Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAnil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma and Sarang Bobade: Revolutionising the mode of giving through Donatekart

Anil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma and Sarang Bobade: Revolutionising the mode of giving through Donatekart

By: Amrita Priya

(April 6, 2024) While volunteering during the relief efforts for the 2015 Chennai floods, Anil Kumar Reddy found out that although many people donate goods, their contributions don’t really align with the actual necessities on the ground. It sparked the inception of Donatekart, a platform where donors don’t simply give away anything or donate money in the traditional sense, but instead shop for specific items requested by nonprofits, as per the actual requirements of the ground.

At the time, Anil was pursuing engineering at the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Nagpur. He made the bold decision to forego a campus job offer from a grocery-tech startup to pursue his social entrepreneurship journey with his venture Donatekart.

His friends Sandeep Sharma and Sarang Bobade joined the initiative with a shared purpose, and together, the trio achieved great milestones while positively impacting lives.

Indian Social Entrepreneurs | Anil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma, and Sarang Bobade | Global Indian

Anil Kumar Reddy, founder, Donatekart

Founded in August 2016, the social enterprise secured ₹25.5 million in seed funding from a consortium of investors led by LetsVenture in its third year. In 2022, Anil, Sandeep, and Sarang were featured in the Forbes 30Under30 list in the social entrepreneurship category. The social enterprise has begun expanding internationally with a campaign for the Turkey earthquake in 2023 that killed more than 40,000 people.

The Donatekart model

Donatekart’s business model revolves around facilitating donations of supplies that meet the specific needs of beneficiaries. The social enterprise assists nonprofits in launching crowd-sourcing campaigns and outlining the precise products they require, ranging from grocery kits to medical supplies, construction materials, stationery, and educational digital devices.

“When we saw the problem while volunteering for the Chennai floods as students, we realised that no one else has built any solution around the problem. As budding engineers, we felt our idea was good enough to start off as we would be the first people to work in this space.” remarked Anil in an interview with Forbes.

Donors can choose from any products listed on the campaign page while donating to their favourite cause. The donors add their supplies to their online shopping cart the way they do in their other shopping sprees.

Indian Social Entrepreneur | Sandeep Sharma | Global Indian

Sandeep Sharma, CMO and Cofounder, Donatekart

Donatekart procures the products, delivers them straight to the NGOs without any monetary transactions with them, and furnishes reports to donors detailing the utilization of funds.

Given that these items are typically acquired in large quantities, the enterprise garners an average commission of 10-15 percent per transaction, constituting its primary revenue stream. Additionally, donors have the option to contribute to six percent of their donation value to the platform.

“If you look at the percentage of the population giving to charities in India, it’s less than 30 percent but if you look at developed countries like the US and the UK, it’s over 70 percent. So, we believe that with our transparent product donation model we can bring in every individual to contribute at least two percent of their annual income to various charitable causes.” Sandeep remarked.

Milestones and expansions

2019 was an eventful year for the social entrepreneurs. Apart from earning Rs 25.5 million in seed funding from a consortium of investors like Shanti Mohan, founder of LetsVenture and former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, the team was invited by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In 2021, the social entrepreneurs were thrilled to surpass the one billion mark by successfully raising over $1 billion worth of products with support from five lakh donors. Amid the second wave of Covid that same year, they raised $300 million worth of medical products.”

Indian Social Entrepreneur | Sarang Bobade | Global Indian

Sarang Bopade, CEO and Cofounder, Donatekart

Last year, the social entrepreneurs extended their efforts beyond India to provide rapid disaster response for the Turkey earthquake, which impacted thousands of lives.

“We aim to be a market leader in retail giving across sectors and causes,” remarked Sandeep.

So far, Anil, Sandeep, and Sarang have successfully raised over ₹200 crore impacting more than 1400 NGOs through over 5000 campaigns and counting.

More than 50 brands and companies have partnered with Donatekart on their philanthropic and CSR journey. Additionally, several celebrities have come forward to lend a helping hand and start fundraisers on Donatekart.

The trio

Coincidentally, all three – Anil, Sarang, and Sandeep are currently 28 years old. Apart from Donatekart, Anil Kumar Reddy and Sandeep Sharma are also co-founders of Devaseva. The startup organises authentic pujas online based on the Vedic calendar on auspicious days throughout the year, providing devotees an opportunity to participate in sacred rituals from their homes if they find organising a puja for every occasion challenging.

While Anil and Sandeep were batchmates at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Nagpur, Sarang Bopade pursued his bachelor’s at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai. They received the Nasscom Social Innovation award in 2018.

