Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveSirish Subash earns ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ title in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge

Sirish Subash earns ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ title in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge

By: Amrita Priya

(October 29, 2024) When Sirish Subash’s innovation, an AI-based handheld pesticide detector named PestiSCAND, was tested, it demonstrated an impressive 85 percent accuracy in detecting pesticide residues on fresh farm produce like spinach and tomatoes. The effectiveness of this innovative tool paved the way for Sirish’s victory at the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The Georgia teen from Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology won the $25,000 grand prize along with the title of ‘America’s Top Young Scientist.’

The 14-year-old credits his parents for instilling in him the curiosity that inspired him to design a pesticide detector. “My parents always insist that I wash fruits and vegetables before consuming them,” he shared in an interview. “I wondered, how necessary is this really, and how effective is washing? Does it actually work to ensure that produce is clean?” This curiosity led him to innovate the award-winning tool in the Challenge where he competed against nine top finalists. The final event was held at the 3M global headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Oct. 14 and 15.

Indian Inventor | Sirish Subash | Global Indian

Impact of 3M Young Scientist Challenge

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge, now in its 17th year, continues to inspire middle school students to apply STEM principles to solve real-world problems. As the United States’ premier science competition, it is administered by Discovery Education and 3M.

Each year, the top 10 finalists, comprising public and private school students from across the U.S. are evaluated through a series of challenges – including a presentation of their completed innovation project. Their work gets scored independently by a panel of judges.

Past 3M winners have gone on to give TED Talks, found nonprofits, file patents, and make it onto the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, highlighting the far-reaching impact of this platform.

Technology behind Sirish’s innovation – PestiSCAND

Sirish’s tool uses spectrophotometry to measure the wavelength of light reflecting off fruits and vegetables, combined with a machine learning model to analyse the data and detect harmful pesticides – all without damaging the food.

All one needs to do is download an app, point the tool at the food in question, and determine if an additional rinse is necessary. “That’s the main goal of PestiSCAND – to help people ensure that they aren’t consuming pesticides so they can avoid any associated health risks,” Sirish explained in an interview.

PestiSCAND is equipped with a sensor, power supply, display screen, and processor. By utilising a non-destructive method, it provides an efficient and reliable solution to the growing concern over pesticide contamination. The tool’s ability to quickly assess the safety of fruits and vegetables marks a promising step toward healthier food standards.

Indian Inventor | Sirish Subash | Global Indian

Sirish demonstrating how to use PestiSCAND

Journey of earning the title

The finalists faced a series of interactive challenges and were assessed on their creativity, application of STEM principles, passion for research, presentation skills, and ability to inspire. Each finalist was paired with a 3M scientist for one-on-one mentoring throughout the summer, guiding them from concept to prototype development. Sirish Subash was paired with Aditya Banerji, a senior research engineer at 3M’s Corporate Research Process Laboratory.

With Aditya’s support, Sirish refined his idea over the course of four months. Competing against nine other brilliant young minds, he showcased his ingenuity and presentation skills during the final events, ultimately securing the grand title and the cash award.

A dream comes true

The Indian origin teen has been passionate about science since the first grade and has dreamed of applying to the 3M Young Scientist Challenge for many years. A remarkable student, he even skipped the fifth grade. During his sixth-grade year, his family spent much of their time in India, which prevented him from setting up a project that year. In seventh grade, he applied, but things didn’t go as planned. In eighth grade, knowing it was his last chance, he made sure to apply again. “It has been a dream of mine to make it here,” said the Global Indian, who has just begun his studies in ninth grade.

Indian Inventor | 3M Young Scientist Challenge | Global Indian

Sirish with his mentor Aditya Banerji, senior research engineer at 3M’s Corporate Research Process Laboratory

Passion for writing

Beyond his passion for science, Sirish Subash is also an avid writer, having authored two books: Carbon Block Puzzle and Biochemistry: The Fun Way! – both available on popular platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For his first book, he set a record with the Asia Book of Records as the youngest non-fiction author at the age of 10.

His first book, Carbon Block Puzzle offers a concise and accessible way to understand the fundamentals of climate change – a crucial issue today where distinguishing fact from misinformation can be challenging.

