Ishaan Patel: Indian-American’s nonprofit aids unprivileged kids in India & US
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(November 26, 2023) Only two percent of humanitarian aid goes towards education – this was something that Connecticut-based Ishaan Patel found out at the age of 11 after having learnt about her aunt’s volunteering to teach impoverished children in Jaipur, India. Getting to know about schools where children were eager to learn but lacked the essential tools, they needed to do their work left Ishaan shocked. “She showed me pictures and told me stories about underfunded schools. The students attended class with no desks, no pencils, and no books. I was amazed and thought about all of the things available in my school. At the private school I attend (Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut), lessons are taught on smart boards, and assignments are completed on laptops. When I saw the pictures from India, I wanted to help,” the Indian American wrote in Childhood Explorer. This passion for helping children led to the birth of Planting Pencils, a charity that raises money and collects school supplies for underserved and underfunded schools in the US, India, and Africa.
Ishaan Patel launched Planting Pencils
Growing up in Connecticut, his doctor parents who emigrated from India in their childhood told Ishaan of the hardships they faced in India as children, and always encouraged him to help others. And he found the first window of opportunity, he couldn’t help but take a leap of faith. Coming from a privileged background, he understood its meaning and knew that he needed to make an impact. “We are the next generation and I see it as the job of privileged students to help those who are not privileged,” he added.
After hearing the stories of children in impoverished schools in India from his aunt, the Global Indian was keen to help. But how was still a big question for him, as he thought he was too young to make a difference? However, a summer in 2015 spent at a leadership conference at Stanford University and a financial camp on Wall Street turned the tide for him and made him understand that he had the power to make a difference despite being young. That’s when he began researching and was surprised to find out that more than 700 million adults in the world are illiterate and do not have the skills or awareness to improve the living conditions for themselves or their families.
Ishaan Patel with his mom who helped him with the launch of Planting Pencils
The startling facts nudged the Indian American enough to start Planting Pencils in 2015. He began by designing a website, and creating a permanent collection site at a Staples store in West Hartford to ensure steady donations of pencils, pens, crayons, rulers, used calculators, and computers. His mom helped him to raise funds by setting up donation boxes in different locations and through fundraising events. “ReBoot Computers in my home town agreed to collect and refurbish donated old computers so we can give them to students who cannot afford to buy their new ones. In honor of Read Across America Day on March 2nd, we delivered the charity’s first donations to two non-profit schools in Hartford, Connecticut,” said the Indian American.
In just a year, Ishaan’s work was recognised by the Milan Cultural Organisation in Hartford, and later, the Syracuse University Graduate Student organisation chose Planting Pencils as the beneficiary for its annual weekend fundraising MBA Olympic games. In a few years, Planting Pencils have helped underprivileged children across the US, India, and Africa by providing them with supplies.
Ishaan Patel
Ishaan, who is currently an undergraduate student researcher at Baylor University, plans to build a school in India sometime where he will provide food and water. “I believe that if students are healthy and comfortable, they will benefit even more from the internet access and computers I plan to provide for them. If we provide food and water in the schools, students wouldn’t have to worry about those needs during school or back home. If people are educated, they’ll be able to be self-sufficient,” he added. The Indian American believes that the Chinese proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime” illustrates that education is a priceless commodity, and gives one the power to change one’s destiny. “I believe that we can make a difference – one pencil, one book, one child at a time.”
(February 10, 2022) Flower recycling is fuelling innovation and creativity - Incense sticks, herbs and flower-infused teas, potpourri, and much more. For the sprightly UNICEF ambassador Sriya Donepudi, these ideas struck a chord when she set out to finish her 10th grade project two years ago - to recycle the flower waste in Hyderabad. It then flowered into a movement giving local women sustenance, and the world an ecological philosophy too. Sriya, now a 12th grade student at Oakridge School, founded Ankh which recycles used flowers into organic products in 2020. A love for flowers egged her on, and her eco project won the Diana Award 2020. The then 15-year-old also rehabilitated the lives of women from economically weak backgrounds by recycling floral waste into products. “I used as many flowers as we could collect from events,” smiles Sriya. [caption id="attachment_10647" align="aligncenter" width="469"] Sriya Donepudi[/caption] The enterprising gene Born in Detroit, Sriya moved to Hyderabad 12 years ago. Her parents Venu and Swetha Donepudi, both automobile engineers, worked at General Motors and Ford in Detroit. “Their excellent work ethic inspired me to work hard as well,” says the teen who inculcated a desire to go beyond mere thought. It was
enu and Swetha Donepudi, both automobile engineers, worked at General Motors and Ford in Detroit. “Their excellent work ethic inspired me to work hard as well,” says the teen who inculcated a desire to go beyond mere thought. It was what made her ideate on Ankh.
