Maya Vivek | Minal Dalmia | Indian Social Entrepreneur | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryMaya Vivek and Minal Dalmia: Recycling ‘HolyWaste’

Maya Vivek and Minal Dalmia: Recycling ‘HolyWaste’

Written by: Amrita Priya

(May 10, 2023) Maya Vivek and Minal Dalmia, two Telangana-based social entrepreneurs, tackle India’s flower waste pollution with their innovative startup, Oorvi Sustainable Concepts. By recycling flower waste into eco-friendly products, they not only contribute to sustainability but also provide employment for marginalized women.

“Every year, approximately eight million tons of waste flowers are dumped in the rivers in India, choking them to death. The pesticides and chemical fertilizers used to grow flowers mix with the river water, making it highly toxic,” states a report published by the International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET). “Various drains and waterways connected to the water bodies also get clogged, creating civic problems of great magnitude. We always tend to blame the industrial waste but never give a thought to flower pollution,” the report mentions.

The city of Hyderabad alone generates some 1,000 metric tons of flower waste per day, and Telangana-based social entrepreneurs Maya Vivek and Minal Dalmia decided to do something about it. They founded Oorvi Sustainable Concepts, which recycles flower waste collected from temples and social gatherings, and processes them into eco-friendly products like fertilisers, incense sticks and soaps. The social entrepreneurs are not just doing their bit for sustainability but also creating livelihoods for marginalised women in their locality. “We work with most beautiful things that nature has ever created – flowers and women,” says Maya, in an interview with Global Indian.

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A post shared by Holy Waste • Products from Upcycled Flower Waste. (@holy.waste)

It all began when…

Maya and Minal, who became friends while picking up their kids from school, had been toying with the idea of doing something for the marginalised women of their area, Gundlapochampally. While Minal was involved with her family business, Maya was thinking of a career switch, after spending two decades as an international logistics and freight forwarding professional. They wanted their next career move to be purposeful and of value to the local women.

As they brainstormed various ideas, they came across a video of Kanpur-based entrepreneurs who were recycling flowers and making a difference. The idea resonated with Maya and Minal, who decided to adopt the cause too. “We started our organisation in 2019. However, we had begun experimenting in 2018. Once we were ready with the prototypes, we went ahead and registered the firm,” tells Maya.

HolyWaste

They named their company ‘Oorvi’, or ‘earth’, and their products are made under the clever brand name, HolyWaste. They infuse new life into floral discards through a process they call ‘FloRejuvenation’.  

“We wanted to get into a business where women and the environment could benefit together. Waste management was a huge area where we could explore possibilities and floral waste seemed niche, full of opportunity.” Mays says. “Any problem in the environment affects a woman’s life first. So, she is best suited to think of solutions too,” she adds.

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A post shared by Holy Waste • Products from Upcycled Flower Waste. (@holy.waste)

Slow and steady growth

Oorvi began operations with just one temple, setting up their first bin to collect used flowers at the Skandagiri temple in Secuderabad. They set up their processing unit in Gundlapochampally village, which is a half-hour drive from Hyderabad. Four years later, the organisation partners with more than 40 temples.

“A friend knew the head of Sri Subrahmanyaswamy Temple in Skandagiri, so the idea clicked,” says Maya. The sarpanch of Gundlapochampally was happy with their idea of benefitting local women. He helped them out by giving them access to the village community hall to start their initial operations.

This helped the duo win the trust of the local families and attract local women, who started joining their venture. The local women were trained in how to segregate and make eco-friendly products. Since the workers were mothers too, Maya and Minal made sure work hours were convenient – from 10 am to 4 pm every day. It allowed the women to devote themselves to work without worrying about neglecting their home and kids.

As the enterprise grew, Oorvi’s operations moved to a rented premise in the vicinity. The entrepreneurs have been partnering with places of worship, vendors, event planners, decorators, and just about anybody who generates floral waste.

Maya and Minal with few of the Oorvi workers

The extra mile

The entrepreneurs wanted HolyWaste products to be totally sustainable, down to their eco-friendly packaging. To avoid the use of plastic, the products are packed in pouches stitched from old and traditional handloom sarees and dupattas. To add a personal touch to their products, they attach handwritten notes on handmade paper with every package. “More than the products themselves, we found that people were fascinated with our process,” Maya smiles.

