Indian CEO | Sundar Pichai |Global Indian

Global IndianstorySundar Pichai: The Indian-origin CEO who made Google more global

Sundar Pichai: The Indian-origin CEO who made Google more global

Written by: Amrita Priya

(June 26, 2022) Sundar Pichai, the CEO of tech giant Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc hardly needs any introduction. Interestingly, the email service provided by Google, Gmail, was launched on the very day Pichai joined the company – April 1, 2004. Unaware of this new product, he admitted his ignorance in the job interview of the organisation. Luckily for Pichai, that moment of uncertainty got viewed as one of the qualities that Laszlo Bock, Google’s former senior VP of people operations was looking for in a candidate. Bock remembers Sundar Pichai as the candidate with “intellectual humility”. Today, Pichai’s meteoric rise from humble beginnings to a top CEO is a success story that people cherish globally.

Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO

The first non-white CEO of Google also serves on Alphabet’s Board of Directors. He has been focused on developing products and services with the vision to be of value in all big and little moments of people’s lives.

Talking at Google’s flagship I/O Developers Conference 2022, Pichai informed:

“Throughout the pandemic, Google has focused on delivering accurate information to help people stay healthy. Over the last year, people used Google Search and Maps to find where they could get a COVID vaccine nearly two billion times!”

His zeal for leadership with purpose got recognised in India in the form of Padma Bhushan award 2022. Global Indian turns its spotlight on the journey of the man who inspires millions.

The academic flight

Ironically, the CEO of American multinational technology company has not studied computer science, rather metallurgical engineering from IIT Kharagpur. Coincidentally, he has also studied inside the campus of IIT Chennai. His school, Vana Vani happened to be located inside the sprawling Chennai campus.

Sundar Pichai interacting with IIT Kharagpur students in one of his India visits.

Sundar Pichai celebrated his 50th birthday on the 10th of this month. Born in 1972, he was raised in a middle-class household. His father Raghunath worked as an electrical engineer at General Electric Company (GEC), while his mother Lakshmi was a stenographer. After passing out from IIT Kharagpur, Pichai earned a master’s degree in material sciences and engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His father had to spend a year’s salary to buy a plane ticket for him to go to the US for his studies. That was the middle-class lad’s first flight journey. The sincere student did not let his parents down and got recognised in his foreign academic institutions as one of the best in the batch.

Foundation of the effervescent leader

Before his association with Google, Pichai worked at Allied Materials and McKinsey & Co. Though both the organisations specialised in metallurgy, the stints groomed him well. He picked up the nuances of product strategy, execution, and team building that eventually set the foundation for his pivotal beginnings at Google. Pichai nurtured his career by aligning it to Google’s success.

“We try to work on things that billions of people will use every day”

No wonder Google is part of everyday conversations and happens to be a significant part of the vocabulary of kids and adults alike across the world!

Sundar Pichai with Nigerian Google team during his visit to Africa

It has established itself as the organisation that cares with breakthroughs like use of ML to make web images more accessible to people who have vision problems. It generates real-time captions for online videos to help those who struggle with hearing.

Rise and rise of Google under Pichai’s leadership

Sundar Pichai joined Google as its vice-president of product management. He was entrusted with the responsibility of development of Google Toolbar and Google Chrome. These went on to become the world’s most popular internet browser. Undoubtedly, with these quantum leaps, Sundar Pichai climbed the hierarchical ladder. He launched Chrome OS and Chromebook in 2011 and went on to launch Android operating system in 2013. By 2014, the super talented Indian-origin professional was leading all products and engineering divisions at Google, overseeing vital platforms like Search, Gmail, Chrome, Play, Android, Maps, and Google Workspace.

From Left to right : Larry Page (Google’s co-founder), Sundar Pichai (Google’s CEO), Narendra Modi (India’s PM), Eric Schmidt (Google’s former CEO), and Ram Shriram (American businessman)

When Google reorganized into Alphabet in August 2015, Sundar Pichai got selected as its CEO. In December 2019, he became the CEO of both Google and Alphabet, replacing founder Larry Page. In 2021, under Pichai’s leadership, Alphabet crossed $2 trillion in market value due to sales and profit growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Building impact with powerful breakthroughs

Bringing the world together through different platforms, and giving unique experiences to people has always been the core of what Sundar Pichai and his team thrive upon.

While talking about war drift Ukrainians at Google I/O Developers Conference 2022, he remarked:

“In countries around the world, Google Translate has been a crucial tool for newcomers and residents trying to communicate with one another. We’re proud of how it’s helping Ukrainians find a bit of hope and connection (in countries where they have taken refuge) until they are able to return home again.”

While many other technology giants embrace the metaverse as the next frontier of growth, Sundar Pichai sees Google’s future in its oldest offering – the Internet search. He foresees people asking computers more questions with voice and multimodal experiences.

From overseeing new investments like acquisition of YouTube and launching of Google Cloud, Pichai leads the organisation by advancing AI, digital technology, machine learning and quantum computing.

“AI can make humans more productive than we ever imagined,” he remarked in the conference stressing that it can play a foundational role in every aspect of people’s lives, right from healthcare, education, manufacturing to how people consume information. Emphasizing on the significance of ML he said, “When machines would be programmed to simulate human mind, mimic human activity and solve problems, it will have a bigger impact than most of the breakthroughs in recent history.”

