Global IndianstorySelfie with Daughter – How Sunil Jaglan began a mega global social media movement for empowerment

Selfie with Daughter – How Sunil Jaglan began a mega global social media movement for empowerment

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(June 2, 2023) Sunil Jaglan, an activist from Haryana, found inspiration in the power of selfies and their ability to connect people. His journey began with a simple idea: a selfie with his daughter. Little did he know that this initiative would not only transform his own life but also capture the attention of the world. The ‘Selfie with Daughter’ campaign, launched in 2015, received the immediate attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in line with the government’s Beti Bachao-Beti Padao campagn. It became a worldwide phenomenon, attracting participation from an array of influential figures, including Hollywood and Bollywood stars, renowned athletes, and prominent politicians.The PM also acknowledged Sunil’s efforts during the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat in May 2023, lauding his contribution to empowering women. A-listers like Madonna, Vin Diesel, Sachin Tendulkar and Aamir Khan all posted selfies with their daughters, helping to make this initiative, begun humbly by a man from Haryana, became one of the most successful global campaigns ever witnessed. He has contributed in other ways too – Jaglan’s efforts led to female foeticide being treated as murder in Haryana, which once clocked up the second highest number of gender-related infant deaths in the country.

Sunil Jaglan with his daughters

The power of an idea

For Sunil Jaglan, it was an idea that changed his life. He saw the immense buzz that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could create with a single selfie. Could it really be as simple, he wondered, as taking a selfie to make an impact? Still, there was no denying how PM Modi used it to connect with the common man and world leaders alike. He saw people all around him stopping for selfies and Salman Khan dance to “selfie le le re” in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. “PM Modi has mentioned my initiative at least six times in India and abroad since 2015, and gave it a massive push. But I never ever expected that he would call me one day. Talking to him was an extraordinary experience,” smiles Sunil Jaglan, the activist working on education and rights of girl child in Haryana, speaking to Global Indian.

That wasn’t all. Celebrities everywhere took to it, including A-listers like Madonna, Vin Diesel, Sachin Tendulkar, Serena Williams, Ajay Devgn, Aamir Khan and Shikhar Dhawan. “We received a huge response from the US, Canada, Australia and many countries,” says Sunil, who visited Nepal upon being invited by various organisations. He is soon headed to Canada and the US where lawmakers have invited him.

Over the last one decade. Sunil launched about a 100 campaigns aimed at women empowerment, which has brought winds of change in Harayana and helped improve Haryana’s gender ratio.

The fight against female foeticide

Born in Bibipur village in Jind district of Haryana, Sunil recalls how girls would be discriminated against at school and college. “Boys and girls would be made to sit separately and were never allowed to talk with each other. They had separate queues for everything,” says Sunil, who studied in a government school and completed his Bachelor of Science (BSB.Sc Computer Science) from Government PG college, Jind. After working as a teacher initially, Sunil left his job to become the sarpanch of his village in 2010. “The first task I took up was to prepare a website of my village. It was the first time that a gram panchayat had a website of its own,” says a beaming Sunil.

It all started in 2012 when Sunil Jaglan broke convention after he celebrated his daughter’s birth with the “thali bajao” ceremony, which, until then was a custom reserved for the birth of boys. The villagers were under the impression that a boy was born (due to the thali ceremony). They were shocked to learn that it was a girl. “Even the nurses refused to accept sweets as a girl was born,” recalls Sunil. He would go on to take the issue of female foeticide to Maha Khap Panchayat in July 2012 and ensured women participation in those panchayats, a first in Haryana. They passed a resolution that female foeticide be treated as murder.

Sunil Jaglan | Selfie with Daughter Campaign

The social media campaign series

Thereafter, he launched a series of campaigns, all of which resonated with the locals. Prominent among them were Pad Mitra, which is around menstrual hygiene, Laado Swabhimaan, where house nameplates carry the name of the daughter, Beti Ki Badhai, Womaniya GDP, Gaali Bandh Ghar — among others. He once got a grant of Rs one crore from the state government for developmental works and let women in the village decide where and how to spend 50 per cent of that amount. “The idea was to ensure the participation of women in all the development works,” informs the activist.

But it was Selfie with daughter initiative that became a massive hit worldwide. “I realised Selfie was an important tool and decided to integrated it with women empowerment,” informs the 40 year old, who previously organised a race for girls and awarded a kilo of ghee as prize to bring focus to women’s nutrition.

Sunil’s efforts brought about a massive change and the numbers speak for themselves. The sex ratio at birth in the state was 876 in 2015 which went up to 917 in 2022. His home district of Jind, which had a ratio of 871 girls for every 1,000 boys, went up to 996.