Anil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma, and Sarang Bobade | Photo Credit: Forbes

Looking at future with hope

The social entrepreneurs view Donatekart’s growth as a reflection of the increasing trend in online crowdfunding.

“If you look 10 years back, people did not know what crowdfunding or crowdsourcing was.” Anil remarked. “A lot has changed in the last 10 years mostly because of the mobile penetration and the financial inclusion that has happened. Today more than 350 million people do online transactions on a daily basis. On Donatekart we have one million people who have donated to one or the other cause. Our goal is to reach 50 million donors in the next five or 10 years down the line,” he added, looking at the future with hope.

Follow Anil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma, and Sarang Bobade on LinkedIn
To know more about Donatekart visit its website

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Published on 06, Apr 2024

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Digvijay Singh: Making homegrown artisanal chocolate a global brand

(February 27, 2024) Getting off the Chapora Fort on his maiden trip to Goa in 2022, Digvijay Singh saw a woman selling sherbet. Exhausted from his day trip, he decided to quench his thirst with a kokum sherbet - a native fruit of Konkan he had never heard of. Taking his first sip, the teen chocolatier realised that it could be paired very well with dark chocolate due to its tartness. A few months later, he stumbled upon a rose apple in Kolkata, which natives refer to as gulab jamun. "I thought, I know of cranberry or strawberry or macadamia nuts which have perhaps nothing to do with India but I know nothing about the fruit that grows in the Konkan belt which is hardly 1000 kilometers from where I live," the Udaipur resident tells Global Indian. This epiphany led him to bring indigenous berries and fruits into the conventional world of chocolate making with Saraam - a homegrown artisanal chocolate brand. Finding the real deal in exotic native fruits With the chocolate market almost saturated with flavours like cranberry, orange, and hazelnut, Digvijay saw an opportunity in the often-overlooked native fruits. "The biggest issue is that the people haven't

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Finding the real deal in exotic native fruits

With the chocolate market almost saturated with flavours like cranberry, orange, and hazelnut, Digvijay saw an opportunity in the often-overlooked native fruits. "The biggest issue is that the people haven't invested in the supply chain of these fruits as they don't have a long shelf life. People don't grow them anymore and they are at the mercy of the wild. There are a few collectors who collect and sell them," explains the 19-year-old who is ready to change the game. "India has long overlooked what's within and it's time that we look inwards," adds Digvijay, whose brand sells Kulfi and Orange & Coffee chocolates.

However, the teen chocolatier was aware that such a drastic combination might call for strong reactions." Some chefs thought it was blasphemy to make such combinations but to me that suggested the strong personality of the product," says Digvijay, adding, "I'm not disregarding their experience or their opinion but if you have been institutionalised long enough with French culinary school, and you have seen what works and what's demanded, it becomes difficult for you to give different options a chance. On the other hand, because of this push and pull, there was a great pull towards the other end where people find such combinations intriguing."

[caption id="attachment_36167" align="aligncenter" width="409"] Saraam chocolate[/caption]

In just two years, Ber and Kulfi have become their bestsellers which sell a lot more than coffee and orange flavour. "There are people who are ready to try new flavours out of curiosity, and they have already taken the bet by trying a new brand," says Digvijay who started making chocolate at the age of 16.

Learning chocolate making during the pandemic

When the entire world was locked indoors during the pandemic, Digvijay was keen to start his "gig" and googled recession-proof industries. Apart from edtech, it was chocolate that popped on his screen. "Since I hardly know about technology and less about education, chocolate was something I wanted to try. I started reading about it and even tried a lot of fine chocolates. This got me thinking that it can be a lot different than the artisanal chocolates we find in the country. This idea led to Saraam - which means essence in Sanskrit and Tamil."

A few months later, his cousin Mahaveer Singh joined, and now the two run the venture which began taking shape with the help of YouTube tutorials. Calling it a great start for beginners, their biggest learning came from experimenting and sampling chocolates. "I wouldn't have waited to get a diploma to start making chocolate. I don't think people should wait for an institutional validation to start a venture, as any source of learning can be good enough for a start," says the teen who consulted with many chefs.

Ask him if making chocolate is an easy or complex process, and he quips, "How we make chocolates is different from how Amul or Cadbury's make as theirs would be much more standardised and easier as their recipes are set and they have got big machines. Small manufacturers like us use a wet stone grinder, which is a humble idli grinder from Coimbatore modified into a chocolate melanger of sorts." He adds that it's quite tedious to make chocolate on this small scale because of the precision it requires. "As there are only a few steps to follow, you can go wrong at many steps - be it sourcing or roasting. Since it doesn't have any additives, it can also get affected by the odours around it during storage."

