Global IndianstorySonal Bhuchar: Indian-American gets a school named after her in Texas

Sonal Bhuchar: Indian-American gets a school named after her in Texas

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(November 1, 2023) “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — is the quote that guided Indian-American volunteer and public servant Sonal Bhuchar for the 58 years that she lived. Now four years after her passing away, her legacy has continued to live on and the biggest proof of it is that an elementary school in the heart of Missouri in Texas has been named after her. A trailblazer in the field of education in Fort Bend County, Buchar served as the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees for six years and later the Board President for two years. In 2019, she lost the battle to cancer.

Expressing his gratitude, Sonal’s husband Dr Subodh Bhuchar said, “The current Fort Bend citizens and FBISD board of Trustees recognised Sonal’s phenomenal service to the county by unanimously voting for an elementary school in her honour, so that her legacy in education and philanthropy continues for generations to come.”

Sonal Bhuchar | Global Indian

“Sonal was a quiet yet effective warrior, who weaved a path for generations of young women and men to follow. She led by example and showed them that their way to succeed in life is to give, without expecting anything in return. She ensured that her actions would lead to changes that would benefit all,” he added.

The school, which opened its doors in August 2023, has a Bengal Tiger named Royal as the mascot, thus embodying her Indian roots and heritage. ROYAL stands for Resilient, Optimistic, Youthful, Admirable, Leader. Their website reads, “The purpose of Bhuchar Elementary is connecting the Bengal community through inclusiveness, creativity, and an energised optimal learning experience.” Constructed with a capacity to accommodate 1,000 students, the school includes an outdoor classroom that can be utilized by both students and teachers on pleasant weather days.

Sonal Bhuchar Elementary

Born and brought up in Mumbai, she earned a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from the University of Mumbai. It was in 1984 that she moved to the US after her marriage, and soon made Houston her home, where after a few years, Sonal turned over a new leaf as a community activist. A firm believer in “making a difference”, Sonal didn’t leave any stone unturned to bring about a positive change in society and started working in the field of education. A dedicated volunteer with Child Advocates, the Literacy Council, the Cultural Arts Foundation, and the Fort Bend Education Foundation, she did everything possible to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Moreover, she gained recognition for her leadership in various initiatives, such as leading the WATCH program, which focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle education for elementary school students. She was also instrumental in conceiving the idea for the annual International Festival of the Fort Bend Education Foundation, aimed at fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the district. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Student Leadership Program and the Legislative Advocacy Program.

Sonal Bhuchar | Global Indian

Sonal extended her dedication to community service into the domain of politics, as she pursued the Republican Party’s nomination for the State Representative position in 2012. In 2015, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed Sonal to the One Star National Service Commission Board, a role dedicated to promoting volunteerism and overseeing the administration of AmeriCorps programs in Texas. When asked about her biggest accomplishment, the Global Indian said in an interview, “I’d say my ability to raise my family and my children in a country that I now call home, but wasn’t where I grew up, and adapt to the social structure here while still maintaining my cultural traditions that I value a lot.”

Sonal stands as a testament to the transformative power of dedicated individuals in the field of education. Her influential contributions in Texas, ranging from her advocacy for healthy lifestyles to her political pursuits, have left a lasting impact on countless students and communities. Today, the fact that an elementary school in Missouri bears her name serves as a fitting tribute to her unwavering commitment to the betterment of education. Sonal Bhuchar’s legacy is a reminder of the profound influence one person can have on the lives of many, and her name continues to inspire future generations to strive for excellence and inclusive education.

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omar

January 17, 2024 8:43 pm

i go to this school.

