Sonali Ranade received this year's KBC Employee of the Year Award (photo: Madhusree Mitra).
At the beginning of this year, Sonali Ranade launched a laughter club at UPSC. The aim was to bring colleagues together to practise laughter yoga, helping to improve wellbeing and reduce stress. Now, her initiative has been recognised with the KBC Employee of the Year Award 2025.
The Chemical Biological Centre (KBC) introduced the KBC Employee of the Year Award in 2024. Anyone affiliated with KBC may nominate a colleague who has “made a meaningful contribution to improving the work environment at KBC”. This year, Sonali Ranade from UPSC received the award for her “enthusiasm” and “for bringing joy and laughter to the KBC workplace”. She was presented with the award during the KBC DAYS this week, an annual interdisciplinary conference organised by KBC.
“I was completely surprised and feel honoured and appreciated,” says Sonali Ranade. “I am thankful to my colleagues who nominated me and to the KBC Group Members to select me for this award. I started the laugher club to have a relaxed time and some fun time together. A big thanks to all those who join me every week to laugh and to UPSC for providing an environment that makes this possible.”
The concept of the laughter club is simple. Participants meet for half an hour on Thursday afternoons to laugh together. Between the laughter exercises which are performed without any humorous stimulus, Sonali Ranade leads short breathing exercises. The sessions are open to anyone who is interested. The only requirement for joining is to arrive with a smile.