Success Story | Dr Neharika Yadav | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryDr Neharika Yadav helms the super biker’s helmet with same ease as her doctor’s coat

Dr Neharika Yadav helms the super biker’s helmet with same ease as her doctor’s coat

Written by: Amrita Priya

(May 30, 2022) There aren’t many women bike racers in India. Amongst the few who have made a place for themselves in this male dominated space, is Dr Neharika Yadav, topping the list. The Gurgaon-based superbike racer juggles racing with dentistry, and that too with elan. At her top speed of 275km/h, the super biker races with the fastest men as the only female in the grid alongside 40 male racers in the 1000cc category at the JK Tyre Superbike Championships every year.

Dr Neharika Yadav

“I have got a good support system in the clinic who manage things when I am on the track,” says the doctor adding, “and when I am in clinic, I make sure to give 200 percent to my patients,” in a conversation with Global Indian.

Popular as Doctor N on the tracks, Neharika’s weekends are for the biking sessions while her weekdays are reserved for her clinics. The founder and CEO of two private clinics – Dr N’s Dentistry and the dental department of multi-speciality clinic, Sayaa Med – The Health Tower in Gurgaon, Neharika is balancing the act perfectly.

Living with passion

Her life’s journey so far has been all about dreaming, wanting and evolving. All was going well for this fauji kid when things took a sudden U-turn in February 2005 after her cab met with an accident. The head-on collision with a truck led to the death of the driver but she lived to share her story.

Her right hand showed no sign of movement even after two years of the accident. Devastated, she was almost on the verge of giving up on dentistry, but somehow continued to live in hope. After multiple consultations with surgeons across the country, one gave her hope of bringing back 50 percent of the hand movement. Her happiness knew no bound as in dentistry the right hand is the master in carrying out different dental procedures. Even as a biker, the partial movement causes her various attempts at throttling her bike. But she isn’t the one to complain as these are the passions, she has chosen for herself. Despite these challenges, she is one of the fastest woman super bikers in India – all thanks to her passion. “I inspire others to pick up a passion as I believe that without passion there is no life,” remarks, the dentist-biker who is also a motivational speaker.

Helming the helmet

Neharika, who has ridden at the Sepang International Circuit (Malayasia) and the Mugello Circuit (Italy), stumbled upon the world of racing five years ago. “A chance visit to the Buddh International Circuit in Noida filled me up with passion for the sport. I was so inspired by the all-male riders that I could not stop myself from following their path,” says the doctor, who has been practicing dentistry for the last 14 years.

Success Story | Super Biker | Dr Neharika Yadav | Global Indian

Racing with glory

When she entered the world of racing, she was already a practicing dentist, testing the waters just for the sake of hobby. Though she knew how to ride a bike, the level of biking required in racing was a different ball game altogether that she eventually mastered over a period of time. “I trained and practiced on my own getting guidance from top male racers of the country, along the way. Though I did not have any formal training, seasoned riders improved my performance by observing my moves on the track and polishing them with their expert tips,” says the alumnus of SR College of Dental Sciences and Research, Faridabad who is also armed with an MBA in hospital administration from Manipal University.

Giving her best

“Whatever you are doing at a point of time should be your priority. So, when I am on track, I forget about the clinic, and when I am in clinic, I forget about the track,” chips in the biker-doctor who visits the international formula 1 circuit at least once a month to practice with the stalwarts. It’s the countdown to race that gets this top woman biker most excited. “It’s like a mega event where everyone is available on the track practicing with full zeal adding energy to the air,” the super biker adds.

Dr Neharika Yadav at her clinic in Gurgaon

Along with being a dentist and a biker, Neharika is also an UNESCO ambassador for kindness owing to her campaigns for rescuing Indie dogs and working for their adoption by caring individuals. “I have myself adopted four of them,” she smiles.

Representing India

Not many know that she is a Ducati racer for the Ducati Indian team. As she advanced in her racing prowess, she upgraded her bike Ducati 899 to the sleeker Ducati V4, now.

The biker-doctor-model wears all hats with elan

Alongside the Roadies fame Rannvijay Singha, she represented India in Ducati world motorcycle event. “The whole experience of representing the country and riding with so many top bikers from other countries in a beautiful place like Florence was an amazing experience,” gushes Neharika. Driving in Dubai and Abu Dhabi circuits are on the wish list of the biker woman who calls Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez her inspiration.

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**Being a fauji kid**

Being the daughter of a fighter pilot, Sanjiv Yadav, Neharika spent an adventurous childhood moving between different air bases. “I have lived in air bases for almost 18 years of my life, changing places every two years, studying in Air Force schools across India.” The free-spirited and adventurous biker-doctor attributes her personality to the lifestyle. “It became a part of my persona. Due to my exposure to different cultures in India, I make friends easily and appreciate life in totality,” she adds.

