Global IndianstoryAishwarya Sridhar: The 24-year-old documentary filmmaker who became the first Indian to bag the Wildlife Photographer Award

Aishwarya Sridhar: The 24-year-old documentary filmmaker who became the first Indian to bag the Wildlife Photographer Award

Written by: Global Indian

(October 24, 2021) The wilderness is her office, Nature, a constant companion. The first Indian to win the coveted Wildlife Photographer Award in 2020 for her photograph on fireflies Lights of Passion (chosen from 50,000 entries from 80 countries) Aishwarya Sridhar’s entry held pride of place in the august halls of the National Museum of History in London at one time.

For a girl who grew up in the hustle and bustle of Panvel, the outdoors entranced her as she pranced along with her father on treks – who as a life member of the Bombay Natural History Society instilled a love for wildlife in her. Spotting a colourful dwarf Kingfisher or awed at the luminous glow of fireflies flitting in the Western Ghats, Sridhar found the power of the medium, with a conservationist spirit.

“Every day is a new adventure. I look forward to spending time in the wilderness,” says the preservationist, who cherishes all those moments in verdant landscapes but feels most fortunate to have seen a tigress training her cubs to hunt in the wild. Sridhar is also the winner of Sanctuary Asia’s Young Naturalist Award, the Princess Diana Award, and is a Jackson Wild summit fellow (considered the Emmy of wildlife filmmaking).

An eagle clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar.

The intuitive soul

This Global Indian is now working on a two-part TV series showcasing the survival stories of the seven endangered primates of India and the folk that protect them.

Each project engulfs Sridhar into a verdant world and its creatures. Straddled with a Canon 1Dx mark ii and Canon 5d mark iii, she sees wildlife with an intuitive soul. Queen of Taru, a film she researched, scripted and directed started off as a passion project in pursuit of the wild Bengal Tigress Maya in the forests of Tadoba, and her struggle of survival in a male dominated world. “After six years of tracking her, I finally gave her a celluloid salute. I learnt that animals are capable of strategy just like humans, and they are capable of feeling emotions, When I got to know that Tiger Queen of Taru would be airing on Nat Geo WILD, that felt fulfilling, I was grateful,” says Sridhar.

A tiger in the wild.

Art with a cause

Going into unexplored territory led her to Panje, a wetland she has been visiting since childhood. Witnessing a gradual loss of habitat at Uran, her connect with the local fishing communities helped her in research which she presented in a 14-minute documentary on DD. “The most interesting finding was that the so-called ‘illiterate’ (local tribals) know the value of our ecosystem and its role in our survival more than the educated who so easily give orders for destruction. The film and photo-story helped bring a Bombay High Court Order protecting Uran, thus saving the livelihoods of around 2,500 fishermen. The Panje wetland is now recognised as a satellite wetland, and will soon receive the status of a ‘conservation reserve’,” says the eco warrior, who is also an emerging fellow at International League of Conservation Photographers, working towards policy-level protection for the wetlands in Mumbai.

Sridhar was selected to feature on My Place on Earth – a digital series by BBC Earth in 2021, and is ecstatic about the episode filmed online with some on-field content pre-shot by her. A self-taught photographer, her initiation with the camera began with her father showing her the basics. A course by acclaimed wildlife photographer Sudhir Shivaram added context, though she giggles saying, “every trick I have learnt is from YouTube and by experimenting.”

Aishwarya Sridhar

A multi-hyphenate

Even with filmmaking, Sridhar learnt by watching films on National Geographic, Discovery and Animal Planet. She has since self-taught, edited, presented, and directed an eight-part web series for World Wildlife Fund India. She also did a film for the state forest department and the Deccan Conservation Foundation on the unique and endangered wildlife of the Deccan Plateau. “During the lockdown, I ideated on inculcating the love for Nature in children using origami for WWF-India. I brought Nature indoors with the series titled Fun-Crafts with Aishwarya (digital),” says the shutterbug, whose series helped further with a collaboration with Discovery Channel. It partnered in another unique live show that focused on spotlighting endangered species in India through interesting conversations with India’s top wildlife photographers, filmmakers, and scientists. “I am one of the youngest presenters to have hosted a live show on Discovery,” says the girl, who loves to write poetry in her free time, no doubt inspired by her lush office.

Her upbringing has instilled a deep conservation mindset with focused hard work. “From the age of eight, I have explored India’s wilderness. My parents have always encouraged my curiosity, and raised me with a lot of outdoor exposure which helped immensely,” she says, thrilled that she finally has incredible mentors.

A wasp clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar

Believing staunchly in the power of self, her transition from photography to filmmaking was game-changing. “I never thought of becoming a wildlife filmmaker initially. As I got older, I knew I would never be happy at a desk. So, I chose mass media for graduation though Mumbai University doesn’t offer any filmmaking specialisations. It was daunting. But I worked on myself every day, and still do so,” says the filmmaker, who now wants to try filming with 360-degree VR.

A path peppered with milestones

Each award is a milestone leading her to the next. For instance, for the “BBC Wildlife Your Shot Competition, the pictures of a bonnet macaque alpha male, flamingos in Navi Mumbai and a baby lion-tailed macaque with its mother were winners. Each picture is special, and documents a moment in nature that is otherwise overlooked”, she explains.

