Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveIndian teen ace shooter Esha Singh readies for world cup, all guns blazing

Indian teen ace shooter Esha Singh readies for world cup, all guns blazing

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(February 8, 2022) Esha Singh was barely nine when she heard a blaring gunshot for the first time at a firing range in Hyderabad. It excited her. That reverberating sound led her to pick up a shotgun. Though heavy, it overwhelmed her, as she welcomed the adrenaline rush. A quick tour of the armoury, introduced to guns of all shapes and sizes, a rifle caught her eye, but that was too heavy. Esha settled for a lighter air pistol as she felt it suited her best. Eventually, it did.

Now 17, Esha is a sharp shooter who shoots with utmost precision. One of India’s finest and promising shooters, she is now aiming for the bull’s eye at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup to be held in Cairo in February-end 2022. She also won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2020.

Esha Singh with President Ram Nath Kovind

“My ultimate goal is to win an Olympic medal and to accomplish as many wins as I can to make my country proud,” smiles Esha Singh in an exclusive with Global Indian. Esha was among the select few whose name figured in the Indian squad for the prestigious championships.

Active, sporty, now accurate!

Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Indian ace shooter Esha credits her businessman father Sachin Singh, a rally driver, for the initial push into sport. “Since my father is also a sportsperson, he often highlighted the importance of sporting activities, which give one a sense of discipline and dedication – much needed in life,” says Esha, who enjoyed badminton, tennis, skating and go-karting before shooting took centre stage. Schooled (1st-10th) at Bolton School, Esha is now in grade 11 at Reqelford High School. Her father comes from a line of ancestors in Rajasthan and her mother Srilatha Sachin Singh is an entrepreneur from Andhra Pradesh.

Indian ace shooter Esha Singh says, ‘Muzzle tov!’

“Shooting was a whole new world for me,” quips Esha, who became Telangana’s state champion in the 10m air pistol category (2015). That first time at the firing range changed her life forever. “I was not even aware that a sport like this existed until I heard the gunshot for the first time,” smiles the January 1, 2005 born Indian ace shooter.

As national champion in the 10m air pistol category (2018), she clinched gold medals at the second edition of Khelo India Youth Games in January 2019 (under-17 category) and Asian Airgun championships in Taoyuan, Taiwan in March-April 2019. She also won a silver medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup at Suhl, Germany in July 2019, a bronze in the 10 m Air Pistol mixed team event there, besides winning two gold medals at the Asian Junior Championships (in 10 m air pistol women and 10 m air pistol mixed team) held in Doha, Qatar in November 2019.

Passion aside, Esha’s determination is rock solid. “Once I set my mind on something, I pursue it dedicatedly, and do all it takes to achieve it,” declares the teenager, who also competes in the 25m standard pistol and 25m pistol events. The Indian ace shooter was also selected for the Indian core team for the Tokyo Olympics.

Focussing on her strengths

Having good focus is important, and the Indian ace shooter elaborates, “A shooter needs to go through intense mind-training – train the brain the right way. Shooting is a mind game. There is no such thing as a lucky day, it all depends on the mindset and thoughts on the day.” The ace shooter is the proud owner of a 1.25 metre sports pistol and 2.10 metre air pistol, though her first was the Pardini Kids Air Pistol.

Hand-eye coordination is key. “One must train in these skills to be better at shooting. Physical fitness sharpens these skills. I workout five times a week and also undergo mind-training and meditation,” explains the shooter, who defeated Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympics gold-medalist Manu Bhaker and multi-medalist Heena Sidhu in the 62nd National Shooting Championships at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala to become the youngest champion in the senior category, when she was just as 13.

Tough and long training days with no distractions are crucial for tournaments and championships. On an ordinary day, Esha trains five to six hours a day at the paper-practice range set up by her father at home. “My typical day starts at 5 am, and main training begins at 9 am. The range keeps me occupied till around 4 pm. I have the rest of the day to do normal things – schoolwork and studies,” informs the Indian ace shooter.

Getting ready for the world championship now, that regimen remains a constant every day.

An Indian ace shooter’s hardwork and perseverance

Unlike other sports, shooting is expensive, and Esha agrees, though adds, “Like any sport, it requires a huge commitment. Our generation is lucky to have private sponsors to help budding athletes,” smiles the shooter.

