Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAnvitha Kollipara: Using solar power to light up the lives of underprivileged kids in rural India

Anvitha Kollipara: Using solar power to light up the lives of underprivileged kids in rural India

Written by: Charu Thakur

(January 17, 2023) India is the third largest producer of electricity in the world, yet energy crisis and power outages are common, especially in rural areas. Kalipeswarapuram in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh is no different. When Connecticut-born Anvitha Kollipara visited her paternal grandparents every vacation from the US, the youngster would often notice the disparity in access to basic amenities. But it was the energy crisis that she found to be a burning issue as she would often see people sweating it out in the heat or perishable food getting wasted in the absence of electricity. “But mostly, it was affecting the underprivileged children who were finding it hard to study at night due to frequent power outages. That’s when I decided to make a change and started Project Soledu,” Hyderabad-based Anvitha tells Global Indian.

Anvitha Kollipara | Global Indian | Changemaker

Anvitha Kollipara is the founder of CareGood Foundation

The 16-year-old dug deep to understand the issue and found a possible solution in renewable sources of energy, and that’s when the idea of using solar lamps struck her. “The startling facts stating that 670 million people will remain without electricity by 2023 made me think on my toes. I realised that I won’t be able to solve the problem for everyone, but I can begin by helping the villages in my vicinity,” adds the girl who recently presented Project Soledu at the United Nations. So far, Project Soledu has impacted more than 700 students through 10 workshops in two schools in Telangana and 1 school in Andhra Pradesh.

On a mission to help others

Born and raised in the US, Anvitha was an active part of the Indian-American community, and was always closer to the Indian culture, thanks to her grandparents, whom she visited every year during vacations. At age 12, she decided to move back to India with her family to spend more time with her grandparents, and “to better understand the Indian culture.”

Anvitha Kollipara at the UN headquarters

The annual visits to her grandparents nudged her towards volunteering as she would often spend time with senior citizens at old age homes in the countryside. So, when she read a newspaper article in early 2020 about how Covid had impacted the senior citizens in Italy, leaving them vulnerable, she realised that old age homes were equally at risk in India. This led to the start of the CareGood Foundation in March 2020 where she helped more than 230 senior citizens by providing them with PPE kits and medicines. The non-profit simultaneously gives them a voice as she believes “every person has a story to tell, especially our seniors who have such valuable lessons to teach the next generation.”

Lighting up the lives of unprivileged children

The same year in October, she began Project Soledu to help underprivileged children live active and dignified life. Understanding the first-hand effects of power outages during her stay at her grandparents, she found the solution in a cost-effective and safe alternative – solar power lamps. She interned with the Energy Swaraj Foundation and learnt about solar power and how to make solar power lamps. Through the project, she addresses the issue of a lack of affordable clean energy and raises awareness on using solar power lamps in rural areas with the help of workshops. “It’s a four-step process that we follow. The first is to provide solar-powered lamps to children through national and small-scale workshops. Second, provide a complete solar-powered system to places like schools. Third, help with the maintenance of the lamps and systems, and fourth, conduct workshops for students and show them how to build solar lamps and create awareness on the importance of solar lamps,” reveals the International School of Hyderabad student.

A student in rural India using solar lamp

When she began, she was just 14 and had to face many challenges along the way, with funding being the major hurdle. She began a crowdfunding campaign with Milaap, and would find donations from family members, but knew it wasn’t sustainable in the long run. “That’s when I switched to raising money through exhibitions, stalls, competitions, and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility),” says the teenager, who works with 50 volunteers who help with the identification of villages and also conduct workshops for children.

Solar Power Kits provided to kids under Project Soledu

Expansion plans

The last two years have been a learning curve for this Class 11 student who is determined to make an impact with her work. After reaching out to schools in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, she is now planning a geographical expansion by taking the project to the states of the northeast. “Energy crisis is worse in those states as people go 2-3 days without energy.” She is working with the Sunbird Trust to install solar panels in the northeastern states and plans to launch it in the next couple of months. “Though I started with places that were accessible to me, my ultimate goal is to make an impact all across India.”

