Greeshma Davu: NRI teen empowering underprivileged girls through education
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(November 8, 2023) Monika Chandolu, a resident of Movva village in Krishna district in Vijayawada, got an impressive 95.4 percent in her 12th grade and qualified for the JEE Mains exam. She is confident of clearing her JEE advanced test and getting admission into a top institute. This wouldn’t have been possible without the help of 16-year-old Greeshma Davu, an Indian American living in the suburb of Washington DC, who is helping many deserving students like Monika by providing financial assistance for their education.
Greeshma is on a mission to empower underprivileged girls and is doing everything possible to help the girls get the right access to education, and it’s her parents who are helping her in the process. She is assisting Monika in her pursuit of engineering education using Tata’s Palleseva organization, which is located in Kaza village within the same mandal.
Greeshma Davu
“During a visit to my grandparent’s hometown in India, I have learned about the dire consequences of inadequate education. Witnessing the lack of access to basic rights for women, I became motivated to make a difference through charity,” she told a daily.
While her parents have been the wind beneath her wings, she has been working hard to provide financial help to girls like Monika by working at Kumon learning centers, as well as working as an intern at the University of Virginia Neuro Science Lab. The concept of aiding the underprivileged by offering education took shape during her visit to India, where she saw distressing situations in which women encountered hardships because of their limited access to education.
In addition to her commitment to academics and sports, the teenager is also actively involved in charitable work through her non-profit organization, ‘Care 4 Needy,’ which extends its assistance to both Indian and American communities. ‘Care 4 Needy’ was founded in January 2022, with the initiative stemming from the vision of Greeshma’s mother and founder, Srilatha Tata, along with her maternal uncle, Pavan Kumar Tata. Greeshma and her uncle, Anil Kumar Tata, serve as co-founders of the organisation.
This dual-pronged dedication to education and community service exemplifies their family’s commitment to making a positive impact both locally and abroad through ‘Care 4 Needy.’
Apart from charitable work, Greeshma has demonstrated her academic prowess by achieving the sixth position in the State Technology Student Association (TSA) conference, showcasing her excellence in this field. Simultaneously, she is passionate about sports and has earned a spot on the Junior Varsity Volleyball team at Rockridge High School, her former educational institution.
Furthermore, Greeshma is not only excelling in her studies and sports but also showing her commitment to social causes. Her goal is to provide sanitary napkins to women and teenagers in rural areas, and she has already managed to raise an impressive $20,000 in funds to support this vital cause. Her dedication to both academic and humanitarian pursuits is truly inspiring.
“Working at the National Institute of Health to support those suffering from lupus disease, Greeshma achieved recognition in the State Technology Student Association. With the guidance of her mentors Ravi Davu and Dr Prakash Bethapudi, she also published research on brain tumour identification,” Greeshma’s mother added.
(February 15, 2022) As a child, Jahnavi Dangeti’s grandmother told her countless bedtime stories. One, about a woman who lived on the moon who distributed chocolates and toys to children, was her favourite. It fuelled her imagination about space, planets and a sky full of unimaginable possibilities. Curious at heart, the Nasa junior citizen scientist wanted to learn more. As a child, she would research Apollo Missions, astronauts, particularly Neil Armstrong to learn more. Those starry tales propelled her into creating history. Jahnavi is the only Indian to undergo the International Air and Space Program (IASP) at Nasa Launch Operations’ Kennedy Space Centre in Alabama, US in 2021. The aspiring astronaut was part of a carefully chosen group of 20 youngsters from across the world to be selected. “My interest in space exploration was triggered by my grandmother’s bedtime stories. I want to become the first Indian to set foot on Mars,” declares the confident Nasa junior citizen scientist. [caption id="attachment_10903" align="aligncenter" width="834"] Jahnavi is a junior citizen scientist for NASA[/caption] When zero gravity was attainable Born in Poolapalli, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, the 19-year-old completed the astronaut programme involving multi-access training, underwater rocket launch, zero gravity, etc. What more,
Born in Poolapalli, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, the 19-year-old completed the astronaut programme involving multi-access training, underwater rocket launch, zero gravity, etc. What more, she also got to pilot an aircraft for the first time. “Flying a Cessna 172 with my co-pilot was a dream come true. I love flying, and will soon be taking up a piloting course,” says Jahnavi, speaking exclusively to Global Indian.
