Global Indianstory2023 recap: The Global Indian stories we loved this year

2023 recap: The Global Indian stories we loved this year

Curated by: Darshana Ramdev

(December 31, 2023) This week, we have taken you through some of the biggest events of the year, and turned the spotlight, as 2023 draws to a close, on the Global Indians who have shone on the world stage. It has been an exciting time for all of us here at Team Global Indian in our constant search for stories that we hope have inspired and made an impact.

It has been a good year for us, we’re thrilled to look back on it. Our numbers have grown, with a new crop of writers giving us a diverse mix of stories, from courageous activists, to conservationists, Ambassadors, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists and chefs. It’s a mixed bag for sure, but the one thing they have in common is a remarkable story to tell. So, as we step into the new year, I would like to leave you with some of our best offerings through the years – the big names, the newsmakers, and my own favourite reads. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did writing them. May 2024 bring you inspiration, purpose and great success, dear readers. Thank you for going on this journey with us, we couldn’t have done it without you.

Global Indian Stories we loved this year

Akshita Bhanj Deo: Building sustainable tourism with social impact

Maharajakumari Akshita Bhanj Deo definitely makes my top five for the year. A descendant of Nepal’s Bhanja Dynasty, Akshita and her sister are the directors of the 200-year-old Belgadia Palace in Mayurbhanj, which they painstakingly restored and now operate as a beacon of sustainable tourism.

Global Indian

Greenhouse-in-a-box: How Kheyti brings smart tech to small farmers

Small-holding farms produce a third of our food, but those who farm them are among the poorest people on the planet and the most affected by climate change. It was to address this inequality that the start-up, Kheyti, was founded in 2015 by Ayush Sharma, 37, Saumya Sahay, 33, and Kaushik Kappagantulu, 36. Their “greenhouse-in-a-box” is an affordable, modular greenhouse that uses 90% less water than standard greenhouses, grows seven times more food, and gives farmers a steady, dependable income.

Changing the taste of India: Wharton grad Revant Himatsingka educates Indians on junk food

Revant Himatsingka tells you what you eat – or the truth behind it. His approach is fairly simple: He simply advises you to read the labels on the back of everything you eat. Himatsingka caused such a sensation when he took on Maggi ketchup, that they took cognizance of his campaign and promised to reduce sugar content by 22%.

Sakshi Dhoni: From film production to life with M.S. Dhoni

Sakshi Dhoni talks about life as the wife of one of India’s greatest cricketing heroes, M.S. Dhoni, their latest venture into film production, their love for Chennai and her pets, in this tell-all interview.

Gender equality proponent Ambassador Geeta Rao Gupta’s journey is empowering millions

In a career spanning over four decades, Ambassador Rao Gupta has served as the former president of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and was previously appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the deputy executive director for UNICEF, where she served from 2011 to 2016. During her recent visit to India, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large talks about how the young girl with big dreams in New Delhi was nominated by the President of the United States, Joe Biden to become the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.

Meet Dr. Archana Sharma, the Indian scientist involved in the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN

Get a front row seat to one of the biggest modern breakthroughs in particle physics, the discovery of the Higgs Boson, through Dr Archana Sharma, the only Indian scientist at CERN.

Into the Wild with Dr. Koustubh Sharma: Behind the scenes of snow leopard conservation

Wander through the perilous, snowy wilderness of the Central Asian mountains in search of the elusive snow leopard, with Dr Koustubh Sharma, one of the world’s leading reseachers and conservationists of the snow leopard.

The unbreakable sailor: Cdr Abhilash Tomy’s epic tale of courage, conviction, and second chances

This year, Commander Abhilash Tomy sailed around the world to win gold at the Golden Globe Race, touted as one of the most challenging sporting events in history. Five years ago, as he participated in the very same race, his yacht capsized, leaving him stranded in the ocean with a broken spine. Going back at all is an act of immense courage, and his is a story worth celebrating.

Capt Aarohi Pandit: Crossing the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean solo as the world’s youngest pilot

As Tomy travelled the oceans, Aarohi Pandit took to the skies. At 23, she made history as the first Indian woman to accomplish a solo flight across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. A nerve-racking flight of six hours and thirty minutes in an ultralight glider from Reykjavík in Iceland to Greenland, that made her think about the blurry line between life and death, made her the first woman in the world to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an ultralight aircraft.

