Indian Entrepreneur| Neha Narkhede | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryHow Neha Narkhede became one of America’s wealthiest women

How Neha Narkhede became one of America’s wealthiest women

Written by: Amrita Priya

(August 26, 2022) In the Leading Wealthy Women 2021 list compiled by research firm Hurun, Neha Narkhede appeared as number eight. The Indian-American technology entrepreneur is the co-founder of Confluent, a data streaming platform. This year, she is on the Forbes list of America’s richest self-made women. Over the last couple of years, apart from overseeing her startup’s meteoric growth, Neha has also been an investor and advisor to companies like Gem, Block Party, Material Security, Abacus AI, Cortex Data, Yugabyte, Metaphor Data, Natalist, Common Room, and more.

In the conference, Girl Geek X Confluent Talks, she remarked:

My parents sort of instilled this value in me that if you were open to learning and worked very, very hard, then you can actually learn anything you want to and you can be whoever you wanted to. And that sort of has stuck with me; the value of education and hard work.

Global Indian puts its spotlight on the woman in STEM and her inspiring journey.

Neha Narkhede, founder, Confluence

LinkedIn – the pivotal point

Neha worked for LinkedIn before co-founding Confluent in 2014 with two ex-colleagues. As a software engineer, she was at the helm of developing the open-source distributed streaming platform, Apache Kafka as a solution to handle LinkedIn’s huge influx of data.

Her innovation enables users to build applications and process events as and when they occur. It has proved to be fault-tolerant storage, with features like centralised data management, log aggregation and more.

As soon as the new software platform was adopted by LinkedIn, it started getting viral. Neha’s expertise in it was so phenomenal that she found herself very frequently being approached by Fortune 500 companies for helping them integrate the system in their organisations as a solution to their problems. This is when she realised the significance of what she had developed with her co-workers, Jay Kreps and Jun Rao.

🔔 Ringing the bell at @Nasdaq!

We’re incredibly proud of our team, and thankful for our customers, partners, #ApacheKafka community, and everyone who made this day possible. This is only the beginning of our journey to set the world’s #datainmotion. #ConfluentIPO pic.twitter.com/oWclHtFZDR

— Confluent (@confluentinc) June 24, 2021

In a leadership summit Neha remarked, “I went to my then team members (who are now co-founders of her company) and said that if we wanted Apache Kafka to really go mainstream, we need to create a company for doing that.” The three moved out of LinkedIn and launched Confluent.

Headquartered in California, Confluent is helping thousands of organisations around the world today in processing large amounts of their data through the software platform Apache Kafka. The organisation went public in June 2021 at a valuation of $9.1 billion. Neha has a stake of 8 percent in it. She started as the Chief Technology and Product Officer of Confluent, but now serves as its board member.

Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

Neha points out that people decide to be entrepreneurs first and then look out for ideas of what to start with. She believes it should be the other way round.

You should start a company when you feel that launching it is the only vehicle to see the change you want in the world – Neha Narkhede

The whole excitement of being an entrepreneur actually wears off in just the first year, believes the tech-entrepreneur. “To get through the hard days one requires the determination of seeing the change,” the idea that had led to starting the company in the first place. Neha advises future CEOs “to really focus and get the initial team right.”

Pune girl’s early life

In her home town Pune, she grew up reading and listening to stories of powerful women like Indira Gandhi, Kiran Bedi and Indra Nooyi. They have remained her role models to this day. The credit of having high ideals early on in her life goes to her father who introduced her to the achievements of women who have been trailblazers in their fields.

Neha, who familiarised herself with computers at the age of eight to play video games, went on to earn her engineering degree in computer science from Savitribai Phule Pune University. She went on to do an MS in computer science at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her first job was at Oracle Corporation from where she moved to LinkedIn. The rest, as they say, is history!

