Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusivePowering up: Gamer Akarsh Chaudhary is taking over the world of e-gaming

Powering up: Gamer Akarsh Chaudhary is taking over the world of e-gaming

Written by: Team GI Youth

(March 21, 2024) Over the past few years, India’s online gaming scene has boomed like never before, propelling it among the world’s top three gaming markets. Although not yet a traditional career choice, numerous young people now spend their afternoons competing in professional tournaments. Among them is gamer Akarsh Chaudhary, also known as Vivone, a nine-year-old from Mumbai. Despite his tender age, he has not only taken part in but also emerged victorious in numerous tournaments.

The young child embarked on his gaming adventure at the age of four, inspired by watching his father play popular games like PUBG on his mobile device. “I asked my father if I could try the game, and he handed me his mobile. Instantly, I became hooked and began playing by myself. After practicing regularly for a couple of days, I even managed to defeat my father,” shared the young gamer.

Gamer Akarsh Chaudhary aka Vivone

With a substantial following of 108K followers on Instagram and over four lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel, Vivone has created more than 6000 live streams and videos. “Recently, I participated in the SkyEsports Streamers Showdown, competing against numerous top gamers from around the country. I clinched the first prize of ₹15 lakh, impressing even my opponents with my performance throughout the tournament,” said the gamer, whose average earning through live streaming games is around $6000-7000 per month.

Game on

Amid the challenges of the lockdown, numerous individuals sought refuge in online gaming, including Akarsh’s father, Vivek Singh. Unbeknownst to the IT professional, this pastime would eventually serve as the inspiration for his son’s career. “Initially, when I started playing, it was purely for enjoyment. However, my father soon noticed my potential and began coaching me accordingly. He taught me a variety of moves and tricks that significantly improved my game,” said the Global Indian.

Akarsh with his parents, Shikha and Vivek

Recognising his potential, his father commenced live streaming his games under his gamer alias Vivone, which phonetically sounds like “we won”. Shortly after, Rooter, Vivone’s streaming platform partner, received a surge of offers from gadget companies, fantasy apps, and even some FMCG brands, willing to pay up to ₹1 lakh for video collaborations. Vivone is proficient in playing games across multiple platforms, be it mobile, PC, or console. Talking about his favourite games, he said, “I really enjoy playing BGMI the most, but right now, Valorant is my top favourite. I like messing around with its characters and maps. I also like playing CODM, Fall Guys, Tekken 7, Rocket League, New State Mobile, Pokemon, and other little mobile games.”

ALSO READ | How Navvye Anand is helping save endangered Kangri language through AI

A balancing act

Although it’s fascinating, Akarsh’s parents take caution to ensure their son doesn’t spend all his time glued to his laptop. “If you really love something and want to do it well, you should start learning and practising early with someone to guide you,” the gamer’s father, Vivek, shared in an interview, adding, “We noticed our child’s talent and helped them get better at what they love. But we also make sure they do well in their studies and play physical games. Luckily, Akarsh enjoys playing football outside just as much as he enjoys playing it on the computer.”

Giving an insight into the young gamer’s day, Vivek shared, “Because Vivone streams games nearly every day, we decided not to give him too much schoolwork, so we chose to homeschool him. After he finishes his studies in the afternoon, Vivone streams for about two hours. Then, like any other kid, he plays with his friends, especially cricket or basketball. Sometimes in the evenings, I take him swimming too.”

The road ahead

After winning against some of the best gamers in the country in various tournaments, Vivone is now preparing to represent India in international competitions. “When I first began playing, I never imagined having such a large following and subscriber base. Now, my main aim is to excel in international tournaments. I’m currently searching for tournaments for players under 13 years old, primarily organized in the US, Europe, Korea, and China,” the young gamer shared.

