Global IndianstoryKarthik Subramanium: Indian-origin photographer rewrites nature’s saga, wins Picture of the Year award

Karthik Subramanium: Indian-origin photographer rewrites nature’s saga, wins Picture of the Year award

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(August 23, 2023) In a world where the ordinary often eclipses the extraordinary, San Francisco-based Karthik Subramaniam emerged as a true harbinger of the extraordinary. With his heart attuned to the rhythm of nature, he embarked on a week-long journey to the distant shores of Alaska with his favourite camera by his side. Little did he know that this journey would help him capture a stunning image of three bald-eyed eagles that would make him win Nat Geo’s Picture of the Year 2023 contest.

The stage of his revelation was set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, a haven where the skies seem to embrace the earth. The preserve, renowned as the grandest congregation of bald eagles on the planet, served as the canvas on which Karthik would paint its masterpiece.

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With the sun’s rays casting a spell on the land, he found himself standing near the fringes of the waters on the very last day of his trip. With only a few hours left before the last ferry, he waited for the perfect opportunity with his camera resting on a branch. That’s when he heard a commotion and saw through his lens that an incoming eagle swooped in, intimidating its current resident, and took the prime spot. Amidst the chaos of feathered rivalry, Karthik seized the moment, capturing the sublime chaos in its raw, untamed form. In that fleeting moment, his lens transformed into a portal, bridging the realms of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Paying a tribute to George RR Martin’s novel A Dance of Dragons, he named the image Dance of the Eagles and submitted it to National Geographic Pictures of the Year contest. Selected from among 5000 entries across four categories – Nature, People, Places, and Animals, the picture was published in the May issue of Nat Geo magazine. “Every year in November, hundreds of bald eagles gather at Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines, Alaska, to feast on salmon. I visited there last two Novembers to photograph them,” he told the magazine.

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These annual visits helped him gain insight into the behavourial rhythms of the birds. “For example, when an eagle drags salmon to a dry spot, other eagles in the area would inevitably fly there to claim their share, and that leads to chaotic action. They also seemed to have some favourite spots to hang out, and usually, commotion ensues when an eagle wants an already occupied spot. This photo was taken during one such commotion,” he added.

Karthik Subramanium

A software engineer by profession, Karthik took up photography as a hobby. For the longest time he has been photographing landscapes and it was only in 2020, when like many he was grounded in his home, that he started experimenting with wildlife photography. His passion led him to wildlife reserves and forests. He journeyed to the Point Reyes National Seashore, the voyage a testament to his unquenchable thirst for the perfect shot, and soon parks became his sanctuaries. Sharing an anecdote, he revealed that upon hearing that two bald eagles were nesting on top of an elementary school two hours away from his home, he visited every weekend to capture them on his lens on their way out to hunt. The trial period paid off as he learned patience, something that helped him capture the award-winning photo.

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His journey from the vibrant streets of San Francisco to the wild landscapes of Alaska encapsulates the essence of a soul driven by an insatiable love for photography. Through observation and enthusiasm, he harnessed the art of storytelling through his lens. His triumph in winning the prestigious National Geographic’s annual Pictures of the Year award is not just an accolade, but a reminder that in the pursuit of a dream, passion and perseverance illuminate the path to greatness. Karthik Subramaniam, the photographer, has not only captured images; he has captured the heart of photography itself.

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Published on 23, Aug 2023

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Samir Lakhani: Saving lives in developing countries through soap recycling

(February 6, 2024) Interested in sustainability, 23-year-old Samir Lakhani found himself on a muddy trail in one of the villages of Cambodia in 2014 when he caught the sight of a woman bathing her child with laundry detergent. A young volunteer from Pennsylvania, US, Samir was shocked and disturbed. "Something as basic as soap was missing in the majority households of rural Cambodians," Samir tells Global Indian. Keen to bring about a change, he found his solution in Eco Soap Bank which supplies recycled soap to the developing world with a mission to promote basic hygiene, restore health, and employ marginalised women. Started in 2014, the non-profit venture now has recycling centres in five countries - Cambodia, Nepal, Tanzania, South Africa, and Sierra Leone. "Each year 25,000 metric tonnes of soap bars make it to the landfills," informs Samir who has been able to save 4.5 million kilos of soap bars from entering the landfill with Eco Soap Bank. "Moreover, we have provided soap to over 9 million people in 30 countries so far," adds the social entrepreneur who was on the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. [caption id="attachment_48810" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Samir Lakhani at Eco-Soap Bank headquarter in Siem

