Global IndianstoryAbhi Ramesh: Fighting food deserts through Misfits Market

Abhi Ramesh: Fighting food deserts through Misfits Market

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(February 7, 2024) Abhi Ramesh found himself in a Pennsylvania apple orchard, utterly amazed by what he saw. The ground was covered with more apples than the trees could hold, all of them destined for the trash. The farmer revealed that these perfectly good fruits would be tossed if they couldn’t be sold within a month or two. This eye-opening moment sparked a game-changing idea in Abhi’s mind: what if there was a way to rescue these “ugly” fruits and veggies from being wasted? And thus, Misfits Market was born.

Abhi Ramesh | Global Indian

Founded in 2018, Misfits Market has saved over 228 million pounds of food and has delivered $155 million as a new stream of “rescue revenue” to farmers and producers. “This is a low-cost, low-margin, highly perishable industry that involves very sophisticated operations and logistics, and we built the supply chain from scratch. We’re always the better deal for our customers. We’re not cheaper because we’re lower quality. Our products are always equal or even higher quality,” said the Global Indian, who was listed in the Forbes 30 Under 30 – Social Entrepreneurs and was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year for 2021.

A finance guy

Born in India, Ramesh grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, before moving to Dubai and Bahrain. “I also lived in St. Louis and Canada briefly,” he shared during an interview. “For the first half of my life, I wanted to be a neuroscientist. I remember at one point in my life I also wanted to be an astronaut. Most people want to be an astronaut when they are five or six but I decided I would be one when I was 16.”

Abhi Ramesh | Global Indian

After finishing his high school, however, Ramesh was inclined to study finances and joined The Wharton School to pursue a bachelor’s degree in economics and international studies. “I decided I was really interested in finance and enjoyed the business side of things, so I thought of pursuing a career in finance,” Giving more insight into his decision, he shared, “In high school, I was very involved in a bunch of different things. As a lot of Penn and Wharton students are, I was class president and eventually school president, two-sport varsity athlete, and violinist for fourteen years, and I did all the traditional ‘I’m a well-rounded kid applying to college’ type things. But I also enjoyed looking at different ideas and I did some SAT tutoring on the side when I was in high school and that connected to one of my first entrepreneurial experiences. So I was always interested in “business” broadly, whatever that means, but I decided to come to Penn and Wharton because it provided a very good, well rounded, business education.”

A football player during his college days, Ramesh joined Apollo, a financial institution right aftter his graduation. “I wanted to learn investing from a professional point of view but I promised myself I would only spend time there if I was learning. So, I went to Apollo to work on their middle market technology investing platform and got to see how technology companies were run. I got a great understanding of later-stage technology, and after eight months I realized I wasn’t learning anymore,” shared Ramesh, who is also the founder of a coding school.

Entrepreneurial journey

While still working at Apollo, Ramesh visited the Apple farm in Pennsylvania. “There were apples all over the ground. I saw just firsthand how much food goes to waste at the farm level. I was shocked at the time,” he shared. A longtime Philadelphia resident, Ramesh grew more intrigued by the problem of food deserts – those places where buying groceries, especially fresh produce, is a real challenge. Ramesh started exploring nearby farms, pondering on ways to rescue and repurpose food waste.

Abhi Ramesh | Global Indian

Ramesh got down to business by reaching out to organic farms in the area and forging connections with the farmers. Persuading them to part with their not-so-perfect produce at incredibly low prices, his studio apartment quickly transformed into a quirky collection of misshapen peaches, apples, tomatoes, and onions. Taking a daring leap, he created a pre-order page on Shopify, splurged $150 on a logo, and put $1,000 into ads. In a bold move, he even applied for five credit cards, accumulating a daunting $150,000 in debt to fuel his vision.

Fortunately, a guardian angel in the form of his close friend, Edward Lando, came to the rescue, providing Abhi with crucial funds to clear his debt and invest in inventory. Misfits Market kicked off on a modest scale, dispatching only five boxes of produce weekly, but soon enough, that number skyrocketed to 200 boxes per week. “It took the better part of the past three years and a lot of capital,” shared the entrepreneur. Securing a total funding of $526.5 million, Misfits Market achieved a valuation of $2 billion, with a significant injection of $225 million in a funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2.

