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Teach For India’s ‘The Conference of the Birds’ – a Sufi and Hamilton-inspired musical advocates for schools to build India’s next generation of leaders

MUMBAI, India, May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — After exploring the transformational intersection of values, learning and the arts through the Maya Musical in 2014, and The Greatest Show On Earth in 2019, Teach For India embarked on a journey in search of answers to the question “What is India, and what is the India that our children deserve?” This journey led to the Conference of the Birds – a Sufi-inspired musical, with a hip-hop twist, and a bold idea at its core – the idea that our nation’s leaders are built in classrooms.

The Conference of the Birds draws its name and inspiration from a 12th Century Sufi text by the poet Attar. Reimagining the original text, in which a flock of birds are in search of the meaning of life, the musical adapted the story to a group of students on a quest in search of “India“. Inspired by the need to build Constitutional Values in children across India, the Conference of the Birds journey took Teach For India students through an 18-month long process of training in music, dance, theatre, literacy and in Teach For India’s “India & I” Studies.

The India & I Studies are a set of lesson plans from grade 2-8 for students to engage creatively and actively with the ideals of equality, fraternity, justice and liberty. The curriculum attempts to build 21st century skills to enable students to form their own ideas of the role they can play in building a better India. The curriculum was developed over 2 years by 40 educators, is fully designed and ready to use, can be translated and contextualised, and is offered free of cost. The curriculum has been piloted successfully across high, middle and low-income groups.

Featuring an incredible cast of young performers, The Conference of the Birds marks a full circle for Teach For India students Khushi and Priyanka, who starred in Teach For India’s first musical, Maya, ten years ago. This full circle moment has been a humbling experience not only for the young kids who now see themselves as educators, but for Teach For India as well, as they witness the ripple effect of a powerful education.

Teach For India Founder and CEO, Shaheen Mistri, who has co-written the script of the Conference of the Birds, said, “Maya was an important milestone in unleashing the potential of our students, and in spreading the idea that students can be leaders, not in the future, but today.” Ten-year-old Khushi, who starred as Maya, is doing a four-year music degree and now coaches her ‘birds,’ as she calls them, the children of the new musical. And Priyanka, who had a lead role in Maya, graduated from Franklin Marshall University and is co-directing the musical alongside Teach For India Alumnus Kautilya Jain. The musical promises to be a spectacular show with sets designed by creative genius Fali Unwala and costumes designed by Simi Nallaseth, who was part of the original Ice Age film’s creative team. The musical has a soul-stirring original soundtrack composed by musicians Anuraj Bhagat from the True School of Music in partnership with hip-hop artist Nimo Patel.”

Over the course of 18 months, the students worked with professional artists, musicians, choreographers, and theater directors on the Conference of the Birds. They explored the power of music with composer Anuraj Bhagat and hip-hop artist Nimo Patel, to create an original soul-stirring soundtrack that not only delivers a strong message, but also is an impressive artistic feat. They learnt what it takes to put up a professional musical production, with the help of Set Designer Fali Unwala, costume designer and noted animator from the original Ice Age film, Simi Nallaseth, and Silly Point Productions. The students received a remarkable education in the performing arts, that not only broadened their idea of expression, but also pushed them to strive for excellence.

The musical is set to premiere at St Andrew’s Auditorium in Mumbai on the 3rd and 4th of June before moving on to Bengaluru (July 29 and 30th) and Delhi (August 12 and 13th). One can attend by booking tickets on BookMyShow. As of now, Mumbai show tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

About Teach For India

Teach For India’s vision is for all children to get an excellent education. Their mission is to empower and build a movement of leaders by providing them with the support and ecosystem to manifest that change. As one of India’s largest Fellowships and pipeline of talent into the education sector, Teach For India creates a nationwide impact by bringing India’s brightest students and professionals to become Teach For India Fellows. These Fellows are placed as teachers in government and affordable private schools for two years. Today, 1000 Fellows teach 33,000 students in classrooms across eight cities. Teach For India Alumni directly impact 100,000 more children and reach 50 million children across India.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.teachforindia.org/cotb 

https://www.teachforindia.org/donate#cotb 

https://www.instagram.com/teachforindia/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/teach-for-india

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SPJIMR hosts Faculty Development Workshop to integrate ‘Indian Knowledge Systems in Business Education’

Two-day event explored embedding Indian wisdom in management curricula in line with NEP 2020

MUMBAI, India, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) successfully hosted a two-day Faculty Development Workshop (FDP) on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) for Business Education on April 10–11, 2025. The workshop brought together over 40 faculty members from across the country, providing a unique platform for dialogue, reflection, and curriculum development centred on the integration of Indian thought into management education.

