Gavi Kothari: The teen entrepreneur initiating change through tech
Written by: Ranjini Rajendra
(May 20, 2022) The coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdown brought the world and the economy to its knees. Not for long though: various tech solutions soon sprung up to bridge the gap that had begun to make its presence the world over. If there were apps and web platforms to help people connect more easily and work remotely, there were services that bridged the last mile. But what of those that were not savvy enough to jump onto this new digital bandwagon? That’s where 17-year-old Gurugram-based Gavi Kothari stepped in with his startup Tech Help For All. The non-profit venture is aimed at helping both adults and children to get a lowdown on the new tech offerings and how to use them.
Gavi Kothari, founder, Tech Help For All
“At Tech Help For All, we follow a non-discriminatory policy and aim to make our content accessible to everybody. This is a website to help and educate people on how to use these apps, either for your work meetings or pure curiosity,” says Gavi in a conversation with Global Indian. He has stood first in the 2020 Math Olympiad, ranked 5th in Avishkar, an international robotics competition, and also had his AI-based sustainable development project rank in the top 10 in a global contest.
Tryst with robotics
A high schooler at Amity International School, Gavi’s love for technology and robotics began quite early. “I’ve always been fascinated by new gadgets and tech,” says the teen, who looks up to his parents Rupesh and Anjani Kothari, who’ve paved the way through their hard work and determination. “My dad lost his job due to the pandemic. But he didn’t back down. He went ahead and set up a new business that is now successful and proved that hard work and determination can solve any problem,” beams the lad, who also has a younger brother.
About a year ago, Gavi decided to launch Tech Help for All, a non-profit startup to help educate people on the latest consumer tech offerings and bridge the digital divide that had sprung up due to the pandemic. “During the pandemic, we would all go online for every little task. It was around this time that I realised that there were a lot of people who didn’t know how to use these tech platforms; even NGOs,” says the teen entrepreneur, whose startup creates video tutorials to help people understand how to use every day apps such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom among others.
Bridging the gap
Tech Help for All has now helped several NGOs in the areas of web development, fundraising, creating LinkedIn pages, and tutoring students apart from the video tutorials. “The idea is to help people navigate the maze of modern-day apps and softwares that have now become a part of our daily lives,” says Gavi, whose company has so far hosted 100 interns and has a team of 15 apart from 15 youth ambassadors.
Incidentally, the teen found his calling in tech rather early on and would often spend after school hours interacting with his Robotics teacher to further his passion towards the subject. He has participated in several competitions such as IRC and IIT Delhi’s Robo contest. Apart from these, Gavi is also currently working on an AI-enabled waste management project to work towards a cleaner tomorrow. “Dumping of waste in landfills has been a persistent problem. Though several of us now segregate garbage into wet and dry waste, it all ultimately lands up in the landfills affecting the environment,” Gavi tells, adding, “Through this project, we aim to convert waste into various industrial products at home. We’ve devised a system to segregate and convert waste into manure, biogas, electricity, metals, and 3D printed dustbins with minimal human interaction and easy operation. An app that we’ve developed also helps the user track his/her impact towards the environment.”
The teen entrepreneur, who is also interested in trekking, community work, singing and cooking, also ensures he’s constantly upgrading his knowledge and skill sets through certificate courses in AI and ML. He is also looking to pursue a career in robotics engineering.
(December 29, 2023) In 2023, a remarkable group of Indian teen innovators emerged, leaving a positive mark on the world with their groundbreaking inventions. These ingenious teenage innovators not only showcased their creativity but also garnered recognition and awards for their impactful contributions. Through their innovations, these young innovators have introduced practical solutions that address real-world challenges, proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact. From affordable medical devices to ingenious technological solutions, these Indian teen innovators have demonstrated that innovation knows no boundaries, inspiring others with their passion and dedication to making the world a better place. Global Indian puts a spotlight on a handful of Indian teen innovators who made the right noise with their work. Shanya Gill Shanya Gill, a young innovator from California, was inspired to create an affordable fire alarm after a devastating incident. According to the World Health Organization, around 180,000 lives are lost globally each year in fire-related incidents. Shanya's motivation came when a restaurant near her home in San Jose caught fire, leading to its destruction. This event made her mother more cautious, always urging Shanya to double-check the kitchen stove before leaving their house. One day, while studying,
to its destruction. This event made her mother more cautious, always urging Shanya to double-check the kitchen stove before leaving their house.
