Watch out for the cyber criminals: 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha upskills natives and foreigners
Written by: Amrita Priya
(May 8, 2022) Young India is making its mark. From teen entrepreneurs running unicorns to prodigies in science and the arts, India’s youth are shining. Take, for instance, 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha, who was lauded for being one of the youngest cyber security trainer in May 2021. By that time, he had already worked as external cyber security researcher with the Ministry of Electronics and IT providing inputs for framing DPR for cyber security labs in India.
An expert at 19
On April 28, 2022, CERT-in, a government-appointed nodal agency, issued a new cybersecurity directive. As cyber threats loom, for individuals and nations alike, ‘hack the world before it hacks you’, maintains Vaibhav which incidentally happens to be the title of the book that he has written. The young ethical hacker has been keenly spreading awareness on security online through various initiatives.
Over 25,000 school and college students have learned the ropes of the cyber world through Vaibhav’s training sessions under Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission. His research paper on car hacking and cloud security fetched him the budding researcher award at an international conference at Amity Dubai.
Vaibhav was only 19 when he trained Indian Audit and Account Service (IAAS) officers, and also conducted a joint training session for cops, bureaucrats and delegates from over thirty countries on safeguarding critical security infrastructure and enjoyed a short stint as a cyber security researcher for Gurugram Police as well.
Climbing the ladder
Vaibhav was in his first year of college at Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies when he discovered cybersecurity and ethical hacking. A student of computer science engineering at the time, he knew instantly that this would be his chosen domain. He did extensive research by himself, which bore fruit in his second year of college when it led to Vaibhav being asked to chair a cybersecurity conference attended by Dr Gulshan Rai, the erstwhile Cyber Security Chief at the Prime Minister’s Office. It was a magnificent turning point, Vaibhav remarks, saying it ignited his desire to delve even deeper.
When he collated his knowledge, he had the material for his debut book. “My book teaches beginners on how to avoid the trap of cyber-crime,” Vaibhav tells Global Indian.
By the time he was in his second year, Vaibhav had also taken his first steps as an entrepreneur. With support from the institution, he co-founded a cyber security firm with a batchmate. After he graduated, the computer engineer switched to the corporate world, associating himself with Coforge (earlier NIIT Technologies).
Driving dialogue
Led by the desire to promote cyber security as an integral fabric of our digitally-inclined society, he has organised two cyberspace conferences (CIACON) in 2018 and again in 2020. Officials from the US’ Department of Homeland Security and the Indian government participated as speakers. “The conferences are for security enthusiasts,” Vaibhav explains. “The idea has been to bring together cyber experts, policy makers, think tanks and cyber wizards on a single platform to discuss issues and challenges in the sub domains of cyber security.”
It meant big steps for Vaibhav too, a journey that involved becoming comfortable with himself and his abilities. “I used to be nervous at the start but I have worked on my confidence levels. Now, delivering lectures, conducting training and interacting with people is my passion,” he says.
That apart, spending time with family and friends, swimming, body building, reading books and doing his research keep Vaibhav occupied. He also has his own YouTube channel, Scorpion VJ, through which he engages people on a variety of topics that range from tech and travelling to lifestyle.
“Cybersecurity and cyber-forensics are fields that needs passion and the mindset of always being open to learning, otherwise you will not be able to counter attack the cyberattacks,” he says, to young cyber security aspirants everywhere.
