Global IndianstoryIndian students in the ‘doc’ with huge loans to pay, and medical future uncertain in Ukraine

Indian students in the ‘doc’ with huge loans to pay, and medical future uncertain in Ukraine

Written by: Vikram Sharma

Even as students face a dark and uncertain future, the centre and the National Medical Commission of India are in talks to explore modalities to accommodate thousands of students left in the lurch due to the abrupt cessation of their medical education.

(March 5, 2022) Priyanka L had always been interested in studying abroad. A visit to a Hyderabad consultancy five years ago changed her life; she learnt about the top universities in Ukraine and decided to apply. Soon she was pursuing a six year MBBS degree at the Bukovinian State Medical University. Over the past five years, this Indian student has paid Rs 35 lakh of the Rs 40 lakh fees. However, the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has now thrown things out of gear for this student who had to take a heavy loan to fulfil her academic dreams.

After completing MBBS, I wanted to complete my MCI and then go to London or Canada for my post-graduation. The war has ruined all my plans.

– Priyanka L, Indian medical student in Ukraine

As the war continues to take on a deadly turn, the 18,000 Indian students in the war-torn country face a bleak future. From trying to make their way back home, battling racism at the borders, to wondering what the future holds for them as they watch money invested in their education vanish in light of the war, thousands of medical students, who’d once made a beeline for Ukraine in hopes of quality education, are now stranded.

“After completing MBBS, I wanted to complete my MCI and then go to London or Canada for my post-graduation. The war has ruined all my plans,” says a dejected Priyanka, who was among the fortunate few Indians who managed to cross over to Romania and took a flight back home. Her worried family heaved a sigh of relief as she stepped out of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport a couple of days ago.

Priyanka L with her family in India

Parekh Disha, a first year MBBS student at Bogomolets National Medical University, tells Global Indian that students were forced to pay the second semester fees even as the threat of war loomed over Ukraine. “While there was speculation about the war, our University asked us to pay the fees in advance. We were also told that only those who pay their second semester fees could leave for India. I had no choice but to pay,” she says as she currently makes her way back to India. Disha’s six-year fee at Bogomolets costs Rs 36 lakh, while the hostel fee itself is about $1,000.

Thoughts are with all those Indian students, mostly from middle class families, whose parents risked every single penny they had, to send them for MBBS in Ukraine. Looking at the way things are, seems mostly a write off! #ukraineindianstudents

— Ajai (@Ajaijohn11) March 3, 2022

According to the ministry of science and education, Ukraine, about 24 percent of its overseas students are from India. Out of the total population of 20,000-odd Indians in Ukraine, about 18,000 are students pursuing medicine and engineering courses.

Bairam Shylaja who’d travelled to Ukraine just two weeks ago was forced to flee even before her course began. The first year MBBS student had coughed up a whopping Rs 8 lakh, which included university fees, food, accommodation, and consultancy fees. The young Indian student is still coming to terms with this swift turn of events.

Indian students boarding the flight to India from Romania

Shylaja, who’d lost her father, says her elder sister Gayatri took a personal loan to help pay her fees, which the family now has to repay. ”If we get a refund, well and good. If not, the money is gone,” says Shylaja, whose dreams of pursuing a medical degree have come to an abrupt halt. As Shylaja tracks the developments in Ukraine, she says, that although she had attempted Neet thrice and qualified, she fell below the 600 mark. “That is when I decided to go to Ukraine to study,’ she explains.

Incidentally, India with 84,000 medical seats lags behind other countries. In 2021 as many as 1.6 million students had registered for NEET. Several of them make a beeline for Ukraine, which does not have any entrance exam making it easier to get admission into its medical colleges. Moreover, the standard of education in Ukraine is also pretty good – the country ranks fourth in Europe in terms of graduate and post-graduate courses in medicine. The war torn country has over 30 medical colleges, most equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure which makes it a much sought-after destination for aspiring medicos from India.

Indian medical student Shylaja in Ukraine

According to Alka Kapur, a New Delhi-based educationist, Ukraine has been a popular destination for Indian students for decades. “Most Indian students study medicine in Ukraine because the country is recognised for providing excellent education, and reportedly ranks fourth for having the most significant graduate and post-graduate specialisations in medicine in the continent,” she says.

In addition, private medical institutes in Ukraine have lower tuition fees than those in India. A medical degree at a private college in India could cost anywhere between Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1 crore; sometimes accompanied by hefty donations. More importantly, she says, the World Health Organization even recognises Ukrainian colleges and the Indian Medical Council recognises their degrees. “Besides, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, the European Council of Medicine, the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom among others also accept Ukrainian medical degrees,” she points out.

Amulya C, a first year MBBS student at Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University, spent a sleepless night at the railway station before crossing over to Hungary and returning home to India. The youngster, who took a loan to pay her second semester fees, says, “Now that a full-blown war has broken out, I don’t know what my future is going to be like.”

Indian medical students being evacuated from Ukraine

This is also a regret that Naveen Shekharappa’s family nurses. The 21-year-old Indian student, who tragically lost his life in the war at Kharkiv, had decided to study in Ukraine because getting admission in India was proving to be an expensive affair. “The medical seat under management quota is very expensive here and therefore he chose to pursue MBBS in Ukraine. We all contributed money to send him to Ukraine so that he could become a doctor,” his relative Siddappa was quoted as saying.

