Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveRecap 2022: Young photographers looking at the world through their lens

Recap 2022: Young photographers looking at the world through their lens

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(December 30, 2022) A photo is worth a thousand words, and Indian photographers are making sure to capture the breath-taking beauty of nature and the rawness of emotions to weave a story that evokes a feeling in almost everyone. With a legacy of cultural diversity and deep-rooted artistic expression, India is producing photographers who have captured moments that speak to the world. They are bringing forth stories that resonate with a larger audience and creates a shift in their perspective. Seeing the world through their lens is what makes them unique, and they are taking the world with them on this journey called life. Global Indian turns the spotlight on such young photographers who are making heads turn with their captures.

Suyash Keshari

Suyash Keshari is a wildlife filmmaker.

Solo, the tigress, stole the thunder on Safari with Suyash – Season 1, a wildlife series by environmentalist Suyash Keshari. Amidst the lush foliage, rolling hills and grasslands of Bandhavgarh National Park, Solo found her habitat where she first met Suyash nine years ago. A capture of the six-month-old earned Suyash the Nature’s Best Photography Asia Award, which incidentally hung at Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC for a year. Solo played a huge part in Suyash’s journey into wildlife filmmaking as his debut five-part series managed to impress the World Wildlife Fund, which eventually became its distributor. For the past four years, this champion of wildlife conservation has been navigating through unexplored territory of the park to capture the raw and unfiltered beauty of nature, and has now launched India’s first OTT wildlife platform.

Prathamesh Jaju

It was seven days past the full moon, and astrophotographer Prathamesh Jaju from Pune, telescope and planetary camera in hand, was on his terrace. There with utmost concentration, he captured the last quarter moon on an ordinary night in May. The photo taking shape in those four hours made this amateur astrophotographer an instant internet sensation. Taking one of the clearest and most detailed images of the Moon is no mean feat. The then 16-year-old did it and it went viral with 69,734 likes. Prathamesh even got approval from a NASA scientist for the sensational click that beautifully captured the craters and mineral deposits on the lunar surface.

Pubarun Basu

Crammed into a narrow alleyway in the backstreets of Kumortuli in North Kolkata, a sculptor is sculpting the face of goddess Durga ahead of Pujo. That stunning photo by young photographer Pubarun Basu speaks volumes of his love for the craft. Yet, it’s only one among his many stellar photographs. Another photo turned the tide for this muse-seeking shutterbug – a 2020 photo titled No Escape from Reality that won him the Youth Photographer of the Year 2021 at the Sony World Photography Awards. Basu was the first Indian to achieve the feat.

Aishwarya Sridhar

The wilderness is her office, Nature, a constant companion. The first Indian to win the coveted Wildlife Photographer Award in 2020 for her photograph on fireflies Lights of Passion (chosen from 50,000 entries from 80 countries) Aishwarya Sridhar’s entry held pride of place in the august halls of the National Museum of History in London at one time. “Every day is a new adventure. I look forward to spending time in the wilderness,” says the preservationist, who cherishes all those moments in verdant landscapes but feels most fortunate to have seen a tigress training her cubs to hunt in the wild. Sridhar is also the winner of Sanctuary Asia’s Young Naturalist Award, the Princess Diana Award, and is a Jackson Wild summit fellow (considered the Emmy of wildlife filmmaking).

Tanmay Sapkal

A photograph of Comet Neowise, shot from atop Mount Tamalpais in the US’ West Coast, landed amateur photographer Tanmay Sapkal the International Landscape Photography 2021.

Braving sub-zero temperatures, venturing out at unearthly times of day and night, and spending hours on met department updates – the life of a photographer isn’t easy. Tanmay and his wife live in San Francisco (she also works for Apple). Evenings are spent, “working on images, searching for what to do next, and talking to photographers.” In summer, when the sun sets late, Tanmay takes advantage of the light, and drives off to photography locations after his work as a tech designer is done.

