Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveGlobal Kitchen: International food influencers spicing up their pages with desi flavours

Global Kitchen: International food influencers spicing up their pages with desi flavours

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(December 12, 2023) Whether it’s a simple dal-khichdi or an extravagant biryani, the harmonious fusion of Indian spices has always been a culinary marvel. For years, iconic Indian dishes like butter chicken, dal makhani, and garlic naan graced the global stage. However, in today’s age of social media and cooking shows, the representation of Indian flavours has expanded far beyond these classics. The diverse flavours of regional Indian cuisines have now captivated global audiences, thanks to the expertise of several culinary influencers on Instagram.

Influencers | Global Indian

The growing popularity of veganism has also played a significant role in elevating Indian cuisine’s global appeal. Many traditional Indian dishes are inherently vegan or can be easily adapted to meet vegan preferences. Global Indian explores the world of international Instagram food influencers who may not hail from India, but their profound love for Indian cuisine knows no bounds.

Beryl Shereshewsky (@shereshe)

One of the most unique Instagram food bloggers, Beryl Shereshewsky is a New York-based creator who wears multiple hats as a producer, writer, and videographer. Her content spans various series, one of which is ‘Dishes Around The World.’ In this series, she takes everyday ingredients like tea, coffee, and eggs, and recreates five recipes from different countries, all suggested by her followers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beryl Shereshewsky (@shereshe)

Beryl’s Instagram following is impressive, with over 174k followers. One of her recent and highly popular series was ‘Eating the Alphabet in India: A to Z,’ which she filmed in New Delhi, India. This series featured a wide range of traditional Indian dishes and snacks, including packaged foods, along with their historical backgrounds. Moreover, this influencer’s channel frequently showcases Indian recipes, such as paneer biryani and mutta chaya (egg tea), which are unique and specific to certain regions in India. Interestingly, she’s married to an Indian, which likely adds to her love for desi cuisine!

Jake Dryan (@plantfuture)

In today’s digital age, a rising number of young Indians are discovering their passion for cooking, thanks to Instagram sensation Jake Dryan – known to his followers as @plantfuture. One of the few food influencers, who is strictly vegan, Jake’s innovative plant-based approach to Indian cuisine has garnered significant attention, shining a spotlight on authentic recipes from local Indian kitchens.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JAKE DRYAN (@plantfuture)

Based in the UK, this food influencer boasts an impressive 1.4M followers on Instagram. His channel features a captivating series that delves into the diverse culinary traditions of India, highlighting recipes from each of the country’s states. Thus far, he has already shared delectable dishes from 11 different states. From the tangy khatti dal of Hyderabad to Odisha’s flavourful ghanta tarkari, his recipes have received not only international acclaim but also earned praise from the very regions in India where these dishes originate. Jake’s culinary journey serves as an inspiration for both Indian and global audiences, igniting a newfound love for Indian home cooking.

Maya Leinenbach (@fitgreenmind)

Hailing from Germany, Maya Leinenbach is a passionate vegan who demonstrates how simple it can be to enjoy plant-based meals from all around the globe. Her recipe collection spans various cuisines, including Southeast Asian, German, American, and even Indian. She skillfully uses ingredients like chickpeas, tofu, and vegan cream to bring out the delightful flavours of these cuisines.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maya // vegan recipes (@fitgreenmind)

With an impressive Instagram following of 3.1 million, this youthful food blogger not only shares individual Indian recipes but also dedicates entire weeks to showcasing Indian cuisine. From the mouthwatering pav bhaji of Maharashtra to the delectable Amritsari kulcha from Punjab, her array of offerings is boundless and can instantly transport you to your favourite Indian state.

Cheyenne Singh (@cheysingh)

Cheyenne‘s last name, ‘Singh,’ is a nod to her Punjabi husband, and she’s making waves on Instagram with her hit series, ‘Lunch For My Husband.’ In this heartwarming series, she shows what tasty meals she prepares for her husband , all while bravely confronting racist and negative comments that sometimes pop up on her feed.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cheyenne (@cheysingh)

When it comes to cooking, Cheyenne is all about sharing delightful recipes from both India and America. Whether it’s her Indian-inspired chicken curry or the tasty desi chinese hakka noodles, her flavours have won the hearts of her 167k-strong audience. Cheyenne’s culinary journey is a testament to love, delicious food, and standing up against negativity in the online world.