Abhi Ramesh | Global Indian

“We had to build a customer waitlist, and for a while, it was a manual file that we’d have to export into our database. It was chaotic on the demand side,” shared Ramesh in a recent interview, adding, “Misfits Market has made a lot of lemonade from unwanted lemons. We set out with a lofty goal of saying we want to eradicate food deserts by 2025. And we think we can do it.”

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Published on 07, Feb 2024

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Chef Avin Thaliath: Transforming India’s baking landscape, one pastry at a time

(November 17, 2024) Dr. Avin Thaliath is redefining India's baking landscape with a blend of science, culture, and artistry, transforming baking from a foreign concept to an accessible art. His journey began in the aromatic kitchens of Kochi, but it was his studies in pastry-making in France that became a turning point. Trained in traditional French techniques, Avin returned to India with a bold vision: to bring world-class pastry education and innovation to the country. Co-founding the Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts in Bengaluru, he set out to blend European precision with Indian flavours and conditions, inspiring a new generation of bakers. At Lavonne, Avin combines hands-on practice with deep culinary science, introducing students to techniques like autolyse and sourdough fermentation, and teaching them not just how to bake, but why each technique works. His dedication to creating an inclusive baking community and educating future chefs is paving the way for a uniquely Indian take on the art of pastry-making. [caption id="attachment_60121" align="aligncenter" width="547"] Chef Avin[/caption] His culinary journey began long before he ever donned a chef’s apron. It started in the kitchens of his childhood summers in Kochi, where he spent countless hours watching his mother

hef Avin[/caption]

His culinary journey began long before he ever donned a chef’s apron. It started in the kitchens of his childhood summers in Kochi, where he spent countless hours watching his mother and grandmother cook. “I discovered early on that I had a peculiar nose for flavours,” Avin tells Global Indian. “I could pick out subtle differences in the same dish served twice. The sensitivity, along with the rich textures and tastes I experienced in their kitchens, laid the foundation for my future as a chef.”

These early encounters ignited Avin's passion for food, but it wasn’t just about nourishment—it was about memories. For him, food became synonymous with emotion, a connection which continues to influence his approach to cooking today. “Flavours have the power to evoke memories and emotions,” he says, of the principle central to his work as both a chef and educator. Having worked with two of the country's largest hotel chains, the Taj and the Orchids, he was part of the team which catered to dignitaries like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and President George W. Bush.

Discovering His Passion

Interestingly, Avin Thaliath didn’t set out to be a baker. While he had always enjoyed food, it wasn’t until a scholarship took him to France that he found his true calling. “I didn’t have the skills of a baker yet,” he admits, “but it was in France, during my internship, that I formally trained and fell in love with baking.”

Chef Avin | Global Indian

Working alongside a seasoned French chef who recognised his potential, the 39-year-old was handling intense shifts on his own. It was here, he baked his first baguette, an achievement he remains proud of. “I have an entire film roll of photographs of it,” the chef recalls with a smile. This experience marked the beginning of his lifelong fascination with the science of baking—a journey which has taken him across kitchens and classrooms, from Europe to India.

Avin’s approach to baking is unique, combining a deep understanding of the science behind ingredients with a respect for cultural traditions. “Baking is more than just mixing ingredients,” he explains. “It’s about understanding how those ingredients interact on a molecular level.”

His experiments with techniques like sourdough fermentation and the autolyse method have allowed him to refine not only European breads but also Indian breads. “Autolyse, where you let flour and water rest before kneading, can save up to 80 percent of the usual time required for gluten development,” he shares.

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A post shared by Dr. Avin Thaliath (@chef_avin)

Blending Ideas

Upon his return to India, Avin Thaliath found no place where he could practise the techniques he learned abroad. This led him to start Lavonne Academy in 2012, India's first international baking sciences and pastry arts academy, where he teaches aspiring bakers by blending his scientific knowledge with cultural context. “I want my students to understand not just the ‘how,’ but the ‘why’ behind traditional and modern techniques,” he says. This philosophy allows him to introduce his students to the complexities of baking, while also encouraging them to innovate and create new flavours reflecting their unique backgrounds.

Baking in India presents its own challenges, from the varying quality of flour to the impact of humidity and heat on the baking process. “Flours like T-55 or T-45 don’t have direct equivalents in India, so we have to adapt,” he explains. Success, he believes, comes from knowing how to ‘tame’ these ingredients. “Fifty percent of the battle is understanding your ingredients,” he says, noting how climate and local conditions play a crucial role in shaping the final product.

