Vibha Janakiraman: The violinist who enchanted the White House
Written by: Team GI Youth
(July 1, 2023) In a harmonious convergence of diplomacy and artistic brilliance, the corridors of power at the White House resonated with the enchanting melodies of 17-year-old Vibha Janakiraman, a young Indian American prodigious young violinist. Amidst the distinguished guests and the grandeur of a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden, it was the sublime talent of this 2023 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts that captivated all who were present.
The youngster, who has graced illustrious stages with her mesmerising performances for years, masterfully rendered Kreisler’s enchanting Recitativo and Scherzo at the White House, casting an ethereal spell upon the audience gathered for this momentous occasion. Speaking to the media after her performance, the violinist said, “It was such a privilege to play at the White House and to be a representation of Indian Americans everywhere! I had the most inspiring view: the Jefferson Memorial directly in front of me and the Washington Monument off to the side. I tried to soak in every moment of that experience, using silences between phrases to allow the beautiful location to be a part of my music-making. I will treasure this forever, and I am so grateful to the people and mentors that made this possible.”
One among that audience was the First Lady of the USA, Jill Biden, who took to Twitter to praise the grace and finesse of this young virtuoso. Sharing a photograph of Vibha, Jill Biden tweeted, “Vibha Janakiraman, a youth violinist and 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts kicked off the Official State Visit for the Republic of India today. Vibha honored her cultural connection to Western classical and South Indian classical music for guests at the White House (sic).”
Melodic majesty
Inspired by her grandfather – who is also a prominent Carnatic classical musician and stage performer – Vibha embarked on her musical odyssey at the tender age of six, when she started learning violin and Carnatic music under his guidance. However, growing up in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the youngster was heavily influenced by Western classical music as well.
“I always liked music, and grew up surrounded by music as my grandfather is a professional South Indian musician and musicologist,” the violinist said during an interview, adding, “When I was about six, my parents decided that it would be good for me to learn a musical instrument, and violin was the most well-known instrument at the time for me. So, we went to the Music School of Delaware, and signed me up for the violin classes there. Since the first class, the violin has been a core part of my life. I feel that it is not the instrument that makes as much of a difference to me as just being able to play music.”
The violinist, who recently graduated from the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School, is now gearing up to embark on her bachelor’s degree journey at Juilliard School’s pre-college division this year, under the tutelage of the distinguished Catherine Cho and the legendary Itzhak Perlman. The Global Indian currently performs on a loaned 1855 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin, graciously provided by the Tarisio Trust.
It’s a musical world…
An academic genius, who loves to study mathematics and Sanskrit, the young violinist finds music in every aspect of her life. “Even when I am not playing the violin, I am usually doing something musical or listening to music,” the violinist shared, “I think it is because of my Carnatic music training, I am drawn to the Sanskrit language. I find it intellectually stimulating and quite beautiful. I feel it’s a great way for me to connect with my culture, but also studying a language like Sanskrit, which has so many intricacies is also just very interesting.”
Vibha performing at the White House
The violinist, who has on the Estella Hillersohn 2018 scholarship and the 2019 Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra competition, has previously played with the Gray Charitable Trust Advanced Scholarship Piano Trio at the Settlement School and has performed as a soloist with several orchestras in the Philadelphia region. In her message to young musicians across the globe, the youngster said, “I think it is important that one finds which aspects of music, or which medium resonates with you the most, and what brings you the most joy. Use that as a reason to always remember why you do what you do. Because when you are playing an instrument there will always be several periods when things aren’t going the way you want or you might feel like your progress isn’t how you planned it to be. So, for those days, it is helpful to know what I love about music and why I am pursuing it.”
(October 18, 2023) After an intense, two-day competition, with 12 top bartenders around the world mixing and stirring their way to the top prize, it was a big moment for the Indian bartending community when Aashie Bhatnagar was named the winner of the prestigious People’s Choice Award in World Class. One of the world’s premier bartending competitions, World Class 2023 took place in Sao Paulo in September this year, where Aashie represented India. On Day 1 of the competition, Aashie emerged as the crowd favourite from among an elite group of 50 bartenders, earning her spot in the top 12, as the only female finalist, before going on to win the coveted People’s Choice Award. [caption id="attachment_33619" align="aligncenter" width="513"] Aashie Bhatnagar[/caption] Aashie expressed her gratitude to the Indian bartending community for their support through her journey, beginning from the moment she won the Indian finals, all the way to representing the country at Sao Paulo, Brazil. “I have been overwhelmed with messages and shoutouts, offers for help and so on. Knowing they were watching from back home, and that I could make them proud, was a driving force for me. I am very grateful for the love I received and I
e moment she won the Indian finals, all the way to representing the country at Sao Paulo, Brazil. “I have been overwhelmed with messages and shoutouts, offers for help and so on. Knowing they were watching from back home, and that I could make them proud, was a driving force for me. I am very grateful for the love I received and I am really very happy I could do this for you all.”