“The effects of climate change are already happening. The first inklings of damage have already been done. Unless more people learn about climate change, the darkest days could come soon. That’s where Carbon Block Puzzle comes in,” Sirish mentions on his website. “The book educates readers on climate change and how to prevent it. Only if truth prevails will the right thing happen, and only then will humanity be safe from climate change.”

Aimed at young readers, Carbon Block Puzzle conveys its message in an engaging way, using the video game Block Puzzle as a tool for learning

His second book, Biochemistry: The Fun Way!, is an illustrated graphic novel designed as an introductory guide to biochemistry. The story follows fictional characters Burger Bob and his cousin SciKid, who runs a biochemistry business. The novel explores a wide range of topics, from foundational chemistry and amino acids to enzymes, proteins, sugars, polysaccharides, nucleic acids, cellular components, and the immune system, concluding with the complement system and practical applications of biochemistry in the real world.

Sirish Subash also runs a YouTube channel called SciKid Sirish, where he shares videos on various science topics and experiments, offering explanations and insights into each.

Indian youth | Sirish Subash | Global Indian

Sirish published his first book at the age of 10

Looking ahead…

The Indian-origin Georgia teen aspires to go beyond his current accomplishments. He dreams of developing more devices and resources that will have a positive impact on people’s everyday lives. With a drive to educate and innovate, Sirish aims to continue making a difference, using his curiosity and talents to improve the world around him.

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Published on 29, Oct 2024

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From being called low-functioning to creating history, Hari Srinivasan has come a long way

(June 20, 2022) When he was first diagnosed with regressive autism, scholar Hari Srinivasan was only three years old. From being a very active and social child, Hari suddenly became a crying, fussy baby, who did not want to be around other kids. To ensure that her child gets all the support that is required, Hari's mother left a blooming career in IT and started to navigate the messy maze of services and therapies. He had difficulty in speaking and even recognising his own parents. While initially the doctors and behavioral experts called him low-functioning, Hari and his parents didn't lose hope. After about two decades, Hari created history, as University of California, Berkeley's first non-speaking graduate with autism. And that is not all. With a 4.0 GPA, a major in psychology and minor in disability studies, Hari was also awarded the prestigious P.D. Soros Fellowship. The young graduate is now headed to Vanderbilt University for his PhD in neuroscience. [caption id="attachment_18247" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Hari Srinivasan[/caption] "Let me first describe my disabilities," says the youngster, during an interview with Global Indian, adding, "I have limited speaking due to oral motor apraxia, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I also have movement

scribe my disabilities," says the youngster, during an interview with Global Indian, adding, "I have limited speaking due to oral motor apraxia, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I also have movement issues, fine motor challenges, body schema challenges, sensory dysregulation and anxiety. Who would have thought I would go anywhere near a college when I was in special education school stacking blocks." smiles the scholar.

He adds, "There were several issues that I and my family faced due to my medical condition during the initial years. However, with the support of my family I was able to break several stereotypes. Later, my faculty and peers at UC Berkeley helped me a lot on my journey."

A rough start

Hari's parents - a native of Chennai - had shifted to San Francisco, California in 1993. Five years later, in 1998, the couple welcomed a happy boy, who was very intelligent and loved to read. "My grandma recollects how when I was about 16 months old, I would bring my favorite Dr Seuss book for her to read, while i sat on her lap. However, when she was leaving for India about six months later, I had lost all interest in books," shares Hari.

Since not much information was available about autism at the time, Hari's parents thought that like other kids he too will move on to different things. "But it was my other grandmother who noticed that I had even stopped responding to my name. My parents took me specialists to check if my hearing was impaired. When, we were in India for a vacation, my parents took me to a child psychiatric in Chennai. There I lined up all the 50 toys in the room. Even though lining up things is one of the obsessive autism behaviours, the doctor didn't diagnose me as autistic," shares the scholar.

It was only when he was three years old, that a child neurologist diagnosed him in mere five minutes. "There was no support for kids like me back in the day. So, while the doctor diagnosed me, he asked my parents to visit him again after six months. My parents later found that there was a parent support group and they connected with them," Hari says, adding that after meeting other people his parents put him special education classrooms.

