Global IndianstoryParag Agrawal: IIT-Bombay alum takes over as Twitter’s CEO after Jack Dorsey’s exit

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Parag Agrawal: IIT-Bombay alum takes over as Twitter’s CEO after Jack Dorsey’s exit

Written by: Global Indian

(November 30, 2021) For months now speculation has been rife that Twitter’s founder Jack Dorsey was to step down as CEO. The search was on for a suitable successor, and it finally ended on Monday when the company announced that its Indian-origin Chief Technical Officer Parag Agrawal will helm the social media giant as Chief Executive Officer. The news sent cheer across the subcontinent as one more US major appointed a person of Indian origin into a leadership role. Agrawal, at 37-years of age, is also one of the youngest Indian-origin executives in the US.

He joins the august club that includes Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, IBM’s Arvind Krishna, Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen, VMWare’s Raghu Raghuram, and Deloitte’s Puneet Renjen.

The news has been lauded by several industry leaders such as Elon Musk, Tesla and Patrick Collison, CEO, Stripe. While Collison tweeted, “Google, Microsoft, Adobe, IBM, Palo Alto Networks, and now Twitter run by CEOs who grew up in India. Wonderful to watch the amazing success of Indians in the technology world and a good reminder of the opportunity America offers to immigrants.” Musk replied saying, “USA benefits greatly from Indian talent!”

USA benefits greatly from Indian talent!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 29, 2021

Man of the hour

Parag Agrawal was born and raised in Mumbai, and is an alum of IIT-Bombay. His father was a senior official at the Indian Department of Atomic Energy and his mother, a school teacher. As a student, his brilliance was already noticeable when he bagged a gold medal at the 2001 International Physics Olympiad in Turkey. He schooled at Atomic Energy Central School, and graduated in computer science engineering from IIT Bombay in 2005. A PhD from Stanford University in computer science, his depth of experience working for majors like Microsoft, AT&T Labs and Yahoo! during his research avatar gave him an edge that he has since embellished.

Parag joined Twitter in 2011 as a distinguished software engineer, and gradually rose up the ranks of CTO in 2017. In fact, Parag was the company’s first distinguished engineer, and his work across revenue and consumer engineering, including his impact on the re-acceleration of audience growth in 2016 and 2017 added a notch to his resume. As CTO, he was responsible for Twitter’s technical strategy, leading work to improve development velocity while advancing the state of machine learning across the company, a company release stated.

What also worked in Parag’s favour was that he is well-liked across the company, including Dorsey. “He’s been my choice for some time given how deeply he understands the company and its needs. Parag has been behind every critical decision that helped turn this company around. He’s curious, probing, rational, creative, demanding, self-aware and humble,” Dorsey wrote in a message to Twitter.

not sure anyone has heard but,

I resigned from Twitter pic.twitter.com/G5tUkSSxkl

— jack⚡️ (@jack) November 29, 2021

Bolstered by arduous work and talent

According to a report published in Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Indian Americans form the second largest immigrant group in the US with population well past the 4 million mark. In fact, the Bay Area, where Parag now lives, is home to the second largest Indian American population in the US, after New York area.

The talent and innovation brought to the table by Indian Americans has been propelling several to leadership roles. Anand Mahindra, of the Mahindra Group too tweeted, “This is one pandemic that we are happy and proud to say originated in India. It’s the Indian CEO Virus… No vaccine against it.”

This is one pandemic that we are happy & proud to say originated in India. It’s the Indian CEO Virus… No vaccine against it. 😊 https://t.co/Dl28r7nu0u

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) November 29, 2021

The Indian formula to success

R Gopalakrishnan, management veteran, former Tata Sons honcho and author of The Made in India Manager concurs that Indians are primed for management and leadership roles. “This is a trend that is getting clearer by the day. At least 10 of the major companies in the US have persons of Indian origin helming them. The principal reason for this is the fact that Indian management executives are like gladiators. They’ve been training for management roles their entire lives without even being aware of it. They are extremely competitive and are unfazed by the constant hurdles that come their way,” says R Gopalakrishnan, adding how management is like a performing art, and with an Indian’s ability to adapt to any scenario. Their critical thinking skills using relationship orientation make them prime candidates for management roles.

