Interview with Peace N Passions Founder Narmadha

 

Narmadha - Founder Peace N Passions

You have a technical background but did your postgraduation in psychology. What motivated you to make the change?

For most 80s kids, parents told children what they have to study and that is how I completed my B.Tech degree. It was not my favourite field of study. But I had logical thinking and programming skills. So, I had a successful career as a software programmer for 3 years. Today I look back and see I could manage to do well in a field which I had no passion for(laughs).

Coming to the question of why psychology…

After my wedding, I could not manage family responsibilities and work at the same time. Few years later, my kid had started to go to school and I joined Inner Wheel, an International Women’s service organisation. I was the President of Inner Wheel Club of Madras Fort during the year 2013-14. This was when I started to contribute to the society. I was working with underprivileged children, by teaching them life Skills, giving them career guidance, helping them to sort out challenges they faced in their own families and many more. Once I found I was able to create a positive impact, I extended my work to include adults too. Then I felt the need for a degree in Psychology. I wanted to have proper theoretical base for the work I do. So, I did my masters in psychology and also got trained in Transactional Analysis.

My motivation to make the career change was to empower people using the experiences from the challenges I faced as a woman in this society and expanding my knowledge about human beings and their behaviours. It was more a realisation of what I am supposed to do in this life!

 

What all psychology-based courses and interventions you offer at Peace N Passions?

Narmadha Conducting Training for Engineers

I do individual counselling, and also group sessions in a classroom environment for the psychological and holistic empowerment of people at Peace N Passions.

Peace N Passions 

Coaches professionals in handling workplace challenges

     Guides youth in facing life challenges about career choices, better relationships, family issues

Educates school students about Life Skills, Experience of Adolescence, Time management, facing exams, Managing one’s roles and responsibilities

Explores and enhances skills and talents of people

Helps to identify one's Life Purpose and much more.  

You are a member of International Transactional Analysis Association. Tell us a little more about your interest in Transactional analysis.

PnP Logo

I started learning Transactional Analysis to have a theoretical and scientific base for my work with people. As soon as I started learning it, I realised that it has answers for most of the problems we face in our lives, both personal and professional. So, I got more interested in it and it is more than seven years I have been into TA.  I am working for my international certification in Transactional Analysis now.

TA is less known in India, especially Tamil Nadu. I am keen in empowering people here and spreading the knowledge I gained through TA, in my country.  

What are the most common psychological problems the youth of these days face? What are your suggestions to overcome those?

Narmadha Interacting with School Kids

Humans were originally neurologically wired to live with nature, but the recent advancements, moves human beings away from nature. The transition from the life in real world to a virtual living, result in most of the psychological problems of youth in my opinion.

Today’s urban youth were raised by parents who lived in a time when children learnt many things only in schools. Teachers were the elders who taught life to children. There was no concept of virtual world. But today, lives of people especially in urban areas are technology driven. Teaching and home works given by teachers can also be completed only with the use of technology, especially after Covid times.

There are mobile apps for communication, shopping, getting your favourite food in minutes, or whatever you need! For people who were born before the 90s, these are recent developments. But for kids born after 2010 this is the life they know.

This is the basic setting in which children, youth and their parents live. For the parents and other elders, this life seems absurd with less or almost no real-life connections. The youth feel their parents and elders are outdated.  

Virtual relationships are unreliable, youth lack experience in life and are easily cheated. But the psychological effects of getting cheated does not change with technology! Youngsters are resentful towards the parents. But they also do not have a go-to person to help them face their challenges.

My suggestion to overcome this is simple: “To become aware”!.

The older generation must become aware of the changes in today’s setting. Hence, they cannot expect the younger generation to lead the life like what they did.

The younger generation must respect the experience of the older generation and the fact that they lived in the “real world,” which was literally “real” and has its own values. The older generation people have deeper connections with whatever they relate with. They sense real world things intuitively and with their experience which the youth must understand and integrate with their lives.

When the old and young synergise, lives will be more peaceful !

As a co-founder of NGO Nanneer, can you tell us a few words about the organisation and its initiatives?

Nanneer NGO Members

Nanneer is a registered public charitable trust operating under The Indian Trust Act 1882. Our foundation is built upon the shared objective of advocating for water sustainability and contributing to climate mitigation strategies. Our diverse team comprises dedicated professionals hailing from various disciplines, including Engineering, Management, Education, Psychology, Community Service, and Rural Development. We are excited to leverage our collective knowledge and experience to drive positive change in both local communities and the global context.

Activities of Nanneer

* Green Infrastructure Development

* Waste Management Solutions

* Public Awareness Campaigns

* Research and Innovation

* Community Workshops and Training

* Carbon Footprint Reduction

* Ecosystem Restoration

* Community Engagement and Participation

 

I was very intrigued about the TownBuzz of Nanneer when you first mentioned it. Can you tell us more about the TownBuzz?

Townbuzz

At the heart of Nanneer's mission is Townbuzz, a revolution on wheels, embodying real structures to promote Rainwater Harvesting, Greywater Recycle, Solar Power integration, and a fully-equipped Water Testing Lab.

Townbuzz also has

·       Audio Visual Display Materials

·       A Stage for Performances

·       Mini Library

·       Water-Saving Fittings

·       Models and Demonstrations

·       Rain Simulation – Sprayer

Townbuzz, moves around Tamilnadu to spread objectives of Nanneer.

Your Nadhiyin Osai Podcast in Tamil is very informative and you share ideas in a friendly manner. Tell us about the different topics you cover and what motivated you to start the podcast?

Nadhiyin Osai Logo

From my rich life experiences, I understood that psychology is important for every individual to lead a harmonious and holistic life. I consider it as a basic requirement like food, water, and shelter. But in our society, it is not even given a minimal importance. I started doing what I can. I started Nadhiyin Osai Podcast.

Nadhiyin Osai speaks about the life skills we need to concentrate on, the important things we ignore in our lives and many more…  in a simple language and in a conversational style, understandable by all people who understand Tamil. The podcast is available in multiple platforms and listeners also communicate to me about what topics they need.

I request the people who read this, to listen to Nadhiyin Osai episodes and give me feedback.(smiles)

 

Can you share your experiences about the International Teacher’s Olympiad?

I became an Educator by choice. Though I have got some certifications in Education, I wanted my skills to get validated. So, I registered for the International Teachers Olympiad in which teachers from about 90 countries participated. The Olympiad questions were based on real-time situations and we were evaluated based on our answers.

I was placed in the top 30 percentile globally, which gave me the satisfaction of being evaluated as a good educator by an organisation, internationally. 

 

You are a singer. How do you sing more and how do you give back to society through singing?

I am happy that you call me a singer.(laughs) I have been listening Tamil film music from childhood. It was after 35 years I realised that I can sing and started practice.

I learn and sing for my own satisfaction and happiness.

But I have sung for destitute elders in old age homes, orphanages and for charity organisations.

Anything more you would like to tell the readers… from your experience?

I would like to share what I practise in my life:

“Be clear about your values and ethics and follow them. Let your inner voice guide you. Do not get carried away by society or others. You know yourself better than anyone else in this world.”

Thank you Anitha for the wonderful questions that made me connect with myself and for giving this opportunity to share the work I do with the world. 

Contact:

peacenpassions@gmail.com

Instagram: nadhiyin_osai

Spotify : Nadhiyin Osai (Tamil)

YouTube: Nadhiyin Osai

Linked In: Narmadha A , Founder Peace N Passions