Fighting for a better future

While he was enrolled into a classroom, Hari wasn't happy with his education there. Hari was regarded as a "difficult" case and was moved many classrooms which was hardly conducive for a young child. "I felt like a kid outside a candy store looking longingly at the candy inside. My nondisabled peers were getting to learn all this cool science but my fifth-grade class was still working on the same lessons that I was doing from kindergarten , like spelling c-a-t. I was sad and frustrated and did not see how my situation would change. Perhaps over time I would have reached a state of apathy that I see in other disabled adults around me," shares the scholar, who struggled a lot during those days.

[caption id="attachment_18244" align="aligncenter" width="681"] Hari, during the UC Berkeley graduation ceremony[/caption]

A fork on road was discovering a mode of communication with use of alternative augmentative device (AAC), which took Hari out of the school district and into a charter school. The scholar shares, "The school's first psych-ed assessment placed me at XII grade for math and college level for English. All of a sudden, I started studying algebra, biology and Shakespeare and loved all of it. The very first essay I wrote in class went onto winning a National Scholastic Gold Medal which I received at Carnegie Hall in New York."

Intellectually stimulated, Hari did a ton of creative writing, including several poems and short stories, which won him several awards at state and national level. "Then Viji Dilip who ran a nonprofit asked if I wanted to be editor for a free braille mag and that kind of how I got a foot into advocacy," shares Hari, who is a human rights activist as well.

Shaping his dreams

Having denied studying at a regular school for several years, Hari took his education very seriously. However, while he dreamed of earning degrees someday, he realised that he will have to take one step at a time to achieve his goals. "My parents and I have never taken my next education steps for granted. After all I still have a ton of disability challenges. Frankly, at one point it did not look like I would even get a high school diploma. It was only after I finished my high school that we started looking for a college for me," Hari shares, adding that it was his therapist, who informed the family about community colleges.

The scholar soon joined the San Jose City College, but that wasn't enough for him. "I had applied to several colleges. When I learnt that UC Berkeley accepted my application, I was super thrilled. After all its the birthplace of disability rights movement in this country," he says. While getting into UC Berkeley was one thing, getting immense support from his faculty and peers. "Berkeley has been transformational truly," shares Hari, adding, "I had supportive faculty, non-judgmental peers and also a nudge to literally go out and be part of the change you want to see in the world. No one said no. Which makes a world of difference and also gave me courage to try out different opportunities."

[caption id="attachment_18245" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Hari along with the Haas Scholar cohort[/caption]

Hari's honors research was on the emotion of awe in autistics and how it diverged from how that emotion is felt and understood in the non-typical population. Apart from his academics, Hari was involved in several clubs and other extracurricular activities like writing for the student-run The Daily Californian, getting involved in Spectrum at the University and also running the autism class. Slowly, Hari started taking part in activities outside the University campus as well. "I was one of the three students highlighted on President Obama's Instagram on the 30th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act. In fact, I am al the University Medal finalist (top 5 in graduating class of 11000 students) and winner of the Psychology Department citation award," shares the scholar who has been honored by some of the most prestigious societies in USA, including Psi Chi and Phi Beta Kappa.

Recently, the youngsters, who is also a published poet, received the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. "I do have some time to come with an exact research topic for PhD," shares Hari, who plans to do his research work at Vanderbilt University. "My work will focus around the human nervous/sensory system. However, I am yet to narrow it down."

Follow Hari Srinivasan on Twitter, Instagram and Blog

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On Top of the World: Teen mountaineer Kaamya Karthikeyan becomes youngest to conquer Everest, sets sights on Antarctica

(May 28, 2024) On May 19, when Kaamya Karthikeyan and her father, an Indian Navy Commander S Karthikeyan were hours away from Camp 4 in Mount Everest, at an elevation of 7,950 metres (26,085 feet) — they were greeted by extremely heavy winds, laden with small pieces of snow which cut through their skin. It fogged up their glasses, making it difficult to walk through what was already a precarious route. Braving it all, the 16-year-old and her father reached Camp 4. As the night approached, the ferocity of winds increased drastically as they set their sights on the summit. Several hours later, both were on top of the world — against all odds. “At Camp 4, we were extremely nervous as our oxygen supplies were limited and we could not afford to spend another night there (due to the worsening weather). Thankfully, the weather cleared up slightly early morning and we were finally able to leave for the summit,” smiles Kaamya Karthikeyan, the second youngest girl in the world and the youngest Indian mountaineer to summit the world’s highest peak from the Nepal side. She accomplished the mission on May 20. Speaking exclusively to Global Indian from Kathmandu, hours after descending from Mount

lindian.com/youth///wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kaamya-1--1024x1024.png" alt="Indian Mountaineer | Kaamya Karthekiyan | Global Indian Youth" width="594" height="594" />

