Global IndianstoryHealTokyo gives Japanese India’s spirituality as Nupur Tewari helps them turn inwards

HealTokyo gives Japanese India’s spirituality as Nupur Tewari helps them turn inwards

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(April 12, 2022) Motivational speaker, spiritual healer, philanthropist, performance coach, and yoga instructor – there are many hats that Nupur Tewari dons. A journey that started in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district traversed many cities to find a home in Japan with her husband and daughter. There, this introspective soul founded HealTokyo, that helps people through yoga, meditation, positivity, and teachings from the Bhagavad Gita. Her wings spread to other countries as well, and Tewari was recognised for her efforts by the United Nations too.

Rooted in Indian culture, Nupur has been spreading Indian culture in Japan through dance, yoga, food, and festivals. Her efforts have earned her the title of ‘unofficial ambassador of Japan’. “My family practiced yoga, and taught us lessons from the Bhagavad Gita. I grew up with those values. Since childhood, I wanted to do something for the community. Japan didn’t need money, but several people needed healing, and that was exactly what I could provide. So, I began free yoga sessions and counselling en masse to help the grief-stricken crowds,” shares Nupur in an interview with Global Indian.

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For a girl, who wanted to do something in life, growing up in a small village wasn’t easy. Nupur walked four kilometers to school, and studied under the dim glow of a night lamp, as her village did not have electricity. The Nupur of today took those hardships and turned them around. She schooled at a Bengali-medium, and struggled with English, today though she is fluent. “I had very low self-esteem as a child,” shares Nupur, adding, “I was always lost in my own world, and was very shy. I always thought I was different from everyone else. Unlike other girls in my class, I wanted to explore the world outside my small village.”

Nupur Tewari

Although many girls in her village were married off early, she didn’t give up on her dreams of a good education. After completing her tenth, Nupur moved to Behrampur to study further. “It wasn’t an easy shift. I could hardly speak English while other students were fluent. My clothes were traditional too. I felt out of place,” shares the motivational speaker, adding that there would be times she would pretend to read something just to avoid conversations with her classmates.

A chance meeting that changed her life

During this time, an incident shook her. A man, who wanted to marry Nupur, pushed her into a drain after being rejected by her. To keep her safe, her parents sent Nupur to her grandparents in Berhampore. There Nupur did her undergrad in tourism and management from Calcutta University. Although she wanted to work, her family was against it. They wanted her married off. “It was my mother who helped me move out. I left for Kolkata, where I got a job at a hospitality firm,” says the spiritual healer.

Nupur Tewari with her mother

In the Land of the Rising Sun

Within months of shifting to Kolkata, Nupur landed a job at Mitsubishi, and her hard work and perseverance got her an opportunity in Japan in 2003. The spiritual healer found a new home in Japan. Its rich and welcoming culture gave her a sense of belonging, and soon she started incorporating Indian culture into Japanese lives at the International Centre. “History suggests that King Ashoka of Magadh had sent ambassadors to Japan. I feel I might have been one of them because I was right at home as soon as I arrived in Japan. I already had a connection with the land, and felt so liberated,” Nupur shares.

A HealTokyo yoga class in session

Making yoga, music, and dance come alive at the International Centre in Tokyo, when Japan crumbled under the devastating Kumamoto earthquake in 2015, Nupur knew she had to do something to help the common people. “Many people lost their homes, livelihood, and loved ones. I began free yoga sessions and counselling. Every session had a voluntary donation box into which anyone could contribute, all proceeds directed towards rehabilitation,” she shares.

Giving back to the community

The great response saw Nupur start the HealTokyo movement in 2017 to help combat the worrying yet increasing suicide rates, and the overtly anxious atmosphere in Tokyo. The spiritual healer conducts one session weekly, which is attended by at least 30 people. In 2018, Nupur also initiated the HealIndya movement by renovating a school in Aligarh and providing students with stationery, books, and uniforms. “I had faced many struggles in my childhood, and I did not want any other child to go through that,” she says.

