Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveDarsh Abhinay: The Hyderabad lad breaking records in English county cricket

Darsh Abhinay: The Hyderabad lad breaking records in English county cricket

Written by: Vikram Sharma

When he was in grade four, Darsh Abhinay did something extraordinary. He opened the batting for his team against a well trained and experienced team in a U-18 Inter-school cricket tournament. Nine years old at the time, he hit 56 (not out) of 52 balls, stunning all those who watched him in action. His coach was so delighted with his performance that he lifted Darsh onto his shoulders and carried him out from the pitch as a mark of celebration. The kid went on to win the emerging player of the tournament award and his cricketing journey was off to a flying start. “Watching India lift the 2011 World Cup as a 6-year-old kid was the moment I decided I wanted to be there one day,” smiles cricketer Darsh Abhinay, speaking to Global Indian. Now, he plays English county cricket where he continues to pull off record-breaking feats.

A triumphant season

The 17-year-old, who has been practising professional cricket for last 12 years, stunned fellow cricketers and the audience alike when he went on to get 25 wickets, hit 302 runs (including three fifties with a highest score of 95) and took 11 catches in a successful season for Headstone Manor Cricket Club in the Middlesex County League in London last year. Darsh, a leg spinner and a right hand middle order batsmen was inducted into the Middlesex County Cricket League Hall of Fame, was pronounced as the ‘Player of the Week’ and awarded the “Best Bowling Performance of the Season” for his record breaking feat.

“As the ball was placed in my hand, my heart was pounding with anticipation. The Headstone Manor Cricket Club was about to experience something they hadn’t witnessed in their 44-year-long history,” says Darsh, of that clear sunny afternoon in London when he arrived on the pitch and eventually took 10 wickets.

Darsh Abhinay

The budding cricketer broke the unique record of being the only fourth player next to Jim Laker, Anil Kumble and Ajaz Patel for taking 10 wickets in an innings in a test match.

How it began

It was a call from Darsh’s aunt in the UK informing him about a position opened for an overseas player that led him to London. “I found myself on the pitch merely 48 hours after I landed in London, the weight of exhaustion and jet lag tugging at my limbs. But there was an electrifying feeling coursing through my veins as I wanted to write history in my first match,” he declares.

What was as yet unknown to a 17-year-old boy from the south of India, the Middlesex County Cricket League presented its own unique challenges. With each delivery, he adapted to the conditions and started to weave his spell by learning on the spot and struck fear into his seasoned opponents.

Early training grounds

Born in Hyderabad in February 2005, Darsh’s father worked as the CAO at St Mary’s College and his mother is a HR Director at Invesco. Darsh started playing cricket when he was in third grade. “I used to come to school 45 minutes late as I had practice in the mornings. Due to this all my teachers and peers knew I was a cricketer.” Sancta Maria International School, where he was a student, was always supportive of Darsh’s cricketing journey, even giving him the freedom to miss his classes if required. Darsh did his part too, ensuring his grades never dropped. He graduated in the top five percent of his class. He even founded a sports club and won a few business competitions. From there, Darsh went on to St Mary’s College and has won several awards along the way – he was felicitated by RBL Bank in Hyderabad as part of their young leader and sportsperson campaign.

Darsh’s passion comes from his father, an avid cricketer himself. “He introduced me to cricket at the age of three. As an infant, I used to watch him play matches and would cheer him on,” says the young cricketer, who began training at the cricket academy at the age of 5. “My dad played a huge role in my cricketing journey and made lots of sacrifices. He even left his job for six years, trained and helped me learn the nuances of the game. He would even drive me to my practice sessions.” He also idolised Sachin Tendulkar and bowler Shane Warne, whom he describes as one of the best leg spinners everyday, saying, “I would watch videos of his bowling everyday.”

Overcoming obstacles

Darsh’s journey hasn’t always cheerful. “I faced obstacles that tested my resilience. I encountered injuries, unfair selection practices that kept me out of the state team, and the biggest hurdle of them all, COVID-19,” says Darsh.

