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.

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

Indian Origin

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

Written by: Global Indian

(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 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.

Simmarpal Singh with his family

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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Rimma

December 14, 2023 10:20 pm

So nice sardar ji wish you success

Published on 05, Aug 2021

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Priyanka Das Rajkakati: The Indian-origin scientist sending her artwork to the moon

(November 16, 2021) Science and art have been as different as chalk and cheese for centuries now. If one is based on facts and logic, the other plays with creativity. But Priyanka Das Rajkakati is one of those rare people who is enjoying the best of both worlds by being a space scientist and an artist. The 29-year-old, who hails from Assam, is now a part of the Moon Gallery project wherein she will be sending her artwork to be showcased on the moon in 2022. This Global Indian, who has made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, for her work in science and innovation is one of the most promising scientists in the field of space. But Rajkakati took a while to find a balance between the two things that she love the most to reach the top. [caption id="attachment_15859" align="aligncenter" width="682"] Priyanka Das Rajkakati is a space scientist.[/caption] Torn between science and art Originally from Assam, Rajkakati grew up in Delhi and had her heart both in science and art. If the colors and designs fascinated her, she was equally captivated by the stars and the moon. It was hard for her to choose between the

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Torn between science and art

Originally from Assam, Rajkakati grew up in Delhi and had her heart both in science and art. If the colors and designs fascinated her, she was equally captivated by the stars and the moon. It was hard for her to choose between the two as she loved both of them. So when she decided to graduate, Rajkakti found herself in a fix. While she did graduate in Physics from St Stephens College, she had almost come close to studying product design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. She did attend NID for a month but something gnawed within her. She was unable to shut her equally strong calling for science, so she left her creative journey to jump onto the bandwagon of science.

After completing her graduation, Rajkakati moved to France at 21 to explore new horizons, learn a new language and eat French food. In between, she joined Ecole Polytechnique in France where she did a double master's in Artificial Intelligence and Aerospace Engineering.

Dreams of entering the space

Rajkakati, who was always interested in space, knew that her next step towards her dream was a degree in Aerospace Engineering for which she enrolled in the ISAE-Supaero.
This helped her bag an assignment to work for the satellite navigation wing of Rafale Fighter Jets of France. While pursuing her PhD, she contributed her expertise in satellite navigation for the French Defence Company, Safran. Not just this, she even constructed a micro-satellite in Paris. In 2018, she added another feather to her cap by becoming the ambassador of 'For Girls and Science' to inspire scientists of the future. Talking about the initiative, she told PTI, "As part of the programme, we meet middle school and high school students, and through talks and presentations, we try to clear the misconceptions about scientists and women in science."

[caption id="attachment_15860" align="aligncenter" width="759"] Priyanka Das Rajkakati experiencing zero gravity.[/caption]

The very next year brought another opportunity for this 29-year-old who became one of the youngest women of Indian origin to be selected for the fifth edition of Homeward Bound, a global initiative that conducts leadership expeditions for women in science to Antarctica. A stepping stone to her dream of being an astronaut, the programme provided her with the perfect training. Rajkakati, who dreamt of exploring space, soon co-founded The Exploration Company that develops and operates Nyx, a modular and reusable vehicle that can be refuelled in the orbit and carries cargo.

Art on its way to the moon

The scientist is also an artist who explores the art-science harmony through exhibitions and residencies, drawing inspiration from mathematics, space, scientific projects, travel, and Indian roots. "When I discovered that one of the angles of an obsession of mine is Space, which is, in fact, a highly interdisciplinary field, I finally found a valid context for experimenting with Art and Science," she told TIME8. Now she is set to send her artwork to the moon in a compact form by 2022. Called Bhedadipika - an illustration of duality, her artwork is inspired by her Indian roots and Vedic influence. "It is to showcase to the world that art and culture are core elements of humanity. Future human settlements in space, if we ever reach such a stage, will therefore also require us to integrate art and culture to have stable and functional space societies," she added.