The Donepudi's move to India was due to “her parents wanting to develop cars in India.” It saw the younger Sriya struggle as she learned to adapt. Seeing her parents, and her heritage helped her transition smoothly. Ankh began recycling floral waste from weddings, parties, and temples in and around Hyderabad - candles, distilled oils, incense sticks, potpourri were made by local women.
Looking back, her teachers, parents, and the CAS coordinator guided Sriya to success, thus catching the eye of the Diana Award panel. The Diana Awardee is thankful that her CAS mentor nominated her. In a short period, it became a huge success. Not only because of its ecological philosophy, but also because of its socially relevant structure - Ankh employed around 50 underprivileged women full-time, giving them the opportunity to make a living too.
[caption id="attachment_10648" align="aligncenter" width="701"] Local women making products from flower waste[/caption]
“There was this one girl who was only 19-years-old,” recalls Sriya in an interview with Global Indian, adding, “She stopped going to school after eighth grade, was married, and had a child. It amazed me how much she had to do at such a young age, yet she was still so hopeful and optimistic about the future.”
As an avid reader, Sriya’s love for ancient Egyptian mythology gave her the name Ankh – a symbol that represents eternal life, and its elements - Her Ankh in turn empowered women and helped the planet.
The pandemic was not easy
During Covid 19, sadly, Ankh has taken a backseat but Sriya hopes to restart soon. “Covid majorly affected Ankh. It was hard for women to work, and events had taken a hit, thus collecting floral waste was harder,” explains the Diana Awardee.
With growing climate concerns, the 17-year-old now wants to move forward with more sustainable products, and even help the Covid-stricken. “A dream of mine is to get into skincare, but I think that’s a bit too complex right now,” laughs the enterprising Diana awardee.
A meeting of minds
The award has given Sriya the opportunity to connect with like-minded and brilliant young people across the world, and also learn from them. “There was a girl from Trinidad and Tobago who works with autistic people, she was such an inspiration,” she recalls. Being in the midst of inspiring ideas and individuals, Sriya wants to be proactive on world problems. Now, the 12th grader (finishing her second year IBDP), contributes to the UN’s socially uplifting activities in school and does her bit as a UNICEF ambassador. Her aspiration is to study in the US, majoring in economics and global health.
Like other teens, the Diana Awardee loves a good read, or music, so much so that she even founded her school’s first-ever literature club. A movie aficionado, her passion is also watching and analysing films.
For Sriya, family is everything. “I’m close to my family. I learned everything from them - my parents and grandparents are truly my role models,” she says. Visits to her grandparents in Kotegiri is what she loves. “I can see what my mother’s life was like, growing up in Kotegiri, I love its simplicity and sustainability,” Sriya smiles.
While Ankh has been a life-changing journey, she stresses, “Purpose is what makes you human, that’s what I learned.” Advice to budding young social entrepreneurs? “Reflect, plan and reach for the stars. If you’re passionate, there’s nothing stopping you from getting what you want,” she signs off.
