Watch out for the cyber criminals: 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha upskills natives and foreigners
Written by: Amrita Priya
(May 8, 2022) Young India is making its mark. From teen entrepreneurs running unicorns to prodigies in science and the arts, India’s youth are shining. Take, for instance, 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha, who was lauded for being one of the youngest cyber security trainer in May 2021. By that time, he had already worked as external cyber security researcher with the Ministry of Electronics and IT providing inputs for framing DPR for cyber security labs in India.
An expert at 19
On April 28, 2022, CERT-in, a government-appointed nodal agency, issued a new cybersecurity directive. As cyber threats loom, for individuals and nations alike, ‘hack the world before it hacks you’, maintains Vaibhav which incidentally happens to be the title of the book that he has written. The young ethical hacker has been keenly spreading awareness on security online through various initiatives.
Over 25,000 school and college students have learned the ropes of the cyber world through Vaibhav’s training sessions under Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission. His research paper on car hacking and cloud security fetched him the budding researcher award at an international conference at Amity Dubai.
Vaibhav was only 19 when he trained Indian Audit and Account Service (IAAS) officers, and also conducted a joint training session for cops, bureaucrats and delegates from over thirty countries on safeguarding critical security infrastructure and enjoyed a short stint as a cyber security researcher for Gurugram Police as well.
Climbing the ladder
Vaibhav was in his first year of college at Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies when he discovered cybersecurity and ethical hacking. A student of computer science engineering at the time, he knew instantly that this would be his chosen domain. He did extensive research by himself, which bore fruit in his second year of college when it led to Vaibhav being asked to chair a cybersecurity conference attended by Dr Gulshan Rai, the erstwhile Cyber Security Chief at the Prime Minister’s Office. It was a magnificent turning point, Vaibhav remarks, saying it ignited his desire to delve even deeper.
When he collated his knowledge, he had the material for his debut book. “My book teaches beginners on how to avoid the trap of cyber-crime,” Vaibhav tells Global Indian.
By the time he was in his second year, Vaibhav had also taken his first steps as an entrepreneur. With support from the institution, he co-founded a cyber security firm with a batchmate. After he graduated, the computer engineer switched to the corporate world, associating himself with Coforge (earlier NIIT Technologies).
Driving dialogue
Led by the desire to promote cyber security as an integral fabric of our digitally-inclined society, he has organised two cyberspace conferences (CIACON) in 2018 and again in 2020. Officials from the US’ Department of Homeland Security and the Indian government participated as speakers. “The conferences are for security enthusiasts,” Vaibhav explains. “The idea has been to bring together cyber experts, policy makers, think tanks and cyber wizards on a single platform to discuss issues and challenges in the sub domains of cyber security.”
It meant big steps for Vaibhav too, a journey that involved becoming comfortable with himself and his abilities. “I used to be nervous at the start but I have worked on my confidence levels. Now, delivering lectures, conducting training and interacting with people is my passion,” he says.
That apart, spending time with family and friends, swimming, body building, reading books and doing his research keep Vaibhav occupied. He also has his own YouTube channel, Scorpion VJ, through which he engages people on a variety of topics that range from tech and travelling to lifestyle.
“Cybersecurity and cyber-forensics are fields that needs passion and the mindset of always being open to learning, otherwise you will not be able to counter attack the cyberattacks,” he says, to young cyber security aspirants everywhere.
