Global IndianstoryThe ‘write’ way: Soundarya Balasubramani demystifies US immigration for Indians in her new book

The ‘write’ way: Soundarya Balasubramani demystifies US immigration for Indians in her new book

Written by: Bindu Gopal Rao

(May 30, 2024) A published author, ex-product manager, and the founder of The Curious Maverick, Soundarya Balasubramani has just come up with her second book Unshackled. Soundarya Balasubramani’s diverse experiences, from growing up in Chennai to studying at Columbia University, living in cities like New York and San Francisco, and engaging with people from over 20 countries, have shaped her impactful work today. Her book, Unshackled, simplifies the complex US immigration process for high-skilled immigrants. It provides practical guidance and engaging stories on navigating the U.S. immigration system, specifically for high-skilled immigrants seeking visas like the O-1A and EB-2 NIW.

The American Dream

Having lived in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, and briefly in Hawaii she has experienced both corporate life (as a Product Manager at Salesforce) and the founder life (since she quit my job at the end of 2021). She has also lived in four community houses in California in the past four years, which has exposed her to people from 20+ countries, and many more walks of life.

Soundarya Balasubramani

“The exposure I have received since immigrating to the US is invaluable. It made me more confident, fearless, and challenged me to constantly step out of my comfort zone. Most recently, I went on a country-wide book tour for my second book, Unshackled, where I visited four states and eight cities in 21 days. For someone who was terrified of speaking on stage, this tour pushed me to limits I could have only imagined and made me better. While there is a lot to be said about the downfalls of America — including its outdated immigration system, excessive consumerism, expensive healthcare, and more — I am grateful to this country for the exposure it gave me,” she tells Global Indian.

Rewind

Growing up in Pattaravakkam, a suburb about 15 km northwest of Chennai where Balasubramani spent her formative years, her childhood was about all things quiet and quaint. A topper at school and at NIT Trichy, she followed up her early achievements with a course at Columbia University for grad school. “Moving to America changed my life,” she smiles.

Her first taste of the US came even before grad school, when she spent a summer interning at UW Madison at the age of 16 after her sophomore year of high school. That was a window into what life in America could look like — and she absolutely loved it. “So, I came back in 2017 to begin my master’s in management sciences at Columbia University,” she says.

The ‘Write’ Way

When Balasubramani was just 16 she started her blog Curious Maverick and even at that age she always knew that if she ever started something of her own someday, that would be the name of her venture. Circa 2023 and she finally started The Curious Maverick LLC when she decided to venture into writing and entrepreneurship full-time.

She quit her job in late 2021 and spent most of 2022 exploring and researching. “By the end of the year, it was clear to me that my next calling is to write a book for high-skilled immigrants in America, and hopefully create a small and positive dent in that domain. I set up the company as soon as I landed in India and spent most of 2023 publishing the book and building the online Unshackled community for talent visa aspirants,” she says.

Her new book Unshackled is your answer to the question, ‘What would a book on legal immigration in America look like if it was friendly, engaging, and human?’ While immigration would rank as one of the more boring and complex topics one could think about, Balasubramani knew she could make it more fun if she approached it from a storytelling aspect. “Whether we like it or not, we must go through immigration to live and work in America. Sadly, most international students and immigrant workers are not well-educated on this topic and are unaware of many creative and legal options out there, including the O-1A and EB-2 NIW visas.”

Balasubramani and her co-author, Sameer Khedekar wrote Unshackled to demystify a complex system and give people a ‘map of the territory’ when it came to high-skilled immigration. The book is filled with gripping stories, beautiful visuals, and actionable guidance. “This is the book I wish I’d read when I moved here,” says Balasubramani. And the validation came from a reader who told her, ‘Honestly, I wish this book was given to me along with my visa stamp at the U.S. consulate.’ As immigration changed her life for the better, she wrote her first book ‘Admitted’ with the hope to not just promote talent mobility, but also educate students on the journey they were about to embark on so they take better decisions while applying to universities in a foreign country. She self-published the book and has sold 3000-4000+ copies in the past few years.

Valuable Lessons

Quiz her on some lessons that she has learnt till date, she says that it is important to take more risks early on when you don’t have a dependent or family. “Too many people in their mid-20s miss that precious window when they can take risks without impacting too many people. They then look back 10 years later and wish they’d been more courageous early on. Invest in long-term relationships, especially with people who make you better. I only began doing this in the past three years and now I cannot imagine life without my support system. Focus on making money without it becoming your primary focus,” she says. And by building a tight-knit support system she has overcome many challenges as well. And over the last four years her life has changed because of the presence of people.

In 2020, during the pandemic, life felt “empty and lonely,” Balasubramani recalls. She was living in a small room in San Francisco with roommates she barely knew. “My relationship with my parents was stale at best. I didn’t have friends in the city, and there was no one who I could consistently turn to for support. It was a lonely year.” The turning point in this journey happened when she met someone named Rajesh Setty in 2021. He quickly became a third parent, a best friend, and her teacher. “He showed me what one’s life could look like if it was lived with compassion, joy, and generosity. Thanks to him, my relationship improved with everyone around me, and now I can say with certainty that I have people who care about me in my life (and a wonderful family back in India),” she admits.

