Global IndianstoryOorja to Log 9: Cleantech startups paving the way for a sustainable future in India

Oorja to Log 9: Cleantech startups paving the way for a sustainable future in India

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(October 4, 2023) By 2030, India aims to meet fifty percent of its electricity requirements from renewable energy sources, causing a tectonic shift in the global fight against climate change. With eight years left, certain cleantech startups have jumped the bandwagon to help the country inch closer to its goal by producing technologies that aim to reduce carbon print by producing eco-friendly products. Global Indian puts a spotlight on startup that are at the heart of transformation and sustainability.

Karma Recycling

What do you do with your old mobile phones? While most waste makes it to the landfills, not much has been thought about disposing of e-waste in India, and to tackle this problem, Aamir Jariwala and Akshat Ghiya launched Karma Recycling in 2013 – a company that buys mobile devices and sells refurbished ones at much cheaper rates. It was while studying electronic waste space in the US that the duo found that their learning could be applied to India. Aamir first chanced upon the idea of recycling and refurbishing while working for a private equity firm that was keen to invest in clean technology. That’s when he decided to join hands with Akshat to launch their startup.

Aamir Jariwala and Akshat Ghiya co-founded the startup Karma Recycling

“When we started looking at the ways people dispose of e-waste in India, we found that most of the market was owned by kabadiwalas (scrap dealers). There was very little emphasis on reuse. So, we knew there was a mountain of mobile devices lying in people’s homes and no one knew what to do with them,” Akshat told Better India.

The company accepts phones in any condition, as Akshat revealed that most of them have small problems. So, they furbish almost 25 percent of them, and if they can’t be repaired, they break them into working and non-working spare parts. “Working parts are used to repair other phones. And the parts that cannot be repaired are recycled responsibly according to our zero-landfill policy. We are also a Government of India authorised electronic waste collector and segregator,” added Akshat, who grew up in Italy and went to college at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he met Aamir.

Follow Karma Recycling on Linkedin

Oorjan

Solar energy is the future, and India itself is witnessing a joining of forces and commitment from government, industry and entrepreneurs which has brought momentum to the sector. And IIT-Bombay graduate Gautam Das with his batchmates Roli Gupta and Hrishikesh Deshpande are one of the leading entrepreneurs in this space with Oorjan which they founded in 2014 to take solar energy to the maximum number of people.

Gautam Das is one of the founders of Oorjan

“Our focus remains on distributed solar for end consumers – residential, commercial, and industrial. Our technology-enabled design tool offers solar proposals instantly in site so that customers can make purchase decisions faster,” Roli told Mercom India in an interview, adding that the rooftop solar panels sector is growing at the rate of 60-70 percent every year. “There is an endless demand for 1 billion Indians and one is hard-pressed to find a company focused on delighting them. The industry, due to its lack of ideas and innovation on how to acquire customers economically, gravitates to larger projects,” she added.

With operations across 14 Indian states, Oorjan is now planning to come up with solutions that will help recycle solar panel waste.

Follow Oorjan on Linkedin

Log 9

A year after Oorjan, Log 9 – a nanotechnology company – jumped the bandwagon of cleantech startups to revolutionise the energy sector with an innovative zero-emission and low-cost aluminium-air fuel cell. A brainchild of Akshay Singhal and Kartik Hajela, Log 9 Materials develops aluminium fuel cell technology for both stationary and automotive applications. It was in 2017 that they realised that energy storage or battery technologies will be important in the larger scheme of climate change, and that’s when they started using material science competency to create battery technologies.

Akshay Singhal and Kartik Hajela are the co-founders of Log 9

The startup, which raised $2 million in funding from Petronas Ventures in 2021, understood that none of the batteries were made keeping Indian climate conditions in mind. And it was the need of the hour to build a battery technology from the ground up in India. Talking about the seed funding, Akshay told ET, “enables us to accelerate our ongoing mission of introducing our breakthrough InstaCharge (rapid charging) battery technology to a plethora of end-users, and in positioning the startup as the largest Indian player in advanced cell chemistries.”

Follow Akshay Singhal on Linkedin

OxyGarden

In a post-covid world, hygiene has become of utmost importance as airborne transmission is considered one of the hazards in the spreading of viruses. To curb this, cleantech startup OxyGarden has found a solution by building air sanitizers that help improve the quality of indoor air. It was in January 2020 that OxyGreen launched its first product – Forest- after two years of prototyping and testing. The IoT-enabled garden, which produces 700 litres of oxygen per day and reduces carbon emission, purifies and humidifies indoor air naturally.

Launched in 2019 by Abhishek Gupta, the idea started growing in 2016 after he discovered that the then-existing electric air purifiers worked on only about 51 percent of pollutants. “I wanted 100 percent clean air in my room, but there was no product in the market that worked on the entire spectrum of pollutants,” he told YourStory. That’s when he chanced upon research from NASA that showed the role of plants in purifying the air and eliminating the chances of airborne infections.