So what are the options before the students now? “I believe that the most important thing that matters right now is the lives of the students. First, they should return to their motherland so that they are safe and then wait for any favourable decision from the governments of Ukraine and India,” concludes Alka.

Decoding education in Ukraine

Pros

No entrance test and an age limit of 24 years.
Due to substantial government subsidies, most medical colleges have a low cost of education.
Student exchange programmes allow students to study and work in Ukraine at partner institutions or universities in the European Union.
Internship opportunities in nations such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, and others are available.

Cons

According to MCI, an Indian student who obtains a foreign degree in medicine must pass a licensing exam administered by the MCI before practising in India.
With Ukrainian and Russian being the most widely spoken languages, Indians are bound to face language barriers.
The extremely cold clime of Ukraine can take some getting used to.

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Published on 05, Mar 2022

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Sunny Jain: Brooklyn-based dhol player celebrating diversity through Red Baraat

(March 16, 2024) Each year, as the spirit of Holi permeates in springtime, life is a whirlwind of activity for Indian American dhol player Sunny Jain and his band, Red Baraat, as they embark on their annual ‘Festival of Color’ tour. 'This is how we do it. Bhangra Boom gonna make you go dhoom dhoom. We're starting in Philadelphia next week and heading to NYC, DC, Boston, SF, San Diego, and more this March! Come dance with us,' shared Red Baraat on its social media handles. The band has been celebrating Holi for the last 12 years, and this year, their 13-city Holi tour is already sold out. [caption id="attachment_50069" align="aligncenter" width="815"] Photo Credit: Red Baraat[/caption] Conceived by dhol player, drummer and Indo jazz composer Sunny Jain, Red Baraat is a one-of-its-kind band that has drawn worldwide acclaim for merging the energy-soaked Indian bhangra with powerful rhythms of hip-hop, jazz, and rock. “Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve,” mentions the Brooklyn-based band’s website. Sunny Jain has trailblazed the introduction of the north-Indian instrument, dhol to the western audiences with

“Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve,” mentions the Brooklyn-based band’s website. Sunny Jain has trailblazed the introduction of the north-Indian instrument, dhol to the western audiences with elan.

Red Baraat

Founded in 2008, Red Baraat has performed across the globe including prestigious venues like the White House, London Olympics, Padma Lakshmi’s Blossom Ball, TED, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Luxembourg Philharmonic, and Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD festivals (Australia, New Zealand, Spain, UK).

“Red Baraat comes from the Indian brass band tradition, but it’s not just trying to replicate that sound,” Sunny said in an interview. “It’s more like a South Asian-American experience with a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and rock with a massive amount of energy,” he added.

The band has seen the crowd go berserk with excitement from the stages of festivals like the Quebec City Summer Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Madison World Music Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, SXSW Music Festival, Pori Jazz Festival (Finland), Molde Jazz Festival (Norway) and Chicago Folks & Roots Festival, GlobalFEST, and Montreal Jazz Festival amongst others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgmw41CY1Fo&list=PLA442F1BA9D8C260C&index=2

Sunny Jain – soaking the world in the energy of Bhangra

Indian origin Sunny Jain is popular as one of the foremost South Asian-American jazz musicians, making an innovative blend of the cultural sounds of north Indian music, jazz, and various other musical influences. His albums have garnered global praise. Currently serving as the 2023-24 artist in residence at Wesleyan University, he is diligently working on his inaugural music theatrical production, 'Love Force'.

The dhol player has authored two instructional drum books, ‘The Total Jazz Drummer’ and ‘Drum Atlas: India’, both published by Alfred Publishing. With a career spanning close to three decades, Sunny has received numerous accolades. In 2007, he became the first artist endorser for India's oldest and largest musical manufacturer, Bina Music.

Sunny had also played dhol in the first Indian Broadway show, ‘Bombay Dreams’ in 2004, and made his Hollywood debut playing dhol in the movie The Accidental Husband, starring Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, and Isabella Rossellini.

[caption id="attachment_50070" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Indian Musicians | Sunny Jain | Global Indian Photo Credit: Red Baraat[/caption]

In 2002, he was honoured as the Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and the Kennedy Center, which led to extensive tours throughout West Africa.

“If we can unite people of all backgrounds and ethnicities to partake in the exuberance of life through the universal language of music, then life is much sweeter,” Sunny remarked in an interview.

Illustrious musical associations

While being actively engaged with Red Baraat, Sunny was also the drummer for the acclaimed Sufi rock band Junoon for several years, performing at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2007, Srinagar University in Kashmir in 2009, and the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2009. During the time, he had also recorded the single ‘Open Your Eyes’ with Peter Gabriel.

Sunny Jain is currently associated as band leader and drummer of ‘Wild Wild East’. Their first album was released in 2019 by Smithsonian Folkways. The musical group had made headlines with its outstanding performance at the renowned Smithsonian Folklife Festival at the National Mall in Washington D.C. The band recently performed at Tiny Desk Concert for NPR in 2024.

Man of milestones

Sunny has received grants for his compositions and performances from various organizations such as the Aaron Copland Music Fund, Chamber Music America, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and GlobalFEST. He was also honoured with the Arts International Award in early years of his career, which supported his jazz group, 'Sunny Jain Collective', during tours in India.