Brand India for the win

As more Indians take on leadership roles across the globe, especially in the US, they are adding heft to Brand India and the pool of talent that the subcontinent offers.

Parag Agrawal with his undergrad research mentor Frederic Cazals

This move will help Twitter smoothen ties in India where it has been running into troubled waters. Industry veteran Tiger Ramesh, former CEO, CSS Corp, avers that this could also be an attempt to build a better relationship with India, and arrest the downward spiral. “Home grown Koo is gaining market share over Twitter as well. By making its CTO the CEO, Twitter will want to be able to defend and protect its platform and architecture from the growing demand from many countries for regulating it. Twitter has become very controversial around the world spurred by the arrogant attitude and image of Jack Dorsey. By making an Indian-born the CEO, it will be seen as a move to change this image. The world has seen Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and many others build more credible images for their respective organisations worldwide, especially with India, which is the largest emerging market.”

Personally speaking

Destiny too had a role to play in Agrawal’s personal life. His wife Vineeta Agarwala also studied at Stanford University, and after a happy courtship, the couple was married at Amber Vilas in Jaipur in a colourful and jubilant traditional Indian wedding. Vineeta has a BS in biophysics from Stanford University, with an MD and PhD from Harvard Medical School/MIT. Vineeta is a physician, and works as adjunct clinical professor at Stanford School of Medicine. They have a son Aansh who was born on Thanksgiving. A love for travel, an eye for the perfect shot, and a profound belief in family, Parag often posts pictures of his travels and family on social media.

Parag Agrawal is the new CEO of Twitter.

As he takes on the mantle of CEO, Agrawal has a slew of tasks cut out. In his note to the company before inviting all employees for a hands-on meeting on November 29, Agrawal wrote, “Thank you, Jack. I’m honored and humbled… Our purpose has never been more important. Our people and our culture are unlike anything in the world. There is no limit to what we can do together. We recently updated our strategy to hit ambitious goals, and I believe that strategy to be bold and right. But our critical challenge is how we work to execute against it and that’s how we’ll make Twitter the best it can be for our customers, shareholders, and for each of you.”

The other Indian on Twitter

Incidentally, Twitter also has an Indian-origin lawyer Vijaya Gadde who was in the limelight earlier this year for helping suspend Donald Trump’s Twitter account. Gadde, a corporate lawyer, spearheaded the suspension of Trump’s account after his posts encouraged and supported rioters in the US.

With inputs from TEAM GLOBAL INDIAN

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Who is Dr Samir Shah? The Indian-origin named as new BBC chairman

(December 18, 2023) It was in April 2023 that a political scandal led to the resignation of the former BBC chairman Richard Sharp after he failed to disclose his involvement in arranging a loan of nearly $1 million to former UK PM Boris Johnson. And now months later, Indian-origin media executive Dr Samir Shah is set to take up the position, after being appointed by the UK government. Delighted to be chosen by the government, Shah said that BBC held a "great place in British life." In a statement, he said, "The BBC is, without doubt, one of the greatest contributions we have made to global culture and one of our strongest calling cards on soft power. If I am able to put what skills, experience, and understanding of public service broadcasting I have built up during my career to help this brilliant organisation meet the complex and diverse challenges it faces over the coming years, it would be an honour,” he said, adding, "BBC had a unique duty to reach a wide audience right across the country" and promised to do "all I can to ensure it fulfils this in an increasingly competitive market". [caption id="attachment_47566" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Dr

enter" width="1024"] Dr Samir Shah | Global Indian Dr Samir Shah[/caption]

It's Dr Samir Shah's impressive work that made the UK government sit up and take notice of the Indian-origin media executive who worked with the BBC for 11 years in the 80s and 90s. Moreover, in 1999, he was honoured with the Order of the Brirish Empire for his significant contributions to equal opportunities in broadcasting. Recognizing his achievements, he became a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 2002. Furthermore, in 2019, Shah was bestowed with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his notable services in the realms of heritage and television.