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A post shared by Nupur (@yogannanupur)

Her efforts were recognised by the United Nations, and she was appointed to help Sri Lanka mentally recover from the devastating effect of floods and other natural calamities. She organised several yoga sessions, collecting about Rs 70,000, which was donated to help people rebuild their lives in Sri Lanka. Many foundations, including the Global MICE, India Star Book of Records, and the Nargis Dutt Foundation also appreciated and recognised her efforts.

Nupur Tewari with her daughter, Mihika

Nupur, who loves to spend time with her family whenever she gets some time, is a proud mother of a 13-year-old Mihika. “She is an amazing person, and I am very proud to be her mother. Even at a young age she is kind and takes care of everyone,” shares Nupur. Currently, Nupur is working on introducing the Japanese way of learning in an Aligarh school, the roots of which lie in self-empowerment – from cleaning rooms, polishing shoes, and training to be self-sufficient.

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Changing the taste of India: Wharton grad Revant Himatsingka educates Indians on junk food

(September 6, 2023) “When we go to buy a shirt at Zara, we will try on five shirts, and debate about the color and price before picking one, but when it comes to food, why don’t we look for ten biscuit brands and read the labels before buying one?” asks 31-year-old Revant Himatsingka. The youngster was firmly thrust in the limelight in April this year when a video he made detailing the excess sugar in the popular drink Bournvita went viral on social media. Shared and liked by celebrities including actors Paresh Rawal and R Madhavan, he was compelled to delete it when confectionary maker Mondelez sent a legal notice his way. [caption id="attachment_44576" align="aligncenter" width="430"] Revant Himatsingka, author of the self-help comedy book, 'Selfienomics'.[/caption] However, Mondelez’s response only helped raise the profile of the influencer with Internet doing what it does best – create an appetite for Himatsingka’s work. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that Indians read product labels before buying products and from bread to biscuits, he highlighted the misleading advertisement that ensure consumers are taken for a ride. In fact, one of his big wins was when Maggi ketchup took cognizance of his awareness campaign and promised

enomics'.[/caption]

However, Mondelez’s response only helped raise the profile of the influencer with Internet doing what it does best – create an appetite for Himatsingka’s work. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that Indians read product labels before buying products and from bread to biscuits, he highlighted the misleading advertisement that ensure consumers are taken for a ride.

In fact, one of his big wins was when Maggi ketchup took cognizance of his awareness campaign and promised to reduce their sugar content by 22%! From almond biscuits that have only 1.4 % of almonds or neem face washes which contain only 5 % neem, his keen eye brings to the fore facts that exist plain sight but aren’t truly noticed by consumers. Today, most of his videos have millions of views (across platforms) and he is widely celebrated for using social media to channel information.

Creating Awareness

Growing up in Kolkata, Himatsingka went to New York university at the age of 18 and has an MBA from the Wharton School. Having worked with McKinsey, he even wrote a book at 22, Selfienomics, a self-help comedy book.

As he continued to do his research, the link between junk food to cancer caught his eye. He dedicated himself to understanding the nuts and bolts behind food processing, which became a passion. “One of the most important aspects of life is heath which many people agree with. About 60-70 percent of our health is determined by the food we eat. Most of the food we eat today is packaged. It is different from what our grandparents grew up eating. It is therefore very important to focus whether the food we are eating is good or not.” he tells Global Indian.

The Bournvita video happened because of the sheer intake and popularity the product has among children. Himatsingka draws light to the fact that while most Indians have a glass of Coke a week, products like Bournvita are consumed twice a day, amounting to over 14 times in a week!

“Many (of these) products were always considered to be healthy. I strongly believe that junk food pretending to be healthy is much riskier than junk food itself. Most obesity-related articles will have an image of a Coke and a burger but in India, that’s not what is making us obese.” he notes.

From biscuits to chips and other junk food, most products have long lasting effects as when one is exposed to them as children, they become sugar addicts for their lifetime.