They made an impact quickly and IDEA, the startup incubator at the ICAR–National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad, took Oorvi under its wing, giving them the mentorship they needed. IDEA helped the HolyWaste project with the minutest of details, like getting just the right butter paper to lock the fragrance and freshness of the soaps and incense sticks to make the dream project successful.

Later, Maya and Minal’s startup was incubated by WE Hub (Women Entrepreneurs Hub), which is India’s first and only state-led incubator to promote and foster women entrepreneurship.

With dedication and the right mentorship Maya and Minal managed to find success despite starting operations just before the pandemic hit. They process over 1,000 kilograms of floral waste every week, preventing it from ending up in waterbodies and landfills.

The entrepreneurs were awarded the India Sustainability Award 2022. Their social venture was also honoured with the coveted Best Green Startup award in the Eco Ideas category at the prestigious Green India Awards, 2019. 

“What is holy today is becoming waste tomorrow, so we should try to make it holy again,’ signs off Maya.

Ambar gift box by HolyWaste

Takeaways:

Sustainability through innovation: Oorvi Sustainable Concepts demonstrates how identifying a niche environmental issue, like flower waste pollution, can lead to the development of innovative solutions and business opportunities.
Vocal for local: The founders of Oorvi recognized the importance of empowering marginalized women, and their venture exemplifies how social entrepreneurship can create meaningful employment opportunities and improve local communities.
Social empowerment and profitability: Oorvi’s commitment to sustainability, demonstrated by their eco-friendly packaging and products, serves as a reminder that businesses can have a positive impact on the environment while still being profitable.
The social entrepreneurship landscape: The recognition and awards received by Oorvi, such as the India Sustainability Award and the Best Green Startup award, highlight the potential for social entrepreneurs to gain support and acknowledgement when addressing pressing environmental and social issues.

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Published on 10, May 2023

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Guitar Prasanna: Blending strings of tradition with beats of innovation in music

(September 6, 2024) In the world of music, where tradition and innovation often find themselves at odds, one man has managed to harmonize the two opposing poles easily. Prasanna Ramaswamy, widely known as Guitar Prasanna, is a name that resonates with music aficionados across the globe. A pioneer in playing Carnatic music on the guitar, Prasanna's journey is a masterclass in dedication, passion, and the relentless pursuit of one's unique voice. Having worked with some of the stalwarts in the musical world, including the likes of AR Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja, the maestro has always pushed boundaries with his work. Musical Roots Prasanna's story begins in Tamil Nadu, growing up in small towns including Mettur and Ranipet before moving to Chennai at the age of seven. His early life was steeped in music, albeit not from professional musicians. His sister learned Carnatic vocal and Veena, and his brother was an enthusiastic singer of film songs. This familial environment, though not professionally musical, laid the groundwork for the maestro’s future. "I was playing professionally from a young age, performing Carnatic music on the guitar and playing with top rock bands," he recalls. The maestro’s academic journey followed a conventional path, leading him

natic music on the guitar and playing with top rock bands," he recalls.

Indian Musicians | Guitar Prasanna | Global Indian

The maestro’s academic journey followed a conventional path, leading him to IIT Madras, where he earned a B.Tech in Naval Architecture. After graduating from IIT, he worked as a software engineer, but his heart was always in music. With the unwavering support of his family, he made the decision to pursue a full-time career in music.

Unique musical identity

The musician is renowned for his pioneering efforts in bringing Carnatic music to the guitar—an idea that was almost inconceivable before him. His distinctiveness quickly became his signature, a hallmark that set him apart in a world crowded with guitarists.

Growing up, Prasanna was influenced by the music of legendary Indian film composers like Ilaiyaraaja and R.D. Burman. Alongside this, he developed a deep love for rock and metal, genres he began exploring with various bands during his teenage years.

But it was his immersion in Carnatic music that truly defined his musical journey. "I was the only one that I knew who was playing Carnatic music, heavy metal, and Indian film music all at the same time," he reflects. This eclectic blend of styles made him a unique figure in the music world, capable of seamlessly transitioning between genres and integrating them in a way that had never been done before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uxweBLTnZ4

The American Dream

In 1994, Prasanna made a bold move that would change the course of his life—he relocated to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music. This decision was driven by his desire to deepen his understanding of jazz and Western classical music, genres that required formal study and rigorous discipline. However, the transition was not without its challenges. "When I came to Berklee, I was shocked to find over 1,000 guitar players studying at the school," he says, highlighting the competitive environment he had entered.

