Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveKiara Nirghin: Indian-origin South African fighting drought through innovation

Kiara Nirghin: Indian-origin South African fighting drought through innovation

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(July 5, 2023) At the age of 13, Indian-origin South African Kiara Nirghin found herself confined to a hospital bed for over a year due to droughts as she was diagnosed with Bilharzia, a parasite-induced disease and a few months later with bacterial meningitis, inflammation of the membranes surrounding brain and spinal cord. It was also the onset of one of the worst droughts in South Africa, and unable to attend school, Kiara spent hours writhing in pain. “I remember lying in the hospital bed and thinking to myself if this is the immense pain that my mind can endure, just imagine the possibilities if this powerful machine is used for something more productive,” she said on her TEDxPretoria talk. Those months in the hospital were spent not only on self-reflection but also understanding the power of knowledge and putting it to use to find solution for bigger world problems. This powerful through process and months of experimentation led to the solution to the problem of drought by developing a cost-effective “super-absorbent polymer” that helps soil retain water. The invention won the Stanford graduate the 2016 Google Science Fair, and also got her a place on Times 30 Most Influential Teens list.

Kiara Nirghin

Growing up in the town of Alberton with her three other siblings, Kiara was always interested in science, especially chemistry. As young as seven, she would experiment with vinegar and baking soda solutions in plastic cups in her kitchen. “My natural curiosity and questioning nature have sparked my everlasting love of science,” she said in an interview.

She was keen to look for potential solution to problems, and one such issue that she couldn’t turn a blind eye to was drought. South Africa was experiencing a severe drought, and it was agricultural areas that were massively hit, leading to a decrease in agricultural production and a rise in food prices, affecting both farmers and consumers. Seeing the worrisome situation, Kiara took it upon herself to find a plausible solution. Despite much effort, she did come across many stumbling blocks initially until she saw her older sister change her baby daughter’s diapers. “I was surprised how much liquid a low-cost diaper could absorb. These are what called superabsorbent polymers which are essentially powders which can retain large amount of water relative to their weight. And if applied to the soil of a plant, when rain does fall, create a reservoir of water and through a period of droughts would allow the plants to sustain its life,” she added.

Kiara Nirghin

Upon research, she found that such solutions were already applied to the agricultural industry, however, they were non-bio degradable, chemical-based and expensive. “We had a possible solution that was not solving the problem. So, I decided to emulate a commercial SAP but make it biodegradable and make it low-cost, ultimately looking at my solution to the problem,” said United Nations Young Champions of the Earth who came up with a superabsorbent polymer made from waste products like orange peels and avocado skin. Her invention increases the chance for plants to sustain growth by 84 percent during a drought and can increase food security by 73 percent in disaster-struck areas.

In 2021, she partnered with an international agricultural firm, to bring her product to market that’s set to revolutionise water conservation and sustain crops through periods of drought, thus increasing food security across the globe. “I like to think of the issues of the world as problems that have not yet been partnered with a solution,” she added.

A champion of girls in STEM, Kiara believes in crucial representation in fostering a positive environment in STEM. “I always get asked why girls should get involved in science and technology? And I always answer the question by saying, ‘Why should they not?’ Suppose we’re trying to find a solution to curing cancer, and you bar women from science fields. In that case, you’re already decreasing the ability to find that solution by 50 percent because fewer people are thinking about it,” she told Mission.

The 23-year-old took up Computer Science in Stanford University “to understand how we can leverage artificial intelligence technology and bio computation to solve large-scale problems.” This led her to co-found Chima in 2022 to power scalable generative AI for the world’s most important institutions. Over the years, Kiara has moved towards inventions and work that provide solutions. “For me, it started on that hospital bed when I realised I have a machine in my brain just as powerful as my favourite scientist and if they can use it to do amazing things, so can I.”

