Titas Sadhu: Taking India to a historic win in Women’s cricket at Asian Games 2023
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(October 1, 2023) Clad in Indian jerseys, the women in blue entered the cricket pitch at Hangzhou with the promise of winning the game against Sri Lanka. And staying true to their vow, the Indian Women’s cricket team won a historic gold medal in cricket at the Asian Games 2023. While the team did everything to clinch the gold, it was Titas Sadhu who orchestrated a dream start by picking up three wickets in four overs and giving only six runs. The 18-year-old became a star for India at the Asian Games 2023 with her pace and swing bowling, helping India clinch its very first gold medal in cricket. “It was always a dream to play for the country but I had never expected that it would come true so soon,” she told ESPN in an interview. It was in the semi-finals against Bangladesh that Titas made her international debut.
Born in the Chinsurah district of West Bengal in 2004, Titas was always interested in sports, thanks to her father, who was an athlete. But cricket wasn’t her first love, instead, she had her eyes on swimming. So much so that she enrolled in Chinsurah Rajendra Smriti Sangha Academy on the outskirts of Kolkata to hone her skills in the sport. However, over the years, she developed an interest in cricket and started playing the sport at the age of 13. “It wasn’t for my love of cricket that I joined it. Instead, I started playing it as a fun activity since I would often watch the academy matches and also help them. But when I started performing well, my interest in the sport started growing, and that’s how cricket happened to me,” she added. It was her father who was the wind beneath her wings, always encouraging and motivating her. “It’s very important to have someone at a young age who pushes you, despite knowing your limits. I’m so glad that my dad kept pushing me to do better. He is like a friend to me.”
However, she had to wait for her chance to break into the West Bengal cricket team. While she failed to clear the trials in the first go, Class 10th board exams forced her to miss out on the 2018-19 season. “Though it was heartbreaking I realised that I wanted to be a part of the U19 team. That’s when I started getting more invested in the game.”
It was after Covid-19 that Titas joined the senior Bengal squad in the 2020-21 season. She was only 16 when Bengal women’s coach Shib Shankar Paul saw her at one of the training sessions and realised her potential. He soon picked her up for three practice sessions. However, in the first few matches, Titas was unable to prove herself on the pitch and had to be dropped.
However, she was determined to bounce back and kept performing well in the inter-district matches and the Cricket Association of Bengal-affiliated tournaments. In 2022, she played in the Women’s T20 tournament and ended up taking seven wickets in five matches, thus cementing her position in the senior squad. Talking about the Women’s Premiere League, she said, “You get to play with the players from other countries, and you find that their perspective on cricket and life is very different from ours. And it also gives us the nudge to incorporate those perspectives in our game.”
But it’s with the Asian Games 2023 finals against Sri Lanka that Titas proved her mettle as a cricketer. “It was special as we don’t get to clinch a gold at the Asian Games every time, and representing India as an athlete was a proud moment. I literally had goosebumps standing on the podium receiving the medal,” she said.
(March 26, 2024) Some people love him, some hate him, others love to hate him. Whatever category you might be in, Ajey Nagar makes sure you just can't ignore him. Best known by his stage name, Nagar, who will turn 25 this year, is India's most followed YouTube personality in 2024, with a whopping 41.6 million subscribers on his channel, CarryMinati and another 12.1 million on his livestream gaming page, CarryisLive. This month alone, CarryMinati ranked 36 in YouTube Entertainment and 84 worldwide. In 2019, he was named one of the Next Generation Leaders by TIME Magazine, and at the age of 20, was one of the youngest on the list. CarryMinati is slapstick, very loud, and often downright silly, with his over-the-top takes on "cringe-worthy" videos he finds on Facebook and TikTok. Behind the camera, though, Nagar is an astute and savvy creator. Born and raised in Faridabad, Nagar always steps out of the house in a black hoodie, even in peak summertime, to avoid being recognised by his legion of fans. "I can't go to malls or restaurants," he told TIME. [caption id="attachment_36840" align="aligncenter" width="382"] Ajey Nagar, aka CarryMinati[/caption] In 2019, CarryMinati found worldwide fame when he dissed
In 2019, CarryMinati found worldwide fame when he dissed Swedish YouTuber Felix Kjellberg (PewDiePie), another controversial star of content. At the time, PewDiePie was locked in a subscriber race with T-Series and released a video that mocked an Indian man speaking broken English. CarryMinati came to the rescue on January 1, 2019, with a Hindi rap video called ByePewDiePie, where he says, "one day, India will rule the world." These days, the Global Indianproduces videos only in Hindi, targetting a large chunk of India's 462 million YouTube users (India has the world's largest YouTube audience, with the US a far second at 239 million).
