Scientist | Dr. Arun Majumdar | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryFrom Kolkata to California: A deep dive into scientist Dr. Arun Majumdar’s journey in energy innovation

From Kolkata to California: A deep dive into scientist Dr. Arun Majumdar’s journey in energy innovation

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(May 20, 2023) As the world grapples with an energy crisis and the urgency of climate change, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of a new era. The decisions made today about energy production and consumption will shape the world for generations to come. This epoch calls for visionaries who can understand the intricacies of the crisis and catalyse a shift towards sustainable alternatives. Among the leaders in this space is Dr. Arun Majumdar, a materials scientist, engineer, and educator, whose remarkable work in energy research and policy-making has charted a new path toward a greener future.

Scientist | Dr. Arun Majumdar | Global Indian

The Global Indian, who had a very humble beginning in Kolkata, eventually rose to prominence in the world of energy research and policy. Currently the Jay Precourt Provostial Chair Professor at Stanford University and a key figure in energy policy development, the scientist is also the Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). From working with two US Presidents – Barack Obama and Joe Biden – to shaping energy policies, Majumdar’s journey is a fascinating testament to the transformative power of scientific endeavour. “As is often said, we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. We must collectively figure out how to create a future where humans and nature thrive together,” the scientist said during a speech he made recently.

Rising from the ashes

Born into a family of globetrotters and nurtured amidst diverse cultures, this accomplished scientist has a career trajectory that speaks volumes of his intellect, innovation, and impact. The scientist’s father was a government-employed engineer and his mother, was a scholar proficient in Sanskrit. Like many middle-class families in that era, they used coal for cooking. The polluting effects of coal were evident from the visible smoke it emitted, yet it served the unintended benefit of deterring some mosquitoes. “My mom used to cook on a coal stove,” the scientist shared during an interview, adding, “It was a mud stove with coal in it, and there was room for air to flow. You burn it and you make your rotis, curries, and other stuff on it.”

A childhood image of Dr. Arun Majumdar

A studious child, who was always at the top of his class, Dr. Arun Majumdar was a student at Mayo College, a private boarding institution located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. The school fees posed a significant financial challenge for his parents, and were “tough on the family”. The scientist shared, “They valued education because they lost everything when they moved during the partition, so to get ahead in life, it was education.”

Following his tenure at boarding school, Majumdar successfully cleared a demanding entrance test to secure admission into the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, from where he graduated in 1985. He then continued his academic journey at the University of California, Berkeley, where he completed his master’s degree and subsequently earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 1989.

Interestingly, the scientist was drawn to Berkeley, in part, due to his father’s prior visit for a telecommunications training program. His father’s effusive praise and portrayal of Berkeley as a kind of paradise left a deep impression on him, further influencing his decision. Unfortunately, his father did live long to see his son graduate. “But, I was able to fulfill his dream,” shared the scientist, during a recent interaction.

Driving changes for a better tomorrow

Soon after finishing his Ph.D., the scientist went ahead to work in a few corporate companies, Eventually, in 1997 Dr. Arun Majumdar joined the University of California, Berkeley as the Almy and Agnes Maynard Professor, where he continued to work for 13 years, with a focus on thermoelectric materials, heat and mass transfer, thermal management, and waste heat recovery. It was during this time, while he was serving as a faculty member at Berkeley, that the scientist started doing research work at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. It was here that he encountered Steven Chu, a figure who would later ascend to the role of U.S. Energy Secretary during President Barack Obama’s tenure.

Dr Majumdar with Bill Gates during a conference

Realising the scientist’s dedication and brilliance, Chu selected him to spearhead the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), a body analogous to DARPA, but for energy. “I was nominated in September; by my third week of October, I was there,” he shared, adding that the move was unforeseen, leaving him to reside temporarily in Chu’s basement for a week until the scientist could locate a suitable accommodation for himself in Washington.

Dr. Majumdar worked on three very important energy missions during his tenure at the ARPA-E – reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy security, and energy efficiency. The idea was to build the new energy industries of the future. And it was under his leadership that the US market started exploring the EV market. “One of our programmes is on next-generation transportation batteries. These would make electric cars have a longer range and a cost comparable to today’s gasoline-based cars, so that electric cars could be sold without subsidies. We’re also working on an entirely new way to make fuel, by using microbes that can convert electricity into oil,” the scientist said, adding, “We’re also working on motors, from electric vehicles to air conditioning compressors. We are investing in problems now, to try to make the US less vulnerable and more competitive.”

