Indian Social Entrepreneur | Upasana Makati | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryWith India’s first lifestyle magazine in Braille, Upasana Makati makes reading enjoyable for people with visual impairment

With India’s first lifestyle magazine in Braille, Upasana Makati makes reading enjoyable for people with visual impairment

Written by: Amrita Priya

(August 19, 2022) It was in 1785 that India was first introduced to a magazine that was published then by the British. And 40 years later, Louis Braille, the French educator, invented a tactile system of reading and writing for visually challenged people in 1824. Since then, his legacy has lightened up millions of lives across the globe. However, it was not until 2013 that the people with visual impairment in India could enjoy the simple pleasure of reading a print magazine, even when it’s a highly popular medium despite the charms of the digital media.

When Upasana Makati, the founder of White Print, India’s first lifestyle magazine in Braille, came to know about it from the National Association for the Blind (NAB), she was appalled and angry. “When sighted people have freedom to choose the media to consume, then why not people with visual impairment!” she says in a conversation with Global Indian.

Upasana Makati, founder and publisher, White Print

This thought along with the curiosity of how visually impaired people begin their day in absence of any leisure reading option, infused a burning desire in Upasana to come up with a magazine for those who cannot see. A college pass out working in her first job in the public relations domain, the idea stuck with her for a while. Within three months, she left her job and vroomed into the publishing world.

Today, White Print is the only lifestyle magazine in Braille. Upasana’s initiative got recognised at many platforms but the most coveted one has been an award that she received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2018 for being the First Lady of the Nation to have started a Braille magazine.

Impressive content from top contributors

From sports and culture to the inspiring stories of the common man, White Print covers a variety of topics to stimulate the mind’s eye. If Sudha Murty, the author, philanthropist and chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, had offered one year of her short stories’ rights to the magazine, renowned TV journalist Barkha Dutt contributed content for a year.

“At present we are in collaboration with Unbias the News, a global news portal run by a community of journalists from across the world,” she tells. Caravan Magazine too contributes content in addition to the in-house content generated by Upasana and her team.

The usual reaction of people when they look at White Print is that of wonderment ! I thought I’d give you a glimpse into the magazine and talk about the script and it’s usage. #Braille #BrailleScript #Myths #Facts. pic.twitter.com/mwmKx9ctAq

— White Print (@whiteprintmag) August 19, 2020

Impulse backed with research

“Reflecting is one of my habits. It was a sudden thought that crossed my mind in the middle of the night. My curiosity was so strong that I called up my friends to discuss it during those hours itself. They thought I was crazy,” recalls Upasana, talking about the germination of the idea of a magazine in braille.

She began her research by visiting The National Association for the Blind in Mumbai, where she was informed about a couple of fortnightly newsletters that are educative in tone replete with information like policies for the visually impaired, but nothing as such for leisure reading. “This angered me. I thought, how could we be living in modern times when there is no reading material in braille to make life enjoyable?” says the founder, publisher and editor.

Though she personally knew no one who was visually impaired but looking at the information provided by NAB, the Mumbai girl was convinced that something should be done.

Finding a purpose early on in life

With no prior experience and purely driven by the desire to make a difference, she charted the path of becoming a self-taught entrepreneur in the publishing industry, learning the tricks of the trade on the go. “I found my purpose early on in life,” says Upasana whose initiative got recognised in the form of Forbes 30 Under 30 and Fortune 40 Under 40.

Braillo 650W at NAB. In the background, there are numerous Braille books stacked and arranged

The Media and Communication graduate from Jai Hind College, Mumbai, who was at a one-year exchange programme in communication at University of Ottawa, has been making lives interesting. She has been catering to leisure reading needs in braille and also fulfilling demands of institutions like IIM Kolkata, Goa National Library, Federation for Blind, Bangalore and LV Prasad Eye Institute. Trilogy – a bookstore in Mumbai that has a section dedicated to braille also subscribes to White Print.

Replacing sympathy with empathy

“I started it as a for-profit venture because I wanted to replace sympathy with empathy, and to do away with the notion of the charity angle that always gets associated when one does anything for the disabled.” Though publishing the magazine is not very economically viable in the absence of many braille press options in the country, the satisfaction that it gives to Upasana is ‘unparalleled.’

The magazine did not get published for five months during the pandemic as reading for the community is solely touch based and the NAB press, where the magazine gets published, was shut down during that period.