Undeterred, the musical genius focused on honing his skills, not just as a guitarist but also as a composer and arranger. His time at Berklee was spent mastering the intricacies of jazz and classical music, equipping himself with the tools necessary to create his unique musical signature. "The goal was a single-minded focus towards learning everything that I can," he says, a focus that has undoubtedly paid off.

Prasanna's journey was fraught with challenges, particularly from critics who doubted the authenticity of playing Carnatic music on the guitar. However, he remained steadfast. "I had to block out the criticism and focus on what I knew I could achieve," he says. His determination was fueled by a deep belief in his vision and the realization that he had the potential to create something truly special.

Indian Musicians | Guitar Prasanna | Global Indian

His success has since silenced the critics. Today, the musician is recognized worldwide for his contributions as a guitar player and composer, having released 18 albums, scoring the music for the Oscar-winning film Smile Pinki and the National Award and Filmfare Award-winning Tamil film Vazhakku Enn 18/9, and scoring for numerous dance theater productions all over the world.

His work is not just about blending genres but about mastering them, understanding their depths, and creating something entirely new.

Role of tradition in a modern world

Despite his modern and innovative approach to music, Prasanna remains deeply rooted in the traditional Guru-Shishya parampara, the teacher-disciple tradition that is central to Indian classical music. "As far as learning Carnatic music goes, this is what I subscribe to," he affirms.

The stalwart believes that the relationship between the guru and the shishya (disciple) is essential for the transmission of knowledge and the preservation of tradition. He is ‘grateful for the blessings’ of his Carnatic Gurus Tiruvarur S. Balasubramaniam, with whom he studied for six years, and the great Violin Maestro A. Kanyakumari, with whom he studied for over 25 years.

As a teacher, the virtuoso is not just imparting musical skills but mentoring his students in every aspect of their growth as musicians. "Producing my students' albums is a big part of where my focus is now," he says, underscoring his commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians.

Indian Musicians | Guitar Prasanna | Global Indian

In 2024, four of Prasanna’s talented students are releasing their debut albums: singer/songwriter Shruti’s modern pop album Desire, guitarist Rohit H. Sivaram’s progressive metal album Unearth Prophecy, multi-instrumentalist Neil Nayyar’s world music album Breaking Barriers, and guitarist Archish Sadeesh’s jazz and carnatic album Sounds from Thin Air.

Prasanna arranged and produced Shruti’s, Neil's, and Archish’s albums and co-produced Rohit’s. His student Maya Neelakantan, an eleven-year-old guitar prodigy, has become a global sensation after her performances at America’s Got Talent Season 19 with her Carnatic-infused renderings of Last Resort by Papa Roach and Master of Puppets by Metallica.

A global citizen

Even though the musician has spent nearly three decades in the United States, his connection to India remains strong. He frequently performs across India in venues ranging from formal concert halls to edgy rock clubs, and he participates in the December Carnatic music season in Chennai. "India has always been a huge part of my concert trips," he says, emphasizing his continued engagement with his homeland.

Outside of his musical career, Prasanna leads a fulfilling personal life. His wife, Shalini, is an accomplished singer across many genres and an integral part of his musical journey. Their high school-going daughter is passionate about horse riding and competes in equestrian events. As a family, they enjoy hiking, traveling, and other outdoor activities. Prasanna also has a keen interest in chess, a game he credits with making his music "much more radical."

Indian Musicians | Guitar Prasanna | Global Indian

Guitar Prasanna’s journey is one of passion, dedication, and the courage to pursue a unique path. His ability to bridge diverse musical traditions and create something entirely new has made him a global icon. As he continues to explore new musical horizons and mentor the next generation, Prasanna remains a true global Indian—rooted in tradition yet constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible in music.

