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Global IndianstoryWorldly moves: Vrinda Chadha’s Odissi odyssey

Worldly moves: Vrinda Chadha’s Odissi odyssey

Written by: Amrita Priya

(December 20, 2023) Odissi exponent Vrinda Chadha was only a teenager when she began traveling the world for her performances. Vrinda, who was introduced to the ancient dance form at the age of 13, began accompanying her Guru, Padma Shri Ranjana Gauhar, as she performed across India and around the world. Vrinda has been part of her guru’s ensemble and a solo dancer in her own right, gracing stages in Spain, Argentina, Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Madagascar, and Seychelles. With a vast repertoire of work, the former member of the International Dance Council UNESCO in Paris and a Teach for India fellow, Vrinda has earned numerous awards.

Vrinda Chadha

In 2020, during the pandemic, Vrinda launched ‘Imagine,’ a video project aiming to uplift the prevailing sombre mood by blending music and dance across genres. “The video, initially created just for social media platforms, gained instant popularity. Later, to our delight it was selected to be featured at Chicago’s In/Motion International Dance and Film Festival in 2022,” Vrinda tells Global Indian. “Curated by DanzLenz – Kri Foundation‘s dance and camera vertical, the festival was dedicated to South Asian dance films made by dancers and dance filmmakers of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and their diaspora from across the world.”

‘Imagine’ with a vision

As artists took to online platforms to stay connected to their craft during the lockdowns in 2020, Vrinda’s project ‘Imagine’, was aimed at bringing cheer during times of uncertainty. “What started off just on a whim became a virtual performance by 13 ace vocalists, on whose songs I performed on my own choreography,” she tells. The team of musicians sang an a Capella cover of John Lennon’s iconic anthem, Imagine, to which Vrinda created a beautiful fusion choreography with Odissi movements and expressions to it. “All the contributing artists worked from home. Our aim was to just bring people together and spread a message of peace, hope and love,” she says.

As Vrinda and her collaborators revelled in the success of their heartfelt creation, they were pleasantly amazed when it was chosen to be showcased at the Chicago’s In/Motion International Dance and Film Festival. This global event aims to foster collaboration among artists advocating for social equality and serves as a platform for discussions on sustainable artistry.

The festival was organised by Amy Wilkinson, a leading expert in innovation and entrepreneurship, along with Aaron Greer, a film and media arts professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sarah Cullen Fuller from Loyola University Chicago’s Dance Program, and the dancer/choreographer Sarah Fluegel.

Vrinda’s artistic path

“I have always loved dancing. It allows me to express myself more than words can,” Vrinda shares. Her parents had noticed this passion in their daughter when she was a school student studying at Modern School in New Delhi, and took her to Guru Gauhar who lived in their neighbourhood. Recognising Vrinda’s talent, she agreed to be Vrinda’s teacher and has been guiding her disciple’s dance journey ever since, both in India and abroad.

Vrinda Chadha

“Guruji noticed my potential, nurtured my natural interest in dance, and provided the guidance it required. Finding the right mentor is key for anyone pursuing an art form. I feel fortunate to have been trained under her,” Vrinda says, highlighting that her family had no prior professional ties to the art world before she started learning Odissi.

When Vrinda embarked on her dance journey, she had limited knowledge about the different dance forms. Yet, it seemed as if Odissi was destined to become an integral part of her identity. “I didn’t even realise how deeply it intertwined with my personality,” remarks the dancer, who alongside her training in Hindustani classical music and yoga, acknowledges their substantial role in enriching her dance performances.

“Now, after so many years of my association with Odissi, it’s challenging to distinguish between myself and my dance,” tells Vrinda who has been the recipient of the Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award in Mumbai, the Young Talent Award by the International Academy of Mohiniyattam in Delhi, the prestigious title of Odissi Ratna in Bhubaneswar, and the Kameshwari Award in Guwahati.

Giving back

Apart from performing and serving as a faculty member at ‘Utsav‘, her Guru’s, dance academy, Vrinda teaches across government schools in Delhi.

Vrinda Chadha with her guru Padma Shri Ranjana Gauhar

“Performing artists and their audience are privileged to have access to art but art seldom reaches the underprivileged, “she remarks, adding “With this in mind, I took up the Teach for India fellowship to introduce dance and music to the lesser privileged. The idea is not to make these kids experts in Odissi, rather enhance their self-expression and emotional literacy through the medium. Through my art I hope to continually spread love, peace, and consciousness.”

