Global IndianstoryCoachella to Louis Vuitton: When India took over global pop culture in 2023

Coachella to Louis Vuitton: When India took over global pop culture in 2023

Compiled by: Darshana Ramdev

(December 30, 2023) India’s presence on the global stage sparkles with a series of striking achievements. From the glitz of the Oscars to the vibrant pulse of Coachella, Indian talents are making waves, blending rich heritage with contemporary flair. Explore stories of how songs, films, and fashion originating from India are resonating worldwide, altering perspectives and embracing diversity. This journey is filled with exciting successes and touching tales, showcasing India’s dynamic impact on the international scene.

The Oscar winners

SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster hit, RRR, which became the first Indian feature film to win an Oscar. The award for Best Original Song, described as a “total banger” by actress Deepika Padukone, who presented it, went to ‘Naatu Naatu’, which was already a global hit by then. Keeravani, who received the award along with fellow composer Chandrabose, delivered his acceptance speech in the form of a re-written version of Top of the World by the Carpenters. The Telugu epic period action drama stars N.T. Rama Rao Jr, Ram Charan, Shriya Saran, Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt. Later, Richard Carpenter went on to tweak the iconic song in praise of Keeravani, who ‘broke down’ when he saw the Instagram post.

Guneet Monga and Kartiki Gonsalves’ also dominated the award ceremony with their heartwarming 41-minute documentary, The Elephant Whisperers. Set in the Nilgiri Hills, it is the story of Bomman and Bellie, a tribal couple who dedicated their entire lives to raising an orphaned elephant baby, whom they named Raghu. It is the first Indian documentary to win an Oscar. Kartiki, who received the award, said, “I stand here today to speak for the sacred bond between us and our natural world, for the respect of indigenous communities, and empathy towards other living beings we share space with and finally, for coexistence.”

Deepika and Alia become global ambassadors for two of the world’s biggest fashion houses

Bollywood icon Deepika Padukone breaks new ground as Louis Vuitton’s first Indian brand ambassador, a prestigious role unveiled during their latest handbag campaign. Padukone, a familiar figure in Louis Vuitton attire, first joined the brand’s elite circle in 2020, modeling alongside stars like Lea Seydoux. Her ascent in the luxury fashion world reflects a remarkable journey from aspirational admirer to fashion trailblazer. Reflecting on her rise, Padukone shared, “When you’re 18…you don’t even bother looking into a Louis Vuitton store…My association with Louis Vuitton is…completely out of your orbit…I can’t believe this is real. And it speaks to the kind of diversity I hope to see in the future.”

Alia Bhatt was named Gucci’s first Indian global ambassador, a landmark moment for both the luxury brand and the Indian fashion scene. Her inaugural appearance as Gucci’s ambassador occurred at the Gucci Cruise 2024 show in Seoul, commemorating 25 years since the brand’s first store in South Korea. This significant appointment reflects the rising prominence of the Indian market in the global fashion landscape. On Instagram, Bhatt shared her excitement: “I’m honored to represent the house of Gucci not only in India but at a global stage…I’m looking forward to the many sartorial milestones we create together.”

Coachella | The Global Indian

Diljit Dosanjh at Coachella

“Sat Sri Akal ji, Punjabi aa gaye Coachella oye.” The crowd roared its appreciation as Diljit Dosanjh, dressed all in black, in a traditional tehmat, kurta, vest and turban, greeted Coachella 2023 at the end of his opening song, G.O.A.T. The superstar, who is the first Indian to perform at the prestigious music festival, stuck to speaking in his his native tongue, taking pride in the fact that he doesn’t prefer to speak to English. Every gesture was an ode to his Punjabi cultural heritage. On day two, he appeared in white, in a tehmat kurta which he styled with sneakers. It was Coachella’s Patiala Peg moment and the crowds absolutely loved it.

Diljit was the festival’s headline act at Coachella 2023, alongside K-Pop megatars Blackpink and Bjork. “Jo ho raha hai, mere daayre se badi baat hai. Coachella is something I never even thought of, it was never in my plan,” he said. “Whatever is happening in my life is.. maybe I don’t even deserve it. I am just grateful to God.”

Hansal Mehta’s Scoop wins big in Busan

Karishma Tanna’s portrayal of journalist Jigna Vohra and her fight for innocence in the hit Netflix series Scoop won her the Best Actress Award at the Asia Contents Aawrds & Global OTT Awards 2023 in Busan, South Korea. The series, Directed by Hansal Mehta, also won the Best Asian TV Series Awards. Scoop is based on Vohra’s memoir, Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison, the story of crime journalist Jigna Vohra who was falsely accused of murder and sent to Mumbai’s Byculla jail.