The ‘selfie with daughter’ impact

The selfie with daughter, which gradually evolved into a foundation has adopted over 140 villages across various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It has more than 8,000 volunteers across the country. “We have volunteers in many countries now,” informs the recipient of several state and national awards including the Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence award and the Manthan speaker award. His foundation observes ‘Selfie with Daughter’ Day on June 9 every year and felicitates women who work towards encouraging gender equality.

Sunil Jaglan | Selfie with Daughter Campaign

Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee too was a big fan of Selfie with daughter initiative and lent his full support to the activist. “We organised several events (about this campaign) at Rashtrapati Bhavan when he was the President. He encouraged us in every possible way,” recalls Sunil, who also works as a Senior Consultant in Pranab Mukherjee Foundation.

Changing a mindset

So what more needs to be done to empower women? “People at home need to change their mindset towards girls. Only then can we ensure a change in society,” he feels the father of two daughters — Nandini and Yachika. When not working, Sunil likes to indulge himself in sports and movies. “I watch a lot of movies,” declares the big movie buff who does not miss his game of badminton everyday.

Follow Sunil on Twitter.

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Bhupender Mudgil

June 3, 2023 10:04 am

Good sir

Published on 02, Jun 2023

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Bijoy Jain: The architect breathes new life into sustainable design

(May 6, 2024) A few weeks ago, the curtains on Bijoy Jain's latest exhibition - Breath of an Architect - were drawn at Paris's prestigious contemporary art museum, Fondation Cartier, after being on display for over four months. The installation which investigates the connections between art, architecture, and material, once again brought to the forefront the work of one of India's most renowned architects, who often refers to himself as an artist - Bijoy Jain. "I don’t believe in the conventional separation of architects and artisans," said Bijoy, whose work has been displayed at the architecture biennial in Venice and Sharjah. But mostly has left people in awe at places like Japan, France, and the foothills of the Himalayas as his craft reflects a deep concern for the relationship between man and nature, and serves as a source of inspiration, contemplation, and quietude for everyone. [caption id="attachment_51303" align="aligncenter" width="688"] Bijoy Jain[/caption] A trip that changed it all Growing up in Bombay in the 60s and 70s, he was surrounded by classical Hindustani music which was practiced by his mother, and books that belonged to his father. But it was travel that shaped his worldview at a young age. Bijoy explored

bay in the 60s and 70s, he was surrounded by classical Hindustani music which was practiced by his mother, and books that belonged to his father. But it was travel that shaped his worldview at a young age. Bijoy explored the length and breadth of the country, courtesy of his parents who took trips across India when he was young. One such trip landed him at Ajanta and Ellora Caves, an experience that left an everlasting impression on the mind of a then-five-year-old. "The Ellora Caves are a living space. They transcend time. You may have an immediate (response) or it may take a length of time.. but eventually, you are not the same person as when you entered the space," said the architect.

India to the US - A journey

A professional swimmer, he swam across the English Channel as a teenager but things took a turn for the worse when in 1983, his brother killed himself, and shortly after, his father died of a heart attack followed by his mother. "All this happened in two and a half years. I had started architecture school in Mumbai, and I loved it. But after their deaths, everything was completely different. The window I was looking through had changed," he revealed, adding that he moved to the US to escape reality and enrolled in Washington University in St Louis. It was a stroll to the Laumeier Sculpture Park on his second day that changed it all for him when he discovered Michael Heizer, Donald Judd, and Richard Serra. "For me, Michael Heizer’s Double Negative (a 1969 Land Art intervention near Overton, Nevada) is a fabulous work. Discovering it opened something for me," he added.

Bijoy Jain | Global Indian

After completing his studies, he moved to California to work at Richard Meier's model shop, and after gaining experience in the US and UK, he returned to India to start his studio in Alibag. It was yoga that brought him back to India as he wanted to practice yoga at the place of its origin. "Coming back after a long period away, I was making peace with home again." Returning to India was a sort of rediscovery for Bijoy as landscapes had Indian sensibility and had nothing to do with modern architecture. Constructing his first home in Alibag after graduation, he ended up tossing away his hard work of six months as he found the local builders' techniques incredible. "For me, it was a big learning curve to become familiar with another way of building," the Global Indian said.

Finding his niche

In 1995, he founded Studio Mumbai which is at the intersection of tradition and modernity, and in the last two decades as an architect, he has earned accolades and love across the globe for his work. From designing a textile studio in the foothills of the Himalayas for Japanese textile weaver Chiaki Maki to envisioning Lantern Onomichi, a boutique hotel on the slopes of Mount Senkoji in Hiroshima, Bijoy's work stands as a testimony to his determination and expertise.

