Global IndianstoryMission alert: ISRO embarks on a bold mission to unlock the secrets of the Sun

Mission alert: ISRO embarks on a bold mission to unlock the secrets of the Sun

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(September 2, 2023) ‘Reach for the stars’, they said, and now the Indian Space Research Organisation is on its way to do just that. After conquering the Mars and Moon, ISRO is launching its first-ever mission to the centre of our solar system – the sun. ISRO’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft embarks on a monumental journey equipped with a cutting-edge suite of seven payloads. This extraordinary mission is poised to revolutionise our understanding of the Sun by delving deep into its various layers, from the photosphere to the chromosphere, and even the enigmatic outermost layer – the corona. Pioneering electromagnetic particle and magnetic field detectors are on board, primed to unveil the Sun’s hidden mysteries. The mission will launch today at 11.50 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Aditya L1 | ISRO | Global Indian

The spacecraft will take around 109 Earth days after launch to reach the halo orbit, and from its privileged vantage point at L1, it will deploy four specialised payloads that cast a direct gaze upon the Sun, capturing unprecedented data and imagery. Meanwhile, the remaining three payloads are dedicated to conducting in-situ studies of particles and fields, strategically positioned at the Lagrange point L1. This unique positioning enables Aditya-L1 to offer vital insights into the intricate dance of solar dynamics as they propagate through the vast interplanetary medium. With every orbit, Aditya-L1 paves the way for monumental strides in solar science, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge about the radiant heart of our solar system.

A dream come true

Now, let’s take a trip back in time to when Aditya (the Sanskrit name of Sun), our special space explorer, was just an idea in the minds of space experts. Back in January 2008 members of the Advisory Committee for Space Research conceptualised the idea of sending a small satellite, about as heavy as a car, into space to study the solar corona, which is the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere. At first, they thought this satellite would go into a part of space close to Earth called Low Earth Orbit, and with the help of the camera, coronagraph, take pictures of the Sun’s crown. The committee also allocated ₹3 crore for the financial year 2016–2017.

The Aditya-L1 spacecraft

But with time, ISRO devised greater plans for the Aditya mission and decided to turn it into a super observatory, to study not only the Sun but also the space around it. To do this, they had to move Aditya to a special spot in space called Lagrange Point L1, where it could watch the Sun and space together – thus the name ‘Aditya-L1’. But building this incredible mission wasn’t easy, and by July 2019, they had spent ₹378.53 crore on it, not including the cost of launching it into space.

Mission goals

Aditya-L1 is set to explore a special orbit around a point called L1, located about 1.5 million kilometers (930,000 miles) away from Earth. In this unique orbit, the spacecraft will stay for its entire mission, making slight adjustments in its speed between 0.2 to 4 meters per second each year to stay on track. This 1,500-kilogram satellite carries seven scientific instruments with various goals, like studying the Sun’s heat, solar wind, magnetic fields, and the impact of solar radiation on Earth’s upper atmosphere and climate.

One of the main aims of Aditya-L1 is to observe different layers of the Sun’s atmosphere, including the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona, all at the same time. This will help scientists understand how energy moves between these layers, providing insights into the Sun’s behavior. “The suits of Aditya-L1 payloads are expected to provide the most crucial information to understand the problem of coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities and their characteristics, dynamics of space weather, propagation of particles and fields,” Dr. S. Somanath, the chairman of ISRO said in a press statement.

The spacecraft will dwell at a point called L1, located about 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth

The mission has the potential to make significant contributions to our knowledge of the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the space around us. The data collected could lead to groundbreaking discoveries in solar and heliophysics, helping us better understand Earth’s climate, how the Sun’s outer layer is heated, the solar wind, magnetic fields, and providing detailed images of the Sun’s atmosphere.

Watch the launch of Aditya-L1 Mission LIVE

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Published on 02, Sep 2023

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Indian-Origin Academic Leaders: Key faculty appointments at top U.S. institutions in 2024