There are a number of challenges in publishing a print magazine in these times but it’s extremely satisfying. It excites me because there aren’t many people doing it and there is so much to do in this space – Upasana Makati

The monthly 64-page publication, available at subsidised rate of ₹30 with a readership of several thousand, has seen a decline in certain corporate sponsorships. However, in the past, conglomerates like Coca Cola, Fevicol, Mahindra, and Jindal group had associated themselves with it.

More in the same turf

Ten years of experience of running a company focussed on visually impaired has resulted in enough knowledge and expertise in the domain. Added to that, Upasana has pursued a course from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in diversity and inclusion.

Indian Social Entrepreneur | Upasana Makati | Global Indian

A sought-after name in the world of consultancy for startups and corporates in matters related to inclusiveness and diversity, she has been at the thick of initiatives like workshops on sensitisation for adults as well as children to make them more mindful towards the visually impaired.

Considering how crucial it is to inculcate the values of inclusiveness and diversity at a young age, Upasana has forayed into publishing children’s literature with Look Out, Look Within, Flowers for Sunaina and more recently Run Saba Run which she authored. The books are available for both visually impaired and sighted children. White Print also publishes fundamental books in braille for young learners.

Recognitions for Upasana’s initiatives:

Rising Talents award for Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, Paris, 2019
First Lady Award from Ministry of Women and Child Development, 2018
Fortune India’s 40 Under 40 for Best and Brightest in the World of Business, 2018
Forbes 30 Under 30, 2016
Loreal-Femina Award for Science and Innovation, 2015
Microsoft Equal Opportunity Award for Innovation, 2015

Follow Upasana Makati on LinkedIn and Instagram

Follow White Print on Facebook, Twitter and its website

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Published on 19, Aug 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.

Anu Vaidyanathan: Engineer, author, filmmaker and India’s first Ironman triathlete

(April 12, 2024) Back when she was in school, Anu Vaidyanathan disliked any form of physical activity or sport. So much so, that even the usual marching drills at her convent school seemed like a lot of hard work. On the other hand, Physics, literature and algebra did interest her. Her aim was to become a software programmer, given the tech boom in Bengaluru in the early 2000s. But destiny had different plans, rather, a lot of plans, for her. That in a nutshell is what Anu Vaidyanathan — athlete, engineer, comedian, filmmaker and writer — is all about. “I am a parent as well,” reminds Anu Vaidyanathan, as she settles down for a chat with Global Indian. From becoming the first Asian triathlete to finish Ultraman Canada to touring the world for show BC:AD (Before children, after diapers) to having her memoir ‘Anywhere but home - Adventures in Endurance’ long listed for a movie adaptation at the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2016 to making a variety of films — Anu is a woman of many talents and flawlessly fulfils all her roles. [caption id="attachment_50666" align="aligncenter" width="477"] Anu Vaidyanathan[/caption] “I don’t juggle roles, I only do one thing at

�� Anu is a woman of many talents and flawlessly fulfils all her roles.

[caption id="attachment_50666" align="aligncenter" width="477"] Indian Filmmaker | Anu Vaidyanathan | Global Indian Anu Vaidyanathan[/caption]

“I don’t juggle roles, I only do one thing at a time. In all my endeavours, I have a common thread of resilience and self -reliance. When money becomes the cornerstone of any discussion, I lose interest,” says Anu, who is realistic and down to earth when it comes to her priorities.

Extreme sports

The passion for extreme sports kicked in when she was at Purdue University, from where she earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Computer Engineering.

She was one among the five women in a graduating class of 150. “It was obvious that to survive the gender disparity and handle the pressure academically, we had to do something physical to survive. Some picked up kickboxing, I picked up running, and that's where my interest in triathlons really began,” Anu recalls.

She discovered that to do anything well, from research and engineering to making a film or writing a book, staying physically fit has remained a cornerstone of her success. Her connection with physical activity became the basis for her creativity.

The Ultraman Canada challenge

It was in 2009, while working towards her PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch in New Zealand, that she became the first Asian woman to complete the Ultraman Canada event.

The three day race which included a 10 kilometre swim, 420 km cycling and 84.4 km run, tested her endurance like no other. “I followed that up in three weeks with Ironman Canada because I am a South Indian woman who believes in ‘buy one get one free,” smiles Anu, the first India-based athlete to train for and participate in Ironman Triathlon.

She says combining these two big endurance races within a time span of three weeks set her apart in her own mind. “It was a test of my physical and mental strength,” says Anu, who was also the first Indian woman to have qualified for the Half Ironman 70.3 Clearwater World Championship, 2008. Post this, Anu told herself that she had nothing to prove, either to herself or to the world.

