Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveWorld Photography Day spotlight: Young luminaries shaping the global photographic landscape

World Photography Day spotlight: Young luminaries shaping the global photographic landscape

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(August 19, 2023) In the vast expanse of the world of photography, fresh perspectives are constantly emerging, reshaping narratives and challenging norms. As we mark World Photography Day, Global Indian takes a look at young photographers, who have not only demonstrated prodigious talent but have also made significant international impacts with their work. From poignant moments captured amidst global movements to the serene intricacies of wildlife and urban tales told through the gaze of confinement, these young talents invite us into their world, challenging us to see through their eyes. Dive into the journeys of Akshat Bagla, Aman Sharma, Dhanu Paran, and Pubarun Basu – photographers who have broken borders, not just with their camera’s reach but with the profound narratives they’ve chosen to depict.

Akshat Bagla: From Kolkata streets to global fashion’s elite

In a whirlwind career, Akshat Bagla evolved from a 17-year-old Artist-in-Residence with Kolkata’s Rotary Club to Director of Photography for Differio, a globally renowned gay menswear company. Akshat’s love affair with the camera began at 13, photographing meals and moments. “I thank my cousin, he’s the reason I’m here,” he confessed to The Daring.

A photo shot by Akshat Bagla in New York City. Source: www.akshatbagla.com

Growing up in a Kolkata business family, it was expected he’d take over the reins. Yet, a revelatory experience with his first photos shifted his trajectory. Despite initial parental hesitation, Akshat’s dedication to photography only grew, especially evident during the pandemic’s onset in Kolkata. He ventured out daily, rediscovering his city. “I explored more areas and talked to more people than I ever did in the sixteen years of living there before.” Despite initial parental hesitation, Akshat’s dedication to photography only grew, especially evident during the pandemic’s onset in Kolkata. He ventured out daily, rediscovering his city. “I explored more areas and talked to more people than I ever did in the sixteen years of living there before.”

The Rotary Club archive task at 17 kickstarted his official journey, followed by a fruitful tenure at the School of Visual Arts. From capturing the essence of the Black Lives Matter movement to vibrant Gay Pride shoots for Differio, Akshat’s expertise in re-branding is gaining recognition.

Staying authentically Indian, Akshat veers away from trending black and white photos. “As a visual artist, I rely on our traditional affinity to colours,” he stated. His Bengingi bread shoots and the Gay Pride campaign, though commercial, are considered art. As he documented faces during the BLM protests, his motive was clear: “I’m trying to tell their story at the end of the day.”

Follow Akshat Bagla on Instagram.

Meet Aman Sharma, Nikon’s youngest creator and a recognized climate activist

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A post shared by Aman Sharma 🐳🇮🇳 (@birds_of_india_)

At just 20, Aman Sharma is recognized as one of India’s youngest and most followed wildlife photographers, and is Nikon’s youngest creator. But it’s not just his art that’s gaining attention. Celebrities like Leonardo Di Caprio and Greta Thunberg admire Aman’s dedication to the environment.

His 2019 petition, urging the Indian government to declare a climate emergency, resonated internationally. Accumulating 350,000 signatures, it spurred similar campaigns worldwide. Collaborating with Change.org and 74 global petitions, Aman’s campaign garnered 1.2 million signatures. This massive movement catalyzed climate emergency declarations in the European Union, UK, Austria, New York, and more.

Currently an Environmental Studies student at the University of Pennsylvania, Aman’s passion roots from childhood visits to national parks. His early interest evolved into ‘Cuckoo Club’, an initiative educating children about urban wildlife. His Instagram page showcases India’s diverse avian life, connecting over 600k followers to the country’s natural heritage.

Aman’s international achievements include speaking at the 75th UN General Assembly and the Nobel Peace Centre’s Oslo Pax. Back home, he stresses the urgency of climate awareness and action. India, though advancing in renewable energy, faces challenges with growing coal demands. Aman believes in young India’s potential to combat climate change. This World Environment Day, he inspires us all to pledge towards a greener future.

Follow Aman on Instagram.

Dhanu Paran: Capturing nature’s majesty from Anamalai to international acclaim

Dhanu Paran is making waves in the world of wildlife photography. In 2023, he clinched the Siena Drone Photo Awards’ Wildlife category with his shot of an elephant at rest in Tamil Nadu’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

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A post shared by Dhanu Paran (@dhanu.paran)

From Pollachi, India, Dhanu’s passion for the lens ignited when he was just 10. His prowess was evident when, still in his teenage years, he secured the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for an evocative piece titled ‘Hornbill losing patience’.”For the past 13 years, I’ve been engrossed in wildlife photography and filmmaking, starting at age 10. My fascination comes from my intense urge to observe wildlife closely, capturing their most intricate details,” says Dhanu.