‘Hacks’ for being cyber smart
Keep all your devices, apps and browsers up to date
Think before you click
Be vigilant while reading mails or opening attachments from unknown sources
Verify identity before sharing personal information online
Keep all your passwords unique and don’t reveal it to anyone
Report if anything seems suspicious in the cyber world
(September 20, 2022) “Who do you want to be when you grow up?” Whenever Vaishnavi Jaiswal was asked the question growing up, she would say, “An astronaut like Kalpana Chawla.” By the time she reached high school, her answer had changed. She discovered a passion for coding. She soon realised, however, that whether it was astronomy or coding, not many girls aspire to enter STEM fields. The glaring gender gap in STEM aspirants led the 16-year-old to found Salubrious, an initiative to promote gender equality. “Content and resources in the field are very gender biased,” she tells Global Indian. In 2022, she won the Diana Award for having impacted more than 55,000 students from 45 countries through workshops and events, supported by over 100 volunteers. [caption id="attachment_22108" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Vaishnavi Jaiswal, founder of The Salubrious Organisation[/caption] “Even though tech is so accessible, there is a lack of women who opt for the field, possibly because STEM subjects seem intimidating,” Vaishnavi says. This resonated with her – Vaishnavi had also lacked role models who could be approached for guidance. She too had been skeptical about making STEM her future field of study. “It was like a very personal problem for me. I
“Even though tech is so accessible, there is a lack of women who opt for the field, possibly because STEM subjects seem intimidating,” Vaishnavi says. This resonated with her – Vaishnavi had also lacked role models who could be approached for guidance. She too had been skeptical about making STEM her future field of study.
“It was like a very personal problem for me. I was determined to do something about it, even though I was very young and didn’t know how to go about starting or running a non-profit.”
Impactful associations
Vaishnavi soon found that there are plenty of women in tech making an impact, whose efforts are not always acknowledged. She began conducting interviews and writing about them on her blog.
“That’s how Salubrious initially started – as a blog, and it soon grew into a non-profit organisation with the launching of workshops on ‘STEM for change’,” she explains. “Now we have expanded our mission to not just promote STEM education for girls but also to teach them financial literacy, sponsor their education and provide skill development and entrepreneurship guidance. We also make them aware of government schemes that could benefit them.” Her organisation conducts a mix of online and offline activities.
Rising above the odds
‘Nothing came easy’ for the teen, the biggest barrier being her age. Born and raised in Gorakhpur, she had to function within a society that simply wasn’t as open-minded as a metropolitan city. However, after initial hiccups, Vaishnavi was able to establish confidence in her purpose and associate her cause with NGOs and schools that helped her movement grow.
“Social media has played a good role in expanding our reach,” she remarks. ‘The Salubrious Organisation’ has chapters abroad in places like Nigeria, Kenya, USA, Canada, Nepal, UAE, Bangladesh, Philippines, Malaysia and South Africa.
Equality is for everyone
Salubrious’ volunteers from different countries identify under-resourced schools in their own localities, organise ‘STEM for change’ workshops that follow a specially-crafted curriculum and monitor progress. Children are taught the importance of learning science in an application-based manner, to help them understand that STEM is useful to our lives in countless ways. The team has also organised a LeadHERship Summit which saw participation from youngsters from various countries. It conducts Tech Connect every three months, which is a work shop and panel discussion surrounding computer science and technology.
[caption id="attachment_22110" align="aligncenter" width="815"] Vaishnavi after a 'STEM for Change' workshop[/caption]
“Our major focus is girls but we are inclusive in nature. So, the workshops are for all genders and are conducted by male volunteers also. If we are standing for gender equality,everyone should be made part of the movement,” tells Vaishnavi.
Turning heads
Vaishnavi’s initiatives are inspirational in more ways than one. The youngest of four siblings, she is grateful to her parents who have ensured good education for all their kids even though they didn’t have it themselves. Her father dropped out in middle school, while her mother graduated class 10.
The youngster works relentlessly to make a difference in the lives of other girls from humble backgrounds, who lack the resources they need to chase their aspirations. After she won $1000 as Girl Up's Project Award from United Nations Foundation, and crowd funding from local shopkeepers, she equipped a school with five computers and a science lab.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSy9V-edNe0
The 12th grade student of Gorakhpur Public School, intends to study computer science, environment ethics and economics in college. She received $1500 after winning 2022 Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award for funding her education of 11th and 12th grade. Apart from addressing gender gap in STEM, Vaishnavi has been working to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene in underprivileged communities through her 'period power' project. She aspires to become a social-tech entrepreneur to introduce game changing solutions for society's benefit.
