Kanav Kariya: The Indian-origin entrepreneur in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(November 24, 2022) Like most Indian kids, Kanav Kariya too had an American dream. And taking the first step on the ladder, he enrolled himself in the University of Illinois for a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. Little did the Mumbai lad know that in a few years he would make it to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list. When he joined university, crypto was still an idea or a concept that people were speaking about at a few trading companies. But an internship with Jump Trading changed the course of Kanav’s life, as he was promoted to the position of President at Jump Crypto in a few years. This journey from intern to president speaks volumes about Kanav as an executive and an entrepreneur.
Ever since the company handed him the reins of its rebranded, 170-person digital assets division, Jump Crypto, “he’s overseen billions in investments in the crypto space and helped position the company as a major player in Web3,” according to Fortune, who reveals that Jump Crypto invested in more than 100 crypto companies in the last one year.
Kanav Kariya has been featured in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list
From coder to trader
However, when Kanav moved to the US at 18, he had no interest in trading. It was something that he picked up in the US while studying at the University of Illinois. “Jump Trading has a research lab at the University of Illinois where we work on all kinds of stock and research programs. So, collaborations with professors and Ph.D. students and undergrads is common. So, I ended up interning there during the course of my junior year, and the crypto effort was just being born as an early project. It was just the five-six of us who would excitedly spin chairs and talk about crypto and we were building a crypto trading infrastructure. That’s when I parallelly built my interest in both the fields – crypto and trading,” he said on the SuperTeam podcast.
For someone who was gradually immersing himself in the world of trading, working in Jump Trading was a novel experience. “I was coming into an environment where there was a bunch of really smart people – it was by the virtue of grinding and picking things up that I learnt a lot. We were doing coding but we kept talking about trading,” he added.
The crypto scene
Steadily, Kanav and his team members realised that building crypto was the real deal and that’s when the crypto effort, which started as an intern project began taking on a form of its own. “When I came into Jump Crypto, I was working on building the trading infrastructures that allow these predictions and executions to go into the market. After a point, I was working as the quant to build the predictions and executions. After a while, as we got more involved in crypto, we realised the more exciting opportunities were in building crypto,” said the Global Indian.
Kanav Kariya is the president of Jump Crypto
Kanav’s expertise in the field led him to become the president of Jump Crypto in 2021. “Jump Trading has spent decades focused on building the infrastructure for high-performance systems and technologies. We’re bringing that muscle to crypto and aim to meaningfully contribute to the construction of the ‘plumbing and the railroads’ necessary for widespread adoption of crypto,” the 26-year-old said in a statement.
And within a year, Kanav has made it to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list. As for future ambitions, Kariya tells Fortune that he wants Jump Crypto to be a “key infrastructure builder that is part of the furniture of the industry as it scales.”
(December 12, 2024) Hurried lunches eaten alone in a corner of the cafeteria, endless hours at school spent mostly in silence, her heart racing at the thought of speaking to her peers, and worst of all, having to answer the dreaded question, 'Where are you from', made every day a struggle for nine-year-old Taanvi Arekapudi, who is now a passionate advocate for teen mental health. Born in Ireland to Indian parents, then moving to the US at the age of nine meant identity was a complex, confusing concept for the young girl. "A nine-year-old is expected to be happy and excited about life. I would see my peers in the US being that way, and then there was me, faking a smile to fit in, pretending to be happy because that's what society told me," Taanvi tells Global Indian. Now 16 years old, Taanvi greets me with a ready smile that no longer needs forcing. She speaks with courage and insight too, boldly talking about the worst moments of her life and how she learned to find happiness even when everything seemed gloomy. Learning to face herself not only helped her heal, it also gave her purpose. "My mission is
emed gloomy. Learning to face herself not only helped her heal, it also gave her purpose. "My mission is to help my peers with coping strategies to use in their daily lives," Taanvi says.