Follow Akarsh Chaudhary on Instagram and YouTube

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 21, Mar 2024

Share with

ALSO READ

Indian-American racer Yuven Sundaramoorthy is revving up for the INDY NXT with Abel Motorports

(January 10, 2024) At 14, Yuven Sundaramoorthy became the youngest racer to win the prestigious Indianapolist Motor Speedway. His career has been capped with numerous achievements since, and now, at 20, Sundaramoorthy has several podium and pole finishes to his credit in motor sports, not the least of which is the fact that he is the first racer of Indian descent to win the INDYCAR/Road to Indy Program and secured three podium finishes in the INDY Pro 200 Championships in 2022. [caption id="attachment_35142" align="aligncenter" width="558"] Yuven Sundaramoorthy[/caption] He also came in third in the Copper Tires USF 2000 Championship Series, with four wins, 14 top 10s, nine podiums, and four pole finishes. In India, Sundaramoorthy has completed the MRF Challenge Series and the Formula Race Promotions F1600 Championships with wins and podium finishes. That’s not all, though, even at 20, he’s thinking out of the box, and has established the YS investment, inviting investors to own stakes in his career. Yuven Sundaramoorthy tells Global Indian that success in racing is not just about crossing the finish line, it’s about discipline, resilience, learning to see opportunities in hurdles and the “relentless pursuit of excellence both on and off the track." Early

lls Global Indian that success in racing is not just about crossing the finish line, it’s about discipline, resilience, learning to see opportunities in hurdles and the “relentless pursuit of excellence both on and off the track."

Early Days

Born in Wisconsin in 2003 with roots in Madurai, India, Yuven’s love affair with racing began at the age of nine, when his father took him to watch a Formula 1 race in China. “And boom – I was hooked. Schooling tagged along as my family zigzagged between the USA and China. Fast forward to now, I am on the brink of wrapping up my college at the University of Wisconsin, all while revving up for the racing adventures that lie ahead,” he says. Captivated by the speed and excitement, he began honing his racing skills on the go karting track. It ignited his passion and set the stage for the hard work and dedication he would need to progress into the higher echelons of competitive open-wheel racing.

Success through diligence

With all these achievements to his name, and more definitely on the way, for Yuven, success in racing is not just about ‘crossing the finish line,” he says. Instead, it is about a “relentless pursuit of excellence both on and off the track. It involves soaking up every lesson from each race, win or lose.”

Motorsport racing is an expensive passion, and highly competitive at the top levels. There are more losses than wins and Yuven has learned to make the most of them, saying he has developed the ability to “bounce back after every setback, stronger than before.” It’s also crucial to understand that racing is a collaborative effort. “It involves a gold-standard team of mentors, trainers and the essential support system to propel you to victory.”

[caption id="attachment_35136" align="aligncenter" width="598"] Yuven Sundaramoorthy[/caption]

One standout moment for him came when he clinched his first win at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway at just 14, making history as the youngest winner there. Hitting the USF2000 championship with four victories, including wins at Barber Motorsports Park and the Indianapolis Grand Prix and stepping into the USF Pro 2000 series were other milestones, as he faced tougher competition and secured podium finishes. “And now, gearing up for INDY NXT by Firestone, partnering with Abel Motorsports for the upcoming season, feels like a momentous step forward in my racing journey,” he says.

Discipline and collaboration

When the lights go green and the engine roars to life, that’s when the magic on the track begins. “The adrenaline surges, the focus sharpens, and it’s just you, the machine, and the asphalt stretching ahead. As the tires grip the track and the wind rushes by, every turn becomes a challenge, every straightaway an opportunity. That’s the moment I live for,” he explains.

Racing is a demanding sport and demands total discipline, both mental and physical. “Physical fitness takes centre stage with a combination of strength and endurance exercises,” Yuven agrees. He’s a vegetarian, which means adequate nutrition is vital. “I work closely with a nutritionist to ensure my diet fuels peak performance,” he says. “Mental conditioning is equally vital, involving techniques like visualization and mindfulness.” That apart, he has regular fitness evaluations, guided by a physiologist, keep him on track. “It is a holistic approach, ensuring I am physically and mentally primed for the intense challenges of racing at the highest level,” he says.

The support from my team, mentors, and the comprehensive support network has been crucial in navigating these challenges. Each setback is an opportunity to grow, evolve, and come back stronger, ready to tackle whatever the track throws my way,” he explains.

