Global IndianstoryBon Appetit, Bengaluru! Unwrapping Nicolas Grossemy’s Paris Panini success

Bon Appetit, Bengaluru! Unwrapping Nicolas Grossemy’s Paris Panini success

Written by: Minal Nirmala Khona

(October 22, 2023) Nicolas Grossemy came to India for an internship, started a food truck business selling French-style sandwiches and is today the co-Founder of Paris Panini, a chain of deli style French cafés in Bengaluru

One of the most globally ubiquitous snacks or light meals would have to be the sandwich. Two slices of bread with a veritable who’s who of ingredients in between and voila, you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Known as a panini in Italian, and le casse-croute in French, a sandwich in its protean avatars has many Indian variations too. In Bengaluru, Nicolas Grossemy began Le Casse Croute, a food truck serving up sandwiches with ingredients more associated with French cuisine. Business boomed, and the food truck became Paris Panini, a French-style cafe in Indiranagar. Today, Nicolas, who is the co-founder, oversees a chain of restaurants.

Made in India

He recalls how his tryst with sandwiches began in an exclusive with Global Indian. “I came to India in January 2014 for an internship while I was finishing my Master’s at Kedge Business School. Before coming here, I had worked in restaurants in France for about four years while studying, to make pocket money. But I ended up loving the industry and thought of starting something on my own during the internship itself. We (his earlier two French business partners) wanted to start a casual diner but we struggled to find a place, so decided to open a food truck instead, since it was a fairly new concept back in 2015.”

Nicolas is mostly self-taught and has not done any professional cooking courses though he has been cooking since a very young age. “I did work along with chefs in France that helped me build my knowledge in the kitchen as well as deepen my expertise in terms of French cooking,” he tells Global Indian.

Nicolas Grossemy | Co-Founder of Paris Panini | The Global Indian

Nicolas Grossemy and Abhijit ‘AB’ Gupta

Still, setting up a food truck in one of India’s busiest metropolises came with its fair share of obstacles – Parking, cops, staff, cranky residents etc. Nicolas admits that he faced many challenges from the start. He recalls, “The first challenge I faced was for all the modifications we wanted on the school van. We wasted four months as the guy took money from us and didn’t get anything done. After that, we moved the van to a different garage and that guy did a fantastic job,” says Nicolas. There weren’t many food trucks in the city then, so Nicolas and his team could simply park the truck and run the business without much trouble. Their problems began when lots of food trucks started operating. “Most people were just running the trucks to make money,” Nicolas recalls. “They had no passion or even experience.” These newly founded businesses would leave garbage at their parking spots, neglect hygiene standards and serve poor quality food. The image of food trucks took a beating, and neighbours’ associations began alerting cops about those operating without authorisation. “That’s when I realised that a food truck wasn’t a scalable business so I had to find another way to scale my concept.”

Street Food a la France

Nicolas’ food truck, called Le Casse-Croute, started operating in 2015. The standards he set were high. Nicolas says, “We had a base kitchen where we would prepare all the food and ingredients. Baking the bread freshly every day, which is part of the concept, would always happen in the morning before we started. I wanted to bring a gourmet street food experience with fresh ingredients cooked on a daily basis. Sourcing the ingredients was part of the process and it took some time to set, but it’s something I wouldn’t compromise on. Quality and freshness over everything. For example, even for the potato, we had to try dozens of different suppliers for our French fries. We needed a special grade of potato since we were doing our French fries in-house (peeling, cutting and double frying). Currently, we source a special grade of premium French fries that we serve with our much-loved homemade tomato ketchup.” All the ingredients are sourced locally.

The ‘Hugo’ (fried chicken, fresh mozzarella, onions, sriracha aioli) at Paris Panini

Somewhere, the universe heard Nicolas and his desire to start a café. “AB and Nikhil came into the picture later when I met Nikhil at the gym. I explained to Nikhil that I was looking to raise funds to scale the concept and product. He quite liked the idea, so I met him, his brother and their executive chef from Pizza Bakery the next day and we started discussing our collaboration. Our concept was pretty simple, keep the same values which I used to build Le Casse-Croute, and make it into a brick-and-mortar format to give the experience of sitting in a French café as if you were in Paris. That’s the goal I had while running the food truck; I always wanted to build a café in Bengaluru that transports you to France just by its décor, food and ambience. We reworked the concept, the menu and design of the place, and we found the perfect place on 12th main road in Indiranagar, next to Pizza Bakery.”

Paris Panini was launched in November 2019 and to date sells essentially French street food, in French style cafés. The paninis all have different names and from prawns to pesto, bacon, devilled eggs, chicken, to mozzarella, aiolis, sun dried tomatoes, and a lot more, these gourmet sandwiches became so popular with the local crowd that they are now present in ten locations across the city.

The Laura (Mozzarella, basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes)

French Classics

The sandwiches come with names like Aime, Hugo, Jacques etc. given to each of the paninis. Nicolas reveals the logic behind it. “Yes, all our paninis have French names. They aren’t named after my family members (or exes as some customers assume) but all of them have a story. For example, the Franck panini got its name because it’s a protein-loaded panini and had spinach, and it refers to Popeye the sailor man. Patrick got this name because we literally launched this panini on St Patrick’s day. Jacques, our prawn and aioli panini, was inspired by Jacques Mayol from The Big Blue movie.” All paninis are well-liked though the menu now includes desserts and pastas; the most popular are the chicken paninis Hugo and Michel and the vegetarian Estelle and Laura.

Creating the menu too may have come with its challenges. Keeping local tastes in mind, consumer preferences and their own favourites alike, how did they strike the right balance of options? He says, “We took some classic combinations we have in France like chicken and mayo or ham and cheese and upgraded them a bit adding our touch to the recipes. But there were ingredients that were not necessarily getting the response we expected. If something is not moving, we try twisting the recipes a bit and if it doesn’t really change, we get rid of it and come up with new recipes. We have developed a lot in our vegetarian menu (even our vegan menu lately) and we have been getting a good response because it’s a unique product, with taste that you can’t experience anywhere else in Bengaluru.”

