Shreyas Royal: India-born chess player is UK’s youngest international master
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(July 9, 2023) Shreyas Royal was just nine when he made the ceremonial opening move for the Viswanathan Anand-Magnus Carlsen game at London in 2017. This speaks volumes about his genius skills in the game of chess. London-based Indian-origin Shreyas is now 14, and it was in 2022 that he broke the UK record for the youngest ever grandmaster performance when he scored seven points from nine games at the Bavarian Open in Germany. He now aims to in the top 10 in the world or become a world champion by the age of 21.
Shreyas Royal
Life in London, and discovering chess
The Bengaluru-born was still a toddler when he relocated to South-East London in 2012 after his father got a job as an IT project manager in the UK. As young as three, Shreyas was introduced to chess, courtesy his dad Jitendra Singh, who noticed his son’s sharp memory and thought that any mind game as a hobby would be great for him for a start. This is how chess happened to Shreyas; however, the chess prodigy wasn’t instantly hooked to the game. “It took me some time, but I was curious. I started playing with other children at school, and I started winning. And that got me hooked. And playing chess has also helped me to develop a few other skills, like being more patient and sitting still,” he said in an interview.
When Shreyas was six years old, his parents signed him up at a local chess club in East Ham, East London, with a private coach, and his determination helped him win a tournament, thus leading him to become the world’s youngest “candidate master”. He even represented England in European Schools Chess Championships in Greece where he bagged a silver. In August 2017, he was ranked joint fourth in his age group at the World Cadets Chess Championships in Brazil. In a short span, he has won multiple awards. So much so that Chris Ward, a chess grandmaster and former British champion, described Shreyas as “the best prospect the country has ever seen”.
How Shreyas’ talent shaped his family’s future
However, things took a difficult turn when in 2018 Shreyas’s family was on the verge of packing up bags and returning to India owing to the expiration of his dad’s work permit. He was told that visa could be extended only if he earned £120,000 a year, which he did not. However, Home Secretary Sajid Javid intervened and made a personal decision to allow the family to stay in the UK, looking at Shreyas’s talent. “The UK is a country that fosters world class talent and Shreyas is one of the most gifted chess players in his generation. We have always been clear we want a world-class immigration system that welcomes highly-talented individuals from across the globe,” said Sajid Javid.
The sigh of relief helped him focus back on the game, and he even began home schooling to focus more on the game.
Strategy is key
Before each game, he prepares well before going up against his highly skilled opponents by determining their strengths and weaknesses. “I check to see what openings he has struggled against in the past and also look at some of his statistics, how well he has fared against weaker opponents. Aiming for any type of an advantage with white and equality with black out of the opening are also very vital goals,” said the chess prodigy who went on to become the English U7 champion, British U8 champion, U8 European champion.
The teenager, who loves listening to music and watching cricket, has fallen in love in the chess, and it’s this fondness that brings him back to the board each time. “It is a very fascinating game in which I feel I have a lot more to learn,” he told Olympics.
The 14-year-old chess prodigy of Indian origin, has already etched his name in the archives of chess history. Breaking the UK record for the youngest ever grandmaster performance at the Bavarian Open is just the beginning of his remarkable journey. With unwavering determination, tireless hard work, and an unyielding love for the game, Shreyas has propelled himself to the forefront of the chess world. “For me, it’s not so much about the money, it’s about having fun playing chess. I just enjoy it.”
(January 10, 2023) Indian-origin youngsters have set a benchmark in global Spelling Bees and have, over the last few years, begun to make their mark in environmental activism too, surging past their peers from around the globe to bag the International Children’s Climate Prize. For the last four years, Indian-origin innovators have won the SEK 100,000 awarded by Swedish company Telge Energi as part of the prestigious prize. The winners of the prize also receive a diploma and medal along with the cash award to continue developing their projects. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-glFd5QsUoc Telge Energi is a frontrunner in renewable energy and deals with solar, wind, and hydro power. To support young people's actions to bring sustainable solutions for the planet earth, it set up the Children’s Climate Foundation. The initiative is an integral part of the organisation’s ongoing work for sustainable development and production of renewable energy for improved climate and environment. Global Indian celebrates the Indian-origin winners of the International Children's Climate Prize. Sparsh Nirav, winner 2022 Resident of Patna, India Solution: The Thermal Floater Coming from the rural side of Patna, Sparsh Nirav understands well the pain of frequent power cuts. As a solution, he designed a thermal floater, a
s an integral part of the organisation’s ongoing work for sustainable development and production of renewable energy for improved climate and environment.
