Global IndianstoryBilquis Mir: Meet the first Indian woman on the jury of Paris Olympics 2024

Bilquis Mir: Meet the first Indian woman on the jury of Paris Olympics 2024

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(August 2, 2024) Canoeing in the serene waters of the Dal Lake in her hometown of Srinagar, little did the young Bilquis Mir, who had to fight traditions and society, know that someday she will be a jury member at the Olympics. At the Paris Olympics 2024, Bilquis, also popular as the aqua woman of Kashmir Valley, became the first Indian woman on the jury of the prestigious sporting event. It was early this year that she received a letter from the Indian Olympic Association informing her about her appointment as a jury member at the Summer Olympics, and it was a dream come true for the 38-year-old sports promoter. She calls it a moment of pride not just for her but for the country as well.

“I consider it an honour to represent my country as a member of the prestigious jury at the Paris Olympics. I was also a jury member at the Hangzhou Asian Games. This isn’t just a moment of triumph for me but all girls or women who aspire to excel in sports. Only two jury members from Asia has been picked this time (for the Summer Games), with the other being from Japan,” the Global Indian told ANI.

Bilquis Mir

Falling in love with kayaking

But it wasn’t an easy journey for Bilquis. who had to defy a patriarchal society to live her dream. Picking up an unusual sport – kayaking – in a country obsessed with cricket wasn’t easy for this Kashmiri woman. It was serendipity that led Bilquis to kayaking at the Dal Lake. While most girls her age wanted to play kho-kho, she was keen to take up boxing. One day on her way to accompany a friend to boxing practice, she was reprimanded by the coach asking her to either bolt or get in a boat. “Being a Kashmiri girl in a uniform, sitting alone in the park wasn’t okay for me. So, I got in a boat wearing a life jacket but I couldn’t balance the canoe nor did I know how to swim,” she said in an interview. During that hour, she lost count of how many times she fell into the water, and her uniform was soaked. On reaching home, she was scolded by her furious mother. But she was unperturbed as she kept thinking about the feeling of being in a canoe.

The next day after school, she made her way straight to the canoe practice. Taken by the sport completely, she practiced non-stop for three months and even bunked coaching classes to paddle. Her love for the sport turned into a passion when she won her first medal in a local tournament in 1998 with a belief that Nationals was her next stop. But her big dream dashed in a moment as she arrived home to a furious family. “I was beaten up. I believe the struggle of the girl starts from the door of the house. My journey was like that because I had no direction or any role models. Thus convincing my family became difficult. But I conquered all hurdles to reach the pinnacle in my chosen field,” said Bilquis, who found support in her mother.

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Fighting the society

She began her training but not without the dismissive looks and grunts of her relatives, especially the men who found it discomforting seeing her in a tracksuit. “Being a Muslim girl, wearing a tracksuit was incredibly difficult and so was staying outdoors in Kashmir, where even boys reconsidered before venturing out,” she said. Treated as an outcast, she received cruel comments from people when she participated in the Nationals and wore an Indian jersey in the 90s. “While I would be treated as an outcast by most people, my parents always understood my interests as well as my potential. They wanted me to be at the top of my game,” Bilquis said in another interview. Her efforts were further marred by the lack of government support, making it even more challenging for her to pursue her interest. In the late 90s, water sports was considered a taboo in Kashmir. “Being a female water sports professional, known or unknown was tough – virtually everyone opposed my choice. People’s criticisms made me hang up my boots for a while.” Bilquis even considered quitting but it was her mom who encouraged her to keep going. “She told me, ‘you have to continue your passion. At this point of time, if you succumb to social pressures, it won’t be only you who will lose, but it will be the whole community of future female players like you whose dreams would be shattered’.”

Things took a turn for the athlete when she suffered a hip and shoulder injury during training and was asked to coach the junior boys’ team at the age of 25. “My country needed a coach and I was happy to step up. To achieve this, I became the first Indian woman to study coaching at the prestigious Semmelweis University in Budapest.” She graduated with Grade A, and was soon appointed as the national coach of canoeing and kayaking in 2007, a rare feat for a Kashmiri woman.

