Global IndianstoryKarl Rock: A New Zealander who specialises in creating online content about all things India

Karl Rock: A New Zealander who specialises in creating online content about all things India

Written by: Minal Nirmala Khona

(November 20, 2023) He shares his recipe for Chai Masala and Chhole Bhature, speaks in Hindi with his in-laws, and even makes chai for them. Meet Karl Rock, a content creator who loves everything about India – food, travel, quirks and all.

Karl Rock’s greeting over email or a conversation is always a Namaste. He speaks fluent Hindi and cooks everything from the age-old malpua [his wife’s family’s traditional recipe at that] to Chhole Bhature. And he can make a very good cup of tea, with Chai Masala. His heritage? He is from New Zealand.

Cuisine | Karl Rock | Global Indian

A canned version of butter chicken that Karl Rock had, at the age of 17 or 18, in faraway Auckland, made him fall in love with Indian food. A category of cuisine he admits he had not sampled earlier. “I fell in love with Indian food when I had butter chicken. My then girlfriend was just taking the stuff out of a can and heating it up. She told me to try it just once. It was horrible stuff compared to what Indian food really is, but it blew my mind. I have been fascinated with India and everything about it since then,” recalls the content creator who has over 2.77 million followers on his YouTube channel and over 184,000 on Instagram.

In love with India

In an exclusive with Global Indian, Karl shares how his love for travel, which has taken him all across the globe, found its eureka moments in India. He says, “I wanted to explore India and Indian food; 20 years later, I am still discovering aspects to it.” From food to tips on safe travel to recipes for chai masala and on how to speak fluent Hindi too, Karl’s blogs on his website, and videos on YouTube and Instagram are a bundle of surprises.

He features places we, living in India, have perhaps never heard of – like a mysterious crater created by a meteorite falling in Maharashtra; to singing praises of the white sands of Lakshwadeep and the Andamans, Karl’s enthusiasm is infectious. It is refreshing to get insights into the land of one’s birth through the eyes of someone who comes from more than 15000 miles away. He freely shares recipes too on social media; of dishes he has made successfully. He says, “I find recipes online, and them make them many times until I get the masalas and the method right so the dish tastes the way it does at my favourite restaurants. I wouldn’t dare ask a restaurant its secret recipe, but we can get close with trial and error. I have shared the recipe for chai masala that is my own recipe, adapted from Chef Ranveer Brar’s on YouTube; and at home I am the chaiwala for my mother-in-law and myself.” As for the Chhole Bhature he loves to have once a week at Gopalji’s in Pitampura, in Delhi, he says the owner has not shared how it’s made, but Karl has reverse engineered it. “The Chhole Bhature there is the best in the world and the version I have taught myself to make, I would say is 80 per cent close to the original.”  

Cuisine | Karl Rock | Global Indian

Making India Popular

Karl’s content has something for everyone – from us locals to foreigners who want to visit. He gives helpful tips on everything a traveller would need help with, like videos on how to catch a train, taking a road trip, how to eat at a dhaba and more. He also maintains his integrity while doing so. He says, “I don’t do paid reviews for anything. I cover food, travel, and share my family life and advice about safety based on my own experiences. I am not a greedy person; the content I create does get monetised and it’s enough for me. I am happy doing what I do.”

Karl is married to Manisha Mallik, who hails from Hansi near Hisar in Haryana. Manisha too is a busy content creator, though her field is traditional Indian fashion. She is also a vociferous speaker about the condition of vitiligo and has candidly shared posts about her own ordeal with it. Karl and Manisha travel together often and spend their time shuttling between New Delhi and Haryana. He has even learnt Hindi and informs us, with perfect diction that “Main Hindi bol sakta hoon.” He talks to his saas and sasur in Hindi who treat him like their own son.

Cuisine | Karl Rock | Global Indian

Love for Indian Food

Since Karl has been exploring India and has been to every state, and sampled the cuisine of each one, asking him to recall anecdotes is a tough ask. He reiterates that asking him about his favourite food too is impossible, but he does have some dishes he considers ‘mind-blowing.’ “I’d say, the Haleem in Hyderabad and Parsi food in Mumbai which I had not had earlier, like the Berry Pulao at Britannia’s Café. Even in Bhubhaneshwar, there is a temple where the priests cook inside the temple with traditional recipes and locally sourced ingredients used since ancient times. They sell the food outside in the market next to the temple. It is simple and so very tasty.”

Karl also adds that Indian food is not what is served overseas. He says, “Indian food is not a chilli bomb as it is projected. Nor is it the creamy Punjabi version we get everywhere. Indian food is a lot plainer and simpler; every state has a different cuisine and I have been everywhere from Mizoram to Lakshwadeep – I love the food I have had in all the states.” And that has toughened his stomach, though he reveals that he probably gets sick with a tummy bug maybe once a year due to carelessness with drinking water, if at all.

Ask him about a trip he would recommend that is his favourite and he promptly says, “It would have to be a road trip from Delhi to Ladakh. I have done it twice – once on a bike and once in a car. I would say it is the ultimate and the best road trip in the world, not just in India.”

He also believes that when it comes to global trends in cuisine, Indian food is growing in popularity. “I find that restaurants serving authentic Indian food are increasing. In Auckland, where my parents live, 20 years ago, we barely had any Indian restaurants. Now, there is a whole street dedicated to Indian food.”