[caption id="attachment_35138" align="aligncenter" width="667"] Yuven Sundaramoorthy[/caption]

Resilience is key

Being in motorsports, he has learnt that overcoming challenges in racing is all about adaptability and resilience. There are numerous hurdles to be met with along the way, from tough races to technical issues and intense competition. “I focus on learning from the situation,” Sundaramoorthy remarks. “It’s about finding adjusting strategies, and keeping a positive mindset.”

His journey on the track has been like a crash course in life’s most important lessons. “Resilience is a big one – no matter how tough the race, it is about bouncing back stronger. These lessons are not just for the track; they are shaping the way I navigate life’s twists and turns,” says Sundaramoorthy.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, while the INDY NXT by Firestone is the next big challenge on the horizon, Sundaramoorthy hopes to “keep climbing the ladder, conquering new challenges, and ultimately making it to the pinnacle of motorsports. Whether it’s chasing podiums or eyeing new championships, the road ahead promises more excitement, learning, and, of course, pushing the limits on the racetrack. It’s about living the dream and making every lap count,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_35144" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Yuven Sundaramoorthy[/caption]

When he is not zipping around the track, he finds solace in unwinding with things like music, exploring new places, and spending quality time with family and friends. “Maintaining a work-life balance is crucial. It allows me to recharge mentally and physically, ensuring I bring my A-game to the track. It is about finding that harmony between the high-speed excitement of racing and the quieter moments that keep me grounded and ready for the next challenge on and off the track,” Sundaramoorthy signs off.

Follow Yuven Sundaramoorthy on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

Sejal Akerkar: The Seattle poetess who donates her books’ royalties to the needy

(February 17, 2023) Sejal Akerkar had attended poetry camps in middle school and continued to write but hadn’t really thought about doing it as a profession. That changed when she found inspiration in the Canadian-Indian poet, artist and performer, Rupi Kaur. Rupi’s first collection of poetry was published in 2014 and became a New York Times bestseller. “When I started reading Rupi’s poetry, I was inspired to write because she was so similar to me – a young, Indian-American student. I found great comfort in reading her poems and started to write.” By the time Sejal turned 15, she had written over 100 poems. [caption id="attachment_27571" align="aligncenter" width="572"] Sejal Akerkar[/caption] Following in the footsteps of her role model, she self-published her first poetry book, Walking down the sensory strip. The Sammamish High School student introduced her second poetry book, Optic opening to the world soon after. While the first book made it to the top 35 in the women’s category on Amazon, her second book did even better, finding a place in top 5 in the category of Asian poetry. The India experiences Like her parents, Sejal was born and raised in the USA. However, the seventeen-year-old spent three years

ght="863" /> Sejal Akerkar[/caption]

Following in the footsteps of her role model, she self-published her first poetry book, Walking down the sensory strip. The Sammamish High School student introduced her second poetry book, Optic opening to the world soon after. While the first book made it to the top 35 in the women’s category on Amazon, her second book did even better, finding a place in top 5 in the category of Asian poetry.

The India experiences

Like her parents, Sejal was born and raised in the USA. However, the seventeen-year-old spent three years of her life in Gurugram, India, where her father was posted. That’s when she came across the non-profit Udayan Care, which gave her a fresh perspective on life.

After returning to the US, the teenager published two poetry collections and on instinct, decided to donate the royalties that her books fetched. “When my books were published, I knew that I didn’t need the money earned from royalties and giving away the money to Udayan Care seemed the best thing to do,” says the youngster as she connects with Global Indian.

Udyaan Care, Sejal says, "has multiple houses and homes across India where they foster orphaned and abandoned children and give them higher education. It helps them succeed in the world instead of getting into the orphanage system.”

[embed]https://twitter.com/udayancare/status/1591042430824230912?s=20[/embed]

When Sejal and her family was in India, her mom became associated with one of the houses in Gurugram, teaching English to the girls there. “She would take me and my younger sister along to hang out with them and over time we built lasting connections,” she recalls. “We use to hear their stories of how they lost their parents, or were abandoned by them. We built deep connections and started celebrating festivals and birthdays together. We would see them all the time.”

