Global IndianstoryWing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla: Meet the second Indian to travel to space

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla: Meet the second Indian to travel to space

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(August 15, 2024) It was in the April of 1984 that Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma along with two cosmonauts from the Soviet Union (flight engineer Gennady Strekalov and commander Yury Malyshev) flew on board Soyuz T-11 to the space station Salyut 7. This historic moment had his name etched as the first Indian to travel to space. And now 40 years later, another Wing Commander from Indian Air Force Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected by ISRO to travel for the Axiom-4 mission, making him the second Indian to travel to space.

When PM Modi visited the US in 2023 to meet President Joe Biden, the two agreed on a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024. Keeping up with their promise, earlier this month, the Indian Space Research Organisation sent two astronauts selected for its maiden human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan to the US for training. It was Indian Air Force Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla who had been handpicked by ISRO as the prime astronaut, while Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair was named as the backup.

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla

Shukla and Nair, both members of the Indian Air Force, are set to represent India in an upcoming high-profile space mission. This mission comes after ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) finalised a Space Flight Agreement with Axiom Space, a US-based space infrastructure company. As part of the Axiom-4 mission, Shukla will serve as the primary mission pilot, with Nair designated as the backup pilot.

NASA Chief Bill Nelson congratulated ISRO on their selection of astronauts for the upcoming mission to the International Space Station. “Congratulations ISRO. We look forward to welcoming the first ISRO astronaut to the International Space Station. This is a monumental step forward for US-India partnership in space,” he wrote on X.

The Axiom-4 mission, set to launch on a SpaceX rocket, will include astronauts from Poland, Hungary, the United States, and India, with Shukla among the crew.

Who is Shubhanshu Shukla

Born in Lucknow in 1985, Shubhanshu was only 14 when the Kargil war broke out. Then a high school student at City Montessori School, he was inspired by the tales of heroism and bravery. Two years later, he applied to the National Defence Academy, without informing his parents. On June 17, 2006, he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream, making him the first in his family to join the defence forces. Shukla, a Fighter Combat Leader and test pilot, has accumulated nearly 2,000 hours of flight experience. He has piloted a variety of aircraft, including the Sukhoi-30MKI, Mig-21, Mig-29, A then-32, Dornier, Hawk, and Jaguar.

Shubhanshu Shukla | Global Indian

Shukla entered the astronaut selection process in 2019 through the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), a division of the Indian Air Force. He was later shortlisted as one of the final four candidates by IAM and ISRO. In 2020, he travelled to Russia with three other selected astronauts for basic training, which he completed in 2021. Upon returning to India, he continued his training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore. Shukla is among the four astronauts whose names were announced by PM Modi earlier this year for Gaganyaan – India’s maiden human spaceflight mission in 2025. Now, he has been picked for a mission which is testimony to the friendly relations between India and the US. At 39, he is the youngest astronaut-designate ever selected, representing a significant milestone in his career.

On the other hand, Backup astronaut Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, hailing from Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, is a distinguished recipient of the Sword of Honour from the Air Force Academy. With more than 3,000 hours of flight experience, Nair has also served as a Category-A flying instructor and test pilot.

Axiom-4 mission

Originally scheduled for launch in October 2024 and now delayed by a few months into 2025, the Axiom Mission-4 will be a private spaceflight to the International Space Station, operated by Axiom Space. Supported by a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, the mission will lift off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. With a planned duration of 14 days, Axiom Mission-4 follows the successful missions of Axiom-1, Axiom-2, and Axiom-3. This partnership between ISRO, Axiom Space, and NASA marks a significant advancement in global space collaboration.

“The assigned crewmembers will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP). The recommended gaganyatris will commence their training for the mission from the first week of August 2024,” ISRO said, adding, “During the mission, the ‘gaganyatris’ will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS and engage in space outreach activities”.

Shubhanshu Shukla | Global Indian

As the second Indian man to travel to space, Shubhanshu Shukla represents a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey. His rigorous training, exceptional flying experience, and dedication have paved the way for his historic spaceflight. Shukla’s achievement not only highlights the remarkable progress of India’s space program but also inspires future generations to pursue careers in space science and exploration. His mission embodies the spirit of international collaboration and the boundless possibilities of human ingenuity.

