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A Journey That Became Purpose

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A Journey That Became Purpose
By Sagar Kumar Jha

Some journeys don’t just build your career—they shape who you are. My time with the Nada India Foundation has been one of those journeys.

I joined as an intern, not fully aware of how deeply this experience would influence me. What began as a learning opportunity soon became a space where I understood the real meaning of public health, community connection, and grassroots impact.

Working on community profiling in Haryana taught me that public health is not just about data—it is about listening and understanding people’s realities. Leading a team of 30 peers for a tobacco cessation project further shaped my confidence and sense of responsibility.

One of the most meaningful parts of my journey was working closely with minors consuming tobacco and engaging with shopkeepers who sold these products. These interactions helped me understand how awareness gaps, social norms, and accessibility contribute to the problem.

This experience later shaped my academic work. My systematic review on second-hand and thirdhand smoke, published in the International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, highlights the urgent need for stronger awareness, smoke-free environments, and better integration of evidence into public health practice.

As Nada India Foundation completes 25 years, I feel grateful to have been a part of this journey. It will always remain a meaningful chapter in my life.

Beyond skills, Nada shaped me as a person—it made me more empathetic, grounded, and aware of the impact one can create.

From Lived Experience to Evidence

What makes Sagar’s journey remarkable is how it did not end in the field—it evolved into knowledge.

His recent systematic review, “Unveiling the Hidden Threats: Second-hand and Thirdhand Smoke’s Impact on Health,” published in the International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, reflects a shift from observation to articulation.

The research brings attention to thirdhand smoke (THS)—the toxic residue left on surfaces long after a cigarette is extinguished. An invisible risk, often overlooked, yet deeply harmful—especially for children.

His findings echo what he had already witnessed on the ground:

  • Protecting children requires smoke-free environments everywhere, not just partial restrictions.
  • Parents and caregivers need targeted awareness about the unseen dangers of THS.
  • Stronger policies, combined with social and economic understanding, are essential to prevent initiation and support quitting.
  • Public health systems must integrate THS evidence into clinical practice and tobacco control strategies.

This was not research in isolation.
It was research rooted in lived reality.

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