Tanna expressed her gratitude on Instagram, thanking Hansal Mehta, and the entire team. “To be nominated here was a huge honour and to win in both the categories is just overwhelming. So much gratitude in our hearts,” she said. This is also the 39-year-old actress’ first win the Best Actress category.

Coachella | The Global Indian

A perfect ‘Landing”: India at the Emmy Awards

Actor-comic Vir Das won an International Emmy Award for his stand-up special, Vir Das: Landing, in the Best Comedy category. The 51st International Emmy Awards Gala was held at the New York Hilton in November 2023.

This is Das’ second nomination and his first win, which he shared with the hugely popular Irish sitcom, Derry Girls. “It’s an incredible honour that feels like a dream,” he said. “My journey from crafting local stories to receiving a global accolade has been both challenging and rewarding, and Netflix has been instrumental in that growth.”

The other big winner was Ekta Kapoor, who said, “I’m bringing home an Emmy. This is for India.” Ekta was honoured for her “trailblazing career and impact on the Indian Television Landscape.”

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Published on 30, Dec 2023

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Above the curve: Dr Mani L Bhaumik’s journey is nothing short of a fairy tale

(August 7, 2022) Although he would have to walk four miles every day to reach his school, Dr Mani Lal Bhaumik hardly ever missed a class. Today, an eminent scientist, Dr Bhaumik recently pledged $11.4 million towards the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The donation will support an annual award for young minds working on scientific breakthroughs. "I am still a practicing scientist at 91 years old, and I know that beyond sheer curiosity about our world, peer recognition is one of the things that drives us. To be able to recognise hard-working scientists with this award – and perhaps prompt better work – is exciting," Dr Bhaumik told Science magazine, during a recent interaction. [caption id="attachment_27835" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Scientist Dr Mani L Bhaumik[/caption] Starting his journey from a mud hut in West Bengal, Dr Bhaumik played a key role in developing the laser technology and paved the way for Lasik eye surgery. A student of physicist Satyendranath Bose (of the Bose–Einstein statistics fame), the scholar earned his masters from University of Calcutta, and went on to become the first person to receive Ph.D degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Global Indian takes a look

e way for Lasik eye surgery. A student of physicist Satyendranath Bose (of the Bose–Einstein statistics fame), the scholar earned his masters from University of Calcutta, and went on to become the first person to receive Ph.D degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Global Indian takes a look at the life of this scientist, whose journey has inspired millions of students.

From rags to riches

Born in a remote village of West Bengal in 1931, Dr Bhaumik was a bright student from a very young age. The son of a notable freedom fighter, Binodhar, Dr Bhaumik had mentioned during an interview that his father would often be away for a mission or locked up in the jail, making daily life very hard for the family. "My family didn’t always know where our next meal would come from. I didn’t own a pair of shoes till I was 16," he told the UCLA magazine. A curious kid, Dr Bhaumik never missed the school and after coming home spent hours studying under the dim lamp during the night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0ZbnW_f8Y0

As a teenager, the scholar got an opportunity to spend some time with the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who was visiting Bengal for the Quit India movement. A chance meeting with world-renowned physicist, Dr Satyendra Nath Bose at the Mahisadal camp, changed the course of life for him. Dr Bose was working on the Bose–Einstein statistics at the time, and encouraged young Mani to pursue higher education in Physics. Studying under Dr Bose, Dr Bhaumik completed his bachelors and masters from the University of Calcutta in 1953. However, his quest to learn more, took him to Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, where he earned his Ph.D in 1958.

"Satyendra Nath Bose was my mentor and teacher. He got me interested in theoretical physics. And Paul Dirac came to visit him. Dirac is known as the father of the quantum field theory. He started talking about that, and to me it sounded unbelievable, that whether matter or force, they all come from similar types of fields. Meeting Dirac was a dramatic experience. His talk was something I never had thought about: All electrons are exactly the same throughout the universe, and there is a common origin," Dr Bhaumik told Science magazine during an interview.

[caption id="attachment_27836" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Scientist | Mani L. Bhaumik | Global Indian The scholar during the unveiling event of Mani Bhaumik Institute for Theoretical Physics at UCLA[/caption]

To his complete shock, Dr Bhaumik won the Sloan Foundation Fellowship in 1959 through which he got the opportunity to do post-doctoral research at the University of California (UCLA). While the family was very excited, no one he knew could sponsor his flight tickets to the United States of America. Not the one to bow down, the scholar approached the elder of his village to help him, who did manage to arrange for the airfare, and Dr Bhaumik arrived at the UCLA "with $3 in my pocket," he shared during an interview.

