Rajnish Bajpai | SmartGaon | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryRajnish Bajpai: Driving the development of rural India through SmartGaon

Rajnish Bajpai: Driving the development of rural India through SmartGaon

Written by: Mallik Thatipalli

(August 19, 2024) In 2015, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, traveled to the US and addressed the Indian community in San Jose, California, imploring them to give back to the society they came from and stressing that Indians abroad should be counted as “brain gain” and not “brain drain.” Among the audience was Rajnish Bajpai, who held a job at Synopsys Inc. and was deeply motivated by the PM’s speech. “I couldn’t sleep for two days after I heard the speech. I was determined to do something for my motherland,” he recalls, in an interview with Global Indian. It was this determination that soon made him start the SmartGaon initiative with his friend Yogesh Sahu, which worked towards making India’s villages’ smart. Things came to a full circle when the Prime Minister mentioned Rajnish and his initiative in his Mann Ki Baat program in 2018, lauding his efforts and holding him as a shining example as to what global Indians can achieve. He is the first NRI who was appreciated in the national program.

Rajnish Bajpai was lauded for his SmartGaon initiative by PM Narendra Modi on his Mann ki Baat program

By leveraging his expertise and passion, Rajnish Bajpai has made a significant difference to society, transforming rural communities through technology and innovation. His efforts have not only improved the quality of life in these villages but have also inspired others to contribute to the development of their homeland, showcasing how the efforts of one person can act as a multiplier for a community.

A rooted upbringing

Born and raised in the Taudhakpur village in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh (the first village adopted under the initiative), Rajnish was the first person in his village to pass his tenth board exams with distinction.

He calls those years blissful. “Growing up in a village is a very humbling experience. While I sat on the ground in our school, which did not have many comforts or facilities, I really learned a lot about human resilience and the importance of relationships. We had so much time for street games, be it gully cricket or gilli danda,” he shares.

He went to complete his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Science from Bhopal and his master’s degree from IIIT Hyderabad.

Sparking a fire

After moving to the US in 2013, Rajnish wanted to give back to his janmabhoomi but was not clear on the path to do it. SmartGaon was the perfect vehicle to do so and actively contribute to the country in which he grew up.

SmartGaon is an idea that is built around the five principles that can transform a village into a smart village: Swacch (sanitation), Swasth (health), Sundar (modern), Sakshar (literacy), and Swavalambhi (self-reliant). Just like a body needs five elements to thrive, Rajnish believes that society can thrive if these five fundamentals can be provided.

Rajnish with SmartGaon co-founder Yogesh

“There are so many benefits available to the common man by the government that they are not aware of,” he states and adds, “be it as simple as prices of wheat and rice, complaints and suggestions to Sarpanch, availing of government schemes, or having access to healthcare. Raised in a village, I know the issues that plague people. From village news to requests for certificates, the app helps authentic information trickle down to the grassroots level.”

The app is easy to use, and anyone who wishes to make their village a smart village can only download it and feed information to use it to make a difference. What started with one district in Uttar Pradesh was followed by many in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, transforming the lives of people.

Currently working with 20 villages with a focus on 3E development: education, employment-based skills, and entrepreneurship assistance, the initiative is making its presence felt at the grassroots level.

Making an impact

The SmartGaon Mentors program trained 1,500 students in 21st-century skills, including coding and imparting others that leverage technology. An early success was building 243 quality toilets in 48 hours in Taudhakpur with the help of district administration and village support. Security measures, such as CCTV and public address systems, increased PDS distribution from 30% to 90%. School infrastructure improvements boosted attendance from 20 to 140 students, earning an award from the Chief Minister.

The SmartGaon model aims for holistic development, starting with smart schools with clean drinking water and toilets, smart classrooms, cleanliness, tree plantations, beautification, electricity connection, and clean drinking water for each household, healthcare, waste recycling, better road connectivity, and sanitation facilities—all things small and big that have an impact.

The biggest change the SmartGaon initiative has brought about is that many NRIs came forward, bringing with them resources and skills, which created a ripple effect. As Rajnish juggles his job with his initiative (working on the weekends), this has helped create a community of changemakers.