Nicolas Grossemy | Co-Founder of Paris Panini | The Global Indian

Everything is made from scratch including the sauces. Incredibly, their most popular dip is their homemade ketchup served with fries. Nicolas adds, “It is a traditional French recipe, it’s so fresh and tasty people keep asking for more.” And since everything is made in-house, they have expanded the brand to include a range of retail products that can be used at home like fresh basil pesto, sun-dried tomatoes etc. They also serve their paninis with French old-style mustard and olive tapenade that are classics in French cuisine.

With success came expansion and in less than five years, not to forget the two years lost to Covid, Paris Panini today has seven dine-in and five delivery kitchens. What advice does he have for a foodpreneur looking to expand in a similar fashion? Nicolas says, “I’d say start small, see the response and from that grow your menu, improve the experience and your flow of operations. That way you have a lot more under your control and you can learn without taking too much of a risk.”

From giving the humble sandwich a gourmet status, and making French street food a hit in Bengaluru, Nicolas has a winning formula on his hands. Hopefully other cities too will get a chance to experience his food some day.

Follow Nicolas Grossemy and Paris Panini on Instagram.

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Published on 22, Oct 2023

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Kolkata biryani with potato confit? British Chef Shaun Kenworthy is rewriting the rules of Bengali cuisine

(March 3, 2024) Chef Shaun Kenworthy’s career graph is the definition of going against the norm. While most chefs love the idea of travelling around the world, working with multiple brands across cuisines, once Shaun based himself in Kolkata, he was happy to travel across India doing what he loves best. With no plans of going back to England, in the near future at least. Oh Kolkata! Growing up in a town near Manchester, United Kingdom, Shaun worked as a pastry chef at some of the most happening restaurants and bars in London. He was voted one of the top ten pastry chefs in London when he was barely 25. In an exclusive with Global Indian, Chef Shaun recalls, “At that time, I was working with the restaurant Quaglinos in London – the usual 14 to 15-hour days where you barely get four-and-a-half hours of sleep; and you burn out before you are 30. I met Rohit Khattar of India Habitat Centre at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore, in the year 2000; an event attended by restaurateurs and chefs from all over the world. Rohit invited me to come to India for a couple of weeks in June 2000

attended by restaurateurs and chefs from all over the world. Rohit invited me to come to India for a couple of weeks in June 2000 and thereafter, with a few emails back and forth, in October 2000, I decided to come here and get out of London for a bit. I was the Executive Sous Chef for India Habitat Centre in Delhi. I had every plan of going back in a year; but one month prior, 9/11 happened and nobody was boarding flights. I also didn’t have a job to go back to.”

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He stayed back and happened to meet Priya Paul of The Park Group of Hotels. She asked him to join them as they were launching new hotels in Bengaluru and Chennai. “I joined the Park Hotel, Kolkata as Executive Chef and had a two-year contract, but they renewed it after one year to extend it for three more years. Those four years were brilliant; I was almost given carte blanche. I spent time in Chennai for the opening of the Park there, and in Delhi for the re-opening of their hotel. I was part of the renovation and relaunch of Flury’s, also owned by the Paul family, in December 2024.”

Here is where he made his mark in Kolkata. With no less a brand than the legendary Flurys; the tea room and patisserie that has been around since 1927. He recalls, “As a pastry chef they wanted me to revamp the menu. I even had Lord Swaraj Paul calling me from England, asking me not to change this or that dish on the menu. The entire Paul family was involved in the revamp.”

Chef Shaun left The Park in 2005. Somewhere along the way, he met Pinky, a model who he married in 2004. “When my time was up, we wondered whether we should go back to England; I also had offers in Beijing, Melbourne and Singapore. But I liked it here, so we stayed back.”

One Chef, Many Hats

That was sheer serendipity because it led to Chef Shaun getting consultancy offers, teaching assignments and setting up new hospitality brands. He says, “I have worked on more than 120 projects over the last 17 years – everything from small boutique properties to high end hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, patisseries, QSR venues and remote properties in places such as the Himalayas, Rajasthan, Kutch and cities across India.”

Chef Shaun was also briefly part of a restaurant called The Blue Potato in Kolkata serving modern global cuisine – which had Bollywood stars and international celebs like Ricky Martin and Antonio Banderas dine there. It shut down in two years because it didn’t have a liquor license. The British chef has also mentored many students, as the Director, Culinary Arts for IICM – the Indian Institute of Culinary Management across several cities. “Thousands of young people have passed through my hands and so many of my students have worked with me.”

Projects he has recently worked on include the premium segment property, Suryagarh, in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan and Rann Riders in Kutch, and Sitara, in the Himalayas. He says, “I like to work on places that tell a story of the region through the food, in a modern context. These places get lots of international guests, so the stories of the place must be retold through the local ingredients and traditions.” He likes taking on selected projects, some on turnkey basis; creating a brand-new all-day menu, masterclasses, pop-ups… “I like loads of variety – doing one thing is boring for me,” he says.

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The place still close to his heart and one Chef Shaun is still involved with since the planning stages over a decade ago, is The Glenburn Penthouse, which opened its doors in the middle of 2018. “We [Glenburn Tea Estate’s Anshuman and Husna-Tara Prakash] decided to launch an elegant, boutique nine-room venue. It stands on Russell Street overlooking the magnificent Victorian Memorial and the Kolkata maidan. Other than focus on the rooms, we host intimate, bespoke events with 20-40 people over dinner. We are open for lunch and dinner and offer a traditional ‘Full English afternoon tea.’ We also did curated menus for special occasions.”

