Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAnmol Narang: Breaking barriers as a trailblazing Sikh-American in the U.S. Army

Anmol Narang: Breaking barriers as a trailblazing Sikh-American in the U.S. Army

By: Amrita Priya

(July 5, 2024) The U.S. has an estimated 750,000 Sikh-Americans. Anmol Narang made history when, at the age of 23, she became the first observant Sikh to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point in 2020. It was a dream come true for the young officer to pass out from the most famous military academy in the world with more than a 200-year-old history.

As the saying goes, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’, she recalled mailing her application to West Point, the military academy in the US from a hotel in Hawaii during her junior year of high school. She had just visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial there and had felt inspired to serve.

“Gender and religion do not hinder a person’s ability to be successful,” Anmol said, adding, “That’s the great thing about the United States military is that it brings together people from all corners of the world.”

Anmol Narang

After completing a rigorous four-year training programme at the 222-year-old U.S. Military Academy, Anmol Narang finished her Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. She then reported to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, for her first posting, as a second lieutenant. After a year of her posting there, she was conferred the Federally Employed Women (FEW) Meritorious Service Award for her outstanding performance.

Inspired by her grandfather

Growing up in Roswell, Georgia, Anmol found the real stories her maternal grandfather, a veteran of the Indian Army, “very fascinating.” Her career choice to enter the Army was a natural progression. “The idea of a career in the Army seemed appealing” to her, even when she was young and didn’t know how to make it a part of her life.

Her grandfather, who served in the Indian Army in the 1960s and 70s, instilled in her the values of service and giving back to the community. A visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii during a trip strengthened her desire to follow her grandfather’s example. Learning about the sacrifices of service members, and the results of those sacrifices was very impactful on her impressionable mind.

Anmol Narang

When she graduated from the US Military Academy, excited and happy to be fulfilling her dream, she remarked, “The confidence and support of my community back home in Georgia has been deeply meaningful to me, and I am humbled that in reaching this goal, I am showing other Sikh Americans that any career path is possible for anyone willing to rise to the challenge.”

Choosing the air defence branch

Anmol Narang had pursued a year of undergraduate studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology before joining West Point military academy, where she studied nuclear engineering which led her to a career path in air defence.

Upon graduating from the U.S. Military Academy, Anmol chose the air defense branch. “Air defense units play a pivotal role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region and help ensure that events like the bombing of Pearl Harbor don’t happen again,” Anmol had shared, explaining her choice. She highlighted that she was honoured to share such an important mission in the Pacific with her teammates.

Anmol went on to serve as the fire control platoon leader for Delta Battery, 1-1 ADA (Air Defense Artillery) which consisted of a diverse group of soldiers who operated U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) systems.

Anmol Narang

Outstanding performance in service

After a year at Kadena Air Base in Japan, Lieutenant Anmol Narang was awarded the Federally Employed Women (FEW) Meritorious Service Award during the annual FEW virtual leadership conference.

FEW’s Military Meritorious Service Awards recognise outstanding military service members within the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to their service in the US.

For her consistent engagement with subordinates and mentoring of female soldiers in Delta Battery, she got nominated by one of her mentors, Lt. Col. Rosanna Clemente, former commander of 1-1 ADA, and finally won the award.

Through her journey of becoming the first observant Sikh to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy and her dedicated performance as a soldier, Anmol Narang has been an inspiration for young people to pursue their dreams, regardless of gender or religion.