A part of the award-winning podcasts Eyes on Conservation now titled Earth to Humans, by the Wild Lens Collective, connecting with natural history storytellers from around the globe enthuses her. “I hope to start my own natural history media outlet in India in the next decade,” says the 24-year-old, who is hugely inspired by award-winning filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert, whose Big Cats Initiative and films have her enthralled.

Flamingoes of Mumbai, clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar

Even though the pandemic has upended much travel, it is slowly opening up. Back to her wilderness address, Sridhar has some great filmmaking projects in the pipeline. She feels travel and Nature teaches one adaptability and patience. “With every animal/bird you photograph the strategy changes. You should be able to adjust to extreme weather conditions and be physically fit to get the maximum out of your trip. Being a Gen-Z kid, I expected instant gratification, but wildlife photography teaches you persistence. There may be times when you don’t see the animal/bird, and you may not get the photograph you have in mind, but it’s important to never lose your calm in these situations,” she advices.

Mother Nature has been her constant teacher, and she hopes humans learn to protect their habitats. “Whenever Nature gets hurt, she repairs herself and continues on. In the same way, I try to be positive and keep working hard,” she says.

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Published on 24, Oct 2021

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The Road to Kuthriyar: The world’s window to the Western Ghats

(August 2, 2022) In the dense forests of the Western Ghats, somewhere in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, the birds and insects make quite a racket, chirping incessantly through the still morning air. Rising through the din are the strains of a flute. The source of the music is Dhruv Athreye, the protagonist of the docu-fiction film, The Road to Kuthriyar, who sits beside a crudely fashioned Shivling. Here, nature is akin to God, stones and trees are often marked out, adorned with sandalwood paste and flowers by the locals who come by to offer their prayers. Bharat Mirle's debut foray into feature-length films, The Road to Kuthriyar is an ode to the magnificent eco-zone that is the Western Ghats. In a couple of weeks, the film will be screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, along with Surya-starrer Jai Bhim and a curated lineup of other Tamil films. It also premiered at the 2021 Busan Film Festival in South Korea, one of the most significant festivals in Asia. The film draws the viewer into the heart of the Western Ghats, through the story of an unlikely friendship between Dhruv, an amicable researcher from Bengaluru who is conducting a

the story of an unlikely friendship between Dhruv, an amicable researcher from Bengaluru who is conducting a mammal survey across the 600-kilometre Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, and Dorai, a local tribesman with a drinking problem, whom Dhruv recruits to serve as his guide.

As Dhruv plays his melancholic tune, a figure emerges from the foliage, pulling away on a beedi clutched in his right hand. "Hello. Don't play over there. Nagamma will come," he calls, picking his way through the grass. When Dhruv pauses, perplexed, the man launches into a little dance to demonstrate his point, fashioning his hands overhead to mimic a cobra's hood. "Nagamma," he says again. "Big snake will come." He introduces himself as "Meen (fish) Kumar" and sits down beside Dhruv to talk on the phone, saying, in Tamil, "I'm in a shoot now." This is where the story begins and as it unfolds, Dhruv finds that navigating his intrepid guide is as tricky as the dangers the forest holds.

The Road to Kuthriyar | Bharat Mirle | Global Indian

It's a jungle out there

The film brings to the fore the perils of rampant urbanisation, infrastructure projects, mining, and tourism in what is one of eight UNESCO World Heritage Centres around the globe. Believed to be even older than the Himalayas, the great Indian gaur, the world's largest bovine, is an everyday sight, as are elephants. Locals are always happy to describe a hairy encounter with a wild boar or tell you about that time a leopard came prowling. The more dedicated trekkers, who befriend the tribal communities who live in the mountains and venture even deeper into the forests, will tell you about the tigers and lions too.

The rustic feel of a hand-held camera and seemingly unscripted dialogue were all part of Bharat's plan. "The idea was initially to do a documentary," Bharat tells Global Indian. "I had heard of someone doing interesting work in the Western Ghats and realised that the person was, Dhruv, whom I knew." This was back in 2018 and Mithun Bhat, the film’s cinematographer, had already met up with Dhruv and taken the necessary permission to shoot. "After I met them, however, I thought it was more suited to the docu-fiction space. I wanted to tell a story."

That's how Bharat Mirle arrived at the Kuthriyar Dam. By this time, Dhruv had already spent about two years in the region, conducting his survey and taking on sundry social projects like building eco-friendly toilets. "As we did our research, we realised that there was so much about Kuthriyar that we didn't know, that even Dhruv didn't know," Bharat explains. A dam, or any other form of large-scale government infrastructure, gives rise to pockets of civilisation, small communities who move nearby to eke out a living. "We tend to romanticise these things," says Bharat, who is based in Bengaluru, where he is a full-time filmmaker. "We think of this beautiful, simple life but that's not the case at all. But the idea is to tell a story without passing judgment. We saw things that made us uncomfortable, like alcoholism, for instance, but our duty was to tell the story without compromising its integrity or passing judgment. It is always a point of view and in this case, we tell the story through Dhruv's eyes."