When the lockdown was lifted, however, Darsh was nursing a finger injury that kept him out of action for an agonizing four months after the lockdown. “I considered quitting the sport, but with my coach’s guidance, I rekindled my passion. Two months later, I stood in London, breaking records and achieving a dream I never thought was possible,” says a beaming Darsh, who has won over 40 awards for man of the series, emerging player, best fielder, best bowler and man of the match.

Darsh’s day usually starts at the crack of dawn. He is up by 5.45 am and heads straight for his cricket practice for an hour. It’s college next and once he is back home by 4, he goes to his gym after which it’s practice time again. “My mother has been telling me to include yoga in my schedule and I plan to do it soon,” says Darsh, who is looking to play more county cricket in the UK even as he is playing a few tournaments in Hyderabad presently. “My dream is to play for the country,” says the cricketer, who used to play volleyball, badminton and table tennis in school.

Darsh also has a great interest in entrepreneurship and wants to start a business of his own in future.

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Published on 06, Dec 2023

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How India’s coding clubs are changing the game for kids who’re starting young

In our pursuit of unique tales about the Indian diaspora, GI's new series documents trailblazing ideas and phenomenons across the globe (November 24, 2021) Not too long ago, coding was considered the forte of computer geeks only. It was an intimidating concept best left to experts. IT’s top brass Larry Page of Google, Bill Gates of Microsoft and Steve Dorsey of Twitter were themselves coding prodigies before they started ground-breaking tech conglomerates. Coders like Indian Canadian Tanmay Bakshi whose AskTanmay is the world’s first web based NLQA system was built using IBM Watson’s cognitive capabilities. The 19-year-old Indian-origin Harsh Dalal in Singapore started Team Labs that is valued at $25 million. Today children in India as young as five and ten are creating waves. US-based Samaira Mehta, 12, is behind CoderBunnyz which makes coding fun for kids. It was only apt that coding clubs sprang across India to create a new generation of innovators of the future. Technology everywhere “Technology has and will continue to expand rapidly, claiming spaces in almost every professional industry,” says Krish Samtani, founder of 0Gravity, a free coding club for school children in India, who adds, “Coding seem slightly intimidating at first, but it offers children the chance to apply their knowledge in a real-world context.”

almost every professional industry,” says Krish Samtani, founder of 0Gravity, a free coding club for school children in India, who adds, “Coding seem slightly intimidating at first, but it offers children the chance to apply their knowledge in a real-world context.”

As technology takes over every aspect of life and industry, coding is now an essential life skill. Employers are willing to pay a premium for coders. Manan Sharma, founder, Tokens.com, agrees. Sharma has been employing coders to spur his business that spans 20 years (Indiamart, IGP and now Tokens). “Earlier, we would hire coders to create the entire coding done for our sites, but now with pre-coded sites like Shopify available, there are templates to work with. Yet, the need for coders persists as businesses look to customise sites,” he tells Global Indian, adding, “As sites get bigger, automated software can only do so much.”

Tykes can code

As increased businesses rely on technology to drive operations, it is essential to understand what goes into the making of codes and applications to run successful businesses. Which is where coding clubs like Indian Girls Code, Code Club, and 0Gravity deliver. They encourage kids to understand the seemingly complex world of coding and technology from an early age, bust fear and encourage them to create and innovate.

[caption id="attachment_16610" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Aditi Prasad of Indian Girls Code[/caption]

Founded by Aditi Prasad and her sister Deepti in 2013, Indian Girls Code takes coding to schools to encourage girls to create technology. Through programmes, they encourage girls across Chennai schools – private and government – to use technology to solve real world problems. Aditi and Deepti believe in using a hands-on approach to teach children the nuances of coding – even using drag and drop to create fun projects using coding language. In 2015, the team launched Phiro Robots which are now used by educators, globally. The robots use Lego compatible toys that can be coded using Scratch to create anything - programming a robot to sing a birthday song to performing specific functions.

