Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveDivita Rai: The architect who contested Miss India pageant twice to be on Miss Universe platform

Divita Rai: The architect who contested Miss India pageant twice to be on Miss Universe platform

Curated by: Amrita Priya

(October 9, 2022) Miss India Universe Divita Rai will have to wait a little longer to represent India on the Miss Universe platform. The annual global event which was scheduled to be held later this year has been shifted to January 14, 2023. It would be the 71st pageant in the world of Miss Universe to crown the winner of 2022 at New Orleans, Louisiana. Participants from 90 countries would be competing for the coveted crown that would be passed over by Harnaaz Sandhu of India, the current title-holder whose reign has been extended.

Indian Youth | Divita Rai | Global Indian

Divita Rai, Miss Diva 2022 will be representing India in next Miss Universe pageant

While every Indian is waiting for India to script history by two back-to-back wins, the pressure is high on Divita. To meet the expectations, and slay more when the days of wait have been prolonged, is something that she seems to have taken in her stride.

If she wins, India would be the second country to win back-to-back crowns, after Venezuela.

Pressure is good. To have people who have expectations from me gives me excitement to bring out the best version of me. More than the pressure, I view it as an incredible opportunity to represent my country. How many of us get such an opportunity!

Divita said in a joint interview with Harnaaz Sandhu, the reigning Miss Universe who made India proud last year by bringing home the crown after a gap of 21 years.

Divita after being crowned Miss Diva by reigning Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu

The win would make Divita the fourth Indian beauty to get the title home, after Sushmita Sen (1994), Lara Dutta (2000) and Harnaaz Sandhu (2021).

Decision to give second shot despite second-runner up crown paid off

Divita evokes hope because of her attitude to win. The Miss Diva pageant in which she was chosen to represent India in the Miss Universe competition was not her first rodeo. She had participated in the contest last year too and was placed third to Harnaaz Sandhu. Instead of basking in the glory of being the second runner up, she chose to push herself harder, and eventually the Global Indian got successful in claiming the Miss India crown, finally earning her chance to represent the country in the global platform of Miss Universe.

Grand welcome of Divita when she visited Mangalore after winning Miss Diva title

Serious about issues that plague society

Born in Mangalore, Divita moved to several cities across India due to her father’s job requirements. She soaked in valuable lessons of life learned from people from diverse backgrounds and cultures from a very young age, turning into a versatile and sensitive human being.

On the occasion of Dusshera 2022, Divita associated herself with child rights and visited a CRY centre at the heart of Asia’s second largest slum in Mumbai. She believes that her education has taken her far and is determined to work towards making quality education accessible to kids and motivate them to keep learning. Her concern for education of underprivileged kids comes from a very personal experience as her father had to overcome immense financial difficulties to complete his education.

Divita at the CRY event on the day of Dusshera

Other than education, the second significant issue close to Divita’s heart is women at work. In fact, she has been so passionate about the issue that as part of her final year thesis, as a student of Architecture she had chosen to research workplace culture for women. Deeply believing how imperative it is for merit to shine irrespective of gender or circumstances, her story is of gathering courage to come back well prepared, and rise above the fear of failure to achieve one’s goal.

A little background…

Until 2010, the top three contestants at the Miss India or Femina Miss India were crowned as Femina Miss India-Universe, Femina Miss India-World, and Femina Miss India-Asia Pacific (which was later renamed as Femina Miss Earth).

However, in 2010, a new contest, ‘I Am She – Miss Universe India’ was introduced to separately select India’s representatives to Miss Universe. Later, in 2013, due to a change in the acquiring rights, the contest got renamed as Miss Diva.

The making of the diva

Divita attributes the title of ‘Miss Diva’, which she proudly holds, to her mother and grandmother. While growing up, her mom and grandma would dress her up as Miss India on several occasions, instilling a belief that she could be Miss India. As she grew up, the youngster realised that it is something that she would really like to pursue.

Navigating her way through the modelling industry and the world of pageantry was quite easy as she had found a support system in her family.

Little Divita with her grandma

She said in an interview:

Although my parents grew up with restricted dreams of what to pursue as a profession. My brother and I had the freedom to choose whatever we wanted to, but we were told to ensure that we put our soul and heart to manifest that into reality.

