Global IndianstoryRaju Bhupati: Pioneering millet revolution with affordable nutrition

Raju Bhupati: Pioneering millet revolution with affordable nutrition

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(June 15, 2024) “Can you imagine enjoying nutritious snacks for just ₹5? In a country where health and nutrition often seem like distant aspirations for millions, Troo Good emerged on the scene in 2018 with a revolutionary vision,” states the website of a millet snack company that’s on a mission to “nourish 1 billion Indians.” It was six years ago that US-returned Raju Bhupati drew his inspiration to advocate for better nutrition in India from his father, who was both a spiritual leader and a healer. “He was a homoeopathic practitioner and would treat the poor for free. This was the base for my motivation to deal with the nutrition challenge in the country,” he said in an interview. In a short span, Raju has become the millet movement pioneer in India making nutrition meet affordability, one snack at a time.

Raju Bhupati | Global Indian

Journey from IT to entrepreneurship

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

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

Raju Bhupati

Reintroducing millet

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

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

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

Troo Good

Making an impact

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

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

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

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

Celebrating millet

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

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

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Published on 15, Jun 2024

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Smashing the stereotypes: How Najira Noushad hitchhiked from Kerala to Nepal to prove a point

(May 20, 2022) Sitting at a height of 9,383 ft above sea level, Najira Noushad found her Sherpa hastily telling her that she cannot make it to the Everest base camp (17,598 ft) in five days. As a mother of five who had never stepped into a gym, the Sherpa reckoned the 33-year-old was being too ambitious. For Najira, it was a re-affirmation of why she was there in the first place: To break stereotypes. Najira wants the world to know that India is safe for women travellers and that a woman can do anything she sets her mind on. Not even the wind and sleet of the Himalayas. Najira made it to base camp in five days as planned, becoming the fastest Indian woman to complete the 62-km trek, braving snowstorms and navigating extremely steep and rocky terrain. "It was very challenging. But I knew I could do this. I had my eyes set on finishing the trek in five days. I set the challenge for myself to inspire other women," Najira tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_24688" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Najira Noushad during her trip from Kerala to Everest base camp[/caption] Doing the trek without an acclimatisation period was a

642"] Solo traveller | Najira Noushad Najira Noushad during her trip from Kerala to Everest base camp[/caption]

Doing the trek without an acclimatisation period was a challenge, but Najira pulled it off. "After two days, I developed shortness of breath and suffered from exhaustion. If not for that, I'd have completed the trek in four days. Despite the difficulties, it was a great experience. It made me realise I can do anything," adds the Oman resident, who hitchhiked her way from Kerala to Nepal to achieve the feat. “There’s so much negativity about the safety of solo female travellers. So I decided to ditch public transport and hitchhike all the way to prove the point that India is safe for women travellers,” she explains.

When the travel bug bit

The Kerala-born was raised in God's Own Country by a salesman father and a homemaker mother. Coming from a humble background, Najira lived a simple yet happy life, passionate about travelling even as a child. “I loved boarding a bus for a long journey. I always wanted to see what awaited me on the other side,” says the mother of five, whose first trip was to Tiruchirrappali where her dad was posted in the 2000s. She only ever travelled with her family – a conservative household meant even school picnics were off limits for the young girl. “We made the most of family outings, though,” Najira smiles. “That was the beginning of my wanderlust.”

Najira was married when she turned eighteen and gave birth to her first son within a year. Her urge to travel remained satiated, however. Her husband’s transferable job took the family to Chennai, Dubai and Oman. “He is my biggest support system, along with my mother,” says Najira about her husband, who works in hospitality. "He has always pushed me to do what makes me feel happier, and travel tops the list. Even with my five kids in tow, I have never hesitated to take the road less travelled," adds Najira, who decided to go on an all-India trip in 2021.

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Kerala to Ladakh in 60 days

"Keen to explore India, I decided to travel from Kerala to Ladakh across 17 states and five union territories. A Facebook friend tagged along but I did the planning and drove the entire 13,000 km. It was exhilarating," says Najira, adding that she was mindful of every move that she was making. "Since we were on a budget trip, I constantly had lodging and food on my mind. I had almost become a CBI officer doing all the research," laughs the traveller, who was curious to know about different cultures and people. "The trip was an eye-opener where I met so many people who opened their homes for us. We didn't just travel across the big cities but moved into the hinterland because that's where the real India lives," adds Najira. So, they rented an Innova and spent a combined total of ₹6 lakh on the 60-day trip.

