Watch out for the cyber criminals: 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha upskills natives and foreigners
Written by: Amrita Priya
(May 8, 2022) Young India is making its mark. From teen entrepreneurs running unicorns to prodigies in science and the arts, India’s youth are shining. Take, for instance, 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha, who was lauded for being one of the youngest cyber security trainer in May 2021. By that time, he had already worked as external cyber security researcher with the Ministry of Electronics and IT providing inputs for framing DPR for cyber security labs in India.
An expert at 19
On April 28, 2022, CERT-in, a government-appointed nodal agency, issued a new cybersecurity directive. As cyber threats loom, for individuals and nations alike, ‘hack the world before it hacks you’, maintains Vaibhav which incidentally happens to be the title of the book that he has written. The young ethical hacker has been keenly spreading awareness on security online through various initiatives.
Over 25,000 school and college students have learned the ropes of the cyber world through Vaibhav’s training sessions under Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission. His research paper on car hacking and cloud security fetched him the budding researcher award at an international conference at Amity Dubai.
Vaibhav was only 19 when he trained Indian Audit and Account Service (IAAS) officers, and also conducted a joint training session for cops, bureaucrats and delegates from over thirty countries on safeguarding critical security infrastructure and enjoyed a short stint as a cyber security researcher for Gurugram Police as well.
Climbing the ladder
Vaibhav was in his first year of college at Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies when he discovered cybersecurity and ethical hacking. A student of computer science engineering at the time, he knew instantly that this would be his chosen domain. He did extensive research by himself, which bore fruit in his second year of college when it led to Vaibhav being asked to chair a cybersecurity conference attended by Dr Gulshan Rai, the erstwhile Cyber Security Chief at the Prime Minister’s Office. It was a magnificent turning point, Vaibhav remarks, saying it ignited his desire to delve even deeper.
When he collated his knowledge, he had the material for his debut book. “My book teaches beginners on how to avoid the trap of cyber-crime,” Vaibhav tells Global Indian.
By the time he was in his second year, Vaibhav had also taken his first steps as an entrepreneur. With support from the institution, he co-founded a cyber security firm with a batchmate. After he graduated, the computer engineer switched to the corporate world, associating himself with Coforge (earlier NIIT Technologies).
Driving dialogue
Led by the desire to promote cyber security as an integral fabric of our digitally-inclined society, he has organised two cyberspace conferences (CIACON) in 2018 and again in 2020. Officials from the US’ Department of Homeland Security and the Indian government participated as speakers. “The conferences are for security enthusiasts,” Vaibhav explains. “The idea has been to bring together cyber experts, policy makers, think tanks and cyber wizards on a single platform to discuss issues and challenges in the sub domains of cyber security.”
It meant big steps for Vaibhav too, a journey that involved becoming comfortable with himself and his abilities. “I used to be nervous at the start but I have worked on my confidence levels. Now, delivering lectures, conducting training and interacting with people is my passion,” he says.
That apart, spending time with family and friends, swimming, body building, reading books and doing his research keep Vaibhav occupied. He also has his own YouTube channel, Scorpion VJ, through which he engages people on a variety of topics that range from tech and travelling to lifestyle.
“Cybersecurity and cyber-forensics are fields that needs passion and the mindset of always being open to learning, otherwise you will not be able to counter attack the cyberattacks,” he says, to young cyber security aspirants everywhere.
‘Hacks’ for being cyber smart
Keep all your devices, apps and browsers up to date
Think before you click
Be vigilant while reading mails or opening attachments from unknown sources
Verify identity before sharing personal information online
Keep all your passwords unique and don’t reveal it to anyone
Report if anything seems suspicious in the cyber world
(October 6, 2022) Ten days ago, a post by writer Amitav Ghosh, who is quite the foodie, appeared on my Instagram feed. It was a glowing recommendation, along with a photograph, of a young chef, with Ghosh writing, "Great spread of pre-wedding Malayali food by Sarah Thomas and Hunter Jamison... If you are in the NYC area and longing for some spicy Malayali food." One assumes this would be the work of a veteran chef, Ghosh is, after all, one of the most celebrated names in the literary world. It was, however, a very youthful young woman who appeared on screen for the interview with Global Indian. "I'm 23 years old," Chef Sarah Thomas says. "I began my catering business in January 2021." Today, the young Global Indian works 20 hours on some days, making up to 50 dishes at a time. Growing up in New Jersey, where her parents moved from Kerala, Sarah's diet always comprised of home-cooked Malayali staples. "My mom would wake up at 5 am to cook for the whole family every day. It would make me angry then because it was distracting, I couldn't study and my clothes would smell. I never liked it." Soon
ry then because it was distracting, I couldn't study and my clothes would smell. I never liked it." Soon after college, however, when she moved away from home, she found herself craving her mother's cooking and simply couldn't find a suitable substitute. "What is available is either fusion or very high-end. The simple, traditional dishes were impossible to find. I simply wasn't tasting what I was getting at home," she says. Sarah decided to try her hand at it, setting up 'Sugar Dosa' on Shef, an online platform for people to order authentic, homemade meals made by local, certified chefs from around the world.
