Global Indianstory Art & CultureHaute & happening: These Indians have designs on world couture

Haute & happening: These Indians have designs on world couture

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(May 4, 2022) India’s rich tapestry of handloom is unequivocal. That it has entered the mainstream rungs of fashion, appearing on catwalks the world over just paved the way for desi fashion designers to make their mark in the world of haute couture. Today, many Indians are responsible for the embroidery, embellishments, and fabrics you see by prestigious fashion houses like Versace, Hermès, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Prada, Dior, etc. Many Indian designers and influencers, including Anita Dongre, Suket Dhir, Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia, Bibhu Mohapatra, Tarun Tahiliani, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, and Ritu Kumar, have carved a niche for themselves, in a very dynamic and cut-throat industry of haute couture.

From wearable everyday pieces to luxe bridal couture, these Indians have made their mark on the fashion industry, representing India in a unique way. While some stick to traditional styles like sarees, lehengas, tunics, and churidars, others embrace updated aesthetics like tie-dye sweats, floral button-downs, and puff sleeves.

Global Indian explores Indian fashion creators and influencers that are making their mark across the world.

Naeem Khan, fashion designer

Born in a middle-class family in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, fashion designer Naeem Khan hardly needs an introduction. His father and grandfather cultivated an early interest in textiles, as they both designed intricate clothes worn by royal families. Of his early passion for design, Khan has said, “It was built into my DNA. I watched my father design formal wear for India’s most influential people, and I knew that I would want to pursue a similar path.”

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A post shared by NAEEM KHAN LTD (@naeemkhannyc)

The designer, who has styled several influential ladies, including first lady Michelle Obama, Queen Noor of Jordan, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, moved to the United States in 1978 to apprentice for legendary American designer Halston. “My knowledge of fashion and lifestyle is influenced by my time with Halston,” Naeem had said while being interviewed for the documentary film Halston.

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A post shared by NAEEM KHAN LTD (@naeemkhannyc)

Khan spent several years after his apprenticeship continuing to work with Halston on freelance, going on to launch fashion house Riazee in 1981, a clothing label named after his mother that was carried in prominent American retail stores for about a decade. Today, Naeem is known for his intricately detailed gowns with sequins and beads, and is one of the most influential designers in the world of haute couture.

Follow Naeem Khan on Twitter, and Instagram

Megan Kothari, jewellery designer

During her travels to India, the New York-based jewellery designer, Megan Kothari would collect tribal jewellery, specifically big cuffs and statement necklaces, crafted by the Rabari community in Gujarat. That is where the journey of her label, Aaryah, began.

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A post shared by Megan (@megankothari)

Interestingly, even though she was born into a family of diamond traders, Megan didn’t want to pursue the same path. Instead, she chose to pursue her interest in fashion and started interning at the age of 15 in New York City. The designer earned a degree in international trade and fashion marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “However, after gaining invaluable experience in the beauty industry, it turned out that I did have an inclination towards designing jewellery; it became a form of self-expression for me,” Megan shares on her official website.

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A post shared by AARYAH (@aaryahjewelry)

Today, her designs are not only coveted by fine jewellery enthusiasts from around the world, she also received the ultimate celebrity stamp of approval when musician Taylor Swift wore the “Rani” earrings from her brand at the recently held Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Follow Megan Kothari on Twitter, and Instagram

Masoom Minawala Mehta, fashion content creator

One of the earliest influencers or content creators in India, Masoom Minawala Mehta, made history at the Milan Fashion Week-2022, by becoming the first-ever Indian creator to walk the runway as a showstopper. Hailing from a family of jewellers in Mumbai, she founded a start-up when she was just 19. As the start-up didn’t do too well, Masoom set up a fashion portal – Miss Style Fiesta in 2010, where she would give tips on current trends and fashion inputs.

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A post shared by Masoom Minawala Mehta (@masoomminawala)

She follows a “principle of four” while creating content — ensuring that the content either educates, inspires, helps or entertains. From Dior to Hermès, and Jimmy Choo, Masoom’s feed is action-packed and always genuine. Despite moving base from Mumbai to Antwerp after her marriage in 2016, the influencer’s social media posts strongly promote her love for Indian designers.

