Global IndianstoryGuinness World Record holder Saurabh Bothra is redefining wellness through Habuild

Guinness World Record holder Saurabh Bothra is redefining wellness through Habuild

Written by: Amrita Priya

(April 18, 2024) ‘We build habits. Habits build you’ – with this winning mantra Saurabh Bothra has been transforming the lives of lakhs of people through his health and wellness venture Habuild that he co-founded with Anshul Agrawal and Trishala Bothra. The startup, which has just completed its eclectic four-year journey, boasts two million members across 38 nations. “It is a celebratory yet humbling feeling. The responsibility has increased, but so have the blessings,” Saurabh tells Global Indian.

Going from humble beginnings to creating a global impact, with a Guinness World Record under its belt, Habuild has been working towards improving the fitness levels of people, guided by its IIT alumni founders.

Saurabh Bothra, CEO, Habuild

In January of this year, Saurabh Bothra and his team at Habuild organised a 21-day online yoga challenge, which attracted 4.5 lakh yoga enthusiasts from 92 countries. During the challenge, on January 12th, the wellness platform achieved an incredible milestone by setting the Guinness World Record for the highest number of viewers in a single session, comprising 2,46,252 yoga enthusiasts. “Working for the world record was not just a personal endeavour, it was an opportunity to inspire and motivate people to embrace a healthier lifestyle,” remarks Saurabh.

The Nagpur-based wellness entrepreneur and government-certified yoga trainer also describes himself as a content creator. “I love to create YouTube videos to share my thoughts and expertise on health and wellness, all with the goal of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to explore,” he remarks. In his videos he unleashes health secrets in easy-to-implement ways to make people achieve their fitness goals. His YouTube Channel now has surpassed 800K subscribers.

Habuild – Helping people cultivate fitness

In 2020, when Habuild was established, it had just three eager students and a small team. Today, it boasts a thriving community of two million people on the path to cultivating healthy habits. The technology-enabled platform, which helps people build sustainable habits, now employs over 200 employees.

“I host live Yoga classes for our community every day and I am also deeply involved in looking out for better ways to serve our members through different health and wellness programs. In the past year, we have organised and hosted over 150 events for our community, all aimed at improving their health in all aspects,” Saurabh remarks.

Saurabh Bothra conducting an offline yoga session

Habuild offers its community members a bouquet of programmes like Yoga Everyday, Ayurvedic Detox, Mindful Journaling, Marma Healing, Her Health Matters (sessions on Women’s wellness), Kitchen Gardening, and more for their fitness and well-being.

The wellness model

The platform operates via a messaging automation tool integrated with WhatsApp. One of the favourites of the Habuild community is the daily WhatsApp reminders. These reminders set the tone for their day and help them integrate the habit of making healthy choices into their routine.

“At Habuild, we firmly believe that taking small, consistent steps towards a healthier lifestyle can lead to significant positive life changes,” says Saurabh. Each user’s journey is personalised on WhatsApp with lessons tailored to their health needs. Attendance tracking is also implemented to keep users active and motivated, with automated texts sent to provide details on missed classes.

Monthly challenges are hosted regularly to emphasise the importance of habit building. Participants can join between 6:30 am to 7 pm according to their schedule, engaging in various asanas of yoga or exercises from the comfort of their homes.

“We are constantly seeking new ideas to improve our users’ experiences. Moving forward, we want to make our members’ journeys more personalised,” says Saurabh adding, “Exciting things are happening, like introducing a new yoga batch just for kids. Plus, we are splitting batches into Hindi and English groups to make our programs accessible to everyone.”

In its monthly membership plan, Habuild offers chat support to users, addressing inquiries on general health, yoga, and physical ailments. Users can access complimentary consultations tailored to the nature of their inquiry, with a team of experts, which includes specialists in yoga, nutrition, and physiotherapy.

It started when…

Saurabh, an alumnus of IIT BHU, has always been a fitness enthusiast. In 2020, when people worldwide were confined to their homes due to lockdowns, he began offering lessons on Zoom and YouTube from his hometown, Nagpur.

Along with his friend Pramod Yadav, he conducted 45-minute sessions every morning, guiding viewers through simple breathing exercises, Surya Namaskar, and various asanas targeting different muscle groups for upper body, lower body, core, and flexibility.

Initially, it was just his way of contributing to the community. He didn’t anticipate its rapid popularity, leading to the establishment of a startup centred around the wellness idea. Collaborating with other IIT alumni, Trishala Bothra (his sister) and Anshul Agrawal (his batchmate), he laid the foundation of Habuild, which now boasts members not only in India but also in the United States, Canada, Dubai, and Singapore.

Saurabh Bothra

Love for creating change

Working towards bringing about change in his community had always been part of Saurabh’s personality. During his time at the IIT BHU campus, he initiated two initiatives that were positively embraced by his college community. He co-founded the ‘Let’s Read’ club, providing fellow students with the opportunity to exchange books and engage in a culture of reading and knowledge sharing.

Additionally, he spearheaded the ‘Satvik Mess’ on campus, which quickly became a student favourite. ‘We managed to offer Satvik food choices that led to a close-knit community,’ he shares.