From Teaching to Writing

For the baker, one of the high points of his career has been the opportunity to return to Christ University, his alma mater, as a professor. “It’s rewarding to give back to the same institution where I nurtured my talents,” he says.

Now, Avin Thaliath is focused on passing the knowledge he has gained to the next generation of chefs. His new book, A Baker’s Journey, is his way of giving back to the culinary community.

The book explores the science and art of baking, explaining how ingredients like flour, yeast, and eggs interact to create flavor and structure. It emphasizes the importance of precision, blending traditional techniques with modern innovations. The book aims at making baking accessible for both hobbyists and professionals.

“I realized there was a gap in the literature,” he explains. “No one has yet attempted to combine the three crucial aspects of baking I focus on: the science, the art, and the anthropology. As an Indian chef, I felt it was important to contribute this perspective to the global culinary dialogue, as no Indian author has previously undertaken such a comprehensive exploration of baking”

Avin’s philosophy is grounded in hard work and resilience, qualities that have carried him through the toughest challenges. “There’s no substitute for hard work,” he tells his students. “It’s what will carry you through the toughest challenges. Smart work comes later, but the foundation of hard work is what matters.”

The Legacy of a Baker

The baker’s journey is far from over, but he has already achieved what many only dream of—success in his field, the ability to pass on his knowledge, and the chance to give back to the community which shaped him. For Avin Thaliath, it all comes back to his roots. “This book is inspired by my mother, Pauly Mathew, and my grandmother, Mary Paul Vithayathil. They were the ones who first showed me the magic that happens in the kitchen,” he notes.

Chef Avin

When he’s not teaching or writing, Avin enjoys experimenting with new ingredients and thinking about how he can make baking accessible to everyone. “My goal is to simplify baking for the everyday home baker,” he says, “to make it something anyone can enjoy, even if it’s their first time.”

Dr. Avin Thaliath’s story is one of innovation and following his passion. “There’s something truly special about creating food and bringing people together,” he reflects. And with his new book, he hopes to inspire others to embark on their own culinary journeys—guided by the same love for flavours and the art of baking that has shaped his life.

QUICK TAKES

Favourite dessert? Crème caramel – the most difficult dessert to make
A baker you look up to? Chef Antonio Bachour, Chef Carlos Mampel and my mother
One dish you haven’t ever cooked and why? I’ve never cooked something without involving heart and soul.
Patisseries you like eating at: A small little bakery in Turkey where I ate simit, at Café Nantes, a bakery where I discovered the best bagels and Lavonne Café.

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The Marathon Man: Murthy RK is all set to complete all six of the world’s top 42k races

(August 1, 2024) Running to stay fit has held Murthy R K, in good stead personally and professionally. The accomplished Indian marathoner, Murthy has completed over 50 marathons, 75 half marathons, and 100 five to ten-kilometer races, including the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon, London Marathon and Berlin Marathon. He has his eyes trained on Tokyo now, and once he completes it, will be one of only around 200 Indians to have attempted all of the world's top six marathons. He has also represented India in the Asian and World Masters Athletics Championships. “I have always been an avid runner, representing my educational institutions at the state and national levels and winning awards,” he tells Global Indian. He first started with the Mumbai Marathon 11 years ago. The race is held on the third Sunday of January every year. Running through the streets of Mumbai, with the crowd cheering, offering sweets, juice, and fruits, and playing music while dancing, is exhilarating. “Crossing the sea link bridge on foot is an out-of-this-world experience. I've participated in the Mumbai Marathon for 11 consecutive years and have no intention of stopping. If you're a runner, I highly recommend running the Mumbai

utive years and have no intention of stopping. If you're a runner, I highly recommend running the Mumbai Marathon at least once in your lifetime,” he says. He is also a techie by profession, has done stints at various corporates and currently works at Sonata Software.

[caption id="attachment_53098" align="aligncenter" width="379"] Murthy RK | Indian marathoner | Global Indian Murthy RK has taken part in all the world's most important marathons[/caption]

Marathon calling

Having run distances ranging from 3000 meters to 350 kilometres, Murthy has set official records for running more than 50 marathons, 75 half marathons, and 100 plus five to ten-kilometre. The longest distance he has run is 350 kilometres, from Bangalore to Subramanya Temple in Mangalore, accomplished over five days. Interestingly, he has also represented India in the Asian & World Masters Athletics Championships. The Asian master’s is like other Track & Field events but is designed for athletes above 35 years of age. Regular focused training is must for any races and must for such international races. The competition is as intense as any Asian championship, with participants from across the continent.