Dhanu’s commitment is evident in his extensive treks, specifically a 22 km journey to spot the great hornbills. On one occasion, he artfully captured a hornbill’s fleeting annoyance at a Nilgiri langur, highlighting the bird’s magnificent, outstretched wings. These majestic hornbills are recognized by their eye-catching hollow horns or casques atop large, curved beaks. Residing mainly in regions with expansive trees like the Anaimalai Hills, these hornbills are known to display aerial ‘casque-butting’ combats between males. However, these unique casques have made them a target, being highly prized by hunters.

Follow Dhanu on Instagram.

Pubaran Basu, the first Indian to win a Sony World Photography Award

In 2021, Pubarun Basu was distinguished as the Youth Photographer of the Year, spotlighting his deep-seated love for photography. His award-winning 2020 photo, “No Escape from Reality,” which captured a poignant moment during the lockdown, fetched him this title at the Sony World Photography Awards, making him the first Indian to receive such an honor. “My photo was selected among 3,30,000 entries from around 29 countries. It was a very humbling experience,” Pubarun told Global Indian.

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A post shared by Pubarun (@pubarun.basu)

Inspired by his photographer father from a young age, the Kolkata-born talent recalls, “I vividly remember my father handing me his camera… I somehow managed to take a picture by imitation.” His early ventures into photography matured into a signature style, with a fondness for capturing sunsets, portraits, and street photography.

His award-winning shot depicted the emotion of confinement during the lockdown. “One evening, sunlight seeping through the windows gave the illusion of a cage. I asked my mom to touch the curtain, representing being trapped in a moment,” describes Pubarun.

The accolade catapulted his career, leading to his photo being showcased internationally and winning the Indica cultural photography grant 2021. Aspiring to convey impactful narratives, he states, “I want my voice to be heard through my art.” Paying homage to his father’s influence, he adds, “I have learnt everything from him…

Follow Pubarun Basu on Instagram.

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Published on 19, Aug 2023

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Abhishek Kushwaha and Mohd Kaif: Driving innovation and keeping labs cutting-edge

(August 6, 2024) Uttar Pradesh-based 24-year-old Abhishek Kushwaha and 23-year-old Mohammad Kaif met as classmates when they enrolled in the same college for their undergraduate degree in electronics, and developed friendship. The youngsters soon realised that the laboratory in their college, as well as other institutions in their area, had a critical shortcoming - a lack of maintenance facilities. When lab equipment broke down, it was never fixed, as there was nobody to provide this essential service. This significantly hit the lessons of the students, as they were unable to fully utilise the labs and struggled to grasp the practical aspects. They also noticed that nothing new was being added to the laboratories to benefit the students. The youngsters decided to address these vital gaps, and founded Abonics India in 2021, while still in college. Through their entrepreneurial spirit, innovations and innovative approach, the youngsters are driving positive change with their solution-focused edtech startup. [caption id="attachment_38708" align="aligncenter" width="655"] One of the labs created by Abhishek and Mohd Kaif's edtech startup[/caption] “So far, in and around Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Deoria and Gorakhpur, we have helped develop over 40 labs in schools and colleges and provided renovation or maintenance services to more than 150

abs | Indian Entrepreneurs | Global Indian" width="655" height="873" /> One of the labs created by Abhishek and Mohd Kaif's edtech startup[/caption]

“So far, in and around Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Deoria and Gorakhpur, we have helped develop over 40 labs in schools and colleges and provided renovation or maintenance services to more than 150 labs. Additionally, we are in discussions with approximately 50 institutions to improve their lab facilities by opting for our services,” Abhishek tells Global Indian.

Making a difference

“I have often heard that "experimentation is the mother of innovation," but the question is, how can you experiment effectively if your tools are outdated? Even today, students in our schools conduct experiments in the traditional way. While everything else is evolving, the laboratories and equipment in our educational institutions remain the same. That's why we are here - to transform our theoretical India into a practical India,” highlights Abhishek who is also an innovator of several solution-oriented products for elderly, people with disabilities and young learners.

The entrepreneurs’ edtech startup assists in lab setup, design, development, and maintenance, tailored to the needs of each institution they collaborate with. “We make our clients’ laboratories functional, innovative, engaging, and inspiring so that the kids are inspired to learn and get motivated to innovate,” says Mohd Kaif. “Our mission is to enhance STEM education through the latest practical learning facilities.”

