Global IndianstoryMeet Aditya Mehta, the first Indian para-cyclist to win a medal at the Asian Paralympics

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Meet Aditya Mehta, the first Indian para-cyclist to win a medal at the Asian Paralympics

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(September 30, 2023) At age 24, Aditya Mehta narrowly dodged death but ended up losing his leg after being run over by a bus. The road to recovery was long, hard and painful for the budding entrepreneur. People who visited him would pity him, leaving him even more frustrated. But his indomitable will wouldn’t allow him to go down. Aditya pulled himself together, took to para-cycling with a prosthetic leg and went on to become India’s first para-cyclist to bag a medal at the Asian Paralympics. “So far, I have cycled 40,000 kms and won two silver medals at Asian Championship. My goal now is to coach youngsters get medals for India in Paralympic Games,” smiles Aditya Mehta, in conversation with Global Indian.

Mehta headed the contingent in the para-cycling world championships in Glasgow, Scotland, recently. “As a coach, it was a fulfilling experience as three of my trainees created history by qualifying for Paralympics 2024,” says Aditya of the event. It was the first time that Sports Authority of India (SAI) supported the para-cyclist contingent in a world championship.

Aditya Mehta

Teething troubles

Born in Hyderabad, Aditya grew up in a joint family, along with 18 first cousins. He hated studies, argued with his parents and often got in trouble at home and in school for his reckless behaviour. “I was a difficult child. When I was in the fifth grade, I failed in my Telugu exam, and was very scared of my father. I stole my mother’s earrings, sold them for some money and travelled all the way to Goa. Then I called up my parents to come pick me up,” recalls the most accomplished para-cyclist in the country who gave up schooling when he was in class 9. Eventually, Aditya realised that he was looked upon as a failure. “Everyone had a terrible opinion of me, especially in the family. It hurt.”

By the time he turned 16, he decided to prove himself and wanted to start a textile business with a few friends. His family didn’t support the idea. “I knew my father didn’t trust me,” says Aditya, who then started travelling from town-to-town selling garments. Slowly, his family began to take note of his perseverance. “My grandfather and my mother eventually supported me with minimal funding” says Aditya. One year later, he turned the modest Rs 30,000 investment into a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore. Unfortunately, his rough patch wasn’t over – he found out that some friends had been siphoning off crores from the company account. Aditya started from scratch again and set up a successful business exporting garments. By the age of 22, Aditya was financially independent and his family was happy.

Tragedy Strikes

Aditya’s life changed after his return from a business trip to Hong Kong in August 2017. “I left home on my bike to meet my stockist. Suddenly, a bus hit my bike twice from the rear. I fell down, got dragged for almost 300 metres. The bus crushed my right leg,” he recalls.

Aditya lay motionless on the road. “Strangely, no one came forward to help me. I regained consciousness and dragged myself away from the bus. The pain was excruciating.” A store-owner who knew Aditya happened to pass by and took him to the hospital. His parents were shattered.

Once the treatment began, doctors amputated Aditya’s leg above the knee. “Every alternate day, the wound would be dressed without pain killers. I would scream in agony,” says Aditya, who was on bed rest for nearly two months thereafter.

As he began recovering, the entrepreneur tried hard to keep his dream alive and expand his business. One year after the accident, he left for South Africa on a business meeting. “My leg would bleed every single day of the trip and I would have to change the dressing frequently,” says the 40-year-old.

Confronted with the reality of the situation, he finally had to accept that moving around wasn’t easy any more. “With a heavy heart, I closed down the business.”

Fighting back

Aditya returned to India and tried a prosthetic leg. It took him about seven months to learn to walk with it. “I would fall down often. Several times, out of sheer frustration, I would just lie on the floor. I hated that situation,” he says.

His father helped him see things from a different perspective. “He would tell me that I needed to think like a child. Children don’t complain when they try learning to walk. When they fall, they just get up again. These words really helped me. My parents supported me through everything,” smiles Aditya.

Eventually, he began walking up to a kilometre. Slowly, he increased it to five and then 10 kms. Thereafter, he started swimming and joined an academy in Pune. Around that time, he came across a hoarding of local cycling club. “The picture I saw on it was a glaring reminder of my limitations. I started to reminisce about the days in school when I had the best cycle in class. The thought that I couldn’t ride anymore was too hard to bear.”

One day, Aditya borrowed his cousin’s cycle and made an attempt to ride with one leg. “My father supported me and said I should give it a shot.” I rode for about a kilometre after falling five times. Every fall made me stronger and I just kept going,” he says. Aditya decided then that he would be a professional cyclist. He trained hard, pushing through all the discomfort.