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Published on 26, Aug 2022

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The Specialist: IPS officer Vivek Dube led from the front, fearlessly and meticulously

(November 11, 2022) Cycling his way to the Gorakhpur University, Vivek Dube was enamoured by the sprawling bungalow of a DIG rank police officer, the sentry standing at the gate and the flicker bulb on the police officer’s car. The road from Dube’s house to the University passed through the DIG’s residence and the youngster had his eyes fixed on them, every day. “I will become a DIG one day,” he would tell himself, unaware of police ranks higher than that at that point in time, and pedal his way into the university and back. Rise of the honest cop And lo and behold, he landed in the service one fine morning! “When I got the offer to join IPS, my mother advised me against joining it saying it is a dirty service. I thought how could the police department be dirty? Only people make it dirty or good. After spending 35 years in service, I realised that I was right,” smiles Vivek Dube in an exclusive conversation with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_31602" align="aligncenter" width="442"] IPS officer Vivek Dube[/caption] A stickler for rules and meticulous in his investigation, Dube, who underwent two prestigious courses — one in Australia and the

2" src="https://stage.globalindian.com//wp-content/uploads/2022/11/PHOTO-2022-10-22-10-51-17.jpg" alt="Police | Vivek Dube | Global Indian" width="442" height="569" /> IPS officer Vivek Dube[/caption]

A stickler for rules and meticulous in his investigation, Dube, who underwent two prestigious courses — one in Australia and the other in US — is among those rare few who worked strictly within the framework of law.

From heading the investigation into the sensational Bilkis Bano case in Gujarat while working in the CBI, to handling militancy in Jammu and Kashmir during his stint in the CRPF to fighting Naxalites down south, Vivek Dube, a 1981 batch IPS officer, has done it all. “Wherever I worked, high integrity and absolute honesty always came to my rescue,” says Dube, an Andhra Pradesh (undivided) cadre IPS officer, who worked as SP (superintendent of police) of various districts at the height of naxal movement in the state in his early days in service.

He may have retired from service, but the investigations he headed into some of the most sensational cases in the country during his eight year long stint in the CBI, continue to make headlines. Bilkis Bano gangrape case is just one of them.

The Bilkis Bano case

As part of the investigation, Vivek Dube personally met Bilkis a few times. “When I heard this pathetic story, I was so disgusted with the loss of humanity,” says the police official, recalling how, despite Bilkis lodging a complaint at Limkheda police station and an FIR being registered, the case was closed by the local police on the grounds that she was giving varying statements.\

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RGBzSpTpAk

Bilkis narrated to Dube the horror she underwent from the moment she fled her village when the communal riots started until she was gang raped and left for dead by the accused. “Bilkis was very courageous and stood like a rock to face all the probing queries of a battery of defence lawyers. We supported her during trial and guided her,” says Dube, who also supervised the investigation and trial of sensational murder cases like Madhumita Shukla, Satyendra Dube, Jaggi and MLA Paritala Ravi and also the controversial Ayodhya case. It was around midnight in January 2004 that Dube took the tough call to arrest the 12 accused, who until then, were confident that nobody could touch them.

Courses abroad

Dube, who completed his post graduate degree in Physics (solid state physics) from the University of Gorakhpur in 1976 and secured third rank in the university, underwent two key courses abroad. One was a four-month course on strategic Human Resource management at University of Wollongong, Australia in 1997 and the other was a 35-day “Anti-Terrorism Assistance programme” at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US in 2005.

Police | Vivek Dube | Global Indian

At Wollongong, the IPS officer was taught how to improve his leadership skills and to manage the available Human Resources effectively. “We visited various government and corporate organizations, to talk to managers and understand how they were performing so well. The trainers used to place different tricky situations before us to know our reactions. It helped a great deal in becoming an effective manager at work,” informs Dube, who also served as Additional DGP (Provisioning and Logistics) and Additional DGP (welfare) in the AP police.

The second course at Baton Rouge in the US was a commando training during which he was taught how to work in a team and flush out terrorists holed up inside a house using quick and sudden action. “I also sharpened my shooting skills there. While practising for counter ambush, we were provided plastic bullets with painted chalks in front so that we would know where exactly the bullets hit on the body. This advance training was very fulfilling as I had never attended such kind of training in my career,” says the IPS officer, who completed his degree in Defence studies’ National Security and Strategic Studies from National Defence college, New Delhi in 2002.

Stint in ITBP

He also had a stint as a Commandant in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police between 1991 and 1995 (ITBP) during which he supervised the working of Mana, Ghastoli, Rattakona and Jagrao forward posts in Manna valley and Ghamsali, Bimlas and Geldung forward posts in Niti valley (on Indo-China border). Back then, he also participated in Joint Exercises with Army.

Much before he joined the CBI on deputation, it was his stint as SP of naxal-infested Adilabad district which was most challenging.

