Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveFrom Delhi to Seoul: Srija Paul’s journey of Korean language, music, and dreams

From Delhi to Seoul: Srija Paul’s journey of Korean language, music, and dreams

By: Amrita Priya

(November 9, 2024) “I feel blessed to have come this far in my journey with the Korean language and music,” says Delhi’s Srija Paul, reflecting on the journey that has brought her to the global stage. Srija’s connection with the Korean language began as a quest to understand the lyrics of her favourite K-pop ballads. Over time, it grew into a deep, immersive passion that’s shaping her career path.

In 2024, the 20-year-old achieved a major milestone by winning the grand prize in the “Born To Be A KPOP Star” contest, held in South Korea’s Gyeongsang-do province. This isn’t the first time Srija has made her mark on the international stage. Last year, she claimed the top prize in the Sejong Hakdang Outstanding Learners’ Invitational Training Program, an annual competition for Korean language learners in Seoul. With each achievement, she feels she is getting closer to her ultimate goal – to become a popular professional singer in Korea.

Indian youth | Srija Paul | Global Indian

Srija in front of the Blue House, also known as Cheongwa Dae – the official residence of the President of South Korea

After majoring in English Literature at a college in Delhi and completing a basic Korean language course at the Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) in New Delhi, she recently began an advanced practical Korean language course at the SNU Language Education Institute in Seoul. Alongside her studies, Srija works as a Korean language trainer on the language exchange platform Hilokal, where she and other trainers hold audio-based classes to help people improve their Korean. She’s also dedicated to building a musical career in South Korea.

Tryst with the Korean language

Srija’s fascination with the Korean language took root in 2017 when a friend introduced her to the world of K-pop. Intrigued by the unfamiliar sounds and rhythms, she found herself drawn to the unique artistry of the genre, especially the ballads. Her growing love for these songs, and the messages she sensed within the lyrics, motivated her to learn Korean. Initially, Srija’s goal was simple – to understand the music on a deeper level. But as she delved into the language, what started as a personal interest transformed into an unshakable passion.

In February 2023, Srija took a definitive step forward by enrolling in a formal Korean language course at the Sejong Hakdang branch of the Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) in New Delhi. There, she immersed herself in rigorous language studies, embracing the nuances of Korean grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. By the time the Sejong Hakdang Invitational contest came around later that year, Srija was ready to compete with other top learners worldwide.

Srija at the Sejong Hakdang Outstanding Learners’ Invitational speech competition in 2023

Her performance in the competition was nothing short of stellar; she presented the speech titled ‘My Dreams and Challenges in Korean,’ which resonated strongly with both the audience and judges. In her speech, she shared her aspiration of becoming a singer in Korea and spoke candidly about the obstacles she had faced. This victory not only reaffirmed her dedication to the Korean language but also brought her one step closer to achieving her dream.

Winning ‘Born To Be A KPOP Star’ competition in 2024

This year’s ‘Born To Be A KPOP Star’ competition marked another significant milestone in Srija’s journey. The event, held in South Korea’s Gyeongsang-do province, featured contestants from around the world, both online and offline. She got emotional upon hearing her name announced as the grand prize winner. It was a surreal moment, a culmination of years of practice, discipline, and commitment to music. Srija attributes much of her success to her language skills, noting that singing in Korean has allowed her to connect with audiences on a deeper level. By conveying the nuances and emotions of Korean lyrics, she brings authenticity to her performances, which resonates with listeners.

Srija received the first prize in the ‘Born To Be a KPOP Star’ competition as an online participant

Platform for cultural exchange

For Srija, the Sejong Hakdang program and the Korean Cultural Centre, India have provided crucial platforms not only to learn Korean but also to experience Korean culture in its entirety. The Sejong Hakdang Outstanding Learners’ Invitational Training Program, which brought her to Seoul last year, is a collaborative effort between the Sejong Hakdang Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in South Korea. Each year, the program invites top students from Sejong Hakdang branches worldwide to compete in Korean language skills, and the event is a central part of the annual Hangeul Day celebrations on October 9. In 2023, over 2,400 applicants from 67 countries participated in the program, and Srija emerged as the grand prize winner, joining the ranks of previous winners, including Anubhuti Kakati, another Indian student who won in 2021.

