Global Indianstory Chess GrandmasterAll the right moves: Indian chess prodigy Prraneeth Vuppala journey to grandmaster status

All the right moves: Indian chess prodigy Prraneeth Vuppala journey to grandmaster status

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(June 8, 2023) Prraneeth Vuppala’s parents introduced him to a variety of sporting activities when he was just six. Tennis interested him and so did football. Like most children, he loved swimming too. But it was chess that fascinated him the most. He only took about a week to learn the basics and how to make the right moves. The young Indian chess prodigy and his early passion for the game led him to a chess academy where he sharpened his skills in no time. Thereafter, he went about checkmating his opponents across the globe, winning national and international tournaments one after the other.

All of 16, he recently became the India’s 82nd Grandmaster after he achieved the required 2,500 FIDE rating points. “Despite all the wins, I don’t think one can still master the game of chess,” smiles Prraneeth in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. The Indian chess prodigy defeated Grandmaster Hans Niemann of USA in the penultimate round of the Baku Open 2023 held from May 4 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan. “I don’t get distracted by anything during a game and remain focused on it completely. Without bothering about winning or losing, I just go out there and play. The grandmaster title is part of the process and I feel great about it,” says the teenager, who has become a role model for many budding chess players not only in his home state of Telangana but across the world.

Chess prodigy Prraneeth Vuppala

The Baku Open

In the Baku Open, Grandmaster Niemann’s attack on the kingside did not work out the way he wanted and Prraneeth scored a win. “Prior to the game, I do prepare against the opponent, try to analyse their moves and check their opening lines. But when the tournament actually starts, I don’t think about the opponent at all. I just play,” says the young grandmaster. He is the sixth from the state of Telangana to have achieved the title.

Prraneeth was among the 119 players, including 32 Grandmasters, 29 International Masters, 11 World Grandmasters and Women International Masters) from 14 countries who took part in the Baku Open. The nine-day, nine-round Swiss League tournament was organized by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and the Ministry of Youth & Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Upon his return to Hyderabad after winning the grandmaster title, Prraneeth was accorded a grand welcome by the Telangana state government.

He was felicitated by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and announced a reward of Rs 2.50 crore. “Meeting the Chief Minister along with my parents was a matter of great pride. He congratulated me and wished me well for my future tournaments and assured all support,” says Praneeth, whose intelligent moves on the chess board in a short span of time surprised many.

Earning his grandmaster norms

Prraneeth with Telangana CM, K. Chandrashekar Rao

Prraneeth has achieved three Grandmaster norms during the course of his chess career. In March 2022, he earned the first one and achieved the International Master title in Hungary. In July the same year, he achieved his second norm at Biel Master Tournament in Switzerland. He achieved third GM norm at the second Chessable Subway Formentra Open in Spain, Sunway Sitges and Lorca tournaments in Italy.

“The tournament in Hungary was tough. I lost the first round but that did not bother me. I kept my focus on the game, analysed where I was going wrong and improved it. I won other rounds to win my first grandmaster norm,” recalls the chess prodigy, who also participated in world chess tournaments held in Armenia and Budapest earlier besides Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He also achieved his second International Masters norm in the Vergani cup in Serbia.

The prodigy’s journey

Hailing from Allagapada village in Miryalaguda Mandal of Nalgonda district of Telangana, Prraneeth’s father V Srinivasa Chary works as Assistant Commissioner in GST while his mother Dhanalaxmi is a junior lecturer at a Government college. “They encouraged me all through which made me what I am today,” says Prraneeth, a Standard XI student of Viswa Chaitanya Junior College, Tarnaka in Hyderabad.

Prraneeth held the titles of national champion (under- 7 to under-14) before he earned the international masters and grandmaster titles. Till 2021, he trained with noted chess coach Rama Raju at the RACE academy. Now, he trains with Israel Grandmaster Viktor Mikhalevski.