The Karnataka girl who now lives in Mumbai, pursued modelling and architecture from Sir JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai simultaneously.

PCOS cannot stop girls from reaching great heights

September happens to be the PCOS awareness month, dedicated to enhance education and advocacy of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – a hormonal disorder that affects one in five girls in India. Globally, 1.55 million women of reproductive age experience PCOS.

Divita has gone all out on several platforms opening up about her battle with PCOS, stating:

It’s okay for women to go through this condition but it’s important for them to talk about it.

She often finds its challenging to maintain a good lifestyle to prevent the health condition from aggravating. As girls undergo several bodily changes and mental health issues related to it, Divita stands tall as an example that one can achieve milestones despite odds.

From the Miss India’s history of international victories:

Reita Faria was the first Miss India ever to win any international beauty pageant. She was crowned Miss World 1966 in London. She became the first Miss World from not just India but from entire Asia.
Sushmita Sen is the country’s first Miss Universe winner in 1994.
India’s appearances at the semi-finals of Miss Universe from 1992 to 2002 made it the first country of the Eastern Hemisphere to contest annually at the pageant for at least 10 consecutive years.
In 2010, Nicole Faria became the first Indian to win the Miss Earth pageant.
Six years after Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai‘s double wins in 1994 as Miss Universe and Miss World respectively, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra repeated the feat in 2000. Though some countries have had dual wins like these previously but since the year 2000 of India’s dual win, no country has won Miss Universe and Miss World in the same year.

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Published on 09, Oct 2022

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All for Mother Earth: Environmental activist Ridhima Pandey is making all the right noises

(July 26, 2022) The Kedarnath flash flood of 2013 in her hometown of Uttarakhand was a wake-up call for environmental activist, Ridhima Pandey. Barely six back then, she watched the death and destruction unfold on television at her house in Haldwani in the hill state of Uttarakhand, about 330 km away from Kedarnath. The tragedy hit her hard as it did to many Indians. At that point, she decided to act, and do whatever she could to prevent climate catastrophes such as the Kedarnath tragedy. She spoke to her parents who explained to her in great detail how global warming was causing such tragedies. Gradually, she started doing a lot more research about global warming. "As I began studying the impact of climate change and child’s rights, I learned that even driving cars could affect the climate of such a large planet. I began collaborating and meeting with different people and started spreading awareness among young people about the grave situation,” says environmental activist Ridhima Pandey, in a chat with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_19840" align="aligncenter" width="317"] Ridhima Pandey, environmental activist[/caption] A role model for children across the globe, Ridhima, who advocates for action against climate change, has often been likened

="317"] Ridhima Pandey, environmental activist[/caption]

A role model for children across the globe, Ridhima, who advocates for action against climate change, has often been likened to Greta Thunberg. As a nine-year-old environmental activist filed a suit against the Indian Government for not taking enough steps to combat climate change. "I believe that human activities contribute to the increased frequency of these tragedies. We have witnessed how the severity of these disasters is increasing every year. These tragedies can be controlled if we are more cognizant of our actions,” says the popular TEDx speaker, who has spoken at various international conferences including Notre Affaire à Tous in Paris and Xynteo Exchange in Norway.

Protecting the planet

Born in Haldwani, Nainital in October 2007, Ridhima is the daughter of Dinesh Chandra Pandey, a lawyer and wildlife conservationist, and Vinita Pandey, who works in the forest department.

“My mission is to get the community involved in protecting our environment. I have been creating awareness among the younger generation about climate change, their rights, and what they can do to protect it. I continuously file petitions and write letters to government officials about issues such as waste management, air pollution, and other issues concerning the environment,” informs the 14-year-old, a regular speaker at various workshops and seminars on the environment.

A member of the youth advisory council for COP 26, Ridhima has been listed on BBC’s 100 most empowering and influential women’s list in 2020. “It was a pleasant surprise and a huge opportunity to be given a chance to join the council and work with them. The first petition I filed at the national green tribunal was also based on the Paris Agreement. Most of my work, letters, and petitions were also related to similar topics. It was an altogether different experience dealing with the council,” informs the class 11 student of BMDAV Public school in Haridwar.