Published on 01, Nov 2023

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Scholar Dr. Shivayogi Bhusnurmath is committed to training the next gen pathologist

(April 3, 2024) While he was doing his residency, Dr. Shivayogi Bhusnurmath experienced the most amusing incident of his career, when a goat made a daring escape from the animal research facility at his institution. "The goat took me for a merry-go-round all over campus. I was exhausted, sweaty, and cursing my luck," shared the scholar laughing, "After nearly two hours, the goat got tired and I managed to catch it. It was an unforgettable part of my training!” He might have had a bumpy start, but this Bangalore Medical College alumnus was recently named the Dean of Basic Sciences at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS), New York. "I will aim to enhance the New York-based university's commitment to delivering high-quality medical education, training upcoming physicians to deliver compassionate healthcare, and fostering the ongoing advancement and expansion of UMHS," said the scholar. Dr. Bhusnurmath boasts a forty-year tenure crafting curricula at esteemed medical institutions, enriched with a profound reservoir of medical expertise, clinical proficiency, and academic stewardship. Educated at the renowned Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, in India, the scholar acquired Fellowship credentials from the esteemed Royal College of Pathologists in London. Across his

ic stewardship. Educated at the renowned Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, in India, the scholar acquired Fellowship credentials from the esteemed Royal College of Pathologists in London. Across his illustrious journey, he has been dedicated to medical pedagogy, clinical excellence, and scholarly inquiry, disseminating pathology knowledge to medical students and postgraduate residents across a spectrum of nations including India, the United Kingdom, the Sultanate of Oman, Sudan, Japan, Canada, and Grenada.

Accidental doctor

Born and brought up in the beautiful city of Bengaluru, Dr. Bhusnurmath trained in medicine at Bangalore Medical College. Interestingly, the scholar chose to study medicine as he didn't want to be alone at IIT. "I did medicine during the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time in India, the only “reasonable” options for high-performing students were engineering and medicine – and parental pressure played a major role in career decisions. Because of my academic successes, I had the option of direct admission to either medical school or the Indian Institute of Technology. I opted for medicine because that’s what my friends chose, and I wanted to stay with them. At the time, I was too young to consider the broader ramifications of my choice," shared the scholar.

[caption id="attachment_50468" align="aligncenter" width="554"] Scholar | Dr Shivayogi Bhusnurmath | Global Indian Dr. Shivayogi Bhusnurmath receiving the “Excellence in International Pathology Education Award” from Group for Research in Pathology Education (GRIPE)[/caption]

In my second year of medical school, the scholar found himself bored with the course. However, it was this boredom that led Dr. Bhusnurmath to his calling. "I was tired after 18 months of anatomy study; the faculty seemed more interested in torturing than inspiring us," shared the scholar, adding, "Then I read The Final Diagnosis, by Arthur Hailey – and it was a major turning point in my life. The book’s central character was a chief of pathology and I was impressed by the role he played in critical decisions. A young nurse’s limb amputation due to suspected osteosarcoma; an epidemic of enteric fever; the autopsy that revealed unexpected incidental tuberculosis and prompted the screening of an entire family… These examples are still etched in my mind after five decades. In those days, many clinical questions ended with “maybe, maybe not” – so my drive to eliminate medical uncertainties made pathology a natural choice."

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Inside the lab

After he finished his internship, the scholar wanted to pursue a pathology postgraduate programme. At the time, candidates had to do one year as a house surgeon in medicine and surgery first, "I was fortunate to have Krishna Bhargava as hospital director. He created a new position at Bangalore’s Victoria Hospital – house surgeon in pathology – and I was the first inductee," the Global Indian shared.

[caption id="attachment_50469" align="aligncenter" width="557"] Scholar | Dr Shivayogi Bhusnurmath | Global Indian Drs. Bharti Bhusnurmath (left) and Shivayogi Bhusnurmath[/caption]

Eventually, the scholar worked in many developing nations, helping countries overcome epidemics. One incident took place in Zaria, Nigeria, where he was working as a lecturer-consultant at Ahmadu Bello University between 1982 and 1985. “The HIV/AIDS epidemic was just beginning, and we knew nothing about it – but I remember while introducing fine needle aspiration cytology, experiencing accidental needlestick wounds and living in fear for many years because there were no diagnostic tests and no treatments available. Fortunately, I escaped the infection.” From Nigeria, he went to the UK, Japan, Canada, and Oman in the 1990s. “My final move (so far) was in 1996 when I arrived at St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies."