Chef Shaun reiterates that he does not personally cook Indian food. “I play around with flavours and Indian ingredients, but the food I make is more European and modern. I have been using Bandel cheese from Kalimpong for more than 20 years now in my risottos and pastas.”

Bengali Cuisine, International Touch

Bengalis have, more so than Indians from other states, a proprietary approach towards their cuisine. Any criticism or experimentation is often taken as a personal affront. Yet, Chef Shaun has experimented with ingredients and techniques, as he says, “a million times.” To great success. Even the sacrosanct elements of Bengali food – the hilsa fish, mishti doi and the Kolkata biryani –have been modernised and completely transformed under his creative touch. As have puchkas, pani puri to the rest of us, kasundi or mustard paste and paanch phoron – the Bengali tadka medley. The famed sweets too are served in unrecognisable avatars. He says, “To make the Kolkata biryani, I broke it down into its four main components – rice, meat, potato and egg. I overcooked the rice, the goat was cooked overnight for 12 hours so the meat would just melt in your mouth. I served it with a potato confit and a soft-boiled egg. And topped it with crispy fried onions and a dollop of ghee because everyone loves them. Of course, people criticised it initially, but I told them to taste it first and not jump to conclusions. Similarly, with the hilsa, I serve it pan-seared alongside roasted arbi and green gondhoraj [the local lemon] Hollandaise sauce.” Chef Shaun has also served the much-revered hilsa as a mousse among other Bengali favourites turned upside down.

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A post shared by Shaun Kenworthy (@chefshaunkenworthy)

Puchkas have been tweaked into various starters and dessert much before doing so became a trend. He recalls, “I like to experiment as the food is about telling a story. I’ve served puchkas dipped in white chocolate, or with crab mousse, a beetroot chaat, or Bengali sweets inside – in a million different ways really. I treat the aam papad or shoto as it is known here, as a fruit leather and play around with it as a glaze. The paanch phoron too is so versatile. Among desserts, which are the easiest to make for me, I made a mishti doi burnt basque with mishti doi and cheese; and served angoori rasmalai with little fruit pieces.”

ALSO READ: Bhupender Nath: Redefining modernist Indian cuisine through Tresind

Global trends according to him are moving towards innovation. He says in conclusion, “India is in a great position and there are so many inspired young chefs doing intelligent stuff with Indian ingredients. Look at Goa, five or six years ago, nothing was happening and so much has changed now. There are so many trendy restaurants in Goa and it is a melting pot of cuisines. A lot of chefs are also reviving regional cuisines and reinventing recipes that have been there for a long time.”

While travelling, Chef Shaun Kenworthy likes to eat at:

Yauatcha, Kolkata: Crispy prawn Cheung fun
Comorin, Gurgaon: Any and many of their small plates; I love the bheja fry
Ode, Mumbai: Yellow fin tuna loin with avocado pachadi
La Chapelle, London: For a good Sunday roast
Amazonico, Madrid: For the most incredible Brazilian rib eye steaks
The Canton house, Chinatown, Bangkok: Their dim sums are to die for

You can follow Shaun on Instagram here: Chefshaunkenworthy

Meet Vivek Narain, the man behind the exclusive members-only club, The Quorum

Meet Vivek Narain, Founder and CEO of The Quorum, a members-only lifestyle club in India, which promotes culture while building a community of people with shared interests. The workspace as we know it, is rapidly changing globally. From shared co-working spaces to working from home to sitting in a coffee shop with free wi-fi, the office has been reinvented. Capitalising on this paradigm are private clubs, bridging the gap between five-star luxury and the amenities of an office. Along with a forum to network, and have conversations about art, music, life and other topics of interest. The suave Vivek Narain, who holds a finance and economics degree from the American University, Kogod School of Business, Washington D.C, combined his past experience in hospitality and an extensive understanding of real estate, to design and create The Quorum, a members-only club that doubles up as a space where business and leisure complement each other effortlessly. [caption id="attachment_51095" align="aligncenter" width="453"] Vivek Narain, founder, The Quorum[/caption] Breaking the 9 to 5 office mould In an exclusive with Global Indian, on a day’s visit to the just-launched 110,000 square feet of space that is The Quorum in Hyderabad, he shares details about his idea. He

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Breaking the 9 to 5 office mould

In an exclusive with Global Indian, on a day’s visit to the just-launched 110,000 square feet of space that is The Quorum in Hyderabad, he shares details about his idea. He reveals how the club is more than just a place to work or relax after a guided tour. “We had set up The Quorum in Mumbai and Gurgaon and it took us two years to get the Hyderabad venue up and running. The place has everything you could need — to work, entertain, relax, hold an event, or even have a meeting, without the pretentiousness of a five-star property.”

The Quorum’s facilities geared towards wellness include two internationally certified padel courts, a pilates studio, a room for yoga, a pool, and a gym. There is also a restaurant, a members’ lounge and bar, and smaller, private rooms to hold a book club reading and conduct meetings or events. Kids are allowed only on Sundays.

Vivek is passionate about inviting speakers on a range of subjects, and the club’s activities across cities include hosting fashion pop-ups, and using the space on the walls as a gallery to promote art. The newly-launched Hyderabad club had its first show in collaboration with Srishti Art Gallery and their in-house curator ensures art gets its due importance across all three properties. He adds, “Every month we will be collaborating with different galleries and artists because I believe art is and should be an important conversation to have.”

According to an article in Forbes magazine, ‘The fastest-growing workplace isn’t home or the office, but some third place — a coffee shop, hotel lobby or, increasingly, private clubs.’ And, focussing on this trend, within five years, The Quorum has helped bridge the gap for people who are frequent travellers and are aware of trends and luxury experiences they might wish to replicate in India.

More than a club membership

The membership profile for The Quorum, according to Vivek is, “Men and women who are global Indians — upwardly mobile, have a larger goal of wanting to make an impact, and are curious about other ideas and have multiple interests. People who want to push boundaries on conversations on varied topics from geopolitics to AI; who have an interest in listening to opera or watching a Bharatnatyam performance.”