Jennifer Pallian (@foodess)

Jennifer Pallian, a food blogger and writer on Instagram, is all about sharing “tried-and-true comfort recipes.” Hailing from the USA, she brings the flavours of the world to her followers, whether it’s gochujang chicken or potato-seafood chowder.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jennifer Pallian, BSc RD (@foodess)

With a robust following of 193k fans, her channel is a treasure trove of recipes that include chicken biryani, garlic naan, and samosas, all of which have become fan favourites. Her approach to Indian cuisine is easy to follow, making it a hit among both Indian and international audiences. Interestingly, she’s married to an Indian, which could be a big reason why her social media feed reflects her deep love for Indian cuisine. Jennifer’s food journey is a delightful mix of comfort and international flavours that brings smiles to food lovers worldwide.

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 12, Dec 2023

Share with

ALSO READ

Neeharika Munjal: Connecting young Indian professionals in New England through YIPNE

(April 16, 2024) After graduating from Boston University in 2022, Neeharika Munjal wanted to diversify her network and make connections within the Indian community in New England, USA, where she had landed a job. However, she couldn’t find a way to do this, as there was no organisation or platform dedicated to it. It gave Neeharika the idea for YIPNE, short for Young Indian Professionals of New England - a collaborative platform dedicated to professionals of Indian origin who live in the New England area helping them build connections through networking opportunities. Neeharika serves as the founder and CEO of the voluntary organisation, which has grown significantly in just two years of its inception, much to her delight. Basking in happiness of seeing it turn two, the 24-year-old shares her dreams with Global Indian. “I would love to see YIPNE to expand nationwide so we can create a stronger South Asian and Indian professional network in the United States. We have so many CEOs who are Indian here so it would be great to have them all in board and have many more young Indian professionals support each other and get inspired,” she says adding, “Since we have a massive

te a stronger South Asian and Indian professional network in the United States. We have so many CEOs who are Indian here so it would be great to have them all in board and have many more young Indian professionals support each other and get inspired,” she says adding, “Since we have a massive Indian population in the United States it would be great to see them all unite into one community and celebrate each other’s professional success.”

[caption id="attachment_37172" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Neeharika Munjal[/caption]

Neeharika Munjal works as an administrative supervisor at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England. The Boston University alumni is driven by two passions in life - working to enhance healthcare systems to ensure optimal and affordable treatment for all and promoting South Asian culture in the Western world.

YIPNE – quickly gaining recognition

Since its inception in April 2022, the voluntary group has seen immense growth, boasting over 6,000 members across Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Its initiatives have included a highly-attended networking event, drawing over 400 young Indian professionals in the New England area, and the launch of a YouTube talk series spotlighting community groups and individual success stories. It has also established a board of advisors comprising esteemed individuals from the Boston Indian community. "The team includes Dipali Trivedi, Yogita Miharia, Sanjay Kudrimoti, Dr Raju Singla, Dr. Rohit Chandra, Kamal Tiku, Dr. Chander Kapasi, Ranjani Saigal and Gaurav Jetly," Neeharika shares.

Additionally, YIPNE has successfully organised small meetups that consistently sell out. The most recent one was the Holi networking brunch. Another initiative that YIPNE launched is the “South Asian Small Business Saturday” which has been showcasing and supporting Indian-owned small businesses in New England, promoting their visibility and growth.

“Being able to emcee multiple events and organise events on a large and small scale and seeing many individuals build connections and get jobs/internships and other opportunities through the YIPNE platform has truly been a rewarding experience,” remarks Neeharika who did not expect her organisation to become so well recognised and create impressive milestones in such a short span of time.

YIPNE was recently selected to be a community partner at the India Conference at Harvard University which saw highly accomplished Indian-origin entrepreneurs and Bollywood actress, Karishma Kapoor as guest speakers.

[caption id="attachment_37200" align="aligncenter" width="751"] YIPNE's event which drew over 400 young Indian professionals of New England[/caption]

It started when…

Transitioning from student life to professional life, Neeharika felt lost and did not know how to navigate the real world. Owing to her extraordinary academic excellence she had graduated earlier than her peers. Although she was extensively involved with the Indian community, she wanted to diversify her network beyond that, adding a professional angle to it.

She came across a few networking organisations within her field and in the non-Indian groups in the Boston area, as well as community and charity organisations for the Indian community, there weren't any that catered to the need of professional networking for the youth of the Indian community in the New England area. “As an American-born Indian, it was important for me to stay in touch with my culture and network with other young professionals at the same time,” she remarks.