“When they announced my name as the winner during the speech contest, I was filled with happiness and a sense of achievement. In that moment, I felt that I had taken one step closer to my dream,” she remarked.

Srija Paul while receiving the second prize at the Sejong Hakdang Outstanding Learners’ Invitational speech competition

The preliminary rounds took place at the Korean Cultural Centre in New Delhi, where the contestants were given a choice between two topics: ‘Korea as I and Koreans See It’ and ‘The Korean City I Want to Visit and an Introduction to My City.’ “I chose the first and was placed second. In the interview round with a panel of professors from reputable Korean universities, just 10 finalists had made it,” she shared.

The first visit to Korea

Srija’s experience in the Sejong Hakdang program was more than just a competition. It was a chance to immerse herself in Korean culture and connect with other language learners from around the world. In addition to the speech contest, the finalists engaged in a variety of activities during their 6-day, 7-night stay. These included visits to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Yongin Folk Village, a traditional game performance at Namsadang, and a tour of the Blue House. They also experienced aspects of modern Korean culture, such as K-pop dance.

The program’s focus on cross-cultural exchange and learning has had a lasting impact on Srija, reinforcing her desire to contribute to Korean-Indian cultural relations through her music.

Srija visited the Gyeongbok Palace in traditional attire (Hanbok)

“I was happy and teary-eyed when I landed in Korea; my dream had finally come true. I was mesmerized by the country’s beauty. Additionally, everything was so organized there and the roads wide and clean. My favourite activities were wearing Hanbok and visiting the aquarium at Lotte World,” shared the youngster who travelled back this year to pursue Korean language course at SNU Language Education Institute in Seoul, few months back.

Korean culture in India

The influence of Korean culture in India has grown rapidly over the past few years, with the KCCI playing a vital role in nurturing this interest. The KCCI offers a variety of classes in New Delhi, from Korean language courses to Taekwondo and Samulnori (traditional Korean percussion music). In addition to these courses, the KCCI extends its reach by partnering with 32 schools across India, offering Korean language classes and cultural programs to students.

A dream of musical fusion

Shrija dreams of sharing a stage with her idols, such as Paul Kim and Jung Seung-hwan, and creating music that speaks to both Indian and Korean audiences. For Srija, singing in Korean is more than a performance – it’s a form of expression that bridges two cultures and resonates with listeners on an emotional level.

“I want to create music that brings Korea and India closer to connect people on a deeper level, and I want to keep learning and spreading knowledge of the Korean language and culture to others,” she tells talking about her ultimate goal. To start, she has been working on collaborative projects with Korean singers.

Srija’s journey from a K-pop enthusiast in Delhi to an award-winning Korean-speaking singer-in-the-making exemplifies the power of passion and perseverance. As she moves forward, the youngster remains committed to her goal – one that transcends borders, celebrating the connections that music and culture create across continents.

For her, the Korean language has been more than just words and phrases – it has been the key that opened a door to her greatest dream.

Follow Srija Paul on YouTube and Instagram

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 09, Nov 2024

Share with

ALSO READ

Tanay Jain: Upcycling textile waste to stitch garments for the underprivileged kids

(January 26, 2024) Up to 7800 kilotonnes of textile waste gets accumulated in India each year with pre-consumer waste making for a steep 42 percent, out of which 17 percent ends up in landfills. Seeing piles of wasted fabric stacked in corners of his dad's Kolkata-based textile factory (Onaya Fashions) led to the birth of the Onaya Foundation in 2018 with a mission to give textile waste a second lease of life. They upcycle discarded textile waste into garments for underprivileged children. "Till now we have reached out to 6000 children with the help of NGOs and have upcycled 5500-6000 meters of cloth," Tanay tells Global Indian. What began as donations by family members and friends to the underprivileged on special occasions grew during the lockdown when it opened its doors to the world owing to Tanay's vision of expansion. "We often visited orphanages during birthdays and donated clothes. But during the lockdown, we decided to open this idea to the world, where people could donate garments made from upcycled textile waste to the underserved," reveals the 18-year-old, who is studying B.Com (H) at Sriram College of Commerce. Conceptualised by his aunt Vandana Jain in 2018, the foundation expanded its

Sriram College of Commerce. Conceptualised by his aunt Vandana Jain in 2018, the foundation expanded its horizon in 2020 upon Tanay's behest. It began with making an Instagram page to invite keen donors. "They could contact us and we would find an NGO near their place, contact them, take details of the number of children, their age and sizes, and make clothes for them using the textile waste generated from my dad's factory," says Tanay.