Dr Neharika Yadav with her parents and sibling

Her love for sports also comes from her Anglo-Indian mother, Janice Yadav, who is a car rallyist. Added to that, “As fauji kids we had access to best sports facilities in every station. We were exposed to a very healthy and balanced lifestyle and that has contributed to my discipline of a racer,” remarks Neharika. Her father is now a commercial pilot and simulator instructor at IndiGo airlines.

The fitness freak biker-doctor is always on track with her fitness goals, sweating out in the gym at least four days a week. “I did modelling for a couple of years just at a passion level for few campaigns of friends,” signs off the multitasker who loves great conversations over coffee, meeting new people, travelling, spending time with family, and watching movies whenever she finds time in between racing and dentistry.

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Published on 30, May 2022

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Gender activist Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta is empowering women and promoting equality

(June 8, 2023) In a world where boundaries are being shattered and progress is accelerating, the fight for gender equality remains an urgent and ever-relevant battle. Global women's issues have transcended geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers, demanding our unwavering attention and concerted efforts. Fighting tirelessly against these issues is an Indian-American Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, who was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate as United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. Nominated by the President of the USA, Joe Biden, himself, the gender activist is the former Executive Director of the 3D Program for Girls and Women at the UN Foundation. "I believe that you can trigger a social and cultural change in women's status by giving women increased economic opportunities," the gender activist shared in an interview, adding, "It can help women achieve the social status that can bring about those cultural changes that might otherwise take a long time. If they can have control over that income, that's a significant piece of it: not just being able to earn the income but control over how they spend it. They can bear a lot of the costs of the social changes that they might then want to bring about."

long time. If they can have control over that income, that's a significant piece of it: not just being able to earn the income but control over how they spend it. They can bear a lot of the costs of the social changes that they might then want to bring about."

Recognising the Global Indian's unwavering commitment to empowering women and fostering economic empowerment, Dr. Rao Gupta served as the former president of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). The gender activist was also appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the deputy executive director for UNICEF and the vice chair of the board for the GAVI Alliance, where she served from 2011 to 2016.

Building bridges

Born in Mumbai in 1956, Dr. Rao Gupta was raised in Delhi where she was first introduced to the various gender differences prevalent in society. While she was always vocal about these issues, the gender activist started participating in various gender issues during her time at the University of Delhi, where she pursued her Masters in psychology and M.Phil. A brilliant student, Dr. Rao Gupta went on to earn a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Bangalore University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbv3B4AI4Ts

During her studies in social psychology, Dr. Rao Gupta took on various roles to make a positive impact. She worked as a counselor at a drop-in center in New Delhi, providing support to people in need. The gender activist shared her knowledge by giving lectures in psychology departments at different universities. Notably, at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, she collaborated with a team to create the first-ever women's studies curriculum for graduate students in India.

Interestingly, this curriculum aimed to enhance understanding and knowledge about women's issues and experiences. Through her work, the gender activist demonstrated her dedication to helping others and promoting gender equality in education. Speaking about how her mother's journey inspired her own, the activist shared, "Years ago, my mother received a Ford Foundation fellowship in public health that brought her to Berkley University at the age of 40. She was an MD but through this 13-month program received a public health degree and gained policy experience at the Department of Health and Human Services during the summer. The training and the confidence she built through that year, transformed her – personally and professionally. Thanks to her, each of us, her children, is now working in some way in this field."

https://soundcloud.com/csis-57169780/geeta-rao-gupta-on-gender?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

While she was passionate about gender equality and related issues, it was an incident during her pregnancy that changed her outlook on the whole problem. "When I delivered my baby in India, in a hospital in an urban site, the nurse would not tell me whether the child was a girl or a boy, because I had delivered a girl child, and she was nervous that I would be so upset with the news that I would hemorrhage and my health would be at risk," she shared, adding, "So they held the news from me till a few hours later, and told me that I had a girl child with great nervousness that I would be upset. When they saw how overjoyed I was and how pleased my parents and my parents-in-law were, the nurse came to me and said, "You belong to a very strange family. Were you raised in India?"

This incident led the activist to double her efforts and create more awareness about girl birth rates in the country.

The land of opportunities

The gender activist moved to the United States of America in the mid-1980s, where she began working at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Passionate about making a difference in people's lives, the activist held various roles at ICRW, such as being a consultant, researcher, and vice president. During the 1990s, she led an important research program that looked into why women were more vulnerable to getting HIV. This program was ground breaking and spanned 15 countries, aiming to understand the social and economic factors behind this vulnerability. In 1996, Dr. Rao Gupta was appointed as the president of ICRW, furthering her commitment to addressing women's issues and making a positive impact - a position she held for 15 years.