The CarryMinati method
Ajay Nagar began making video content when he was eight years old. And the more he did it, the surer he was that it would be his life. When he completed 10th grade, his mother hoped he would prepare to study medicine, "but I knew I couldn't do it," Nagar told the Hindustan Times. "I said, 'Buy me a PC', and chose arts," he added. It was a big move for Nagar, who comes from an established, and highly educated family. His mother is a doctor, his father a lawyer and his grandfather (late Shri Gajraj Bahadur Nagar) was a Cabinet Minister in the Haryana government.
When he started out, he ran many different channels, but around 2016, focussed his attention on one of them, where he felt he had found a niche. Back then, he was just a school kid playing video games and trying to make his friends laugh by mimicking and roasting celebrities - at the time, it was Bobby Deol. Deol went by CarryDeol and would inspire Nagar's own online name, CarryMinati.
However, the process has remained the same, even though his team has grown. The first, and most time-consuming step, Nagar says, is to find the content. And it could take more than three or four days at times. "Then comes the scripting part, it is the most fun part. I lock myself up in my room for two days and focus on the script." Then comes the shooting and editing, which takes another four days. Viewers send him ideas too, his inbox is always full with links to cringe videos. In 2018, after his team "worked day and night, to get him an opportunity," CarryMinati interviewed Tom Cruise and the team of Mission Impossible 6, and that video has received 33 million views to date.
"My expectations were nothing. I only wanted 50k subscribers, a room to play my games in and to make enough money to be able to buy new games and create content," he said. His channel grew beyond his wildest dreams, though, and time and time again, Nagar, who has also matured over the years, has re-evaluated and re-strategised his offerings. He's always the over-the-top goofy kid, though but these days, he does have to be careful of what he says, given his massive reach.
Being Ajey Nagar
In front of the camera, CarryMinati is brash and unapologetic. Behind the scenes, Ajey Nagar struggles with the weight of his fame, and of catering to expectations. "I struggle with that, as I do with getting out of the house. I have the fear that once I am outdoors, I will be judged, or that even if I eat, I will ahve 10 people staring at me." He has also admitted that he struggles to walk up to strangers, even at a party, and make conversation, and is happy when they come up to him. That said, relating to people is a crucial part of what he does, because that's the source of his content. It's also essential to him having some normality in his life. "Honestly, there has been a time when I sat down and started feeling bad about myself thinking, 'Oh, poor me, I've missed out on so many things'. The love of my friends, late night rides on scooties and eating junk food at the nearby 24x7. But take a look at my life, it's not bad at all," he said in an interview.
There's also the struggle of expectations and insecurities. "When I'm working on my videos there are moments when I scrutinize my jokes, especially if I like them because I'm worried about whether the audience will find them funny or not," Nagar says. And it's a valid concern, because with his outspoken ways and his incredible reach, controversy follows him around. Just the other day, he found himself in hot water for his supposed mocking of cricketer Virat Kohli for not having an IPL trophy in his collection. RCB supporters were furious and the YouTuber went on to issue a quick clarification, saying it was merely a promotional skit where he was doing a parody of RCB fans. However, in a profession like this one, learning to deal with criticism comes with the job description. “I take criticism seriously, but only if it has value to it. Otherwise, I just really don’t have the time,” says Carry, adding, “The amount of criticism I receive, I criticise myself 10 times more for the same thing," he told Hindustan Times.
Tips for aspiring creators
Learn by observation, CarryMinati advises. "Don't observe it like an audience, rather do it as if it's your job. Observe the little things, then you will understand how someone does that stuff, then your mind will open up." When you're watching a video, he says, try and think about what went into making it - from the thought process to the methods of shooting. And, he adds, it's very slow going. Nobody is going to make a million subscribers in 100 days. "The main thing," he says, "is to keep doing it." Evolving and changing with the times is also crucial. Change and uncertainty are the only constants, and Nagar is always prepared for eventualities. "Evolve the content, figure out what works and figure new things in life. And be yourself because nobody can be you."