A new world

While in Kolkata, Dr Bhaumik had heard stories about America. But the country was so much more different and advanced than what he had imagined. "I thought I’d died and gone to heaven," he said of his arrival on campus, to the UCLA magazine, adding, "Everyone was treated equally, not like back at home where the poor were treated like dirt." He taught Quantum physics and Astronomy at the University.

[caption id="attachment_27841" align="alignnone" width="1950"] Scientist | Mani L. Bhaumik | Global Indian Dr Mani L. Bhaumik with his students and other faculty members at UCLA[/caption]

His actual research on lasers began in 1961, when he joined the Xerox Electro-Optical Systems. After seven years of research in the lab as a laser scientist, he got enlisted by the Northrop Corporate Research Laboratory. During his long tenure at the Northop lab, Dr Bhaumik led a team of researchers, which was able to conclusively demonstrate world's first efficient excimer laser, a form of ultraviolet laser now commonly used for high-precision machining and for cutting biological tissue cleanly without damaging surrounding tissue. This research became the foundation for Lasik eye surgery. The scholar later became the Director of Northop Lab.

For his pioneering contributions to the scientific world, the Indian government awarded him the prestigious Padma Shri in 2011. The scholar is also a fellow of the American Physical Society and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Although his team was making good progress, Dr Bhaumik noticed the decline in donations for scientific work at UCLA. He decided to establish the Mani L. Bhaumik Presidential Chair in Theoretical Physics to support the ongoing research in 2016. "It’s very difficult to raise funds for this area, because people don’t understand what theoretical physicists do. But physics holds the answers to the most fundamental questions of our very existence," he expressed to the UCLA magazine.

[caption id="attachment_27837" align="aligncenter" width="424"] Dr Bhaumik's book The Cosmic Detective: Exploring the Mysteries of Our Universe is an international best-seller[/caption]

The author of two best-selling books, Code Name: God and The Cosmic Detective, Dr Bhaumik is also the man behind the award-winning American animated TV series, Cosmic Quantum Ray. He recently instituted the annual International Award through the UCLA Neuropsychiatry Institute to recognise the young scientific minds. The scientist, who is involved in various community service campaigns, hasn't forgotten his roots. His Bhaumik Educational Foundation in Kolkata provides full scholarship to students aspiring to be a scientist.

Follow Dr Mani L Bhaumik on his website

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Will policy trump sentiment? Where do Indian-American voters stand in the 2024 US Presidential election?

(October 5, 2024) When Kamala Harris cooked a ‘dosa’ and ‘sambar’ assisted by Indian-American actress Mindy Kaling in 2019 — the video, which was watched over 6.5 million times brought smiles to the faces of Indians and Indian-Americans alike. A year later, when she became the Vice President of the United States, celebrations erupted in her ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in Tamil Nadu. The billion dollar question now is will this ‘desi’ connection sway Indian American voters into supporting Kamala Harris to become the next President of the United States? Or will former President Donald Trump’s friendship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi weigh on their minds? Maybe, maybe not. The pendulum could swing either way. While Indians are attached to their roots, and take pride in how far Kamala Harris has come, some feel the tax-cuts and pro small-business policies of the Republicans are what America needs now. The soaring inflation of the last few years, as well as the limitations of the H-1B visa and the green card backlog (more than one million Indians are still in waiting, as of April 2024, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services), mean that Indians are more likely to vote

more likely to vote for policy than sentiment.

Kamala Harris | Indian American voters | Global Indian

The Indian-Americans, a community of 4.5 million and the most sought-after immigrant group, have chosen to play it smart. While the Indian connection might have a bearing when they set out to vote on November 5, it is their policies and solutions to the concerns of Indian-Americans that will drive them to vote in favour of either of the two Presidential candidates.

Policies matter

Fashion designer and Film maker Anjali Poghat, who is based in Central Ohio says while Kamala Harris’s Indian heritage might resonate with some voters, her policies, experience, and vision for the country are more likely to influence the majority of Indian American voters.

“Indian Americans tend to prioritize candidates based on their stances on key issues rather than solely on ethnic or cultural ties. However, the symbolic importance of representation and breaking barriers still holds significance for many in the community,” she tells Global Indian.

Stating that Indian Americans, a growing and influential demographic, are becoming key in the U.S. presidential race, Anjali says the voting decisions among the community will be driven by key issues like immigration reform, education, healthcare, racial equality, U.S.-India relations, and economic policies.

Listing out the three major issues faced by majority of people from Indian communities, Anjali says Immigration reform comes above everything else. “Policies impacting visas, family reunification, and H-1B work permits are crucial for many in the community,” she says.

Next comes healthcare. “Affordability, Medicare, and prescription drug costs are key concerns, especially for aging parents,” she says. Third in her list is racial equality and discrimination. As a minority group, Indian Americans prioritize inclusivity, racial justice, she adds.

