Global IndianstoryA global delight: Discover the irresistible flavours of Indian street food

A global delight: Discover the irresistible flavours of Indian street food

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(July 15, 2023) In a delightful surprise, Indians across the world woke up to a resplendent Google Doodle paying homage to pani puri – a humble desi street food. Pani puri, a quintessential treasure, has transcended boundaries, effortlessly weaving its delectable charm among individuals of diverse backgrounds, forever remaining an esteemed staple of the roadside fare in India.

Google doodle on pani puri

Yet, pani puri isn’t the only Indian street food that has won over food lovers across the globe. From tempting samosas and flavourful chaat to irresistible vada pav, dosa, and bhel puri, Indian street food’s culinary gems have become popular choices at music festivals and busy food markets. People embark on a delightful journey to savour the unique flavours of India. Join us as Global Indian shines a spotlight on a few select restaurants that are dedicated to sharing the mouthwatering wonders of Indian cuisine with the world.

Shree Krishna Vada Pav, London

Sujay Sohani and Subodh Joshi attended prestigious colleges in Mumbai and pursued careers in renowned hotels in London. However, when the recession hit in 2010 and hotels started to shut down, they lost their well-paying jobs. Not ones to lose heart, the duo successfully introduced London to vada pav, affectionately referred to as the Indian rendition of a burger, earning it a place as one of the city’s beloved snacks.

Sujay Sohani and Subodh Joshi

Before starting their venture – Shree Krishna Vada Pav – the two roamed across London offering free vada pavs to people. The dish was received well by Londoners, and today the restaurant sells over 70 varieties of this mouthwatering Maharashtrian street food.

Delhi Streets, Melbourne

Delhi Streets is a bustling haven, consistently filled to the brim most days of the week. Tucked away in a secluded corner of Melbourne’s CBD, this small spot has been thriving for nearly a decade. Despite the immense challenges posed by the pandemic, Delhi Streets has emerged as a beloved establishment that has weathered the storm of uncertainty. Their menu is a delightful fusion, offering a diverse range of delectable dishes such as pani puri, samosa chaat, pav bhaji, dosa, paneer pizzas, and chicken tikka burritos.

Indian street food | Global Indian

Inside this lively establishment, the atmosphere is electric. Bollywood movie posters adorn the walls, Indian pop music fills the air, and the chefs skillfully work their magic in the open kitchen, easily observed through glass windows. Just like the vibrant city of Delhi itself, the bustling ambiance is an inherent part of the charm that draws patrons in.

The Brooklyn Curry Project, USA

Nestled in the lively community of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, an epicurean marvel has blossomed, delighting palates and fostering camaraderie among residents. Established by a dynamic Indian couple – Swetha and Venkat Raju – The Brooklyn Curry Project is a humble yet remarkable South Indian food stand, and has become a beloved dining spot. With its irresistible dosas and warm hospitality, this hidden gem has rightfully won the affection of food enthusiasts all across NYC.

The Brooklyn Curry Project | Global Indian

Their journey commenced with a humble lemonade stand and an insatiable desire for the flavours of their homeland. In 2016, this couple embarked on a delicious adventure upon their arrival in Brooklyn. Seeking solace in the art of cooking, they warmly welcomed neighbours to their City Point residence, eager to impart a taste of their rich cultural heritage and foster new bonds. The response was nothing short of astounding – their culinary creations resonated deeply, leaving everyone craving for an encore.

Thelewala, New York

A small joint, with only five seats precariously perched on the balcony, Thelewala specialises in Calcutta-style Indian street food, and their pani puri stays true to its authentic form. No extravagant ingredients or fancy names; the dish is served just the way you know and love it.

Thelewala | New York | Global Indian

With prices comfortably below $10, the diverse selection at this eatery consists mostly of Nizami rolls – generous roti wraps filled with a choice of meat, vegetables, eggs, or enticing combinations. Vegans particularly adore the smoky gobi roll, enveloping minced cauliflower, smoked chiles, red onions, and a generous sprinkle of cilantro. The chapli roll bursts with savory ground lamb, while the chicken phall roll embraces the reputation of its fiery curry filling.

Werribee Food Truck, Melbourne

If you happen to be in the western suburbs of Melbourne, make sure to visit the food truck park in Werribee, where you can savour some of the finest delicacies from the streets of India. From bhel puri and dahi puri to dosa, kebabs, and chaat, this park offers a wide range of mouthwatering options.

