Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveHow India’s coding clubs are changing the game for kids who’re starting young

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

Written by: Ranjani Rajendra

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.”

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.

Aditi Prasad of Indian Girls Code

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.”

Krish Samtani during one of the 0Gravity sessions

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.

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Published on 16, Dec 2021

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Meet Aaryani Sahay, the young changemaker turning the spotlight on mental health among adolescents

(April 17, 2022) At 17, Aaryani Sahay knows a thing or two about mental health awareness. The young changemaker became a social entrepreneur after she launched Project Let’s Talk in 2018 in a bid to break the stigma around mental health and to create awareness among adolescents. Started in partnership with counselling skills assets, the project conducts sessions across rural and urban schools in Karnataka, and currently has an 18-member team apart from 200 volunteers. The team has so far conducted more than 180 awareness sessions and impacted over 20,000 people. [caption id="attachment_14888" align="aligncenter" width="633"] Aaryani Sahay, founder, Let's Talk[/caption] This has earned the Bengaluru resident several awards, including the Diana Award, the Karamveer Chakra, the Indian Achiever’s Award, and the Young Leaders Creating a Better World for All award by the Women’s Economic Forum. However, not without her share of challenges. “It took me a long time to disclose to my parents, teachers, and friends about my mental health issues. When I did, I found many adolescents around me opening up about their mental health issues too. This inspired me to start Let’s Talk,” the young changemaker and social entrepreneur, who finished her IB Diploma from The International School

s. When I did, I found many adolescents around me opening up about their mental health issues too. This inspired me to start Let’s Talk,” the young changemaker and social entrepreneur, who finished her IB Diploma from The International School Bangalore, says.

From darkness to light

Today, this young changemaker is full of joy. However, this was not the case five years ago when she was battling mental health issues herself, curled up in bed, frequently missing school, and unable to sleep. Her panic attacks and resultant breathing troubles were initially diagnosed as a seasonal bronchitis attack. But the teenager knew it wasn’t bronchitis but a mental health issue. She finally summoned the courage to confide in her parents. A year of therapy later, she was finally better and ready to embrace life as a teen.

Today, her mother, a businesswoman, is her biggest support system. Given her own struggles with mental health, Aaryani is determined to create a world where nobody hesitates to seek support.

Domestic violence, academic pressure, bullying, low self-esteem, uncertainty about the future, and financial constraints are some of the topics openly discussed during the sessions. Focusing on taking care of one’s mental health in such scenarios, dealing with vulnerability, and being comfortable in talking about their emotions is a priority. Since volunteers are of the same age group, inhibitions are usually shed easily and connections fostered.

Going strong

Aaryani lists empathy, integrity, authenticity, and leading with kindness as her core values and enjoys exploring the intersection between psychology, anthropology, economics, and political science. Adept at public speaking and advocacy, she has been reaching out to people through events, sessions, posters, and the project’s portal so that they can access hotlines and learn about mental illness, including its symptoms and treatments options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO3p-suKFNA

As an Ashoka Young Changemaker, who was selected as one of the top 19 from over 1,800 candidates, Aaryani works with Ashoka Innovators to empower youth through national and international projects. The smart orator has given insights on her advocacy on reputed platforms like TEDx, the women’s initiative for social entrepreneurship summit at IIM Kozhikode, the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania and 1M1B Activate Impact Summit, United Nations, New York. She also spoke at the UN summit that had representatives from 11 other projects in attendance; Let’s Talk was voted the number one project by panelists.

A good start

The Bengaluru teen launched Project Let’s Talk with co-founder Kashish Singh in 2018 after attending a course ‘Future Leaders’ by the 1M1B Foundation. The project works towards creating safe spaces for students and the content which is delivered is created in collaboration with experts.

[caption id="attachment_14895" align="aligncenter" width="799"] Aaryani with Let's Talk's co founder, Kashish in an interactive session[/caption]

Initially, the duo faced challenges in terms of resistance from schools as they could not trust such young girls discussing a sensitive topic with their students. However, with persistence, the situation began to change. The other challenge was language: with Kannada being the language of communication in government schools, the duo roped in translators to bridge the gap.

Pandemic and mental health

With mental health ailments going up during the pandemic, Let’s Talk pioneered a nationwide webinar, chapter, and mental health brochures to promote mental well-being. More than 1,000 mental health brochures have been distributed and 35 chapters have been launched across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “We have a replicable model, and we provide mentorship to chapter heads with our insights,” informs the young changemaker.