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Published on 05, Jul 2024

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Planting forests, creating shoes from plastic, making glass into sand – these young Indian activists are conservationists with a plan

(December 28, 2021) Three years ago, a young Swedish girl made the world stop in its tracks by emphasising the extent of environmental damage in the world. Her fervent plea was to ask if this is the world we were leaving behind for our children. At a UN climate conference in New York, Indian youth, Greta Thunberg delivered her most famous speech where she berated world leaders, “You all come to us young people for hope. How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.” Even as Thunberg continues to propagate change with her climate activism, a host of children the world over continues to work and innovate to provide solutions to help mitigate climate change. Of these, are several Indian-origin activists. From nine-year-old Prasiddhi Singh who’s planting fruit forests to increase green cover, Bengaluru-based Sahithi Pingali, who developed an app to help clean lakes, Karan Jerath who worked to address one of the largest marine oil spills, to US-based Nihal Tammana whose recyclemybattery.com helps recycle toxic batteries, and Udit Singhal, who’s working to create a zero-waste ecosystem through his company Glass2Sand. [caption id="attachment_8949" align="aligncenter" width="569"] Karan Jerath[/caption] The future is young Indian According

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[caption id="attachment_8949" align="aligncenter" width="569"] Karan Jerath[/caption]

The future is young Indian

According to findings from the Future of Work international research report, over 85 percent of young people in India are interested in a green job. About 84 percent of those surveyed also believe that their generation can create solutions to some of society’s biggest challenges. Quite a tall order for young minds.

“Young people, at the end of the day, want to be agents of change in an effort to prevent and adapt to the climate crisis, and the biodiversity crisis. For what it’s worth, I believe it is our responsibility to help them achieve this, if we possibly can,” observed Prince Charles, in a meeting with international business leaders at St James’ Palace in London earlier this year.

As the focus has begun to gradually shift towards creating sustainable job opportunities for the future, these young minds are waiting for no one. They’re marching right on in their quest to create sustainable futures through their innovations and campaigns.

[caption id="attachment_8950" align="aligncenter" width="754"] Vinisha Umashankar[/caption]

Take for instance Vinisha Umashankar, the 14-year-old innovator from Tamil Nadu who was invited to speak at the COP25 in Glasgow by Prince William to speak on clean technology and innovation. Incidentally, the high school student from the small temple town of Tiruvannamalai, designed a solar-powered iron cart called the Iron-Max. The cart is an alternative to the charcoal burning ironing carts that dot Indian streets and the invention also earned her the Earthshot Prize (or Eco Oscars) that was launched by Prince William.

Talking about her invention, Vinisha said in a tweet, “The big ‘problem’ I am trying to solve is to eliminate the practise of burning charcoal to heat an iron box for pressing clothes by vendors. My innovation, the solar ironing cart will save trees, reduce air pollution, protect the environment and help stop the climate change.”

Similarly, Delhi-based teen Udit Singhal is working to help create a zero-waste ecosystem through his startup Glass2Sand, which has so far processed over 8,000 bottles into over 4,815 kg of high-grade silica sand. The 18-year-old was named by the UN in the 2020 cohort of young leaders for sustainable development goals. In a statement, Singhal said, “As a Young Leader for the SDGs, I will be an active agent of change. I hope to be able to encourage communities to embrace a better civic sense to create sustainable living spaces -- like when mountain-high landfills are detonated.”

Working along similar lines is 23-year-old Ashay Bhave, who launched Thaely, a sustainable line of vegan sneakers to tackle the growing menace of plastic waste. Bhave’s company produces sneakers that are made from plastic trash and so far, he has managed to upcycle over 50,000 bags and 35,000 bottles into sneakers that not just look chic but are also environment friendly.

Saving the planet with sustainability

These young minds are also mindful of the fact that rapid urbanisation has led to the reclaiming of precious eco-rich areas of land leading to mass extinctions that the Earth is now witnessing. Taking a step to change this is Mumbai- based conservation photographer Aishwarya Sridhar, who is the first Indian to win the prestigious Wildlife Photographer Award. “I believe in harnessing the power of visuals to bring about change,” says this 24-year-old, who took up conservation photography at age 11. “I hope my images and videos inspire people to become guardians of our planet,” she tells Global Indian Youth.