Soundarya Balasubramani

Looking Ahead

Driven by the fact that she can take something that is deeply personal to her and try to create something out of that struggle/experience to make others’ lives better, Balasubramani has her aim clear and bright. Right now, her focus is on using her free time to meet people and build more connections in her life. She is planning to begin work on her third book later this year. “It is unlike anything I’ve written before as it is a novel based on a true story. I plan to reveal more about it in the coming months. Overall, I want to publish many more books, create communities, and hopefully spend the later part of my life focusing on philanthropy,” she says.

Follow Soundarya Balasubramani on LinkedIn, Instagram and her website

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Published on 30, May 2024

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Ex-NRI Nasar Thootha’s wedding dress bank is a boon for brides from poor families

(May 13, 2022) Nasar Thootha, a taxi driver from Thootha village in Perimantthalmanna in Malappuram district, Kerala, has been running a wedding dress bank since the last two years to help underprivileged girls experience dream weddings. The philanthropist, who formerly worked in a supermarket in Saudi Arabia, has helped more than 350 brides and families from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh with wedding dresses that the poor families cannot even dream to afford. “Women from affluent backgrounds use their wedding dress for a few hours on their wedding day and never touch it again. I was able to convince many of them to donate their dresses as they could make such a difference to the weddings of the poor,” Nasar tells Global Indian. His brother, Shanu Thootha, acts as interpreter. “We have even provided a dress to an underprivileged bride from UP,” Nasar adds. The calling came ten years ago when Nasar met a woman who was struggling to put money together for a wedding dress for her daughter. Most were out of her price range. Nasar, who is no stranger to philanthropy, was moved by her plight and arranged the money for the woman to buy her

Philanthropist | Wedding Dress Bank | Nasar Thootha | Global Indian" width="615" height="618" />

The calling came ten years ago when Nasar met a woman who was struggling to put money together for a wedding dress for her daughter. Most were out of her price range. Nasar, who is no stranger to philanthropy, was moved by her plight and arranged the money for the woman to buy her daughter the dress she wanted.

Building the bank

When he started out, well-wishers donated their wedding clothes as he built his ‘dress bank’ at home. Word spread quickly and the media came calling. News of the ‘Nasar Thootha Dress Bank’ travelled across the state and outside it as well. The dress bank now has close to a thousand dresses with a price range of ₹5000 to ₹40,000. Several donations have been made by women living not only in India, but also in the USA and the Gulf countries.

As the size of his bank grew, Nasar’s house was soon too small to hold them all and he rented a place nearby. Now, would-be brides have a wide selection of dresses to choose from, as well as a variety of styles suited to customs of all religions.

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

“Picking up dresses from nearby places is not an issue as I do that while I drive my taxi. Many dresses are couriered as well,” says he adding that “those who want to collect the attire come to my dress bank and choose. Though we do not tell them to return the clothes, some do so after the use.” The philanthropist has been touching lives of not only people who are getting married but the entire family, given that weddings are a family affair in which the happiness is shared by all.

Talking about the plight of a family, he says, “I was moved to tears when a visually-impaired girl visited the dress bank for her sister’s wedding. The financial condition of the family filled me with sadness.” He is happy that the local government has showered him with moral support and encouragement for his initiatives.

Caring for all...

Growing up in Thootha with six brothers and a sister, Nasar would see his mother go out of her way to lend a helping hand to those in need. His sister, who was struck by polio, is differently-abled and struggles to move or sit. Living under the same roof with her has opened Nasar’s eyes to the suffering of others and motivates him to stand by them.

This spirit of generosity spills over – Nasar always feels a tug when he sees the homeless and the hungry, wandering around in the shabby tatters, not having cleaned themselves for months. He helps them with a complete makeover, ensuring that they are bathed, provided clean clothes and given a meal. His friends and family are supportive and help in any way they can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX-GJVHFOmk

During the pandemic, he converted his taxi - SUV Tavera into an ambulance helping people around to reach to health centres for immediate intervention. On the second anniversary of the dress bank, he laid the foundation for his latest project, Sukritam, to provide facilities like wheelchairs, airbeds, walking sticks and oxygen cylinders to people who are bedridden or who struggle to walk, like his sister. A new ambulance is part of the project with donations from several people.

Nasar now plans to open a second dress bank in Bengaluru. An entrepreneur from the city has offered him assistance.

Present and Future

The philanthropist stays with his mother, sister, wife and four school-going kids. “Two or even three poor girls can be married with the amount that is spent on a single wedding in an affluent home,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_24440" align="aligncenter" width="435"] Philanthropist | Wedding Dress Bank | Nasar Thootha | Global Indian Nasar Thootha with his wife[/caption]

After working in Saudi Arabia for seven years, he no longer felt like leaving his homeland and chose to settle in his village instead, buying a taxi from his savings and trying to make a difference to the lives of his fellow villagers.