Werribee Food Truck | Melbourne | Global Indian

Although it’s a street food truck park, you can enjoy your meal in the comfort of your car or find an outstanding spot nearby. While there may not be outdoor dining arrangements, the food is absolutely delicious. The park is a hub for local music concerts, movie nights, and festivals, making it an exciting destination to satisfy your cravings.

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Published on 15, Jul 2023

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Prafulla Dhariwal: From child prodigy to the mind behind OpenAI’s GPT-4o

(November 23, 2024) “GPT-4o would not have happened without the vision, talent, conviction, and determination of @prafdhar (Praful Dhariwal) over a long period of time. That (along with the work of many others) led to what I hope will turn out to be a revolution in how we use computers,” tweeted Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in a public acknowledgment of the driving force behind one of the most groundbreaking innovations in artificial intelligence. Known for his leadership in the AI revolution, Altman’s words carried immense weight, directing global attention to Prafulla Dhariwal, the man whose ingenuity brought GPT-4o to life in May this year. [caption id="attachment_60524" align="aligncenter" width="464"] Prafulla Dhariwal[/caption] “GPT-4o (o for ‘Omni’) is the first model to come out of the Omni team, OpenAI’s first natively fully multimodal model. This launch was a huge org-wide effort, but I’d like to give a shout out to a few of my awesome team members who made this magical model even possible,” Prafulla had tweeted just days after GPT-4o’s launch. In response, Sam Altman had praised Prafulla’s contributions, while also highlighting the efforts of his team. As a research scientist at OpenAI, Dhariwal has played a significant role in shaping

magical model even possible,” Prafulla had tweeted just days after GPT-4o’s launch. In response, Sam Altman had praised Prafulla’s contributions, while also highlighting the efforts of his team.

As a research scientist at OpenAI, Dhariwal has played a significant role in shaping the company’s most ambitious projects, including GPT-4o—OpenAI’s first fully multimodal AI system. This revolutionary model is already redefining how humans interact with technology, seamlessly integrating text, images, and other media to unlock unprecedented possibilities. But Dhariwal’s journey to becoming one of AI’s most influential minds is as extraordinary as the technology he has helped create. From his early years as a prodigy in Pune, to his current status as a leading figure in Silicon Valley, Dhariwal’s story is all about brilliance, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of innovation.

From Pune to MIT

Prafulla’s journey began in the culturally rich city of Pune, where his curiosity for technology was evident at an early age. His parents bought him a computer when he was just one-and-a-half years old, and by the time he was 11, Prafulla had already created his first website. He was even featured by the BBC during his school years, owing to the prodigious talent he displayed as a schoolkid. In a 2014 BBC interview, his mother fondly recalled how young Prafulla would sit with his father, exploring the basics of emails and the internet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkSfXaSnl9o

This early exposure to technology was complemented by Prafulla’s exceptional academic achievements. In an interview, one of his teachers shared that they often had to give him more advanced math problems, as he quickly solved those typically assigned to children his age.

In 2009, at the age of 12, he won the prestigious National Talent Search Scholarship, a recognition reserved for India’s most promising young minds. That same year, he secured a gold medal at the International Astronomy Olympiad in China. These accolades were just the beginning. By 2012 and 2013, he had added two more gold medals to his name—this time at the International Mathematical Olympiad and the International Physics Olympiad. He got featured in a Pogo ad called ‘Amazing Kid Genius’ and even received a scholarship for a 10-day trip to NASA.

[caption id="attachment_60530" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Indian Techie | Scientist at OpenAI | Global Indian Prafulla wth Dr Abdul Kalam after winning the National Talent Search Scholarship[/caption]

As a gesture of giving back at that tender age, he trained students of Pune for the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad, teaching them algebra, functional equations, inequalities. designed and graded problem sets in number theory, geometry, and combinatorics.

Prafulla’s academic brilliance continued into his high school years at P Jog Junior College in Pune. He scored 295 out of 300 in physics, chemistry, and mathematics (PCM) in Grade 12 and excelled in competitive exams like the Maharashtra Technical Common Entrance Test (MT-CET) and Joint Entrance Exam (JEE-Mains). Clearing JEE-Mains with flying colours, he had his pick of India’s top engineering institutions. However, a scholarship offer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) sealed his decision. As he later admitted, “It was tough to choose between IIT and MIT, but the scholarship made all the difference.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FVi-W9LP48

Rising through the ranks at OpenAI

While graduating from MIT with a perfect CGPA of 5.0/5.0 in computer science and mathematics, Prafulla Dhariwal gained experience through internships at leading organizations like Pinterest and D.E. Shaw Group. However, the opportunity to join OpenAI in 2016 as a research intern set the stage for his meteoric rise in the field of artificial intelligence. At the end of the internship, he received a pre-placement offer, and has been working at the organization for more than seven years now.