Well! If hasn't been a great start to 2021!

I owe this one big to all the people - friends and family - who've believed in my crazy dreams and constantly motivated me to touch the stars!@FranceinIndia @ISAE_officiel @Polytechnique #WomenInScience #artscience #womenintech https://t.co/FAmaDrISVb

— Priyanka D. Rajkakati 🚀 (@PriyankaSpace) February 5, 2021

Her artwork will be sent to the moon as part of The Moon Gallery which is a project that brings together a gallery of ideas that are worth sending to the moon.

[caption id="attachment_15862" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Artwork by Priyanka Das Rajkakati.[/caption]

Rajkakati, who has made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, is one of those rare scientists who have beautifully fused science with art. The 29-year-old is an inspiration for many women who are looking to immerse themselves in the field of science but also keep their creativity intact.

Follow Priyanka Das Rajkakati on Twitter

Reading Time: 6 min

How racism and alienation fueled British Indian writer Sunjeev Sahota to scale literary heights

(July 28, 9:50 am) "I've got more interested in the form, the artistry, and wanting something new - not just in my writing, but also when I'm reading. I get very bored when I read novels that have nothing new in them. So, that's probably what drives me about what I write next. I try to reach beyond what's already illuminated, those darker kinds of places, through my writing." That's how Sunjeev Sahota, a longlisted author for the 2021 Booker Prize, describes the process of choosing stories for his books. In less than a decade, the Indian-origin British novelist has become a name to reckon with in the literary scene with just three books to his credit. For someone who started reading his first novel at the age of 18, and began writing one at 25, Sahota has impressed critics and book lovers with his poignant tales. His novellas are centered around the experiences of immigrants who struggle with a sense of belonging in their adopted homelands. https://twitter.com/CEOAnneFrankUK/status/1419552961945030658?s=20 His books weave in his Indian roots and resonate with a wide audience. With his second Booker Prize nomination for China Room, Sahota has yet again proved his mettle. Here's the inspiring

ker Prize nomination for China Room, Sahota has yet again proved his mettle. Here's the inspiring journey of this novelist.

The Asian in a white-dominated school

Sahota's grandparents emigrated to the UK from Punjab in 1966 and settled in the Normanton area of Derbyshire. It was here that Sahota was born 15 years later. Being brought up in a close-knit Sikh community, Sahota felt a sense of belonging among his people and his culture. But when he was 7, his father bought a convenience store in Chesterfield, and everything changed for a young Sahota. He went from being a part of an extended kinship network to being the only Asian in his secondary school. He became an easy target for racism.

In a conversation with the Guardian, he revealed,

"I remember in my first year when I was 11, there were a few fifth-years who seemed to target me. It only became physical once or twice, but there was lots of blocking in stairways. People don’t think of blocking as physical but it’s very invasive, and the worst thing is how much it makes you aware of yourself and your difference. Walking down the street, or into a room, you think, how are people going to react? What are they going to see first?"

Being away from his community and people, Sahota felt a sense of alienation and struggled to identify with white people.

It was an undergraduate course in mathematics that brought Sahota to Imperial College in London, which turned out to be an antidote to his lonely experience of growing up in Chesterfield.

https://twitter.com/ScurrRuth/status/1419928113862123521?s=20

Love affair with books

It was around the same time that Sahota's love affair with books and literature began. With three popular books to his credit, it's hard to believe that it wasn't until 18 that he started reading. It all began with his trip to India to meet his relatives in Punjab. At the airport, he picked up Salman Rushdie's Midnight Children which lured him into the world of literature.

"I don’t know how much I really understood on that first reading. But it did feel like a dam bursting. I felt quite overtaken by a sense of storytelling as a way of spending your life. And then I became a heavy, avid reader very quickly," he told BookPage.

This love for fiction fuelled Sahota's desire to write a novel. "I knew I wanted to write a big book partly because I wanted to do homage to the books that made me fall in love with reading, those big, immersive novels that I first got myself lost in," he added.