[caption id="attachment_48810" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Samir Lakhani | Global Indian Samir Lakhani at Eco-Soap Bank headquarter in Siem Reap, Cambodia.[/caption]

The journey that changed it all

With their roots in Gujarat, his mom was born in Tanzania while his dad is from Uganda, who like other South Asians had to face sudden expulsion at the hands of dictator Idi Amin in 1972. He relocated to the US where he studied at Brown University. His mom, a paediatrician, travelled as a youngster and after studying in Iran for some time, she secured admission to the University of Pennsylvania. Growing up, Samir heard stories about Africa from his parents, which left him intrigued. "I was eager to see what Africa was all about. During high school, I got the opportunity to visit the towns where my parents were born and understand the context in which they were born. Joining the dots of their origin to their final destination was pretty remarkable. It left me with a lot of energy but also the commitment to work in those areas because of the quality of life I had in the US," he adds.

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Passionate about eco-conscious practices, Samir enrolled in environmental studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and an internship with a climate change resilience group led him to Cambodia. But what he noticed in the next few days in a village in Cambodia left him shocked and heartbroken - everyone was using laundry detergent to bathe. "I felt an incredible amount of guilt that something as affordable as soap was out of reach for a majority of the population in the country. I was very disturbed and couldn't get that scene out of my head." Upon his return to the hotel room in Siem Reap, he saw the soap bar replaced by housekeepers. "I realised I had barely used the last one." This epiphany led to the birth of Eco Soap Bank with the aim to recycle soap and distribute it to the underprivileged. "I realised that something as simple as soap was not available in a village 5 miles away, and the same soap was thrown away daily for luxury tourists. Those quick realisations organically created the organisation."

Recycling soaps for the underprivileged

The process began with Samir going from hotel to hotel in Cambodia asking them to collect their used soaps for Eco Soap Bank. But the request was met with resistance. "We initially got a strong pushback because it required them to do extra work and some thought it was a strange request." However, with time their reputation grew hotel-by-hotel, and many started collecting soap for Eco Soap Bank.

While Samir started experimenting with a grinder in his hotel room, crushing the soap into smaller particles, he also kept visiting the nearby rural areas to understand the people and their lack of awareness of basic hygiene. The results were shocking. Most people put the onus of health issues in their community on bad karma. "It was the lack of education and awareness that played a pivotal role," he adds, agreeing to the fact that many doctors and health practitioners were killed in the 70s genocide, thus creating a huge gap in healthcare awareness. "During Covid-19, many Cambodian communities in the rural areas thought Covid was a symptom of eating too many chillies," reveals Samir, adding, "Honestly, I didn't want to lose another generation of Cambodians to misinformation."

Aiming for a healthy and dignified life

While awareness is the key, Samir emphasises that "education which is physical and pragmatic like handing out a bar of soap" is the most effective. "And that's the kind of journey we have taken." The continuous awareness has led to a shift in the mindset of the people, especially children. "Children are much more open to new ideas than adults, so we are focussing on them even if they are in schools or refugee camps." To this end, they also make soaps in toy shapes. "They excite children, who take to handwashing faster," says Samir. When they started Eco Soap Bank a decade ago, creating awareness was as important as soap recycling. However, over the years, it has become less of their strategic priority as they are now mostly focussed on "the hygiene supply gap vs the hygiene awareness gap. Because 2 billion people don't have access to soap at home."

Eco Soap Bank | Global Indian

During COVID-19, Eco Soap Bank called for an urgent need to restrategise as their major supplier- hotels - went into lockdown worldwide. "We switched to factories that make commercial bar soaps as they also generate some volume of waste. We asked them to collect the waste for us and we were able to continue recycling waste. We distributed our 50 millionth soap at the end of 2023." Soap factories worldwide waste an estimate a quarter billion of soap bars annually, and many supply this excess to Eco Soap Bank," informs Samir. Explaining the process behind soap recycling, Samir says the soap collected from factories makes it to their recycling centres where it is crushed into powder. That mix is then pushed through an extruder machine and takes the shape of a bar of soap. "It's a very simple process."

