Global Indianstory Global Indian Exclusive2023’s pageant powerhouses from the Indian diaspora: Combining pageantry, talent and social upliftment

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

Compiled by: Amrita Priya

(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 of the national pageant of Malaysia.

Success Stories | 2023's pageant powerhouses | Global Indian

Manvin Khera

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.

Manju Bangalore

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.

UmaSofia Srivastava

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.

Aruna Sukhdeo

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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Published on 17, Dec 2023

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How Padma Shri nominee Yogabalaji, 21, planted 10,000 trees, gave Covid-19 talks

(February 25, 2022) From the small Tamil Nadu town of Muduvurpatti comes a lad who has stars in eyes and a steely resolve to affect change towards the environment at the grassroot level. Always socially driven, Yogabalaji G, a 21-year-old engineering student, has been actively working towards creating change from a young age. From initiating tree plantation drives, road safety awareness activities, student and women empowerment, to collaborating with the ministry of human resources and development for the Samadhan challenge to reduce Covid-19 cases in India, this climate activist has always been on his toes. Recipient of several awards - Mahatma Gandhi Award, Climate Reality Leadership Award from Al Gore, and the UNSDG recognition, Yogabalaji was also nominated by the MHRD in October 2020 for the Padma Shri for his work with the government. Busting myths, breaking stigmas Yet, things weren’t always hunky dory for this youngster. Born in 2001 in Muduvarpatti amidst floods that claimed the lives of three of his grandparents, his birth was considered unlucky by most people, except his mother. “She named me Yogabalaji since she considered me lucky (yoga), and I was born during the Chithirai festival - dedicated to Lord Balaji,” smiles Yogabalaji in

amidst floods that claimed the lives of three of his grandparents, his birth was considered unlucky by most people, except his mother. “She named me Yogabalaji since she considered me lucky (yoga), and I was born during the Chithirai festival - dedicated to Lord Balaji,” smiles Yogabalaji in an interview with Global Indian. From a village school that lacked basic facilities like a lab, playground and even toilets, he aspired higher.

“Growing up, I always wondered about climate change and the environment. A lot of my questions were answered when I began college. I began researching some more, and realised that emission of Co2, increase in usage of vehicles, and production of cement were some of the major contributing factors to climate change,” says the young climate activist, who believes in the adage - be the change you want to see.

He spent more than two years researching the replacement of cement in concrete. This was submitted to the American Concrete Institute, a leading civil engineering body. His project received the second prize at the ACI students’ competition. That apart, this climate activist has also been working at the grassroot level to spread awareness about zero carbon and low carbon technologies. “I also speak to students and village folk to spread awareness about environmental issues and encourage them to adopt cleaner ways of life,” says the student at Coimbatore-based PSG Institute of Technology. He also visits schools to hold workshops and has been conducting webinars through the Covid-19 pandemic as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMKxDr_TFlk&t=411s

A tree planting crusader

So far, Yogabalaji has planted more than 10,000 trees and visited more than 50 schools to talk about climate change and sustainable development practices. He also works with leading educational organisations such as Agaram, SEEEDS, and Hope3 Foundation. Some of his research includes social development projects under the TN government.

“The highlight for me was when former President, the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam invited me and complimented me with books and chocolates for the work I’d been doing. It motivated me to continue carrying out social activities,” beams Yogabalaji, who also works in the spheres of senior citizen welfare and road safety awareness.

In 2020, he received a call from the MHRD to work with them in the Samadhan challenge. “I was the only student to be selected for this. My responsibility included creating awareness in rural India, providing masks, sanitisers and other essentials, analysing problem statements, and providing digital solutions,” says the civil engineering student, who spent days sleeping for an average three hours as he juggled various tasks.

Being the change

Given his background and the fact that his community is majorly affected by the lack of education and environment change, Yogabalaji is determined to change things in the future. “In 1995, my village faced devastating drought, and people suffered from diarrhea. In fact, my elder sister too passed away due to illness at that time. A few years later, around when I was born, my village battled floods during which my grandparents died,” he says, adding, “I now want to start an NGO and work in the areas of education and environment. I want to help identify deserving students and provide them quality education by way of mentorship, guidance and involving them in development activities. In the areas of environment, I want to work on CSR policies with leading companies.”

