Indian Space Tech | Startup | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryIndian space tech strives for numerous constellations as desi honchos get satellite-ready

Indian space tech strives for numerous constellations as desi honchos get satellite-ready

Written by: Global Indian

(January 24, 2022) Space missions like Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, PSLV have catapulted India into the league of top space tech countries in the world, and this continuous evolution is driving more space tech startups to take the lead. With global space market size being $350 billion, India is holding out only 3 percent of the entire share. It’s this meager share that’s pushed ISRO to invite desi honchos to use India’s resources and take part in the space arena. Disrupting with cutting edge tech are these individuals that form the core of India’s space tech inc.

Pixxel

Founders: Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal

Indian Space Tech | Pixxel

Awais Ahmed, co-founder, CEO, and CTO Kshitij Khandelwal founded Pixxel in 2019. Both were on the founding team of Hyperloop when they decided to launch their startup. Pixxel, a private aerospace manufacturer, is hoping to put a constellation of 30+Earth observation micro-satellites into orbit by 2023. The two BITS Pilani buddies are behind Asia’s only space startup to qualify for the 2019 Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator in Los Angeles. Ahmed, an avid space aficionado, has tweeted, “Someday, we’ll set out into the stars. As we should. But regardless of how far we go, there will always ever be just one true home,” referring to the Earth.

Kshitij Khandelwal apparently bonded with Ahmed over video games during college and this paved the way for their startup, which has created a niche in the world of space tech. “We’ll be working with Rio Tinto to help make mining operations sustainable around the globe through our hyperspectral satellites. This is a big step for us towards our goal of building a health monitor for our planet,” posted Khandelwal on the latest developments.

The company raised $2.3 million in March 2021 from Techstars, Omnivore VC and others in addition to the $5 million, it raised in August 2020 from Lightspeed Ventures, etc.

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Skyroot Aerospace

Founders: Naga Bharath Daka and Pawan Kumar Chandana

Indian Space Tech | Skyroot

With the central government privatising the space sector, more home-grown startups are clawing into the space, and one such is Hyderabad-based Skyroot that has successfully fired India’s first fully cryogenic 3D printed liquid propulsion engine – Dhawan. Founded by former ISRO scientists – Naga Bharath Daka and Pawan Kumar Chandana in 2018, Skyroot has become of the one of the most prominent names in Indian space tech for finding the most cost-effective ways to send small satellites into space.

Backed by the promoters of renewable energy firm Greenko Group and Curefit founder Mukesh Bansal, the startup is looking at the growing global opportunity to make affordable space launches a reality. Interestingly, it became the first space tech startup to formally sign up with ISRO in 2021 to undertake multiple test and access facilities at various ISRO centres. “When you build rockets, you get deeply immersed in the tech, stay super focused, give attention to every detail, wrestle with physics, solve the mysteries, and celebrate every fire and lift-off!,” Pawan wrote on Twitter.

NDA with M/s Skyroot Aerospace Pvt. Ltd signed on February 02, 2021. This will enable them to access #ISRO‘s technical expertise and facilities.

More Details: https://t.co/UpGKo0UA5v @SkyrootA pic.twitter.com/zJ7FHlnZJZ

— ISRO (@isro) February 3, 2021

It was while working as a scientist at ISRO that this IIT Kharagpur graduate developed the plan of making space launches affordable, and that’s exactly what Pawan is doing with Skyroot especially after raising $11 million from Series-A funding led by Greenko Group founders, Anil Chalamalasetty and Mahesh Kolli.

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Dhruva Space

Founders: Sanjay Nekkanti and co-founders Abhay Egoor and Krishna Teja Penamakuru

Indian Space Tech | Dhruva

As space tech is set to grow, Dhruva Space is among the first companies to enter the space back in 2012. Co-founder and CEO Sanjay Nekkanti is a seasoned entrepreneur in the space industry with rich experience working with start-ups and mid-sized businesses building products and services in the area of small satellites, satcom technologies, sensors and connected devices. The Lulea University of Technology student did a master in space science and technology. Dhruva Space is the first private company in India to manufacture satellites.