As for being mentioned on the BBC’s list, the teenager said she only learned about it through her friend in Amsterdam. “Initially, I thought that they needed my answers and bio for an interview. But as it turned out, I was part of this list and came to know only when my friend congratulated me. I was overjoyed,” smiles the environmental activist.

She says her passion for environmental conservation has been the driving force so far. “I would continue to pursue my career in a similar field. While biodiversity has been my area of interest, I am also keen on simultaneously working on building more projects with kids from indigenous communities. This won’t just give them a platform to raise awareness on climate change and its impact but also help them raise their voices,” feels the environmental activist, who was invited as a youth ambassador at the Global Sustainability film awards held by Difficult Dialogues, an international forum that discusses pressing world issues.

A green panther

Residing in the hill state of Uttarakhand and her love for the environment often takes Ridhima to her great grandmother, who lives in the hills. “Apart from that, I usually love travelling to the hills for the tranquillity they behold and the peace of mind they give. While beauty is the biggest factor here, the lack of internet and mobile service works in your favour every time you feel like disconnecting from the world,” she says.

Being into environmental conservation, the activist says she is always keen to learn more about the mountains while she looks for stories about life there and what it means to the locals settled at the foot of those hills. “Talking to them and experiencing the raw mountains keeps me content and gives me a sense of purpose as I fight to protect them and their essence,” says Ridhima, who was also the youth representative and speaker at the Global Pneumonia Forum and has been part of Earth Day Network’s global initiative, My Future My Voice, which compiles messaging from 50 inspiring youth activists from 17 countries.

Inspiring young minds

Recently, Ridhima became a part of Cartoon Network’s Redrawing India initiative, which she refers to as an enormous campaign where she narrates her story.

“I hope that more and more kids get to listen to all the inspiring stories and come forward to pursue their passion and dreams. It’s never too early to work for something you truly believe in," says the environmental activist, who credits her parents for rallying behind her towards the cause of doing her bit for mother Earth. The activist has also called for a complete ban and minces no words when holding higher authorities accountable.

Besides the environment, what other things interest her? “I am fond of singing and dancing,” smiles the teenager, who likes to spend time with pets and play with stray animals. “When it comes to movies, I am a proud superhero fanatic,” informs Ridhima, who is part of the choir group at her school.

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Indian-teen Yathaarth Murthy croons 260 national anthems, is a 2-time Limca record holder

(January 6, 2021) Singing the Indian national anthem evokes fervour and patriotism. Some hum the British and American ones. Well, not fully, but at least some words! Yet, this Indian boy’s anthem repertoire is something that will take you aback. The 15-year-old Indian anthemologist Yathaarth Murthy is a two-time Limca Book of Records holder for singing the highest number of anthems in the world. He disarms with his eager smile as he shares how he mastered a whopping 260 national anthems – that is how many there are in the world, incidentally! That’s not all, this teen is also an avid environmentalist and was one of the 20 winners of the India 20 Under 20 organised by White Canvas, a mentoring organisation recognised by Niti Ayog. Born and raised in Bengaluru, Yathaarth’s first tryst with anthems happened when his Hindustani classical music teacher tutored him to perform anthems of four countries – India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Japan -- on the keyboard. “That was back in 2014. It got me hooked. I liked the lyrics and wanted to explore more anthems. So, I began researching on YouTube and Wikipedia, and taught myself several more countries’ anthems,” the Indian anthemologist tells Global Indian. Onward on, one anthem at a time Anthem spurting became a passion for the student of Vidyashilp Academy. “It lit a spark and there was no

wp-image-9313 aligncenter" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_31791.jpg" alt="Indian Teen | Yathaarth Murthy | Global Indian Youth" width="417" height="640" />

Onward on, one anthem at a time

Anthem spurting became a passion for the student of Vidyashilp Academy. “It lit a spark and there was no turning back,” he says. Soon he was spending hours pouring over anthems of different nations. While he understood the gist of a few, he enjoyed the lyrics and tunes too.

