From gully cricket to playing for India, Smriti Mandhana’s journey is remarkable
Written by: Amrita Priya
(July 15, 2022) India’s star opener, Smriti Mandhana, comes from a family of cricketers. The 26-year-old, who watched her brother play in district tournaments and would save his newspaper clippings as a child, has carved a glorious career for herself. Today, she ranks as the only Indian batter in the top ten list of women’s OneDay International (ODI) player rankings. Moreover, she was awarded the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy for being the best female cricketer of the year, not once but twice – in 2018 and 2021. Even the BCCI named her 2018 Best Women’s International Cricketer.
Smriti Mandhana, Indian cricketer
The left-handed batter has also been awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award for her accomplishments. “Proud to call myself an Indian. I still fondly remember the day I got the (first) chance to represent my country, a feeling beyond words,” reminisced the cricketer in one of her tweets. Global Indian turns its spotlight on India’s record setting player.
Rise of a star
It was in 2013 that her budding cricketing career took a quantum leap when she clinched two centuries in a one-day game. The Mumbai-born cricketer was playing for Maharashtra against Gujarat, scoring an unbeaten 224 in 150 balls in an under-19 tournament at Vadodara. She reached another milestone in 2016 by scoring three half centuries that led her team to win the Women’s Challenger Trophy. She became the tournament’s top scorer with 192.
Her international debut was in 2014 test match against England at Wormsley Park. In 2016, during the Australian tour, Smriti made a mark – scoring her international career’s maiden century. That year, she was the only Indian player to be named in the ICC Women’s Team of the Year. She has been representing the country and displaying her excellent cricketing prowess in tournaments like the Women’s Cricket World Cup, Women’s Twenty20 Internationals, Women’s One Day Internationals and Women’s Cricket Super League.
Smriti Mandhana with Indian women’s cricket team members
The year 2019 was a significant year for the ace cricketer as she became the youngest captain of India’s women Twenty20 international squad for the three-match series against England, at the age of 22.
“Heartiest congratulations on yet another magnificent year in international cricket. Keep giving your best and keep scaling new heights,” lauded cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, when she received the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award this year.
A Rajasthani girl raised in Maharashtra
Born to a Rajasthani family in Mumbai, she did her schooling at Madhavnagar. Seeing her father and brother play cricket at the district level, she was instantly attracted to the game during her growing up years. She would often accompany her brother to see him play, and knew that someday she would be scoring runs like him. It was her father who started training her for cricket. She was so good at the game that she was selected in Maharashtra’s Under-15 team when she was just nine. This initial nudge made her father confident that Smriti had a future in the sport. She soon started training under a junior state coach, Anant Tambwekar. At eleven, she made it to the Maharashtra Under-19s team.
Though she spent most of her time on the field, studies never took a back seat for the cricketer, who is a graduate in commerce from Chintamani Rao College of Commerce, Sangli.
Life other than cricket
Though the pandemic put a screeching halt on her game, the cricketer made her presence felt off the field with her popular talk show, Double Trouble. Featuring Smriti and cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues as hosts, the show gave an insight into the world of Indian sports stars.
The star cricketer, whose net worth is close to $3 million, calls her family the wind beneath her wings. Her father, Shrinivas, a chemical distributor by profession, still handles all her cricket schedules, while her mother, Smita, manages her diet. Apart from her glorious cricketing profession, she has also stepped into entrepreneurship with SM18, a café and restaurant in her home town, Sangli. However, cricket is something that is closest to her heart. “Whenever I go out to bat, my only responsibility is to look at the scoreboard and think what India needs from me at this moment,” said the cricketer in an interview.