‘Hacks’ for being cyber smart
Keep all your devices, apps and browsers up to date
Think before you click
Be vigilant while reading mails or opening attachments from unknown sources
Verify identity before sharing personal information online
Keep all your passwords unique and don’t reveal it to anyone
Report if anything seems suspicious in the cyber world
(May 25, 2022) Sustainability in space exploration is one of modern man's biggest dilemmas, drawing bright young minds all in pursuit of a solution. Among them is eleventh-grader Anushka Sharad. A NASA citizen scientist who has helped search for asteroids, the teen changemaker shows a gravity far beyond her years. She aims to bring scientific knowledge to peers with less access and open their eyes to the vast possibilities the study of science affords. She is the founder of seekinspace.com, a NASA Citizen Scientist, science communicator and an amateur poet. "Theoretical astrophysics and computational astronomy are my areas of study," says Anushka, a serious teenager with an approach that is far beyond her years. Thousands of rockets and satellites launched over the last fifty years leading to a sizeable accumulation of junk outside the earth's orbit, sustainable space exploration is one of Anushka's focus areas. Her interest is timely: The subject of space debris has entered mainstream discourse and in 2021, China found itself under criticism from NASA for "failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris." The reproach came after remnants from China's Long March 5B rocket fell into the Indian Ocean only to be met with stubborn
r space debris." The reproach came after remnants from China's Long March 5B rocket fell into the Indian Ocean only to be met with stubborn silence from those responsible. Another focus area is asteroid mining - rich in elements and minerals, asteroids are untapped resources. "Can we harness methods like 3D printing and look at options like asteroid mining to curb our pollution of the earth," Anushka asks, in an interview with Global Indian.
STEM awareness and a personal space odyssey
Recently, Anushka began her role as a Global Ambassador with the Women Tech Network. The community, based in California, promotes gender diversity in technology and connects professionals with top companies and startups. It is a culmination, of sorts, of her attempts to spread awareness on the diverse potential of STEM subjects. For, not one to restrict herself to a single area of study, Anushka delivers lectures on AI and machine learning to other students, hoping to help them understand how they work. She also visits schools to spread awareness on the STEM fields.
"Most students don't know how many career options there are in science. It's not just about physics and math or engineering as a career. There are many choices - technology, chemistry and biology to name a few. But students don't explore these options," explains the teen changemaker. "I have done the exploration and understand how much can be done. I must tell the others too," she tells Global Indian.
In August 2021, Anushka began seekinspace.com, where she publishes her articles and blogs. She is also a researcher with The Nebula Space Organisation, a research platform for students by students. Also associated with The Aurora Academic Journal, another student run venture that works with young researchers from across the globe, Anushka has written over 70 articles on astronomy. "I showed up on YouTube as well," Anushka says. "It's mostly for the AI sessions I conduct along with informative videos and opportunities in STEM fields."
Back to the beginning
"I knew I was made for science and it was made for me," Anushka remarks quietly. When she was in middle school, she got her hands on an encyclopaedia of science that covered an extensive breadth of topics. As she pored through them, her young mind was captivated by the idea that "We humans are made of stardust. We are the same as the cosmos. I am a cosmic entity," she smiles.
Inspired by idea, she studied more and more - always on her own, she says, "I have had no real mentor to guide me or even to point me in the right direction”. The pandemic hit and the country went into lockdown, leaving Anushka with enough time on her hands to continue her studies. She started reading every article she could find, watching videos and documentaries and making lists of books to read. She ordered the books online, building her "treasury of books," as she puts it. Writing articles to help herself analyse the information, Anushka discovered a flair for writing that she uses in her research papers, to write poetry and also, in her first book.
"I was intrigued with Stephen Hawking's The Grand Design," Anushka says. "He makes an argument against God, saying that there is no God and everything is natural," says Anushka. "I am a spiritual human being so I thought that if I want to understand God, I must read something against him. To me, it's about the power of nature."
The solitary observer
Always an observer, Anushka likes to spend her time in nature, paying attention the plants and animals she finds there. "I also like mountaineering," she says, describing many childhood vacations in the hills. "I climb the mountains and think, what is nature trying to teach me? What is it telling me? When I return, I recall those experience and try to understand what they were trying to tell me," she says. Hers is a life of observation marked by solitude, even at her young age. "Solitude is where I find my solace," Anushka admits.
Perhaps it was the solitary nature of her work but Anushka knew it was important for her to gain confidence and speak in public. "I began reaching out to students on Instagram and LinkedIn," says the teen, who is active on social media platforms. "I love connecting with students, especially when they are curious," says the teen changemaker.
Anushka visits CBSE and ICSE schools, organising sessions for students in Pune, where she lives. In October, she hopes to conduct her first session for adults as well, in collaboration with another organisation. "It will be a night camp like the one I had for students," she says. The night camp was her own first experience with a telescope, set up at the campsite beside a lake.