Earlier, the 16 year old used to do yoga and meditation. “Now I mostly rely on normal workouts in between the tournaments which helps me remain focussed on the game and agile to all the moves by opponents,” informs Prraneeth, an admirer of Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen.

What’s next

The chess Grandmaster says his next target is to reach 2,600 rating points and is already working towards it. “My ultimate goal is to become the world champion by achieving 2,800 rating points,” says the youngster who is all focused on his next tournament — the Asian Continental tournament in Kazakhstan which starts this month.

While he regularly practices in chess to fine tune his skills, Prraneeth likes to read books about chess and chess players. “It not only motivates me, it is also interesting to read and analyse their moves which helps me in my game as well,” explains the prodigy who puts in 8 to 10 hours of practice everyday. He even plays chess online with multiple players.

In between his academics, which he also excels at, Praneeth makes it a point to indulge in football and tennis with his friends. “There are many more tournaments to come and I constantly prepare myself for them,” he says.

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Published on 08, Jun 2023

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Alana Meenakshi: Chess prodigy receives Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023

(February 2, 2023) Alana Meenakshi Kolagatla was barely four when she first got the feel of the king, queen, rook, bishop, and pawn on the chess board. The child hardly had any understanding of the game, yet she was just about able to arrange the pieces in order. By the time she turned six, the chess prodigy began playing professionally. Success followed her everywhere ever since. Having won several locals, national and international championships — of which she admittedly has lost the count — Alana, now 11, has been making all the right moves. Recently, the Vishakhapatnam girl received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023 for exceptional achievement in sports category, making her one of the eleven children who were selected for the award this year. PM Narendra Modi praised the chess prodigy and tweeted, "Meet Kumari Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi, a distinguished chess player and now, a Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardee. Her successes in chess have made her shine in various competitions globally. Her accomplishments will certainly inspire upcoming chess players." Meet Kumari Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi, a distinguished chess player and now, a Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardee. Her successes in chess have made her shine

antri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardee. Her successes in chess have made her shine in various competitions globally. Her accomplishments will certainly inspire upcoming chess players. pic.twitter.com/Xod9zR3dlA

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 24, 2023

“I want to become a grandmaster as soon as possible," declares Alana Meenakshi, the World No.1 in the Under-11 girls' category, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_21903" align="aligncenter" width="483"] Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi, chess prodigy[/caption]

Since 2018, Alana has taken the world of chess by storm with her consistent performance. She continued her winning streak by adding gold, silver, and bronze medals to the country's tally and went on to bag the Women Candidate Master (WCM) title when she played in Sri Lanka in 2018. “Sometimes when you're winning, you just feel you're winning and let go of it and end up losing the game or end up in a draw. I have never really kept track of how many games I won and lost,” informs the chess prodigy, who has travelled to Albania, China, Sri Lanka, Serbia, and Hungary among other countries for her tournaments, besides vacations. Her father, Madhu Kolagatla is a businessman, and her mother Dr Aparna Kolagatla is a scientist and a career counsellor.

A move in the right direction

The chess prodigy from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, who was also the world No 2 in the Under-10 category (December 2022) before she made it to the top, finds chess a very lonely game. “Sometimes you feel very bored, just like you're looking at 64 squares with 32 pieces. And if you don't enjoy what's going on, you don't understand what's going on,” says the chess mastermind. But at the end of the day, she says, the combinations and the tactics in the game are what draw her towards it. “People feel that chess is very hard to play and only smart people can play the game. But that's not true. If you play chess, you will become smarter. It's actually the opposite,” smiles the class VI student of Timpany school, Visakhapatanam.

[caption id="attachment_21904" align="aligncenter" width="616"] The young prodigy with all her medals and trophies[/caption]

Alana plays chess every day. “I need to work a lot to reach a certain level. I practice for about 8 hours a day. So usually it's like four to six hours coaching and then maybe two hours games and then two hours I work by myself,” informs Alana, who occasionally takes a break from the game when she is overstressed. When it comes to tournaments, her games last up to six hours.

