Innovator | Sushant Pattnaik | Global Indian

Global IndianstorySix times President awardee Sushant Pattnaik is making a difference with groundbreaking innovations

Six times President awardee Sushant Pattnaik is making a difference with groundbreaking innovations

Written by: Amrita Priya

(June 11, 2022) For his game changing innovations, Sushant Pattnaik from Bhubaneswar, has received President’s awards not once or twice but six times in a row from 2008 to 2013. In a conversation with Global Indian, the young innovator tells, “I got the opportunity to receive awards four times from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, once from Smt Pratibha Patil and once from Dr Pranab Mukherjee.” His efforts have been recognised at various award functions, by National Innovation Foundation, Government of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan (twice), IIM-Ahmedabad (three times) and National Children’s Science Congress, Shillong (once).

Sushant Pattnaik receiving award from former President of India, late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

Sushant’s innovations have not just brought him national recognition but has also earned him international accolades. Having been recognised as a prominent innovator by NASA in 2010 at Huntsville, Alabama, USA, he was also featured in MIT Tech Review international magazine as top 10 innovators of the world under 35 years of age.

A serial innovator, entrepreneur and motivational speaker, this Golden Book of World Record Holder has made a huge impact in the society through his inventions. At 29, the TEDx speaker has already delivered close to 300 lectures.

It all started in childhood…

A passionate explorer, he was very curious since childhood. “When I used to get gifts like remote control cars from my parents, instead of playing with them like other kids, I used to dismantle them to understand how it works without any wire connections,” he says. This interest in wireless toy cars triggered in him a love for science and technology.

As early as junior school, he began researching on technologies. He would often hack into and break electronic gadgets like cell phones, iPods and redesign them in innovative ways, in a bid to understand the scientific principles and mechanisms behind their functioning. He loved giving a makeover to products running on modern technologies.

Sushant Pattnaik receiving award from former President of India, late Dr Pranab Mukherjee

It was not that he was always successful. Once as a school boy, in the quest to see what the internal components of a television set looks like, he dismantled it and then fixed it back. When his mother switched on the power, it boomed! “I was an inquisitive child and I learnt technology from practical experiments,” he smiles.

The inquisitiveness paid off as he represented India twice in USA – at NASA at age 18 and then at MIT in Boston. Sushant has also represented the country in FabLab technology events at UAE and Spain.

The innovations

The serial innovator has been granted patent for five of his innovations, and the products are already in the market. One of the innovations is road safety accident proof sensor for four wheelers to avoid forward collision, another is a wheelchair with sensor that will help people with disability navigate just by breathing and call for help, a smart watch to prevent rape, an inverter bulb and fan for low-cost electricity back up system in case of power cuts, hybrid batteries that can be charged in few minutes, and solar power bank – the super saving technology to operate keyboard and mouse from hand gesture.

Interspersing knowledge with business

Sushant diversified into entrepreneurship after he launched his startup InThinks in 2017. Three years later, he started his second company Capattery, a battery research and development firm.

“I witnessed steady growth in pandemic in my battery R&D firm because of the hybrid mode. We collaborated with good professionals from all over India.” – Sushant Pattnaik

Sushant Pattnaik displaying his innovation to former President of India, Smt Pratibha Patil

With the vision to give a new dimension to innovations, Sushant is helping unsupported inventors by taking their creations to the next level through his third firm, InGenious which is an investment business venture. “We invest in startups at pre-revenue stage so that they get good investments in each round of seed funding thereafter,” says he.

Enhancing lives…

The innovator-entrepreneur has been inspiring budding talents as keynote speaker in many events of corporates, NGOs, IITs, IIMs and renowned engineering colleges.

The Bhubaneshwar lad, who pursued bachelors in technology from Oriental College of Technology, Bhopal in electronics and telecommunication, has also earned BSc degree from Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal.

Sushant Pattnaik near NASA’s space rocket shuttle in USA

Sushant finds inspiration in his late mother, Rajashree Pattnaik, and father, Narasingh Pattnaik who is a retired veterinary officer and a good support to him. Badminton, football, cricket, meditation and living a disciplined life is what the award-winning innovator is passionate about. “I take keen interest in journeys of successful people from different walks of life. I try to imbibe their good qualities and learn from their mistakes, ensuring that I do not end-up committing the same mistakes,” says the innovator, who not just loves new technology but interacting with new people as well.