[caption id="attachment_50068" align="aligncenter" width="807"] Red Baraat's Festival of Colors at the Bowery Ballroom in 2019 | Photo credit: Sachyn Mital.[/caption]

Much recently, in 2022, Sunny played alongside drumming legends Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, and Giovanni Hidalgo in Planet Drum's first show in 15 years. In 2023, he served as the music producer for Mira Nair's 'Monsoon Wedding, The Musical' based on the director’s widely acclaimed 2001 movie.

A few years back he had donned the hat of the musical director for the OBIE award-winning show, 'The Jungle', and had directed music for Lincoln Center’s 60th Anniversary celebrations.

ALSO READ | Charu Suri: The Indian pianist and composer making jazz raga popular globally

Merging innovation with heritage

“My parents were immigrants – I was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y. where I had a healthy dose of a little bit of everything – Bollywood classics from the 50s through the 80s, devotional songs of Jainism through both my parents, and then some Hindustani classical. I was getting all the Western music, like Casey Kasem’s Top 40, from my two older siblings,” Jain shared in an interview.

He went on to study jazz, and was inspired by greats like Elvin Jones and Max Roach but chose to create his own music by blending jazz with South Asian tunes. People loved his innovative music and Sunny started making a name for himself with packed night-club performances that eventually led to prestigious collaborations and assignments.

Later, in the 'Sunny Jain Collective', he explored how Indian classical music could influence jazz, working with artists like Rez Abbasi and Samita Sinha. With 'Tongues in Trees', a trio including Sinha and Grey Mcmurray, he combined indie-pop with Indian rhythms. Alongside Pakistani musician Ali Sethi, Jain formed Resident Alien, focusing on the theme of migration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9oQIqYObug&list=PLA442F1BA9D8C260C&index=14

Giving back

Sunny Jain has always tried to merge his music with purpose. At the beginning of his career, through his project, ‘Taboo’, he had addressed social justice issues affecting the South Asian community, drawing from ancient poetry to tackle modern problems like sexual identity and domestic violence.

During his association with the band ‘Junoon’, he had used musical performances to raise awareness and funds supporting flood victims of Pakistan and Pakistani refugees in the Swat Valley.

During the pandemic the dhol player and jazz composer had released ‘Phoenix Rise’, a collaborative album featuring over 50 artists, along with a 72-page book promoting social justice.

Follow Sunny Jain on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
Follow Red Baraat on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

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Mafat Patel: Building the Patel Brothers empire

(October 22, 2022) When Mafat Patel left home at the age of 23, back in the year 1968, his mother wept to see him go. Mafat had grown up sheltered, spending his childhood on a farm in a village named Bhandu, in Gujarat's Mehsana district. The farthest from home he had ever been was the neighbouring district of Patan, where he earned himself a degree in Mechanical Engineering. When a friend, who had just returned from the US, asked Mafat's father to consider sending his son, the old man jumped on the idea. As did Mafat. And so, in 1968, Mafat arrived in the United States of America, where he studied in Ohio. Global Indian takes a look at the story of Mafat Patel, his brother Tulsi and his sister-in-law Aruna and how they built the Patel Brothers grocery empire. There was no inkling then, in the minds of his family, or even in the farthest reaches of Mafat's own imagination, that he would go on to build an empire in America. Recently, as I chatted with a friend about the years she spent living in Hoboken, New Jersey, her mother demanded: "Did you tell her about the Patel Brothers

empire in America. Recently, as I chatted with a friend about the years she spent living in Hoboken, New Jersey, her mother demanded: "Did you tell her about the Patel Brothers supermarkets?" The chain of Indian grocery stores is an absolute go-to for every South Asian in New York, Chicago and Atlanta, a thriving business worth over $140 million. Mafat Patel, now in his seventies, still walks through the aisles, meeting his customers and addressing many by name as they sip on steaming chai or order hot chapatis.

After his business degree, Mafat moved to Chicago, where he had been offered a job in quality control at Jefferson Electric. "When I came here, there weren't too many Indian families. We were two roommates from India, here together. Both of us were vegetarian and it was difficult to eat. We would cook on our own." Although he had a good job and lived a comfortable life, Chicago just wasn't home. The already overwhelming loneliness was only heightened by the fact that he didn't have the one thing for which he wanted most - a hot, home-cooked Indian meal. "He would talk about how difficult it was, to come home in the cold and the rain on the bus and think, now what do we do about dinner," said a friend of Mafat, Ramesh Vitha, in an interview.

[caption id="attachment_30969" align="aligncenter" width="648"] Mafat Patel[/caption]

The Devon storefront

In 1971, Mafat's wife and children joined him in America. That year, he received an offer from a businessman named Ramesh Trivedi, who had a storefront on Devon Avenue that he was looking to sell. It was a dilapidated place but Mafat, whose business acumen kicked in instantly, leapt on the opportunity. He wanted to open an Indian grocery store. Mafat got in touch with his brother, Tulsi and his wife, Aruna, who left Gujarat and joined him in America.

In 1974, they got things up and running. "We started a small grocery store, in an 800 sq foot space," Mafat said, in a 2018 episode of Zee TV's Those Who Made It. "I was working and my brother was running the store. We did two shifts and Aruna was working from 10 am to 10 pm." Mafat's wife handled the domestic affairs and making sure the home ran smoothly. "If it wasn't for Aruna, we wouldn't be here right now. She was controlling the business then. We were two brothers and two sisters, all living together. We would stick together and worked very hard." Mafat would arrive at the store after work, interviewing suppliers late into the night. Early the next morning, he would go back to the office.

