Philanthropist | Wedding Dress Bank | Nasar Thootha | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryEx-NRI Nasar Thootha’s wedding dress bank is a boon for brides from poor families

Ex-NRI Nasar Thootha’s wedding dress bank is a boon for brides from poor families

Written by: Amrita Priya

(May 13, 2022) Nasar Thootha, a taxi driver from Thootha village in Perimantthalmanna in Malappuram district, Kerala, has been running a wedding dress bank since the last two years to help underprivileged girls experience dream weddings. The philanthropist, who formerly worked in a supermarket in Saudi Arabia, has helped more than 350 brides and families from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh with wedding dresses that the poor families cannot even dream to afford. “Women from affluent backgrounds use their wedding dress for a few hours on their wedding day and never touch it again. I was able to convince many of them to donate their dresses as they could make such a difference to the weddings of the poor,” Nasar tells Global Indian. His brother, Shanu Thootha, acts as interpreter. “We have even provided a dress to an underprivileged bride from UP,” Nasar adds.

Philanthropist | Wedding Dress Bank | Nasar Thootha | Global Indian

The calling came ten years ago when Nasar met a woman who was struggling to put money together for a wedding dress for her daughter. Most were out of her price range. Nasar, who is no stranger to philanthropy, was moved by her plight and arranged the money for the woman to buy her daughter the dress she wanted.

Building the bank

When he started out, well-wishers donated their wedding clothes as he built his ‘dress bank’ at home. Word spread quickly and the media came calling. News of the ‘Nasar Thootha Dress Bank’ travelled across the state and outside it as well. The dress bank now has close to a thousand dresses with a price range of ₹5000 to ₹40,000. Several donations have been made by women living not only in India, but also in the USA and the Gulf countries.

As the size of his bank grew, Nasar’s house was soon too small to hold them all and he rented a place nearby. Now, would-be brides have a wide selection of dresses to choose from, as well as a variety of styles suited to customs of all religions.

“Picking up dresses from nearby places is not an issue as I do that while I drive my taxi. Many dresses are couriered as well,” says he adding that “those who want to collect the attire come to my dress bank and choose. Though we do not tell them to return the clothes, some do so after the use.” The philanthropist has been touching lives of not only people who are getting married but the entire family, given that weddings are a family affair in which the happiness is shared by all.

Talking about the plight of a family, he says, “I was moved to tears when a visually-impaired girl visited the dress bank for her sister’s wedding. The financial condition of the family filled me with sadness.” He is happy that the local government has showered him with moral support and encouragement for his initiatives.

Caring for all…

Growing up in Thootha with six brothers and a sister, Nasar would see his mother go out of her way to lend a helping hand to those in need. His sister, who was struck by polio, is differently-abled and struggles to move or sit. Living under the same roof with her has opened Nasar’s eyes to the suffering of others and motivates him to stand by them.

This spirit of generosity spills over – Nasar always feels a tug when he sees the homeless and the hungry, wandering around in the shabby tatters, not having cleaned themselves for months. He helps them with a complete makeover, ensuring that they are bathed, provided clean clothes and given a meal. His friends and family are supportive and help in any way they can.

During the pandemic, he converted his taxi – SUV Tavera into an ambulance helping people around to reach to health centres for immediate intervention. On the second anniversary of the dress bank, he laid the foundation for his latest project, Sukritam, to provide facilities like wheelchairs, airbeds, walking sticks and oxygen cylinders to people who are bedridden or who struggle to walk, like his sister. A new ambulance is part of the project with donations from several people.

Nasar now plans to open a second dress bank in Bengaluru. An entrepreneur from the city has offered him assistance.

Present and Future

The philanthropist stays with his mother, sister, wife and four school-going kids. “Two or even three poor girls can be married with the amount that is spent on a single wedding in an affluent home,” he says.

Nasar Thootha with his wife

After working in Saudi Arabia for seven years, he no longer felt like leaving his homeland and chose to settle in his village instead, buying a taxi from his savings and trying to make a difference to the lives of his fellow villagers.

“The Samaritan is also an exemplary goal keeper who shines in all local football tournaments,” signs off Shanu Thootha, his doting brother and interpreter.

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Varsha

October 9, 2022 7:44 pm

I want to donate, plz content number.

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Yesh Ramphal ( of South Africa )

October 11, 2022 6:52 pm

Hi, we are from South Africa and we would like to donate some bridal outfits (used only once) to your bridal dress bank.
Please email us your full physical address so we can courier these bridal items for the poor Indian brides to use on their wedding day.

Thank you
Sincerely
Yesh and Das

Lubna Sheikh

May 19, 2024 8:22 am

I want to donate my wedding dress kindly provide me the dress where I can courier you my dress i m staying in Belgaum Karnataka

Author

Amrita Priya

May 19, 2024 7:15 pm

His facebook profile link is there at the end of the feature story. You can approach him there.

