Global IndianstoryVoice of reason: Dr. Meera Shah’s crusade for women’s reproductive rights

Voice of reason: Dr. Meera Shah’s crusade for women’s reproductive rights

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(October 19, 2022) A few months ago, scores of women took to the streets across America after the US Supreme Court overturned abortion rights in the country. Almost 50 years after American women’s constitutional right to abortion was recognised, the country’s apex court effectively eliminated the right, allowing states to enforce a ban on abortions.

Dr. Meera Shah

Among the ladies who raised their voices against this change in law, was Dr Meera Shah, an Indian-American Chief Medical Officer of New York’s Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic. An abortion provider who has made it her life’s mission to make safe and legal abortions accessible to her patients, Meera even travels to other states to help women struggling with pregnancy. “When somebody has a positive pregnancy test, our immediate reaction as healthcare providers is to provide them with all the options. Never assume that it’s happy news you are delivering – you always want to mirror your reaction to the patient’s reaction. All options and all choices are valid, and I honour them,” the doctor told American Kahani during an interview.

Despite getting several threats from anti-abortion protestors and pro-life campaigners, Dr. Shah is resolute and passionate about her work. Recently, she even came out with a book ‘You’re The Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion‘, a collection of narratives by women who have had abortions, countered stereotypes about them, or have fought myths that persist around the subject. “People have said that the book has been eye-opening,” she said during an interview, adding, “That in itself is destigmatising — the understanding that even the most basic facts about abortion that have been littered by the anti-abortion movement.” Dr. Shah is also the national medical spokesperson at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Standing for women’s rights

Born to Jain immigrants from India, Dr. Shah was a brilliant kid growing up. In fact, she was so good at academics, that she had many career options after finishing high school. “The options were multiple choice. A, B, and C, doctor, lawyer, engineer: Pick one,” she said to Elle Magazine, adding, “Reading and writing were my first loves. Going to the library or the bookstore was the biggest treat for me – that’s how my parents would reward me for good behaviour.”

Dr Shah with her friends

Drawn to social justice work, Dr. Shah chose to become a doctor. A Fellow of Physicians for Reproductive Health, Dr. Shah earned a medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University. And it was during her residency days that she witnessed the struggle of women who chose to abort their fetuses. “An incredible mentor who is a very vocal activist for abortion access encouraged me to become an advocate for her patients in the day-to-day, as well as on a larger policy front.”

When she first started working as an abortion provider, she struggled to tell people what she did – mostly because of the stigma attached to abortion. However, weeks of self-analysis, and leaning into her faith, Jainism, made her realise that she was helping those who were shunned not just by society, but many times by their own. “Supporting people and helping them exercise their autonomy is ethical, and the right thing to do,” Dr. Shah told Elle.

The secret-keeper

After graduating from medical school, Dr. Shah joined Planned Parenthood, where she specialises in sexual and reproductive healthcare as well as transgenic care for transgender and gender non-binary people. She sees patients from all income levels, cultures, and races, and treats them equally. Listening to their stories of struggle motivated this Global Indian to dedicate her life to changing the narrative around abortion. For many years she hesitated to talk about her work. However, once she opened up, many women approached her with their own stories. “It was like the floodgates opened. I have become a sudden confidante at dinner parties, at rooftop barbecues, at the grocery store, even at jury duty… Being more open about my work helped people be more open about their own abortion stories,” she described in the introduction to her new book, You’re The Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion.

Inspired and moved by the stories of many close friends and acquaintances, Dr. Shah began collecting stories of the survivors, which she later printed as a book. A champion of the reproductive rights of women, an activist, counselor, and advisor, Dr. Shah has described the nuance and richness of each subject’s life, both preceding and following the procedure. “I love to write and I thought this would be one other mechanism for bringing change. Each storyteller was able to edit their story. I sent a draft, and they made changes – because it’s not my story, it’s theirs.”

A board member of Sakhi, a community-based organisation in the New York metropolitan area committed to ending violence against women, Dr. Shah has observed that there is a lot of stigma and shame surrounding abortion in the South Asian community. “There are a lot of cultural nuances that go into somebody’s views on sex and abortion and unintended pregnancy. I see patients who are of South Asian identity all the time, and I am trying to bring this idea closer to the community because we just don’t talk about it very much,” she told American Kahaani.

While much needs to be done for the cause, Dr. Shah is committed to her work. The young doctor is planning to start an advocacy support centre for women – especially of colour – who need any mental, medical or legal support before or after abortions.

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Milagros Kaiser

September 23, 2024 1:09 am

Great post! I enjoyed reading it and learned a lot. Your writing style is engaging and easy to follow, and the information you provided was very helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise on this topic. Keep up the good work.