(May 4, 2022) India’s rich tapestry of handloom is unequivocal. That it has entered the mainstream rungs of fashion, appearing on catwalks the world over just paved the way for desi fashion designers to make their mark in the world of haute couture. Today, many Indians are responsible for the embroidery, embellishments, and fabrics you see by prestigious fashion houses like Versace, Hermès, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Prada, Dior, etc. Many Indian designers and influencers, including Anita Dongre, Suket Dhir, Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia, Bibhu Mohapatra, Tarun Tahiliani, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, and Ritu Kumar, have carved a niche for themselves, in a very dynamic and cut-throat industry of haute couture. From wearable everyday pieces to luxe bridal couture, these Indians have made their mark on the fashion industry, representing India in a unique way. While some stick to traditional styles like sarees, lehengas, tunics, and churidars, others embrace updated aesthetics like tie-dye sweats, floral button-downs, and puff sleeves. Global Indian explores Indian fashion creators and influencers that are making their mark across the world. Naeem Khan, fashion designer Born in a middle-class family in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, fashion designer Naeem Khan hardly needs an introduction. His father and grandfather cultivated
Born in a middle-class family in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, fashion designer Naeem Khan hardly needs an introduction. His father and grandfather cultivated an early interest in textiles, as they both designed intricate clothes worn by royal families. Of his early passion for design, Khan has said, “It was built into my DNA. I watched my father design formal wear for India’s most influential people, and I knew that I would want to pursue a similar path.”
The designer, who has styled several influential ladies, including first lady Michelle Obama, Queen Noor of Jordan, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, moved to the United States in 1978 to apprentice for legendary American designer Halston. “My knowledge of fashion and lifestyle is influenced by my time with Halston,” Naeem had said while being interviewed for the documentary film Halston.
Khan spent several years after his apprenticeship continuing to work with Halston on freelance, going on to launch fashion house Riazee in 1981, a clothing label named after his mother that was carried in prominent American retail stores for about a decade. Today, Naeem is known for his intricately detailed gowns with sequins and beads, and is one of the most influential designers in the world of haute couture.
During her travels to India, the New York-based jewellery designer, Megan Kothari would collect tribal jewellery, specifically big cuffs and statement necklaces, crafted by the Rabari community in Gujarat. That is where the journey of her label, Aaryah, began.
Interestingly, even though she was born into a family of diamond traders, Megan didn’t want to pursue the same path. Instead, she chose to pursue her interest in fashion and started interning at the age of 15 in New York City. The designer earned a degree in international trade and fashion marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “However, after gaining invaluable experience in the beauty industry, it turned out that I did have an inclination towards designing jewellery; it became a form of self-expression for me,” Megan shares on her official website.
Today, her designs are not only coveted by fine jewellery enthusiasts from around the world, she also received the ultimate celebrity stamp of approval when musician Taylor Swift wore the “Rani” earrings from her brand at the recently held Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
One of the earliest influencers or content creators in India, Masoom Minawala Mehta, made history at the Milan Fashion Week-2022, by becoming the first-ever Indian creator to walk the runway as a showstopper. Hailing from a family of jewellers in Mumbai, she founded a start-up when she was just 19. As the start-up didn’t do too well, Masoom set up a fashion portal - Miss Style Fiesta in 2010, where she would give tips on current trends and fashion inputs.
She follows a “principle of four” while creating content — ensuring that the content either educates, inspires, helps or entertains. From Dior to Hermès, and Jimmy Choo, Masoom’s feed is action-packed and always genuine. Despite moving base from Mumbai to Antwerp after her marriage in 2016, the influencer’s social media posts strongly promote her love for Indian designers.
Honoured to have walked Cannes with fashion that spoke for itself but I would also like to highlight the prep work involved in getting there which is a storyline in itself. Tap to read more about what I brought to the Cannes Film Festival 2021 https://t.co/Lhu5J32NE0
In her bid to help small designers tide over the 2020 pandemic, she started a series of short fashion videos where she personally curated lists of brands to pick for various budgets and occasions.
Diipa Büller-Khosla, fashion and beauty influencer
A globally recognised face, Diipa Büller-Khosla has graced covers of prestigious fashion magazines like Conde Nast Traveller India, Brides, and Travel & Leisure. Having left India at 17, Diipa moved to Amsterdam to study law. Now shuttling between London and Amsterdam, with an Instagram following exceeding 516k, it’s safe to say that she is a heavyweight in the world of influencers.
The influencer, who is also a mother of one, served as ambassador for brands like Estée Lauder, Maybelline, and Kérastase, and even walked international red carpets like Cannes and Venice. Her organisation, PostForChange, urges digital influencers to use their voice for various causes; she herself is vocal about fighting discrimination, something she has faced in the past due to her skin colour.