Published on 13, May 2022

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Meet Dr. Shyam Bishen: The Indian-origin executive heading the Global Health and Healthcare arena at the World Economic Forum

(January 2, 2023) As a reporter covering the global pandemic, one of the biggest tragedies that I reported on was the severe shortage of basic medicines in various developing countries, including India. While the world leaders were busy finding a solution to this problem, which might have claimed thousands of lives, an Indian-origin healthcare leader - Dr. Shyam Bishen - pulled up his sleeves and worked tirelessly in licensing and technology transfer of COVID-19 antiviral drugs from US pharma to Indian companies. His only aim was to ensure that these drugs can be produced and made available at an accessible price to low- and middle-income countries. [caption id="attachment_33403" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Dr. Shyam Bishen, Head of Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum[/caption] "One of the prime goals in my life has been to increase the accessibility of medicines in developing nations. When the pandemic hit the world in 2020, I was working with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as their regional director of partnerships in the global health arena. My focus was to ensure that COVID treatment drugs were accessible in India and other developing countries as soon as possible. Back then anti-viral medicines were being developed by Merck, Pfizer, Gilead,

I was working with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as their regional director of partnerships in the global health arena. My focus was to ensure that COVID treatment drugs were accessible in India and other developing countries as soon as possible. Back then anti-viral medicines were being developed by Merck, Pfizer, Gilead, and other big US pharma companies. Even though these drugs were patented, I worked on establishing a partnership that can bring licensing to Indian pharma companies such as Dr. Reddy's and Cipla. I am glad that it was a successful initiative," shares the healthcare industry expert as he connects with me from Geneva, Switzerland.

Currently heading the global health and healthcare arena at the World Economic Forum, Dr. Bishen is working on establishing a public-private partnership. "I am invested in bringing private players in the healthcare industry and governments from across the globe so that we can look into and find sustainable solutions for the major health-related issues people are facing. I am engaging political, cultural, and industrial leaders from various countries to overall shape the global health and healthcare agenda," Dr. Bishen tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview.

Spreading his wings

Born to an affluent family in the small town of Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Bishen grew up on a farm in the village. "I spent several years of my childhood in the village, where my family owned a farm. I remember, when I was in the eighth standard, I received a merit scholarship. So we subsequently moved to the city for my education," shares the healthcare executive, adding, "Even though I come from a family of lawyers, I was always interested in building a career in sciences. My father was very ambitious for me and always emphasised the importance of education. He would often tell me that if I worked hard and was focussed there is no reason why I couldn't win a Nobel Prize one day. My parents were so invested in my education that my mother even learned a little English so that she can teach me," he smiles.

Healthcare | Shyam Bishen | Global Indian

An ambitious student himself, Dr. Bishen secured the first rank in his Bachelor of Science class and went to Lucknow University on a National Scholarship to complete his master’s in chemistry with a gold medal. "I was very happy with my accomplishments. I wanted to study further, so after my master's I joined IIT Delhi as a Ph.D. student," he shares. However, his destiny was somewhere else. About 18 months into his course, Dr. Bishen got an offer to join the University of Newcastle, Australia as a Ph.D. scholar, in 1984.

"That opportunity proved to be a turning point in my life. For a small city boy, going to Delhi itself was a big adjustment for me. But when I decided to move to Australia, even though I prepared for it by watching several Hollywood movies," he laughs, before adding, "It was a bit of a culture shock for me. I came from a place where no one spoke English to a land where English was the only language I could use to communicate. During my initial days there, I did struggle to adjust." After finishing his Ph.D., Dr. Bishen did a short post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, post which he left for the USA and joined academia as an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The world of healthcare

After working on anti-cancer research at the Medical University of South Carolina for four years, Dr. Bishen decided to join the biopharma industry in 1992. In his 35-long-long career, he has worked with several leading pharma companies, including Pfizer and Merck. While in the biopharma industry, the healthcare expert has discovered many drug candidates in cancer and HIV areas and is listed as the primary inventor on several US and world patents. During his stint at Pfizer, Dr. Bishen also earned an MBA degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He was also trained in a yearlong leadership programme at Harvard University.

[caption id="attachment_33409" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Healthcare | Shyam Bishen | Global Indian Dr. Bishen with Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare of India[/caption]

"While working for the big pharma companies, I got quite interested in the business side of how the drugs are developed and manufactured. I discovered that people in developed nations have good access to medicines, whereas the same is not the case with people in developing nations. Patients in developing nations have to wait for the medicines to be made in their countries until the patent registered in a developing nation expires. I wanted to explore a business model," he shares.

[caption id="attachment_33408" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Healthcare | Shyam Bishen | Global Indian Dr. Bishen at the first World Bio Summit in Seoul, Korea[/caption]

Dr. Bishen joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014 and worked to establish programmes like Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Development Collaborator to develop universal TB drugs. Passionate about treating and ending TB, as he has seen its ravaging effects on people’s lives and families in India, Dr. Bishen also participated in the End TB meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in 2018.

In 2022, Dr. Bishen joined the World Economic Forum and as the chief of the health and healthcare division, he is working on ensuring that the world is better prepared for any other global health crisis. Speaking about his work, he says, "We wouldn't have lost so many people if we had better access to medical facilities. We saw how the healthcare industry collapsed in various parts of the world when COVID first hit us, and we do not want that to happen again. I want to make sure that there is equitable access to diagnostics, medicines, vaccines, and treatments for everyone, irrespective of their country. So, for this, I am working with the G20 and G7 nations, and other countries in Africa to ensure that the world handles the next pandemic in a better way."