Dance and beyond

“Dance isn’t solely about performing; there are other dimensions to it,” explains Vrinda, who deeply soaks herself into research and study of Odissi when she is not performing or teaching. “My future plans include taking the legacy of my Guru’s teachings forward and spreading this art further to the best of my capacity, she tells.”

Apart from her passion for dance, Vrinda cherishes exploring nature, frequently embarking on solo journeys to scenic destinations like Himachal for hiking and climbing.

Vrinda Chadha

“As an Odissi dancer I have always valued the ability to express and connect with one’s innermost being through the medium of art. The liberation and joy of surrender in such an experience is unparalleled. It helps me to not just my audience but my own soul. My art empowers and frees me both on and off stage. It is my identity,” she signs off.

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Published on 20, Dec 2023

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Saare Jahan Se Achha: Space pioneer Rakesh Sharma’s story evokes national pride

(September 4, 2023) “I think I was born a little early because I’m already 75 and the remarkable era of space exploration programmes begins now but as an Indian, I join my hands and congratulate ISRO for the great success,” said cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, on the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission while speaking to National Geographic. Whenever people talk about important milestones in India's space exploration, the name of Rakesh Sharma is bound to come up. It's a name that no well-informed Indian can ever forget. Though many Indian-origin people have gone to space; in the population of 1.4 billion people, Rakesh Sharma remains the first and the only Indian citizen so far to have achieved this feat. The conversation between astronaut Rakesh Sharma and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi while he was in space is still widely remembered. His response, 'Saare Jahan Se Achha' (better than the entire world), when she asked how India looked from space, became a source of pride for the entire country. This interaction contributed to Rakesh Sharma's status as a national hero. [caption id="attachment_44465" align="aligncenter" width="535"] Rakesh Sharma[/caption] From space the world seems borderless “When you go into the space, the first thing you

ational hero.

[caption id="attachment_44465" align="aligncenter" width="535"] Indian Heroes | Rakesh Sharma | Global Indian Rakesh Sharma[/caption]

From space the world seems borderless

“When you go into the space, the first thing you do when you look out from the window is to look for your country. You say, ‘yes, it’s quite like what the Geography books have said’. After seeing it over and over again when you shift your focus, you look at the neighbouring countries and then you start realising from up there that boundaries are not visible – that they are man-made, and then you start developing that global outlook,” Rakesh Sharma told children when he visited one of the schools.

When you have the tricolour on your arms, your performance goes beyond your potential. It’s like having a purpose higher than yourself, and when you have that purpose, things become a lot easier.

Rakesh Sharma remarked

The trailblazer’s story

In January 1982, a decision was made that an Indian would go to space on a Soviet spacecraft. It was a joint mission of ISRO and the Soviet Interkosmos Space Programme.

This big decision inspired Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma to volunteer for this tough mission. After a very careful selection process, including a thorough medical test, he was chosen as one of the two candidates to become astronauts from a group of 150 highly qualified Indian Air Force pilots.

Once he was selected, Sharma went through extensive astronaut training at the Yuri Gagarin Centre in the USSR. During this time, he showed strong dedication and commitment, which impressed the experts of the Soviet Space Programme. The Squadron Leader successfully finished a very tough training programme, standing out for his exceptional professionalism and great performance.

Then, on April 3rd, 1984, he scripted history by becoming the first Indian to complete a space mission in orbit. Throughout the joint Indo-Soviet Space Mission, he did all the planned scientific experiments and other tasks really well, showing impressive skill and excellence. Through his achievements, Rakesh Sharma not only earned his place among respected space pioneers but also brought a lot of honour and pride to the country.

[caption id="attachment_44469" align="aligncenter" width="796"] Indian Heroes | Rakesh Sharma | Global Indian Rakesh Sharm with his team members Yury Malyshev and Gennadi Strekalov[/caption]

It takes your breath away…

Right from his childhood Rakesh Sharma was captivated with the news of space. He followed every development related to space and the lives of the astronauts, oblivious of what the future beholds for him.

“There were no television sets then but our generation closely followed each and every information that they came across in the print media to know all about the astronaut training and experiences in space,” he told the school children.

I was the 128th guy in the world to go to space. By that time, there was already a lot of information available in the print, audio and visual media. So, I was pretty much prepared for what to expect but still, it takes your breath away when you go up there.

Rakesh Sharma shared

Sharma’s space odyssey

The first Indian citizen to travel into space accomplished the historic feat by embarking on a journey aboard the Soviet rocket Soyuz T-11, which was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic on April 3, 1984. The spacecraft carried a crew that included Sharma, the ship's commander Yury Malyshev, and flight engineer Gennadi Strekalov to the Salyut 7 Orbital Station.