At OpenAI, Prafulla’s initial work focused on generative models and unsupervised learning, areas that would become critical to the development of advanced AI systems. Over the years, he co-created several transformative AI models, including GPT-3: the language model that revolutionized natural language processing, DALL-E 2: a text-to-image platform that showcased AI’s creative potential, Jukebox: a music generator that demonstrated AI’s versatility in art, Glow: a reversible generative model that expanded the horizons of deep learning.

Each of these innovations cemented Prafulla’s reputation as a thought leader in the AI community. But it was GPT-4o, OpenAI’s first natively multimodal model, that truly showcased his vision and technical prowess.

[caption id="attachment_60525" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Indian Techie | Scientist at OpenAI | Global Indian Prafulla during his student days in the U.S.[/caption]

GPT-4o: Redefining the future of AI

Launched on May 13, 2024, GPT-4o marked a significant leap in artificial intelligence, offering unprecedented multimodal capabilities. The model enables seamless interaction across text, images, and other media, unlocking new possibilities in fields as diverse as healthcare, education, and entertainment. Prafulla’s leadership was instrumental in shaping the model’s development, ensuring it not only pushed technological boundaries but also adhered to ethical principles.

As Prafulla explained in a recent interview, “AI’s true power lies not just in what it can do but in how responsibly it’s used. With GPT-4o, we wanted to create a tool that empowers people while maintaining transparency and trust.”

The impact of GPT-4o has been manganous. From assisting doctors in diagnosing complex medical conditions to enabling visually impaired individuals to interact with digital content more intuitively, the model has demonstrated how AI can enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. Businesses, too, have embraced the technology, using it to streamline workflows, create personalized content, and gain deeper insights into customer behaviour.

Indian Techie | Prafulla Dhariwal | Global Indian

Inspiring the next generation as an AI specialist

Prafulla Dhariwal is part of a growing cohort of Indian-origin scientists making waves in artificial intelligence. These trailblazers share a common thread: a commitment to advancing AI in ways that are both innovative and ethical. Their work reflects India’s long-standing tradition of excellence in mathematics, engineering, and computer science, fields that have produced luminaries like Srinivasa Ramanujan and Homi Bhabha.

For aspiring scientists, Dhariwal’s story is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through passion, hard work, and a willingness to embrace challenges. From creating his first website as a child to leading the development of one of the most advanced AI models in history, Prafulla Dhariwal’s Global Indian journey depicts the power of dedication and determination.

Indian Techie | Prafulla Dhariwal | Global Indian

As AI continues to evolve, the world will undoubtedly witness more groundbreaking innovations. For Dhariwal too, the journey is far from over. As he looks to the future, he remains focused on one guiding principle: using AI to make the world a better place. And in his own words, “The best AI is not just intelligent; it’s human-centered. That’s what I strive for.”

Follow Prafulla Dhariwal on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 mins

‘Comet’ the hour, cometh the winner – Tanmay Sapkal

(March 21, 2022) Mount Tamalpais is a popular haunt for photographers on the US West Coast, especially those who, like Tanmay Sapkal, live in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 29-year-old landscape photographer, who works as a techie at Apple by day, spends evenings driving as a shutterbug. “Mount Tamalpais is quite special as its geography lends it a lot of coastal fog. In the summertime, the fog rises above the neighbouring landscapes," says Tanmay Sapkal, the winner of the International Landscape Photography Award 2021, in an interview with Global Indian. The Indian landscape photographer catapulted into the limelight with thousands of hits on his award-winning work of the Comet Neowise, shot in America in 2020. It's a shot he has taken many times over the years yet when he heard the comet was expected to make an appearance in early 2020, he knew he couldn’t miss it. [caption id="attachment_21610" align="aligncenter" width="661"] Tanmay's photograph of Comet NeoWise glimpsed over the foggy hills in Marin, CA[/caption] How a comet created a star Tanmay took a different approach. Instead of planning the image around the comet itself, he worked instead on finding the right foreground. “Shooting a comet is not hard. If

sed over the foggy hills in Marin, CA[/caption]