The national award-winning space technology startup builds full-stack space engineering solutions, and is based out of Hyderabad and Graz, Austria. Sanjay is an inventor at heart, and he often tweets his interests, “Human space exploration will become more common as we strive towards becoming multi-planetary species. I assembled this Lego model of ISS and it felt really good.”

Dhruva aims to deploy LEO satellites for ease in satellite imagery and to create their own ground and launch stations. The year 2022 is when Dhruva Space’s first satellite launch will be conducted. Its latest funding totalled $2.9 million in October 2021, and these funds will go into the launch of innovative solutions and expand its footprint to other world markets.

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Digantara

Founders Anirudh Sharma, Tanveer Ahmed and Rahul Rawat

Indian Space Tech | Digantara

Anirudh Sharma, CEO and founder, Digantara, offers solutions aimed at space sustainability and situational awareness. Sharma and his college buddy Rahul Rawat started Digantara with Kalaari Capital funding the foray. This IISc-incubated company is working on a space-based surveillance platform with global real-time earth coverage. Sharma, an alum of Lovely Professional University, started his space tech career as a 19-year-old on a satellite project. The problem Digantara is tackling is space traffic management and space debris with low-cost nano-satellite constellations.

Rawat, COO, also an alum of Lovely Professional University, wants to cultivate innovations in space technology. “DigantaraIndia is set to take on the problem of #space junk and eliminate the risk of collisions in space,” Sharma tweeted. Most recently, Sharma posted, “Digantara is honoured to be a part of the historic launch of ISpA- Indian Space Association, dedicated to accelerating the growth of Indian space industry and contributing to the government of India’s ambition of becoming aatmanirbhar.”

Sharma interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the above launch, lauding the PM’s space reforms. The company is now building a one-of-a-kind in-orbit device to track spent satellites, broken rocket parts, other junk that dangerously hurtles around in space, to be launched soon. Digantara is amongst the startups selected worldwide under the 12th edition of #Fit4Start programme #Luxembourg in recent news.

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Astrogate Labs

Founders: Nitish Singh and Aditya Kedlaya

Indian Space Tech | Astrogate

Ever wondered how satellite communication works? Well, it begins from the Earth station, which transmits and receives signals from satellites in the form of high-frequency signals. With each passing year, more data is being sent and processed, thus increasing the demand for satellite communication. This is where Bengaluru-based Astrogate Labs comes into the picture as it is on a mission to change the face of space communication through their technology that is making it easier for small satellites to send more data to earth stations at a faster speed than before.

Founded by two IIT alumnus and former Team Indus engineers Nitish Singh and Aditya Kedlaya in 2017, this space startup is developing small satellite terminals and optical ground networks for satellite communication. In the era of space age, Astrogate is looking to disrupt the small satellite communication market through its laser communication solution. Launched to address the problem of high-speed communication in space, this space tech startup is aimed at building an entire chain of optical communication system.

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Published on 24, Jan 2022

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Forest farm calling: How Vivek and Brinda Shah quit US job to become environment entrepreneurs

(May 24, 2022) Peering through the window of their train enroute Los Angeles in 2016, Vivek Shah and his wife Brinda saw acres of strawberry farms sprawled all across Salinas. The splendid view of lush, juicy, and red strawberries seemed like something out of a dream. Then, they were pulled from their reverie by the sudden appearance of a man, covered in a protective suit and spraying pesticide on the crops. It sent a chill down their spine. "It didn't seem right. How harmful were the chemicals that he had to wear protective gear? And we were consuming that produce. We knew this wasn't the environment we wanted to live in. It became a defining moment for us," environment entrepreneur Vivek tells Global Indian. In 2016, the San Fransico-based couple left their comfortable lifestyles in the US behind to return to Gujarat and start their forest farm. Now six years later, the 10-acre land which is a "mix of the commercial and experimental farm" has given Vivek and Brinda a purpose in life - to create awareness on environment restoration and put their techniques to use for a larger cause. [caption id="attachment_24809" align="aligncenter" width="440"] Brinda Shah and Vivek Shah at their forest form, Brindavan[/caption] Existential crisis

In 2016, the San Fransico-based couple left their comfortable lifestyles in the US behind to return to Gujarat and start their forest farm. Now six years later, the 10-acre land which is a "mix of the commercial and experimental farm" has given Vivek and Brinda a purpose in life - to create awareness on environment restoration and put their techniques to use for a larger cause.