[caption id="attachment_27631" align="aligncenter" width="406"] Bharat Mirle[/caption]

A story within a story

Bharath decided to fund the film himself – although he has a fairly substantial repertoire as a writer, director, and editor, this was his first attempt at a full-length feature film. Working on a small budget with little freedom to experiment, they adopted what Bharat calls a "guerrilla style," with "no setup, we would just go." There was a sound guy, a cinematographer, Dhruv and Bharat, and later, a camera person. "You just go, set up, and start shooting. If we needed an actor, we would say, "Hey, do you want to be in the film." The script too had been written around people we had met. "There were scenes when Dhruv or Dorai are actually talking on the phone for real."

Much of the film plays out according to a prepared script but these little vignettes bring in the feel of a documentary. He wanted both - the finish of a scripted, well-planned feature film and the rustic spontaneity of a documentary. "It struck me when we were doing the initial film. So, The Road to Kuthriyar became a film in which the protagonist is making a documentary." He attempts to understand India, to gain insight into the lives of the less privileged, rural communities, who carry out their lives in a complex exchange with the government."

Kodaikanal to South Korea

Shooting began in Feb 2019 and was complete just before the pandemic hit, as Bharat's team had begun to plan the release. "It was nerve-wracking," he says. "You have spent two years doing this and now, the world is in lockdown and you don't know what's going to happen." His worries proved unfounded, however, when The Road to Kuthriyar was part of 'A Window on Asian cinema" at the Busan International Film Festival.

The exploration of our fragile, imperiled forest ecosystems, is a theme he has dealt with several times before. His advent into films and storytelling was also something of a given, he recalls that storytelling was always a childhood love. "Initially, I wanted to be a writer," he says. "I was raised around literature and films." His parents were both writers and his grandmother taught literature, so stories were always a part of his life.

[caption id="attachment_27632" align="aligncenter" width="750"] The Road to Kuthriyar | Bharat Mirle | Global Indian A still from the film with Dhruv Athreye (left)[/caption]

The filmmaker's journey

Back then, in the early 90s, access to equipment was very limited, although Bharat recalls friends whose parents had 'camcorders'. "We would hang out, make home movies and act in them as well," he smiles. That marked his first foray into filmmaking, although making films for a living was decidedly not an option at the time. "I was in college when the DSLR revolution happened and I decided I wanted to be in films." His parents, both writers, had cautioned him, telling him not to be a writer at any cost. "Being a writer is also a lonely job. Filmmaking is by nature collaborative. It also gives me the chance to meet more people."

After a brief stint with a news channel, he quickly realised it wasn't the life for him. Bharat then decided to try his hand at advertising and "was okay at the job," he says. From there, he took the leap, joining Nirvana Films, an established film house at the time, as a trainee, which was one of the early filmmakers entering the documentary space. "There, I learned how to do less with more," Bharat says. With two friends, he co-founded Yogensha Productions, to make corporate films as a way to make some money. Their film, 175 Grams, which told the story of FlyW!ld, the Chennai-based Ultimate Frisbee team, went on to win the Short Film Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

In Stories of Resilience: Chikkaballapur, produced by Bharat Mirle and Quicksand, they meet Narasimha Reddy, a small-scale farmer in Tumkur, an expert in traditional, organic farming practices and the use of indigenous seeds. In Byramangala, part of the same series, a group of cattle herders risk a polluted lake so they can feed their cows.

In 2017, Bharat was the director, writer, and editor of Vaahana, which was selected for the 2018 Jakarta International Humanitarian & Culture Award, the 2018 New Jersey Indian and International Film Festival, and the Bangalore International Short Film Festival. Bharat was also an editor on Krithi Karanth's Flying Elephants: A Mother's Hope, where a mother elephant confesses her fears to her little calf. The film was named the Best Global Voices Film at the Jackson Wild Media Awards and was selected for Wildscreen, Environmental Film Festival, S.O.F.A. Film Festival, and the Ireland Wildlife Film Festival.

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Bollywood magic: Africa’s deep-rooted love affair with Indian cinema

(August 6, 2024) Sitting on a boat in a lake surrounded by water lilies in the picturesque landscape of Morogoro in Tanzania, social media star Kili Paul is lip-syncing to the popular song Suniya Suniya Raatan. His love for Indian music isn't a secret as the 29-year-old's social media is full of videos of him performing popular Bollywood songs. Clad in his Masaai attire, he never misses a chance to show his love for Bollywood. So much so that he was honoured by Indian High Commission in Tanzania for promoting Indian music and culture. But he isn't the only one, hundreds of heartwarming videos of Africans immaculately singing Bollywood numbers are proof that our films have touched millions of hearts in the continent of Africa, even some 6,000 kilometers away. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kili Paul (@kili_paul) Bollywood first made its mark in Africa in the 1950s. With Hollywood film licensing hefty on their pockets, Africans found a perfect alternative in Bollywood films. The themes, plots, and lively song and dance routines of Bollywood films resonated with African audiences. Even without dubbing, Hindi films drew packed houses across the continent. The love affair

Bollywood first made its mark in Africa in the 1950s. With Hollywood film licensing hefty on their pockets, Africans found a perfect alternative in Bollywood films. The themes, plots, and lively song and dance routines of Bollywood films resonated with African audiences. Even without dubbing, Hindi films drew packed houses across the continent.