Anvitha Kollipara at 1M1B Activate Impact Summit at the UN headquarters

For the teenager, enrolling in 1M1B’s Future Leaders programme was one of her best decisions as it helped her expand Project Soledu and make impactful collaborations. It allowed her to participate in a 3-day immersion in New York, where she spoke at length about the impact of Project Soledu at the 1M1B Activate Impact Summit at the UN headquarters. Calling it a “surreal experience,” Anvitha says it was a truly special opportunity. “It’s not every day that you meet the people who are best in their field and get a chance to learn from them.”

Anvitha, who is also passionate about Kuchipudi and writing, is keen to make a mark in business and law after she graduates from school. “During past years, I have realised that service work is impactful but it’s only through a change in legislation that long-lasting impact can be made.” The teenager believes that taking a leap of faith is important, even if one is uncertain about the process or the result. “Do what you are passionate about. Go as far as you can. Even if you don’t know the answer, you will figure it out on the way,” she signs off.

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Published on 17, Jan 2023

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Scribbling his way to Broadway: Indian-origin Shreyas Ayaluri has had a fascinating journey into screenwriting

As a child, Shreyas Ayaluri would spend hours scribbling just about anything on pieces of paper. It made no sense to anyone but him. From doodles, shower thoughts, ideas, catch phrases or just to-do-lists – he would be at it for most part of the day. Once, his teacher suggested he carry a miniature note-pad to capture all his haphazard thoughts and be more efficient with his scribbling. He followed the advice religiously. Now, at 27, he continues to scribble, creates magic out of it and is unstoppable. His flair for writing has led this US-based Global Indian to become an acclaimed screenwriter. His work has been featured at some of the best screenwriting festivals in the world while he makes strides in Hollywood with his latest screenplay Elvis Escobar and Juniper Lea which is all set to grace the silver screen in 2021. That is not all: The latest feather in his cap is writing a song for Broadway which has him on cloud nine. [caption id="attachment_10390" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Shreyas Ayaluri with Quentin Tarantino[/caption] An uphill climb "While all this is magical, I would be lying if I told you that the path was all sunshine and rainbows. I cannot fathom that I wrote a song for Broadway," says a beaming Shreyas, speaking exclusively

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[caption id="attachment_10390" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Shreyas Ayaluri with Quentin Tarantino[/caption]

An uphill climb

"While all this is magical, I would be lying if I told you that the path was all sunshine and rainbows. I cannot fathom that I wrote a song for Broadway," says a beaming Shreyas, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. Based out of Los Angeles, the youngster from Hyderabadlikes to call himself a creative addict. His journey from being a scribbler to a screenwriter is as fascinating as it can get. Only, that screenwriting was never on his mind in his early days.

"After pursuing engineering, I gave advertising a shot. I worked as a copywriter for two years, trying to quench my creative thirst. It was my stint at the advertising firm that bridged the gap between science and arts," informs Shreyas, whose life took a 180 degree turn when he saw his first piece of work splashed across a huge billboard while walking home one day. "It moved me. All those feelings, emotions that I didn’t know existed in me, gushed through my body and I just knew it," recalls Shreyas, whose work has been featured and placed at the best screenwriting festivals including the likes of The Austin Film Festival, ScreenCraft, The Script Lab, StoryPros Awards and Film Empire.

[caption id="attachment_10391" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Shreyas Ayaluri with Jeff Goldblum[/caption]

While his stint in the ad agency where he wrote ads for major F&B brands changed his perception of telling tales and selling stories, which he refers to as the first step into the hero's journey, the determined youngster leapt at an opportunity to study screenwriting and film in the US.

It’s all in the family

Growing up in a traditional South Indian family, expectations were set and choices were made for Shreyas, whose father AK Srinivas was in the Indian Air Force. The options before him were straight forward, either join the Armed Forces or pursue engineering. "Luckily, my parents got my enthusiasm and my flair. They pushed me to explore further," informs the award-winning screenwriter, who first studied screenwriting at New York Film Academy and later at University of California.

Shreyas has written four feature length screenplays, two pilots and has multiple shorts to his credit. His very first screenplay Amuse Me fetched him an award for best screenplay and is still going strong at film festivals. The screenwriter says he loves to write custom comedies with a heart, soul and a mind of its own. His latest feature is called Elvis Escobar and Juniper Lea which is a romantic comedy. "The song I am writing for Broadway is still in production," informs Shreyas, who grew up listening to ABBA and watching movies like Top Gun over and over again. Shreyas, who has been in the US since 2018, also worked briefly with General Motors as a quality auditor.