Bilquis Mir

Breaking the norms

After guiding the team to the Nationals, Asian Games, World Championship, and Olympics, Mir felt a deep yearning to go back to Kashmir and help develop young athletes. Since her return, her coaching has led to Kashmir winning 110 medals in the last four years. “When I was young, I often heard that girls can’t pursue adventure sports. People used to make fun of me thinking I wouldn’t be able to do anything. I am proud to say that 50% of J&K’s athletes are women and they are doing very well,” she said.

Now, she has made history as the first Indian woman to join the jury for the Paris Olympics. Despite facing challenges, including a lack of government support and societal expectations, she pursued her passion for sports with determination and resilience. From her early days of struggling to balance a canoe to coaching athletes on the international stage, Mir has broken barriers and set new standards. Her achievements not only reflect her personal success but also symbolize the potential of women in sports, inspiring a new generation of athletes in Kashmir and beyond. Through her unwavering dedication, Mir has shown that with perseverance and courage, one can overcome any obstacle to achieve greatness.

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Published on 02, Aug 2024

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Celebrating excellence: Scientist Subra Suresh receives National Medal from President Joe Biden

(October 28, 2023) It's a big day for India, as Padma Shri scientist, Prof Subra Suresh wins the prestigious National Medal of Technology and Innovation - regarded as the US' highest scientific award - by the US President Joe Biden at the White House. The former director of the USA National Science Foundation, a former Dean of Engineering and Vannevar Bush Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a former President of Carnegie Mellon University, Prof Suresh is also the first alumnus of IIT Madras and the first India-born academic to be appointed as the president of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) back in 2018. [caption id="attachment_46308" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Prof Suresh with US President Joe Biden[/caption] According to the official statement by the White House, the scientist was honoured "for pioneering research across engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences. A transformative educator, he has advanced the study of material science and its application to other disciplines. His commitment to research and collaboration across borders has demonstrated how science can forge understanding and cooperation among people and nations." Prof Suresh's research is centered on the characteristics of both engineered and biological materials, exploring their impact on human diseases and their applications

plines. His commitment to research and collaboration across borders has demonstrated how science can forge understanding and cooperation among people and nations."

Prof Suresh's research is centered on the characteristics of both engineered and biological materials, exploring their impact on human diseases and their applications across a wide range of industries. With a four-decade-long and illustrious career, the scientist boasts an impressive track record, with three published books, over 300 research articles, 35 filed patent applications, and the co-founding of two technology startups. He also founded the Global Research Council, an annual initiative designed to facilitate the connection and coordination of leaders from major research funding agencies worldwide.

A student par excellence

Born in 1953 to a Tamil family residing in Mumbai, Prof Suresh was always the brightest kid in his class. Focused and passionate, his classmates would often approach him to help them with their studies, and this academician never turned anyone down. In one of his early interviews, the scientist stated that he always knew he would be very good at teaching.

Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian

After finishing high school, while many of his friends were still thinking about what to do next, Prof Suresh’s goals were very clear. He cracked the IIT entrance examination, and after four years of hard work, received his BTech degree from IIT Madras graduating first class with distinction. The same year, in 1977, the scientist moved to the United States of America, where he received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1979, and later earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the guidance of Robert O. Ritchie in 1981, specialising in materials science.

Awards and beyond

The young scientist was still pursuing his postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory when he received the prestigious Hardy Medal “for exceptional promise for a successful career in the broad field of metallurgy by a metallurgist under the age of 30”.

Soon after he received his Ph.D., the scientist went to work for the Ivy League institution, Brown University in 1983, where he served as an Assistant Professor of Engineering, and was eventually promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in July 1986 and Professor in July 1989. However, within a one-and-a-half year of joining Brown University, Prof Suresh was selected by the White House to receive the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award.

[caption id="attachment_33010" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian Prof Suresh with former President of USA, Barack Obama[/caption]

Decorated with several medals and honours very early in his career, including the 1992 Ross Coffin Purdy Award from the American Ceramic Society, the scientist’s book, Fatigue of Materials (1991) has been cited more than 5,300 times in scholarly publications as per Google Scholar. The book has also been translated into Chinese and Japanese and adopted as both a textbook and a reference work.

