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rmined to fight for their kids instead. In some cases, these struggles even resulted in a miracle cure. That was how the idea for the Yash Gandhi Foundation first came about. "With the clock against us, we knew that any work we did was unlikely to benefit Yash, but to us, it didn't matter," Ash and Sonal Gandhi write, on the Yash Gandhi Foundation website. "What was most important was that we could make a difference and prevent another family from going through what we were at the time."  

[caption id="attachment_25140" align="aligncenter" width="1620"] The founders of the Yash Gandhi Foundation, Kavi Gandhi with his family. Photo: Twitter[/caption]

Handing over the reins

Today, the Foundation is run by their second son, Kavi Gandhi, now a student at Davidson College. In three years, they raised $460,000 to aid I-Cell research, to prevent the disease that claimed his brother's life from taking another. I-cell disease is caused by a genetic mutation and is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder "characterised by coarse facial features, skeletal abnormalities and mental retardation," according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders. Children with I-cell disease show delayed development of gross and fine motor skills, hearing loss, lack of muscle tone and growth delays.  

The Gandhis ran their foundation, the only one in the world for I-Cell, for 15 years. In 2013, they even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for their cause. Three years later, however, they believed the time had come to close the foundation. Their 13-year-old son, Kavi, was not happy to hear the news. After giving it a few days of thought, he announced to his parents that he was going to revive the foundation and run it himself, in memory of his brother. 

Growing up with Yash

Only two years younger than Yash Gandhi, the family's trauma impacted Kavi too. He recalls a slew of hospital trips, and watching his brother hooked up to oxygen tanks and walkers. "We were really close like a lot of siblings are at that age," Kavi said. "A lot of my memories are from playing with him and spending time together. Those six years, I've definitely cherished and still retained a lot of those memories."  

When Yash passed away in 2009, the family created the Yash Gandhi Foundation. "Losing my sibling was probably one of the most formative experiences for me... the foundation is a way to transform the grief I felt with my brother into really honouring his memory and preserving that," Kavi remarked.   

[caption id="attachment_25141" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Kavi Gandhi was named the 2018 Global Genes RARE Champion of Hope for Teen Advocacy[/caption]

At the frontier of I-Cell disease research

Since he took over the foundation in 2006, Kavi has worked to connect with other families who have been impacted by I-Cell and has raised nearly half a million dollars towards ML II research. In 2020, Kavi interned at the Greenwood Genetic Center to study the disease in human and zebrafish cells. The young Global Indian is a 2021 John M Belk Scholar at Davidson College, where he is doing his undergraduate degree in Public Health, with a Minor in Hispanic studies. He's also a member of the university's jazz ensemble.   

In 2018, Global Genes named Gandhi the 2018 Global Genes RARE Champion of Hope for Teen Advocacy. Every year since 2012, the Yash Gandhi Foundation has issued research grants - in 2020, a smiling Kavi, standing with his parents, announced a $130,000 grant, their largest to date, to Dr Richard Street at the Greenwood Genetic Centre and Dr Stuart Kornfield of Washington University. 

rned honours like the FETNA Women Achievement Award 2022, Visionary Celebrity Award for Young Talent 2018, Queen of Madras 2017, Miss Worldwide India 2017, Miss Tamil Nadu 2016, and Miss Teen India USA 1RU 2016.

With an interest in both Indian and Western classical vocals, pop, rock, jazz, and R&B, Akila has performed in award shows, fashion shows, corporate events, beauty pageants, and concerts throughout South India.

A Bharatnatyam dancer with training for 13 years under the tutelage of guru Sridevi Tirumalai, Akila has also done photoshoots in both the US and India for brands like Pothys, VBJ Jewellers, Lemuria, amongst others before becoming a full-time civil paralegal and a part-time paralegal at the US Armed Forces. Her choices of occupation seem quite unusual and at the same time make her career graph look unique.

From acting, singing, and pageantry to law

Growing up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Akila’s childhood was immersed in the arts and academia.

After high school, she moved to India for a few years to pursue her dreams of singing, modelling, and acting in the entertainment industry. She completed her BA in music specializing in Western classical and musical theatre voice at the KM Music Conservatory run by AR Rahman. The institution is affiliated with the Middlesex University in the UK. She has also earned a certification from Berklee College of Music.

Talking about what nudged her to the field of law after all that she says, “I had started teaching music at a school during my time in India. Teaching made me realise the deep divide in education systems between the rich and poor and created a desire in me to become an international public interest attorney to help bridge the gap.”

[caption id="attachment_35243" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Akila Narayanan[/caption]

The youngster is currently pursuing her master's in international educational development from Columbia University at present and plans to enrol in a law school after her master's is over in May 2024.

She has done a paralegal certification from Boston University which has enabled her to work as a paralegal professional.