One day, while studying, the 13-year-old discovered the potential of thermal cameras to detect heat loss in homes during winter. Intrigued by this capability, she wondered if these cameras could be used to quickly detect house fires compared to traditional smoke detectors. Recognizing the possibility of saving lives with an early warning system, Shanya decided to pursue this idea. Her innovative fire alarm design recently earned her top honors and a $25,000 prize in a leading middle school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competition sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Society for Science. Proud of her achievement, Shanya expressed her commitment to continue working on projects that contribute to making society a safer place.
Shripriya Kalbhavi
Shripriya Kalbhavi, a ninth-grader at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, was in for a pleasant surprise when she won a second place at the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge. She had been working on her invention, EasyBZ, for a while without expecting it to land her a spot in America's biggest middle school science competition, which won her a cash prize of $2000 for creating a cost-effective microneedle patch that allows for easy self-administered drug delivery without using pills or needles.
Growing up, Shripriya was afraid of needles and disliked getting injections. This discomfort and fear led her to realize that many people, especially children like herself, had no solution to their fear of needles other than being told to face it. Motivated by her own experiences, Shripriya developed the EasyBZ microneedle patch, aiming to deliver medication to patients painlessly and over an extended period. “I am really passionate about making sure that everyone is comfortable with the medical treatment that they are receiving, and I really want people to have long-term solutions to their chronic conditions. With the EasyBZ microneedle patch, I have always hoped that people can receive painless treatment that accommodates their medical needs, whether it be children who have diabetes or adults who suffer from forms of dementia like Alzheimer’s,” the innovator wrote in a blog.
Aditya Chaudhary
Aditya Chaudhary, a teenager from Delhi, shared a close bond with his grandfather, spending afternoons together listening to stories. When his grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, their quality time suffered as communication became challenging due to the disease's progression. Despite the loss, Aditya was inspired to create NeuroSight, a non-invasive headset that converts thoughts into text for paralyzed and neurological patients. Motivated by the desire to help the over 7 million Parkinson’s patients in India, Aditya turned his personal experience into a low-cost and effective solution, bringing Grey Horizon and NeuroSight to life in 2022. His innovation aims to bridge the gap between neuroimaging research and practical, everyday use.
In early 2023, Aditya began creating a prototype for his invention, and it's currently being fine-tuned. The goal is to make the device convert data into text in real-time, capturing thoughts the moment they occur in a patient's mind. Starting as a research paper that earned recognition from The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, Aditya transformed the idea into hardware with NeuroSight. Now, he and his team are working to elevate it further by making it possible for thoughts to control prosthetic or robotic arms. "We wanted to focus on functionality as well since you can’t control your muscles in Parkinson’s because of the involuntary muscle movement. We recently pitched the robotic arm at one of the innovation and science fairs. We are now looking for mentorship in regards to advanced research behind neuroimaging that can validate our technology and work with people who can help convert the hardware into a minimum viable product," he told Global Indian.
Rohan Kalia
Rohan Kalia, a 17-year-old Indian-American student at Wheeler High School in Marietta, began his journey to create a solution for early detection of glaucoma after a family member was diagnosed with the condition. Recognizing that glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, Rohan was motivated to find an affordable way to accurately diagnose the disease. His efforts resulted in the creation of EyePal, a portable device that boasts a 95 percent accuracy rate in detecting glaucoma. Rohan's innovative solution earned him the prestigious 2023 IEEE President’s Scholarship, accompanied by a $10,000 prize.
Glaucoma, a progressive eye disease affecting the optic nerve, can lead to permanent vision loss if not detected early. During his research, Rohan discovered a significant disparity in eye care treatment worldwide and identified challenges in accessing glaucoma diagnosis and prevention, particularly in rural areas. To address this issue, EyePal utilizes a quality camera, a Raspberry Pi minicomputer, machine-learning technology, and a mobile app. The device captures fundus images, which are then sent to a mobile device for examination by a specialist. Tested on sets of fundus images, EyePal demonstrated an impressive 95 percent accuracy, providing a promising solution for accessible glaucoma detection.