Vaishnavi will soon be participating at the UN General Assembly 77 Science Summit, a hybrid event taking place in the US. The changemaker has been named a Global Teen Leader in 2022 and received the Young Achiever’s Award in 2021.
With her amber eyes watching her prey, Solo the tigress crouches amid tall brown grass, beautifully camouflaged. In a second, she pounces on a chital deer. Her teeth tear into its flesh, and she devours him. Solo is the big cat who stole the thunder on Safari with Suyash – Season 1, a wildlife series by environmentalist Suyash Keshari. Amidst the lush foliage, rolling hills and grasslands of Bandhavgarh National Park, Solo found her habitat where she first met Suyash eight years ago. A capture of the six-month-old earned Suyash the Nature’s Best Photography Asia Award, which incidentally hung at Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC for a year. Solo played a huge part in Suyash’s journey into wildlife filmmaking as his debut five-part series managed to impress the World Wildlife Fund, which eventually became its distributor. "My first series was inspired by my early life in Central India, its people and animals. It was showcased at the 13th United Nations Convention on Migratory Species in February 2020," Suyash tells Global Indian in an exclusive. [caption id="attachment_16950" align="aligncenter" width="607"] A picture of Solo clicked by Suyash Keshari[/caption] For the past three years, this champion of wildlife conservation has been
lobalindian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Solo-1-3.jpg" alt="Solo" width="607" height="950" /> A picture of Solo clicked by Suyash Keshari[/caption]
For the past three years, this champion of wildlife conservation has been navigating through unexplored territory of the park to capture the raw and unfiltered beauty of nature.
A childhood in the lap of nature
He grew up in Central India where his IAS officer dad was posted. Thus for the Madhya Pradesh-born, his love for wildlife began early. On his first visit to a zoo as a four-year-old, he learnt (from his maternal grandfather) that animals aren’t free like those he saw on wildlife shows. Instead, they are caged for life. "It broke my heart, and set me on a path to learn more about our wild animals and observe them in their habitat," he recalls.
Instead of guffawing to Tom & Jerry as a five-year-old, Suyash would spend hours watching wildlife shows. Often, he would sprawl languidly in his backyard, spotting birds, climbing guava trees, or observing fish by a pond. "I always wanted to do something related to wildlife, film and photography, and document these sightings. Growing up, people from across the world would present on Indian wildlife. I wondered why an Indian could not do the same," muses the environmentalist whose supportive family cheered him on.
Switching gears to political advocacy
Inspired by mavericks like Steve Irwin, Steve Backshall, and Nigel Marven, Keshari was ready to become a wildlife presenter like his childhood heroes. Yet, his enthusiasm was met with dissent by field experts in India. At age 17, a career in wildlife was considered a suicide mission with no guaranteed results or hefty paycheck. "They told me that it would take me at least 10 to 15 years to create a name. When this came from the people who I looked up to, I accepted it as the only truth. I gave up on my dream and moved to the US," recalls Keshari.
[caption id="attachment_16951" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Suyash Keshari with lions at Bandhavgarh National Park.[/caption]
In America, he switched gears to political advocacy - a degree from Wake Forest University, and then a cushy job at Washington DC. Yet, something was amiss. He yearned for the woods, wildlife and nature. "My deep-seated love for wildlife, and the quest to fulfill my childhood dream led me in 2019 to quit my job and become a full-time wildlife presenter. It also brought me back to my homeland, India. There was no other place I could think of but my beloved, Bandhavgarh National Park (to start my journey as a wildlife presenter) - it had shaped my life and made me the person I am today," beams the 25-year-old with pride.