Extreme weather events like floods, hurricanes, heatwaves & droughts severely threaten global health systems.

Developing resilient health systems that can withstand climate change & other shocks is critical.https://t.co/kK030b6kfC | @economistimpact | #SDG3 pic.twitter.com/TjUaBOGwyM

— UNOPS (@UNOPS) October 14, 2022

But a virus is not the only thing to be scared of in today's world. Dr. Bishen and his team are also looking to tackle various environmental crises across the globe, which are the root of many medical crises as well. "The World Economic Forum is treating climate change and its effects as an emergency. In my mind, environmental disbalance has caused many healthcare-related issues that the world is facing today. There is an increase in several diseases including malaria, dengue, asthma, COPD, and other cardiovascular problems around the world. If we do not take appropriate steps to look for a solution today, these problems will only manifold in the future," he shares.

Giving back to the society

The healthcare expert, who has dedicated over a three-and-a-half decade of his life to making basic medical facilities accessible in the developing nation, is also quite passionate about girl child education. Dr. Bishen is the Chairman of the Global Girls Scholarship Foundation (GGSF) - an organisation dedicated to educating underprivileged girls in developing countries by providing them with scholarships and other academic-related resources needed for success.

Healthcare | Shyam Bishen | Global Indian

Talking about the organisation, the healthcare expert, who still visits his hometown in UP quite often, says, "I feel that in the rural sectors of India, girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to education, as it is not prioritised by their parents. This issue has bothered me for a while and several years I wanted to do something to rectify the situation. GGSF is registered in the US but does most of its work in India and Africa. In the last four years that the foundation was established, we have been able to generate significant funds with major donations and sponsor over 35 girls' education. But, we don't want to stop at just getting them educated. We will also b collaborating with other organisations to help them find a job."

Follow Dr. Shyam Bishen on LinkedIn and Twitter

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Into the jungles with wildlife photographer Parag Bhatt

(March 30, 2024) In 2023, wildlife photographer Parag Bhatt was named the winner of the People's Vote Award in the wildlife category at the ReFocus Black & White Photo Contest for his image 'The Gentle Giant of Ambroseli', where he went up against entrants from 77 countries around the world. With numerous accolades to his name, and work featured in publications across the globe, the self-taught photographer's journey began at home, listening to his mother's stories of growing up in Mombasa and in his father's darkroom, where he watched films being developed and enlarged. He talks to Global Indian about what inspires him to travel to the world's most remote and challenging terrains to seek out some of the world's most exotic, dangerous and elusive wildlife, as well as toeing the line between respecting an animal in its habitat and getting the perfect shot. [caption id="attachment_50399" align="aligncenter" width="523"] The photo of the polar bear in Svalbard that won Parag Bhatt an honourable mention in 2022[/caption] The formative years Born, raised, and educated in Mumbai, Bhatt’s school days saw him keenly interested in science when he would make models and electrical toys from scratch. That interest saw him pursue electronic engineering.

onourable mention in 2022[/caption]

The formative years

Born, raised, and educated in Mumbai, Bhatt’s school days saw him keenly interested in science when he would make models and electrical toys from scratch. That interest saw him pursue electronic engineering. However, post his graduation, he moved to Powder Metallurgy where he worked on manufacturing diamond tools for the stone cutting industry. He worked in this industry for 40 years at the same time pursuing his hobby. “My father had a deep interest in photography. He had a darkroom at home where he would develop the film and enlarge prints. I used to love the way prints would come alive in a hypo solution in just a few minutes from white light falling on photo paper. So, I used to work with him in the darkroom and occasionally pick up his camera and shoot. That is how my interest was kindled in photography,” he reminisces.

Wild Ways

As far as his interest in wildlife was concerned, the contribution to this came from his mother who was born in Mombasa, Kenya since his grandfather had emigrated to Kenya. “She used to tell us stories of how she frequently encountered wildlife in Kenya when traveling from one place to the other by road or how the animals used to roam freely and were not confined to parks. Such stories brought in a lot of excitement within me as a young boy and ever since then, I wished to visit Kenya to view wildlife. Gladly this dream of mine came to fruition in 1994 when I first visited Kenya. My trip to Kenya plays an integral role in my journey as a wildlife photographer. It was on that trip that I for the very first time in my journey as a wildlife photographer shot wildlife,” he explains.

[caption id="attachment_50397" align="aligncenter" width="466"] Wildlife photographer Parag Bhatt[/caption]

Lessons in the Wild

Wildlife behaviour is quite unpredictable, making it challenging to anticipate their actions and movements. Capturing the perfect shot often requires waiting for the right moment, sometimes for hours or even days. “Hence patience and persistence are mandatory qualities for a wildlife photographer. Moreover, many times the weather is not conducive, which can impact the quality of shots. In times like these, the photographer can either wait for the weather to change and become favourable for capturing shots or use the weather to his/her advantage,” he says.

Wildlife photography involves using specialized gear, such as long lenses and sturdy tripods, which can be heavy and cumbersome to carry around. Mastering technical skills like exposure, focus techniques and composition principles are essential for capturing compelling wildlife images. “In wildlife photography, there is something very interesting called a ‘circle of fear’, which if crossed, will result in the animal fleeing." It's a fine line, he admits, between respecting the animal's space and natural habitat while still getting close enough for a good shot. But, he maintains, the well-being of animals is always top priority and disturbing them for the perfect shot is just not done. "Documenting wildlife can also raise awareness about conservation issues, but photographers must be mindful of their impact on fragile ecosystems and endangered species,” he adds.