But despite all his achievements, the scientist still shares a very close relationship with India. “I come to India quite often,” the Global Indian said, adding, “In large portions of Indian society, and this is historic, going back hundreds or thousands of years, there has always been a strong emphasis on education, knowledge, and scholarship, including science and engineering. The last 18 years in India have been very interesting, especially in areas like information technology, where India has emerged as a leading participant in the global scene. Science and engineering play a huge role in that. Also, the middle class in India has moved up quite a bit in the last 18 years. This is a very good illustration, in the context of a large country, a large population, and a large democracy, that education broadly in any field and science and engineering education, in particular, can be a ticket to prosperity. If that continues it will be a very good thing not just for India but for the whole world.”

A true guru

Having tasted the joys of teaching, the scientist moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the R.P. Simmons Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 1993. There, Prof Suresh realised that teaching doesn’t just involve guiding students in the classroom, but also inspiring young talent to join institutions.

Realising the huge gender gap in the scientific world, the academician took it upon himself to motivate young girls to take up higher education in scientific fields. “In most countries, women occupy 50 percent of the population and hence 50 percent of the talent pool. In the US, about 70 percent of the top-ranking students in high school are girls, both in public and private schools, and they also do well in mathematics and science, and so forth. If they are not represented in engineering, then we are losing out on the top talent,” the scientist explained during an interview.

[caption id="attachment_33011" align="aligncenter" width="603"] Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian Professor Suresh with his wife, Mary Delmar Suresh[/caption]

He added, “Women play such an important role in the 21st century, and we cannot have such small representation. So, I did some experiments at MIT, and we found that the key is not in admitting more women through quotas, but instead through something more sustainable in the long term. You need role models; you need professors for women who are good role models for students. Secondly, you have to do extra work to attract talent. When we admit students, they get offers from many different universities. I would offer to make personal calls and talk to students whom the departments felt would be a good fit for the university, and it worked. It worked for both genders, but it worked better for women. So, I think there are things we can do, scholarships are one way, and role models and mentoring are very important too.”

Heading the National Science Foundation

In 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Prof Suresh to be the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). At the institution, the scientist worked on investing in the best people, whose ideas could make a difference on the ground. “There are not many countries in the world where somebody who comes to get an education as a student has an opportunity to lead an agency like the NSF,” he said during an interview, adding, “I think this has been one of the remarkable things about the U.S. and as long as that possibility exists in the country one would hope that people would come here from all over the world.”

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

Looking at his successful profile, the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore appointed him as their President. Under his leadership, the University introduced a specific curriculum on innovations and digital technologies. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Prof Suresh and his wife made a personal gift of $100,000 to seed the NTU Priorities Fund, which has now grown to $8.9 million, in support of students with urgent financial needs. The scientist, who has trained several budding academicians and contributed heavily to the scientific world in the last four decades, is now looking forward to a peaceful retired life in Singapore after stepping down from his post later this year.

Reading Time: 6 mins

Diaspora Odyssey: Raj and Bina Sharma are spicing up Maine with its oldest Indian restaurant – Bombay Mahal

(July 14, 2023) More than three decades back when Raj and Bina Sharma landed in Maine, the northeastern state of the United States for a vacation, little did they know that it would soon become a place that they would be calling home. Over the years, the couple established three restaurants there and today their customers span three generations of diners. The Indian-origin entrepreneurs are now an integral part of the Maine community and are famous for owning the oldest Indian restaurant in the area – Bombay Mahal. “We opened Bombay Mahal in 1991 the oldest Indian restaurant in Maine located in Brunswick, alongside two other restaurants - Tandoor in Portland, and Taste of India in Bangor. We sold the other two over the years and have held onto the Bombay Mahal,” Raj Sharma tells Global Indian. The restaurant which serves North Indian food has won numerous popularity awards and has been featured in various renowned publications including USA Today. Apart from in-house dining, Bombay Mahal hosts and caters to events, and serves food at festivals. [caption id="attachment_41636" align="aligncenter" width="542"] Raj and Bina Sharma[/caption] Introducing Indian cuisine to Maine Back then, Mainers weren't familiar with ethnic cuisine and there weren’t

including USA Today. Apart from in-house dining, Bombay Mahal hosts and caters to events, and serves food at festivals.