[caption id="attachment_48812" align="aligncenter" width="687"] Eco Soap Bank | Global Indian One of Eco Soap Bank's recycling centre[/caption]

The recycled soaps are then distributed through hundreds and thousands of partnerships with smaller and big organisations - from UNICEF to community schools or social centres. "We distribute soaps to the refugee camps through UN agencies as well as local schools," reveals Samir as Eco Soap Bank makes 50000 bars of soap a day.

Eco Soap Bank began with the mission to recycle soap, promote basic hygiene, and provide employment to marginalised women around the world. "Currently 160 women work in the soap recycling facilities across the five countries, and we plan to increase the number to 212 by the end of the year." Eco Soap Bank also helps women set up businesses by selling soaps at a nominal price. "If an employee is particularly excited, we also provide them with volumes of soap that they can sell in their community while also engaging in hygiene outreach. The vast majority of the women we employ prefer the employment route, however, we do have 320 other women who just exclusively sell soap," adds Samir.

Eco Soap Bank

In the last decade, he has been humbled by the outpour of help and support for Eco Soap Bank, which led to the opening up of recycling centres in four more countries. " I am amazed by people's generosity to get involved and take your mission to the next level," says Samir for whom that singular experience in Cambodia acted as a North Star, guiding him throughout.

Coming to India soon

Eco Soap Bank now plans to expand into India soon, for which they need to partner with factories here. "We also want to be the primary supplier of soaps to the refugee crisis in Bangladesh and Central Africa," Samir says.

When Samir started Eco Soap Bank a decade ago, he had no idea about social entrepreneurship but he answered his calling and learnt on the way. "Nothing is out of reach for anyone on how to do, and I hope my story is a small example of that," he signs off.

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Chaitanya Muppala: Bringing Indian craft chocolate to the world through Manam Chocolate

(September 1, 2024) Chaitanya Muppala has tasted success quite early in his career. Literally. What else would you say when the craft chocolate brand he launches, wins several awards within four months of hitting the market? A first-generation chocolate taster and a second-generation entrepreneur, he is the CEO of Distinct Origins Private Limited (DOPL) which launched Manam Chocolate [Manam meaning us in Telugu], an Indian craft chocolate brand that operates in the emerging speciality chocolate market in the country. Within four months of its launch, Manam Chocolate went on to win in 17 categories at the World Chocolate Awards. He had the advantage of a decade of experience in the food business by running and upscaling Almond House, the well-known Indian mithai chain in Hyderabad, started by his father in 1989. He is a graduate of the prestigious Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, Canada, after which he joined the family business. Chaitanya was part of the Stanford Seed Programme from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business’ Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies. After joining Almond House, he has been instrumental in the creation of distinct brands including Indulge ice cream, an all-natural gourmet ice cream range,

met ice cream range, Gappe Vappe Chaatwala, Amande by Almond House, that makes 100 per cent eggless, premium bakery products, and Greater Gud, an FMCG brand focussing on the goodness of jaggery.

Chaitanya Muppala | Manam Chocolates | Global Indian

Chocolates Are Us

How did the shift towards chocolate happen, we ask? Seated in the spacious environs of the café at Manam Chocolate Karkhana, which houses the store above, and surrounded by the aromas of freshly made chocolate, Chaitanya tells Global Indian, “When it comes to quality Indian chocolate, I observed that everyone was using the same raw materials and the same homogenous product was being made. It was more an industrial grade that was available. In keeping with the global movement of making craft chocolate, I did my research.” That meant exploring the cacao growing regions in West Godavari for three years, during which time he talked to farmers and learned of their positive and meaningful impact on the value chain. “I also got to know about the technical problems they faced in the drying and fermenting of the cacao beans. Though India has been growing cacao since the 1960s, we are an industrial player and not in the business of craft chocolate,” he says.

His thorough research led to the setting up of his company Distinct Origins P/L to establish the West Godavari region as a place of origin from where potential global craft chocolate makers could import fine-flavour cacao beans; and local players could create Indian craft chocolate, like Manam Chocolate. He streamlined the entire process of the bean to its finished product with proprietary technology and software to the extent that he knows which bean comes from which tree, belongs to which farm and the farmer cultivating it. The packaging includes a picture of the farmer growing the bean in the single farmer series of chocolate.

The Science of Chocolate

Chaitanya is one of those entrepreneurs who will go the last mile to ensure perfection. Besides making the cultivating and sourcing process tech-driven, he set up India’s largest fermentery – the Distinct Origins Cacao Fermentery in Tadikalapudi, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. It is the largest of its kind in India, and estimated to be second largest in the world, a state-of-the-art cacao processing facility situated amidst their 150 partner farms.