Resident of Patna, India Solution: The Thermal Floater
Coming from the rural side of Patna, Sparsh Nirav understands well the pain of frequent power cuts. As a solution, he designed a thermal floater, a device that converts thermal energy from the sun into electrical energy. Sparsh's floating device can easily be installed on inland or stagnant water bodies. The device is small – a mere 15 cm x 15 cm – and can be connected to several units to generate increased amounts of energy. The jury was impressed to learn that his solution is three times more efficient than a typical solar panel of the same size. Apart from converting thermal energy, the device provides a range of environmental benefits, including the reduction of evaporation (increasing water availability for other uses) and the reduction of algal bloom in freshwater.
Since it makes use of water surfaces, such as dam reservoirs, wastewater treatment ponds or drinking water reservoirs, it reduces pressure on land resources. The jury of Children's Climate Prize found the idea innovative, easy to implement and accessible enough in countries where land resources are scarce, “This solution creates a huge potential globally,” remarked the climate prize jury.
Reshma Kosaraju, winner 2021
Resident of Saratoga, USA Solution: AI against forest fires
US-resident Reshma is well aware of forest fires and the damage they can cause. The problem exists on a global scale, causing thousands of premature deaths and posing a threat to animals and nature, making Reshma’s project stand out in the eyes of the jury.
Her AI based solution claims to predict forest fires with almost ninety percent accuracy. Reshma’s solution makes use of open data like temperature, humidity, wind speed, soil moisture and human behavior, along with artificial intelligence, to calculate the probability of the forest fire and its extent. “A clear and scalable business concept, with a global approach to accessibility,” is what the jury felt about Reshma’s solution.
Vinisha Umashankar, winner 2020
Resident of Tiruvannamalai, India Solution: The Solar Ironing Cart
Vinisha has seen numerous ironing carts on Indian streets, all using charcoal to heat the device. ‘There are millions of ironing carts in India and together they must be using tons of charcoal every day’, she thought. Realising that the coal consumes large amounts of wood, pollutes the air and contributes to climate change, Vinisha created a solar powered ironing cart to find a sustainable alternative.
My generation and I would live to see the consequences of our action today. I am not just a girl from India, I am a girl of the earth and I am proud to be so. We need to stop talking about old debates but a new vision for new future,” remarked Vinisha at the COP26summit.
Aadya Joshi, winner, 2020
Resident of Mumbai, India Solution: The Right Green
Deforestation is the second-leading cause of climate change and an issue that Aadya Joshi wanted to address. She founded The Right Green, a BioPower Index, which is a database carrying information about more than 15,000 plant-insect feeding relationships from different eco-regions of India. The Index enables gardeners, landscapers and civic authorities to plant the best biodiversity supporting plants as per the characteristics of the region they are based in.
Aadya has also conducted educational and outreach workshops enabling and empowering communities to restore healthy ecosystems, which are rich in biodiversity, to address climate change. “As the winner of the Children’s Climate Prize, I was given the chance to talk at the India International Science Fair and it was a very big moment for me. India’s Prime Minister was there as well as all the heads of the scientific departments in the government,” she said in an interview.
Shreya Ramachandran, winner, 2019
Resident of Fremont, USA Solution: The Grey Water Project
Shreya witnessed the wastage of water in households and came up with a solution to address this. Realising that almost fifty percent of water used annually in a household can be reused for activities like watering the plants in the garden, she developed the Grey Water Project.
She built a grey water cleaning system with soap nuts that make grey water reusable. Shreya has been teaching people how to install their own grey water systems with regular workshops on water reuse and conservation. “Shreya is working to save the source of life,” remarked the jury of children’s climate prize.