While Yathaarth, the only child of architect parents, found the accents and pronunciation a bit difficult, he kept at it. “The first few tries were difficult. As I continued to practice, I got a hang of the pronunciations too. Before I knew it, I was able to sing more than 100 anthems,” says Yathaarth. Incidentally, the term “anthemologist” was something he coined to describe his unique feat.

[caption id="attachment_9312" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Yathaarth Murthy with Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai[/caption]

It was around this time in 2017, that he told his mother about wanting to apply to the Limca Book of Records. To his surprise, he had in fact made the record. That’s how a young Bengalurean came to hold the Limca record for singing the highest number of anthems – 112 at the time. “When I first picked up learning these various anthems, I didn’t think I’d one day become a record holder or a TEDx speaker,” says the class 10 student. Yet, he soon broke his own record when he learnt all 260 anthems, and once again set a new Limca record in 2019.

Saving the environment, one lake at a time

As a primary school student, Yathaarth used to love watching TedX videos and wanted to be on the hallowed platform himself. His dream soon came true when he was invited to deliver his first TED talk in 2018 at age 12. “My first talk was about my journey as an anthemologist,” says the youth who has so far given four TED talks, the most recent in December 2020. The topics have been varied: environment, anthems, and on pursuing one’s dreams.

After he’d set his second Limca record, Yathaarth wondered, “What next?” “How could I give back to the community and do something meaningful? It was around then that I began learning more and more about the environment and climate change. I watched Greta Thunberg’s speeches. Shortly, I began working in the environment sphere in my own small way,” he adds.

Soon, Yathaarth was holding climate strikes and working on a school project for the World Federation of UN Association which earned him more accolades in 2019. “I worked on a project with four friends. We decided to revive Manae, a 4.5 acre lake on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The city was once filled with beautiful lakes, but today most are highly polluted or encroached upon,” says the environmentalist, who launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise Rs 8.27 lakh for the lake’s revival. He worked with Anand Malligavad, also known as the Lake Man of India, to revive the lake and would often visit the lake in his free time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IVIcvIMKhU

“When we first visited the lake, we could see the barren lakebed and there was barely any flora and fauna. Today, the lake is thriving and hosts various birds like peacocks, has beautiful flora and is the water source for a neighbouring village,” beams the boy who still visits the lake sometimes. His work to revive this lake earned him a spot on White Canvas’ India 20 Under 20 list.

Making time count

Anthems and the environment apart, Yathaarth is also a basketball and music lover. As he gears up for his board exams, he has already begun planning for a future as a diplomat representing India at the United Nations. “I’ve chosen sociology, global perspective, history, and environment management, so I can apply to colleges abroad, and work towards working with the UN,” says the teen who spent the better part of the pandemic trying to conduct relief work. From distributing food to the needy through the iCare brigade to organising Housie for a Cause, and diverting funds towards Covid relief, Yathaarth has been busy doing his bit to spread cheer in otherwise dismal times.

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Reading Time: 7 min

‘Bow’ down to Indian archery champ Vennam Jyothi Surekha who has 98 medals & counting

(February 27) Aiming high is what Vennam Jyothi Surekha excels at. So much so that the winning streak follows her everywhere. As a three-year-old, she learnt swimming. By five, she had a unique record - swimming five km across the river Krishna in Andhra Pradesh in three hours, 20 minutes and six seconds. With that feat, her name entered the Limca Book of Records (2002). But that was just the beginning of more glory. She took up archery at age 11, and today, she has competed in 25 national and 42 international tournaments (so far) with a whopping 98 medals, making her one of the top Indian compound archers ever. “I believe competition should be with oneself,” smiles Surekha, the archer who has taken the world of archery by storm, winning one championship after the other. The Arjuna awardee who was the youngest from South India to receive the award has immense belief. It helps her better her own record year after year, and perform with unwavering focus. [caption id="attachment_11543" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Vennam Jyothi Surekha[/caption] The latest feather in her cap was the gold she clinched at the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania, USA. “It was my first time at

rchery | Global Indian " width="532" height="709" /> Vennam Jyothi Surekha[/caption]

The latest feather in her cap was the gold she clinched at the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania, USA. “It was my first time at the Lancaster archery classic and I was happy to be on the podium. Everything was new to me. I had so many memorable experiences,” says the serial winner, speaking exclusively with Global Indian.