Indian diaspora campaigns for Kamala

While Kamala Harris' Indian heritage has led to many from the diaspora community putting their weight behind her, some Indian-Americans have taken it a step further, and have launched campaigns aiming to encourage Indian American voters to vote and make their voices heard.

One such campaign is the 'Indian Americans for Harris' campaign which aims to rally support for Harris in states like North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. The website of the campaign highlights Kamala's bi-racial heritage as a perfect example of America as a melting pot. Her background connects with many in the country, where at least 12.5 percent of the population identifies as biracial.

Kamala is a Baptist Christian married to a Jew, who was born to a Jamaican-born father and an Indian-born mother. Harris has rarely spoken of her Indian roots though she has spoken about her Indian mother often.

In her speech in which she formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for the presidency, she spoke about her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, but not about India, the country she visited as a child. Chennai was the hometown of Harris's mother. The year 2009 was the last time she visited Chennai carrying her mother's ashes to scatter them in the Indian Ocean waters.

'Naacho Naacho'

Similarly, another campaign in support of Harris comes with a strong desi touch to it, features the “banger “ ‘Naacho Naacho’ (Naatu Naatu in the original Telugu), from the blockbuster movie RRR that won global trends and Oscars. The catchy track is now the new anthem for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.

Ajay Bhutoria, a key member of Kamala Harris’s National Finance Committee, has given the hit a makeover with his creative team, putting Harris' name right in the spotlight. The 1.5-minute video starts off with Hamari Ye Kamala Harris (Our Kamala Harris), which is an addictive blend of campaign highlights and catchy tunes.

Produced by Ritesh Parikh and sung by Shibani Kashyap, the video also includes messages from community leaders in Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Hindi uniting all Indian voters ahead of the upcoming November elections.

Bhutoria feels Kamala represents a "shining future" for Indian-Americans, ending the era of division and controversy. Kamala has been targeted with comments about her background and personal life, and her opponent, Donald Trump’s rallies have frequently been marked by controversial language and attacks.

Trump effect

Days after Republican nominee Donald Trump survived an assassination bid in Pennsylvania in July, a large number of Indian Americans attended his first convention held at Wisconsin, announcing all-out support for the former President.

[caption id="attachment_57421" align="aligncenter" width="503"] Indian American voters | 2024 US Presidential election | Global Indian Photo: BBC[/caption]

Indian-American politician Abraham George, elected chairman of the Texas Republican Party in May, took to the floor to announce that all the delegates from his state were voting for Trump. Usha Chilukuri, wife of Trump’s running mate JD Vance was also on stage apart from two other Indian Americans, Ohio State Senator Niraj Atani and Dr Sampat Shivangi.

“This is a historic convention. We stand together with Trump,” said Dr Shivangi while other delegates said that electing Trump will restore the American values, for which their ancestors came all the way to the United States.

Many Indian Americans also credit Trump for deepening ties between the two nations.

Why Trump

California-based Techpreneur Sagar Honnungar, the co-founder of Hakimo tells GI the key issues on the minds of Indian Americans include domestic issues like economic stability and healthcare accessibility as well as foreign policy concerns.

“There is indeed substantial support for Kamala Harris among Indian Americans due to her heritage and political alignment on key issues. However there are a few signs of shifting allegiances and some in the community are exploring alternative political affiliations,” says Sagar, a Stanford alumni.

He says some of the reasons that Indian American voters are drifting towards her opponent Donald Trump are Republican support for tax cuts and small business and Trump's ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“There is also discontent over the Biden administration’s handling of foreign affairs and domestic issues like inflation which has led some to reconsider their support for the Democratic Party,” he points out.

Green card backlog

Indian-American Nikeeta Pamnani also echoes Anjali Phogat in her views. She says Immigration policies, particularly around H-1B visas and the green card backlog, are top concerns, alongside access to affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities.

“As a minority group, we are also deeply concerned about racial discrimination and rising xenophobia. While Vice President Kamala Harris’ Indian heritage resonates with many, her policies and broader Democratic values, like immigration reform and social justice, play a more decisive role in earning their support,” says the New York-based Nikeeta, who works as a product manager in a private firm.

For most, it's not just about her Indian roots, but the issues that matter to their families and futures, adds Nikeeta.

