Global IndianstoryIndian-origin leaders making waves in 2024: Key appointments shaping major companies

Indian-origin leaders making waves in 2024: Key appointments shaping major companies

Compiled by: Amrita Priya

(August 31, 2024) Apple recently announced the promotion of Kevan Parekh, the company’s Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, to Chief Financial Officer, with his new role starting on January 1, 2025. In light of this, Global Indian puts a spotlight on the major appointments of Indian-origin leaders throughout 2024. These leaders, who have recently stepped into significant roles this year, exemplify the growing global influence of Indian business professionals in shaping the future of leading corporations.

Pavan Davuluri

Microsoft’s Head of Windows and Surface

In March this year, Microsoft appointed Pavan Davuluri, a long-time company veteran, to lead its Windows operating system and Surface devices teams. This move followed the departure of Panos Panay, the former chief of Windows and Surface. Panay’s responsibilities were subsequently divided between Davuluri and Mikhail Parakhin. Microsoft stated that Davuluri’s appointment will support a comprehensive approach to developing silicon, systems, experiences, and devices that integrate Windows client and cloud technologies for the AI era.

Pavan Davuluri

An alumnus of IIT Madras, Davuluri began his Microsoft career as a Reliability Component Manager in 2001. Over his 23-year tenure, he has held numerous leadership roles, working with PC and Xbox hardware, Surface, and Windows. Since 2021, he has served as Corporate Vice President for Windows and Silicon & Systems Integration, focusing on optimizing Windows for Arm-based devices. He completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Maryland.

Uma Amuluru

Boeing’s Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President

Uma Amuluru, former White House Counsel under President Obama, has taken on the role of Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President at Boeing, effective April 1. The Indian American executive succeeds Michael D’Ambrose and now reports directly to Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun while serving on the company’s executive council. In her new capacity, Amuluru oversees key areas including talent planning, global talent acquisition, learning and development, compensation and benefits, employee and labour relations, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Uma Amuluru

Amuluru’s journey with Boeing began in 2017, where she previously held the roles of Vice President and General Counsel for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, as well as the company’s first Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to her tenure at Boeing, she held several senior positions within the federal government, including serving as Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. At the White House, she provided legal and strategic counsel to senior officials on matters involving compliance, oversight, and risk management. Amuluru holds a Doctor of Law degree from Northwestern University.

Sridhar Ramaswamy

Snowflake’s Chief Executive Officer

In March of this year, Snowflake, the U.S.-based company that powers the AI Data Cloud – a global network enabling thousands of organizations to mobilize data with near-unlimited scale, concurrency, and performance, appointed Sridhar Ramaswamy as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors. The Indian American executive previously served as the Senior Vice President of AI at Snowflake, succeeding Frank Slootman in the CEO role. Ramaswamy joined Snowflake in 2023 following the company’s acquisition of Neeva, an AI-powered search engine that he co-founded in 2019. Since then, he has been at the forefront of Snowflake’s AI strategy, leading initiatives such as the launch of Snowflake Cortex, a fully managed service designed to make AI simple and secure for all users, driving rapid business value.

Indian-origin leaders | Sridhar Ramaswamy | Global Indian

Born in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), Tamil Nadu, Ramaswamy earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from IIT Madras. He moved to the United States in 1989 to pursue his master’s degree and PhD in computer science at Brown University. He calls himself a technologist and humanist focused on harnessing the power of software for larger social good.

Smriti Kirubanandan

Accenture’s Managing Director of Healthcare and Healthtech

In February this year, healthcare business executive Smriti Kirubanandan joined Accenture as Managing Director of the firm’s healthcare and healtech practices. Accenture described the Indian American as a ‘contemporary Renaissance figure,’ recognizing her remarkable achievements as a growth and partnerships executive with a unique background in robotics and public health. Kirubanandan is also a raw vegan chef and nutritionist, actively involved in community service and leading initiatives to combat food insecurity.

Smriti Kirubanandan

In 2023, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and is a member of the Young Leaders Circle at the Milken Institute. She is the founder of the HLTH Forward Podcast, an award-winning media platform where healthcare leaders, policymakers, and artists discuss systemic challenges and explore collective solutions to advance healthcare. Smriti Kirubanandan holds a bachelors in robotics ad computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, and two master of science degrees from University of Southern California and UCLA, respectively. She has joined the advisory council of Harvard Business Review recently.

Vipin Gairola

Genpact’s Global Operating Officer

In February this year, the New York City-based multinational information technology services, consulting, and business process outsourcing company announced the appointment of Vipin Gairola as its Global Operating Officer. Gairola is spearheading the transformation of service delivery for Genpact’s clients by leveraging AI-led solutions. As Global Operating Officer, he oversees Genpact’s global client operations, analytics, data, and technology across all regions. He is a member of Genpact’s Leadership Council and leads the company’s Operations and Cost Council.

Vipin Gairola

Gairola joined Genpact from Accenture, where he spent over two decades in various senior leadership roles, most recently serving as Chief Strategy Officer for Accenture Operations. With 26 years of experience in customer service, account management, marketing, transition, and solution creation, Gairola has established himself as a leader with exceptional business acumen and innovative thinking. He is also passionate about promoting workplace gender diversity and building a future-ready workforce equipped with AI and automation skills, ensuring enriched jobs for humans. Gairola holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Delhi College of Engineering, and an MBA in manufacturing management from SPJIMR College in Mumbai.