Published on 19, Oct 2022

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Meet Sarbpreet Singh, who went from corporate boardrooms to writing about the immigrant Sikh experience

(February 26, 2024) A Boston-based writer, podcaster, and commentator, Sarbpreet Singh is a man who wears many hats with élan. Author of the critically acclaimed books The Story of the Sikhs 1469–1708, Night of the Restless Spirits, The Sufi’s Nightingale, and the bestselling The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia, his deeply researched books have left an imprint on many readers. Having worked for various firms, including General Electric, Lucent Technologies, Flextronics International, and AT&T Bell Labs, he made the career switch to writing in 2017. Sarbpreet Singh is the very definition of a Global Indian. Raised in Sikkim, speaking Punjabi (his mother tongue) and Nepali (the language most prevalent in Sikkim), his syncretic upbringing and outlook have ensured he imbibes the best that places and people have to offer. [caption id="attachment_49428" align="aligncenter" width="585"] Sarbpreet Singh[/caption] Love of literature Hailing from one of only two Sikh families that lived in Gangtok, Sikkim, the author was quite disconnected from his roots, both culturally and socially. He recalls, “While I had friends growing up, I struggled with feelings of isolation that came from the ‘othering’ that my visible Sikh identity provoked.” In a school culture where sporting abilities were valued highly, his indifferent soccer

disconnected from his roots, both culturally and socially. He recalls, “While I had friends growing up, I struggled with feelings of isolation that came from the ‘othering’ that my visible Sikh identity provoked.”

In a school culture where sporting abilities were valued highly, his indifferent soccer and track and field abilities meant that he turned to elocution, dramatics and related pursuits, which transformed into lifelong interests.

He recalls, “I always loved literature, and during my high school years, against the advice of my mentors, I decided to study English literature as an elective, something that was not recommended for a student studying science subjects. The two-year syllabus enriched me tremendously as I delved into the likes of Thomas Hardy, Samuel Butler, John Galsworthy, and, of course, Shakespeare."

Sarbpreet went on to study Engineering at The Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani. After a stint at ICIM, a Bombay-based tech company, he left for the US to study computer science at Pace University in New York.

Life in the US

The author says that he adjusted to life in the US easily. “As someone who attended elite schools in India, had a deep love of the English language, and identified with western ideas and culture, I did not have much trouble adjusting to my new life in a new country. I maintained my Sikh identity, and while my distinctive physical appearance did lead to the inevitable othering, it did not hold me back in my professional career at all,” he states.

However, Sarbpreet did change profoundly in other ways. He recounts, “My first job took me to a small suburb of the Midwestern city of Milwaukee. Quite serendipitously, a budding interest in my roots, which had started while I was in graduate school, took shape as I started spending time with young Sikhs around my age who attended the small Milwaukee Gurdwara.”

As a young man who was until then immersed mostly in Rock and The Blues, and disdained all forms of Indian music, he found himself drawn to Gurmat Sangeet, or Sikh sacred music.

Milwaukee was also home to a small but thriving Indian classical music community, which Sarbpreet got involved with. The twin interests in Gurmat Sangeet and Shastriya Sangeet developed into a lifelong passion, especially as he launched The Gurmat Sangeet Project, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of traditional Sikh music.

A writer by accident

As an expatriate Indian and a Sikh, Sarbpreet first encountered writings on Sikhs and the Sikh faith by chance. He explains, “While I did speak Punjabi, I never learned to read Gurmukhi and was hence limited to reading exclusively in the English language. I encountered J.D. Cunningham's History of the Sikhs and Max Marthur Macauliffe’s The Sikh Religion, finding both works to be tremendously inspiring, after which I read Khushwant Singh’s History of the Sikhs as well.”

Reading about the broad worldview of the Sikh Gurus and the trials and tribulations of eighteenth-century Sikhs as they struggled to establish their progressive faith in a society that was anything but welcoming inspired Sarbpreet tremendously.

This budding interest in Sikh history led him to writings about more recent events, most notably the tragic events of 1984. He reminisces, “Reading the PUCL/PUDR report on the Delhi massacre, an article by Madhu Kishwar titled Gangster Rule on the same topic, and most importantly, an academic paper by anthropologist Dr. Veena Das created tremendous turmoil in my heart.”

This was the spark that prompted him to write Kultar’s Mime, a long poem about four children who survived the anti-Sikh violence of 1984 and their attempts to deal with their PTSD.

After that, Sarbpreet took a long break from writing, and it wasn’t until years later that he started writing a column for the popular web magazine SikhChic in 2013. He states, “The positive response to the column inspired me to write my first book, The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia, set in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The book was a great critical and commercial success, and it launched my career as a writer.”

From tech to storytelling

He left the world of technology around 2014 and, for the next two years, focused on producing the play Kultar’s Mime, created by his daughter based on his poem. He shares, “Somewhere along this three-year journey, which took the play to six countries for 90+ performances, I made the decision to embrace storytelling completely." His epiphany came after a performance in Birmingham, UK, when a young Sikh in his late teens walked up to him and said, ‘I could never imagine that our stories could be told in this manner’. After the tour ended in 2017, he started writing in earnest.