Ananya Tiwari: Texas academic promoting STEM among rural Indian girls with SwaTaleem

(May 20, 2024) “I believe we are the only ones from India to have ever received this honour and so we'll make sure that we kind of rise up to it. Our plan is to make our advocacy stronger around STEM and the under representation of women in STEM, not just in India but also globally,” said Ananya Tiwari, soon after receiving the 2023 Inspiring Women in Science Award by Nature Portfolio and The Estée Lauder Companies Inc – which saw nominations spanning 45 countries across six continents. The award ceremony was held at New York in presence of the UN under-secretary general for global communications, Melissa Fleming. This is one of many achievements for Ananya, who is an assistant professor at the Texas A&M University and the founder of the non profit, SwaTaleem. The foundation focuses on increasing STEM participation and aiding retention of adolescent rural girls in STEM education. In 2022, Google named Ananya as one of seven rising changemakers and a ‘Leader to Watch’. [caption id="attachment_51731" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Ananya shared the 2023 Nature Inspiring Women in Science Award with Dr. Hortense LE FERRAND[/caption] “One of the things that we want to do very strongly is to take this programme to as many girls as possible

ds-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-loopstyle="linkonly" data-linkindex="2">The Estée Lauder Companies Inc – which saw nominations spanning 45 countries across six continents. The award ceremony was held at New York in presence of the UN under-secretary general for global communications, Melissa Fleming.

This is one of many achievements for Ananya, who is an assistant professor at the Texas A&M University and the founder of the non profit, SwaTaleem. The foundation focuses on increasing STEM participation and aiding retention of adolescent rural girls in STEM education. In 2022, Google named Ananya as one of seven rising changemakers and a ‘Leader to Watch’.

[caption id="attachment_51731" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global indian Ananya shared the 2023 Nature Inspiring Women in Science Award with Dr. Hortense LE FERRAND[/caption]

“One of the things that we want to do very strongly is to take this programme to as many girls as possible and so we are of course expanding in India. We are also very interested in collaborating with different entities across the world and are looking at a global expansion,” said Ananya.

SwaTaleem

“Over 53 million Girls between the ages of 12 to 18, many of whom are first- generation learners, hail from low socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and tribal areas. As of 2015, their school dropout rates are on the rise and over 13 million have been pushed into child marriages. SwaTaleem helps break this cycle of oppression and empowers these young Girls of tomorrow with the necessary skills and long-term support,” reads the SwaTaleem website. The initiative is running for the past six years in India.

SwaTaleem collaborates with Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) school girls their families, educators, and community women. These residential schools meant for the poorest of the poor were established by the government of India to provide quality education to girls from underprivileged communities. SwaTaleem has been working with 31 KGBVs in Delhi and Haryana – the state with one of the lowest literacy rates of girls.

https://youtu.be/J6xlxkTcMl0

The SwaTaleem empowerment story

Ananya Tiwari adopted the approach of empowering KGBV teachers and local women to support young girls by forming school clusters. Through the use of IVRS technology, SwaTaleem enables girls, parents, and teachers to participate in the development of life skills content collaboratively. This interactive engagement equips young girls to learn life skills easily, feel empowered and build aspirations.

SwaTaleem also works towards improving the skillsets of skill providers and educators in the villages. “Some of the best days in SwaTaleem are when the team members across villages and districts come together to learn and grow, and find new ways to work with girls, teachers, parents and education system’s officials,” the Global Indian said.

The foundation conducts Internal Team Readiness Workshops for all the field team members, including Cluster Leads, Associate Cluster Leads, and Field Coordinators. The primary aim for these workshops is to establish strong connections among team members, enhance unity, encourage reflection on experiences and lessons learned from various field projects, prepare for upcoming interventions in the coming months, and review the annual calendar.

Since most field team members are women, when young girls see so many women facilitating education to them, they get empowered as they have grown up in environments where they have not seen women working.

Ananya Tiwari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWXN0SzeZd4

Mai Bhi Curie

The foundation’s programme ‘Mai Bhi Curie’ which translates to ‘I can also be Curie’ in Hindi,” is named after Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie, who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. This programme has played a big role in making SwaTaleem earn international awards and recognitions. The programme integrates science, gender, and life skills curricula for young girls. These girls often belong to first-generation learner families, marginalized castes, religious minorities, and face high rates of high school dropout and early marriage.

They face a number of barriers in terms of not just completing their schooling but also choosing science. What is interesting is that we recruit local village women to get trained and do the sessions with the girls in the schools.

Ananya Tiwari

After the end of the academic session every year, the girls get to display their scientific projects to the villagers including their parents, family and the government officials at a science fair. This initiative has facilitated scientific knowledge and is playing a role in changing cultural norms, ultimately aiding in the retention of more young girls in STEM fields.

[caption id="attachment_51733" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global Indian Glimpse of the Main Bhi Curie initiatives[/caption]

The impact

SwaTaleem has impacted 250,000 girls in Delhi and Haryana. The foundation not only observes but also quantifies the changes in behaviour and impact, such as improvements in self-esteem, confidence, and assertive communication levels. Ananya emphasizes the profound connection between these changes and scientific knowledge.