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Published on 11, Jun 2022

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Dr GV Rao: The ‘living legend’ of Gastroenterology

(October 27, 2023) Some 14 years ago, a prominent personality from the film industry approached Dr GV Rao seeking medical help for his condition. A diagnosis revealed colon cancer. However, the patient did not want his family to know, as there was a wedding scheduled in the family. The hitch - a family member needed to sign the consent forms for the surgical procedure. The patient reposed his full faith in Dr Rao, who signed the forms. Today, the patient is healthy and leading a normal life. For Dr GV Rao, regarded as the “living legend” in the world of Gastroenterology, there have been umpteen situations when he went out of his way to help his patients. “After all these years, I still get calls at midnight for some emergency. But my experiences have taught me to stay composed even in the most demanding situations,” smiles Dr GV Rao, Director and Chief of Surgical gastroenterology, GI Oncology and minimal invasive surgery at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG). A leader in his field, basic science research is a crucial area of interest for Dr Rao, who is keen on developing indigenous research pathways, techniques and technologies that can help clinicians

hat can help clinicians treat patients in more cost-effective yet efficacious way. “I am following the advent of newer technologies in the form of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It is fascinating and opens up opportunities for us to work on from the clinical standpoint,” Dr Rao tells Global Indian.

He sees immense potential in developing a sub-specialty which can be a hybrid of AI and GI Surgery where surgeons will get trained on AI models which in turn will further develop essential surgical practices with the data points coming from the surgeons’ usage.

[caption id="attachment_46085" align="aligncenter" width="609"] Dr GV Rao[/caption]

The prodigy

The soft spoken doctor’s journey is truly fascinating. “But for a Court decision, I would have been a veterinary doctor,” chuckles Dr Rao. Born into a middle-class Hyderabad family with one sister and three brothers, he tried to get admission in a medical school at the age of 16 but was too young to qualify. “I went to court and got the clearance. In the meantime, I enrolled in a veterinary college for a month as I did not want to waste an year. If the court had ruled differently, I would have been a vet," informs Dr Rao.

His early schooling was in the Vivekananda School but his father, G Murahari, who was a civil engineer working in the Electricity Board, wanted to give his children the best education, despite the financial constraints. Subsequently, he got admitted into the Hyderabad Public School, Ramanathpur, which he says, was both a cultural and academic shock to him.

“My father insisted on English literature as the first option, which was tougher than math or science,” he says. As a result, he scored poorly in the first year. “But then, that’s the beauty of an institution like HPS which instilled language skills, be it oratory or written. Imagine Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd as a non-detail book !,” recalls Dr Rao, who, within one year was able to grasp enough English in order to top the class. At school, he played tennis and hockey but it was swimming that has been a constant in his life since the schooling days.

Father’s ambition

It was primarily his father’s ambition and his influence that kept Dr GV Rao motivated to become a doctor. After his MBBS from Osmania Medical college, Hyderabad, he was keen on getting into general surgery. “I went on to do my Masters from Bangalore and was lucky to get trained under Prof. Vittal who shaped me as a skilled surgeon,” informs the doctor.

Back then, Surgical Gastroenterology as a specialty had just started in Chennai and Dr Rao began to work under Prof. Natesan Rangabashyam, the doyen who envisioned Surgical Gastroenterology as a speciality and started MCh Surgical Gastroenterology.

When he returned to Hyderabad, Dr Rao was offered a government posting in his father’s hometown. But it was more of a primary health center with not much work for a surgeon. “My father was very happy about my job and posting, but I resigned within three days of my joining, without his knowledge. He did not talk to me for nearly 6 months,” says Dr Rao. Those were the days when a government job meant career security.

Dr Rao went on to specialise in Laparascopy and GI surgery at many prestigious hospitals overseas including St Marks and Kings College, London. “I was trained under Prof. Sydney Chung for the basic laparoscopy. Once, I went for a workshop in Hong Kong where Prof Chung showcased laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the morning and by evening, that very patient walked into the auditorium. That entire thing was an awe-inspiring moment,” recalls Dr Rao, who then stayed back to learn laparoscopy with Prof Chung.

Dr Rao’s inclination towards minimally invasive approach in surgery got him interested in following Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy (chairman of AIG) and his work in endoscopy. The rest is history. “We started a morning and evening practice at Medinova hospital and slowly moved towards creating our own space.”

Asian Institute of Gastroenterology

Another interesting case that actually helped both Dr Reddy and Dr GV Rao transform their services was when a popular Chief Minister’s spouse approached them.

The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and subsequently developed septic shock because of an impacted CBD stone. An urgent ERCP was to be done. “We were contacted and airlifted to attend the patient at midnight. We managed to save the patient and as a result the CM offered us a place in his state to start a full-scale practice,” says Dr Rao.

However, they did not want to move out of Hyderabad. “The CM then ensured that we get a place in Hyderabad to start our independent institution. That’s how Asian Institute of Gastroenterology got its first proper building in the year 2004.”

The early years

Describing the first two years (2003-04) as the most dramatic in his career, Dr GV Rao beams with pride when he says that they performed the first Endoscopic appendectomy in the world, this evolved into the Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery or Scarless Surgery.