Vihaan and Nav Agarwal, winners, 2019
Residents of New Delhi, India Solution: One Step Greener
Siblings Nav and Vihaan Agarwal founded an NGO, One Step Greener, to fight the deadly air pollution of the Northern India, especially the NCR region. Their organisation strives for a zero-waste future with the goal to reduce air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of people.
[caption id="attachment_26354" align="aligncenter" width="719"] Vihaan and Nav Agarwal[/caption]
Since they live in New Delhi, which is one of the worst cities in terms of air quality, they have been educating people about the importance of recycling waste at source and offering door-to-door dry waste pick-ups, to counteract the garbage that is burned on large dumps. “We realised that trash and air-pollution are heavily interrelated, and we wanted to do something to change this. This situation can be avoided by taking simple steps,” said Vihan Agarwal in a video to promote good garbage dumping practices.
Grief had debilitated him and Rishab Rikhiram Sharma locked himself in his room, turning himself away from the love of his life - his sitar. Growing up, the instrument had always been his greatest source of comfort, his "happy place," the thing he turned to in good times and bad. When he lost his grandfather before the pandemic, his "third parent and best friend," there was no comfort to be found. Global Indian looks at how this young prodigy, the youngest and final disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, pulled himself out of his abyss, picked up his sitar once more and found a way to bring peace to other people through the music that had given him so much. At 24, Rishab, the founder of Sitar for Mental Health, has performed before a live audience of 60,000 and appeared on Indian reality TV shows and channels. [caption id="attachment_25588" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, founder of 'Sitar for Mental Health'[/caption] The Rikhiram legacy Born in Delhi into a renowned family of luthiers, the Rikhirams, Rishab laughs as he recalls never being allowed to touch the sitar. His grandfather, Rikhiram, after whom the family business was named, crafted instruments for India's top
Born in Delhi into a renowned family of luthiers, the Rikhirams, Rishab laughs as he recalls never being allowed to touch the sitar. His grandfather, Rikhiram, after whom the family business was named, crafted instruments for India's top musicians, including Pandit Ravi Shankar. "My parents didn't let me touch the sitar for the longest time. I come from a family of instrument makers, we have been doing it since 1920. When I was a child, I wanted to get my hands on the sitar but my parents said no, saying it is a sacred instrument. When someone tells you not to do something as a kid, you want to do it even more," he said in a recent interview.
Rishab was, however, allowed to play the guitar and got quite good at it, "playing songs and barre chords and everything." One day, a broken sitar was sent back to the house. His father, the national award-winning luthier Sanjay Sharma, fixed it up and left it on the wall to dry. Rishab looked at it quietly, gathering the courage after a couple of days to ask his father for permission to play it. Finally, his father consented. He held the sitar in his hand, it was a fretted instrument, like the guitar. "I figured out 'sa ri ga ma' within minutes and started playing Bollywood songs," he recalls. "I was 10 at the time."
Finding a guru
His father was impressed and agreed to teach his son, becoming his first guru. In 2011, his father allowed him to perform on stage for the first time. That debut performance caught the eye of sitar legend Pt Ravi Shankar, whose own instrument had been made by Sanjay Sharma. He rang Sharma the next day, saying, "Bring Rishab to Delhi when I am there."
[caption id="attachment_25594" align="aligncenter" width="704"] Rishab with his father, Sanjay Sharma[/caption]
When the maestro was in town, the family duly paid him a visit. "He surprised us by offering to make me his disciple," Rishab said in an interview. "That was the moment I fell in love with the sitar and decided to make it my life." He was around 12 at the time.
Being a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar is perhaps the greatest honour that a young musician can ask for but Rishab learned, quite quickly, that it wouldn't be easy. His guru was a strict teacher, pushing his students as much as he could to unleash their potential. "That strictness was only during the teaching," Rishab laughed. "The moment we left the music room, he would chat with me, about my favourite food, my girlfriends. I had a great time with him and there were moments when I got scolded, 'Are you stupid or what?' he would say."
With such tutelage to guide him, Rishab's career blossomed - in 2016, he was among the lineup at Howdy Modi in Texas, playing to an audience of 65,000 people, who sang in chorus as he played 'Sare Jahan Se Accha'. He has been mentored by Pandit Parimal Sadaphal, one of Pandit Ravi Shankar's seniormost disciples and by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Rais Khan and Pandit Arun Bharatram.