How a comet created a star

Tanmay took a different approach. Instead of planning the image around the comet itself, he worked instead on finding the right foreground. “Shooting a comet is not hard. If you can shoot decently, you will capture it,” says Tanmay Sapkal. Capturing the light glowing under the blanket of fog was another story as thoroughfare is not allowed on the mountain. That evening, though, the road was open as the comet was visible. The otherworldly photograph, almost out of Arthur C Clark’s A Space Odyssey, fetched him the prestigious award. His work was chosen from over 4,500 entries. On Instagram, the photograph has now garnered over 4,000 hits, and the Best Landscape Photograph category carries a cash prize of $10,000.

The key to being a good landscape photographer, he explains, is “to know the weather.” It’s usually an interesting weather change that draws Tanmay to a spot, as “plants and trees change with seasons, as does the light." So, if a big cloud system rolls in from the West Coast, it ascertains the location.

[caption id="attachment_21611" align="aligncenter" width="966"] 'Quiet Light' in Vermont. Photo: Tanmay Sapkal[/caption]

No pain, no gain?

Braving sub-zero temperatures, venturing out at unearthly times of day and night, and spending hours on met department updates - the life of a photographer isn’t easy. Tanmay and his wife live in San Francisco (she also works for Apple). Evenings are spent, “working on images, searching for what to do next, and talking to photographers.” In summer, when the sun sets late, Tanmay takes advantage of the light, and drives off to photography locations after his work as a tech designer is done.

Seasoned landscape photographers wander off into forests for weeks on end, carrying equipment, food, water and tents, “It’s easy to go missing or to be attacked by a bear,” he says. Although, given his propensity for shuffling off into snow-covered woods, thermal shock is also a concern.

[caption id="attachment_21609" align="aligncenter" width="515"] Tanmay Sapkal[/caption]

His wife is his rock since his tryst with photography began in 2016, and she often accompanies him, braving the bitter cold, difficult terrain and tough spots. Work begins at twilight, which is the coldest. “It can get uncomfortable. You take your gloves off for 30 seconds and you will start to feel intense pain," he adds.

Thermal shock in Aspen

A close call in 2018, on a trip to Aspen, Colorado shook them. His wife, an avid skier, wanted to check out the famed slopes, while Tanmay wanted to catch the riot of fall colours. A six-hour drive to Aspen, “hopped up on Redbull and coffee,” in the middle of a snowstorm, just a few hours before sunrise, with the moon overhead, Tanmay stopped for a shot. Leaving his wife sleeping, he ambled to a spot, hoping to shoot until the sun rose. “I was energetic, moving around to stay warm. But the cold tires you. After a while, I started to lose consciousness," he recalls. He stumbled down an icy path, dizzy and in a blur, leaving his camera equipment behind in the rush. As his temperature fell rapidly, his vision worsened. Tanmay gave up the half-mile trek to the car. Luckily, although Tanmay didn't know it, he had been spotted by a fellow photographer, who followed him. “He put I looked up at his face and I thought I saw my wife. She had come for me,” he laughs at his disorientation. The man, a photographer, volunteered to send Tanmay’s equipment back. "But hey," Tanmay smiles, "I got a good shot that day."

[caption id="attachment_21612" align="alignnone" width="1200"] From the trip to Aspen, Colorado. Courtesy: Tanmay Sapkal[/caption]

Portrait of the artist as a young man

Growing up, Tanmay and his father shared a common love for gadgets. “I would gather electronics - phones and cameras. Dad was much the same. Growing up, we had only film cameras, which were hard to shoot, and getting photos developed took ages. But it held my interest,” says the ace photographer. In ninth grade, his father bought him his first digital camera. “I would shoot everything I saw,” he recalls, though he soon forgot about it with the hustle of school.

Later, he did engineering at NIT-Suratkal, and landed a job at a startup in Bengaluru. “That gave me the money to buy my first camera, at 23,” smiles the landscape photographer who found time to learn photography, and explore how to use his own camera. “It was a Nikon D 7000,” he says.

Behind the lens

From people photography, he graduated to learn the technicalities and started with portfolios. Street photography, fashion and conceptual fine art came next. When he arrived in the US for master's at Georgia Tech, he slowly started exploring landscapes. “The biggest difference was that there are so few people in the US, unlike in India, thus finding subjects was tough,” says the avid traveller who was taken aback by the natural beauty he encountered. “Here, even the air is different,” Tanmay remarks. “Since the pollution is less, you can see and capture things really far off.”