[caption id="attachment_24809" align="aligncenter" width="440"] Environment Entrepreneur | Vivek and Brinda Shah Brinda Shah and Vivek Shah at their forest form, Brindavan[/caption]

Existential crisis led to true calling

Born and raised in Baroda, Vivek was more of a "creative and outdoorsy" person during his growing up years who was in the pursuit to "charter a path" for himself. "We had a CA firm, my dad is a second-generation CA. So, society expected me to follow suit. But my heart wasn't in it. After finishing my school, we received our green card for the US, and the entire family shifted base," says Vivek, who came across an open college that he calls his "golden ticket" as it gave him the chance to learn anything without pressure. From photography to fine arts to economics, Vivek dabbled in everything before settling for a degree in interaction design. "Though nature and environment always intrigued me, it wasn't a career option back then," adds Vivek.

After a year-and-a-half of working as a product designer, Vivek realised it wasn't his calling either. "Sitting behind a computer for 8-10 hours wasn't helping me make any impact. Instead, I was leading people into hyper-consumerism through my job," adds the environment entrepreneur, who was on the cusp of an existential crisis. It was then that he came across a month-long course on organic farming. This set the ball rolling for Vivek and his wife, who decided to study permaculture. "It was the logical starting point to understand environment restoration. After she came to the US, we both realised we wanted to do something in the field of environment, and that's how our journey began," reveals the 33-year-old who met his wife through common friends.

Environment entrepreneur | Vivek and Brinda Shah

A forest farm that changed it all

Vivek quit his job and returned to Gujarat with Brinda, who has a master's degree in printmaking, to begin their journey as environment entrepreneurs. Interestingly, they found massive support from their families. So much so that a family friend lent them a piece of their land to start their experiment. "We came with no background in agriculture. But the course did help us in understanding the techniques that we could adopt to make a sustainable farm," adds Vivek. For the next nine months, the couple grew crops and vegetables, understood the agricultural cycle, and tapped into local knowledge. "The initial phase was spent in observation and understanding the workings of the farm," explains Vivek. A year later, they found the perfect land in Nadiad, an hour's drive from Ahmedabad. "That's how Brindavan came into existence. We started just before the monsoon, and it was a fruitful year," reminisces the environment entrepreneur.

Environment entrepreneur | Vivek and Brinda Shah

Since then, the couple has been using techniques like green manuring and controlled grazing to ensure soil fertility and harvesting rainwater to utilise the farm resources to their capacity. "When we started, we had no role models to follow. Most of it was trial and error," he says, calling it a learning phase for the couple. "Converting our orchard into a rain-fed model and working on no-till vegetable farming gave us more confidence and faith in ourselves and our techniques," adds Vivek.

Working for the future

Sustainable farming practices are quite a fad in the US, but Vivek and Brinda realised that not much was happening in India in this space. That's the reason they decided to return and give back to their homeland. "It was a now or never for us. I was 25 when I decided to make the switch. I knew if I let this opportunity slip through my hands, I wouldn’t have the courage to pursue it after five years. Though it was like diving into an ocean, there was a sense of urgency. And I am glad we did it," says Vivek who is now providing consultancy services and applying the couple’s farming techniques on client sites.

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"We aim to collaborate with like-minded people who need our services in saving the Earth. However, a lot needs to be done. There is awareness but the lack of action is one of our biggest challenges," says the environment entrepreneur who often finds no public participation, adding that not many are willing to invest in this space. "It's still considered to be an NGO kind of thing and not a legit industry." He believes that the right sources need to be moved in as "opportunities are plenty." Calling climate change a "real problem", Vivek finds the situation "scary because we can’t predict anything more. The changing temperatures are hampering crop growth, and in the near future, we won't be able to afford a single crop." The environment champion believes that branching out would be the solution. "We'll have to add new things to your diet that you never before even considered," says Vivek who thinks it's time to start experimenting with food security.