Sarbpreet writes on topics that inspire him or catch his imagination; as his interests are varied, his books deal with different themes. He outlines it when he says, “All my work is deeply rooted in research, and I tend to immerse myself in my subject before I write a single word. For example, my latest novel, The Sufi’s Nightingale, is a retelling of the life of the poet Shah Hussain. While I tried to read everything about him that I could lay my hands on before writing the novel, I also spent a couple of years creating original compositions to sing his kafis or poems, which appear in translation in the book and are deeply embedded in the narrative.”

A man of many talents

Along with writing, Sarbpreet is also the writer-narrator of the podcast, Story of The Sikhs, which has listeners in over ninety countries. Ask him how he juggles it with writing, and he smiles. “There is really no juggling involved at all! Even though my canvas is quite broad, all my work is based on what truly inspires me. Novels, works of non-fiction, plays, poetry, podcasts, and music—all of these to me are just different modes of storytelling, with the ultimate objective of inspiring others.”

Though he has lived longer now in the US than in India, the author is rooted culturally in the Indian subcontinent. It is reflected in the food he likes, the music he listens to and the stories he writes. When not spending time with his family, he is busy with his other passions – tennis, music and literature. He is currently working on his next book, Cauldron, Sword, Victory – The Rise of the Sikhs expected to be out later this year.

Follow Sarbpreet Singh on Instagram.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s success comes from empathy

(June 18, 2022) Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, the American multinational company is well known for leading with empathy. Ironically, it was lack of empathy that had nearly cost him the chance to join the organisation 30 years back. After a full day of interviews with various engineering leaders who tested his intellectual capabilities, Nadella had met the last interviewer of the selection process. Instead of giving him an engineering problem, coding scenario or grilling about his education and experiences the interviewer had asked him; what would he do if he sees a crying baby lying on a street. “I’ll call 911,” was Nadella’s reply. The interviewer was certainly not satisfied and pointed out that Nadella needs to build empathy, as the first thing that would be required in such a scenario is to pick up the baby. “Somehow, I got the job but Richard’s (interviewer’s) words have remained with me to this day. Little did I know then that I would soon learn empathy in a deeply personal way,” writes Nadella in his memoir Hit Refresh. The bestseller has a warm foreword by Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft. Global Indian turns it spotlight on the inspirational success story

m//" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Indian turns it spotlight on the inspirational success story of the Indian-origin CEO who lives in Bellevue, Washington.

[caption id="attachment_25810" align="aligncenter" width="1333"] Indian CEO | Microsoft | Satya Nadella | Global Indian Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella[/caption]

Writing about empathy in his memoir, Nadella remarks

“This unique quality will become even more valuable in a world where the torrent of technology will disrupt the status quo like never before.”

Joining Microsoft at the age of 25 after a short stint at Sun Microsystems, Satya Nadella climbed up the ladder to become the third CEO of the organisation in 2014. To work for a company filled with people who believe they were on a mission to change the world, was his reason to join the organisation in 1992. He never regretted his decision in the last three decades!

Making the best of what life had in store

Satya Nadella had been a good student but not an extraordinary one. “I was not academically that great. I didn’t go to the elite Indian Institute of Technology (IITs),” he mentions while informing in his memoir that he flunked its entrance exam. So, he went on to study at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) instead. The young Nadella wanted to study computer science, but was not able to get into the stream. So, he instead took up electrical engineering with the hunch that it would help him get closer to computers and software. Fortuitously his hunch was right!

[caption id="attachment_25812" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Indian CEO | Microsoft | Satya Nadella | Global Indian Microsoft past and current CEOs: Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, Steve Ballmer on Nadella’s first day as CEO[/caption]

Today, the man who was conferred Padma Bhushan in 2022, is an inspiration to millions. His journey is a strong testament that if one makes the best of what has come one’s way, keep the passion alive for achievements, never let die the dream; then reaching where one intends to be is not impossible.

Leading with purpose

Reminiscing about his organization’s larger purpose Nadella writes:

“Microsoft has always been at its best when it commits personal passion to a broader purpose. Windows Office, Xbox, Surface, our servers and Microsoft Cloud – all of these products have become digital platforms upon which individuals and organizations can build their own dreams.”

Nadella has aligned himself well with his organization’s outlook putting the alchemy of purpose, innovation and empathy at the centre of all that he pursues – from the products that his team launches, the new markets that they enter to the employees, customers and partners they work with.

Childhood passions – cricket and computers

Nadella was born in Hyderabad in a Telugu family. His mother, Prabhavati Yugandhar, was a Sanskrit professor. As a kid, Satya was mesmerised by the charms of cricketers who hailed from the city, and wanted to be a professional cricketer. His father, Bukkapuram Nadella Yugandhar, an IAS officer, however was not keen on Satya playing cricket instead of focussing on his studies. Incidentally, Satya too, struggled to hone his skills in the game beyond a certain level.

So, the junior Nadella started working on a passion that came second on list after cricket – computers. Little did he know that his second-best choice would make him number one in life! Interestingly, the top CEO who is still obsessed with cricket attributes many of his leadership qualities to lessons that he learned as a cricket player.

