Dr Ali Irani and Sujoy Mitra | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryDr Ali Irani and Sujoy Mitra: Meet the fastest men to travel to all seven continents in 73 hours

Dr Ali Irani and Sujoy Mitra: Meet the fastest men to travel to all seven continents in 73 hours

Written by: Charu Thakur

(March 6, 2024) One balmy morning amidst the pandemic, Dr Ali Irani, while skimming through the pages of an UAE newspaper, stumbled upon an article detailing the extraordinary feat of Emirati adventurer Dr. Khwala AlRomaithu, who set the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to travel to all seven continents in 86 hours. Proud of her achievement, she was confident that no one could beat her record. But being a physiotherapist with the Indian cricket team for a decade, Dr. Irani had learnt “all records are meant to be broken.” This led him on a journey across the globe in December of 2022 along with Sujoy Mitra, where the two Indian men set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest travel to all seven continents in just 73 hours. “Breaking the record at a time when travel had many Covid-related restrictions, it was surreal,” Sujoy tells Global Indian.

Starting from King George Island in Antarctica, they moved to Chile and Peru in South America, followed by the USA, and ended the trip at Melbourne in Australia on December 7, 2022, in a record time of 3 days, 1 hour, 5 mins and 4 seconds. “Travelling across the seven continents in just 73 hours made me realise that impossible also means I’m possible,” says Dr Irani, who has travelled to 102 countries so far. With Guinness World Record rules in place, they took commercial flights, and travelled on a restricted budget, using their credit card points to the maximum.

Sujoy Mitra and Dr Ali Irani | Global Indian

Sujoy Mitra and Dr Ali Irani at King George Island, Antarctica

A quest to travel

An ardent traveller who travelled with the Indian cricket team to around 87 countries, Dr Irani has always been passionate about travel. And it was his encounter with Sujoy Mitra in the fall of 2014 that added fuel to the fire. A chemical engineer by profession, Sujoy came from Rai Bareilly – a small district in UP that had no airports. So, taking a flight was aspirational for him, something he did after completing his engineering. “My first flight was Kolkata-Jaipur, which got cancelled. As a complimentary rescheduling, I rescheduled it Kolkata-Raipur-Jaipur, just so I can spend more time in the aircraft,” he laughs. That was the beginning of his love affair with travel. Between 2006-2011, he travelled across the length and breadth of India on a low budget, realising that travelling brought him great joy.

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“I left my corporate job at the age of 29, and knew that travelling was my real calling,” says Sujoy. Ask him if leaving a well-paying job to follow a passion is scary, and he quips, “When the subconscious mind believes that it’s possible, we find ways.” He found his way by starting a Miles Schedule platform where he found his first client in Dr Irani. “With limited resources, I have travelled to 197 countries so far, and this April, I am visiting my 198th country – North Korea – thus making me the most travelled Indian.”, says Sujoy, who has optimised airline, hotel and credit card points to travel due to limited resources. “I travelled first class Qatar for ₹5.50, and first class Emirates for ₹2100.”

Cricket took him across the globe

Dr Irani, on the other hand, is a well-known physiotherapist who worked with the Indian Cricket team from 1987 to 1997, and it was while accompanying the team that he fell in love with travelling. “I covered 87 countries when I was working with the Indian cricket team and now the number has reached more than 102.” On his first meeting with Sujoy, he realised that he hadn’t used his credit card points efficiently for a very long time, and Sujoy soon started encashing them for him by buying plane tickets and upgradations. “I believe 80 percent of the Indians don’t know how to use their points. That’s Sujoy’s way of giving services to the people.”

Dr Ali Irani is a physiotherapist

When Dr Irani came across the news article about the Guinness World Record, he made his first call to Sujoy, knowing his expertise in planning routes. “I asked him if it is possible that we can break this record and he replied in an affirmation. But we knew it would need a lot of planning, as time was the most important aspect. We couldn’t afford to miss any flight as it would jeopardise the entire adventure,” says Dr Irani. Especially as the duo was aware of the strict restrictions related to visas and flights due to Covid-19. “But those constraints brought the best out of us, thinking on our toes about the best alternative. After a lot of brainstorming and keeping all COVID-related restrictions in mind, we came up with a route of 81 hours,” adds Sujoy.

On their way to set a new world record

With only a handful of countries issuing visas during that time, this turned out to be one of the biggest challenges for the duo. “But Sujoy always found a way. So, if a country wasn’t issuing visas, we checked which country’s visa could get us a visa on arrival to the country we wanted to go to. That’s the permutation and combination we had to do to work around the visas,” says Dr Irani. Moreover, these constraints led to the rescheduling of the routes more than three times, and they ended up finding a route where they could finish their journey in 81 hours. “Out of 25 countries, only four were issuing visas Schengen Visa. Moreover, rules changed. You couldn’t get your visa issued from Switzerland and visit France first. These constraints led to rescheduling but were able to figure out a road map for the journey.”

Dr Ali Irani and Sujoy Mitra at Punta Arenas, Chile

They started with Antarctica on December 4, 2022, but the expedition came with a rule from the Guinness World Record which mandated them to avoid the use of any chartered plane. “We needed to book flights that had less scope of getting cancelled or delayed, so we tracked data for the last three months to understand which airline was most reliable,” says Sujoy, who along with Dr Irani was racing against time to travel to all the seven continents in a short time. Having worked with the cricket team, Dr Irani knows how function calmly during stressful situations. And he extended his support to Sujoy during many uncertain times. “In Bhagavad Gita, it says ‘jo hona hai, vo hoke rahega’ (What is meant to be, will happen). So, I kept reminding Sujoy that certain things are beyond our control.”

