Global IndianstoryA royal feast: Yuvrani Shraddha Bhonsle’s modern touch to Sawantwadi’s culinary heritage

A royal feast: Yuvrani Shraddha Bhonsle’s modern touch to Sawantwadi’s culinary heritage

Written by: Mallik Thatipalli

(March 10, 2024) The Japanese word ikigai is used to describe the very passion that gets you out of bed in the morning—your reason for being. One conversation with Yuvrani Shraddha Lakham Sawant Bhonsle and her ikigai is unmissable. Spending 15-day workdays on things she is passionate about—cooking, reviving handicrafts, and living her life to the full—this 32-year-old royal is all about giving her best every single day.

Shraddha Bhonsle | Global Indian

Married into the royal family of Sawantwadi that has been ruled by Sawant Bhonsles since 1627, life has taken a huge turn for the Mumbai girl, who, in a real-life fairytale, has seen her transform post-her wedding to Lakham Bhonsle of the Savantwadi clan. Today, she is the chef and owner of the Sawantwadi Palace Boutique Art Hotel and the Managing Director of Shri Sawantwadi Lacquerwares, which oversees the handicraft business.

Energetic, passionate, and realistic, the young scion is all about creating a difference. Be it her unique cuisine that marries traditional Sawantwadi styles and dishes with international recipes or her hands-on approach to running the hotel, she is an exemplary example of modern-day royalty working hard to ensure that the legacy of the past is safeguarded for the future.

Chasing her dreams

Growing up in a large Gujarati joint family, Shraddha remembers her childhood with fondness. She recalls, “I grew up surrounded by friends and family; it was a very regular childhood from the 90s.” One person who had a lasting impact on the young girl was the principal of her school, Walsingham House, Mrs. Bindu Mittal, a legendary educator who inspired her to follow her dreams.

Shraddha Bhonsle | Global Indian

Shraddha pursued a business management course, but an instantaneous decision changed her life forever. The Global Indian explains, “It was a spontaneous decision, but something that changed my life. I always wanted to start a restaurant of my own, so I applied for the position of assistant stewardess at the Oberoi Mumbai, and that started my culinary journey.”

She went on to work at the popular Indigo Delicatessen restaurant in Mumbai, where, while she worked to the bone, she picked up the rudiments of running a kitchen. Be it 16-hour shifts, peeling potatoes by the ton, or washing endless vegetables, she did it all. “It was there that I realised that the kitchen is everything to me. A desk job was not something I was suited for, and the kitchen, temperamental as it is, is my home,” she states with a laugh.

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The next step on her journey was studying at the Culinary Institute of America in New York for a 22-month course, where she also met her future husband. As a part of her course, she worked at the Michelin-starred restaurant Oceana, which she calls a life-changing experience.

“Though I was dangerously dehydrated while working there, I picked up both knife skills and life skills there,” she jests and adds, “I understood how an act as simple as picking basil or coriander leaves can add to a dish. The discipline and cleanliness as well as the rigor and passion of running a kitchen I picked up there taught me a lot.”

ALSO READ | Princess Vaishnavi of Kishangarh is working on reviving the lost art

While she returned to India in 2016 to be closer to her family, she went back to the US a year later to be a certified sommelier before getting married in 2019 and moving to Savantwadi.

Princesses diaries

Just an hour’s drive away from Goa, situated in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, on the Goa-Maharashtra border, Sawantwadi is a picturesque town famous for its sleepy forests, kokum, wooden toys, and delicious Konkan cuisine. Moving back and starting a restaurant was at the top of both Shraddha’s and Lakham’s agenda, and the heritage property seemed like the perfect setting for the young couple to start their dreams.

As the chef of the hotel and someone keen on innovation, she brings a unique flair to everything she creates. One dish that perfectly illustrates her culinary journey of bringing the best of the East and West is Sawantwadi Po’Boy.

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She explains, “Po’Boy is a sandwich that originated in the US, so there is American influence (because of my education in the CIA) in terms of the classic French roll bread and a remoulade sauce. There is Asian influence (because of my love for Asian food) in the sandwich in terms of Vietnamese pickles and herbs and a spicy sriracha sauce, and there is Sawantwadi influence in terms of thetcha butter, rava-crusted prawns, and a solkadhi (sauce)”

Along with traditional Maharashtrian heartthrobs like aamti or thatlipeeth, she whips up eclectic dishes like the Sawantwadi Special Eggs Benedict (that pairs House-baked croissant buns with coconut chili chutney and a dry curry leaf chutney) and others using regional produce like cashew and kokum generously championing hyperlocal cuisine.

