Apsara Iyer: The first Indian-origin female president of Harvard Law Review

the US. There was a lot I didn't know," the Global Indian said.

[caption id="attachment_38042" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Shruthi Kumar was one of three students from the class of 2024 who had won the opportunity to deliver an address at the Harvard Commencement Ceremony[/caption]

A star is born

However, there was a lot she did know - growing up, Shruthi was a versatile star student, making the most of the holistic and dynamic education system in the US. Apart from excelling academically, Shruthi plays the violin, has her own non profit and is a prize winning orator. "I just like learning new things about the world," Shruthi said. "You're constantly learning." She was also one of the US' top teen 'yoga athletes'.

Always politically driven and inclined to public speaking, Shruthi Kumar was a finalist in the 2019 NSDA Original Oratory competition, and in that year, named the 2019-2020 Voice of Democracy winner. She's also an experienced yogini, and was the first Indian-American to represent Team USA at the World Championship of Yoga Sports, and is the founder of yo-yogi.org, a non-profit dedicated to making student health and well-being a priority in schools worldwide. As if that isn't enough, she has also won prizes for her neuroscience research and became a published author in 2017, when her poetry was appeared in that year's edition of Creative Communication Celebration of Poets.

Shruthi began doing yoga as a child - "I just like how you have control over yourself. Yoga allows you to have control over your own body." In the early days, her practice was meditative, but by the time she hit her teens, she was on the lookout for a new challenge. She began doing yoga competitively, and by the time she turned 16, she she was ranked in the top three in the US. In 2017, she went on to represent Team USA at the World Championship in China. "I was kind of shocked," she said later. "Going in to this I didn't expect to get any high rankings as I did."

Mindfulness for mental health

However, not everything was rosy and being in high school is a challenging time, especially for immigrant kids in the US, where the pressure to overperform is very high and constant. So when her cousin was diagnosed with depression at the age of 13, Shruthi felt compelled to do something about it. While conversations around mental health are common enough in the US, the treatment options, which include therapy or medication are simply out of reach for most middle class homes, and certainly not for low-income, marginalised communities. However, mental health is a pressing problem, with research showing that 49 percent of students in the Washington DC area report feeling "a great deal of stress on a daily basis." Around 26% of the respondents had been diagnosed with depression.

In fact, life was hectic for Shruthi herself. "I had to go to bed at 4 am just to finish homework," she recalled. Realising this helped spark the idea for yo-yogi. That year, before she began her sophomore year, she took a spiritual trip to India,. and spent two weeks in the mountains. Her aim was to explore yoga, which, in the west, is often seen as just another physical activity. It gave her confidence and Shruthi learned thorugh experience that five minutes of focussed meditation have the power to change your day.

Since post facto care often requires medical intervention and is also expensive, Shruthi decided to take a preventive approach for which she leaned into her years of experience practicing yoga and meditation. Her focus was on young minds, as their brains are still developing and more open to absorbing new things. She began teaching techniques like mindfulness and meditation, to help students cope with the stress of life in a more holistic fashion. According to research by Harvard Medical School, yoga practice in schools leads to increased productivity, focus and concentration, improves self regulation, reduces anxiety and stress and leads to better academic performance overall.

Go-Yogi

Her organisation, Go Yogi, uses technology to integrate custom stress management techniques, breathing exercises and mindfulness practices directly into school curriculums. The go-yogi app has over 2000 student users, is part of the curriculum in several states and also has over 40 multilingual lessons in mindfulness. They also focus on the mental wellbeing of teachers.

Even in high school, Shruthi was seen as a generous person, who cared for the welfare of other people. She volunteered weekly at the local hospital, and taught yoga to kindergarten students. "Volunteering is important to me because sometimes I take my life for granted, and it's a good reminder every week to go and help someone who really needs it," she said.

Outside of school, she was an active member of the NSAA Student Advisory Committee, a student-run group that helps young people get involved in extracurriculars. At the time, she was interested in law and medicine and eventually hoped to study medicine at Harvard.

[caption id="attachment_38044" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Shruthi Kumar entered Harvard University as a pre-med student before switching tracks to public health.[/caption]

Life at Harvard

As Shruthi Kumar described in her speech, life at Harvard University was very much marked by embracing uncertainty, and the "power of not knowing. "The words 'I don't know' used to make me feel powerless," she admitted in her speech. "Like there was no answer, and therefore, no way. As if I was admitting defeat." That would change on campus.

Shruthi arrived at Harvard as a pre-med student, and boldly decided to follow her passion and switch her major to the humanities. "I didn't know a field called the 'History of Science' even existed. I now find myself a graduate of the Department," she said. "In my freshman year of college, for the first time in my life, I was taught by a professor of colour. A Historian of Science who made clear to me that history is just as much about the stories we don’t know as the stories we do."

The Menstruation Equity Project

She continued her activism too. In 2021, during her sophomore year, she realised she had her period. However, when she checked the women's restroom at the Science Center, she found the dispenser was empty. It made her think. "Why is this installed here, if it's not going to be restocked - if it's not supporting me. And what do I do now?" Her options were to walk across campus to a pharmacy, or back to her dorm and either way meant being late for class. She wondered how many women had to interrupt their education for the same reason.

"It led me to think about ideas of infrastructural equity and what it means for women to be in educational spaces," Shruthi said. And when she did her research, she found that over one-third of women have missed events or activities due to a lack of access to menstrual products. As the founder of the Menstrual Equity Project, she led efforts to make Harvard 100% period secure by ensuring free and accessible menstrual products across campus. This project involved extensive collaboration with university administration and custodial teams, resulting in the installation of menstrual product dispensers in over 817 bathrooms across campus​.