The protocols followed at the cacao fermentery include stringent cacao screening, where only the finest pods are selected, and wooden clubs are used to crack them open, instead of machetes and sickles. This is done to protect the beans within from damage. After the selection, the beans go through a five-step fermentation process, and the proprietary technology monitors parameters such as pH levels, temperature, humidity etc. This is followed by a slow drying method on movable racks that are kept alternatively in the sun and the shade, and the beans are turned every hour by hand to ensure even drying.

[caption id="attachment_55181" align="aligncenter" width="603"] Chaitanya | Manam Chocolates | Global Indian The 'Indulge' collection by Manam Chocolates. Photo courtesy: Daniel D'Souza[/caption]

After the sorting, weighing, labelling etc., the beans come to the Manam Chocolate Karkhana, the company’s first retail-cum-experiential concept store, where the chocolate is made. They offer a guided tour experience and workshops for anyone interested and you can see first-hand the chocolate being made. The display houses the varieties available which include, tablets, further divided into categories like single farm, single origin India and international, dark, milk and vegan as well as signature blends and infusions etc. Lovers of chocolate can choose from bonbons, thins, and more. Unusual flavours created in-house include curry leaf and coconut, mango ginger, banana and mangoes etc. There is even one in a chai biscuit flavour.

Says Chaitanya about his enterprise, “My mission is to establish a reputation for Indian cacao and craft chocolate. We are not the bean-to-bar variety. I want to deconstruct and create an evolved product where we start before the bean and go beyond the bar.”

To ensure that his products meet the highest standards on all fronts, Chaitanya has been certified for Level 1, 2 and 3 in Chocolate Tasting by the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting (IICCT, USA). He is India's first Level 3 Certified Chocolate Taster. But he adds that his chefs too have got the certification so he is no longer the only one.

The Winning Taste

In keeping with his vision, Manam Chocolate has 300 products in 50 categories. While the Hyderabad outlet sees footfalls aplenty, and the website delivers all over India, Chaitanya wants to expand to multiple Indian cities over the next three years. Currently, Distinct Origins works with 150 farmers and a cacao cultivation area of 3000 acres.

His efforts have paid off stupendously. Manam Chocolate won 17 awards at the prestigious World Chocolate Awards held by the Academy of Chocolate, UK. In less than 100 days since their launch in August 2023, Manam was declared the overall winner in the brand experience category, among more than 1400 international entries. They also won one gold, ten silver and five bronze awards for their 66% Dark Chocolate (Single Origin, Idukki, Kerala), 65% Dark Chocolate (Single Origin Cacao San Carlos Plain, Northern Region of Costa Rica), 67% Dark Chocolate (Single Origin – House Fermented Cacao – West Godavari) among others. It is an accomplishment given that the best cacao for craft chocolate has till now been associated with Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, and Vietnam. Says Chaitanya about the sizeable victories, “The awards are more a sensorial evaluation of the product. The unique thing about cacao is that you can trace it back to the tree from a flavour standpoint.”

[caption id="attachment_55182" align="aligncenter" width="337"] Chaitanya Muppala | Manam Chocolates | Global Indian Chaitanya Muppala is putting Indian craft chocolate on the world map. Photo courtesy: Daksh Chindalia.[/caption]

Another feather in the company’s cap is that Manan Chocolate featured as an exciting new place to visit in Time magazine’s annual list of the World’s Greatest Places 2024.

A believer in pushing the limits, his next project involves getting into the genetics of Indian cacao. “I want to take Indian chocolate to the world,” Chaitanya concludes. He seems to be on track in achieving this goal already.

Follow Chaitanya Muppala on LinkedIn.

The American Dream: Ambassador Gautam A Rana’s journey is an inspiration for Indian immigrants across the globe

(November 2, 2022) Once upon a time, a young man with a master's degree in chemistry landed on the shores of New York. A native of Vadodara in Gujarat, the man - like million others - dreamt of making a life for himself and his family in this land of opportunities. While the first year was quite a challenge for the young Indian immigrant, he persisted and found a good job. After working for four years, he had saved enough to call his family - a wife, two daughters, and a son - from Vadodara to the United States of America. But our story is not about this man. It is about his four-year-old son, who was enchanted by this big new world his father brought him to and decided to make the most of it. His name, Gautam A. Rana - the current United States Ambassador to Slovakia. "About a decade after my family shifted to the USA, my relatives also moved here. While I am a very proud American, I haven't lost touch with my roots. My family and I have always maintained our Indian identity and are very proud of our Indian heritage," shares the Ambassador, as

nd I have always maintained our Indian identity and are very proud of our Indian heritage," shares the Ambassador, as he connects with Global Indian from Bratislava.