[caption id="attachment_38704" align="aligncenter" width="868"] Students at a lab created by Abhishek and Mohd Kaif's edtech startup[/caption]

Driving change in mindset

This is not just an entrepreneurial venture for the youngsters but also a vehicle to drive change in mindsets. “Schools and colleges in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities are well aware of the significance of labs, but since we have been working in Tier 3 cities and villages, it’s a challenge to convey why labs are essential,” Abhishek remarks. “There are many instances when we have to explain and convince the school and college authorities about the importance of laboratories for the educational growth of their students.”

Apart from working with older institutions that lack lab facilities, they are also collaborating with new institutions to meet the requirements set by affiliation authorities.

Creating solutions

To set up a lab many scientific equipment, glassware and chemicals are required. Although the entrepreneurs source several products from different suppliers, they have even started manufacturing about a dozen small instruments for the labs on a small scale. “We aim to start a factory to manufacture hardware items on a larger scale in near future,” remarks Abhishek who has a knack for scientific innovations since he was small.

He had participated in the National Children’s Science Congress in 2018, where he presented his innovation - a multipurpose walking stick. Recently, he was granted a patent for this invention by the Government of India.

[caption id="attachment_38718" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Abhishek Kushwaha | Indian Entrepreneur[/caption]

Inspired by his grandfather's struggle with walking, Abhishek had created the multipurpose digital walking stick for the elderly. The stick is equipped with a torch, radio, and other features. One of his other innovations is a device to assist the disabled, which has been recognised by organisations like CGES and Leadwin for being an outstanding contribution in the sphere of disability assistive technology and eco-friendly manufacturing, as it replaces wood.

Last year Abhishek was also honoured with the Bharat Gaurav Samman in Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahakumbh 2022 organised by the founder of Super 30 Anand Kumar in the presence of the Deputy CM of Uttar Pradesh.

Under his leadership, their startup has applied for patents for 20 more innovations, many of which are related to lab enhancement and practical learning solutions. “We aim to promote robotics, AI, and machine learning through our initiatives and innovations so that children can grasp these technologies and have a bright future,” Mohd Kaif remarks.

Their edtech startup comprises a team of 40 individuals, including advisors, an operations team, a research team, a marketing team, and a few bright children with an innovative bent of mind. These children get a platform to enhance their learning while being associated with the organisation as interns, working on solutions. For instance, there is a child innovator, Parth Bansal, who has even received the PM Bal Puraskar for his innovation, and is an integral part of the Abonics India team.

[caption id="attachment_38722" align="aligncenter" width="524"] Mohd Kaif[/caption]

Mentorship and support

“When we had come up with the startup idea as undergraduate students, we had shared it with our teachers who supported us in pitching our idea at the annual U.P. start-up conclave and we ended up being the finalists,” tells Mohd Kaif.

With this milestone, the young entrepreneurs got the opportunity to enhance their business skills at the innovation hub of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, which provided them with an incubation facility. “They supported us a lot and even helped us with a Start-in-UP fund of ₹750,000,” he informs.

Support from JEC-P

Since last year, the edtech startup has been associated with the Jagriti Enterprise Centre-Purvanchal (JEC-P), an incubator centre that supports small and medium enterprises in Tier 2 and 3 cities of India.

“They have helped us with workshops and mentorship that have enhanced our business skills,” Mohd Kaif shares. “They introduced us to Mr Rajesh Kachroo, who has had a distinguished career, holding high positions such as Senior Vice President at Times of India, Senior Vice President and Principal Officer (Global BFSI) at HCL Talent Care, and is currently Vice President of Learner Success at the Wadhwani Foundation. He is a great personality and has helped us accelerate our startup’s growth through better marketing strategies and improved market presence,” he mentions.

[caption id="attachment_38707" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Abhishek and Mohd Kaif with the copy of patent received for the digital walking stick[/caption]

Juggling studies and entrepreneurship

The edtech entrepreneurs, driven by a mission to transform the education sector and STEM learning facilities, have balanced their studies and business venture from the start. While Abhishek completed his master’s in electronics last year, Mohd Kaif is pursuing his MCA at Harcourt Butler Technical University in Kanpur.

“It’s difficult to focus on both fronts, and sometimes studies take a backseat,” he says. “However, our teachers have been supportive. My university has even provided me with office space, allowing me to work on my startup while on campus.” The youngsters look at themselves as not just business-oriented entrepreneurs but also as innovative minds. Apart from their venture, which helps solve a societal problem, they plan to keep on working on innovations and developing new products for the benefit of young learners and other strata of society.

