Ambati Prudhvi Reddy | Basketball Player | Global Indian

Global IndianstorySlam dunk: India, Spain, or US, basketball pro Prudhvi Reddy ‘shoots’ to thrill everywhere

Slam dunk: India, Spain, or US, basketball pro Prudhvi Reddy ‘shoots’ to thrill everywhere

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(January 31, 2023) Back in 2013, when Ambati Prudhvishwar Reddy began practising at the Europe Basketball Academy (EBA) in Barcelona, Spain — his acrobatic abilities, agility, swift moves, and teamwork — earned him a lot of admirers among professional athletes and coaches, almost instantly. One among them, in particular, was the academy’s head coach, Srdjan Premovic, who introduced Prudhvishwar to a ‘basketball life’ in its truest sense, replete with intense training and a tough fitness routine, which improved his game. So much so that when the budding basketball player informed him that he had no money to continue in EBA, three months after his arrival, Premovic not only helped him continue in the academy for one year but also bought his air tickets back home when Prudhvishwar was selected to play in the Indian basketball team!

Ambati Prudhvi Reddy | Basketball Player | Global Indian

“While leaving Spain, I promised my coach that I will never let him down, come what may. I kept my word,” smiles Prudhvi, as he is known in basketball circles, in an exclusive conversation with Global Indian. Standing tall at 6.2, the professional basketball player made India proud in various national and international tournaments. Representing Telangana state four times to playing for Christian Life prep school in the US to being selected amongst the two best players in India and going to the US once again for UBA — the list of his achievements is really long. “Practising in Spain was very tough and it was the turning point in my life. Training with highly professional athletes and professional coaches made me what I am today,” says the 27-year-old basketball player.

Double dribble

Born in Siripuram, Nalgonda district of Telangana, Prudhvi studied at Niraj Public School in Hyderabad and later went to St. Mary’s College, Yousufguda. While his mother A Upendra Reddy worked as a PT teacher in the same school, his father A Ravinder Reddy is into business. As kids, he and his brother Rajasekhar Reddy, now a mechanical engineer in the US, loved to play cricket and used to go for regular coaching. “Back then, I wanted to become a professional cricket player,” informs Prudhvi, who soon gave up the sport to perform better academically.

Ambati Prudhvi Reddy | Basketball Player | Global Indian

In school, Prudhvi was an enthusiastic kid who always wanted to run around and play. “Be it any sport, I had that competitive spirit in me to win the game,” says Prudhvi who won the best sportsperson award in class 10. The event was a memorable one as it was his mother, as a PT teacher, who handed over the award. Academically too, he performed well, having passed class 10 (ICSE board) with 81 percent.

Years later, when his brother was getting into basketball coaching, after much prodding by their mother, who felt playing the sport would make him taller by a few inches, Prudhvi decided that he too would follow suit. Moreover, he felt his athletic physique was best suited for basketball. By the time he turned 16, Prudhvi was making all the right moves on the basketball court. Not one, he was going to three different places in Hyderabad for coaching.

The young sportsman would regularly create videos of him playing basketball and upload them on YouTube. A coach from EBA even got in touch with Prudhvi after he saw his videos. But back then, the budding basketball player was in no mood to give up his education and travel to Spain for training.

When the going gets tough…

Back home, Prudhvi was not able to get through the selection process in Indian basketball camps. “I realised that the training I was receiving back then was not good enough to get selected for the Indian team. The following year, I made up my mind to go to Spain for professional training,” informs Prudhvi, who was among the country’s top 16 chosen by the UBA (United Basketball Alliance) to visit the US after seasons two and three, where he averaged 20 and 25 points per game.

He left for Spain soon after his EAMCET exams. “My father agreed to it the moment I told him about Spain. We gathered all the necessary information, pooled the money, and left for Spain. This was the beginning of my basketball journey,” informs the basketball professional.

Ambati Prudhvi Reddy | Basketball Player | Global Indian

At EBA, Prudhvi was in the best hands. Sporting his talent early, EBA coach Srdjan Premovic took Prudhvi under his wings and he wasted no time picking up the nuances of the game. “Playing with some of the best basketball professionals from across the world and the best facilities was something I missed in India. It made a huge difference,” points out Prudhvi, whose coach admired him for his “hunger for the game.”

He excelled as a point guard in the game, whose primary job was to facilitate scoring opportunities for the team. A point guard has the most specialised role of any position and is expected to run the team’s offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time. “My coach would always challenge me and treated me with 10 euros if I scored the most points. He used to push me harder. To this day, I keep following what I learnt there,” recalls Prudhvi. When it came to Indian basketballers, coach Premovic would describe Prudhvi, as “one of the best materials to work with.”

Upon returning to India, Prudhvi achieved success at the 2014 South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) championship in Bengaluru. Later, his game was noticed by the coach of Christian Life Academy in Houston, Texas where he spent another year of intense training. For Prudhvi, playing in the US was a different experience when compared to Spain. “In Spain, it was mostly training while in the US, I was representing a prep school where we had games throughout the year and it was all about performance,” says Prudhvi, whose experiences and exposure abroad helped him improve his game great deal.