As he marches on with this vision, Yogabalaji wants to be a leader who can affect change and social development. Penning poetry on feminism, environment and singing songs to spread awareness, his oeuvre is about creating better lives. And he is well on his way to doing that.

Follow Yogabalaji G on LinkedIn

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Podcaster Siyona Vikram’s ‘Little Mind Chats’

(March 3, 2023) Whether it’s India’s former defence secretary, Ajay Kumar, Professor Gerardo Ceballos, Mexico's ‘guardian of the jaguar’, oceanographer Hannah Whitby, entrepreneur Bhargav Sri Prakash who is known for the Digital Vaccine Project or Kargil war veterans Brigadiers Amardeep Singh and Sushil Bhasin, the list of guests on eleven-year-old podcaster Siyona Vikram's show is impressive. Starting in 2020 when she was just eight, Siyona has managed to reach out to people in over 1500 cities across 91 countries with her podcast - Little Mind Chats through 123 episodes so far. “My guests agree to come to my show because it’s a unique and fascinating experience for them to be interviewed by a child,” remarks the class six student of Jain Heritage School, Bengaluru. [caption id="attachment_28060" align="aligncenter" width="853"] Siyona Vikram[/caption] Since its launch, Little Mind Chats has garnered immense appreciation and accolades. It won the Golden Crane Podcast Award by Asian American Podcasters Association (AAPA), an organisation that recognises and increases visibility of Asian and Asian-American podcasters. The show also became a final slate nominee in 2021 for the most prestigious global award in podcasting – The Podcast Awards - founded by Todd Cochrane, the US-based CEO of a podcast

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[caption id="attachment_28060" align="aligncenter" width="853"] Siyona Vikram[/caption]

Since its launch, Little Mind Chats has garnered immense appreciation and accolades. It won the Golden Crane Podcast Award by Asian American Podcasters Association (AAPA), an organisation that recognises and increases visibility of Asian and Asian-American podcasters. The show also became a final slate nominee in 2021 for the most prestigious global award in podcasting – The Podcast Awards - founded by Todd Cochrane, the US-based CEO of a podcast media company that represents more than 105,000 podcasters.

Siyona became the youngest speaker at the world’s largest podcasting event – the Podcast Movement. Since then, there has been no looking back for the youngster, who has been invited to speak at various online international platforms.

The UK-born podcaster does not just spread knowledge through her guests but also makes an impact with her ‘Little WISE’ initiative, raising awareness about hazards of plastic toys on children’s health and their negative impact on the environment when discarded. "'WISE’ stands for Warriors Inspiring Sustainable Earth,” Siyona tells Global Indian.

Turning heads

It’s not just about connecting to global audiences. Recently, Siyona won the hearts of villagers in rural Karnataka in an All India Radio interview in her mother tongue, Kannada. “Several people reached out to us praising Siyona’s initiatives,” says her mother Geetha. “Even The Guardian covered Siyona in its story of pre-teens from different parts of the world who are already veteran hosts,” she adds.

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A post shared by Siyona Vikram (@siyonaslittlemindchats)

Siyona’s Little Mind Chats, now in its seventh season, revolves around ‘finance for kids’. The previous six seasons covered vital topics like health, space, education, earth and environment, and the spirit of sports.

Though Little Mind Chats’ target audience is aged between five to 15, the podcaster often receives words of praise from even parents who say they enjoy her podcasts as much as their kids.

It all started when…

“When I was seven or eight, I discovered that something is amiss in our education system,” she says adding, “I was going to school like any other kid but simultaneously, due to my quest to learn new things, I would explore things outside the school syllabus like culture, bio diversity, climate, space, technology, inventions, and much more. I realised that there is need for some conversations tailored towards children to remove the disconnect between what is taught in school and what one learns outside of it. This is how Little Mind Chats came into picture.”