[caption id="attachment_39735" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Gender activist | Geeta Rao Gupta | Global Indian Dr. Rao Gupta with Michelle Milford Morse, Vice President of the UN’s Girls and Women Strategy[/caption]

After her tenure as the deputy executive director for UNICEF, from 2011 to 2016, Dr. Rao Gupta was appointed as a member of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. Working on various programmes, including population control, the gender activist faced several challenges. "Population control is an old-fashioned term that was used by demographers when they had certain target fertility rates and population numbers in mind that they wanted to reach. But it's a term that puts women at risk, of course. It takes the control of fertility out of women's hands and puts it in the hands of the public policymaker, the demographer, and the doctor. Whereas in fact, fertility control should be in the hands of women," she explained.

Climbing the ladder

Dr. Rao Gupta co-chaired the World Bank's Global Gender-Based Violence (GGBV) Task Force for about a year until 2017. Sought after by the development community and media, the gender activist's expertise in the area earned her a nomination from President Joe Biden to be the United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, which was confirmed by the US Senate in May 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD3PZx0hZws

Speaking about Dr. Rao Gupta's confirmation, Michelle Milford Morse, Vice President of the UN Foundation’s Girls and Women Strategy recently said, "Dr. Gupta is a deeply admired leader with extensive experience in the priority areas of the Office of Global Women’s issues. This is a critical role for U.S. global leadership, and Dr. Gupta will fulfill it with great distinction.” The gender activist is set to start her tenure as the ambassador in September 2023.

Follow Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta on LinkedIn and Twitter

Reading Time: 6 mins

Forest farm calling: How Vivek and Brinda Shah quit US job to become environment entrepreneurs

(May 24, 2022) Peering through the window of their train enroute Los Angeles in 2016, Vivek Shah and his wife Brinda saw acres of strawberry farms sprawled all across Salinas. The splendid view of lush, juicy, and red strawberries seemed like something out of a dream. Then, they were pulled from their reverie by the sudden appearance of a man, covered in a protective suit and spraying pesticide on the crops. It sent a chill down their spine. "It didn't seem right. How harmful were the chemicals that he had to wear protective gear? And we were consuming that produce. We knew this wasn't the environment we wanted to live in. It became a defining moment for us," environment entrepreneur Vivek tells Global Indian. In 2016, the San Fransico-based couple left their comfortable lifestyles in the US behind to return to Gujarat and start their forest farm. Now six years later, the 10-acre land which is a "mix of the commercial and experimental farm" has given Vivek and Brinda a purpose in life - to create awareness on environment restoration and put their techniques to use for a larger cause. [caption id="attachment_24809" align="aligncenter" width="440"] Brinda Shah and Vivek Shah at their forest form, Brindavan[/caption] Existential crisis

In 2016, the San Fransico-based couple left their comfortable lifestyles in the US behind to return to Gujarat and start their forest farm. Now six years later, the 10-acre land which is a "mix of the commercial and experimental farm" has given Vivek and Brinda a purpose in life - to create awareness on environment restoration and put their techniques to use for a larger cause.

[caption id="attachment_24809" align="aligncenter" width="440"] Environment Entrepreneur | Vivek and Brinda Shah Brinda Shah and Vivek Shah at their forest form, Brindavan[/caption]

Existential crisis led to true calling

Born and raised in Baroda, Vivek was more of a "creative and outdoorsy" person during his growing up years who was in the pursuit to "charter a path" for himself. "We had a CA firm, my dad is a second-generation CA. So, society expected me to follow suit. But my heart wasn't in it. After finishing my school, we received our green card for the US, and the entire family shifted base," says Vivek, who came across an open college that he calls his "golden ticket" as it gave him the chance to learn anything without pressure. From photography to fine arts to economics, Vivek dabbled in everything before settling for a degree in interaction design. "Though nature and environment always intrigued me, it wasn't a career option back then," adds Vivek.

After a year-and-a-half of working as a product designer, Vivek realised it wasn't his calling either. "Sitting behind a computer for 8-10 hours wasn't helping me make any impact. Instead, I was leading people into hyper-consumerism through my job," adds the environment entrepreneur, who was on the cusp of an existential crisis. It was then that he came across a month-long course on organic farming. This set the ball rolling for Vivek and his wife, who decided to study permaculture. "It was the logical starting point to understand environment restoration. After she came to the US, we both realised we wanted to do something in the field of environment, and that's how our journey began," reveals the 33-year-old who met his wife through common friends.

Environment entrepreneur | Vivek and Brinda Shah

A forest farm that changed it all

Vivek quit his job and returned to Gujarat with Brinda, who has a master's degree in printmaking, to begin their journey as environment entrepreneurs. Interestingly, they found massive support from their families. So much so that a family friend lent them a piece of their land to start their experiment. "We came with no background in agriculture. But the course did help us in understanding the techniques that we could adopt to make a sustainable farm," adds Vivek. For the next nine months, the couple grew crops and vegetables, understood the agricultural cycle, and tapped into local knowledge. "The initial phase was spent in observation and understanding the workings of the farm," explains Vivek. A year later, they found the perfect land in Nadiad, an hour's drive from Ahmedabad. "That's how Brindavan came into existence. We started just before the monsoon, and it was a fruitful year," reminisces the environment entrepreneur.

