Dr. Geetanjali Chopra Khosla: Support Should Be a Bridge, Not a Destination [Philanthropist, Founder- Wishes and Blessings]

Dr. Geetanjali Chopra Khosla

Dr. Geetanjali Chopra explains why meaningful social impact isn't built on charity alone, but on creating systems that empower people to thrive independently. Her philosophy challenges conventional ideas of service, proving that compassion is most powerful when paired with structure.

Q. How did you balance the desire to help people directly with the need to focus on running the NGO?

In the early years, I often struggled with this balance. Like many people entering the social sector, my instinct was to be present for every individual in need. Direct engagement gave me immense fulfilment because it allowed me to listen to people's stories and understand their realities firsthand. Many of our programmes were shaped by those conversations and experiences.

Over time, however, I realised that creating a larger impact required looking beyond individual interventions and building strong systems. An organisation cannot grow through the efforts of one person alone; it grows when its values, processes, and leadership are institutionalised.

Today, I see administration and programme management as an extension of service. Every policy we design, partnership we build, and review we conduct ultimately influences the quality of support our communities receive. I still believe in staying closely connected to the ground, but I have learned that sustainable impact requires both compassion and structure. While direct service changes individual lives, strong institutions make that change scalable and enduring.

Q. How do you ensure your NGO empowers people instead of making them rely on you?

This is something I reflect on constantly because I have never envisioned Wishes and Blessings as an organisation people depend on indefinitely. I believe support should serve as a bridge, not a destination. While immediate assistance is essential during times of crisis, our long-term objective is always empowerment.

I often remind my team that our role is not to create lifelong beneficiaries but to uphold dignity and create opportunities. Whether through education, skill development, livelihood initiatives, or community engagement, our focus is on equipping individuals with the skills, confidence, and resources they need to build their own futures.

We don't measure success by how long someone remains in our programmes. We measure it by how confidently they are able to move forward without us. Every individual possesses strengths, aspirations, and potential. Our responsibility is simply to help remove the barriers standing in their way.

Q. How do you separate your personal self-worth from the success of the foundation?

When you dedicate a significant part of your life to a mission, it inevitably becomes deeply personal. Its successes bring immense joy, while its setbacks can feel equally personal.

Over the years, however, I have learned that tying my self-worth entirely to outcomes can be dangerous, especially in the social sector, where so many factors remain beyond our control. Social change is complex, slow, and rarely linear.

I remind myself that my responsibility is to work with sincerity, integrity, and commitment. Outcomes matter, but they cannot be the sole measure of my worth. What sustains me is not recognition or milestones alone, but the smiles, confidence, and progress of the people we serve, along with the reassurance that we continue to move in the right direction while staying true to our values. Some of the most meaningful transformations take years to become visible, and I have learned to be patient with that process.

Q. How has your relationship with the emotion that first inspired your journey evolved over the years?

When I celebrated Holi with visually impaired children in 2014, I experienced a profound sense of purpose that changed my life. In the beginning, that emotion was my greatest source of motivation. It gave me the courage to leave behind certainty and step into the unknown.

Over the years, I have realised that while emotion can inspire a journey, it cannot sustain a movement on its own. Good intentions must be supported by patience, systems, consistency, and the willingness to make difficult decisions.

The emotion that started my journey is still with me. The difference is that it has evolved from an emotional response into a long-term commitment and a deep sense of responsibility. Today, it is steadier, more grounded, and rooted in the realities of creating lasting social impact.

Q. Balancing front-line trauma and executive responsibility can be emotionally demanding. How do you decompress after a difficult day?

I don't believe anyone working in the social sector remains untouched by what they witness. Some stories stay with you long after the day ends, and there are moments when you wish you could do more.

Over time, I have learned that while empathy is essential, healthy boundaries are equally important. Carrying every story with you indefinitely is simply not sustainable.

I consciously make time for activities that help me recharge. Sometimes it's as simple as playing an online game, going for a walk, catching up with friends, or spending quality time with my family. After an especially demanding day, it may simply mean unwinding with a glass of wine.

When things become particularly overwhelming, I also believe in taking short breaks to reset and return with a clearer perspective. These small moments of self-care help me recharge so I can continue showing up with the same commitment and energy.

Q. Which book has had the greatest impact on you, and why?

My favourite book is The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak—not only because of the wisdom it offers, but because it holds a special place in my personal journey. It was the first book my husband gifted me when we met, and over the years, its message has become deeply intertwined with both my life and my work.

What resonates with me most is its belief that love extends far beyond romance. It is compassion, acceptance, service, and the ability to recognise the humanity in every individual. The book encourages us to move beyond labels and judgments and connect with people through empathy and understanding.

I see these lessons reflected in my work every day. Whether I am spending time with residents in our old-age homes, supporting women through skill development programmes, or helping children access education, I am constantly reminded that every individual carries a unique story. The book has taught me to listen with an open heart and approach every person with dignity and respect.

Its central idea—that love is expressed through acts of service—continues to shape my philosophy. Care, kindness, and opportunity have the power to transform lives. For me, The Forty Rules of Love is more than a favourite book; it is a way of thinking that continues to influence how I engage with people and the world around me.

Every time I revisit it, I discover a new perspective. It reminds me that love is not simply something we feel—it is something we practise every day through our relationships, our communities, and the way we choose to serve others.

Bio

Dr. Geetanjali Chopra is an academician, researcher, columnist, and philanthropist with over ten years of experience in research and administration. She attended the country’s top most universities in pursuit of quality education. Geetanjali is a graduate in Journalism from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University, and she acquired Master’s Degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. The insatiable desire for learning motivated her to get admission in the M. Phil Programme at JNU, and later she completed Ph. D in International Studies from the same institute.

While International Relations was her area of specialisation in both Master’s and Doctorate programmes, she also attended the Utrecht University (Netherlands) for a P.G.D.P. in International Human Rights Law. To further enhance her academic foundation, Geetanjali pursued another diploma programme, but this time from the International Institute of Humanitarian Law (Italy) where she studied Refugee Law and Human Rights Law. While acquiring knowledge at all these educational centres of international repute, she never left any opportunity to express her views and opinions in various international conferences, round-table talks, seminars all over the world including India, United States, Europe and Thailand.

Just like her vast and varied educational qualifications, Geetanjali’s professional career is also loaded with enormous depth and plurality. She has been a journalist and a columnist with several renowned media houses, acted in a TV show, tried her hand at radio jockeying, had an impressive stint in the teaching profession, and received laurels for her books and other publications. However, highly paid and well-cushioned jobs along with prestige did not bring her contentment and it was only with the establishment of her NGO- Wishes and Blessings that she finally met her calling and experienced complete satisfaction.

In the year 2014, Wishes and Blessings was established with the aim to spread blessings and fulfil wishes by linking beneficiaries with donors. Today, the NGO has more than 20 centres across Delhi-NCR, and works on multiple causes including Food for All, Accessible Education, Healthier Lives and Elder Care.

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Interviewed By Muskan Verma