"Thoughtshop, to me, represents a crisscrossing of many journeys – a complex of individuals, ideas, stances and actions. It is about the spirited people we meet and walk a part of the way with, and the distances we travel through these experiences.

I have seen and learned so much here - to take a stand, to speak out, to build awareness and above all, to believe in the possibility of change.

For any instinct, idea or thought to become something more, you need momentum, support, and direction. You need a group of people who have vision and the strength of their convictions.

The connections forged with the dynamic young men and women I’ve met at gender workshops, the enterprising groups who participated in the first Youth Awards project to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, the peer helpers and leaders with whom I’ve spent hours brainstorming over cha and muri, and the ‘think tank’ at

Thoughtshop who facilitate transitions from possibility to actuality - have made the journey remarkable.

For all of us, Thoughtshop is a space charged with the energy of new beginnings ... and the best thing is that we get to take things forward and walk the distance with friends."

Rituparna Mitra.

March 2006