Ambati Prudhvi Reddy | Basketball Player | Global Indian

While in the US, he also worked for a Mexican as an interior designer where he used to design bedrooms into their favourite hero or sports figure themes. “I used to go for NBA games where I met NBA player Tyler Ulis who was playing for Phoenix’s Suns team,” says the professional. Tyler is an American professional basketball coach.

Scaling new heights

With the United Basketball Alliance (UBA) making inroads in India, his career received a major boost. Prudhvi was selected by the Mumbai Challengers on an annual contract in the UBA’s second season.

So what makes for a good basketball player? Prudhvi says it takes years of hard work and consistency for any athlete to make it big in sports. As for basketball, one needs good training and routine. “Having a good diet, eating on time, fitness and regular practice is a must,” he points out.

Speaking about his future plans, the basketball player says, “Well, I just fulfilled my dream of opening my basketball academy in Hyderabad. Just like EBA, it consists of everything a basketball player needs including a gym, sports rehab, physio, Ice bath, hydrotherapy, and recovery. It is India’s first such academy,” smiles a beaming Prudhvi, adding that his goal is to educate people that there is life and profession in basketball.

Since he is occupied with basketball for the most part of the day, he makes it a point to watch NBA highlights whenever he has the time. “Otherwise, I spend time with friends,” he says.

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Published on 31, Jan 2023

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Art for the greater good: British Indian artist-activist Harky Kalsi on designing campaigns for the NHS, London Marathon, NBA

(July 4, 2024) When she thinks of her art, Harkiran 'Harky' Kalsi remembers a quote by singer Nina Simone, "An artist’s duty is to reflect the times." Harky lives by her ideal - the 37-year-old Indian-origin artist-activist has worked with some of UK’s largest charity initiatives, including Comic Relief, Children in Need and Sports Relief and designed sculptures for a social campaign thanking the NHS for their work during the pandemic. A client list that includes NBA, Lululemon, Footlocker, Vintage Books and the London Marathon, with each project, she raises her voice for a social cause. The fact that “south Asian artists are so rare,” only makes her efforts more pertinent. “This is my effort for the Indian community,” Harky says in an interview with Global Indian. “Who knows how many Indian girls will see my work and think, ‘hey, I want to do that too?’” Growing up in UK’s Midlands, she is no stranger to racism- of clerks treating her mother poorly over an Indian lilt, only to change when Harkiran walked in with a Brit accent. She even dismissed her roots of being a Punjabi Sikh, of feeling ashamed when her mother cooked a tadka, afraid the smell

d her roots of being a Punjabi Sikh, of feeling ashamed when her mother cooked a tadka, afraid the smell would stick to her clothes. And merely standing helpless as a person was discriminated against for the colour of their skin.

[caption id="attachment_23211" align="aligncenter" width="396"] artist-activist | Harkiran Kalsi | Global Indian Harkiran Kalsi[/caption]

It was Charlie Dark, founder of the Run Dem Crew, who gave her a valuable piece of advice. “You’re an artist,” he told her, “Put together a work of art that expresses your message.” So she did. Before she knew it, the work was getting scores of downloads across the UK. “This is what my work needs to do,” she declared.

The early days

Harky's earliest memories are of drawing at seven or eight, or even earlier. Her mother moved to England from Punjab when she married, and was creatively inclined too, “I remember art as being my entire life, I have never done anything but create it.”

She dreamed of being an illustrator. Yet life ensured her path to being an artist was riddled with obstacles. She failed art and design in her ‘A’ levels, coming away devastated when a teacher said, “You will never amount to anything as an artist.” Her mother, who had been a teacher in India, simply said, “Don’t panic. It doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you have a different way of thinking.”

artist-activist | Harkiran Kalsi | Global Indian

At Coventry University, an art foundation course opened the doors to a wealth of new options. Finding herself inclined towards illustrations, next came a graphic illustration course. “I put down the wrong course, though,” Harky exclaims. “I ended up in graphic design instead.”

After college, acting on the advice of an uncle, Harky Kalsi found work resizing artwork for pubs and hotels. The next four years were spent on graphic design work, hoping to find her space in London someday.

“It was a struggle,” Harky remarks, adding, “Just a series of rejections.” Household expenses, supporting her mother and sister were her priority. Rejected constantly, not told why – she was headed for a breakdown.

The Secret

[caption id="attachment_23224" align="aligncenter" width="446"] artist-activist | Harkiran Kalsi | Global Indian The I Am Thankful For series[/caption]

Then in 2013. Harky Kalsi remembers, “crying her eyes out.” Her lowest point yet, Harky remarks, “I couldn't just give up and quit, could I? I had to change something about myself.”

That’s when her sister gave her The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. “I realised I was living in a state of mind where I felt like everything was against me,” and she soon discovered ideas like manifestation and gratitude. “Another book The Magic recommended thinking of one thing you’re grateful for, every night before you sleep,” she says.

It helped her understand what she needed to do. Weeks later, she got an interview for BBC Worldwide. First round checked, turned down in the second, she suddenly felt it was okay. A few hours later, she spotted another opening at the BBC - this time with Children in Need. “I took my mother with me for the interview,” she smiles. She finally landed that job in 2014, at 29, and London came calling. She was jubilant.