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A post shared by Anu Vaidyanathan (@anu.vaidyanathan)

Back then, there wasn’t much information or knowledge about such events, neither were there too many coaches. Anu completed the Ultraman on a second-hand bike, without any sponsors or aerodynamic equipment. “My ultimate goal was the finish line and the question I asked myself — can I do this?” says Anu, who used to ride between Bangalore and Mysore, Chennai and Pondicherry as part of her training.

She did face challenges along the journey, which perhaps most women can relate to. “I met a lot of sexist coaches who couldn’t stand the fact a woman can actually do much more than men. If you peel back the layers or any historical event, you will find a woman somewhere in the middle of it,” says the extreme sports enthusiast.

Writing a memoir and filmmaking

Anu wanted to put all her adventures in triathlon down in a book. The outcome was her memoir ‘Anywhere but home - Adventures in Endurance’ which she wrote when pregnant with her first child.

She credits her editor at HarperCollins, Karthika, who not only understood the essence of what Anu wanted to write but also encouraged her at every step. “Having been a cricket player herself, Karthika didn’t impose any constraints and just told me to write the memoir I wanted,” says Anu, for whom the book was her introduction to arts.

With all the memories of her triathlon days fresh in her mind, she penned a compelling narrative, making the memoir gripping and interesting.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anu Vaidyanathan (@anu.vaidyanathan)

Filmmaking journey

Once it was long listed for the movie adaptation, it made Anu investigate filmmaking a little bit more seriously. “Initially, I thought I wanted to be a cinematographer because I love building things, but then I realized that my strength is story. That’s when I chose writing and directing,” informs the film maker, who has also served as visiting faculty at IIT Ahmedabad and IIT Ropar.

She enrolled at the National Film and Television School in London, one of the best film schools in the world to learn the craft of filmmaking. “I started my film education when I was pregnant with my second child. I was walking around in classrooms with people half my age, talking in jargon which none could understand. To sum it up, it was a very funny mixture of life experiences that I saw at film school.”

However, the pandemic shut down the world before she could make her first fiction film, pandemic shut down the world. “I had made my first documentary six months postpartum and it was released in a theatre in London. Then came the pandemic,” says Anu.

Around that time, she wrote to well-known film maker Raju Hirani seeking a job. “He allowed me to assist him by giving him script notes on the movie Dunki. Thereafter, I made a dozen short films in a span of about 20 months which are now playing all over the world,” says a beaming Anu.

She is currently pitching a few feature films and hoping to make something long -form soon.

Comedy

While the pandemic clamped down on her filmmaking dreams, it was during the lockdown that she discovered her love for standup comedy. “Since we couldn't congregate safely to make the films, I started to do a few gigs, first online and then in person, when people started to move out safely,” says Anu.

She feels comedy is a very quick feedback loop, because films and books inherently take years. “Even if you make a short film, it's a very long process from the time you write it to the time you edit it and submit it to a film festival to be seen, reviewed, or critiqued. On the other hand, comedy is very quick,” smiles Anu who believes comedy helped her stay sharp.

[caption id="attachment_50673" align="aligncenter" width="817"] Indian Filmmaker | Anu Vaidyanathan | Global Indian Anu Vaidyanathan[/caption]

Tough circumstances

Born in Delhi and raised in Bangalore, Anu also did a bit of schooling in Chennai. “At home and at school, I was always encouraged to do whatever I wanted. There was never any pressure,” she recalls. Her parents come from small villages in South India. “I was brought up in very hard circumstances and it always felt right to be self-reliant,” says Anu, who was a scholarship student and had been paying her own bills since the age of 18.

As a mother

Being a mother of two, Anu says her daily routine varies quite a bit depending on whether or not she manages to sleep through the night. “But I still try to maintain some semblance of a routine because I think kids latch onto that and I try to stay physically active as much as I can,” says Anu. When it comes to her comedy, however, she feels her kids are the best test audience as they are honest. “As a comedian, one needs to have instant feedback and my kids give me that.”

She still runs a lot and rides her bike though she doesn’t enjoy swimming any more. “Yoga and I don't have a good relationship because I'm not a generally calm person and I find it very difficult to meditate,” smiles the film maker.