Born in Aurangabad in 1952, he moved with his family to the UK in 1960 where he went to Latymer Upper School in West London before studying geography at the University of Hull. Keen to expand his knowledge, he pursued further studies in Anthropology and Geography at St Catherine's College, Oxford, taking a doctorate of Philosophy (DPhil) in 1979.

The same year, he joined London Weekend Television, a pivotal juncture in his career. During this period, he collaborated closely with two influential figures who would significantly impact his professional trajectory: John Birt, who would later assume the role of director-general at the BBC, and Michael Wills, from whom Shah would later acquire Juniper TV. After a successful stint, in 1987, Shah assumed the position of Head of Television Current Affairs at the BBC. His role expanded from 1994 to 1998 when he served as the Head of Political Journalism Programmes at the BBC. In 1998, Shah acquired Juniper TV from Wills, who transitioned to a role as a Member of Parliament. Since then, he has taken on the roles of CEO and Creative Director at Juniper. The company's productions have been featured on prominent platforms such as the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic, Discovery, TLC, and Netflix.

Dr Samir Shah | Global Indian

In his capacity as BBC chairman, he will assume a part-time position, working three days a week, with an annual salary of £160,000. Shah's responsibilities will include safeguarding and promoting the interests of the publicly funded license fee-operated public broadcaster, ensuring it meets its mandate to "inform, educate, and entertain." He will additionally spearhead discussions with the government regarding the outlook of the license fee.

With a career spanning more than 40 years in TV production and journalism, Dr Shah has a wealth of experience to bring to the position of BBC Chair,” UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said, adding, "He has a clear ambition to see the BBC succeed in a rapidly changing media landscape, and I have no doubt he will provide the support and scrutiny that the BBC needs to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future."

With a career spanning over 40 years in broadcasting, Dr. Samir Shah is poised to bring a wealth of expertise to his role as the next BBC chairman. His extensive experience positions him as a valuable leader who will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future trajectory of the BBC. Dr. Shah's commitment to the field and his track record in the industry signal a promising era ahead, where his vision and leadership will contribute significantly to the continued success and impact of the renowned public broadcaster.

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Ann D’Silva: The Indian writer who chased her dreams to Istanbul

Dreams are a gateway to the subconscious. The invisible doors to awakening in the path of spiritual growth and transformation. The language of the Universe that speaks to the soul. But it's only a few who dare to follow their dreams. And one such person is Indian-Turkish author Ann D'Silva. It was her dream that took her on a journey to Istanbul and led her to becoming a best-selling author. In an exclusive interview with Global Indian, D'Silva said, "The Universe is always speaking to us. It's about understanding the messages and following them. If I had not listened to myself, my true dream and personal journey would not have happened. Moving to Turkey was the most courageous, riskiest, and rewarding thing I have done. Beyond fear is where the magic lies." Love for writing Born and raised in Delhi, D'Silva forged a loving relationship with words at a tender age. At 8, she started writing poetry, and her inspiration came from her grandparents and their love story. "My grandfather was a journalist with the Reuters and my grandmom was from JJ School of Art, so creativity runs in our family. Their romance was always an inspiration," added the author.

nalist with the Reuters and my grandmom was from JJ School of Art, so creativity runs in our family. Their romance was always an inspiration," added the author.

[caption id="attachment_5105" align="aligncenter" width="336"] Ann D'Silva is an Indian writer based in Turkey Ann D'Silva's grandparents[/caption]

Intrigued by classics like Odyssey and Jane Austen’s works, D'Silva studied Literature at Hindu College. But in the last quarter of her third year, her family moved to Mumbai after her father suddenly fell ill. Mumbai became D'Silva's home for almost two decades. After completing her studies, she ventured into the corporate world where she worked in the telecom, travel, and banking sectors.