Abhishek Gupta launched OxyGarden in 2019

“It has been scientifically proven that the right IAQ index reduces airborne transmission of biological contaminants. Many viruses fail to infect people if the relative humidity level is maintained at around 40 percent. This not only increases the time and distance of the transmission but also reduces the percentage of people contracting the virus,” added Abhishek.

Follow Abhishek Gupta on Linkedin

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Published on 04, Oct 2023

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Raising the bar: The remarkable journey of record-breaking pianist TS Satish Kumar

(November 4, 2023) When Dr TS Satish Kumar sits by his grand piano and runs his fingers effortlessly across keyboard — magic happens. In 2018, when he broke the ‘World’s fastest piano playing’ record, with a speed of 2,454 notes per minute and 47 notes in a second — piano virtuosos and connoisseurs across the world were stunned. How could he? They wondered. But that was just the beginning of his record-breaking spree. The ‘Piano King’ has gone on to receive nine honorary doctorates from reputed institutions across the world, surpassing even the maestro, A.R. Rahman, who received seven in a twelve-year span. “I draw inspiration from many things. But observing another artist perform and do something extraordinary motivates me the most. It pushes me to perform,” smiles Dr Satish Kumar, the world's fastest pianist as he connects with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_46491" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Dr T.S. Satish Kumar[/caption] Accomplishments galore In October, he received his ninth honorary doctorate from Webbic University in Ghana. “I am living my dream due to my parents’ support, for having encouraged me throughout my journey. All parents must support their children to take up any form of art they are passionate about,” insists the

ved his ninth honorary doctorate from Webbic University in Ghana. “I am living my dream due to my parents’ support, for having encouraged me throughout my journey. All parents must support their children to take up any form of art they are passionate about,” insists the pianist, whose music is described as ‘mesmerising, soulful and magical’. “Once I start playing the piano, my fingers move automatically. It’s like the fingers have their own brains. It just flows,” says Dr Satish.

In 2020, he received the “World’s Best Pianist” title by playing classical music on piano with left hand and tabla with right hand. The event was organised by the Bravo International book of world records - UAE. “I don’t get nervous or think about anything while playing piano. I just go out there and play it confidently. For me, just being confident is the key to success,” believes the music maestro.

An early passion

Born in Eluru in Andhra Pradesh, Satish was passionate about music right from his childhood. His father, Thota Jayaprakasa Rao, was a teacher at St Ambrose High School, where he also studied. “When I was in second standard, my father taught me how to play the Harmonium. He was my first teacher. I used to play it during the cultural programmes at school,” recalls Dr Satish, who now lives in Hyderabad.

“I had a great music sense from the very beginning,” he says. Within a short span, he picked up the nuances with ease. He went on to complete his M.Sc (Mathematics) from Osmania University and M.Phil (maths) from Madras university.

While he was fine tuning his skills for hours each day, it was in 2015 that he started playing the piano real fast. “I did not know that I could run my fingers on the keys this fast,” smiles Dr Satish, who gave a live performance in Dubai in 2019. Once he gained confidence that he too could do something extraordinary with a piano, Satish keenly watched the performances of all those musicians who were famous for playing piano. “Watching them motivated me. I contacted the World Records India to test my speed. The rest is history,” says the extremely talented musician.

The record-breaking spree

When Satish broke the world record in 2018, the previous record at the time was 1,208 notes in a minute by another Indian, Aman Bathla. “It was my first attempt and I played double the number of notes Aman did,” he says, beaming with pride.

Dr Satish received his first doctorate in music from the prestigious Berkeley University in California. Among other institutions to have recognised his contributions are the Royal American University, Delaware University and London University of Arts and culture.

“About 150 world record organisations from the USA, London, Australia, Dubai among other countries have tested my piano playing skills,” informs Dr Satish. All of them were taken aback by his skills. “They keep asking me how I do it, I tell them I just have the confidence to do it. I firmly believe that hard work never fails.”

He performed before chancellors of nine universities to get his Honorary doctorates. All of them agreed that Dr Satish performs effortlessly. That is besides the number of performances he gave in Hyderabad.

Lifelong learner

Dr Satish is a well-qualified musician. He holds a diploma in vocal classical and tabla from Potti Sreeramulu university, Hyderabad. He also trained in the drums and piano, reaching the eighth grade from the Trinity College, London. “I am the only person to have achieved the eighth grade in two instruments,” says the multifaceted musician, who also plays guitar and flute.

Prior to breaking world records, Dr Satish would practice six hours each day. Now, at his Kalanidhi school of music, which he founded to impart training in a variety of music instruments, he is at the keyboard of his acoustic piano for almost 10 hours. “I am training many students in music and some of them are already performing in other countries,” informs the musician, who has also earned international titles like World’s smartest pianist, music Genious , Doctor of music, Piano Samrat. Among the national titles he earned are Kala Shiromani, Kala Ratna, Music Genius among others.