Science communicator
When her blogs and articles became popular among her family and friends, Anushka thought she might like to dabble in it. "I brought my skills in science and language together to be a science writer," says the teen changemaker. "As I understood more about astronomy, astrophysics, neuralinks, AI and machine learning, I wanted to find a way to unite technology and space exploration. Humans can't really travel through space but robots can. And I want to use my skills to be part of something like this, to create something that is bigger than me."
The road ahead
Currently in the midst of preparing for her SATs and IELTs, Anushka hopes to study abroad. "There are so many opportunities available. We get to research at a very early age, which is a big advantage," says Anushka. "India doesn't lack expertise but a bachelor's degree in astrophysics is hard to find," she says. "I also thought, if people like Kalam and Gandhi can benefit from studying abroad, why can't I? I want to study elsewhere and come back here to make an impact." The teen changemaker intends to remain in research, pushing the frontiers of what is known and what can be done, like "building sustainable rockets that are in keeping with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals," she suggests. "No matter what I do, my sole purpose is simply to serve humanity."
(July 16, 2023) In a remarkable journey of passion and purpose, Kiara Ramklass, an Indian-origin South African, has made a significant impact on her community by using the power of music. Her social enterprise, Marimba Jam, has not only provided underprivileged learners with a means of expression through rhythm and music but has also become a catalyst for cultural and social harmony. Recognized as one of the 100 Young Mandelas of the Future, Kiara's journey with Marimba Jam has grown from a small school outreach initiative to a renowned organisation that enriches vulnerable communities with the joy of Marimba music in a post-apartheid South Africa. “We have a focus on nation building because in South Africa there is a huge disconnect between the privileged youth and the youth from underprivileged segments of society. We use music to bridge that gap,” said Kiara. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa8fAYwfMy4&t=83s A Cape Town resident, Kiara has already earned herself several accolades, including being named one of the ‘200 Young South Africans’ by the Mail and Guardian in 2023. Her organisation, Marimba Jam has broken a Guinness World Record and has received several awards - the Number One Youth-Owned Business at the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition
A Cape Town resident, Kiara has already earned herself several accolades, including being named one of the ‘200 Young South Africans’ by the Mail and Guardian in 2023. Her organisation, Marimba Jam has broken a Guinness World Record and has received several awards - the Number One Youth-Owned Business at the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards, first prize at the Investec Startup School Africa and the Billion Acts of Peace Award led by 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, where it was chosen from millions of acts of peace worldwide as one of seven finalists. As the winner of the Billion Acts of Peace Fellowship from the Peace Jam Foundation Kiara got the opportunity to participate in a one-year global fellowship.
Her award-winning social enterprise not just teaches but also has a band that performs across South Africa. The band has had the honour of performing for the likes of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Western Cape Government, the South Africa National Rugby Union Team, and the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation apart from performing at numerous events.
The rhythms of marimba
Marimba is an African musical instrument of the percussion family. It is like a xylophone and consists of a series of wooden bars of varying lengths. The instrument is played by striking the bars with mallets, allowing the performer to create melodies and harmonies by varying the rhythm, speed, and intensity of the strikes. Marimba is known for its rich and resonant tone.
The ground-breaking Marimba Jam syllabus are being used in African schools that wish to integrate marimba into their offerings. “We are to first to develop a syllabus that allows marimba to be the first African instrument to be taken as a subject in school,” said the 28-year-old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaoB00sMobo
Breaking world records and achieving recognition
In 2018, Marimba Jam achieved international recognition by breaking the Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Marimba Ensemble’ with the participation of 241 females between the age of eight and 23 on South African National Women's Day. Previous holders of this title included Australia with 108 players in 2016, and Zimbabwe with 222 players the same year.
The following year, the organisation represented South Africa at the prestigious Social Enterprise World Forum, showcasing its impactful work on a global stage at Addis Ababa.
Making a Difference
Marimba Jam actively supports community causes through Marimba Jam Cares to bring about social change.