Nirvaan Somany
A Facebook post about a denim requiring 1000 litres to water to be produced left Delhi-based teen Nirvaan Somany aghast. "I thought I was conscious of my water consumption but I was clearly wrong,” he told Global Indian. This led Nirvaan to start Project Jeans, a social entrepreneurial attempt aimed at mitigating the environmental consequences of denim by converting discarded denim into sleeping bags. "This led Nirvaan to start Project Jeans, a social entrepreneurial attempt aimed at mitigating the environmental consequences of denim by converting discarded denim into sleeping bags," he added. The project led him to win the Diana Award and 2023 International Young Eco-Hero award.
[caption id="attachment_33853" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Nirvaan Somany founded Project Jeans[/caption]
Till now, they have collected 8000 pairs of jeans under Project Jeans and distributed more than 1000 sleeping bags primarily in Delhi, followed by Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. “We also sent our sleeping bags to Turkey and Syria to aid with their earthquake relief last year,” he revealed.
Indian teen innovators have truly distinguished themselves with their exceptional contributions and groundbreaking inventions. Their remarkable achievements not only demonstrate a keen understanding of global challenges but also reflect their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on society.
Kiara Nirghin
At the age of 13, Kiara Nirghin, an Indian-origin South African, endured a challenging period of hospitalization due to the dual diagnosis of Bilharzia and bacterial meningitis amid one of South Africa's worst droughts. Confined and unable to attend school, Kiara's profound pain sparked a transformative realization about the potential of the human mind. Reflecting on the power of knowledge during her TEDxPretoria talk, she envisioned utilizing this mental strength for productive purposes. This introspective journey led her to develop a groundbreaking solution for drought: a cost-effective "super-absorbent polymer" that enhances soil water retention. Kiara's invention not only earned her the top prize at the Google Science Fair but also secured her a spot on Time's 30 Most Influential Teens list.
In 2021, she collaborated with an international agricultural firm to introduce her groundbreaking product to the market. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize water conservation, ensuring the sustenance of crops during periods of drought and contributing to enhanced global food security. Reflecting on her approach, she expressed a mindset that envisions the world's challenges as yet-to-be-paired problems awaiting innovative solutions.
Atreya Manaswi
Five years ago, when Atreya Manaswi was just eleven, he went on a fishing trip with a friend and the friend's grandfather, who was a beekeeper. The grandfather shared a sad story about how he used to get lots of honey from his bees, but in recent times, the honey production had drastically decreased. This story deeply touched Atreya, inspiring him to start researching about bees.
Now, as an eleventh grader at Orlando Science High School, Atreya has been doing advanced research with the US Department of Agriculture and the University of Florida since he was 12. He created a new, eco-friendly, and affordable pesticide to help protect beehives from small hive beetles and varroa mites, which are major threats to honey production. Atreya also wrote a children's book called "The Bee Story" to raise awareness about bees, the environment, and farming. Besides all this, he's won several awards, including the Barron Prize 2023, and has spoken at international conferences supported by the UN and the World Food Forum.
(January 14, 2023) Growing up, student entrepreneur Simone Sharma dreamed of being a doctor. Life, however, had other plans. Along the way, she discovered that volunteer work could boost her CV and increase the odds of getting scholarships to good colleges. Although she wanted to give it a try, she didn’t know where to begin. The hunt for volunteering opportunities, however, sowed the seed for her own non-profit, YouthGrowYouth, which works with youngsters like herself. Little did she know that in a short span of time, she would be able to reach out to more than 60,000 highschoolers, create a team of volunteers from across the globe and connect youngsters to several opportunities. This successful stint with social entrepreneurship has influenced the seventeen-year-old’s future plans, inspiring her to study business instead of medicine. [caption id="attachment_26501" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Simone Sharma[/caption] Through YouthGrowYouth, Simone has been helping youngsters discover a rich array of extracurricular options, and explore their career interests. The non-profit’s programmes range from helping youngsters with volunteering positions, internships, mentorships, exclusive Ivy League programmes and more. “YouthGrowYouth has a team of 20 volunteers from India and places like Germany and Canada, who enable global online opportunities,” Simone tells Global Indian.
rma | Global Indian " width="675" height="735" /> Simone Sharma[/caption]
Through YouthGrowYouth, Simone has been helping youngsters discover a rich array of extracurricular options, and explore their career interests. The non-profit’s programmes range from helping youngsters with volunteering positions, internships, mentorships, exclusive Ivy League programmes and more.
