Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveFrom UP’s Barnawa to Cannes in France: Nancy Tyagi’s journey of dreams

From UP’s Barnawa to Cannes in France: Nancy Tyagi’s journey of dreams

By: Amrita Priya

(June 7, 2024) Among the numerous top international celebrities who walked the Cannes red carpet this year was an unusual debut by Nancy Tyagi, from Barnawa village in Uttar Pradesh. The 23-year-old turned heads with her self-made pink gown at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, becoming an overnight sensation.

With 2.5 million followers on Instagram, she boasts several brand endorsements and has garnered popularity and appreciation from even the celebrities. The Delhi-based influencer captured hearts after representing India on the global stage at Cannes 2024, showcasing her self-designed and self-stitched outfits.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ELLE India (@elleindia)

“Stepping onto the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as a debutant feels surreal. I poured my heart and soul into creating this pink gown, which took 30 days, 1,000 meters of fabric, and weighs over 20kg,” Nancy shared with her fans soon after her Cannes debut. “The journey has been intense, but every moment was worth it. I’m overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the love and support from all of you. This is a dream come true, and I hope my creation dazzles you as much as your support has inspired me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!” she added.

Stumbling into dress designing

Nancy had never imagined her life would turn into such a fairy tale when she decided to move to New Delhi from her hometown with the goal of clearing the UPSC exams. While moving from her small town of Barnawa in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, all her relatives and neighbours told her parents that the money they were investing in her coaching could be better used to marry her off. However, her parents did not pay heed to such advice. Nancy’s mother and younger brother joined her, while her father stayed back to take care of their cab service business.

Life took an unexpected turn, when the lockdown interrupted her UPSC preparations, and the savings meant for her education started getting used up for everyday expenditures. Her father had given the family three lakh rupees for studies and rent, and was in no position to send more with his business being affected by the lockdown at the time. Her mother found a job in a factory, which was exhausting. Every evening, when she would return home covered in coal dust, Nancy’s heart would break.

The arts graduate and her brother even worked at a call centre for a month and left the job when they were not paid any salary. However, the unpleasant circumstances opened a new door, one that led to her true passion – dress designing. Despite lacking formal training or a fashion degree, Nancy began creating outfits from scratch using an old sewing machine that was gifted to her mother at the time of her wedding.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nancy Tyagi (@nancytyagi___)

“When we had just about a lakh of savings left, I decided to quickly buy a camera and start making videos and reels for Instagram to showcase my talent in dress designing. I thought that even if my plan didn’t work out, I would have no regrets about not trying.”

Inspired by influencers, she wore her dresses to showcase the designs while her brother directed and shot her videos. They hoped their content creation endeavour would be successful someday, leading to brand deals and earning opportunities, so that they could give their mother a break from her unhappy job.

Getting success – an uphill task

For one year, they struggled to increase their views, which remained in the mere hundreds. Nancy decided to try something different and started adding dance elements to her videos, even though she didn’t know much about dancing.

To increase her following, she began recreating dresses of celebrities and influencers using clothes bought from local shops. Through trial and error, she crafted elaborate outfits inspired by icons like Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and many others. “I have never learned stitching,” she says. “When I was a child, I used to stitch my dolls’ clothes. I had bags full of clothes for my dolls. Using the same steps I started stitching my own clothes.”

She modelled the outfits herself and danced to Bollywood numbers to make the videos interesting. People initially found her content weird and started making memes. She faced harsh trolls and body shaming. Relatives called to scold her, saying, “Look what you have done. People are making fun of you.”

Nancy Tyagi

Undeterred, Nancy continued. Gradually, her follower count started increasing as she and her brother got into the groove of content creation. Once she started gaining popularity, people stopped body shaming her and calling her “skinny,” and began appreciating her designs. “Complaining relatives stopped calling. Now I call them to share my success,” she said in an interview.

“Earlier, I didn’t have the money to purchase a better sewing machine, but now I have got used to using it for two to three years. Even though I have the money now, I don’t think I need to buy a new one immediately,” she said. However, she made some purchases with her own money – something she couldn’t have imagined a few years ago – such as an iPhone.

The Cannes charisma

Brut India, a fast-growing digital video publisher, took notice of the rising star and promoted her talent by sharing her story with their audience. They even gave her a life-changing chance to be part of the Brut India Squad at Cannes.

