Aviator | Gopichand Thotakura | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryIndian aviator Gopichand Thotakura set to become the next Blue Origin astronaut

Indian aviator Gopichand Thotakura set to become the next Blue Origin astronaut

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(April 22, 2024) Nearly forty years following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s journey aboard Soyuz T-11 into space, another Indian is poised to soar among the stars once more. Entrepreneur and and aviator, Gopichand Thotakura, has been selected as part of the six-membered crew of Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin for its next civilian spaceflight. Gopichand will fly to space in what would be Blue Origin’s seventh crewed endeavour and the 25th overall mission (NS-25) aboard the New Shepard spacecraft.

Aviator | Gopichand Thotakura | Global Indian

Gopichand, co-founder of Preserve Life Corp, a global hub for holistic wellness and applied health near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, is set to embark on a journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The Global Indian will be part of a six-member team boarding a spacecraft for a trip reaching 100 km above the Earth’s surface, crossing the Karman Line, the internationally recognised boundary of space. During the mission, the crew will experience several minutes of weightlessness before returning to Texas in the United States. In a media statement, the aviator described himself as the “first civilian Indian astronaut”.

This upcoming mission marks the seventh human flight for the New Shepard program and the 25th in its history. So far, the programme has launched 31 humans above the Kármán line, representing the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. The specific launch date for this mission is yet to be announced.

A nomadic life

Hailing from Vijayawada and educated in Visakhapatnam, the aviator revealed that his schooling was nomadic, as he frequently moved due to his father’s business travels. “But that exposed me to various cultures and sparked my fascination with aviation at a young age,” he said, adding, “I first visited a cockpit while aboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. That got me thinking if I could also become a pilot someday. Thus after finishing my schooling, I pursued a degree in Aeronautical Science and Business Administration at the Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, USA.”

Aviator | Gopichand Thotakura | Global Indian

After graduating, Gopichand pursued a career as a pilot, navigating the skies in bush planes, hot air balloons, and seaplanes throughout the USA. However, after approximately five years in the States, he returned to India and transitioned into medical evacuation, assisting numerous individuals across 52 countries. This experience profoundly enriched his appreciation for life. “I was always very keen to become an astronaut,” shared the aviator. “When I came to the U.S. in 2010, this meant either going via NASA or being a U.S. citizen and these were barriers for me. Blue Origin opened up opportunities.”

ALSO READ | Priyanka Srivastava: The NASA space engineer behind Perseverance Rover’s successful landing on Mars

To the stars

While it’s not disclosed how he bagged a seat on NS-25, the aviator shared that there is no real selection process or criteria for this program. ” I was hell-bent on getting aboard a manned mission. It is a desire to carry Indian blood to space,” he said. Blue Origin keeps the cost of space travel under wraps, while a ticket with Virgin Galactic in 2021 was priced at $450,000. Blue Origin has offered free rides to celebrities, with reports of a seat on its 2021 flight being auctioned for $28 million. Additionally, some individuals have paid $1 million for the experience, while others have secured sponsorship.

Gopi Thotakura (centre) at Preserve Life Corporation health and wellness centre in Atlanta

As part of his mission, he will carry postcards and a variety of payloads, which will later serve as memorabilia. “I want to show that you have to have a dream and it is not really important if you are a scientist, engineer, or a pilot to be able to go to space,” the aviator said, adding, “India launched Chandrayaan and Mars missions at a fraction of the costs it would take internationally. With just a little bit more funding, India could easily be a pioneer in commercial space travel.”

Gopichand Thotakura to become 2nd Indian to fly to space

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/hM2xadeSWl #India #Space #GopichandThotakura pic.twitter.com/4LkZDuEcVd

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 12, 2024

An avid traveller and mountaineer, Gopichand is all for space tourism. “The mission for Blue Origin or any other company is to make it affordable. What the affordable number is, we still don’t know but to make it affordable, it has to start somewhere,” the aviator expressed, adding that Blue Origin has partnered with NASA to establish a private International Space Station, aiming to expand space tourism and venture into this sector. “I believe that space tourism is where the future is.”

ALSO READ | Dr. Ravi Margasahayam, the man who sent over 700 humans into space

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Published on 22, Apr 2024

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Constant gardener: Alyia Krumbiegel and the legacy of the famed landscaper