Coding to innovate

Ed-tech startups like WhiteHat Jr offer classes on coding, and Karan Bajaj, CEO wants to convert them from passive consumers of technology to builders and creators of the future. A notion that Madhukar Varshney, founder, CEO, NimbleQ wholeheartedly supports. The biomedical engineer who lived in the US for 20 years chose to return to India to found NimbleQ to help students apply the knowledge acquired. “Sure, coding is an essential skill, but it is not enough. One should know how to apply this skill to solve real-world problems. We have a lot of well-qualified professionals who 20 to 30 years down the line are directors and VPs. But why not founders? Why not innovators?” he questions, adding, “It’s because our education system does not encourage one to think like a creator. At NimbleQ, we encourage our students on using coding to problem solve. We teach them to understand business, entrepreneurship, and money.” Varshney hopes this will encourage creators of technology.

Krish, who launched 0Gravity at the age of 14 in Bengaluru is now a second-year student at UC Berkeley, California. His tryst with coding began at a summer camp at John’s Hopkins University. “I was very inspired by the applied education, and that made me want to attend a similar class back home (India). However, I was unable to find any, which led me to start the club to teach children applied computer science,” he says, adding, “So far, we have educated 1,500 plus children across India. The latest batch of 0Gravity was comprised of the children of abandoned sex workers.”

[caption id="attachment_16612" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Krish Samtani during one of the 0Gravity sessions[/caption]

The club teaches children from the ages of 10-18 in courses that typically last three months with classes on Saturday. During the pandemic, they switched to online and now Krish wants, “to inspire a spark in children to chase their dreams.”

Manan Sharma avers that one of the main advantages of learning to code early is the fact that it takes away the fear of intimidation. “My nephew is studying coding and I know that he is no longer intimidated. He knows the application of code and that will hold him in good stead,” he says, concluding, “The opportunities are limitless. Coding can be used across industries and sectors. You never know what innovations these children will produce.

Why code?

According to The Future of Jobs Report by the World Economic Forum, it is predicted that 65 percent of children entering primary school today ultimately work completely new jobs that do not even exist yet.
According to the Annual Employability report by Aspiring Minds, 80 percent Indian engineers are not fit for any job in the knowledge economy and only 2.5 percent possess tech skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In India, only one in 10 kids learn to code when compared to one in three abroad.
Over two-thirds developers are partly self-taught, HackerRank data shows.

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Olympic Dreams: Tennis champ Shrivalli wants to bring home the gold

(December 22, 2022) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, who was crowned the national hardcourt tennis champion (women’s singles) 2021, was 11 when she first held a tennis racket in her hand. Calling herself an “accidental” tennis player, Shrivalli was introduced to the game at the Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad. “I was just 11 years old and frankly, I only noticed the clothes of the kids who were playing at the stadium,” laughs the 20-year-old tennis star during an interview with Global Indian. “I told my father that I wanted to play because I also wanted to wear those clothes,” she adds. [caption id="attachment_25691" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, tennis player[/caption] However, Shrivalli has come a long way since then. The right-handed tennis star, recently recorded twin victories as she entered the singles quarterfinals and doubles semi-finals of the Balaji Amines Solapur Open Women’s ITF $25K Tennis Tournament held in Solapur. The player is currently doing her degree at St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, has also won numerous titles, including ITF Women’s (doubles) $15000 – 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women’s (singles) $15000 – 2022, Ahmedabad. Making of a champion Born to two sports

ee at St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, has also won numerous titles, including ITF Women’s (doubles) $15000 – 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women’s (singles) $15000 – 2022, Ahmedabad.

Making of a champion

Born to two sports players – her father being a cricketer and mother a national-level basketball player – Shrivalli was always encouraged to play sports. “I was a very active child, mostly because my parents were into outdoor activities. My father, especially, is a sports freak. He encouraged me to pick up an extra-curricular activity in school,” shares the tennis star, who is also a trained Carnatic singer.

While she took part in various sports, including swimming and roller skating, tennis was her ‘one true love’. And once she started training, it did not take the coaches at the LB stadium much time to realise that Shrivalli was a gifted player.

“For the first year, I went to the stadium to just have fun. I was the most talkative kid in the stadium, who loved picking up balls more than hitting them,” she laughs, adding, “But one day when my father had come to pick me up, one of the coaches asked him if I would like to take up the sport professionally. After coming home, my father posed the same question. In fact, I remember he warned me that it would be a tough journey. I was about 12 years old and didn’t really understand what was so tough about playing tennis. So, I just said yes,” the tennis player recalls.