Esha loves the Gachibowli firing range in Hyderabad. “The government has been extremely helpful. The Khelo India project is a great scheme for young sportspersons,” adds Esha, who has visited several firing ranges abroad.

Away from the shooting range, Esha tries not to think about the sport. That is when her hobbies kick in. A nature buff, she loves greenery, bird-watches, sketches, and is a bookworm too. Busy in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, her friends motivate her. “They see me as an influence to pursue what they are passionate about. They feel, and also make me feel proud of my accomplishments,” smiles the girl who is a crime-thriller and 90’s sitcom buff.

Will shooting be a full-time profession? “Yes. With the right dedication and support, shooting can indeed be a full-time profession. It does take a lot of time out of your life but eventually it will be worth it,” urges the fan of hip-hop, pop and rap.

Her role model in the sport is “Gagan Narang as I trained in his academy (Gun For Glory in Pune) in the beginning. I spent my days looking at his posters. His work motivated and inspired me,” the Indian ace shooter signs off.

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Published on 08, Feb 2022

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The journey of golfer prodigy Aadil Bedi: From childhood passion to international stardom

(May 4, 2023) Punctuating the monotony of cricket-dominated narratives in the Indian sports scene are a few youngsters, who are picking the golf clubs instead of bats. The once exclusive, verdant golf courses are now teeming with eager, youthful aspirants, their eyes alight with dreams of becoming the next golfing prodigy. And one such rising star is Aadil Bedi, who is currently preparing for the upcoming Asian Tour event, followed by two more events of the European Challenge Tour. Described as the most promising young golfer in India by several experts, the young golfer finished tied-11th at the Kapil Dev Invitational Golf event recently, with a consistent score of 72, 75, 71, and 70. At an age when many kids play with plastic bats and balls, a four-year-old Aadil would accompany his father to the golf club and watch him play shots. During one such session, his father handed him the golf club to try his hand. “From that moment on, I was hooked,” shares the young golfer, during an interview with Global Indian. Today at 22, he is an upcoming name in the world of golf, with many medals to his credit. In 2018, Aadil became the youngest player

, I was hooked,” shares the young golfer, during an interview with Global Indian. Today at 22, he is an upcoming name in the world of golf, with many medals to his credit. In 2018, Aadil became the youngest player to represent India in golf at the Asian Games.

The youngster, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, California, is confident of a good season ahead. “I recently had an injury, but I have recovered. I am training very hard to push myself to perform better at the upcoming tournaments,” shares the young golfer, as he discusses his personal life, training schedule, upcoming games, and much more with us.

Ascending the ranks

Crediting his dad for introducing him to the sport, the Chandigarh lad shares he had a growing interest in other sports as well. But it was golf that found a spot in his mind and heart. Born to two officers who serve in the Government of Punjab, discipline was a virtue he lived by. “My father started playing golf when I was one or two years old. Since my day school would get over by afternoon, my father would take me along to the golf club. He wanted me to be outdoors and do something productive, rather than locked up indoors,” the golfer shares.

Playing his first tournament when he was just six, Aadil shares an interesting anecdote from the event. “This was in 2007, and back then there weren’t many junior golfing tournaments in the country. There was an under-10 golf championship, organised by the Indian Golfing Union, taking place at the Chandigarh golf club and my father took me there. However, the organisers outright refused to let me play as I was too young. But my father persisted and they gave me one chance,” laughs the golfer, who although finished third-last in the tournament, was appreciated by several in the audience, including the organisers.

[caption id="attachment_19614" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Aadil with his father, Harinder Pal Singh Bedi[/caption]

While he took an instant liking to the game, it wasn’t until he was 11 years old that he started dabbling in other series. He bagged the first position during the 2011 Junior Order of Merit standings in the 7–10 age group, and later in 2013. The young golfer went on to win the All India Final at Coimbatore and Mumbai in 2013. At a young age, he was able to achieve a lot, and he credits his teachers for the immense support. “I had to travel a lot, and my school was very supportive,” says Aadil.