[caption id="attachment_10392" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Shreyas with a friend[/caption]

Rooted in India

But like all successful people, Shreyas' journey came with a lot of ups and downs. "There were times when things got rough, financially, especially during the pandemic, as being an artiste is not a 9-to-5 job and one might work on a project for months without a paycheck. But one has to do what it takes to stay in the game and that’s what I did. Moonlighting and juggling different roles and working for less, it only brought me closer to my dream and made me realize that if you crave art that bad, you just have to be at it like a creative addict," says Shreyas, who did his schooling from Kennedy High and thereafter got admission in Page Academy in Hyderabad.

While at boarding school, Shreyas recalls how he would write letters to his mother Sridevi Ayaluri, telling her how much he disliked being there. "I didn’t hold back; I went on and on about how things could be different if I were back home. But what my mother remembers is how creatively I would tell that story through the letter," says Shreyas, who was the second rounder at the Austin Film festival of both 2019 and 2020 besides receiving several accolades for his work internationally.

So, what advice does Shreyas have for anyone starting off on a journey? "If anyone out there is still contemplating to take that first plunge, I say do it. It’s going to be difficult, scary and most likely you will fall. Pick yourself up, do it again and fall again. Falling may not be fun, but it’s just part of the process. I fall all the time but only I’ve learnt to bounce back quicker,” he says. Shreyas believes that every song has a story to tell and every story is a song, if understood well. "Be it stating facts or dreaming up a fiction, I try to put the right words to go with," he says adding that the one thing that helps ride the tide is his writing.

Reading Time: 8 min

Being CarryMinati – how Ajey Nagar became one of YouTube’s biggest sensations

(March 26, 2024) Some people love him, some hate him, others love to hate him. Whatever category you might be in, Ajey Nagar makes sure you just can't ignore him. Best known by his stage name, Nagar, who will turn 25 this year, is India's most followed YouTube personality in 2024, with a whopping 41.6 million subscribers on his channel, CarryMinati and another 12.1 million on his livestream gaming page, CarryisLive. This month alone, CarryMinati ranked 36 in YouTube Entertainment and 84 worldwide. In 2019, he was named one of the Next Generation Leaders by TIME Magazine, and at the age of 20, was one of the youngest on the list. CarryMinati is slapstick, very loud, and often downright silly, with his over-the-top takes on "cringe-worthy" videos he finds on Facebook and TikTok. Behind the camera, though, Nagar is an astute and savvy creator. Born and raised in Faridabad, Nagar always steps out of the house in a black hoodie, even in peak summertime, to avoid being recognised by his legion of fans. "I can't go to malls or restaurants," he told TIME. [caption id="attachment_36840" align="aligncenter" width="382"] Ajey Nagar, aka CarryMinati[/caption] In 2019, CarryMinati found worldwide fame when he dissed

ign="aligncenter" width="382"] Ajey Nagar, aka CarryMinati[/caption]

In 2019, CarryMinati found worldwide fame when he dissed Swedish YouTuber Felix Kjellberg (PewDiePie), another controversial star of content. At the time, PewDiePie was locked in a subscriber race with T-Series and released a video that mocked an Indian man speaking broken English. CarryMinati came to the rescue on January 1, 2019, with a Hindi rap video called ByePewDiePie, where he says, "one day, India will rule the world." These days, the Global Indian produces videos only in Hindi, targetting a large chunk of India's 462 million YouTube users (India has the world's largest YouTube audience, with the US a far second at 239 million).

The CarryMinati method

Ajay Nagar began making video content when he was eight years old. And the more he did it, the surer he was that it would be his life. When he completed 10th grade, his mother hoped he would prepare to study medicine, "but I knew I couldn't do it," Nagar told the Hindustan Times. "I said, 'Buy me a PC', and chose arts," he added. It was a big move for Nagar, who comes from an established, and highly educated family. His mother is a doctor, his father a lawyer and his grandfather (late Shri Gajraj Bahadur Nagar) was a Cabinet Minister in the Haryana government.

When he started out, he ran many different channels, but around 2016, focussed his attention on one of them, where he felt he had found a niche. Back then, he was just a school kid playing video games and trying to make his friends laugh by mimicking and roasting celebrities - at the time, it was Bobby Deol. Deol went by CarryDeol and would inspire Nagar's own online name, CarryMinati.