The key to being a good landscape photographer, he explains, is “to know the weather.” It’s usually an interesting weather change that draws Tanmay to a spot, as “plants and trees change with seasons, as does the light.” So, if a big cloud system rolls in from the West Coast, it ascertains the location. Seasoned landscape photographers wander off into forests for weeks on end, carrying equipment, food, water and tents, “It’s easy to go missing or to be attacked by a bear,” he says. Although, given his propensity for shuffling off into snow-covered woods, thermal shock is also a concern.

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Published on 30, Dec 2022

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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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Teen equestrian Ananya Settipalli is making waves in the US

(March 1, 2024) In November 2023, 16-year-old equestrian Ananya Settipalli realised a long-time dream - she made it to the United States Dressage Finals, competing with the best young riders in America. At her first junior nationals in 2019, which she entered at the age of 12, she landed multiple podium finishes, including a silver in show jumping. Ananya made it to her second junior nationals just before the pandemic and came home with a team gold in dressage and a team silver in jumping. Ananya Settipalli was born in Boston and discovered a love for horses when she was around four years old. "My parents put me in my first summer camp in North Carolina when I was seven, at a barn called MacNairs," she tells Global Indian. Nobody in her family had been into the sport or ridden horses, but her mum, who was a national-level track athlete, was an early inspiration. Ananya would listen to her mum's stories and wonder what it would feel like to compete at a national level. She would watch equestrian events on TV too, and remembers watching the Olympics over and over. "The way Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester was mesmerising to

obody in her family had been into the sport or ridden horses, but her mum, who was a national-level track athlete, was an early inspiration. Ananya would listen to her mum's stories and wonder what it would feel like to compete at a national level. She would watch equestrian events on TV too, and remembers watching the Olympics over and over. "The way Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester was mesmerising to me. They were the equestrians I looked up to the most growing up."

When she was nine, the family moved to Hyderabad, where Ananya began riding consistently. She started at the Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club but soon switched to Nasr Polo, where she competed at my first show at HRPC under Nasr.

[caption id="attachment_36295" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Teen equestrian Ananya Settipalli[/caption]

Training with KCS Reddy

She moved back to the Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club to train under Hyderabad's only competitive coach at the time, KCS Reddy. "His methods of training were quite different from others," Ananya recalls. She learned her basics on retired thoroughbreds (ex-racehorses), which can be very challenging to ride compared to the more traditional, docile warmbloods. "I learned most things related to riding the hard way. With off-track thoroughbreds, you have to control every action you make when you're on them," she says.

It was a challenging way to learn. At Nasr Polo, the polo horses were well-trained and easy to handle. The ones at HRPC, however, were fresh off the race course and had received a few months of training from KCS Reddy and his assistant. "It was a rough experience since the horses were so green, but I wouldn't trade it for any other," Ananya says, adding with a smile, "And if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met Princess."

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Meeting 'Princess'

On her 12th birthday, Ananya got her first horse, Princess, as a present. When she rode her for the first time, Princess, who was “as grumpy as a mare could get,” threw her off right away, leaving Ananya with a concussion and “a giant red mark” on her face.” A few months later, when Ananya was at her first show, Princess threw her again, and this time, she fractured her arm. "Nobody thought I would come back to riding. Nobody thought I would keep Princess. But I did both because the most important thing to understand with a horse is that it's never their fault," she says. Instead, Ananya learned patience, and began building a real relationship with the horse she would soon call her best friend. She would head to the stables at 5 am and spend three hours with Princess before school. "It was the best experience I ever had. On weekends, I would spend the first half of the day with her, I would bathe her, hand graze her, groom her and just sit in her stall to spend time with her. She was very sensitive but she just needed some love and a girl who had all the love in the world to offer to her." Their bond only grew, and ultimately, Ananya went on to qualify for the nationals riding Princess.

Competing in India

By this time, Ananya was going back and forth between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where she was now training under Ashish Limaye at the Embassy International Riding School. She rode with Limaye to try horses to compete in her first Equestrian Premier League at the Embassy to qualify for the nationals. "I loved the place immediately," she said. "They had incredible facilities; everything was so well organised and everyone was extremely friendly and the horses were well taken care of." At the Embassy, she was also looking for horses to ride at the EPLs and ended up riding four, three of which came from the Embassy: Qurt, Dejavu, and Obligado. The fourth was a mare named Zala, whom she leased from the United Rider barn.