Bijoy Jain | Global Indian

He works mostly with wood, basalt, bamboo, concrete, and earth but he calls air, water, and light as his preferred material of choice as he seeks to forge connections between indoor spaces and the great outdoors. Known to design and build in a restricted environment without much manipulation, he loves "finding a gap or an in-between space in a restricted environment." "Whatever the medium is, the objective is to influence the trajectory of light in a space. Any constricted space can be made open in its experience and perception. That is the potential that architecture holds," says Bijoy, whose studio won the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture from L'Institut Francais D'Architecture in 2009. Importantly, his creations reflect a profound attachment to a distinct sense of place and landscape, acknowledging the geographical, climatic, and social nuances of the environment surrounding the architecture. His work which stretches from private homes across India to hotel restorations in Japan and a winery in France, has won many awards and has even been displayed at architecture biennials in Sharjah (2013), Venice (2010, 2016), and Chicago (2017).

Apart from structures, he has also designed furniture, a paper-mâché armchair, and a stone table for Hermes, a French fashion house. And has his work acquired by the Canadian Centre for Architecture, and Centre Pompidou in Paris. Presently, Bijoy is engaged in crafting a townhouse in Brooklyn, revitalizing a community on a secluded Greek island, and designing a winery in France. It's working on a winery that holds a special place as it "holds the possibility of influencing the way the taste of the wine evolves." From harnessing natural light to strategizing the placement of barrels and bottles, and orchestrating the flow of air around them, every decision is a part of the journey of discovery and learning.

[caption id="attachment_51304" align="aligncenter" width="629"] Bijoy Jain | Global Indian Bijoy Jain[/caption]

Having worked for three decades now, Bijoy is keen to open a small bronze foundry. "I don't know why, but I feel motivated to explore fire as a material," he revealed. Bijoy is an architect known worldwide for his buildings and designs, and people everywhere admire how he mixes nature and human creativity in his work. From the interplay of light and space to the seamless integration of natural elements into his designs, his work transcends mere structures, creating immersive experiences that resonate deeply with all who encounter them. His unwavering commitment to forging connections between the built environment and the natural world serves as an inspiration for architects and admirers alike, leaving a mark on the architectural landscape of our time.

Taking Brand India to the world: MM Keeravani at the Golden Globes

(Jan 13, 2022) Cheers erupted from the RRR table as actor Jenna Ortega said the words every Indian was hoping to hear. "And the award goes to, Naatu Naatu, RRR." Looking a little like a deer caught in the headlights, a visibly flustered MM Keeravani clutched his Golden Globe with both hands, saying nervously, "I'm much overwhelmed with this great moment happening." It was a great moment indeed, for Keeravani himself, the RRR team, for Indians around the world and for every underdog everywhere. An underrated genius had finally received his due on a truly global platform, winning one of the most coveted awards in the world. He had hoped to break tradition, he said, by not dedicating his award to someone else, but being up on stage himself, he said, "I'm going to repeat the tradition because I mean my words." He went on to thank the RRR team, starting with his brother and director of the film, SS Rajamouli, for his "constant trust and support," choreographer Prem Rakshith, singer Rahul Sipligunj and Kala Bhairav (Keeravani's son) and actors Ram Charan and NT Rama Rao JR, who "danced with so much stamina." After the ceremony, Keeravani and Rajamouli even

ceremony, Keeravani and Rajamouli even performed the hook step that made the song so popular.

Naatu Naatu was released in April 2022, to much social media hype - Lahari even predicted it would be the 'Dance Number of the Decade'. Two months later, Korean pop music icons BTS released their own choreography to the song, skyrocketing it to global fame. According to media reports, the Global Indian created around 20 compositions for the song, with the final version chosen by Rajamouli and other members from the RRR team.

Early talent

A steady stream of RD Burman hits played through the day in Keeravani's childhood home in Kovvur, Andhra Pradesh. His father, Koduri Siva Shakti Datta, is a painter, lyricist and screenwriter and Keeravani, who grew up steeped in fine arts and the glamour of the Telugu film industry, displayed an early interest in music. His inclinations were appreciated and encouraged at home and he began learning to play the violin at the age of four.

Keeravani showed extraordinary talent even then and by the age of 10, was going on tour with the Pranalingam Accordion Party, a travelling band from Kakinada, for whom he played the violin. He was their piece de resistance, the young prodigy who won his audience's hearts with his solo rendition of Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai.

A rocky start and a big break

Keeravani began his career in 1987, working as an assistant to composers K. Chakravarthy and C. Rajamani. His debut, which came in 1990 with TSBK Moulee's Manasu Mamatha, went out with a whimper, however, as the film was never released, leaving Keeravani's talent unnoticed. His thirty-year tryst with Indian cinema has been something of a comedy of errors, aided in part by the composer himself, and his insistence on having three names. "Stephen King had two names. I have three," he said, in a Rediff interview back in 2004.

