Musician | Chandrika Tandon | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryChandrika Tandon: A trailblazing musician and a global business icon

Chandrika Tandon: A trailblazing musician and a global business icon

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(September 9, 2023) In a world where many wear multiple hats, few individuals manage to wear them as brilliantly as the celebrated musician, Chandrika Tandon, who has made her mark not only in the realm of music but also as a global business leader. Back in 2009, she earned a Grammy nomination for the first time. And now, she is all set to release her new album, ‘Ammu’s Treasures’, on World Grandparents’ Day on September 10. “Ammu’s Treasures is a curation of my memories,” Chandrika said in a press release about her latest album, adding, “This music will connect with the memories of everyone who listens. It becomes a real bonding experience for families. These songs speak of faraway places, in different genres and languages, with varied arrangements, and are meant for quiet times, happy times, or any time, for any age.”

As if her musical prowess wasn’t impressive enough, this musician also holds the distinguished position of Chair on the Board of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The school itself bears her name as a testament to her generosity and commitment to nurturing future engineers and innovators. Beyond the Tandon School, she assumes the role of Trustee at New York University, cementing her presence as a significant stakeholder in the university’s mission and vision. Additionally, she lends her expertise as a Trustee of NYU Langone Health, further illustrating her dedication to advancing healthcare.

The Global Indian, who is also business executive Indra Nooyi’s sister, is the esteemed recipient of the Gallatin Medal, an honor bestowed upon individuals who have displayed exceptional dedication to their respective fields. The Walter Nichols Medal for leadership and integrity is another jewel in her crown, recognising her unwavering commitment to ethical conduct and visionary leadership.

A humble start

Coming from a Tamil Brahmin household, Chandrika’s formative years unfolded amidst the vibrant streets of T Nagar in Madras. As a student at Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, she was not only academically exceptional but also proudly bore the standard for her school in numerous competitions. “I really sang before I could speak,” the musician said in an interview, adding, “Growing up, we came from a very simple family. I did thousands of chores growing up and would sing while doing those. So music was always a part of my life.”

But life wasn’t all that easy. From a young age, Chandrika Tandon was led to believe that an early arranged marriage was her preordained destiny. Her mother, ever the planner, began collecting stainless steel utensils for her future trousseau, from the moment Chandrika Tandon was born, all in preparation for the day when she would turn sixteen. In fact, in 1973, she had to resort to a hunger strike as a bold and determined protest in her quest to gain admission to the college of her dreams, Madras Christian College.

Chandrika with Indian PM Narendra Modi

The musician went on to pursue a master’s from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad – where she was actually one of only eight women in her batch. Her maiden professional venture led her to Citibank, thrusting her into the heart of war-torn Beirut. The city was a landscape marked by curfews, streets ablaze, and the constant threat of explosions. She vividly recalled that a movie theater she and a friend had visited was reduced to rubble the very next day.

Making the world a better place

At the tender age of 24, Chandrika Tandon embarked on her American journey, initially arriving to interview for a position at McKinsey & Company. With no American degree or green card to her name, she entered the interview room in a traditional sari and chappals, her attire completed by a borrowed coat. Not the one to give up so easily, Chandrika worked very hard at her company – eventually ascending to the esteemed position of partner at this renowned firm, making history as the first Indian-American woman to achieve this distinction. In 1992, Chandrika founded Tandon Capital Associates. Since then, she has offered her guidance to an array of esteemed clients, including but not limited to Chase Manhattan Corporation, Comerica, Unibanco (Brazil), Suncorp-Metway Ltd. (Australia), Fleet Financial Group, Bank of America, Rabobank, and ABN Amro.

The business woman with students at NYU

However, running a successful business wasn’t enough for Chandrika. The Indian-American has always been passionate about giving back to her community. She served as the Trustee of the American India Foundation from 2005 to 2011. The businesswoman founded the Tandon Global Clinics at the performing arts school Berklee to help Indian schoolchildren pursue music careers. In 2015, she and her husband Ranjan Tandon donated $100 million to New York University’s School of Engineering, after which the University changed the name of the institute to Tandon School of Engineering.

Musician at heart

Even while she was conquering the business world, Chandrika Tandon was always a musician. “I had a $5,000 bonus when I joined McKinsey. I had to pay my down payment for my rent. I had to pay a security deposit. I had to buy furniture. But I didn’t buy any of that, other than the down payment. I bought a Martin guitar for $1,800, and I bought a stereo system, which was the rest of the money. I had about $50 or so left for the next month. I ate rice and coriander chutney every single day that month because I didn’t have any money to eat. I had no furniture. I slept on a sheet. This is how crazy I was about music,” shares the musician.

Chandrika’s musical journey took flight in 2009 with the release of her debut album, “Soul Call“. It was from this album that the enchanting track “Om Namo Narayanaya” earned a Grammy nomination in the prestigious “Best Contemporary World Music Album” category.