[caption id="attachment_31264" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian Ambassador Gautam A. Rana with former US President, Barack Obama[/caption]

A lawyer by profession, Gautam is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, and has served at various US embassies. The diplomat served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, and the Political Advisor for the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Khost, Afghanistan. He was even posted as the Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council staff and the Deputy Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. Before assuming the post of US Ambassador to Slovakia - for which he was nominated by President Joe Biden - he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Algeria.

The land of opportunities

After earning a master's in chemistry, Gautam's father decided to move to the USA, in search of better career opportunities in 1970. Only about six months old then, Gautam was completely unaware of how his father's journey was going to shape his own journey in the future. "I was born in Baroda (now Vadodara). And when I was just a small baby, my father decided to take a chance and move to the USA. At the time, the US Embassy in Mumbai was giving visas to people with a master's degree. And that is how he landed in the US," the Ambassador says.

Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian

While his father got the visa and moved to the US, his initial days in the country were not exactly rosy. "Even though my father had a master's degree, he didn't come from a very wealthy background. So, when he arrived in New York City, he only had $20 in his pocket. In his first year in New York, he worked at minimum wage jobs. In fact, he worked at 12 different places in the first year - since all of them were minimum-wage jobs, he moved from one job to the other. Eventually, he landed a decent job, and in 1973, along with my mother and two sisters, I came to the US," he details.

I think that the Indian diaspora in the United States of America has a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves. There are so many people of Indian lineage who are in decision-making positions now in the USA, including the Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Growing up in New Jersey, amongst a huge Indian diaspora, Gautam shares that his family would visit India almost every year during the festive season. "I have many fond memories of India from my childhood," he says, adding, "My family would travel home for every Navaratri and Diwali. We would do the garba and eat loads of delicious food." Speaking about his childhood days, the diplomat shares, "I grew up in a suburban area, amidst a very supportive community. We never encountered any kind of racism or bullying."

[caption id="attachment_31266" align="aligncenter" width="622"] Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian Ambassador Rana with President of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová[/caption]

While most Indian kids, who moved to the USA, battled only the cultural shift, Gautam had other challenges to face. “I suffered from polio when I was just five months old in India. I think that was part of the reason why my parents wanted to move to the USA. I have walked with crutches since a young age. And while I have never faced any discrimination for my disability, it is the expectations of other people that have been a challenge for me. Many times, I - and I think many other disabled people - struggle with what other people perceive and what we can and cannot do. This includes when we apply for jobs, or houses, even when we try to fetch a cab. I never wanted to limit myself to other people's perception of what I can do in life, and that has been the greater challenge for me," the Ambassador says.

Climbing the diplomatic ladder

Like most other Indians, Gautam's parents too emphasised on the importance of good education. "My sisters and I were very focussed on doing well in school. I remember my father would always tell me that good education is your ticket to the world. My sisters pursued a degree in medicine, and I went to the University of Pennsylvania to earn a BA and BS," he shares. Having always been fascinated by the legal profession, the Ambassador decided to enroll at the Vanderbilt University School of Law after working for a few years. "I have been very interested in social justice and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, I earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Vanderbilt in 1997."

However, it was the foreign policy that interested Gautam the most, and which led him to join the US Foreign Service. He earned a MA from the National Defense University, College of International Security Affairs, and is the recipient of multiple State Department performance awards and a U.S Department of Defense Honor Award. Soon after joining the Foreign Services, Gautam was posted to the US Embassies in Jordan, Egypt, and Syria between 2006 and 2008. Subsequently, he served in several US embassies, including Kabul, Ljubljana, and Algiers.

The progress that the US and Indian relations have made, especially in the last 10 years, is incredible. The representatives from USA and India have been working very closely to better the relationships further. And the immense growth of the Indian diaspora in America has certainly helped that cause.

