Global IndianstoryThe Asian God: Following the trail of Lord Ganesha

The Asian God: Following the trail of Lord Ganesha

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(August 31, 2022) Java 2019: He had almost finished ploughing half of his paddy field. The plan was to finish the rest of the land before breaking for lunch. But just as he moved ahead, the machine got stuck and refused to budge despite several attempts. What he initially thought to be a big rock turned out to be a 140 cm high and 120 wide Lord Ganesha statue which took four days and 300 men to be excavated. Made of andesite, this 700-year-old headless and armless statue is one of the largest in the world.

Ganesha statue unearthed in Java

This is one of the many incidents where archaeologists have excavated full or parts of Lord Ganesha’s statues in various parts of the world. From far eastern Japan to Central America and South-East Asian island countries to Afghanistan – the trail of the elephant god can be traced back to about 2500 years. Interestingly, the god who is today revered before any auspicious event in Hindu households, first emerged only in the sixth century CE and was considered to be ‘Vighnakarta‘ or the creator of obstacles. However, over time, he evolved into ‘Vighnaharta’ or the remover of obstacles, who is revered to by the followers of many religions – including Buddhism, Jainism, Shinto and even Aztec.

Tibetan Ganpati

Global Indian sheds light on some uncovered trails of the god, who symbolises the universal concepts of knowledge, strength, and reverence.

From India to the far eastern shores

Way before the Europeans began their sea explorations, several empires in the Indian subcontinent had already established sea routes to various far eastern countries. Many merchants and scholars from these countries arrived on the Indian shores in search of wealth and knowledge. One such person, who came to the Kalinga Empire (present-day Odisha) in 8th Century CE, was a Japanese scholar named Kukai, who was keen to learn the secrets of Tantric Buddhism.

Japanese god, Kangiten

During his stay in Kalinga, Kukai met the noted Gandharan Buddhist scholar Pranja, who introduced him to various Hindu deities, some of whom later became a part of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. While most of these deities disappeared over time, only one survived over centuries and is still worshipped in over 250 temples across Japan. Named Kangiten, this god is depicted to have a head of an elephant and is otherwise famous among the locals as Lord Ganabachi or Binayaka Ten.

A 12th Century stone sculpture of Ganesha found in Cambodia

It is no secret that Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia is home to several temples that are dedicated to various forms of Lord Ganesha, but very few know that China is home to one of the oldest Ganesha statues in the world. Tucked away in the lush green forests of Kung-sin province, inside a Buddha temple is a rock-cut statue of Lord Ganesha, with the inscription 531 – referring to the year it was made in.

Land of the Méxica

When world-renowned European anthropologist Alexander Von Humbolt first postulated that the Aztec people worshipped a human deity, whose head resembled an elephant, many thought it to be a whimsy of a brilliant mind. The theory of Aztec symbols having any connection with an Indian deity then seemed unlikely to many as first, there were no sea routes connecting the two worlds, and second, elephants are not common in Central America.

The Aztec elephant god

However, later researchers found that Aztec depictions of the elephant had some religious significance. While it still remains unclear, the papers of prolific historian Donald Alexander Mackenzie (1873-1936) does throw some light on the connection between Central American and South Asian civilizations, and the possible exchange of cultures.

The Roman connection

In the 18th century British philologist, Sir William Jones drew close comparisons between the two-headed ancient Roman god Janus, and a particular form of Lord Ganesha, known as Dwimukhi-Ganesha. Calling Lord Ganesh the “Janus of India”, Sir Jones felt that there was a strong resemblance between the elephant god and the Roman god of beginnings.

Two-Faced Janus at the Vatican Museum

Interestingly, the speculation was repeated by Volney in his 1791 publication, Meditation on the Revolutions of Empires, in which he pointed out the phonetic similarity between the names “Ganesha” and “Janus”. Later in his 1810 published book The Hindu Pantheon, Moor too expanded the claims of an association noting that Janus, just like Lord Ganesha, was invoked at the beginning of any undertakings.

