GLOBAL CHARITY FOUNDER FROM LIVERPOOL INDUCTED INTO ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS!
Dr. Shamender Talwar, a leading Social Psychologist and Co-Founder of global charity tuff.earth who was originally from Liverpool, has been inducted into The Royal Society of Arts two years after surviving a fatal tumor. The British Indian Of The Year winner, who was included in the Top 100 Indians Of The Decade list, receives the Fellowship following a miraculous recovery from being paralysed.
Check out the TUFF website HERE
The Doctor’s recent induction into the RSA sees him become a Fellow alongside the likes of Charles Dickens, Stephen Hawking, Nelson Mandela and David Attenborough. The Fellowship is in recognition of his outstanding work to make the world a better, kinder place through his global charity, tuff.earth.
Check out the TUFF website HERE
Formed in 2011 by Dr. Talwar and Anna Bornholt-Prior, the charity was founded to bridge community sectors, organisations and government, rebuilding social integration and global community cohesion. The charity’s mission has found support from global leaders and public figures, including Barack Obama; HM Queen Elizabeth II; Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan; and His Holiness Pope Francis.
Check out the TUFF website HERE
Projects ran by Dr. Talwar include assisting Grenfell survivors and inner city school projects have resulted in at least 50 children being saved from radicalisation. Dr. Talwar has continued his selfless work despite nearly dying in 2019, after collapsing during a conference in Iceland, and is now spearheading the Liverpool International Song for Kindness Contest.
Check out the TUFF website HERE
Dr. Talwar explained: “I started the charity with my co-founder, Anna Bornholt Prior. It’s all about teaching human values and bringing communities and cultures together through music, sports and arts. We’ve been operating very successfully for the past 10 years in four continents around the world but my life took a turn on 1st July 2019 – my birthday, as it happened.”
Check out the TUFF website HERE
The leading Social Psychologist was giving a presentation on the integration of refugees into Icelandic society at the Reykjavik City Council. But suddenly, whilst doing the presentation, he collapsed — blacking out completely. This led to him being rushed into hospital and becoming completely paralysed on the left side of his body.
Check out the TUFF website HERE
He explained: “When I woke some time later I was told that I was pronounced dead and that it was a miracle that I had survived. They had apparently done a CT scan on my brain and found a tumour the size of a golf ball. It was a condition called Oliogodenglioma. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t, because my left side was completely paralysed.”
He continued: “During that time in hospital, I felt every emotion at once: distorted, depressed, despair. Mostly, I was in shock. I’d just come back from the clutches of death, but I was paralysed. I remembered that I’d had a vision of a tunnel, with a light at the end, and I was moving away from the light. And I remember saying, over and over ‘I don’t want to go, I don’t want to go. I need another chance. I’ve got so much to do.”
Check out the TUFF website HERE
A few days later the British Ambassador, Michael Nevin, came to see Dr. Talwar in the Reykjavik hospital before he was put to sleep for an MRI scan. Despite fearing the worst, the Icelandic doctors came back with astonishing news for Dr. Talwar that the large tumour had completely disappeared.
Dr. Talwar recalls: “It was an incredible situation to be in; to have something the size of a golf ball, that was supposedly in my brain, disappear within four days. I slowly gained my feeling and speech back and during that time of recovery I was going through a lot of things, processing a lot of emotions. I felt I should just cherish every moment.”
Check out the TUFF website HERE
Following his recovery, Dr. Talwar embarked upon an enchanting pilgrimage – travelling to spiritual places such as Iceland, India and the Australian outback and connecting with shamans, aborigines and sages. It was during his time in India he was included in the Top 100 Indians Of The Decade list and when he returned home he met with the charity’s Co-Founder, Anna Bornholt-Prior, about creating their latest project — KIND20.
Check out the TUFF website HERE
Today, Dr.Talwar continues his work serving others through KIND20, focusing on promoting kindness globally — reaching over 3million people in over 120 countries so far. As part of that project, the Liverpool International Song For Kindness Contest in memory of John Lennon is set unveil its Top 10 and Final at The Cavern Club in October.
Check out the TUFF website HERE
Dr. Talwar summarised: “Surviving a tumor, paralysis and being pronounced dead has made me even more determined to carry on my work serving humanity. We must cherish every moment and be the best that we can be every day and in every way.”
He continued: “I’m very humbled to be inducted into the Royal Society Of Arts and to be recognised amongst many of the world’s most inspiring figures. It’s such an incredible honour. That said, I’m just a human being doing my best every day to make the world a better place and regardless of any award or recognition I shall continue to serve humanity the best I can.”
Check out the TUFF website HERE
A Spokesperson of the RSA said: “The RSA is a social change organisation committed to a future that works for everyone. A future where we can all participate in its creation. The RSA has been at the forefront of significant social impact for over 260 years and an integral part of the organisation, from its inception, is its Fellowship – an inclusive, values-based membership committed to finding better ways of thinking about and delivering social change.”
He continued: “Dr. Shamender Talwar has been elected as a Fellow of the RSA on July 27, 2021, and he joins a community of 30,000 changemakers, innovators and entrepreneurs who share the RSA’s vision and values. The RSA is delighted to welcome him to the community.”
Check out the TUFF website HERE
Check out the KIND20 campaign HERE
Check out Dr. Talwar winning the Top 100 Global Indian Award HERE
Check out Dr. Talwar in the Daily Mail HERE
Check out Dr. Talwar in The Mirror HERE
Dr. Talwar is also a regular speaker on BBC Radio London