It was during a conversation with her mother about the lack of Indian professional networking in the New England area, that the idea of YIPNE struck. "After the conversation I had with my mother, the urge for such a platform got stronger. Immediately after that, I created a logo, and launched Young Indian Professionals of New England on Facebook in April 2022" she says. Neeharika never imagined that it would grow so swiftly. Initially, she thought even if just 10 people joined, she would make at least 10 new acquaintances, and consider it a successful initiative.

[caption id="attachment_37180" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Neeharika Munjal and young professionals at the recent Holi Networking Brunch[/caption]

Love for the community

Born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts, Neeharika had always actively sought opportunities to connect with others of her heritage. During high school, she became involved with an organisation called Ekal Vidyalaya USA, dedicated to providing education to remote villages in India. As an Ekal Youth Leader, she led fundraising efforts and organised events, even contributing her own pocket money to provide lifelong education to children. "We often take education for granted, viewing it as an obligation, but in reality, there are children worldwide who long for an education but lack the means to access it," she remarks.

Neeharika is also associated with We Care Charity which helps people in need with compassion in the New England region and beyond and is a part of TiE Boston, a non-profit network dedicated to helping startups grow. As part of Saheli Boston, she works for the sufferers of domestic violence.

Health and management

When it was time for higher studies Neeharika chose to pursue health sciences with a minor in business administration and management at Boston University combining her interest in healthcare and business management. At the hospital where she works, she prioritises community engagement, striving to celebrate diverse cultures and enhance patient care. As part of the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) board, she emphasises the importance of understanding different cultural backgrounds to provide the best patient care for improved treatment outcomes.

[caption id="attachment_37174" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Neeharika Munjal at the Harvard Conference[/caption]

“Balancing my full-time job, running my own organisation, and staying active in the Indian community of New England gets hectic at times but by organising my day effectively and focusing on what matters most to me, I have learned to multitask,” the youngster remarks stressing on the importance of effective time management.

Awards and recognitions

For her community initiatives, the youngster has received numerous awards, including the Lokvani Magazine Rising Star of the Year award, the Miss Bharat Woman Empowerment award, the Indian Medical Association of New England Presidential Recognition award, and also a recognition from Ekal Vidyalaya.

In 2016 she was named in the India New England 20 under 20 list, and has been appointed as a youth brand ambassador for Mydream Entertainment's Miss Bharat New England.

[caption id="attachment_37176" align="aligncenter" width="545"] Neeharika Munjal[/caption]

Health and community

While she was studying at Boston University, Neeharika was part of the Partners in Healthcare club, Boston University India Club, and the Healthcare Improvement Inc, BU’s multidisciplinary student organisation dedicated to serving at the intersection of community service, clinical care, and healthcare reform.

Now as a healthcare professional, she is a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen of America Boston Chapter, a global non-profit focused on achieving gender parity in healthcare leadership, promoting career connections, and supporting the development of young professionals through groups like Tomorrow’s Executive.

Second anniversary of YIPNE

“As an American-born Indian, it was important for me to find ways to stay in touch with our Indian culture,” says Neeharika. “I am so grateful and blessed to have the community's support. The older generation here in the US have provided a foundation for the Indian community but it is up to us - the younger generation to improve and elevate our community,” she shares.

Neeharika’s parents Preeti and Manoj Munjal had moved to the US for their higher education in engineering and are now into commercial real estate and investing. “They are active members of the Indian community in Boston and have worked incredibly hard to reach where they are today. They have been extremely supportive of me. I am always thankful and grateful to them,” she remarks.

“Next month, we are hosting our second anniversary networking gala brunch event at the Treasury Restaurant in Burlington MA. This will be a high-end networking event filled with accomplished individuals along with elevated fusion Indian food,” she shares excitedly.” I cannot wait to see what we accomplish in the future and want to celebrate what we have accomplished so far,” she signs off.

[caption id="attachment_37181" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Young professionals at an YIPNE event[/caption]

Follow Neeharika Munjal on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
Follow YIPNE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Reading Time: 5 mins