Dr. Majumdar with John Doerr, chairman and co-founder of Kleiner Perkins Caufield

In 2012, the scientist left Washington and joined Google as the company’s Vice President for Energy. However, despite loving his job, he couldn’t stay away from academics, and two years later he became the inaugural dean of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. “The insights I gathered during my time at ARPA-E are now instrumental in shaping the accelerator division at the Stanford climate school. Jokingly, we call it ARPA-S for sustainability, because it’s all about impact. At ARPA-E, the discussion around scale was insufficient. However, when it comes to climate and sustainability, scale is essential. If the solution, whether it’s a technological advancement or a policy, doesn’t scale up, it simply doesn’t make a difference,” the scientist explained.

In November 2020, the scientist was designated as a voluntary contributor to the Joe Biden presidential transition Agency Review Team. His role involved facilitating transition efforts connected to the United States Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. “I hope our grid is modernised to integrate renewable energy generation. I’m pretty sure the cost of renewable energy will be comparable to or cheaper than electricity from fossil sources. Current trends suggest that this will be the case,” he shared during a speech at Stanford.

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Published on 20, May 2023

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An Uncommon Love: Getting up close and personal with Sudha and Narayana Murthy

(January 20, 2024) Sudha Murty and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni first crossed paths in in the USA nearly 50 years ago. Divakaruni was a PhD scholar at the University of California, where Murty happened to be visiting her brother. "All the Indian students would come and cook in my apartment when they wanted Indian food," Divakaruni told Vogue India. "Sudha ji's brother was one of them and that's how I met her." Decades later, life brought the two women, both powerhouses in their own right, together once more, when Divakaruni was approached Juggernaut to write the love story of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and his wife, Sudha Murty. An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy was released on January 16, and went straight to the limelight, as it takes the reader behind the scenes, into the private world of the IT tzar and his wife in a way the public has never seen before. The book was two years in the making, with Divakaruni meeting the couple on Zoom at the start. "I was trying to show the kind of people they are, the difficulties they went through, the relationship they built, to show that these two

hip they built, to show that these two people started off as very ordinary human beings from ordinary, middle-class backgrounds," Divakaruni said in an interview. Just like most couples in the world, they worked at their relationship and to keep their dream alive, while raising a family. "It was an opportunity to show these people in a very different light. It was like inviting the reader into their living room," she added. They began work through Zoom calls, after which Divakaruni and her husband spent twenty days in Bengaluru, during which time she "followed Sudhaji like a shadow," she said, in the Vogue interview.

An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy | Global Indian

The early days

The story begins in 1974, when Sudha Murty, described as "a slender young woman (with) short, bobbed hair curling around her vivacious face," first crossed paths with Narayana Murthy, thanks to a co-worker, Prasanna. Sudha, who was the first female engineer in TELCO, was living in Pune at the time. She and Prasanna became friends as they rode the same TELCO bus to and from work everyday and Prasanna was always holding a book in his hand. He was also from Karnataka and to Sudha, a connection to home. Usually, Prasanna would be reading a book Sudha had already read before, but one day, he was "engrossed in a writer she had never heard of: George Mikes." The book had been lent to him by his friend and flatmate, who had travelled all over the world and had many adventures. He invited Sudha home to meet him.

Normally, Sudha would not have considered visiting a male friend at his flat - it was definitely a no-no in her traditional home state, Karnataka. But Pune was a progressive place, and very cosmopolitan. Besides, the idea of an entire room filled with books by foreign writers was too good to resist. Sudha was also curious about this young man. "In her mind, she imagined this intrepid world traveller to be suave and debonair, tall and broad-shouldered," Divakaruni writes in Uncommon Love. "Maybe... because she loved Hindi movies, he would look like Rajesh Khanna, sporting sideburns and boots."

So, meeting Narayana Murthy for the first time was a bit of a surprise - he was thin, with thick glasses, wearing a checked coat. He was very quiet, too, until they started talking about books. The two connected instantly over a shared passion for Kannada writers like Kuvempu, Shivarama Karanth and S.L. Bhyrappa. But she loved his exotic bookshelf even more and he generously offered to lend her anything she wanted, filling a shopping bag with all the books she liked. Just as she was leaving, he asked her to have dinner with him the following night. Again, it was not something Sudha would normally do, but she heard herself saying yes, adding, "But Prasanna must come with us, too. And I will pay for my dinner."

Sudha wanted to be clear that she was only meeting this young man as a friend, but sensed that he wasn't like other men. That's how their story begins, and it would go on to write a new chapter in the history of Bangalore city - and the country. They were soon spending most of their free time together, often at the family home of a friend, Shashi. Those were happy days, they both loved eating out, at the inexpensive cafes that students loved. They were both well read and opinionated and would often argue gently with each other.

Navigating real life

Real life often doesn't have much in common with the first flush of romance though, and Divakaruni notes how their relationship changed, and how they weathered the ups and downs. When Murthy found himself in a low place he even tried to distance himself from Sudha, only to realise he couldn't. That's when he asked him to marry her. "I'm no hero - just a short man with a squint and thick eyeglasses and no job," he told her one day, as they returned home from dinner in Pune. "You, on the other hand, are beautiful and smart. But I love you, and that gives me the courage to ask this. Will you marry me?"