Honoured to have walked Cannes with fashion that spoke for itself but I would also like to highlight the prep work involved in getting there which is a storyline in itself. Tap to read more about what I brought to the Cannes Film Festival 2021 https://t.co/Lhu5J32NE0

— Masoom Minawala (@MasoomMinawala) July 26, 2021

In her bid to help small designers tide over the 2020 pandemic, she started a series of short fashion videos where she personally curated lists of brands to pick for various budgets and occasions.

Follow Masoom Minawala on Twitter, and Instagram

Diipa Büller-Khosla, fashion and beauty influencer

A globally recognised face, Diipa Büller-Khosla has graced covers of prestigious fashion magazines like Conde Nast Traveller India, Brides, and Travel & Leisure. Having left India at 17, Diipa moved to Amsterdam to study law. Now shuttling between London and Amsterdam, with an Instagram following exceeding 516k, it’s safe to say that she is a heavyweight in the world of influencers.

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A post shared by Diipa Büller-Khosla (@diipakhosla)

The influencer, who is also a mother of one, served as ambassador for brands like Estée Lauder, Maybelline, and Kérastase, and even walked international red carpets like Cannes and Venice. Her organisation, PostForChange, urges digital influencers to use their voice for various causes; she herself is vocal about fighting discrimination, something she has faced in the past due to her skin colour.

Follow Diipa Büller-Khosla on Twitter, and Instagram

Sheena Sood, fashion designer

A textile designer by professional, New York-based Sheena Sood’s label abacaxi celebrates diversity in all forms. Sheena began her career as an artist, studying visual art at Brown University and Central Saint Martins, often incorporating embroidery, beading and sequin work into her paintings. Soon after graduating, she developed print and embellishment designs for American label Tracy Reese before briefly moving to India to live with her parents.

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A post shared by Sheena (@abacasheena)

Interestingly, it was the bounty of textiles she had collected in her homeland that inspired abacaxi’s first capsule collection. In 2020, Sheena prepared for a full launch for spring, however it was quickly halted by the pandemic. Identifying a need, pivoted to creating intricate beaded and embroidered face masks that garnered attention from the likes of New York magazine. With that momentum, the label grew to include a full ready-to-wear offering, soaked in aqueous tie-dye prints and technicolour palettes.

Follow Sheena Sood on Twitter, and Instagram

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Published on 04, May 2022

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Blackest is the new black

Iconic Indian origin artist Anish Kapoor is currently showing his works in Venice, where controversy continues to court his trademark 'black', made from Vantablack, the darkest known shade.

From winning championship at 9 to becoming a chess grandmaster at 17: SL Narayanan’s incredible journey

SL Narayanan was all of nine when the board game with 64 black and white squares grabbed his attention. It was at this young age that he learnt that the knight in chess moves multiple squares each time while the pawn moves forward one square. Such was his passion for the game that he aced it and won his first championship that same year. This taste of victory gave Narayanan enough drive to pursue the game professionally and eight years later, he became India's 40th chess Grandmaster at the age of 17. Cut to 2021, Narayanan is still making India proud at the international level when he recently finished second at the ChessMood Open in Armenia. The pandemic was a blessing in disguise for this 23-year-old who got enough time to improve his game. "I was very happy with my performance at the ChessMood Open. I played some quality games and was very happy to see the result of my work during this pandemic. It was my first visit to Armenia and I am glad I could keep a positive memory about the tournament. And this indeed motivates me to work even harder," he told Global Indian in an interview.

indian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Indian in an interview.

While the chess grandmaster is upping his game with every tournament but he had to overcome many challenges to reach the top.

A chance encounter with chess

Born in 1998 in Kerala, Narayanan was just nine when he first accompanied his mother to a chess tournament at her office and watched with rapt attention as she played the game. Sensing his curiosity, one of his mom's colleagues introduced him to the rules of the game. Intrigued by the world of chess, he returned to the tournament the next year with his mother and tried his hand. He managed to impress his opponent with his moves; he noticed the kid's potential and insisted his mother give Narayanan proper training. "Consequently, under the guidance of P Sreekumar, who was the former Kerala State Champion, I started my first lessons of the game. I learned the game in a systematic way and also started participating in district weekly events," he says.