During his time aboard the Salyut 7, which lasted for 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes, Sharma and his team conducted a range of scientific and technical studies. These encompassed 43 experimental sessions, with a primary focus on fields like bio-medicine and remote sensing.

In their celestial voyage, they captured mesmerising views of space in the absence of gravity.

The crew held joint television news conferences from space, connecting with officials in Moscow and India's Prime Minister at the time, Indira Gandhi. This mission made India the 14th nation to achieve the remarkable milestone of sending a human into outer space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hfccr3KIWc&t=8s

All praise for ISRO

“ISRO was working on a very carefully crafted plan of the luminaries like Vikram Sarabhai who envisioned that all our efforts on space must have a socio-economic focus and everything must trickle down to the common man,” he said.

Speaking highly of ISRO, Sharma remarked, “It has never competed with any other nation, and has received spectacular success.”

Yoga and music in space

“One problem with space flight is that people can become less productive because of space sickness in the environment of zero gravity,” Rakesh Sharma mentioned.

While aboard, his other two Russian crew members followed their own training profile to address the space sickness issue but Rakesh Sharma had strong belief in Yoga.

“Two-three months before the launch of our space programme, I had stopped training as per their profile. I did only yoga. It was my way to check whether yoga would prove to be helpful in addressing the space sickness problem,” he remarked. “The other two were experienced cosmonauts so they adjusted pretty well to zero gravity and I being the first timer did not face any problem either,” added the Global Indian.

The crew was allowed to take one kilogram of personal stuff in space. The Russian astronauts carried a guitar while Sharma carried a cassette player and a cassette of his favourite music.

A naughty child

Rakesh Sharma was born on January 13, 1949, in Patiala, Punjab. Growing up in a modest household he had an affinity for flying from a young age.

He was a naughty child who often got punished by his teachers who made him stand at the back of the class.

After completing his schooling from St. George Grammar School, Hyderabad, and graduation from Nizam College, he joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) as an air force plebe. Subsequently he joined the Indian Air Force as a test pilot in 1970. Sharma was only 21 then.

Maths was never my favourite subject – English literature, English language and biology was. But during my test pilot training I did a master’s level aeronautical science course with mathematics as an important subject. Maths was coming out of my ears but I did manage to finish that course.

Sharma said in an interaction with children evoking laughter.

Difficulty in getting parents’ consent

Rakesh Sharma’s father worked for Punjab National Bank and later switched to state government service. His mother was an educationist. “I had difficulty in getting consent from my parents to allow me to fly fighter aircraft because we didn’t have any other family members in the air force except for a cousin of mine who had died in an air crash two months after he was commissioned,” he shared.

But looking at how adamant he was to join the Airforce, Sharma's parents gave in. However, his mother set a condition. “I want you to promise that you will be very good at what you are choosing because that will keep you ahead of the game, and that’s the only way you will be safe,” she said.

[caption id="attachment_44470" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Indian Heroes | Rakesh Sharma | Global Indian Rakesh Sharma[/caption]

Sharma's dedication and skill earned him the opportunity to fly various aircrafts. While serving as a military pilot, he participated in dangerous combat missions on board a MiG-21 aircraft during the 1971 Bangladesh War.

From fighter pilot to astronaut

Progressing through numerous levels, Sharma was promoted to the rank of squadron leader in the IAF.

It was his exceptional performance as a pilot that caught the attention of the authorities when the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sought to send an Indian into space. In 1982, Rakesh Sharma was chosen for this historic mission.

If it hadn’t been for my career as a fighter pilot, I wouldn’t have gone to space. If I were to live my life again I would again try to become a fighter pilot. It still remains an interesting job with new verticals like automation and artificial intelligence added to it now.

Rakesh Sharma remarked

Awards and honours

After his return from space, Sharma was conferred the prestigious title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. He continues to hold the unique distinction of being the sole Indian recipient of this honour.

In India, Sharma and his two Soviet mission companions, Malyshev and Strekalov were honoured with the highest peacetime gallantry award, the 'Ashoka Chakra'.

Life after retirement

After retiring as a wing commander of the Indian Air Force, Sharma joined Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 1987, assuming the role of chief test pilot at the HAL Nashik Division. In 1992 he moved on to HAL's Bangalore division. In 2001, his flying career came to an end.

Immediately after that, Sharma held the position of non-executive chairman at Cadila Labs, a company based in Bengaluru that specialises in innovative automation solutions. He also played a significant role in ISRO's Gaganyaan National Advisory Council, supervising the astronaut selection programme.