“When I last competed in Malaysia, I secured fourth place in the 10,000-meter race, overtaking several participants from Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Finishing in top 10 is not at all easy and it’s a very happy feeling. My advantage lay in my competitiveness and years of practice. I consistently logged 65-75 kilometres weekly, honing my skills.” This dedication paid off during competitive events, and he has won more than 25-30 races over the last few years in my age group across India. “I qualified for the Masters Athletic Championship, designed for athletes over 35 years old.” This is no easy feat, and the competition, which is intense, even includes former Olympians and World Championship athletes. “I also had the honour of representing India at the Asian Masters in Kuching, Malaysia, and the World Masters in Malaga, Spain,” he says.

How to keep going

Having been part of World Major Marathons he says that staying prepared has been key from the start. His journey began with running distances of 21–42 kilometres, exploring trails across India and internationally, often combining these events with family vacations. “I discovered the circuit of the six World Major Marathons: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Tokyo. Participants who complete all six marathons receive a special medal combining all six. So far, fewer than 200 Indians have achieved this feat. I have completed five, with only the Tokyo marathon remaining,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_53100" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Murthy RK | Indian marathoner | Global Indian At the Boston Marathon[/caption]

Each of the six marathons is unique, which earns them worldwide popularity. When he ran Boston in April 2024, there were over 30,000 plus participants; in London, there were 57,000 plus. Berlin and Chicago are known for their fast and flat courses, making them ideal for setting personal bests. In contrast, Boston and New York are considered the toughest due to their rolling hill courses. London is renowned for its large crowds, and Tokyo for its cleanliness and organization.

“Preparation and planning for each marathon vary based on the terrain and personal goals. Qualifying for these races, along with registration, hotel bookings, flights, and visa arrangements, can take nearly a year. Beyond the logistical planning, training involves balancing running with health, associated injuries, while addressing the call of duty - work, family, etc. Ultimately, the feeling of completing these races is indescribable and must be experienced to be truly understood,” he adds.

Fitness Cues

Training for a marathon is one of the most demanding aspects of the preparation. Covering 26 miles (42 kilometres) of continuous running is not for the faint-hearted. It typically takes me around three and a half hours to complete; for some, it may take 5-6 hours. “Consistent, daily training is essential. Despite having a solid training plan or a coach, race day can bring unexpected challenges that test both mental and physical coordination. You can plan and strategize for the distance, but once you are on the course, things may not always go as expected. Your body’s response can vary, and unforeseen issues can arise. For example, during my Boston Marathon I had to walk nearly half the distance due to severe muscle cramps, struggling to drag my feet to the finish line,” he says.

Discipline First

Discipline is crucial for marathon running, and for him the 3Cs - consistency, commitment, and continuity are essential. “Over the past 20 years, I’ve maintained a routine of waking up around 4:30 AM every day. I train for at least two hours on weekdays and over four hours on weekends. On Saturdays, I run 30-35 km, a distance some might not even drive. In addition to running, focusing on core strength and flexibility is important. Maintaining body weight requires mindful eating habits. I avoid coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks, indulge in sweets only occasionally, and abstain from alcohol and smoking. While some friends joke about my strict regimen, the discipline and results make it worthwhile,” he says.

Murthy RK | Indian marathoner | Global Indian

Stay Focused

Murthy believes in dedicating 10,000 hours to achieve mastery in any field. With a clear goal and strong commitment, he believes you can overcome any obstacle. “My advice to aspiring runners is to commit fully, set achievable goals, join a supportive group, work with a coach, start gradually, and aim for incremental milestones. Running is physically demanding, and injuries are common, so it is crucial to know your limits and avoid overexertion. Commitment remains essential to overcoming challenges,” he says.

For someone who has gained valuable insights from distance running, he believes that running parallels life, a marathon, not a sprint. Enduring aches and pains to complete a 42-kilometer race mirrors the challenges of life's journey. “Your condition at the start differs from when you finish. Despite the hardships, the sense of accomplishment upon crossing the finish line and earning a medal inspires you to plan your next race. Running is about taking one step after another, allowing time to reflect on work, family, and solutions to problems. It fosters discipline, commitment, and consistency,” he says. Murthy is clear that he is always preparing for his next run. “My mind is always focused on planning the distance to cover and the timing for achieving it. I am eagerly anticipating my participation in the World Masters Athletics Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, in August 2024, marking my second appearance, and the Tokyo Marathon in March 2025 to complete my six stars in the World Major Marathons,” he says. Amen to that.