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The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 underscores the importance of integrating IKS into higher education to foster holistic, multidisciplinary learning rooted in India’s rich intellectual traditions. SPJIMR, with its long standing focus on Indian wisdom in management, is well placed to advance this through meaningful academic engagement.

Commenting on the initiative, Prof. Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR said, “As we look to infuse IKS principles in the management education curriculum, it is important that we are specific about what is new and additive to existing approaches that have been built on the liberal arts, ethics, and systems thinking. I thank our conference attendees for engaging in an intellectually rigorous discussion around this question.”

The workshop began with a session by Prof. (Retd.) B. Mahadevan (IIM Bangalore), who offered a clear overview of IKS. He highlighted their interdisciplinary nature, drawing on examples from Aryabhatta to Kalidasa, and emphasised the importance of Sanskrit for accessing original sources without distortion. Prof. Jitesh Mohnot (IIT Jodhpur) followed with an exploration of Marwari and indigenous business practices. He described India’s economic landscape as shaped by ‘vernacular capitalism’, rooted in family firms and informal trust networks, and noted the publishing challenges IKS scholars face without aligning their work to global academic frameworks.

Prof. Ashish Pandey (IIT Bombay) explored leadership through Indian psychology, drawing on the Bhagavad Gita and Rājayoga to connect concepts like karma yoga and mind management with modern leadership. Prof. Varadraj Bapat (IIT Bombay) discussed indigenous financial systems, linking instruments like hundis and insights from the Arthashastra to current economic models and classroom teaching.

The workshop concluded with a synthesis session and curriculum development framework presented by Prof. Surya Tahora, Executive Director of the Centre for Wisdom in Leadership (CWIL), SPJIMR. “This workshop is part of a larger inquiry,” he remarked. “It reflects a growing recognition that our academic institutions can be spaces of intellectual decolonisation, but also creative renewal. Not by rejecting modernity, but by deepening it with the wisdom and subtlety of our indigenous traditions.”

The two-day workshop culminated in a spirited panel discussion and certificate distribution ceremony, marking a meaningful step in SPJIMR’s ongoing efforts to develop contextually rooted yet globally relevant business education.

About SPJIMR

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is a leading postgraduate management institute, recognised by the Financial Times MiM Global Rankings as India’s #1 business school, by Business Today as one of the country’s top five business schools, and by the Positive Impact Rating as one of the top five business schools worldwide for societal impact. Known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to management education, research, and community engagement, SPJIMR aims to influence managerial practice and promote the value-based growth of its students, alumni, organisations and their leaders, and society. SPJIMR holds the international ‘triple crown’ of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA.

Visit SPJIMR.org for more information.

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Agoda and Atlys Unveil Co-Branded Advertising Campaign to Inspire Confidence in International Travel for Indian Travellers

NEW DELHI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda and visa processing platform Atlys have launched a co-branded marketing and advertising campaign in India, focusing on simplifying international travel. Featuring a new advertisement, the campaign highlights the stress often associated with traveling abroad—from fears of overpaying for flights and accommodation to concerns over visa approvals—and positions the partnership as a solution for anxiety-free travel.

Play the advertisement at https://youtu.be/-jJZqhurikk

Drawing on the insight that international trips can feel overwhelming for Indian travellers, the campaign acknowledges how uncertainties around securing the best value for bookings and fears of visa rejection often overshadow the joy of planning a journey.  The newly launched advertisement portrays these pre-travel anxieties: from anxious searches for flight deals to the tense wait for visa approvals and how we address them. Through their collaborative approach, Agoda and Atlys demonstrate how these unavoidable aspects of international travel can be simplified, allowing the excitement of discovery to take center stage.