In 2016, when Alyia Krumbiegel stepped out of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, she did so into a blaze of cameras flashing and reporters firing questions at her. This was Alyia's first ever visit to India and she "just wasn't prepared for the media frenzy. It was astonishing," she tells Global Indian. The first thing on her schedule was a trip to Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. She entered through the West Gate, originally known as 'Krumbiegel Gate' and thought, "Oh my God, I'm home. It was surreal. I felt this is where my life should be." Alyia's story - and her great-grandfather's obviously, is one of globalisation and multiculturalism that began far before these terms came into vogue. As India struggled under the British, a German man found home in Bengaluru, in a country that continues to love and treasure his legacy. During his lifetime, much of which he spent in India starting in 1893, he "landscaped his way," according to Alyia, over 50 gardens, tea and coffee estates in the Nilgiris and across the South. Alyia's legacy from her great grandfather, goes back to the late 1890s, to her great-grandfather, the famed landscaper Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, who gave Bengaluru its

great-grandfather, the famed landscaper Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, who gave Bengaluru its 'Garden City' moniker and who was behind the planning and creation of numerous parks, zoos, coffee estates and palace gardens. His name is still spoken among the royal families, from Baroda to Mysuru. As for Alyia herself, it was a twist of fate that sent her on a years-long journey to discover a rich and storied family heritage - the German landscaper who came to India during the British rule and left a mark that's still visible today.

[caption id="attachment_29781" align="aligncenter" width="382"] Alyia Krumbiegel[/caption]

Written in the stars

"I'm a great believer in planets aligning," she tells me from her office in London, where she lives and was once neighbours with Shah Rukh Khan. Years have passed since we last spoke and Alyia has spent her time unraveling enough family history to fill a book. Which is exactly what she's doing, along with planning her next trip to India (the pandemic truncated her annual visits). She had grown up hearing stories from her grandmother and never thought much about them. In 2015, Alyia was at a crossroads in her own life, "I had reached a pinnacle and was at a stage where there were more years behind me than ahead of me." She decided, almost on a whim, to Google his name for the very first time. "I remember taking off my glasses because I was so surprised," she laughs.

There was so much to see - the snippets from her grandmother had done no justice to the man, really. She also found an advertisement, posted by Richard Ward of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, trying to find Krumbiegel's descendants. The first thing next morning, she rang the house and left Richard a message. He called back 20 minutes later to say, "I can't believe it. I just cannot believe it. We have been searching for you for years." Alyia had found a renewed sense of purpose, "Learning I was a Krumbiegel, and what that meant, made me a different person. It reinvented my life."

GH Krumbiegel: Passage to India

Like his great granddaughter, Gustav Krumbiegel's journey to India was fraught with challenges and plot twists. A horticulturist in Hamburg, he was very keen to work at the Royal Botanical Garden in Kew and wrote to them, Alyia says, no less than 12 times before he was finally accepted. In 1888, he was offered a post at London's Hyde Park, where he tended to the rose gardens. Finally, he was granted entry to Kew, where he took care of the hothouse, and this is where, Alyia says, "our story starts."

[caption id="attachment_29782" align="aligncenter" width="354"] Alyia Krumbiegel | Global Indian Alyia's father[/caption]

Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III of Baroda was, at that time, looking for someone to tend to the state botanical gardens back home. As he visited the gardens in Kew, he learned that Krumbiegel took care of the hothouse and promptly offered him a job. Three months later, Krumbiegel was on a ship to Bombay, from where he arrived in Baroda. "He wrote letters back to Kew in those early days, calling India a remarkable country and praising its rich, red soil, where everything grows, saying there was no need for a hothouse." Three years later, he sent for Kaite Clara and a couple of hours after her arrival in Bombay, married her.

Krumbiegel worked as the curator of the botanical gardens for the erstwhile princely state of Baroda, succeeding J.M. Henry. "He was asked to find spots for tea plantations in Cooch Behar," Alyia says. He also landscaped the gardens of the Sayaji Baug Zoo, designed the sunken gardens of the Laxmi Vilas Palace and laid out Baroda's polo fields. "He also designed water storage reservoirs, because he was very concerned with issues like water conservation. During that time, my great grandmother, Katie Clara, would teach the young princes German. How she had learned fluent German is a bit of a mystery to me because she was British." Krumbiegel also worked with the Government Botanical Gardens in Ooty and was responsible for the architectural redesign.

[caption id="attachment_29786" align="aligncenter" width="266"] Alyia Krumbiegel | Global Indian Alyia with Jeetendrasingh G Gaekwad in Mysore[/caption]

Krishnaraja Wodeyar and finding home in Bangalore

A painting of Krumbiegel and a bust, both commissioned by the Maharajah are still in the Mysore Palace. In 1907, Krishanaraja Wodeyar, the ruler of Mysore, made him an offer and Krumbiegel arrived properly in the South, where he spent the remainder of his time in India. "He became a trusted associate of the royals and was the only man allowed the privilege of a handshake with the Maharaja," Alyia says.

The famed Brindavan Gardens, the landscaping of the Mysore Zoo and the palaces and Bengaluru's Lalbagh all bear the touch of G.H. Krumbiegel. In 1912, Krumbiegel became involved with the Mysore Horicultural Society and the Dewan of Mysore appointed him as an architectural consultant despite objections from Mysore's British Resident. Krumbiegel expanded Lalbagh, spending so much time there that he moved to the premises with his family. "He was the only superintendent to raise his family in the park," Alyia explains. He revived the Mughal style of gardening and introduced several plants that he brought in from England.