Dr Rao was asked to present this data in a major gastroenterology meeting in USA after being primed about a possible negative response from the attendees as had happened when the first ever laparoscopic cholecystectomy was showcased earlier in similar meetings. “The presentation went flawless, but the standing ovation of 4000 plus audience is unbelievable to this day.”

Back then, the first 50 laparoscopic cholecystectomy were done at midnight because of the non-availability of endoscopy camera. “It was a kind of innovation at that time, where we used to leverage an endoscopic camera with adapter to fix on the laparoscopic instrument to do the surgeries. Surgeons these days won’t even be able to imagine something of that sort,” he explains.

Challenges for medical fraternity

As a medical professional, Dr Rao feels the internet-acquired knowledge by patients is a huge challenge. “Patients increasingly rely on information from the internet, which can be both a boon and a challenge. While it can empower patients to make informed decisions, it also leads to misinformation and self-diagnosis, potentially complicating the doctor-patient relationship,” he points out.

Another challenge is the “empathy deficiency” in next-generation doctors. “With the growing emphasis on technology and specialization in medical education, there is a concern that future doctors may lack the interpersonal skills and empathy required for patient-centered care. Balancing technological advancements with compassionate patient interactions is crucial.”

As algorithms and machine learning become integral to healthcare, concerns arise about the opacity and bias of these systems, he says. “The medical community must grapple with issues of accountability, data privacy, and ensuring that AI complements, rather than replaces, clinical expertise,” he feels.

Keeping the doctor away

“I prioritize my personal health by maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Regular exercise, including both cardiovascular workouts and strength training, helps me stay fit and promotes overall well-being,” says Dr Rao, who adheres to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats while practicing portion control to prevent overeating.

Staying well-hydrated with an adequate water intake is essential for digestion and overall health, he advises. “While I do enjoy occasional indulgent foods and treats, I do so in moderation, not making them a regular part of my diet,” he says. Regular check-ups and screenings are scheduled to monitor his health and detect potential issues early.

At AIG, they have a Bicycling club where they get together on Sundays, enjoy a nice ride, and have a comforting breakfast together. “You don’t realize at first but activities like these do help take out the stress and also builds a great camaraderie among teams.”

Loves sci-fi

The doctor loves watching science fiction movies and some of them do get featured in his clinical presentations too. “From Matrix, Terminator to Avatar, I try and catch up with all the latest sci-fi movies and they do keep me hooked,” says Dr Rao, who by his own admission, has a soft corner for Hyderabadi Biryani but does not over indulge.

Dr Rao says it would be worth it if all the experience and practical knowledge that he acquired, can be used to influence medical teaching, practice, and community work. “Consulting government agencies with a science-based approach would be something that I would be delighted to contribute to,” he says.

Follow Dr GV Rao on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 10 mins

Waswo X Waswo: The ‘evil orientalist’ reviving Indian miniatures

(October 15, 2022) Waswo X. Waswo arrives at our video call looking irritable. The electricity had been erratic through the day - in Udaipur, the absence of air-conditioning is a serious problem. He has just returned from San Francisco, where he gave a talk at the Asian Art Museum. "I was afraid they would ask me to state my pronouns," he tells Global Indian, only half-jokingly. Waswo is the "old fashioned liberal," not given to accepting unfairness or dogmatism without a fight. It's a personal struggle, one that has also defined him as an artist.  As we speak, he was preparing for another debate, this time in Delhi, put together by Aakshat Sinha, on 'wokeism' in art. "Of course, I'm the anti-woke contingent." His art, an intermingling of photography and miniature painting styles, is a visual treat - it reminds me always of Henri Rousseau but mirrors his journey to find his identity, as a human being and as an artist. He works in the ‘karkhana’ style, working through collaborations with local miniaturists and border painters in Udaipur, reviving their legacy, bringing the artisans who have gone without credit for generations, to the fore, in India and abroad.  In his latest

He works in the ‘karkhana’ style, working through collaborations with local miniaturists and border painters in Udaipur, reviving their legacy, bringing the artisans who have gone without credit for generations, to the fore, in India and abroad. 

In his latest book, Karkhana, which will be out in November, Waswo documents his decades-long association with Indian artists - he works out of Udaipur, which has been home for the last two decades. His work comprises two styles, which often mingle with each other. There are hand-coloured digital portraits he co-creates with Rajesh Soni and the contemporary miniatures, which he conceptualises and are painted by the miniaturist R. Vijay, who also comes with a rich artistic lineage. Their collaboration of over fifteen years is a blend of genres, where Waswo himself is the protagonist, the bumbling foreigner trying to make sense of India. This extends to the miniatures, done in the Mughal, Mewar court Company School styles. 