As a former mechanical engineering student at IIT Banaras, Saurabh was awarded a Special Mention Award for his contributions to the campus, which included organising a successful cultural fest.

Habuild Team got successful in earning a Guinness World Record

“I did not turn out to be an engineer after IIT, but my college experience taught me the problem-solving skills crucial for my entrepreneurial journey. Every day in business, I use the lessons I learned during those special years,” he signs off.

Follow Saurabh Bothra on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube
To know more about Habuild visit its website

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Published on 18, Apr 2024

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The Singh Twins: UK artists celebrating unity in art and identity

(May 27, 2024) They dress alike, down to matching earrings, bangles, and other accessories. The artists call themselves 'twinindividuals' and prefer working together on their art projects. Even if one has done the work entirely, the credit is always shared as ‘The Singh Twins’. They also prefer being addressed as 'Twins' in their email correspondences. Talking about individualism, the artists remarked in one of the interviews, "It's because it is such a big concept that it's something we wanted to challenge." Twins Amrit Singh and Rabindra Kaur Singh are internationally acclaimed contemporary British Indian artists whose award-winning work revolves around significant social, political, and cultural issues. Their art challenges and redefines Eurocentric views of art, heritage, and identity. [caption id="attachment_51932" align="aligncenter" width="653"] The Singh Twins at work[/caption] The Singh Twins have been honoured with the title of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by late Queen Elizabeth II for their ‘services to the Indian miniature tradition of painting within contemporary art’ in 2011. The University of Chester as well as the University of Wolverhampton conferred them with the honorary degrees of Doctor of Fine Arts and Doctor of Arts respectively for their contribution to British art and

ition of painting within contemporary art’ in 2011. The University of Chester as well as the University of Wolverhampton conferred them with the honorary degrees of Doctor of Fine Arts and Doctor of Arts respectively for their contribution to British art and for depicting diversity in the arts. They were also conferred with the honourary Doctor of Letters from the University of Liverpool.

The Singh Twins' art pieces are influenced by Indian miniature paintings but address British contemporary culture and explore themes such as globalisation, migration, and celebrity culture.

Artists by chance

Growing up, Amrit and Rabindra studied at the same school and went to the same college. Born in Richmond, Surrey, and raised in Birkenhead, they were the only non-Catholics to attend their Catholic convent school, Holt Hill Convent. Like their father, who worked as a general practitioner, they wanted to become doctors. However, when it was time to go to the university, one of their school teachers, recognising their exceptional talent in art, assumed they were being pressured into studying medicine. The teacher went as far as warning the university they had applied to, claiming the twins' decision was ‘because of family tradition and parental persuasion.’

[caption id="attachment_51933" align="aligncenter" width="526"] Indians in UK | The Singh Twins | Global Indian The Singh Twins with late queen Elizabeth II[/caption]

The university acted on the teacher's word, and the twins were forced to enrol in a humanities programme at University College Chester. There, they studied comparative Western art, among other subjects, and later went on to study art at Manchester University. However, the teacher's misinterpretation proved to be a boon in the long run, as their art transformed from a hobby into a vocation, leading to their rise as globally acclaimed artists. Their work has been exhibited in the US, Canada, India, and the UK, earning them wide acclaim.

The British Indian twins have faced their share of challenges too in the country where they were born. Despite their extensive list of commissions, exhibitions, and earning the MBE, they sometimes faced criticism in the UK. "It is decorative, it's figurative, it's narrative, it's small scale, and it comes from a non-European perspective," is what people remarked about their art, Rabindra shared. However, such remarks did not deter them from their artistic paths.

Broad body of work

Although they are more widely known for their paintings, The Singh Twins are also accomplished illustrators, writers, filmmakers, and designers. Their award-winning films include 'Nineteen Eighty-Four and the Via Dolorosa Project,' a short documentary about one of their most renowned political works depicting the storming of the Golden Temple in 1984, and 'The Making of Liverpool,' an animated film.

In recent years, their continuous pursuit of creative innovation has led them to explore digital technologies and collaborate with renowned Indian fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani, whose collections have been inspired by their artwork. This collaboration sparked their interest in developing a high-end fashion accessories and home decor label under The Singh Twins banner.

[caption id="attachment_51939" align="aligncenter" width="826"] Indians in UK | The Singh Twins | Global Indian The Singh Twins during one of the exhibitions of their work[/caption]

The twins even flew to Mumbai to join Tarun Tahiliani at the catwalk at Lakme Fashion Week few years back. “Apparently he’s been a fan of our work for quite some time, and we couldn’t have got a better collaboration in terms of profile and the respect he has in the fashion world internationally,” Amrit had remarked after the event.

Integral part of the UK art heritage

Apart from being featured in private and public collections worldwide, the twins have been an integral part of the art scene in their birth country, the United Kingdom.

In 2018, their large-scale mixed media digital artwork, specially commissioned by the Royal Collection Trust was exhibited at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, as part of the ‘Splendours of the Subcontinent’ exhibition.