As the Marimba Jams website states, “it’s built upon the ideology that music can act as a vehicle for social change,” following the organisations motto,” Finding Harmony in Community,” to connect youth of South Africa bridging the socio-economic barriers that divide them. The profit earned from every paid performance and workshop of Marimba Jam helps in supporting the causes of its NPO branch - Marimba Jam Cares.
It started when…
When Kiara Ramklass, was in grade 11, she was deeply moved by the plight of the underprivileged in her society. Recognising her talent for playing the instrument, marimba, she decided to utilize it as a medium for change. With the support of the youth development organization enke: Make Your Mark, Kiara started her initiative to provide marimba lessons to learners from underprivileged schools in her locality. Her efforts were acknowledged with the Amy Biehl Spirit of Youth Award in 2012, further fuelling her determination.
In 2014, when she was in the first year at university, both her parents lost their jobs. Kiara stated teaching marimba as a part time job to support her education. Her teaching skills were so much in demand that at one point of time she found herself teaching 15 batches of students a week while pursuing her full-time degree in film and media screen production at the University of Cape Town.
[caption id="attachment_31934" align="aligncenter" width="542"] Kiara Ramklass, CEO and founder, Marimba Jam[/caption]
Later, she was chosen for the Global Young Innovators Programme to participate in a seven-month course by Newable UK and Innovate UK. “I was awarded a grant of £10 000 to develop a new virtual reality app for the African Music Heritage project,” she said.
From small initiative to thriving social enterprise
Kiara's commitment to teaching marimba and her desire to make a deeper impact led her to formalise Marimba Jam into a full-time venture in 2015. Since then, Marimba Jam has flourished as a dynamic social enterprise, offering marimba lessons to thousands of learners in the Western Cape. The organisation also runs annual teacher training courses, festivals, and workshops, providing part-time employment to university students who want to be a part of the cause.
Held annually at an open-air theatre, the Marimba Jam Festival is a popular event. It not only provides Kiara’s students a platform to perform but also works as a fundraising event to continue with the organisations outreach programme – to provide weekly marimba band lessons at schools meant for poor children. “The underprivileged schools don’t have any access to music or art and culture. We invite students at such schools into private schools so that they can share and learn from one another. This initiative gives them the opportunity to unleash their talent,” Kiara says.
[caption id="attachment_31935" align="aligncenter" width="736"] Kiara with her students[/caption]
The Indian-origin musician and teacher was born and raised in Cape Town and is dedicated towards making a difference in a post-apartheid South Africa through the transformative power of music and social entrepreneurship.
(October 5, 2023) Anush Agarwalla is exactly where he should be now — on top of the world. From weekend joyrides on horseback when he was barely three to becoming a passionate and accomplished equestrian years later — Anush Agarwalla has galloped his way to glory. This year, he became the winner of India’s first-ever bronze medal in individual Dressage at the Asian Games 2023. “There is no better feeling than having a good ride. With Etro (his horse), I really felt like we were flying in the arena,” smiles Anush, speaking exclusively to Global Indian after his historic win. He scored 73.030 to finish third and claim his second medal at the Asian Games. [caption id="attachment_33359" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Dressage champion Anush Agarwalla.[/caption] Etro shines Anush says Etro, the nine-year-old stallion by Escola, whom he has been riding only since February, has a very strong character. “He just went into the stadium and was ready to shine. Etro knew that he was the centre of attention and that is exactly what he loves. Everything was in perfect sync and it was just unbelievable fun to ride him,” says the champ. Anush felt Etro’s amazing energy right from the time he entered
g only since February, has a very strong character. “He just went into the stadium and was ready to shine. Etro knew that he was the centre of attention and that is exactly what he loves. Everything was in perfect sync and it was just unbelievable fun to ride him,” says the champ.
Anush felt Etro’s amazing energy right from the time he entered the arena. “Our partnership is quite young. But the way he performed in Asian Games, I think he really grew out of himself. Etro was proud of himself when everyone around was clapping.” Since 1951, India has won only 13 medals in the Asian Games equestrian (including the dressage team which Anush was part of and which won gold). India had not won an individual medal in the sport ever.