Due to visa issues, her brother’s plans to fly to Cannes were stalled at the last moment. It was the first time she was on a professional venture without her brother Manu. However, managing well without him gave her confidence that she could handle things on her own. “I had not gone anywhere without Manu but went straight to France without him,” she smiled.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nancy Tyagi (@nancytyagi___)

Flying abroad to one of the fashion world’s most prestigious events to showcase her couture, and that too on a business class ticket, has been an unbelievable experience that has filled Nancy with new energy. “Now I don’t want to copy or recreate. It will be my designs only,” said the designer upon her return. Many people including fashion icon Sonam Kapoor have asked her to design something for her. Nancy is more than happy.

Nancy Tyagi’s journey from Barnawa to the Cannes red carpet epitomises the power of passion, determination, and resilience. Despite financial struggles, societal pressures, and harsh criticism, she transformed her dreams into reality through courage and creativity. Her success as a self-taught fashion designer, and journey to the global stage, highlights that with the courage to follow one’s passions and the resilience to overcome challenges, anything is achievable. Nancy’s story inspires to remain focussed on one’s dreams and steadfast in the face of adversity. Her story proves that true dedication can lead to extraordinary accomplishments.

Follow Nancy Tyagi on Instagram

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 07, Jun 2024

Share with

ALSO READ

Pitch perfect: Once dyslexic and epileptic, Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor is a musical wonder

(December 19, 2022) As an infant, Puja would often cry endlessly despite being fed on time by her mother, Neelam Kapoor. Her paediatricians were baffled and couldn’t diagnose the problem. Worried, Neelam discussed the issue with a friend, who came with a unique suggestion — playing a transistor near her cradle to see if it made any difference. It did. What doctors could not do, music did for the child. Each time she started crying, music would be played and the baby would calm down. She had a sharp sense of rhythm, naturally. [caption id="attachment_25569" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor[/caption] How music healed her Puja was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia and battled epileptic fits through her childhood. Stunning everyone around her, she began playing a keyboard using only her index finger, without even looking at the keys, sans any training or practice. Since then, the music composer and singer has taken the world of music by storm. “I am aiming for the Oscars,” declares music prodigy Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor, who has been certified with 17 world records, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. Her flair for the keyboard, which she can even play blindfolded, earned her an honorary PhD

“I am aiming for the Oscars,” declares music prodigy Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor, who has been certified with 17 world records, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. Her flair for the keyboard, which she can even play blindfolded, earned her an honorary PhD Degree in Music by Duke University, North Carolina.

The incredibly talented musician can also sing, play the tabla and writes poetry. What has stunned the world is her natural ability to compose “on the spot” and create music instantly. “I like to take the audience along on a mesmerising musical trip,” smiles the music prodigy, who was eventually cured of epileptic fits and is no more a dyslexic.

Finding recognition

Her talents were spotted by Indian television producer Ekta Kapoor, who gave Puja her first big break in the television industry.

Born in February, 1996 in Hyderabad, Puja stunned the doctors and her family members when she started to speak coherently when she was barely six months old. By the time she turned 10, she was playing full songs without any professional training.

[caption id="attachment_25570" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor with filmmaker Remo D'Souza[/caption]

Growing up, her dyslexia posed a major challenge. “There were regular complaints from the school regarding my reading and writing problems,” recalls Puja, who has composed music and background scores for Hindi TV serials like Kavyanjali and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka.

The accidental prodigy

Since dyslexia requires children to be taught using out-of-the-box and playful methods, Puja’s mother brought home a keyboard to improve her writing with finger exercises. She wouldn’t play it, really, until one evening, she sat before it and out of the blue, played a Hindi song, without even having to glance at the keys.

“I played the song once and then my mother wanted me to repeat it again and again,” recalls Puja, who did not look at the keyboard even once that day, as if it was coming naturally to her.

Another pleasant surprise came later, around midnight, when she began playing a series of nursery rhymes on the keys. “I was playing the keyboard in darkness as I did not want to disturb my grandparents,” says Puja, who has been honoured by the Indian Tele Academy as the youngest achiever.

Puja recalls an instance from her school’s annual day. “When my name was announced to play the national anthem on stage, my mother stood there anxious. I comforted her and played the national anthem in precisely 52 seconds (the actual duration) inviting huge applause,” says the prodigy.