Vivek and his team showcase talents across fields; and with the club’s credibility now firmly in place, people approach them to host events — whether it is to talk about ideas or deliver high-quality content. Just the April calendar for the Gurgaon venue included events like an art soiree, a live jazz performance by Tanya Nambiar, a meditation session every Friday morning, a talk on women in business hosted by a woman member, and a conversation on sustainable fashion with designers like Nikhil Mehra, Gaurav Gupta with Anju Bhandari. Another talk with the lawyer Indira Jaising, and a whisky-tasting session along with readings from a classic by Naseeruddin Shah were on the agenda too. The Hyderabad one for its part hosted an opera night, a live sitar recital, a qawwali and a ghazal night, a conversation with the previous Governor of the RBI, D Subbarao, and a live performance by Mama Tips and The Goa Crew to name a few.

Vivek admits that some events are crowd pullers and some conversations have barely a handful in the audience, but it doesn’t deter him from pursuing this paradigm of offering something more than a club.

Keeping in mind the high-profile members, many of whom are HNIs, the club is tastefully done up. From the comfortable seating to the wall-papered library which even has a secret door that leads to a private room; an installation hanging from the ceiling, echoing the movement of birds during a murmuration, by Delhi-based origami artist Ankon Mitra to the spacious dining area, the pool etc., everything spells luxury sans the snob element. The staff is friendly and the entire space is meant to make you relax. When asked how The Quorum is different from the regular clubs, Vivek reiterates, “Those clubs are not always focussed on giving you the best quality. Even as we push the boundaries on various subjects, our kitchens promise you an excellent culinary experience too with global cuisine on the menu.”

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All these facilities come at a price. The standard joining fee is a one-time, non-refundable deposit of Rs five lakhs, and an annual fee of Rs one-and-a-half lakhs. What you spend on food and drinks is extra. The fee gives you access to this space and its facilities, two of The Quorum’s other clubs in Gurgaon and Mumbai, and 75+ clubs across 28 countries it has associated with. Though there are other membership tiers — for entrepreneurs, women, and those who fit the profile and are under 30 — the one-time fee has been waived off.

Offices of tomorrow

Vivek, who has in the past worked with leading hospitality brands, has also set up his second flagship brand called district150. Elaborating on the brand’s name and idea, he says, “According to Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist from Oxford University, 150 is the total number of stable, meaningful relationships a person can have in their life. That is why cavalries have only 150 members, and a human being can remember a maximum of 1500 faces and 500 names. With this narrative in mind, I set up district150 which is a meetings and events venue driven by hospitality and is a space built with the future of work and lifestyle in mind. It’s an amenity for the office building of tomorrow which can add significant value as a venue for corporate meetings and events during business hours and as a social venue after working hours.” It is a cross between an office and a hotel and you can host meetings and events here; there is also a progressive Indian casual dining restaurant called Zila. The brand has partnered with Subko, for their artisanal coffee and chocolate experience.

In the past, Vivek has headed development for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International and was responsible for the group’s growth and expansion efforts across South Asia. He has been a board member of SUJAN Rajmahal Palace and was instrumental in repositioning this marquee boutique heritage-palace hotel, part of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux collection, as one of the top luxury hotels in the world. He is a founding member and events and programming Chair of ULI (Urban Land Institute), India. He is currently also involved with Changemakers of Gurgaon at Scale, an organisation working towards making Gurgaon a more vibrant and sustainable city that figures among the top 50 cities of the world.

With his larger goal of making an impact while remaining a profitable business, Vivek plans to expand to other cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Goa. This, despite fighting the constant challenge he faces as a first-time entrepreneur – that of attracting and retaining the right talent. Still, he stays committed to his goal of establishing a brand with high credibility that slowly brings change into the way we conduct business or hold conversations.

Follow The Quorum on Instagram.

MP Dr Gaurav Sharma: The Himachal boy who became a leading advocate for healthcare reform in New Zealand

(October 30, 2024) Dr. Gaurav Sharma stands out as one of New Zealand's most compelling voices in public health and politics. From his roots in India’s Himachal Pradesh to his role as a Member of Parliament for Hamilton West, Sharma’s journey reflects a rare blend of medical expertise and political ambition. Known for his advocacy on healthcare reform and his groundbreaking work in public policy, Sharma’s path to Parliament wasn’t straightforward. Yet, with each achievement—from top student to WHO intern to MP—the Global Indian has proven himself driven by a commitment to community and meaningful change. Gaurav Sharma was born in a small town in Himachal Pradesh, nestled in the Himalayas, where opportunities were scarce, but dreams were big. His father was determined to carve a better life for his family, and in pursuit of that, he moved to New Zealand with little more than $250 and multiple degrees. Gaurav recalls the early struggles, saying, "My father’s resilience laid the foundation for my journey. He taught me that obstacles are just stepping stones if you are committed to your goal." Years later, at the age of 12, Gaurav joined his father in New Zealand, along with his mother, and they

Years later, at the age of 12, Gaurav joined his father in New Zealand, along with his mother, and they settled into the Kiwi way of life.

Dr Gaurav Sharma | New Zealand MP | Global Indian

Adjusting to a new country and culture was challenging. Gaurav recalls feeling out of place, especially with the linguistic and cultural differences. “I came from a small Indian town where everyone knew each other, and now I was here, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and voices,” he shared. However, these initial challenges only fueled his determination. He threw himself into his studies, eventually attending Auckland Grammar School, where he excelled academically, despite starting at the bottom class. By the time he graduated, Gaurav had won nine awards and became runner-up dux, a testament to his hard work and focus.