“The Samaritan is also an exemplary goal keeper who shines in all local football tournaments,” signs off Shanu Thootha, his doting brother and interpreter.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

Shaunak Sen’s ‘All That Breathes’ bags Oscar nomination

(February 2, 2022) In January 2022, Delhi filmmaker Shaunak Sen's documentary All That Breathes bagged the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Festival. There has been no looking back since. A few months later, Sen was off to Cannes, making finding himself a place in the history of Indian cinema as the first documentary filmmaker to make it to the prestigious film. The film went on to win the 2022 L'Oeil (Golden Eye) for best documentary, at the 75th edition of the festival, which also happened to be celebrating Indian cinema. A BAFTA nomination followed a few months later and soon after, the Oscars came calling. In January 2023, All That Breathes secured a nomination for Best Documentary at the 95th Academy Awards. The call came at 2 am, Sen said, shortly after receiving his Oscar nomination and "of course, it was an utterly sleepless night." He's still waiting for the news to sink in, he admitted, in the interview. "The Indian non-fiction circuit has fared better over the last few years than the fiction films," Sen told Global Indian. With The Elephant Whisperer also receiving an Oscar nomination and documentaries like Writing With Fire and House of Secrets: The

car nomination and documentaries like Writing With Fire and House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths capturing mainstream audiences from around the world, the truth of his words is evident. Shaunak's 2015 debut documentary, Cities of Sleep, was shown at over 25 international festivals and won six awards.

Back in 2018, Sen happened to hear of two brothers in Delhi who had dedicated their lives to rescuing and rehabilitating the city's injured kites. The trail led Shaunak to a derelict basement, cluttered with out-of-use metal cutting machines - an unlikely spot for a tale of such poignance. It was in this cold and decrepit spot, however, that the two brothers sat huddled, tending, even at that moment, to an injured bird. They led him to the terrace, where an even more surreal scene awaited. In a giant enclosure overlooking a sea of blackened rooftops, hundreds of black kites waited for their wounds to heal, after which they would be released. Shaunak Sen’s All That Breathes is the story of these two brothers and their remarkable acts of kindness in an otherwise unforgiving city, where rats, cows, crows, dogs and people all jostle for space and survival.

The world of narratives and storytelling

"For as long as I can remember, I cannot recall a time when I wasn't interested in making films." As kids, when he and his classmates were asked to write essays about what they want to be, Shaunak would talk of theatre and film. "Even in school, there was an inherent obsession with reading," Shaunak says, which translated into a general love for narratives and storytelling.

Bluebells, the school Shaunak Sen went to in Delhi, encouraged students to participate in extra-curricular activities, giving them a rich selection of choices. Shaunak was drawn to theatre, debates and quizzes, "the whole gamut of what makes up ECA in Delhi. I was interested in all of it." Graduating with English honours from Delhi University, Shaunak threw himself full-time into the "world of narratives" as he puts it. Kirori Mal College's theatre society was well known, "an old and hallowed group," he says. Being part of the society was a formative experience, "Rigour and precision were expected of all of us in the group.” He did his masters in filmmaking at Jamia Millia Islamia and a PhD from JNU.

[caption id="attachment_24754" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Shaunak Sen | Filmmaker | The Global Indian Shaunak Sen[/caption]

Delhi’s ‘renegade sleepers’

Shaunak Sen has always had trouble sleeping. "I have had intense patches of insomnia," he says and from there grew an organic intrigue with the subject of sleep. "I chanced upon a text, Jacques Ranciere's Nights of Labour, which looks at sleep through a different socio-political lens," he says. From there began a series of visits to night shelters in Delhi, as Shaunak explored the idea of an urban space through the lens of its "renegade sleepers." From this emerged Cities of Sleep, Shaunak's debut documentary film, a portrait of Delhi through the eyes of people who sleep on its streets.

Delhi is home to some two million homeless people, according to the official figures. Many believe the real number is almost double. "The night shelters can only house an infinitesimal fraction of the total number of homeless people," Shaunak says. But everybody needs to sleep and hundreds of informal, slapdash businesses have sprung up to cater to the swathes of homeless people. "Sleep infrastructure," including bedsheets, blankets and maybe even a bed, are provided at nominal rates - and business is thriving. They have been somewhat unthinkingly dubbed 'the sleep mafia' by the media, a term that Shaunak confesses makes him "a bit uneasy."

Made by a young team and shot on a proverbial shoestring budget, Cities of Sleep was a critical success, making its international debut at DOK Leipzig in Germany. It was also named the Best Documentary at the Seattle South Asian Film Festival.

Shaunak Sen | Cannes 2022

All That Breathes

In All That Breathes, Shaunak Sen paints what he calls "a dystopian picture postcard of Delhi in the 1990s." "My first sense of tone was the sense we always have in Delhi, of gray, hazy skies and air purifiers humming everywhere. And in this all-encompassing grey, monotony, you can see birds flying around." Mohammad and Nadeem presented a compelling story, driving what is otherwise a silent lament for a city in tatters.