Achievements

Her name finds a mention in Global World Records, Asia Book Records, India Book of Records, Telugu Book of Records and Limca Book of Records for her unbelievable talent of playing the keyboards blindfolded and composing music on-the-spot without any training or practice.

[caption id="attachment_25568" align="aligncenter" width="687"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor performing at one of the events[/caption]

“I love the sound of white keys (on the keyboard) and compose music only on them,” says the music prodigy, on whose life a short film was made by National Award winning director G L Bharadwaj. Renowned Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur once remarked that “Stephen Hawking (also dyslexic) knew the science of the Universe, and Puja knows the science of music.”

She was invited to “India’s Got Talent” a leading Indian reality show, where she showcased her talent blindfolded and composed a beautiful tune, instantly. Puja was also featured in the first episode of another leading Indian show, called “Lakhon Me Ek,” (one in a million) and the “Kapil Sharma Show,” one of the highly celebrated shows in India.

She also performed before the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Surjit Singh Barnala, who honoured her as a permanent invitee of the Governor for every function. The then AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu bestowed her with the title “The Pride of Andhra Pradesh.”

“I have composed music before Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut as well,” says the music composer, who was the URF Top Talent of the Year, 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teo06Plx1fk&t=334s

Looking ahead

These days, Puja is planning live shows to showcase her talent worldwide and spends hours singing and recording every day. Fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Bengali, Urdu, Marathi and even Arabic, Puja can sing in all these languages.

Puja has a special connect with the elderly. “I have performed at homes for the elderly and also orphanages,” smiles the prodigy, who dreams of building a beautiful home for the aged someday.

Follow Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor on Facebook

Reading Time: 5 min

Arushi Nath, the teen who won the Canada-Wide Science Fair twice in a row

(December 19, 2023) At the 2023 Canada-Wide Science Fair awards gala in Edmonton, nearly 900 attendees celebrated the achievements of Canadian students. Among them, fourteen-year-old Arushi Nath, the founder of MonitorMyPlanet, became the first back-to-back best project award winner since 1989-1990, claiming the prize in 2022 and then again 2023. Her project on planetary defense, focusing on detecting unknown asteroids using open data, mathematics, and Python – her algorithm did actually manage to locate three unknown asteroids. Arushi already has a long list of achievements to her name - she came in second at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in 2023, the winner of the 2023 Young Astronomer Award from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. In 2020, at the age of 11, she won the NASA SpaceAppsGlobal Challenge and in 2017, was the Canada SpaceApps Winner when she was eight years old! A young genius Arushi’s scientific journey began young – she has been learning on her own for years. Growing up in Toronto, she would spend her time looking up at the night sky when she was four or five years old. Soon, the family got their first telescope, and Arushi would “observe planets, stars clusters

ushi would “observe planets, stars clusters and sketch the observations,” she said. Academically, she had long since surpassed her school work, and wanted to spend her time pursuing her interests. One of these was sparked during her weekly family trips to the Ontario Science Centre, where she learned about the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). "They were hosting a monthly meeting inside the Ontario Science Centre, and I was really curious, so I listened to one," Arushi said. The meetings at RASC, where astronomers and scientists presented their projects, further fueled her interest.

As she matured, Arushi's interests diversified. "I also have other interests, for example, I have been learning to code in Python for the last four or five years. So, I definitely wanted to have lots of coding involved," she says. She also loves Math, which she learns on her own, saying, "I'm always one or two steps ahead of my school because the subject amazes me so much." All these interests would eventually come together in the project that helped her win the Canada Wide Science Fair.

The hackathon veteran

As far as Arushi was concerned, doing projects was the best way to learn. She also wanted to bring her scientific acumen together with the things she cared about. So, in 2018, when she and her friends attended the School Strike for Climate started by Swedish Climate activist Greta Thunberg, Arushi wanted to do more “than raise slogans or wait for others to act,” she said. This led to her designing ‘Schools and NASA Aiding Climate Action by Kids’, which comes with the catchy abbreviation, ‘S.N.A.C.K.’. The project uses satellite imagery to calculate tree densities of schools in Toronto, than ranks and maps them. She also designed a pollution sensor to measure levels in parks and schools across the city, using Arduino, the open source electronics platform that lets users create interactive models. "I wanted school children to come up with local solutions to global challenges," she says.