Being Recognised

Bhatt won two honourable mentions and the People’s Choice Award in 2022 in the ReFocus B&W photo competition, something that has given him satisfaction and happiness. “I remember capturing the polar bear photograph less than two years ago in Svalbard. The whole idea behind capturing this shot was to portray the behaviour of the polar bear." The polar bear, he says, was dipping into the icy water to search for her kill, which had been carried adrift from the shore by the tide. For Bhatt, the challenge was to locate her everytime she surfaced, as she would dive in somewhere and resurface randomly elsewhere after about half a minute. The long and heavy lens, the choppy waters and the bobbing rubber boat only made the task more challenging.

[caption id="attachment_50403" align="aligncenter" width="433"] Wildlife photographer Parag Bhatt | Global Indian Photographer by Parag Bhatt[/caption]

Working on Himself

As self-taught wildlife photographer Parag Bhatt commenced his journey in wildlife photography during the days of the film by taking snapshots of animals in their habitat. For the first few years, he pursued this path and started documenting each exposure, trying to improve the next time. “Over the years, I realized that there was much more to it than what I had been doing. Hence, I started my quest to improve my skills. For this, I collected a lot of books on the art and science of photography and slowly learned the ropes of exposure, metering, focus techniques, and mainly the art of composing images,” he says.

In 2003, Bhatt bought his first digital camera which revolutionised the learning process. It shortened the learning curve for photographers everywhere, and Bhatt also began observing and learning from some of the best in the business. Seeing their work inspired him to strive for better photographs. "My journey has been slow and painstaking but I have reached a stage where I have the confidence to exhibit my work at the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai,” he adds.

Conflict Cues

For a wildlife photographer documenting human wildlife conflict is an interesting yet challenging task. Balance plays a vital role in showcasing the human and the wild stories. “While documenting the human wildlife conflict I ensure I am capturing the beauty of the wildlife showcasing them as at ease in their natural habitat while coexisting with the human. I also try to show the complex relationship between humans and the wild through my photographs. For instance, I captured one such photograph in Masai Mara Kenya. The photograph portrays how the usage of plastic negatively impacts our ecosystem. The photograph showcased a lion cub chewing a plastic bottle while sitting beside its mother. Plastics pose a significant threat to the health and survival of wildlife globally and the photograph tried to get attention to the harmful effects plastic can have on animals. I wanted to convey the message that we should have effective waste management techniques to avoid such incidents and reduce the harmful effects of plastic pollution,” he says.

Wildlife photographer Parag Bhatt | Global Indian

Looking Ahead

Over the years he has learnt several lessons while pursuing his craft of capturing the wild. Patience, persistence and acceptance in nature are key because no matter how well-prepared one might be, nothing goes according to plan in the wild. "Things unfold in their own way," he says. "I have learned to embrace every moment in the wild as it comes. I enjoy being by nature and observing the animals in their natural habitat and there are a plethora of things I have learned while capturing each shot." Over the years, he has learned to understand animal behaviour better, and to approach every encounter with an open mind. "I accept nature’s unpredictability efficiently and always remain patient in the moment,” he says. For someone who always tries to push boundaries to capture amazing shots, he plans to publish a coffee table book soon. “I will also set strategies to mentor budding wildlife photographers by hand holding them and teaching them the techniques of shooting good wildlife images. I will be going to Kenya at the end of this month to shoot wildlife at night and rhinos up close and hopefully come up with some striking images,” he signs off.

Follow Parag Bhatt on Instagram and on his website

Aadith Moorthy and Boomitra: From TIME 100 to Earthshot Prize and Forbes 30 Under 30

(July 22, 2024) Founded by Indian origin Aadith Moorthy, Boomitra, which means ‘friend of the earth’ in Sanskrit, has been receiving well-deserved acclaim. The organisation was named in the TIME 100 Companies list of 2024 for being a disruptor in carbon sequestration and supporting smallholder farmers worldwide. Last year, it won the prestigious Earthshot Prize, considered the Oscars for the environment in the ‘Fix Our Climate’ category for successfully removing 10 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere. Aadith Moorthy has made it to the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 North America list for creating social impact. Aadith’s journey towards making a difference started eight years ago. During his visit to a remote village in South India, he witnessed a funeral procession of a farmer who had committed suicide, devastated by the hardships he faced due to failed monsoon rains. “This tragic event made me question why farmers, the backbone of society, were forced to struggle,” the Global Indian shared, talking about the reason behind starting Boomitra. This led him to think about how modern technology could offer a solution to such a problem in different geographies. Soon after, driven by the desire to make a change, he laid the

about the reason behind starting Boomitra. This led him to think about how modern technology could offer a solution to such a problem in different geographies.