Yuvraj Lakham Bhonsle Raje and Yuvrani Shraddha Bhonsle

One area in which the restaurant distinguishes itself is when Shraddha serves Japanese and Korean dishes for dinner. A huge Ramen fan, she makes her own noodles and says, “I love these cuisines as they are very palatable to Indians. They are slow-cooked and are served with local ingredients. I want people to leave thinking they have never tasted food like what we make.”

That is something she is succeeding at, given that the Palace is slowly but surely gaining favor with gourmands, food aficionados, and new-age Indian travelers who go for experience as much as for sightseeing.

ALSO READ | A Begum from the Asaf Jahi dynasty is on a ‘royal’ mission

Given Shraddha’s extrovert nature, was it easy for her to adjust herself to the pace of a small village after the hectic life in Mumbai? She smiles. “It took me a while, of course, but now I have my work and my friends in Goa (which is an hour’s drive) apart from my family.”

Culinary royalty

Working with her husband (who is a baker and a pastry chef), the duo has simple ground rules. While he takes care of the finances, she is in charge of management, and when it comes to their first love, food, they agree to disagree. She shares, “We are friends first and foremost, so we decided that the cold kitchen is his territory while the hot kitchen is mine. While we do confer with each other on the dishes and respect each other’s decisions, we ensure that we never interfere with each other.”

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The future is all charted out for the enterprising entrepreneur: to extend the number of suites in the hotel from six to ten, to convert the family’s erstwhile summer palace (in Amboli, which is a half hour’s drive from the palace) to an eco-resort, and to expand her kitchen garden.

Given her penchant for ikigai, one can see Yuvrani Shraddha Lakham Sawant Bhonsle achieving all this in no time!

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Published on 10, Mar 2024

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Shauraya Bhutani: The VC entrepreneur driving tech investment across SE Asia and India

(November 24, 2023) Shauraya Bhutani functions at the nerve centre of tech investment and advisory across two of the world’s largest growth markets, SE Asia and India. The co-founder of Capital Connect Advisors, Bhutani, who is based out of Singapore and India, advises growth-stage companies (Series B+) in SE Asia and India on M&A and private placements and invests in early-stage companies in India. Named to Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list in 2023, Bhutani has played a key role in over 20 capital raising and M&A transactions. In 2021, he contributed to the trade sale of Bizzy Digital to Warung Pintar in Indonesia, and one year prior, was part of Fabelio’s $10 million Series C fundraise. In 2019, he was involved in the strategic 2019 merger between Vimo and mPos, leading to the establishment of Vietnam’s NExtPay. The twenty-eight year old, who is based out of Singapore, has been identified as one of the top 50 emerging thought leaders in the tech startup ecosystem of Southeast Asia by e27. His contributions have been featured in leading publications such as Business Times, e27, YourStory, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Financial Express, Inc42, and TechInAsia. Notably, Bhutani authored Southeast Asia’s first YC-style fundraising

een featured in leading publications such as Business Times, e27, YourStory, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Financial Express, Inc42, and TechInAsia. Notably, Bhutani authored Southeast Asia’s first YC-style fundraising playbook for founders, a co-publication with e27, garnering attention in the Masters of Cashflow Podcast.

Early days

Bhutani comes from an ‘out-and-out Delhi upbringing’, spending his formative years studying at Modern School in South Delhi till he was 18 years old. “I got by well in school in terms of academics, but the real learning for me was always outside – seeing my parents build their businesses, the interactions I had with my friends, and all that that comes with growing up in Delhi,” he recollects. Having watched his parents work hard to build their own businesses, he understood early on that while it was tough, it was also greatly rewarding. “Quite early on, when I was 15 or 16 years old, I was fascinated by the finance world – the lifestyles of the people working in investment banking, the work they did, and the influence they wielded,” he explains.

Career strategy

Heading abroad to Singapore Management University for his undergraduate degree became a defining experience for Bhutani. The university offered a career-oriented curriculum and Bhutani made the most of it, seeking internships to get real world exposure. He interned at KPMG India as a forensic analyst and then at BNP Paribas India, getting his first feel of office culture. “My most impactful internship was at a boutique investment firm, Asia Green Capital in Singapore, where I learnt from the best in the business,” he tells Global Indian. He learned how to pay attention to detail, draw rough conclusions and act on them and how to conduct himself in meetings. He stayed there for a year and a half before joining a boutique investment bank, North Ridge Partners, where he joined as an analyst in the team and leaving as a director five years later. This was where he established his career as an investment banker, learnt the ropes of tech investment and funding, and built goodwill among a high-value network across Singapore and SE Asia. At the end of his stint with North Ridge, he took the leap into entrepreneurship, setting up his own boutique investment firm, Capital Connect Advisors, along with some ex-colleagues. Cap Connect is now one of the most active boutique investment banks in the technology sector across SE Asia and India.