The girl who ‘shot’ to fame

Born in Ramanagaram, Challapalli village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh in July 1996, Surekha is the only child of V Surendra Kumar, and V Sri Durga, who have been huge motivational figures in her life. The first time she was introduced to swimming was in 1999, a suggestion by her parents. Swimming across Krishna river is a faint memory, though Surekha recalls her parents taking her to the river to practice before the final attempt.

She took to archery too on her parents’ suggestion. Given the lack of sports infrastructure in Vijayawada, the idea was to try another sport. “They put me into archery as they wanted me to represent the country at the international level one day,” beams the 25-year-old. She first trained under local archer J Rama Rao (2008-2012), then made her way to the Indian Compound Archery chief coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja, and has been training with him since 2013.

Focused precision

Schooled at Nalanda Vidya Niketan in Vijayawada, she did computer engineering (B.Tech) and MBA from KL University, Vaddeswaram, passing both with distinction. Now, totally committed to archery, Surekha’s numbers tell an exemplary tale of courage and success. With over 50 state medals (2008-2012), 60 national medals in the under-13 to senior national which includes 38 gold medals, 13 silver and nine bronze, she has made medal-winning a habit.

Silverware follows this focused archer internationally too – she won 10 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals, totalling 38. A shining star in Indian sports, Surekha has participated in five World Championship, World Cup (19), World University Games (2), World University Championship (1), Asian Games and others -- totalling 42 international tournaments. Most comfortable competing individually, she also participates in mixed categories too.

A ‘bull’s eye’ for the country

“Listening to the national anthem after winning golds at international championships has been the proudest moment of my life. It inspires me to take India further up in world archery rankings,” says the ace archer who comes from a simple farming family. Her parents and their struggles have inspired this archer, who was at one time among the world’s top 10. The fact that her father was a kabaddi player, who instilled a love for sports in her, has a lot to do with her chosen path too.

Her job at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited under the Group-A sportspersons category, helps her follow that passion, and she is ever grateful. A tough regime is involved - six hours practice, two hours of physical training daily.

Her first bow, a Hoyt Rintek bow will always be most special. Shooting or archery is a focused sport, thus yoga and meditation help her find the calm amidst the storm, while gym sessions help improve her shoulder strength and cardio. Often, she can be seen hard at work at the Sports Authority of India, Sonepat, among the best centres for archery in India.

Thankful to Khelo India, which supports budding archers with equipment and training, the archery champ loves the facilities at the Sai centres. Receiving the Arjuna Award has been the biggest honour yet. “Receiving such a prestigious award gives one recognition for one’s achievements. It also motivates me to bring more laurels to the country,” she adds.

Her medals tally grows

Looking forward to the world cups, world games and Asian Games, Surekha is confident that she will continue her medal spree. An inspiration for many, Surekha guides amateurs passionate about sports. “There will be hurdles, choices to make between sports, academics or anything else. Give your 100 percent in achieving something, and take the right decisions at the right time with the right people,” she concludes.

Her career graph:

Only player to have won 3 Silver medals in a single Sr World Championship.
Only archer to win 6 medals in the Sr World Championships.
She won the 1st ever individual medal for India in women’s category in the World Championship in 2019.
She is the only player with world top 10 rankings in compound archery in individual, mixed team and women's team – a rare achievement.
In 2018, the Indian archery women’s team secured its first ever world no 1 rank. Jyothi Surekha’s performance contributed majorly to this.
She is the first ever Indian compound woman to achieve 4^th rank in the world rankings.
Her 6 - medal tally in World Cups, 2018 is the best by an Indian compound archer.
She has a national record of 710/720 to her name.
Awarded with Krida Ratna Award by Akkineni Foundation, USA in 2014

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Syamantak Payra: The young scientist using technology to solve healthcare challenges