The idea had begun a few months prior, around the end of 2018, when Shaunak Sen was in the midst of a short-term Charles Wallace Fellowship at Cambridge University. There, housed in the department of Geography, he was surrounded by people working on different kinds of human-animal relationships. Working with his interlocutor, Dr Mann Baruah, the concept first entered his "philosophical ambit" at the end of 2018.

Such a long journey

The film involved nearly three years of shooting. "These films take long to make anyway. The idea is for the characters to get comfortable enough for the director to capture a sense of tone. You want the viewers to understand the passage of time, the quality of everyday life, to pick up on the emotions the filmmaker is putting out," says Shaunak.

[caption id="attachment_24755" align="aligncenter" width="689"] All That Breathes | Cannes 2022 A still from 'All That Breathes'[/caption]

He headed to Copenhagen for the final cut, where he sought out editor Charlotte Munch Bengsten. In Denmark with his co-editor Vedant Joshi, Shaunak received the news that the film had got through at the Sundance Festival, the world's largest platform of its kind, for 2022. "We worked feverishly to make it all happen," he says. Their efforts paid off: Shaunak Sen's All That Breathes became the first Indian film to win the Grand Jury Award.

All That Breathes is what is often called a "sleeper hit," with its renown mainly through word of mouth.

The creative process

As a filmmaker, Shaunak's process begins with being drawn to a broader conceptual idea, whether it's sleep or the human-animal relationship. "Then, I start looking for people whose lives embody that idea," Shaunak explains. "The specificity of their lives takes on the impact of blunt force - these are the tools I use. My style is observational, controlled and aesthetised, especially in comparison with the handheld, gritty feel of Cities of Sleep." His work is a juxtaposition of fictional storytelling in service of the documentary world. "It's what I want to do in the future as well - marry these two styles. Even a documentary should have that lyrical, poetic flow."

The film comes with an important social message but Shaunak Sen shies away from taking what could be conceived as an overly preaching tone. "If you look at anything long enough, whether it's the homeless people or two brothers rescuing birds, it starts registering itself on every level - social, emotional and political," he says, adding, "I don't take an overt social approach, it sort of seeps in on its own."

All That Breathes takes over Cannes 2022

Optimistic future

He's already on the hunt for his next project, "reading a lot and examining vague themes at the moment." And there's room for exploration. India is a good place to be for a documentary filmmaker, gone are the days of scrambling for funds and catering to niche audiences. "The toolkit of cinematic language was greatly limited," Shaunak remarks. A steady rise is evident, though, with Deepti Kakkar and Fahad Mustafa’s Katiyabaaz (Powerless), Vinod Shukla’s An Insignificant Man, the 2021 documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing directed by Payal Kapadia and Shaunak's own work, all winning prizes on international platforms.

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Embroidering her way to glory: Ruma Devi is putting Rajasthan’s handwoven designs on the global fashion map

(May 18, 2022) The term fashion world often brings to mind the image of well-known designers, supermodels, and ramp walks. But Ruma Devi is unlike any fashion designer, she is a superwoman for her peers. Responsible for single-handedly placing the handwoven designs of the artisans from Rajasthan on the global fashion map, the 33-year-old handicraft artisan, in the process, has empowered the lives of thousands of rural women from the Barmer region. From providing job opportunities in embroidery work to making local women participate in fashion shows across the world, Ruma has done everything. A school dropout, Ruma is a national awardee, a TedEx speaker and already a towering personality when it comes to women empowerment. She was also honoured by Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019. [caption id="attachment_24583" align="aligncenter" width="792"] Ruma Devi[/caption] Early life Ruma was only four when her mother passed away and she spent most of her childhood at her grandmother's house. "I used to see my grandmother doing embroidery work. In fact, almost every house in the Barmer district used to wear clothes with embroidery done by women of the house. I never thought that I’d do it one day, but learnt it anyway," Ruma tells Global

doing embroidery work. In fact, almost every house in the Barmer district used to wear clothes with embroidery done by women of the house. I never thought that I’d do it one day, but learnt it anyway," Ruma tells Global Indian.

Coming from a conservative rural family, Ruma dropped out of school at an early age and was married at 16. She didn't even understand the responsibilities of her marriage when a tragedy struck. "I was lost and I was coming to terms with it when the most devastating thing happened. I lost my first child due to an illness. I didn't have enough money to get my child the right treatment. It angered me so much and I went into depression," recalls the handicraft artisan.

Still in her late teens, she knew she had a long life ahead, but the child's face kept haunting her. "I couldn't do anything and felt aimless. I decided to distract myself with something that could keep me occupied." She had two options, either to work as a maid in someone's house or take up embroidery and try her luck. "I decided to pick embroidery. I could do embroidery on bags that villagers carry when they visit their relatives. But I had no money to get the bags in the first place," laughs Ruma. In 2008, she convinced a few women to come together and buy a sewing machine for stitching bags and do embroidery on them. "We bought a second-hand sewing machine and that's how we started, she adds.

Few months into it, Ruma realised there wasn’t enough work. "After all, how many bags could we sell to the people in the village," she says. That’s when the search for new customers began which brought them to Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan (GVCS), an NGO that works for the upliftment of women in the region. "They gave us three days to finish an embroidery assignment and bring the bags to them. Everybody was so thrilled that we worked the entire night, and were done with our job by the next day," laughs Ruma, for whom there was no looking back as she kept getting more work from the sansthan, which she would head a few years down the line!