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After watching missiles fly by, Indian students in Sumy evacuated after 12 days

(March 11, 2022) For the most part of the day, Mohammed Mahtab Raza had his eyes fixated to the skies - sometimes peeping out of his hostel window or tiptoeing out into the open area. Once it turned dark, the 23-year-old, one among scores of Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine, turned into a “spotter” of sorts, tracking the path of each cruise missile illuminating the skies over the university town. “This one is coming towards us? Look close… everyone take shelter, quick, brace,” he yelled, pointing a finger at what appeared to be an incoming missile, dead in the night. Even as Raza and the other students brace for the attack inside the dingy basement of their hostel complex, luck once again favours them as the aerial bomb lands a few buildings away with a bang. Prayerful yet terrified, students stare at the huge ball of fire, and smoke billowing. It was just another day in the lives of the 600-odd students evacuated from the war zone of Sumy after 12 days of Russia’s brute force across Ukraine. Raza, who has been posting developments on his Twitter page, describes huge explosions heard from their dorm room, where the students have

where the students have been in hiding. On March 7, he tweeted that evacuation plans had fallen through, saying, "everyone is frightened,anxious.immediat evacuation. no light,no water, no ways to contact family..." (sic).

[embed]https://twitter.com/DudeMahtab/status/1499663037741031424[/embed]

Evacuation from Sumy had been stalled, however, and on March 8, a day after Mahtab’s final tweet, the Indian ministry of external affairs confirmed that all students had been shifted out. Seen as one of the most complex parts of the evacuation, 500 students were shifted out from Lviv, in specially arranged trains that will take them to Poland. They were seen off at the station in Lviv by Partha Satpathy, the Indian envoy in Ukraine.

Frustrated and tired after the most harrowing time, the near-death experiences faced by these Indian students in the Sumy war zone helped some emerge stronger, wiser as they perfected the art of survival. But there are others who showed signs of depression, requiring medical help for mental health issues once back in their homeland.

“The experiences of the past 12 days have taught us a lot. Throughout these most difficult and challenging times, we helped each other and stood by each other. We shared our problems, and laughed away our troubles, which kept our spirits high,” informs Mahtab, a fourth year MBBS student in Sumy Medical University, in an exclusive interview with Global Indian, hours before hopping onto a bus to Poltava, and onward by train to Western Ukraine.

From keeping track of assaults from air and ground, food and water was scarce, and the sub-zero temperatures were cruel – These MBBS students from different parts of India were on a mission impossible every day as death hovered across Sumy and Ukraine, especially during the nights when the eerie silence was punctured by the deafening air strikes and intermittent firing.

[caption id="attachment_21099" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Mohammed Mahtab Raza | Indian students in Sumy | Global Indian Raza was one among hundreds of Indian students in Sumy Medical University, Ukraine[/caption]

Hailing from Motihari, East Champaran district in Bihar, Mahtab became the most visible face among stranded students. His initiatives - making multiple videos of the deteriorating situation, as he articulated problems, forwarded to the authorities, the Indian embassy and government officials finally reacted. Desperate pleas for immediate evacuation were finally heard.

“There were massive air strikes around us. We heard two blasts at 5 am, which shook all of us. There were heavily armed people patrolling the streets. Once the air strikes started, there was no electricity or water, and a severe shortage of food. We wanted to flee but the railway tracks were damaged in the air strikes, there were no buses or taxis. We were scared and anxious,” informs the 23-year-old, who has been studying in Sumy since 2019. “We could see a missile hitting our university," he added.

The Sumy evacuation was the most complex for Indian authorities as both the warring nations stood their ground, delaying the operation. Though Russia announced a humanitarian corridor, it was not honoured, making it impossible for anyone to move out. Going by various reports, about 21 people died, and scores were injured in Sumy alone.

[embed]https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1499679895370170371[/embed]

Many students had lost hope. Some blamed government, others left on their own, even if it meant facing death. Students helped cheer each other during these tough days indulging in light hearted conversations, which helped lighten the tense atmosphere at the hostel.

“Some students will face PTSD for sure. The deafening sound of bomb blasts, intermittent gunfire was disturbing. Lack of sleep, unhygienic conditions in the washroom due to lack of water, no electricity, consuming stale food, contaminated water and fading hopes of evacuation plunged many into depression,” disclosed another Indian student in Sumy. She herself was unwell at the time of safe passage.

“Some students felt death was certain, and a painful one. This was just after the death of Naveen Shekharappa in Kharkiv,” she says, adding that many would cry inconsolably. Some even alleged that they were being used as human shields.

[embed]https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1501181872079990787[/embed]

In fact, 24 hours before they were finally taken to safety, many had hopped onto buses when the Indian embassy officials dropped the plan as the ceasefire had been violated through the humanitarian corridor, which led to great disappointment. They walked back to the death knell. Now, safe, they are desperate to return home. However, with efforts resuming smoothly, the 500-odd students in Sumy who went to Poland by train, were expected to arrive in India on March 10.