[caption id="attachment_25815" align="aligncenter" width="761"] Indian CEO | Microsoft | Satya Nadella | Global Indian Satya Nadella enjoying the game of cricket[/caption]

A 15-year-old Nadella discovered that computer software is one of the most malleable resources after his father gifted him a Sinclair ZX Spectrum computer kit from Bangkok. The youngster realised that he can achieve multiple things with just a few lines of code.

By 1980s, Nadella was already good at writing BASIC code. After completing his B Tech, he headed to United States in 1988 to pursue his master's degree in computer science at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. This journey that he made from New Delhi to Chicago on his 21st birthday paved his way to becoming the CEO of one of the world’s largest companies.

A family man

The IT administrator of his family, Nadella has always been particular that technology for entertainment should be limited. As a father of three he has always been negotiating on how many movies, what kind of video games and the likes with his children.

[caption id="attachment_25816" align="aligncenter" width="758"] Indian CEO | Microsoft | Satya Nadella | Global Indian Satya Nadella with his wife, Anu and son, late Zain Nadella[/caption]

His life changed forever with the birth of his first born, Zain who passed away in February 2022. Zain was born weighing just three pounds, was visually impaired, and had limited communication capabilities. He had been suffering from severe cerebral palsy. This has had a profound influence on lives of both Satya and his wife, Anu. Since his birth, the couple have been leading, thinking and relating to people – all with empathy.

“Ideas excite me. Empathy grounds and centres me" - Satya Nadella

The father who never expected to grapple with such harsh turn of fate, cherishes every moment of his fatherhood nevertheless. The couple who are also childhood friends has been successful in keeping their private life, pretty private.

Life’s lessons transferred to good business decisions

The man who never conducts business as usual, makes use of life’s experiences as raw material for transformation. Many features of Microsoft products have been designed keeping in mind the ease of use by the differently abled for example the company’s new app, Seeing AI, helps people with visual impairment. "They can hold up their phone and it'll 'see' people — interpret their emotions, interpret a menu, cook with a recipe, go grocery shopping, read labels or help them walk into a conference room with confidence " remarked Satya Nadella in one of his interviews.

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

Do you know?

Satya Nadella’s full name is Satya Narayana Nadella
At six, he lost his sister, who was just five-and-half months old
Satya Nadella studied in Hyderabad Public School (HPS). His father wanted him to do his 11th and 12th from an international school in Bangkok. However, Nadella did not budge because he loved HPS too much.
Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe, Ajay Singh Banga, CEO of Master Card, Kunal Bahl of Snapdeal are all alumni of HPS, Nadella’s school - a fact that he cherishes.
Years after passing out of Manipal Institute of Technology, Nadella rented a house in Sunnyvale, California with eight of his classmates from the institute, who happened to be there at the same time working in California. Together they recreated their dorm experience from college.
He gave up his Green Card (permanent residency) and went back to H1B (temporary professional worker status), in the initial days of his marriage because his newly-wedded wife’s visa was rejected. Those days visa waitlist for spouses of permanent residents used to be five or more years, while the H1B enabled spouses to stay in US while their husbands or wives were working there.

Follow Satya Nadella on LinkedIn and Twitter

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Brand India lighting up the world: How NRIs make Diwali a global celebration

(October 31, 2024) It’s that time of the year again, when millions of people across the world come together to light up their homes with lamps and candles, for prayers and celebrations. It’s Diwali — the Festival of Lights — which has the 35.4 million-strong Indian community abroad prepping up for vibrant celebrations, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The beautiful festival of lights has become a symbol of Brand India around the world, and today, is celebrated widely, not just by Indians. For instance, US President Joe Biden already hosted the annual Diwali event at the White House which was attended by more than 600 eminent Indian-Americans and NRIs, including Congressman Shri Thanedar, US Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H Murthy and Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Similarly, a lively Diwali celebration also erupted in the heart of Times Square, New York City where a diverse group of Indian community members and American citizens came together to honour the festival of lights. The iconic location in Midtown Manhattan was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colours, showcasing the rich culture and unity of the Indian community. The

ransformed into a kaleidoscope of colours, showcasing the rich culture and unity of the Indian community. The event featured prominent attendees, including New York Mayor Eric Adams. It is a heartwarming indication of the great Indian success story – NRIs have not just managed to assimilate and become part of a new culture, they have brought their own to the world, making it a time of joy and togetherness. Global Indian takes a look at how NRIs gear up for the festive season.

[caption id="attachment_59151" align="aligncenter" width="635"] NRIs celebrate Diwali | Global Indian New York Mayor Eric Adams celebrates Diwali with the Indian community[/caption]

Indian values

“I believe that people here hold more Indian values than many people living in India. Celebrating culture, dressing up, doing rituals during Diwali is something all Indians abroad look forward to,” smiles San Francisco-based serial entrepreneur Neena Pandey, while speaking to Global Indian. Having grown up in the enchanting city of Varanasi, Neena says Diwali is celebrated in a huge way in San Francisco Bay Area.