Matters close to heart…

Keeping India close to his heart, Pichai has led Google to invest in the foundational infrastructure of the country by developing technology specific to its needs. Google Pay app is one such example. “India will be a global player in the digital economy,” he concluded in an interview.

In a statement the California, headquartered company has mentioned that it will invest ₹109 crore to support healthcare facilities and a further ₹3.6 crore to upskill frontline workers in India. The tech giant has entered into a tie-up with NGOs like GiveIndia, ARMMAN, PATH and Apollo Medskills to fulfill these commitments.

In the last five years, Google has granted funds to the tune of $57 million to India. Out of this $18 million was part of Covid 19 response.  In April 2020, Pichai made personal contribution of ₹5 crore to GiveIndia so that the country can fight the first wave of pandemic.

Love and life

Keeping his private life pretty private, Pichai stays with his wife Anjali who happens to be his heartthrob and classmate from IIT Kharagpur, son Kiran and daughter Kavya in California. The cricket buff is a Sachin Tendulkar fan. The love for the game comes from childhood aspiration to be a cricketer. As a high school student, he was the captain of the school cricket team, displaying his leadership skills on the field.

Sundar Pichai trying his hands at cricket

Pichai’s love for sports does not end at cricket. He is also an ardent fan of FC Barcelona – the football club and seldom misses to watch it’s match when its competing on field.

The top CEO recently admitted in one of the interviews of the Wall Street Journal that he is not very good at meditation. Instead, he prefers NSDR (non-sleep deep rest), listening to podcasts or taking his dog for a walk.

Do you know how Sundar Pichai connects people?

Google’s flood forecasting technology sent flood alerts to 23 million people in India and Bangladesh in 2021 helping in timely evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people.
Around the world, Google Maps has mapped around 1.6 billion buildings and over 60 million kilometers of roads to date with the vision to keep everyone within the reach, and make the world a well-connected chain of individuals.
The number of buildings on Google Maps in Africa has increased by 5X. Google has made a dataset of these buildings publicly available so that international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank can use it to better understand population density and to provide support and emergency assistance.
Google Translate broke down language barriers by recently adding 24 languages which together are spoken by 300 million people, bringing them closer to communities across the globe.
Google has been building augmented reality into many products like Google Lens to provide more interactive experiences and prevent technology from coming in the way of the real-world environment.
Follow Sundar Pichai on Twitter and Instagram

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Published on 26, Jun 2022

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I have tried to do good in the world via poetry: Usha Akella giving South Asian poets a platform in the US

(June 10, 2024) “I have tried to do good in the world via poetry,” Usha Akella, poet, reviewer, interviewer, editor, playwright, and creative nonfiction author, tells Global Indian. Having published nine books that include poetry, musical dramas, and creative nonfiction and founded Matwaala, the first South Asian Diaspora Poets Festival in the US, as well as the Poetry Caravan in New York and Austin that brings poetry to the doorstep of the disadvantaged, the 57-year-old has always worked towards reaching people with poetry. From her first book, Kali Dances, So Do I which came out in 1998, to her recent work, I Will Not Bear You Sons, she has always touched upon the topics of cultural traditions, feminism, immigration, travel, identity, patriarchy, politics, terrorism, and community. She has edited an anthology, Hum Aiseich Bolte, to celebrate Hyderabad, which was released at the Hyderabad Literary Festival in 2023. And she has edited a festschrift to honor poet Keki Daruwalla that was just published by the Sahitya Akademi. Having immigrated to the US in 1993 after her marriage, she proved that knowledge is a lifelong quest when, at the age of fifty, she earned a Master’s from the University of Cambridge in 2018

thology, Hum Aiseich Bolte, to celebrate Hyderabad, which was released at the Hyderabad Literary Festival in 2023. And she has edited a festschrift to honor poet Keki Daruwalla that was just published by the Sahitya Akademi.

Having immigrated to the US in 1993 after her marriage, she proved that knowledge is a lifelong quest when, at the age of fifty, she earned a Master’s from the University of Cambridge in 2018 in creative writing. Personifying the best qualities of being a Global Indian, she is deeply connected to her roots while she uses her work to create a difference across the world.

[caption id="attachment_52290" align="aligncenter" width="468"] Usha Akella | Matwaala | Global Indian Usha Akella[/caption]

Definitive formative years

Growing up in Hyderabad in the 1970s in a Telugu family, Usha calls them important years when summers were slow, filled with family, relatives, childhood friends, songs by MS Subbulakshmi and Ghanthasala, and an outing meant a trip to the bazaars of the city. Growing up with a father who worked in the then-RR Labs (now the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology) and a school-teacher mother, the campus was a green space and haven that was safe and centered around a close-knit community.

“Life on the RRL campus was a slice of heaven, innocent and uncomplicated,” she recalls and adds. “We are shaped by the times we come from, and those childhood values were instilled in us not by verbal teaching but by living a life centered around family and community. It was a certain India that existed at a certain time.”

The poet, till date, believes that India’s family structure is its greatest asset and that its philosophy of unity in diversity is inspiring. Her thorough grounding in Indian values and culture continues to motivate her and remains her safety net in trying times. It also inspires her constant striving to unite her writing craft with the community.