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Published on 31, Aug 2022

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Nalini Saligram: Health transformation game changer in India and the USA

(November 22, 2023) “A 100 million people in India suffer from Type 2 diabetes, while 136 million are pre diabetic,” remarks Dr Nalini Saligram while talking about the diabetes menace. The former corporate executive based in Atlanta and Bengaluru, is committed to making an impact in the global health space as the founder and CEO of the non-profit organisation Arogya World. “Arogya World's work is mostly in India,” Nalini tells Global Indian. “This year we started MyDesiPlate to help Indian-Americans eat right. We are bringing the successful MyThali social media campaigns from India to the US, including #HealthyWaliDiwali. We reach people all over the US and are working with Indiaspora and South Asian Heart Center to reach our US communities,” she explains. This year, Arogya World organised three galas - in Atlanta, California (Mountain View/Bay area), and Chicago to advance its mission and help make every child a healthy child. Dr Nalini Saligram has lived and worked around the world ever since she began her career in 1986. She has led global corporate communications teams for renowned healthcare brands, including Merck in Philadelphia, Merial in Atlanta, Glaxo Wellcome in London, and Hill & Knowlton in Hong Kong. She plunged into social entrepreneurship

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Dr Nalini Saligram has lived and worked around the world ever since she began her career in 1986. She has led global corporate communications teams for renowned healthcare brands, including Merck in Philadelphia, Merial in Atlanta, Glaxo Wellcome in London, and Hill & Knowlton in Hong Kong. She plunged into social entrepreneurship in 2010.

A global journey

Born and raised in Bengaluru, Dr Nalini's life took her on a remarkable journey as she traversed across six countries, following her husband's international postings. Today, she commutes between Atlanta and Bengaluru multiple times a year as her organisation functions from both the places.

With a PhD in biochemistry from Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru and a wealth of experience in global communications, Dr Nalini has made it her life's mission to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially diabetes in India, which is considered the ‘diabetes capital of the world’ due to high number of diabetic patients in the country.

Dr Nalini serves on the Dean’s Council at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and is active with Indiaspora, the India Philanthropy Alliance and the Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces.

Making an impact

Dr Nalini has been working to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—diabetes, heart disease, cancer and chronic lung diseases—through health education and lifestyle changes. Tackling NCDs is critical for the world to meet the sustainable development goals and Dr Nalini is committed towards it. “The Problem is so big that prevention instead of only screening and treatment is the smart solution,” she says.

Since its inception in 2010, Arogya, which means ‘health’ in Sanskrit, has managed to reach close to 12.5 million individuals, ranging from school children to working professionals. Their flagship programmes, like Healthy Schools, Healthy Workplaces, mDiabetes, MyThali, Arogya City and MyDesiPlate, tap technology, including AI, to build and nurture a healthy living movement in India.

Awards and recognition

Dr Saligram's contributions to the field have not gone unnoticed. In 2021, Dr Nalini received the prestigious Ashoka Award. Awareness programmes like ‘Healthy Workplaces’ have earned Arogya World a considerable amount of recognition as a thought leader and passionate champion of health. In 2020 – 2021, the organisation was included in the core committee by WHO-NIMHANS for the development of minimum health guidelines for workplaces in India.

Indian Social Entrepreneur | Dr Nalini Saligram | Global Indian

While several leading organizations have joined Arogya World as partners, this August, it celebrated its 200^th workplace collaboration. The organisation has also been invited to serve on CII’s Public Health Council. In 2021 Arogya World was chosen to be part of the Google AI for Social Good effort. In 2022, on her watch, Arogya World was one of the recipients of the prestigious United Nations InterAgency Taskforce and WHO Special Programme on Primary Healthcare awards.

Arogya World has also been working towards the goal of making Bengaluru, India’s first Arogya City with Dr Devi Shetty, the renowned cardiac surgeon and founder of Narayana Health, and Arjuna awardee and former Olympian Ashwini Nachappa, as brand ambassadors.

Empowering people through health awareness

Dr Nalini’s leadership is defined by her vision of supporting and empowering individuals to lead healthier lives. “By learning on the job, I have become a public health practitioner,” says the change maker, who addresses herself an advocate for global health and healthy living as she believes that these are the tickets to the healthy next generation.

“Lifestyle induced diseases like diabetes used to be an adult onset disease but now it is showing up in youngsters as well,” she remarks adding, “Type 2 diabetes which affects Americans and Europeans in their 50s and 60s is now showing up in the 30s or even in 20s and teens in India. But the good part is that it is a preventable disease, and this is what we are working on.”

