Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveJasraaj Singh: Embracing the road less travelled in Australian rural medicine

Jasraaj Singh: Embracing the road less travelled in Australian rural medicine

By: Amrita Priya

(April 20, 2024) When Jasraaj Singh gained admission to the University of Melbourne’s medical school, her initial ambition was to become a neurosurgeon. However, she soon discovered her true passion for rural medicine.

Due to her dedication to rural healthcare and the significant contributions she made in this field, the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) honoured her with the Medical Student of the Year Award in 2022.

Since 2006, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and RDAA have been recognising the achievements and commitment of medical students working in rural and remote health. This annual award honours the most deserving candidate who has demonstrated a strong passion and commitment to rural healthcare.

Jasraaj Singh

“I was over the moon when I found out that I have been chosen for the award,” the Indian-origin healthcare expert said in a podcast. “By being part of the Extended Rural Cohort and moving from one rural place to another and getting a broad and interesting rural clinical experience, and exposure to the awesome rural communities was great. And then getting the RDAA Medical Student of the Year Award was a super proud moment,” she said.

The joy of working for rural healthcare

Born in Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Jasraaj grew up on a macadamia nut farm at Didillibah, a semi-rural locality in the Sunshine Coast Region. At school she undertook a voluntary work at a local children’s hospital, which sparked her interest in the field of medicine.

“Being in that hospital environment and seeing the doctors, nurses and the allied health teams all working together with families and patients to help them get better was inspiring.” It left an indelible mark on the impressionable mind and Jasraaj realised that this is what she would like to do when she grows up – to take care of patients as a doctor.

Later, when she went to medical school, she got the opportunity to be part of the Extended Rural Cohort. As part of the University of Melbourne’s commitment to rural health, the Melbourne Medical School launched a Rural Pathway option within the MD programme. Hailing from a semi-rural locality in Australia, Jasraaj calls herself ‘a country girl at heart’. She felt drawn towards this option and ended up falling in love with rural healthcare, becoming totally immersed in it.

Jasraaj completed all her medical training in rural areas since the second year of her medical degree, including some internship opportunities at the interiors of Shepparton, Wangaratta, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Jasraaj Singh while receiving the award

“It has been such a rewarding, eye-opening and exciting adventure. I strongly believe all healthcare students should be undertaking rural placements in some way, shape or form,” she remarked.

While working at Nhulunbuy, East Arnhem Land, she developed a deep appreciation for the ‘incredible skill set’ of generalist doctors working in remote communities.

“I have had the opportunity to meet incredible and inspiring people, undertake hands-on and practical clinical placements, become part of rural and remote communities across Australia, and develop my clinical and life experiences along the way,” she shared.

ALSO READ: Indian-origin Omishka Hirachund is bridging healthcare divides in South Africa

Misconception – excitement and real medicine exists in cities only

Not all students studying in big towns opt to work in rural settings. They do not find that exciting enough. “I aim to challenge the common misconception that all the excitement and ‘real medicine’ happens in the city,” remarked the youngster.

Based on her own experiences, she has come to realise that rural settings offer much more than commonly believed. She firmly believes that this segment provides a diverse range of learning opportunities for medical professionals.

“You get exposure to all different sorts of things and quite a balancing act is required for what you are often dealing with. There are sometimes complex social issues such as geographical isolation, issues with health literacy – and so there’s a lot to unpack. It’s a challenging but really interesting space, I think to work in.”

Jasraaj Singh and others

As a passionate advocate for rural health, Jasraaj has undertaken various volunteer roles aimed at changing perceptions. She served as the President of her university’s rural health club, Additionally, she held the position of President of the Surgical Students Society of Melbourne where she worked to improve accessibility to surgical research in rural areas. Jasraaj also chaired the society’s Rural Committee.

Finding bliss in the rural path

After graduating from the University of Melbourne Medical School, Jasraaj Singh started work as a junior doctor at the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service in 2023 and began practicing in Far North Queensland.

Following her graduation from the University of Melbourne Medical School, Jasraaj Singh commenced her career as a junior doctor at the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service in 2023, where she began practicing in Far North Queensland.

Jasraaj Singh with one of her colleagues

During her final year as a student, she had already gained some experience in the hospital through short-term work there. “I was drawn to the friendly atmosphere, beautiful surroundings and opportunities to expand my knowledge of rural and remote health,” she had remarked adding, “I’m looking forward to the warm weather, close-knit community atmosphere, beautiful landscapes, tropical and rural medicine opportunities, exploring a new place and developing practical and useful skills to apply as a future rural generalist.”