A decade later, in 2019, this gifted musician graced the Kennedy Center, an iconic bastion of American art and culture, with an awe-inspiring performance showcasing her fourth album, “Shivoham.” Over approximately 100 mesmerising minutes, Chandrika Tandon delivered 12 soul-stirring songs from the album, accompanied by a stellar ensemble of ten world-class musicians. The performance culminated in a resounding ovation from the captivated audience, an acknowledgment of the magic she had woven on stage.

Chandrika at the Kennedy Center

“I chose to release all this music as one giant treasury for people of all ages, all over the world,” the musician recently said while talking about her latest release Ammu’s Treasures, “Because I believe that exposing even very young children to an extensive palette of music will leave a long-lasting impact – just like hearing Mozart in the womb. More is indeed more.”

Follow Chandrika Tandon on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Spotify, and her website

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Madhubani to Mississippi: Prakash Kumar Jha cultivates success in agricultural sciences and mentorship

(June 19, 2024) After earning a fully funded admission into a PhD program in Crop and Soil Sciences at Michigan State University, Prakash Kumar Jha, a native of Madhubani in Bihar, first landed in the US nine years ago. He was met with culture shock and a desperate need to fit in, which required improving his English and adjusting his accent to match the new environment. This adjustment took months. Having experienced the struggles of gaining admission abroad and then striving to excel and integrate as a student, Prakash found his calling in helping others transition smoothly from students in India to scholars abroad. "In my initiative, I have mentored more than 1,000 young graduates by offering them advice on academic and career opportunities," Prakash tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_52471" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Prakash Kumar Jha[/caption] His professional and voluntary accomplishments led the assistant professor of Mississippi State University to receive the Foreign Fellow Award recently from the Society for Science of Climate Change and Sustainable Environment (SSCE), an NCR-based organisation. "Usually, the Fellow Award from SSCE is conferred on senior members who are in their 50s and 60s, but for the first time in their history, they have awarded a

and voluntary accomplishments led the assistant professor of Mississippi State University to receive the Foreign Fellow Award recently from the Society for Science of Climate Change and Sustainable Environment (SSCE), an NCR-based organisation. "Usually, the Fellow Award from SSCE is conferred on senior members who are in their 50s and 60s, but for the first time in their history, they have awarded a member who is below 40," the 34-year-old remarks.

Mentoring – a passion

Apart from working as a researcher and academic in the US, Prakash is part of several professional organisations. As a mentor, he not only guides young people on how to improve their competency but also connects them with the professional organisations he is involved with, helping them enhance their exposure and increase their networking opportunities.

One such organisation is SYAHI - Society of Young Agricultural and Hydrology Scholars of India, which he co-founded in 2019. "Now, it's a group of 1,000 members from 40 countries," he says. Prakash is also associated with Agricultural Scientists of Indian Origin, a voluntary organisation with members from across the globe. For a two-year term, he has been designated as the Liaison Officer to build collaborations between Indian and US agricultural scientists. He also serves as the chairperson of the agricultural vertical and secretary of the Global Indian Scientist and Technocrat Forum (GIST)—USA.

[caption id="attachment_52466" align="aligncenter" width="749"] Indians in USA | Prakash Kumar Jha | Global Indian Prakash Kumar Jha[/caption]

Staying connected with roots

Although Prakash looks at the US as the place that helped him build his identity, develop confidence, and find his path in life, his love for India and his fellow countrymen is central to many of his initiatives and associations.

He is associated as the adjunct faculty of agricultural meteorology, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga, Karnataka, and precision agriculture, Shere-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu.

As a mentor of Indian students aspiring to study abroad, he says he tries to respond to queries immediately, even if it is late hours in the US. "I find satisfaction in helping others and sharing my expertise whenever I can."

Calling SYAHI his passion project, Prakash and his team have built a consortium of early career researchers to develop collaboration, build networks, share research, and make more connected actions in the field of hydrology and agricultural sciences. "Helping develop the overall agricultural ecosystem is something that I am deeply passionate about," he says.

[caption id="attachment_52467" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Indians in USA | Prakash Kumar Jha | Global Indian Prakash Kumar Jha[/caption]

The team also mentors young graduate students focusing on training them to gain admission abroad, submit research proposals, secure research grants, write research papers, and work on agritech startup ideas.

Looking at adversities as advantage

Prakash had been a good student in his childhood, earning admission to Navodaya Vidyalaya on merit — a remarkable achievement given his humble background. This achievement entitled him to free education, clothing, lodging, and food from standard six to twelve. However, he also faced failures. "I do not hide the fact that I was not able to clear the medical entrance exams despite two attempts," he says. "Rather, I now feel happy that it led me to the path of agriculture." Someone suggested he take up agricultural sciences when he was unable to clear the medical entrance exams, and he now feels grateful that the initial plan did not work out, as it led him to a field he finds most interesting.