Moving to academics

In 1996, the scholar assumed the role of Dean of Academic Affairs at St. George University School of Medicine. However, this position failed to captivate him. Hoping to empower upcoming pathologists with a top-tier education, Dr. Bhusnurmath and his wife established their own academy. "For the past 25 years, the bulk of my work has involved teaching medical students. With my wife, Bharti Bhusnurmath I created a unique programme called the International Clinical Tutor Teaching Fellowship Programme.” The programme started with four medical graduates who lived locally, but they now recruit recent medical graduates from across the globe to help them run small groups in their teaching lab. The course is taught twice a year – involving over 900 students each time – and students come from over 130 countries to join. “We are lucky to have them; although my wife and I could handle lectures for a class of any size, we need high-quality preceptors when we split the class into groups of eight to 10 students for applied clinical learning in the laboratory sessions," he shared.

However, the pathologist could hardly keep himself away from the lab. "I still process 60 to 80 patient samples per day – mainly in clinical chemistry and hematology, but we also perform fine needle aspiration cytology and sign out surgical biopsies,” Dr Bhusnurmath says. “The cases I see here in Grenada are different from those common in India. Here, I see a lot of sickle cell disease, diabetes, hypertension, human T-lymphotropic virus-related lymph node pathology, prostate and breast carcinoma, dengue, thyroid problems, and seasonal flu," he said.

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The scholar has published more than 130 papers that have been cited over 1400 times. "I am also on the editorial board and a reviewer for several prestigious international medical journals of pathology and medical education such as Academic Medicine, and Medical Educator. I have also been a member of the executive committee of CAAM-HP (Caribbean Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions)," he shared.

Following Dr. Shivayogi Bhusnurmath on LinkedIn

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Ancient living: Climate warrior Archana Soreng is saving the planet through tribal practices

(April 4, 2023) "We all can contribute towards climate action because we all are unique. Our voice matters. And you can contribute to climate action in the way you like, in the way you can," said climate warrior, Archana Soreng, as she finished her speech to thunderous applause at the United Nation's Climate Action, earlier this year. A member of the Kharia tribe in Odisha, this indigenous girl is the only one from India to be a part of the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. [caption id="attachment_23052" align="aligncenter" width="559"] Archana Soreng, climate warrior[/caption] Passionate and articulate, Archana believes that the ancient practices of the indigenous tribes from across the world can help better the climate situation. “Over the years, generations of us indigenous communities have been told that we are underdeveloped, we are savage, we are backward because of our traditions, because of identities, because of our cultures. It's important to understand that the indigenous people who are contributing towards climate action to their traditional knowledge and practice to their way of living, who are least responsible for pollution, or who have only a minimal contribution towards the crisis, are being affected by the climate crisis, which

tion to their traditional knowledge and practice to their way of living, who are least responsible for pollution, or who have only a minimal contribution towards the crisis, are being affected by the climate crisis, which again, brings down to the question of justice - like the people who did not do it are being affected and people who are contributing are not supported," the climate warrior had said during her recent speech at the UN.

Connected to her roots

Hailing from a tribal village in the Sundergarh district of Odisha, Archana grew up surrounded by nature, witnessing her family following the ancient practices of the land. Very close to her grandfather, who was a pioneer of forest protection in her village, Archana would take part in all the meetings held to preserve the flora around the area, even as a young girl.

The Global Indian was also inspired by her father, who was a practitioner of indigenous healthcare. "Growing up, I saw him treat and cure people with various ailments using just roots and herbs. So these were ideas I was constantly exposed to from a young age. When I did my Master's in Regulatory Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, I found the textual version of these concepts. I was introduced to environmental regulation as part of my course curriculum, and was very surprised to know that what my community members practice as a way of life is written in these books," she said during an interview with Nature In Focus magazine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOb6ek0M5f4

Unfortunately, the climate warrior lost her father in 2017. However, that incident left her thinking about how people from the indigenous tribes need to compile the knowledge they practice. "I realised that our indigenous community members and leaders, including our parents, will not be around forever to guide us. We need to document the knowledge they have gained over generations. I visited several districts in Odisha and interacted with almost all the indigenous communities in the state. All these communities have their unique ways of protecting their natural resources. They have their own rules and norms. This is what fuelled my interest in learning more and fighting for their voices," she said during the interview.