Taanvi Arekapudi is a youth mental health advocate and founder of Uplift Teens Today, a nonprofit providing mental health resources and support to teenagers. Through initiatives like her bestselling book, Uplift Teens Today: Coping Strategies for Mental Health, the Emotion Cards Deck, and the Nexus platform, she empowers peers with practical strategies and creates safe spaces for dialogue. Her work spans schools, communities, and national platforms, breaking stigma and championing youth-led mental health advocacy.
Transformed by challenges
For months, Taanvi hid behind a smile, because she didn't think anyone would understand. Finally, the dam broke, and when Taavi was at home with her family. "I was scared. What would my parents and my sister think of me. But the first thing my parents told me was, "You're not alone." That day, a great weight was lifted off Taanvi's shoulders. She realised it was okay to feel that way, and to have those emotions—but then what? Get stuck in a loop? That evening, Taanvi's mom taught her a five-minute mindfulness technique, a guided meditation in which she imagined clouds and rainbows. "It made me feel calm," she recalls. "I could feel present without worrying about who I would sit with for lunch the next day."
That was the start of her journey of self-healing. Taanvi had a strategy to help herself and wanted to share this with the world.
The mindfulness journey
Taanvi's mindfulness meditation brought her peace, and while it could work wonders, she needed more. She began looking for more strategies to help herself, and began her journey of self healing. She learned breathing techniques and regulation techniques, so when she felt a strong emotion, she could acknowledge it and also have a strategy to help herself.
Around that time, the pandmic hit and the world went into lockdown. It was a tough time for everyone, Taanvi Arekapudi included, but this time, she had the strategies she needed to cope with her emotions. She wondered what her friends were going through, and if they were hiding sadness behind their smiles too, as she once had. She asked them how they were feeling, and many admitted they weren't doing to well. And Taanvi thought, 'Why don't I start a club'? The idea was to have students come and share their experiences. It took off immediately, and students were sharing their own troubles, as well as their coping strategies. Her school supported her as well, and many of her peers told her how much it had helped them.
Writing a bestseller
[caption id="attachment_40920" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Taanvi's book, Uplift Teens Today, became a bestseller[/caption]
At the age of 13, when her peers were worrying about makeup, school dances, and homework, Taanvi Arekapudi published her first book on teen mental health, written by a teen for teens. She began writing at the age of 12, as a teen reaching out to other teens, hoping to remove the stigma around mental health conversations by sharing her own story. Writing the book wasn't easy, she admits. She had to be vulnerable all over again, and to relive the emotions and experiences that had troubled her so much. Still, the experience was catharctic.
"At the start, I was sharing strategies along with anecdotes. I had a writing advisor, though, and she told me that it was hard to achieve a flow that way. She suggested that the flow be built around my own stories, with the strategies and challenges interspersed." So after a year and a half of work, she started afresh. All the while, picturing her book in a reader's hand kept her motivated. It took another year to complete the work. "There was a lot to learn—I had started off saying something had made me sad or lonely. But then I learned to redo it, and to show what those emotions meant as well. So instead of saying I felt lonely on my first day at school, I wrote that I was sitting by myself in a corner, and how that felt."
Her efforts paid off and the book was very well received. It was also a genre-maker - most books for teenagers are written by doctors and psychologists. Hers was the first one to be written for teenagers, by a teenager. "I sold thousands of copies, and it was so lovely to see people picking up my book. And I have had countless young people come up to me and say it helped them. Adults did too."
This was followed by the emotion card set. Children are not taught about emotions—it's either happy or sad, Taanvi says, adding, "And if you're sad, you're told to shoo it away." It motivated her to create the emotion card set to be used by teens and counsellors to spark conversations about mental health and emotions. It also comes with easy-to-follow coping techniques that are rooted in mindfulness and breathing exercises.
Three years ago, she created her own curriculum. By this time, Taanvi was visiting schools and spreading the word among her peers. The Mental Health Minutes are a set of monthly strategies where she shares different techniques and how and why to do them.
For this, Taanvi connects with school districts—there are 50 schools in her district in Seattle alone, and teachers share the resources with the students. "Lots of adults create strategies for youth, but they didn't resonate with me. So I thought, why not share my own? She began making short videos to share with other teens. "Some students love it, others take it in subconsciously, and later, when they are stressed or low, they remember these strategies," she says. "I have a lot of people coming up and saying they didn't listen that day but went back to it later," she says.