Finding purpose in medicine

It was during his high school years that Gaurav found his calling in medicine, a path that was not obvious at the beginning. During his sixth form at Auckland Grammar, Gaurav volunteered at a local elderly care facility, a decision that changed the course of his life. "Volunteering at the rest home was a humbling experience," he explained. "It shifted my perspective on what it meant to truly care for people. I had initially joined as a way to gain experience, but it quickly became more than just a task—it became a calling."

This exposure to healthcare led him to cancel other extracurricular activities to focus solely on his volunteer work, committing to four years at the facility. His dedication was recognized, and he was soon admitted to the prestigious medical program at the University of Auckland, where he studied medicine and surgery. Here, Gaurav's interest expanded beyond clinical care to include public health and policy-making. "I saw that healthcare was not just about treating individuals but about creating systems that could impact entire communities," he said. His experience at the university solidified his resolve to make a difference, not just as a doctor but as a health advocate.

Dr Gaurav Sharma | New Zealand MP | Global Indian

By the time he was 21, Gaurav had already begun advocating for healthcare policies, serving as the elected representative for over 3,000 medical students on the New Zealand Medical Student Association board. In this role, he worked with the Ministry of Health, various specialty colleges, and the Medical Council of New Zealand, shaping policies aimed at encouraging healthcare workers to train in rural areas and high-demand specialties. "Those early years taught me the power of policy in shaping healthcare outcomes. I wanted to help design systems that would reach the most vulnerable," he shared.

A global perspective and the call to serve

In his fifth year of medical school, Gaurav’s commitment to public health led him to research climate change as a significant health issue for New Zealand. His research attracted attention, and he was encouraged to apply for an internship at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. The opportunity to work at the WHO marked a turning point, as it gave him an understanding of the global dimensions of health and the role of policy in addressing systemic challenges.

At the WHO, he worked in the Non-Communicable Diseases cluster, focusing on implementing research findings in developing countries. He witnessed the stark realities of healthcare access in poverty-stricken regions and how systemic inefficiencies affected millions. “Working at WHO expanded my perspective on what healthcare could be. It was no longer about individual patient care but about creating policies that could alleviate suffering on a much larger scale,” he said.

During his time in Geneva, Gaurav Sharma also joined the Geneva Intern’s Association board, where he advocated for interns from UN-affiliated organizations, reflecting his growing passion for leadership and advocacy. This experience reinforced his belief that healthcare professionals could influence not only medicine but broader social and political landscapes. Upon his return to New Zealand, Gaurav brought back these lessons, ready to channel his experiences into impactful change on home soil.

New Zealand MP | Global Indian

Politics and public service

Gaurav’s entry into politics was a natural extension of his work in healthcare policy. His family’s journey and the challenges they faced as immigrants in New Zealand had shaped his values, and he saw in the Labour Party a platform to advocate for those values. "The Labour Party’s commitment to social justice and opportunity aligned with what I wanted for New Zealand. It was about creating a fairer society for all Kiwis, regardless of their background," he said.

In 2017, he ran as the Labour candidate for the Hamilton West electorate. Although he didn’t win, he gained valuable experience and support within the community, which propelled him to run again in 2020. This time, he won, becoming the first MP of Indian origin to represent the electorate for Labour. His achievement resonated deeply within New Zealand's Indian community, as he symbolized the potential for immigrants to contribute to New Zealand’s political landscape. "Winning the election felt like a validation not only for me but for every migrant who has come here with dreams and aspirations," he reflected.

Once in Parliament, Gaurav Sharma served on the Health Select Committee, where he continued his advocacy for healthcare reform. He was passionate about addressing inequities within the system, pushing for more support for rural healthcare and improved mental health services. "Being in Parliament was a humbling experience. I wanted to use my voice to push for changes that would make healthcare more accessible and equitable," he explained. However, his journey in politics took an unexpected turn when he raised concerns about alleged bullying within Parliament. In a public op-ed, Gaurav alleged widespread bullying, claiming that some parliamentary practices undermined the well-being of MPs and staff alike.

Dr Gaurav Sharma | New Zealand MP | Global Indian

The turning point and moving forward

In August 2022, Gaurav’s accusations of bullying within Parliament sparked a significant controversy. He claimed that the Labour Party leadership had ignored his concerns, leading to a highly publicized fallout. Shortly after his allegations, he was expelled from the Labour Party caucus, a decision that led him to serve briefly as an independent MP before ultimately resigning from Parliament. Reflecting on the events, he shared, "I believed that it was essential to stand up for what I saw as an unjust system. It was a difficult decision, but I felt that silence would have been a disservice to my values."

Following his resignation, Gaurav founded the Momentum Party, an unregistered political entity aimed at representing centrist values. Though he contested the 2022 by-election for Hamilton West under this new party, he did not secure the seat. Despite the setback, Gaurav remains committed to his principles and continues to advocate for systemic change within New Zealand’s political and healthcare systems.

Looking back on his journey, Gaurav Sharma reflects on the highs and lows with a sense of pride and determination. "I’ve come a long way from that boy who arrived in New Zealand, unsure of what the future held. My journey has not been easy, but each challenge has strengthened my resolve to make a difference," he shared.

New Zealand MP | Global Indian

Dr. Gaurav Sharma’s journey is far from over. From his roots in the Himalayas to the halls of New Zealand’s Parliament, his life embodies resilience, courage, and a deep commitment to service. He continues to be a voice for those who, like him, believe in the power of change and the importance of standing up for one’s values.