The ways of tribals

While she was studying at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the climate warrior, along with her elder brother, thought of not only documenting the indigenous culture but also showing it to the world. And thus Adivasi Drishyam, a well-known YouTube Channel with over two lakh followers, was born. "We created several videos on indigenous songs, medicines, etc., and uploaded them on YouTube. We always discussed with our friends how important it is not just to document these practices, but to document them in different formats. When we just write about them in articles or even books, we are restricting the reach of the content. But when you share images or create videos, they are available and accessible to people who have not received a formal education," she said during an interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_01exYn2hk0

This channel caught the eyes of several stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and even UN authorities. And thus began Anchana's journey as a global climate change warrior. "Did you know that the inner crust of pumpkin and watermelon was once cooked and used to store water? The cool water it held was a real thirst quencher, especially during hot summer days. As I found more and more nuggets of information like this, I realised how sustainable our ancestors were," she once informed the audience during a climate change summit.

[caption id="attachment_23053" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Climate | Archana Soreng | Global Indian Archana conducting evidence-based research on Forest Rights Act, 2006 at Ambapadia village, Odisha[/caption]

Since then, the climate warrior has been a part of several summits and conferences, including the 66th Session of CESCR: “A Day of General Discussion on Land and ICESCR”, Global Youth Caucus on Desertification and Land’ at the UNCCD COP, YOUNGO (Youth Constituency of UNFCCC), and Youth Dialogue with Inger Andersen and Ibrahim Thiaw. Her emphasis on the importance of drawing on the wisdom of indigenous elders and bringing an indigenous perspective to climate policy-making and action led to her being nominated as one of seven members of the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change in 2022.

[caption id="attachment_23054" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Climate | Archana Soreng | Global Indian Archana interacting with Greta Thunberg during COP 14 UN Convention[/caption]

"In my tribal language, the meaning of my surname Soreng is 'rock'. It is a representation of how connected my tribe is with nature, that nature is a part of our names as well. It goes to show that the world we live in is a source of identity for us. This is where I come from," the climate warrior shared during her UN speech. Archana is currently working on expanding the community involvement in climate action and encouraging tribal youth from across the globe to take part in saving the planet.

Follow Archana Soreng on Twitter

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Bringing home the golden statuette: Five Indians who won at the Oscars

(April 6, 2022) The Oscars have had a long and prestigious history. As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Los Angeles hosted the 94th edition of the Academy Awards this year, the best in the world of cinema was honoured and celebrated. With documentary feature Summer of Soul producer Joseph Patel becoming the first Patel to win an Oscar this year, Indian diaspora yet again basked in the glory at the award ceremony. Global Indian turns the spotlight on five Indian artistes who brought home the golden statuette over the years. Bhanu Athaiya, best costume design, 1983 Bhanu Athaiya has long been considered Bollywood’s most iconic costume designer. She was also the first Indian to win at the Oscars in 1983 for the historical drama Gandhi. Incidentally, this JJ School of Arts alumna had taken to painting with contemporaries like MF Hussain and FN Souza. After her switch to cinema, she designed costumes for over 100 films including CID, Pyaasa, Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, Razia Sultan, Amrapali, Teesri Manzil, 1942: A Love Story, and Swades. She also worked on several international projects with directors like Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnw3u-49CJU A few months before her

he also worked on several international projects with directors like Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnw3u-49CJU

A few months before her death in 2020, Bhanu had returned her Oscar statuette, to its original owner, (AMPAS), for safekeeping.