The podcaster was determined to edutain people. “There were some podcasts that were entertaining because they were narrating stories, while others focused on educating kids. I wanted to combine both.”

[embed]https://twitter.com/LittleMindChats/status/1388344499122835457?s=20[/embed]

She brushed up her interviewing skills by first inviting friends on her show and gradually scaled up, getting lucky in hosting the most seasoned professionals from India and abroad. “There have been 21,000 downloads of my podcasts so far,” she reveals.

The numbers grew organically, even with minimal efforts at marketing the show. “I am a minor and minors are not supposed to be out there in the social media without adult supervision so my parents take care of whatever little promotions we do” Siyona says.

Finding support in her mother

Supporting Siyona every step of the way is her mother, Geetha. An engineer like her husband, Geetha now works with her daughter full-time, providing complete backend support. She has also supported Siyona’s Little WISE initiative, ‘say no to plastic’.

The mother-daughter duo approach schools to get students to join the club and also organise on-campus collection drives once a month. The collected plastic is sent to a Pollution Board approved recycler who recycles the plastics into agricultural pipes.

[caption id="attachment_28071" align="aligncenter" width="778"] Siyona with her mother Geetha[/caption]

More than 400 school children from Bengaluru are associated with the initiative. “We have gamified the entire system so that our eco warriors find the whole process interesting and are motivated to return,” shares Siyona, who plans to engage more children in the cause. “Our minds are little, but not our thoughts,” she signs off.

Tune in to Little Mind Chats' Podcasts
Follow Siyona Vikram on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and her website

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Anya Gupta: Protecting penguins and battling e-waste in Florida

(October 13, 2023) In 2022, Boca Raton, a city in Southern Palm Beach Country, Florida, announced that October 14 would be E-Waste Day. It was a triumph for Anya Gupta, the pre-teen environment advocate, and her efforts to protect the planet by addressing the elephant in the room – e-waste. Mayor Scott Singer passed the proclamation, helping Anya spread awareness about the harm caused by electronic waste on the environment. Anya has gathered over 1,000 pounds of electronic waste through her e-waste collection drives, ensuring that the e-waste generated by Boca Raton’s 100,000 inhabitants is reused or recycled, rather than ending up in a landfill. At just 12 years of age, Anya Gupta is creating a significant impact as a passionate champion with a mission to safeguard the environment. Her cause has inspired other cities in Florida, like Stuart and Miami Beach, which have also declared October 14 as Electronic Waste Recycling Day. “I realised that while pollution and plastic hazards are commonly discussed, the environmental threats from electronic waste aren’t. I want to add momentum in addressing the issue,” Anya remarked. [caption id="attachment_33525" align="aligncenter" width="442"] Anya Gupta[/caption] E-waste is not the only cause that Anya is concerned about. The

er" width="442"] Anya Gupta[/caption]

E-waste is not the only cause that Anya is concerned about. The young environmentalist is the founder of the non-profit ‘Pennies for Penguins' which she started with the purpose of ocean wildlife protection when she was barely five. This year, the author of three books has founded GLCS Youth Leadership Council and has been doing tremendous work for environmental conservation, earning awards and accolades along the way. One significant award that she earned in 2023 is the Everyday Young Hero Award by Youth Service America for her committment to finding her voice, taking an action and creating an impact in her community.

Pennies for Penguins

Anya’s town Boca Raton is famously centred around luxury beach culture. When Anya was just four, she developed an interest in ocean studies and learned about the environmental threats to her favourite animals – penguins, and started a non-profit to protect them. Her non-profit has successfully spearheaded the 'Cup Revolution' campaign, which is dedicated to combating plastic straw waste and has effectively engaged young people on a global scale.

Anya has been frequently organising community clean-up events in her nearby beaches and neighbourhoods. She inspires children of all age groups to take a similar initiative in their respective communities. “Cleaning up our planet is a collective global endeavour,” she believes.

