Global IndianstoryAnindita Neogy Anaam: Popularising Kathak in the US

Anindita Neogy Anaam: Popularising Kathak in the US

Written by: Charu Thakur

(February 26, 2023) It’s through the rapid footwork and enchanting tukdas and tihais that Anindita Neogy Anaam has been telling stories on stage. The language of dance is what this Kathak exponent knows the best, and she loves exploring it layer by layer through her art form. Being acquainted with both Jaipur and Lucknow gharanas of the dance form, she is one of the few talents who has taken Kathak to the world stage.

The recipient of the National Nritya Shiromani Award and Jayadev Rashtriya Puraskar, Anaam began training at a very young age, and instantly fell in love with Kathak. Now after years of total submission to her art, this Global Indian is busy making the dance form popular in the US by presenting it as a ballet and making people aware of this classical dance.

Anindita Neogy Anaam | Global Indian

Kathak – from traditional form to ballet

The music of taal always made a young Anaam put on her ghungroos and seeing her love for dance, her mother Falguni Neogy trained her daughter in Kathak. After the initial schooling, Anaam enrolled in the Uma Sharma School of Dance to learn the nuances and finer techniques from veteran exponent Uma Sharma. It was here that Anaam immersed herself into the world of Kathak, and found it to be her true calling. To hone her craft, she found her place under the tutelage of Guru Pt Rajendra Gangani of Jaipur Gharana where she learnt the rhythmic foot movements. She later transitioned to the Lucknow Gharana where she understood the finesse and graceful movements under Pt Jai Kishan Maharaj, who is the eldest son of Pt Birju Maharaj. It was Maharaj who changed the direction of dance for Anaam when he introduced a ballet approach to Kathak.

Being well-acquainted with Kathak from both Jaipur and Lucknow gharana, Anaam became a popular name in this art form in India. However, her biggest challenge came in when she shifted to Wisconsin in the US in 2015, wherein the knowledge and awareness of Kathak was almost negligible. And to introduce the Indian classical dance to non-Indians was a Herculean task for her. But not the one to backout, she was determined to make people aware of the beauty of Kathak.

“When I first shifted to the North East part of Wisconsin, it was a challenge to spread the Indian art because these areas have very less exposure to Indian culture, unlike Bay Area and New York where there is a thriving Indian community. I was culturally shocked but the dancer inside me didn’t let me rest,” she told the Statesman.

Making Kathak popular in the US

Anaam revealed that people of Wisconsin often confused Kathak with Bollywood, and it took a great deal of time to make them understand the beats, tempo and rhythm and how they were similar to ballet and not Kathak. Back in 2015, Kathak was too new a dance form for the people of Wisconsin. “From here started my journey of spreading the art instead of suppressing my artistic desires. I started reaching out to county recreational departments, libraries, parks, local ballet and tap dancing studios, colleges, schools, and insisted them on holding free workshops, no-fee dance classes, lecture demonstration and exchange programmes,” she added.

Having its roots in mythology, Kathak did not resonate with the people of Wisconsin who had no idea about bhajans or the Radha-Krishna compositions. That’s when Anaam decided to blend fusion music with Kathak. “So I chose Indian classical world music such as Lasya by Anoushka Shankar, Niraj Chag’s Kanya, Fur Elise, Rhythmscape to name a few. My idea was that music transcends boundaries and connects hearts. So why use lyrics, let the music guide the soul. This idea worked wonders. They loved the fast paced Indian music with powerful Kathak recitals and started to derive pleasure from each performance.”

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A post shared by Anindita Neogy Anaam (@aninditaneogykathak)

Awareness through dance form

Soon she started adapting her dance to the community, however, keeping the flavour of Kathak intact. Interestingly, Anaam started using her dance recitals not just as a form of expression and entertainment but also to create awareness. “In the US, if one wishes to work, one cannot keep going to mythology all the time. That is sort of a safe zone. I began experimenting with issues like depression, LGBTQ, trafficking, etc without compromising on the authenticity of the dance form, along with some collaborations. We need to come up with new ideas,” she said in an interview.

Anaam, who has been in the US among Indian artists for more than five years now, believes that Indian art is mostly restricted to big cities like Chicago, Atlanta, and Texas, however, things are slowly changing as she is leaving no stone unturned to make a classical form like Kathak popular in other parts of the country. The recipient of the National Nritya Shiromani award and Jayadev Rashtriya Puraskar, Anaam is an Indian Raga Fellow who has performed in leading festivals of India, Germany and the US. Not just this, she is also the Secretary of Wisconsin Dance Council Board, the first Indian Kathak dancer to achieve the feat.