(July 14, 2023) "I was over the moon," says Joy Agrawal, the teenager who found himself on the Diana Award 2023 winners list. The 17-year-old from Nagpur is making a difference with Project Gyan, an initiative that was birthed in 2020 to help impart practical STEM education to underprivileged kids. Three years in, the changemaker is keen to revolutionise the world through space technology, global education, and global studies. "More than validation, Diana Award is a motivation for me. What we do is different and amazing, and I strive to find solutions through space technology, engineering, and policy," Joy tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_31874" align="aligncenter" width="562"] Joy Agrawal is the founder of Project Gyan[/caption] Project Gyan - that changed it all Project Gyan seeks to mentor students in STEM and help them develop curiosity and long-lasting interest in asking the big questions. Joy was all of 13 when he had an epiphany while sitting for the Homi Bhaba exam in 2019 - the underprivileged students have no access to practical labs. A thought that kept him awake for weeks. He understood his privilege of having access to all the resources, while the disadvantaged had no money to even order science
l of 13 when he had an epiphany while sitting for the Homi Bhaba exam in 2019 - the underprivileged students have no access to practical labs. A thought that kept him awake for weeks. He understood his privilege of having access to all the resources, while the disadvantaged had no money to even order science kits. This problem found a solution in Project Gyan. "It's an effort to help quality STEM education reach the young minds through practical and application-based education, focusing on the underprivileged children," adds the changemaker.
But in the last year, Project Gyan underwent restructuring, making it the world's first decentralised STEM and entrepreneurship exploratory. "It's like a lab where you can go explore anything and everything," reveals Joy, for whom explorative education is the focus. He partnered with Padma Shri Dr Prakash Amte's Lok Biradri Prakalp and Bridge The Gap Foundation to help educate rural and tribal kids through workshops and unconventional experiments. "We have a different perspective on experimentation. We mostly use things that are available in the kitchen, making it easier for kids to understand things. We don't just focus on Chemistry but the Physics behind the experiment."
Along with STEM education, Project Gyan has expanded its mission to entrepreneurship by exposing the elderly in rural and tribal areas of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to practical entrepreneurial education and converting them into nano-entrepreneurs. Project Gyan is currently working with the Bharia tribe from Madhya Pradesh which still uses a barter system to make ends meet. "Since they are poor and don't use any currency, they log wood from the valley of Patalkot, thus negatively impacting the environment. So we intervened and now teach them sellable skills like painting, pottery, clay art, and candle making, thus helping them make products and sell them," adds the changemaker.
In partnership with Patalkot Tribal Community Welfare Organisation and Serendipity Lakes and Resorts in Tamia, Madhya Pradesh, Project Gyan is helping the women of Dhundi Shekhar, a village in Tamia, to make Kulhad Battis (candles in small pots), aiming to equip them with skills necessary to create and sell these candles. "The final products are sent to the Serendipity Lakes and Resorts where they are put on display for the visitors, who eventually end up buying the products, thus helping these women earn a livelihood," reveals Joy, adding that according to the 2011 National Innovation Report over one lakh, unique inventions were made by tribals across India, something that's still not known to the public. "I understood that rural and tribal people are jugaadu (make shifter) in India, and I wanted to empower such people through Project Gyan so that they learn to market and sell their innovations." He credits his core team - Gurleen Batra, Mehak Chokhani, Tanmay Agrawal, Prisha Prasad, Pranjal Prasad and Sonit Sisolekar - for their hardwork and determination in making Project Gyan a success.
Love for space tech
The Bareilly-born is a space tech enthusiast who has always been fascinated by the outer world. However, it was a telescope gifted by his parents that piques his interest. "For a year, I'd sit every day gazing at the stars or looking at the asteroids. But with time, it became less frequent. However, lockdown changed it as the sky was clear again," says the Centre Point School student who discovered two asteroids in 2021 as a part of Spaceport India Asteroid Search Campaign in association with Hardin-Simmons University Texas.
Making an impact through STEM
While the telescope turned out to be a game-changer for him in the world of space, it was a robotics course that made him fall in love with technology. Over the years, this led him to be selected by Peace First, the world's largest incubator for youth-led social change initiatives, for a project grant. "It's a mini-grant for projects along the lines of social change. I won $250 with which I started Project Gyan in 2020." Started during the pandemic, he initially needed no funds as live workshops for the underprivileged kids were happening virtually.