Sharma has been leading a life full of tranquillity in the quietude of Coonoor in Tamil Nadu with his wife, Madhu. They savour the pleasures of golfing, gardening, yoga, reading, watching films and listening to music which ranges from Hindustani classical, to western and Sufi numbers.

[caption id="attachment_44475" align="aligncenter" width="884"] Indian Heroes | Rakesh Sharma | Global Indian Rakesh Sharma during an interaction session with students[/caption]

Inspiration for all

Rakesh Sharma has extensively travelled across schools and colleges of India sharing his first-hand experience of being in space with youngsters.

Sharma's impact reverberates through the pages of history books and India's journey among the stars. He continues to symbolise boundless exploration of space and the aspirations of humanity.

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Embroidering her way to glory: Ruma Devi is putting Rajasthan’s handwoven designs on the global fashion map

(May 18, 2022) The term fashion world often brings to mind the image of well-known designers, supermodels, and ramp walks. But Ruma Devi is unlike any fashion designer, she is a superwoman for her peers. Responsible for single-handedly placing the handwoven designs of the artisans from Rajasthan on the global fashion map, the 33-year-old handicraft artisan, in the process, has empowered the lives of thousands of rural women from the Barmer region. From providing job opportunities in embroidery work to making local women participate in fashion shows across the world, Ruma has done everything. A school dropout, Ruma is a national awardee, a TedEx speaker and already a towering personality when it comes to women empowerment. She was also honoured by Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019. [caption id="attachment_24583" align="aligncenter" width="792"] Ruma Devi[/caption] Early life Ruma was only four when her mother passed away and she spent most of her childhood at her grandmother's house. "I used to see my grandmother doing embroidery work. In fact, almost every house in the Barmer district used to wear clothes with embroidery done by women of the house. I never thought that I’d do it one day, but learnt it anyway," Ruma tells Global

er doing embroidery work. In fact, almost every house in the Barmer district used to wear clothes with embroidery done by women of the house. I never thought that I’d do it one day, but learnt it anyway," Ruma tells Global Indian.

Coming from a conservative rural family, Ruma dropped out of school at an early age and was married at 16. She didn't even understand the responsibilities of her marriage when a tragedy struck. "I was lost and I was coming to terms with it when the most devastating thing happened. I lost my first child due to an illness. I didn't have enough money to get my child the right treatment. It angered me so much and I went into depression," recalls the handicraft artisan.

Still in her late teens, she knew she had a long life ahead, but the child's face kept haunting her. "I couldn't do anything and felt aimless. I decided to distract myself with something that could keep me occupied." She had two options, either to work as a maid in someone's house or take up embroidery and try her luck. "I decided to pick embroidery. I could do embroidery on bags that villagers carry when they visit their relatives. But I had no money to get the bags in the first place," laughs Ruma. In 2008, she convinced a few women to come together and buy a sewing machine for stitching bags and do embroidery on them. "We bought a second-hand sewing machine and that's how we started, she adds.

Few months into it, Ruma realised there wasn’t enough work. "After all, how many bags could we sell to the people in the village," she says. That’s when the search for new customers began which brought them to Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan (GVCS), an NGO that works for the upliftment of women in the region. "They gave us three days to finish an embroidery assignment and bring the bags to them. Everybody was so thrilled that we worked the entire night, and were done with our job by the next day," laughs Ruma, for whom there was no looking back as she kept getting more work from the sansthan, which she would head a few years down the line!

[caption id="attachment_24588" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Handicraft Artisan | Ruma Devi Ruma Devi receives Nari Shakti Award from Ram Nath Kovind[/caption]

The challenges along the way

While Ruma and her group of women were expanding to nearby villages and had become a big collective of talented artisans, voices of discouragement tried to dampen their spirit. Many women were not allowed to step out of their homes despite their success. But Ruma convinced them to work from their homes while those allowed to step out would do the marketing bit in districts outside Barmer. Soon people started liking their work and more work followed.

It was time to step out of Rajasthan, and a trade show in Delhi in 2011 was the perfect opportunity to do that. But the decision didn’t find much support from her family members as she was charting into an unknown territory. Ruma had butterflies, but she feared nothing. Although the business was not great, it helped her understand the market well. The next year brought with it ₹11 lakh, which was way beyond their expectation. This helped the women to believe in themselves and in the leadership of Ruma.

What began with Ruma is now 30,000 strong. Currently women do applique and various types of embroidery work on upholstery items and everyday clothes. "We have uplifted many families from poverty," she beams with pride.