The seed exchange

"Kew had a seed exchange programme, which great-grandfather started when he went to Baroda," Alyia tells me. In Lalbagh, where he worked another 'Kew-it', John Cameron, they scaled up the exchange. The duo obtained seeds from other countries and sent collections to Kew as well as to America. Varieties of mango, including the malgova and varieties of rice went to the United States from Bangalore. In return, he introduced the Rhodes grass, Russian sunflower, soya bean, American maize, Feijoa sellowiana from Paris, Livistonia Australia from Java and several other species. In Bengaluru, the tabebuia and the jacaranda, as well as the majestic rain trees that continue to line the Cantonment area, all bear testament to Krumbiegel's legacy. He was also among the group that founded the still active Mythic Society in Bengaluru.

[caption id="attachment_29789" align="aligncenter" width="504"] Alyia Krumbiegel | Global Indian G.H. Krumbiegel at the Lalbagh Flower Show[/caption]

'Enemy of the state' and a patriot of his adopted home

When World War II commenced, Krumbiegel was declared an enemy, by virtue of his birthplace, by the British. "He had embraced India and was very vocal about independence for the country," Alyia says. "The princely royals protected him when the British saw an enemy in every German."

On two occasions, Krumbiegel was thrown into prisoner of war camps by the British in India. His views against colonialism also resulted in him receiving a severe beating during his imprisonment. "The Maharajah of Mysore saved him from being deported as well." His wife, Katie, although she was British, was also considered a traitor for having married a German and for a time, Alyia says, "great grandmother and their daughters were under house arrest."

The end in Bengaluru

In 1952, Krumbiegel, who was then a consulting architect and an improtant advisor in town planning and horticulture died in Bengaluru. He was buried in Hosur Road, at the Methodist cemetery and a road located between two of Lalbagh's gates was remained Krumbiegel Road in his honour. In 2016, the grave was given a much-needed facelift. Krumbiegel House in Lalbagh remained standing as a ruin until its collapse in 2017, after which the state government created a replica of the structure.

Reviving the legacy

Always on Alyia's hand is a gold gandaberunda, flanked by rubies and pearls, bearing the two-headed bird that is the royal insignia of the kingdom of Mysore. Now, it is Karnataka's state symbol as well. "it was a gift from the Maharaja of Mysore to my grandmother Hilda, when she turned 18," Alyia says. "When she died, I got the bracelet."

[caption id="attachment_29785" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Alyia Krumbiegel | Global Indian Gold gandaberunda, flanked by rubies and pearls, bearing the two-headed bird that is the royal insignia of the kingdom of Mysore. Now, it is Karnataka's state symbol. Photo: Courtesy Alyia Krumbiegel[/caption]

Ever since her first visit in 2016, Alyia, who tries to return each year, has become a vocal voice for preserving Bengaluru's monumental and green heritage. One of the people she met along the way was Jeetendrasingh Rao Gaekwad, of Baroda, with whom she took a private tour of the Mysore Palace and tea with the queen mother, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.

"That was a surreal experience," she says. "We were sitting in the formal lounge of the palace, which was breathtaking. Then she came through, wearing a bright yellow sari and so graceful, she looked like she was floating, not walking. We had coffee and cake together and spoke of all the connections." She also visited the coffee estate in Chikmagalur that her grandmother had once owned and been made to give up when the British left India.

When she returns, the first thing she does is visit her great-grandfather's grave. "I like to arrive at half-past three in the morning so I won't be in traffic." Alyia describes Bengaluru with great familiarity. After breakfast, she heads to the Methodist Cemetery to place flowers on Krumbiegel's tomb. "Nobody ever touches it. I think they know that I left it there and they always make sure it's intact. Even if it's hanging by one string, it stays there."

Follow Alyia Krumbiegel on Facebook

Reading Time: 7 mins

Nishant Malhotra: Reviving GI-tagged textile heritage and celebrating artisans with WeaverStory

(August 13, 2024) “As children of the pre-digital era, we have all grown up in homes and environments that have been driven by tradition. From food to craft and clothing, everything had a story and was a hand-worked skill passed through generations, be it the chutneys that were made at home or the sweaters that were knit. So there always was an inclination towards culture and the traditions of the past,” Nishant Malhotra reminisces as he connects with Global Indian. Although he was always fascinated by India’s luxurious heritage and traditions, he had never imagined that he would one day work with it. After spending several years in the banking and finance sectors, Nishant Malhotra founded WeaverStory nine years ago, finding both purpose and an avenue for social impact. [caption id="attachment_53617" align="aligncenter" width="482"] Nishant Malhotra at WeaverStory curated runway show at BNI4M2024 event[/caption] Led by artisans The craft-led textile brand has come a long way. Launched with just five sarees on a Facebook page, WeaverStory has grown into a 30-member team working with over 400 weavers from 10 different weaving clusters. “This transformation has significantly improved the lives of weavers and their families and enhanced the experiences of our customers

="aligncenter" width="482"] Indian Art and Culture | Nishant Malhotra | Global Indian Nishant Malhotra at WeaverStory curated runway show at BNI4M2024 event[/caption]

Led by artisans

The craft-led textile brand has come a long way. Launched with just five sarees on a Facebook page, WeaverStory has grown into a 30-member team working with over 400 weavers from 10 different weaving clusters. “This transformation has significantly improved the lives of weavers and their families and enhanced the experiences of our customers spread across more than 20 countries," tells the entrepreneur.