Her efforts resulted in her being named the NASA SpaceApps Global Nominee - she had already won the Space Apps Challenge in 2014 and again in 2018. In fact, by the age of 10, she had been at a jaw-dropping 29 hackathons. This was a special win, though, she says, of S.N.A.C.K, as it was her first solo attempt. " I had to do all the work myself, from thinking of the idea, making it, coding and presenting it to the judges in 40 hours."

The dragonfly drone

As far as Arushi was concerned, doing projects was the best way to learn. During the Covid-19, she began work on her first major endeavour – building a drone – quite a feat for the young scientist, who was only 10 years old at the time. The idea for the directional dragonfly drone was born during the COVID-19 lockdown. Disturbed by the news of locusts devastating crops in Asia and Africa, Arushi saw an opportunity to make a difference. "These locusts often travel in large swarms, are very fast, and can change direction unpredictably," the Global Indian explained, underlining the urgency of the problem.

Arushi's solution was to use drones for locust control. "I thought of using drones, as they can fly, follow the locusts, and monitor their behavior," she explains. She also wanted to biomimic nature, choosing the dragonfly because it is by far the most efficient hunter, with a 95 percent success rate in catching prey (in comparison, the success rate of lions is 25 percent and sharks have a 50 percent chance of success). Developing a drone is no mean feat, and Arushi used her Lego base to create the foundation and then attached motors and sensors to it, in a meticulous trial and error process. "I programmed it to identify all red objects as locusts," she said, describing the functionality of her creation.

The planetary defense system

By this time, Arushi was also involved with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. She started out attending meetings and listening to others speak but before long, she was presenting her own findings as well. She was also learning how to code in Python, “I started on my own and did many tutorials on Coder Dojo and Kids Code Jeunesse,” she says. And she wanted a way to put all these passions together.

Her idea was planetary defense against unknown asteroids. She had learned about robotic telescopes through the RASC and utilised images from these devices – “I took images from robotic telescopes in Canada, Spain, the US, and Australia to get full sky coverage," Arushi explains. She had to sift through these to pinpoint the unknown asteroids, using the Gaia Star Catalogue for information on star positions, and the NASA Horizon dataset, for predictions on the locations of known asteroids. Then, using her coding and math skills, she developed an algorithm to filter out known entities - “I created custom masks to remove all these objects, leaving me with the unknown objects," she explains.

She couldn’t always go it alone, though, often turning to online forums for help. "When I got some errors, I would try for days, even weeks, on my own to find the answer, but if not, I would reach out to specific forums," she says. She also reached out to experts, including Christina Thomas, the lead investigator on NASA’s DART mission. “"I sent her a message, told her about my current project, and asked if I could have a Zoom meeting to talk to her about her project and how it could relate to mine," Arushi smiles. Thomas responded and the two did get on that Zoom meeting. "I actually asked her for pointers on my project and what I could do," she adds.

Finding acclaim

“The whole thing took about ten months to complete,” Arushi says, “From getting the idea, reaching to people to see if they approved of it and then starting to code." Her goals changed along the way, so much so that her first goal and the end result were very different.” Finally, her findings were sent to the Minor Planet Center database. Then came waiting for a response. “A couple of weeks later, I got an email and three of the asteroids had my name next to them,” Arushi smiles. She submitted her project to the Toronto Science Fair and won gold, qualifying for the prestigious Canada-Wide Science Fair, where she also went on to win. “I was watching the results with my family and wasn’t expecting my name to pop up again but it did,” she says.

Now, Arushi is continuing work on her planetary defense project. Now that the DART Mission has successfully entered the Didymos (asteroid) system, she wants to measure the changes of the system during this impact. "I began studying the Didymos binary system for a copule of months before the DART impact," she says, "To fully understand how it has been affected."