(August 3, 2023) In the quiet village of Chalagere in Mundgod Taluk, in Karnataka, a young girl would run around, rather actually sprint, to do her chores, field activities, shopping, and school. And that is where this remarkable tale of courage and determination unfolds, as today that girl - Nayana Kokare - is a national level runner, who has represented India in the Asian U-20 Championships, in South Korea in June 2023 and won a 4x100m relay bronze and secured a fourth position in Asia in 200m. The girl, who would run barefoot in her village, was discovered by a non-profit organization Bridges Of Sports (BOS) during an event. Once this exceptional runner was identified, she received the essential resources and opportunities to participate and excel at the highest echelons of competition. Currently considered to be India's fastest runner, Nayana sits with Global Indian to talk about her journey and aspirations. A born fighter Born in 2004 to a farming family, the runner was the youngest kid with two older brothers and two sisters. Her father is a farmer and her mother goes to work in the fields. Nayana's early life was a constant hustle. Traveling several kilometres to attend
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A born fighter
Born in 2004 to a farming family, the runner was the youngest kid with two older brothers and two sisters. Her father is a farmer and her mother goes to work in the fields. Nayana's early life was a constant hustle. Traveling several kilometres to attend school and participating fervently in school sports, her passion for running bloomed at a young age. “I did my primary schooling in my village itself and as our village does not have a high school, we had to travel 12 km to go to school. I used to participate in the school sports day when I was in 6th and 7th grade, and I absolutely loved running,” says the runner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFCBv0rM8Hc
Her professional journey really began when she was 16 and there were selection trials in Mundgod organised by an NGO, Bridges of Sports. “I got the opportunity to participate and fortunately, I was selected. The coaches there provided me with a deeper understanding of sports and competition, which ignited a profound love for athletics within me.”
However, it was not all a bed of roses. Once the runner was selected into the program, there were immediate obstacles as her parents were not comfortable with their daughter training in shorts and track attire in the community ground. They were not sure how sports can help her or their family live a better life. “As an organisation, it took us almost the whole of 2019 to work with her and her family to provide them a roadmap of how her life could benefit from sports and her success in athletics. Their family’s average annual income was around 400-550 USD largely dependent on good monsoons. This was one of the main reasons for children from her village and community dropping out of education and supporting their families to earn additional income. We are working with a few international partners to enable and support her training for the Asian Games 2026,” says Nitish Chiniwar, Founder and CEO, of Bridges of Sports Foundation.
The results are now paying off. She is now recognised as the fastest runner in India, something she is rightfully happy and proud of. “I will do my best, work harder to become faster. Also, I will motivate more athletes to come to sports and train,” the runner plans. Her training involves different sessions for speed, endurance, gym, and cycling, along with sprinting lessons from her coaches as well as psychology sessions. Her diet is more specific to her sport which includes eggs, chicken, milk, and muesli, quantity wise of food. “I miss a lot of foods like Maggi, chicken rolls, and ice cream. Sometimes I miss them more, but once I win a medal it is all worth it,” she smiles.
From fields to podiums
During the pandemic, she faced significant difficulties in maintaining her training regimen. With restrictions in place and limited access to sports facilities, she had to find alternative solutions. “Our hostel rooms, the hostel veranda, and even the gym room became our training spaces. Despite the limitations, we were determined to continue our daily training. In these trying times, our coaches stood by us and provided unwavering support. They stayed with us, ensuring that we received the guidance and assistance we needed. They understood the challenges we faced and went above and beyond to help us adapt to the new circumstances," says the runner.
Though the circumstances were not ideal, the team made the most of what they had. “We transformed our living spaces into makeshift training areas and pushed ourselves to maintain our fitness and skills. The dedication and support of our coaches played a crucial role in keeping us motivated and focused on our goals. Through perseverance and teamwork, we overcame the obstacles posed by the pandemic and remained committed to our athletic development," she recalls.
And that is also how the runner rationalises challenges like missing classes and missing festivals at home outweigh winning which makes her happier and the sacrifices worth it. Looking ahead, she says that she would like to represent India in more international competitions, win more medals, participate in the Olympics, and make the country proud.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21JtuKVccec
"I aspire to inspire and motivate more young children to pursue sports and strive for success. By setting an example through my dedication and achievements, I hope to ignite a spark in their hearts, encouraging them to dream big and work hard towards their own accomplishments. With a strong sense of purpose and determination, I am eager to continue my training, give my best performance, and make a positive impact in the world of sports,” the runner avers. In her spare time, she indulges in drawing, watching videos on YouTube, and ‘roaming around’, in her own words. Until then it is time to celebrate this young prodigy and raise a toast to her success today and in the future.