So what does it take to become a professional chess player like her? “Hard work, talent, and seriousness. One should be willing to work a lot, even though sometimes it gets very stressful. Strategy and confidence will keep you going in the game,” feels this huge Potterhead, who has read all Harry Potter books.

She is now trying yoga and meditation to beat the stress. “My parents recommended it and though I am trying my best for the past few weeks, it feels boring sometimes,” she laughs. Before every tournament, she makes sure to check who she is playing against, prepare against them and make note of their weaknesses and strengths.

Alana’s achievements have made her parents and friends proud of her. “It feels great when family members and friends tell others that I am an international chess player and stuff like that. Parents, sometimes say I could have done better after a particular tournament,” says the prodigy, who lists her win in her first international chess in Sri Lanka as one of the major highlights of her journey so far.

Beyond the chequered world

Besides chess, Alana likes to play tennis. "I actually play tennis just for physical fitness, go swimming, and indulge in basketball once in a while," says Alana, who likes to watch all the action stuff on Netflix.

Ask her if she comes across children who love Chess, the Vizag girl feels that people should start playing chess because it develops intellectual skills, calculations, and quick reflexes. "People don't play chess because they think it's very hard and boring, but I don't think so. There are a few people who are interested in chess, who are around my age, plus or minus a few years, but many are not," says Alana, whose elder brother Dhruv is a tennis player.

What else does Alana like to do? "Fashion designing interests me but I am not very sure. I am still in VI grade so I have another three to four more years to decide," informs the champ, who like most kids her age, loves Dario for Wimpy Kid as well. She is a huge fan of Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, and Justin Bieber as well. Alana makes it a point to visit as many places as places while on a foreign trip. Recently, she was in Budapest where she visited the castle, Parliament, and many more places to understand its history and rich culture.

"Kids should do more something creative than just watching TV or spending time on mobile phones. They should go out and play or, try some arts and crafts. Maybe, they should try learning a new thing like chess," is her message to children her age.

Reading Time: 6 min

Nandita Saxena, the pastry chef who bagged a silver at WorldSkills 2022

(December 27, 2022) “Every time I think about it, it feels unbelievable,” says Nandita Saxena, the young confectioner who bagged the silver in the patisserie and confectionery category at the WorldSkills Competition 2022. The youngster, who first learned about the competition in a college magazine, had dreamed of bringing home a medal ever since. In 2022, she managed it, becoming the first Indian woman to win a silver medal. The global competition, which was held between September and November 2022 is considered the gold standard of vocational skills. [caption id="attachment_25863" align="aligncenter" width="608"] Nandita Saxena[/caption] Founded in 1950, the WorldSkills Competition provides youngsters from across the globe a chance to compete, experience, and excel in their chosen endeavour. This was the 46th edition of the competition, which is held every alternate year in a new country. Originally scheduled to be held in Shanghai, then postponed by the pandemic, the WorldSkills 2022 is something of a ‘special edition’, also because it was held across 15 countries instead of a single venue. India was represented across 50 skill categories, with participants bringing home two silvers, three bronzes and 13 medallions. Plan to win “Through my college magazine I had learned that Mohit Dudeja

kills 2022 is something of a ‘special edition’, also because it was held across 15 countries instead of a single venue. India was represented across 50 skill categories, with participants bringing home two silvers, three bronzes and 13 medallions.

Plan to win

“Through my college magazine I had learned that Mohit Dudeja had brought India a silver medal in the patisserie and confectionery category in 2017,” says the alumnae of IHM Aurangabad.

[caption id="attachment_25866" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Nandita during the WorldSkills Competition held at Lucerne, Switzerland[/caption]

Nandita had discovered her love for baking as a child and when she heard of Dudeja, she pored over his Instagram profile. She was deeply inspired by one post, in which Dudeja had written, “If you have the skills, you must participate and be confident of winning.”