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A post shared by Vivek Shah (@vivekatbrindavan)

Brinda and he are now eyeing bigger projects, along with trying to make inroads with the government on climate change. "We are also planning to bring climate litigation under the larger umbrella and address climate-related challenges," says the environment entrepreneur, who believes patience is the key in this profession. He urges youngsters to "follow their heart and not have a Plan B. If you have something to fall back on, you might not push through enough." Vivek and Brinda had to make lifestyle changes on their arrival in India, but they knew it was worth the effort. "Cutting down on lifestyle expenses can do wonders, only if you are willing. But we knew we wanted to create an impact. That's what drove us both," says the father of a one-and-a-half-year-old who loves spending time with his family.

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Reading Time: 6 min

Knotting it right: Haresh Adnani is crafting bespoke carpets with artistic legacy

(May 29, 2024) Over the years, Haresh Adnani has skillfully woven his entrepreneurial spirit into Nodana (from the Latin word Nodus meaning knot), a bespoke carpet venture that elevates his family's three-decade legacy in home textiles by creating the most exquisite carpets. The entrepreneur has turned his carpet brand into his signature achievement while steadfastly supporting artisans in preserving their craftsmanship. To him, rug-weaving is an art form that demands precision, technique, and creative talent. The Spirit of Entrepreneurship Born in 1973, Haresh was raised in Mumbai, where he completed his schooling from Greenlawns and did his B.com from the popular HR College of Commerce. While studying, he began to intern at a garment export firm. “I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur, with a business in a different line, away from the family run company, so I started with manufacturing and exporting of garments in 1996. Bulk of my products were sold across Europe that included importers, retail chains and mail order companies,” Haresh tells Global Indian. Marketing his garments meant he had to travel extensively across Europe which he truly enjoyed as it meant getting work done and exploring, meeting, and seeing people and countries with its

il chains and mail order companies,” Haresh tells Global Indian.

Marketing his garments meant he had to travel extensively across Europe which he truly enjoyed as it meant getting work done and exploring, meeting, and seeing people and countries with its various cultures and food. “Travelling has always fascinated me and to add to this, beautiful landscapes, natural beauty, and the richness of history across Europe made it even more worthwhile and exciting. With the family business growing quite swiftly, in the year 2002, I moved into the home textile division of the company which was also concentrated in exports,” he says.

Haresh Adnani | Global Indian

Business Mantra

Nodana is a part of Adnani Exports Ltd. which is a family owned and run company for over 35 years of manufacturing and exporting home textiles across Europe. “We have always wanted to foray into the Indian market with something special. I was always fascinated by the intricate designs and textures of carpets that I would encounter during my research trips. This felt like the right moment to materialize my wish with the concept of customised carpets. Backed with the experience and expertise of home textiles we marched right ahead in this new venture. India felt like a huge carpet ahead of me to be walked on,” he recollects.

Artisan Cues

The artisans play a crucial role in the creation of their intricate and beautiful pieces of art with many carpet weaving techniques being passed down through generations within artisan families and communities. They often draw on this rich tradition of knowledge and craftsmanship, preserving and honouring ancient techniques while also adapting to modern innovations.

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A post shared by NODANA.HOME (@nodana.home)

Carpet weaving is a highly skilled craft that requires years of training and experience to master. Artisans develop a deep understanding of weaving techniques, knotting methods, and design principles through apprenticeship and hands-on practice.

"Nodana has its manufacturing base in a small town called Bhadohi, located in Uttar Pradesh, known as the Carpet City of India. A lot of the artisans are normally contract staff and are given daily wages but at Nodana, our aim is not just based on commercial interest but also a social and emotional responsibility towards this invaluable art that's why all our weavers are on permanent payroll of the company. This helps in creating a family and oneness with the karigars which then eventually transpires in our work and designing,” he says, adding, “We recognise the legacy of this beautiful art and truly believe in it and want to take it forward and hence encourage the newer generation to be a part of this tradition. Our karigars take pride in their workmanship and strive for perfection in every aspect of the weaving process.”