[caption id="attachment_51935" align="aligncenter" width="724"] Indians in UK | The Singh Twins | Global Indian The Singh Twins at a packed house event at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery[/caption]

Some of their most well-known public commissions include two works celebrating Liverpool’s 800th birthday and its status as the European Capital of Culture, and a symbolic portrait of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the deposed ruler of the Sikh Kingdom of Punjab and the first resident Sikh in the UK, created for the National Museum, Scotland. Their work has also been commissioned by the Museum of London.

Making diaspora proud

Apart from receiving the prestigious MBE honour by the late queen, The Singh Twins have garnered numerous awards and official recognitions for their work. They were made Honorary Citizens of their home city of Liverpool, and in 2009, they received the UK Asian Achievers Awards for Media, Arts, and Culture. Their work has not only attracted international media attention but also made them subjects of feature documentaries like CBC’s ‘Here and Now’, the Granada TV documentary ‘Singh Out Sisters’, and Simon Schama's BBC art series ‘The Face of Britain’.

The independently commissioned Arts Council film about their work, ‘Alone Together’, won the Best Film on Art prize at the Asolo International Film Festival. The artists have also got featured in several books.

[caption id="attachment_51934" align="aligncenter" width="577"] Indians in UK | The Singh Twins | Global Indian The Singh Twins with their MBE Medals[/caption]

In 2002, The Singh Twins were appointed official Artists in Residence for the Manchester Commonwealth Games. One of the works they created for the event gained such international publicity, that it even became subject of one of the questions on the popular TV quiz show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’

Through their diverse achievements and widespread recognition, The Singh Twins continue to inspire and uplift the global diaspora. The inseparable twins joked about their joint collaborations, remarking, “Mostly we manage not to injure each other with our paintbrushes!”

Follow The Singh Twins' impressive body of work on Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 5 mins

A Microscope in Every Pocket: Dr. Manu Prakash’s vision for frugal science

(December 6, 2024) In the remote Amazon rainforest, a researcher examines a moth's wings through a microscope, uncovering colours that shift like a kaleidoscope. Thousands of miles away in Hyderabad, a ninth-grader uses the same tool to study his cheek cells. This isn't an ordinary microscope but a Foldscope — a paper-based device costing less than $1 that works like professional equipment. Created by Dr. Manu Prakash, this invention represents a groundbreaking shift in science and medicine, led by the Indian-born Stanford professor. Dr. Prakash’s journey of creating affordable, precise tools is as unique as the Foldscope itself. Born in Mawana, a small town in Uttar Pradesh known for sugar production, he grew up in a home that encouraged curiosity. From his childhood experiments in India to running an innovative lab at Stanford, Prakash has always followed his intuition, which he says drives much of his work. [caption id="attachment_61260" align="aligncenter" width="742"] Dr Manu Prakash[/caption] A Question Sparks a Movement Dr Manu's breakthrough began with a question: “What is the best microscope you can build for under $1 in parts?” The Foldscope was his answer — a tool born of necessity and brilliance. Folded like origami from paper, the Foldscope combines

began with a question: “What is the best microscope you can build for under $1 in parts?” The Foldscope was his answer — a tool born of necessity and brilliance. Folded like origami from paper, the Foldscope combines simplicity with high functionality, offering magnification up to 2,000 times. "The inspiration came from field stations," recalls Dr Manu, "where bulky, broken microscopes were the norm, if they existed at all".

Since its invention, the Foldscope has reached millions, serving students, researchers, and medical workers across 135 countries. The tool's applications range from diagnosing diseases like malaria to studying agricultural pests. Its low cost and easy accessibility reflect Dr Manu's idea of "frugal science" — a concept that rethinks traditional approaches to innovation.

The Foundation of Curiosity

Growing up in Mawana, Dr Manu's childhood was full of exploration. Encouraged by his mother, a political science professor, he and his brother turned their home into a makeshift lab, building rockets and dissecting animal specimens. At seven, Manu’s passion for science manifested when he attempted to build a makeshift microscope using cardboard tubes from shuttlecock holders and lenses from his brother’s glasses. Though basic and initially unsuccessful, it sparked his lifelong interest in creating tools with limited resources. "This informal, curiosity-driven learning time fueled my love of science," he said.

His love for learning led him to IIT Kanpur where he pursued computer science but found himself drawn to hands-on experimentation. He spent much of his time in the robotics lab, designing projects like an omnidirectional walking spider-robot and creating programs that mimicked the drawing style of children. His passion for building and tinkering led him to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which he describes as a haven for inventors. “There was this idea of freedom—no one tells you what to do, and you can explore whatever you want,” the Global Indian recalls. It was at MIT that Prakash explored groundbreaking concepts, including a computer powered by microfluidic bubbles.

A turning point came during a visit to a rural clinic in India in 2010. A photograph of Mahatma Gandhi using a microscope struck a chord. The image highlighted the importance of accessible science in difficult times and inspired Manu Prakash to dedicate his career to creating tools that anyone could use to explore and solve problems. This led him to frugal science, which is about creating affordable, simple, and effective scientific tools to make science accessible to everyone, especially in resource-limited settings. It focuses on innovative designs that solve problems at a fraction of traditional costs.