However, the process has remained the same, even though his team has grown. The first, and most time-consuming step, Nagar says, is to find the content. And it could take more than three or four days at times. "Then comes the scripting part, it is the most fun part. I lock myself up in my room for two days and focus on the script." Then comes the shooting and editing, which takes another four days. Viewers send him ideas too, his inbox is always full with links to cringe videos. In 2018, after his team "worked day and night, to get him an opportunity," CarryMinati interviewed Tom Cruise and the team of Mission Impossible 6, and that video has received 33 million views to date.

"My expectations were nothing. I only wanted 50k subscribers, a room to play my games in and to make enough money to be able to buy new games and create content," he said. His channel grew beyond his wildest dreams, though, and time and time again, Nagar, who has also matured over the years, has re-evaluated and re-strategised his offerings. He's always the over-the-top goofy kid, though but these days, he does have to be careful of what he says, given his massive reach.

Being Ajey Nagar

In front of the camera, CarryMinati is brash and unapologetic. Behind the scenes, Ajey Nagar struggles with the weight of his fame, and of catering to expectations. "I struggle with that, as I do with getting out of the house. I have the fear that once I am outdoors, I will be judged, or that even if I eat, I will ahve 10 people staring at me." He has also admitted that he struggles to walk up to strangers, even at a party, and make conversation, and is happy when they come up to him. That said, relating to people is a crucial part of what he does, because that's the source of his content. It's also essential to him having some normality in his life. "Honestly, there has been a time when I sat down and started feeling bad about myself thinking, 'Oh, poor me, I've missed out on so many things'. The love of my friends, late night rides on scooties and eating junk food at the nearby 24x7. But take a look at my life, it's not bad at all," he said in an interview.

There's also the struggle of expectations and insecurities. "When I'm working on my videos there are moments when I scrutinize my jokes, especially if I like them because I'm worried about whether the audience will find them funny or not," Nagar says. And it's a valid concern, because with his outspoken ways and his incredible reach, controversy follows him around. Just the other day, he found himself in hot water for his supposed mocking of cricketer Virat Kohli for not having an IPL trophy in his collection. RCB supporters were furious and the YouTuber went on to issue a quick clarification, saying it was merely a promotional skit where he was doing a parody of RCB fans. However, in a profession like this one, learning to deal with criticism comes with the job description. “I take criticism seriously, but only if it has value to it. Otherwise, I just really don’t have the time,” says Carry, adding, “The amount of criticism I receive, I criticise myself 10 times more for the same thing," he told Hindustan Times.

Tips for aspiring creators

Learn by observation, CarryMinati advises. "Don't observe it like an audience, rather do it as if it's your job. Observe the little things, then you will understand how someone does that stuff, then your mind will open up." When you're watching a video, he says, try and think about what went into making it - from the thought process to the methods of shooting. And, he adds, it's very slow going. Nobody is going to make a million subscribers in 100 days. "The main thing," he says, "is to keep doing it." Evolving and changing with the times is also crucial. Change and uncertainty are the only constants, and Nagar is always prepared for eventualities. "Evolve the content, figure out what works and figure new things in life. And be yourself because nobody can be you."

Follow CarryMinati on Instagram and YouTube.

Honoured by White House and Biden, Celebrated by Bush Family: How Shrusti Amula is leading change

With a warm smile, Joe Biden turned to Shrusti and said, “Well, Madam President, thank you.” The crowd chuckled as he continued, “Shrusti, thank you for that wonderful introduction. Just promise me this—when you are president one day, and someone says, ‘Joe Biden is in the waiting room,’ you won’t ask, ‘Joe who?’” His light-hearted comment drew laughter from the audience, and Shrusti, sharing in the humour, responded with a grin, “I won’t.” Owing to her remarkable work with the Rise N Shine Foundation, the 18-year-old was invited to the 2024 White House Diwali celebration as a special guest. Her tireless efforts to combat food waste among the affluent and fight hunger in underserved communities have gained national attention in the U.S., earning her the honour of introducing the President of United States at this year's Diwali event. Biden’s playful yet encouraging words hinted at the immense potential he saw in the young Indian American to achieve even greater heights. The day was a significant milestone in Shrusti’s inspiring journey of service and leadership. Awestruck by the honour The Diwali event at the White House, attended by about 600 guests, left Shrusti awestruck. “This Diwali brought a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Shrusti

ttps://www.globalindian.com/youth/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Joe-Biden.webp" alt="Indians in USA | Shrusti Amula | Global Indian " width="1600" height="900" />

Awestruck by the honour

The Diwali event at the White House, attended by about 600 guests, left Shrusti awestruck. “This Diwali brought a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Shrusti shared with Global Indian. “Being invited to the White House was incredible, but standing next to the President and introducing him was beyond anything I ever imagined.”