“We do not need a new vaccine or technology to combat Type 2 diabetes. We just need to lead a healthy life,” she says. “80 percent diabetes and heart ailments can be prevented as per the big clinical trials and landmark studies by WHO, with three lifestyle changes – one must eat right, avoid tobacco and exercise,” Dr Nalini shares. Through her organization, she is educating and empowering people to undergo behavioral changes for better quality of life.

How does it work?

By reaching out to children Arogya World tries to inculcate good habits in them from a young age. A healthy lifestyle acquired as a pre-teen will stay with individuals through their lives, and the non-profit attempts to inculcate these habits early on. It works with students in government and private schools in rural and urban areas, using games and activities to build good habits.

Indian Social Entrepreneur | Dr Nalini Saligram | Global Indian

They have reached more than 1 million kids in the last 10 years and are in process of working with another million plus school children in the coming months. “The impact of Arogya World’s programmes have been validated by Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education unit,” shares Dr Nalini.

Under her guidance, the organisation has spread its wings across several states in India, spearheading age specific programmes. The organisation has been taking prevention strategies to people outside their doctors’ chambers - where they live, learn and work by conducting awareness programmes not just at schools but offices as well.

“We create age appropriate programmes and spend a lot of time in the design, and delivery of the content. All our programmes are science based and designed to induce behavior change” she says.

Voices of 10,000 women

In 2013, Arogya World and its collaborators pledged to develop and launch an international survey aimed at capturing the viewpoints of 10,000 women across 10 different countries regarding Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This commitment, known as a "Commitment to Action," was unveiled during the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting by Arogya World and its partners, including Novartis, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, American Cancer Society, UNICEF, Population Services International, SRBI, and Jana. They successfully worked on their commitment and in 2014 shared the survey's results during that year’s CGI Annual Meeting.

This significant collaborative public health initiative strived to emphasize the influence of NCDs on women and their families, with the intention of motivating governments to take concrete actions by amplifying women's voices.

Mobile and web technologies were harnessed to conduct surveys among a total of 10,000 women aged 18 to 40, hailing from Afghanistan, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, the UK, and the U.S. Dr Nalini’s team captured the personal narratives of women from these nations to provide an authentic perspective on their experiences in dealing with and combatting NCDs.

Latest initiatives - MyDesiPlate and HealthyWaliDiwali campaign

In 2023, Arogya World introduced a nutritional tool named MyDesiPlate, aligning with US nutritional guidelines. Alongside this launch, they initiated the #HealthyWaliDiwali social media campaign within the US, aiming to encourage Indian Americans to adopt healthier eating habits during festive times.

MyDesiPlate adheres to USDA nutrition guidelines, offering guidance to both Indian Americans and the general American populace on meal composition and appropriate portion sizes in a typical Indian meal. It advocates two fundamental principles for healthy eating—achieving a balanced meal and practicing portion control. The tool specifies the recommended quantity of cooked food for lunch, emphasizing a suggestion for dinner to be a lighter meal compared to lunch.

Indian Social Entrepreneur | Dr Nalini Saligram | Global Indian

Finding her path and achieving success

Dr Nalini's journey at Arogya World began with a deep desire to make a difference. Armed with her scientific knowledge and a fervent commitment to change, she embarked on the endeavour to engage people and leaders in the battle against NCDs in 2010 by establishing Arogya World. Before this Dr Nalini worked in the corporate world for years. “When I found myself restless and underutilised in corporate America, I decided to quit my job at Merck Vaccines and started Arogya World. It’s the best decision I have made in my life,” she shares.

As a relentless advocate for NCD prevention, Dr Nalini doesn't merely rely on her own determination. She leverages the power of public-private partnerships and strategically utilizes global platforms to drive meaningful change.

Follow Dr Nalini Saligram on LinkedIn
Follow Arogya World on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram

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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.