[caption id="attachment_15245" align="aligncenter" width="486"] A young SL Narayanan up against top GM Parimarjan Negi.[/caption]

While Narayanan was mastering chess with each game, he would often ask his parents about his future in the game. The question of who would he become if he continued playing well often crossed his mind. "They [my parents] had one clear name to look up to - Vishwanathan Anand. Once I got to know about him through his games and news reports, I knew I had a role model," he adds. Soon, he fell in love with chess as it was the game's individuality that attracted him. "The rules are the same for everyone but you play according to your understanding/strategy and that's what made it colourful for me," says the grandmaster.

Nudging support from family

The 23-year-old is now among the top 10 chess players in India, and his career is testament to his family's support and commitment to the game. "My father was a government contractor but he quit his job when I started playing so that he could travel with me for tournaments," he reveals. His mother, who introduced him to the game, was among his biggest supporters as she was the sole breadwinner in the family for the longest time. The Grandmaster from Kerala also found support in his sister who gave up her dream of being a chess player in order to let him succeed. "My sister was also a very good chess player. She has participated in several national events and was the Delhi University zonal champion in 2017. We both trained under the same coach together for a while. However, my parents could only back one of us as our financial background wasn't great; one of us had to step back to pave the way for the other. Since I was a bit more talented and hard working, she decided to take a step back," adds Narayanan.

[caption id="attachment_15250" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] Grandmaster SL Narayanan[/caption]

The chess player's endeavours were not only supported by his family but even his school backed him. Narayanan studied at St Thomas Residential school till 8th standard and then moved to St Mary's Higher Secondary School to focus more on his game. Despite his hectic schedule, the 23-year-old was able to strike a balance between his studies and chess, all thanks to the support of his teachers.

Checkmate by challenges

Narayanan was quite young when he started learning from former Kerala State Champion, P Sreekumar and later trained under IM Varghese Koshy and GM Praveen Thipsay. But it hasn't been an easy journey from him as financial aid has always been a constraint. "Initially, I didn't get any proper training, opportunities or support to better my game despite being a strong and hardworking player. My parents took loans from several institutions to give me good training and help me participate in tournaments. If I had gotten proper training when I was young, like the players of similar age now get, it would have helped me create a strong foundation which I could build on," says the English Literature graduate from Mar Ivanios College.

[caption id="attachment_15246" align="aligncenter" width="1038"] SL Narayanan at World Junior Chess Championship 2016[/caption]

In 2016, the year Narayanan won gold in the Asian junior blitz chess championship, crowdfunding came to his rescue. "I was contacted by the social platform - Milaap after they came to know about me through one of the dailies. Later, they started crowdfunding and raised around ₹1.15 lakh which was indeed helpful for me. I believe crowdfunding is a reliable way to raise funds especially in a third world country like India," adds Narayanan.

He didn't find much support from the government either apart from the time when he became a grandmaster. "Since then I have not received any support from either the State or Central Government. Even when I went to one of the administrators, he ridiculed me and asked if chess was even a game; that was so disheartening," he reveals.

A journey worth remembering

Despite many challenges and setbacks, Narayanan has been able to pull himself through all of it for the sheer love of the game. From winning his first championship in 2007 to becoming a grandmaster, he has come a long way. "There have been a lot of thrilling moments in the journey with some tournaments working for me and others working completely against me. But I still enjoy the process of working on a game and the concept that builds the game."

[caption id="attachment_15247" align="aligncenter" width="601"] SL Narayanan[/caption]

For this Global Indian, chess is more than a game as he says it has helped him in shaping his character. The grandmaster is confident in the future of the sport and its players. "I could easily say that chess could help the young generation to instill in them life qualities as well as problem solving capabilities which will benefit them immensely," he signs off.

