Global IndianstoryBringing home the golden statuette: Five Indians who won at the Oscars

Bringing home the golden statuette: Five Indians who won at the Oscars

Written by: Amrita Priya

(April 6, 2022) The Oscars have had a long and prestigious history. As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Los Angeles hosted the 94th edition of the Academy Awards this year, the best in the world of cinema was honoured and celebrated. With documentary feature Summer of Soul producer Joseph Patel becoming the first Patel to win an Oscar this year, Indian diaspora yet again basked in the glory at the award ceremony. Global Indian turns the spotlight on five Indian artistes who brought home the golden statuette over the years.

Bhanu Athaiya, best costume design, 1983

Bhanu Athaiya has long been considered Bollywood’s most iconic costume designer. She was also the first Indian to win at the Oscars in 1983 for the historical drama Gandhi. Incidentally, this JJ School of Arts alumna had taken to painting with contemporaries like MF Hussain and FN Souza. After her switch to cinema, she designed costumes for over 100 films including CID, Pyaasa, Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, Razia Sultan, Amrapali, Teesri Manzil, 1942: A Love Story, and Swades. She also worked on several international projects with directors like Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough.

A few months before her death in 2020, Bhanu had returned her Oscar statuette, to its original owner, (AMPAS), for safekeeping.

Satyajit Ray, lifetime achievement award, 1992

An Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, author, lyricist, music composer, calligrapher and illustrator, he is considered as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Some of his celebrated works include The Apu Triology (1955–1959), The Music Room (1958), The Big City (1963), and Charulata (1964). It was in 1992 that he picked his first Oscar, thus becoming the first Indian to receive an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement. However, at the time, Ray was hospitalised due to ill health and was unable to attend the ceremony; he gave his acceptance speech via live feed.

So popular were his works, that they were often used as case studies at various filmmaking institutes. During the span of his career, he’d directed 36 films that included feature films, shorts, and documentaries. In 1978, he was also awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University. Did you know, his first film Pather Panchali had won 11 international prizes?

Gulzar, best original song, 2009

It was in 1963 that this Indian poet, screenwriter, author, and film director made his debut as a lyricist with the 1963 film Bandini and has since worked with many music directors – from RD Burman to AR Rahman. After serenading Bollywood and Indian music lovers with his work, he struck gold with Danny Boyle’s 2008 Hollywood film Slumdog Millionaire. He picked the Academy Awards for the best original song – Jai Ho with AR Rahman. He also won a Grammy for it.

Oscars | Five Indians | Global Indian

Born in Dina, British India, the poet writes primarily in Punjabi and Urdu, although he has also written in several other Indian languages such as Khariboli, Braj Bhasha, and Haryanvi. His poetry is mostly in the Triveni (confluence of three) style of stanza. Gulzar has prolifically written lyrics and dialogues for several popular Doordarshan TV series including Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, and Hello Zindagi. His latest work as lyricist is for Darlings, a comedy drama releasing this year.

Follow Gulzar on Instagram

AR Rahman, best original score and best original song, 2009

Music maestro AR Rahman is the first Indian to be nominated in three categories at the Academy Awards for his background score in Slumdog Millionnaire. The maestro created history by winning two awards – one for the best original song and other for the best original score for Jai Ho. Before this the composer had been nominated at the Oscars for best original score for the movies 127 Hours and If I Rise.

The Indian composer has been primarily working in Hindi and Tamil films since his film debut with Roja in 1992. In 2009, he was featured on the Time list of the world’s 100 most influential people and in 2017, he made his debut as a director and writer for the film Le Musk. Rahman has recently released a modern-day anthem, Moopilla Thamizhe which is composed, arranged, and produced by him. The song celebrates Tamil culture and the achievements of the people of the state in various fields.

Follow AR Rahman on Twitter and Instagram

Resul Pookutty, best sound mixing, 2009

Resul Pookutty, the famed sound designer, sound editor, and audio mixer, won big at the Oscars for immaculate sound mixing in the movie Slumdog Millionaire. He won the award along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke. Pookutty has worked in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and British films.

The youngest of 10 children, Pookutty would walk six kilometres to attend the nearest school; his father was a bus conductor. Since the village he lived in did not have electricity, he would study using a kerosene lamp. He made his debut with Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One, and subsequently engineered sound for major productions like Black, Musafir, Gandhi My Father, Kerela Varma Pazhassi Raja. Of late, he has been busy with his directorial venture.