“YouthGrowYouth has a team of 20 volunteers from India and places like Germany and Canada, who enable global online opportunities,” Simone tells Global Indian.
Impressive associations
Recently, the non-profit became affiliated with the United Nations Youth Council and has since expanded to promoting gender equality and mass literacy among vulnerable youth. “The UNYC affiliation has broadened our horizons as we get to be part of regional meetings and interact with board members,” remarks the youngster.
With Simone at the helm, YouthGrowYouth managed to get selected for the Crimson Youth Entrepreneurship Society’s 2022 cohort. “It’s a non-profit accelerator run by Harvard University students dedicated to help young founders create meaningful impacts in their communities and beyond,” tells Simone.
Excited about being part of such a significant cohort, chosen from amongst thousands of applicants, she says, “The selection process went on for three months. By the end of it, only 20 youth-led startups from all over the world were chosen. I am so glad we are one of them.”
The selection comes with the perks of resources for growth. “We are able to access many Harvard webinars, which aren’t otherwise available to the public. We also have access to Harvard-based mentors who groom us to make our startups better,” tells the young social entrepreneur.
Another interesting association has been YouthGowYouth’s selection for the first-ever Google Startup School India edition. Over the course of the nine-week online training programme, the early-stage startup founders were equipped with knowledge, tools and products that any growing organisation needs – all delivered by Google experts and unicorn founders.
The Bengaluru based teen is also one of the 120 participants selected out of 4,000 applicants for the YLC Leadership cum Entrepreneurship Conference. “In an online two-week programme, I was trained in a curriculum developed by Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School and Harvard Graduate School of Education on how to strengthen my organization’s presence,” she says.
Multifaceted teen
Social entrepreneurship, which Simone stumbled onto by chance, is not the only area in which the teenager excels. She has been a runner-up at the National Spelling Bee 2019. She has also tried her hand at pageantry and although she couldn’t earn the top spot in the Star Miss Teen India contest, she managed to earn the Miss Teen India Karnataka 2022 title as one of the finalists. There were other contestants representing the state.
“The contest was held at The Leela Palace, New Delhi. There were accomplished participants from across India. I managed to stand out in the talent round due to my poetry writing skills,” she mentions adding, ‘Though I stammered in nervousness when I was told to recite, losing my shot at winning the title, the days leading to the contest provided a holistic and growing experience for me.”
Her poems are part of two anthologies published by a publishing house named Writer’s Pocket Publishing. The daughter of an army colonel, Simone is good at sports, and has represented her district and state in basketball tournaments.
“It’s ironic that although I want to pursue business analytics, I am studying science,” smiles the 12th grader of Jain Heritage School. The student entrepreneur aspires to pursue her college education abroad and expand YouthGrowYouth on campus there, to widen its horizons even more.
(July 4, 2023) J. Jeya Ratchagen would watch his daughter, who was diagnosed with a hearing disability, sitting alone all day. With no friends or schoolmates to play with, the eight-year-girl would often sit idle and stare out the window of her small house. To cheer his daughter up, Jeya decided to involve her in sports and took her to a local stadium, where the kid instantly fell in love with the racket. A decade later, the same girl - badminton player J. Jerlin Anika - created history after winning three gold medals at the 24th Summer Deaflympics, held in Brazil earlier this year. [caption id="attachment_24639" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Arjuna awardee Jerlin Anika, badminton player[/caption] "Initially, it was not for playing. I just wanted her to socialise. She was sitting idle and feeling lonely at home," a proud Jeya said in an interview, adding, "When my eight-year-old daughter started showing a liking towards badminton, I thought the sport will distract her from her hearing impairment. I never thought that she would reach this level." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jerlinanika (@jerlinanika18) Passionate and focussed, Jerlin had earlier won the gold for India at the 2019
Passionate and focussed, Jerlin had earlier won the gold for India at the 2019 World Deaf Badminton Championship in China. On November 30, the 18-year-old badminton player will become India's first-ever deaf athlete to receive the Arjuna Award, the second-highest sporting honour in the country.