Sujay Sanan: Cape Town-based Indian artist’s work finds place in South Africa’s new 5 rand coin

It was in late 2019 when an email from SA Mint, the subsidiary of South Africa Reserve Bank, left Cape Town-based Indian artist a little perplexed. He hesitated to respond, unable to fathom why the bank was summoning him for a meeting. It was only after the gentle coaxing of his then partner and now wife that he reluctantly obliged. Days later, he found himself in the lobby of a downtown hotel where he was ushered into a room enveloped in an air of secrecy. Before him was a folder labeled ‘Top Secret’… we won’t keep the secret from you but read on to see how Sujay Sanan went on the journey of a lifetime and eventually found his drawing on the southern right whale on South Africa’s coinage.

From Kerala to the Met Gala: Neytt by Extraweave merges tradition with innovation

Go behind the scenes on the factory floor at Neytt by Extraweave, founded by Sivan Santhosh, and see how they created the the stunning, sustainable, custom-designed, handpainted white carpet at the Met Gala 2023, which paid tribute to the fashion icon Karl Lagerfield.

Rupee Beer: Van and Sumit’s flavourful journey to introduce Indian craft beer to the world

What began as a trial in their family’s Indian restaurant in the US state of Maine, Vanit (Van) and Sumit Sharma’s Rupee Beer has evolved into a prominent brew. Now available in twelve states in the US, their brew is not just a lager, but was specially crafted by a world-renowned master beer brewer to pair and complement Indian cuisine. Starting out during the COVID-19 pandemic, and choosing an iconic name for their brand, the brothers have set out to honour their Indian heritage, commemorate their family’s entrepreneurial legacy and to showcase the magnificence of the Indian culture to a global audience.

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Taj Falaknuma Palace to a luxe resort in New Zealand, meet Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka

(August 18, 2024) As part of the team that cooked for PM Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump at the Taj Falaknuma Palace, to serving gourmet Indian food at a luxe resort amidst snow capped peaks, Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka’s career has some interesting milestones. In less than two decades after graduating from the Shri Shakti College of Hotel Management in Hyderabad, Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka has worked across several leading hospitality brands. He landed his first job at the prestigious Taj Krishna in Hyderabad, as a commis chef. His six-month residency before that had been with the Taj Deccan across the road. He recalls, "I worked at Firdaus, the restaurant serving Indian food at the Taj Krishna for a year. Then I was with Encounters, their all-day diner for two years and I learnt a lot during my time there." [caption id="attachment_53792" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka[/caption] Three years with the Taj Group and Chef Srinivas got an opportunity to join the pre-opening team of The Park Hotel in Hyderabad. This was in 2009. “I joined them as the demi chef de partie and was there for 18 months. I went back to Taj Deccan after that as chef

th the Taj Group and Chef Srinivas got an opportunity to join the pre-opening team of The Park Hotel in Hyderabad. This was in 2009. “I joined them as the demi chef de partie and was there for 18 months. I went back to Taj Deccan after that as chef de partie,” he tells Global Indian.

Learning curves galore

During all his assignments, Chef Srinivas focussed on learning as much as he could on the job. "I was comfortable with European, Italian, fusion, Asian and Indian food. Under the leadership of chefs Sachin Joshi and Sajesh Nair, I learnt a lot. Then, when I moved to The Westin, I was in charge of the Continental cuisine for the coffeeshop."

Wanting more, Chef Srinivas joined a cruise liner that sailed along the Mediterranean but unfortunately, he had to leave the job and return to Hyderabad due to health issues. He rejoined the Westin again as chef de partie and was there till 2016, when a plum assignment came his way. “I got a chance to join the Falaknuma Palace as a junior sous chef. Here I worked at Adaa, the Indian restaurant and Celeste, the Italian one."

Chef Srinivas Reddy | Global Indian

A little-known fact about both these iconic restaurants is that despite a steep cover charge, they are usually booked out well in advance. Adaa was also ranked 91, among the 100 best restaurants in the world. Chef Srinivas was part of the banquets team and it was during his tenure there that PM Narendra Modi hosted Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Donald Trump to a lavish dinner, as part of the Global Entrepreneurs Summit in 2017. Chef Srinivas recalls that experience, which had the hotel teeming with the most stringent security. "We had the NSG and the FBI and they would double-check everything. It was a big event and I had several chefs working under me. The food was tasted before it was served to the PM and his guests."

Southern Hemisphere charms

Six years with the Taj Falaknuma Palace and Chef Srinivas was ready to spread his wings again. This time though, he looked beyond India. And while Australia was on the anvil, he ended up in New Zealand. He says, "The property I currently work at is called The Hermitage, in a place called Mount Cook, near Christchurch, in the South Island. It is a luxurious four-star property near a national park. It is beautiful but quite isolated and we get a lot of snow in winter too. During busy times I stay at the hotel itself."