Speaking exclusively to Global Indian from Kathmandu, hours after descending from Mount Everest, Kaamya says she was extremely excited and somewhat in disbelief after reaching the summit. “Thankfully, I was still feeling strong and was able to converse clearly. Being able to talk to my mom from the summit was definitely an amazing experience,” says Kaamya, class XII student of Navy Children School, Mumbai.

Sitting in Mumbai, her mother Lavanya Karthikeyan was both excited and relieved after having a brief conversation with her daughter and husband over satellite phone.

The father-daughter duo left for the summit at 3 am from Camp 4. “We reached Camp 4 around 1:30 pm on May 19 and we were supposed to leave for the summit around 9:30 that night. But bad weather played spoilsport. Once it improved slightly, we left at 3 am,” she informs.

Just 24 hours after Kaamya achieved the feat, a British climber and his guide, who too summitted Everest went missing during descent and have not been found since.

Prepping up for Everest

Kaamya says the physical preparation for summitting Mount Everest was very strenuous. “ we would go on long runs or cycling thrice a week. On other days, we climbed the stairs of our 21 floor building 10-15 times with a bagpack!,” informs the mountaineer.

Other than that, Kaamya had also been reading a lot about the expedition and details of the climb to mentally prepare herself for the long expedition.

Mt Vinson Massif next

Having conquered Mount Everest, Kaamya has now set her sights on Mt Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica. “I will be leaving for Antarctica in December this year,” she informs adding that she intends to climb many more peaks in the Himalayas in the near future.

[caption id="attachment_9220" align="aligncenter" width="559"] Kaamya Karthikeyan at the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro[/caption]

Under the umbrella of Mission SAHAS, Kaamya had previously climbed the highest peaks of Africa (Mt Kilimanjaro), Europe (Mt Elbrus – where she set the world record for being the world’s youngest to ski descent from the peak), Australia (Mt Kosciuszko) and South America (Mt Aconcagua). “I also climbed Mt Mentok Kangri in Leh in 2019, summitting my second 6,000 metres plus peak as a practice climb prior to climbing Aconcagua,” says Kaamya, who is an avid runner, cyclist, skier and scuba diver.

Mt Aconcagua

As a 12-year old, Kaamya had scaled Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain peak of Andes mountains. In early 2020, she travelled halfway around the world to reach Mendonza in Argentina — the base town for Mount Aconcagua.

Accompanied by her father, the mountaineer was to obtain a special permit from the Aconcagua National Park to scale the highest mountain peak of the Andes mountains. Yet, within hours of her arrival, she was confronted by a mountain of challenges, not just the permit. As a minor, the authorities wanted a resolution from the court.

“Will a 12-year-old be able to climb this mountain peak?” the court enquired, ordering a series of medical tests. Stranded for 14 days, experiencing red-tapism on foreign soil, finally luck favoured Kaamya. The judge went on leave, was replaced, and he fortuitously was a mountaineer himself! He swiftly went through Kaamya’s credentials and granted her a permit. Overcoming all challenges, Kaamya made India proud by becoming the youngest in the world to summit Mt Aconcagua.

Conquering Aconcagua brought laurels her way – The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her remarkable feat, and she was the first to virtually interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2020. “I was elated. The PM advised me to treat this award as a stepping stone for future accomplishments and not as an achievement by itself,” says the teenager, who actively participated in debating. She is also the first runner-up at Mindwars — a debating TV championship.

Trekking Himalayas at seven

Born in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) in August 2007, Kaamya was barely three when she started accompanying her parents on trails in Lonavala, where her father Navy commander S Karthikeyan was posted. By seven, she was trekking the Himalayas.

Her first expedition above 6,000 meters to Mount Stok Kangri in August 2017 made her the youngest girl in the world to have scaled a peak at those dizzy heights. “Scaling this peak three days short of my 10th birthday was special. I had been to the base in 2012 when my dad was climbing it, and had wondered when I would climb it too. There I was, after five years,” says Kaamya, then 14.

