Global IndianstoryThe World is mine: Megha Sudha Reddy, business tycoon, fashion icon, philanthropist

The World is mine: Megha Sudha Reddy, business tycoon, fashion icon, philanthropist

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(November 14, 2022) Megha Sudha Reddy can often be spotted in the company of Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria, Elizabeth Hurley, a galaxy of Hollywood stars and the world’s most influential leaders. Her iconic red-carpet appearances on the world stage are just too many.

From the Global Gift Gala to the MET Gala, Paris Couture Week and the First Ladies Luncheon — Sudha Reddy has stunned the global audience like no other. But that is only one part of her introduction. Philanthropy forms the other, more important part.

“I am an avid connoisseur of art, fashion, and the finer things in life,” smiles Megha Sudha Reddy, the Director of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited MEIL) in an exclusive conversation with Global Indian.

Sudha Reddy at the Met Gala 2021, wearing a Falguni Shane Peacock gown and Chanel stilletos. Photo: ANI

One of the leading business tycoons of India, a global fashion icon, socialite, philanthropist and globe trotter, Sudha Reddy gets into the distinct roles with such elan that she stuns the world in everything that she does.

A brief conversation with her will tell you that Sudha lives life on her own terms.

Fashion Icon

“My style is a replica of my personality. It is versatile and unique,” says Sudha Reddy, who was among the few invitees to the prestigious F4D (Fashion 4 Development) Annual First Ladies Luncheon during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York this year. Powerful women from various fields including fashion, politics and business ventures attended the mega event.

The fashion icon was honoured with the Fashion 4 Development Philanthropy Award by New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi. Previous winners include Charlize Theron, Diane Kruger, Arianna Huffington, Diane Von Furstenberg, Naomi Campbell, Amber Heard, Ellie Goulding and Victoria Beckham.

Leaving a mark in the global fashion circles, the billionaire walked the red carpet at the 2021 Met Gala. She is also the first woman from south India to have been invited by the committee of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in 2022.

Showcasing India’s artistic heritage

“My sole aim for this trip was to highlight India’s rich artistic heritage. Indian craftsmanship is something that has to be celebrated on the world stage,” says the billionaire who has attended private dinners hosted by some of the most prominent designers, including Christian Dior, Rahul Mishra, Giambattista Valli, Alexandre Vauthier, Armani Privé, Zuhair Murad and Rami al Ali, and Fendi.

She says that engaging in discourse with world’s most influential leaders at all the prestigious events she attended, offered her an opportunity to share her vision with them. “I feel blessed to represent my country on a global stage,” says the fashionista.

Her inspirations ? “Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe,” says the MEIL director, who was the first guest in the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Lucerne, Switzerland, recently, which is a rare honour for an Indian.

Globe-trotting and attending the mega events have enabled Sudha Reddy to expand her horizons and gain exposure. “Most importantly, I have learnt that there is always room for learning more,” says Sudha, who received a personal invite from Paris Hilton, requesting her presence at the launch of her fragrance in Mumbai last month.

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At work

When it comes to her work at Megha group of industries, the wife of top industrialist Megha Krishna Reddy and mother of two says that while there have been challenges, it has been a fulfilling journey. “Our focus is to take India’s infrastructural capacity to newer heights, in terms of road and highway infrastructure,” says the company’s director.

Born and brought up in Andhra Pradesh, she credits her husband Krishna Reddy, whom she describes as a great source of learning. “Sheer hard work has ensured that we and our family of 7,000 employees have turned dreams into reality,” says Sudha Reddy.

One of the major ongoing projects of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) is the Zojila Pass tunnel, with which they have created a place for itself by drilling a tunnel in the Himalayan range, the first of its kind in such a geographical zone.

Philanthropy

Making the world a better place is a mission Megha Sudha Reddy has chosen for herself.

“I have witnessed the struggles of the underprivileged communities across India. We all have something to give back to the society and do our bit. I am doing mine,” says Sudha.

Through the Sudha Reddy Foundation, the business tycoon is working tirelessly towards affordable healthcare, accessible education for the underprivileged even as she has taken massive steps in spreading awareness about cancer and other chronic diseases.

“Working for these causes is my mission. It keeps me motivated and drives me to do more for the people,” says the recipient of “Champions of Change” award from the Telangana government. She firmly believes that donating time, money or skills positively impacts lives of many people.

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She is actively associated with Action Against Hunger and Poverty, Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Fight Hunger Foundation.

“Anyone who is in a position to give back to society should do their bit,” feels Sudha Reddy, who advocates for equitable medical care and literacy while providing women and children with a forum to have their voices heard.

With kindness and compassion at the centre of her mission, she aims at aiding and uplifting many more lives across the length and breadth of India.

