Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAnmol Tukrel: AI healthcare for a better world

Anmol Tukrel: AI healthcare for a better world

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(April 22, 2023) Each time he came to India with his family, Anmol Tukrel would visit his aunt, who worked at a hospital for the visually-impaired. He saw the widespread poverty, the lack of awareness and access to quality healthcare, and decided to something about it. Anmol went on to create iDentifi, an AI healthcare app that allows visually impaired people to get information about their surroundings. This was in 2015, in the early days of AI and his efforts saw him featured in a video alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Geoffrey Hinton, the ‘father of deep learning’, along with a host of other young Canadian innovators.

Building iDentifi

“In India, the hospital staff would go to small towns and villages and offer free eye care to those who couldn’t afford it,” Anmol said. The next breakthrough also came in India, this time during an internship at a startup named IceCream Labs. “They were using computer vision, the same technology as iDentifi, for advertising. I thought, why not apply it to more humanitarian purposes,” he said. The app could identify 96 languages – Anmol’s method at the time was to look at a world map at his parents’ home in Markham, Canada, and use pins to identify the countries in which the app was being used. The app is also on display at one of Canada’s leading science museums.

The app was meant to provide as much detail as possible. In one demonstration video on YouTube, the user, Jason Fayre, the National Lead for Accessibility and Assistive Tech for CNIB, asked the app to identify a can of coke – “Pop cans are tricky,” he explained. The app was able to tell the difference between a can of Coke and Coke Zero. “There are similar apps but iDentifi is more accurate and can provide an abundance of information, which sets it apart,” said Fayre, who is also visually-impaired.

Finding success

As users could simply download the app from the app store, it gained popularity fairly quickly. The app proved useful “for day-to-day tasks, reading and browsing the web,” the Global Indian said. “For example, if they went grocery shopping and wanted to find out if the can of soda they were holding was Coke or Pepsi, normally they’d have to find someone and ask, however with iDentifi, they can just take a picture of the can and get an audible description with a few seconds.”

Markham, Ontario teen Anmol Turkel wins Ontario Science Centre’s 2017 Weston Youth Innovation Award for his AI healthcare app, iDentifi, that assists the visually impaired in identifying objects using a smartphone. (CNW Group/Ontario Science Centre)

A search engine to take on Google

Born and raised in Markham, Anmol was interested in technology from a young age. By the time he turned 16, he was building a personalised search engine, intended to take on Google itself- that was his submission to the Google Science Fair. For this, Anmol used a computer with around 1GB of storage space, a spreadsheet programme, a Python-language development settings and some articles from the New York Times to get himself going. A couple of months of design work and about 60 hours of coding later, his prototype was ready.

To test the accuracy of his creation, he limited his search queries to articles from the New York Times, creating fictitious users with different interests and corresponding web histories. This information was fed to the search engine and to Google as well. Anmol submitted his paper to the International High School Journal of Science. He hoped his efforts would take him to Stanford University, which they did. There, he studied computer science and AI. These days, Anmol actually works for Google – he’s an Associate Product Manager for Gmail’s AI team and before that, was an APM intern on the Google Podcasts team.

Diabetes PD

Still captivated by the AI for healthcare space, Anmol went on to design Diabetes PD, this time targeting teenagers with Type-1 diabetes. “It’s meant to make it easier to keep track and access quality information to manage diabetes,” he explained. It allows the user to access resources that are updated in real time, and include travel, employment, meal planning and how to take care of oneself when one is sick. Users can also keep track of information related to diabetes care, monitor sugar levels, and A1Cs, to name a few.

Anmol Tukrel’s story is a powerful reminder of the potential of technology to solve real-world problems. His creation, iDentifi, has already made a significant impact on the lives of visually impaired people around the world. Anmol’s passion for technology, his dedication to his work, and his belief in the power of young people to make a difference have made him a role model for many.

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Published on 22, Apr 2023

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achievement. It also gave him the opportunity to display his work alongside the who’s who of Delhi’s art circuit. The Inlaks Fine Arts award, on the other hand, served as a milestone supporting his artistic endeavours monetarily.