London calling

artist-activist | Global Indian

When Children in Need moved to Manchester, she found work with Comic Relief with passion projects on the side. One such personal project was, “I’m Thankful For.” As the days rolled by, Harky saw a typographical style beginning to appear. “I was always interested in typography but never thought it would become my actual style,” she explains. Soon, people started contacting her to create prints. Harky was on her way.

Finding freedom

When Comic Relief announced that the team was being made redundant, again at familiar crossroads, Harky Kalsi toyed with starting out on her own. In 2017, she finally did, giving herself two weeks to find work.

“I was doing graphic design and my personal illustrations. It has been incredible ever since,” she says. “I genuinely believe that if I hadn’t made that change in my mindset in 2013-14, and learning to take rejection in my stride, none of this would have happened. The rejections simply guided me towards the path on which I truly needed to be.”

“I’m at a 50-50 balance now,” says Harky exploring what it means to be South Asian, Indian and a woman living in the UK. She had earlier moulded herself to fit, “into this white, British way of being. It took me years to learn to love who I am,” she readily admits.

artist-activist | Harkiran Kalsi | Global Indian

The artist’s duty

All her projects have a strong social message - a voice against social, racial and political injustices. With her bright colours and bubble letters, she’s currently standing up against the conflict in Ukraine.

A passionate marathoner, Harky’s clients include the London Marathon, sports apparel brand Lululemon, Footlocker and the NBA. In 2021, Harky became part of The Stolen Starts, a global running community that comprised 10 women from major cities (New York City, LA, London, Paris and Tokyo, etc). She designed race kits for Stolen Starts' members who competed in the 2021 New York City Marathon.

Harky Kalsi has lent her voice - and art - to the Stop Asian Hate movement and for women's rights. Her Instagram following has grown. After the pandemic, she took a project to create three sculptures that would be taken around the UK, a tribute to the NHS, whose workers had been on the frontlines of the pandemic.

One day, she was approached by Vintage Books and asked to illustrate a response to a quote by Kamala Harris, from her New York Times bestseller, The Truths We Hold. "This was part of a campaign to coincide with the inauguration in January 2021,” smiles the artist of the video that received 20,000 views on Vintage's platform.

artist-activist | Global Indian

Her voice only grows louder - and bolder. “Lettering isn’t just lettering, you know?” she avers. “Words are so powerful. And art must make an impact or make people think. I don't care if people agree with my work or like it, but if I can get them to have a dialogue, to think, then my job is done.”

Follow Harkiran on Instagram

Ankur Chawla: Bridging hospitality and sustainability one plastic bottle at a time

(October 10, 2023) On November 26, 2008, when Ankur Chawla, then a trainee at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, heard the first gunshot, his first thought was, 'Oh no, the champagne bottle has broken." Because obviously, how many of us can recognize the sound of gunfire, he would reflect later. His second thought was, "That was an expensive bottle." He walked towards the sound, running calculations in his mind to see how much of his stipend he would lose in case he had to pay for it. As he approached the scene, a man came tumbling from the side and collapsed on the floor, and Ankur could see a steadily growing bloodstain spread across his white shirt. Before Ankur could react, another man came hurtling down, "in a t-shirt, jeans and holding a gun." That was the start of the harrowing terrorist attack, which he recounts in his book, "14 Hours: An Insider's Account Of The 26/11 Taj Attack." It's a story he has told and re-told many times over, but Ankur Chawla has a lot more up his sleeve. Now a veteran in the hospitality industry, and a noted sommelier, Ankur is also the CEO and Co-founder of Responsible

and Co-founder of Responsible Whatr, which is reportedly India's first natural spring mineral water beverage, packed in sustainable aluminium cans. He embarked on this journey in 2020, with a profound vision for a sustainable future and a mission to combat single-use plastic pollution. “We collect the water from a natural spring, and it goes through seven stages of filtration. The water is then packaged in cans made from more than 70 percent recycled aluminium,” explains the entrepreneur as he sits down for an exclusive interview with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_45869" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Ankur Chawla | Global Indian Ankur Chawla, Founder and CEO, Responsible Whatr[/caption]

Laying the foundation

Ankur Chawla completed his education at The Institute of Hotel Management in Shimla and commenced his professional journey as a management trainee at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. Following this, he pursued a Postgraduate Programme in Leadership and Strategy at IMT Ghaziabad. Currently, he has enrolled in a hybrid MBA programme at the Liverpool Business School in the United Kingdom.

“My journey into the world of beverages began with my academic pursuit, as I studied beverages through the WSET programme in London. I successfully completed both Level II and Level III of the programme, gaining exposure to Master Sommeliers and participating in prestigious international wine events like Vinexpo. I also had the privilege of travelling to various wine regions across the globe.”

Buoyant on beverages

Following his educational journey, he took on the role of Sommelier at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, where he also managed the renowned restaurant ‘Wasabi by Morimoto’. It was during this time that his entrepreneurial spirit began to take shape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QQDwmYS2j8

“My career path led me to become the Director of Beverages at JW Marriott New Delhi, where I had the opportunity to shape the Beverages programme. Additionally, I served as a member of Marriott's Asia Pacific Beverage Advisory Board from 2014 to 2017, playing a global role. In this capacity, I was responsible for selecting and expanding the wine and spirits portfolio and conducted training sessions for the staff through tasting sessions. I also contributed to the conceptualisation of beverage promotions. My responsibilities extended to managing ‘Akira Back’ and overseeing the bars at JW Marriott Hotel,” says Chawla.