Sunjeev Sahota's book has been shortlisted for the 2021 Man Booker Prize

7/7 bombings and his debut book

Though Sahota had a deep desire to pen a book, he chose the insurance industry for his day job. For many years, he worked in the marketing department of insurance major Aviva. However, it was the 7/7 tube bombings in London 16 years ago that crystalized the concept for his debut book, Ours Are The Streets. The novella was a poignant and powerful story of Muslim radicalization with a British Muslim bomber at its center. Sahota found common ground between his feelings of alienation and that of the suicide bombers.

"There was an idea of belonging that seemed to connect with what I was feeling in my late teens – not that I would ever have gone down that route. But given a certain time and place, and given who you think your people are and what might be happening in the geopolitical sphere, a set of circumstances could trigger that sense of not feeling connected to the country. The biggest factor is not feeling English inside."

He wrote the book over a period of three years at his parents' home over weekends and evenings while keeping his day job. "Being brought up in the British Sikh community where shame and honor play such a big role and you don't air your dirty laundry, I felt I was exposing a lot, which is probably why I wanted to write it quite privately."

Released in 2011, Ours Are The Streets received a warm reception. So much so that poet and critic John Burnside called it a "moral work of real intelligence and power." Two years later, the author saw himself on Granta's Best of Young British Novelists list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GehBAZu9RmY

The journey to Man Booker Prize nomination

It was in 2015 that Sahota's second book The Year of the Runaways hit the stalls. Based on the experience of illegal immigrants in Britain, the novel soon caught the fancy of many. Such was its effect that it earned Sahota his first nomination for the 2015 Man Booker Prize (now called The Booker Prize).

Sahota's novels have been a mirror to his ideology, emotions, and feelings that formed over the years in the UK.

"I'm a child of immigrants so inevitably that informs how I look at the world. I'm also from working-class stock, so class, too, is always somewhere in my mind. Those two things — the immigrant and the working class — are in all my novels to date because they're the two 'identities' that have most impacted my life and my life chances. Of the two, I'd argue that class has had a bigger effect on my life than race or my immigration status," he told the Indian Express.

While his first two books came at an interval of four years, his third novella, China Room, took five years to see the light of day. Taking inspiration from family folklore about his great grandmother, Sahota set China Room in the 1920s Punjab. The book revolves around Meher and her grandson - who are separated by time and space - but their stories are interconnected.

"I never felt I needed to draw stories out of people. I think because I am so interested, and such a lover of India, and because I speak the language idiomatically, there’s a way in," he told The Guardian.

Within two months of his release, Sahota's China Room has been longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize for its "brilliant twist" on the immigrant experience.

"All my novels to date feature protagonists yearning for freedom and connection, for a sense of self-worth and a place to belong, and no doubt this draws on my own vexed connection with the land of my birth," he wrote in a column for Literary Hub.

Editor's Take

Immigrants never have it easy in any country - they feel the conflict of being sandwiched between different cultures at home and at school/work. Booker Prize-longlisted author Sunjeev Sahota hits the head on the nail when he talks about the feeling of "not feeling English inside" as a teenager. A second-generation immigrant of Sikh parentage, the 40-year-old has been a voice of the immigrant working class in the UK through his three distinguished books. With each of his novella, he peels a layer that gives an insight into the world of immigrants. We wish him the very best for The Booker Prize countdown.