She shared the stage with prominent Indian American figures like U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who sent a recorded message from space. “It was just me, Dr. Vivek Murthy, and Sunita Williams representing the Indian community, and I had the honour of inviting President Biden to the stage before he addressed the crowd,” Shrusti said, recounting the unforgettable moment.

But that wasn’t her only brush with national recognition this year. Just a week later in the first week of November, Shrusti found herself attending the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala, where she was honoured for her extraordinary philanthropic work. Meeting members of the former U.S. president George H. W. Bush’s family, including his son Neil Bush and grand-daughter Lauren Bush, was another surreal experience.

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Fighting hunger, combating food waste through Rise N Shine Foundation

“When I founded Rise N Shine foundation in 2019, I had a simple vision – to create a positive change to my community by reducing food waste and empowering young individuals to take action. Over the past six years Rise N Shine Foundation has provided over 350,000 meals, and diverted over 200,000 pounds of food waste from landfills,” she shared amidst applause during the George W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala.

It was a humbling experience for the young Georgetown University student, majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs, to be in a room filled with people who have dedicated their lives to service. These honours didn’t come by chance—Shrusti has spent the last six years leading transformational efforts to make a difference. “It reinforced my belief that no action is too small to make a difference,” she remarked.

[caption id="attachment_40501" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Shrusti at 2024 George W. Bush Points of Light Award function with members of the Bush family and other delegates[/caption]

From vision to action

Shrusti’s journey began in 2018 when she stumbled upon the staggering environmental impact of food waste during a STEM competition, where she presented a project on food waste and its potential solutions. After learning that nearly a third of the U.S. food supply is wasted annually, she realised how this problem exacerbated issues like climate change and food insecurity.

One of her ideas—diverting food waste to composting facilities, became the foundation for her first pilot program. “It all started with a simple idea,” she recalled. “But the more I worked on it, the more I realised how much of a difference one person can make.” The success of that program gave her the confidence to scale her efforts and eventually start the Rise N Shine Foundation in 2019, when she was just 14.

“When I founded Rise N Shine, my vision was simple, to create positive change by reducing food waste and empowering others to take action,” Shrusti said during her Points of Light Award acceptance speech. Over the years, her foundation has delivered on that promise, making a measurable difference in her community and beyond.

[caption id="attachment_40485" align="aligncenter" width="797"] Shrusti with her brother, Vayun Amula, during one of the food donation campaigns[/caption]

Composting and food recovery

Shrusti launched her first composting program at Clarksburg Elementary School. Her team collected leftover food from lunchrooms and converted it into compost, reducing the school’s waste footprint and creating a valuable resource for local farmers. The success of this pilot project led to partnerships with more schools. By June 2024, all 209 schools in Montgomery County adopted her composting initiatives.

"Unused food in our country contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions," the Indian American explained. "Through composting, we’re not just addressing waste but also giving back to the environment."

In addition to composting, Shrusti expanded her efforts to tackle food recovery. Her foundation works with schools, businesses, and local organisations to redistribute surplus food to homeless shelters and food banks.

The COVID-19 pandemic made her efforts even more significant. "With rising food insecurity, it became clear that food recovery wasn’t just about waste reduction—it was about feeding those in need," she says.

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Recognitions that fuel the mission

Shrusti Amula’s dedication to creating meaningful change has earned her an impressive array of national and international accolades. In 2024, her Rise N Shine Foundation was also recognized as an Honour Rows recipient, an initiative by the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, M&T Bank, and the Baltimore Ravens, celebrating her foundation's impact on community service. In 2023, she was selected as part of Hormel Foods’ 10 Under 20 Food Heroes, a program spotlighting young leaders across the U.S. working toward a more sustainable and secure food system.

Reflecting on her experience at Hormel’s global headquarters in Austin, Minnesota, Shrusti shared, “It was incredible to connect with Hormel Foods leaders and learn from their expertise while exploring opportunities to scale the impact of our projects.”

