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Nanda Mehta is a giant for the South Asian community in San Diego.
She is the founder and managing director of Ahaana, a South Asian organization based here. Her exuberant, charismatic personality comes through at all the events she has hosted in San Diego since 2013.
Since she had been active in Indian organizations since she was 19, it was a matter of course for Mehta to found Ahaana and launch “Yoni Ki Baat”. YKB is the South Asian version of The Vagina Monologues and has received rave reviews and heavy traffic for the live performances. She encourages men and women to speak out on topics that are hugely taboo in South Asian culture.
She grew up in an entrepreneurial family. This spirit led her to create a number of initiatives within Ahaana to serve the local community. Domestic violence can be widespread in South Asian families, but it is rarely talked about. Ahaana has specific initiatives to support women emerging from conflict situations.
She also started a South Asian get-together for singles in San Diego. Zoom meetings were held during the pandemic and she looks forward to resuming in-person meetings.
Passionate about social justice, Mehta was moved when she saw a documentary about the treatment of widows in India. Her mother and aunt are widows, and she saw the privilege they have compared to the widows who are forced to beg for alms on the banks of the Varansi River in India. She found that barbaric. To help the widows, she started an initiative within Ahaana called the SWANS Initiative, which works with non-governmental organizations in India that support disenfranchised widows and women who are survivors of acid attacks.
By the time she was 17, Mehta had lived on three continents – Asia, Africa, and North America. Her parents worked as expatriates in a number of countries. Those early beginnings as a global citizen have fermented the communities she created no matter where she lives.
“I follow my passions with conviction, confidence and unabashed dedication,” she said
She exudes charisma, friendliness, charisma and joy. She has a passion for building bridges and improving understanding of South Asian culture. She is called “The Connector” and is a very successful networker who has opened many doors for members of all communities.
She is an active member and president of the Producers Club Committee at KPBS and has raised awareness of South Asian culture within its members. She gives regular feedback to her staff to encourage the integration of South Asian culture in San Diego.
Her driving force in life is the support she receives from her mother and family.
“The more you believe in me unconditionally, the more inspired I am to give something back to my community.”
Having been a community volunteer her entire life, Mehta says she feels alive when she serves her community.
For more information, please visit www.ahaana.org or email Nanda at info@ahaana.org
About this series
Divya Kakaiya, Ph.D., is a member of the UT Community Advisory Board. She is a psychologist and neuroscientist and the CEO of Healthy Within, a neurofeedback clinic for brain health.
Someone San Diego Should Know is a weekly column written by members of the UT’s Community Advisory Board about local people who are interesting and noteworthy because of their experience, accomplishments, creativity, or references.
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