She also co-authored The Book of Wellness with mental and physical health experts. Proceeds of ₹1 lakh raised from the sale of the book were sent to MCKS Food for The Hungry Foundation to provide over 7,000 meals.

Action, reaction and intervention

Aaryani has also developed the ARI (Action, Reaction, and Intervention) framework. “Schools need to take action and conduct regular mental health classes just like physical fitness classes with a focus on normalising the sharing of emotions. Since students spend most of their time with teachers, there should be empathy from their end. Schools need to know how to intervene and provide an environment where students know where to go on a bad day,” says the youngster, who loves to unwind with a good book, painting, and yoga.

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Meet Zara Xavier, the young leader uplifting underprivileged students by bridging the digital divide

(March 7, 2023) 'Education', they say, 'is the base of any great nation'. However, in today's technology-driven world, underprivileged students find it quite difficult to keep up with the rapid rate of innovation. The inability to access technology has deprived several youngsters of essential resources, impacting the quality of their education. Helping bridge this growing digital divide is sixteen-year-old Zara Xavier, who works to provide digital literacy to underprivileged students under the 'Know More School' campaign. Over 13,737 students have benefitted from the youngster's initiatives thus far. [caption id="attachment_28387" align="aligncenter" width="742"] Over 13,737 students have benefitted from the 'Know More School' campaign thus far[/caption] "My parents started the Know More School (KMS) in 2015, an organisation under which they set up free-to-use computer labs at three underprivileged schools intending to help those students become digital citizens," shares the young leader, as she connects with Global Indian, adding, "I joined KMS during the pandemic and started helping in making small changes to the syllabus being taught at the school already under the organisation. However, eventually, I started getting more and more interested in the work the foundation was doing. I wanted to scale up the project to create more social impact.

ung leader, as she connects with Global Indian, adding, "I joined KMS during the pandemic and started helping in making small changes to the syllabus being taught at the school already under the organisation. However, eventually, I started getting more and more interested in the work the foundation was doing. I wanted to scale up the project to create more social impact. That was when I decided to explore more schools and get them on board with us."

The 16-year-old student of the International School Hyderabad, who is also a student ambassador in her school, recently set up a computer lab at the New Bloom High School in the city, which is not only helping the students learn the basics of digital literacy but is also providing various coding lessons to set them up for success in the future.

"I feel it is important for the kids to learn technology skills, which can help them get a good education or work opportunity in the future. In a highly tech-based world, these young children lack the basic digital skills to get by and are at a huge disadvantage. I changed a lot of the school syllabus as I found that it was outdated and wasn't going to be useful to the student. I also wanted to make the classes more hands-on, where the students have the liberty to explore the computer programmes by themselves," says the young leader, who regularly visits the schools, plans innovative quarterly camps, conducts meetings with the teachers, and manages the school with a full-time KMS manager. Currently, over 2500 students from grades I to X attend three classes per week in each KMS lab, amounting to 12 classes per month and 636 per year.

Leading the way

Zara recalls the experience of identifying an underprivileged school for the organisation. "I remember when I first visited the school, I was just looking around and noticed that all the kids there were quite friendly. I really like the energy of the school," she says. "There are about 600 students at the New Bloom High School, so it is smaller than the other schools that we have under the Know More School campaign. But what really motivated me to pick this school was the excitement of the students here to learn and the fact that they were hard-working. Once we finalised the school, we went ahead with designing the lab, getting the computers, and then finding a teacher who would not only teach, but also encourage the kids to explore and learn on their own."

[caption id="attachment_28167" align="aligncenter" width="649"] Zara with student at the New Bloom High School[/caption]

Through this young leader's initiative, thousands of underprivileged students now have access to various online classes being conducted across the globe, and they can also access resources available on the net for any educational research, instead of relying only on their textbooks. Students are also taught computer basics including Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), editing documents, making posters, videos and podcasts, and the fundamentals of developing a website. The new syllabus designed by Zara provides students access to platforms like Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize, Google Colab, and Canva which help the students broaden their horizons.

Despite being busy with her own schoolwork, Zara makes sure to physically visit the school every 10 days. "One of the things that bothered me when we started the new computer lab was if it was making the impact we intended for. And the only way to find that out was to go and visit these labs once every week. While other volunteers do a tremendous job at ensuring the kids learn something new every time, I like to be there as often as I can to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Even if I am very busy, I still find time to make sure and visit the labs and hang out with the kids there," the young leader says.