[caption id="attachment_33521" align="aligncenter" width="569"] Anya Gupta, few years back[/caption]

Leveraging the power of youth

Anya collaborated with the Gumbo Limbo Nature Centre in Florida to establish a youth council with the aim of empowering local children to engage in conversations about the environmental issues that are important to them, and to coordinate events that raise awareness about these matters. As the founder and president she makes all efforts to leverage the power of youth volunteers to achieve the council’s goals.

Since its inception this year the youth council has done impactful work leading to praise by many including John Holloway, the president of Coastal Stewards who remarked that the solutions of the future are rooted in the experiences and values held by young individuals like Anya and her team.

Love for words and causes

So deep is her interest in the cause of ocean conservation that the eight grader has authored three children's books on the topic. The narrative of her latest book revolves around a penguin family experiencing the consequences of toxic runoff from electronic waste contaminating the fish they rely on for food. This story serves as a lesson for children to learn about interconnectedness of living beings and the significance of responsible waste disposal.

The youngster, who is passionate about penguins, climate change and human impact, works tirelessly to find resolutions to conflicts between modern lifestyles of humans and the conducive environment required by ocean animals.

[caption id="attachment_33523" align="aligncenter" width="556"] Cover image of Anya's latest book[/caption]

“When we throw away used electronic products, it ends up in the landfills and then when it rains, toxic chemicals from the e-waste find their way to our oceans and seep into the water. I work to ensure that all our e-waste ends up in the right place and not in the landfills,” she remarked.

Awards and accolades

This year the president of Youth Service America recognised Anya as the ‘Youth Service America Everyday Young Hero’ for her commitment to take action and make an impact in the community.

Anya also achieved recognition in the 2023 Regional Science Fair, earning two special awards and one placement award for her project, which delved into the effects of electronic waste on the survival rates of Daphnia magna, a commonly studied zooplankton species.

She secured second place in the Environmental Sciences Category overall and garnered an Honourable Mention for the Pollution Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County award.

Anya was also selected as one of the top 300 Junior Innovators, and was one of the only seven representatives from Florida for her project submission in the 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge organised by the Society for Science.

In the National Toshiba NTSA Exploravision Science Competition 2021, Anya was selected as one of the 24 regional winners for problem solving through STEM. She went on to secure second position in the national round winning a $5,000 scholarship for her college education, a chrome book and a banner for her school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOAhpd3N7PU

As part of the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit (YOCS) grant recipient the young ocean steward was provided assistance with tools and resources to fund her own conservation project within her community.

In 2020, the young environmentalist won the Youth Environmental Excellence Award by SeaWorld & Busch Gardens in recognition of her environmental conservation work. As part of the award Anya had got the opportunity to spend an entire weekend exploring the behind-the-scenes experience, hosted by SeaWorld's conservation team. “The best part of it was that they had even arranged a penguin for me to pet,” she remarked.

The youngster loves reading, dancing, singing, music, and cooking. But what’s most important to her is her passion for advocating for the environment and ocean wildlife that are in need of persistent safeguarding.

Follow Anya Gupta on Facebook and YouTube
To know more about Anya's initiatives visit Pennies for Penguin's website

Reading Time: 5 mins

In Tune with India: German singer CassMae mesmerises PM Modi and Sadhguru with Indian Songs

(March 09, 2024) When Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the German singer-songwriter Cassandra Mae Spittmann and her mother at Palladam in Tamil Nadu last month, the 21-year-old vocalist, who was born blind, performed Achyutam Keshavam and Tamil song Sivamayamaga for him. The video of PM Modi enjoying her songs went viral in no time. Popular as CassMae, the singer, who was on her maiden visit to India, has garnered praise from people across the country for her flawless Indian renditions on social media. This month PM Modi conferred the 'best international creator' award to CassMae at the inaugural National Creators Award ceremony for online content creators. Earlier this year, the vocalist gained widespread attention for her rendition of Ram Ayenge ahead of the Ram Temple's consecration ceremony in Ayodhya in January. [caption id="attachment_36470" align="aligncenter" width="530"] CassMae[/caption] However, this isn't the first time that she has left people awestruck with her renditions. In 2023, CassMae earned recognition and a large following for her fusion and Indian devotional music. So much so that her Tamil songs and devotional Indian tracks caught the attention of netizens, earning her a mention in the PM's radio programme, Mann ki Baat. "What a sweet voice! Through

class="wp-image-36470 " src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2024/03/card-1.jpg" alt="Indian Music | CassMae | Global Indian" width="530" height="530" /> CassMae[/caption]