Not only does she work alongside American actress Eva Longaria to raise awareness about children suffering from chronic diseases, Sudha Reddy, she previously collaborated with Elizabeth Hurley to work toward breast cancer awareness.

Fitness freak

Whether she’s working, travelling or attending mega events around the world, the business tycoon makes it a point to devote some time to fitness. She never misses her 90 minute workout schedule, five days a week.

“I also practice yoga and eat in moderation. Regular exercising keeps stress at bay,” smiles Sudha Reddy, who regularly takes to meditation and indulges in various religious activities. “Prayers have healing powers,” is her firm belief.

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Published on 14, Nov 2022

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Samir Lakhani: Saving lives in developing countries through soap recycling

(February 6, 2024) Interested in sustainability, 23-year-old Samir Lakhani found himself on a muddy trail in one of the villages of Cambodia in 2014 when he caught the sight of a woman bathing her child with laundry detergent. A young volunteer from Pennsylvania, US, Samir was shocked and disturbed. "Something as basic as soap was missing in the majority households of rural Cambodians," Samir tells Global Indian. Keen to bring about a change, he found his solution in Eco Soap Bank which supplies recycled soap to the developing world with a mission to promote basic hygiene, restore health, and employ marginalised women. Started in 2014, the non-profit venture now has recycling centres in five countries - Cambodia, Nepal, Tanzania, South Africa, and Sierra Leone. "Each year 25,000 metric tonnes of soap bars make it to the landfills," informs Samir who has been able to save 4.5 million kilos of soap bars from entering the landfill with Eco Soap Bank. "Moreover, we have provided soap to over 9 million people in 30 countries so far," adds the social entrepreneur who was on the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. [caption id="attachment_48810" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Samir Lakhani at Eco-Soap Bank headquarter in Siem

[caption id="attachment_48810" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Samir Lakhani | Global Indian Samir Lakhani at Eco-Soap Bank headquarter in Siem Reap, Cambodia.[/caption]

The journey that changed it all

With their roots in Gujarat, his mom was born in Tanzania while his dad is from Uganda, who like other South Asians had to face sudden expulsion at the hands of dictator Idi Amin in 1972. He relocated to the US where he studied at Brown University. His mom, a paediatrician, travelled as a youngster and after studying in Iran for some time, she secured admission to the University of Pennsylvania. Growing up, Samir heard stories about Africa from his parents, which left him intrigued. "I was eager to see what Africa was all about. During high school, I got the opportunity to visit the towns where my parents were born and understand the context in which they were born. Joining the dots of their origin to their final destination was pretty remarkable. It left me with a lot of energy but also the commitment to work in those areas because of the quality of life I had in the US," he adds.

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Passionate about eco-conscious practices, Samir enrolled in environmental studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and an internship with a climate change resilience group led him to Cambodia. But what he noticed in the next few days in a village in Cambodia left him shocked and heartbroken - everyone was using laundry detergent to bathe. "I felt an incredible amount of guilt that something as affordable as soap was out of reach for a majority of the population in the country. I was very disturbed and couldn't get that scene out of my head." Upon his return to the hotel room in Siem Reap, he saw the soap bar replaced by housekeepers. "I realised I had barely used the last one." This epiphany led to the birth of Eco Soap Bank with the aim to recycle soap and distribute it to the underprivileged. "I realised that something as simple as soap was not available in a village 5 miles away, and the same soap was thrown away daily for luxury tourists. Those quick realisations organically created the organisation."

Recycling soaps for the underprivileged

The process began with Samir going from hotel to hotel in Cambodia asking them to collect their used soaps for Eco Soap Bank. But the request was met with resistance. "We initially got a strong pushback because it required them to do extra work and some thought it was a strange request." However, with time their reputation grew hotel-by-hotel, and many started collecting soap for Eco Soap Bank.

While Samir started experimenting with a grinder in his hotel room, crushing the soap into smaller particles, he also kept visiting the nearby rural areas to understand the people and their lack of awareness of basic hygiene. The results were shocking. Most people put the onus of health issues in their community on bad karma. "It was the lack of education and awareness that played a pivotal role," he adds, agreeing to the fact that many doctors and health practitioners were killed in the 70s genocide, thus creating a huge gap in healthcare awareness. "During Covid-19, many Cambodian communities in the rural areas thought Covid was a symptom of eating too many chillies," reveals Samir, adding, "Honestly, I didn't want to lose another generation of Cambodians to misinformation."

Aiming for a healthy and dignified life

While awareness is the key, Samir emphasises that "education which is physical and pragmatic like handing out a bar of soap" is the most effective. "And that's the kind of journey we have taken." The continuous awareness has led to a shift in the mindset of the people, especially children. "Children are much more open to new ideas than adults, so we are focussing on them even if they are in schools or refugee camps." To this end, they also make soaps in toy shapes. "They excite children, who take to handwashing faster," says Samir. When they started Eco Soap Bank a decade ago, creating awareness was as important as soap recycling. However, over the years, it has become less of their strategic priority as they are now mostly focussed on "the hygiene supply gap vs the hygiene awareness gap. Because 2 billion people don't have access to soap at home."