Follow Murthy RK on Instagram.

Aisha Nazia: The only Indian woman to be selected for FIFA Master course

(September 22, 2021) One of Aisha Nazia's fondest memories is of her standing in a crowd and watching a football match with bated breath. As her favorite team scored the perfect goal, the Kozhikode-born football fan was euphoric. Her hometown is a mecca for football and it wasn't long before love for the game rubbed off on Nazia, who has now been selected for the prestigious FIFA Master program. She is the only Indian woman out of the 32 people that were selected from across the world for the program. Chosen out of 700 applicants, Nazia has become an inspiration for dreamers as well as go-getters. A postgraduate sports executive program, organized in partnership with De Montfort University (United Kingdom), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchatel (Switzerland), the FIFA Master course is nothing short of an Ivy league program. The 26-year-old Indian has made the cut this year, but not without her share of struggles and challenges. As she quit a lucrative job to pursue her dreams, Nazia didn't find many supporters, but she was determined to follow through on her plan. How a childhood dream found wings Born in Kozhikode to Malayalam Muslim parents,

determined to follow through on her plan.

How a childhood dream found wings

Born in Kozhikode to Malayalam Muslim parents, Nazia found herself attracted to the game even as a child. After her parents' divorce when she was five, Nazia moved to Chennai with her mother who was then a teacher. But summer vacations took her back to her hometown each year where she fell in love with football. "I loved the way football brought the entire town together and it was the best show of secularism. It was at this tender age that my affinity towards football began to grow," she tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview from London where she has kick started the first leg of her course.

[caption id="attachment_10971" align="aligncenter" width="392"] Aisha Nazia at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester[/caption]

While the soccer field made Nazia quite happy, she was equally ecstatic nestled between her pile of books. After securing the eighth rank in mechanical engineering at University of Kerala, she found herself working with the Indian Oil-Adani Group Pvt Ltd in Kochi in 2017. Two years before she entered the corporate world though, Nazia had volunteered as a football facilitator for the 2015 National Games that were held in Kerala. Then a third year student at TKM College of Engineering, she heard about the games being held in her city and couldn't let the opportunity slip by. "It gave me the perfect exposure to the sporting industry and the workings of it," she adds.

The turning point

Though her job at Indian Oil kept her happy, she would often find herself drawn to the varied sporting events taking place in the country. So when the FIFA Under 17 World Cup was set to make its debut on Indian soil, Nazia found herself looking for volunteer opportunities on their website. Despite the fact that she didn't have a sports management degree, Nazia rolled the dice of fate and applied for the role of a workforce manager. Luck was on her side, and the 26-year-old found herself at one of the biggest sporting spectacles. Those months with FIFA turned out to be a game changer for this young woman as she learnt the tricks of the trade and found her true calling in sports management. In 2018, she quit her job to chase her dream and moved to Bengaluru.

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A post shared by Aisha Nazia (@themustardwall)

Since sporting events in India happen only once every few months, Nazia took up jobs as a consultant with startups to keep her stable financially. In between, she worked on two seasons of the Indian Super League.

When NBA found itself playing in India for the first time ever in 2019, the organizers got in touch with Nazia after reading a feature on her on FIFA. The conversation soon translated into an operations role in logistics.

A chance meeting

After working with the best for a few years and gaining valuable insights into the world of sports management, Nazia knew she was ready to take it a notch higher with the FIFA Master course, something she had heard about six years ago. "While volunteering at the National Games in 2015, a referee from Tamil Nadu who had trained under the Premiere League saw potential in me and encouraged me to take up the FIFA Master course," adds Nazia. But she wanted to give herself four years after her graduation before taking a plunge into any Masters program.

[caption id="attachment_10974" align="aligncenter" width="395"] Aisha Nazia at NBA matches in India.[/caption]

So when the entire world came to a standstill in 2020 and sporting events became a rarity, Nazia knew it was the right time to pursue her FIFA Master dream. "The selection process for this course is like it would be for an Ivy league school. This year 32 students were selected from a pool of 700 applicants across 29+ countries," adds the Kozhikode native. The one year course will have Nazia travel to three countries (England, Italy and Switzerland) to complete her Masters in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport.

