Filmmaker | Nisha Pahuja | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryFighting for justice: Filmmaker Nisha Pahuja is giving voice to the unheard

Fighting for justice: Filmmaker Nisha Pahuja is giving voice to the unheard

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(February 1, 2024) When she first started working on the project, Canadian filmmaker Nisha Pahuja’s idea was to make a detailed documentary about the prevalent male chauvinism in India. However, while researching and shooting the documentary in rural Jharkhand, where she followed activists from a local gender equality NGO, the filmmaker met Ranjit, a father seeking justice for his 13-year-old daughter Kiran (a pseudonym), who had been brutally assaulted by three men from their village.

Filmmaker | Nisha Pahuja | Global Indian

“I was very aware of the sensitivities around the story and the way that it had created friction and a fraying of the threads that keep the community together. And it was an issue that we were not from that community. What we tried to do to mitigate any kind of fallout was to build bridges with the leadership of the village — the ward member, the mukhiya — and also the villagers themselves,” the filmmaker said in a recent interview while speaking about her movie To Kill a Tiger – which was recently nominated in the best feature documentary category for the Oscars 2024.

“I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. I was over the moon. Yeah, I just couldn’t believe it,” the Global Indian said, talking about her initial reaction when she got to know that her movie was nominated for the top awards, adding, “This film has work to do in the world – Their story, their struggle, their commitment to justice, the fact that as a man, Ranjit stood by his daughter, which is so rare. The film is about the underdog, a David vs. Goliath story, and it’s a film about love.”

Stories that matter

Born in New Delhi, the filmmaker’s family moved to Canada in the early 1970s, where the filmmaker confessed years later that she was bombarded with a new “western lifestyle”. Like many Indians who grew up abroad, Nisha’s childhood was filled with Bollywood movies and music. However, her love for creativity leaned more towards books and literature. Nisha went on to pursue a bachelor’s in English literature from the University of Toronto, to write fiction. And it was here that her life completely changed.

Filmmaker | Nisha Pahuja | Global Indian

Nisha’s final days at university saw a fateful meeting with producer Geeta Sondhi, leading to her research role on the CBC documentary Some Kind of Arrangement. This experience sparked a love for documentary filmmaking, where she found her passion in amplifying real stories that shed light on larger societal issues. “Real stories attract me. A human being reveals themselves to you in such a profound kind of way. I think I was just really drawn to that, to the idea of real people, real stories, and being able to connect to them,” she said.

After collaborating as a researcher with Canadian filmmakers John Walker and Ali Kazimi, the filmmaker eventually embarked on her own journey in the world of filmmaking. Her 2012 documentary, The World Before Her, explored the complex and conflicting environment for young girls in India by following women participating in the Miss India Pageant as well as girls being trained in the Durga Vahini, the women’s wing of the VHP. While she was a bit apprehensive about the topic eventually, the documentary was quite successful internationally including North America and India.

Motivated by the tragic 2012 Delhi gang rape incident, Nisha took her documentary on a nationwide journey, aiming to make a difference in the realms of women’s rights, as well as address issues such as female foeticide and infanticide. A couple of years later, the filmmaker and her team initiated a four-city tour, collaborating with NGOs and women’s rights organisations. Their objective was to screen the film in underserved communities and engage in profound conversations with diverse audiences. “Change happens in small shifts, often indiscernible, often immeasurable. And sometimes the best way to make that shift is through the simple act of sharing stories,” she said.

Path to glory

After making critically acclaimed and award-winning documentaries, such as Diamond Road, Bollywood Bound, and Being Mortal, the filmmaker wanted to tell a story from the grassroots of India, and that’s how To Kill a Tiger happened. “I’ve been making films in India around gender for quite some time. It’s been a subject that’s been very interesting for me. So, after the Dehli gang rape, I decided that I really wanted to make a film on masculinity and explore why some men become the way they do in that culture,” shared the filmmaker, adding that film took about eight years to make.

While it is true that filmmakers are often in love with their subjects, Nisha shared that she was deeply inspired by Kiran’s courage while she was shooting the film. “She’s so compelling. While I was interviewing her for the documentary, she said, adding, “She watched the film with her parents and she didn’t want to be hidden. She wanted to be celebrated. When I asked her why she chose to come forward in this way, she said it’s because when she watched the film, she couldn’t believe how brave she was. She was so proud of the 13-year-old girl that she loves. And that’s the girl she wants to celebrate.”