He began working for Taj in Mumbai before returning to Delhi. He quit his job in 2017 to launch a consulting business after working with some of India's largest luxury hotel companies. The hospitality sector was just starting to understand the importance of sustainability and reducing plastic waste at the time. Glass bottles were the only alternative to PET bottles that people could think of because it was still early in the development of PET bottles. The journey began with the establishment of the plant, a process that spanned all of 2019 to secure the necessary permissions. He launched his venture, Responsible Whatr, in June 2020 with a vision for a sustainable future and an agenda to reduce single-use plastic pollution and provide a sustainable solution to the water industry.

Crossing hurdles

For someone who pioneered the concept of packaging water in cans, a departure from the traditional use of transparent bottles, the road has not been easy. “Overcoming the psychological resistance associated with this change and conveying the advantages of drinking from a can posed a significant challenge. However, through education and numerous workshops in hotels and relevant platforms, we are making progress in overcoming this hurdle. We are pleased to report that people are starting to appreciate and embrace this shift,” he explains.

Ankur Chawla | Global Indian

While he and his team were poised to commence their initial production in January 2020 the global outbreak of Covid-19 presented a formidable obstacle. “Our strategic focus had always been on the hospitality sector, which was hit hardest by the pandemic. Despite these challenges, we honed our skills in hands-on sales, including cold calling, and celebrated each sale, from individual cans to major contracts. The journey has been filled with excitement,” says Chawla.

Making it count

Post the pandemic, he believes that the lines between work and personal space have become a bit blurred. Keeping this in mind, maintaining work life balance has become even more important. “I personally love being a workaholic, however, I love spending time with my family. Other than that, I really enjoy public speaking so I love doing sessions. Moreover, I love exploring and speaking about and reviewing alcoholic beverages,” he says. For someone who believes that every experience teaches you a lot, especially the ones that you never expected, he admits that perseverance has been one of the top learnings for him.

“We started in the middle of the pandemic and things were not looking very rosy. Still, we kept going and I am glad today we are a stable company who has learned from the mistakes. Also, I believe business is all about relations and networking. One needs to give it enough time and due to embrace the same.” Looking ahead he says that his future plans involve expanding not just their product range, beginning with sparkling water, but also broadening their presence by venturing into new markets including focusing a bit on the export channels as well.

Follow Ankur Chawla on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook

Reading Time: 6 mins

Global Indian Neeraj Chopra: The reigning Olympic champion who made India proud with gold

(June 23, 2022) Rewards and accolades have not stopped raining down on Subedar Neeraj Chopra ever since the athlete made India proud by winning Gold in 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a 87.58m throw. The athlete was 23 at the time he created history. On June 19, the Olympian bagged the season's first gold medal at the Kuortane Games in Finland, clinching his biggest win since the Tokyo Olympics. The junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was conferred a Padma Shri in January 2022. He also received Arjuna award back in 2018. Neeraj has several eclectic firsts to his credit. He is the first track and field athlete to win a gold medal for India in the Olympics. He is also the first track and field athlete from India to win at the IAAF World U20 Championships in 2016. His world under-20 record throw of 86.48 m made him the first Indian athlete to achieve a world record. [caption id="attachment_26044" align="aligncenter" width="1183"] Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic gold medallist of India[/caption] As of 2022, Neeraj is one of the only two Indians to have won an individual Olympic gold medal (Abhinav Bindra is the other). The talented athlete has set ablaze the Olympic scene as the youngest-ever Indian Olympic gold

ontent/uploads/2022/06/neeraj_amrita_gi1.jpg" alt="Neeraj Chopra | Indian Athletes | Global Indian " width="1183" height="660" /> Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic gold medallist of India[/caption]

As of 2022, Neeraj is one of the only two Indians to have won an individual Olympic gold medal (Abhinav Bindra is the other). The talented athlete has set ablaze the Olympic scene as the youngest-ever Indian Olympic gold medallist in an individual event and the only one to have won gold in his Olympic debut. He represented India in 2018 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games and claimed gold in both. Global Indian turns the spotlight on the journey of the super athlete.

After finishing first in Olympics, he tweeted:

“When the desire for success does not let you sleep, when there is nothing better than hard work, when you do not get tired after working continuously, understand that you are going to create a new history of success.” - Neeraj Chopra

Struggles with childhood obesity

Looking at him now, it’s hard to believe that the track and field athlete and reigning Olympic champion in Javelin throw struggled with childhood obesity. This Khandra village boy of Haryana was often teased by children. Addressing his son’s ordeals of getting bullied for weight, Neeraj’s farmer father enrolled him in a gymnasium at Madlauda, a Haryana province.

Neeraj, later enrolled in a gym in Panipat and made physical activity an integral part of his life as he did not want to be an object of fun for the village boys anymore. While playing at Shivaji stadium at Panipat, Neeraj came across javelin throwers and began participating in the game The rest is history!