As it happened, his great admiration for Stephen King had its part to play in his first big break. Director Ram Gopal Varma, who had heard some of Keeravani's work, was toying with the composer's name for his 1991 film, Kshana Kshanam. The deal was clinched with Varma caught sight of Keeravani sitting quietly by himself in his Chennai studio, his nose buried in a Stephen King novel. "If you like Stephen King, that means we can work together," he told him.

[caption id="attachment_33798" align="aligncenter" width="407"] Composer MM Keeravani[/caption]

The breadwinner goes to Bollywood

Varma, apparently, advised Keeravani to be selective and not take every film that came his way. Pickiness, however, was a luxury the composer simply could not afford. Life was more or less hand-to-mouth back then - in those early days, Keeravani, who lived in a joint family of around 30 people, was the sole breadwinner. The once-wealthy zamindar family had descended into hard times and when Keeravani started out, his cousin, Rajamouli, was still a student. So, he took every job he could get, working with Rajamani and K. Chakravarthy. "There used to be 75-90 Telugu movies produced in a year, and Chakravarthy did 90 percent of those films," Keeravani told Film Companion. "It was work 365 days a year, without a holiday."

Trained in both Western and Indian traditions, his work was always a seamless blend of both styles. And while the Telugu film industry put food on the table, Bollywood afforded him, or so he thought, a chance to be artistic. He went on to compose Tum Mile Dil Khile in Criminal, Gali Mein Aaj Chand Nikla in Zakhm, Jeevan Kya Hai in Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin and Jadoo Hai Nasha Hai in Jism. "Songs in Telugu and other languages are my bread, Hindi songs are my butter," he remarked to singer Sonu Nigam, when he was a guest on the reality show Saregama.

'A man must have three names'

By the late 1990s, MM Keeravani was an established name in the Telugu film industry, starting with his work for Annamayya (1997), which won him a National Award and several state accolades. During that decade, he also managed to set in motion a veritable comedy of errors, thanks to his many names - he goes by MM Keeravani in the Telugu industry, MM Kreem and Margatha Mani, his actual name, which he uses in the Tamil and Malayalam film industries. In Bollywood, he moved like a spectre, the name MM Kreem was a mystery to most. It resulted, as one might imagine, in a lot of confusion.

[caption id="attachment_33800" align="aligncenter" width="508"] MM Keeravani with SS Rajamouli, Ram Charan and NT Rama Rao Jr[/caption]

One story involves media baron Ramoji Rao, who had worked with Keeravani on a number of films. However, the outspoken Keeravani had done the unthinkable - he had a disagreement with the director and wanted to quit. Rao was angry, composers didn't get this much of a say, usually. He told his associates that it was time to replace him, asking them to find the man behind Sur, which had been done by "some guy called MM Kreem," only to find out that they were the same person. In Chennai, Nida Fazli spent a while wandering through the composer's studio asking for a man named 'Kreem', to people who only knew him as Keeravani.

Renunciation

He might appear reserved and mild-mannered, but Keeravani has had his share of rebellion and renunciation alike. An ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, he also had a guru. When he was 33, with his first child on the way, his guru advised him to take sanyaas for a year-and-a-half. Keeravani agreed, sacrificing the comforts of home to live like a hermit and eat only the most spartan, vegetarian food. He even missed the birth of his son and gave his earnings over to charity.

'A student for life'

His cousin, SS Rajamouli, has undoubtedly played kingmaker in Keeravani's life - all his songs for the director have dominated the billboards. However, the composer has had some very successful collaborations with industry heavyweights like Ram Gopal Varma, Mahesh Bhatt and Kumar Sanu, to name a few. He has many inspirations too - he reveres the iconic Ilaiayaraaja, the Burmans, Bhimsen Joshi and is a "great fan of the epic movie Fiddler on the Roof. I get inspired by whatever happens around the world, especially in the West," he told Indian Express. Trained in Indian and Western classical traditions, he man ages to produce a unique signature style to go with each of his monikers. "My inspiration comes from all the great stalwarts and maestros from all around the globe, from John Williams to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, all of them. I believe I'm a student for life."

Prem Watsa: The richest Indian in Canada

(October 6, 2023) About five decades ago, with a mere 64 Rupees in his pocket, which equated to a humble $8 US, Prem Watsa embarked on a journey to Canada. Today, the global Indian presides over an insurance empire that generates an annual revenue exceeding $10 billion, earning the moniker of the ‘Canadian Warren Buffett’. When Watsa set sail for Canada he was in his twenties. Armed with an engineering degree from IIT Madras, he was seeking an MBA at the University of Western Ontario. To fund his education, the engineer turned into an air conditioner and furnace salesman in the foreign land. Now, at the age of 73, this Indo-Canadian stands as the wealthiest Indian in Canada owing to his astute business acumen and remarkable success. He is the visionary behind Fairfax Financial Holdings, serving as the organisation’s founder, chairman, and CEO. In January 2020, Watsa received the prestigious Padma Shri award from the Government of India. He was appointed a Member of the Order in Canada in 2015. The campus of his alma mater, IIT Madras, a prominent educational institution in India, boasts of an expansive stadium called Watsa Stadium. The billionaire had generously contributed towards renovating this landmark

in Canada in 2015.