Dealing with Naxals

“This was a sleepy district with 43 percent reserved forest area and 10 percent other forests. PWG, a Naxalite outfit, was very violent and on the rampage then,” recalls Dube, who was initially taken aback when told by his fellow officers that they did not even know the name of the district secretary of the PWG, pointing to extremely weak intelligence gathering mechanisms.

Police | Vivek Dube | Global Indian

A determined Dube started everything from scratch. Six months later, after making massive efforts to gather intelligence, results started showing. During his tenure, 29 gun battles took place between the police parties and Naxals in which 35 ultras were neutralised. However, 18 policemen also lost their lives in three ambushes. “It was a tough time but I left the district with lots of satisfaction,” remarks Dube, who also served as the Special observer appointed by Election Commission of India for West Bengal elections in 2019.

On policing today

What does he feel about the present-day policing ? “The police have definitely become more digitized now. Still, the police reforms that were ordered by the Supreme Court in 2006 have not yet been implemented. Unfortunately, the old culture of colonial policing still continues,” feels Dube, who earlier held charge of the posts of DIG, ACB, Delhi.

For instance, he says, Japan has got ‘Security Commission’ at state level and ‘Safety Commission’ at the national level. “These commissions are independent bodies and they only run the police,” points out the retired police officer, who otherwise loves reading good books and plays a game badminton, lawn tennis and table tennis every day without fail.

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Reading Time: 8 min

Paris Laxmi: Bridging cultures through Bharatanatyam – A French enigma’s dance odyssey

(September 19, 2023) It was written in the stars for artist Paris Laxmi when she first stepped foot in India as a five-year-old. A French girl, who had heard stories of Hindu gods from her mother, grew up on a rich diet of Indian art and culture. The interest soon translated into a love for the country on her first visit. Mesmerized by the Indian dance art forms, she started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of nine, and years later moved to India forever. Here she met her now husband, a Kathak artist with whom she started Kalashakti School of Arts in Kochi. The 32-year-old, who calls herself Indian by heart, has found her home in India. Born in Aix-en-Provence in France in 1991 to a family that has been rooted in art, she found herself surrounded by it in the initial years of her life. "Before my birth, India was already a part of my family as my parents were loving this country, its customs, people, philosophy, arts, and heritage. My father first came to India in 1982, then with my mother some years after; they also decided to name me Myriam Sophia Lakshmi, and my brother Theo Elie

r some years after; they also decided to name me Myriam Sophia Lakshmi, and my brother Theo Elie Narayan. I can say that both India and dance were already a part of me when I was born," she wrote on the KalaShakti website.

[caption id="attachment_29498" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Artist | Paris Laxmi | Global Indian Paris Laxmi is an artist and actor[/caption]

She grew up hearing the stories of Hindu gods like Shiva-Parvati and Radha-Krishna along with stories of Jesus from her sculptor mother. This pulled her to the Indian culture at a tender age, and her first visit to the country at the age of five only added to her love for everything Indian. She soon began visiting India every year with her family and stayed for around two months, where they met the locals and experienced the country firsthand. "The connection my family and I have with India are difficult to explain. It’s like this natural feeling that we are home here. We feel moved by the culture. This is our favourite place,” the artist told The Better India.

Growing up, she was intrigued by the dance forms, and as young as five, began taking dance classes in hip hop, ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance. But her trips to India awakened in her a love for Indian dance, and at age nine, she began learning Bharatnatyam from Armelle Choquard, and later Dominique Delorme in France. "Indian classical dance forms are so deep and complex. The dancer needs so many qualities. It’s not only the technical ability but also acting ability, sense of music, and sense of aesthetics. It is a very demanding form," she added. While she continued learning the nuances of Bharatnatyam, she completed her Baccalaureate in French literature and arts. However, many people in France were unable to fathom their love for India. "My relatives could never quite understand it either, and always questioned my father about why we never visited any country except India," she told Little India in an interview. But their heart was already in India, something that not many people understood.

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A post shared by Paris Laxmi (@parislaxmi)

However, it was the love for dance that brought her to India once again where she trained under Smt Sucheta Chapekar in Pune and later at Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam's Nrithyodaya School of Dance in Chennai for a year. "I used 'Laxmi' as my stage name until my brother's guru Kalaimamani Tiruvarur Bakthavathsalam added 'Paris' to it for recognition," she added. Keen to be accepted by Indians, she only performed Bharatnatyam initially. "For a while, I didn’t showcase the other western dance forms that I had trained in. I thought it was important that people identified me as a classical dancer, and as someone who understood and is a part of Indian culture," the artist said in an interview.