Golfing against the odds

One of the biggest wins in Aadil’s career came when he topped the SSG-BLR International Amateur Golf Championship in Singapore and the World Star of Junior Golf Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada – both in 2017. “There was no looking back after that,” quips the golfer, “Contrary to popular belief, golf is a very tough sport – not just physically, but mentally too. Despite putting in a lot of effort, we win so little in our career. However, that is what fascinates me the most about this sport.” The same year Aadil was awarded the Budding Golfer of the Year at the Indian Sports Honour Awards and was named the “Future Star Champion”.

In 2018, Aadil became the youngest player to represent the country at the Asian Games. While he individually finished T13 at the event, the youngster shares that it was a great learning opportunity. “It was a dream come true for me. Asian Games are held every four years, and one has to fall in the right age bracket to be a part of this prestigious tournament. I feel I was very lucky to be chosen,” share Aadil, “The trials lasted for six days, over two courses, which was very tough for me. But I was eager to wear the Indian blazer, and that kept me going. During the tournament, I met many big names, and just observing their game was quite a learning experience. I was just 17 then, so to be able to compete with established international golfers also gave me a lot of confidence.”

[caption id="attachment_19617" align="aligncenter" width="652"] Aadil with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma at the Indian Sports Honour Awards[/caption]

The golfer, who is gearing up for the next Asian Games and Korn Ferry Tour, however, did experience some hiccups during his journey. “Golf is an expensive sport. If you just want to play for fun, it is different, however, to make a career in it can be financially challenging.” Noticing his consistent performance, Virat Kohli Foundation took him under its wings. “They came in at the right time,” he shares. “They have played a very important role in my career, especially by funding my sport. I’m very grateful for their support.”

Gearing up for future triumphs

After winning some major titles in 2019 and 2020, including Bengal Open Championship, Aadil is pumped to represent India in several tournaments internationally. Recovering from a serious wrist injury, Aadil shares that while the pandemic was a tough time for the sports, he is looking forward to playing some good golf. “There were no matches in the last two years. I am preparing very hard to win as many titles as possible. I am a part of tournaments in Indonesia, Singapore, and Korea, taking place later this year. There is an event in Australia as well. Frankly, I will be playing about 10-12 tournaments by the end of this year,” shares the golfer, who was a part of the team that won the Mixed Pro Challenge recently.

As he prepares for his international championships, the young golfer is also managing his kinesiology classes. It was his curiosity to understand the human body better that led him to choose this path. “Kinesiology is a study of human muscles and their movements. It focuses on physiological, biomechanical, and pathological mechanisms of body movement,” explains the golfer, adding, “I am big into fitness and a staunch believer that one must take care of their body. Even as a player when I used to train, I would question each exercise to understand how it affected my body. So, I picked this field of study and it is helping me in my sport as well.”

Follow Aadil Bedi on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and his website

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Rupa Bayor in India, her coach in Korea: How an Arunachal athlete became an international Taekwondo star

(September 22, 2024) Ranked 11th globally and second in Asia, Rupa Bayor boasts an impressive track record, having won multiple medals at prestigious events such as the South Asian Games, Australian Open, Croatia Open, and various other international competitions. This year, Rupa made history by winning a bronze medal at the 8th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championship in Danang, Vietnam, marking India’s first-ever medal in the Senior 1 individual Poomsae (a defined pattern of defence-and-attack forms) event. "I want to thank my coach, Abhishek Dubey, who inspired me to dream big and achieve this milestone," she said after her win. Rupa’s list of achievements includes a gold medal at the World Taekwondo President Cup Europe 2023, where she became the first woman to medal in the Senior-1 Taekwondo Poomsae category at a WT grade 2 ranked event. She also won silver medals at the Oceania Open WT G2 in Brisbane, Australia, and at the World Taekwondo President Cup Oceania, as well as a bronze at the Australian Open. [caption id="attachment_39402" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Rupa Bayor and Abhishek Dubey[/caption] Rupa’s coach, Abhishek, a medal-winning athlete himself, has represented India in multiple sports events and is now involved in managing major events and elite

n.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Rupa-Bayor-and-Abhishek-Dubey-1024x1010.webp" alt="Indian athletes | Rupa Bayor and Abhishek Dubey | Global Indian" width="593" height="585" /> Rupa Bayor and Abhishek Dubey[/caption]

Rupa’s coach, Abhishek, a medal-winning athlete himself, has represented India in multiple sports events and is now involved in managing major events and elite athletes from his base in Seoul.