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S.M. Krishna: The architect of Brand Bengaluru, who paved the way for India’s global IT success

(December 11, 2024) "What's the price of tur dal in Gulbarga," S.M. Krishna asked the district collector of Gulbarga, back in 1999 when he was the Chief Minister of Karnataka. That seemingly mundane question actually marked a new era in government administration. On December 1 1999, the Chief Minister had launched video-conference facilities in the state, bringing nine districts into its network. By working with the Indian Telephone Industries and the Department of Telecommunications, S.M. Krishna was able to speak to officials across the state through his computer. This was decades before words like 'e-governance' and 'digitization' had come into vogue, and even mobile phones were largely unheard of by the common man. During his five years as the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna put Bengaluru on the global map as an IT hub, transforming the 'Pensioner's Paradise' into the Silicon Valley of the east. From there, he went on to serve as External Affairs Minister under UPA 2, and in the span of one year, met 89 dignitaries from around the world. In 2010, he facilitated visits to India by the heads of state from all P-5 countries at the time - Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao,

Premier Wen Jiabao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British PM David Cameron. S.M. Krishna, an icon for Karnataka, the Global Indian who brought about the country's IT revolution and gave India a standing in global politics, passed away at his home in Bengaluru on December 10, 2024.

SM Krishna | Global Indian

Early Life and Education

Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna was born into an agrarian family on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli, a small village in Mandya district, Karnataka. Krishna’s formal education began in local schools in Mandya, where he quickly excelled in academics and earned himself admission to Maharaja’s College in Mysore, one of Karnataka’s premier institutions. Here, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, focusing on history and political science, and developed a keen interest in public service.

S.M. Krishna graduated from Maharaja's College, Mysore, and then came to Bengaluru to obtain a law degree from the Government Law College. From there, he moved to the US to study humanities at the Southern Methodit University Dallas, and then went to George Washington University as a Fulbright Scholar. He was politically active even as a student in the US.

In 1960, when Krishna was a 28-year-old student in the US, Democratic leader John F Kennedy was running for President. Krishna wrote to Kennedy, offering to campaign for him in areas dominated by Indian Americans. Kennedy went on to win the election, becoming one of the most popular presidents in US history, but did not forget the efforts of this proactive young law student from Mysore. He wrote to Krishna in a letter dated January 19, 1961, saying, "I hope that these few lines will convey my warm appreciation of your efforts during the campaign. I am most grateful for the splendid enthusiasm of my associates. I am only sorry I have not been able to personally thank you for the excellent work which you performed on behalf of the Democratic ticket."

With the fire for politics already ignited in him, S.M. Krishna returned to India and made his own entry into the political scene. Upon returning to India, Krishna brought with him not only a degree but also a renewed determination to contribute to Karnataka’s development. His early experiences laid the groundwork for his future leadership, combining a rural upbringing with global exposure.

[caption id="attachment_61499" align="aligncenter" width="400"] SM Krishna | Global Indian A young S.M. Krishna riding to the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Photo: The Hindu[/caption]

Political Career and Rise to Leadership

Krishna’s rise in politics began in 1962 when he was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly as a member of the Indian National Congress. Representing Mandya, Krishna focused on rural development and education, two areas close to his heart. His ability to connect with people and his commitment to development quickly earned him recognition within the party.

In 1971, Krishna was elected to the Lok Sabha, representing the Mandya constituency. During his time in Parliament, he was appointed Minister of State for Industry under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This role gave him firsthand experience in policymaking and industrial growth. Krishna’s tenure in Delhi deepened his understanding of the economic policies that could drive India’s modernization.

Returning to state politics in the 1980s, Krishna held several key portfolios, including Finance and Urban Development. He gained a reputation for being a reformist leader who prioritized results over rhetoric. His work in urban planning, particularly in Bengaluru, set the stage for his future leadership.

The CM who transformed Bengaluru

When S.M. Krishna took office as Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1999, the world was in the middle of the dot-com boom, which had begun in 1995. The internet, digital communication, and globalization were reshaping economies across the world, and investors and stock markets alike were bullish about tech startups in California, which included companies like Amazon. While India was just catching on to internet tech, the country had already seen significant economic reforms post the liberalisation of 1991, which opened up markets and positioned the country as a growing power in the global economy. What’s more, while Bengaluru showed great promise, Andhra Pradesh already had a headstart on the tech bandwagon.

“When I assumed office as CM, there was keen competition from Hyderabad under Chandrababu Naidu. He had made tremendous strides in taking technology to the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. I saw the developments we were making and the growth of the big IT companies, like Infosys and Wipro. So I said why should we not utilise their leadership and their innovative politics,” SM Krishna told The New Indian Express in an interview. Bengaluru had already shown promise as a global IT leader, with two of India’s most successful tech companies, Infosys and Wipro, headquartered here.

[caption id="attachment_61500" align="aligncenter" width="582"] S.M. Krishna | Global Indian | Bill Gates | Narayana Murthy S.M. Krishna with Micosoft founder Bill Gates and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy[/caption]

Yet, despite this early success, Bengaluru faced immense challenges in terms of infrastructure, traffic congestion, a nd urban planning. These issues posed a real threat to the city's ability to handle the rapid expansion of the IT sector. To address these issues, S.M. Krishna recognized the need for bold leadership and strategic reforms.

Krishna’s first call was to Narayana Murthy. "I approached Murthy of Infosys to be on the CM Commitee on IT-BT," he said. Murthy was more than happy to take up the offer, and wanted to give back to his hometown, Mysuru. After that, Krishna called the founder of Wipro, Azim Premji at his office in Sarjapur, and requested an appointment with him. "He asked where I was calling from and I said I am speaking from Vidhana Soudha. He asked me, “Have you seen the condition of the road in Sarjapur”, and explained I would take half a day to visit his office and come back. Then I asked the chief engineer, Public Works Department, to go to Sarjapur and see that the roads are all set right," Krishna recalled.

The rapid growth of the IT sector strained the city's roads, utilities, and urban planning. Krishna’s measures focused on improving connectivity through projects like the Outer Ring Road and flyovers, addressing traffic, and facilitating IT growth.

Krishna's approach was to bring the captains of the IT industry to the fore in the race to make Bengaluru a global tech hub. He founded the Bangalore Agenda Task Force and appointed Nandan Nilekani as its chairman. "We used to meet every six months. We set targets for Bangalore's growth, and there was accountability, and accountability became very pronounced."