“When a girl feels proficient in subjects or areas typically considered difficult by society, she gains the ability to advocate for herself within her family. Numerous studies, including internal research conducted by the foundation, highlight a strong correlation between these factors,” she explains. Along with the evidence-based data, the foundation boasts of anecdotal data of girls that highlight how SwaTaleem has helped navigate their lives in a better direction.

A fun fact is that the schools we work with are nearly two decades old but the girls for the very first time after participating in our programme worked on any science project and submitted in government competitions.

Ananya Tiwari

"These competitions were first held at the block level where they competed with boys and won,” Ananya shares adding. “Their wins have been across gender, across cast, across class, and across the rural urban divide at the block levels, after which their projects went up to the district level and that has been a historical moment for us, something that we've taken huge pride in,” Ananya mentions

[caption id="attachment_51734" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global Indian SwaTaleem Girls[/caption]

The joy of giving back

Ananya gives full credit to her team for the huge impact that SwaTaleem Foundation has hade. The Texas-based educationist believes that had it not been for them, coming so far would have been impossible.

I have grown up in India and I was very fortunate to be able to go to school, to be able to study. I don't come from a very wealthy family but I always had food on table and my parents took really good care of me, so I think it's very important for me as a person to give back and that is why girls education is extremely important to me something that I have been involved with not just through SwaTaleem but also my own research areas here in the US.

Ananya Tiwari

Ananya has studied on numerous scholarships throughout her educational journey. She earned the Margaret McNamara Education Grant (MMEG) to support her studies in the US. MMEG is a nonprofit, public charity founded in 1981 that awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries.

After completing a BSc from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, Ananya pursued her MA in psychology from Kanpur and graduated as a gold medallist. She did a postgraduate diploma course in liberal studies from Ashoka University on a Russel Mehta Scholarship and earned the Outstanding ELM Award. Following that, Ananya went on to pursue her MS and PhD in educational psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was the recipient of the outstanding doctoral medallion.

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Chidananda Naik on winning La Cinef Award at Cannes 2024: This is just the beginning

(June 21, 2024) Brushing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the world of cinema at the French Riviera last month, Mysuru-based filmmaker Chidananda S Naik found himself in a state of deep gratitude and awe at the 77th Cannes Film Festival where his short film, Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know won him the La Cinef Award. "My heart is filled with gratitude. This win is not just mine; it belongs to everyone who was a part of this project and every Indian who backed us, especially from Karnataka, as we proudly represented India on this global stage," he tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_52501" align="aligncenter" width="529"] Chidananda Naik[/caption] Cannes 2024 proved to be a landmark year for Indian cinema at the prestigious film festival with several participants scripting history, including the 29-year-old filmmaker. It is for the first time that a film made by a student from the first year Television course at FTII, Pune has won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. Humbled by the win, Chidananda says, "I genuinely feel that this is just the beginning. Our success at Cannes has opened new doors and inspired us to continue creating films that resonate globally."

from the first year Television course at FTII, Pune has won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. Humbled by the win, Chidananda says, "I genuinely feel that this is just the beginning. Our success at Cannes has opened new doors and inspired us to continue creating films that resonate globally."

Making India proud

Growing up, Chidananda had never imagined himself on a stage as big as the Cannes Film Festival, making his debut feel surreal and an experience he calls incredible. "It was such a huge honour to represent India." As a member of the contingent that made India proud at Cannes 2024, the filmmaker is thrilled to have witnessed the historic triumphs of Indians at the film festival, a period he calls his "most memorable moment." "I saw history being written in front of me and what a year for India! It started with Mansi Maheshwari, her anime film Bunnyhood won third prize at La Cinef, followed by Anasuya Sengupta, who became the first Indian to win the Un Certain Regard Best Actress award, and then Payal Kapadia, whose film All We Imagine won Palme d'Or," he smiles.

For an emerging talent like him, film festivals play a crucial role, offering a platform to showcase their talent to a global audience and industry professionals. "La Cinef, formerly known as Cinefondation Selection, are particularly important because they are specifically created mainly to inspire and support the next generation of international filmmakers," says Chidananda, whose short Kannada film was among the 18 entries selected from film school students worldwide.

Bringing a popular folklore to the forefront

Taking a leaf out of a popular Kannada folklore Ajjiya Jamba, the 16-minute short film tells the story of a village plunged into darkness by an elderly woman who steals a rooster. This act triggers chaos as the villagers frantically search for the missing rooster, believing it is essential to restore daylight. To bring the rooster back, a prophecy is invoked, resulting in the exile of the old woman's family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAmKq-Nwq6s

Chidananda cherished the folklore since childhood, but during his time at FTII, he discovered that it was only well-known in Karnataka and remained a mystery to people outside the state. "My editor, Manoj V, and I have always wanted to make a Kannada film, and the possibility of bringing the story world we imagined to life was really fascinating to us," adds the filmmaker, who had only four days to shoot the film that was a part of his coursework at FTII. However, he remained focussed on taking the best shots and reflects that the filming process taught him to be "meditative in the chaos."