A huge fan of P.V. Sindhu, Jerlin never misses a single match of the shuttle ace. Inspired by her, she wishes to represent India at the August 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. "She wants to move into the general category, and represent India at the Olympics, having achieved everything in the ‘deaf category’,” her father shared.
A troubled start
Jerlin was only two years old when her parents noticed that, unlike other kids, their daughter didn't respond to voices at all. After several tests at a local hospital, the doctor informed them that their daughter had a hearing impairment. Jerlin's father has recalled in several interviews that it was "the saddest day for the family."
When the shuttler's father decided to enroll her in the local badminton academy, he was ridiculed by his relatives, who thought that she wouldn't last one day in the court. "I had a lot of faith that my daughter would make us proud. More than the success that she has achieved on the court, I am glad to see the smile on her face. She has put in a lot of hard work to achieve this. She is now an independent girl. My wife and I always wanted our daughter to be a strong person," he said.
Slowly, Jerlin started learning about the nuances of badminton from coach P. Saravanan at Bose academy. While she played well, she faced many difficulties understanding the rules of the game. Realising that he cannot teach her the same way he taught his other students, coach Saravanan came up with a witty solution to communicate with this young badminton player. "He used to train with the normal kids but after seeing her, he started learning ways to communicate with her," explained Jeya, adding, "Not being able to understand the rules, she was hardly performing on the court. So, Saravanan came up with the idea of teaching her with visuals. A blackboard was brought in for training sessions. She started improving significantly."
When the going gets tough...
Her hard work and the dedication of her coach won her a silver medal at the Federation of India School Games 2016, and she subsequently earned a place in the Indian contingent going for the 2017 Summer Deaflympics. Shattering all limitations, the young badminton player secured the fifth place as the youngest player in her maiden appearance on an international platform. In 2018, the Global India won two silver and a bronze at Asia Pacific Badminton Championship 2018 in Malaysia.
However, a small businessman from Madurai, Jeya found it difficult to support his daughter's sports accessories and proper nutrition. As the family was trying to find new ways to get past this hurdle, Jerlin's excellence in badminton fetched her a scholarship worth Rs 3.25 lakh by HCL Foundation's 'Sports for Change' initiative. The scholarship also helped her continue her practice during the COVID lockdown, and the star emerged as the most decorated Indian player at the Deaflympics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P_Fpnl5k6s
One of the highest-ranked Indian players in World Deaf Badminton, Jerlin is working hard for her upcoming tournaments. According to her father, "She has reached the highest stage in the deaf category, so now she is looking to do well in the general Olympics. It won't be easy as the level of the game is very high there and she has to improve a lot overall. So, we are planning to get her coaching in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, where she will have technical sessions from leading coaches internationally."
(September 14, 2023) How many of us are comfortable with dancing in public? And how many would do so without inhibition, to break gender stereotypes for art? 23-year-old Jainil Mehta has captivated Instagram, thanks not only due to his great dance moves but also because of his fashion choices! He has taken the streets of New York by storm, matching his steps to Bollywood numbers, and rocking them in colourful skirts. Mehta’s dance to Jume Re Gori from Gangubai Kathiawadi went viral with over 17 million views, while many of his reels including Saami Saami from Pushpa were widely appreciated. Mehta’s journey is much more than making an Instagram reel. It is about living a dream, shedding centuries old stereotypes and inspiring others to follow their passion, no matter the hurdles on the way. That he gets a million likes in the process is an added bonus! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jainil Mehta (@jainil_dreamtodance) Dancing star Jainil Mehta had quite a sheltered life due to health concerns which restricted his activities and diet. “Despite my initial shyness as a child, I never compromised on my deep-seated love for dance, which has been a
Jainil Mehta had quite a sheltered life due to health concerns which restricted his activities and diet. “Despite my initial shyness as a child, I never compromised on my deep-seated love for dance, which has been a significant part of my life from a young age.” he recalls, in an interview with Global Indian.