Getting the attention in India and abroad

Five months into learning the art of chocolate making, Saraam bagged its first order from a car dealership after he pitched the idea of customising their packaging for marketing. "I knew we didn't want to grow on that but it could be a good strategy to begin with. Finding first customers in a category that's competitive with many similar-looking chocolates in the market, we knew it would be an uphill task," says Digvijay. Despite being a new brand that works out of the basement, Saraam got tremendous attention from artisanal chocolate lovers in India and abroad. "We were not equipped enough to leverage the kind of attention we got from the NRIs in the US and UK as we weren't equipped enough to deliver it to them. Many people wanted to try it in the stores in their cities, and we couldn't do it," says the teenpreneur who is keen to solve the functional and execution problems.

Saraam sold 20,000 bars of chocolate in 2023, with most of their sales happening during the festive and wedding seasons. "We sell it online, through selected retailers, and send it to a few hotels." The homegrown brand sources its cacao from small farms in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but finding exotic fruits is a challenge. "We have found a few collectors and dehydrators who provide us with the fruits," reveals Digvijay, who is studying Philosophy (H) at Delhi University.

A global brand in the making

Three years into chocolate making, Digvijay has plans of revolutionising the chocolate market and is keen to make something in confectionery that comes especially from India. "We haven't scratched that surface and I think India does have a potential as we grow our cacao."

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Ever since its inception, Digvijay has seen Saraam as a global brand. "It doesn't mean we have stores in 200 countries but it's a brand that has global appeal and people anywhere in the world have desires to consume it. There are 4.4 million NRIs and yet are underserved in terms of things that come from India. I want to take Saraam to them," says the teenpreneur who believes the revolution in the chocolate industry is yet to come. "I do look at its global consumption - through online fulfillment or physical presence. This is for the Global Indian rooted in India story," he signs off.

Follow Digvijay Singh on LinkedIn
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AI for auditory wellness: Surya Maddula’s quest to tackle noise pollution

(January 19, 2024) According to World Bank estimates, by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have hearing loss, and at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation. Also, over one billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. This is an issue 16-year-old Bengaluru boy Surya Maddula wants to tackle. The youngster was intrigued by the cacophony surrounding him. The never-ending noise stirred his curiosity to find a solution, whether it was the clamour of traffic and ongoing construction work nearby, animals around, or the thunderous departure of planes. Fueled by the constant disturbances, he devoted himself to inventing a solution for the challenges posed by such man-made environmental challenges and was able to. He came up with the idea of ‘open-air active noise cancellation using artificial intelligence’. [caption id="attachment_35320" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Surya Maddula[/caption] When the teen was confident about the potential of the solution he developed after dedicated research, he filed a patent at The Patent Office, Government of India, and was granted the patent for an invention of ‘A noise cancellation system and a method to operate the same'. “Later, I applied at the India Book of Records,”

urya Maddula | Global Indian " width="474" height="350" /> Surya Maddula[/caption]

When the teen was confident about the potential of the solution he developed after dedicated research, he filed a patent at The Patent Office, Government of India, and was granted the patent for an invention of ‘A noise cancellation system and a method to operate the same'.

“Later, I applied at the India Book of Records,” Surya shares with Global Indian. He is glad to have earned their appreciation certificate and medal for getting a patent for his AI-powered solution to combat noise pollution at 15 years and 10 months.

Apart from working on this burning issue, Surya has other achievements to his credit. He is engaged in an apprenticeship with a Professor from Columbia University and is also associated with The Knowledge Society (TKS), a teenage accelerator programme. He has also contributed to and received value from entrepreneurial skills development programmes conducted by Google, Y Combinator, and BITS Pilani - Dubai Campus, to name a few.

Addressing noise pollution

“I realise that Noise Pollution is a big problem that is putting millions of people at risk, and as a responsible citizen of my country, it is important to me to address this problem to change the lives of people in India for the better,” he says. Surya has leveraged the power of AI to find a solution. “One of many abilities of my solution is using AI to understand foreground and background noise and classify them to eliminate unwanted background noise.”

With validation received as a Patent Certificate from The Patent Office, Government of India, the youngster is now working on the hardware.

“My hardware design is about using strategically placed sensors/sound level meters that send sound data to the Home Device, which processes noise using Cloud Computing. It puts out a sound wave with the amplitude inversed so that the sound waves cancel each other out as proved by destructive interference,” he says. “It will also help in emergency noise detection and intelligent noise sensory capabilities.”