“There are many Indians here and many host parties. There are Diwali fairs where vendors sell things from Indian clothing to jewelry to pooja items, home decor and much more,” says Neena, founder and CEO of The String Code, a luxury fashion brand and a member of the Forbes Business Council.

Once an outspoken marketing executive in Silicon Valley, Neena, who previously worked at Adobe Systems, Sun Microsystems among others, says many companies also have Diwali parties. “Silicon Valley is very diverse and like a mini India. All the major tech companies are here, many of whom have Indian CEOs and a big Indian work force. Therefore, the celebrations are grand,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_59152" align="aligncenter" width="670"] NRIs celebrate Diwali | Global Indian Diwali at the White House[/caption]

Diwali in UK

In UK too, grand Diwali celebrations is on the cards. After all, there are 250,000 Indians who live across UK. Vijay Goel, Senior Partner at Singhania & Co, London recalls how he and his family, friends have been attending various Diwali events since the year 2000.

“Diwali celebrations in London are getting bigger and bigger each year. For our first Diwali party, we invited the Queen of UK to our house as we were her neighbours. We told her about Diwali being the biggest indian festival and how we celebrate. We were delighted when she sent across a reply wishing us a happy Diwali,” recalls Vijay, who is all geared up for celebrations this year.

The Goel family is hosting a dinner for friends and colleagues which is likely to be attended by some of the top businessmen and who’s who of UK. During the previous Diwali celebrations, they hosted dinner for 400 guests and invited Bollywood singers as well.

Fresh start

“Our Diwali celebration begins with the thorough cleaning of our home, an act that symbolizes a fresh start and readiness to receive blessings. As dusk falls on Diwali, we light numerous diyas and candles, casting a warm glow throughout our home, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness,” informs Shankar Devarashetty, CEO, Oasis Accountants and Entrepreneur, London.

[caption id="attachment_59148" align="aligncenter" width="743"] NRIs celebrate Diwali | Global Indian Diwali in 10 Downing Street, with former PM Rishi Sunak[/caption]

The centerpiece of his celebration is the Lakshmi Puja, a serene and sacred moment where the family unites to seek prosperity and well-being for the year ahead. “The air is fragrant with incense, and the recitation of mantras adds a profound sense of peace to the atmosphere,” he says.

Culinary delights are a major highlight, with an array of traditional sweets like ladoos and barfis and savory treats that Shankar shares with family and friends. This sharing is more than just about food; it’s a celebration of togetherness and joy.

“We participate in or organize gatherings that might include cultural performances, dazzling fireworks, and festive music. It’s a wonderful time for everyone in the community to come together, regardless of their backgrounds, to revel in the festivities,” says Shankar adding Diwali also prompts them to reflect, express gratitude, and extend a hand to those less fortunate, embodying the spirit of generosity that the festival stands for.

Meaningful Time

[caption id="attachment_59153" align="aligncenter" width="681"] NRIs celebrations | Global Indian Diwali in Leicester, UK[/caption]

NRIs in the UK also find themselves surrounded by warmth and festive cheer. “Diwali is such a meaningful time for us as a family, no matter where we are. It’s the festival that truly brings light, warmth, and joy into our lives. We go all out to recreate the festive atmosphere we grew up with in India,” says Sashidhar Bacchu, Founder & CEO Sriven Solutions Ltd, Bedford city, UK,

Every year, he says, they set up traditional decorations—rangolis, diyas, and vibrant lights that fill his home with a festive glow. “We make sure to perform the Lakshmi Pooja together, keeping the rituals alive for the next generation. Diwali is also a wonderful time to connect with other families in the community. We often host or attend gatherings where we enjoy homemade sweets, exchange gifts, and sometimes even organize cultural performances,” he says. Above all, says Shashidhar, it’s heartwarming to see everyone come together with such joy and enthusiasm, making Diwali feel just as vibrant and meaningful as it did back home.

Dubai dazzles

The celebrations are no different in Dubai. Karma coach and author Tamanna C who lives in Dubai is among the many Indians who is looking forward to the celebrations.

“The Indian community abroad is very conscious of staying in touch with their roots especially when it comes to teaching values and traditions to their children. Diwali celebrations is usually close knit where people spend time in each other's house hosting get togethers and also doing something where children are involved,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_59150" align="alignnone" width="1024"] NRIs celebrations | Global Indian Diwali in Dubai[/caption]

Tamanna says she, like all Indians in Dubai, celebrates Diwali with the same zeal as they do in India. “Cleaning of the house, Laxmi puja and visiting the gurudwara and the temple is a must. This is followed by get together at a friend's house for dinner and cards,” informs the author.

Holiday

It’s not only New York, the main main day of the festival of Diwali (the day of Lakshmi Puja) is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago.