Interestingly, it was the dance that drew her to her now husband, Pallipuram Sunil, a famous Kathak artist from Vaikom in Kerala. She was just seven when she first saw him perform at Fort Kochi during one of her visits to India. "A very young artiste was performing for us, with others. Though I was amazed by all of them, he was the one who touched me the most. For nearly two weeks, I continued to watch him in Kochi. I loved the colourful costumes of Kathakali and he used to show them and explain everything that I wished to know about the costumes. It was Sunil….no one could imagine then that he would be my husband 14 years later! He is 13 years older than me!," she had said. She was 16 when she met him again in Kochi and shared her interest in Indian classical dance art forms. Soon they became friends, and she moved to India in 2012 after marriage.

[caption id="attachment_29496" align="aligncenter" width="431"] Artist | Paris Laxmi | Global Indian Paris Laxmi with husband Pallipuram Sunil[/caption]

Now India is her home. While she was already in love with Indian culture, she has now embraced Hinduism after her marriage to Sunil in 2012. The same year, they started Kalashakti School of Arts where they both teach their respective dance forms and organise Art performances and workshops. Over the last few years, 'Sangamam - Krishna Mayam', a classical dance fusion of Kathakali and Bharatanatyam showcasing stories and manifestations of Lord Krishna with compositions has toured all over India, Europe, and Gulf countries. She is on a mission to make more children understand 'the difference between classical dance and what is shown on TV'. "So many people from foreign countries wish to learn Indian classical dance now. It is something very rich and unique that India has. The government and the people of this country should preserve and promote it," she added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXAglWvdWt0

Being an artist, she wanted to spread her wings and ventured into Malayalam films at the age of 16 when she met a film crew in Kochi and got her first role in Big B. However, it was her role in Bangalore Days that got her attention. Now a known face in the Malayalam film industry, Laxmi is keen to explore challenging roles but more importantly, wants to have a large space to develop her projects. She moved to India for the love of the country and its culture - a place she now calls home. From an outsider to an insider, she has come a long way despite many challenges. "Challenges keep on coming. That’s what keeps me going on. It’s a part of life. My biggest challenge is to be better than I was yesterday, and this never ends!"

Follow Paris Laxmi on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 min

Ukraine’s Vijaya Bai: How Viktoria Burenkova promotes Bharatanatyam in Kyiv

(November 3, 2023) Viktoria Burenkova, who goes by the stage name Vijaya Bai, is a passionate Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Even during the tough times of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she's kept the spirits of her students and herself high through Bharatanatyam. Viktoria deeply connects with the soul of this ancient Indian dance form and has been pouring her heart into it. For the last ten years, she's been a key figure at Nakshatra, a dance school started by the famous dancer Ganna Smirnova Rajhans. The school even got recognized as a 'National Studio' by Ukraine's Ministry of Culture. “My father chose the stage name 'Vijaya' for me, as 'Viktoria' and 'Vijaya' have the same meaning (victory)," she shares with Global Indian while connecting from Ukraine. Her father, who has once visited India, holds a deep fascination for yoga and Indian classical culture, a passion that he and Victoria's mother shared long before the birth of their two daughters. [caption id="attachment_46472" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Viktoria Burenkova[/caption] Born and raised in Kyiv, the talented dancer has deep affection for India, a place that she is yet to visit. "From our earliest days, our lives were steeped in classical music,

"aligncenter" width="900"] Indian Art and Culture | Viktoria Burenkova | Global Indian Viktoria Burenkova[/caption]

Born and raised in Kyiv, the talented dancer has deep affection for India, a place that she is yet to visit. "From our earliest days, our lives were steeped in classical music, dance, and yoga. Our natural affinity for these Indian arts grew organically," she remarks.

Carrying forward the legacy

Viktoria holds a deep sense of gratitude towards her guru, Ganna Smirnova Rajhans, who introduced the art of Bharatanatyam not only to Viktoria and her sister when they were just seven and five years old but also to their mother. Due to Ganna's extensive international commitments, the responsibility of managing her dance school and studio, Nakshatra, fell upon her accomplished student, Viktoria. With Ganna's relocation to the UK owing to the war, the entire onus now rests on Viktoria's capable shoulders. Her guru is more than impressed with the way Viktoria has skilfully carried forward the legacy.