(July 29, 2022) Sitting on the sofa at home and helping his grandmother take dozens of medications every evening to treat her chronic asthma is one of the earliest memories that shaped Syamantak Payra's outlook on life and his desire to help. Desperate to help, he invented a makeshift breathing machine "out of some straws and balloons" at age four. "It was rudimentary and practically ineffectual, but it came from the same motivation that still drives me: I saw a problem, and I wanted to help," says the 2022 Hertz Foundation Fellow. From the same desire stemmed the idea of developing a knee brace that helped the inventor and researcher win the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award in 2016. "I want to help people. Whether that's by creating new biomedical technologies that will improve patients' prognoses, or through literacy outreach that will help create new opportunities for young students, I wish to use my capabilities in the ways that I will best be able to help empower others," he tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_20036" align="aligncenter" width="541"] Syamantak Payra[/caption] Curiosity, science and innovations Growing up in Houston, a stone's throw away from Johnson Space Centre - headquarter for many NASA

gncenter" width="541"] Syamantak Payra[/caption]

Curiosity, science and innovations

Growing up in Houston, a stone's throw away from Johnson Space Centre - headquarter for many NASA operations, Syamantak would spend endless afternoons enquiring about the workings of the world from his Bengali grandfather. Curious to know "why the colours in rainbows appeared in that order or how car engines and sewing machines worked or why leaves on trees didn’t all blow the same way", his inquisitiveness was embraced by his parents, grandparents, and later, teachers. As early as Grade one, he began completing his scientific projects which helped him tiptoe into the world of science "as a method of inquiry.” Over the years, it translated into a love for the subject and many scientific disciplines including "materials science and the physics of photovoltaic cells and biomedical engineering and robotics."

The following years of experimentation, discoveries, and innovations culminated in his first breakthrough in 2016 when the inventor won big at the Intel Science Fair for developing a knee brace that can help individuals partially disabled by polio to walk swiftly. For someone who always "wanted to help", he was inspired to take on the project after learning about his teacher's polio-led partial paralysis. "I was interested in robotics, and wanted to try to use robotics to help restore some of his capabilities: effectively creating a robotic leg brace that would allow him to walk with less effort and pain," says the inventor who revised and built his prototypes for over two years.

[caption id="attachment_20037" align="aligncenter" width="399"] Syamantak Payra showcasing one of his inventions[/caption]

The power of innovation to transform lives

With no prior experience in programming or biomechanics, the project was nothing short of a "self-guided crash course" for him. "I pored over hundreds of papers analysing prosthetics and anatomy, developed my data equipment and analysis methods, and had my teacher try on the prototypes to evaluate their functionality. My revised version of the robotic leg brace was able to restore nearly 99 percent of his knee mobility, and allowed him to walk with 33 percent less effort," adds the inventor.

As someone passionate about research, Syamantak is "excited about the potential for innovation and the power it holds to create transformative new technologies" to create positive impacts in the world. Keeping up with his quest to find solutions that create a ripple effect, he made some interesting innovations during his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and computer science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology - one of which is digital fibers for electronic garments that can assist in diagnosing illnesses. Explaining his work in the MIT Fibres Group, he says that it has enabled them to "create polymer threads with microchips embedded within the fibers. These fibers can then be woven into fabrics that contain those microchips directly within the textile." A technology that took over four years to develop, he says, helps create fibers that are capable of sensing, computing, and communicating, such that worn garments will be better able to assist in monitoring, diagnosing, and treating health conditions.

The impactful work

The years at MIT turned out to be fruitful as he ended up making prototypes like temperature detecting shirts that could detect heatstroke and potential dehydration to making spacesuits that help improve astronauts' situational awareness and their safety on spacewalks. "The spacesuits worn for spacewalks must be pressurised against the vacuum of space; one side-effect is that if something touches or impacts the spacesuit, it is difficult for the astronaut to feel it. In addition, spacesuits are constantly bombarded by space dust, particles that can travel at thousands of kilometers per second and significantly damage textiles. By incorporating sensors and advanced electronics into the spacesuit construction, we can imitate different sensations and reproduce them on the skin," he beams with pride.

[caption id="attachment_20038" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Syamantak in a Nanotechnology class at MIT.[/caption]

Having walked the corridors of MIT for years and creating some stellar innovations, it holds a special place for Syamantak - as it not only honed his skills as an engineer and a scientist but also as a community leader. "Crucially, it's shown me how the most important part of engineering isn't the blueprints, it's the people: who will use something, how, and why." The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans recipient is now gearing up for a PhD in engineering at Stanford and aims to create "new biomedical technologies that can interface more closely with the body and help us address exactly those gaps in healthcare: difficult early diagnoses, complex monitoring in-vivo, and careful post-treatment care."