Coping with grief
In 2020, his world came crashing down. Rishab's grandfather, the man who was always in the front row, clapping when his grandson played, passed away. All his life, the sitar had been Rishab's ultimate therapy, "If I was angry, I would practice for hours and let the emotions flow. When I lost my grandfather, I was grieving, I stopped playing." He stayed in his bedroom instead, barely eating or sleeping, struggling to cope.
Finally, Rishab's friends suggested therapy. He looked for help online but this was the pandemic, everybody was struggling and there were no therapists available. By this time, the family had moved to New York and Rishab was studying music production and economics at the City University in New York. Rishab went to a psychiatrist - at the time he didn't know the difference. The psychiatrist was patient with him and Rishab came away knowing that he couldn't give up on his music.
Sitar for Mental Health
Looking for an outlet, he went live on social media. Clubhouse, the invite-only voice-based social networking platform that was popular at the time. Rishab opened a hosting room and went live. Three people turned up. The next day, there were six. The number grew and eventually, Rishab had around 4,000 people listening in the audience. "It was a beautiful space because I wasn't just playing the sitar. I was talking about grief. Other people opened up too, they made music and recited poetry."
The Clubhouse event grew into Sitar for Mental Health, which Rishab continues to sustain. The event always begins with ten minutes of breathing exercises before the show itself, leading into the Jod and Alaap he learned from his gurus. "I am no therapist. I am just using my music to heal people in all ways possible," Rishab told NDTV.
These days, he plays a lot of bhajans, he says. He's also working on an EP called Sitar 'n Chill, making romantic sitar music, he chuckles. Another album, Navaras, explores the nine human emotions. A big hip-hop fan, he hopes to collaborate with Kanye West and Drake, given the chance and if he had his pick of Indian musicians, Nav and Diljit Dosanjh.
Follow Rishab Rikhiram Sharma on Instagram and Facebook
(April 23, 2022) He was 12 when the infamous Nirbhaya rape case shook the nation in 2012. People took to the streets asking for justice, and his mom was one among them. Curious about the protests and confused about the word rape, Siddharth Mandala joined his mom for one of the protests. “A 40-year-old woman came up to me, and told me not to be like rapists. I didn’t even know what rape meant back then. This was a catalyst for me. I ended up surfing the internet, asking my friends and teachers to get a grasp on this concept called rape. Understanding the gravity of the issue, I decided to do everything in my capacity to prevent sexual assault,” Siddharth tells Global Indian. This awareness led to the birth of Electroshoe, a small badge that can be clipped onto any footwear, or worn as a ring or pendant and can be easily activated during any threatening situation by pressing. “It pulls out two sharp pointers, mimicking stun gun’s mechanism, and pierces through clothing, and even skin to electrocute the attacker,” explains Siddharth who took two years to build a working prototype; and another three years to create a market-friendly
gh clothing, and even skin to electrocute the attacker,” explains Siddharth who took two years to build a working prototype; and another three years to create a market-friendly product by interviewing over 500 women across India and California.
The Hyderabad born and raised reveals Electroshoe activates an alarm sound to alert nearby police stations and sends location to family members. “It can even sense angst in a conversation, and can raise alarm,” adds the entrepreneur. With a built-in solar plate, it recharges itself when exposed to sunlight. “The idea was that it should be something that women can carry with them easily all the time,” adds the 21-year-old.
An incident caused a shift
Born in 2000 to a businessman father and a criminal lawyer mother (now a homemaker), Siddharth loved to build things as a kid. And he found time to pursue his interest in his growing years. But the Nirbhaya rape case pushed him to put his innovative side to better use, and that’s how Electroshoe came into existence. But it was an uphill climb with many obstacles in the path. He taught himself programming and coding with the help of mentors from Linkedin and social media. While his prototype failed 17 times, he also faced electrocution twice. But Siddharth never gave up.
