Scholar | Pavithra Prabhakar | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryIndian American scholar, Dr. Pavithra Prabhakar, is making waves in the field of AI and machine learning

Indian American scholar, Dr. Pavithra Prabhakar, is making waves in the field of AI and machine learning

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(February 19, 2023) “Mathematics,” they said, “is not for girls.” Proving the age-old idea wrong, Dr. Pavithra Prabhakar‘s research in the field of machine learning and artificial intelligence is helping the industry grow by leaps and bounds. Currently, the Peggy and Gary Edwards Chair in Engineering and Professor of computer science at Kansas State University, the scholar recently received the prestigious Amazon Research Award for designing a tool that highlights changes between different versions of machine learning software systems to minimise negative user experiences.

Scholar | Pavithra Prabhakar | Global Indian

Dr. Prabhakar, who is also the Programme Director at the National Science Foundation, USA, was one of the 74 recipients of the awards from Amazon, which also includes an unrestricted gift, access to more than 300 Amazon public datasets, and Amazon Web Services’ artificial intelligence and machine learning services and tools. “The broad objective of the project is to automatically characterise how much two versions of machine learning-based systems are similar or different,” the scholar shared with Global Indian while speaking about her research, adding, “These systems are regularly retrained to achieve superior performance; however, this does not often translate to a better user experience. This can be mitigated by equipping the design team with an automated tool that could highlight where and by how much the systems changed between different versions, thereby aiding the team in making decisions regarding the acceptability of the changes from a user experience perspective.”

Dr. Prabhakar’s proposed research will build on foundational concepts from process algebra and control theory to define mathematical notions of distance between different versions of machine learning systems and develop algorithms for outputting the similarity and dissimilarity between them. This automated tool will benefit design teams in making critical decisions about improving the user experience of machine learning-based intelligent software systems.

A math genius

A small-town girl, Dr. Prabhakar was an ambitious kid armed with a brilliant mind. Born and brought up in Hassan, Karnataka, the scholar was a meticulous student who loved solving numerical problems. “I have always been interested in maths, right from my childhood. I liked solving puzzles and anything math-oriented. I was always curious and excited about solving problems. So when it was time to choose a career, engineering seemed like the area where my passion for math could be pursued,” the scholar shares, adding, “After finishing school, I moved to National Institute of Technology, Warangal, where I pursued a National Institute of Technology Bachelor’s in Computer Science.”

Dr Prabhakar (second from left) with her parents and professors during her Ph.D. graduation ceremony

Soon after finishing her graduation, and still hungry for more knowledge, Dr. Prabhakar joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru to pursue her master’s in applied mathematics. In 2006, the scholar decided to move to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA for a Ph.D. in computer science. “I wanted to get more exposure, not just in the field of mathematics, but areas beyond that as well. So I decided to move to UIUC, which is one of the top schools for computer science,” she says.

Research and beyond…

Starting her journey from a small town, Dr. Prabhakar was now at one of the top universities in the USA – living her dream. Speaking about her initial experience in the US, the scholar reminiscences, “Honestly, academically speaking, IISc had a culture as UIUC in terms of being more flexible with their curriculum and facilitating more discussion-based lectures. So, that experience really helped me with absorbing some of the culture shocks when I landed in the USA. But, when you are in a different country, you have to deal with much more than just your academics. You have to find your own place to stay and arrange for everything including your food, clothes, etc. However, there are a lot of Indians who move here every year, so that was a great support system for me. Initially, my experience was a little bit daunting, but I think it didn’t take me long to integrate into the system.”

Dr Prabhakar with Keystone Research Scholars at Kansas State University

A driven individual, the scholar interned at Bell Labs, Murray Hill, while working on her doctorate, and followed that with a CMI postdoctoral fellowship for a year at the California Institute of Technology. “Apart from the research, I also wanted to explore the industrial aspect and learn how the work is done on-field. I think it’s very important to be in touch with the industry because you come to know about the real problems and can explore the practical solutions the industry can implement,” says the scholar. After completing her postdoctoral work, Dr. Prabhakar joined the IMDEA Software Institute in Spain as a tenure-track Assistant Research Professor and worked there for four years before joining Kansas State University as Assistant Professor in 2015.

Passing on the knowledge

Despite the industry experience, one wonders what motivated Dr. Prabhakar to return to academia? “Academic research is more foundational, and I have always enjoyed that,” shares the scholar, adding, “Academia is where you can do long-term research, which might not give you the returns immediately, but can help advance the knowledge and the field you work in. But that wasn’t my only reason. The prospect of passing on the knowledge I acquired over time to the upcoming generation of scholars has been quite lucrative as well. I have mentored the next generation of researchers and built the workforce to get into the industry.”

Over the last decade, Dr. Prabhakar has authored more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed conferences and journals. Her papers have been selected for a best paper honourable mention award from Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control, best papers of MEMOCODE, and invited papers at Allerton and American Control Conference. The scholar’s research has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award, and the Marie Curie Career Integration Grant from the European Union. In 2020, Dr. Prabhakar was awarded $450,000 from the National Science Foundation to work on artificial intelligence-based controllers in the three-year project, ‘Scalable Formal Verification of ANN Controlled Cyber-Physical Systems’.

Speaking about the future of AI and machine learning, the scholar quips, “It’s not a new fact that AI and machine learning is the next big thing and is already making transformational changes in society. But, we also need to be cautious. We are now witnessing machine learning being applied to a lot of safety-critical applications, for example, autonomous driving or robotic surgery. So, I think it is imperative that we take a step back and make sure that the systems we are building are going to work correctly. And that is what my area of research is all about – making the emerging technologies safe for everyone to use.”