“When you have the passion to do something, you find a way,” smiles the change agent and adds, “When you give 5% of your time to society, you can actually create an impact that future generations can take advantage of. So many people ask me how to give back to their motherland. I say, Do it by giving your time.”

Advise to next gen

Rajnish Bajpai | SmartGaon | Global Indian

As many young Indians seek opportunities abroad in record numbers, Rajnish’s advice is simple and straightforward. He says, “Many youngsters think that language is a barrier as they come from rural backgrounds and cannot speak perfect English. Remember that your ideas are what matter most. If you keep learning, you are in the right direction.”

He also implores the young to not lose touch with their roots (similar to Japanese and Chinese students who move overseas yet remain connected to their values) and think about giving back to society. “While you learn new skills, remember that the same skills are transferable to improving society. From Gen AI to tech transformation, try and ensure that you use them in real life too.”

When not juggling his work, Rajnish loves to spend time with his wife, Ojaswi, traveling to the national parks in US and enjoying the small joys of life.

Rajnish Bajpai’s journey exemplifies Mahatma Gandhi’s wisdom: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. He has demonstrated the impact of what one determined person can make with their passion.

Learn more about SmartGaon on their website

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Santosh Mahajan

August 26, 2024 12:41 pm

Great initiative by Rajnishji, His smart gaon program will help our former to explore forming in Bharat,
Dil se Dhanyayavad…. all the best

Published on 19, Aug 2024

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From a gas station to a multi-billion dollar empire: The rise of the Issa brothers

(October 15, 2024) As teenagers, Zuber and Mohsin Issa were helping out at their parents' petrol station, mopping the floors and cleaning the toilet, when they hit upon their billion-dollar idea. Their story begins in a small home in Blackburn, where they lived with their parents Vali and Zubeda, who had migrated to the UK in the 1970s to work in the booming textile industry. Eventually, the family acquired a petrol station. Currently, the EG Group's empire includes around 6,000 stores and petrol stations, spread out across 10 countries. The Issa brothers themselves have a net worth of £5bn, according to the Sunday Times rich list. The boys had a modest upbringing, studying at Witton Park Academy. Neither was very interested in formal education, though and the brothers followed their parents' footsteps and joined the textile industry. Zuber, especially, showed an interest in retail. So, when, at the age of 17 or 18, according to his wife, Asma, an opportunity presented itself for him to buy a newsagent in Preston, he took it. The kiosk, called Euro News, was in Blackburn. Mohsin, on the other hand, teamed up with his older brother Zakir to co-found Europlastics, a plastics packaging company.

s packaging company.

[caption id="attachment_57870" align="aligncenter" width="347"] Issa brothers | Global Indian The Issa brothers[/caption]

In 2001, the Global Indians began their partnership, pooling in their savings to buy their first petrol station in Bury, Greater Manchester, and Euro Garages, which now spans over 10 countries, came into existence. They were backed from the start by private equity firm TDR capital.

"The boys would help out (their father) during their teen years. That is where the passion for petrol stations came in," said Asma, Zuber's wife, in an interview. The two brothers themselves are very private, and stay away from the media as much as possible.

From petrol station to an empire

However, they didn't want to just run a petrol station. Even as teenagers, the boys had recognized that merely selling fuel didn't bring in profits. They had to offer customers something more. And opportunity presented itself - around the same time, oil companies were selling off or closing their petrol stations to focus on production and refining instead. They saw an opening in making the shops on forecourts more appealing to customers who stopped by to refuel, incentivising them to spend on coffee, fast food and even groceries. To Issa, this was a transformation from the norm - "dirty, kiosk style stores offering cokes and smokes." They tied up with private equity firm TDR capital, bought up vacant sites and expanded.