Whether it is the famed yarns of Banaras, the vibrant hues of Gujarat, the ethereal threads of Chanderi, intricate works of Kashmir, poetic weaves of Bengal, or resplendent silks of Kanchipuram - WeaverStory has been championing authentic handmade products like luxurious sarees and fabric, bespoke occasion wear, bridal couture and accessories blending tradition with modernity.

GI certified handloom

The textile brand’s products are silk mark and craft mark-certified with GI tags. It has been participating in the Government of India’s ODOP (One District One Product) initiative which aims to promote indigenous and specialised goods and crafts distinct to various districts across the country. “WeaverStory sources 350 products from over 19 Geographical Indications (GIs), thus ensuring genuine handloom apparel from the craftspeople who bring them to life.”

The hand weaved textiles are delivered through retail stores in Delhi and Hyderabad and the brand’s website. It also retails online through domestic and international marketplaces such as Pernia’s Pop Up Shop, Aza, Aashni + Co., Nykaa Fashion and Etsy.

[caption id="attachment_53634" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Indian Art and Culture | Nishant Malhotra | Global Indian One of the WeaverStory stores[/caption]

The journey of transition

As a banking and financial services professional, Nishant often travelled to rural areas and smaller cities in India, working on financial inclusion projects. These experiences exposed him to not only the challenges faced by the local population but also to the complexities of implementing programs to benefit them.

“I realised that even small steps could have a significant impact on their lives and it was this thought that drove me to start WeaverStory after a trip to Banaras that proved pivotal in the transition,” tells the Delhi based entrepreneur.

Starting small

In Banaras, Nishant met a weaver who had been forced to quit his craft due to low income and the pressure of supporting his family. Instead of engaging in his creative work, the weaver was folding sarees at a retail shop. This deeply moved Nishant. Upon his return to Delhi, he began conversing with others to understand the market need for Indian handlooms – the artistic heritage of India.

“I discovered that there was a demand for handloom products, but people were unaware of authentic sources,'” he says. This realisation led him to start a small initiative by creating a Facebook page, where he showcased five well-crafted saris by a weaver of Banaras to help people appreciate the value of craftsmanship of the weaving community.

Within months, his initiative started gaining recognition, motivating Nishant to leave his job and pursue social entrepreneurship. He had found the purpose of creating better opportunities for the artistic weavers of India and making a difference in their lives.

[caption id="attachment_53625" align="aligncenter" width="687"] Indian Art and Culture | Nishant Malhotra | Global Indian WeaverStory team[/caption]

“It started as a mere passion project with no intention of launching a full-fledged brand. However, that small step transformed everything, leading us to where we are today,” says Nishant who had over 15 years of corporate experience with Fortune 500 companies and biggest conglomerates like the TATAs and Reliance group at the time of stepping into social entrepreneurship. “Through WeaverStory my attempt has been to bridge the gap between true fans of original Indian handlooms and those with a century-long lineage in this artistic heritage. We work towards preserving our heritage and enabling weavers to become financially successful,” he says.

Rising above challenges and earning trust

In the initial days of his venture gaining the trust of the weavers was a challenge. “Coming from a banking background with no experience in textiles, I wasn’t attempting to become a designer. My goal was to create an ecosystem around handlooms. However, understanding the craftsmanship, the uniqueness of handwoven fabric, and effectively communicating with the weavers required substantial knowledge,” Nishant mentions.

When he approached weavers, they were sceptical. “They doubted my understanding of their craft and feared their products would be rejected after completion.” An online brand, was an unconventional idea in 2015, especially for the rural weavers for whom trade meant an offline activity.

To alleviate their fears Nishant started work on the model of buying products outright from the weavers addressing their concerns. “By ensuring immediate and fair compensation, we gradually earned their trust and overcame their initial resistance,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_53624" align="aligncenter" width="523"] Indian Art and Culture | Nishant Malhotra | Global Indian A Madhubani artist associated with WeaverStory[/caption]

Assuring quality

Earning the trust of the weavers was just one side of the story. Nishant highlights that when purchasing a premium product like a handwoven saree, customers seek assurance about their investment. Therefore, early in their journey, the WeaverStory team began conducting video calls with customers to showcase the products in detail, thereby earning their trust as well.