Follow Dr. Pavithra Prabhakar on LinkedIn and her website

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7 Comments

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Francis John

July 28, 2023 2:20 am

Congratulations Pavithra,
we are proud of your achievements! Your parents are your first Gurus and no doubt you will achieve more!!

M V Sathyanarayana

July 28, 2023 5:18 am

Congratulations Dr. Pavitra, on your achievements. I am sure more achievements are on the way

Sharada

July 28, 2023 10:01 am

Hearty Congratulations Pavithra. Very very happy and proud to know about your achievements. Wishing you many many more to laurels to come your way.

Blessings for a wonderful future.

Ganesh Gowda M.V. 9886870086

July 28, 2023 10:45 am

Fantastic.carry on my child

prabhakar javli

July 28, 2023 10:09 pm

Great achievement, keep going Dr Pavitra Prabhakar

Dimple

July 30, 2023 10:04 am

It’s inspired many girls to read such articles, congratulations to you and your family

Jagadish H M

August 5, 2023 4:49 pm

Congratulations, keep it up All the best in your future endeavours

Published on 19, Feb 2023

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Make a Vish: There is no dull moment in British Indian crime fiction author Vish Dhamija’s life

(November 13, 2023) When someone as eloquent as Vish Dhamija talks about life and success — it sounds as dramatic as his books, connecting instantly with his audience, who walk out enlightened. For one, the author compares life with a balance sheet. “As on,” articulates Vish, signifies the company’s position on a particular day. Tomorrow is another day to start again. He even sees a similarity between marketing and storytelling — they only work if you engage the audience. Success? It’s just a mind game. “I can guarantee that the world’s best product, and the best story ever written would both fail if they fail or ignore to involve the audience,” smiles British-Indian crime fiction author Vish Dhamija, as he settles down for an exclusive with Global Indian. From the corporate world to a writer to an entrepreneur and an articulate speaker, Vish’s life trajectory is as gripping as it can get. “Growing up, I wanted to become many things, but becoming a writer wasn’t one of them,” smiles Vish, who is known to be one among the top 10 most popular thriller authors. Books first “The idea to write a story had been there since the early 2000s. It

life trajectory is as gripping as it can get. “Growing up, I wanted to become many things, but becoming a writer wasn’t one of them,” smiles Vish, who is known to be one among the top 10 most popular thriller authors.

Books first

“The idea to write a story had been there since the early 2000s. It was in my bucket list. Once my first book — Nothing Lasts Forever — was published (in 2010), I thought that was it,” says Vish, the only writer of the Indian origin listed among the major legal thriller authors of the world.

The book went on to become a National Bestseller within six months of its release, and readers started writing to the author, asking for more stories. He then wrote his second book — Bhendi Bazaar — after a hiatus of four years. The book spent over a year in India's Top 100 list for 'Crime, Thriller, and Mystery', and has been noted for its ingenious plot and rich characters. “Since then, I’ve been fairly regular and now looking forward to my 12th book next year.”

Author | Vish Dhamija | Global Indian

His other books — Doosra – The Other One, Nothing Else Matters, Unlawful Justice, The Mogul, Cold Justice — among others were best sellers. So what goes into writing a gripping crime fiction? “I spend a lot of time in building compelling characters. They are the ones who tell the story, and they can make it or break it. No one wants to read a story if the characters don’t resonate with them,” the author explains.

That said, a good author, says Vish, should hook the readers from the start — create conflicts, introduce moral dilemmas, play with emotions, focus on strong dialogues, and provide vivid descriptions for the readers to visualise the scene like though they are there, to immerse them in the narrative. “However, all this will only work if there is a great plot, enough twists, and curveballs, keeping in mind never to drop the pace. The narrative must not get sluggish.”

His favourite

Vish loves all of his books equally but ask him to pick a favourite, he goes with says Déjà Karma, his third book and first legal and psychological thriller, launched in 2015. “I love this book for personal reasons. I love Jay Singh and his complex life story. It is closely followed by all the adventures of Rita Ferreira,” he says of the best seller, which was republished by Pan Macmillan India in 2023. On an average, it takes him about eight months to write the first draft. “Then the revisions and the editing and re-editing, so it takes almost a year to complete the book,” the author informs.

The Rajasthani

Born in Ajmer, Rajasthan, Vish completed his schooling from St Anselm’s. Throughout his school, Vish was active in dramatics and debates “I still love good friendly arguments irrespective of the subject,” points out the Multi-faceted Vish, who was the House Captain and then the President of the Literary Society at St Anselm’s. He used to write regularly for the school magazine. “I also wrote short stories when I was younger, which my father used to correct. The stories made little sense, but they cultivated the passion of writing in me,” recalls Vish, who likes to describe himself as creative but impulsive.

Author | Vish Dhamija | Global Indian

Academically, he says, he wasn’t a topper, but wasn’t a laggard either. “At college too, I continued with dramatics, debating and cricket. I picked up badminton, tennis and squash later before graduating to golf.”

In corporate world

Vish ended up studying Business Administration and joined the corporate world. In a career spanning almost two decades, he worked in marketing and retailing for global brands like Ford, Kodak and United Colors of Benetton. His work took him to Jaipur, Delhi, Chennai, Jamnagar and Mumbai before moving to Manchester, UK for higher education. He completed his MBA in Marketing and Strategy from Alliance Manchester Business School.

Author | Vish Dhamija | Global Indian

“I believe that no experience is ever wasted. Agreed, there is no direct correlation between the business world and storytelling, but as an author I like to observe people,” says the renowned author she spends his time between UK and India. In the years that he worked in the corporate world, he got the opportunities to interact with people from all walks of life from several countries. “I heard their personal stories, understood their motivations. All of that reflects in my characters,” the author points out.