Satyajit Ray, lifetime achievement award, 1992

An Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, author, lyricist, music composer, calligrapher and illustrator, he is considered as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Some of his celebrated works include The Apu Triology (1955–1959), The Music Room (1958), The Big City (1963), and Charulata (1964). It was in 1992 that he picked his first Oscar, thus becoming the first Indian to receive an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement. However, at the time, Ray was hospitalised due to ill health and was unable to attend the ceremony; he gave his acceptance speech via live feed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqlSIqwu0aQ

So popular were his works, that they were often used as case studies at various filmmaking institutes. During the span of his career, he’d directed 36 films that included feature films, shorts, and documentaries. In 1978, he was also awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University. Did you know, his first film Pather Panchali had won 11 international prizes?

Gulzar, best original song, 2009

It was in 1963 that this Indian poet, screenwriter, author, and film director made his debut as a lyricist with the 1963 film Bandini and has since worked with many music directors – from RD Burman to AR Rahman. After serenading Bollywood and Indian music lovers with his work, he struck gold with Danny Boyle's 2008 Hollywood film Slumdog Millionaire. He picked the Academy Awards for the best original song - Jai Ho with AR Rahman. He also won a Grammy for it.

Oscars | Five Indians | Global Indian

Born in Dina, British India, the poet writes primarily in Punjabi and Urdu, although he has also written in several other Indian languages such as Khariboli, Braj Bhasha, and Haryanvi. His poetry is mostly in the Triveni (confluence of three) style of stanza. Gulzar has prolifically written lyrics and dialogues for several popular Doordarshan TV series including Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland, and Hello Zindagi. His latest work as lyricist is for Darlings, a comedy drama releasing this year.

Follow Gulzar on Instagram

AR Rahman, best original score and best original song, 2009

Music maestro AR Rahman is the first Indian to be nominated in three categories at the Academy Awards for his background score in Slumdog Millionnaire. The maestro created history by winning two awards – one for the best original song and other for the best original score for Jai Ho. Before this the composer had been nominated at the Oscars for best original score for the movies 127 Hours and If I Rise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYXsE1dJdiw

The Indian composer has been primarily working in Hindi and Tamil films since his film debut with Roja in 1992. In 2009, he was featured on the Time list of the world's 100 most influential people and in 2017, he made his debut as a director and writer for the film Le Musk. Rahman has recently released a modern-day anthem, Moopilla Thamizhe which is composed, arranged, and produced by him. The song celebrates Tamil culture and the achievements of the people of the state in various fields.

Follow AR Rahman on Twitter and Instagram

Resul Pookutty, best sound mixing, 2009

Resul Pookutty, the famed sound designer, sound editor, and audio mixer, won big at the Oscars for immaculate sound mixing in the movie Slumdog Millionaire. He won the award along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke. Pookutty has worked in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and British films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5syYtQV_Vc

The youngest of 10 children, Pookutty would walk six kilometres to attend the nearest school; his father was a bus conductor. Since the village he lived in did not have electricity, he would study using a kerosene lamp. He made his debut with Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One, and subsequently engineered sound for major productions like Black, Musafir, Gandhi My Father, Kerela Varma Pazhassi Raja. Of late, he has been busy with his directorial venture.

Follow Resul Pookutty on Twitter and Instagram

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Venkat Gaddam: Taking Indian art and design to the world

(May 9, 2023) Back in his school days, Venkat Gaddam would get scolded for doodling through all his classes. It didn’t deter him, though. Instead, he saw it as adding beauty to what he thought of as rather mindless page. He didn’t think of it as right or wrong, to him, it felt liberating, unlike Maths and science, which had only one answer — the right one. He went on to have his first art exhibition at the age of 12, with 100 paintings. Today, the artist-turned-fashion-designer owns his own store in Hyderabad and his label, ‘Whencut Goddamn’ has been worn by a host of celebrities like Nagarjuna, Karan Johar, Armaan Malik, Faria Abdullah and Niharika Konidela, as well as by clients from around the globe. Even today, Gaddam doesn’t plan his artwork. Creativity, for him, is something that can’t be controlled. “It is a volcano of emotions – it beats against the tides to co exist, flows like the ocean. If we are buds, creativity is the bloom,” says Venkat Gaddam, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. In fact, it comes so naturally to him that he does not need to use a pencil or eraser to plan his artwork.

him that he does not need to use a pencil or eraser to plan his artwork. “I sit down with an intention to paint or create and let the divine forces work through me as a channel. It’s a very special and spiritual journey,” smiles Gaddam. India’s rich imagery is his biggest muse. “I am inspired by women, their varied emotions, feminism, and inner strength. Each person and object we come across has a story to narrate,” he feels.

