Global IndianstoryKrithi Karanth: Conservation biologist leading efforts to alleviate human-wildlife conflict in India

Krithi Karanth: Conservation biologist leading efforts to alleviate human-wildlife conflict in India

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(November 10, 2023) Most toddlers watch the big cats in the nearby public zoo, but not Krithi Karanth, who had the privilege of spotting her first tiger as a three-year-old in a jungle with her father. It was a beautiful early evening at Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka when she saw her first big cat, and for years to come, the jungle and national parks became her playground, thanks to her dad, a noted tiger biologist and conservationist and her grandfather, an environmentalist. Growing up, she learnt to track tigers and set camera traps. “In our family, you actually don’t have a choice when it comes to going out into the wild,” said the conservationist who became the first Indian and Asian woman to receive the WILD Innovator Award.

Although she explored the length and breadth of jungles across India, she wasn’t too keen to follow in the footsteps of her father as a conservationist, and instead wanted a PhD like her mother, which she did at Duke University. She had a plan, and she moved to the US to earn a BSc degree at the University of Florida, followed by an M.E.Sc from Yale University. It was here that she got attracted to the field when she spent four months at Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary for an interdisciplinary project. “I was doing ecological and social science research. I love both. I’ve always been an interdisciplinary person. That trip made me realise I wanted to get into conservation,” she added. Despite getting into an accident and fracturing her leg, she was determined to return to the jungle, finish her interviews and line transacts.

Krithi Karanth | Global Indian

Finding her calling

That trip to Western Ghats helped her find her calling, and another trip in 2009 only cemented her passion for her work. Krithi conducted a research project in India, focusing on the growth and impact of wildlife tourism in 10 parks over six months, while also overseeing a team of 75 volunteers. “The actual engagement, spending time on the ground and interacting with people helped me realise how much I love being in the field in India,” added the conservation biologist. After spending 12 years in the US, she packed up her bags and moved to India at the age of 31, where she became a Ramanujan Fellow, and joined the Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) as a research fellow.

It opened up a door of opportunities for Krithi who connected with the wildlife and the people like never before. Her life underwent a significant transformation in 2011 when she was selected as the 10,000th research grantee by the National Geographic Society. This milestone was followed by another achievement in 2012 when she was named an Emerging Explorer by the same organisation. These experiences had impact on her as they enabled her to extend her focus beyond scientific research. She had the opportunity to connect with the wider public, impart her knowledge, and actively involve people in her work. “It put me on a public platform for the first time and helped me connect with people, globally,” she said, adding, “Many scientists don’t like being in the public spotlight and communicating why our work matters. We think if you publish a great paper in a top journal, the world will hear about it. They won’t. You have to connect with people in other ways.”

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In these years as a wildlife conservationist, Krithi realised that the relationship between animals and people is not always positive, owing to the acute human-wildlife conflict which includes animals attacking people, destroying their crops, or taking away their livestock. “Kids grow up with a negative, traumatic perspective on wildlife and significant economic hardship. They’re not going to appreciate the fact that India has the highest number of tigers or Asian elephants in the world, that it’s the best place to witness extraordinary animals,” she added.

A program to reduce human-wildlife conflict

This led her to the idea of a conservation program that employs education, artistic expression, narrative, and interactive games to spark inspiration among children residing in proximity to India’s wildlife. She soon founded Wild Shaale, which translates to ‘wild school’, to help fill in the gap in environment learning. The program also delves into the reasons behind conflicts involving wildlife and imparts strategies for responding in such scenarios. This initiative blends various elements, including games, storytelling, presentations, and videos, and features an adaptable curriculum. Krithi particularly enjoys her work with children in India, as she has found them to exhibit a higher level of empathy compared to their counterparts in Europe or the United States. The program has been implemented in 300 schools in seven languages with a revamped curriculum.

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In the program, students engage in creative painting, participate in interactive games, and attend informative presentations focused on Indian wildlife. They closely observe animal behaviours and their natural habitats. “The idea is that you start by making learning fun and if you make learning fun, then they’re already and excited about wildlife. I think that’s what’s really made a difference,” said the adjunct associate professor at Duke University.

Krithi, who was awarded the 2020 Eisenhower Fellowship, has also been a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Despite all the accolades and achievements, Krithi is hungry to do more. “What I’ve done is not enough. We can do more and can have a greater impact.” In the years to come, she is keen to expand Wild Shaale programmes across India and the world, working with colleagues in Kenya, Sri Lanka, or Brazil. “As long as my mind is working, there is always something I will be able to do.”