Already in search of a new subject, and a new story, the filmmaker is quite hopeful that the movie will win hearts even at Oscars. “I’ll take Ranjit and his daughter to the Academy Awards. They are the reason we are where we are. It’s because of them,” the filmmaker shared.

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Published on 01, Feb 2024

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Sanjay Nekkanti: Leading India’s satellite revolution through Dhruva Space

(August 8, 2023) Sanjay Nekkanti built his first satellite when he was 19-years-old and knew then that it was what he wanted to do. In 2012, he co-founded Dhruva Space, which, ten years on, remains a forerunner in end-to-end space technology solutions, for customers who want to launch and own space assets. In 2022, the company made history as the first privately-owned Indian company in the country to build a satellite by itself. Its two nanosatellites, Thybolt-1 and Thybolt-2, were launched by ISRO. Today, the Indian space-tech industry is booming; valued at around US $8 billion in 2023, it is projected to be worth over ten times that by 2040. Dhruva Space is one of the handful of space-tech startups on the scene today, even rarer still, one of the few companies worldwide who provide end-to-end solutions, from space system engineering and satellite launches to ground support, serving both civilian and defense customers globally. In May 2023, Hyderabad's Dhruva Space successfully conducted its third space mission in less than a year, launching two types of Satellite Orbital Deployers and a Radio Frequency module aboard ISRO's PSLV-C55. The mission, which included testing the DSOD-3U and DSOD-6U units for larger CubeSats and delayed

er CubeSats and delayed satellite deployment, marked a significant step towards Dhruva Space's goal to have payloads on every ISRO-PSLV mission.

[caption id="attachment_43344" align="aligncenter" width="586"] Sanjay Nekkanti | Global Indian Sanjay Nekkanti is a co-founder of Dhruva Space[/caption]

“Typically having a space mission in orbit entails working with multiple suppliers. This has a huge impact on cost, reliability and turnaround times. A little context: the timing of the vitalisation of India’s Private Space Sector has been integral, considering there are many small satellite requirements globally. The projections are estimated to be in the tens of thousands in number; so, in order to meet any of those demands, the global supply chain needs to be robust and strong,” says Dhruva Aerospace CEO Sanjay Nekkanti, in conversation with Global Indian.

Dhruva Space works actively in the ecosystem with 400-odd companies that have been building small yet important components for the Indian Space Programme for many decades now. By working with these vendors, Dhruva Space delivers missions faster and economically without impacting reliability. This is the need of the hour in the age where customers are not looking at sending just one or two satellites to Space but rather considering sending dozens of satellites to Space, to improve satellites-enabled services.

[caption id="attachment_43346" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Dhruva Space | Global Indian Dhruva Space's 3U and 6U Satellite Orbital Deployers and Orbital Link onboard ISRO’s PSLV-C55[/caption]

Starting out amid challenges

In 2012, during the early days of Dhruva Space, the Indian market was not very receptive to space entrepreneurs, who had very little access to capital. The private space sector was seen as a high-risk domain with little to no guarantee of a reward. However, Nekkanti himself had been part of fledgling efforts, as part of the SRM University Team that built SRMSAT, a student-made satellite which was launched in 2011 on board the PSLV-C18. He went on to pursue a dual-degree Master's programme in Space Engineering in Europe, and was already incubating his desire to turn India into a satellite capital of the world. To this end, he founded Dhruva Space in 2012. Six years later, he was joined by long-time friends, Chaitanya Dora Surapureddy, Abhay Egoor and Krishna Teja Penamakuru, as co-founders. Also in 2012, the market was segmented only into academia – which was academic institutions building small satellites – and Government which is Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

[caption id="attachment_43347" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Dhruva Space | Global Indian Dhruva Space team at the launch of their Orbital Link and Satellite Orbital Deployers aboard ISRO's PSLV-C55[/caption]

Nekkanti recalls, “Access to capital in 2012 was very difficult, but as the dialogue around satellite and space technologies have evolved over the years, Dhruva Space has raised USD 9 million to date; and we are supported by institutional and angel funds.”

Milestones and lessons

Since June 2022, Dhruva Space has completed three Space missions - in its endeavours to make Space accessible frequently and cost-effectively on a reliable basis. They have Space-qualified three classes of their Satellite Orbital Deployers; these mechanisms are integrated onto the launch vehicle and dispense satellites into orbit; they have also launched Thybolt-1 and Thybolt-2 cubesats, each weighing around 800 grams.

