freedom struggle and has to follow Gandhi's diktat of celibacy and no children till independence when he decides to marry fellow freedom fighter Indumati Gunaji from Belgaum . The story is stranger than fiction and fascinating ! Tendulkar's daughter Mrs. Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul has recently released her book titled " In the Shadows of Freedom : three lives in Hitlers Berlin and Gandhi's India" and discussed the book at Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim on Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 5.30 p.m.
Pune launch of the book "In the shadow of freedom"
March 19, 2014
Pune Club, Pune
"In the shadow of freedom" - Book launch on 19th March in Pune at the Pune Club with Dr.Dileep Padgaonkar, Mr Harry Dhaul and Laxmi Dhaul
"Experiencing Gandhi" Laxmi Dhaul talks to the MBA and Mass Communication students at Chitkara University
March 21, 2014
Chitkara University, Chandigarh
Laxmi has drawn on her parent’s story with a background of the whirlwind of Gandhi's activism, and the several years they spent in Indian prisons to talk about an aspect of Gandhi that very few knew. She draws on her family’s experiences with Gandhi to present an aspect of his life and teachings that are vibrant, rich and relevant to our lives today! Using these fascinating incidents she has created a talk “Experiencing Gandhi” with audiovisuals that give a glimpse of the lives people lived during World War 2, and the Freedom struggle and the messages that are valid even today!
Book Launch - 'Magic Mantras for young adults' at India Non-Fiction Festival (INFF)
Mumbai, 26th January 2014
On the occasion of our republic day, Laxmi Dhaul, Sidharth Bhatia and Shruti Seth discussed the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi and his relevance in today’s world at India Non-Fiction Festival (INFF). Laxmi Dhaul who launched her book ‘Magic Mantra’ today told anecdotes about her parents interaction with Gandhiji and how he got them both married. “Gandhiji asked my parents to take 10 vows before getting married and asked them to wait till the country got its freedom before they had children,” said Dhaul. While Seth lamented over the youth of today who are no more honest and believe in truth as the true dharma like Gandhiji suggested. The audience was rightly fascinated and inspired. The event also marked the launch of ‘Magic Mantras’ by Laxmi Dhaul, a book that in the words of Shruti Seth is a guiding light for young adults in particular and everyone else in general, towards a peaceful tomorrow.
Laxmi Dhaul Wins the Jaipur's 16th Vintage & Classic Car Rally - 20th Jan 2014
India's pink city, Jaipur hosted 'The 16th Vintage car annual show' to quench the thirst of vintage car lovers with more than 100 different epic cars. The Rajputana Automotive Sports Club of Jaipur in Rajasthan, organized the show on Sunday (January 19). More than 100 vintage cars from Delhi and Rajasthan participated in the show. The organizers of the club were amazed by the gradual increase of vintage cars participating in the show. They held pride in preserving the auto legacy of Rajasthan. The visitors and car lovers were spellbound by the beauty of the rare pieces of car which are otherwise hardly seen on the road.
Taj Literature Festival
Agra, 12th-14th December 2013
Laxmi Dhaul was invited to speak in the Taj Lit Fest in Agra from the 12th-14th December. She spoke in the session "Profiling the parent - three authors of biographical fiction, Neelima Adhar, Nelofer Currimbhoy, Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul relive their parents journey".
Steer to safety - A project on road safety
Sunday, Dec 8, Laxmi Dhaul was one of the Jury to judge artwork done by 40 schools in Delhi on their art projects for this project -
STEER TO SAFETY - A PROJECT ON ROAD SAFETY initiated by PVR NEST CineArt and Michelin Tyres in Association with Sakshi
Mumbai launch of the book "In the shadow of freedom"
Mumbai, October 3, 2013
Launch at The Godrej Dance Academy Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point on the 3rd October 2013. Scintillating introduction by Harry Dhaul, book reading by Suhel Seth, personal impressions by Dileep Padgaonkar and Discussions initiated by Anil Dharker.
Book Reading at the Willingdon Club
Mumbai, August 28 2013
Book Reading at the Willingdon Club, Mumbai on the 28th August. The event was moderated by Jeroo Mulla and the passages from the book were read by Veda Dhaul
Passing out parade at the institute of Homeland Security
Belgundi, August 16 2013
16th August was the passing out parade of the 3rd batch of trainees at the institute of homeland security at Belgundi of Indian eye security pvt ltd. In this case 110 special women police officers of the Maharashtra security force were trained for 6 weeks. A great leap to empower women officers and protect critical infrastructure!
Laxmi Dhaul's Interview on Doordarshan News
Goa Book Launch - August 2, 2013
Laxmi Dhaul is inteviewed by Doordarshan during the launch of her book 'In the shadow of freedom' at Goa. The book revolves around the three lives in Hitler's Berlin and Gandhi's India. The story of Ayi Tendulkar, Thea von Harbou and Indumati Gunaji.