Roots in nature

Growing up just outside Mumbai, Tanmay is no stranger to nature. His father, a scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Maharashtra, meant that he grew up in the verdant BARC residential quarters in Tarapur. “The colony was a beautiful place, picturesque, with mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, both 20 minutes away,” Tanmay says. Wildlife was plentiful, especially birds and Tanmay recalls his mother feeding parrots.

True to form, today, Tanmay drives off to the Sierra Nevada range every chance he gets. As for shooting an award-winning photo, he says, “It’s about constantly planning and taking photos. A small number of those might turn out the way you want!”

Follow Tanmay on Instagram and Flickr

Reading Time: 6 min

Worldly moves: Vrinda Chadha’s Odissi odyssey

(December 20, 2023) Odissi exponent Vrinda Chadha was only a teenager when she began traveling the world for her performances. Vrinda, who was introduced to the ancient dance form at the age of 13, began accompanying her Guru, Padma Shri Ranjana Gauhar, as she performed across India and around the world. Vrinda has been part of her guru’s ensemble and a solo dancer in her own right, gracing stages in Spain, Argentina, Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Madagascar, and Seychelles. With a vast repertoire of work, the former member of the International Dance Council UNESCO in Paris and a Teach for India fellow, Vrinda has earned numerous awards. [caption id="attachment_47659" align="aligncenter" width="548"] Vrinda Chadha[/caption] In 2020, during the pandemic, Vrinda launched 'Imagine,' a video project aiming to uplift the prevailing sombre mood by blending music and dance across genres. “The video, initially created just for social media platforms, gained instant popularity. Later, to our delight it was selected to be featured at Chicago’s In/Motion International Dance and Film Festival in 2022,” Vrinda tells Global Indian. “Curated by DanzLenz - Kri Foundation's dance and camera vertical, the festival was dedicated to South Asian dance films made by dancers and dance filmmakers

nt popularity. Later, to our delight it was selected to be featured at Chicago’s In/Motion International Dance and Film Festival in 2022,” Vrinda tells Global Indian. “Curated by DanzLenz - Kri Foundation's dance and camera vertical, the festival was dedicated to South Asian dance films made by dancers and dance filmmakers of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and their diaspora from across the world.”

‘Imagine’ with a vision

As artists took to online platforms to stay connected to their craft during the lockdowns in 2020, Vrinda’s project ‘Imagine’, was aimed at bringing cheer during times of uncertainty. “What started off just on a whim became a virtual performance by 13 ace vocalists, on whose songs I performed on my own choreography,” she tells. The team of musicians sang an a Capella cover of John Lennon’s iconic anthem, Imagine, to which Vrinda created a beautiful fusion choreography with Odissi movements and expressions to it. “All the contributing artists worked from home. Our aim was to just bring people together and spread a message of peace, hope and love,” she says.

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

As Vrinda and her collaborators revelled in the success of their heartfelt creation, they were pleasantly amazed when it was chosen to be showcased at the Chicago’s In/Motion International Dance and Film Festival. This global event aims to foster collaboration among artists advocating for social equality and serves as a platform for discussions on sustainable artistry.

The festival was organised by Amy Wilkinson, a leading expert in innovation and entrepreneurship, along with Aaron Greer, a film and media arts professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sarah Cullen Fuller from Loyola University Chicago's Dance Program, and the dancer/choreographer Sarah Fluegel.

Vrinda’s artistic path

“I have always loved dancing. It allows me to express myself more than words can," Vrinda shares. Her parents had noticed this passion in their daughter when she was a school student studying at Modern School in New Delhi, and took her to Guru Gauhar who lived in their neighbourhood. Recognising Vrinda's talent, she agreed to be Vrinda’s teacher and has been guiding her disciple’s dance journey ever since, both in India and abroad.

[caption id="attachment_47658" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Indian Art and Culture | Vrinda Chadha | Global Indian Vrinda Chadha[/caption]

"Guruji noticed my potential, nurtured my natural interest in dance, and provided the guidance it required. Finding the right mentor is key for anyone pursuing an art form. I feel fortunate to have been trained under her," Vrinda says, highlighting that her family had no prior professional ties to the art world before she started learning Odissi.