“These satellites have completed more than 7,000 orbits. The local vendor ecosystem has been a big part of these successes; in Hyderabad, there are around 150 small businesses, vetted by the Indian Space Program, that make crucial Space-grade components for various spacecraft and also offer testing facilities that are important to our R&D processes. We actively work with them for all our missions and projects till date.” Nekkanti shares.

Dhruva Space | Global Indian

Over the years, the founders have had their share of challenges. Abhay Egoor, CTO says, “As a co-founder, I have learned that team is the biggest and most important factor in overcoming most challenges. They’re the ones who will be with you through the whole execution phase of an idea; ideation is one part but to realise it is a different ball game!”

This is amply illustrated in the fact that all the four co-founders possess different skill-sets and come from different backgrounds. Over the years, they have learnt invaluable learnings through hands-on experience.

Nekkanti reminiscences about the time in 2019 when they worked on a satellite design for 18 months. “What we had come up with was perfection except for one major flaw; there was no design repeatability, meaning making this again would have been near impossible. This took a lot away from the company’s USP in that we would eventually launch constellations of satellites. So we had to go back to the drawing board to ensure the product and company’s long-term and future value. We learned that sometimes, product innovation sometimes sees multiple steps forward and just as many steps back – but this is a part of the journey.”

Firing Ahead

Due to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), there is a thriving aerospace ecosystem in Hyderabad.

The State of Telangana also hosts a treasure trove of reputed educational and research institutions (including the IIT-Hyderabad and BITS Pilani Hyderabad among others) and the start-up partnered with the institutes for Industry-Academia collaborative-framework to not just help empower faculty in space engineering fields, but to also encourage more students to foray into these fields with more confidence and the right support structures.

Dhruva Space | Global Indian

Krishna Teja Penamakuru, COO, shares, “There is a thriving vendor network supplying integral parts but there is no company building products and IP using it. We are looking to contribute to this ecosystem by building indigenous products and to create infrastructure and/or facilities where we see gaps.”

Over the next two quarters, Dhruva Space’s primary focus is to undertake technology demonstrations for as many of their subsystems and satellites as possible. Egoor states, “From a business perspective, we shall also be enabling our customers to launch their payloads on our deployers. This is in addition to expanding our global customer base for our flagship products such as the space-grade solar panels and satellite platforms.”

Also, over the next 18-24 months, Dhruva Space shall be observing the expansion of its capabilities and infrastructure with the setup of a world-class manufacturing facility for small satellites. They have partnered with French satellite service provider Kinéis for an upcoming mission; the partnership has been recognised by the French Space Agency CNES. the joint Space project will extend deployment of solutions worldwide, and notably in India, for such crucial applications as smart agriculture and fishing, wildfire prevention, humanitarian convoy and wildlife tracking, monitoring of energy networks and infrastructures, transport tracking and logistics – proving how important satellite technologies are to everyday life.

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A rising phenomenon: Indian scholars leading the way in education worldwide

(July 25, 2023) The last few weeks have seen the appointment of several Indian Americans as the heads of various reputed education institutions. Interestingly, the Indian diaspora, on a broader scale, is garnering growing recognition for its exceptional prowess in the realm of education. Noteworthy instances abound, with scholars of Indian origin assuming prestigious leadership roles in renowned institutions such as Harvard Business School, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University. In recent years, this trend has become increasingly prominent, with notable Indians assuming the helm of some of the most esteemed and expansive educational establishments worldwide. Indian Americans have assumed leadership positions in over a dozen prominent universities within the United States alone. Considering that this community constitutes barely one percent of the entire U.S. population, such a remarkable representation potentially signals the advent of an emerging trend. Global Indian puts the spotlight on some of the most prominent Indian personalities currently making significant strides in the global education sector. Professor Sandeep Krishnamurthy, Cal Poly Pomona An esteemed alumnus of IIT Mumbai, Professor Sandeep Krishnamurthy has recently assumed the prestigious position of Singelyn Family Dean at the College of Business Administration and Singelyn Graduate School of Business at Cal Poly

us position of Singelyn Family Dean at the College of Business Administration and Singelyn Graduate School of Business at Cal Poly Pomona. His academic journey includes a post-graduate diploma in business management from Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur, followed by a Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Arizona.

Scholars | Global Indian

In 1996, Dr. Krishnamurthy joined the esteemed faculty at UW (University of Washington) and, in 2009, took on the role of director for the business program. He dedicated himself to elevating the program to the stature of a separate school, a goal achieved in 2012 when he was appointed as the founding dean. Throughout his illustrious 25-year tenure at UW Bothell, he has achieved numerous significant milestones and has become a well-known figure not only on campus but also within the regional business community.