Matteo Frigerio, Chief Marketing Officer at Agoda, stated, “At Agoda, we believe travel should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Teaming up with Atlys lets us clear two of the biggest hurdles: cost and visa complexity. Together, we’re making global travel from India more accessible, more affordable, and much less stressful – so travellers can explore the world with ease and peace of mind.”

Atlys echoed this sentiment. Mohak Nahta, Founder and CEO of Atlys remarked: “At Atlys, we’ve built our company on a singular mission: eliminating the visa headaches that prevent millions from experiencing the world freely. For many Indian travellers, venturing abroad brings unique challenges, from finding affordable travel options to dealing with visa uncertainties. Our association with Agoda tackles these hurdles head-on by marrying our expertise in visa facilitation with Agoda’s strong digital travel platform. Together, we create a stress-free, holistic experience for the travellers.”

The strength of this partnership lies in how perfectly the two platforms complement each other. Agoda’s extensive network of five million properties worldwide and its integrated flight and activity options provide travellers with tools to build customized itineraries that match both dreams and budgets. Meanwhile, Atlys transforms the often-intimidating visa application process into a transparent, user-friendly experience that ensures paperwork never stands in the way of adventure.

This collaboration acknowledges a fundamental truth about modern travel—that the journey begins long before departure. By addressing both practical and emotional barriers to international travel, Agoda and Atlys are empowering Indians to approach global exploration with newfound confidence, allowing the excitement of discovery to finally take center stage.

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ZapUp Launches Powerful WhatsApp Marketing Automation Platform, Joins Microsoft for Startups

NEW DELHI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ZapUp, a pioneering SaaS platform, a product of Perky.ai transforming how brands engage with customers on WhatsApp, has announced the launch of its next-gen marketing automation suite tailored for SMBs. The platform, now accepted into the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, is positioned to revolutionize WhatsApp as a mainstream, cost-efficient marketing channel across industries.

Leading the Way in WhatsApp Marketing Innovation

As businesses continue to seek authentic and high-conversion communication channels, WhatsApp has emerged as a powerful platform to connect with customers directly. ZapUp’s WhatsApp Automation Marketing Suite introduces a robust set of tools for broadcasting, lead capture, chatbot flows, campaign performance tracking, and e-commerce integration—all via WhatsApp.

Designed for simplicity and scalability, ZapUp empowers startups, D2C brands, agencies, and regional businesses to automate engagement, personalize messaging at scale, and reduce time-to-lead conversion dramatically.

“WhatsApp is where your customer already is. ZapUp ensures you’re there too—with the right message, at the right time, at the right scale,” said Vaibhav Asthana, Founder of ZapUp. “We are proud to join the Microsoft for Startups program, which validates our mission to bring world-class automation technology within the reach of SMBs globally.”

Built for Scale, Designed for Everyone

ZapUp’s onboarding is frictionless—businesses can start sending campaigns within minutes with embedded WhatsApp Business API setup, intuitive template management, and chatbot designers.

What sets ZapUp apart is its cross-industry flexibility. Whether it’s an online clothing brand, a local clinic, or a real estate firm, ZapUp has pre-built workflows tailored to multiple verticals—helping brands deliver contextual, automated conversations that drive actions.

Key Features:

  • Bulk broadcasting and targeted campaigns
  • Advanced chatbot flow designer (drag-and-drop)
  • E-commerce product catalog integration
  • Dynamic lead forms and funnel automation
  • Real-time analytics with conversion tracking
  • GDPR-ready consent mechanisms

Empowering SMBs With Cutting-Edge, Affordable Tech

With rising costs of digital marketing and privacy-led disruptions in traditional ad platforms, ZapUp provides an alternative that’s not only effective but also budget-friendly. Its vision aligns with Microsoft’s startup accelerator ethos—equipping emerging companies with the tools needed to scale responsibly and sustainably.

“By making WhatsApp automation accessible, we are leveling the digital playing field for SMBs,” said Asthana. “ZapUp is not just a product; it’s a movement to democratize modern marketing.”

About ZapUp

ZapUp is a WhatsApp-first marketing automation platform focused on helping businesses of all sizes create personalized, automated customer engagement journeys. Built with scalability and affordability at its core, ZapUp is designed to serve SMBs and enterprises across sectors looking to unlock the full potential of WhatsApp.

For more information, visit https://zapup.marketing

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