Vaishali Bhatia

ATI Inc’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel

In March this year, ATI Inc., a Dallas-based aerospace and defense company, appointed Vaishali Bhatia as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer. In this role, Bhatia will lead all aspects of the company’s legal function and work closely with business teams to provide risk-based legal guidance. She succeeds ATI’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Elliot Davis, who will retire effective October 1, 2024. Until then, Davis will serve as Special Advisor, Legal, and Compliance, to ensure a smooth transition.

Vaishali Bhatia

Bhatia comes to ATI from HF Sinclair Corporation, where she has been Executive Vice President since 2023 and served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since 2019. She earned her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin. In 2022, she was recognized as ‘DFW General Counsel of the Year for a Mid-Size Legal Department’ by The Texas Lawbook and the DFW Association of Corporate Counsel.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there are other notable appointments of Indian-origin leaders throughout 2024 who are also making significant impacts in their respective fields.

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Published on 31, Aug 2024

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2022 Recap: Indian-origin politicians rule the roost

(December 31, 2022) Indians across the world cheered and clapped as Rishi Sunak took the oath as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom earlier this year. But, this is not an isolated case. India has the largest diaspora in the world – over 13 million Indians live outside the country, with 17 million individuals of Indian origin. While they are known to be skilled IT professionals, several Indian-origin politicians have earned important designation in governments worldwide. Global Indian takes a look at a few notable politicians and diplomats, who have made their mark as immigrants or children of immigrants around the world this year. Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, United Kingdom “Trust is earned and I will earn yours,” said Rishi Sunak, soon after being sworn in as the Prime Minister of the UK on October 25. It’s cause for celebration by Asians the world over. Understandably so – it’s an accomplishment with many firsts (he is the first Hindu and the first person of colour to hold the PM’s office. He is also the youngest and richest ever). Although his family’s connections with Africa go back two generations, Rishi has never doubted that his roots are truly Indian. [caption

irsts (he is the first Hindu and the first person of colour to hold the PM’s office. He is also the youngest and richest ever). Although his family’s connections with Africa go back two generations, Rishi has never doubted that his roots are truly Indian.

[caption id="attachment_31380" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Politician | Rishi Sunak | Global Indian Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, United Kingdom[/caption]

Having grown up in the UK, Rishi found success soon after college, working with two hedge funds and going on to become a partner at one. Despite a life of privilege, the politician has hardly been the man to choose the easy way – whether it’s taking off across the Atlantic or choosing to enter politics as a Conservative candidate. His first bid for Prime Minister was thwarted by Liz Truss although he burst back onto the scene with the overwhelming support of 190 MPs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C42NkLdSjyY

"The U.K. and India share so much. I'm excited about what our two great democracies can achieve as we deepen our security, defense, and economic partnership in the months and years ahead," the youngest PM of the UK shared in a recent interview.

Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Ireland

After serving as the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment from June 2020 to December 2022, Leo Eric Varadkar took over as the new Irish Prime Minister for the second time, earlier this month. Often called the Celtic Tiger, Leo has been able to pull Ireland out of an economic crisis, and incorporated a road map for achieving a low-carbon economy. During his first address as Taoiseach, the politician said that his government would be “one of the new European centres.”

[caption id="attachment_23846" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Politicians | Leo Varadkar | Global Indian Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Ireland[/caption]

Given Ireland’s staunchly Catholic past, Leo’s sexuality was always a talking point across the globe. However, Taoiseach believes that Irish society is changing. During an earlier interview, the politician had said, “I think other people, perhaps people braver than me, who campaigned for equal rights before the law changed things for me – To them, I’m very grateful. But it does add additional responsibility on me, that I do want to use the office that I now hold to advance equality of opportunity, to advance the concepts of equal rights before the law. That’s not just for people from the LGBT community here in Ireland, but also in Northern Ireland, and around the world where such rights are under threat.”

Niklaus Samuel Gugger, Member of the Swiss National Council

In 1970, a Malayali woman gave birth to a baby boy in Udupi, Karnataka, and told the doctor to give her child for adoption to a family that will look after him well, before abandoning the newborn. Five decades later that child, now known as Niklaus-Samuel Gugger, became the first Indian-origin politician to be elected to the Switzerland parliament. Within a week of his abandonment, Gugger was adopted by a Swiss couple — Fritz and Elizbeth Gugger. His new parents took him to Kerala when he was just 15 days old, and they lived there for around four years before moving to their native in Switzerland.

[caption id="attachment_24686" align="aligncenter" width="613"] Niklaus-Samuel Gugger, member of the Swiss National Council[/caption]

In 1997, after the Luxor massacre – which claimed the lives of 62 people – Nik was approached by the members of the Evangelical Peoples Party (EPP) to join their ranks, an invitation that he readily accepted. "Much of my work has been around the development of people and socio-political issues. My goal has been to integrate the weakest in the society through socio-ethical management and empowerment,” the politician shared with Global Indian.

A social entrepreneur, Nik has worked extensively to coach the next generation. Nik is the co-founder and member of the board of directors of the consulting company Herzkraftwerk AG in Winterthur, which offers coaching for decision-makers from business and non-profit organisations. A life coach and motivational speaker, Nik is also the Vice President of the environmental organization BirdLife Switzerland. He is also the owner of the famous Ayurvedic ginger drink in Switzerland – Zingi.

Gautam A. Rana, US Ambassador to Slovakia

A lawyer by profession, Gautam A Rana is a member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselors, and was recently appointed as the US Ambassador to Slovakia, for which he was nominated by President Joe Biden. Having served at various US embassies, including India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Algeria, Gautam is a proud Indian-American.