10-tastic travels in 12 months – How startup founder Amanda Sodhi juggles music, film & travel

(December 29, 2021) In 2021, Amanda Sodhi was on the move, non-stop. Around Christmas last year, she sold her furniture in Kolkata, downsized to a suitcase and embarked on a journey in search of “home” and “belonging.” Living life out of a suitcase, Amanda’s search took her to 10 cities in the past 12 months. Friendships were born, memories cherished as this juggler of many talents moved forward. Her 12StepsToHome Instagram project across 12 cities in India went viral. The singer who has written lyrics for two songs in Amazon’s Made in Heaven and directed films in diverse genres, is looking at 2022 to become an author now! A digital nomad, Amanda’s startup — Pen Paper Dreams promotes creative self-expression. The former Washington DC native wears multiple hats — entrepreneur- singer-songwriter-poet-screenwriter, filmmaker now travelling philosopher. “We’ve conducted sessions at bookstores, cafes, schools, co-working spaces, lit fests, etc. We’ve been hosted by Juggernaut Books, Rupa Publications, LBB, WeWork, YLAC, Hyderabad Trails and Haptik,” informs Amanda, a self-confessed book worm to whom poetry, songs and stories come naturally. [caption id="attachment_18317" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Amanda Sodhi[/caption] While Pen Paper Dreams began as a poem-a-day Instagram project, it evolved into a brand that helps people

410316_1017495878634104_6834845297965793280_n.jpeg" alt="Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur" width="522" height="752" /> Amanda Sodhi[/caption]

While Pen Paper Dreams began as a poem-a-day Instagram project, it evolved into a brand that helps people bust stress through creative self-expression.

A city to city trail

While enjoying a shikara ride on the pristine Dal Lake in Srinagar on Diwali 2020, a realisation dawned upon Amanda. “Rather than staying in one place and feeling sorry, why not consciously uproot each month and live in different cities and see if I find a place that has the potential to feel like home or, if I find my tribe,” informs Amanda, who like many others was feeling isolated towards 2020 end.

A chance meeting with filmmaker Amit Madheshiya (Cannes-winning director) in Srinagar who himself shuttles between Delhi, Mumbai and Srinagar led to 12StepsToHome. “Witnessing him pull that off inspired me to take it up a notch and live out of a suitcase for 12 months, a different city each month,” says Sodhi in an exclusive with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_18318" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur Amanda Sodhi in Coonoor[/caption]

Born and brought up in Washington DC, Amanda moved to Los Angeles in 2011. She was 25 when she moved to Mumbai (2012) and later to Kolkata (2017). The same year, the Indian-American launched Pen Paper Dreams -- which works towards cultivating inclusive virtual safe spaces which are creative communities.

But first, the travel

Amanda’s journey took her through India’s hinterland. Her experiences in Andamans were most cherished. “In Andaman, I was fortunate to meet very kind locals who were a wonderful support system. The beaches were stunning too,” she says.

The beauty of Kashmir captivated this itinerant traveller though it was challenging at times. Her time in Hyderabad was great. “It has all the facilities of a tier-one city with the added bonus of a more leisurely pace,” quips Amanda, who went to Marymount University in Virginia, where she double majored in communications and English, and minored in business. She graduated the four-year programme in three years.

Living out of a suitcase is quite affordable, insists Amanda matter-of-factly. Her monthly spend is ₹7,000 to ₹15,000 on rentals, meals or shared kitchen access, Wi-Fi, electricity, room cleaning etc, though in metros like Mumbai, it was more. Amanda, whose father passed away in December 2015, has her mother and elder sister in the US.

[caption id="attachment_18319" align="aligncenter" width="465"] Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur Amanda Sodhi in Hyderabad[/caption]

Work defines her, through her 12 steps. To budget, the 34-year-old relies on auto-rickshaws and buses to sightsee. The startup founder is presently in God’s own country – Kerala - the 12^th and final month of #12StepsToHome.

While her 12-month journey ends on December 31, 2021, the search for home and belonging has come full circle. “I would like to divide my time between Hyderabad and Srinagar next year,” informs Amanda, who just finished reading The Cat Who Saved Books and now switches between The Startup Wife, Destination Wedding and Tokyo Ever After.

A solo woman traveller

As a woman travelling alone, she has had some bad experiences too, one homestay billed her falsely, and after she wrote a bad review, she had to face the police. “In Srinagar, someone followed me to my homestay, and later even followed me to the police station. The homestay was semi-starving (us) tenants - though we were billed for a meal plan – as the landlady was sadistic. The second wave was in full swing, so most shops were shut and sourcing food became a huge issue,” says Amanda, who agrees with Indian comedian and actor Vir Das about “two Indias.”

[caption id="attachment_18320" align="aligncenter" width="543"] Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur Amanda Sodhi in Andamans.[/caption]

Of course, Sodhi always has her guard up while travelling. “I have never felt that my life is in danger but eve-teasing saddens me. In Puri, I was uneasy when older men stared and cat-called at a beach. This, I would only go for walks when friends were on a a call with me,” informs Amanda, who grew up watching Hindi films and listening to Indian music.