Almost six years later, he rode from London to Paris and climbed 9000 feet. He then cycled solo from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in 2013. His name entered the Limca Book of Records not once, but twice. “I become the first amputee cyclist to complete a 100 km ride in 5.5 hours. Now, I can even do it in 4-4.5 hours. Hitting this record was a turning point in my life. I knew that I could do everything I wanted to,” says Aditya, who won two silver medals at Asian championship.

The most challenging experience at the Asian championship in Delhi was when his artificial leg came out and got stuck in the pokes of the front wheel just days ahead of the championship. “I had a bad fall and got injured. Despite that, I went ahead and participated. I won the silver medal.”

Aditya Mehta Foundation

After his wins, Aditya decided to support para athletes. In 2013, he launched Aditya Mehta Foundation. The aim was to help people like him win medals.

His foundation has helped more than 100 para-athletes. Help was also extended to about a 1,000 soldiers from the Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), all of which are India’s paramilitary forces. “In all, we have trained nearly 7,000 people in 28 forms of para sports who have won 229 medals in different championships so far. All of them inspire me everyday.”

In 2020, Aditya and para-cyclists from the BSF went on a 3,801 km long cycling expedition in India, covering 35 cities in 41 days. His foundation raises funds through various events, scouts talent from among the disabled population in the country, trains and funds them to grow in sports.

Fitness

While Aditya has taken up coaching for para-cyclists in a big way, he sticks to his fitness schedule. “Nutrition and conditioning are essential and I follow them religiously,” informs the ace para-cyclist, who is up at 4 am everyday to start training. He trains for almost five days a week and makes it a point to hit the gym in between.

Future plans

Aditya is presently busy coaching. “We are training hard for the Paralympics 2024 in France. I’m also training the children who were identified at the grassroots level for various state, national and international competitions.”

Aditya loves taking long cycle rides whenever he get time. “My top hobby is cycling,” says the para-cyclist, who says his biggest inspiration is his father. “I am able to live confidently today because of my parents. Coming from a business family, where the goal is just to earn money, I am able to do my bit for my extended family (his trainees) due to my parents support,” he adds.

You can follow Aditya’s work on his website.

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Published on 30, Sep 2023

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Gaiea Sanskrit: British by birth, Indian by soul

(December 23, 2022) As a four-year-old growing up in London, Gabriella Burnell was introduced to Sanskrit by her parents. Having travelled to India as tourists, the couple had developed a deep appreciation for Indian culture and wanted their daughter to pick up the ancient divine language of the country. Starting with learning the language at St James School in London as a child, Gabriella went on to earn a degree in Sanskrit from Oxford University, pursuing it alongside music. Today, she is a renowned performing artist whose music is steeped in Sanskrit verses. So immersed is she in the world of the divine language of India that Gabriella has even changed her name to Gaiea Sanskrit. ‘Gaiea’ in Sanskrit means ‘to be sung’, she says. [caption id="attachment_33123" align="aligncenter" width="727"] Gaiea Sanskrit[/caption] The artist performs at festivals, retreats and events, and conducts Sanskrit workshops and courses. She has also started Cosmic Choir, a Sanskrit singing group. There is only one thing I have to do in this life, and that is to sing in Sanskrit. “When I sing, there is no difference between me, what is being sung, and the singing itself.” It all becomes one and the same for Gaiea.

nskrit workshops and courses. She has also started Cosmic Choir, a Sanskrit singing group.

There is only one thing I have to do in this life, and that is to sing in Sanskrit.

“When I sing, there is no difference between me, what is being sung, and the singing itself.” It all becomes one and the same for Gaiea.

Deep love for the language and divinity of India

“My parents visited India several times, developing a deep appreciation for Indian traditions, culture and teachings, particularly Sanskrit,” Gaiea tells Global Indian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBY-KxkvGlk

“More than a language, it is a form of artistry for me. The sounds of the Sanskrit language have the capacity to awaken our souls,” the UK-based performing artist adds.

For her studying both Sanskrit and music from teachers in India and the UK is an ongoing journey. Visiting India as a pupil to learn Dhrupad is an annual affair for Gaiea. “One of my earliest gurus in India was Shri Shantananda Saraswati, Shankaracharya of the north, who was also my parents' teacher,'' she reveals. Over the years, many gurus left an indelible impact on Gaiea’s choice of life.

With the notion that the power of sound goes beyond borders, and is completely universal, she intends to be in service to music and Sanskrit for as long as she is guided by the ‘divine force’.

The culture in Sanskrit language is universal and that’s why it transcends boundaries.

Indian Culture | Gaiea Sanskrit | Global Indian

“India has been custodian of Sanskrit. I feel like a child who has been assigned a duty to be dedicated to it so that I am able to become a master, one day” she remarks.

