Imagining ‘K’India: Transforming the Nation, One Kind Act at a Time

Nirmala Peters-Mehendale, a human resources professional by vocation, is also the founder of Kindness Unlimited and the Global President of the World Kindness Movement. In this free-wheeling interview with TTT’s NARESH KARMALKER, she tells us why she believes that widespread kindness will be the one habit that will transform this country and, through it, the world.

NK: What is it about kindness that attracts you?
NPM: I believe kindness is connected to success. Success is possible only when you get something done through others. It is a myth that one can achieve success by oneself.

Growing up, in my extended family, everybody needed to be ready to dialogue and work towards a common goal at all times. For example, if you were not coming to dinner, you needed to call and inform that you were not going to be there. Why was this an act of kindness? Because that would free others from worrying, especially the seniors. This notion, of treating others like you would like them to treat you, was a belief ingrained in us from childhood.

I got married into a community with seemingly nothing in common. Again, I found myself in a joint family where, along with my husband and in-laws, I also had my brother-in-law living with us. My brother-in-law was differently-abled and looking after him became the one common point that brought everybody together. Loving him unconditionally was the differential factor for all of us, another example of how we learnt to collaborate for the common good, joyfully.

Professionally, I come from a corporate background and work in the field of human resources. There again, I was fascinated to explore how collaboration and interdependence can be fostered amongst employees. Kindness was the underlying motive.

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