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Race against time

With just 3-4 hours between every flight, they had to navigate the immigration, exit the airport, get on a public transport, reach a designated landmark suggested by Guinness World Records, take selfies and record a minute video, obtain two witness signatures, return to the airport, pass through the immigration and board the next flight.

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That wasn’t all – the duo also had to keep sending their satellite GPS location at every landmark. “Otherwise, we would be disqualified,” says Sujoy, who took the task upon himself. “In case we are in Antarctica, Guinness World Record will recognise Antarctica when we are above -60 degree South i.e. King George Island.” Dr Ali, on the other hand, took the responsibility of clicking selfies and recording videos. With a huge task list to check at every point, they travelled light with a handbag. “A pair of jeans and a few T-shirts,” says Dr Irani, adding there were times when we almost missed our flight. Sujoy chimes in, “Once we started enjoying the struggles, we started enjoying the uncertainties.”

The same uncertainties led them to finish their expedition in 73 hours instead of the planned 81 hours, which worked in their favour. “Our last flight reached one and a half hours before and one flight we flew six hours later from the starting point, so that’s how we ended up finishing 81 hours trip in 73 hours,” reveals Dr Irani.

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New adventures, ahoy!

It’s been a year since the two made the world record, and the duo is now planning to take on another challenge this year. “We are now planning to challenge the fastest travel to the seven wonders of the world,” reveals Sujoy, who will also travel to his 198th country – North Korea – this April. “For me, the journey is more important than the destination.” Dr Irani chimes in, “Travelling is learning. This kind of exposure you cannot get anywhere.”

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Published on 06, Mar 2024

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The Right Click: Photographer Clare Arni has documented the India story over three decades

(December 19, 2023) In 1993 , Clare Arni hopped into a Maruti 800 with her sister and her son, to begin an 800-km journey along the River Kaveri, starting at the source, Thalakaveri, in Coorg, and ending where it empties itself into the Bay of Bengal, reaching the sea in Poompuhar. Their goal: To document the lives that have flourished around this ancient water body, as it twists and turns its way through the Deccan, morphing into the giver of life at the Kings bathing Ghat, and the keeper of the dead in Srirangapatna, where thousands perform the final rites of their loved ones. In 'Disappearing professions in Urban India', a collaboration with her sister, Oriole Henry, the siblings wandered through six of India's old cities, finding professions that were on the verge of being relegated to annals of history, from mattress fluffers to billboard painters. Straddling varied themes that include architecture, travel, social documentary, and cultural heritage, Clare Arni has spent the last three decades documenting the India Story, in all its varied richness. From working with celebrated Indian architects like B.V. Doshi, Charles Correa, Geoffrey Bawa and Sanjay Mohe, to documenting remote tribes deep in the Sundarbans, Clare

he Sundarbans, Clare Arni has done it all. Her internationally acclaimed work can be found in prominent galleries abroad and has been featured in publications like The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Design Magazine, Tatler Conde Nast (UK), and Abitare (Italy). Her expansive career includes book publications with top British publishers like Phaidon, Thames and Hudson, and Dorling Kindersley. Clare's long-term projects document the rich tapestry of life in various Indian locales such as Hampi, Banaras, Northern Karnataka, Rajasthan, Sundarbans, and Orissa.

[caption id="attachment_47639" align="aligncenter" width="394"] Clare Arni[/caption]

Early days

Born in Scotland in 1962, Arni arrived in India when her father was transferred here for work. He established the Vikaasa school in Madurai, where Arni also studied until the age of 13, when, she tells Global Indian, she was “rudely uprooted from a place that I considered home and sent to a mediocre boarding school in England.” She followed this up with a degree in art history and film and media in Scotland, but she says, “I returned to India as soon as I possibly could. When I think of the nostalgia of home, I still recollect the bird song and hot winds of Madurai,” she smiles.

Arni returned to India at the age of 22, soon after college, to earn a living as a photographer. Self-taught, she learned on the job, attempting to create as diverse a portfolio as she could manage. “I started with fashion photography and did campaigns for Weekender and Wearhouse,” Arni recalls. “I did any work that came my way, photographing everything from racehorses to chickens, and then making black-and white-prints in my darkroom.”

Architecture calling

Her calling, however, lay in architectural photography. Clare was soon shooting directly for architects, documenting their projects publications and competition entries as well as for architectural and interior magazines. “I worked for many Bangalore architects but also for several projects for Charles Correa, BV Doshi, Geoffrey Bawa and Sanjay Mohe. For Charles Correa I documented the town Of Bagalkot before it was submerged by the dam and the house that he built for himself in Bangalore,” she explains. Apart from many design magazines in India, her images have been published in renowned international magazines like Abitare (Italy) Tatler, Conde Nast (UK) Wallpaper, The Wall Street journal and Harvard Design magazine. Her work is also part of Phaidon, Thames and Hudson and Dorling Kindersley, all of whom are leading British book publishers.

[caption id="attachment_47643" align="aligncenter" width="507"] PhotoL Clare Arni[/caption]

Documenting Stories

She also started shooting longer book projects for writers like George Mitchell. These were rewarding as they allowed her to travel extensively around India documenting places like Hampi, Banaras and Northern Karnataka. “I also worked for NGOs like Welt Hunger Hilfe where I travelled to remote communities in Rajasthan, Sundarbans, and Orissa documenting the work that they had done with self-help groups, women’s empowerment and updating agricultural practices,” says Arni. Her travels have been continuous even after she had her son.