Crowdfunding, not charity

If securing a seat among 700 students wasn't a rigorous process, Nazia found herself raising 22,000 CHF (approximately ₹28 lakh) for the course. She is one among the three students to have secured a merit scholarship which has halved her course fee, but the amount is still heavy on her pocket. "In a country like India, you can apply for an education loan against mortgage of property or gold, and I had nothing as security. Crowdfunding seemed like a wise decision to raise money for my education," says Nazia.

It was her mentor Gautham Chattopadhaya, who works with NASA, who advised her to opt for crowdfund. "Abroad, it's a very common concept to raise money for education, but in India, it's still at its nascent stage. I weighed my options for a long time and even posted on LinkedIn to get some feedback. Many encouraged me to go for it as they couldn't pursue their dreams owing to financial constraints. The stories of people on the post made me take it up as a social cause to empower people to follow their dreams. Education is a basic necessity and I decided to go forward with it to raise money and also inspire others to follow their dreams," adds Nazia.

[caption id="attachment_10977" align="aligncenter" width="423"] Aisha Nazia at Indian Super League 2019-2020[/caption]

With GoFundMe inaccessible to Indians, Nazia opted for Ketto to raise money for her education. "In India, crowdfunding is mostly restricted to medical emergencies, so my plea to raise money for education falls a little short in comparison to their issues."

However, this reality check has inspired Nazia to launch an education crowdfunding platform for Indian students soon. "I want to start a platform for people who dream of studying in India or abroad but are unable to do so due to financial constraints. My priority would be to get meritorious students their due through this crowdfunding platform," she explains.

[caption id="attachment_10979" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Aisha Nazia at a sporting event.[/caption]

The future

Nazia, who is currently at De Montfort University in Leicester, is excited for the program. "It will be an enriching experience with lots of learning and field trips. After completing three months in the UK, we will move to Italy for the next quarter. And the last six months will be in Switzerland, which is also the headquarters of FIFA. Getting to work with their management will be exciting. Also, at the end of course, FIFA selects three people for employment," reveals Nazia.

Being an advocate of sustainability, Nazia plans to work for the development of the Indian sports ecosystem after the completion of her course. "I want to focus on inclusion, youth development and come up with solutions to reduce carbon footprint during a sports event," signs off Nazia.

Reading Time: 7 min

Peace of mind at a click: Dr Amit Malik’s mental health app clocks 3 million downloads

(March 1, 2022) In February 2021, mental health platform InnerHour raised $5.2 million led by Lightbox. The app, a digital self-help platform gives users access to a range of services - methods to manage stress, anxiety, consultations with licensed therapists, etc. Life has come full circle for its Mumbai-based co-founder and mental health expert Dr Amit Malik, who had returned to India with the intention of bringing mental healthcare to a society where the very idea of seeking external help remains taboo. The app is now clocking three million downloads highlighting the need for calm amidst the storm – pandemic or otherwise. [caption id="attachment_20499" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Dr. Amit Malik, founder and CEO, InnerHour[/caption] In Mumbai, as he navigated one of the most high-stress environments in the world, he only realised the growing need for adequate mental health services. India accounts for a third of the global burden of depression, addictions and suicides, while access to treatment remains either difficult, scarce or is outright shunned. Back in India, the mental health expert Dr Amit Malik took his two-decade-long career in psychiatry forward to tackle India’s mental health. Having worked with the NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, and serving as a

ck in India, the mental health expert Dr Amit Malik took his two-decade-long career in psychiatry forward to tackle India’s mental health. Having worked with the NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, and serving as a member of the Council of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the European Board of Psychiatry, and the standing committees of the European Psychiatric Association, he had the tools to move forward. A prolific writer, Dr Malik has also co-authored six textbooks, been published in several international academic journals, and even done a stint as a member of the editorial board for two reputed publications - International Psychiatry and International Journal of Social Psychiatry.

Returning to his roots

“It was the urge to go to the grassroots, and solve mental health problems that brought me back to India,” says mental health expert Dr Malik, in an interview with Global Indian. “It's not just that India is close to my heart, it’s also a country where the problem is very large. Some 190 million Indians suffer from mental health ailments and around 90 to 95 percent of these never get help,” he explains.