Getting inspired
It was coming across images of Jeet Rana, who had represented India at Miami in a previous World Class edition, that had ignited the fire in Aashie to fetch a laurel like him.
“It ignited a dream within me—a dream that would shape my life in ways I couldn't have imagined,” shared the bartender who spent countless hours honing her craft at her work station, fixing errors, and pushing herself to become better in her craft. In all this endeavour she garnered immense support of team members of Cobbler & Crew – her workplace in Pune, and Mayur Marne, her colleague who has been her consistent and greatest supporter.
[caption id="attachment_33620" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Aashie Bhatnagar with Mayur Marne[/caption]
Fruit of persistence
Winning World Class India had been Aashie’s dream for four years. She fought hard and hustled right from the first day she stepped behind the bars to achieve this dream of hers.
Her journey with World Class started in 2021, when she competed with several talented bartenders from across India to represent the country on the global platform. Although she made it to the finals of the India competition, she eventually returned home with a dream still unfulfilled. Determined not to let this setback mark the end of her aspirations, she carried on training to win her fraternity’s most coveted trophy.
This year, after competing in several rounds of challenges that tested her mixology skills, creativity, and knowledge, she was able to emerge India’s representative to World Class, winning the title of World Class India Bartender of the Year 2023. She took a significant stride forward by bagging the People’s Choice award at the global platform, proving that persistence pays.
While announcing Aashie’s achievements, her employer Cobbler & Crew shared on social media, “When Aashie joined our team, unlike other bartenders, her life goal wasn’t to open her own bar - She wanted to represent India at World Class and last night her dream became a reality."
The 2023 World Class Global Bartender of the Year title was claimed by Jacob Martin from Canada.
Journey of representing India
Being chosen as India's representative in the global competition was no small accomplishment. Following months of preparation, Aashie and 14 other bartenders endured a weekend of stiff competition.
The event was judged by a panel from around the world, including Manu Chandra, Ashish Kapur, Jenna Ba, Millie Tang and Yangdup Lama, with Aashie emerging as the World Class India Bartender of the Year 2023. “As I stand behind the bar, shaker in hand, I find myself in a world of flavours and stories. Each cocktail I craft is an expression of my soul, a piece of art meant to be savoured and enjoyed,” said the ace bartender, who is one of the stars at Pune’s Cobbler & Crew.
From Uttarakhand to the craft of mixology
Cobbler & Crew holds a special place in Aashie's heart, as she cherishes her role as an innovation artist - the title of the position highlights the vital significance her workplace adds to the bartender's craft.
Aashie's career began as a guest service associate at the Oberoi Gurgaon’s bar. After that, she served as a bartender at the Kimon Club and The Ritz-Carlton in Pune. The Dehradun-girl graduated from the Kukreja Institute of Hotel Management Dehradun, and the Bar Academy of Doon.
2023 has been a year of awards for her as she also won the ‘Mixologist of the Year’ title at Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2023.
(June 7, 2024) Among the numerous top international celebrities who walked the Cannes red carpet this year was an unusual debut by Nancy Tyagi, from Barnawa village in Uttar Pradesh. The 23-year-old turned heads with her self-made pink gown at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, becoming an overnight sensation. With 2.5 million followers on Instagram, she boasts several brand endorsements and has garnered popularity and appreciation from even the celebrities. The Delhi-based influencer captured hearts after representing India on the global stage at Cannes 2024, showcasing her self-designed and self-stitched outfits. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindia) “Stepping onto the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a debutant feels surreal. I poured my heart and soul into creating this pink gown, which took 30 days, 1,000 meters of fabric, and weighs over 20kg,” Nancy shared with her fans soon after her Cannes debut. “The journey has been intense, but every moment was worth it. I'm overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the love and support from all of you. This is a dream come true, and I hope my creation dazzles you as much as your support has inspired
“Stepping onto the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a debutant feels surreal. I poured my heart and soul into creating this pink gown, which took 30 days, 1,000 meters of fabric, and weighs over 20kg,” Nancy shared with her fans soon after her Cannes debut. “The journey has been intense, but every moment was worth it. I'm overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the love and support from all of you. This is a dream come true, and I hope my creation dazzles you as much as your support has inspired me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!” she added.