The avid traveller plans to continue travelling with his wife as much and as frequently as he can. And no, there is no cookbook on the horizon because Karl believes in generously sharing his recipes for free online. Makes sense for other travel aficionados to follow him.

Karl’s Favourite Eats:

Chhole Bhature at Shri Gopal Ji’s in Rohini, Delhi
Shahi Dal at Mian Ji Hotel, Hasan Abdal, Punjab, Pakistan
Ghee Roast Masala Dosa at Umesh Refreshments, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Mutton Biryani at Paradise, Auckland, New Zealand
Hansi Ke Pede at Mithai Gali, Hansi, Hary

Follow Karl Rock on YouTube, Instagram and his website

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Published on 20, Nov 2023

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Get, Set, Go: Ultra cyclist and marathoner Dr Amit Samarth loves the ‘extreme’ life

(December 18, 2022) When he arrived in Moscow to undertake a gruelling, 9100-km bicycle journey (from Moscow to Vladivostok) in August 2018, a mountain of challenges awaited Dr Amit Samarth. As part of the Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme — the longest bicycle stage race on the planet — the ultra cyclist was all set to cover the mind-boggling distance in 15 stages in 25 days. The weather conditions were extreme and the hilly terrain most difficult. The professional bicyclists were to ride massive distances, ranging from 260-kms to 1364-kms in different stages. [caption id="attachment_32939" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Dr Amit Samarth[/caption] Only those with an iron will and nerves of steel could make it. Dr Amit Samarth was one of them. The wilderness of Siberia “The rain water in Siberia is ice cold and I ended up riding the 10th stage (1054 kms) in heavy rain. TheTrans-Siberian Extreme was a killer, the toughest challenge ever,” smiles Dr Samarth, the first Indian and Asian to have completed the challenge despite massive odds. In an exclusive conversation with Global Indian, the ultra-cyclist and marathoner, for whom taking on extreme challenges is now a way of life, says that unless risks are taken, one can never realise their capabilities. If the Trans-Siberian Extreme proved

an exclusive conversation with Global Indian, the ultra-cyclist and marathoner, for whom taking on extreme challenges is now a way of life, says that unless risks are taken, one can never realise their capabilities.

If the Trans-Siberian Extreme proved to be the toughest, the Race Across America (RAAM), solo 2017 was another event that tested Dr Samarth’s endurance. It was a 5000-km continuous bike race from East to West Coast and participants get 12 days to finish.

The Race Across America

“In extreme endurance sports like ultra-cycling, there come occasions when you fall sick or just don’t feel great. During RAAM, I got very dehydrated once and suffered from a throat infection later,” says Dr Samarth, the first Indian solo to finish RAAM in 11 days, 21 hours and 11 minutes, which in itself was a record in the history of RAAM.

While the Trans-Siberian Extreme had an elevation of 77,320 metres, RAAM had a total elevation of 40,000 metres.

[caption id="attachment_32944" align="alignnone" width="852"] Dr Amit Samarth | Ultra cyclist | Global Indian Amit Samarth during the 15th stage (Khabarovsk - Vladivostok) of the Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme, on August 17, 2018[/caption]

Studious boy to adventure junkie

Born and brought up in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Dr Samarth’s childhood was in complete contrast to what he is today.

In school, Dr Samarth says he was a chubby boy, often poked fun at by his classmates. He recalls trying to enroll for the National Cadet Corps and being rejected on grounds of his physical fitness.

“My focus was only on academics. Since medical admissions were based on a student’s marks in physics, chemistry and biology, it was very important for me to focus only on studies,” says Dr Samarth, who recalls playing ‘gully’ cricket once in a while. In college, though, he began going to the gym.

Focus on public health

Having done his MBBS from Indira Gandhi Medical College in Nagpur, Dr Samarth, who is now in his early 40s, spent the next couple of years working as a medical officer in various hospitals. After that, he received an opportunity to visit the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Research in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he met a lot of public health scientists from different universities all across the world. “That is where I actually understood what public health is and what it can do,” says Dr Samarth.

He went on to do earn a Master’s degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in the US. When he returned to India, Dr Samarth did stints at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Access-Health International in Hyderabad and then moved to Bengaluru, taking over as the CEO of the Save A Mother Foundation.

Dr Amit Samarth | Ultra cyclist | Global Indian

Taekwondo to marathons

In Hyderabad, he took to Taekwondo. “I used to get up at 4.30 am and go to KBR Park for training. I used to train in the evenings as well,” says the ultra-cyclist, who went on to earn a black belt in the martial art.

In 2015, he quit his job at Bengaluru and returned to his hometown, Nagpur, where he started his sports academy, Miles and Miles. Encouraged by his friends, he took to Ultra Cycling himself, participating in various cycling events.

His passion for marathons began relatively late in life and was sparked by the running he did for Taekwondo training. His life changed the day he decided to attempt a 10-km run. “I then started doing half-marathons. After I got married in 2010, I started running full marathons,” Dr Samarth says.

The Ironman Triathlon

Along the way, he discovered the Ironman Triathlon, a series of long-distance triathlon races, organised by the World Triathlon Corporation. The triathlon comprised comprises a 3.9-km swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 42.2-km marathon run, all completed in a single day. It is an advanced challenge, touted to be one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world, to be completed in around 17 hours.