Kumar was also a vocal advocate for affirmative action, organizing protests and speaking out against efforts to end race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard. She highlighted the importance of diversity and the potential negative impacts on campus culture and student life if affirmative action were dismantled​.

[caption id="attachment_38045" align="aligncenter" width="561"] Shruthi Kumar founded the Menstrual Equity Project at Harvard University[/caption]

Kumar's diverse contributions, from menstrual equity to racial diversity advocacy, free speech and mental wellbeing, underscore her commitment to social justice and equity. From her beginnings in Nebraska to her impactful years at Harvard, her experiences blend cultural richness with a drive for social change. Advocating for marginalized communities, she stands as a powerful voice for inclusivity and empowerment, leaving a lasting impact on those around her.

Follow Shruthi Kumar on LinkedIn

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[caption id="attachment_26068" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Kamal Singh is English National Ballet School graduate.[/caption]

He had never heard of ballet until he watched a Bollywood film on his small television at his home in Vikaspuri on a balmy afternoon in 2016. A sweet twist of fate put him in the company of the Imperial Fernando Ballet School that changed the trajectory of his life and made him take those steps toward his dream. Then a 17-year-old, whose father is an e-rickshaw driver in Delhi, he was bewitched by the ballet dancers and wanted to try it for himself. Five years later, he became the first Indian to be selected to study at the English National Ballet School in the UK. "Coming from a humble background, where I couldn’t afford fees for ballet school to now performing in the UK, I am living my dream. Taking a leap of faith, knowing that I can back it up with hard work is what changed the game for me,” Kamal told Global Indian

Rhea Bakshi - Documentary filmmaker

This September Delhi-based teen Rhea Bakshi was in for a surprise when her 20-minute documentary India’s Treasures on Indian artisans won big at the New York International Film Awards, in the best student film category, making it the only Indian film to be awarded the finalist laurel. The documentary, that delves into the captivating journey of India’s age-old traditional art forms, showcases the passion and struggles of artisans who are preserving India’s heritage. "The recognition validated the work that I had put in, and, also stood for the fact that age doesn't limit a person’s ability to make a meaningful impact," she told Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_33212" align="aligncenter" width="678"] Rhea Bakshi with artisans[/caption]

With the documentary getting a nod at an international film festival, Rhea calls it a “great opportunity for the artisans who have now taken the centrestage due to the popularity of the documentary. Through the documentary, I am trying to provide a platform for the voices of marginalised India and the people who are the real heroes of the time-honoured traditions and expertise," she added.

Aria - K-Pop singer

The Hallyu Wave, a cultural phenomenon from South Korea, has taken over the world with catchy music, impressive dances, and engaging stories. This wave, led by the global sensation of K-Pop, has captivated India, and one shining star in this K-Pop craze is Gauthami, also known as Aria. Coming from Kerala, Aria is the second Indian to join a K-Pop group, following in the footsteps of the trailblazer Sriya Lenka. Her story is about daring to dream big and making those dreams come true. Like many Indian fans, Aria passionately followed K-Pop, dreaming of being part of this dazzling world. In April, Aria made a remarkable debut with the girl group X:in, releasing their first album, Keeping the Fire.

Getting attention for her nationality, she said, “I thought people from India would be giving me all the attention but it turned out that people from all over the world are showering with me love and support. I was surprised but at the same time feel grateful." In her aspirations for the future, the 20-year-old K-Pop sensation envisions her girl band, X:in, entering the Billboard Charts, while also expressing her openness to exploring acting opportunities in both K-dramas and Bollywood as an individual artist.

Vihaan Talya Vikas - Photographer

Ten-year-old Vihaan Talya Vikas, armed with his Canon EOS 7D, ventured to the Bengaluru airport in pursuit of the perfect shot. Intrigued by an ancient tamarind grove, he soon found himself captivated by a spider on a wall next to an idol of Lord Krishna. For Vihaan, it wasn't just a normal sight; it was a moment where the spider seemed enchanted by Krishna's flute. Capturing this unique scene earned him the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 award in the under-10 category. Expressing his joy, Vihaan shared that photography allows him to think creatively and connect with nature.

Organised by The Natural History Museum in London, the competition, often called the "Oscars of Photography," attracted entries from 95 countries worldwide. Out of 50,000 submissions, Vihaan's photograph, titled "The Wall of Wonder," stood out among the top 100. The image, featuring a spider and an idol, conveys a powerful message of coexistence. Dhritiman Mukherjee, a judge and Wildlife and Conservation Photographer, praised the thought process and composition of the image, emphasizing its significance in conveying art, concept, conservation, and science. The winning photograph will join the WPY59 collection and be showcased in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the Natural History Museum, traveling to 25 locations across four continents to raise awareness about wildlife conservation through impactful imagery.

Siddharth Salgaonkar - Filmmaker

Siddharth Salgaonkar, a budding filmmaker from Belagavi, Karnataka, gained international recognition with his short film Monster, a guerilla-style project entirely managed by him in his house. The one-minute film, featuring his mother as the sole actor and his father as a crew member, earned a spot at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, showcasing Belagavi on the global cinematic stage.

Salgaonkar, who started making films while studying at the Srishti School of Art in Bengaluru, expresses his passion for both fiction and non-fiction. His earlier works, such as Call and Delete, explore poignant themes like the relationship between a mother and son and the peculiar attachment of a young man to an eraser, demonstrating his knack for capturing tension within mundane scenarios. Salgaonkar's films often leave audiences intrigued, showcasing his unique storytelling approach focused on everyday life experiences.