The Issa brothers began acquiring the tired, run-down petrol stations and transformed the semi-derelict sites into bustling hotspots, collaborating with big supermarket chains like Spar and Carrefour, as well as fast food chains like Subway, KFC and Burger King. "Fuel sales were declining. We wanted to create a destination where you could get fuel, food-to-go and shopping. This is the formula and it works," Zuber Issa told Financial Times, in a rare interview in 2018, after he and his brother had been voted entrepreneurs of the year by Ernst & Young.

"I didn't know what they saw in the petrol industry. We had only been married a couple of years. We were actually on our way back from holiday in Malaysia, and he stopped off in Bury to see this site and then in the car he told me, 'I have just bought this,'" Asma added. Every Saturday, Zuber Issa would visit all the sites. And when he could no longer manage on his own, his brother Mohsin entered the picture.

The expansion strategy of Issa Brothers

The empire was built on debt, but in 2021, they expanded to the US by acquiring a controlling stake in the country's largest supermarket chain, ASDA. It was a historic deal, as the formerly British chain had been acquired to Walmart, and was bought back by the British-born Issa brothers for a whopping $8.5 billion.

In 2021, they became the largest outside investors in Castore, the fast-growing British sportswear brand. The Beahan brothers, who founded the brand, commented, "Since the brothers have invested, they have really pushed us to grow the business and have helped enormously to accelerate our strategy."

With Zuber spearheading strategies and acquisitions, in 2022, the Issa brothers diversified into venture investing, after leading an $80 million investment in fintech company Bud. They also made an $8.7 billion bid to buy up Boots, a pharmacy chain owned by Walgreens. They also teamed up with KKR in November 2021 for a majority stake in Jaja Finance, after which the company, which is a credit card lender, signed a deal with Asda to launch a new digital card.

When things go wrong for Issa Brothers

Not every venture has been successful, however. With its backing by TDR capital, the EG Group empire is mainly fuelled by debt, and wrong investments become that much more costly. In 2018, EG bought 540 petrol station sites in Australia for $1.73 billion. However, after having to down-value the business twice, EG is now keen to sell.

Moreover, according to media reports, Zuber is also allegedly planning to step down as the co CEO of EG, leaving entirely in his brother Mohsin's hands. In the meantime, Zuber is working to complete his own deal to buy a number of sites from EG Group, according to a report by Bloomberg. And in December last year, the EG Group also signed a deal to sell all its gas stations in the UK and Ireland to Asda, and also offload all its KFC restaurants in both countries.

Issa brothers | Global Indian

Living the high life

The Issa brothers have never forgotten their humble beginnings and have maintained strong ties to their hometown, Blackburn, where their parents continue to live. However, they have also built five luxury homes in Blackburn for themselves and their relatives, complete with basement swimming pools. They also used funding from the Bank of America to buy two private jets, a Bombardier Global 6000 and a Bombardier Challenger 350. Both planes, which flaunt the EG name, cost the Issas tens of millions of euros to acquire.

However, the Issas have a reputation as generous philanthropists, and set up the Issa Foundation in 2016. They make grants to individuals and organisations across the world, from England to India, as well as Albania, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco and Sri Lanka, to name a few, in healthcare and education. In 2022, they made a £350K donation to hospitals in East Lancashire, and gifted them 127 defibrillators. They also continue to invest in Blackburn, including donating £5 million for the construction of a mosque. Their philanthropic efforts earned them a CBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to business and charity.

Follow the EG group on their website.

Reading Time: 10 mins

Shilo Shiv Suleman: From Bengaluru to Burning Man

(September 14, 2022) "It's impossible, it can't be done." "Don't go to Pakistan, it's too dangerous." Shilo Shiv Suleman, award-winning artist and founder of the Fearless Collective, always does it anyway. In late 2021, her installation, Temple, was showcased at Boundless Space a charity event by Sotheby's and the Burning Man Project. The 40-kilo, wearable installation, crafted in bronze, which was finally auctioned for $56,700, is a connection to her paternal family's history as well as an attempt to see the female body as a site of devotion. This year, she branched out into the NFT space, at the Disruptors Techne show, conducted in parallel with the India Art Fair. The Fearless Collective did NFT drops of five posters by artists from India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. She's also a regular at the Burning Man festival at Black Rock Desert in Nevada - having been name the Lead Artist in 2014 and again in 2016, for Pulse and Bloom and Grove, respectively. Global Indian looks at the artist's life and career, as she straddles two worlds – her personal art work which leans into magical realism and her art as social activism, done through the Fearless Collective. Equating the

al art work which leans into magical realism and her art as social activism, done through the Fearless Collective.