The love affair that began some 70 years ago is growing stronger with each passing day. From the shores of Tanzania to the inlands of Mali, every country in the continent shares a strong bond with Bollywood.

Arun Ashokan, who moved to Malawi five years ago, vouches for Africans' love for Bollywood. "I recently spotted this girl in Mponela singing a Hindi film song, who came running to me inquiring about the film. They love Bollywood films, and music and even watch Hindi serials. They have small theatres in villages where they play these movies and serials," he tells Global Indian.

Mali's Bollywood-themed radio shows

Bollywood has even enchanted the people of Bamako in Mali. Nestled on the banks of the calm Niger river, Bamako boasts of rich history, diverse linguistic and cultural traditions. But this West African country's love for Bollywood is an open secret. Even the 8,604 km distance between Mumbai and Bamako is no spoiler for Malians who love Bollywood and Indian culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toD184BQinM

Anjani Kumar, Ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali told Financial Express that there is a significant fan base for Bollywood cinema, song, and dance in Mali. He described his meeting with singer Mofas Khan as truly enriching. "An ardent Indophile who has never been to India but his love for our country and culture is admirable. He is a passionate singer who has learnt Hindi without a teacher. He presents a weekly radio program called India Gaana dedicated to Bollywood where he painstakingly interprets Hindi songs in Bambara, the lingua franca of Mali and West Africa, and also gives information about the film personalities."

Hailing from a village in Mopti, Mofas Khan expresses his love for India through Bollywood songs. Like many Bamako residents, Khan, too, grew up on a rich diet of Bollywood films and has been in love with the Indian culture ever since. It was Rote Rote Hasna Seekho from Andha Kanoon that Khan crooned for the first time, and since then, there has been no looking back for this Indophile.

But Khan is not the only known Bollywood aficionado in Mali. Seydou Dembele is another resident of the country who wears his love for Bollywood up his sleeve. A school teacher by profession, Dembele was introduced to Hindi cinema by his father who worked at a theatre that screened Bollywood films. For the last 25 years, he has been presenting a radio show - Indian Frequency on Bollywood Songs - every Sunday afternoon.

Such has been his popularity that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned him during Mann Ki Baat in 2020. "His passion for India, affection, and love are indeed a matter of pride for us," the PM had said.

When Seduji visited #Kumbh and at that time he was part of the delegation that I met, his passion for India, affection and love are indeed a matter of pride for all of us: PM @narendramodi #MannKiBaat #PMonAIR pic.twitter.com/RC2HtjBBQQ

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 27, 2020

The love for Bollywood music extends beyond radio shows, flourishing in cultural groups that promote Indian music and dance. Three prominent cultural groups in the capital, Bamako—Yaarana Hindustani, Bollywood Fans International, and Dostiare—periodically organize cultural events. These events bring together Malian artists, singers, and dancers who have dedicated themselves to various aspects of Indian culture.

Ghana's romance with Bollywood classics

Some 1,100 kilometers away, Rex Cinema in Ghana's Kumasi had become a favourite with Bollywood fans during the 1960s. The theatre played Bhagwan Dada and Geeta Bali's Albela every Friday for a year, selling out its 2,000-seat capacity.

It was the post-colonial period that brought Bollywood films to the shores of Ghana. The recurrent themes of community, honour, morality, and family values resonated with the people of Ghana, kindling their love for Bollywood.

In the capital city of Tamale, old Hindi films like Albela (1951), Love In Tokyo (1966), Noorie (1979), and Andha Kanoon (1983) are still viewed by residents in their homes and neighbourhood video centers. The people of Ghana devour Hindi films, and their love for Bollywood can be seen across innumerable DVD shops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQG4kQ3x-Uw

While the Bollywood classics are a hit with Ghanaians, the older Dagomba (ethnic group of Ghana)viewers outright rejected the Bollywood films of the 90s citing cultural and moral shifts. The video center owners decided not to screen new Bollywood films.

Kannywood's emergence in Nigeria, courtesy Bollywood

Nigeria's love affair with Bollywood began in the 1950s. Considered to be a cheaper alternative to the latest Hollywood hits, some Lebanese merchants decided to import Hindi films to Nigeria. Soon attending Bollywood film screenings in open courtyards became commonplace in Nigerian culture. Interestingly, the films screened were neither dubbed nor subtitled in the native language. Mainly because the Nigerian communities saw themselves in the stories portrayed in Hindi cinema, Bollywood was able to cut through the language barrier in Africa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj34Jwi62gM&list=PLNBidjQ1MgTRQ0QrgMdMHcw7CzIF8dzar

Be it pulp fiction or devotional songs, Bollywood left an indelible mark on Hausa culture - it acted as a catalyst in the creation of Kannywood, the north Nigerian movie hub based out of Kano. Kannywood Studios often replicate Bollywood movies shot by shot, and they also produce music videos heavily influenced by Indian styles. In 2013, an album inspired by this trend was released in Nigeria, titled Harafinso: Bollywood-Inspired Film Music from Hausa Nigeria.

Even the women of Nigeria have found inspiration in Bollywood which led to the emergence of soyayya - or - love literature in the 80s. The Hausa women, deeply inspired by the innocent romance in Hindi films, started writing soyayya novels to modernise their conservative communities.