Zara has been involved in various volunteering activities since she was a young child. Motivated by her parents, Sabina and Xavier Augustin - who are engaged in numerous non-profit projects - the young leader feels that being able to help other people is also a privilege. "My parents have taught me to be grateful for all we have in our lives, and that we have to make efforts to give back to the community. So, I have been involved in various volunteering activities since I was young, including raising funds for the Heal-a-Child Foundation, which helps save the lives of sick children from very poor families," she says. In 2021, Zara joined the “Angels of Heal-a-Child’ programme and raised funds from friends and family to pay for the treatment of poor and critically ill newborns.

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A post shared by Know More School (@knowmoreschool)

But it is not just her parents that this young leader is inspired by. "Many of my friends are also volunteering or running campaigns for various causes, and that inspires me a lot. As a generation, we are aware of the various issues plaguing our society and are ready to take things into our own hands and explore various solutions to help society at large," shares the young leader, who also raised funds to provide over 1000 PPE kits for front-line medical workers at high risk during the first and second COVID waves in the country.

The road ahead

Passionate to give all the students an equal education platform, the young leader is also planning on including more schools under KMS. In fact, only last month, Zara and two of her friends - Bhavani and Manya - organised a week-long coding camp for around 20 kids, who were taught the basics of Python.

"We recently started organising coding camps for the kids at our school to help them learn various coding languages and platforms, which is a skill so much in demand these days. Next, we are working on establishing libraries at the schools to ensure that the kids can access various educational resources free of cost. I also pick up ideas from various places during my travels. I remember seeing 3D printed eco-schools in Dubai during my visit there, and would really like to do something like that with KMS," says Zara, who is also the editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, and recently attended the summer programme at the New York Times.

[caption id="attachment_28388" align="aligncenter" width="529"] The new syllabus designed by Zara provides students access to platforms like Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize, Google Colab, and Canva[/caption]

Always driven, Zara - who is currently working on organising the first ISH TEDx at the Hyderabad-based T-Hub - plans on starting her own business after finishing her education. "I am going to graduate from school next year, and after that, I want to go to study eco or business management," she says.

While she wants to start a profitable organisation, this young leader is quite conscious about creating a positive impact through all her initiatives. "Once I graduate, I plan on coming back to India and setting up a social enterprise. One area of entrepreneurship in which I am very interested is edtech. I would really like to explore ways to make education and various learning resources available and accessible to all. As much as I would like to make a profit and monetise an idea, I would still want to help those who are in need," shares Zara.

Follow Zara Xavier on LinkedIn
Follow Know More School on Instagram

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Prarthana Murugavel: First Indian woman racer to win gold at Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship

(January 21, 2024) Racer Prarthana Murugavel describes herself as “an ordinary person with an extraordinary dream.” Her achievements are anything but ordinary, however. All of 23, she is the first Indian female racer to win gold at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship. An open-wheel 4W racer, Prarthana made the nation proud with her winning performance in the Karting Slalom category at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, back in October 2023. She clocked in a best of 52.350 seconds in the fourth round of the finals, after coming in first in the semi and quarter finals. Her journey in motorsports began in 2014, when she watched the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix. “I was in grade 9 and I watched the last ten laps of the race,” Prarthana Murugavel says, in an interview with Global Indian. The excitement, the speed and the precision captivated her and she began following the races closely over the years, finding an idol in Sebastian Vettel. Things took another turn in February 2021, when she attended her first training program with Momentum Motorsports. “I knew there was no looking back after this,” she recalls. [caption id="attachment_35363" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Racer Prarthana Murugavel[/caption] Striking Gold Prarthana took to

35363" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Racer Prarthana Murugavel[/caption]

Striking Gold

Prarthana took to the sport instantly. In 2021, she participated in a talent hunt by Ahura Racing, an all-women’s racing team, and came in second. That year, she also won the Best Rookie Trophy at the MRF MMSC FMSCI National Car Racing Championship (Round 2), came in fourth at the Driver Development Program conducted by Momentum Motorsports, and was recognized as the Most Promising Female Racer at the JK Tyre FMSCI National Car Racing Championship.