In the early days, Sudha was the successful one, with the better job, one that she had struggled to get. Growing up in a traditional household in Karnataka, being educated and earning an engineering degree was a struggle – her college didn’t even have a toilet for girls. She made it through and landed a job at TELCO, only to be dismissed again for being a woman. Narayana Murthy had his own share of struggles too – his career wasn’t always going well and when he began dating Sudha, he had to prove to her family that he could take care of her. When Murthy wanted to strike out on his own, it was his wife who loaned him Rs 10,000 to start his company. He went on to forbid her from joining, which he recently accepted was a mistake, saying he was "wrongly idealistic," believing that family shouldn't get involved with business, even though she was more qualified than him and all the other co-founders.

Up close and personal

[caption id="attachment_48454" align="aligncenter" width="620"] An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy | Global Indian Sudha and Narayana Murthy[/caption]

Their story is captivating, helped by the fact that both Sudha and Narayana Murthy are good writers. Divakaruni, of course, is one of India’s best-known writers and holds great mastery over her craft, handpicking anecdotes and instances that will keep the writer hooked from start to finish. Divakaruni describes how hitchhiking through the USSR and finding himself thrown into the jail at the railway station, converted Murthy, from a staunch socialist to ‘compassionate capitalism’. The narrative weaves through various pivotal moments in the couple's life, starting with their unique bond formed over a love for literature. It then explores the challenges they faced, such as the awkward first encounter between Murthy and Sudha Murty's father, their modest wedding ‘on the wrong side of the Tungabhadra river,’ costing just Rs 800, and the subsequent concerns it raised among relatives. The book also sheds light on why their honeymoon was cut short and Sudha Murty's emotional decision against attending MIT. Further, it delves into her role in infusing optimism during hard times, her foray into writing, and managing family life with extended family support as Murthy's professional commitments intensified.

Then again, as Sudha Murty told Vogue, things change. Murthy would take her to watch the films, which she loved, but now she goes with her friends. "Just because we're partners doesn't mean we can go into each other's space," she said. "There is no perfect person and you just have to accept a person for who they are.”

The book is available for purchase on Amazon

Sakshi Dhoni: From film production to life with M.S. Dhoni

(August 15, 2023) Sakshi has been a movie buff since childhood. The fast-paced storytelling and emphasising creative visuals always fascinated her. Growing up, her connect with movies only grew deeper. They entertained her when she was bored, encouraged her when she was bogged down, and made her laugh when she was sad. It remained that way even after the ‘Captain Cool’ of Indian cricket told her “Let’s get married!” [caption id="attachment_43678" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Sakshi Dhoni, wife of Indian cricketer, MS Dhoni.[/caption] “High quality, clean entertainment through thought-provoking stories of the common person interests me. That’s exactly the vision behind Dhoni Entertainment Private Limited (DEPL) and our first movie, Let’s Get Married (LGM),” smiles Sakshi Dhoni in an exclusive conversation with Global Indian. Sakshi, the wife of Indian cricket great MS Dhoni, recently made her debut as a producer with LGM. Going by reports, the movie released on July 28, was well received by the audiences. Silverscreen debut “LGM is on a serious topic, and our approach was to portray awkward moments in the movie straight up, without any concessions, and then break through them via high-quality individual interactions, and comedy,” informs Sakshi. She says the generational gap between parents and their children, and the

e audiences.

Silverscreen debut

“LGM is on a serious topic, and our approach was to portray awkward moments in the movie straight up, without any concessions, and then break through them via high-quality individual interactions, and comedy,” informs Sakshi.

She says the generational gap between parents and their children, and the society of the past and present is what makes the subject really hard. “Most parents might have had arranged marriages when they were young. In the present times, love marriages are more common and the marriage age has increased by about 10 years. Back then, the brides were often not working women,” she says of the storyline while pointing out that young people choose to make informed decisions.

[caption id="attachment_43675" align="aligncenter" width="305"] Global Indian | Sakshi Dhoni LGM is written and directed by Ramesh Thamilmani and produced by Dhoni Entertainment.[/caption]

Teething troubles

Because LGM was the first, the difficulties were foreseen, says Sakshi. “We were prepared, but not for a few surprises. The first challenge was to identify a story that would appeal to people of all ages. Our goal was to create an understandable script with a message,” she says. Finding a talented cast who fit their roles, directing, and, lastly, funding and distribution were all challenges, informs the debutant film producer.