(September 16, 2024) Recent data indicates that Indian-origin academicians are a significant part of the academic workforce in the United States. BCG estimated that around 2.6 percent of higher-ed faculty members, approximately 22,000, were Indian Americans in 2021. A review of the top 50 colleges in the US revealed that 35 have an Indian American in their leadership ranks, including roles like deans, chancellors, provosts, and directors of colleges. This representation highlights the important role Indian-origin academics play in American higher education, contributing to wide-ranging perspectives and innovative research. Global Indian puts a spotlight on some recent appointments of Indian-origin academic leaders in the United States’ top institutions: Vivek Sarkar Appointed as Dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Computing Indian American professor Vivek Sarkar has been appointed Dean of Georgia Tech's College of Computing, effective June 1. He also serves as a professor in the School of Computer Science. He previously served as the chair of the School of Computer Science and held the Stephen Fleming Chair for Telecommunications at Georgia Tech. Sarkar's work has significantly advanced the academic understanding of high-performance computing systems and has influenced the development of technologies that shape modern society. His research has led to

so serves as a professor in the School of Computer Science. He previously served as the chair of the School of Computer Science and held the Stephen Fleming Chair for Telecommunications at Georgia Tech. Sarkar's work has significantly advanced the academic understanding of high-performance computing systems and has influenced the development of technologies that shape modern society. His research has led to key breakthroughs in parallel computing, improving the efficiency of complex computations and making them easier to program. Along with his academic achievements, Sarkar is deeply committed to mentoring future computer scientists and engineers, with a strong focus on promoting diversity and inclusion within the computing field, ensuring equal opportunities for all to succeed.

[caption id="attachment_55917" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Indian Academic | Vivek Sarkar | Global Indian Vivek Sarkar[/caption]

Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Sarkar served as the E.D. Butcher Chair in Engineering at Rice University, where he also chaired the Department of Computer Science. He previously worked at IBM Research as a senior manager and was a member of the IBM Academy of Technology. Sarkar pursued his bachelors at IIT Kanpur and earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University and has been recognized with numerous awards and honours for his pioneering research.

Srinand ‘Sri’ Sreevatsan

Appointed as Dean of University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine

The University of Missouri has appointed Srinand “Sri” Sreevatsan as the dean of the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine, effective August 1. The Indian American academician most recently served as the associate dean for research and graduate studies at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he was also a professor and chair of pathobiology and diagnostic investigation. A distinguished scholar, Sreevatsan is deeply committed to veterinary medicine and research that advances the health of animals, humans, and the environment. He previously spent seven years as the director of graduate studies in the veterinary medicine program at the University of Minnesota.

[caption id="attachment_55916" align="aligncenter" width="428"] Srinand Sreevatsan | Academic Leader Srinand Sreevatsan[/caption]

With nearly 200 scholarly publications to his name, he also holds leadership positions in the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association and the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture. Additionally, he is a member of both the American Society for Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Sreevatsan earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in veterinary medicine from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and holds a master’s degree in public health (epidemiology) and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Minnesota.

Bhramar Mukherjee

Appointed as Senior Associate Dean of Public Health Data Science and Data Equity, Yale School of Public Health

Bhramar Mukherjee has been named Yale School of Public Health’s first Senior Associate Dean of Public Health Data Science and Data Equity. She assumed her position on August 1, 2024. A trailblazer in biostatistics, Mukherjee’s research focuses on integrating genetic, environmental, and healthcare data, with emphasis on chronic diseases, environmental epidemiology, and reproductive health. She has also made notable contributions to cancer and cardiovascular research, as well as the analysis of COVID-19 data. She has co-authored over 380 publications spanning statistics, biostatistics, medicine, and public health, and has served as principal investigator on numerous NSF and NIH grants.

[caption id="attachment_55921" align="aligncenter" width="615"] Indian Academic | Bhramar Mukherjee | Global Indian Bhramar Mukherjee[/caption]

Prior to joining Yale, she held multiple prestigious professorships and leadership roles at the University of Michigan. Mukherjee is the founding director of the University of Michigan's Big Data Summer Institute for undergraduates, a program she has led for the past nine years. Last year, she was also appointed assistant vice president for research, where she designed a comprehensive data analysis service infrastructure for all three U-M campuses. She earned her B.Sc. in Statistics from Presidency College, Kolkata in 1994, an M Stat from the Indian Statistical Institute in 1996, and a Ph.D. in Statistics from Purdue University.

Hamsa Balakrishnan

Appointed as Associate Dean of School of Engineering, MIT

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has named Hamsa Balakrishnan as the associate dean of the MIT School of Engineering. She also holds the position of the William E. Leonhard Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics leading the Dynamics, Infrastructure Networks, and Mobility (DINaMo) group, which focuses on modeling, analyzing, controlling, and optimizing modern infrastructure systems. Her group has played a key role in addressing issues such as advanced air mobility, air traffic congestion, and airport operations, collaborating with organizations like the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, and major airports. From 2018 to 2021, Balakrishnan served as associate department head in AeroAstro, overseeing both undergraduate and graduate education programs. She also directed Transportation@MIT in 2018-19, managing interdisciplinary graduate programs in transportation and focusing on faculty engagement and student recruitment.