Reinventing the Everyday

The Assistant Professor at Stanford runs a lab at the university which is a hive of creativity, where students and researchers work on projects that challenge the status quo of scientific tools. “We don’t know whether something we are working on will ever be useful,” Prakash admits, “but we think there is something there.”

This approach gave birth to Paperfuge, a centrifuge inspired by an ancient toy — the whirligig. By threading a string through a paper disc and pulling it to spin, the Paperfuge reaches speeds of 125,000 RPM, enough to separate plasma from blood in under two minutes. “The idea of frugal science is not about hacking something together quickly,” explains Prakash. “For each of our tools, there are 10-20 pages of math involved”.

The Paperfuge costs just 20 cents but performs on par with lab centrifuges worth $10,000, demonstrating that simplicity and affordability can go hand in hand with sophistication.

A World Transformed

The Foldscope and Paperfuge are just the start of Manu Prakash’s mission to make science accessible to all. His lab has created tools like a mosquito chip that helps detect diseases and a smartphone attachment for diagnosing oral cancer. These inventions, along with others like a method to identify mosquitoes by their wingbeats, follow a simple principle: making scientific tools affordable and available to everyone who needs them, especially in underserved areas.

“Frugal science is the difference between 1% of the population or billions of people having access to a solution,” says Prakash. This vision has driven the global impact of his creations. Millions of Foldscopes have been distributed worldwide, used not just in classrooms and clinics but also for applications like identifying fake medicines, detecting bacteria in water, and studying biodiversity. By breaking barriers to access, Prakash’s tools are changing lives across continents.

Recognition abroad

Dr Manu's journey in frugal science hasn’t just changed lives — it’s turned heads. Dubbed a “genius” by the MacArthur Fellowship, he earned the prestigious award for redefining how science can be done on a budget. His Foldscope — a $1 paper microscope — made waves, winning the Golden Goose Award for transforming a simple idea into a global game-changer. The National Institutes of Health also took notice, honouring him with the Director’s New Innovator Award for his revolutionary low-cost tools. Each recognition underscores a single, powerful idea: science should be for everyone, everywhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8cF5QPPmWU

Indian Minds Driving Innovation in the US

Dr Manu Prakash is part of a thriving Indian community at Stanford and across the United States, where Indian scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs are making significant contributions. Universities like Stanford bring together talented minds, including many from India, who excel in fields like artificial intelligence and biotechnology. These scholars often draw on their experiences in resource-limited environments, leading to innovative solutions focused on accessibility.

“Growing up with limited resources in India shaped my approach to science,” Prakash says, highlighting how his background inspires his work in frugal innovation. His story shows how the Indian diaspora connects cultures and ideas, driving impactful change globally.

Vision Ahead

Dr. Manu's work is about more than solving problems—it’s about sparking curiosity. He dreams of a world where every child has a microscope in their pocket, inspiring a new generation of scientists free from traditional barriers. “Lack of access creates barriers in people’s minds,” he says, and his mission is to break those barriers.

From a curious boy in Mawana to a global advocate for frugal science, Manu Prakash’s journey shows how simple tools can drive big change. His story proves that science isn’t just about knowledge—it’s a gift to humanity.

Follow Dr Manu Prakash on LinkedIn

The Patel Motel phenomenon: How Gujarati immigrants conquered the American Dream

(September 4, 2024) "Why shouldn't I be here?" It was a question to which Tunku Varadarajan, who was reporting for the New York Times had no answer. And "Why are you here?" is a question that the Patels have been faced with countless times since the 1960s, when they first began building what is now their legacy, now known as the Patel Motel phenomenon. They own anywhere between 40 to 60 percent of all hotels in the US, and have branched out from seedier highway establishments to brands like the Marriott and the Hilton. The racism has been relentless, but so has the growth of the Patel legacy. In 1999, Varadarajan would go on to write an article coining the (unflattering) phrase 'The Patel Motel Cartel' for the New York Times. The Indian owner of the motel in Texas told Varadarajan that if he were to travel 15 miles west, he would find a motel owned by his cousin. Ninety miles south was another cousin in another motel there was also an uncle with a motel in Georgia. "Wherever there was a motel in the US, there were likely to be people from India running it," the man said. Global

the man said.

Global Indian takes a look at the remarkable story of the Patel businessmen who took over California's hotel business.

Patel Motel phenomenon | Global Indian

How do Patels own motels

The Patel Motel story actually began with a Desai, some twenty years before Gujaratis from Asia and Africa began pouring into the US. This pioneer was an illegal immigrant named Kanjibhai Desai, who came to the United States from West Indies, via Mexico, with no documents. This was in 1922, in San Francisco.