With a solid body of work to her credit, Taanvi now works with the University of Washington, where she does research with psychologists there. The aim is to make it part of school curriculums, for which she organizes fairs and recruits student volunteers to spread the word. "And every time I launch in a new district or community, I also launch Nexus," Taanvi explains.
Creating a curriculum and a global mental health resource library
Nexus is Taanvi’s ambitious project, a free, 24/7 mental health hub for schools that connects students with peer stories, resources, and coping strategies. “It’s already reached 800,000 students nationwide, and I’m working to make it global,” she says. Nexus brings together everything she has created—her book, her emotion cards, and her curriculum—into one accessible platform. “It’s a way for teens to feel less alone and have real tools to help them navigate their emotions.” Nexus’s impact has been widely recognized, earning awards like the Washington Health Care Authority Youth Prevention Project of the Year and the Digital4Good Most Innovative Award. Now available as a website, Taanvi's plan is to turn it into an app as well.
Her passion for helping others also led her to collaborate on the Inside Out curriculum with the Crown Institute at the University of Colorado. Drawing on the beloved animated movies of the same name, the curriculum teaches emotional intelligence in a relatable, visual way. “I grew up with Riley’s story, so being part of a project like this is so meaningful to me. I want to make sure it connects with teens on a personal level, just as the movies did for me.”
[caption id="attachment_40921" align="aligncenter" width="447"] Taanvi's Emotion Card set is availabe on her website.[/caption]
Advocacy at the community and national levels
Taanvi’s work isn’t limited to schools and communities—she has also taken her advocacy to the legislative level. “I had the chance to testify for House Bill 2256 with the Washington Health Care Authority,” she says, her voice filled with pride. “The senators usually give you just 90 seconds, but I was so passionate about the need for more mental health funding that they turned off the timer and let me keep speaking. The bill passed, and it means more resources for youth mental health programs.”
Her advocacy extends into the Indian community, where Taanvi Arekapudi leads mental health-themed talks during festivals at temples. “In India, we’ve always had a focus on mental health, but somewhere along the way, the stigma grew,” she says. “Now we’re bringing that back, connecting the themes of festivals like Diwali with positivity and self-care. It’s incredible to see parents and youth open up after hearing my story and knowing it’s okay to feel this way.” Her temple visits, like all her work, aim to break down barriers and spark conversations.
Taanvi’s impact on teen mental health has also earned her several honors, including the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, the Civic Champions Award, and recognition as a National Young Leader by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She recently started a raw Instagram series to make her work even more relatable. “It’s unscripted and real—because not everything is perfect. People need to know they’re not alone in what they’re feeling.”
When asked what motivates her, Taanvi smiles. “When I started, I didn’t know if my voice mattered. But now I know that it does—and that’s a message I want every young person to hear. If you have a passion, start advocating. Your voice can make a difference.”
Follow Taanvi Arekapudi on her website, Instagram and LinkedIn. Her book is available for purchase on Amazon. Access Nexus' resources here.
With a warm smile, Joe Biden turned to Shrusti and said, “Well, Madam President, thank you.” The crowd chuckled as he continued, “Shrusti, thank you for that wonderful introduction. Just promise me this—when you are president one day, and someone says, ‘Joe Biden is in the waiting room,’ you won’t ask, ‘Joe who?’” His light-hearted comment drew laughter from the audience, and Shrusti, sharing in the humour, responded with a grin, “I won’t.” Owing to her remarkable work with the Rise N Shine Foundation, the 18-year-old was invited to the 2024 White House Diwali celebration as a special guest. Her tireless efforts to combat food waste among the affluent and fight hunger in underserved communities have gained national attention in the U.S., earning her the honour of introducing the President of United States at this year's Diwali event. Biden’s playful yet encouraging words hinted at the immense potential he saw in the young Indian American to achieve even greater heights. The day was a significant milestone in Shrusti’s inspiring journey of service and leadership. Awestruck by the honour The Diwali event at the White House, attended by about 600 guests, left Shrusti awestruck. “This Diwali brought a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Shrusti
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Awestruck by the honour
The Diwali event at the White House, attended by about 600 guests, left Shrusti awestruck. “This Diwali brought a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Shrusti shared with Global Indian. “Being invited to the White House was incredible, but standing next to the President and introducing him was beyond anything I ever imagined.”