Straddling two worlds
Although her parents remained more or less rooted in their native culture, Sarah felt quite separated from it. "I'm only Malayali ethnically, I tell people that too. I don't speak the language as well as I should." She was a serious teen, studying medicine as so many Indian kids in the US do. Sarah realised soon enough that it wasn't what she wanted to do with her life and decided she would much rather teach yoga. "After I studied and did all my exams, I realised what I was doing didn't feel authentic to me. My parents worked hard to bring me here and the idea behind doing so was to see a different way of life - that's part of being American too." So, she turned to her decade-long association with yoga. "My father is a yoga teacher, he had studied at the Sivananda Institute. I learned from him when I was young and we would also teach together," she says.
In college, much to the alarm of her traditional parents, she chose a course in acting and creative writing. After that, she moved to NYC, signing up as a teacher with a yoga studio and working on writing short stories as well, in which she talked about life as an Indian growing up in America. "I found I didn't like the Western style of yoga, though. Here, the fear of cultural appropriation is a big deal, and yoga is seen as just a workout. Writing is also extremely competitive." Her three-year stint at the yoga studio ended unpleasantly when it became involved in a tax that "ruined the perception of yoga."
In 2020, when she created a platform for Malayali food on Shef, there was huge interest almost immediately. "I was the only one there making appams and egg curry," she smiles. She makes the batter by hand, substituting toddy, which she simply cannot get in the US, with yeast. "It works just as well," she says. The spice mixes are also hand-ground and she travels to New Jersey, which is home to a large Indian diaspora and major department stores that specialise in Indian ingredients, to buy what she needs. The Malabar Chicken Curry, appam and egg curry, and the famous Kerala beef fry (for private customers) are all in high demand.
Amitav Ghosh was among those who found her online. He ordered once and then again, after which he messaged Sarah, asking her if she would be willing to cater an event. "I didn't know it was the day of his son's wedding, he told me it was for a wedding party. I ended up catering this big meal for them right before they got married. It was also my first huge party." As she found her feet - Sarah is now expanding into a professional kitchen - she found, through yoga, writing, and cooking, a way to "tell my story without having to do anything out of the way. When I catered Mr. Ghosh's event, people already knew what I did and where I came from."
Sarah now plans to set up her own 'Malayali cafe' in the Lower East End, with doubles as a yoga studio. "That way, I can do both. To me, cooking is a form of yoga too. Here, yoga is a physical activity and is rarely paired with mindful practice, meditation, or the correct ways of eating," she says. Having studied meditation from former experts who learned from Osho back in the 1970s, Sarah's method of teaching yoga is to prepare the body for meditation.
"All of it is coming together for me," she says, as she concludes. "There are more South Indians here than ever before and I'm more emboldened now to share what I do and put a plate in front of someone. A lot of people come from India to New York and tell me they haven't eaten this kind of Malayali food for years. I'm happy doing this, instead of taking a more traditional path."
(October 11, 2023) "My activism doesn't come as a choice. My activism doesn't come as a hobby. It's a survival tool for my community," says Kevin J Patel, a Los Angeles-based climate activist, who is the founder of OneUpAction International, an organisation empowering marginalised youth by providing them with the resources they need to be changemakers. Being one of the youth voices on the climate crisis, Kevin currently serves as a 2020 National Geographic Young Explorer. It was at the age of 12 that a health issue led Kevin to become aware of the environmental damage caused by the many oil refineries in the surrounding area. He is one of the two million California residents who live within 2,500 feet of an operational oil and gas well and are prone to health issues. Born to immigrant parents who moved to the US in search of better opportunities, Kevin grew up in a space where they grew their own food. However, he lived in a community in South Central Los Angeles where food scarcity was common, and it was in his first semester of sixth grade that he became aware of the issue. "I realized my community wasn’t getting access to
community in South Central Los Angeles where food scarcity was common, and it was in his first semester of sixth grade that he became aware of the issue. "I realized my community wasn’t getting access to healthier foods; I really wanted to do something about it. I started teaching my peers to grow food. Many did not know that food comes from farms and they can grow their own foods," he said in an interview.
