Founder's Note
Darshaniti Research Foundation was born out of a personal journey and a vision for a more inclusive India. Founded in memory of my grandfather, Darshan Singh Datta, this organisation stands as a tribute to those who have shaped us with values of kindness, integrity, and service.​
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As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” These words remind us every day that true nation-building begins not in conference rooms, but in the schools, streets and villages where resilience thrives against all odds.
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This is just the beginning of a journey, one where every unheard voice finds its place in shaping tomorrow.
Mr. Rajat Datta
Founder & CEO
Our Story
I had a different kind of childhood. What many might call abnormal felt completely normal to me. There was a time when I didn’t know if I’d get to go to school and the future felt uncertain. And I learnt far too early what it means to grow up before your time. There were moments when I wasn’t even sure there would be a future. And yet, somehow, I made it through. I had everything a child could ever wish for, all the comforts and luxuries that many only dream of. But none of it came from chance. Life didn’t get easier. It was made possible because someone made sure it felt that way. Someone who, without ever announcing it, turned the chaos around me into calm. Whatever I needed, I found. Whatever I wished for, somehow reached me. Not through luck, but through unwavering love and tireless effort.
That someone was my grandfather-Darshan Singh Datta. He wasn’t just my grandfather. He was my guide, my strength, and the man who stepped into the role of a father when life asked too much, too early. He lived with honesty and believed deeply in the power of kindness. His life taught me the meaning of showing up, for people, for values, for what truly matters. I’ve always wished I could share my successes with him, to tell him that his efforts weren’t in vain. That the foundation he built in me has grown into something meaningful. And that’s how Darshaniti Research Foundation was born.
“Darshan” means to see.
And that’s exactly what we’re setting out to do:
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To see the people who’ve long been overlooked.
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To see their realities, not from afar, but by walking into their lives, their towns, their villages.
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To listen, learn, understand, and then bring their voices into the halls where decisions are made.
Our mission is simple: to ensure no community remains invisible.
We’ll work on the ground, build policy from the bottom up, and push to bring the everyday struggles of marginalised India into the heart of mainstream political conversations. This isn’t just an NGO. This is more than a social initiative. This is a promise.
A promise to my grandfather.
A promise to every forgotten voice.
And a promise to the idea that real change begins the moment we dare to see.
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