The campus of his alma mater, IIT Madras, a prominent educational institution in India, boasts of an expansive stadium called Watsa Stadium. The billionaire had generously contributed towards renovating this landmark facility and named it in memory of his father Manohar C Watsa. He is one of the only 150 alumni to be designated as a 'Distinguished Alumnus' by the prestigious Institute.

[caption id="attachment_45721" align="aligncenter" width="802"] Indians in Canada | Prem Watsa | Global Indian Prem Watsa inaugurated the Manohar C Watsa Stadium at IIT-M in 2017 in presence of former director B. Ramamurthy[/caption]

Connected to homeland

Despite spending more than 50 years of his life in Canada, where he ascended the entrepreneurial ranks to become one of the nation's most accomplished businessmen, Watsa has steadfastly maintained his connection to his origins. He has never lost an opportunity to be of use to his homeland.

An exemplary instance of this commitment was seen during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the alumni of IIT Madras, both within India and abroad, collectively donated over $2 million to combat the devastating second wave in India, Watsa played one of the pivotal roles in this initiative by making a substantial contribution to this fund.

Expressing his deep appreciation for his country, Watsa said in a recent interview with Money Control, “I am excited about the opportunities in India. For everybody it is the place to come and put (invest) money in. You’ve got a 100 unicorns and there would be a ton more in India. I am so optimistic.”

Becoming a billionaire businessman

Following his MBA, Watsa joined Confederation Life, an insurance company in Canada. Starting as a junior research analyst, he went on to become a portfolio manager, spending 10 years in the organisation. It was there that he learned the gospel of value investing – of finding and investing in underappreciated public companies, an approach pioneered by legendary investors like Warren Buffet, Ben Graham and Charlie Munger.

In 1984, he ventured into the entrepreneurial world co-founding an investment firm with his former boss, Tony Hamblin, and named it Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel.

The following year, witnessed a pivotal moment in Watsa's career as he took over Markel Financial, a struggling Canadian trucking insurance company which was on the brink of bankruptcy. He changed its name to Fairfax Financial Holdings and nurtured the company's growth, becoming a billionaire in the process.

[caption id="attachment_45722" align="aligncenter" width="704"] Indians in Canada | Prem Watsa | Global Indian Prem Watsa during a speech at the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal in 2018[/caption]

The name of the then startup, Fairfax, stood for ‘fair and friendly acquisitions’. The trucking insurance business was expanded to other verticals like property and casualty. Along the way, Fairfax acquired smaller insurance businesses, and worked to revive them. With Watsa’s business acumen, Fairfax Financial Holdings enjoyed an impressive growth of 25 percent every year for 25 consecutive years from 1985-2010, becoming one of the largest financial institutions in Canada.

“Canada is a fantastic country. Anything that I have done would not have happened if I didn’t come to Canada,” Watsa said in an interview with Bloomberg.

Surging ahead with low public profile

Despite his remarkable accomplishments, Watsa preferred to keep a low public profile, with investor conference calls becoming a regular practice only in 2001.

In 2013, Fairfax Financial Holdings completed a significant acquisition by securing BlackBerry in a substantial $4.7 billion deal. This strategic move has positioned Fairfax Financial Holdings as the preeminent insurer within the for-profit bail industry in the United States.

His investment portfolio in India includes holdings in entities like the Bengaluru International Airport and Catholic Syrian Bank, to name a few. However, it was his venture into Indian insurtech unicorn Digit Insurance that truly captured attention, as it yielded a staggering $1.4 billion profit following a recent share sale by the start-up.

“The current boom in India's start-up industry will open up more avenues and create a level playing field for all those with a drive for entrepreneurship,” he shared with Money Control.

The course of life

Born in Hyderabad, Watsa's educational journey began at Hyderabad Public School. He then secured a seat at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, from where he passed out with a degree in chemical engineering in 1971. Following this, he moved to Ontario, Canada and enrolled in the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, where he earned his MBA degree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWkEO9ou-54

Apart from finding great success as a businessman, Watsa has been the chancellor of University of Waterloo and Huron University College, and member of the advisory board of his alma mater, the Richard Ivey School of Business.

He has also been involved in various philanthropic activities, the most notable being his involvement with The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada as the member of the board of trustees, and one of the board of directors of the Royal Ontario Museum Foundation.

Extremely passionate about his business, Watsa remarked in an interview, “I am hoping that in a 100 years my company would still be here in Toronto. That’s what we are trying to build - a company that lasts.”