The Chennai connection

Sakshi says Mahi (MSD) is emotionally connected to Chennai which is why they wanted the first film in Tamil. “It (Chennai) was a natural choice. We consider Chennai as our second home. As a family, we have received lots of love and support from Chennai,” informs Sakshi, who studied at Welham Girl’s School in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and did her BA Hon in Hospitality Management from IHM Aurangabad (Taj Institute) which is affiliated to Huddersfield university. She also runs the Sakshi Rawat Foundation which supports orphans and 'Winning Way Dhoni Foundation' - educating children in Ranchi.

Animal lover

Sakshi Dhoni has a way with animals. She loves communicating with them for hours at a stretch and does all it takes to give them the best life. For her, these simple pleasures are priceless.

Global Indian | Sakshi Dhoni

She is in her element when she is in the company of her seven dogs, all rare breeds, who miss her terribly when she is not around. Her bunnies and Guinea pigs — a variety of them of different sizes and colours — become dull when she isn’t around. It’s the same with all members of her menagerie, which includes human-friendly birds, cows and goats. The list of animals who live with the Dhonis is really long. “Once we have more space, we will decide which ones to get and welcome them to the Dhoni family too,” quips Sakshi.

Back in the day, her love for animals inspired her to become a veterinarian. But that did not happen as destiny had altogether different plans for her. “I adore animals, and I am fortunate to have an animal-loving family,” says Sakshi, who plans to establish an animal shelter in the near future.

On Cricket

Sakshi admits that despite growing up in a cricket-crazy nation, she knew very little about the game before getting married. “I accompanied Mahi (MSD) to the majority of his matches, although I did not travel for the matches when I was expecting Ziva (daughter). I’ve seen all his matches. Yes, I do get nervous during his matches,” she smiles.

Her favourite match? “Like everyone else, I loved the 2011 World Cup final,” she says. MSD-led team India had beaten Sri Lanka in the finals to win the ODI World Cup.

[caption id="attachment_43683" align="aligncenter" width="732"] Global Indian | Sakshi Dhoni MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara posed with the World Cup trophy before the 2011 final.[/caption]

So who is the boss at home?

“A husband claims his wife will decide because she is the boss of the house and he does not want to say nay outright. That is exactly how I feel. Household decisions are primarily mine; others are made together, and when it comes to cars and bikes, no one can dispute with the boss (MSD),” shares Sakshi, who was born in Guwahati, Assam. MS Dhoni’s love for cars and bikes is well-known. While he is often seen riding superbikes and driving luxury and vintage cars in and around Ranchi, his fans got a peek into his mind-boggling collection only recently. “He gets whatever he fancies,” says Sakshi of her husband’s passion.

The Dhoni family

Sakshi’s daily schedule is no different from that of any mother or wife in an Indian household. “I wake up early to prepare Ziva for school. Once she leaves, I go around the house to ensure everything is in order,” informs Sakshi. Making phone calls and attending to other daily tasks comes next.

She says Ziva has a lot of questions about the environment and animals and both her parents try to answer them. “Currently, Ziva seems interested in becoming a Naturalist,” says Sakshi. In the evenings the Dhoni family is just like everyone else. “We chitchat and watch movies or TV shows,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_43684" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Global Indian | Sakshi Dhoni Sakshi Dhoni with her daughter Ziva.[/caption]

In the limelight

Life as the wife of a famous personality like MS Dhoni can come with its own share of challenges. “Life is full of challenges for everyone. The only difference is that you are always in the limelight, and constantly scrutinised, and have very little personal space,” she says.

Initially, it bothered her. “Now, it's just a part of our lives,” feels Sakshi. She had interned at Taj Bengal, Kolkata after completing her hotel management from an Institute in Aurangabad, where she met Dhoni.

Future plans

“Our current focus is DEPL (Dhoni Entertainment Private Limited). We are currently working on two additional scripts. There are a couple business opportunities, but nothing has been decided yet,” she says, indicating that the Dhonis might venture into other businesses as well in future.

Global Indian | Sakshi Dhoni

A traveller and foodie

Sakshi Dhoni is an avid traveller. Though she has travelled across the world, there are two places she is desperate to go. “I really enjoy travelling. I want to go to Norway and Austria,” informs Sakshi, whose favourite place to unwind with friends is Dubai.

In India, she wishes to explore Uttarakhand, her home state. “Being from the state, I would like to visit heavenly locations like Munsiyari, Binsar, Mukteshwar, Kasar Devi, Kedarnath, and Gomukh,” she smiles. And although she likes to try different cuisines when she’s travelling, at home, she prefers the staple – dal, and rice!”

Follow Sakshi Dhoni on Instagram.