Incidentally, Mount Cook offers stunning views of the Milky Way galaxy in the month of May, should you wish to escape the Indian summer for a less crowded location.

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A post shared by Hermitage, Aoraki/Mount Cook (@thehermitagehotel)

Chef Srinivas' philosophy to learn as much as possible has led to his success. "You have to be willing to learn; I used to grab whatever opportunity that came my way if it meant I got to learn something. I'd work night shifts, manage teams, help mentor junior chefs and it was teamwork all the way. All of us seniors would train the interns who were raw, on how to go about everything. I believe that knowledge must be shared and if you teach someone, do it well."

At The Hermitage, Chef Srinivas is a sous chef in charge of the breakfast café. He says, "It is a big place and we get groups of tourists from across cultures. Since it is the only big property in this area, we serve mixed cuisines to cater to all nationalities. The food I cook here includes pastas, steaks, and a bit of Indian food for our VIP guests. But I miss the plating skills because we don’t do much of that here."

Having said that, his learning curve here too is intact. "The work culture here is very different and each position matters. The higher up you go, the more the responsibility. Also, because we are isolated, we have to order provisions accordingly. They are calibrated every second day because if it is snowing, we can't always have access to ingredients."

Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka | Global Indian

According to him, fusion kitchens, which make a little of everything, will be the next big global trend. And, because Chef Srinivas is currently in a happy place in his career, he hasn’t thought about what lies in the future. It would probably be a venue which involves substantial learning as and when he decides to move.

While travelling, Chef Srinivas likes to eat:
Mirapyaki kodi at Spice Junction: Taj Deccan, Hyderabad, India
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio at Bella Cucina: Queenstown, New Zealand.
Gutti Vankaya Pulao from Teluguness: Kompally, Hyderabad, India
I like trying mostly vegetarian and spicy street food wherever I travel.

The spiritual doctor: India’s top hair transplant surgeon Dr Pradeep Sethi connects giving back with spirituality

(April 21, 2023) Dr. Pradeep Sethi went from being a farm labourer, spending his childhood working in the fields to becoming one of India’s top hair transplant surgeons and the co-founder of Eugenix Hair Sciences, which boasts a long line of celebrity clientele. He’s also a leading philanthropist who has founded the Utkal Gaurav International School in his village Berunapadi in Odisha. The school aims to provide world-class education for free in India’s eastern hinterland, where opportunities are rare. Dr Sethi is in the process of bringing in top faculty from around the world to give international exposure to students, while laying emphasis on spiritual practices to ensure their holistic development. [caption id="attachment_37628" align="aligncenter" width="538"] Dr Pradeep Sethi[/caption] All through his inspirational journey, Dr Sethi, a true son of the soil, never lost touch with his village, which is situated 160-km away from Bhubaneshwar. Having benefited from education provided by various charitable trusts, he is now deeply committed to philanthropy and connects giving back with spirituality. He made headlines for his work with Utkal Gaurav International School which has been developed with a fund of ₹10 crore. The school was virtually inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last month.

ata-contrast="none">All through his inspirational journey, Dr Sethi, a true son of the soil, never lost touch with his village, which is situated 160-km away from Bhubaneshwar. Having benefited from education provided by various charitable trusts, he is now deeply committed to philanthropy and connects giving back with spirituality. He made headlines for his work with Utkal Gaurav International School which has been developed with a fund of ₹10 crore. The school was virtually inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last month.

Until 2020, the ground on which the school has been developed was just a large piece of farming land where I used to work as a daily wage worker. But, today, the same land houses the school.

"Most of my friends, who were initially my clients, have endorsed the idea of my school,” Dr Pradeep Sethi said, while speaking to Business Line.

The path of spirituality

Early in life, Sethi began gravitating to the teachings of spiritual gurus, especially Swami Paramhansa Yoganand, author of the iconic book, Autobiography of a Yogi. The spiritual teacher and author has laid emphasis on the importance of physical health and well-being, calling spirituality a holistic practice. Yoganand's teachings had a great impact on Sethi in his growing up years. The spiritual master’s emphasis on the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of service to others deeply resonated with Dr Sethi’s aspirations of life.