Finding his true calling
For a child who picked up his dad's camera to record wild stories, he was a natural. A self-taught photographer, his urge to tell stories was prime. "For me, it was always about capturing nature’s beauty and explaining the importance of conservation. Moreover, I would tell stories of the human-wildlife conflict, and make people aware of the beautiful natural heritage that our planet offers. I knew that in order to stand out, I had to be myself," reveals Suyash, whose Instagram account has over 46k followers.
Suyash went viral on the OTT scene in 2019 with Safari with Suyash. Entirely self-funded, the series was picked up by WWF International for a web release, and it opened the doors to wildlife film making. "The idea was to create something people could emotionally connect with. It is vital for people to feel attached to wildlife, only then will they care," says the wildlife presenter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia4SRQcM7cg
Happy to put the spotlight on wildlife conservation, forest community upliftment, and virtual safaris, his aim was to show something completely raw, authentic and unfiltered. Today, the Bandhavgarh National Park is his playground, and the wild animals, his muse.
With the help of a few friends, Suyash recently provided electricity through solar lamps to 175 anti-poaching camps at the national park that he funded from his virtual safaris. "More than 250 forest staff received shoes, raincoats, and bags. Another 200 staff received solar torches to help with night patrol and phone charging. It's vital to take care of the people who take care of our natural heritage," reveals the conservationist who was a former associate at Legislative Affairs and State Engagement at US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.
India’s first OTT wildlife platform
Since virtual safaris had never been done in India before, Suyash has carved a niche by creating India’s first virtual safari experience which comes at a cost of ₹5000. "Buy a membership, jump into the back of the jeep from the comfort of your home and indulge in a wild, raw and epic adventure," coaxes the presenter who loves chasing sunsets.
[caption id="attachment_16952" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] A leopard at Bandhavgarh National Park[/caption]
Suyash along with his small team often brave Madhya Pradesh’s scorching sun and torrential rain to capture footage that resonates. "The biggest challenge isn’t the endless wait in adverse conditions or tracking an animal. It is the willingness of the mind and heart to work harder to achieve the goals, but the body is just too tired to keep going. The challenge is to overcome the setbacks and keep going no matter what," says Suyash who wants to expand virtual tours on Safari with Suyash.
"The idea, for now, is to expand the ‘Safari with Suyash- TV’ platform as much as possible along with our conservation merchandise line. The focus would lie on connecting people with nature, whether virtually or physically with safaris and tours. For me, there’s still a long way to go and a lot more to do and connecting more and more people to nature and wildlife on the way," signs off Keshari.
(July 10, 2024) For a boy who has just turned 18, Ashish Kumar Verma has accumulated a lifetime of experiences. At eight, he learned to write with his left hand due to circumstances and has come a long way, inspiring many with his multifaceted achievements. Due to his innovative science and technology projects Aashish has had the opportunity to interact with the Prime Minister and President of India that helped strengthen his determination to be of use to the society. “I have not only met the Prime Minister twice but also shared the stage with him as an anchor during Pariksha Pe Charcha,” he tells Global Indian. On another occasion, the winner of Rashtriya Bal Vaigyanik Puraskar showcased one of his science projects to the Prime Minister, at an event. This presentation also led to a discussion where the Prime Minister suggested the idea of an app to control students' screen time. Inspired by this, Ashish has launched NamasteScreen, an app designed to help students become more focused. [caption id="attachment_38560" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Ashish with PM during Pariksha pe Charcha and with President at Rashtrapati Bhavan[/caption] Adding to his impressive list of experiences, the youngster had the opportunity of visiting the Rashtrapati
ontrol students' screen time. Inspired by this, Ashish has launched NamasteScreen, an app designed to help students become more focused.