[caption id="attachment_38702" align="aligncenter" width="704"] Some of the labs created by Abhishek and Mohd Kaif's edtech startup, Abonics India[/caption]

Follow Abhishek Kushwaha and Mohd Kaif on LinkedIn

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Aryan Sharma and Ayush Pathak: The AI whizkids being funded by Sam Altman

(December 14, 2023) Around eight months ago, two teenagers, Aryan Sharma and Ayush Pathak were both contemplating college plans. Aryan had even received a scholarship from a foundation in the US and anyway, both the teenagers were adept coders and earning a fair bit of money. Enough money, actually to fly to San Francisco and attend conferences, where they were soon crossing paths with some of the Bay Area's tech and VC titans. In comparison, college seemed a lacklustre option. They actually wondered if the experience might hold them back. Why not take a deep dive into entrepreneurship instead? That's how they got to building Induced AI, which, very simply put, presents a solution for businesses to streamline their backend workflow processes using bots. Less than a year in, they have raised $2.3 million in seed funding, and count OpenAI's Sam Altman as an investor, along with Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman. [caption id="attachment_34641" align="aligncenter" width="601"] Aryan Sharma and Ayush Pathak, the co-founders of Induced AI[/caption] The journey of a lifetime How did the Global Indians come so far, so quickly? For starters, both Sharma and Pathak were learning coding by the time they were 13 years old. They didn't

strong>The journey of a lifetime

How did the Global Indians come so far, so quickly? For starters, both Sharma and Pathak were learning coding by the time they were 13 years old. They didn't grow up in the Bay Area or in Bangalore, although they were both based in India. "I would listen to podcasts and read about the AI and tech startup ecosystem. I started writing code very early and was doing remote work when I was still in school," Sharma says. When he could afford it, he made another, very bold move - he bought a flight ticket to San Francisco. "I was going to a lot of events and meeting people and investors, who would eventually become part of the company."

The Bay Area, he found, was very welcoming, even to someone as young as him - it might even have worked in his favour. "Everyone is open to taking meetings," Sharma smiles. He discovered that ambition and hard work do pay, and age doesn't always have to be a factor. Sharma and Pathak also decided that college was off the cards, at least for the moment, even if they could have taken their pick of institutions. Sharma, who seems more given to media appearances and interviews, says his parents were both doctors, who were concerned with his decision but decided to support him.

When they weren't in Silicon Valley, they were writing cold-emails and sending DMs on Twitter. "I have embarrassing emails I sent out at 14," he laughs, during an interview with Varun Mayya and Tanmay Bhat in Overpowered. "I woud say 'I'm a big fan, I watch all your videos, do you have any advice for me'?" He recalls one response, which read, "Don't send emails to people, that's my advice. Go read up and start building things." He had als interacted with Sam Altman during this three year networking period and expressed an interest in working with him, "even as his secretary." OpenAI, he says, "had been releasing papers way before ChatGPT but Sam was too busy then with OpenAI and Helium."

Even in 2022, though, Sharma didn't really know how things would pan out. He was interested in a range of subjects, from AI to Space and Biotech. It was Altman who gave him advice then, saying, "This is all useful but the most high-leverage thing is AI and you will come back to this at some point." It did in fact turn out that way. In early 2023, Sharma and Pathak teamed up to form InducedAI. Now, they are also part of AI Grant, the AI startup accelerator created by Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross. Induced AI made it into Batch 1, along with companies like Perplexity, Animato and Replicate.

How does it work?

Induced AI helps businesses automate repetitive tasks typically handled by admin back offices. Users input workflows in English (known as a text workflow), which the AI then converts into pseudo-code for automation. The platform uses bots, each equipped with its own email and phone number for handling tasks like verification processes, including OTPs and other forms of authorization. These bots run on the cloud, ensuring full access without affecting the user's computer. "Say, a company has a 15-member team spending a lot of time on tasks like form filling or data entry, which could typically be outsourced to a backoffice," Sharma explained.

All this works on Chromium-based browsers (like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, etc.). And none of the work being done is actually visible to the user - for instance, if the bot is running a search operation, the user will not see a search bar with keywords being typed in. Induced AI has modified the browser's rendering engine, which usually turns website code into what you see on your screen, to work better for background tasks. They've tweaked how the browser responds to changes on websites and improved the way it communicates internally and with other systems.

"We control the browser layers remotely, which leads to more reliability compared to running as an extension," Sharma explains. "By controlling the browser, we also control everything that Chrome has access to." This enhanced control allows for more consistent and dependable automation processes.