Nandita made up her mind to participate too, she tells Global Indian. She travelled to Lucerne, Switzerland, for the competition, going up against people from 15 countries.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship, Government of India, has been leading the nation’s participation on the WorldSkills Platform. “Our training sessions for the competition were organised by the government,” says Nandita. She was pleasantly surprised to find that Indians’ patisserie and confectionery skills were comparable to the best in the world.

[caption id="attachment_25865" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Nandita during the WorldSkills Competition held at Lucerne, Switzerland[/caption]

The ten days spent in the breathtakingly beautiful Switzerland is an experience that has got etched in the youngster’s mind. Apart from the six days of events, the competitors enjoyed excursion trips. “It gave us an opportunity to get to know each other and develop friendships,” she says.

Stepping into the world of hospitality

Passing out from Amity International School in Noida, Nandita went on to pursue a degree in hotel management. “Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, it was just one and a half year of in-college experience. But five months of intensive in-house training in hospitality management at Taj Vivanta, Aurangabad proved very helpful.”

Nandita also did an internship at Lavonne Hospitality, subsequently getting a job there, which helped her hone her skills even further. There, she was mentored by the senior chefs, who, upon learning that she was participating at the WorldSkills competition, wholeheartedly guided her. “It was good for me that the competition was postponed due to the pandemic. The delay helped me polish my skills and learn enough to bring home the silver medal,” Nandita remarks. “Most of the modules required for the competition were covered by my mentors, and the rest was taken care of at the government organised workshop,” says the pastry chef, who always looks forward to learning new things.

[caption id="attachment_25867" align="aligncenter" width="783"] Professionals at Lavonne Academy prepared her for different modules - Anosh Ranbhise, chocolate showpiece, Prathana Narang entremet, Vinesh Johnny, sugar stand and overall training, Joonie Tan, fondant, and Mani chef, bonbons[/caption]

For WorldSkills challenge, participants begin with a regional round and graduate to the national round, with the winners going on to represent the country on the global platform. The national winners are assigned an expert, who train them for the international challenge. That’s how Nandita became a protégé of Vinesh Johnny, one of the cofounders of Lavonne Academy.

Baking and tennis

The multifaceted youngster has been a national level lawn tennis player. “I started baking at the age of six and playing tennis at eight,” she says. She spent her school years juggling her academics, baking and tennis. “I was six years old when I decided I wanted to be a pastry chef and at 16, I started catering neighbourhood orders for cakes and pastries,” Nandita says.

Nandita played tennis under the aegis of The All India Tennis Association, the governing body of tennis in India. “Since I grew up in Noida, I played several tournaments representing Uttar Pradesh,” says the youngster, whose all-India rank was 77 in the under -18 categories. “I have also represented Uttar Pradesh several times in national competitions organised by CBSE,” she adds.

From protégé to mentor

Nandita comes from a family which is artistically inclined. Her parents are architects and her elder sister is a dentist. “Ever since I can remember, I had an inclination towards taking up a career that is creative,” tells the pastry chef.

[caption id="attachment_25868" align="aligncenter" width="740"] Nandita with her WorldSkills expert Vinesh Johnny[/caption]

With loads of happiness that has come her way after winning a silver, Nandita has been busy not just working in the baking division of Lavonne Hospitality’s cafes but also taking classes at Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts. “I will also train the next competitor who will represent India in the patisserie and confectionery category at WorldSkills,” says the twenty-two year old.

“From clearing the state levels to representing at the international platform WorldSkills has been a journey of personal growth and everlasting friendships,” she signs off.