Follow Mohammed Mahtab Raza on Twitter

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Fighting for justice: Filmmaker Nisha Pahuja is giving voice to the unheard

(February 1, 2024) When she first started working on the project, Canadian filmmaker Nisha Pahuja's idea was to make a detailed documentary about the prevalent male chauvinism in India. However, while researching and shooting the documentary in rural Jharkhand, where she followed activists from a local gender equality NGO, the filmmaker met Ranjit, a father seeking justice for his 13-year-old daughter Kiran (a pseudonym), who had been brutally assaulted by three men from their village. "I was very aware of the sensitivities around the story and the way that it had created friction and a fraying of the threads that keep the community together. And it was an issue that we were not from that community. What we tried to do to mitigate any kind of fallout was to build bridges with the leadership of the village — the ward member, the mukhiya — and also the villagers themselves," the filmmaker said in a recent interview while speaking about her movie To Kill a Tiger - which was recently nominated in the best feature documentary category for the Oscars 2024. "I was in shock. I couldn't believe it. I was over the moon. Yeah, I just couldn't believe it," the

hile speaking about her movie To Kill a Tiger - which was recently nominated in the best feature documentary category for the Oscars 2024.

"I was in shock. I couldn't believe it. I was over the moon. Yeah, I just couldn't believe it," the Global Indian said, talking about her initial reaction when she got to know that her movie was nominated for the top awards, adding, "This film has work to do in the world - Their story, their struggle, their commitment to justice, the fact that as a man, Ranjit stood by his daughter, which is so rare. The film is about the underdog, a David vs. Goliath story, and it's a film about love."

Stories that matter

Born in New Delhi, the filmmaker's family moved to Canada in the early 1970s, where the filmmaker confessed years later that she was bombarded with a new "western lifestyle". Like many Indians who grew up abroad, Nisha's childhood was filled with Bollywood movies and music. However, her love for creativity leaned more towards books and literature. Nisha went on to pursue a bachelor's in English literature from the University of Toronto, to write fiction. And it was here that her life completely changed.

Filmmaker | Nisha Pahuja | Global Indian

Nisha's final days at university saw a fateful meeting with producer Geeta Sondhi, leading to her research role on the CBC documentary Some Kind of Arrangement. This experience sparked a love for documentary filmmaking, where she found her passion in amplifying real stories that shed light on larger societal issues. "Real stories attract me. A human being reveals themselves to you in such a profound kind of way. I think I was just really drawn to that, to the idea of real people, real stories, and being able to connect to them," she said.

After collaborating as a researcher with Canadian filmmakers John Walker and Ali Kazimi, the filmmaker eventually embarked on her own journey in the world of filmmaking. Her 2012 documentary, The World Before Her, explored the complex and conflicting environment for young girls in India by following women participating in the Miss India Pageant as well as girls being trained in the Durga Vahini, the women's wing of the VHP. While she was a bit apprehensive about the topic eventually, the documentary was quite successful internationally including North America and India.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5wVzwf3Ijk

Motivated by the tragic 2012 Delhi gang rape incident, Nisha took her documentary on a nationwide journey, aiming to make a difference in the realms of women's rights, as well as address issues such as female foeticide and infanticide. A couple of years later, the filmmaker and her team initiated a four-city tour, collaborating with NGOs and women's rights organisations. Their objective was to screen the film in underserved communities and engage in profound conversations with diverse audiences. "Change happens in small shifts, often indiscernible, often immeasurable. And sometimes the best way to make that shift is through the simple act of sharing stories," she said.

Path to glory

After making critically acclaimed and award-winning documentaries, such as Diamond Road, Bollywood Bound, and Being Mortal, the filmmaker wanted to tell a story from the grassroots of India, and that's how To Kill a Tiger happened. "I’ve been making films in India around gender for quite some time. It’s been a subject that’s been very interesting for me. So, after the Dehli gang rape, I decided that I really wanted to make a film on masculinity and explore why some men become the way they do in that culture," shared the filmmaker, adding that film took about eight years to make.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC6-igJ_WWM

While it is true that filmmakers are often in love with their subjects, Nisha shared that she was deeply inspired by Kiran's courage while she was shooting the film. "She’s so compelling. While I was interviewing her for the documentary, she said, adding, "She watched the film with her parents and she didn’t want to be hidden. She wanted to be celebrated. When I asked her why she chose to come forward in this way, she said it’s because when she watched the film, she couldn’t believe how brave she was. She was so proud of the 13-year-old girl that she loves. And that’s the girl she wants to celebrate."