Learning ancient art from modern platform

There is archaeological evidence that javelins were already in use by the last phase of the lower Paleolithic age that dates back to about 300,000 years ago. Indian Mythology talks about extensive use of this great weapon. This powerful weapon is known to be the favourite of Kartikeya (son of Shiva and Parvati and elder brother of Ganesh), known as the Hindu God of war. History is also replete with use of javelin as a powerful weapon in warfare spanning centuries. Interestingly javelin started trending in India only after Neeraj Chopra created history with it in the Olympics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4wUBsLkgW0

As part of its promotional campaigns YouTube has been flashing Neeraj Chopra’s tryst with Javelin stressing on the fact that it was the platform that helped the village athlete in picking up tips and tricks of the game. Neeraj has affirmed that he attempted to copy the style of Czech javelin champion Jan Zelezny while watching the YouTube videos of his performances.

Parent’s and Panipat’s role in preparing the Olympian

He mentioned in an interview:

“In the village that I grew up; no one did athletics. For a lot of my life, I didn’t even know what a javelin was.”

Having discovered the game by chance, Chopra had started visiting Panipat Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre where his talent was recognised by the local coach. He helped him hone his skills and win some local competitions as well. Motivated by winning a bronze in a district championship, Neeraj persuaded his parents to allow him to shift to Panipat from the village to pursue the techniques of the game. That move was quite unconventional for the place that he hailed from and considering the fact that Neeraj was just 13 at that time.

[caption id="attachment_26049" align="aligncenter" width="765"] Neeraj Chopra | Indian Athletes | Global Indian Neeraj Chopra with his parents on their first flight[/caption]

However, adding wings to the young athlete’s dreams was the best decision of his parents. Life unfolded beautifully, later. For starter, the youngster participated in National Junior Athletics Championships in Lucknow after rigorous training in Panipat and won gold there.

“My village still does not have a playground. Whenever I stay there, I need to practice on the road,” he informed. His flight from such humble backgrounds to reaching the sky in international sporting events is inspiring for millions of Indians and similar to living in a dream for his parents who hardly have exposure to the world outside their province.

Sharing one of the most fulfilling moments of his life, Neeraj Chopra tweeted:

"A small dream of mine came true today as I was able to take my parents on their first flight.”

International beginnings and army induction

Neeraj’s first international competition was in 2013 in Ukraine. He went on to win his first international medal in 2014 at the Youth Olympics Qualification games in Bangkok. By 2016 he started training under the Australian Coach, late Gary Calvert. Neeraj’s performances started improving in international games thereafter.

[caption id="attachment_26051" align="aligncenter" width="786"] Neeraj Chopra | Indian Athletes | Global Indian Neeraj Chopra with late Bipin Rawat, former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army[/caption]

Impressed with his performance at the South Asian Games and looking at his future potential, the Indian Army offered him a direct appointment as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in the Rajputana Rifles in 2016. He was inducted as Naib Subedar, a rank that is usually not granted immediately to athletes recruited as non-commissioned officers (NCO).

Continuing with high voltage performances

June 14, 2022 marked the high voltage return of Neeraj Chopra in the javelin turf after 311 days of the historic Olympics gold achievement. He finished a close second (winning silver) at Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, competing with world and Olympic champions like Oliver Helander, Johannes Vetter, Anderson Peters, and Julian Weber.

What was glorious about his second-placed finish is that the athlete had participated in a competition after close to a year since his Olympics win. Also, Neeraj unleashed 89.30m while the first-placed Oliver Helander of Finland with his personal best was not too far at 89.93m. Cherry on top was that Neeraj marked a new national record to his name with the 89.30 m throw which turned out to be his personal best. However, Neeraj was prowling for more. Just five days after this achievement his tiger moves crowned India with gold at the Kuortane Games in Finland.

Talking about the sudden interest of youngsters in the game, he mentioned:

“I see so much potential for Indians with the javelin. To succeed you need strength and speed, and Indian kids have that. I think, more and more, they'll see what we’re achieving and will become inspired to pick up a javelin themselves.” - Neeraj Chopra

There is more to come from the Olympian in the coming months with events like World Championship and Commonwealth Games. India is looking forward to celebrate all his victories!

Follow Neeraj Chopra on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 5 mins

Pradnya Giradkar: Inspirational life story of Cheetah lady who reintroduced cheetahs in India

(October 3, 2022) “India had 10,000 cheetahs during the time of Akbar but then, rulers over the years have been fond of hunting, and the number of the fastest animal on earth started coming down in India. The last three cubs were killed by Maharaja Surguja of MP in 1947,” says Pradnya Giradkar, the country’s first cheetah conservation specialist, who lived with 52 cheetahs in Namibia. Eight cheetahs from Namibia were brought to Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022, receiving such fanfare that they were received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself on his birthday. It was a historic day in many ways - also because it is the world's first carnivore relocation project. It’s a milestone that Pradnya, founder of the Wildlife Conservation and Rural Development Society has worked over a decade to achieve, and her phenomenal efforts, have finally paid off with the success of Project Cheetah. Having been declared extinct in 1952, the homecoming of the big cats after 70 years on the Indian soil is a matter of great achievement for her. [caption id="attachment_30098" align="aligncenter" width="905"] Cheetah Lady, Pradnya Giradkar[/caption] Pradnya has been a lecturer at zoology department and PhD student of K J Somaiya College

ttachment_30098" align="aligncenter" width="905"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetah Lady, Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Pradnya has been a lecturer at zoology department and PhD student of K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai, where she taught wildlife as a special subject to students pursuing their degrees. “As a PhD scholar, I was doing my research in tiger conservation and my professors would address me as ‘tigress’ because I had such a knack for it,” says Pradnya who used to watch track the movement of the tigers from midnight to five in the morning at Tadoba National Park. “Now, with cheetahs being brought in to the country, I am being called, ‘the cheetah lady’, it feels good,” she smiles, during her interview with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_30179" align="aligncenter" width="842"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetahs at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Pradnya’s role in Project Cheetah