Not a method writer

Ask him if he agrees to the general perception that those who write crime fiction or psychological thrillers tend to imagine themselves in those kind of situations in real life, Vish says he is not a method writer and so does not immerse himself in the narrative. “As mentioned, I spend a lot of time in building my characters, and I see the story through their eyes and experience. Yes, the plotline is developed by me, but it is delivered to the readers through the characters,” the author says, adding he writes solely for the purpose of entertainment and wants his readers to read his work as purely fictional. He says his family members too enjoy reading his books. “There are dark scenes, but my family members understand that my books are not me. Most of my family members read my books and enjoy them in the right spirit—or so they tell me.”

Coming next

His next book is psychological thriller, a story of a conman who exists on the periphery. “But when a card game goes horribly wrong, he takes the fall and goes to prison. He soon realises he’s been tricked. Out of prison, with the help of his girlfriend and two friends, he sets up a long con to get even with those who double-crossed him,” says Vish about the plot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psQNdfYQ6Lc

Pan Macmillan would be publishing the book middle of next year. “Also, I have a short Rita Ferreira story being published by Hachette India in an Anthology of Indian Detective Fiction, which should be out in January next year,” informs the author, who is married to Nidhi Singh, the great grand daughter of Raja Mahendra Pratap.

Favourite authors

“I love all crime fiction from India, but I won’t mention any names since most of the current Indian authors are personal friends,” he declares. His two personal favourites from the previous generation are Lawrence Sanders and James Ellroy. “Today, I love Michael Connelly, Jonathan Kellerman, Scott Turow, Lee Child, John Grisham, the list is endless. I like how these authors engage you like they aren’t telling you a story, but taking you on a journey with them, introducing you to new people, showing you new places,” smiles the author.

Does he watch or read a lot of crime fiction? “I do. I only read crime fiction, and I watch a lot of crime films and shows OTT,” says Vish, who believes that most people started reading crime fiction before we knew it—all the Phantom and Mandrake and Tarzan and Tintin comics. “So when I sat down to write my first book, it was inadvertently crime fiction.”

Author | Vish Dhamija | Global Indian

A public speaker, Vish also runs a nursery school. He says public speaking is more for corporates where he likes to share his experiences (from corporate life to writing to being an entrepreneur). “I acquired the Nursery School thinking I wouldn’t get involved much in the day-to-day running, but I have fallen in love with the school. It’s my pride and joy,” says the author, who sees himself as a custodian of the place and not the CEO.

The golfer

Vish is an avid golfer. “I am not very good at it, but I love it nevertheless. I played 64 times in last twelve months, so that is a lot of time at the course,” he informs. When he was younger, Vish would play guitar but not anymore. “But I love music. Jazz and Rock and Classic and Kishore Kumar are my favourites,” says the author, who reads about 40-50 books a year, mostly crime fiction.

Follow Vish Dhamija on LinkedIn and his website

Reading Time: 7 mins

Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan: From first Amul baby to her mom’s biographer

(June 30, 2023) “My family’s association with the Amul brand is intensely personal,” wrote Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament in one of his gripping articles. Elaborating on the association he shared, “Way back in 1961, Amul’s advertising agency, ASP (Advertising & Sales Promotion Ltd), was looking for a baby to front their milk powder in a first-of-its-kind ad campaign. They went through hundreds of pictures of babies – 712, to be exact – until ASP’s creative head, Sylvester da Cunha, asked my father, his friend and Secretary of the Advertising Club of Bombay: “you have a baby too, don’t you? Mind if you show me a picture?” Shashi Tharoor reminisced talking about how his sister Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan became a model when she was just 10-months-old. Senior Tharoor shared Shobha’s picture with Sylvester da Cunha and the rest is history. “My sister Shobha became the first-ever Amul baby,” remarked the proud brother, who is known for his gift for words. No less of a wordsmith herself, Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan is a celebrated children’s book author and has churned several books for top publishing houses in India and the US. She brought her mother into limelight when Penguin launched her first

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No less of a wordsmith herself, Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan is a celebrated children’s book author and has churned several books for top publishing houses in India and the US. She brought her mother into limelight when Penguin launched her first book outside her world of children’s literature - a biography on her mother, Lily Tharoor.

[caption id="attachment_40898" align="aligncenter" width="535"] Indian Author | Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan | Global Indian Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan[/caption]

Good Innings: The Extraordinary, Ordinary Life of Lily Tharoor, has received rave reviews and garnered immense curiosity among readers to get a peek into the life of the Tharoors. “This story is definitely a tribute to my mother, but it’s not just that. It’s a tribute to all you women, your mothers, our mothers, our grandmothers, our sisters who hold up our part of the sky,” remarked Shobha at a literary event in Kolkata.

The California-based author is also a poet, translator, editor and has been a former non-profit development professional spending two decades as an advocate and fundraiser for persons with disabilities. A celebrated voice-over talent, she received the National Award for best narration / voice over for the film Rhapsody of Rains: Monsoons of Kerala at the 68th National Film Awards ceremony by President Droupadi Murmu in 2022.

Coming out of comfort zone

When Penguin approached Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan with a request to pen a biography on her mother, she was hesitant. Undoubtedly, her well-travelled mother has lived a remarkable life motivating her children (Shashi Tharoor, Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan and Smita Tharoor) to think out of the box and reach their maximum potential, but ‘would we like to put all that in a book’ she wondered.