After completing his bachelor’s in agricultural sciences from BHU, Prakash pursued a master’s in environmental sciences from the Centre for Environment Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Following this, he earned his PhD in crop and soil sciences from the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University.

[caption id="attachment_52469" align="aligncenter" width="519"] Indians in USA | Prakash Kumar Jha | Global Indian[/caption]

As soon as he completed his PhD, the world was engulfed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The appointments at universities where he wanted to work as faculty were stalled. It was a sudden disruption in his career plans. Nevertheless, he took the setback in his stride and found a postdoctoral research opportunity at Kansas State University. “During this time, I focused on creating a repertoire of research papers, which helped enhance my CV,” he says.

After three years, he finally landed a job as an assistant professor at Mississippi State University. Prakash now has more than 50 research papers to his credit.

Making a mark

Prakash is grateful to his mentors, including Professor Vara Prasad, Professor of crop ecophysiology and Director of the Centre for Sorghum Improvement in the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University.

Through his hard work, he achieved notable recognitions, such as the Best Graduate Student Award in 2017 from the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University. In 2019, Prakash was awarded the Dr Delia Koo Global Student Scholarship for his contributions to South Asia scientific collaboration at Michigan State University. The same year, he was honoured with the National Young Scientist Award by the All-India Agricultural Students Association and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Later, he received the Outstanding Postdoc Award at the annual meeting of the Association of Agricultural Scientists of Indian Origin held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Recently, he was conferred the International Young Scientist Award from Bihar Agricultural University. "I see awards as inspiration to achieve more," he says.

[caption id="attachment_52470" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Indians in USA | Prakash Kumar Jha | Global Indian Prakash Kumar Jha conducting a field visit[/caption]

As a scientist and academic, Prakash specialises in agronomy and plant sciences. His research interests include investigating the impact of agronomic management on crop growth and development. His work focuses on understanding the complexities of agricultural systems, integrating crop simulation models, remote sensing, and climate forecasts to develop decision support systems for improved management strategies in crop production.

Prakash Kumar Jha’s journey of transition from a Madhubani boy to a researcher and academic in the US, and a mentor to aspiring students, is a result of his dedication to agricultural sciences and his commitment to guiding the next generation of scholars - all while taking setbacks in stride and turning them into opportunities for growth and success.

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Shilo Shiv Suleman: From Bengaluru to Burning Man

(September 14, 2022) "It's impossible, it can't be done." "Don't go to Pakistan, it's too dangerous." Shilo Shiv Suleman, award-winning artist and founder of the Fearless Collective, always does it anyway. In late 2021, her installation, Temple, was showcased at Boundless Space a charity event by Sotheby's and the Burning Man Project. The 40-kilo, wearable installation, crafted in bronze, which was finally auctioned for $56,700, is a connection to her paternal family's history as well as an attempt to see the female body as a site of devotion. This year, she branched out into the NFT space, at the Disruptors Techne show, conducted in parallel with the India Art Fair. The Fearless Collective did NFT drops of five posters by artists from India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. She's also a regular at the Burning Man festival at Black Rock Desert in Nevada - having been name the Lead Artist in 2014 and again in 2016, for Pulse and Bloom and Grove, respectively. Global Indian looks at the artist's life and career, as she straddles two worlds – her personal art work which leans into magical realism and her art as social activism, done through the Fearless Collective. Equating the

al art work which leans into magical realism and her art as social activism, done through the Fearless Collective.

Equating the female body with the divine has been the philosophy underlying Shilo's work for several years now. When we met at her Bengaluru home back in 2016, Shilo emerged in a gold outfit, her forehead adorned with sacred ash and vermillion. It was her means of paying showing reverence to her body, just as one would do to an altar or a shrine, she informed me.

[caption id="attachment_29367" align="aligncenter" width="762"] Temple, by Shilo Shiv Suleman. Photo: The Burning Man Journal[/caption]

Talent born in turmoil

Born in Bengaluru, Shilo's life at the age of 13, when her father went on a business trip to China and "vanished without notice," she told The Hindu. Her mother, Nilofer, who is also an artist, suddenly found she had a family with two children to sustain and began teaching art. "At 14, I used to carry her basket of crayons and assist her. During the day she worked two jobs to sustain us, at night we painted." When she turned sixteen, Shilo decided to take her mother's middle name, Suleman. Today, Nilofer is a celebrated artist in her own right, her work in private collections around the world.

Shilo's career as an artist began at 16, as a children's book illustrator. By the time she turned 20, she had published 10 books. She leaned into magical realism, art, nature, culture, technology and the divine feminine, producing paintings, wearable sculptures, installations and public art.

