Indian American | Global Indian | Pramila Jayapal

Global IndianstoryPramila Jayapal: Indian-American becomes the first Asian woman elected to the US House of Representatives

Pramila Jayapal: Indian-American becomes the first Asian woman elected to the US House of Representatives

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(February 13, 2023) She was only 16 when she made her way to the US to study at Georgetown University, and “after 17 years on an alphabet soup of visas to become a US citizen”, Pramila Jayapal was lucky enough to have the “opportunity to live the American dream” – something that’s still a distant dream for many immigrants today. And now she is set to make this dream a reality for many immigrants as the Indian-American Congresswoman has been named Ranking Member of the powerful House Judiciary Committee’s panel on Immigration, making her the first immigrant to serve in a leadership role for the subcommittee. “It is extremely meaningful to me that I will now be in this position to better move the needle and re-center our broken immigration system around dignity, humanity, and justice,” she said.

Interestingly, she is the first immigrant to serve in a leadership role for the subcommittee. “As the first South Asian woman elected to the US House of Representatives and one of only two dozen naturalised citizens in Congress, I am honoured and humbled to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement,” added the 57-year-old who is representing the 7th Congressional District of Washington State.

Pramila Jayapal

Born in Tamil Nadu, she grew up in India, Indonesia, and Singapore before moving to the US in 1982 to study English and Economics at Georgetown University, and later enrolled in Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for an MBA.

It was in the 90s that she began her activism as a community organiser in Seattle, Washington, working on a variety of social justice issues, including immigrant rights, environmental protection, and affordable housing. She served as Director of the Fund for Technology Transfer at Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (1991-1995), a program that funded critical health projects in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In 1995, she was awarded a two-year fellowship from The Institute of Current World Affairs to live in villages and towns across India and write about her perspectives on modern Indian society in the context of development and social justice. In 2000, she published her first book Pilgrimage to India: A Woman Revisits Her Homeland.

Then 9/11 happened, and that’s when Pramila started OneAmerica — originally called the Hate Free Zone Campaign of Washington — as a response to the hate crimes and backlash against Arabs, Muslims and South Asians. “What started as simply protecting people against hate crimes turned quickly into much more—working to defend our civil liberties and rights for all immigrant communities,” the Global Indian wrote in a blog.

Pramila Jayapal | Global Indian | Indian American

She soon realised the importance of federal immigration reform policy to the US. “In 2003, through the Immigrant Worker Freedom Ride, we began working on immigration reform and never stopped. We built political power for immigrants in our state, registering and mobilising to the polls tens of thousands of New Americans. We organised in different ethnic communities and advocated for better policies. We worked with the media to improve the narrative around immigrants and immigration. Together, with partners, allies, and members, we built OneAmerica from a fledgling effort into the largest immigrant advocacy organisation in Washington and a strong national force for justice,” she added.

It was in 2016 that she ran for the House of Representatives and was elected as the first Indian-American woman to serve in the House of Representatives. In Congress, she has been a vocal champion of a wide range of progressive causes, including healthcare reform, environmental protection, and reproductive rights. She is also a leading voice in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform and has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies.

Pramila Jayapal | Global Indian | Indian American

Moreover, she played a key role during the Covid-19 pandemic through American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package aimed at providing relief to individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic. Furthermore, she is a philanthropist and an advocate for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and healthcare. She has introduced several bills aimed at improving the lives of marginalised communities, including the Medicare for All Act of 2019.

She is married to Steve Williamson, a long-time labor leader, and strategist, and is the proud mother of a transgender daughter named Kashika.

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Published on 12, Feb 2023

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Toy story: Suhasini Paul is pushing the boundaries of play

(February 7, 2023) Suhasini Paul is the first toy designer in the country to have her name imprinted on her work for Indian and global clients. She's also the force behind the immensely popular surprise toys found inside Kinder Joy chocolates, the creator of Chota Bheem promotional toys and merchandise and has been a toy expert with Snapdeal. And as far back as she can remember, making toys has been her passion, one that grew into an ambition and then a flourishing career. "I didn't have toys growing up," she says, in an interview with Global Indian. "I had Ludo, and Snakes and Ladders." Instead of buying dolls like other kids her age, her grandmother taught her how to make her own toys and create chalk sculptures. The first turning point came when she realised, she could "convert my ideas into products." "When you want to achieve something, the world conspires to help you," she remarks, paraphrasing Paulo Coelho. [caption id="attachment_34773" align="aligncenter" width="393"] Suhasini Paul[/caption] The first turning point She was an engineering student in Nagpur when the National Institute of Design started a toy design programme in 2002. Even in engineering college, Suhasini was doing birthday parties and

ght="524" /> Suhasini Paul[/caption]