But things started to shift when he moved to the US to pursue further studies. “I grew up reading about startups in the Silicon Valley and wanted to be a part of that environment. But I realised it was more about finance and investment,” reveals Siddharth. Around the same time, he met Zach Latta, founder of the hack club, who told him that San Francisco was the place to be for his startup. “I dropped out of my college in California and lived homeless to fundraise for Electroshoe. My parents sold their house in India to send me to college in America. Hence, I didn’t tell them. I used to go to meetups and pitches for free food, where I tried to convince as many people as possible to help me out," reveals the young innovator who didn’t find much support from investors.
But that didn't deter Siddharth who tried making “shoe attachments from greeting card sound chips that make a sound when you step on them” and tried to sell them in San Francisco. But he didn't know where he could meet women. “I tried standing outside Starbucks and selling them to women. That did not work. I realised that only two types of people will listen to me: My parents, friends, and people who are interested in me. So I went on dating apps. I’d go on dates and somewhere in the conversation would show the product and sell it to them. This is where we found the first 50 users,” reveals Siddharth who returned to India and worked on his product.
Siddharth, who is pursuing a degree in international relations and computer science from Claremont Mckenna College, spent six years turning a prototype into a product “that has gone through almost 30 iterations.” It is no secret that electric shock can often cause internal damage, even leading to cardiac arrest or trauma. However, Siddharth reveals, “We spent years creating the exact amount of voltage to ampere ratio that electrocutes lethally but not enough to kill a person." But he had to face a blow ahead of its launch owing to the Covid 19 pandemic. “We were very close to partnering with Telangana police but Covid first wave kicked in,” says the boy who has branched out his personal safety company to real estate and crypto.
[caption id="attachment_15376" align="aligncenter" width="631"] Siddharth Mandala working on Electroshoe[/caption]
Innovator-turned-activist
Apart from being an innovator and entrepreneur, Siddharth is also an activist who started a nonprofit Cognizance Welfare initiative with his friend Abhishek to spread awareness about rape. “Together we filled over 50 potholes in Hyderabad, we made underprivileged children build inexpensive GPS trackers to track their younger siblings and prevent human trafficking, we even helped a California-based non-profit adopt a village called Kanigiri in Andhra Pradesh and helped them build libraries and infrastructure,” beams Siddharth with pride, adding, “We even built an education class module and spent three months travelling to different cities educating young children about sexual assault and how to detect it very early.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMck9K6D15o
Siddharth, who has come a long way, advices youngsters to “get started and build something already. Even if it’s broken, miscalculated, and consumes most of your time, do not worry. These things usually take time, however, the key is to put something out and let the world see it and show you the path.”
An innovator at heart, he has designed a hardware wallet and a mobile app that can protect people, and their funds safe in the crypto space. "When I was in California, people in the NFT and crypto space were being kidnapped and beaten to share their private crypto keys. Once shared, even police can't trace down the funds. So the wallet acts like additional security feature," concludes Siddharth who loves working out in his free time.
(July 10, 2024) For a boy who has just turned 18, Ashish Kumar Verma has accumulated a lifetime of experiences. At eight, he learned to write with his left hand due to circumstances and has come a long way, inspiring many with his multifaceted achievements. Due to his innovative science and technology projects Aashish has had the opportunity to interact with the Prime Minister and President of India that helped strengthen his determination to be of use to the society. “I have not only met the Prime Minister twice but also shared the stage with him as an anchor during Pariksha Pe Charcha,” he tells Global Indian. On another occasion, the winner of Rashtriya Bal Vaigyanik Puraskar showcased one of his science projects to the Prime Minister, at an event. This presentation also led to a discussion where the Prime Minister suggested the idea of an app to control students' screen time. Inspired by this, Ashish has launched NamasteScreen, an app designed to help students become more focused. [caption id="attachment_38560" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Ashish with PM during Pariksha pe Charcha and with President at Rashtrapati Bhavan[/caption] Adding to his impressive list of experiences, the youngster had the opportunity of visiting the Rashtrapati
o control students' screen time. Inspired by this, Ashish has launched NamasteScreen, an app designed to help students become more focused.
