NAVYA LANKADASU’S first visit to the MV Doulos Hope cruise ship was surreal.
She was a young girl at the time but the experience, she recalled, was unforgettable.
“I expected a typical ship but instead I found a vibrant community buzzing with activity,” Lankadasu told WMN in an interview on December 21.
“The book fair was teeming with visitors and the numerous events created an electric atmosphere. I was amazed by the ship’s ability to unite people from diverse backgrounds.”
The Doulos Hope is a former cruise ship which now operates as a floating library, owned by a German, faith-based charity.
In 2011, Lankadasu visited the Doulos’ much larger sister ship, the MV Logos Hope, and was again blown away by the experience.
“I felt a similar sense of wonder but with a fresh perspective. The ship’s newness and energetic young volunteers inspired me to consider joining the crew in the future.”
Today, at just 23, Lankadasu is the, a position she assumed in early September. She previously served as the ship’s media relations officer.
The ship, which houses the world’s largest floating book fair, docked at the Scarborough port in Tobago, on December 10 after visiting Barbados.
But the vessel is more than just a one-stop-shop for books.
Its crew comprises international volunteers who are dedicated to sharing a message of knowledge and hope with people all over the world.
The Logos Hope left Tobago on December 26 and is currently in Trinidad, where it is expected to stay until January 26, 2025.
As communications manager, Lankadasu oversees the ship’s internal and external communications. Aside from managing media relations, she also crafts and shares engaging stories, creating content to promote the ship’s activities and vision.
She is hoping to volunteer onboard the Logos Hope until February 2026.
Lankadasu was born in India, which she described as “small and culturally rich.” But her roots are actually from the southern region in a city called Telangana, also known as the City of Pearls.
The city, she said, is well-known for its rich food cuisine and Irani influence.
“We’re basically a city that loves and takes pride in our food culture.”
[caption id="attachment_1129398" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Nava Lankadasu, right, and two volunteers who wok on the MV Logos Hope. -[/caption]
Lankadasu was raised in Hyderabad but her parents come from two different states in South India. Her mother is originally from a state called Kerala, where its residents speak Malayalam while her father is from Andhra Pradesh, where Telugu is the native tongue.
“So growing up, my younger brother and I have learnt to speak both languages with our family apart from English and Hindi, which is our national language.”
Lankadasu has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, journalism and English literature. She also pursued a master’s degree in advertising and public relations in another southern Indian city, Bangalore.
After university, she interned for a year at the public relations agency, Shandwick, in Banga