These recognitions join an already impressive list of honours. Shrusti was the youngest recipient of the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Award in 2023, a platform she leveraged to expand the reach of her foundation. She also received the EPA President’s Environmental Youth Award and the Governor’s Youth Service Award the same year, highlighting her leadership in community-driven sustainability.

For Shrusti, these accolades go beyond the spotlight. “Each award is a reminder that small actions can lead to big changes,” she says. “They inspire me to keep pushing for a more sustainable and equitable future.”

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Challenges along the way

Like any grassroots initiative, Shrusti’s journey was not without its challenges. From securing funding to navigating logistical hurdles, she faced significant roadblocks. “One of our biggest struggles was finding sponsors to cover the costs of hauling food waste for an entire school year,” she said.

Despite these obstacles, Shrusti persisted. Her programs now run smoothly and have even influenced policy changes at the county level. Schools participating in her initiatives have earned Green School certifications, further validating her work.

Beyond environmental activism

While her environmental work takes centre stage, Shrusti’s accomplishments extend far beyond the Rise N Shine Foundation. A trained Indian classical dancer and member of the USA National Women’s Cricket Team, she is a well-rounded achiever who balances her passion projects with personal growth. She is also a mentor, debater, and a Girl Scout with bronze and silver awards to her name.

Her diverse interests and achievements make her a role model for young people, proving that it’s possible to excel in multiple areas while making a meaningful impact.

[caption id="attachment_40486" align="aligncenter" width="692"] Shrusti at the mayor and council meeting in 2022[/caption]

A light that shines bright

Shrusti Amula’s journey youth-led change and a matter of pride for the Indian diaspora. From standing on a stage at the White House to meeting the Bush family at an awards gala, her story exemplifies how dedication and innovation can transform lives.

Her vision for the future is ambitious. She aims to expand the Rise N Shine Foundation globally, partnering with international organisations to tackle food waste and hunger on a larger scale.

As she continues to advocate for sustainability and social equity, Shrusti’s message is clear: "No matter your age or background, you have the power to make a difference. All it takes is the courage to start."

Follow Shrusti Amula on LinkedIn and her website
Follow Rise N Shine Foundation's work on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

Samyak and Sowmay Jain: Disrupting decentralised finance through InstadApp

(September 23, 2023) Samyak and Sowmay are still on the right side of 20, but are at the helm of the fifth largest company in the decentralised finance space globally. As it is with every great success, this story begins with a big idea, and a big risk. Much to the alarm of their parents in Kota, Rajasthan, the young baadshahs of blockchain dropped out of college - Samyak was doing engineering and his older brother, Sowmay, was on his way to being a Chartered Accountant - to follow their interest in cryptocurrency and found Instadapp, which has already become a major disruptor in the global DeFi space.Their parents wished they would find 'real jobs' but the brothers weren't just goofing around - they had found their purpose and wanted to give it everything they had. In their case, the risk paid off. As of 2022, the company had raised two rounds of funding, and got the attention of top investors like Naval Ravikanth and Pantera Capital in the first round, raising $12.4 million. "The funding gave us a lot of boost, especially in convincing our parents who used to insist on us getting a real job," Sowmay, who is

g a real job," Sowmay, who is now 25 (his brother is 23) told Forbes, shortly after the brothers made it to the magazine's coveted Gamechangers list in 2022. The company has assets worth $10.6 billion circulating in smart contracts, says Forbes.

[caption id="attachment_33242" align="aligncenter" width="569"] Sowmay and Samyak Jain. Photo: Forbes[/caption]

How it began

The first turning point for the dynamic Global Indians came in August 2018. They participated - and won - the ETHIndia hackathon in Bengaluru, one of India's biggest Ethereum events. Ethereum is a decentralised, open-source blockhain system where people can write smart contracts (programs that follow rules automatically without the need for a middleman).

United by their interest in blockchain and decentralised finance, it was at this hackathon that Samyak and Sowmay Jain first created the Instadapp platform. "It started as a passion for us but we pursued it and came out on top in the hackathon," Sowmay said an in interview. "We kept on expanding Instadapp, adding new features and addressing additional difficulties in decentralised financing."

In September 2019, they went in for their first round of funding and came out shining, with big ticket names flocking to be part of Instadapp.