Equating the female body with the divine has been the philosophy underlying Shilo's work for several years now. When we met at her Bengaluru home back in 2016, Shilo emerged in a gold outfit, her forehead adorned with sacred ash and vermillion. It was her means of paying showing reverence to her body, just as one would do to an altar or a shrine, she informed me.

[caption id="attachment_29367" align="aligncenter" width="762"] Temple, by Shilo Shiv Suleman. Photo: The Burning Man Journal[/caption]

Talent born in turmoil

Born in Bengaluru, Shilo's life at the age of 13, when her father went on a business trip to China and "vanished without notice," she told The Hindu. Her mother, Nilofer, who is also an artist, suddenly found she had a family with two children to sustain and began teaching art. "At 14, I used to carry her basket of crayons and assist her. During the day she worked two jobs to sustain us, at night we painted." When she turned sixteen, Shilo decided to take her mother's middle name, Suleman. Today, Nilofer is a celebrated artist in her own right, her work in private collections around the world.

Shilo's career as an artist began at 16, as a children's book illustrator. By the time she turned 20, she had published 10 books. She leaned into magical realism, art, nature, culture, technology and the divine feminine, producing paintings, wearable sculptures, installations and public art.

The Fearless Collective

In 2012, when the horrific 'Nirbhaya' case shattered the country, Shilo decided it was time her art made a social impact. She founded the Fearless Collective, quickly becoming something of a revolutionary. She went from painting at home to taking her art to public spaces, using technology and Augmented Reality and creating large-scale installations around the world. That year, her talk as an INK fellow, made it to TED.com, fetching nearly a million views.

Starting out with a small team that included Tehani Ariyaratne and Gayatri Ganju, the Fearless Collective began as an online campaign. Women from around the world were given a platform to tell their stories. This included the Syrian refugees in Beirut, queer activists in South Africa, the women of the Shaheen Bagh protests and LGBTQ men from Rajasthan. "We conduct workshops for them and help them use art as a way to represent who they are and how they wanted to be perceived in this world," Shilo told Social Story. "Through these workshops, we essentially make self-portraits in the street and create such monuments for that community."

[caption id="attachment_29369" align="aligncenter" width="904"] The Fearless Collective in Karachi. Photo: Shilo Shiv Suleman[/caption]

In 2015, Shilo took the Fearless Collective to Pakistan. There, she painted on the wall of the National Bank of Pakistan in Lahore where she was interrupted by the director, who found he liked her work so much he allowed her to carry on. In Rawalpindi, the artist-activist made history, working with Khwaja Sera, the local transgender community, whose stories they depicted through public art.

The unsung heroes of the pandemic

When lockdowns were imposed across the country, the Fearless Collective took to the streets once more, this time to celebrate Bengaluru's civic workers, the pourakarmikas. Every day, the pandemic notwithstanding, thousands of women would step out of home to clean the city, collecting garbage from homes and business and cleaning the streets.

When the lockdown was lifted, the Collective collaborated with Hasiru Dala, an NGO that works with these informal waste workers, to start 'Essential'. The Fearless team painted a mural on the Utility Building, one of Bengaluru's iconic landmarks, located on MG Road. It was a tribute to the dignity of the women who make the city liveable, responsible for collecting and segregating the 4000 tonnes of waste generated in Bengaluru every day.

"I have always said it's high time that women go out on the streets, reclaim their public space and represent their stories, fearlessly," Shilo told Outlook India. "In general, India needs more women on the streets, making way for critical social justice conversations with marginalised communities and transforming corners of fear and trauma into a canvas of beautiful art." At the time of that interview, the Fearless Collective was a three-city tour across North India, starting in UP which was "reeling with the nightmarish news from a brutal gang rape of a Dalit woman in Hathras. We chose to speak of how women want to be touched." They concluded in Jaipur, where they spoke to members from the queer community.