Her father had completed his mountaineering courses and was training in and around Lonavala. Both Kaamya and her mother would accompany him on easy trails, and that is where her love for the wild was cemented.

First trek

Once her father started leading expeditions, his daughter wondered why mountains attracted her father so much to leave the family for days on end. She asked her mother, and “she told me to find out first-hand. So I did my first Himalayan trek in Uttarakhand,” says Kaamya, whose mother Lavanya Karthikeyan heads a Kindergarten school.

She explored beautiful treks across Chandrashila, Kedarkantha, Roopkund, Brighu Lake, Har-ki-dun and Sar Pass.

[caption id="attachment_9222" align="aligncenter" width="559"] Kaamya Karthekiyan with her parents at Mt Stok Kangri[/caption]

In May 2017, she trekked to the Everest base camp. After climbing Stok Kangri, the Indian girl mountaineer asked her father what next. He questioned whether she even realises that she had climbed a peak higher than the highest peaks in five of the seven continents!

Training

Training for expeditions is tough. Kaamya would run over 10 km or cycle for 20-25 km four days a week. On other days, she would do indoor exercises or climb stairs at her 21-storeyed apartment complex in Mumbai (helped train her muscles). And on weekends, a trek on the Sahyadri mountains helped with balance training.

Gulmarg has been her winter training ground for the past six years. “In early 2021, I had the opportunity to train with the Army’s High Altitude Warfare School where I practiced techniques like walking with trekking shoes, skis and sledge pulling,” informs the hardworking girl who has also participated in the junior national skiing and snowboarding championship in Gulmarg.

In the tough terrain of Arunachal Pradesh, she also did a basic mountaineering course from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. The future is bright, and peaking Kaamya’s schedule is packed in 2022-2023. “I hope to climb Mt Denali (the highest peak in North America) and ski to the South Pole.”

Meeting a legend

Before her expedition to Mt Elbrus, she had the opportunity to meet legendary naval mountaineer Captain MS Kohli, the leader of the first successful Indian expedition to Everest in 1965. “He told me whenever I felt tired on a mountain, I should always look back instead of looking ahead — advice that has greatly helped me,” says Kaamya who is also learning Bharatnatyan, and is a grade 2 and grade 5 pass piano player (Trinity College of Music). “I enjoy the journey, not just the destination. I love being in nature’s lap and pushing myself. I like the competition within – it keeps me going,” says the girl whose mother was her trekking-partner early on, and now with climbs getting tougher, treks with her father. She thanks her school for being supportive too.

Dangers

Mountain climbing has its own perils, and Kaamya recalls an avalanche hit her group during her recent expedition on Mt Trishul in October 2021. “Sadly, we lost a few close friends but thankfully we returned safe. It has made me more respectful of the mountains, and more determined. Mission SAHAS is my way of paying tribute to the lost souls,” says Kaamya, who loves reading adventure/crime thrillers, the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton, and Agathe Christie.

Her idea of a birthday celebration is to take her friends for a hike! “The path to the summit is not easy. But if I can do it, so can you,” smiles the mountaineer who always carries a small idol of Lord Krishna, and always bring down something special from each expedition as a souvenir.

Follow Kaamya Karthikeyan on Instagram.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Jeremy Lalrinnunga: Lifting the weight of 1.4 billion hopes

(November 17, 2022) As he stood back up after receiving his gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, the world could see his eyes glittering with tears. But even as billions of Indians celebrated his victory back home, the 19-year-old weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga was still "not satisfied" with his performance. "I am happy after winning the gold medal but not satisfied with my performance. I was expecting to perform better but winning gold for the country is a proud moment," the champion said while addressing the media after winning the gold medal. [caption id="attachment_24293" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga after winning the gold medal at CWG 2022[/caption] Passionate about representing India on the international stage, Jeremy is the country's first athlete under the age of 25 to win a bar of gold - and our youngest Olympian thus far. A shy kid from the state resting in the laps of mountains - Mizoram - Jeremy has made India proud on numerous occasions, including the 2018 Youth Olympics. "We have the World Championships at the end of the year and then the start of the qualification period for the Paris Olympics. That’s my target now," the young weightlifter recently said

ns, including the 2018 Youth Olympics. "We have the World Championships at the end of the year and then the start of the qualification period for the Paris Olympics. That’s my target now," the young weightlifter recently said during a media interaction.

