Anshu Gupta Ashoka Fellow and Founder GOONJ. A masters in economics, a double major in journalism and mass communications took him to Delhi and widened his horizons. As a graduate student he traveled to Uttarkashi in North India in 1991 to help in relief efforts after a cataclysmic earthquake in the region. This was his first real exposure to the scale of problems of India's rural masses. The sense of shock stayed with him as he finished his education and got a secure government job and then moved to the corporate sector. Eventually, the need to do something and the slow germination of the idea of GOONJ over the years became too strong to resist. He left his job with an Indian MNC in 1998 and with the full support and partnership of his wife and other friends he started GOONJ.
Anshu K. Gupta is facilitating an economic bridge between urban, wealthy India and impoverished, rural India by simply sharing the surplus of wealth. Anshu is establishing a culture of sustained donations in India by creating a mechanism for second-hand clothes and goods to pass from the wealthy to the poor.
Anshu lives in Delhi with his wife and daughter and works full time for GOONJ. His other passion is photography, and while on travel to all parts of the country he captures his experiences on film. These photographs are displayed at various forums including collection sites and act as powerful documentaries of the desperate need of millions and the magic of giving.
Anshu has received CNN-IBN Real Heros Award.
TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)