In June 2023, Professor Krishnamurthy took on the leadership role at one of the largest business schools in the United States of America. Beyond his institutional contributions, he is recognised as a published author, sought-after conference speaker, expert witness, and media commentator. Notably, he has also initiated three highly regarded speaker series – Meet the CEO, Frontiers of Global Business, and the Nintex Leadership Breakfast Series – which have become prominent events on the local business calendar.

Professor Renu Khator, University of Houston

In 1973, a young Renu embarked on a journey from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to Purdue University, where she pursued her master's degree in political science. Although initially fraught with nervousness, she gradually discovered her true potential and, in subsequent years, earned both her doctorate in political science and her doctorate in public administration in 1975 and 1985, respectively.

Academician | Renu Khator | Global Indian

From 1985 onwards, the scholar commenced a distinguished 22-year tenure at the University of South Florida, where she held a series of increasingly prominent roles, culminating in her appointment as provost and senior vice president of the institution. In 2007, she emerged as the sole-finalist for the prestigious dual-position as chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston, eventually becoming the third individual to simultaneously hold these esteemed roles.

As chancellor of the University of Houston System, the scholar bears the responsibility of overseeing four distinguished institutions of higher learning, collectively catering to nearly 71,000 students. Under her watch, the University has experienced a transformative period of growth, marked by a remarkable $1-billion campus construction program, which has given rise to impressive developments such as the 40,000-seat TDECU Stadium, an expansion of student residence hall capacity to accommodate 8,000 students and an $80-million expansion and renovation of the student center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O73DJulaxg

Renu's remarkable achievements have not gone unnoticed, as she has been inducted into the prestigious Texas Women's Hall of Fame and has received the esteemed Excellence in Leadership Awards from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the President of the Year Award from the Association of College Unions International, and the President's Award from the National Association of Student Affairs Administrators. In a momentous recognition of her contributions to the global Indian community, the scholar was bestowed the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India, Dr. Pranab Mukherjee, the highest honour accorded to overseas Indians.

Professor Vishal Gaur, Cornell School of Management

His journey began when even as a child, he found happiness in teaching and educating his peers. That journey still continues. The IIT Delhi alumnus Vishal Gaur was named as the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management in Cornell University in May 2023.

As associate dean for MBA programs from 2014-19, the scholar launched the Digital Technology Immersion, in which MBA candidates and students earning their MPS in data science or applied statistics develop skills in coding, databases, and advanced analytics and learn to leverage them to tackle challenges faced by leading companies, according to the university release.

Scholars | Global Indian

The scholar also created the Master of Science in Business Analytics program offered through eCornell, which provides working professionals a hands-on opportunity to learn about data analytics tools essential to analysing and optimising business decisions. His research focuses on data-driven analysis of problems in supply chains, retailing, e-commerce, and marketplace operations, and his work was recognised with the Wickham Skinner Early Career Research Accomplishments Award from the Production and Operations Management Society in 2006, the release stated.

Professor Subra Suresh, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Having graduated from the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Professor Subra Suresh earned a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1979. Following his postdoctoral research tenure at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, he assumed the position of Assistant Professor of Engineering at Brown University in December 1983.

[caption id="attachment_33010" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian Prof Suresh with former President of USA, Barack Obama[/caption]

The scholar's contributions in his field garnered him distinguished recognition, notably the prestigious NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, an accolade bestowed upon him by the White House. Additionally, he was honored with the 1982 Hardy Medal, lauding his exceptional promise for a prosperous career in the expansive domain of metallurgy as a metallurgist under the age of 30. Moreover, the American Ceramic Society bestowed upon him the 1992 Ross Coffin Purdy Award in recognition of the best paper published in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society in 1990.

In June 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Professor Subra to assume the role of Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), a prestigious appointment that received unanimous confirmation from the U.S. Senate in September of the same year. As the head of the NSF, an independent federal agency with a substantial annual budget of $7 billion, the scholar's leadership was marked by a profound commitment to scientific integrity and the advancement of technological benefits for the American people. Furthermore, he actively championed increased opportunities for women, minorities, and underrepresented groups in the field of science and engineering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsBDGYXmjE4

At present, Professor Subra holds the esteemed position of President at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Under his visionary stewardship, the scholar has initiated a transformative endeavor to develop the NTU campus into a cutting-edge "smart" campus, replete with eco-friendly structures, integration of robotics, and the implementation of driverless electric buses. His tireless efforts continue to leave a lasting impact on the realms of education and technological advancement.