Defining DeFi

This story begins with Decentralised Finance, or DeFi, as it is known in tech circles. It's a gamechanger in the financial landscape, using blockchain technology to reimaine and rebuild traditional financial instruments like loans, insurance and trading. The main platform for facilitating this is the Ethereum blockchain.

Conventional finance operations work through banks, brokerages and exchanges, all of which act as middlemen to facilitate transactions, grant loans and manage assets. These are the gatekeepers and each have their own terms and conditions and methods for verifying transactions. DeFi on the other hand, has an open approach. A team of developers create a generic smart contract which will autonomously execute, allowing users to interact directly with each other and to input specific terms, like the amount to lend, the interest rate and duration, inc ase of a loan.

How does InstadApp work?

Obviously, it's a complex world. That's where InstadApp comes in - it provides a user-friendly interface to simplify interaction with these otherwise complicated DeFi protocols. So instead of users having to directly interact with the complex world of smart contracts and decentralised platforms, InstadApp works as a bridge, and makes it easier for users to tweak and use these smart contracts.

Instadapp is like an app store, but for all things crypto. It acts as a bridge between the traditional cash economy and the newer blockchain-based decentralised currencies. Basically, it helps convert transactions done with regular money into cryptocurrency, based on how individuals interact within the online space.

The concept is in big demand, indicated by the fact that InstadApp manages over $10 billion in assets. Instadapp stands out in this space by offering itself as a platform for developers to craft and refine trading tools and protocols. Developers can create interfaces on InstadApp that are tailored to the evolving needs of the market.

"Instadapp's revenue strategy will be to deduct fees on financial volumes and lending / borrowing going through the platform," Sowmay explains. That's in the future, though. Right now, it's all free. "We intend to establish our tokens / DAO and determine the fees." A DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) is a digital organization that operates based on pre-set rules encoded as computer programs, known as smart contracts, without centralized control. Operating on blockchain technology, it allows multiple participants to make decisions collaboratively. Tokens, in this context, are digital assets or units of value issued by projects or organizations on the blockchain. They can represent various utilities within a specific ecosystem, such as granting access to services, providing voting rights in a DAO, or acting as a medium of exchange.

Why it's a gamechanger

InstadApp is not the first payment gateway of its sort. However, as Samyak explains, "We cover the whole DeFi space - borrowing and lending, investments. There are lots of opportunities for frontend developers to build different apps. It can evolve further in the future and maybe replace bank accounts," he smiles.

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‘Dhing Express’ Hima Das: The sprinter who is compared with a super-fast train

(October 5, 2022) Sprinter Hima Das created history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal at a track event at the  IAAF World U20 Championships in 2018 in Finland. Owing to her fantastic sports performances back-to-back, the Assam-born athlete was appointed as the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) under Assam’s state integrated sport policy in 2021. Proud to wear this uniform and fortunate enough to serve my state and my country on two fields. Hima posted on social media, donning her police uniform with pride. The Bannerghatta Biological Park named a tigress cub 'Hima' to honour the sprinter. The youngster also holds the national record for clocking 400 meters in 50.79 seconds at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. She is only the second athlete to have done her state proud by bringing home a gold at an international sporting event, after 1940-born Bhogeswar Baruah, who had won gold at the 1966 Asian Games. “I don't show tension and nervousness but I know how fast my heart beats before a race,” Hima had admitted in an interview with Olympics.com. [caption id="attachment_22672" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Hima Das with Sachin Tendulkar[/caption] Journey of the Dhing Express Born in 2000, Hima is nicknamed Dhing Express, after

aruah, who had won gold at the 1966 Asian Games.

“I don't show tension and nervousness but I know how fast my heart beats before a race,” Hima had admitted in an interview with Olympics.com.

[caption id="attachment_22672" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Hima Das with Sachin Tendulkar[/caption]

Journey of the Dhing Express

Born in 2000, Hima is nicknamed Dhing Express, after the town near which she was born in Assam. As a child, she aspired to become a football player and loved playing the sport with the boys of her school in the village. However, the physical education teacher of the school identified her talent as a sprinter and motivated her to take it further. Although Hima’s only experience was of running through her village’s muddy rice fields, she followed his advice and as they say, the rest is history!

Born in Kandhulimari village near Dhing, to a farmer couple named Ronjit and Jonali Das, Hima is the youngest of five siblings. She attended Dhing Public High School and later, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. After passing her senior secondary exam in 2019, Hima went on to pursue bachelor of arts in Cotton University, Assam.