Her Kaveri River project took a full four months, which she spent on the road with her son and sister, documenting the civilisation that had grown and flourished on its banks. “The river became part of our everyday lives walking its banks and swimming in its waters, taking coracles to the bottom of waterfalls, and flying an ultralight to capture it from the air,” Arni recalls. “I have been very lucky as my work and passion was the same and I was able to see and document so much of India.”

Going solo

After all of this she started to have solo photographic exhibitions and it was what she admits was liberating as she could work without clients and create works with total freedom. This is when she began to look at living cultural heritage instead of just built architecture. One of her biggest shows was ‘Disappearing professions in Urban India’, done in collaboration with her sister, Oriole Henry, where they examined historical professions associated with six cities and how they were surviving and adapting to the present day. “It was a wonderful way to get to know these cities,” Arni says. “We wandered through the streets searching for these professions and often found that they had either gone or that only a handful remained to carry them forward. We found mattress fluffers, tinners, hand painted billboard painters and calligraphers. We documented the changing face of single screen cinemas and stand-alone coffee shops that were making way for multiplexes and international chains,” she explains. This exhibition was shown around India and in America.

[caption id="attachment_47645" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photo: Clare Arni[/caption]

A full life

Arni likes to work on long term projects where she gets immersed in the subject over several years. Some of these are ongoing. Some of the new books that she has done are directly with clients where she conceptualises, shoots, and helps with design inputs. She has enjoyed working collaboratively with talented photographers like Selvaprakash Lakshmanan on many of these books. “I have had a rewarding and challenging new direction at this point of my life. I am head of arts programming at a charitable trust school, RBANMS in Bangalore. I am extremely fulfilled working and interacting with these children and am excited by the programs that we are working on together with a host of visiting artists that share their time and skills with the school,” she says. Her advice to newbie photographers is that patience is important and spending time with your subject whatever it may be is key. “Even if you think you have got the shot, stop for a moment and think how else I could do this, experiment and you will get a better shot,” she advises. Looking ahead, she is working on finishing a couple of books, and spending time in the school.

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Pradnya Giradkar: Inspirational life story of Cheetah lady who reintroduced cheetahs in India

(October 3, 2022) “India had 10,000 cheetahs during the time of Akbar but then, rulers over the years have been fond of hunting, and the number of the fastest animal on earth started coming down in India. The last three cubs were killed by Maharaja Surguja of MP in 1947,” says Pradnya Giradkar, the country’s first cheetah conservation specialist, who lived with 52 cheetahs in Namibia. Eight cheetahs from Namibia were brought to Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022, receiving such fanfare that they were received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself on his birthday. It was a historic day in many ways - also because it is the world's first carnivore relocation project. It’s a milestone that Pradnya, founder of the Wildlife Conservation and Rural Development Society has worked over a decade to achieve, and her phenomenal efforts, have finally paid off with the success of Project Cheetah. Having been declared extinct in 1952, the homecoming of the big cats after 70 years on the Indian soil is a matter of great achievement for her. [caption id="attachment_30098" align="aligncenter" width="905"] Cheetah Lady, Pradnya Giradkar[/caption] Pradnya has been a lecturer at zoology department and PhD student of K J Somaiya College

ttachment_30098" align="aligncenter" width="905"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetah Lady, Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Pradnya has been a lecturer at zoology department and PhD student of K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai, where she taught wildlife as a special subject to students pursuing their degrees. “As a PhD scholar, I was doing my research in tiger conservation and my professors would address me as ‘tigress’ because I had such a knack for it,” says Pradnya who used to watch track the movement of the tigers from midnight to five in the morning at Tadoba National Park. “Now, with cheetahs being brought in to the country, I am being called, ‘the cheetah lady’, it feels good,” she smiles, during her interview with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_30179" align="aligncenter" width="842"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetahs at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Pradnya’s role in Project Cheetah

As the first Indian to be trained by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), the global institution working to save the big cats, Pradnya visited Namibia in 2011.There, she worked closely with Dr Laurie Marker, the executive director of CCF, enjoying an eventful month-long stay with close to five dozen cheetahs, doing their DNA testing, cat analysis, and livestock management as part of the training. Co-incidentally, Marker has been a key advisor to the Indian government on the cheetah relocation project for the last 13 years.

[caption id="attachment_30099" align="alignnone" width="894"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Pradnya with her mentor Dr Laurie Marker[/caption]

Since the conceptualisation of the Project Cheetah in 2009, Dr Marker has been one of the leading figures working on the mission, coordinating with scientists and other specialists, and assessing the suitability of potential habitats for the cheetahs to translocate to India. MP’s Kuno National Park was identified back then.

However, there have been many roadblocks along the way. The major roadblock came when the Supreme Court issued a stay order on the project, on the grounds that the foreign species could endanger the Indian breed of wild cats in Kuno. The court also mentioned that since the African cheetahs are genetically different from the Asian cheetahs, their chances of survival in India may not be high.

[caption id="attachment_30159" align="aligncenter" width="747"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetah at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Legally speaking...

At the time, Pradnya, who was just back from her training with Dr Laurie, had first-hand information of the climatic needs of the big cats. Like Dr Marker, she knew that they can very well adjust in India but that required proving in a court of law.