When the family went back to the United States, they wanted to stay connected to the cause. “While my mom joined Udayan Care USA as the president, I became a volunteer. We planned lots of fundraisers and activities,” Sejal says.

Teaching poetry

These days, the teenager also teaches poetry writing in an elementary school. “It’s my after-school activity," she tells, adding, she loves being a mentor to kids between seven to 10 years of age. “I even created the entire curriculum of the poetry class,” she says.

By applying a different approach to teaching, the young teacher enjoys great bonhomie with her little pupils. “I teach differently because I think that usually poetry is taught in a very structured manner which tends to get boring for students. I don’t teach them how it is supposed to be. I give them creative prompts,” she says.

Sejal helps her pupils imagine with visuals, drawings, videos and more, and makes them write whatever comes to their mind. This keeps them interested. “It’s like giving them a little seed and let them water it, allow sunlight to come and help them grow their poetry without structuring them or restraining them from anything.”

As for her own poetry, Sejal writes on a wide array of topics – ‘life as a teenager and how it feels to go into adulthood, about my immigrant grandparents, how they came here and what they gave up to get here’, she tells. “I also write about the destruction of nature by humans, my relationships with my loved ones, social media, technology, my friends, myself,” smiles the teenager who loves dancing and golf.

While her first two books have done well, she is in no hurry to come up with the third one, and rather prefers to evolve a bit as a poet. With all her focus on the ongoing college application process, the teenager looks forward to take up biology. “That's complete opposite of what people would expect from me,” she chuckles adding, “I think combining creative and scientific things are very useful to the world today and I want to focus on a lot of multidisciplinary studies in my life.”

Follow Sejal Akerkar on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 mins

Soo Mei Fei: The Chinese-Singaporean dancer’s journey through Indian classical dance and self-discovery

(November 13, 2024) When Soo Mei Fei appears on stage, dressed in her Bharatanatyam costume made out of Kanchipuram silk sarees, audiences can’t help but be drawn to her. Her distinct Chinese features, paired with the traditional Indian attire - complete with intricate pleats, jewellery, and expressive makeup - create a mesmerising contrast that has quickly turned her into a rising star. This unique combination, along with her graceful precision and dedication to each movement, showcases a commitment that transcends cultural boundaries, making her performances fascinating. “I’m blessed to learn Bharatanatyam,” Mei Fei shared in an interview. “It’s such a beautiful art. It’s not been an easy journey, but it has been extremely fulfilling. I want to train more,” she added. The beginning as a teenager’s curiosity For Soo Mei Fei, who is now in her twenties, her fascination with Bharatanatyam started unexpectedly at the age of 17. While attending the National Junior College in Singapore, she stumbled upon a try-out session for Indian dance. Originally intrigued by Bollywood, she and her classmates assumed the session would focus on Bollywood dance. To their surprise, they were introduced to Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance known for its intricate footwork, expressive gestures,

Junior College in Singapore, she stumbled upon a try-out session for Indian dance. Originally intrigued by Bollywood, she and her classmates assumed the session would focus on Bollywood dance. To their surprise, they were introduced to Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance known for its intricate footwork, expressive gestures, and emotive storytelling. Though the majority lost interest, Mei Fei was hooked.

Determined to understand the art form fully, she began digging into Bharatanatyam’s history, spending hours at libraries near her home in Punggol. “It was fascinating,” she reflected. “I wanted to know everything, from the significance of the hand gestures to the stories conveyed through each dance sequence.” Her dedication to understanding this art form laid the groundwork for the journey that followed.

Challenges on the path

The young dancer’s path in Bharatanatyam wasn’t without hurdles. Learning from Vijaya Nadesan, her instructor at Apsara Arts - a prestigious dance academy in Singapore -Mei Fei soon realised the challenges of grasping the technicalities of Bharatanatyam as a non-Indian. Her Chinese heritage meant that the language, lyrics, and cultural nuances were initially foreign. Mei Fei remembers the struggle of understanding Carnatic music that accompanies Bharatanatyam performances, often resorting to Google Translate and spending extra hours reviewing each lesson.