Haresh Adnani | Global Indian

Making the Journey Count

Being very passionate about his work is what makes him start each day with renewed energy and hope."This is why even if I have failed, I have still picked myself up and started from scratch. Results have never defined my direction. I believe in perseverance and hard work, and then sooner or later results will fall in place. Willingness to learn each day, no matter how many years spent in this industry is what keeps me going," says Adnani. His advices potential entrepreneurs to be patient, hardworking and persistent. "Rome wasn’t built in a day and so goes with every business. Nothing comes easy. There are no shortcuts to success. So, it is important to dream and put yourself out there no matter how hard it is," he adds.

Beating Challenges

Like every business, they too have faced challenges at different times. For most, it would be financial and mental challenges but for Adnani it is emotional as well. "Being calm, collected and determined to resolve the issue at hand helps in having a clarity of thought. Sometimes, I have noticed that we try too hard to find a solution, and if we just disconnect and view the problem from a distance, it becomes easier to find the solution," says Haresh, who believes in the concept of community and working together. "You can never overcome a challenge completely on your own. Personally, I belong to the old school of thought, and I treat and respect every person working with me as family, where they also feel they are an integral part of the company and contribute to the process of resolving problems that arise."

Looking Ahead

For someone who has been fond of sports and athletics, he admits that it has stayed with him through the years and he enjoys a good game of cricket and tennis. “Travelling is also something I am very fond of, especially quiet countryside places, close to nature. All this really helps me to unwind and relax. I also love going to the theatre and catching up with friends,” says Adnani.

For his brand, he hopes to take his business to great heights but more important than that is the invaluable smile of the customer on receiving their product and giving space in their home. “I truly believe in the saying that the customer is the king. With every small step, we hope to take this legacy forward for years to come,” he signs off.

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Vidya Vox: Indian-American singer creating waves in the world of music

(November 15, 2023) Make some noise for Vidya Vox - the queen of mashups. One balmy morning in 2015, Vidya Vox exploded on YouTube with her first mashup - a perfect blend of Indian music and Western pop. This was when the Millennials took notice of this internet sensation who proudly wears her culture up her sleeve and gives it an international twist. But it was the viral Kabira and Closer cover mashup that catapulted the Indian-American to new heights of success and fame. Her velvety voice, the beats, and the beautiful fusion of two chartbusters made the mashup cover an instant hit. In 2018, she was ranked among the top 10 Indian YouTubers. With 7.63 million YouTube subscribers and 1.1 million followers on Instagram, Vidya has truly become a social media sensation. and is also one of the highest-paid YouTubers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzhNseO6_HI Born in Chennai as Vidya Iyer (Vidya Vox is her stage name), she started training in Carnatic music as early as five years of age. The YouTuber and singer, who is well-versed in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and English, moved to the US with her family when she was 8. Though she relocated to a new country, she felt

elocated to a new country, she felt rooted in India and music remained an integral part of her life.

Identity crisis

Brought up in Virginia, Vidya faced a sort of identity crisis in her growing-up years. With AR Rahman and bhajans playing at home, she was introduced to Shakira and Coldplay in school. "It was an identity crisis of sorts because the two worlds I was living in seemed so far apart," she said in an interview. This identity crisis led to her being bullied in middle school and left her so scarred that she started hiding her Indian identity and stopped getting dosa for lunch at school. "But by the end of high school, I realized this was ridiculous. I started participating in bhangra groups, dancing to songs like Kangana Tera Ni. By the time I went to college, I had totally embraced my Indianness, but I still didn't tell anyone I could sing," she told another daily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw9EiwUn4Yg

Never-ending collaboration with Shankar Tucker

It was her chance encounter with music composer and clarinetist Shankar Tucker during her final year of college that drew her to music once again. Vox was pursuing psychology and had plans of entering into a medical college.

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A post shared by Munna (@talesbymunna)

"It was then that I collaborated with Shankar Tucker who showed me that music is possible through YouTube. I had never thought about a music career but that collaboration changed my life. It gave me the itch to pursue music, which I did after I finished the degree," she added.