Stumbling into dress designing
Nancy had never imagined her life would turn into such a fairy tale when she decided to move to New Delhi from her hometown with the goal of clearing the UPSC exams. While moving from her small town of Barnawa in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, all her relatives and neighbours told her parents that the money they were investing in her coaching could be better used to marry her off. However, her parents did not pay heed to such advice. Nancy’s mother and younger brother joined her, while her father stayed back to take care of their cab service business.
Life took an unexpected turn, when the lockdown interrupted her UPSC preparations, and the savings meant for her education started getting used up for everyday expenditures. Her father had given the family three lakh rupees for studies and rent, and was in no position to send more with his business being affected by the lockdown at the time. Her mother found a job in a factory, which was exhausting. Every evening, when she would return home covered in coal dust, Nancy's heart would break.
The arts graduate and her brother even worked at a call centre for a month and left the job when they were not paid any salary. However, the unpleasant circumstances opened a new door, one that led to her true passion - dress designing. Despite lacking formal training or a fashion degree, Nancy began creating outfits from scratch using an old sewing machine that was gifted to her mother at the time of her wedding.
“When we had just about a lakh of savings left, I decided to quickly buy a camera and start making videos and reels for Instagram to showcase my talent in dress designing. I thought that even if my plan didn't work out, I would have no regrets about not trying.”
Inspired by influencers, she wore her dresses to showcase the designs while her brother directed and shot her videos. They hoped their content creation endeavour would be successful someday, leading to brand deals and earning opportunities, so that they could give their mother a break from her unhappy job.
Getting success – an uphill task
For one year, they struggled to increase their views, which remained in the mere hundreds. Nancy decided to try something different and started adding dance elements to her videos, even though she didn't know much about dancing.
To increase her following, she began recreating dresses of celebrities and influencers using clothes bought from local shops. Through trial and error, she crafted elaborate outfits inspired by icons like Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and many others. "I have never learned stitching," she says. "When I was a child, I used to stitch my dolls' clothes. I had bags full of clothes for my dolls. Using the same steps I started stitching my own clothes."
She modelled the outfits herself and danced to Bollywood numbers to make the videos interesting. People initially found her content weird and started making memes. She faced harsh trolls and body shaming. Relatives called to scold her, saying, "Look what you have done. People are making fun of you."
Undeterred, Nancy continued. Gradually, her follower count started increasing as she and her brother got into the groove of content creation. Once she started gaining popularity, people stopped body shaming her and calling her "skinny," and began appreciating her designs. "Complaining relatives stopped calling. Now I call them to share my success," she said in an interview.
“Earlier, I didn’t have the money to purchase a better sewing machine, but now I have got used to using it for two to three years. Even though I have the money now, I don’t think I need to buy a new one immediately,” she said. However, she made some purchases with her own money - something she couldn’t have imagined a few years ago - such as an iPhone.
The Cannes charisma
Brut India, a fast-growing digital video publisher, took notice of the rising star and promoted her talent by sharing her story with their audience. They even gave her a life-changing chance to be part of the Brut India Squad at Cannes.
Due to visa issues, her brother's plans to fly to Cannes were stalled at the last moment. It was the first time she was on a professional venture without her brother Manu. However, managing well without him gave her confidence that she could handle things on her own. “I had not gone anywhere without Manu but went straight to France without him,” she smiled.
Flying abroad to one of the fashion world’s most prestigious events to showcase her couture, and that too on a business class ticket, has been an unbelievable experience that has filled Nancy with new energy. “Now I don’t want to copy or recreate. It will be my designs only,” said the designer upon her return. Many people including fashion icon Sonam Kapoor have asked her to design something for her. Nancy is more than happy.
Nancy Tyagi's journey from Barnawa to the Cannes red carpet epitomises the power of passion, determination, and resilience. Despite financial struggles, societal pressures, and harsh criticism, she transformed her dreams into reality through courage and creativity. Her success as a self-taught fashion designer, and journey to the global stage, highlights that with the courage to follow one's passions and the resilience to overcome challenges, anything is achievable. Nancy's story inspires to remain focussed on one’s dreams and steadfast in the face of adversity. Her story proves that true dedication can lead to extraordinary accomplishments.