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Serial entrepreneur Yaswanth Vepachadu finds biryani success

From setting up companies in the IT sector and then selling them to tech giants, Yaswanth Vepachadu has now ventured into biryanis and more, except that his biryani comes in a steel box that is yours to keep. (September 17, 2023) It is often said that once you get bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, no challenge is big enough. That would be the case for Yaswanth Vepachadu who, after graduating in civil engineering from the Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad, went on to do his MBA from the NM Institute of Management in Mumbai. Thirteen years of shuttling between the US, sometimes just for a weekend even, Canada and India resulted in the establishment of several companies that he set up. Subsequently, he would sell these IT verticals to tech giants like Deloitte, Accenture, Facebook, etc. [caption id="attachment_45076" align="aligncenter" width="588"] Yaswanth Vepachadu, Founder of Neos ka Dabba.[/caption] For the love of Biryani While still holding a corporate post of Group CEO for the Nivriti group of companies which he quit only last month, Yaswanth, over a casual conversation with friends about the unavailability of a good biryani in Bengaluru, decided to start an outlet of his own. He also had a

up of companies which he quit only last month, Yaswanth, over a casual conversation with friends about the unavailability of a good biryani in Bengaluru, decided to start an outlet of his own. He also had a couple of friends in Vancouver, Canada, willing to invest and that is how Neos Biryani was conceptualised. Yaswanth recalls, “Earlier this year when my friends and I couldn’t get a decent biryani in Bengaluru, we decided to start a food business to make the kind of biryani we liked. We rented out a central kitchen space, which also belongs to one of my friends, and started research. We hired 24 local chefs, who know how to make a true biryani and Bangladeshi Muslim specialist cooks from Odisha. Between them, we zeroed in on the formula for the masalas to use and the recipe to follow. We have now hired four out of the 24 permanently and they work at the main kitchens. For the second level of staff, we hired hotel management graduates who follow the recipes created by the chefs without making changes.”

Neos ka Dabba

Interestingly, Yaswanth didn’t attribute any meaning or specific connection to the name Neos. He shrugs, “I just wanted a four-letter word; I thought of Neos and it got accepted during registration.” And what about the steel dabba that the biryani is served in? He elaborates on the philosophy behind it. “During our research and brainstorming sessions, we found that biryani is the most ordered dish by middle-class and lower middle-class people on weekends. Also, women in this demographic have great use for steel dabbas and cherish the ones they have. So, we thought it would add value to the dish when they ordered it as they could keep the box and use it for other things later.” The boxes come in three sizes, based on the serving for one, two, or four people.

[caption id="attachment_45073" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Neos Biryani.[/caption]

The business model he follows is that of cloud kitchens and QSR takeaway outlets. In Hyderabad, the cloud kitchens are in Kukatpally and Kokapet, and AS Rao Nagar and LB Nagar are on the anvil. He will shortly launch in Mumbai and some more outlets in Bengaluru, where currently, they are in Electronic City, Bomasandra, Whitefields, and Hebbal. A diner that can seat 40 people is also part of the expansion plan for Electronic City.

He even has two cloud kitchens in Vancouver, Canada. There, Neos is based in a shared kitchen space, much like co-working spaces. And based on Canada’s food regulations, the recipes have been tweaked to lower spice levels. In Hyderabad, there are QSR takeaway joints where you can buy the Neos biryani offline. The cloud kitchens supply these outlets.

Expanding menus and the company

Launched in March 2023, Neos follows the standard recipe created by its chefs for the biryanis available. However, customer feedback led to Yaswanth having to expand the menu to include starters like kebabs, shawarmas, rice bowls like rajma chawal, palak paneer and rice, chicken curry, and rice etc. The biryani of course is the star of the menu and comes in veg, mushroom, egg, chicken, and mutton and a mixed one with chicken, mutton, and prawns. Within the chicken version alone, there is the 65, lollipop, fried, and dum-cooked biryanis to choose from. But, Yaswanth is very particular about quality. Hence the quantity made is limited. He says, “Between all my kitchens in Hyderabad, we make only 300 portions of biryani per day. I have found that when you increase the quantities, the quality goes down. On weekends, when there may be more demand, I makeup to 400 but not more than that.”