Follow Arushi Nath on LinkedI

Rohit H. Sivaram: A rising star bridging cultures through music

(November 4, 2024) All of 22 years, musician Rohit H. Sivaram shows a rare maturity. In his speech he is measured, in his answers he is thoughtful, and in his actions he is considerate. While most South Indians his age are busy making marks in traditional fields, including math and science, this youngster is making waves with his music. His latest album, Unearth Prophecy, has just been released to much acclaim (including being considered a Grammy nomination in the Best Rock Album category), and the guitarist is currently busy touring and showcasing his unique music—alternative and progressive metal blending in with Indian Carnatic. “I did not enjoy playing the guitar while I was young and started playing it while at school,” he shares with Global Indian and adds, “My mother was keen that I continue my lessons, but when I moved to the US, I really enjoyed playing and started taking my training seriously.” [caption id="attachment_40144" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Rohit H Sivaram[/caption] A Tale of Two Countries Born in Miami and raised in Hyderabad, Rohit grew up surrounded by a large extended family and had a regular sporty childhood. “I was very naughty, had high adrenaline levels, and always loved being

Sivaram | Global Indian" width="566" height="736" /> Rohit H Sivaram[/caption]

A Tale of Two Countries

Born in Miami and raised in Hyderabad, Rohit grew up surrounded by a large extended family and had a regular sporty childhood. “I was very naughty, had high adrenaline levels, and always loved being outdoors,” he recalls. Even in his growing up years, he was part of bands while at the music school, apart from his school (Vidyaranya) in Hyderabad.

At 14, the youngster moved to Kansas along with his father, and it was not an easy homecoming. Rohit explains, “Somethings were easy, like I had an American accent, which made integration seamless, but since my mother was in India to take care of my brother, who was unwell, I did feel alone at times.”

It was then that music became a respite and a refuge. He started learning guitar classes at a local store, followed Youtubers including Mahalo Guitar and Marty Schwartz, and started playing his favourite music bands (from Guns N Roses to Dream Theater), building a repertoire of his own. Soon he started playing the school band (named Hidintact) which helped him get his groove.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rohit H. Sivaram (@rohit_h._sivaram)

Music And Magic

In 2020, Rohit Sivaram joined Berklee College of Music, and the credit for it goes to his parents, Nagalakshmi and Hariharan. Though he was on his way to pursue a course in computer science and pharmaceuticals when the unexpected trajectory suddenly opened, thanks to his parents who saw the zest for music in him.

“My parents asked me if I would like to take up music as a full-time career, which made me really think of turning a hobby into a full-time passion. I was also conscious of the fact that less than three percent of people make it in music but was ready to take up the challenge,” he states.

Always aspiring to be a part of a band, he always admired how musicians were totally committed to their craft — living, loving, and breathing music continuously — and took the plunge to be a musician.

Berklee became a hallowed ground for honing his craft and learning. He states, “Berklee has been an incredible experience where I got to work with the faculty who inspired me to further develop my craft. I worked and learned from legends like Joe Stamp, Shaun Michand, and Tomo Fujita (John Mayer’s teacher), which was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rohit H. Sivaram (@rohit_h._sivaram)

Apart from experiential learning and being exposed to different genres of music, Rohit Sivaram built a community of musicians around him as well as being part of a band (Enfierce) as a lead guitarist.

Starting Out

Rohit’s first debut EP, Unearth Prophecy, is out with five tracks that traverse alternative metal, progressive rock, and Indian fusion. Songs from his debut album, be it the catchy Nákṣatra or the engaging Whirlwind, have already been hitting the right chords with people and have been submitted for Grammy consideration.

The young musician has also worked alongside the maestro Guitar Prasanna, and all his songs have a natural inclination towards Carnatic music. He recalls, “I felt I was drifting apart and cold-mailed him one day. To my surprise, he responded, and we started corresponding and before I knew it I was learning classical music under him.”

Under Prasanna’s mentorship, he has combined unique eastern and western notes, creating a singularly prolific voice for his music. He is also touring and performing the songs across the world (from the US to India), picking up important lessons crucial for his craft while playing live in front of a crowd along the way.

Learning Carnatic music has been like a blindfold that has been taken off, smiles the guitarist and adds, “There was a real connection, and from a technical perspective, I’ve picked up some amazing insights by learning and playing traditional music. The technique, attention to detail and precision required, and the tenacity to train have equipped me with a unique discipline and focus that I now bring into my work.”

A musician learns as much by practice as by perspective, and Rohit enjoys meeting musicians (from the classical genius TM Krishna to the pop culture band Indian Ocean, also including Western Rock greats such as Myles Kennedy and Nate Navarro) and having conversations that enhance his understanding.