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Published on 10, Nov 2023

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Meet Sarbpreet Singh, who went from corporate boardrooms to writing about the immigrant Sikh experience

(February 26, 2024) A Boston-based writer, podcaster, and commentator, Sarbpreet Singh is a man who wears many hats with élan. Author of the critically acclaimed books The Story of the Sikhs 1469–1708, Night of the Restless Spirits, The Sufi’s Nightingale, and the bestselling The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia, his deeply researched books have left an imprint on many readers. Having worked for various firms, including General Electric, Lucent Technologies, Flextronics International, and AT&T Bell Labs, he made the career switch to writing in 2017. Sarbpreet Singh is the very definition of a Global Indian. Raised in Sikkim, speaking Punjabi (his mother tongue) and Nepali (the language most prevalent in Sikkim), his syncretic upbringing and outlook have ensured he imbibes the best that places and people have to offer. [caption id="attachment_49428" align="aligncenter" width="585"] Sarbpreet Singh[/caption] Love of literature Hailing from one of only two Sikh families that lived in Gangtok, Sikkim, the author was quite disconnected from his roots, both culturally and socially. He recalls, “While I had friends growing up, I struggled with feelings of isolation that came from the ‘othering’ that my visible Sikh identity provoked.” In a school culture where sporting abilities were valued highly, his indifferent soccer

nected from his roots, both culturally and socially. He recalls, “While I had friends growing up, I struggled with feelings of isolation that came from the ‘othering’ that my visible Sikh identity provoked.”

In a school culture where sporting abilities were valued highly, his indifferent soccer and track and field abilities meant that he turned to elocution, dramatics and related pursuits, which transformed into lifelong interests.

He recalls, “I always loved literature, and during my high school years, against the advice of my mentors, I decided to study English literature as an elective, something that was not recommended for a student studying science subjects. The two-year syllabus enriched me tremendously as I delved into the likes of Thomas Hardy, Samuel Butler, John Galsworthy, and, of course, Shakespeare."

Sarbpreet went on to study Engineering at The Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani. After a stint at ICIM, a Bombay-based tech company, he left for the US to study computer science at Pace University in New York.

Life in the US

The author says that he adjusted to life in the US easily. “As someone who attended elite schools in India, had a deep love of the English language, and identified with western ideas and culture, I did not have much trouble adjusting to my new life in a new country. I maintained my Sikh identity, and while my distinctive physical appearance did lead to the inevitable othering, it did not hold me back in my professional career at all,” he states.

However, Sarbpreet did change profoundly in other ways. He recounts, “My first job took me to a small suburb of the Midwestern city of Milwaukee. Quite serendipitously, a budding interest in my roots, which had started while I was in graduate school, took shape as I started spending time with young Sikhs around my age who attended the small Milwaukee Gurdwara.”

As a young man who was until then immersed mostly in Rock and The Blues, and disdained all forms of Indian music, he found himself drawn to Gurmat Sangeet, or Sikh sacred music.

Milwaukee was also home to a small but thriving Indian classical music community, which Sarbpreet got involved with. The twin interests in Gurmat Sangeet and Shastriya Sangeet developed into a lifelong passion, especially as he launched The Gurmat Sangeet Project, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of traditional Sikh music.

A writer by accident

As an expatriate Indian and a Sikh, Sarbpreet first encountered writings on Sikhs and the Sikh faith by chance. He explains, “While I did speak Punjabi, I never learned to read Gurmukhi and was hence limited to reading exclusively in the English language. I encountered J.D. Cunningham's History of the Sikhs and Max Marthur Macauliffe’s The Sikh Religion, finding both works to be tremendously inspiring, after which I read Khushwant Singh’s History of the Sikhs as well.”

Reading about the broad worldview of the Sikh Gurus and the trials and tribulations of eighteenth-century Sikhs as they struggled to establish their progressive faith in a society that was anything but welcoming inspired Sarbpreet tremendously.

This budding interest in Sikh history led him to writings about more recent events, most notably the tragic events of 1984. He reminisces, “Reading the PUCL/PUDR report on the Delhi massacre, an article by Madhu Kishwar titled Gangster Rule on the same topic, and most importantly, an academic paper by anthropologist Dr. Veena Das created tremendous turmoil in my heart.”

This was the spark that prompted him to write Kultar’s Mime, a long poem about four children who survived the anti-Sikh violence of 1984 and their attempts to deal with their PTSD.

After that, Sarbpreet took a long break from writing, and it wasn’t until years later that he started writing a column for the popular web magazine SikhChic in 2013. He states, “The positive response to the column inspired me to write my first book, The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia, set in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The book was a great critical and commercial success, and it launched my career as a writer.”

From tech to storytelling

He left the world of technology around 2014 and, for the next two years, focused on producing the play Kultar’s Mime, created by his daughter based on his poem. He shares, “Somewhere along this three-year journey, which took the play to six countries for 90+ performances, I made the decision to embrace storytelling completely." His epiphany came after a performance in Birmingham, UK, when a young Sikh in his late teens walked up to him and said, ‘I could never imagine that our stories could be told in this manner’. After the tour ended in 2017, he started writing in earnest.