Kanjibhai first found work on a farm, where he picked fruit for extremely low wages. He had no choice, however, being an undocumented immigrant. Years later, Desai was living in the Goldfield Hotel, a residential hotel that was owned then by a Japanese American. However, when World War II came to the US, Japanese Americans were thrown into prison camps. This included the owner of the Goldfield Hotel, and Desai, who saw an opportunity, bought up the property for a song. Still, writes Mahendra K Doshi in his book, 'From Surat to San Francisco: How the Patels Established the Hotel Business in California', Kanji had great foresight. When he took over his 'single room occupancy' establishment, he encouraged other Patels to travel to America, promising to help them out. He told them to work in the farms to earn the money they needed to lease an SRO of their own, and in his own motel, gave them a place to stay and eat. In fact, Doshi writes, he would not even charge them for accommodation until they had earned the down payment for their own hotel.

In his book, Life Behind the Lobby, author Pawan Dhingra quotes an early Gujarati immigrant who spoke about the pioneer, saying, "You know, this was at the time of World War ii, but Japan attacked Pearl Harbour. He was staying at this hotel, and I guess there (was) a Japanese lessee or Japanese owner. And um, he had leased it. So (Desai) brought his lease for, I don't know, whatever, for a couple of hundred bucks. I don't know what it was."

[caption id="attachment_55431" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Kanjibhai Desai | Patel Motel phenomenon | Global Indian Hoteliers Kanji Manchhu Desai, Nanalal Patel, and D. Lal. (Photo courtesy of Mahendra K. Doshi/ India Currents)[/caption]

How the ‘Potels’ became a phenomenon

Although Kanjibhai Desai laid the foundation, the Patel Motel business really began to boom after 1965, when America introduced the Immigrant and Nationality Act, marking the start of a golden age for the Gujarati businessman in the US. According to this Act, any immigrant who was willing to invest $40,000 in a business was eligible to apply for permanent residence, and eventually for citizenship.

For Gujaratis, motels were the best option available. Restaurants were out of the question, because the Gujarati community was strictly vegetarian, and since restaurants are a people-business, they didn’t have the language skills they needed to cope. However, there were lots of roadside motels in distress, failing businesses that nobody else really wanted.

There was a challenge every step of the way, including the fact that these were immigrants who spoke no English and made no visible attempt to assimilate with the local culture. Local customers may not have taken too favourably to immigrants running the all-American motels, the Patels had to be strategic. Staffing was minimal anyway, but they would try to hire a white person to sit at the lobby and greet customers, so residents would not even know that the motel was owned by an Indian. "It was hard," recalls Binita Patel, whose parents owned hotels in North Carolina in the 1980s, in an interview with NPR. "I remember someone pulling their window down and yelling, 'Go back to your own country,' as we were walking home."

Growing the Patel Motel empire

Dhingra writes that the hotel Kanjibhai Desai bought was on Fourth Street in downtown San Francisco. These residential hotels were low budget places, and individual rooms didn't even have private bathrooms. In fact, he adds, these residential hotels still exist in San Francisco, and are still owned by Indian Americans.

They also took over a slightly higher rung of motels, taking on franchises like Days Inn, Econo Lodge and the very well-known Motel 6. Usually located on highways, these places cater to tourists looking for budget stays, truckers and people doing temporary menial work. Many of these franchises didn't have many takers among the locals, because it involved moving to the most remote areas of the country, which the Patels were willing to do. They also didn't ask for much in terms of lifestyle, and would usually live on site with their families. "They buy a hotel that has 20 rooms, move up to 50 rooms and then purchase a 100-room motel," said Arvind Singhal, a professor of communication at the University of Texas, in an interview with Borderzine.

[caption id="attachment_55429" align="aligncenter" width="390"] Life Behind the Lobby | Patel Motel Phenomenon | Global Indian Life Behind the Lobby, by Pawan Dhingra, published by the Stanford University Press.[/caption]

These low budget establishments ran with limited or not staff, and would struggle to make ends meet, writes Dhingra. "(They) go without healthcare for themselves and their workers, and lack social prestige in their local community even while the ethnic group as a whole is praised." When their fellow Indian Americans came to the US as the country's elite workers, usually as doctors, venture capitalists or engineers, the Patels, worked hard at this seemingly unglamorous career. They were looked down upon even within their own community.

They also expanded to middle-budget motels like the Ramada Inn, higher-middle budget hotels like the Holiday Inn and the Hampton Inn. As their legacy grew, they took over high-budget establishments like Courtyard by Marriott and the Hilton Garden Inn.

What’s behind their success?

They had had a secret sauce for success, a flawless work ethic combined with a sense of community. While they faced countless challenges in the US, as they had in Africa, they had learned to rely on each other. Patels helped other Patels. And the slump in the motel industry gave them an opportunity like no other. They brought in their families and a host of relatives to man the motels, and also brought in more modern accounting methods. "Four times cash flow became the mantra of the Patels," writes Turkel. "If the distressed motel produced $10,000 per year in revenues, and could be acquired for $40,000, it was profitable to a hard-working family." As more Gujarati immigrants arrived in the US, they continued to build on the foundations of the motel business.

They never shied away from hard work, preferred investment to consumerism and relied on each other. And today, Indian Americans own more than 40% of all hotels and motels in the US, which includes around 20,000 properties in total. Out of these, some 70% are owned by Gujaratis, most of whom are either Patels or Amins.