Reading Time: 6 mins

The Indians who cooked up a storm in the MasterChef Australia kitchen

(July 24, 2021; 6.15 pm) For a long time now, Indian food has best been described as ugly delicious. High on flavor and with aromas that tickle one’s senses, it was never much of a looker. Or so we believed. That is, until, Indian-origin chefs began to give traditional Indian flavors a makeover: through fine-dining restaurants on the global stage and on our television scenes on shows like the hugely popular MasterChef Australia. The competitive cooking contest that has captured the world’s imagination and consistently churned out some world-class chefs has also put the spotlight on Indian food with its many Indian-origin chefs. These contestants have had their moment in the spotlight over several seasons with their intense flavor-packed innovative dishes that have wowed the judges and audience alike. In this Global Indian piece, we look at the Indian-origin contestants that have left a lasting impression on the global audience. Justin Narayan - Season 13 [caption id="attachment_5962" align="aligncenter" width="563"] Justin Narayan[/caption] Winner of the latest season of MasterChef Australia, 27-year-old Justin Narayan is the second person of Indian descent to have bagged the coveted title. The Fiji-Indian beat competitors like Kishwer Chowdhury and Pete Campbell with a perfect score with his versatility in whipping up various cuisines. A pastor by profession, Narayan lives in Perth and grew up

Justin Narayan - Season 13

[caption id="attachment_5962" align="aligncenter" width="563"] The Indians who cooked up a storm in the MasterChef Australia kitchen Justin Narayan[/caption]

Winner of the latest season of MasterChef Australia, 27-year-old Justin Narayan is the second person of Indian descent to have bagged the coveted title. The Fiji-Indian beat competitors like Kishwer Chowdhury and Pete Campbell with a perfect score with his versatility in whipping up various cuisines. A pastor by profession, Narayan lives in Perth and grew up watching cooking shows.

On the show, he impressed judges with dishes like Indian chicken curry, pickle salad, Indian chicken tacos, charcoal chicken with toum, and flatbread. But not many know that Narayan was on the verge of quitting the show halfway through when his dad’s health took a serious turn. Fortunately, his health improved and Narayan continued on the show.

Having clinched the title, he now plans to open his own restaurant one day and use the profits from his future restaurant to help feed needy children in India.

Sashi Cheliah - Season 10

[caption id="attachment_5963" align="aligncenter" width="560"] The Indians who cooked up a storm in the MasterChef Australia kitchen Sashi Cheliah[/caption]

Born and brought up in an Indian family in Singapore, Sashi Cheliah fell in love with cooking as a child when he saw his mum and aunt whipped up delicacy after delicacy in the kitchen. Even when he worked as a cop first in Singapore and then in Australia, the 43-year-old chef always wanted to launch his own restaurant. It was why he participated in MasterChef Australia in the first place. On the show he impressed judges with his impressive Asian and Indian inspired dishes, but it was his Sambal Prawns that won him the MasterChef Australia title in season 10, making him the first Indian-origin person to win the contest.

In November 2019, Sashi fulfilled his dream and opened his restaurant Gaja in Adelaide, where he lives. The restaurant serves Asian-inspired food with a Sashi touch and focuses on sustainability in a big way.

Depinder Chhibber - Season 13

[caption id="attachment_5961" align="aligncenter" width="333"] The Indians who cooked up a storm in the MasterChef Australia kitchen Depinder Chhibber[/caption]

One of the most popular contestants at this season’s MasterChef Australia, Delhi-born Australian Depinder Chhibber elevated simple ghar ka khana to a global stage. A master of most Indian cuisines, Chibber wowed the judges with her chole, kadhai paneer and achaar so much that Melissa Leong asked, “Can we come to your house please?” The 29-year-old pharmacist introduced to the show rich Indian flavors like never before with her okra chips, green curry cake, fried chicken with mango chilli glaze, chicken biryani, ghevar with carrot sherbet and grandma’s pickle. Every dish that she made on the show had an Indian touch, celebrating her roots and identity.

Though she didn’t make it all the way to the end of the show, her flavor-packed dishes hit the spot and made her one of the most popular contestants of the season.