Anindita Neogy Anaam | Global Indian

Anaam, who is making Kathak popular in the US, is happy to use dance as a tool of social transformation. “Dance is no more a medium of only depicting various moods of love and emotions in Radha Krishna storytelling method but slowly emerging into a strong tool of social transformation. The best part is that the authenticity of each style has been kept intact,” she added.

With Bollywood dance being one of the most popular dance forms from India in the US, artistes like Anaam are spreading awareness about Kathak and helping dissolve the confusion regarding different art forms from India. In just five years, Anaam has made the residents of Winscosin warm up to Kathak, a dance form that’s a beautiful way of story telling.

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Published on 26, Feb 2023

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Scientist B. Jayant Baliga is shaping the future of electrical engineering

(March 19, 2024) The first TV broadcast into a home in India occurred in his house. So, it is quite natural for people to presume that Dr. B. Jayant Baliga would focus on computers in the future. However, the scientist created something that combined two related fields: electronics engineering and electrical engineering. This invention was the IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), a type of switch similar to those found in homes. However, Dr. Baliga's version is incredibly small, can switch on and off 100,000 times per second, and can handle very high voltage power. Known as one of the most brilliant minds in the sphere of electrical engineering, the scholar is also a recipient of the Global Energy Prize, 2015 for the invention, development, and commercialisation of IGBT, which is one of the most important innovations for the control and distribution of energy. "Recently I was inducted into the Inventor’s Hall of Fame and they declared me as the man with the ‘largest negative carbon footprint’ due to the impact of IGBTs on the energy systems and power electronics. Each of these is special in their own right. This latest one credits me as the sole inventor of IGBTs, and

declared me as the man with the ‘largest negative carbon footprint’ due to the impact of IGBTs on the energy systems and power electronics. Each of these is special in their own right. This latest one credits me as the sole inventor of IGBTs, and hence it is special," Dr. Baliga shared in an interview.

The scientist's most famous invention is used worldwide in various applications such as air conditioning systems, household appliances like dishwashers, mixers, and refrigerators, factory automation including robotics, medical equipment like CAT scanners and uninterruptible power supplies, public electric transport and hybrid cars, engine control systems, vehicle electronics, as well as in mobile phones, laptops, and server CPUs.

Born for science

Born in Madras, India, in 1948, Dr. Baliga grew up in various cities. His father Bantwal Vittal Manjunath Baliga, was one of India's first electrical engineers in the days before independence and founding President of the Indian branch of the Institute of Radio Engineers, which later became the IEEE in India. Remembering the time when the first Indian TV was broadcast from his house, the scientist shared, "My father, was chief engineer of All India Radio after Independence. There was an exhibition in Delhi in the 1950s where they were using All India Radio’s setup of a camera and a transmitter to show a TV telecast within the exhibition premises. My father wanted to test if the signal could be received at a farther distance." He had a television set installed at his house at Teen Murti Marg. “It caused quite a sensation in the neighbourhood,” he added.

[caption id="attachment_50143" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Scientist | Dr. B. Jayant Baliga | Global Indian A young Dr. Baliga soon after shifting to the USA[/caption]

This experience pushed him to pursue a career in engineering, and after completing his school, the scientist enrolled at the Indian Institute of Technology (Madras), for a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Speaking about his experience at the institute, the scientist said, "IIT is a phenomenal place to give you a foundation, where you are given a broad coverage of topics in every branch. Back in my time, there were no electives, and every batch had to go through a compulsory set of courses. But they were so chosen that we received an all-round training in materials, electronics, maths, physics, chemistry, etc. And this really helps when you work in research by enabling you to think in an interdisciplinary way. So, this helped me a lot when I went to the US."

ALSO READ | Dr. Kaushik Rajashekara is working on futuristic machines

The scientist has always credited the institute for his success in the field. And thus, years later, he made some significant donations to IIT, Madras. "IIT Madras is always a special place and has helped me greatly. To give back to it, I have donated it to the institute to give scholarships to students from the money I received along with the Global Energy Prize and other such prizes," he said.

Scientist | Dr. B. Jayant Baliga | Global Indian

After his graduation, Dr. Baliga moved to the United States of America to pursue higher studies. Interestingly, the scientist had trouble getting financial aid while pursuing his graduate studies and was very apprehensive about his abilities to cope with the academic rigours in the USA. "I ended up proving them wrong by scoring a perfect 4.0 GPA and getting the best Ph.D. medal from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York City.