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Published on 06, Apr 2022

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The Gospel truth: Actor Paras Patel is carving a niche for himself in Hollywood

(November 13, 2022) Over one billion Christians from across the globe were delighted when American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins announced that he would chronicle the journey of the Christ through his web series The Chosen. As more details started to come from the show's set, people murmured about an Indian-American cast in one of the most important roles in the series. But, despite all their doubts, the audience was absolutely mesmerised by actor Paras Patel, who portrayed the role of Saint Matthew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. [caption id="attachment_31706" align="aligncenter" width="698"] Actor Paras Patel[/caption] The Global Indian has been a part of three major shows, including ABC Family’s 'Teen Spirit' and CBS Films' 'The Duff'. "Growing up, it was such a rare treat to see someone that looked like me on TV or in a movie, and I took it for granted that it would always be that way. As visibility for South Asians is increasing in mass media, there is still a long way to go, and I hope to inspire the next generation of South Asian artists to see a place for themselves in this industry," the actor shared during an interview with Voyage LA. The world's

ff'. "Growing up, it was such a rare treat to see someone that looked like me on TV or in a movie, and I took it for granted that it would always be that way. As visibility for South Asians is increasing in mass media, there is still a long way to go, and I hope to inspire the next generation of South Asian artists to see a place for themselves in this industry," the actor shared during an interview with Voyage LA.

The world's a stage

Belonging to a Gujarati family who immigrated to the USA several decades back, Paras Patel had, on numerous occasions, shared that he loved acting and performing for the crowd since he was a young kid. In love with Bollywood and its music, Paras even played games inspired by movies growing up. "As cliched as it sounds, I knew I wanted to act at a young age. I loved to perform whenever I could, whether it was in school plays, cultural community shows, or even family gatherings. During summer breaks, my brother and I would use a camcorder and make little skits and pretend we had our own TV show. I’ve played various fictitious roles, from a mad scientist to an angry chef! I remember when I was in 5th grade, I did a book report but turned it into a play and performed it in front of my classmates. It wasn’t a part of the assignment at all, but I just did it. It just came naturally to me," the actor told Voyage LA.

[caption id="attachment_31707" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Actor | Global Indian A still from the show Teen Spirit[/caption]

After earning a degree in finance, Paras Patel started looking for job opportunities. however, the prospect of a career in numbers didn’t make him happy. And so, he started working on the sets of various productions in Atlanta, to get on-field experience, starting from one of the biggest cult-drama that aired on American television - The Vampire Diaries. All the money that he earned doing the background work on these productions went into his acting classes, getting headshots, and other career-related material.

[caption id="attachment_31709" align="aligncenter" width="544"] Actor | Global Indian A still from the sets of The Chosen[/caption]

"Through a showcase from one of my classes, I met and signed with my first agent and then happened to book my first audition ever, a lead in Teen Spirit which was a feature film for Freeform. I continued to work on various productions in the south for another year, and then eventually moved to Los Angeles to further my career. Moving to LA was a whole new world, and I had to start over with building relationships and enrolling in more training to strengthen my craft… but I haven’t looked back since," he said.

The Chosen one

While he had to face several hurdles during his initial days of struggle in LA, the actor was soon spotted by producers and started working on minor roles in various movies and TV shows. Although a few people didn't approve of his career choices, Paras was determined to make it big in the entertainment industry.

"In Indian culture, you are expected to take a more traditional career path, so it was a bit of an eye-opener for my loved ones when I went from pursuing a career in finance to acting. I am grateful that my parents have always been supportive, but I’ve had some extended family members question my career path and express doubt in my future as an actor," Paras Patel shared during the interview, adding, "This line of work also comes with countless rejections, fear that you’re wasting your time, and tons of self-doubt. You can be a great actor but never get a chance to work. This business has a certain degree of luck involved. I’ve got parts that have been edited out numerous times due to factors out of my control."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-veXCXOzPE4

Not one to give up easily, Paras Patel was persistent and eventually landed the role of Matthew in The Chosen after several auditions. "I portray a historical figure. Season 1 has amassed over 35 million views globally in a span of a few months! I am incredibly thankful and grateful to the fans of the show, whose numerous messages of support and appreciation of my work have impacted me profoundly," the actor shared.