Shauraya Bhutani | Global Indian

Venturing ahead

In 2022, he teamed up with longtime associates to create Breathe Capital, a micro-venture capital firm supporting promising entrepreneurs in India. The ventures he's involved with, Cap Connect and Breathe Cap, “are a synthesis of my formative years growing up in Delhi, my time at University and of course my investment banking career in Singapore,” Bhutani says. These are still early days for Breathe Capital, and Bhutani divides his time between building he business and operations, While still early in the journey with Breathe Capital, he dedicates time to various aspects, from evaluating investment pitches and assisting portfolio founders to refining strategies based on market trends, managing investor relations, and dealing with regulators.

Technology is at the epicentre of his business – they they leverage tools like DealCloud for CRM to handle investor, startup, and stakeholder data, Asana for project management and Eillia AI for repetitive tasks like research queries. As a young founder in financial services, he faces unique challenges, given the dominance of older CEOs with decades of experience. Despite grappling with "imposter syndrome," he focuses on delivering outcomes and transparently showcasing the value he brings, fostering trust among the founders he works with. “It has been an uphill battle for me,” he admits, in “trying to establish my own arena and my own track record.” The key is building trust amongst his founders, “really the only people who matter.” This he does by remaining outcome-focused and upfront in terms of value proposition.

Shauraya Bhutani | Global Indian

Striking a balance

Quiz him on how he maintains work-life balance, he admits that this is something that is always at odds with each other. “For me work life balance is a false choice. I don’t see how one cannot call work where you spend at least eight hours every day or 50% of your waking hours not life.” Bhutani’s way around this is to find the one thing that does not feel like “work,” which fuels an overarching purpose. “If you are unable to do that still, don’t worry too much about this early on in your career. Rather focus on building something sustainable so that, later, you can spend time as you like.” Personally, he enjoys any time he can get with his family and friends, play a bit of sports, and take short vacations now and then.

Lessons learnt

Having worked for a while, Bhutani says that the single most important insight he has for a young person is always optimise for the upside rather than the downside. “As young people, we are presented with so-called ‘safer options’, which are paths with a limited upside and are typically mind numbing.” While this can alleviate one’s immediate fears, it might not be mentally engaging or purpose-driven. And over time, this begins to tell. “Your personal development will stagnate and there is nothing more tragic than that. Always remember there is always a downside whether you see it or not or, rather, whether they show it to you or not,” he avers. Looking ahead he wants to build an organisation that can serve founders at scale, who are in turn building solutions for the 2.1 billion people across India and SE Asia.

Follow Shauraya Bhutani on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 min

Gopi Byluppalla: Uniting people through food at The Culinary Lounge

(May 24, 2024) “I only know four things: people, books, food, and movies,” smiles Gopi Byluppala, a Hyderabad-based entrepreneur whose work revolves around all things food, traditional meals, and recipes, as well as culinary conversations. The 40-year-old, who has founded Hyderabad's experimental Culinary Lounge, is also working with the government of the Netherlands to find areas of synergy between Hyderabad and Amsterdam, as he believes that food is the only bridge that can connect people from diverse walks of life. As he pours Nannari sherbet into a glass (earlier found only in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh and something this writer cherished in childhood summers spent in Hindupur), he says that food is the very essence of our being. [caption id="attachment_51909" align="aligncenter" width="455"] Gopi Byluppala, founder, The Culinary Lounge[/caption] “Each time I invite people for a meal and they try some long-forgotten recipes or dishes that are no longer made, it transports them to their happiest memories—many say that the food reminds them of their mothers or grandmothers. Or they share their own recollections. Look at our conversation, I mentioned Nannari, and you said you always had it with milk, which was a revelation as I knew it only to

mothers or grandmothers. Or they share their own recollections. Look at our conversation, I mentioned Nannari, and you said you always had it with milk, which was a revelation as I knew it only to be served with soda. Food is the ultimate uniting force,” he tells Global Indian.

Sensory recollections

Growing up in a joint family in Kakinada, where the kitchen was bigger than the living room, Gopi recalls spending a lot of time around food. He reminisces, “My mother was always in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, lunch, snacks, and then dinner, so I used to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to be close to her.”