During a speech at the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, Prem Watsa outlined the following seven principles of business success:

Think long term
The company is not for sale
Shed bureaucracy at your workplace
Success does not come at the expense of family
Always maintain a team-oriented approach
Give back to society
Never compromise on integrity

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Changing the face of farming: India’s agro tech startups are reshaping the industry

(February 9, 2024) India, with a staggering 120 million farmers, relies predominantly on agriculture as its main source of income. Despite the limited technology adoption in the country's agricultural sector, a select few entities are actively incorporating digitisation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Their aim is not only to enhance the agricultural industry but also to enhance the livelihoods of farmers. These agricultural technology startups are addressing technological, financial, and logistical deficiencies in the supply chain, guaranteeing consumers access to high-quality products at reasonable prices while ensuring fair compensation for farmers. According to a recent report from NASSCOM, there are more than 450 agricultural startups in the country, experiencing an annual growth rate of 25 percent. In 2021, EY forecasted that the Indian agrotech market could potentially reach $24 billion by 2025. Global Indian highlights specific agrotech companies that are emerging as pivotal players in transforming the agricultural sector. Waycool Founder: Sanjay Dasari One of India's fastest-growing agricultural startup and food distribution companies, Waycool Foods & Products Pvt. Ltd, was established with a simple motive to ensure farm products reach the customer's table without any compromise on quality. While there were other players in the field at the time, Sanjay

s & Products Pvt. Ltd, was established with a simple motive to ensure farm products reach the customer's table without any compromise on quality. While there were other players in the field at the time, Sanjay Dasari, the founder of Waycool, noticed that the perishable goods supply chain in the country was disorganised, and since aggregators were not storing the produces properly, they would pay the farmers way less than they deserved.

[caption id="attachment_30248" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Agro | Ninjacart | Global Indian Sanjay Dasari, founder, WayCool[/caption]

Over the last eight years, Waycool has positively impacted the lives of over 500,000 farmers, earning an estimated annual revenue of $2 million. In 2021, the company managed to raise $64.9 million in funding and also started several high-quality private-label products under the label SunnyBee.

Follow WayCool on LinkedIn

Ninjacart
Founders: Ashutosh Vikram, Kartheeswaran K K, Sharath Loganathan, Thiru Nagarajan, Thirukumaran Nagarajan, Vasu Devan

When six Bengaluru-based IT professionals decided to start a company in 2015, there was hardly any other organisation working in the agro tech setup. It took months of discussion, brainstorming, and field research for Ashutosh Vikram, Kartheeswaran KK, Sharath Loganathan, Thiru Nagarajan, Thirukumaran Nagarajan, and Vasu Devan before they decided to start Ninajcart - a company aimed to ease the lives of several agri players, including farmers, wholesalers, and aggregators.

Agro | Ninjacart | Global Indian

However, a year into the market, the founders realised that reaching only supply chain players wasn’t going to help them grow. So, they started their B2C model, which revolutionised the whole agro tech game in India. The founders eliminated the middleman, not just ensuring that the product reached the customers in time, but also ensuring that the farmers involved with Ninjacart were not subject to unfair practices. Today, Ninjacart employs nearly 2,000 farmers to sell more than 80 varieties of vegetables and fruits every day to around 1000 customers in Bengaluru. Valued at $194.2 million, Ninjacart is equipped to move over 1500 tons of perishable goods from farms to businesses, every day, in under 12 hours.

Follow Ninjacart on LinkedIn

Agrowave
Founder: Anu Meena

Farming has been a male-dominated field. So when Anu Meena, a young IIT graduate decided to start an agro tech company, she did face a bit of resilience from her loved ones. However, her passion for building a sustainable supply chain for fruits and vegetables helped her overcome all difficulties and established Agrowave in 2017. With a farm-to-market business model, Agrowave has helped about 8,000 farmers from parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra sell their produce from their farm gates through mobile pickup stations.

[caption id="attachment_30250" align="aligncenter" width="556"] Agro | Agrowave | Global Indian Anu Meena, founder, Agrowave[/caption]

The company created several pickup locations for the farmers so that they do not have to travel to the mandi to sell their produce. The delivery trucks pick up the produce from farmer gates and pick-up stations and allow hassle-free payments to the farmers. Valued at $2.6 million, the agro tech startup has managed to cut the middleman from the entire supply chain process.

Follow Agrowave on LinkedIn

MeraKisan
Founder: Prashant Patil

Backed by Mahindra, Pune-based MeraKisaan has been able to grow exponentially in a very short period. One of the first agro tech companies in the country, MeraKisan focusses on the needs and demands of customers who want quality farm produce and also works to create visibility for those farmers who are producing quality agricultural products.

