"Inclusion begins when

Diversity is Appreciated"

Our Flagship DEI Interventions for You

Choose from our Immersive Empathy darkness experiences to Digital DEI Learning programs to enhance your Organisation’s DEI Quotient.

Desi Nation

A 1st of its kind DEI Education initiative curated by subject matter experts to help you dispel stereotypes and prejudices about Diverse Identity Groups.

Dialogue in the Dark

The world’s ONLY darkness themed empathy experience that sensitises every participant about the abilities of people with disabilities.

Other DESI Services

Get a 360 degree expert insight to build your roadmap on diverse identity group DIG's inclusion / hiring / Job role analysis etc.

Welcome to DesiNation

DESI Nation is an acronym for Diversity Equity Social Inclusion.

DesiNation is perhaps India’s first diversity and inclusion focused tech enabled social impact organisation that’s championing the cause of social inclusion of various diverse groups who are otherwise marginalized and excluded in our world.

With a goal to make the world truly Inclusive, DesiNation has embarked on a plan to educate the world about DIG’s – Diverse identity groups – Disability, LGBTQIA+, Gender, Ageism & Socio-economic inequality through powerful scenario based micro learning programs.

DesiNation aims to promote adoption of diversity education, enabling organisations and institutions to decrease the chances of discrimination & insensitivities against Diverse Identity Groups (DIGs) by educating the world on topics such as conscious & unconscious biases, equity, inclusion, belongingness, etc.

Join our growing League of DESI Change-Makers

How it all began in India?

In 2010, while waiting for his delayed flight at Atlanta City – USA, our Founder Krishnan came across an intriguing exhibition of Dialogue in the Dark and decided to go through the 45 minute immersive dark experience in order to kill time. Little did he know that the experience was going to set him on a decade long journey of powerful social impact.

Krishnan was humbled and amazed by how being able to connect with a visually impaired person at a basic human level was so simple & empowering. He felt this would make a significant impact in creating awareness of social inclusion in Indian society given our diverse demographics with respect to Disability.

As a culmination of this idea, Krishnan & his wife Sudha founded Dialogue in the Dark in India in 2010 by setting up the first dark exhibition center in Hyderabad.

Krishnan and Sudha

From Darkness to Light – our Journey

2
Our founders experience Dialogue in the Dark at Atlanta City (USA) for the first time.

Completely inspired & mesmerised by the experience, Krishnan & Sudha decide to launch Dialogue in the Dark in India.

2009
25
Launched India’s first Dialogue in the Dark center in Inorbit Mall, Hyderabad

Dialogue in the Dark gained immense popularity within a few months of it’s launch in Hyderabad for being the most unique & innovative social impact idea in the country that uses PITCH DARKNESS to host an exhibition & various other immersive experiences including Dining.

2011
26
Dialogue in the Dark Launched in Bangalore

After successfully creating a strong social impact footprint in Hyderabad, Dialogue in the Dark branches out to Phoenix Marketcity Mall in Bangalore to continue its Journey of BEYOND DIFFERENCES.

2014
27
Dialogue in the Dark Launched in Chennai

Dialogue in the Dark launches its 3rd experience center in Express Avenue Mall in Chennai to continue its journey of BEYOND DIFFERENCES

2014
5a
Launch of Ace Take 1 – Launched in 2014
2014
30
Dialogue in the Dark launched it’s first franchise center in Raipur

Popularity of Dialogue in the Dark gained momentum in Chhattisgarh with a passionate set of individuals coming forward to launch Dialogue in the Dark in Magneto Mall, Raipur, becoming our first franchise partners in the country.

2016
6 a
Dialogue in the Dark launched it’s 2nd experience center in Hyderabad

As a part of the inclusive tourism initiative by the Telangana State in 2019, Dialogue in the Dark was honored to partner with the Telangana Tourism Department to launch a permanent setup in The Plaza Hotel, Begumpet.

2019
7 (1)
Covid-19 Lockdown forced DID to a stand-still mode

Dialogue in the Dark suspended operations of all it’s center in India due to social distancing norms & the uncertainties caused due to the Covid-19 Lockdown.