Being the vice president of the Interact Club at his school, Joy came in touch with the Rotary Club and zeroed in on an institution that has many underprivileged kids. "I began with a 1–2-hour class every Saturday wherein I performed experiments and explained concepts. Later, I expanded Project Gyan to four more schools in Nagpur and two tribal schools in Maharashtra," adds the changemaker who provides kits to schools for students to get hands-on experience in science practical. "I love science, and I understand its potential. I want these kids to explore their potential through Project Gyan," says Joy, who is now working with a team that looks into distribution and planning, maintaining the website, social media, and creating videos.
What was earlier a two-month program has now turned into a year-long curriculum, thanks to the overhaul of Project Gyan - which now includes STEM education and entrepreneurship. "We wanted a holistic approach." Having seen his mom always helping people, this feeling of giving back was inculcated in Joy at a very young age. For him, Project Gyan is very personal since it's named after his grandmother. "Another reason I ventured into it was guilt. Seeing others who don't have enough resources eats me up, while we have so many opportunities. I want to bridge that gap."
Joy, who is currently in Class 12, has plans of pursuing a double major in computer science and international relations or public policy from the Ivy Leagues. "Working with the UN is my dream. But at some stage, I would want to launch my start-up in space tech," says the teenager, who calls himself a "changemaker who wants to create an impact through STEM".
At 17, Joy is busy creating social impact, and the teenager advises youngsters to "not follow the herd. Instead, explore your niche. Don't replicate another person's journey. Do your thing and only then you will be able to make a difference."
(December 1, 2023) Five years ago, Atreya Manaswi was on a fishing trip with a friend and his grandfather. The friend's granddad, who was an experienced beekeeper, was entertaining the two eleven year olds with stories about his bees. "He was telling us about how, decades ago, he would get dozens of barrels of honey and how that season, he'd gotten merely three," Atreya told Frederick Dunn, Cornell University's Master Beekeeper, in an interview. "He was describing this almost tearfully." Atreya was so moved by the story that he came home and began to do some research. It was the start of a new interest and profound breakthroughs for the young scientist. Five years on, the young Global Indian, who began his university-level research at the age of 12, has a slew of awards to his name, the most recent being the Barron Prize 2023. Now an eleventh grader at Orlando Science High School, Atreya has been conducting research in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture and the University of Florida since the age of 12. He has developed a novel, eco-friendly, low-cost organic pesticide that acts against small hive beetles and varroa mites, some of the leading causes
en conducting research in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture and the University of Florida since the age of 12. He has developed a novel, eco-friendly, low-cost organic pesticide that acts against small hive beetles and varroa mites, some of the leading causes of hive collapse and the decline in honey production. He is also the author of The Bee Story, a children's book about bees, environment and agriculture, meant to raise awareness about the pollinator crisis. That apart, Atreya is an active public speaker and has spoken at numerous international conferences, with the support of the UN and the World Food Forum. He is a Top Honors Awardee at the BioGENEius Challenge US, made it to the top 30 at the Broadcom MASTERS, won third place at the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals & Society for Science and is a published author in the Journal of Applied Entomology.
Atreya’s research led him to the South Florida Bee College's bi-annual conference, where he first crossed paths with Dr Jamie Ellis, a world leading entomologist. "That's where things really took off and I began my honeymoon research journey," he says. Dr Ellis would go on to become his first mentor. "After the seminar, I went up and asked him a question and we started speaking," Atreya recalls. He made an elevator pitch, daunting as it was for an elementary school student to approach a world class scientist. His other mentor is Dr Charles Stahl, at the US Department of Agriculture, and his ninth grade Chemistry teacher, Mrs Bright, he says.
Born to scientifically-inclined parents in Gainesville, Florida, Atreya's interest in STEM had been encouraged right through his childhood. His father is a physician and he was exposed to science always. "My parents would buy me chemistry kits and tools to play with, like different skeletons I could put together, and Legos, that fostered my interest in science," he said. Although he didn't get early access to labs, he learned early on how to use the cold call approach, which worked out well for him with Dr Ellis. "That's what the real world is like," Atreya remarks, showing remarkable wisdom for his age. "Nobody is going to hand you an opportunity."