Anya Gupta: Protecting penguins and battling e-waste in Florida

(October 13, 2023) In 2022, Boca Raton, a city in Southern Palm Beach Country, Florida, announced that October 14 would be E-Waste Day. It was a triumph for Anya Gupta, the pre-teen environment advocate, and her efforts to protect the planet by addressing the elephant in the room – e-waste. Mayor Scott Singer passed the proclamation, helping Anya spread awareness about the harm caused by electronic waste on the environment. Anya has gathered over 1,000 pounds of electronic waste through her e-waste collection drives, ensuring that the e-waste generated by Boca Raton’s 100,000 inhabitants is reused or recycled, rather than ending up in a landfill. At just 12 years of age, Anya Gupta is creating a significant impact as a passionate champion with a mission to safeguard the environment. Her cause has inspired other cities in Florida, like Stuart and Miami Beach, which have also declared October 14 as Electronic Waste Recycling Day. “I realised that while pollution and plastic hazards are commonly discussed, the environmental threats from electronic waste aren’t. I want to add momentum in addressing the issue,” Anya remarked. [caption id="attachment_33525" align="aligncenter" width="442"] Anya Gupta[/caption] E-waste is not the only cause that Anya is concerned about. The

er" width="442"] Anya Gupta[/caption]

E-waste is not the only cause that Anya is concerned about. The young environmentalist is the founder of the non-profit ‘Pennies for Penguins' which she started with the purpose of ocean wildlife protection when she was barely five. This year, the author of three books has founded GLCS Youth Leadership Council and has been doing tremendous work for environmental conservation, earning awards and accolades along the way. One significant award that she earned in 2023 is the Everyday Young Hero Award by Youth Service America for her committment to finding her voice, taking an action and creating an impact in her community.

Pennies for Penguins

Anya’s town Boca Raton is famously centred around luxury beach culture. When Anya was just four, she developed an interest in ocean studies and learned about the environmental threats to her favourite animals – penguins, and started a non-profit to protect them. Her non-profit has successfully spearheaded the 'Cup Revolution' campaign, which is dedicated to combating plastic straw waste and has effectively engaged young people on a global scale.

Anya has been frequently organising community clean-up events in her nearby beaches and neighbourhoods. She inspires children of all age groups to take a similar initiative in their respective communities. “Cleaning up our planet is a collective global endeavour,” she believes.

[caption id="attachment_33521" align="aligncenter" width="569"] Anya Gupta, few years back[/caption]

Leveraging the power of youth

Anya collaborated with the Gumbo Limbo Nature Centre in Florida to establish a youth council with the aim of empowering local children to engage in conversations about the environmental issues that are important to them, and to coordinate events that raise awareness about these matters. As the founder and president she makes all efforts to leverage the power of youth volunteers to achieve the council’s goals.

Since its inception this year the youth council has done impactful work leading to praise by many including John Holloway, the president of Coastal Stewards who remarked that the solutions of the future are rooted in the experiences and values held by young individuals like Anya and her team.

Love for words and causes

So deep is her interest in the cause of ocean conservation that the eight grader has authored three children's books on the topic. The narrative of her latest book revolves around a penguin family experiencing the consequences of toxic runoff from electronic waste contaminating the fish they rely on for food. This story serves as a lesson for children to learn about interconnectedness of living beings and the significance of responsible waste disposal.

The youngster, who is passionate about penguins, climate change and human impact, works tirelessly to find resolutions to conflicts between modern lifestyles of humans and the conducive environment required by ocean animals.

[caption id="attachment_33523" align="aligncenter" width="556"] Cover image of Anya's latest book[/caption]

“When we throw away used electronic products, it ends up in the landfills and then when it rains, toxic chemicals from the e-waste find their way to our oceans and seep into the water. I work to ensure that all our e-waste ends up in the right place and not in the landfills,” she remarked.

Awards and accolades

This year the president of Youth Service America recognised Anya as the ‘Youth Service America Everyday Young Hero’ for her commitment to take action and make an impact in the community.

Anya also achieved recognition in the 2023 Regional Science Fair, earning two special awards and one placement award for her project, which delved into the effects of electronic waste on the survival rates of Daphnia magna, a commonly studied zooplankton species.

She secured second place in the Environmental Sciences Category overall and garnered an Honourable Mention for the Pollution Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County award.

Anya was also selected as one of the top 300 Junior Innovators, and was one of the only seven representatives from Florida for her project submission in the 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge organised by the Society for Science.

In the National Toshiba NTSA Exploravision Science Competition 2021, Anya was selected as one of the 24 regional winners for problem solving through STEM. She went on to secure second position in the national round winning a $5,000 scholarship for her college education, a chrome book and a banner for her school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOAhpd3N7PU

As part of the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit (YOCS) grant recipient the young ocean steward was provided assistance with tools and resources to fund her own conservation project within her community.

In 2020, the young environmentalist won the Youth Environmental Excellence Award by SeaWorld & Busch Gardens in recognition of her environmental conservation work. As part of the award Anya had got the opportunity to spend an entire weekend exploring the behind-the-scenes experience, hosted by SeaWorld's conservation team. “The best part of it was that they had even arranged a penguin for me to pet,” she remarked.