For example, consider a task like searching for shoes on Google. Induced AI breaks this task into "chunks," then performs 'inference' to determine the necessary steps at each stage. The user just needs to provide the overall task description. Once the steps are outlined, the system autonomously executes the process, from opening the browser to carrying out the search. To the end user, it's akin to giving a command to Alexa to "play my favorite playlist," where Alexa autonomously locates and plays the playlist.

[caption id="attachment_34642" align="aligncenter" width="602"] Aryan Sharma[/caption]

RPA tech

However, Induced AI is tailored for back-office tasks, enhancing business workflows' cost-effectiveness and efficiency. It uses a 'headless' browser operation, meaning the browser works in the background without displaying web pages on a screen. It navigates and interacts with websites, but invisibly. "It's not meant to book a flight ticket or write an email," Sharma says. "It's designed for specific processes and tasks, like generating leads at 9 am every day, or collating insurance claims.

This is done through RPA (Robotic Process Automation), which usses 'bots' to automate repetitive and rule-based tasks within business processes. They emulate human actions and interactions within digital systems, applications and data and can carry out certain tasks as a human user would, following a set of predefined rules and logic. An added advantage is that it is non invasive and easily deployable along with being scalable and flexible.

The path ahead

Aryan now spends much more time in the Bay Area and Induced AI has signed up a handful of small to mid-sized customers, he told Tech Crunch.

"Induced is the definition of RPA 3.0," said investor SignalFire in a statement. "Not only are they taking a huge leap forward in providing true human-like interaction and efficiency, they democratize access by allowing users to describe their workflows in natural language and execute parallel agents any back-office workflow.

Follow Aryan Sharma and Ayush Pathak on LinkedIn.

Lukanand Kshetrimayum : Young Manipuri filmmaker brings home Mr International first runner up title

(November 10, 2022 ) At 20, Lukanand Kshetrimayum is not just the first runner up at the 14th Mr International 2022 pageant but also a filmmaker with 12 years of experience. With his winning performance at the global pageantry platform, he is being counted amongst the stars of Manipur - Mary Kom, Meerabhai Chanu and Ashalata Devi. It was after a gap of three years that Mr International returned, owing to pandemic, with the last one held in Manila, Philippines in 2019. [caption id="attachment_24048" align="aligncenter" width="629"] Lukanand Kshetrimayum[/caption] For the young lad, each platform - be it films or pageant - is a podium of advocacy. Minutes after winning the title at Cubao, Quizon City, Philippines, he told the media: Through my films, I indulge in advocacy for sensitive issues relevant to society like mental health of children, and drug abuse. This competition provided me an opportunity to take advocacy to a global platform. Coincidentally, it was in the Philippines that 28 years ago Sushmita Sen was crowned Miss Universe, becoming the first Indian to win the coveted pageant. The youngster from Manipur looks up to her as a role model who has since been an inspiration to a whole

tive issues relevant to society like mental health of children, and drug abuse. This competition provided me an opportunity to take advocacy to a global platform.

Coincidentally, it was in the Philippines that 28 years ago Sushmita Sen was crowned Miss Universe, becoming the first Indian to win the coveted pageant. The youngster from Manipur looks up to her as a role model who has since been an inspiration to a whole generation of people trying to make India proud in the world of pageantry.

“I feel very lucky that people of India are supporting me, it’s their love that I am progressing so much,” said Lukanand about the love and encouragement he got from the Indian diaspora in the Philippines. Though his parents couldn't make it, his aunt flew from India to cheer for him on his big day.

[caption id="attachment_24049" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Lukanand during the national costume round at the 14th Mr International pageant[/caption]

Filmmaker at eight

Lukanand entered the world of film direction when he was just eight, becoming the youngest filmmaker in Manipur. He used to even write the script and lyrics, without getting exhausted with the entire process of filmmaking at that tender age.

The student of Maria Montessori Senior Secondary School, Imphal had participated and won in CBSE filmmaking competitions during his school days. It's under the banner of ‘Marvels of North East India’ that CBSE runs these competitions to promote awareness about culture and traditions of the north eastern states, awarding winners of short films with cash prizes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OsU74PBYxQ

This served as an impetus for the young boy to begin a career in filmmaking quite early in life. Since films shot on mobile phones were also acceptable by CBSE, he shot his first few films on his mobile phone. This soon translated into a passion for filmmaking and governed the future course of direction for the Imphal boy. He ended up directing Manipuri teleplays like Ram Lakshman (2010), Thambel Parang (2010) and T.A.K (2011), along with Manipuri documentaries like Sangai (2013).