She became the vocalist for Tucker's band and his YouTube channel ShrutiBox. But it wasn't until 2015 that she started making music for her channel.

The beginning of Vidya Vox

After her graduation, Vidya moved to Mumbai for a year to train in Hindustani music. It was during this time that the idea of creating her channel struck her, and as they say, the rest is history. "I grew up on Queen, ABBA, and at the same time, Nityasree. So, I thought, how can I marry the two worlds? People have been doing mashups for generations, and I realised that when I went to concerts. This was the best way to show that I can sing both styles in the same song and be from both cultures," she added.

Moreover, Vidya, who believes in experimentation and calls complacency the death of an artist, always tries to incorporate a song "that is reflective of local culture and add my twist to it." For her, this is what adds beauty to the song. "For each language, I have a coach to train me through the pronunciation. I give it a lot of importance," she added.

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A post shared by YN FRAMES (@ynframes)

In the last 15 years, Vox has collaborated with various international artists and she is proud of putting Indian music on the global platform. Having performed at Festivals Des Artes in Reunion Island, Dubai, and the Meru Series in the Netherlands, Vox has become a modern-day ambassador for Indian music.

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

She has played a pivotal role in putting Indian music on the global map, and she says it's high time. "India is more important in the world, more than ever. There are so many talented artists and musicians who are of Indian origin and grew up in different parts of the world, paying homage to their roots. By doing that, more parts of the world are learning about India and Indian music and culture."

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Reading Time: 4 min

Sana Javeri Kadri: Cultivating change in the spice industry with Diaspora Co.

(February 13, 2024) Entrepreneur Sana Javeri Kadri is the founder and CEO of Diaspora Co., a direct trade, single-origin spice company dedicated to improving the spice trade in South Asia. Beginning with just one spice (turmeric) in 2017, her company now sources 30 single-origin spices from 150 farms across India and Sri Lanka, aiming to create fairer opportunities for spice farmers. With offices in Mumbai and California, Diaspora Co. is at the forefront of ethical spice sourcing and building an equitable spice trade. “The original intent of colonial conquest of the Indian subcontinent was a desire for domination of the spice trade. 400ish years later, as a young woman born and raised in postcolonial Mumbai, working at the intersection of food and culture, I was slowly discovering that not much about that system had changed,” Sana writes on her Diaspora Co’s website. Mirroring the colourful packaging of products that her company deals in, her website too immediately captivates visitors with its colourful pages spreading radiance like Sana. The young entrepreneur has been empowering marginalised communities by channelling funds, equity, and authority into the hands of Indian and Sri Lankan farmers, with the aim of disrupting an outdated spice trading system.

like Sana. The young entrepreneur has been empowering marginalised communities by channelling funds, equity, and authority into the hands of Indian and Sri Lankan farmers, with the aim of disrupting an outdated spice trading system.

[caption id="attachment_49015" align="aligncenter" width="513"] Sana Javeri Kadri is founder and CEO of Diaspora Co., a direct trade, single-origin spice company making spice trade in South Asia better. Sana Javeri Kadri[/caption]

Through extensive taste testing, farm visits, and collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Diaspora Co. sources the finest spices from South Asia, bringing them to international markets.

Solving a big problem

In the conventional commodity trading model, crops from multiple farmers are mixed together at each stage, with quality judged solely on colour and size rather than factors such as cultivation methods, seed varieties, taste, and aroma. Farmers lack control as well as influence over both the price they receive and the ultimate quality of the product. “We’re here to say that the system is no longer good enough – we all deserve better,” remarks Sana.

The Diaspora Co. model guarantees that the spices are sourced from the latest harvest to maintain maximum potency and freshness. Her organisation claims to collaborate with small, multi-generational family farms, providing them with an average premium of three to five times the market rate for their sustainably-farmed single-origin spices. “Each spice takes us anywhere from a few months to several years to source, based on rigorous lab testing, in-field visits, and several tastings,” Sana shares. She is committed to sourcing the finest spices while supporting sustainable farming practices in a mission to revolutionise the spice industry.