[caption id="attachment_30251" align="aligncenter" width="554"] Agro | MeraKisan | Global Indian Prashant Patil with the company's brand ambassador, cricketer Ajinkya Rahane[/caption]

Addressing the market linkage problems for farmers, the founder of the startup, Prashant Patil, started by helping farmers in his area switch to premium organic produce, for which there was heavy demand. While the organic crop was getting ready, Patil and his team worked on developing an infrastructure to procure and store the produce and solve the supply inefficiencies at a macro level. They then marketed their produce in online marketplaces, including Ninjacart, Jumbotail, CropIn, FreshWorld, Aker Foods, and AgroStar, to connect organic farmers, producers, suppliers as well as customers. Currently, MeraKisan is valued at around $1 million.

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Bijak
Founders: Nikhil Tripathi, Mahesh Jakhotia, Nakul Upadhye, Jitender Bedwal, Daya Rai

Founded in 2019, Bijak gives a premium business-to-business platform for agricultural commodity trading that helps buyers and sellers better prices, increase working capital, and optimise logistics. The idea is to focus on gaps in the supply chain, including data analysis, finances, technology, and unorganised workers, to help the farmers get a better value for their crop, without it being a burden for the traders.

[caption id="attachment_30252" align="aligncenter" width="552"] Agro | Bijak | Global Indian Nikhil Tripathi, Mahesh Jakhotia, Nakul Upadhye, Jitender Bedwal, and Daya Rai[/caption]

The platform provides loans to traders and also a small working capital for the farmers. To ensure that there are no wastages or partial truckloads, the company also provides aggregated logistics services through its mobile application. Valued at $33.9 million, the company is working in over 27 cities across India, covering more than 100 products on its platform.

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Reading Time: 6 mins

Indian-Origin Academic Leaders: Key faculty appointments at top U.S. institutions in 2024

(September 16, 2024) Recent data indicates that Indian-origin academicians are a significant part of the academic workforce in the United States. BCG estimated that around 2.6 percent of higher-ed faculty members, approximately 22,000, were Indian Americans in 2021. A review of the top 50 colleges in the US revealed that 35 have an Indian American in their leadership ranks, including roles like deans, chancellors, provosts, and directors of colleges. This representation highlights the important role Indian-origin academics play in American higher education, contributing to wide-ranging perspectives and innovative research. Global Indian puts a spotlight on some recent appointments of Indian-origin academic leaders in the United States’ top institutions: Vivek Sarkar Appointed as Dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Computing Indian American professor Vivek Sarkar has been appointed Dean of Georgia Tech's College of Computing, effective June 1. He also serves as a professor in the School of Computer Science. He previously served as the chair of the School of Computer Science and held the Stephen Fleming Chair for Telecommunications at Georgia Tech. Sarkar's work has significantly advanced the academic understanding of high-performance computing systems and has influenced the development of technologies that shape modern society. His research has led to

serves as a professor in the School of Computer Science. He previously served as the chair of the School of Computer Science and held the Stephen Fleming Chair for Telecommunications at Georgia Tech. Sarkar's work has significantly advanced the academic understanding of high-performance computing systems and has influenced the development of technologies that shape modern society. His research has led to key breakthroughs in parallel computing, improving the efficiency of complex computations and making them easier to program. Along with his academic achievements, Sarkar is deeply committed to mentoring future computer scientists and engineers, with a strong focus on promoting diversity and inclusion within the computing field, ensuring equal opportunities for all to succeed.

[caption id="attachment_55917" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Indian Academic | Vivek Sarkar | Global Indian Vivek Sarkar[/caption]

Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Sarkar served as the E.D. Butcher Chair in Engineering at Rice University, where he also chaired the Department of Computer Science. He previously worked at IBM Research as a senior manager and was a member of the IBM Academy of Technology. Sarkar pursued his bachelors at IIT Kanpur and earned his Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University and has been recognized with numerous awards and honours for his pioneering research.

Srinand ‘Sri’ Sreevatsan

Appointed as Dean of University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine

The University of Missouri has appointed Srinand “Sri” Sreevatsan as the dean of the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine, effective August 1. The Indian American academician most recently served as the associate dean for research and graduate studies at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he was also a professor and chair of pathobiology and diagnostic investigation. A distinguished scholar, Sreevatsan is deeply committed to veterinary medicine and research that advances the health of animals, humans, and the environment. He previously spent seven years as the director of graduate studies in the veterinary medicine program at the University of Minnesota.

[caption id="attachment_55916" align="aligncenter" width="428"] Srinand Sreevatsan | Academic Leader Srinand Sreevatsan[/caption]

With nearly 200 scholarly publications to his name, he also holds leadership positions in the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association and the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture. Additionally, he is a member of both the American Society for Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Sreevatsan earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in veterinary medicine from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and holds a master’s degree in public health (epidemiology) and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Minnesota.