Even as she worked hard to win every tournament, she did not forget to enjoy her childhood. Although she was a good student, she was also a trouble-maker in class. “I was a notorious student. A few friends and I would bunk classes together. We would never leave the school premises, but we just would not attend the classes some times. Since I was very talkative, the teachers would sometimes even kick me out of the class. But I was a good student, my grades were really good. And I’d win gold in almost every tournament, so my teachers and principal were happy with me,” smiles the tennis champ.

When the going gets tough

During her initial years, the tennis player won several medals, including the national title 2014-15, and under-18 petit camp open doubles in Mauritius in 2016. However, like every player she had to face some tough losses as well. While she recognised her potential as a player, Shrivalli learnt a lot from the matches she couldn’t win.

[caption id="attachment_25692" align="aligncenter" width="649"] Shrivalli with her parents[/caption]

“I knew right from the beginning that I was able to do something extraordinary, something not everyone could do. As a junior, I wasn’t much of a performing kid. So, I would constantly put pressure on myself to perform well. And when I didn’t, the losses hit me very hard. Also, the other tennis players my age were performing really well, and I would inadvertently compare myself with them. In almost every tournament, even before the draw was out, I would freak out,” shares the young player.

For two years, Shrivalli constantly struggled with self-doubt which affected her game. Explaining how important it is to be mentally strong to win the games, the tennis player adds, “I did go to a psychologist subsequently and that helped me a lot. I started concentrating on my game more than the outcomes. So, as I moved towards my under-18s, my game improved a lot.” Her parents, Shrivalli says, were very supportive through her journey, and never once put pressure on her.

Olympic dreams

One of her biggest victories was defeating Rutuja Bhosale at the ITF $25K Pune R1 – 2021. That instilled a great deal of confidence in her. “I think all players feel nervous before a match. I do too. But I am confident now that I can play against, and defeat, any player,” remarks Shrivalli, who is very inspired by Novak Djokovic.

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

Shrivalli dreams of representing India at the Olympics and works at her aspirations without compromise. Her day begins at 4.15 am and training continues for between five and six hours a day. And along the way, she hopes to win as many cups as she can for her country. “I will be participating in several upcoming national and international tournament. But a dream come true will be representing India at the Olympics and winning gold for the country,” says the tennis star, who loves cooking or baking in her free time.

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Bhangra to Ballet: How Delhi boy Kamal Singh made it to UK’s theatre troupe

(January 3, 2023) At the opening night of Brecon Festival Ballet this Christmas, an Indian took centrestage as the main lead in Nutcracker - the world's most popular ballet - to perform to packed houses in Wales. Amid the thunderous applause, he couldn't help but reminisce the time he first saw a ballet in a Bollywood film. And now six years later, the dream of performing ballet has come true for Delhi-born Kamal Singh. He had never heard of ballet ever 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. [caption id="attachment_26066" align="aligncenter" width="574"] Kamal Singh is an Indian ballerino[/caption] The 23-year-old, who made it to the 2021 Forbes 30 Under

wp-content/uploads/2023/01/kamal2.jpg" alt="Ballet | Kamal Singh | Global Indian" width="574" height="718" /> Kamal Singh is an Indian ballerino[/caption]

The 23-year-old, who made it to the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, fought not just social stigma but economic hurdles to make his dream come true. "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 tells Global Indian from London.

How Bollywood gave him wings to fly

Growing up, the family survived on his father's meager income that came from working two jobs - being an e-rickshaw driver in Delhi and making charpais (benches), Kamal believed for the longest time that he wasn't allowed to dream. "While growing up, I was obsessed with fitness and would spend hours running and training in local parks. I even learnt Gatka (Sikh martial art) for six years, and was a part of local jatha (group), where I participated in competitions," says Kamal.