[caption id="attachment_61496" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Former Bengaluru CM | Global Indian S.M. Krishna with his wife, daughter and son-in-law, VG Siddharth, the founder of Coffee Day[/caption]

For the first time in a long time, Karnataka had a political class that did not drag its feet over the smallest things, where accountability and growth were front and centre on the leadership agenda. His administration streamlined business processes, providing a conducive environment for IT companies while modernizing Bengaluru’s infrastructure, setting the stage for its future success. "That was how Bengaluru developed, and Chandrababu Naidu himself said Bangalore was the hub of IT-BT," Krishna said.

Legacy and Continuing Impact

By the time Krishna left office in 2004, Bengaluru had firmly established itself as India’s IT capital. The policies and projects initiated during his tenure laid the foundation for sustained economic growth, transforming the city into a global symbol of India’s technological prowess.

Krishna’s critics have pointed out that rapid urbanization brought challenges such as traffic congestion and uneven development. However, his supporters argue that these are inevitable byproducts of progress and that his vision for Bengaluru created opportunities that outweighed the drawbacks.

After serving as Chief Minister, SM Krishna continued his political journey as India’s External Affairs Minister from 2009 to 2012. In this role, he further championed India’s global engagement, strengthening the country’s ties with other nations. However, his contributions to Bengaluru remain his most enduring legacy.

[caption id="attachment_61501" align="aligncenter" width="783"] Former Bengaluru CM | Barack Obama | Hilary Clinton | Global Indian Photo: Creator: Pete Souza Official White House Photo / Wikimedia Commons[/caption]

After 46 years, S.M. Krishna left the Indian National Congress in 2017 after a long and distinguished career. His decision was driven by growing dissatisfaction with the Congress leadership, especially after the party's declining influence in Karnataka. Krishna expressed disappointment over the party’s internal dynamics and its inability to address the state's concerns effectively. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017, citing the BJP’s commitment to national development and his belief that the party would be better positioned to address Karnataka’s issues. His move was seen as a significant shift in Karnataka's political landscape.

'Visionary', 'statesman', the 'gentleman politician'—these descriptions became synonymous with S.M. Krishna during his lifetime. They will continue to remain a part of the legacy of the man who reshaped the history of Bengaluru, and India, on the world stage.

Sahar Mansoor: Leading India’s zero-waste revolution through social entrepreneurship

(September 18, 2024) When Sahar Mansoor began her zero-waste journey in 2015, she was keen to avoid single use plastic like the plague. This meant shopping from only package free grocery stores or replacing cold medication with hot ginger tea or trying everything to get rid of the plastic wrist band at concerts. It worked wonders as the waste individually generated by her in the next two-and-a-half years could easily fit into a 500ml glass jar. She isn't that stringent anymore but Sahar still lives a low-impact lifestyle which gave birth to her brand - Bare Necessities - in 2016, "whose crux lies in creating every day necessary products that are entirely zero waste." Having diverted 155,816 kg of waste from making into landfills, her innovative work gained recognition, with Bare Necessities being named one of the Top 5 Handcrafted in India Brands by Harper's Bazaar in 2017 and one of Vogue India's Top 10 Forces of Nature. [caption id="attachment_56144" align="aligncenter" width="527"] Sahar Mansoor, founder of Bare Necessities[/caption] "I wanted to create a company that mirrored the values of zero waste, ethical consumption and sustainability. I wanted to make it easy and accessible for other people looking to consume more

/09/Sahar-Book-cover.jpg" alt="Sahar Mansoor | Global Indian" width="527" height="703" /> Sahar Mansoor, founder of Bare Necessities[/caption]

"I wanted to create a company that mirrored the values of zero waste, ethical consumption and sustainability. I wanted to make it easy and accessible for other people looking to consume more mindfully and to encourage others to produce less waste. Thus, Bare Necessities was born," the social entrepreneur tells Global Indian. But becoming an entrepreneur was never on her mind, instead she wanted to create impact.

Dyslexia - Hard Childhood

Growing up with dyslexia, school was a challenging experience for Sahar. Her reading speed was "as slow as a tortoise," making it difficult to keep up. "I remember just about finishing reading the comprehension passage as a seven-year-old, when the teacher would say 'Time is up, pencils down!'" Despite the struggles, Sahar Mansoor found a huge supporter and cheerleader in her mother who was committed to helping her daughter succeed. "She would read chapters of my school books and record them on cassette tapes and when I would come back from school I would practise reading along with my mama's recorded voice," recalls Sahar, who is equally grateful to her sister Saba for accompanying her to the local library and helping her with reading. Back by the love and encouragement of a loving family, she overcame her challenges. "Once you train your mind to believe, everything else falls into place."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaoclow5BEc

Defying odds

But the world wasn't too kind to her, owing to her learning disabilities. "The first message I got from the world was that I wouldn't be an academic success in the traditional sense of the word." But she proved them wrong by getting accepted to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a partial scholarship. Her tryst with Environmental Planning at the university initiated this romance with sustainability leading her to the University of Cambridge for her master's in Environmental Policy. Calling it the most intellectually-stimulating year of her life, Sahar recalls it as an eclectic mix of research symposiums, late-nights study sessions and a vibrant social scene filled with "May Balls, lively nights at the bar watching the football world cup and the joy of returning to the warmth of Wolfson after rainy bike rides from classes."

Tryst with sustainability

At Cambridge, Sahar Mansoor developed a deep understanding of the health and environmental challenges posed by waste. This newfound knowledge opened doors for her at the World Health Organization, where she worked as a mobile health researcher. "It taught me that waste was an environmental issue. However, moving back home made me acknowledge that waste is a social justice issue as well," says Sahar, who returned to Bengaluru in 2015 to work with SELCO Foundation - a solar energy social enterprise.

