Charu Sachdev

Some places hold memory, meaning, and possibility all at once. My visit to Ashoka University was one such experience. @AshokaUniv was very close to my late husband, Sunjay Kapur. As a founding member, he believed in the power of education to shape not just careers, but values, character, and conscience. To walk this campus in his absence and yet feel his presence everywhere was both painful and comforting. I’m grateful to Ashoka for inviting me for this special visit and to spend time with @AshishDhawanTCF and the team that has built a truly global institution for India’s talented youth. The campus itself, with its architecture, openness, and energy, is inspiring. The Trivedi School of Biosciences stands out as a pioneering space for research and teaching. Its vision of bridging natural and social sciences, and viewing health through both a One Health lens for society and precision wellness for the individual, reflects the kind of integrative thinking the world needs today. One of the most unexpectedly moving moments for me was sitting on the library steps with students. It took me back to my own university days at UCL, sitting with classmates, debating global issues, and dreaming of change. Speaking with Ashoka’s students gave me a deeply personal connection to their lived experience. The interdisciplinary education here has clealry shaped them into thoughtful, articulate, and grounded individuals, young people ready not just for jobs, but for life. At @sonacomstar we are proud to support Ashoka through bursaries for young women in STEM. Supporting first-generation learners and widening access to opportunity is a commitment I am determined to carry forward. Planting a tree in Sunjay’s memory during our visit touched me profoundly. It is symbolic in the most beautiful way, of roots, continuity and growth. This visit reaffirmed for me that Sunjay’s belief in Ashoka was well placed. His legacy lives on here, in the students, the ideas, the research, and the future being shaped on this campus. Thank you, Ashoka, for honouring his memory and for building futures that truly matter.