It gave her so much confidence that in November, Najira boarded a plane to Lakshwadeep with only ₹3000. "You don't need money to travel, all you need is an idea," says Najira who knocked on the doors of the people to let her stay the night. Calling it one of her most "interesting trips", Najira explored all ten islands without spending a single penny. "The people of Lakshwadeep are not only kind-hearted but masoom (innocent). There is no crime rate, and their prisons are empty. That's a part of India that everyone should see," says Najira who explored the coral island for a month. "I didn't even buy a cup of chai from my money. Every day these people welcomed me into their homes and fed me," says the YouTuber who has over 50K subscribers.

[caption id="attachment_24693" align="aligncenter" width="571"] Solo traveller | Najira Noushad Najira Noushad in Lakshwadeep[/caption]

Travel with purpose

But it was her trip from Kerala to Everest base camp in Nepal that made her a star traveller. As a woman, Najira often heard stories of India being an unsafe country for solo women travellers, so she took it upon herself to change what she believed to be a mistaken notion. "People often say that Europe is safe for women travellers, but so is India. I wanted to prove it by hitchhiking from Kuttanad in Kerala, all the way to Nepal. She made the journey in 32 days, mostly taking rides on trucks. Najira says that lorry drivers have a bad image but that’s another stereotype she was happy to break. "They were very friendly and helped me at every step. There were days that I slept in trucks but felt very safe. Many introduced me to their families either on phone calls or in person. Getting to travel that way gave me a fresh perspective on life," says the travel vlogger.

[caption id="attachment_24694" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Solo Traveller | Najira Noushad Najira with a lorry driver[/caption]

She began her expedition with two messages - 'Admire India' and 'She Can Travel Alone', and Najira truly lived up to them during her month-long journey.

Overcoming fears is what Najira believes in, and that's exactly what she did on the trip. "Have the courage to follow your dreams, and they often take you to beautiful places and stunning experiences," she says. During those two months on the road hitchhiking, Najira saw India like never before. "I understood the food problem, the lack of education, and poverty. But I also saw the large-heartedness of the people who would welcome me with open arms even if they have nothing to offer. That's what makes India incredible," adds Najira.

Smashing the stereotypes

It was at Lukla that Najira learnt about SVN Suresh Babu, a Vizag trekker who created history by reaching the Everest base camp in a record-breaking four days in January 2022. "When my Sherpa told me about Suresh, it inspired me so much. But he kept dissuading me saying that I was a woman who never went to a gym and had five deliveries. But I was determined to finish it in five days. He warned me that people often die if they are not well-prepared. But I turned a deaf ear to him," reveals Najira, who completed in five days a trek that usually takes anywhere between ten and fifteen.

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"My Sherpa was stunned that I could pull it off. I think if you have a lakshaya and the courage to follow it, nothing is impossible. If we set our mind to something, our body works in alignment," adds Najira who believes a strong head and heart can take you to places that you cannot even imagine.

She now plans to take a trip to the North East along with Bhutan and Nepal, for "there is no life without dreams." And she advocates "self-love" to fulfil them. "When you love and cherish yourself, you'd go to any lengths to follow your dreams. Be courageous enough to take that first step and the rest shall follow. Don’t fret if things don’t work out your way, embrace the change,” she advices adding, “Be positive in life, it will bring in more good experiences."

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Meet Krishna Vavilala, the winner of US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award 2022

(December 28, 2022) When AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism of the United States government, called up Krishna Vavilala informing that he has been selected for the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award 2022, the long-time Houstonian thought it to be a hoax call. However, when the realisation of the authenticity of the message dawned on him, he was taken aback by surprise. Endorsed by President of America, Joe Biden, and Vice President, Kamala Harris, the award is considered a symbol of highest recognition of the commitment of outstanding citizens of America who have given their time to volunteer and help their community. [caption id="attachment_33290" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Krishna Vavilala with his wife Prabhat Lakshmi Vavilala at the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony[/caption] “I strongly believe in the virtue of sincerity and commitment, and that is why, as you must have noticed, the byline of my email is ‘Commitment is key. Everything else is an excuse,’ remarks the 86-year-old Samaritan, while connecting with Global Indian from Houston for a video chat. Krishna Vavilala, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, and immigrated to the United States in 1974, was felicitated on December 4 at a glittering ceremony in Texas. He has been

l is ‘Commitment is key. Everything else is an excuse,’ remarks the 86-year-old Samaritan, while connecting with Global Indian from Houston for a video chat.