At 18, the youngster relocated to the United States to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, part of the University of Southern California. Subsequently, he moved to New York City to work with the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, specializing in Contemporary dance styles. Currently, I am a freelance dancer, performer, teacher, and choreographer.
From Garba nights to the Glorya Kaufman School
As a Gujarati, Navratri has always held a special place in Mehta’s heart. “The festival's vibrant colors, richness, and the joy of Garba have consistently appealed to me. My dance journey began at the age of 5 when my mother enrolled me in Garba Folk Dance classes.” he reminiscences. He later transitioned to Shiamak Davar International, where he spent 12 years honing his skills in ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, and Bollywood.
One memory which puts a smile to the dancer’s face is recalling the times in his childhood, when he often put on living room performances for my family. He smiles, “I distinctly remember one performance where, in the middle of a twirl, I lifted one of my skirts above my head, holding it with my hands. My grandfather was so delighted that he gave me 500 rupees. This skirt performance was fueled by my fascination for skirts.”
However, as Mehta grew older, he felt some uneasiness and insecurity about dancing in a skirt. It wasn't until he moved to New York in 2021 that he embraced wearing skirts again for his dance performances. “My first adult performance in a skirt was, fittingly, a Garba performance dedicated to Navratri, focusing on the theme of unified love transcending gender boundaries.” he shares.
The concept for his first video came during Navratri, when he wanted to show the love between Radha and Krishna as one. In the video there are two guys wearing skirts and Mehta was one of them. “You cannot identify who is Radha and Krishna. And that was the whole magic of that.” he notes. That video birthed his popular dance series #MenInSkirts.
Blurring boundaries
Twirling in brightly coloured skirts, Jainil Mehta has chosen the garment as his signature outfit. “I chose skirts for their flowing and graceful qualities. When I dance, the skirt acts like wings, adding a beautiful texture to my movements with its flares.” he says. He picks up skirts based on multiple criteria - the song he is performing, the vibe of the music and the texture of the garment.
When Mehta first started performing in public places wearing a skirt, he was quite apprehensive about people's reactions. Therefore, his initial skirt dance videos were shot in a studio, even though people would ultimately view them on Instagram. He says, “However, my love for outdoor performances gradually made me more carefree about dancing in public while wearing a skirt. Building confidence took time, but I now relish the experience, despite occasional challenges like traffic and weather conditions. Dancing in a natural environment is truly exhilarating for me.”
With his videos garnering millions of views, not all reactions are positive. There are homophobic comments as well as those who belittle the dancer. Mehta’s reaction is matter-of-fact and he says, “While I have encountered negative and hateful comments more recently, I choose to focus on the positive feedback and consider these negative comments as distractions. Many people draw inspiration from my choice, which fuels my determination to keep going.”
The artist’s biggest challenge initially was reaching his audience effectively. He states, “There were periods when my videos struggled to reach the intended viewers. Over time, I've learned that conveying my message in various ways can resonate with the audience.”
His confidence is evident as one scrolls down his social media feed. He appears more comfortable, in sync with his passion and at ease with the camera. Even the content has transformed – while initially, it primarily revolved around dancing, now he shares insights into his life, preferences, attire, and experiences.
Exploring the profound through art
Ask him why he does what he does and Mehta says, “If even one person is influenced by my journey, I am eager to share it.” A dedicated workaholic, his passion for dancing has been a constant driving force throughout his life and his current focus is to travel and establish a professional dance education program in India that higher education opportunities for students pursuing dance as a career.
[caption id="attachment_33069" align="aligncenter" width="683"] Jainil Mehta in NYC[/caption]
Fueled by passion and creative, Mehta’s journey is an inspiration. Navigating life's challenges, seeking truth and self-realization, his medium of expression is a profound exploration not only for himself but for his millions of viewers.