The genius

From 1974 to 1988, Dr. Baliga conducted several research projects at General Electric's R&D Center in Schenectady, New York. Leading a team of 40 scientists, they focused on power semiconductors and high-voltage integrated circuits. At that time, the transistor, which is essential for computers, had already been discovered and put into use. Dr. Baliga aimed to create a semiconductor device capable of controlling heavy-duty equipment such as compact fluorescent lights, air conditioners, and electric motors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkvrcXF9ooE

During that period, companies such as GE and Westinghouse were advancing their bipolar transistors for high-power applications. Meanwhile, another group, spearheaded by Siliconix and International Rectifier, was working on a different type of transistor known as the power MOSFET. And it was the scientist who thought of combining the physics of the two. “There was a vice president in GE who was developing a heat pump for air-conditioning applications. He was frustrated that the exiting transistors were failing and that the circuit needed to drive the motor pump was too big, expensive, and very cumbersome to assemble,” the Global Indian said.

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The legend

The scientist is single-handedly responsible for cost savings of over $15 trillion for consumers. “Because of the IGBT the world has not had to build at least 600 hydroelectric dams of the size of the Hoover Dam in Nevada," shared the scientist. His contributions in the field have won him many recognitions including the 1991 IEEE Newell Award, 1993 IEEE Morris N Liebmann Memorial Award, 1998 IEEE JJ Ebers Award, and 1999 IEEE Lamme Medal. In 2011, the scientist was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest award for an engineer in the USA by US President Barack Obama.

Scientist | Dr. B. Jayant Baliga | Global Indian

"Something I never dreamt of as an immigrant coming here with, as I said, about eight dollars in my pocket and a suitcase. To end up in the White House with the President honouring you is just incredible. Unfortunately, my parents were not alive when that happened. And also the IEEE Medal of Honor, for example, that’s much later, 2014. They passed away in the 1990s," the scientist expressed.

Currently serving as the Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering and founding director of NC State University’s Power Semiconductor Research Center, Dr. Baliga is also the founder of three companies, that aim to license and commercialise his inventions: Giant Semiconductor Corporation, Micro-Ohm Corporation, Silicon Wireless Corporation (later renamed to Silicon Semiconductor Corporation).

Follow Dr. B. Jayant Baliga on his blog

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A Microscope in Every Pocket: Dr. Manu Prakash’s vision for frugal science

(December 6, 2024) In the remote Amazon rainforest, a researcher examines a moth's wings through a microscope, uncovering colours that shift like a kaleidoscope. Thousands of miles away in Hyderabad, a ninth-grader uses the same tool to study his cheek cells. This isn't an ordinary microscope but a Foldscope — a paper-based device costing less than $1 that works like professional equipment. Created by Dr. Manu Prakash, this invention represents a groundbreaking shift in science and medicine, led by the Indian-born Stanford professor. Dr. Prakash’s journey of creating affordable, precise tools is as unique as the Foldscope itself. Born in Mawana, a small town in Uttar Pradesh known for sugar production, he grew up in a home that encouraged curiosity. From his childhood experiments in India to running an innovative lab at Stanford, Prakash has always followed his intuition, which he says drives much of his work. [caption id="attachment_61260" align="aligncenter" width="742"] Dr Manu Prakash[/caption] A Question Sparks a Movement Dr Manu's breakthrough began with a question: “What is the best microscope you can build for under $1 in parts?” The Foldscope was his answer — a tool born of necessity and brilliance. Folded like origami from paper, the Foldscope combines

ugh began with a question: “What is the best microscope you can build for under $1 in parts?” The Foldscope was his answer — a tool born of necessity and brilliance. Folded like origami from paper, the Foldscope combines simplicity with high functionality, offering magnification up to 2,000 times. "The inspiration came from field stations," recalls Dr Manu, "where bulky, broken microscopes were the norm, if they existed at all".

Since its invention, the Foldscope has reached millions, serving students, researchers, and medical workers across 135 countries. The tool's applications range from diagnosing diseases like malaria to studying agricultural pests. Its low cost and easy accessibility reflect Dr Manu's idea of "frugal science" — a concept that rethinks traditional approaches to innovation.

The Foundation of Curiosity

Growing up in Mawana, Dr Manu's childhood was full of exploration. Encouraged by his mother, a political science professor, he and his brother turned their home into a makeshift lab, building rockets and dissecting animal specimens. At seven, Manu’s passion for science manifested when he attempted to build a makeshift microscope using cardboard tubes from shuttlecock holders and lenses from his brother’s glasses. Though basic and initially unsuccessful, it sparked his lifelong interest in creating tools with limited resources. "This informal, curiosity-driven learning time fueled my love of science," he said.