Follow Nandita Saxena at LinkedIn and Instagram

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Divita Rai: The architect who contested Miss India pageant twice to be on Miss Universe platform

(October 9, 2022) Miss India Universe Divita Rai will have to wait a little longer to represent India on the Miss Universe platform. The annual global event which was scheduled to be held later this year has been shifted to January 14, 2023. It would be the 71st pageant in the world of Miss Universe to crown the winner of 2022 at New Orleans, Louisiana. Participants from 90 countries would be competing for the coveted crown that would be passed over by Harnaaz Sandhu of India, the current title-holder whose reign has been extended. [caption id="attachment_22779" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Divita Rai, Miss Diva 2022 will be representing India in next Miss Universe pageant[/caption] While every Indian is waiting for India to script history by two back-to-back wins, the pressure is high on Divita. To meet the expectations, and slay more when the days of wait have been prolonged, is something that she seems to have taken in her stride. If she wins, India would be the second country to win back-to-back crowns, after Venezuela. Pressure is good. To have people who have expectations from me gives me excitement to bring out the best version of me. More than the pressure, I

hat she seems to have taken in her stride.

If she wins, India would be the second country to win back-to-back crowns, after Venezuela.

Pressure is good. To have people who have expectations from me gives me excitement to bring out the best version of me. More than the pressure, I view it as an incredible opportunity to represent my country. How many of us get such an opportunity!

Divita said in a joint interview with Harnaaz Sandhu, the reigning Miss Universe who made India proud last year by bringing home the crown after a gap of 21 years.

[caption id="attachment_22780" align="aligncenter" width="936"] Divita after being crowned Miss Diva by reigning Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu[/caption]

The win would make Divita the fourth Indian beauty to get the title home, after Sushmita Sen (1994), Lara Dutta (2000) and Harnaaz Sandhu (2021).

Decision to give second shot despite second-runner up crown paid off

Divita evokes hope because of her attitude to win. The Miss Diva pageant in which she was chosen to represent India in the Miss Universe competition was not her first rodeo. She had participated in the contest last year too and was placed third to Harnaaz Sandhu. Instead of basking in the glory of being the second runner up, she chose to push herself harder, and eventually the Global Indian got successful in claiming the Miss India crown, finally earning her chance to represent the country in the global platform of Miss Universe.

[caption id="attachment_22783" align="aligncenter" width="870"] Grand welcome of Divita when she visited Mangalore after winning Miss Diva title[/caption]

Serious about issues that plague society

Born in Mangalore, Divita moved to several cities across India due to her father’s job requirements. She soaked in valuable lessons of life learned from people from diverse backgrounds and cultures from a very young age, turning into a versatile and sensitive human being.

On the occasion of Dusshera 2022, Divita associated herself with child rights and visited a CRY centre at the heart of Asia’s second largest slum in Mumbai. She believes that her education has taken her far and is determined to work towards making quality education accessible to kids and motivate them to keep learning. Her concern for education of underprivileged kids comes from a very personal experience as her father had to overcome immense financial difficulties to complete his education.

[caption id="attachment_22781" align="aligncenter" width="842"] Divita at the CRY event on the day of Dusshera[/caption]

Other than education, the second significant issue close to Divita’s heart is women at work. In fact, she has been so passionate about the issue that as part of her final year thesis, as a student of Architecture she had chosen to research workplace culture for women. Deeply believing how imperative it is for merit to shine irrespective of gender or circumstances, her story is of gathering courage to come back well prepared, and rise above the fear of failure to achieve one’s goal.

A little background…

Until 2010, the top three contestants at the Miss India or Femina Miss India were crowned as Femina Miss India-Universe, Femina Miss India-World, and Femina Miss India-Asia Pacific (which was later renamed as Femina Miss Earth).

However, in 2010, a new contest, ‘I Am She - Miss Universe India’ was introduced to separately select India's representatives to Miss Universe. Later, in 2013, due to a change in the acquiring rights, the contest got renamed as Miss Diva.

The making of the diva

Divita attributes the title of ‘Miss Diva’, which she proudly holds, to her mother and grandmother. While growing up, her mom and grandma would dress her up as Miss India on several occasions, instilling a belief that she could be Miss India. As she grew up, the youngster realised that it is something that she would really like to pursue.