Patel Motel Phenomenon | Motel 6 | Global Indian

Today, the Patels embody the American Dream – immigrants who landed in the US with nothing to their name, who built a fortune through sheer hard work and shrewd business acumen. In fact, in 2011, when property magnate Charlie Munger was asked about real estate in the US, he said, “Those Patels from India buy all the motels; they know more about motels than you do. They live in a goddamn motel. They pay no income taxes. They don’t pay much in worker’s compensation, and every dime they get, they fix up the thing to buy another motel. Do you want to compete with the Patels? Not I! Not I!”

Tree to bar: Meet the couple elevating Indian cacao at Bon Fiction

(June 22, 2024) How many of us haven’t eagerly heralded the arrival of our cousins from the US, especially for the chocolates they brought with them? All 90s kids would definitely relate to the experience. However, if there is one major shift in recent years, it is the rise and rise of Indian chocolatiers. Ready to experiment, and armed with the best knowledge in the industry and equipped with the correct resources, these Indian brands have reversed the trend in the chocolate industry. One such brand that is making waves with its rich flavors and premium offerings is Bon Fiction. In an area where coconut, prawns, and paddy are famous, Akhil and Prathina Grandhi grow cacao that is hand-picked from their farms in the Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh, creating premium chocolate that is becoming a cult favorite. Since being launched, the brand has won multiple awards over the years, including at the prestigious UK Academy of Chocolate. Both certified chocolate tasters, the duo have broken many myths that regarded Indian chocolates as inferior in their six-year journey. The gift of the Godavari The husband and wife duo has always had a penchant for business and is keen on making

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The gift of the Godavari

The husband and wife duo has always had a penchant for business and is keen on making inroads in the agro-processing industry. Akhil had explored the challenge of setting up a pineapple plantation in Uganda, while Prathina had been working at the family hospital, where she spearheaded vital managerial and administrative changes.

“We often found ourselves only able to enjoy good dark chocolate when we traveled abroad or when friends and family brought it back to India,” recalls Akhil.

Recognizing a gap in the market for quality dark chocolate in India, they began experimenting with cacao on their family farm in early 2019. They made micro-batches of chocolate and realized the potential for high-quality craft chocolate from the cacao beans of the Godavari region.

The fertile land surrounding the river Godavari has been considered a vast gold mine of agricultural abundance since time immemorial. Cacao or cocoa pods are one such abundant yield in the region. Akhil and Prathina were curious why so much cacao was grown in and around Rajahmundry, yet all Indians unequivocally could never hope to eat good chocolates unless they were imported or bought by someone from Europe.

The ones that were made locally were either really bitter or lackluster in taste as compared to their foreign counterparts. In a bid to bridge the gap between raw materials and a stellar end product, the two set off on a deliciously fulfilling journey of experimenting with chocolate.

Bon Fiction | Global Indian

Prathina adds, “This inspired us to set up our production facility, aiming to develop chocolates that appeal to the Indian palate while introducing unique flavor combinations.”

It took them around 300 trial chocolate batches to reach the final 14 flavor variants. The products are all vegan, and their flavors range from their unique ’Mango Menace’ (mango chilli dark chocolate) to another best seller, ‘Roasted Almond Revival’.

Coming of age

The entrepreneurs craft chocolates that are low in acidity, astringency, and bitterness while retaining the unique flavors of the cacao from the Godavari region. Their efforts have been recognized through various platforms and have won awards in international competitions. This indicates that Indian chocolates are indeed coming of age.

The duo had to counter many challenges along the way. Akhil reflects, “Initially, it was challenging to educate customers about the differences between craft chocolate and commercial chocolate, emphasizing the benefits of consuming chocolate made with only real ingredients and no chemical treatments.”

The founders work closely with the local farmer community and use their knowledge of indigenous farming practices to foster the ecological well-being of the farms. They emphasize on sustainability and minimizing waste in varied practices on their plantations. These include using dried cacao as mulch in the plantations, which increases water retention and doubles as a natural weedicide. The crushed pods are used as vermicompost to help assist sapling growth in the nurseries. Ethical farming practices are at the heart of their work.

A bouquet of flavours

Building awareness and educating the market became a significant part of Bon Fiction’s marketing strategy. Over time, they have seen Indian consumers become more knowledgeable about the importance of quality chocolate, mirroring a revolution similar to what coffee experienced in the 90s.

The philosophy was to create a wide variety of flavors to cater to diverse customer preferences. Given that Indian consumers are not accustomed to bitter and astringent foods, the twosome invested significant time and efforts in R&D to reduce these factors and make the chocolate enjoyable.

Prathina, with her exceptional instinct for flavors, has been instrumental in developing unique flavor combinations. She explains, “We take inspiration from the Indian palette and use ingredients that are universal as well as reminiscent of Indian flavors like mango and chilli and rose and pistachio. Some flavors we’ve created for pure indulgence that they are and how these flavors have captivated us since our childhood, like in the case of the white chocolate bar, The White Paradox.”