When Vrinda embarked on her dance journey, she had limited knowledge about the different dance forms. Yet, it seemed as if Odissi was destined to become an integral part of her identity. "I didn't even realise how deeply it intertwined with my personality," remarks the dancer, who alongside her training in Hindustani classical music and yoga, acknowledges their substantial role in enriching her dance performances.

“Now, after so many years of my association with Odissi, it's challenging to distinguish between myself and my dance," tells Vrinda who has been the recipient of the Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award in Mumbai, the Young Talent Award by the International Academy of Mohiniyattam in Delhi, the prestigious title of Odissi Ratna in Bhubaneswar, and the Kameshwari Award in Guwahati.

Giving back

Apart from performing and serving as a faculty member at 'Utsav', her Guru’s, dance academy, Vrinda teaches across government schools in Delhi.

[caption id="attachment_47662" align="aligncenter" width="526"] Indian Art and Culture | Vrinda Chadha | Global Indian Vrinda Chadha with her guru Padma Shri Ranjana Gauhar[/caption]

“Performing artists and their audience are privileged to have access to art but art seldom reaches the underprivileged, “she remarks, adding “With this in mind, I took up the Teach for India fellowship to introduce dance and music to the lesser privileged. The idea is not to make these kids experts in Odissi, rather enhance their self-expression and emotional literacy through the medium. Through my art I hope to continually spread love, peace, and consciousness."

Dance and beyond

"Dance isn't solely about performing; there are other dimensions to it," explains Vrinda, who deeply soaks herself into research and study of Odissi when she is not performing or teaching. “My future plans include taking the legacy of my Guru's teachings forward and spreading this art further to the best of my capacity, she tells.”

Apart from her passion for dance, Vrinda cherishes exploring nature, frequently embarking on solo journeys to scenic destinations like Himachal for hiking and climbing.

[caption id="attachment_47661" align="aligncenter" width="457"] Indian Art and Culture | Vrinda Chadha | Global Indian Vrinda Chadha[/caption]

“As an Odissi dancer I have always valued the ability to express and connect with one's innermost being through the medium of art. The liberation and joy of surrender in such an experience is unparalleled. It helps me to not just my audience but my own soul. My art empowers and frees me both on and off stage. It is my identity,” she signs off.

Follow Vrinda Chadha on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook

What’s your Global Indian story? Write to us at editor@globalindian.com

Reading Time: 5 mins

Indian designer Shubhi Sachan giving sustainable living a fresh lease of life

(January 17, 2022) "People often think I love waste, the truth is I hate it so much that I want it to end at its generation point," reads the welcome note on Indian textile designer and entrepreneur Shubhi Sachan's website. The brain behind Material Library of India, she is on a mission to sift through tonnes of urban waste that's generated every year and give it a fresh lease of life by reusing and repurposing it. From making shoes with aluminium waste to trendy pillows from industrial waste, the Lexus Design Award finalist (2018) is making sustainable living sing with her impressive body of work. "A majority of the waste that ends up in landfills and dump yards can be reused and recycled. Unfortunately, not everyone is paying attention to it. So I took it upon myself to create alternative products using industrial and agricultural waste that are less destructive to the environment," says the Noida-based Shubhi, whose work is currently being exhibited at London's Design Museum. How it all began After six years of working with the fashion and textile industry, the 35-year-old's journey with sustainability began in 2015, and since then, there has been no looking back for

oads/2022/01/material.jpg" alt="Indian Designer | Shubhi Sachan | Material Library of India" width="677" height="476" />

How it all began

After six years of working with the fashion and textile industry, the 35-year-old's journey with sustainability began in 2015, and since then, there has been no looking back for this consultant designer.

Born and raised in Lucknow to a government employee father and a teacher mother, Shubhi had to face a lot of rejection. The not so academically inclined girl, often found herself being compared to her older brother who aimed to be an engineer. "I was often told 'Iska kuch nai no payega'," reveals the 35-year-old Indian designer. However, this constant dismissal fuelled her to prove everyone wrong.

Passionate about art and crafts since she was a child, Shubhi was keen to test waters and try her hand at textile designing. "My mother was always supportive of my decisions but this one time my father gave me the liberty to experiment and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands," Shubhi tells Global Indian. Her dream took her to Apeejay Institute of Design in Delhi where she studied for the next four years. "This was a turning point in my journey as I blossomed into a confident designer. From someone who was often neglected in school, I’d transformed into a shining star in college and it gave me the right boost," says the designer.