However, this isn't the first time that she has left people awestruck with her renditions. In 2023, CassMae earned recognition and a large following for her fusion and Indian devotional music. So much so that her Tamil songs and devotional Indian tracks caught the attention of netizens, earning her a mention in the PM's radio programme, Mann ki Baat. "What a sweet voice! Through the emotions reflected in every word, we can feel her love for God. If I disclose that this melodious voice belongs to a daughter from Germany, perhaps you will be even more surprised! The name of this daughter is – Cassandra Mae Spittmann," he had remarked on his show.

Exceptional fluency in languages

Known for possessing unique abilities, CassMae has a talent for learning languages, effortlessly picking up Indian songs just through repeated listening. “I can sing in 12 Indian languages but love singing in Sanskrit and South Indian languages the most,” she told PM Modi. Apart from German and English, CassMae is also fluent in French and Spanish.

Moreover, her singing prowess extends beyond Hindi. The German singer also fluently sings in Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Assamese, and Bengali, surprising many with her linguistic and musical prowess. Her deep affection for India is evident even though she visited the country for the very first time this year.

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A post shared by Cassandra Mae Spittmann (@cassmaeofficial)

Powerhouse of talents

According to her website, a young CassMae would use her feet for orientation. Later, she switched to playing the African drum after realising she was drumming too hard on the ground. At the age of three, CassMae became fascinated with Chopin, and began improvising on the piano, and eventually started singing her own songs.

She used her own lyrics to build a deep connection with her audience, allowing them to understand her inner feelings. “When she experienced bullying, she wrote her intimate song ‘Bullies’ to cope with her situation and instantly won the national songwriting contest of the Berliner Festspiele in 2015. This appreciation made her stronger,” mentions her website.

Gaining recognition

As word of CassMae’s talent spread, she started getting offers to appear on radio and TV shows in Germany, and even worked with international artists. She participated in shows like ‘Dein Song,’ reaching the finale with her song ‘Going Home.’ CassMae received a scholarship for the Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, in the USA, winning the Songwriter's Showcase with ‘The Way I Am.’

[caption id="attachment_36472" align="aligncenter" width="584"] CassMae during one of her performances[/caption]

Upon her return from the US, she got the opportunity to work on the title song for the ‘Prix Jeunesse International 2018’ – the children’s television’s most engaging and rewarding professional training exercise in Germany involving producers, executives and researchers from all over the world.

ALSO READ: Gaiea Sanskrit: British by birth, Indian by soul

Discovering Indian music in the US

During her time in the US, CassMae had her first tryst with Indian music and was instantly captivated by its beauty. “I felt so struck by it that I began my research as soon as I got back home and then found the treasure of Bollywood songs,” CassMae shared in an interview. “At first I tried to learn some couple of phrases and words in Hindi to actually get the language and pronunciation right because I wanted to sing along to the songs, and yeah I listened to many songs and then I dared to finally sing them on social media, and gained some recognition,” the self-taught learner remarked.

I simply love Indian languages, Indian culture, Indian music, and Indian people.

CassMae

The singer also plays Tabla. She joined the Tabla Ensemble of the Anubhab Academy of Cologne in Germany, and continues to explore oriental sounds and languages and plays at Indian concerts, and yoga retreats in her country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLaNedl5_cQ

Lata Mangeshkar’s songs fascinates her the most and she considers them as a source of learning Indian songs. She can even fluently recite the slokas and mantras. “I listen to bhajans every day and focus a lot on hearing and learning that way,” she remarked.