Sarbpreet writes on topics that inspire him or catch his imagination; as his interests are varied, his books deal with different themes. He outlines it when he says, “All my work is deeply rooted in research, and I tend to immerse myself in my subject before I write a single word. For example, my latest novel, The Sufi’s Nightingale, is a retelling of the life of the poet Shah Hussain. While I tried to read everything about him that I could lay my hands on before writing the novel, I also spent a couple of years creating original compositions to sing his kafis or poems, which appear in translation in the book and are deeply embedded in the narrative.”

A man of many talents

Along with writing, Sarbpreet is also the writer-narrator of the podcast, Story of The Sikhs, which has listeners in over ninety countries. Ask him how he juggles it with writing, and he smiles. “There is really no juggling involved at all! Even though my canvas is quite broad, all my work is based on what truly inspires me. Novels, works of non-fiction, plays, poetry, podcasts, and music—all of these to me are just different modes of storytelling, with the ultimate objective of inspiring others.”

Though he has lived longer now in the US than in India, the author is rooted culturally in the Indian subcontinent. It is reflected in the food he likes, the music he listens to and the stories he writes. When not spending time with his family, he is busy with his other passions – tennis, music and literature. He is currently working on his next book, Cauldron, Sword, Victory – The Rise of the Sikhs expected to be out later this year.

Follow Sarbpreet Singh on Instagram.

Sara Mathew: 40 Under 40 healthcare leader bridging global disparities

(November 26, 2024) In the summer of 2019, the town of Bareilly saw police officers and medical students training under Stop The Bleed, a program extended to India by New York-based Weill Cornell Medicine to train bystanders and ordinary people to act as first responders during accidents. The life-saving initiative made its way to Bareilly through the efforts of Sara Mathew, the Associate Director of Research and Operations Administration at Weill Cornell Medicine, who along with an Indian trauma surgeon, was keen to give back to her homeland. "We both have a connection with India and always had discussions on how we can help India," she tells Global Indian. The 38-year-old, who moved to the US in 2008, has been working towards closing the gaps in health disparities in the US and abroad. Her efforts have earned her honours including Crain's Notable Healthcare Leader and a spot on the 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health in 2023 - a recognition that has validated her journey and hardships. "It's a byproduct of my hard work," she says. [caption id="attachment_60603" align="aligncenter" width="585"] Sara Mathew[/caption] When Sara transitioned from engineering to healthcare to start her journey in the US, she faced strong opposition

="https://www.globalindian.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/sara-card-ezgif.com-resize.jpg" alt="Sara Mathew | Global Indian" width="585" height="752" /> Sara Mathew[/caption]

When Sara transitioned from engineering to healthcare to start her journey in the US, she faced strong opposition from her family, especially her father. "He was firmly against it," she recalls. "Now 15 years later, when I was recognised by 40 Under 40, I called him and asked, ‘Do you believe now that I made the right choice?’" smiles the Manhattan-resident, who found her footing in a new country through hard work and perseverance.

Transitioning from engineering to healthcare

Mumbai was Sara's home until she was 21. In 2008, after completing her engineering in instrumentation from Watumull Institute of Electronics Engineering and Computer Technology, she moved to the US for higher studies. Growing up in a middle-class family with a Math professor father and a mother working in healthcare, she naturally gravitated towards engineering and even secured a merit-based seat. However, those four years of engineering made Sara realise it wasn't her true calling. She even refused to sit for her on-campus interviews as she didn't see herself coding for the next 20-30 years. "I had clarity that I wanted to do impactful work." That's when she found her inspiration in her mother, who is a nurse by training and worked in administration at Hinduja Hospital. "I would see she was creating a difference with her work, and that's when I decided to do a master's in healthcare administration (MHA)."

At the time, applying for MHA in India came with the requirement of a degree in medicine. This redirected her to universities in the US that welcomed students with engineering background. She chose Cornell University, and took off to the US in the fall of 2008. "The transition was hard because I was in a new country and I moved to Minnesota which was nothing like Bombay," she recalls. "In the US, the only place that comes close to Bombay in terms of people, diversity, and accessibility is New York." Despite the culture shock, she found comfort in the Indian community at the Minnesota Grad Students Group, who helped her settle in the US.

[caption id="attachment_60604" align="aligncenter" width="608"] Sara Mathew | Global Indian Sara Mathew with her parents[/caption]

Adjusting to a new country was one challenge, but understanding the American healthcare system was another. "I was starting a step behind from my peers in the class who were from America. I asked my professors to help me with the basic concepts. Also, the mini projects in hospital at the end of each semester helped me learn and apply my knowledge."