Social Media Star

Himatsingka chose the name Food Pharmer as it represents both the farmer and a pharmacy. “I strongly believe that by eating food made by farmers we can reduce our dependency on pharma products.” he says and adds, “I educate people on misleading labels, reading labels and picking healthy food because most of us hardly have anytime to make our own oil or ghee/deciding on the best milk for us owing of our busy lives.”

At the crux of Food Pharmer’s work is spreading genuine information based on which consumers can take informed choices. He points to the small but subtle details, big FMCG companies use to attract consumers. “Around 60-70% of packaged food is unhealthy. Companies use different mechanisms to mislead people – they use green color fonts so people think it’s healthy or associated with nature, words like natural, no sugar or no added sugar so it’s important to read the ingredients used instead of going just one face value.” he states.

Through his work, he educates people to look beyond packaging which might be labeled as healthy or high protein but in reality, might not be all that true. His work is not easy, especially because of its legal implications. “My family becomes worried when I receive a legal notice as I left a well-paying job to do this. I try to be strong and I realized now that it is a part-and-parcel of what I want to do. If I need to educate people, this is the price to pay.”

Changemaker

The motivation to continue doing the work he does comes through seeing customers understand his ethos and actively taking an interest in what they consume. The social media personality ensures that his videos are packaged with just the right amount of humor and research, so that they appeal to a wide range of audiences. That he manages to do so in less than 90 seconds is a testament to his skill.

“Health is the most important pillar of life and eating packaging food is the norm now, so I believe what I’m doing is extremely important. India has the largest population in world, if I’m either able to educate a lot of people or change the packaging of some brands through my videos, it is a major net effect to a lot of people.” the Global Indian notes.

Trying to take on an ecosystem is surely not easy but Himatsingka is nothing but persistent. Like any person of his age, he enjoys movies, watching cricket, working out and playing board games and when he is not doing any of this, he is debunking myths and bringing about a change – one video at a time!

Follow Revant Himatsingka on Instagram

Braving the odds: Sara Adhikari walks 800 km with her sister to help acid attack survivors

(July 18, 2022) Stretched over 800 km, El Camino, the ancient pilgrim route in northern Spain is on the bucket list of every hiker. And it was no different for Sara Adhikari, the head of content at GiveIndia - the country’s largest online giving platform. So, when her sister, Louise suggested it, she jumped on the idea. However, the 64-year-old didn’t want it to be a walk of just self-discovery and bonding with her sister. She wanted to walk for a cause close to her heart. Deciding to raise awareness and funds for acid attack survivors in India, Sara, and her 62-year-old sister, recently finished their 800-km walk and were also able to raise over ₹5 lakh, which will go for the rehabilitation of acid attack survivors and help with their long-term medical treatment. [caption id="attachment_26952" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Sara Adhikari[/caption] On Sunday, June 26, Louise and Sara reached Santiago, 40 days after starting the trek. While their friends cheered the ladies as they uploaded wonderful pictures on social media, others generously contributed to the cause. As she connects with Global Indian, Sara remembers the emotions after she reached the finishing line. "I was relieved, elated, overcome, overwhelmed… all rolled into one.

ctures on social media, others generously contributed to the cause. As she connects with Global Indian, Sara remembers the emotions after she reached the finishing line. "I was relieved, elated, overcome, overwhelmed… all rolled into one. And, for the first time, we are proud of ourselves. We were also blessed with sunshine in Santiago, where it rains 300 days a year," the hiker shares.

Preparing for the El Camino trail

The 800-km El Camino de Santiago walk in Spain is ‌one of the most ancient and longest trails in the world. Besides being adventurous and having the will to complete the journey, what was required was a lot of planning. After all, the walk would last for weeks! "I bought a couple of books to know more about the kind of training we should do, including people's accounts about walking the route and of course, a list of what little we could carry in our backpacks," says Sara.