The Fearless Collective

In 2012, when the horrific 'Nirbhaya' case shattered the country, Shilo decided it was time her art made a social impact. She founded the Fearless Collective, quickly becoming something of a revolutionary. She went from painting at home to taking her art to public spaces, using technology and Augmented Reality and creating large-scale installations around the world. That year, her talk as an INK fellow, made it to TED.com, fetching nearly a million views.

Starting out with a small team that included Tehani Ariyaratne and Gayatri Ganju, the Fearless Collective began as an online campaign. Women from around the world were given a platform to tell their stories. This included the Syrian refugees in Beirut, queer activists in South Africa, the women of the Shaheen Bagh protests and LGBTQ men from Rajasthan. "We conduct workshops for them and help them use art as a way to represent who they are and how they wanted to be perceived in this world," Shilo told Social Story. "Through these workshops, we essentially make self-portraits in the street and create such monuments for that community."

[caption id="attachment_29369" align="aligncenter" width="904"] The Fearless Collective in Karachi. Photo: Shilo Shiv Suleman[/caption]

In 2015, Shilo took the Fearless Collective to Pakistan. There, she painted on the wall of the National Bank of Pakistan in Lahore where she was interrupted by the director, who found he liked her work so much he allowed her to carry on. In Rawalpindi, the artist-activist made history, working with Khwaja Sera, the local transgender community, whose stories they depicted through public art.

The unsung heroes of the pandemic

When lockdowns were imposed across the country, the Fearless Collective took to the streets once more, this time to celebrate Bengaluru's civic workers, the pourakarmikas. Every day, the pandemic notwithstanding, thousands of women would step out of home to clean the city, collecting garbage from homes and business and cleaning the streets.

When the lockdown was lifted, the Collective collaborated with Hasiru Dala, an NGO that works with these informal waste workers, to start 'Essential'. The Fearless team painted a mural on the Utility Building, one of Bengaluru's iconic landmarks, located on MG Road. It was a tribute to the dignity of the women who make the city liveable, responsible for collecting and segregating the 4000 tonnes of waste generated in Bengaluru every day.

"I have always said it's high time that women go out on the streets, reclaim their public space and represent their stories, fearlessly," Shilo told Outlook India. "In general, India needs more women on the streets, making way for critical social justice conversations with marginalised communities and transforming corners of fear and trauma into a canvas of beautiful art." At the time of that interview, the Fearless Collective was a three-city tour across North India, starting in UP which was "reeling with the nightmarish news from a brutal gang rape of a Dalit woman in Hathras. We chose to speak of how women want to be touched." They concluded in Jaipur, where they spoke to members from the queer community.

[caption id="attachment_29370" align="aligncenter" width="901"] Grove, from Burning Man 2016, at Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Photo: Shilo Shiv Suleman[/caption]

The Sotheby's auction

Twelve years after her father's departure, Shilo decided the time had come to seek him out once more. She went to his hometown in Kerala, where he was living after being compelled to return from China. "That afternoon in December 2019, I found him, but I also found myself," she told The Hindu.

Her father's family, who were Nambiars, had, for generations, been custodians to a temple in Kannur. They tended to the deity, Oorpazhachi Kavu, the temple of the Mother Goddess. "Temples are not just entered but also ceremonially worn," Shilo told Indulge Express. "These shrines serve as a reminder that sacredness exists within our bodies."

That's how she conceptualised the piece, which took six months to execute. She did so through local artisans in Hawa Mahal, Jaipur. Although Shilo couldn't be there in person her friend, the American singer Monica Dogra put together a performance - a procession of 25 women in red sarees, holding holy water in their hands. "I had estimated ito to be auctioned at 50,000 so the final deal exceeded my expectations," she said, in the Indulge interview. "When I heard numbers were going up, I couldn't contain myself. It was amazing to see the recognition that it got."

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Ananya Tiwari: Texas academic promoting STEM among rural Indian girls with SwaTaleem

(May 20, 2024) “I believe we are the only ones from India to have ever received this honour and so we'll make sure that we kind of rise up to it. Our plan is to make our advocacy stronger around STEM and the under representation of women in STEM, not just in India but also globally,” said Ananya Tiwari, soon after receiving the 2023 Inspiring Women in Science Award by Nature Portfolio and The Estée Lauder Companies Inc – which saw nominations spanning 45 countries across six continents. The award ceremony was held at New York in presence of the UN under-secretary general for global communications, Melissa Fleming. This is one of many achievements for Ananya, who is an assistant professor at the Texas A&M University and the founder of the non profit, SwaTaleem. The foundation focuses on increasing STEM participation and aiding retention of adolescent rural girls in STEM education. In 2022, Google named Ananya as one of seven rising changemakers and a ‘Leader to Watch’. [caption id="attachment_51731" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Ananya shared the 2023 Nature Inspiring Women in Science Award with Dr. Hortense LE FERRAND[/caption] “One of the things that we want to do very strongly is to take this programme to as many girls as possible

ds-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-loopstyle="linkonly" data-linkindex="2">The Estée Lauder Companies Inc – which saw nominations spanning 45 countries across six continents. The award ceremony was held at New York in presence of the UN under-secretary general for global communications, Melissa Fleming.