Such is her fascination for the cockpit that once, on a flight to Andamans, she told the flight crew about her interests and requested entry into the cockpit. “They consulted the pilot and I was allowed in, and all the instruments were explained, and it was an incredible experience,” says Jahnavi who has twin goals – becoming a pilot and an astronaut. Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications (honours) from Lovely Professional University, the brilliant mind is on to greater heights.
At the US programme, Jahnavi was appointed mission director for Team Kennedy, a group of 16 who successfully launched and landed a miniature rocket into the sky, safely. “Our team accomplished a great deal. For me, it was a great opportunity to develop project management skills along with leadership and international work experience,” smiles the teenager. Her team worked on a multi-axis trainer based on a real-life astronaut training simulator. “The experience is intended to simulate the sensation of an uncontrolled spin in microgravity,” informs the Nasa junior citizen scientist who got a scholarship from a Mexican company for the IASP programme.
[caption id="attachment_10904" align="alignnone" width="1440"] Flying a Cessna172 with a co-pilot was a 'dream come true,' says Jahnavi[/caption]
Aspiring to be an astronaut
While going through various phases of astronaut training, Jahnavi met retired American naval aviator and former Nasa astronaut Kenneth D Cameron, who mentored her batch. IASP, a five-day educational programme drives the leaders of tomorrow in STEM. It involves teamwork, problem-solving and communication among students, with expert Nasa engineers to help solve unexpected problems. The Nasa junior citizen scientist was in the fall edition from November 14 to 20, 2021.
Participating in several workshops by ISRO, she has been a campus ambassador for several organisations including Space Technology and Aeronautical Rocketry, which is an Indian private aerospace company. She is the vice-president of Space Magica, a startup astronaut training centre for students and general public, and has also participated in hackathons. “I come from a very small town, with hardly any awareness about space programmes and research. Therefore, I don’t miss any opportunity that takes me closer to my dreams,” informs the Nasa junior citizen scientist, who is a member of the International Organization of Aspiring Astronauts, and has analysed the images caught by the Pan-STARRS satellite in pursuit of unexposed asteroids.
[caption id="attachment_10905" align="aligncenter" width="868"] From the depths of the ocean into outer space. the sky is no limit for Jahnavi[/caption]
Scuba, doobie do
The Andhra girl, a record holder in the Indian Book of Records for being multitalented, undertook an open water scuba training, and is today an internationally certified open water scuba diver. First learning swimming in a pool, she travelled to Visakhapatnam to learn open water swimming. She obtained mandatory approval from the state government for advanced adventure scuba diving too. When it did not come through, the Nasa junior citizen scientist went to Goa, and finally got her open water scuba diving certification. Needless to say, it was not easy.
“While scuba diving in Goa, I was stung by a jellyfish, and had a close encounter with a lionfish,” recounts the girl who travelled to the Andamans for further training. “I learnt night, single and other special dives, getting a license in adventure scuba diving. I love life under water,” smiles Jahnavi, whose parents, Sreenivas Dangeti and Padmasree work in private companies in Kuwait. Jahnavi was raised by her grandmother Leela Ramanadham.
[caption id="attachment_10906" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Jahnavi is an internationally certified scuba driver and was trained here in Goa[/caption]
As she manages her time between academics, and other pursuits, she never misses a chance to stargaze. Watching sci-fi movies, and cartoons, the bookworm gorges on books on astronomy and by astronauts. “Wings of Fire is my favourite,” reveals the Karate champ, who has won several awards. Hard pressed for time, the Nasa junior citizen scientist manages to indulge in meditation and workouts. When it comes to her academics, Jahnavi, who went to Montessori English medium school and Aditya Junior College, was among those bright minds who were in the top 10 students.