A textile designer by professional, New York-based Sheena Sood’s label abacaxi celebrates diversity in all forms. Sheena began her career as an artist, studying visual art at Brown University and Central Saint Martins, often incorporating embroidery, beading and sequin work into her paintings. Soon after graduating, she developed print and embellishment designs for American label Tracy Reese before briefly moving to India to live with her parents.
Interestingly, it was the bounty of textiles she had collected in her homeland that inspired abacaxi’s first capsule collection. In 2020, Sheena prepared for a full launch for spring, however it was quickly halted by the pandemic. Identifying a need, pivoted to creating intricate beaded and embroidered face masks that garnered attention from the likes of New York magazine. With that momentum, the label grew to include a full ready-to-wear offering, soaked in aqueous tie-dye prints and technicolour palettes.
(April 13, 2023) Aryan Verma arrives at our virtual meeting dressed to the nines, in formal attire. "I'm an investment banker," he says, when I ask him about it. At 20, Aryan, who is a student at The University of Sydney Business School, juggles two internships alongside. "It's pretty full on," Aryan admits but since he also hopes to follow in the footsteps of Warren Buffet, Ray Dalio, Bill Ackman and Chase Coleman who began their own firms at the age of 26, he’s got a lot to do. He's already the founder of Young Entrepreneurs Connect, which has chapters across Australia and the US and the Managing Director (Australia) at Beyond the Bounds, an organisation that addresses mental health concerns among GenZ. He also works with the Newland Global Group, which works to leverage bilateral relations between India and Australia. Growing up in Sydney Aryan’s dad moved to Australia in 1996 and when he married in 2001, his wife joined him there as well. Aryan was born two years later, in December 2002. "I had a pretty traditional upbringing," he says, during his interview with Global Indian. His parents wanted him to do medicine, and his own academic record
Aryan’s dad moved to Australia in 1996 and when he married in 2001, his wife joined him there as well. Aryan was born two years later, in December 2002. "I had a pretty traditional upbringing," he says, during his interview with Global Indian. His parents wanted him to do medicine, and his own academic record was in line with that. He studied at Sydney Boys' High School, part of the prestigious AAGPS network, the equivalent of the 'Great Nine' or 'Clarendon Schools' in England. Growing up between two cultures and continents, Aryan Verma had the unique opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives and experiences, which has undoubtedly shaped his entrepreneurial spirit and success today. He was offered a partial scholarship to Harvard University, which he turned down because the tuition fee was still out of reach.
When he was around 14, Aryan discovered an interest in finance and investment banking, and began teaching himself real estate valuations. He would even send out his estimates of listed unit blocks to see how close he was to the offer price. "It's not really a field you can enter so young, though, so I switched to startups and entrepreneurship." By the time he turned 16, he was "ahead of the curve," he says. "I had observed that an entrepreneurial mindset is beneficial for every industry, no matter what your career is and I wanted to spread that message."
[caption id="attachment_29221" align="aligncenter" width="426"] Aryan Verma, founder, Young Entrepreneurs Connect[/caption]
Young Entrepreneurs Connect
That year, he started Young Entrepreneurs Connect and held the organisation's first event just before Covid-19 hit - YEC collaborates with universities to help them build their entrepreneurship programmes. It did well almost immediately, with about 60 people attending their first event, and speakers from companies like Deloitte, Mercedes and a handful of nonprofits. "We wanted to give high-schoolers clarity about career options and that there is always room for them to be entrepreneurs." For a sixteen-year-old, this is no joke. It meant patience, lots of cold emailing and aggressive social media campaigning. At the end of the event, they recruited more students to the organisation.
The pandemic hit soon after and YEC hopped onto the Zoom bandwagon. It allowed them to expand to the US fairly quickly. "Our community events were a lot stronger in the US, we started working with societies, clubs and external events." I ask him about his process - "a blanket search for major universities and their entrepreneurial efforts for students," he replies. The cold emails worked, as Aryan suspected they would, because "we were free labour, basically." Today, the US chapter accounts for more than 50 percent of their 4000-strong community and includes collaborations with several universities.
What YEC does
YEC Talks are the organisation's flagship events, and are held both virtually and in-person through the year. Experts from various industries are invited to discuss trends, career trajectories and entrepreneurship efforts, creating a bridge between students planning their careers and professionals who are the top of their fields. They try to keep the panels diverse, including company founders, executives, investors, academic and politicians.