Krishna Vavilala, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, and immigrated to the United States in 1974, was felicitated on December 4 at a glittering ceremony in Texas. He has been volunteering to bring the Indian community together in America for close to four decades now and has won several awards and accolades along the way.

Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian

The humanitarian and changemaker is the founder and chairman of the Foundation for India Studies (FIS), a 16-year-old non-profit, whose signature initiative 'Indo-American Oral History Project' won the 2019 Mary Fay Barnes Award for Excellence.

Tryst with Gandhi

A strong believer in promoting peace and racial harmony, Vavilala has participated in several Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. parades, dressed as Mahatma Gandhi. A trend he began in 2006 ‘to bring Indian and Black communities together and to spread the message of peace and nonviolence, which both the leaders - MLK and Gandhi followed’. " Martin Luther King Jr fought for the civil rights and then adopted Gandhiji's principles of non violence," he tells.

“I must be one of the very few people in America who has seen Gandhi in person,” he laughs. “The memory of me as a nine-year-old seeing Gandhi during his visit to Rajahmundry, my home town in 1946, is still stuck in my mind,” he remarks.

[caption id="attachment_33293" align="aligncenter" width="891"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala dressed as Gandhi at MLK Parade, 2006[/caption]

My grandmother had taken my two sisters and me on a bullock cart to see Mahatma Gandhi. The train on which he had arrived moved back and forth to give everybody an opportunity to see the Mahatma.

Still mesmerised by the experience, Vavilala has tried to keep Gandhi relevant in Houston over the years. The childhood experience left such an indelible mark on him that the immigrant Samaritan later proposed the idea of installation of a Gandhi statue at Herman Park, Houston - first in a peace rally and then to the board of the India Culture Centre. "There should be a statue of Mahatma Gandhi as a constant reminder of peace in a cowboy state like Texas," he proposed. Not only was his idea readily accepted but he also got appointed as the Project Chair in 2003.

“It took me a year to raise $23,000 for the project,” he says. Though he had budgeted the project cost to be not less than $50,000, since ICCR accepted his request of sponsoring the statue cost and Air India flew it free of cost, Vavilala was able to make his dream come true in half of the budgeted amount.

[caption id="attachment_33292" align="aligncenter" width="648"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala with Gandhi Statue at Herman Park, Houstan - a dream come true[/caption]

“Millions of tourists from across the world, who come to Houston, have seen the statue and paid their tributes to the Mahatma,” he mentions.

The humble beginnings

Since Vavilala’s father never had a paid job, he and his two sisters grew up in a household with limited means. “I studied in the light of the paraffin lamp,” he says, adding, “I have bought one such lamp in a store here to show my children, ‘this is how your dad studied’.”

Until he went to college, there was no electricity in the house. As an inquisitive student, he was always interested in science and technology, especially physics.

[caption id="attachment_33294" align="aligncenter" width="591"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala at the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony[/caption]

“Though I was a science student, I was a thinker, always reflecting on the issues related to the society at large.” Caste system and dowry was something that Vavilala was vocal about. “When I was in high school, I wrote about what a menace dowry was and how people indulging in it should be punished and sent to jail.” It got published, and to the utter surprise of the entire family, a ₹15 money-order landed as stipend to his doorstep.

Vavilala went on to study electrical engineering at BITS Pilani. Talking about it, he mentions, "I am proud of my alma mater, which is a premier institute of India. I was in one of its early batches,1956-1960."

The people’s man

Although, a retired engineer, Krishna Vavilala addresses himself, a ‘sociologist’. He loves people, spends time listening and telling stories and takes deep interest in understanding others’ problems.

Making a difference is very important for every human being. This planet gives us so many opportunities to serve society - Krishna Vavilala

[caption id="attachment_33303" align="aligncenter" width="1029"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala with FIS participants of MLK Parade, 2019[/caption]

A volunteer for strengthening civic engagement, Vavilala has played an instrumental role in starting the celebration of Indian American Heritage Day in Houston in collaboration with Houston Public library.

Foundation for India Studies

Vavilala established Foundation for India Studies (FIS) in 2005 as a non-profit with a vision to promote knowledge about India’s contribution in the field of languages, literature, arts, sciences, engineering, politics, economics and spirituality.

The Foundation’s first successful project was the India Studies program at the University of Houston, instituted in 2006. The program, which initially began with Hindi language courses and classes in Hinduism and Jainism, went on to expand to 12 courses and was funded by the university itself. Students taking these courses were awarded a minor certificate in India Studies.