Shot entirely under the cloak of night, the film uses darkness to weave a tale of mystery and suspense, pulling the viewers in the villagers' desperate struggle, thus making night itself a vital character. "It was extremely difficult to shoot with all the limited resources and rules. We were super exhausted but really satisfied with the shots we achieved," says the filmmaker, who found his crew in his batchmates. "Suraj served as the Director of Photography, Manoj was the editor, and Abhishek handled location sound and mixing," reveals Chidananda, noting that other artists joined them to assist during the filming.

Doctor-turned-filmmaker

It's hard to believe that the award-winning filmmaker once aspired to be a doctor. Born in Shivamogga to Prof Shekar Naik, Head of Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition at Yuvaraja College and Vinoda Bai, Chidananda was "never interested in cinema nor thought about it much." His passion initially lay in medicine, leading him to enroll at Mysore Medical College and Research Institute for his MMBS. Ironically, it was medicine that initially drew him towards art. "From the first year, we delved into anatomy through dissection, understanding the human body in great detail. Yet, I often pondered about emotions and feelings, which are also essential aspects of being human," says Chidananda, who found his expression in filmmaking, and joined FTII, Pune after completing his MBBS.

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"We are all born first and then we decide how to spend the rest of the days before turning into ashes. There is no blueprint to life that dictates what we should do. I just decided to be happy and do things that make me and people around me happy. It's more about coming to terms with myself and finding my expression of life. These thoughts led me to resonate deeply with art and literature, ultimately guiding me towards filmmaking. It wasn't that I was unhappy studying or practicing medicine, nor was I doing it solely for my parents. Instead, it was a realisation that my true passion lay elsewhere," says Chidananda.

The road ahead

Pivoting to filmmaking turned out to the best decision for Chidananda, who met a bunch of talented people at FTII, thus helping him hone his craft and make impactful films. He reserves a special mention for Neeraj Voralia, a mentor whom he deeply admires. "He is a true blessing to students at FTII."

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With La Cinef Award under his belt, the passionate filmmaker is now gearing towards making a mainstream film. "I will share updates in a proper way as the project progresses. I can't reveal too much at this stage," says the man who has brought Kannada film to the forefront at a global stage like Cannes with his film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know. "We are motivated more than ever to make films that tell compelling stories and connect with audiences worldwide. The journey ahead is exciting, and I believe we will see many more Kannada films gaining global acclaim in the future," he signs off.

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How Parul Sharma became one of Sweden’s top human rights lawyers

(March 30, 2023) Parul Sharma is a familiar face in Sweden, where she is one of the country’s most influential lawyers and featured often in the media. A human rights lawyer with a focus on sustainability, Parul is the CEO at The Academy for Human Rights in Business and Chair, Amnesty International Sweden. Over the years, she has gained a reputation as one of Sweden’s most influential sustainability experts. Be it law or human rights, Parul has always had a human-centric approach – she studied law from Stockholm University and did her Master’s in London. In 2017, she was ranked the second most influential sustainability leader in Sweden, right after the Minister of Financial Markets and Consumer Affairs. Over the years, Parul has written extensively on the topics of CSR and human rights. In 2020-2022, she was ranked and awarded most influential in Sweden within areas of social change, development, and human rights. In 2022, she won the “MySpeaker of the Year” prize in the category of sustainability in Sweden. “Over the years I have been awarded with human rights awards such as the Solidarity Award granted by the Afrika groups (Afrikagrupperna) and the Tilka Manjhi Human Rights Award granted

Rights Award granted by the Ang Madad Foundation India in 2021,” Parul tells Global Indian.

Parul loves to create hope, she says it’s her aim to create hope for it can indeed be a trigger to action and reaction for development, and hope is extremely important to uphold human rights and democracy. “Each person is a powerhouse and can start a movement, small or big, for change and sustainable development. Hope can indeed illuminate these powerhouses.”

[caption id="attachment_36718" align="aligncenter" width="636"] Parul Sharma[/caption]

Entrepreneur, author and human rights defender

After gaining expertise and many years of experience working in sustainability, human rights and anti-corruption in high-risk markets, Parul floated her own Academy, ‘The Academy for Human Rights in Business’ for Human Rights, in Business in 2013. So far it has provided training and legal advice on sustainable development related issues to more than 550 companies – mainly multinational corporations around the world.