“At WeaverStory, our values of purity, pride, and intention have always been at the core of everything we do. We have consistently strived to present our customers with a curated collection of authentic weaves in pure fabrics that best represent India’s textile heritage and the skills of our weavers,” the entrepreneur mentions.

Weaving stories

To bring the stories of the rural weavers to the forefront and change the narrative in their favour Nishant Malhotra and his team does not just look at them as mere suppliers of products that they are marketing but provide the weaving community a sense of close collaboration. “This outlook is one of the major factors contributing to our growth story,” says Nishant.

“Our product curation and storytelling are deeply influenced by the intentions and narratives of the weavers, and we make it a point not to interfere with their stories. The authentic stories behind each weave is what attracts our customers; and they want to buy, own, and cherish these unique pieces of art.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_QW-F7l3Yk

WeaverStory Foundation

Recently, the entrepreneur has started the WeaverStory Foundation, which will undertake projects aimed at providing sustainable livelihoods and skill development for weavers, with a special focus on women artisans. “We are actively seeking and collaborating with like-minded partners to further this mission,” Nishant points out.

Awards galore

The textile brand has instituted several reward and recognition programs, such as Kala Nishtha, Kala Samridhi and Craftales to encourage lesser-known and new weavers to look at their skills with more optimism and be part of the WeaverStory network.

“These initiatives help create visibility for them, especially among their peers and within their communities, where weaving is often seen as a low-paying job.”

In the WeaverStory model, the products are purchased outright from the weavers. “WeaverStory ensures that weavers are paid fair market prices that account for the scale and input while keeping the product competitive. This approach rewards the weavers for their skill, time, and labour,” Nishant says.

[caption id="attachment_53627" align="aligncenter" width="723"] Indian Art and Culture | Nishant Malhotra | Global Indian Naseem Bano (extreme right) is one of the weavers that WeaverStory works with to upskill village women artisans[/caption]

New Initiative - Revival collection of Venkatagiri sarees

On the occasion of National Handloom Day which falls on 7th August and coincides with WeaverStory’s foundation day, the textile brand launched a revival collection of Venkatagiri Sarees.

“Venkatagiri was once known for its fine-count cotton sarees with gold khaadi borders woven on a traditional pit loom. It held a place of pride in Andhra’s handloom traditions. However, with the advent of the power loom, the decline in the value of cotton, and a shift in market demand that leaned towards Banarasi, Kanchipuram and Paithani styles, the weavers of Venkatgiri lost touch with their traditional design language and eventually met with flagging patronage and diminished popularity,” informs Nishant.

For the past several months, WeaverStory has been working with Tata Trusts’ Antaran to revive the lost designs of the Venkatagiri cluster. The textile brand has launched a collection of sarees with four archival designs that have not been woven in over 70 years. “The aim is to rekindle significant market interest in this historic craft and give saree connoisseurs across the world a piece of heritage to own,” says the entrepreneur who works with the vision of promoting the exquisite craft of handweaving, ensuring its legacy continues to thrive.

[caption id="attachment_53637" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Indian Art and Culture | Nishant Malhotra | Global Indian Nishant Malhotra with Mridula and Parvez Alam from Tata Trusts during the unveiling of Venkatagiri Revival Project[/caption]

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Reading Time: 5 mins

An atypical life: How Ferose VR drives the diversity mindset

When his eighteen-month-old son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, VR Ferose's world came undone. Until that fateful moment, life had been very kind to him. At 33, he was the MD of SAP Labs, had married the love of his life and was joyously celebrating the birth of his first child. His first question to the doctor was, "How do I fix this?" But there is no making someone "un-autistic." The news sent Ferose spiralling into depression. "For the first time, here was something I couldn't control. I was used to being in control," he says, as he connects with Global Indian. In the end, it was his mentor and long-time friend, Kiran Bedi, who gave him the answer he needed: "People spend their whole lives trying to understand what their purpose is, you're incredibly lucky that purpose has found you." She told him that he could dedicate his time to his primary responsibility - taking care of his son, which he does. Or, he could use the considerable means and power at his disposal to lend a voice to a historically marginalised community - people with disabilities. Ferose chose the latter. Since the birth of his son, he

ple with disabilities. Ferose chose the latter.

Since the birth of his son, he has gone on to write four books, attend two UN conferences, speak at the World Economic Forum and is the founder of the India Inclusion Summit. He also started the Autism at Work program, which fetched him numerous awards and also became a Harvard Case Study. In 2014, he wrote GIFTED, with Sudha Menon, which went on to win him the Kannada Sahitya Academy Award. His most recent offering is the graphic novel GRIT: The Vishwas story, with Sriram Jagannathan.

Rising above adversity

VR Ferose hardly needs an introduction. Based in San Ramon, he heads the SAP Academy for Engineering. He has played many roles during his 23-year association with the company, including making Managing Director at 33 and a stint as the head of the Globalisation Services Unit. That's his professional life. Over the last decade, Ferose has emerged as one of the leading voices of inclusion and diversity, and of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). According to The Invisible Majority, PwDs make up a staggering 15 percent of the global population. While our imaginations (and a lack of awareness) limit us to images of people in wheelchairs and the blind, the term itself is constantly evolving. "Simply put, we are disabled if our inability to carry out daily activities hinders us from participating fully in society," they write.