[caption id="attachment_33296" align="aligncenter" width="883"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala with University of Houstan, President and Chancellor[/caption]

FIS initiated several other measures to keep the value of Indian culture intact amongst Indian immigrants and Houstonians in general like – lectures, seminars, conferences, workshops, town hall meetings and student and faculty exchange programmes.

Since Indian diaspora is becoming bigger and bigger, it needs organisations like Foundation for Indian Studies to help them stay connected - Krishna Vavilala

FIS members routinely participate in the annual MLK Grande Parade. It attracts a large crowd and millions of views on TV and digital media. “MLK Parade Grand Marshall Award was awarded to FIS in 2015, which is a matter of great pride,” says the FIS founder.

[caption id="attachment_33295" align="aligncenter" width="884"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala leading the FIS parade, dressed as Gandhi[/caption]

FIS has expanded the India Studies programme at Texas Southern University, and remains committed to commemorating Gandhi and Dr King's legacies of non-violence and peaceful co-existence.

Curating life stories

“Human stories are very diverse and interesting. They are fantastic. No matter which part of the globe you are in, you have a story to tell,” Vavilala believes. With this in mind, he embarked on the journey of the ‘Indo-American Oral History Project’ in 2011 which focuses on recording life stories of first-generation Indian immigrants to Houston. “Most of the early immigrants came to the country in the sixties and seventies and had humble beginnings.”

The project was started in partnership with Houston Public Library (HPL) and Houston Community College (HCC). “Life stories and experiences of the Indo-Americans living in Houston are recorded through their interviews.” The video recordings as well as the transcripts are being stored for posterity in Houston Metropolitan Research Centre's digital archives.

[caption id="attachment_33297" align="aligncenter" width="1037"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala at the launch of Oral History Project with University of Houston President, Dr Renu Khator and other FIS members[/caption]

Vavilala’s own story is nothing short of an inspiration. The man, who landed in the US with just a suitcase, and a few dollars, without knowing anyone there; worked his way up the corporate ladder. Building a good life for himself and his family, he eventually became a strong pillar for the entire Indian community in Houston by bringing them together through several social initiatives.

“It’s an ongoing project to create a resource for the future generation so that they can trace back their roots and understand how they came to the foreign land”, he tells.

By going through the archives of the Indo-American Oral History Project, the younger generation would be able to learn about the backgrounds of their fathers and forefathers and understand how those people are reason behind their well-being in America - Krishna Vavilala

Popular Houstonian

Vavilala has served in senior leadership positions in a number of organisations and non-profits including President of the American Society of Indian Engineers, President of Telugu Cultural Association, Houston and President of Telugu Literary and Cultural Association.

[caption id="attachment_33298" align="aligncenter" width="734"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala shares stage with Rajiv Gandhi (the then PM of India ) and Sonia Gandhi during their visit to Houstan in 1985[/caption]

“You just get going deeper and deeper,” he talks about his whirlwind of social engagements. Vavilala was part of many significant contingents - Whether it was sharing stage with Rajiv Gandhi, who visited Houstan or representing FM1960 area, as Secretary of the Precinct at 1996 Democratic Party State Convention held in Dallas, which was attended by Hillary Clinton.

He has received several awards and accolades from organisations like the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, the Indo-American Press Club, and US Customs and Border Protection Agency.

On August 15, 2021, on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence, the humanitarian was honoured with India Culture Center’s lifetime achievement award from Stafford City Mayor.

[caption id="attachment_33300" align="aligncenter" width="899"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala honoured with India Culture Center’s lifetime achievement award from Stafford City Mayor in 2021[/caption]

Life Abroad

After getting trained at BITS Pilani, the Andhra Pradesh boy got his first job at Tata Iron and Steel Company, Jamshedpur and later moved to Calcutta and worked for MN Dastur & Co. His boss recommended him to work in the UK. Vavilala moved there for six years. It was in the UK that both his daughters, Monica and Amanda were born. "Since my parents were getting old, I came back to India for them. Had they relocated to Calcutta from Rajahmundry to stay with me, perhaps I would not have not thought of my next stint abroad, but they did not want to permanently leave their hometown," he remarks.

The turmoil and economic crisis of West Bengal in the 70s led him to seek a better life, and he made a move to the US. Spending early days at the YMCA hostel in Manhattan, leaving his family behind in India, Vavilala worked hard. Later his family joined him, and they moved to Houston in 1981. Some years later, Vavilala was sent to Saudi Arabia by his organisation, where he worked on a project for three years.