This is one of many achievements for Ananya, who is an assistant professor at the Texas A&M University and the founder of the non profit, SwaTaleem. The foundation focuses on increasing STEM participation and aiding retention of adolescent rural girls in STEM education. In 2022, Google named Ananya as one of seven rising changemakers and a ‘Leader to Watch’.

[caption id="attachment_51731" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global indian Ananya shared the 2023 Nature Inspiring Women in Science Award with Dr. Hortense LE FERRAND[/caption]

“One of the things that we want to do very strongly is to take this programme to as many girls as possible and so we are of course expanding in India. We are also very interested in collaborating with different entities across the world and are looking at a global expansion,” said Ananya.

SwaTaleem

“Over 53 million Girls between the ages of 12 to 18, many of whom are first- generation learners, hail from low socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and tribal areas. As of 2015, their school dropout rates are on the rise and over 13 million have been pushed into child marriages. SwaTaleem helps break this cycle of oppression and empowers these young Girls of tomorrow with the necessary skills and long-term support,” reads the SwaTaleem website. The initiative is running for the past six years in India.

SwaTaleem collaborates with Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) school girls their families, educators, and community women. These residential schools meant for the poorest of the poor were established by the government of India to provide quality education to girls from underprivileged communities. SwaTaleem has been working with 31 KGBVs in Delhi and Haryana – the state with one of the lowest literacy rates of girls.

https://youtu.be/J6xlxkTcMl0

The SwaTaleem empowerment story

Ananya Tiwari adopted the approach of empowering KGBV teachers and local women to support young girls by forming school clusters. Through the use of IVRS technology, SwaTaleem enables girls, parents, and teachers to participate in the development of life skills content collaboratively. This interactive engagement equips young girls to learn life skills easily, feel empowered and build aspirations.

SwaTaleem also works towards improving the skillsets of skill providers and educators in the villages. “Some of the best days in SwaTaleem are when the team members across villages and districts come together to learn and grow, and find new ways to work with girls, teachers, parents and education system’s officials,” the Global Indian said.

The foundation conducts Internal Team Readiness Workshops for all the field team members, including Cluster Leads, Associate Cluster Leads, and Field Coordinators. The primary aim for these workshops is to establish strong connections among team members, enhance unity, encourage reflection on experiences and lessons learned from various field projects, prepare for upcoming interventions in the coming months, and review the annual calendar.

Since most field team members are women, when young girls see so many women facilitating education to them, they get empowered as they have grown up in environments where they have not seen women working.

Ananya Tiwari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWXN0SzeZd4

Mai Bhi Curie

The foundation’s programme ‘Mai Bhi Curie’ which translates to ‘I can also be Curie’ in Hindi,” is named after Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie, who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. This programme has played a big role in making SwaTaleem earn international awards and recognitions. The programme integrates science, gender, and life skills curricula for young girls. These girls often belong to first-generation learner families, marginalized castes, religious minorities, and face high rates of high school dropout and early marriage.

They face a number of barriers in terms of not just completing their schooling but also choosing science. What is interesting is that we recruit local village women to get trained and do the sessions with the girls in the schools.

Ananya Tiwari

After the end of the academic session every year, the girls get to display their scientific projects to the villagers including their parents, family and the government officials at a science fair. This initiative has facilitated scientific knowledge and is playing a role in changing cultural norms, ultimately aiding in the retention of more young girls in STEM fields.

[caption id="attachment_51733" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global Indian Glimpse of the Main Bhi Curie initiatives[/caption]

The impact

SwaTaleem has impacted 250,000 girls in Delhi and Haryana. The foundation not only observes but also quantifies the changes in behaviour and impact, such as improvements in self-esteem, confidence, and assertive communication levels. Ananya emphasizes the profound connection between these changes and scientific knowledge.

“When a girl feels proficient in subjects or areas typically considered difficult by society, she gains the ability to advocate for herself within her family. Numerous studies, including internal research conducted by the foundation, highlight a strong correlation between these factors,” she explains. Along with the evidence-based data, the foundation boasts of anecdotal data of girls that highlight how SwaTaleem has helped navigate their lives in a better direction.

A fun fact is that the schools we work with are nearly two decades old but the girls for the very first time after participating in our programme worked on any science project and submitted in government competitions.