Despite the obstacles, she dedicated herself wholeheartedly, spending entire days at the academy, watching her teachers and classmates. This immersive approach allowed her to improve steadily, and with time, she began to master Bharatanatyam’s unique hand gestures (hastas), foot movements (sthankas), and facial expressions (abhinaya).

Connecting with Indian culture through dance

Over the years, Bharatanatyam became more than just a dance form for Soo Mei Fei. It became a bridge to Indian culture. She began donning traditional Indian saris, learning the art of wearing them, and embraced the aesthetic requirements of Bharatanatyam. “Most of my friends had their mums to help them get dressed, but I had to learn a lot on my own, getting valuable tips from friends and teachers along the way,” told the young dancer whose Bharatanatyam batchmates are mostly Indian.

Bharatanatyam also introduced her to Carnatic music, which she now adores. “It’s very rich. The lyrics and melody have a lot of meaning behind them. I understand the songs because I feel it,” she explained. The connection was so profound that in 2018, she took up another Indian dance form, Odissi, expanding her knowledge and appreciation of Indian classical arts.

Bharatanatyam in Singapore

The introduction of Bharatanatyam to Singapore began with pioneer practitioners from India and Sri Lanka, who brought the classical dance form to life through their productions that included members of the diaspora and non-Indian artists. This collaboration promotes unity in diversity, as people from different ethnic communities bond over learning and performing Bharatanatyam. These interactions also lead to an exchange of ideas across ethnic dance styles. Inspired by their teachers, students of these pioneers have begun using Bharatanatyam as a tool to educate Singaporeans on social issues, breaking traditional boundaries. While performances were once rooted in Hindu texts and mythology, today, the youth choreographers have shifted towards using Bharatanatyam to convey meaningful messages, moving beyond entertainment.

Arangetram: A milestone in her journey

Soo Mei Fei’s commitment culminated in her Arangetram in 2021, a debut solo performance that marks a dancer’s readiness to perform on stage independently. This achievement was a significant milestone, as Arangetram is often regarded as the pinnacle of a Bharatanatyam dancer’s journey. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Mei Fei worked tirelessly, balancing her part-time job, university studies, and dance practice to prepare for the performance.

Reflecting on the challenges she faced, Mei Fei shared, “I didn’t have time to practise for the entire week before the rehearsal, and I just hoped my efforts from before would pull me through. My rehearsal ended up going okay, and that’s when I realised that sometimes you just have to let go.” This experience taught her to trust her skills and the journey she had undertaken. “The movements in Bharatanatyam are very structured, and the dance itself just gives me a form of stability. It is my solid anchor,” she shared, expressing how dance has become her grounding force amidst life’s challenges.

Empowering through art and education

As a certified Bharatanatyam dancer and a graduate in Fine Arts from LASALLE College of the Arts, Soo Mei Fei’s journey now extends beyond personal achievement. She’s passionate about fostering an appreciation for Bharatanatyam among younger generations, especially non-Indians. “Art should not have boundaries. It’s a great learning experience to know more about another culture that is different from us,” she says. “In doing so, we discover that we are more similar to each other than we thought”.

Her work as an instructor at children’s enrichment centres and dance academies in Singapore allows her to instil this philosophy in her students. To Mei Fei, Bharatanatyam is more than a series of movements—it’s a means of personal growth, self-expression, and cultural discovery. She sees her students not just learning dance techniques but also developing qualities like discipline, resilience, and empathy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKWB4PchDsg

Looking Ahead…

Soo Mei Fei envisions a future where Bharatanatyam continues to flourish across cultural boundaries. She’s interested in exploring collaborative projects that merge Bharatanatyam with other art forms, such as classical piano or visual arts, and creating interdisciplinary performances that bring new dimensions to the traditional art form.

For Mei Fei, every step she takes in Bharatanatyam makes her belief stronger that art transcends borders and unites people from diverse backgrounds. Her journey reflects the power of curiosity, dedication, and the unyielding pursuit of passion. Soo Mei Fei reminds us that the language of art is universal, resonating with the heart regardless of where we come from.