In 2023, Prarthana became the only female driver to compete in the Meco FMSCI National Karting Championship, 2023. She completed all five rounds, placing 13th out of 31 competitors. In 2023, however, she made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win Gold in the Karting Slalom Category and the first Indian woman to win Gold at an international/multinational motorsports event when she participated at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship 2023, representing India. “I was so pleased when I managed to top the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals. On my last attempt in the finals, I set a time limit that was one second faster, winning me the gold medal.”

What’s the secret to her success? “You’re only as good as your last race. I believe there is always room for improvement,” she says, quoting Oprah Winfrey. There’s still a lot of room for improvement – “You can never stop and say I’m happy right here,” she says. “Consistency is of the utmost importance.” It led her to win the first karting slalom championship for India. “It was also extremely special to have had my first win in motorsport on an international platform,” she says.

Roller Coaster Ride

Her journey in motorsports has been a roller coaster ride, and she believes that it will continue to be so. The main challenge is holding her own in a male-dominated sport. “More often than not, I’m the only girl in a group of 25-30 drivers,” Prarthana says. That makes the competition even tougher, but it hasn’t been without its positives. “I have made some amazing memories and the best of friends along the way.” Among her most cherished memories are when she earned points and a rookie award in the first time she drove on a track and when she held the Indian flag at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship and heard the Indian National Anthem play.

Her family has stood by her through it all, constantly believing in her and encouraging her. “It takes a lot to participate in a championship,” Prarthana admits. It requires travelling, attending practice sessions and going to race weekends. “If I can attribute all my success and strength to one individual, it’s my dad. He has been by my side since the beginning,” she smiles. “He’s my biggest pillar of emotional support. Whether it was celebrating victories or navigation challenges he has been a stable and understanding foundation for me. It’s only because of them am I able to overcome so many challenges.”

Training Hard

While motorsport may be mechanically assisted, physical training is just as important in this field. The importance of being physically fit can be easily underestimated here but it is as vital as in any other sport. Her training regimen comprises physical fitness (strength training, cardio, endurance), mental preparation (focus, reaction - reflex training), skill development (simulator training) and recovery (nutrition and rehabilitation).

She has to stay on top of her game physically, and make sure that she enters every competition at peak fitness levels. “I train five days a week, moving through a cycle, working on different areas,” she says. “Giving equal importance to all this is what helps me to be a better overall athlete,” she says.

Sporting Lessons

In a world that is so incredibly competitive, and in a sport that is primarily a male domain, one huge takeaway for her has to be mental toughness. Learning how to handle pressure, staying focused in challenging situations, managing stress, and most importantly learning how to shut all the negative comments out have been her biggest takeaways from her sport.

“I learned to be mentally tough, setbacks and failures are a part of the journey and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them,” Prarthana says. “Learning to bounce back, adapt, and maintain motivation in the face of adversity is something that I am still working on. I am sure there are many more lessons left to learn.”

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A post shared by Prarthana | 23 (@prarthana.murugavel)

Balancing Act

As someone who understands the importance of maintaining a healthy work life balance, she enjoys watching films, tv shows, reading, baking, solving puzzles, and spending quality time with friends. She is an avid reader, a habit she began as a toddler – “I can’t fall asleep without reading at least one chapter from a book,” Prarthana remarks. “I also love glass painting, which I started by helping my mum when I was around 11. I now conduct workshops and teach glass painting to others. I have been wanting to try my hands on some macrame and crochet,” she says.

Looking ahead, in 2024 she is hoping to take part in more championships, including a few international events. Currently, she is in the process of looking for sponsors and is training to complete a full season in the F1600. She hopes to break a couple more records by becoming the first girl to win a race in that category. “I would also like to represent India in the FIA Motorsport Games 2024 that is happening in Spain. I aim to secure a seat in the Indian Racing League resulting in being one of six female drivers,” she signs off.

Follow Prarthana Murugavel on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 min

Simply magical: Actress Manali Datar is making waves in the theatre world

(August 24, 2022) There was a huge uproar when it was first announced that the role of Hermione Granger and Rose Granger-Weasley will be played by a person of colour in the theatrical production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Having seen Emma Watson play the part in the movies, some fans were even disappointed with the production house's decision. However, while other actresses might have been nervous about playing this part, Indian-Australian actress Manali Datar carried the role of Rose Granger-Weasley with a lot of grace and spunk. And more importantly, she was able to win over the audiences who absolutely loved her right from when the play premiered at Melbourne's Princess Theatre, in 2019. "The discussions around a person of colour playing these parts in Harry Potter did bother me initially, but I had the support of the cast and crew on board. After the show premiered, the audience saw my work and really appreciated me. Their love meant way more than any backlash there might have been," shares the Melbourne-based actress, who found out that she got the role just one day before her 20th birthday. [caption id="attachment_21197" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Manali Datar as Rose Granger-Weasley. Source:

irthday.