[caption id="attachment_35462" align="aligncenter" width="548"] Tanay Jain[/caption]

In no time, the orders started coming in bulk, especially during the festive season. The contractual karigars stitch kurtas for boys and kurtis for girls at a nominal charge of ₹200. "We wanted to pay the marginalised karigars during Covid-19, especially when they needed an additional source of income," says the teenager, whose foundation has till now made multiple donations to 50-60 NGOs across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. "We supply the karigars with textile waste which is mostly cloth patches and depending on their creativity and ingenuity, they make a kurta/kurti out of it." Tanay says that through the Onaya Foundation, the children at NGOs are getting to wear new garments on their birthdays, "something that wasn't happening before, and makes it special for them too."

The dream of being a social entrepreneur

Born in a business family, Tanay was witness to many dining table conversations that revolved around textiles. But seeing his family inclined towards serving society, he had decided at a young age that social entrepreneurship was the way forward. "I wanted to create an impact in the society through my work. However, I was too young to understand what I wanted to partake in until the lockdown happened, and I became more interested in the work that The Onaya Foundation is doing," says the teenager, whose foundation has made over 7000-8000 donations till now from their factory waste. "You can imagine the kind of textile waste that's generated from the factories that operate on a larger scale."

The positive impact

In the last few years, the Onaya Foundation has made a positive impact not only in the lives of underprivileged kids but the environment as well, especially in the times of fast fashion when a lot of textile waste makes it to landfills, thus causing environmental hazards. Their foundation looks into pre-consumption waste that is accumulated during the making of a garment. "Our idea was to start a cycle where the yarn or the fabric comes from nature and we give back to nature by upcycling textile waste. Moreover, we have also planted saplings and trees from the surplus funds we have received through donations," explains Tanay.

Started as the Katran Foundation in 2018, they have recently renamed it the Onaya Foundation. "The reason we have incorporated it under the Onaya Fashions is that it gives us a lot of resources to market it, create more impact, and formalise the structure. That's what we plan to do in the next two years," reveals Tanay, who looks into the marketing, awareness, and donation drives. His aunt, on the other hand, handles manufacturing and upcycling.

[caption id="attachment_35463" align="aligncenter" width="293"] Tanay with his aunt Vandana Jain[/caption]

Dwelling on the challenges that Tanay faced during the process, he says not getting enough donations was heartbreaking. "Also, creating awareness on textile waste and donations at a student level when people don't take you seriously was a constant struggle," he says, adding, "People often question your motivation thinking you are doing it for your CV. But since I had no inclination to study abroad and no external motive, people understood that it was of personal value to me," says Tanay for whom the entire experience has been humbling. "It has made me understand my privileges and how I can use them for the betterment of the society."

Sustainable fashion is the future

Ask if India is ready for sustainable fashion, the teenager says, "Things have improved in the last few years but it was difficult for us to spread awareness as people had no idea about textile waste causing environmental concerns." At the same time, he is happy that many companies are now championing the cause in the textile industry. "Some people are ready to pay a 20 percent premium for clothes that are sustainable than those that cause environmental hazards. At the same time, it's at a level where people are privileged. In a country like India, people have affordability issues as they care more about the price of the product than its impact. The kind of donations we are doing with The Onaya Foundation is done on a small level but when you look at the problem from a bigger lens, many people still cannot afford two meals a day in India, which puts a lot of things into perspective. I am grateful that the awareness is being spread but there is a long way to go," he signs off.