Dalvinder Dhami - Season 4

[caption id="attachment_5960" align="aligncenter" width="373"] The Indians who cooked up a storm in the MasterChef Australia kitchen Dalvinder Dhami[/caption]

Singapore-born Dalvinder Dhami was 35 when she decided to quit her career as a public servant to chase her culinary dreams and participate in MasterChef Australia. She was the first Indian on the show and created a variety of delicacies that consistently wowed the judges. Some of her most memorable dishes were the pineapple and tomato jam pork served with egg dumplings and Jazadalvs chicken curry. She became rather popular on the show for her intriguing blend of Singaporean cuisine with North Indian tadkas; judge George Calombaris said that the curry she had made was the best he’d ever tasted. After her MasterChef Australia stint, the mom of three has been selling her Indian dishes at Singapore’s local market.

Dev Mishra - Junior Masterchef Australia Season 3

[caption id="attachment_5959" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The Indians who cooked up a storm in the MasterChef Australia kitchen Dev Mishra[/caption]

14-year-old Dev Mishra deserves a special mention on this list for the flair with which he presented his Indian heritage on a platter to the judges at Junior MasterChef Australia. He once wowed the judges by cooking five dishes - lamb Mughlai curry, saffron rice, raita, chutney, and smoked chicken kebab – all in 75 minutes. It was his way of showcasing a dish that truly represented him. His love for cooking grew in his family kitchen, and Dev loves making curries. However, the teen is equally comfortable whipping up Italian, Asian, and Mexican dishes as well. He is also heavily inspired by Heston Blumenthal and loves to make technically complex desserts.

While he may not have won the competition, he did make it to the semi-finals and this tennis and guitar player, one day hopes to open his own restaurant that will celebrate authentic flavors.

Reading Time: 8 mins

From the US to Switzerland: How Indians rule the roost

(May 1, 2022) India has the largest diaspora in the world - over 13 million Indians live outside the country, with 17 million individuals of Indian origin. While they are known to be skilled IT professionals, several Indian-origin politicians have earned important designations in governments worldwide. According to the latest report by Indispora, a US-based nonprofit community of global Indian diaspora leaders from various backgrounds and professions, more than 200 persons of Indian-origin hold the highest positions around 15 countries - which included elected officials, diplomats, legislators, heads of central banks and senior civil servants. They also listed over 60 leaders, who hold cabinet positions in various countries. Global Indian takes a look at few notable politicians, who have made their mark as immigrants or children of immigrants. Kamala Harris – vice-president of the United States During a civil rights protest on the Berkeley campus, when Shyamala Gopalan asked her toddler daughter “What do you want?” she replied, “Fweedom!” [caption id="attachment_23845" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Kamala Harris, vice president of the United States[/caption] Today, the journey of Kamala Harris is an inspiring story of many firsts. Probably one of the most famous Indian-origin politicians in history, Kamala is not just a woman, but

Kamala-Harris.jpg" alt="" width="597" height="896" /> Kamala Harris, vice president of the United States[/caption]

Today, the journey of Kamala Harris is an inspiring story of many firsts. Probably one of the most famous Indian-origin politicians in history, Kamala is not just a woman, but also the first Black and first Indian-American vice-president of the United States. Born in Oakland, California to parents who emigrated from India and Jamaica, Kamala and her sister, Maya, grew up embracing both their South Asian and Black heritages. But it was her mother, a breast cancer scientist and pioneer in her own right, who instilled a strong sense of justice in Kamala from a young age. Her parents took the little Kamala to civil rights demonstrations and introduced role models—ranging from Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall to civil rights leader Constance Baker Motley—whose work motivated her to become a prosecutor.

In 2010, Kamala was elected as the first African American and first woman to serve as California’s attorney-general. Six years later she was elected as a senator for California, becoming only the second African-American woman to ever be elected to the US senate. Because of the politician's commitment to fighting injustice, her eloquence, and capabilities for leadership and governance, President-elect Joseph R Biden chose Harris as his running mate in 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-cbGOYjBfU&t=103s

Since her attorney-general days, Kamala rallies for women’s rights — supporting women in our workforce, addressing the maternal health crisis, and defending reproductive rights. During one of her many famous speeches, Kamala told the Generation Equality Forum at a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron that gender equality was paramount to strengthening democracy. “Use the tools for democracy, whether that is the freedom of speech or the freedom to vote. And if you do not yet have those freedoms, fight for them and know we will fight alongside you,” the politician said, adding, “If we want to strengthen democracy, we must fight for gender equality. Because here is the truth: Democracy is strongest when everyone participates, it is weaker when people are left out.”