Along with other wildlife scientists, Pradnya went on to gather evidence that the cheetahs can survive in the Indian climate without any difficulty. Her efforts paid off when Dr Stephen O’Brien, a renowned Russian geneticist, sent her a letter, stating that genetic differences between the Asiatic and African cheetahs, which, although “real, were ‘almost negligible”, and that African cheetahs can survive well in India if provided with a suitable prey base and habitat.

[caption id="attachment_30157" align="aligncenter" width="806"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetah at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

After this expert clarification, the wildlife scientists, including Pradnya, filed a review petition at Honourable Supreme Court of India which got approved. Finally, it gave its nod to the translocation project in the year 2020, on the basis of the submission of letter of Dr O’Brien to Pradnya, okaying a pilot programme to observe the success before more cheetahs were brought to the country.

“I admire Dr Marker a lot. She is a very good lady. I am very grateful for her efforts that have paved the way for cheetahs to return to India, after we won the case in court,” Pradnya says. “Though we have not met since my return from Namibia, we have always been in touch keeping each other updated on Project Cheetah.”

[caption id="attachment_30158" align="aligncenter" width="765"] Cheetahs at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Contrary to belief, India is natural habitat of cheetahs

The reintroduction of cheetahs to India took many years of effort, held up as they were by assumptions that the climatic conditions in the country might be unsuitable. There are doubters even now, but Pradnya is very confident about this landmark move. “India was home to them if we go back in history. Their extinction was caused by man,” Pradnya says.

For the expert wildlife conservationist, cheetahs and tigers are like friends whom she understands well. She can understand animal language as she has studied behavioural activities of animals ethology.

India is the proud country that is home to six types of big cats, While UK has just one, the US has two and Africa, three - Pradnya Giradkar

Stressing on how cheetahs have always belonged to us she says, "Cheetah is derived from the Sanskrit word Chitrakayah or Chitraka meaning the variegated or spotted one. The word gradually got converted to Cheetah"

[caption id="attachment_30116" align="aligncenter" width="1289"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Pradnya's photography at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia[/caption]

Tackling human-wildlife conflict

Through her NGO, Wildlife Conservation and Rural Development Society, Pradnya has been trying to address human and wildlife conflict, mitigate and prevent harm that both man and wild animals can cause to each other. Her NGO is engaged in community outreach efforts across the forest territories of India, guiding tribal communities on how to prevent and react to livestock predation. The NGO works to help rural communities gain solutions that are mutually beneficial to both wildlife and domestic animals.

[caption id="attachment_30162" align="aligncenter" width="827"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Predators like tigers, leopards, lions live alongside human communities and cause harm to the livestock (cows, sheep, and goats) of tribals of the region. However, it is possible for tribals to hunt down the wrong animal in revenge if they don’t know how to identify the predator from the mark of their knuckles - Pradnya Giradkar

“Most of the forest territories are Naxal-prone areas, Naxalites lure the tribals to hunt animals for skin, nails, teeth etc. for money,” Pradnya explains. Her NGO also works for the socio-economic improvement of the tribals so that they do not indulge in illegal activities. They have collaborated with institutions like Khadi Gram Udyog, and National Institute of rural development to provide livelihood opportunities to ensure the tribal communities’ development as a whole and ensure sustainable animal conservation.

[caption id="attachment_30096" align="alignnone" width="1959"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Pradnya at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia with Hiererro community people[/caption]

“I cannot be everywhere all the time so I also develop local leaders in the forest territories, who see to mitigating man-animal conflict, and sustainable environment biodiversity conservation,” says Pradnya who also did community outreach efforts for the CCF when she was in Namibia.

Flashback of the journey…

The daughter of a nature conservationist father, Gopalrao and activist mother, Sumati, Pradnya grew up close to the wildlife territory at Giradkar Wada, Umred in Nagpur district. Always a multi-faceted learner, she went on to pursue her MSc in entomology, MPhil in bio- chemistry, and PhD on tiger conservation under University Grant Commission's FIP Fellowship programme. “Since I was dealing with wildlife and tribals, I thought it important to know laws pertaining to both so that I can stand up for them in times of need. So, I went on to do LLB in environmental and international law from Nagpur university completing it with first merit,” she says. One person who inspired her greatly over the years is Dr. S.G. Yeragi from Somaiya College. "He was my Ph. D. supervisor, a well-known personality in Mumbai University and in Maharashtra," she mentions.

[caption id="attachment_30101" align="aligncenter" width="811"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Pradnya at her farm[/caption]

The gifted singer and college chess champion of Mumbai University received the Hidden Eco-Hero award in 2017, an initiative of UNEP that honoured six other environmental leaders from across the globe along with her that year. She was also honoured by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), US for efforts taken for tiger conservation, and received fellowship from WildCRU (Wildlife Conservation Research Unit) of Oxford University, UK with funding from CCF, Namibia. She is the recipient of British Council scholarship for Edinburg University's, environment project at Scotland.

The accomplished wildlife conservationist is also an agriculturalist who enjoys time outdoors in her 175-year-old family property near the forest territory. There, she and her 82-year-old mother grow cotton, gram, soyabeans, and chilli. “I am confident that the Government of India will keep the cheetahs very well. I strongly believe that they will propagate in India more than they have in Africa,” she signs off.

[caption id="attachment_30164" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetah cub | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Pradnya's story is one of great effort and overcoming major challenges. Through sheer grit and unwavering passion for her beloved wildcats, she has re-written India's wildlife story and found herself a place in the annals of history, both in India and around the world.