Soon after, driven by the desire to make a change, he laid the foundation of his startup to address this issue. The Florida native had always been an exemplary student in geography and social sciences, winning the 22nd National Geographic Bee competition in the US when he was just 13. Over the years, he developed an interest in technology and AI, going on to study at the California Institute of Technology for his graduate studies and at Stanford University for his master’s degree. Boomitra became an amalgamation of his interests, aimed at solving societal problems.

[caption id="attachment_53158" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Indian Entrepreneur | Aadith Moorthy | Global Indian Aadith Moorthy with Prince Williams during the Earthshot Prize ceremony[/caption]

Connecting needs of farmers and corporates

Farmers seek carbon-rich soil to enhance crop yields, while corporations aim to neutralise their CO2 emissions. Boomitra connects these two needs. Utilising his expertise in materials science, computer science, and artificial intelligence, Aadith founded Boomitra in 2016 with a mission "to unlock climate action at a gigaton scale through science-backed technology." Ever since, the entrepreneur and his team have been working to "empower farmers and ranchers to create a planet that thrives." Today, Boomitra operates across four continents and twelve countries.

In its eight-year journey, the organisation has established itself as the world’s leading soil carbon marketplace. Boomitra helps farmers and ranchers worldwide drawdown carbon from the atmosphere and store it in their soil. By regenerating soils globally, Boomitra is pioneering a greener future characterised by food system resilience and equality for all. The company has been empowering land stewards and enables businesses to meet their sustainability goals effectively.

As per a statement of Boomitra, “It has been able to reduce 10 million metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere through the efforts of 150,000 farmers who use company's proprietary AI and remote sensing technology to measure soil carbon stocks, and to restore grasslands through carbon farming.”

[caption id="attachment_53163" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Indian Entrepreneur | Aadith Moorthy | Global Indian Image credit: Boomitra[/caption]

Whether it's restoring grasslands in Northern Mexico, empowering pastoralists in Kenya or supporting ranchers in Chihuahua, Sonoran deserts, lowlands of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay in South America, Boomitra has played a transformative role making lives of the smallholder farmers better.

“Effective climate action requires prioritising those most profoundly affected—communities in the Global South,” believes Aadith. Hence in his native country India, his efforts have benefited smallholder farmers through carbon farming initiatives. The organisation has been working to unlock agricultural sustainability in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Merging AI and farming

Aadith’s unique approach utilises satellites and AI-driven technology to measure soil carbon levels and verify carbon credits for sale on the open market. This method bypasses the need for expensive and time-consuming soil sampling, ensuring that a greater share of the revenue from carbon credits goes directly to farmers.

Under his leadership, Boomitra has been helping farmers adopt techniques like minimal tillage and the use of cover crops, which improve soil quality, capture carbon dioxide, boost crop yields, and mitigate climate change. “It’s not just about technological innovation; it’s about fostering climate solutions that resonate with the heartbeat of our global community,” Aadith Moorthy remarked, highlighting why his organisation is considered a leader in climate action.

The organisation is working on the goal to distribute $200 million in carbon finance to tens of thousands of marginalised farmers by 2025.

[caption id="attachment_53160" align="aligncenter" width="466"] Indian Entrepreneur | Aadith Moorthy | Global Indian Aadith Moorthy[/caption]

Always on the top-of-the-game

The only child of an immigrant computer engineer father and a homemaker mother, Aadith confidently clinched the 22nd National Geographic Bee in 2010. He told National Geographic News at that time, "I wanted to win—that was my goal," adding that he "thought the questions would be harder.”

Just before the final round of the championship, which saw nearly five million fifth- to eighth-grade students vying for spots in the national competition through bees held in all 50 U.S. states, Aadith had mesmerised audiences with his electrifying Carnatic performance.

Along with the U.S. $25,000 college scholarship, the then highschooler of Palm Harbor Middle School had bagged a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society and a trip to the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.

After passing out of school when Aadith joined Caltech, he was able to earn yet another scholarship for his further studies which took him to Stanford.

[caption id="attachment_53161" align="aligncenter" width="798"] Aadith Moorthy | Global Indian 2010 National Geographic Bee winner Aadith Moorthy (center) with fellow competitors | Image credit: National Geographic[/caption]

Joining a cohort of students from 20 countries, Aadith had joined the inaugural class of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, a scholarship program founded by Stanford University. The scholarship covered his full tuition, boarding expenses, and a living stipend. The program provided leadership training, and brought him into contact with national and world leaders.

It was not an easy selection process as Aadith and other candidates were interviewed by stalwarts in their fields like the former Secretary of State, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, the founder of Nike, former Stanford president and the then chairman of the board of Alphabet, Google's parent company.

"This is a culmination of the past four years of my efforts at Caltech,” Aadith had remarked after getting successful in the tough selection process of Stanford's life changing Knight-Hennessy Scholars program.

No stranger to scholarships, Aadith had earned the Barry Goldwater Scholarship before this achievement, which funded the cost of college tuition, other fees, books, and boarding charges for an entire academic year at Caltech.

After winning the 2010 National Geographic Bee at the age of 13, Aadith had correctly answered every question on the AP calculus exam, becoming one of only 11 people to do so that year, at the age of 16.