Follow Kamala Harris on Twitter and Instagram

Leo Varadkar - Tánaiste and minister for enterprise, trade and employment, Ireland

Leo Varadkar knew since early childhood he wanted to enter politics - announcing to his mother’s friends he would be minister for health at just seven. Born to Dr Ashok Varadkar and Miriam Howell, in Dublin, Leo became the first Indian-origin, openly gay and youngest-ever Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) in 2017.

[caption id="attachment_23846" align="aligncenter" width="581"] Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste of Ireland[/caption]

Currently serving as the Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) and minister for enterprise, trade and employment, Leo studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was an active member of the campus Young Fine Gael organisation, and also served as the vice-president of the youth organisation of the European People’s Party, an amalgam of dozens of centre-right youth political groups from across Europe. In 2007, at age 28, the politician emerged on the national stage by winning election to the Dáil representing Dublin West.

Often called the Celtic Tiger, Leo has been able to pull Ireland out of an economic crisis, and incorporated a road map for achieving a low carbon economy. During his first address as Taoiseach, Leo said that his government would be “one of the new European centres.” Given Ireland’s staunchly Catholic past, Leo’s sexuality was always a talking point across the globe. However, the Taoiseach believes that Irish society is changing. During an earlier interview, he had said, “I think other people, perhaps people braver than me, who campaigned for equal rights before the law changed things for me - To them I’m very grateful. But it does add additional responsibility on me, that I do want to use the office that I now hold to advance equality of opportunity, to advance the concepts of equal rights before the law. That’s not just for people from the LGBT community here in Ireland, but also in Northern Ireland, and around the world where such rights are under threat.”

Follow Leo Varadkar on Twitter and Instagram

Harjit Sajjan - minister of international development, Canada

The first Sikh Canadian to command a Canadian Army reserve regiment, and later becoming the country’s minister of national defence, Harjit Sajjan has been one of the most beloved ministers of Canada. The politician, who was born in Punjab in 1970, immigrated to Canada with his family when he was five years old. He grew up in South Vancouver, and benefitted from everything the area’s diverse and culturally rich community has to offer.

[caption id="attachment_23847" align="aligncenter" width="726"] Harjit Sajjan, minister of international development of Canada[/caption]

At the age of 19, Harjit joined the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) as a trooper and was commissioned as an officer in 1991. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and was deployed overseas four times in the course of his career: once to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and three times to Afghanistan. In 2011, he became the first Sikh to command a Canadian Army reserve regiment. Harjit was also a part of the Vancouver Police Department, before being elected for the riding of Vancouver South during the 2015 federal election.

During one of his interviews, Harjit had said that he hopes his years in uniform will help motivate the troops, and maybe Canadians in general. “If someone looks at that image and thinks, ‘Wow, if this guy can do this stuff, I can too,’ then I’ve inspired people along the way, which has always been my goal,” the politician said, adding, “But it is just a picture, and life has a way of humbling you if you have any type of arrogance.”

Follow Harjit Sajjan on Twitter and Instagram

Vivian Balakrishnan - minister for foreign affairs, Singapore

A doctor by profession, an activist at heart, Vivian Balakrishnan serves as the minister for foreign affairs in the Singapore government. Born in 1961 to an Indian Tamil father and a Chinese mother with ancestry from Fuqing, Vivian has raised his voice against injustice since childhood. The politician, who studied medicine at the National University of Singapore, was elected president of the student’s union (NUSSU 1981 to 1983), and chairman of NUSSU (1984 to 1985).