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Published on 15, Aug 2024

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The science and art of Ice Cream making: Deepak Suresh’s Amadora revolution

Cookies, fruits, coffee, chillies, peanuts, limes and of course the evergreen chocolate and vanilla, they all find their way into the ice creams at Amadora. What is the secret behind their popularity? (December 3, 2023) Ice creams and cakes are always irresistible, no matter what age you are or which part of the world you live in. And making a successful business of both these universal and perennial favourites is Deepak Suresh with his brand of artisanal ice creams and more called Amadora Gourmet Ice Cream. [caption id="attachment_47149" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Deepak Suresh, founder, Amadora[/caption] Like a lot of engineers these days, Deepak changed career trajectories and after an MBA in Spain where he fell in love with food and everything around it. After a stint in the corporate world, he decided he wanted to be in the culinary field. The engineer in him zeroed in on ice creams from the start. In an exclusive with Global Indian, Deepak says, “The process of manufacturing ice creams is process driven, as opposed to a biryani, which is formula based. If you have good ingredients, and can create flavours and the right texture that will appeal, along with your imagination, ice creams were

rel="noopener">Global Indian, Deepak says, “The process of manufacturing ice creams is process driven, as opposed to a biryani, which is formula based. If you have good ingredients, and can create flavours and the right texture that will appeal, along with your imagination, ice creams were the obvious choice for me.”

The Right Choice

Another reason for choosing ice creams was the fact that Deepak associated a lot of happy memories of his own childhood in Chennai with ice creams. He recalls, “As kids we used to go to Das Prakash for ice creams and they had this ice cream sandwich with cake all around it. They were always fantastic and we loved going there.”

He also reveals that he found a big gap between the store-bought range of ubiquitous ice creams like Amul, Kwality Walls and others, and the premium range like Haagen Daaz. His price points too are placed between these two ranges and given the high quality of ingredients used, including Belgian chocolate in larger quantities than his competitors do, they seem worth the price.

Having lived in the US where he had done his Master's degree in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University, he decided to return to India to start the business. He did his research and launched the brand Amadora Artisan Ice Creams Pvt. Ltd, in June 2011. “By March 2012, we were winging it.”

I dream of ice cream

From the outset, Deepak implemented engineering principles to streamline production processes, emphasizing precision and consistency in every scoop he served up at Amadora. He also decided to do a week-long course in ice cream making at the University of Pennsylvania in the US. “It was more a scientific course, focusing on the pasteurising and ageing process and other aspects. It was too much science,” he adds candidly.

Candour in fact is the underlining trait with which Deepak speaks because he openly talks about what worked, what didn’t and why he makes ice creams in the flavours that he does. He says, “I make the flavours I like. The most important part of an ice cream is the mix – if you get the mix right, whether it is vanilla, coffee, chocolate or pineapple, the rest is easy. Perfecting the mix is the most difficult part about making an ice cream.”

To date, Amadora has made over 300 flavours of ice creams and sorbets, like frozen hot chocolate, trifle pudding, mango raspberry, roasted banana, peanut butter and hot fudge and plenty more. There is even a chilli cheese toast flavour for the adventurous! The range also includes ice cream sandwiches and ice cream bars; and ice cream cakes and sundaes. Each outlet stocks 16 ice cream flavours and 14 cake varieties. And the sorbets work for the vegans because they are made without any milk, cream or egg.

Baked goods too got added to the menu and a popular item is the under-baked cake. Deepak says, “To go with ice creams, I started making brownies. During one baking attempt, we made a baked bar that came out under-baked and it tasted amazing. So, we decided to market it as an under-baked cake and it is one of our most popular items.”

For the ingredients, Deepak believes in zero compromise. The five-bean vanilla ice cream for instance, one of their bestsellers, has a story to it. Deepak recalls, “When I created the vanilla ice cream, I was looking for authentic vanilla beans. I met Dr Mahendran in Polachi in Tamil Nadu; his beans are the best we felt, and each litre of ice cream made had the intensity of five vanilla beans; hence the name Five Bean for the ice cream. I have been buying from him for the last ten years.” The milk he uses for the ice creams are Amul and Nandini.

Hits and Misses

Flavours are the hall mark of Amadora and Deepak says they launch a new flavour a week. Between the sorbets and the ice creams, Amadora has over 300 flavours created. But, Deepak himself admits that some of them were “horrible.” He reiterates with candour not usually found in his line of business, “We once received some gajar halwa from my wife’s family in Jagraon, Punjab. It was amazing and I had it with vanilla ice cream. But when I tried to recreate the flavour as an ice cream, it didn’t do well. Similarly, we got some freeze-dried jackfruit powder. Again, we made it into an ice cream and I personally thought it was an incredible flavour, but it did not do well at all.”

The popular flavours are vanilla and chocolate in all its variants – they are the top sellers. Another hit with customers is the Mami’s filter coffee ice cream which for Deepak, coming from Chennai, was a no-brainer and had to be part of the oeuvre. Caramelized White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Sorbet, Vanilla Caramel Crunch, Strawberry Shortcake etc are some of the other choices. Even the cakes are fast becoming popular and now account for 30 percent of Amadora’s business.

