Indian Hero | Ajit Kumar Doval | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryFondly called the Indian James Bond, Ajit Doval ensures nation’s security as national security advisor to PM

Fondly called the Indian James Bond, Ajit Doval ensures nation’s security as national security advisor to PM

Curated by: Amrita Priya

(October 7, 2022) The fifth and current National Security Advisor (NSA) to the Prime Minister of India, Ajit Doval was the youngest police officer in the country to be awarded the Kirti Chakra, one of the highest defence gallantry awards. He has always been the determined achiever. When he was in school, his teacher chose him to be part of the school boxing team because even as a kid, he never did accept defeat.

The retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre and a former Indian intelligence and law enforcement officer started off his police career in 1968. He retired as director of Intelligence Bureau in 2005.

Indian Hero | Ajit Kumar Doval | Global Indian

Due to his exemplary services over the years, Doval is fondly known as the James Bond of India. His list of achievements is impressive. He was actively involved in anti-insurgency operations in Mizoram and Punjab. The officer played a key role as one of the three negotiators in the release of passengers from the hijacked IC-814 in Kandahar in the year 1999. Between 1971 and 1999, Doval successfully terminated at least 15 hijackings of Indian Airlines aircrafts, becoming a hero of the nation.

Difficult projects handled successfully

Doval successfully supervised the September 2016 Uri surgical strike and February 2019 Balakot air strikes across the border in Pakistan. He also contributed towards ending the Doklam stand-off, taking decisive measures to tackle insurgency of the Northeast.

Indian Hero | Ajit Kumar Doval | Global Indian

Talking about the atmosphere of conflict in the world right now, the Global Indian said in a recent conference:

If we want to tackle this atmosphere, it is important to maintain the unity of the country, and move as a united nation. The way India has been developing and progressing over the past few years, it will benefit every citizen of the country.

While answering questions related to his life, art of decision making and his journey to success, his advice for youngsters during a leadership talk with Dr Abhijit Jere, chief innovation officer, ministry of HRD was, “first consider the worst possible outcome and see if it’s affordable in such a way that the country can deal with it. Then work on this outcome by trying to make it better. Also have a backup plan so as to be prepared.”

The veteran of undercover operations

‘India’s James Bond’ spent seven years as an undercover operative in Pakistan gathering intelligence on active militant groups. The master spy managed to stay in disguise all those years, mastering Urdu and expertise in the country’s history, culture and politics.

Indian Hero | Ajit Kumar Doval | Global Indian

The veteran had also played a key role in gathering intelligence for ‘Operation Black Thunder’ throttling Khalistan’s militancy in 1984. He worked in disguise of a rickshaw puller in the areas surrounding the Golden Temple, and then later posed as an ISI agent, befriended the militants inside the temple. He managed to earn their trust, and entered the Golden Temple, gathering all information from there and passing it on to security agencies. In 1990s, he went to Kashmir and convinced hardcore militants and troops to become counter-insurgents, for facilitating Jammu and Kashmir elections of 1996.

The major part of Ajit Doval’s career has been spent as an active field intelligence officer with the Intelligence Bureau (IB). His service to the nation has been honoured with several awards, honours, and records to his credit.

His views on the future of war and terrorism are firm. In the leadership talk hosted by the ministry of HRD, he said:

In today’s scenario cyber security and information is the key.

Retired yet super active

Doval became the founder director of Vivekananda International Foundation (a public policy think tank) after his retirement from Indian Police Services in 2009.

The die-hard patriot’s expertise was sought thereafter, for a top-secret mission for which he flew to Iraq in 2014 to understand the position on the ground, made high-level connections in the Iraq government, and ensured release of 46 Indian nurses who were trapped in a hospital in Tikrit, Iraq, after a month of his being there in the country.

Indian Hero | Ajit Kumar Doval | Global Indian

Later, the super cop also headed a successful military operation in Myanmar along with the then Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag against National Socialist Council of Nagaland militants operating out of Myanmar.