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Deb’ut of a vegan icing: Cake artiste Prachi learnt from MBE Eddie Spence

(April 18, 2022) Growing up, Prachi Dhabal Deb was enchanted with Enid Blyton, dreaming of castles and royalty and magic. "My mother would laugh and tell me that life wasn't a fairytale," she recalls, smiling during a conversation with Global Indian. Today, when her mother sees her creating those castles with their regal inhabitants in the cakes she bakes, she tells her daughter, "It all comes from the imagination you had as a 10-year-old!" The Pune-based, international cake artiste has just made it to the World Book of Records, London, for a 100-kilo replica of the Milan Cathedral. Towering at well over six feet in height and three feet, ten inches wide, the cake is also completely vegan. But then, this is only the latest achievement in a long and highly decorated career - in 2019, Prachi was awarded the Cake Masters Royal Icing award in Birmingham. Her achievement - creating the highest number of vegan, eggless, royal icing structures. [caption id="attachment_23453" align="aligncenter" width="828"] Prachi Dhabal Deb, cake artiste[/caption] Prachi has been featured in Forbes India among the WBR Corp UK Ltd 45 Under 45 – India edition list. She was felicitated by the governor of Maharashtra at Bharat Leadership

I_2-1.jpg" alt="" width="828" height="550" /> Prachi Dhabal Deb, cake artiste[/caption]

Prachi has been featured in Forbes India among the WBR Corp UK Ltd 45 Under 45 – India edition list. She was felicitated by the governor of Maharashtra at Bharat Leadership Awards (2020). She has also featured as Femina’s Most Powerful (2021). The cake artiste has been honoured among top 10 cake artists of India in 2017 and 2018 by Cake Masters Magazine.

Prachi's fascination with European, Victorian and Indian architecture has only grown with time. She studies the monuments and meticulously replicates them by hand. Her hard work has paid off. Her business is 10 years old but Prachi has already established herself as one of the country's leading cake artists. She specialises in traditional Victorian icing - with her own twist - it's completely vegan. This is worth noting because traditional royal icing, which dates back to the 1600s, is also known as 'Egg White' icing. The meringue-style frosting is made by gradually sifting sugar into egg whites and a dash of lemon juice and beaten until stiff peaks form. Prachi's vegan variety is made in keeping with traditional Indian food choices and the market.

The 10-year-milestone

The year 2022 marks a decade in the industry. "When I began, being a cake artiste was not really considered a proper career choice, so it has been quite a journey for me. My graph has gone up and I have received so much appreciation," she says. "Since it's a special year, I want to celebrate my journey and see how much I have accomplished as an artiste," she adds.

Cake Artist | Prachi Dhabal Deb | Global Indian

That wasn't all. Prachi also wanted to put her product to the test. Victorian icing is known to harden after it dries, making it ideal for cake design. Prachi was keen to see if her vegan variety would "endure massive execution." That is why, she says, she "replicated the Milan Cathedral. The idea was just to celebrate but eventually, the structure became so impressive in terms of its size and shape that friends and family coaxed me to apply to the World Book of Records, London." The recognition has only made her milestone year that much more special.

The royal legacy...

Victorian icing took on its regal flavour when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. "The icing used on their cake became known as royal icing," she says. "It's a simple-looking white icing, just like most other varieties but the interesting part is that it sometimes dries up and hardens, giving the cake a special crunch."

Prachi's vegan royal icing has fetched her many awards, all of which have been placed in her studio, a testament of her milestones. "I could have created structures with cake inside but the shelf life would have been reduced to 10-12 days and I wanted to preserve the memories for years and years," she says.

Cake Artist | Prachi Dhabal Deb | Global Indian

The icing structure that brought her a place in the World Book of Records, London, took about a month to complete. "A lot of planning and a lot of geometry done on paper happens first," Prachi explains. "Only then does the execution happen."

Switching paths

The only child of Anuradha and businessman Rajan Singh, Prachi's early career inclinations were towards finance, accounts and economics. It resulted in her spending a short stint as a financial analyst in a multinational firm. "The artist in me soon came to the fore and I knew I had to switch careers," Prachi says. "I had been very creative as a child, I loved to paint. And I have been baking since I was 10 years old, when I would make cupcakes during my summer vacations," she reveals. The doting daughter-in-law of a Rajput family with a royal legacy (Parmar Dynasty) in West Bengal has established herself as one of the leading cake artists in the country.