Preparation
The accomplished equestrian says the sole focus was on training for the big day. “I had some great coaches and we were constantly training. Importantly, I was happy with my horse. It felt good from the very beginning,” says the 24-year-old. Anush says he did not do anything special before the Asian Games when it came to preparations. “I don’t do anything special before any event in general because I just like to follow my daily routine and schedule. That’s what helps me best,” he says.
He believes that changing anything in his training schedule affects his performance. “When I know that I have done something differently or included something new, other than my routine, I start getting nervous. So I just try to keep everything the way it is,” he says.
The Team’s Gold win
On September 26, the Indian Dressage Team made history by winning a gold medal at the Asian Games, marking the first time in 41 years that India has achieved this feat. The team, consisting of Anush, Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda, showcased exceptional skill and teamwork to secure the coveted gold medal, marking a a significant milestone for India in the world of equestrian sports, particularly dressage, a form of horse riding where riders and their trained horse execute a series of precise movements.
[caption id="attachment_33364" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Anush, along with the Indian Dressage Team.[/caption]
Anush says the team was confident of the win from the very beginning. “As a team, we knew that we had good chances to win a medal. We had good results in the previous shows we competed at, which were also our qualifiers for the Asian Games. We knew if everything works out, we could win gold, but of course we were not 100% sure about it,” smiles Anush.
Still, hearing the announcement that the team won gold was the most amazing feeling ever, Anush says. “Everything worked according to our plan. All riders performed well, everyone was happy with the performance and it was just amazing to win the gold for the country.”
Anush’s family was present at the stands cheering for him. “My experience at the Asian Games has been exactly what I ever wished for. Besides my coach, my family was in the stands. I could feel their constant support which was overwhelming,” says Anush, whose phone didn’t stop ringing with congratulatory messages pouring in from friends and well-wishers from across the world after the win.
Born to ride
Anush Agarwalla, who was born in Kolkata in 1999, first sat on a horse when he was three-years-old. He would accompany his parents to the club. “Thereafter, I enrolled myself for riding lessons at the club. I was riding in the Tollygunge Club until the age of 11,” says Anush, who subsequently started to pursue his equestrian dreams in Delhi by training at OREA stables.
“I used to travel back and forth from Delhi every weekend because I shifted my trainers from Kolkata to Delhi. I had to complete my schooling in Kolkata but ride on the weekends in Delhi” recalls Anush, who completed his class 10 from La Martiniere, Kolkata. He then shifted to Sri Ram School, Aravali.
After finishing class 11, Anush moved to Germany to take the sport more seriously in 2017. “I realised that I was not at the level where I wanted to be and I would not be able to achieve my goals. That’s how the journey started,” says the horse rider, who trained with German Olympian Hubertus Schmidt.
Anush enrolled himself in the National Institute of Open Schooling and iOS to complete his class 12. “I was flying back and forth from Germany for my exams,” says Anush, who is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics from University of Paderborn in Germany. He is in his last semester and hopes to complete his undergrad degree by February next year.
In August 2022, equestrienne Shruti Vora and Agarwalla made history by becoming the first Indians to compete in an individual dressage event at the World Equestrian Championships in Herning, Denmark. He had also represented India in several international competitions, including the Asian Games 2018, where he finished seventh in individual dressage.
What’s next?
“My next goal is to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. I missed out on the Tokyo Olympics by just one spot so I hope to make it this time,” says Anush, who flew back to Germany immediately to begin training for his next milestone.