The perspective shift

It was in 2014 that things started to change for D'Silva who was then heading the global alliances team at the Sahara Group. "I was at the zenith of my career when the scandal broke. It was a turning point in my life because I kept asking myself 'is there a message for me?' I realized that it was time to make a switch and do something that I was passionate about. I was always interested in poetry, spirituality, chakras, and past-life regression. That's when I decided to write my first book," she said.

The Global Indian journey

It wasn't until her maiden trip to Turkey that she started working on her first book, Sand & Sea: Footprints in the Sand. "I used to have these intriguing recurrent dreams about Turkey. I always thought Turkey was my place. I didn't speak the language, I didn't know anybody. But the place always drew me. In 2017, when I stepped inside the Blue Mosque for the first time, I knew I belonged there. So, in 2019, I moved to Istanbul," revealed the Indian-Turkish author.

"By the time, I returned from Turkey, I had all the characters, elements, and places sketched in my mind," added D'Silva. Released in January 2019, Sand & Sea: Footprints in the Sand became a best-selling book in no time and is now being translated into Turkish. The book about soulmates and Nature's connection to love is one of hope and courage.

[caption id="attachment_5095" align="aligncenter" width="289"] Ann D'Silva's book Sand and Sea Ann D'Silva's book cover[/caption]

After the success of her debut book in the Sand & Sea trilogy, D'Silva released her second book Sand & Sea: Child of Two Worlds in April this year. She revealed that she is planning to finish the third book soon as a Bollywood production house is interested in making a screen adaptation of her books.

In no time, this Global Indian has become a popular name in literary circles. The author likes to call herself an "exposed" Indian who got a chance to experience the world. "I feel I am a modern Indian who was born in the 70s, grew up in the MTV era of the 80s where there was a dialogue around women’s identity and emancipation," she added.

Despite having relocated to Turkey, D'Silva feels very much Indian. "I am an Indian woman in a sari. I am very close to my roots because my country made me who I am. I am global spiritually and mentally. I believe in an inclusive culture and forging new relationships with people with the right energy."

The winds of change

[caption id="attachment_5100" align="aligncenter" width="514"] Ann D'Silva is an Indian writer based in Turkey Ann D'Silva in Istanbul[/caption]

A spiritual being, D'Silva believes that change is the only constant. And it’s the embracing of change that has brought her to her current life. "When I used to do training on leadership, I used to often say that you cannot expect different results doing the same things. The realm shifts when you decide to embrace the change."

Born as a catholic, D'Silva converted to Islam about four years ago. "I am spiritually connected with Allah."

Giving back

D'Silva is also a humanitarian and someone who is fiercely driven about social responsibility. Apart from being a global goodwill ambassador and a board member of Asian African Chambers of Commerce and Industry, she was the co-founder of the India Heart Initiative.

Created with respect for the embroidery and textile traditions in India, the initiative helped artisans get their due. "We used 25% of the profits to educate women on health and to provide them computer literacy. I have plans of reviving the initiative and I am already in talks with a Turkish investor for the same."

Editor's Take

Just flipping through the pages of a book, one can be easily transported to a different country, its culture, its nuances, and stories. Books often open up portals to another dimension, to a higher level of consciousness and awareness, and that's exactly what the best-selling author Ann D'Silva has done with her Sand & Sea trilogy. Through her inked words, she is inspiring millions of people to follow their dreams and to trust their instincts.