(September 22, 2024) Ranked 11th globally and second in Asia, Rupa Bayor boasts an impressive track record, having won multiple medals at prestigious events such as the South Asian Games, Australian Open, Croatia Open, and various other international competitions. This year, Rupa made history by winning a bronze medal at the 8th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championship in Danang, Vietnam, marking India’s first-ever medal in the Senior 1 individual Poomsae (a defined pattern of defence-and-attack forms) event. "I want to thank my coach, Abhishek Dubey, who inspired me to dream big and achieve this milestone," she said after her win. Rupa’s list of achievements includes a gold medal at the World Taekwondo President Cup Europe 2023, where she became the first woman to medal in the Senior-1 Taekwondo Poomsae category at a WT grade 2 ranked event. She also won silver medals at the Oceania Open WT G2 in Brisbane, Australia, and at the World Taekwondo President Cup Oceania, as well as a bronze at the Australian Open. [caption id="attachment_39402" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Rupa Bayor and Abhishek Dubey[/caption] Rupa’s coach, Abhishek, a medal-winning athlete himself, has represented India in multiple sports events and is now involved in managing major events and elite
com/youth/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Rupa-Bayor-and-Abhishek-Dubey-1024x1010.webp" alt="Indian athletes | Rupa Bayor and Abhishek Dubey | Global Indian" width="593" height="585" /> Rupa Bayor and Abhishek Dubey[/caption]
Rupa’s coach, Abhishek, a medal-winning athlete himself, has represented India in multiple sports events and is now involved in managing major events and elite athletes from his base in Seoul.
Athlete in India, coach in Korea
Abhishek’s most recent assignment has been as an organising committee member of the South Korea’s 'Gangwon 2024' Winter Youth Olympic Games serving as a communications/NOC services manager. He has been coaching Rupa online, helping her secure medals and become the first Indian athlete to break into the top 15 of the World Taekwondo rankings.
"My coach is helping me in every way possible," Rupa said in an interview. "He lives in South Korea but still manages to find time in his busy schedule to train me remotely. He can't leave his job and come back just to train me, so I train online. Both of us are giving our best. I believe if my coach were with me, I would have performed even better," added the athlete who considers her coach her biggest strength. “I trust him more than I trust myself. If he says I can defeat an opponent, I can do it. Without him, I don’t think I would have achieved much."
From obscurity of Arunachal Pradesh to international stage
Rupa’s journey to becoming a Taekwondo champion has been inspiring. Starting with little knowledge of the sport, she has risen to prominence through her talent, dedication and hard work. Despite the challenges of training remotely with her coach, she has consistently excelled.
She is associated with the Indo Korean Taekwondo Academy in Mumbai which was founded by Abhishek Dubey in 2007. He has trained numerous Taekwondo aspirants since then.
Since Rupa lacked proper training facilities in Arunachal Pradesh, she moved to Mumbai in 2021 to train at his academy. However, the high cost of living in Mumbai made it difficult for her to make ends meet. It was then that Abhishek offered her a scholarship through his academy, which Rupa describes as life-changing.
Later, with the support of Mumbai headquartered Indian conglomerate Welspun World, her journey took off, starting with her participation in the Croatia Open as her first international event. Winning a medal there boosted her confidence immensely, and she has been grateful for Welspun’s support ever since.
[caption id="attachment_39401" align="aligncenter" width="785"] Rupa Bayor[/caption]
Aimed for a constable job, became a world champion
Reflecting on her humble beginnings, Rupa who took up the sport at the age of 15 shared, "I had never heard of Taekwondo. It’s not well-known in the villages.” Like other children in Arunachal’s village Sippi, she spent most of her childhood farming with her mother. Her father had passed away when she was a child. As a single parent, her mother worked hard to raise Rupa and her siblings.
Her uncle, who is a district Karate master, encouraged her to take up Karate initially. Later he encouraged her to switch to Taekwondo as he felt that the sport has more potential. Within a short period of time, Rupa started showing good progress, and her mother sent her to Itanagar for training.