His love for learning led him to IIT Kanpur where he pursued computer science but found himself drawn to hands-on experimentation. He spent much of his time in the robotics lab, designing projects like an omnidirectional walking spider-robot and creating programs that mimicked the drawing style of children. His passion for building and tinkering led him to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which he describes as a haven for inventors. “There was this idea of freedom—no one tells you what to do, and you can explore whatever you want,” the Global Indian recalls. It was at MIT that Prakash explored groundbreaking concepts, including a computer powered by microfluidic bubbles.

A turning point came during a visit to a rural clinic in India in 2010. A photograph of Mahatma Gandhi using a microscope struck a chord. The image highlighted the importance of accessible science in difficult times and inspired Manu Prakash to dedicate his career to creating tools that anyone could use to explore and solve problems. This led him to frugal science, which is about creating affordable, simple, and effective scientific tools to make science accessible to everyone, especially in resource-limited settings. It focuses on innovative designs that solve problems at a fraction of traditional costs.

Reinventing the Everyday

The Assistant Professor at Stanford runs a lab at the university which is a hive of creativity, where students and researchers work on projects that challenge the status quo of scientific tools. “We don’t know whether something we are working on will ever be useful,” Prakash admits, “but we think there is something there.”

This approach gave birth to Paperfuge, a centrifuge inspired by an ancient toy — the whirligig. By threading a string through a paper disc and pulling it to spin, the Paperfuge reaches speeds of 125,000 RPM, enough to separate plasma from blood in under two minutes. “The idea of frugal science is not about hacking something together quickly,” explains Prakash. “For each of our tools, there are 10-20 pages of math involved”.

The Paperfuge costs just 20 cents but performs on par with lab centrifuges worth $10,000, demonstrating that simplicity and affordability can go hand in hand with sophistication.

A World Transformed

The Foldscope and Paperfuge are just the start of Manu Prakash’s mission to make science accessible to all. His lab has created tools like a mosquito chip that helps detect diseases and a smartphone attachment for diagnosing oral cancer. These inventions, along with others like a method to identify mosquitoes by their wingbeats, follow a simple principle: making scientific tools affordable and available to everyone who needs them, especially in underserved areas.

“Frugal science is the difference between 1% of the population or billions of people having access to a solution,” says Prakash. This vision has driven the global impact of his creations. Millions of Foldscopes have been distributed worldwide, used not just in classrooms and clinics but also for applications like identifying fake medicines, detecting bacteria in water, and studying biodiversity. By breaking barriers to access, Prakash’s tools are changing lives across continents.

Recognition abroad

Dr Manu's journey in frugal science hasn’t just changed lives — it’s turned heads. Dubbed a “genius” by the MacArthur Fellowship, he earned the prestigious award for redefining how science can be done on a budget. His Foldscope — a $1 paper microscope — made waves, winning the Golden Goose Award for transforming a simple idea into a global game-changer. The National Institutes of Health also took notice, honouring him with the Director’s New Innovator Award for his revolutionary low-cost tools. Each recognition underscores a single, powerful idea: science should be for everyone, everywhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8cF5QPPmWU

Indian Minds Driving Innovation in the US

Dr Manu Prakash is part of a thriving Indian community at Stanford and across the United States, where Indian scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs are making significant contributions. Universities like Stanford bring together talented minds, including many from India, who excel in fields like artificial intelligence and biotechnology. These scholars often draw on their experiences in resource-limited environments, leading to innovative solutions focused on accessibility.

“Growing up with limited resources in India shaped my approach to science,” Prakash says, highlighting how his background inspires his work in frugal innovation. His story shows how the Indian diaspora connects cultures and ideas, driving impactful change globally.

Vision Ahead

Dr. Manu's work is about more than solving problems—it’s about sparking curiosity. He dreams of a world where every child has a microscope in their pocket, inspiring a new generation of scientists free from traditional barriers. “Lack of access creates barriers in people’s minds,” he says, and his mission is to break those barriers.

From a curious boy in Mawana to a global advocate for frugal science, Manu Prakash’s journey shows how simple tools can drive big change. His story proves that science isn’t just about knowledge—it’s a gift to humanity.

Follow Dr Manu Prakash on LinkedIn

Jay Sean: The British-Indian artiste completes 20 years in hip-hop music world

(April 16, 2024) Who can forget the peppy song Dance With You from the early 2000s? Then a 22-year-old, Jay Sean was among the few South Asian artistes who exploded on the music scene with a chartbuster that was set to change the course of his life. The song made the British-Indian artiste an overnight star, and as they say, the rest is history. Despite the changing time, he has kept himself relevant and the proof of it is that this year he completes 20 years in the music industry. "To be able to have 20 years in the music industry and have songs that have stuck as classics now, to me is always a blessing. The challenge is really just understanding how to evolve," he said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_50752" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Jay Sean[/caption] In the last two decades, the poster boy of the UK's Asian underground music scene has truly put Indian music and hip-hop on the global map. He was among the first few Indian artistes who opened the doors of South Asian music to the world, and is continuing to bring joy to music lovers across the world with his work. His latest song Heartless,

bal map. He was among the first few Indian artistes who opened the doors of South Asian music to the world, and is continuing to bring joy to music lovers across the world with his work.