Eco Soap Bank | Global Indian

During COVID-19, Eco Soap Bank called for an urgent need to restrategise as their major supplier- hotels - went into lockdown worldwide. "We switched to factories that make commercial bar soaps as they also generate some volume of waste. We asked them to collect the waste for us and we were able to continue recycling waste. We distributed our 50 millionth soap at the end of 2023." Soap factories worldwide waste an estimate a quarter billion of soap bars annually, and many supply this excess to Eco Soap Bank," informs Samir. Explaining the process behind soap recycling, Samir says the soap collected from factories makes it to their recycling centres where it is crushed into powder. That mix is then pushed through an extruder machine and takes the shape of a bar of soap. "It's a very simple process."

[caption id="attachment_48812" align="aligncenter" width="687"] Eco Soap Bank | Global Indian One of Eco Soap Bank's recycling centre[/caption]

The recycled soaps are then distributed through hundreds and thousands of partnerships with smaller and big organisations - from UNICEF to community schools or social centres. "We distribute soaps to the refugee camps through UN agencies as well as local schools," reveals Samir as Eco Soap Bank makes 50000 bars of soap a day.

Eco Soap Bank began with the mission to recycle soap, promote basic hygiene, and provide employment to marginalised women around the world. "Currently 160 women work in the soap recycling facilities across the five countries, and we plan to increase the number to 212 by the end of the year." Eco Soap Bank also helps women set up businesses by selling soaps at a nominal price. "If an employee is particularly excited, we also provide them with volumes of soap that they can sell in their community while also engaging in hygiene outreach. The vast majority of the women we employ prefer the employment route, however, we do have 320 other women who just exclusively sell soap," adds Samir.

Eco Soap Bank

In the last decade, he has been humbled by the outpour of help and support for Eco Soap Bank, which led to the opening up of recycling centres in four more countries. " I am amazed by people's generosity to get involved and take your mission to the next level," says Samir for whom that singular experience in Cambodia acted as a North Star, guiding him throughout.

Coming to India soon

Eco Soap Bank now plans to expand into India soon, for which they need to partner with factories here. "We also want to be the primary supplier of soaps to the refugee crisis in Bangladesh and Central Africa," Samir says.

When Samir started Eco Soap Bank a decade ago, he had no idea about social entrepreneurship but he answered his calling and learnt on the way. "Nothing is out of reach for anyone on how to do, and I hope my story is a small example of that," he signs off.

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Follow Eco Soap Bank on Instagram and website

Dr Geetanjali Chopra: Over 50 million lives touched through Wishes and Blessings

(May 18, 2024) From research to journalism, teaching to entertainment and eventually to philanthropy, Dr Geetanjali Chopra's experiences have been diverse but driven always by deep curiosity, the desire to learn and make an impact. She is the founder of Wishes and Blessings - a non-profit organization with over 20 centers in Delhi-NCR and a presence across six Indian states, which has positively impacted the lives of over 50 million people. Their work addresses a range of social issues, including education, healthcare, elderly care, skill development, and SOS relief. After starting as an academician and researcher, Dr. Geetanjali Chopra, switched gears to humanitarianism. Growing up in a warm Punjabi household in Delhi, Chopra was deeply influenced by her family's commitment to serve the needy. Her educational journey began at the Convent of Jesus and Mary School, where she laid the foundation for her academic pursuits and pursued her undergraduate studies at Lady Shri Ram College. She followed that up with a master’s in international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University. “I wanted to broaden my horizons, so I went abroad to specialise in International Law, and studied at Utrecht University in the Netherlands and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in

Humanitarian Law in Italy,” she says, in an interview with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_51723" align="aligncenter" width="391"] Dr Geetanjali Chopra | Wishes and Blessings | Global Indian Dr Geetanjali Chopra, founder, Wishes and Blessings[/caption]

A varied journey

Studying abroad was a transformative experience that not only enhanced her academic understanding but also enriched her cultural awareness and global perspective. “It exposed me to different academic methodologies, diverse cultures, and a vibrant international community, fostering personal growth and expanding my worldview. Overall, the experience was challenging yet immensely rewarding, laying the groundwork for my dedication to making a positive impact on the world,” she adds.