The first turning point

She was an engineering student in Nagpur when the National Institute of Design started a toy design programme in 2002. Even in engineering college, Suhasini was doing birthday parties and window displays for kids, earning her own money. Still, she had no idea that such a profession even existed. "I thought, this is what I have always wanted to do, really." She took the exam and got admission to NID, kickstarting her professional journey.

Suhasini began working with Frank Educational Aids during her diploma project. She decided on a topic that would help kids become more environmentally conscious and wondered if she could give them a gamified approach to imbibing good values. This led to designing two board games and two puzzles - which were launched in January 2006. "My first product was out in the market," she says.

Her "first success," Suhasini recalls, came a year prior. In 2005, when she was still a student at NID, she received a National Award, given to her by Narendra Modi, who was the CM of Gujarat at the time. "I was the only woman designpreneur - the award was for Designpreneur of the Year," she says. There has been no looking back since.

How does it work?

Suhasini designs for all age groups, from toddlers to teens. "My specialty is toddlers and pre-schoolers," she explains. She has over 300 toys in production and in the market. "It's all about the materials," she explains. "Toddlers become very active after 18 months of age, they begin to understand colours and basic shapes." These early stages of cognitive growth progress rapidly - "They embrace change, learn and understand very fast."

[caption id="attachment_34774" align="aligncenter" width="492"] Suhasini with a participant from one of her workshops[/caption]

'Play' is the most important part of a child's life, and has a pivotal role in "cognitive, motor and psychosocial, emotional and linguistic skills. It also plays a key role in raising self-confident, creative and happy children." "They improve their oral and motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They work on oral skills by blowing air through a straw and matching colours. Kids at that age need tangible, age-appropriate toys," says Suhasini, who has done programmes with NDTV explaining how toys can be introduced at the kindergarten and pre-school levels.

Suhasini sees herself as a bridge between the manufacturer, the parent and the end user. "And I need to make toys with high perceived value and the lowest cost possible. The design needs to be manufacturing-friendly, save on time and cost." Still, it needs to be something kids would want to grab off the shelf and since the "parent is the one buying it, the toy needs to appeal to them too. It's all about the materials, really."

The design process

It begins with study and observation. "I understand kids through their drawings, gather my insights and make a design direction," she explains. When the parameters are established, the work begins - sketching, concept and detailing.

These days, when she works with clients, Suhasini even designs the packaging. "It's a journey that begins from scratch and goes all the way till the product makes it to the market." It's an immersive process, more so because her husband, Sandip Paul, is also a noted product designer. "It's a way of life now. We talk about design all the time, even when we're going to bed," she laughs.

[caption id="attachment_34775" align="aligncenter" width="588"] An eco doll house: Credit: Suhasini Paul[/caption]

It's a material world

In 2009, Suhasini went to Germany to launch toys for a client and was invited to their factory in China. She ended up staying there for a month, understanding how to design wooden and bamboo toys. From there, she was invited to another company, in Thailand, this time, which specialised in rubberwood toys. "They removed the latex from the rubber trees and use the remaining wood to make toys," says Suhasini, who has been designing toys for them since 2010.

"It's a fully sustainable process from start to finish," she says. This includes the processes, packaging and even the brochures, and involves soy ink and recyclable paper.

Also in 2009, she was approached by the Italian confectionary giant Ferrero to be part of its Kinder brand. Kinderjoy, with its plastic, egg-shaped packaging that splits into two and contains a surprise toy is the company's most lucrative product in the last decade. Suhasini came on board in 2008-09, as they entered the Indian market. "I designed multiple toys for them." She has also done a range of sports toys for Disney and as an expert with Snapdeal.

Expert speak

Today, Suhasini's job also involves working with clients who want to create toys of their own, as the Indian toy industry began witnessing a historic boom. In 2014-15, the toy industry export was around USD 96.17 million and grew by 240 percent in 2021-22, when it was worth USD 326.63 million.