[caption id="attachment_37584" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Indian Doctors | Dr Pradeep Sethi | Global Indian Dr Pradeep Sethi with cricketer Ravi Shastri[/caption]

Autobiography of a Yogi is still Dr Sethi’s favourite, and he gifts the book to people as often as he can. "I have earned lots of friends through this book and I am sure when I die, I will be carrying lots of love, affection and friendship to the other world," he said.

The dream philanthropic project

Sethi’s own life has been transformed by the kindness of strangers and charitable institutions, and he never misses an opportunity to do good to others. With a deep urge to give back he provides free treatment to the needy, supports charitable causes and extends whole-hearted support to community outreach programmes.

During the launch of Utkal Gaurav International School, Sethi remarked, “I hope to arrange ₹100 crore for the final look of this dream project, in the next five years,” adding, “I want the kids of my school to get the exposure of the world. The difference between my village and developed countries like USA is all about exposure, and I want to do the hard work to reduce the gap between the developed countries and a developing small village.” Kids at the international school will be introduced to a wide array of fields including technology, sports and agriculture.

Some of my friends from Oxford and Harvard University are already taking classes online. Once the infrastructure is ready for the teaching staff to stay in, we will have teachers from places like the USA, UK and Australia visiting the campus.

Dr Sethi has plans to take the senior kids to international tours. “This would enable their growth and build in them the capacity to imagine the ideas that they can work upon to make the society better,” he said.

[caption id="attachment_37585" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Indian Doctors | Dr Pradeep Sethi | Global Indian Opening ceremony of Utkal Gaurav International School[/caption]

Dr Sethi's venture is backed by industrialists like Rajiv Bajaj from Bajaj Group, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, Puneet Goenka of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, and Sandeep Raheja of Exide Battery. Many of Sethi’s clients including cricketers and actors have also extended their help for the project. “The amount does not matter, the feeling behind it matters,” Dr Sethi said.

Keeping in tune with the principles espoused by his spiritual guru Swami Paramhansa Yoganand, Sethi’ school does not just focus on academics but on the all-round training for a fit body, mind and soul. Yoga, meditation, purpose of life and how to maximise one’s potential find a significant place in the curriculum. “I look forward to the day when institutions all over the country and across the world replicate the model,” he said.

The course of life

Though Sethi worked as a farm labourer, he was deeply dedicated to his academics, and later was able to secure an admission at Navodaya Vidyalaya. Studying there, he did well in his senior secondary exams and got admission at the Government Medical College in Sambalpur in Odisha. He later went on to do his further studies at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

Passing out from there, Sethi started his practice from Rishikesh in 2008. The lack of opportunities in his area of specialisation led him to head to Rishikesh to get some spiritual relief and to try his luck there. Not getting a job immediately after passing out from medical college and moving to Rishikesh is something that he calls ‘blessing in disguise,’ because that prompted him to start his own independent practice.

Luck prevailed and Sethi’s practice became so successful that he expanded his business outside Rishikesh. Within a few years of starting his independent practice, he co-founded the state-of-the-art hair transplant chain Eugenix Hair Sciences, with his wife Arika Bansal who happened to be his batchmate at AIIMS. With seven clinics across India, Eugenix Hair Sciences has treated thousands of satisfied patients.

[caption id="attachment_37586" align="aligncenter" width="710"] Indian Doctors | Dr Pradeep Sethi | Global Indian Dr Pradeep Sethi and Dr Arika Bansal with their team[/caption]

To make others happy you will have to go out of your way. You will have to cause yourself discomfort and sacrifice your pleasures. If you go to that extent and serve society, only then you will be able to generate joy within you. That’s what I practice. I am very selfish. I want to make myself extremely joyful.

Dr Sethi is popular for his innovative techniques and advanced hair restoration methods including the DHT technique which he pioneered. He has conducted workshops and training sessions for the people of the medical fraternity in India and abroad and has contributed to the field through his research and publications in various medical journals. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) has bestowed the prestigious Fellow of ISHRS title upon Sethi for his pioneering research. However, the illustrious doctor considers his practice and medical research his ‘secondary job’ while practicing the principles laid down by Swami Paramhansa Yoganand his ‘primary duty’.