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Meet Simmarpal Singh, the Indian agricultural expert and peanut prince of Argentina

(August 5, 2021; 6.30 pm) When he’d moved to Argentina in 2005 after a few years in Africa, little did Simmarpal Singh know that he’d soon earn a moniker that would propel him to fame. Employed by the Singapore-based Olam International, Singh was responsible for initiating the farm to factory peanuts business for the company in Argentina. His agricultural know-how and acumen soon saw him scale up the production to 39,000 hectares in a span of five years and also saw the company diversifying into other streams across soybean, corn, alubias, rice farming, and processing plants. A pretty mean feat in areas hitherto unfamiliar. His genial manner also made him popular with the Argentinians who were keen to learn more about Sikhism, a religion they hadn’t much idea about. In fact, so popular did he become, that Singh had several Argentinians wanting to wear a turban just like him. He shot to fame when he was described as the Peanut Prince of Argentina, a moniker that most people still associate with the reticent Punjabi man, who has gone on to hold several more important posts in his career as an agricultural expert. From India to the world Born to a Sikh

s described as the Peanut Prince of Argentina, a moniker that most people still associate with the reticent Punjabi man, who has gone on to hold several more important posts in his career as an agricultural expert.

From India to the world

Born to a Sikh family, Singh did his schooling at St Xavier’s School in Durgapur before graduating in B.Sc Agriculture Sciences from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar. Always interested in all things agriculture, Singh enrolled himself at the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) for an MBA.

Little did he realize just how successful his career in agriculture was going to be. In an interview with Harleen Chadha on the Sikhi Channel News, he says,

“Everything just fell into place. I wanted to go to IIT or Civils. None of those panned out, but life took its own turns; I just went along with the flow and managed to maximize the opportunities that came my way.”

What followed were jobs with the National Dairy Development Board and Amul in Delhi where he handled sales. In 2001 he joined Olam International and worked in Mozambique before moving to Argentina where he worked for over a decade and went on to become one of the top players in the peanut business.

[caption id="attachment_6753" align="aligncenter" width="465"] When he’d moved to Argentina in 2005, little did Simmarpal Singh know that he’d soon earn a moniker that would propel him to fame. Simmarpal Singh with his family[/caption]

The Peanut Prince

His work in Argentina got him noticed and India’s ambassador to Argentina, Rengaraj Viswanathan, came up with the moniker for Singh in a blog back in 2009. Talking about just how popular Singh had become with the Argentinians, Viswanathan told Rediff, “Here lives an Indian maharaja. He looks handsome with his turban. When he goes to the night clubs, he gets premium service and gets it free because they think he is a maharaja."

Life after Olam

Singh moved back to India in 2013 to join Louis Drefus Company as the COO and was soon promoted to Director and CEO-India to manage the $1 billion company. In March 2018, he moved on to COFCO International India as Director and CEO and is also a member of the National Council for Agriculture Committee of CII and also for the Sustainable Agriculture Task Force of FICCI.

Today he routinely mentors entrepreneurs and invests in startups; some of the notable ones being Knocksense and Snackamor. Singh, who has worked in the agricultural sector across countries like India, Africa and Latin America, believes that agriculture in India is yet to reach its potential.

“It’s only in the last few years that we’ve begun seeing technological advancements in India in this sector to increase productivity. Today there is new technology that focuses on things like soil testing, satellite imagery, and pre-harvest stages. It’s still a work in progress,” he says.

With the whole debate on organic farming and chemical farming raging across the sector, Singh believes that it is more an issue of aspiration vs need. In his interview on Sikhi Channel News, he says, “With the way the population is growing, agriculture is all about extracting more and more from the same area of farmland. On the other hand, farmers are not going to invest time and money into organic farming, if they aren’t going to get the returns; a lot of people are still reluctant to pay a premium for organic produce.”

He believes it is one’s ability to adapt and determination that drives success.

“It is important to keep an open mind and work at being an expert in your field rather than a generalist.”