In 2010, Ruma took over as the president of GVCS and under her leadership, it has expanded operations to 75 villages and trained 11,000 artisans so far. The organisation is now collaborating with tribal women and taking it across India and to the world. The 32-year-old also collaboratively started sister producer company, Applique Handicrafts Producer Company for artisans.

The Fashion Diva

The ramp bug bit Ruma after she witnessed a fashion show in Jaipur a few years ago, and since her band of women were designing clothes too, she wanted to give it a try.

“Again, people within and outside said that our clothes were not made for the ramp and that we should stick to what we were doing. But since we had come this far, I saw no harm in trying something new," says Ruma, adding, "I felt a fashion show would be a good platform to showcase our work yet I had no clue how to go about it. A few designers told me, 'You are supposed to stitch and not just embroider. Stitching is not your thing’.” These hurtful remarks made Ruma more determined to participate. She wanted people to see the artisans who often remain voiceless and faceless in the glamourous world of fashion.

In 2016, Ruma and her team designed clothes for a fashion show at the Rajasthan Heritage Week, and they were an instant hit. Soon designers started making their way to Barmer to know more about their work and designs. Since then, she has not only worked with best in the Indian and global fashion circuit like Bibi Russell and Abraham & Thakore, she has also visited Germany, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the US and UAE to promote the arts and craft. "Our designs are now sold in various parts of the world. We have also started shipping our line of home furnishing lines of products to USA, Dubai and UK," reveals the handicraft artisan.

Memorable moments

Life has taught Ruma that the sky is the limit if one is determined to overcome obstacles. A school dropout, Ruma received an honorary PhD from Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule University, Jaipur in 2020. In 2019, she made an appearance at Kaun Banega Crorepati, "I was very nervous that I would sit next to Amitabh Bachchan. But he was so warm and gentle that I felt very comfortable," Ruma shares.

[caption id="attachment_24586" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Ruma Devi with Amitabh Bachchan on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati[/caption]

The very next year, she organised a crafts workshop at the Harvard University, wherein she was invited as a speaker for their 17^th annual India Conference. But she procrastinated it for a bit as she was “shocked” by the invite and “ignored it for a few weeks.” Recalling the time, she says, “Firstly, I didn't dare to reply to that mail. Secondly, it was an expensive trip to go to the USA." But with the help of Bajaj Group, who sponsored her trip, she could do it.

Ruma might have been born in a small village in Rajasthan, but once she discovered the talent inside her, she never looked back. "I am a very ordinary woman who didn't know about her purpose, but things happened, and I never lost faith in my ability or in the women who trusted me," the handicraft artisan signs off.

Follow Ruma Devi on Instagram

Reading Time: 7 mins

Sutanu Sur: Taking India’s soft power to the world through music

(January 8, 2023) “Learning tabla from such a young age made me so good at Maths that I became an engineer,” tabla player Sutanu Sur joked, as he did a demonstration with the instrument before joining the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra in concert. Sutanu has been living in Fox Valley, in Wisconsin, USA, for nearly a decade and learning the tabla for well over three, part of a small but thriving Indian diaspora a few hours North of Chicago. His audience that night was almost completely American and many were seeing a tabla for the first time. Sutanu, a software engineer by profession, performs whenever he gets the chance, he is keen to have a proactive role in taking Indian music to the world. Although Indian music culture is well-showcased in the larger cities, the same cannot be said of the smaller suburban towns, where the diaspora is notably smaller. “Indian classical music concerts happen in the big cities. I live three hours from Chicago, in a town where everything is available, including a prestigious concert hall. But there is hardly any focus on Indian music," Sutanu tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_33665" align="aligncenter" width="340"] Sutanu Sur[/caption] Sutanu is determined to

caption id="attachment_33665" align="aligncenter" width="340"] Sutanu Sur[/caption]

Sutanu is determined to do his bit, performing as much as he can, talking about his craft and speaking to the media. The Indian diaspora in this little corner of American suburbia is small but active – in 2010, they even built the region’s first Hindu temple, there is a Sikh temple and the nearest Bengali Association (Bengali Cultural Society of Milwaukee) that hosts its Durga Puja celebrations every year is two hours away.

Performing with the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra

Last year, the internationally renowned conductor and pedagogue, Dr Kevin Sütterlin, who had become the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra conductor, decided on a more multicultural theme for their concert in October 2022. He picked a piece by Reena Esmail, whose compositions are rooted in Indian classical music traditions and fused with Western music and instruments. The piece, however, needed a tabla player.