It was in 2014 that he shifted gears to feature films and made his directorial debut with Asengba Saktam in 2014. His last film Meitan Araba, which was released at the Manipur State Development Society in Imphal in 2019, bagged two Manipuri State Film Awards and seven Sahitya Seva Samiti Manipuri Film awards.

Being a jack of all trades, he even released some Manipuri songs - Emotionless (2014), Hanglanu (2021), and Laibak Pheida (2021). In between, he picked up modelling assignments and print shoots for apparel brands and also won some local pageants.

[caption id="attachment_24050" align="aligncenter" width="865"] Lukanand welcomed at his school[/caption]

For someone who began making films at a young age, he isn't camera shy. And Mr International 2022 was a culmination of sorts for the young lad.

Living every moment

“I have enjoyed every moment backstage and on stage,” he said, talking about the time he spent in the Philippines with 34 other contestants from all over the globe. The rich experiences that the pageant provided embodied the essence of winning for the multifaceted youngster who loved Philippines’ hospitality. He looks forward to strengthening the ties between the two countries through cultural exchange initiatives.

It's good progress for Indians to represent themselves on global platforms and leave a mark. India loves progress.

The youngster who feels that winning is just the tip of the iceberg. More than winning, what one does after that to serve the community is what matters.

Apart from Sushmita Sen, he idolises reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu who is using her success at the global pageant for the benefit of others. “There should not be objectification of beauty. Looks should be skin deep and about giving voices to the issues bothering the community.”

It's not about the individual – but society

“All 35 of us are winners. We are from different communities and religions, it’s just that one of us took the crown home,” said the model who looked at the final outcome as not any personal win rather an opportunity to do impactful work for the society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIzG-bQwYuQ

The youngster, who started modelling in 2016, not just makes films but also organises workshops and free scholarship programmes in film making to empower the youth to have a career in the industry.

Proud of his country

Lukanand returned to a rousing welcome from the people of Imphal.

The youngster who is not just in love with his state but his entire country, said to the media minutes after his win:

Indians are warm people. Despite differences, we learn from diversity of each other. I am very proud of where I come from.

The Manipur boy believes in fighting negativity and looks at setbacks as a step to bounce higher. He hopes for more youngsters to embrace pageantry with a larger purpose of impacting the society in a positive way.

Connoisseur of regional cinema

“We need to inspire ourselves. We are looking at perfection around, but perfection comes from within you,” says the youngster who finds Bollywood a good industry and commercially viable too but at the same time stresses on the need of promoting the regional industries that are unheard of like the Manipuri film industry. “People are working hard equally whether it is Bollywood or regional cinema, so such industries should also be encouraged.”

Now that he is back, the youngster is looking forward to growing, learning and experimenting more in filmmaking and also eating spicier food after months of being on a strict diet.

Follow Lukanand Kshetrimayum on Facebook and Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

From Midnapore to Cambridge: Bal Puraskar winner Souhardya De is bringing Indic heritage to the world

(July 19, 2022) At 18, as his peers are busy trying to decide on a college, Souhardya De is the author of two books and has a long list of achievements to his merit. Mythology is his subject of choice, the teen from Midnapore wrote his first book when he was 13 years old - his debut novel, Scion of Suryavansh: The Ramayana was published in 2017. Two years later, he released his second, The Chronicles of Suryavansh: The Rise and Fall of the Suryavanshis. In 2021, he won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, in the art and culture category and is part of the prestigious PM-Young Upcoming Versatile Author (YUVA) Mentorship Scheme, a 75-member cohort of authors chosen from 16,000 applicants. "These honours only motivate me to bring a greater understanding of religion, spirituality, philosophy, and culture, especially among Gen-Z, through my writing," the prodigy says, in an interview with Global Indian. His accolades aren’t for his writing alone, however. He was also recognised in the Dettol Salutes Campaign for spreading awareness among his community during the Covid-19 pandemic, teaching them how to ward off infection. The talented young writer who has just graduated from high school will head off to

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"These honours only motivate me to bring a greater understanding of religion, spirituality, philosophy, and culture, especially among Gen-Z, through my writing," the prodigy says, in an interview with Global Indian. His accolades aren’t for his writing alone, however. He was also recognised in the Dettol Salutes Campaign for spreading awareness among his community during the Covid-19 pandemic, teaching them how to ward off infection. The talented young writer who has just graduated from high school will head off to the University of Cambridge, where he has received a bursary for his UGCert in history.