(March 31, 2022) The last few days have seen GATE 2022 topper T Mani Sandeep Reddy receive a flurry of phone calls and congratulatory messages. Among them, he was pleasantly surprised to discover, was Telangana minister E Dayakara Rao. Meanwhile, the soft-spoken engineering student from NIT-Warangal is perplexed by the adulation. His achievement - topping the chemical engineering section, is tremendous. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is one of the country's most competitive exams, deciding admissions to various IITs and to the prestigious Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. "I am satisfied with my performance. Is it a great achievement? I don’t know. But I did not expect this kind of response. I feel people are blowing it out of proportion," smiles the 22-year-old, whose gentle demeanour and simplicity are hard to miss. [caption id="attachment_22309" align="aligncenter" width="536"] The GATE 2022 topper outside his alma mater, NIT-Warangal[/caption] Mission: Stay focussed In an exclusive chat with Global Indian from his hostel at NIT, Sandeep says that it was general preparation that helped him secure the first rank. Unlike scores of students across the country, he didn't head to the array of coaching centres. Instead, the GATE 2022 topper decided to
thGlobal Indianfrom his hostel at NIT, Sandeep says that it was general preparation that helped him secure the first rank. Unlike scores of students across the country, he didn't head to the array of coaching centres. Instead, the GATE 2022 topper decided to keep it simple, preparing on his own at home. “I started preparing for GATE about six months ago. The plan was simple – dedicate three to four hours every day to all the subjects with complete concentration," says the chemical engineering student. Staying focussed in his classes helped him cope with the syllabus.
Incidentally, most students opt for formal coaching ahead of the exams, but Sandeep chose to arm himself with his professors’ lessons, a few guides, and determination. This year’s GATE results were declared by the Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur on March 17. The exams decide admissions into the Masters programmes at various IITs and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, as well as for recruitment by some public sector companies.
"I was expecting a rank below 50 and the paper was tough this year," he says when asked whether he’d had any inkling that he would secure the first rank. This year, over nine lakh students had applied for GATE 2022, of which a little over seven lakh appeared for the exams in early February. Sandeep emerged as the GATE topper 2022, securing the AIR Rank 1 in the chemical engineering stream.
Mr. T Mani Sandeep Reddy, final year BTech Chemical student secured AIR 1 in GATE 2022. pic.twitter.com/uGZBMab3VJ
This is Sandeep’s second attempt at GATE. He’d taken the exam in 2021 too when he ranked 229. "That (rank) was good enough and I wrote the exams just to gain some experience," he says. In hope of pushing his limits even more, he decided to retake the exam.
"I had a solid conceptual understanding of my subjects," says Sandeep, adding, "Paying attention in class helped me a great deal." His professors, who guided him throughout, were very happy with his performance. When the GATE 2022 results were declared, he was congratulated by NIT director NV Ramana Rao, chemical engineering HOD Dr Srinath and professor Shireesh Sonewane.
Humble beginnings
Born in a tiny hamlet in Vedurupaka village in Andhra Pradhesh’s East Godavari district, Sandeep attended a local school for four years before his family moved to Hyderabad. There, he studied at Johnson Grammar School, Nacharam. "I was always interested in physics and chemistry applications. Luckily, I got a good score in JEE (mains) and got into NIT Warangal," says Sandeep, whose father, T Rama Gopala Reddy is an electrical engineer. His mother Iswarya Bhagya Laxmi is a homemaker while Sandeep's younger brother Varun Kumar Reddy is in class 12.
[caption id="attachment_22306" align="aligncenter" width="762"] Sandeep with his family[/caption]
The youngster considers his father as his idol. "He comes from a family of farmers and has faced innumerable challenges. My father used to work in the fields and still make the time to study. He completed his degree and then engineering through his efforts and determination. He knows the value of education," smiles Sandeep, who says that coming from a humble background is what has helped him as well. Needless to say, his parents were thrilled with the news.
Sandeep wants to work in a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) to gain experience. Then, he will decide whether he wants to continue with it or switch to a private company. The final-year engineering student has already received an offer from GAIL through campus placements. With his recent achievement, more offers are likely to come his way.
From badminton to numismatics
[caption id="attachment_22305" align="aligncenter" width="726"] Sandeep is passionate about numismatics and has over 700 old coins[/caption]
Believing in striking a balance, Sandeep is not just about academics all the way. "I like to unwind over a game of badminton and also play online games. But my major hobby is numismatics," he informs. Collecting old coins from India and abroad has been a hobby since he was in school. "I like the old Indian coins, especially the commemorative ones. I have about 700 coins in my collection," says the young lad, who is also part of his college’s chemical engineering association.