It compelled Dr Samarth to purchase his first bike and he has been unstoppable ever since. Over the last decade, since 2012, the ultra-cyclist and marathoner has done three full Ironman triathlons and 17 half-Ironman-races across the world.

“I come from a farming family and we have the willingness to suffer, a trait required for ultra-cycling and marathons. I am not a born athlete but a trained one,” says Dr Samarth, who also did a 6000-km cycling event on India’s Golden Quadrilateral highway in a record time of 13 days, 9 hours and 50 minutes.

Dr Amit Samarth | Ultra cyclist | Global Indian

Sleep deprived

For races like RAAM and TSE, Dr Samarth would be required to be sleep deprived for many days. “When I was riding for RAAM, I went riding continuously for the first 24 hours. Thereafter, I used to be on the bike for 21 to 22 hours everyday and sleep for around 1.5 to two hours everyday,” informs Dr Samarth adding that riding without proper sleep is part of the sport.

He says one has to think and behave like a ghost, which is what he did during TSE. “It is very hard to explain how to do this. But I did a lot of ghost riding in TSE. One has to think as if you are possessed with some spirit and your thinking will make things happen,” says the ultracyclist, who would talk to himself on the lonely roads all night to reaffirm the belief that he would successfully finish the race.

One of the best way to deal with sleep deprivation and lonely night rides is music. “I take a music player along and play my favourite tracks. Singing along helped me to be more alert and ward off sleep,” says Dr Samarth, who did Ironman Phuket in 2012 (1.9 km swim, 90 kms cycle and 21.1 km run) and Ironman Bahrain (70.3) in 2018.

Few tough moments

Dr Amit Samarth | Ultra cyclist | Global Indian

Sharing a few more difficult situations he faced during TSE and RAAM, Dr Samarth recalls the 10th day in RAAM, when he was in West Virginia. It was raining heavily and he was riding in rain from 5 pm in evening to almost 2 am in the night.

“It was very cold that night. One of the biggest mistakes I did was taking a break and falling asleep,” he says. Instead of sleeping for one hour, he slept for three hours and then it became very difficult to start early morning due to intense cold. “I lost precious time due to which I had to slog for the next 24 hours to make sure I finish RAAM successfully,” he says.

During TSE, after completing the stage 3, Dr Samarth was completely drained out due to lack of proper food and his legs had turned extremely sore. By evening, hewas running high temperature.

“I had only 10 hours to sleep and recuperate. I tried to eat and sleep as much as possible, took medicines and evaluated myself next morning. That day I rode slower, trying to recover my body on the bike. Yes, you can recover while on the move,” smiles the ultra cyclist, who suffered dehydration with altitude sickness during one of the races in the Himalayas.

“If I get bogged down or afraid of these situations, I would have never finished those races,” he points out.

Giving back

Earlier, he won the tough Pune tough cycle race and also did some other ultra-cycling rides from Delhi to Nagpur (1021 km in 39 hours), Chennai to Nagpur (in 43 hours). “I have taken those risks and I want to do my bit towards encouraging people to pursue their passions,” says the ultra risk taker.

What are his future plans? “I would like to grow my sports academy and I am presently running a program for tribal athletes,” informs Dr Samarth. His earlier visits to the Deshpande Foundation in Hubbali, which put him in contact with many social entrepreneurs, inspired Dr Samarth to be a sports entrepreneur himself.

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A post shared by Dr. Amit Samarth | UltraCyclist (@teamamitsamarth)

He intends to identify more sporting talent from the tribal areas, especially from central India, and train them in his sports academy. “I look forward to create elite national and international athletes from my academy in the time to come,” says the sports entrepreneur, who is doing his bit to give back to the society.

When he isn't ultra-cycling or marathoning, the fitness enthusiast likes to read books and watch some informative videos about training athletes.

Follow Dr Amit Samarth on Instagram and Twitter

Reading Time: 8 min

Antara and Anurup: Winning hearts with The Pink Engine and Sunday Class

(February 10, 2023) Growing up next to a railway station in Calcutta, Dr Anurup Mitra loved to watch the trains go by. It's a passion he carried with him into adulthood, but the plan to start a business around this was never really on his mind. He and his wife, Antara Sarkar went on to co-found The Pink Engine, quite by chance. The entrepreneur couple's to-scale, 3D models of Indian trains, have found their way into homes of railway buffs around the world. Recently, they were overjoyed to learn of one more milestone - their 3D models of Indian Railways coaches have been given a place at the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai. The 100-year-old museum houses thousands of exquisite exhibits from Asia and Europe. [caption id="attachment_34890" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Dr Anurup Mitra and Antara Sarkar[/caption] "We build the models from scratch here in India - and to see them on display in one of India's finest museums makes us proud and happy," the couple remark. Their miniature models aren't just for show - they can attain a speed of up to 240 km/hr and have been bought by customers in North America, Europe and the Middle East.

ya in Mumbai. The 100-year-old museum houses thousands of exquisite exhibits from Asia and Europe.

[caption id="attachment_34890" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Indian Entrepreneur | Antara and Anurup | Global Indian Dr Anurup Mitra and Antara Sarkar[/caption]

"We build the models from scratch here in India - and to see them on display in one of India's finest museums makes us proud and happy," the couple remark. Their miniature models aren't just for show - they can attain a speed of up to 240 km/hr and have been bought by customers in North America, Europe and the Middle East.