[caption id="attachment_8951" align="aligncenter" width="857"] Aishwarya Sridhar[/caption]

“I grew up in Panvel and have seen the stark difference in the Panvel of my childhood and the Panvel of today. From being lush with greenery and wildlife, today it is a concrete jungle that I don’t recognise. I grew up watching flamingoes and painted storks in my backyard. Today, however, the only surviving wetland in the area is a 250-acre space in Uran. Most wetlands and mangroves in Navi Mumbai have been reclaimed for SEZs and other real estate projects,” says the youngster, who has been actively campaigning to bring about a real change. In fact, her images also led the Bombay high court to declare that the Panje wetland area should be an ecologically-protected zone. Earlier this year, Aishwarya also did an undercover operation where she shot images of fireworks being set off in the Panje area. The images went viral and led to the Maharashtra CM intervening and ensuring prosecution of the miscreants.

Being the change

The idea, feel most youngsters, is to not just protect our planet, but to protect ourselves from the effects of climate change and the resultant mass extinction. Nine-year-old Prasiddhi Singh too found herself struck by the devastating effects of cyclone Vardah in 2016 which led to thousands of trees being uprooted and an overnight depletion of green cover in Tamil Nadu. The Chennai-based school goer swore to do her bit for the environment and is now on a mission to plant 1 lakh trees by 2022.

[caption id="attachment_8952" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Prasiddhi Singh[/caption]

“So far, I have created 19 fruit forests and planted 23,000 trees. I formed an unconditional bond with nature. I believe I can create a significant contribution in bringing about change,” says the TEDx speaker and green activist who raised funds for her campaigns through online webinars and sessions on how to become an impact creator. Even the prize money this Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardee got was donated to an NGO.

As more and more Indian-origin children ideate on environment friendly solutions, small inroads have finally been made into areas where most governments are still dragging their feet. From policy changes to awareness drives and innovations to change the future, these kids certainly seem to have a finger on the way forward.

The work the Indian youth do

Karan Jerath: Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Indian-origin student Karan Jerath was determined to find a solution. He went on to invent a subsea wellhead capping device to contain the oil spill. He won the Young Scietist Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2015 and was the youngest honoree on the 2-16 Forbes 30 Under 30 Energy list.
Sahithi Pingali: At 16, this Bengaluru girl bagged the Grand NASA Prize and even had a planet in the Milky Way named after her for her insightful study on the pollution of lakes in her city. Pingali participated in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and used her self-programmed app and a self-made lake monitoring kit to crowdsource data on environmental issues.
Nihal Tammana: The New Jersey-based seventh grader has been tirelessly working to rid the world of battery pollutants through his startup Recycle My Battery. The company recycles all types of used batteries and Tammana has been awarded the NJ Governor’s Award and the Jefferson Award for his work.

Reading Time: 8 mins

Praggnanandhaa: The prince of chess and Arjuna awardee 2022

(November 29, 2022) 17-year-old chess grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who has conquered the world in the war of checkmates, has been conferred the Arjuna award 2022. In 2016, Praggnanandhaa (meaning 'delight of the intellect') became the youngest international master in history, at the age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days. The coveted ‘Grandmaster’ title that he earned later at the age of 12 made him the fifth youngest person ever to do so. Fondly called 'Pragg', the grandmaster defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen three times in a row in 2022, thus becoming a household name. The last of the three defeats was at FTX Crypto Cup in Miami, an international chess championship held in August. South India is overjoyed to see their young prince on the list of Arjuna Awardees, which was announced earlier this month. It has been 14 years since a chess player from Tamil Nadu has been conferred the coveted Award, the country’s second highest sporting honour. The courteous and down-to-earth champion told Global Indian in an interview: I started playing tournaments when I was very young but there is lots more to achieve. [caption id="attachment_24787" align="aligncenter" width="947"] Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa[/caption] Setting the benchmark  Praggnanandhaa earned

="noopener">Global Indian in an interview:

I started playing tournaments when I was very young but there is lots more to achieve.