"Kevin considers himself a global citizen and is interested in different cultures and forms of music," Sutanu says, as he recalls how this collaboration happened. "He chose the Esmail piece because he wanted to show a blend of cultures. They decided to include the tabla section without knowing how hard it would be to find a tabla player." By then, Sutanu had performed in several concerts in the area and Sütterlin tracked him down. "It was the first time I received the scores of a composition," Sutanu smiles.

The concept was so novel to the audience that Sutanu had to start out with a demonstration. What's more, the orchestra had managed only three rehearsals with their tabla player. "They are world class musicians who could adapt to the different kinds of compositions and the nature of the instrument," Sutanu explains.

Early talent

Growing up in a suburb some 50 kilometres outside Kolkata, Sutanu showed an interest in the tabla in his family home from a very young age. His parents noticed and fixed up lessons with a teacher. He learned for 12 years, under Pandit Sukumar Moitra. He performed even as a child, taking part in competitions and winning nearly all of them. "The tabla was my main focus then. I was doing my riyaz for six to eight hours a day." Even his academics became second priority, until class 10. "I was really good at Maths and got into Jadavpur University," Sutanu says. "I studied engineering and continued to play the tabla."

When Sutanu moved out to Fox Valley to work, around a decade ago, there weren’t too many Indians around. “Nobody really focused on presenting Indian culture to the community,” he says. He began performing with IndUS of Fox Valley organization, which is dedicated to promoting Indian culture. “I have been performing there for the last seven years,” he says.

A tabla player joining a symphony orchestra is rare and Sutanu takes pride in it, "as an Indian," he says. "The audience was surprised to learn all the nuances of the tabla. The only way to promote something to is to get people to learn about it," he says.

An ambassador of India's soft power

Sutanu continues to train, now with Pandit Swapan Choudhury, who has launched a digital library of resources for tabla players around the world. “Music has its own language, it’s a great way to communicate,” Sutanu says. “I have never played alongside a clarinet before and I don’t think Dr Bruce Danz has played any Indian songs before. But he was adapting and so was I, it’s a communication that happens through music. That’s why it plays such an immense role in connecting people and cultures from around the globe.”

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‘Buy’ the sustainable way: How social entrepreneur Akshai Sarin empowers the marginalised

(September 10, 2024) Social entrepreneur Akshai Sarin's website opens into a little blitzkrieg of photos - you see him chatting casually with Paris Hilton and standing with an arm around Amitabh Bachchan. Sarin is a serial entrepreneur and a maverick, with a deeply spiritual side - for 25 years, he has supported leaders in their wellness journeys, with his experience of over 9,000 hours of meditation, breath work, energy work, ayurveda and yoga, and has been certified by the Art of Living Foundation. On LinkedIn, he describes himself as a 'dreamer-doer', who has travelled to over forty countries, and lived in the UK, Philippines, USA, Netherlands, Egypt and Oman, apart form India. His varied career has been marked by industry-disrupting initiatives across a multitude of disciplines, from sustainability and social impact to marketing, tech and wellness and hospitality. Since 2006, he has co-founded six companies, the firs tbeing Some Place Else - a restaurant and entertainment complex for which he partnered with Dharmendra and Bobby Deol. A year later, he co-founded Axyz Music, bringing some of the biggest names in th emusic industry (including Akon and Jay Sean) to India. The label also owned festival sin four countries. Other ventures

ries. Other ventures include The TiLT (2010), a changemakers summit in Berlin, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, TTOGETHER.co (2012), a disruptive marketing agency that has worked with global powerhouses like PepsiCo, Armani, Diageo, Reliance Group, Tata Group and the governments of Singapore, UAE and India. In 2018 came BlessdBuy.com, a sustainability partner to some of the world's top brands and in 2020, CreativeDignity.org, a platform for India's artisan sector, which was recognized by the World Economic Forum.

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With such a multi-faceted career, spanning music management to disruptive marketing, creative entrepreneurship and social impact work, it’s hard to see how it all ties together for the social entrepreneur. To him, though, the common thread is fairly clear - the desire to change the way we function as a society - to go from a mindset of scarcity and competition to one that is introspective and generous. All stemming from a spiritual bent developed early on, which led him to meditation, yoga and healing.

Interestingly, his career began in music management (2004), when he stumbled upon an advert on Craigslist in London - the chance to manage Surinder Sandhu, creator of the Saurang Orchestra. The prolific musician who studied at London School of Music, also has an impressive music verse as a Universal and Sony artist. And wait for this, he has also performed alongside icons like Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Deadmau5, etc.