His latest song Heartless, which was released a week ago, has already grabbed the attention of music lovers, and he knows his music works because he is being true to himself. "I understand what I have to offer to the industry, that if I write and deliver a song, it will always be a Jay Sean song. Regardless of how the production is changing, or even the melodies of the times are changing, it will still have my signature stamp on it," he added.

Growing up with music

Born as Kamaljit Singh Jhooti in London to Indian immigrant parents in a Punjabi Sikh family, Jay was raised in the Asian community of South Hall. From a young age, he was drawn to music, leading him to form a hip-hop band Compulsive Disorder with his cousin at the age of 11. A young Jay attended Latymer Upper School in the morning and wrote songs in the evening. "I remember watching Yo! MTV Raps from a young age. And that put me into writing because I just wanted to write raps. I used to go and find instrumentals when I was around 13, and I would write my own rhymes and record my own mixtapes. Me and my crew were making mixtapes, writing original lyrics over other people's beats, and that's what really got me into writing," he had said.

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But for his parents, music wasn't a traditional occupation and they encouraged him to focus on his studies. Someone who excelled in academics, he won himself a scholarship at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry to train as a doctor only to drop out in 2003 to pursue a career in singing. To kick start his career in music, he chose Jay Sean as his stage name. "Jay comes from my last name Jhooti and my grandmother used to call me ‘Shaan’ which is where Sean comes from," he revealed.

The poster boy of the UK's Asian underground scene

Life took a beautiful turn when one of his tracks One Minute fell into the hands of producer Rishi Rich, thus giving birth to the Rishi Rich project in 2003 that had Sean, Juggy D and Rich as its prime members. The trio exploded on the UK's Asian Underground scene with Dance With You, a chartbuster that made it to Top 20 hit. Such was the mania that even Virgin Records couldn't miss the chance of signing a £1 million deal with this rising star. Under Relentless Records, Jay belted out his first solo outing Eyes On You. The peppy beats and his velvety voice cast its spell on music lovers across the globe, making the song a Top 10 hit among all the Indian artists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8uztB31eUw

Global hip-hop icon

2004 came with the promise of Jay Sean being the next big thing. Each of his singles made the right noise in the music circle and soon he was hailed as the Asian sensation. His experimental and creative fusion of contemporary R&B and Indian music hit the right chord with music lovers across the globe. But his fallout with Virgin Records gave him time to self-reflect and use it to write songs. After a hiatus of almost two years, Sean returned with a bang with his second album My Own Way, which debuted at number six in the UK with its hit song Ride It smashing records. He soon found himself nominated at MOBO Award for Best UK Male and Best R&B/Soul among music heavyweights like Chris Brown, Estelle and Ne-Yo, which spoke volumes about him gaining popularity as a household sensation.

Champion of diversity

In 2008, Jay scripted history when he bagged a deal with Cash Money Records becoming the first South Asian singer and among few Indian artists to achieve the feat. The accomplishment opened an opportunity for the world to witness South Asian culture from close quarters. The deal bagged Jay his first collaboration with Lil Wayne, and the single became an instant hit zooming its way up the Billboard. This made him the first Asian British artiste to top the Hot 100 since Freddie Mercury of Queen in 1980.

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A post shared by Jay Sean (@jaysean)

"Me getting to this point provides me the opportunity to show people what our culture is all about. Our community is just as or even more so musically inclined and now is our time to show the world that we are just like everybody else. The fact that my grandfather and my father had to hide their identity to assimilate into culture was unjust. They did not think that such barriers could be broken in their lifetime. I take it very seriously that I have one shot to make it – not just for myself, but my community," he said in an interview.

Smashing stereotypes

After winning three awards including Best Male, Best Urban Act and Best Album at the 2009 UK Asian Music Awards, he performed with Akon at the Grammy same year. Such was the craze around this British Asian sensation that he found himself on Number 35 in Billboard's Hot 100 Artists of the year. The year came to a stunning end for the artiste as he became the first South Asian to perform at the Madison Square Garden in New York. For the next few years, he belted out hits after hits with The Mistress, Do You Remember and All or Nothing. It was in 2015 that he reunited with Rishi Rich and Juggy D to restart the Rishi Rich project with their new single Freak.