[caption id="attachment_33301" align="aligncenter" width="826"] Indians in USA | Krishna Vavilala | Global Indian Krishna Vavilala and his wife Prabhat Lakshmi Vavilala at the installation ceremony of Gandhi statue at Herman Park, Houston[/caption]

Over the years, Vavilala has not just tried to excel professionally but has been super involved in the various social initiatives. Talking about the US Presidential Lifetime Achievement award, he mentions, “I was able to do whatever I wanted to because of Lakshmi, my wife of 61 years. This award is for her." She created an environment for him to work on his life's calling. "All I had to do was to earn the paycheque,” he smiles adding, “We led a life of a traditional Indian family here.”

All that the Samaritan hopes is that the younger Indo-Americans, who were born in America, feel proud of their Indian heritage and continue to pass it on to their children and grandchildren, something that he has indulged in, over the years.

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Mausam Narang: The girl who mastered artisanal Norwegian cheese and got a “silver”

(December 1, 2021) Brunost cheese may be of Norwegian origin, but a Mumbai-based artisan cheesemaker knows how to make it better In the heart of Mumbai is a UK-studied and Italy-trained artisan cheese maker making Norwegian cheese. Mausam Jotwani Narang, from Mumbai, entered an elite club of cheese connoisseurs and makers with her carefully handcrafted brunost, a Norwegian-style whey cheese that is standing shoulder to shoulder with cheese royalty. The cheese maker became the first Indian to win a silver in the brown cheese category at the prestigious World Cheese Awards 2021 in Oviedo, Spain. She stole their cheese Narang did an MBA in human resources at the University of Birmingham, studied German for four years, and has a B.Com from RA Podar College in Mumbai. She worked at Cape Gemini in HR for a while and then cheese mongering became her calling. [caption id="attachment_17117" align="aligncenter" width="574"] Mausam Narang at Eleftheria[/caption] It is widely believed that cheese travelled to India from the West, even though the local favourite cottage cheese (paneer) finds pride of place in most households. The more gourmet varieties are a tad exclusive. As a cheese artisan who has put India on the world cheese map, Narang,

from the West, even though the local favourite cottage cheese (paneer) finds pride of place in most households. The more gourmet varieties are a tad exclusive. As a cheese artisan who has put India on the world cheese map, Narang, has been dedicated in learning the craft for a few years. She began her initial training at informal workshops in Italy where she heard about the World Cheese Awards for the first time in 2019. Learning and fine-tuning her skills at two Italian creameries, she was on song. “I thought, ‘Why can’t any Indian cheese maker participate?’” she tells Global Indian. The self-taught cheese maker who has no formal course in cheesemaking, was helped with the insights she got in Italy. Today, Mausam is enthused and proud of her handcrafted brunost.

When the world slowly started opening up in 2020 after the first wave of Covid-19, Mausam got her hands wet in the whey, literally, with the awards on her mind.
The World Cheese Awards are a platform to identify varieties of cheese from across the world, that are then judged by technical experts, buyers, retailers and food writers. This year, India-crafted cheese sat pretty confident with the other 4,000 entries from 45 countries. Then it was down to business – as 230 judges went on their tasting and observation medley and chanced upon this Indian-made brunost. That Narang was among the winners was monumental, and she inadvertently opened the doors for other Indian cheese makers with her delicious brown cheese. “I was ecstatic when I heard the news. It was a huge moment for all Indian cheese artisans,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_17109" align="aligncenter" width="632"] Cheese Cheese by Eleftheria[/caption]

As for the coveted brunost, it has a unique taste, “That’s quite like a fusion of khoya (milk cake), the traditional Indian milk solid and whey,” she explains.

Prepared from discarded whey, brunost was already a well-known cheese when Narang experimented with it. It took her a few weeks to perfect the texture and flavour of the brown cheese. “It was exciting to do that. The cheese is also unique to the Indian market. It tastes almost like salted caramel milk fudge. Brunost goes well with your morning breakfast of toast and pancakes too,” she suggests.

How the “umami” came together

Narang's interest in fromage began nine years ago. Working at Capgemini, she missed her comfort food of bread and cheese from her years at Birmingham, which is also where she first fell in love with a wide variety of cheese. “Back then, my fridge had a huge collection,” she smiles.