[caption id="attachment_31708" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Actor | Global Indian A still from the sets of The Chosen[/caption]

Even though much is known about the character he played, Paras Patel admitted that he was surprised to see the character written in a way that had never been done onscreen before. "It was the character description depicting Matthew as on the autism spectrum and the writing that initially drew me to the project," the actor shared during a podcast, adding, "The impact the show has had on our audience and having underrepresented communities feel like they are finally getting the representation and acceptance they deserve on a mainstream show keeps my heart full."

Actor | Paras Patel | Global Indian

An actor who loves challenging roles, Paras Patel is looking to collaborate with several other artists in the coming years. "I think what sets me apart as an actor is that I am always working on my craft to continue to get better. I am a hard worker and am always looking to improve. I also love to collaborate and meet others, as I believe there are enough seats at the table in this business and we should all support one another," shared the actor.

Follow Paras Patel on Facebook and Instagram

Reading Time: 6 mins

Selfie with Daughter – How Sunil Jaglan began a mega global social media movement for empowerment

(June 2, 2023) Sunil Jaglan, an activist from Haryana, found inspiration in the power of selfies and their ability to connect people. His journey began with a simple idea: a selfie with his daughter. Little did he know that this initiative would not only transform his own life but also capture the attention of the world. The ‘Selfie with Daughter’ campaign, launched in 2015, received the immediate attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in line with the government's Beti Bachao-Beti Padao campagn. It became a worldwide phenomenon, attracting participation from an array of influential figures, including Hollywood and Bollywood stars, renowned athletes, and prominent politicians.The PM also acknowledged Sunil's efforts during the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat in May 2023, lauding his contribution to empowering women. A-listers like Madonna, Vin Diesel, Sachin Tendulkar and Aamir Khan all posted selfies with their daughters, helping to make this initiative, begun humbly by a man from Haryana, became one of the most successful global campaigns ever witnessed. He has contributed in other ways too – Jaglan’s efforts led to female foeticide being treated as murder in Haryana, which once clocked up the second highest number of gender-related infant deaths in the country.

too – Jaglan’s efforts led to female foeticide being treated as murder in Haryana, which once clocked up the second highest number of gender-related infant deaths in the country.

[caption id="attachment_39531" align="aligncenter" width="502"] Sunil Jaglan with his daughters[/caption]

The power of an idea

For Jaglan, it was an idea that changed his life. He saw the immense buzz that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could create with a single selfie. Could it really be as simple, he wondered, as taking a selfie to make an impact? Still, there was no denying how PM Modi used it to connect with the common man and world leaders alike. He saw people all around him stopping for selfies and Salman Khan dance to “selfie le le re” in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. “PM Modi has mentioned my initiative at least six times in India and abroad since 2015, and gave it a massive push. But I never ever expected that he would call me one day. Talking to him was an extraordinary experience,” smiles Sunil Jaglan, the activist working on education and rights of girl child in Haryana, speaking to Global Indian.

That wasn’t all. Celebrities everywhere took to it, including A-listers like Madonna, Vin Diesel, Sachin Tendulkar, Serena Williams, Ajay Devgn, Aamir Khan and Shikhar Dhawan. “We received a huge response from the US, Canada, Australia and many countries,” says Sunil, who visited Nepal upon being invited by various organisations. He is soon headed to Canada and the US where lawmakers have invited him.

Over the last one decade. Sunil launched about a 100 campaigns aimed at women empowerment, which has brought winds of change in Harayana and helped improve Haryana’s gender ratio.

The fight against female foeticide

Born in Bibipur village in Jind district of Haryana, Sunil recalls how girls would be discriminated against at school and college. “Boys and girls would be made to sit separately and were never allowed to talk with each other. They had separate queues for everything,” says Sunil, who studied in a government school and completed his Bachelor of Science (BSB.Sc Computer Science) from Government PG college, Jind. After working as a teacher initially, Sunil left his job to become the sarpanch of his village in 2010. “The first task I took up was to prepare a website of my village. It was the first time that a gram panchayat had a website of its own,” says a beaming Sunil.

It all started in 2012 when Sunil broke convention after he celebrated his daughter’s birth with the “thali bajao” ceremony, which, until then was a custom reserved for the birth of boys. The villagers were under the impression that a boy was born (due to the thali ceremony). They were shocked to learn that it was a girl. “Even the nurses refused to accept sweets as a girl was born,” recalls Sunil. He would go on to take the issue of female foeticide to Maha Khap Panchayat in July 2012 and ensured women participation in those panchayats, a first in Haryana. They passed a resolution that female foeticide be treated as murder.