Spiritual bliss

“For my mum, spiritual well-being as well as access to culture and discipline was most important,” tells the singer.

After finishing her Bachelor’s, Gaiea went on to pursue Master’s in music theater, and later qualified as a teacher in Alexander Technique.

However, it was the spiritual world of Sanskrit verses that engulfed her interests. She loved being a Sanskrit scholar, and also loved performing music. “My artistic side married the scholastic side and became one,” she tells.

[caption id="attachment_33126" align="aligncenter" width="723"] Indian Culture | Gaiea Sanskrit | Global Indian Gaiea Sanskrit with her mother[/caption]

Talking about the deep concentration with which she performs on stage, Gaiea says, “It feels as if I am sculpting something. It’s different from practicing. When I am performing for an audience, something takes over. The same happens during chanting sessions and workshops that I conduct.”

For her performances are an act of letting go – of anything that she has been holding on to for the whole day and be free for that time frame. “All the other stuff disappears and literally there is no room in my whole body and mind for anything else,” she says.

Transforming lives

Gaiea enjoys a huge following on YouTube. While most of her subscribers are from India, she also caters to the audience from America, Spain, Germany, England and many other places across the world.

The feedback that the performing artist receives from her fans are testimony of how she has transformed their lives through music and divine Sanskrit chanting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugRNacwEq1w

People of the Indian diaspora feel that something is there in my songs that calls them back home.

Gaiea is also a scholar of Upanishads. “One of them says that ‘what you know, teach,’ so even though I have a lot more to learn, I try to pass across whatever knowledge I have gathered so far to my pupils,” she mentions.

Popularity of Sanskrit in the western world

Gaiea believes that more people are interested in learning Sanskrit in western countries because of the popularity of yoga. “Yoga is everywhere and people are interested in knowing about its origin and that is how they come across Sanskrit and get interested in learning.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIEGmTO37S8

However, for Gaiea ‘Sanskrit itself is music’ that emanates the vibrations of divine sounds. “It has the capacity to be super comic or super poetic, and is a language that taps into your core,” she remarks.

Follow Gaiea Sanskrit on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and her website

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Raj Echambadi: Indian American iMBA pioneer and first person of color to helm a 131-year-old American university

It was like being “forged by fire” says Raj Echambadi as he describes his first tryst with the American academia; he stands to take charge as the 10th president of the illustrious Illinois Institute of Technology. The India-born educator will be the first person of color to head the 131-year-old research-focused university. Considered a pioneer in online iMBA which he conceptualized in 2016, Echambadi has also been working with the Indian government to build entrepreneurial hubs in Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati and Utkal University in Odisha. The incident he mentions is an episode from his early academic years in the mid-1990s which is etched in his mind and shaped his outlook towards education. As a young PhD scholar at the University of Houston, Echambadi had thought that the dissertation proposal he’d submitted was pathbreaking. “During a discussion with my mentor, we spent the first five minutes talking about my Indian roots in what seemed like a casual conversation,” he says. “For the next 15 minutes, however, my mentor launched a professional criticism of my dissertation. It was eye-opening. He dissected my dissertation and told me why it was wrong. I was stunned.” “The funniest thing was that after the meeting ended we had coffee and spoke about tennis; just like friends. He made sure I was comfortable with his criticism.” This incident, he says, was demonstrative of the quality of US

PhD scholar at the University of Houston, Echambadi had thought that the dissertation proposal he’d submitted was pathbreaking. “During a discussion with my mentor, we spent the first five minutes talking about my Indian roots in what seemed like a casual conversation,” he says.

“For the next 15 minutes, however, my mentor launched a professional criticism of my dissertation. It was eye-opening. He dissected my dissertation and told me why it was wrong. I was stunned.”

“The funniest thing was that after the meeting ended we had coffee and spoke about tennis; just like friends. He made sure I was comfortable with his criticism.”

This incident, he says, was demonstrative of the quality of US academic dissemination, and the caliber of culturally sensitive faculty members.

From Chennai to the US

[caption id="attachment_4282" align="aligncenter" width="413"] Indian American Raj Echambadi will be the first person of color to helm the 131-year-old Illinois Institute of Technology. Raj Echambadi with his friend Ramesh Kumar during his MBA days in India[/caption]

Born in Chennai, Echambadi graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Anna University in 1989. He went on to work as a sales executive at Castrol in Chennai before moving to the US to do his PhD in Marketing from the University of Houston. He then went to work at the University of Central Florida for 11 years, before joining the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was during his time here that Echambadi conceptualized and launched the first-of-its-kind MOOC-based online MBA (iMBA as it is popularly known) in partnership with Coursera. The iMBA has now reached over 80 million people around the world and is considered one of the most disruptive and breakthrough programs in graduate MBA.