Follow Kiara Nirghin on LinkedIn

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 05, Jul 2023

Share with

ALSO READ

‘Court’ing the Olympics: Tennis champ Shrivalli wants to bring home the gold

(April 14, 2022) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, who was crowned the national hardcourt tennis champion (women’s singles) 2021, was 11 when she first held a tennis racket in her hand. Calling herself an “accidental” tennis player, Shrivalli was introduced to the game at the Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad. "I was just 11 years old and frankly, I only noticed the clothes of the kids who were playing at the stadium," laughs the 20-year-old tennis star during an interview with Global Indian. "I told my father that I wanted to play because I also wanted to wear those clothes," she adds. [caption id="attachment_15000" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Shrivalli Rashmikaa[/caption] However, Shrivalli has come a long way since then. The right-handed tennis star, who is currently doing her degree at St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, has won numerous titles. The most recent was the ITF Women's (doubles) $15000 - 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women's (singles) $15000 - 2022, Ahmedabad. Making of a champion Born to two sports players - her father being a cricketer and mother a national-level basketball player - Shrivalli was always encouraged to play sports. "I was a very active child, mostly

s) $15000 - 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women's (singles) $15000 - 2022, Ahmedabad.

Making of a champion

Born to two sports players - her father being a cricketer and mother a national-level basketball player - Shrivalli was always encouraged to play sports. "I was a very active child, mostly because my parents were so into outdoor activities. My father especially is a sports freak. He encouraged me to pick up an extra-curricular activity in school," shares the tennis star, who is also a trained classical Carnatic singer.

While she took part in various sports, including swimming and roller skating, tennis was her 'one true love'. And once she started training, it did not take the coaches at the LB stadium much time to realise that Shrivalli was a gifted player.

[caption id="attachment_15017" align="aligncenter" width="579"] Shrivalli after winning a tournament[/caption]

"For the first year, I went to the stadium to just have fun. I was the most talkative kid in the stadium, who loved picking up balls more than hitting them," she laughs, adding, “But one day when my father had come to pick me up, one of the coaches asked him if I would like to take up the sport professionally. After coming home, my father posed the same question. In fact, I remember he warned me that it would be a tough journey. I was about 12 years old and didn't really understand what was so tough about playing tennis. So, I just said yes," the tennis player recalls.

Even as she worked hard to win every tournament, she did not forget to enjoy her childhood. Although she was a good student, she was also a trouble-maker in class. "I was a notorious student. Me and a few friends would bunk classes together. We would never leave the school premises, but we just would not attend the classes some times. Since I was very talkative, the teachers would sometimes even kick me out of the class. But I was a good student, my grades were really good. And I'd win gold in almost every tournament, so my teachers and principal were happy with me," smiles the tennis champ.

When the going gets tough

During her initial years, the tennis player won several medals, including the national title 2014-15, and under-18 petit camp open doubles in Mauritius in 2016. However, like every player she had to face some tough losses as well. While she recognised her potential as a player, Shrivalli learnt a lot from the matches she couldn't win.

[caption id="attachment_15018" align="aligncenter" width="690"] Shrivalli with her parents[/caption]

"I knew right from the beginning that I was able to do something extraordinary, something not everyone could do. As a junior, I wasn't much of a performing kid. So, I would constantly put pressure on myself to perform well. And when I didn't, the losses hit me very hard. Also, the other tennis players my age were performing really well, and I would inadvertently compare myself with them. In almost every tournament, even before the draw was out, I would freak out," shares the young player.

For two years, Shrivalli constantly struggled with these doubts which affected her game. Explaining how important it is to be mentally strong to win the games, the tennis player adds, "I did go to a psychologist subsequently and that helped me a lot. I started concentrating on my game more than the outcomes. So, as I moved towards my under-18s my game improved a lot." Her parents, Shrivalli says, were very supportive through her journey, and never once put pressure on her.

Olympic dreams

One of her biggest victories was defeating Rutuja Bhosale at the ITF $25K Pune R1 – 2021. That instilled a great deal of confidence in her. "I think all players feel nervous before a match. I do too. But I am confident now that I can play against, and defeat, any player," remarks Shrivalli, who is very inspired by Novak Djokovic.