The Pink Engine

“The Pink Engine came into existence in 2019 to give every rail fan, young or old, an opportunity to bring home their own Indian Railways 1:100 scale model. “We love seeing people so passionate and nostalgic about Indian Railways trains,” says Antara, as she connects with Global Indian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MAycCV47gs

“Indian trains are so attractive that all we have to do is make faithful scaled down replicas,” she says, adding, “We have been told by our international customers that they love the bright colours and designs on our trains, and were just waiting for someone to come up with model trains from India.”

Model trains are a popular hobby around the world and the couple were happy to learn, through research and experience, that the community is willing to spend both time and money, provided they get good quality models built to scale.

In love with Indian Railways

Before they established The Pink Engine, the couple were looking to buy a collector’s model of the Indian Railways (IR) for their home - as a memento. “Surprisingly, we discovered that no one was selling train models for adults. All we found were amateurish toys made for kids, which looked like poor caricatures of the beautiful locomotives and coaches that we actually have in the Indian Railways,” remarks Antara.

Indian Entrepreneur | Antara and Anurup | Global Indian

It planted the seeds for a new startup idea. Antara, a BITS Pilani alumna, quit her job at JP Morgan and together, the Greater Noida based couple took the plunge. They are often asked why they are so fascinated by the Indian Railways and they always say: “Which Indian is not?”

“I think everyone in this country is fascinated by the railways and has a story associated with it. We Indians carry a lot of nostalgia and sentiment around the Indian Railways,” Antara says.

They started their venture with the belief that there are millions of people in love with the Indian Railways. “And when we started The Pink Engine, we soon discovered that this was so true,” tells Antara.

Anurup, who has attained a PhD in electronics, designs complicated electronic integrated circuits (chips) as part of his day job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qrOhLgisv4

First-of-its-kind IR miniatures

The model-train hobby has been around in the West for many years. Still, very little attention is paid to Indian consumers or the Indian Railways, the largest in the world. “Also, it’s prohibitively expensive to buy models from abroad, at least for the average Indian,” says Antara. The couple spotted their business opportunity and began designing models on their computer at home. So far, the interest they have generated and the revenues have been encouraging. Moreover, they’re proud to be in the ‘Make in India’ bandwagon.

When the couple made the locomotive’s first prototype, they used a 3D printer to print the design. 3D printers need filaments, which are like ink cartridges of normal printers. “The only filament that was available to us then was bright pink in colour. As we marveled at our diminutive pink locomotive, the name of our startup - 'The Pink Engine’ came to me in a flash and stayed with us,” recalls Antara.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Pink Engine | 3D IR Trains (@thepinkengine)

Giving back…

While Antara and Anurup are working to make The Pink Engine travel successful terrains, they are partners in another venture that has won them accolades. Their philanthropic initiative ‘Sunday Class’, started in 2018, won them the iVounteer Award last year.

Giving wings to dreams of underprivileged kids the couple provide a safe space for them to experience and learn a whole variety of new things through weekend classes that they personally conduct. Along with Maths, Science and English the Sunday class curriculum includes coding, robotics, movie-making, kickboxing, fashion designing, learning electrical and mechanical engineering, and more.

“Good teachers are rare. Anurup and I do all the teaching ourselves and that means studying and preparing hard for every single class,” Antara says.

Indian Entrepreneur | Antara and Anurup | Global Indian

The couple ensure that learning is hands-on, innovative, fun and useful in the real world. Sessions on child sexual abuse, menstruation, LGBTQ+ rights, and how to handle crushes as teenagers, are also conducted for overall development of the youngsters.

They financially support the children and their families outside the Sunday Class which includes medical expenses, school fees, and emergency expenses, to name a few.

“The children often come and stay in my house for weeks at a stretch. This gives them time to study, which they often don’t get in their own homes as they have to do household chores or work to earn money,” explains Antara, about the youngsters whose parents are either daily wage labourers, domestic help or auto drivers.

“During the pandemic, we provided all-round support to their families. We use The Pink Engine’s revenue, and sometimes we have to use our savings as well in times of need,” says Antara. Looking at their good work some friends and well-wishers also come forward with supportive gestures, when required.

Follow Antara Sarkar on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn
Follow The Pink Engine on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

Reading Time: 5 mins

Innovator, STEM whiz, TEDx speaker, Global Teen Leader: Neha Shukla is inspiring teens to solve real world problems

(August 24, 2021) COVID-19’s aftermath deeply vexes her. It changed a carefree 16-year-old to a thinking and inventing one. Innovator and STEM whiz Neha Shukla spent the pandemic-driven lockdowns leveraging science and technology to create social change. She invented a device — SixFeetApart — a wearable social distancing sonic sensor cap which beeps or vibrates when the six foot distance is breached, thus helping slow the spread of Covid-19. Even more credible is that her expectant childlike smile adorned the Nasdaq screen at New York City’s Times Square in 2020 as a ticker congratulated Neha for developing SixFeetApart. The recent Diana Award recipient is thrilled as she speaks with passion about STEM and spreading knowledge on her travels across the US on science and entrepreneurship. [caption id="attachment_8062" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Neha Shukla on the Nasdaq screen at Times Square[/caption] The Indian-origin Pennsylvania resident from Cumberland Valley High School taught herself engineering and technology during lockdown, and her invention is an attempt to address world problems. Honored with the Diana Award for social action and humanitarian work, it was her research on SixFeetApart and running global Innovation and STEM workshops to build the next generation of young problem-solvers and innovators tackling the world’s biggest problems that set her apart. “I’ve impacted over 45,000 students through my sessions. I aim to reach over

en at Times Square[/caption]