[caption id="attachment_50672" align="aligncenter" width="477"] Indian Filmmaker | Anu Vaidyanathan | Global Indian Anu Vaidyanathan[/caption]

Challenging herself

Ask her what does it take to achieve all of the things she has achieved, Anu says anyone who has a basic love for reading and writing, besides a healthy imagination along with a bit of determination, can do wonders.

“Even sport was never about the equipment. It was never about social popularity. It was mostly about a challenge for myself, with myself. And so there was no externality to anything that I did physically, when it came to endurance athletics,” she says, attributing her success to people around her.

Nothing, she says, can be achieved in isolation.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

Asim Bhalerao: The entrepreneur transforming India’s water infrastructure with AI

(October 12, 2023) In 2014, during a visit to his parents in Mumbai, Asim Bhalerao noticed an unusual notice posted on the building's bulletin board, something he had rarely seen before. The notice announced a water supply interruption from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Although this appeared to be a minor inconvenience at the time, upon returning to his parent's place six months later, he discovered that the issue remained unresolved. In his conversation with the Chief Engineer of the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC), the entrepreneur learned that BMC and the society's maintenance team had been grappling with a persistent challenge – pinpointing a leak in a two-kilometre-long pipeline. Regrettably, all their efforts had proven fruitless. Asim's curiosity led him to inquire about the leak detection method being employed, only to discover that they were relying on outdated technology for this task. "Lacking reliable or at times non-existent maps provided by the municipal corporation, they were forced to depend on local insights to pinpoint the pipe's location, occasionally spending weeks excavating. Once they had exposed the pipe's surface, they employed a traditional method involving sounding rods to assess its condition as either 'good' or 'bad'," he shares as he connects

hares as he connects with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_45924" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Entrepreneur | Asim Bhalerao | Global Indian Asim Bhalerao[/caption]

This incident motivated Asim Bhalerao, and his wife Nidhi - back then working in a big corporate in the Silicon Valley, USA - to establish Fluid Robotics, and move to India in early 2016. The startup specialised in offering solutions and services geared towards enhancing the management of water and wastewater infrastructure. By harnessing the power of robotics and data-driven insights, this company is effectively working towards its objective of assisting cities in reducing pollution stemming from untreated wastewater discharging into rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

"Upon discovering the magnitude of the issue in India, we realised that there were no companies dedicated to developing technologies to address these challenges. Initially, we launched pilot projects in India while residing in the United States. Soon, we recognised the necessity of relocating to India to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues and complexities associated with working in the government sector," shares the entrepreneur.

For the love of machines

A Mumbai lad, Asim Bhalerao recalls that he was always fascinated by machines. “I grew up in a very academic family. My father was a scientist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. So I was always inclined technically and ended up pursuing engineering after high school. And, that’s where I got interested in the field of robotics.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eoQDi9kuQc

The entrepreneur pursued electronics engineering from the University of Pune and it was there that he participated in several robotics competitions across the country. “And we happened to win many of those competitions, representing our engineering college and even post-engineering,” he shares. So fascinated was the entrepreneur with the field, that he decided to pursue a higher degree in it. “I wanted to continue studying robotics, which meant doing a master's degree in computer science and robotics. So I enrolled at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. There, I did a lot of work in underwater robotics and autonomous submarines,” Asim shares.

While studying Asim Bhalerao also interned at a company called Aero Environment. “They built drones,” shares the entrepreneur, adding, “I did a lot of the hardware work on drones back then. I earned my masters in 2008, but by the time I graduated, I realised that my real passion was in mechanisms. I really enjoyed mechanical engineering, and even though I didn't have a formal education in that field, I always ended up dabbling in mechanism design across all my projects.”

Soon after finishing his master's, Asim joined a Silicon Valley-based company called Intuitive Surgical, which built surgical robots. “I joined that company and very quickly convinced the senior management that even though I've come from a software background, I have some mechanism designing skills as well. Therefore I wanted to pursue mechanical engineering within the organisation. They looked at my background and were kind enough to fund another master's in mechanical engineering. So I ended up pursuing another master's in mechanical engineering, and I spent about 10 years in that company,” shares the entrepreneur.

[caption id="attachment_45925" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Entrepreneur | Asim Bhalerao | Global Indian Nidhi Jain, the co-founder of Fluid Robotics[/caption]

Those 10 years really helped Asim understand the nuances of mechanism. It was also during this time that the entrepreneur met his now wife and co-founder, Nidhi Jain.