Cultivating relationships

The Indian diaspora was miniscule, limited to around 150 families. "We opened the store and would go one or two days without a single customer," Tulsi Patel said, in 'Those Who Made It'. They held things together, though, with impeccable customer service. Tulsi would carry huge bags of groceries in cloth bags and deliver them to customers. "There were about 150 families and whenever they called, even if they were 10 miles away, we would go, in rain or snow. That's how we maintained relationships," said Mafat. Tulsi recalls, "Even if it was after 10 pm, I would make the trip, up to the third floor, just to deliver milk."

They genuinely cared for their customers and that held them in good stead. Moreover, Mafat Patel was a far-sighted man - he predicted, correctly, that in 20 or 30 or even 40 years, there would be a lot more Indians in America and that they would need groceries.

As the business grew, Patel Bros needed external funding. That came from Ramesh Ajawani, a banker, whom the brothers still count among their closest friends. "He was still working as an engineer and trying to get a foothold in Indian groceries," Ramesh said. "He said he had high energy levels, could work 24/7 and had a lot of passion for what he wanted to do. I liked his entrepreneurial attributes and we started doing a lot more."

By 1976, Mafat recalls, they started expanding the business. "We bought another supermarket in Chicago. In 1977, we built other stores on Devon Avenue. In 1981, we went to Atlanta and a year later, to New York. Then the whole family came and we had lots of hands." Mafat stayed with his day job for 16 years, finally quitting in 1985 to devote himself full time to the import/export business. Patel Bros had arrived, bringing Indian grocery stores into the mainstream, to compete with mega stores like Walmart.

The next generation

Today, the reins are held largely by Mafat's son Swetal and his nephew, Rakesh. Swetal Patel was born to Mafat Patel and his wife in Chicago, growing up in a family of 10. Although business was thriving, life wasn't always easy for Swetal, Indians were still decidedly a minority in the US. Like most immigrants growing up in a foreign country, he struggled to balance two identities - the America he saw every day at school and the close-knit, Gujarati joint family to which he returned every day. He didn't want to carry Indian food for lunch every day, because of how it smelled, according to Intertwined Cultures.

Every day after school, all the Patel children would help out with the family business. As his American peers went home to a PBJ and chocolate milk, Swetal Patel helped his parents make bhel puri. Evenings and weekends were spent bagging groceries, talking to customers, sweeping floors and loading and unloading goods. He recalls helping customers wheel their grocery carts in winter, winding his way through the snow. Back home, his mother continued to hold the fort, keeping meals ready for the ever-growing family and for the stream of guests and visiting relatives.

[caption id="attachment_30966" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Swetal and Rakesh Patel[/caption]

Today, Patel Bros is every bit the organised supermarket. Back when Swetal lent a hand, though, the place was chaos. Even that lack of organisation held a sense of Indian-ness, the smell of spices pervading through the cloth bags, all stacked along the shelves as customers stood around and pointed to what they wanted. Every morning at 10 am, the store would open with an hour of 'bhajans'.

Branching out

They have thriving stores in 51 locations across America and the Patel Brothers haven't stopped there. They also own Patel Air Tours, Sahil, a clothing boutique for Indian weddings, Patel Handicrafts and Patel Cafe. In 1991, they also launched Raja Foods, a Patel Brothers subsidiary, which offers readymade foods like chapatis and samosas.

Much of their success, they will readily admit, comes from remaining connected to Indian family values. A large section of their employees still comprises members of the family. "I have brought more than 350 families here and they are all well-to-do," Mafat said, in the Those Who Made It episode. The families come there, learn the trade and in time, Mafat will help them set up their own store.

"Whatever you get in India, you will get in Patel Brothers," Mafat smiles. "People from everywhere come to Devon Avenue or New York and say, 'let's go see the Patel Brothers'. Asian immigrants know their needs will be met in a single store. We are essentially grocers. From ingredients like turmeric and red chilli powder, to snacks like khakras, gathias and theplas, we are a truly Indian brand and cater to almost all NRIs in the US."

A Tale of Two Cities: Pauline Laravoire builds sustainable impact from Paris to Kolkata

Pauline Laravoire, Co-Founder & CEO, Y-East, Sustainability Director, Techno India Group and has developed her expertise in strategy consulting, social entrepreneurship, and impact assessment, especially as the co-founder of non-profit organisation, AQWA, which supports social enterprises and NGOs through social impact assessment studies. Pauline Laravoire has made it her mission to drive sustainable impact through Y-East and also through her work with the Techno India Group, by making sustainability education accessible to young people. (September 21, 2023) Stepping out into the pungent, humid air of Kolkata for the first time, Pauline Laravoire wondered if she had made the right choice. "I used to wonder, am I relevant to do this work in a locality that isn't mine? Am I the best messenger and ambassador of sustainability considering where I come from?" Kolkata was, after all, a far cry from the wealthy suburb of Paris where Laravoire had spent her childhood. She did manage to shrug off her imposter syndrome and also met the man she would marry, Meghdut Roy Chowdhury. Together, the couple run the Y-East platform, which connects global impact-focussed organisations working in the social and environmental sectors in East and North East India. Her early life was one

India.