Disparities in healthcare

For many Indians, the American dream represents the promise of a better future, drawing in thousands of non-immigrants to the US each year. But Sara was surprised to find significant health disparities in the US - issues often associated with developing countries. While managing the burn centre at Weill Cornell Medicine in Manhattan, she witnessed the disparities firsthand. "There are many undocumented migrants who have no insurance and even among those with coverage, there's significant disparity in employer-provided plans. Access to healthcare is another challenge — many people live far from providers or specialists, forcing them to rely on emergency rooms. In Manhattan, where I live, there are five top hospitals within a five-mile radius. But as you move into interiors of New Jersey or Pennsylvania, hospitals and specialists become scarce," she reveals.

Moreover, language barriers and low health literacy make accessing healthcare even harder. "People who only speak Spanish or Mandarin often avoid big hospitals because they feel confused or scared. Many don't know how to book appointments online and rely on their kids for help. In rural areas, poor internet access means video visit isn’t an option, so some have no choice but to travel hours to see a doctor," explains Sara, adding that cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Texas, and Manhattan fare better than other parts of the US. "It all starts with the disparity in insurance. Insurance reforms are very much needed. The Affordable Care Act, introduced by Obama, was a step forward, and Biden has made some updates, but it's happening at a very slow pace."

Sara Mathew

Bridging the gap

Passionate about bringing change and reducing the gaps in healthcare, she helped build the trauma centre. "In 2017, Weill Cornell Medicine was the only hospital in New York to have a burn and trauma centre. I helped them run it so successfully that the money we made in profit was used to run efficiently the burn centre in Bugando Medical College in Tanzania, Africa," shares Sara, who was shocked to hear that burn injuries are common in Tanzania and second most common cause of accidental death in children under 5 years of age. "With no burn centre, they go to clinics and get bandaged. So, a doctor from the hospital, who was passionate about the cause, visited Tanzania each year with nurses and medical students to set up the centre and perform skin graft surgeries," says Sara, who had to make sure to have enough funds each year to sponsor her surgeon and his team to go to Tanzania. "We also send supplies, instruments, sponsored the renovation of the unit and trained local doctors and nurses in burn surgery techniques," she says, adding, "My profession is important because we help run hospitals efficiently."

Giving back

Keen to give back to her homeland, she joined hands with one of the trauma surgeons, Mayur Narayan, to bring Stop The Bleed initiative to India. Dr Narayan, who was born in India and later moved to the US, lost his uncle aunty in a road accident in Bareilly. With no one to help, they bled out. This prompted him to become a trauma surgeon and wanted to make a difference. "We took the Stop The Bleed to India in 2019 to help victims in road accidents. We trained police officers, medical students and even gave 1000 stop the bleed kits to India." It began with Bareilly and later was extended to Hyderabad and parts of Kerala.

For Sara Mathew, mentorship is another way of giving back to people who need help in professional development. It began during Covid when she had some time on hand. As the Fellow of American College of Healthcare Executives, she began mentoring and coaching people. "Mentorship is important for me as I want to help people with my knowledge. When I came to the US, I had to figure out many things on my own. Now I want to help people with guidance so that their path becomes a little easy."

40 Under 40 Healthcare Leader | Global Indian

Around the same time, she witnessed vaccine disparity as people in New York got vaccines much earlier and faster that people in Queens and Bronx. "I realised that people don't have access to vaccines equally. That's when I became the board member of Bridging Access to Care who help giving healthcare access to uninsured people."

Being a Global Indian

Having lived in the US for the last 15 years, Sara Mathew is a part of the diaspora that has made significant contributions to the US healthcare sector. From physicians and nurses to researchers and healthcare administrators, they play a vital role in addressing the country’s growing medical demands. Their expertise and dedication have not only helped fill critical gaps in care but have also advanced medical research and technology.

"A Global Indian means being someone who takes some of the Indian values and applies in another country to build a community. It's not a community of Indians but global citizens." -- Sara Mathew

AI in healthcare

With AI coming up in a big in the recent past, revolutionising industries from finance to education—and healthcare is no exception. However, Sara is of the opinion that AI can never replace clinicians. " The way AI can help in healthcare is by elevating some of the administrative backlog like notewriting, transcribing, preauthorisation process and analysis of huge datasets to help find patterns of certain diseases that the human eye can't catch."

The healthcare professional, who loves trying new food and going on hikes with her dog Barfi, wants to promote her work to find collaborators interested in bridging healthcare disparities. "I would want to pick one zipcode or more and find out if they have access to healthcare and how I can help them. Is it by providing collaborations with hospitals or clinics or if I can apply for grants? Not just in the US but also in India. I want to create an organisation or a network that truly works on improving the healthcare infrastructure. That's my next big goal," she signs off.