Navigating her way through the modelling industry and the world of pageantry was quite easy as she had found a support system in her family.

[caption id="attachment_22784" align="aligncenter" width="516"] Little Divita with her grandma[/caption]

She said in an interview:

Although my parents grew up with restricted dreams of what to pursue as a profession. My brother and I had the freedom to choose whatever we wanted to, but we were told to ensure that we put our soul and heart to manifest that into reality.

The Karnataka girl who now lives in Mumbai, pursued modelling and architecture from Sir JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai simultaneously.

PCOS cannot stop girls from reaching great heights

September happens to be the PCOS awareness month, dedicated to enhance education and advocacy of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – a hormonal disorder that affects one in five girls in India. Globally, 1.55 million women of reproductive age experience PCOS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KFhcsvGc0o

Divita has gone all out on several platforms opening up about her battle with PCOS, stating:

It's okay for women to go through this condition but it's important for them to talk about it.

She often finds its challenging to maintain a good lifestyle to prevent the health condition from aggravating. As girls undergo several bodily changes and mental health issues related to it, Divita stands tall as an example that one can achieve milestones despite odds.

From the Miss India’s history of international victories:

Reita Faria was the first Miss India ever to win any international beauty pageant. She was crowned Miss World 1966 in London. She became the first Miss World from not just India but from entire Asia.
Sushmita Sen is the country’s first Miss Universe winner in 1994.
India's appearances at the semi-finals of Miss Universe from 1992 to 2002 made it the first country of the Eastern Hemisphere to contest annually at the pageant for at least 10 consecutive years.
In 2010, Nicole Faria became the first Indian to win the Miss Earth pageant.
Six years after Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai's double wins in 1994 as Miss Universe and Miss World respectively, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra repeated the feat in 2000. Though some countries have had dual wins like these previously but since the year 2000 of India’s dual win, no country has won Miss Universe and Miss World in the same year.

Follow Divita Rai on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

Pitch perfect: Once dyslexic and epileptic, Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor is a musical wonder

(December 19, 2022) As an infant, Puja would often cry endlessly despite being fed on time by her mother, Neelam Kapoor. Her paediatricians were baffled and couldn’t diagnose the problem. Worried, Neelam discussed the issue with a friend, who came with a unique suggestion — playing a transistor near her cradle to see if it made any difference. It did. What doctors could not do, music did for the child. Each time she started crying, music would be played and the baby would calm down. She had a sharp sense of rhythm, naturally. [caption id="attachment_25569" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor[/caption] How music healed her Puja was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia and battled epileptic fits through her childhood. Stunning everyone around her, she began playing a keyboard using only her index finger, without even looking at the keys, sans any training or practice. Since then, the music composer and singer has taken the world of music by storm. “I am aiming for the Oscars,” declares music prodigy Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor, who has been certified with 17 world records, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. Her flair for the keyboard, which she can even play blindfolded, earned her an honorary PhD

“I am aiming for the Oscars,” declares music prodigy Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor, who has been certified with 17 world records, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. Her flair for the keyboard, which she can even play blindfolded, earned her an honorary PhD Degree in Music by Duke University, North Carolina.

The incredibly talented musician can also sing, play the tabla and writes poetry. What has stunned the world is her natural ability to compose “on the spot” and create music instantly. “I like to take the audience along on a mesmerising musical trip,” smiles the music prodigy, who was eventually cured of epileptic fits and is no more a dyslexic.

Finding recognition

Her talents were spotted by Indian television producer Ekta Kapoor, who gave Puja her first big break in the television industry.

Born in February, 1996 in Hyderabad, Puja stunned the doctors and her family members when she started to speak coherently when she was barely six months old. By the time she turned 10, she was playing full songs without any professional training.