[caption id="attachment_38560" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Ashish with PM during Pariksha pe Charcha and with President at Rashtrapati Bhavan[/caption]
Adding to his impressive list of experiences, the youngster had the opportunity of visiting the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raksha Bandhan, where he gifted a Rakhi to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. He also witnessed the launch of Chandrayaan 3 in the presence of the Union Minister of State in the Department of Space, Jitendra Singh. "Such opportunities have been humbling and inspiring. They have increased my appreciation for our nation's leaders, cultural traditions, and technological prowess," he says.
His scientific acumen has also earned the Delhi based youngster a fully funded trip to Japan as part of the Sakura Science Program. With three research papers and numerous awards and speaking opportunities to his credit, Ashish won a bronze medal and a cash award of Rs 50,000 at the WorldSkills national championship. He also secured second place at the national-level Microsoft Fastest Coder Hackathon, winning a medal. Having cleared JEE this year, he is all set to join IIT-Delhi to pursue a bachelor's in engineering.
NamasteScreen
In 2022, Ashish created the project 'AR Prayogshala,' aimed at accelerating the implementation of NEP 2020. The project has already garnered over 25,000 users. His teachers at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Delhi have also utilised it to create content for the PM eVidya Channel.
During Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2024 Aashish had the opportunity to showcase his project to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who presided over the event. During their interaction, PM Modi suggested developing an application to help students reduce mobile phone distractions, decrease screen time, and improve focus.
"The conversation inspired me to create NamasteScreen," Aashish says. "It's more than just an app; it offers a complete screen makeover to reduce distractions and increase focus. The project is being developed as open-source and is currently in the alpha-testing phase.
"Developers from all over are contributing to create this launcher for anyone looking to overcome phone addiction," he adds. "This collective collaboration helps us achieve our goals faster and allows us to directly address the needs and concerns of our target users. We are actively collecting feedback through an open GitHub repository where users can raise issues and request features."
In love with technology
Ashish had developed an interest in working with computers at a young age, which sparked his early passion for programming. Although he will be joining IIT-Delhi soon, he has been at the prestigious institution before. As part of Code Day Delhi, an initiative by Hack Club - an international organisation promoting scientific culture among youth and partially funded by Elon Musk - he participated in an event that encourages young people to build innovative projects.
During this event, Ashish and his team created a real-life human interaction AI. “This AI can engage in conversation and perform various tasks, functioning like a super-intelligent assistant. It's not just a concept—it's a working system,” he mentions.
[caption id="attachment_38563" align="aligncenter" width="573"] Ashish at IIT Delhi[/caption]
He not only won the Code Day Delhi award but also had the opportunity to showcase his AI innovation at Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2024, where it was used to welcome the Prime Minister of India upon his arrival. “The AI greeted the Prime Minister, demonstrating its capabilities in a high-profile setting using facial recognition technology,” he shares.
Just before the launch of Chandrayaan 3, Ashish had scored a perfect 10 in the Space Innovation Challenge organised by NITI Aayog and ISRO. For this challenge, he designed a spacecraft for a Mars mission capable of accommodating humans. “I named it KDMMH (Kyunki Dil Mein Mars Hai - Because Mars is in the Heart), inspired by the movie 'Mission Mangal',” he tells.
A memorable trip to Japan as part of Sakura Science Program
As part of a cohort of 63 talented students from across India, Ashish had the opportunity to visit Japan thanks to his successful project AR Prayogshala. It's an experience he cherishes not just for the learnings but also for the camaraderie that developed while travelling and staying together in a hotel.
Organised by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Sakura Science Program is an international youth exchange program that invites young people from across the world to Japan for a short period. This opportunity enables young scholars to learn about leading-edge science and technology and interact with scientifically inclined young minds in Japan.
[caption id="attachment_38564" align="aligncenter" width="717"] Ashish Kumar Verma with the cohort from India at Sakura Science Program[/caption]
Growing up as a fan of Doraemon and Shin-chan, Ashish excitedly shares how he saw houses similar to Nobita's from Doraemon and ate Shin-chan's favourite choco chips. “It was like living out scenes from the anime I watched as a child,” he remarks.