In 2020, Jay resurfaced with a bang with Eyes on You 2 which reached No 1 on BBC Asian Chart. While his journey has had its shares of ups and downs, like any Asian, he too felt stereotyped in the initial years of his career. "I have experienced stereotypes and lack of equal opportunities. The reason being that certain people don’t look at you as an artist but take the whole package into mind and put you in a box. I experienced it a lot but I also took it upon myself to show people very early on in my career that there was no stopping me. When they would label me as a specific type of artiste, I would break out of that box and do something completely different every single time. It’s something I really love doing. Hopping onto different genres and expanding on what I can do as an artiste," he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idMkbS6LWA8

And now he is back with yet again foot tapping number Heartless, which coincides with his 20th year in the music industry. "I feel so blessed when I think about completing 20 years in this music industry. That is such a blessing because now everything is so disposable," he said.

Giving back

When he is not busy making music, he lends support to organisations and causes that resonate with him. For someone who was training to be a doctor in his graduation, medical field is closer to his heart. In 2004 and 2009, he supported the Aga Khan Foundation in the charity event Partnership Walk and Run by performing in Regent's Park. Around the same time, he performed at Justin Timberlake's charity concert to raise funds for the Shriners Hospital for Children, thus raising more than $9 million along with artistes like Taylor Swift and Alicia Key. In 2012, he joined Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, and recorded a song Here's Hope to create awareness.

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Amit Lath: Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for Indo-Polish industrialist who helped evacuate Indians from Ukraine

(January 10, 2023) On a bone-chilling night in February 2022, Amit Kailash Chandra Lath received a call from the Embassy of India in Poland to arrange for the accommodation of 250 Indian students stuck at the Ukraine-Poland border. The very same morning, Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, thus leaving thousands of Indian students in panic. Many just grabbed a handful of essentials and marched more than 50-km to reach the border for safety. Understanding the gravity of the situation, the Indian industrialist, who has been in Poland for over 23 years, frantically started calling many hotels across the border cities of Poland. "It was chaos, with many Ukrainians fleeing the country to take shelter in border cities of Poland, finding accommodation was becoming difficult. Many hotels were charging as much as €400 per night," Amit tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_33681" align="aligncenter" width="830"] Amit Lath is an Indo-Polish industrialist[/caption] After six-seven hours of endless calls, Amit found his "right contact" in Stanislaw Mazur, a hotel owner and a doctor by profession, who agreed to help. "In just three hours, his team magically transformed a convention center into a dorm with a few hundred beds. Secured on this front, we soon

tion]

After six-seven hours of endless calls, Amit found his "right contact" in Stanislaw Mazur, a hotel owner and a doctor by profession, who agreed to help. "In just three hours, his team magically transformed a convention center into a dorm with a few hundred beds. Secured on this front, we soon started looking into catering, giving strict instructions to the head chef on Indian food behaviour and menu," says Amit, who played a pivotal role in helping evacuate thousands of Indian students fleeing Ukraine. His tireless work for those two weeks, helping every Indian making it to the Poland border reach India safely, has earned him the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2023.

On January 10, 1999, Amit boarded a plane to Poland with dreams of expanding his textile business in Europe, and exactly twenty-four years later, on the same day, he received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from President of India Droupadi Murmu in Indore. "Life has come full circle," Amit remarks, humbly adding, "It's a proud moment for the Indian diaspora in Poland. I might be the one who is receiving the award, but the entire diaspora played a key role. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time."

[caption id="attachment_33736" align="aligncenter" width="753"] Amit Lath received Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from President of India Dropudi Murmu[/caption]

Mumbai to Poland - the big dream

Coming from a typical Marwari family based in Mumbai, Amit was as young as seven when he first started accompanying his dad and family members to the office on several occasions. "They would lure me with a burger or food of my choice, and ask me to come to the office at times for the fun of it," he laughs, adding that it was the beginning of his training. "Even for vacations in the 80s, we would go to our factories in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. That was my preparation ground, and by the time I turned 15-16, I had a decent idea about the product. It gave me enough confidence to expand our textile business to Europe at the age of 22," says the CEO of the Sharda Group, who moved to Poland with a degree from Sasmira's Institute of Design and Textiles.

Determined to do something different, he landed in Poland in January of 1999, but moving to a new country came with its set of challenges. The extreme weather was one of the initial hurdles, followed up by a dearth of vegetarian food and of course, the language barrier. "But I began learning the language soon, and in six months, I was well-versed in the basics. Also, back then, the Indian diaspora was just 400, but they did make me feel at home."