[caption id="attachment_15019" align="aligncenter" width="772"] The tennis champion dreams of representing the country in Olympics[/caption]

Shrivalli dreams of representing India at the Olympics and works at her aspirations without compromise. Her day begins at 4.15 am and training continues for between five and six hours a day. And along the way, she hopes to win as many cups as she can for her country. “I will be participating in several upcoming national and international tournament. But a dream come true will be representing India at the Olympics and winning gold for the country," says the tennis star, who loves cooking or baking in her free time.

Reading Time: 6 mins

Rishabh Seen – The pioneer of sitar-metal

(January 22, 2023) In 2007, the year Rishabh Seen first heard the Foo Fighters and t their frontman, Dave Grohl, he knew his life had changed forever. "It was one of those moments where you just know that you're experiencing something that will change you," he said in an interview later. Until that point, Rishabh Seen, who belonged to an illustrious family of Hindustani musicians, had devoted himself to the classical tradition on the sitar. Steeped in tradition [caption id="attachment_26814" align="aligncenter" width="941"] Rishabh Seen[/caption] Rishabh's childhood in Jalandhar was spent immersed in music. His grandfather, Ustad Lachhman Singh Seen, is an acclaimed tabla maestro and music scholar, with his works preserved in the national archives. Rishabh's father, Manu Kumar Seen, is an accomplished sitarist. Growing up in this environment, Rishabh began vocal training at the age of six and his sitar practice started four years later. Despite the family's deep devotion to classical traditions, his father helped him understand the world of possibilities the sitar afforded him. Still, his knowledge of what lay outside classical music remained limited and Dave Grohl came as an inspiration. "It changed my entire vision about life and music in general," Rishabh said. "I discovered

d him.

Still, his knowledge of what lay outside classical music remained limited and Dave Grohl came as an inspiration. "It changed my entire vision about life and music in general," Rishabh said. "I discovered that progressive metal was based on instrument-driven songs and that is the point where Indian classical and metal meet." His enthusiasm compounded when he realised there wasn't anybody out there who seemed to have had the idea of sitar-metal, or even a band led by any instrument other than a guitar, keyboard or drums.

Dave Grohl and a journey of discovery

Rishabh's own journey of discovery continued, and he went from the Foo Fighters to Slipknot and Nirvana. "It was around 2011, when I just played a metal song on the speakers. My dad, wondering what on earth was happening, came by to check on me. What was surprising was that he really enjoyed what he was listening to," he said in an interview. Technically speaking, too, the two forms of music are very different. Hindustani classical music involves playing one scale or raaga in a 45-minute concert. With metal, a single song can contain several scales.

At first, the young Global Indian's efforts were not well received. Metal was seen as dark and hairy, while the sitar receives reverence. His fortunes turned in 2015 when he released his first cover of Animals As Leaders' 'Tempting Time'. In no time, the song garnered lakhs of views. That was also the year he founded his band, Mute The Saint. They produced covers of artists like Animals as Leaders, Steven Wilson and Meshuggah and were a success. While the two genres might stand as polar opposites, to the trained and untrained year alike, Rishabh saw only common ground, a similarity "in terms of evoking an inner revolution and spreading peace."

In 2016, Mute the Saint released a self-titled album and two years later, the second, which contained a bunch of covers of Coldplay and Foo Fighters. Rishabh has performed with singer Arijit Singh and solo headlines sitar metal shows.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Neel Moudgal: Indian-American teen helping scientist efficiently study RNA to cure diseases

(March 5, 2023) It was in 2022 that Michigan-based Indian-American teen Neel Moudgal learnt about winning a $25,000 scholarship from the Davidson Fellows Scholarship Program for his project Using Unassigned NMR Chemical Shifts to Model RNA Secondary Structure. The honour for the Saline resident came from creating a platform that could help scientists easily develop treatments for cancer, viruses, genetic disorders, and other diseases. "It means so much for them to recognize my work as having some benefit to society,” said the teenager, who began working on the project in the summer of 2020. The project has made him win $250,000 at the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2023. Neel’s quest to work towards finding cures for diseases is personal – his grandfather suffers from Alzheimer’s and Neel has seen his suffering firsthand. [caption id="attachment_28062" align="aligncenter" width="471"] Neel Modugal[/caption] It is no secret that RNA (Ribonucleic acid) teaches the body how to make proteins that can support your immune system or even treat diseases. Scientists believe that understanding RNA structure could unlock cures for many diseases, and Neel's project aids scientists to help develop treatments for many diseases. For this, he developed a new platform to predict the structure of various