Yet, it was going beyond mere accomplishments that saw the social entrepreneur explore a deeper philosophy. It led him to IIM, to learn about creative entrepreneurship, and to THNK School of Creative Leadership, Amsterdam.

Today, as the founder of BlessdBuy.com, which he affectionately calls his “Trojan Horse,” his aim is to empower marginalised artisans and enable consumers to make responsible choices.

An early transformation

Having grown up “eating crab for breakfast” in the Philippines, Akshai’s parents were surprised when one day, at the age of seven, the social entrepreneur announced he was vegetarian. “I came across a reference to the Buddha, and knew instantly that I didn’t want to perpetuate violence anymore,” he tells Global Indian. His parents dismissed it as a phase but 10 years later, he was still going strong. “Along the way, when I went to the United States to study, I realised I had been vegetarian for 14 years. I didn’t want to reduce my diet to a mindless ritual so I will try a piece of chicken once in a while,” he says wryly. This spiritual bent of mind would go on to shape Akshai’s life and the choices he made.

A fairly conventional upbringing, expected to take the MBA route, his career choices did involve a fair amount of negotiation. “My spiritual practice sets the tone for everything,” he remarks. Sent to boarding school at a young age where bullying was commonplace and extreme, he needed a spiritual “out.” “I had a lot of anger in me. Meditation fascinated me because I wanted to know more about existence and as I practiced it, I found I could watch my anger, that there was more peace. It is the root of everything,” explains Akshai, who is also a yoga and meditation instructor, certified by Art of Living. “I also have my own methods, like sound therapy,” he adds.

Building BlessdBuy.com

The idea for BlessdBuy.com, an e-commerce site that works with marginalised or challenged communities, began in 2014. Yet, it took a few years to materialise and was developed at the THNK programme, which was supported by Tata Trusts. “Getting it off the ground meant dealing with my own mental blocks – the demonising of money. I realised that the answer is not in fighting materialism or consumerism, it’s about using these things to create a new perspective,” says the social entrepreneur. Consumers who become more aware of what they’re buying, and seek ethically-sourced, responsibly-made products, supporting artisans – that was the foundation of his idea. “As a society, we’re trained to turn on each other. We prioritise material well-being and have created a scarcity mindset. To me, that is not a healthy way to live as a species,” says the founder.

The bulk of artisans brought in are Indian, with some from Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania, etc. “We try to involve the differently-abled, visually-impaired and survivors of human trafficking,” Akshai explains. It’s a cause that has always been close to his heart as his aunt was differently-abled, “She was the embodiment of the basic human qualities we stop paying attention to - she lived in the moment, she was joyful, compassionate and forgiving.” It got him thinking - most spiritual traditions emphasise the importance of being childlike, “of getting rid of all the layers we have built up over the years.”

Akshai has been recognised as a Young Indian Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 (runner up) by Rolling Stone Magazine & British Council. He also received CII & Ministry of Commerce 'GES Award of Recognition’ for ‘Developing and Growing the Market for Indian Content through Global Collaborations and Disruptive Marketing (Top Under the Age of 35)’.

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Reading Time: 8 mins

Hustling and bustling: Filmmaker Guneet Monga is taking Indian movies to the stars

(March 14, 2023) About 13 years ago, when her first short film - Kavi - cracked the top five at the 2010 Academy Awards, Guneet Monga didn't even have the means to travel to the United States of America to attend the event. The filmmaker wrote to various big personalities, including British entrepreneur Richard Branson and Indian tycoon Ratan Tata to sponsor her flight tickets, and got no response. "I used to describe myself as the 'Pride of India', asking people for any kind of help to get me into a plane to New York," the filmmaker shared during a show. However, despite chasing various people and their PRs, Guneet couldn't seem to be getting any help. [caption id="attachment_36155" align="aligncenter" width="646"] Guneet Monga (right) with Kartiki Gonsalves (left) after winning the Oscars for The Elephant Whisperers[/caption] Desperate, she ended up writing to the then-President of India - Prathibha Devisingh Patil - and finally got a call. "I asked if I could show my film to the President, and if she writes an appreciation letter I could ask for a sponsorship from the airline companies for a ticket to the US. There were only three weeks left before the Academy Awards.

asked if I could show my film to the President, and if she writes an appreciation letter I could ask for a sponsorship from the airline companies for a ticket to the US. There were only three weeks left before the Academy Awards. But it so happened that the President couldn't see my film, and I was quite vocal about my displeasure. At the Rashtrapati Bhavan, I met Prithviraj Chavan, who was the Union Minister for Science and Technology at the time. He eventually called the CMD of Air India and I along with my team was able to go to my first-ever Oscar event," the filmmaker shared.