[caption id="attachment_31264" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Ambassador | Gautam Rana | Global Indian Ambassador Gautam A. Rana with former US President, Barack Obama[/caption]

The diplomat feels that the diaspora has grown from being just immigrants to holding important positions in various spheres of the country. “I think that the Indian diaspora in the United States of America has a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves. There are so many people of Indian lineage who are in decision-making positions now in the USA, including the Vice President, Kamala Harris. But that is the story of America. People who have come to this land, and have worked hard, have been able to achieve so much in the USA. I think Indian Americans will continue to reach great milestones.”

Currently stationed at Bratislava with his wife and two kids, Gautam is heading the US convoy to the land of the Slavs. While he hasn’t been able to visit India since he moved back in 2014, he wishes to bring his boys to the country he was born in, someday.

Aruna Miller, Lt Governor, Maryland

Aruna Miller was seven years old when she first entered the United States with her family back in 1972. About four decades later, she became the second Indian-American woman to enter the House of Representatives after Pramila Jayapal, and the first immigrant Lt Governor of Maryland. An alumnus of the Missouri University of Science and Technology, the politician spent over 25 years as a transportation engineer in Montgomery Country.

[caption id="attachment_27524" align="aligncenter" width="697"] Aruna Miller, Lt Governor, Maryland[/caption]

She first dabbled in politics in 2006, when she was elected to serve as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, a position she held until 2010. Her career as a public servant has been dotted with many milestones – she has batted for issues like paid family leave, and transportation policies stood against domestic violence, and emerged as a proponent of STEM education.

In her new role as the Lt Governor of Maryland, the politician intends to hit the ground running, taking on three major issues – education, the climate, and the economy. Investing in public education and job creation is a top priority, she says, it is also a means to create safer public spaces.

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Meet Vivek Narain, the man behind the exclusive members-only club, The Quorum

Meet Vivek Narain, Founder and CEO of The Quorum, a members-only lifestyle club in India, which promotes culture while building a community of people with shared interests. The workspace as we know it, is rapidly changing globally. From shared co-working spaces to working from home to sitting in a coffee shop with free wi-fi, the office has been reinvented. Capitalising on this paradigm are private clubs, bridging the gap between five-star luxury and the amenities of an office. Along with a forum to network, and have conversations about art, music, life and other topics of interest. The suave Vivek Narain, who holds a finance and economics degree from the American University, Kogod School of Business, Washington D.C, combined his past experience in hospitality and an extensive understanding of real estate, to design and create The Quorum, a members-only club that doubles up as a space where business and leisure complement each other effortlessly. [caption id="attachment_51095" align="aligncenter" width="453"] Vivek Narain, founder, The Quorum[/caption] Breaking the 9 to 5 office mould In an exclusive with Global Indian, on a day’s visit to the just-launched 110,000 square feet of space that is The Quorum in Hyderabad, he shares details about his idea. He

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Breaking the 9 to 5 office mould

In an exclusive with Global Indian, on a day’s visit to the just-launched 110,000 square feet of space that is The Quorum in Hyderabad, he shares details about his idea. He reveals how the club is more than just a place to work or relax after a guided tour. “We had set up The Quorum in Mumbai and Gurgaon and it took us two years to get the Hyderabad venue up and running. The place has everything you could need — to work, entertain, relax, hold an event, or even have a meeting, without the pretentiousness of a five-star property.”

The Quorum’s facilities geared towards wellness include two internationally certified padel courts, a pilates studio, a room for yoga, a pool, and a gym. There is also a restaurant, a members’ lounge and bar, and smaller, private rooms to hold a book club reading and conduct meetings or events. Kids are allowed only on Sundays.

Vivek is passionate about inviting speakers on a range of subjects, and the club’s activities across cities include hosting fashion pop-ups, and using the space on the walls as a gallery to promote art. The newly-launched Hyderabad club had its first show in collaboration with Srishti Art Gallery and their in-house curator ensures art gets its due importance across all three properties. He adds, “Every month we will be collaborating with different galleries and artists because I believe art is and should be an important conversation to have.”

According to an article in Forbes magazine, ‘The fastest-growing workplace isn’t home or the office, but some third place — a coffee shop, hotel lobby or, increasingly, private clubs.’ And, focussing on this trend, within five years, The Quorum has helped bridge the gap for people who are frequent travellers and are aware of trends and luxury experiences they might wish to replicate in India.

More than a club membership

The membership profile for The Quorum, according to Vivek is, “Men and women who are global Indians — upwardly mobile, have a larger goal of wanting to make an impact, and are curious about other ideas and have multiple interests. People who want to push boundaries on conversations on varied topics from geopolitics to AI; who have an interest in listening to opera or watching a Bharatnatyam performance.”

Vivek and his team showcase talents across fields; and with the club’s credibility now firmly in place, people approach them to host events — whether it is to talk about ideas or deliver high-quality content. Just the April calendar for the Gurgaon venue included events like an art soiree, a live jazz performance by Tanya Nambiar, a meditation session every Friday morning, a talk on women in business hosted by a woman member, and a conversation on sustainable fashion with designers like Nikhil Mehra, Gaurav Gupta with Anju Bhandari. Another talk with the lawyer Indira Jaising, and a whisky-tasting session along with readings from a classic by Naseeruddin Shah were on the agenda too. The Hyderabad one for its part hosted an opera night, a live sitar recital, a qawwali and a ghazal night, a conversation with the previous Governor of the RBI, D Subbarao, and a live performance by Mama Tips and The Goa Crew to name a few.