One of the highlights of the event was attending a lecture by Nobel Prize winner Hiroshi Kitagawa. They also visited several labs at Kyoto University, which further ignited Ashish’s passion for STEM. “This experience made me realise that I want to combine technology and pure science to create innovative solutions, as I believe true breakthroughs now lie in interdisciplinary approaches,” says Ashish, who also visited Tokyo and Osaka during the trip. He soaked in the diversity that the two bustling cities offered in comparison to the calmness of Kyoto, ending with a feeling of being 'in two different worlds.'
“We visited many pilgrimage sites and temples. The experience was so surreal, it felt like being in a movie. Later, we explored various scientific institutions. I was particularly impressed by our visit to the RIKEN Science Centre, where we witnessed a real-life 'invisible frog' experiment - the frog was only visible under blue light, reminiscent of the movie 'Mr. India',” he remarks.
[caption id="attachment_38578" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Ashish during his Japan trip[/caption]
Although the opportunity clashed with another prestigious offer to visit Oxford University, Ashish chose the Japan trip instead. “The event aligned more with my future goals,” remarks the youngster who has lived in different parts of the country owing to his father’s transferable job.
The trip culminated in a cultural performance where members of each country showcased their culture. “I was selected to give the closing speech. We had just five minutes to showcase India's rich and diverse culture through our performance. The Japanese hosts and other international delegates particularly enjoyed our presentation.”
Rising above odds
Ashish is a great example of rising above odds. In 2014, a tragedy struck. Through sheer willpower and support from his parents, Ashish persevered. “When I was eight, my right hand was caught in a lift. The following year was a blur of hospital stays, five to six operations, and numerous minor surgeries. I struggled to perform basic tasks, and writing became a challenge. Throughout it all, my parents, though worried about my future, never let their tears show. Instead, they fuelled my spirit with motivation,” he recalls.
He learned to write with his left hand and honed his motor skills by learning to play the piano. His determination didn’t stop there. “I trained rigorously and clinched a gold medal in Taekwondo. My passion for puzzles led me to set a national record of 17 seconds in a Rubik’s Cube championship. At 12, I won my first hackathon, followed by the top prize in a Google competition and victories in over 10 more hackathons,” he adds.
[caption id="attachment_38569" align="aligncenter" width="721"] Ashish with Sara Kemp, Vice President, Intel Government Affairs and Gokul V Subramaniam. Intel India President[/caption]
Venturing into freelance work and founding his startup, AI Navya, Ashish started exploring the world of AI, working on innovative projects that fetched him the Rashtriya Bal Vaigyanik Puraskar and a trip to Japan.
The multifaceted youngster has been invited to speak at prestigious events including Google DevFest in Noida, the INTEL AI Student Community platform, and the National Apprenticeship Awareness Workshop organised by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), among others.
“Throughout my journey, I have been blessed with great mentors who have guided and supported me. Our real treasures are our parents, teachers, and mentors who nurture and believe in us,” he signs off.
(April 18, 2024) Having doctor parents, who work as a gynaecologist and an anaesthesiologist, emergency cases were the norm. But with no one to take care of him at home, Archit Patil would often accompany his parents to the hospital. After successful surgeries, he could see happiness on his parents' faces but maternal deaths left them devastated. "I witnessed the emotional trauma my parents would go through. Feeding my curiosity, I learned from my parents that there is no single/ideal method to measure post-delivery blood loss accurately during childbirth. This information gap leads to a delay in diagnosis and the tragic death of mothers despite marathon efforts by the medical team. This inspired me to find a solution to the problem," said Archit, who ended up designing a PPH cup that can efficiently measure postpartum blood loss, thus preventing maternal deaths. The innovation earned him Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in 2021. [caption id="attachment_37254" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Archit Patil[/caption] How it began It all began in Grade 6 when while working on a science project on sanitary waste for the Dr. Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik Competition, he learnt about menstrual cups. Understanding their design and functionality gave Archit the idea of a
Grade 6 when while working on a science project on sanitary waste for the Dr. Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik Competition, he learnt about menstrual cups. Understanding their design and functionality gave Archit the idea of a postpartum haemorrhage cup. He discussed the idea and started building up the initial prototype using a spare menstrual cup from his mother to create a metal mold. This prototype was then showcased to obstetricians within his parents' professional circle who could help perfect the design with their feedback.