Her most special bond, however, was with Obligado, who was around 20 years old when she began riding him. "He's a thoroughbred but he could jump the 130s with ease and even when he was 19, he could jump the 115 cm classes without breaking a sweat. When I first rode him I barely knew how to jump. I couldn't even get around a course without falling off but he's an angel. He rarely misbehaved and taught me the basics of jumping."

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By this time, the pandemic had hit. However, the Embassy allowed Ashish Limaye's students to stay at the riding school and continue to train. Ananya, her friends, and Ashish lived at the school for six months. "He was the most influential coach I had the opportunity to train with," Ananya says. They would ride in the morning, go to school, ride again after, and in keeping with Ashish's rule for his students, work out after riding. "Under Ashish, I competed at two Junior National Equestrian Championships in India," she says.

[caption id="attachment_36301" align="aligncenter" width="426"] Ananya Settipalli with Ashish Limaye at the Embassy International Riding School[/caption]

Back to the US

In a stroke of bad luck, Ananya came down with a fairly severe case of Covid 19 in 2020. At this point, her parents decided to go back to the US, this time to Texas, partly for the good schools and also because they had found Ananya a great coach, Kai Handt.

In 2021, Ananya began riding under Handt, who is also one of the top coaches in the US for para-equestrians, at the North Texas Equestrian Center. Then, in 2022, she bought her current horse from Kai, NTEC Classico, a seven-year-old gelding "with impeccable breeding lines and amazing scope in jumping and dressage," Ananya says. That year, she competed at her first regional championship in 2022.

She attended her second regionals in 2023, this time on another of Kai Handt's best horses, the NTEC Falstaff. This time, the idea was to qualify for the United States Dressage Finals. They qualified and made it to the event in Lexington, Kentucky.

A different ecosystem

Being an equestrian in the US, Ananya says, is a very different experience from being one in India. For starters, the average level is much higher - the best riders in India struggle to even qualify when they first arrive in Germany or the US. "It's much more competitive in the US because it's a much more popular sport," she says. Shows also work differently and it took some adjusting to at first.

"After I bought NTEC Classico, it became easier because consistency is key. Having a horse to ride five days a week definitely helps when you compete with that same horse." Another difference is that riders in the US are expected to do a lot more for their horses. "In India, in HRPC and Embassy, they would know what time I would be there and have the horses ready to ride and take care of them afterward. But in America, at most barns, you tack up your own horse, untack them, and take care of them when you're done riding," Ananya explains. "It's a very different experience, but I like taking care of my horse better because it allows you to build a connection with them."

[caption id="attachment_36294" align="aligncenter" width="492"] Ananya and her father, with NTEC Classico[/caption]

The ties that bind

In dressage, a strong bond between horse and rider is key, where everything is about trust, respect, empathy, and teamwork. That's why Ananya focusses on spending consistent time with her horse, not just during the training but also by doing everyday activities like grooming and so on. "Communication is huge, I try to be clear and consistent with my cues so my horse knows what I'm asking for and I make sure to give plenty of praise and maybe a treat here and there." There are challenges of course, as with any relationship. "But I've learned to approach them with patience and understanding. It's not just about winning ribbons in the arena; it's about having a true partnership with your horse."

Ananya hopes to keep winning but says it's more than just about accolades. "It's about deepening my understanding of horses and enriching their lives through thoughtful training and care." She also wants to continue training, saying, "I aim to compete at higher level competitions and hopefully international ones as well."