Love for Carnatic music

Although Aadith was raised in Florida, growing up he visited his native city Bangalore, every year - spending more than a month learning Carnatic music from his gurus there. "I started singing when I was four, and my first lessons were learned in the US," he shared in an interview. Since online classes were not the norm then, he stayed in touch with his gurus in India through 'phone classes,' he said. Despite being a busy entrepreneur his passion for Carnatic music continues. The well-travelled entrepreneur and singer describes himself as a singer first, a traveller second, and then the CEO of Boomitra on social media.

[caption id="attachment_53159" align="aligncenter" width="503"] Indian Entrepreneur | Aadith Moorthy | Global Indian Aadith Moorthy during a Carnatic performance[/caption]

Follow Aadith Moorthy on LinkedIn and Instagram
Follow Boomitra on Instagram and LinkedIn

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A royal feast: Yuvrani Shraddha Bhonsle’s modern touch to Sawantwadi’s culinary heritage

(March 10, 2024) The Japanese word ikigai is used to describe the very passion that gets you out of bed in the morning—your reason for being. One conversation with Yuvrani Shraddha Lakham Sawant Bhonsle and her ikigai is unmissable. Spending 15-day workdays on things she is passionate about—cooking, reviving handicrafts, and living her life to the full—this 32-year-old royal is all about giving her best every single day. Married into the royal family of Sawantwadi that has been ruled by Sawant Bhonsles since 1627, life has taken a huge turn for the Mumbai girl, who, in a real-life fairytale, has seen her transform post-her wedding to Lakham Bhonsle of the Savantwadi clan. Today, she is the chef and owner of the Sawantwadi Palace Boutique Art Hotel and the Managing Director of Shri Sawantwadi Lacquerwares, which oversees the handicraft business. Energetic, passionate, and realistic, the young scion is all about creating a difference. Be it her unique cuisine that marries traditional Sawantwadi styles and dishes with international recipes or her hands-on approach to running the hotel, she is an exemplary example of modern-day royalty working hard to ensure that the legacy of the past is safeguarded for the future. Chasing her

tyles and dishes with international recipes or her hands-on approach to running the hotel, she is an exemplary example of modern-day royalty working hard to ensure that the legacy of the past is safeguarded for the future.

Chasing her dreams

Growing up in a large Gujarati joint family, Shraddha remembers her childhood with fondness. She recalls, “I grew up surrounded by friends and family; it was a very regular childhood from the 90s.” One person who had a lasting impact on the young girl was the principal of her school, Walsingham House, Mrs. Bindu Mittal, a legendary educator who inspired her to follow her dreams.

Shraddha Bhonsle | Global Indian

Shraddha pursued a business management course, but an instantaneous decision changed her life forever. The Global Indian explains, “It was a spontaneous decision, but something that changed my life. I always wanted to start a restaurant of my own, so I applied for the position of assistant stewardess at the Oberoi Mumbai, and that started my culinary journey.”

She went on to work at the popular Indigo Delicatessen restaurant in Mumbai, where, while she worked to the bone, she picked up the rudiments of running a kitchen. Be it 16-hour shifts, peeling potatoes by the ton, or washing endless vegetables, she did it all. “It was there that I realised that the kitchen is everything to me. A desk job was not something I was suited for, and the kitchen, temperamental as it is, is my home,” she states with a laugh.

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The next step on her journey was studying at the Culinary Institute of America in New York for a 22-month course, where she also met her future husband. As a part of her course, she worked at the Michelin-starred restaurant Oceana, which she calls a life-changing experience.

“Though I was dangerously dehydrated while working there, I picked up both knife skills and life skills there,” she jests and adds, “I understood how an act as simple as picking basil or coriander leaves can add to a dish. The discipline and cleanliness as well as the rigor and passion of running a kitchen I picked up there taught me a lot.”

ALSO READ | Princess Vaishnavi of Kishangarh is working on reviving the lost art

While she returned to India in 2016 to be closer to her family, she went back to the US a year later to be a certified sommelier before getting married in 2019 and moving to Savantwadi.

Princesses diaries

Just an hour’s drive away from Goa, situated in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, on the Goa-Maharashtra border, Sawantwadi is a picturesque town famous for its sleepy forests, kokum, wooden toys, and delicious Konkan cuisine. Moving back and starting a restaurant was at the top of both Shraddha’s and Lakham’s agenda, and the heritage property seemed like the perfect setting for the young couple to start their dreams.

As the chef of the hotel and someone keen on innovation, she brings a unique flair to everything she creates. One dish that perfectly illustrates her culinary journey of bringing the best of the East and West is Sawantwadi Po’Boy.

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She explains, “Po’Boy is a sandwich that originated in the US, so there is American influence (because of my education in the CIA) in terms of the classic French roll bread and a remoulade sauce. There is Asian influence (because of my love for Asian food) in the sandwich in terms of Vietnamese pickles and herbs and a spicy sriracha sauce, and there is Sawantwadi influence in terms of thetcha butter, rava-crusted prawns, and a solkadhi (sauce)”

Along with traditional Maharashtrian heartthrobs like aamti or thatlipeeth, she whips up eclectic dishes like the Sawantwadi Special Eggs Benedict (that pairs House-baked croissant buns with coconut chili chutney and a dry curry leaf chutney) and others using regional produce like cashew and kokum generously championing hyperlocal cuisine.