[caption id="attachment_26068" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kamal Singh is English National Ballet School graduate.[/caption]

Financial crunches were the norm at home but his parents never pressurised him into chipping in through odd jobs. At the same time, his life was confined to the alleys of Vikaspuri. "I didn't dream big till I was 17." For someone who loved watching dance reality shows, and was often the first one to break into a dance at weddings, his love for dancing remained personal. Until a Bollywood film changed the course of his life forever.

At 17, he watched Remo D'Souza's dance film ABCD: Anybody Can Dance, and the ballet piece stirred something inside this then-teenager, who couldn't stop thinking about this dance form. Being a Sikh, Singh always broke into bhangra at every party or wedding, but the fluid elegance of ballet drew him in and he spent the next few days watching ballet videos online. "I had never seen something like this before. I vividly remember, at that moment I told myself that I have to do something. As if some energy was pulling me. Ballet chose me to be a dancer. Moving from bhangra to ballet, it was a turning point for me," he adds. This newfound passion led him to Imperial Fernando Ballet Company in Delhi. Founded by Mario Fernando Aguilera, a ballet dancer from Argentina, who starred as a choreographer in ABCD, the center seemed to be the perfect place to start.

[caption id="attachment_26069" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kamal Singh is the first Indian to make it to English Ballet School[/caption]

However, the dance school's fees were beyond Kamal's means as his dad was already working two jobs to support his family: ballet tuition was a luxury they simply couldn't afford. Aguilera, seeing the boy’s agility and flexibility (at the trial class), developed over years of running and stretching in his local park, knew that he had discovered an exceptional talent and wasn't ready to let go of a prodigy like him. He offered him a full scholarship. The rigorous training sessions were no cakewalk and Kamal had to give his 100 percent to make the cut. "I would train for 6-7 hours daily, as I had so much to learn. Most kids begin training at the age of four-five, while I was kickstarting my journey at 17. So, I had to cram all the knowledge into a short span of time. I had to prove myself and make sure that I was deserving to be at the ballet school."

From Russia, with love

Over the next three years, he completely immersed himself in the training, and his efforts paid off when he was accepted for a summer program at the historic Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St Petersburg in 2019, where he was cast as a soloist in a production called Gayaneh. For someone, who loved the Russian style of ballet, going to Russia was nothing short of a dream come true. "I was the first Indian ever to make it to Vaganova Academy, and those two months were life-changing. It was my first time outside of India, and I had to prove to myself and my teachers that I am worthy of it. Though those months were quite challenging, they also gave me the confidence that I can do well in ballet."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imi6rlZczIE

This confidence nudged him to apply for a Professional Trainee programme at London's English National Ballet School. His watershed moment arrived when he was accepted to the prestigious ballet school, making him the first Indian ever to achieve the feat. Being one among a pool of 10 talents selected from around the world, Kamal had a moment of pride. But the course's hefty price tag did play a spoiler.

Crowdfunding came to his rescue

A year-long course at the ballet school costs £8000, and he had to turn to crowdfunding to pay for his fees and other expenses. Fortunately, he found support from actor Kunal Kapoor, who is also the co-founder of Ketto, the crowdfunding platform. The actor used his star power and social media to spread the word on behalf of the young dancer. This prompted Hrithik Roshan to pledge £3000 to the fund. Within a few weeks, his fund reached £18000.

[caption id="attachment_26067" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kamal Singh during one of his performances[/caption]

"I couldn't believe that this was happening to me. It felt like angels were around me, and blessing me. Though studying in London was a dream, I had the initial jitters about how I will manage on my own. However, I found London people to be warm and friendly. And when I explored South Hall, it felt like I was right in India," laughs the ballerino.

Kamal is happy that his journey is an inspiration for many. "I just followed my instinct, and it has brought me here. I feel humbled if people are getting inspired by my story." But his journey wouldn't have been the same, had it not for his mentor Fernando Aguilera. "Finding a good teacher who believes in you more than you believe in yourself is so important." However, he also affirms that hard work and self-confidence can "beat any odds". "We often compare ourselves to others, without realising that we all have a different journey. And it's crucial to accept yourself."