Already in search of a new subject, and a new story, the filmmaker is quite hopeful that the movie will win hearts even at Oscars. "I’ll take Ranjit and his daughter to the Academy Awards. They are the reason we are where we are. It’s because of them," the filmmaker shared.

Follow Nisha Pahuja on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Reading Time: 6 mins

From Raja Sweets to Mahatma Gandhi District: Yogi Bhai’s vision for Houston’s Little India

(September 11, 2024) Had Joginder Singh Gahunia been alive, he would have turned 80 this year. Though he passed away in 2002, he left behind a sweet legacy — Raja Sweets, the oldest North Indian fast-food restaurant and sweet shop in Houston. Almost every Houstonian has either heard of Raja Sweets or been a customer. Yogi Bhai, as he was popularly known, founded the shop in 1985 during a time when affordable fast-food options were scarce. Affectionately calling Houston’s Hillcroft area "Little India," Yogi Bhai played a significant role in having it officially designated as the Mahatma Gandhi District. He is remembered as one of the founding fathers of the district. [caption id="attachment_55742" align="aligncenter" width="1081"] Late Joginder Singh Gahunia and Resham Kaur Gahunia with their son and daughter Sharan when she was 10-years-old[/caption] Raja Sweets, located at 5667 Hillcroft, is still run by his family, with his wife Resham Kaur Gahunia and daughter Sharan at the helm. “Our dream is to keep going as long as we can. The business will hit 40 years in about a year,” Sharan shared with Global Indian. “I aim to make it to 50. I think 50 years at one location would

Raja Sweets, located at 5667 Hillcroft, is still run by his family, with his wife Resham Kaur Gahunia and daughter Sharan at the helm. “Our dream is to keep going as long as we can. The business will hit 40 years in about a year,” Sharan shared with Global Indian. “I aim to make it to 50. I think 50 years at one location would be quite an achievement.”

Proudly carrying forward the legacy

Whether it’s Eid, Diwali, Karva Chauth or Ganesh Chaturthi, the already busy restaurant and sweet shop sees an even greater increase in visitors.

"Our strength is quality and consistency," Yogi Gahunia often said. The family has worked hard to maintain that consistency, not only in the quality and taste of their products but also in keeping Raja Sweets’ prices reasonable for the past four decades. After Yogi Gahunia’s passing, the family even received a $1.5 million offer to sell the restaurant, which they quickly declined. Sharan could not see the place she had grown up in getting sold. She was in her early twenties then. The legacy had fallen on her shoulders, and she proudly took on the responsibility alongside her mother — as her older sister suffered from cerebral palsy and her brother chose a different path outside the family business.

[caption id="attachment_55741" align="aligncenter" width="746"] Indian Entrepreneur | Raja Sweets | Global Indian Carrying forward the legacy: Resham (second from left) and Sharan (centre) during Raja Sweets' 25th Anniversary[/caption]

The community leader

Her father was a strong supporter of the community and often provided packaged snacks for events of Houston’s India Culture Centre or Indian student functions at a very nominal cost.

There has always been a warm, welcoming atmosphere at Raja Sweets that has drawn people in for years. Under Yogi’s tutelage, the shop became a popular gathering place for workers from various organizations to exchange ideas and plans. Many meetings of officers from the India Culture Centre (ICC), the South Asian Culture Centre (SACC) and numerous other groups have been held at Raja Sweets.

[caption id="attachment_55722" align="aligncenter" width="762"] Indian Entrepreneur | Joginder Gahunia | Global Indian Former Mayor Lee Brown campaigning at the Mahatma Gandhi District, in front of Raja Sweets[/caption]

Houstonians still remember the dynamic founder, who was an active member of the local Indian community. He played a significant role as a founding member of the South Asian Chamber of Commerce and the Asian-American Political Caucus, served on the Board of the ICC, and was a member of the South Asian Political Action Committee.

A devoted member of the local Sikh community, Yogi Gahunia also served as the President of Gurudwara Sahib of Houston. His community involvement extended to supporting and contributing to numerous political campaigns, including those of President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Senator Phil Gramm, Governor Ann Richards, Mayor Lee Brown, and City Councilmen Michael Berry and Gordon Quan.