Follow Sara Mathew on LinkedIn

Building better lives: How Nowsheen Yaqoob went from aviation to human development through NLP

(March 27, 2023) Nowsheen Yaqoob believes no matter what the adversity is, one must learn to be joyful in all situations. Joy, she believes, is a basic emotion – It was the conviction that led to the creation of Auracious Global Consulting - a human development company based in Dubai, that helps individuals and organisations across the globe achieve their full potential on the personal and professional fronts. Their approach, according to the company's LinkedIn profile, involves the latest developments in neural and behavioural science, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis and Quantum Physics, as well as Life Coaching and Change Management models. Auracious works with a diverse clientele from around the world, as well as with clients like FedEx, De Montfort University Dubai and Amity University Dubai. Nowsheen, who left behind a lucrative career in the aviation sector to help people and organisations transform themselves, has come a long way. The wind beneath her wings Born in Srinagar, Nowsheen is a qualified Architect and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, besides being a certified life coach. Growing up, she always dreamed of a profession that would allow her to fly. "When I would watch planes fly as a child, I

Administration, besides being a certified life coach. Growing up, she always dreamed of a profession that would allow her to fly. "When I would watch planes fly as a child, I dreamt of working in a profession that would allow me to travel across the world. However, when it actually happened I felt something was missing,” Nowsheen said, in an interview with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_36614" align="aligncenter" width="361"] Nowsheen Yaqoob, founder, Auracious Global Consulting[/caption]

So, after more than a decade of working in the aviation sector she realised that it wasn't her calling. She loved communicating and connecting with people more. Nowsheen went on to do a Master’s in Neuro Linguistic Programming and life coaching. During this time, she realised “there were many people, especially youngsters, who were unable to experience joy because of some trauma they were carrying,” she says. "I transform the way people understand themselves, their relationships, career, and health. The intent to help people in an authentic manner, backed by professional tools, put me on the road to making Life Coaching my career."

Nowsheen constantly feels this desire to add value to people’s lives, especially the ones who feel they are under societal pressure and have issues that prevent them from achieving their best potential due to self-limiting beliefs. She finds it extremely fulfilling personally and professionally in more ways than she could have imagined.

The entrepreneurship route

It was this passion that led to creation of Auracious Global Consulting. "As an Internationally certified Master Life Coach and Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner, my work focuses on human development, along with personal and professional coaching solutions," Nowsheen explains. She remarks, that in her quest for excellence, she has taken purposeful strides to blaze new trails in her specialisation, combining the best of her experience and expertise to help people and individuals achieve growth.

Nowsheen ensures that her beliefs and values hinge on achieving human connectedness, growth and contribution, in a manner that brings the best benefits for those who gain from it. "I give my best in everything I do, and be as genuine as humanly possible, with a never-give-up attitude. It is this same belief, ‘yes, it is possible’ that I share in my work, to help transform an individual’s mindset to realize their infinite horizons, dimensions, and potential."

Her personal transformation

Nowsheen has had her own journey of transformation. "The amalgamation of my life experiences with how I overcame many challenges and obstacles in life, and my passion for sharing my learning with people helped me to take this up as a career," she explains. From her early childhood years and well into adult life, hers has been an arduous journey towards overcoming many fears and anxieties. When she triumphed over them, it inspired her to go forward confidently in her chosen field of work.

In order to take the plunge into entrepreneurship, Nowsheen had to overcome her own self-limiting beliefs and rise above the apprehensions, fears, doubts and vulnerabilities, as well as a certain level of self-directed scepticism. "Now, I am living my passion of helping individuals to break their shackles of fears, anxieties, traumas, and stress, to live a confident, happy, and fulfilled life."

Her focus areas

Today, Nowsheen helps individuals and corporations to transform the way they understand themselves, their relationships, career, and health, thus becoming their personal and professional best.

[caption id="attachment_36615" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Nowsheen Yaqoob, Auracious Global Consulting, Global Indian Nowsheen Yaqoob[/caption]

"I work on bringing about a dynamic transformation in people’s lives through the principles of Human Potential Development, NLP and Life Coaching through individual sessions, awareness workshops, corporate trainings, group coaching, webinars, seminars, social media awareness, eBooks, self-help PDFs and podcasts."

Human connectedness is the core value on which her Life Coaching approach is founded. Each step of the personal empowerment journey is designed to the highest degree. Auracious Global Consulting uses a well-structured combination of scientifically proven tools and techniques that are an amalgamation of Neuro Linguistic Programming, Life Coaching processes, Compassionate Counselling, Hypnosis and Meditation. “I have been a full-fledged Life Coach since 2015. However, my career in training and development has grown over the past 18 years, with many milestones, experiences, and learning.”

A global mission

She works with people of over 200 nationalities and Auracious Global Consulting is based out of Dubai. Still, Nowsheen keeps her ties with her homeland. “I visit India off and on for counselling; have conducted many sessions in Kashmir with schools, different organisations. I work with multinational companies and conduct workshops for employees and top-notch CEO’s,” she says. These days, Nowsheen has people calling her up from across the world seeking counselling.