The Way Forward

Making it as a musician is a long and challenging journey, with few people getting a breakthrough easily. Now that he has started his career, the young musician is aware of what lies ahead of him. He explains, “My friends have already started their internships and jobs, so I’m aware of peer pressure and the expectations. I know what I’m chasing and that the road in front of me is not easy, but I’m determined to give it my best.”

Having close-knit family and parents who encourage him at every step certainly helps. What also helps him keep grounded are his other interests — reading, watching shows (Jamie Oliver and Masterchef), or being physically active by playing sports. His other interests include reading memoirs of musicians and exploring new genres of music.

At 22, Rohit Sivaram has already carved out a distinctive space in the global music landscape, blending the raw intensity of alternative and progressive metal with the nuanced beauty of Carnatic rhythms. As he navigates the challenges of a music career, Rohit’s grounded perspective and fierce dedication set him apart, promising an exciting future.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rohit H. Sivaram (@rohit_h._sivaram)

For him, this is just the beginning — a journey fueled by a love for music and a relentless pursuit of artistic authenticity.

QUICK TAKES
Musicians who influenced you: Santana, Pink Floyd and Slash from Guns n Roses
Carnatic musicians you like: Thyagaraja, L Subramanian, TM Krishna and Guitar Prasanna
On your checklist: Touring and performing extensively, deepening my understanding of fusion music and focusing on my social media approach
On your playlist always: Isolation by Alter Bridge, Born to Fly by Slash and Bowling for Peace by Prasanna

Follow Rohit H Sivaram on Instagram

Meet the five Indians selected for Rhodes Scholarship 2025

Each year, thousands of the world’s brightest minds vie for the coveted Rhodes Scholarship, a life-changing opportunity to study at the University of Oxford. Established in 1902, through the will of British businessman and colonialist Cecil John Rhodes, the scholarship is one of the oldest and most prestigious international academic awards. Designed to cultivate public-spirited leaders, it aims to foster mutual understanding and peace through education, bringing together exceptional students from around the globe. As the Rhodes Trust states, “When different people come together in a shared spirit, exciting new things begin.” [caption id="attachment_40553" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Cecil John Rhodes' statue at the Oxford University[/caption] In 2025, five Indian students have been selected to join this elite community, marking the continuation of a legacy that has evolved far beyond its colonial origins. Originally intended to foster unity among English-speaking nations, this esteemed and long-standing international scholarship programme underwent revisions over time. By the 21st century, eligibility expanded to encompass citizens from all countries. Indians gained access to this scholarship opportunity in 1947. Rhodes Scholars receive full financial support, covering tuition fees, visas, health surcharges, and even travel and living expenses during their time at Oxford. Starting in 2026, the number of

intended to foster unity among English-speaking nations, this esteemed and long-standing international scholarship programme underwent revisions over time. By the 21st century, eligibility expanded to encompass citizens from all countries. Indians gained access to this scholarship opportunity in 1947.

Rhodes Scholars receive full financial support, covering tuition fees, visas, health surcharges, and even travel and living expenses during their time at Oxford. Starting in 2026, the number of scholarships available to Indian students will increase to six, thanks to a perpetual endowment by entrepreneur couple Mukund and Soumya Rajan. Global Indian takes a look at the five Indian youngsters who have bagged the 2025 Rhodes scholarship:

Pal Aggarwal

Pal is a fourth-year undergraduate student from Ghaziabad, U.P., studying Engineering Physics (Hons.) at IIT Bombay. With dual minors in Computer Science and Machine Intelligence, her academic journey is deeply rooted in her passion for astrophysics, mathematics, and data science. Pal dreams of becoming an astronaut and is equally committed to advocating for women in science, inspiring others to pursue their ambitions in traditionally male-dominated fields.

[caption id="attachment_40554" align="aligncenter" width="374"] Pal Aggarwal[/caption]

Beyond her academic pursuits, Pal is an accomplished Bharatnatyam and contemporary dancer. As a student researcher at IIT Bombay’s Space Technology and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Lab, she works on "Daksha," a proposed space mission to detect electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave sources. Her previous work includes contributing to the uGMRT’s Fast Radio Burst (FRB) detection pipeline at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune, and participating in the Student Satellite Program at IIT Bombay. Her internships span a Quantum Computing research stint at the National University of Singapore and a strategic consulting role at Bain & Company, where she earned a coveted Pre-Placement Offer.