“I started Taekwondo thinking that if I won a medal, I could secure a constable job. That’s the mindset in my area—no one had gone far in the sport, so they didn’t know much about it. I never thought I would become a professional in Taekwondo," the athlete remarked.
Her first tournament was at The National School Games in Pune. Although she lost the tournament, she gained exposure, which helped her in honing her skills.
Her first international competition was the Kim Un Yong Cup in South Korea, where she faced defeat due to her lack of experience on the global stage. Later that year, she participated in the South Asian Games, securing a silver medal. However, the pandemic caused a two-year hiatus in her playing career.
Mumbai proved lucky
In February 2021, Rupa relocated to Mumbai to improve her performance at the medal-winning coach Abhishek Dubey’s Indo Korean Taekwondo Academy. Her initial plan was to move to Mumbai for two months, but realised that it was insufficient time to practise as learning is a continuous and massive process to become a top athlete at the international level.
She is thankful to her coach Abhishek Dubey and Welspun World’s Super Sport Women Program for providing support to extend her training period.
“I made sure to do justice to my coach's efforts by training six days a week for approximately 12 hours a day for more than 15 months at Indo Korean Taekwondo Academy,” she shared. This led to her several medal-winning performances representing India internationally.
[caption id="attachment_39404" align="aligncenter" width="721"] Rupa Bayor[/caption]
Arunachal’s pride
On her short visits home, the athlete receives a lot of love and attention from the people there. “They are happy to see a woman representing their village and Arunachal Pradesh on a national and global scale.
Coming from a humble background, the girl who once aimed to win medals just to secure a constable’s job now dreams of bringing more laurels to India. She hopes to promote and teach Taekwondo to children in her village, aspiring to create champions for India, just as her coach helped her become one.
(October 27, 2023) Prakrithi Suresh is a UAE based Carnatic music vocalist and Bharatanatyam danseuse who connects the two forms through devotional perfomances. The Sharjah-based vocalist is a known face in UAE’s musical circuit, with many stage performances to her credit. She successfully conducted a ‘Health Benefit Series’ on her YouTube channel, driven by the belief that traditional Carnatic music holds a treasure trove of wellness advantages. In her quest, she explores the idea that each ragam not only carries unique health benefits but also forges a connection with nature, offering potential solutions to pressing environmental concerns. After wrapping up the series she is working on a ‘Thillana Series’ with the aim to revitalise the energies of listeners. In a harmonious convergence of culture and technology, the International Carnatic Musicians and Dancers Association (ICMDA) headed by Padma Shri A. Kanyakumari conducted an international mega event this year. Ten different world records were attempted at the event, which saw the participation of nearly 10,000 musicians and dancers from across the world. They performed the iconic ‘Aigiri Nandini’ at the same time both online and offline in live centers in different countries. [caption id="attachment_33767" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Prakrithi Suresh with ICMDA certificates and
[caption id="attachment_33767" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Prakrithi Suresh with ICMDA certificates and medal[/caption]
While musicians and dancers from different corners of the globe united in a symphony of devotion, to ensure the accuracy the event's live videos and performances underwent meticulous scrutiny by the organising body. “Only two people received their certificates from the UAE and I was one of them,” Prakrithi tells Global Indian.
This festive season, Prakrithi has been actively engaging and captivating Carnatic music enthusiasts and the spiritually-inclined alike with her mesmerising performances.
Music in blood
When Prakrithi was barely two years old, her parents were overjoyed to hear her humming the Carnatic song she had heard her father practice. Carnatic music had been in her family for generations, starting with her paternal grandfather. They were trained vocalists although none had pursued it as a career. Prakrithi’s hereditary inclinations were celebrated and encouraged by her parents and when she was three-and-a-half years old, she began her training.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MANoFb__70Q
Not only is she a gifted singer, she is also a talented Bharatanatyam dancer who has been training under the best gurus in UAE since she was four. While there are invitations for conferences and participation in music fests round the year, Prakrithi connects her gift of singing and dancing with spirituality. “I sing and dance just for the spiritual connection. My sole goal is to spread divinity, and to make everybody realise that it’s the ultimate supreme that all of us has to surrender to,” the young artist remarks.
“My parents have been very supportive and have never pressurised me about academics,” remarks Prakrithi, crediting them for her achievements so far.
Making a name
At the UAE’s national Margazhi fest 2019, Prakrithi bagged the overall champion award for excelling in all six categories of Carnatic vocal competitions. In 2020 she came second in an International Carnatic dance and music competition, which saw participation from around the world.