In 2022, she also launched Auracious Global in Kashmir and provides online consultations. When she is in Kashmir she does in-person consultations. “People just need to be more aware that help is available and they need to be guided in the right direction. In order to create awareness I make the best use of my social media handles – both personal as well as professional.”

“It is a rewarding journey of transformation and fulfilment for those who I work with, by helping them overcome struggles to achieve their goals,” the entrepreneur remarks. Nowsheen loves to work closely with her clients and seeing them experience their personal breakthroughs is a constant source of fulfilment and gratification for her. “I give my 100 percent to my clients which led my clientele to grow organically through referrals and meaningful associations.”

[caption id="attachment_36616" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Nowsheen Yaqoob | Auracious Global Consulting Nowsheen Yaqoob[/caption]

Overcoming obstacles

Taking on huge responsibilities at an incredibly young age, with minimal guidance and no mentor presented Nowsheen with a mountain of obstacles to surmount.

“However, successfully overcoming those early challenges gave me that all-important thrust in the right direction. I had to break free from the imaginary mould of ‘perfection’ to face realities and to see for myself that inner happiness is more validating and satisfying than trying to live up to anybody else’s definition of perfection. We are not here to live up to a mark sheet of perfect expectations. We are better off discovering and creating our own happiness in each moment of our lifetime, she explains.

Making a difference

At various points in her personal and professional life, Nowsheen has been able to give back to society in many ways where her expertise could be harnessed free of cost to those who needed it. “Throughout the year 2020, especially when the pandemic forced people to give in to mental, emotional, and psychological pressures, and income sources dried up, I was able to provide professional life coaching pro bono to one and all.”

[caption id="attachment_36617" align="aligncenter" width="787"] Nowsheen Yaqoob | Auracious Global Consulting Nowsheen Yaqoob[/caption]

Lately, she has been working towards building a community of transformational coaches, thought leaders, mentors and change facilitators – who offer help to those who cannot afford or access professional coaching. “The foundation of this community lies on shared ideologies, and a fluid forum that inspires, sustains, and encourages progressive thoughts and sustainable human potential transformation.”

Nowsheen’s own struggle for inner transformation and her courage to follow her dreams, have led to her living her greatest passion - making a meaningful difference to people’s lives, by helping them make empowering decisions. She helps people to create the best version of themselves for themselves, and for the larger benefit of society.

“The greater aim is to make the world a better place through individuals who are joyful, confident, and evolved.” Apart from receiving many awards and appreciation during her course of journey, having received the Business Excellence Award from Padma Bhushan Javed Akhtar in November in Dubai has been quite a humbling experience for Nowsheen.

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From Nigeria to UK: The journey of serial entrepreneur Roopal Pilani

(April 6, 2023) Roopal Pilani is an entrepreneur with a magic touch. From setting up a successful event management company in the ’90s to taking on the responsibility of working night shifts at her husband’s factory, which ensured higher productivity, to acquiring a chain of hotels in the UK and investing in startups which are doing well — success follows her everywhere. “Family comes first for me, everything else comes later,” smiles the entrepreneur as she takes out time to chat with Global Indian during a family holiday in Rishikesh, where she has been kayaking and doing aerial yoga. Becoming a hotel magnate It was in 2010 that she acquired her first hotel, The Makeney Hall at Derby, UK, after much due diligence. “It was refurbished to meet the highest standards in the ever-competitive industry. Our relentless efforts and the right business moves paid off,” says Roopal. The Makeney Hall is now among the top hotels in the region, which is a matter of immense pride for her entire team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Makeney Hall Hotel (@makeneyhallhotel) The success of her first hotel propelled the entrepreneur into acquiring Malden Hall Student Accommodation

,” says Roopal. The Makeney Hall is now among the top hotels in the region, which is a matter of immense pride for her entire team.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Makeney Hall Hotel (@makeneyhallhotel)

The success of her first hotel propelled the entrepreneur into acquiring Malden Hall Student Accommodation in London in 2014, The Lace Market Hotel in Nottingham in 2015, Empire Filling Station, The Georgian Hollies Hotel Blackpool in 2020 and The Lawton and Beechfield Hotels in 2022. “My elder daughter Diya helps me with the UK businesses. I intervene only when it is required,” says Roopal, whose younger daughter Krishna is in Grade 10 at Woodstock School in Mussoorie.

Natural-born businesswoman

Born in Mumbai in October 1974, her family moved to Hyderabad, the city Roopal calls home. “I was the middle child and most pampered,” recalls Roopal, who did her schooling from St Ann’s High school. “I was thoroughly a teacher’s pet,” she says of her student days.