However, things amplified in the second semester of his sixth grade when one day sitting in his classroom, he felt a sudden chest pain. He was fit, played sports, and had no high blood pressure, but ended up being diagnosed with arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart beats at an irregular rhythm. Confused, he started looking for answers as to why this might have happened to him and he found the answer in the location he lived. "South-Central Los Angeles was classified as a 'sacrifice zone' — places where residents, often low-income and/or people of colour, live close to freeways, factories, and oil wells. That's where environmental inaction and damage have resulted in arrhythmia-stoking levels of smog. So, I started protesting. I led marches, petitioned government officials, and demanded climate justice from anyone who would listen," he said.
While getting actively involved in activism, Kevin didn't see many people who looked like him, especially in the youth climate movement. In 2018, more than 85 percent of staffers in over 2000 environmental nonprofits were white. This nudged him to start OneUpAction International in 2019 to create a platform for young individuals who were BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). "I consider myself an intersectional climate activist, and one of the millions of people across the world who are already victims of the climate crisis. I didn't see a home for people like myself."
Over the years, OneUpAction translated into more than just giving voice to BIPOC, it turned into an organisation that supports and empowers marginalised youth to become changemakers, and to tackle the climate crisis within their local communities for a regenerative future. "Now we're an organization that is helping young individuals across the globe implement and accelerate solutions within their communities."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmBUTxqkREw&t=19s
Kevin, who is pursuing Political Science at Loyola Marymount University, has over the years collaborated with the community to create a one-of-its-kind Youth Climate Commission in LA County to amplify youth voices. "The power of young people is crucially needed. I also think we just need to intergenerationally work together to really make sure that we're solving these issues."
The young climate activist is into hiking and photography, and is keen to get more young people equipped with the resources like monetary aid, membership and all "to implement solutions and drive action within their communities." "We need more young people at the table, and this is where OneUpAction is currently focused. Youth will drive the change our planet needs."
(April 30, 2023) From a deep-rooted interest in sustainability and a love for handicrafts, Sajida from Udupi started Ecoco Creations, a brand that creates beautiful handicrafts out of coconut shells. While her products were getting some traction on social media, her tryst with Incuba Naari filled her with a renewed sense of excitement as their mentorship program helped provide with right "guidance for social media and marketing." The entrepreneur from Karnataka is one among many whose lives have been changed for the good by Incuba Naari, an NGO accelerator platform that provides free mentorship and business exhibitions for women small business owners across India. The brainchild of a 17-year-old from Bengaluru - Maanya Singh - has impacted the lives of many women entrepreneurs in the last few years. "When you empower one woman entrepreneur, she creates a ripple effect," Maanya tells Global Indian. The Class 11 student found inspiration in her mother, and at a young age realised the importance of financial independence. This led her to push the envelope and start Incuba Naari in 2020. With 927 followers on Instagram, it has touched the lives of many small-time women entrepreneurs who were looking for scalability. "Our first cohort was
The Class 11 student found inspiration in her mother, and at a young age realised the importance of financial independence. This led her to push the envelope and start Incuba Naari in 2020. With 927 followers on Instagram, it has touched the lives of many small-time women entrepreneurs who were looking for scalability. "Our first cohort was a success, and now we are organising the second one in August this year."
The Dallas born has early memories of her mother sitting at the potter's wheel and carving beautiful pieces at her garage-turned-studio in the US. She remembers running around the garage as young as four or five while her mom worked on her art. "When she sold her first piece at Dallas City Art Exhibition, I was so proud of her." She adds that her mom quit her corporate job after the birth of her two kids, but it was the weekend pottery workshops that sparked her passion for pottery. She continued following her passion even after returning to India a few years ago, and it soon turned into a full-blown venture. "Our parents wanted us to be in touch with our culture, and that was one of the reasons we relocated to India, and I am glad that we did. It made me understand what it is to be an Indian."