"One of the most rewarding facets is our ability to stage dance dramas in the Ukrainian language, incorporating Bharatanatyam hand gestures that visually convey the narrative,” Viktoria tells Global Indian about Nakshatra. The approach, she says, allows their mainly Ukrainian audience to comprehend and appreciate the ‘hasta’ language, because they don’t know any Sanskrit. “Our dance dramas are presented in such a way that they do not pose a challenge to the Ukrainian audience in following the storyline."

[caption id="attachment_46480" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Indian Art and Culture | Viktoria Burenkova | Global Indian Nakshatra Team[/caption]

Nakshatra has been also connecting with its audiences through a series of video lessons and master classes available on their YouTube channel. “Our online classes are open to anyone in the world as long as they are eager to dance,” Viktoria remarks. The option has been a blessing to many students who live outside of Ukraine and to those who had to leave the country because of the war. “Irrespective of circumstances our classes have always been on schedule,” she says.

Bharatanatyam amidst war

Talking about the current situation in Ukraine, she says, “It varies depending on the region. We all believe that God is with Ukraine and the victory of Ukraine is predetermined.” As an educator and performer, Viktoria has faced challenging moments in the past year, but has never given up on her passion and purpose of life due to the moral support of her family, her Guru, and the entire Nakshatra community.

“The Embassy of India in Ukraine has always supported all the activities and initiatives of Nakshatra. We feel very honoured to be part of cultural events and celebrations organised by the Embassy,” says Viktoria.

Dance classes have been the most constant part of my life for so many years. So in many ways for me and for Nakshatra students the art has been a huge moral and psychological support during the hard times. We restarted the classes online two-three weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. Ever since it has been either online or offline depending upon the situation but we have never stopped.

The performer and teacher has received several recognitions for her craft but what she finds most fulfilling is that her students continue to attend the classes even during the turmoil, enjoy the art even in these trying times, and have not stopped exploring its wonders.

Bharatanatyam is life

Viktoria has devoted her entire life to Bharatanatyam. “My entire life is structured around Bharatanatyam. My schedule, plans, and goals are all centred on it,” she says, adding, “Even the modest sewing skills that I have are dedicated to stitching dance uniforms for classes and costumes for performances.”

[caption id="attachment_46479" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Indian Art and Culture | Viktoria Burenkova | Global Indian Viktoria Burenkova during a training session[/caption]

Although she finds performing in public ‘amazing’, dancing in solitude is an ‘absolutely surreal experience’ for her that she savours. “I have tried Kuchipudi as well but my heart always felt that Bharatanatyam is the dance I want to continue pursuing lifelong.”

The performer prefers group performances over solo. “Whenever we organise programmes, my mother says 'Vika, do a solo at least once.' It always brings a smile to my face looking at her desire as a parent to see me perform solo, even when she understands how much I cherish dancing in a group.”

Apart from ‘feeling truly blessed’ to have found such a ‘world-renowned guru’, Viktoria acknowledges her parents' pivotal roles. She credits her father for initiating their Bharatanatyam journey by seeking out a teacher in Kyiv for both her and her sister. Moreover, when her guru entrusted her with the role of a teacher, her father's knowledge of Sanskrit and Yoga proved invaluable for translating and comprehending the Sanskrit texts used in dance pieces. Her mother has always provided support, constantly believing in Viktoria and offering valuable guidance.

Love for India

While Viktoria has yet to set foot in India, she had started learning Hindi at the age of 18, followed by a bit of Telugu. Currently, she is also in the process of acquiring proficiency in Punjabi.

India has an outstanding culture that is deep, spiritual, and meaningful in so many ways. Every note, every musical instrument, and every ornament has such a profound meaning connected to the structure of the Universe. It is absolutely astounding and I wish more people could see, understand, and experience all the aspects of culture, which my father so correctly calls a 'Universal' one.