[caption id="attachment_38560" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Ashish with PM during Pariksha pe Charcha and with President at Rashtrapati Bhavan[/caption]
Adding to his impressive list of experiences, the youngster had the opportunity of visiting the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raksha Bandhan, where he gifted a Rakhi to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. He also witnessed the launch of Chandrayaan 3 in the presence of the Union Minister of State in the Department of Space, Jitendra Singh. "Such opportunities have been humbling and inspiring. They have increased my appreciation for our nation's leaders, cultural traditions, and technological prowess," he says.
His scientific acumen has also earned the Delhi based youngster a fully funded trip to Japan as part of the Sakura Science Program. With three research papers and numerous awards and speaking opportunities to his credit, Ashish won a bronze medal and a cash award of Rs 50,000 at the WorldSkills national championship. He also secured second place at the national-level Microsoft Fastest Coder Hackathon, winning a medal. Having cleared JEE this year, he is all set to join IIT-Delhi to pursue a bachelor's in engineering.
NamasteScreen
In 2022, Ashish created the project 'AR Prayogshala,' aimed at accelerating the implementation of NEP 2020. The project has already garnered over 25,000 users. His teachers at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Delhi have also utilised it to create content for the PM eVidya Channel.
During Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2024 Aashish had the opportunity to showcase his project to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who presided over the event. During their interaction, PM Modi suggested developing an application to help students reduce mobile phone distractions, decrease screen time, and improve focus.
"The conversation inspired me to create NamasteScreen," Aashish says. "It's more than just an app; it offers a complete screen makeover to reduce distractions and increase focus. The project is being developed as open-source and is currently in the alpha-testing phase.
"Developers from all over are contributing to create this launcher for anyone looking to overcome phone addiction," he adds. "This collective collaboration helps us achieve our goals faster and allows us to directly address the needs and concerns of our target users. We are actively collecting feedback through an open GitHub repository where users can raise issues and request features."
In love with technology
Ashish had developed an interest in working with computers at a young age, which sparked his early passion for programming. Although he will be joining IIT-Delhi soon, he has been at the prestigious institution before. As part of Code Day Delhi, an initiative by Hack Club - an international organisation promoting scientific culture among youth and partially funded by Elon Musk - he participated in an event that encourages young people to build innovative projects.
During this event, Ashish and his team created a real-life human interaction AI. “This AI can engage in conversation and perform various tasks, functioning like a super-intelligent assistant. It's not just a concept—it's a working system,” he mentions.
[caption id="attachment_38563" align="aligncenter" width="573"] Ashish at IIT Delhi[/caption]
He not only won the Code Day Delhi award but also had the opportunity to showcase his AI innovation at Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2024, where it was used to welcome the Prime Minister of India upon his arrival. “The AI greeted the Prime Minister, demonstrating its capabilities in a high-profile setting using facial recognition technology,” he shares.
Just before the launch of Chandrayaan 3, Ashish had scored a perfect 10 in the Space Innovation Challenge organised by NITI Aayog and ISRO. For this challenge, he designed a spacecraft for a Mars mission capable of accommodating humans. “I named it KDMMH (Kyunki Dil Mein Mars Hai - Because Mars is in the Heart), inspired by the movie 'Mission Mangal',” he tells.
A memorable trip to Japan as part of Sakura Science Program
As part of a cohort of 63 talented students from across India, Ashish had the opportunity to visit Japan thanks to his successful project AR Prayogshala. It's an experience he cherishes not just for the learnings but also for the camaraderie that developed while travelling and staying together in a hotel.
Organised by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Sakura Science Program is an international youth exchange program that invites young people from across the world to Japan for a short period. This opportunity enables young scholars to learn about leading-edge science and technology and interact with scientifically inclined young minds in Japan.
[caption id="attachment_38564" align="aligncenter" width="717"] Ashish Kumar Verma with the cohort from India at Sakura Science Program[/caption]
Growing up as a fan of Doraemon and Shin-chan, Ashish excitedly shares how he saw houses similar to Nobita's from Doraemon and ate Shin-chan's favourite choco chips. “It was like living out scenes from the anime I watched as a child,” he remarks.