[caption id="attachment_35316" align="aligncenter" width="635"] Surya Maddula at the Shell Changemakers of Tomorrow conference in Bengaluru[/caption]

Apprenticeship with Columbia University professor

Though noise pollution is his primary interest, the 12th-grade student is curious about many other applications of AI. Although Surya is still in school, he is working closely with Columbia University Professor Alejandro Zarate, and under the professor’s guidance, he is learning about Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and applying it for data extraction and customization of documents. “Document processing is a big business problem, and extracting the relevant data is key for organisational success.”

Talking about the opportunity to learn from a Columbia University professor while still in school, he remarks, “I reached out to him on LinkedIn because I had been following him on the platform, and he inspired me so much that I wanted to learn under his guidance. Through the tips and guidance given by my Directors at The Knowledge Society, I learned efficient networking, helping me get opportunities I never thought I’d get,” he adds.

He is working on a project under Professor Zarate’s guidance on Large Language Models (LLMs). “The opportunity to work under the professor has improved my professional skills, and has led me to understand how LLMs work is of utmost significance,” he says. “The Zoom calls, the brainstorming sessions, the WhatsApp chats, the guidance I get, and the entire scenario of working with such an experienced professional is so exciting. There is something to learn from every call with him and every message I get from him. I feel privileged and humbled that I was able to get this opportunity,” he remarks.

Association with The Knowledge Society

Surya is also associated with The Knowledge Society (TKS) - a group of highly ambitious youngsters who want to, ‘quite literally put a ding in the universe.’ “TKS alumni go to some of the best universities in the world. They have raised millions of dollars, launched successful companies, partnered with dozens of multi-billion-dollar companies, and spoken at events and conferences, creating an impact.” Surya believes in ‘getting value and adding value,’ which is why he loves being part of TKS. The organisation has changed his perspective towards giving back and boosted his confidence with some great speaking opportunities.

[caption id="attachment_35317" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Surya Maddula at the Shell Changemakers of Tomorrow conference in Bengaluru[/caption]

“I started with TKS as part of their ‘Innovate’ program in September 2022. Since then, I’ve worked on many projects while learning about new technologies.” As part of TKS activities, he has also had an opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial bent of mind by working on problem statements and pitching solutions to problems to senior business executives of multi-billion-dollar companies who are partners of TKS.

Apart from that, he has learned from case studies to prepare for real-life entrepreneurial situations and develop skills like networking, building relations, adapting to technologies, and thinking like a business leader or future entrepreneur. “It’s a life-changing programme,” remarks Surya.

“The more effort and work you are willing to put in, the greater the outcome. That's exactly how it was for me. You can’t even compare pre-TKS and post-TKS Surya,” he remarks.

A business leader in the making

Surya aspires to have a career focusing on making life better for people around him and is enrolled in Google’s Student Entrepreneur Program. It’s a self-paced instructor-led program with coursework and lectures to prepare future entrepreneurs.

[caption id="attachment_35327" align="aligncenter" width="732"] Surya Maddula pitching at BITS Pilani Dubai's YEB[/caption]

He also traveled to Dubai for the Young Entrepreneurs’ Boot Camp (YEB) held at the BITS Pilani Dubai Campus. It was his first international flight alone after passing the selection process that comprised a written application with several questions.

“My experience there was fantastic,” he says about the trip. “I was able to explore the city, understand it, and navigate the differences between Bengaluru and Dubai. I spent an entire day with one of my friends from TKS, and we explored the city together on the metro, the tram, and on foot from Al Karama to Atlantis. The city is magical. There’s a lot a person can learn from being in a foreign country.” Surya is grateful to everyone who made this trip happen, especially Dr. Ramachandran from the BITS Pilani - Dubai Campus.

While exploring different career options, after finishing university, he is determined to work around computer science and AI, irrespective of what he chooses to become.

Finding support in family, hobbies, and a good lifestyle

The youngster finds immense support in his family, and just by looking at his parents, he learns life lessons every day. “My dad is the best life coach, and my mom’s perspective on things is on par with how good her food is,” he says. Being always ready to face anything while keeping the environment at home peaceful, working hard, and not letting one part of one’s life affect the other are the qualities of his parents that he would like to learn.

[caption id="attachment_35318" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Surya Maddula at Shell Changemakers of Tomorrow conference in Bengaluru with Yuri Sebregts, CTO, Shell[/caption]

The teenager loves swimming, sketching, and basketball and considers sleep integral to well-being. “Sleep is so underrated. I can feel myself getting recharged when I get a good night’s sleep,” he says.