Cake Artist | Prachi Dhabal Deb | Global Indian

Her talents didn't escape the attention of her supportive friends and family, who advised her to take it up as a career. "That's how the shift happened," says the cake artiste. She made her foray into the cake industry in 2012, with a diploma in baking in confectionary in India. She went on to study specialised sugarcraft courses from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand. "I was exploring different genres of cake decoration and was attracted to royal icing," Prachi says. She went to London, not once, but twice, to learn from Sir Eddie Spence, MBE, a master of the craft. Sir Eddie has decorated cakes for the British Royal family. "His encouraging words instilled great confidence in me."

The teacher, collaborator, and judge of cake competitions

Prachi has a product collaboration with Sugarin (authorised seller of cake décor products). Her hand piped cakes are available across popular online platforms, nationally and internationally. She also teaches cake and cookie decorations and has thousands of students.

Cake Artist | Prachi Dhabal Deb | Global Indian

Prachi looks up to her mentor, Sir Eddie Spence MBE as inspiration. Whereas other stalwarts like Chef Nicholas Lodge inspire her too. “I learn something or other from everyone I come across, even my nine-year-old teaches me so many things,” smiles Prachi.

Times, they are a-changing - for the better

Ten years ago, everything was a challenge, Prachi says. "Getting raw materials and resources in India was so tough. Huge import duties were imposed, making the whole venture prohibitively expensive," Prachi says. Companies have emerged over the last few years to fill the gap, Sugarin being one of them.

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"Everything is now made in India, which has drastically brought down costs and added more variety. Not only this, the product manufacturers listen to the feedback of what we cake artists give them. That’s why many people are coming forward and taking it up as a profession,” she adds.

Life around loved ones

Prachi feels fortunate that people around her have been very appreciative of her craft. She holds her late father-in-law, who passed away a few months ago, in very high regard for being supportive of even her little achievements throughout.

She loves traveling and short getaways with her husband, Pranabesh Dhabal Deb, an employee of Infosys, and son, Shrihaan. “Music, and spending time with loved ones is very refreshing. I am a good cook much to the surprise and excitement of my friends and cousins who associate me only with cake,” she smiles.

Cake Artist | Prachi Dhabal Deb | Global Indian

“My job is quite sorted when it comes to my son’s birthday as he is particular about what taste the birthday cake should have but hardly has any demands of design or decoration,” chuckles the creative mom.

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Bike-packing across Italy to delivering a ‘Ghoomer,’ actress Saiyami Kher is a go-getter

(September 4, 2023) Saiyami Kher has been a die-hard cricket buff and Sachin Tendulkar fan all her life. Growing up, she self-taught herself the sport by watching him on screen and later went onto becoming a state-level cricket player. She even bunked college to watch Tendulkar play and perhaps had the loudest "Sachin….Sachin” chant from the stands in the stadium. So recently, when the ‘god of cricket’ requested Saiyami to show him the now iconic “Ghoomer” bowling style, she gladly obliged. “Meeting Sachin Tendulkar was a dream and I never imagined it would come true. Eventually, I met my hero, my inspiration,” smiles actress Saiyami Kher, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_44472" align="aligncenter" width="548"] Saiyami Kher[/caption] Saiyami Kher has embodied cricket like no other in her latest release, Ghoomer, with everyone lauding her earnest and sincere performance as Anina, a young girl who’s aspirations are broken when she meets with an accident and goes onto become a paraplegic cricketer. She recently hosted a screening where the ‘god of cricket’ himself saw the film and even took to social media praising the film. “Unknowingly, Sachin Tendulkar taught me how to live, work hard, stay grounded and never give up,” says Saiyami, whose

ently hosted a screening where the ‘god of cricket’ himself saw the film and even took to social media praising the film. “Unknowingly, Sachin Tendulkar taught me how to live, work hard, stay grounded and never give up,” says Saiyami, whose recent movie has struck a chord with audiences for its awe-inspiring message and storytelling. So what did Sachin have to say about her ‘Ghoomer’ style ? “He was speechless,” says Saiyami, who is on cloud nine with her ‘Ghoomer’ success.

Ghoomer & Yuvi

Saiyami also took notes from cricketer Yuvraj Singh to prepare for her role as a cricketer with disability in Ghoomer. “A lot of preparation– physical and mental– went into creating the character. Yuvraj Singh helped me prepare mentally for the role,” says Saiyami, who believes that a sportsperson does not just prepare physically but also mentally. Ghoomer is inspired by the story of Karoly Takacs, the late Hungarian right-hand shooter who won two Olympic gold medals with his left hand after his other hand was seriously injured.