[caption id="attachment_38309" align="aligncenter" width="661"] Venkat Gaddam[/caption]

Why ‘Whencut Goddamn’?

“I came up with that name in college as a means to make me and my name sound both easy and cool at the same time. It has a nice ring, chuckle, and meaning to it,” says Venkat of his brand. He did not think twice about the brand name when he made it official. “My brand had always been there within me. WG stands for self love, courage and resilience. I want everyone who owns a piece (art, fashion, poetry, anything) to own it and feel empowered through it, always,” says Venkat.

Through his brand, Venkat creates acrylic paintings on canvas, pen-on-paper illustrations, murals, digital collages and fashion line. He also makes notebooks, gratitude journals, cushions among other items. To go with each of his artwork, the artist pens a poem as well.

Starting early

Born in Ohio, US, Venkat is the youngest of four siblings, raised in a big family with his father and grandfather being bigwigs in the political and business world. Soon after he was born, the family moved back to Hyderabad where he did his schooling from Geetanjali public school, Oakridge international school and then Indus International school. As a child, he was used to asking a lot of questions about almost everything. “I was always day dreaming, feeling nostalgic, imagining beautiful things, getting lost watching movies, drawing, and admiring all things beautiful,” recalls the 29-year-old, who has been creatively inclined since childhood. At 12, Venkat had a collection of 100 paintings ready for his first exhibition, which was inaugurated by the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y S Rajashekar Reddy in 2006. Venkat’s artwork came in for much appreciation.

His parents — Dr. Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy and Gaddam Saroja Vivek — would patiently answer all his questions, without making him feel silly for having asked them, which helped shape his personality and enabled him to have an open mind towards life.

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A post shared by Venkat Gaddam (@whencut_goddamn)

A New York State of Mind

Come 2012, Venkat left for New York after enrolling in the Parsons School of Design — The New School. The shy, introvert child had no experience of living away from the luxuries his home offered. NY was his home for next four years. “I suddenly had a lot of responsibilities – food, money, making friends, doing well in school and maintain my physical and mental health in a city that doesn’t stop for anyone,” says Venkat, of his initial days in NY.

Art school is very tough and not for the weak-minded, feels Venkat. “When they criticize your work in front of everyone, it can be traumatising. It thickens your skin and makes you take things with a pinch of salt for sure.” Even as he struggled to make a place for himself at school, find belonging in the Big Apple and make friends, he created a tremendous body of work by the time he graduated in 2016. “I was painting, creating murals and writing poetry as well. I even started doing performance art pieces. But I also came back weighing 93kgs,” he says.

A major highlight during his Parsons days was his painting across three walls that gave a unique look to the entire floor. It was part of his final year thesis. “I began painting on a wall and it grew into a jungle. It was something that I made over a semester (six months). It became a room of art you could walk into and get lost in. The strokes, swirls, movement, dance of color, bodies, faces, shapes dipped in a multicolour rainbow — it was very kaleidoscopic and magical,” describes Venkat, who is still remembered for that piece of work.

Venkat, who has done several solo exhibitions, says he always thought of his creative journey as an explosion. It’s a volcano waiting to erupt, waiting to find an escape, find a canvas, to purr and pour it out there,” he says.