Atreya's work and his elevator pitch impressed Dr Ellis, who invited him to take a tour of his labs at the University of Florida. That's where Atreya's own research began, really. During his first year, at the age of 12, he studied nutrition management with pollen substitutes. It was a laboratory study, with ten honeybees in ten different cages. "I was looking at different diet substitutes that can be given by beekeepers where there is a dearth of pollen or if the pollen isn't diverse in the natural environment," he explains. He experimented with wildflower pollen and three forms of commercially made substitutes to see what the bees preferred. He found that the bees preferred wildflower pollen, followed by a substitute called AP 23. He went on to co-author a research paper with his team, which included Dr Ellis, which was peer reviewed and then published in the Journal of Applied Entomology.
Researching hive beetles
In his second year, he began studying hive beetles, which colonise the hives. Found in over 30 states in the US, mostly in places with warmer, more humid climates, these tiny beetles eat and defecate in the hives, leading to the fermentation of honey and in extreme cases, force the bees to abandon the hives completely. There are plenty of treatments available but many are chemical-based. "These chemicals pose a severe risk to wildlife, aquatic organisms, honey bees and humans - and are also extremely expensive, costing anywhere between USD 16-22," Atreya says. Moreover, traces remain in the honey, the wax and the royal jelly, which are either eaten by humans or used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Atreya decided to look into organic substitutes. Apple cider vinegar is the most popular option among beekeepers but is also fairly expensive, leading to very high costs for beekeepers with large apiaries and several hives. "We tested seven organic agents in the form of field trials," he says. "I got stung a lot, and I learned about the hardship and determination that goes into beekeeping. Atreya and his team used seven organic agents - yeasts, scented oils like peanut, grapeseed, cantaloupe puree, mango puree and beer. "They are all odorous, basically. And our control was apple cider vinegar," he says. The beetles are naturally drawn to these substances and are known to feed on sap and rotting fruit. The strategy was to use things that the beetles like, making it easier for beekeepers to lure and trap them.
The beer-loving hive beetles
What they found was transformative. The beetles loved the beer - they had used Miller's High Life because it was inexpensive and readily available. In fact, it worked several times better than the control, apple cider vinegar. "That was the second year of research," he said. "Then we worked to refine that." Beer is up to 95 percent water, and a lab made concentrate would be far more effective. So they got to creating a synthetic blend, that was affordable and also attractive to the beetles.
The process is fascinating. It involves a polymer resin placed in a glass tube, which is attached to a vacuum and placed in a beer bottle. "Air from the beer container is pulled and trapped inside the polymer,” Atreya explains. The chemicals trapped on the polymer are then analysed and “the compounds that weigh less are selected.”, he says, adding, “Then we take beetles under a microscope and extract their antennae. The antennae can function on their own for up to five minutes and were made to respond to different chemicals on a forked electrode. "The electrode picks up what they're sensing. It's very interesting and fun to try in the lab," he smiles. The beer was 33 times more effective than apple cider and the blend they created is only half the cost of the best known chemical substitute.
Finding recognition
It's game changing research, and since it could provide beekeepers everywhere with cost-effective, eco-friendly solution to a significant problem, Atreya's work has generated a lot of interest. At the International BioGENEius Challenge US, where he was named the Global Highest Honors Awardee, Atreya interacted with other brilliant young researchers as well as top pharma companies who set up stalls and scouted for talent. He's a regular in the STEM competition circuit in the US and Canada, which comes with a lot of benefits, apart from substantial cash prizes. "The most important thing is the critical feedback you get at the regional and national levels," Atreya says. "There's also recognition and building a great network, it's an inner circle of like-minded people." Learning to take feedback, he says, is the most important thing. "If you can't do it, you won't get better." It's vital, he says, because at the national and regional levels, everyone is so exceptional.
All this and Atreya Manaswi is still only in the eleventh grade. When he's not studying bees, he practices Taekwondo and holds a second degree black belt. "I also really enjoy theatre," he says, adding with a smile that he enjoys antagonistic roles! He has also started a non profit that conducts workshops on STEM learning for students in local schools. "My aim is to host an international workshop for students around the globe, focussing on different STEM topics, tools and technologies," he adds.
Follow Atreya Manaswi on LinkedIn and read more on his website.