And while Deepak, candidly again, admits that he has had “tremendous amounts of luck in finding the right location, architect and good staff, towards starting what is predominantly a self-funded business, labour remains a challenge as attrition in this industry is high.”

With three stores in Chennai and two in Bengaluru, with two more coming up in both cities and a store in Mumbai scheduled for mid-2024, Deepak has his hands full. He wants to, in the future, experiment with all the varieties of mango available across India in ice creams; he is already making use of the hapoos or Alphonso and the Banganpally mangoes.

Deepak admits, “I am lucky I do what I do, and seeing the joy on the face of my four-and-a-half-year-old son when he tries the ice cream, makes it so much more worthwhile.”

Ice creams and cakes, and an entrepreneur with a passion for creating their best possible avatars – a match made in heaven.

Follow Amadora on Instagram and explore the brand through their website.

What's your Global Indian story? Write to us at editor.gi@globalindian.com

Gopi Byluppalla: Uniting people through food at The Culinary Lounge

(May 24, 2024) “I only know four things: people, books, food, and movies,” smiles Gopi Byluppala, a Hyderabad-based entrepreneur whose work revolves around all things food, traditional meals, and recipes, as well as culinary conversations. The 40-year-old, who has founded Hyderabad's experimental Culinary Lounge, is also working with the government of the Netherlands to find areas of synergy between Hyderabad and Amsterdam, as he believes that food is the only bridge that can connect people from diverse walks of life. As he pours Nannari sherbet into a glass (earlier found only in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh and something this writer cherished in childhood summers spent in Hindupur), he says that food is the very essence of our being. [caption id="attachment_51909" align="aligncenter" width="455"] Gopi Byluppala, founder, The Culinary Lounge[/caption] “Each time I invite people for a meal and they try some long-forgotten recipes or dishes that are no longer made, it transports them to their happiest memories—many say that the food reminds them of their mothers or grandmothers. Or they share their own recollections. Look at our conversation, I mentioned Nannari, and you said you always had it with milk, which was a revelation as I knew it only to

mothers or grandmothers. Or they share their own recollections. Look at our conversation, I mentioned Nannari, and you said you always had it with milk, which was a revelation as I knew it only to be served with soda. Food is the ultimate uniting force,” he tells Global Indian.

Sensory recollections

Growing up in a joint family in Kakinada, where the kitchen was bigger than the living room, Gopi recalls spending a lot of time around food. He reminisces, “My mother was always in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, lunch, snacks, and then dinner, so I used to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to be close to her.”

It was this early exposure that had a great effect on the young Gopi, who wanted to become a chef as early as when he was eight-years-old and loved whipping up his favorite dish (maggi). Fate (and his father), however, had different plans, and he ended up studying engineering at the University of Madras and working at Oracle for a decade.

It was in 2014, when he was shuttling between Hyderabad and Philadelphia (where his wife Swathi worked), that he decided to indulge in his love for food. “After living the corporate life for a decade, I understood that my heart did not lie in it and wanted to pursue a career among my passions,” he shares.

Gopi Byluppala | Global Indian

Turning passion into profession

Combining two of his loves—food and people—the entrepreneur started his first start-up in 2014, Feazt, a unique platform where strangers were invited for a home-cooked meal to bond over food. His first pop-up was called Coconada Meal (the British name for Kakinada), where he served food made by his mother.

“It was an event like no other,” Gopi smiles as he recalls and adds, “I remember my mother wondering if people would pay Rs 500 for a home-cooked meal, but I was sure that there would be an audience. My mother was ecstatic when a young girl hugged her after tasting her Royyala koora (prawn curry) and said that it was so different from what one found at restaurants.”

The concept was a big hit and had only one rule – people should come alone and no guests should know one other – as the idea was to meet like-minded people and not hang out with your existing friends. Another initiative that was unique was Handi Talks (similar to Ted Talks) but focused on food, where entrepreneurs, bakers, chefs, and restaurant owners came together, creating an eco-system of people passionate about food and also sharing knowledge and insights with a close-knit audience.

People and food

In a quest to bring the idea of connecting people and food together, the entrepreneur started Culinary Lounge in 2018. It is an eclectic idea where food takes center stage—where chefs can host pop-ups for specific foods, where people could learn cooking, and where corporates can bring teams for interactive sessions. In fact, the center has played host to many top companies, including Deloitte, PepsiCo, and Google, among others, where leaders can reconnect with their teams over a host of activities, from cooking together to sessions on food histories.