Unfurling her wings

After marriage resulted in a move to the US (from the Baltimore area to White Plains/Greenburgh in New York and currently to Austin, Texas), Usha drew strength from her Indian roots to assimilate and absorb the new way of life. She states, “The ability to adapt is a quintessential Indian trait. We have the strength to embrace new things and to work hard towards achieving our dreams.”

The only dream Usha always had was to write. Call it fate or genes (her grandfather’s brother, Uma Rajeshwarao, was a Russian and Telugu scholar, while her aunt Nidarmathy Nirmala Devi is a Telugu author, poet, and scholar), her childhood was characterized by three activities: read, write, and dream.

It was a dream that came true when she published her first book of poetry, Kali Dances. So do I in 1998, and I realized a life-long ambition. In those early days, prior to her first book, what helped her along the way were creative writing classes and doing poetry readings in Baltimore and New York to boost her confidence.

[caption id="attachment_52291" align="aligncenter" width="314"] Kali Dances, So Do I[/caption]

“For someone who wrote from the age of eight to finally be published was nothing short of miraculous. It was nothing short of a sadhana (dedication) that allowed me to fulfill a dream. When you pursue something without any expectation and work hard, it simply falls into place,” she states.

Charting new courses

Along with her poetry, Usha has worked tirelessly on initiatives that have a larger impact. The Poetry Caravan, which started in 2003, took poetry form from the confines of solitary readers and readings right into the heart of the community.

She explains, “While all of us are able-bodied and have the resources to engage in art (from movies to theater) or literature, what of those who have no access—be it prisons, hospitals, or senior homes? I thought of taking poetry to them via this initiative so that the disadvantaged are not cut off from the margins.” The initiative continued as a collective after she left White Plains for Austin and has offered over a thousand free readings when counted last. Though she is not directly involved with it any longer, it remains a lasting legacy she left behind.

Another brainchild of hers, Matwaala (co-directed with Pramila Venkateswaran), ensures that south Asian poets get the same opportunities as others and are not discriminated against. Working towards changing syllabuses so that there is diversity in curriculum and going to campuses to hold reading sessions where students are exposed to a fungible quality of voices, it works towards equality for poets of color.

She recalls with enthusiasm that during one of their sessions at NYU, Salman Rushdie walked in and stayed back graciously to listen to all the poets!

The power of words

Why does she write poetry? “It is my form of breathing,” she confesses. “Literally, I suppose. I was a chronic asthmatic as a child and youth while growing up in Hyderabad, which meant many days in bed by the window. I wrote to keep myself alive and feel alive. Perhaps the writer’s sensibility in me was formed in those days. I think that the primary reason is unaltered, though I am no longer in the grip of that ailment. I write to know I am alive.”

Art and literature are the glue that holds people together. For the poet, it gives ground for hope. She states, “At any given point in human history, there is always turbulence. It is the arts that unite. Write a poem, paint a canvas, and make a movie, and you are creating a virtual bridge for the world. We need to use art hopefully and carefully given the fractured times we live in.”

As emojis replace words and chats replace conversations, it is poetry that remains the last remaining bastion of emotion. It makes us think, ask questions, and capture consciousness. With her relentless quest to seek answers, Usha, through her work, is creating awareness and a witness to our shared histories.

Beyond poetry

When she is not reading literature of all genres, Usha likes to spend time with her husband Ravi and daughter Ananya, who, like her mother, is interested in the arts and is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She listens to numerous spiritual podcasts, paints occasionally, loves traveling, meeting friends, listening to music of all kinds, and visiting museums across the world.

As she signs off, I ask her, what has been the greatest gift poetry has given her? "Everything," she answers, “Friendships, love, identity, travel, and my channel of evolution. I’ve learned to balance dreams with detachment, ambition with joy, and I see that I am the in-progress sum of all that I experience in my journey. Poetry reflects this centering self.”

Follow Matwaala on their website.

Meet Karan Bhangay: The maverick entrepreneur who has redefined luxury

(September 23, 2023) Want to spend your holiday at the Suite Coco Canel at the Ritz Carlton Paris? Perhaps you're in Germany and feel like a night out at the Berghain, one of the world's most exclusive nightclubs. If you like to live in style - and have some cash to spend, obviously - Karan Bhangay is the man for you. The entrepreneur who founded Indulge Global, an invite-only premiere, luxury service, Bhangay is known for pulling off the impossible. One client, who wanted to surprise his wife with a holiday in Paris, got a booking at Suite Coco Chanel (where Coco Chanel spent 34 years of her life), a private stylist with VIP showings at Hermes, and bookings at Le Fouquet and Guy Savoy. The entrepreneur has arranged a pair of Fendi Flow Sneakers and a Hermes Birkin bag in a day for another client and a luxury breakfast, complete with Veuve Clicquot champagne at the Mount Everest Base Camp, where his clients were flown by helicopter. He has even got clientele into world-renowned underground clubs like Berghain, Sisyphos and KitKatClub, which are known for such notoriously strict door policies, they don't have guest lists or online bookings. The

flown by helicopter. He has even got clientele into world-renowned underground clubs like Berghain, Sisyphos and KitKatClub, which are known for such notoriously strict door policies, they don't have guest lists or online bookings.