Today, Bon Fiction offers 21 variants, ranging from 35% white chocolate to 99% dark chocolate. In 2022, they received two bronze awards for their mango and chili bar, "The Mango Menace," and the 73% dark chocolate, "Out in the Dark.” from the Academy of Chocolate, UK.

Elevating Indian cacao

Their roles at work are clearly demarcated so that they work to the best of their abilities. Prathina handles R&D and product quality during production, while Akhil manages post-harvest processing, production planning, and marketing.

As the chocolate industry in India comes of age, with multiple players making their mark, how is Bon Fiction staying ahead of the curve? “The Indian consumer is now well-informed and conducts thorough research before purchasing. Despite intense competition, our unique products and flavors have attracted customers organically, allowing us to carve out a niche in the market,” states Akhil.

The entrepreneur’s future plans include spreading awareness and ensuring that more people across the country experience and enjoy their chocolate. “We want to highlight that chocolate made with real ingredients, without any flavoring agents, preservatives, or chemical treatments, can be delicious and beneficial to consume,” signs off Akhil.

Committed to continually creating exceptional chocolate and putting Bon Fiction on the world chocolate map, these young minds are also making the world sit up and recognize the quality of cacao from the Godavari region. As they continue to craft exceptional chocolates, they not only put India on the world chocolate map but also remind us that sometimes the sweetest surprises come from home.

Explore Bon Fiction chocolates on their website.

Bollywood magic: Africa’s deep-rooted love affair with Indian cinema

(August 6, 2024) Sitting on a boat in a lake surrounded by water lilies in the picturesque landscape of Morogoro in Tanzania, social media star Kili Paul is lip-syncing to the popular song Suniya Suniya Raatan. His love for Indian music isn't a secret as the 29-year-old's social media is full of videos of him performing popular Bollywood songs. Clad in his Masaai attire, he never misses a chance to show his love for Bollywood. So much so that he was honoured by Indian High Commission in Tanzania for promoting Indian music and culture. But he isn't the only one, hundreds of heartwarming videos of Africans immaculately singing Bollywood numbers are proof that our films have touched millions of hearts in the continent of Africa, even some 6,000 kilometers away. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kili Paul (@kili_paul) Bollywood first made its mark in Africa in the 1950s. With Hollywood film licensing hefty on their pockets, Africans found a perfect alternative in Bollywood films. The themes, plots, and lively song and dance routines of Bollywood films resonated with African audiences. Even without dubbing, Hindi films drew packed houses across the continent. The love affair

Bollywood first made its mark in Africa in the 1950s. With Hollywood film licensing hefty on their pockets, Africans found a perfect alternative in Bollywood films. The themes, plots, and lively song and dance routines of Bollywood films resonated with African audiences. Even without dubbing, Hindi films drew packed houses across the continent.

The love affair that began some 70 years ago is growing stronger with each passing day. From the shores of Tanzania to the inlands of Mali, every country in the continent shares a strong bond with Bollywood.

Arun Ashokan, who moved to Malawi five years ago, vouches for Africans' love for Bollywood. "I recently spotted this girl in Mponela singing a Hindi film song, who came running to me inquiring about the film. They love Bollywood films, and music and even watch Hindi serials. They have small theatres in villages where they play these movies and serials," he tells Global Indian.

Mali's Bollywood-themed radio shows

Bollywood has even enchanted the people of Bamako in Mali. Nestled on the banks of the calm Niger river, Bamako boasts of rich history, diverse linguistic and cultural traditions. But this West African country's love for Bollywood is an open secret. Even the 8,604 km distance between Mumbai and Bamako is no spoiler for Malians who love Bollywood and Indian culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toD184BQinM

Anjani Kumar, Ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali told Financial Express that there is a significant fan base for Bollywood cinema, song, and dance in Mali. He described his meeting with singer Mofas Khan as truly enriching. "An ardent Indophile who has never been to India but his love for our country and culture is admirable. He is a passionate singer who has learnt Hindi without a teacher. He presents a weekly radio program called India Gaana dedicated to Bollywood where he painstakingly interprets Hindi songs in Bambara, the lingua franca of Mali and West Africa, and also gives information about the film personalities."

Hailing from a village in Mopti, Mofas Khan expresses his love for India through Bollywood songs. Like many Bamako residents, Khan, too, grew up on a rich diet of Bollywood films and has been in love with the Indian culture ever since. It was Rote Rote Hasna Seekho from Andha Kanoon that Khan crooned for the first time, and since then, there has been no looking back for this Indophile.

But Khan is not the only known Bollywood aficionado in Mali. Seydou Dembele is another resident of the country who wears his love for Bollywood up his sleeve. A school teacher by profession, Dembele was introduced to Hindi cinema by his father who worked at a theatre that screened Bollywood films. For the last 25 years, he has been presenting a radio show - Indian Frequency on Bollywood Songs - every Sunday afternoon.

Such has been his popularity that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned him during Mann Ki Baat in 2020. "His passion for India, affection, and love are indeed a matter of pride for us," the PM had said.