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Apart from companies, Culinary Longue has also played host to delegations from Korea, Japan, Thailand, and the Netherlands, where chefs explore and experiment with Indian food. It has also seen book launches and gatherings by gourmands.

It was through one such delegation from the Netherlands, which prompted his move to Amsterdam in 2022, where he is working extensively on building a culinary corridor to Hyderabad.

He states, “Amsterdam has a rich profusion of Michelin-starred restaurants, world-class bartenders, and some of the best breweries in the world. Hyderabad has a great nightlife scene, and I see a great opportunity for cross-pollination, where Hyderabadis can experience the best of nightlife from abroad and Amsterdam gets a taste of local Hyderabadi favorites like Biryani, Paya, Marag, Gongura, and Pachi Pulusu.”

Is food the ultimate soft power – absolutely says Gopi and adds, “Food is the greatest ice-breaker and tailor made for culinary diplomacy. A great example is the Thai government, which, under the Thai Select Program, started over 100,000 restaurants in the US, resulting in an explosion of interest for Thailand in the US/ Look at how K-Pop, Ramen, and K-drama resulted in a boom in Korea’s tourism!”

A mammoth undertaking

Currently shuttling between Hyderabad and Amsterdam, Gopi is also busy with his current initiative, Onamalu (which translates to fundamentals in Telugu), which aims to document the history of Telugu food from the year 1750 onwards. With the help of a team of chefs, historians, and enthusiasts who will travel the length and breadth of Telugu states—from Telangana to coastal Andhra and Rayalseema to tribal food—it aims to document the lore and legacy of Telugu food.

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Quiz about his continuing obsession with food, and he simply smiles, adding, “In a world full of differences, food can be the unifying factor. We Indians are so fond of Italian and Korean food that I want to ensure that my rich Telugu cuisine is also one day as popular as theirs across the world. Good food can bring us together.”

It is this belief that drives Gopi and gives him strength when he travels away from his young children (Veeksha, 7; Nikshit, 4). Building a community and introducing traditional food to younger generations moving away from it—this entrepreneur is all about creating a better world where we stay in touch with our roots and, of course, share stories over a meal.

Follow The Culinary Lounge on Instagram.

From aristocrats to global leader: The legacy of Hyderabad Public School shaping the world’s brightest minds

(May 25, 2023) The last few decades have seen the rise of several Indians to the top of many leading organisations. While the world applauds our nation for producing these brilliant minds, what if we told you that there is one particular school behind many of these global leaders? Nestled amidst the rich cultural tapestry of Hyderabad, one institution has sculpted the destinies of these exceptional minds, propelling them to the pinnacle of global success. Hyderabad Public School (HPS), a sanctuary of knowledge and nurturing, stands proud as the Alma Mater of illustrious personalities who have etched their indelible mark on the world stage. The tale of this glorious school began in 1923, under the patronage of the Seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. Originally established as Jagirdars College, it stood as a bastion of education exclusively for the sons of nawabs, jagirdars, and the privileged elite. With the abolishment of the Zamindari system in 1950, this esteemed institution underwent a metamorphosis, emerging as Hyderabad Public School in 1951, embracing a new era of inclusivity and excellence. Ever since, this institution has produced several visionaries, including Satya Nadella, the trailblazing CEO of Microsoft, Ajay Banga, the next President

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Ever since, this institution has produced several visionaries, including Satya Nadella, the trailblazing CEO of Microsoft, Ajay Banga, the next President of the World Bank, Shantanu Narayen, the driving force behind Adobe's innovation, and TK Kurien, the astute business titan who spearheaded Wipro's growth. During an earlier interview with a leading daily newspaper, Nadella exclaimed, "Attending the HPS was the best break I had in my life," adding, "The ability to find your passion and get the confidence. This is what I learnt from this great institution."

While much is known about these giants, Global Indian takes a look at the other world leaders who once walked the hall of this venerable school.

Prem Watsa, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive of Fairfax Financial Holdings

Born in Hyderabad, Watsa's path to success began with his education at the prestigious HPS. “He was quiet but very athletic. He used to play basketball very well,” said Yashwant Ramamurthy, a schoolmate of Watsa. Prem Watsa's father, M.C. Watsa, also served as vice-principal and then principal of HPS, until they all moved to Canada.

Hyderabad Public School | Global Indian

The business tycoon is also an alumnus Indian Institute of Technology and the University of Western Ontario. A Padma Shri winner, Watsa founded Fairfax Financial Holdings in 1985. Under his astute leadership, the Canadian financial services holding company grew steadily into a global powerhouse in the insurance and reinsurance sectors.