(December 31, 2023) 2023 was a big year for Indian and Indian-origin sportspeople, from the historic triumph of the dressage team at the Asian Games, to Praggnanandhaa winning the silver medal at the Chess World Cup, each athlete's journey has been marked by with extraordinary dedication, relentless quest for perfection, and deep desire to make their country proud. Their remarkable feats not only brought glory to the nation but also ignited inspiration among aspiring youth, imparting invaluable lessons in sportsmanship. Global Indian turns the spotlight on the young sports stars of 2023. R Pragganandhaa Chess grandmaster Praggnanandhaa's silver medal at the World Cup confirms India's increasing dominance in chess. The 2023 tournament stands out as a pivotal event that notably highlighted the expanding prowess of Indian chess on a global scale. His advancement to the 2024 Candidates tournament sets the stage for a showdown where the victor will challenge China's Ding Liren in the upcoming World Championship. Remarkably, at just 18 years of age, Praggnanandhaa holds the distinction of being the youngest-ever finalist in the history of the Chess World Cup. [caption id="attachment_34948" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Praggnandhaa[/caption] “I started playing playing tournaments when I was very young but there is lots more to
“I started playing playing tournaments when I was very young but there is lots more to achieve,” he had remarked in an interview with Global Indian.
Anush Agarwalla
Equestrian
Anush is exactly where he should be now — on top of the world. From weekend joyrides on horseback when he was barely three to becoming a passionate and accomplished equestrian years later — Anush Agarwalla has galloped his way to glory. This year, he became the winner of India’s first-ever bronze medal in individual Dressage at the Asian Games 2023. “There is no better feeling than having a good ride. With Etro (his horse), I really felt like we were flying in the arena,” smiled Anush, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. After his historic win. He scored 73.030 to finish third and claim his second medal at the Asian Games.
“My next goal is to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. I missed out on the Tokyo Olympics by just one spot so I hope to make it this time,” says Anush, who flew back to Germany immediately to begin training for his next milestone.
Divyakriti Singh
Equestrian
Divyakriti was among the four-member contingent that won India the historic gold at the Asian Games 2023, held at Hangzhou, China recently.“We definitely dreamt of a podium finish but to win the gold medal is surreal, it’s extraordinary and it should be like that,” smiles Divyakriti, in an exclusive with Global Indian.
The historic win was the end result of hard training for years, perseverance, sacrifices and above all, the indomitable will to shine for India. “All the sacrifices we made are a small price to pay for the things we get to do,” said the 23-year-old, who is on cloud nine post the team’s win. She scored 68.176 in Asian Games.
Sahith Theegala
Golfer
“It doesn’t feel real. It’s probably not going to set in for a while. But man, that was a lot of good golf, and that was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.” 2023 has been a strong year for Californian golfer Sahith Theegala, who captured his first PGA Tour victory in September at the Fortinet Championship. He finished 21-under 267 at Silverado Resort’s North Course in in Napa, California, as friends and family cheered him on from the stands.
“Just the support I have is mind blowing. I got to bed at night these last few days and I’m like, I can’t believe how many people are cheering for me and rooting for me,” Sahith told Golf Week USA. “I can definitely hear my dad,” he smiled.
Neeraj Chopra
Javelin Thrower
Rewards and accolades never seem to stop raining down on Neeraj Chopra. He has made India proud with a gold in World Athletics Championships 2023 at Budapest, Hungary. A master at scripting history, the 25-year-old athlete is the first Indian to win a gold in the World Athletics Championships since it started in 1983 – exactly 40 years ago. It’s a historic win for India.
Apart from winning the World Championships and Asia Games Gold medals, he made it to the nomination list for the World Athlete of the Year 2023.
Rani Rampal
Hockey player
Ace hockey player Rani Rampal who earned the moniker the ‘Queen of Hockey,’ has recently been appointed as U-17 coach to mentor rising stars of the game. “Hockey gave me an identity, people listen to me, talk to me because of hockey. So, I just want to work for it in any capacity. You can can play, mentor young kids, you can teach,” she said accepting the role. This is the second milestone that the 28-year-old achieved in her career in 2023.
She had reached a significant milestone earlier this year when Modern Coach Factory (MCF) Stadium in Raebareli got renamed to ‘Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf’. From being a girl who had to plead to enter a hockey academy to becoming the first female player to have a stadium in her name, Rani’s journey is extraordinary.
Shahan Ali Mohsin
Racer
Shahan has become the first Indian to win the FIA Formula 4 car racing championship. The 19-year-old, who represents the Hyderabad Black Birds team, picked up the trophy at Madras International Circuit in Sriperumbudur, a town panchayat some 35 km away from Chennai.