Beyond the glitz and glamour

The actor-turned-soldier recently went through six months of rigorous training for the U.S. Army after being selected as a part-time paralegal specialist there. “I was pushed to the edge physically and mentally. I learned combat skills, rifle marksmanship, land navigation, how to survive in the field, how to throw grenades, and more,” she mentions.

She provides paralegal support to unit commanders and the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate in a wide range of legal matters which include criminal, international, civil, contract, and fiscal law.

Talking about the selection process in the US Army she mentions, “It is difficult. There is this test called the ASVAB that you need to get a certain score on to be selected for the paralegal specialist job. There are also physical fitness requirements that you must pass during training to graduate and become a soldier.”

Her fitness test involved deadlifting at least 120 pounds, running two miles within 22 minutes, doing push-ups, doing a plank, a power throw, and an event called sprint-drag-carry. Along with the fitness test soldiers must complete ruck marches.

“Ruck march means walking 5-12 miles with 35-50 pounds on your back. We also had to qualify for the M4 rifle. There are 40 targets and to qualify, soldiers must hit at least 23 of them,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_35244" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Akila Narayanan[/caption]

The six months of training tested her limits and reshaped her perspective. “I did things I never thought I could do,” she says.

The love for law

The paralegal certification, the opportunity with the US armed forces, and her civil job have already laid a sound foundation for a full-fledged career in law for Akila.

“As a paralegal specialist in the Army, I gained extensive experience in legal research, drafting legal documents, and assisting with investigations and trials. I have been responsible for managing case files, preparing witnesses for testimony, and assisting attorneys with trial preparation,” she shared adding, “I have developed a strong sense of professionalism, teamwork, and leadership.”

Her responsibilities as a real estate paralegal span a wide spectrum, from managing high-volume transactions and ordering title searches to writing title commitments, preparing contracts, and closing documents, and coordinating closings with clients and lenders. She has assisted attorneys in all aspects of real estate transactions.

Purposeful ventures

Akila is in the US Army Reserve. Being part of the army reserve means she can be deployed to any country at any time within her eight-year contract. “I always have to be ready to be deployed anywhere to serve my country,” she says.

After her Army training, she came back home and went back to her civilian job as a real estate paralegal as being in the reserve is like a part-time job. “I have ‘drill’ weekends once every month and annual training two weeks every year. During drill weekends I do my paralegal specialist job and other army-related training such as going to the shooting range, doing field exercises, practicing first aid on casualties, and more,” she shares.

Musician at heart

Akila has always maintained her deep connection to music and has even managed an online music school, the Nightingale School of Music. She had begun singing at the age of four, after being introduced to Carnatic music. Whenever there were choirs and musicals in her school, she always was a part of those.

[caption id="attachment_35245" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Akila Narayanan[/caption]

She loves educating children about the world of music. “No external achievement of mine can hold a flame to the joy that I get looking at children with constant smiles and enthusiasm for music,” she remarks.

Films are not ruled out

Although she plans to focus on law, she has not ruled out the idea of acting in Tamil films again. “I just want to focus on my studies right now, but my love for acting still calls to me,” she says.

Quite by chance, Akila had got a role in the Tamil horror movie ‘Kadampari’. “It happened by chance. I was participating in a lot of pageants in India when I moved there which made my social media presence higher. The director of the film found me through social media,” she says. “I had never really acted before but I’ve always loved watching horror movies so acting a possessed character, kind of came naturally.”

Being a master at time management

The multifaceted youngster is a master of time management and sometimes ‘compromises on doing fun things’ that most people in their 20s get to do like going out on weekends or traveling.

“I have always done so many things at the same time. In undergrad, I was doing my BA in music and teaching music at the International Village School while working in the Indian entertainment industry as a singer, model, and actress. Now during graduate school, I am doing my MA in International educational policy while working my 9-5 civilian job and my weekend army job.,” she says adding, “I think it’s all about time management.”

Her job keeps her occupied from nine in the morning to five in the evening. After that, she attends her classes until 9 pm. “So, by the time I get home, it is too late to do assignments, homework, and readings. Hence my weekends are filled with doing assignments,” she shares.

Finding support in the family

Akila’s family is her biggest support. “My parents gave me the best gift they could give their child: the freedom to follow their dreams. My parents have always gone above and beyond to help me with my career and I am doing everything I can to make them proud,” says the youngster who was born in Coimbatore and moved to the US when she was two.

[caption id="attachment_35247" align="aligncenter" width="423"] Akila Narayanan with her sister[/caption]

She considers her younger sister who is a pre-med student to be her best friend. “We love shopping for clothes, doing funny dances, and going to bookstores together,” she mentions.

Future plan – to be of use to others

Akila holds a deep inclination towards serving her community. She also nurtures the desire to start an NGO that advocates for and provides quality education to marginalised students in India. “Having a law degree will help me run this NGO,” she believes.

“I find great joy and pride in serving the nation and being a role model to young Indian American girls who aspire to join the military,” she signs off.

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