[caption id="attachment_21197" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Manali Datar as Rose Granger-Weasley. Source: Twitter[/caption]

The Nashik-born actress is now gearing up to play Edna in the smash-hit musical sensation Fangirl at the Sydney Opera House. "It's surreal. As an actor, I dreamt about getting to perform at the Opera house and now it is happening. I am still soaking in that I am going to perform at the venue," Manali shares, as she connects with Global Indian.

A born actress

Like most people, Manali's parents moved to Australia in search for a better future for their kids. Growing up in various parts of the "Land Down Under", Manali loved to take part in skits and sing at school. In fact, the actress was just six years old when she played the title role in her school’s production of Alice in Wonderland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma00mi3PFug

"My parents recognised that I loved being on stage and encouraged me a lot. I was always dancing, singing, and copying accents and dialogue off TV shows and movies. I never considered a career outside of the arts. So, after I finished school, I joined the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to pursue a course in fine arts," shares the actress, who is also gifted with a beautiful voice.

The world's a stage

After a successful run in the United Kingdom and the United States, when the Wizarding World decided to bring Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Australia in 2017, Manali was in the last year of her bachelor's and decided to audition for the role of Rose Granger-Weasley after much encouragement from her teachers. "They required an actress of colour, who was not too tall. I fit well in the character's description," she shares.

[caption id="attachment_21198" align="aligncenter" width="702"] A still from the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Source: Twitter[/caption]

However, it wasn’t a cake walk for the actress as it took her almost a year to finally make it to the audience. "I went in for the first round of audition and was called in four times to read scenes for Rose. The whole process of getting the job was about six to seven months. I was so thrilled when they told me that I got the part," the actress recalls, adding that the prep work took another six months before the cast was fully ready to hit the stage.

Though her nervousness was palpable in the beginning, the jitters faded away after seeing the audience’s reaction. “It was a difficult job. We did a show daily and I had no time left for myself on most days. However, getting to meet the audience after the show was the biggest stress buster for me. I have received so many gifts and handwritten letters from the fans. Interestingly, there were a couple of Indian girls in the audience and they came to tell me how much they liked my performance. These incidents are very rewarding," she adds.

Calling the production of Harry Potter, a "steep learning curve", she reveals that it not only helped her improve her acting chops but also gave a sneak-peek into the theatre industry from the set. In 2022, Manali played the title role in the super successful White Pearl by Sydney Theatre Company, which was a comedy play about a skin bleaching ad gone wrong. "I played the part of Priya Singh. The production helped me strengthen my relationship with India and realise my identity. I understood a lot about myself and my roots through that experience," shares the actress, who is aspiring to be on the silver screen in the upcoming years.

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Four Golds, One Silver: Math wizards lead India to best-ever performance at International Mathematical Olympiad 2024

(August 2, 2024) “Apart from the Olympics of sports, a few days ago an Olympics took place in the world of Mathematics – the International Mathematical Olympiad. In this Olympiad, the students of India performed very well,” remarked Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the latest episode of his monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat. “Our team has given its best performance, winning four golds and one silver. Youth from more than 100 countries participate in the Olympiad, and our team was successful in ranking in the top five in the overall tally,” he said praising the young math wizards. The six-member team that brought India laurels comprised of Aditya Mangudy Venkat Ganesh (Pune), Siddharth Chopra (Pune), Arjun Gupta (Delhi), Kanav Talwar (Greater Noida), Rushil Mathur (Mumbai), and Anando Bhaduri (Guwahati). This year the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) was held at the University of Bath. After their return from the UK, PM Modi interacted with the team on his radio show. The young winners were connected over the phone during the live broadcast of Mann Ki Baat. The International Mathematical Olympiad is meant for high school students. The 65th edition of the competition took place between 11th and 22nd July this

show. The young winners were connected over the phone during the live broadcast of Mann Ki Baat.

