People who have shaped our thinking
Their ideas and most importanly, the way they have lived thier lives have shaped our thinking—and continue to invite us to inquire.
From Nai Talim and Gram Swaraj to Sarvodaya, the Economy of Permanence and the ideas of Madhyasth Darshan, their work points towards a way of learning and living rooted in meaningful work, mutual care, self-reliance and harmony with nature.
Not just these Masters, Our thinking is also shaped by the wisdom we encounter in everyday life — in our families and communities, traditional practices, nature, and the many people whose lives quietly teach us.
Vembu is our small attempt to explore these possibilities in our own context—not as a model with all the answers, but as a living space where we can learn, practise, question and discover together.
People Involved
Vembu is being shaped by many people — those who have shared ideas, offered encouragement, asked difficult questions, and helped us along the way. Today, We - Senthil and Sathya - are holding the responsibility for bringing this space to life, and nurturing it.
Hi, my name is Senthil Kumar. I began my journey as a Mechanical Engineer and researcher, working on nanofluids, but over the years found myself increasingly drawn to questions of learning, people and how we choose to live.
I explored these questions through the Young India Fellowship at Ashoka University, travelling across India with the Jagriti Yatra, designing serious games through MADIEE, and co-creating Anahad Avartanshala, a fellowship exploring humane livelihoods. What began as questions about education slowly became questions about life — how we learn, work, live together and find meaning.
Hi, I am Sathya.I spent 14 years working in the IT industry, leading global teams and working with people and systems. Over time, I began to question some of the assumptions we often take for granted about work, learning and success.
As I explored alternative approaches to education, I became drawn to learning beyond competition and performance. Becoming a mother made this more personal: what kind of learning environment helps a child grow into a whole human being? jI also became interested in healthier alternatives to the processed foods children commonly eat, and began exploring simple, nourishing food made with care.
These interests have gradually shaped the way I think about how we raise, nourish and educate our children.
People around Vembu
Vembu has also grown through the people we have had the opportunity to meet, learn from and share our questions with. Their contributions have been different — some have offered guidance, some have opened new ways of seeing, and some have simply given us the encouragement to begin.
Sivaraj Anna — Care & Action
His deep care for fellow human beings, and his spirit of Action, Action, Action, have been a constant inspiration to me. It is rare to encounter people who have dedicated their lives to the wellbeing of society, often without seeking recognition. Through Anna, We came to know about many such unsung heroes, like Lakshmana Iyer, Krishnamal Jagannathan and many more. More importantly, I see these values being lived through Anna’s own life and his work with children and communities. It means a lot to us that Anna chose the name Vembu for this learning space.
Vinish Gupta — Authenticity & Self-Reflection
Vinish ji has inspired us to look within and live by the principles one believes in. He instilled in us the importance of self-introspection and striving for excellence in oneself before attempting to change others. His authenticity, and the way he lives by his principles, continue to influence how we think and act.
Manish Jain — Creative Experiments & Action
Manish's experiments and movements such as Jail University, Creativity Adda, and Khoji program have deeply influenced the way we think about learning. His work inspires us to question conventional ways of learning, experiment creatively, and, most importantly, turn ideas into action.