Having served from 2014-2019 as National Security Advisor, in the year 2019, Ajit Doval got reappointed to the post for the next five-year term and was offered a cabinet rank in the second term of the Narendra Modi-led government.

Staying away from social media

Interestingly, in this era of the internet, for any personal communication Ajit Doval does not use the computer as ‘it can be compromised’. The top official has never signed up for any social media account. All his social media accounts are created by his fans and well-wishers. He believes that he is more of a solo person and likes doing things differently.

The national security advisor said in the leadership talk:

Live every second as the first second of the rest of your life.

Son of an Indian Army officer, Doval grew up in Ajmer, Rajasthan and completed his school education from King George’s Royal Indian Military School. He graduated with a masters in economics from University of Agra.

When faced with a choice between what you should do because of your duty and what you should do because of your passion, always choose the second option.

Doval advised students during his recent leadership talk.

Why Ajit Doval enjoys so much respect:

He has worked many years as an undercover agent not only in Pakistan but also in the northeast, Arakan, Myanmar and deep inside China to gather intelligence information on active insurgent groups that were a threat to India.
He managed to win the trust of hardcore Kashmiri militant, Kuka Parray in troubled Kashmir and persuaded him to surrender.
When the security forces charged inside the Golden Temple to get Khalistani terrorists out from there in 1984, Ajit Doval was one among them.
He has prevented 15 hijackings of Indian Airlines aircrafts.
He was the key negotiator which led to the freedom of hostages from Taliban when they hijacked the plane, IC-814 at Kandahar in 1999.

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Published on 07, Oct 2022

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Building dreams: Philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel is transforming lives through his work

(February 12, 2024) As a young boy, growing up in Zambia, Dr. Kiran Patel and his father helped their neighbour, a widow, negotiate down her debt. "My father used to contact her creditors, proposing that they either accept 30 cents on the dollar through the family's bankruptcy or choose to forgive the debt, allowing the family to persevere. The creditors chose to pardon the widow's debts, enabling her children to grow up, attend school, and live contentedly thereafter," the philanthropist said in an interview. Observing his father negotiate the debts of their neighbour shaped Dr. Patel's abilities as a negotiator in later years. These skills proved instrumental as he successfully transformed numerous struggling healthcare companies, turning them from multimillion-dollar debt burdens into highly profitable ventures. "Ethically, if you do the business right and you do the right things for the right reasons, the results will come. I started my life with nothing and now, I am somewhere at heights most people will never reach, but it is not because I was driven to just make money," said Dr. Kiran, who is a Pravasi Bhartiya Samman-winning cardiologist. [caption id="attachment_48983" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Dr. Kiran Patel receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from former

ause I was driven to just make money," said Dr. Kiran, who is a Pravasi Bhartiya Samman-winning cardiologist.

[caption id="attachment_48983" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Philanthropist | Dr. Kiran Patel | Global Indian Dr. Kiran Patel receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from former President Kovind[/caption]

One of Florida's foremost entrepreneurs and cardiologist, Dr. Patel has several medical institutes named after him across the globe and has made significant donations to several organisations, including the University of South Florida, Habitat for Humanity, Nova Southeastern University, and Florida Hospital Carrollwood, and has invested in several firms, on track to create 11 unicorns. "I think very few people are blessed the way we are. Not many people get this opportunity. Either because they may not have the means or if they have means, they may not have that desire, vision, or passion to do it. I have been fortunate enough. I can’t thank God enough for giving me such a great opportunity to touch so many lives. It has been my passion and vision to impact the world positively through education and health. It is a blessing to be able to contribute to my “Karmabhoomi” (United States), “Janmabhoomi” (Zambia), and “Mathrubhoomi” (India)," the philanthropist said.

Living the American dream

Born in Kabwe, now located in Zambia, was raised by Gujarati parents. "My father always expected excellence from his children, and despite living in a small home without life's luxuries, he never felt poor or disadvantaged. The focus always was education. I remember my dad would say, 'If you are second, don't even bother to come home," he shared. As a teenager, he ventured to India to pursue a medical education in Ahmadabad. It was during this time that he crossed paths with Pallavi, his future wife and fellow medical student. Following their graduation and marriage in 1972, the couple returned to Zambia. "She has been my rock," the philanthropist had said about his wife.