She shared the stage with prominent Indian American figures like U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who sent a recorded message from space. “It was just me, Dr. Vivek Murthy, and Sunita Williams representing the Indian community, and I had the honour of inviting President Biden to the stage before he addressed the crowd,” Shrusti said, recounting the unforgettable moment.
But that wasn’t her only brush with national recognition this year. Just a week later in the first week of November, Shrusti found herself attending the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala, where she was honoured for her extraordinary philanthropic work. Meeting members of the former U.S. president George H. W. Bush’s family, including his son Neil Bush and grand-daughter Lauren Bush, was another surreal experience.
Fighting hunger, combating food waste through Rise N Shine Foundation
“When I founded Rise N Shine foundation in 2019, I had a simple vision – to create a positive change to my community by reducing food waste and empowering young individuals to take action. Over the past six years Rise N Shine Foundation has provided over 350,000 meals, and diverted over 200,000 pounds of food waste from landfills,” she shared amidst applause during the George W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala.
It was a humbling experience for the young Georgetown University student, majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs, to be in a room filled with people who have dedicated their lives to service. These honours didn’t come by chance—Shrusti has spent the last six years leading transformational efforts to make a difference. “It reinforced my belief that no action is too small to make a difference,” she remarked.
[caption id="attachment_40501" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Shrusti at 2024 George W. Bush Points of Light Award function with members of the Bush family and other delegates[/caption]
From vision to action
Shrusti’s journey began in 2018 when she stumbled upon the staggering environmental impact of food waste during a STEM competition, where she presented a project on food waste and its potential solutions. After learning that nearly a third of the U.S. food supply is wasted annually, she realised how this problem exacerbated issues like climate change and food insecurity.
One of her ideas—diverting food waste to composting facilities, became the foundation for her first pilot program. “It all started with a simple idea,” she recalled. “But the more I worked on it, the more I realised how much of a difference one person can make.” The success of that program gave her the confidence to scale her efforts and eventually start the Rise N Shine Foundation in 2019, when she was just 14.
“When I founded Rise N Shine, my vision was simple, to create positive change by reducing food waste and empowering others to take action,” Shrusti said during her Points of Light Award acceptance speech. Over the years, her foundation has delivered on that promise, making a measurable difference in her community and beyond.
[caption id="attachment_40485" align="aligncenter" width="797"] Shrusti with her brother, Vayun Amula, during one of the food donation campaigns[/caption]
Composting and food recovery
Shrusti launched her first composting program at Clarksburg Elementary School. Her team collected leftover food from lunchrooms and converted it into compost, reducing the school’s waste footprint and creating a valuable resource for local farmers. The success of this pilot project led to partnerships with more schools. By June 2024, all 209 schools in Montgomery County adopted her composting initiatives.
"Unused food in our country contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions," the Indian American explained. "Through composting, we’re not just addressing waste but also giving back to the environment."
In addition to composting, Shrusti expanded her efforts to tackle food recovery. Her foundation works with schools, businesses, and local organisations to redistribute surplus food to homeless shelters and food banks.
The COVID-19 pandemic made her efforts even more significant. "With rising food insecurity, it became clear that food recovery wasn’t just about waste reduction—it was about feeding those in need," she says.
Shrusti Amula’s dedication to creating meaningful change has earned her an impressive array of national and international accolades. In 2024, her Rise N Shine Foundation was also recognized as an Honour Rows recipient, an initiative by the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, M&T Bank, and the Baltimore Ravens, celebrating her foundation's impact on community service. In 2023, she was selected as part of Hormel Foods’ 10 Under 20 Food Heroes, a program spotlighting young leaders across the U.S. working toward a more sustainable and secure food system.