Follow Dr Pradeep Sethi on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 5 mins

Sustainability on the go: Indian startups that are making the earth green

(May 16, 2022) Green, clean, sustainable, and carbon-neutral were some of the words that finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman used multiple times in her budget speech this March, underlining the importance that the government is giving to sustainability and decarbonisation goals. But much before India took the carbon-zero climate pledge, many Indian startups had already started working on ways to make the earth greener. Global Indian turns the spotlight on some green startups which have sustainability at the core of their value systems. Phool - Ankit Agarwal, Prateek Kumar Ever wondered what happens to the flowers offered to the Gods in temples and mosques across the country? Well, the floral waste mostly makes its way to either dumping yards or rivers in the vicinity, adding to the pollution. It was at one such ghat in Kanpur that Ankit Agarwal, a native and an engineering student, had an epiphany. That watershed moment changed it all and gave birth to India's first biomaterial startup Phool in 2017. [caption id="attachment_24463" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Ankit Agarwal and Prateek Kumar, the co-founders of Phool[/caption] The Kanpur-based startup accumulates floral waste from temples in Uttar Pradesh, including the biggest temple Kashi Vishwanath, averting 13 tonnes of waste flowers

[caption id="attachment_24463" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Green startups | Phool Ankit Agarwal and Prateek Kumar, the co-founders of Phool[/caption]

The Kanpur-based startup accumulates floral waste from temples in Uttar Pradesh, including the biggest temple Kashi Vishwanath, averting 13 tonnes of waste flowers and toxic chemicals from reaching the river every day. The waste is then handcrafted into charcoal-free incense sticks and essential oils through 'flower cycling' technology by women from Dalit communities that the startup has employed.

Ankit, the founder of Phool, had said in an interview, , "Our products are handcrafted by women coming from the so-called 'lower castes. These are the women who have been looked down on and discriminated against for years. For them, repurposing flowers sourced from temples has an emotional quotient. It is something that makes them feel equal in the society, a job that gives them the respect that they deserve."

Green startup | Phool

With three-fold growth in just two years, it has garnered interest from marquee investors, having raised $8 million in a funding round from Sixth Sense Ventures in April this year, which the company will use to scale up operations and ramp up R&D efforts to make animal leather obsolete.

Follow Phool on Twitter and Instagram

Takachar - Vidyut Mohan

Each year, Delhi is covered in a thick layer of smog during the onset of winter, courtesy, the unabashed stubble burning in areas of Punjab and Haryana. Delhi-based Vidyut Mohan is on a mission to cut through the thick haze with Takachar, a startup that's fighting climate change by transforming massive amounts of waste biomass into marketable products. Started in 2018 by Vidyut and Kevin Kung, Takachar turns agricultural waste biomass into usable fuel and fertiliser, while reducing air pollution.

[caption id="attachment_24467" align="aligncenter" width="761"] Green startup | Vidyut Mohan Vidyut Mohan, the founder of Takachar[/caption]

Takachar's technology reduces smoke emissions by up to 98 percent and has the potential to save a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year if scaled up. "I've always been passionate about energy access and creating income opportunities for poor communities," Vidyut had said in an earlier interview.

The green startup, which has worked with 4500 farmers and has processed 3000 tonnes of crops, has bagged The Earthshot Prize 2021, also known as Eco Oscars. The international recognition has put Takachar on the global map, thus making it one of the biggest green startups to look forward to.

🇮🇳@BiomassTakachar, Winner of The Earthshot Prize to #CleanOurAir have forged incredible new partnerships to scale their impact on air pollution in India pic.twitter.com/pyJGvyWC7R

— The Earthshot Prize (@EarthshotPrize) March 26, 2022

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Follow Vidyut Mohan on Twitter

Banyan Nation - Mani Vajipeyajula and Rajkiran Madangopal

While pursuing a degree at Columbia Business School in 2013, Mani Vajipeyajula was aware of India's environmental crisis - much of which was triggered by non-recycled plastic. He knew he had to find a solution to the looming waste crisis plaguing Indian cities, and that germinated the idea of Banyan Nation - a startup that helps global brands use more recycled plastic instead of virgin plastic in mainstream products, thus enabling reuse in the manufacturing process.

[caption id="attachment_24468" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Green Startups | Banyan Nation Mani Vajipeyajula and Rajkiran Madangopal, the founders of Banyan Nation[/caption]

"Recycling activities in India are mostly driven by market forces that are informal, illegal, and largely invisible. Banyan is innovating and integrating the informal sector and providing consistent quality recycling. By taking a complete value chain approach, we have developed innovative technologies that clean plastics to eliminate all potential contaminants. It is our mission to help brands sustainably ‘Make In India’ by replacing the use of virgin plastic with recycled plastic that is comparable in quality and performance," Mani had said in an earlier interview.

In 2021, Banyan Nation was recognised as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum for disrupting the recycling value chain via technology solutions that encourage source segregation.