The entrepreneurial bug

Travel aside, she is a hands-on entrepreneur. “I’m a digital nomad and I have great discipline. I meet client deadlines, irrespective of whether I am traveling or not. I’m simply living in different cities each month, not on a 365-day vacation,” says Sodhi. Interestingly, she had previously enrolled in a few kirtan classes at a local gurudwara, briefly.

Her startup conducted online sessions during the pandemic too. "Writing is therapeutic. We conducted many free creative writing workshops online to help people destress, in addition to our paid programmes. We created a virtual interactive reading and writing group. It is rewarding when people share how these sessions have helped them,” says Amanda. Her company works with interns and freelancers but Amanda does most of the work on her own. “We are a tiny startup, and don't have the budget to recruit a full-time team,” she smiles.

The future is bright

Next on agenda is a book about her 12StepsToHome. “I hope to release it in 2022, and will also release a new single then. I hope to continue to grow Pen Paper Dreams.” She is hoping that the book about #12StepsToHome gets picked up for an OTT project.

[caption id="attachment_18321" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Travel | Amanda Sodhi | Digital Nomad | Entrepreneur Amanda Sodhi in Spiti[/caption]

Earlier in her career, the Indian-American recorded the background score of an Indie film called 5 Souls in 2011, and wrote music reviews for Planet Bollywood which caught the attention of renowned lyricist, screenwriter and poet Prasoon Joshi. He asked her to translate his lyrics into English for his anthology, Sunshine Lanes.

She has penned the lyrics of two songs for Netflix series Made in Heaven, and for the hugely popular — Puppet Life, I Don't Write Sad Songs Anymore, Takiye Pe Sar she composed and sang too.

A tweet by AR Rahman and Kalki Koechlin for her lyrics in the two songs in Made In Heaven thrilled her to bits. She also released three singles earlier — Jigsaw Puzzle, Behind My Sunglasses and MainKhaali that were received well.

Filmi gupshup

As she juggles diverse talents, one must mention her co-written feature film Life! Camera, Action.... with Rohit Gupta. Amanda shared a nomination with him for Best Screenplay at the World Music and Independent Film Festival 2011. Apart from the lyrics of Hai Yeh Kaisa Safar, she wrote and directed two short films — The Dance of Death and Through Bloodshot Eyes.

"The fact that I’ve survived the curveballs life has thrown at me, and haven’t given up on my dreams yet is what gives me maximum joy,” says Amanda, for whom Mindy Kaling, Hasan Minhaj and Lilly Singh are her favourite global Indians.

How Amanda went around India in 12 months
January - Hyderabad
February - Andamans
March - Ooty
April and May - Kashmir
June - Hyderabad / Hampi
July - Manali / Spiti
August - Imphal
September - Puri
October - Chandigarh
November - Delhi
December - Kerala (Wayanad, Alleppey, Varkala)

Follow Amanda Sodhi on Twitter and Instagram

Reading Time: 8 min

Ashay Bhave: How this 23-year-old is getting “kicks” out of plastic waste, and is sold out

(November 27, 2021) "Don't just do it, do it right," puns the Thaely slogan, taking a dig at an international shoe brand. Rightly so, as Thaely sneakers are 100 percent recycled, and made from plastic trash. In fact, truth be told, CEO and founder of Thaely, an ethically produced ecologically fashioned sneaker brand, Ashay Bhave, is as honest, sceptical and idealistic in life as he is in deed. This, and a talent for art saw him create a niche with his vegan sneakers which he shrugs off – "This is just the beginning of greater things to come." Modest words. Interestingly, his first art installation at the Jameel Art Centre in Dubai, a show he curated too, got government attention, and he was given a UAE Golden Visa. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thaely (@thaely.inc) Thaely has an ethos of sustainability as the 23-year-old Ashay upcycles plastic bags and bottles to create shoes. Named after the common place plastic bag's Hindi word for it, thaely, the shoes use plastic waste with cutting edge design. "We are the only company that uses plastic bags to make shoes. When you look at their aesthetics and design,

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Thaely (@thaely.inc)

Thaely has an ethos of sustainability as the 23-year-old Ashay upcycles plastic bags and bottles to create shoes. Named after the common place plastic bag's Hindi word for it, thaely, the shoes use plastic waste with cutting edge design. "We are the only company that uses plastic bags to make shoes. When you look at their aesthetics and design, you would never know that they are made from plastic," says the creator. Each sneaker uses ten plastic bags and 12 plastic bottles – an overall whopping 50,000 plastic bags and 35,000 bottles have been used so far.

The sneakers won the PETA's Best Vegan Sneaker Award 2021. Head honcho Anand Mahindra tweeted his interest in funding and buying these ecologically attuned sneakers.

This is awesome!
A startup in India 🇮🇳 is making these sneakers (a $70 billion market) are made of garbage (12 plastic bottles and handful of trash bags). And for $110, they will be shipped anywhere in the world.@Thaely_inc

pic.twitter.com/ogNwVCFhXY

— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) November 17, 2021

Today, Thaely sneakers are sold out. Behind the minimalistic and soft leather shoe is a boy with a curly shock of hair forming a whimsical halo around his artistic head, with an endearing schoolboy drawl. He rattles off the science behind the shoes, fabric, and his depth is clear to see. The boy who studied at DY Patil in Navi Mumbai, comes from a Maharashtrian family - his mother Sheetal Bhave is a counsellor, and father Sameer Bhave works in Dubai at an oil company, and he has a younger sister.