Reflecting on her career journey prior to Wishes and Blessings, Chopra is clear that she has always been driven by a deep curiosity and a passion for exploration. Each step she took, whether it was in research, academia, journalism, teaching, or even entertainment, was fuelled by a desire to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact. “I have never been one to shy away from new challenges or opportunities, and I believe that versatility has been key to my success. Whether it was expressing my views on global platforms or revisiting my roots to help the needy, my career has been a blend of diverse experiences that have enriched my perspective and fuelled my determination to make a difference in the world,” she avers.

Wishes and Blessings

Establishing Wishes and Blessings was a natural progression, a platform to bridge the gap between donors and beneficiaries, and to extend help to all those in need, regardless of their background. According to Chopra, it is about spreading smiles, making meaningful connections, and fostering hope for a better tomorrow. The seed was planted when she celebrated Holi with visually impaired children. The experience sparked a moment of profound connection and understanding. “Witnessing their joy and hearing their simple yet heartfelt wish made me realize the power of small gestures in bringing happiness. It ignited a passion within me to dedicate my life to serving the marginalized and making a tangible difference in their lives. Despite facing scepticism from those around me, I knew in my heart that this was my calling,” Chopra recalls.

Dr Geetanjali Chopra | Wishes and Blessings | Global Indian

Wishes and Blessings now has over 20 centres in Delhi-NCR and reaches six states across India. Their impact addresses several challenges, including education, health, elderly care, skill development, and SOS relief. “The impact has been significant. Since our inception, Wishes and Blessings have positively impacted the lives of over 50,00,000 people,” Chopra explains. Initiatives like Sahas and our recent community kitchen exemplify our commitment to holistically addressing societal needs,” she adds.

Throughout her career, she has been deeply motivated by the transformative power of compassion and dedication. Witnessing the positive change that results from these qualities fuels my drive to make a significant impact. “What truly drives me is the tangible difference we can make in people's lives. Seeing the smiles and profound gratitude on the faces of those we've helped, particularly those who are underprivileged and facing immense challenges, is the most fulfilling reward,” she says.

Her advice for women seeking to make a positive impact, is all about the strength that comes from both compassion and courage. “Do not be afraid to identify a cause you are passionate about, and then channel that passion into action. There are countless ways to make a difference, so don't feel limited by traditional paths. Trust your instincts, embrace your unique skills, and find a way to contribute that feels authentic to you,” she says. When she transitioned from a well-established career in academics and research to a completely new dimension, she faced numerous setbacks. “Foremost among these was scepticism and concern from loved ones, who worried about my lack of experience in the new field. Their raised eyebrows served as a constant reminder of the uncertainty inherent in my decision. However, I chose to tackle these challenges head-on, relying on my determination and self-motivation,” she admits.

Learning curve

Learning everything anew was daunting, but she embraced it as an opportunity for personal growth. “My primary mentors became time and patience, as I navigated the unfamiliar territory. Despite facing fears and doubts, I remained steadfast in my decision and refused to dwell on the past. Instead, I focused on moving forward with conviction,” she says. One of the key lessons she has learned from this experience is the importance of resilience. Adapting to change requires a willingness to confront discomfort and uncertainty. She learned how to stay committed to her goals and discovered her own capacity for resilience. She also understood the value of self-reliance and resourcefulness. Without formal guidance, she relied on her own initiative to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as she built Wishes and Blessings. In hindsight, she has realised that setbacks are inevitable in any significant life transition. “However, it is our response to these setbacks that ultimately determines our success. By embracing change with an open mind and a willingness to learn, we can overcome obstacles and emerge stronger on the other side,” she says.

Dr Geetanjali Chopra | Wishes and Blessings | Global Indian

In her free time, she likes to cook, travel, write, play Candy Crush, and spend time with both family and friends. “Cooking allows me to get creative in the kitchen and experiment with new recipes. Traveling exposes me to different cultures and landscapes, sparking my curiosity and sense of adventure. Writing lets me express my thoughts and imagination on paper, allowing me to explore new worlds through words. Playing Candy Crush is my guilty pleasure, providing a fun and relaxing way to unwind. And of course, spending time with family and friends brings me joy and strengthens our bonds,” she says. Moving forward, she is committed to expanding her reach to serve more underprivileged communities and increase the number of individuals her team can assist. “We plan to establish new centres and programmes to serve a wider range of communities. Furthermore, we are committed to significantly increasing the number of individuals we can support. This includes scaling up our food security initiatives, like our community kitchen, to ensure no one goes hungry,” she signs off.