[caption id="attachment_49818" align="aligncenter" width="549"] Shraddha Bhonsle | Global Indian Yuvraj Lakham Bhonsle Raje and Yuvrani Shraddha Bhonsle[/caption]

One area in which the restaurant distinguishes itself is when Shraddha serves Japanese and Korean dishes for dinner. A huge Ramen fan, she makes her own noodles and says, “I love these cuisines as they are very palatable to Indians. They are slow-cooked and are served with local ingredients. I want people to leave thinking they have never tasted food like what we make.”

That is something she is succeeding at, given that the Palace is slowly but surely gaining favor with gourmands, food aficionados, and new-age Indian travelers who go for experience as much as for sightseeing.

ALSO READ | A Begum from the Asaf Jahi dynasty is on a ‘royal’ mission

Given Shraddha’s extrovert nature, was it easy for her to adjust herself to the pace of a small village after the hectic life in Mumbai? She smiles. “It took me a while, of course, but now I have my work and my friends in Goa (which is an hour’s drive) apart from my family.”

Culinary royalty

Working with her husband (who is a baker and a pastry chef), the duo has simple ground rules. While he takes care of the finances, she is in charge of management, and when it comes to their first love, food, they agree to disagree. She shares, “We are friends first and foremost, so we decided that the cold kitchen is his territory while the hot kitchen is mine. While we do confer with each other on the dishes and respect each other’s decisions, we ensure that we never interfere with each other.”

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The future is all charted out for the enterprising entrepreneur: to extend the number of suites in the hotel from six to ten, to convert the family’s erstwhile summer palace (in Amboli, which is a half hour’s drive from the palace) to an eco-resort, and to expand her kitchen garden.

Given her penchant for ikigai, one can see Yuvrani Shraddha Lakham Sawant Bhonsle achieving all this in no time!

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Dr Kalyani Gopal: Empowering sexual abuse and human trafficking victims globally

(April 24, 2024) “My team and I are in the process of exploring the purchase of a five-acre plot of land, which I plan to convert into an eco-village. Dedicated to my late mother it would help give a peaceful environment to victims of human trafficking and sexual assault,” Dr Kalyani Gopal tells Global Indian. She has already thought of the name of the project as SAFE Village - Unnati Sewa. It would be a unique residential restorative model to bring back the dignity of victims of human trafficking and sexual assault. With over three decades of experience in addressing issues such as child sexual abuse, human trafficking, and labour trafficking, the Indian-origin psychologist has garnered international recognition and is now giving back to her native land. Dr Kalyani Gopal is the first woman of colour and Asian American to earn the presidency of the Illinois Psychological Association which oversees the State of Illinois’ psychologists. She is also the first Asian American President of Division 12 of the APA, Society for Clinical Psychology, and has recently finished her term on the Committee of State Leaders, APA. [caption id="attachment_50926" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Dr Kalyani Gopal[/caption] In her service spanning continents, the ace

Asian American President of Division 12 of the APA, Society for Clinical Psychology, and has recently finished her term on the Committee of State Leaders, APA.

[caption id="attachment_50926" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian Dr Kalyani Gopal[/caption]

In her service spanning continents, the ace psychologist developed a Clinical Treatment Manual for Mongolian psychologists and clinicians, treated grieving Myanmar families during war, and created a tool for identifying potential victims of trafficking in Ukraine, and other regions.

In 2014, Dr Gopal established an initiative called, SAFECHR - SAFE Coalition for Human Rights through which she has worked for trauma patients and victims in the United States, Europe, and India.

Finding the purpose

After completing her postgraduate studies at Delhi University and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore Dr Kalyani Gopal moved to the US for her doctorate. She aspired to pursue intellectual and cognitive neuropsychology. However, fate had some other plans in store. Dr Gopal encountered a case of sexual abuse involving a seven-year-old girl with whom she had grown acquainted. This experience brought the issue of child sexual abuse into sharp focus for her, redirecting her career trajectory.

Training professionals worldwide

In her three-decade career, the clinical psychologist has provided training to a diverse range of professionals, including foster parents, adoptive parents, administrators, judges in the US and the DRCongo Supreme Court, law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and police officers, attorneys, case managers, first responders, advocates, nonprofits, and ministries. She also trained government representatives of Albania, Uganda, and India.

“I have educated human trafficking experts and clergy on psychological trauma and issues concerning infants, children, adolescents, and adults,” tells the Indian-origin psychologist who is also associated as a consultant psychologist with SuDatta, an adoption agency in India that trains adoptive parents on helping their children come out of traumas.

[caption id="attachment_50928" align="aligncenter" width="706"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian Dr Kalyani Gopal at one of Illinois Psychological Association's Legislative Committee meeeting[/caption]

In fact, she introduced the term ‘Displacement Trauma’ to describe the intricate psychological effects that are the result of ‘frequent disruptions of bonds experienced by foster care youth and children separated from their parents’.

Awards and recognitions

In recognition of her extensive work, she was awarded the Indiana Lake County Award for Excellence in 2004 and the Indiana Attorney General’s Voices for Victims Award in 2015. She received the Congressman Danny T. Davis MEATF Medal in 2019 as the Top 20 Global Women of Excellence. In 2023, Dr Gopal earned the APA Presidential Citation Award for Human Rights.