Vivek admits that some events are crowd pullers and some conversations have barely a handful in the audience, but it doesn’t deter him from pursuing this paradigm of offering something more than a club.

Keeping in mind the high-profile members, many of whom are HNIs, the club is tastefully done up. From the comfortable seating to the wall-papered library which even has a secret door that leads to a private room; an installation hanging from the ceiling, echoing the movement of birds during a murmuration, by Delhi-based origami artist Ankon Mitra to the spacious dining area, the pool etc., everything spells luxury sans the snob element. The staff is friendly and the entire space is meant to make you relax. When asked how The Quorum is different from the regular clubs, Vivek reiterates, “Those clubs are not always focussed on giving you the best quality. Even as we push the boundaries on various subjects, our kitchens promise you an excellent culinary experience too with global cuisine on the menu.”

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A post shared by The Quorum (@thequorumclub)

All these facilities come at a price. The standard joining fee is a one-time, non-refundable deposit of Rs five lakhs, and an annual fee of Rs one-and-a-half lakhs. What you spend on food and drinks is extra. The fee gives you access to this space and its facilities, two of The Quorum’s other clubs in Gurgaon and Mumbai, and 75+ clubs across 28 countries it has associated with. Though there are other membership tiers — for entrepreneurs, women, and those who fit the profile and are under 30 — the one-time fee has been waived off.

Offices of tomorrow

Vivek, who has in the past worked with leading hospitality brands, has also set up his second flagship brand called district150. Elaborating on the brand’s name and idea, he says, “According to Robin Dunbar, an anthropologist from Oxford University, 150 is the total number of stable, meaningful relationships a person can have in their life. That is why cavalries have only 150 members, and a human being can remember a maximum of 1500 faces and 500 names. With this narrative in mind, I set up district150 which is a meetings and events venue driven by hospitality and is a space built with the future of work and lifestyle in mind. It’s an amenity for the office building of tomorrow which can add significant value as a venue for corporate meetings and events during business hours and as a social venue after working hours.” It is a cross between an office and a hotel and you can host meetings and events here; there is also a progressive Indian casual dining restaurant called Zila. The brand has partnered with Subko, for their artisanal coffee and chocolate experience.

In the past, Vivek has headed development for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International and was responsible for the group’s growth and expansion efforts across South Asia. He has been a board member of SUJAN Rajmahal Palace and was instrumental in repositioning this marquee boutique heritage-palace hotel, part of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux collection, as one of the top luxury hotels in the world. He is a founding member and events and programming Chair of ULI (Urban Land Institute), India. He is currently also involved with Changemakers of Gurgaon at Scale, an organisation working towards making Gurgaon a more vibrant and sustainable city that figures among the top 50 cities of the world.

With his larger goal of making an impact while remaining a profitable business, Vivek plans to expand to other cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Goa. This, despite fighting the constant challenge he faces as a first-time entrepreneur – that of attracting and retaining the right talent. Still, he stays committed to his goal of establishing a brand with high credibility that slowly brings change into the way we conduct business or hold conversations.

Follow The Quorum on Instagram.

My name is crimson: The remarkable life of Anish Kapoor

(April 24, 2023) If by chance you were to open the website of the artist Stuart Semple and make your way to the 'art products' page, you will be asked to confirm two things: One, that you accept cookies and two, that you are not Anish Kapoor. When the British Indian artist purchased exclusive rights to Vanta Black, created by Surrey Nano Systems, he ruffled many feathers in the art world. Nevertheless, Anish is arguably one of the world's most successful artists and his works have pride of place in the world's top galleries and in spheres of public art. Everything about the man is larger than life - his colossal works and the statements they make. He is known for his ability (and desire) to provoke, whether it's other artists with his proclivity for copyrighting colours, his fascination for gore, his licentious works and the fact that he maintains, through it all, "I have nothing to say." In retaliation to the Vanta Black controversy, Stuart Semple, calling Kapoor a "rotter," created another pigment, the 'world's pinkest pink'. You can buy it online, but only if you manage to prove that "You are not Anish Kapoor, you are in no

apoor, you are in no way affiliated to Anish Kapoor, you are not purchasing this item on behalf of Anish Kapoor or an associate of Anish Kapoor." However, in 2016, Anish, who freely admits that he is "not an artist's artist," got his hands on the pink and of course, flaunted it, dipping his finger (we won't specify which finger) in the pigment and posting it on Instagram.

The outsider

Despite his renown in the art world, Anish has made himself an outsider there, too. It's a theme that has followed him throughout his life and while he isn't happy about it, he does wear it on his sleeve. Back in 2020, he purchased for himself, to house the Anish Kapoor Foundation, the Palazzo Manfrin in Venice and placed, at the entry way, an upside-down mountain, "inverting the Italian tradition of the painted ceiling," according to the New Yorker. At the 59th Venice Biennale, which took place earlier this year, Anish presented two monumental exhibits - one at the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the other at Palazzo Manfin. There is some poetry to this acquisition - the palace, which was vacant for many years, was once owned by Count Manfrin, a Croatian tobacco merchant . He was proud of his art collection and had transformed the first floor into a public viewing gallery. Many eminent personalities have visited the place, which became one of Venice's main tourist attractions, including Lord Byron, George Ruskin and Edouard Manet. After his death, the place lay vacant, deteriorating into a dereliction, until Anish bought it back in 2020. After extensive restoration, which was hampered by the pandemic, the place is now almost ready and will house the Anish Kapoor Foundation.