[caption id="attachment_55918" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Hamsa Balakrishnan | Academic Leader Hamsa Balakrishnan[/caption]

Prior to joining MIT, she held positions at the University of California Santa Cruz and NASA Ames Research Center. Balakrishnan's research has earned her numerous accolades, including the NSF Career Award, AIAA’s Lawrence Sperry Award, and the American Automatic Control Council’s Donald P. Eckman Award. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, Balakrishnan earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from Stanford University.

Garud Iyengar

Appointed as Director of Columbia University’s Data Science Institute

Columbia University professor Garud Iyengar was appointed as the new director of its Data Science Institute (DSI), effective July 1. He is also co-lead of Columbia’s artificial intelligence initiative alongside Jeannette Wing and Shih-Fu Chang. Before this role, the Indian American academician served as the senior vice dean for research and academic programs at the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), a position he held since November 2021 at the Columbia University. He has also been the Tang Family Professor of Operations in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research since January 2020.

[caption id="attachment_55919" align="aligncenter" width="607"] Indian Academic | Garud Iyengar | Global Indian Garud Iyengar[/caption]

Iyengar's research focuses on understanding uncertain systems and leveraging data-driven control and optimization algorithms to make the most of available information. His work spans a wide range of fields, including machine learning, systemic risk, asset management, operations management, sports analytics, and biology. Iyengar earned his B. Tech in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology - Kanpur and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Sakthivel Sadayappan

Appointed as Head of the Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson appointed Sakthivel Sadayappan as the new head of its Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. He is also serving as a Professor and Associate Director, Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Sadayappan comes to the university from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he led key research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. His career has also included roles at the University of Cincinnati, Loyola University in Chicago, and the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Germany.

[caption id="attachment_55920" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Indian Academic | Sakhthivel Saddyapan | Global Indian Sakhthivel Saddyapan[/caption]

With over 170 published scientific papers and three patents, Sadayappan’s research focuses on developing therapies for genetically induced heart failure, as well as conditions like distal arthrogryposis and lethal congenital contracture syndrome. Recognized as Educator of the Year, he has mentored over 100 students and postdoctoral fellows. Sadayappan earned his PhD in Biochemistry from Madurai Kamaraj University in India, specializing in the molecular aspects of cardiac hypertrophy. He also holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business and completed a Certificate Course on Preparing for Future Faculty at the University of Cincinnati.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there are other notable appointments of Indian-origin academic leaders throughout 2024 leading to significant impacts in the field of education in the United States.

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Celebrating excellence: Scientist Subra Suresh receives National Medal from President Joe Biden

(October 28, 2023) It's a big day for India, as Padma Shri scientist, Prof Subra Suresh wins the prestigious National Medal of Technology and Innovation - regarded as the US' highest scientific award - by the US President Joe Biden at the White House. The former director of the USA National Science Foundation, a former Dean of Engineering and Vannevar Bush Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a former President of Carnegie Mellon University, Prof Suresh is also the first alumnus of IIT Madras and the first India-born academic to be appointed as the president of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) back in 2018. [caption id="attachment_46308" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Prof Suresh with US President Joe Biden[/caption] According to the official statement by the White House, the scientist was honoured "for pioneering research across engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences. A transformative educator, he has advanced the study of material science and its application to other disciplines. His commitment to research and collaboration across borders has demonstrated how science can forge understanding and cooperation among people and nations." Prof Suresh's research is centered on the characteristics of both engineered and biological materials, exploring their impact on human diseases and their applications

sciplines. His commitment to research and collaboration across borders has demonstrated how science can forge understanding and cooperation among people and nations."

Prof Suresh's research is centered on the characteristics of both engineered and biological materials, exploring their impact on human diseases and their applications across a wide range of industries. With a four-decade-long and illustrious career, the scientist boasts an impressive track record, with three published books, over 300 research articles, 35 filed patent applications, and the co-founding of two technology startups. He also founded the Global Research Council, an annual initiative designed to facilitate the connection and coordination of leaders from major research funding agencies worldwide.

A student par excellence

Born in 1953 to a Tamil family residing in Mumbai, Prof Suresh was always the brightest kid in his class. Focused and passionate, his classmates would often approach him to help them with their studies, and this academician never turned anyone down. In one of his early interviews, the scientist stated that he always knew he would be very good at teaching.

Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian

After finishing high school, while many of his friends were still thinking about what to do next, Prof Suresh’s goals were very clear. He cracked the IIT entrance examination, and after four years of hard work, received his BTech degree from IIT Madras graduating first class with distinction. The same year, in 1977, the scientist moved to the United States of America, where he received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1979, and later earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the guidance of Robert O. Ritchie in 1981, specialising in materials science.

Awards and beyond

The young scientist was still pursuing his postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory when he received the prestigious Hardy Medal “for exceptional promise for a successful career in the broad field of metallurgy by a metallurgist under the age of 30”.

Soon after he received his Ph.D., the scientist went to work for the Ivy League institution, Brown University in 1983, where he served as an Assistant Professor of Engineering, and was eventually promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in July 1986 and Professor in July 1989. However, within a one-and-a-half year of joining Brown University, Prof Suresh was selected by the White House to receive the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award.

[caption id="attachment_33010" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian Prof Suresh with former President of USA, Barack Obama[/caption]

Decorated with several medals and honours very early in his career, including the 1992 Ross Coffin Purdy Award from the American Ceramic Society, the scientist’s book, Fatigue of Materials (1991) has been cited more than 5,300 times in scholarly publications as per Google Scholar. The book has also been translated into Chinese and Japanese and adopted as both a textbook and a reference work.

But despite all his achievements, the scientist still shares a very close relationship with India. “I come to India quite often,” the Global Indian said, adding, “In large portions of Indian society, and this is historic, going back hundreds or thousands of years, there has always been a strong emphasis on education, knowledge, and scholarship, including science and engineering. The last 18 years in India have been very interesting, especially in areas like information technology, where India has emerged as a leading participant in the global scene. Science and engineering play a huge role in that. Also, the middle class in India has moved up quite a bit in the last 18 years. This is a very good illustration, in the context of a large country, a large population, and a large democracy, that education broadly in any field and science and engineering education, in particular, can be a ticket to prosperity. If that continues it will be a very good thing not just for India but for the whole world.”

A true guru

Having tasted the joys of teaching, the scientist moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the R.P. Simmons Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 1993. There, Prof Suresh realised that teaching doesn’t just involve guiding students in the classroom, but also inspiring young talent to join institutions.

Realising the huge gender gap in the scientific world, the academician took it upon himself to motivate young girls to take up higher education in scientific fields. “In most countries, women occupy 50 percent of the population and hence 50 percent of the talent pool. In the US, about 70 percent of the top-ranking students in high school are girls, both in public and private schools, and they also do well in mathematics and science, and so forth. If they are not represented in engineering, then we are losing out on the top talent,” the scientist explained during an interview.

[caption id="attachment_33011" align="aligncenter" width="603"] Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian Professor Suresh with his wife, Mary Delmar Suresh[/caption]

He added, “Women play such an important role in the 21st century, and we cannot have such small representation. So, I did some experiments at MIT, and we found that the key is not in admitting more women through quotas, but instead through something more sustainable in the long term. You need role models; you need professors for women who are good role models for students. Secondly, you have to do extra work to attract talent. When we admit students, they get offers from many different universities. I would offer to make personal calls and talk to students whom the departments felt would be a good fit for the university, and it worked. It worked for both genders, but it worked better for women. So, I think there are things we can do, scholarships are one way, and role models and mentoring are very important too.”

Heading the National Science Foundation

In 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Prof Suresh to be the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). At the institution, the scientist worked on investing in the best people, whose ideas could make a difference on the ground. “There are not many countries in the world where somebody who comes to get an education as a student has an opportunity to lead an agency like the NSF,” he said during an interview, adding, “I think this has been one of the remarkable things about the U.S. and as long as that possibility exists in the country one would hope that people would come here from all over the world.”

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

Looking at his successful profile, the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore appointed him as their President. Under his leadership, the University introduced a specific curriculum on innovations and digital technologies. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Prof Suresh and his wife made a personal gift of $100,000 to seed the NTU Priorities Fund, which has now grown to $8.9 million, in support of students with urgent financial needs. The scientist, who has trained several budding academicians and contributed heavily to the scientific world in the last four decades, is now looking forward to a peaceful retired life in Singapore after stepping down from his post later this year.