In 1976, they embarked on a journey to the United States for postgraduate training in internal medicine at the Jersey City Medical Center, affiliated with the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry. Settling in Tampa in 1980, they established medical practices. Two years later, the entrepreneurial duo initiated a physicians' practice ownership and management company, marking the commencement of their successful ventures. "From earning $3,000 a month in my first practice to $100 million, I can say I have achieved a true American dream," the philanthropist said during a speech.

Philanthropist | Dr. Kiran Patel | Global Indian

Rapidly growing, their enterprise extended to 14 practices encompassing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and cardiology. By 1992, the Global Indian assumed the role of Chairman of the Board at Well Care HMO, INC., guiding it to become the fifth-largest Medicaid HMO in the United States. In 1999, he secured a 55 percent ownership stake in WellCare Management Group Inc., headquartered in Kingston, NY. This company managed two HMOs in Connecticut and New York. "In 2007, I initiated the establishment of a new insurance holding company, America's 1st Choice Holdings of Florida. Subsequently, I acquired two Tampa Bay-based Medicare Advantage Health Plans, namely Freedom Health and Optimum Health. Through dedicated efforts, I expanded these companies to encompass over 115,000 members and generated revenue exceeding $1 billion. Eventually, in April 2019, I made the strategic decision to sell these thriving enterprises to Anthem," the philanthropist said.

Giving back to the community

Over the last fifteen years, Kiran and Pallavi Patel have contributed hundreds of millions to diverse causes globally, with a primary focus on the United States, India, and Zambia. Remarkably, in just the past year and a half, their philanthropic pledges exceeded a quarter of a billion dollars. In September 2017, the Drs. Kiran Patel and Pallavi Patel Family Foundation made a historic commitment of $200 million to Nova Southeastern University in Florida, marking the most substantial donation by Indian Americans to a U.S. institution. Additionally, on December 13, the ground was officially broken for a $20 million charter school in Temple Terrace, FL, entirely financed by Patel.

Philanthropist | Dr. Kiran Patel | Global Indian

Besides education and healthcare, the philanthropist's foundation is also promoting art and culture. "I think, to be a complete human being, art and culture are very important aspects. You can add spirituality to it, but if you think about it, art and culture are universal. Anybody can appreciate art and music regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or cultural background. It is a necessity that we have something like that," he shared.

But not just USA, Dr. Kiran was working on projects in India as well. "Post-Gujarat earthquake, I was instrumental in rebuilding four hospitals. In my village, we have two hospitals, a pediatric and an adult. We have a school that is going all the way up to 12th grade, in the English medium and the Gujarati medium," shared the philanthropist, adding, "During that earthquake, we also rebuilt a village and we had an anathashram because there were kids who lost their parents, either one or both, and we took care of them. There was another school that was for the mentally handicapped. Now we are expanding to 10 other hospitals."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5inPSF_XvY

So what's next for this philanthropist? "I think rest is what I’m going to do but I doubt if I can pause from what I’m doing. I have dreams of building a university in India, and in Zambia," he shared, "So basically going forward, I want to spend a lot of time in philanthropy and primarily in health and education. Because transforming a society or an individual you need education along with health."

Reading Time: 6 mins

Indian bureaucrat, Parameswaran Iyer, takes charge as World Bank Executive Director

(April 1, 2023) When he was just a kid, he made up his mind that he wanted to join the Indian Administrative Services and serve the nation to the best of his capacity. After working tirelessly on various missions in a career that lasted about four decades, Parameswaran Iyer recently took charge as the Executive Director of the World Bank. The Indian bureaucrat, who led the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission, India’s sanitation revolution, will be representing India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka at the international financial institution. Having worked in several countries, including Vietnam, China, Egypt, and Lebanon, the bureaucrat is looking forward to the new opportunity, which he feels will not benefit India, but several nations in southern Asia. “A privilege to take charge last week in Washington DC as Executive Director, World Bank, representing India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka,” the Global Indian tweeted soon after assuming his new role. An ambitious childhood The son of an Indian Air Force officer Air Marshal P.V. Iyer (Retd), Parameswaran was an ambitious kid. Watching his father in uniform every day had put the seed of patriotism and community service in him since he was a young child. A

_blank" rel="noopener">Global Indian tweeted soon after assuming his new role.