One of the highlights of the event was attending a lecture by Nobel Prize winner Hiroshi Kitagawa. They also visited several labs at Kyoto University, which further ignited Ashish’s passion for STEM. “This experience made me realise that I want to combine technology and pure science to create innovative solutions, as I believe true breakthroughs now lie in interdisciplinary approaches,” says Ashish, who also visited Tokyo and Osaka during the trip. He soaked in the diversity that the two bustling cities offered in comparison to the calmness of Kyoto, ending with a feeling of being 'in two different worlds.'
“We visited many pilgrimage sites and temples. The experience was so surreal, it felt like being in a movie. Later, we explored various scientific institutions. I was particularly impressed by our visit to the RIKEN Science Centre, where we witnessed a real-life 'invisible frog' experiment - the frog was only visible under blue light, reminiscent of the movie 'Mr. India',” he remarks.
[caption id="attachment_38578" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Ashish during his Japan trip[/caption]
Although the opportunity clashed with another prestigious offer to visit Oxford University, Ashish chose the Japan trip instead. “The event aligned more with my future goals,” remarks the youngster who has lived in different parts of the country owing to his father’s transferable job.
The trip culminated in a cultural performance where members of each country showcased their culture. “I was selected to give the closing speech. We had just five minutes to showcase India's rich and diverse culture through our performance. The Japanese hosts and other international delegates particularly enjoyed our presentation.”
Rising above odds
Ashish is a great example of rising above odds. In 2014, a tragedy struck. Through sheer willpower and support from his parents, Ashish persevered. “When I was eight, my right hand was caught in a lift. The following year was a blur of hospital stays, five to six operations, and numerous minor surgeries. I struggled to perform basic tasks, and writing became a challenge. Throughout it all, my parents, though worried about my future, never let their tears show. Instead, they fuelled my spirit with motivation,” he recalls.
He learned to write with his left hand and honed his motor skills by learning to play the piano. His determination didn’t stop there. “I trained rigorously and clinched a gold medal in Taekwondo. My passion for puzzles led me to set a national record of 17 seconds in a Rubik’s Cube championship. At 12, I won my first hackathon, followed by the top prize in a Google competition and victories in over 10 more hackathons,” he adds.
[caption id="attachment_38569" align="aligncenter" width="721"] Ashish with Sara Kemp, Vice President, Intel Government Affairs and Gokul V Subramaniam. Intel India President[/caption]
Venturing into freelance work and founding his startup, AI Navya, Ashish started exploring the world of AI, working on innovative projects that fetched him the Rashtriya Bal Vaigyanik Puraskar and a trip to Japan.
The multifaceted youngster has been invited to speak at prestigious events including Google DevFest in Noida, the INTEL AI Student Community platform, and the National Apprenticeship Awareness Workshop organised by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), among others.
“Throughout my journey, I have been blessed with great mentors who have guided and supported me. Our real treasures are our parents, teachers, and mentors who nurture and believe in us,” he signs off.
(July 21, 2023) Whether it is former vice president of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, or Kiran Bedi, the first woman to join the officer ranks of the Indian Police Service, Sagarikka Sivakumar has had the privilege of presenting her debut book, My Unskooled Year to them, and receiving their blessings. Her book is a testament to the courage of taking a different path, allowing oneself the time and freedom to explore personal growth and find clarity in life's direction. It encapsulates Sagarikka’s explorations in her gap year. A gap year between high school and college is a common choice, but Sagarikka Sivakumar took it a step further by opting for a break right after completing class 10. Initially met with disapproval from relatives and friends who believed she was ‘wasting a year,’ Sagarikka found unwavering support from her entrepreneur parents. "Why not?" they said. "Just go and explore whatever you want to do." “They were encouraging,” recalls Sagarikka in a conversation with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_32033" align="aligncenter" width="857"] Sagarikka Sivakumar with Kiran Bedi[/caption] "After completing my class 10 exams, I realised that our education system only provides a minimal perspective of the world beyond school. This prompted me to take
[caption id="attachment_32033" align="aligncenter" width="857"] Sagarikka Sivakumar with Kiran Bedi[/caption]
"After completing my class 10 exams, I realised that our education system only provides a minimal perspective of the world beyond school. This prompted me to take a year-long break and explore what I truly wanted to pursue in life," Sagarikka shares. "Standard 11 is the most crucial year in a student's life as one has to choose subjects according to the path one wants to pursue. I wasn't sure about that," she admits. "I wanted to take a step back and have some time to read and learn about things that school doesn't teach," she says.