Her early life was one of privilege, and she was a passionate gymnast and 'shower singer'. Looking back, Laravoire says that gymnastics shaped her sense rigour and detail-orientation, while singing remains her preferred outlet to this day. In all this, Laravoire never stopped to observe, or question, the flaws in the education system. That changed when she went to business school, at the prestigious HEC Paris. She realised, only in hindsight, that the education system is deeply flawed, that "education standardisation leads to biased academic and career pathways." It was only at the age of 20, "very late," in her opinion, that she was introduced to entrepreneurship. At HEC, she discovered social entrepreneurship, and was blown away by the concept of building businesses that prioritise sustainable impact over profit. "I found it profoundly powerful to be able to use the rules and mechanisms of business to find solutions to the complex social or environmental issues that currently shake our world," says Laravoire, in an interview with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_45198" align="aligncenter" width="644"] Pauline Laravoire | Global Indian Pauline Laravoire[/caption]

Making Education Matter

Once she discovered the world of the Social and Solidarity Economy, social businesses, social innovation, and impact entrepreneurship, there was no looking back. Laravoire was driven by being useful and making an impact, by creating social and environmental benefits that transcend economic value. “As a matter of fact, I am hardly driven by the financial benefits of a career,” she admits. “This impact-focused decision-making compass has guided most of my personal and professional choices.” She made the most of her time at HEC, “taking every opportunity to attend relevant classes, meet professionals from the field and work with impact entrepreneurs and non-profits to better understand how they ensure and thrive on their triple bottom line (People, Planet, Profit).”

Pauline ended up taking a gap year to co-found AQWA, a non-profit organisation supporting social enterprises to assess their social impact, and then went on to graduate from HEC with a Master’s in Sustainability and Social Innovation. By this time, Laravoire had found her purpose in life – she wanted to play a part in reforming the education sector. She joined the Techno India Group, one of the country’s largest educational conglomerates, as a Sustainability Director. That brought her to the shores of Kolkata.

Green Fingers

As Sustainability Director of Techno India Group which covers the whole education spectrum with around 100 campuses and 100,000 students in total. Here, Laravoire works to provide students with what she found lacking in her own education – values related to sustainability.

Adapting to Change

With her background, her journey from France to India came with its own set of challenges. Moving from Paris to Kolkata, starting from scratch and adapting to a whole new environment was challenging she admits. She didn’t know anyone in the early days, and had to adapt to an entirely new culture and ecosystem. It prompted her to co-found Y-East, along with Meghdut Roy Chowdhury. The aggregating platform works to create a network of individuals, professionals and organisations who are working towards the 17 UN SDGs, with a special focus on the East and the North-East of India.

Getting to know the local cultural codes on both the personal and professional front, building a network of like-minded professionals (which she mostly did through Y-East) and friends, learning some of the local language, rebuilding her professional credibility was not easy. “Today, Y-East gathers around 200 organisations whose activities focus on one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Laravoire explains.

A couple of years later, fascinated by the dynamics and potential systemic impact of networks and alliances towards a common cause, Laravoire joined the Paris-based LearningPlanet Alliance in a part-time, remote capacity. Things came full circle when Pauline Laravoire was offered the position of Acting Executive Director of the same master’s programme that had inspired her so much at HEC. She took the job and relocated to France but plans to be back to Kolkata in a few months with a fresh perspective on the job to be done as far as education for sustainability is concerned.

Lessons learned

“In hindsight, I wish I had been gentler and patient with myself, as adjusting after such a big leap of course takes some time. With patient efforts, I have learnt how to choose my battles, to keep the best of both cultures (French and Bengali), and to retain my core personal values while embracing a whole new world,” she says. Another challenge was for her to learn how to shut down the voice of her own impostor syndrome. “For example, I used to wonder, am I relevant to take this up in a locality that isn't mine? Am I deserving of the spotlight and resources I have access to locally? Am I the best messenger and ambassador of sustainability considering where I come from?”

Although these questions plagued her, Laravoire learned to move past this imposter syndrome. “I realised that we need as many brains and hands on deck to collectively solve these complex social and environmental challenges, and that I should play my part as best as I can no matter where I am on this earth,” she smiles. Another lesson came with this – learning to distinguish between truly impactful activities and artificial, tokenistic ones. “I realised overtime that one of the most useful superpowers you can develop is to know how to cut noise, to say no to opportunities that aren't meant for you and focus on the actions you know you'll be the most relevant and efficient to take up,” she explains.

Balancing Act

When not at work, she tries to build a healthy, consistent daily routine with morning meditation and yoga and reading a book and practicing journaling at night. “There are some periods when I manage to be very consistent with these habits, and some when I fail, especially when it gets too intense at work, in which case I go back to these habits as soon as my schedule allows. I find it essential to be able to set limits to your professional life and be able to switch off at a reasonable time at night and during weekends (and at the same time, respect your colleagues' time off as well). This also allows you to build a healthy balance between all key dimensions of life, your career yes, but also your family and friends, your physical and mental health, and your spirituality. I also enjoy singing, listening to podcasts, going on walks and occasional dates with myself,” she smiles.