(June 22, 2023) His dad was a cab driver, his mum managed to find work driving a bus. It was a time of hardship and great tenacity, as cricketer Jason Sangha's family worked against the odds to create a life for themselves in Sydney, Australia. Despite their financial constraints, Jason was encouraged to follow his great love - cricket. In 2017, Jason Sangha made his first-class debut for Cricket Australia XI, in a pre-Ashes game. During his second match, he scored his maiden first-class century, becoming the youngest player to score a first-class century against England, second only to cricketing god, Sachin Tendulkar. In December 2017, he was named the Australian team captain for the 2018, U-19 Cricket World Cup, becoming tournament's lead run-scorer, with 229 runs. A right-handed batsman and right-arm leg break bowler, the Global Indian now plays for New South Wales and Randwick Petersham in the New South Wales Premier Grade Cricket. And Sangha was always gifted, standing head and shoulders above any crowd, learning to face the highs and lows that come with being exceptional. "If he was a thoroughbred, his breeding would be Joe Root out of Virat Kohli," said Australian cricketer turned commentator Kerry
, his breeding would be Joe Root out of Virat Kohli," said Australian cricketer turned commentator Kerry O'Keeffe, who spotted Sangha's genius early on and made sure he found a spot on the Australian test team. As for Sangha himself, he has been through far too much already, from battling mental health issues, financial hardship, dealing with the pressures of his chosen vocation and learning to belong in a place where he would always feel different, to be swayed too much by life's highs and lows. "It's a rollercoaster," he often says. "Cricket is a rollercoaster."
[caption id="attachment_31329" align="aligncenter" width="445"] Jason Sangha[/caption]
Jason Sangha's story begins, not with the discovery of his own talent, but in Punjab with his father Kuldip, and in Sydney, where his mother Sylvia lived. His father, Jason writes, was the national 200m and 400m champion, who even competed at the Asian Games. However, sport being quite a political issue in rural Punjab, meant Kuldip's talent lost out to those who held political sway. Kuldip and Sylvia had an arranged marriage, she flew down to Punjab to meet her husband and the couple went back to Sydney together. Kuldip left his athletic dreams behind and found work as a cabbie, while Sylvia was a bus driver.
"Money was always tight," Sangha says. "What little was left over after living expenses was usually sent back to dad's family in India. But they got by." They gave birth to their first child, Sharon, in Rooty Hill Place, their first residence in Sydney, then went to Kemps Creek and finally, to Coogee, where Jason Sangha was born. They went on to set up their own restaurant, 'The Flavour of North India' and expanded to four outlets around Cronulla, Coogee and Maroubra.
"For as long as I can remember, we always had relatives staying with us, many from dad's side of the family in India," Sangha wrote in Athletics Voice back in 2017. As it is in an Indian home, the relatives pitched in, and the extended family formed deep bonds. He recalls his parents' selflessness - "Mum always put others ahead of herself. She made sure everyone ate before she did. Dad was the same. The two of them would work long hours then, as soon as they got home, they'd set about making sure everyone else was alright."
In those early days, Sangha wasn't too interested in cricket, he preferred basketball, because of his hero, LeBron James. He liked the rugby league and soccer, "pretty much everything other than cricket." When he was nine years old, he watched Adam 'Gilly' Gilchrist take Monty Panesar to the cleaners and feeling very impressed, enough to try his hand at the sport. As it happened, the family lived near the Coogee Oval, they could even see it from their apartment. So, the young Sangha would watch cricketers playing for Randwich-Petersham, and dream about being among them some day. And like so many other Indian kids, he would use a tennis ball to play cricket with his two cousins. He even remembers his neighbours in South Cardiff telling him he would play for NSW one day, as they watched his father bowl to him in backyard.
Just as things seemed to be picking up in the young boy's life, the financial crisis hit, leaving the family in pieces. They were forced to sell and had no choice but to move to Newcastle to start over. "Mum and dad protectedus from the news. It wasn't until three or four years later that I found out the real reason why we left Sydney," Sangha recalled. As it turned out, Newcastle wasn't so bad after all. Granted, Sangha was the "only brown person in school," but had no trouble making friends. The city also had a small but thriving Sikh community, where Sangha learned to stay in touch with his cultural roots.