Environment entrepreneur | Vivek and Brinda Shah

Since then, the couple has been using techniques like green manuring and controlled grazing to ensure soil fertility and harvesting rainwater to utilise the farm resources to their capacity. "When we started, we had no role models to follow. Most of it was trial and error," he says, calling it a learning phase for the couple. "Converting our orchard into a rain-fed model and working on no-till vegetable farming gave us more confidence and faith in ourselves and our techniques," adds Vivek.

Working for the future

Sustainable farming practices are quite a fad in the US, but Vivek and Brinda realised that not much was happening in India in this space. That's the reason they decided to return and give back to their homeland. "It was a now or never for us. I was 25 when I decided to make the switch. I knew if I let this opportunity slip through my hands, I wouldn’t have the courage to pursue it after five years. Though it was like diving into an ocean, there was a sense of urgency. And I am glad we did it," says Vivek who is now providing consultancy services and applying the couple’s farming techniques on client sites.

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A post shared by Vivek Shah (@vivekatbrindavan)

"We aim to collaborate with like-minded people who need our services in saving the Earth. However, a lot needs to be done. There is awareness but the lack of action is one of our biggest challenges," says the environment entrepreneur who often finds no public participation, adding that not many are willing to invest in this space. "It's still considered to be an NGO kind of thing and not a legit industry." He believes that the right sources need to be moved in as "opportunities are plenty." Calling climate change a "real problem", Vivek finds the situation "scary because we can’t predict anything more. The changing temperatures are hampering crop growth, and in the near future, we won't be able to afford a single crop." The environment champion believes that branching out would be the solution. "We'll have to add new things to your diet that you never before even considered," says Vivek who thinks it's time to start experimenting with food security.

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A post shared by Vivek Shah (@vivekatbrindavan)

Brinda and he are now eyeing bigger projects, along with trying to make inroads with the government on climate change. "We are also planning to bring climate litigation under the larger umbrella and address climate-related challenges," says the environment entrepreneur, who believes patience is the key in this profession. He urges youngsters to "follow their heart and not have a Plan B. If you have something to fall back on, you might not push through enough." Vivek and Brinda had to make lifestyle changes on their arrival in India, but they knew it was worth the effort. "Cutting down on lifestyle expenses can do wonders, only if you are willing. But we knew we wanted to create an impact. That's what drove us both," says the father of a one-and-a-half-year-old who loves spending time with his family.

Follow Vivek Shah on Instagram and Linkedin
Follow Brindavan on Facebook

Reading Time: 6 min

From Kerala to the Met Gala: Neytt by Extraweave merges tradition with innovation

Amidst the glamour of the Met Gala 2023, one Indian brand's contribution quietly stole the limelight—the opulent, cream-coloured runway carpet stood testament to Kerala artisanship - a sustainable, custom-designed and hand-painted tribute to fashion icon Karl Lagerfield. When Sivan Santhosh, founder of Neytt by Extraweave, first heard the brief, he was doubtful. A white carpet was a very unusual request. But they got to work, taking two months to perfect the beige-toned creation, ‘made with love’ from Kerala, India. The white carpet was manufactured by Neytt and then sent to New York, where it was hand-painted by designers associated with the Met Gala. "We have worked with a company called FibreWorks, which is associated with the Gala," Sivan tells Global Indian. "The order came through them." "We are a fourth-generation, privately owned family business," Sivan says. "My great-grandfather started the business in 1917 and called it the Travancore Mats and Matting Company." Kerala had begun manufacturing coir mats, matting and floor coverings in the mid-19th century, when an Irish-born American named James Darragh set up the first factory in Alleppey in 1859. Enterprising Keralites soon caught on, with Sivan's great grandfather among them. "Extraweave was founded by my dad," he

first factory in Alleppey in 1859. Enterprising Keralites soon caught on, with Sivan's great grandfather among them. "Extraweave was founded by my dad," he says. "We went from coir foot mats to working with jute to make rugs." In 2020, Sivan and his wife founded Neytt by Extraweave, a high-end, high-fashion designer brand that works with some of the top brands in the world - apart from being a long-term supplier to IKEA (in Sweden), they have also worked with Ralph Lauren Homes, Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn.

[caption id="attachment_39278" align="aligncenter" width="648"] The Met Gala carpet, designed by Neytt by Extraweave.[/caption]

Furthering a rich family legacy

"When my father began Extraweave in the early 2000s, there were lots of challenges," says Sivan. He speaks to me from the Neytt headquarters in Alleppey, as machinery from the factory hums loudly in the background. This machinery, he says, only found its way to their manufacturing process in the early 2000s, when the imports were regularised. Before that, when his grandfather and uncles ran the business, the mats were woven by hand, or through the use of manual looms. "It was only in the 2000s that we could automate the process," Sivan explains. It also allowed them to diversify in terms of material - they went from coir to jute, sisal, water hyacinth, linen and hemp.