He says the aim his music school is to provide a platform for developing musical skills. “We regularly send students to Trinity college, London for grade examination training for piano, drums and guitar. They are also trained for live performances.”

His music school has already produced more than 1500 musicians but Satish carries on tirelessly. “I intend to train one lakh musicians before I retire,” he declares, adding, “I have to pass on my skills to the next generation so that they too smash all world records and leave their mark.”

Follow Dr TS Satish on YouTube and explore the Kalanidhi School website.

Of form and function: The urban planners transforming modern India

(August 13, 2022) The practice of urban planning in India dates back thousands of years. The remains of the Indus Valley civilisation are testament to well-thought out, detailed city plans. Mohenjo-Daro city included roads with perpendicular intersections and underground drains, in Vedic and Sangam times, cities like Ayodhya, Pataliputra and Madurai respectively included wide roads, arrangements for dinking water and shady enclaves for people to gather. The Mughals introduced havelis and in Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh collaborated with a famous British architect of the time, Howel, to build the city. Western models came in with the British and town planning was entrusted to municipalities. In modern India, architects like Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn handed over the reins to visionaries like B.V. Doshi, Charles Correa and Hasmukh Patel. On Independence Day weekend, Global Indian takes a look at some of the country's top architects and urban planners today, the men and women behind our metropolises and hi-tech city, whose work, in today's increasingly borderless world, is an amalgamation of global perspectives and an authenticity that is, at its soul, wholly Indian. Dr Balakrishna Vithaldas Doshi [caption id="attachment_28047" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Architect BV Doshi conducting a walkthrough at IIM Bangalore. Photo

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[caption id="attachment_28047" align="aligncenter" width="655"] BV Doshi | Urban Planners | Global Indian Architect BV Doshi conducting a walkthrough at IIM Bangalore. Photo credit: IIM-B[/caption]

With a career spanning 70 years, Dr B V Doshi is a visionary. In 2018, he became the first Indian architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the most coveted prizes in architecture equivalent to the Nobel in the field. Doshi has completed more than 100 projects in his magnificent career, amalgamating modernism with the rich traditions of India’s architecture, craft, culture and climate. Many public institutions like libraries, schools, art centres and low-cost housing societies are part of Doshi’s rich repertoire. The National War Museum and Memorial, Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), IIM Bangalore, Amdavad Ni Gufa, and Guggenheim Museum, Finland are some of his notable projects amongst many others.

Bimal Patel

[caption id="attachment_28048" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Bimal Patel | Global Indian The Kashi Vishwanath Dham[/caption]

The transformation of the 966.3-hectare waterfront into a sea transport and tourism hub is the Maximum City's most ambitious project in modern times. The man leading the charge is architect and urban planner Bimal Patel, Managing Director of HCP Design Planning and Management Limited and the President of the hallowed CEPT University in Ahmedabad. Today, he is a household name, as the chief architect for the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, the Sabarmati Riverfront and the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

Bimal joined his father's practice in Ahmedabad in 1990, after finishing his master's degree at Berkeley's College of Environmental Design and his PhD at the Department of City and Regional Planning, where he learned the importance of intellectual freedom and exploration. The Entrepreneurship Development Institute campus, one of his first projects, fetched him the Aga Khan Award for Architecture two years later. He was also involved with Town Planning Schemes in Gujarat after the earthquake. He is also the winner of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements' Award of Excellence, the Prime Minister's National Award for Excellence in Urban Planning and Design and in 2019, was bestowed with the Padma Shri.

[caption id="attachment_28049" align="aligncenter" width="340"] Bimal Patel | Global Indian Bimal Patel. Photo credit: Umang Shah / HCP[/caption]

Sheila Sri Prakash

[caption id="attachment_28050" align="aligncenter" width="865"] Shirdi Sai Baba Temple | Sheila Prakash | Global Indian The Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir, Chennai (ongoing). Render courtesy: Shilpa Architects[/caption]

Sheila Sri Prakash is an internationally acclaimed urban planner, architect and sustainability expert, who became the first Indian woman to establish her architecture practice in 1979. In 2016 The World Economic Forum invited her to be part of the 25-member Global Future Council for shaping the future of environment and natural resource security.

In 2013 Sheila formulated the Reciprocal Design Index to establish, document and incentivize sustainable design of Indian cities. She has been conferred with many national and global honours and accolades including the Bene Merenti Award at Romania. Tamil Nadu's first platinum rated office complex for Cethar Vessels, and restoration of UNESCO World Heritage site, Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur are some of her notable projects. This top architect and urban designer is widely consulted on matters of urban sustainability by several governments.

[caption id="attachment_28051" align="aligncenter" width="530"] Sheila Prakash[/caption]

Sonali and Manit Rastogi

[caption id="attachment_28052" align="aligncenter" width="606"] Infosys Nagpur Campus. Image- worldarchitecture.org[/caption]

Their designs have a soul - sustainability, optimisation, uniqueness and livability. Inspired by nature and looking to create much more than a concrete structure in all their projects, Delhi-based designers and urban planners Sonali and Manit Rastogi, are slowly changing the defination of contemporary architecture. The duo, who started their journey in the world of urban planning in 1996 with their company Morphogenesis, are the brains behind Infosys's 142 acre Nagpur campus, which is the world's largest net zero campus.