[caption id="attachment_24787" align="aligncenter" width="947"] Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa[/caption]

Setting the benchmark 

Praggnanandhaa earned the title of FIDE Master at the age of 7, winning the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title in 2013. The champ went on to win the under-10 title in 2015. 

In 2016, becoming a grandmaster required winning three ‘norms’. Praggnanandhaa achieved his first norm at the World Junior Chess Championship in 2017, finishing fourth with eight points. He gained his second norm at the Heraklion Fischer Memorial GM Norm tournament in Greece in April 2018. In June 2018 he achieved his third and final norm at the Gredine Open in Urtijëi, Italy at the age of just 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days. 

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The discipline of champions

Always a call or text away is the iconic Viswanathan Anand, India’s first chess grandmaster and a five-time world chess champion. The prodigy is associated with Anand’s WestBridge Anand Chess Academy.

Talking about Anand, Praggnanandhaa told Global Indian:

If I have a doubt, all I have to do is message him. It’s a very big opportunity for me to get guidance from him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvXgXqfyV1k

Praggnanandhaa's first coach was S Thyagarajan, who has trained his sister as well. “GM RB Ramesh became my coach after that,” he said.

Life and the chessboard…

Pragg is not the only genius in the family. By the time he was three-and-a-half, he would hang around watching his sister, female grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu play. Although chess was never a 'plan' per se, it seemed only natural that he would be drawn to the game.

Talking about his love for the game Pragg said:

It came to me naturally and became a part of my life.

The brother-sister grandmaster duo love discussing chess moves but their practice sessions remain separate.

[caption id="attachment_24781" align="aligncenter" width="1021"] Praggnanandha with his mother and female grandmaster sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu[/caption]

Always by his side, especially as he travels for tournaments, is Praggnanandhaa’s mother, Nagalakshmi. His father, Rameshbabu, a banker at the Tamil Nadu State Apex Co-operative Bank, takes care of all the details involved in managing the household’s two grandmasters. The class 12 commerce student at Velammal in Chennai gets support from his school as well.

My school supports me immensely and allows me to take leave to play tournaments and practice.

It hardly needs to be said that Praggnanandhaa rarely misses practice. “The duration might vary based on tournament schedules and exam timetables but I always manage to give it my time.”

Impressive journey...

Praggnanandhaa began traveling abroad for tournaments at the tender age of seven. "I have lost count," he says, pausing to think about it. "I have probably visited 30 countries." No matter where he goes, his focus remains unwavering, concentrating on one thing only – the game that he is there to play. There is hardly time for trivialities like sightseeing.

To emphasise this, Praggnanandhaa said:

My favourite place? Any place where the tournament went well becomes a good destination for me.

At 17, Praggnanandhaa has seen more of the world than most people will in a lifetime but is an undoubted homebody. He loves being home in India and whenever he has the time, likes to watch Tamil films. The typical boy-next-door in every other way, Praggnanandha loves Indian food more than any other cuisine and plays with one mission - To make his country proud.

Follow Praggnanandhaa on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

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De‘coding’ tech: Berkeley sophomore Krish Samtani’s 0Gravity turns geeks into pro coders

(March 4, 2022) Did you know that IT’s top brass like Larry Page, Bill Gates, and Steve Dorsey were all coding prodigies before they launched ground-breaking tech conglomerates? Not too long ago, coding was considered the forte of computer geeks, an intimidating concept to many. Yet, that seems to be changing with coding clubs mushrooming across the country. And one such Indian coder looking to change how coding is perceived is Krish Samtani. The 19-year-old student of UC Berkeley launched 0Gravity coding, a non-profit startup, back when he was a school student in Bengaluru. The free coding club encourages students as young as 10 to learn the nuances of coding to explore a world of innovation and problem solving. Today, the teen, who received the Leadership Award Scholarship by the alumni association of his college, has educated over 1,500 children, including the children of sex workers. Incidentally, Krish is also an Ashoka Changemaker for creating social impact through his venture. When tech called, Krish answered Born in New Jersey, Krish, the elder of two siblings, moved to Bengaluru when he was eight-years-old. Both his parents – Gunjan and Dimple – work with leading financial service companies, and Krish was always

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When tech called, Krish answered

Born in New Jersey, Krish, the elder of two siblings, moved to Bengaluru when he was eight-years-old. Both his parents – Gunjan and Dimple – work with leading financial service companies, and Krish was always encouraged to push his boundaries and go beyond the ordinary. As he schooled at the International School Bengaluru, Krish found himself drawn to the world of technology when he attended a summer camp as an eighth grader at Johns Hopkins University.