nderstanding RNA structure could unlock cures for many diseases, and Neel's project aids scientists to help develop treatments for many diseases. For this, he developed a new platform to predict the structure of various RNA molecules rapidly with easily available data, with the help of his mentor Professor Aaron Frank at the University of Michigan.

"Unfortunately, understanding the structure of RNA has been a difficult task due to the limitations in equipment and computational power and remains a major challenge in biophysics. My project focused on developing a new platform that can predict the structure of various RNA molecules rapidly with easily available data, thus allowing researchers the opportunity to develop novel treatments," the Global Indian wrote on the David Institute website.

Since the project involved science that wasn't taught in high school, the 16-year-old had to rely on academic papers to learn the required material. And that in itself was one of the exciting parts for Neel - to learn and actively apply it. However, the project came with its share of challenges - the prime being the pandemic. Due to the lockdown, lab access was impossible, and it felt limiting to not be able to walk up to people for quick clarification or feedback on an idea. However, Zoom, Slack, and other platforms came to his rescue and helped him connect with lab members to clear his doubts or seek any kind of guidance.

One and a half years into the research, he found success in developing a platform that can rapidly and accurately predict the secondary structure for RNA molecules using only unassigned chemical shift data. "Our methods can help predict the structure and behaviour of RNA molecules in both physiological as well as pathological states and as a result, this platform has the potential to greatly increase our understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that underlie human diseases," said Neel, who is hopeful that researchers will have the opportunity to work rapidly with RNA molecules in emerging pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.

Neel, who is a senior at Saline High School in Michigan, enjoys travelling, reading, and collecting rocks, coins, and stamps. He hopes to major in biophysics and statistics in his undergraduate studies and eventually pursue a career in medicine and research. "My goal is to conduct translational research and develop treatments “from bench to bedside,” working in a laboratory to devise cures for diseases and working with patients to deploy these treatments. I feel that this would put my passion for research to use to benefit others."

Reading Time: 4 min

Sagar and Suraj Nagaraj: Transcending borders with the ‘Australian Indian Orchestra’

(Aug 26, 2023) Sagar and Suraj Nagaraj, second-generation Australian immigrants, are the founders of the Australian Indian Orchestra (AIO), a pioneering initiative that marked its debut with the concert ‘Sydney to Mumbai: A Symphonic Journey to Incredible India’ - featuring a splendid 60-member symphony orchestra in Australia. Their endeavour is rooted in their vision to cultivate a musical connection between the people of Australia and India and to present Indian music in western format. AIO harmoniously amalgamates Indian melodies with Australian orchestral arrangements, forging a unifying platform that brings together artists and audiences from both nations. [caption id="attachment_32738" align="aligncenter" width="921"] Concert of Australian Indian Orchestra at Sydney Conservatorium of Music[/caption] 26-year-old Sagar and 20-year-old Suraj are musically inclined since their childhood. They have been giving performances at different platforms while growing up and enjoy a good fan following for their musical skills. Fuelled by love for Bollywood Despite being born and raised in Australia, Sagar and Suraj Nagaraj simply love Bollywood music, strongly influenced by their music loving parents. Sagar, shared, "Our childhood is filled with memories of returning home from school to the whistles of our father's favourite Hindi songs." He added, "We found Bollywood films constantly being watched

ormances at different platforms while growing up and enjoy a good fan following for their musical skills.

Fuelled by love for Bollywood

Despite being born and raised in Australia, Sagar and Suraj Nagaraj simply love Bollywood music, strongly influenced by their music loving parents. Sagar, shared, "Our childhood is filled with memories of returning home from school to the whistles of our father's favourite Hindi songs." He added, "We found Bollywood films constantly being watched on TV at our home." The environment at home, ignited their passion for music since as far as they can recall.