[caption id="attachment_27735" align="aligncenter" width="623"] Prakrithi Suresh with childrens’ book author Elisabetta Dami[/caption]
She has also received the Geronimo Stilton Foundation’s medallion from its founder, the childrens’ book author Elisabetta Dami, at the Sharjah International Book Fair, for upholding the legacy of Indian traditional art forms even while living abroad.
The musical journey
Having begun her Carnatic vocal training as a toddler, the teenager is grateful to have trained under some of the best gurus in India and the UAE. She started learning formally from her guru, Palakkad Rajesh Kesav, and went on to learn from Dr Amruta Sankaranarayanan, who is the daughter and disciple of Padma Bhusan, Sangeetha Kalanithi T V Sankaranarayanan.
The sixteen-year-old is now receiving advanced training from Dr Maithili Krishnan, professor of music, SRC College Trichy. As they are in different countries, the guru and shishya connect with each other online.
The talented disciple is also a teacher to two four-year-old pupils who have started learning Carnatic vocals from her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFJc8fhVYJw
The teen vocalist’s portfolio comprises an impressive collection of music videos on her YouTube channel. The aesthetically-shot videos have been shot by her musically-inclined engineer father.
“I do not have any motive of earning money from my performances, nor do I want to spend money on creating music videos and that’s why my father films them,” she says. Her innocent smile hides great maturity.
Prakrithi’s mother, who worked as a scientist before her daughter was born, has played a great role in evoking the sense of divinity in Carnatic vocal and Bharatanatyam for the teenager. “I am spiritually inclined and do not perform for fame,” she says, adding, “It’s my mother who tells me how I can do better if I am spiritually connected to my art.”
[caption id="attachment_33768" align="aligncenter" width="954"] Prakrithi Suresh during one of her stage performances[/caption]
The path of Bharatanatyam
Whether it is Carnatic music or Bharatanatyam, Prakrithi finds tranquillity and peace in both. While Carnatic music is a way of seeking enlightenment, Bharatanatyam is sadhana for her.
“Bharatanatyam is like uniting the soul with the absolute soul,” she says, adding, “Coming from a spiritual country like India, where the realisation of consciousness or spirit has been the supreme goal of life, it is no wonder that the oldest dance form of the country, Bharatanatyam is nothing but a form of Sadhana.”
Prakrithi had started basic training of the dance form in 2013 under her guru Sahadevan of Kalakshetra, Sharjah who is the discipline of Rukmini Devi Arundale. Currently she is honing her skills under guru Girish Kumar, the disciple of Kalamandalam Chandrika who is the disciple of the veteran actress Vaijayanthimala.
Apart from performing in various events in UAE and in functions organised by the Indian consulate of Dubai and Indian Association Sharjah; the youngster has performed in two Natyanjali’s in India as well.
On a different note…
A student of Sharjah’s Amity Private School, when Prakrithi is not busy studying or practicing, she can be found playing musical notes on her guitar or keyboard. “I have taught myself to sing English songs and play western instruments,” she shares.
The artistic teenager has already decided her professional path. “I want to become a veterinary doctor, quite opposite to what people would think,” she smiles.
(September 13, 2024) When 19-year-old Josh Roy presented his AI-implemented solution for the genetic modification of whiteflies, at the 2024 TKS Focus Hackathon, it emerged as the global winner, beating over 400 competitors from 300 cities and 80 teams. His solution aims to combat the devastating impact of Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) on cassava plants, an essential food staple in the tropics, and address food insecurity. This groundbreaking project, validated by leaders such as the Global Head of Data Science at GSK, was showcased at London Tech Week 2024, which attracted over 45,000 attendees. It also earned Josh a scholarship to the prestigious Villars Institute's inaugural ecopreneurship program. Josh is in active discussions with researchers, NGOs, and technology companies to bring his solution to market and positively impact millions of lives. This November, the US-based youngster would be flying to West Africa to receive the prestigious Global Entrepreneurs Award. “I am due to collect the award in-person in the world's first entrepreneurship village in Akure, Nigeria, where the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu and billionaire Mrs. Folorunso Alakija would be present as guests of honour,” he tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_39224" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Josh
would be present as guests of honour,” he tells Global Indian.