Follow SL Narayanan on Twitter

Reading Time: 7 min

Bug bounty hunter Aditi Singh: How ethical hacking earned her ₹70 lakh, & counting

(January 18, 2022) “One skill you want to master in this day and age, if you want to have an extraordinary life, is the ability to learn rapidly.” Business coach Tony Robbins inadvertently encapsulated the life of Aditi Singh, a self-taught bug bounty hunter with this quote. What started in 2017 as mere curiosity about cyber security has now led to such a high level of expertise that the Delhi-based ethical hacker received $30,000 (₹22 lakh) in 2021 to detect a flaw in Microsoft’s cloud system. She also earned ₹70 lakh in 2021, just saying. “With no prior knowledge of computer and coding programmes or languages, I was a mere novice exploring possibilities. After spending weeks reading and researching, I grew fascinated and knew I wanted to become a bug bounty hunter,” Aditi shares with Global Indian. In her zeal to hone her skills, the college dropout devoured YouTube tutorials and content on blogs to gain every ounce of information that she could lay her hands on. “My learnings have made me realise that you don’t need a degree if you are continuously working on improving your skills - these skills that have made me a bug bounty hunter earning

you are continuously working on improving your skills - these skills that have made me a bug bounty hunter earning lakhs,” smiles Aditi, who has found bugs in over 60 companies including Paytm, Ethereum, HP, and Mozilla.

The bounty is the bug, for Aditi!

The 21-year-old girl was in the news in 2021 for receiving a handsome bounty from Microsoft for spotting a bug in the cloud system. “I spotted an RCE (remote code execution) bug and informed the tech giant which took two months to check at their end if anybody had downloaded its insecure version. Only after confirming, they realised the security fault in their system,” says the bug hunter, who reveals that the developers should first download a node package manager instead of writing the code as this often leads to an RCE bug.

Born and raised in Delhi by an Anganwadi teacher mother and a clerk father, Singh comes from a humble background. However, it was her love for video games that kept her hooked on to the computer since childhood. “I remember spending so much time on the computer playing video games. Beyond that, I had no interest in it initially,” she says. However, things took a turn for this Notre Dame school student after she moved to Kota to prepare for her medical entrance exams. “I joined the Allen Institute in Kota to prepare. Though I was not inclined to become a doctor, I still wanted to give it a shot. However, destiny had a different plan as I soon started getting interested in computers and ethical hacking,” reveals Aditi.

Coming across an article on the internet, her curiosity was piqued. “The next few months, I lapped up every ounce of information I could find. If the dynamics of it intrigued me, I was equally excited about the kind of money that one makes,” adds the bug bounty hunter.

Her first real triumph came after she hacked into her neighbour’s wifi in Kota. “Months of reading and watching YouTube videos helped me do it, and it piqued my interest in bug bounty hunting,” says the self-taught ethical hacker.

Finding the path she was to charter, Aditi gave up on her parents’ dream of making her a doctor, instead enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in computer application at Indira Gandhi National Open University. Interestingly, she ethically “hacked” her way into her maiden job at MapMyIndia during her first year of graduation. “While going through several platforms, I found some vulnerabilities on MapMyIndia. I reached out to them and reported a bug,” says Aditi. They offered her a job as cybersecurity analyst even without her degree! She worked with them for around three years – with an eagle eye on cloud security, network security, and android security.

Needless today, she dropped out of college, and started working full-time. “I realised that I didn’t need a degree to get a job. I am a living example as I learnt coding and programming languages like Javascript from YouTube and Google,” says the cybersecurity expert.

The cyber world to cipher

While Aditi kept her day job, she continued learning about ethical hacking and bug bounty hunting. Who are bug bounty hunters? “They are mostly certified cybersecurity professionals who crawl the web, and scan systems for bugs or security flaws through which hackers can sneak in, and we alert companies. They are rewarded with cash if they are successful in finding a security hole,” reveals Aditi.

Spotting such bugs isn’t a cakewalk and ethical hackers need to be on top of their game to be eligible for payouts, she avers. “While many companies host bounty programmes asking bug hunters to report any flaws, some aren’t registered with bounty hunting platforms, and one has to individually look them up. But it’s important to inform them before you look for flaws. That’s the thumb rule I follow,” says the veritable bug spotter.