(March 20, 2024) For someone who has been interested in cybersecurity since a young age, representing India at international championships in new-age Information Technology platforms was a surreal experience. The past few months have been very fruitful for Ahmedabad's Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani. At the High Technology Championship held in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, in September 2023, he secured a silver medal in Neural Networks. The same year in November, he clinched a bronze at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia, for IT Software Solution. The year 2024 also began on a high note as he emerged as a finalist at the Sports/Competitive Programming competition held in Kazan, Russia, in February. From a young age, Kirtikumar has excelled in cybersecurity. At just 15 years old in 2018, he received the title of 'youngest cyber security researcher' from World Records India for securing over 100 websites by identifying and reporting vulnerabilities in their web applications. That same year, his name was inscribed in the India Book of Achievers. [caption id="attachment_36726" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption] The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had
uploads/2024/03/GI-6loQW4AACJVU-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani is an ethical hacker who represents India in new-age Information Technology international competitions." width="657" height="439" /> Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption]
The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had achieved a Top 32 rank at the World Cyber Games held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2019.
As an ethical hacker and Penetration Tester (PenTester), Kirtikumar has earned recognition and monetary rewards from major tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle for identifying vulnerabilities in their web applications.
Kirtikumar's interest extends to astrological predictions as well. “Anyone can check my predictions in the Astro World channel where I predicted actual dates or details about market crashes, earthquakes, election results, sporting tournaments’ results, and war which ultimately came true,” he tells Global Indian.
In the world of cybersecurity since the age of eight
At the age of eight, Kirtikumar's enthusiasm for computers became apparent as he immersed himself in activities like programming and gaming. One day, while playing Subway Surfers, he became intrigued by his cousin's method of obtaining unlimited coins in the game. This curiosity prompted him to indulge in extensive research, which led him to discover how to hack the game. By the time he turned 13, Kirtikumar had gained a thorough understanding of hacking tools such as remote access trojans (RATs). Fuelled by his curiosity in the subject, Kirtikumar kept on polishing his skills in the world of ethical hacking.
[caption id="attachment_36724" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Kirtikumar at the International High Technologies Championship 2023 at Veliky Novgorod, Russia[/caption]
Creating milestones
In 2018, at the age of 15, he won the Penetration Tester of the Year award at the United Kingdom based Cyber Security Awards ceremony with several well-known personalities in the field of cyber security as the judges. Kirtikumar also got recognised by the World Book of Records, and earned an entry into the Book of Achievers that year.
The following year Kirti became the youngest to win the Tech Savvy Award which led his interest in the field of science and technology even more, making him passionate in his endeavour to find solutions to vulnerabilities in web applications. “In 2022, I was the top security researcher on the Google Play Security Reward program,” he mentions.
Hacking for good
As Kirtikumar honed his ethical hacking skills further, he noticed that tech giants were publicly recognising cybersecurity enthusiasts for safeguarding their infrastructure by uncovering vulnerabilities in their web applications.
"Inspired by that I decided to leverage my hacking skills for the greater good, securing the internet for users by identifying vulnerabilities in the web applications of major tech companies,” he says. “When I shared the security threats with the respective companies, I was rewarded financially. Some organisations even sent me gift packs with exclusive merchandise printed with their logo and the words ‘security researcher’, as a token of appreciation,” he explains.
[caption id="attachment_36729" align="aligncenter" width="731"] Kirtikumar with Tennessee based cyber security evangelist, Dameon Welch[/caption]
Advancing from web security to browser security and Kernel security
After spending a few years in the field of web security, Kirtikumar yearned to learn something more exciting. “I decided to shift my focus to browser security taking inspiration from international security researchers, Abdulrahman Al-Qabandi and Eric Lawrence.”
After spending a couple of years mastering browser security skills, he again yearned to learn something new, and shifted his focus to Kernel security (errors of which lead to fatal issues on the PC). “I got interested in this subject by following Germany based senior security consultant, Patrick Walker,” says Kirtikumar.
With his dedication to learn advanced skills, expertise and accomplishments at such a young age, Kirtikumar has earned connections with international experts, and opportunities to participate in global forums on cybersecurity. Talking about Kernel Security, he remarks, “It is the most challenging realm of exploration for me because I love to try something tough which can push my boundaries to think out of the box.”