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Published on 20, Apr 2024

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Indian American musician SANJ blends classical Carnatic with R&B

(April 29, 2023) In the pulsating heart of New York, where music is as much the soul of the city as its towering skyscrapers, a new rhythm is emerging. It is a melody woven from the threads of two vastly different worlds, of ancient traditions and modern dreams. Indian American musician Sanjana Nayak, better known as SANJ, is bringing the East and West together through her music. Making waves with her new latest album 'Nightingale', the youngster's journey as a musician has been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. However, her persistence and determination have helped her rise above her uncertainties, and produce some soul-stirring numbers. The Global Indian, who is trained in Carnatic music, believes her music pushes the boundaries of traditional fusion music, highlighting her creative ethos in a way she hasn’t tapped into before. "My music can best be described as R&B with sultry flows, intertwined with my Desi-Carnatic roots. I would say that my music is targeted towards those wanting to hear more worldly music that treads the cross-cultural balance of R&B and Bollywood, subtly and seamlessly. My music also highlights my creative ethos in a way I haven’t tapped into before," the musician said

mp;B with sultry flows, intertwined with my Desi-Carnatic roots. I would say that my music is targeted towards those wanting to hear more worldly music that treads the cross-cultural balance of R&B and Bollywood, subtly and seamlessly. My music also highlights my creative ethos in a way I haven’t tapped into before," the musician said in an interview.

Growing up with music

Born in Jacksonville, Florida to Indian parents, the musician moved around a lot from city to city - going from Richmond to Chicago. "Growing up, my parents were pretty strict about grades, social life, etc. But they were always supportive and pushed me towards becoming a better musician, which I’m really grateful for. I played violin as a child," she said.

SANJ grew up training in the Carnatic-style of vocals since the age of four. Bollywood music and bhajans were always playing in her house, especially when her grandparents were around. Her initial inspiration for truly enjoying music as both a listener and a musician was the soundtracks of movies like Veer Zaara and Devdas. "But on the other end, I also was inspired by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Mary J Blige, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Trey Songz, and Coldplay when I was young as well, and this helped me develop that duality of styles that you hear in my music now," SANJ informed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS89FXLigpE

But, her childhood was not all happy. "My suburb was almost 70 percent white back then, so it was tough growing up there for a while," she shared, adding, "I experienced a lot of racism and bullying, especially in my middle school years. I think these experiences shaped the pride I have for my culture now and the due diligence I put in to showcase it as much as possible from the perspective of a first-generation South Indian woman in the US."

Breaking stereotypes

While many South Asian kids her age were picking up STEM career paths, SANJ was pretty sure that she wanted to pursue music professionally even while she was in high school. Calling herself a 'rebel', the young musician believes that there is a place for South Asians in the fields of entertainment, art, and other non-STEM fields. She shared, "In fact, I think in the last year or two I’ve been seeing more and more of us come out of the shadows. I think it’s important to be in a line of work where you can support yourself and you’re not struggling daily to feed yourself, but I also think that it’s possible to pursue lucrative creative paths as a career if you put the work in. It’s also so important to not pursue a field just because other people are telling you to do so – your time, happiness, and untouched passions are not worth the sacrifice."

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So, soon after finishing her school, the youngster told her parents about her career choice. Even though they were quite supportive, there was one condition. "My family always supported my endeavours in music, as long as I could support myself. I’m lucky enough to have found a full-time role in advertising at Google, which helps me leverage my creative mind and network to successfully pursue my music career as well," she shared.

Blending traditions

In the months to come, SANJ worked in advertising strategy at Google, and by night, she's a vibrant performer lighting up venues across New York City. This balance was more than just a work-life equilibrium, it was a manifestation of her commitment to music. In her breakthrough EP ‘At Dusk’, the musician included the song ‘Cloudmind’, which was her take on experimental Desi R&B, and it did overwhelmingly well with over 300k+ streams across platforms. "TikTok mashups of my favorite trending music with Bollywood songs, and those also went viral. I kept up the mashups for about a year, and saw 10x growth across all of my platforms," the musician said, adding, "It was amazing to see the reception my community received, but also people outside of the South Asian community had towards this type of fusion music."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MADOCAH0y4

Talking about her new album, 'Nightingale', the musician said, "This album is an ode to my Desi R&B sound, including samples from Devdas and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, but also Hindi lyricism and Indian sounds that I crafted myself. I hope to be able to tour this album, and spread it to as much of the world as possible."

The musician plans on creating some amazing music for her audience going ahead. "Being able to incorporate that into Western music– it’s been a dream of mine. It’s what I’m going to continue to break boundaries in. This is just the beginning,” SANJ said.