An ambitious childhood

The son of an Indian Air Force officer Air Marshal P.V. Iyer (Retd), Parameswaran was an ambitious kid. Watching his father in uniform every day had put the seed of patriotism and community service in him since he was a young child. A good student and an even better sportsperson, the bureaucrat recalled that his childhood was quite disciplined, with a daily schedule set for everything - from breakfast to dinner, and studying to playing. At the age of 12, Parameswaran's parents got him admitted to the reputed Doon School, from where he finished his schooling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IotU0Y1ytjw

The bureaucrat joined the famed St. Stephen's College, Delhi to pursue his graduation, while also preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) - a dream he had nursed since he was a young kid. A brilliant student, he also got a one-year exchange scholarship at Davidson College in North Carolina, USA. However, his world was not limited to just books. A good sportsman, Parameswaran was a part of several sports teams representing his college, but the one thing that he excelled at was tennis. In fact, the bureaucrat also represented India at the Junior Davis Cup.

Serving the nation, and the world

While many take years to crack the UPSC and still do not manage to score well enough to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Parameswaran did it in just a single attempt. Joining the Indian Civil Services in 1981, he took on several missions - including the crucial Jal Jeevan Mission, Swajal Programme, and Swachh Bharat Mission - making it his personal goal to develop the rural and sub-urban parts of India. "It truly became a Jan Andolan, a people’s movement, akin to a sanitation revolution," the bureaucrat said in an interview, adding, "Based on the earlier experience of sanitation programs in India as well as globally, we knew that sustaining the behavior change of toilet usage would be as challenging as achieving universal access to sanitation. Old habits die hard and open defecation is a habit that goes back generations. It was key that all stakeholders continued their efforts to sustain safe sanitation practices, and also ensured that gaps, if any, were plugged and that no one was left behind.”

[caption id="attachment_36828" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Bureaucrat | Parameswaran Iyer | Global Indian Parameswaran Iyer visited several rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic[/caption]

After serving as an IAS officer for close to three decades, Parameswaran decided to take voluntary retirement to become the water resources manager at the World Bank in 2009. A well-known water and sanitation expert, the bureaucrat worked in the sector, in several countries, including Vietnam, China, Egypt, and Lebanon. Working in an unconventional and “non-bureaucratic” style, the bureaucrat not only engaged the governments of various provinces and states in programmes led by him but also took advice from the young changemakers of the community.

"I think one of the main lessons I personally learned along my career journey – particularly from the Swachh Bharat experience – was about thinking big, as Prime Minister Modi did, and then believing in the achievement of the goal. Going from a sanitation coverage of less than 40 percent to an ODF country in five years was something unheard of in the history of the world, let alone at the scale of a country as large and diverse as India. If young changemakers follow the courage of their convictions, they can literally change the world," he believes.

Bureaucrat | Parameswaran Iyer | Global Indian

The 63-year-old bureaucrat, who is also an author of two books, also served as the CEO and Manager of the 2030 Water Resources Group, a public-private-civil society partnership hosted by the World Bank, Washington DC - a mission, quite close to his heart. He wishes to take the mission forward now, as the Executive Director of the World Bank.