The Indian-origin Pennsylvania resident from Cumberland Valley High School taught herself engineering and technology during lockdown, and her invention is an attempt to address world problems. Honored with the Diana Award for social action and humanitarian work, it was her research on SixFeetApart and running global Innovation and STEM workshops to build the next generation of young problem-solvers and innovators tackling the world’s biggest problems that set her apart. “I’ve impacted over 45,000 students through my sessions. I aim to reach over 100,000 students around the world by partnering with corporate companies and local organizations! It means so much to be recognized by Princess Diana as she represents kindness, humanitarian spirit, and service above self. It was also a wonderful surprise to hear Prince Harry’s words of encouragement at the awards ceremony,” Neha Shukla told Global Indian in an exclusive interview.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cAkARPZl_U[/embed]

Evolving with the times

The world of science is ever changing, and her invention too has evolved. It has grown to three devices to be more accessible — an original SixFeetApart hat, a lanyard for school and corporate settings and an armband for on-the-go safety, and is now available on the Google Play Store as a companion app for the device.

“I’m most excited about the potential of creating real-world impact amid the new wave of Delta variant seeing a surge, especially in India. I hope that SixFeetApart is a small part of the solution to saving lives. The research paper detailing the creation and data behind SixFeetApart will be published in the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) in London this September,” adds Neha.

Neha was recently chosen by Masayoshi Son, CEO, SoftBank, to join the Masason Foundation and will receive grants, lab facilities, and mentorship for all future innovations too. The recipient of the National Gold Presidential Service Award from President Joe Biden, her scientific explorations have come a long way from when she would code apps using a block coder, and even started designing a heart rate-oximeter. Neha believes that caring enough about a problem, and being willing to take action, and solving it is the key to growth.

Mentors to nurture her mindset

[caption id="attachment_8063" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Meet Neha Shukla, the 16-year-old teen innovator, STEM whiz and recipient of the Diana Award in 2021 for her invention SixFeetApart. Neha Shukla and her inventions[/caption]

That, and having parents who are amazing mentors has nurtured her scientific mindset. Her parents Bharti and Rajiv Shukla are IIT and Harvard alumni — thus asking questions and exploring was encouraged at home.

“I’m currently working on a new innovation to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers' and Parkinsons' at an early-stage using brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence. I’m excited to begin my research and create my innovation starting Fall 2021,” she says.

Even through the pandemic which was “definitely a struggle”, Neha kept focused. “The silver lining of being at home during quarantine has been the ability to explore new research, innovate, and be able to expand the scope of my innovation sessions to students across the world.” By Spring 2022, she plans to launch her book Innovation for Everyone - a guide on Innovation, Problem-Solving, and STEM. The book aims to equip students, adults, and organizations to leverage science and technology to solve problems.

Advocate for innovation

[caption id="attachment_8064" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Meet Neha Shukla, the 16-year-old teen innovator, STEM whiz and recipient of the Diana Award in 2021 for her invention SixFeetApart. Neha Shukla with the Presidential Award[/caption]

The entrepreneurship ambassador for girls, TEDx Speaker and global teen leader also runs Innovation and STEM workshops for students. As an advocate for innovation and youth in science and technology, she says, “Seeing children from even the first or second grade getting excited about innovation and coming up with tangible solutions to pollution, etc, within a 45-minute session is amazing. I see this as a testament that young people need to be a part of the dialogue to solve global problems," says the girl who believes in harnessing her knowledge for positive action. (You can sign up for workshops on her website at: https://bit.ly/NehaShuklaWorkshop)

Selected as a 2021 Global Teen Leader from the 3 times Grammy-winning artist Nile Rodgers’ We Are Family Foundation, she aims to continue her mission to help build the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators. “As a Global Teen Leader, I had the opportunity to spend the summer attending the virtual Just Peace Summit, where we learned from experts around the world, met iconic peacemakers and industry experts, and celebrated the work that all the 40 amazing Global Teen Leaders are doing.”

Neha is also the Youth Ambassador for NYU Stern School of Business’ Endless Frontier Labs where she sits amidst venture capitalists and emerging startups in deep tech, to unscramble the world of VCs and startups. For her, this augurs her foray into business, product development and entrepreneurship, which incidentally, she is already doing as executive director at Boss Ladies. She was recently awarded the Whitaker Centre's 2021 Women in STEM - Rising Star. One of Neha’s most fervent drivers is the urge to solve climate change, healthcare and cybersecurity.

Of family ties and roots

[caption id="attachment_8065" align="aligncenter" width="633"] Meet Neha Shukla, the 16-year-old teen innovator, STEM whiz and recipient of the Diana Award in 2021 for her invention SixFeetApart. Neha Shukla working on SixFeetApart[/caption]

Quite Indian at heart, she loves celebrating Diwali with her grandparents, cousins, and family in Mumbai and Pune. Ever thankful for parents who are proud and supportive, she adds, “It means so much to me that they believe in the work that I’m doing. I definitely couldn’t have created SixFeetApart or any other innovation without their support."