Pauline Laravoire | Global Indian

Forging her Trajectory

Laravoire believes that every person must listen to themselves and follow their own intuitions to build their own, unique path, despite societal and family pressure. “Use tools such as Ikigai to keep making sure that you are building your life instead of letting other people build it for you. And once you've found the key message you're meant to carry, make it consistent, repeat it with endurance, and let your actions be aligned with your vision and values. This will allow you to self-identify, grow expertise you'll be known for, and deliver on your life mission. And don't forget to nurture reflexivity, wellbeing, and joy along the way,” she says. Looking ahead she intends to keep growing her expertise and relevance in the space of education for sustainability. She plans to work at HEC Paris for another one or two years before settling back at Kolkata. “My dreams include contributing to India's leapfrog on sustainability matters at scale, getting involved in public policy and advocacy, and writing a book,” she signs off.

Follow Pauline Laravoire on LinkedIn

How these women take social activism, sustainability, AI & cricketing prowess forward

GI celebrates Women’s Day with these stellar women who have charted their own path in their chosen careers, and with that have done India proud. (March 8, 2022) Women must be empowered to pursue their own choices. Whether it is Ashwini Asokan who returned back to the country to apply AI meaningfully, Mithali Raj, captaining the women's cricket team, Anu Sridharan, the Berkley trained social entrepreneur or Jasmeen Patheja, an artist working to end street harassments - all carved their own unique identities brilliantly serving as examples for future generations to imbibe. Jasmeen Patheja, founder, Blank Noise The artist, and social entrepreneur in public service hones ideas to grow positive thought and public action. Founder of Blank Noise, a growing community of action sheroes, heroes, theyroes, citizens and others, she works toward ending sexual and gender-based violence. She started Blank Noise in 2003, in response to the silence surrounding street harassment. Her goal is to mobilise communities towards the right to be defenceless and free from fear. Jasmeen received the prestigious Visible Award for socially engaged art practice and was also awarded the Jane Lombard Fellowship by the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at the New School, New

lowship by the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at the New School, New York. She has been listed by BBC as one of the 12 artists changing the world in 2019. Jasmeen is a Ted speaker and Ashoka fellow.

[caption id="attachment_20927" align="aligncenter" width="644"] Women's Day | Women Achievers | Global Indian Jasmeen Patheja, founder, Blank Noise[/caption]

In a conversation with Global Indian, she says, “My goal for this year is to continue designing methodologies of citizen participation, that allow citizens to feel, empathise and take agency in ending gender-based violence and victim blame. This is a societal issue and it rests on each of us to step in.”

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A proponent of being the change she wants to see, she adds, “This is an invitation to become that action shero/action theyro/action hero; not an apathetic bystander but an empathic powerful witness.” Her agenda is to find ways to call in to unite against the shaming, policing, and blaming of survivors of gender-based violence. “When each of us intervene in our own silence, we will have the power to change a society that victim blames. This could be anywhere, be it the office cafeteria, the internet, campuses, the dinner table, the streets. #INeverAskForIt,” she concludes.

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Ashwini Asokan, founder, Mad Street Den

She spent over 10 years working with Intel in the US before she decided to return home to India to launch her own AI company with her neuroscientist husband Anand Chandrasekaran. Today, her company Mad Street Den builds models of generalisable intelligence that can be deployed through meaningful applications across industries. A Carnegie Mellon alum, Ashwini and her team teach machines to see and experience the world like humans do. As a product designer and cultural researcher, Ashwini explores how AI can be applied meaningfully for people’s use across the globe. “I left Silicon Valley to come to India to start an AI company with my husband; I am a woman co-founder of an artificial intelligence company and I don’t write a single line of code. And I wear this story on my sleeve to tell everyone to back off with their stereotypes,” the 40-year-old said in an interview.

[caption id="attachment_20926" align="aligncenter" width="667"] Women's Day | Women Achievers | Global Indian Ashwini Asokan, founder, Mad Street Den[/caption]

Always vocal about how women should take charge in the world of startups, Ashwini has been working to bring gender parity in the world of AI and technology. Although a lot of women graduate in tech and are eligible for employment, their numbers dwindle over the years as they marry and have kids. This, says the entrepreneur, is largely due to the system with its lack of infrastructure and policies to support a woman and her various roles. At Mad Street Den, Ashwini has tried to ensure that her team has an equal number of men and women as she hopes for a day she will make a list for being an entrepreneur and not a woman entrepreneur.

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Mithali Raj, Indian women's cricket team captain

Cricket is nothing short of a religion in India, and women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj is aware of the mania. She became only the third cricketer and the first woman to appear in six world cups. The 39-year-old is leading the women's cricket team to the ICC Women's World Cup 2022 in New Zealand, and has her eyes set on the trophy.

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She was just 10 when she first picked up a bat. But at 16, she clocked in a whopping 114 in her ODI debut against Ireland, thus wowing the world with her finesse in a sport that was considered a male-oriented game. In the next few years, the Arjuna awardee set the ball rolling by leading India to the 2005 World Cup final and lifting the winner's trophy Asia Cup. The Jodhpur-born Tamilian is the not just the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket but the only female cricketer to surpass the 7,000 run mark in women's ODI matches.

[caption id="attachment_20924" align="aligncenter" width="724"] Women's Day | Women Achievers | Global Indian Mithali Raj, Indian women's cricket team captain[/caption]

Raj has been an inspiration to millions of girls in India to follow their dreams and not give up. "Women in sport are powerful catalysts of change and when they get the appreciation they deserve, it inspires change in several other women wanting to achieve their dreams. I sincerely hope that my journey inspires young girls across the country to pursue their dreams and know that only when you dream can you make it happen,” the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardee wrote on Twitter. After 22 stellar years in cricket, she now wants to fulfil the dream of holding the "elusive" World Cup trophy before she hangs up her boots.