Roopal then went to Kasturba Gandhi College and graduated with a degree in Commerce. “I was introduced to the nuances of book keeping by my father at our Industrial goods store. This was where I began to appreciate what really went into running an establishment,” says Roopal, who belongs to a Gujarati Brahmin family. When she turned 19, Roopal decided to marry her high school sweetheart Uday, completing her degree after the wedding. “Besides studying economics, commerce and civics, I had taken up painting and arts in my free time. Back then, I was not quite decided on what sort of business I wanted to explore,” says the entrepreneur.

The launch of Jalwa

In the late 1990s, when the party scene was just picking up, she threw the biggest millennium party in Hyderabad, which was a hugely successful event. “We then set up an event management company — Jalwa in 1999. It quickly gained market share and rose to become a pioneer in brand building, store promotions, rock shows, theme nights and much more,” she says.

going Entrepreneur | Roopal Pilani | Global Indian

At Jalwa, the Pilanis were doing everything, from corporate events for Coke, Pepsi and GE to landmark parties. “Events kept happening throughout the year, non-stop. We got busier curating the events (sometimes, round-the-clock!) to make it the best. It earned us trust and respect. The experiences taught me everything that I needed to know about how to run a business successfully and take risks all along,” says the entrepreneur.

Africa calling

In 2002, the Pilanis moved to Nigeria, where Uday set up a Mosquito Coil unit in Kano. “Uday’s family has a long history with Nigeria and therefore we decided to move,” she informs. Four years later, the business was going through a tough phase. Roopal took the responsibility of managing the factory during the more challenging night shift, and even ensured higher productivity than the day shift. “We had a 24/7 operation with 150 employees enabling an end-to-end production,” says the entrepreneur, for whom those were the most challenging years of her life. It forced her to dig deep within herself to find the strength and build tenacity.

Entrepreneur | Roopal Pilani | Global Indian

In 2009, the factory having been sold, the family shifted base to Benin in Southern Nigeria, where her husband took up a job as the Managing Director of a large multinational company producing palm oil. “We were surrounded by thousands of hectares of green fields, splendid weather and a small zoo. It was paradise, and my children spent their time in nature, uninterrupted by the hassles of technology. They rode horses and caught scorpions,” she smiles.

Around that time, Roopal decided that the family must have a secure sustainable income – but this kind of financial stability was more likely to be found in a developed country. “Moreover, I had taken my break and was itching to get back to work. The UK was a good option and it was a favourable time to invest. It was a short flight from Nigeria,” says Roopal.

Business in the UK

Thereafter, the entrepreneur went on a hotel buying spree in the UK. “I moved to London with my daughters while Uday made frequent trips from Nigeria. We had an exciting progression to give hotels,” informs Roopal, who is now mentoring her elder daughter as she learns the ropes. Roopal didn’t stop there. She went on to invest in Invente Innovation Labs in India which does staff augmentation for businesses, sales and growth consultants RyzeUP Inc USA, and Wowsome XR in UK, a media company. “Tech is the future, so we invest in companies which are making cutting edge advancements in virtual and augmented reality, AI and gamification,” informs the entrepreneur, who has also invested in a long line of startups.

Giving back

Philanthropy work keeps Roopal busy too as giving back is a top priority for her. “Sponsoring initiatives linked to women empowerment, child health and literacy gives me a sense of satisfaction,” says the entrepreneur. She is a member of the Arch Klump Society, which is Rotary's highest tier of Donors. She has donated USD 250,000 given to various causes from her personal account.

Entrepreneur | Roopal Pilani | Global Indian

Now that her investments are taking care of themselves and business is good, Roopal likes to spend time with her family. “We now spend our days doing what we like. A few rallies a year, endless travelling and road trips. Family workouts are a must,” smiles Roopal, who watches Shark Tank and action movies post dinner.

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Reading Time: 6 mins

Keeping abreast with cancer care: Dr Raghu Ram delivers early diagnosis, saves lives

(April 27, 2022) A woman gets diagnosed with breast cancer every four minutes in India, and one dies of it every 13 minutes, making it the most prevalent cancer among Indian women. Unfortunately, in India, most women are diagnosed at an advanced stage where prognosis is poor. A Hyderabad-based UK-returned doctor is working hard to change this reality. Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti has dedicated his life to make a significant and meaningful difference to the delivery of breast healthcare in India. Dr Pillarisetti's foundation, Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation (named after his mother), is working with a missionary zeal to make significant and meaningful difference to the lives of people affected by breast cancer or with breast-related health concerns. “Breast cancer is a huge concern today. However, the topic is still a closet issue,” explains Dr Pillarisetti, during an interaction with Global Indian, adding, “I am a living bridge between the UK and India, and on an endeavour to replicate the best of British practices into improving breast healthcare in my motherland.” [caption id="attachment_23764" align="aligncenter" width="412"] Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti[/caption] The highly-decorated doctor, who is the first surgeon of Indian origin to be conferred the honorary fellowship of the Association of

"412"] Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti[/caption]

The highly-decorated doctor, who is the first surgeon of Indian origin to be conferred the honorary fellowship of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, was recently appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Padma Shri awardee, who believes that everything is part of god’s plan, shares that he was speechless when the British deputy high commissioner to India, Jan Thompson informed him about it. “Self-nominations are not allowed in the British honours system. So, I am not sure how my work got noticed by the British government. It was a surreal moment. I was, in fact, speechless,” laughs the doctor.