[caption id="attachment_39224" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Josh Roy at the London Tech Week[/caption]
There’s more to Josh’s personality. A passionate musician and host of The CapitalTycoon Podcast, where he engages with successful innovators, he was also the first student in the UK to complete a music GCSE in tabla. 'Tabla is one of the main focuses in my life alongside entrepreneurship. If you think about it, the two go hand in hand, as both require the ability to think creatively,' he remarks.
Dabbling in AI-powered innovation, music and podcasting
The British-born innovator describes himself as ‘a design engineer at the intersection of business, tech, and product design’ and is passionate about creating solutions to make the world a better place. As the developer of AI-powered innovations, he also identifies as an AI ethicist and is working on an AI-powered tabla tutor prototype designed to train students at all levels, aiming to revolutionize tabla education.
When asked how he balances his academics, music and other interests he smiles, “I don't know if I balance it well, and I'm not sure I'm at the stage to offer advice on how to find balance in my work. As my mentor John Spence told me, "If you genuinely enjoy and are obsessed with what you're working on, that's what you should be doing." I believe it's this sense of enjoyment I get from these projects that keeps them from feeling tedious or time-consuming."
Josh looks at each aspect of his life as complementary rather than separate. For instance, he looks at his podcast as an avenue to explore new ideas while engaging with successful innovators who provide insights that often benefit in his own entrepreneurial ventures.
The Indian-origin innovator who was born and brought up in the UK, received training in Tabla by Kuljit Bhamra MBE. “My passion for the tabla offers a creative outlet that recharges me mentally, which is essential when juggling high-pressure projects,” he remarks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxT7frsjtE
He has chosen an alternative education path through The Knowledge Society (TKS), where learning is deeply integrated with hands-on, real-world problem solving. “This flexible approach has allowed me to dedicate time to all my passions,” he mentions.
Josh got the opportunity to enroll in the two-year TKS programme after bagging the Unicorn Scholarship, which is only awarded to 20 students annually. He ranked in the top 0.06% of the 31,298 students who applied in the most recent batch. Its acceptance rate is far lower than that of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Combatting Cassava Mosaic Disease to address food insecurity
It all started with an upbringing that focused on seva. Even before he turned 10, Josh started volunteering with food banksand distributing meals to underprivileged elderly people. This sparked his commitment to tackling food insecurity. While he was still in school, the opportunities to attend tech conferences opened his eyes to technology’s potential. Later, a few Hackathon victories fuelled his desire to work on the problem of food insecurity all the more, and he came up with the AI-optimized tool for the genetic modification of whiteflies - engineered to combat the devastating impact of Cassava Mosaic Disease that has potential to benefit35 million Nigerians.
Cassava is a calorie-rich vegetable and the third-largest source of carbohydrates in food in the tropics, after rice and maize, making it an important staple. In African Cassava Mosaic Virus is a plant virus that infects cassava plants, causing mosaic symptoms on leaves and leading to significant yield losses in regions where cassava is a major food source. It is primarily transmitted through infected cassava stem cuttings and by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. When Josh came to know how millions of people in Nigeria suffer from food insecurity due to the Cassava Mosaic Disease, the AI enthusiast got drawn to solve a solution to the problem, and came up with an AI-driven gene editing solution for the genetic modification of whiteflies that cause the Cassava Mosaic Disease.
[caption id="attachment_39225" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Josh during the Villars Institute's mentorship programme[/caption]
Later, the week-long mentorship he received from ecopreneurs and scientists — pioneers in their respective fields — as part of his scholarship to the prestigious Villars Institute broadened his horizons. “With guidance from experts like Sofia de Meyer and Sofia Khwaja-Horekens, I've refined my food insecurity project, focusing on key stakeholders. Meeting people like the chief economist of Mars Inc. Bruno Roche and my mentor Jini Sebakunzi was an honour, and the experience deepened my connection with nature, and problems in its realm,” he says.
Work in progress
“The next steps involve collaborating with agricultural institutions in Nigeria and across Africa to conduct field trials of the modified whiteflies. This will help demonstrate the tool's effectiveness in real-world conditions. We are also working on partnerships with government bodies and NGOs to create awareness and ensure smooth adoption of this innovation. Once proven in field tests, scaling the technology will involve aligning with policymakers, farmers, and supply chain partners to ensure it reaches the 35 million Nigerians who stand to benefit,” tells Josh.
For the youngster, the goal is to not only combat CMD but to create a sustainable model that can be replicated across different regions suffering from crop diseases, ensuring long-term food security.