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The ballerino, who is currently touring in the UK on his Global Talent Visa, wants to perform across the globe. But his ultimate dream, when he has enough expertise and funds, is to make ballets on Indian epics. "I want to explore and express Indian culture through ballet." The last six years have moved Kamal from the streets of Delhi to the opera houses in the UK, and he believes ballet helped him blossom. "Old Kamal was small-minded. My thinking was limited to Vikaspuri, but now I feel I can do anything. Every day I am learning and evolving, and this has made me realise, anything can happen if we put our best foot forward," he signs off.

Follow Kamal Singh on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

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The science of immune engineering: Rishi Goel is at the frontier of healthcare tech

(May 24, 2022) The ongoing global pandemic COVID-19 brought the world's attention to the importance of a good immune system. No remedy was too far-fetched, people around the globe tried everything they could get their hands on, from Ayurvedic herbs to home-made concoctions. Meanwhile, medical student Rishi Goel was hard at work learning more about immune engineering, trying to apply the principles of engineering to design and workings of the immune system. "I am working to understand immune responses to viral pathogens," the young Indian-American youngster tells Global Indian, adding, "My work has contributed to a better understanding of immune memory in the context of COVID-19 and mRNA vaccines. I also helped start the Immune Health Project at Penn, which aims to lead the transformation of routine human immune profiling for impact across medical disciplines.” [caption id="attachment_17065" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Rishi Goel, with immunologist Dr E. John Wherry, after receiving the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship[/caption] The young doctor, whose family hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is currently a research fellow in E. John Wherry’s laboratory, at the University of Pennsylvania, and aims to become a physician-scientist working on immunology research to enhance the patient experience. Rishi recently received a Paul &

The young doctor, whose family hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is currently a research fellow in E. John Wherry’s laboratory, at the University of Pennsylvania, and aims to become a physician-scientist working on immunology research to enhance the patient experience. Rishi recently received a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship which provides funding up to $90,000 over two years for postgraduate study. The fellowship is open to immigrants and children of immigrants in the United States.

An Indie kid

Rishi's grandfather, a civil engineer, came to USA about four decades ago along with his son, who was just six or seven years old at the time. "My father," Rishi shares, "is a businessman. My mother, on the other hand, grew up in Lucknow and moved to the US after she got married." Growing up, Rishi was deeply inspired by his grandfather who, he recalls, "brought scientific curiosity and wonder to everyday household tasks." The duo would spend their weekends together experimenting with new ingredients.

[caption id="attachment_17066" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Childhood image of Rishi[/caption]

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Rishi was always a very active child, involved in various sports during his school days. However, as much as he loved the US, he never lost touch with his roots. Growing up in a Hindi-speaking household, Rishi says he loved his visits to India. "We would visit my Nana and Nani during vacation and I used to enjoy my time there. It was kind of a reunion for me, because all my cousins would come home, there would be amazing food, and we would have a gala time," Rishi shares.

Fascinated by immunology

After completing school, Rishi graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a minor in applied statistics. Through his work at the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute, Rishi became fascinated with the immune system. "During that time, I designed and tested a novel therapeutic vaccine for food allergies that was able to re-train pathologic immune responses and suppress disease. I was amazed by the immune system's ability to learn and improve over time, and began to wonder how it could be used or engineered to treat disease."

[caption id="attachment_17067" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Rishi with his family[/caption]

Following his undergraduate education, Rishi earned a master’s degree in immunology from the University of Oxford, where he was awarded highest distinction for his academic work and was a member of the Blues lacrosse team. Explaining, the young doctor shares, "There I completed an IRTA Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, investigating new mechanisms of tissue damage in autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis."

[caption id="attachment_17069" align="aligncenter" width="651"] A sports lover, Rishi was a part of the Oxford City Lacrosse Club[/caption]

Focused on understanding the human immune system better, Rishi has published over 20 academic papers, including first-author publications in Science, Cell, and Nature Medicine. His recent work on understanding immune responses to viral pathogens and has led to new insights into the development of immune memory after SARS-CoV-2 infection and mRNA vaccination. "I aim to bring immune profiling into the clinic to better diagnose, treat, and prevent disease," says the young doctor, who is excited to have received the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship. When he says he hasn’t lost touch with his roots, he means it: "My family is very proud but they keep asking me when I’m going to finish my education, start earning and get married," he laughs.