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Reading Time: 7 mins

Venkat Gaddam: Taking Indian art and design to the world

(May 9, 2023) Back in his school days, Venkat Gaddam would get scolded for doodling through all his classes. It didn’t deter him, though. Instead, he saw it as adding beauty to what he thought of as rather mindless page. He didn’t think of it as right or wrong, to him, it felt liberating, unlike Maths and science, which had only one answer — the right one. He went on to have his first art exhibition at the age of 12, with 100 paintings. Today, the artist-turned-fashion-designer owns his own store in Hyderabad and his label, ‘Whencut Goddamn’ has been worn by a host of celebrities like Nagarjuna, Karan Johar, Armaan Malik, Faria Abdullah and Niharika Konidela, as well as by clients from around the globe. Even today, Gaddam doesn’t plan his artwork. Creativity, for him, is something that can’t be controlled. “It is a volcano of emotions – it beats against the tides to co exist, flows like the ocean. If we are buds, creativity is the bloom,” says Venkat Gaddam, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. In fact, it comes so naturally to him that he does not need to use a pencil or eraser to plan his artwork.

him that he does not need to use a pencil or eraser to plan his artwork. “I sit down with an intention to paint or create and let the divine forces work through me as a channel. It’s a very special and spiritual journey,” smiles Gaddam. India’s rich imagery is his biggest muse. “I am inspired by women, their varied emotions, feminism, and inner strength. Each person and object we come across has a story to narrate,” he feels.

[caption id="attachment_38309" align="aligncenter" width="661"] Venkat Gaddam[/caption]

Why ‘Whencut Goddamn’?

“I came up with that name in college as a means to make me and my name sound both easy and cool at the same time. It has a nice ring, chuckle, and meaning to it,” says Venkat of his brand. He did not think twice about the brand name when he made it official. “My brand had always been there within me. WG stands for self love, courage and resilience. I want everyone who owns a piece (art, fashion, poetry, anything) to own it and feel empowered through it, always,” says Venkat.

Through his brand, Venkat creates acrylic paintings on canvas, pen-on-paper illustrations, murals, digital collages and fashion line. He also makes notebooks, gratitude journals, cushions among other items. To go with each of his artwork, the artist pens a poem as well.

Starting early

Born in Ohio, US, Venkat is the youngest of four siblings, raised in a big family with his father and grandfather being bigwigs in the political and business world. Soon after he was born, the family moved back to Hyderabad where he did his schooling from Geetanjali public school, Oakridge international school and then Indus International school. As a child, he was used to asking a lot of questions about almost everything. “I was always day dreaming, feeling nostalgic, imagining beautiful things, getting lost watching movies, drawing, and admiring all things beautiful,” recalls the 29-year-old, who has been creatively inclined since childhood. At 12, Venkat had a collection of 100 paintings ready for his first exhibition, which was inaugurated by the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y S Rajashekar Reddy in 2006. Venkat’s artwork came in for much appreciation.

His parents — Dr. Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy and Gaddam Saroja Vivek — would patiently answer all his questions, without making him feel silly for having asked them, which helped shape his personality and enabled him to have an open mind towards life.

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A New York State of Mind

Come 2012, Venkat left for New York after enrolling in the Parsons School of Design — The New School. The shy, introvert child had no experience of living away from the luxuries his home offered. NY was his home for next four years. “I suddenly had a lot of responsibilities – food, money, making friends, doing well in school and maintain my physical and mental health in a city that doesn’t stop for anyone,” says Venkat, of his initial days in NY.

Art school is very tough and not for the weak-minded, feels Venkat. “When they criticize your work in front of everyone, it can be traumatising. It thickens your skin and makes you take things with a pinch of salt for sure.” Even as he struggled to make a place for himself at school, find belonging in the Big Apple and make friends, he created a tremendous body of work by the time he graduated in 2016. “I was painting, creating murals and writing poetry as well. I even started doing performance art pieces. But I also came back weighing 93kgs,” he says.

A major highlight during his Parsons days was his painting across three walls that gave a unique look to the entire floor. It was part of his final year thesis. “I began painting on a wall and it grew into a jungle. It was something that I made over a semester (six months). It became a room of art you could walk into and get lost in. The strokes, swirls, movement, dance of color, bodies, faces, shapes dipped in a multicolour rainbow — it was very kaleidoscopic and magical,” describes Venkat, who is still remembered for that piece of work.

Venkat, who has done several solo exhibitions, says he always thought of his creative journey as an explosion. It’s a volcano waiting to erupt, waiting to find an escape, find a canvas, to purr and pour it out there,” he says.

Life as an artist

As soon as he returned to Hyderabad after graduation, the artist began working on his own for a year, creating a series of paintings, including the iconic (and his personal favourite) 12 ft x 19 ft huge wall with charcoal. In 2017, Venkat began his journey of working through his family business to start creating entertainment content in Telugu. “Being a creative person, a writer and a deep thinker, I thought this would be perfectly in sync with the job,” informs Venkat, who continued working for the next three years, creating, learning, and streamlining content.

In 2020 he launched his brand WG which became an instant hit. Two years later, he opened his first store. “Through my work, I journal the journey of reclaiming my own power, finding the lost voice within and owning my choices,” says Venkat, who is well known for his vibrant paintings that are deeply rooted in Indian culture, architecture and mythology.