[caption id="attachment_41636" align="aligncenter" width="542"] Indian Diaspora | Raj and Bina Sharma | Global Indian Raj and Bina Sharma[/caption]

Introducing Indian cuisine to Maine

Back then, Mainers weren't familiar with ethnic cuisine and there weren’t many immigrants running businesses in the state either. Raj and Bina fell in love with the place on their vacation and decided to introduce it to the foreignness of Indian cuisine – finding it to be a good USP of their entrepreneurial venture. With Raj’s background in working in the food industry, the entrepreneurs tasted success in their businesses.

“When Bina and I moved to Maine in 1990 from Europe, it was a big move and we were shocked at how little Americans knew about India, even when Indian food was already famous in other parts of the world like England and Germany,” Raj says. A lot of people in Maine had never tasted Indian food and were scared to try it, fearing it to be too spicy and something too foreign for what they were used to.”

People would research before they came into the restaurant about what dishes they wanted or would pose a lot of questions to the staff on how a certain dish was prepared and which types of spices were being used. “To them, India was so foreign and different, they didn't know anything about us and our culture,” Raj says.

Over time, the entrepreneurs managed to gain a lot of attention from the community and media due to the unique flavours that they were offering on the platters of the locals.

[caption id="attachment_41637" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Indian Diaspora | Raj and Bina Sharma | Global Indian Bombay Mahal[/caption]

Bombay Mahal’s journey

In the 32 years of Bombay Mahal’s journey, the décor and menu have undergone some changes but otherwise, everything largely remains the same, including the challenges.

“The restaurant is in the same location and just like any hospitality business, staffing is always an issue. It’s even harder when you are looking for desi curry cooks, tandoori bread chefs, and Hindi or Punjabi speaking staff to relocate to a small and less populated US state like Maine,” Raj says.

“Staffing challenges are part and parcel of the restaurant business and on top of that even harder when you're located in a part of the world where there isn't that large of a desi community,” he adds.

Immigration stories

Like numerous immigrants to the United States, Raj and Bina arrived with their own unique stories fuelled by a desire to explore the world beyond their homelands. Raj was born and raised in Punjab while Bina grew up in Mombasa, a city in East Africa. After completing his culinary studies, Raj felt an eagerness to venture beyond the borders of India and experience what the world had to offer. With a loan of $500 from his parents' agricultural business, he embarked on a journey that took him through various kitchens across countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, and Canada. Along the way, he encountered a whole new universe of cuisine, culture, and hospitality.

Bina’s ancestors had left India generations ago due to British occupation and settled in Tanzania, where her mother was born. Subsequently, the family moved to Kenya, driven by a combination of factors - better opportunities and increasing political pressures in Africa. Raj and Bina entered a traditional arranged marriage in London before settling in Cologne, Germany, where they lived for almost a decade until the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Over time, they became parents of three sons. It was during a family vacation in Maine that they discovered the breathtaking beauty of Acadia National Park and the coastal charm of Portland, ultimately falling in love with the region.

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No matter where Raj and Bina have lived over the years, they have always made efforts to understand the local language and respect the local culture without undermining their own. “We both are very much in touch with India and especially our Punjabi culture.”

“We both grew up speaking Punjabi and Hindi and India will always be part of our identity. India is also the land which is the cornerstone of Bombay Mahal and all the other restaurants we've had over the years with a cuisine which is now becoming more popular in America,” says Raj.

Raising Global Indians

Despite being half a world away from their countries of origin, the couple has firmly planted the seed of love and respect for their Indian roots in the minds of the three sons who were born outside India – two in Germany and one in the UK. “It was very important for us to raise our three boys to fluently speak Punjabi and have a deep connection and understanding of what it means to be an NRI,” says Raj.

“We have told our kids - no matter where you go in the world, never forget your country of origin and keep the attitude to succeed and work hard to have more than what you came with. Ours is the global story of how immigrants, especially desi people are adapting to new cultures despite being rooted in their culture and doing well in so many countries around the world,” he remarks.