[caption id="attachment_33684" align="aligncenter" width="587"] Amit Lath | Global Indian | Poland Amit Lath is the CEO of Sharda Group of Companies[/caption]

Putting India on the global map

For the next few years, with a clear focus and goal in mind - to make Sharda Group a known entity in the EU - Amit started making remarkable progress in his business. Such has been the impact that it became the first Indian company in Poland to be nominated in the list of FORBES Diamond 2012. While he made a name for himself in the Polish business world, Amit was also spearheading Indo-Polish ties. However, he instantly corrects me, "Indo-European ties."

"We have a strong standing across 27 countries of the EU. And now people have also started understanding India. We did a New India campaign a few years ago, telling people how India has gone beyond expansion and technology. It's not the India that their forefathers might have told them about. At every possible opportunity, I made sure to get people acquainted with India, through my conversations," says the VP of the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Poland.

[caption id="attachment_33685" align="aligncenter" width="538"] Amit Lath | Global Indian | Poland Amit Lath has been in Poland for 24 years now[/caption]

The past two decades in Poland have been a learning curve for Amit. Recalling the initial years, he reveals that many Indian businessmen back home were skeptical of starting a business in Poland as they often asked if the country was safe as they had heard that the Russian mafia was active. "I told them it was all nonsense." Things started looking up when Poland became a part of the EU in 2004, and many Indian business houses made their way to Poland. From big MNCs like Infosys and HCL to UFlex and Escorts setting up their offices, Indian businesses started growing in Poland. Thanks to this, Poland now has a thriving Indian diaspora of 45,000 people.

Operation Ganga

It's this same Indian diaspora that Amit credits for playing a pivotal role in helping the Indian government during Operation Ganga - an initiative to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. "While I was coordinating, many Indians and Polish came out to help the Indian government. But it was under the leadership of Gen VK Singh and the Ambassador of India that it was made possible," says Amit, who relentlessly worked with the Indian government for two weeks until the last Indian was sent back.

[caption id="attachment_33682" align="aligncenter" width="834"] Amith Lath with Gen VK Singh and Operation Ganga team[/caption]

The Indian government, meanwhile, had requested the Polish counterparts to allow Indian students to enter Poland without a visa on humanitarian grounds. Some exceptions were also made for students who were just carrying photocopies of their passports as they left behind their originals in a rush. "Poland shares eight land borders with Ukraine, and students were walking in cold for days to reach the Poland border. So, we ensured that once they are in Poland, they would be taken care of. A team of 30 doctors was arranged in the hotel as many had gone through mental trauma."

Those two weeks kept Amit on his toes as each day came with a new set of challenges. "A student had a heart attack, we had a pregnant lady, and a student lost his memory due to PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder). We had to firefight every moment, but getting to see all of them board the flight to safety was worth everything," says the 45-year-old who is all praise for Indian students' cooperation. "The way they handled the situation was remarkable. We knew that their parents back home would be worried, and we made sure that they were comfortable till the time they were in Poland," says the co-founder of the British International School of University of Lodz who likes to work with youth as they inspire him.

[caption id="attachment_33683" align="aligncenter" width="794"] Amit Lath with Indian students in Poland[/caption]

Interestingly, many of the Indian students who fled from Ukraine later enrolled in Polish universities. "We prepared a list of 15 Polish universities, and shared it with Indian media and several students, who could connect directly to them for admission, given the right documentation," reveals Amit, adding, "Brand India makes a lot of difference globally, and this is proof of it."

It's been almost a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and people including Indians made their way to Poland. Till now, more than 8.8 million immigrants have crossed the Polish border. "The way Poland opened its borders and arms for the people of Ukraine is commendable and emerged stronger as a member of the EU. It's high time that the war ends."

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Chef Garima Arora on second Michelin star win: It belongs to my team

(January 5, 2023) When a 60-year-old traditional Thai house is transformed into a unique dining destination, one expects to find magic served on every plate at the restaurant. And Chef Garima Arora doesn't disappoint. At Gaa - which has earned the reputation of being one of the best Indian restaurants in Bangkok - she creates a one-of-a-kind Indian dining experience that has helped it bag two Michelin stars, thus helping Chef Garima script history by becoming the only Indian woman chef to achieve the feat. The achievement comes in a few months after Garima embraced motherhood, and welcomed her child Aham. "I am absolutely thrilled and excited," she tells Global Indian. Yet, in the same breath, she tips her chef’s hat to her team, acknowledging their pivotal role in this culinary triumph. "This is a great validation to my team and the dedication that they have put in. This transition that I’ve been able to make from being a business owner and chef and to now also a mom, I wouldn’t be able to do it so seamlessly without my stellar team. I can't take all the credit. It all belongs to my team," she adds. [caption id="attachment_48013" align="aligncenter" width="658"]

edit. It all belongs to my team," she adds.