There are also the YEC podcasts, which are also available on YouTube and lunchtime school clubs, called 'interschools'. The later helps to create engaging spaces for students, giving them supplementary learning and allowing students to pick their own leaders and members. The YEC syllabus, which Aryan says is being developed still, currently includes topics from business knowledge to startup skills, career insights and advice on how to make investments. These clubs also compete against one another in business and startup competitions. In the YEC Hustler's List, the organisation showcases young, talented entrepreneurs in Australia.
Non-profit and volunteer-led
YEC runs on a non-profit model, with all their services provided for free. How does this work, and why choose this model? Volunteers join the organisation to work on real, impactful projects that provide them the opportunity to build relationships and real-world skills - it's prepping, really, for their careers. Extracurricular activities play an important role in securing internships and graduate jobs. "When I was 16 and 17, I wouldn't attend any event that was charged, even if it was cheap. Kids don't have a lot of money and don't want to spend on events." Student-led and student-run remains their philosophy.
Beyond The Bounds
Then, in 2022, Aryan discovered Beyond the Bounds, an organisation founded by Indian student Vidhi Yadav, who had just moved to Australia to study. Yadav was looking to expand her western market when Aryan reached out for a collaboration. With his knowledge of the local landscape, Aryan now works to expand BTB's campus presence. "University students tend to associate with clubs that are on campus,” he explains.
Aryan Verma joined Beyond the Bounds in 2022 to lead its Australian expansion. Beyond the Bounds is an international youth mental health organisation with a 12,000+ community across Asia. Originally founded in India by Vidhi Yadav, it is now present in Indonesia, Malaysia and parts of Africa. Being BTB's first Western market, the two young leaders are refining their strategy to use as a template for expansion to the US and Europe down the line.
A life of discipline
All this doesn’t leave Aryan with much free time on his hands. He understands that his ambitious career goals mean lots of hard work. Aryan hopes to join a bulge-bracket investment bank after graduating university, like Goldman Sachs or JP Morgan and eventually, build his own private equity firm. “A lot of this has been about building my work ethic as well,” he explains. His signature productivity tool is to 'count his hours', keeping track of how much time he works and is productive. All this is in a bid to continue improving focus, attention span and overall work ethic. "If it isn't measured, it isn't managed". He currently works 90+ hours every week, across YEC, BTB, university and his 2 internships. “Work-life balance isn’t really my thing,” he admits. “Your twenties are when you have the most energy and I’m not planning to have much of a work-life balance in the next few years.”
"I have given myself a goal and I'm working towards it," he says. "I want to finish up with non-profit work and move on to other things - over the last few years, I have been trying to build my work ethic." He admits that his goals don't leave him with much of work-life balance - and he's okay with that, for now. "Your twenties are when you have the most energy. And I'm not planning on having a work-life balance for the next few years, at least. And I also minimize socialising and parties and stuff, I have never really been in a nightclub! I aspire to be world class - right now, I can only work towards it and hope for the best. I’m a firm believer of hustling in your 20s, building in your 30s and scaling in your 40s."
(February 15, 2023) When they spot the uniformed men with walkie-talkies watching them - again - Malaika Vaz and her companion, the cinematographer Nitye Sood switch instantly into tourist mode. They huddle together for a selfie and gush over a shawl at a nearby stall. "I don't want to tell you what country I'm in because I feel like that could expose me to danger," Malaika Vaz says, in hushed tones, to the Nat Geo podcaster on the other end. This was 2017 and the intrepid young wildlife filmmaker was undercover in a 'city in east Asia' in a seafood market in a shopping mall. They were following the illegal trade of manta rays, a convoluted and perilous pipeline that took them from fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean to the Indo-Myanmar border and Guangzhou in China. This was back in 2021 and one of Vaz's most explosive documentaries. As one might already have noted, the now twenty-five-year-old Malaika Vaz's life beggars' belief. It's the kind of thing young filmmakers and journalists dream of doing, but rarely gather the courage to accomplish. For Vaz, however, it was almost second nature. Growing up in Goa, Vaz began diving in the ocean
She was swimming in the Maldives the first time she spotted a manta ray - "I saw a beautiful black shadow coming out of nowhere. It was curious about me. I was frozen, I wasn't expecting this giant cloud to come up to me. It was poetic. Ever since then, I have been obsessed with them."