Bittu John: This zero-waste green warrior’s store has saved 15 lakh pieces of plastic from landfills

(February 24, 2022) Until a few decades ago, most Indians followed the concept of BYOC — bring your own container, without even knowing that this practice had a name. But somewhere along the line, with the advent of plastic carry bags, this practice got lost. The incessant use of plastic has now reached mammoth levels, thus threatening the environment. With efforts of green warriors like Bittu John, mindsets are changing. [caption id="attachment_20281" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Bittu John, Founder, 7 to 9 Green Store[/caption] Realisation dawned when... This disturbed Bittu John of Kolenchery in Ernakulam district of Kerala to such an extent that he was keen to find a solution, which he eventually did during a trip to England in 2015. His eureka moment came when he saw people bringing their own containers for grocery shopping. An Mtech in industrial engineering and Btech in aeronautical engineering, the green warrior, launched the concept in India in 2018 with 7 to 9 Green Store. [caption id="attachment_20283" align="aligncenter" width="591"] Bittu John at his 7 to 9 Green Store[/caption] "The zero-waste grocery store in London impressed me so much that I wanted to be the first to launch along similar lines in India. In the wholefood

re.

[caption id="attachment_20283" align="aligncenter" width="591"] Green Warrior | Bittu John | Global Indian Bittu John at his 7 to 9 Green Store[/caption]

"The zero-waste grocery store in London impressed me so much that I wanted to be the first to launch along similar lines in India. In the wholefood store in London, all the products were in jars and baskets. Nothing in plastic packaging. And customers carried their own jars, containers and cotton carry bags," the green warrior tells Global Indian.

From idea to reality

It took him three years to translate the idea into reality. After quitting his job in Bengaluru, he converted his 40-year-old family grocery store Kothamangalam Traders into a zero-waste zone and rechristened it as 7 to 9 Green Store.

[caption id="attachment_20284" align="aligncenter" width="808"] Green Warrior | Bittu John | Global Indian 7 to 9 Green Store[/caption]

Located at Kolenchery, 30 km from Kochi, Green Store is spread across 500 sqft with tastefully arranged shelves containing custom-made and imported large glass jars and other forms of containers with various grocery items. "It took me almost one-and-a-half years to transform my father's old grocery store into a zero waste modern-day shop," says the green warrior who got the high-quality glass storage equipment from England, Germany and China.

Vocal for local

Having led by example, the next step was to convince the customers to get their own carry bags. But it was a rough start as the unique concept received little appreciation, with only a few customers participating in Bittu's green mission. "Most of the people don't like to carry their own carry bags while stepping out for grocery shopping," the green warrior says. But the determined entrepreneur was up for the challenge. "First six to eight months were challenging. Slowly, we started talking to people, making them understand this concept. Another big challenge was shifting customers' choice from well-known brands, which normally come in packages, to local brands which are fresh, natural, eco-friendly and home-made without any preservatives or artificial colours," adds the green warrior.

Providing free samples of the grocery items to convince the customers of the quality of local brands was one of the steps that tilted the scales. "Customers gradually moved to local brands and started buying items from our store," beams Bittu with pride.

Growth story

The risk paid off, and in no time, the store’s growing popularity spread far and wide. The green warrior informs that customers drive from towns like Chengannur (94 km) and Tripunithura (20 km) just to buy grocery items from 7 to 9 Green Store. "Initially, the sale per day was Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000, but because of the strong word-of-mouth, the sales picked up and currently we make sales worth Rs 40,000 to Rs 60, 000 per day," adds the green warrior whose organic corner in the store is one of the major attractions.

[caption id="attachment_20285" align="aligncenter" width="666"] Green Warrior | Bittu John | Global Indian 7 to 9 Green Store[/caption]

After the success of his maiden store, the green warrior is gearing up for his second 'green' store in Ernakulam. "The best part of this store is that most of the disposal jars used in my new store are being manufactured in Kerala," informs Bittu who has protected the environment by saying no to plastic bags and packaging for years now. The 30-something never misses a chance to educate his customers on the shelf life of loose items, which he deems is an important lesson. "The shelf life of the products, especially food items is shorter than those that come packed. For example, the shelf life of loose flour is around three weeks, while packed flour may expire in the next nine months. So we have to sell some of our products within a week. We try to make our consumers aware of this aspect while also educating them about the consequences of plastic wastes," adds the green warrior.

Influencing good practice

Taking pride is in work, Bittu says that the concept of bring-your-own-container has changed the local people's mindsets. "We estimate that we have prevented the use of around 15 lakh pieces of plastic in the past four years. We are relatively a small store. Imagine the amount of plastic coming out of each store every day in the country," adds the green warrior.

He also conducts special programmes in local schools on plastic waste and the importance of using zero-waste products.

[caption id="attachment_20286" align="aligncenter" width="582"] Green Warrior | Bittu John | Global Indian Bittu John - the role model[/caption]

The green store has made the green warrior, a role model, thus inviting enquiries from across the country about the implementation of the concept in their respective stores. He is also mulling over the idea of franchisee stores. "I'm looking forward to supporting others who want to start their own zero-waste stores. We will be happy to share tips and our experiences," he assures.