[caption id="attachment_23848" align="aligncenter" width="695"] Vivian Balakrishnan, minister for foreign affairs, Singapore[/caption]

Following his dream Vivian then pursued postgraduate specialist training in ophthalmology and was admitted as a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1991. However as soon as he returned to Singapore he started noticing the many problems his people faced. While he has made many famous speeches, one of the most liked videos is of a 29-year-old Vivian debating the then newly elected PAP MP K Shanmugam on Lee Kuan Yew’s remarks that questioned the loyalty of Malay Singaporeans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPHD72AKGn4

In the 2001 general election, Vivian was elected as a member of parliament for Holland – Bukit Timah GRC, and in January 2002, he was appointed minister of state at the ministry of national development. An environmentalist, Vivian has been aiming for sustainable development in Singapore. “Singapore is both a small island developing states (SIDS) and a city-state. Since independence 50 years ago, we have pursued sustainable development. Despite, and perhaps because of, our natural constraints, we had to achieve economic progress whilst preserving a good living environment. Although we have one of the world’s highest population densities, we have maintained our greenery and biodiversity, and enhanced our citizens’ quality of life. This year, we were honoured that our Singapore Botanic Gardens was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site," the politician had said while representing Singapore at the UN SDG conference.

Though a hardworking politician, Vivian is also a devoted family man. Married to Joy Balakrishnan, the politician is father to one daughter and three sons.

Follow Vivian Balakrishnan on Twitter and Instagram

Nik Gugger - member of the national council, Switzerland

In 1970, a Malayali woman gave birth to a baby boy in Udupi, Karnataka, and told the doctor to give her child for adoption to a family that will look after him well, before abandoning the newborn. Five decades later that child, now known as Niklaus-Samuel Gugger, became the first Indian to be elected to the Switzerland parliament. Within a week of his abandonment, Gugger was adopted by a Swiss couple — Fritz and Elizbeth Gugger. His new parents took him to Kerala when he was just 15 days old, and they lived there for around four years before moving to their native in Switzerland.

[caption id="attachment_23849" align="aligncenter" width="635"] Nik Gugger, member of the national council, Switzerland[/caption]

Through his father’s work at the Uetendorfberg Foundation, which offers housing and work opportunities for people with hearing, speech and multiple impairments, Nik came into contact with disabled people early on. After finishing his school, Nik did pioneering work in the development of school social work and was a member of the working group for the development of the model for open youth work in Winterthur. At the same time, he studied social work and social management at the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz from 1995 to 1999. Since his adoptive parents were not rich enough to finance his higher studies, Nik had to drive trucks and work as a gardener to pay his fees.

Soon after he finished graduation, he became a member of the central board of the Swiss Evangelical People's Party (EPP). From 2014 to 2017, he was a member of the Zurich Cantonal Council, and in the 2017 National Council elections, Nik Gugger made it to the first substitute seat. Currently, the politician is a member of the Foreign Policy Commission and also a member of the Council of Europe.

A devoted father of three, the politician is deeply connected to his roots, and often visits Thalassery in Kerala – a place he calls his hometown. He also founded the aid organisation, Gundert Foundation, in Thalassery, which is committed to modern education for children of all castes. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nik launched a fundraising campaign to enable ventilator purchases in Odisha.

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Reading Time: 9 mins

How Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi became an international bestselling author

(November 15, 2021) "People love people in such strange ways that you will need more than a lifetime to figure that one out," writes Indian author Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi in The Flamingoes of Bombay. It's the complexities of love and relationships that this 44-year-old portrays in its most authentic form, and this has made him stand out in the literary circles. With a Betty Trask Award to his credit, Shangvi has become a name to reckon with in the world of literature. For someone who loved spending time alone and absorbing every single moment with utmost awareness and clarity, Shanghvi wrote his first book at 22, but it took him four years to get it published. Despite the delay, it turned out to be an international bestseller making Shanghvi an instant hit in the literary world. However, it has been a long journey for this author to took a while to find his true calling. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Siddharth Shanghvi (@thepostcarder) From solitude to storytelling Born in Mumbai in a Gujarati family, Shanghvi always loved his space. Even as a child, he would often escape to his tree house where he would