Preparations began months in advance. Sara joined a gym to train on the treadmill as much as possible. "If I wasn't there, I went out walking as many mornings as I could, sometimes with a friend to the lakes. But I never managed to walk more than about seven km. That worried me and Louise too - what if I couldn't manage the 20-25 km we would have to walk every day on the Camino?"

[caption id="attachment_26979" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Hiker | Sara Adhikari | Global Indian Sar, with her sister Louise during the El-Camino trek[/caption]

The Bengaluru-based Sara is a former journalist who has worked with various leading publications such as Khaleej Times and Times of India. Her sister, Louise, worked in IT for 37 years and took early retirement about six years ago. Louise lives in Witney, Oxfordshire, with her husband and has taken part in triathlons, done challenges such as the Great Wall of China walk and a fundraiser where she walked 52 miles in 24 hours four years ago. The Camino walk was Louise's idea after she saw the Martin Sheen film called The Way.

Overcoming their fears

After a few weeks of hiking trips in England, Sara and Louise were finally ready in May to start the challenge and headed to Spain. Sara’s two biggest worries before they started on the Camino were the fear of sleeping on the top bunk in hostels/dormitories along the way and how her feet would take in all the walking.

She didn’t have to wait for long to come face to face with her first fear. After the first day of walking, they were in a dormitory. Both of them got top bunks opposite each other. In the middle of the night, Sara had to get down and she slipped on the ladder, fell headlong, and hit the back of her head on the bunk. But it was nothing serious - except for a bump on the back of her head, which meant she couldn’t lie on her back for weeks.

Hiker | Sara Adhikari | Global Indian

On the second day, Sara had some blisters on her feet. However, with all her friends encouraging them on social media, she continued with her mission. After walking for eight days, Louise insisted Sara go to a health centre in the next town. "I was mostly limping the better part of 10 km. The doctor tested my legs and told me to go to a health centre every day to treat them." So Louise walked the rest of the 10 km on that day on her own and Sara took a taxi to the Albergue, where they stayed the night.

The following day too, Louise, walked the next 20 km while Sara walked to the health centre in Logrono and the doctor bandaged her well so she could start walking again. The hiker did join her sister eventually and they finished the rest of the journey together.

Memories from Camino that will stay

Most hikers describe life on the Camilo trail as 'walk, eat, sleep, repeat' - and each day was different for Sara and Louise. The stories of co-walkers' lives inspired the ladies a lot. "We met a newly married man, who had a chronic condition and suffers debilitating pain in his head which causes seizures. But that didn't stop him from walking 800 km alone. While he needed to visit the hospital a couple of times along the way, he didn't want to be bound by his family's legitimate fears of what could happen. He was greeted by his relieved teary-eyed wife when he walked into Santiago, bursting with pride at his achievement,” Sara shares.

[caption id="attachment_26982" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Hiker | Sara Adhikari | Global Indian A picture of the beautiful countryside in the northern Spain that Sara shared on her Instagram[/caption]

The duo also met an American couple in their late 70s who were “walking very fast.” But when they slowed down to chat, Sara learned that the husband has dementia, but still wanted to do the Camino. "The wife never left his side," the hiker says.

Worth the trouble

"It was hardy,” says Sara on the walk, despite all the difficulties they faced. “Doing something for acid attack survivors was on the top of my mind,” she says. GiveIndia had launched a fundraiser for Chhanv Foundation to raise funds for acid attack survivors.

The hiker shares that researching and reading about incidents of cruelty that physically and mentally scarred women for life had deeply disturbed her a lot. “I wanted to create awareness for these survivors, who usually keep a low profile as they find it difficult to face the society that shuns them,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_26983" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Hiker | Sara Adhikari | Global Indian Sara and Louise after finishing the El Camino[/caption]

Thanks to the generosity of friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, and others, Sara’s fundraiser for acid attack survivors has reached the target of Rs 5 lakh and people are donating even now. You too can donate to the cause here.