Five months after winning the Bal Puraskar, Souhardya received the Colonelcy, the highest civilian honour from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, USA. He had won the Gold Award in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021, patronised by the Duchess of Cornwall.

Souhardya is also an elected member of the Royal Historical Society, University College London and the Royal Asiatic Society for Great Britain and Ireland. Closer home, he has been named the Most Promising Literary Talent 2022 by the Dainik Jagran Group.

Revitalising the glorious past

Already considered on par with the acclaimed mythological fiction author Amish Tripathi, Souhardya has just finished the manuscript on the life of freedom fighter Lal Pratap Singh, who showed great gallantry during the uprising of 1857 — a novella under the Prime Minister’s YUVA Scheme. "The fellowship was instituted last year by the Prime Minister, to encourage books on India’s unsung heroes to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav — 75 Years of Indian Independence."

"The plot primarily revolves around Singh’s resistance shown to General Campbell, who came to recapture Lucknow during that period," Souhardya explains. His books, Scion of Suryavansh and Chronicles of Suryavansh, are part of the Shree Ram Katha series that have been written in both English and French. His fourth book is in the process of publication by Rupa Publications. The talented writer is also a columnist of repute, with words in popular print and digital media like the Sunday Guardian, Scroll, Lokmat Times Zest, South China Morning Post, The Statesman, and Outlook Traveller.

[caption id="attachment_19479" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Book mockup of one of Souhardya's books prepared by Amazon[/caption]

"Winning the Bal Puraskar was a thrilling experience, more so because, as a civilian, I was able to interact so closely with the Prime Minister," Souhardya smiles. During the virtual award ceremony, the Prime Minister named him as an example, saying that only dreaming won’t do, taking action to fulfil those dreams is what truly counts in the end, and emphasised the importance of celebrating one’s roots. This is, in fact, the young author’s aim — to spread knowledge of India’s rich history and mythology through his books and columns.

The formative years

The only child of history professor Shakti Prasad De and Jayati De, who teaches history in school, Souhardya was naturally drawn towards historical monuments. He recalls growing up in West Bengal and visiting the state’s many landmarks, only to learn later that the stories of these historical sites are still waiting to be told. He was enchanted by anecdotes of ancient times and started exploring the idea of writing down lost and forgotten tales that he thought his peers should know. Souhardya also has his own podcast.

The best way to revitalise history is to present it through the realm of popular culture, in the form of cinema, books, and podcasts - Souhardya De

The wonders of history...

His parents’ resources played a formative and vital role in shaping the young author’s understanding, but Souhardya has done more than his fair share of hard work, more so because his focus is different from theirs. "My father specialises in modern Indian studies and I study ancient history," he explains. "At the moment, for instance, I’m researching education in the Indus Valley civilisation, to understand whether or not it had a centralised or vocational system." He also plans to visit the site, to add greater value to his work. "I’m a primary resource researcher," says the teenager, who has several research papers to his credit.

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

Always a voracious reader, Souhardya naturally turned to writing as a form of communication with the outer world. "When you read a lot, you develop an interest in writing like the literary greats," he remarks. His love for Victorian poetry shines through in his own choice of words. "I always wanted to put something out into the world, and developed my own writing style over the years through intense reading." As a kid, he preferred writing to doing anything else, even cutting down on his playtime to put his thoughts down on paper.

A Bengali at heart

No matter how much he accomplishes, Souhardya makes sure his standards are set even higher. He intends to return from the University of Cambridge after completing his studies and join the Indian Foreign Services, in the footsteps of Satyendra Nath Tagore, the social reformer, poet, composer, and writer from Kolkata, who became the first Indian civil service officer in 1863. Another inspiration, he says, is Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, the prominent lawyer and statesman who became the first Governor of Orissa and Bihar. Sinha was also the first Indian to become a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council and British ministry. "He happens to hail from Midnapore, like me," Souhardya smiles. Situated on the banks of the Kangsabati river, the historical city has played a powerful role in shaping the young mind.

Souhardya has also worked in the educational sector and is currently involved as a G20 Synergies Lead with an all-India students’ organisation called Studomatrix. "We are researching the educational patterns in India and how we can improve them, working in collaboration with Finnish and Swedish educational models," he says. He hopes to bring about change in the sector and believes that a career in the administrative services will help further his goals.