It's well past midnight in California when he arrives for our virtual meeting. In the background, I can see his vast collection of books – over three thousand, he says, all of them signed. He is visibly exhausted - he has spent the day taking care of his son, who needs full-time care and the couple’s lives are centered around making sure he gets it. “I can speak to you now that Vivaan is sleeping.” Even so, he gives me his full attention - over the years, time has become Ferose's most valued asset. It isn't always given out, but when he does, he does so fully. "I have done my research on you," he says. "I looked to see if this was worth my time before I said yes."

"Everything I have achieved so far has been because of my son," he says. "Yes, I have had a successful career but corporate roles come and go and nobody cares. What matters is doing something that is meaningful to someone else. I was leading a life of success then but now I'm leading one that's far more significant." The quiet strength he exudes is an acquired trait, learned the hard way.

The diversity mindset

"If you have role models at home who embody that spirit, it is the best way," he remarks. Ferose was born in 1974 and since his father worked in the Railways, the family travelled extensively across the country. He was exposed, at an early age, to India's cultural diversity. Ferose went on to study at the Regional Engineering College (now the National Institutes of Technology) in Warangal, founded by Nehru with the mission to promote national integrity. "I had classmates from every state in the country. It gave me a broader perspective of the world."

Life carried on in the same vein - "I'm a Muslim from Kerala, my wife is a Hindu Brahmin from Maharashtra. Diversity is a mindset, a way of life and we have it, even at home." Later, his career would take him all over the world - he has travelled to over 40 countries. "We tend to complicate the concept now," he smiles. "They categorise it as gender, disability, race and so on, it keeps on changing. At a fundamental level, it's a mindset and that's all."

After college, Ferose moved to Chennai to begin work as a systems analyst at Ramco Systems. He boarded the train with a gift of Rs 1,500 from his father, which allowed him to buy "a shirt, a pair of pants, and a pair of shoes." In his blog, he reminisces about waiting eagerly for salary day and "being broke mid-month."

The SAP journey

Ferose first joined SAP Labs as a software engineer and his tipping point came early when, in 2005, he moved to Germany as the Executive Assistant to to SAP Board Member Gerhard Oswald. He was one of the first people from India to be given that role.

In 2007, he was made MD of SAP Labs India, Gurgaon. "That happened very quickly," he smiles. "We can only ever connect the dots in retrospect but at that time, I never thought I would achieve the kind of progression that I did." It was also the year his son was born. Between then and 2012, Ferose made huge leaps in inclusion and diversity at SAP, including setting up Prayas Lab as part of the 'Autism at Work' pilot case study. He was also selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and founded the India Inclusion Summit. Under his leadership, SAP Labs India was ranked, for the very first time, as a Great Place to Work.

[caption id="attachment_35296" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Ferose with former SAP Board Member Gerhard Oswald[/caption]

Three things are vital to success, he believes - mentors, coaches and sponsors. "I had all those things." As his professional life continued to shine, Arun Shourie and Kiran Bedi were among those who stood by him through a much more significant journey. He went from a victim to an agent of change. If Bedi had told him that he had found a life purpose, Shourie, who is also father to a profoundly disabled son, helped him see what he could do. In his book, Does He know a Mother's Heart, Shourie tries to understand what religions say about disability. The 'karma' theory blames the parents, which is harsh. Shourie settles in the end on what the Buddhists had to say - the highest form of service is to take care of somebody who can't give you anything in return. Shourie told Ferose to drive the narrative to change the mindset.

Changing the narrative

Shourie's words inspired Ferose to found the India Inclusion Summit, a conference that celebrates differences. "It's not about feeling sorry for people. We need to go from sympathy to empathy and from there, to compassion." As Ferose did his work, he found that the community was crippled by society itself. Caregiving, Ferose learned, was done mostly by mothers and the birth of a disabled child has ended many a marriage. "I would go to therapy sessions with ten other people and be the only male in the room," he says.

Awareness was vital. As he came to terms with his own life, he had run through the gammut of mistakes himself, including trying to find "a cure." He read books that promised one, driven by the idea that that Autism was a problem that needed to be solved. Until he realised that he was going about it the wrong way - everyone is unique, with their own strengths and shortcomings. Today, that narrative has changed. "Our idea is that for every condition there is an enhanced ability. If you are blind, you can hear better. The key was to change a predominantly negative narrative and make it positive."

Driving social change

[caption id="attachment_35297" align="aligncenter" width="598"] VR Ferose receives the AUCD award from Senator Tom Harkins for Autism at Work[/caption]

Much recognition has come his way for his efforts. In 2014, he was in the India's Top 40 under 40 by Economic Times and Spenser Stuart. Two years later, Autism at Work became a Harvard case study.