It was this early exposure that had a great effect on the young Gopi, who wanted to become a chef as early as when he was eight-years-old and loved whipping up his favorite dish (maggi). Fate (and his father), however, had different plans, and he ended up studying engineering at the University of Madras and working at Oracle for a decade.

It was in 2014, when he was shuttling between Hyderabad and Philadelphia (where his wife Swathi worked), that he decided to indulge in his love for food. “After living the corporate life for a decade, I understood that my heart did not lie in it and wanted to pursue a career among my passions,” he shares.

Gopi Byluppala | Global Indian

Turning passion into profession

Combining two of his loves—food and people—the entrepreneur started his first start-up in 2014, Feazt, a unique platform where strangers were invited for a home-cooked meal to bond over food. His first pop-up was called Coconada Meal (the British name for Kakinada), where he served food made by his mother.

“It was an event like no other,” Gopi smiles as he recalls and adds, “I remember my mother wondering if people would pay Rs 500 for a home-cooked meal, but I was sure that there would be an audience. My mother was ecstatic when a young girl hugged her after tasting her Royyala koora (prawn curry) and said that it was so different from what one found at restaurants.”

The concept was a big hit and had only one rule – people should come alone and no guests should know one other – as the idea was to meet like-minded people and not hang out with your existing friends. Another initiative that was unique was Handi Talks (similar to Ted Talks) but focused on food, where entrepreneurs, bakers, chefs, and restaurant owners came together, creating an eco-system of people passionate about food and also sharing knowledge and insights with a close-knit audience.

People and food

In a quest to bring the idea of connecting people and food together, the entrepreneur started Culinary Lounge in 2018. It is an eclectic idea where food takes center stage—where chefs can host pop-ups for specific foods, where people could learn cooking, and where corporates can bring teams for interactive sessions. In fact, the center has played host to many top companies, including Deloitte, PepsiCo, and Google, among others, where leaders can reconnect with their teams over a host of activities, from cooking together to sessions on food histories.

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Apart from companies, Culinary Longue has also played host to delegations from Korea, Japan, Thailand, and the Netherlands, where chefs explore and experiment with Indian food. It has also seen book launches and gatherings by gourmands.

It was through one such delegation from the Netherlands, which prompted his move to Amsterdam in 2022, where he is working extensively on building a culinary corridor to Hyderabad.

He states, “Amsterdam has a rich profusion of Michelin-starred restaurants, world-class bartenders, and some of the best breweries in the world. Hyderabad has a great nightlife scene, and I see a great opportunity for cross-pollination, where Hyderabadis can experience the best of nightlife from abroad and Amsterdam gets a taste of local Hyderabadi favorites like Biryani, Paya, Marag, Gongura, and Pachi Pulusu.”

Is food the ultimate soft power – absolutely says Gopi and adds, “Food is the greatest ice-breaker and tailor made for culinary diplomacy. A great example is the Thai government, which, under the Thai Select Program, started over 100,000 restaurants in the US, resulting in an explosion of interest for Thailand in the US/ Look at how K-Pop, Ramen, and K-drama resulted in a boom in Korea’s tourism!”

A mammoth undertaking

Currently shuttling between Hyderabad and Amsterdam, Gopi is also busy with his current initiative, Onamalu (which translates to fundamentals in Telugu), which aims to document the history of Telugu food from the year 1750 onwards. With the help of a team of chefs, historians, and enthusiasts who will travel the length and breadth of Telugu states—from Telangana to coastal Andhra and Rayalseema to tribal food—it aims to document the lore and legacy of Telugu food.

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Quiz about his continuing obsession with food, and he simply smiles, adding, “In a world full of differences, food can be the unifying factor. We Indians are so fond of Italian and Korean food that I want to ensure that my rich Telugu cuisine is also one day as popular as theirs across the world. Good food can bring us together.”

It is this belief that drives Gopi and gives him strength when he travels away from his young children (Veeksha, 7; Nikshit, 4). Building a community and introducing traditional food to younger generations moving away from it—this entrepreneur is all about creating a better world where we stay in touch with our roots and, of course, share stories over a meal.

Follow The Culinary Lounge on Instagram.