In his free time, the young author loves listening to thumris and ghazals and enjoys playing chess. A true-blue Bengali, he immerses himself in the historical and cultural flavours of his state and, of course, swears by the joys of roshogolla.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

Chess prodigy Alana Meenakshi’s moves are to watch out for

(September 15, 2022) Alana Meenakshi Kolagatla was barely four when she first got the feel of the king, queen, rook, bishop, and pawn on the chess board. The child hardly had any understanding of the game, yet she was just about able to arrange the pieces in order. By the time she turned six, the chess prodigy began playing professionally. Success followed her everywhere ever since. Having won several locals, national and international championships — of which she admittedly has lost the count — Alana, now 11, has been making all the right moves. “I want to become a grandmaster as soon as possible," declares Alana Meenakshi, the World No.1 in the Under-11 girls' category, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_21903" align="aligncenter" width="483"] Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi, chess prodigy[/caption] Since 2018, Alana has taken the world of chess by storm with her consistent performance. She continued her winning streak with gold, silver, and bronze medals to the country's tally and went on to bag the Women Candidate Master (WCM) title when she played in Sri Lanka in 2018. “Sometimes when you're winning, you just feel you're winning and let go of it and end up losing the game

onsistent performance. She continued her winning streak with gold, silver, and bronze medals to the country's tally and went on to bag the Women Candidate Master (WCM) title when she played in Sri Lanka in 2018. “Sometimes when you're winning, you just feel you're winning and let go of it and end up losing the game or end up in a draw. I have never really kept track of how many games I won and lost,” informs the chess prodigy, who has travelled to Albania, China, Sri Lanka, Serbia, and Hungary among other countries for her tournaments, besides vacations. Her father, Madhu Kolagatla is a businessman, and her mother Dr Aparna Kolagatla is a scientist and a career counsellor.

A move in the right direction

The chess prodigy from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, who was also the world No 2 in the Under-10 category (December 2022) before she made it to the top, finds chess a very lonely game. “Sometimes you feel very bored, just like you're looking at 64 squares with 32 pieces. And if you don't enjoy what's going on, you don't understand what's going on,” says the chess mastermind. But at the end of the day, she says, the combinations and the tactics in the game are what draw her towards it. “People feel that chess is very hard to play and only smart people can play the game. But that's not true. If you play chess, you will become smarter. It's actually the opposite,” smiles the class VI student of Timpany school, Visakhapatanam.

[caption id="attachment_21904" align="aligncenter" width="616"] The young prodigy with all her medals and trophies[/caption]

Alana plays chess every day. “I need to work a lot to reach a certain level. I practice for about 8 hours a day. So usually it's like four to six hours coaching and then maybe two hours games and then two hours I work by myself,” informs Alana, who occasionally takes a break from the game when she is overstressed. When it comes to tournaments, her games last up to six hours.

So what does it take to become a professional chess player like her? “Hard work, talent, and seriousness. One should be willing to work a lot, even though sometimes it gets very stressful. Strategy and confidence will keep you going in the game,” feels this huge Potterhead, who has read all Harry Potter books.

She is now trying yoga and meditation to beat the stress. “My parents recommended it and though I am trying my best for the past few weeks, it feels boring sometimes,” she laughs. Before every tournament, she makes sure to check who she is playing against, prepare against them and make note of their weaknesses and strengths.

Alana’s achievements have made her parents and friends proud of her. “It feels great when family members and friends tell others that I am an international chess player and stuff like that. Parents, sometimes say I could have done better after a particular tournament,” says the prodigy, who lists her win in her first international chess in Sri Lanka as one of the major highlights of her journey so far.

Beyond the chequered world

Besides chess, Alana likes to play tennis. "I actually play tennis just for physical fitness, go swimming, and indulge in basketball once in a while," says Alana, who likes to watch all the action stuff on Netflix.

Ask her if she comes across children who love Chess, the Vizag girl feels that people should start playing chess because it develops intellectual skills, calculations, and quick reflexes. "People don't play chess because they think it's very hard and boring, but I don't think so. There are a few people who are interested in chess, who are around my age, plus or minus a few years, but many are not," says Alana, whose elder brother Dhruv is a tennis player.

What else does Alana like to do? "Fashion designing interests me but I am not very sure. I am still in VI grade so I have another three to four more years to decide," informs the champ, who like most kids her age, loves Dario for Wimpy Kid as well. She is a huge fan of Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, and Justin Bieber as well. Alana makes it a point to visit as many places as places while on a foreign trip. Recently, she was in Budapest where she visited the castle, Parliament, and many more places to understand its history and rich culture.

"Kids should do more something creative than just watching TV or spending time on mobile phones. They should go out and play or, try some arts and crafts. Maybe, they should try learning a new thing like chess," is her message to children her age.

Reading Time: 7 mins