"They have always encouraged me to be curious about the world, but let me figure out things on my own — no spoon feeding. My dad is an avid reader who inculcated in me the idea that it is possible to have a super deep knowledge of all subjects. His knowledge is so deep and wide, it’s crazy,” she smiles.

A piano player who loves Beethoven, Mozart, and even contemporary tunes like Rag Time, Neha also strums the acoustic guitar. She paints too — oils and acrylic, with a love for landscapes and still art. Her sister Niharika, her playing companion, is incidentally also a budding innovator.

If science excites you, she urges,

“Start now! The world needs your unique talents and ideas, so find a real-world problem and begin innovating. Put your creativity and imagination towards solving a problem and use frameworks like my three-step process to guide you. Anyone can be a problem-solver, anyone can be an innovator.”

Her goal is to follow her parents’ footsteps and join Harvard, or MIT, but before that, Neha Shukla is busy — taking STEM knowledge to the world.

Reading Time: 10 mins

Nandan Nilekani: From Infosys to Aadhaar and UPI, the visionary behind India’s digital revolution

(November 24, 2024) In 1981, with $250 in seed capital, Nandan Nilekani joined six others around a borrowed table to launch a company. Over the years, Infosys became India’s first globally recognized IT giant, symbolizing the country’s emergence as a global technology leader. For Nilekani, however, Infosys was just the beginning. From leading Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric identity program, to driving digital initiatives like UPI and India Stack, the Global Indian has been instrumental in transforming India’s infrastructure. His work spans education, through EkStep; artificial intelligence, with Adbhut India; to addressing systemic challenges in water, urban governance, and inclusion. Nandan and Rohini Nilekani are also among India’s top philanthropists, and have pledged half their wealth to the Giving Pledge. Recently, Nilekani was featured in TIME’s 100 Top Voices in AI 2024. Infosys: Making India a global IT leader Founded in 1981, Infosys came into being at a time when the idea of a globally competitive Indian technology company was almost unimaginable. Co-founded by Nandan Nilekani, N.R. Narayana Murthy, and five others, the company began in a small Pune apartment with just $250 in seed funding. The challenges of launching a software services firm in India’s tightly regulated economy were

the idea of a globally competitive Indian technology company was almost unimaginable. Co-founded by Nandan Nilekani, N.R. Narayana Murthy, and five others, the company began in a small Pune apartment with just $250 in seed funding. The challenges of launching a software services firm in India’s tightly regulated economy were immense, requiring innovation, persistence, and a long-term vision.

In those early years, Nilekani’s ability to build relationships was critical. He secured Infosys’ first significant international contract with Data Basics Corporation in the United States in 1983, a deal that marked the company’s entry into the global market. “That deal wasn’t just a win for Infosys—it was proof that Indian companies could deliver world-class solutions,” Nilekani later said.

Infosys set itself apart with its emphasis on ethics and transparency. The company introduced employee stock ownership plans, fostering loyalty and aligning employee interests with its success. In an era when corporate governance in India was opaque, Infosys became a model for accountability and professionalism.

The company’s transformative moment came in 1999 when it became the first Indian firm to list on NASDAQ. This event brought global recognition to Infosys and marked India’s arrival on the international technology stage. “NASDAQ wasn’t just about raising capital,” Nilekani remarked. “It was about demonstrating that Indian companies could thrive on the global stage.”

[caption id="attachment_60565" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Nandan Nilekani | Infosys | Global Indian The co-founders of Infosys[/caption]

Nilekani became Infosys’ CEO in 2002, leading the company through a period of rapid expansion. Under his leadership, Infosys’ revenues grew from $500 million to $3 billion by 2007, and its workforce expanded to over 70,000. Nilekani emphasized scalability and adaptability, ensuring that Infosys could navigate the rapidly evolving global technology landscape.

In 2009, Nilekani left Infosys to take on a new challenge: Aadhaar. However, his association with the company didn’t end there. In 2017, during a leadership crisis, he returned as non-executive chairman, stabilizing the company and reaffirming its founding principles.

Aadhaar: Redefining Governance at Scale

In 2009, Nilekani was appointed chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), tasked with creating Aadhaar, a biometric identity system designed to provide every Indian with a unique ID. At the time, millions of Indians lacked formal identity documents, barring them from accessing essential services such as banking, healthcare, and welfare programs. Aadhaar aimed to bridge this gap by using cutting-edge biometric technology.

Aadhaar combined fingerprints, iris scans, and demographic data to assign a unique 12-digit number to each individual. Nilekani envisioned Aadhaar as more than just an identification system. “It was about creating an infrastructure for inclusion and empowerment,” he explained.

The scale of Aadhaar was unprecedented. Enrolling over 1.4 billion people, Aadhaar became the largest biometric database in the world. It transformed how government programs were delivered, enabling direct benefit transfers that eliminated middlemen and reduced corruption. For instance, Aadhaar saved the government an estimated $12 billion by identifying and removing duplicate or fraudulent beneficiaries.

Nandan Nilekani | UIDAI | Global Indian

Beyond welfare delivery, Aadhaar became the backbone of India’s digital economy. It enabled initiatives like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which revolutionized digital payments and brought millions into the formal economy. Nilekani described Aadhaar as a “digital highway” that supported innovation across sectors.