[caption id="attachment_34951" align="aligncenter" width="533"] Shahan Ali Mohsin[/caption]
It’s nothing short of a dream come true for the teenager who has spent a considerable amount of his life on racetracks. When most kids of his age were glued to cartoons on television, Shahan Ali Mohsin would watch motorsport racing. Looking at the fast-speed cars, he knew he wanted to be on the track driving one. It was in 2011 that he first visited Indian Grand Prix, and was determined to make a career in motorsports, and now a few years later has made the entire country proud.
(September 13, 2024) When 19-year-old Josh Roy presented his AI-implemented solution for the genetic modification of whiteflies, at the 2024 TKS Focus Hackathon, it emerged as the global winner, beating over 400 competitors from 300 cities and 80 teams. His solution aims to combat the devastating impact of Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) on cassava plants, an essential food staple in the tropics, and address food insecurity. This groundbreaking project, validated by leaders such as the Global Head of Data Science at GSK, was showcased at London Tech Week 2024, which attracted over 45,000 attendees. It also earned Josh a scholarship to the prestigious Villars Institute's inaugural ecopreneurship program. Josh is in active discussions with researchers, NGOs, and technology companies to bring his solution to market and positively impact millions of lives. This November, the US-based youngster would be flying to West Africa to receive the prestigious Global Entrepreneurs Award. “I am due to collect the award in-person in the world's first entrepreneurship village in Akure, Nigeria, where the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu and billionaire Mrs. Folorunso Alakija would be present as guests of honour,” he tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_39224" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Josh
would be present as guests of honour,” he tells Global Indian.
[caption id="attachment_39224" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Josh Roy at the London Tech Week[/caption]
There’s more to Josh’s personality. A passionate musician and host of The CapitalTycoon Podcast, where he engages with successful innovators, he was also the first student in the UK to complete a music GCSE in tabla. 'Tabla is one of the main focuses in my life alongside entrepreneurship. If you think about it, the two go hand in hand, as both require the ability to think creatively,' he remarks.
Dabbling in AI-powered innovation, music and podcasting
The British-born innovator describes himself as ‘a design engineer at the intersection of business, tech, and product design’ and is passionate about creating solutions to make the world a better place. As the developer of AI-powered innovations, he also identifies as an AI ethicist and is working on an AI-powered tabla tutor prototype designed to train students at all levels, aiming to revolutionize tabla education.
When asked how he balances his academics, music and other interests he smiles, “I don't know if I balance it well, and I'm not sure I'm at the stage to offer advice on how to find balance in my work. As my mentor John Spence told me, "If you genuinely enjoy and are obsessed with what you're working on, that's what you should be doing." I believe it's this sense of enjoyment I get from these projects that keeps them from feeling tedious or time-consuming."
Josh looks at each aspect of his life as complementary rather than separate. For instance, he looks at his podcast as an avenue to explore new ideas while engaging with successful innovators who provide insights that often benefit in his own entrepreneurial ventures.
The Indian-origin innovator who was born and brought up in the UK, received training in Tabla by Kuljit Bhamra MBE. “My passion for the tabla offers a creative outlet that recharges me mentally, which is essential when juggling high-pressure projects,” he remarks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxT7frsjtE
He has chosen an alternative education path through The Knowledge Society (TKS), where learning is deeply integrated with hands-on, real-world problem solving. “This flexible approach has allowed me to dedicate time to all my passions,” he mentions.
Josh got the opportunity to enroll in the two-year TKS programme after bagging the Unicorn Scholarship, which is only awarded to 20 students annually. He ranked in the top 0.06% of the 31,298 students who applied in the most recent batch. Its acceptance rate is far lower than that of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Combatting Cassava Mosaic Disease to address food insecurity
It all started with an upbringing that focused on seva. Even before he turned 10, Josh started volunteering with food banksand distributing meals to underprivileged elderly people. This sparked his commitment to tackling food insecurity. While he was still in school, the opportunities to attend tech conferences opened his eyes to technology’s potential. Later, a few Hackathon victories fuelled his desire to work on the problem of food insecurity all the more, and he came up with the AI-optimized tool for the genetic modification of whiteflies - engineered to combat the devastating impact of Cassava Mosaic Disease that has potential to benefit35 million Nigerians.