The rise of an entrepreneur

Over the last decade, the maverick entrepreneur has been instrumental in building companies from scratch and devising business strategies for several versatile companies in the Luxury industry. Bhangay has made his mark in transformative ventures and has come a long, long way from his humble beginning. He was only 17 when he landed his first job and has done it all, from bartending to selling dictionaries door-to-door. He got his first job in 2008, as the receptionist of an Airtel store, where he earned Rs 5000 per month before he got his bachelor's degree. "From a very early age, my parents were keen on teaching me that if I wanted something, I had to get it for myself," the entrepreneur tells Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_45270" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Entrepreneur | Karan Bhangay | Global Indian Karan with his team[/caption]

Although he was qualified as an engineer, Bhangay made his way to the media. A stint at Water Today, a Chennai-based magazine gave him two things - a new idea and a mentor in Mr Shanmugham, the publications Features Managing Editor. He was so taken by the work he was doing that he skipped out on his software engineering degree in his fourth year and joined Lifestyle Magazine - Avant Garde life, as a consultant, growing through the ranks to become a Publishing Partner. By the late 2000s, he soon saw that tech was taking over print, just as it conquering everything else. Retailers didn't need to have physical shops, they could make money through online portals. It was the same with media, there was no need to go through the expensive, cumbersome process of printing in the age of the mobile phone. Also, clocking in hours for someone else just didn't sit right with the entrepreneur .

Always drawn to the idea of creating something from scratch, and doing what was meaningful to him, Bhangay developed a keen interest in entrepreneurship. "It is exhilarating to have the autonomy to shape an idea into a tangible reality and see it make a difference," Bhangay says. "My journey into entrepreneurship began when I realised that I have a natural inclination towards identifying opportunities and finding innovative solutions to problems."

Pioneering the luxury market through TILE

This led to Bhangay founding India's first luxury exhibition, The Indian Luxury Expo (TILE). These were still the early days of online retail, and the entrepreneur was very much ahead of the curve. He wanted to make advertisers exhibitors and readers visitors. "Brands on getting associated with TILE get the opportunity to sell their products directly to consumers, they are able to have better customer engagement and are able to market new products. If you're a brand and you want to launch a new mobile phone, how and where can you launch it," he said, in an interview back in 2014. Those were the days of launches in five-star hotels, to the press and a select group of invitees. The Indian Luxury Expo was created to amplify the scale of reach many times over, to allow brands to reach out to their top clientele and also to a wider audience.

Entrepreneur | Karan Bhangay | Global Indian

Bhangay's idea was very much ahead of its time and his main challenge was getting people to believe in his idea. Exposure to technology and experiential marketing was still low in India and he struggled to get people on board. The entrepreneur persisted and eventually expanded TILE to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru. The company's business model ran through affiliations with top brands, and soon grew to become Asia's largest luxury expo.

Indulge Concierge: Redefining luxury

At the forefront of his most recent achievements is Indulge Concierge, a 24x7, by invitation only platform that redefines the concept of personalised service. Founded in 2019, Bhangay wanted to provide his clientele with only the very best. "With a deep understanding of the market and a profound commitment to excellence, I have positioned Indulge Concierge, as a trusted provided of unparalleled luxury lifestyle management," the entrepreneur explains. It's a fast-paced life, of course, when dealing with such discerning and time-sensitive clients. And he's always on the cutting edge, using technology and AI platforms to leverage the right markets correctly.

Entrepreneur | Karan Bhangay | Global Indian

As an entrepreneur, Bhangay admits that challenges constitute a substantial portion - about 95 percent - of his daily experience. "However, the path to conquering these challenges lies in the art of breaking them down into manageable components and executive each task with efficiency. It is essential to recognize that no challenge is insurmountable when met with a resolute intent to overcome it," he believes.

What's Bhangay's advice to aspiring entrepreneurs? "Transparency - in your own thoughts and within your teams, products and customers." This endeavour is ongoing and the more seamless your progress is, the more likely you are to be successful." As he steers Indulge, he hopes to see it as India's premier startup with a global influence. "Our mission is to reshape the lives of Indulge's managers and clients alike, catalysing efficient and transformative living experiences," he says.

Entrepreneur | Karan Bhangay | Global Indian

In his free time, Bhangay finds joy in the company of his cherished pet, Gulzar and through satisfying his insatiable wanderlust by travelling the world. The entrepreneur is also a trained squash player.

Follow Karan Bhangay on LinkedIn, Instagram, and on his website

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Taste of India in Israel – the story of Reena Pushkarna

(March 25, 2023) Earlier this year, chef and restaurateur Reena Pushkar received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from President Draupadi Murmu and EAM S. Jaishankar. Known as the 'Curry Queen', Reena Pushkarna introduced Israel to Indian cuisine and owns the country's most iconic Indian restaurant chain, Tandoori. Reena and her husband, Vinod, have been in the business for nearly four decades and operate restaurants across Israel and also in Singapore. In 2003, they established PRESKO Food Industries, making 'kosher Indian food'. Global Indian takes a look at Reena's remarkable journey and her contributions to India's soft power in Israel. [caption id="attachment_36581" align="aligncenter" width="628"] Reena Pushkarna receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2023[/caption] Thaalis to chicken tikka In the early days, Ichakdana, Israel's first Indian restaurant, named after the famous Raj Kapoor film, Shri 420, remained empty, night after night. This was the early 80s and nobody knew India, or its vegetarian food. Instead, patrons flocked to the middle-eastern restaurant next door, for the kebabs and grills. In fact, that place was so packed, staff would stop by Ichakdana to borrow tables and chairs. Ichakdana's owners, Reena and Vinod Pushkarna, persisted. Slowly, the Indian community got wind of the place and began trickling

the middle-eastern restaurant next door, for the kebabs and grills. In fact, that place was so packed, staff would stop by Ichakdana to borrow tables and chairs. Ichakdana's owners, Reena and Vinod Pushkarna, persisted. Slowly, the Indian community got wind of the place and began trickling in at night, bringing their transistors with them to listen to their favourite Bollywood hits. Before they knew it, they were borrowing tables and chairs from the place next door.