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Meet Dr. Shyam Bishen: The Indian-origin executive heading the Global Health and Healthcare arena at the World Economic Forum

(January 2, 2023) As a reporter covering the global pandemic, one of the biggest tragedies that I reported on was the severe shortage of basic medicines in various developing countries, including India. While the world leaders were busy finding a solution to this problem, which might have claimed thousands of lives, an Indian-origin healthcare leader - Dr. Shyam Bishen - pulled up his sleeves and worked tirelessly in licensing and technology transfer of COVID-19 antiviral drugs from US pharma to Indian companies. His only aim was to ensure that these drugs can be produced and made available at an accessible price to low- and middle-income countries. [caption id="attachment_33403" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Dr. Shyam Bishen, Head of Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum[/caption] "One of the prime goals in my life has been to increase the accessibility of medicines in developing nations. When the pandemic hit the world in 2020, I was working with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as their regional director of partnerships in the global health arena. My focus was to ensure that COVID treatment drugs were accessible in India and other developing countries as soon as possible. Back then anti-viral medicines were being developed by Merck, Pfizer, Gilead,

0, I was working with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as their regional director of partnerships in the global health arena. My focus was to ensure that COVID treatment drugs were accessible in India and other developing countries as soon as possible. Back then anti-viral medicines were being developed by Merck, Pfizer, Gilead, and other big US pharma companies. Even though these drugs were patented, I worked on establishing a partnership that can bring licensing to Indian pharma companies such as Dr. Reddy's and Cipla. I am glad that it was a successful initiative," shares the healthcare industry expert as he connects with me from Geneva, Switzerland.

Currently heading the global health and healthcare arena at the World Economic Forum, Dr. Bishen is working on establishing a public-private partnership. "I am invested in bringing private players in the healthcare industry and governments from across the globe so that we can look into and find sustainable solutions for the major health-related issues people are facing. I am engaging political, cultural, and industrial leaders from various countries to overall shape the global health and healthcare agenda," Dr. Bishen tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview.

Spreading his wings

Born to an affluent family in the small town of Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Bishen grew up on a farm in the village. "I spent several years of my childhood in the village, where my family owned a farm. I remember, when I was in the eighth standard, I received a merit scholarship. So we subsequently moved to the city for my education," shares the healthcare executive, adding, "Even though I come from a family of lawyers, I was always interested in building a career in sciences. My father was very ambitious for me and always emphasised the importance of education. He would often tell me that if I worked hard and was focussed there is no reason why I couldn't win a Nobel Prize one day. My parents were so invested in my education that my mother even learned a little English so that she can teach me," he smiles.

Healthcare | Shyam Bishen | Global Indian

An ambitious student himself, Dr. Bishen secured the first rank in his Bachelor of Science class and went to Lucknow University on a National Scholarship to complete his master’s in chemistry with a gold medal. "I was very happy with my accomplishments. I wanted to study further, so after my master's I joined IIT Delhi as a Ph.D. student," he shares. However, his destiny was somewhere else. About 18 months into his course, Dr. Bishen got an offer to join the University of Newcastle, Australia as a Ph.D. scholar, in 1984.

"That opportunity proved to be a turning point in my life. For a small city boy, going to Delhi itself was a big adjustment for me. But when I decided to move to Australia, even though I prepared for it by watching several Hollywood movies," he laughs, before adding, "It was a bit of a culture shock for me. I came from a place where no one spoke English to a land where English was the only language I could use to communicate. During my initial days there, I did struggle to adjust." After finishing his Ph.D., Dr. Bishen did a short post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, post which he left for the USA and joined academia as an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The world of healthcare

After working on anti-cancer research at the Medical University of South Carolina for four years, Dr. Bishen decided to join the biopharma industry in 1992. In his 35-long-long career, he has worked with several leading pharma companies, including Pfizer and Merck. While in the biopharma industry, the healthcare expert has discovered many drug candidates in cancer and HIV areas and is listed as the primary inventor on several US and world patents. During his stint at Pfizer, Dr. Bishen also earned an MBA degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He was also trained in a yearlong leadership programme at Harvard University.

[caption id="attachment_33409" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Healthcare | Shyam Bishen | Global Indian Dr. Bishen with Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare of India[/caption]

"While working for the big pharma companies, I got quite interested in the business side of how the drugs are developed and manufactured. I discovered that people in developed nations have good access to medicines, whereas the same is not the case with people in developing nations. Patients in developing nations have to wait for the medicines to be made in their countries until the patent registered in a developing nation expires. I wanted to explore a business model," he shares.