[caption id="attachment_29370" align="aligncenter" width="901"] Grove, from Burning Man 2016, at Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Photo: Shilo Shiv Suleman[/caption]

The Sotheby's auction

Twelve years after her father's departure, Shilo decided the time had come to seek him out once more. She went to his hometown in Kerala, where he was living after being compelled to return from China. "That afternoon in December 2019, I found him, but I also found myself," she told The Hindu.

Her father's family, who were Nambiars, had, for generations, been custodians to a temple in Kannur. They tended to the deity, Oorpazhachi Kavu, the temple of the Mother Goddess. "Temples are not just entered but also ceremonially worn," Shilo told Indulge Express. "These shrines serve as a reminder that sacredness exists within our bodies."

That's how she conceptualised the piece, which took six months to execute. She did so through local artisans in Hawa Mahal, Jaipur. Although Shilo couldn't be there in person her friend, the American singer Monica Dogra put together a performance - a procession of 25 women in red sarees, holding holy water in their hands. "I had estimated ito to be auctioned at 50,000 so the final deal exceeded my expectations," she said, in the Indulge interview. "When I heard numbers were going up, I couldn't contain myself. It was amazing to see the recognition that it got."

Follow Shilo on Instagram

Reading Time: 7 mins

Oscars to Paris Haute Couture: The rise and rise of India’s soft power

(March 4, 2023) The world fawned over actress Jennifer Aniston's Indian look in the upcoming movie, Murder Mystery 2. Dressed in an intricately embroidered white lehenga, from Indian designer Manish Malhotra, the actress looks stunning in the film's trailer. But while fans are going gaga over the look, this is not the first time that an international celeb has been seen donning an Indian designer's creation. Come to think of it, the last few years have seen tremendous growth in the Indian fashion and movie industries, with our celebrities and artists representing India on various international platforms. [caption id="attachment_35784" align="aligncenter" width="726"] Jennifer Aniston in an intricately embroidered white lehenga by Manish Malhotra[/caption] On one hand, we have celebrities including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, who have been able to make a name for themselves in the international movie industry and open doors for many Indian artists to work abroad. On the other hand, we have celebrity designers who are now taking the Indian handloom craft to various international fashion weeks, giving Indian artisans the credit they have been denied for a long time. To top all this, with brilliant movies like RRR, which have done exceedingly well in foreign

t to various international fashion weeks, giving Indian artisans the credit they have been denied for a long time. To top all this, with brilliant movies like RRR, which have done exceedingly well in foreign film festivals, you have a win-win situation for India's soft power. As these celebrities and artists make us proud, Global Indian takes a look at how these soft powers are helping 'Brand India' climb higher and reach new heights.

Deepika Padukone to present Oscars 2023

When she first appeared on the Cannes red carpet in 2010, actress Deepika Padukone received a mixed reaction from various fashion critics, who while praising her style, added that she might have done better with her look. But, since then, it seems that the actress has just consistently upped her styling game. Having represented India on various international platforms, the diva recently announced that she will present an award at the upcoming Oscars 2023, alongside several big Hollywood names, such as Samuel L Jackson, Glenn Close, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B Jordan, Janelle Monae, Zoe Saldana, Jennifer Connelly, Riz Ahmed, and Melissa McCarthy.

India Celebrities | Global Indian

The actress, who started her Hollywood journey with the action film XXX: Return of Xander Cage in 2017, is prepping for her second untitled movie in the US. Set to be a cross-cultural romantic comedy, the film is being developed by STXfilms and Temple Hill, a studio that counts titles like The Fault in Our Stars, the Twilight franchise, and Love, Simon in its repertoire. The global star is also the first Indian to be appointed as the brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, and the latest face of Cartier.