Talking of his work, Venkat says his creations do not down in pain and sorrow but is created with the prowess of reflection. “It is transformative in its narrative, of authorizing power, of recreating your own identity with consciousness,” says the designer, who loves being his own boss.

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What inspires him

He takes his inspiration Venkat says he is obsessed with Anamika Khanna’s embroideries and detailing. “As a businessman, I love what Sabyasachi has done with his brand, Frida Kahlo for her beauty, brains and vulnerability to be herself and MFHussain for inspiring me to be bold with my strokes, paint big, have a signature style and be true to yourself,” says Venkat, who is a big fan of Sufi music.

At the moment, Venkat has his hands full, working on multiple projects. He will be exhibiting his work in an upcoming Queer festival even as he is busy with his creations for an event in Dubai. “I am also creating clothes for a music video for PeekayIndia. There are many more events lined up,” he informs.

When not immersed in art and designing, Venkat likes to sing, dance, paint and write poetry. “All forms of art are therapy to me,” he smiles.

Follow Venkat on InstagramInstagram.

Cyrus Mistry: Growing Shapoorji Pallonji to helming the Tata Group

(September 6, 2022) On Sunday, September 4, 2022, business tycoon Cyrus Mistry was killed when his Mercedes rammed into a divider. The younger son of the construction magnate Pallonji Mistry, Cyrus was travelling from Ahmedabad to Mumbai when the accident took place. He was rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Condolences poured in for Mistry, who was one of India's wealthiest businessmen, valued at some $29 billion at the time of his death. He served as managing director of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group before he took over Chairman of Tata Sons in 2012. He succeeded Ratan Tata as the first first non-Tata to head the Indian business empire. In 2013, the Economist described Mistry as "the most important industrialist in both India and Britain." Global Indian takes a look at the remarkable life of this business tycoon. India Inc, political leadership take to Twitter Condolences poured in from industry and political heavyweights, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Harsh Goenka and Anand Mahindra. "The untimely demise of Shri Cyrus Mistry is shocking. He was a promising business leader who believed in India's economic prowess. His passing away is a big loss to the world of commerce

hocking. He was a promising business leader who believed in India's economic prowess. His passing away is a big loss to the world of commerce and industry. Condolences to his family and friends," tweeted PM Modi.

Hard to digest this news. I got to know Cyrus well during his all-too-brief tenure as the head of the House of Tata. I was convinced he was destined for greatness. If life had other plans for him, so be it, but life itself should not have been snatched away from him. Om Shanti 🙏🏽 https://t.co/lOu37Vs8U1

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) September 4, 2022

Tata Consultancy Services also issued a statement, describing Mistry as "a warm, friendly and congenial person who built a strong relationship with the TCS family during his time as the Chairman of the company." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also expressed her sadness. "I was convinced he was destined for greatness. If life had other plans for him, so be it, but life itself should not have been snatched away," tweeted Anand Mahindra.

Mistry became known for his serious demeanour and his reserved manner. "In my four years of working with him, I have been to his house only for the annual party," one member of the Tata Group board told Livemint. "He is professional and keeps to himself. But at the same time, his mobile number was available with at least hundreds of Tata group executives."

Tycoon at 26

Mistry was born to Pallonji Mistry and Patsy Perin Dubash, in Dublin, on July 4, 1968. The Mistry family was one of the wealthiest in Ireland at the time. Mistry attended the Cathedral and John Connon School, one of Mumbai's oldest and most elite educational institutions. He moved to England shortly in 1990, to study at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine. He earned a degree in civil engineering and then a Master's in management from the London Business School in 1996.

[caption id="attachment_29001" align="aligncenter" width="670"] Cyrus Mistry with Prime Minister Modi in 2016[/caption]

In 1991, shortly after graduating from college, Cyrus assumed his position as the scion of his father's construction empire. He took over as director, Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Three years later, he became Managing Director. He was only 26 at the time. Mistry is widely credited for having taken the Shapoorji Pallonji group to new heights - the company employs over 23,000 employees across India, the Middle East and Africa.

The era of firsts for Shapoorji Pallonji & Co

Under his leadership, the company's interests expanded from pure constructions to executing projects under design and build. They implemented complex projects in the marine, oil and gas and railway sectors. Shapoorji Pallonji & Co went on to construct India's tallest residential towers, the longest rail bridge, the largest dry dock and the largest affordable housing project.

Mistry also oversaw the infrastructure development vertical, which began in 1995 with a 106 MW power project in Tamil Nadu, followed by the development of India's largest biotech park near Hyderabad. They also made their foray into agriculture and biofuels before Mistry resigned to take over as the deputy Chairman of the Tata group.

[caption id="attachment_28992" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Vallarpadam Railway Bridge, the longest in India, contructed by Shapoorji Pallanji & Co[/caption]

The Tata connection

The Pallonjis are one of India's oldest business families, with links going back well over a century. In 1930, Mistry's grandfather, Shapoorji Mistry, acquired a stake in Tata Sons. His son, Pallonji Mistry, held the stake, which now stands at 18.5 percent, the largest block of shares held by a single group. In 2006, Pallonji Mistry stepped down from the board of directors of the Tata Group, his son, Cyrus, took his place. Cyrus himself had served as director of Tata Elxsi, a post he accepted in 1990 and remained in for a decade, until October 2009. He was also a director of Tata Power Co until late 2006.