(May 12, 2023) Growing up in Indore, singer-philanthropist Palak Muchhal was perturbed by the sight of underprivileged children and those in need. At a very early age, she found she wanted to help them out somehow – she had a gift for singing and wanted to use it for good. In 1999, during the Kargil War, Palak, who was seven years old at the time, spent a week singing at the shops in Indore to raise funds for the families of deceased Indian soldiers. Amidst extensive local media coverage, she managed to raise ₹25,000. The success of this initiative motivated her to do more such work for the benefit of others. Later that year, Palak went on to raise funds for victims of the 1999 Odisha cyclone through her singing performances. Following these initiatives, people and social organisations who found themselves financially constrained, began approaching her to help raise funds. As she honed her skills, Palak’s singing talents took her to Bollywood, where she tasted success as a playback singer. She lent her voice to films like Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Aashiqui 2 (2013), Kick (2014), Action Jackson (2014) Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) Kaabil (2017), Baaghi 2 (2018) and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019). Her latest released song ‘Naiyo Lagda Dil’

;">Aashiqui 2 (2013), Kick (2014), Action Jackson (2014) Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) Kaabil (2017), Baaghi 2 (2018) and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019). Her latest released song ‘Naiyo Lagda Dil’ from Salman-starrer Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan has become a chartbuster upon its release this year.

[caption id="attachment_29953" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Palak Muchhal[/caption]

Despite her success in Bollywood, the Global Indian has not strayed from her original purpose. She collaborates with her lyricist-and-composer brother Palash Muchhal, to perform in India and abroad to raise funds for the needy.

The singer-philanthropist’s focus has been on raising funds for underprivileged children who need financial assistance for treatment of heart diseases. “Saving little hearts is the mission of my life. Every time I sing, a life is saved and what can be a bigger blessing than this,” Palak remarked in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Saving little hearts

While Palak was studying in Indore, she was approached by the teachers of a boy named Lokesh. He belonged to a poor family and required a heart surgery. Using a street vendor’s cart as a stage, Palak organised a cultural event and was able to raise ₹55,000. The publicity of her efforts prompted India’s renowned cardiologist, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty to operate Lokesh free of charge. That was in 2000, and the same year, Palak received Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her social service.

Lokesh’s heart ailment was an eye opener for Palak. She learned from experts that congenital heart disease is a major problem in the country. According to a 2021 study, over 2,00,000 children in India are born with congenital heart disease. Nearly one-fifth of these require surgery within a year of birth.

Since then, saving little hearts has become a mission of her life. Through her trademark show ‘Dil Se Dil Tak’ or ‘Save Little Hearts,’ Palak has helped close to 3,000 children suffering from heart diseases. “I knew I had a special blessing in the form of my talent, through which I could make a difference. I realised I could put smiles back on young faces through my singing,” Palak said.

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Reaching far and wide

Palak Muchhal's international performances have helped raise awareness about the importance of providing medical assistance to children suffering from heart ailments, not just in India but across the world. “I feel blessed by the fact that I have been able to bring smiles to faces. Music is not just a career for me, it's more than that,” she said in a Mid-Day interview.

The singer-philanthropist has performed in several countries across the world including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and Dubai, among other countries to raise funds.

Other than charity, the singer-philanthropist has been part of several campaigns, lending her voice to causes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean Indian Campaign), Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child), and has also raised awareness about important issues like child marriage and domestic violence through her concerts.

Palak has also collaborated with several international artists to contribute to the causes she is close to. In 2014, she got an opportunity to perform at the United Nations headquarters in New York, to raise awareness about the issue of child marriage in India. She also performed at the Global Citizen Festival in New York in 2016, alongside international bands and artists such as Coldplay, Demi Lovato, and Ellie Goulding.

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Getting recognition

The singer has made an entry in both the Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of World Records for her social work. She stands tall as an example to Indian youth and in 2021, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as well Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Education (MSBSHSE) has included her achievements in moral science lessons for students in grade seven.

“As a kid I would wonder, ‘why do some kids smile and some cry? Why can’t everybody be happy and had decided to do something about it since then,” Palak remarked.

Her efforts have been recognized globally, and she continues to use her talent and influence to make a positive impact on society. The philanthropist was conferred an honorary doctorate from the American University in the US, for promoting health and peace through Palak Muchhal Heart Foundation and thousands of concerts across the globe. She also received the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award in the best playback singer category in 2022.

Follow Palak Muchhal on Instagram and Twitter

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