His advice to youngsters who want to follow their dreams? With passion, it's crucial to maintain a degree of dispassion to develop compassion. Continue doing what you love and invest in your training. Turning your dreams into reality is not a mere fantasy; it's a goal you can actively work towards achieving.
This Women’s Day here are six young sheroes who've stepped into the limelight as they set about changing the world with their work and achievements. (March 8, 2022) They’re young, they’re fun and they’re raring to go. These young women know exactly what it takes to make a difference in a rapidly changing world and they’re channelising their talents in the right direction. From Karishma Mehta taking story telling to a whole new level, to giving performance art a new dimension, and conserving endangered languages, these women are in a league of their own. Global Indian turns the spotlight on some of these young movers and shakers as they gear up to take on the world. Shruti Rijhwani, researcher saving endangered languages The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Ph.D candidate at Carnegie Mellon University was named in the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 in science. Shruti Rijhwani researched, and has won accolades on the conservation of endangered language around the world. She pursued her BS degree in computer science at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani in 2015. Selected as a research intern in applied science at Microsoft Research India, in 2015, Shruti developed search software for retrieval and deduplication of misspelled entries.
hruti Rijhwani researched, and has won accolades on the conservation of endangered language around the world. She pursued her BS degree in computer science at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani in 2015. Selected as a research intern in applied science at Microsoft Research India, in 2015, Shruti developed search software for retrieval and deduplication of misspelled entries. Interning at Microsoft, and later at MIT Media Lab- Google Summer of Code, her forte in language conservation was to be her main stay.
In 2018, she was awarded a Bloomberg data science PhD Fellowship, and with that she became an expert on data science.
Shruti, who has been working on developing natural language processing technologies to help communities revitalise endangered languages, tweeted, “Incredibly honoured to be recognised on the 2022 @Forbes 30 under 30 list in science!” The Forbes moniker is just the beginning for this deeply research-oriented mind.
Her goal is to rejuvenate endangered languages. According to Unesco, about 40 percent of the world’s 7,000 languages are endangered. Rijhwani’s algorithms helped extract text from non-digitised books and handwritten documents and make them accessible online. At the Language Technologies Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, advised by Graham Neubig, she says, “My main research interest lies in natural language processing (NLP) and I have worked on various NLP tasks across a broad spectrum of domains and languages. My current research focuses on developing deep learning models for multilingual and low-resource NLP.”
An 18-year-old is just a step away from becoming the first-ever K-pop artiste from India. Meet Sriya Lenka, the singer who is among the two finalists set to grab a spot in the South Korean girl band Blackswan. The Rourkela-born dancer and yoga practitioner, beat thousands in auditions to gain the top spot. She is currently in Korea for a month-long training under DR Music company before the final showdown with Brazil’s Gabriela Strassburger Dalcin to win a spot in the girl band.
“Surreal,” is how Sriya describes her journey from Rourkela to Korea to train under the best in the music industry. DR Music recently shared photographs of the singer on Instagram and introduced her to the world as a Blackswan probable. A trained singer, Sriya initially had a tough time finding the perfect vocal trainer, but she eventually found a way. “I’d request everyone to support me and help me achieve my dreams,” the singer said.
Vrinda Chadha, 26, young Odissi dancer spreading art and culture
Vrinda Chadha has dance flowing through her entire being. The senior disciple of renowned Odissi dance exponent Guru Ranjana Gauhar, Vrinda has been training under her for the past 20 years since she was six. Vrinda, an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, also received a national scholarship for Odissi dance from the ministry of culture and is empanelled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Doordarshan. Her mudras and expertise have taken her across the globe – Spain, Argentina, Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, United Kingdom, Madagascar, and Seychelles. Conferred with the Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award in Mumbai, the Young Talent Award by the International Academy of Mohiniyattam in Delhi, the title of Odissi Ratna in Bhubaneswar and the Kameshwari Award in Guwahati, her talent is much talked about.