In the footsteps of Guru Nanak, turban traveller Amarjeet Singh, 61, drove 40,000 km across 6 countries

(April 28, 2022) Age is just a number - the adage perfectly fits this “61-year-young” retired garment exporter Amarjeet Singh Chawla who travelled from Delhi to London by car at an age when most hang up their boots. The passion to travel the world in his gaadi took him on a journey across 33 countries, and earned him the moniker of the Turban Traveller. “It was a life-changing journey. Everyone has dreams, but not many fulfill them as they don’t have the keeda (urge). I knew I had to do it, and it changed my perspective on life. Such journeys change you within, and what is life without growth,” Amarjeet tells Global Indian. As a youngster, he wanted to go backpacking around the world. Yet the 70s were different. So, he put his dream on the back burner, for when he retired. At 59, he decided to take a journey that not many take – he drove 40,000 km across the world. “I think 45 is an apt age for retirement. You are healthy enough to travel. I retired late at 58. But being on your own, interacting with the locals, and chasing your dreams at that age. It is

avel. I retired late at 58. But being on your own, interacting with the locals, and chasing your dreams at that age. It is worth the wait,” adds Amarjeet who has been on several spiritual journeys in the past few years spreading the message of Guru Nanak Dev and Sikhism.

[caption id="attachment_23799" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Turban traveller | Amarjeet Singh Amarjeet Singh[/caption]

A chance meeting changed it all

Born in 1959 in Kanpur to a businessman father, and homemaker mother, the Delhi-based Amarjeet was raised by his maternal grandfather. Passionate about cars since childhood, he loved bribing his driver with his meagre pocket money to let him drive at just nine. “I had my first accident at 13,” laughs Amarjeet whose love for adventure saw him hop on his Royal Enfield to the mountains. A chance encounter with a couple from Holland changed his perspective. “In 1979, I met a couple who was backpacking across the world and were in Faridabad. Their adventurous journey triggered something. So, with my best friend, I decided to travel the world on a bike. But bauji (grandfather) nipped my dream in the bud saying, “Puri zindagi hai dream pure karne ke liye. Abhi kaam karo (you have your whole life to accomplish your dream, now it’s the time to work),” reminisces Amarjeet who listened yet the dream was alive in his heart.

“Life went on. I got married in 1981 and started a family. I travelled the world, did cross country in rented cars, yet that dream to travel the world kept nagging at me,” says Amarjeet.

Turban traveller | Amarjeet Singh

Chasing his dream at 59

After retiring from his garment business in 2018, Amarjeet resolved, “I had this paagalpan (madness) to fulfill my dream. I think one should try to do everything they couldn’t, and tick their bucket lists,” adds Amarjeet. Jumping into his Toyota Fortuner, four months of preparation later - visas, permits and permissions, he was ready to rev on a journey of a lifetime. “I make short films, and decided to make a web series, and explore the route from Patiala to Paris. I knew this was the best opportunity to fulfill my dream,” says Amarjeet, who obtained seven visas from India. “It’s better to plan from India as getting permissions and visas is a tedious job,” adds the turban traveller.

In July 2018, he kickstarted his journey from Delhi and moved through Nepal, China, and Uzbekistan to Russia, Poland, Estonia to Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and France to reach London in January 2019 which cost him between ₹35-₹40 lakh. “Those 145 days on the road changed me. Travelling by road throws you out of your comfort zone, and that’s when growth happens,” says Amarjeet who befriended many, stayed with locals, and shared meals.

Yet, the reunion with the couple from Holland tops his memories. He had tried contacting Judia on social media – and found her in the Netherlands, “It was such a surreal experience and so emotional,” says Amarjeet who thrilled to meet his inspiration 40 years later.

His turban and his car with personal messages scribbled all over purred across Europe and Asia. Onlookers were undoubtedly curious. Infact, leaving Delhi, his father scribbled his blessing on the car. Slowly, others scribbled in, and today, it’s an art and blessing cornucopia on wheels. Overwhelmed with the love, he believes he carried those well wishes on the journey as well. “Europeans care about dreams, so they were mesmerised,” adds the Sardar who wryly admits that his turban and car grabbed eyeballs. “My colourful outfit and turban invited many inquisitive souls,” says the turbaned traveller who met Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Budapest.

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From adventure to spiritual

His spiritual journey is inspired by Guru Nanak Dev’s four udasis (travels). “Guruji travelled by foot for 28 years, we just did the same journey by car. It coincided with his 550th birth anniversary, and I wanted to pay him a tribute. I travelled 44,000 km across 29 states including six countries - Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in his footsteps,” says Amarjeet who has stacked 245 episodes that were telecast on a Punjabi TV channel, adding, “It was a symbolic journey to spread the message of brotherhood, equality, peace, and love.” On song, he took two more spiritual journeys across India with his wife Sweety. “I realised that jeene ke liye sirf roti and chhat chahiye (to live, one only needs food and shelter). Rest is luxury,” smiles the travelling Sikh. When a German reporter asked, “a world tour? Yet, had I seen India?” So, the turban traveller decided to go desi too. Originated in the 15th century, Sikhism preaches devotion, truthful living and equality of mankind. And Amarjeet is keen to spread this across as much as possible through his journeys.