Cassava is a calorie-rich vegetable and the third-largest source of carbohydrates in food in the tropics, after rice and maize, making it an important staple. In African Cassava Mosaic Virus is a plant virus that infects cassava plants, causing mosaic symptoms on leaves and leading to significant yield losses in regions where cassava is a major food source. It is primarily transmitted through infected cassava stem cuttings and by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. When Josh came to know how millions of people in Nigeria suffer from food insecurity due to the Cassava Mosaic Disease, the AI enthusiast got drawn to solve a solution to the problem, and came up with an AI-driven gene editing solution for the genetic modification of whiteflies that cause the Cassava Mosaic Disease.
[caption id="attachment_39225" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Josh during the Villars Institute's mentorship programme[/caption]
Later, the week-long mentorship he received from ecopreneurs and scientists — pioneers in their respective fields — as part of his scholarship to the prestigious Villars Institute broadened his horizons. “With guidance from experts like Sofia de Meyer and Sofia Khwaja-Horekens, I've refined my food insecurity project, focusing on key stakeholders. Meeting people like the chief economist of Mars Inc. Bruno Roche and my mentor Jini Sebakunzi was an honour, and the experience deepened my connection with nature, and problems in its realm,” he says.
Work in progress
“The next steps involve collaborating with agricultural institutions in Nigeria and across Africa to conduct field trials of the modified whiteflies. This will help demonstrate the tool's effectiveness in real-world conditions. We are also working on partnerships with government bodies and NGOs to create awareness and ensure smooth adoption of this innovation. Once proven in field tests, scaling the technology will involve aligning with policymakers, farmers, and supply chain partners to ensure it reaches the 35 million Nigerians who stand to benefit,” tells Josh.
For the youngster, the goal is to not only combat CMD but to create a sustainable model that can be replicated across different regions suffering from crop diseases, ensuring long-term food security.
“My Father was my support for me from the beginning of my unconventional path and encouraged me going against cultural expectations by working to solve humanity's biggest problems through entrepreneurship or should I say, ecopreneurship,” he remarks.
Other projects
Josh has worked onother AIprojects like Project Dynamo while pursuing a consulting challenge with The Knowledge Society (TKS). “It's an initiative I launched to train NGO students in climate change problem-solving and systems thinking, partnering with SOS Children's Villages, India. This project also leveraged AI to translate educational content into regional languages, making it more accessible across diverse communities,” he informs.
Additionally, he has worked alongside Google for another TKS Challenge in AI-driven initiatives, for addressing problems like information overload that its employees face.
Josh Roy understands the importance of quality mentorship and has actively pursued it from business leaders.
Determined to reach out to John Spence, the Chairman of Karma Group Global, the youngster tried over 100 email variations until he successfully connected with Spence. “I was inspired by the experience he created at Karma so I was determined to get his mentorship for entrepreneurship. I tried 100 different variations of emails with trial and error as it was hard to find, until his personal hotmail email worked when I found it through a chrome extension,” he says.
This persistence led to a year and a half of valuable email exchanges, culminating in a phone call. “Since then, Spence has been reading my monthly newsletter where I update him and my other mentors on my personal growth. I consider him and his philosophies an influence in my projects and business endeavours. Persistence won at the end,” remarks Josh who loves speaking opportunities.
In addition to Spence, Josh has built strong relationships with other mentors like Kabir Mathur CEO and co-founder, Leen and Manoj Thacker, entrepreneur, and ambassador of Innovaud Swiss. He connected with Kabir during a family trip to Egypt and with Manoj through a friend's introduction. “Both mentors have been instrumental in guiding my journey, with Kabir even nominating me for The Diana Award and supporting my case for an O-1 visa in the US,” he says. Josh’s persistence to seek guidance have earned him mentorships that continue to shape his entrepreneurial path.
In the shoes of a mentor
One of the youngster’s moments of pride has been getting into the shoes of a mentor of 300 youngsters at Toronto in AI and gene editing for 1517 Fund's annual summit.
“I got the opportunity to mentor alongside a panel of 15 other mentors consisting of Zach Laberge (18-year-old founder of Frenter, who raised over three million CAD), Danielle Stratchman (co-founder, Thiel Fellowship) and Michael Patrick-Gibson (author of Paper Belt on Fire),” tells Josh adding, “I recall a Neuralink intern, Kyrylo Kalashnikov, attending the office hours I was hosting. Gaining exposure to some of the brightest minds in North America was both humbling and inspiring. It felt like they were the true mentors, even though I had the label of mentor for a day!”
