Pune-based NGO Connecting Trust, which focuses on suicide prevention and mental health support, announced its 20th anniversary celebrations. As part of the event, a special performance of actor Boman Irani’s play Class Act will be staged on October 4, 2025.
Founder Arnavaz Damania, 87, recalled how personal tragedy inspired her to establish the organisation. “I lost a very precious family member to suicide, and each of us struggled with pain and trauma. I knew I had to find a way to heal myself and, in that journey, I began thinking of how I could support other mothers, grandmothers, or aunts going through the same grief,” she said.
A Shiv Chhatrapati Award winner for her contribution to women’s hockey, Damania dedicated her life to building spaces where people could openly share their struggles and receive emotional support. “Twenty years ago, suicide and mental health were taboo topics. Many believed the older generation couldn’t understand the youth. But I refused to give up and chose to act,” she added.