A community leader

But it isn't just his innovations through which Syamantak is creating ripples in society, his zeal for literacy and STEM has helped him extend help to the underserved children in Houston. A spelling bee champ through his middle school, he was keen to share his love for the language and started literacy workshops sharing spelling and vocabulary lessons to young students for which he received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for outstanding commitment to education twice. Moreover, he launched a STEM outreach program (CORES) at his high school called CORES which has now expanded to more under-resourced schools. "At MIT, I was also part of a group called DynaMIT; every year, we host a summer program aimed at helping underprivileged students in the Boston area gain exposure to STEM fields through experiments and activities that they wouldn’t have experienced within their schools."

This desire to make an impact helps Syamantak push the envelope with each of his innovations. Years of working in the field have come with their share of learning, and the one that has made the 21-year-old humble is that "part of the joy in scientific research is the discovery that comes from unexpected connections." The Bengali lad loves poetry, so much so that he spent hours learning Rabindranath Tagore's songs and poems while growing up, and is now a published poet. A strong believer in the power of music, Syamantak plays violin and piano, produces classical and modern music, and is an avid photographer. "I view the world through a camera lens: filming wide landscapes from aerial drones gives me a sense of perspective, and photographing minuscule wildflowers with a macro lens lets me connect intimately with the smallest details of nature," he says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg0nk0g5EMk&t=111s

Having received many fellowships and awards including Hertz Foundation Fellowship, the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, the Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, and the Astronaut Foundation Scholarship, Syamantak feels grateful for them as they have been instrumental in supporting his academic pursuits by funding his studies, he says. However, for him, the ultimate validation would be to create a direct impact on the lives of people with his work. "If I can improve someone's quality of life, or aid a patient in their treatment or recovery, that is the most direct validation that I have been able to make a difference through my work," he signs off.

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Reading Time: 6 min

Prasiddhi Singh: The eco-warrior on a mission to save the planet by planting trees

(May 19, 2023) On a regular Sunday, ten-year-old Prasiddhi Singh accompanies her parents to the local market in Chengalpattu to procure fresh produce. But the young environmentalist has her own agenda - she picks up saplings from the nearby nursery to plant them. It's this quest to save the Mother Earth that has made her plant over one lakh trees till now. It was the devastating after-effects of cyclone Vardah in 2016 that inspired this little eco-warrior to literally get her hands dirty, and get on the task of enhancing the green cover. She believes one person is enough to bring about the change, and that's what she is doing. "Ever seen a bird or squirrel swipe a credit card for food? Or an animal pay for clothes? Only humans pay for our existence on this planet. The reason many (might) give is advancement. But what kind of advancement is this?” laments Prasiddhi Singh, a ten-year-old environmentalist whose efforts to create a greener planet start with a call to action. Prasiddhi speaks about plausible solutions to climate change that she began by nurturing numerous fruit forests. Today, her initiatives and NGO have won many accolades and awards. The Diana Awardee

s. The Diana Awardee and the youngest recipient of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2021, her intrinsic connect with nature is remarkable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCo9iLzKx-E

The eco-warrior from Tamil Nadu who began her “green activist” journey at the age of just four, has several micro forests to her credit, and has planted over 1 lakh trees till now. “Each of us can make a significant contribution. But we need to try to create change. I have been close to nature since I was two, and I always knew that I had to do something for the planet,” Prasiddhi tells Global Indian.

The little eco-warrior is on a mission - to keep planting trees to enhance biodiversity and to keep spreading awareness. Being the youngest delegate at the G20 Youth 20 Consultation, she calls the experience "a melting pot of ideas, knowledge, and passion. As the youngest speaker among an esteemed group of experts, I felt both honoured and humbled to be included in such a prestigious lineup."