[caption id="attachment_41638" align="aligncenter" width="541"] Indian Diaspora | Raj and Bina Sharma | Global Indian Raj and Bina Sharma with Vikash, Vanit and Sumit[/caption]

Over the past three decades, the couple has experienced immense joy in witnessing their three sons graduate from esteemed universities in the United States. While their eldest son, Vikash, established his physical therapy practice in New York, their other two sons Vanit and Sumit have turned entrepreneurs after working in the UK and Australia respectively. Commemorating their family’s entrepreneurial legacy, Van and Sumit launched Rupee Beer to showcase the magnificence of Indian culture to a global audience. It has evolved into a prominent brew in many US states.

Then and Now

“Maine is still not as diverse as other US states like California and New York, but more immigrants have arrived over the years.” In the 1990s, access to South Asian ingredients in Maine was difficult, requiring Raj to travel to Boston at least once a month.

With very few Indian families in the area, it was a very close-knit small community where they would all get together for their kids’ birthdays and celebrations like Holi and Diwali. In due course, the Indian Association of Maine got formed which is still running and holding events across the year. “When the boys were small Bina used to be very involved with all the activities of the association as we wanted them to make friends with other Indians who are to date their friends,” says Raj.

Journey ahead

Raj and Bina express their gratitude for the warmth and support they have received from their patrons over the past three decades. As the couple reflects on their journey, they emphasize the importance of unity in both good and challenging times, in sickness and in health. They believe that life is not merely a search for something elusive, but rather the collective effort of making the most out of it together.

[caption id="attachment_41641" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Indian Diaspora | Raj and Bina Sharma | Global Indian Bombay Mahal[/caption]

Talking about their life ahead they say, “We want to take Bombay Mahal into its next 30 years of serving Maine and our loyal customers. We are planning to also have a presence in Europe, India, and Florida in the coming years.”

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Hustling and bustling: Filmmaker Guneet Monga is taking Indian movies to the stars

(March 14, 2023) About 13 years ago, when her first short film - Kavi - cracked the top five at the 2010 Academy Awards, Guneet Monga didn't even have the means to travel to the United States of America to attend the event. The filmmaker wrote to various big personalities, including British entrepreneur Richard Branson and Indian tycoon Ratan Tata to sponsor her flight tickets, and got no response. "I used to describe myself as the 'Pride of India', asking people for any kind of help to get me into a plane to New York," the filmmaker shared during a show. However, despite chasing various people and their PRs, Guneet couldn't seem to be getting any help. [caption id="attachment_36155" align="aligncenter" width="646"] Guneet Monga (right) with Kartiki Gonsalves (left) after winning the Oscars for The Elephant Whisperers[/caption] Desperate, she ended up writing to the then-President of India - Prathibha Devisingh Patil - and finally got a call. "I asked if I could show my film to the President, and if she writes an appreciation letter I could ask for a sponsorship from the airline companies for a ticket to the US. There were only three weeks left before the Academy Awards.

ed if I could show my film to the President, and if she writes an appreciation letter I could ask for a sponsorship from the airline companies for a ticket to the US. There were only three weeks left before the Academy Awards. But it so happened that the President couldn't see my film, and I was quite vocal about my displeasure. At the Rashtrapati Bhavan, I met Prithviraj Chavan, who was the Union Minister for Science and Technology at the time. He eventually called the CMD of Air India and I along with my team was able to go to my first-ever Oscar event," the filmmaker shared.

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Sure enough, the 'Pride of India', Guneet has come a long way, from being a filmmaker who hustled hard to give her films wings to fly, to becoming one of the first producers from India to be inducted in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Global Indian, who recently won the 95th Academy Award for The Elephant Whisperer in the Best Documentary Short Film category was also the executive producer of Period. End of Sentence. which won the 2019 Academy Award in the same category.

The girl from Delhi

Her story starts in the lanes of New Delhi, as a young woman who just wanted to enter show business in some capacity. A mass communications graduate from the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Guneet hardly knew anything about the industry even when she shifted to Mumbai. In fact, her first independent project was funded by her neighbour, who didn't know much about filmmaking himself. "He told me he wanted to open a studio where young parents could come for a photo/video shoot of their kids," the filmmaker shared. She didn't like the idea one bit but had something better to offer. She said, "He wanted to put about ₹50,00,000 in this business. So I told him, 'Why don't you give me the money and I will go to Mumbai to make a good film for you?' And he agreed." While it all seems pretty easy, Guneet's journey ahead was not a cakewalk.