The Tandoori legacy

One year later, they opened Tandoori, which has become the stuff of legend in Tel-Aviv. Reena knew the Israelis would love the "chicken tikkas and Nargisi koftas." She even handed out complimentary servings, and shrewdly got her friends to sit by the window, so passers-by would think the place was full. This was 1984. The place became so popular that it took over the lobby of the Commodore Hotel - it was a lively place, full of Bollywood music and dancing - Reena would bring professional artistes from India to perform.

The Pushkarna's renown grew exponentially and in 1990, in walked a very special guest - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was on a first date with Sara Ben-Artzo, the woman he would go on to marry. They took a seat at a corner booth - that green couch, "Table No. 8," Reena calls it. It was also the start of a lifelong friendship - Netanyahu and his wife are still regulars at Tandoori Tel-Aviv.

"I knew about it but I didn't tell anybody," says the Global Indian. Actually, it was Netanyahu who spilled the beans, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to visit. That night, the two leaders met at Netanyahu's home for dinner - and Reena Pushkarna had been asked to cater the special meal. During the evening, Netanyahu said to Modi, "I would like to tell you a secret. My first date was in Tandoori Tel-Aviv. It was so successful that I invited Reena Pushkarna and her chefs again to create that magical evening with India."

Today, Reena Pushkarna and her husband run eight Indian restaurants and seven fast-food places in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Herzliya Pituach. Reena is also the go-to person when an Indian delegation comes to visit. Each visit takes upto a month of preparation, from sourcing spices to creating menus that are in keeping with 'kashrut', the Jewish laws regarding food. In 2011, she expanded to Singapore, opening up Pita Pan in Marina Bay Sands - an all-vegetarian, Mediterranean restaurant.

Her own Cordon Bleu

Reena was born in 1958, to a Sikh father and an Iraqi-Jewish mother. In 1975, not long after her sixteenth birthday, she was married off, to 20-year-old Vinod Pushkarna. "He was sailor, whom I first met when I was 12," she said. Vinod was in the Merchant Navy and when he became a Captain in 1977, Reena joined his seafaring life. "During the nine years on board, like all sailors' wives, I too was lonely. My interest in the kitchen became my 'Nine years of Cordon Bleu'. The chefs from different countries got me to learn their cuisines." Along the way, the couple decided they wanted to move to Israel and in 1983, opened up Ichakdana, where they served chaat and vegetarian thaalis.

Business was a struggle, until Reena persuaded her husband to start a non-vegetarian place. "I looked after cooking, catering to preferences of the guests, designing my kitchen, traning my chefs, restaurant decor and so on. But logistics and business, I happily left to him," she says.

Building an empire

In 2003, Reena and Vinod set up PRESKO Food Industries, which produced kosher Indian food. By this time, Israeli backpackers were flocking to India and the cuisine was well known. PRESKO was supplying meals to the Israeli army, the Indian Peace Keeping Force at Golan Heights, El Al Airlines, Korean Air, Air India, Unilever and around the world - the Pushkarnas had entered the big league.

The couple's two kids - Sarina and Kunal also pitched in to help. "Sarina, who is my best friend too, started working at our restaurants from the age of 14," Reena says. Sarina, who is now married with three children of her own, is based in Singapore and serves as Associate Director, Global Media Communications, Marina Bay Sands. Kunal also lived in Singapore for the better part of a decade before returning to Israel to work in the Tandoori Chain and launch his own venture, Tika Pika.

Tabling history

Benjamin Netanyahu's visit set the ball rolling for Tandoori. In October 2015, former Indian President visited Israel at the invitation of President Reuven Rivlin. Two years later, PM Narendra Modi landed in Tel Aviv, becoming the first Indian PM to visit Israel. And Reena Pushkarna was there on each occasion, as the chef - and unofficial ambassador of Indian cuisine in the Middle East.

That's not all. The famous 'table number 8' at Tandoori Tel Aviv was also witness to the Oslo Peace talks in 1993, the peace talks between Israel and Palestine facilitated by Norway. Any official designated to India begins his assignment with a visit to Tandoori or Kohinoor. Reena was also a member of the Israeli Prime Minister's first ever visit to India, during which she was introduced as the "most loved and respected Indian in Israel, who taught us all the meaning of Indian food." Celebrities like the ace Indian conductor Zubin Mehta, actor Sophia Lauren, former Israeli PM Yizhak Rabin and President Shimon Peres have all eaten at Tandoori.