@THubHyd's @rama14iyer checking out @Banyan_Nation at the India Innovation Showcase are @GES2017 #RoadToGES2017 #THub pic.twitter.com/FQK74Iz54h

— Banyan Nation (@Banyan_Nation) November 27, 2017

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BuyoFuel - Kishan Karunakaran

Did you know that India is the third-largest consumer of energy in the world, importing more than 80 percent of its fuel requirements while generating more than 350 million MT of organic wastes? And now India's first online marketplace for biofuels and wastes, Buyofuel is looking to change it all. They are attempting to meet the country's energy secure and meeting emission goals by substituting fossil fuel consumption with biofuel manufactured within India, from wastes generated within India.

[caption id="attachment_24469" align="aligncenter" width="740"] Green startup | BuyoFuel Kishan Karunakaran, the founder of BuyoFuel[/caption]

"We network with biofuel manufacturers so that people should be able to order biofuels right from their homes. We are trying to connect those pieces in such a way that the organic waste goes seamlessly from the source to the biofuel manufacturer who converts into biofuel. Then the biofuel is consumed by large fuel consumers who can access it easily. That’s what we are in simple words trying to do with Buyofuel," Kishan had said in an interview.

Follow BuyoFuel on Twitter

Yulu - Amit Gupta, Hemant Gupta

In 2017, Hemant Gupta, Amit Gupta, RK Misra and Naveen Dachuri united for a mission - to create a bigger impact on society. And they did with Yulu, a micro-mobility service provider that gives eco-friendly UMaaS (urban mobility as a service) which is a scalable solution for the first and last-mile commute options for citizens. It does not just focus on solving urban mobility problems but also addresses the rising air pollution and traffic congestion issues. Interestingly, it is the only company in the country, in the micro-mobility segment, operating with swappable solutions for EVs.

[caption id="attachment_24470" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Green startups | Yulu Hemant Gupta, Amit Gupta, RK Misra & Naveen Dachuri, the founders of Yulu[/caption]

Working with InMobi in Bengaluru, Amit Gupta was irked by the constant traffic congestion during his commute between HSR Layout and Indiranagar. He remembered the success of bicycle sharing companies like Ofo and Mobike, which he had seen on frequent trips to China. He decided to start a similar venture, customised to suit Indian needs.

In March this year, Yulu raised $100 million to expand its business model and grab a larger pie of the growing last-mile mobility segment.

Follow Yulu on Twitter

Reading Time: 6 min

How Geetanjali Shree’s Ret Samadhi translation is longlisted for Man Booker

(March 25, 2022) When Geetanjali Shree was a young girl her mother would often joke about how she wanted to tell stories more than she wanted to hear them. Today an established Hindi author, her last book Ret Samadhi was recently longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize. The brilliant author of five Hindi novels and five short stories, Geetanjali started her writing journey as a nine-year-old. "I was fascinated by stories and always wanted to write my own," smiles Geetanjali during an interview with Global Indian. "My mother would narrate stories to us siblings. Also, since my father was a bureaucrat, we had several people working for us at our house. I remember listening to stories from those ladies as a child. I was mesmerised by how words could create a whole new world, which was so engrossing. Unfortunately, I do not have those stories though even I am curious to know what I wrote back then,” adds the Delhi-based author. For the love of Hindi Growing up in various towns of Uttar Pradesh in the late 50s and 60s with four siblings, the 64-year-old author reveals it was the vibrant culture of those towns and their language that

esh in the late 50s and 60s with four siblings, the 64-year-old author reveals it was the vibrant culture of those towns and their language that gave her a foundation. While she attended an English-medium school, the scarcity of English-language children’s books turned out to be a “blessing in disguise” for her. “I used to read Chandamama and Nandad as a child, and that gravitated me towards tales from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Arabian Nights, Panchatantra, Kathasaritsagara and Chandrakanta Santati. Had I not experienced this childhood, I am not sure if I would have been able to write these stories,” reminisces the author who has no doubt been influenced by her historian husband.

[caption id="attachment_21807" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Author | Geetanjali Shree | Global Indian Geetanjali Shree, author, Photograph by Jayanti Pandey[/caption]

Even when she moved to Delhi to pursue bachelor's in history from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, and later master's from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Geetanjali felt a tug towards Hindi literature. “In JNU, I was pretty sure that I wanted to pursue writing in Hindi. My dissertation topic was on Hindi literature representing the nationalist thought of the pre-Independence years, in which I focussed on Prem Chand and his writings.”