Reflecting on her experience at Hormel’s global headquarters in Austin, Minnesota, Shrusti shared, “It was incredible to connect with Hormel Foods leaders and learn from their expertise while exploring opportunities to scale the impact of our projects.”
These recognitions join an already impressive list of honours. Shrusti was the youngest recipient of the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Award in 2023, a platform she leveraged to expand the reach of her foundation. She also received the EPA President’s Environmental Youth Award and the Governor’s Youth Service Award the same year, highlighting her leadership in community-driven sustainability.
For Shrusti, these accolades go beyond the spotlight. “Each award is a reminder that small actions can lead to big changes,” she says. “They inspire me to keep pushing for a more sustainable and equitable future.”
Like any grassroots initiative, Shrusti’s journey was not without its challenges. From securing funding to navigating logistical hurdles, she faced significant roadblocks. “One of our biggest struggles was finding sponsors to cover the costs of hauling food waste for an entire school year,” she said.
Despite these obstacles, Shrusti persisted. Her programs now run smoothly and have even influenced policy changes at the county level. Schools participating in her initiatives have earned Green School certifications, further validating her work.
Beyond environmental activism
While her environmental work takes centre stage, Shrusti’s accomplishments extend far beyond the Rise N Shine Foundation. A trained Indian classical dancer and member of the USA National Women’s Cricket Team, she is a well-rounded achiever who balances her passion projects with personal growth. She is also a mentor, debater, and a Girl Scout with bronze and silver awards to her name.
Her diverse interests and achievements make her a role model for young people, proving that it’s possible to excel in multiple areas while making a meaningful impact.
[caption id="attachment_40486" align="aligncenter" width="692"] Shrusti at the mayor and council meeting in 2022[/caption]
A light that shines bright
Shrusti Amula’s journey youth-led change and a matter of pride for the Indian diaspora. From standing on a stage at the White House to meeting the Bush family at an awards gala, her story exemplifies how dedication and innovation can transform lives.
Her vision for the future is ambitious. She aims to expand the Rise N Shine Foundation globally, partnering with international organisations to tackle food waste and hunger on a larger scale.
As she continues to advocate for sustainability and social equity, Shrusti’s message is clear: "No matter your age or background, you have the power to make a difference. All it takes is the courage to start."
(May 8, 2024) In India, career guidance often originates from sources like parents, friends, and teachers. Despite their good intentions, this advice tends to reflect their own preferences and experiences, sometimes neglecting the aspirations and qualities of the student. Chethana Dharavath, a student at The Hyderabad Public School, also faced this challenge when deciding on a stream after Class 10th. "My parents pushed for science but I was eager to explore more options. That's when I realised the disparity between student aspirations and parental or teacher preferences," she tells Global Indian. Although she ultimately chose science because of her own interest, she felt constrained by the limited freedom to shape her own future. The anger in her ignited a fire to take action, especially after she began tutoring her house help's daughter, who was uncertain about her path after Class 10. "She was good at writing and English, so I suggested to take up humanities but she resisted because her mother wanted her to pursue science. When I asked about her future plans with science, she drew a blank. That's when I realised the need for career counselling, especially for students in government schools who had no access to it,"
the need for career counselling, especially for students in government schools who had no access to it," says Chethana who started ConnectSpark in February 2024 to provide career guidance. Till now, she and her team have helped over 300 students across five states.
Lack of awareness
Interestingly, more than 90 percent students are familiar with only seven career paths, despite the existence of over 700 diverse career options. "It's plain lack of awareness and communication which often leads to higher dropout rates. In our schools, we get constant guidance from career counsellors who inform us about the various options available but there is no support system for students in government schools," says the 16-year-old Chethana, adding that for most students the only perceived options are medical or engineering. "We want them to consider more career options, and eventually make a choice that fits them best."