Follow Sara Adhikari on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

Reading Time: 7 mins

Preeti Aghalayam: Pioneering the global reach of world-class education as IIT Zanzibar’s woman director

(September 15, 2023) Nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Zanzibar, the Bweleo district is a paradise for both nature enthusiasts and academic aspirants. Located just 15 kilometers south of the bustling Zanzibar Town, this coastal gem is chosen by IIT Madras to establish its first international campus, promising world-class education. Come October, and the very first session for IIT-M Zanzibar will begin with 70 students under the guidance of its first-ever woman director Preeti Aghalayam. An alumna of IIT-M, she has scripted history as the first woman to lead an IIT. "For me, the fact that it is the first IIT campus abroad is more important than me being the first woman to head an IIT. It is not just about breaking the glass ceiling for me. It is more of 'once an IITian, always an IITian' for me," Preeti said in an interview. A significant step in the internationalisation of IIT-M, Zanzibar campus offers a four-year bachelor of science degree in data science and artificial intelligence, as well as a two-year master of technology degree in the same discipline. Setting up their first international campus is a proud moment for IIT-M, and the 49-year-old academician echoes the sentiment. "I

l campus is a proud moment for IIT-M, and the 49-year-old academician echoes the sentiment. "I am an alumnus of IIT Madras and doing something of this magnitude for the institute and the country is such a big honour."

[caption id="attachment_44966" align="aligncenter" width="825"] IIT Zanzibar[/caption]

Curiosity alchemised into life-long passion

A professor in the Chemical Engineering department, Preeti's curiosity was always welcomed in her home in Mysuru, where she grew up with a sister, and academician parents - one was a Chemistry professor and another a linguistic scholar. Her inquisitiveness led her to dismantle toy cars and clocks in her playtime, and to satiate her creative side, she would craft mirrors from plain glass. "I was chatty and curious, and our parents were very indulgent. There were simply never too many questions,” she told Hindustan Times. Passionate about science and math, she knew what she wanted to do.

This desire to learn led her to the gates of IIT Madras in 1991 for her BTech in Chemical Engineering, a place she knew she was meant to be at. She later moved to the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2000 for her PhD. Before returning to her alma mater in 2010 as a professor of Chemical Engineering, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at MIT, Cambridge and faculty at IIT Bombay. "The infrastructure in the US was great; the student community, more diverse. But women were still a minority there in the late ’90s, especially in leadership roles. As an Indian woman, I was part of an even smaller minority group,” the Global Indian said.

[caption id="attachment_44967" align="aligncenter" width="774"] Preeti Aghalayam | Global Indian Preeti Aghalayam is the director of IIT Zanzibar.[/caption]

Coming from a family of academicians, she was sure that she wanted to pursue academics as a career path. "I knew what I wanted to do ever since I was in Class 8 and it has been a fulfilling journey." At IIT-M, she worked as a nodal officer within the campus division of the GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions) program, whose primary objective is to recognize and rectify disparities while fostering greater opportunities for women within IIT campuses. Within few years of working at IIT-M, she was recognised as one of the 75 women in STEM for exceptional contribution to the scientific community.

Aiming to promote girls in STEM

However, Preeti is aware of the gender-skewed ratio at the IITs, and how women only form a minority at IITs. It took seven decades since the inception of the first IIT in Kharagpur in 1951 to appoint a woman as the head of the institute. "It is a fact that women have been a minority at IITs. Things have improved a bit in the past few years but the problem still exists and it is at all levels - both at students and faculty. We are about 12 per cent women faculty at IIT Madras. The problem is not about gender inclusivity on campuses but about the whole perception around technology institutions, " she said in an interview.

Preeti Aghalayam | Global Indian

But this is the perception that Preeti is keen to change with IIT Zanzibar campus. "Every time we visited Zanzibar as part of the IIT Madras contingent, we noticed that the representation of women on their side is quite significant. So, it was important that we do this mindfully and our effort will also be to have gender balance in the new campus. There are no rigid norms around it right now but in the coming years, we will definitely work towards achieving it," she added. Preeti understands the importance of women in STEM as she considers women equal to men in skill and intellect, and believes that exclusion of women leads to lost opportunities as a society. She believes the answer lies in holding the space for women - and asking them what they want in terms of opportunities and safe spaces. "Rather than waiting for women to participate, we need to create opportunities for them to speak, conduct surveys to understand roadblocks, reward women for achievements and proactively seek them out while hiring.”