Follow SANJ on Instagram and YouTube

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Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani: The ethical hacker representing India in international championships

(March 20, 2024) For someone who has been interested in cybersecurity since a young age, representing India at international championships in new-age Information Technology platforms was a surreal experience. The past few months have been very fruitful for Ahmedabad's Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani. At the High Technology Championship held in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, in September 2023, he secured a silver medal in Neural Networks. The same year in November, he clinched a bronze at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia, for IT Software Solution. The year 2024 also began on a high note as he emerged as a finalist at the Sports/Competitive Programming competition held in Kazan, Russia, in February. From a young age, Kirtikumar has excelled in cybersecurity. At just 15 years old in 2018, he received the title of 'youngest cyber security researcher' from World Records India for securing over 100 websites by identifying and reporting vulnerabilities in their web applications. That same year, his name was inscribed in the India Book of Achievers. [caption id="attachment_36726" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption] The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had

oads/2024/03/GI-6loQW4AACJVU-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani is an ethical hacker who represents India in new-age Information Technology international competitions." width="657" height="439" /> Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption]

The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had achieved a Top 32 rank at the World Cyber Games held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2019.

As an ethical hacker and Penetration Tester (PenTester), Kirtikumar has earned recognition and monetary rewards from major tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle for identifying vulnerabilities in their web applications.

Kirtikumar's interest extends to astrological predictions as well. “Anyone can check my predictions in the Astro World channel where I predicted actual dates or details about market crashes, earthquakes, election results, sporting tournaments’ results, and war which ultimately came true,” he tells Global Indian.

In the world of cybersecurity since the age of eight

At the age of eight, Kirtikumar's enthusiasm for computers became apparent as he immersed himself in activities like programming and gaming. One day, while playing Subway Surfers, he became intrigued by his cousin's method of obtaining unlimited coins in the game. This curiosity prompted him to indulge in extensive research, which led him to discover how to hack the game. By the time he turned 13, Kirtikumar had gained a thorough understanding of hacking tools such as remote access trojans (RATs). Fuelled by his curiosity in the subject, Kirtikumar kept on polishing his skills in the world of ethical hacking.

[caption id="attachment_36724" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Kirtikumar at the International High Technologies Championship 2023 at Veliky Novgorod, Russia[/caption]

Creating milestones

In 2018, at the age of 15, he won the Penetration Tester of the Year award at the United Kingdom based Cyber Security Awards ceremony with several well-known personalities in the field of cyber security as the judges. Kirtikumar also got recognised by the World Book of Records, and earned an entry into the Book of Achievers that year.

The following year Kirti became the youngest to win the Tech Savvy Award which led his interest in the field of science and technology even more, making him passionate in his endeavour to find solutions to vulnerabilities in web applications. “In 2022, I was the top security researcher on the Google Play Security Reward program,” he mentions.

Hacking for good

As Kirtikumar honed his ethical hacking skills further, he noticed that tech giants were publicly recognising cybersecurity enthusiasts for safeguarding their infrastructure by uncovering vulnerabilities in their web applications.

"Inspired by that I decided to leverage my hacking skills for the greater good, securing the internet for users by identifying vulnerabilities in the web applications of major tech companies,” he says. “When I shared the security threats with the respective companies, I was rewarded financially. Some organisations even sent me gift packs with exclusive merchandise printed with their logo and the words ‘security researcher’, as a token of appreciation,” he explains.

[caption id="attachment_36729" align="aligncenter" width="731"] Kirtikumar with Tennessee based cyber security evangelist, Dameon Welch[/caption]

Advancing from web security to browser security and Kernel security

After spending a few years in the field of web security, Kirtikumar yearned to learn something more exciting. “I decided to shift my focus to browser security taking inspiration from international security researchers, Abdulrahman Al-Qabandi and Eric Lawrence.”

After spending a couple of years mastering browser security skills, he again yearned to learn something new, and shifted his focus to Kernel security (errors of which lead to fatal issues on the PC). “I got interested in this subject by following Germany based senior security consultant, Patrick Walker,” says Kirtikumar.

With his dedication to learn advanced skills, expertise and accomplishments at such a young age, Kirtikumar has earned connections with international experts, and opportunities to participate in global forums on cybersecurity. Talking about Kernel Security, he remarks, “It is the most challenging realm of exploration for me because I love to try something tough which can push my boundaries to think out of the box.”

Also Read: Watch out for the cyber criminals: 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha upskills natives and foreigners

Endeavours in eSports

Kirtikumar has been into competitive eSports but decided to leave it in 2020. In 2019, he participated in the regional finals of the World Cyber Games in Seoul, South Korea, securing the seventh-place finish in the Asia Pacific Region, cementing his position among the top 32 players. He also competed in the Clash Royale League (CRL 2019) and ranked among the top players worldwide in weekly Grand Challenge finishers.

