Vidya Shah

Vidya Shah is a multifaceted personality of Indian origin. She is a singer, musician, social activist, and writer.Her full name is Vidya Subramanyam. Her family has a rich musical heritage, and she was drawn to the North Indian style of classical music early on. To pursue her passion for this genre of vocal music, she received training from renowned musicians such as Shanti Hiranand in Dadra, Thumri, and Ghazal, and Shubha Mudgal This famous Hindustani Classical singer, trained i >> Read More... in Khayal Gayaki. Under her Guru's tutelage, she gained a diverse repertoire of Sufi and Bhakti music while training in Khayal Gayaki. During her stay in a tribal area of Western Madhya Pradesh, she also explored tribal music and developed a passion for folk music. She is an accomplished classical singer in her own right.

Vidya Shah started her musical journey at the age of 12 by studying South Indian classical music. After performing in various concerts, Vidya Shah became known as a young Carnatic vocalist very soon. Vidya Shah has performed on various platforms, including TV, documentaries, radio, independent films, and international labels. She has worked with renowned artists and performed in prestigious events such as the Max Planck Institute in Berlin, Humboldt Forum, Kala Utsav in Singapore, and ICCR in Trinidad and Tobago. In The Last Mughal concert, she collaborated with William Dalrymple. In 2009, she organized a two-day exhibition and music concert titled 'Women on Record,' paying tribute to iconic female voices of the gramophone era by performing their music. In 2014, she directed the event once again.

She holds a position on the South Asia Foundation's cultural committee and was awarded the Pro Helvetia Residence in 2010 for her work as a writer and lyricist. In January 1991, Vidya Shah started her career in social work as a Programme Fellow with the Indo-German Social Service Program (IGSSS). She later worked as an activist with the Khedut Mazdoor Chetna Sanghatan, a trade union focused on the rights of agricultural laborers in the Jhabua District of Madhya Pradesh, India. She has also worked as a Research Officer with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). Paridhi Research is a women's organisation that focuses on sexual and reproductive health, including birth control options. Vidya Shah is a founding member of the organisation.

She has also worked as a consultant with various organizations, such as the UNIFEM, University of Wales, Centre for Development Studies, DFID, UK, UNDP, and the HIV and Development Office, South and South West Asia for Trafficking and Vulnerability of Women and Girls to HIV/AIDS in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh for the United Nations Research Institute of Social Development (UNRISD). She has held various positions such as Programme Co-ordinator with Naz Foundation (India) Trust and Director of Education in Breakthrough (A Human Rights Organization).

She currently holds the position of Program Director at the Centre for Media and Alternative Communication (CMAC), her husband's company. Vidya Shah has also published various papers and books on gender, HIV/AIDS, and other social issues. She has also released several musical albums, including Anja, Far From Home, and Hum Sab. She has worked on numerous creative projects, such as being a Creative Consultant for The World in the Balance for PBS and editing People Plus, a book on the lives of HIV-positive people for UNAIDS India. Vidya Shah is married to Parthiv Shah Bio coming soon... >> Read More... , a designer-photographer from Ahmedabad. They have two children, a son named Anant and a daughter named Antara.