In the world of music

In 2018, Cassandra formed a project band, winning the Young Talents band contest and opening the Eier mit Speck Festival in Germany. Create Music, a music company in Germany, helped her produce her first Hindi-Pop original. As a singer-songwriter she was also working on contract with Kick The Flame Publishing in Leipzig.

In 2019, CassMae produced her debut album ‘Past Life’ with GOLOW and performed at events like the ‘Tag der Begegnung – Sommerblut Kulturfestival’ in Cologne and the Chalabre Serenade Festival in France.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjvx5sJl358

Two years later, the young singer released her EP, ‘Number 14,’ winning the pop category of the UK’s songwriting contest and reached the semifinals of the International Songwriting Contest.

In 2022, CassMae won the Christmas Special of the TV show ‘Dein Song’ with her original ‘Gib mir Frieden'. The momentum continued into 2023, marked by notable professional collaborations and significant acknowledgments in India, including a mention in Mann Ki Baat. Advocating for an inclusive society, CassMae lent her voice to events like the Jahresempfang of Jürgen Dusel and joined RAMPD in 2023.

The dawn of 2024 brought more opportunities for the talented singer as she embarked on a meaningful journey to India, a country close to her heart, where she met with prominent figures like PM Modi and Sadhguru. Their praise and admiration further accentuated CassMae's growing influence and impact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7A0ZTSoGS8

Follow Cassandra Mae Spittmann on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and her website

Reading Time: 5 mins

Rohan Kalia: Indian-American teen wins President’s Scholarship for glaucoma detection device

(August 25, 2023) It was after one of Rohan Kalia's family members was diagnosed with glaucoma that the Indian-American teenager began researching an affordable technology that could be used for early detection. A sophomore at Wheeler High School in Marietta, the 17-year-old found that glaucoma ranks as the second most prominent cause of irreversible blindness on a global scale. The startling fact prompted him to look for an affordable solution in the form of a device that can accurately diagnose the condition. This gave birth to EyePal, a portable device that can detect glaucoma with 95 percent accuracy. The invention won the teenager the 2023 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) President's Scholarship, which comes with a prize of $10,000. Glaucoma is an eye disease involving the degradation of the optic nerve that carries visual information, leading to a gradual loss of vision. If not detected early, it can lead to some degree of permanent blindness. The condition is detected from images taken of the retinal fundus (the back surface of the eye's interior) during a standard examination by an opthalmologist. During his research, Rohan found that a person's socioeconomic condition impacts the diagnosis of glaucoma. "I learned that

oma. "I learned that there's a huge disparity in eye care treatment across the world," Rohan said, adding, "Diagnosis and prevention of glaucoma is not accessible."

[caption id="attachment_32712" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Rohan Kalia[/caption]

Moreover, he discovered that people in rural areas are worst affected as many individuals face difficulty in accessing glaucoma testing due to a shortage of eye doctors and testing centers, coupled with the expensive equipment, absence of health insurance, and high-test costs. Understanding the severity of the condition, Rohan knew he had to find a solution. Explaining the working of EyePal, he said, "The EyePal uses a quality camera, a Raspberry Pi minicomputer, machine-learning technology, and a mobile app. The camera takes photos of the fundus and sends them to a mobile device that can be examined by a specialist. EyePal showed 95 percent accuracy when tested on sets of fundus images."

Apart from its accuracy, the device's portability is yet another plus point as it can be employed in rural medical centres and health clinics as opposed to the standalone specialised equipment that can be used only in a doctor's office or vision testing center. "The device costs less than $100," Rohan said, adding, "It's 50 times cheaper than the average price of ophthalmology equipment, in addition to being highly portable. What I did was create this new ensemble-based system of diagnosis."

The invention won him the President's Scholarship, which refers to as a "nice surprise." Moreover, EyePal was presented at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May in Dallas, Texas.

The inventor, who loves creating solutions and plans to work in the field of research, advices future engineers to keep going despite the obstacles. "In an engineering project, you're going to face times you want to give up, but keep persevering. Pick a project topic that you really like,” the Global Indian says, adding, "When you’re really interested in the topic, it will give you the motivation to keep pushing through."