Nehal Pasha is a young man with a mission. Originally from Bangalore, India, he has made it his life's work to help those less fortunate than himself. His story is one of inspiration and hope, and it shows that with hard work and dedication, anyone can make a difference.
Nehal Pasha
A medical student at DTMU University in Georgia, he is the founder of the 2 Lari Foundation, which raises funds for various causes every month by encouraging people to donate only 2 Lari each. Nehal’s foundation has been running since 2021, and its positive impact is evident through their events, which are covered on social media.
When asked how his journey began, he tells us:
It was 2021, and a senior at my university was diagnosed with meningitis, and the students were collecting money to help with the medical expenses. As I had some online influence at that time, I requested permission to share the story on social media and help spread the word. Along with my friend Mohammad Masarrat, we successfully raised 3000 lari within just 12 hours!
This gave him the inspiration for a foundation, through which he can raise money for various causes. And so in late 2021, along with his friend Mohammad Masarrat from TSMU, Nehal established the 2 Lari Foundation.
The foundation's concept is straightforward; people donate just 2 lari per month. Surprisingly, that’s all they can donate per month. When asked why there’s a price cap on donation, Nehal tell us:
With an insignificant amount of just 2 lari out of your pocket, you can make the world a better place for people who have long lost their hope.
By keeping the donation amount low, more people will be encouraged to donate regularly, thus creating a consistent positive impact on society.
He also says:
The Two Lari Foundation is all of ours and not just mine. I do charity because I can do it. We all have that power to do something good, and so we should.
Nehal's passion for giving back to the community is fuelled by the belief that if one has the power to help, they should do it. Despite encountering resistance from his relatives who were concerned that he might be straying from the medical path, his commitment to the foundation's work remains unwavering.
We asked him about an event that particularly stood out to him, it was the eighth event he was conducting near Station Square.
There was a lady who was selling masks and other odd items at Station Square. She was in a bad condition and had nowhere to go. When we gave her a bag of the items; she refused to take it for free. She wanted to say something but was not able to. She then wrote something on a piece of paper. This is when we found out that her whole house got burnt down and she had nothing with her.
In return for their items she gave them masks, and this really touched him. From that day, Nehal and his team made a point to help her at every alternate event. He still keeps that note with him and it serves as a motivation for everything he does.
The note.
Nehal believes that if you like doing something, you should just do it, and his dedication to his foundation work reflects this philosophy. When asked how he manages the foundation alongside his academic responsibilities, he says:
I record all our videos for 1-2 months in a span of 2 days. I only film special videos or trending events on the spot.
When asked about the financial aspect of the foundation, Nehal revealed that he manages everything himself. He says:
People trust me with their money, and I do not want to dilute that trust by passing that responsibility onto someone else. I keep proper bank statements and bills to track every moment and to ensure transparency and accountability.
Nehal's commitment to making a difference does not stop with the 2 Lari Foundation. In the future, he plans to start another foundation in India called the 10 Rupee Foundation, which will be properly registered with the government.
He hopes that this new foundation will help those in need in India, just like the 2 Lari Foundation has helped many people in Georgia. He is confident in its success as many people in India are currently contributing to 2 Lari Foundation, showing the impact that the foundation has made on people from around the world.
The story of him doing medicine in Georgia is quite interesting. Despite getting good marks in NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - India’s Medical entrance exam) he was unable to get an admission because of his domicile status.
In India, medical admissions have domicile requirements that mandate a student to spend at least 7 years in a particular state. Unfortunately, he had only spent 6 years in both Bangalore and Chennai, thereby not having domicile status in both places.
While some advised him to repeat NEET the following year to fulfill the domicile requirement, he refused to waste another year. Instead, he made the bold decision to seek his medical education overseas in Georgia.
On a more personal note, Nehal says that he can be a bit introverted. He says that when people meet him at an event, they usually go “that’s not you, why are you so silent?” In contrast to when they see him online.
If he wasn't doing medicine, he'd love to work with National Geographic. He says:
I would love to be exploring, studying and learning about new places.
His interest in nature leads him to prefer the clear seas and mountains over the city.
Nehal's selfless actions have made a significant impact here in Tbilisi! His foundation has helped countless people in need, and his dedication to the cause is truly inspiring.
His story serves as a reminder that with vision, dedication, and a desire to help others, anyone can make a positive impact on the world!
Comments