Rayan Chakrabarti

Ryan, a postgraduate student of Arts and Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), is driven by a deep interest in memory studies, anthropology, and the narratives of nationalism. A graduate of English Literature from St. Stephen’s College, Ryan envisions creating a dedicated archive and museum to document the COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching impact on South Asia. This passion for exploring collective memory led him to co-found the Pandemic Oral History Archives, capturing firsthand accounts of the crisis and its aftermath.

[caption id="attachment_40555" align="aligncenter" width="373"] Ryan Chakrabarti[/caption]

Ryan’s academic pursuits are complemented by his commitment to social impact. During his time at St. Stephen’s, he worked on a poverty alleviation project, conducting surveys to facilitate bank account access for slum residents and teaching remedial classes to underserved students. An accomplished pianist, he also channels his creative energy into writing and translating poetry that interrogates politics and nationhood, blending art and activism in meaningful ways.

Shubham Narwal

“I can’t believe I am India’s first vet Rhodes scholar elect. Happy to be part of the Rhodes community,” shared Shubham in his heartfelt reaction on social media after being named a Rhodes Scholar for 2025. Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Shubham is driven by a mission to safeguard biodiversity. His academic focus lies in clinical embryology, where he aims to pioneer new conservation strategies for critically endangered species, particularly the Great Indian Bustard.

[caption id="attachment_40556" align="aligncenter" width="369"] Shubham Narwal[/caption]

Apart from internships at reputed institutions, Shubham’s journey has been enriched by a fully funded short online course on modern methods in Infection Biology conducted by the Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany. In the course where students from other countries were his fellow participants, he delved into bioinformatics, microscopic imaging, and the One Health approach to tackle neglected tropical diseases, earning valuable global insights into animal health and ecosystem management. Beyond his academic pursuits, Shubham’s love for basketball and Harry Potter highlights his vibrant personality, balancing scientific rigour with creative passions.

Vibha Swaminathan

Vibha, the Rhodes Scholar-elect for 2025 from Delhi, is deeply committed to exploring the political and legal fragilities of citizenship regimes in India. A final-year student at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) and an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), Vibha envisions combining her academic pursuits with a dynamic human rights litigation practice in India’s trial courts. Her journey reflects a seamless integration of intellectual rigor and practical advocacy.

[caption id="attachment_40557" align="aligncenter" width="340"] Vibha Swaminathan[/caption]

At LSR, Vibha’s brilliance earned her several accolades, including the Faculty Prize, the Randhir Singh Award for Excellence in Political Analysis, and the Rena Sewak Award for Excellence in English Public Speaking. At NLSIU, she has continued to excel, taking on leadership roles as an elected member of the LLB Recruitment Coordination Committee and a member of the Academic Support Programme. She has also contributed significantly to legal practice, engaging in appellate citizenship litigation before the Guwahati High Court and assisting with constitutional cases in the Supreme Court. Vibha’s dedication to academia is equally impressive. She served as a teaching assistant for Criminal Law II (Criminal Procedure) and a research assistant for the Women Leadership in Law project.

Avanish Vats

Avanish, a bachelor’s student at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, is driven by a passion for epistemology and a vision to make philosophy accessible to disabled people. A former student of DPS Ranchi, Avanish combines his intellectual pursuits with a strong commitment to social work, aiming to bridge the gap between abstract ideas and real-world inclusivity.

[caption id="attachment_40558" align="aligncenter" width="329"] Avanish Vats[/caption]

An accomplished tabla player, Avanish has been a central figure in enriching the cultural fabric of his academic institutions. From serving as the primary tabla performer for school assemblies to being a key member of his college band, his musical journey has instilled in him discipline, teamwork, and a deep appreciation for community and culture.

Together, these Rhodes scholars represent the multifaceted talents and ambitions of a generation determined to shape a more equitable and innovative world, using the opportunities at Oxford as a stepping stone to drive meaningful change.