[caption id="attachment_33408" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Healthcare | Shyam Bishen | Global Indian Dr. Bishen at the first World Bio Summit in Seoul, Korea[/caption]

Dr. Bishen joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014 and worked to establish programmes like Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Development Collaborator to develop universal TB drugs. Passionate about treating and ending TB, as he has seen its ravaging effects on people’s lives and families in India, Dr. Bishen also participated in the End TB meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in 2018.

In 2022, Dr. Bishen joined the World Economic Forum and as the chief of the health and healthcare division, he is working on ensuring that the world is better prepared for any other global health crisis. Speaking about his work, he says, "We wouldn't have lost so many people if we had better access to medical facilities. We saw how the healthcare industry collapsed in various parts of the world when COVID first hit us, and we do not want that to happen again. I want to make sure that there is equitable access to diagnostics, medicines, vaccines, and treatments for everyone, irrespective of their country. So, for this, I am working with the G20 and G7 nations, and other countries in Africa to ensure that the world handles the next pandemic in a better way."

Extreme weather events like floods, hurricanes, heatwaves & droughts severely threaten global health systems.

Developing resilient health systems that can withstand climate change & other shocks is critical.https://t.co/kK030b6kfC | @economistimpact | #SDG3 pic.twitter.com/TjUaBOGwyM

— UNOPS (@UNOPS) October 14, 2022

But a virus is not the only thing to be scared of in today's world. Dr. Bishen and his team are also looking to tackle various environmental crises across the globe, which are the root of many medical crises as well. "The World Economic Forum is treating climate change and its effects as an emergency. In my mind, environmental disbalance has caused many healthcare-related issues that the world is facing today. There is an increase in several diseases including malaria, dengue, asthma, COPD, and other cardiovascular problems around the world. If we do not take appropriate steps to look for a solution today, these problems will only manifold in the future," he shares.

Giving back to the society

The healthcare expert, who has dedicated over a three-and-a-half decade of his life to making basic medical facilities accessible in the developing nation, is also quite passionate about girl child education. Dr. Bishen is the Chairman of the Global Girls Scholarship Foundation (GGSF) - an organisation dedicated to educating underprivileged girls in developing countries by providing them with scholarships and other academic-related resources needed for success.

Healthcare | Shyam Bishen | Global Indian

Talking about the organisation, the healthcare expert, who still visits his hometown in UP quite often, says, "I feel that in the rural sectors of India, girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to education, as it is not prioritised by their parents. This issue has bothered me for a while and several years I wanted to do something to rectify the situation. GGSF is registered in the US but does most of its work in India and Africa. In the last four years that the foundation was established, we have been able to generate significant funds with major donations and sponsor over 35 girls' education. But, we don't want to stop at just getting them educated. We will also b collaborating with other organisations to help them find a job."

Follow Dr. Shyam Bishen on LinkedIn and Twitter

Reading Time: 8 mins

Against all odds: Remarkable stories of IAS officers who fought their way to the top

(March 22, 2022) Each year, lakhs of aspirants appear for one of India’s toughest exams: the civil services exam. The competition is cut-throat, to say the least. In 2021, over 9,70,000 aspirants applied for the UPSC exam but only 761 cleared it. Many candidates prepare single-mindedly for years together to take the exam that will give them a shot at a career as an IAS, IPS, or IFS officer. Despite the sheer hard work required, some tales are a testimony to human determination succeeding against all odds. Global Indian turns the spotlight on IAS officers Pranjal Patil, Ramesh Gholap, Sivaguru Prabakaran, and Kuldeep Dwivedi who have inspired many to not get deterred even when there are challenging circumstances to sail through. Pranjal Patil, sub-collector, Thiruvanthapuram Born with a visual impairment, Pranjal Patil, the sub-collector of Thiruvanthapuram lost her eyesight by the time she turned six. She’d always been academically inclined and went on to pursue her post-graduation in International Relations from JNU followed by an MPhil and a PhD. She took a giant step into bureaucracy as the first visually impaired woman IAS officer after she was denied a job in the Indian Railways Account Services (IRAS) despite scoring a

ways been academically inclined and went on to pursue her post-graduation in International Relations from JNU followed by an MPhil and a PhD. She took a giant step into bureaucracy as the first visually impaired woman IAS officer after she was denied a job in the Indian Railways Account Services (IRAS) despite scoring a UPSC all India rank (AIR) of 773 due to her visual impairment in 2016.

[caption id="attachment_50040" align="aligncenter" width="521"] Pranjal Patil | IAS Officer | Global Indian Pranjal Patil[/caption]

Although no concrete action was taken, she decided to not give up and once again appeared for the UPSC in 2017. This time, she scored AIR 124. “We should never give up because with our efforts we would always get that breakthrough that we want,” has been her advice to all.