Follow Soo Mei Fei on Facebook
Discover more fascinating Stories

Reading Time: 5 mins

Vihaan and Nav Agarwal: Teen eco-heroes helping Delhi manage its waste

(November 30, 2022) In 2017, two people were killed in East Delhi when a large mound of garbage in the Ghazipur landfill collapsed, sweeping people in the vicinity into a nearby canal. Spread over 70 acres, with a mountain of garbage higher than a 15-storey building, the lethal collapse was one more alarm bell in a city that was already choking. Watching the tragedy unfold on the news were Vihaan and Nav Agarwal, two siblings in Delhi. "The next day, the whole city was engulfed in a blanket of smoke. When we read about it in the newspaper, the connection between waste and air pollution became clearer," Vihaan said. Delhi generates 11,144 tonnes of trash per day and up to 250 tonnes of municipal solid waste is burned every day, releasing 2000kg of PM10 and 1,800 kg/day of PM 2.5. Over one-third of the air pollution in Delhi is caused by burning waste in landfills. Vihaan was 14 at the time and Nav only 11, but growing up in Delhi had already taken a toll on their health, especially as Vihaan was asthmatic. Their time outdoors was severely curtailed, for the most part, they weren't allowed to play outside. "We

[caption id="attachment_24853" align="aligncenter" width="383"] Nav and Vihaan Agarwal[/caption]

Leading the way by segregating at home

Taking inspiration from icons like British naturalist David Attenborough and the storied conservationist Jane Goodall, the brothers began separating their waste at home, setting aside the recyclables. "The thought process in our mind was like, our waste shouldn't go there, our waste shouldn't become fodder for this fire," Vihaan said. They collected such a mountain of trash that their grandfather told them sternly, and only half in jest, that one of them, either the boys or the trash, had to go. However, they realised that their segregated waste was being mixed again after it was collected. When they contacted recyclers, they were told that they had too small an amount to be picked up.

One Step Greener

The brothers rallied a team together through the neighbourhood WhatsApp group. In 2018, they founded One Step Greener, an organisation aimed at preventing pollution caused by waste.

It marked the start of the recycling initiative that would earn the boys one of the top awards for children - the 2021 KidsRights International Children's Peace Prize. As they received the prize from Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, they entered an elite club of young, global changemakers, including Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. The Dutch prize includes an education grant and a cash award of 1,00,000 euros. "It's an old saying, but everyone's collective effort does actually make a difference," Vihan said afterwards.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by OneStepGreener (@onestep_greener)

They started with 15 homes in 2018, and four years later, the organisation has grown to cover schools, offices and over 1,500 households across Delhi. They have plans to expand to Kolkata and thanks to the exposure the Global Indians received through the KidsRights award, there is a fair amount of international interest as well. The organisation also works to spread awareness about the importance of recycling.

Accolades galore

Vihaan and Nav Agarwal haven't seen their teenage years through yet but have a long list of accolades to their credit already. Vihaan is also the First Asian to win the Children's Climate Prize, 2019 in Sweden and is an Ashoka Youth Venturer. Fifteen-year-old Nav has shown a talent for oration, which he uses to inspire people to join his green movement. He won the Children's Climate Prize along with his brother, was a jury member of Times of India's Young Change Leaders Contest, was named BBC's Earth Champion, is the winner of the Global Social Leaders Award and the Action for Nature Eco Hero Award.