Bhramar Mukherjee

Appointed as Senior Associate Dean of Public Health Data Science and Data Equity, Yale School of Public Health

Bhramar Mukherjee has been named Yale School of Public Health’s first Senior Associate Dean of Public Health Data Science and Data Equity. She assumed her position on August 1, 2024. A trailblazer in biostatistics, Mukherjee’s research focuses on integrating genetic, environmental, and healthcare data, with emphasis on chronic diseases, environmental epidemiology, and reproductive health. She has also made notable contributions to cancer and cardiovascular research, as well as the analysis of COVID-19 data. She has co-authored over 380 publications spanning statistics, biostatistics, medicine, and public health, and has served as principal investigator on numerous NSF and NIH grants.

[caption id="attachment_55921" align="aligncenter" width="615"] Indian Academic | Bhramar Mukherjee | Global Indian Bhramar Mukherjee[/caption]

Prior to joining Yale, she held multiple prestigious professorships and leadership roles at the University of Michigan. Mukherjee is the founding director of the University of Michigan's Big Data Summer Institute for undergraduates, a program she has led for the past nine years. Last year, she was also appointed assistant vice president for research, where she designed a comprehensive data analysis service infrastructure for all three U-M campuses. She earned her B.Sc. in Statistics from Presidency College, Kolkata in 1994, an M Stat from the Indian Statistical Institute in 1996, and a Ph.D. in Statistics from Purdue University.

Hamsa Balakrishnan

Appointed as Associate Dean of School of Engineering, MIT

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has named Hamsa Balakrishnan as the associate dean of the MIT School of Engineering. She also holds the position of the William E. Leonhard Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics leading the Dynamics, Infrastructure Networks, and Mobility (DINaMo) group, which focuses on modeling, analyzing, controlling, and optimizing modern infrastructure systems. Her group has played a key role in addressing issues such as advanced air mobility, air traffic congestion, and airport operations, collaborating with organizations like the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, and major airports. From 2018 to 2021, Balakrishnan served as associate department head in AeroAstro, overseeing both undergraduate and graduate education programs. She also directed Transportation@MIT in 2018-19, managing interdisciplinary graduate programs in transportation and focusing on faculty engagement and student recruitment.

[caption id="attachment_55918" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Hamsa Balakrishnan | Academic Leader Hamsa Balakrishnan[/caption]

Prior to joining MIT, she held positions at the University of California Santa Cruz and NASA Ames Research Center. Balakrishnan's research has earned her numerous accolades, including the NSF Career Award, AIAA’s Lawrence Sperry Award, and the American Automatic Control Council’s Donald P. Eckman Award. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, Balakrishnan earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from Stanford University.

Garud Iyengar

Appointed as Director of Columbia University’s Data Science Institute

Columbia University professor Garud Iyengar was appointed as the new director of its Data Science Institute (DSI), effective July 1. He is also co-lead of Columbia’s artificial intelligence initiative alongside Jeannette Wing and Shih-Fu Chang. Before this role, the Indian American academician served as the senior vice dean for research and academic programs at the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), a position he held since November 2021 at the Columbia University. He has also been the Tang Family Professor of Operations in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research since January 2020.

[caption id="attachment_55919" align="aligncenter" width="607"] Indian Academic | Garud Iyengar | Global Indian Garud Iyengar[/caption]

Iyengar's research focuses on understanding uncertain systems and leveraging data-driven control and optimization algorithms to make the most of available information. His work spans a wide range of fields, including machine learning, systemic risk, asset management, operations management, sports analytics, and biology. Iyengar earned his B. Tech in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology - Kanpur and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Sakthivel Sadayappan

Appointed as Head of the Dept of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson appointed Sakthivel Sadayappan as the new head of its Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. He is also serving as a Professor and Associate Director, Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Sadayappan comes to the university from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he led key research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. His career has also included roles at the University of Cincinnati, Loyola University in Chicago, and the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Germany.

[caption id="attachment_55920" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Indian Academic | Sakhthivel Saddyapan | Global Indian Sakhthivel Saddyapan[/caption]

With over 170 published scientific papers and three patents, Sadayappan’s research focuses on developing therapies for genetically induced heart failure, as well as conditions like distal arthrogryposis and lethal congenital contracture syndrome. Recognized as Educator of the Year, he has mentored over 100 students and postdoctoral fellows. Sadayappan earned his PhD in Biochemistry from Madurai Kamaraj University in India, specializing in the molecular aspects of cardiac hypertrophy. He also holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business and completed a Certificate Course on Preparing for Future Faculty at the University of Cincinnati.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there are other notable appointments of Indian-origin academic leaders throughout 2024 leading to significant impacts in the field of education in the United States.