“As a dancer I have always valued the ability to express and connect with one’s innermost being through the medium of art. The liberation and joy of surrender in such an experience is unparalleled and is also what connects me not only to myself but also to those watching,” says Vrinda. As she continues to stretch artistic brilliance every time she takes to the stage, she adds, “My art empowers and frees me both on and off stage. It is my identity. Through it, I hope to spread love, peace and consciousness in the ensuing days of 2022.” This accomplished dancer also believes in giving back and works as a fellow at Teach for India.
She picked up the bass guitar when she was three years old, egged on by her jazz musician father. The youngest bass player in the country, Mohini Dey has recorded music for over 100 films and has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including AR Rahman and Zakir Husain. She's a star in her own right too, with her striking appearance, marked by wild curly hair and prodigious technique, Mohini is quite unmistakable. By the age of 11, she was performing professionally and even designing her own outfits.
Described as the Most Successful Musician Under 30 by Forbes India, Mohini, now 24, has spent 16 years in the industry. It's a tough field to be in, especially as a bass player in India. More so as a woman. Dey has loved every moment of her journey, however. "I am very selective about the work I do and I have lots of fun doing it... My life has been always been adventurous and I like it that way."
Her father, Sujoy Dey, also a bass guitarist, was her first teacher. "My dad was so busy and would come home late at night. But he would wake me up, even if it was 1 am and teach me," she said. “I didn't have friends! All my friends were uncles and brothers."
Her latest offering, Damaru directed by LA-based JS Arts, was conceptualised by Suchismita, another of AR Rahman's proteges, for Maha Shivratri 2022. An up-tempo number, Damaru uses Indian vocals, hip hop and EDM and also features Grammy-award winning composer Ricky Kej as well as London-based rapper Maya Miko.
Aditi Chauhan, 29, goalkeeper of the Indian women’s football team
The goalkeeper of the Indian national team is known for her resoluteness guarding the Indian goal. Among the most talented and experienced in the final line-up, Aditi has a fervour and singlemindedness that is evident on the field. She is the first Indian woman from India’s national football women’s team to play internationally at an English premiere league club, West Ham United. She was also named Asian Footballer of the Year during her stint playing in the United Kingdom.
Chauhan moved to Delhi as a nine-year-old, and schooled at Amity International School. Always sporty, she tried her hand at many games before “the beautiful game” stole her heart. At 15, Aditi appeared on the team for the Delhi women's football team U19 squad.
The girl, who studied MSc in sports management at Loughborough University, joined English premiere league club West Ham United Ladies where she spent two to three seasons. Aditi was a part of the Indian women’s team that won the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship in Sri Lanka. She also played at the recently concluded 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
“Those that shoulder the biggest dreams, face the biggest challenges. Maybe this team’s biggest victory will be in overcoming this, and still going - still playing with heart, still dreaming! The blue tigresses will be back and roar louder than ever, we promise. Keep supporting,” she tweeted.
She was all of 21 when she decided to launch Humans of Bombay, a social media platform inspired by the Humans of New York page. Today, as her platform clocks in over 2.2 million followers on Instagram, it brings to life stories of grit, determination and the resilience of human nature. With tales of battling abuse, racism, and overcoming tragedy, her posts manage to touch hearts and inspire across age groups. Being able to get a hold of these stories was no easy feat for this University of Nottingham alum. Strangers would shy away from speaking to her, till she finally made her breakthrough. Today, the 29-year-old’s platform not just highlights stories, but also helps its subjects through crowdfunding campaigns.
From social media influencer to entrepreneur and author, her journey is nothing short of remarkable. And as she marches on, Karishma has also been featured in reputed international publications like Forbes. As she surges on in her mission to bring to life stories that matter and extend a helping hand along the way, Karishma posted on Instagram, “I was 21 when I founded Humans of Bombay and through these eight years, I’ve had what seems like multiple MBA courses simultaneously. But sluicing through the myriad of business, finance, and the whole shebang, the one invaluable skill we have honed, is the art of storytelling.”
Shripriya Kalbhavi[/caption]
Aditya Chaudhary[/caption]
Rohan Kalia[/caption]
Nirvaan Somany founded Project Jeans[/caption]
Kiara Nirghin[/caption]
Jainil Mehta[/caption]
Jainil Mehta in NYC[/caption]