The social media campaign series

Thereafter, he launched a series of campaigns, all of which resonated with the locals. Prominent among them were Pad Mitra, which is around menstrual hygiene, Laado Swabhimaan, where house nameplates carry the name of the daughter, Beti Ki Badhai, Womaniya GDP, Gaali Bandh Ghar — among others. He once got a grant of Rs one crore from the state government for developmental works and let women in the village decide where and how to spend 50 per cent of that amount. “The idea was to ensure the participation of women in all the development works,” informs the activist.

But it was Selfie with daughter initiative that became a massive hit worldwide. “I realised Selfie was an important tool and decided to integrated it with women empowerment,” informs the 40 year old, who previously organised a race for girls and awarded a kilo of ghee as prize to bring focus to women's nutrition.

Sunil’s efforts brought about a massive change and the numbers speak for themselves. The sex ratio at birth in the state was 876 in 2015 which went up to 917 in 2022. His home district of Jind, which had a ratio of 871 girls for every 1,000 boys, went up to 996.

The ‘selfie with daughter’ impact

The selfie with daughter, which gradually evolved into a foundation has adopted over 140 villages across various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It has more than 8,000 volunteers across the country. “We have volunteers in many countries now,” informs the recipient of several state and national awards including the Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence award and the Manthan speaker award. His foundation observes ‘Selfie with Daughter’ Day on June 9 every year and felicitates women who work towards encouraging gender equality.

Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee too was a big fan of Selfie with daughter initiative and lent his full support to the activist. “We organised several events (about this campaign) at Rashtrapati Bhavan when he was the President. He encouraged us in every possible way,” recalls Sunil, who also works as a Senior Consultant in Pranab Mukherjee Foundation.

Changing a mindset

So what more needs to be done to empower women? “People at home need to change their mindset towards girls. Only then can we ensure a change in society,” he feels the father of two daughters — Nandini and Yachika. When not working, Sunil likes to indulge himself in sports and movies. “I watch a lot of movies,” declares the big movie buff who does not miss his game of badminton everyday.

Follow Sunil on Twitter.

Chef Manish Mehrotra’s decade-long reign in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants

(May 17, 2023) It was in 2009 that Chef Manish Mehrotra opened the doors of Indian Accent to Dilliwallas, a fine-dining Indian restaurant that in no time became a phenomenon, taking over New York and London. If the chef took Delhi's iconic Daulat ki Chaat to New York, he introduced Indians to the Blue Cheese Naan and changed the way people perceive Indian food. It's this uniqueness that has yet again put Indian Accent on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list for the 10th consecutive year. This year, his restaurant jumped three spots - from #22 to #19. For someone who enjoys bringing unique combinations to street chaat and regional cuisine, his unconventional approach to Indian food has made him stand tall. "I am eternally grateful for all the titles, but at the end of the day what matters to me is when someone walks out happy from my restaurant. They come with high expectations about the name, and it’s my job to fulfill it. Once you know you've done it, you've reached success," he told Elle. Manish's story is one of unyielding passion, relentless innovation, and profound respect for his culinary heritage. The celebration of food The Patna-born spent most

age-38768 aligncenter" src="https://stage.globalindian.com//wp-content/uploads/2023/05/manish2.webp" alt="Manish Mehrotra | Global Indian" width="716" height="537" />

The celebration of food

The Patna-born spent most of his childhood in the city. Though never the one to be seen in the kitchen, he enjoyed the food as it was something that was celebrated at his home. It was in the early 80s that he had his first fine dining encounter, and it had him hooked. So, when the time came to pursue a career, he picked hotel management as "it was then in fashion." This led him to the gates of the Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai where he honed his culinary skills. It was here that he fell in love with food production. "When I joined my school, I found their kitchen the most interesting place. That is when I decided I want to become a chef," he said in an interview.

He kickstarted his career as part of Ananda Solomon's team at the Thai Pavilion of the Taj Hotels, where he mastered the art of pan-Asian cuisine. Manish, who calls his mentor Chef Ananda - one of the finest chefs, learnt a great deal from him, one of the most important lessons being how to understand the guests' psyche. "That is what I learnt from Chef Ananda Solomon and that is what I still believe in. I still believe in feedback. One golden rule that I learnt from Chef Ananda is the plate that goes inside the restaurant was very important but the plate that comes back from the restaurant is even more important. He added that one can make out from the amount of food that is left on the plate whether someone liked the food or not," he told HT.