The fiercely self-dependant octogenarian, Lily Tharoor is a strong matriarch who believes that ‘the only ground that is stable enough to stand on is the one created by your own hand’. She has had her own share of tragedies, travails and triumphs, but Shobha was unsure to document those.

However, Penguin was persistent. Looking at the journey of the feisty octogenarian who renewed her driving license at 82, and was forthcoming enough to support her son atop the election campaign vehicles, had raised an interest in them to chronicle her life. Finally, Shobha gave in to their request encouraged by her brother who later wrote the foreword of the book.

[caption id="attachment_40901" align="aligncenter" width="863"] Indian Author | Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan | Global Indian Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan with her siblings Smita Tharoor and Shashi Tharoor[/caption]

“When I presented the book to my mother, she said, why you have written a book on me. What have I done that needs a book? You should’ve have written about your brother,” shared Shobha.

The author knew that there are many people who could write a book on Shashi Tharoor as he is a public figure but Lily Tharoor’s story could only be written by her children who have seen the marvels of the lady and her amazing everyday story unfolding before their eyes.

“My mother thought it was criminal not to live up to our full potential,” Shobha shared and used the book as an opportunity to inspire younger generation to ‘grow and act’.

Storyteller’s voice matters

“I have been a ‘storyteller’ and communicator all my adult life writes Shobha on her website. In both India and the United States, Shobha’s voice has been used in documentaries, advertisements, corporate training manuals, stage productions, travelogues, educational and journalistic projects, and audio books.

Before becoming a voice over talent, the Global Indian spent two decades in the non-profit sector serving people with disabilities as a grant writer. Even as a grant writer, she utilised the power of words and stories to attract funders to programs they wished to support.

[caption id="attachment_40910" align="aligncenter" width="601"] Indian Author | Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan | Global Indian Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan receiving award from President Droupadi Murmu[/caption]

“I take this same love of words to my writing and voice career,” she shared. As the voice over talent with a natural and elegant speaking style and a global accent, Shobha has been the perfect choice for Silicon Valley companies looking for a voice to showcase their products and for their training manuals. While her books are part of some of the school curricula.

Shobha has a home studio in Campbell, California from where she delivers many of her voice-over assignments for all types of media - from individuals to small businesses to large broadcasting organisations.

Miss Calcutta’s journey of life

Raised with the awareness of their Kerala heritage, Shobha spent the early years of her life in many places. “I was the responsible middle child with an overachieving older brother and a mischievous, younger sister so my childhood was full of learning and fun,” she said in one of the interviews. “We were diasporic Malayalees as my parents had lived from a young age away from their roots in Kerala, including abroad in London,” she remarked.

From a very young age, Shobha had developed an immense love for literature and acted in Shakespeare and Osborne plays during a pan-Indian childhood, without missing summer vacation in Kerala every year. “We were raised to be as comfortable eating with our fingers on a plantain leaf as we were dining at the table with appropriate cutlery,” she shared.

[caption id="attachment_40903" align="aligncenter" width="730"] Indian Author | Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan | Global Indian Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan with her parents and siblings when they were young[/caption]

During her teenage years the family was living in Kolkata. Her mother always encouraged Shobha and her siblings to make every minute count by delving in not just academics but a wide array of activities - dramatic arts to tennis to French classes. When Miss Calcutta contest happened, she sent both her daughters – Shobha and Smita to participate with the intuitive wisdom that they would be able to fair well. And, she was right, While Shobha got crowned as Miss Calcutta, her younger sister ended up being the first runner up.

After leading a protected teenage life in Calcutta, Shobha moved to the US for higher studies. Starting from her bachelor’s studies there she went on to complete her master’s in English at Syracuse University. It was during those days that she met the guy who would be her husband, married him and settled in California. It has been four decades since then. Regular visits to India for work and family commitments continues. The multi-talented author and voiceover artist considers herself more of a ‘global citizen than an Indian or Indian-American'.

From the Archives:

[caption id="attachment_40904" align="alignnone" width="355"] Indian Author | Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan | Global Indian Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan as the first Amul baby[/caption]

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How educator Dr. Neeli Bendapudi is empowering changemakers of tomorrow

(May 16, 2023) Even as a young child, living in Vishakapatnam, the seaside city of Andhra Pradesh back in the early 60s, Dr. Neeli Bendapudi had just one dream - that of becoming a world-class educator. As the eldest of three daughters in a family battling poverty, she witnessed the collective efforts of her extended family to send her father to the United States for a doctorate in English literature at the University of Kansas. The preciousness of this opportunity was not lost on the young educator. Defying all the odds that came her way, Dr. Bendapudi became the first woman and the first non-white person to lead the Pennsylvania State University in 2022. The educator, who values nothing more than her students and their future, brings to the table a wealth of life experiences and a strong set of values that will shape her priorities as a leader. "To me, for anyone in this job, students have to come first. We've got to focus on our students and student success," The Global Indian educator said in an interview, adding, "I want to make sure that every student, no matter who they are, when we say 'We Are', they know

a strong set of values that will shape her priorities as a leader. "To me, for anyone in this job, students have to come first. We've got to focus on our students and student success," The Global Indian educator said in an interview, adding, "I want to make sure that every student, no matter who they are, when we say 'We Are', they know that they are part of the 'We'."