[caption id="attachment_23800" align="aligncenter" width="703"] Turban traveller | Amarjeet Singh Amarjeet Singh with his wife Sweety[/caption]

“Every journey is a life lesson, and learning,” says the turban traveller who is in the US to buy a caravan for his upcoming big trip - Patiala to Paris in 2023.

An inspiration to any dreamer, “Junoon (obsession) is what keeps a dream alive. Nothing is impossible. The water doesn't boil at 99°C, it needs that 1°C. 99 percent is 100 percent failure. So go for that 1 percent,” advises Amarjeet the travelling Sikh who declares, “go chase your dreams. The world awaits.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5jHYrrkipc

Vroom across the globe:

1. Get visas in advance from India, it saves time and helps at borders.

2. An international driving license is a must. Get it by submitting passport, visa and a form at the Regional Transport Office (valid for a year).

3. Rented or borrowed cars require a letter from the owner.

4. International car insurance is a must. While you cannot apply from India, it can be done at a country’s border.

5. Carry tents to save on lodging.

Follow Amarjeet Singh Chawla on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Reading Time: 6 min

The thrill of jumps, an adrenaline rush, and a sport unlike others: BMX racing in Hyderabad is beginning to come of age

(September 12, 2021) After Steven Spielberg's parents divorced, he became friends with an imaginary character and used to engage in a conversation with this friend. Little did he know that this imaginary friend would one day inspire him to make a movie and that's how E.T The Extra-Terrestrial, the sci-fi movie was made and went on to become one of the highest grossing movies of all times. The plot revolves around a boy who befriends an extraterrestrial stranded on earth. The scene that would remain etched in the minds of audiences is a chase scene towards the end of the movie where ET is put in a basket with a cover over it and three of the boys' friends trying to run away from the police on their bicycles. That sequence inspired kids and adults world over to ride the bicycle popularly called the BMX (Bicycle Motocross bikes). [caption id="attachment_10018" align="aligncenter" width="484"] BMX Racing is popular in Hyderabad ((Image Courtesy: Vaqaas Mansuri)[/caption] What began in California as an imitation of motocross riders, but on bicycles, soon made its way to the Netherlands when Gerrit Does, a Dutch motocross trainer, introduced BMX in Holland after his visit to the US in

aas Mansuri)[/caption]

What began in California as an imitation of motocross riders, but on bicycles, soon made its way to the Netherlands when Gerrit Does, a Dutch motocross trainer, introduced BMX in Holland after his visit to the US in 1974. Three decades later, in 2008, BMX racing became an Olympic sport. In 2016, BMX freestyle gained a level of legitimacy when it came under the umbrella of the worldwide governing body for all cycling, the Union Cycliste International (UCI) France.

[caption id="attachment_9952" align="aligncenter" width="553"] BMX Racing Red Bull Pump Track Championship 2019 (Image Courtesy: Vaqaas Mansuri)[/caption]

(Image Courtesy: Vaqaas Mansuri)

Circa 1980s, one could see few folks BMXing on the stairs of Mount Mary Church at Bandra, Mumbai. That was also the time when International BMX Federation was formed in 1981. Credit for starting the scene goes to Rahul Mulani who began BMXing, organized BMX jams and went on to set-up India's first BMX store. Not many may know that BMX is one of the oldest cycle sports in India but followed and practiced by very few. Expensive bikes, no proper safety gears or tracks to practice at, the BMXing has been on a slow growth among the cricket-hoot Indian masses.

However, the sport slowly made its way from an unknown urban activity to become an everyday recreational sport in cities like Pune, North Eastern India, Chandigarh and Hyderabad. Though still nascent, the BMX scene in India has its bright spots.

[caption id="attachment_10011" align="aligncenter" width="539"] BMX Racing BMX racer at Red Bull Championship 2019 (Image Courtesy: Vaqaas Mansuri)[/caption]

Avid BMX rider, Hamza Khan brought the sport to Hyderabad when he established India's first ever and only asphalt pump track, The WallRide Park, heralding the birth of the sport in the city. Hamza roped in global pioneers and pump track specialists Velosolutions Switzerland to build the track on his family-owned land in Peeran Cheruvu on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The track has a series of twists, turns and jumps and in the past few years has become a hangout for those seeking an adrenaline rush while also providing a great practice and training ground for a number of talented riders.