Dr Amit arrived in the UK in 2001 for postgraduate training in psychiatry at the University of Nottingham. He then went on to become a member at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Raised into a family of engineers, Dr Amit was born in NCR, and did MBBS at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. “My mother’s sister was a doctor, and we were very close. Looking back, I have wanted to be a doctor as far back as I can remember, and she was an inspiration,” recalls the mental health expert. After medicine, he went on to do a master's in business administration from the London Business School, and also holds a diploma in geriatric medicine from the Royal College of Physicians in London.

‘Tech that’

“The situation in India intrigued me - I wanted to solve difficult problems in healthcare, working with issues like providing early access to people with mental health difficulties, how to break the stigma, and poor awareness barriers, and how to build large scale standardised services that could provide good quality treatment,” mental health expert Dr Malik explains.

[caption id="attachment_20500" align="aligncenter" width="707"] Mental Health Expert | Dr. Amit Malik | Global Indian Dr. Amit Malik[/caption]

Technology provided just the breakthrough and the idea for InnerHour. The startup aimed at leveraging technology in combination with high quality scientific clinical practices to provide awareness and timely access. “We created a model that would cater to an entire spectrum of needs, from access to receiving help, support in difficult times and providing ongoing support as well.” says the mental health expert.

A changing landscape

Despite the taboos and challenges that India faces, InnerHour has been received with enthusiasm from clients and investors alike. What started out as an 18-member team grew to over 100 in the past year alone, Dr Malik says. “We do five times as many therapy sessions now than we did before. Our app is also nearing three million downloads, which is a threefold increase. We're also generating six to seven times the revenue compared with 2021. In 2021, we have been able to help more people than we did in the four years before that,” smiles the mental health expert.

[caption id="attachment_20497" align="aligncenter" width="808"] Mental Health Expert | Dr. Amit Malik | Global Indian InnerHour Team[/caption]

Awareness has grown tremendously. Explaining the exponential growth of his company, the mental health expert adds, “Celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Virat Kohli talking about mental health in public has worked, and the recent mental healthcare act has also gone a long way. I am happy to see that these problems are being given the spotlight. People are finally shunning the stigma, and accepting that mental health is as important as physical health. More than 60 percent of our clientele are from tier 2 and sub-tier 2 cities. We have a long way to go but the gap has narrowed,” says the founder-psychiatrist.

Looking to the future

Online counselling, revolutionary though it has been, cannot compensate for offline treatment. People between the ages of 18 and 45 are very tech-savvy but need to be reached out to in person. "Those with severe and acute needs cannot be addressed with online, so we are in the process of opening offline centres in Delhi and Bengaluru, in the next three months,” says the mental health expert.

The doctor’s wife works in the financial services sector. He enjoys playing basketball and table tennis with his son. The psychiatrist turned entrepreneur is a voracious reader devouring at least a couple of books every fortnight. With family and friends all living nearby, his social calendar, he says, is rarely empty!

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It took a village to change NRI couple Kalawars’ purpose: Today 10 districts, 8 states are the better for it

(March 6, 2022) Waiting for a train at Bokaro station to Pune two decades ago, a little boy approached a young Ashish Kalawar, offering to polish his shoes. Unhappy, Ashish reprimanded the boy saying he should be studying at his age. The boy replied that he was working to support his education, and to buy books. “That touched me. He asked for Rs 15 but I gave him Rs 50. Helping the child get closer to his education dream filled me with happiness and contentment,” Ashish says in an interview with Global Indian. This incident was the biggest inspiration behind quitting a high-paying job in the UK in 2014, relocating to India to work for the people of Lonewadi village in Maharashtra. Ashish and his wife Ruta, trustees of Shivprabha Charitable Trust in Pune, work relentlessly for the empowerment of people across five districts including Lonewadi, Pusad, and Chandrapur in Maharashtra through social work and meditation camps. “It’s the joy of giving, and helping people reach their highest potential,” says Ruta. A moment of clarity [caption id="attachment_20844" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Ashish and Ruta Kalawar with their son in the UK[/caption] An electronic engineering gold medallist, Ruta joined ISRO in 2001 as

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[caption id="attachment_20844" align="aligncenter" width="474"] NRI Couple | Global Indian Ashish and Ruta Kalawar with their son in the UK[/caption]