[caption id="attachment_48013" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Chef Garima Arora | Global Indian Chef Garima Arora[/caption]

Gaa took Bangkok – and the culinary world - by storm with its stellar debut in 2017, so much so that within a year it earned its first Michelin star. Over the last five years, Garima has been dedicated to transforming how people view Indian cuisine, producing, as a result, an array of award-winning vegetarian dishes. "You can spend a lifetime in India and not finish the entire cuisine. This is why it’s unique to us and also why we have to explore more and take it to the world. We have so much history, technique, and recipes that will die down with generations to come," she says, adding, "Hopefully, we will save some of the cooking recipes and see our cuisine evolve from where it is today."

Ask her what's that one thing one can't miss on Gaa's menu, and pat comes the reply, "One of the dishes that I am most excited about is our Tandoori Durian main course. At Gaa, our main course has always been vegetarian and we are very proud of how Indian techniques are capable of drawing so much umami from vegetables in a way that you don’t miss meat."

[caption id="attachment_48011" align="aligncenter" width="509"] Gobi parantha served at Gaa[/caption]

Dad's the inspiration

Growing up in a Punjabi family deeply passionate about food, Chef Garima developed a love for the aromas, textures, and emotional connection within delectable cuisines from a young age. In the 90s, her kitchen saw some exotic dishes like hummus and rum baba being whipped up by her dad; the recipes of which he brought back from international travels. "My dad showed me the joy that comes from cooking."

While her love for food was simmering on a low flame, she pursued Mass Media from Jai Hind College, Mumbai, which led her start a career as a pharma journalist. But she soon realised that being a chef was her true calling, and left for Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris. "At 21, it opened my world of food and cooking. I tried many things for the very first time. For someone who wants to start a career as a Chef, this is the right place to be. Paris is very much like a playground - a Disneyland, with cuisines from all over the world," she smiles.

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Learning from culinary legends

Her time at the culinary school laid the groundwork, and she soon found herself at Noma, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Copenhagen, learning alongside legendary Danish chef René Redzepi. Under his guidance, Chef Garima began to perceive cooking as a cerebral experience. "I learnt to think cerebrally about food and think about what I was putting on a plate rather than put ingredients together by chance. It made me realise that food was also an intellectual exercise rather than just a blue-collar job," she reveals.

After cooking up a storm at Noma, Garima was poised to launch her restaurant in India. But a sudden detour led her to Bangkok to work as sous chef alongside Chef Gaggan Anand at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Gaggan. Originally intended to be a temporary stopover, Garima ended up opening Gaa, a three-storeyed restaurant in Bangkok that pays homage to traditional Indian techniques through a modern tasting menu.

[caption id="attachment_48014" align="aligncenter" width="493"] Summer Curry served at Gaa[/caption]

Carving a niche

Gaa, which beautifully captures the vibrancy of Bangkok and the amalgamation of cultural influences, is an avant-garde restaurant that serves progressive Indian cuisine with local Thai ingredients and influences. Born out of her determination to rediscover and reform the narrative on Indian food, she was keen to show the world that Indian cuisine is beyond curries and naan. "Simply put, we explore vegetarian Indian cuisine with Thailand as a backdrop by weaving local Thai and East Asian ingredients to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience, which showcases the modern relevance of Indian cooking techniques," says Garima whose restaurant won its first Michelin star in 2018. She added another jewel when she was named Asia’s Best Female Chef for 2019 by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

[caption id="attachment_48012" align="aligncenter" width="744"] Gaa restaurant in Bangkok[/caption]

With each accomplishment, she is breaking through barriers in the culinary world as Chef Garima is on a mission to showcase Indian cuisine globally. She finds joy in the fact that Indian chefs are embracing their heritage and showcasing it on the plate. "We will see more Indian chefs championing their own food culture. In general, people are starting to look inward which is a very good thing. For the longest time we look to the West for inspiration but it's time we recognise and give value to all the incredible resources we have in our own country."

Despite two Michelin stars under her belt, Garima, who is now one of the most celebrated female chefs in Thailand, has no plans for expansion "as of now." However, she quips, "I have learnt to never say never!" She is keen to give an opportunity to young talented chefs who worked with her to start their kitchens.

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The award-winning chef, who has her hands full with her restaurant and parenthood, is a firm believer in giving back, and this led her to start The Food Forward Initiative in 2019 to give a new perspective on Indian cuisine to the world. "With all the traction we get from the accolades, I wanted to do good with it. Rather than talking about myself, it’s better to use this platform that I now have to speak more about our culture and cuisine, which hopefully will benefit the next generation of chefs to come," she signs off.

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