When Seduji visited #Kumbh and at that time he was part of the delegation that I met, his passion for India, affection and love are indeed a matter of pride for all of us: PM @narendramodi #MannKiBaat #PMonAIR pic.twitter.com/RC2HtjBBQQ

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 27, 2020

The love for Bollywood music extends beyond radio shows, flourishing in cultural groups that promote Indian music and dance. Three prominent cultural groups in the capital, Bamako—Yaarana Hindustani, Bollywood Fans International, and Dostiare—periodically organize cultural events. These events bring together Malian artists, singers, and dancers who have dedicated themselves to various aspects of Indian culture.

Ghana's romance with Bollywood classics

Some 1,100 kilometers away, Rex Cinema in Ghana's Kumasi had become a favourite with Bollywood fans during the 1960s. The theatre played Bhagwan Dada and Geeta Bali's Albela every Friday for a year, selling out its 2,000-seat capacity.

It was the post-colonial period that brought Bollywood films to the shores of Ghana. The recurrent themes of community, honour, morality, and family values resonated with the people of Ghana, kindling their love for Bollywood.

In the capital city of Tamale, old Hindi films like Albela (1951), Love In Tokyo (1966), Noorie (1979), and Andha Kanoon (1983) are still viewed by residents in their homes and neighbourhood video centers. The people of Ghana devour Hindi films, and their love for Bollywood can be seen across innumerable DVD shops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQG4kQ3x-Uw

While the Bollywood classics are a hit with Ghanaians, the older Dagomba (ethnic group of Ghana)viewers outright rejected the Bollywood films of the 90s citing cultural and moral shifts. The video center owners decided not to screen new Bollywood films.

Kannywood's emergence in Nigeria, courtesy Bollywood

Nigeria's love affair with Bollywood began in the 1950s. Considered to be a cheaper alternative to the latest Hollywood hits, some Lebanese merchants decided to import Hindi films to Nigeria. Soon attending Bollywood film screenings in open courtyards became commonplace in Nigerian culture. Interestingly, the films screened were neither dubbed nor subtitled in the native language. Mainly because the Nigerian communities saw themselves in the stories portrayed in Hindi cinema, Bollywood was able to cut through the language barrier in Africa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj34Jwi62gM&list=PLNBidjQ1MgTRQ0QrgMdMHcw7CzIF8dzar

Be it pulp fiction or devotional songs, Bollywood left an indelible mark on Hausa culture - it acted as a catalyst in the creation of Kannywood, the north Nigerian movie hub based out of Kano. Kannywood Studios often replicate Bollywood movies shot by shot, and they also produce music videos heavily influenced by Indian styles. In 2013, an album inspired by this trend was released in Nigeria, titled Harafinso: Bollywood-Inspired Film Music from Hausa Nigeria.

Even the women of Nigeria have found inspiration in Bollywood which led to the emergence of soyayya - or - love literature in the 80s. The Hausa women, deeply inspired by the innocent romance in Hindi films, started writing soyayya novels to modernise their conservative communities.

Over the years, Bollywood's grip on Nigeria has become as strong as ever, and now Nollywood (the Nigerian film industry) is collaborating with Bollywood to produce films together. The 2020 Netflix film Namaste Wahala, based on a romantic relationship between an Indian boy and a Nigerian girl, is the perfect example of this collaboration. S Pratibha, who moved with her husband to Abuja two years ago, says that Nigerians grew up on a staple of Bollywood films. "They love everything Bollywood. On the streets, you often find Bollywood music playing. It is a great feeling to see Nigerians embracing Hindi music."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJzCtDD-FDQ

Kenya's pop culture boost from Bollywood

In Nigeria, Bollywood served as a source of inspiration, while in Kenya, Hindi films significantly influenced music genres, landscapes, and fashion, offering dreams during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. With a huge population of Asians residing in Kenya from the 60s to the 90s, Bollywood became an integral part of the culture. Globe Cinema in Nairobi was the go-to destination for Bollywood film buffs and the movies it showcased opened doors to Indian culture among East Africa's Asian community. The film provided a quick lesson in fashion customs and traditions.

From Rajesh Khanna to Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood stars have left an imprint on the people of Kenya. In 2019, actor Anupam Kher shared a video of a Kenyan couple lip-syncing to Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. The same year, the first-ever Indian Films Festival was held in Kenya.

Presenting #Sharukh and #Kajol from Kenya lip-synching the eternal love song from the eternal #dilwaledulhanialejayenge. Video shared by the man who composed the song, @pandit_lalit. Enjoy.🤓🙏😎😍 #MusicIsUniversal pic.twitter.com/5gwga3kARv

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) September 12, 2019

Like music, films transcend boundaries, and this is especially true for Bollywood films. If you're an Indian traveler, chances are you've encountered people who recognize your identity because of Bollywood stars. That's the power of Hindi cinema. Over the last 60 years, Africans have embraced Bollywood films to the extent that they have become a part of their culture. Indian films have left an indelible mark on Africa, and this love affair continues to grow for both regions. However, the challenge remains that many African countries still prefer classic films from the past. The task now is to make contemporary Indian cinema more appealing to a global audience.