Life as an artist

As soon as he returned to Hyderabad after graduation, the artist began working on his own for a year, creating a series of paintings, including the iconic (and his personal favourite) 12 ft x 19 ft huge wall with charcoal. In 2017, Venkat began his journey of working through his family business to start creating entertainment content in Telugu. “Being a creative person, a writer and a deep thinker, I thought this would be perfectly in sync with the job,” informs Venkat, who continued working for the next three years, creating, learning, and streamlining content.

In 2020 he launched his brand WG which became an instant hit. Two years later, he opened his first store. “Through my work, I journal the journey of reclaiming my own power, finding the lost voice within and owning my choices,” says Venkat, who is well known for his vibrant paintings that are deeply rooted in Indian culture, architecture and mythology.

Talking of his work, Venkat says his creations do not down in pain and sorrow but is created with the prowess of reflection. “It is transformative in its narrative, of authorizing power, of recreating your own identity with consciousness,” says the designer, who loves being his own boss.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Venkat Gaddam (@whencut_goddamn)

What inspires him

He takes his inspiration Venkat says he is obsessed with Anamika Khanna’s embroideries and detailing. “As a businessman, I love what Sabyasachi has done with his brand, Frida Kahlo for her beauty, brains and vulnerability to be herself and MFHussain for inspiring me to be bold with my strokes, paint big, have a signature style and be true to yourself,” says Venkat, who is a big fan of Sufi music.

At the moment, Venkat has his hands full, working on multiple projects. He will be exhibiting his work in an upcoming Queer festival even as he is busy with his creations for an event in Dubai. “I am also creating clothes for a music video for PeekayIndia. There are many more events lined up,” he informs.

When not immersed in art and designing, Venkat likes to sing, dance, paint and write poetry. “All forms of art are therapy to me,” he smiles.

Follow Venkat on InstagramInstagram.

Making sense amidst Quantum Chaos: Tamil-French mathematician Nalini Anantharaman is changing the world of numbers

(September 22, 2022) The archaic belief that "mathematics is not for women" has contributed greatly to the gender gap in the field. While girls are being encouraged to take up a career in science and technology, many steer clear of pure mathematical studies. Breaking all the stereotypes is Tamil-French mathematician, Nalini Ananthraman, who is decorated with three major awards in the field - Henri Poincaré Prize, Salem Prize, and Jacques Herbrand Prize. The Chair of Mathematics at the University of Strasbourg, Nalini was awarded the Infosys Prize (2018) recognising her path-breaking work in quantum chaos and allied areas. In 2020, the mathematician received the Frederic Esser Nemmers Prize in Mathematics “for her profound contributions to microlocal analysis and mathematical physics, in particular to problems of localization and delocalization of eigenfunctions”. [caption id="attachment_29690" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Nalini Ananthraman, mathematician[/caption] "I work with questions coming from physics but with a mathematical perspective. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working on equations describing how waves propagate—these could be sound waves, electromagnetic (light) waves, water waves, or waves in quantum mechanics," the Global Indian said during a press interaction after winning the Infosys award, adding, "It is a privilege to create beautiful things without

| Nalini Ananthraman | Global Indian" width="640" height="640" /> Nalini Ananthraman, mathematician[/caption]

"I work with questions coming from physics but with a mathematical perspective. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working on equations describing how waves propagate—these could be sound waves, electromagnetic (light) waves, water waves, or waves in quantum mechanics," the Global Indian said during a press interaction after winning the Infosys award, adding, "It is a privilege to create beautiful things without having to worry about their applications."

Inspired by her parents

Born to a Tamil father and a French mother, who were both distinguished mathematicians, Nalini started in the world of numbers with a strong advantage. Speaking about her family, Nalini had told Bhavana magazine, "My father studied at the Tata Institute (TIFR) in Mumbai, and he left for France at the time of starting a Ph.D. to work. My parents met in Paris at the end of the 1960s. My mother still has a letter from her friend, the mathematician Michèle Vergne, who writes in that letter that she wanted to introduce her to a young Indian who had just then arrived in France."