He is an avid currency collector and has currency from across the globe - from Venezuela to the UAE to Uzbekistan to Hong Kong to Singapore. “I haven’t visited all these countries but got them by trading with other collectors,” he signs off.

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How Alina Alam’s “Mitti” gate empowers by employing 106 differently-abled in 17 cafes

(January 1, 2022) Alina Alam wears many hats. Entrepreneur, TedX speaker, Forbes 30 under 30, and Commonwealth Youth Award finalist. Winning awards is her zeitgeist — The NCPEDEP Mindtree Hellen Keller Award, the Microsoft Nipman Award, yes, the list is long and impressive. However, away from these accolades is a girl who cares and believes in the power of positive action. Bringing smiles to the differently-abled is what gives her immense joy, and if she can play matchmaker to some, then that’s all the better. Alam built Mitti Café to help people with disabilities join the workforce and compete with the best in business. Thanks to the café, there are people with visual and hearing impairments, Asperger’s and Down’s syndrome feeling the warmth of a life fulfilled. Today, Mitti Café has 17 outlets across India, and has served over 6 million meals. What’s more, the clientele of hip and happening youngsters love tucking into their favourites from the menu that is also in Braille. A café like no other, when workplace accommodation is a struggle for the differently-abled across India, the café and Alina Alam have blazed new trails by employing the disabled. The journey began at empowerment The girl

ull wp-image-9090 aligncenter" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2021/12/alina.jpg" alt="Global Indian youth alina alam" width="720" height="722" />

The journey began at empowerment

The girl from Kolkata was no doubt egged on by her HR executive father, and her mother who is a homemaker. Her siblings often help in her cafe activities. Her sense of compassion comes no doubt from being raised in a family where monetary aspirations were not important, a social purpose was.

When Alam, 29, started the cafe, her mission was to empower persons with disabilities by providing them opportunities to succeed. Looking back, Alam says that it’s been a many-splendored journey.

She was just 23 when she first thought of doing something different and socially relevant. Pursuing her master’s in development studies at the Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, a documentary film on Roman emperor Nero left her with no doubt on her path ahead. The film showed Nero treating prisoners of war with extreme brutality before large crowds as the guests watched in silence or enjoyed the spectacle. It disturbed Alam. “I felt that the problem was not Nero as I feel the world will always have people like him. The problem was with the individuals who treated others as inconsequential. What if I am one of the guests at Nero’s party? If something wrong is happening and you are not taking sides, that means you are on the side of the oppressor,” she tells Global Indian Youth.

She then skipped campus placements and volunteered for organisations in the disability inclusion space. “I was passionate about doing something for the disabled,” she says. While working with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled in Bengaluru, she saw what the differently-abled are capable of. “I understood that they have enormous potential but lack opportunities. They just need someone to guide and upskill them. What better way to reach out and connect them to the world than through food?” smiles Alam. Mitti Café was born, and the differently-abled got a new lease of life.

From dust to dust

The name of the cafe is unique. “Mitti” n Hindi means soil. “The concept is that everyone belongs to the soil and, we all will return to the soil one day. So, everyone is equal,” she adds.

It has been a rollercoaster ride since 2017, but a very fulfilling one. “Entrepreneurship is challenging. I had zero experience and no capital,” she remembers. So, she put on a brave face, and went door-to-door in Hubli, Karnataka, with pamphlets written in bold, calling the disabled to join her with no bar on age, education or experience. Only one person joined her. “She almost crawled in,” Alam smiles. “I got positive strength, and the journey started with one staff who was wheel-chair bound,” she adds.

A café office in Hubli in a dilapidated tin hut infested with rats, slowly things started falling in place, and Alam opened the first branch at the BVB College of Engineering and Technology campus in Hubli in August 2017.

In four years, she has opened 17 cafés in Bengaluru and Kolkata. Not content, Alam also provides experiential training and employment to adults with physical and intellectual disabilities so that they can get gainful employment. The organisation also creates awareness about inclusion and disability rights.

With 106 adults with special needs managing Mitti Cafés, the chain has served over 6 million meals in just four years. “We have 16 cafés within institutions such as Wipro, Infosys, Accenture, Wells Fargo Cytecare Hospital,” adds Alam.

The café has self-explanatory menu cards printed in Braille, are disabled-friendly, with no compromise on ambience. Then, there is the warm smile of the staffers to put one at ease. One of the critical features of the café is the extensive training programme, so the cafés are able to compete with the best in the business. “Our training includes hygiene, culinary skills, sessions about prevention of sexual harassment, etc,” explains Alam, who schooled at Modern High School for Girls and did psychology at Sophia College for Women.