[caption id="attachment_28642" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Anish Kapoor | Global Indian Photo credit: Instagram[/caption]

Courting controversy

Over a decade ago, his work, Dirty Corner, which was displayed at the Palace of Versailles, was vandalised with anti-semitic comments. The controversy snowballed, with the then President Francoise Hallane and Prime Minister Manuel Valls expressing their regret over the vandalism of the work and also over the nature of the vandalism itself. Anish, however, decided to leave it intact.

Anish was born in Bombay in the 1950s, to an Indian father and a Jewish mother. His maternal grandfather was a cantor at the synagogue in Pune - the family had moved there from Baghdad in the 1920s - "They were very poor, they spoke Arabic mainly, and spoke Hindi better than English generally," he said during in an interview, speaking in the plummy British accent he has developed over the thirty-something years he has lived in the UK. His father, he says, joined the Indian Navy and went on to become an admiral.

"I was anti-authoritarian," he says, "Not willing to listen to my admiral father or anyone else." He was also a terrible student - Anish and his brother were day-scholars at the Doon School, where he hated the emphasis on a disciplined physical regimen. It was a cosmopolitan house regardless, his father loved Russian Romantic music and disliked ritualistic religion. There was a strong sense of trying to understand what it meant to be Indian. Anish describes, in various interviews, having felt like an outsider, being part of a very small religious community in a very large country.

From an Israeli kibbutz to art school in the UK

When Anish was around 16, he and his brother went to live in a kibbutz in Israel. "We believed then that a kibbutz had a form of communal life that was real, shared and equal. What it hid was that there were unequal Jews and non-Jews," he said, in an extensive interview with Yanis Varoufakis. One day, a man walked up to him and said, "black," in Hebrew, leaving the teenage Anish completely taken aback. That sense of being an outsider was driven in further and has always remained with him. It was during those three years - that he decided to be an artist and rented himself a studio where he would paint.

[caption id="attachment_28643" align="aligncenter" width="875"] Anish Kapoor | Cloud Gate | Global Indian Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, Chicago. Photo credit: www.anishkapoor.com[/caption]

In 1973, just before the Yom Kippur War, Anish moved to Europe. His family had relocated to Monaco by then and he hitchhiked his way across the continent. The UK at the time was in the throes of the 'New Left', where activists were campaigning for a range of issues, including civil and political rights, environmentalism, feminism and gender equality. "It was amazing, at one level." Anish remarks. "There was garbage piled high on the streets because people were not working - adamantly not working. I loved it."

Naturally, this revolutionary fervour peaked in university campuses and art colleges are especially prone. The Hornsey College of Art was "a militant, lefty college where nobody did anything. It was protest all day and all night," Anish describes it. For the anti-authoritarian who had defied his conservative family, art school was a different experience. He had to find himself, as a human being and as an artist. "I have come to discover, it isn't to do with what I think or what I have to say. I often say that I have nothing to say. One uses a different part of one being to create."

When fame found him

At the time, nobody really made a living from art, apart from big names like Lucien Freud, Henry Moore and a handful of others. The thing to do was teach, which Anish thought he would do a couple of times a week, dedicating the remainder of his time to his art. However, recognition came early on - through his first series, 1000 Names, inspired by his first return visit to India since he had left for Israel. In 1982, his works then made form styrofoam and wood and using the powdered pigment for which he was known, were taken on by the prestigious Lisson Gallery.

[caption id="attachment_28662" align="aligncenter" width="761"] Anish Kapoor | Descension | Global Indian Descension, at Brooklyn Bridge Park, is 26 metres in diameter, a giant swirling pool of water.
Photo credit: www.anishkapoor.com[/caption]

He's always on the intersection of art, sculpture, engineering and technology - the latter two are maybe a nod to his parents, who hoped their son would be an engineer, as a good Indian boy should. In Cloud Gate, for instance, he bought a milling machine from Boeing, a machine that can "make stainless steel completely flat so you can't see ripples even at a micro level," he said in an interview. "We wanted to see if it would be possible to make curved forms. The whole point was to make an object without any seams and no joints, so there is no scale."

Shades of Red

His fascination for the colour red is known. Anish's artistic expression carries an unmistakable undertone of violence, he creates the distinct sense in the viewer that he or she has walked into a slaughter-house. In 2019, he created Sacrifice, which is not for the faint of heart. The walls and floors are covered with artificial gore while the centerpiece itself, a massive sculpture in steel, is covered in what looks remarkably like human skin, made from a resin that he has created to resemble blood. If you were to think he was making a carnal statement, you might not be entirely wrong.

Svayambhu, an installation created for the Haus Kunst in Munich, is a response to the building's history. The Haus der Kunst is the first monumental propaganda building of the Third Reich and its debut exhibition was "The Great German Art Exhibition," a display of Nazi-sanctioned work. A Sanskrit word, Svayambhu means auto-generating or self-generating and Anish makes sure that it lives up to its title. Tracks ran through the Haus Kunst, on which a motor-propelled block of wood carrying red wax slowly moves through the rooms, leaving a trail of gore in its stead.