Following this, Echambadi was appointed the Duncan Family Dean at D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston.

In pursuit of excellence

Raj Echambadi belongs to a generation of Indians who migrated to the US in pursuit of excellence in diverse fields such as academia, medicine, and technology. Their success stories, in turn, sculpted India’s repute in the global order. Asked what worked for the diaspora, he says: “When I came here, there was no safety net. We had to survive. And, the Indian middle class’ emphasis on the value of education played a role too.” This is precisely what the Indian-American educator wants to impart to the next breed of aspirants.

[caption id="attachment_4283" align="aligncenter" width="569"] Indian American Raj Echambadi will be the first person of color to helm the 131-year-old Illinois Institute of Technology. Raj with his brother Rajnarayan and cousin Sreedevi in the US in 2013[/caption]

The democratization of education by making it both affordable and accessible has been central to his initiatives such as the iMBA program at the University of Illinois – which scaled up the institution’s outreach and gave access to global learners. The breakthrough iMBA project brought down the cost of the two-year program from $100,000 to just $22,000. A significant number of Indians from both inside and outside the US benefited from it.

Besides, the academic research expert’s initiatives – through collaborations between American institutions and the Andhra Pradesh government – to teach entrepreneurial skills to high school and college students are beginning to bear fruits. “The Indian government has invited us after seeing our pilot project in Andhra Pradesh. I’m hoping this model will benefit over 10,000 students by 2025.”

Hoping to make a similar impact in his new role at Illinois Institute of Technology from August onwards, he reveals the recipe for the success of any project.

“Start small, dream big, experiment, iterate, and scale-up very fast,” he says.

As a parting shot, Echambadi ends on a somewhat philosophical note on his continuing educational endeavors and giving back to the global community. “Action is thy duty, fruit is not my concern,” quoting Bhagavad Gita.

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Jonas Masetti: Italian-Brazilian spiritual guru bringing Vedanta to Brazil

(December 4, 2024) Born in Rio de Janeiro to parents of Italian and indigenous Brazilian descent, Jonas Masetti grew up with a rich multicultural heritage. His family’s modest roots in São Paulo and the Minas Gerais region instilled in him a deep connection to Brazilian traditions. However, his life took an extraordinary turn when he encountered Indian philosophy during his engineering career. What began as a search for deeper meaning evolved into a commitment to sharing Vedanta, a profound tradition of self-knowledge and spirituality, with the world. Jonas’s work has earned global recognition, including from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2021, Modi mentioned Jonas in his widely followed Mann Ki Baat program, commending his efforts in popularizing the Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta among Brazilians and called him the ambassador of Vedic culture. Jonas recently met the Indian Prime Minister during the latter’s recent visit to Rio de Janeiro. On this occasion, Jonas and his team presented a captivating Sanskrit rendition of the Ramayana. Later the PM took to twitter, once again turning the world’s attention on Jonas. Vedanta - a timeless philosophy “My understanding is that Vedic tradition has so many tools for the well-being of humanity,” believes the

/i>. Later the PM took to twitter, once again turning the world’s attention on Jonas.

Vedanta - a timeless philosophy

“My understanding is that Vedic tradition has so many tools for the well-being of humanity,” believes the Italian-Brazilian guru of Vedanta.

Vedanta is one of the schools of Indian philosophy, rooted in the teachings of the Vedas, which are ancient sacred scriptures of India. The word ‘Vedanta’ literally means "the end of the Vedas, signifying both the culmination of Vedic thought and the philosophical insights derived from the later part of the Vedas, particularly the Upanishads. Vedanta explores deep questions about the nature of reality, the self, and the ultimate purpose of life.

It offers multiple paths to self-realization, allowing individuals to align with their temperament and abilities. The paths are Jnana Yoga (path of knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion), Karma Yoga (path of action) and Raja Yoga (path of meditation).

“When I chose Vedanta, I saw it as a means of knowledge and a tool for knowing myself. In the course, I got to learn about Indian culture and temples. I realised I belonged to that. My students are from all the religions,” remarked Jonas in an interview highlighting how Vedanta transcends religious boundaries. “You don’t have to be a Hindu to practice such things. When you go to an Ayurveda doctor, he doesn’t ask about your religion before treating you. Same way, the Vedanta teacher is not asked where you belong.”

[caption id="attachment_61154" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Indian Culture | Jonas Masetty | Global Indian Jonas Masetti[/caption]

From engineering to spirituality: A life transformed

Jonas discovered yoga and Vedanta in the early 2003 while searching for answers to a growing sense of dissatisfaction with his life, despite having a successful career as a mechanical engineer. “I had everything that a Western society needs to have. I had family, friends and money. I used to go to parties but I was not feeling fulfilled. Also, the people I knew had a lot of trouble, “he said, “I felt what the Western ideology was proposing to me wasn’t going to give me fulfilment.”