Although he grew up immersed in the family business, Sivan didn't graduate from high school with a plan. He decided to study computer science engineering in Vellore, going on to work for two years at a software company in Chennai. "I didn't really know what I wanted at the time," he says, in response to my look of surprise. "Engineering and medicine were the most chosen career options and since I was quite savvy with computers, I thought it would be a good idea. I did always know I would go into business at some point, though."

After two years at BNY Mellon in Chennai, Sivan felt it was time to return to the family business. "I wanted to learn how everything worked," he said. His father was clear that he should learn the business from the ground up. "I didn't believe in sitting in a chair when I don't know what's happening the floor." Sivan would interact with the workers, go to the loom and learn whatever he could from scratch. By the end of the third year, he was heading the Purchase Department.

[caption id="attachment_39279" align="aligncenter" width="549"] Sivan Santhosh and Nimisha Srinivas[/caption]

Neytt by Extraweave

After this, Sivan headed to Babson College in Boston, one of the city's top entrepreneurship schools. "I spent some time in Boston working for a startup but my wife and I had lots of ideas about what to do with the business," he explains. In early 2019, they returned to India, all set to start something of their own. "The pandemic kind of helped us," he says. "We were able to do a lot of market research and create a structure." That was the start of Neytt by Extraweave.

The company did very well, quickly. In 2016, Neytt produced a rug for the White House, for a special event during a head of state visit. They have supplied to IKEA for seven years - "We produce their rugs, floor mats, carpets and the sisal scratch mats for cats, which are among IKEA's top five most popular products worldwide," Sivan says. The products are made in Kerala and shipped to the IKEA headquarters in Sweden, from where they are distributed. They have also worked with the Taj Hotels in Andaman and Mumbai's Soho House.

The sisal story

Only two companies in India, Neytt being one of them, that work with sisal, a durable, white fibre found mostly in East Africa, which they import from countries like Tanzania and Madagascar. "It's mostly white in colour, very long, strong and durable," Sivan explains. The fibre is imported in the raw form and is converted to the yarn stage at the Neytt factory. The yarn is converted to bobbins and fed into the loom, which weaves rolls that are around five metres in width. "The machine defects are corrected by hand by our skilled artisans," he adds.

Derived from the bark of the Agave plant, which grows mainly in East Africa and also in Brazil, sisal is known for being durable and eco-friendly. In South America, the sisal tradition goes all the way back to the Aztecs and the Mayans, who, it is believed, used it to make fabrics and paper. From there, sisal cultivation spread to the Caribbean islands, Brazil and Africa.

Celebrating South India, supporting local communities

As they studied the market, they realised that traditions from North India dominates the world's perception of Indian crafts, from Jaipur rugs to Banarasi silk and Lucknow Chikankari. "There are lots of design elements and craftsmanship in the South but nobody knows about that, apart from South Indians." Celebrating South Indian design is one of their core philosophies - they use exotic, sustainable raw materials like sisal, lyocell and linen, to bring out design elements from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

In 2018, they produced a collection of custom-designed rugs that used elements from the major floods that had taken place that year. They paid tribute to the everyday, unsung heroes, who had braved adversities during the devastating floods. That design won the Elle Deco International Design Awards.

"We also did a collection on Kerala's boat races," Sivan says. For that, the design team sat down with the participants of the races, to understand what matters to them when they race. "The rhythm and synchronisation are crucial, the musical instruments and the songs they sing as they row, the instruments they use and the role that each person plays on the boat - we incorporated these elements into our designs," he explains. From the goats that walk around in Fort Kochi, its iconic doorways and window frames, to the mundu - traditional elements from Kerala's culture are an important part of Neytt's designs.

It also extends to employing locals - 98 percent of the 700-member team are from the area. Nearly 50 percent are women - "Weaving has always been a predominantly male domain, so we try to empower women through leadership roles and in traditional manufacturing roles."

When tradition meets innovation

[video width="1152" height="720" mp4="https://www.globalindian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/neyyt.mp4"][/video]

Video: Neytt

Neytt by Extraweave's ascent in the world of high-end design and manufacturing is a remarkable story of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the melding of tradition with contemporary requirements. Founded by Sivan Santhosh and his wife, the Kerala-based brand leverages the legacy of his family's involvement in the coir industry to create distinct, sustainable products that have found their place in prestigious venues, from the White House to the Met Gala. Embracing new materials and automating processes have been instrumental to their growth.

Moreover, the commitment to celebrate and preserve the lesser-known South Indian design elements and their strong community involvement, particularly towards female empowerment, underlines their vision. The story of Neytt by Extraweave attests to the endless possibilities when rich cultural heritage is combined with innovation and sustainability, and how one small family business from Kerala can make a significant mark on the global stage.