A few years into settling in Bengaluru, her mom opened a professional studio in the city and gave the reins of social media marketing to Maanya. This was a turning point for the 17-year-old as she understood "how difficult it is for small entrepreneurs to get out there and take their business to the next level."
This initial realisation led her to dive into research that showed that 90 percent of the small ventures started by women had mothers at the forefront, while the remaining 10 percent were led by college students. At a young age, she started appreciating entrepreneurship, courtesy her mom, whom she saw evolving into a confident entrepreneur. However, she realised that mostly, "there is an inherent belittlement of women's labour, especially mothers. Even some women brush off their small businesses as a hobby." This pushed her to take action as she understood that financial independence is one of the ways to empower women. Keen to understand the stories of the women entrepreneurs, she ended up cold mailing a number of them asking to interview them, which gave Maanya a sneak peek into the lives, struggles, and journeys of women entrepreneurs.
The start of Incuba Naari
This was the start of Incuba Naari - a platform that took shape in 2020. A few interviews later, she decided to share these stories on social media for better reach. Soon, more women started joining the community and sharing their stories. The Indus International School student credits being a part of a startup youth program that helped increase the accessibility of entrepreneurship to young people. "After conducting 40 interviews, I published a research paper that helped me understand how financial independence empowers women. However, many of them require mentorship, networking, or digital amplification. Because of my mom and the startup program, I was uniquely in a position to help these women, and I am grateful for it."
In 2022, the Incuba Naari incubation program came to life, thanks to the MYP Student Innovators Grant, where the teenager was awarded $8000 for her social impact innovation. "The first cohort saw women entrepreneurs from different parts of the country coming for the mentorship session - some to learn social media management, and others came for exhibitions and getting their names out there apart from the revenue boost."
Ray of hope for women entrepreneurs
The mentorship program turned out to be a "ray of hope" for Assam-based Piyali Dey Maity, a fashion designer-turned-baker, who is the founder of Crusty Tasty. Sharing her journey with Global Indian, the entrepreneur reveals that Covid-19 hit her family hard as her husband, who was in Dhaka, had to cut down his business visa and return home. "While he underwent therapy, we spend all our savings on establishing my home baking business. It was the time I started marketing my designer cakes and the business showed us the light towards financial independence." It was her husband who found Incuba Naari on Google, and soon Piyali joined hands with Maanya for the mentorship program. "Maanya is an amazing woman for her age and doing incredible work for women entrepreneurs like us. Incuba Naari has emerged as a ray of hope in my life and their mentorship programs are greatly helpful," she adds.
The scaling up of businesses, thanks to Incuba Naari, has helped these women entrepreneurs to not only achieve financial independence but also put their talent on the table for the world to see. Minali Furia of Ras Creations is one such woman entrepreneur whose life changed after she joined forces with Incuba Naari. A handmade jewelry designer, she never found the support of her husband. It wasn't until 2021 that she started selling her work through Facebook pages and WhatsApp as she wanted to afford the education of her daughter. After sharing her story with Incuba Naari, her business started expanding. "Even my husband started supporting me, so thank you Incuba Naari for such a great platform and initiative."
At 17, Maanya has been able to create a community for women entrepreneurs, and she is happy that she could "establish trust and credibility." These last two years have been a learning curve for the teenager who could help deliver what these entrepreneurs wanted. She is currently working on the website of Incuba Naari - a digital platform where mentors and entrepreneurs can interact. With 20 active volunteers in tow, Incuba Naari is making a difference in the lives of women entrepreneurs - by not just helping them scale their businesses but also making them confident entrepreneurs who are ready to take on the world.
Currently preparing for her exams, Maanya plans to take a gap year after finishing school before applying for colleges in the US. However, she is excited for her two-week summer internship at Grameen Bank in Dhaka which works across Bangladesh to reduce poverty through easy financial access to the rural poor, especially women. "It will be a great learning experience."
Maanya, who loves to swim and watch movies in theatres, credits her parents for being the wind beneath her wings. "My dad helped me write my first business email, and as a 15-year-old, I would practice my pitches on them. They not only gave me honest advice but also kept me grounded and objective."
Maanya wants to sustain Incuba Naari as long as she can as she has a vision. "I want to create a gender-equal future in India where every woman can unlock the power of financial independence through entrepreneurship," she signs off.