**‘Naatu Naatu’ to take the centre stage at the Academy Awards**

The Academy Award is a star-studded night, with several marvelous performers taking to the stage to entertain fans not just in the US, but across the globe. And this year, singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava will represent India at the biggest movie awards night of the year. Performing the Golden Globe-winning song, Naatu Naatu from RRR, the singers are going to share the stage with mighty sensations Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

[caption id="attachment_35780" align="aligncenter" width="600"] India Celebrities | Global Indian RRR's Naatu Naatu has been nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Music category[/caption]

But that is not all for India. The song has also been nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Music (Original Song) category, against This Is A Life from Everything Everywhere All at Once, Applause from Tell It Like a Woman, Lift Me Up from Black Panther, and others. Naatu Naatu has already won quite a few major awards. In January, the song won the Golden Globes in the Best Original Song category. It again bagged the Best Song at the 28th edition of the Critics Choice Awards, along with Best Foreign Language Film.

Gaurav Gupta styling ace international celebrities

There was a time when Indian celebrities would arrive for the red carpet dressed in various international brands. But the past few years have witnessed a revolution in the Indian fashion industry, bringing forth several designers, who are loved in the country as well as abroad. One such fashion icon is Delhi-based designer, Gaurav Gupta, who has styled various international celebrities - and quite recently was the brain behind Cardi B's iconic blue gown at the 2023 Grammys.

[caption id="attachment_35777" align="aligncenter" width="600"] India | Global Indian American rapper Cardi B in Gaurav Gupta's design[/caption]

Known for his experimental sculpted designs, Gaurav's custom design for Cardi B was hailed as an 'actual piece of art' by several international fashion critics. The designer, who has designed for several stars, including Australian singer Kylie Minogue, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, and American actor Jeremy Pope, recently presented his latest collection, Shunya, at the Paris Haute Couture Week 2023 - which signals the growing international status of the Indian couturier.

Rahul Mishra's bold designs rule the Paris Haute Couture Week 2023

One of the only Indian designers who presented his collection on day one of Paris Haute Couture Week in the French capital, Rahul Mishra is surely climbing the heights in the international fashion scene. Rahul's collection - titled ‘Cosmos’ - was a fantastical rendering of an underwater kingdom that explored the idea of our place within the cosmos.

[caption id="attachment_35776" align="aligncenter" width="599"] India | Global Indian Rahul Mishra, the first Indian fashion designer to showcase at the Paris Haute Couture Week[/caption]

Considered one of Asia's leading stylists, whose works have been modelled by Michelle Yeoh, Viola Davis, and other top film stars, Rahul has already made a mark in Paris and global retail, with editorials and red carpets filled with celeb appearances in his creations.

First Indian influencers at New York Fashion Week

It's not just the ace celebs and fashion designers, even the influencers from India are taking the country's brand ahead, representing it on various international platforms. Quite recently, Delhi-based husband-wife duo, Gaurav Taneja and Ritu Rathee Taneja became the first Indian influencers to walk the ramp at New York Fashion Week.

[caption id="attachment_35775" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Indian Celebrities | Global Indian Gaurav and Ritu Taneja at the NYFW[/caption]

Celebrating designer Archana Kochhar, the team further increased the representation of Indian influencer presenters on global platforms by roping in #meninskirt fame Jainil Mehta to open the show with a poetic freestyle dance. The show highlighted the importance of sustainability in fashion and focuses on handmade locally grown textiles with a low carbon footprint curated by women weavers from the interiors of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Reading Time: 6 mins

Beyond labels: Fashion influencer Diipa Khosla is a true global icon

(February 16, 2024) Her initial vision as a teenager growing up in India was to join a reputed law firm and become a human rights lawyer. However, fate had other plans for Diipa Khosla. Soon after completing her degree in international human rights law from University College Utrecht, in the Netherlands, she moved to London for her master's from BPP University. It was here that she bagged an internship at a fashion agency during the four-month break between her university and job as a lawyer. "To my utter surprise, it turned out to be Europe’s first influencer agency. I knew nothing about this world, yet on my third day in the sales team, I was closing huge deals with fashion brands like Mango and Kiara," the fashion influencer said in an interview. From there, Diipa has come a long way - and recently created history by addressing the universal themes around ‘Changing the Narrative as Minority Women Leaders’ at the Harvard Business School. Bringing her inspirational entrepreneurial journey to the fore, the fashion icon said, "As a proud Indian, building a global business and being a minority woman doing that globally is something extremely powerful. It’s truly our time as

irational entrepreneurial journey to the fore, the fashion icon said, "As a proud Indian, building a global business and being a minority woman doing that globally is something extremely powerful. It’s truly our time as Indian women to be able to do that."