An early start

Growing up, Jeremy's bedtime stories were not those of fairies and heroes. Instead, he heard stories of his father winning a national junior boxing championship in the early 1990s, and going unbeaten for six consecutive years. Inspired, Jeremy started training locally with bamboo sticks and water connection pipes at a very early age.

[caption id="attachment_24294" align="aligncenter" width="653"] The Lalrinnunga family[/caption]

The weightlifter was merely nine when he was first spotted by Zarzokima, one of the weightlifting coaches with the Army Sports Institute (ASI). The coach was on a break in Aizawl and during a morning walk saw a small, old gym, which was not in good shape. Curious to know who used the gym, he walked in to find a young Jeremy sitting on the floor listening very carefully to his trainer's instructions. Zarzokima was so impressed, he contacted the weightlifter's parents and asked them to enroll him in the Boys Sports Company, a programme for promising young athletes jointly run by the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Army. And soon, a 10-year-old Jeremy found himself standing face-to-face with his new coach at ASI, Pune.

Sharing why he chose weightlifting, the Global Indian told Sportstar Magazine, "I thought it would be fun. It seemed like something men should do. I didn't know anything before I came to Pune. I only spoke Mizo. I couldn't even speak to anyone."

[caption id="attachment_24295" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Jeremy with his childhood coach Malsawma Khiangte after winning Youth Olympics 2018[/caption]

Slowly, the trainers in Pune groomed the young boy into a champion, who was ready to represent the country internationally. And when his moment came, Jeremy didn't disappoint. In 2016 he won silver in the 56 kg division at the World Youth Championships, another silver at the 2017 World Youth Championships, followed by a silver and a bronze at the 2018 Asian Youth Championships, and then finally, the historic Youth Olympics gold in Buenos Aires, 2018.

Rising and shining

Soon after the Youth Olympics, the weightlifter was selected by the committee to represent the country at the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships. Although he finished in 21st rank at the Men's 67 kg event, the youngster didn't lose heart and dedicated himself to training for the Tokyo Olympics. Despite all his efforts, destiny had other plans. In early 2021, a cyst in the back of the knee needed surgery. He returned without a medal from the 2021 Asian Championships and the Junior World Championships, and couldn't qualify for the Tokyo Olympics either.

[caption id="attachment_24296" align="aligncenter" width="611"] Jeremy with other CWG medalists[/caption]

As the weightlifter was still recovering, another challenge hit him hard. While attempting a deadlift at training in February this year, Jeremy felt a sharp streak of pain along his spine. It was diagnosed that he had a bulged spinal disc. And this could mean that the champion would have to sit out during the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. "It was a little disappointing because I had to completely stop training for a month. I only did therapy work and strengthening. It was very frustrating," Jeremy said, during an interview.

But, he had a very unique way to help him recover. The weightlifter downloaded the image of the CWG medal on his phone and made it his wallpaper. During the recovery and therapy sessions, whenever he would have a moment of self-doubt, Jeremy would take out his phone to look at the glorious medal he would get if he survived the painful sessions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAzo0GECgRg

"Injuries are difficult. But the hardest thing is staying away from my family. I’ve been training away from them since I was nine. The last time I went home was in July 2020. I’ve not attended my brothers’ weddings, and I’ve not celebrated Christmas at home since 2017. I miss being with my mom. I am now used to eating North Indian food. I’ve adapted so I can live anywhere. But I always think about eating my mother’s food. I miss eating her pork curry and the boiled vegetables," he informed Sports Star.

Training hard for the upcoming championships, Jeremy feels that it's time to change his phone's wallpaper. "It’s going to be the Olympic rings," the weightlifter shared.