Athlete in India, coach in Korea

Abhishek’s most recent assignment has been as an organising committee member of the South Korea’s 'Gangwon 2024' Winter Youth Olympic Games serving as a communications/NOC services manager. He has been coaching Rupa online, helping her secure medals and become the first Indian athlete to break into the top 15 of the World Taekwondo rankings.

"My coach is helping me in every way possible," Rupa said in an interview. "He lives in South Korea but still manages to find time in his busy schedule to train me remotely. He can't leave his job and come back just to train me, so I train online. Both of us are giving our best. I believe if my coach were with me, I would have performed even better," added the athlete who considers her coach her biggest strength. “I trust him more than I trust myself. If he says I can defeat an opponent, I can do it. Without him, I don’t think I would have achieved much."

From obscurity of Arunachal Pradesh to international stage

Rupa’s journey to becoming a Taekwondo champion has been inspiring. Starting with little knowledge of the sport, she has risen to prominence through her talent, dedication and hard work. Despite the challenges of training remotely with her coach, she has consistently excelled.

She is associated with the Indo Korean Taekwondo Academy in Mumbai which was founded by Abhishek Dubey in 2007. He has trained numerous Taekwondo aspirants since then.

Since Rupa lacked proper training facilities in Arunachal Pradesh, she moved to Mumbai in 2021 to train at his academy. However, the high cost of living in Mumbai made it difficult for her to make ends meet. It was then that Abhishek offered her a scholarship through his academy, which Rupa describes as life-changing.

Later, with the support of Mumbai headquartered Indian conglomerate Welspun World, her journey took off, starting with her participation in the Croatia Open as her first international event. Winning a medal there boosted her confidence immensely, and she has been grateful for Welspun’s support ever since.

[caption id="attachment_39401" align="aligncenter" width="785"] Rupa Bayor[/caption]

Aimed for a constable job, became a world champion

Reflecting on her humble beginnings, Rupa who took up the sport at the age of 15 shared, "I had never heard of Taekwondo. It’s not well-known in the villages.” Like other children in Arunachal’s village Sippi, she spent most of her childhood farming with her mother. Her father had passed away when she was a child. As a single parent, her mother worked hard to raise Rupa and her siblings.

Her uncle, who is a district Karate master, encouraged her to take up Karate initially. Later he encouraged her to switch to Taekwondo as he felt that the sport has more potential. Within a short period of time, Rupa started showing good progress, and her mother sent her to Itanagar for training.

“I started Taekwondo thinking that if I won a medal, I could secure a constable job. That’s the mindset in my area—no one had gone far in the sport, so they didn’t know much about it. I never thought I would become a professional in Taekwondo," the athlete remarked.

Her first tournament was at The National School Games in Pune. Although she lost the tournament, she gained exposure, which helped her in honing her skills.

Her first international competition was the Kim Un Yong Cup in South Korea, where she faced defeat due to her lack of experience on the global stage. Later that year, she participated in the South Asian Games, securing a silver medal. However, the pandemic caused a two-year hiatus in her playing career.

Mumbai proved lucky

In February 2021, Rupa relocated to Mumbai to improve her performance at the medal-winning coach Abhishek Dubey’s Indo Korean Taekwondo Academy. Her initial plan was to move to Mumbai for two months, but realised that it was insufficient time to practise as learning is a continuous and massive process to become a top athlete at the international level.

She is thankful to her coach Abhishek Dubey and Welspun World’s Super Sport Women Program for providing support to extend her training period.

“I made sure to do justice to my coach's efforts by training six days a week for approximately 12 hours a day for more than 15 months at Indo Korean Taekwondo Academy,” she shared. This led to her several medal-winning performances representing India internationally.

[caption id="attachment_39404" align="aligncenter" width="721"] Rupa Bayor[/caption]

Arunachal’s pride

On her short visits home, the athlete receives a lot of love and attention from the people there. “They are happy to see a woman representing their village and Arunachal Pradesh on a national and global scale.

Coming from a humble background, the girl who once aimed to win medals just to secure a constable’s job now dreams of bringing more laurels to India. She hopes to promote and teach Taekwondo to children in her village, aspiring to create champions for India, just as her coach helped her become one.