An electronic engineering gold medallist, Ruta joined ISRO in 2001 as a scientist, and later moved to Wipro (2005) where she met Ashish, an electrical engineer from Pune University. A few months later, December 2006, they got married. A year-and-a-half on, the couple shifted to the UK - Ruta started work at Intel while Ashish was at Broadcom. A foreign land, embracing a new culture and learning aside, when Ruta holidayed in India in 2012, there was an awakening. “I always searched for a purpose in life. During the trip, I visited the Samarpan Meditation Centre in Pune. It was life-changing - for the first time I felt happiness within me,” smiles Ruta, who had an enlightening experience which led her on the path to working for the welfare of the downtrodden. Even as they were set to apply for UK citizenship, they chucked it all and came back. “On my return, I told Ashish that I was quitting my job and moving to India to work for society. He was shocked,” laughs Ruta, who realised Ashish wasn't ready for the journey yet. So, she waited patiently. Within a year, after Ashish attended a meditation camp in Goa, the move materialised. “Something had shifted in me. I got clarity on how I should live,” reveals Ashish who quit his high-pressure job at 33 for more altruistic pastures.

Finding a village, adopting a community

Back home, they joined hands with Amol Sainwar, at the Shivprabha Charitable Trust to help transform the lives of Lonewadi villagers in Nashik. “During our earlier visits to India, Amol often discussed the problems faced, and the projects his trust was working on. The villager’s difficult lives struck a chord – a drought-affected tribal village with no electricity or drinking water,” says Ashish who was heartbroken to find women and children walking hours to fetch water, often attacked by wild animals. First, he donated Rs 2 lakh for a solar-powered drinking water distribution system, helping solve the biggest problem. Then, after returning to India, the couple slowly became torchbearers for the people of Lonewadi and other villages.

[caption id="attachment_20845" align="aligncenter" width="643"] Ruta Kalawar at Lonewadi village[/caption]

“Ruta and I joined Amol as the trustees, working on many projects - toilet construction (30), digitisation of schools and meditation camps,” says Ashish who also heightened his social responsibility with social work and spirituality. “It was meditation that made me choose my path in life, and now we are spreading it through camps across eight states in India,” says the 42-year-old.

Farmers in Lonewadi were in a terrible state, “Many turned to alcohol burdened with interests from money lenders,” reveals Amol. So, the couple started counselling farmers and holding meditation sessions. “The sessions had a profound effect. Within months, 80 percent left alcohol. We didn't preach, instead, the self-realisation from meditation helped them stay away from alcohol,” reveals Ashish. “Open defecation was another challenge, and it took us one-and-a-half years to change perspectives,” reveals Amol, whose charity works on crowdfunding and CSR.

[caption id="attachment_20849" align="aligncenter" width="616"] NRI couple Ruta Kalawar at Lonewadi village in Maharashtra[/caption]

Giving to the have-nots

Having travelled 12 countries, living well, it was the realisation of a bigger purpose that has embellished the Kalawars’ lives immensely.
Working with the future of Lonewadi was important – its children . The installation of a computer in the village (2015), and later tablets were also distributed to village children. “Ruta and Ashish have played a big role, and we have now digitised six village schools across Maharashtra,” adds Amol.

[caption id="attachment_20847" align="aligncenter" width="608"] NRI couple Ashish Kalawar at Zila Parishad school in Lonewadi[/caption]

Ruta and Ashish have spread their wings to 10 districts in Maharastra, and eight states, and are heartened to see their efforts bring light into village lives. “We are happy to have become instruments of change,” says Ashish whose wants to see people become self-sufficient.
“Meditation changed Ruta and my life, and we are spreading it across the country with our camps. We want people to find true happiness within themselves, and work for a larger cause,” says the visionary who is developing a meditation centre in Lonewadi - built on 4 acre land. Their biggest project yet.

A meditative way of life

The couple’s 14-year-old son has imbibed their values, and is happy living a simple life. “He has been meditating and I have seen a profound effect on him,” says the 42-year-old mother, who adds, “He has his destiny to fulfil, we are just watering this sapling, and seeing him grow.”

[caption id="attachment_20848" align="aligncenter" width="603"] NRI couple Ashish and Ruta Kalawar with their 14-year-old son[/caption]

“Freedom of time,” she feels is her biggest lesson from this altruistic journey. “Freedom is more expensive than money, and one should hold onto it at all costs,” advises Ruta adding, “Never give up, accept challenges head-on. Everyone takes their own time to reach their destiny. So don’t rush.”

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