The power of education

Dr. Bendapudi's childhood in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh was marked by her family's hardship. The educator called herself a “living testament to the transformative power of higher education.” Before her family came to the United States from India, she said, "We never had running water, or the confidence that you could just turn on a switch and there would be electricity. These things, no question in my mind, are in my life because of higher education. It's really a mission, a goal, a challenge, an opportunity to create those opportunities for the next generation."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOSwOstNOYk

During her father's four-year stay in the United States, their connection was largely confined to infrequent letters and a telephone call every few months made from the home of a neighbour, who had a phone. Despite her tender age, the educator distinctly recalls the difficulty of being separated from her father, while simultaneously recognising the significance of his endeavours. "In India, the family as a unit is super important, and the idea was, ‘We need to make a better life for the entire family'," she said in an interview. "It was drilled into me, all the sacrifices that go into getting higher education, because it’s not just about you, it’s about the extended family. My father came back after four years with a Ph.D., and it changed the trajectory of our family’s lives. So I decided at a very early age that higher education would be my path," Dr Bendapudi added.

After finishing her schooling, the educator acquired her undergraduate degree in English and her MBA from Andhra University in India, where her father held a professorship. It was during these years that she encountered and tied the knot with Venkat Bendapudi, now her spouse for 38 years. Both decided to chase their doctorate degrees in the United States and after being courted by numerous universities, they opted to enroll in her father's alma mater, the University of Kansas.

Educator | Dr. Neeli Bendapudi | Global India

Following her steps, her two sisters also pursued their higher education at the same university. Eventually, even Bendapudi's mother undertook the journey of academia and achieved her doctoral degree. Sharing that her mother was the inspiration behind all her achievements, the educator said, "My mom is really a hero. While we were all in school, she also got her Ph.D. Having three small children, she didn’t get to do it when everybody else did, but she knew the importance of higher education."

The world of opportunities

Dr Neeli Bendapudi came to the US with one major goal - to become an educator. And her choices were again steered by her upbringing in India, having personally witnessed the transformation that occurred when Indian markets embraced competition, stopping monopolies from restricting affordability and accessibility for the less affluent consumers.

In 1994, the educator achieved her doctorate in marketing with a focus on consumer behavior. She began her academic career at Texas A&M, proceeded to instruct at Ohio State University, and eventually rejoined the University of Kansas in the roles of Business School Dean, then Provost, and Executive Vice Chancellor. "What I truly believe is that competition and free markets help everybody. Watching that transition — I wanted to study that. Marketing became something that fascinated me," the educator said. In 2005, Dr. Bendapudi earned her American citizenship. "That’s something my father instilled in me as well—this reverence and gratitude to this country. I hope all young people in this country get to watch a naturalisation ceremony. They won the genetic lottery by being born in this country."

Educator | Dr. Neeli Bendapudi | Global India

The educator warmly remembers the honor of being asked to deliver a speech at the naturalization ceremony where her parents obtained their citizenship in 2011. During her speech, she referred to the United States as "the most extraordinary nation on the planet," challenging the attendees with the words, "I invite you to mention a single other nation that has such long waiting lists of people yearning to identify themselves as its citizens."

[caption id="attachment_38725" align="aligncenter" width="673"] Educator | Dr. Neeli Bendapudi | Global Indian President Neeli Bendapudi and her husband, Venkat, with their 14-month-old grandson, Arjun[/caption]

After working at Kansas University for about two decades, Dr. Bendapudi took on the role of President at the University of Louisville, in 2018. Throughout her journey, she held the position of executive vice president at Huntington Bank for several years, and she has also spent significant time consulting outside the academic sphere, working with entities such as AIG, Procter & Gamble, Deloitte, and the U.S. Army. "I’m very proud of that background. I knew I wanted to be a professor that could talk about how this applied in the real world," the educator said, adding, "To me, you would not want to be taught medicine by a doctor who said, ‘I’ve never seen the heart, but I’ve read the book.’ Likewise, when teaching business, I did not want to be a professor that said, ‘I’ve never done it.’ Not just teaching in the abstract, but connecting and working side-by-side with business people was important to me."

Rising to the top

Dr. Bendapudi officially stepped into her role as the 19th president of Penn State on May 9, 2023. Although she has spent the preceding months working intensively with former President Eric Barron, along with various administrators and trustees to grasp the intricacies of this expansive University, the educator is also lean on a broad spectrum of personal experiences that have equipped her for this fresh responsibility.

As the educator assumed the leadership at Penn State, her interpretation of the University's mandate is crystal clear: "Enhancing lives by producing and spreading knowledge." To achieve this mission, she has established an articulated set of objectives. Her emphasis on students is far from mere rhetoric. Her genuine concern is observable in the way she interacts with them. At a Penn State men's ice hockey match in January, she made a special effort to personally meet some of the students present, inquiring about their fields of study and their experiences with authentic curiosity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnDaJl-Jw_Y

"The truth is, when I interact with every single student, I cannot help thinking about the potential. You never know what this person is going to go on and do, and what this education is going to mean for that individual. So I love talking to students. My second big focus will be on faculty and staff—making sure we support our faculty and staff, that we are competitive, that we attract them and retain them," she said during her speech at the event, adding, "My goal is to continue to foster that sense of belonging for every student, employee, and alumni, and help them find a way to make this special place their own."