Follow One Step Greener on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

Zain Samdani: The innovator’s robotic glove is helping patients with paralysed hands

(June 10, 2022) As a 15-year-old visiting India from Saudi Arabia, Zain Samdani had no idea that this family vacation was set to change the course of his life. A meeting with his partially paralysed distant maternal uncle left him "shocked." In the era of technology, seeing his uncle dependent on others for every small thing was nothing short of a horror. That encounter nudged this robotics enthusiast and innovator to develop Neuro-ExoHeal, an exoskeletal hand rehabilitation device that utilises neuroplasticity and Azure technology to help patients with neurological damage recover faster at an affordable price. The innovation not only left Google CEO Sundar Pichai impressed but also made the 21-year-old win Microsoft 2022 Imagine Cup World Championship, which is considered as the 'Olympics of Technology' with more than 10,000 participants from 160 countries. "Having been interested in robotics from a very young age, I started working with prosthetic designs in 2013. But I realised that cosmetic prosthetic hand could cost between ₹1-₹2 lakh while a robotic prosthetic hand was available anywhere between ₹40-₹50 lakh. I knew that affordability was the key. But the meeting with my uncle only strengthened my passion to find an affordable solution," Zain tells Global Indian.

ells Global Indian.

A robotics enthusiast in the making

The Hyderabad-born moved to Saudi Arabia at a very young age with his project manager father and homemaker mother. When he noticed that his mom was always busy with household chores and raising kids, the then five-year-old Zain promised to make her a robot that would ease her burden. "It was that early that my love for robotics began," laughs Zain who is currently in India after wrapping up his first-year exams at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany.

For the Ashoka Young Changemaker 2021, it all started with that one idea and later progressed into in-depth research on the subject. However, things started to move when he began programming at age 12 and within a year, was into prosthetic designs. "For me it's a two-step process. I visualise the product in my head first, and then make it with a cardboard. Back then 3D printing was booming but was also expensive. To cut the cost, I reached out to Make India, a 3D printing company in Saudi Arabia who sent the code free of cost after hearing about the purpose behind it," says the innovator whose biggest takeaway from the incident was "to never stop asking."

How passion turned into a mission

The passion turned into a mission after the chance encounter with his paralysed uncle which led him to create ExoHeal. "It was upsetting to see that despite technological advancement in the world, nothing was done to help him move around." This nudged Zain to build a device based on the concept of neuroplasticity. Divided into a sensory glove for the functional hand and an exoskeletal robotic hand for the paralysed hand, the first prototype came into existence post extensive research and innumerable meetings with neuroscientists and physiotherapists.

[caption id="attachment_17917" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Zain Samdani[/caption]

During his research, the Global Teen Leader 2019 found that "the patients were frustrated with the system and had given up hope." This made Zain even more determined to give them a "sense of independence" and do things on their own, and led to the creation of Neuro-ExoHeal which helps a paralysed hand replicate a movement made by the functional hand. "The mirroring allows the neuron to trick the brain into believing that the paralysed hand is working perfectly, thus forming new neural connections."

The earliest prototype made him one of the 16 global finalists at the Google Science Fair in 2016, and later the advanced version recreated the magic in 2019. "My uncle could feel the sensation on the very first day of using Neuro-ExoHeal. It’s something that otherwise takes weeks or months to achieve," Zain beams with pride as his creation is on its way to a proper clinical trial in the next few months. "Pandemic in 2020 pushed the plans but now we are back on track," says the innovator who is happy with the initial response from many patients. "Seeing it work, many have been enquiring as to when it will be launched in the market."

Looking for a silver lining, always

Zain, who began as innovator and later moved to entrepreneurship, calls the journey transformative. "It essentially enabled me to look outward – to see what was going around me and make the right connection," reveals Zain who wants to make a two-fold impact. "I want to enable paralysed patients to regain independence and also want to work in the space of mental health."

The entrepreneur feels that overachievers like him are often under pressure to outdo themselves, and this takes a toll on mental health. It hit him hard in 2018 when was diagnosed with intermittent exotropia, a rare medical condition that doubles your vision every two or three hours. "It happened right before my boards and my studies were affected. My brain would shut down every few minutes due to constant doubling of my vision." Not one to give up, amidst the chaos, Zain decided to find the silver lining. "It gave me time to think about myself and that's when my raw artistic expression came out. I have been a painter but this break gave me time to explore my passions beyond innovation," says the innovator who recovered completely within two years with the help of rehabilitation. A poet and a painter, Zain loves unwinding with board games. For him, life is about knowing yourself but most importantly, making a positive impact that can change people’s lives.

Follow Zain Samdani on Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram

Reading Time: 6 min