Bounty bug hunting continues

It was in 2020 that Aditi earned her first big bounty of $1,100 after she reported an OTP bypass bug in TikTok’s forgot password section. “It was a few months before TikTok was banned in India. I could change anybody’s password on the application, and this was a flaw that they couldn’t overlook. I earned around ₹82,000 for it," smiles Aditi.

Her next big bounty hunting came in March 2021 when she found a bug in Facebook’s cloud system wherein, she could hack into employees or developers’ systems. She earned a whopping $7,500 ( ₹5.5 lakh) for the bug. “I later found another bug and got $3,000 for it,” she adds.

But it was with Microsoft that she hit the jackpot after she detected an RCE in the Azure cloud platform in 2021, and became an internet sensation for earning $30,000 (₹22 lakh) for reporting the security issue. “The news went viral. It was like a validation that all these years of hard work was finally paying off,” says Aditi, who quit her job in 2021 to become a full-time bug bounty hunter.

The girl, who has found bugs in 60 companies so far, has also received letters of appreciation from Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of California among others. “I found bugs in the websites of these universities. Since they don’t pay you like other companies, they send you a letter of appreciation,” adds Aditi.

On what she does with the bounty, the youngster smiles, “I go on trips to the mountains. Apart from this, I buy gadgets or subscribe to hacking tools,” adds Aditi, who uses the money to enhance her skills and talent apart from giving a lump sum to her parents. “I give it to them to invest. They are proud that I am doing great,” adds Singh.

A voracious reader, Aditi loves to curl up with a book when not hunting bugs. “I also love to play video games and travel,” says Singh, who has a younger brother and an older sister. “Our parents have been our biggest support system. They have always encouraged and supported us in our endeavours,” says the girl, who has her eyes on crypto companies next. “Crypto is the future and now I am learning tools that could help me get to the next level. It's all about evolution and upgrading,” she says.

As an ethical hacker, however, she offers a word of caution, “Learn and then earn. Gain knowledge about ethical hacking first, rather than focussing on money. Keep trying and don’t get demotivated if you don’t make money initially.” And be ethical, inform the company!

Follow Aditi Singh on Linkedin

Reading Time: 6 min

Adhya Shastry: Bharatanatyam danseuse who claimed BBC Young Dancer triumph

(October 8, 2023) Adhya Shastry, a talented Bharatanatyam dancer based in the UK, achieved a remarkable milestone by clinching the coveted title of BBC Young Dancer 2022. The competition, open to dancers from across the UK, provides participants a golden opportunity to showcase their exceptional talents on the renowned BBC televised stage, drawing in audiences from around the world. “I didn’t have any expectations throughout the competition and in some sense that’s what made this whole experience so beautiful because I was experiencing everything as it came,” Adhya remarked as she connected with Global Indian. At the tender age of 13 in 2017, the 19-year-old had first stumbled upon the competition. While barely a teenager, she was captivated by the dazzling finals on her television screen. The extraordinary talent displayed by the finalists that year left an indelible mark on her, igniting a determination to be on the BBC stage herself someday. [caption id="attachment_33453" align="aligncenter" width="759"] Adhya Shastry[/caption] Over the years Adhya diligently honed her skills. When she finally felt prepared, she submitted her application to participate. In April 2022, Adhya's happiness knew no bounds when she was awarded the title of BBC Young Dancer 2022, a testament to her

erself someday.

[caption id="attachment_33453" align="aligncenter" width="759"] Adhya Shastry[/caption]

Over the years Adhya diligently honed her skills. When she finally felt prepared, she submitted her application to participate. In April 2022, Adhya's happiness knew no bounds when she was awarded the title of BBC Young Dancer 2022, a testament to her dedication and talent.

All about the competition

Since 2015, the BBC Young Dancer competition has been featured as a reality show on both BBC Four and BBC Two television channels. Designed for aspiring UK-based dancers in ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and South Asian dance genres, this competition welcomes participants aged between 16 and 20.

Adhya's journey to the finals involved successfully navigating three challenging rounds. She gained invaluable insights throughout the competition feeling privileged to meet a diverse array of remarkable individuals, each with their own captivating stories. For instance, some participants were balancing their passion for dance with the rigours of psychology or medicine studies at university. While others had recently embarked on intensive dance workshops abroad, collaborating with renowned choreographers just days before the auditions. “It felt like I had been transported into a different world where everything and anything was possible!”