Ramesh Gholap, joint secretary, Jharkhand energy department

As a child, Ramesh Gholap, now joint secretary in Jharkhand’s energy department, would sell bangles with his mother. His father was a cycle mechanic in Maharashtra’s Mahagaon village. As his health took a turn for the worse, his mother began to sell bangles to earn a living and Ramesh, who was afflicted with polio, would pitch in. By the time he reached class 12, Ramesh began living with a relative to facilitate his studies. When his father passed away, the only way Ramesh could go home for the funeral was when a kind-hearted relative paid his bus fare. The academically bright Ramesh was forced to obtain a diploma since it was cheaper in comparison with graduate studies. Eventually, he landed a job to help his family. He simultaneously pursued a degree in humanities through distance education before appearing for the UPSC.

In 2012, he cleared his UPSC in his second attempt with a rank of 287. That same year he also stood first in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exam. In 2020 he tweeted saying, “It has been 8 years since I have become an IAS officer but my mother still sells bangles. She says it is due to the money earned by it that you became an IAS officer, and I will continue with it.”

Ramesh Gholap | IAS Officer | Global Indian

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Sivaguru Prabakaran, regional deputy commissioner, North Greater Chennai

The son of an alcoholic father, M Sivaguru Prabakaran fought all odds to pursue his education and cracked the UPSC civil services examination in 2017 securing a rank of 101. The Pattukottai lad had long nurtured a dream of becoming an IAS officer; even when he’d spend his days working at a sawmill and in the fields to support his family and pay for his education. Having studied in a Tamil medium institution, his initial tryst with English was a struggle. But Prabakaran was not one to give up. He moved to Chennai to fulfill his academic dreams and was tutored by an acquaintance who trained disadvantaged students like him. Determined to change his destiny, he went on to crack the entrance exam for IIT Madras’ tech programme and obtained his degree in 2014. But Prabakaran had different plans: he wanted to become a bureaucrat and went on to attempt the UPSC. He cleared the exam on his fourth attempt in 2017 and is today working as the regional deputy commissioner, North Greater Chennai Corporation. To this day, he remembers the teachers who coached and guided him during his days of struggle.

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Kuldeep Dwivedi, director-general, Income Tax, Maharashtra

Kuldeep Dwivedi’s father had always supported the family of five with his meagre income as a security guard in Lucknow University. In 2015, Dwivedi cleared the UPSC with an AIR 242 in what was his third attempt. Despite the family’s financial constraints, his father helped him meet expenses and encouraged him on his journey to becoming an IAS officer. Incidentally, Dwivedi had also been offered the job of assistant commandant with the Border Security Force in 2013. But the lad was determined to crack the UPSC exam and turned down the offer. Today, he is posted as the director-general of Income Tax department in Maharashtra. Despite having studied in Hindi medium institutions and not being well versed in English, Dwivedi has never shied away from helping aspirants from this background with strategies to crack the exams. His videos have been immensely helpful for aspirants clocking in lakhs of views.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-wLulmf5Yo

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Reading Time: 7 mins

Michelin star Indian chef Srijith Gopinath is taking the South Indian spice palette to the world

(September 8, 2022) I could listen to the sound of vegetables being cut when I connected with Chef Srijith Gopinath over a call for an interview from California. When I asked him if he was cooking, pat came the reply that he was making a mushroom delicacy for his family. "I love cooking for my family," smiled Chef Sri, as he finished plating the breakfast. It was quite heartwarming to catch a chef cooking for his loved ones before starting a very busy day at one of Palo Alto's most renowned restaurants - Ettan. [caption id="attachment_29089" align="aligncenter" width="709"] Chef Srijith Gopinath[/caption] The two star Michelin chef from the southern parts of India, who thought of becoming an IT professional as a kid, is currently one of the highest-rated chefs in the world. Starting his journey from a small village, Chef Sri has come a long way from assisting the head chef in the hotel to running his own venture in California. "I have been cooking for over two decades, but at my restaurant, I get to bring in the spices from my homeland to the table. I do a lot of Indian dishes, but with a little bit of twist.

arting his journey from a small village, Chef Sri has come a long way from assisting the head chef in the hotel to running his own venture in California. "I have been cooking for over two decades, but at my restaurant, I get to bring in the spices from my homeland to the table. I do a lot of Indian dishes, but with a little bit of twist. My menu lists delicacies such as Truffle kulcha, Red plum rasam, Samosa pie, and Tender jack vada. I want the world to taste the amazing herbs from my country," the chef tells Global Indian.