An alumni of Architectural Association, London, Manit and Sonali, have been working towards incorporating latest design and technology with nature. Many of their projects are net zero, implying that the greenhouse gases emissions within the buildings is almost negligible. Recipients of many awards, including World Architecture Festival Award and CWAB Awards, India’ Top Architects, these two urban planners are also on the panel of Technical Advisory Committee of GRIHA, India Green rating system.

[caption id="attachment_28053" align="aligncenter" width="428"] Sonali and Manit Rastogi[/caption]

Naresh Narasimhan

Koramangala's infamous rajakaluve, or storm water drain, will soon become a tourist site, all thanks to leading architect Naresh Narasimhan. An urbanist and social activist, Narasimhan has been responsible for renewing many marketplaces and neighbourhoods across India, including Church Street and Brigade Gateway in Bengaluru, and Nirlon Knowledge Park in Mumbai. An alumnus of Manipal Institute of Technology and Harvard Business School, Narasimhan has created some brilliant designs in his 30-year-long career, which have set benchmarks for their typologies in India.

Drawing his inspiration from star urbanists Charles Correa and Joseph Allen Stein, Narasimhan has worked hard to make his designs as cutting-edge as they are ethical. In fact, balancing sustainability with wellbeing-focused design is his expertise. The award-winning architect and founder of MOD Institute is also involved in several pro bono projects with Bengaluru Munciple Corporation to make the city safer and more accessible for vehicular movement and pedestrians.

[caption id="attachment_28054" align="aligncenter" width="632"] Naresh Narasimhan on Church Street. Photo: Deccan Chronicle[/caption]

Rahul Mehrotra

The founder of RMA Architects, Rahul Mehrotra's contributions towards urban design and planning have been both prolific and diverse. The firm, founded in 1990, has executed projects that include government and institutions, corporate offices and campuses and private homes. They designed the Hewlett Packard campus in Bengaluru, as well as a campus for underprivileged kids, built for the NGO Magic BUS.

[caption id="attachment_28055" align="aligncenter" width="607"] Rahul Mehrotra. Photo RMA Architects[/caption]

He has led restoration projects too, the best known being the Hyderabad's Falukhnama Palace and also created a masterplan for the conservation of the Taj Mahal. RMA even designed a social housing project for 100 elephants and their caretakers in Rajasthan. Mehrotra has a significant global presence and designed a Lab Of the Future in Basel Switzerland. In 2018, the firm received a Special Mention at the Venice Architecture Biennale, for three projects "that address issues of intimacy and empathy, gently diffusing social boundaries and hierarchies." Mehrotra is currently the Chair at the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University.

Inputs from Amrita Priya and Namrata Srivastava

Lodhi Art District: India’s first open gallery is a celebration of street art

(September 19, 2021) The sun is peeping through the curtains longing to know if 20-year-old Manish Singh is happy to bask in its warmth. It finds him languidly sprawled on his bed, listening to the commotion outside his quiet neighborhood. Armed with tripods and light reflectors, a string of chirpy photographers and his Indian art have momentarily taken over the colossal wall art right outside his block. Resting against the metal door of his ground floor house in shorts and blue t-shirt, Singh finds himself gazing at a new bunch of visitors every few minutes admiring the breathtaking murals in the leafy lanes of his colony. "This is a common sight now. So much has changed in Lodhi Colony, all thanks to these murals. A few years ago, we were just another residential colony but now the art has given this neighborhood a fresh lease of life. People from all walks of life often find themselves admiring these murals that have made Lodhi Colony quite popular," says Singh, a Delhi University student. Pop colors, asymmetric patterns and thought-provoking themes is what draws hundreds of Dilliwallas to one of the hottest spots in the capital. A true celebration of street Indian

often find themselves admiring these murals that have made Lodhi Colony quite popular," says Singh, a Delhi University student.

Pop colors, asymmetric patterns and thought-provoking themes is what draws hundreds of Dilliwallas to one of the hottest spots in the capital. A true celebration of street Indian art in its purest form, Lodhi Art District is an open art gallery that has grabbed the attention of every art lover.

[caption id="attachment_10554" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] Indian Art | Lodhi Art District | Indian Street Art | Global Indian Gupt Dwar mural made by Singaporean artists Yok and Sheryo[/caption]

Nestled between the hip Meherchand Market - that's lined with designer boutiques and eateries on one side - and the unadorned modest shops of Khanna Market on the other, Lodhi Colony is the last residential area of Lutyens Delhi to be built by the British. The soaring arches and the plain tall walls of these two-storeyed structures have turned into the perfect canvases for artists from across the globe to splash their creativity, all thanks to St+Art India Foundation, the NGO behind the government colony's glammed-up avatar.