[caption id="attachment_49014" align="aligncenter" width="794"] Indian Entrepreneur | Sana Javeri Kadri | Global Indian Sana Javeri Kadri with farmers[/caption]

Taking up the responsibility

The young entrepreneur has dedicated all her efforts to make her venture successful, driven by the deep desire to uplift the disadvantaged farmers. In 2022, much to Sana and Diaspora Co. team’s happiness, the spice startup raised more than two million dollars in funding from value-aligned investors like Meena Harris of media company Phenomenal, Pentland Ventures, Ben Jacobsen of Jacobsen Salt Co. and Shelley Armistead of hospitality group Gjelina.

“I’m responsible for 200 farmers who like to look to us for a majority of their income,” an elated Sana had shared after raising fresh funding in 2022. “There’s the world of valuations and growth. And then there’s a world of farms and farmers and things grown in the grounds. In raising this round, I had to constantly think about what honours both of these things.”

Diaspora Co. also appointed a new board of advisers including Ellen Bennett of apron company, and Hedley & Bennett and Food52 co-founder Merrill Stubbs. “I started this company not really to be a unicorn. Our numbers are great and we are profitable. The math makes sense. But I started the company for the impact and flavour and cultural piece,” she mentioned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJFdwd9GrUc&t=81s

Using global education to uplift natives

In 2017, at the age of 23, very confident about the potential for ethically produced high- quality spices Sana dipped her toes into entrepreneurship. Coming from a privileged family and growing up in an environment of entrepreneurship, choosing an entrepreneurial career path came naturally to her.

Sana grew up in a family of successful architects. Her grandfather, IM Kadri, is the veteran architect who founded I.M.K Architects in Mumbai. He has been a key figure behind the creation of iconic buildings across various cities in India, the United States, Russia, the Middle East, Hong Kong, and numerous other locations globally. Sana’s parents Rahul and Shimul Javeri Kadri are well-known architects too.

However, for Sana, the choice of business sector to indulge in came with her own experiences of life. When she was on a full scholarship at United World College of the Adriatic in Italy, she worked on an olive grove one spring and a vineyard the following year.

Later, when she went to study in the US, her on-campus job was on a farm, and that’s when she discovered that she wanted to work in the realm of agriculture. Around that time the US had just discovered turmeric latte (haldi doodh - the time-tested concoction to boost immunity in Indian homes). The youngster realised that the ethnic food and spices of South Asia - the region that she comes from needs more exposure.

[caption id="attachment_49019" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Indian Entrepreneur | Sana Javeri Kadri | Global Indian Sana Javeri Kadri[/caption]

For the sake of social change

Her family has always believed in social upliftment. “At age 12, my dad taught me the term ‘social change’,” Sana shared in an interview. She merged her discoveries with the values she grew up with to establish her spice startup for empowering farmers.

Motivated by her desire to utilise her privileged global education to create meaningful change as soon as she had finished college, Sana had purchased a one-way ticket to her home-town Mumbai. Immersing herself in seven months of thorough market research, which included over 40 farm visits, she had dedicated herself to understanding the intricacies of the industry. It was during this period that a meeting with professionals from the Indian Institute of Spices Research had reaffirmed her commitment to making a difference in the spice trade sector.

Sana began with a single spice - 350 kilos of turmeric that she sourced from a young farmer who had his farm at the outskirts of Vijayawada. Today Sana and her company deal in 30 types of spices, which they source from more than 200 farmers across India and Sri Lanka. Apart from whole spices, Diaspora Co. has also diversified into masalas and now have an impressive range of products in this segment as well.