[caption id="attachment_39228" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Josh during 1517 Fund's office hour[/caption]
The migration story and future
Born in Tooting, London Josh hails from a family with roots in Kolkata. He was raised in Ascot for most of his life, as well as in Lambeth. His mother is a singer-songwriter who was born in London, and did schooling both in India and the UK. His father is a corporate professional who was born and raised in Kolkata. This March, the youngster moved to the US along with his father who got a new job posting. “I decided to relocate with him and pursue my entrepreneurial dreams in the US,” he says.
In the short-term, Josh’s priorities are clear and twofold: "Radical collaboration with agricultural engineers, scientists and farmers to refine and implement my solutions, ensuring credibility and scalability. Secondly, to earn my O-1 Visa that will allow me to better pursue my entrepreneurial endeavours in the US." He is happy that he received his OCI last month.
With prestigious awards, recognitions, scholarships and mentorship the youngster is confident of making his entrepreneurial dream in America come true.
(February 28, 2024) The dream of space exploration resonates universally, capturing the imagination of people around the globe. However, the reality remains that the actual experience is reserved for a privileged few. Government-run space programs offer select individuals the chance to embark on space journeys, but these opportunities are limited. On the private front, the exorbitant costs associated with space travel make it an exclusive venture accessible only to the extremely wealthy. However, a 23-year-old entrepreneur from Thane, Maharashtra, is breathing life into the dream of ordinary individuals venturing into space. Akshat Mohite, founder of Astroborne Space and Defence Technologies, is ambitiously working towards establishing Asia's leading private astronaut training facility. The facility aims to serve private astronauts, government personnel, and space enthusiasts. As a participant in NASA's Project PoSSUM citizen-science astronautics training programme, Akshat envisions training around 700 candidates each year, with a particular emphasis on aspiring astronauts. "Our world-class training programmes are being designed to breed the next generation of space explorers," shares Akshat as he connects with Global Indian for an exclusive interview. "Once we have the land, the facility should be ready in 18-24 months. The Astroborne facility will provide specialised training using modules like hypoxia
lorers," shares Akshat as he connects with Global Indian for an exclusive interview. "Once we have the land, the facility should be ready in 18-24 months. The Astroborne facility will provide specialised training using modules like hypoxia chambers, space suit acclimatisation, G-Force exposure, and spacecraft ingress/egress simulations. It will also have an onsite analog habitat to facilitate prolonged and hyper-realistic mission simulations, driving innovation in aerospace education. We are also registered with space regulator and promoter Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), already has an agreement with a US astronaut training facility, Nastar Centre," he adds.
A curious cat
Born in Mumbai, Akshat owes all his success to his inquisitive nature. "I have been a very curious kid. I would question my parents about everything," shares the entrepreneur, adding, "I remember my parents took me to watch the movie Krishh. I was very young - probably in the second standard - and this was the first time I got to know that one could become a scientist. So, frankly, I have been working towards becoming a scientist since then. Also, I must add that my school is affiliated with the IGCSE board, which enabled me to understand how to write research papers."
Akshat has received acclaim for his research endeavours, with over ten specialised publications and six research papers accepted by the International Aeronautical Federation. His work has earned him invitations to present at prestigious conferences worldwide, and he was selected to showcase his research at the NASA Ames Space Settlement Contest in both Washington and Los Angeles. "During my 11th grade, I got an opportunity to attend a seminar by an eminent NASA scientist, which motivated me to pursue a career in the field of space technology. eventually, I wrote a research paper about how we can settle about 20,000 people in space, and couriered it to the NASA Ames Research Centre. They were so impressed by it, that they invited me to present the paper at there," says the entrepreneur.
Ask what motivated him to write this paper, and the youngster quips, "I knew about the International Space Station (ISS), but of course, that facility can accommodate a limited number of people only, who can carry out their research missions. So, that got me thinking about another facility like the ISS, but a much bigger accommodation area. It would help humans conduct so much more research and on many diverse topics."
Unfortunately, though, Akshat couldn't get a visa when he applied to go to the NASA centre to present his paper. "I was going to travel with my mentor, and frankly was quite heartbroken when I didn't get the visa. However, I approached our former Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj ma'am for help. A few of my friends in the USA also reached out to presidential candidate, Kamala Harris. And that's how I actually got my visa in the next attempt. But then by then, the NASA conference was over so it made no sense to go to the USA," shares the entrepreneur.
Space bound
In 2019, Akshat became a part of NASA's Project PoSSUM - Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere. "The programme is affiliated with the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), a U.S.-based institution specialising in operational science, flight test engineering, and bioastronautics," shares the entrepreneur.