“That summer camp was one of the first times I got the opportunity to learn an applied style of education, where I did some basic mathematical modelling using coding for climate change,” Krish tells Global Indian, adding, “As opposed to the heavily theoretical curriculum I was studying back in India, this style of learning gave me a chance to build my knowledge on a practical level, rather than being confined to a textbook. As such, my passion for applied coding grew stronger over the years.”

[caption id="attachment_11806" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Krish with his family[/caption]

Inspired by this applied education, Krish was looking to attend such a class back home in Bengaluru. Unable to find any, he founded a movement to teach other children applied computer science. “That’s how 0Gravity came about in 2017. The purpose was to spark an interest and a vision amongst children that education goes far beyond the classroom, by making the sessions fun and interactive,” this Indian coder says.

Unscrambling the code

Since its inception, 0Gravity has had executives and professionals from leading technical industries deliver lessons, and talks to students. The idea, says Krish, has been to impart knowledge that can give students a glimpse of the opportunities the workforce offers. “We organise workshops that last three months, with around 20 students per batch. We have managed to educate 1,500+ students, including 700 girls in the five years since 0Gravity launched,” says the young coder, who is now a sophomore at University of California, Berkeley, where he is studying applied mathematics with a concentration on data science.

[caption id="attachment_11807" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Krish with his 0Gravity batch of students[/caption]

On how he’s connected with students at 0Gravity as a mentor, he says, “The premise of 0Gravity has always been to create an enjoyable, inclusive, and immersive learning environment. Although I was responsible for mentoring students and in growing the movement across companies, I was certainly learning a lot about myself, the students, and the growing importance of technology in the process. In addition to coding fundamentals, some of the things I picked up in my 0Gravity journey were communication (speaking with different audiences), time management, working with a team, and the various stages involved in starting an organisation.”

A ‘firm’ knowledge

Krish has partnered with several firms to establish 0Gravity programmes in three countries – India, US and England. “The firm that has been the most crucial to our expansion globally is Saggezza Inc, with whom we have set up programmes in Bengaluru, Chennai, Sunderland, and Chicago,” reveals the coder, who says that the world is becoming increasingly digitised in every facet of life and the industry. “Coding is as important a skill as reading and writing in our contemporary lives. In order to build strong foundational bases, it is important for children to hone their coding skills,” says Krish, whose father Gunjan has been the backbone of his journey with 0Gravity.

[caption id="attachment_11808" align="aligncenter" width="695"] Krish with his professors at University of California, Berkeley[/caption]

As a student in the US, Krish has been involved in various clubs and college activities including the data science and entrepreneurship clubs. “Learning here has been a pleasure too. A lot of my professors are Noble laureates and I’ve had the opportunity to meet many new people,” says the coder, who doesn’t mind bridging the time difference to continue conducting 0Gravity workshops. “I enjoy attending sessions on weekends, and value those couple of hours highly.”