Going beyond the call of duty

During the last two years of pandemic, people across the globe have been bombarded with misinformation - not just about the disease, but also about vaccines. When cases peaked in United States last year, Rishi became a leading science communicator on COVID vaccines, with regular contributions to major news outlets such as The Atlantic, Nature News, and NPR.

[caption id="attachment_17068" align="aligncenter" width="637"] Dr Goel, with his friends, at the Bryce Canyon[/caption]

"While there were several health bulletins being published or broadcast across the world, many people were still choosing to believe the forwarded messages of their family members on social media. Even today, many people in the US are hesitant to get vaccinated. I think it is imperative that doctors should be able to communicate in a language that the masses understand. Thus, I started communicating with various media outlets, dispelling the myths about COVID and its vaccinations," shares the young doctor, who wishes to become a physician-scientist in the future.

Follow Rishi Goel on Twitter and LinkedIn

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Abhishek Kushwaha and Mohd Kaif: Driving innovation and keeping labs cutting-edge

(August 6, 2024) Uttar Pradesh-based 24-year-old Abhishek Kushwaha and 23-year-old Mohammad Kaif met as classmates when they enrolled in the same college for their undergraduate degree in electronics, and developed friendship. The youngsters soon realised that the laboratory in their college, as well as other institutions in their area, had a critical shortcoming - a lack of maintenance facilities. When lab equipment broke down, it was never fixed, as there was nobody to provide this essential service. This significantly hit the lessons of the students, as they were unable to fully utilise the labs and struggled to grasp the practical aspects. They also noticed that nothing new was being added to the laboratories to benefit the students. The youngsters decided to address these vital gaps, and founded Abonics India in 2021, while still in college. Through their entrepreneurial spirit, innovations and innovative approach, the youngsters are driving positive change with their solution-focused edtech startup. [caption id="attachment_38708" align="aligncenter" width="655"] One of the labs created by Abhishek and Mohd Kaif's edtech startup[/caption] “So far, in and around Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Deoria and Gorakhpur, we have helped develop over 40 labs in schools and colleges and provided renovation or maintenance services to more than 150

| Indian Entrepreneurs | Global Indian" width="655" height="873" /> One of the labs created by Abhishek and Mohd Kaif's edtech startup[/caption]

“So far, in and around Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Deoria and Gorakhpur, we have helped develop over 40 labs in schools and colleges and provided renovation or maintenance services to more than 150 labs. Additionally, we are in discussions with approximately 50 institutions to improve their lab facilities by opting for our services,” Abhishek tells Global Indian.

Making a difference

“I have often heard that "experimentation is the mother of innovation," but the question is, how can you experiment effectively if your tools are outdated? Even today, students in our schools conduct experiments in the traditional way. While everything else is evolving, the laboratories and equipment in our educational institutions remain the same. That's why we are here - to transform our theoretical India into a practical India,” highlights Abhishek who is also an innovator of several solution-oriented products for elderly, people with disabilities and young learners.

The entrepreneurs’ edtech startup assists in lab setup, design, development, and maintenance, tailored to the needs of each institution they collaborate with. “We make our clients’ laboratories functional, innovative, engaging, and inspiring so that the kids are inspired to learn and get motivated to innovate,” says Mohd Kaif. “Our mission is to enhance STEM education through the latest practical learning facilities.”

[caption id="attachment_38704" align="aligncenter" width="868"] Students at a lab created by Abhishek and Mohd Kaif's edtech startup[/caption]

Driving change in mindset

This is not just an entrepreneurial venture for the youngsters but also a vehicle to drive change in mindsets. “Schools and colleges in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities are well aware of the significance of labs, but since we have been working in Tier 3 cities and villages, it’s a challenge to convey why labs are essential,” Abhishek remarks. “There are many instances when we have to explain and convince the school and college authorities about the importance of laboratories for the educational growth of their students.”

Apart from working with older institutions that lack lab facilities, they are also collaborating with new institutions to meet the requirements set by affiliation authorities.