Viktoria’s biggest goal is to keep working, keep dancing, and keep promoting the art of Bharatanatyam in Ukraine. “By God's grace, the community of classical dancers and the understanding of the true meaning behind the art will continue to grow in Ukraine as well as in the world,” she says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q48hGFPDUzc

Currently all the students attending Nakshatra’s offline classes are Ukrainians. Before the war the student group was more diverse with Indians in Ukraine attending the classes as well. “Hopefully, soon we will have Indians coming back to Kyiv and joining the classes,” signs off Viktoria.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

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

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

e told Global Indian in an interview.

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

A chance encounter with chess

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

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

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

Nudging support from family

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

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

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

Checkmate by challenges

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

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

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

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

A journey worth remembering

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

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

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

Follow SL Narayanan on Twitter

Reading Time: 7 min

India-born Britons: Desi roots to global excellence

(September 27, 2023) In 1947, when India gained independence from British colonial rule, approximately 125,000 to 150,000 Britons were living in India. This included not only British administrators, military personnel, and their families but also individuals engaged in various other professions and businesses. Global Indian traces the desi roots of some of the colonial India-born Britons who had left the country when they were quite young, and went on to become global achievers in their chosen fields. Some of them even had an indelible influence of India in their work. Rudyard Kipling (1865 – 1936) Birth Place: Bombay The country of his birth had a deep influence on the work of British writer and poet Rudyard Kipling. His short stories, novels, and poems often explored the themes of British imperialism, adventure, and the clash of cultures. Kipling's The Jungle Book (1894) is timeless and has been adapted into many films and other media works over the decades. It tells the story of Mowgli, a young boy raised by animals in the Indian jungle. [caption id="attachment_45405" align="aligncenter" width="265"] Rudyard Kipling[/caption] When Kipling was five years old, his parents sent him to England for education, only to come back to India as

cades. It tells the story of Mowgli, a young boy raised by animals in the Indian jungle.

[caption id="attachment_45405" align="aligncenter" width="265"] India-born Briton | Rudyard Kipling | Global Indian Rudyard Kipling[/caption]

When Kipling was five years old, his parents sent him to England for education, only to come back to India as a young adult, where he began his prolific literary career, drawing on his experiences in both countries for his writing. In 1907, Rudyard Kipling became the first English-language writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Ronald Ross (1857 – 1932)

Birth Place: Almora

A British physician, Ross earned the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1902 for his groundbreaking research on the transmission of malaria. He achieved the distinction of being the first British Nobel laureate and the first person born outside of Europe to receive this prestigious award. His pivotal discovery in 1897 laid the essential groundwork for developing strategies to combat the disease.

[caption id="attachment_45414" align="aligncenter" width="263"] India-born Briton | Ronald Ross | Global Indian Ronald Ross[/caption]

Ross was the eldest of ten children of a general in the British Indian Army. He was sent to England to live with his aunt and uncle on the Isle of Wight when he was eight. After becoming a doctor, he practiced in India for a few years with postings in Madras, Andaman Islands, Bangalore, Secunderabad, Balochistan (now in Pakistan), and Moulmein (now in Burma).

Julie Christie (1940 – present)

Birth Place: Chabua, Assam

The British actress was an iconic star in the sixties. She is the recipient of numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Six of her films are ranked in the British Film Institute's BFI Top 100 British films of the 20th century. She received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement in 1997.

[caption id="attachment_45407" align="aligncenter" width="275"] India-born Briton | Julie Christie | Global Indian Julie Christie[/caption]

Christie was born at a tea estate which was run by her father, while her mother was a painter. At the age of six, she was sent to live with a foster mother in England where she pursued her education. Christie has had a long career. Starting with her debut in 1963 in Billy Liar she went on to act for decades and even made a brief cameo appearance in the third Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Cliff Richard OBE (1940 – present)

Birth Place: Lucknow

The British pop singer, musician, and actor is one of the most successful and enduring entertainers in the history of British popular music. He is considered the British equivalent of Elvis Presley. With 250 million records sold worldwide, he is the best-selling music artist of all time. He was honoured with Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1980 for his services to music and charity.

[caption id="attachment_45408" align="aligncenter" width="257"] India-born Briton | Cliff Richard | Global Indian Cliff Richard[/caption]

Cliff’s father worked with the British Indian Railways. The musician was born in British India as Harry Rodger Webb. The Webb family spent some years in Howrah, West Bengal as well before moving to Britain following India’s Independence.