Yaswanth has been a stickler for good quality from the start. Even the ingredients used have been carefully chosen by him and his team. He says, “I know that people consider other rice strains also good for biryani, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but in Telangana, you won’t be forgiven if you don’t use basmati rice. The basmati I get is specially brought from Punjab and costs me Rs 170 a kilo. For the spices we needed based on the recipe we finalised, we went to Wayanad in Kerala, and spent ten days meeting various growers and suppliers, before zeroing in on the one whose quality we liked the best. Our ghee comes from one supplier in Ramanthapur (a distant suburb in Hyderabad) and it costs Rs 1500 a kilo. His ghee is famous. You go there and ask anyone for Ramanthapur ghee and they will point you to his outlet. We even send this ghee to our cloud kitchens in Canada. The meat in Hyderabad is sourced locally, but here too, we stress quality.”

Despite all these factors and the costs involved, Neos began making profits early on. Started with an initial investment of Rs 60 lakhs, with more funds infused later, an investor also showed interest and he has bought an eight percent stake in the company. Yaswanth now plans to open outlets in the US and some more in Canada.

Strangely, the only challenge Yaswanth has faced is from petty customers. Human nature being what it is, people would order the biryani without the steel box [that was an option on the menu for those who didn’t want the dabba on food delivery apps], then post pictures and reviews saying they did not receive it in the steel box. Or, they would remove one piece of meat and say the quantity was not as promised. Yaswanth had to personally speak to the customer service heads of these apps to have the problem sorted. He has also now discontinued the box-free option of the biryani on the apps. Only the takeaway outlets will give it to you in foil packaging. If you order online, it will come with a steel box.

In the ubiquitous world of the much-loved biryani, to be able to make a mark with a new brand within a short span of time is no small achievement. And with expansion plans afoot, this Global Indian is likely to make the steel dabba biryani a familiar sight soon.

Follow Yaswanth Vepachadu on Instagram

Unveiling the layers: Scholar Gaurav Pathania’s remarkable story of resilience and success

(January 13, 2024) During his school days, eminent scholar, Gaurav Pathania, was a reserved kid. Ask him why, and he quips, "I come from a Dalit family, and while enrolling me in school, my father thought it best to leave out my surname to ensure that I wasn't discriminated against. But, at school, teachers would often ask me about my surname, and often the conversation became quite difficult and uncomfortable for me. So, I thought it best to keep to myself and not talk about my family with anyone at all." Once a man who used to stutter a bit, Gaurav is now an Assistant Professor at Eastern Mennonite University in the United States. Interestingly, the scholar is also the lead actor in the recently praised film Origin, directed by the well-known Ava DuVernay. The movie, based on Isabel Wilkerson’s book 'Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents', features the scholar portraying Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. In an interview with Global Indian, he reveals that it was quite a surreal experience. "Ambedkar is a role model, not just for me, but for several million people. And to be able to portray him and screen, sharing his ideas and experiences with the world

the scholar portraying Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. In an interview with Global Indian, he reveals that it was quite a surreal experience. "Ambedkar is a role model, not just for me, but for several million people. And to be able to portray him and screen, sharing his ideas and experiences with the world - as him - is a very big honour for me," the scholar expressed.

Growing up with the caste system

Born in a village in the Kurukshetra district in Haryana, Gaurav shares that he was very inspired by his father, an Ambedkarite who worked at a local bank. "He was the first person from my village to graduate from high school. He always encouraged me to strive for a better tomorrow. That was my motivation to study. He was my biggest inspiration, but unfortunately, he passed away just 20 days before I received my Ph.D.," shares the scholar, adding, "But schooling wasn't an easy time for me. I was mostly alone, and frankly, for a couple of years, there were no teachers at school as well. It sometimes felt like a jail."

[caption id="attachment_48239" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Gaurav with Ava DuVernay on the sets of Origin[/caption]

However, it all changed when the scholar came to college. "I completed my bachelor's and master's from Kurukshetra University and then came to Jawaharlal Nehru University to pursue another master's in sociology. It was a completely different world for me. My time there brought a lot of awareness and exposure about the world, several social stigmas, and more importantly my rights. It was through a professor there that I got to know about new avenues of Ambedkarism. He told me that as an academician, one should engage in activism, particularly for a sociologist, as it's essential to understand the people being studied. I believe it's true when they say that once you become a part of JNU, you carry the spirit of activism with you for life. People there encouraged me a lot and from a stutter, I went on to become an affluent speaker," the scholar laughs.