Inspired by his parents

Born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh to a doctor couple – Prof PV Chalapathi Rao and Dr Ushalakshmi Kumari - who were working at the Guntur Medical College, soon after their son was born, they shifted to Hyderabad. This was where Dr Pillarisetti was brought up. A happy-go-lucky child, he was very inspired by his parents and their work.

“I studied at the Hyderabad Public School,” shares Dr Pillarisetti, “I wasn’t always at the top of the class; however I wasn’t a backbencher either. Mostly, I used to get first class, but never among the students who got distinction,” admits the doctor adding that he would play various sports for the fun and experience.

Following his parents’ footsteps, Dr Pillarisetti graduated in MBBS from Siddhartha Medical College. “The real turning point in my professional career came when I joined Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore to pursue master's in surgery (MS), in 1992. After my MBBS, I worked at the Osmania General Hospital in the general surgery department. I had applied for a six-month exemption at the Kasturba Medical College and gave my exams with seniors, and stood first. I was very studious during my master’s,” shares the doctor.

The Great British Isles

In 1997, Dr Pillarisetti went to the United Kingdom for FRCS. During his first visit, he impressed the Brits. “I was able to satisfy about 100 examiners in three out of the four Surgical Royal Colleges in the British Isles - Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ireland, in just two months. That is a record, which is still not broken by anyone else,” avers the doctor, who couldn’t sit for the London FRCS, since the dates clashed with his other exams. However, he was conferred the FRCS London, without sitting for the exam in 2010.

He then worked in the UK for about a decade, subsequently completing higher surgical training, and training in oncoplastic breast surgery at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London, and at the Nottingham Breast Institute.

While all looked peachy, an incident changed the course of his life. In 2002, while Dr Pillarisetti was working at the Cardiff Breast Unit, one of the foremost breast health centres in the UK, his mother, Dr Ushalakshmi was diagnosed with breast cancer in India. “Being an only child, I was profoundly affected by her illness. While she was undergoing treatment in the UK, I started enquiring about the situation of breast cancer treatment in India. I realised that due to the lack of awareness and absence of an organised screening programme, more than 60 per cent patients of breast cancer are diagnosed at the advanced stages,” he explains.

Homecoming

Although he and his wife, Dr Vyjayanthi, had several great opportunities in the UK, they moved back to India. “My wife, Dr Vyjayanthi, obtained her MRCOG on the very first attempt in London in 1997. She then completed structured training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the United Kingdom & subspecialty training in Reproductive Medicine, leading to CCT (certificate of completion of training), which is essential to work as a consultant Fertility Specialist in the UK. She has established one of the largest Fertility Centres in Telangana & Andhra Pradesh at KIMS Hospitals in 2009,” he shares.

[caption id="attachment_23766" align="aligncenter" width="631"] Dr Raghu Ram with his wife, Dr Vyjayanthi, after being appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire[/caption]

After returning to India in 2007, their vision was to start a free-standing, purpose-built, comprehensive centre for breast health. “People assume that breast disease is just breast cancer alone. However, nine out of 10 women who present themselves with a lump, do not have cancer. They require reassurance about the process. So, the first step was to establish a breast centre - so that when a lady walks in the entire medical process to check her breast's health happen under one roof, including mammography, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, and even counselling,” shares the doctor.

KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases was established in Hyderabad. Dr Raghu Ram shares that while he envisioned and designed it, Dr B Bhaskar Rao, who is the founder of KIMS Hospitals, played a pivotal role in ensuring that the Breast Centre became a reality.

[caption id="attachment_23767" align="aligncenter" width="6000"] His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, conferring the OBE to Dr Raghu Ram, at the Windsor Castle[/caption]

“I also, however, wanted to establish a not-for-profit organisation under my mother’s name, who is 90 now. So, I established the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation, under which I have been able to create the much-needed awareness about breast cancer, through a number of unique activities, over the past 15 years,” he shares. The foundation hosts a pink ribbon walk in Hyderabad during the month of October, which sees a huge participation from people from various walks of life, including breast cancer survivors.

Family first

A tight schedule and numerous patients, that never stops him from spending time with family. “I value my family. I am not in the rat-race of private practice. I never start early and work till late. I spend quality time with them. I have two sons, and would give them both evening baths every day. My older son is studying medicine in the UK, and the younger one in the XII standard, and wants to pursue a career in law,” shares the doctor who spends a hour-and-a-half in the prayer room, meditating, daily.

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Reading Time: 7 mins