Kirtikumar has been into competitive eSports but decided to leave it in 2020. In 2019, he participated in the regional finals of the World Cyber Games in Seoul, South Korea, securing the seventh-place finish in the Asia Pacific Region, cementing his position among the top 32 players. He also competed in the Clash Royale League (CRL 2019) and ranked among the top players worldwide in weekly Grand Challenge finishers.
[caption id="attachment_36727" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]
“I left competitive gaming in 2020 after winning my last Paytm First Games. It wasn't helping me think outside the box; I was simply addicted to the game,” he explains. “Fortunately, I realised this at the right moment and began to dedicate more time to browser and kernel security research. I am pleased to have qualified for national rounds and to represent India internationally in these fields,” he remarks.
Academic brilliance
A former student of St. Stephen and Navkar Public School in Ahmedabad, Kirtikumar excelled in science and maths, earning a top 100 ranking in the International Math Olympiads (IMO) and National Science Olympiads (NSO) during his time in school. He also achieved a spot in the top 400 in the National Cyber Olympiads (NCO), as a school student.
Currently, the cybersecurity enthusiast is pursuing Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretaryship while working as an independent security researcher. “I aim to explore the intersection of finance and technology, merging my passion for both to create innovative solutions beneficial for traders,” he says.
[caption id="attachment_36728" align="aligncenter" width="527"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]
When the multitasker finds some time out of his hectic worlds of CA, CS, security research and international competitions, he loves to draw, write, cook, follow cricket, and solve LR/RC/CR on GMAT forums. Ever since he was a teen, he has been giving talks to aspiring security researchers and loves participating in such sessions to share his knowledge.
(June 9, 2024) Growing up in a village in the East Champaran district of Bihar, Adarsh Kumar lived a life that was harsh and difficult. But the struggles didn't deter him from pursuing his dream - to become an entrepreneur. Now on his fourth startup Skillzo, the 16-year-old is on a mission to upskill over 10,000 school students in Bihar to become future leaders by providing them exposure, experience, and networking opportunities. "We are empowering a generation of learners with hands-on experience and resources to pursue careers and start businesses," he tells Global Indian. Coming from the grassroots, Adarsh understands the struggles and limitations that children like him face and knows that learning is the solution. In just a year, Skillzo has impacted over 7000 students, and Adarsh is excited to bring practical skills and knowledge to students who need it the most. "It's the need of the hour," says the teen, who has secured a ₹30 lakh scholarship from Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur, a leading IB School in India. Rising above the challenges Born in East Champaran, Adarsh was brought up by Monika Upadhyay, who wanted her son to have access to the best education. This led Adarsh
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Rising above the challenges
Born in East Champaran, Adarsh was brought up by Monika Upadhyay, who wanted her son to have access to the best education. This led Adarsh to DAV School which was different from his previous government school. "It opened up a new world to me. Back home, we spoke Bhojpuri, here I found students conversing in Hindi. But my dream was to become fluent in English, and I wanted to start by reading one page at a time. Around the same time, smartphones came in which sparked my curiosity for the digital world." When he was in fourth grade, his mom gifted him a laptop. "Jio revolution was happening, and the internet became cheap and easily accessible. Soon I explored how to make apps and create websites." Around the same time, he stumbled upon the term entrepreneurship for the first time.
Intrigued, he researched more as he was keen to make an impact. "Growing up, I have seen people face troubles around me and I was always keen to work for them. But we are often told that we can change the world only when we reach a certain age." But he understood that age is just a number and co-founded his first startup 2Trillions in 2020 to empower education, animal welfare, and environment conservation. "We were making merchandise with thought-inspiring quotes, selling them, and donating the profits. But soon Covid-19 hit, and due to logistical issues, it had to shut down." Soon he found himself back in his village, and along with the help of a cousin and sister-in-law, he embarked on a social and political campaign Mission Badlao to make a difference in the lives of 1300+ families. "I realised that lack of education was the primary reason many were facing issues in the community. It was an eye-opener for me."
Bridging education gap with Skillzo
Keen to do something, he left his hometown in 2022 for Kota and later moved around Dehradun and travelled to almost 20 cities in the last two years. But soon realised it wasn't just Bihar that was stuck in the traditional methods of education, the situation was equally grim in other parts of the country too. It was a far cry from the education system in Delhi/NCR which is focussed more on practical knowledge and skill development. "I realised students lack in three things at the school level - exposure, experience, and network (of mentors and peer group). This led me to start Skillzo in July 2023 to bridge the education gap," says the teenager, who opted for a top-down approach.