Follow Parameswaran Iyer on Twitter

How Geetanjali Shree’s Ret Samadhi translation is longlisted for Man Booker

(March 25, 2022) When Geetanjali Shree was a young girl her mother would often joke about how she wanted to tell stories more than she wanted to hear them. Today an established Hindi author, her last book Ret Samadhi was recently longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize. The brilliant author of five Hindi novels and five short stories, Geetanjali started her writing journey as a nine-year-old. "I was fascinated by stories and always wanted to write my own," smiles Geetanjali during an interview with Global Indian. "My mother would narrate stories to us siblings. Also, since my father was a bureaucrat, we had several people working for us at our house. I remember listening to stories from those ladies as a child. I was mesmerised by how words could create a whole new world, which was so engrossing. Unfortunately, I do not have those stories though even I am curious to know what I wrote back then,” adds the Delhi-based author. For the love of Hindi Growing up in various towns of Uttar Pradesh in the late 50s and 60s with four siblings, the 64-year-old author reveals it was the vibrant culture of those towns and their language that

in the late 50s and 60s with four siblings, the 64-year-old author reveals it was the vibrant culture of those towns and their language that gave her a foundation. While she attended an English-medium school, the scarcity of English-language children’s books turned out to be a “blessing in disguise” for her. “I used to read Chandamama and Nandad as a child, and that gravitated me towards tales from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Arabian Nights, Panchatantra, Kathasaritsagara and Chandrakanta Santati. Had I not experienced this childhood, I am not sure if I would have been able to write these stories,” reminisces the author who has no doubt been influenced by her historian husband.

[caption id="attachment_21807" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Author | Geetanjali Shree | Global Indian Geetanjali Shree, author, Photograph by Jayanti Pandey[/caption]

Even when she moved to Delhi to pursue bachelor's in history from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, and later master's from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Geetanjali felt a tug towards Hindi literature. “In JNU, I was pretty sure that I wanted to pursue writing in Hindi. My dissertation topic was on Hindi literature representing the nationalist thought of the pre-Independence years, in which I focussed on Prem Chand and his writings.”

Slow, but steady...

Calling herself a “slow writer,” Geetanjali feels that she started her professional journey as a writer a little late. Her first story, Bel Patra (1987) was published in the literary magazine Hans, however, it was the publication of her short story collection Anugoonj (1991) that catapulted her into the Hindi literary scene. Post this, several other works of Geetanjali, including Mai (1993), Hamara Shahar Us Baras (1998), Tirohit (2001) and Khālī Jagah (2006) hit the bookshelves across India.

However, it’s her 2018 novel Ret Samadhi that has put her on the global map. Translated recently into English as Tomb of Sand by Daisy Rockwell, it has become the first Hindi-language novel to be nominated for the International Booker Prize. Calling it a “proud moment,” she is quite happy to have scripted history. “It is a very proud moment for me, not just as a writer, but also as an Indian. This will bring a certain focus on Hindi literature and other Indian languages. We need people to realise that there is so much literature waiting to be discovered.”

[caption id="attachment_21831" align="aligncenter" width="558"] Geetanjai with her favourite author, Krishna Sobti[/caption]

Ret Samadhi narrates the story of an 80-year-old woman, who is depressed after her husband’s death. Eventually, the lady comes out of the depression and decides to visit Pakistan to finally confront the past that she left behind during the Partition.

Giving an insight about the much-talked-about book, she shares, "Actually it was the image of a woman in a joint, orthodox, middle-class family, who was sitting with her back turned, that stayed with me for a very long time. Somewhere it made me wonder if she was turning her back to the people around her, or her life. It took me around seven to eight years to finish Ret Samadhi.”

An author who likes to create a dialogue with her reader through all her books, Geetanjali's work is not limited to the Hindi literatis. Many of her books have been translated into English, French, and even German. However, the author doesn't believe in picking her own translator. “I have never picked any author to translate my books. I feel I have been lucky in that area, as the translators have done justice to my work. In fact, I had never met Daisy Rockwell, when I heard that she was thinking of translating Ret Samadhi into English. However, when we spoke about the book, I realised that she had a sense of emotions and relationships in the book,” she smiles.

[caption id="attachment_21829" align="aligncenter" width="521"] Geetanjali with her mother[/caption]

Not just an author

While she doesn't like calling herself a “theatre person,” the author has worked with prominent thespians such as Anuradha Kapur and Kirti Jain on various plays. Having written many plays for the theatre group Vivadi, Geetanjali shares that she loves working in an interactive environment. “Writing something for theatre is a collective exercise, with everyone from the director to the actors and others contributing to the storyline. I really like working like this,” she adds.