Follow Rupa Bayor on instagram
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Trash to Triumph: Vivek Gurav’s global impact with Pune Ploggers

(November 15, 2023) Imagine being dubbed a ‘Kachra Wala’ while striving to keep your city's river banks clean. This was something that software developer and environmentalist Vivek Gurav faced. With a deep passion for environmental cleanliness, he weathered the initial backlash and founded Pune Ploggers. His community of volunteers engages in ecological rehabilitation through clean-up drives and plogging (combining jogging with picking up litter), and adopting rivers like Mula-Mutha, Indrayani, and Pawana in Pune for rejuvenation. What began as a modest initiative in Pune has blossomed into a movement spanning 32 cities across India with more than 10,000 volunteers, and has also expanded to the United Kingdom, impressing the prime minister of UK, earning the ‘Points of Light’ award and wide recognition in UK’s media. [caption id="attachment_34111" align="aligncenter" width="533"] Vivek Gurav[/caption] Pune Ploggers in the UK After completing his bachelors in computer science engineering in Pune, Vivek went on to pursue a master's in environmental policy and management at the University of Bristol in the UK. Undeterred by cold weather and snowfall, he extended his community-benefit efforts in the United Kingdom as well, and gradually got successful in establishing plogging communities in several cities of the UK with thousands of

d management at the University of Bristol in the UK. Undeterred by cold weather and snowfall, he extended his community-benefit efforts in the United Kingdom as well, and gradually got successful in establishing plogging communities in several cities of the UK with thousands of volunteers.

Vivek's initiatives earned him the Point of Light award from the UK PM, leading to an invitation to 10 Downing Street. He met PM Rishi Sunak who showed immense interest in the youngster’s plogging initiatives. Reflecting on this journey, Vivek remarked in a speech “What made this small campaign transform into a global voice was the intention to make an impact. My purpose didn’t allow me to sleep, and keep my dreams confined to one location. I wanted to expand and reach out to as many youngsters as possible and build a community that would thrive on the simple idea of change making.”

The life changing journey

In 2014, Vivek moved to Pune from a small village of Maharashtra with aspirations to attain something big in life, oblivious of the milestones he would soon achieve in the sphere of community development. “As a village boy the first thing that caught my attention in the big city was the poor condition of Mula-Muttha river. It was filthy and looked like a drainage.” It stinked and the water was black due to the trash that flowed through the heart of the city. Vivek witnessed the same filthy condition of another river that flowed near his engineering college.

[caption id="attachment_34118" align="aligncenter" width="860"] Pune Ploggers Team[/caption]

“I come from a village where clean rivers flow. We can actually go and drink the clean river water. When I came to Pune I was disappointed to see that rivers of the city in such a polluted state,” said Vivek adding, “People from villages go to cities to study, to build their dreams but the problem in the cities is that people are not mindful enough about their natural resources.” This discovery compelled him start changing the scenario, one step at a time.

Initiating change

In his first year of college, he launched a cleaning drive along the littered river near his campus. To begin with he approached the local municipal council but encountered a blame game between residents and authorities regarding their responsibilities. Frustrated with finger-pointing on each other, he decided to take action on his own. Igniting his inner eco warrior, he started cleaning the river at five am daily, inviting friends to join. Over three months his efforts transformed the once filthy riverside into a clean and popular hangout spot for students. This became a powerful example of an individual initiative and team effort bringing about positive change.

The birth of Pune Ploggers

In 2019, after graduating, Vivek finally transitioned from recognising a problem, working for community around him to launching a city-wide movement—Pune Ploggers. Combining jogging and picking up plastic, a concept originating from Sweden in 2016, the campaign aimed to make a positive impact for the residents of Pune. Volunteers would pick up trash during their morning walk or jog, engaging in a dual purpose - personal fitness and environmental clean-up. “Since our inception in October 2019, Pune Ploggers has evolved into a global community with over 10,000 active participants, spanning four years of dedicated efforts,” Vivek shared.

[caption id="attachment_34119" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Vivek's plogging efforts in the UK[/caption]

Movement to the UK – dream come true

Vivek got so steeped into the cause of tackling climate change by managing garbage that he wanted to gain expertise as a climate scientist and environmental policymaker that he thought was crucial for his non-profit’s growing environmental initiatives.