After a few modifications, the prototype underwent testing for safety and toxicity at the Indian Drugs Research Laboratory (IDRL) in Pune in March 2020. Explaining the usage of the PPH cup, Archit said that made from medical-grade silicone, the cup is inserted into the birth canal either before or after a cesarean section, or following a natural childbirth. "It has two ports at the end. One is for attaching the blood collection bag, while the other provides a facility for suction to avoid blockage of the system due to blood clots. As we create negative pressure in the suction machine, we can directly suck out the blood clots and that can help prevent atonic postpartum haemorrhage, and thus present a real chance of saving the mother’s life," he added.
Creating an impact
Archit's father - Rahul Patil, a gynaecologist, calls it a life-saving device as it provides doctors with precise real-time measurements of blood loss, crucial for managing postpartum haemorrhage, especially within the critical 'golden hour.' "At present, there is no such prevalent method to measure blood loss. My son’s innovation will revolutionise the way post-delivery blood loss is monitored in clinical practice and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity," he had added.
In the last few years, the device has been used by over 50 hospitals across the country, and Archit is happy that his innovation is saving the lives of mothers. Moreover, the device doesn't add to the issue of medical waste as it can reused after autoclave and sterilisation.
Archit credits his parents for encouraging him in this journey of innovation. "From networking with professionals from their field to offering financial support needed to take my innovation from an idea to an actual product, they played a pivotal role," he said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTGJfHVtURc&t=51s
Keen to learn artificial intelligence, machine learning, and coding, the teenager wants to get into the best universities in the world. He believes it's important to work hard and push towards your goals. "This world needs to think of developing many more smart and sustainable solutions for a variety of problems."
His remarkable achievement at a young age epitomises the power of innovation and compassion. His invention of the PPH cup, designed to potentially save countless lives during childbirth, marks a significant leap forward in maternal healthcare. With his dedication and determination, Archit has not only demonstrated his talent but also his commitment to making a positive impact on the world. His story serves as an inspiration to young minds everywhere, reminding us that age is no barrier to making a difference and that even the simplest of ideas can have profound and life-saving implications.
(May 20, 2023) When he was living in Lisbon, Portugal, Neel Ghose, co-founder of the Robin Hood Army, came across an organisation named Re-Food. They took surplus food from restaurants and distributed it among the homeless every night. Ghose was struck by the simplicity of the idea - it brought compassion to capitalism, minimised food wastage and addressed the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Global Indian looks at how Ghose and a team of co-founders, including Aarushi Batra, began the Robin Hood Army, which now operates in four countries including Inda and Pakistan, has served over 68 million means to date. According to UN data, nearly 8.9 percent of the world's population, or 690 million people are hungry (as measured by the prevalence of under-nourishment). The World Food Programme records show that 135 million people suffer from acute hunger due to man-made conflicts, climate change and economic downturns. In essence, a quarter of a billion people are at the potential brink of starvation. The startup model Ghose was so taken by the idea, as well as the success of its execution, he wondered why he couldn't try the same thing in India. "I arranged for a few
Ghose was so taken by the idea, as well as the success of its execution, he wondered why he couldn't try the same thing in India. "I arranged for a few meetings with the founders and decided to replicate it in India. Once I returned, a few friends and I served 150 people in south Delhi on our first night of distribution," said Ghose, who went on to do his masters in business administration from Harvard University.