However, Aadhaar was not without criticism. Privacy advocates raised concerns about the potential misuse of data, while logistical challenges occasionally excluded beneficiaries from welfare schemes. In 2018, the Supreme Court of India upheld Aadhaar’s constitutionality but imposed limits on its mandatory use. Nilekani acknowledged these issues, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement. “No system of this scale is without challenges,” he said, “but Aadhaar has fundamentally changed how India delivers services.”

Nandan Nilekani’s work has extended far beyond Infosys and Aadhaar. Over the years, he has founded, supported, and advised numerous initiatives that address systemic challenges across education, technology, finance, and governance. Each venture reflects Nilekani’s unwavering focus on using technology and innovation as tools to empower individuals and drive societal change.

EkStep: Transforming Education

In 2015, Nandan and his wife Rohini Nilekani co-founded EkStep, a nonprofit platform aimed at tackling India’s persistent learning crisis. The initiative was driven by alarming statistics: over 250 million children in India lacked basic literacy and numeracy skills. EkStep employs digital learning tools to create personalized educational experiences, focusing on foundational skills in reading, writing, and mathematics.

It’s an ambitious but scalable mission: to create a universal learning platform that educators, parents, and children can access freely. Supported by $10 million in seed funding from the Nilekanis, the platform uses open-source technology to provide content and tools in multiple Indian languages. Its reach has steadily expanded, impacting millions of learners across India.

“We wanted to create something that addressed education gaps at scale, using technology as an enabler,” Nilekani explained. “EkStep isn’t just about tools—it’s about creating access for every child, regardless of their circumstances.”

India Stack: Building Digital Public Infrastructure

Another groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by Nilekani is India Stack, a set of open APIs designed to provide a unified platform for identity verification, financial transactions, and data sharing. By integrating components such as Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker, India Stack has enabled a seamless digital experience for citizens and businesses alike.

India Stack is now regarded as a model for digital public infrastructure worldwide, demonstrating how governments can leverage technology to drive inclusion. For instance, DigiLocker allows citizens to securely store and share official documents, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and increasing efficiency. “India Stack represents the idea of building infrastructure that enables innovation for everyone,” Nilekani said.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI): Revolutionizing Digital Transactions

Nilekani’s role in creating the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been transformative for India’s financial ecosystem. UPI, developed under the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), allows instant real-time payments between bank accounts via smartphones. By making digital transactions simple, secure, and accessible, UPI has brought millions of unbanked Indians into the formal financial system.

As of 2022, UPI had processed over $1 trillion in annual transactions, cementing its place as a cornerstone of India’s digital economy. Nilekani, who served as an advisor to NPCI during UPI’s development, believes its success stems from its inclusive design. “UPI has leveled the playing field for small businesses and individuals alike,” he noted. “It’s a prime example of how technology can democratize access.”

Adbhut India: Harnessing AI for Public Good

In 2024, Nandan Nilekani launched Adbhut India, an ambitious initiative to develop artificial intelligence (AI) solutions tailored to India’s unique challenges. Recognizing the potential of AI to address systemic issues, Nilekani emphasized the importance of creating inclusive and ethical AI systems.

One of Adbhut India’s primary objectives is building datasets in Indic languages, enabling AI applications to cater to India’s diverse linguistic landscape. Additionally, the initiative explores AI’s role in education, healthcare, and agriculture, aiming to close gaps in access and efficiency. “AI must be designed to empower—not exclude,” Nilekani said.

Supporting Startups and Entrepreneurs

Nandan Nilekani has also become a prominent supporter of India’s startup ecosystem, investing in and advising numerous ventures that align with his vision for inclusive innovation. He has backed companies across sectors such as fintech, healthcare, and education, offering mentorship and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs tackling India’s unique challenges.

For example, Nilekani is a key investor in the digital lending platform Avanti Finance, which provides affordable financial services to underserved communities. Through such investments, he has championed the idea of leveraging technology to drive financial inclusion.

The Social Security Mission

As part of his commitment to social infrastructure, Nandan Nilekani has also worked on developing a framework for India’s social security architecture. In collaboration with various policymakers and organizations, he has contributed to initiatives aimed at providing pension coverage and financial security for informal sector workers.

Data Empowerment and Protection

Nilekani’s efforts in advancing data empowerment have been equally significant. He is a vocal advocate for creating systems where individuals retain control over their data, enabling them to leverage it for personal and financial growth. His work in this area has informed India’s Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA), which seeks to balance innovation with privacy.

“We live in a world where data is power,” Nilekani said. “The challenge is to ensure that this power rests with individuals, not corporations or governments.”

Giving Back: A Lifelong Commitment

Philanthropy has been central to Nilekani’s journey. In 2017, he and his wife Rohini joined The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half their wealth to social causes. Their initiatives span education, urban governance, water conservation, and climate resilience.

The couple’s approach to philanthropy reflects a blend of grassroots support and systemic reform. While Rohini focuses on advocacy, Nilekani concentrates on leveraging technology to solve complex problems.

“Philanthropy is about building platforms that endure,” Nilekani said. “It’s about solving problems at scale, not just addressing symptoms.”

Awards and Recognition

Nilekani’s contributions have earned him widespread recognition. He was named among TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2006 and among the 100 Most Influential People in AI in 2024. In 2017, he received the Economic Times Lifetime Achievement Award for his transformative impact on India’s economy and society.