Awards aside, Ferose is aware that a lasting impact is not easy, or even quantifiable, really. Change can take a lifetime and he knows that he might not even see it happen. "Still, we do our bit." After having run the Inclusion Summit for over a decade, he is often asked about the impact. "I have no clue," he admits. "That can only be measured later. I am here to do my small bit to make a difference. Our fundamental aim is to spread awareness - when people are sensitised, they will act."

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Jayshree Seth: 3M’s Indian-origin chief science advocate who also holds 72 patents

Surround yourself with those unafraid to ask questions, solve problems, and dig deeper. That’s been the mantra for Dr Jayshree Seth, corporate scientist and chief science advocate at US-based 3M. The Indian American, originally from a Rajasthani Marwari family, has 72 (and counting) patents to her name. She is at the highest technical designation within the $32 billion company and the first female engineer to get there. She juggles multiple hats - works with other engineers and scientists to find solutions to complex problems in 3M’s adhesives and tapes division, besides advocating the importance of science in people’s lives. The girl who grew up thinking science and engineering were not for her, recently won the Society of Woman Engineers (SWE) Achievement Award 2020 (SWE’s highest accolade). Quoting from 3M’s State of Science 2021 report, Seth took to LinkedIn recently and wrote, “If the virus is the villain, science can be called the hero. In 2021, 85% say that science will save us from the COVID-19 pandemic.” Love for problem-solving Even as a child, Seth had an insatiable urge to solve problems. It helped that she and her brother were nurtured under the scientific mind of a father who did his Ph.D. on a Commonwealth Scholarship at the University of Manchester in England.

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“If the virus is the villain, science can be called the hero. In 2021, 85% say that science will save us from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Love for problem-solving

Even as a child, Seth had an insatiable urge to solve problems. It helped that she and her brother were nurtured under the scientific mind of a father who did his Ph.D. on a Commonwealth Scholarship at the University of Manchester in England. As a child, Jayshree found herself in the august surrounds of IIT Roorkee where her father was a professor in civil engineering (later he retired as director at National Institute of Hydrology). “I am a beneficiary of visionary parents,” she told Global Indian.

Seth followed her parents’ advice and tried for IIT Roorkee. She didn’t get through and instead went to the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. Later, she went to graduate school at New York’s Clarkson University.

In a write up for British Science Week, Seth wrote: “It was actually at university, when I started doing experimental work on hard coatings to protect surfaces, that I realized for the first time how excited I was to plan my experiments, conduct them and write up the results to communicate in an understandable way.”

Computers to chemicals

[caption id="attachment_4051" align="alignnone" width="1005"] She has worked at 3M for 28 years.[/caption]

At Clarkson, she had to take her life’s first major decision on her own. While working on computer modeling for her masters, an incongruity hit her hard: Her desire was to make the world a better place but she was pursuing something unrelated.

“I thought ‘is this what I want to do in life? I made the scary decision to switch topics for my Ph.D.,” she adds.

While still a Ph.D. candidate, 3M came knocking with an internship and that put her on a path to conquering the mercurial and invigorating yet gender-biased world of science. She has been with the same company for 28 years.

[caption id="attachment_4066" align="alignnone" width="425"] Jayshree Seth with Indian-origin teen innovator Gitanjali Rao in 2018.[/caption]

Patents for diapers

Many of her early patents were on closures for disposable diapers, although she had never seen a diaper before joining 3M.

Ask her if she has any favorite patents and pat comes the reply: “They were all equally rewarding because of the journey, and the people I got to brainstorm with and learn from.”

She also shares a patent with her husband, (a fellow 3Mer with a PhD in Chemical Engineering) on window films. The mother of two, a boy of 23 and a girl of 19, feels her children are an inspiration who have taught her the importance of having an open mind.

Scholarships for under-represented communities

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In December 2020, she created an anecdotal compilation of her journey in a book ‘The Heart of Science - Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints & Imprints.’ Proceeds from its sales are going towards a scholarship for under-represented minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, administered by the SWE. Today, Seth also mentors and encourages girls in STEM. It’s almost unreal to hear her admit that she was not the “science type.” She reiterates that it is possible to carve out a path to success even if you aren’t as smart as some of the others. She calls out to girls who are missing out on science because of the way the world “talks, teaches, trains, tracks and typifies education, career and success – very male-centric.” Her journey, she hopes will inspire change in STEM for girls. A song she had written and put to music raised funds for United Way, one of the US’ largest non-profits.

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Gender bias in science

She has battled the science industry’s legacy of bias and admits to feeling a lack of self-assuredness which fuels her to gain knowledge.

“You have to discover your ‘virtuous cycle’ that allows you to be authentic. Understand that the typical male projection of outward confidence may not be the only indicator of talent and skills," she adds.