The International Mathematical Olympiad is meant for high school students. The 65th edition of the competition took place between 11th and 22nd July this year. Apart from the five medals, the Indian team got an honourable mention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoq0WKPTzK0

India’s legacy at the International Mathematical Olympiad

This year teams from the USA, China, and South Korea finished as the top three winners. India secured a total score of 167, just one mark behind South Korea, which finished third. A total of 609 students (528 male, and 81 female) participated at the IMO 2024, representing 108 countries.

The fourth rank in 2024, marks the best performance by India at the IMO since the country’s debut in 1989, both in terms of the number of gold medals won and the rank achieved. Previously, India's highest rank was seventh, which was achieved in both IMO 1998 and 2001.

Since 2019 (except for 2020 when the team couldn't participate), Team India has secured at least one gold medal every year, accumulating a total of nine gold medals over this period.

Indian team member Aditya's performance also earned him an overall ranking of fifth, marking the best performance by an individual from an Indian team ever.

Talking about his tryst with mathematics Aditya shared with the PM, “I had keen interest in math since early childhood. My teacher in standard six played a significant role in developing my interest in the subject.” While Siddharth his school mate added “I was in same class as Aditya and even I had interest in math since childhood, and the same teacher helped us hone our skills in standard six.”

Indian contingent in the UK

Before heading for the competition, the Indian team trained at the IMO Training Camp held at Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI). In UK the young math wizards were accompanied by mentors like professor Krishnan Sivasubramanian of IIT Bombay, and former IMO medallists Rijul Saini of Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBSCE), and Rohan Goyal; currently a Ph D student at MIT, USA, among others.

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Apart from participating in the competition the high schoolers were thrilled to meet people from different countries and to explore the city of Bath and Oxford. “We met lots of students from other countries and it was very nice to interact and connect with them. We also got an opportunity to meet several famous mathematicians. We loved exploring the city of Bath and were even taken to Oxford University. It was a very good experience,” Siddharth shared in Mann Ki Baat.

Making friendship with mathematics

Answering Modi’s question on how to build a friendship with mathematics, Rushil remarked, “When we learn addition as kids, we are taught to carry-forward, but we are not taught why carry-forward is important. Similarly, when we learn about compound interest, we never ask where the formula for compound interest comes from. I think that maths is actually an art of thinking and problem-solving. I believe that while practising maths, if we question why we have to do things the way we are taught, and understand the reasons – it would increase our interest in the subject, as students get scared of things which they cannot understand.

Rushil looks at mathematics as a very logical subject. “It allows creative thinking, enabling students to come up with out-of-the-box solutions - a quality that comes in handy in the Maths Olympiad.”

Preparation, selection and family’s support

The students participating in the Mathematical Olympiad get four-and-a-half hours to solve a paper consisting of three long math problems. Although, on average, there is one-and-a-half hours to solve each problem, they are complex and the preparation to answer them correctly takes days.

“During the preparation phase, it takes up to three days to work on one such problem,” Arjun shared. Talking about the preparation process, he informed the PM that the team prepared for IMO by looking up problems on the internet and practising previous years’ papers. “As we worked on the problems, our speed and proficiency increased - most significantly, our problem-solving ability improved, helping us not just in mathematics but in other walks of life.”

Kanav from Greater Noida, who is now in class 11, shared that he started preparing for the Olympiad when he was in standard seven. Both he and Arjun credited their families for support. “I feel that when a member of a family is preparing for such a competition, it’s not just the struggle of the participant but the entire family,” remarked Arjun.

[caption id="attachment_38642" align="aligncenter" width="647"] International Mathematical Olympiad 2024 Team[/caption]

Selection for the finalists from India for the International Mathematical Olympiad is conducted in five stages by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE). Kanav shared that although he came very close to qualifying last year, he could not finally make it and was dejected. However, he felt motivated by his parents' words – ‘that it’s the journey that is important, not the destination’. “If we love the subject and enjoy the journey, we will ultimately get success,” was the advice of his parents that kept him motivated.

Strategy of success

It was Anando’s second IMO experience, and he loved both. “Math requires patience,” he believes. “In the way we are taught maths, we are given a formula to memorise. Whether one truly understands the formula is often overlooked. Just solving problems using the formula is emphasised, so that with practice, the formula gets ingrained in memory. But what would happen if one forgets the formula in the exam? Hence students should try to understand the formula first,” was his advice to students.

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