When Geetanjali isn’t busy weaving magic with words, she loves listening to music. “I love a whole range of genres – Hindustani classical, old Bollywood, jazz, Baul and Rajasthani folk,” she concludes.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Gagan Narang: India’s ‘Chef de Mission’ at the Paris Olympics 2024

(July 31, 2024) As India’s Chef de Mission (French for ‘Head of Mission’) at the Paris Olympics 2024, Gagan Narang holds the most crucial administrative role in the nation’s contingent. The Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awardee is guiding India’s delegation of athletes, coaches, and support staff, collectively forming the Mission Team at this prestigious sporting event. In his role as Chef de Mission, the former sport shooter also serves as the team's spokesperson before and during the Olympic Games. Additionally, the Global Indian acts as a mentor, supporter, and cheerleader, striving to motivate and inspire the team while safeguarding the athletes' performances. He is the primary liaison between the contingent's sporting members, the organizing committees, and other relevant stakeholders. Just after his appointment was announced by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the former Olympic medallist in shooting had remarked in an interview, “I feel happy and proud to be one of the few Chefs De Missions who is also an Olympics medallist. It's an honour for me. I was contributing to shooting athletes and now I am able to contribute to all the Indian athletes.” [caption id="attachment_53071" align="aligncenter" width="542"] Gagan Narang with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) medical team

to contribute to all the Indian athletes.”

[caption id="attachment_53071" align="aligncenter" width="542"] Sports | Gagan Narang | Global Indian Gagan Narang with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) medical team at Paris Olympics 2024[/caption]

Narang had won a bronze medal for India in the men's 10m air rifle event at the London 2012 Olympics. "It's a proud moment for me and also a responsible one. I'm hoping I can handle pressure like I did in the London Olympics. It's a different kind of pressure," he said talking about his current role.

Mary Kom, an Olympic bronze medallist in women's boxing, was initially appointed for the role but resigned due to personal reasons, paving the way for Gagan Narang to take on the coveted position for the Paris Olympics 2024. Narang also served as a member of the prestigious Padma Award Committee in 2023.

A keen observer of the world of sports

The 41-year-old first participated in the Olympics in Athens in 2004 and has since represented India in multiple international events. Before the Athens Olympics, he had won a gold medal for India at the Afro-Asian Games in 2003. His tally of medals increased thereafter. As a keen observer of Indian sports, Narang has witnessed a swift change in the confidence levels and mindset of Indian athletes over the past two decades.

There is a huge change in the motivation and the level of thinking that our athletes have today. We used to feel scared, under-confident because other countries were better. But slowly that's changed, the mindset has changed. People started watching sports, playing it, then we had great performances. The confidence is at a new high. Today's athletes don't go just to participate, they go to perform.

Gagan Narang remarked in an interview while talking about the Indian athletes

He highlighted how top players representing India want to win not just any medal but a gold. “That's the difference in thinking of the athletes today. They don't think anyone is above them. They rate competitors at par and that's a very positive sign for Indian sport."

[caption id="attachment_53065" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Gagan Narang | Paris Olympics | Global Indian Gagan Narang with fellow Olympian shooter Abhinav Bindra[/caption]

Giving back

At the peak of his career, Gagan Narang began balancing his shooting career with mentoring young Indian shooters, aiming to give back.

The Olympian established the ‘Gun For Glory’ shooting academy in 2011 to popularise the sport across the country, and it has yielded significant results. Through the ‘Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation’, he set up the first academy in Pune and has since expanded to more than 15 cities across India.

“The idea of the 'Guns For Glory' was to help the shooting fraternity by spreading the sport at the grassroots, to enable shooting to become a mass sport,” the 41-year-old said. “The reason I wanted to start the foundation was to give back to the system - to help children with the facilities I did not have while growing up,” he said.