**Udaipur – and the karkhana approach** 

Wandering through the bazaars of Udaipur, in his early days in India, Waswo fell in love with the miniatures on display in the shops. "They were generally low quality but I liked them." They were done following the karkhana style, with groups of people working on a single painting. The shopkeeper, however, announced proudly that he was the artist. Waswo learned soon enough about the artists who work quietly in the background, as they have for generations, never signing their work. When he began collaborating with R. Vijay, who comes from a long line of artists himself, Waswo had to coax him to put his name on it. "He said his name didn't belong on it and I had to push him to sign. Now, he always wants to sign his paintings." 

Waswo X Waswo first came to India in 1993 and spent 10 days here. In 1999, he came back and spent a month in Rajasthan. "That was when I started to fall in love with the place," he smiles. In the fall of 2000, he returned with his partner, Tommy, and stayed on for six months. "In 2006, I bought the home in Udaipur because I wanted to work with the craftsmen there. I see one of my jobs as finding what people are good at and trying to incorporate that into my work." 

The etymology of the karkhana, Waswo explains, goes back to ancient Persia. It's a story reminiscent of Orhan Pamuk. Karkhanas were artisans' workshops, which were brought to Delhi through the Mughal courts of Jehangir and Akbar, and miniatures were painted. "When Aurangzeb came to power, the artists were terrorised and escaped to places like Rajasthan, where they found patronage under the Maharanas of Bikaner and Jaipur," he says. It led to the founding of the Bikaneri, Alwar, and Mewar schools of art. The system continues to live on - "I didn't meet R. Vijay directly," Waswo says. "I met him through a shopkeeper."  

When he first started creating work in Rajasthan, Waswo was a photographer with a Rolleiflex and a dark room he had built for himself in Udaipur. "In the US, I used Ilford chemicals and paper and knew how things were mixed, as well as how to control water temperature. Here, the darkroom was always hot and dusty - dust is a real problem with negatives. I couldn't find the right chemicals either." The time had come to go digital and Waswo bought himself an Epson 2700, the first high-end digital printer in Rajasthan. "I met Rajesh Soni around this time, he saw the black and white photos I was printing up and said he could paint them." His grandfather, Prabhulal Verma, was a photographer for Maharaja Bhopar Singh of Mewar. "I pushed Rajesh to colour the photographs and one thing led to another." It resulted in a collaboration that lasted over 15 years.  

 The Campbellian struggle  

"Through my paintings, I have learned to look at myself and question myself," Waswo tells me. "When I started, I was taking photos and writing poems, always with the idea that I would go back to the US and exhibit them. India was my subject and not my audience." He attracted quite a bit of criticism from the west, however, for his supposedly "white gaze." He was told he was "editing out modern India and keeping people blind to the truth."  

The western gaze, it seemed, wanted to see the crippling poverty, the starving children, and the dirty streets, not the moments of poignant beauty in which Waswo found inspiration. "I have always taken photos based on pictorialism, I like beautiful landscapes and common people - I like them as people. They have a lot of self-worth and awareness of that self-worth too." Coming from the US, where so many children are born to single parents, he found a deep appreciation of the Indian family structure." His critics, however, decided he was demeaning India.  

Struggles against postmodernism and the 'evil orientalist' 

He has always been a rebel, however, never given to conforming, either to the left or the right. In the US, in Wisconsin where he grew up in a Christian home, he came to terms with being gay. "I was very much on the left then, fighting for gay rights. I even made a speech to the Senate." In India, the struggle against the western system continued, albeit on the opposite side this time. "It has been a battle," Waswo admits. "I have been battling post-modernism for a long time, much before Jordan Peterson started talking about it." 

As he struggled to find himself and stay true to the artist within, Waswo found a solution - introducing himself into his works. Several series of miniatures were born of this - The Secret Life of Waswo X Waswo, Early Work with R. Vijay, A Dream in Bundi, and Lost. "I introduced myself into my work," he says. "He's the bumbling foreigner in India. The outsider doesn't understand where he is but still has an appreciation for the wonder, beauty, and kindness of people. He has grown into his own man now."  

Sometimes, he's the "evil Orientalist," a role he plays gleefully and to the hilt. In other words, he's wearing a fedora and a suit, chasing butterflies or squinting disapprovingly through his spectacles at a scene that is poetically, spectacularly Indian. In the series, The Observationist at Leisure in a Stolen Garden, he's also chased by a crocodile. Waswo and I go back many years and although I have seen his work for a long time, at first glance, I confuse him with the French master, Henri Rousseau. Waswo looks pleased when I tell him this. "He's one of my favourite painters. He's an outsider, who taught himself how to paint. He never even went to the Tropics, although he paints them extensively. I'm the same. I have no degree in fine art, I'm a photographer." The artists he works with are "very naive," far removed from the elitism of the art circles. "The artists were trained by other miniaturists but don't have academic backgrounds like many others in the art scene."  