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Meet Devanand (Dave) Sharma, Australia’s first Indian-origin Member of Parliament

(November 15, 2021) Australia has an impressive 700,000 strong Indian diaspora, making it the second-highest taxpaying diaspora after the British. As the group makes significant contributions to Australia’s economy, more and more Indian-origin Australians are coming to the fore. And one such Indian-Australian, who has been making a significant difference through his work, is Devanand Noel Sharm, or Dave Sharma as he’s better known. The 45-year-old became the first person of Indian origin to become a Member of the Australian Parliament in 2019 and has since been representing the New South Wales seat of Wentworth. A member of the Liberal Party, Sharma was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2019 federal election. Prior to that, he was head of the International Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. At age 37, this Global Indian was appointed as Ambassador to Israel, making him one of Australia’s youngest ambassadors and the second Australian ambassador of Indian heritage. [embed]https://twitter.com/DaveSharma/status/1459316966926082052?s=20[/embed] His Indian connect Born in Vancouver, Canada in 1975 to an Indian father and Australian mother, Sharma has two sisters. His parents had met in London in the 1960s and the family eventually moved to Sydney in 1979. Sharma led

age.

[embed]https://twitter.com/DaveSharma/status/1459316966926082052?s=20[/embed]

His Indian connect

Born in Vancouver, Canada in 1975 to an Indian father and Australian mother, Sharma has two sisters. His parents had met in London in the 1960s and the family eventually moved to Sydney in 1979. Sharma led a rather happy childhood until the untimely demise of his mother due to breast cancer when he was only 12. From then on, Sharma and his sisters were raised by their father and according to him, though it wasn’t always easy, they got through it together as a family. These tough times also taught him the importance of family and the value of hard work and self-reliance.

Sharma studied at the Turramurra High School in Sydney and received the highest possible Tertiary Entrance Rank of 100. In 1994, he went to Cambridge University to do his graduation in Arts: while he initially studied natural sciences, in 1995 he decided to transfer to law and eventually graduated in law with first class honours. He then returned to Sydney to study medicine at Sydney Medical School; a year later he began working as a public servant for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and completed his Master’s in International Relations from Deakin University.

Global Indian Dave Sharma

Life as a public servant

His work with DFAT sent him all over the world and he served as peacekeeper in Papua New Guinea, coordinated strategic policy in Washington DC, and worked for the then Foreign Minister for a couple of years. It was during the course of his work at DFAT that he met his now wife, Rachel.

By 2013, Sharma was appointed as Australia’s Ambassador to Israel, where he worked for four years working to advance ties in areas such as innovation, technology, counter-terrorism, and peace in the Middle East. Upon his return to Australia in 2017, he ventured into the private sector and began working as an advisor to various companies and businesses within the technology space.

[caption id="attachment_15795" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Global Indian Dave Sharma Dave Sharma with his wife Rachel and their three daughters[/caption]

Entry into politics

By 2018 though, the then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had resigned and Sharma was selected as the Liberal Party candidate for the Wentworth by-election. Though independent candidate Kerryn Phelps won the by-election, Sharma was pre-selected once again to represent the Liberal Party in Wentworth at the 2019 Australian Federal Election. This time Sharma won the seat from Phelps. After his win he told SBS, “Being the first Indian-origin representative in the Australian Parliament is a great honour and a privilege. It feels satisfying to contribute to the Coalition victory against the odds and against expectations. I feel very satisfied to have won the seat back, having been the person who lost it just six months ago."

Through his years in office, Sharma has been focusing on areas like national security, strength of the economy, and unity between communities. He also said that he believed in man-made climate change and that renewable sources of energy will have to play a major role in any energy plan.

Though relatively new to politics, Sharma had also said after his win that he would be happy to contribute in matters of foreign affairs. “With my background in foreign affairs and national security and my own Indian ancestry, I hope to make a contribution in those areas and in particular work to strengthen and nourish the relationship with India,” he said in an interview.

Batting to reverse climate change

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1bAqbRt74w[/embed]

In the recent past, he has been focusing his energies on working towards reversing climate change by urging the government to back more ambitious 2035 emissions reduction target. “When it comes to our climate and energy policies, the positions we adopted in 2015 no longer reflect our national circumstances of 2021. To be credible, we need a firm target and accompanying plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050.”