Slow, but steady...

Calling herself a “slow writer,” Geetanjali feels that she started her professional journey as a writer a little late. Her first story, Bel Patra (1987) was published in the literary magazine Hans, however, it was the publication of her short story collection Anugoonj (1991) that catapulted her into the Hindi literary scene. Post this, several other works of Geetanjali, including Mai (1993), Hamara Shahar Us Baras (1998), Tirohit (2001) and Khālī Jagah (2006) hit the bookshelves across India.

However, it’s her 2018 novel Ret Samadhi that has put her on the global map. Translated recently into English as Tomb of Sand by Daisy Rockwell, it has become the first Hindi-language novel to be nominated for the International Booker Prize. Calling it a “proud moment,” she is quite happy to have scripted history. “It is a very proud moment for me, not just as a writer, but also as an Indian. This will bring a certain focus on Hindi literature and other Indian languages. We need people to realise that there is so much literature waiting to be discovered.”

[caption id="attachment_21831" align="aligncenter" width="558"] Geetanjai with her favourite author, Krishna Sobti[/caption]

Ret Samadhi narrates the story of an 80-year-old woman, who is depressed after her husband’s death. Eventually, the lady comes out of the depression and decides to visit Pakistan to finally confront the past that she left behind during the Partition.

Giving an insight about the much-talked-about book, she shares, "Actually it was the image of a woman in a joint, orthodox, middle-class family, who was sitting with her back turned, that stayed with me for a very long time. Somewhere it made me wonder if she was turning her back to the people around her, or her life. It took me around seven to eight years to finish Ret Samadhi.”

An author who likes to create a dialogue with her reader through all her books, Geetanjali's work is not limited to the Hindi literatis. Many of her books have been translated into English, French, and even German. However, the author doesn't believe in picking her own translator. “I have never picked any author to translate my books. I feel I have been lucky in that area, as the translators have done justice to my work. In fact, I had never met Daisy Rockwell, when I heard that she was thinking of translating Ret Samadhi into English. However, when we spoke about the book, I realised that she had a sense of emotions and relationships in the book,” she smiles.

[caption id="attachment_21829" align="aligncenter" width="521"] Geetanjali with her mother[/caption]

Not just an author

While she doesn't like calling herself a “theatre person,” the author has worked with prominent thespians such as Anuradha Kapur and Kirti Jain on various plays. Having written many plays for the theatre group Vivadi, Geetanjali shares that she loves working in an interactive environment. “Writing something for theatre is a collective exercise, with everyone from the director to the actors and others contributing to the storyline. I really like working like this,” she adds.

When Geetanjali isn’t busy weaving magic with words, she loves listening to music. “I love a whole range of genres – Hindustani classical, old Bollywood, jazz, Baul and Rajasthani folk,” she concludes.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Scientist B. Jayant Baliga is shaping the future of electrical engineering

(March 19, 2024) The first TV broadcast into a home in India occurred in his house. So, it is quite natural for people to presume that Dr. B. Jayant Baliga would focus on computers in the future. However, the scientist created something that combined two related fields: electronics engineering and electrical engineering. This invention was the IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), a type of switch similar to those found in homes. However, Dr. Baliga's version is incredibly small, can switch on and off 100,000 times per second, and can handle very high voltage power. Known as one of the most brilliant minds in the sphere of electrical engineering, the scholar is also a recipient of the Global Energy Prize, 2015 for the invention, development, and commercialisation of IGBT, which is one of the most important innovations for the control and distribution of energy. "Recently I was inducted into the Inventor’s Hall of Fame and they declared me as the man with the ‘largest negative carbon footprint’ due to the impact of IGBTs on the energy systems and power electronics. Each of these is special in their own right. This latest one credits me as the sole inventor of IGBTs, and

declared me as the man with the ‘largest negative carbon footprint’ due to the impact of IGBTs on the energy systems and power electronics. Each of these is special in their own right. This latest one credits me as the sole inventor of IGBTs, and hence it is special," Dr. Baliga shared in an interview.

The scientist's most famous invention is used worldwide in various applications such as air conditioning systems, household appliances like dishwashers, mixers, and refrigerators, factory automation including robotics, medical equipment like CAT scanners and uninterruptible power supplies, public electric transport and hybrid cars, engine control systems, vehicle electronics, as well as in mobile phones, laptops, and server CPUs.