Follow Krish Samtani on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 8 mins

From Delhi to Stockholm via Madras: The journey of Mannat Kaur’s award-winning greywater project

(September 18, 2024) A few years ago, when Mannat Kaur witnessed her home tap run dry, she began exploring solutions for the widespread use of greywater (domestic wastewater) to address the water crisis. Little did she imagine that her curiosity and efforts to develop a water-conservation project would eventually lead her to being felicitated by the Princess of Sweden, and attend the Royal Banquet hosted by Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf. The 16-year-old, class 12 student spent an unforgettable week in Stockholm this August when she travelled to represent India at the 2024 International Stockholm Junior Water Prize, held as part of World Water Week. Winning the national championship at IIT Madras, which led to these remarkable experiences, had already been a golden opportunity in itself. [caption id="attachment_39296" align="aligncenter" width="482"] Mannat Kaur at the royal banquet[/caption] Accompanied by her father and the national organizer, Prof. Indumathi M. Nambi from the Department of Environmental Engineering and School of Sustainability at IIT Madras, Mannat joined participants from 30 countries for the prestigious event. Although the United Kingdom took home the international prize, the experience has filled Mannat, the Head Girl of DPS RK Puram, with immense confidence and unforgettable memories. 'Every moment

and School of Sustainability at IIT Madras, Mannat joined participants from 30 countries for the prestigious event.

Although the United Kingdom took home the international prize, the experience has filled Mannat, the Head Girl of DPS RK Puram, with immense confidence and unforgettable memories. 'Every moment was unforgettable,' she tells Global Indian.

The joy of being a national champion

IIT Madras served as the national organizer for World Water Prize. Mannat competed against 350 applicants from 23 states at the national level and emerged as the winner, earning the opportunity to represent her country. “The top 12 shortlisted teams were invited to present their projects in person at the IIT Madras campus, where my project was selected,” Mannat shares.

This was the inaugural year of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize India (SJWP India), an initiative by the Sustainability Venture Studio (SVS) at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. It was organised in collaboration with the SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and sponsored by AquaMAP Center for Water Management and Policy, IIT Madras, to empower young innovators to tackle critical water challenges.

[caption id="attachment_39298" align="aligncenter" width="395"] Mannat Kaur with IIT-M Prof. Indumathi M. Nambi in Stockholm[/caption]

Calling her victory at the national championship a significant personal achievement, Mannat who had dedicated the past four years to this project said, “Receiving recognition at the national level in a competition focused on the water domain is truly rewarding. This recognition has also strengthened my determination to continue contributing to solutions that can have a positive impact on both my country and the world.”

Earlier this year, the youngster had participated in the Genius Olympiad, organised by the US based Rochester Institute of Technology and held at the RIT campus in India where the same project earned her an honourable mention.

The award-winning water project

Mannat’s project is an applied research project which focuses on the development of an indigenous, sustainable, cost effective, decentralized greywater treatment unit which collects, treats, and reuses greywater generated in a household at the source.

“This product driven intervention has two units: Scupper Valve and Bilge Vessel which help households save and fight the water crisis without any major modifications in the current home plumbing system and takes up very little space in the bathroom,” explains Mannat adding, “The preliminary prototype testing demonstrates its effectiveness in collecting and treating greywater to an improved level. The solution also has an image processing component which is able to distinguish effectively between the pre-rinse and post-rinse water from the heavily soapy flows, enabling selective collection of greywaters.

[caption id="attachment_39300" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Mannat Kaur with IIT-M Prof. Indumathi M. Nambi in Stockholm[/caption]

Mannat estimates that a single-family can save around 5,000-6,000 litres of precious potable water per month and can reduce 50% of their water demand if her solution gets implemented. This decentralized approach reduces carbon emissions by 80-85 percent compared to the traditional centralized sewage treatment setups (water pumping and operational energy), offsetting 18,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

“Additionally, due to lower sewage output, it contributes towards embodied carbon savings linked to the plumbing network infrastructure and construction of sewage treatment plants. This solution, therefore, addresses two main challenges - water scarcity and operational carbon emissions associated with freshwater supply, wastewater treatment and conveyance of treated water,” says the youngster, who has applied for a patent at the Indian Patent Office.