When she came back to Mumbai, Mausam baked bread and crafted homemade cheese to complement her loaves. An idea that began with an inherent urge to taste good cheese, her passion saw her parents wondering where to store the cheese she was churning out. “My parents are very supportive, but they were worried about the amount of cheese I was making during weekends. We Indians don't learn about cheese-making from our forefathers. Similarly, my parents were clueless,” she laughs. After a great response for her milk-laden bites from loved ones, she decided to quit corporate life to pursue cheese and became a true turophile and cheesemonger.

[caption id="attachment_17113" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Mausam Narang[/caption]

The freedom to “cheese”

Eleftheria, her brand was born in 2015, which is the Greek word for “freedom.” She tackled it with the same spirit. Three years of R&D on cheese making, creating new varieties, attending workshops and meeting fromagers - she was ready with the artisanal Eleftheria. The micro creamery in Mumbai’s north-east suburbs supplies artisanal cheese to over 50 restaurants across Mumbai, Pune, Calcutta, Bengaluru, Delhi, etc. It is also available at Foodhall. “We plan to expand to Chennai soon,” she adds. What started as a venture with two people, is now 25 staff strong. A 150 gm brunost costs Rs 350, 200 gm burrata Rs 400 and 200 gm mozzarella is Rs 350.

The resourceful fromagere is at the creamery every morning when the first milk arrives. “I don't like getting up early, but the milk forces me,” she laughs. She personally monitors the quality and processes.

One thing that cheese has taught Narang is patience. “The craft teaches you to be patient. Milk is the main ingredient and it's so tricky, especially when preparing a fermented product. You have to be very careful, and never give up. With lots of patience, you can achieve great results,” she says. Her personal favourite cheese is a well-aged cloth bound traditional cheddar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSDaKp0uX0o

Chuffed about flying the Indian flag high, she is hopeful, “India is not that big for cheese artisans, but the number is increasing steadily. People are travelling and have developed a palate and now know about different food combinations. I feel a lot of cheese makers will come up from India in the next five to six years,” says cheese story teller.

Follow Eleftheria on Instagram

Reading Time: 6 min

Indian Union Budget 2022: Mental health, startups get a boost, while tourism, social sector look on

(February 2, 2022) The Union Budget 2022 announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2022 promised Indian stakeholders “amrit kaal,” with reforms for the next 25 years. While many sectors are reaping the benefits, the common man is short-changed. TEAM GI decoded what the budget amidst the pandemic means for the industries, and how to descramble these numbers. A startup for startups [caption id="attachment_19421" align="alignleft" width="263"] Vijay Anand, founder, The Startup Centre[/caption]

gnleft" width="263"] Union Budget 2022 | Vijay Anand Vijay Anand, founder, The Startup Centre[/caption]
That apart, finance minister Sitharaman has announced an open stack for the national digital health ecosystem, which means unique digital IDs will be provided to promote universal access to healthcare facilities. However, according to Vijay Anand, founder of the Startup Centre, also popularly known as the Startup Guy, “the open stack feature seems promising, but iSPIRT has already been working on this for years.”

The fact that the government has extended tax benefits for the startup ecosystem though is a welcome relief. “Things have been on a massive upswing in terms of the number of startups that have emerged and unicorns that came to be. This move was smart to not rock the boat and introduce minimal interventions this year,” says Anand, adding, “There are some issues that we still need to address overall if we want to make the Indian ecosystem competitive to global ones. There is already an ongoing discussion with the FM regarding these and a 120-point document has been shared, in consultation with startups and stakeholders,” he tells Global Indian.

A socially uplifting budget?

When budget 2022 was announced, many thought that it has missed social sector announcements. Interestingly, this is one sector that was highly neglected. Despite the pandemic creating a severe impact on the health, education and food security of the poor and informal sectors in the past two years, budget 2022 turned a blind eye to the social sector by restricting the spending that could contribute to improvements in human development outcomes.

Budget 2022 sees Health and Family Welfare that accounts for ₹83,000 crore, go up by only 16 percent. Calling out the discrepancy, Avani Kapur, a senior fellow at Centre for Research Policy tweeted, “Investments in the social sector remain neglected in this year’s budget. What has been particularly surprising is the low investments for health and also for some key schemes that were a safety net during the peak of the Covid-19 crisis. For instance, while there remain 77 lakh households that had demanded work under MGNREGS still to receive it, allocations for the scheme saw a 26 percent decrease over past year’s revised estimates. Food subsidy has seen a 28 percent decrease even as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana providing additional free grains to families was extended till 2022. Similarly, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, sees only a ₹200 crore increase this year.”