She also trained with former cricketer Murali Karthik for her role. Since she played the role of a left-handed cricketer, she preferred a left-handed batsman and bowler to train with. “Murali was a specialist slow left arm orthodox bowler known for his loopy trajectory and ability to spin and bounce. He was the perfect cricketer to train with,” says Saiyami, who studied at St Xavier’s college, Mumbai.

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Movies

Primarily working in Telugu and Hindi films, Saiyami, the grand daughter of actress Usha Kiran, made her acting debut with Telugu film Rey in 2015. She followed it up with Hindi movie Mirzya the following year. In 2020, she appeared in the web series ‘Breathe’ and the next year, she was starred alongside Tollywood star Nagarjuna in the action film ‘Wild Dogs.’ Born in Nashik, Saiyami’s father Advait Kher was a renowned supermodel while her mother Uttara Mhatre was former Miss India. Saiyami’s sister Sanskruti is a Marathi actress.

Bike packing in Italy

The Nashik born shot a first-of-its kind travel documentary on bikepacking in Italy in July this year. The actress rides a mountain bike to cross the Italian mountain terrain while she shoots the documentary. “I took up this project owing to my love for sport and adventure, which I am extremely close to. I spent 2.5 weeks covering different landscapes of Italy including towns, mountains, beachside and countryside,” informs the 30 year old.

She says the documentary aims to bring forth awareness of the new trend of bike packing to India. “Bike packing is a favourite amongst adrenaline lovers who move across a country with a bicycle and a bag whilst exploring and taking short breaks in between. This has been one of the best trips of my life and a project I was most excited about,” says Saiyami, who was awarded with ‘superstar of tomorrow’ (female) by Stardust in 2016.

Saiyami shot the documentary along with actor and television personality Rannvijay Singha and three more cyclists. “We cycled over 300 kms. The distance wasn’t the problem. I was worried about the luggage while cycling. I did my first pass which was around 2000 metres in a day. And we climbed around 4000 metres in all,” informs the adventure freak.

Saiyami believes that exploring a place is best when you can do it on a cycle. “I have bike packed before from Berlin to Prague and fell in love with exploring places on a cycle. Which is why I couldn’t wait to do this bike packing trip in Italy. On tough days my motivation was finishing in order to eat pizzas and gelato,” laughs Saiyami.

The most challenging parts of the ride were the climbs. The hot weather, rain and hailstorms made it extremely difficult. “I have been used to riding on flat terrains. Gravel biking was something new to me. Nonetheless, it was fun,”says the actress, who is used to climbing mountains, swimming in lakes and go trekking in Himalayas ever since she was a child.

Before the project, Saiyami trained hard but her shoots would come in between. “I would go to the hills for training. I also had a stationary trainer bike at home. But it was not enough and I wish I had more time to prepare well,” she says.

Coming soon, Agni

So what more movies are in the pipeline? “I am looking forward to Agni, where I play the role of a fire fighter,” informs Saiyami, who received the best actor award (female) for her role in web series ‘Choked’ at the Filmfare OTT awards in 2020. She was last seen in the movie ‘8 A.M. Metro’.

She has plans when it comes to adventure too. “I have been training to do the Ironman. But due to work commitments, it got postponed twice. Hopefully, I will do it soon,” says Saiyami, who is learning snowboarding and kite surfing. “Adventure keeps me alive,” she adds.

Follow Saiyami Kher on Instagram

An altruistic ‘liver’y: Dr Tom Cherian enhances liver care across India

(February 17, 2022) He is known for performing the first 10 liver transplants in Andhra Pradesh. This dedicated doctor is also a charitable powerhouse. Giving liver care state-of-the-art facilities across India is an aspiration he is slowly achieving. The enterprising Dr Tom Cherian, with a 30-year career, has 20 exhaustive years as a liver transplantation specialist. With many firsts to his credit, the doctor was also behind the first successful split liver transplant in AP too. Called a “Legend in Surgery” by a national newspaper, Dr Cherian has so far published 84 papers, done 100 international presentations, and has many awards and grants to his name. [caption id="attachment_20045" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Dr Cherian has performed 675 liver transplants in India and the UK.[/caption] He continued his parent’s legacy Founder, MD, South Asian Liver Institute, Hyderabad, the Hippocrates oath is at the heart of his long and brilliant career. The doctor, who was in the UK for 17 years, decided to come back (2014), and serve the country. A decision that was tough to make. UK saw him at the crux of cutting-edge medical advances. Twelve years on basic and specialist surgical work with the all-important liver transplantation specialty at Queen Elizabeth

was tough to make. UK saw him at the crux of cutting-edge medical advances. Twelve years on basic and specialist surgical work with the all-important liver transplantation specialty at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s College Hospital came next, Europe’s best liver transplant centre.