The youngster loves reading, dancing, singing, music, and cooking. But what’s most important to her is her passion for advocating for the environment and ocean wildlife that are in need of persistent safeguarding.

Follow Anya Gupta on Facebook and YouTube
To know more about Anya's initiatives visit Pennies for Penguin's website

Reading Time: 5 mins

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

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

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

The boy from Durgapur

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

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

Project Innovation for Arijit

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

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

Surging ahead with ideas

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

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

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

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

Follow Arijit Das on LinkedIn.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Riding high: Equestrienne Divyakriti Singh’s ‘Adrenaline’ rush at the Asian Games 2023

(November 14, 2023) Divyakriti Singh has not been back home in the last two years. She missed all the festivals and other important events, which she would have otherwise celebrated with her family at their home in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It’s sacrifices like this and many more, that helped her gallop towards a historic victory which equestrians across the world will forever remember. She 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,” says the 23-year-old, who is on cloud nine post the team’s win. She scored 68.176 in Asian Games. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Divyakriti Singh Rathore (@divyakritisinghrathore) The victory marked the first time in 41 years that India has achieved

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Divyakriti Singh Rathore (@divyakritisinghrathore)

The victory marked the first time in 41 years that India has achieved the feat. “The best three scores were counted from our team and I'm very happy that I was able to contribute to that,” says Divyakriti who was honoured with Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Award for Young Achiever in the field of Sport at The Sawai Jaipur Awards 2023.

In Europe

For the last three years, Divyakriti has been living in Europe, preparing for the Asian Games. “I've been based in Denmark and then in Germany. I have been very involved with the daily routine of my horses. I'm in the stable every day, all days of the week,” informs the equestrienne, who visited Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Florida, USA as part of her training.

Her routine hardly changed during her training years. Divyakriti’s day would start at 5 am sharp and she would head straight for the stable. Even during the peak Europe winter, she would not compromise on her schedule.

The young rider currently holds the number one spot in Asia and ranks an impressive 14th globally, according to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Global Dressage rankings.

The Rathore Family

Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Divyakriti was in seventh grade when she started horse riding. By 12, she was completely involved in equestrian sports and went on to receive numerous individual and team medals at various events including the Junior National Equestrian Championships and All India IPSC equestrian competitions. “Horses are my passion and that motivates me to be a better rider. It keeps me focused on the sport and I’m grateful that I get to do something that I love,” says the alumni of Mayo College Girls School in Ajmer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Divyakriti Singh Rathore (@divyakritisinghrathore)

A student of psychology in Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, Divyakriti is the daughter of Vikram Singh Rathore, a retired Army officer and Alka TejSingh. She has an elder sibling, Digvijay Singh. The Rathore family have been into horse riding for decades. “My entire family was present at the stands cheering for me at the Asian Game. It was a very proud moment for all of us,” says Divyakriti, beaming with pride. Even her grandparents from both mothers and fathers side have also been connected to horses.

Adrenaline Rush

She describes her horse, Adrenaline as a superstar. “He is my best friend and made my dreams come true. Together, we were able to deliver a personal best score which helped Team India clinch the gold medal,” says Divyakriti.

Initially, when she arrived in Europe, Divyakriti was training with a different horse but was not comfortable with him. At that stable, Adrenaline was already the super star. An international dressage rider from Denmark Helene Melsen, who bred the horse, asked her to try Adrenaline for the Asian games. “Once I rode him, the connect was instant and that was the beginning of our partnership,” she says.

Adrenaline, who weighs around 700 kg, has a mind of his own, says the equestrienne. “We have a bond based on trust, which we built through the time I spent at the stables,” says the accomplished equestrienne. She makes it a point to take her horse out for walks and feeds and grooms him. “He even gets a treat after rides, no matter the result,” she says.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Divyakriti Singh Rathore (@divyakritisinghrathore)

Adrenaline, like all other horses, senses everything. “So the key is to be confident and give your horse the confidence,” says the India Today Woman Summit Awardee.

Lessons learned

There are ups and downs in every athlete's journey and Divyakriti is no exception. “If there is one thing that I've learned from my career, it is that do not fret over things that you can't control. Horse riding has taught me that,” smiles the youngster, who has previously represented the country in Europe and national competitions across the country.