[caption id="attachment_19422" align="alignright" width="180"] Union Budget 2022 | Mayank Midha Mayank Midha, CEO of GARV Toilets[/caption]However, the allocation of ₹60,000 crore to provide tap water to 3.8 crore households under Har Ghar, Nal Se Jal Scheme, has been welcomed by the social sector. Mayank Midha, CEO, GARV Toilets, is glad to see the government’s commitment to delivering basic necessities. “There has already been significant progress in this project since its launch in 2019 and the target to reach 16 crore households by 2024 seems practical with fresh commitment of funds. Providing access to tap water for every household will positively impact community health, women empowerment and socio-economic parameters,” says Mayank Midha.

Mental health for the pandemic inflicted

The burden of mental health issues in India clocks 2,443 DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) per 100,000 population. Lancet’s 2019 study stated that one in seven Indians are affected by mental disorders, and a survey by NIMHANS calls out a treatment gap between of 70 percent – 92 percent.

With this budget giving the health sector a robust boost, ₹4,176.84 crore allocated, this added focus on health infrastructure has been lauded by business leaders and the industry too.

[caption id="attachment_19423" align="alignleft" width="292"] Union Budget 2022 | Dr Amit Malik Dr Amit Malik, founder, InnerHour[/caption] Dr Amit Malik, founder and CEO, InnerHour, a healthcare technology company looking to disrupt the psychological wellness and mental health, says, “India has nearly 200 million people with a mental health need and lots of barriers to access of high-quality professional support. The treatment gap for mental health in India is nearly 95 percent, and all partners, government bodies like NIMHANs, private partners like InnerHour, and NGOs need to work towards bridging this huge need gap.”

Optimistic about the passing of the Mental Health Act, the new initiative with NIMHANS and IITB in Budget 2022, Dr Malik adds, “It is very encouraging for those suffering from mental illness. It will increase awareness and provide early access to mental health support. We see this as a great step in the right direction and welcome it wholeheartedly.”

Tourism sector wants more

India saw 17.9 million foreign tourists arrive in 2019, while in 2018, the number was 17.4 million – seeing a growth of 3.5 percent. The recent budget allocation to the ministry of tourism - ₹2400 crore, 18.42 percent higher than 2021, is a start to revive the industry.

[caption id="attachment_19424" align="alignright" width="205"] Union Budget 2022 | Sriharan Balan Sriharan Balan, chairman, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India[/caption] However, Sriharan Balan, chairman Adventure Tour Operators Association of India - Tamil Nādu chapter and managing director, Madura Travel Service (P) Ltd says, “Budget 2022 is yet a big disappointment, and it’s very unfortunate that suggestions given by FAITH, TAAI, IATO, and other travel associations were neglected. An industry that contributes to 7 percent of GDP and 10 percent of direct and indirect employment has been left unheard.”
The pandemic has seen industries struggle, and bailouts given to travel in foreign countries. This would have been apt for the Indian tourism industry. Balan explains, “There is more burden in terms of TCS for outbound travel. Back-to-back lockdowns and increases in fuel price have played a spoilt sport. The government has definitely come out with a Bailout Funding Scheme rather than loans to uplift the industry from complete closures.”

Reading Time: 6 min

Acclaimed Indian filmmaker, Shaily Sanghvi is on a mission to elevate India’s standing on the global cinematic stage

(August 14, 2023) A writer, director, and producer based in Los Angeles, Shaily Sanghvi has made several inroads into Hollywood, with films like ‘Pandaal’, ‘Jasmine Flowers’, ‘Little Joys of the Finite’, ‘Haze Grey’, ‘The Grass is Greener’, ‘Pirouette’ and more. Flash Back Sanghvi grew up in Ahmedabad but her love for films made her shift to Mumbai right after her under-graduation. Even as a child she would be completely involved when watching movies. “When I was watching Kuch Kuch Hota Hai at the age of four, I was weeping because I did not want Anjali to leave Rahul at the station,” she recollects. Even today she admits that she draws inspiration from the beautiful painting that Sanjay Leela Bhansali creates in each frame. She completed her undergraduate course in Mass Communication from Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, where she was first exposed to filmmaking. She later moved to Los Angeles and finished her master's from New York Film Academy (LA campus). [caption id="attachment_43632" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Indian filmmaker Shaily Sanghvi[/caption] Film Trip For someone who has always been an expressive person, whether it was through her paintings, poems or learning dance forms like Kathak, Salsa, Bharatnatyam or Belly Dance as a child, she learnt

| Shaily Sanghvi" width="638" height="554" /> Indian filmmaker Shaily Sanghvi[/caption]