Manish Mehrotra | Global Indian

Indian cuisine with a twist

Working under the guidance of Solomon, Manish began to understand the depth and diversity of Indian cuisine. Solomon’s meticulous attention to detail, insistence on quality ingredients, and reverence for traditional cooking methods profoundly influenced Mehrotra. He learned the importance of balancing flavours and respecting the integrity of each ingredient, principles that would later become the bedrock of his culinary philosophy.

Later, he joined Old World Hospitality Oriental Octopus and travelled across Asia to train in Pan Asian Cuisine. He embarked on a journey to redefine and elevate Indian cuisine. He began to experiment, fusing traditional Indian flavours with contemporary culinary techniques to create dishes that were both familiar and remarkably innovative. His unique approach caught the attention of food enthusiasts across the globe, leading to the birth of Indian Accent.

Manish Mehrotra | Global Indian

The inspiration came while working in London when the Global Indian found that there was a huge disconnect between the youth of the time (2008-9) and Indian foods. And it was this gap that he wanted to fill in with Indian Accent. "London at that point in time was more than New York; it was a cosmopolitan city of a different culture, different nationality, and everyone's food was represented in that city at a different level and on a very good level also. Indian food chefs like Vineet Bhatia, Chef Atul Kochhar, Vivek Singh… they were all doing fantastic work and when you saw their work you got inspired, then you say why can't you do this kind of thing in India. Because one thing that I felt at that point of time was that the youth of India had a very big disconnect with Indian food at that point of time. Young Indians had stopped going to Indian restaurants and there was a big disconnect. That was one motivation that you have to do Indian food in such a way that it reconnects the young generation also," he said, adding, "The people coming outside India can relate to it and cuisine can move forward. The regional cuisine can come to limelight."

Putting Indian food on global map

With dishes as unique as Blue Cheese Naan, Doda Barfi Treacle Tart, and Meetha Achaar Pork Ribs on the menu, Manish saw an empty restaurant for the first few months. Since Indian Accent was nothing like any other Indian restaurant serving regular Indian khaana, many people would walk out after reading the menu. However, things started slowly picking up for the chef as people understood the concept. "Now, people are open to experimenting. With increase in travel, palettes have evolved and are ready to experiment. It will take more time but it's a good progress."

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A post shared by Manish Mehrotra (@chefmanishmehrotra)

Indian Accent, under his expert guidance, became a culinary sensation. The restaurant's innovative menu beautifully showcases the chef's understanding of Indian cuisine, while the novel presentations highlight his modern, inventive touch. Each dish is a testament to his ability to transform traditional recipes into contemporary masterpieces without compromising on authenticity.

In 2016, he decided to take Indian Accent to New York, a landscape that's already familiar with upscale Indian dining and created quite a stir by introducing Delhi's iconic Daulat ki Chaat to New Yorkers. With no previous exposure in the US, starting anew in unfamiliar scenery was challenging for the chef. However, it helped him push the creative envelope. But what surprised him the most was the reception that Indian Accent got in New York. "People already knew about Indian Accent New Delhi; they’d been there, or their friends and family had been there and they’d told them about it. That doesn’t make New York City easy to negotiate, of course: If this city doesn’t like something, it can be ruthless," he said.

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Manish's ten-year streak on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is a testament to his culinary prowess and the consistent excellence of his Indian Accent. His remarkable journey from a young boy in Patna to an internationally recognized chef is not just the result of his talent and dedication but also his ability to re-imagine Indian food in a way that resonates with a global audience.

He has pushed the boundaries of what is considered Indian cuisine, transforming it from a largely misunderstood food culture into a globally recognized and respected culinary art form. Chef Manish Mehrotra has not only changed how the world perceives Indian cuisine but also inspired a generation of budding chefs to explore the rich tapestry of Indian flavours and techniques. "Our ultimate goal is to get real Indian food to the world and tell the world that India is not wholly about the northwest frontier. There is east, west, south, every different part of India has a unique cuisine to offer which is happening."

Chef Manish Mehrotra, who is a self-proclaimed movie buff, enjoys South Indian-dubbed movies, along with listening to music and watching cricket. Moreover, he is an enthusiastic reader and has a collection of more than 1200 Cookbooks from across the globe.

As Indian Accent continues to dazzle the culinary world, one can't help but admire the man from Patna who dared to reimagine Indian food, leaving an indelible Indian Accent on the world's culinary map.