Dreaming big, she is thankful to her parents for doing everything possible to help her realise her dreams. “There are huge financial constraints when it comes to taking up a pilot course,” says the Nasa junior citizen scientist, who is looking at the Andhra Pradesh government for support. An active member of student organisation Robotics and Intelligent System Community at college, she thanks her grandmother who has been her anchor.
(July 30, 2022) Little Abhijita was thrilled to receive an invitation last year from the Ministry of Culture on behalf of the Government of India to be one of the 40 youth icons in the theme song honouring Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav - 75 years of India's Independence. The junior high school student and author of three books became a part of the 'Mauka Hai' song released by T Series right before Independence Day 2021, along with other notable young Indians including Neeraj Chopra, Sonam Wangchu, and P V Sindhu. [caption id="attachment_20063" align="aligncenter" width="616"] Abhijita during her book launch at Oxford bookstore[/caption] The Ghaziabad-based novelist, who got huge recognition as soon as she published her first book at seven, tells Global Indian, "I started writing when I was just five. An Elephant's Advice, the first story I ever wrote, was about raising awareness to eat healthy food. My family appreciated it a lot." Encouraged by appreciation, she went on to write more such stories which later got compiled into her first book. From “no” to “yes” "Several publishers turned my manuscript down after learning about my age, questioning how a seven-year-old could write a book. Invincible Publishers finally agreed. They were
riting when I was just five. An Elephant's Advice, the first story I ever wrote, was about raising awareness to eat healthy food. My family appreciated it a lot." Encouraged by appreciation, she went on to write more such stories which later got compiled into her first book.
From “no” to “yes”
"Several publishers turned my manuscript down after learning about my age, questioning how a seven-year-old could write a book. Invincible Publishers finally agreed. They were reluctant too in the beginning but when my mother persuaded them to read the manuscript once, they said, 'Wow!" reminisces the youngster with a smile.
Impressed with the little wordsmith’s calibre, they agreed to a four-book agreement. Her non-fiction works, Happiness All Around, We Will Surely Sustain, and To Begin with the Little Things, combine stories and poems to encourage readers to live better lives.
The publishing house claims on the book's cover that "the writings have been left untouched so that the innocence does not get diluted" and adds that the title, cover design, and illustration ideas were all contributed by the young author.
Right after her first book released, the pandemic started. Abhijita made it a setting for her second book. She based the novella on her experiences during the lockdown, with characters that included herself, her parents, every member of her extended family, and the housemaid.
Three books and five honours
Abhijita is the great grand-daughter of acclaimed poets, Rashtrakavi Shri Maithili Sharan Gupt and Santkavi Shri Siyaramsharan Gupt. The youngster who showed interest in the craft on her own instead of being pushed into writing, seems to beautifully carry the legacy forward.
After her debut novel was published in 2019, Abhijita was recognised by the International Book of Records as the youngest author as well as the youngest author to write both prose and poetry at the age of seven. She also received the honour of Grandmaster in writing by Asia Book of Records.
[caption id="attachment_20064" align="aligncenter" width="772"] Abhijita with recognitions she received for her first book as a seven year old[/caption]
For her second book, she was recognised as the youngest author to create a non-fiction book on the Covid 19 pandemic, by both India Book of Records and the World Book of Records UK.
More books in future
“I am going to write many books in the future. When something is your hobby, you cannot stop doing it. So, I would carry on even when I become a doctor and have less time,” says the Ruskin Bond fan who aspires to be a good human being first and then a doctor.