Starting young

The psychologist discovered her calling when she was quite young - starting her journey at the age of 18 while engaging with human trafficking victims for a college research project.

At that time, she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in India. One of her research works exposed her to the grim reality of young girls her age becoming victims of human trafficking. This revelation weighed heavily on her, even though she did not realise the severity of the problem completely, given her young age.

Later as a PhD scholar coming across a sexually abused little girl changed her career trajectory completely. She found herself drawn into the field of child sexual abuse.

“I was inspired by the trust placed in me by many other girls whom I met after that. They were victims too.” It was then that her professors in the US encouraged her to pursue the path of working with sexually abused children. Deeply immersed to uplift their lives as a young professional she had even started accompanying children she worked with when they needed to testify in court. The more she immersed herself in this work, the more intrigued and committed she became.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioNF2a6NI0M

Strong initiatives

Dedicating many years to victims of sexual abuse and trafficking Dr Gopal came across many harrowing instances of exploitation. In one of the most gruesome cases, she came across a family with four children in Indiana where the parents were trafficking their kids by making them perform indecently on their home-based stage, earning $10 per person from people who came to watch the performance.

“My efforts dragged the parents to court and for the first time in history in Indiana, parents got a life sentence in jail for 56 years,” she shares. That was her first independent case.

That proved to be the beginning of her image as a messiah of children who were being exploited. She started getting cases of child sexual abuse from across the United States. “A lot of the perpetrators were in powerful positions, even relatives of judges and politicians.” But Dr Gopal stood strong to fight for justice for young victims.

Author of bestsellers

She went on to write bestsellers - ‘The Supportive Foster Parent’, and ‘Foster Parenting Step-by-Step: How to Nurture the Traumatized Child’ and co-edited, ‘Handbook of Sex Trafficking: Feminist Transnational Perspectives’. Dr. Gopal has published several workbooks on the Child Sexual Abuse Series, including the grief and loss workbook ‘In My Heart’.

[caption id="attachment_50936" align="aligncenter" width="403"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian One of Dr Kalyani Gopal's books[/caption]

Associations with the United Nations

The psychologist with a knack for writing went on to write a chapter titled ‘Reducing Human Trafficking by 2030 and Beyond’ for the United Nations book, ‘Behavioural Science in the Global Arena: Addressing Timely Issues at the United Nations and Beyond’.

She has also co-chaired the United Nations Psychology Day highlighting the role of psychology in addressing concerns of global importance.

Other Illustrious associations

Until recently Dr Gopal served on the APA Commission on Accreditation. She is on the boards of Indiana’s Lake County Child Protection Team and Lake County Child Fatality Team, served as the Chair for the Illinois Psychological Association’s Working Committee on Hate and Harassment, specialises in gender-based violence, and served as Chair of the IPA Women’s Section. She has been serving on the Board of Directors of the Society of Clinical Psychology, American Psychological Association, and as Div. 12 Advocacy Chair.

“As the President of Mid-America Psychological and Counseling Services, I oversaw the management of mental health clinics in Indiana and Illinois,” she shares.

[caption id="attachment_50927" align="aligncenter" width="602"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian Dr Kalyani Gopal with Eyes Open International founder, Harold D'Souza[/caption]

Also Read | Fight against Modern Slavery: How Harold D’Souza brought the derailed American Dream on track

Uniting nations through SAFECHR

Dr. Gopal’s nonprofit organisation, Safe Coalition for Human Rights (SAFECHR) was formed in 2014 in response to the realisation that the voices of victims in foster care needed to be heard.

The non-profit has been hosting annual events since 2014 raising the number of participant countries from 10 nations in 2014 to 73 nations in one of its latest conferences.

“SAFE Conferences bring together organisations from around the globe working ceaselessly to form collaborative national and international coalitions from rescue to the rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking and violations of human rights,” she informs.

SAFE iACT Program – first to get global accreditation

The ace psychologist has created an evidence-based, international credentialing program to certify advocates, clinicians, attorneys, and law enforcement as trainers in human trafficking which she has named as the SAFE iACT Program. Ever since its inception, she has facilitated the training of over 20,000 people from more than 10 countries. It has become the first programme to get accredited globally.

In December 2020, she developed and implemented a program, THRIVE for adults from ACEs populations (childhood vulnerabilities) to provide wrap-around therapeutic services in transitional supportive housing. Victims get discharged after getting stable employment.

During COVID-19, Dr Gopal also launched an e-learning school-based program called SAFE Schools for the prevention of high-risk behaviors among youth by improving resiliency and teaching socioemotional skills.

[caption id="attachment_50935" align="aligncenter" width="613"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian Dr Kalyani Gopal at a Consulate General nof India, Chicago event[/caption]

More psychologists required for victims of abuse

Highlighting the field of child sexual abuse, and human and labour trafficking that she is working in Dr Gopal points out that there are not enough psychologists who work in the area looking at it as a social work issue.

“Traffickers treat the victims so poorly that they lose their identity and develop fragmented personalities.” To address their problem effectively Dr Kalyani Gopal has even modified existing treatments which have proven to be effective.

She believes that people who are victims of trafficking and other abuses have been manipulated so much that they need psychological help to feel confident and pull themselves out of the situation.

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