Indian Designer | Shubhi Sachan | Material Library of India

New goals in sight

Her zeal to broaden her horizons landed her in Mumbai where she found her maiden job at Aditiany Inc, a design firm that works for international fashion houses. For the next five years, she worked as a surface designer with luxury brands like Givenchy, Ralph Lauren, and Alexander McQueen. "While working there, I realised the kind of waste that was being generated in the process. We had these stacks full of 1mm material pieces that couldn't be used anywhere. It was while working on the Givenchy collection, it dawned upon me that these brands were chasing perfection on the surface while ignoring so much imperfection (waste) on the backend," adds the Indian designer, who was keen to bring about change.

This quest took her to Central Saint Martins' School of Art and Design in London in 2014 to do her MA in Material Futures. "It played a crucial role in my journey as it armed me with a multi-faceted approach towards the society," says the mother of a three-year-old.

Upon her graduation from St Martins, she embarked on her journey to sustainability after realising the huge contrast between the materiality involved in the process of making products vs the presentation of the finished objects. "It was quite an unsettling feeling for me. I knew I had reached a point where talking about the problem wasn't enough. I had to come up with a solution," she adds.

Indian Designer | Shubhi Sachan | Material Library of India

To new beginnings

This idea gave birth to the Material Library of India in 2017, a hub of creativity and imagination that's focused on investigating value chains and making waste material come to life again. "It's a place for innovation where we design for repurposing and recycling," adds the TEDx speaker whose R&D consultancy is dedicated to working with industrial and agricultural waste.

Recalling Project Punah with Godrej Boyce in 2015, Shubhi says that this was her first commission on sustainability with a corporate house wherein she recycled 1,80,000 pairs of protective rubber, cotton, and other gloves and turned them into raw material used in packaging. "We prepared a meticulously detailed data sheet about the products produced and the kind of waste that came out of it. We documented 734 materials and only 12 out of them could be recycled," adds Shubhi pointing out the grim reality of waste material. Using the waste, she weaved a new fabric that could be used in apparel design or made into ropes that can be used to line chairs and tables. The textile designer calls it one of her most interesting projects as she saw "a conglomerate adopting repurposing and realising it as the need of the hour."

Next, she created an ensemble collection for Lakme Fashion Week wherein she transformed everyday waste into everyday fashion. "Making people understand the utility of waste material was the idea behind it," adds the founder of Material Library of India, who plans to open the library for people to visit.

Indian Designer | Shubhi Sachan | Material Library of India

Towards the larger picture

"We are categorising and cataloguing waste and the materials made from it. We want people to come and see the problem for themselves. We want to open the floor for discussion for people to understand the scale of the problem," adds Shubhi.

In 2019, she joined forces with Mallika Reddy to develop Cancelled Plans, a streetwear brand made purely out of metal, paper, cloth, vinyl sheets, and plastic waste. "The idea was to come up with a way to treat waste as raw material. It's the perfect example that brands can be conceived from waste and make sense to the economic world," the Indian designer explains.

Some of her fabric products made from plastic waste are displayed at the ongoing exhibition at London. "We have used a variety of plastic to create a 100 percent waste fabric for the exhibition," reveals Shubhi whose work has earlier been exhibited in Germany, Italy, and India.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDz0H97ROFM

It's been six years since she began working on sustainability, but the design consultant has had her share of challenges. "Not many are open to the idea of accepting that waste can be repurposed, and that's the reason not many are investing in the research," says Shubhi, who adds the biggest challenge is the mindset – many believe that "it should be cheaper as it's made from waste."

When not providing consultancy services to corporate houses, Shubhi loves to paint using natural colours. “During the pandemic, I started collecting seeds of plants like guava and tamarind, and launched my seed library," adds Shubhi, who likes to use her free time productively.

Live consciously is her advice to youngsters. "Don't look for a quick fix to the problem, instead look at the larger picture. Conceive a design or product in a way that it can be repurposed at a later stage," she signs off.