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A post shared by Diaspora Co. Spices (@diasporaco)

“From our very first day, the big, audacious dream was to grow a radically new, decidedly delicious and truly equitable spice trade, to push a broken system into an equal exchange, and to have a lot of fun doing it,” shares Sana who is busy penning a cookbook of family dishes that are ‘heirlooms and generational gifts’ celebrating 25 family farms across India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

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Queen Elizabeth II: The 50-year connection with India

(September 10, 2022) Queen Elizabeth II is the world's most iconic monarch and with her passing on September 8, 2022, she will always be remembered for being the picture of grace, dignity and poise in good times and bad, through gain and loss alike. In 1947, when she married her longtime love, she received two gifts. One, was the now famous Cartier tiara and a diamond necklace of her choice. The other, a handwoven handkerchief from Mahatma Gandhi, which she always cherished, even showing them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they met. Prime Minister Modi recalled this gift in his condolence tweet, mentioning his meetings with the Queen during his UK visits in 2015 and 2018, saying, he will "never forget her warmth and kindness." Global Indian takes a look at her three state visits to India, in 1961, 1983 and 1997. Each time, she was moved by the "warmth and hospitality" she received every time. In one of her addresses, she said, "The warmth and hospitality of the Indian people, and the richness and diversity of India itself have been an inspiration to all of us." [caption id="attachment_29198" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Queen Elizabeth II with PM Narendra Modi.

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[caption id="attachment_29198" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Queen Elizabeth II with PM Narendra Modi. Photo: Twitter[/caption]

1961: Tiger hunts, elephant rides and Republic Day at Rajpath

The royal couple's first visit to India was in 1961, on the invitation of then President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad. People lined the streets, climbed to rooftops and sat in balconies, hoping for a glimpse of Her Majesty. Fifty years had passed since the last British royal visit - her grandfather, King George V, who came to India in 1911, had been the last monarch to do so.

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were the guests of honour at the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath, in Delhi. Thousands gathered at Ramlila Grounds as the Queen, dressed in a fur coat and hat, made her address. In that Delhi leg of the tour, she visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat, offering a ceremonial wreath and even leaving a note in the visitor's book, a rare gesture for the Monarch, who is accustomed to simply signing her name. She also inaugurated the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences building, along with then president Dr Rajendra Prasad.

[caption id="attachment_29204" align="aligncenter" width="363"] The Queen with former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the Republic Day Parade, 1963[/caption]

The royal couple toured India's historical sites, coming to Agra, where they saw the Taj Mahal and travelling to also came to Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. The erstwhile Maharaja of Benares extended his hospitality to the royal couple, who rode through the streets atop a bejewelled elephant. In Udaipur, they were greeted by Maharajana Bhagwat Singh, who arrived to meet his guests with a grand entourage of over 50 noblemen. The Prince of Jaipur organised a tiger hunt. The souvenirs from the trip included an artistic model of Qutub Minar for Her Majesty and a silver candelabra for the Duke of Edinburgh.

[caption id="attachment_29200" align="aligncenter" width="379"] Atop an elephant in Benares[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_29201" align="aligncenter" width="582"] After the controversial tiger hunt in Jaipur[/caption]

1983: Meeting with Mother Teresa

That year, the Queen's visit was in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, at the invitation of President Giani Zail Singh. The couple stayed at the refurbished wing of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It also marked her now famous meeting with Mother Teresa, whom she presented with an honorary Order of the Merit.

1997: The controversy in Amritsar, MGR City, Kamal Haasan and MGR Film City

The Queen's final state visit to India was one of controversy. In a rare departure from her trademark diplomacy, Queen Elizabeth II, in her banquet address, made a reference to one of the "difficult episodes of colonial history:" the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. She and her husband even visited the site in Amritsar to place a wreath, a bold move, as protests had erupted across the country and there were widespread demands for an apology.

It wasn't all about macabre memories, though. In October 1997, Tamil actor Kamal Hassan was in the midst of one of his most ambitious projects, Marudhanayagam. The Queen, who was in the country then, attended the launch of the film as the chief guest. The event took place in Chennai, at MGR Film City. She also visited the sets and watched a short battle scene, which had alone cost ₹1.5 crore. The Queen spent time with Kamal Haasan and his now ex-wife Saarika, as well as with long-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Incidentally, the film was shelved when a major funder backed out.

[caption id="attachment_29203" align="aligncenter" width="369"] Her Majesty with Kamal Haasan during the shooting of Marudhanayagam[/caption]

The Queen has hosted three Indian Presidents - Dr Radhakrishnan in 1963, N Venkataraman in 1990 and Pratibha Patil in 2009.

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