Ananya Tiwari

"These competitions were first held at the block level where they competed with boys and won,” Ananya shares adding. “Their wins have been across gender, across cast, across class, and across the rural urban divide at the block levels, after which their projects went up to the district level and that has been a historical moment for us, something that we've taken huge pride in,” Ananya mentions

[caption id="attachment_51734" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global Indian SwaTaleem Girls[/caption]

The joy of giving back

Ananya gives full credit to her team for the huge impact that SwaTaleem Foundation has hade. The Texas-based educationist believes that had it not been for them, coming so far would have been impossible.

I have grown up in India and I was very fortunate to be able to go to school, to be able to study. I don't come from a very wealthy family but I always had food on table and my parents took really good care of me, so I think it's very important for me as a person to give back and that is why girls education is extremely important to me something that I have been involved with not just through SwaTaleem but also my own research areas here in the US.

Ananya Tiwari

Ananya has studied on numerous scholarships throughout her educational journey. She earned the Margaret McNamara Education Grant (MMEG) to support her studies in the US. MMEG is a nonprofit, public charity founded in 1981 that awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries.

After completing a BSc from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, Ananya pursued her MA in psychology from Kanpur and graduated as a gold medallist. She did a postgraduate diploma course in liberal studies from Ashoka University on a Russel Mehta Scholarship and earned the Outstanding ELM Award. Following that, Ananya went on to pursue her MS and PhD in educational psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was the recipient of the outstanding doctoral medallion.

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Meet Sarbpreet Singh, who went from corporate boardrooms to writing about the immigrant Sikh experience

(February 26, 2024) A Boston-based writer, podcaster, and commentator, Sarbpreet Singh is a man who wears many hats with élan. Author of the critically acclaimed books The Story of the Sikhs 1469–1708, Night of the Restless Spirits, The Sufi’s Nightingale, and the bestselling The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia, his deeply researched books have left an imprint on many readers. Having worked for various firms, including General Electric, Lucent Technologies, Flextronics International, and AT&T Bell Labs, he made the career switch to writing in 2017. Sarbpreet Singh is the very definition of a Global Indian. Raised in Sikkim, speaking Punjabi (his mother tongue) and Nepali (the language most prevalent in Sikkim), his syncretic upbringing and outlook have ensured he imbibes the best that places and people have to offer. [caption id="attachment_49428" align="aligncenter" width="585"] Sarbpreet Singh[/caption] Love of literature Hailing from one of only two Sikh families that lived in Gangtok, Sikkim, the author was quite disconnected from his roots, both culturally and socially. He recalls, “While I had friends growing up, I struggled with feelings of isolation that came from the ‘othering’ that my visible Sikh identity provoked.” In a school culture where sporting abilities were valued highly, his indifferent soccer

nected from his roots, both culturally and socially. He recalls, “While I had friends growing up, I struggled with feelings of isolation that came from the ‘othering’ that my visible Sikh identity provoked.”

In a school culture where sporting abilities were valued highly, his indifferent soccer and track and field abilities meant that he turned to elocution, dramatics and related pursuits, which transformed into lifelong interests.

He recalls, “I always loved literature, and during my high school years, against the advice of my mentors, I decided to study English literature as an elective, something that was not recommended for a student studying science subjects. The two-year syllabus enriched me tremendously as I delved into the likes of Thomas Hardy, Samuel Butler, John Galsworthy, and, of course, Shakespeare."

Sarbpreet went on to study Engineering at The Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani. After a stint at ICIM, a Bombay-based tech company, he left for the US to study computer science at Pace University in New York.

Life in the US

The author says that he adjusted to life in the US easily. “As someone who attended elite schools in India, had a deep love of the English language, and identified with western ideas and culture, I did not have much trouble adjusting to my new life in a new country. I maintained my Sikh identity, and while my distinctive physical appearance did lead to the inevitable othering, it did not hold me back in my professional career at all,” he states.

However, Sarbpreet did change profoundly in other ways. He recounts, “My first job took me to a small suburb of the Midwestern city of Milwaukee. Quite serendipitously, a budding interest in my roots, which had started while I was in graduate school, took shape as I started spending time with young Sikhs around my age who attended the small Milwaukee Gurdwara.”

As a young man who was until then immersed mostly in Rock and The Blues, and disdained all forms of Indian music, he found himself drawn to Gurmat Sangeet, or Sikh sacred music.

Milwaukee was also home to a small but thriving Indian classical music community, which Sarbpreet got involved with. The twin interests in Gurmat Sangeet and Shastriya Sangeet developed into a lifelong passion, especially as he launched The Gurmat Sangeet Project, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of traditional Sikh music.

A writer by accident

As an expatriate Indian and a Sikh, Sarbpreet first encountered writings on Sikhs and the Sikh faith by chance. He explains, “While I did speak Punjabi, I never learned to read Gurmukhi and was hence limited to reading exclusively in the English language. I encountered J.D. Cunningham's History of the Sikhs and Max Marthur Macauliffe’s The Sikh Religion, finding both works to be tremendously inspiring, after which I read Khushwant Singh’s History of the Sikhs as well.”