Thanks to Bittu, the people of Kolenchery are doing their bit to protect the environment, and if this spreads to other parts of the country, zero waste could become a movement in itself.

Reading Time: 7 mins

Raju Bhupati: Pioneering millet revolution with affordable nutrition

(June 15, 2024) "Can you imagine enjoying nutritious snacks for just ₹5? In a country where health and nutrition often seem like distant aspirations for millions, Troo Good emerged on the scene in 2018 with a revolutionary vision," states the website of a millet snack company that's on a mission to "nourish 1 billion Indians." It was six years ago that US-returned Raju Bhupati drew his inspiration to advocate for better nutrition in India from his father, who was both a spiritual leader and a healer. "He was a homoeopathic practitioner and would treat the poor for free. This was the base for my motivation to deal with the nutrition challenge in the country," he said in an interview. In a short span, Raju has become the millet movement pioneer in India making nutrition meet affordability, one snack at a time. Journey from IT to entrepreneurship But growing up, entrepreneurship was never on his mind. In fact, after finishing his MSc in Organic Chemistry, he made his debut in the world of IT as a lab assistant and later moved to Computer Science Corporation. Over the years, he climbed up the corporate ladder and soon became the youngest global director

ong>

But growing up, entrepreneurship was never on his mind. In fact, after finishing his MSc in Organic Chemistry, he made his debut in the world of IT as a lab assistant and later moved to Computer Science Corporation. Over the years, he climbed up the corporate ladder and soon became the youngest global director at CSC managing the Independent Testing Services vertical. His hard work and perseverance took him to the US where he helped accelerate the growth of several IT companies globally.

Having worked for years in IT for other companies, Raju knew that it was time to start something of his own. This desire to become an entrepreneur made him return to India to start Hello Curry, one of India's first cloud kitchens in 2013. He successfully pioneered India's first shared kitchen model, where multiple brands could operate from a single kitchen connected to Hello Curry, creating a unified platform for ordering food.

Raju Bhupati

Reintroducing millet

Riding on the success of Hello Curry, his ambition to further innovate in the food industry and provide affordable nutrition led to the establishment of Troo Good in 2018. This led Raju towards millets, an economical and nutritious grain. "Since I wanted to make the food affordable, I needed something locally available. Quinoa is a good, healthy alternative to wheat, but it is expensive and has to be imported. Then I found millets, which are the best choice," he added.

He began with selling millet paranthas to local schools and corporations and soon transitioned to millet snacks with chikki, owing to its long shelf life. Upon research, he found that ₹5 and ₹10 snack market is huge in India. "You mostly get chips, biscuits, and other snacks in that price range. I saw that existing options only cater to taste. I wanted to focus on three fundamentals through Troo Good — affordability, taste, and nutrition."

Having found the perfect vessel in chikki to turn his mission into reality, Raju collaborated with a team of in-house scientists to develop a millet chikki enriched with ragi, bajra, jowar and peanuts. In no time, the brand was recognised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Indian Institute of Millets Research for its pioneering work in providing affordable nutrition.

Troo Good

Making an impact

While his mission has been to establish a healthy snacks market centered on millets as the star ingredient, he has also significantly contributed to inclusive growth by employing local workers, sourcing raw materials locally, and selling the products within the community, all of which help maintain the affordability of the snacks. However, the sudden surge in demand led him to set up three new factories in a fortnight by sending his employees to Chattisgarh and nearby states. "We needed skilled manpower. My team members went to villages and spent nights in the houses of contractors. We had to add factories at lightning speed. With a ton of courage, we added three factories in 15 days and increased our volumes to 5,000 kgs," added Raju.

To support their operations, they hire locally and create employment opportunities for women, who form 80 percent of their factory workforce, thus working towards women's empowerment. "Wherever we go, we train the women at the self-help groups. We also help farmers by directly buying from them, helping them increase their profits," said the entrepreneur. With over 250 employees across 8 states, Troo Good is India's largest non-NGO social enterprise. Their products are available in more than 12,000 small brick-and-mortar shops and 500 modern retail stores across various cities in India.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Troo Good (@troo.good)

Currently, they are collaborating with the Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh state governments on several initiatives, including Poshan Abhiyan, young mothers' welfare, and the mid-day meal scheme. They have also partnered with The Akshaya Patra Foundation in Karnataka and Vedanta in Uttar Pradesh to enhance nutrition in Anganwadis.

Raju, who translated his dream into reality, says that his mantra is to go all out with every ounce of energy to achieve what you want in life.

