Storytelling through song

The amazing Snehalaya@OSU team

We have enjoyed a partnership with students at Ohio State University, USA since 2018 when medical student Rashmi Rege got in touch to pitch the idea of a student society to support Snehalaya. Snehalaya@OSU was born.

Since then we have seen a steady stream of passionate students engage with our children and projects. They have also organised spectacular Snehalaya cultural events, raising valuable funds and awareness for Snehalaya’s work.

Earlier this year, Surith Krishna, the current Co-President of Snehalaya@OSU, was able to see our work first-hand as he visited with his family. Upon returning to the States he contacted us with a special idea. The students wanted to do something different — to tell the inspiring story of two of our former residents, Ishan and Akshana who Surith heard about during his visit. They planned to turn their journey into a musical performance.

With the couple’s blessing, the students began work on the production, and the final result was nothing short of stunning. We have previously featured the couple’s story in our newsletter and website but these students really brought it to life.

Following the event, Surith sent the following heartfelt message to the couple:

“Dear Akshana and Ishan, My name is Surith Krishna and I have led the Ohio State Chapter of Snehalaya for the last two years. During a trip to Ahilyanagar to see Snehalaya’s facilities, my brother and I were so inspired by your story that we wanted to highlight it through song. We found your quiet resilience and strength to be a much stronger testament to the value of Snehalaya in uplifting its community members than anything we could write ourselves. Thank you for the honour and privilege of getting to tell your story. It truly touched the heart of every single person in attendance.”

What a wonderful tribute to everyone involved. The production also raised $275 USD — approximately ₹26,400 — for Snehalaya. We would like to thank everyone at Snehalaya@OSU for their creativity, compassion, and support. You are all truly valued members of the Snehalaya family, and our doors are always open to you.

If you are interested in setting up your own group to support Snehalaya we would love to hear from you. Contact us at give@snehalaya.org.

Our Founder, Girish Kulkarni, has added OSU to his itinerary as he tours the USA later this month, further strengthening our family ties. You can view his full schedule here.