The girl who makes lives better

During the pandemic too, Alam has been on point. The MITTI Karuna Meals gave migrants and others sustenance, serving over 7.2 lakh meals with plans to expand to thousands more. Alam, also recently got married to a Mumbai-based entrepreneur. She recalls the many rejections early on for her venture so when she got a call from Deshpande Foundation under condition that she move to Hubli, she moved lock, stock and barrel.

On her first foray in Hubli, she says, “I learnt the best lessons of resilience through the struggles. I also got to meet Narayan Murthy, who visited our cafe. That is how the Infosys cafe happened a year later,” she says. The Kolkata born Alam loves crooning, and is a newspaper junkie, which helps her stay abreast.

Today, her exuberance is double - she would like to start the café in every major city, with plans afoot for an outlet in Hyderabad in 2022, and wants to follow it up with Chennai and Mumbai. “Then I want to take Mitti Cafe international,” avers the girl whose belief and conviction have created a legacy to a section of society that has finally got its own girl saviour.

Follow Alina Alam on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 8 mins

Young titans: The Telugu champions shaping the Indian sports landscape

(May 24, 2023) In the realm of sports, the Telugu region has become a breeding ground for exceptional talent, producing individuals who have defied odds, shattered barriers, and etched their names in the annals of sporting history. This is a tale that celebrates the indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements of Telugu sports stars. Through their dedication, perseverance, and unwavering determination, these individuals have become beacons of inspiration, captivating the hearts and minds of millions across the nation. Global Indian explores the journeys of badminton champs Gayatri Gopichand and Satwik Rankireddy, boxer Nikhat Zareen, who has carved herself a place in history, athlete Jyothi Yarraji who battled great odds to rise to break the national record and the decorated young US-golfer Sahith Theegala, who copes with scoliosis but never lets it hamper his game. Nikhat Zareen [caption id="attachment_30395" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nikhat Zareen[/caption] "Who is Nikhat Zareen?" The Olympian's dismissive response to the then 22-year-old Zareen cut the young boxer quite deeply. Zareen was already a Youth World Champion and wanted the Indian Boxing Federation to conduct trials for the Olympic team selections. Kom, who was looking forward to what would likely be her final rendezvous with the Olympics, was not happy,

he then 22-year-old Zareen cut the young boxer quite deeply. Zareen was already a Youth World Champion and wanted the Indian Boxing Federation to conduct trials for the Olympic team selections. Kom, who was looking forward to what would likely be her final rendezvous with the Olympics, was not happy, snubbing Zareen for her request. Still, Zareen refused to show weakness. She had always been used to fighting great odds - she is from Telangana, a region without a boxing culture unlike Manipur or Haryana. She was also a Muslim - female Muslim boxers don't come around too often in India.

Today, Nikhat Zareen is a two-time world champion, the winner of the gold at the 2011 AIBA Women's Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships, the 2022 Istanbul and 2023 New Delhi IBA Women's World Boxing Championships. She also bagged the gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Born on June 14, 1996 to Mohammad Jameel Ahmed and Parveen Sultana in Nizamabad, Zareen studied at Nirmala Hrudaya Girls' High School. It was her father, Jameel, who introduced her to boxing and trained her for a year. "It's true that not everyone in the neigbourhood or even the family were supportive. They would say it is wrong and it would spoil her marriage prospects. But I never let Nikhat worry about these things. I wanted her to do her best. People always talk. If you stop and listen to what everyone has to say, you won't go very far," Jameel said.

As she progressed, there weren't too many girl competitors at her level, and she would go up against older boys. She moved ahead rapidly and at 14, won her first international gold at the Youth World Championships.

Nikhat Zareen is proud of her roots and her faith, performing a sajdah at the New Delhi World Championships and saying that she would use her prize money to send her parents on the Haj pilgrimage. "I come from a middle class family. I come from a minority community where girls don't always get the opportunity to take up sports. Boxing has given me freedom," Zareen said.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

[caption id="attachment_30396" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Satwiksairaj Rankireddy[/caption]

In 2018, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy stormed their way to a historic victory at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, bagging a gold at the Mixed Team event and the men's double silver. That year, they also won top honours in the Hyderabad Open BWF Tour Super 100 tournament, beating their Akbar Bintang and Reza Pahlevi Isfahani from Indonesia.

Rankireddy was born in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, into a family legacy. His father was a state-level player, as was his older brother, both of whom inspired him to begin playing. In 2014, he enrolled at the Pullela Gopichand Academy and became a doubles specialist. In 2016, his coach, Kim Tan Her paired him with Chirag Shetty, creating a winning team.