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Reading Time: 6 min

From Singapore to the world: Carnatic singer Sushma Soma’s ragas ring out loud

(April 26, 2022) One of her earliest memories of music is listening to her now 92-year-old grandmother singing as she was fed. Today, the award-winning 35-year-old Carnatic singer, Sushma Soma, enthuses about how music was always her passion. Kicking off her journey as a singer at just four, the Singapore-based artist has under her belt an impressive repertoire of performances at several prestigious venues – such as the Indian Embassy Brussels, the Bhavan London, and the Madras Music Academy in Chennai. In 2021, Soma collaborated with Bharatanatyam exponent Mythili Prakash at the Reflektor Festival, Hamburg curated by Anoushka Shankar as vocalist and co-composers. “My most precious childhood memories were listening to Tamil songs on my grandfather’s transistor radio, and waking up to the sound of MS Subbulakshmi’s morning prayers. My grandmother would sing, in fact she still sings so sweetly. I started training at a young age, all this shaped my path,” shares Sushma during an interview with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_39147" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Sushma with her gramdmother[/caption] Her recently released second album, Home, incorporates environmental issues and raises awareness about sustainability through her music. Sushma created the album along with Aditya Prakash. “Home combines my Carnatic sensibilities, and my

t="860" /> Sushma with her gramdmother[/caption]

Her recently released second album, Home, incorporates environmental issues and raises awareness about sustainability through her music. Sushma created the album along with Aditya Prakash. “Home combines my Carnatic sensibilities, and my passion for the natural world. The starting point was a series of incidents that left me feeling gutted; from the pregnant elephant in India who tragically died when she fed on a pineapple stuffed with explosives, to the loss of indigenous plants and wildlife in the Amazon forest fires. This album is special as it stems from so many things I care about - forests and wildlife,” shares the Carnatic singer, who has won several awards in her career, including the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council Singapore, 2020.

Her archival work with the National Archives of Singapore was also given a special mention at the Singapore Parliament in March 2019.

The Land of Lion

A Tamilian from Chennai, Sushma was hardly 41 days old, when her parents shifted to Singapore (1980s). Growing up, she felt like a minority in Singapore. “Back in the day, Indian expats were not a common sight in Singapore. I grew up around kids who would talk in Chinese or English. While I knew the language, I was deeply connected to Tamil, which we spoke at home. That’s why I loved visiting my cousins in Chennai on vacation,” shares the Carnatic singer.

At four, Sushma started learning the basics of Carnatic music from a teacher who lived right across the street. Being around her teacher, Sushma shares, made her fall in love with music. “She used to perform at temples and would take me along. So, I have been performing on stage since four. During many events, my parents would come back stage to take me home. But I would stay back, because I just loved being around my teacher,” Sushma reminisces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caa9qcrddXE

A diploma in Carnatic vocals at Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFA) in 1993, although she loved to perform, she continued to pursue a traditional career. A mathematics lover, she was obsessed with books growing up. The artiste attained a degree in accountancy from Nanyang Technological University, and a job at one of the Big Four accounting firms. However, it was not long before she realised that her heart was not in her work and she felt a “growing obsession” for music.

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When she said as much to her father, a chartered accountant, he was shocked. “He freaked out that his daughter was leaving a set career for music. However, he never stopped supporting me,” says the Carnatic singer.

A musical journey...

Not long after leaving her job Sushma shifted to Chennai in 2009, where she lived with her uncle and grandmother. She started training under well-known artiste Lalita Sivakumar, an experience she defines as “a blessing.” Over the course of the next decade, back in Singapore, Sushma performed solo and in collaborations across the world - London, Luxembourg, Brussels, San Diego, Los Angeles, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore just to name a few.

[caption id="attachment_23468" align="aligncenter" width="5081"] Sushma during 2017 Wandering Artist concert[/caption]

"I constantly find myself seeking that one moment during my performances, where it is just me and my music. These moments are fleeting, and rare, but I keep chasing them. For the past five years, I have been trying to express my emotions through music, and that is very liberating and empowering,” shares Sushma, who is currently student of RK Shriram Kumar, a leading Carnatic musician and musicologist.

Actively engaged in the arts as a researcher, educator and writer, Sushma shares that she always reads up about the theme of her songs. “I think that is something that my husband instilled in me - to research about anything before making a song about it,” she laughs sharing, “My husband, Srinivas, is one of the first I share my songs with, and only when he likes it, I finalise it.” Sushma’s husband is an IT professional, working in Singapore.

[caption id="attachment_23465" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Sushma with her co-creator and best friend, Aditya Prakash[/caption]

Busy with rehearsals and events, Sushma shares that she enjoys long walks which are “like meditation. But, of late I have started listening to podcasts on human behaviour to understand our psychology,” shares the Carnatic singer, who loves to bake.

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Reading Time: 7 mins