[caption id="attachment_36156" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet also won the Oscar's Period. End of Sentence. (2019)[/caption]

Just 21, without much experience and alone in a big city like Mumbai, the filmmaker found it quite difficult to start working on her ambitions. "I didn't know much about this business. So, I would just meet anybody and tell them that I had ₹5 million to make a film and ask if they had a story for it. About half of Mumbai knew that a 21-year-old girl has come from Delhi with pachaas lakh rupay," she laughed, adding, "Eventually I met director Subhash Kapoor, and we made Say Salaam India, which was a children's cricket film released on the day India lost the World Cup."

[caption id="attachment_36157" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet with Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, at the Oscar Screening, 2023[/caption]

Around the same time, while she was producing her first film in 2007, Guneet lost her father which affected her deeply. "My mother and I launched Sikhya in 2008 and I lost both my parents that same year. I was not inspired to run a company anymore, so I threw myself into a string of production jobs. I met Anurag Kashyap and worked with him for five-six years," the filmmaker shared.

From Mumbai to the Oscars

Learning and growing, Guneet went on to produce some marvellous gems of Bollywood, including Rang Rasiya (2008), Dasvidaniya (2008), and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010). Eventually, the filmmaker struck gold with the 2012 indie movie The Lunchbox, which was produced under her banner and starred Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The movie was selected for the International Critics' Week and a midnight screening at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, with The Hollywood Reporter, calling her the "most prolific producer of a new wave of cinema".

[caption id="attachment_36158" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet with the team of The Lunchbox at Cannes Film Festival, 2013[/caption]

A hustler, Guneet raised nearly ₹10 million for her next production, Peddlers, by posting the film's script on Facebook. The movie was selected at the International Critics' Week, won rave reviews, and opened new markets for Indian Cinema. "I do not mind hustling for a movie. I once knocked on the door of American filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, uninvited, to promote Gangs of Wasseypur. I gave the DVD of the film to the person who opened the door, wrote my email id on the back of it and gave it to him. About six months later I received an appreciation mail from Scorsese." the filmmaker shared, adding, "I have so many stories where I approached big movie names just to promote my film. I once crashed a dinner of Quentin Tarantino at a film festival and told him about a movie of mine that had just been released. I found a chair and self-invited myself to that dinner party. I am okay to do anything to promote a first-time filmmaker."

[caption id="attachment_36159" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet (extreme right) with the team of Masaan at the Cannes Film Festival, 2015[/caption]

In 2015, another movie of Guneet's, Masaan was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival winning two awards and putting her in the international movie fraternity's spotlight. About four years later, the filmmaker co-produced Period. End of Sentence., which followed a group of local women in Hapur, as they learn how to operate a machine that makes low-cost, biodegradable sanitary pads, which they sell to other women at affordable prices. The movie won Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 91st Academy Awards.

[caption id="attachment_36160" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Filmmaker | Guneet Monga | Global Indian Guneet received the second highest civilian French honour in 2021[/caption]

In 2021, Guneet was conferred with the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government. Focussed on promoting female filmmakers and women-centric movies, Guneet is all for pushing barriers and breaking stereotypes. "I am deeply focused on working with female directors. If not female directors, the most important part of my story has been forwarding female stories in my work. Everything that I lean into as a filmmaker is forwarding a female case. If producers give more backing that is definitely going to change and that is exactly what I am trying to back – the works of good independent woman filmmakers," she shared during an interview.

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Reading Time: 6 mins

Afforestt: Shubhendu Sharma shows you how to grow a 100-year old forest in 10 years

(August 7, 2024) In 2010, Shubhendu Sharma decided to try something in his backyard. He cleared the grass from the 75-sq metre space, in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. Shubhendu began with the soil, making sure that it could hold moisture and nutrients. Then, he planted over 200 saplings, all of them native to the area, comprising around 19 species of shrubs and trees like timber, guava, and mulberry. In a couple of years, the shrubs and trees were growing tall and thick, the dead leaves would decompose into humus and convert to nutrients, as the forest became a single, living, breathing organism that can regenerate forever. This is the Miyawaki Method, named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, one of Shubhendu's teachers and his great inspiration. Now, as the founder of Afforestt, Shubhendu takes inspiration from the Miyawaki Method to grow mini forests in homes, schools, factories and open spaces, creating 75 forests in 25 cities across the world, including the USA, Netherlands, Singapore, Pakistan and India. [caption id="attachment_51553" align="aligncenter" width="745"] The forest in Shubhendu's backyard. Photo: Afforest[/caption] Afforestation is not as simple as planting a bunch of trees. A forest functions as a single organism made up of trees, shrubs, herbs, fungi