Follow Neytt by ExtraWeave, and Sivan Santhosh on Instagram.

Sunny Jain: Brooklyn-based dhol player celebrating diversity through Red Baraat

(March 16, 2024) Each year, as the spirit of Holi permeates in springtime, life is a whirlwind of activity for Indian American dhol player Sunny Jain and his band, Red Baraat, as they embark on their annual ‘Festival of Color’ tour. 'This is how we do it. Bhangra Boom gonna make you go dhoom dhoom. We're starting in Philadelphia next week and heading to NYC, DC, Boston, SF, San Diego, and more this March! Come dance with us,' shared Red Baraat on its social media handles. The band has been celebrating Holi for the last 12 years, and this year, their 13-city Holi tour is already sold out. [caption id="attachment_50069" align="aligncenter" width="815"] Photo Credit: Red Baraat[/caption] Conceived by dhol player, drummer and Indo jazz composer Sunny Jain, Red Baraat is a one-of-its-kind band that has drawn worldwide acclaim for merging the energy-soaked Indian bhangra with powerful rhythms of hip-hop, jazz, and rock. “Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve,” mentions the Brooklyn-based band’s website. Sunny Jain has trailblazed the introduction of the north-Indian instrument, dhol to the western audiences with

“Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve,” mentions the Brooklyn-based band’s website. Sunny Jain has trailblazed the introduction of the north-Indian instrument, dhol to the western audiences with elan.

Red Baraat

Founded in 2008, Red Baraat has performed across the globe including prestigious venues like the White House, London Olympics, Padma Lakshmi’s Blossom Ball, TED, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Luxembourg Philharmonic, and Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD festivals (Australia, New Zealand, Spain, UK).

“Red Baraat comes from the Indian brass band tradition, but it’s not just trying to replicate that sound,” Sunny said in an interview. “It’s more like a South Asian-American experience with a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and rock with a massive amount of energy,” he added.

The band has seen the crowd go berserk with excitement from the stages of festivals like the Quebec City Summer Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Madison World Music Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, SXSW Music Festival, Pori Jazz Festival (Finland), Molde Jazz Festival (Norway) and Chicago Folks & Roots Festival, GlobalFEST, and Montreal Jazz Festival amongst others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmw41CY1Fo&list=PLA442F1BA9D8C260C&index=2

Sunny Jain – soaking the world in the energy of Bhangra

Indian origin Sunny Jain is popular as one of the foremost South Asian-American jazz musicians, making an innovative blend of the cultural sounds of north Indian music, jazz, and various other musical influences. His albums have garnered global praise. Currently serving as the 2023-24 artist in residence at Wesleyan University, he is diligently working on his inaugural music theatrical production, 'Love Force'.

The dhol player has authored two instructional drum books, ‘The Total Jazz Drummer’ and ‘Drum Atlas: India’, both published by Alfred Publishing. With a career spanning close to three decades, Sunny has received numerous accolades. In 2007, he became the first artist endorser for India's oldest and largest musical manufacturer, Bina Music.

Sunny had also played dhol in the first Indian Broadway show, ‘Bombay Dreams’ in 2004, and made his Hollywood debut playing dhol in the movie The Accidental Husband, starring Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, and Isabella Rossellini.

[caption id="attachment_50070" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Indian Musicians | Sunny Jain | Global Indian Photo Credit: Red Baraat[/caption]

In 2002, he was honoured as the Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and the Kennedy Center, which led to extensive tours throughout West Africa.

“If we can unite people of all backgrounds and ethnicities to partake in the exuberance of life through the universal language of music, then life is much sweeter,” Sunny remarked in an interview.

Illustrious musical associations

While being actively engaged with Red Baraat, Sunny was also the drummer for the acclaimed Sufi rock band Junoon for several years, performing at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2007, Srinagar University in Kashmir in 2009, and the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2009. During the time, he had also recorded the single ‘Open Your Eyes’ with Peter Gabriel.

Sunny Jain is currently associated as band leader and drummer of ‘Wild Wild East’. Their first album was released in 2019 by Smithsonian Folkways. The musical group had made headlines with its outstanding performance at the renowned Smithsonian Folklife Festival at the National Mall in Washington D.C. The band recently performed at Tiny Desk Concert for NPR in 2024.

Man of milestones

Sunny has received grants for his compositions and performances from various organizations such as the Aaron Copland Music Fund, Chamber Music America, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and GlobalFEST. He was also honoured with the Arts International Award in early years of his career, which supported his jazz group, 'Sunny Jain Collective', during tours in India.

[caption id="attachment_50068" align="aligncenter" width="807"] Red Baraat's Festival of Colors at the Bowery Ballroom in 2019 | Photo credit: Sachyn Mital.[/caption]

Much recently, in 2022, Sunny played alongside drumming legends Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, and Giovanni Hidalgo in Planet Drum's first show in 15 years. In 2023, he served as the music producer for Mira Nair's 'Monsoon Wedding, The Musical' based on the director’s widely acclaimed 2001 movie.