(June 3, 2022) Each time the group bikers kickstart their rides, the delight of feeling the wind in the air, the welcoming roads, and the beckoning of bonhomie amidst adventurous terrains fill their hearts with utmost joy. Embracing speed and the trail ahead of them, the riders rejoice in soaking in the beauty of their oft-repeated pleasure that never seems to lose its sheen. Global Indian turns the spotlight on two such biking groups – an inspiring Delhi-based popular international riders’ group and another from Mumbai that has been religiously keeping its love for biking alive. Both reaffirm the charm of long roads, the mountains, woods, rivers and the diversity of people while owning your space - your beloved bike! [caption id="attachment_17571" align="alignnone" width="952"] Group bikers ready to get-set-go[/caption] Group of Delhi Superbikers (G.O.D.S) - Delhi-NCR “I started the group in 1998, though I had been riding solo since 1985 as most of the people did not have super bikes (bikes above 600cc) then. In 1998, I found a gentleman who had a Honda 750cc and we started riding together, setting the foundation of the group,” says Dr Arun Thereja, a Delhi-based ENT surgeon and founder of G.O.D.S. Starting at
“I started the group in 1998, though I had been riding solo since 1985 as most of the people did not have super bikes (bikes above 600cc) then. In 1998, I found a gentleman who had a Honda 750cc and we started riding together, setting the foundation of the group,” says Dr Arun Thereja, a Delhi-based ENT surgeon and founder of G.O.D.S. Starting at a time when biking culture was almost non-existent to being a strong 130 member group, G.O.D.S has come a long way. Each Sunday around 40-50 riders go on 200 km trail to enjoy the early morning breeze and take occasional pit stops to dig into food or take pictures at their favourite spots, before returning home. Moreover, they organise weekend getaways every two months to nearby places.
“We go for longer distance national and international group rides too. Every year, we head to about 10 days of an international group biking trip.” Till now, G.O.D.S has taken on the roads of Russia, England, Scotland, Bhutan, Thailand, French Riviera, and New Zealand, and have plans to explore the countryside of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in July this year. “When we land at international destinations, we pick up similar bikes that we ride here in India and off we go riding about 300 km on the unknown paths. This takes five to six hours of the day, and the rest of the time, we soak ourselves in the beauty of the place,” tells Arun.
[caption id="attachment_17585" align="alignnone" width="2048"]G.O.D.S in New Zealand group ride[/caption]
But before that, the team is gearing for a Leh and Ladakh trip in June. “We have been exploring Leh and Ladakh since 1998 when there were no roads. Now, whenever we go there, we go to different terrains, and the inner most areas, not the usual touristy kind of routes,” adds Arun.
With women bikers slowly making their place in the male-dominated territory, many have been a part of G.O.D.S too. However, Arun believes that the enthusiasm is short-lived. “Women bikers are very enthusiastic when they join the group but after few months the interest wears off and they end up selling their bikes,” reveals Arun adding that the riders have to meet the prerequisites of the minimum age, riding experience and bike size to be a part of the group. G.O.D.S also takes up social causes and often provides a helping hand to Indian Bikers for Good, another biking group in their social endeavours. “Biking is our life. It’s amazing and with each of the lovely journey, the love for it is growing stronger,” says Arun.
“It all began in 2009 at my office where I was sipping coffee with my three colleagues. One of them randomly said, 'let’s bike to Leh and Ladakh.” says Roshan Mansukhani, a music therapist based in Mumbai. The idea kept growing on them for the next few days and they finally decided to take the plunge. “Hesitantly, I told my wife and had no clue of her reaction, but all she did was smile and say, 'let me pack your bag, you must do this trip.' That was a super booster dose for me and there was no looking back. Off we went shopping for my inners, woollens etc,” Roshan savours the memory. The trio drove to Delhi, rented bikes and vroomed into their group's first adventure trip.
“I was riding a bike after 18 years and that too on an unknown trail. There were no navigators. We just rode with nature.” From scorching 47 degree to minus in the mountains and from clear roads to no roads, their excitement was palpable. The 19-days adventure was the beginning of a life-long affair with riding for them.