[caption id="attachment_28658" align="aligncenter" width="834"] Anish Kapoor Svayambhu. Photo credit: www.anishkapoor.com[/caption]

Other art works include Shooting into the Corner, which includes a fully functional cannon that shoots tons of gory goop into a corner, as the name suggests. His 1992 work, Descent into Limbo, is a cube shaped building with a 2.5 metre hole set into the floor. The hole has been painted black to create the feeling of being an infinite drop - once, an Italian man in his sixties actually fell in.

Anish lives in the UK and works out of his sprawling studio Camberwell District in South London, which encompasses almost an entire block. From here, the Turner Prize winning artist, who was also given a Knighthood, has created works that are on prominent display around the world, at the top galleries and in public spaces. His architectural works are Cloud Gate, in Chicago, Void Field at the British Pavilion, Descension, at the Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Arcelor Mittal Orbit, possibly the best-known piece of public art in Olympics and one of Anish's most famous works overall.

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From Paris to Kyiv: The foreigners bringing Brand India to the world

(December 28, 2023) Indians are excelling across the globe, making an impact around the world. In the same way, India has cast a spell on the world in so many ways, whether it’s the thousands who gather for a group practice on International Yoga Day, or the year-long wait list for rural Tamil cuisine at the Michelin-starred Semma in Manhattan. India has found its way into the hearts of people from everywhere. Today, Global Indian takes a look at some of the foreigners who are taking Brand India global, from the local cacao bean to Bharatnatyam, and proudly call India their home. Mai and Asuka Hatta: The Hasora project View this post on Instagram A post shared by HASORA 🌱Happy Organic Food🌱 (@hasoraindia) Mai and Asuka Hatta, Japanese twins from Chiba Prefecture, have created a unique narrative in India with their venture, Hasora. Forgoing opportunities in the US and Japan, their journey in India began with Mai's job in an NGO in Dehradun and Asuka's decision to join her sister. In 2016, they launched Hasora to address a gap they observed: the difficulty expats faced in finding fresh, safe Japanese vegetables. Simultaneously, they sought to improve the plight

Mai and Asuka Hatta, Japanese twins from Chiba Prefecture, have created a unique narrative in India with their venture, Hasora. Forgoing opportunities in the US and Japan, their journey in India began with Mai's job in an NGO in Dehradun and Asuka's decision to join her sister. In 2016, they launched Hasora to address a gap they observed: the difficulty expats faced in finding fresh, safe Japanese vegetables. Simultaneously, they sought to improve the plight of local farmers affected by intermediary exploitation. Hasora partners with organic vegetable farmers, aiming to revolutionize the supply chain with a farm-to-table model. They also engage in the "Oishii Nippon Project," helping farmers cultivate Japanese vegetables, thus merging cultural appreciation with agricultural innovation.

"It was my destiny; I followed my passion, my heart," Mai says, of her deep bond with India. The name Hasora, meaning 'green leaves under the blue sky' in Japanese and resonating with the Hindi 'Hasna' (to laugh), captures the essence of their venture—promoting growth and happiness. Beyond their online platform, their Gurgaon outlet is a cultural fusion hub, offering a range of Japanese and Korean specialties alongside Indian staples. With Mai's culinary skills and a Japanese chef, they cater to a diverse clientele, while championing sustainable farming practices and economic empowerment for local farmers.

Viktoria Burenkova – Tandava in Kyiv

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Viktoria Burenkova, known as Vijaya Bai on stage, is a dedicated Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher in Kyiv, Ukraine. Despite the challenges of Russia's invasion, she continues to uplift spirits through this ancient Indian dance form. For ten years, she has been a key figure at Nakshatra, a 'National Studio' recognized by Ukraine's Ministry of Culture.

"Our lives were steeped in classical music, dance, and yoga," says Viktoria, reflecting her deep connection with Indian arts. She credits her guru, Ganna Smirnova Rajhans, for her Bharatanatyam journey. With Ganna's relocation, Viktoria now leads Nakshatra, adapting performances to Ukrainian audiences.

Her classes, both online and offline, have been a source of strength during the war. Bharatanatyam is central to her life; she even sews dance costumes. Viktoria's admiration for Indian culture runs deep, evident in her study of Hindi and Telugu. She aims to promote Bharatanatyam in Ukraine and beyond, hoping for a growing community of classical dancers and greater appreciation of the art form.

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David Belo – ‘Bean’ there, done that

[caption id="attachment_47849" align="aligncenter" width="397"] David Belo[/caption]

David Belo's Naviluna, based in Mysuru, is a trailblazer as India's first bean-to-bar chocolate house and the world's first to solely use Indian-origin cacao. Belo, originally from South Africa, found inspiration in India's rich cacao diversity. “The relationship between South Africa’s early beginnings, my own community, trade, food, and drink is as rich as it is deep,” he says, indicating his diverse culinary influences.

Naviluna's approach to chocolate making is terroir-centric, aimed at highlighting the unique flavors of Indian cacao. This focus extends to their café in Mysore, situated atop their factory in a heritage bungalow, which Belo and his team spent six years restoring. The café emphasizes traditional coffee experiences, featuring classic 1950s Italian-style coffee and chocolate drinks, using premium Arabica coffee sourced from Chikmagalur.

Belo's vision and dedication have steered Naviluna through early challenges, shaping a brand ethos centered on craftsmanship and quality. Naviluna not only crafts fine chocolates but also offers a holistic sensory experience, marrying the art of chocolate making with India's cacao heritage.