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Taj Falaknuma Palace to a luxe resort in New Zealand, meet Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka

(August 18, 2024) As part of the team that cooked for PM Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump at the Taj Falaknuma Palace, to serving gourmet Indian food at a luxe resort amidst snow capped peaks, Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka’s career has some interesting milestones. In less than two decades after graduating from the Shri Shakti College of Hotel Management in Hyderabad, Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka has worked across several leading hospitality brands. He landed his first job at the prestigious Taj Krishna in Hyderabad, as a commis chef. His six-month residency before that had been with the Taj Deccan across the road. He recalls, "I worked at Firdaus, the restaurant serving Indian food at the Taj Krishna for a year. Then I was with Encounters, their all-day diner for two years and I learnt a lot during my time there." [caption id="attachment_53792" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka[/caption] Three years with the Taj Group and Chef Srinivas got an opportunity to join the pre-opening team of The Park Hotel in Hyderabad. This was in 2009. “I joined them as the demi chef de partie and was there for 18 months. I went back to Taj Deccan after that as chef

the Taj Group and Chef Srinivas got an opportunity to join the pre-opening team of The Park Hotel in Hyderabad. This was in 2009. “I joined them as the demi chef de partie and was there for 18 months. I went back to Taj Deccan after that as chef de partie,” he tells Global Indian.

Learning curves galore

During all his assignments, Chef Srinivas focussed on learning as much as he could on the job. "I was comfortable with European, Italian, fusion, Asian and Indian food. Under the leadership of chefs Sachin Joshi and Sajesh Nair, I learnt a lot. Then, when I moved to The Westin, I was in charge of the Continental cuisine for the coffeeshop."

Wanting more, Chef Srinivas joined a cruise liner that sailed along the Mediterranean but unfortunately, he had to leave the job and return to Hyderabad due to health issues. He rejoined the Westin again as chef de partie and was there till 2016, when a plum assignment came his way. “I got a chance to join the Falaknuma Palace as a junior sous chef. Here I worked at Adaa, the Indian restaurant and Celeste, the Italian one."

Chef Srinivas Reddy | Global Indian

A little-known fact about both these iconic restaurants is that despite a steep cover charge, they are usually booked out well in advance. Adaa was also ranked 91, among the 100 best restaurants in the world. Chef Srinivas was part of the banquets team and it was during his tenure there that PM Narendra Modi hosted Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Donald Trump to a lavish dinner, as part of the Global Entrepreneurs Summit in 2017. Chef Srinivas recalls that experience, which had the hotel teeming with the most stringent security. "We had the NSG and the FBI and they would double-check everything. It was a big event and I had several chefs working under me. The food was tasted before it was served to the PM and his guests."

Southern Hemisphere charms

Six years with the Taj Falaknuma Palace and Chef Srinivas was ready to spread his wings again. This time though, he looked beyond India. And while Australia was on the anvil, he ended up in New Zealand. He says, "The property I currently work at is called The Hermitage, in a place called Mount Cook, near Christchurch, in the South Island. It is a luxurious four-star property near a national park. It is beautiful but quite isolated and we get a lot of snow in winter too. During busy times I stay at the hotel itself."

Incidentally, Mount Cook offers stunning views of the Milky Way galaxy in the month of May, should you wish to escape the Indian summer for a less crowded location.

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Chef Srinivas' philosophy to learn as much as possible has led to his success. "You have to be willing to learn; I used to grab whatever opportunity that came my way if it meant I got to learn something. I'd work night shifts, manage teams, help mentor junior chefs and it was teamwork all the way. All of us seniors would train the interns who were raw, on how to go about everything. I believe that knowledge must be shared and if you teach someone, do it well."

At The Hermitage, Chef Srinivas is a sous chef in charge of the breakfast café. He says, "It is a big place and we get groups of tourists from across cultures. Since it is the only big property in this area, we serve mixed cuisines to cater to all nationalities. The food I cook here includes pastas, steaks, and a bit of Indian food for our VIP guests. But I miss the plating skills because we don’t do much of that here."

Having said that, his learning curve here too is intact. "The work culture here is very different and each position matters. The higher up you go, the more the responsibility. Also, because we are isolated, we have to order provisions accordingly. They are calibrated every second day because if it is snowing, we can't always have access to ingredients."

Chef Srinivas Reddy Makka | Global Indian

According to him, fusion kitchens, which make a little of everything, will be the next big global trend. And, because Chef Srinivas is currently in a happy place in his career, he hasn’t thought about what lies in the future. It would probably be a venue which involves substantial learning as and when he decides to move.

While travelling, Chef Srinivas likes to eat:
Mirapyaki kodi at Spice Junction: Taj Deccan, Hyderabad, India
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio at Bella Cucina: Queenstown, New Zealand.
Gutti Vankaya Pulao from Teluguness: Kompally, Hyderabad, India
I like trying mostly vegetarian and spicy street food wherever I travel.