A proud Indian-American, Gautam shares that the diaspora has grown from being just immigrants to holding important positions in various spheres of the country. "I think that the Indian diaspora in the United States of America has a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves. There are so many people of Indian lineage who are in decision-making positions now in the USA, including the Vice President, Kamala Harris. But that is the story of America. People who have come to this land, and have worked hard, have been able to achieve so much in the USA. I think Indian Americans will continue to reach great milestones."

The Ambassador, who served as the Foreign Service Office at the New Delhi US Embassy between 2011 and 2014, feels that the US-Indian diplomatic relation has taken off in the last few decades. "The progress that the US and Indian relations have made, especially in the last 10 years, is incredible. When Prime Minister Modi had come to the USA during his first term, I was working at the White House, President Obama hosted a state dinner and several things were discussed during that meeting. The representatives from USA and India have been working very closely to better the relationships further. And the immense growth of the Indian diaspora in America has certainly helped that cause," he says.

[caption id="attachment_31269" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian Ambassador Rana with his family[/caption]

Currently stationed at Bratislava with his wife and two kids, Gautam is heading the US convoy to the land of the Slavs. While he hasn't been able to visit India since he moved back in 2014, he wishes to bring his boys to the country he was born in, someday. "Slovakia is a beautiful country and we are loving it here. I don't get much time off from my very busy schedule, I try to spend as much time with them as possible when I am free - especially because my boys are just eight and five years old. I think they would love India and I plan to take them there very soon," shares the Ambassador, who still speaks fluent Gujarati.

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Indian-American Rupal Gadhia takes over as MD of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School

(September 26, 2023) Every Tuesday, when Rupal Gadhia was an MBA student at Harvard Business School, she would get together with a bunch of girls from her section for a weekly dinner. Years later, they remain best friends - for Rupal Gadhia, the time she spent at HBS is a gift that just keeps on going. The experience transformed her life in every way. "It was the place that taught me to find my voice, express my views and perspectives, and lead with integrity and kindness," Gadhia said, in an interview. So, years later, when she heard through the alumni grapevine that the school was hiring a managing director for MBA Admissions and Financial Aid, she grabbed the opportunity with both hands. "I wanted to contribute to HBS having that profound impact for generations to come," she says. Gadhia will succeed Chad Losee and begin her new role in October. [caption id="attachment_45376" align="aligncenter" width="455"] Rupal Gadhia[/caption] A new role Working in admissions is admittedly different from anything she had done before. Gadhia's career has been versatile and full of variety - she went from an engineering degree to an MBA, to branding, management and consulting. But the chance to return to Harvard

Working in admissions is admittedly different from anything she had done before. Gadhia's career has been versatile and full of variety - she went from an engineering degree to an MBA, to branding, management and consulting. But the chance to return to Harvard Business School was too good to resist. "It read like my dream job, I couldn't resist reaching out about it. HBS had such a profound impact on my life and is responsible for one of the biggest growth periods of my life," she says. As she oversees the admissions process, Gadhia will also play a key role in the school's diversity and inclusion efforts, by "building upon previous efforts to increase access and affordability and remove financial barriers for applicants and students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds."

Rupal Gadhia holds a degree in engineering and then completed her MBA at Harvard Business School in 2004. She kickstarted her career in brand management at Sara Lee, and then moved on to Campbell Soup Company. From there, she moved to Booz & Co as a management consultant and then to Brand Union. In 2017, she was hired by Genpact as their global vice president of brand and digital marketing. Although her career trajectory in the branding and management sector was markedly on the rise, Gadhia couldn't resist the opportunity to do something in return for the school that has given her so much.

Early life

Born and raised in Rochester, NY, her parents were among the large crop of Indians who evacuated Uganda in the 1970s, when dictator Idi Amin came to power. They left Africa as refugees and settled down in Rochester. "They came from warm tropical climates to literally the snowiest place ever," smiles Gadhia, in an interview with Harvard Business School. In school, she was one of the only Indian kids in her class. On weekends, however, she was surrounded by other Indian families "that were like family to me - because my real grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles were continents away."

When the time came to pick a career, Gadhia was expected (obviously) to choose between medicine or engineering. At the time, though, she believed that interior decorating was her calling. That wasn't likely to go down too well in a traditional Indian family, so Gadhia picked engineering "to check that box." She graduated from college and worked for one year before heading to Harvard Business School, where her life would change dramatically.