Such students are often unaware of the various career options available to them, leading to confusion about their future path. In most cases, they succumb to their parents' preferences due to this uncertainty. "Since they come from a humble background, financial limitation influences their career choice. Moreover, they want to take up a career that provides stability and at the same time doesn't put a strain on family's finances," says Chethana.
Reaching out to govt schools via NGOs
The idea that germinated from a discussion with her house help's daughter soon found resonance among other students from similar backgrounds. With the support of her aunt, a principal at a government school in Hyderabad, she began working on the idea of career counselling sessions for such students. In a short span, she reached out to her network of students across the country asking for their inputs, and found that the gap exists across the spectrum and the need to address it. "We found that the absence of career counselling sessions is common in many states, and the students often feel lost at the crossroads of their career." This pushed Chethana and her friend Venella to organise their first online career counselling session with Class 10 students of a government school in Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, with the help of a nonprofit Aarti Home.
Their debut proved to be a success as many students participated, discussing their career aspirations and expressing their fears and uncertainties. Chethana found that most were unaware of the options and the pathways available to them. "I was surprised to hear a girl's desire to become a teacher but she believed that sitting for medical entrance exams was the only way to lead to her career path. I realised the issue runs much deeper, and students were in urgent need of career counselling," says Chethana, who started reaching out to more schools through nonprofits. The subsequent interactions revolved around students' goals, aspirations and the various career options available through universities and entrance exams.
Expanding reach through teacher training
In no time, the queries starting pouring in large numbers from the five states where ConnectSpark operates - Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Assam and Maharashtra - which made it difficult for the team of eight members to individually facilitate sessions with students. Hence, they shifted their focus to training teachers in career counselling to keep the sessions running with the high volume of students. To develop an effective curriculum, Chethana sought assistance from her school counsellor and conducted extensive research before running the curriculum with one of the teachers at Aarti Home. "Instead of the traditional approach of creating modules and worksheets, we opted for a different method," Chethana explains, adding, "After providing teachers with a briefing, we give them two days to implement the process in their classrooms. Subsequently, we address each student's individual needs and challenges." The teenager, along with other career counsellors, has trained 12 teachers so far from five organisations, including Aasra Trust and Pehchaan The Street School. With the development of a website underway, Chethana is confident that the platform will speed up the process of connecting students with career counsellors.
A positive impact
Till now, ConnectSpark has already partnered with six nonprofits across seven states but it wasn't an easy journey for Chethana, for whom her age turned out to be her biggest barrier. "Being an 11th grader, people often doubted my capabilities because of my age and even encouraged me to solely focus on studies," says the teenager, who was determined to win the confidence of the organisations through perseverance and clarity. "I had to step up and learn to manage a team. There were moments of self-doubt and mistakes but each challenge was a valuable learning experience. On the way, I also found people who believed in my abilities and collaborated with us," says the girl, who is eyeing Ivy Leagues and especially Liberal Arts curriculum in the US as her future path.
Encouraging students to follow their dreams, Chethana advises them to avoid overthinking. "Focus on the process instead of the outcome, and the opportunities will naturally come to you," says the girl who now wants to expand her reach to more students nationwide through Connect Spark. "I want to create an impact with my work, and it's already happening," she signs off.
(November 23, 2022) Every year since the time he was 10 years old, Soumya Ranjan Biswal has walked along the beach in Astaranga, weighted down by the big gunny bag slung across his shoulder, stopping to pick up empty bottles, plastic and all manner of trash that people have left behind. This is the young wildlife conservationist's way of doing his bit for each when thousands of Olive Ridley turtles wash up on shore. Earlier in 2022, Soumya, known fondly in climate crusade circles as "Olly Boy", was appointed among the first batch of the UN's YuWaah Advocates, who will serve as an inspiration for the Sustainable Development Goals. Global Indian takes a look at his journey. Improving Climate Resilence - For Marine 🐢 Breeding Ground! We at @OdishaSeaTurtle believe in Action than symbolic performance. Reviving a 2km radius polluted water body at Devi River Mouth. Join the mission! Together we can end the plastic pollution crisis👊🌊#OdishaCoast pic.twitter.com/VU6Y17WQGU — Soumya Ranjan Biswal 🇺🇳🇮🇳 (@SoumyaMarineWL) October 26, 2022 Breaking records In 2019, Soumya, along with Dilip Kumar Biswal, a junior from college, took a month to travel through coastal areas like Rushikulya, Puri, Chillika, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Balasore. Earlier that
In 2019, Soumya, along with Dilip Kumar Biswal, a junior from college, took a month to travel through coastal areas like Rushikulya, Puri, Chillika, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Balasore. Earlier that year, he even went on a 1200-km cycle trip to spread awareness about the Olive Ridley sea turtle. It was an extended follow-up to the 800-km ride he took in 2018, which landed both Soumya and Dilip a spot in the Limca Book of Records for the 'Longest Cycle Ride for Turtles'.