Follow Chef Manish Mehrotra on Twitter and Instagram
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The Astronaut Maker: Dr. Ravi Margasahayam, the man who sent over 700 humans into space

(October 13, 2022) About 15 minutes into our conversation, Dr. Ravi Margasahayam told me that he once had a chance meeting with mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, who taught him a very important lesson - something he still lives by. "It was 1973, I was in engineering college. We friends were roaming the streets of Darjeeling, looking for a postcard of Tenzing Norgay – the first man who climbed Mt Everest, when we spotted the man himself, sitting nearby, and we introduced ourselves to him. As he chatted with us, he told me, 'You young engineers must be thinking of climbing Everest someday. But I have already done that. You must find your own mountain to climb'," shared the Global Space Ambassador for John F. Kennedy Space Center, NASA, as he connected with me over a video call. [caption id="attachment_30545" align="aligncenter" width="631"] Dr. Ravi Margasahayam (photo credit: Dr. Margasahayam)[/caption] Heeding Norgay’s advice, Dr. Margasahayam went on a quest to find his own peak to scale. And he found his

Indian" width="631" height="841" /> Dr. Ravi Margasahayam (photo credit: Dr. Margasahayam)[/caption]

Heeding Norgay’s advice, Dr. Margasahayam went on a quest to find his own peak to scale. And he found his destination about 15,000 km away from Bengaluru, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. In a glorious career spanning over three decades, Dr. Margasahayam has played an instrumental role in launching over a hundred Space Shuttle missions, which took more than 700 astronauts to space, including Indian-born astronaut, Kalpana Chawla. He is the only person of Indian origin to work, manage, and conduct research on both launch pads - Complex 39A and 39B - the same from where NASA sent humans to land on the Moon.

"I once met former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and had the privilege of showing him around the John F. Kennedy Space Center. He told me that he envied me, saying, ‘You did the one thing I couldn't ever do - launch humans into space. You are an Astronaut Maker'," shares the 69-year-old proud Global Indian.

The dream is alive

Born in Mumbai, to a civil engineer father and a homemaker mother, Dr. Margasahayam got an opportunity to explore the world right from when he was an infant. "My father was deputed to United Nations. Soon after I was born, we moved to Myanmar and then to Kabul, Afghanistan." A curious kid, he was always fascinated with machines, which helped him choose his career path.

A love for machines wasn't the only reason he became an aerospace engineer, Dr. Margasahayam was equally mesmerised by the glitz of Bollywood. "When I was around 10, I watched the Hindi film Sangam wherein Raj Kapoor played an Indian Air Force pilot, and it inspired me a lot. I thought of becoming a pilot as I would travel to exotic locations, and have a beautiful wife," laughs the NASA veteran, adding, "Well, I couldn't become a pilot, but I sent many to space, and I have a beautiful wife."

After spending a few years in Afghanistan, the engineer came back to Mumbai to pursue his education. "Some failures are successful failures. My father wanted me to pursue engineering, however, my percentage in Class 12 wasn't enough to get me in a Mumbai college. So, I came to Bengaluru to do mechanical engineering and earned a degree in 1975," says Dr. Margasahayam.

Lift off!

After completing his degree, he moved to Oman where his dad was posted at that time. However, the lack of opportunities in Muscat led the NASA veteran to move to Chicago, where one of his aunts lived. "I went on a tourist visa in 1975, with no clothes, no books, no money, and no ambition - just my aunt's house," the NASA researcher smiles, adding, "I remember landing in New York and was completely amazed. It was a big city and so glamourous. I hadn't seen anything like that before. From there, I went to my aunt's place in Chicago."

[caption id="attachment_30548" align="aligncenter" width="645"] NASA | Dr. Ravi Margasahayam | Global Indian Photo credit: Dr Margasahayam[/caption]

Although he hoped to return to the country after six weeks in the US, destiny had other plans for him. His aunt’s connections helped him apply for a master's programme at the Illinois Institute of Technology. "I met the Chairman of the engineering department, Dr. Sudhir Kumar. He offered me a contingent admission, asking me to convert the visa for a semester. I managed to do that and earned my master's in aerospace engineering in 1978."

However, he still had more hurdles to cross. "One of the biggest issues was understanding their English accent, even though I was a fluent English speaker," he says, adding, "By the second semester, I had to take up several odd jobs to make ends meet, including one at a Mexican restaurant and another at a welding shop." Six months into his Ph.D. work at the same institution, he started applying for jobs and found one as a railroad engineer at Conrail in Philadelphia.