[caption id="attachment_36582" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Reena Pushkarna with Zubin Mehta[/caption]

"I am proud of my heritage," Reena remarks. "Mine has been an effort to conenct people and in the process, I have also been witness to all the milestones in the evolution of the strong ties between India and Israel. She's the pride of the Indian community in Israel too - in 2023, she was congratulated by Kobbi Shoshani, Israel's consul general in Mumbai, who said, "For me and mylate father, you were the Taste of India for many years."

Promoting India's soft power

Reena has also been an integral pillar of Indian cultural relations in Israel. She faciliates and enables Bollywood productions in the country and was recognized in 2004 by the Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce. She is also the Honorary President of the Central Board of Indian Jewish Organisations of Israel, the convenor of the Israel Chapter of the Overseas Friends of the BJP and a Board Member of the Indo-Israel Friendship Association.

Follow Tandoori on Instagram.

Local to global and back: Why foreign degrees matter to ‘desi’ politicos

(November 7, 2024) They stepped outside their comfort zones to study in reputed institutions abroad, faced the challenges that came their way, developed a deep sense of understanding of global issues and challenges and returned home to make a mark in Indian politics with a futuristic vision. For a long time, foreign educated Indian politicians have contributed immensely to the growth of India. Their number is only growing with the new age politicos carrying forward the tradition of sorts even as they navigate their way into the murky Indian politics. Does foreign education make for a better, impactful politician ? Well-known political analyst Rajalakshmi Kameshwar Joshi believes that education is one of the most important factors that could bring constructive changes in the life of an individual. “An education from a renowned top university may be useful in understanding the dynamics and fast changing needs of the country. But education from a foreign university could further equip one with a global perspective and thought processes of the top minds of the world,” Rajalakshmi tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_59426" align="aligncenter" width="393"] Rajalakshmi Kameshwar Joshi[/caption] Strong connect A great political leader must have a strong connect with the electorate, have an innovative

the world,” Rajalakshmi tells Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_59426" align="aligncenter" width="393"] Indian politicians | Global Indian Rajalakshmi Kameshwar Joshi[/caption]

Strong connect

A great political leader must have a strong connect with the electorate, have an innovative out-of-the-box approach, combined with compassion for vulnerable section of the society. “But the real benefits to the people, even with the best of the educated politicians, with the best combinations of factors mentioned above, ultimately depends on who the politician is taking orders from, and how independently they can take decisions,” she says.

The best example of this, points out the political analyst, are some politicians from neighbouring Pakistan, where even the foreign educated Prime Ministers like Benazir Bhutto and Imran Khan, ultimately led their country towards financial doom and a future only filled with conflict.

She says a deep understanding of local issues, a great connection with the people and a futuristic vision for the country, while not sacrificing our culture and roots, could make for a great combination for a young political leader.

“I hope our young politicians, with degrees from foreign institutions, will make the best use of their global understanding of challenges and apply it to the local scenario and make Bharat the glorious world leader we once were, in pre colonial times,” smiles Rajalakshmi.

Netas and foreign degrees

The trend of politicos earning their foreign degrees goes back to the times of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Nehru went to Harrow, a leading English school and then to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he spent three years earning an honours degree in natural science.

Thereafter, former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi (who studied at Ecole Nouvelle, Bex, Switzerland and Somerville College, Oxford among others) and Rajiv Gandhi, who went to the University of Cambridge, UK, followed suit.

[caption id="attachment_59430" align="aligncenter" width="460"] Indian politicians | Global Indian Shashi Tharoor[/caption]

Ever since, a host of politicians including former Prime minister Manmohan Singh, Shashi Tharoor, Kapil Sibal, Subramanian Swamy, Salman Khurshid, Rahul Gandhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Akhilesh Yadav, KT Rama Rao, K Kavitha, K Ram Mohan Naidu, Nara Lokesh, Mahua Moitra and a host of others continued the trend.

More foreign degree holders

In the recently concluded elections of Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, there were quite a few foreign educated politicos who chose to sweat it out in the heat and dust of elections. Some were successful, others lost and vowed to fight another day. One of them is Iltija Mufti from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who made her debut from the family bastion of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag.

An alumna of Warwick University in the UK, Iltija made many heads turn when she said “I’m not just Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, I have my own identity.”

Now, with the National conference-Congress alliance emerging victorious, the union territory of J & K is all set to have a new Chief Minister in Omar Abdullah, who went to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland for his MBA (He however could not complete the course due to the impending Lok Sabha elections back then.)

Another politician from Kashmir, Sajjad Gani Lone of Peoples Conference, who graduated from the University of Wales, College of Cardiff, UK, won the elections from Handwara.

[caption id="attachment_59431" align="aligncenter" width="543"] Indian Politician | Global Indian Sajjad Gani Lone[/caption]

Some 600-odd kms away in Haryana, three young guns from the Congress party — Aditya Surjewala, Mohit Grover and Rohit Nagar — too tested the electoral waters.

If Aditya Surjewala (25) did his B Com from University of British Columbia, Mohit holds a PG degree in Management from International Management Institute, Brussels, Belgium. As for Rohit, he studied Bachelor of Science in Business Management Studies from the University of Bradford, England.

While Aditya won the election from Kaithal and is set to be the youngest MLA in the state in the last 25 years, Mohit lost and so did Rohit.

What more, Delhi recently got a new Chief Minister, Atishi Marlena, who went to the University of Oxford and completed her masters degree on a Chevening scholarship. Similarly, her colleague in the Aam Aadmi party (AAP) Raghav Chaddha, the youngest Rajya Sabha MP, had studied in the London School of Economics.