Over the years, Bollywood's grip on Nigeria has become as strong as ever, and now Nollywood (the Nigerian film industry) is collaborating with Bollywood to produce films together. The 2020 Netflix film Namaste Wahala, based on a romantic relationship between an Indian boy and a Nigerian girl, is the perfect example of this collaboration. S Pratibha, who moved with her husband to Abuja two years ago, says that Nigerians grew up on a staple of Bollywood films. "They love everything Bollywood. On the streets, you often find Bollywood music playing. It is a great feeling to see Nigerians embracing Hindi music."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJzCtDD-FDQ

Kenya's pop culture boost from Bollywood

In Nigeria, Bollywood served as a source of inspiration, while in Kenya, Hindi films significantly influenced music genres, landscapes, and fashion, offering dreams during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. With a huge population of Asians residing in Kenya from the 60s to the 90s, Bollywood became an integral part of the culture. Globe Cinema in Nairobi was the go-to destination for Bollywood film buffs and the movies it showcased opened doors to Indian culture among East Africa's Asian community. The film provided a quick lesson in fashion customs and traditions.

From Rajesh Khanna to Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood stars have left an imprint on the people of Kenya. In 2019, actor Anupam Kher shared a video of a Kenyan couple lip-syncing to Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. The same year, the first-ever Indian Films Festival was held in Kenya.

Presenting #Sharukh and #Kajol from Kenya lip-synching the eternal love song from the eternal #dilwaledulhanialejayenge. Video shared by the man who composed the song, @pandit_lalit. Enjoy.🤓🙏😎😍 #MusicIsUniversal pic.twitter.com/5gwga3kARv

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) September 12, 2019

Like music, films transcend boundaries, and this is especially true for Bollywood films. If you're an Indian traveler, chances are you've encountered people who recognize your identity because of Bollywood stars. That's the power of Hindi cinema. Over the last 60 years, Africans have embraced Bollywood films to the extent that they have become a part of their culture. Indian films have left an indelible mark on Africa, and this love affair continues to grow for both regions. However, the challenge remains that many African countries still prefer classic films from the past. The task now is to make contemporary Indian cinema more appealing to a global audience.

Lawyer Smita Rajmohan: Redefining future by shaping AI ethics

(April 5, 2024) With a stellar career full of remarkable achievements, Smita Rajmohan, the Senior Product Counsel for Artificial Intelligence Operations at Autodesk, the California-headquartered software behemoth, has her hands full. Navigating what is perhaps the technology of the century (artificial intelligence), the lawyer says, “At Autodesk, I help the company safely, responsibly, and ethically develop and deploy artificial intelligence in products and business operations. This involves helping set up AI governance programmes and working closely with product and engineering teams to enable trustworthy AI features in our products.” The 34-year-old has had a storied career supporting product launches for the iPad, AirTag, and AirPods at Apple. Featured in Modern Counsel’s prestigious 35 under 35 list, this girl from Delhi has a host of awards under her belt, including the MCCA Rising Star, Unstoppable Women 2020, and Judge CES Innovation Awards. Shaping generative AI development and adoption across the company, this Global Indian focuses on empowering the next generation of legal and technology professionals. A lawyer at heart Growing up, Smita looked up to her accomplished grandfather, K.R. Sivaramakrishnan, who made a huge impact on the world through his work at the United Nations and who remains her role model.

oopener">Global Indian focuses on empowering the next generation of legal and technology professionals.

A lawyer at heart

Growing up, Smita looked up to her accomplished grandfather, K.R. Sivaramakrishnan, who made a huge impact on the world through his work at the United Nations and who remains her role model.

Reminiscing about her growing-up years, the lawyer says, “I was raised in a middle-class home in New Delhi with hopes of becoming a journalist growing up. As I started to get older, I realised that while journalists can report on important news and highlight important issues, as a lawyer, I might be in a position to also solve some of those issues. That led me to law school, and the rest is history.”

Lawyer | Smita Rajmohan | Global Indian

She left India in 2013 to study law at UC Berkeley Law, which has the best intellectual property and technology law courses in the world, and it was in those classes that she found her passion for technology and artificial intelligence. “The thing I remember and miss most fondly is the luxury I had back then to be able to question the law, question policy, and study the philosophical underpinnings of why and how certain laws came to be,” she recalls.

Very early on in her career, the lawyer got the opportunity to work on some incredible deals and transactions. As a lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis and Cooley LLP, she worked on several high-profile deals; the most notable one was assisting her client Apple with its acquisition of Shazam, an application that can identify music based on a short sample played using the microphone on the device. It was a significant landmark in the landscape of artificial intelligence in audio and gave the lawyer great exposure as well as recognition.

ALSO READ | Activist Manjusha Kulkarni’s inspiring journey against racism and hate crimes

Working with AI

As someone who works with AI every day, what are the things one should watch out for while embracing it? She explains. “Artificial intelligence governance includes many facets that are beyond the law. It includes ensuring that AI is rights-affirming, protects the vulnerable (such as children) against manipulation, and is safe for use. The biggest risks in AI stem from data, the collection of the data, and the eventual use of this data. Therefore, data privacy and data protection are crucial parts of AI governance.”