The happily married surgeon with a stellar career was happy to see his children study in the best London schools. He himself studied at Baldwin Boy’s High School, then Christ College (in Bengaluru).

The boy, who studied at King's College London later, has always wanted to emulate his father. That responsibility to take forward his cardiac surgeon Padma Bhushan awardee father’s legacy and his pediatrician mother was very important. His parents, who passed away, still guide him on his altruistic initiatives. August shoes to fill, Dr Cherian’s father, Dr Jacob Cherian won the Padma Bhushan for charitable work in Tamil Nadu. “After him, I am the president of the charitable missionary society that serves without making a penny. There are good people who take care of day-to-day functioning of all - an engineering college, a polytechnic, two nursing colleges, an arts college, and two schools, catering to over 6,000 students. There is also a 275-bed hospital,” he informs in an interview with Global Indian.

Leading by example

The magnanimous personality of his father finds life in the doctor’s philosophy. Dr Cherian now nurtures the dream of ushering in the most advanced and cheaper liver care facilities across India. “It is ridiculous that out of 29 states, only seven states can boast of liver transplantation facilities. India has rudimentary liver care systems. In cardiology, we are one of the best but in liver care, we are worst. There is a great need for good quality liver care services. I am hoping to achieve this through the South Asian Liver Institute. If you can have an airport everywhere why not liver transplantation services?” he questions.

“Ever since childhood, I wanted to be a surgeon,” smiles the good doctor, who has performed 675 liver transplants, 400 in the UK and 275 in India. To his credit are also over 250 complex liver cancer resections. His first stint in India was as head of liver transplantation and liver surgeries at Global Hospital, Hyderabad. Two years on, he became national director of liver surgery and transplantation, Care Group.

[caption id="attachment_20046" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Dr Tom Cherian | liver transplant | state of the art healthcare Highly acclaimed for his work, Dr Cherian was named the 'Legend in Liver Transplant Surgery'[/caption]

Liver care for charity

Charitable initiatives are ingrained in him, and this led him to do his first liver transplants at Hyderabad’s prestigious government hospitals - Osmania Medical College, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Science, and GB Pant Hospital for free; serving the lowest strata for five years at a stretch. “At Nizam’s, I slowly trained people, and am now a professor there,” he mentions.

Playing a pivotal role in making liver surgery available to the common man across India, 13 liver clinics were started as specialist liver transplantation facilities were non-existent – at Siliguri, Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, etc. “Eastern India has very poor liver care facilities,” he observes. Creating a network for appropriate medical guidance, and cost-effective treatment has been his sole objective.

“What worries me is that even when I am using the latest techniques used in hospitals like Kings College London, hundreds and thousands of people are dying as they are unaware of the distinct options of care available,” he explains. Cost-effectiveness is also a huge challenge, something he tackled on a war footing. “I brought down liver transplantation costs from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 21 lakh at the Care Group. At South Asian Liver Institute, we have designed treatment in such a manner that room costs are saved. We do as few hospital admissions as possible, and let patients go back after surgery,” says Dr Cherian.

The institute has been in partnerships with the Wockhardt Group and Manipal Group, who have in turn outsourced liver care services for entire Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, respectively. Apart from these, there are associations with other medical chains to help penetrate markets in northern Karnataka and Telangana now.

[caption id="attachment_20044" align="alignnone" width="3744"] Dr Tom Cherian | liver transplant | state of the art healthcare Dr Cherian with his family[/caption]

Having a doctor as his wife ensures medical talk is dinner table conversation at the Cherian home. He met his wife, Dr Lekha Cherian, a gastroenterologist in London. The couple has two boys, Ryan and Aiden. The older one is studying biomedical engineering at Oxford.

Away from his surgical scrubs, he has a creative gene too. He loves strumming the guitar. “I enjoy jam sessions with my boys who are good at the piano. I am a semi-professional photographer, and have sold photographs to some UK magazines too,” he concludes.

Follow Dr Tom Cherian on LinkedIn

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