[caption id="attachment_9953" align="aligncenter" width="505"] BMX Racing BMX racer oiling his bike (Image Courtesy: Vaqaas Mansuri)[/caption]

Within two years of its opening, the track gained recognition from Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and became a stop for the Red Bull Pump Track Championship in 2019 hosting the Indian qualifier featuring riders from the country and overseas for a ticket to the finals that would be held in Switzerland. WallRide has become a place of escape for more than just the thrill-seekers. Hamza says, "The place has become more diverse with not just kids and youngsters but even adults coming to have a great time. It's fantastic to see participation in BMX continuing to grow."

However, just as things had begun to look up for the sport, COVID-19 struck and virtually every aspect of the pump track operations were completely shut down. For a niche sport such as this, bouncing back is time consuming with drain of financial resources; more so since it is self-funded with no external help either from any sporting association or the Government. However, once the unlock began, things began to improve: being an individual sport, all it needed were a few operational adjustments for the path to be cleared for training and also to safely host events. Hamza is optimistic of seeing more participation in this sport and has curated a championship exclusive to India called RevJam (Revolutionary Jam).

[caption id="attachment_9954" align="aligncenter" width="603"] BMX racer on pump track (Image Courtesy: Vaqaas Mansuri)[/caption]

A few among the riders who train at his track are aspiring to aim for the pinnacle of all sporting events - the Olympics. Hamza adds, "Our plans are aimed at producing riders of international repute in the future and also encouraging a sustainable growth of BMX.”

Although the future of BMX in India isn't certain like many other sports in the roster, but the fact remains that from its humble beginnings it has come quite far in the past 30-40 years. And until it gains prominence there’s no sitting on the bench in this individualized sport.

[caption id="attachment_10013" align="aligncenter" width="461"] Rahul Mulani BMX racing in Hyderabad (Image Courtesy: Vaqaas Mansuri)[/caption]

Dhroov Rajpal, is one of the country's best BMXers who also builds skate parks. He feels the number of BMXers in the country is growing and they have a huge following on social media. He has built 8 skate parks in India and has a few more to come which can facilitate more newcomers to take up the sport. Dhroov himself is the BMX winner at the India Extreme Nationals conducted by Xtreme Sports Association of India – a body with official recognition formed for the purpose of developing and promoting extreme sports in India and affiliated to Asian Extreme Federation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw0XPwvuFKg

India’s BMX veteran and owner of the first BMX store, Rahul Mulani, hopes this sport gets a huge fillip as he doesn't see much happening at a desired pace in the sport. On the future of this sport he says, “As a country, we are not open to accepting some sports because of our upbringing or preference for racket/stick sports. We like to play safe. Further the sport has not caught on because of lack of infrastructure and acceptance of this genre. Anyone wishing to pursue BMX racing will have to do it pretty much on their own with no support from any sporting association. I see this sport taking some concrete shape decades from now."

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Scholar Dr. Shivayogi Bhusnurmath is committed to training the next gen pathologist

(April 3, 2024) While he was doing his residency, Dr. Shivayogi Bhusnurmath experienced the most amusing incident of his career, when a goat made a daring escape from the animal research facility at his institution. "The goat took me for a merry-go-round all over campus. I was exhausted, sweaty, and cursing my luck," shared the scholar laughing, "After nearly two hours, the goat got tired and I managed to catch it. It was an unforgettable part of my training!” He might have had a bumpy start, but this Bangalore Medical College alumnus was recently named the Dean of Basic Sciences at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS), New York. "I will aim to enhance the New York-based university's commitment to delivering high-quality medical education, training upcoming physicians to deliver compassionate healthcare, and fostering the ongoing advancement and expansion of UMHS," said the scholar. Dr. Bhusnurmath boasts a forty-year tenure crafting curricula at esteemed medical institutions, enriched with a profound reservoir of medical expertise, clinical proficiency, and academic stewardship. Educated at the renowned Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, in India, the scholar acquired Fellowship credentials from the esteemed Royal College of Pathologists in London. Across his

ic stewardship. Educated at the renowned Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, in India, the scholar acquired Fellowship credentials from the esteemed Royal College of Pathologists in London. Across his illustrious journey, he has been dedicated to medical pedagogy, clinical excellence, and scholarly inquiry, disseminating pathology knowledge to medical students and postgraduate residents across a spectrum of nations including India, the United Kingdom, the Sultanate of Oman, Sudan, Japan, Canada, and Grenada.