Given the power of technology, the world needs to be mindful of balancing AI innovation with principles such as privacy by design, data minimisation, transparency, accountability, and fairness. The lawyer agrees, adding, “Developing artificial intelligence in this safe and trustworthy manner will ensure that companies retain customer trust.”

Lawyer | Smita Rajmohan | Global Indian

Smita is a part of the IEEE AI Policy Committee and has helped draft position statements on AI, including responses to the National AI Advisory Committee and the USPTO. She will be part of working groups at the Biden-Harris US AI Safety Consortium through IEEE. Given her expertise in IP and AI, the lawyer was appointed to the Technology Committee at CITED (California Initiative on Technology and Democracy), a think tank focused on fighting the harms of AI-generated misinformation and its impact on elections and our democracy.

A modern-day lawyer

The archaic perception of a lawyer being solely in charge of writing legal briefs is fading fast. Today, lawyers need to convey their value to their clients and how they can be catalysts for faster innovation. They are now accepted as business partners and even technical experts in terms of intellectual property and data governance.

Smita agrees and adds, “As a lawyer involved in technology transactions, such as software development agreements or technology transfer agreements, I need to understand the scientific basis of the technologies involved. This has given me a ton of experience in software and the industry. I am now given a seat at the table on critical business and product decisions.”

Lawyer | Smita Rajmohan | Global Indian

The lawyer hope is to continue spearheading and fighting for innovations in responsible and safe AI while being balanced against the incredible business potential AI promises.

An Indian at heart

Though she is based in the US, Smita says that she has never really felt disconnected from India. She states, “I still celebrate all my favorite festivals, enjoy wearing saris, and am always up for some pani-puri at our local Indian grocery stores. I also visit India often; on my last trip, I explored the Indian islands, the Andamans. It was an amazing experience.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCqIh-kybYI

For Indians abroad, she says that our roots and culture are our biggest strengths. “We are exposed to so much diversity in India; many of us speak several languages and are very adaptable to different cuisines and cultures. It prepares us well to assimilate in a foreign country. It’s important to convey to a foreign market how your unique background can be a force for achievement,” she advises.

Finding the right balance

As someone who has an extremely busy professional life, the young professional knows exactly what helps her refocus and recover: time with family and friends, exercise, and spending time with nature. The lawyer smiles and says, “I like to read books by Nassim Nicolas Taleb and Daniel Kahneman when I want something to ponder. But when I want to truly relax, I always spring for a book by P.G. Wodehouse. Our home is always running short of bookshelves because we have a terrible (and wonderful) habit of hoarding books.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnRuadAe9To

Giving her best every single day in every single task, small or big, it is easy to understand why the lawyer is making a mark—because she does everything with her passion and unbridled joy of giving it to her best!

ALSO READ | Priti Krishtel's fight against racism in the healthcare sector

What would you say to young Indians abroad?

My advice would be to maintain confidence in your abilities, keep an open mindset about learning new things, and enjoy the adventure!

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From winning championship at 9 to becoming a chess grandmaster at 17: SL Narayanan’s incredible journey

(November 8, 2021) SL Narayanan was all of nine when the board game with 64 black and white squares grabbed his attention. It was at this young age that he learnt that the knight in chess moves multiple squares each time while the pawn moves forward one square. Such was his passion for the game that he aced it and won his first championship that same year. This taste of victory gave Narayanan enough drive to pursue the game professionally and eight years later, he became India's 40th chess Grandmaster at the age of 17. Cut to 2021, Narayanan is still making India proud at the international level when he recently finished second at the ChessMood Open in Armenia. The pandemic was a blessing in disguise for this 23-year-old who got enough time to improve his game. "I was very happy with my performance at the ChessMood Open. I played some quality games and was very happy to see the result of my work during this pandemic. It was my first visit to Armenia and I am glad I could keep a positive memory about the tournament. And this indeed motivates me to work even harder," he told Global Indian

e told Global Indian in an interview.

While the chess grandmaster is upping his game with every tournament but he had to overcome many challenges to reach the top.

A chance encounter with chess

Born in 1998 in Kerala, Narayanan was just nine when he first accompanied his mother to a chess tournament at her office and watched with rapt attention as she played the game. Sensing his curiosity, one of his mom's colleagues introduced him to the rules of the game. Intrigued by the world of chess, he returned to the tournament the next year with his mother and tried his hand. He managed to impress his opponent with his moves; he noticed the kid's potential and insisted his mother give Narayanan proper training. "Consequently, under the guidance of P Sreekumar, who was the former Kerala State Champion, I started my first lessons of the game. I learned the game in a systematic way and also started participating in district weekly events," he says.

[caption id="attachment_15245" align="aligncenter" width="486"] A young SL Narayanan up against top GM Parimarjan Negi.[/caption]

While Narayanan was mastering chess with each game, he would often ask his parents about his future in the game. The question of who would he become if he continued playing well often crossed his mind. "They [my parents] had one clear name to look up to - Vishwanathan Anand. Once I got to know about him through his games and news reports, I knew I had a role model," he adds. Soon, he fell in love with chess as it was the game's individuality that attracted him. "The rules are the same for everyone but you play according to your understanding/strategy and that's what made it colourful for me," says the grandmaster.