With no funds and limited financial backing, securing a loan also proved difficult as the only asset that the family could project for guarantee against the loan repayment was a small farm land in the village.

As he had been trained as a software developer, his decision to study a master’s in climate science was also met with rejection from several universities, who said he had no prior academic exposure to the subject. However, the University of Bristol finally recognised his achievements beyond his engineering course and offered him a full scholarship. Vivek Gurav left his IT job and seized the opportunity. “Coming from a humble background with no financial support, securing full scholarship was a boon and strengthened my determination to mitigate the impact of garbage and trash on the climate,” he said.

[caption id="attachment_34114" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Vivek Gurav at BBC's studio, UK[/caption]

The cause in UK

When Vivek moved to Bristol for his studies in 2021, he went on to establish a plogger community there. “When thousands woke up early on weekends, gathering to pick up trash, their collective positive intentions became a powerful force for better environment,” the Global Indian said.

“Against all odds, I found myself in a foreign land, talking to climate scientists, conducting research, and expanding my knowledge. Last year, I undertook a remarkable journey, traveling to 30 cities in the UK in 30 days, facing challenges like snowfall. This journey expanded the plogging community with thousands of active ploggers in the UK.”

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A post shared by Plogman | Vivek Gurav (@theplogman)

Chalk of Shame

To reshape mind-sets, Vivek Gurav and Pune Ploggers team has introduced an innovative initiative called ‘Chalk of Shame’. “Using chalk, we circle cigarette butts and other such litter on the streets, and write sarcastic slogans to make people realise their shameful act,” he says. This creative tool became a nationwide phenomenon, garnering millions of views on social media. It not only tackled the litter problem but also fostered creativity and awareness. The Pune Ploggers community has further expanded its focus on solving problems and encouraging values like equality and diversity, allowing like-minded individuals to thrive in generating ideas and solutions that contribute to positive societal change.

Good intentions can bring change

What began as a small initiative in Pune expanded across 32 cities in India and several cities of the UK, with a significant presence in London. Vivek Gurav’s journey, from a small town to studying climate science, exploring UK as a climate activist, and establishing a global task force, stands as a testament to the power of intentions and the transformative impact of a small yet significant issue of litter management with the big goal of averting climate change.

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Prakrithi Suresh: Harmonising Carnatic Music, Bharatanatyam, and spirituality in UAE

(October 27, 2023) Prakrithi Suresh is a UAE based Carnatic music vocalist and Bharatanatyam danseuse who connects the two forms through devotional perfomances. The Sharjah-based vocalist is a known face in UAE’s musical circuit, with many stage performances to her credit. She successfully conducted a ‘Health Benefit Series’ on her YouTube channel, driven by the belief that traditional Carnatic music holds a treasure trove of wellness advantages. In her quest, she explores the idea that each ragam not only carries unique health benefits but also forges a connection with nature, offering potential solutions to pressing environmental concerns. After wrapping up the series she is working on a ‘Thillana Series’ with the aim to revitalise the energies of listeners. In a harmonious convergence of culture and technology, the International Carnatic Musicians and Dancers Association (ICMDA) headed by Padma Shri A. Kanyakumari conducted an international mega event this year. Ten different world records were attempted at the event, which saw the participation of nearly 10,000 musicians and dancers from across the world. They performed the iconic ‘Aigiri Nandini’ at the same time both online and offline in live centers in different countries. [caption id="attachment_33767" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Prakrithi Suresh with ICMDA certificates and

different countries.

[caption id="attachment_33767" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Prakrithi Suresh with ICMDA certificates and medal[/caption]

While musicians and dancers from different corners of the globe united in a symphony of devotion, to ensure the accuracy the event's live videos and performances underwent meticulous scrutiny by the organising body. “Only two people received their certificates from the UAE and I was one of them,” Prakrithi tells Global Indian.

This festive season, Prakrithi has been actively engaging and captivating Carnatic music enthusiasts and the spiritually-inclined alike with her mesmerising performances.