[caption id="attachment_24588" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Handicraft Artisan | Ruma Devi Ruma Devi receives Nari Shakti Award from Ram Nath Kovind[/caption]

The challenges along the way

While Ruma and her group of women were expanding to nearby villages and had become a big collective of talented artisans, voices of discouragement tried to dampen their spirit. Many women were not allowed to step out of their homes despite their success. But Ruma convinced them to work from their homes while those allowed to step out would do the marketing bit in districts outside Barmer. Soon people started liking their work and more work followed.

It was time to step out of Rajasthan, and a trade show in Delhi in 2011 was the perfect opportunity to do that. But the decision didn’t find much support from her family members as she was charting into an unknown territory. Ruma had butterflies, but she feared nothing. Although the business was not great, it helped her understand the market well. The next year brought with it ₹11 lakh, which was way beyond their expectation. This helped the women to believe in themselves and in the leadership of Ruma.

What began with Ruma is now 30,000 strong. Currently women do applique and various types of embroidery work on upholstery items and everyday clothes. "We have uplifted many families from poverty," she beams with pride.

In 2010, Ruma took over as the president of GVCS and under her leadership, it has expanded operations to 75 villages and trained 11,000 artisans so far. The organisation is now collaborating with tribal women and taking it across India and to the world. The 32-year-old also collaboratively started sister producer company, Applique Handicrafts Producer Company for artisans.

The Fashion Diva

The ramp bug bit Ruma after she witnessed a fashion show in Jaipur a few years ago, and since her band of women were designing clothes too, she wanted to give it a try.

“Again, people within and outside said that our clothes were not made for the ramp and that we should stick to what we were doing. But since we had come this far, I saw no harm in trying something new," says Ruma, adding, "I felt a fashion show would be a good platform to showcase our work yet I had no clue how to go about it. A few designers told me, 'You are supposed to stitch and not just embroider. Stitching is not your thing’.” These hurtful remarks made Ruma more determined to participate. She wanted people to see the artisans who often remain voiceless and faceless in the glamourous world of fashion.

In 2016, Ruma and her team designed clothes for a fashion show at the Rajasthan Heritage Week, and they were an instant hit. Soon designers started making their way to Barmer to know more about their work and designs. Since then, she has not only worked with best in the Indian and global fashion circuit like Bibi Russell and Abraham & Thakore, she has also visited Germany, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the US and UAE to promote the arts and craft. "Our designs are now sold in various parts of the world. We have also started shipping our line of home furnishing lines of products to USA, Dubai and UK," reveals the handicraft artisan.

Memorable moments

Life has taught Ruma that the sky is the limit if one is determined to overcome obstacles. A school dropout, Ruma received an honorary PhD from Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule University, Jaipur in 2020. In 2019, she made an appearance at Kaun Banega Crorepati, "I was very nervous that I would sit next to Amitabh Bachchan. But he was so warm and gentle that I felt very comfortable," Ruma shares.

[caption id="attachment_24586" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Ruma Devi with Amitabh Bachchan on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati[/caption]

The very next year, she organised a crafts workshop at the Harvard University, wherein she was invited as a speaker for their 17^th annual India Conference. But she procrastinated it for a bit as she was “shocked” by the invite and “ignored it for a few weeks.” Recalling the time, she says, “Firstly, I didn't dare to reply to that mail. Secondly, it was an expensive trip to go to the USA." But with the help of Bajaj Group, who sponsored her trip, she could do it.

Ruma might have been born in a small village in Rajasthan, but once she discovered the talent inside her, she never looked back. "I am a very ordinary woman who didn't know about her purpose, but things happened, and I never lost faith in my ability or in the women who trusted me," the handicraft artisan signs off.

Follow Ruma Devi on Instagram

Reading Time: 7 mins

Rahul Jain: India-born entrepreneur changing digital payment scene in South Africa

(October 14, 2022) If Mastercard’s New Payment Index 2022 is to be believed, 95 percent of consumers in South Africa used at least one emerging digital payment method in the last year and 67 percent of consumers have purchased from an online marketplace. The purpose with which India-born Rahul Jain set up Peach Payments in South Africa in 2013 has now come to fruition, as a decade later, he is happy to be making digital payments easier in the country. "With Peach, we believe that we are building a potential 100-year business. Digital commerce is the future and we’re building the infrastructure on which this future is being built. As opportunities are seized by entrepreneurs across Africa to build digital businesses, we want to be the preferred payment platform to enable their success," Rahul tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_30585" align="aligncenter" width="806"] Rahul Jain is the founder of Peach Payments in South Africa.[/caption] When Rahul moved to Cape Town from Boston, his focus was South Africa, but Peach Payments has now expanded to Kenya and Mauritius, as "digital commerce has helped democratise many industries." For someone who is a regular at Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, Africa FinTech Festival, ECOM Africa, and

ahul Jain is the founder of Peach Payments in South Africa.[/caption]

When Rahul moved to Cape Town from Boston, his focus was South Africa, but Peach Payments has now expanded to Kenya and Mauritius, as "digital commerce has helped democratise many industries." For someone who is a regular at Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, Africa FinTech Festival, ECOM Africa, and Seamless Africa, Rahul has enabled many businesses to scale, "often from a rough idea into incredible success stories." Peach Payments was just an idea in 2011 which took a few years to translate into reality. However, it is currently thriving, and how! "We’ve seen apps being built to make it easier for people to buy insurance. New ways of providing credit such as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) have helped democratise access to credit. Most of these new insurtechs and BNPL players have used Peach to build their businesses. We see our role as enablers and catalysts in helping people solve problems," adds the entrepreneur.