Preeti Aghalayam | Global Indian

With IIT Zanzibar campus, Preeti is turning a new page, giving a taste of world-class education to the world. A marathon runner and a blogger, Preeti is currently juggling her life between Zanzibar and Chennai, where she lives with her husband who is head of a finance and investment firm.

Follow Preeti Aghalayam on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 4 min

Indian influencers: Using social media to create an impact

(December 3, 2022) They are stylish, sassy, funny and witty — meet the Indian influencers who have taken over social media and how. This social media brigade is presenting a slice of India to the world, one post at a time, and is loved by its army of followers. Every post, reel or story is smothered with thousands of likes and comments in no time. Welcome to the world of Instagram and influencers. In a world where millennials are literally living and breathing on the digital platforms, there are a handful of content creators who are putting Brand India on the global map with their creatives. If some are brushing shoulders with the likes of Michelle Obama, others are strutting the red carpets of the biggest international events. Here are five Indian influencers who are living it up on social media and making a difference. Masoom Minawala [caption id="attachment_32389" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Masoom Minawala[/caption] With 1.3 million followers on Instagram, Antwerp-based fashion influencer and entrepreneur Masoom Minawala is a woman on a mission — to make Indian fashion global. Her social media accounts are a testimony to her love for Indian attire, especially saris, and she doesn't shy away from sashaying

fluencer and entrepreneur Masoom Minawala is a woman on a mission — to make Indian fashion global. Her social media accounts are a testimony to her love for Indian attire, especially saris, and she doesn't shy away from sashaying in them on the streets of Europe. Her mantra in fashion is a perfect mix of culture and style, and that's exactly what has made her popular on the gram. A regular at Cannes Film Festival, the 29-year-old was the first fashion blogger from India at Paris Fashion Week. Most recently, Minawala was also the first Indian creator to walk at Milan Fashion Week, modelling for Vaishali S.

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A post shared by Masoom Minawala Mehta (@masoomminawala)

When she began blogging many years ago, it was at its nascent stage, but she knew how to drive traffic and convert her readers into potential customers. And in no time, she made it to the top of the game. So much so that she recently made it to Forbes 30 Under 30 list. With her initiative #SupportIndianDesigners, she is promoting homegrown brands and designers on the global platform. From someone who began her journey as a blogger a decade ago when it wasn't so mainstream to making it to CNN's 20 under 40 list, Minawala has come a long way.

Prajakta Koli

[caption id="attachment_32384" align="aligncenter" width="583"] Indian influencers Prajakta Koli Prajakta Koli has become a force to reckon with.[/caption]

How popular is Prajakta Koli, you ask? This Indian influencer received a personally signed copy of Michelle Obama's Becoming. The social media star had been chosen by YouTube and the UN for Creators of Change, which brought together 50 creators from around the world to create content on social issues — in her segment, Koli was in conversation with Michelle Obama to talk about girls' education. She went on to win the Daytime Emmy Award and the 27-year-old became a global brand in her own right.

From being invited to the United Nations to represent India on World Tolerance Day to being the only Indian to have been invited by Marvel to collaborate with the cast of Captain Marvel, Koli has become a force to reckon with.

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A post shared by Prajakta Koli (@mostlysane)

With over 7 million followers, Prajakta Koli aka MostlySane is a champion for female education, and has been invited by the Gates Foundation for its Goalkeepers Summit. A popular YouTuber, influencer and now an actor, the Forbes 30 Under 30 alumnus is making it big, one video at a time.