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Sure enough, the 'Pride of India', Guneet has come a long way, from being a filmmaker who hustled hard to give her films wings to fly, to becoming one of the first producers from India to be inducted in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Global Indian, who recently won the 95th Academy Award for The Elephant Whisperer in the Best Documentary Short Film category was also the executive producer of Period. End of Sentence. which won the 2019 Academy Award in the same category.

The girl from Delhi

Her story starts in the lanes of New Delhi, as a young woman who just wanted to enter show business in some capacity. A mass communications graduate from the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Guneet hardly knew anything about the industry even when she shifted to Mumbai. In fact, her first independent project was funded by her neighbour, who didn't know much about filmmaking himself. "He told me he wanted to open a studio where young parents could come for a photo/video shoot of their kids," the filmmaker shared. She didn't like the idea one bit but had something better to offer. She said, "He wanted to put about ₹50,00,000 in this business. So I told him, 'Why don't you give me the money and I will go to Mumbai to make a good film for you?' And he agreed." While it all seems pretty easy, Guneet's journey ahead was not a cakewalk.

[caption id="attachment_36156" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet also won the Oscar's Period. End of Sentence. (2019)[/caption]

Just 21, without much experience and alone in a big city like Mumbai, the filmmaker found it quite difficult to start working on her ambitions. "I didn't know much about this business. So, I would just meet anybody and tell them that I had ₹5 million to make a film and ask if they had a story for it. About half of Mumbai knew that a 21-year-old girl has come from Delhi with pachaas lakh rupay," she laughed, adding, "Eventually I met director Subhash Kapoor, and we made Say Salaam India, which was a children's cricket film released on the day India lost the World Cup."

[caption id="attachment_36157" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet with Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, at the Oscar Screening, 2023[/caption]

Around the same time, while she was producing her first film in 2007, Guneet lost her father which affected her deeply. "My mother and I launched Sikhya in 2008 and I lost both my parents that same year. I was not inspired to run a company anymore, so I threw myself into a string of production jobs. I met Anurag Kashyap and worked with him for five-six years," the filmmaker shared.

From Mumbai to the Oscars

Learning and growing, Guneet went on to produce some marvellous gems of Bollywood, including Rang Rasiya (2008), Dasvidaniya (2008), and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010). Eventually, the filmmaker struck gold with the 2012 indie movie The Lunchbox, which was produced under her banner and starred Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The movie was selected for the International Critics' Week and a midnight screening at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, with The Hollywood Reporter, calling her the "most prolific producer of a new wave of cinema".

[caption id="attachment_36158" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet with the team of The Lunchbox at Cannes Film Festival, 2013[/caption]

A hustler, Guneet raised nearly ₹10 million for her next production, Peddlers, by posting the film's script on Facebook. The movie was selected at the International Critics' Week, won rave reviews, and opened new markets for Indian Cinema. "I do not mind hustling for a movie. I once knocked on the door of American filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, uninvited, to promote Gangs of Wasseypur. I gave the DVD of the film to the person who opened the door, wrote my email id on the back of it and gave it to him. About six months later I received an appreciation mail from Scorsese." the filmmaker shared, adding, "I have so many stories where I approached big movie names just to promote my film. I once crashed a dinner of Quentin Tarantino at a film festival and told him about a movie of mine that had just been released. I found a chair and self-invited myself to that dinner party. I am okay to do anything to promote a first-time filmmaker."

[caption id="attachment_36159" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet (extreme right) with the team of Masaan at the Cannes Film Festival, 2015[/caption]

In 2015, another movie of Guneet's, Masaan was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival winning two awards and putting her in the international movie fraternity's spotlight. About four years later, the filmmaker co-produced Period. End of Sentence., which followed a group of local women in Hapur, as they learn how to operate a machine that makes low-cost, biodegradable sanitary pads, which they sell to other women at affordable prices. The movie won Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 91st Academy Awards.

[caption id="attachment_36160" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet received the second highest civilian French honour in 2021[/caption]

In 2021, Guneet was conferred with the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government. Focussed on promoting female filmmakers and women-centric movies, Guneet is all for pushing barriers and breaking stereotypes. "I am deeply focused on working with female directors. If not female directors, the most important part of my story has been forwarding female stories in my work. Everything that I lean into as a filmmaker is forwarding a female case. If producers give more backing that is definitely going to change and that is exactly what I am trying to back – the works of good independent woman filmmakers," she shared during an interview.

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Reading Time: 6 mins