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Karl Rock – A love story with India

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At the age of 17, Karl Rock ate canned butter chicken for the first time. "It was horrible stuff compared to what indian food really is but it blew my mind," says Karl Rock, who is now a top tier content creator with over 2.77 million followers on his YouTube channel and over 184,000 on Instagram.

Whether it's a traditional malpua recipe, or masala chai prepared with his own handground concoction of spices, this adventurous New Zealander can teach most Indians a thing or two about the diversity and history behind our native cuisine. That, and he also speaks fluent Hindi. He swears by the Chhole Bhature from Gopalji's in Pitampura's Delhi and while the owner guards the recipe closely, Karl has reverse engineered it, saying his version is " 80 percent close to the original.”

From traditional recipes, to remote, little-known dhabas dishing up exquisite fare, remarkable places (like the meteorite crater in Maharashtra), Karl Rock does it all. And his enthusiasm is infectious, coming as it does from someone who was born more than 15,000 miles away, in a culture apparently far-removed from our own...

Mango and Basil: Marriage beyond borders

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What do Italians and Indians have in common? Quite a lot, going by Suprateek Banerjee (aka Mango) and his wife, Daniela Barone (basil), the content-creator couple behind @aamandbasil on Instagram. For starters, they “both wake up in the morning thinking about what they’re going to eat,” as Daniela puts it. Close family ties are another similarity – Suprateek was thrilled to learn that Daniela’s grandmother lives at the family home in Naples – “I was like, wow, this is just what we do. Our grandparents live with us in India as well, and we love them like crazy.”

Mango and Basil are an Instagram sensation, with 120k followers and counting, although they only opened their account in February 2023. Their aim - to bring humour into all our cultural quirks, and to bring out similarities you didn't know exist. Basil is shocked to see Mango cooking 'Indian pasta' in a pressure cooker, and downing a cappuccino after lunch. At the heart of it, however, is love, as this star-crossed couple do their best to learn about the culturally rich land to which the other belongs.

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Paris Laxmi: Bridging cultures through Bharatnatyam

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Born in 1991 in Aix-en-Provence, Paris, whose full name is Myriam Sophia Lakshmi, was born into a family of Indophiles and began training in Bharatnatyam at the age of nine, there was no looking back. She came to India to train, too and and adopted 'Laxmi' as her stage name. It also drew her to her now husband, Pallipuram Sunil, a famous Kathak artist, whom she first watched performed at the age of seven. They became friends years later, united by their love for Indian classical dance and Paris Laxmi made India her home for good in 2012, after her marriage.

The couple run the Kalashakti School of Arts, where they teach their respective dance forms and organise performances and workshops. Their production, 'Sangaman - Krishna Mayam', a fusion of Kathakali and Bharatnatyam, showcasing stories and manifestations of Lord Krishna, has toured all over India, Europe and the Gulf. "So many people from foreign countries wish to learn Indian classical dance now. It is something very rich and unique that India has," she says.

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Returning to Roots: Bibhuti Bikramaditya’s commitment to Bihar’s tech future

(September 25, 2024) In a world where talented professionals often choose to settle abroad or in India's metropolitan hubs, Bibhuti Bikramaditya made an unconventional decision - to return to Bihar and establish his own startup. After a few years of working in South Korea's advanced semiconductor industry, Bibhuti faced a choice – to continue his career in a flourishing global market or bring his expertise back to his home state, a place many see as lacking in opportunities. He chose the latter, determined to contribute to Bihar’s growth, he dipped his toes into entrepreneurship. His decision proved significant during the COVID-19 crisis when he developed the first-of-its-kind Smart Pulse Oximeter integrated with an infrared thermometer, offering critical health monitoring to patients. This innovation, born out of his IIT-Patna incubated startup, not only filled a significant gap in India's healthcare system but also demonstrated the potential for high-tech solutions to emerge from unexpected regions like Bihar. “Our Smart Pulse Oximeter became the first Indian oximeter integrated with IR thermometer, and was installed in all districts of Bihar; in the government telemedicine centres,” the entrepreneur who is a native of Sitamarhi district tells in an interview with Global Indian, adding, “Development of

installed in all districts of Bihar; in the government telemedicine centres,” the entrepreneur who is a native of Sitamarhi district tells in an interview with Global Indian, adding, “Development of this medical device is just our first step. We are working on semiconductor integration of various other medical electronics devices.”

[caption id="attachment_56604" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Indian Entrepreneur | Bibhuti Bikramaditya | Global Indian Bibhuti Bikramaditya[/caption]

Contributing in India’s Semiconductor Mission

The entrepreneur is soon going to release a portable health care and ICU monitoring device. “This portable device will function as an ICU monitoring tool during catastrophic events like earthquakes, floods, or building collapses when ICU facilities are needed in emergency shelters and relief zones," he informs.

In addition to serving as an emergency care facilitator, the device will also function as a health monitoring tool for patients recently discharged from the ICU. “It will also be a convenient homecare device for elderly patients with multiple health issues such as blood pressure, diabetes, BMI, SPO2, heart rate, and breathing problems. They can even undergo ECG tests and use a digital stethoscope, all within a single integrated device,” he explains.

Bikramaditya’s initiatives in the sphere of semiconductors align with the vision of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) within the Digital India Corporation, which focuses on making India a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design. Semiconductors, often called the 'brain' of modern electronics, are materials that control electrical current in devices, enabling everything from smartphones to advanced medical equipment. By establishing a semiconductor-driven initiative in Bihar, Bikramaditya is contributing to an inclusive ecosystem in India's tech industry, bringing this critical innovation to a state often overlooked in the national technology landscape.