[caption id="attachment_55738" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Indian Entrepreneur | Joginder Singh Gahunia | Global Indian Joginder Singh Gahunia giving a taste of India to one of the locals[/caption]

Creating Houston's Little India

Yogi Gahunia paved the way for hundreds of South Asian businesses in Houston’s Hillcroft, now known as Mahatma Gandhi Street, after he took the initiative to work with the local government to give the area its own identity.

He, along with fellow immigrant entrepreneurs like Aku Patel of Karat 22 Jewellers and Ramesh Lulla of Sari Sapne clothing store (and later Shri Balaji Bhavan restaurant), set up their businesses in modest retail strips in the Hillcroft area during the 1980s. Together, they dubbed the area "Little India."

[caption id="attachment_55737" align="alignnone" width="950"] Houston's Little India | Global Indian Mahatma Gandhi District, Houston[/caption]

“He just knew that having a business was the way to go, if you had a family. Both my parents said that working regular jobs wasn’t ideal. So, they wanted to own a business from a get-go,” Sharan mentions.

Yogi and Resham chose to open a restaurant because they wanted Houstonians to enjoy freshly made mithais, and get an authentic taste of India.

Since then, the area has expanded from just three Indian-owned businesses to over 300 Indian and Pakistani-owned clothing stores, jewellers, salons, markets, and restaurants, with Raja Sweets standing as a cornerstone of this vibrant South Asian community.

Indian Entrepreneur | Raja Sweets | Global Indian

The immigration story

Born in 1944 in the small village of Sujjon in Punjab, Yogi moved to London in 1966 where he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Isleworth College in Hounslow. He got married in 1971.

Always inclined towards entrepreneurship, in 1973, the late entrepreneur opened his first restaurant in the United Kingdom. “It was in Chesham, England, and he named it ‘Take Away,’” informs Sharan.

Yogi and Resham later immigrated to the United States in 1979, where they established ‘The Front Row Restaurant’ in Cleveland, Ohio. Two years later, they moved to Houston, and in 1985 they opened "Raja Sweets", the first North Indian fast-food restaurant and sweet shop in the city, naming it after their son whom they lovingly called Raja.

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A post shared by Raja Sweets (@raja.sweets)

“In the beginning, it was hard to find chefs in Houston who could prepare Indian delicacies, so my father brought people from India to cook," Sharan explains. "Later, my mom’s two brothers migrated from India to the US. Over time they had honed their skills in preparing mithais and North Indian food by going back and taking culinary lessons in the villages. They are still in charge of the kitchen," she adds.

Maintaining the impact

While the front team at Raja Sweets consists of women, including Resham Kaur Gahunia at the counter, her brothers' wives, and a Gujarati employee, Sharan remains the ever-smiling face of the business. Raja Sweets is popular not only among South Asian community but also with local celebrities and others, enjoying significant coverage in media.

[caption id="attachment_55745" align="aligncenter" width="511"] Indian Entrepreneur | Raja Sweets | Global Indian With male chef in the kitchen Raja Sweets is run by the ladies at the forefront[/caption]

“Apart from being Houston’s oldest Indian restaurant, we serve fresh, made-from-scratch food - that’s what sets us apart,” says Sharan, proud to carry her father’s legacy forward.

Follow Raja Sweets on Instagram and Facebook

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SKOG: Eco luxury beauty entrepreneur Gautami Dahiya’s skincare brand is inspired by the forests of Sweden

(September 3, 2024) Landing in Stockholm for the first time, entrepreneur Gautami Dahiya felt inexplicably at home. She found herself captivated by the Swedish way of life, its festivals and how in tune with nature they were. She founded the eco-luxury beauty brand SKÖG, which means “forest” in Swedish, a vegan luxury skincare brand inspired by their way of life. This resonated with her own philosophy. Today, the eco-luxury beauty entrepreneur uses exotic ingredients like birch sap, cloudberry, bjork, elderflower and petitgrain for its organic products. Available as a niche beauty product across India and other countries, with a focus on Singapore and Hong Kong, plans are afoot to open retail stores as well. [caption id="attachment_20737" align="aligncenter" width="453"] Gautami Dahiya[/caption] Growing up with sensitive skin, Gautami learned from her mother to stay away from commercial products. Instead, she became accustomed to natural ingredients - honey, yogurt and almond flour. “After I went abroad, my skincare routine involved going to grocery stores and picking up different ingredients,” she says. “Even if I could find nothing, I would buy an avocado, mash it up and put it in my hair,” the eco-luxury beauty entrepreneur told Global Indian. Catwalks in the Eiffel tower

if I could find nothing, I would buy an avocado, mash it up and put it in my hair,” the eco-luxury beauty entrepreneur told Global Indian.