What began in 2015 as a three-wall experiment has now taken over the seven-kilometer area of Lodhi Colony that's adorned with some of the best public Indian art in the city. The idea of challenging the conventional notion of practicing art and encouraging a culture where artists are making cities their studio is what made St+Art Foundation take their first big step into street art. "For the longest time, art environment seemed to have a high gaze. The idea was to take art out of gallery spaces and bring it closer to the community. When we first began the project, we worked with the community asking them what it was that they would want to see and how they wanted to see it. We engaged with the community to find its pulse and then translated it into art work," says Arjun Bahl, co-founder of St+Art India Foundation.

[caption id="attachment_10555" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] Indian Art | Lodhi Art District | Indian Street Art | Global Indian Trans Lives Matter by Aravani Art Project[/caption]

With art mostly restricted to closed spaces, St+Art Foundation has been on a mission to make it accessible to the common people. "People are often intimidated at the thought of visiting an art gallery. It's the elite that has dominated art spaces but we wanted to change that by bringing inclusivity. This idea led to the birth of St+Art Foundation. Initially, when we started the journey of bringing art to the people, it was without any formula. But a year and a half into it, we started looking at the city as an organism that is fragmented and diverse," Giulia Ambrogi, co-founder and curator at St+ Art India Foundation chimes in.

This impressive initiative of bringing Indian art to the people gave birth to Lodhi Art District that now has over 50 murals. If one wall has graffiti artist Harsh Raman Singh Paul's Crazy Katha Twins bringing alive the beautiful amalgamation of Kathakali and street art, another has the endangered Asian elephants painted into Lodhi Colony's landscape by Majili Art Forum. "Each wall has a locally-rooted meaning. We invited artists from different genres as diversity was the key element in the project," adds Ambrogi, who joined forces with Bahl and three others to launch the Indian street art movement.

[caption id="attachment_10559" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] Indian Art | Lodhi Art District | Indian Street Art | Global Indian Gracious Heritage by Majili Art Forum[/caption]

Every corner of Lodhi Colony holds a surprise for its visitors. If one turn leads you to a mother figure with diverse manifestations, the other draws you in by being a reminder of our flawed relationship with Nature. It's the mesmerizing fusion of color, patterns and themes that have enveloped the streets of Lodhi, all thanks to a wide array of home grown and international artists. It's their brush strokes that have cast magic on the otherwise plain walls bringing them alive.

If New Zealand artist Aaron Glasson's The Sacrosanct Whole is a tribute to the Indus Valley civilization, Colors of the Soul by a Mexican artist Sankoe signifies the diversity of the people of Lodhi Colony. "We keep in mind the characteristic of the space and bring in artists who can activate a dialogue. Every art work should make you feel. We try to create an orchestra with the sound of the city, the imagination of the artists and the love of the people," adds Ambrogi.

[caption id="attachment_10560" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] Lodhi Art District The Sacrosanct Whole by New Zealand artist Aaron Glasson.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_10561" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] Lodhi Art District Colors of the Soul by Mexican artist Sanoke.[/caption]

One such mural that is typically Dilli finds itself tucked in the beautiful lane of Block 13. With a balloon seller on one side, a mithaiwali on the other, and a cow in between, this wall art by Singaporean artist Yip Yew Chong is an appealing homage to Lodhi Colony. Ambrogi, who learnt about Chong on her visit to Singapore in 2017, knew that she had found the perfect artist for the Lodhi Indian art project. "His work is not predominantly featured online. But the moment you step into Singapore, you get to see his work almost everywhere. When we asked him to paint for us, he walked around the entire colony to get a feel of the place and ended up making this wonderful mural which is so Delhi," recalls Ambrogi.

For her, art is much more than colors and designs. It is something that stirs up something inside of you, and to create the right impact she patiently spends hours looking for the right talent. From keeping herself updated on the emerging new artists to calling out for talent on Instagram, Ambrogi is always on her toes to add something new to the street art movement.

[caption id="attachment_10562" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] Lodhi Art District Ode to Feminity by Mumbai artist Sajid Wajid Sheik[/caption]

When Lodhi Art District was in its nascent stage, it was the sheer beauty of the colony that grabbed her attention. "Being the last colony in Delhi to be built by the British, the houses have a certain charm to them with their soaring arches, the tall walls, courtyards, and beautiful sidewalks. So while crossing the area many a times, it stayed with us since it isn't a gated colony it is accessible to people. Since the area belongs to the government, we found it to be clean and without any signboards. A perfect haven for art lovers without any sort of distraction," says the curator.