In The Shadow Of Freedom
Goa Book Launch - August 2, 2013
Hotel Mariott, Goa
Goa book Launch 'In the Shadow of Freedom', Three lives in Hitler's Berlin and Gandhi's India" in Goa with His Excellancy Shri Wanchoo, Governor of Goa, Mr Harry Dhaul, Mr Dileep Padgaonkar, Mr Suhel Seth and Mrs Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa
London Book Launch : Interview at BBC, London - July 02 2013
Laxmi Dhaul was invited to a recording in London for the BBC Outlook radio broadcast. She was asked to speak about her parents relationship with Mahatma Gandhi. Below is the 7 and a half minute recording of the same.
Harry Dhaul & Suhel Seth at the London Book Launch
Harry Dhaul's speech & Suhel Seth reading the passages from the book 'In The Shadow Of Freedom'
Television Feature - When Mahatma Gandhi helped lovers get married
Although much is known about Mahatma Gandhi, there is always a new story waiting to be uncovered. In the book 'In The Shadow Of Freedom', Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul narrates her parents' (Ayi Tendulkar and Indumati) love story, a story that features Mahatma Gandhi and a who's who of Indian freedom struggle. Even though Laxmi disapproved of her father's "much-married" status, her parents married on the condition that they will not have children until Independence.
Environment Day - 5th June 2013
Environment Day on 5th June 2013, WWF India launched their 'Master Trainer's Kit' for Education in Sustainable Development ( ESD). The kit comprised of handbooks and a 26 minute video on ESD created by Prithvi media. Dr Parvin Sinclair Director of NCERT ( National Council of Education Research Training ) released the DVD which was then played for all those present . Its quality and content , and especially the value based exercises that were animated by my team in Prithvi Media were highly appreciated by all.
Reading at Laburnam Gurgaon - May 8 2013
Gurgaon: with Laxmi Dhaul, Maya Krishna Rao and book club members
Max Mueller Bhavan Library - April 3 2013
Delhi launch of the book " In the Shadows of freedom": with Dilip Padgaonkar former editor Times of India , Maya Krishna Rao, Theatre personality, Mr Shriver Director MMB, Urvashi Buatlia publisher and Laxmi Dhaul author.
Jaipur Literature Festival - January 26 2013
Jaipur: Launch of the book " In the Shadows of freedom" with Suhel Seth, Urvashi Butalia and Laxmi Dhaul
In The Shadows of Freedom
In the early thirties Ayi Tendulkar, A young journalist from a small town in Maharashtra,travelled to Germany to study. Within a short time ,he married Eva Schubring ,his professor's daughter. Soon after the short-lived marriage broke up, Tendulkar, by now also a well-known journalist in Berlin, met and fell in love with the filmmaker Thea von Harbou, divorced wife of Fritz Land and soon to be Tendulkar's wife.
Many years his senior,Thea became Tendulkar's support and mainstay in Germany, encouraging and supporting him in bringing other young Indian students to the country.Hitler's coming to power put an end to all that ,and on Thea von Harbou's advice ,Tendulkar returned to India, where he became involved in Gandhi's campaign of non-cooperation with the British,and where with Thea's consent he soon married Indumati Gunaji, a Gandhian activist.
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Prithvi Media Showreel
Prithvi Media is a platform to instruct and entertain children by creating and promoting original, entertaining and stimulating content on environmental and and motivational themes. Prithvi Media has a studio with 2D , 3D animators , illustrators , artists and copy writers . Prithvi Media makes short animated and documentary films in English and Hindi on Environmental and motivational themes. The themes are created to invoke curiosity on environmental issues through vibrant 3-D animation and enthralling narrative. The showreel shows the latest work done by Prithvimedia including a teachers training module commissioned by WWF India to explain the basic concept of Education in Sustainable Development.
Sufi Talk (2005)
The magnetic pull of the Saints presence drew me to the Dargah again and again and I wanted to know more about his life, his teachings and the historical significance of the buildings in the Dargah complex. This has now culminated in the writing of this book. It also helped that my children studied in Ajmer and with Khawaja Garib Nawaz’s blessings, it was possible to satisfy my spiritual stirrings by visiting the shrine as well as my maternal yearnings by visiting the town that has fascinated me ever since.
Often, when visiting important religious shrines or holy places, the crowds, heat, dust and traffic overwhelms one. Invariably beggars get after you, and in the confusion and rush, one misses out on the spiritual and historical significance of the place. What starts as a pilgrimage, becomes an uncomfortable experience if done without some knowledge. The book the Sufi Saint of Ajmer was published in 2001 as a hardbound book, later published by Rupa in 2004 as The Sufi Shrine of Ajmer in a paperback.
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