The India Art Fair 

Waswo is now also working on a solo booth at the India Art Fair. He shows me around the works as we speak and sends me a photo of artists working on gold leaf linings. This series is a shift from Waswo's usual work. His artist, Chirag Kumawat, specialises in both realism and miniatures. "We're combining hard-core realism with miniature elements, it will be something nobody has seen before." Even Kalki, the god of destruction, makes an appearance in the paintings. "The world is changing at a very rapid pace. With the advent of AI, shifting politics, climate change, and pandemics, we are at a crossroads. Kalki makes an appearance because this is a time of chaos and we have to wait and see what emerges in the new era." 

Follow Waswo on Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 8 mins

Veena Nair: Indian-origin educator wins PM’s prize in Australia

(December 8, 2022) When Melbourne-based Veena Nair got a call from Australian Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, she thought it was probably a scam. So much so that when she decided to call back thinking that he wanted to comment on one of her LinkedIn posts, she was taken by surprise when informed that she had won the 2022 Prime Minister's Prize for Science. Just to be assured, the Indian-origin mustered the courage to ask, "Are you sure?" And sure, she is. The head of technology at Melbourne's Viewbank College, Veena has been awarded for demonstrating the practical application of STEAM to students, and how they can use their skills to make a real impact in the world. "To be recognised in the Prime Minister's prizes for science, I am deeply humbled. I am very grateful to my school, to my colleagues, to my students, and my family," Nair said in a video message, adding, "Many people know about STEM — science, technology, engineering, and maths, but STEAM is with an A, which is for Art. Art brings out-of-the-box thinking, and it brings in creativity because students need STEAM skills to innovate, to become resilient, and to take

silient, and to take risks."

[caption id="attachment_32550" align="aligncenter" width="688"] Veena Nair has won the 2020 Prime Minister's Prize for Science.[/caption]

With 20 years of experience in teaching science-based subjects across India, UAE and now Australia, Nair is a leading educator in STEAM who "has endeavoured to develop student and staff capacity in new and emerging technologies like 3D printing and designing, wearable technologies, and social entrepreneurship based on UN SDG through the Young Persons Plan for the Planet (YPPP) program," says her LinkedIn profile.

In fact, in the last two decades, Veena has helped increase the number of students who receive first-round offers to study engineering and technology at university, especially young women from diverse backgrounds.

[caption id="attachment_32549" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Veena Nair Indian Origin Veena Nair is a Melboune-based science teacher.[/caption]

After finishing her BSc in Physics and B.Ed in Science and Mathematics from the University of Mumbai, Veena began her teaching career in Maximum City, where she provided computers to low socio-economic schools and taught students how to code. This love for teaching then took her to UAE, and later to Deakin University in Australia for her M.Ed in Maths.

Veena, who currently teaches Systems Engineering at Viewbank College, says that the gender gap in STEAM is challenging for her. "My classes are currently 70-30 in favour of males; my goal is to raise it to 50-50. I work to get the fear out of the female students. Give it a shot, I tell them,” she told Indian Link in an interview. Interestingly, it is 3D printing that she has been using to initiate girls in science, and she says by making science fun and enjoyable, she is making more young women opt for the subject. "Every industry uses 3D, I tell them; try it, it’s a skill you can use whatever workplace you find yourself in," the Global Indian added.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHUJC1mJAw4[/embed]

However, it's Superstars of STEM - a program - that's closer to her heart as it gives a platform to selected science personalities trained as ambassadors to regularly present on stage or in schools. "Representation matters and we have some wonderful role models from our community – Madhu Bhaskaran, Onisha Patel, Veena Sahajwalla. They are great inspirers towards science, for our girls especially,” said Nair who was awarded the Educator of The Year Award by the Design and Technology Teachers' Association of Australia. Nair also supports the Young Persons’ Plan for the Planet program, a STEM-based enterprise development program that allows students to engage with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as changemakers at a global level.

Nair believes teachers should "bridge the gap between curriculum and pedagogy" and encourage students to take up science by connecting with new technology. "Students are already tech-savvy, and if you don’t provide the new platforms, they won't engage," she added.