From three buddies to now 20 members, the group has grown and how! Every Sunday, the like-minded riders cover a stretch of 150 km to soak themselves in the thrilling adventure. “When I say like-minded, I mean we respect fellow bikers, traffic including cyclists on the road and no rash riding. This is important as biking is a passion not a competition,” remarks Roshan.
Buddy Bikers has attended Rider Mania in Goa twice where at least 10,000 Royal Enfield bikers come together for a three-day event. The group has been to a Darjeeling spree and to the Leh and Ladakh trail a couple of times, experiencing sun tan and frost bite at the same time. “Way back in 2009, the roads were not as good as now but it gave us its own distinct experience of riding. This time we had a super experience of riding the Atal Tunnel which is a 9 km long breathtaking stretch,” he remarks.
“In our rides through sunshine, rain, hailstorm and snowfall, we have gained a lot in terms of confidence, valuing life and respecting nature. Some bad trips have taught us to stick together as a team,” adds Roshan. “When you are travelling to any high altitude, it’s not only your physical fitness but also the mental state that makes a difference”, he says adding, “You need to be composed to think right.” For the biker group, “It’s all about the journey and not just the destination!”
(January 24, 2024) After a tough selection process with over a thousand applicants from across the country, NLU Delhi’s Ayan Gupta is among the five scholars selected for the Rhodes Scholarship 2024 to study at Oxford University. “Oxford is a brilliant place to study at and who wouldn’t want to,” remarks Ayan as he speaks to Global Indian. While applying for the scholarship, he drew inspiration from a past NLUD graduate who had been successful in getting the scholarship from the Rhodes Trust. A fifth-year NLUD student, Ayan has a keen interest in matters related to sentencing and punishment with a focus on the complexities surrounding the death penalty and prolonged incarceration. At Oxford, Ayan aims to explore the fields of criminology and criminal justice. [caption id="attachment_35405" align="aligncenter" width="667"] Ayan Gupta[/caption] He is of the belief that in the sphere of criminal justice, the system does not lay enough emphasis on empathy. “Hopefully, I would get to contribute to reforms that lead towards a more empathetic criminal justice system,” he envisions after graduating as an Oxford scholar. Passionate about education, Ayan aspires to shape criminal justice education as an academic, and has also garnered experience as a research and teaching assistant
1-1024x718.png" alt="Indian youth | Ayan Gupta | Global Indian " width="667" height="468" /> Ayan Gupta[/caption]
He is of the belief that in the sphere of criminal justice, the system does not lay enough emphasis on empathy. “Hopefully, I would get to contribute to reforms that lead towards a more empathetic criminal justice system,” he envisions after graduating as an Oxford scholar.
Passionate about education, Ayan aspires to shape criminal justice education as an academic, and has also garnered experience as a research and teaching assistant at NLU Delhi. Currently serving as the editor-in-chief of NLUD’s Journal of Legal Studies, Ayan oversees the publication of scholarly papers authored by students, faculty members, and practicing lawyers.
The Rhodes scholarship
“After getting selected for the scholarship by the Rhodes Trust, one still has to go through the application process of securing admission at the University’s master’s course but with the kind of support that the trust provides, the process becomes more comfortable with lesser anxiety surrounding it,” Ayan shares.
Rhodes Trust would be providing scholarship between £30,000 to £50,000 per annum, depending on the course and institution that one enrols into. Additionally, there's a stipend of approximately £20,000 per year, ensuring that all that the scholar needs to do is to focus on the studies, without being concerned about food, lodging, or recreation expenses.
“This opportunity is truly life-changing, and I feel immense gratitude and excitement. The master’s programmes at Oxford spans two years, with an option for a third-year extension under certain circumstances and for specific courses fully funded by the Rhodes Trust,” shares Ayan.
Law with an empathetic lens
During his third year of college, Ayan served as a death penalty research fellow on Project 39A - an NLUD organisation dedicated to death penalty litigation founded by the NLUD Professor Dr Anup Surendranath. The project draws inspiration from Article 39-A of the Indian Constitution, which advocates for the equal justice and equal opportunity, and the importance of addressing disparities that intersect and exclude large segments of our society from effectively seeking justice due to economic and social barriers.
Reflecting on his experience of working on the project, Ayan mentions, “I got introduced to the fact that criminal justice goes much beyond criminal law. Many of the problems that plague the criminal justice system are ingrained in the system. Often, the law is adding to the problems,” he says. “We need to think much harder about what it is that we punish, how we punish, and who are the people we punish. I hope to explore these questions in my master’s programme at Oxford.”