A colossal undertaking

After shifting to India to establish Fluid Robotics, Asim Bhalerao and Nidhi found out that there was a severe lack of technology or access to technology for sewage-related issues, in the country. "About 80 percent of water pollution that was being generated in the Indian cities, was not being treated. When I read some of these reports I felt that the problem was quite big, and required immediate attention, however, no one was working on the issue. even before shifting to India, I and Nidhi spent about a year working on building the prototype of a robot that can help with cleaning these sewages, and also did a quick pilot project, and took feedback from the public, local authorities, and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM)," shares the entrepreneur.

Entrepreneur | Fluid Robotics | Global Indian

The company's primary offering is a robotic system designed for the mapping and inspection of underground pipelines. This system digitises the data gathered from pipelines, facilitating the identification of structural flaws, operational issues, maintenance failures, and various other aspects. "Our conviction is that the reduction of water loss and the optimisation of water recycling can be primarily realised through efficient management of pipeline infrastructure. Achieving this involves mapping a substantial portion of the subterranean pipeline network and evaluating its condition by identifying any faults. The urgency of this endeavour in India is unparalleled globally." explains the entrepreneur.

Coming up with innovative solutions to deal with the issue, Asim and Nidhi decided to employ drones for the comprehensive mapping of various elements, including buildings, slums, pipelines, roads, villages, and more. Explaining the process, Asim says, "These maps play a crucial role in gaining insights into the region's topography and hydraulics. Additionally, they aid in pinpointing storm water outfalls responsible for discharging untreated wastewater into lakes and rivers. Furthermore, the drones are equipped with sensors that provide precise measurements of wastewater flow within storm water drains."

Entrepreneur | Fluid Robotics | Global Indian

Fluid Robotics, which has won several awards, including the ‘Best Water Instrumentation and Automation’ company as part of the Water Awards supported by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, UNESCO, has eliminated more than 5600 hours of manual scavenging. "There are a couple of major areas that we're focusing on now," says the entrepreneur talking about their plans, adding, "One of our projects is regarding COVID and how important the public health system is. As we had so much experience monitoring and draining pipelines, we built our own public health programme to monitor infectious diseases in Pune City. Interestingly, we were able to detect the Omicron variant of the virus weeks before the first global clinical case that had come up. Going forward we want to work on projects which can help us identify any unforeseen public health event like the pandemic."

Follow Asim Bhalerao on LinkedIn and Twitter
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Reading Time: 6 mins

The Indian students who won Belgium university’s KICK Challenge Award with their edible cutlery innovation

(October 11, 2021) What does a brewer’s spent grain have to do with cutlery? Absolutely nothing, yet in this latest innovation, everything. The next time you order food, gobble away, and chomp on the cutlery instead. There will be much less plastic in the world. Three Indian students from Ku Leuven University in Belgium created a biodegradable, edible cutlery brand called Eco Ware from a beer by-product, and it won the 2021 KICK Challenge Student Award. Anusuya Samantaray, Apoorva Vardhan and Varun Singh won this university business competition which focuses on social entrepreneurship. Their end goal is now to create a sustainable world, and reduce the human carbon footprint at a time when the latest Climate Change report warns us of the consequences of living on the edge. [caption id="attachment_12770" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Apoorva Vardhan | KICK Challenge Student Award Winner[/caption] What got them started Anusuya was pained at the sight of the trashed beaches in Odisha, and even helped clear plastic waste as a child while Varun and Apoorva also wanted to help Belgium (and the world) answer the single use plastic menace. Apoorva (Faculty of Science), Varun (Faculty of Bioscience Engineering), Anusuya (Master of science in sustainable development) found that spent

0" height="1589" /> Apoorva Vardhan | KICK Challenge Student Award Winner[/caption]

What got them started

Anusuya was pained at the sight of the trashed beaches in Odisha, and even helped clear plastic waste as a child while Varun and Apoorva also wanted to help Belgium (and the world) answer the single use plastic menace.

Apoorva (Faculty of Science), Varun (Faculty of Bioscience Engineering), Anusuya (Master of science in sustainable development) found that spent was perfect to make edible cutlery.

“Apoorva, Varun and I did a lot of research and found that spent grain, a byproduct of the beer manufacturing industry is edible and a rich source of fiber. Restaurants in Belgium also use spent grain in pizzas. The country has over 1,000 beer brands and generates 60,000 MT of spent grain annually. We decided to use this to come up with an edible cutlery range including spoons and dip cups,” Anusuya told Global Indian.