Follow Veena Nair on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 4 min

Shattering stereotypes: Actress Poorna Jagannathan is paving the way for South Asian performers

(June 22, 2023) How many times, while watching a Hollywood movie or American TV show, have you come across a submissive, docile South Asian woman who exists solely to serve and support others? Often depicted as quiet, timid, and lacking individuality, these characters have over the year reinforced traditional gender roles and perpetuated the notion of South Asian women as passive and submissive. While the last few years have seen the rise of several actors, who are challenging these stereotypes and changing the common perception, Indian American actress, Poorna Jagannathan, has always worn her ethnic identity with pride in all the characters she played. The Never Have I Ever actress has been in the business for over two decades now, always portraying strong and fierce female characters. "When I saw the portrayals of South Asian women on film and television, they were really disappointing. They didn’t even come remotely close to the experience of who I was or who the women in my family or the women I’ve been surrounded by my entire life are," the Global Indian actress said in an interview, adding, "Acting is a game of snakes and ladders and if you're a woman of colour, let's

ience of who I was or who the women in my family or the women I’ve been surrounded by my entire life are," the Global Indian actress said in an interview, adding, "Acting is a game of snakes and ladders and if you're a woman of colour, let's just say there are a whole lot more snakes in the game. There's a lot of stereotyping, there's such a limited number of roles available to ethnic actors."

Having worked alongside stars including Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, Poorna's achievements have garnered recognition on multiple fronts. Goldhouse honoured her as one of the top 100 Most Impactful Asians in America for both 2021 and 2022. The actress has previously been recognised in Femina magazine's esteemed list of "India's 50 most beautiful women", ranking among the top 10, as well as Verve magazine's top 50 most powerful women in India.

The globetrotter

To call Poorna's childhood adventurous, would be an understatement. Born to Vasantha Jagannathan and G. Jagannathan, an Indian diplomat in Tunis, Tunisia, the actress grew up in various countries, including Pakistan, Ireland, India, Brazil, and Argentina. Sharing about how her travels have shaped how she views the world today, the actress said, "During my father's posting in Pakistan we were being followed around by the spies for the first year. One day my dad’s car broke down and he asked them to come and change his tire because he had no idea how to change a tire. They helped us and we became friends. I saw a lot of boundaries collapse early on and a lot of myths dissolve. I have an absurdist worldview when it comes to politics and it comes from my time there."

[caption id="attachment_40413" align="aligncenter" width="623"] Actress | Poorna Jagannathan | Global Indian Poorna and Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies[/caption]

And it was during these travels that the actress first fell in love with the art of performing on stage - something she didn't get a chance to do until later in life. "I was very young when I realised what joy it would be to be on the stage. I was always drawn to the idea of performing and what that could look like. However, I don’t think I got onto a stage until college. I was traveling all of the time and I didn't meet any actors or performers. I never understood what that life could be like but I had a deep desire to tell stories," the actress shared.

Wrestling with dilemma

After completing her studies at the University of Brasília in Brazil, the actress went on to earn her journalism degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Although she started began a Master of Fine Arts in acting at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, the actress' first job was in an advertising agency - an industry she continued to work in for 15 years.

[caption id="attachment_40414" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Actress | Poorna Jagannathan | Global Indian Poorna with USA Vice President, Kamala Harris[/caption]

"My journey through corporate America was fantastic - I always had the best accounts, the best bosses, and the best experiences. On the weekends, I would take acting classes and I noticed how I felt so different from my ‘perfect’ job. I was so different in acting class or when I was picking up a script, I felt so full of life force and I felt so depleted of it in advertising. I was good at advertising but I never wanted to get promoted," the actress expressed, "I didn’t want to excel, I couldn’t keep my mind off the scene I was doing on the weekend in my adult acting class. I felt, energetically, I was a different person. I couldn’t deny myself the life force and the joy while acting."

Living the dream

So, she decided to pick up smaller acting roles in various TV shows and movies to satisfy her hunger for performing in front of the camera. But, her big break came with her role as Dr. Maureen Bruckner, in Better Call Saul. "Of all the projects in my career, Better Call Saul was the most unexpected. The production crew was really going for a blonde California-type woman. But my agent remembered that I mentioned being able to speak Spanish and so that's the part I auditioned for. I said something about the diagnosis in English and then started speaking in Spanish. The part was unexpected but fantastic," she shared.

[caption id="attachment_40415" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Actress | Poorna Jagannathan | Global Indian A still from Poorna's play, Nirbhaya[/caption]

While the actress was enjoying working as an actress, an unfortunate incident in India pushed her to conceive, produce and act in the play Nirbhaya - based on the 2012 horrific Delhi gang rape and murder case. The play delved into not only the victim's story but also the real-life rape and sexual violence stories of the women in the show. "Her death was -- for me and so many others -- a point of no return. I realised that our silences make us complicit," the actress said during a press interaction, adding, "So I sought to create a piece of theatre to address an issue that has been silenced for too long." Nirbhaya went on to win the prestigious 2013 Amnesty International Award and was cited as "one of the most powerful and urgent pieces of human rights theatre ever made", by the Sunday Herald.