“My Father was my support for me from the beginning of my unconventional path and encouraged me going against cultural expectations by working to solve humanity's biggest problems through entrepreneurship or should I say, ecopreneurship,” he remarks.
Other projects
Josh has worked onother AIprojects like Project Dynamo while pursuing a consulting challenge with The Knowledge Society (TKS). “It's an initiative I launched to train NGO students in climate change problem-solving and systems thinking, partnering with SOS Children's Villages, India. This project also leveraged AI to translate educational content into regional languages, making it more accessible across diverse communities,” he informs.
Additionally, he has worked alongside Google for another TKS Challenge in AI-driven initiatives, for addressing problems like information overload that its employees face.
Josh Roy understands the importance of quality mentorship and has actively pursued it from business leaders.
Determined to reach out to John Spence, the Chairman of Karma Group Global, the youngster tried over 100 email variations until he successfully connected with Spence. “I was inspired by the experience he created at Karma so I was determined to get his mentorship for entrepreneurship. I tried 100 different variations of emails with trial and error as it was hard to find, until his personal hotmail email worked when I found it through a chrome extension,” he says.
This persistence led to a year and a half of valuable email exchanges, culminating in a phone call. “Since then, Spence has been reading my monthly newsletter where I update him and my other mentors on my personal growth. I consider him and his philosophies an influence in my projects and business endeavours. Persistence won at the end,” remarks Josh who loves speaking opportunities.
In addition to Spence, Josh has built strong relationships with other mentors like Kabir Mathur CEO and co-founder, Leen and Manoj Thacker, entrepreneur, and ambassador of Innovaud Swiss. He connected with Kabir during a family trip to Egypt and with Manoj through a friend's introduction. “Both mentors have been instrumental in guiding my journey, with Kabir even nominating me for The Diana Award and supporting my case for an O-1 visa in the US,” he says. Josh’s persistence to seek guidance have earned him mentorships that continue to shape his entrepreneurial path.
In the shoes of a mentor
One of the youngster’s moments of pride has been getting into the shoes of a mentor of 300 youngsters at Toronto in AI and gene editing for 1517 Fund's annual summit.
“I got the opportunity to mentor alongside a panel of 15 other mentors consisting of Zach Laberge (18-year-old founder of Frenter, who raised over three million CAD), Danielle Stratchman (co-founder, Thiel Fellowship) and Michael Patrick-Gibson (author of Paper Belt on Fire),” tells Josh adding, “I recall a Neuralink intern, Kyrylo Kalashnikov, attending the office hours I was hosting. Gaining exposure to some of the brightest minds in North America was both humbling and inspiring. It felt like they were the true mentors, even though I had the label of mentor for a day!”
[caption id="attachment_39228" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Josh during 1517 Fund's office hour[/caption]
The migration story and future
Born in Tooting, London Josh hails from a family with roots in Kolkata. He was raised in Ascot for most of his life, as well as in Lambeth. His mother is a singer-songwriter who was born in London, and did schooling both in India and the UK. His father is a corporate professional who was born and raised in Kolkata. This March, the youngster moved to the US along with his father who got a new job posting. “I decided to relocate with him and pursue my entrepreneurial dreams in the US,” he says.
In the short-term, Josh’s priorities are clear and twofold: "Radical collaboration with agricultural engineers, scientists and farmers to refine and implement my solutions, ensuring credibility and scalability. Secondly, to earn my O-1 Visa that will allow me to better pursue my entrepreneurial endeavours in the US." He is happy that he received his OCI last month.
With prestigious awards, recognitions, scholarships and mentorship the youngster is confident of making his entrepreneurial dream in America come true.
Aashie Bhatnagar with Mayur Marne[/caption]
Aashie Bhatnagar[/caption]
Nancy Tyagi[/caption]
Rupa Bayor[/caption]
Rupa Bayor[/caption]
Prakrithi Suresh with ICMDA certificates and medal[/caption]
Prakrithi Suresh with childrens’ book author Elisabetta Dami[/caption]
Prakrithi Suresh during one of her stage performances[/caption]
Prakrithi Suresh[/caption]
Josh Roy at the London Tech Week[/caption]
Josh during the Villars Institute's mentorship programme[/caption]
Josh Roy[/caption]
Josh during 1517 Fund's office hour[/caption]
Vibha performed well! Congratulations!