"745" height="453" /> The forest in Shubhendu's backyard. Photo: Afforest[/caption]

Afforestation is not as simple as planting a bunch of trees. A forest functions as a single organism made up of trees, shrubs, herbs, fungi and million sof other organisms, all of which interact with each other and their surroundings. But until 2009, Shubhendu Sharma had not thought about all these things. Growing up in Nainital, he loved machines and how they work, and wanted to be a engineer. He followed through on his dream, graduating with a degree in engineering and landing a job at the top company on his list - Toyota, where he specialised at making cars. He learned how to convert natural resources into products, how sap was dripped out of the acacia tree and converted to rubber to make tyres. "We separate elements from nature and convert them into an irreversible state. That's industrial production. Nature, on the other hand, works by bringing elements together, atom by atom."

Then, in 2009, Toyota invited Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki to plant a forest at their factory, Miyawaki's first forest in India. "I was so fascinated just by looking at pictures of his work in his presentation that I joined his team as a volunteer," says the Global Indian. "I learned the methodology and like any engineer, I wrote a standard operating procedure on how to make a forest." He volunteered at the afforestation of the Toyota factory, and for the next year and a half, observed, studied and wrote manuals on the Miyawaki Method.

The Miyawaki method: A deep dive

Miyawaki believed that if a land is deprived of human intervention, the forest will return to it. This begins with grasses, then small shrubs, trees that are pioneer species, usually soft wood that are fast growing, and finally slow growing trees like oak start to appear, Shubhendu explains.

[caption id="attachment_51555" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Shubhendu Sharma | Afforestt | Global Indian Visual credit: Shubhendu Sharma | TED[/caption]

"To make a forest, we start with soil. We touch, feel and even taste it to identify w hat it lacks." Soil that is too compact won't allow water to seep in and is mixed with locally available biomass, like peet, so the soil can absorb water and remain moist." Plants need water, sunlight and nutrition to grow. If the soil doesn't have nutrients, they don't just add them. Instead, they add micro organisms to the soil which feed on the biomass, multiply and produce nutrients for the soil.

The other important thing is to use only native species. "What existed before human intervention is native," Shubhendu explains. They survey national parks and reserves to find the last remains of a forest, the sacred grooves and forests around old temples. If they don't find anything they visit museums to identify the species that belong there. "Then we identify the layers - shrubs, sub-tree, tree and canopy." They sometimes make fruit bearing and flowering forests, those that attract a lot of birds and bees, or simply a native, wild evergreen forest. "We collect the trees and germinate the saplings and make sure the trees belonging to the same layer are not planted side by side or they will fight with each other for sunlight."

Finally, on the surface of the soil goes a thick layer of mulch, so the soil can stay moist when it is cold, and remain protected from frost in the winter. Even while it's freezing outside, Shubhendu says, "the soil is so soft that roots can penetrate rapidly."

How does the forest grow?

In the first three months, roots reach a depth of 1 meter. These roots form a mesh, tightly holding the soil. Microbes and fungi live through this network of roots. “If nutrition is not available in the vicinity of a tree, these microbes will bring the nutrition to it.,” says Shubhendu. Whenever it rains, mushrooms appear overnight. This means that the soil below has a healthy fungal network. Once these roots are established, the forest grows on the surface.

[caption id="attachment_51554" align="aligncenter" width="513"] Shubhendu Sharma | Afforestt | Global Indian Shubhendu Sharma[/caption]

“As it grows, for the next two or three years, we water the forest,” he says. “We want to keep all the soil and nutrition only for the trees.” As the forest grows, it blocks the sunlight. Eventually, it becomes so dense that sunlight can't reach the ground anymore. Weeds cannot grow because they need sunlight too. At this stage, every drop of rainwater that falls into the forest doesn't evaporate back into the atmosphere. This dense forest condenses moist air and retains the moisture.