Known for his contrarian stance and ability to identify undervalued assets, he has led Fairfax Financial to navigate various market cycles and deliver impressive returns to shareholders. Watsa's shrewd investments in distressed companies, such as BlackBerry and Bank of Ireland during their challenging times, have earned him a reputation as a savvy investor. Watsa has also demonstrated a deep commitment to philanthropy, actively supporting numerous charitable causes, including education, healthcare, and disaster relief efforts.

Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti, Founder and Director of KIMS-Ushalakshmi Center for Breast Diseases

A classmate of Satya Nadella at HPS and a highly accomplished surgeon in his own right, Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti has dedicated his life to making a significant difference to the delivery of breast healthcare in India. A living bridge between the UK and India, Dr. Pillarisetti holds the distinction of being the youngest Indian-origin surgeon to receive an Honorary FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He is also the youngest recipient of the Overseas Gold Medal bestowed by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Hyderabad Public School | Global Indian

“I studied at the Hyderabad Public School,” shares Dr Pillarisetti, “I wasn’t always at the top of the class; however I wasn’t a backbencher either. Mostly, I used to get first class, but never among the students who got distinction,” admits the doctor adding that he would play various sports for the fun and experience.

In 2021, he made history as the first surgeon of Indian origin to be granted the Honorary Fellowship of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. But that's not all, Dr. Pillarisetti also became one of the youngest Indian-origin surgeons in over a century to be honored with the esteemed OBE, signifying his appointment as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

[caption id="attachment_23767" align="aligncenter" width="635"] Hyderabad Public School | Global Indian King Charles III conferring the OBE to Dr Raghu Ram, at the Windsor Castle[/caption]

He and his wife, Dr. Vyjayanthi moved back to India to serve cancer patients here. Establishing the breast health care facility in Hyderabad in 2007, the scholar oversaw the execution of the largest population-based breast cancer screening program in South Asia, which took place in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Megha Mittal, Former Chairperson and Managing Director of Escada

The daughter of business giant Mahendra Kumar Patodia, Megha Mittal was always one of the brightest in her class. At HPS, she participated in and also won several competitions. An alumna of The Wharton School, the entrepreneur joined Goldman Sachs during the peak of the technology boom. However, she soon realised that her true passion lay in design and fashion. She made the bold decision to further her education in design, a choice that ultimately paved the way for a monumental move: the acquisition of the renowned German fashion brand, Escada, in 2009. Since assuming the role of executive director and Administrative Board chairman, Mittal has been actively involved in the daily operations of the brand's turnaround journey.

Hyderabad Public School | Global Indian

Under her guidance, Escada has experienced a resurgence in popularity, reminiscent of its glory days in the 1980s, while simultaneously reinventing itself to cater to the needs and aspirations of the modern 21st-century woman. Mittal herself embodies the spirit of a sophisticated globetrotter, seamlessly juggling multiple significant roles in her life.

Karan Bilimoria, Member of British House of Lords, and President of Confederation of British Industry

Hailing from Hyderabad, Karan Bilimoria, an esteemed alumnus of Hyderabad Public School, began his educational journey there. At the young age of nineteen, he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Osmania University in Hyderabad in 1981. After being awarded a scholarship, Bilimoria ventured to London, where he became a chartered accountant status at Ernst & Young. He also earned a diploma in accounting from the London Metropolitan University. Building on his accomplishments, he pursued a law degree at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.

Hyderabad Public School | Global Indian

Recognised for his exceptional achievements, Bilimoria was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London in 2001. In the 2004 Birthday Honours, he was honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his remarkable contributions to business and entrepreneurship. Subsequently, he was appointed as an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the House of Lords, assuming the title of Baron Bilimoria, of Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, on 16 June 2006. Notably, he became the first Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords.

Notably, in June 2020, Bilimoria was elected as the President of the Confederation of British Industry, solidifying his influential role in the business community.

Shailesh Jejurikar, Chief Operating Officer, Procter & Gamble Co

Known to be one of the most hardworking students at Hyderabad Public School, Shailesh Jejurikar continued to carry the lessons he learned at the venerable institution throughout his life. Described as a cheerful person and a natural leader by his batchmates (who include Satya Nadella), Shailesh went on to become head boy. His classmate, the champion horse trainer Pratap Kamat told The Hindu, “He used to take everyone along with him and Satya (Nadella) always hung around him. They were very close as both of them played cricket."