She chose classes in marketing and social enterprise and when it was time to graduate, leaned very much towards the latter. Her mentor advised her to go out and get skills that could benefit a non-profit before entering the sector. "That took me to Sara Lee and the Campbell Soup Company in marketing/brand management," she says.

Pivot into management consulting

After a couple of years in the space, Gadhia moved to New York, hoping to pivot into management consulting. She had a job offer at Booz & Company (which has since been acquired by PWD). Her role there was versatile; she was "working on everything from growth strategy to merger integrations to a lot of cost-cutting projects as we were entering the recession." Gadhia had found two areas of interest - branding and consulting. She put them together at the Brand Union and Interbrand. "I was able to work with some of the most amazing brands, helping them reposition, strengthen their brands and develop the right go-to-market strategies," she explains.

[caption id="attachment_45378" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Harvard Business School[/caption]

Gadhia stayed in this space for nearly a decade, during which she also met the man she would marry. She moved to Boston to be with him and joined Genpact, a B2B company that works to digitally transform back and middle offices for large corporations. For five years, Gadhia led a team of over 50 people across "brand, editorial communications, talent marketing, digital marketing, social media and creative."

Heading admissions at HBS

"After almost 20 years, I finally feel like I have the marketing and social enterprise skills my mentor suggested I develop," says the Global Indian. "This role will leverage my background in marketing and give me the opportunity to continue to learn and grow from the best and brightest." Her role involves showcasing the HBS MBA and how it "can provide students with skills, relationships and opportunities that can help them throughout every chapter of their career." Also in focus is helping prospective students understand that business can play a key role in addressing society's most complex and pressing problems.

Gadhia admits that there has been more scrutiny on college admissions of late, and will tackle this too. Early in 2023, the Education Department opened an inquiry into Harvard University's legacy admissions policy, after the US Supreme Court's decision against affirmative action in higher education caused a political backlash, including from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "I am confident that we can maintain our community values of being respectful and accountable to the law," Gadhia said, adding, "while continuing to strive for the diversity and inclusion that is so critical to educating leaders who will make a difference in the world."

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I have tried to do good in the world via poetry: Usha Akella giving South Asian poets a platform in the US

(June 10, 2024) “I have tried to do good in the world via poetry,” Usha Akella, poet, reviewer, interviewer, editor, playwright, and creative nonfiction author, tells Global Indian. Having published nine books that include poetry, musical dramas, and creative nonfiction and founded Matwaala, the first South Asian Diaspora Poets Festival in the US, as well as the Poetry Caravan in New York and Austin that brings poetry to the doorstep of the disadvantaged, the 57-year-old has always worked towards reaching people with poetry. From her first book, Kali Dances, So Do I which came out in 1998, to her recent work, I Will Not Bear You Sons, she has always touched upon the topics of cultural traditions, feminism, immigration, travel, identity, patriarchy, politics, terrorism, and community. She has edited an anthology, Hum Aiseich Bolte, to celebrate Hyderabad, which was released at the Hyderabad Literary Festival in 2023. And she has edited a festschrift to honor poet Keki Daruwalla that was just published by the Sahitya Akademi. Having immigrated to the US in 1993 after her marriage, she proved that knowledge is a lifelong quest when, at the age of fifty, she earned a Master’s from the University of Cambridge in 2018

thology, Hum Aiseich Bolte, to celebrate Hyderabad, which was released at the Hyderabad Literary Festival in 2023. And she has edited a festschrift to honor poet Keki Daruwalla that was just published by the Sahitya Akademi.

Having immigrated to the US in 1993 after her marriage, she proved that knowledge is a lifelong quest when, at the age of fifty, she earned a Master’s from the University of Cambridge in 2018 in creative writing. Personifying the best qualities of being a Global Indian, she is deeply connected to her roots while she uses her work to create a difference across the world.

[caption id="attachment_52290" align="aligncenter" width="468"] Usha Akella | Matwaala | Global Indian Usha Akella[/caption]

Definitive formative years

Growing up in Hyderabad in the 1970s in a Telugu family, Usha calls them important years when summers were slow, filled with family, relatives, childhood friends, songs by MS Subbulakshmi and Ghanthasala, and an outing meant a trip to the bazaars of the city. Growing up with a father who worked in the then-RR Labs (now the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology) and a school-teacher mother, the campus was a green space and haven that was safe and centered around a close-knit community.

