Have you ever heard the saying, “We don’t know what we don’t know?” We cannot quantify the impact of lost or destroyed information once it’s gone. Subsequent generations are simply left not knowing what was once known. From the destruction of the Xianyang State Archives in 206 B.C. and burning of the U.S. Library of Congress in 1814 to the vandalism of the Central Library of Mosul in 2015, human action and natural disasters have robbed the world of more than 100 major libraries and their irreplaceable texts. In 2003, many sacred and historic texts at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) in Pune suffered at the hands of vandals. The incident was a sober reminder that we must proactively protect the fragile and irreplaceable documents that influence cultural evolution. To protect the legacies of literature and celebrate its centennial anniversary, BORI and Yardi have teamed up to create a digital library. Meet BORI Established in 1917, BORI is the caretaker of more than 153,000 rare books and 28,000 manuscripts. Texts offer valuable insights on topics such as the Vedas, Ayurveda, Buddhism, Jainism, Sanskrit and ancient Indian philosophies.  In 2017, the organization celebrated 100 years in operation. Staff initiated a new digital library that would protect its priceless holdings while making content available to larger audiences. “We recognized the need to evolve in a new direction,” explains Sudheer Vaishampayan, honorary secretary of BORI. “We recognized the need to protect the treasure in our care as well as the significance of making it accessible. Hence we started the mission to digitize our library.” A labor of love and a legacy To create the digital library, staff followed five basic steps: Create an online catalogue system to ensure that texts are easy to find. BORI used a “Marc-21” standard that includes 26 fields per catalogue entry.Select books for scanning based on three parameters: online availability, copyrights and academic significance. Based on those criteria, BORI selected nearly 16,000 books.Establish the Digitization Lab. BORI is home to one of the most well-equipped digitization labs in India that includes three book scanners and two document scanners.Begin the time consuming and tedious process called non-destructive scanning. Page-by-page, staff scanned in almost 16,000 books. BORI staff partnered with Nyansa, an end-to-end digital solutions facilitator. The teams worked in three shifts from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.. It has taken two years to scan nearly 7 million pages—and work is still in progress!Transition scanned files to the Digitalaya platform created by the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). Lastly, BORI established BoriLib.com.  The digital library went live in late 2019. It currently hosts 8,269 books with about 7,500 books in the pipeline. “After five years, and tremendous efforts of multiple teams, we know that our digital journey has only begun,” said Vaishampayan. “The pandemic has put a brake on our speed, but we will finish the job by the end of 2021.” BORI + Yardi, safeguarding the future by preserving the past The information and philosophies found within the books have already survived the test of time. In a digital library, they will remain with us even if the original texts cannot. The benefits of such work are innumerable. Yardi is a proud sponsor of the digital library. “Yardi sponsors the whole initiative,” says Bhupal Patwardhan, chairman of the executive board at BORI. “Mr. Anant Yardi, the founder of Yardi Systems, facilitated the implementation of the entire project. They donated two new book scanners, sponsored the digitization process and also our move to the Digitalaya platform developed by C-DAC.” He continues, “We are also eternally grateful to Ajmera group for helping us buy the first book-scanner in 2016.” Though the bulk of the project is complete, work remains. The library is currently accessible online and will receive updates as new resources become available. “We remain grateful to every helping hand as we strive to safeguard the...

Investing in the wellbeing of girls and women is among the best choices that a country can make. According to the United States Agency for International Development, when 10 percent more girls go to school, a country’s GDP increases on average by 3 percent. Additionally, countries where women hold at least 30 percent of political seats are demonstrably more inclusive, egalitarian and democratic. The benefits of female-centered investments are also tactile. The United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization found that when equipping female farmers with the same access to land, tech, and capital as men, crop yields increased by as much as 30 percent. That 30 percent boost can reduce the number of hungry people by 150 million. Women’s advocacy has social and economic benefits. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department of Yardi Pune participates in many partner projects in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Women and girls are the target beneficiaries of most projects. The initiatives reflect gender advocacy in the context of health, sanitation, education and income generation. BSSK + Yardi support higher education for girls Selecting a college and completing courses can be a tough choice. For many low-income families in Pune, financial struggles are exacerbated by social pressure. The Yardi Pune CSR and Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra (BSSK) collaboration results in scholarships for 40 girls who dare to pursue a college education. What sets BSSK apart from other scholarship programs is that it is structured to help girls overcome social pressures that would dissuade them from self-advocacy and education. The project implements programs to counter the family and community pressures girls often face. Their parents also sign an agreement that they will not hinder their daughter’s education. Once the agreement is in place and prior to college admission, the selected student receives an aptitude test and career counselling to help her select suitable courses. Scholarships then address admission fees and tuition so that she can focus on her education. “Most of these girls are first generation college graduates in their family and are challenging the regressive social norms in family and community through their hard work,” says Dipanwita Sengupta, senior executive, CSR at Yardi Pune. MASUM + Yardi demonstrate that supported girls support other girls The Yardi Pune and Mahila Sarvangeen Utkarsh Mandal (MASUM) collaboration explores the intersection of education, physical wellbeing and leadership. The program supports 35 girls and young women from 25 villages around Pune. “These villages have limited access to schools and colleges, and often regressive views on girls’ education and career development which are addressed through this fellowship program,” says Sengupta. Through the fellowship, participants receive guidance on their higher education plans. They are also given support and access to extracurricular activities such as outdoor sports. Since such practices are uncommon in their communities, the program counsels girls’ families on the benefits of education, physical fitness and team sports if required. During the program, participants are encouraged to develop their leadership skills. Recently, the 35 original participants learned volleyball. They then gathered about 150 girls from their respective villages for a volleyball competition. The event showcased the cascade effect of the program: supported girls support other girls. It was a fun and empowering event for all. Yardi empowers intermediaries for health and safety Yardi Pune CSR worked with local health officials to identify approximately 2,000 women from 226 slum pockets. Each woman demonstrated leadership potential, which was further developed as she stepped into intermediary roles between community and government. The women received education on how to help improve sanitation conditions of their locality. They then monitored the community toilets in their locality, met regularly to build community consensus for common decisions, and contacted elected representatives and officials for information and services. Through this process, many of them are developing their potential as community leaders. FPAI Pune + Yardi help to build healthier families Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) Pune and Yardi Pune CSR are working together to build...