The quest to explore beyond the material world, led Jonas to meet Santosh Vallury, an Indian yogi who had recently moved to Brazil at that time. “I had the privilege and good fortune to have many one-to-one sessions with him,” Jonas recalled.

This relationship sparked Jonas’s interest in Indian spirituality and led him to the U.S. to meet Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a revered teacher of Vedanta. At an ashram in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, Jonas experienced the transformative power of Indian wisdom through Vedic teachings and seva (selfless service). “After that, I was very into the culture because there was a connection which I felt deeply,” he explained.

Jonas’s journey of transformation reached its peak when he enrolled in a three-and-a-half-year residential course at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Coimbatore. “For me, the three-year course was fundamental.” He felt as if he is a completely new person. “It was like being born again.” The immersive program shaped him into an Acharya (master) of Vedanta, and he returned to Brazil as a teacher.

Indian Culture | Jonas Masetty | Global Indian

Establishing Vishva Vidya: A Vedic oasis in Brazil

In 2014, Jonas founded Vishva Vidya, an institute dedicated to preserving and sharing the teachings of Vedanta in Brazil. Located in the scenic hills of Petropolis, near Rio de Janeiro, the institute offers classes, retreats, and immersive learning experiences. Its name, meaning ‘universal knowledge’ in Sanskrit, reflects Jonas’s belief in the inclusivity of Vedic teachings.

He has also adopted a hybrid model to reach a wider audience, combining traditional in-person sessions with innovative online platforms. The interactive learning system, introduced at Vishva Vidya, replicates the experience of a classroom through cutting-edge technology. “We have four cameras and 32 monitors arranged in a U-shape so hundreds of students can interact with each other and with me in real-time,” Jonas explained.

The institute has become a hub for Brazilians seeking to immerse themselves in Indian philosophy, Sanskrit, and the Vedic tradition, creating a gated community that thrives on learning and self-discovery.

Jonas also runs an initiative called Chhatralya in Brazil meant for underprivileged students interested in receiving spiritual teachings.

[caption id="attachment_61146" align="aligncenter" width="824"] Indian Culture | Spiritual Guru | Global Indian Jonas during one of his sessions[/caption]

Acknowledgment by Prime Minister Modi: A global spotlight

Jonas’s efforts in popularizing Vedanta have garnered widespread recognition, including a significant mention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat program in 2021. During the broadcast, Modi praised Jonas for his work in bringing the Bhagavad Gita and Indian philosophy to Brazil, calling him an ambassador of Vedic culture.

The Prime Minister introduced him to the world as the person with perhaps the largest following of Vedanta in Brazil.” During that time Jonas had 150,000 followers studying daily. “That is probably how he came to notice us, and it’s a recognition,” Jonas reflected. “Being foreigners, there is a lot of resistance. Those who choose to go on this path (of spirituality) lack a sense of belonging. For us, it was very special because we felt that we were accepted. It was a reason for a lot of joy for us.”

This recognition took on a more personal dimension during Modi’s recent visit to Brazil. At an event in Rio de Janeiro, Jonas and his team presented an awe-inspiring Sanskrit rendition of the Ramayana for the Prime Minister. The performance showcased the enduring relevance of Indian traditions in a global context. Following that, Modi took to Twitter to reaffirm Jonas's role as an ambassador of Vedic culture, further spotlighting him.

[caption id="attachment_61152" align="aligncenter" width="851"] Indian Culture | Jonas Masetti with Modi | Global Indian Jonas Masetti with PM Modi during the latter's recent visit to Brazil[/caption]

Translating ancient texts for modern readers

One of Jonas’s most significant contributions is his work in translating Indian scriptures. His translation of the Bhagavad Gita, completed over two and a half years, has been a meticulous effort to preserve the essence of the original text. “For every expression, I wanted the ‘original meaning’ so that the essence is not lost,” Jonas shared. For example, he added explanatory footnotes to bridge cultural gaps, comparing Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow, to Aladdin’s lamp for Western readers.

In addition to the Gita, Jonas Masetti has translated other foundational texts and plans to work on the Upanishads, ensuring that Western audiences have access to these timeless teachings. He is also an author, and the host of the podcast Vedanta Cast.

Inspiring a global movement

Through his teaching, translations, and cultural exchanges, Jonas Masetti has created a unique space where Indian and Brazilian traditions come together. His institution, Vishva Vidya has become a model for how ancient knowledge can thrive in the modern Western world, attracting students from diverse backgrounds and creating a global Vedantic community.