It means more players in the market and Suhasini's role has transformed from designing toys to making entrepreneurs aware of the industry and educating them. "Earlier, I had mainly international clients but we now have lots of projects from India as well. India is becoming more and more design savvy and the shift has happened in the last two years."

Everybody wants a show-stopper product and that's where Suhasini steps in, hand-holding companies, from suggesting names, creating a philosophy, logo and a signature product.

[caption id="attachment_34776" align="aligncenter" width="571"] A mini-drone designed in collaboration with Paul Sandip. Photo credit: Suhasini Paul[/caption]

The IoT world

"Everything is good in moderation," Suhasini smiles. "Everything has its pros and cons." It has however, led to the creation of IoT and tech-based toys. "I want to be a trendsetter always."

She calls toys the "basic hygiene of cognitive development." The question at hand, she explains, is always, "How will this help a child grow and also have fun? If you marry these two things together, your toy will be a superhit."

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La dolce vita: How Monika Dharia produces eco-friendly ponchos from sugar at GreenGear Supply Co

(Nov 20, 2024) When Monika Dharia arrived at Duke University to begin her engineering degree, she soon found that classmates, visitors, and faculty were all accustomed to getting around soaking wet, thanks to the sudden thundershowers that were a daily occurrence. Ponchos seemed like the perfect solution to stay dry, Dharia thought, but at the same time, she shuddered at the idea of that much plastic choking her beautiful campus. So, she began looking into compostable ponchos and found they had their own problems, which included a short shelf life—most were not reusable, and there was little information on how to dispose of them. Moreover, ponchos weren't limited to her college campus; they were used in stadiums, national parks, amusement parks, music festivals, and a host of large-scale events. And a single poncho, she was shocked to learn, was equivalent to 10 plastic bags. This seemingly simple challenge sparked a journey that would lead her to create GreenGear Supply Company—a business at the intersection of environmental engineering, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. The eco-friendly ponchos, made from sugar, catapulted the Global Indian into prominence in the eco-entrepreneurship space. The Call to Action Dharia’s background in environmental engineering, combined with her minor in

space.

Monika Dharia | GreenGear Supply Co | Global Indian

The Call to Action

Dharia’s background in environmental engineering, combined with her minor in economics, had already primed her to seek actionable solutions to climate challenges. Yet, it wasn’t until her Social Innovation course at Duke that she began to envision a product that would go beyond individual convenience to address systemic environmental issues.

“Every poncho is equivalent to ten plastic bags,” Dharia explained. “And the compostable options on the market? They had their own issues, requiring specialized facilities and short shelf lives. I realized the so-called sustainable solutions weren’t truly sustainable.”

With a clear problem in front of her, Dharia set out to design an alternative. Months of research and prototyping culminated in the EcoRain poncho, made from 100% recyclable bioplastics.

Transforming Vision into Reality

Initially, Dharia planned to distribute her EcoRain ponchos exclusively at Duke, but it didn’t take long for her to recognize a larger market. “I started thinking of all the places where ponchos are used—stadiums, amusement parks, national parks. The environmental impact was staggering,” she said. In 2018, Dharia co-founded GreenGear Supply Company with Russell Heller, a fellow advocate for sustainable business models.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GreenGear Supply Co. (@greengearsupply)

The path wasn’t straightforward. “Early on, I learned that not every piece of advice needs to be followed,” Dharia shared. Participation in the Melissa and Doug Entrepreneurs Program helped her refine her business instincts. “When you’re developing your own idea, you’re your own CEO. Trusting your ambitions and experiences is key.”

Breaking Ground with Innovation

GreenGear’s big break came when it won the Sabin Sustainable Venture Prize at Yale University in 2019. The award not only validated their mission but also provided crucial funding to scale production. By then, Dharia had perfected the design of the EcoRain poncho to ensure it was not only recyclable but also reusable, folding neatly into its hood for convenient storage.

Despite these successes, challenges loomed. Early manufacturing runs revealed issues with non-recyclable components and long production lead times. “Every setback taught us something new about the lifecycle of our products and the responsibility we had to ensure sustainability at every stage,” Dharia said.

A Crisis and a Pivot

When COVID-19 struck, GreenGear faced an existential crisis. With outdoor events canceled and customers scaling back, the demand for ponchos plummeted. But Dharia found an unexpected opportunity to pivot.