The spice trail

Growing up in the land of spices, Chef Sri who hails from a small village in Kanyakumari often saw his mother cook for the entire family. "I lived in a joint family, and as a kid, I wasn't allowed to cook. But I loved to eat and was always fascinated by different flavours. Although tasting varied cuisine wasn't possible in a small village, I would still try to find something different to eat in the limited options I had then." As a kid, Chef Sri would often be asked by his grandmother to run to the backyard to fetch her some spices. "We had black pepper, turmeric, ginger, and many other spices. I wasn't taught about these spices, I just knew what they were, how they smelled or tasted since I was a kid."

[caption id="attachment_29090" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Chef | Srijith Gopinathan | Global Indian Sea bass collar spice roasted with coconut, turmeric, tamarind and curry leaves[/caption]

Leaving behind his beautiful coconut orchard, the chef moved to Bengaluru to pursue a degree in Hotel Management. Interestingly though, this was not the original plan. "Becoming a chef was never a goal - in fact, I never thought about it growing up. I always thought that I would be a regular guy, working in the IT sector. Even when I joined the Hotel Management college, I was pretty sure that I wouldn't go into the kitchen."

[caption id="attachment_29091" align="aligncenter" width="727"] Chef | Srijith Gopinathan | Global Indian Chef Srijith Gopinath with Chef Vikas Khanna and Chef Zorawar Kalra[/caption]

So how did the odds work in his favour? "You know when you live alone and your mother isn't around to take care of you, you inadvertently end up with a ladle in hand trying to make something that could taste something like home," laughs the chef, adding, "Cookery books were my best friends because there was no Google to tell me a recipe. I found it quite interesting to experiment with tastes and flavours. So, I decided to become a chef."

Tasting success

His graduation paved the way for his professional career which started with working for the local hotels to get a better understanding of the functioning of a kitchen. It was while working at a hotel in Chennai, Chef Sri was offered a job at two-starred Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons in Oxfordshire. This shift not only helped him hone his culinary skills, but also aided in getting his talent recognised. "It was one of the iconic restaurants and I saw how a kitchen actually functioned. While I learnt a lot there, it was also the first time that I earned a good amount and took the opportunity to travel as much as I could around Europe," he shared.

[caption id="attachment_29092" align="aligncenter" width="736"] Chef | Srijith Gopinathan | Global Indian Maine lobster poached in spiced ghee, coastal curry, sweet peas and pea leaf oil[/caption]

Eventually, the chef moved to the Taj Hotels, first in Maldives and then in San Francisco, where he earned his first Michelin star. "At Campton Place, I earned my first Michelin in the two years and subsequently got the second one as well. It's not easy to man a kitchen, although many think that it is a glamorous job. In most hotels and restaurants, the kitchen is the heart of the story. So, there is always some chaos that we are dealing with, something is always going wrong which the team is working on fixing. But, when we send out the plates, they are always perfect. So, to be rewarded for all the hard work that we put in every day is very special," shares the chef.

While he cooks for some very high-profile people, he himself revels in comfort food. "I think it's quite natural to lean towards what you used to eat as a child. So for me, a good dosa with coconut chutney is the best comfort food. Also, I enjoy sitting down for sadhya, which is a big selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf in Kerala - mostly during Onam or weddings. But, because of living in California for the last 15 years, I have come to love some local comfort food as well. I really enjoy having a good Bánh mì, which is a Vietnamese sandwich or a good plate of piping hot pasta."

[caption id="attachment_29093" align="aligncenter" width="742"] Chef | Srijith Gopinathan | Global Indian Chef Srijith Gopinath and team at Ettan[/caption]

After successfully running the Taj kitchen, the chef recently started his own restaurant. Named Ettan, which means "to breathe" in Sanskrit, the restaurant became an instant hit in Downtown Palo Alto. Unfortunately, it had to shut shop within the first month of its inauguration due to Covid. "It took us about 18 months to start Ettan in February 2020, and then just in 22 days, COVID caused havoc across the globe. For two months we had to close the restaurants, but in May 2020 we started taking takeaway orders and slowly opened the restaurant again," says the chef. Ettan is currently one of the highest-rated restaurant in the Palo Alto area. "I plan on starting another restaurant soon," shared the chef before dashing off to the kitchen.

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Reading Time: 7 mins