The initiative has produced impressive young shooters, including top-ranked rifle shooters who have won medals for India in several international competitions. “I trained with them, mentored and motivated them, and shared my experiences. When I did so, they picked up my method and progressed well,” said the sport shooter, noting that the experience also helped him elevate his own game.

To the world stage

Gagan Narang’s family hails from a village in Haryana’s Panipat district. Narang was born in Chennai. Due to his father's job with Air India, the family moved from Chennai to Hyderabad, where Narang spent his formative years. He attended Gitanjali Senior School and earned a Bachelor of Computer Applications degree from Osmania University.

Narang took up shooting when his father gifted him an air pistol in 1997. He honed his shooting skills in the backyard of his home in Begumpet. According to his father, Narang showed early signs of his shooting talent when, at the age of two, he shot a balloon with a toy pistol.

Gagan Narang | Paris Olympics | Global Indian

“My dad and mum did sacrifice a lot. I came from a middle-class background with working-class parents. They went beyond their limits in order to support me and a sport that was a very expensive proposition 20 years ago,” Narang had stated in an interview.

After choosing sport shooting as his career path, he achieved significant success, with his pinnacle moment coming at the London 2012 Olympics, where he won bronze in the Men's 10m Air Rifle event. He has also won eight gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and three golds at the ISSF World Cup.

One of the shooter’s most memorable moments occurred when he won gold at the 2008 Bangkok World Cup, not only because he set a new world record but also due to the timing. A fan of Barack Obama, Narang shared, “I won that medal on the day Barack Obama was elected as the US President for the first time,” Gagan Narang revealed. “I am greatly inspired by him, by his oratory.”

Career full of medals

In addition to his victory at the Afro-Asian Games in 2003 at the beginning of his career, Gagan Narang won the Air Rifle Gold medal at the World Cup in 2006 and followed it up with another win in 2010. At a pre-Olympic event in Hannover, Germany, he achieved an Air Rifle score surpassing the world record. He also secured four gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Narang qualified for the 2008 ISSF World Cup Final after winning gold at the World Cup in China earlier that year. He achieved a perfect score of 600 in the qualification round and scored 103.5 in the final round, totalling 703.5 to set a new world record. In 2008, he surpassed the previous record held by Austria’s Thomas Farnik from the 2006 World Cup final in Granada, Spain.

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, Narang added four gold medals to India’s tally and also clinched a silver medal at the Asian Games that year. He participated in a team event with Abhinav Bindra and Sanjeev Rajput, contributing to another silver medal for India.

Gagan Narang | Paris Olympics | Global Indian

In the 2012 London Olympics, Narang became India’s first medal winner of the games and was only the third Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal. He continued his success at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he won one silver and one bronze medal.

During the peak of his career, Narang began balancing his shooting career with mentoring young shooters. He believes that sports are crucial for children’s development and that they should be offered a variety of sports options in school.

“I think shooting needs to find a place in the school curriculum, just like chess. It builds concentration, endurance, and stamina,” believes the Olympian who has a passion for wildlife photography.

Follow Gagan Narang on Instagram

Anasuya Sengupta: India’s first Cannes Best Actress emerges from obscurity

(May 31, 2024) Unknown to fame, Anasuya Sengupta scripted history and the world took notice. While well-known Indian actors have been gracing the red carpet at Cannes since years, the lesser-known actress, primarily a production designer won the best actress award in the Un Certain Regard segment at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year. This section of the festival features 20 films with unique styles and non-traditional stories aiming for international recognition. In the film, ‘The Shameless’ directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Konstantin Bojanov, Anasuya portrays Renuka, a wanderer seeking shelter in a northern Indian community of sex workers after fleeing Delhi under a murder charge. “I received the news when Konstantin sent me a link to the press conference announcing the Cannes official selections. When our film’s name was announced, I jumped out of the chair with ecstasy!” Anasuya remarked about her reaction when she heard the news. [caption id="attachment_52016" align="aligncenter" width="606"] Anasuya Sengupta[/caption] A project that took 12 years When Konstantin Bojanov was casting for Renuka, the role played by Anasuya, he had shortlisted several well-known and talented actresses. However, he was not fully convinced. He was so discouraged that he even contemplated making an animated film for

an Actor | Anasuya Sengupta | Global Indian" width="606" height="625" /> Anasuya Sengupta[/caption]

A project that took 12 years

When Konstantin Bojanov was casting for Renuka, the role played by Anasuya, he had shortlisted several well-known and talented actresses. However, he was not fully convinced. He was so discouraged that he even contemplated making an animated film for adults instead of the feature film he had originally planned.