Reading about the broad worldview of the Sikh Gurus and the trials and tribulations of eighteenth-century Sikhs as they struggled to establish their progressive faith in a society that was anything but welcoming inspired Sarbpreet tremendously.

This budding interest in Sikh history led him to writings about more recent events, most notably the tragic events of 1984. He reminisces, “Reading the PUCL/PUDR report on the Delhi massacre, an article by Madhu Kishwar titled Gangster Rule on the same topic, and most importantly, an academic paper by anthropologist Dr. Veena Das created tremendous turmoil in my heart.”

This was the spark that prompted him to write Kultar’s Mime, a long poem about four children who survived the anti-Sikh violence of 1984 and their attempts to deal with their PTSD.

After that, Sarbpreet took a long break from writing, and it wasn’t until years later that he started writing a column for the popular web magazine SikhChic in 2013. He states, “The positive response to the column inspired me to write my first book, The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia, set in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The book was a great critical and commercial success, and it launched my career as a writer.”

From tech to storytelling

He left the world of technology around 2014 and, for the next two years, focused on producing the play Kultar’s Mime, created by his daughter based on his poem. He shares, “Somewhere along this three-year journey, which took the play to six countries for 90+ performances, I made the decision to embrace storytelling completely." His epiphany came after a performance in Birmingham, UK, when a young Sikh in his late teens walked up to him and said, ‘I could never imagine that our stories could be told in this manner’. After the tour ended in 2017, he started writing in earnest.

Sarbpreet writes on topics that inspire him or catch his imagination; as his interests are varied, his books deal with different themes. He outlines it when he says, “All my work is deeply rooted in research, and I tend to immerse myself in my subject before I write a single word. For example, my latest novel, The Sufi’s Nightingale, is a retelling of the life of the poet Shah Hussain. While I tried to read everything about him that I could lay my hands on before writing the novel, I also spent a couple of years creating original compositions to sing his kafis or poems, which appear in translation in the book and are deeply embedded in the narrative.”

A man of many talents

Along with writing, Sarbpreet is also the writer-narrator of the podcast, Story of The Sikhs, which has listeners in over ninety countries. Ask him how he juggles it with writing, and he smiles. “There is really no juggling involved at all! Even though my canvas is quite broad, all my work is based on what truly inspires me. Novels, works of non-fiction, plays, poetry, podcasts, and music—all of these to me are just different modes of storytelling, with the ultimate objective of inspiring others.”

Though he has lived longer now in the US than in India, the author is rooted culturally in the Indian subcontinent. It is reflected in the food he likes, the music he listens to and the stories he writes. When not spending time with his family, he is busy with his other passions – tennis, music and literature. He is currently working on his next book, Cauldron, Sword, Victory – The Rise of the Sikhs expected to be out later this year.

Follow Sarbpreet Singh on Instagram.

Triumph over Trafficking: Harold D’Souza and his family’s journey from victims to advocates

(May 8, 2024) “Harold D'Souza and Darcy D'Souza are inspirations to me, and their story inspired me to create a feature documentary film titled 'To Be Free,' which focuses on labour trafficking in the United States," shared American director Benjamin Ryan Nathan in his message at the Eyes Open International (EOI) Conference organised by Harold D'Souza last week. The feature documentary is being produced by the American actor and producer Martin Sheen who has received numerous accolades, including three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards in a career spanning 30 years. “Are you aware that slavery is still thriving in our midst? The answer to that question inspired me to become an executive producer of the feature documentary film called 'To Be Free' that exposes the practice of human labour trafficking here in the United States and around the world,” he remarked in his video message that was played at the conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reKPdItTRdk "This was our first Eyes Open International Conference. It was my dream project, a mission impossible made possible with the help of EOI Board Directors, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre, and well-wishers," Harold D'Souza, pleased with the success of

ernational Conference. It was my dream project, a mission impossible made possible with the help of EOI Board Directors, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre, and well-wishers," Harold D'Souza, pleased with the success of the conference, shared with Global Indian.

He formed his non-profit Eyes Open International to enlighten community members, victims, survivors, law enforcement agencies, faith leaders, nonprofit organisations, healthcare professionals, police officials, first responders, academics, students, teachers, and professors to identify red flags, problems, solutions, and resources involved in human trafficking. The EOI conference served as an extension of this goal. The EOI board boasts of people from both USA and India including Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil.

The global rendezvous

Apart from the thousands who viewed the EOI conference (Triumph over Trafficking) live virtually from India, Canada, Pakistan, Nepal, and the U.K., 300 people attended it in person," shared Harold, adding, "Those who travelled from India to attend the conference included Deepak Acharya, EOI Board Director and CEO of INOX India Ltd."