Experience of a lifetime

Following the successful completion of three rounds, a total of 10 dancers emerged as finalists. They were sent to Dartington Manor, a heritage property spread over 1,200 acres in Devon, dating back to mediaeval times for an immersive week of intensive training and collaborative creative sessions with renowned choreographers.

“It felt like the beginning of something new, I felt like there were so many possibilities that were ahead of me and ahead of us as a dance cohort,” Adhya shared.

The residency programme included improvisational performances to an audience. This was where random music tracks were played. “We had never heard those tracks but were required to dance to the tunes displaying our musicality, our unique dance style, and our spur-of-the-moment creative thinking” It was nerve-wracking and fun at the same time,” she remarked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmlbwT83ooE

Although her solo was a Bharatanatyam piece, Adhya also got to dance in a trio choreographed by one of the judges. “Since I was in a trio with a contemporary dancer and a tap dancer, the choreography included a movement language that connected us whilst also allowing us to flourish within our styles,” she said adding “Through different tasks, I learned to improvise and create pieces with other dancers exploring my own movement style and learning other styles in the process.”

Claiming the title

After the residency ended, it was a few months of waiting for the final show. At the end of it was the surreal experience of performing at the Roundhouse in London. The stage was massive. “I couldn’t believe I was going to perform in that gorgeous venue with those amazing people!” Adhya shared.

She delivered a stunning performance line-up, including a Bharatanatyam solo titled ‘Kali Kavuthwam,’ a meticulously choreographed trio by Seeta Patel, and a dynamic group ensemble piece crafted by Ivan Michael Blackstock.

When she emerged as a winner, it took a while for her to realise that she had finally clinched the top title amidst the ten brilliant finalists.

Dancing since childhood

Adhya had always been an active child. Looking at her keenness towards dancing her parents enrolled her in a Bharatanatyam class, a decision that Adhya embraced with joy.

Talking about her dance school she shares, “I started learning Bharatanatyam in Kalakunj at Reading at the age of 10. Learning there was a way for me to connect to my roots and gain knowledge about my culture. My guru, Ananya Chatterjee was always so supportive of all my endeavours and she helped harbour and grow my passion for dance. I also got to learn so much from all the beautiful dancers I danced with at Kalakunj.”

Adhya has also been a part of Yuva Gati, a dance training programme for dance styles from South Asian heritage. She was associated with it for two years gaining exposure to many dance styles. The programme connected her with numerous talented South Asian dancers and introduced her to the concept of improvisation and an understanding of the techniques underlying various movements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-xiKwBk-S0

Dance is life

This September Adhya has started her first year of university at London Contemporary Dance School. “I am currently in a dance conservatoire that covers a lot of different dance styles like locking, popping, groove, contemporary, ballet, and more,” tells the teenager who is eager to delve deeper into these dance styles, and broaden her repertoire of movements. She is also keen on discovering how these styles can complement and enrich her exploration of Bharatanatyam.

As a dancer, Adhya’s inspiration is diverse. Whether it's observing fellow dancers' performances, immersing herself in music, engaging in conversations, delving into literature, connecting with her emotions, or simply taking leisurely walks to absorb her surroundings—every facet of life holds potential inspiration for her.

“I aspire to keep dancing and eventually start choreographing dance pieces. I have many ambitions but one of my main goals is to always be authentic in the way I move and have an honest expression of myself through dance,” she signs off.

Born in Tehran Iran, the UK-based teenager lived in India from 2009 - 2012.