An internship that changed it all

Born and raised in a business family in Delhi, entrepreneurship runs in his blood. While his paternal family loved carving out watches in India under the Jayco brand, his maternal grandfather pioneered ceramics in India. As a kid, he heard the dinner table conversations and somehow it kind of got "ingrained" in him at a young age. "I always knew I wanted to do something of my own," he says. This passion led him to pursue an MBA degree from IESE Business School in Barcelona, after completing his degree in engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University. But little did he know that a summer internship at a boutique venture capital fund in Pretoria, South Africa would introduce him to his German friend, Andreas Demleitner, with whom he would someday launch his own startup.

[caption id="attachment_30586" align="aligncenter" width="711"] Entrepreneur | Rahul Jain | Global Indian Andreas Demleitner and Rahul Jain are the co-founders of Peach Payments[/caption]

The two stayed in touch, but life had other plans at that time. Always the first to grab an opportunity, Jain moved to Boston as part of an exchange program at Sloan School of Management at MIT and stayed at the state capital for two years where he worked with a strategy consulting job advising large retailers and airlines about e-commerce and marketing. It was in November 2011 that Rahul got a call from Andreas asking him to join hands in "starting a digital payments business in Africa."

Taking the risk

It was the perfect chance to dip his toes in entrepreneurship, and that's when he decided to move to South Africa to start Peach Payments. "We were also accepted into a startup incubator called Umbono that Google was running in Cape Town. We were one of the nine startups in that program. It was a great opportunity and one that was hard to pass up," explains the entrepreneur. They joined forces with the ambitious goal of revolutionising the online payment space in South Africa. For someone who had lived in Barcelona and Boston, Jain was willing to take the challenge of moving to Cape Town.

Though he feels that he is on the other end of the world and "a trip to India takes 16-17 hours at a minimum," he is sailing through. "All my family and friends are in India. My wife is from Nepal and her family is also based in the subcontinent. So for us, the distance is something we feel all the time," reveals the entrepreneur. Moving to a new city and starting a new life with new friends was formidable on a personal front.

Even professionally, it was a challenging task. While Jain's dream of becoming an entrepreneur was translating into a reality, raising money was an initial hurdle. After one of the seed-funding rounds collapsed at the last moment, they had their backs against the wall. So much so that Jain and his business partner were paying salaries through their savings. "We have faced several challenges. Some of them relate to being a foreigner in a new country and trying to start a new business. I had no networks here and no one knew us," reveals Jain. However, the entrepreneur remained focused on growing sales and revenues, and it was the small victories that led them to solve the cash crunch.

[caption id="attachment_30588" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Entrepreneur | Rahul Jain | Global Indian Rahul Jain moved to South Africa to start Peach Payments[/caption]

The ’gamechanging’ pandemic

In the last decade, Peach Payments has rapidly expanded its suite of tools to help online businesses scale. The risk of moving continents for the startup paid off as it provides online payment solutions to any enterprise selling a product through websites, apps, email, and SMS. Currently active in South Africa, Kenya, and Mauritius, Peach Payments "will be expanding to two more countries by the end of the year." The pandemic led to a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour towards digital commerce, which Jain calls a "gamechanger". People were suddenly forced to buy online during the lockdown, and it inspired them to see the benefits of digital commerce and the convenience it brought with itself.

"The business mindset also changed at an incredible pace. Businesses that previously were only considering e-commerce are suddenly going online in a matter of days. At Peach Payments, we saw record numbers of new accounts in 2020. Across market segments – from retail, digital learning, fitness, and even traditional financial services – we’ve onboarded new clients in almost every vertical in the past two years," explains Rahul, who reveals that the transaction volumes grew 4.5 times since the start of the pandemic.

When Jain started Peach Payments, it took him a year to convince the first bank in South Africa to work with them. But the funding landscape is changing now. "It was incredibly hard to raise any venture capital during the first few years. Africa was not where venture capitalists were investing. This has only really changed in the past two years now. Today, you are seeing unicorns emerge in Africa and startups regularly raising funding rounds of more than $100 million. Back in 2014-15, it was incredibly hard to raise even $100k in funding. So, we were forced to bootstrap the business to a large extent."