Follow Tanay Jain on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 min

Changing the future: Coder Kyra Anand is breaking the computer barrier for many girls

(January 20, 2024) For countless years, girls have often found themselves on the sidelines when it comes to the field of software development. Whether due to societal expectations, limited opportunities, or outdated stereotypes, a barrier has existed, keeping many young girls from exploring this industry. However, a remarkable 13-year-old is reshaping the narrative. Kyra Anand, a young coder based in Dubai, founded the 'Girls Do Code' initiative at the tender age of 10. Amidst the COVID-19 lockdowns, Kyra adeptly learned Scratch and Python online. Recognizing the glaring underrepresentation of women in the tech industry, this young coder established the initiative with the aim of inspiring more girls to explore coding and technology. "I created 'Girls Do Code' as I really love coding myself, and I am passionate about getting more women into coding. I truly believe that girls are capable of doing anything. While I was learning a few coding languages from my father, I noticed that several of the girls in my class - though curious - didn't know where to learn these languages. So, I established a platform where everyone can learn the nuances of these languages from," shared the young coder, who is also a Diana Award

er, I noticed that several of the girls in my class - though curious - didn't know where to learn these languages. So, I established a platform where everyone can learn the nuances of these languages from," shared the young coder, who is also a Diana Award winner.

Starting young

Born and brought up in the United Arab Emirates, Kyra was always fascinated by coding languages, and all the cool things one can create after learning them - an interest she shares with her father. However, during the pandemic, while she was learning these languages from her father, Kyra noted a lack of similar passion for technology among the girls around her. It was this realisation that prompted her to take the initiative in spreading her love for technology among her friends and in society at large.

"I realised it was only them, but it was almost all the girls in my grade in school that really weren't interested in technology, and I was shocked because I love technology so much,” said the coder, who is currently a student at the Jumeirah College. After a bit of survey, where she connected with girls her age in Dubai and India, the youngster proposed the idea of establishing a teaching platform to her father, who was more than happy to assist her in the endeavour.

"My father really supported me through this journey. I knew a bit of coding, however, putting it all together was still a bit of a task for me. He helped me figure out a lot of things, and I am very grateful for that. At that time, I was also teaching a few of my cousins, and my sole mission was to launch Girls Do Code as a project to provide coding education to girls in my community," the coder shared, who enthusiastically approached her teachers to organise coding sessions during lunch breaks at school and after school hours.

A young visionary

With time, however, Girls Do Code became bigger. The initiative broadened its outreach, and Kyra collaborated with organisations - in Dubai and India - to provide education to underprivileged and street children. "I thought why not share this passion with a lot more girls and maybe help them gain interest? So, then I started teaching my community, taught my cousin, and then my mother told me about an organisation called Harmony House in India. They didn’t have a computer programme, so I thought I should teach them," the coder expressed.

Connecting India and the UAE through technology, Kyra began conducting classes via Zoom while teaching her local community face-to-face. The coder starts by teaching young girls Scratch, a computer language that helps develop logical thinking skills, and then progresses to Python. “I have taught around 36 children today including Code to Care volunteers who are the volunteers in my school who want to help GDC," the Global Indian said.

Kyra believes that coding is an essential life skill that nurtures logical and structured thinking, benefiting everyone. Her impact goes beyond coding, as seen in her 'G.I.V.E. initiative,' where she raises funds for charities and organises community activities throughout the year. Talking about what is keeping her busy these days, the young coder said, "Currently, I am working on an inventive project that involves developing a system capable of identifying whether someone is wearing a mask or not using their webcam."

Follow Kyra Anand on Instagram
Follow Girls Do Code on their website

Reading Time: 5 mins

Swimming with sharks: Into the wild with Malaika Vaz

(February 15, 2023) When they spot the uniformed men with walkie-talkies watching them - again - Malaika Vaz and her companion, the cinematographer Nitye Sood switch instantly into tourist mode. They huddle together for a selfie and gush over a shawl at a nearby stall. "I don't want to tell you what country I'm in because I feel like that could expose me to danger," Malaika Vaz says, in hushed tones, to the Nat Geo podcaster on the other end. This was 2017 and the intrepid young wildlife filmmaker was undercover in a 'city in east Asia' in a seafood market in a shopping mall. They were following the illegal trade of manta rays, a convoluted and perilous pipeline that took them from fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean to the Indo-Myanmar border and Guangzhou in China. This was back in 2021 and one of Vaz's most explosive documentaries. As one might already have noted, the now twenty-five-year-old Malaika Vaz's life beggars' belief. It's the kind of thing young filmmakers and journalists dream of doing, but rarely gather the courage to accomplish. For Vaz, however, it was almost second nature. Growing up in Goa, Vaz began diving in the ocean

diving in the ocean when she was 12 years old, immersing herself in the beauty of underwater life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malaika Vaz (@malaikavaz)

Discovering the manta ray

She was swimming in the Maldives the first time she spotted a manta ray - "I saw a beautiful black shadow coming out of nowhere. It was curious about me. I was frozen, I wasn't expecting this giant cloud to come up to me. It was poetic. Ever since then, I have been obsessed with them."