Born for science

Born in Madras, India, in 1948, Dr. Baliga grew up in various cities. His father Bantwal Vittal Manjunath Baliga, was one of India's first electrical engineers in the days before independence and founding President of the Indian branch of the Institute of Radio Engineers, which later became the IEEE in India. Remembering the time when the first Indian TV was broadcast from his house, the scientist shared, "My father, was chief engineer of All India Radio after Independence. There was an exhibition in Delhi in the 1950s where they were using All India Radio’s setup of a camera and a transmitter to show a TV telecast within the exhibition premises. My father wanted to test if the signal could be received at a farther distance." He had a television set installed at his house at Teen Murti Marg. “It caused quite a sensation in the neighbourhood,” he added.

[caption id="attachment_50143" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Scientist | Dr. B. Jayant Baliga | Global Indian A young Dr. Baliga soon after shifting to the USA[/caption]

This experience pushed him to pursue a career in engineering, and after completing his school, the scientist enrolled at the Indian Institute of Technology (Madras), for a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Speaking about his experience at the institute, the scientist said, "IIT is a phenomenal place to give you a foundation, where you are given a broad coverage of topics in every branch. Back in my time, there were no electives, and every batch had to go through a compulsory set of courses. But they were so chosen that we received an all-round training in materials, electronics, maths, physics, chemistry, etc. And this really helps when you work in research by enabling you to think in an interdisciplinary way. So, this helped me a lot when I went to the US."

ALSO READ | Dr. Kaushik Rajashekara is working on futuristic machines

The scientist has always credited the institute for his success in the field. And thus, years later, he made some significant donations to IIT, Madras. "IIT Madras is always a special place and has helped me greatly. To give back to it, I have donated it to the institute to give scholarships to students from the money I received along with the Global Energy Prize and other such prizes," he said.

Scientist | Dr. B. Jayant Baliga | Global Indian

After his graduation, Dr. Baliga moved to the United States of America to pursue higher studies. Interestingly, the scientist had trouble getting financial aid while pursuing his graduate studies and was very apprehensive about his abilities to cope with the academic rigours in the USA. "I ended up proving them wrong by scoring a perfect 4.0 GPA and getting the best Ph.D. medal from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York City.

The genius

From 1974 to 1988, Dr. Baliga conducted several research projects at General Electric's R&D Center in Schenectady, New York. Leading a team of 40 scientists, they focused on power semiconductors and high-voltage integrated circuits. At that time, the transistor, which is essential for computers, had already been discovered and put into use. Dr. Baliga aimed to create a semiconductor device capable of controlling heavy-duty equipment such as compact fluorescent lights, air conditioners, and electric motors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkvrcXF9ooE

During that period, companies such as GE and Westinghouse were advancing their bipolar transistors for high-power applications. Meanwhile, another group, spearheaded by Siliconix and International Rectifier, was working on a different type of transistor known as the power MOSFET. And it was the scientist who thought of combining the physics of the two. “There was a vice president in GE who was developing a heat pump for air-conditioning applications. He was frustrated that the exiting transistors were failing and that the circuit needed to drive the motor pump was too big, expensive, and very cumbersome to assemble,” the Global Indian said.

ALSO READ | Meet the Gordon Prize winner, Indian-American scholar Dr. Azad Madni

The legend

The scientist is single-handedly responsible for cost savings of over $15 trillion for consumers. “Because of the IGBT the world has not had to build at least 600 hydroelectric dams of the size of the Hoover Dam in Nevada," shared the scientist. His contributions in the field have won him many recognitions including the 1991 IEEE Newell Award, 1993 IEEE Morris N Liebmann Memorial Award, 1998 IEEE JJ Ebers Award, and 1999 IEEE Lamme Medal. In 2011, the scientist was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest award for an engineer in the USA by US President Barack Obama.

Scientist | Dr. B. Jayant Baliga | Global Indian

"Something I never dreamt of as an immigrant coming here with, as I said, about eight dollars in my pocket and a suitcase. To end up in the White House with the President honouring you is just incredible. Unfortunately, my parents were not alive when that happened. And also the IEEE Medal of Honor, for example, that’s much later, 2014. They passed away in the 1990s," the scientist expressed.

Currently serving as the Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering and founding director of NC State University’s Power Semiconductor Research Center, Dr. Baliga is also the founder of three companies, that aim to license and commercialise his inventions: Giant Semiconductor Corporation, Micro-Ohm Corporation, Silicon Wireless Corporation (later renamed to Silicon Semiconductor Corporation).

Follow Dr. B. Jayant Baliga on his blog

Reading Time: 6 mins