Along the way, Soumya and Dilip stopped at government-run schools to spread awareness among the children and their families, as well as among the local fishing community. Their trip was partly sponsored by the Forest Department and the two conservationists also sold toy turtles, made from coconut fibre by the women in Astaranga, to fund their way.
The arrival of the Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha is a matter of worldwide recognition and interest, as about half the world's population comes to the coast to lay their eggs. This is part of the mass nesting process, known by the Spanish term 'arribada'. Soumya and his friends even return at night, keeping an eye out for predators like dogs and jackals, which come for the eggs. Working in tandem with officials, Soumya collects at-risk eggs and shifts them to hatcheries to incubate and hatch in safety.
[caption id="attachment_24560" align="aligncenter" width="395"] Soumya Ranjan Biswas with an Olive Ridley sea turtle[/caption]
"The sea turtles return to the same spot after navigating thousands of miles of ocean, to lay eggs in this part of Eastern India," Soumya told EdEx Live. The turtles arrive in batches and pick their spots on the beach, digging holes with their flippers. Each turtle lays around 70 to 190 eggs before returning to the water. "If the turtles keep coming back to the same spot every year to nest, then they are doing well. But if they don't, something is wrong."
Mangrove restoration
In Astaranga village, where he's from, Soumya is working to restore the Bhitarkanika Mangroves, a 650km stretch in the Brahmani and Baitarani river deltas. Some 62 mangrove species are found in Bhitarknanika, which is home to a number of species including the saltwater crocodile, king cobra, over 200 bird species and of course, the Olive Ridley turtles, which arrive at the Gahirmatha Beach.
[caption id="attachment_24559" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Soumya at the Mangrove Nursery. Photo: Twitter[/caption]
Although the mangroves were designated as a 'Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and are a vital part of the coastal ecosystem as well as to the livelihoods of local fishermen, they have dwindled over the years. The mangroves, he hopes, will grow to provide a habitat for various animal and bird species.
India has a mangrove cover of nearly 5,000 square kilometres, according to the India State of Forest Report 2019. Although the mangrove cover in Gujarat has increased, the number of mangroves in Odisha has seen a steady decline over the years, caused by more land diverted for agriculture and prawn farming, encroachment and a growing population. Soumya works with a team of 10 villagers as dozens of saplings are planted, in black grow bags, in Astaranga beach. He has also helped set up a first-of-its-kind mangrove nursery.
Cleaning up the coasts
The intrepid duo has widened their scope of work, from the Olive Ridley sea turtles and the mangroves to helping save sparrows, reviving water bodies and keeping the beaches clean, whether or not the Olive Ridley is coming home to next.