2020
394
Launched the digital avatar of Dialogue in the Dark -thedesination.com, India's 1st DEI centric edtech platform & diversity exchange

Created 400+ minutes (6+ Hours) of scenario-based digital micro learning content on topics such as Disability, unconscious bias revolving around Gender, Transgender, etc. And on-boarded thousands of learners through strategic partnerships with Corporate India, Government & the Education sector.

2022
9 (2)
Re-launched Dialogue in the Dark in India

With the generous support of the State Bank of India Foundation, Dialogue in the Dark launched it’s first post-covid exhibition experience center in Mumbai at Nariman Point. Dialogue in the Dark in Mumbai has been established as a flagship CSR initiative of SBIF’s Center Excellence for PwD empowerment with a vision to educate the public and all the employees of State Bank of India & it’s Partner Banks on social inclusion & abilities of Persons with Disabilities.

2022
11 (1)
Developed 80+ DEI centric scenario based micro-videos on three diverse identity groups : Gender Bias, Transgender Community & Disability and on-boarded 15 top notch Corporates in India as clients.
2023

Voice of our DESI Change-Makers

Meet the DESI Enthooos

S V KRISHNAN

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

SUDHA KRISHNAN

Co-Founder & Chief Empathy Officer

ANANTHA NARAYANAN

Chief Marketing Officer

ROSHEENA ISMAIL

Chief Social Impact Officer

Our SAGE Board

In the Indian cultural context, Sages are always identified with Long Beard living in Gurukuls.

Our DESI Sages do not have long beard nor they live in gurukuls. They however Possess LONG Years of experience soaked in diverse sectors & geographies.

They thrive in the VUCA World actively contributing to making the world a better & inclusive place.

Meet our SAGEs – our Strategic Advisory Group of Experts

KIRTHIGA REDDY

Former Facebook India Head & Softbank Vision Fund Director

SANTANU PAUL

Founder, CEO & Managing Director - TalentSprint

SHALINI KHANNA

Founder Director - NAB India - Centre for Blind Women & Disability Studies

MRIDULA SANKHYAYAN

President- India-UAE WICCI - Founder and Leadership Coach Vatt Vriksh Consultants

ASHOK PAMIDI

Start-up Evangelist and Advisor, Former CEO, NASSCOM Foundation

MADAN PADAKI

President, TiE Bangalore, Strategic Advisor UNICEF India, Founder & CEO - 1Bridge

SHASHAANK AWASTHI

Co-founder - V-shesh, Advisor - Gray Ghost Ventures

RAHUL GUPTA

Former Head, Financial Sponsors Coverage, Axis Bank Ltd

SUJIV NAIR

Global CHRO & CTO - RE Sustainability ltd.

Our SAGE Board

In the Indian cultural context, Sages are always identified with Long Beard living in Gurukuls.

Our DESI Sages do not have long beard nor they live in gurukuls. They however Possess LONG Years of experience soaked in diverse sectors & geographies.

They thrive in the VUCA World actively contributing to making the world a better & inclusive place.

Meet our SAGEs – our Strategic Advisory Group of Experts

KIRTHIGA REDDY
Former Facebook India Head & Softbank Vision Fund Director
SANTANU PAUL
Founder, CEO & Managing Director - TalentSprint
SHALINI KHANNA
Founder Director - NAB India - Centre for Blind Women & Disability Studies
MRIDULA SANKHYAYAN
President- India-UAE WICCI - Founder and Leadership Coach Vatt Vriksh Consultants
SUJIV NAIR
Global CHRO & CTO - RE Sustainability ltd.
MADHAVI PANDRANGI
Former Director - Price Waterhouse Coopers
ASHOK PAMIDI
Start-up Evangelist and Advisor, Former CEO, NASSCOM Foundation
MADAN PADAKI
President, TiE Bangalore, Strategic Advisor UNICEF India, Founder & CEO - 1Bridge
SHASHAANK AWASTHI
Co-founder - V-shesh, Advisor - Gray Ghost Ventures

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