[caption id="attachment_22670" align="aligncenter" width="751"] Sprinter on track[/caption]

Eventful achievements in the 18th year of life

2018 was an eventful year for the Global Indian. She won the 400 m final at the IAAF World U-20 Championships held at Tampere, Finland, clocking 51.46 seconds.

Indian track-and-field legend and former Olympian, PT Usha, gave the young athlete a rave review on social media:

Hima was inundated with congratulations from well-wishers across the country, including the president, Prime Minister, sport ministers and Bollywood personalities.

At the 2018 Asian Games, she qualified for the 400 m final, after clocking 51.00 in heat 1. She set a new Indian national record, even though it was the silver that came her way. The same year, the sprinter went on to improve the national record to 50.79 seconds in the 400 m final. 

[caption id="attachment_22696" align="alignnone" width="883"] Hima Das with Sourav Ganguly and Abhishek Bachchan[/caption]

Later, in August 2018, along with M. R. Poovamma, Sarita Gayakwad and V. K. Vismaya, the Dhing Express won women's 4 × 400 metres mix relay clocking 3:28.72 which was held for the first time at the Asian Games. This was the year of Hima’s international debut and not many sport lovers were aware of her. They soon learned, when multiple medals, with some historic ones, made her a household name. Hima was given the Arjuna Award by the President of India that year.

Roaring success with five golds in second year of her debut

Hima continued her superb performances the following year too. In July 2019, she won the 200m gold in Poznan Grand Prix in Poland at 23.65 seconds. She went on to win 200m gold at the Kutno Athletics Meet in Poland with a time of 23.97 seconds just after five days of the first win. Within a week of her second win, she bagged her third gold at the Kladno Athletics meet in Czech Republic, clocking 23.43 seconds. That same month, she added a fourth to her kitty, this time at the Tabor Athletics Meet in Czech Republic with 23.25 seconds. A fifth gold followed at the 400-metre event in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic with 52.09 seconds. In an astonishing 18-day period, between July 2 and July 20 2019, Hima won five golds and became a queen in the hearts of India's athletics fans.

So enormous was her success that the entire world took notice of the sprinting glory. “At this age, she has exhibited great courage and confidence. I didn’t see any sign of nervousness during the events,” remarked the ace sprinter, PT Usha on social media.

The athlete was being slotted for the World Championships to be held at Doha in October 2019 but unfortunately her participation had to be ruled out due to a back injury which kept her out of action for months.

Confidence and hope unaffected by injury

Though she has returned from the injury lay-off, she is returning one step at a time. She has been running 100m and 200m. “I have not cut (off) from running 400 meters. It (recuperating after injury) is a long process,” she said in an interview.

The right side of her back still gives quite a trouble. She has won 100m gold in the National Inter-State Championships with her personal best time of 10.43s.” "My L4 and L5 (two lowest vertebrae in the lumbar spine) were broken and was in a different position. Whenever I run it affects me. I did my physiotherapy and ran 30m, 40m, 50m, 100m and then 200m gradually. Till 300m, I am fine,” she told her eager fans.

The challenge...

The last 100 m of a 400-meter race is the most crucial as the sprinters have to pick a lot of speed, then. This is where Hima has been facing problems. Talking about the condition at a training stint in Poland, she said, “when I did that once I had to be taken to the hospital.” The committed athlete faced the same problem at National Inter-State Championships in Patiala in 2021 and got forced to pull out of the 100 m and 4 X 100 due to the pain. She even had to skip the Tokyo Olympics.

The sprinter was eagerly looking forward to come back with a bang at Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 but coming to the previous form required some more recuperation. She failed to qualify for the finals of the women's 200m in August 2022.

National Games 2022

The 36th National Games of India is being held in Gujarat from September 29 to October 12, 2022. India’s prestigious multi-event sporting competition has returned after a gap of seven years in Gujarat. It was last held in 2015 in Kerala. The nation wanted the ‘Dhing Express’ to come roaring back to action. However, she could not clinch the gold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=970H49AxWfo

She hasn’t lost hope and is looking forward to future events. Hima, is among an elite team of sports stars who have put India on the world map for athletics. She enjoys such a reputation that she will always be India’s ‘star sprinter’.

- Follow Hima Das on Facebook and Instagram

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