“My mom called me one day and said she saw healthcare workers wearing garbage bags as PPE,” Dharia recalled. Leveraging GreenGear’s existing inventory, Dharia launched a GoFundMe campaign, raising enough to donate 5,000 ponchos to healthcare workers in New York and Liberia.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GreenGear Supply Co. (@greengearsupply)

The donations marked a turning point for GreenGear, reinforcing Dharia’s belief in the social impact of her business. “It reminded us why we started this journey in the first place—to solve real-world problems,” she said.

Building Partnerships

Post-pandemic, GreenGear turned its focus back to growth. Monika Dharia secured partnerships with organizations like the Philadelphia Eagles, Duke University, and national parks. The collaboration with the Eagles, a recognized leader in sustainability, was particularly significant.

“The Eagles have been incredible partners,” Dharia said. “We’re now exploring closed-loop recycling programs with them to repurpose ponchos into stadium chairs or roof tiles. It’s a model we hope to expand across the sports industry.”

Beyond sports, GreenGear’s products have also found a place in outdoor tourism and corporate events. “We’re building a network of partnerships that align with our values,” Dharia explained.

Expanding the Vision

Beyond ponchos, GreenGear is diversifying its product line to include other sustainable outdoor items like phone cases, water bottles, and hiking utensils. “We’re not just selling products; we’re rethinking the entire lifecycle of consumer goods,” Dharia emphasized.

Monika Dharia | GreenGear Supply Co | Global Indian

To achieve this, Monika Dharia and her team are exploring innovative materials like sugar-based ethanol and natural fibers. “Our goal is to offer alternatives that are not only sustainable but also scalable,” she added.

Lessons in Leadership

For Dharia, the journey has been about more than business. It’s been a lesson in perseverance, adaptability, and leadership. “As businesses, we can’t put the entire burden of sustainability on consumers,” she said. “It’s up to us to design products that are intuitive, impactful, and environmentally responsible.”

Dharia also emphasized the importance of collaboration. “The sustainability challenges we face are too big for any one organization to tackle alone. By working together, we can create solutions that are greater than the sum of their parts,” she said.

Looking Ahead

With her eyes set on scaling GreenGear’s impact, Dharia remains focused on her original mission. Her plans include expanding the company’s market reach and achieving carbon negativity through innovative supply chain practices.

Monika Dharia | GreenGear Supply Co | Global Indian

“The future of sustainability lies in shared responsibility,” Dharia said. “It’s not just about what we make—it’s about how we make it and the legacy we leave behind.”

From a rainy day at Duke to a global effort to combat plastic waste, Dharia’s journey is a testament to the power of innovation and the importance of staying true to one’s values. GreenGear is more than a company; it’s a movement, inspiring others to rethink how businesses can drive meaningful change.

Follow Monika Dharia on LinkedIn and check out the GreenGear community on Instagram.

Srikanth Bolla: An entrepreneur, a leader, and a visionary

(April 17, 2024) Born into a family of rice farmers, entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla's arrival in the world wasn't met with the joyous anticipation one might expect. Visually impaired from birth, some relatives suggested that his parents should abandon him, deeming him as someone who wouldn't be able to help them in their later years. Classmates scorned him as he was visually challenged. He decided to turn his disadvantage into an opportunity and there is no looking back for him. After having fought thousands of odds, today Srikanth serves as an inspiration for countless students and adults. Despite facing numerous challenges, the Global Indian has emerged as a young and prosperous entrepreneur, running Bollant Industries, which has an impressive turnover of ₹150 crore - which incidentally was also funded by former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. "I lack eyesight, but not vision. An entrepreneur's life's a roller-coaster and one needs self-belief," said the MIT alum, whose only aim in life right now is to elevate his company's turnover to ₹1,000 crore within the next three years. Beyond that, he envisions taking the company public through an IPO and securing a listing on the stock exchange. And now, one of

ot vision. An entrepreneur's life's a roller-coaster and one needs self-belief," said the MIT alum, whose only aim in life right now is to elevate his company's turnover to ₹1,000 crore within the next three years. Beyond that, he envisions taking the company public through an IPO and securing a listing on the stock exchange.

And now, one of India's biggest production houses, T-Series Films, is ready to release a biopic on his life. Titled Srikanth, the movie stars Rajkummar Rao and Jyothika. "I would like for more and more people to know about my journey," said the entrepreneur during the trailer launch of the movie, adding, "I can't wait for the movie to release."