Indian diaspora’s help

It was the Indian diaspora largely that helped him travel and integrate with ease across various countries in Africa. He says that Indians are well-respected across the subcontinent, and the diaspora in Kenya especially plays a major role in the local economy and welfare. Jain, who sees a big opportunity in Indian companies, is of the firm belief that such startups should look to expand in Africa. And he has a plan too. "One of my goals is to make it easier for Indian companies to sell in Africa. At Peach, we can process and collect payments for them and repatriate their funds to India making it much easier for them to grow in Africa. I genuinely believe in this and trying to play a role in helping build on this from a digital commerce perspective. I have also recently helped kick off the JITO initiative in South Africa," adds the entrepreneur.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaoCX8LS_Qc[/embed]

Rahul, who enjoys the outdoors in Cape Town, spends time in the Winelands, hikes, and plays a sport. "Besides spending time with my 5-year-old daughter, I am passionate about padel, an up-and-coming racquet sport that originated in Mexico and is very popular in Spain and now starting to grow in South Africa as well," he adds.

Peach Payments has changed the way digital payments are seen in Africa, and it has brought its share of learnings. "Starting and growing Peach Payments has taught me that nothing comes easily. Being a successful start-up is all about grinding away at big obstacles and acknowledging that progress takes time," the entrepreneur signs off.

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Reading Time: 7 min

From H-1B to Human Rights: Trump’s policies and Indian workers in the U.S.

(November 8, 2024) As the dust settles following Donald Trump's re-election as President, Indian workers in the United States and aspiring immigrants back home in India are considering what this means for their future. To understand the potential impact of Trump’s policies, Global Indian reached out to two Indian Americans who bring a wealth of insight and experience. Harold D’Souza, a human trafficking survivor and former member of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking who worked at the White House under both Obama and Trump, speaks from a human rights perspective. Narendra P. Singh, a professor and mentor of minority students at the University of South Carolina, offers a broader view on U.S.-India relations. This feature captures their insights along with editorial analysis, creating a comprehensive look at the implications of Trump’s policies on Indian workers, families, and communities. Harold D’Souza: A voice of resilience and representation Harold D’Souza’s perspective on Trump’s victory, particularly as an Indian American with experience on the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, is both unique and layered. “Serving under the Trump administration brought a focused attention to combatting human trafficking, an issue that Trump is deeply passionate about, primarily through his work

a focused attention to combatting human trafficking, an issue that Trump is deeply passionate about, primarily through his work empowering ‘Survivors to Thrive’, he tells Global Indian. His role on the council allowed Harold to bring an immigrant’s perspective to policies impacting vulnerable populations, including those targeted by traffickers.

[caption id="attachment_59530" align="aligncenter" width="664"] Indians in USA | Trump Policies | Global Indian Harold D'Souza with President Donald Trump and other delegates at the White House during Trump’s previous term in office[/caption]

As an Indian American and founder of the non-profit Eyes Open International, Harold values the importance of representation and the strength of diverse voices in American policymaking. Trump’s victory initially sparked mixed feelings within immigrant communities, as some policies created apprehension. However, for Harold, this was balanced by a shared dedication to the anti-trafficking mission. He found common ground in striving for policies that would create safer environments for exploited individuals, regardless of their nationality or background.

Harold’s journey on the advisory council revolved the need for bipartisan efforts to combat trafficking, showing that this cause transcends political divides. His experience reinforced his belief that real change comes from working collaboratively, focusing on humanitarian goals, and ensuring voices from all communities are heard.

Given Harold D’Souza’s experiences with Trump and regard for his leadership, Harold’s reflections on Trump’s victory take on an even more personal dimension. “I appreciate Trump’s commitment to supporting anti-trafficking initiatives during his tenure and recognize his unique leadership style, which brought attention to crucial human rights issues. Working under Trump allowed me to witness firsthand his drive to bring change in areas that affect vulnerable populations, especially human trafficking victims,” he mentions.

[caption id="attachment_59579" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Indians in USA | Global Indian Harold with Ivanka Trump at the White House during Trump’s previous term as President[/caption]

Trump’s support and leadership resonate with Harold, inspiring him to continue his work to prevent exploitation globally. This personal connection highlights the positive impact of a strong, focused leader in tackling one of the world’s most challenging issues. Harold remains grateful for Trump’s dedication to amplifying the fight against human trafficking, valuing both the understanding and the opportunities that arose from this shared mission.

Narendra P. Singh: U.S.-India relations in a new era

Narendra P. Singh, a professor at the University of South Carolina, shared his views on the renewed Trump administration from a geopolitical standpoint. Though Narendra is not personally a fan of Trump, he sees this victory as a potential boon for U.S.-India relations. “At present, Republicans are more accommodating to Indian causes. Traditionally, Republicans were more pro-Pakistan, but post–Cold War, U.S. foreign policy has changed, and it is more pro-India. Definitely, Indians living in the USA and their financial clout have played a significant role in changing the direction,” he says.

Narendra believes that the economic and strategic interests of Indian Americans will be safeguarded by the Trump administration. "At this juncture post–Trump win, I can only say that Indian interests will be safeguarded by Trump. He will be good for India." His words highlight the growing influence of the Indian American community, whose presence and economic impact have helped steer U.S. foreign policy in favour of India.

