Dr. Geetanjali Chopra is the Founder and President of the Delhi-based NGO Wishes and Blessings. Educated at Convent of Jesus and Mary School, Lady Shri Ram College, and later at Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she completed her Master’s and Doctorate in International Relations, her academic journey was further shaped by specialised training in International Law in the Netherlands and Italy.
Raised in a family where service was embedded as a way of life, she recalls visiting a school for visually impaired children with her grandfather. One moment continues to define her path. “A little girl tugged my pant and asked, ‘Didi, mera birthday kab hota hai?’” she shares. The innocence of that question revealed a deeper truth, that deprivation is also about invisibility. “That question stayed with me,” she says, “and it continues to shape who I am today.”
PURPOSE | Beyond Comfort, Toward Calling
Before founding Wishes and Blessings, Dr. Chopra describes her life as “perfect, secure and stable.” She was writing policy papers, authoring books, and speaking at global forums. Yet a Holi celebration with visually impaired children shifted her perspective.
“I realised my purpose extended beyond personal comfort or professional achievement,” she says. Established in 2014, the organisation works without discrimination of age, gender, religion or background. “For me, service is not charity, but partnership, listening first, and then responding.”
DIFFERENCE | Leadership Through Presence
Personal involvement defines her leadership. While dedicated teams manage projects, she remains closely engaged. “Service is much more than providing support; it is about building meaningful relationships,” she explains.
Her approach centres on dignity and continuity. “It’s about standing beside them, not only in moments of need, but through every step of their lives.”
THE BEGINNING | A Festival of Belonging
After her grandfather’s passing, she returned to the school that shaped her early years. When she asked the children what they wanted, their answer was simple: to play Holi.
“Witnessing the unadulterated happiness on their faces moved me deeply,” she recalls. That celebration became the catalyst for leaving her successful career and establishing Wishes and Blessings in 2014.
THE BREAKTHROUGH | Restoring Dignity
A deeply disturbing news report about violence against an elderly woman became another turning point. In 2018, she launched Maan Ka Tilak in Delhi, an initiative dedicated to supporting and honouring senior citizens, later expanding to Vrindavan.
“The impact reaffirmed that compassion must be strengthened through consistent action and presence,” she says. Her vision is to take the movement nationwide.
THE MINDSET | Integrity in Action
Her work is guided by accountability, transparency and integrity. “Responsibility lies not only in serving people, but in doing so with honesty and measurable care,” she states. Leadership, she believes, must be grounded in personal presence rather than distant oversight.
THE MESSAGE | Listen Before You Lead
To young women entering the social sector, her advice is clear. “Make sure that you do it as a partner, not as a giver,” she says. “When we help with preconceived notions, we risk imposing our solutions on someone else’s problems.”
Her guiding principle remains simple yet powerful: “Always listen first, and always ask before giving.”
