Moving Tributes: 'Advaitha – A Symphony' 2026 Part 02

Transforming deep personal grief into an enduring public crusade, the HBA Foundation has made drowning prevention its defining mission.

To honor his legacy and catalyze public awareness, the Foundation hosted Advaitha – A Symphony at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi. The evening beautifully synthesized the power of the arts with a call for collective action.

A Musical Remembrace

Renowned Sufi vocalist Sonam Kalra and her ensemble delivered a deeply moving musical performance.

Grassroots Advocacy

Young theater artists staged an evocative nukkad natak (street play), dynamically illustrating water-related risks, critical safety precautions, and emergency rescue techniques.

HBA Foundation Renews Pledge for Nationwide Safety and Disaster Management Education

New Delhi | June 23, 2026— On the solemn occasion of the second remembrance anniversary of 18-year-old Advaitha Verma, the Hemant Bala Advaitha (HBA) Foundation has reaffirmed its core mission to build a resilient, safety-first generation. Through strategic advocacy and cultural outreach, the Foundation is stepping up its efforts to equip children across India with vital, life-saving disaster response and drowning prevention skills.

A Vision for Safer Schools and Empowered Youth

As part of its broader mandate to promote public safety, the HBA Foundation has pledged to work closely with government agencies, educational institutions, and civic stakeholders. The primary objective is to advocate for the formal integration of disaster management and life-saving training into school curricula.

This initiative aims to move beyond traditional academic learning, ensuring that children are practically empowered to protect themselves and their communities during crises. By embedding these skills into early education, HBA seeks to foster a lasting culture of responsibility, emergency preparedness, and community resilience.

HBA Foundation Renews Pledge

Event Gallery – 2026

Photos from Advaitha – A Symphony

Videos from Advaitha – A Symphony

Standing Together for Change

The commemorative event was attended by an array of distinguished leaders, policymakers, and cultural icons who lent their voices to HBA’s lifesaving advocacy:

Ms. Meira Kumar, Former Speaker of the Lok Sabha
Ms. Rashmi Singh, IAS
Padma Shri Dr. Shovana Narayan, Internationally acclaimed Kathak exponent
Ms. Sangeeta Gupta, Celebrated artist, poet, and cultural visionary
Mr. Rajendra Singh, Renowned environmentalist and the "Waterman of India"
Major General Karun Kumar Sinha (Retd.), Strategic and defense analyst
Mr. Rakesh Sharma, Veteran journalist

Our Shared Commitment

Through education, awareness, and relentless policy advocacy, the HBA Foundation and its supporters remain steadfast in their shared commitment:

“To ensure no more young lives are lost to preventable tragedies.”

Our Activities

VISIT TO PAWNA LAKE IN JULY 2023

Have fun, but be Safe

We are not saying don’t indulge in adventure. Youth is the best time to experiment with life. But you need to be careful, irrespective of negligence by the authorities that are supposed to prevent mishaps. We understand that your wings are new and you wish to fly high.

Our parents are our biggest support and more experienced so you will not hide from parents and speak out openly. May be their last minute advice, that may appear nagging to you, would act as a warning signal against dangers. We all want you to be safe. Success comes after a long struggle and this demands long life. Don’t cut it short.

When you go to bat in cricket you go in full gear to protect yourself. When you drive you wear seatbelts, when you ride a horse, you take full precautions against a likely fall. Should we not adopt the same attitude while going for other activities. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Safety Tips for Swimming

  • Always have safety measures in place.

  • Ensure life guards, life jackets, ropes, and other rescue measures. Anything can happen to your body while swimming such as stiff muscles etc.

  • Must not get into water if tides are there.

  • Don’t depend on the government since we are not a very sensitive society. Take your own measures. Lonavala water bodies are dangerous and many such deaths have been reported.

Sea is not for Swimming

  • Sea is not a place to swim but to enjoy the waves and nature. Don’t go deep under. Hold each other’s hands so that nobody is pulled by returning waters.

  • Stay informed. Check weather forecasts. Heed local warnings and guidelines.

Paragliding

  • When you go paragliding or river rafting or any such sports ask the organizer for the safety measures taken. Many times, the organizers are unaware of the safety measures.

  • An estimate says that around 38,000* people in India die of drowning every year.

  • Lonavala water bodies are dangerous and many such deaths have been reported.

*Source: The New India Express, 16 Dec 2023