[caption id="attachment_10649" align="aligncenter" width="497"] St Art Foundation | Global Indian Thanish Thomas, Arjun Bahl, Giulia Ambrogi and Hanif Kureshi are the co-founders of St+ Art India Foundation.[/caption]

It's been six years since this mega project was launched and the journey has been quite a roller coaster for the Foundation, for it had to face a few challenges to start something that was unheard of in Delhi. Bahl reveals, "There were initial hiccups as nothing on this scale was done in Delhi. It took us a while to understand under whose jurisdiction Lodhi Colony fell and from whom we needed to seek permission. While there was initial hesitation things started falling in place once they understood the purpose of the project."

[caption id="attachment_10563" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] Indian Art | Lodhi Art District | Indian Street Art | Global Indian
Nature's Arch and Visions of Altered Landscapes by Canadian artist Li-Hill[/caption]

With the pandemic putting the entire world in lockdown, things started to look a bit awry for Lodhi Art District. With no new murals for a while now, Delhites are waiting with bated breath to see some new art pop up on one of the walls. Bahl is feverishly working with his team to pack a surprise soon as he promises to restart work at Lodhi Art Colony by October 2021. "We would be doing more work in Delhi. In fact, we have plans for restoring the art that has been marred by the weather. We are coming soon. Hang in there."

Reading Time: 8 min

The ‘write’ way: Soundarya Balasubramani demystifies US immigration for Indians in her new book

(May 30, 2024) A published author, ex-product manager, and the founder of The Curious Maverick, Soundarya Balasubramani has just come up with her second book Unshackled. Soundarya Balasubramani’s diverse experiences, from growing up in Chennai to studying at Columbia University, living in cities like New York and San Francisco, and engaging with people from over 20 countries, have shaped her impactful work today. Her book, Unshackled, simplifies the complex US immigration process for high-skilled immigrants. It provides practical guidance and engaging stories on navigating the U.S. immigration system, specifically for high-skilled immigrants seeking visas like the O-1A and EB-2 NIW. The American Dream Having lived in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, and briefly in Hawaii she has experienced both corporate life (as a Product Manager at Salesforce) and the founder life (since she quit my job at the end of 2021). She has also lived in four community houses in California in the past four years, which has exposed her to people from 20+ countries, and many more walks of life. [caption id="attachment_52031" align="aligncenter" width="321"] Soundarya Balasubramani[/caption] “The exposure I have received since immigrating to the US is invaluable. It made me more confident, fearless, and challenged me to constantly

ndarya Balasubramani | Unshackled | U S immigration expert | Global Indian" width="321" height="482" /> Soundarya Balasubramani[/caption]

“The exposure I have received since immigrating to the US is invaluable. It made me more confident, fearless, and challenged me to constantly step out of my comfort zone. Most recently, I went on a country-wide book tour for my second book, Unshackled, where I visited four states and eight cities in 21 days. For someone who was terrified of speaking on stage, this tour pushed me to limits I could have only imagined and made me better. While there is a lot to be said about the downfalls of America -- including its outdated immigration system, excessive consumerism, expensive healthcare, and more -- I am grateful to this country for the exposure it gave me,” she tells Global Indian.

Rewind

Growing up in Pattaravakkam, a suburb about 15 km northwest of Chennai where Balasubramani spent her formative years, her childhood was about all things quiet and quaint. A topper at school and at NIT Trichy, she followed up her early achievements with a course at Columbia University for grad school. “Moving to America changed my life,” she smiles.

Her first taste of the US came even before grad school, when she spent a summer interning at UW Madison at the age of 16 after her sophomore year of high school. That was a window into what life in America could look like -- and she absolutely loved it. “So, I came back in 2017 to begin my master’s in management sciences at Columbia University,” she says.

The ‘Write’ Way

When Balasubramani was just 16 she started her blog Curious Maverick and even at that age she always knew that if she ever started something of her own someday, that would be the name of her venture. Circa 2023 and she finally started The Curious Maverick LLC when she decided to venture into writing and entrepreneurship full-time.

She quit her job in late 2021 and spent most of 2022 exploring and researching. “By the end of the year, it was clear to me that my next calling is to write a book for high-skilled immigrants in America, and hopefully create a small and positive dent in that domain. I set up the company as soon as I landed in India and spent most of 2023 publishing the book and building the online Unshackled community for talent visa aspirants,” she says.

Her new book Unshackled is your answer to the question, ‘What would a book on legal immigration in America look like if it was friendly, engaging, and human?’ While immigration would rank as one of the more boring and complex topics one could think about, Balasubramani knew she could make it more fun if she approached it from a storytelling aspect. “Whether we like it or not, we must go through immigration to live and work in America. Sadly, most international students and immigrant workers are not well-educated on this topic and are unaware of many creative and legal options out there, including the O-1A and EB-2 NIW visas.”

Balasubramani and her co-author, Sameer Khedekar wrote Unshackled to demystify a complex system and give people a ‘map of the territory’ when it came to high-skilled immigration. The book is filled with gripping stories, beautiful visuals, and actionable guidance. “This is the book I wish I'd read when I moved here,” says Balasubramani. And the validation came from a reader who told her, ‘Honestly, I wish this book was given to me along with my visa stamp at the U.S. consulate.’ As immigration changed her life for the better, she wrote her first book ‘Admitted’ with the hope to not just promote talent mobility, but also educate students on the journey they were about to embark on so they take better decisions while applying to universities in a foreign country. She self-published the book and has sold 3000-4000+ copies in the past few years.