Music in blood

When Prakrithi was barely two years old, her parents were overjoyed to hear her humming the Carnatic song she had heard her father practice. Carnatic music had been in her family for generations, starting with her paternal grandfather. They were trained vocalists although none had pursued it as a career. Prakrithi’s hereditary inclinations were celebrated and encouraged by her parents and when she was three-and-a-half years old, she began her training.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MANoFb__70Q

Not only is she a gifted singer, she is also a talented Bharatanatyam dancer who has been training under the best gurus in UAE since she was four. While there are invitations for conferences and participation in music fests round the year, Prakrithi connects her gift of singing and dancing with spirituality. “I sing and dance just for the spiritual connection. My sole goal is to spread divinity, and to make everybody realise that it’s the ultimate supreme that all of us has to surrender to,” the young artist remarks.

“My parents have been very supportive and have never pressurised me about academics,” remarks Prakrithi, crediting them for her achievements so far.

Making a name

At the UAE’s national Margazhi fest 2019, Prakrithi bagged the overall champion award for excelling in all six categories of Carnatic vocal competitions. In 2020 she came second in an International Carnatic dance and music competition, which saw participation from around the world.

[caption id="attachment_27735" align="aligncenter" width="623"] Prakrithi Suresh with childrens’ book author Elisabetta Dami[/caption]

She has also received the Geronimo Stilton Foundation’s medallion from its founder, the childrens’ book author Elisabetta Dami, at the Sharjah International Book Fair, for upholding the legacy of Indian traditional art forms even while living abroad.

The musical journey

Having begun her Carnatic vocal training as a toddler, the teenager is grateful to have trained under some of the best gurus in India and the UAE. She started learning formally from her guru, Palakkad Rajesh Kesav, and went on to learn from Dr Amruta Sankaranarayanan, who is the daughter and disciple of Padma Bhusan, Sangeetha Kalanithi T V Sankaranarayanan.

The sixteen-year-old is now receiving advanced training from Dr Maithili Krishnan, professor of music, SRC College Trichy. As they are in different countries, the guru and shishya connect with each other online.

The talented disciple is also a teacher to two four-year-old pupils who have started learning Carnatic vocals from her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFJc8fhVYJw

The teen vocalist’s portfolio comprises an impressive collection of music videos on her YouTube channel. The aesthetically-shot videos have been shot by her musically-inclined engineer father.

“I do not have any motive of earning money from my performances, nor do I want to spend money on creating music videos and that’s why my father films them,” she says. Her innocent smile hides great maturity.

Prakrithi’s mother, who worked as a scientist before her daughter was born, has played a great role in evoking the sense of divinity in Carnatic vocal and Bharatanatyam for the teenager. “I am spiritually inclined and do not perform for fame,” she says, adding, “It’s my mother who tells me how I can do better if I am spiritually connected to my art.”

[caption id="attachment_33768" align="aligncenter" width="954"] Prakrithi Suresh during one of her stage performances[/caption]

The path of Bharatanatyam

Whether it is Carnatic music or Bharatanatyam, Prakrithi finds tranquillity and peace in both. While Carnatic music is a way of seeking enlightenment, Bharatanatyam is sadhana for her.

“Bharatanatyam is like uniting the soul with the absolute soul,” she says, adding, “Coming from a spiritual country like India, where the realisation of consciousness or spirit has been the supreme goal of life, it is no wonder that the oldest dance form of the country, Bharatanatyam is nothing but a form of Sadhana.”

Prakrithi had started basic training of the dance form in 2013 under her guru Sahadevan of Kalakshetra, Sharjah who is the discipline of Rukmini Devi Arundale. Currently she is honing her skills under guru Girish Kumar, the disciple of Kalamandalam Chandrika who is the disciple of the veteran actress Vaijayanthimala.

[caption id="attachment_27736" align="aligncenter" width="856"] Prakrithi Suresh[/caption]

Apart from performing in various events in UAE and in functions organised by the Indian consulate of Dubai and Indian Association Sharjah; the youngster has performed in two Natyanjali’s in India as well.

On a different note…

A student of Sharjah’s Amity Private School, when Prakrithi is not busy studying or practicing, she can be found playing musical notes on her guitar or keyboard. “I have taught myself to sing English songs and play western instruments,” she shares.