Even as a child, the Global Indian was captivated by the great outdoors. She is the youngest person to reach the Arctic and the Antarctic with the students at the Ice Foundation. Early on, she learned windsurfing, and sailing and is a professional diver. As she grew older, though, she felt she needed more than just adventure. Having witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by unsustainable tourism, illegal trade, and climate change on the marine ecosystem. And she decided to do something about it.
She had always had an interest in filmmaking and a conviction strong enough to compel her to quit college and follow her passion instead. She joined a production company as a researcher and not long afterward, was asked to go in front of the camera.
"I realised that while I loved being on camera, shaping the stories and bringing in new perspectives and narratives that hadn't traditionally been seen on television was what I liked best," she said. She turned to other roles - she has been a director, writer, and producer, apart from presenting. She is also the founder of 'Untamed Planet', a production company that seeks to make an impact in the conservation world.
Scaling new heights in Ladakh
In 2014, she travelled to Ladakh, to train a group of village women to climb mountains. The message: Even the most perilous wilderness might prove safer for India's women than its cities and villages. At the time she was a student at Mahindra United World College and had already found herself a place in the Limca Book of Records as the youngest Indian to travel to both Polar regions in 2011-12. She headed off to Ladakh with a group of students from school, all part of the UWC's Outdoor Education Programme. Together, they climbed the Stok Kangri and Lungser Kangri. "The nine women who are training with us are all from villages in the Muslhi valley," she said. Many had a history of domestic abuse.
Documenting wildlife to conservation
Vaz and her team travel around the world documenting wildlife and exotic locations but that's only one part of what they do. Vaz also takes on issues like animal trafficking, travelling undercover, and coming face-to-face with dangerous kingpins across the globe. Like tracing manta ray traffickers across Asia, for instance. That became Peng Yu Sai, which was nominated for the 'Green Oscars' and takes the viewer into a murky world comprising fishermen, middlemen, traffickers, and even armed forces personnel as Vaz tries to protect her beloved nautical giants.
She describes, in the Overheard podcast, seeing the manta ray trade for the first time. She was in a village in eastern India when a local farmer told her to come to see the "flat pancake fish." Intrigued, she wandered through the bustling seafood market, which overflowed with every kind of exotic marine life - more than she had seen in the ocean itself. Hundreds of people jostled through the market, the air ripe with the smell of sweat and dead fish - "You cannot wash that smell off you," she remarks. She saw piles of tuna, crab, prawn, bull shark - and then, to her dread, "twenty-five dead manta rays lying on the floor. It felt like a waste of life."
Malaika Vaz is also behind Nat Geo Wild: Living with Predators, a three-episode series that "documents the stories of the real heroes of Big Cat conservation - local communities." In each episode, Vaz talks with ex-poachers, tribal communities, and the forest guards who are at the forefront of protecting India's Asiatic Lions, leopards, and tigers. The series aired across the Asia-Pacific, South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa, starting on August 15, 2020.
The power of stories
She has also produced films about migrant workers through the National Geographic Covid-19 fund for Journalists, explored bat conservation after the species received a bad rep during the pandemic, and elephant tourism.
Through it all, filmmaking has been her medium. "We need to phase out wildlife trade," she told Business Insider. "Given that consuming wildlife is still seen as a marker of 'making it' in parts of Asia and globally, I think storytelling can make a difference. Powerful films can advocate for a world where we're not consuming endangered species."