Follow Dr Geetanjali Chopra on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Reading Time: 6 mins

Nalini Malani: Experimental artist, feminist icon

(May 3, 2023) It was year 1966. Still a student at the JJ School of Art, Nalini Malani had her first solo exhibition at Mumbai's Pundole Art Gallery, sharing studio space with big names like VS Gaitonde, Tyeb Mehta and MF Husain. In the subsequent years, she immersed herself in the art that soon became her form of expression. At a time when Indian painters were still painting the traditional way, Nalini Malani was busy experimenting with mixed media. Her art isn't just visual but an orchestra for all the five senses. Her work in the last few decades has been a comment on feminism and gender, a subject close to her heart. And her latest exhibition at London's National Gallery is proof of it, where she is smashing the patriarchy through her work. "My endeavour has always been to make art that addresses not just those who visit art galleries but the larger public, and moving images have a wider appeal," she said. For someone who can be easily called the pioneer of Multimedia Art in India, her work has been giving voice to the women who have been silenced over generations, and this has earned her the Arts

earned her the Arts & Culture Fukuoka Prize, making her the first Asian woman to achieve the feat. The 77-year-old artist, who studied in the Paris, has carved a niche for herself in the art world.

[caption id="attachment_38042" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Nalini Malani | Artist | Global Indian Nalini Malani[/caption]

The beginning - Mumbai to Paris

Nalini's journey began a year before India attained independence, and her family sought refuge in Kolkata during the Partition before relocating to Mumbai in 1958. During her formative years, the conflict of displacement and refuge played a crucial role in her life, and soon she began expressing herself through art. Her idea of creative liberation took her to the JJ School of Art where she obtained a diploma in Fine Arts. During her art school days, she had a studio at the Bhulabhai Memorial Institute, which was a multidisciplinary centre inviting artists, musicians and theater actors to work individually and as a community. This experience gave the young Nalini the perfect exposure and became a stepping stone for her participation in the Vision Exchange Workshop (VIEW), an initiative by veteran artist Akbar Padamsee. With art being a male-dominated craft, she was the only female member at the workshop. It was here that she developed a penchant for photography and film, and explored the themes of the turbulent political and social scenario of India during those times.

In 1970, Malani moved to Paris on a scholarship awarded by the French government to study fine arts. In Paris, Malani found the freedom to design her own education since the Ecole des Beaux-Arts was yet to reconfigure its new syllabus. Those two years in the capital of France, Malani practiced printmaking at Atelier Friedlander and immersed herself in Marxist politics while attending lectures by Naom Chomsky, Simone de Beauvoir and attending film screenings at the Cinematheque Francaise where she met Jean-Luc Godard and Chris Marker. Paris gave her the foundation she needed as an artist before returning to India in 1973.

Nalini Malani | Global Indian | Artist

The feminist artist

Upon her return, she settled in the bustling market of Lohar Chawl in Mumbai where her work reflected the lives of middle-class Indian families. She began working with paintings - acrylic on canvas and watercolour on paper, and produced art that portrayed contemporary India. Though Paris gave her the freedom to explore art, she was disappointed with the lack of acknowledgement that women artists had to face back home in the 70s. She resolved to bring them together for a group show after a meeting with visual artist Nancy Spero and American feminist artist May Stevens at the AIR Gallery in New York in 1979. Seeing the gallery's fierce determination to create a space for the work of female artists, Nalini returned to India with idea of extending the formula. After years of negotiation with public and private institutions, she curated the first exhibition of Indian female artists, titled Through The Looking Glass. It toured for three years, between 1986 and 1989, to non-commercial venues as Nalini was keen to take art beyond the elitist atmosphere of the art gallery.

Nalini has been an advocate for feminism and has made every attempt to make women visible outside the narratives of femininity through her work. She often gave voice to women who have been silenced by works of literature like Sita from Ramayana and Cassandra and Medea from Greek mythology. "Understanding the world from a feminist perspective is an essential device for a more hopeful future, if we want to achieve something like human progress, she said at Centre Pompiduo in 2018.

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Pioneer in Multimedia Art

Over the next few years, her art was exhibited in India and abroad. She has been one of the earliest artists to experiment with mixed media and move away from traditional media. "A major turning point in my relationship to written sources in my work came in 1979 when I met the artist RB Kitaj at one of his exhibitions in New York. There I saw an artwork titled If Not, Not, taken from TS Eliot’s The Wasteland. Kitaj said to me: 'Some texts have artworks in them.' Since then, the inclusion of literary or philosophical excerpts has remained a constant in my practice," she told Studio International in an interview.

It was in the 90s that her work began to drastically incorporate medium other than the canvas after the Babri Masjid demolition as it triggered a shift in her art. The renewed religious conflicts that brought back the memories of the Partition for her pushed her artistic endeavours past the boundaries of the surface and into the space. Her foray into the performing art and keen interest in literature brought new dimensions to her art. This even led her to create a new form of art, the video-play that would allow her theatre plays to travel.

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Known as one of the pioneers of Multimedia Art, she found her work exhibited across the globe from New Zealand to Switzerland to Mauritius to USA. In 2013, she added another feather to her cap when she became the first Asian woman to receive the Arts & Culture Fukuoka Prize for her consistent focus on contemporary themes like war, oppression of women and environmental destruction.