Even as a child, the Global Indian was captivated by the great outdoors. She is the youngest person to reach the Arctic and the Antarctic with the students at the Ice Foundation. Early on, she learned windsurfing, and sailing and is a professional diver. As she grew older, though, she felt she needed more than just adventure. Having witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by unsustainable tourism, illegal trade, and climate change on the marine ecosystem. And she decided to do something about it.

Foray into filmmaking

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Malaika Vaz (@malaikavaz)

She had always had an interest in filmmaking and a conviction strong enough to compel her to quit college and follow her passion instead. She joined a production company as a researcher and not long afterward, was asked to go in front of the camera.

"I realised that while I loved being on camera, shaping the stories and bringing in new perspectives and narratives that hadn't traditionally been seen on television was what I liked best," she said. She turned to other roles - she has been a director, writer, and producer, apart from presenting. She is also the founder of 'Untamed Planet', a production company that seeks to make an impact in the conservation world.

Scaling new heights in Ladakh

In 2014, she travelled to Ladakh, to train a group of village women to climb mountains. The message: Even the most perilous wilderness might prove safer for India's women than its cities and villages. At the time she was a student at Mahindra United World College and had already found herself a place in the Limca Book of Records as the youngest Indian to travel to both Polar regions in 2011-12. She headed off to Ladakh with a group of students from school, all part of the UWC's Outdoor Education Programme. Together, they climbed the Stok Kangri and Lungser Kangri. "The nine women who are training with us are all from villages in the Muslhi valley," she said. Many had a history of domestic abuse.

Documenting wildlife to conservation

Vaz and her team travel around the world documenting wildlife and exotic locations but that's only one part of what they do. Vaz also takes on issues like animal trafficking, travelling undercover, and coming face-to-face with dangerous kingpins across the globe. Like tracing manta ray traffickers across Asia, for instance. That became Peng Yu Sai, which was nominated for the 'Green Oscars' and takes the viewer into a murky world comprising fishermen, middlemen, traffickers, and even armed forces personnel as Vaz tries to protect her beloved nautical giants.

She describes, in the Overheard podcast, seeing the manta ray trade for the first time. She was in a village in eastern India when a local farmer told her to come to see the "flat pancake fish." Intrigued, she wandered through the bustling seafood market, which overflowed with every kind of exotic marine life - more than she had seen in the ocean itself. Hundreds of people jostled through the market, the air ripe with the smell of sweat and dead fish - "You cannot wash that smell off you," she remarks. She saw piles of tuna, crab, prawn, bull shark - and then, to her dread, "twenty-five dead manta rays lying on the floor. It felt like a waste of life."

Malaika Vaz is also behind Nat Geo Wild: Living with Predators, a three-episode series that "documents the stories of the real heroes of Big Cat conservation - local communities." In each episode, Vaz talks with ex-poachers, tribal communities, and the forest guards who are at the forefront of protecting India's Asiatic Lions, leopards, and tigers. The series aired across the Asia-Pacific, South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa, starting on August 15, 2020.

The power of stories

She has also produced films about migrant workers through the National Geographic Covid-19 fund for Journalists, explored bat conservation after the species received a bad rep during the pandemic, and elephant tourism.

Through it all, filmmaking has been her medium. "We need to phase out wildlife trade," she told Business Insider. "Given that consuming wildlife is still seen as a marker of 'making it' in parts of Asia and globally, I think storytelling can make a difference. Powerful films can advocate for a world where we're not consuming endangered species."