(December 19, 2022) As an infant, Puja would often cry endlessly despite being fed on time by her mother, Neelam Kapoor. Her paediatricians were baffled and couldn’t diagnose the problem. Worried, Neelam discussed the issue with a friend, who came with a unique suggestion — playing a transistor near her cradle to see if it made any difference. It did. What doctors could not do, music did for the child. Each time she started crying, music would be played and the baby would calm down. She had a sharp sense of rhythm, naturally. [caption id="attachment_25569" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor[/caption] How music healed her Puja was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia and battled epileptic fits through her childhood. Stunning everyone around her, she began playing a keyboard using only her index finger, without even looking at the keys, sans any training or practice. Since then, the music composer and singer has taken the world of music by storm. “I am aiming for the Oscars,” declares music prodigy Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor, who has been certified with 17 world records, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. Her flair for the keyboard, which she can even play blindfolded, earned her an honorary PhD
“I am aiming for the Oscars,” declares music prodigy Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor, who has been certified with 17 world records, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. Her flair for the keyboard, which she can even play blindfolded, earned her an honorary PhD Degree in Music by Duke University, North Carolina.
The incredibly talented musician can also sing, play the tabla and writes poetry. What has stunned the world is her natural ability to compose “on the spot” and create music instantly. “I like to take the audience along on a mesmerising musical trip,” smiles the music prodigy, who was eventually cured of epileptic fits and is no more a dyslexic.
Finding recognition
Her talents were spotted by Indian television producer Ekta Kapoor, who gave Puja her first big break in the television industry.
Born in February, 1996 in Hyderabad, Puja stunned the doctors and her family members when she started to speak coherently when she was barely six months old. By the time she turned 10, she was playing full songs without any professional training.
[caption id="attachment_25570" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor with filmmaker Remo D'Souza[/caption]
Growing up, her dyslexia posed a major challenge. “There were regular complaints from the school regarding my reading and writing problems,” recalls Puja, who has composed music and background scores for Hindi TV serials like Kavyanjali and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka.
The accidental prodigy
Since dyslexia requires children to be taught using out-of-the-box and playful methods, Puja’s mother brought home a keyboard to improve her writing with finger exercises. She wouldn’t play it, really, until one evening, she sat before it and out of the blue, played a Hindi song, without even having to glance at the keys.
“I played the song once and then my mother wanted me to repeat it again and again,” recalls Puja, who did not look at the keyboard even once that day, as if it was coming naturally to her.
Another pleasant surprise came later, around midnight, when she began playing a series of nursery rhymes on the keys. “I was playing the keyboard in darkness as I did not want to disturb my grandparents,” says Puja, who has been honoured by the Indian Tele Academy as the youngest achiever.
Puja recalls an instance from her school’s annual day. “When my name was announced to play the national anthem on stage, my mother stood there anxious. I comforted her and played the national anthem in precisely 52 seconds (the actual duration) inviting huge applause,” says the prodigy.
Achievements
Her name finds a mention in Global World Records, Asia Book Records, India Book of Records, Telugu Book of Records and Limca Book of Records for her unbelievable talent of playing the keyboards blindfolded and composing music on-the-spot without any training or practice.
[caption id="attachment_25568" align="aligncenter" width="687"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor performing at one of the events[/caption]
“I love the sound of white keys (on the keyboard) and compose music only on them,” says the music prodigy, on whose life a short film was made by National Award winning director G L Bharadwaj. Renowned Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur once remarked that “Stephen Hawking (also dyslexic) knew the science of the Universe, and Puja knows the science of music.”
She was invited to “India’s Got Talent” a leading Indian reality show, where she showcased her talent blindfolded and composed a beautiful tune, instantly. Puja was also featured in the first episode of another leading Indian show, called “Lakhon Me Ek,” (one in a million) and the “Kapil Sharma Show,” one of the highly celebrated shows in India.
She also performed before the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Surjit Singh Barnala, who honoured her as a permanent invitee of the Governor for every function. The then AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu bestowed her with the title “The Pride of Andhra Pradesh.”
“I have composed music before Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut as well,” says the music composer, who was the URF Top Talent of the Year, 2015.
These days, Puja is planning live shows to showcase her talent worldwide and spends hours singing and recording every day. Fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Bengali, Urdu, Marathi and even Arabic, Puja can sing in all these languages.
Puja has a special connect with the elderly. “I have performed at homes for the elderly and also orphanages,” smiles the prodigy, who dreams of building a beautiful home for the aged someday.
Local women making products from flower waste[/caption]
Aryan Verma, founder, Young Entrepreneurs Connect[/caption]
Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor with filmmaker Remo D'Souza[/caption]
Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor performing at one of the events[/caption]