The birth of an eco-friendly sneaker

Thaely was initially developed as a design exercise by Ashay using recycled material from waste at the Eureka competition during his final BBA entrepreneurship semester at Amity University (Dubai) in 2019. "I wanted to find a solution to the 100 billion plastic bags used each year that use 12 million barrels of oil which kill 100,000 marine animals annually," quips Ashay, who finished 12th and went to the Big Apple to study accessory design. A year into the course, unhappy with his progress, what work the alumni were doing, job prospects and the cost of the course, he signed up for a BBA in Dubai.

"I was doing a few design projects for fun - one was Thaely. Plastic bags are a huge problem, most marine animals confuse them for jelly fish. I experimented at home with different household appliances - irons and hair straighteners. I got familiarised with some industrial equipment during design school, and tried to replicate the tech used in t-shirt printing to form a texture called ThaelyTex with PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) used for coating, shoe bands, etc while the soles are from discarded tyres," he explains. With a rough idea of the fabric that he developed over two years; a prototype was made at a neighbourhood shoe repair shop. That prototype and design, he pitched along with a business plan at Eureka as proof of concept. Ashay won the competition, was spotted by a judge, Matteo Boffa, a Dubai-based Swiss social entrepreneur, who funded and mentored Ashay who was only 20 at the time. "I definitely needed guidance when it came to business and enterprise," says the designer who has since sold out his inventory.

Quote Unquote

"As soon as I heard Ashay’s pitch about Thaely I fell in love with the concept. Being a serial entrepreneur in the field of sustainability and social impact, I saw a great fit. The idea was great but the person behind was even better! The brand can compete with the giants of the industry. We have a real and concrete positive impact on hundreds of people in India," says Matteo Boffa, Social entrepreneur, Forbes 30under30, and co-founder of Thaely.

[caption id="attachment_16837" align="aligncenter" width="851"] Ashay Bhave[/caption]

Ashay identified Trio Tap Technologies, a waste management plant in Gurgaon for plastic bags. Then, the pandemic hit. All work came to a standstill. Beginning 2021, Bhave again started work and finally launched the recycled sneaker.

"It is difficult to create a sneaker with those specs, so we designed a process that is scalable and efficient. Thaely is a casual sneaker. I took inspiration from the many basketball and skateboarding shoes of the 80s – the design is timeless, minimalistic and easy to style. It looks like a leather sneaker," explains the designer, who started off as a freelance designer creating album art, packaging, animation, toys, etc. A name in Dubai already, he now wants to impress the rest of the world with not just products but also his art.

"The installation show was a pretty important point - it helped me become more established. I got government attention, and was offered a UAE Golden Visa. I had designed a fake toy with a packing and gaming console - it was basically critiquing world leaders acting like children and sort of playing with our lives," says the avant-garde thinker.

With funding, the second prototype was made, and the recycled "kicks" were on their way to make feet accountable and responsible. Thaely sneakers are currently sold at Level One, among the biggest shoe stores in the world at Dubai Mall, and online.

[caption id="attachment_16838" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Thaely Thaely's vegan sneakers[/caption]

Tapping the market

"We were sold out on all the shoes produced – 1,600 pairs with 500 pre-orders – mostly from Europe, some from America and Australia. India is not a very big market right now," says Bhave, who is grateful for the acclaim, and success, "It was my dream to be in design or a CEO of a fashion brand - now that it has come true, I am thrilled," says the eco entrepreneur who wants to diversify, and add more colours too (Thaely sneakers are in white, white-brown and white-blue, and pre orders of all-black).

Like other 20-somethings, sneakers are an appendage and lifeline – his, he says, are comfortable and function like regular shoes. They are different though, "We are 100 percent recycled, completely transparent on production processes, our shoes have a QR code, and we are cheaper than other sustainable sneakers at $99 (others are $150, etc)," adds the Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_16839" align="aligncenter" width="771"] Thaely sneakers[/caption]

Proud parents, a sister who is a tad intimidated by attention, and impressed friends, Bhave knew they all had "pretty high hopes" (for him), and admits they expect much more now.

Mentor Matteo has been instrumental in giving Ashay a deeper perspective, "He is pretty young – 30, and (is) always inspiring me to stretch my boundaries," says Bhave who loves sci-fi movies, art and fashion.

Not many know that Ashay was a national level rifle shooter from sixth to eleventh grade in Mumbai, and even today loves going to the range in Dubai when he visits his parents. His larger aspiration is to make Thaely a lifestyle brand – clothing, furniture, other accessories – recycled and sustainable. Sneakers done, now it’s back to the drawing board to create more from trash.

Follow Thaely on Twitter, Instagram

Reading Time: 6 min