Jonas’s vision extends beyond teaching. He believes in the transformative power of spirituality to bring out the best in individuals and societies. He is now working to revive Brazil’s spiritual legacy, connecting it with Indian wisdom to foster a deeper understanding of universal human values.

[caption id="attachment_61145" align="aligncenter" width="662"] Indian Culture | Spiritual Guru | Global Indian Jonas Masetti[/caption]

“Our connections with fathers, grandfathers, with devatas, with nature, and everything that is available help us become the best version of ourselves and lead the world spiritually,” Jonas remarked while discussing Indian practices, a message he actively propagates.

Indian diaspora in Brazil

The Indian diaspora in Brazil is a small but dynamic community that reflects the historical ties and growing connections between the two nations. While the migration of Indians to Brazil is not as large-scale as seen in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, their presence has been steadily growing, particularly in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Many Indians have settled in Brazil as professionals in fields such as information technology, engineering, research and academia. Additionally, Indian culture has left a distinct mark on Brazilian society through the popularity of yoga, Bollywood films, and Indian cuisine.

Universality of ancient Indian wisdom

Jonas’s journey from Rio de Janeiro to the ashrams of India and back is a proof of the universality of ancient wisdom. He has made Vedanta accessible to thousands in the land he comes from, proving that spirituality transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

Indian Culture | Jonas Masetty | Global Indian

Jonas Masetti’s story is a shining example of how one individual can become a bridge between cultures. His work serves as a reminder that the search for knowledge and self-awareness is a universal endeavour, capable of uniting people across the world.

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Flying high: Astronaut Raja Chari is reaching for the stars

(February 1, 2023) I was on a call with NASA's Mission Control, Houston for about an hour before my 10:30 pm interview with SpaceX Crew-3 Commander Raja Jon Vurputoor ‘Grinder’ Chari, which was scheduled to be telecasted live on NASA TV on January 28, 2022. While I had interviewed him once before, it was amazing to converse with the Indian American astronaut this time as he floated in zero gravity, living his childhood dream. [caption id="attachment_34583" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Astronaut Raja Jon Vurputoor ‘Grinder’ Chari[/caption] "It's been a great experience. I think once the second stage cut off on the dragon and we were in orbit, it was just a dream come true. And then actually getting onto the space station and getting to live here has been amazing. I remember the first time we saw the ISS from the Dragon. About 40 km away, as we were coming up the past transition from night to day, the sun hit the station, and it looked golden. It was pretty amazing. It's been a blessing to be up here and getting to do science every day and work for the people on Earth," the astronaut had told me from the International Space

member the first time we saw the ISS from the Dragon. About 40 km away, as we were coming up the past transition from night to day, the sun hit the station, and it looked golden. It was pretty amazing. It's been a blessing to be up here and getting to do science every day and work for the people on Earth," the astronaut had told me from the International Space Station (ISS).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfs54Af7KHU

Exactly a year after that interview, US President Joe Biden nominated Chari to be appointed as the Air Force Brigadier General. The astronaut, who has roots in Telangana, was docked at the International Space Station for 177 days, between November 2021 and May 2022. Serving as a flight engineer aboard the ISS, he performed two spacewalks and helped in capturing and releasing three SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and two Cygnus cargo vehicles. An alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Global Indian is also the recipient of the prestigious Defense Meritorious Service Medal. As part of the Artemis Team, the astronaut is gearing up to be a part of NASA's next lunar mission.

A dream journey

While NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission might have been launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Chari's journey to the International Space Station started when a young man from Hyderabad decided to move to the United States of America in the 70s. His father, Sreenivas Chari, who had an engineering degree from Osmania University, moved to the States with dreams of making a life for himself. "He sacrificed a lot for his family. I have many relatives in the US, and most of them credit my father for helping them build a life in the States. As a child, I couldn’t understand this, but now I believe that had my father not moved here, I wouldn’t be what I am," the astronaut told me, adding that unfortunately, his father passed away in 2010.

[caption id="attachment_34582" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Astronaut | Raja Chari | Global Indian Chari docked at the International Space Station[/caption]

The astronaut visited Hyderabad thrice, where many of his close relatives still live. "I went there as a teenager and remember going to the Tank Bund. That was one of the most memorable summer vacations I ever had — I played a lot with my cousins, ate some delicious food, and even tried to learn some Telugu, which unfortunately I don’t remember now,” he shared.

Growing up in Iowa's Cedar Falls, Chari had just one dream - that of becoming an astronaut. "Every child dreams of becoming an astronaut at some point. As a kid, the more sci-fi movies I watched, the more I wanted to be in space," he shared, adding that while at the time he wasn't sure about becoming an astronaut, he always wanted to be an aircraft pilot. “During my undergraduate years, I made up my mind that I wanted to be a pilot. Through high school, my goal was essentially getting into the Air Force Academy. I joined the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado,” he said during the interview.