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Anu Sridharan, founder, NextDrop

Anu Sridharan was 23-years-old when she co-founded NextDrop. The year was 2011 and Anu wanted to “rid the world of its water problems.” The company started work in Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka with a simple model - SMS alerts that provide real-time information on local water supply. Then a student at Berkley University, NextDrop began as a college project, where their pilot project won a prize from the Knight Foundation. In 2012, Anu was listed in the Forbes (USA) 30 Social Entrepreneurs Under 30 for her work with NextDrop. Four years later, she featured in the same category in Forbes Asia. She has been a TED Unilever speaker and was part of the 2017 Y Combinator Batch.

[caption id="attachment_20933" align="aligncenter" width="712"] Women's Day | Women Achievers | Global Indian Anu Sridharan, founder, NextDrop[/caption]

Currently, the head of marketing and development at CSEI, ATREE, in Bengaluru, much has changed for Anu, especially on the personal front. She is now mother to a toddler and life, she says, is different in ways she couldn't have imagined. "Through work, I have often been in situations where I have been one of the only women. It gave me a different perspective and also helped me understand that what I brought to the table was unique." Having a baby has drastically changed her view of things, "Now, I realise that going to a meeting after 7 pm is very hard, we can’t be in meetings that clash with dinner time or bath time. Yes, it sounds like a small thing but it’s very real to us. We're not conscious enough of women with children and simple provisions can make it so much easier for a woman to be in a workplace."

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How does she navigate the situation? "I simply ask for what I want," she smiles. "There's no point in feeling bad about asking for what we need, let's embrace it instead. And I have found that people are very accommodating, it's just that we don't always realise or understand what another person needs."

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Reading Time: 5 mins

S.M. Krishna: The architect of Brand Bengaluru, who paved the way for India’s global IT success

(December 11, 2024) "What's the price of tur dal in Gulbarga," S.M. Krishna asked the district collector of Gulbarga, back in 1999 when he was the Chief Minister of Karnataka. That seemingly mundane question actually marked a new era in government administration. On December 1 1999, the Chief Minister had launched video-conference facilities in the state, bringing nine districts into its network. By working with the Indian Telephone Industries and the Department of Telecommunications, S.M. Krishna was able to speak to officials across the state through his computer. This was decades before words like 'e-governance' and 'digitization' had come into vogue, and even mobile phones were largely unheard of by the common man. During his five years as the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna put Bengaluru on the global map as an IT hub, transforming the 'Pensioner's Paradise' into the Silicon Valley of the east. From there, he went on to serve as External Affairs Minister under UPA 2, and in the span of one year, met 89 dignitaries from around the world. In 2010, he facilitated visits to India by the heads of state from all P-5 countries at the time - Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao,

Premier Wen Jiabao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British PM David Cameron. S.M. Krishna, an icon for Karnataka, the Global Indian who brought about the country's IT revolution and gave India a standing in global politics, passed away at his home in Bengaluru on December 10, 2024.

SM Krishna | Global Indian

Early Life and Education

Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna was born into an agrarian family on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli, a small village in Mandya district, Karnataka. Krishna’s formal education began in local schools in Mandya, where he quickly excelled in academics and earned himself admission to Maharaja’s College in Mysore, one of Karnataka’s premier institutions. Here, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, focusing on history and political science, and developed a keen interest in public service.

S.M. Krishna graduated from Maharaja's College, Mysore, and then came to Bengaluru to obtain a law degree from the Government Law College. From there, he moved to the US to study humanities at the Southern Methodit University Dallas, and then went to George Washington University as a Fulbright Scholar. He was politically active even as a student in the US.

In 1960, when Krishna was a 28-year-old student in the US, Democratic leader John F Kennedy was running for President. Krishna wrote to Kennedy, offering to campaign for him in areas dominated by Indian Americans. Kennedy went on to win the election, becoming one of the most popular presidents in US history, but did not forget the efforts of this proactive young law student from Mysore. He wrote to Krishna in a letter dated January 19, 1961, saying, "I hope that these few lines will convey my warm appreciation of your efforts during the campaign. I am most grateful for the splendid enthusiasm of my associates. I am only sorry I have not been able to personally thank you for the excellent work which you performed on behalf of the Democratic ticket."

With the fire for politics already ignited in him, S.M. Krishna returned to India and made his own entry into the political scene. Upon returning to India, Krishna brought with him not only a degree but also a renewed determination to contribute to Karnataka’s development. His early experiences laid the groundwork for his future leadership, combining a rural upbringing with global exposure.

[caption id="attachment_61499" align="aligncenter" width="400"] SM Krishna | Global Indian A young S.M. Krishna riding to the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. Photo: The Hindu[/caption]

Political Career and Rise to Leadership

Krishna’s rise in politics began in 1962 when he was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly as a member of the Indian National Congress. Representing Mandya, Krishna focused on rural development and education, two areas close to his heart. His ability to connect with people and his commitment to development quickly earned him recognition within the party.