Follow Dave Sharma on Twitter and LinkedIn

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Kumar Nadesan: A Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee’s tale of transformations

(September 22, 2023) I had the pleasure of meeting Thiru Sivakumar Nadesan, more popular as Kumar Nadesan, on a pleasant afternoon at the Business Club of Taj Samudra, Colombo. The Indian cricket team was coincidentally staying at the same venue for the Asia Cup. Although their presence was unrelated to the essence of our encounter, their proximity added an enchanting touch to the ambience. Taj Samudra Colombo radiates a deep affection for Indians in Colombo, and amidst the opulence of the surroundings, Kumar Nadesan's arrival only heightened the vibrancy of the atmosphere. Nadesan, the recipient of the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023, is widely recognised as the print magnate of Sri Lanka. He holds the position of Managing Director of Express Newspapers (Ceylon) (Pvt) Limited, a prominent print and web media organisation. It publishes Virakesari, one of Sri Lanka's foremost Tamil daily newspapers, amongst other publications. Founded in August 1930, Virakesari stands as the oldest and largest circulating Tamil newspaper in Sri Lanka at 93. [caption id="attachment_45216" align="aligncenter" width="798"] Kumar Nadesan receiving Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023 from President Droupadi Murmu[/caption] “When Gandhi came here, he advised the Indian community to come up with a publication as he found

st 1930, Virakesari stands as the oldest and largest circulating Tamil newspaper in Sri Lanka at 93.

[caption id="attachment_45216" align="aligncenter" width="798"] Indian Origin | Kumar Nadesan | Global Indian Kumar Nadesan receiving Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023 from President Droupadi Murmu[/caption]

“When Gandhi came here, he advised the Indian community to come up with a publication as he found that the diaspora lacked voice in the country at that time. This is how Virakesari started,” Nadesan told Global Indian. Over the years, the publication has diligently catered to Tamil speaking individuals irrespective of nationality and religion.

Apart from being at the helm of all the other publications of Express Newspapers which caters to a wide audience, Nadesan is the director of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka, and chairman of Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI). Established and operated by the media industry SLPI provides structured training for journalists, encourages self-regulation within the print media sector, and champions a free and responsible media environment in Sri Lanka. Talking about its uniqueness he shared, “We are the first in the world to have people with diverse outlooks all sitting together at one table. Our group includes working journalists, media activists, editors, and publishers, each with their unique perspectives."

As the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka, a self-regulatory mechanism of the media industry, Nadesan heads a simple, non-legalistic system by which people with a genuine grievance about the press can gain quick and easy redress, without hassle.

The Attorney at Law Sri Lanka, has played a major role in addressing the drug menace in the country as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association. The man of many hats loves being busy and is also the President of the Sri Lanka chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). He has been the president of the Sri Lanka India Society in the past.

Unfazed by his accomplishments

When I extended my congratulations to him for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award that he recently received, Nadesan displayed remarkable humility, stating, "I was, of course, pleasantly surprised to receive it, but I am uncertain about the reasons for my selection." As Chairman of the major print media regulatory bodies his efforts to enhance professionalism within the Sri Lankan media industry is unquestionable and quite evident.

In his tenure as president of the Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association, his dedication to the cause has been nothing short of tremendous, reflecting his unwavering commitment to the betterment of the community and the country, which is his home. Despite his impressive accomplishments he remained grounded as he spoke.

[caption id="attachment_45221" align="aligncenter" width="762"] Indian Origin | Kumar Nadesan | Global Indian Kumar Nadesan with Sri Lanka's PM, Dinesh Gunawardena and the High Commissioner of India, Gopal Baglay[/caption]

After returning from the Valedictory Session and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards Ceremony in Indore, where he received the award from President Droupadi Murmu, his friends threw him a surprise party in Colombo. They had invited the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dinesh Gunawardena and the High Commissioner of India, Gopal Baglay as special guests to honour him. When I mentioned the event to Nadesan, he humbly remarked, "I would have never allowed that if I had known my friends were planning something like that."