The crisis and foreign education

Speaking to Global Indian, budding politician T Veerender Goud of the BJP recalls how the crisis of 2008, a cataclysmic event that shook global finance's foundations, was a particularly formative experience for him.

“Back then, the Markets were in free fall, and Wall Street titans crumbled. It was a surreal moment, a harsh remembrance of our economic fragility. As I delved deeper into the crisis, I saw the interconnectedness of global finance. It was my studies at Northern Illinois University, Chicago that helped me understand the underlying causes of the economic crisis,” he says.

He says foreign education enabled him to gain an understanding of its implications for India. “I gained insights into the importance of sound economic policies, financial stability, and international cooperation in mitigating crises,” he says.

Veerender says it was a sobering realisation that such a seemingly distant event could have such far-reaching consequences. “The financial crisis caused a ripple effect that affected economies around the world; it was studying at this institution that propelled me to broaden my horizons.”

[caption id="attachment_59434" align="aligncenter" width="601"] Indian Politician | Foreign Degree Holder T Veerender Goud[/caption]

The politico says studying abroad broadened his horizons and helped him gain a deeper understanding of domestic issues. “Once seemingly straightforward, the political landscape now seemed much more complicated. I realised the interconnection between domestic and international politics and the impact of global events on my country,” says the BJP functionary.

Political candidates who have studied abroad may be able to better connect with younger generations, feels Veerender.

“Globalisation and connectivity are becoming increasingly common among younger generations, with many having travelled abroad or having friends and family from other cultures. Young voters' concerns and aspirations are more likely to resonate with politicians who have experienced similar events,” he says.

Exposure

Former National spokesperson for Congress and author Sanjay Jha tells Global Indian that it is a huge positive sign that many of the young breed are exposed not just to local but global dynamics of politics when they pursue education abroad.

“There is no denying that the new crop of politicians, even if they're coming from dynastic families, have tried to basically qualify themselves through exposure, whether it is in India or abroad,” he says.

Importantly, says Jha, they have understood that politics is beyond just canvassing and campaigning, it's about governance, gauging public sentiment, creating public policies, which is one of the reasons why he thinks public policy programs have been very popular, especially amongst politicians.

However, looking at the Indian scenario, where a lot of the challenges remain in the rural sector or in the hinterland of India, where many politicians don't even take the trouble to visit, Sanjay feels that while education and knowledge is a definite plus, it is not an assurance or guarantee of being successful. “Because to translate that through action, by establishing a rapport or contact and truly understanding the demands of the vast sections of India, that will remain to be done in practice.”

Indian Politician | Foreign Degree Holder

Long way to go

Bottom line, he says, a lot will depend upon individuals and their own value systems. “But at the end of the day, education is an asset. But this is also a country where you have roughly 46% of your members of parliament with criminal records. So I would say it's still a long way to go,” says the former spokesperson of Congress.

Sanjay says he would remain bullish and optimistic but at the same time be cautious because politicians by their inherent nature in India have taken things too long for granted and run this country like a private fiefdom. “And if that arrogance can come to somebody who believes I am foreign educated and therefore now I know it all, then that can actually become a double whammy,” he adds.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Aditya Rao: Ramen restaurants in LA to Rocketry: The Nambi Effect

(August 15, 2022) It's nearly midnight in Austin, Texas where Aditya Rao lives, when he and I begin our conversation. He sits in the small recording studio, fashioned out of a closet at home, which doubles as workspace and personal haven. When we speak, Aditya has most recently wrapped up work on Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, where he is the lead vocalist and vocal arranger for nine songs. He has also worked with the multi-Grammy and Oscar-winning music director, A.R. Rahman. In May 2017, his Carnatic remix of Ed Sheeran's 'Shape of You', a collaboration with Indian Raga, went viral on the internet, with 11 million views at the time this article was written. "The final versions of Peruvali were recorded on the mic over there," he smiles. "It was also one of the hardest songs I have ever done, not only because it was a difficult song to sing about also because the lyrics were written by Dr Nambi Narayanan himself." It involved several sessions with R. Madhavan and "Nambi sir, going back and forth with the lyrics," he tells Global Indian. In pursuit of belonging His life, Aditya says, pausing to reflect, has always involved straddling two worlds, two

difficult song to sing about also because the lyrics were written by Dr Nambi Narayanan himself." It involved several sessions with R. Madhavan and "Nambi sir, going back and forth with the lyrics," he tells Global Indian.

In pursuit of belonging

His life, Aditya says, pausing to reflect, has always involved straddling two worlds, two versions of himself. “I’m a Gemini,” he chuckles. As a musician, he is in the process of finding his own sound, stepping away from a flourishing career that involves rubbing shoulders with the bigwigs in Bollywood and Hollywood alike, from A.R. Rahman and Madhavan, to Carlos Santana and Billie Ellish, to starting (somewhat) from scratch as an independent musician. Culturally, although he has grown up with the best of two beautiful worlds in India and the United States, he wonders where he fits in – that pathos seeps into his own song writing.