Carving creativity out of chaos

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Art, a way of life

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Rhodes Scholar Swathi Srinivasan: Cancer survivor and health equity advocate

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[caption id="attachment_39659" align="aligncenter" width="251"] Rhodes scholar Swathi Srinivasan[/caption]

Battling the emperor of maladies

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Instead of lamenting her lot in life, Swathi used even this time to ponder the struggles of global healthcare, especially among the marginalised. "I was thinking of the side effects of chemotherapy, which is a really big issue too and matter differently to different people. I'm in school, I can take a day off when I feel nauseous but a single parent can't do that, can they? They have to show up at work no matter what." She could ride her bike to the hospital but wondered "how other people do it, if they live further away from the hospital and don't have a car. I was back to the question of inequality and this time around, I was a lot more connected to it." It inspired her to go back to the lab, to work on a form of chemotherapy that reduces side effects.

A low-cost incubator

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Harvard calling

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The Rhodes scholarship

A highly-rigorous selection process precedes the Rhodes scholarship. For Swathi, it involved eight letters of recommendation and a letter of endorsement from her university, which put her against 125 applicants. Harvard selected 45 and she was among them, going on to become one of the 32 scholars selected from the United States. Every year, 100 students are selected to join the world's academic elite at Oxford Universiy, as the Rhodes Scholars for the year. In her personal essay, she talked about her own life and her roots, and how she saw poverty in India. "I actually woke up one morning and it showed up on my Facebook feed on US News, Yahoo and AP," she said in an interview.

Now at Oxford University, the Global Indian's purpose has not changed, she lives by the same lessons she earned from hermother. "We have gotten to where we are because so many people have lifted us up," she said. "Therefore, it's our job to lift up others."

Follow Swathi, a Rhodes scholar on LinkedIn

The learning code: How Stanford alum Aashna Shroff focuses on incisive education for all

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owing up in Hyderabad, she schooled at Chirec International School. The perfect all-rounder, she had a learning temperament. “I was basketball team captain, choreographed school performances, built rockets, and was just excited to learn,” says Aashna Shroff, in an interview with Global Indian Youth. In high school, her sister, studying at MIT, would send her lectures and material being taught, which Aashna devoured almost ferociously. “I think those videos are what spurred my interest in education,” Aashna says.

Hugely grateful to her parents (in the fashion industry), who moved from Guwahati to Assam before she was born, she says, “They’ve worked immensely hard to give my sister and I a life of privilege and comfort. I’ve had front-row seats to see how hard they worked to send us to better schools so we could pursue our passions.”

Innovation at Stanford

When Aashna studied computer science economics at Stanford University, it brought her face to face with innovation. There, a younger Aashna explored all the computer science courses Stanford had to offer till 2017. “It was at Stanford my identity as a woman in stem became apparent,” she explains. Being a minority in a class with highly accomplished young men was overwhelming. “However, I was fortunate enough to be a part of several classes and clubs where professors and peers advocated for women in technology,” she explains. This enforced her belief about what good learning looks like – “the best learning experiences are those when students are equipped with agency, a sense of purpose and peer communities,” she adds.

During her time there, she worked at the robotics lab when she became curious about a haptic device students were working on. “I got to help in a haptic device research project which was used to help medical students perform ear surgery,” she recalls.

When young girls code

The “stark difference between two learning styles” made Aashna “determined to take action, to give young women in India the chance to be the next technological change-makers.” Thus, as an undergrad, she and a group of Stanford students came back to her high school in Hyderabad and taught a few eighth grade girls how to code. It soon transformed into a huge project. Getting an impetus when Aashna and her team won a $100,000 grant - from external organisations, CSRs and the Haas Center for Public Service. The Girls Code Camp was started in 12 more schools, and hundreds of middle school students were imparted knowledge.

The tinker revolution

In her “hands-on tinkering” camps, Shroff witnessed some low-income students tinker with technology to solve problems. During her masters, Shroff also travelled to Brazil and India on behalf of Stanford to research and build affordable tools that foster technological curiosity while combining it with students’ intellectual passions, culture, and local knowledge about how to build and make things.

“My work during my masters, with my advisor Paulo Blikstein, reiterated how one can design learning experiences and tools to enable students to problem solve, take risks, and influence and inspire others,” she says, adding, that she kept in touch with a student through email, who today, has a master's degree in computer science, and wants to start a Girls Code Camp in her community. “This is exactly what I’d hoped for – for students to be impacted in such a meaningful way, and then pass it on,” Aashna remarks.