It all started when…

In 2016, during an agitation, Mannat witnessed her home tap run dry as the Munak Canal, which supplies water to Delhi, was breached. Her entire neighbourhood struggled to secure even a single bucket of water. “This incident was a wake-up call, prompting me to explore ways to conserve water,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_39301" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Mannat while showcasing her project during Water Prize national championship at IIT-Madras[/caption]

She began monitoring her family’s water usage and identifying areas of waste, conducting water audits at home. Mannat noticed a significant amount of water going to waste and observed her family collecting greywater in a tub for reuse in flushing. When she inquired why this practice wasn't more widespread, she learned that collecting, treating, and reusing greywater requires major retrofit of the toilet and plumbing piping.

“This is how I started looking and developing practical solutions which can be easily implemented and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application,” she says.

Experiences at Stockholm

Apart from soaking in the mesmerizing beauty of the European city of Sweden, Mannat got the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with experts. She was selected to participate in a talk show titled 'Bridging Borders and Generations with the Stockholm Junior Water Prize,' sponsored by Xylem, the U.S.-headquartered global water technology provider. Later engaging with experts from the Xylem team at their office and touring their facilities was great experience for the teenager.

Visiting the Indian Embassy and meeting Chargé d'Affaires, Mr Rakesh Tiwari, was a cherished moment too. Additionally, interacting with Taikan Oki, professor at the University of Tokyo and former Assistant Secretary General at the United Nations who won the 2024 Stockholm Water Prize in the senior category, made her overall experience even more enriching.

[caption id="attachment_39315" align="aligncenter" width="546"] Mannat Kaur at Stockholm[/caption]

A visit to the Royal Palace, not as a tourist but as an invitee to the Stockholm Water Prize royal dinner and banquet with the King and Queen of Sweden was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

Future plan and good influences

Mannat has a deep passion for computer science, machine learning, and emerging technologies. “The myriad challenges that the world has to confront today, such as climate change and water scarcity have ignited in me the desire to work for environmental conservation,” she says adding, “I would like to make use of my technological knowledge to address the impending challenges our generation will inevitably face.”

As a Steve Jobs fan, the youngster believes in proactive resolution rather than passive observation. “I want to impact the world as Steve Jobs had, using technology to change the way we live life. Just as he made personal computing accessible through Macintosh, the first widely sold personal computer (PC), my dream is to make environmental sustainability the easier choice,” she remarks.

[caption id="attachment_39303" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Princess Victoria of Sweden with participants of the Junior Water Prize including Mannat Kaur at Stockholm[/caption]

Mannat lives in a close-knit family of five which consists of her grandfather, her parents and a younger brother who is in grade 10. Considering herself fortunate enough to have spent some time with her late great-grandmother during the formative years of her life, the youngster mentions “I have inherited my creativity from my architect father and analytical thinking from my mathematician mother, a blend of both has shaped my approach to both life and problem-solving.”

Follow Mannat Kaur on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 mins

Oviya Singh: One of India’s youngest TEDx speakers and environmental champion

(November 24, 2023) When Sadhguru recognised Oviya Singh's efforts to spread awareness on soil conservation, the joy and elation of 12-year-old knew no bounds. “His acknowledgment in one of the Save Soil Campaign events and later, a mention of my name in the 'youth in action' section on his website, are recognitions that evoke indescribable emotions," she smiled. The NCR-based youngster became one of the youngest TEDx speakers in India last year, gaining recognition in India and beyond. The powerful public speaker has been using her gift of gab to motivate not just youngsters but also industrialists, public figures and government authorities to do their part in making the planet a better place through initiatives like soil conservation and other measures to enhance sustainability. [caption id="attachment_34275" align="aligncenter" width="787"] Oviya Singh[/caption] “We will either be remembered as the generation that let the planet die or as the generation that even God looks up to and says ‘damn!, these guys are competition,” the orator remarked in one of her speeches urging children and adults to do their part. Beyond oratory, the talented youngster has ventured into writing, co-authoring two books. Her first book, Living Life of Inspiration, is a compilation of motivational stories

her speeches urging children and adults to do their part.