[caption id="attachment_29691" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Mathematician | Nalini Ananthraman | Global Indian A young Nalini with her mother, Claire[/caption]

A very bright student, Nalini rarely required any help with her studies. As her parents were professors at the University of Orléans, the young mathematician remembers having free access to the library, a place she "loved to spend her time the most." Interestingly, while she was drawn to numbers from a very young age, music, and not maths, was her first choice of career. She wasn't too keen on taking part in any mathematics competitions as well. "I wanted either to be a pianist or a researcher, but not necessarily in math. Physics, and even biology, also fascinated me then. I never participated in math competitions. No one suggested it, and I didn’t even know those competitions existed. I’m not sure I would have liked the idea of 'training' for such a competition," she said during the interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ASu98tR8Kg

It was during her high school years that she decided to pursue an undergraduate course in mathematics at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris in 1994. Intrigued by the subject, she did her post-graduation from the same university and later completed her Ph.D. at the Pierre and Marie Curie University in 2000, under the supervision of François Ledrappier. It was during her years in Paris, that the mathematician noticed the stark gender gap in her class. "For a long time, I did not think of the difficulties involved in being a woman doing mathematics. Only as I was preparing for my Ph.D. thesis, did I realise how few women there were at conferences, without being particularly affected by this fact," she told European Women in Maths magazine.

Tackling the world of numbers

At 24, when most scholars are still looking for their research subject, Nalini has already earned her doctorate. What made her research papers even more interesting was that her ideas had a healthy overlap of topics from theoretical physics to pure mathematics. Her paper on understanding the fine topological features of geodesics on negatively curved manifolds fetched her the prestigious Henri Poincaré Prize in 2012 'for her original contributions to the area of quantum chaos, dynamical systems, and Schrödinger equations, including a remarkable advance in the problem of quantum unique ergodicity'.

[caption id="attachment_29692" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Mathematician | Nalini Ananthraman | Global Indian Nalini, with other distinguished mathematicians at the Infosys Award event, 2018[/caption]

"I liked theoretical physics and studied it together with math while I was an undergraduate. But some visits to an experimental lab convinced me that I actually preferred math. When I looked for a Ph.D. subject, I did not particularly want it to be at the interface with physics. My Ph.D. was in the field of dynamical systems. It was only in 2012, when I won the Poincaré prize, that the words “mathematical physics” became attached to my work," shared the mathematician, who worked as visiting faculty at the University of California and Princeton, between 2009 and 2014.

In 2013, Nalini received the CNRS Silver Medal and two years later was elected as a member of the Academia Europaea, and was the plenary speaker at the 2018 International Congress of Mathematicians. Now a mother of two, the mathematician is a vocal advocate of women's rights. Encouraging young girls to take up a career in maths, she added, "I would tell a young woman that the career of a mathematician is rather well suited for a woman; of course, it requires a lot of work but it provides some flexibility since one can organise one’s work. Right now, the scarcity of positions penalises women. I nevertheless do not see how one can think that a career as a mathematician is not appropriate for women."

She added, "Now that I have children, I wonder more about these issues and realise the differences in the ways women and men view their careers. Sharing with my male colleagues the questions that come to my mind, such as the difficulty to come back to mathematics after maternity leave, is difficult, if not impossible. After a child’s birth, men intend to go on working as before, whereas women are ready to reorganise their schedule and dedicate less time to research. Having received prizes, at the time my children were born, it was expected that I would get back to research straight away. However, during my maternity leave, topics on which I was working were the object of research, and led to publications I was not invited to join."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Ii6nmS7d8

While she loves her research, she enjoys teaching young minds even more. "Were I to choose a career now, I think I would choose medicine. Medicine incorporates a human component that I somewhat miss in mathematics, particularly since I like working on my own. The human aspect of teaching provides a little compensation for this lack. In my professional activity, I enjoy the freedom we feel in understanding things. Doing mathematics is a creative work that emanates from person, which another person would not have done in the same way. In doing mathematics, I express something personal. It is a source of joy to know that, despite this personal aspect, the fruit of my work can be of interest to other mathematicians," she had expressed during a press interaction.

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