Follow Dr. Neeli Bendapudi on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook

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The TIME AI Vanguard: 6 Indian innovators redefining the future of artificial intelligence

(November 25, 2024) Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most transformative forces of our time, reshaping industries, redefining creativity, and influencing global policy. In 2024, TIME magazine recognized the individuals steering this revolution with its "100 Most Influential People in AI" list. Familiar names like Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, continue to dominate global conversations about AI. But this year’s list also sheds light on a host of other Indian innovators making profound, yet often understated, impacts on the field. Global Indian puts the spotlight on the Indians who form the vanguard of AI tech, making their mark in unconventional ways. From policymakers like Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is putting India at the forefront of AI development, to pioneers like Anil Kapoor, addressing ethical challenges in entertainment, the breadth of Indian contributions is vast. Innovators such as Rohit Prasad of Amazon and Aravind Srinivas of Perplexity are redefining how AI interacts with everyday life, while thought leaders like Amandeep Singh Gill and Divya Siddharth are ensuring the technology is guided by principles of fairness and inclusion. Ashwini Vaishnaw: Architect of India's AI Revolution [caption id="attachment_60575" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Ashwini Vaishnaw. Minister for Railways, lnformation

img class="size-full wp-image-60575" src="https://stage.globalindian.com//wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CJv4vGmN9WDeNndhwSWF.webp" alt="Ashwini Vaishnaw | Time 100 AI 2024 | Global Indian" width="640" height="360" /> Ashwini Vaishnaw. Minister for Railways, lnformation and Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India.[/caption]

Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, is spearheading the country’s ambitious plans to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. His tenure has been marked by a strategic focus on innovation, skill development, and democratization of AI technology.

At the heart of these efforts is India’s AI Mission, which Vaishnaw describes as a collaboration between “industry, government, and academia.” In partnership with Meta, the government launched the Center for Generative AI at IIT Jodhpur and introduced the YuvAI Initiative to train 100,000 students in large language models (LLMs). “Our AI mission is advancing with strong collaborations,” Vaishnaw said after meeting Meta’s AI Chief Scientist Yann LeCun. These programs aim to bridge the talent gap while fostering ethical AI innovation.

A defining feature of Vaishnaw’s approach is the democratization of technology. India’s public AI platform, featuring computing power equivalent to 10,000 GPUs and high-quality datasets, is designed to make cutting-edge resources accessible to startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs. “The government invests in the platform, and everybody becomes a part of it,” he stated, likening this to India’s digital public infrastructure strategy.

Vaishnaw’s leadership also extends to international diplomacy, particularly as India chairs the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI). At the Global IndiaAI Summit 2024, he remarked, “AI can solve many problems simultaneously, but we must contain its risks. The solution must come through a global thought process.”

With Vaishnaw at the helm, India is steadily positioning itself as a global leader in ethical and innovative AI.

Anil Kapoor: A Landmark Victory for Personality Rights in the AI Era

Anil Kapoor | Time 100 AI 2024 | Influential People in AI | Global Indian

In a list often dominated by technologists and policymakers, Anil Kapoor’s inclusion in TIME’s "100 Most Influential People in AI 2024" is both unconventional and highly significant. As one of India’s most celebrated actors, Kapoor has taken on an expected new role as a crusader for ethical AI practices in the entertainment industry. His recent legal victory against unauthorized AI usage of his likeness has not only secured his own rights but also set a precedent for others in the creative field.

In September 2023, Kapoor filed a lawsuit to prevent the misuse of his name, image, voice, and other personality traits by 16 entities that had used them without permission for commercial purposes. The Delhi High Court’s interim order, widely regarded as a landmark judgment, restrained these platforms from profiting off his identity without consent. Speaking about the case, Kapoor remarked, “My personality is my life’s work, and I’ve worked hard to build it. With this lawsuit, I’m seeking protection of my personality rights to prevent their misuse, particularly in the current scenario with rapid changes in technology and tools like artificial intelligence.”

Kapoor’s victory is being hailed globally, with Variety describing it as a “landmark judgement against AI.” Reflecting on the court’s decision, Kapoor said, “Justice must, and does, prevail. I’m very happy with this court order, which has come in my favor, and I think it’s very progressive—not only for me but for other actors as well.”

Rohit Prasad: Transforming AI Through Voice and Vision

[caption id="attachment_60577" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Rohit Prasad | Time 100 AI 2024 | Influential People in AI | Global Indian Rohit Prasad, the brains behind Alexa and the vanguard of AI at Amazon[/caption]

Rohit Prasad, Amazon’s Senior Vice President and Head Scientist of Alexa AI, stands at the forefront of voice technology and artificial intelligence innovation. As the architect behind Alexa, Prasad revolutionized how millions interact with technology daily, embedding AI seamlessly into everyday lives. Now, he leads Amazon’s charge to reclaim its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving generative AI landscape.

Born in India and inspired by science fiction classics like Star Trek, Prasad’s fascination with AI began early. He pursued his undergraduate degree at BIT Mesra, Ranchi, before moving to the United States to earn a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. Reflecting on his academic journey, Prasad credits his mentor for shaping his practical approach to AI. “It’s not just about having the best algorithm,” he says, “but proving it works in real-world settings. That preparation—to make inventions matter in the real world—was invaluable.”

Prasad spearheaded Alexa’s natural language capabilities, redefining human-machine interactions. “We dreamed of making computers respond like a Star Trek computer, and Alexa brought that to life,” he has said.

The rise of generative AI, however, introduced new challenges. As competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT surged ahead, Amazon tasked Prasad with revamping its AI strategy. Leading the development of Titan and Olympus, Amazon’s latest large language models, Prasad is integrating generative AI across Alexa and Amazon’s ecosystem, from smart-home devices to AWS cloud services.

Aravind Srinivas: Disrupting Search with AI Innovation

[caption id="attachment_60578" align="aligncenter" width="691"] Aravind Srinivas | Perplexity AI | Time 100 AI 2024 | Global Indian Aravind Srinivas, founder, Perplexity[/caption]

Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, represents the new wave of entrepreneurs who are blending technical excellence with disruptive ambitions in artificial intelligence. At just 30, Srinivas has steered Perplexity into the Unicorn club, raising its valuation to over $1 billion and challenging industry titans like Google in the AI-driven search space.