Niharika NM

[caption id="attachment_32385" align="aligncenter" width="615"] Indian influencers Niharika NM Niharika NM[/caption]

One million followers in two months, now that's the fastest any content creator has grown on Instagram. But that's LA-based Niharika NM for you. The Indian-American made surviving 2020 a bit easier, thanks to her humor, sass and relatable reels on everyday life. Well before Mindy Kaling came out with Never Have I Ever, social media found a perfect and relatable representation of South Indians in Niharika, and since then people are unable to get enough of her — the influencer's following (read 3.1 million) on social media is proof of it. Born in Chennai and brought up in Bengaluru, the 24-year-old moved to the US, and now her journey to amassing a million followers in such a short span is a case study at California's Chapman University, where she is pursuing her MBA.

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A post shared by Niharika Nm (@niharika_nm)

The content creator, who was named Best Entertainment Influencer at Impact Digital Influencers Awards 2021 and Blogger/Creator of the year 2021 at Women Disruptors Awards 2021, was recently selected by YouTube as one of the global ambassadors for the Creators for Change program.

Diipa Khosla

[caption id="attachment_32386" align="aligncenter" width="598"] Indian influencers Diipa Khosla Diipa Khosla[/caption]

Born in India, studied in Netherlands and worked in the UK, Diipa calls herself a "Global Indian" on her Instagram page. The 30-year-old has many firsts to her credit - including being the first Indian influencer to walk the BAFTA red carpet as well as the Cannes red carpet. But the global influencer is more than just beauty and glamour, and her NGO Post for Change Foundation, which uses social media to bring social change, is proof of it. Post for Change has collaborated with UNICEF for Red Dot Challenge to emphasise the importance of menstrual hygiene.

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A post shared by Diipa Büller-Khosla (@diipakhosla)

A popular Instagrammer with 1.8 million followers, Khosla is using her clout to create healthy dialogues around women empowerment and racial discrimination.

Ruhee Dosani

[caption id="attachment_32387" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Indian influencer Ruhee Dosani Ruhe Dosani[/caption]

Ruhee Dosani just wanted to make cool videos of her 'we deshi' friends dancing to Bollywood songs, but little did she know that one such video would catch the fancy of singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh. Soon, people started landing on her page and as they say, the rest is history. The US-based 'Punjab di kudi' is every desi's delight. Her hilarious spins on brands and group dances with videshi friends have become a hit on social media. Such has been the entertainment quotient of her videos that even Netflix couldn't stop going gaga over her, and regrammed her video. This content creator and influencer is definitely making it big.

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A post shared by Ruhee Dosani (@ruheedosani)

Reading Time: 5 min

Meet Sunil Chhetri the charismatic Indian footballer who recently surpassed Pele’s record of international goals

(October 26, 2021) His diminutive figure shuffles with alacrity across the football field as he dons the mantle of playmaker with ease. Before you know it, Sunil Chhetri scores. The football skipper of the Indian national football team and Bengaluru FC has another special moniker to his name nowadays – of having surpassed Brazilian legend Pele’s record of international goals scored (when India beat Maldives at the SAFF Championship 2021). Pele scored 77 goals for Brazil, Chhetri now has 80 goals under his belt. Yet, ask the purposeful striker, and he would much rather speak about more important things – like the beautiful game, the Bengaluru FC women’s team or the heart of training. The 37-year-old has been wearing the Indian jersey since 2005, and while 2011 was his best season ever with 13 goals, 2021 comes a close second with eight goals, and counting with the season starting soon. In football years, that is an achievement in itself. [embed]https://twitter.com/chetrisunil11/status/1449596701933666304?s=20[/embed] Football in the family The boy born to KB Chhetri (Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Indian Army), and Sushila Chhetri in Secunderabad had a childhood entrenched in the basics of football as his father played for the Indian Army's team, and his

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[embed]https://twitter.com/chetrisunil11/status/1449596701933666304?s=20[/embed]

Football in the family

The boy born to KB Chhetri (Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Indian Army), and Sushila Chhetri in Secunderabad had a childhood entrenched in the basics of football as his father played for the Indian Army's team, and his mother and twin aunts played for Nepal women’s national team. The little Chhetri imbibed tenets of the game as a toddler, and no doubt got lessons that gave him a foundation that has added to his prowess. Similar to how Tiger Woods learned watching his father swing his golf club in the garage as a toddler.