Accidental doctor

Born and brought up in the beautiful city of Bengaluru, Dr. Bhusnurmath trained in medicine at Bangalore Medical College. Interestingly, the scholar chose to study medicine as he didn't want to be alone at IIT. "I did medicine during the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time in India, the only “reasonable” options for high-performing students were engineering and medicine – and parental pressure played a major role in career decisions. Because of my academic successes, I had the option of direct admission to either medical school or the Indian Institute of Technology. I opted for medicine because that’s what my friends chose, and I wanted to stay with them. At the time, I was too young to consider the broader ramifications of my choice," shared the scholar.

[caption id="attachment_50468" align="aligncenter" width="554"] Scholar | Dr Shivayogi Bhusnurmath | Global Indian Dr. Shivayogi Bhusnurmath receiving the “Excellence in International Pathology Education Award” from Group for Research in Pathology Education (GRIPE)[/caption]

In my second year of medical school, the scholar found himself bored with the course. However, it was this boredom that led Dr. Bhusnurmath to his calling. "I was tired after 18 months of anatomy study; the faculty seemed more interested in torturing than inspiring us," shared the scholar, adding, "Then I read The Final Diagnosis, by Arthur Hailey – and it was a major turning point in my life. The book’s central character was a chief of pathology and I was impressed by the role he played in critical decisions. A young nurse’s limb amputation due to suspected osteosarcoma; an epidemic of enteric fever; the autopsy that revealed unexpected incidental tuberculosis and prompted the screening of an entire family… These examples are still etched in my mind after five decades. In those days, many clinical questions ended with “maybe, maybe not” – so my drive to eliminate medical uncertainties made pathology a natural choice."

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Inside the lab

After he finished his internship, the scholar wanted to pursue a pathology postgraduate programme. At the time, candidates had to do one year as a house surgeon in medicine and surgery first, "I was fortunate to have Krishna Bhargava as hospital director. He created a new position at Bangalore’s Victoria Hospital – house surgeon in pathology – and I was the first inductee," the Global Indian shared.

[caption id="attachment_50469" align="aligncenter" width="557"] Scholar | Dr Shivayogi Bhusnurmath | Global Indian Drs. Bharti Bhusnurmath (left) and Shivayogi Bhusnurmath[/caption]

Eventually, the scholar worked in many developing nations, helping countries overcome epidemics. One incident took place in Zaria, Nigeria, where he was working as a lecturer-consultant at Ahmadu Bello University between 1982 and 1985. “The HIV/AIDS epidemic was just beginning, and we knew nothing about it – but I remember while introducing fine needle aspiration cytology, experiencing accidental needlestick wounds and living in fear for many years because there were no diagnostic tests and no treatments available. Fortunately, I escaped the infection.” From Nigeria, he went to the UK, Japan, Canada, and Oman in the 1990s. “My final move (so far) was in 1996 when I arrived at St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies."

Moving to academics

In 1996, the scholar assumed the role of Dean of Academic Affairs at St. George University School of Medicine. However, this position failed to captivate him. Hoping to empower upcoming pathologists with a top-tier education, Dr. Bhusnurmath and his wife established their own academy. "For the past 25 years, the bulk of my work has involved teaching medical students. With my wife, Bharti Bhusnurmath I created a unique programme called the International Clinical Tutor Teaching Fellowship Programme.” The programme started with four medical graduates who lived locally, but they now recruit recent medical graduates from across the globe to help them run small groups in their teaching lab. The course is taught twice a year – involving over 900 students each time – and students come from over 130 countries to join. “We are lucky to have them; although my wife and I could handle lectures for a class of any size, we need high-quality preceptors when we split the class into groups of eight to 10 students for applied clinical learning in the laboratory sessions," he shared.

However, the pathologist could hardly keep himself away from the lab. "I still process 60 to 80 patient samples per day – mainly in clinical chemistry and hematology, but we also perform fine needle aspiration cytology and sign out surgical biopsies,” Dr Bhusnurmath says. “The cases I see here in Grenada are different from those common in India. Here, I see a lot of sickle cell disease, diabetes, hypertension, human T-lymphotropic virus-related lymph node pathology, prostate and breast carcinoma, dengue, thyroid problems, and seasonal flu," he said.

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The scholar has published more than 130 papers that have been cited over 1400 times. "I am also on the editorial board and a reviewer for several prestigious international medical journals of pathology and medical education such as Academic Medicine, and Medical Educator. I have also been a member of the executive committee of CAAM-HP (Caribbean Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions)," he shared.

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