As the first Indian to be trained by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), the global institution working to save the big cats, Pradnya visited Namibia in 2011.There, she worked closely with Dr Laurie Marker, the executive director of CCF, enjoying an eventful month-long stay with close to five dozen cheetahs, doing their DNA testing, cat analysis, and livestock management as part of the training. Co-incidentally, Marker has been a key advisor to the Indian government on the cheetah relocation project for the last 13 years.

[caption id="attachment_30099" align="alignnone" width="894"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Pradnya with her mentor Dr Laurie Marker[/caption]

Since the conceptualisation of the Project Cheetah in 2009, Dr Marker has been one of the leading figures working on the mission, coordinating with scientists and other specialists, and assessing the suitability of potential habitats for the cheetahs to translocate to India. MP’s Kuno National Park was identified back then.

However, there have been many roadblocks along the way. The major roadblock came when the Supreme Court issued a stay order on the project, on the grounds that the foreign species could endanger the Indian breed of wild cats in Kuno. The court also mentioned that since the African cheetahs are genetically different from the Asian cheetahs, their chances of survival in India may not be high.

[caption id="attachment_30159" align="aligncenter" width="747"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetah at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Legally speaking...

At the time, Pradnya, who was just back from her training with Dr Laurie, had first-hand information of the climatic needs of the big cats. Like Dr Marker, she knew that they can very well adjust in India but that required proving in a court of law.

Along with other wildlife scientists, Pradnya went on to gather evidence that the cheetahs can survive in the Indian climate without any difficulty. Her efforts paid off when Dr Stephen O’Brien, a renowned Russian geneticist, sent her a letter, stating that genetic differences between the Asiatic and African cheetahs, which, although “real, were ‘almost negligible”, and that African cheetahs can survive well in India if provided with a suitable prey base and habitat.

[caption id="attachment_30157" align="aligncenter" width="806"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetah at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

After this expert clarification, the wildlife scientists, including Pradnya, filed a review petition at Honourable Supreme Court of India which got approved. Finally, it gave its nod to the translocation project in the year 2020, on the basis of the submission of letter of Dr O’Brien to Pradnya, okaying a pilot programme to observe the success before more cheetahs were brought to the country.

“I admire Dr Marker a lot. She is a very good lady. I am very grateful for her efforts that have paved the way for cheetahs to return to India, after we won the case in court,” Pradnya says. “Though we have not met since my return from Namibia, we have always been in touch keeping each other updated on Project Cheetah.”

[caption id="attachment_30158" align="aligncenter" width="765"] Cheetahs at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Contrary to belief, India is natural habitat of cheetahs

The reintroduction of cheetahs to India took many years of effort, held up as they were by assumptions that the climatic conditions in the country might be unsuitable. There are doubters even now, but Pradnya is very confident about this landmark move. “India was home to them if we go back in history. Their extinction was caused by man,” Pradnya says.

For the expert wildlife conservationist, cheetahs and tigers are like friends whom she understands well. She can understand animal language as she has studied behavioural activities of animals ethology.

India is the proud country that is home to six types of big cats, While UK has just one, the US has two and Africa, three - Pradnya Giradkar

Stressing on how cheetahs have always belonged to us she says, "Cheetah is derived from the Sanskrit word Chitrakayah or Chitraka meaning the variegated or spotted one. The word gradually got converted to Cheetah"

[caption id="attachment_30116" align="aligncenter" width="1289"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Pradnya's photography at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia[/caption]

Tackling human-wildlife conflict

Through her NGO, Wildlife Conservation and Rural Development Society, Pradnya has been trying to address human and wildlife conflict, mitigate and prevent harm that both man and wild animals can cause to each other. Her NGO is engaged in community outreach efforts across the forest territories of India, guiding tribal communities on how to prevent and react to livestock predation. The NGO works to help rural communities gain solutions that are mutually beneficial to both wildlife and domestic animals.

[caption id="attachment_30162" align="aligncenter" width="827"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Predators like tigers, leopards, lions live alongside human communities and cause harm to the livestock (cows, sheep, and goats) of tribals of the region. However, it is possible for tribals to hunt down the wrong animal in revenge if they don’t know how to identify the predator from the mark of their knuckles - Pradnya Giradkar

“Most of the forest territories are Naxal-prone areas, Naxalites lure the tribals to hunt animals for skin, nails, teeth etc. for money,” Pradnya explains. Her NGO also works for the socio-economic improvement of the tribals so that they do not indulge in illegal activities. They have collaborated with institutions like Khadi Gram Udyog, and National Institute of rural development to provide livelihood opportunities to ensure the tribal communities’ development as a whole and ensure sustainable animal conservation.