Born in India, Srinivas’s journey into AI began during his undergraduate studies at IIT Madras. Despite starting in electrical engineering, he credits his mentors and friends in computer science for introducing him to the nascent field of machine learning. “If I hadn’t been at IIT Madras, I might never have ended up in AI,” Srinivas reflects. From there, he went on to complete his doctoral studies at UC Berkeley.

In 2021, he briefly worked at OpenAI before co-founding Perplexity AI in 2022. Perplexity’s “answer engine” aims to reshape search by delivering concise, AI-generated answers with linked citations, rather than traditional search results. “Google doesn’t want to replace its business model with lower-margin AI search,” he says.

While Perplexity has gained tens of millions of users and processes over 230 million queries monthly, it has not been without controversy. The company has faced accusations of plagiarism from outlets like Forbes and Condé Nast, leading to legal threats and public criticism. “Perplexity Pages had some rough edges,” Srinivas admitted, as the company revamped its citation practices and rolled out a revenue-sharing model for publishers. Despite these challenges, Perplexity’s growth continues, fueled by innovative features like its Pro service, which integrates third-party models like OpenAI’s GPT-4.

Amandeep Singh Gill: Guiding AI Ethics on a Global Scale

[caption id="attachment_60579" align="aligncenter" width="783"] Amandeep Gill | Time 100 AI 2024 | Influential People in AI | Global Indian Amandeep Gill, United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology[/caption]

As the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, Amandeep Singh Gill plays a pivotal role in shaping the ethical and equitable use of artificial intelligence worldwide. With a background in diplomacy and technology policy, Gill’s work emphasizes international cooperation to ensure AI benefits humanity while mitigating its risks.

Gill’s vision for AI governance balances innovation with safeguards. “AI must be a tool for inclusivity and sustainability, not a driver of division,” he said at a recent global summit. Under his leadership, initiatives such as the Global Digital Compact aim to establish guidelines for responsible AI development. Gill has also championed collaborations through platforms like the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), where he facilitates dialogues between nations, researchers, and industries.

One of Gill’s key priorities is addressing the ethical implications of AI in areas such as privacy, misinformation, and economic disparities. He has consistently called for AI regulations that protect vulnerable populations while fostering innovation. “The risks posed by AI can only be tackled through collective global action,” he believes.

Divya Siddharth: Redefining AI Governance Through Collective Intelligence

[caption id="attachment_60580" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Divya Siddharth | Time 100 AI 2024 | Influential People in AI | Global Indian Divya Siddharth[/caption]

For Divya Siddharth, AI is more than a transformative technology—it’s an opportunity to reimagine how societies govern and collaborate. As the co-founder of the Collective Intelligence Project (CIP), Siddharth has dedicated her work to ensuring that transformative technologies like AI are shaped by and for the collective good, rather than being monopolized by a few powerful entities.

“The world can be transactional and cruel,” Siddharth acknowledges, but she believes in countering this through collective intelligence—systems that “bring out the best and cancel out the worst.” In collaboration with AI company Anthropic, Siddharth and her team ran an “alignment assembly,” engaging 1,000 everyday people to define the values an ideal AI assistant should uphold. Their input not only reduced bias in Anthropic’s chatbot Claude but also introduced principles, like ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, that were later integrated into the live product.

Siddharth’s belief in democracy as a solution, not a problem, stems from a diverse career spanning global AI governance initiatives and grassroots efforts. In a recent TED Talk, she argued, “We’ve gotten used to seeing democracy as a problem to be solved, but I see it as a cutting-edge social technology.” Her work has ranged from addressing data rights to guiding AI governance in collaboration with policymakers in India, the U.S., and the U.K. During her tenure at the U.K.’s AI Safety Institute, Siddharth established programs for public input on AI risks, ensuring that ordinary voices help shape regulatory frameworks.

“Tech expands what we are capable of,” she says. “Democracy is how we decide what to do with that capability.”

These six innovators are proof that AI is not just about machines or algorithms—it’s about people, decisions, and values. Whether through policy, ethics, or technology, they are shaping a future where AI serves society in meaningful ways.

Ruskin Bond: The British descent author whom India loves too much

(October 12, 2022) The eminent contemporary Indian author of British descent, Ruskin Bond is one of India’s most-loved authors. The 88-year-old has been prolific for decades, writing mainly for children but also for adults. For his illustrious work in literature, he has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi award (1992), Padma Shri (1999) and Padma Bhushan (2014). Many of this celebrated author’s works are part of Indian school curriculum. Generations have grown up reading his books. [caption id="attachment_30483" align="alignnone" width="1057"] Ruskin Bond, one of the most loved authors of India[/caption] In his latest work, A Little Book of India: Celebrating 75 years of Independence, the acclaimed author pays homage to the country that has been his home. In the books introduction, he writes: I have dwelt on the highlights of the last 75 years of India’s progress to maturity as a nation. It is a record of some of my memories and impressions of this unique land — of its rivers and forests, literature and culture, sights, sounds and colours — an amalgamation of the physical and spiritual. Born in 1934, in Kasauli, British India, Ruskin Bond is the son of an Anglo-Indian mother, Aubrey Bond, and British father, Edith

have dwelt on the highlights of the last 75 years of India’s progress to maturity as a nation. It is a record of some of my memories and impressions of this unique land — of its rivers and forests, literature and culture, sights, sounds and colours — an amalgamation of the physical and spiritual.

Born in 1934, in Kasauli, British India, Ruskin Bond is the son of an Anglo-Indian mother, Aubrey Bond, and British father, Edith Clarke, who taught English to the princesses of Jamnagar Palace. Ruskin and his sister Ellen lived there till he was six. Later, his father joined the Royal Air Force, and little Ruskin got an opportunity to travel to different places soaking in the diversity of people and their behaviours.