Bond with India

Despite being a fourth-generation Indian in Sri Lanka, Nadesan’s ties with India are deep-rooted. His initial connection with India was forged during his undergraduate years at Loyola College, Madras which he fondly recalled as ‘some of the most cherished days of his life’. “I even served as the student union president during those carefree days,” he said, talking about his tryst with India in the 1960s.

His bond with his country of origin grew stronger, particularly when all four of his sisters were married off to India. His late wife, who was a doctor by profession, also happened to be from India. Nadesan met her while they were students in Madras.

From law to publishing industry

After completing his bachelor's degree in commerce from Madras, Nadesan went to the United Kingdom to pursue law. Upon his return to Sri Lanka, he was a practising lawyer for two decades, accumulating valuable experience in the legal field.

However, a significant turning point occurred when he transitioned into the publishing industry. His involvement with the Express Newspaper, a position influenced by his family's business stakes in the publication house, marked a notable shift in his professional journey.

[caption id="attachment_45218" align="aligncenter" width="684"] Indian Origin | Kumar Nadesan | Global Indian Kumar Nadesan at a media event[/caption]

This career transition was driven by his belief that through the media, he could wield greater influence and potentially challenge government actions when they are unjust. “Newspaper is an ideal platform to expound whatever ideas you have and help the society,” he says.

Commitment to combat drug menace in Sri Lanka

Talking about his initiatives as the president of Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association, he shared “I am a member of the Rotary Club of Colombo for more than 50 years. Anti-drugs initiatives started off as part of the Rotary project. In 1982-83, we found that drugs were infiltrating Sri Lanka, with young people being the primary target, and realised that something needs to be done to curb the menace.”

The drugs entered the country through the sea, as the fishermen who wondered whether they will ever afford to build a house got into the lure of bringing drugs into the country to earn money. A single consignment of the size of a jam jar of drugs could yield the resources to build more than two or three houses – a tempting proposition.

Considering the future of the country and the well-being of its human resources, it seemed imperative to Kumar Nadesan and his fellow Rotary members to initiate discussions about anti-drug programmes and take action in the sphere. “We conceptualised the idea of fostering human development because, even though drug-related issues may seem minor in scale, perhaps around 1 percent, the impact they create, including robbery and theft, is substantial,” he remarked “Our prisons have been overflowing with individuals unable to pay fines for drug-related offences,” he adds.

[caption id="attachment_45217" align="aligncenter" width="732"] Indian Origin | Kumar Nadesan | Global Indian Kumar Nadesan at a Rotary function in presence of President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe[/caption]

Under Nadesan’s leadership, the initial initiative of the Rotary project proved to be highly successful. Soon after, the Sri Lanka Anti-Narcotics Association was established reflecting his commitment to addressing drug-related concerns in Sri Lanka. The association has done a commendable job over the past few decades. Nadesan received the 'Service above Self' award from Rotary International for his tireless efforts.

Purpose – to bridge heritage and history

Nadesan is in the process of envisioning a museum that will encapsulate the rich tapestry of Indian ethos, and the opulent flora and fauna of Sri Lanka. With the museum he aims to serve as a knowledge base of Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, promote the local artisans of the country through a handicraft bazaar and also create a tangible connection to the ancestral homeland for the younger generation of Indian-origin diaspora. Many of them often identify their roots with the picturesque towns in Sri Lanka's upcountry where their forefathers were brought to work as tea plantation workers.

“The intention is to guide them on a journey back to their origins, immersing them in the rich cultural history, and the earnest pride that once defined the lives of their great-grandfathers in the villages of India,” he remarked.

[caption id="attachment_45215" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Indian Origin | Kumar Nadesan | Global Indian Kumar Nadesan[/caption]

Kumar Nadesan’s family originates from Trichy in Tamil Nadu. His forefathers were brought by the British to Sri Lanka from India as tea plantation workers. Over the generations, becoming one of the well-known figures in the country is an inspirational success story that Kumar Nadesan exudes.

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