Malani, who began her journey in the art scene in the 60s, has come a long way and has become a name to reckon with in the international art circle.

Key takeaways:

- Embrace experimentation: A pioneer in multimedia art, Nalini moved away from traditional media at a time when it wasn't heard of. Experiment with different forms of art and media to create a unique style and reach a wider audience.

- Speak your truth: Malani used her art to express her beliefs and address pressing social, political, and cultural issues. Art can be used to voice opinions and make comments on important issues.

- Promote inclusivity and accessibility: As Malani did, curating non-commercial exhibitions and collaborations with public institutions can go a long way in bringing inclusivity and accessibility to the art world.

- Build a supportive community: Malani engaged with other artists, mentors, and peers to learn from their experiences, collaborate, and create a supportive network. A supportive community can bring invaluable resources and opportunities for growth.

Follow Nalini Malani on Instagram and Twitter

Reading Time: 5 min

Meenu Gupta: An intercontinental journey in entrepreneurship, podcasting and marriage

(March 27, 2024) Entrepreneur, podcast host, author, and meditation trainer- Meenu Gupta wears multiple hats. In her 28-year career, she spent 12 years with the Italian Trade Commission of the Government of Italy as a trade analyst, managing product development programmes between Italy and India, and leading over 100 international delegations alongside other sectorial and trade promotion initiatives. Now, as the CEO of her start-up Vedas Shaakha, Meenu represents European organisations and trade bodies in India, assisting in marketing their products and services. The businesswoman who shuttles between Germany and India is also the author of two books, contributes to international journals and dives deep into the lives of her guests in her podcast, 'Between the East and the West'. The podcast recently announced a collaboration with the Germany-based international civil society group 'Democracy without Borders'. “This collaboration aims to explore the concept of global citizenship with international guests on my podcast, who are from different walks of life working in different parts of the world. In my podcast, I invite (a range of guests from) monks to Hollywood directors to Ambassadors, entrepreneurs and people who just defy labels,” Meenu tells Global Indian. “From diversity, culture, inclusion, conflict, war, global

epreneurs and people who just defy labels,” Meenu tells Global Indian. “From diversity, culture, inclusion, conflict, war, global citizenship to understanding and peace, my podcast dives deep.”

Indian Entrepreneur | Meenu Gupta | Global Indian

An advocate for intercultural connections, the entrepreneur and author serves on the editorial board of 'Curiously Intercultural,' a digital platform of SIETAR Europa, a global intercultural organisation.

From a trade analyst to entrepreneur

“Setting up my own company after the experience of working at the Italian Trade Commission was a natural transition for me,” tells Meenu. “Working in the Italian government laid the foundation of all the future steps because of the numerous sectors I handled and the exposure to the top echelons of the corporate and government sectors in India and in Italy,” she adds.

Her work encompassed strategizing implementation of multiple programmes. “Till date I have had the opportunity to lead over 100 international delegations, build bridges between continents, set up companies and projects from scratch and sit on multiple boards,” she shares.

In her role, Meenu was granted full autonomy to strategize and manage funds. One of the projects she oversaw was in the gold sector, working with a Gold Consortium in Italy. The project involved establishing a consortium company in collaboration with ace marketing professional Ivano Micheletti from Arezzo, Italy. “It held significant meaning for me,' she shares. Emphasising the trust placed in her by the Italian partners, she mentions, “They bestowed upon me something immensely valuable - their trust. They allowed me to lead the setup of the entire structure, from vision to implementation. Serving on the board of that company proved to be an exhilarating journey, filled with challenges and joys, and facilitated my transition to a businesswoman seamlessly.”

Indian Entrepreneur | Meenu Gupta | Global Indian

Venturing into entrepreneurship with Vedas Shaakha

Meenu became an entrepreneur with Vedas Shaakha in 2007. “It was a time when ‘start-ups’ was not really a buzzword as it is today,” she remarks.

Talking about the name that she chose for her startup, she mentions, “I named it after my late mother ‘Veda’. She and her memories have been a constant source of inspiration for me even to this day. Her character, qualities and wisdom are unmatched in my eyes.”

Starting a new venture in India was a challenge in those times but Meenu believes that challenges and opportunities go hand in hand. “If there is a vision, there is a way.”

Over the years, she has handled a variety of projects, ranging from the security sector where women were not commonly found to areas such as solar energy, fashion, food, and more. It has been an interesting journey for her. She vividly recalls numerous meetings where she was not only the only woman present but also often the youngest person in the room. However, such situations were ordinary for her. “Interestingly, I never encountered gender bias,'” she says. 'Whether it was at the largest prison in Asia or the grandest fashion shows in Italy, I often found myself representing India as the sole woman.

