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Interview

“Largest NGO for digital learning of Indian art & culture” income include grants, CSR support,
and donations, all transparently
disclosed on our website.
n alum of Delhi University,
Tina Vachani is Co-founder, One of the major objectives of R2R is to
ARoutes2Roots, a NGO focused facilitate arts and cultural exchanges be-
on “spreading peace through cul- tween SAARC nations, especially Pakistan
tural awareness”. R2R is the first and Bangladesh. How satisfied are you
cultural NGO to be listed on the Na- with attainment of this objective?
tional Stock Exchange’s SSE (Social By facilitating art and cultural
Stock Exchange) platform. Excerpts exchanges among SAARC nations,
from an email interview: especially Pakistan and Bangladesh,
we aim to promote mutual under-
Routes2Roots is described as a NGO standing, respect, and cooperation,
dedicated to promoting Indian art, culture ultimately contributing to regional
and heritage among primary-secondary peace and stability. We are fairly sat-
school students in India and abroad. What isfied and proud that we have been
was the motivation behind promoting R2R able to sow the seeds of friendship
in 2004? and tolerance through cultural ex-
Routes2Roots, as the name sug- changes and by demolishing age-old
gests, means ‘way to our origins’. misconceptions and prejudices.
Our objective is to promote peace
and harmony around the world. We To all intents and purposes, R2R is a new
believe that if we can understand These programs include real-time in- technologies-driven online education
and accept diverse cultures, world teractive digital classes and periodic enterprise. But the majority of India’s 1.4
peace will prevail. To make this visits by our teachers to schools to million schools are not digitally con-
happen, we started an exchange of conduct workshops. nected. What’s your comment?
art and culture within India and ● R2R has established around 4,300 This is a major concern. The digital
worldwide in 2004. The results were digital classrooms and taken the divide is a significant challenge.
very encouraging, and following this digital classes to more than 24,000 However, promoting technology-
experience in 2016 we introduced classrooms in all districts country- driven online education is crucial
this programme in schools with the wide most of which are in the rural to reach large numbers of children.
hope that the next generation will areas for less privileged students. Government initiatives like the
become more tolerant and believe in Through interactive digital broad- National Digital Literacy Mission
an inclusive society. casts our teachers conduct daily and the Digital India program have
interactive classes in 16 disciplines improved digital infrastructure in
Twenty years later, how satisfied are you such as Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Hin- rural areas. By adopting a multifac-
with the progress and track record of dustani vocal, Carnatic vocal, tabla, eted approach involving government
R2R? harmonium, sitar, guitar, keyboard, initiatives, public-private partner-
R2R has made significant progress in flute, theatre, yoga, Punjabi litera- ships, digital literacy programs, and
promoting arts and cultural educa- ture, fun with art, brain develop- innovative solutions such as distrib-
tion. Since 2004, R2R has grown ment, AI-coding and also provide uting low-cost tablets and laptops
to impact over 22 million students NCERT approved K-12 content. to students and teachers, we can
worldwide. It is the largest NGO for ● Moreover, we organise cultural overcome the challenge of reaching
digital learning of Indian art and programs, art exhibitions, and schools digitally. We reach schools
culture and recognised as such by theatre workshops in schools to lacking last-mile internet connectiv-
the Limca Book of Records. We have foster inter-regional tolerance and ity by providing them with dongles.
established digital classrooms in all appreciation of diverse cultures with We also provide teachers with train-
districts countrywide including the special focus on rural and under- ing to effectively integrate technology
remotest areas. served areas. into their teaching practices.
● R2R provides live interactive
In multi-lingual and multicultural India, digital classes, making cultural What are your future growth and expan-
art, culture and heritage is very diverse education accessible to diverse audi- sion plans?
and covers a vast expanse. What are the ences, thereby enriching the lives of We have just reached about 10
focus areas of R2R? millions of children. percent of the country’s school-going
R2R focuses on several key areas to children, so 90 percent of our work
promote art, culture, and heritage. What is the business model of R2R? What remains to be done. If we add higher
● To promote cultural education, we are the major sources of income and education institutions, we have a
offer hybrid education programs that heads of expenditure? long way to go. Our work can be
combine art and music to help stu- R2R is not a business organisation. faster if our funds flow improves, but
dents connect with their roots, and All our activities are free-of-charge this is a slow and time-consuming
become well-rounded individuals. for beneficiaries. Our sources of process.

64 EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2025