From Basti to TEDx: Pune’s 15-Year-Old Vaishnavi Gaikwad from Burma Shell Basti Performs Poetry on TEDx Stage
Pune, 3rd November 2025: In an inspiring story of courage, creativity, and empowerment, 15-year-old Vaishnavi Gaikwad from Burma Shell Basti took to the stage of TEDx-Kharadi to perform poetry co-created by children from her community. Her performance represented not just her own voice but the collective dreams and emotions of children from the basti.
Vaishnavi’s grandmother is among the oldest residents of Burma Shell Basti. Her father works in housekeeping and her mother as a cook — both striving to secure a better future for their children through education. A bright Class 10 student, Vaishnavi dreams of continuing her studies and pursuing dance.
“Today was the first time I stood on such a big stage. I was scared, but I overcame the fear — and for the first time in my life, I feel like I have achieved something,” said Vaishnavi Gaikwad after her performance.
The initiative was part of a creative intervention by Paalvia Foundation, in collaboration with the Bhagyashali Bhavishya Shiksha Foundation, aimed at empowering children through art, music, and storytelling. Over the past year, the workshops have helped nurture confidence, creativity, and aspiration among the children of the basti.
“Our work with children from bastis and differently-abled homes is not about charity — it’s about opportunity. Art gives them a language to express, to aspire, and to be seen for their potential rather than their circumstances. Vaishnavi’s presence on the TEDx stage is a reflection of that belief — and she will go on to inspire many more girls,” said Vaibhav Paliwal, Founder of Paalvia Foundation.
Children from the basti regularly participate in songwriting sessions led by Subhrojyoti Roy Chaudhuri, a scientist at TCS and musician. These sessions help them articulate their feelings and co-create songs such as “Biryani” and “Soch” — poems that capture their daily joys, friendships, and the beauty of their surroundings. Both pieces were performed by Vaishnavi, with “Biryani” being her favourite.
Special acknowledgment was given to Sonali Rasal, landscape architect and poet, for mentoring Vaishnavi’s performance, and to Virendra Nirmalkar, organiser of TEDx-Kharadi, for creating platforms that empower new voices.
“Vaishnavi has performed wonderfully on stage. She is a leader in the making and will surely achieve great things in life. We were honoured to have her with us and wish her all the best for her future,” said Virendra Nirmalkar, organiser of TEDx-Kharadi.