[caption id="attachment_34581" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Astronaut | Raja Chari | Global Indian Chari (in the middle) with his SpaceX Crew-3 team members[/caption]

A few years after joining the US Air Force, Chari moved to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned his Master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics. The astronaut has accumulated more than 2,500 hours of flight time on F-35, F-15, F-16, and F-18 including F-15E combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployments in support of the Korean peninsula.

Into the space

In 2017, while he was serving as the Commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and the Director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force, Chari received a letter notifying him of his selection for NASA Astronaut Group 22. He was sent for a two-year-long rigorous training programme and in 2020 was selected to be a part of the Artemis Team. It was around the same time that he was selected for a space mission, SpaceX Crew-3, which he commanded.

[caption id="attachment_34580" align="aligncenter" width="632"] Astronaut | Raja Chari | Global Indian Chari during a spacewalk[/caption]

"There are several very accomplished team members in the SpaceX Crew 3 mission. So, I believe my role will be similar to that of a coach. A coach doesn’t have to teach the player how to play, they already know that. He just has to find the best way to place each player to make sure the team wins. And that’s what I will be doing,” he said, talking about his roles and responsibilities in the Crew 3 mission. Chari is the first NASA rookie to command a spaceflight since Joe Engle, who commanded the STS-2 mission in 1981.

On November 10, 2021, Chari docked at the ISS for his six-month-long stint in the Earth's orbit. Speaking about the view from the ISS, the astronaut said, "We see numerous sunrises and sunsets in a day. The atmosphere is beautifully illuminated and I love watching that the most. Everything we know, understand, and love on Earth is just a razor-thin layer of air."

[caption id="attachment_34579" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Indian American Astronaut | Global Indian Astronaut Raja Chari[/caption]

While on the ISS, Chari worked on over 300 experiments involving plant science, looking at different methods of watering and irrigating the plants. He also researched the stem cells of cotton plants. Although he enjoyed working at the ISS, living in zero gravity did feel uncomfortable at the beginning of the mission. "Zero gravity affects the body both physically and mentally. But, what I found the most difficult was multitasking. It takes a while for your brain to adapt to this environment. You also have to get used to walking on every surface in the space, including the ceiling and walls. It takes a while but you get used to it," the astronaut shared.

The journey beyond

Chari has been involved in several activities after his return to Earth on May 6, 2022. After resuming duty in Houston, the astronaut has visited several schools and been part of many social events, encouraging young children to 'go find their own path'. "All of our paths are completely different," the astronaut said during a school summit at Iowa, adding, "If you're trying to be an astronaut or trying to go to space, the last thing you should do is look at our bios and try to do that, because we already have that."

[caption id="attachment_34578" align="aligncenter" width="626"] Indian American Astronaut | Global Indian Raja Chari with members of Indian diaspora during India's 75th Independence celebration in the US[/caption]

The astronaut, who is working on the Artemis mission, wishes to associate with ISRO in the future. He shared, "NASA and ISRO have a long history of cooperation, going back to the early days of the space age when the two space agencies worked on sounding rockets. The cooperation continues today as we work on joint space and Earth science missions. I am really looking forward to ISRO's first human spaceflight mission."

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Celebrating excellence: Scientist Subra Suresh receives National Medal from President Joe Biden

(October 28, 2023) It's a big day for India, as Padma Shri scientist, Prof Subra Suresh wins the prestigious National Medal of Technology and Innovation - regarded as the US' highest scientific award - by the US President Joe Biden at the White House. The former director of the USA National Science Foundation, a former Dean of Engineering and Vannevar Bush Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a former President of Carnegie Mellon University, Prof Suresh is also the first alumnus of IIT Madras and the first India-born academic to be appointed as the president of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) back in 2018. [caption id="attachment_46308" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Prof Suresh with US President Joe Biden[/caption] According to the official statement by the White House, the scientist was honoured "for pioneering research across engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences. A transformative educator, he has advanced the study of material science and its application to other disciplines. His commitment to research and collaboration across borders has demonstrated how science can forge understanding and cooperation among people and nations." Prof Suresh's research is centered on the characteristics of both engineered and biological materials, exploring their impact on human diseases and their applications

plines. His commitment to research and collaboration across borders has demonstrated how science can forge understanding and cooperation among people and nations."

Prof Suresh's research is centered on the characteristics of both engineered and biological materials, exploring their impact on human diseases and their applications across a wide range of industries. With a four-decade-long and illustrious career, the scientist boasts an impressive track record, with three published books, over 300 research articles, 35 filed patent applications, and the co-founding of two technology startups. He also founded the Global Research Council, an annual initiative designed to facilitate the connection and coordination of leaders from major research funding agencies worldwide.