A nature lover

The Mumbai-born Prasiddhi was only 21 days old when she shifted to Tamil Nadu after her father, who is an automotive engineer at Mahindra & Mahindra, transferred to Chengalpattu. The new surroundings were the perfect catalyst in helping her form an unconditional bond with nature. “Since I was two, I have drawn inspiration from nature. The trees taught me to never give up, and grow in any condition. The bees taught me the meaning of collaboration, and from the sea, I learnt to celebrate all phenomenon - high tide or low tide,” says the student at Mahindra World School.

[caption id="attachment_30150" align="aligncenter" width="806"] Prasiddhi Singh[/caption]

The nature enthusiast started planting saplings after witnessing the devastating loss of tree cover in the 2016 Vardah cyclone. “So many trees were uprooted, and it felt like they were crying. It made me sad. I knew I had to do something,” she recalls. So, she rolled up her sleeves, and got her hands dirty, literally. At age four, she participated in plantation drives around her neighbourhood, engaged with NGOs and like-minded folk. Having planted over 20 fruit forests that are located in Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Puducherry, Kanyakumari and Chennai, the fruit tree forests bear mangoes, amlas, jamuns, guavas, jackfruits and custard apples.

Stepping up for a cause

Giving nature a chance to breathe again, the little girl with big ideas started the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation in 2018 in Chengalpattu with an intent to increase green cover, nurture biodiversity and make recycling a way of life. “I formed an unconditional bond with nature and this has helped me understand my power. Like a 4 mm seed grows into a 100 feet tall tree, I know that I should never underestimate my power even if I am just a child. I can make a significant contribution in creating an impact,” says the TedX speaker.

How she funds these initiatives give you a hint of her resourcefulness. Prasiddhi has formed an eco-army of individuals who source funds – Selling bookmarks, pencils and grow kits, Singh has also done it all. “During the pandemic, I raised funds by taking online webinars and sessions on how to become an impact creator. The prize money I received from Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar was donated to my NGO. I contribute every single penny I receive,” enthuses Prasiddhi.

The girl who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she won the award is also a deep thinker. “They say with great power comes great responsibility. The award made me more conscious about my responsibility. Prime Minister Narendra Modiji made me take three sankalpas (promises). Be regular in whatever tasks I do and persevere, keep my promise of working for the nation and be humble,” says the youngest fruit forest creator.

Having received the highest civilian award for children is no mean feat, and she is already an impact creator. “Trees never eat their fruits or rivers don’t drink their water. Nature has made me understand the meaning of service,” says the Class 5 girl with a vision that takes one aback.

An environmentalist with a cause

Her G3 project - Generate your oxygen, grow your food and gift the community, she hopes will help create a sustainable environment by connecting with people through online or offline sessions, and providing eco kits to help them connect with nature.

Prasiddhi, who loves to skate, do yoga, doodle and cycle, has also represented the country at the Harvard World Model United Nations. “It was inspiring as I was the youngest keynote speaker. It made me realise that people want to create an impact by contributing to society but at times, they don't know what to do. The new generation is aware and feels responsible. Today, we just form 25 percent of the population but we are 100 percent of the future. Our actions matter,” Singh believes.

Prasiddhi, who found her biggest cheerleaders in her guru Swami Niranjananda Saraswati and her maternal grandfather, is deeply inspired by Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women as it helped her understand the need to stand up for change. “I learnt that despite struggles and challenges, these women brought (about) change. I realised that I don't need to be a grown-up to make a change,” adds the daughter who was influenced by stories about her parents’ childhood amidst nature.

She is interested in the four S' - Soil, Sustainability, Spirituality and Space. Soil, she says, is beneath us and is a basis of life. "It is essential. I don't just want to protect trees, I want to understand them too," she says, adding that the spiritual aspect includes understanding oneself in order to change the world. "Sustainability means living our lives in an eco-friendly way and Space includes protecting Mother Earth."

Today, Prasiddhi wants everyone to take small steps towards creating a healthy planet. “The murmurs of discontent of the motherland have gone unnoticed for a while but now we have to address reality. The world is undergoing a climate crisis. Rather than looking up to the government and leaders, we should focus on the actions we can take to make a change. It can be as simple and small as - saving water, planting trees, or saving electricity. Every action counts and can create an impact,” she signs off.

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