His influence extends beyond accolades. Nilekani’s work has fundamentally reshaped India’s technological and economic landscape, empowering millions and setting global benchmarks for innovation.

How Buddhism, India’s soft power, is the greatest cultural export to the world

(October 16, 2022) “The teachings of ‘Buddh’ (Lord Buddha) rather than the message of ‘yuddh’ (war) is India’s contribution to the world”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 during his address on terrorism to United Nations General Assembly. Buddha and his teachings are precious because of their relevance to the world even 2,600 years later. His saying, “mind is the source of happiness and unhappiness” from thousands of years ago, is still considered the central mantra for inner transformation. Buddhism has been described by experts as India’s civilisational heritage which finds place in foreign policies across the globe. As it emphasises peaceful co-existence that most of the countries desire, the world has embraced its principles. According to Pew Research Centre, the think tank based in Washington DC, there are about 488 million worldwide followers of Buddhism which originated in India. [caption id="attachment_30691" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Buddhists in Australia[/caption] The soft power Using this rich historical cultural links with other countries, India has emerged successful in the non-coercive soft power strategy, using Buddhist principles in diplomacy. Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think - Gautam Buddha It was

91" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Indian culture | Buddhism | Global Indian Buddhists in Australia[/caption]

The soft power

Using this rich historical cultural links with other countries, India has emerged successful in the non-coercive soft power strategy, using Buddhist principles in diplomacy.

Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think - Gautam Buddha

It was Joseph Nye, American political scientist and former United States Assistant Secretary of Défense for International Security Affairs who conceptualised the term ‘soft power’ in the 1990s. Since then, it has been part of foreign-policy discussions across the globe, with each country trying to leverage it. Nye believed that the conventional tactics of hard power of military prowess of any nation would no longer command power on a global scale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K2Ldcy27kk

The cultural export

It’s not just the recent government who has made efforts of incorporating Buddhist heritage to further diplomatic, cultural, economic, and strategic associations with other nations. If we look back to history, efforts to leverage this soft power were made a long time ago.

A conference was organised by Nehru in newly independent Sri Lanka, where the World Fellowship of Buddhists was founded in 1950. In the year 1952, India hosted the International Buddhist Conference at Sanchi that was attended by more 3,000 Buddhist monks, nuns and historians. At that time, it was the largest gathering of Buddhist preachers and followers in the world. From 1954 to 1956, the sixth Buddhist Council was convened in Burma. The tradition of holding conferences and convening councils has continued, strengthening the global network of Buddhism.

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Interactions between people across national boundaries has been encouraged through conferences that draw global audiences towards this soft power of India. ‘Buddhism in the 21st Century’ conference that took place at Rajgir in 2017, and the conference, ‘Buddhist Identity in Twenty-First Century Asia,’ organised by University of Cambridge this year are few such examples.

[caption id="attachment_30665" align="aligncenter" width="1257"] Indian culture | Buddhism | Global Indian Buddhists of North America[/caption]

The Indian Ministry of Tourism has made efforts to transgress national borders by promoting significant tourist sites of Buddhism in the country, attracting people around the globe. The International Buddhist Conclave organised by the ministry every alternate year is attended by delegates from several countries with the agenda of international and domestic tours to further boost this common cultural link across the world.

Pan-Asian presence

The majority of the world’s Buddhist population today lives in Asia. Countries like China, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Mongolia and Sri Lanka perceive Buddhism as a significant part of their identity and national values. Countries like Japan, and South Korea are also connected to India through their embracing the Buddhist heritage. 

[caption id="attachment_30690" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Indian culture | Buddhism | Global Indian Buddhists in Mongolia[/caption]

Buddhism in west

In the US and Canada, the growth of Buddhism communities has been through Buddhist immigrants from all corners of Asia. There have been instances of expansion through indigenous converts and North American-born children of immigrants.

Such are the evergreen principles of Buddhism that it gets renewed within the interactions of newer generations. There is emphasis in the faith upon practice of meditation for mental well-being which is one of the most trending issues, east or west, irrespective of age.

[caption id="attachment_30680" align="aligncenter" width="954"] Indian culture | Buddhism | Global Indian Students in UK show interest in Buddhism[/caption]

A steady stream of books since mid-20th century and media, particularly the social media have enhanced this trend.

Britannica.com states:

Many other North American-born Buddhists of non-Asian descent have studied in traditional Buddhist countries, become ordained, and returned to the United States to lead and even found monasteries and Buddhist community centres.

Amalgamation of old and new to keep relevance intact

The encyclopaedia’s site further goes on to state that “some practicing Buddhists and scholars of Buddhism believe that the process of accommodation and acculturation in the West, and particularly in North America, is leading to a “fourth turning of the Wheel of the Dharma,” a new form of Buddhism that will turn out to be quite different from the traditional forms of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana while incorporating aspects of each.”

[caption id="attachment_30709" align="aligncenter" width="1137"] Indian culture | Buddhism | Global Indian Dalai Lama at American Embassy School in New Delhi[/caption]

With newer generations turning to Buddha for well-being, this powerful social force of more than two thousand years spreading from its original homeland, India, to foreign lands is one of the greatest examples of cultural export. There is a strong reason to believe that the appeal of Buddha is not going to wear off, rather will continue far into the future.

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