[caption id="attachment_30096" align="alignnone" width="1959"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Pradnya at Ootjiwarongo forest, Namibia with Hiererro community people[/caption]

“I cannot be everywhere all the time so I also develop local leaders in the forest territories, who see to mitigating man-animal conflict, and sustainable environment biodiversity conservation,” says Pradnya who also did community outreach efforts for the CCF when she was in Namibia.

Flashback of the journey…

The daughter of a nature conservationist father, Gopalrao and activist mother, Sumati, Pradnya grew up close to the wildlife territory at Giradkar Wada, Umred in Nagpur district. Always a multi-faceted learner, she went on to pursue her MSc in entomology, MPhil in bio- chemistry, and PhD on tiger conservation under University Grant Commission's FIP Fellowship programme. “Since I was dealing with wildlife and tribals, I thought it important to know laws pertaining to both so that I can stand up for them in times of need. So, I went on to do LLB in environmental and international law from Nagpur university completing it with first merit,” she says. One person who inspired her greatly over the years is Dr. S.G. Yeragi from Somaiya College. "He was my Ph. D. supervisor, a well-known personality in Mumbai University and in Maharashtra," she mentions.

[caption id="attachment_30101" align="aligncenter" width="811"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Pradnya at her farm[/caption]

The gifted singer and college chess champion of Mumbai University received the Hidden Eco-Hero award in 2017, an initiative of UNEP that honoured six other environmental leaders from across the globe along with her that year. She was also honoured by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), US for efforts taken for tiger conservation, and received fellowship from WildCRU (Wildlife Conservation Research Unit) of Oxford University, UK with funding from CCF, Namibia. She is the recipient of British Council scholarship for Edinburg University's, environment project at Scotland.

The accomplished wildlife conservationist is also an agriculturalist who enjoys time outdoors in her 175-year-old family property near the forest territory. There, she and her 82-year-old mother grow cotton, gram, soyabeans, and chilli. “I am confident that the Government of India will keep the cheetahs very well. I strongly believe that they will propagate in India more than they have in Africa,” she signs off.

[caption id="attachment_30164" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Conservationist | Pradnya Giradkar | Global Indian Cheetah cub | Photo credit: Pradnya Giradkar[/caption]

Pradnya's story is one of great effort and overcoming major challenges. Through sheer grit and unwavering passion for her beloved wildcats, she has re-written India's wildlife story and found herself a place in the annals of history, both in India and around the world.

Follow Pradnya Giradkar on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 7 mins

Ricky Kej, the musician with an activist heart

(November 17, 2021) From the Grammy-winning album Winds of Samsara to My Earth Songs and most recently Divine Tides, composer, musician and humanitarian conservationist Ricky Kej has the propensity to dig deep into ragas and their effervescence. Composing strains that not just stand the tests of time, but also alleviate the angst that humans wreak on nature, Ricky is an activist at heart. If he defines his life on two cornerstones - music and conservation, it is because many of his signature albums have an intrinsic bond with nature. The dentist who turned inwards conjuring up soulful music from ordinary notes has been on a journey of awakenings, be it with music, or through it, to raise environmental consciousness. A degree in dental surgery lies gathering dust, yet Ricky feels that his career was never a transition. "I have always been a musician. From a young age, I wanted music as my hobby, profession, career, bread and butter. I did a degree in dental surgery only because of my parents. I had made a deal with my father that once I completed a dental degree, my life was my own. The minute I got my degree, I handed it over

ee, I handed it over to my parents and became a full-time musician. I did not practice dentistry even for a day,” smiles the idealist believer who might just inspire a world of somewhat clueless folk who want to follow their hearts.

[caption id="attachment_15927" align="aligncenter" width="739"] Ricky Kej[/caption]

His recent album Divine Tides saw Kej associate with Stewart Copeland, founder and drummer of the Police fame. Now, he is working on a follow-up to his 2015 Grammy-winning Winds of Samsara (for which he worked with South African Wouter Kellerman). Back then, both Kej and Kellerman were huge fans of each other, and wanted to work together. A tryst of destiny brought them together.

"It was around 2012 when I met flute player Wouter Kellerman. We met in Los Angeles, and I mentioned that I had just composed a piece of music based on the ideals of peace by Mahatma Gandhi, my father of the nation. It was a huge coincidence that Wouter was working on a piece of music inspired by Nelson Mandela, his father of the nation. Through our discussions, we realised that there was a lot of cross-pollination - Mahatma Gandhi spent his formative years in South Africa, so had a South African-ness while Mandela was heavily inspired by Gandhi so had an Indian-ness. Wouter started to add South African-ness to my music, I started to add Indian-ness to his music. We became the best of friends, travelled the globe and in two-and-a-half years, we had Winds of Samsara (my 16th album!), and it went to the top of the US Billboard charts, and we won the Grammy Award for it," Ricky recalls. For the musician who has won over 100 music awards across 20 countries, the Grammy Award is most cherished as awards are for a greater good, not just for mere vanity, he says.