She won the IPA Junior National Polo Championship Winner twice, in 2016 and 2017. She won the gold in the Junior National Equestrian Championship at Kolkata in 2018-2019 at Kolkata, India. In the 2019-2020 Junior National Equestrian Championship at Bangalore. she won the silver.

Prior to the Asian Games, she and her team members underwent a tough selection process. “Our federation had chalked out a set of selection criteria which required us to do the selection trials in Europe. Those trials were international competitions where we were competing against the best riders from all over the world,” she says, adding that it gave her good exposure.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Divyakriti Singh Rathore (@divyakritisinghrathore)

So what’s next ? “I have already started training for the upcoming international tournaments,” she adds.

Follow Divyakriti on Instagram

Reading Time: 6 mins

Born with dancing shoes: Shreyah Mohanselvan is connected to her roots through Bharatanatyam

(October 29, 2022) She was on a summer break, waiting to start school again in a few weeks when she first received the news that she had been nominated for the US Presidential Scholars Award in the Arts. Chosen among students from 25 states, Shreyah Mohanselvan, a native of Tamil Nadu, was thrilled to know that the government recognised her passion for classical Indian dance forms that she had been learning since she was four years old. Aspiring to be a professional dancer someday, this youngster has attained outstanding prowess in five different dance forms including ballet, Bharatanatyam, and Odissi. [caption id="attachment_23543" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Shreyah Mohanselvan, Indian classical dancer[/caption] “Dance is not just my passion but a fascination for me. I gave in to my obsession with dancing at the age of four. I started with ballet at the New Albany Ballet Company and went on to learn Indian classical dance forms including Bharatanatyam,” Shreyah said to Travel Beats, an Indian American community portal. Undeniably, dancing is her comfort zone and favorite stress buster. However dancing is just the tip of the huge talent iceberg for this young Global Indian. A brilliant student, Shreyah Mohanselvan is equally talented in science

eniably, dancing is her comfort zone and favorite stress buster. However dancing is just the tip of the huge talent iceberg for this young Global Indian. A brilliant student, Shreyah Mohanselvan is equally talented in science and engineering. A recent graduate from Rice University in Texas, where she earned a degree in computer science, the dancer is currently working as a Product Manager with Microsoft.

Ballet to Bharatnatyam

Born to Mohanselvan Subramanian and Sumathi Mohanselvan, who immigrated to the USA from India in the early 90s, Shreyah would tap her feet to any kind of music even as a toddler. And so, recognising her talent, her parents decided to put Shreyah in a local dance class. However, while she was good at ballet, the dancer wasn't satisfied with what she was learning. It was her mother, who after sensing her curiosity to learn more, decided to take her to her first Bharatnatyam class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8fXyUu3TSk

The sounds of ghunghroo and taal mesmerised Shreyah from the get-go and there was no turning back. Over the years, the young dancer learnt not one but two major classical dances of India - Bharatnatyam, and Odissi. “The two dance forms have differences and similarities, and sometimes it is difficult to force the body to be true to both of these two conflicting dance forms,” she explained in an interview with City Scene Columbus.

Recognition comes calling

Shreyah, however, is not just a dancer, she is an award-winning dancer. The youngster claimed the first place in the Federation of Indian Associations of Central Ohio’s Indian solo dance competition for three consecutive years. She also has three first-place and two second-place finishes in the Vindhya Cultural Association in Columbus, a competition that attracts talent from all across the state.

In 2018, she was presented with a National Young Arts Winner Honorable Mention Award in Indian/classical dance. The youngster owes her nomination for the 2018 US Presidential Scholars Award to Carolina García Jayaram, President, and CEO of the Miami-based National YoungArts Foundation which is one of the partners for this National Recognition Programme.

No pain, no gain?

But, as they say, no achievement comes without pain. Throughout her school life, this youngster followed a very strict daily routine to stay on top of not just her dance practice, but also her academics. So much so that, while others her age were enjoying all kinds of junk food, the 20-year-old had a diet plan scheduled for her. "I always eat balanced meals to maintain my energy and stamina. Around the time of major rehearsals and performances, I pay extra attention to my diet and sleep to make sure I can maintain my focus and energy levels," she shared during one of the interviews.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3j7UaoMs88

A bright youngster, who also served as the student council president at her school, Shreyah has big plans for the future. Even though she is working full-time at Microsoft now, the youngster continues to practice every day early in the morning and wishes to start her professional journey as a dancer soon. Although her schedule can sometimes be exhausting, the young dancer believes, "If one is doing something she loves, she is already doing something amazing."

Follow Shreyah Mohanselvan on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 6 mins