The duo has won five international series titles. Rankireddy also has a strong partnership with Ashwini Ponnappa in the mixed doubles category. They began 2022 by winning the Indian Open and were part of India's Thomas Cup team, a victory achieved through great determination, as they started out by losing the first game.

Rankireddy was given the Arjuna Award for badminton in August 2020.

Gayatri Gopichand

[caption id="attachment_30397" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Gayatri Gopichand[/caption]

From the moment she decided on a career in badminton, Gayatri Gopichand had very big shoes to fill. Both her parents are renowned shuttlers - her father, Pullela Gopichand won the England Open Badminton Championships in 2001, the second Indian after Prakash Padukone. Her mother, P.V.V. Lakshmi, is an eight-time Indian national Telugu champion and an Olympian who represented India at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She also won the bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Gayatri entered the fray with the best kind of backing, including being able to enroll at her parents' state-of-the-art academy, the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy. She was initiated early and had the chance to observe and even train with India's reigning champs like Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu.

By the age of 15, Gayatri had an all-India ranking of No. 1 in the under-17 age group in India. In 2018, she became the youngest member to be part of an Indian Asian Games badminton contingent and went with them to the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, although she didn't actually get any game-time that year.

Until the pandemic, Gayatri had trained as a singles player. In 2021, however, acting on the advice of her father and coach, Arun Vishnu, she tried the doubles game, teaming up with Treesa Jolly. "When the coaches saw our game styles, they thought that putting us together was the best," Gayatri told The Hindu. That year, they became runners-up at the Polish International and their star only rose from there, as they reached the Syed Modi International final in 2022 and bagged the BWF World Tour Title.

"Now, I feel I can play anyone. Off Court, they are all legends and all but on court, everyone is equal and you just have to give your best," Gayatri said.

Jyothi Yarraji

[caption id="attachment_30398" align="aligncenter" width="387"] Jyothi Yarraji[/caption]

Jyothi was in class 10 when she took her first strides towards being an athlete. She had no idea how she would go about it, either. It was a late start and a far-fetched idea for a poor girl in Vishakapatnam. "My father is a security guard and my mother is a cleaner in hospitals. I'd always been told the path to come out of that was through studies." In class 10, encouraged by her P.E teacher, she decided to give it a go.

She started out with a pair of inexpensive jogging shoes (spikes were out of the question) and just a few months into formal training, won a gold in the state-level 100m. "I used to feel good when I started running. It made me feel like I didn't have time to waste. It made me feel that I was doing something important," Jyothi said. Still, her decision was looked upon with great disapproval. The neighbours raised their eyebrows because she was "being sent to run outside. Why is she running in knickers and a banian? Why is she talking to boys," they would ask. Her mother stood by her.

Today, the Telugu champion hurdler holds the national record of 13.04 seconds, which she broke three times in 2022. She also represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and at the Indian National Games that year, won the gold in the 100-metres and the 100-metres hurdles. In October, Jyothi became the first Indian woman hurdler to clock below 13 seconds. She did even better in 2023, breaking the national record for the 60-metres hurdle five times. She also won the Silver in the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships at Astana.

Sahith Theegala

[caption id="attachment_14860" align="aligncenter" width="1440"] Sahith Theegala[/caption]

Only two weeks ago, in May 2023, Sahith Theegala made headlines for a superb left-handed shot at the Wells Fargo Championship at the 16th hole. It was a perfect shot and the audience roared its approval, more so because Sahith Theegala is not left-handed. "Absolutely fantastic," the commentators said and even Theegala's caddie was impressed.

The US-based golfer, who hails from Hyderabad, has had a strong year, making his presence felt on the PGA Tour as he rose from outside 300 to 30 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Theegala had always loved the sport, even as a child, and even though he suffers from scoliosis (a curvature of the spine). A the age of five and six, he would cry when it was time to leave the golf course. At the age of six, he won the Junior World Championship and went to study at Pepperdine University, known for its sports teams. In January 2020, he won the Haskins Award, the Ben Hogan Award and the Jack Niklaus Award, becoming the fifth player in the history of US golf to win all three Player of the Year honours.