Her determination to become a doctor is unwavering. “My dreams do not change rapidly because I am stuck to them,” says the youngster firmly. “When I was small, I used to think whether I should be a firefighter, scientist, doctor, or writer. But now I am stuck to one goal”. The standard four student at Presidium School has already begun reading fundamental biology books and watching videos about it, even though biology wouldn't be covered in her course curriculum for another two years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0lQHseMJB4
The little author is so drawn to her craft that if she has the urge to write, she can find the focus anywhere. She maintains two diaries, one in which she writes poems whenever an idea comes to her mind and one in which she writes stories. “Poetry has some restrictions like choosing a rhyming word. I am not able to express my feelings wholeheartedly. There is something still left, I feel and that is why I love writing stories more,” says Abhijita, who received the Global Prodigy Award 2021 along with 99 kids from across the world in Dubai.
Coping with homework, school, playtime, and writing is not difficult for this young novelist. “I find time easily as it is my passion. I’ve gotten used to it,” says the prodigy, who never shows her work to adults till it is perfect. Her books have been giving beautiful messages to children her age ending with some or the other lesson or moral.
(December 13, 2023) Arundhati Banerjee, the trailblazing Miss Teen Diamond Australia 2019, and the Lifetime Miss Diamond Ambassador shattered norms and made history as the first Indian-origin teenager to claim the prestigious title. Beyond pageantry and modelling, she champions causes, excels as an Indian classical dancer, and advocates for women's rights and sustainability. Recognised as the 'Emerging Leader (2020)' by the South Australian Government, Arundhati has passionately fundraised to support individuals with Down syndrome. Rooted in her Indian heritage, the 20-year-old who is pursuing education at Griffith University in Australia, has made the Indian diaspora of the country proud by her accomplishments. As a fashion model, Arundhati has been on the cover pages of renowned magazines in Australia, the United States, India, and Africa. She has showcased her dancing talent at numerous national and international festivals across Australia such as the OzAsia Festival, International Indian Film Festival in Melbourne, International Folkloric Festival to name a few. [caption id="attachment_34610" align="aligncenter" width="637"] Arundhati Banerjee[/caption] Breaking barriers In 2019, Arundhati Banerjee became the first Indian teenager to win the Miss Teen Diamond Australia title. The Miss and Mr Diamond International & Australia goes beyond the conventional beauty pageant concept. It serves as a
_n-683x1024.jpg" alt="Indian Model | Arundhati Banerjee | Global Indian" width="637" height="955" /> Arundhati Banerjee[/caption]
Breaking barriers
In 2019, Arundhati Banerjee became the first Indian teenager to win the Miss Teen Diamond Australia title. The Miss and Mr Diamond International & Australia goes beyond the conventional beauty pageant concept. It serves as a community hero initiative, aiming to establish a platform where individuals of all ages can fundraise and advocate for causes dear to them. Securing seven additional titles within the pageant, aside from claiming the overall title, Arundhati became the first Indian-origin teenager to achieve this prestigious honour, all while balancing her commitments as a high school student during that time.
“I went in with the purpose of just spreading love and gratitude and to gain some experience. I was very fortunate to win and I'm very happy that I'm able to say that I'm Miss teen Australia 2019,” she said in an interview. She was later selected as the Lifetime Miss Diamond Ambassador in 2021.
Arundhati achieved another significant milestone in 2021 by securing a place among the top 30 contestants in the prestigious Australian Super Model of the Year (ASOTY) competition. “I joined it for the message that it conveys – the message of sisterhood, diversity and inclusivity and speaking about the issues of those who are discriminated on basis of colour and creed,” she said adding, “After weeks and months of selection process I was lucky and fortunate enough to be selected as one of the 30 contestants and work as a network of sisters for rebuilding the society as women working together instead of pitted against each other. That’s what attracted me to associate myself with the pageant.”
In a remarkable achievement, Arundhati who is also a trained Indian classical dancer and performer, was honoured with the 'Emerging Leader (2020)' award by the South Australian Government on Australia Day for her contribution in the fields of art and humanitarian services. While the youngster cherishes all her accomplishments, it is the prestigious Emerging Leader award in Australia that she is proudest of. “Being a woman of colour, getting that award was really very special to me and initially I couldn’t believe that I have really got it,” she remarked adding, “I want to open more doors for others to rise in life with my titles”.