Return to India

Armed with new technologies and learning approaches, when she came back to Hyderabad, the pandemic upended life. Not for Aashna though, who during lockdown taught students from a neighbourhood basti who were out of school during the pandemic. She worked with about 30 children from various grades. This was also when she confronted her biggest challenges. “I’m currently working with about 30 classrooms (900 students) in 10 schools that are a mix of government and affordable private schools. Students who are behind never get a meaningful education because of the obsessive focus on passing exams, so teachers have limited time, and motivation,” laments the coding pro who loves walking her dog, and doing CrossFit.

Now focused on fixing the foundational literacy problem in India, school by school, Aashna is spreading hope. “I have created different levels of learning within a single textbook, so students can access the same content but at their own pace,” she explains.

Currently testing her content programme in schools, she plans to build a reading app to help students have fun while reading. “Think of it as your buddy who listens to young readers and offers them help as they read,” says Shroff.

Tech to solve real-world problems

Her ultimate goal is to design educational technology to nurture real-world problem solving and innovation for students of low-income backgrounds -- for the inventors who never stepped into a classroom, creators whose inventiveness is unexploited, and curiosity-seekers who are eager to re-discover and re-invent the world. And she’s already doing an incredible job.

Follow Aashna on LinkedIn 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

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PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardee Shreenabh Agrawal is a man on a mission

(January 31, 2024) Shreenabh Agrawal is a powerhouse of talent. His work, spread across diverse areas, stands testimony to that. Now 20-years-old, Agrawal has authored two books, wrote over 200 scientific articles in various publications, is an innovator who presented his work through seven research papers and a coder who has contributed to multiple projects. And all this is only one part of what he does. His scholarly achievements aside, the youngster has positively impacted many lives with his extraordinary ideas. To top it all, he is the recipient of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2021, the highest civilian honour for children in India. “Physics, Quantum Technology and the latest developments in the world of Robotics and AI interest me the most,” smiles Shreenabh, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_35559" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Shreenabh Agrawal[/caption] Currently pursuing a degree at IISC Bangalore, a course which involves a comprehensive study of the subjects mentioned above, Shreenabh’s diverse interests is what makes him stand out among the rest. “Being presented an award by PM Narendra Modi was a moment of immense honor and pride. It reflected recognition for my contributions, particularly in the field of innovation,” says the 20-year-old. The experience further

verse interests is what makes him stand out among the rest. “Being presented an award by PM Narendra Modi was a moment of immense honor and pride. It reflected recognition for my contributions, particularly in the field of innovation,” says the 20-year-old. The experience further motivated him to pursue excellence in his endeavours and contribute meaningfully to the society.

He was presented the award for his achievements in the field of agriculture, which benefitted thousands of farmers across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Shreenabh’s innovation “Neer Setu farming” helped reduce the consumption of water manifolds leading to an increase in the productivity of crops. Both farmers and scientists lauded the innovation.

Books

His first book, "Thank you Modiji," was published in 2015, followed by "A Young Explorer's Journey of Science" in 2017.

“Currently, I am considering ideas for a third book,” informs Shreenabh, who has written over 200 scientific articles in Twinkle Star Magazine of the Hitavada, Science India Magazine, and Science Reporter. These articles covered a wide range of scientific topics and have been recognized in the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records.

His essays on Global issues have won awards at competitions organized by GOI Peace Foundation, Japan; NASA, Pendle War Poetry Competition, London, UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan, Korean Cultural Centre India, Embassy of the Republic of Korea; PRL-ISRO, Spaceport India Foundation, etc.

As a coder, Shreenabh Agrawal contributed to multiple projects. “I can code in Python, Java, C, Arduino, and Web Dev Languages. I am also proficient in Cloud Computing and Machine Learning. I have developed two open source projects as well,” says the multi-talented youngster, who along with a team of like-minded Math enthusiasts, also organized IGMO 2020, which is the world's second-largest virtual math open.

Lock Bore Hole Protection

One of his inventions is the triple lock bore hole protection lid. He came up with this invention after coming across multiple reports of children losing their lives after falling into open borewells. Since 2009, at least 40 children have lost their lives after rescue operations failed.