Beyond oratory, the talented youngster has ventured into writing, co-authoring two books. Her first book, Living Life of Inspiration, is a compilation of motivational stories of achievers from different walks of life. Her second book, Rise: Poems of Heat, Resilience, And Light, features inspirational and motivational poems by her and other budding poets.

Awards and accolades

Recently the Global Indian became the recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award that came with the opportunity of visiting the University of Oxford to receive the medal and the certicate in person. It was presented at the Global Peace Summit organised by the NRI Welfare Society in the UK. "The Nelson Mandela Awards event was an extraordinary chapter in my life, one that has left an indelible mark on my soul, inspiring me to strive for excellence and contribute meaningfully to society," she shared.

Oviya has been Champion at the Youth Spoken Fest twice, and has excelled in various other competitions. She claimed the top position in the National Public Speaking Championship (2019), the Podcast Challenge (2021), and the National Speech and Debate Tournament (2022). She also emerged the winner in the extempore competition at the IDIA International Fiesta 2021. “I didn’t even know that talking could be a talent until they gave me a few awards for just talking,” she laughed in an interview.

A member of PlanetSpark’s podcasting club, the prodigy hosts her podcast Go Out and Contour the World.

Becoming one of India’s youngest TEDx speakers

In last year’s TEDx event held at Jamia Millia Islamia, the then eleven-year-old Oviya had made a mark as one of the youngest Indians to deliver a TEDx Talk. Her talk centred on the critical environmental issue of soil degradation, shedding light on alarming statistics concerning the global decline in agricultural soil quality. This speech was aligned with the event’s theme, 'Different Lenses.' She provocatively posed the question, "Is the world running out of food?" to her audience, drawing attention to the pressing matter.

She was among distinguished company. Other speakers at the event included the vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University Padma Shri Najma Akhtar, Supreme Court senior advocate Sanjay R Hegde, journalist and anchor Arushi Kapoor, peace activist and author Dr Maria Khan, and finance content creator Ankur Warikoo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpJXJG6hD5M

Oviya’s selection as a speaker amongst these influential personalities was a testament to her remarkable gift of expression through speech. “When I came to know that I would be speaking amidst these stalwarts, I was awestruck. ‘How will I even open my mouth in front of these people?’ I thought. But my father motivated me to just forget everything around me and concentrate on my speech. I am glad that it went well and on top of that all the esteemed people present at the event, appreciated my speech,” she remarked.

Finding a purpose

Oviya’s interest in soil was purely accidental. During a workshop on public speaking, she was asked to enlist all the topics that she liked and disliked as the subject of her speech. Her 'like list' comprised topics like favourite K-Pop bands, while her 'dislike list' encompassed typical topics assigned in school elocution contests, such as the environment.

As part of the workshop she was tasked with researching and speaking about a topic from her 'dislike list' – specifically, the environment. During her research on the topic, she stumbled upon ‘the developing crisis that might even lead to the next World War – the global food crises’.

During her research, Oviya also learned that while factors like food wastage and increasing population contribute to this looming crisis, the most alarming factor is agricultural soil degradation, which is severely impacting global food cultivation.

Later, when she got selected to deliver a TEDx Talk, she spoke on 'soil conservation,' a topic that she had become very passionate about – making it her purpose to spread awareness on the matter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBcajpjZUS8

Generation for change

Olivia calls herself a part of the ‘generation for change’. Her speeches are centred on not just soil conservation but sustainable living as a whole. “We really need to work for this environment because if we are not going to be the ones who are going to work on it then I don't think we'll be even able to survive after 20 or 30 years,” she said adding, “This is the thought that inspires me every morning to get up and keep working for this cause.” Apart from her parents she is indebted to her mentor Priyanka Behl who has been her constant guide.

The youngster who loves playing badminton and reading JK Rowling’s books is hard pressed for time due to her tight academic and oratory schedules. “I had to sacrifice my playing time for oratory,” said the youngster. Her sacrifices are paying off well!

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