[caption id="attachment_36727" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]

“I left competitive gaming in 2020 after winning my last Paytm First Games. It wasn't helping me think outside the box; I was simply addicted to the game,” he explains. “Fortunately, I realised this at the right moment and began to dedicate more time to browser and kernel security research. I am pleased to have qualified for national rounds and to represent India internationally in these fields,” he remarks.

Academic brilliance

A former student of St. Stephen and Navkar Public School in Ahmedabad, Kirtikumar excelled in science and maths, earning a top 100 ranking in the International Math Olympiads (IMO) and National Science Olympiads (NSO) during his time in school. He also achieved a spot in the top 400 in the National Cyber Olympiads (NCO), as a school student.

Currently, the cybersecurity enthusiast is pursuing Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretaryship while working as an independent security researcher. “I aim to explore the intersection of finance and technology, merging my passion for both to create innovative solutions beneficial for traders,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_36728" align="aligncenter" width="527"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]

When the multitasker finds some time out of his hectic worlds of CA, CS, security research and international competitions, he loves to draw, write, cook, follow cricket, and solve LR/RC/CR on GMAT forums. Ever since he was a teen, he has been giving talks to aspiring security researchers and loves participating in such sessions to share his knowledge.

Follow Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani on LinkedIn and Twitter

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Indian American golfer, Akshay Bhatia, is creating waves in the international circuit

(August 1, 2023) Imagine being one of the best amateur golfers in the United States of America, dreaming to become a professional player and winning several tournaments for the country in the coming years. However, when the opportunity came, you couldn't perform up to your potential. 21-year-old Akshay Bhatia was quite heartbroken when he couldn't cut in any of the six PGA Tour starts in September 2019. "I struggled mentally, I missed every cut," the golfer recalled, "I had a lot of people expecting me to play well and it didn’t happen.” But while several others would have lost hope, Akshay dug in further and worked very hard on honing his skill further. The golfer, who acknowledged that he faced challenges upon turning pro, took the pandemic as an opportunity to pause, re-evaluate, and gain valuable insights. “I got to sit back, talk to my coach, realise where I’m at in my life. After that, you know, I’ve just climbed the mountain slowly and slowly and slowly," he shared. And he might have just made a significant stride by winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Barracuda Championship in California, defeating Patrick Rodgers. The win will earn the Indian

owly and slowly and slowly," he shared. And he might have just made a significant stride by winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Barracuda Championship in California, defeating Patrick Rodgers. The win will earn the Indian American golfer earned him full Tour status and a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Inspired to greatness

Born in Northridge, California to an Indian couple, Akshay's childhood was not unlike other immigrant kids in the USA. However, his life was shaped due to his sister's passion for the sport. As a young child, the golfer witnessed his elder sister, Rhea Bhatia, swinging a golf club for the first time. In the following years, Rhea's dedication to the sport paid off, as she achieved the title of 2015 4A Regional Champion during her high school days. Notably, she continued her golfing journey as a valued member of the women's team at Queen's University of Charlotte.

Soon the young golfer started playing the sport and found it quite immersing. Having a remarkable junior career, the Global Indian achieved the distinction of being the first high-schooler ever to participate in the U.S. Walker Cup team. Coached by George Gankas since he was 13, Bhatia kept on piling up amateur victories till he began getting noticed. In 2017, the golfer caught the nation's attention when he contributed to the victorious team in the 2017 Junior Presidents Cup. Remarkably, at the age of 15, Bhatia made his mark at the Boys Junior PGA Championship by setting multiple records. According to the JuniorPGA website, the golfer, "carded an all-time course and championship record 61, at the 42nd Boys Junior PGA Championship at the Country Club of St. Albans in Missouri."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orWxrz67Z44

In 2018, Akshay secured the runner-up position at the U.S. Junior Amateur tournament. The golfer showcased his talent at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, where he earned two silver medals - one in the boy's event and another in the mixed team event alongside Lucy Li. Moreover, his pivotal performance contributed to the triumph of the US team in the Junior Ryder Cup held in the same year.

Looking past his failures

After failing in the September 2019 golfing season, he kept working on his game. And just four months before turning 20, Akshay achieved a historical feat. The golfer lifted his maiden Korn Ferry Tour (KFT) title at the $750,000 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. He became only the third Indian-origin golfer to do so after Daniel Chopra and Arjun Atwal. At the age of 19 years, 11 months, and 19 days, the golfer achieved the distinction of being the third-youngest professional golfer to secure a victory on the development circuit, joining the ranks of notable players such as Jason Day and Sungjae Im.