The aero world

About one-and-a-half years later, Dr. Margasahayam bagged an opportunity to work for Boeing, in Colorado. "My boss was so impressed with my CV that he asked me join from the next week itself. However, I was getting married in a few months and had to return to India. So, I joined them about nine months later in 1981."

[caption id="attachment_30552" align="aligncenter" width="713"] NASA | Dr. Ravi Margasahayam | Global Indian Dr Margasahayam working on NASA's launchpad (photo credit: Michael Soluri)[/caption]

It was a usual afternoon in 1986 when Dr. Margasahayam heard the news about the space shuttle Challenger disaster which left him deeply shocked. About two years after the fateful accident, he applied for a job at NASA. "During my interview, the person asked if I had ever launched or even seen a rocket, and I said no. When he said how can he hire someone with no knowledge about rockets, I told him that a car and a plane both vibrate when they function - and so does the rocket. And as a vibration engineer, I can fix several problems for NASA," he shares.

[caption id="attachment_30553" align="aligncenter" width="670"] NASA | Dr. Ravi Margasahayam | Global Indian Dr Margasahayam and his father with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (photo credit: Dr. Margasahayam)[/caption]

In 1989, Dr. Margasahayam became the first Indian to work and research at NASA's Moonpad - the same launchpad from where Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins left Earth for the Moon. "I was given free access, making me the only Indian to date to work on both the launchpads of NASA. I studied the field of Vibroacoustics - which is the science of how sounds can create vibrations and become a load on a structure and affect our space shuttles," he explains.

Only in his first year, he played a pivotal role in NASA launch probes to the Sun (Ulysses), Venus (Magellan), and Jupiter (Galileo). He was also the core member of the team that launched the Hubble Space Telescope - which completely changed the human's fundamental understanding of the Universe. "I can hardly express how incredible it was for a Mumbai boy to launch these 2-million-kg shuttles to various planets. The entire Universe was now my playground," shares Dr. Margasahayam. He was also a part of the team that build the International Space Station (ISS) - or a "Taj Mahal in the heavens" as he calls it - and send the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) there to study the dark matter.

[caption id="attachment_30550" align="aligncenter" width="646"] NASA | Dr. Ravi Margasahayam | Global Indian Dr. Margasahayam receiving the prestigious Silver Snoopy award in 1996, from eminent American astronaut, Pamela Melroy (photo credit: Dr. Margasahayam)[/caption]

With one of the most eminent American astronauts, Pamela Melroy, being his mentor, Dr. Margasahayam won the most prestigious honour in the field of engineering - Silver Snoopy award in 1996. He became NASA’s international expert and lead scientist on Rocket Launch-induced Noise and Vibration technology, and the only engineer at NASA who was allowed to install his own structure, designed to measure acoustic loads and structural vibration of pad structures. As the VIP Tour Guide, he escorted several eminent guests, who visited the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A tale of two Indians

Around the same time that Dr. Margasahayam received the Silver Snoopy award, another Indian, Kalpana Chawla, was training to become an astronaut. It was during a visit to the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, that the two Indians first met, and later became good friends. "Pamela informed me that there was a new girl in the NASA Astronaut Corp from India, Kalpana Chawla. That was the first time I had heard of her. Kalpana visited the launchpad after she got the assignment to go to the space in STS-87 - Space Shuttle Columbia - in 1997. I was a part of the team that trained that crew about the terminal countdown demonstration, where we teach the astronauts how to shield themselves in case of any accidents and escape from there. I remember standing two feet away from Kalpana when she was boarding the space shuttle. The mission was successful," shares the NASA veteran, who later arranged for the then-Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral to speak to Kalpana, while she was in space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK2kaPc7c5o

Six years later, Kalpana again donned the astronaut suit, boarded the ill-fated space shuttle Columbia and died as the shuttle re-entred into the Earth's atmosphere. "I was the last person to see her before she boarded the shuttle," Dr. Margasahayam recalls, "Space shuttles are never late for the landing. If they are late, it means that there is something wrong. So, when Columbia was late for its landing on February 1, 2003, I remember the Centre Director saying that there was no hope that they would make it. It was quite tragic. I and several NASA people went walking for miles to collect the parts of shuttle debris and the remains of the astronauts."