“We were aware of edible cutlery and its presence in minimum capacities in India. There was also this concern that it’s being made out of agriculturally stressed products (wheat for example). We wanted to find possibilities to make it as eco-friendly as possible. Thanks to Varun, we discovered how brewers spent grain (BSG) could be of use. Apoorva and I, as students of sustainability, further incorporated ideas to reduce the carbon footprint by going local with our project.”

[caption id="attachment_12771" align="aligncenter" width="754"] Indian Youth - Eco Ware Edible Cutlery | Indian Students Belgium The edible cutlery developed by the Anusuya, Apoorva and Varun[/caption]

Work in progress

The team came up with Eco Ware cups and trays that was awarded the Gemma Frisius KICK Student Award for a business idea with impact. The trio researched extensively, and conducted a small pilot survey to understand consumer behavior with a focus on edible cutlery — 91% were open to the use edible cutlery, 3% showed partial interest.

Given that KU Leuven is the European capital of innovation, they were confident that the idea will kindle eco-consciousness among all. In agreement about the lack of sustainable policies in India, poverty, policy making and execution hurdles, they hope to ignite the same fervor back home. Even as Leuven sets the pace for such interventions, Anusuya feels there is a lot to learn from the indigenous communities in India, “Their knowledge of organic material such as using sal leaves to stitch plates, natural non-toxic dyes, farming methods, there is much tacit knowledge of the environment that could be used to build on innovating sustainable ways of living.”

Indian Youth - Eco Ware Edible Cutlery | Indian Students Belgium

For any foodie, taste is tantamount to consumption, so how does spent grain translate on the taste meter? Spent grain is used by farmers as fodder, and there has been a growing interest in alternative uses of spent grain in the food industry. “Brewer’s spent grain is a perfectly edible by-product of the beer industry, and is being significantly incorporated into breads, cookies and even pizza doughs because of its rich fiber content," says Anusuya.

“As a matter of justification, according to a paper presented at the 18th European Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production Conference (ERSCP 2017), spent grain is proven to be rich in fiber and protein content. The only reason breweries simply give away the grains as fodder or discard them is because there is no current large-scale industry set up to add value to the processed spent grain/flour. Processing of spent grains into flour is an energy demanding task, so they find it feasible to sell it as fodder. We want to bridge the gap."

Being eco conscious

Anusuya’s upbringing had much to do with her chosen course. Her father’s naturalist leanings helped her gain knowledge about coastal bio-diversity. In fact, Sanjay Samantaray is the chief organizer of the India Surf Festival and founder of Surfing Yogis. A childhood amidst the tranquil seaside forests of Puri, influenced by her father who is action oriented and hosts events like beach clean-up drives, and promotes eco-tourism, she adds, "Sustainable development addresses the intricacies of the complexities; a process that is holistic and takes into account all three dimensions — societies, ecology and the economy to pursue sustainable growth,” says the girl, who did her BSc in sustainable development at Xavier University, Bhubaneswar.

[caption id="attachment_12773" align="aligncenter" width="631"] KICK Challenge Student Award - Eco Ware Edible Cutlery | Indian Students Belgium Varun Singh | KICK Challenge Student Award Winner[/caption]

Kanpur boy Varun Singh, 25, is doing his Masters in Food Technology (IUPFOOD), offered by KU Leuven and Ghent University. It is his experience that cemented this innovation. A B.Tech in food technology from Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Prayagraj, Varun also worked as a manufacturing executive in Too Yumm and a research associate at Mordor Intelligence.

“The knowledge and exposure at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering is life-changing. I get to work on critical industrial problems related to food processing, packaging, and preservation. Added is the access to labs equipped with the latest equipment, valuing millions of Euros, used for the sole purpose of increasing food safety, food innovation, and promoting healthy eating,” says Varun. His research interest is working on chocolates as Belgium is world-famous for its expertise, and loves composing music, playing the guitar, and sketching.

For Apoorva, who is originally from Delhi, but has lived in Pune, her bachelors in Plant Sciences from University of Delhi paved the way for a degree in sustainable development with a specialization in ecology. She too is passionate and is inspired most by, “How you can come up with solutions that have the power to change the world and bring systemic change in society,” says the student, who will be traveling to Rwanda shortly for field work and master thesis, and is interested in agroforestry and food systems, for her PhD or career.