As they grew up, they realised that Bollywood music wasn't too popular beyond their home. The brothers, whose parents immigrated to Australia in 1993, started nurturing a shared dream - to introduce Bollywood music to Australia. With the launch of the Australian Indian Orchestra, they are now coming closer to make that dream come true.

Starting young

Sagar discovered his affinity for strings in school and subsequently took up the violin. Regularly participating in his school's musical programmes, he captivated his music-loving parents by playing ‘O Saathi Re,’ a Bollywood tune he had heard his father whistle countless times. His father was pleasantly surprised by how beautifully Sagar played the melody.

Since then, listening to Indian melodies on Sagar’s violin became a regular pastime in the Nagaraj household. The younger brother Suraj, recalled, "I fell in love with the violin at the age of four when I heard Sagar play and begged my parents to get me one as well."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYyA9wNqkI0&t=9s

Idea of orchestra

The idea of Australian Indian Orchestra’s formation germinated in their mind during a performance when the Nagaraj brothers intertwined select Hindi melodies with customary string orchestra classics to bring some variety. All the songs that they played received lots of appreciation from the audience that comprised of both Indian and Australian attendees.

Their enthusiastic response propelled the brothers to establish a new musical endeavour - the Australian Indian Orchestra, to showcase the fusion of musical styles.

Forging ahead with vision

Guiding the ensemble, Sagar assumes the role of concertmaster, meticulously crafting the concert's line up by infusing his deep understanding of Indian music into every element. He describes the process as a combination of attentive listening, profound reading, meticulous note transcription, and dedicated practice. His visits to India and exposure to Carnatic music during trips to his native place Mysore has greatly impacted his approach. “It helped me a lot while writing the musical notes for the songs of AIO,” he shared. The youngster has also performed in Kochi as part of the Sydney Youth Orchestra in 2017.

While Suraj who has experience performing with the Australian World Orchestra holds the role of conductor. “String music has always featured in a big way in Bollywood music,” he said. “In most Hindi songs, you can hear a violin or a cello,” he added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K-XS-3lyKU

Diversity and magnificence

Their inaugural concert's repertoire spanned a diverse range of songs by vocalists such as Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, and Arijit Singh. In addition to this vocal diversity, the performance showcased a varied instrumental ensemble, including tabla, sitar, santoor, guitar, piano, and keyboard, all contributing to the tapestry of orchestral magnificence.

For the Nagaraj brothers, Bollywood music resonates as their ‘home away from home.’ After their debut concert at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, they are busy preparing for their next concert to be held on the occasion of Diwali at Concourse in Chatswood, Sydney. They are aspiring to take their orchestra from Sydney to Mumbai in the coming days.

Follow Australian Indian Orchestra on Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 5 mins

A ‘voter-gait’ to create true democracy: Lawyer-activist Chaitanya Prabhu raps for rights

(April 1, 2022) In 2018 while searching the internet for a new (coloured) voter id, Chaitanya Prabhu discovered that all the processes to register and upgrade were simple and swift. Yet, enquiring if his friends had their new and improved voter id, he was shocked to learn that many had not even registered to vote, and thus were unaware of the simple online process. It left him flabbergasted. Determined to help his friends get a voter id done, he started a movement. “What started as a small action slowly took the shape of the Mark Your Presence campaign. By word of mouth the information spread, and many people started approaching me for their voter ids,” says Chaitanya in a conversation with Global Indian. The campaign evolved as a result of what people wanted. The need came from the masses and his movement gained impetus. It became so impactful that the Mumbai-based 23-year-old advocate at the Bombay High Court was awarded the UN India Award and Diana Award 2021 for his humanitarian efforts. For the then law student starting such a campaign in 2018, has reaped great rewards. [caption id="attachment_13871" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Chaitanya Prabhu, lawyer-activist, founder of Mark Your Presence[/caption] Lighting

nt_13871" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Chaitanya Prabhu, lawyer-activist, founder of Mark Your Presence[/caption]