Follow Malaika Vaz on Instagram

Neeharika Munjal: Connecting young Indian professionals in New England through YIPNE

(April 16, 2024) After graduating from Boston University in 2022, Neeharika Munjal wanted to diversify her network and make connections within the Indian community in New England, USA, where she had landed a job. However, she couldn’t find a way to do this, as there was no organisation or platform dedicated to it. It gave Neeharika the idea for YIPNE, short for Young Indian Professionals of New England - a collaborative platform dedicated to professionals of Indian origin who live in the New England area helping them build connections through networking opportunities. Neeharika serves as the founder and CEO of the voluntary organisation, which has grown significantly in just two years of its inception, much to her delight. Basking in happiness of seeing it turn two, the 24-year-old shares her dreams with Global Indian. “I would love to see YIPNE to expand nationwide so we can create a stronger South Asian and Indian professional network in the United States. We have so many CEOs who are Indian here so it would be great to have them all in board and have many more young Indian professionals support each other and get inspired,” she says adding, “Since we have a massive

reate a stronger South Asian and Indian professional network in the United States. We have so many CEOs who are Indian here so it would be great to have them all in board and have many more young Indian professionals support each other and get inspired,” she says adding, “Since we have a massive Indian population in the United States it would be great to see them all unite into one community and celebrate each other’s professional success.”

[caption id="attachment_37172" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Neeharika Munjal[/caption]

Neeharika Munjal works as an administrative supervisor at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England. The Boston University alumni is driven by two passions in life - working to enhance healthcare systems to ensure optimal and affordable treatment for all and promoting South Asian culture in the Western world.

YIPNE – quickly gaining recognition

Since its inception in April 2022, the voluntary group has seen immense growth, boasting over 6,000 members across Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Its initiatives have included a highly-attended networking event, drawing over 400 young Indian professionals in the New England area, and the launch of a YouTube talk series spotlighting community groups and individual success stories. It has also established a board of advisors comprising esteemed individuals from the Boston Indian community. "The team includes Dipali Trivedi, Yogita Miharia, Sanjay Kudrimoti, Dr Raju Singla, Dr. Rohit Chandra, Kamal Tiku, Dr. Chander Kapasi, Ranjani Saigal and Gaurav Jetly," Neeharika shares.

Additionally, YIPNE has successfully organised small meetups that consistently sell out. The most recent one was the Holi networking brunch. Another initiative that YIPNE launched is the “South Asian Small Business Saturday” which has been showcasing and supporting Indian-owned small businesses in New England, promoting their visibility and growth.

“Being able to emcee multiple events and organise events on a large and small scale and seeing many individuals build connections and get jobs/internships and other opportunities through the YIPNE platform has truly been a rewarding experience,” remarks Neeharika who did not expect her organisation to become so well recognised and create impressive milestones in such a short span of time.

YIPNE was recently selected to be a community partner at the India Conference at Harvard University which saw highly accomplished Indian-origin entrepreneurs and Bollywood actress, Karishma Kapoor as guest speakers.

[caption id="attachment_37200" align="aligncenter" width="751"] YIPNE's event which drew over 400 young Indian professionals of New England[/caption]

It started when…

Transitioning from student life to professional life, Neeharika felt lost and did not know how to navigate the real world. Owing to her extraordinary academic excellence she had graduated earlier than her peers. Although she was extensively involved with the Indian community, she wanted to diversify her network beyond that, adding a professional angle to it.

She came across a few networking organisations within her field and in the non-Indian groups in the Boston area, as well as community and charity organisations for the Indian community, there weren't any that catered to the need of professional networking for the youth of the Indian community in the New England area. “As an American-born Indian, it was important for me to stay in touch with my culture and network with other young professionals at the same time,” she remarks.

It was during a conversation with her mother about the lack of Indian professional networking in the New England area, that the idea of YIPNE struck. "After the conversation I had with my mother, the urge for such a platform got stronger. Immediately after that, I created a logo, and launched Young Indian Professionals of New England on Facebook in April 2022" she says. Neeharika never imagined that it would grow so swiftly. Initially, she thought even if just 10 people joined, she would make at least 10 new acquaintances, and consider it a successful initiative.

[caption id="attachment_37180" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Neeharika Munjal and young professionals at the recent Holi Networking Brunch[/caption]

Love for the community

Born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts, Neeharika had always actively sought opportunities to connect with others of her heritage. During high school, she became involved with an organisation called Ekal Vidyalaya USA, dedicated to providing education to remote villages in India. As an Ekal Youth Leader, she led fundraising efforts and organised events, even contributing her own pocket money to provide lifelong education to children. "We often take education for granted, viewing it as an obligation, but in reality, there are children worldwide who long for an education but lack the means to access it," she remarks.