A few weeks before her ill-fated mission, Kalpana told Dr. Margasahayam that they should return to India and encourage more people to take up careers in aerospace technology. While that could never happen, in 2019 Dr. Margasahayam inaugurated the National Space Society's Mumbai chapter to engage Indian youth in the space sciences - honouring one of the astronaut's last wishes.

The journey never stops...

In 2016, Dr. Margasahayam officially retired as the Co-Chair of the Ground Review Safety Panel (GSRP), which reviews safety for all payloads going to the International Space Station (ISS), from anywhere in the world. In 2019, he was nominated by NASA Astronauts and held the position of Solar System Ambassador for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, California. An eloquent public speaker, the NASA veteran has encouraged several young people to explore the secrets of the Universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLZXZB3ug88

"For me what matters is to inspire the next generation to ride on our shoulders and do better than us. We have opened a path to human spaceflight - live and work in space. What did not happen in 60,000 years, we have been able to do in the last 60 years. Humankind is much benefitted by space exploration, and we have a long way to go from here," signs off Dr. Margasahayam.

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Pramila Jayapal: Indian-American becomes the first Asian woman elected to the US House of Representatives

(February 13, 2023) She was only 16 when she made her way to the US to study at Georgetown University, and "after 17 years on an alphabet soup of visas to become a US citizen", Pramila Jayapal was lucky enough to have the "opportunity to live the American dream" - something that's still a distant dream for many immigrants today. And now she is set to make this dream a reality for many immigrants as the Indian-American Congresswoman has been named Ranking Member of the powerful House Judiciary Committee's panel on Immigration, making her the first immigrant to serve in a leadership role for the subcommittee. "It is extremely meaningful to me that I will now be in this position to better move the needle and re-center our broken immigration system around dignity, humanity, and justice," she said. Interestingly, she is the first immigrant to serve in a leadership role for the subcommittee. "As the first South Asian woman elected to the US House of Representatives and one of only two dozen naturalised citizens in Congress, I am honoured and humbled to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement," added the 57-year-old

dded the 57-year-old who is representing the 7th Congressional District of Washington State.

Pramila Jayapal

Born in Tamil Nadu, she grew up in India, Indonesia, and Singapore before moving to the US in 1982 to study English and Economics at Georgetown University, and later enrolled in Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management for an MBA.

It was in the 90s that she began her activism as a community organiser in Seattle, Washington, working on a variety of social justice issues, including immigrant rights, environmental protection, and affordable housing. She served as Director of the Fund for Technology Transfer at Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (1991-1995), a program that funded critical health projects in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In 1995, she was awarded a two-year fellowship from The Institute of Current World Affairs to live in villages and towns across India and write about her perspectives on modern Indian society in the context of development and social justice. In 2000, she published her first book Pilgrimage to India: A Woman Revisits Her Homeland.

Then 9/11 happened, and that's when Pramila started OneAmerica — originally called the Hate Free Zone Campaign of Washington — as a response to the hate crimes and backlash against Arabs, Muslims and South Asians. "What started as simply protecting people against hate crimes turned quickly into much more—working to defend our civil liberties and rights for all immigrant communities," the Global Indian wrote in a blog.

Pramila Jayapal | Global Indian | Indian American

She soon realised the importance of federal immigration reform policy to the US. "In 2003, through the Immigrant Worker Freedom Ride, we began working on immigration reform and never stopped. We built political power for immigrants in our state, registering and mobilising to the polls tens of thousands of New Americans. We organised in different ethnic communities and advocated for better policies. We worked with the media to improve the narrative around immigrants and immigration. Together, with partners, allies, and members, we built OneAmerica from a fledgling effort into the largest immigrant advocacy organisation in Washington and a strong national force for justice," she added.

It was in 2016 that she ran for the House of Representatives and was elected as the first Indian-American woman to serve in the House of Representatives. In Congress, she has been a vocal champion of a wide range of progressive causes, including healthcare reform, environmental protection, and reproductive rights. She is also a leading voice in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform and has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies.

Pramila Jayapal | Global Indian | Indian American

Moreover, she played a key role during the Covid-19 pandemic through American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package aimed at providing relief to individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic. Furthermore, she is a philanthropist and an advocate for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and healthcare. She has introduced several bills aimed at improving the lives of marginalised communities, including the Medicare for All Act of 2019.

She is married to Steve Williamson, a long-time labor leader, and strategist, and is the proud mother of a transgender daughter named Kashika.

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