Nudging support from family

The 23-year-old is now among the top 10 chess players in India, and his career is testament to his family's support and commitment to the game. "My father was a government contractor but he quit his job when I started playing so that he could travel with me for tournaments," he reveals. His mother, who introduced him to the game, was among his biggest supporters as she was the sole breadwinner in the family for the longest time. The Grandmaster from Kerala also found support in his sister who gave up her dream of being a chess player in order to let him succeed. "My sister was also a very good chess player. She has participated in several national events and was the Delhi University zonal champion in 2017. We both trained under the same coach together for a while. However, my parents could only back one of us as our financial background wasn't great; one of us had to step back to pave the way for the other. Since I was a bit more talented and hard working, she decided to take a step back," adds Narayanan.

[caption id="attachment_15250" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] Grandmaster SL Narayanan[/caption]

The chess player's endeavours were not only supported by his family but even his school backed him. Narayanan studied at St Thomas Residential school till 8th standard and then moved to St Mary's Higher Secondary School to focus more on his game. Despite his hectic schedule, the 23-year-old was able to strike a balance between his studies and chess, all thanks to the support of his teachers.

Checkmate by challenges

Narayanan was quite young when he started learning from former Kerala State Champion, P Sreekumar and later trained under IM Varghese Koshy and GM Praveen Thipsay. But it hasn't been an easy journey from him as financial aid has always been a constraint. "Initially, I didn't get any proper training, opportunities or support to better my game despite being a strong and hardworking player. My parents took loans from several institutions to give me good training and help me participate in tournaments. If I had gotten proper training when I was young, like the players of similar age now get, it would have helped me create a strong foundation which I could build on," says the English Literature graduate from Mar Ivanios College.

[caption id="attachment_15246" align="aligncenter" width="1038"] SL Narayanan at World Junior Chess Championship 2016[/caption]

In 2016, the year Narayanan won gold in the Asian junior blitz chess championship, crowdfunding came to his rescue. "I was contacted by the social platform - Milaap after they came to know about me through one of the dailies. Later, they started crowdfunding and raised around ₹1.15 lakh which was indeed helpful for me. I believe crowdfunding is a reliable way to raise funds especially in a third world country like India," adds Narayanan.

He didn't find much support from the government either apart from the time when he became a grandmaster. "Since then I have not received any support from either the State or Central Government. Even when I went to one of the administrators, he ridiculed me and asked if chess was even a game; that was so disheartening," he reveals.

A journey worth remembering

Despite many challenges and setbacks, Narayanan has been able to pull himself through all of it for the sheer love of the game. From winning his first championship in 2007 to becoming a grandmaster, he has come a long way. "There have been a lot of thrilling moments in the journey with some tournaments working for me and others working completely against me. But I still enjoy the process of working on a game and the concept that builds the game."

[caption id="attachment_15247" align="aligncenter" width="601"] SL Narayanan[/caption]

For this Global Indian, chess is more than a game as he says it has helped him in shaping his character. The grandmaster is confident in the future of the sport and its players. "I could easily say that chess could help the young generation to instill in them life qualities as well as problem solving capabilities which will benefit them immensely," he signs off.

Follow SL Narayanan on Twitter

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How Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar took India’s first microbrewery all the way to Dallas, Texas

(June 16, 2024) Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar's career in hospitality began as if by chance, when he brought home a college application form for hotel management. He began at The Park, New Delhi, where he honed his skills and later expanded into European cuisine under seasoned mentors. His accolades include a prestigious IH&RA scholarship and a pivotal role as Team Chef for Cricket Australia. Currently, as Corporate Chef for Total Environment Hospitality, he leads the charge in restaurant and microbrewery expansions, notably introducing Windmills to international markets. Passionate about regional cuisines, his work at Oota stands testament to his commitment to showcasing diverse Indian flavors. Growing up as an army kid, Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar wanted to join the forces. Destiny, however, had other plans, though he wanted to join the NDA [National Defence Academy]. He recalls, “When I went to collect the form, the lady didn’t have change, so she gave me the application form for hotel management instead. My mother suggested I apply for both, which I did. That year, the NDA and AFMC exams clashed and my choice to sit for the AFMC wasn’t the best. However, I cleared the national exam for hotel management with merit.” After completing

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After completing his studies at the Institute of Hotel Management in Pusa, New Delhi, he took up the offer of a Management Trainee position at The Park, New Delhi, which eventually pioneered the concept of boutique hotels in India.

[caption id="attachment_52385" align="aligncenter" width="531"] Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar | Global Indian Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar[/caption]

Gaining Mastery in European Cuisine

Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar, in an exclusive with Global Indian, reveals how his expertise in European and Italian cuisine increased organically. “Back in 1997, The Park, New Delhi, was the first hotel to launch a Spanish restaurant, Las Meninas, in India. Chef Pedro was specially flown in from Spain to helm the restaurant and it was with him that I had my first brush with European cuisine. Four years later, The Park acquired the Quality Inn Kensington Terrace in Bengaluru (now The Park, Bengaluru) and revamped it into the bright, colourful and eclectic property that it is today.

“They commissioned Sir Terrence Conran to design this boutique hotel where he also designed its iconic Italian restaurant ‘I.t-alia’. I was selected to head the kitchens and that was where I learned Italian cuisine from the acclaimed master Antonio Carluccio.”