George Orwell (1903 – 1950)

Birth Place: Motihari

Born Eric Arthur Blair in Bihar, Orwell was a British novelist, essayist, and critic. He is best known for his dystopian novels Animal Farm (1945), and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) which explore themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, and the abuse of power. Orwell's writings often centred on political and social commentary, and his work has had a powerful impact on literature and political discourse. Even after decades of his passing away, his books continue to be widely read and studied for their insightful critiques of society and politics.

[caption id="attachment_45409" align="aligncenter" width="300"] India-born Briton | George Orwell | Global Indian George Orwell[/caption]

Orwell’s father worked as a sub-deputy opium agent in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service, overseeing the production and storage of opium for sale to China. Orwell's family returned to England from India when he was a kid. Orwell’s house in Motihari has been turned into a museum.

Colin Cowdrey (CBE) (1932 – 2000)

Birth Place: Ooty

Born in Ootacamund, British India (now Ooty,) Cowdrey was a prominent English cricketer who was christened in Bangalore. His father was a cricket-loving tea planter. The family returned to England in 1938 when Cowdrey was five years old. Cowdrey was the first player to reach 100 Test appearances and was known for his elegant and stylish batting technique. He served as England's captain in various periods during his career.

[caption id="attachment_45410" align="aligncenter" width="275"] India-born Briton | Colin Cowdrey | Global Indian Colin Cowdrey[/caption]

While still playing, he was honoured with Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1972. After retiring, he continued to work in cricket administration. He also chaired the International Cricket Council from 1989 to 1993, overseeing the introduction of referees and neutral umpires in international cricket. He was also awarded a life peerage in 1997 and became Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, a position that allowed him to sit in the House of Lords.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 – 1863)

Birth Place: Calcutta

A renowned British novelist and illustrator Thackeray is known for his wit, humour, and keen observations of Victorian society. Thackeray is best known for his novel Vanity Fair (1847-1848), which is considered one of the greatest novels in the English language. The novel satirises the hypocrisy, social climbing, and moral values of early 19th-century British society.

[caption id="attachment_45411" align="aligncenter" width="240"] India-born Briton | William Makepeace Thackeray | Global Indian William Makepeace Thackeray[/caption]

Thackeray’s father was the secretary to the Board of Revenue in the East India Company. After the death of his father, Thackeray was sent to England. His novels often explored themes of social class, morality, and human nature.

Vivien Leigh (1913 – 1967)

Birth Place: Darjeeling

Leigh was a renowned British actress and Hollywood star whose talent and beauty left an indelible mark on the world of film and theatre. Leigh's portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in ‘Gone with the Wind’ earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress and solidified her status as a Hollywood legend.

[caption id="attachment_45412" align="aligncenter" width="255"] India-born Briton | Vivien Leigh | Global Indian Vivien Leigh[/caption]

Born in British colonial India, she started her schooling at Loreto Convent, Darjeeling. At the age of six, Leigh was sent by her parents to stay with relatives in England, where she resumed her education at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton, south-west London. Beyond her remarkable career on the silver screen, Vivien Leigh was also a celebrated stage actress, excelling in numerous Shakespearean roles, including Lady Macbeth and Cleopatra.

Mark Tully (1935 – present)

Birth Place: Calcutta

William Mark Tully is a former bureau chief of BBC, New Delhi. Out of his 30 years in BBC, he devoted 20 years working for BBC, New Delhi. A recipient of several awards, Tully has authored nine books. He was honoured with Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) in 2002 and is the recipient of Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan, and BAFTA awards.

[caption id="attachment_45413" align="aligncenter" width="300"] India-born Briton | Mark Tully | Global Indian Mark Tully[/caption]

Tully’s father was a British businessman in the British Raj. After spending the first decade of his life in India, and beginning his education at a boarding school in Darjeeling he left for England. He is patron of the British branch of Child in Need India (CINI UK) and is equally well-versed in both English and Hindi.

Although, the most remarkable India-born Britons have been included in the above list. It’s not exhaustive. Below are the names of a few more global achievers born in India during Britain’s colonial rule:

Cricketer Doughlas Jardine: born in 1900 in Bombay
Actress Merle Oberon: born in 1911 in Bombay
Pop star Engelbert Humperdinck (MBE): born in 1936 in Madras
Conservationist Gerald Malcolm Durrell: born in 1925 in Jamshedpur

Reading Time: 5 mins