Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed, it can only be converted from one form to another. The famous law is aptly applicable to Ulka Nagarkar, the President of Maharashtra Mandal Chicago. And yes, her name also suggest the same. Ulka, the meteor, an another form of energy.
Ulka Tai’s initiation and ride into social work –
Ulka Nagarkar, always an enthusiast, was involved in many volunteering activities at different institutions around her. She was MD Ayurveda from Mumbai and later turned to surgery coding and medical billing when shifted to US in 2005. She volunteered for one year at a museum, taught Sanskrit to Indian students for three and half years at Lemont Ram Temple. She also volunteered at the library of a local public school. While doing all these chores, she got the opportunity to work as a volunteer in the Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal convention committee from 2009-11. Since then she continued to work for Maharashtra Mandal with all zest till 2020.
Ulka Nagarkar with Marathi Mandal Procession in Chicago
Ulka Tai with Family
Transformer as a Editor of Rachana Magzine –
In the year 2015, Ulka Tai was elected as an Editor of Maharashtra Mandal’s trimonthly Rachana. In her stint as an Editor, she literally restructured the publication. She introduced Marathi literature in it and connected the new generation of Marathi people in US with it. Readers were given the opportunity to know about varied and rich Marathi literature as well as great writers. She also included spiritual subjects and also made youngsters write upon a variety of topics. These efforts resulted into a completely changed look of the Rachana. All credit goes to Ulka Nagarkar for her out of the box thinking and efforts to implement it to perfection.
All-around, Influential and Innovative as a President of Marathi Mandal Chicago
While working as a member for Maharashtra Mandal, she was elected as the President and here started the amazing journey of leadership and innovative style of working. During her tenure, the entire world was facing a Covid lockdown. People were restricted in their houses, however, that could not stop Tai from working . She created a social media group for ladies across USA and organized numerous activities for them, right from cooking to modeling. She also created a popular (Amacha Nadach Khula) Facebook page to show the hidden talent. This got very popular in the community. She even published modeling photos of these member women on the calendar of Maharashtra Marathi Mandal. These WhatsApp groups played a major role as an outlet for depression and loneliness that women were facing during Covid restrictions.
Addressing MMC function as MMC President
As a President of Mandal, she initiated the activities like Sahitya Katta, Adhyatma Peeth, Itihaas Manch, MMC news and Bolka Katta. In addition to that, online programs were organized for an entire year and on different topics like a Talent show, Atharvashirsha and many others.
Along with inviting professional artists from India, she started organizing programs by local artists. During Diwali around 125 local artists presented a well articulated program-thanks to consistent efforts of six months- and the inspiration behind this was Ulka Nagarkar.
Ulka Tai humbly says this is all teamwork of Marathi Mandal members and without every member’s committed support this was not possible to carry out the successful execution of the activities.
Helping others during Covid
Ulka Tai also initiated help during testing times of Covid and provided food, groceries and help to seniors. She got immense support from many other women, who equally contributed in this noble task. As a part of Indian Task Force, she also got the opportunity to work for Indian students who were stuck in the MidWest part of the US. She also extended to help many Afro-American students who suffered during the Pandemic.
The President 2.0
Generally in the Maharashtra Marathi Mandal, one person gets only one tenure as a President and the person is to be elected unopposed. But, that pattern also changed during Ulka Tai’s tenure. She had started many new things at the Mandal and wanted to continue those. To make it possible, she decided to contest the election for the President of Mandal once again. As expected, some opposition was also there, but she got huge support and once again was reigned the post of President. This would help to set a tradition of constructive and innovative programs, in the Mandal, says Ulka Tai.
While Covid restrictions are loosening, the open skies would help this Ulka to make her voyage even more marvelous .
August 15th MMC program
Ulka Tai with Mr Amit Kumar- General Consul of India
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