In 2013, Mistry made history when he succeeded Ratan Tata as the chairman of the Tata Group, going on to head all the major Tata companies including Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consultancy Services, Indian Hotels, Tata Global Beverages and tata Chemicals. He became the sixth - and youngest - chairman to head the conglomerate.

Making history

Mistry wrote later, after his controversial dismissal which resulted in a years-long legal battle, that the proposal first arose in 2011. "After some exploration by a search committee (actually, Mistry was part of this committee also, by virtue of his place on the board of directors), I was approached by both Ratan Tata and Lord Bhattacharya individually to be a candidate for the position. I politely declined," he revealed later.

Mistry was involved with building and growing his family's own business, which was booming under his leadership. The Tatas continued their search, as Ratan Tata's retirement grew more imminent. "The committee was unable to find a suitable candidate, I was asked to reconsider." He found it harder to refuse the second time around. After consulting with his family, he "took courage to overcome (his) initial reluctance and agreed to consider the position."

When controversy came calling

In late 2016, Mistry wrote a tell-all letter, saying he was "shocked beyond words at the happenings at the board meeting of October 24, 2016." On that day, Tata Sons had inducted two new directors into their board, after the abrupt ousting of their Chairman. A furious Mistry decided it was not the time to remain quiet and termed the move "shocking and unparalleled."

For four years, his tenure as Chairman of Tata Sons, Mistry had maintained the reticence characteristic of the Shapoorji Pallonjis, and didn't give a single interview. His father, Pallonji Mistry was even known as the 'Phantom of Bombay House'. As for Cyrus Mistry, he was once said to have stopped a media consultant making a presentation to ask him, "Do you know who is the chairman of 3M?" His point was simple - the company brand is more important than the personalities of those at the helm.

The big-league boardroom battle

When he was "replaced without so much as a word of explanation or being afforded an opportunity of defending himself," Cyrus Mistry decided it was time to break the legacy of silence.

The action, he said, was sudden and the resulting speculation had done his reputation, as well as that of the Tata Group, "immeasurable harm," he wrote.

[caption id="attachment_28995" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry after a meeting at the Finance Ministry on May 29, 2012 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Vipin Kumar / Hindustan Times via Getty Images)[/caption]

Saying that he had taken on many problems with his role as Chairman, he "had to take many tough decisions with sensitive care to the group's reputation as well as containing panic amidst internal and external shareholders." The sum of the matter seems to be that Cyrus Mistry was not given the free hand that he had been promised, mentioning that "once, the trust directors had to leave a Tata Sons board meeting in progress for almost an hour, keeping the rest of the Board waiting, in order to obtain instructions from Mr Tata."

If the Tatas expected Mistry to go quietly, they were proved very wrong. Mistry went on to appeal his removal to the National Company Law Appellate (NCLAT), which ruled that it was indeed illegal. The high-profile boardroom battle didn't end there. The Tata Group's board appealed the NCLAT verdict in the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in their favour, after Mistry had been briefly reinstated.

Mistry received grudging admiration even from directors of the Tata Group board. They called him "hard-working" and "more likely to be seen supervising work at a construction site than in a cabin in the office," according to Livemint.

The family he left behind

[caption id="attachment_28994" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Cyrus Mistry and his family[/caption]

Mistry is survived by his older brother, Shapoor Mistry, who is an Irish citizen and is married to Behroze Sethna. He also has two sisters - Laila, who is married to London-based portfolio manager Rustom Jehangir and Aloo, the wife of Noel Tata, the half-brother of Ratan Tata. Mistry was married to Rohiqa Chagla, daughter of prominent lawyer Iqbal Chagla and the granddaughter of the jurist MC Chagla. The couple has two sons.

The Mistry family's real estate assets reportedly include a White-House style, seaside Mansion in Mumbai, the 200-acre Manjri stud farm in Pune and homes in Surrey, London and Dubai.

From a cancer survivor to Delhi’s Matka Man: How Alag Natarajan is bringing about change

(November 26, 2021) "The living are dirtier than the dead," was Alagarathanam Natarajan's response to his mother-in-law, who once reprimanded him for not taking a shower after returning from a crematorium. He was then a volunteer in his 60s and was driving a hearse that he would park outside her house every single day. Cut to 2021, the hearse has been replaced with a specially crafted Mahindra Bolero maxi-truck that this engineering drop-out drives around Delhi each day to place potable water across the city to help quench people's thirst. Meet Alag Natarajan, popularly known as Delhi's Matka Man, a moniker he earned from his daughter on one of his birthdays. Not all superheroes wear capes. Some wake up early in the morning to provide clean drinking water to the underprivileged. Each day the London-returned Natarajan drives his truck, which carries 2,000 litres of water, to refill the 70-80 matkas or earthen pots that he has placed around South Delhi. The Panchsheel Park resident decided to dedicate his life to serving others. Being hailed as a "superhero that's more powerful than the entire Marvel stable" by industrialist Anand Mahindra, Natarajan's selfless work has grabbed attention in India and abroad. "His

dia and abroad. "His tweet was comforting. He is known to bring attention to the stories that matter," Natarajan tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview.