During her time there, she worked closely with a community of waste pickers in West Bengal, spending hours shadowing them and witnessing their daily struggles. She was struck by the social justice issues tied to the waste problem. "Every day, thousands of waste pickers segregate broken glass, sanitary napkins and needles with their bare hands. I wanted to stop being part of the problem. My solution was to live a lifestyle that best reflects the values I cared about. I called myself an environmentalist and had studied the subjects, but I needed to live a life more congruent to my environmental and social justice values."

[caption id="attachment_56145" align="aligncenter" width="591"] Bare Necessities | Global Indian Bare Necessities products[/caption]

Growing up in Bengaluru, her love for nature blossomed during weekends spent at Cubbon Park with her dad and two sisters, where they would "climb trees and mostly falling off them." Family vacations meant road trips filled with swimming at the beach, jumping into waterfalls and savouring sunrises and sunsets. However, it was in 2012, during her third year of college, that Sahar's environmental consciousness deepened. In Professor Chris Chapple’s World Religions and Ecology class, she watched a video of Bea Johnson, an environmental activist known for her zero-waste lifestyle. "I was blown away by her lifestyle." This was a turning point in her environmental journey, igniting a passion to learn more. After taking up environmental planning as her second major, Sahar dove deeper into understanding the trash problem. "We don’t think of personal trash and attribute it to a larger global problem, we have no control over."

Zero-waste living

Inspired by Bea Johnson, Sahar Mansoor began her zero-waste journey in 2015, using blogs as her guide. "My grandmother became my ready reckoner. How did my grandma wash her hair before shampoo was sold in plastic bottles?' she explains, noting that many Indian traditions are rooted in ecological practices, now rebranded as 'zero-waste practices.' She describes the transition as gradual, from learning how to make her own soap to recognising that much of what we use is destined for landfills. Determined to make a change, Sahar shifted gears and ventured into entrepreneurship, founding Bare Necessities — a company dedicated to creating zero-waste everyday products. "In my zero-waste journey, I realised we lived in a world with landfill destined products. 4.7 billion toothbrushes land up in landfills every year, and take 200-700 years to start decomposing. So every toothbrush you and I have ever produced is sitting on our planet somewhere."

Sahar Mansoor | Global Indian

Calling it one of a kind, Sahar reveals that no other beauty company or home care company operates on zero-waste principles. "We take a cradle-to-cradle approach to every product, tackling the waste crisis by offering a holistic solution through everything we create and the services we provide." What began as a single-woman army with her solely manufacturing, packaging, distributing and marketing the products has now transformed into a brand which over 50+ stores across 10 states and a 20-member team. "You are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. Like a muscle, you can build it up, draw on it when you need it. In that process you will figure out who you really are—and you just might become the very best version of yourself.

Powerful impact

Over the past eight years, Bare Necessities has diverted 155,816 kg of waste from landfills and is on track to prevent 500 kg of plastic waste by 2025. "By creating zero waste alternatives to conventionally toxin formulated and plastic-free packaged personal care products, we are addressing the largest global garbage of our lifetime." Staying true to its sustainability ethos, the brand offers circular economy initiatives such as the Return Your Jars and Tins Program and Refill Program, encouraging customers to return used jars in exchange for gift cards or to bring their own containers for refills. "We sold a total of 241,805 products, which has saved 68,824,898 single use plastic units from either entering the landfills or into the environment, whether that is into land or waterways," she proudly shares.

Bare Necessities

The entrepreneur takes pride in leading a women-driven social enterprise, an idea rooted in her upbringing within an all-female household. After losing her father in a road accident at a young age, she watched her mother step into the role of the family's breadwinner. At the time, Sahar recalls, "The only jobs available to women were manual labour. My first thoughts were, 'What job would my mum get? Would she have to clean houses too?'" This experience planted the seeds for her desire to create meaningful and fulfilling career opportunities for local women.

It was while volunteering in Jamaica, Congo, and Guatemala that Sahar truly understood the power of women coming together. "These experiences inspired me to build a strong, women-led manufacturing team, largely composed of underserved women," she explains. This commitment to uplifting women has been a cornerstone of her enterprise, which champions not only sustainability but also social empowerment.

Though sustainability is often linked to high price tags, Sahar Mansoor believes that Gen Z is becoming more mindful and asking manufacturers the right questions. "'What’s in my products? The emerging conscious millennial population wants to align itself to certain causes by virtue of its consumption choices," she explains. Sahar adds that these consumers are increasingly choosing to support the local economy and are recognizing the value of long-term benefits over short-term gains. "They are making more thoughtful decisions, understanding the impact of their choices on the environment and society."

Accountability and future road

Over the years, Sahar has come to realise that the lack of awareness about the importance of waste segregation at home and responsible disposal has negatively impacted informal waste pickers, leaving them vulnerable to health issues. "Integrating them into a formal system with proper training and support is crucial," she emphasises. While Sahar sees zero-waste products as a key solution to the waste crisis, she is equally committed to raising awareness about sustainability and zero-waste living. Through talks and workshops, she actively advocates for more responsible waste management practices.

Bare Necessities | Global Indian

In the near future, Sahar envisions Bare Necessities as an interdisciplinary hub—a space where product designers can create with a cradle-to-cradle philosophy, and policy analysts collaborate with local governments to recommend waste management strategies and reduction policies. "A place for behaviour economics, ecologists, researchers and consumers alike to build the ecosystem towards a circular economy," she says, aiming to drive a holistic approach toward sustainable living and waste reduction.

Sahar has become a force to reckon with in the last few years, driven by the belief that people connect not only with her brand but also with her personal journey. "I think it’s important for me to candidly share my lessons, learnings, findings and failures along the way so that others don’t make the same mistakes that I did or still do!"

Follow Sahar Mansoor on LinkedIn and Bare Necessities on Instagram