[caption id="attachment_12826" align="aligncenter" width="800"] KICK Challenge Student Award - Eco Ware Edible Cutlery | Indian Students Belgium Anusuya Samantaray | KICK Challenge Student Award Winner[/caption]

Road ahead

They now want to develop a finished product with the help of Leuven Research and Development department of KU Leuven, collaborating with researchers and research labs at KU Leuven’s beer institute. Working on developing partnerships with breweries in Leuven, they will go local before expansion. Product development, manufacturing and building partnerships is their focus, and they are on the lookout for funds and partnerships for distribution. They believe in ideating and challenging frontiers. In unison they say, “Keep hustling,” adding that research was their foundation.

As they work towards a tangible product, there is a second year to complete, projects, and master thesis to finish too. Anasuya adds, “While most other companies are exploring the market using rice and wheat, which are agriculturally stressed commodities, the spent grain initiative is most eco-friendly. Upon discovering sustainability, it made me believe that the problems we face today are not isolated affairs. Sustainable development addresses the intricacies of the complexities; a process that is holistic and takes into account all three dimensions — societies, ecology and the economy to pursue sustainable growth.”

Reading Time: 10 mins

Jasleen Kaur wins Turner Prize for art inspired by her Scottish Sikh heritage

(December 13, 2024) In the 1950s, amidst the turbulence followed by India’s Partition, Jasleen Kaur’s great-grandfather left Punjab to seek a new beginning in Glasgow, Scotland. Decades later, his great-granddaughter, Jasleen Kaur has carved her place on the global art stage by winning the 2024 Turner Prize—one of the art world’s most prestigious honours, named after Britain’s celebrated artist J. M. W. Turner and awarded annually to a British national. With her standout installation Alter Altar, Jasleen earned this coveted accolade and a prize of $32,000. The 2024 Turner Prize celebrates its 40th anniversary. Each year, four artists are shortlisted, with one ultimately chosen as the winner. This year’s nominees included Claudette Johnson, Pio Abad, and Delaine Le Bas. The Scottish Sikh artist’s journey is deeply rooted in her family’s migration story. Jasleen Kaur has a unique ability to weave everyday objects, cultural memory, and sociopolitical commentary into thought-provoking art. Born in Glasgow to Sikh parents with roots in Punjab, Jasleen’s work exemplifies how personal and cultural histories shape artistic expression. “I was brought up in a very religious Sikh family in Glasgow and although my work is not hugely autobiographical it is about meeting points,” she shared in an

c expression. “I was brought up in a very religious Sikh family in Glasgow and although my work is not hugely autobiographical it is about meeting points,” she shared in an interview. “I do think of myself as a cobbler. I pull together unlearned and culturally acquired knowledge in my work,” she added.

[caption id="attachment_61626" align="aligncenter" width="841"] Indians in UK | Jasleen Kaur | Global Indian Jasleen Kaur with the central piece of her her award winning installation 'Alter Altar'[/caption]

Winning the Turner Prize

The Turner Prize ceremony, held at Tate Britain, celebrated Jasleen’s ability to transform ordinary objects into expressions of community and cultural inheritance. Presented by actor James Norton, the award highlighted her work’s innovative approach. Her installation, Alter Altar, which combines sculptures, prints, music, and everyday items, stood out for its ability to animate the mundane through sound and meaning. The solo exhibition was unveiled at the Tramway in Glasgow in 2023, exploring the intersections of personal identity and broader sociopolitical themes.

A series of kinetic sculptures prominently features worship bells, while Scottish Irn-Bru soda bottles conjures memories of cherished gurudwara meals in Glasgow. A harmonium, the instrument on which she learned devotional music from her father, sits on the floor, evoking a deeply personal connection to her history. The centrepiece that draws significant attention is a red Ford Escort draped with a hand-crocheted doily (an ornamental mat made of lace). The car represents her father’s first vehicle and his migrant aspirations, while the expansive four-meter doily intricately ties material culture to the legacies of the British Empire, the cotton trade, and the migration of labour to British textile mills post-World War II.

[caption id="attachment_61628" align="aligncenter" width="853"] Indians in UK | Jasleen Kaur | Global Indian The central piece of Jasleen's award winning installation 'Alter Altar'[/caption]

In the background, soundtracks from her childhood play—a fusion of Sufi melodies by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the reggae beats of Bob Marley—creating a rich, immersive auditory experience reflecting her diverse influences. The jury praised her exhibition for its “ability to animate objects through sound and music, reflecting themes of belonging and tradition.” It wasn’t just a win for Jasleen but also a nod to the power of art in addressing complex narratives of migration, identity, and belonging.