Hyderabad Public School | Global Indian

After earning his B.A. in Economics from Mumbai University, the business leader joined IIM-Lucknow for a master’s degree. He joined Procter & Gamble (P&G) in Mumbai, in 1989. With over three decades of experience at Procter & Gamble in various business units in Mumbai, Nairobi, Singapore, Cincinnati, and Geneva, Jejurikar took on the role of CEO for P&G Fabric & Home Care in 2019. As Executive Sponsor for Corporate Sustainability, he spearheaded P&G's endeavors to make sustainability a driving force for positive impact and growth. It led to the development and implementation of P&G's Sustainability Strategy and Plan Ambition 2030.

[caption id="attachment_39115" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Hyderabad Public School | Global Indian The investiture ceremony of Shailesh Jejurikar was attended by then CM of Andhra Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao[/caption]

In October 2021, Jejurikar was appointed the CEO of P&G, making him the first Indian to hold such a prestigious position at the company. Recently, the business leader was nominated to join the board of the soon-to-be-independent Otis Elevator Company.

Follow Hyderabad Public School on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and its website

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Shub Bhowmick: Helping Fortune 500s solve analytics problems through Tredence Inc

(May 4, 2024) In today's data-driven world, companies collect vast amounts of information, hoping to unlock valuable insights. Those insights find their way into reports and presentations but often end up not being used, for a number of reasons. For instance, the reports could be too complex and full of jargon for non-technical people to translate into actionable steps, or have so many potential improvements that teams become overwhelmed and don't know where to focus. Change can also be difficult and organisations could struggle to adapt their processes or culture to these new insights, even if they might be beneficial to them. This is the gap that Shub Bhowmick and the team at Tredence are hoping to bridge. For over two decades, Shub Bhowmick has grown as a 'problem solver, entrepreneur and technology leader'. In 2013, he co-founded Tredence, a data science and AI engineering company that now has over 1000 employees with offices in Foster City, Chicago, London, Toronto and Bengaluru. Their clients include over 30 Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of sectors, as they work specifically towards solving this last mile problem in analytics. [caption id="attachment_51261" align="aligncenter" width="368"] Shub Bhowmick[/caption] Discovering the potential in data analytics

.globalindian.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-49-300x300.png" alt="Shub Bhowmick | Global Indian" width="368" height="368" /> Shub Bhowmick[/caption]

Discovering the potential in data analytics

After graduating with a B.Tech degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT-BHU, Shub went on to do an MBA at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He has held high ranking positions at Diamond Consultants (currently PwC), Mu Sigma, Liberty Advisor Group and Infosys. His career in data analytics began at a consultancy in Chicago, Diamond Consultants. "Around 12 or 13 years back I was involved in a data analytics practice that Diamond had created, and I was deeply influenced by this experience," he recalls, in an interview with Nasscom. "I realised for the first time how significantly data management can actually have an impact."

From there, he moved to Mu Sigma, which he describes as another deeply inspirational experience. "I was able to see how data analytics services are not just an add-on service offering - at Mu Sigma, it was the core and basically the only service offering," he said. Over a decade ago, Mu Sigma was at the forefront of last mile services in data analytics, and worked to provide actionable business insights for Fortune 500 companies. They offered a range of data analytics services, helping clients collect, clean, analyze and interpret vast amounts of data. They even had their own Art of Problem Solving platform, which is a set of tools designed to help clients translate vast amounts of data into concrete solutions, emphasizing actionable strategies over reports. "They were able to create a very interesting business model around this," Shub recalls. "The industry was also starting to attract some really good talent and nurture them into future leaders."

Still, Shub would wonder if there was a better, more efficient way to deliver this service. "Back then, in the analytics industry, most of the companies and providers relied on a manual process, on a value chain that involved pulling data typically into a throwaway MS Office based data file, using Excel for the analysis, some bit of SaaS, Power Point based summary and delivery." This was a decade ago, when cloud technology was still very new and not really in use. "It was basically a sales automation platform, there was no Azure or Google Cloud," Shub explains.

The tech-centric approach to business insights

Shub Bhowmick | Global Indian

Around 2012-13, Shub Bhowmick, then based in Silicon Valley, saw an opportunity to start a different kind of data service. "We brought the essence of business analytics, which is the focus on business insights, but we combined that with engineering, to deliver insights in a more efficient, value-driven, adoption-focussed way." This set them up from the competition too, as they moved away from business analysts and the manual processes towards a more technology centric approach. "We were using big tech to automate portions of the value chain and create greater scale and speed in insights delivery."