A Superhero that’s more powerful than the entire Marvel stable. MatkaMan. Apparently he was an entrepreneur in England & a cancer conqueror who returned to India to quietly serve the poor. Thank you Sir, for honouring the Bolero by making it a part of your noble work. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/jXVKo048by

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 24, 2021

Sri Lanka to India to England

Born in Chillaw in Sri Lanka to a Sri Lankan mother and an Indian father, Natarajan lived in Bengaluru for most of his life before moving to London. An engineering drop-out, Natarajan recalls his days as a "messed up young boy who came from a broken family and was into drugs and alcohol." To change the trajectory of his life, he boarded a flight to London. "In 1974, I left for the UK on a tourist visa that was sponsored by my sister and didn't return to India until three decades later. For 10 years, I was an illegal immigrant in England. I was 24 when I boarded that flight to London and like every other young man, I, too, had dreams," reveals Natarajan.

[caption id="attachment_16745" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Matka Man distributing salad at construction sites.[/caption]

He worked many odd jobs — from being a street hawker to driving long-distance trucks — to stay afloat. "I was quite ambitious and after working hard for a few years, I bought a souvenir shop on Oxford Street. I ended up adding two more shops, including one near Harrods. Things were going perfectly until I was diagnosed with colon cancer in my mid-50s. That's when life took a turn and after my surgery, I decided to return to India," reveals Natarajan.

A call for service

Upon his return, he "wandered like an aimless madman" for a while. The battle with cancer had left him emotionally drained; that's when he began volunteering for a terminal cancer centre in Delhi. "I took over their maintenance completely. Since it was for terminally-ill patients, an ambulance was often required to take their bodies to the crematorium. So I bought a car and converted it into a cremation van and started taking the bodies myself to Sarai Kale Khan Crematorium. It was an abandoned ground with no water or any facilities," recalls Natarajan.

[caption id="attachment_16740" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Matka Man filling water near a bench installed by him.[/caption]

This pushed him to help quench people's thirst and he installed his first matka stand outside his home in Panchsheel Park. Guards, house helps and drivers from the locality began to flock to his matka as they braved Delhi's scorching summer heat. The response spurred Natarajan to install more matkas across the city. "When I curiously inquired with a guard one day, he revealed that his employer didn't make any arrangements for water for him. He was not allowed to leave his position even for a minute and access to clean drinking water was a luxury for people like him," reveals Natarajan. Soon, he went about installing several matka stands across South Delhi to ensure that the needy had access to clean drinking water. Most of the stands also feature a cycle pump and bench, should anyone need a rest or a quick fill of air for their cycles. "Everyone needs to relax. I want people to have a space where they can relax for a while. In winters, I distribute blankets," he says.

"Helping the needy is paramount to me," says Matka Man. He reveals that though his locality is home to plenty of affluent families, barely anyone steps forward to extend a helping hand to those in need. "People often tell me that I am doing good work but in the last few years, I've received not more than ₹10,000 from the residents as donation. I often think, 'How much more can somebody want?' It's greed that's threatening humanity. I have had my share of living in vanity, now I just want to serve," says the 72-year-old, who likes to spend time in his garden during his free time.

[caption id="attachment_16742" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Matka Man filling up water at one of his matka stands.[/caption]

For the 2,000 litres of water that goes into filling the 70-80 matkas that are placed across South Delhi, Natarajan was earlier using the borewell water from a nearby school. But now he has access to Delhi Jal Board's potable water. "When I initially began setting up matka stands across the neighbourhood, many thought it to be a campaign stunt by the Aam Aadmi Party. Gradually they realised that I am neither associated with an NGO nor do I work for the government. They understood that my intention to help the poor is genuine and without any agenda," he explains.

Man on a mission

Natarajan begins his day at 5.30 am to fill the matkas he's installed through his maxi-truck that's fitted with two 1,000 litre water tanks. Though he chose to drop out of his engineering course back in the 1970s, his passion for innovation is evident in his specially modified vehicles. Apart from helping people access potable water, he also spends a few mornings each week distributing a nutritious salad to construction workers and daily wage labourers in the vicinity. He prepares the salad using a variety of legumes such as channa, moong, rajma, sprouts and veggies like potaties, tomatoes and onions. "Construction workers are the most exploited, and I want to help them with a nutritious fix."

The senior citizen employs only a skeletal staff to keep overhead costs low. "I don't want to compromise on the quality of food. I am involved in the entire process hands-on. I have installed industrial machines at home which aid us with the peeling and cutting. For me, it's not about charity, I work like a professional. I visit the sabzi mandis (vegetable markets) to buy fresh produce. I treat them as equals," adds the Good Samaritan, who worked relentlessly even during the lockdown.

[caption id="attachment_16743" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Matka Man's truck ready for salad distribution.[/caption]

He uses his savings and investments to fund most of his projects; though there are times when he receives donations from well wishers as well. "During the pandemic, one lady sponsored my entire staff for one year," he reveals.

Natarajan, who found his biggest cheerleader in his mother-in-law, calls her his biggest support system. "She would often brag about the work I did to others. She never questioned me even when I used to park a cremation van right outside her house every single day," he reminisces.

It has been 15 years since Natarajan returned to India and has been using every opportunity to work for the needy. "Giving and serving has been an integral part of my life. Pain is a teacher. So after I recovered from cancer, I wanted to help more people. But I was soon disillusioned by the workings of an NGO and decided to do something myself. I started spending my own money to bring about the change that I wanted," says Natrajan, who is quite inspired by Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning.

[caption id="attachment_16744" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Matka Man driving his Bolero truck.[/caption]

At 72, Natarajan is a force to reckon with as he is diligently working for society. "I try to do everything with absolute sincerity. It's important to be sincere in whatever you do. It's not about what you do but how sincerely you do it," signs off Natarajan.

Follow Matka Man on his website

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