[caption id="attachment_28106" align="aligncenter" width="563"] Aditya Rao[/caption]

One thing has been evident beyond all doubt: a talent for music, which he discovered when he was three years old, in his hometown, Bengaluru. Two years later, his parents introduced him to his first – and only – teacher, the guru who still remains by his side. In 1998, the family moved to Pittsburgh, when Aditya was eight years old. Every summer though, he would return, by himself, to spend the summer with his grandparents, a routine he followed for several years.

Back in the US, his parents offered to find him a new teacher – there was no dearth of established musicians – but he refused. “My guru and I have a special relationship. I could sense he understood my connection with music.” Training involved recording and re-recording on a 90-minute cassette tape that student and teacher mailed back and forth, but it got the job done. “In conventional terms, what should have taken me three or four years to learn took closer to 10,” Aditya says.

Making music his life

Aditya was mid-interview with a major consulting firm, when he realised beyond all doubt that it just wasn’t the life wasn't for him. Advised by his parents to have a backup plan, Aditya had done a degree in finance to understand the business side of music. "I humbly stepped away from the interview, which was in New York, went home and had a heart-to-heart with my parents." He ended up earning a Master's degree in Entertainment Industry Management from Carnegie Mellon, and during grad school, arrived in Los Angeles for the second year of his work/study programme.

He went on to work for one of the world’s largest entertainment PR and marketing firms, remaining there for eight years, happy with his paycheque and the excitement of his job, which involved helping major brands integrate with pop culture.

The Ed Sheeran episode

Music, admittedly, took a backseat during this time but never completely disappeared. In 2017, Aditya was humming Ed Sheeran's runaway hit, 'Shape of You' in the shower and thought, 'Hm, this could be interesting with a Carnatic twist." So he called Indian Raga, with whom he was meant to collaborate anyway, saying, "I have a ridiculous idea. And I sent them a recording. They were interested."

The team also never met through the making of the song. "I shot my part in New York, Vinod shot in Minneapolis and Mahesh made one part in Dubai. The videos were stitched together in Chennai. "

Rendezvous with A.R. Rahman

"Hey, I’m in LA and I'm meeting A.R. Rahman. You should join me." Aditya, understandably, couldn’t fully believe what he was hearing but it was, in fact happening. On a visit to India, Aditya had met with Poonacha Machaiah, co-founder and CEO of the digital music platform Qyuki. “I liked their story and their mission and did market research to help them expand their operations in the US. I felt North America needed a platform like this for South Asian artists.”

When Machaiah came to the US, Aditya received the call that would become a turning point in his life. "I asked him, are you sure I should be there?" Machaiah told Aditya to come to Rahman's studio in LA and then for lunch. "We spent four hours together. And the beauty of the interaction was just how normal it felt. That is the greatness of A.R. sir, he makes you feel so comfortable, regardless of who you are and what you have or have not accomplished."

At the end of their lunch, during which no mention was made of a singing opportunity, Aditya took his leave. "I told myself, this is probably the first and last time you will ever see this man, so just enjoy the moment." The next day, however, he received a call from Rahman's office, asking him to try some vocals on a song. He arrived at the studio, to find the maestro himself sitting there. "It was a Tamil song but I had no idea what it was for or anything. I had my lyrics and I matched them with the tune." They went back and forth for a couple of hours as Rahman worked. "I assumed I was doing scratch vocals for someone else, so I thanked him and left, again, convinced I would never see him again."

A few weeks later, he was called back into the studio to record another song. That tune was Aila Aila, sung by Aditya and Natalie Di Luccio, featured in the Vikram-starrer 'I’.” He went on to sing in two more projects: Achcham Yenbadhu Madamiayada and Pele: Birth of a Legend. "I have also done live concerts with him, one in Chennai and two in Las Vegas."

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect

This story begins four years ago, with an Instagram post. Madhavan was in LA and asked, on Instagram, if anybody could recommend a good vegan or vegetarian restaurant. Aditya's wife responded, naming a ramen place on Third Street. Madhavan replied, asking if she was Aditya Rao's fiance. "He had been meaning to connect with me for a long time. So my wife called me, saying we were going to eat dinner at the Ramen place and that we would be having a guest, Madhavan. My response was 'Madhavan who'? I didn't connect the dots. So she told me it was the actor."

That evening over dinner, Madhavan told Aditya the story of Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. The film had no music in place and Aditya was brought on board to helm the vocal arrangements. He put the vocals together in five languages – Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telegu and Malayalam. “

"I ended up singing nine songs, two in five different languages. It was a ridiculously amazing experience, working to get the tracks mixed and re-mastered."

New beginnings

"I have been lucky to see glimpses of the top already but choose to make my own way up the ladder once more," Aditya says. "It's really, really difficult being an independent musician, especially when I'm doing so in the US." He's "adamant," he says, about not returning to India and being a playback singer. It's just not who he is as a person. "I want to represent who I am, an Indian American who can relate wholeheartedly to both cultures."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW8TeQcpPUg

He has accepted the fact that his journey will be a long one. “My Carnatic journey also took longer, so I know this will too. It’s hard though, because I’m not 18 anymore.” His wife and family however, are a constant source of support – ““I’m one of the lucky ones there too. What’s really awesome is that my wife and co-write together, so you’ll hear flavors of both of us in all of the original work,” Aditya explains.

His music reflects his inner struggles, “but not always,” he says. “There are some songs we’ve written that are genuinely about the joys of life, which were that are just so much fun to write.”

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Reading Time: 8 mins