Follow Jeremy Lalrinnunga on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 6 mins

Manu Bhaker: Indian shooter scripts history at the Paris Olympics 2024

(August 3, 2024) The girl from Jhajjar district in Haryana was always bent towards sports - martial arts, boxing, or skating - but it was her tryst with shooting that changed her life. Two months into exploring the sport at her school, she requested her father for a pistol. A chief engineer in the Merchant Navy, he wondered if spending ₹1.5 lakh investment would be worthwhile. On Sunday, she proved that choosing shooting was indeed the right decision as Manu Bhaker became the first Indian to win multiple shooting medals at the Paris Olympics 2024. She got India off the mark at the Paris Olympics by securing a historic bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event, followed by another historic win in the 10m pistol mixed event with Sarabjot Singh. After years of hard work, blood, and sweat, the 22-year-old got to bite an Olympic medal, becoming the first Indian woman to earn a shooting medal at the Summer Games. Expressing her elation, the Global Indian wrote on X, "Extremely humbled by the support and wishes that have been pouring in. This is something that I've always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my

n pouring in. This is something that I've always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my country."

Extremely humbled by the support and wishes that have been pouring in. This is something that I've always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my country 🇮🇳 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8U6sHOLulR

— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) July 30, 2024

Ever since she burst on the scene with the gold in the 10m air pistol at the 2018 Youth Olympics, all eyes have been on the young athlete. But despite the countless medals, the ultimate prize remained out of reach, especially after the heartbreaking defeat in her first Olympics in Tokyo. But she returned to the Paris Olympics with a will to fight and win, and she did.

Love for sports

A native of Goriya village in Jhajjar district, Manu always excelled in sports like Huyen langlon, a Manipuri martial art, as well as boxing, tennis, and skating and won many medals. It was in 2016 that she was introduced to shooting at Universal Senior Secondary School - the only place to have a shooting range in her district. 25 km from her home, she would practice for five hours every day. Within a few months, she asked her dad to buy her a pistol as wanted to take up competitive shooting. A year later, she achieved her first international success by winning the silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships. The same year, she won nine gold medals at the National Games.

[caption id="attachment_38676" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Manu Bhaker[/caption]

Going global

2018 brought with it more opportunities and more medals on the international stage. She won two gold medals at the International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup held in Mexico, followed by a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2018. Talking about her success, she said, "It just happens. I don’t think about them. At times I don’t even know what the records are," adding, "I am grateful to all my coaches or their advice and the hours they have put in to hone my technique."

The wins and great performances earned her a spot at the Tokyo Olympics. Still, she returned home empty-handed and teary-eyed from her maiden Olympics, falling short of expectations. The Tokyo heartbreak led to a public fallout with her coach Jaspal Rana. She soon retrieved her shell and lost the spark that she had for shooting. Instead, she started finding the sport boring which for her had become more "like a 9 to 5 job." "That was the time I felt 'okay, I am still in the team, I am doing okay, but it's not giving me any kind of joy and any kind of happiness'. I felt like that was the time I should give it a break and probably focus on my studies, go to a college, and study abroad for a while. I was really thinking about it," she said in an interview.

Reuniting with coach Jaspal Rana

However, Manu did not give up. She picked up the phone and called her former coach Jaspal Rana to bury the hatchet. Keeping their egos aside, the two reunited and Manu started practising under her coach once again. Whether she was training in Luxembourg or Dehradun, Rana set specific targets for Manu even during routine sessions. If Manu failed to achieve the score set by Rana, she would incur fines, which were then donated to help those in need around the world. "His working method is very different from the rest of the people. Usually, he sets a goal and if you score that much, then it's okay," she said, adding, "And if you don't score that much, then the points that were less in that score, let us say we decided to score 582 and I scored 578. So those four points will amount to 40 Euros and sometimes 400 Euros depending on the situation and country. You have to donate that much."

[caption id="attachment_38678" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Manu Bhaker[/caption]

Along with intense training methods, she began reading the Bhagavad Gita for mental fortitude. "I have become religious after Tokyo but not in an extreme way (laughs). I believe that there is an energy that guides us and protects us. And there is an aura around us that feeds on that energy. I think there should be some faith in God who has created us," she said.

In 2024, she returned to the international stage with vigour and determination, and it paid off as she clinched two the bronze medals and become an unmissable part of India's Olympic history.