Between the East and the West

Meenu’s podcast series features individuals who have traversed continents in both their professional endeavours and personal relationships. “These are individuals who have opted for unconventional paths and accumulated valuable experiences along the way,” Meenu remarks. They share their insights, motivations, learnings, wisdom, challenges, and achievements offering a glimpse of the contrasting yet harmonious aspects found in different continents.

“I have had the opportunity of a heart-to-heart chat with these amazing people who have humbled me with their honesty and courage,” she mentions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk3eMf80j7E

‘Between the East and the West’ was launched in 2022 and boasts of 30 streamed episodes so far. Meenu started the podcast to complement a book which is slated to be released this year. “The book is about my journey and experiences of straddling continents while the podcast brings out the journeys of other people,” she mentions. “Putting the podcast project together from scratch has been an immensely fulfilling journey. It required all my skills that I had the opportunity to hone over the years.”

Enjoying multiculturalism at home

“My husband is Dutch but has lived in Germany since he was a child. My son was born in Germany,” says Meenu. She describes meeting her husband as a “classic love story.” He was the blonde, blue-eyed stranger she met on a flight to Italy. At the time, he was returning to Germany from his first visit to India, while she was enroute Italy for a presentation, with a layover in Germany. As luck would have it, they were seated beside each other on the plane, and talked non-stop through the journey. A few months later, they were engaged, and they married shortly thereafter.

When they had met, his company was planning to expand into India but soon after their engagement, the plan was changed. In response, she made the decision to cater to her European clients in the Indian market, establishing bases in both Germany and India so that she can enjoy both her worlds – her marriage and her business.

Indian Entrepreneur | Meenu Gupta | Global Indian

In the realm of spirituality and multitasking

Meenu believes in the powers of meditation and is also a meditation trainer. Talking about the many roles that she handles, Meenu says. “My belief is that we are spiritual beings living an earthly existence. I am just exploring and letting the different sides of myself get the air, breathe and grow. When one wishes to do something, they find the time.”

She aspires to excel in every aspect of her life. “We all have different facets. It depends upon which facets we nourish, hone and allow to breathe. I love what I do and I do what I love. Most importantly, the doing stems from my way of being. Be your best and you will automatically do your best,” she signs off with a piece of advice.

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Sparsh Ahuja, Sam Dalrymple and Sadia Gardezi: Taking India-Pak partition witnesses back to their childhood homes through VR

(August 17, 2024) "All the gold and silver that we owned, I, an 11-year-old child at the time, dug a deep pit and buried it to keep it safe, because we didn’t think we wouldn’t return. We thought we will be coming back, but we couldn’t,” lamented 84-year-old Dharampal, who migrated from Sialkot in Pakistan to Jammu, then Amritsar, and ultimately Bombay during the 1947 partition. He shared his memories of those painful days with the Project Dastaan team that has been working to facilitate virtual reconnections of people to the homes they left during the tragic times. Dharampal’s father was tragically left behind during Partition on the other side of the border. “My uncle said, ‘I’ll give you the wood, I’ll give you all the wheat we have, get my brother back.’ They said, ‘We are not interested.’ My uncle couldn’t get his brother and he was later killed'.” Dharampal’s story echoes the countless journeys undertaken by refugees during the partition crisis. The event affected the entire subcontinent who had to suffer irreparable loss and trauma for the rest of their lives. About 14 million people migrated and thousands perished during the 1947 partition. View this post on

the rest of their lives. About 14 million people migrated and thousands perished during the 1947 partition.

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Launched in 2018 Project Dastaan serves as a poignant reminder that ordinary people are the most impacted when a nation is torn apart. Their lives are uprooted forever. In 2023 Project Dastaan became part of the British Key Stage 3 school curriculum. The peace-building initiative has also facilitated reconnection of the Bangladesh nationals.

Recreating memories

Co-founded by Sparsh Ahuja from India, Sam Dalrymple, an Indian of British descent, and Sadia, a Pakistani national, the project is a tribute to the legacy of millions of refugees whose lives were changed overnight. The nationalities of Project Dastaan’s co-founders represent an interesting amalgamation of people deeply affected by the partition of India.

Their project has been facilitating virtual reconnections to the homes of partition survivors. About 50 percent of those interviewed have been able to see their childhood homes using VR technology. While attempts for all were made, the changed landscapes made it difficult, and impossible for other cases.