In August 2014, the Robin Hood Army (RHA) began with a Facebook, inviting everybody they knew. The response was instant and requests came pouring in. "I will never forget that night," Ghose said, at a TedXGateway event. That first night in August, Ghose and a few friends stopped under a flyover in Hauz Khas. They saw a family of six huddled together, sharing a leftover pizza. Further down the road, an old couple, the woman was blind, foraged through a trash can for something to eat. "I have been brought up in India, we have all seen poverty," Ghose said. "But what was overwhelming was that these are our neighbours. We have no idea of the sheer scale of hunger and neglect a few minutes from where we live."
Logistics is key
Hunger, Ghose believes, is not a problem that can be solved by the UN or the governments. "Logistics," he proclaims, "Can and will provide the solution." The Robin Hood Army is not an NGO, nor is it a largescale civic movement. "Ours is a simple model. We function like a startup and our job is to match demand with supply through simple logistics solutions." Young professionals, who work during the day, volunteer their time to a hyperlocal model.
Food is collected from restaurants, weddings and parties and distributed to homeless people in the area. "We distribute it among the homeless, who don't know their next meal is coming from, or if it will come at all," says co-founder Aarushi Batra, in a TedX talk. Responses came pouring in from across the country, with people volunteering their time. The press showed its support and the Facebook page went viral. "Restaurants were so generous," said Ghose, "That many gave freshly-cooked food instead of leftovers." Three years after they began, the RHA had established its presence in 58 cities, with 13,000 Robins and nearly 50 lakh meals served. In 2019, the Delhi Capitals got in touch, asking them to distribute the leftover meals from Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. Not long after, the team invited around 15 kids who had been served food from the RHA to watch a match.
[caption id="attachment_22580" align="aligncenter" width="622"] Neel Ghose. Photo: Harvard Business School[/caption]
Pandemic... and scaling up
When the pandemic hit, the team had to come up with a new strategy overnight. Again, working with their decentralised model, volunteers came up with their own safety protocols. They were on call as busloads of migrant workers exited the big cities and started the 'senior patrol'. "During the daily phases of the pandemic, we had people writing to us and saying their parents were stuck at home without access to essentials," said Batra.
The team circulated a basic Google Form and circulated it everywhere. Volunteers addressed thousands of requests - those who weren't living with parents or other senior citizens would go out to pick up medicines, fresh produce and whatever else was needed, which they distributed.
The Robin Hood Army learned to apply their model to tackle a number of other problems. In 2016, when Maharashtra reeled under severe drought, the RHA volunteers mobilised schools, colleges and offices in their neighbourhoods. They began sending 75,000 litres of water to rural areas, on a special train, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As the organisation grew stronger locally, they decided it was time to expand and first on the list was Pakistan, which faces very similar problems.
[caption id="attachment_22581" align="aligncenter" width="591"] With co-founder Aarushi Batra[/caption]
Serving up compassion
"It's not merely about handing out food," Ghose said. "I would like to believe that we have a baseline of compassion in what we do." A team of lawyers who visited a girl's orphanage in South Delhi, would spend time with the kids, talking to them about the importance of school and of knowing politics. "Eight of those girls decided to pursue law as a career," he explained.
Vaishnavi after a 'STEM for Change' workshop[/caption]
Suyash Keshari with lions at Bandhavgarh National Park.[/caption]
A leopard at Bandhavgarh National Park[/caption]
Ashish with PM during Pariksha pe Charcha and with President at Rashtrapati Bhavan[/caption]
Ashish at IIT Delhi[/caption]
Ashish Kumar Verma with the cohort from India at Sakura Science Program[/caption]
Ashish during his Japan trip[/caption]
Ashish with Sara Kemp, Vice President, Intel Government Affairs and Gokul V Subramaniam. Intel India President[/caption]
Neel Ghose. Photo: 
With co-founder Aarushi Batra[/caption]