Linda Dixon from the Department of Defense USA, Dr Yvan Demosthenes, CEO of HamiltonDemo, Dr Kalyani Gopal, founder of SAFECHR, Linda Majeska Powers, Legal Director of the Ohio Attorney General, Hon Woodrow Keown, President and CEO of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and Hriday Raval, International Director of Eyes Open International, were the speakers at the conference.

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"The audience felt that it was a life-changing experience for them simply by seeing the first brown survivor family, on stage. For the first time in our two-decade journey, all four of us—my wife, Darcy, and my sons, Rohan and Bradley—were together to share our journey from struggle to success," Harold remarked. He strongly believes that "survivors are thrivers."

Expressing gratitude to the EOI Board Directors, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the entire community from Ohio, America, and India for the successful EOI conference, Harold D'Souza added, 'The support from Rohan, Bradly, and Darcy was the pillar of this mega success."

Flashback - From Victim to White House Consultant

In 2003, Mangalore’s Harold D’Souza relocated to the United States with his family, only to realise that they had inadvertently fallen victim to human trafficking, eventually finding themselves ensnared in debt bondage.

“I stepped down from a senior management position in India to pursue the American dream,” remarked Harold. “I came to the United States following the advice and encouragement of a man who would become my trafficker,” he said, talking about his ordeal. “He manipulated, tricked and trapped us.” As a part of the deceitful scheme, Harold was promised of an H-1B visa, and a job as a business development manager with a salary of $75,000 along with other perks.

“In 2003, it was a big amount and thinking of the future of my two sons, I decided to take up the offer leaving behind the stable job in India,” he shared. His boys were seven and four-years-old at that time.

[caption id="attachment_51424" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Indians in USA | Harold D'Souza | Global Indian Harold, Darcy, Rohan and Bradly - Then and now[/caption]

The family sold off their car and other belongings to cover travel costs. “I thought I would soon recover the amount after I start earning dollars,” he told. “I had no understanding of what HIB Visa, or the H4 dependant visa on which my wife and two sons came on. I didn’t know the dos and don’ts; I didn’t know how this country operated. I didn’t know the law. I didn’t know the people. I just jumped,” he remarked.

Upon Harold's arrival in the US, his trafficker confiscated the documents and $1000 in cash that he carried on the pretence of safekeeping. From that moment, their ordeal began. Both he and his wife were compelled to work seven days a week, enduring shifts lasting 14 to 16 hours in a restaurant, with accommodation provided next door.

“In most trafficking cases, victims are provided lodging in proximity, ensuring their constant availability for work while limiting their interaction with the outside world. This isolation prevents them from easily reaching out for assistance or lodging complaints, as they remain within the immediate control of their perpetrators.” And Harold explains that all through, abusive language and threats continue.

The trafficker imposed exorbitant fees for food, clothing, and shelter, and withheld Harold and Darcy’s salaries to cover these expenses. Additionally, Harold was deceived into signing a loan from a bank, which the trafficker pocketed, plunging him into debt bondage.

[caption id="attachment_51401" align="aligncenter" width="546"] Indians in USA | Harold D'Souza | Global Indian Harold D’Souza with former USA president Donald Trump at the White House[/caption]

After enduring years of ordeal, Harold finally liberated himself by mustering the courage to seek help and working his way out of the situation, displaying immense bravery.

Looking at his story of resilience and resolve, he was appointed to the US Advisory Council on Human Trafficking initially by President Barack Obama and later by President Donald Trump. His tenure at the White House, from 2015 to 2020, restored the self-confidence that Harold had lost during the ordeal of being treated as an undocumented immigrant, despite entering America on an H-1B visa. “At the White House I was not looked at as a survivor, rather as an expert, and that transformed my life,” he remarked.

Purpose – to prevent human trafficking through Eyes Open International

“When people in my team at the White House heard my story, they encouraged me to start a non-profit to help victims.” This inspired Harold to establish Eyes Open International, dedicated to aiding victims of human trafficking and debt bondage. Driven by his own traumatic experiences and his resolve to alter the plight of trafficked individuals, he additionally fulfils the role of an expert consultant at the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. He actively participates in the Governor’s Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and serves on the board of directors for numerous NGOs worldwide.

[caption id="attachment_51406" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Indians in USA | Harold D'Souza | Global Indian Harold-D'Souza after receiving the Hero Award[/caption]

The Indian American labour trafficking and debt bondage survivor received the Human Rights Hero Award 2023 at the United Nations headquarters in New York for being the leading activist in United States’ efforts to address the problem. “A feature film on my story with a well-known movie star in India is in the discussion phase,” he signed off.

Follow Harold D'Souza on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
To know more about Eyes Open International and its initiatives, visit its website

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