Over the last seven years or so, cloud-based platforms and hyperscalers took the world by storm, and production workloads quickly moved to cloud tech. Tredence Inc didn't waste time in getting on board, and began developing 'cloud-centric capabilities to deliver analytics services with a focus on adoption and shortening the time to impact," the Global Indian explains. "Cloud and data analytics are very much intertwined and will continue to be so in my opinion, as enterprises invest in cloud native AI capabilities," he adds.

The age of generative AI

The arrival of generative language model Chat GPT was another game changer. "I had never heard the use of the word 'hallucination' in my industry until we all came across this explosion created by OpenAI', Shub said in an interview. "Since then it's been the only topic everybody's talking about, especially in technology." He has watched the ecosystem grow, from a time in Silicon Valley where companies hired AI experts to work in isolated corners of office buildings, to now, where titles like 'Chief AI officer' are common, and AI developers are a core arm of big tech.

"We had talked about AI for a long time, we used to call it advanced data science and applied analytics, and just AI for the longest time. Now we call it Generative AI but the idea is not very different," he says. "It's about how you take data, information that you already have within your firewall, or leverage other data sources and then help your executives make more meaningful decisions to improve their business." At Tredence Inc, he says, the team is working on fine tuning foundational models, and prompt engineering systems to cater to their existing clients, and provide them with a wide range of highly customised insights through AI language models. Coding assistance is another important segment, as the industry begins to recognize that generative AI can significantly improve the productivity of all kinds of engineers.

Shub Bhowmick | Global Indian

In March 2024, Tredence decided to invest 10 percent of its annual revenues in developing GenAi and advanced AI capabilities across engineering, customer experience, machine learning operations, supply chain and other verticals in data analytics. Through this the San-Jose based startup is looking to grow revenues by 40 to 50 percent, Shub Bhowmick told ET. "We're building AI language models by fine-tuning foundational models. These models need not be large in size, we are using public and proprietary data of our customers to create agents to serve their unique needs in sectors such as retail, consumer goods, healthcare, telecom, banking and financial services and manufacturing."

Celebrating the many Christmases of India

(December 25, 2023) Christmas, moving beyond its roots as a Christian celebration, has transformed into a truly Indian festival. Last year, Speaking Tiger, a publishing house led by former heads of Penguin India and Cambridge University Press India, launched an anthology titled 'Indian Christmas.' This book encapsulates the unique essence of Christmas in India through a collection of essays, images, poems, and hymns—presented both in English and translated from various Indian languages. The anthology vividly portrays how Christmas has become a significant festival in India, celebrated not only by Christians but also by diverse communities in their own distinct ways. [caption id="attachment_47777" align="aligncenter" width="321"] Cover image of the book 'Indian Christmas'[/caption] Jerry Pinto and Madhulika Liddle, two acclaimed Indian writers, not only edited the anthology but also penned the introduction. The anthology features contributions from distinguished authors like Damodar Mauzo, Vivek Menezes, Easterine Kire, Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, Elizabeth Kuruvilla, Jane Borges, Mary Sushma Kindo, and others. Their writings explore Christmas traditions and celebrations in regions such as Goa, Nagaland, Kerala, Delhi, Ranchi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Shillong, and rural Jharkhand, offering insights into the essence of Indian Christmas. The books description on Amazon reads: “Charming family traditions, ‘chutnified’ Christmas lunches and dinners,

i, Shillong, and rural Jharkhand, offering insights into the essence of Indian Christmas.

The books description on Amazon reads: “Charming family traditions, ‘chutnified’ Christmas lunches and dinners, quintessentially Indian versions of Christmas decorations and rituals—all find a place in the pages of Indian Christmas, a first-of-its-kind collection that pays tribute to a great Indian festival. It is a unique and beautiful book to possess and to gift.”

The book highlights the rich and multiple ways in which Christmas is celebrated in India through content like Arul Cellaturai's poems of the Pillaitamil tradition about Baby Jesus and the moon, tappe-boliyan by Punjabi singers portraying Mary and her infant, Mughal miniatures illustrating Jesus' birth, artworks by Jyoti Sahi and Sister Marie Claire inspired by folk art, and photographs capturing Christmas moments in Aizawl, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kochi, contributed by different photographers.

Jerry Pinto on ‘Indian Christmas’

“Christmas is a festival of hope. I think all literature hopes to work against hate, to further the common cause of humanity. If this book contributes to that, I should be delighted,” told Jerry Pinto, the anthology’s co-editor in an interview adding, “I think we need to remember that we are the nation that was visited by St Thomas the Apostle and that Christianity has 2000-year-old roots here.”

Pinto utilised the fond memories of the several Christmases of childhood to remain excited throughout the making of the book.