Neeharika is also associated with We Care Charity which helps people in need with compassion in the New England region and beyond and is a part of TiE Boston, a non-profit network dedicated to helping startups grow. As part of Saheli Boston, she works for the sufferers of domestic violence.

Health and management

When it was time for higher studies Neeharika chose to pursue health sciences with a minor in business administration and management at Boston University combining her interest in healthcare and business management. At the hospital where she works, she prioritises community engagement, striving to celebrate diverse cultures and enhance patient care. As part of the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) board, she emphasises the importance of understanding different cultural backgrounds to provide the best patient care for improved treatment outcomes.

[caption id="attachment_37174" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Neeharika Munjal at the Harvard Conference[/caption]

“Balancing my full-time job, running my own organisation, and staying active in the Indian community of New England gets hectic at times but by organising my day effectively and focusing on what matters most to me, I have learned to multitask,” the youngster remarks stressing on the importance of effective time management.

Awards and recognitions

For her community initiatives, the youngster has received numerous awards, including the Lokvani Magazine Rising Star of the Year award, the Miss Bharat Woman Empowerment award, the Indian Medical Association of New England Presidential Recognition award, and also a recognition from Ekal Vidyalaya.

In 2016 she was named in the India New England 20 under 20 list, and has been appointed as a youth brand ambassador for Mydream Entertainment's Miss Bharat New England.

[caption id="attachment_37176" align="aligncenter" width="545"] Neeharika Munjal[/caption]

Health and community

While she was studying at Boston University, Neeharika was part of the Partners in Healthcare club, Boston University India Club, and the Healthcare Improvement Inc, BU’s multidisciplinary student organisation dedicated to serving at the intersection of community service, clinical care, and healthcare reform.

Now as a healthcare professional, she is a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen of America Boston Chapter, a global non-profit focused on achieving gender parity in healthcare leadership, promoting career connections, and supporting the development of young professionals through groups like Tomorrow’s Executive.

Second anniversary of YIPNE

“As an American-born Indian, it was important for me to find ways to stay in touch with our Indian culture,” says Neeharika. “I am so grateful and blessed to have the community's support. The older generation here in the US have provided a foundation for the Indian community but it is up to us - the younger generation to improve and elevate our community,” she shares.

Neeharika’s parents Preeti and Manoj Munjal had moved to the US for their higher education in engineering and are now into commercial real estate and investing. “They are active members of the Indian community in Boston and have worked incredibly hard to reach where they are today. They have been extremely supportive of me. I am always thankful and grateful to them,” she remarks.

“Next month, we are hosting our second anniversary networking gala brunch event at the Treasury Restaurant in Burlington MA. This will be a high-end networking event filled with accomplished individuals along with elevated fusion Indian food,” she shares excitedly.” I cannot wait to see what we accomplish in the future and want to celebrate what we have accomplished so far,” she signs off.

[caption id="attachment_37181" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Young professionals at an YIPNE event[/caption]

Follow Neeharika Munjal on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
Follow YIPNE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Reading Time: 5 mins

How India’s coding clubs are changing the game for kids who’re starting young

In our pursuit of unique tales about the Indian diaspora, GI's new series documents trailblazing ideas and phenomenons across the globe (November 24, 2021) Not too long ago, coding was considered the forte of computer geeks only. It was an intimidating concept best left to experts. IT’s top brass Larry Page of Google, Bill Gates of Microsoft and Steve Dorsey of Twitter were themselves coding prodigies before they started ground-breaking tech conglomerates. Coders like Indian Canadian Tanmay Bakshi whose AskTanmay is the world’s first web based NLQA system was built using IBM Watson’s cognitive capabilities. The 19-year-old Indian-origin Harsh Dalal in Singapore started Team Labs that is valued at $25 million. Today children in India as young as five and ten are creating waves. US-based Samaira Mehta, 12, is behind CoderBunnyz which makes coding fun for kids. It was only apt that coding clubs sprang across India to create a new generation of innovators of the future. Technology everywhere “Technology has and will continue to expand rapidly, claiming spaces in almost every professional industry,” says Krish Samtani, founder of 0Gravity, a free coding club for school children in India, who adds, “Coding seem slightly intimidating at first, but it offers children the chance to apply their knowledge in a real-world context.”

almost every professional industry,” says Krish Samtani, founder of 0Gravity, a free coding club for school children in India, who adds, “Coding seem slightly intimidating at first, but it offers children the chance to apply their knowledge in a real-world context.”