Reading Time: 5 mins

How tiny tech whiz Arijit Das’ AI & IoT projects have won awards

(February 20, 2022) It was a fine summer evening when a 10-year-old Arijit Das and his friends came across a young man building a drone in their neighbourhood playground. The boys were fascinated. As they watched the drone soar into the sky, they were captivated. A kindly neighbour walked them through the basics, explained how he’d built the device and its components. As the young Durgapur resident headed home that evening, his thoughts were filled with the exciting possibilities technology provided. Soon, the self-taught tech whiz was building his own tech projects like a prosthetic limb using arduino and micro controllers. The fields of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things interested him and this student at Hem Sheela Model School began racking up awards and achievements for his projects. From receiving the CSIR Innovation Award in 2021 to becoming the ambassador for Edge Impulse, a San Jose-based machine learning startup, 15-year-old Arijit has come a long way from being that fascinated little one on a Durgapur playground. [caption id="attachment_11095" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Arijit Das[/caption] The boy from Durgapur Born in Durgapur to a physiotherapist father and a homemaker mother, technology was not always on Arijit’s mind. An only child, he was quite

e Impulse | CSIR Winner" width="647" height="818" /> Arijit Das[/caption]

The boy from Durgapur

Born in Durgapur to a physiotherapist father and a homemaker mother, technology was not always on Arijit’s mind. An only child, he was quite happy-go-lucky, till one day, he chanced upon the drone. “When we approached my neighbour, he was kind enough to explain the workings and makings of a drone. It was enough to have me hooked,” says Arijit, recalling the incident from five years ago which sparked his interest in tech. “I went home and ran a google search, and began learning about tech myself,” the tech whiz tells Global Indian.

Soon, Arijit was building his first project for a state level science fair; a modified version of the LiFi concept prototype which used infrared light emitters instead of traditional light bulbs in 2018. Ever since, he has been working on various AI and IoT based projects, and speaking at conferences. In 2019, Arijit built the prosthetic limb, using arduino and micro controllers for a science fair at school. It so happened, that a few NIT-Durgapur employees happened to visit the science fair, and walked away impressed by Arijit’s project. A few weeks later, the lad’s teacher received an email from NIT, inviting Arijit and his team to the college to showcase the project. “Those were our first steps forward,” says the lad, who also showcased the project at the Institute of Engineers India, Durgapur chapter, on National Energy Conservation Day.

Project Innovation for Arijit

“We got one more special chance to present our project at an international conference WEES 2020 organised by the National Institute of Technology Durgapur and RMIT Australia. We were even invited by CSIRO Australia to write a research paper on our project which would get published in one of their energy conservation journals,” says the tech whiz. But then COVID-19 struck and the ensuing disruptions put a spanner in the works.

Not one to be discouraged, Arijit decided to participate in a competition organised by UNDP in April 2020 for designing projects for COVID-19. “I presented them with an idea for a health band that helps both patients and doctors,” says the Stem student, who won the hardware winner category prize for which he was awarded hardware worth $1,000.

Surging ahead with ideas

Some of the other projects Arijit has worked on are an anti-theft system for vehicles for the China-US Young Maker Fair, which he won. In August 2021, he developed an AI-based smart pesticide detector and farming system which went on to win the Deep Learning Superheroes Challenge by Intel. Arijit was featured across many tweets by Intel India too. Awarded the prestigious CSIR Innovation Award for School Children by the Department of Science & Technology, is another feather in this youngster’s cap .

“One of the best outcomes of these is the fact that I’ve made some great friends along the way, and have even won a lot of hackathons with them,” says the tech whiz, who received an invitation from Edge Impulse, a San Jose-based ML startup to become a part of their team in November 2021. "Later that month I officially became a part of the Edge Impulse team to develop and manage communities for EmbeddedML. Seeing my work in 2021, I was also invited by Ira Feldman, managing director of tinyML Foundation to join their team and help spread the idea and knowledge of tinyML across Asia, which led to the formation of the tinyML India chapter that presently has 700 plus members.”

Quiz the youngster on why technology fascinates him, and he says, “I believe technology can solve a lot of global issues. It can truly help society and the community with its inventions.”

With board exams looming, Arijit’s tech projects are restricted to the weekends, after his studies. This young tech enthusiast who loves subjects like physics, math, and computer science, aims to pursue a degree in engineering and hopes to one day become a computer scientist. “My parents are very supportive and whenever I am in doubt, they’re my biggest cheerleaders,” says the youngster, who loves to spend time with friends in between all his passion projects, academics and guitar lessons.

Follow Arijit Das on LinkedIn.

Reading Time: 5 mins