[caption id="attachment_15928" align="aligncenter" width="518"] Ricky Kej with his Grammy Award[/caption]

The pandemic was the perfect opportunity to kick back in his studio and kickstart Divine Tides with Copeland. "I was thrilled when he said yes. I have always relied on technology for my recordings, and Stewart too is high on technology, and has one of the most amazing home studios. That helped us record seamlessly. We did our portions individually, and it all came together superbly. We are thrilled to have created an album that celebrates life, creates a wave of much-needed positivity,” adds the Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_15925" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Divine Tides by Ricky Kej and Stewart Copeland[/caption]

For a star who idolised Copeland, working with him was like attending "the best masterclass imaginable!" Kej says, "Stewart is not just the founder and drummer of one of the biggest selling bands in history 'The Police', he also regularly composes for operas, orchestras, and for over 50 Hollywood movies. He is constantly evolving and learning by exploring new sounds, traditional instruments, and rhythms," which formed an intrinsic bond with Ricky, as his pattern is similar. The songs imbue strong Indian roots with a fusion of the west as the album celebrates the magnificence of the natural world, and the resilience of our species.

It's easy to picture the wavy-haired lad with dark soulful eyes mesmerised by all forms of music as a child. Listening was more important than seeing, thus Ricky was hooked to his music system. “I would dissect songs, try and figure out instruments used, the musicians, and learn about different cultures and people," Kej reminisces. Music helped him fall in love with nature, and become its custodian. This deep connection can be felt in the gentle stirrings on Winds of Samsara or the unique sounds of Divine Tides.

[caption id="attachment_15929" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Ricky Kej performing at a live concert.[/caption]

Kej's music features in the 2019 documentary Wild Karnataka narrated by Sir David Attenborough which won two awards at the 67th National Film Awards 2021. The US-born, Bangalore-raised Ricky identifies with Karnataka, and Bangalore which became home at age eight when he left North Carolina. Scoring music showcasing the state's ecological diversity with Sir Attenborough's impeccable narration was of course, "an absolute no-brainer" for Kej.

"Music and conservation are the two pillars that define my life. Wild Karnataka brings out the inner child as you watch every stunning frame with awe and wonder. It forces you to realise how amazing Mother Nature is. She has always been the primary source of inspiration for my music," adds Ricky who was honoured to share credits with Sir Attenborough. "Winning the awards furthered the cause of protecting and preserving Mother Nature," he says.

A humanitarian, Kej has always attempted to bridge the widening chasm between human foibles and nature's resilience. As ambassador for the United Nations' UNICEF, UNCCD, UNESCO -MGIEP, Kej works closely with WHO, Earth Day Network, etc. The deeply mindful composer gains an impetus to dedicate his life to conservation. "My music has addressed different aspects of environmental and social issues - climate action, human-animal conflict, sustainable farming, the refugee crisis, etc. I believe that only when people start to acknowledge an issue, start a dialogue to solve it, can a solution appear. I want to inspire this dialogue through music. Music has the power to retain a message deep in the consciousness of a listener,” says the United Nations Global Humanitarian Artist award winner who missed performing during Covid 19 but believes in the "top-down approach" where he performs to inform audiences to create stronger policies to tackle environmental and health issues with a "ground-up approach."

[caption id="attachment_15931" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Ricky Kej addressing the UN General Assembly in 2016.[/caption]

Climate change is the biggest existential crisis humans face, and he urges, "It is up to artists, especially musicians, to advocate for climate action." What concerns him greatly is how the pandemic has hit the entertainment industry. "Performing artists, production companies, event management companies, sound engineers, recording studios and everyone else involved is stuck in limbo in India. It is all about adapting to the times and surroundings as no matter what pandemic hits us, music will never leave our lives," says the Bengalurean who is among the 100 Real Leaders, who has performed multiple virtual concerts during Covid 19 (the last three were watched by an estimated 200 million viewers).

For Ricky's new project, he worked with author and close buddy Vikram Sampath - Women Of The Record which celebrates the brave women in the early 1900s who first adopted recording technology, and became superstars, but were forgotten in history.

[caption id="attachment_15932" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Ricky Kej performing for UNICEF India.[/caption]

Not many know that Kej's grandfather Janaki Das, who he was extremely close to, was an actor, Olympic cyclist, and freedom fighter. "Many remember him as the buffoonish villainous character actor always essaying evil roles. You will remember him as Seth Ghanshyam in the Rishi Kapoor-starrer Khel Khel Mein, or Seth Janki Lal in Karishma Kudrat Kaa or the ticket collector in the Burning Train. He was the only Indian participant in the International Olympic Squad from British Imperial Empire in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games and in 1934 and 1942, he broke the world record for cycling. In 1942, he broke yet another world record but on finishing the race, he unfurled the Mother India flag which was gifted to him by Mahatma Gandhi (we were still ruled by the British). For this audacious act, he was disqualified. This was the first time an Indian flag was unfurled on foreign soil. He called it quits as a matter of protest for freedom from the British. He was the pioneer who formed the Indian Cycling Federation," Kej enthuses.

His grandfather died at the age of 93 in Mumbai in 2003. Ricky's wife Varsha is also a musician who has been a part of a few compositions and is a core part of his musicology.

[caption id="attachment_15933" align="aligncenter" width="830"] Ricky Kej[/caption]

Advice from the music maestro? "Talent may not always be under your control, but you can be the most hardworking person, like I am! Never use creativity as an excuse for laziness. Never make awards the end goal, be grateful when you earn them, and use them as a platform for doing bigger and better things," says the Bishop Cottons Boy’s High School student who never lacks inspiration as his muse is planet Earth.

Follow Ricky Kej on Instagram and Twitter

Reading Time: 8 min