“Life on the RRL campus was a slice of heaven, innocent and uncomplicated,” she recalls and adds. “We are shaped by the times we come from, and those childhood values were instilled in us not by verbal teaching but by living a life centered around family and community. It was a certain India that existed at a certain time.”

The poet, till date, believes that India’s family structure is its greatest asset and that its philosophy of unity in diversity is inspiring. Her thorough grounding in Indian values and culture continues to motivate her and remains her safety net in trying times. It also inspires her constant striving to unite her writing craft with the community.

Unfurling her wings

After marriage resulted in a move to the US (from the Baltimore area to White Plains/Greenburgh in New York and currently to Austin, Texas), Usha drew strength from her Indian roots to assimilate and absorb the new way of life. She states, “The ability to adapt is a quintessential Indian trait. We have the strength to embrace new things and to work hard towards achieving our dreams.”

The only dream Usha always had was to write. Call it fate or genes (her grandfather’s brother, Uma Rajeshwarao, was a Russian and Telugu scholar, while her aunt Nidarmathy Nirmala Devi is a Telugu author, poet, and scholar), her childhood was characterized by three activities: read, write, and dream.

It was a dream that came true when she published her first book of poetry, Kali Dances. So do I in 1998, and I realized a life-long ambition. In those early days, prior to her first book, what helped her along the way were creative writing classes and doing poetry readings in Baltimore and New York to boost her confidence.

[caption id="attachment_52291" align="aligncenter" width="314"] Kali Dances, So Do I[/caption]

“For someone who wrote from the age of eight to finally be published was nothing short of miraculous. It was nothing short of a sadhana (dedication) that allowed me to fulfill a dream. When you pursue something without any expectation and work hard, it simply falls into place,” she states.

Charting new courses

Along with her poetry, Usha has worked tirelessly on initiatives that have a larger impact. The Poetry Caravan, which started in 2003, took poetry form from the confines of solitary readers and readings right into the heart of the community.

She explains, “While all of us are able-bodied and have the resources to engage in art (from movies to theater) or literature, what of those who have no access—be it prisons, hospitals, or senior homes? I thought of taking poetry to them via this initiative so that the disadvantaged are not cut off from the margins.” The initiative continued as a collective after she left White Plains for Austin and has offered over a thousand free readings when counted last. Though she is not directly involved with it any longer, it remains a lasting legacy she left behind.

Another brainchild of hers, Matwaala (co-directed with Pramila Venkateswaran), ensures that south Asian poets get the same opportunities as others and are not discriminated against. Working towards changing syllabuses so that there is diversity in curriculum and going to campuses to hold reading sessions where students are exposed to a fungible quality of voices, it works towards equality for poets of color.

She recalls with enthusiasm that during one of their sessions at NYU, Salman Rushdie walked in and stayed back graciously to listen to all the poets!

The power of words

Why does she write poetry? “It is my form of breathing,” she confesses. “Literally, I suppose. I was a chronic asthmatic as a child and youth while growing up in Hyderabad, which meant many days in bed by the window. I wrote to keep myself alive and feel alive. Perhaps the writer’s sensibility in me was formed in those days. I think that the primary reason is unaltered, though I am no longer in the grip of that ailment. I write to know I am alive.”

Art and literature are the glue that holds people together. For the poet, it gives ground for hope. She states, “At any given point in human history, there is always turbulence. It is the arts that unite. Write a poem, paint a canvas, and make a movie, and you are creating a virtual bridge for the world. We need to use art hopefully and carefully given the fractured times we live in.”

As emojis replace words and chats replace conversations, it is poetry that remains the last remaining bastion of emotion. It makes us think, ask questions, and capture consciousness. With her relentless quest to seek answers, Usha, through her work, is creating awareness and a witness to our shared histories.

Beyond poetry

When she is not reading literature of all genres, Usha likes to spend time with her husband Ravi and daughter Ananya, who, like her mother, is interested in the arts and is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She listens to numerous spiritual podcasts, paints occasionally, loves traveling, meeting friends, listening to music of all kinds, and visiting museums across the world.

As she signs off, I ask her, what has been the greatest gift poetry has given her? "Everything," she answers, “Friendships, love, identity, travel, and my channel of evolution. I’ve learned to balance dreams with detachment, ambition with joy, and I see that I am the in-progress sum of all that I experience in my journey. Poetry reflects this centering self.”

Follow Matwaala on their website.

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