Art rooted in fusion, history and identity

Jasleen’s journey into art is deeply tied to her Sikh upbringing in Glasgow, a city her family has called home since her great-grandfather’s migration, post-partition. Reflecting on her connection to the city, the artist who now lives in London shared, "Whenever I go back to Glasgow, it feels like I feel their presence. My dad worked in hardware shops and in cash and carries, and these were the worlds I spent a lot of time in growing up. That fundamentally influences how I make art." This blend of heritage and environment forms the backbone of her creative process, as she seeks to renegotiate tradition and challenge accepted narratives.

“There's this particular theory that I grew up with from the Sikh tradition, which talks about Miri Piri—the balance of the political and the spiritual," the 38-year-old artist explained. This philosophy has always manifested in her art as a balance between personal intimacy and public commentary.

[caption id="attachment_61606" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Indians in UK | Jasleen Kaur | Global Indian A portion of Jasleen's award winning 'Alter Altar' installation[/caption]

Jasleen's work most poignantly captures a complex cultural fusion in the quest to reconnect with her heritage across continents. For example, in her 2010 degree show at the Royal College of Art in London, she presented Chai Tea Stall, a mobile tea stand featuring small clay cups. While exhibited as conceptual art, for her community, it served as a familiar and nostalgic touchstone—her way of bringing India’s vibrant tea-drinking street culture to the UK.

In 2019, she collaborated with Glasgow Women’s Library on Be Like Teflon, a publication made through conversation with women of Indian heritage living in the UK. Later, in her 2021 filmed performance piece Gut Feelings Meri Jaan, she invited Rochdale residents to engage with the ‘ethnic minorities’ section of the local history archives at the Touchstones Museum and Art Gallery, sparking conversations about identity and representation.

Sikhs in Scotland

The Sikh community in Scotland, of which Jasleen is a part of, embodies a unique identity while seamlessly blending into broader society to coexist peacefully. Sikhism in Scotland encompasses all aspects of Sikh life, dating back to the arrival of Maharaja Duleep Singh in 1855. Early migrants from the Bhat/Bhatra community settled in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the 1920s, while the majority came during the late 20th century. Despite representing a small percentage of Scotland’s population—just 0.2 percent in the 2022 census—Sikhs have maintained their cultural heritage while contributing to the fabric of Scottish society.

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One of the most significant expressions of Sikh culture in Scotland is the annual Nagar Kirtan procession held in Glasgow to celebrate Vaisakhi, a major Sikh festival. First organized in April 1992, the procession has become a cherished tradition, drawing participants from across the country. It showcases the Sikh commitment to sharing their faith and culture with fellow Scots, promoting mutual respect and understanding while enriching Scotland's multicultural landscape.

The influence of family and tools

Jasleen Kaur credits her father’s ingenuity and her exposure to tools for shaping her practical approach to art. Recalling an incident, she shared, “Once, I wanted to prop up a ladder but failed due to a stairwell in the middle. My dad used masking tape, a paintbrush, a plant cane, and an upside-down feather duster to solve the problem.” This resourcefulness became integral to her process, where objects are reimagined not just as materials but as tools to find solutions.

Jasleen’s studio is a reflection of her upbringing, filled with items collected from Glasgow’s markets and family memories. She described, “There’s so much religious ephemera everywhere—photos, calendars, cassettes. These aren’t mass-produced histories; they tell a different version of my lineage.”

[caption id="attachment_61630" align="aligncenter" width="790"] Indians in UK | 2024 Turner Prize Winner | Global Indian An old picture of Jasleen at her studio[/caption]

The personal is political

Jasleen’s passion for preserving pluralistic traditions shines through her exploration of Sikh-Muslim devotional music. Apart from being a visual artist Jasleen is also a singer. She explained, “My singing practice today tries to salvage compositions and songs from a time when Sikhs and Muslim Rababbis would play and compose devotional music together. That time when things were more plural gives me a sense of hope for how to live now.”

Similarly, her art embodies a longing for coexistence, presenting a counter-narrative to divisive histories. By reimagining traditions through a contemporary lens, Jasleen creates a dialogue that bridges past and present, offering insights into how art can inspire societal change.

A legacy of creativity and hope

“I’m drawn to the hidden, intangible bits of history,” Jasleen reflected on her journey as a Scottish Sikh artist from the streets of Glasgow to the global stage. Winning the Turner Prize cements Jasleen Kaur’s place among contemporary art’s most innovative and transformative voices.