Valuable Lessons

Quiz her on some lessons that she has learnt till date, she says that it is important to take more risks early on when you don't have a dependent or family. “Too many people in their mid-20s miss that precious window when they can take risks without impacting too many people. They then look back 10 years later and wish they'd been more courageous early on. Invest in long-term relationships, especially with people who make you better. I only began doing this in the past three years and now I cannot imagine life without my support system. Focus on making money without it becoming your primary focus,” she says. And by building a tight-knit support system she has overcome many challenges as well. And over the last four years her life has changed because of the presence of people.

In 2020, during the pandemic, life felt "empty and lonely," Balasubramani recalls. She was living in a small room in San Francisco with roommates she barely knew. "My relationship with my parents was stale at best. I didn't have friends in the city, and there was no one who I could consistently turn to for support. It was a lonely year." The turning point in this journey happened when she met someone named Rajesh Setty in 2021. He quickly became a third parent, a best friend, and her teacher. "He showed me what one's life could look like if it was lived with compassion, joy, and generosity. Thanks to him, my relationship improved with everyone around me, and now I can say with certainty that I have people who care about me in my life (and a wonderful family back in India),” she admits.

[caption id="attachment_52033" align="aligncenter" width="535"] Soundarya Balasubramani | Unshackled | U S immigration expert | Global Indian Soundarya Balasubramani[/caption]

Looking Ahead

Driven by the fact that she can take something that is deeply personal to her and try to create something out of that struggle/experience to make others' lives better, Balasubramani has her aim clear and bright. Right now, her focus is on using her free time to meet people and build more connections in her life. She is planning to begin work on her third book later this year. “It is unlike anything I've written before as it is a novel based on a true story. I plan to reveal more about it in the coming months. Overall, I want to publish many more books, create communities, and hopefully spend the later part of my life focusing on philanthropy,” she says.

Follow Soundarya Balasubramani on LinkedIn, Instagram and her website

Chef Chintan Pandya: The game changer who has altered the way America consumes Indian food

With a firm belief in serving food cooked in its original form, Chintan Pandya is the creative mind behind four very successful restaurants, including one that won a Michelin star. (August 27, 2023) A chat with Chintan Pandya, Chef Partner at Unapologetic Foods and the brain behind Dhamaka, the Indian restaurant in New York, reveals that he is one of life’s straight shooters. Retaining the candour that is a trademark of the Gujarati community he comes from, growing up in Mumbai – where no one has time for anything except straight talk – and then finding his life’s calling after moving to the US, he has truly transferred the integrity of his beliefs into the food he serves. [caption id="attachment_44258" align="aligncenter" width="544"] Chef Chintan Pandya.[/caption] Explosions of Flavour In these days of political correctness, Chintan prefers to be honest. He says, “I speak the truth and I don’t believe in sugar coating anything.” In the hospitality business, where keeping customers happy is of prime importance, does this approach work? Apparently, it does. Dhamaka, meaning explosion, the Indian restaurant launched by Chintan and his business partner Roni Mazumdar, with whom he set up their company called Unapologetic Foods, is serving little-known

prime importance, does this approach work? Apparently, it does. Dhamaka, meaning explosion, the Indian restaurant launched by Chintan and his business partner Roni Mazumdar, with whom he set up their company called Unapologetic Foods, is serving little-known Indian dishes from states like Meghalaya, Bihar and Nagaland among others, to huge success. What’s more, the dishes are cooked in their original style, with no tweaking, even being served in the containers they are cooked in.

His other restaurant, Semma, serving micro-regional South Indian cuisine, headed by Head Chef Vijay Kumar, was awarded a Michelin star within a year of its opening. And, Adda, his restaurant serving classic Indian and street food, is the only one in his bouquet of brands that serves naan and butter chicken. Rowdy Rooster, serving Indian style fried chicken among other things, is also making its mark, Masalawala serving Bengali food is popular and Kebabwala, serving grilled meats and kebabs like you get in India is on the anvil.

And oh, he is also the first Indian from New York, the third person of colour, and the first Indian cooking ethnic Indian food to win the prestigious James Beard Award in the culinary field last year. Not bad for someone who doesn’t believe in compromising his culinary skills now, is it?

So, how has Chintan quite literally, caused a dhamaka in the US with his food which is spicy, rich with little known masalas, and includes ingredients like pig’s tails and dishes like Champaran Meat and Nalli Biryani on the menu? With a generous smattering of Hindi phrases interspersed, he says, “I have always questioned the norm and looked for the logic behind it. Yeh aisa kyun hai? I also asked the same questions about the Indian food served in the US.” He doesn’t have anything complimentary to say about the butter and cream laden, bland versions of desi food that was and is perhaps still being served in several places. “Sticking to my beliefs has caused me a lot of setbacks in the past. But I knew what I wanted and that was to cook Indian food as close to its original recipe.”