The artistic teenager has already decided her professional path. “I want to become a veterinary doctor, quite opposite to what people would think,” she smiles.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

From swimming to spotlight: Actress Ashley Ganger’s journey to success

(May 11, 2024) Rarely does a budding actor strike gold with their inaugural venture, yet Ashley Ganger defied the odds. Making her debut on Netflix's acclaimed drama Grand Army, the 23-year-old Indian-Canadian actress captivated audiences since its October premiere. Portraying Meera Pakam, a feminist artist/playwright addressing topics such as sexuality and consent, Ganger shines amidst the backdrop of a Brooklyn high school. "I am quite grateful that I got this part, and it was a great experience," shared the actress, in a recent interview, "Actually, Grand Army was my second big audition with an actual character. Before this, I was going to commercial auditions. As soon as I read the character description for Meera I wanted it badly. I worked on the scene with my acting coach and went to the audition. In my head, I thought, “How often is it that someone books the first huge thing that comes their way, haha yeah right no way!” Fast forward to two callbacks later here we are. Funny enough Sydney Meyer, who plays Anna Delaney, was the reader in my second callback and then I reconnected with her on set, so that was fun." Donning many hats Her parents were born

heir way, haha yeah right no way!” Fast forward to two callbacks later here we are. Funny enough Sydney Meyer, who plays Anna Delaney, was the reader in my second callback and then I reconnected with her on set, so that was fun."

Donning many hats

Her parents were born in Punjab, India, and moved to Canada in the early 80s in search of better career opportunities. Sharing about her family, the actress said, "Ganger is my dad’s last name, and my family is from India. Both of my parents were born in India and the majority of my extended family is split between England and India. Ganger is a very uncommon Indian last name so sometimes it throws people off; I remember Googling it one time and seeing that it comes from Ireland, no idea about the connection but my family is from India. As far as my first name, my mom wanted to name me just Ash after Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai… so they took the shorter, more Canadian version of that, I guess."

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Growing up, Ashley loved dancing to Bollywood songs and dressing up whenever she could. But her one true love was swimming. While she thought that she would pursue a career in swimming, after six years of winning numerous medals the youngster shifted her focus to acting. "I think being an athlete, you must push yourself to always work harder because you have this need to constantly evolve and improve. Once I fell in love with acting, I felt that way again. I am constantly pushing myself and trying to find ways to work on my craft. I think it also taught me resilience; in this industry, you must realise quickly that there are going to be a lot of challenges to overcome. When you’re an athlete and train eight times a week in addition to a full course load in school you have to learn to keep pushing and keep your head up all the time," said the actress.

Interestingly, when she was younger, Ashley's mother decided to send her to summer theater camp to help her overcome her shyness. "I was super shy and speaking to new people was extremely nerve-racking," shared the actress, "Going to the camp pushed me out of my comfort zone. Imagine facing one of your biggest fears head-on. One of two things can happen, either you don’t respond well to it and find yourself not participating and sitting in the corner or you can try your best and see what happens. I’m glad I chose the second option. Once I broke the barrier and found my footing loved performing."

Behind the scenes

After finishing school, the actress acted in several stage shows and eventually enrolled with an acting coach. "Her name is Christina Collins and she is the absolute best! She has been a part of my journey since the beginning and was the one who encouraged me to get an agent," shared the actress, adding, "I also absolutely love acting classes, it’s honestly such a stress reliever and it’s also a fun way to meet other actors and creatives. I think it’s important to always keep working on your craft, there should never come a time where you feel you’ve learned everything. There is always something new to learn."

Currently working on the second season of Grand Army, the actress shared that she fell in love with the role as soon as she read the script. "Meera is a badass. She is a young girl who is very firm in her beliefs and loves to challenge her parent's old school mentality. She isn’t perfect, she makes mistakes, which is completely normal for a teenage girl but she handles situations so well. She’s bold and unashamed. She’s super close with her brother Sid but doesn’t like it when he interferes with her independence. I like her," the Global Indian said.

"I’m currently figuring out my next project. My agent works hard and finds me great auditions and I am extremely grateful for her. In the meantime, I continue to work on my acting and I’m excited to see what lies next for me," shared the actress talking about her future projects. Ask her what would be her advice to upcoming actors, and she quipped, "I would say to just be so passionate about life, and storytelling and don’t let anything stop you. It’s a tough industry and career path but if you believe in yourself enough you can accomplish whatever you set out to do. Keep your head up and don’t give up!"

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Reading Time: 6 mins