In 1971, Krishna was elected to the Lok Sabha, representing the Mandya constituency. During his time in Parliament, he was appointed Minister of State for Industry under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This role gave him firsthand experience in policymaking and industrial growth. Krishna’s tenure in Delhi deepened his understanding of the economic policies that could drive India’s modernization.

Returning to state politics in the 1980s, Krishna held several key portfolios, including Finance and Urban Development. He gained a reputation for being a reformist leader who prioritized results over rhetoric. His work in urban planning, particularly in Bengaluru, set the stage for his future leadership.

The CM who transformed Bengaluru

When S.M. Krishna took office as Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1999, the world was in the middle of the dot-com boom, which had begun in 1995. The internet, digital communication, and globalization were reshaping economies across the world, and investors and stock markets alike were bullish about tech startups in California, which included companies like Amazon. While India was just catching on to internet tech, the country had already seen significant economic reforms post the liberalisation of 1991, which opened up markets and positioned the country as a growing power in the global economy. What’s more, while Bengaluru showed great promise, Andhra Pradesh already had a headstart on the tech bandwagon.

“When I assumed office as CM, there was keen competition from Hyderabad under Chandrababu Naidu. He had made tremendous strides in taking technology to the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. I saw the developments we were making and the growth of the big IT companies, like Infosys and Wipro. So I said why should we not utilise their leadership and their innovative politics,” SM Krishna told The New Indian Express in an interview. Bengaluru had already shown promise as a global IT leader, with two of India’s most successful tech companies, Infosys and Wipro, headquartered here.

[caption id="attachment_61500" align="aligncenter" width="582"] S.M. Krishna | Global Indian | Bill Gates | Narayana Murthy S.M. Krishna with Micosoft founder Bill Gates and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy[/caption]

Yet, despite this early success, Bengaluru faced immense challenges in terms of infrastructure, traffic congestion, a nd urban planning. These issues posed a real threat to the city's ability to handle the rapid expansion of the IT sector. To address these issues, S.M. Krishna recognized the need for bold leadership and strategic reforms.

Krishna’s first call was to Narayana Murthy. "I approached Murthy of Infosys to be on the CM Commitee on IT-BT," he said. Murthy was more than happy to take up the offer, and wanted to give back to his hometown, Mysuru. After that, Krishna called the founder of Wipro, Azim Premji at his office in Sarjapur, and requested an appointment with him. "He asked where I was calling from and I said I am speaking from Vidhana Soudha. He asked me, “Have you seen the condition of the road in Sarjapur”, and explained I would take half a day to visit his office and come back. Then I asked the chief engineer, Public Works Department, to go to Sarjapur and see that the roads are all set right," Krishna recalled.

The rapid growth of the IT sector strained the city's roads, utilities, and urban planning. Krishna’s measures focused on improving connectivity through projects like the Outer Ring Road and flyovers, addressing traffic, and facilitating IT growth.

Krishna's approach was to bring the captains of the IT industry to the fore in the race to make Bengaluru a global tech hub. He founded the Bangalore Agenda Task Force and appointed Nandan Nilekani as its chairman. "We used to meet every six months. We set targets for Bangalore's growth, and there was accountability, and accountability became very pronounced."

[caption id="attachment_61496" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Former Bengaluru CM | Global Indian S.M. Krishna with his wife, daughter and son-in-law, VG Siddharth, the founder of Coffee Day[/caption]

For the first time in a long time, Karnataka had a political class that did not drag its feet over the smallest things, where accountability and growth were front and centre on the leadership agenda. His administration streamlined business processes, providing a conducive environment for IT companies while modernizing Bengaluru’s infrastructure, setting the stage for its future success. "That was how Bengaluru developed, and Chandrababu Naidu himself said Bangalore was the hub of IT-BT," Krishna said.

Legacy and Continuing Impact

By the time Krishna left office in 2004, Bengaluru had firmly established itself as India’s IT capital. The policies and projects initiated during his tenure laid the foundation for sustained economic growth, transforming the city into a global symbol of India’s technological prowess.

Krishna’s critics have pointed out that rapid urbanization brought challenges such as traffic congestion and uneven development. However, his supporters argue that these are inevitable byproducts of progress and that his vision for Bengaluru created opportunities that outweighed the drawbacks.

After serving as Chief Minister, SM Krishna continued his political journey as India’s External Affairs Minister from 2009 to 2012. In this role, he further championed India’s global engagement, strengthening the country’s ties with other nations. However, his contributions to Bengaluru remain his most enduring legacy.

[caption id="attachment_61501" align="aligncenter" width="783"] Former Bengaluru CM | Barack Obama | Hilary Clinton | Global Indian Photo: Creator: Pete Souza Official White House Photo / Wikimedia Commons[/caption]

After 46 years, S.M. Krishna left the Indian National Congress in 2017 after a long and distinguished career. His decision was driven by growing dissatisfaction with the Congress leadership, especially after the party's declining influence in Karnataka. Krishna expressed disappointment over the party’s internal dynamics and its inability to address the state's concerns effectively. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017, citing the BJP’s commitment to national development and his belief that the party would be better positioned to address Karnataka’s issues. His move was seen as a significant shift in Karnataka's political landscape.

'Visionary', 'statesman', the 'gentleman politician'—these descriptions became synonymous with S.M. Krishna during his lifetime. They will continue to remain a part of the legacy of the man who reshaped the history of Bengaluru, and India, on the world stage.