The humane perspective that Ayan wishes to explore may have played a role in his selection for the scholarship. “There is often limited consideration given to the complexities of punishment, and there seems to be a prevailing trend towards stricter punitive measures. However, adopting an empathetic perspective is crucial to recognise that crime is a societal issue,” he says. Ayan is of the opinion that crimes are often rooted in societal, socio-economic, and psychological factors. Addressing these underlying circumstances requires more than just punitive measures. It should involve understanding the reasons behind the crimes and taking an empathetic approach for effective reduction of crime rates.
Talking about his association with Project 39A, he mentions, “I am happy that I was able to discover my area of interest through the project and glad that I would be able to explore it further at Oxford. I am thankful to Dr Anup Surendranath for being a wonderful mentor along the way.”
International law with a comparative lens
Ayan’s interest extends to international law as well. “From international law, it has evolved into more transnational or comparative law,” he remarks.
The scholar’s interest in international law underwent a transformation from an initial focus on environmental law during a moot. This shift led him to critically assess the shortcomings of environmental law. Over time, this curiosity developed into a passion for comparative law, prompting him to explore how different nations address shared challenges.
Stetson International Moot Court competition
In the third year of his college, Ayan participated in the Stetson International Moot Court Competition, which primarily focuses on environmental law. Due to COVID-19, what was initially planned as an in-person event in Florida transformed into an online format. The competition featured more than 20 teams from across the world. Ayan’s team managed to become the semi-finalist in the competition. He was able to bag an individual prize for being the second best oralist.
To get an opportunity to participate in the global competition, Ayan and his team of five members had first competed and emerged as national champions in the India national rounds which saw participation of around 25 teams from across the country. Ayan had emerged as the best oralist in the final round as well the best oralist, overall in the national competition.
Talking about the global competition, the youngster remarks, “The fascinating part of it was that we were arguing with lawyers from different jurisdiction and countries and all of them had their own ways of looking at things and ways of presenting the case depending upon their cultural backgrounds. To experience that diversity was very interesting.”
Learning from experts
While studying at NLUD, Ayan has also served as a research assistant of some academicians. The experience has broadened his intellectual horizons and fuelled his aspirations to become a law faculty in future. Collaborating with Dr Anup Surendranath of NLU Delhi, Dr Aparna Chandra of NLS, and Dr Mayur Suresh of SOAS, London was an extremely rewarding experience for him.
“Working directly with academics as an intern, instead of organisations, provided me with insights into their unique thought processes. Difference in their approaches to handle research exposed me to diverse perspectives of looking at a problem,” he says. This firsthand experience with such experts has polished his ability to contemplate on relevance, critique, and utilise reasoning in academic research.
Personal observations on Rhodes scholarship
Significance of personal essay
“Given the high volume of applications, receiving a call for an interview seems a bigger achievement than actually making it through the interview,” Ayan remarks with a smile. Hence, personal essays play a crucial role as they determine whether one will be selected for an interview and also serve as the foundation for the questions posed during the interview.
In his essay Ayan delved upon his observations and experiences during his involvement as research fellow in Project 39A. He talked about impactful stories of people on death row that struck him hard. He also wrote about his aspiration to be a future law academic to challenge and rectify societal perceptions of criminality, and how his teachers especially Professor Anup, the founder of Project 39A made a huge impact on his life at NLUD.
Misconception around sports
“There's a prevalent misconception that being exceptionally skilled in sports is a prerequisite for earning a Rhodes scholarship. While this may have been somewhat true in the past, it is no longer the case in the present scenario,” says Ayan emphasising that the trust just seeks to understand the multifaceted components of an individual’s personality.
Involvement in sports can simply be a part of one's life. “During my interview, I made it clear that I watch tennis tournaments and play tennis just as a means of relaxation, and have never participated in the sport competitively.”
Before joining NLUD, Ayan studied at Amity International School, Gurgaon. His father is an Udaipur based neurosurgeon while his mother is a former Hindi and Sanskrit teacher. The youngster loves playing ukulele in his free time.
Sarah's Beef Ularthiyathu[/caption]
Maanya Singh[/caption]
G.O.D.S in New Zealand group ride[/caption]
Buddy Bikers[/caption]
Ayan Gupta[/caption]
Ayan Gupta[/caption]