Anaik Sachdev: Aged nine, this boy’s Loving Library gives Covid patients, and the homeless respite

(December 27, 2021) Quarantine was named Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2020. Rightly so. Almost the whole world was under lockdown, courtesy Covid-19. Many baked or gardened, yet Phoenix-resident nine-year-old Anaik Sachdev turned inwards - books became his salvation. After a spring-break visit to New York, his mother was diagnosed with Covid 19, and soon after, his grandmother too. During those weeks at his home, Anaik found solace in books, they helped him escape isolation even as his family struggled with illness. This discovery of books gave him the perfect dose of mental relief. It gave birth to Anaik’s Loving Library, for which he has won the Phoenix Business Journal 2021 Philanthropic Hero Award. The little tyke was also invited on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, which catapulted him into the limelight. “Those weeks made me realise how lonely it can get, and how books are a perfect companion for anyone dealing with Covid 19 as they provide mental escape,” Anaik tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview. [caption id="attachment_8920" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Anaik Sachdev donating books with his mom Anjleen[/caption] Not isolated when books are your friends After his grandmother tested positive and was hospitalised, Anaik realised how harsh and cold

loads/2021/12/IMG_4032.jpg" alt="Anaik Sachdev" width="560" height="746" /> Anaik Sachdev donating books with his mom Anjleen[/caption]

Not isolated when books are your friends

After his grandmother tested positive and was hospitalised, Anaik realised how harsh and cold isolation can be. “I would facetime her during her stay at the hospital and (I saw) she had no sunlight (in her room). She couldn't interact with anyone, it felt so lonely. Back home, we were reading books to pass time. I thought to myself that books could be a great escape for loneliness at the hospital,” reveals the nine-year-old who launched Loving Library amid the pandemic to help Covid-19 patients combat loneliness and isolation.

[caption id="attachment_8918" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Anaik Sachdev with his books[/caption]

What began as an experiment to help his grandmother soon transformed into a heartening ray of hope extending a helping hand to thousands in Arizona. “It’s a mini-library which travels to hospitalised Covid patients, and helps them battle loneliness through books,” chirps the Class 4 kid.

Anaik’s mother Anjleen Gumer helped her son set up an Amazon Wish List, and invited book donations from people. Soon a plethora of books from various genres started pouring in at Sachdev’s doorstep, and Anaik’s Loving Library started to take form. “We have now partnered with Changing Hands, one of the oldest bookstores in Phoenix and have been asking people to donate books,” announces the student at Iva Elementary School.

Once the stacks of books are assembled at his residence in Phoenix, Sachdev puts a Loving Library sticker created by his brother Jovin and him on the books to let people know that “they are cared for.” In 2020, Anaik’s library donated over 1,000 books to the Valley Wise Hospital in Phoenix, a place that he zeroed in on along with his mother after a great deal of research on hospitals that might need books.

[caption id="attachment_8917" align="aligncenter" width="493"] Anaik Sachdev donating books at the Valleywise Health Foundation.[/caption]

From hospitals to the homeless

Today, the Loving Library has moved beyond the realms of hospitals, and is making books available to the homeless too. “It saddens me seeing so many homeless people, and I want to help them. I want to give them books so that they don’t feel lonely,” says the Sikh boy who has collaborated with Circle to City, homeless healthcare for the expansion of his project. This year, the fourth grader is happy to have collected over 500 books for donation.

In over a year, Anaik’s library has comforted thousands of Covid-stricken and the needy, to great acclaim. Such has been the popularity of his project that even American host Ellen DeGeneres couldn’t resist calling Anaik on her show. The producer of the show contacted Anaik’s mom, and the interest in this nine-year-old catapulted. “It was such an incredible experience to fly to Los Angeles to be on the show. Seeing the DJ perform live and seeing my parents in the audience was a wonderful experience. Getting on stage with all the cameras and lighting was a different ball game but Ellen made me feel very comfortable,” reveals the boy who has become a celebrity among his friends. “My friends were so excited to hear about the Loving Library and in fact, many donated books too,” adds Anaik.

[caption id="attachment_8916" align="aligncenter" width="734"] Anaik Sachdev on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Photo by Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.)[/caption]

The art of loving continues

With 14.3K Instagram followers, today he is a social media sensation, and uses his influence to spread the word about his Loving Library. It, incidentally, also gave a new lease of life to Anaik’s rap repertoire. “I find talking videos boring. I love writing rap songs, and thought that mixing the two would be a great way to garner attention,” adds Sachdev, who aspires to be a rapper if his plans of becoming an NBA player or an anaesthesiologist like his father don’t pan out.

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The cool kid from Phoenix is all praise for his parents who helped him establish the library, and fund his project. “My mom is my biggest support. She helped me launch the project, and has instilled the values of giving in me. Even my dad supported me throughout the process,” says the boy.

With the curtains drawing on 2021, Anaik has plans to expand his library to children in the paediatric departments, and burn centres across Arizona in 2022. “This is my plan. At some point, I want to open my library to the outer world and not just restrict it to hospitals,” the Harry Potter fan signs off.

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Reading Time: 5 mins