A student par excellence

Born in 1953 to a Tamil family residing in Mumbai, Prof Suresh was always the brightest kid in his class. Focused and passionate, his classmates would often approach him to help them with their studies, and this academician never turned anyone down. In one of his early interviews, the scientist stated that he always knew he would be very good at teaching.

Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian

After finishing high school, while many of his friends were still thinking about what to do next, Prof Suresh’s goals were very clear. He cracked the IIT entrance examination, and after four years of hard work, received his BTech degree from IIT Madras graduating first class with distinction. The same year, in 1977, the scientist moved to the United States of America, where he received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1979, and later earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the guidance of Robert O. Ritchie in 1981, specialising in materials science.

Awards and beyond

The young scientist was still pursuing his postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory when he received the prestigious Hardy Medal “for exceptional promise for a successful career in the broad field of metallurgy by a metallurgist under the age of 30”.

Soon after he received his Ph.D., the scientist went to work for the Ivy League institution, Brown University in 1983, where he served as an Assistant Professor of Engineering, and was eventually promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in July 1986 and Professor in July 1989. However, within a one-and-a-half year of joining Brown University, Prof Suresh was selected by the White House to receive the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award.

[caption id="attachment_33010" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian Prof Suresh with former President of USA, Barack Obama[/caption]

Decorated with several medals and honours very early in his career, including the 1992 Ross Coffin Purdy Award from the American Ceramic Society, the scientist’s book, Fatigue of Materials (1991) has been cited more than 5,300 times in scholarly publications as per Google Scholar. The book has also been translated into Chinese and Japanese and adopted as both a textbook and a reference work.

But despite all his achievements, the scientist still shares a very close relationship with India. “I come to India quite often,” the Global Indian said, adding, “In large portions of Indian society, and this is historic, going back hundreds or thousands of years, there has always been a strong emphasis on education, knowledge, and scholarship, including science and engineering. The last 18 years in India have been very interesting, especially in areas like information technology, where India has emerged as a leading participant in the global scene. Science and engineering play a huge role in that. Also, the middle class in India has moved up quite a bit in the last 18 years. This is a very good illustration, in the context of a large country, a large population, and a large democracy, that education broadly in any field and science and engineering education, in particular, can be a ticket to prosperity. If that continues it will be a very good thing not just for India but for the whole world.”

A true guru

Having tasted the joys of teaching, the scientist moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the R.P. Simmons Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 1993. There, Prof Suresh realised that teaching doesn’t just involve guiding students in the classroom, but also inspiring young talent to join institutions.

Realising the huge gender gap in the scientific world, the academician took it upon himself to motivate young girls to take up higher education in scientific fields. “In most countries, women occupy 50 percent of the population and hence 50 percent of the talent pool. In the US, about 70 percent of the top-ranking students in high school are girls, both in public and private schools, and they also do well in mathematics and science, and so forth. If they are not represented in engineering, then we are losing out on the top talent,” the scientist explained during an interview.

[caption id="attachment_33011" align="aligncenter" width="603"] Scientist | Prof Subra Suresh | Global Indian Professor Suresh with his wife, Mary Delmar Suresh[/caption]

He added, “Women play such an important role in the 21st century, and we cannot have such small representation. So, I did some experiments at MIT, and we found that the key is not in admitting more women through quotas, but instead through something more sustainable in the long term. You need role models; you need professors for women who are good role models for students. Secondly, you have to do extra work to attract talent. When we admit students, they get offers from many different universities. I would offer to make personal calls and talk to students whom the departments felt would be a good fit for the university, and it worked. It worked for both genders, but it worked better for women. So, I think there are things we can do, scholarships are one way, and role models and mentoring are very important too.”

Heading the National Science Foundation

In 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Prof Suresh to be the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). At the institution, the scientist worked on investing in the best people, whose ideas could make a difference on the ground. “There are not many countries in the world where somebody who comes to get an education as a student has an opportunity to lead an agency like the NSF,” he said during an interview, adding, “I think this has been one of the remarkable things about the U.S. and as long as that possibility exists in the country one would hope that people would come here from all over the world.”

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

Looking at his successful profile, the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore appointed him as their President. Under his leadership, the University introduced a specific curriculum on innovations and digital technologies. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Prof Suresh and his wife made a personal gift of $100,000 to seed the NTU Priorities Fund, which has now grown to $8.9 million, in support of students with urgent financial needs. The scientist, who has trained several budding academicians and contributed heavily to the scientific world in the last four decades, is now looking forward to a peaceful retired life in Singapore after stepping down from his post later this year.

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