Scholar | Gaurav Pathania | Global Indian

Eventually, Gaurav went on to earn a Ph.D. in sociology from JNU in 2017, and it was also around this time that Gaurav claimed his surname again. "My education documents don't have my complete name, as my father had enrolled me in school like that. However, I had no qualms about who I was and where I came from. I was quite proud actually," shares the scholar, who is also the author of the book, The University as a Site of Resistance: Identity and Student Politics.

Venturing into academics

The scholar first came to the United States of America after finishing his Ph.D. "I applied to the University of Massachusetts for my postdoc and was selected. Eventually, I started teaching at George Washington University, in Washington, DC. After holding a few temporary positions at the Catholic University of America and Georgetown University, I got the permanent position in a university where I'm currently teaching," shares the scholar.

While the shift was easy, it was the US culture that had Gaurav completely awed. "I come from a place where caste plays a big role in our daily lives as well. It decides whom we speak to, where we go, and how we live. Here, I was free from all of it. No one cared about my surname, no one bothered what my father did, all that mattered was my merit and my passion to succeed at what I was doing," he says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on5ByTtxSTY

A remarkable educator, Gaurav has mentored numerous students. In addition to his teaching role, he serves as the Assistant Editor for the South Asia Research Journal, affiliated with SOAS in London. As a scholar, he oversees mindsofcaste.org, a website offering a space for academics exploring the intersection of caste and mental health. Beyond academia, Gaurav is recognised nationally as an anti-caste poet, writer, and community builder. His poetry, acclaimed at both popular and academic levels, has been featured in various publications.

Claim to fame

Inspired by the book 'Caste: The Origin of Our Discontent', Ava dedicated two years of relentless effort to craft the film's script. During this time, she delved into extensive research on caste, racism, and the Holocaust. Ava even journeyed to India for firsthand research on caste, receiving support from the internationally renowned Dalit figure, Suraj Yengde. Notably, Suraj Yengde also makes an appearance in the film as himself. The film has been making waves at prestigious film festivals like Venice and Toronto International. "I believe this movie holds great significance, addressing a timely and noble cause," says the scholar.

[caption id="attachment_48242" align="aligncenter" width="550"] A scene when Dr. Ambedkar visits Harlem, in the New York City[/caption]

While he is being praised by many for his role, for Gaurav, acting was never part of his plan, but rather a delightful surprise. "Ava had made an open casting call for the movie. A friend of mine, Siddharth Varicharli, who is also a Las Vegas-based Ambedkarite, informed me about the movie and the casting call. I just recorded my audition and sent it to her. After I was cast and started shooting, Ava told me that though she could have cast any prominent Indian actor for the role, she wanted someone for the marginalised community, as Dr. BR Ambedkar himself was," shares the scholar.

[caption id="attachment_48237" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Scholar | Gaurav Pathania | Global Indian The poster of movie, Origin[/caption]

Waiting for a worldwide release of the film, Gaurav shares that he is already working on several new projects. "Currently, my focus is on developing a movie script and penning down my memoir, both of which are occupying a substantial part of my time. Alongside, I lead the Global Initiative for Equity and Justice, collaborating with scholars committed to anti-caste, race, and feminist perspectives in higher education and social justice. Additionally, I serve as a community organiser, contributing to the Authors’ Lab at the Ambedkar International Center, where I mentor emerging scholars in the realms of caste and social justice," he shares.

Follow Gaurav Pathania on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and his website

Reading Time: 7 mins

Reviving the American dream: Economist Raj Chetty’s research is shaping the global future

(August 17, 2023) Nadarajan Chetty had his luckiest moment before he even came into the world. His mother, Anbu, secured a spot in the first group of 30 young women to attend a medical college. Her journey later brought her and her family to the USA, where her nine-year-old son got the opportunity to become a world-class economist - who has been awarded the Harvard University’s George Ledlie Prize for “wielding big data to break myths about who achieves the American Dream and the obstacles faced by others.” The Indian American, who is the William A. Ackman Professor of Economics at Harvard University, is also the Director of Opportunity Insights, a group of economists based at Harvard who study inequality. [caption id="attachment_43724" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Economist Raj Chetty[/caption] “The big-picture goal,” Chetty had once told the media while talking about his work, "is to revive the American dream. A defining feature of the American Dream is upward mobility—the ability of all children to have a chance at economic success, no matter their background. And we aim to revive that dream." The Global Indian, who became one of the youngest tenured faculty in the history of Harvard's economics department, was also awarded

the American Dream is upward mobility—the ability of all children to have a chance at economic success, no matter their background. And we aim to revive that dream." The Global Indian, who became one of the youngest tenured faculty in the history of Harvard's economics department, was also awarded the Infosys Prize in Economics, the highest monetary award recognizing achievements in science and research, in India.