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Digital entrepreneur Ashwath Narayanan connects influencers with purpose-driven organisations

(April 4, 2023) Like millions of others, when he first moved to the United States of America to pursue a bachelor's degree in political science and government from George Washington University, his main aim was to finish the course and find a good job. But fate had other plans for Ashwath Narayanan, who at 21, founded his own company - Social Currant a unique platform that matches impact brands, nonprofits, and purpose-driven organisations with the right creators and influencers. "If you are looking to reach young people and engage them - you will have to go places you can find them. And social media is where this audience is, and they follow influencers. So, I started a marketing agency focused on getting the young people involved in social causes being promoted by these organisation, using various social media platforms," the young entrepreneur said. The Social Current, which started with a small team based in DC, is now a global agency and is focused on empowering creators, young people, and individuals focused on impact. "I originally founded Social Currant as a marketing agency focused on giving young people representation and voices in rooms where people were making decisions about how to

ith a small team based in DC, is now a global agency and is focused on empowering creators, young people, and individuals focused on impact. "I originally founded Social Currant as a marketing agency focused on giving young people representation and voices in rooms where people were making decisions about how to reach us, without us," the entrepreneur shared, adding, "I thought we would start an agency, help social impact organisations figure out emerging media platforms like TikTok and Reels and pay our rent as a result."

An entrepreneurial journey

Born in the US, Ashwanth moved back to India when he was just a toddler, only to return to the US for his education. The entrepreneur recalled, "I had a very interesting childhood. Even when I was back in India, I had a US passport and I would renew my visa every nine months. This always made me feel that I was from two countries - different from each other in every way possible. My mother worked in a non-profit organisation and would take me to several events, which I didn't like attending at all. However, I think that left a huge impact on me and motivated me to do what I do today. I moved back to the US when I was 18 years old, for my under graduation in 2018."

https://soundcloud.com/thegreatbattlefield/connecting-progressive-organizations-with-influencers-with-ashwath-narayanan-of-social-currant?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

It was here that the young entrepreneur took more interest in marketing and started getting involved in various startup projects. "When I was in high school, I would often write stories. I wanted to pursue a career in journalism, but once I got to the US, I realised that marketing is also a form of telling a story to the audience. I got deeply embedded into the startup and nonprofit space just being in Washington, DC. I went through a startup incubator, worked at a social impact game company called Game Genius, and was generally very involved with people building their businesses. That was the first experience I had with the startup space as well as the social entrepreneurship space and I haven’t looked back since." he shares.

[caption id="attachment_29076" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Team Social Currant[/caption]

As a consultant helping budding organisations, Ashwath realised the potential social media - and especially the young influencers on various platforms like Instagram and TikTok - had while connecting a company to its audience. "I was working with various organisations as their consultant, helping organisations how to reach young people. It was going well, and I knew what I was doing. So I decided that I would launch my agency. I hired people my age, and I can say that Social Currant is a youth-run organisation. In fact, when I started the company I was still in college, and so were several other people I had hired," shared the Global Indian.

Long way to go

With a CV full of internships and short-term jobs, many young people might not have been confident to start a company. Not Ashwath, though. While he was a little nervous at the beginning, he was also sure about his marketing abilities and also had faith in the cause. "Since we started, we’ve pivoted into an influencer marketing agency and now a tech platform helping social impact brands, nonprofits, and CSR initiatives match with and manage mission-aligned creators. Having facilitated several strong collaborations between organisations and creators, we are focused on helping creators get paid and monetise around mission-aligned causes," the entrepreneur said.

Giving an insight about one of his projects, he said, "One of our favourite projects was for Community Change, one of our first clients in the space. We matched them with Tega, a content creator on TikTok. Over the months, Tega not only did many videos for Community Change but also came to one of their events in Michigan to create this TikTok with Congressman Jamaal Bowman. It was a great experience bringing a partnership to life in real life but also seeing its awesome reception on the platform."

https://vimeo.com/646198961?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=146896044

While the non-profit space is still inaccessible to young people and struggles to keep up with modern trends and innovations, Ashwath feels that Social Currant can change this narrative. "We’ve seen nonprofits of all sizes need different things and have different levels of technological advancement, similar to any business. We’ve been blessed to have clients that are investing in new tactics, innovating, and using the latest technology. However, one thing that I have noticed is that often technology isn’t built to cater to nonprofit needs, which can be different than business needs. So we are working to fix that in the influencer space so that more nonprofits can invest in creator programmes are reaching out to the younger generation," the entrepreneur said.

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