In 2001, he was awarded the IH&RA (International Hotels and Restaurants Association) scholarship. Being one of only two Indians selected for it, this was a prestigious scholarship that had 80 applicants worldwide, out of which only 12 were selected. This special exposure scholarship at the Johnson and Wales University campus in Providence, Rhode Island, USA gave him a free pass to attend any class being conducted in the university. From oenology, chocolate sculpting, ice carving and store management to mixology and buffet displays, it was an unparalleled exposure to the nuances of the business.

Oftentimes, learning curves on the job are the best way to gain expertise in a field, and once Chef Mandaar completed his scholarship, his employers sent him to London to train further at Antonio Carluccio’s The Neal Street Restaurant. Carluccio was famous for his chain of restaurants in London.

“I trained with him for two months in his restaurant, where I learnt Italian cuisine and kitchen operations in depth and later, worked with him closely for over ten years when he consulted for us in Bengaluru and beyond. He, truly, was my mentor and guru; a walking encyclopaedia of Italian cuisine.”

In 2005 Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar attended a course at The Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners in Costigliole d’Asti. This is where he learnt more nuanced aspects of Italian food, from choosing a good olive oil to cheese making, wines, desserts and breads and other aspects of Italian gastronomy.

New Launches to Aussie Cricketers

Chef Mandaar’s career has several milestones worth mentioning. He was instrumental in the launch of the Chennai, Navi Mumbai and Hyderabad hotels for The Park group. During his illustrious tenure with them, he was instrumental in launching close to 20 restaurants, bars and nightclubs. He was a part of the pre-opening squad for The Park, Hyderabad, and worked at their flagship hotel from 2010 to 2017. During this time, he also authored the popular Sunday food page for the Deccan Chronicle. On the persuasion of his PR manager, he wrote his first book, Romancing the Chicks (2017) published by Westland. The book was a compilation of his writings with added anecdotes and recipes and a true testament to his storytelling skills.

Then, a serendipitous series of events, stemming from his son’s love for playing cricket, led to him being appointed as the Team Chef for Cricket Australia, where he travelled with the Australian team on its India tour in 2017.

He recalls, “Touring teams find it hard to adjust to Indian food and many players often fall sick. My role was to ensure that the players ate safe food and stayed match-fit. I policed what they ate. I’d be up at 5.30 in the morning, checking the breakfast buffets and advising the team what to eat and what to skip. If I wasn’t sure of the water source, I’d ensure their food was cooked with mineral water! I would inspect the hygiene levels of the kitchens and catering units, sometimes strip down the kitchen for a thorough cleaning and ensure that the food was cooked to a safe level for consumption. Sometimes, I would train the local hotel chefs to make dishes that the players liked but didn’t get to eat often on tour – from Bolognaise to schnitzels, anything that the players wished was on par for the course. If I found the food to be poor; I’d advise them not to eat any of it and just make do with Greek yoghurt and protein bars! Some players were vegan, and I got them to taste the local food – like the Zhunka Bhakar in Nagpur and Litti Chokha in Ranchi, replacing ghee with oil. They loved it! The touring team had some legends of the game like Steve Smith, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Finch, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Travis Head and they were such a fun bunch. And the best and the most gratifying part for me was that no one fell ill on my watch!”

[caption id="attachment_52407" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar | Global Indian Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar with the Aussie cricket team[/caption]

Delving into Regional Cuisine

In his current role as the Corporate Chef for Total Environment Hospitality, Chef Mandaar’s role is to helm the expansion of their restaurants and microbreweries. Windmills, their flagship brand, is one of the first and finest microbreweries to have opened doors in India. Brewing American-style ales, Windmills has an erudite vibe with its book-lined walls and classy music. The food is a big draw for its nuanced classicism and innovative takes. The music holds centre-stage as it hosts musicians of high pedigree – think Grammy nominees, a variety of jazz genres generously sprinkled with classical and other contemporary world music as well.

Having joined them in 2017, he has spearheaded the expansion of Windmills by opening one at the Bengaluru International Airport (2018) and more recently, a Windmills in Dallas, Texas (2021) – making it the first Indian microbrewery brand to venture abroad. Spread over two floors, it can seat 350 guests and is one of the largest by sheer brewing capacity. In the pipeline is another one soon to be launched in Hyderabad.

The other brand that he is passionate about is the multiple award-winning regional cuisine restaurant – Oota. In Bengaluru, Oota is probably the only restaurant which has a menu that spans all of Karnataka. Quite literally so, as the team that worked on the project travelled 20,000 kms across the state to understand culture, tradition and food while interacting with several communities. The recipes gathered during these travels form the edifice on which Oota stands.

Taking Oota across South India

Having established Oota as a strong brand for regional cuisine in Karnataka, he is now excited about taking the brand to Hyderabad where Oota will showcase the cuisine of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad and Telangana. In his words, “Primary research is gold! We are covering the entire length and breadth of these states to uncover hidden gems and bring out the regional flavours in their full glory. Regional food is increasingly finding favour; Indian chefs are digging out traditional recipes and giving them a unique touch through presentation. There is also the trend of bringing Western sensibilities to Indian food, but I believe that you only need to polish what needs polishing, otherwise keep it simple – the way it has been.”

Follow Chef Mandaar Sukhtankar on Instagram.