Collective Flourishing in India

This book explores collective flourishing—an emerging concept that extends well-being from individuals to communities—through the lens of Indian society. Rooted in the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“The world is one family”), this book presents a holistic framework for fostering social cohesion, resilience, and sustainable development across diverse groups.
With contributions from scholars across disciplines—including social sciences, human services, philosophy, and communication—the chapters offer empirical and theoretical insights into the lived experiences of women, students, the elderly, migrants, and LGBTQI communities in India. Employing critical and interpretive methodologies, this book highlights how social, cultural, and environmental dimensions intersect to support community well-being. This book is intended for students, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of social sciences, human services, and development studies. It contributes to global discourses on community development, social policy, and cultural sustainability by offering contextually grounded strategies that are both locally rooted and globally relevant.

Abraham Francis is a Professor of Social Work at the University of Notre Dame in Australia. As a global leader in Social Work Education, he has worked with many NGOs, international agencies, and the corporate sector. He is an adjunct professor at James Cook University and a visiting scholar at the Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal University, India. Professor Francis has initiated and established many international research projects, global partnerships, and research collaborations with universities and organizations in South Asia. Prof. Francis co-founded the ‘Collaborative for Collective flourishing” and is the chair of the Collective Flourishing Network.
Beena Antony Reji, Professor at Aditi Mahavidyalaya, University of Delhi, has over 25 years of teaching experience. She was the Faculty-In-Charge of GFATM Round 7 with Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, from 2009-2015, Saksham projects Pramaan and Pravaah from 2021-2024 at Aditi Mahavidyalaya. She is now supervising the Saksham Pramaan project for the northern states of India from 2025-2027, working in collaboration with NACO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has contributed to various articles, books, and chapters in books and has developed e-learning and e-modules/MOOCS as her contribution to research and academics. She has guided several Ph.D. scholars and is involved in government and non-governmental initiatives.
Archana Kaushik is a Professor at the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, India. Dr. Kaushik has been teaching several papers like – Social Work with Families and Children; Social Work with the Elderly; Counselling, Theory and Practice; Dalit Empowerment, Marginalised Groups and Social Research. She has a wide experience in the field of Gerontological Social Work. She has conducted several research studies on a wide range of issues. She has many books and research articles to her credit. She has taken up several evaluation and research studies with the Planning Commission through various ministries and institutions.
Samata Vasisht is a physician, culture strategist, and thought leader whose work has been instrumental in shaping the emerging field of Collective Flourishing. As founder of Synergy Holistic, Dr. Vasisht has led transformative initiatives with organizations for over two decades, now expanding focus on enabling flourishing within educational institutions and broader societal systems. Her approach bridges neuroscience, systems thinking, and grounded spirituality — drawing on frameworks such as the chakra system and interpersonal neurobiology to evolve leadership, culture, and well-being. She is the creator of the consciousness-based Flourish Ecosystem and architect of Synergy’s unified Flourish Dashboard — a technology-enabled platform designed to embed values-led, human-centered conscious cultures and democratize human flourishing at scale.
Kalpana Goel is a highly accomplished academic and researcher in the field of social work at the University of South Australia, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate social work students, preparing them as practitioners equipped with knowledge of theories and practice skills. She has a strong research background in community development, teaching pedagogies, critical social work, aging and aged care, immigration, migrant and refugee settlement, mental health, coping, and resilience.