Making use of time
During this break, Sagarikka meticulously documented her diverse experiences, later compiling them into the book - My Unskooled Year. "It is a book about my transformation," she reflects. "I wrote every day during that time."
Her book has sold over 8,000 copies, receiving praise from readers. Encouraged by the positive response, Sagarikka decided to have it translated into Tamil. With her unconventional decision and the publication of her book, she began receiving invitations to speak at schools, colleges, and organisations. "I carried 300-400 copies wherever I went," Sagarikka shares, highlighting the success she achieved by selling a substantial number of copies during her speaking engagements. "Finally, my relatives, who initially believed my year-long break would lead to a mess, were able to understand my perspective."
The youngster is not afraid of self-experiments and loves to document the journey during the time for the benefit of others. Shaken by the tragic loss of a 21-year-old friend to sudden cardiac arrest, potentially linked to obesity and an unhealthy diet, Sagarikka got determined to raise awareness on the subject. She consulted doctors and nutritionists and discovered the increased prevalence of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart problems among young people of today.
Identifying junk food as a major contributing factor, she decided to embark on a 30-day junk food experiment. "I wanted to document the changes in my body," Sagarikka tells. To monitor her body's response, Sagarikka had a sugar sensor attached and underwent a blood test before commencing the experiment. For 30 days, she consumed nothing but junk food five times a day.
Within just two days, Sagarikka noticed a significant spike in her sugar levels. She experienced fatigue, lethargy, and even caught a cold, signaling a weakened immune system.
By the last day of the experiment, Sagarikka observed alarming changes in her blood parameters. Her fasting glucose levels had risen from 86 to 93.8, fructosamine levels had increased from 214 to 283.7, and homocysteine levels (a risk factor for heart disease) had escalated. Additionally, her triglycerides and testosterone levels had risen, while her white blood cell count had decreased, indicating lower immunity. She also gained 3 kilograms in weight.
To accomplish her goal behind the junk food experiment, she released a documentary on YouTube titled Eat Fast Die Young.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTCFT6uzd_I
The documentary served as a poignant reminder of the detrimental effects of junk food on overall health. It inspired not only the younger generation but elders too to reconsider their dietary choices and promote a healthier lifestyle to combat the alarming rise in obesity-related health conditions.
After her experiment, due to sheer willpower, Sagarikka was able to revert to her good habits, but ever since she has been on a mission to share the dangerous effects of junk food on the lives of millions.
"I had expected that exercising and adopting a healthy diet for a month would help me lose weight and restore my blood parameters to normal. However, it took me three months to reduce the weight I gained in one month of eating junk food and even longer to change the blood parameters to a previous condition,” she tells adding, “Just imagine how much harm people inflict on themselves by frequently having junk food over the years.”
Life ahead
A student at Amity University, Sagarikka has turned entrepreneur. The third-year student of business administration and data science is helping companies with their branding needs with her start-up ‘BeBindaas’.
She has also launched an app that is a platform for young professionals and start-up founders to connect socially, expand their network and take their work forward.
“An entrepreneur’s journey entails lots of struggles and disappointments and is not a smooth ride. It takes lots of patience and hard work if one is starting from scratch. I am planning to write a book on how to make the life of young start-up founders like me easier with a step-to-step guide from my learnings,” tells the Chennai based youngster. Her second book, Entrepreneurial Odyssey: A Train Journey Across India based on Jagriti Yatra 2022 - a 14-day train journey of discovery and transformation organised by the Government of India is going to be released soon. For the 8,000 km journey, 500 ambitious youth from India and abroad were selected to meet the country's inspiring role models in social and business entrepreneurship.
To ignite a growth mindset for youngsters and to motivate them to bring positive changes in life to succeed, Sagarikka always looks forward to speaking engagements to make a difference in her little way.
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Sagarikka Sivakumar with Kiran Bedi[/caption]
Sagarikka Sivakumar[/caption]