"Soon after I finished my 12th standard examinations, I flew to Florida, USA, and started training as an astronaut. I underwent the G-Force training in an Extra 300 L aircraft. I also went through hypoxia chamber training, which basically tells us what happens to our brain when there is less oxygen in the air - so during this training some people cry or others lose focus. However, I was informed that since Indian cuisine has a high content of iodine, it helps us retain oxygen in the body. In all honesty, I am not sure how scientific this is, but I didn't face anything while inside the hypoxia chamber. My oxygen level dropped till 85 percent, and then stabalised there," he adds
It was here that Akshat got the idea of starting a company that could facilitate this training not only for astronauts but also for space enthusiasts. "I did thorough research and got to know that a single ticket to space can cost anything between $40 million to $70 million through SpaceX. Also, according to PWC Deloitte, the Asian market is a lot more willing to pay for services such as human space flight, more than any other continent. That gave me the confidence that I could set up such a facility and give services at a much cheaper cost. There are over 5,000 candidates from Asia applying for training in the US and Europe annually but not more than 10-15 are accommodated. These people would prefer coming to India, spending less, and getting the same facilities," he shares.
Currently only focussed on building the Astroborne facility, Akshat shares that he wants to create a facility for those who might not want to go to space, but wish to get the training of an astronaut. "We are still in our early stages, and yet the company has already received inquiries from around 450 aspirants. We have the full-support of the government, which is also quite motivational for us. Astroborne is also developing India's first six-seater commercial space module - Airawat - engineered for suborbital space tourism missions, which will be capable of reaching altitudes of up to 400km," shares the entrepreneur as he signs off.
(November 4, 2022) The last wish from their dying grandmother, who was then battling pancreatic cancer, played a catalyst for Charlotte residents Sherya Mantha and Sahana Mantha in starting Foundation for Girls (FFG) in 2014 - a nonprofit to help underprivileged girls and women. The journey into social service began early for the Mantha sisters who were raised by their mom to help those in need. "Our mom has always encouraged us to lead a purposeful life and carve our paths. She has helped us by being our brainstorming partner and always challenging us to overcome obstacles and continue forward," Shreya tells Global Indian. While FFG has impacted over 2500 homeless mothers and their girls through coaching, workshops, and care packs, it began with Shreya tutoring sex trafficking survivors and school dropouts when she was in Class 8. "Before FFG was established, every Friday evening, I was tutoring girls between the age of 13 and 15, in Math and English, along with my father. At the same time, Sahana and mom would ensure we had enough food for the girls, as it is hard to concentrate on an empty stomach. We would leave them with enough till we met them
ather. At the same time, Sahana and mom would ensure we had enough food for the girls, as it is hard to concentrate on an empty stomach. We would leave them with enough till we met them the following week. The most important thing our mom taught us was 'treat them as just regular girls your age, and barriers will break down,' and that has how it has always been. So, our foundational principles of inclusivity and equity have much to do with how we live and lead," adds the 21-year-old.
[caption id="attachment_23775" align="aligncenter" width="708"] Shreya and Sahana Mantha co-founded Foundation for Girls[/caption]
Being a teenager herself then, she learnt it takes time to gain the trust of girls who come from "traumatic backgrounds." However, Shreya says that "consistency, care, and communication play an important role" as the transformation journey isn't easy and takes a long time. "FFG invests in girls for the long term. This also means the allocation of a coaching team and resources to match the needs of every girl and child. Many of the participants of FFG were 13-14 years old when they joined, and now they are 18-19 years. Today more than 95 percent of the girls join FFG by referral," avers Shreya.
The calling
The Mantha sisters didn't have to look far for motivation as they found their role model in their mom. "She raised both my sister and me with warmth but also strength and determination. And that’s something we carry with us daily. She’s all about positivity and about doing good things for others and doing it every day. It’s not just a once-a-month thing or a once-in-a-while thing. When you do good for people, not only do you feel good but it’s impacting them in a good way too," says Shreya, who is a senior at Stanford University, adding, "More than anything, she raised us with really strong values."