A few years back he had donned the hat of the musical director for the OBIE award-winning show, 'The Jungle', and had directed music for Lincoln Center’s 60th Anniversary celebrations.

ALSO READ | Charu Suri: The Indian pianist and composer making jazz raga popular globally

Merging innovation with heritage

“My parents were immigrants – I was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y. where I had a healthy dose of a little bit of everything – Bollywood classics from the 50s through the 80s, devotional songs of Jainism through both my parents, and then some Hindustani classical. I was getting all the Western music, like Casey Kasem’s Top 40, from my two older siblings,” Jain shared in an interview.

He went on to study jazz, and was inspired by greats like Elvin Jones and Max Roach but chose to create his own music by blending jazz with South Asian tunes. People loved his innovative music and Sunny started making a name for himself with packed night-club performances that eventually led to prestigious collaborations and assignments.

Later, in the 'Sunny Jain Collective', he explored how Indian classical music could influence jazz, working with artists like Rez Abbasi and Samita Sinha. With 'Tongues in Trees', a trio including Sinha and Grey Mcmurray, he combined indie-pop with Indian rhythms. Alongside Pakistani musician Ali Sethi, Jain formed Resident Alien, focusing on the theme of migration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9oQIqYObug&list=PLA442F1BA9D8C260C&index=14

Giving back

Sunny Jain has always tried to merge his music with purpose. At the beginning of his career, through his project, ‘Taboo’, he had addressed social justice issues affecting the South Asian community, drawing from ancient poetry to tackle modern problems like sexual identity and domestic violence.

During his association with the band ‘Junoon’, he had used musical performances to raise awareness and funds supporting flood victims of Pakistan and Pakistani refugees in the Swat Valley.

During the pandemic the dhol player and jazz composer had released ‘Phoenix Rise’, a collaborative album featuring over 50 artists, along with a 72-page book promoting social justice.

Follow Sunny Jain on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
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How investor Mohnish Pabrai applies Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger’s principles for extraordinary success

(April 1, 2024) A smart investor, thriving entrepreneur, and a dedicated philanthropist, Indian American Mohnish Pabrai has reached great heights from the obscurity of Bombay to the financial peak and fame in the US. The author of 'The Dhandho Investor,' and ‘Mosaic’ has followed in the footsteps of two of the most esteemed investors in history, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, who later became his mentor and dear friend. Pabrai’s ambition has been bold and clear - to transform $1 million in savings into a $1 billion fortune by replicating Buffett's investment approach. In 2022 when Pabrai received a letter from Warren Buffett, he couldn’t have been happier. Acknowledging the impressive annual report of the Indian American philanthropist’s non-profit Dakshana Foundation, Buffet wrote: Dear Mohnish, I remain incredibly impressed by what you have done, are doing and will do at Dakshana. It is simply terrific – far more impressive than what business titans, investment gurus and famous politicians ever accomplish. I’m glad my annual report doesn’t get compared to the Dakshana annual report. It’s an honour even to be quoted in it. With admiration - Warren E. Buffet So far, Pabrai has secured investments totalling ₹130 crore for his foundation

ana. It is simply terrific – far more impressive than what business titans, investment gurus and famous politicians ever accomplish. I’m glad my annual report doesn’t get compared to the Dakshana annual report. It’s an honour even to be quoted in it.

With admiration - Warren E. Buffet

So far, Pabrai has secured investments totalling ₹130 crore for his foundation transforming nearly 40,000 lives forever.

Giving back

When Pabrai co-founded the Dakshana Foundation in 2007, he became a key figure in providing needy students in India good education and helpful guidance, helping them start successful careers. Dakshana's primary focus is on combating poverty through education. The non-profit achieves this by identifying exceptionally talented but financially disadvantaged teenagers and offering them rigorous coaching along with hostel facilities for one or two years to prepare for the IITs and medical entrance exams.

The foundation has witnessed thousands of scholars being getting admitted to India's prestigious IITs, and medical schools. Dakshana Scholars are exceptional students selected from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and government schools across India based on their academic performance and results from Dakshana's unique testing process. They receive specialised coaching after completing Class 10 or Class 12.

[caption id="attachment_50415" align="aligncenter" width="683"] Indian philanthropist | Mohnish Pabrai | Global Indian Mohnish Pabrai with Dakshana Scholars[/caption]

Pabrai comes across as a very fun-loving and relaxed individual when interacting with the scholars of his foundation, often leaving them in splits of laughter. During one such interaction, he recounted a childhood incident, saying, "I used to have very low self-esteem and thought I was significantly below average. I remember when I was in the third standard, in a class with a large size of about 60 students. We received report cards with our ranks on them. I distinctly recall my rank was 57 out of 60. I used to sit at the back, not understanding what was being taught, and I wondered why I didn't get a perfect score of 60 out of 60!"