[caption id="attachment_30508" align="aligncenter" width="773"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Ruskin Bond calls the dictionary his favourite book[/caption]

Huge impact of personal experiences

Unhappy experiences at an early age had a deep impact on the author. He was just eight when his parents separated and his mother left him to marry someone else. In the absence of love from his mother, he became emotionally distant from her and this resulted in a very complex mother-son relationship. However, his father’s undivided attention helped him grow as a mindful child.

[caption id="attachment_30484" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Little Ruskin Bond[/caption]

Little Ruskin faced another tragedy with the untimely demise of his father in a war. Heartbroken, the 10-year-old moved to Dehradun to be with his mother, step father and grandmother. He was sent to Bishop Cotton School, Shimla from where he passed out in 1951. That year, he wrote one of his first short stories, ‘Untouchable’. Ruskin won several writing competitions in school, including the Hailey Literature Prize and the Irwin Divinity Prize. In 1952, he moved to England and stayed with his aunt for four years.

[caption id="attachment_30491" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Busy at work[/caption]

Ruskin learned to cope with his difficult childhood by expressing himself on paper. He was also a voracious reader, a habit inculcated in him by his father. However, despite a lonely childhood, he grew up to be an optimistic human being, which is evident in all his works. Since writing came naturally to him, he became an earnest writer just as his father had hoped.

Life in London

It was in London that Ruskin began writing his first novel, ‘The Room on the Roof’. It is about the life of Rusty, an orphaned Anglo-Indian teenager, a character inspired by his own life. He poured his heart out in the novel, portraying distinct experiences of his life, like living in a small rented room on the roof in a house in Dehradun. It was published in 1956. It fetched Ruskin the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial prize (meant for British Commonwealth writers under 30) in 1957. Basking in his newfound success, he wrote its sequel, ‘Vagrants in the Valley’. Apart from writing he did several other odd jobs to make a living in London.

[caption id="attachment_30486" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Ruskin Bond in his youth[/caption]

Back to where heart belonged

The yearning for India was too strong. At the end of his four-year stay, Ruskin returned to India and worked as a journalist in Delhi and Dehradun for some years. Later, he relocated to Mussoorie in 1963, a town in the foothills of Himalayas, working as a freelance writer for The Pioneer, The Leader, The Tribune and The Telegraph. Gradually he shifted his focus to short stories, essays, novels, memoirs and poems.

[caption id="attachment_30488" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Ruskin Bond with his cat Cleopatra[/caption]

In the 1980s Penguin established its operations in India and approached him to write books. There was no looking back for the author after that, who became known for stories that were simple but immensely powerful.

Such is the best-selling author’s love for writing that in one of his interviews he said:

If I were not a professional writer who was getting published, I would still write.

Connection between India and Ruskin Bond

In his essay, "Scenes from a Writer's Life", Ruskin has emphasized his Indian identity, "Race did not make me one (an Indian). Religion did not make me one. But history did. And in the long run, it's history that counts.”

[caption id="attachment_30480" align="aligncenter" width="526"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Ruskin Bond in his childhood with his sister Elle[/caption]

Since 1963 Ruskin Bond has been staying in Mussoorie with his adopted family. His sister Elle who lived in Ludhiana is no more. Life and works of Ruskin Bond are deeply revered by people of the country.

The Global Indian said in an interview:

I do not know what happens when one dies. I will want to be reborn in India and nowhere else and be a writer.

Rich body of work

Ruskin Bond has written more than five hundred short stories, essays and novels and over 64 children’s books. He has also penned autobiographical books like Scenes from a Writer’s Life that encompasses his formative years in India, The Lamp is Lit and Leaves from a Journal that consists of journal entries, essay collection and experiences of his years trying to make it as a freelance writer. The autobiography, Lone Fox Dancing is a magnificent biographical sketch of Ruskin Bond full of anecdotes and photographs.

[caption id="attachment_30494" align="aligncenter" width="883"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Amidst the books[/caption]

Many of his works are inspired by his life in the hills. Some notable works include Rain in the Mountains, Blue Umbrella, Roads to Mussoorie, Angry River, Till the Clouds Roll by, The Cherry Tree, and more. “Men can come and go; the mountains remain,” he writes, in his latest book.

Film and television adaptations of Ruskin Bond’s works

His works have been adapted for television and film. The 1978 Bollywood film, Junoon directed by Shyam Benegal and produced by Shashi Kapoor is based on his novel, A Flight of Pigeons, that encompasses an episode of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

[caption id="attachment_30500" align="aligncenter" width="611"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Playfully pretending to be a flower[/caption]

Stories of Rusty, the character that bears resemblance to him have been adapted into a Doordarshan TV series called Ek Tha Rusty.

His short story, Susanna’s Seven Husbands, has been adapted into a BBC TV-series and also into a film, 7 Khoon Maaf, by Vishal Bhardwaaj in 2011. Ruskin Bond made his maiden silver screen appearance in it as a Bishop. Earlier Bhardwaaj collaborated with him for adaption of his popular children’s novel, The Blue Umbrella which won the National Film Award for best children's film.

[caption id="attachment_30511" align="aligncenter" width="691"] Indian Author | Ruskin Bond | Global Indian Busy at work[/caption]

Ruskin Bond’s memoirs that shouldn’t be missed:

A Song of India
All the roads lead to Ganga
Scenes from a Writer's Life
With Love from The Hills
Looking For the Rainbow: My Years with Daddy

Follow Ruskin Bond on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook

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