Facing rejections

Picture this: every day, navigating through a maze of muddy puddles, dodging vehicles that seem intent on hitting you, all along a journey spanning four to five kilometers. Now, envision undertaking this daunting task regardless of the season – whether scorching summer, chilly winter, or torrential monsoon – all while coping with visual impairment. Srikanth has done it all.

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

"I had a clear vision since I was a young kid. When the world looks at me and says, ‘Srikanth, you can do nothing,’ I look back at the world and say I can do anything.”," shared the entrepreneur. "Initially, when I was in my village, I didn't have any friends. No one wanted to play with me since I was visually impaired. But, that loneliness made me concentrate on my studies." When Srikanth was seven years old, he enrolled in a school for the visually impaired in Hyderabad. There, he began to flourish academically, receiving the education he rightfully deserved.

Starting with Braille, Srikanth gradually mastered English and computer skills. His journey of learning was remarkable, marked by victories in debating, creative writing, chess, and blind cricket, earning him recognition as the school's top student. Srikanth excelled academically, achieving 90 percent marks with distinction in his matriculation from Devnar School in Hyderabad.

ALSO READ | How Ritika Shah is bringing Ayurveda to everyday life in India and beyond

Challenging the world

He was the happiest that day, but little did he know that the real battle was only just beginning. Despite his academic achievements, Srikanth faced a daunting challenge: his school's policy restricted blind students from studying science and mathematics due to concerns about handling diagrams and graphs. Encouraged to pursue arts, languages, literature, and social sciences instead, Srikanth refused to accept this limitation. With determination, he sought justice through the legal system, supported by a teacher. Ultimately, he emerged victorious as the court ruled in favor of blind students' rights to study science and maths in senior years across all state board schools in Andhra Pradesh.

Entrepreneur | Srikanth Bolla | Global Indian

It was during this time that he got an opportunity to work for Lead India Project, a movement to empower the youth through value-based education, with former President Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The entrepreneur believed, "No one should let their disability interfere with their dreams. One doesn't need eyes to have visions of their career." Undeterred by the obstacles, Srikanth continued to excel academically, achieving a remarkable 98 percent in his XII board exams, leading his class with distinction.

However, despite having the percentage and required qualifications, the entrepreneur was denied admission to the Indian Institute of Technology, where he wanted to study engineering, because of his blindness. "If IIT did not want me, I did not want IIT either," the entrepreneur shared during an interview, adding, "I knew the world had put many obstacles in my path, I just needed to learn to cross them without falling."

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A post shared by Srikanth Bolla (@srikanthbollaofficial_)

And so, he started applying to various foreign Universities or an undergraduate programme. Interestingly, he was able to secure admission to four of the top schools, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon in the United States, and in 2009 he eventually chose to get admitted to MIT, which proudly recognised him as their first-ever international blind student.

ALSO READ | Asim Bhalerao: The entrepreneur transforming India’s water infrastructure with AI

A visionary

Upon completing his education, Srikanth returned to Hyderabad and founded Bollant Industries in 2012. The company specializes in manufacturing areca-based products while also prioritizing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Bollant addresses a range of concerns including employment, economics, and environmental sustainability. "I left behind a good future in the USA as I wanted to make products using renewable energy, made by the people considered useless, like me. I want to be a leader working to build a future with equal opportunities for everyone, which means providing work for the abled people also, as Bollant is not a commercial enterprise or a charity home, but a social enterprise working for everyone."

The company produces eco-friendly recycled Kraft paper from municipal waste, crafts packaging items from recycled paper, creates disposable products from natural leaves and recycled paper, and transforms waste plastic into usable goods. The company's impactful endeavours attracted the attention of investors, eventually securing funding from renowned businessman Ratan Tata.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMeuJP5iBWY

"I feel god can give us only starting circumstances, but we make our own destiny. The future is in our hands, we can craft it however we wish. if you want your kids to be in a future where there is equality, you can also craft that future. I have been bothered with the question about what kind of future I want for myself for a long time. I had two choices, I could join a well-established firm, or create my own company - and I chose the latter," said the entrepreneur, adding, "No power in the world can stop an ambitious person from finding success. Disability is when you have sight, but do not have vision."