The flight of life

Mohnish Pabrai was born in Mumbai in 1964. His father’s job took him to different cities in India and Dubai which gave him the opportunity to study in various schools including Jamnabai Narsee School, Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School, The Air Force School in New Delhi, and The Indian High School in Dubai. These different schools influenced his outlook on life.

After completing his school education, he went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from Clemson University, showing his early talent for technology, even though he had studied commerce in his 11^th and 12^th grade. He continued to learn by attending the YPO Harvard President’s Seminar for nine years, eventually being recognised as an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBcwTorEG4

From 1986 to 1991, Pabrai worked at Tellabs, a technology startup, and then went on to found TransTech Inc., an IT consulting and systems integration company in 1991, investing $30,000 from his personal account and credit card debt. Despite facing challenges initially, his determination led TransTech to success. After nine years, Pabrai sold the company for $20 million to Kurt Salmon Associates.

Successful investing is not about picking winners; it’s about avoiding losers. Focus on preserving your capital first, and then look for opportunities to grow it over time.

Mohnish Pabrai mentioned in his book, 'The Dhandho Investor'

Inspired by Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger

Pabrai’s investment strategy focuses on identifying severely undervalued companies with the potential for substantial returns.

He had established the Pabrai Investment Funds, a hedge fund family inspired by Buffett Partnerships in 1999. In a matter of four years, his long-only equities portfolio returned 517 percent of the invested amount. This meteoric growth catapulted him to prominence in the financial world. People started taking notice of his strategic thinking and investing acumen which was inspired by Warren Buffet’s investment philosophies.

[caption id="attachment_50416" align="aligncenter" width="782"] Indian philanthropist | Mohnish Pabrai | Global Indian Mohnish Pabrai with Charlie Munger[/caption]

I have two gurus Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. One of the things I learned from them which kind of took me a long time to actually figure this out, is that if you want to do well in life then what you should avoid doing is looking back.

Mohnish Pabrai

Pabrai had developed lasting friendship with late American businessman, investor and philanthropist Charlie Munger while being his mentee, and often followed his philosophies in life. Four months back when Munger passed away, Pabrai tweeted, “I lost a dear friend, mentor and teacher. As a kid from Mumbai, I never expected to have a friendship with Charlie Munger..."

In December 2023, Pabrai’s net worth was estimated to be $150 million. The bulk of his wealth accumulation are a result of his savvy investment decisions, with stakes in companies like Micron Technology, General Motors Company, and Bank of America Corporation, among others.

Also Read | Frank Islam: The Indian American visionary is bridging worlds through philanthropy, leadership and influence

Heads I Win, Tails I Don’t Lose

Apart from being the founder and managing partner of Pabrai Investment Funds that manages over $1 billion in assets, the investor serves as portfolio manager of Pabrai Wagons Funds, founder and CEO of Dhandho Funds, and chairman and CEO of Dhandho Holdings.

Mohnish Pabrai has crafted his own winning mantra - ‘Heads I Win, Tails I Don’t Lose.’ With this mindset he carefully selects companies which are undervalued in the market but have strong fundamentals and intrinsic values that can be reaped for good results. Employing this approach, he has mastered the art of value investing, achieving outstanding returns on his investments while minimising risks.

Indian philanthropist | Mohnish Pabrai | Global Indian

Not shy of sharing his knowledge

Beyond investment management Pabrai loves to share his insights with aspiring investors and professionals in the world of finance. He has shared his insights in two of his well acclaimed books - ‘The Dhandho Investor: The Low-Risk Formula for Value Investing’ published in 2011 and ‘Mosaic: Perspectives on Investing’ published in 2017.

These books provide practical advice and valuable insights drawn from his extensive experience and research in investing. His insights get quoted quite often. In fact, in Guy Spier’s book, ‘The Education of a Value Investor,’ there is a chapter titled “Doing Business the Buffett-Pabrai Way,’ which thoroughly explores Pabrai’s life and investment philosophy.

In addition to books, the investor frequently contributes articles to prestigious publications, offering commentary on current market trends, investment strategies, and the broader principles of value investing. His engaging writing style makes complex financial concepts understandable to a wider audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQsP8ogUp8k

Mohnish Pabrai also actively interacts with the community through lectures and presentations. His thought-provoking speeches are full of humour, keen observations, and practical advice, empowering the investor community.

You don't make money when you buy stocks. And you don't make money when you sell stocks. You make money by waiting. The biggest asset of a value investor is not his IQ but his patience.

Mohnish Pabrai

Following his mentor Charlie Munger’s philosophy of ‘focusing on continuous improvement instead of dwelling on past’, the Indian American investor is always on a quest to reach fresh heights in the journey of life.

A little known fact:

Mohnish Pabrai is the grandson of world-renowned magician, late Gogia Pasha who earned international acclaim for his performances.

Follow Mohnish Pabrai on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook and his blog Chai with Pabrai

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