Indian Athlete | Sunil Chhetri | Indian Football Captain

COVID-19 lockdowns and bio bubbles were tough to adapt to but Chhetri was busy using social media to get help. “It was a time when everyone came together in such amazing ways. It was overwhelming to see people go out of their way to help complete strangers. I was happy to lend my social media platforms to some fantastic people who were doing so much to gather resources. They were the real heroes,” says Chhetri.

The Indian captain is the third-highest active international goal scorer. Both Goats - Lionel Messi (80) and Cristiano Ronaldo (115) are ahead of Chhetri in goal scoring, yet the affable and modest skipper would much rather concentrate on his next game, and give his best. With clubs like Mohun Bagan, JCT, Dempo, and international seasons with Sporting Clube de Portugal (also called Sporting Lisbon (B)), Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer during his stellar career, there have been many an international transfer rumour in the past. At the heart of it lies a leader, mentor, and player who believes in being proactive.

Indian Athlete | Sunil Chhetri | Indian Football Captain

The leader in him

Chhetri always has a motivating word for his teammates. Videos of his positive words dot his twitter account, and he himself is extremely driven. His secret? “There is no secret. When you love what you do, you don’t have to search for reasons to turn up. It’s hard work, yes, but it’s all worth it at the end of every training session, every game, every season,” says Sunil to Global Indian from Maldives.

His tryst with BFC has taken the club to greater heights. With 203 appearances, he has scored 101 goals. His joie de vivre is evident in his demeanour and dedication to football. With many accolades, and monikers, he is humble, and would much rather leave his past laurels behind, and look at creating more.

Indian Athlete | Sunil Chhetri | Indian Football Captain

“I’ve been fortunate enough to share the dressing room with some stalwarts of Indian football. Seniors like Bhaichung Bhai and Renedy Singh took me in and showed me the ropes of pro football. There were so many others who I shared dressing rooms with, and looked up to,” says Chhetri, who has always tried to pick the best qualities to emulate from those around him.

Chhetri had also met Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona in Kolkata to kick off a game years ago. He recalled the magic he great brought on his passing. His aura was infectious, and Chhetri was awestruck.

Indian Athlete | Sunil Chhetri | Indian Football Captain

Practice makes perfect

Practice makes perfect, and Sunil’s pre-game routine is like clockwork – now a habit. “When it comes to must-dos, it’s more about resting enough, eating correctly and on time, getting my time with the masseur – regular, boring stuff,” says the footballer.

Different teams, different management styles have only enhanced Chhetri’s adaptability and enterprise. Any favourite managers? The diplomat says he has learned from many, “Football comprises so many aspects and you find these elements in different people.”

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Cheering Team India

The constant motivator, he can be seen egging on Olympians, footballers, teams and other sports people. When Bengaluru FC recently announced starting age-group women’s teams in September 2021, a thrilled Sunil welcomed this move. “It’s fantastic that the club has come forward with the intent to have a full-fledged women’s team. It took a while in the coming, but they wanted to do it right and that’s how Bengaluru FC approaches things. Women’s football needs a big push and we’ve got to do it together. I’m optimistic that things will only get better,” says the skipper.

Chhetri married his girlfriend Sonam Bhattacharya in 2017. Sonam is former Indian international and Mohun Bagan player Subrata Bhattacharya’s daughter. Thus, personally too football made its mark, or match. “Marriage is wonderful. Sonam and I have been together long enough now. You appreciate many aspects as time goes by. It helps a lot that she has had an upbringing that involved football because we footballers can be a very tough species to understand and deal with. More so, when things aren’t going well, she’s been a real blessing, I am grateful for that,” says the husband, who is admittedly not big on talking about himself.

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