[caption id="attachment_25570" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor with filmmaker Remo D'Souza[/caption]

Growing up, her dyslexia posed a major challenge. “There were regular complaints from the school regarding my reading and writing problems,” recalls Puja, who has composed music and background scores for Hindi TV serials like Kavyanjali and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka.

The accidental prodigy

Since dyslexia requires children to be taught using out-of-the-box and playful methods, Puja’s mother brought home a keyboard to improve her writing with finger exercises. She wouldn’t play it, really, until one evening, she sat before it and out of the blue, played a Hindi song, without even having to glance at the keys.

“I played the song once and then my mother wanted me to repeat it again and again,” recalls Puja, who did not look at the keyboard even once that day, as if it was coming naturally to her.

Another pleasant surprise came later, around midnight, when she began playing a series of nursery rhymes on the keys. “I was playing the keyboard in darkness as I did not want to disturb my grandparents,” says Puja, who has been honoured by the Indian Tele Academy as the youngest achiever.

Puja recalls an instance from her school’s annual day. “When my name was announced to play the national anthem on stage, my mother stood there anxious. I comforted her and played the national anthem in precisely 52 seconds (the actual duration) inviting huge applause,” says the prodigy.

Achievements

Her name finds a mention in Global World Records, Asia Book Records, India Book of Records, Telugu Book of Records and Limca Book of Records for her unbelievable talent of playing the keyboards blindfolded and composing music on-the-spot without any training or practice.

[caption id="attachment_25568" align="aligncenter" width="687"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor performing at one of the events[/caption]

“I love the sound of white keys (on the keyboard) and compose music only on them,” says the music prodigy, on whose life a short film was made by National Award winning director G L Bharadwaj. Renowned Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur once remarked that “Stephen Hawking (also dyslexic) knew the science of the Universe, and Puja knows the science of music.”

She was invited to “India’s Got Talent” a leading Indian reality show, where she showcased her talent blindfolded and composed a beautiful tune, instantly. Puja was also featured in the first episode of another leading Indian show, called “Lakhon Me Ek,” (one in a million) and the “Kapil Sharma Show,” one of the highly celebrated shows in India.

She also performed before the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Surjit Singh Barnala, who honoured her as a permanent invitee of the Governor for every function. The then AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu bestowed her with the title “The Pride of Andhra Pradesh.”

“I have composed music before Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut as well,” says the music composer, who was the URF Top Talent of the Year, 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teo06Plx1fk&t=334s

Looking ahead

These days, Puja is planning live shows to showcase her talent worldwide and spends hours singing and recording every day. Fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Bengali, Urdu, Marathi and even Arabic, Puja can sing in all these languages.

Puja has a special connect with the elderly. “I have performed at homes for the elderly and also orphanages,” smiles the prodigy, who dreams of building a beautiful home for the aged someday.

Follow Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor on Facebook

Reading Time: 5 min

2023’s pageant powerhouses from the Indian diaspora: Combining pageantry, talent and social upliftment

(December 17, 2023) Indian-origin young women have been captivating audiences and making waves in the international pageant circuit, showcasing their exceptional talents, charm, and cultural heritage on a global platform. Combining their Indian roots with the influences of their adopted countries, these remarkable champions in pageantry have brought forward unique fusion of tradition and diversity. Their achievements not only highlight their beauty and grace but also their intelligence, resilience, and dedication to making a positive impact. Celebrating their victories Global Indian puts into spotlight four young women who got successful in the world of international pageantry in 2023, making the diaspora proud. Manvin Khera Miss Globe 2023 In a spectacular event held at Albania last month, 22-year-old Manvin Khera, a Malaysian model of Indian descent, secured the prestigious title of The Miss Globe 2023, at the world's oldest major international beauty contest held annually since 1925. Manvin’s victory stands as a remarkable milestone, as she is the first Malaysian to win the title in the renowned pageant, surpassing fifty contestants from across the globe. Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Manvin has a successful career in modelling. Last year she earned the title of Ratu Wanita Malaya 2022 at the inaugural edition

ble milestone, as she is the first Malaysian to win the title in the renowned pageant, surpassing fifty contestants from across the globe. Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Manvin has a successful career in modelling. Last year she earned the title of Ratu Wanita Malaya 2022 at the inaugural edition of the national pageant of Malaysia.