He calls Skillzo a community of over 420 high school students from across the country. These students are exposed to various opportunities and events and also participate in mentorship sessions. "We have done sessions on entrepreneurship as well as study abroad scholarships for Indian students," says Adarsh, who calls these events a perfect networking opportunity for students. Moreover, Skillzo helps with internships along with assisting students who plan to study abroad in terms of SOP and essay writing.
Skillzo has partnered with IIT Guwahati and IIT Bombay to promote entrepreneurial skills at the school level. In the last year, Adarsh has reached out to his network and as well as used LinkedIn extensively to spread the word about Skillzo. In just one year, Skillzo has impacted over 7000 students by providing technical skills and knowledge, which is the need of the hour.
Upskilling 10,000 students
Eager to do something for his hometown and East Champaran district, Adarsh is now on a mission to upskill over 10,000 students in the area with the help of the IGNITE BHARAT program to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and culture. A 60-minute program which is a mix of lectures, masterclasses, and assignments elaborating on entrepreneurship, design thinking, content reach, and personal branding has been curated by students of IIT Guwahati, IIT Bombay, Harvard University, and Stanford University. "The idea is to launch the IGNITE BHARAT program in small towns of India, starting from East Champaran in Bihar," reveals Adarsh, adding that the instructors are from IIT-Bombay, IIM-Ahmedabad and MICA. The program, which is set to be launched in a couple of weeks, will be introduced to students from Grades 6 to 10 for free. "They can attend the program either at school or at home. Afterward, they have the option to work on a project, which they can submit to us and pitch during a district-level event."
Explaining the desire to come up with the program, Adarsh says he wants to expose the students to concepts like entrepreneurship and design thinking. "The kind of impact I am looking for is that people become aware and start talking about it in schools, tuitions, coaching institutes. I hope I become that example or inspiration for them to believe that it's possible to dream big even if you come from small cities and towns," he smiles.
Learning the ropes of IB School
As someone who comes from the grassroots, he understands the importance of education. "Education is the passport to success, and it holds for people who especially come from backgrounds like me. We have no other way, apart from education. But I don't want to confuse education with schooling, what I mean is learning," adds the teen, who has been elected to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme from JPIS, one of the best IB Schools in India. It was a few years ago that learnt about the concept of IB Schools through LinkedIn. "It was a fantasy school for me. But when I looked up the fees, I was shocked. I realised why I wasn't aware of these schools," he laughs.
[caption id="attachment_38164" align="aligncenter" width="492"] Adarsh Kumar with Ayush Periwal[/caption]
With his aspiration to get world class education and entrepreneurial mindset, he dreamt of top universities of the world and knew an IB School was a perfect stepping stone. "Moreover, I wanted to experience studying at an IB school as it's my dream to create an IB school in a budget-friendly way. The best way to do it is to experience it, that's when I decided to enroll in one." He began by cold mailing a few IB schools including JPIS, Jaipur. "I received an email from JPIS asking me to get on a call with group CEO Ayush Periwal who was fascinated by my story and invited me for a meet-up in Jaipur. That's when he told me I had received a scholarship for the next two years. For a moment, I felt I was daydreaming." Come July, and Adarsh will pack his bags to leave for Jaipur to experience studying at an IB School. "Since IB School is known to focus on practical knowledge and skill development, I'd want to learn and apply the same practicality in the area of education."
At just 16, Adarsh has come a long way, but he credits Skillzo for bringing about the change in him. "We got a ₹10 lakh investment for Skillzo from my mentor Rahul Narverkar and that changed everything - my confidence, my perception." An avid reader, he likes to journal as well as Netflix. Belting out advice to youngsters, he says, "Focus, hard work, and consistency is the key to success in every field. If you can access this article, you have no reason to say that you can't do it," he signs off.
Ajey Nagar, aka CarryMinati[/caption]
Atreya Manaswi[/caption]
Kirtikumar at the International High Technologies Championship 2023 at 
Kirtikumar with Tennessee based cyber security evangelist, Dameon Welch[/caption]
Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani 
Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani 
Adarsh Kumar with Ayush Periwal[/caption]