Lighting up young minds

His dedication didn’t escape the notice of the chief electoral officer, state election commission of Maharashtra and chief electoral officer of Delhi. They offered full support to Chaitanya’s non-profit and non-partisan organisation. Currently doing a master’s in public policy at St Xavier’s College, Chaitanya gained an insight into how policies are framed. The lawyer-activist addresses his two awards as “extreme light in the darkness.” Since he began, he has mobilised more than 26,000 youngsters to take their first steps towards being responsible citizens of a democracy. Today, Mark Your Presence has 430 volunteers, and 25 core team members.

[embed]https://twitter.com/chaitanyavotes/status/1409537501304217600?s=20&t=HTxDyXwfQFVfwJHAl_-FIA[/embed]

“Mark your Presence also offers a leadership fellowship, where we train young people (between 16 and 22) to take part in strengthening the Indian democratic system, and turn every institution into a voter-friendly campus. Selected after diligent screening, they become part of our forum - a certificate and letter of recommendation from the election commission of Maharashtra,” says Chaitanya.

An activist soul

The lawyer-activist has visited top schools and colleges in Mumbai and Delhi for seminars and speeches to empower the youth to become politically aware voters, and choose representatives well – echoing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “I want to reduce the huge gap that lies between the young population and the people’s representatives so they make informed choices to make our country leap ahead with the right leadership,” says Chaitanya who is also a national level athlete.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOcjO7U7dZY

Winning mantra

An athlete, winning is ingrained in him, and so is perseverance. His sporty side played a large role in shaping this young activist. “I might be seen as a young person with full access to the election commission of Maharashtra but that has come after four years of slogging to prove my mettle,” smiles the young activist, adding, “Wading through bureaucracy hasn’t been easy.”

The founder of Mark Your Presence has represented Maharashtra in track and field events (400 meters) at nationals, and has won DSO national, open national and AISM national championships.

[caption id="attachment_13876" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Chaitanya with his grand-father[/caption]

Incidentally, Chaitanya’s grandfather, MH Prabhu, who passed away a couple of months ago at the age of 101, has been his biggest inspiration. “He was a freedom fighter. My passion to make people aware of democracy and be conscious about their rights comes from him. Having grown up in his presence, it was impossible to remain untouched by the values he stood for, that led him to fight for our Independence; playing a crucial role in the nation’s history. I learned about rights from him,” says the doting grandson.

The extra mile…

“After having helped thousands register, I have come to see that it’s not enough. It led me to start educating the youth about the basics of the Constitution and how they cannot ignore their duty,” Chaitanya explains. Though he is compelled to admit that there is much more to be done.

His Youth Manifesto movement stems from this believe - to ignite young minds and encourage collaboration among long-time youth advocates, environmentalists, activists and emerging leaders. “We want the voices of the young people to be heard by those who matter,” Chaitanya remarks. Rampant discussion on topics that matter, Chaitanya helps these ideas reach changemakers. The team has been working on the manifesto for the past six months and expects it to be ready by May. The movement gained further momentum when Navya Naveli Nanda, the entrepreneur granddaughter of Amitabh Bachchan, and Malhar Kamble, founder of Beach Please joined Chaitanya.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by chaitanya prabhu (@chaitanya_prabhu)

His idea is that the youth manifesto reaches relevant ministries, BMC commissioner and CM of Maharashtra. From working on the ground, reaching slums, high-rises, he feels everyone wants their aspirations addressed, "We as voters are given manifestoes but not asked about ours. My idea is to involve youth in creating a list of expectations and putting it forward," he adds.

His larger aim is to increase the number of voter registrations, educate voters, and soar up the voter turnout. “I intend to keep scaling the initiatives,” says the idealist who inadvertently created micro-targeted campaigns like “art for right,” “rap for rights,” “speak for rights” and “she votes.” “Convincing is a difficult job, it requires patience but I never give up on this path of fighting unawareness,” Chaitanya signs off.

Follow Chaitanya Prabhu on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 mins