Looking at his predicament, an Indian producer and director he knew suggested that he get in touch with his friend Anasuya Sengupta, remarking that "she makes very interesting drawings and could be of help in developing the animated characters." Bojanov approached Anasuya on Facebook. Looking at her pictures and the way she depicted life through her sketches, he could see similarities between his character Renuka and Anasuya. Although the sales agent and producer rejected the idea of an animated film, the connection with Anasuya remained.

[caption id="attachment_52017" align="aligncenter" width="585"] Indian Actor | Anasuya Sengupta | Global Indian Anasuya Sengupta with filmmaker Konstantin Bojanov and co-actor of 'The Shameless'[/caption]

Turning the idea into a film took 12 long years, but Anasuya stayed in his mind throughout to play the protagonist.

When Anasuya had received a request from her Facebook friend, the Bulgarian filmmaker, to audition for the main character in a Hindi film he was making, her first response was 'why?'. However, when she sent across her audition tape, it was a yes from the filmmaker instantly. ‘The Shameless’ was shot in Nepal for two months and in Mumbai for a night.

Dedicated to the queer community

I’m shaking,” she said. “I’m shaking,” she repeated as she took the stage to collect the award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. “I dedicate this and so much more to the queer community and other marginalised communities all over the world for so bravely fighting a fight that they really should not have to fight,” she said. “You don't have to be queer to fight for equality, you don't have to be colonised to know that colonising is pathetic. We just need to be very, very decent human beings,” she concluded her winning speech.

Soon after, the world took notice of the little-known actress, with congratulatory messages pouring in from all over, including Bollywood stars - who have earned laurels for India on major international platforms for their talent, glitz, and glamour but had not yet brought home the Best Actress award from Cannes.

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

Finding a foothold

After graduating from Calcutta’s Jadavpur University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, Anasuya entered the world of films with a supporting role in the Bengali film, ‘Madly Bangalee’, and dabbled in theatre for a while. In 2013, she moved to Mumbai, where she began working as a production designer while seeking acting opportunities.

Although she was working on some significant projects like Netflix’s ‘Masaba Masaba’ as a set designer, she did not find her life fulfilling. “All through my years in Mumbai, although connected to the world of art in some form or the other, a part of me felt lost, claustrophobic, almost devoid of free expression,” said Anasuya in an interview.

[caption id="attachment_52061" align="aligncenter" width="535"] Indian Actor | Anasuya Sengupta | Global Indian Anasuya Sengupta[/caption]

It prompted her to relocate to Goa with her father's encouragement. She was unsure about the financial viability of the decision or where her career would lead. “Amid the uncertainty, my father held my hand and asked, ‘What’s the worst that can happen?' This was enough to convince her to make the move.

Finding joy

The move proved lucky as it was in Goa that she met the love of her life, naval officer Yashdeep who was also a DJ out of passion. They found several common connections through her art and his music and hit it off instantly. Their bond later culminated in marriage.

“I promise to remember the shared ideals that brought us together. The ideals that understand that the world is designed to serve greedy men and phony wars; but I promise you that together, we shall overcome the selfishness and the shortsightedness; attempting to always move toward simplicity, and away from the lures of opulence,” she wrote sharing their wedding pictures on social media.

[caption id="attachment_52019" align="aligncenter" width="568"] Indian Actor | Anasuya Sengupta | Global Indian Anasuya Sengupta with her husband, Yashdeep[/caption]

The year 2024 has been a lucky one for the actor with her marriage and the historic win as the Best Actress at Cannes - the first such achievement for India.

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