Parul also got a chance to chair the Swedish governmental Agenda 2030 Delegation between 2016 and January 2018 and also since 2020, has served as the Chair of Amnesty International Sweden. Apart from being a rights activist, she is also an established author; so far she has published seven. “My three most recent publications are on Agenda 2030," Parul says. "They are handbooks, aimed at making people act both as corporate representatives, citizens, parents, teachers, and consumers. I have all together published seven books on human rights and/or sustainable development,” Parul explains. The first four books are on the Right to Life and the rights of women and children.

Preserving culture

Parul was born to Indian parents in Stockholm, Sweden. Her mother, Anita Sharma and her father, Shashikant Sharma, moved from Jallandhar to the Swedish capital as a newly married couple in the 1970s. “Our languages are Punjabi and Hindi, and our culture has always been central to our upbringing. For that, I’m thankful to my mother.”

The early exposure to Indian culture and languages led to an interest in human rights and sustainable development issues in her ancestral homeland. She began to expand her focus to India and gradually, to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, building up to outreach on a global scale during her 27-year career. These days, Parul works in seven African and four Latin-American countries.

Creating socially-sound businesses

According to Parul, her work schedule is very hectic, with a lot of legal advisory and training towards the corporate world in the EU through her firm The Academy for Human Rights in Business. “I advise corporations on how to conduct socially and environmentally sound business in already weak and complex markets from a sustainable development point of view.”

In the last 20 years, she has been regularly conducting social audits on European supply chains in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Never forgetting the roots

Parul is a regular visitor to India and has worked almost everywhere in the country, she says. “On the sidelines, I am active in a number of pro bono engagements with NGOs working to combat Tobacco, sex-trade and human trafficking, refugee rights and support to refugees in Sweden, and many child rights related matters.”

For many years now, she spends at least one month as a humanitarian volunteer. “My last three volunteer programmes have been attached to a clinic connected to one of Europe’s largest refugee camps in Greece on the Ireland of Lesbos.”

Branching out

A few years ago, Parul began to feel that her legal profession is not enough to support and help in the humanitarian and refugee crisis. She chose an unconventional path at this point. Wanting to feel more involved in helping refugees rise above the trauma they carried, she took courses in massage therapy and breathing techniques. It allowed her provide a sort of instant relief, which she says has also benefitted her immensely. “I feel the difference instantly, I can see, feel and hear how massage is helping my fellow human beings who have struggled to move away from war zones, natural disasters, and other oppressive scenes.” Often, she says, people break down and cry on the massage table as they feel the release of tension. “The feeling of being safe and relaxed is uncommon for them,” she says.

Right now, she is working with the Swedish initiative ‘Stand with Syria’ to support the Turkish and Syrian hunger crisis due to the massive earthquake hitting these countries very recently.

An unflinching journey

“Child rights have always been the main energy in my work, and 25 years ago, together with an Indian NGO, PVCHR Asia, I started a scholarship programme for girls in Uttar Pradesh and it has been ongoing since.” Investing in education for the girl child has proven to be the single most impacting practice for social and environmental development, she says.

While calling this as the most powerful key to societal balance and change, till date several hundreds, at least 650 girls have benefitted from this programme.

“This programme is probably what I am most proud of, of all the work and effort I have put into rights based work. I visit PVCHR once a year and meet with the girls. Health camps and other awareness activities for women are conducted as well.”

Staunch supporter of human and worker rights

Today world’s supply chains are being severely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic and fast moving markets. “Moreover, the threat to public health, the economic and social disruption threatens the long-term livelihoods of millions of workers. Mostly vulnerable to the worst impacts are the millions of workers lower down the supply chain, often women and the primary caregivers in their families and already marginalized communities.”

Calling workers as integral to the global economy, Parul believes a large part of the hidden workforce of global production already face poverty wages, dangerous and unsafe working conditions, and without social protections, mostly.

“Migrant workers in supply chains also face unique risks, as a result of inadequate and crowded living conditions, harsh containment measures, and discrimination. This includes workers in supply chains across sectors but has clearly been identified within electronics and IT. Such risks and impacts have been documented in the mining sector in Latin America as well as in electronics manufacturing in China (including the alert on the forced labor of the Uyghurs), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Italy, Brazil, and Mexico), according to and by numerous human rights watchdogs.”

In capacity of playing an advisory role, she prepares companies and governmental agencies, who procure products from high-risk markets, to build even stricter auditing models during and post-covid, especially within the following areas: compensation, collective bargaining agreements, and cancellations during the pandemic, for instance, cancellations of wage increase and severance payments, health and safety measures with a focus on lack of protective equipment, lack of social distancing measures.

Parul is a staunch supporter of spiritualism, she believes one needs calm, prayer, meditation and spiritualism every day.

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