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A post shared by Siddharth Shanghvi (@thepostcarder)

From solitude to storytelling

Born in Mumbai in a Gujarati family, Shanghvi always loved his space. Even as a child, he would often escape to his tree house where he would find solace after running away from his school and would spend hours, either reading books or just being alone. It's these years that laid a solid ground for this then-teenager to silently absorb every moment and be on his own. "That I was left alone as a child was the most precious gift my parents gave me. I was allowed the space to not become anyone in particular but myself," he told Verve in an interview.

It was the world of books that captivated Shanghvi. So after completing his schooling, he moved to London to pursue his MA in International Journalism at the University of Westminster, where he specialised in photography and learnt how to sell his stories. For someone who was often broke and would crave a beer or two, he used to spin yarns for his friends while hanging out at pubs with them, and in return, they would pick up his tab. "I realised that I had the gift of storytelling - and that I was a lousy photographer," he told The Indian Express.

The journey of a bestseller

After completing his graduation, he moved to Northern California post securing a scholarship at San Jose State University for a master's degree in mass communication. But the course was set to begin the following year. In the interim, Sanghvi moved to Mumbai in 2002 to nurse his broken heart after a bombed love affair. With still a year left for his course to start, he spent most of his time with a manuscript he started writing a few years ago. He feverishly wrote a love story of sorts that later took the shape of his debut novel The Last Song of Dusk. It took him one year to cull out the first draft and three more years to deepen the themes. However, he dropped it after his agent suggested a few changes. Instead, he left for his course in California, and it was only in 2004 that his first novel saw the light of the day.

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A post shared by Siddharth Shanghvi (@thepostcarder)

In no time, it won one of the UK's most prestigious prizes for debut novels - the Betty Trask Award, the Premio Grinzane Cavour in Italy, and was nominated for the IMPAC Prize in Ireland. Translated into 16 languages, The Last Song of Dusk became an international bestseller. At the age of 26, Shanghvi was hailed as the next big thing after Salman Rushdie and Vikram Seth, following the success of his debut novel. It was the use of magic realism and the exploration of themes of karma and sexuality that drew such comparisons. While he rose to popularity with his debut novel, Shanghvi took five years to release his second book. In between, he curated shows and travelled while writing The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay. Inspired by the events of Jessica Lall murder case, the novel epitomises Mumbai's essence in the backdrop of a love story. The book was short-listed for the Man Asian Literary Prize.

Love, pain, hope - his muses

Around the same time, Shanghvi turned to photography after his dad was diagnosed with cancer. His photograph series The House Next Door, which captured the loneliness and seclusion that his father subjected himself to while battling cancer, opened at Galleri Kontrast in Stockholm in 2010. It was later showcased at the Matthieu Foss Gallery in Mumbai and Delhi's Vadhera Art Gallery. Acclaimed author Salman Rushdie praised Shanghvi's body of work calling it touching. "They are at a once intimate and clear-sighted objective, precise and affectionate. The quietness of their world is the silence of memory and sorrow, but there is, too, considerable artistry in the composition, and joy taken in detail, and character, and place," he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2-_mEKJ6iM

This Global Indian's next masterpiece came in the form of The Rabbit and the Squirrel which was released in 2018. The book that Shanghvi wrote as a parting gift for his friend soon made its way to the shelves of bookstores and struck the right chord with the audience for being a profound story of love, friendship, longing, and reunion.

Shanghvi, who has given book lovers a great gift in the form of his novels, has scaled literary heights with pieces of writing and innumerable accolades. The 44-year-old has been bringing stories that matter to the forefront with his body of work, and that's what sets him apart from his other contemporaries.

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Reading Time: 6 min