A lifetime opportunity

Chetty's mother who was raised in Tamil Nadu, stood out as the brightest student, but her opportunities were limited by tradition. Even though Anbu's father supported her love for learning, there were no colleges nearby, and it wouldn't have been considered appropriate to send his daughter far away for education. However, when Anbu was nearing the end of her high school years, a small miracle changed the course of her life. A wealthy local businessperson, who also had a talented daughter, made a surprising decision. He established a women's college, right within his impressive home. Anbu secured a spot in the first group of 30 young women to attend this college. They studied English in the spacious courtyard, sheltered by a thatched roof. In the early mornings, Anbu took the bus to a nearby college to conduct chemistry experiments or examine frogs' hearts before the men students arrived.

[caption id="attachment_43725" align="aligncenter" width="602"] Economist | Raj Chetty | Global Indian Nine-year-old Chetty[/caption]

Eventually, Anbu enrolled in medical school despite her father's initial disapproval. In 1962 Anbu married Veerappa Chetty, and Raj was born in New Delhi. At the age of nine, Chetty's family relocated to the United States, and he embarked on a journey of achievement almost as remarkable as that of his parents. "My parents, who grew up in very low-income families and villages in South India … the opportunities they had were greatly shaped by the fact that they happened to be the ones who were picked to get a higher education in their families," said the economist during an interview, "And I could kind of see how that’s played out through the generations in my own family, through the opportunities my cousins have had versus what I’ve had … ending up here at Harvard and the various opportunities I’ve had, I felt have stemmed from that.”

A scholar

A brilliant student from the very beginning, Chetty was the valedictorian of his high-school class. After finishing his school, the young economist joined the University School of Milwaukee and graduated in 1997. Chetty earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 2000, where he continued pursuing his Ph.D. from the institution. "I was quite fortunate to complete my dissertation under the direction of Martin Feldstein, Gary Chamberlain, and Lawrence F. Katz. My thesis was titled 'Consumption commitments, risk preferences, and optimal unemployment insurance'," the economist shared.

[caption id="attachment_43726" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Economist | Raj Chetty | Global Indian Raj and Sundari Chetty[/caption]

Ambitious and focussed, Chetty became an assistant professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, eventually becoming a tenured associate professor there at 28. Just five years after starting his career, The Economist and The New York Times listed Chetty as one of the top eight young economists in the world, in 2008. And the next year, he returned to Harvard, where he was the Bloomberg Professor of Economics and the director of the Lab for Economic Applications and Policy.

Making America great again

While he has won several awards and recognistions, the work that has earned Chetty great renown resonates with his family's past. He has led the way in a method that leverages recently accessible government data to illustrate the progress of American families over generations. This unveils noteworthy trends of both moving up the social ladder and getting stuck in one place. In a preliminary study, he illustrated that kids born in 1940 had a 90 percent likelihood of outearning their parents. However, for those born forty years later, that likelihood had dropped to 50 percent, akin to flipping a coin.

The Padma Shri awardee has been the man behind making the people believe in the 'American dream' again. "One of the core ideals, I think, of American society—and in some ways, the reason my own parents came to the U.S. like many other immigrants, in search of the American dream—is the idea that no matter what your background, you have a great chance of succeeding in America and of moving up in the income distribution relative to where you started. Our education research tries to approach that from one particular angle, as one factor that might matter," the economist said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2U9-Wq2ub0

His recent recognition, the Ledlie Prize, means a lot to Chetty because of its recognition of economics as a science. "One of the things I’ve been trying to push toward is making economics more of a science and viewed as a scientific field where it’s not just about making different assumptions and you have one view and I have another view and we kind of have a political debate but grounded in data, grounded in empirical science," shared the economist, adding that he has a long way to go and much to research for making the US economy the greatest again.

Reading Time: 6 mins