Creating solutions

To set up a lab many scientific equipment, glassware and chemicals are required. Although the entrepreneurs source several products from different suppliers, they have even started manufacturing about a dozen small instruments for the labs on a small scale. “We aim to start a factory to manufacture hardware items on a larger scale in near future,” remarks Abhishek who has a knack for scientific innovations since he was small.

He had participated in the National Children’s Science Congress in 2018, where he presented his innovation - a multipurpose walking stick. Recently, he was granted a patent for this invention by the Government of India.

[caption id="attachment_38718" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Abhishek Kushwaha | Indian Entrepreneur[/caption]

Inspired by his grandfather's struggle with walking, Abhishek had created the multipurpose digital walking stick for the elderly. The stick is equipped with a torch, radio, and other features. One of his other innovations is a device to assist the disabled, which has been recognised by organisations like CGES and Leadwin for being an outstanding contribution in the sphere of disability assistive technology and eco-friendly manufacturing, as it replaces wood.

Last year Abhishek was also honoured with the Bharat Gaurav Samman in Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahakumbh 2022 organised by the founder of Super 30 Anand Kumar in the presence of the Deputy CM of Uttar Pradesh.

Under his leadership, their startup has applied for patents for 20 more innovations, many of which are related to lab enhancement and practical learning solutions. “We aim to promote robotics, AI, and machine learning through our initiatives and innovations so that children can grasp these technologies and have a bright future,” Mohd Kaif remarks.

Their edtech startup comprises a team of 40 individuals, including advisors, an operations team, a research team, a marketing team, and a few bright children with an innovative bent of mind. These children get a platform to enhance their learning while being associated with the organisation as interns, working on solutions. For instance, there is a child innovator, Parth Bansal, who has even received the PM Bal Puraskar for his innovation, and is an integral part of the Abonics India team.

[caption id="attachment_38722" align="aligncenter" width="524"] Mohd Kaif[/caption]

Mentorship and support

“When we had come up with the startup idea as undergraduate students, we had shared it with our teachers who supported us in pitching our idea at the annual U.P. start-up conclave and we ended up being the finalists,” tells Mohd Kaif.

With this milestone, the young entrepreneurs got the opportunity to enhance their business skills at the innovation hub of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, which provided them with an incubation facility. “They supported us a lot and even helped us with a Start-in-UP fund of ₹750,000,” he informs.

Support from JEC-P

Since last year, the edtech startup has been associated with the Jagriti Enterprise Centre-Purvanchal (JEC-P), an incubator centre that supports small and medium enterprises in Tier 2 and 3 cities of India.

“They have helped us with workshops and mentorship that have enhanced our business skills,” Mohd Kaif shares. “They introduced us to Mr Rajesh Kachroo, who has had a distinguished career, holding high positions such as Senior Vice President at Times of India, Senior Vice President and Principal Officer (Global BFSI) at HCL Talent Care, and is currently Vice President of Learner Success at the Wadhwani Foundation. He is a great personality and has helped us accelerate our startup’s growth through better marketing strategies and improved market presence,” he mentions.

[caption id="attachment_38707" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Abhishek and Mohd Kaif with the copy of patent received for the digital walking stick[/caption]

Juggling studies and entrepreneurship

The edtech entrepreneurs, driven by a mission to transform the education sector and STEM learning facilities, have balanced their studies and business venture from the start. While Abhishek completed his master’s in electronics last year, Mohd Kaif is pursuing his MCA at Harcourt Butler Technical University in Kanpur.

“It’s difficult to focus on both fronts, and sometimes studies take a backseat,” he says. “However, our teachers have been supportive. My university has even provided me with office space, allowing me to work on my startup while on campus.” The youngsters look at themselves as not just business-oriented entrepreneurs but also as innovative minds. Apart from their venture, which helps solve a societal problem, they plan to keep on working on innovations and developing new products for the benefit of young learners and other strata of society.

[caption id="attachment_38702" align="aligncenter" width="704"] Some of the labs created by Abhishek and Mohd Kaif's edtech startup, Abonics India[/caption]

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