Film Trip

For someone who has always been an expressive person, whether it was through her paintings, poems or learning dance forms like Kathak, Salsa, Bharatnatyam or Belly Dance as a child, she learnt early that there was a way for her to express all these forms together and this was when she fell in love with the craft. “I could use my poems for characters' emotions, painting to make my frame aesthetic, and dance to understand complex human behaviours. And when I saw Zoya Akhtar and her films using each of these forms to express emotions her characters go through, my mind was set,” says Sanghvi. Incidentally, she made her first film during under graduation which she believes was guerrilla filmmaking in a true sense. “My parents became my production designers; my photography friend became my DOP and my room became my set. Not of much surprise, that film was not a great one. But what I did realise was the lengths I was ready to go to get that story to life and film it. I learnt a lot of what not to do from that and how to grow.”

Global Indian | Shaily Sanghvi

Tele Tales

The first time she saw a set was when she did an internship for India’s Best Dramebaaz, Season 2 on Zee TV. This was when she was still doing her undergraduate course when she found that they needed interns for a TV show. “There was not even a second of doubt that I wanted to do it. That was the first time I went to Mumbai for work and not to see relatives. That month of internship was enough to give me a lifetime of determination to go back and do this for life,” the Global Indian says. It was only after two years that she moved to Mumbai and joined Balaji Telefilms as Ekta Kapoor’s creative associate. And proverbially, there was no looking back as she has stints with Disney, Monozygotic (Roadies famed, Raghu and Rajiv’s production house), and Flipkart MiniTV after that. She also worked with several celebrities like Sonali Bendre, Sajid Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Ekta Kapoor, Vishal Malhotra, Mallika Dua, Rhea Kapoor, Akash Gupta and more.

Creative Path

One film that she is proud of is ‘Pirouette’ that has garnered various awards including the Best Drama award at the prestigious Synergy Film Festival 2022, alongside her well-deserved recognition as Best Female Director. The film is about this uncomfortable topic of desires through the journey of a ballet dancer and her struggle to fulfil her dreams. It talks about how sometimes the dreams that you choose do not choose you back. But does that make it the end? Life runs in circles, if you have not received what you desire, it is yet not the end. “Awards and recognition may not help your craft, but they do play a role to boost you. Pirouette being one of my early films to gain recognition gave me a boost to keep going,” she avers. Other than this, her horror-thriller film, ‘I Got You’ has also bagged a couple of awards in categories like best horror and best director. “One of the bigger milestones is creating my film ‘Alive’. Crowdfunded, this film holds a special place in my heart since it was roughly based on my experience of recent grief. Having lost my Badi Ma very recently, it took me a lot of courage to gather myself and make this film happen. The film is currently in post-production and we are working towards making it the best version of itself. Since it is based roughly on the way my family dealt with that grief, this film means to me a lot more than any of my creations,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_43635" align="aligncenter" width="589"] Shaily Sanghvi at the Synergy Film Festival.[/caption]

Indian Connection

Sanghvi is working to elevate India's standing on the global cinematic stage and takes pride that she has a unique perspective of blending two cultures to bring a fresh story. “The last two films that I directed were both Indian stories. My film ‘Jasmine Flowers’ is about an Old Indian woman, residing in the US, hoping for a wedding invitation to her neighbour’s wedding despite her inauspicious status as a widow. What we explore in this film is not how regressive the traditions are but how in today’s time we are living against them,” says Sanghvi. Having a multicultural experience helps a lot while exploring human emotions. “I want people here to know India for things way beyond the dance we have in our films. Being amongst the biggest entertainment industry in the world the Indian film industry should be known for so much more, for the stories, for its culture, for so much that it has to offer and I want the world to see that,” she opines.

Future Perfect

Films come with their own set of challenges. For instance, Pirouette was being shot on 35mm film camera and choreographing a whole ballet sequence and training the talent to perform it within the limited takes that a film camera allows to fit everything within the limited budget was hard. “Films are someone everyone will have an opinion on. That is the beauty of it. You make one film but that same film will be seen in a million different ways. That is not a test to your abilities but the natural way of art to exist,” she admits. Currently, she is working on the postproduction of three of her films and is preparing her next project, a web series to be shot in the coming year. See you at the movies!

Follow Shaily Sanghvi on Instagram and check her work on IMDB