[caption id="attachment_56602" align="aligncenter" width="779"] Indian Entrepreneur | Global Indian Sydney's University of Technology team during a product exhibition of Smart Pulse Oximeter at IIT Patna Incubation Centre[/caption]

International collaboration

Recognising the potential of his startup, which focuses on solution-based medical products, Smartway Electronics was named one of the top five semiconductor startups in India by NXP, a Dutch company and global leader in semiconductor solutions. With headquarters in Eindhoven, Netherlands, it is the third largest European semiconductor company by market capitalization as of 2024, and has provided the Bihar-based startup mentorship through its accelerator programme. “NXP has also decided to give a limited financial support to Smartway,” Bikramaditya informs.

Smartway Electronics has also collaborated with IIT Hyderabad’s FabCi as its R&D and semiconductor development partner, and is associated with Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre.

Playing his part during the pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the world faced unprecedented challenges, especially in healthcare. As oxygen levels became a critical health marker for patients, pulse oximeters became a life-saving tool. But India faced a shortage of locally manufactured, high-quality medical devices during this time. Bibhuti Bikramaditya, with an academic and professional background in electronics and nanotechnology, saw an opportunity to step up.

His innovation, the Smart Pulse Oximeter addressed a major gap. Unlike traditional oximeters, his device came integrated with an infrared thermometer, combining the ability to measure oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, and body temperature in one compact tool. This was especially useful during the pandemic when patients needed continuous monitoring. Its features included an OLED screen for immediate readings, Bluetooth-enabled mobile data storage, and the ability to share results via WhatsApp or email. Moreover, it allowed healthcare professionals to access patient data remotely through a web server - ensuring timely medical interventions.

This effort was lauded. Not only did this innovation save lives, but it also contributed to India’s vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) and Make in India.

[caption id="attachment_56605" align="aligncenter" width="769"] Indian Entrepreneur | Smart Oximeter | Global Indian Launch of Smart Oximeter at AIIMS Patna[/caption]

The innovative device was soft launched at a ceremony at AIIMS Patna, in the presence of Dr Prabhat Kumar Singh, the then Director of AIIMS Patna and Joseph Paul Ackerman, Manager of the Incubation Centre at IIT Patna.

“We have been working towards an MoU with a Canadian pharmaceutical company to sell this product in various countries around the world," remarks Bikramaditya, talking about the future plans.

From Korea to Bihar

With over 22 years of experience in the electronics industry, including a significant stint in South Korea working in semiconductor design for a sister concern of Samsung Electronics, Bibhuti Bikramaditya returned to India with a dream - to establish an advanced electronics lab in Bihar, his home state, a place often overlooked in India's technological advancement narrative.

“When I was moving to Korea, I was in need of financial stability. However, in my mind, I was determined to return to India within six-seven years to start my own company in Patna. My goal was to establish an advanced electronics lab in the city after coming back,” tells the entrepreneur who had pursued M.Sc. in Physics (advanced electronics) from Patna University.

Sticking to his plan, in 2008, Bikramaditya returned to Bihar to launch his first company, Tekbrains. Despite facing challenges and initial failure, his determination to succeed in his homeland remained steadfast.

While his first company faced ups and downs and had to be shut down after ten years of operations, it laid the foundation of his second company that would become a pioneer in its field. In 2020, Bikramaditya founded Smartway Electronics, which got selected for incubation at IIT Patna. The company focuses on developing medical electronics devices, embedded systems, and semiconductor technology.

[caption id="attachment_56606" align="aligncenter" width="880"] Bibhuti Bickramaditya | Indian Entrepreneur | Global Indian Bibhuti Bikramaditya at a programme organized by Department of Industry, Government of Bihar[/caption]

Owing to its impactful product ideas and its founder’s vision, the startup has attained funding not only from IIT Patna but also from the Department of Industry, Government of Bihar, and Startup India Seed Fund from Government of India.

Love for Bihar: A driving force

For Bibhuti Bikramaditya, his love for Bihar has always been at the core of his efforts. His aim has always been to create opportunities for technological growth in Bihar, and encourage innovation and research in the region. His work with the BBrains Development Society, a non-profit, he founded is a result of his commitment to encourage educational and scientific advancements in the eastern state. Under BBrains umbrella, he has been organising the annual Bihar Science Conference in association with different universities of Bihar.

Work in progress

“Smartway Electronics’ journey has just started,” he says. Bikramaditya is continuing to push the envelope with new projects in semiconductor development, aiming to integrate various other medical electronics devices. His vision includes international partnerships, like an impending MoU with a Canadian pharma company, to bring his innovations to the global stage.

[caption id="attachment_56607" align="aligncenter" width="530"] Indian Entrepreneur | Bibhuti Bickramaditya | Global Indian Bibhuti Bickramaditya[/caption]

With a passion for continuous learning and innovation, the entrepreneur recently completed his PhD in nanoelectronics from Aryabhatta Knowledge University, Patna, and has been conducting research on nanomaterials for new LED devices designed for warm white lighting. “I have been granted a patent on LED technology,” he informs.

More than just an entrepreneur, Bibhuti Bikramaditya is a changemaker dedicated to bringing technological innovation to his state. His entrepreneurial efforts, passion for electronics, and commitment to contributing to Bihar's self-reliance make him an inspiring figure in the state's startup ecosystem which is in its infancy compared to the majority of Indian states.

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