[caption id="attachment_43913" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Chef Chintan Pandya | Global Indian Chef Chintan Pandya with Chef Vijay Kumar and Roni Mazumdar[/caption]

Unapologetically Indian

Incidentally, he adds that the only complaints he has ever received about his food, few and far between as they are, have come from Indian Americans. The local people of different heritage who dine here relish his creations. “When an Indian American complained about my biryani, and asked me to change it, I refused. I respectfully told him that we have sold over 4000 biryanis so far. If I get only two or three complaints about it, I am not going to change it. You are welcome to eat at the place you say makes it better.”

Dhamaka has some dishes you would not even find in India. The tag line says Unapologetic Indian and the menu is a veritable culinary map of India. Kolambi and Kekda Bhaath, from the Konkan region is a rice dish cooked with crab and tiger prawns; Champaran Meat is mutton cooked Bihari style and the Rajasthani Khargosh is rabbit cooked the way hunters in Rajasthan would. The last dish is a sellout because they only cook one rabbit per day.

The integrity Chintan displays in his thought process is echoed in his food. Nothing but the best ingredients are used. He says, “I always look at the end product. It could be the most expensive ingredient if I compare it to others, but it has to be the best.” Speaking of the best, another star bestseller at Dhamaka is the Methi Paneer. In fact, Chintan has been known to declare that he will pay anyone who can procure paneer better than what is made in-house at Dhamaka. What is the secret of his paneer? He says, “We buy the entire high fat milk produced for the day from one guy and he only has a limited quantity. We make our own paneer with that milk. If there is any leftover from the main course, we use some to make Chenna Poda, the Odia dessert.”

It is this dedication to being authentic that in fact prevents Chintan from serving some classic Gujarati food, the food he grew up eating, and perhaps knows best. He says, “We do serve Methi na Gota and Makkai Panki, among others, but because I can’t get fresh green garlic here, I cannot serve Undhiyu (a traditional Gujarati dish that is a medley of winter vegetables, steamed muthias etc.). It is also why I cannot serve dhoklas because I am yet to achieve the level of perfection – which my mother’s dhoklas have. And though I have replicated the Mumbai pav, I think it is still mediocre by comparison to the original,” he says candidly.

Chef Chintan Pandya | Global Indian

Simple and Authentic

Personally, Chintan loves working with all green leafies and pure ghee is the fat used to cook all the food. He says, “When I make Saag Paneer, it doesn’t only mean spinach. Saag for us means all the green leafy vegetables, even the ones we get here. As for ghee, we use insane amounts of it to cook our food. I don’t believe in all that drama of dry ice and other such tricks; and I don’t create any new dish. I simply prefer to serve the best version of a dish. I like to keep food as simple or as complicated it is, so long as it is original.”

Speaking of simple, Chintan doesn’t eat at his restaurants, but carries food from home. “My lunch box is usually boiled moong or boiled chana, some fruits and a protein bar. Even as a family, we don’t eat out much,” he says.

However, he reveals that his favourite dishes served at his restaurants include the Gunpowder Dosa at Semma, Paneer Tikka at Dhamaka, Dahi Batata Puri at Adda, Biyerbarri Fish Fry at Masalawala and Vada Pav at Rowdy Rooster. His favourite comfort food though is khichdi and chhaas or buttermilk.

Another practical touch is the fact that there is no fancy serveware used at Dhamaka. Food is served in steel plates and the glasses are standard fare from Ikea. Chintan believes in letting his food do the talking. And talking it is, with Dhamaka having a waiting list of 400-500 people wanting a reservation every day.

With all this success under his chef’s hat; other chefs in the US, following his trajectory of serving authentic Indian food, with chillies and all the other bells and whistles, how does Chintan stay grounded? There is that brutal honesty again. “We as Indians celebrate too much. There are chefs who have achieved far more accolades than we can think of. My goal is to reach that level. I am happy with what I have achieved, but I wonder how will I get there?”

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And the reason he is so confident about his talent is the setbacks he has faced in the past. “People only see the success; they don’t see the blunders that came first. But I am not scared of failure; when you have nothing to lose, you are free to do what you believe in.” And because of this very attitude, the Global Indian is happy that more chefs are following the trend he has set. “More is good, we should take everyone with us as we do better.”

Busy with several assignments besides creating new menus, Chintan is also toying with the idea of a cookbook that he plans to launch soon. We are sure it will be nothing but an original compilation.

Chef Chintan Pandya eats at:

Rezdora and Don Angie for authentic Italian
Wus Wonton for Pan Asian
Kailash Parbat for Indian street food
Ayada Thai for Thai food
Spice Symphony for Indian Chinese

Follow Chef Chintan Pandya on Instagram