Catwalks in the Eiffel tower to high-end art

Gautami left Delhi when she was 18 to study fashion business at the Manchester Metropolitan University, and then to the Istituto Marangoni in Paris. After that, she studied strategic entrepreneurship and innovation at King’s College in London. Although starting her own business had always been at the back of her mind, the organic beauty entrepreneur went on to intern with various fashion brands, and was even part of the first catwalk on the Eiffel Tower. “I tried a lot of things and realised I like business development, and expanding creative businesses,” she says. In Sweden, she began working with Humans Since 1982, a Stockholm-based art studio that creates high-end kinetic art. “When I joined it was a very small team. When I left, it was the largest, most commercially successful artist studio in Europe,” she says.

Selling luxury art, Gautami continued doing what she always did - searching for natural ingredients. She found, to her delight, that Sweden had a wealth to offer. “People there are so in sync with nature, it blew me away,’ says the organic beauty entrepreneur who loved that at the start of spring, the Swedes visit forests to tap the birch trees for sap. The slightly sweet, silky sap has been consumed for centuries and is used in cosmetics and other skincare products. To Gautami, it was a revelation. “I had no idea birch sap was such an ancient ingredient,” she laughs, adding, “I thought I was the first to discover it! I only learned later that the Vikings used it!” She was also fascinated by cloudberry, grown in temperatures as low as -40, and full of vitamins. “Not only does it grow in such extreme conditions but it’s also full of nutrients,” says the eco-luxury beauty entrepreneur.

Barking up the right sap!

Birch sap and cloudberries are the star ingredients in her products - In 2018, Gautami began whipping up recipes from her home kitchen. “I would put the ingredients together and blend them with a hand mixer,” says the organic seeker who began collaborating with a manufacturer, to meet the exacting standards of sanitation and hygiene. The idea was to create a product that truly was all-natural and toxin-free. “I even hand-printed the labels,” recalls the eco luxury beauty entrepreneur.

Finding the right blends, creating the perfect fragrances – these details took months to perfect. “Imagine you wake up at 5 am in a forest or on a mountain top, the coolness you feel, the fragrances that greet you. That’s the sort of essence we’re looking to recreate,” she explains. The products are priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500, available on e-commerce platforms as well as on the SKOG website.

Rediscovering her roots

The company was eventually registered in India, where Gautami spent the pandemic with family, unable to return to Sweden. The eco luxury beauty entrepreneur who loved growing up in Delhi, remembers telling her sister as a young girl that she wanted to be a businesswoman. “I would dream of seeing my name in the Forbes Under 30 list,” she smiles. With SKÖG, she had a high-end line of products completely natural and certified by PETA. Transparency is also key. The eco luxury beauty entrepreneur believes that this is the future of the beauty industry.

A sustainable future?

“I would also like to collaborate more with the art world because I love art People don’t just want to buy a product, they’re investing in an experience,” explains the eco luxury beauty entrepreneur, adding, “We want the person to open the box and have an experience.”

Finding balance

Not one to shy away from hard work and long hours, balance is key. Gautami grew up watching her parents meditate and learned the importance of it. Today, it’s a non-negotiable part of her day. “I’m not proud of this but I’m a bit of a workaholic. For the past 10 years, I have been meditating 15 minutes a day – it has done wonders to keep my head and emotions in place. I think there is no amount of medicine or any remedy that can do what a few moments of meditation achieve. It keeps my energy levels high and my brain active,” says the eco luxury beauty entrepreneur. Her father and sister are architects and interior designers while her mother teaches meditation and also runs the Spiritual Self Foundation. "I get all my calm, peace and meditation skills from her, really," Gautami explains. She is married to Harsh Dahiya, an award-winning entrepreneur who founded the Harvesto Group.

Besides, Gautami’s penchant for whipping things up in the kitchen makes her a talented cook. “I love to explore new food. I try to spend as much time as I can with my family. Now, I’m looking at perhaps having two bases, one in India and another in Europe,” the eco luxury beauty entrepreneur concludes.

Follow Gautami on LinkedIn

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