“I come from a non-traditional Christian family,” he shared, “We weren’t the kind of family who cooked up storms though we could eat our way through mountains of food.” The family enjoyed the cake from the local shop and relished eating delicious food in loving company of each other.

[caption id="attachment_47780" align="aligncenter" width="280"] Indian Culture | Jerry Pinto | Global Indian Jerry Pinto[/caption]

Madhulika Liddle on ‘Indian Christmas’

“I think, besides the fact that a festival like Christmas goes beyond religion and reinforces values of peace and goodwill, there is the very fact of it being a very ‘local’ festival when it comes to how Indians celebrate it,” remarked Madhulika, Pinto’s co-editor of ‘Indian Christmas’. Born in Haflong, Assam she spent her first 12 years moving across different towns in the state due to her IPS officer father's transfers. The family finally relocated to Delhi, where she completed her schooling and college education at the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition (IHMCN).

“Growing up, Christmas was for me the most exciting part of the year. I always looked forward even to the run-up to Christmas, the decorations we put up around the house, the cake, doughnuts, gujiyas and other goodies we helped make, the music, the warmth and joy,” she shared. Beautiful childhood experiences associated with the festival played a great role in making her attached to the anthology since the very start.

[caption id="attachment_47779" align="aligncenter" width="231"] Indian Culture | Indian Christmas | Global Indian[/caption]

The many Christmases of India

For a country as diverse as India, different regions have their own unique way to celebrate. Christmas is the time to enjoy and spread joy not just within families but with the entire community in India.

Goa is place where the joy of Christmas radiates an exuberant atmosphere. A sizable Roman Catholic population and Portuguese heritage add a touch of splendour to the festive fervour. The streets start buzzing with the spirit of Christmas, bedecked with Poinsettia flowers and twinkling holiday lights. Midnight carolers serenade till dawn, while beachside venues offer festive lunches with live music, extending celebrations to beaches like Anjuna and Candolim.

Ludhiana adds a Punjabi flavour to the Christmas festivities. Christmas carols in Punjabi and dhols add a local touch to the celebrations. Few churches even organise langar, a trademark Punjabi community kitchen. A shobha yatra is taken out from Temple of God Church at Saleem Tabri which pass through various areas of city and end at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Sarabha Nagar. More than 150 churches of Ludhiana participates in the Shobha Yatra.

Puducherry, influenced by French heritage, hosts a serene yet fervent Christmas celebration. With a notable Roman Catholic community. The union territory transforms into a jubilant spectacle with festive spirit in the air. Landmarks like the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and other churches hold mesmerising services, exuding a serene yet joyful ambiance.

Delhi gets bustled with a commercial fervour during Christmas. Malls and Christian neighbourhoods dazzle with lights, while theme parties gets hosted in clubs and bars. The Midnight Service at Sacred Heart Church in Connaught Place witnesses a diverse congregation, showcasing the city's inclusive celebration of Christmas, where the festive warmth overcomes even the wintry weather, making Delhi's Christmas festivity a spectacle worth experiencing first-hand.

[caption id="attachment_47784" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Indian Culture | Indian Christmas | Global Indian An image from Goa's Christmas[/caption]

Kolkata witnesses one of the largest Christmas carnivals of India on Park Street. The themed lighting starts from St Xavier's College and ends at Mullick Bazaar. The themed lighting gets designed by artisans from the nearby town of Chandannagar who also light up the city during Durga Puja. Bands and various choir groups perform at different places and a two-hour Christmas Parade is organised where hundreds of school children participate

Cochin is one of the liveliest place in India other than Goa for Christmas and New Year celebrations. The famous 10-day long Cochin Carnival takes place during this time, with activities like beach bike races, beach football, fire displays and the grand carnival procession lined up with floats, bands, fancy dress art forms, and decorated elephants. The churches remain open throughout the night, and local eateries offer delightful meals with exceptional local flavours.

Shillong offers a quieter yet charming Christmas celebration. Homes and streets shimmer with sparkling lights, echoing with traditional hymns and carols, while local gospel musicians add a unique touch to the celebrations.

Ranchi immerses itself in joyous celebration with a sizable Christian and tribal communities, embracing traditions with fervour. The festivities centre on traditional delicacies like Dhuska, a local snack, and dancing around bonfires to melodies honouring Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. Modest yet heartfelt Christmas gatherings take place in homes, radiating warmth and festivity.

Global Indian celebrates the spirit of love, kindness, and togetherness that unites us all, irrespective of our backgrounds or beliefs on all Indian festivals. May this joyous occasion of Christmas fill our hearts with warmth and goodwill, and spread happiness and peace throughout our communities.

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