Reading Time: 5 mins

How tiny tech whiz Arijit Das’ AI & IoT projects have won awards

(February 20, 2022) It was a fine summer evening when a 10-year-old Arijit Das and his friends came across a young man building a drone in their neighbourhood playground. The boys were fascinated. As they watched the drone soar into the sky, they were captivated. A kindly neighbour walked them through the basics, explained how he’d built the device and its components. As the young Durgapur resident headed home that evening, his thoughts were filled with the exciting possibilities technology provided. Soon, the self-taught tech whiz was building his own tech projects like a prosthetic limb using arduino and micro controllers. The fields of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things interested him and this student at Hem Sheela Model School began racking up awards and achievements for his projects. From receiving the CSIR Innovation Award in 2021 to becoming the ambassador for Edge Impulse, a San Jose-based machine learning startup, 15-year-old Arijit has come a long way from being that fascinated little one on a Durgapur playground. [caption id="attachment_11095" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Arijit Das[/caption] The boy from Durgapur Born in Durgapur to a physiotherapist father and a homemaker mother, technology was not always on Arijit’s mind. An only child, he was quite

e Impulse | CSIR Winner" width="647" height="818" /> Arijit Das[/caption]

The boy from Durgapur

Born in Durgapur to a physiotherapist father and a homemaker mother, technology was not always on Arijit’s mind. An only child, he was quite happy-go-lucky, till one day, he chanced upon the drone. “When we approached my neighbour, he was kind enough to explain the workings and makings of a drone. It was enough to have me hooked,” says Arijit, recalling the incident from five years ago which sparked his interest in tech. “I went home and ran a google search, and began learning about tech myself,” the tech whiz tells Global Indian.

Soon, Arijit was building his first project for a state level science fair; a modified version of the LiFi concept prototype which used infrared light emitters instead of traditional light bulbs in 2018. Ever since, he has been working on various AI and IoT based projects, and speaking at conferences. In 2019, Arijit built the prosthetic limb, using arduino and micro controllers for a science fair at school. It so happened, that a few NIT-Durgapur employees happened to visit the science fair, and walked away impressed by Arijit’s project. A few weeks later, the lad’s teacher received an email from NIT, inviting Arijit and his team to the college to showcase the project. “Those were our first steps forward,” says the lad, who also showcased the project at the Institute of Engineers India, Durgapur chapter, on National Energy Conservation Day.

Project Innovation for Arijit

“We got one more special chance to present our project at an international conference WEES 2020 organised by the National Institute of Technology Durgapur and RMIT Australia. We were even invited by CSIRO Australia to write a research paper on our project which would get published in one of their energy conservation journals,” says the tech whiz. But then COVID-19 struck and the ensuing disruptions put a spanner in the works.

Not one to be discouraged, Arijit decided to participate in a competition organised by UNDP in April 2020 for designing projects for COVID-19. “I presented them with an idea for a health band that helps both patients and doctors,” says the Stem student, who won the hardware winner category prize for which he was awarded hardware worth $1,000.

Surging ahead with ideas

Some of the other projects Arijit has worked on are an anti-theft system for vehicles for the China-US Young Maker Fair, which he won. In August 2021, he developed an AI-based smart pesticide detector and farming system which went on to win the Deep Learning Superheroes Challenge by Intel. Arijit was featured across many tweets by Intel India too. Awarded the prestigious CSIR Innovation Award for School Children by the Department of Science & Technology, is another feather in this youngster’s cap .

“One of the best outcomes of these is the fact that I’ve made some great friends along the way, and have even won a lot of hackathons with them,” says the tech whiz, who received an invitation from Edge Impulse, a San Jose-based ML startup to become a part of their team in November 2021. "Later that month I officially became a part of the Edge Impulse team to develop and manage communities for EmbeddedML. Seeing my work in 2021, I was also invited by Ira Feldman, managing director of tinyML Foundation to join their team and help spread the idea and knowledge of tinyML across Asia, which led to the formation of the tinyML India chapter that presently has 700 plus members.”

Quiz the youngster on why technology fascinates him, and he says, “I believe technology can solve a lot of global issues. It can truly help society and the community with its inventions.”

With board exams looming, Arijit’s tech projects are restricted to the weekends, after his studies. This young tech enthusiast who loves subjects like physics, math, and computer science, aims to pursue a degree in engineering and hopes to one day become a computer scientist. “My parents are very supportive and whenever I am in doubt, they’re my biggest cheerleaders,” says the youngster, who loves to spend time with friends in between all his passion projects, academics and guitar lessons.

Follow Arijit Das on LinkedIn.

Reading Time: 5 mins