However, the actress' 'dream-come-true' moment came on the sets of Big Little Lies, as she came face-to-face with Meryl Streep. Speaking about her experience of sharing screen space with Streep, the actress said, "I haven’t quite processed it yet. The ladies were so, so profoundly grateful she had joined the show; she validated the existence of season two. I loved watching her fiercely protect her character and fight off any insinuation that she was the bad guy. I also loved watching her play with her dentures, and seeing how kind she was to everybody. Most of all, I was transformed by what you will see her do in episode seven. We spent a fair amount of time together, and I found out that she has a wicked sense of humour. Working with Nicole, Meryl and all the ladies of this show will remain one of the highlights of my career."

[caption id="attachment_40416" align="aligncenter" width="636"] Actress | Poorna Jagannathan | Global Indian A still from TV show The Night Of[/caption]

Having just finished playing the part of Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar in the critically-acclaimed show Never Have I Ever, the actress plans on pursuing her dreams of narrating unusual and unheard stories. "I think I finally have the guts to tell my specific stories. I come from a family of many, many dysfunctions and I rarely see that on TV. Also, since I am myself an immigrant and to see even more nuanced portrayals of immigrants. We are always on the margins; we are always invisible so trying to center those stories more. I am on the path to bring these stories to life through producing," the actress shared.

Follow Poorna Jagannathan on Instagram, Twitter, and her website

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Dr. Gopichand Mannam: Shaping the future of cardiac care in India at Star Hospitals

(January 17, 2024) Dr Gopichand Mannam once asked Sachin Tendulkar, “The whole country expects you to score 100 every time you're at the crease, and of course, we get very disappointed when you don't. How do you deal with that kind of pressure?” The master blaster’s responded promptly, saying, “You know, it's okay if I don't score 100 this time, I can do it next time. But if you fail, the patient dies, and you have no other chance!” “That reply by Sachin Tendulkar forever remains etched in my mind,” smiles Dr Gopichand Mannam, the managing director of Star Hospitals, as he settles down for an interview with Global Indian. The renowned doctor, who has performed several thousands of paediatric surgeries, including many critical ones and saved lives, is now working towards building a hospital dedicated to non-profit work, specifically for paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, along with training programs. “By collaborating with like-minded organisations, I aspire to create a National Grid, a network that would ensure that children born into poverty with heart disease can access appropriate care, regardless of the complexity or geographic location,” says Dr Gopichand, who has patients from all over the country and different parts

r geographic location,” says Dr Gopichand, who has patients from all over the country and different parts of the world visiting him everyday.

[caption id="attachment_48364" align="aligncenter" width="458"] Dr Gopichand Mannam | Star Hospitals | Global Indian Dr Gopichand Mannam[/caption]

Ongole boy

Born in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh in 1957, Dr Gopichand, the third among five siblings, was encouraged by his pharmacist father to become a doctor. “I was kind of a loose cannon and had no aim when I was in 10^th grade,” Dr Gopichand admits. He began his education studied at a municipality-funded public school and moved on to a government school where he finished 10^th grade. An avid sportsperson in high school, Dr Gopichand played cricket, Kho Kho and Mallakhamba, and was quite a movie buff as well.

In his early school years, Dr Gopichand was more street-smart than studious, he recalls. “I assisted with household chores, fetching water from the railway station as we did not have running water. Additionally, during summers, I helped my mother in the fields, where we did tobacco farming.”

As his father wished, Gopichand was sent to Guntur for a month-long training session to prepare for the medical entrance exams. A lack of focus, as well as the language barrier that came from having studied in Telugu-medium schools and writing an entrance exam in English meant he lost out in his first attempt, although he cleared it on his second try, gaining admission into Guntur Medical College.

At GMC

The early days in college were carefree and happy, spent having fun with new friends, although they would dedicate around three months to some serious studying before the year-end exams. Dr Gopichand’s professors were a good influence, who taught him the value of compassion and empathy.

Dr Gopichand Mannam | Star Hospitals | Global Indian

The real turning point came through tragedy, when Dr Gopichand’s elder sister passed away due to cardiac complications in 1979. “She underwent surgery at Vellore while I was in medical school, and passed away when I was in my final year of Medical College,” he says. This incident in 1979 made him aim for cardiac surgery.

Off to Jamaica

After graduation, Dr Gopichand hoped to go to the USA. “At the time, my colleagues were either heading to Jamaica, UK, or Africa to subsequently go to the US,” he says. He passed the ECFMG, which made him eligible to go to America but was told he couldn’t specialise in General Surgery, which was predominantly for locals. So, Dr Gopichand decided on Jamaica instead, and worked as a SHO at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, Kingston Public Hospitals, and later in a provincial town called Savanna-la-Mar, close to Montego Bay on the West Coast of Jamaica.

It was during this time that he met a Surgeon, Ramchandra Reddy, son of the renowned professor and pillar of Gunter Medical College, Professor DJ Reddy. “He taught me the initial surgical techniques, giving me confidence in performing appendectomies, abdominal operations and much more,” says Dr Gopichand, who conducted a good number of surgeries confidently.