Follow Srikanth Bolla on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

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Ayan and Ani Sayal: Indian-American brothers bringing authentic masala chai to New Yorkers

(February 2, 2024) Indians love their chai - no matter whether they are in India or abroad. Two Indian-American brothers with their roots in Kolkata often took to the streets of New York in search of that kadak cup of chai. But all they got was a westernised version that lacked the authenticity of a good Indian tea. This led to the birth of Kolkata Chai Co. in 2019 - which has Ayan and Ani Sayal on a mission to bring authentic tea to New Yorkers. "Kolkata Chai started with a simple idea: How do we extend the authenticity, respect, and tradition behind a cup of masala chai to NYC?" the brothers write on their website. Massachusetts Masala It was in 1987 that their parents landed in Massachusetts to fulfill the American dream, and growing up as first-generation Indian Americans, their concept of home was ever-shifting. "In 90’s America, we listened to hip hop, ate pizza, and begged our parents for a pair of Vans sneakers. Every other summer or winter, we’d spend a couple of months in Kolkata. An earth-shattering contrast, there, we would jump in monsoon puddles, eat mangsho-jhol, play cricket in the streets, and drink chai every

rast, there, we would jump in monsoon puddles, eat mangsho-jhol, play cricket in the streets, and drink chai every day," they added.

[caption id="attachment_48747" align="aligncenter" width="542"] Ayan and Ani Sanyal | Global Indian Ayan and Ani Sanyal[/caption]

The brothers often joked that the street vendors of Kolkata possessed some magical skills. "From eating bhel puri in newspaper cones to visiting the same chai stalls that our mother would frequent during her college years, we developed a deep respect for the tradition and personal nature of food," Ayan said in an interview. They would enjoy kulhad chai on the streets of Kolkata, something they missed dearly on their return to the US. "The satisfaction we got from smashing the clay bhar cups into the ground after finishing our chai was unparalleled," said Ani, adding, "There was a lore to street food. It was democratising, generational, and spoke to all socio-economic levels."

Recreating Kolkata street food charm in NYC

Upon their return from one such trip to Kolkata, they were brimming with excitement to bring the authentic desi cup of chai to the people of New York, and that led to Kolkata Chai Co. They wanted to make South Asian culture and cuisine accessible to everyone through chai and street food. "For the first 18 months after we had the idea, we would do pop-up shops and farmers markets in NYC, and got a great response. Following this success and getting a sense that people loved desi chai, we opened the NYC cafe to a line of 700 people in 2019," added Ani. Apart from chai, their menu includes Indian street food – which encompasses Kolkata-style egg rolls, samosas, chaats, and more. "We also feature seasonal menus for the fall and summer, where you can catch our ‘Ma’s Ginger Chai’, a take on the simple, yet highly effective ginger tea our mother made for us growing up. We also serve mint lemonade, which is a spin on a childhood classic we grew up with in Kolkata," said Ani.

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A post shared by Kolkata Chai Co. (@kolkatachaico)

Betting on themselves and their food culture

However, starting their own venture wasn't a cakewalk for the Sanyal brothers due to lack of capital and resources. Moreover, they had no clue that running a food business in an expensive and competitive place like New York being would be difficult. "Barely six months into our cafe operation, the pandemic shut all the restaurants in the city down and we were forced to close," added Ani. But that didn't stop the Sanyal brothers who knew that had to bring in a new strategy to keep their business afloat. They started delivering chai in their car across NYC and shipping the chai mix across the country. "These lessons taught us to be sharp operators and we’ve been able to sustainably grow ever since," revealed Ayan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycs6c3wRJjE

Keen to put Kolkata in NYC, they did everything to bring authentic flavours to the city. For them, a perfect cup of chai is a balance of cardamom, ginger, milk, and really strong black tea. "If you get all these things kind of perfectly done, then it makes a really wonderful, warming, and energizing drink," said Ayan, who takes care of the retail while his brother Ayan runs the marketing and branding of the brand. They are happy that New Yorkers are open to education their own palettes, and have embraced Kolkata Chai with open arms.

Seeing their parents struggle to make their American dream come true, the Sanyal brothers are telling a story of their culture through their chai. "We don’t get to really tell our story a lot of the time. And I think that’s what, you know, we’ve done with Kolkata Chai — is really plant a flag for where our family comes from, what our culture is about."

Follow Kolkata Chai Co on Instagram

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

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

4">

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Thaely (@thaely.inc)

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

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

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

pic.twitter.com/ogNwVCFhXY

— Erik Solheim (@ErikSolheim) November 17, 2021

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

The birth of an eco-friendly sneaker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tapping the market

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

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

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

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

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

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

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