(July 15, 2022) India’s star opener, Smriti Mandhana, comes from a family of cricketers. The 26-year-old, who watched her brother play in district tournaments and would save his newspaper clippings as a child, has carved a glorious career for herself. Today, she ranks as the only Indian batter in the top ten list of women’s One Day International (ODI) player rankings. Moreover, she was awarded the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy for being the best female cricketer of the year, not once but twice - in 2018 and 2021. Even the BCCI named her 2018 Best Women's International Cricketer. [caption id="attachment_19302" align="aligncenter" width="683"] Smriti Mandhana, Indian cricketer[/caption] The left-handed batter has also been awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award for her accomplishments. "Proud to call myself an Indian. I still fondly remember the day I got the (first) chance to represent my country, a feeling beyond words," reminisced the cricketer in one of her tweets. Global Indian turns its spotlight on India's record setting player. Rise of a star It was in 2013 that her budding cricketing career took a quantum leap when she clinched two centuries in a one-day game. The Mumbai-born cricketer was playing for Maharashtra against Gujarat, scoring an unbeaten 224 in 150 balls in an under-19 tournament at Vadodara. She reached another milestone in
my country, a feeling beyond words," reminisced the cricketer in one of her tweets. Global Indian turns its spotlight on India's record setting player.
Rise of a star
It was in 2013 that her budding cricketing career took a quantum leap when she clinched two centuries in a one-day game. The Mumbai-born cricketer was playing for Maharashtra against Gujarat, scoring an unbeaten 224 in 150 balls in an under-19 tournament at Vadodara. She reached another milestone in 2016 by scoring three half centuries that led her team to win the Women’s Challenger Trophy. She became the tournament’s top scorer with 192.
Her international debut was in 2014 test match against England at Wormsley Park. In 2016, during the Australian tour, Smriti made a mark - scoring her international career’s maiden century. That year, she was the only Indian player to be named in the ICC Women's Team of the Year. She has been representing the country and displaying her excellent cricketing prowess in tournaments like the Women’s Cricket World Cup, Women’s Twenty20 Internationals, Women’s One Day Internationals and Women’s Cricket Super League.
[caption id="attachment_19311" align="aligncenter" width="704"] Smriti Mandhana with Indian women's cricket team members[/caption]
The year 2019 was a significant year for the ace cricketer as she became the youngest captain of India's women Twenty20 international squad for the three-match series against England, at the age of 22.
"Heartiest congratulations on yet another magnificent year in international cricket. Keep giving your best and keep scaling new heights," lauded cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, when she received the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award this year.
A Rajasthani girl raised in Maharashtra
Born to a Rajasthani family in Mumbai, she did her schooling at Madhavnagar. Seeing her father and brother play cricket at the district level, she was instantly attracted to the game during her growing up years. She would often accompany her brother to see him play, and knew that someday she would be scoring runs like him. It was her father who started training her for cricket. She was so good at the game that she was selected in Maharashtra’s Under-15 team when she was just nine. This initial nudge made her father confident that Smriti had a future in the sport. She soon started training under a junior state coach, Anant Tambwekar. At eleven, she made it to the Maharashtra Under-19s team.
Though she spent most of her time on the field, studies never took a back seat for the cricketer, who is a graduate in commerce from Chintamani Rao College of Commerce, Sangli.
Life other than cricket
Though the pandemic put a screeching halt on her game, the cricketer made her presence felt off the field with her popular talk show, Double Trouble. Featuring Smriti and cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues as hosts, the show gave an insight into the world of Indian sports stars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbIzuZkma-U
The star cricketer, whose net worth is close to $3 million, calls her family the wind beneath her wings. Her father, Shrinivas, a chemical distributor by profession, still handles all her cricket schedules, while her mother, Smita, manages her diet. Apart from her glorious cricketing profession, she has also stepped into entrepreneurship with SM18, a café and restaurant in her home town, Sangli. However, cricket is something that is closest to her heart. "Whenever I go out to bat, my only responsibility is to look at the scoreboard and think what India needs from me at this moment," said the cricketer in an interview.
Taanvi Arekapudi[/caption]
Taanvi's book, 
Taanvi's Emotion Card set is availabe on her 
Shrusti at 2024 George W. Bush Points of Light Award function with members of the Bush family and other delegates[/caption]
Shrusti with her brother, Vayun Amula, during one of the food donation campaigns[/caption]
Shrusti at the mayor and council meeting in 2022[/caption]
Soumya Ranjan Biswas with an Olive Ridley sea turtle[/caption]
Soumya at the Mangrove Nursery. Photo: 
Smriti Mandhana with Indian women's cricket team members[/caption]