General surgery in the UK

After passing the UK’s PLAB exam on his first attempt, Dr Gopichand joined general surgery and worked across the country for the next three years. Later, he appeared for exams in both Glasgow and Edinburgh Royal Colleges, passing both Fellowships in general surgery. He commenced his serious cardiac surgery training in 1989 in Glasgow, working there for 2.5 years. “By that time I was independently operating after doing over 150 cases as a senior registrar. It was an invaluable experience and laid the foundation for my Cardiac Surgery training program.”

Then, in 1991, he moved to Brompton Hospital in London, where over the next three years, he learned many lessons, including how to “hold my ground in a competitive environment where everyone is striving to undermine you,” Dr Gopichand says. It was also in Brompton that he made his first foray in paediatric surgery. “I had exceptional professors who taught me Thoracic Surgery, adult cardiac surgery, and paediatric cardiac surgery,” he says. In 1994, Dr Gopichand went to London's Royal College to appear for FRCS Cardiothoracic Surgery and successfully passed.

Dr Gopichand Mannam | Star Hospitals | Global Indian

Subsequently, he returned to India by the end of 1994 and worked in various hospitals including Care Hospital. Eventually, he went on to start his own — Star Hospitals in November 2006.

Currently, Star Hospitals has a team of over 150 doctors, performed more than 85,000 surgeries and treated over 25 lakh patients. They excel in cardiology but also offer medical gastroenterology, surgical gastroenterology, Hepatology, Orthopedics and a range of other specialisations.

Early riser

Even now, Dr Gopichand’s day begins at 5.30 am and he is in the hospital by 7.30 am to attend to outpatients before proceeding to the operating theatre. He typically has 25 to 30 patients a day performs about 6 to8 procedures. During breaks, he attends to administrative responsibilities including meetings or discussions with his team. “Ideally, I hope to head home by 7:30 pm, but occasionally it might extend to 8:00 pm. This routine has been understood and accepted by my family from the outset, primarily because my wife is also a doctor,” informs the MD of Star Hospitals. Presently, most critical surgeries are handled by his team.

Staying physically fit is essential to build the endurance needed for longer operations. “There are times when we have to stand for six-seven hours, so good physical health is paramount,” Dr Gopichand says. He walks five kilometres every morning and spends another 25 minutes doing push-ups, stretches and planking. He also follows a non-carbohydrate diet. “I primarily consume millets. I am always mindful of my weight because I have a family history of diabetes.”

Finding mental composure

By his own admission, Dr Gopichand says he used to be rather aggressive as a person. “If someone did something I thought wasn't right, I would confront them, only appreciating their efforts when they were doing well. But now, I've become much more composed. I've realized the importance of guiding people who might not be doing things correctly.” He keeps at managing his temper, by listening to podcasts and going for walks. He also has a solid group of friends, the CEO Club Inner Circle, with whom he shares inadequacies, moments of happiness, ambiguities, and all those things.”

Inspired by Kalam

Dr Gopichand has had quite a few interactions with the then President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“We talked about a lot of interesting life facts. He encouraged me to focus on what is right rather than doing something for some benefit. That's how through that conversation, our Hrudaya Foundation was born,” informs the doctor. He says each child presents a challenging case.

Dr Gopichand Mannam | Star Hospitals | Global Indian

Challenges in the fraternity

With so many medical colleges opening up, says Dr Gopichand, there "is a shortage of qualified and dedicated faculty in almost every specialty. Private colleges are competing to hire retired professionals, while government hospitals are striving to retain their teachers.” Meanwhile, medical students lack opportunities for structured learning - “Patient examinations have ceased, resulting in a complete decline in clinical skills. Even college attendance seems to be merely for the purpose of writing exams.”

We seem to have lost sight, he says, of the fundamental qualities that a medical professional requires. “Attributes like empathy, honesty, continuous learning, and commitment to their work seem overshadowed by a rush to earn money. While this may be a generalization or an unfair assessment, it's the impression I often get,” says Dr Gopichand.

Future plans

Dr Gopichand intends to continue operating for the next five years, if not longer. “I'm keen on training at least three individuals each year in future cardiac surgery,” says the doctor, who is highly focussed in research as well.

Along with his senior colleague, Dr Lokeshwar Rao, Dr Gopichand has published over 100 papers in their specialty, drawing from their extensive experience of 33,000-34,000 operations in various aspects of cardiac surgery. He is also in discussions with some Western universities for collaboration, which hopefully will bear fruit within the next two years,” he informs.

On the hospital front, he plans to establish a new unit besides exploring new opportunities over the next five years.

Visit the Star Hospitals website for more information.