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The Global Indian is also the founder of a very successful ayurvedic skincare brand, Indē Wild, and an NGO, Post For Change. "In today's day and age having an online presence is almost a form of like a marketing channel or like a social currency. So it's really ultimately the people that you've built over the last few years, they trust you so much. So when you create something - a product or service - for them, they know you would have created it with the best intentions. For me is the best way to create a brand, to be honest, because you take them on the journey of creating the brand for them and then the brand is out there and they're the first ones who trust you to buy it," said the fashion influencer, who boasts a massive following of 2.1 million on her Instagram page alone.

The Indian fashionista

While that is what people know about her, being a lawyer also wasn't Diipa's first aspiration. "The funny thing is, I was first a pre-med student. I was studying medicine because well, mom is a doctor and it was kind of expected of me to be a doctor or an engineer. But then I did an internship at a hospital in India, and I realised it wasn't for me. There was too much sadness. And I remembered that the reason I wanted to be a doctor was to help people and create an impact on them. But I would come back home drained. So, I realised that maybe there's a different career that can help me help people. So, when I went back to university, I switched tracks and I took up law because we had an amazing international human rights law professor. And because you have the International Criminal Court (ICC) and The Hague in Amsterdam, a lot of big international human rights organisations were around. I thought maybe I can help people by fighting for human rights," shared the fashion influencer who spent her early childhood in Chennai.

Fashion | Diipa Khosla | Global Indian

After finishing her bachelor's there was only one goal that she had, "to be a human rights lawyer". However, upon observing friends engaged in the legal domain, Diipa realised that while the impact on people was assured, it would be a gradual, long-term endeavour. Fueled by an eagerness for more immediate change, she contemplated if there was a way to make a quicker impact.

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A post shared by Diipa Büller-Khosla (@diipakhosla)

"When I was pursuing my masters in the UK, I had just stepped into the world of social media, and towards the end of the course, I had to decide what I wanted to do. I told myself: Diipa, you cannot be a jack of many trades; you need to be the queen of one, so which one is it going to be? Either you're going to give it all you got and become a lawyer or you're going to make it big in this whole new world of social media, that nobody believes in yet," she said. And that was her calling. The fashion influencer started a YouTube channel (which now has around 18.6K subscribers). Though that decision was an easy one, telling her parents was quite a challenge. "They were quite shocked, but I asked them to give me one year. If at the end of the year, I can't make it, I'll go back, finish my master's, and become a lawyer. And they agreed."

More than just a pretty face

She gained confidence rapidly, recognising the need to consistently showcase her best efforts and perform effectively within the space. The obligation to present herself daily, even on challenging days, contributed to the development of resilience and a thicker skin. But, the fashion influencer shared that the online community she cultivated over the years has been overwhelmingly supportive and kind.

Fashion | Diipa Khosla | Global Indian

Eventually, the influencer had about a million people following her on Instagram. At a time when people were fawning over her beauty, the influencer decided to do something no other influencer had ever done. "I remember feeling that I wasn't doing the best I could by putting out this filtered version of me the whole time. So I decided to like, come clean about my acne and do this entire thing like showcasing how bad it was. I was one of the first people who put out that real skin candidness. And back then I had a blog site like a website and the whole website crashed and a lot of people followed me from there about just the honesty of it," reflected Diipa, who is also the first Indian fashion influencer to have walked the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. "I remember at that moment how important it was to remind yourself that you deserve to be here. That you know the world is changing, the media landscape is changing, that digital is going to be such a big force to be reckoned with."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lpUokyIwi0

A mother of one feels that anyone who is beginning their career as a content creator or influencer should learn, but not mimic others' journey. "I have pivoted and evolved, changed my content and my strategy. Try to put out something that you’re passionate about or something that's organic. The great part of social media today is that you can be an influencer, in pretty much every space, as long as you can give value to people," the fashion icon said.