[caption id="attachment_23781" align="aligncenter" width="666"] A group photo of FFG moms[/caption]
At the age of 13, Shreya began tutoring sex trafficking survivors and school dropouts in her hometown of Charlotte. The nudge to help the marginalised women and children came from the realisation that despite being one of the US's fastest-growing cities, Charlotte is at the bottom in terms of economic mobility. That's when she and her sister Sahana started exploring their community to understand the problem at the grassroots level, realising the challenges faced by the at-risk girls. "They are insufficiently prepared economically, educationally, and emotionally to support themselves. They have low incomes and experience economic hardships, particularly as many are disproportionately disadvantaged racial and ethnic minorities," adds Shreya, who understood the importance of meeting the women's needs to improve their lives as well as help them become contributing members of society.
[caption id="attachment_23779" align="aligncenter" width="840"] Shreya and Sahana Mantha with FFG mother and daughter[/caption]
"Women who span the approximate ages of 15 to 26 are in a critical period of development, with long-lasting implications for their economic security, health, and well-being. Without deliberate action, however, this period of development is likely to magnify inequality, with lasting effects through adulthood. There needed to be intentional and thoughtful approaches to provide them with the resources, relationships and recommendations needed on their journey to independence," explains the Diana Award recipient, who launched Foundation for Girls to play its part in "empowering homeless single mothers to become financially savvy, digitally capable, career confident, and socially connected for multi-generational change."
Making an impact
Till now, the Mantha sisters have impacted over 2500 homeless single mothers and their children through Foundation for Girls, which now has nine chapters including California, Iowa, Washington, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Maryland, and DC, under the leadership of Sahana, who is a sophomore in high school at Providence Day School. She dipped her toes into the world of social service eight years ago when she "sourced and provided fresh food for girls who were being tutored" and later moved to teaching digital skills to FFG participants.
[caption id="attachment_23780" align="aligncenter" width="785"] Sahana Mantha with FFG moms[/caption]
Currently, the 16-year-old works on the strategy aspect to "meet the ever-expanding needs of the FFG community to maximise the multi-generational impact." The implementation of FFG technological solutions during the pandemic, enabled girls from nine states to work with coaches, regardless of their geographic location. Moreover, the teenager leads the Circle of Care program wherein she looks into the sourcing and assembly of care packages that are delivered to the moms every week.
With a team of over 75 volunteer coaches and 150 plus volunteers, FFG coaches build bridges and human connections through one-on-one coaching for transformative impact and multi-generational change. With a mission to empower homeless single and support their children, FFG "invests in women to be financially savvy, career confident, digitally capable, and socially connected."
Every challenge is an opportunity
Shreya and Sahana, who have come a long way, call FFG a learning curve. Funding to setting partnerships in new states during expansion were some of the hurdles that they had to go through together. Since the girls were still in school, getting funds for FFG was a challenge. "Our parents gave us our seed money to get everything started. Later, we learned how to write grants and get funding," reminisces Shreya, adding that FFG currently raises money from corporate sponsorships, grants, community foundations, and family-based foundations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JsgLOFccoE
The Mantha sisters call every challenge an equal opportunity to learn. The hardships made them better at every step of the journey. "Persistence and the power of collaboration are key. Having the right team and values-aligned individuals have made the impact possible," add the changemakers for whom FFG will always be their way of giving back to the society. "We hope to continue to drive long-term systemic, sustainable change for homeless single mothers and their children," chimes in Sahana.
Though they share the same goal in terms of FFG, the Mantha sisters enjoy diverse interests. While Sahana, a competitive golfer, loves exploring new cuisines, her older sister loves "listening to podcasts, watching movies, and hiking."
The sisters, who are making an impact in society with FFG, say understanding the problems in the community and identifying your role in problem-solving is the first step towards making an impact. "Begin small and take small steps every day," says Shreya while Sahana signs off adding, "Identify your partners and build your team along the way."
Praggnandhaa[/caption]
Anush Agarwalla.[/caption]
Divyakriti Singh[/caption]
Sahith Theegala[/caption]
Neeraj Chopra[/caption]
Rani Rampal[/caption]
Shahan Ali Mohsin[/caption]
Josh Roy at the London Tech Week[/caption]
Josh during the Villars Institute's mentorship programme[/caption]
Josh Roy[/caption]
Josh during 1517 Fund's office hour[/caption]
Shreya and Sahana Mantha co-founded Foundation for Girls[/caption]
A group photo of FFG moms[/caption]
Shreya and Sahana Mantha with FFG mother and daughter[/caption]
Sahana Mantha with FFG moms[/caption]