“One of the things we've learned throughout this entire journey is just how absurd it is that it takes a team of 30 volunteers spread across five different countries with the world's most cutting-edge technology to take back grandparents who literally live just across the border. To all the people out there watching this video we have just one message: In an ideal world a project like this shouldn't exist,” says Sparsh Ahuja in an interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxzNJ_5_9DI

The documentary filmmaker and founder of Project Dastaan, Sparsh is a 2020 National Geographic Explorer, the youngest-ever recipient of the CatchLight Fellowship. He graduated as a FitzRandolph Scholar in PPE at the University of Oxford. His debut film, Child of Empire, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2022, and his latest documentary short, Birdsong, screened at SXSW, Sundance London, Palm Springs ShortsFest, where it won Special Mention: Best Documentary Short and was shortlisted for the Grierson Award. It was later acquired by The Guardian.

Bringing past to present

Talking about the process that they use to reconnect partition survivors to their childhood homes, Sam Dalrymple who happens to be the son of British descent author William Dalrymple remarks, “We begin by interviewing the partition witnesses. We then get our cross-border volunteer network to track down the locations and try to find any areas which may have survived. A lot of the places have changed, both countries have industrialised massively since 1947. And yet there's always something which remains in each of these villages or towns. Wherever we have been, there's a mosque, a well, a mandir, maybe the neighbour's house that has survived. After this, we send our filming team out to recapture those areas.”

Like his co-founders Sam too has a deep connection with the subcontinent as many of his British ancestors were born, raised and died in India with their graves in different parts of the country. His book Shattered Lands: The Five Partitions of India 1935–1975, is due to be published in 2024.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P88oFsv1FZ0

“We edit the filmed content into a full six-minute experience. This is then taken back to the original partition witness shown to them and then exhibited more broadly to the general public in order to educate about partition and about the stories of those who've survived it,” he explains.

Sam Dalrymple is the Co-Founder and COO of Project Dastaan. He graduated as a Sanskrit and Persian scholar from the University of Oxford, where he served as president and co-founder of the Oxford University Silk Road Society. He has worked with The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (a multibillion foundation), Turquoise Mountain and Vagaband. Sam speaks proficiently in Hindi and Urdu, and can converse in basic Farsi.

Inspired by the pains of their grandparents

“When my Nanu was just seven years old, he was forced to migrate from a small village in modern-day Pakistan called Bela, and moved to New Delhi. I'd see him in the corner of our house in Delhi, he'd be scribbling Urdu in his Diary and I’d ask him Nanu , you know how to write Urdu? " And he'd say, ‘yes, this is what we learnt at school but he'd close the diary quickly and would say ‘but now that time is gone,” shared Sparsh Ahuja.

It was during a coffee chat at Oxford University that Sparsh and his friend Ameena Malak from Pakistan exchanged their grandparents’ stories of Partition. They realised that their grandparents had travelled almost identical journeys in opposite directions, each yearning to go back home. However, due to wars, old age, and trauma, there were still too many barriers for either to return. This sparked the idea for Project Dastaan.

[caption id="attachment_53746" align="aligncenter" width="740"] Indian Culture | Project Dastaan | Global Indian From left to right: Sam Dalrymple, Sparsh Ahuja, Sadia Gardezi and Ameena Malak[/caption]

They brought their friends Sam Dalrymple and Saadia Gardezi who were studying at Oxford as well, on board and came up with the plan of a making sure every Partition survivor who they could find, would go home again, whether through virtual reality, video calls to locals who still remember them, or even an actual physical return, however difficult.

Across the border

Pakistan-origin Saadia Gardezi is the co-founder and creative lead of Project Dastaan. The illustrator and writer has worked as the Op-Ed editor for The Nation, one of Pakistan’s leading newspapers. Saadia graduated as an M.Phil. scholar in South Asian Studies, of the Weidenfeld Hoffmann Leadership Program at Oxford University. While pursuing Ph.D. at the University of Warwick she also works part-time as workshop facilitator and graduate tutor.

“We build bridges between India and Pakistan, and hope to educate people about the history and shared cultures of India and Pakistan through storytelling and films.

As Pakistan lead, I coordinate between volunteers and cultural heritage organisations in Pakistan, UK and India,” she mentions. For project Dastaan she has been deeply involved in researching partition stories and interviewing survivors.

[caption id="attachment_53753" align="aligncenter" width="803"] Indian Culture | Project Dastaan | Global Indian A still from the TIME's coverage of Project Dastaan[/caption]

“I have always had this sense of hankering of figuring out along that journey what changed, what took these communities that had been living for centuries together and turned them into enemies overnight. We wanted to go beyond just talking about the partition. We wanted to take these people back home,” says Sparsh.

Although they connected many people over phone calls, in this technological era virtual reality seemed the powerful solution to the yearning of partition survivors. “Old age and traumatic memories and the general fear linked to going back, still holds them back. Hundreds and thousands of people have not been able to go home (even after seven decades),” Sam remarks.

With the use of technological solutions, Sparsh, Sam, and Saadia are happy to help people of their grandparents’ generation cross borders. They are happy to turn their ‘crazy’ idea into reality.

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