The whole 22 yards
By the time the family settled into Newcastle, Jason Sangha had established his love for cricket. He began playing junior cricket at Warners Bay in Cardiff and after one year, made it to the local team. He recalls his coach, Bob Holland, very fondly, saying, "he helped convert me from a quick bowler into a leg-spinner." One year later, Sangha was 12 then, he moved up to grade cricket. This was an intimidating experience, "surrounded by all these grown men at Wallsend," Sangha says. His peers stuck by him, though and he ended up playing the last two games of the season that year.
He was noticed by the first-grade captain, Brett Jackson, who became his batting coach. He was a hard taskmaster, though and Sangha definitely had moments when he wanted to give up, even telling his mother, "I don't want to train with him anymore." His mum simply told him to toughen up. The evening before the first game of the first-grade season, Jackson told him, "Also, I forgot to tell you: You're playing." Sangha was 13 years old, and had made himself known as something of a prodigy.
Jason Sangha was sixteen years old when he got his first contract with NWS. He got his contract, and with it, quite a bit of fame. The media was quick to point out that his was the youngest Blues' signing since Josh Hazlewood.
The mental health descent
As has been the case with Sangha, life was unpredictable. What seemed like a rapid rise to success ended up being one of the most challenging years of his life, filled with mental health struggles, and the pressures of so much success at such a young age. "You're not a normal 16-year-old kid anymore," he would remind himself. "you're a pro." It was too much to take. His performance at school dropped because he was spending so much time away. Sangha even tried to give up school, although that idea was quicly shot down by his Indian parents. The situation got so bad that Sangha would wake up on game-day and think, "I'd be happy to nick off early and sit the rest out." Although he scored a century in one game, the rest of his scores remained in the single digit. Suddenly, Sangha hated cricket.
His best friend, Joe Hart, and his family, rallied around him. His mum also moved the family back to Sydney, where she had set up a meeting for Sangha with Waverley College. So he and his mum set off for Sydney again. "We stuffed everythign we could into a car and headed to a flat in Belmore Road in Randwick," Sangha writes.
Things weren't easing up. Sangha's schedule remained very intense - he would be in the gym at 6 am three days a week, finish training, come home for breakfast and get to school. After school, he would to the nets in Moore Park to practice, do his homework and go to bed. Everybody had high expectations of the precocious young man, and he struggled to cope.
After he missed his sister's wedding, things hit crisis point. His mentor and manager, Bill Anderson sat with him that day and told him to take a break. As always, his friends, family and peers stood by him. Eventually, Sangha was hit by another truth - "I have been so selfish," he thought. "I haven't even thought about the impact I've been having on other people around me."
The turning point
The impact of Jason Sangha's mental health struggles on his family inspired him to make a ch ange. He walked to the Sikh temple in Blacktown, something he hadn't really done since moving back to Sydney. Through a series of small steps, he found his way out of the darkness, and also passed high school with flying colours.
In 2017, Sangha was chosen to captain Australia at the ICC Under-19 World Cup, along with Austin Waugh, son of former skipper Steve. He is also touted as one of Australia's most promising young players and in 2022, was named captain of Sydney Thunder ahead of the Big Bash League. Unfortunately, Sangha broke his collarbone during the first game, leading to a big loss for the team, who were bowled out for a doube digit score by the Adelaide strikers.
Sangha's story is one of perseverance and triumph over adversity. From humble beginnings in a financially constrained family, he embraced his passion for cricket against all odds. Battling mental health issues, balancing the pressures of success at a young age, and finding his place in a competitive sport, Jason Sangha has shown remarkable strength and determination. Through the highs and lows of his journey, he has emerged as a promising young cricketer, captaining Australia at the U-19 World Cup and earning recognition in the Big Bash League. And he has learned, the hard way that life is full of ups and downs and understands how to take both in his stride with hope and equanimity.
Kiara Ramklass, CEO and founder, Marimba Jam[/caption]
Kiara with her students[/caption]
Anush, along with the Indian Dressage Team.[/caption]
Sandeep with his family[/caption]
Sandeep is passionate about numismatics and has over 700 old coins[/caption]
Jason Sangha[/caption]