Vaijayanti Deshpande, head of HR, finance and administration at Yardi, leads human resources, recruitment, finance and facilities at Yardi Pune. Though she has embraced the responsibilities like a fish to water, it didn’t start out that way. Deshpande had to explore unknown paths to unlock her capabilities as a leader. The Big Switch Deshpande did not begin her career in human resources. For 14 years, she worked as a financial controller with a software services company. “I am a chartered accountant by qualification, and I had always worked in the finance domain before joining Yardi,” said Deshpande. “On being offered a role in HR at Yardi Pune, I was skeptical initially.” Despite her uncertainty, she accepted the role. Seven years later, she loves that she made the switch. The challenges of the transition encouraged her to expand her skillsets. “Sometimes in life, you realize your potential only when you take the unexplored paths,” reflected Deshpande. “From accepting this role, to handling the employee sensitivity part of it, to actually enjoying it today—it’s been a wonderful journey!” With the support of her team, Deshpande emerged as an even stronger and more capable leader. “I received a lot of support from my manager and the people reporting to me. I feel working at Yardi has made me a kinder person. Today, I have a different flavor to my personality. It has broadened my horizons, and I look forward to coming to work every day.” She added with a smile, “The fact that the office is a mere 2.5 km from my residence also makes it easy.” Staying Balanced Deshpande’s day-to-day goals at Yardi center upon compliance and providing timely support for employees. It’s a continual balancing act between building rapport and trust with employees while adhering to and enforcing protocols. “We strive to make life at Yardi better by staying true to our corporate motto: ‘Take care of our clients, take care of our employees, take care of our communities, stay focused, and grow,’” said Deshpande. While she enjoys the diversity of her role and the environment, the work-life balance at Yardi has made it possible to feel success professionally and personally. She works smart in the office and can then savor her personal time. “I enjoy spending time at home and with my family,” said Deshpande. “I read a lot, do the crossword and Sudoku and take an active interest in the affairs of the Housing Society where I stay,” explained Deshpande. Though math puzzles may be frustrating for some, Deshpande’s Sudoku hobby is a nod to her roots in finance. Math is familiar and comforting. “It’s something I have always enjoyed. It is a good exercise for the brain. I also enjoy doing the crossword. In fact, I am a crossword addict.” Looking back on her career, Deshpande tries to summarize the lessons that have helped her to grow. “If I offered advice to my 20-year-old self, it would be this: work hard, work smart. Keep learning. Focus on enjoying your job and not just the monetary benefits. Be a good worker and the rewards will follow naturally. Above all, maintain good relations with your...

Meet Medha Deshpande, a director of CSD in Yardi’s Pune office. Her team of 450 employees assists Yardi Energy, P2P, Matrix, Utility Billing, Utility Expense Management, and Invoice Processing clients. Deshpande’s department covers a lot of ground. She manages the broad range of responsibilities by focusing on strategic team building rather than tasks. “My role is to mainly ensure that I have the right people at the right place doing the right job,” smiles Deshpande. As her teams develop, maintaining clear, unified objectives keeps the department operating coherently. “I like our company’s vision, growth, culture, values, and philanthropy. It is very important for all of us to maintain this culture and inculcate the same value system within our new employees as we continue to grow at a good speed,” said Deshpande. She is also mindful to maintain her personal growth. During her 14-year career with the company, Deshpande has encountered and overcome numerous challenges. Each posed an opportunity for her to hone her skills and emerge as a stronger leader. Deshpande reflects, “I have learnt and can say I am still learning to have patience. I tell myself that things may not move always the way you want and at the speed you may be expecting.” She continues, “Always be optimistic, demanding, and have perseverance for sustainable growth.” Pursuing Excellence in the Community  When she isn’t working at Yardi, Deshpande and her husband operate a weekend school for about 50 disadvantaged youth in grades three through 10. The school allows her to help kids pursue excellence. “We run the school at our farmhouse which is about 15 miles from Pune. We teach the children mathematics, English and value education,” says Deshpande. “This school runs throughout the year with no vacation. Children enjoy the school since our focus is not just education but also personal development through some activities which kids love. There is a library arranged for them with some very good books and educational toys.” The support of Yardi teammates and loved ones has helped the weekend school flourish. “Many friends and colleagues not only from India but from the United States donated books, school stationary, toys and other resources,” she explains. “Our family members and friends also support us on some weekends as visiting teachers. One of our Yardi employees, Chandrakant Manekar, has been a dedicated teacher for about one year, which has been a big help.” “We have been fortunate as we get immense satisfaction and pleasure from spending time with these kids. It has been like a booster to our life!” says Deshpande. To learn more about Yardi’s outstanding team members, visit the People page. Director Medha Deshpande Deshpande with school children Guest teachers with school children Local school children Roll call at school Study session with teachers Students of the weekend school Students welcome guests to school...