“Eventually, we stop watering the forest, and even without watering it, the floor stays moist, sometimes dark,” Shubhendu says. When a leaf falls on the forest floor and starts decaying, this decaying biomass forms humus, which is food for the forest. As the forest grows, more leaves fall, so that means more humus, more food, and the forest keeps growing exponentially. Once established, the forests will regenerate again and again, probably forever. In a natural forest like this, no management is the best management. “It's a tiny jungle party. This forest grows as a collective. If the same trees, the same species had been planted independently, it won't grow so fast. And this is how we create a 100-year-old forest in just 10 years.”

Learn more about Afforestt on their website.

Who is Dr Samir Shah? The Indian-origin named as new BBC chairman

(December 18, 2023) It was in April 2023 that a political scandal led to the resignation of the former BBC chairman Richard Sharp after he failed to disclose his involvement in arranging a loan of nearly $1 million to former UK PM Boris Johnson. And now months later, Indian-origin media executive Dr Samir Shah is set to take up the position, after being appointed by the UK government. Delighted to be chosen by the government, Shah said that BBC held a "great place in British life." In a statement, he said, "The BBC is, without doubt, one of the greatest contributions we have made to global culture and one of our strongest calling cards on soft power. If I am able to put what skills, experience, and understanding of public service broadcasting I have built up during my career to help this brilliant organisation meet the complex and diverse challenges it faces over the coming years, it would be an honour,” he said, adding, "BBC had a unique duty to reach a wide audience right across the country" and promised to do "all I can to ensure it fulfils this in an increasingly competitive market". [caption id="attachment_47566" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Dr

enter" width="1024"] Dr Samir Shah | Global Indian Dr Samir Shah[/caption]

It's Dr Samir Shah's impressive work that made the UK government sit up and take notice of the Indian-origin media executive who worked with the BBC for 11 years in the 80s and 90s. Moreover, in 1999, he was honoured with the Order of the Brirish Empire for his significant contributions to equal opportunities in broadcasting. Recognizing his achievements, he became a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 2002. Furthermore, in 2019, Shah was bestowed with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his notable services in the realms of heritage and television.

Born in Aurangabad in 1952, he moved with his family to the UK in 1960 where he went to Latymer Upper School in West London before studying geography at the University of Hull. Keen to expand his knowledge, he pursued further studies in Anthropology and Geography at St Catherine's College, Oxford, taking a doctorate of Philosophy (DPhil) in 1979.

The same year, he joined London Weekend Television, a pivotal juncture in his career. During this period, he collaborated closely with two influential figures who would significantly impact his professional trajectory: John Birt, who would later assume the role of director-general at the BBC, and Michael Wills, from whom Shah would later acquire Juniper TV. After a successful stint, in 1987, Shah assumed the position of Head of Television Current Affairs at the BBC. His role expanded from 1994 to 1998 when he served as the Head of Political Journalism Programmes at the BBC. In 1998, Shah acquired Juniper TV from Wills, who transitioned to a role as a Member of Parliament. Since then, he has taken on the roles of CEO and Creative Director at Juniper. The company's productions have been featured on prominent platforms such as the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic, Discovery, TLC, and Netflix.

Dr Samir Shah | Global Indian

In his capacity as BBC chairman, he will assume a part-time position, working three days a week, with an annual salary of £160,000. Shah's responsibilities will include safeguarding and promoting the interests of the publicly funded license fee-operated public broadcaster, ensuring it meets its mandate to "inform, educate, and entertain." He will additionally spearhead discussions with the government regarding the outlook of the license fee.

With a career spanning more than 40 years in TV production and journalism, Dr Shah has a wealth of experience to bring to the position of BBC Chair,” UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said, adding, "He has a clear ambition to see the BBC succeed in a rapidly changing media landscape, and I have no doubt he will provide the support and scrutiny that the BBC needs to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future."

With a career spanning over 40 years in broadcasting, Dr. Samir Shah is poised to bring a wealth of expertise to his role as the next BBC chairman. His extensive experience positions him as a valuable leader who will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future trajectory of the BBC. Dr. Shah's commitment to the field and his track record in the industry signal a promising era ahead, where his vision and leadership will contribute significantly to the continued success and impact of the renowned public broadcaster.

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