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Who is Dr Samir Shah? The Indian-origin named as new BBC chairman

(December 18, 2023) It was in April 2023 that a political scandal led to the resignation of the former BBC chairman Richard Sharp after he failed to disclose his involvement in arranging a loan of nearly $1 million to former UK PM Boris Johnson. And now months later, Indian-origin media executive Dr Samir Shah is set to take up the position, after being appointed by the UK government. Delighted to be chosen by the government, Shah said that BBC held a "great place in British life." In a statement, he said, "The BBC is, without doubt, one of the greatest contributions we have made to global culture and one of our strongest calling cards on soft power. If I am able to put what skills, experience, and understanding of public service broadcasting I have built up during my career to help this brilliant organisation meet the complex and diverse challenges it faces over the coming years, it would be an honour,” he said, adding, "BBC had a unique duty to reach a wide audience right across the country" and promised to do "all I can to ensure it fulfils this in an increasingly competitive market". [caption id="attachment_47566" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Dr

enter" width="1024"] Dr Samir Shah | Global Indian Dr Samir Shah[/caption]

It's Dr Samir Shah's impressive work that made the UK government sit up and take notice of the Indian-origin media executive who worked with the BBC for 11 years in the 80s and 90s. Moreover, in 1999, he was honoured with the Order of the Brirish Empire for his significant contributions to equal opportunities in broadcasting. Recognizing his achievements, he became a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 2002. Furthermore, in 2019, Shah was bestowed with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his notable services in the realms of heritage and television.

Born in Aurangabad in 1952, he moved with his family to the UK in 1960 where he went to Latymer Upper School in West London before studying geography at the University of Hull. Keen to expand his knowledge, he pursued further studies in Anthropology and Geography at St Catherine's College, Oxford, taking a doctorate of Philosophy (DPhil) in 1979.

The same year, he joined London Weekend Television, a pivotal juncture in his career. During this period, he collaborated closely with two influential figures who would significantly impact his professional trajectory: John Birt, who would later assume the role of director-general at the BBC, and Michael Wills, from whom Shah would later acquire Juniper TV. After a successful stint, in 1987, Shah assumed the position of Head of Television Current Affairs at the BBC. His role expanded from 1994 to 1998 when he served as the Head of Political Journalism Programmes at the BBC. In 1998, Shah acquired Juniper TV from Wills, who transitioned to a role as a Member of Parliament. Since then, he has taken on the roles of CEO and Creative Director at Juniper. The company's productions have been featured on prominent platforms such as the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic, Discovery, TLC, and Netflix.

Dr Samir Shah | Global Indian

In his capacity as BBC chairman, he will assume a part-time position, working three days a week, with an annual salary of £160,000. Shah's responsibilities will include safeguarding and promoting the interests of the publicly funded license fee-operated public broadcaster, ensuring it meets its mandate to "inform, educate, and entertain." He will additionally spearhead discussions with the government regarding the outlook of the license fee.

With a career spanning more than 40 years in TV production and journalism, Dr Shah has a wealth of experience to bring to the position of BBC Chair,” UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said, adding, "He has a clear ambition to see the BBC succeed in a rapidly changing media landscape, and I have no doubt he will provide the support and scrutiny that the BBC needs to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future."

With a career spanning over 40 years in broadcasting, Dr. Samir Shah is poised to bring a wealth of expertise to his role as the next BBC chairman. His extensive experience positions him as a valuable leader who will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future trajectory of the BBC. Dr. Shah's commitment to the field and his track record in the industry signal a promising era ahead, where his vision and leadership will contribute significantly to the continued success and impact of the renowned public broadcaster.

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