[caption id="attachment_59535" align="aligncenter" width="671"] Indians in USA | Global Indian Narendra P Singh with his American-African students at the University of South Carolina[/caption]

The H-1B Visa debate: A narrowing window for Indian workers

For Indian professionals, the H-1B visa has long been the bridge to realizing the “American Dream.” This visa allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialized fields, particularly within technology, engineering, and STEM disciplines, and has thus fueled the dreams of thousands of Indian engineers, programmers, and scientists. However, this pathway may be shrinking. Trump's previous term brought about a notable tightening of H-1B approvals, with a peak denial rate of 18%, up from around 3.2% during the Biden administration. Increased Requests for Evidence (RFEs) also reflected a stark change, making the visa process longer and more challenging. These restrictions hit hard in Indian communities, where the H-1B visa remains a popular route for skilled professionals to access American opportunities.

Trump's return suggests that visa restrictions may continue, especially if his administration revives and strengthens the "Buy American and Hire American" policies. Trump’s philosophy on immigration prioritizes American jobs and promotes a more selective, merit-based visa system. Indian professionals could see a shift toward increased documentation, higher qualification thresholds, and perhaps further limitations on dependents who can accompany them on H-4 visas.

Impact on family-based immigration: Potential strains on family reunions

Family reunification has always been a priority for many Indians who have already established roots in the U.S. Through various family-based visas, these immigrants hope to bring their spouses, children, and parents to join them. However, Trump’s policies heavily favour merit over familial ties. The 2019 public charge rule, which sought to limit green cards to those who could financially support themselves, underscores Trump's preference for an economically self-sufficient immigrant population.

The renewed administration may continue emphasizing skill-based visas, which focus on work contributions over family ties. This approach, while potentially alleviating the backlog of skilled immigration applications, might place added barriers to family reunification. Many Indian families are now uncertain about whether they will be able to reunite with their loved ones in the U.S., a concern heightened by the Trump administration’s rigorous vetting standards and possible restrictions on categories for extended family members.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-d5j1FJAcM

Economic implications: Technology firms and job markets in flux

India has long been a powerhouse of tech talent, supplying skilled workers to U.S.-based giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. These firms rely on Indian engineers and developers, whose skills and expertise contribute immensely to the industry. However, restrictive visa policies may prompt some U.S.-based companies to shift their focus to other countries with more liberal work visa regimes, or even invest in setting up operations in India, where they can tap into an equally skilled, yet locally based, workforce.

For Indian tech firms, the possibility of fewer visa approvals under Trump’s policies could mean a growing necessity to develop robust training and employment systems domestically. This shift might accelerate India’s efforts to strengthen its local tech industry and reduce its dependency on foreign markets for employment opportunities. While this may bring economic growth within India, it leaves Indian workers who aspired to work in the U.S. with potentially fewer prospects.

A divisive future: Balancing humanitarian efforts with economic policies

Trump’s firm stance on legal immigration versus illegal migration has drawn diverse opinions. While it is perceived by some as protecting American job opportunities, others argue that it hinders the influx of talent and hinders familial support networks for immigrants in the U.S. Harold D’Souza’s journey is an example of the importance of supporting immigrants’ human rights and highlights that there is an opportunity to bridge humanitarian work with economic policies. His experience highlights the importance of bipartisan efforts to address issues such as trafficking and labour exploitation.

For Harold, Trump’s leadership on anti-trafficking brought an empowering and focused approach to one of the world’s most pressing human rights issues. His continued advocacy, inspired by the Trump administration’s attention to human trafficking, serves as a reminder that focused leadership can bring positive change, even amidst restrictive policies. In this light, the Trump era may hold lessons on balancing immigrant rights with a more structured, merit-based immigration system that can still cater to economic and social justice needs.

[caption id="attachment_59543" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Indians in USA | Global Indian Harold D'Souza during one of his anti human trafficking campaigns in the U.S.[/caption]

Looking forward: The Indian American community’s resilience

As Indian workers and their families brace for another term under Trump, the future remains uncertain. The drive toward stringent visa requirements may reduce the flow of Indian talent to the United States. However, with a robust support system, an enduring commitment to humanitarian efforts, and an evolving global economy, Indian professionals and advocates are well-positioned to navigate these challenges. Harold D’Souza’s story of overcoming adversity and advocating for those trapped in exploitation serves as an inspiration. His work demonstrates that, even in challenging times, the human spirit’s resilience can thrive across borders, turning personal trials into powerful missions for change.

On the other hand, Narendra's mentorship of minorities in the U.S. exemplifies the supportive networks that empower immigrant communities, offering hope and guidance as they adapt to shifting policies and pursue their American dreams.

To conclude, Trump’s victory brings complex implications for Indian workers, especially in fields where they have long contributed to the American economy. While the road ahead may pose additional hurdles, figures like Harold and Narendra remind us that the pursuit of justice, economic strength, and dignity in labour, regardless of immigration policies, continues to be a shared mission. Indian workers in the U.S. and those in India looking to make their mark abroad face an evolving landscape.

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Reading Time: 5 mins