Celebrating millet

Millets, once a staple in rural India, are now celebrated as a superfood, leading a nutritional and environmental revolution across the country. Renowned for their high protein, fiber, vitamin, and mineral content, millets offer substantial health benefits, such as improved digestion, chronic disease prevention, and effective weight management. Interestingly, their resurgence aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

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With strong backing from the Indian government and various enterprises, these grains are increasingly integrated into public welfare programs, including mid-day meals and Anganwadi nutrition supplements, thereby enhancing dietary habits and supporting local economies. This millet renaissance is a pivotal force in India's pursuit of sustainable and inclusive growth, and Troo Good is playing an important role in helping in taking the millet revolution a step forward.

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Jonas Masetti: Italian-Brazilian spiritual guru bringing Vedanta to Brazil

(December 4, 2024) Born in Rio de Janeiro to parents of Italian and indigenous Brazilian descent, Jonas Masetti grew up with a rich multicultural heritage. His family’s modest roots in São Paulo and the Minas Gerais region instilled in him a deep connection to Brazilian traditions. However, his life took an extraordinary turn when he encountered Indian philosophy during his engineering career. What began as a search for deeper meaning evolved into a commitment to sharing Vedanta, a profound tradition of self-knowledge and spirituality, with the world. Jonas’s work has earned global recognition, including from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2021, Modi mentioned Jonas in his widely followed Mann Ki Baat program, commending his efforts in popularizing the Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta among Brazilians and called him the ambassador of Vedic culture. Jonas recently met the Indian Prime Minister during the latter’s recent visit to Rio de Janeiro. On this occasion, Jonas and his team presented a captivating Sanskrit rendition of the Ramayana. Later the PM took to twitter, once again turning the world’s attention on Jonas. Vedanta - a timeless philosophy “My understanding is that Vedic tradition has so many tools for the well-being of humanity,” believes the

/i>. Later the PM took to twitter, once again turning the world’s attention on Jonas.

Vedanta - a timeless philosophy

“My understanding is that Vedic tradition has so many tools for the well-being of humanity,” believes the Italian-Brazilian guru of Vedanta.

Vedanta is one of the schools of Indian philosophy, rooted in the teachings of the Vedas, which are ancient sacred scriptures of India. The word ‘Vedanta’ literally means "the end of the Vedas, signifying both the culmination of Vedic thought and the philosophical insights derived from the later part of the Vedas, particularly the Upanishads. Vedanta explores deep questions about the nature of reality, the self, and the ultimate purpose of life.

It offers multiple paths to self-realization, allowing individuals to align with their temperament and abilities. The paths are Jnana Yoga (path of knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion), Karma Yoga (path of action) and Raja Yoga (path of meditation).

“When I chose Vedanta, I saw it as a means of knowledge and a tool for knowing myself. In the course, I got to learn about Indian culture and temples. I realised I belonged to that. My students are from all the religions,” remarked Jonas in an interview highlighting how Vedanta transcends religious boundaries. “You don’t have to be a Hindu to practice such things. When you go to an Ayurveda doctor, he doesn’t ask about your religion before treating you. Same way, the Vedanta teacher is not asked where you belong.”

[caption id="attachment_61154" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Indian Culture | Jonas Masetty | Global Indian Jonas Masetti[/caption]

From engineering to spirituality: A life transformed

Jonas discovered yoga and Vedanta in the early 2003 while searching for answers to a growing sense of dissatisfaction with his life, despite having a successful career as a mechanical engineer. “I had everything that a Western society needs to have. I had family, friends and money. I used to go to parties but I was not feeling fulfilled. Also, the people I knew had a lot of trouble, “he said, “I felt what the Western ideology was proposing to me wasn’t going to give me fulfilment.”

The quest to explore beyond the material world, led Jonas to meet Santosh Vallury, an Indian yogi who had recently moved to Brazil at that time. “I had the privilege and good fortune to have many one-to-one sessions with him,” Jonas recalled.

This relationship sparked Jonas’s interest in Indian spirituality and led him to the U.S. to meet Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a revered teacher of Vedanta. At an ashram in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, Jonas experienced the transformative power of Indian wisdom through Vedic teachings and seva (selfless service). “After that, I was very into the culture because there was a connection which I felt deeply,” he explained.

Jonas’s journey of transformation reached its peak when he enrolled in a three-and-a-half-year residential course at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Coimbatore. “For me, the three-year course was fundamental.” He felt as if he is a completely new person. “It was like being born again.” The immersive program shaped him into an Acharya (master) of Vedanta, and he returned to Brazil as a teacher.

Indian Culture | Jonas Masetty | Global Indian

Establishing Vishva Vidya: A Vedic oasis in Brazil

In 2014, Jonas founded Vishva Vidya, an institute dedicated to preserving and sharing the teachings of Vedanta in Brazil. Located in the scenic hills of Petropolis, near Rio de Janeiro, the institute offers classes, retreats, and immersive learning experiences. Its name, meaning ‘universal knowledge’ in Sanskrit, reflects Jonas’s belief in the inclusivity of Vedic teachings.