As technology takes over every aspect of life and industry, coding is now an essential life skill. Employers are willing to pay a premium for coders. Manan Sharma, founder, Tokens.com, agrees. Sharma has been employing coders to spur his business that spans 20 years (Indiamart, IGP and now Tokens). “Earlier, we would hire coders to create the entire coding done for our sites, but now with pre-coded sites like Shopify available, there are templates to work with. Yet, the need for coders persists as businesses look to customise sites,” he tells Global Indian, adding, “As sites get bigger, automated software can only do so much.”

Tykes can code

As increased businesses rely on technology to drive operations, it is essential to understand what goes into the making of codes and applications to run successful businesses. Which is where coding clubs like Indian Girls Code, Code Club, and 0Gravity deliver. They encourage kids to understand the seemingly complex world of coding and technology from an early age, bust fear and encourage them to create and innovate.

[caption id="attachment_16610" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Aditi Prasad of Indian Girls Code[/caption]

Founded by Aditi Prasad and her sister Deepti in 2013, Indian Girls Code takes coding to schools to encourage girls to create technology. Through programmes, they encourage girls across Chennai schools – private and government – to use technology to solve real world problems. Aditi and Deepti believe in using a hands-on approach to teach children the nuances of coding – even using drag and drop to create fun projects using coding language. In 2015, the team launched Phiro Robots which are now used by educators, globally. The robots use Lego compatible toys that can be coded using Scratch to create anything - programming a robot to sing a birthday song to performing specific functions.

Coding to innovate

Ed-tech startups like WhiteHat Jr offer classes on coding, and Karan Bajaj, CEO wants to convert them from passive consumers of technology to builders and creators of the future. A notion that Madhukar Varshney, founder, CEO, NimbleQ wholeheartedly supports. The biomedical engineer who lived in the US for 20 years chose to return to India to found NimbleQ to help students apply the knowledge acquired. “Sure, coding is an essential skill, but it is not enough. One should know how to apply this skill to solve real-world problems. We have a lot of well-qualified professionals who 20 to 30 years down the line are directors and VPs. But why not founders? Why not innovators?” he questions, adding, “It’s because our education system does not encourage one to think like a creator. At NimbleQ, we encourage our students on using coding to problem solve. We teach them to understand business, entrepreneurship, and money.” Varshney hopes this will encourage creators of technology.

Krish, who launched 0Gravity at the age of 14 in Bengaluru is now a second-year student at UC Berkeley, California. His tryst with coding began at a summer camp at John’s Hopkins University. “I was very inspired by the applied education, and that made me want to attend a similar class back home (India). However, I was unable to find any, which led me to start the club to teach children applied computer science,” he says, adding, “So far, we have educated 1,500 plus children across India. The latest batch of 0Gravity was comprised of the children of abandoned sex workers.”

[caption id="attachment_16612" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Krish Samtani during one of the 0Gravity sessions[/caption]

The club teaches children from the ages of 10-18 in courses that typically last three months with classes on Saturday. During the pandemic, they switched to online and now Krish wants, “to inspire a spark in children to chase their dreams.”

Manan Sharma avers that one of the main advantages of learning to code early is the fact that it takes away the fear of intimidation. “My nephew is studying coding and I know that he is no longer intimidated. He knows the application of code and that will hold him in good stead,” he says, concluding, “The opportunities are limitless. Coding can be used across industries and sectors. You never know what innovations these children will produce.

Why code?

According to The Future of Jobs Report by the World Economic Forum, it is predicted that 65 percent of children entering primary school today ultimately work completely new jobs that do not even exist yet.
According to the Annual Employability report by Aspiring Minds, 80 percent Indian engineers are not fit for any job in the knowledge economy and only 2.5 percent possess tech skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In India, only one in 10 kids learn to code when compared to one in three abroad.
Over two-thirds developers are partly self-taught, HackerRank data shows.

Reading Time: 7 min