Modelling for giving back
In the course of her journey in pageantry, the Global Indian has successfully fundraised more than AUD $3850 for the charitable organisation, emotion 21, dedicated to aiding young adults and children with Down syndrome. She is also associated with CanTeen, Cancer Council, and Foodbank.
Arundhati serves as the brand ambassador for the boutique firm Bridal Fusion Mascia, aligning with her core values of inclusivity, diversity, and body positivity. Passionate about sustainability, she advocates for eco-friendly fashion and slow clothing through her partnership with South Australian brand NoRuYeLo, promoting a message of saying 'No to Rubbish, Yes to Love.' Additionally, she has been at the ramp for Lorna Jane at BU Fashion to support fundraising efforts for victims of domestic violence. Committed to giving back, she volunteered with the Rotary Club's Cold Plunge initiative, dedicated to raising funds for the homeless.
Before securing the Miss Teen Diamond Australia title in 2019, Arundhati had triumphed as the winner of the Miss Glamour Genic-Supreme Talent competition in 2018.
Recognised as a dedicated dancer and 'Arttrepreneur,' she is also the founder of the dance academy, AIDA Bharatanatyaved in Adelaide, South Australia. Proficient in three classical Indian dance forms - Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi - Arundhati has tried to make these art forms popular. “I feel happy that through my dance I am able to showcase the beauty of my Indian roots and culture to a multicultural audience in Australia,” she remarked.
Her expertise in Indian classical dance was honed under the tutelage of esteemed gurus, including the renowned Padmashree Shobana Chandra Kumar, an award-winning actress, dancer, and choreographer, from whom she learned Bharatanatyam.
Since most of her gurus are based in India, Arundhati’s dance classes have mostly been on zoom or Skype. The youngster is grateful to her gurus’ patience in teaching her in online mode. However, since she had moved to Australia from India at the age of 11 owing to her father’s transfer, she had picked up the basics of dancing before migrating.
Spreading positivity
Arundhati looks at her achievements as a starting point for her greater goals. Her aim extends beyond personal success. The multi-talented youngster wants her efforts to positively impact the community and serve as inspiration, especially for young people, so that they get encouraged to aim higher.
“I want to instigate change, build something meaningful, and leave a lasting impact, creating a legacy for future generations to surpass,” she says.
The fashion model believes in the inherent beauty of individuals regardless of their appearance – colour and body type. “Clothes fit you, you don't fit the clothes,” she said, advocating the idea that clothes should complement one's body rather than the other way around, especially when women are increasingly facing challenges finding clothes that suit them.
In love with her ‘Indian-ness’
“I was born in India and spent the first 11 years of my life there before I moved to Australia,” tells Arundhati who embraces her ‘Indian-ness’ with élan, and ‘loves everything about India’. “My love for theatre, music and other forms of art stems from my cultural roots.”
The Indian-origin youngster received recognition for her contributions to promoting art and multiculturalism, and was honoured with the Multicultural Award by the International Film & Entertainment Festival Australia at the New South Wales Parliament. Additionally, her impactful involvement in arts and fashion earned her the Highflyer Achiever - NRI Award at the Milestone Global Awards.
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.”
(January 26, 2024) Up to 7800 kilotonnes of textile waste gets accumulated in India each year with pre-consumer waste making for a steep 42 percent, out of which 17 percent ends up in landfills. Seeing piles of wasted fabric stacked in corners of his dad's Kolkata-based textile factory (Onaya Fashions) led to the birth of the Onaya Foundation in 2018 with a mission to give textile waste a second lease of life. They upcycle discarded textile waste into garments for underprivileged children. "Till now we have reached out to 6000 children with the help of NGOs and have upcycled 5500-6000 meters of cloth," Tanay tells Global Indian. What began as donations by family members and friends to the underprivileged on special occasions grew during the lockdown when it opened its doors to the world owing to Tanay's vision of expansion. "We often visited orphanages during birthdays and donated clothes. But during the lockdown, we decided to open this idea to the world, where people could donate garments made from upcycled textile waste to the underserved," reveals the 18-year-old, who is studying B.Com (H) at Sriram College of Commerce. Conceptualised by his aunt Vandana Jain in 2018, the foundation expanded its
Sriram College of Commerce. Conceptualised by his aunt Vandana Jain in 2018, the foundation expanded its horizon in 2020 upon Tanay's behest. It began with making an Instagram page to invite keen donors. "They could contact us and we would find an NGO near their place, contact them, take details of the number of children, their age and sizes, and make clothes for them using the textile waste generated from my dad's factory," says Tanay.