He has also adopted a hybrid model to reach a wider audience, combining traditional in-person sessions with innovative online platforms. The interactive learning system, introduced at Vishva Vidya, replicates the experience of a classroom through cutting-edge technology. “We have four cameras and 32 monitors arranged in a U-shape so hundreds of students can interact with each other and with me in real-time,” Jonas explained.

The institute has become a hub for Brazilians seeking to immerse themselves in Indian philosophy, Sanskrit, and the Vedic tradition, creating a gated community that thrives on learning and self-discovery.

Jonas also runs an initiative called Chhatralya in Brazil meant for underprivileged students interested in receiving spiritual teachings.

[caption id="attachment_61146" align="aligncenter" width="824"] Indian Culture | Spiritual Guru | Global Indian Jonas during one of his sessions[/caption]

Acknowledgment by Prime Minister Modi: A global spotlight

Jonas’s efforts in popularizing Vedanta have garnered widespread recognition, including a significant mention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat program in 2021. During the broadcast, Modi praised Jonas for his work in bringing the Bhagavad Gita and Indian philosophy to Brazil, calling him an ambassador of Vedic culture.

The Prime Minister introduced him to the world as the person with perhaps the largest following of Vedanta in Brazil.” During that time Jonas had 150,000 followers studying daily. “That is probably how he came to notice us, and it’s a recognition,” Jonas reflected. “Being foreigners, there is a lot of resistance. Those who choose to go on this path (of spirituality) lack a sense of belonging. For us, it was very special because we felt that we were accepted. It was a reason for a lot of joy for us.”

This recognition took on a more personal dimension during Modi’s recent visit to Brazil. At an event in Rio de Janeiro, Jonas and his team presented an awe-inspiring Sanskrit rendition of the Ramayana for the Prime Minister. The performance showcased the enduring relevance of Indian traditions in a global context. Following that, Modi took to Twitter to reaffirm Jonas's role as an ambassador of Vedic culture, further spotlighting him.

[caption id="attachment_61152" align="aligncenter" width="851"] Indian Culture | Jonas Masetti with Modi | Global Indian Jonas Masetti with PM Modi during the latter's recent visit to Brazil[/caption]

Translating ancient texts for modern readers

One of Jonas’s most significant contributions is his work in translating Indian scriptures. His translation of the Bhagavad Gita, completed over two and a half years, has been a meticulous effort to preserve the essence of the original text. “For every expression, I wanted the ‘original meaning’ so that the essence is not lost,” Jonas shared. For example, he added explanatory footnotes to bridge cultural gaps, comparing Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow, to Aladdin’s lamp for Western readers.

In addition to the Gita, Jonas Masetti has translated other foundational texts and plans to work on the Upanishads, ensuring that Western audiences have access to these timeless teachings. He is also an author, and the host of the podcast Vedanta Cast.

Inspiring a global movement

Through his teaching, translations, and cultural exchanges, Jonas Masetti has created a unique space where Indian and Brazilian traditions come together. His institution, Vishva Vidya has become a model for how ancient knowledge can thrive in the modern Western world, attracting students from diverse backgrounds and creating a global Vedantic community.

Jonas’s vision extends beyond teaching. He believes in the transformative power of spirituality to bring out the best in individuals and societies. He is now working to revive Brazil’s spiritual legacy, connecting it with Indian wisdom to foster a deeper understanding of universal human values.

[caption id="attachment_61145" align="aligncenter" width="662"] Indian Culture | Spiritual Guru | Global Indian Jonas Masetti[/caption]

“Our connections with fathers, grandfathers, with devatas, with nature, and everything that is available help us become the best version of ourselves and lead the world spiritually,” Jonas remarked while discussing Indian practices, a message he actively propagates.

Indian diaspora in Brazil

The Indian diaspora in Brazil is a small but dynamic community that reflects the historical ties and growing connections between the two nations. While the migration of Indians to Brazil is not as large-scale as seen in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, their presence has been steadily growing, particularly in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Many Indians have settled in Brazil as professionals in fields such as information technology, engineering, research and academia. Additionally, Indian culture has left a distinct mark on Brazilian society through the popularity of yoga, Bollywood films, and Indian cuisine.

Universality of ancient Indian wisdom

Jonas’s journey from Rio de Janeiro to the ashrams of India and back is a proof of the universality of ancient wisdom. He has made Vedanta accessible to thousands in the land he comes from, proving that spirituality transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

Indian Culture | Jonas Masetty | Global Indian

Jonas Masetti’s story is a shining example of how one individual can become a bridge between cultures. His work serves as a reminder that the search for knowledge and self-awareness is a universal endeavour, capable of uniting people across the world.

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