[caption id="attachment_34705" align="aligncenter" width="472"] Manvin Khera[/caption]

This multi-talented youngster who excels as a model, singer, and beauty pageant winner, has established a strong international presence in modelling. Her appearances at Thailand Fashion Week, the Bali International Fashion Week, and the Rizman Ruzaini Cruise 2023 show during Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week highlight her global prominence. Manvin aspires to be a lawyer.

Manju Bangalore

Miss Oregon USA 2023

Manju Bangalore, a twenty-five-year-old, clinched the Miss Oregon USA 2023 title, becoming the first South Asian woman to achieve this distinction. For the versatile young woman, the win expanded the horizons of the meaningful work that she has been doing. Beyond her success in pageantry, Manju serves as a role model for young brown girls across the US with her astronaut training, acting, modelling, activism, writing, and non-profit. Manju’s Operation Period and Painting with Parkinson’s are two initiatives that showcase her commitment to making a positive impact in the society.

[caption id="attachment_34704" align="aligncenter" width="465"] Manju Bangalore[/caption]

The youngster is pursuing her postgraduate studies at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences in the US after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, majoring in physics with a minor in mathematics. She has worked on five NASA internships, in addition to a White House internship focusing on science policy. Apart from modelling she has acted in television shows like ‘Black is King’, ‘Depot,’ and ‘Animal Kingdom.’ Beyond her professional endeavours, Manju is an advocate for black and transgender rights. Recently she launched her debut children’s book aptly titled ‘You Can Be All the Things You Want to Be.’

UmaSofia Srivastava

Miss Teen USA 2023

The 16-year-old teen from Parsippany, New Jersey, of Indian and Mexican descent, clinched the Miss Teen USA title at the Reno, Nevada pageant held in September of this year. Among 51 accomplished young women representing every state and the District of Columbia, UmaSofia emerged as the winner. Her journey to this victory began earlier in March when she secured the Miss New Jersey Teen USA title. She has previously been a runner-up in the pageant at the age of 14.

[caption id="attachment_33667" align="aligncenter" width="473"] UmaSofia Srivastava[/caption]

Currently a junior at the Academy of St. Elizabeth in Parsippany-Troy Hills, UmaSofia is a devoted humanitarian with a strong belief in ethnic diversity, cultural inclusivity, and societal equality. She co-founded a diversity and inclusion campaign at her school, and runs a popular blog 'That’s Fan Behaviour,' which delves into topics ranging from feminism to her experiences as a woman of colour, conducting interviews with influential change makers, and exploring various other issues affecting society. The youngster is also a published author who came up with her debut book ‘The White Jaguar.’

Aruna Sukhdeo

Miss India Worldwide 2023

Born to an Indian-Guyanese labourer, Aruna Sukhdeo etched her name in history by claiming victory in the Miss India Worldwide 2023 competition, becoming the second individual of Indian origin from Guyana to accomplish this feat in the pageant's 33-year legacy. Since its inception in 1990, the Miss India Worldwide pageant has attracted young women from the global Indian diaspora. Aruna also clinched the Miss Beautiful Hair title during the competition. Describing music as her 'escape’. The aspiring economist and singer captivated the judges with her singing prowess throughout the event.

[caption id="attachment_34700" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Aruna Sukhdeo[/caption]

Currently the youngster is in her fourth year of studies in business economics at the University of Guyana (UG), Turkeyen Campus. She looks at the win as an opportunity to work on an issue which is closest to her heart – mental health, a condition that has been affecting the younger generations like never before.

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