In no time, the orders started coming in bulk, especially during the festive season. The contractual karigars stitch kurtas for boys and kurtis for girls at a nominal charge of ₹200. "We wanted to pay the marginalised karigars during Covid-19, especially when they needed an additional source of income," says the teenager, whose foundation has till now made multiple donations to 50-60 NGOs across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. "We supply the karigars with textile waste which is mostly cloth patches and depending on their creativity and ingenuity, they make a kurta/kurti out of it." Tanay says that through the Onaya Foundation, the children at NGOs are getting to wear new garments on their birthdays, "something that wasn't happening before, and makes it special for them too."
The dream of being a social entrepreneur
Born in a business family, Tanay was witness to many dining table conversations that revolved around textiles. But seeing his family inclined towards serving society, he had decided at a young age that social entrepreneurship was the way forward. "I wanted to create an impact in the society through my work. However, I was too young to understand what I wanted to partake in until the lockdown happened, and I became more interested in the work that The Onaya Foundation is doing," says the teenager, whose foundation has made over 7000-8000 donations till now from their factory waste. "You can imagine the kind of textile waste that's generated from the factories that operate on a larger scale."
The positive impact
In the last few years, the Onaya Foundation has made a positive impact not only in the lives of underprivileged kids but the environment as well, especially in the times of fast fashion when a lot of textile waste makes it to landfills, thus causing environmental hazards. Their foundation looks into pre-consumption waste that is accumulated during the making of a garment. "Our idea was to start a cycle where the yarn or the fabric comes from nature and we give back to nature by upcycling textile waste. Moreover, we have also planted saplings and trees from the surplus funds we have received through donations," explains Tanay.
Started as the Katran Foundation in 2018, they have recently renamed it the Onaya Foundation. "The reason we have incorporated it under the Onaya Fashions is that it gives us a lot of resources to market it, create more impact, and formalise the structure. That's what we plan to do in the next two years," reveals Tanay, who looks into the marketing, awareness, and donation drives. His aunt, on the other hand, handles manufacturing and upcycling.
[caption id="attachment_35463" align="aligncenter" width="293"] Tanay with his aunt Vandana Jain[/caption]
Dwelling on the challenges that Tanay faced during the process, he says not getting enough donations was heartbreaking. "Also, creating awareness on textile waste and donations at a student level when people don't take you seriously was a constant struggle," he says, adding, "People often question your motivation thinking you are doing it for your CV. But since I had no inclination to study abroad and no external motive, people understood that it was of personal value to me," says Tanay for whom the entire experience has been humbling. "It has made me understand my privileges and how I can use them for the betterment of the society."
Sustainable fashion is the future
Ask if India is ready for sustainable fashion, the teenager says, "Things have improved in the last few years but it was difficult for us to spread awareness as people had no idea about textile waste causing environmental concerns." At the same time, he is happy that many companies are now championing the cause in the textile industry. "Some people are ready to pay a 20 percent premium for clothes that are sustainable than those that cause environmental hazards. At the same time, it's at a level where people are privileged. In a country like India, people have affordability issues as they care more about the price of the product than its impact. The kind of donations we are doing with The Onaya Foundation is done on a small level but when you look at the problem from a bigger lens, many people still cannot afford two meals a day in India, which puts a lot of things into perspective. I am grateful that the awareness is being spread but there is a long way to go," he signs off.
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Arundhati Banerjee[/caption]
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Tanay with his aunt Vandana Jain[/caption]