“The Triple Lock Bore Hole Protection Lid was designed to prevent accidents and save lives by securing bore holes. The innovation aims to provide a robust solution to an often-overlooked problem, emphasizing safety and protection,” points out Shreenabh, who was moved by the gruesome and slow deaths of children.

As an innovator, he has published and presented his innovative research work (7 research papers) on reputed National and International platforms. He even represented India at the International Science and Engineering Fair, 2020.

Oldy-Goldy club

Among his humanitarian missions is the Oldy-Goldy club, which he came up with when he noticed the plight of elderly citizens who felt ignored and shunned by the society. “I visited 16 libraries and convinced them to allow their facilities to be used for a weekly life skills session. I requested the elderly citizens to make use of their experience and knowledge and conduct weekly sessions for children.”

Awards

He was invited to Tokyo, Japan, by the Goi Peace Foundation for an award in the international essay contest for his project "Oldy Goldy Clubs." Adjudged first among participants from more than 162 countries, it was a significant achievement for him. He traveled to Sweden on being selected for the Elite Scholarship camp organized by IVL Sweden, which he describes as a truly life-changing experience. “These international exposures have enriched my perspectives and contributed to my personal and academic growth,” says Shreenabh, who also won the prestigious Princess Diana Award for humanitarian work.

His other awards and accolades include world rank one in International Youth Maths Challenge, nomination as Youth ambassador for Radio Chico Switzerland among others.

Nagpur boy

Born and brought up in Nagpur in December 2003, Shreenabh astonished his parents, Dr. Moujesh Agrawal and Dr. Tinu Agrawal, with his razor-sharp memory, creativity and unique abilities ever since he was a three year old. He could memorise and recount lengthy and complex scriptural passages and churn out stunning pieces of art.

“My parents serve as constant inspirations with their distinguished careers in shaping the younger generation by way of research, developing new products to simplify learning and mentoring,” says the youngster, who studied from Class 1 to Class 12 in an ICSE board school, Chanda Devi Saraf School and junior college, Nagpur.

While Dr. Moujesh Agrawal is a consultant for ICAD group of Institutes in Nagpur and a profound Mathematician who trains students worldwide for prestigious Maths Olympiads, Dr. Tinu Agrawal is a researcher and director of Prarambh Advanced Training and Research Centre.

Academics

As a student, he displayed his academic proficiency by securing the All India Rank 3 (99.2%) in his ICSE Grade 10 Board Examinations and All India Rank 136 in KVPY SA. In Grade 11 (ISC), he again scored 99% marks and went on to secure World Rank 1 in IYMC 2020.

“My interest in science sparked early on and was nurtured through various experiences,” says Shreenabh, who cleared the KVPY exam in class 11, which led to admission in the UG BS program at IISC Bangalore. He completed two online courses in Physics from IIT Kanpur. “These courses ignited my passion for physics and contributed significantly to my academic journey.”

He also won the title of Himalayan-2016 by acing the Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM), a scientific talent search examination held at IIT Delhi.

“My interests extend beyond academics,” informs the prodigy, who has won a gold medal in the IGEM competition, worked on robotics and AI projects with companies like Open AI and served as the Corporate Relationship Committee head for Pravega, India's largest fest. “I’m inspired by the achievements and values of legendary Indian Scientists, which makes me strive for excellence in my endeavours.”

Daily routine at IISC Bangalore

His daily routine is a balance of rigorous academic commitments, involvement in extracurricular activities like leading the Corporate Relationship Committee for Pravega, and personal pursuits. “The experience at IISC has been transformative, providing a holistic learning environment and shaping my academic and personal growth.”

Future plans

Shreenabh Agrawal says his future plans revolve around research in Physics. “I aim to continue my pursuits in Robotics, Quantum Technology at world's best labs as my summer internship projects in near future. Then, I would go for PhD while exploring opportunities for further academic and professional growth,” he informs.

Diverse interests

Beyond science, Shreenabh has diverse interests. “I enjoy exploring books related to finance, complementing my core subjects,” he says. Music too holds a special place. “I love playing the keyboard and exploring various genres.” Travel is another passion. “ I've had the opportunity to visit Tokyo, Japan, and Sweden for international awards and scholarship programs, both of which were life-changing experiences,” shares the youngster.