[caption id="attachment_32300" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Akshay after winning The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic[/caption]

And now, the golfer is now one step closer to his dream of being on the PGA Tour. After winning his first PGA Tour title, Akshay got emotional while interacting with the media. "I can’t even talk," he said, adding, "I’m just excited. I love playing golf, I love playing on the PGA Tour, and it’s just a dream come true to have it.” Recognising the challenges he faced along the journey, the golfer acknowledged that it had been "a really tough road." However, he said that he always knew that he was “going to get here, it was just a matter of time. For it to happen this year with Special Temporary Membership and now to get to play all these events and to get it done today was, I can’t even describe it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVtp2d8UlXI

The young golfer is looking forward to playing several international tournaments in the upcoming season and winning many as well. "Good golf takes care of itself and if I play good golf, the rankings will go up. I don’t look at it too much. My goal is to get into the US Open," he shared.

Follow Akshay Bhatia on Instagram

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Joy Agrawal: The teen changemaker making an impact through Stem education

(May 13, 2022) Sitting for the Homi Bhaba exam in 2019, Nagpur-based Stem lover Joy Agrawal had an epiphany - the underprivileged students have no access to practical labs. This thought gnawed at him for weeks. The then 13-year-old understood his privilege of having access to all the resources, while the disadvantaged had no money to even order science kits. He knew he had to find a solution, and this gave birth to Project Gyan in 2020. "It's an effort to help quality Stem education reach the young minds through practical and application-based education, focusing on the underprivileged children," changemaker Joy tells Global Indian. In two years, what started as a classroom of 10-12 students has now reached over 1600 students across five schools in Nagpur, Maharashtra. "Practical exposure is necessary to get children thrilled about education. When we started, many students wanted to help their daily wager worker parents with their chores but in a few months, some wanted to build airplanes. That shift in perspective is a victory for me and Project Gyan," says the Class 10 student. [caption id="attachment_16513" align="aligncenter" width="661"] Joy Agrawal[/caption] Love for space tech Born in 2006 in Bareilly to financial consultant parents, Joy

student.

[caption id="attachment_16513" align="aligncenter" width="661"] Joy Agrawal[/caption]

Love for space tech

Born in 2006 in Bareilly to financial consultant parents, Joy was raised in Nagpur. A space tech enthusiast, the outer world always fascinated this teenager. But his interest was piqued after his parents gifted him a telescope at the age of 10. "For a year, I'd sit every day gazing at the stars or looking at the asteroids. But with time, it became less frequent. However, lockdown changed it as the sky was clear again," says the Centre Point School student who discovered two asteroids in 2021 as a part of Spaceport India Asteroid Search Campaign in association with Hardin-Simmons University Texas.

His discoveries have been designated as 2020 RD95 and 2020 RJ83, says the 15-year-old who adds that NASA will use the data for a year or two to confirm the provisional discoveries after an in-depth study. "I am obsessed with space and technology," reveals Joy who loves doing everything in the area of space tech. While the telescope turned out to be a gamechanger for this teenager in the world of space, it was a robotics course that made him fall in love with technology. "As a kid, I loved swimming and would spend two hours every day in the pool. But it was put on hold for a while as the pool was under renovation. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With time on my hands, I enrolled in the robotics class, and I haven't looked back since," adds the teen changemaker, who is the founder of Community Space One. "Our mission is to achieve sustainable development goals with the help of space technology. It was in early 2021 that I identified like-minded people, and soon started Community Space One," says the boy, who is keen to make a difference through remote sensing and earth observation.

[caption id="attachment_16514" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Joy Agrawal at a recent TedX Talk[/caption]

Making an impact through STEM

This love for technology led him to be selected by Peace First, the world's largest incubator for youth-led social change initiatives, for a project grant. "It's a mini-grant for projects on the lines of social change. I won $250 with which I started Project Gyan in 2020. Started during the pandemic, I initially needed no funds as I was conducting live workshops for the underprivileged kids virtually," says Joy who started with the students of St Michael's High School in Nagpur. Being the vice president of the Interact Club at his school, Joy came in touch with the Rotary club and zeroed in on an institution that has many underprivileged kids. "I began with a 1-2 hour class every Saturday wherein I performed experiments and explained concepts. Later, I expanded Project Gyan to four more schools in Nagpur and two tribal schools in Maharashtra," adds the changemaker who provides kits to schools for students to get hands-on experience in science practicals. "I love science, and I understand its potential. I want these kids to explore their potential through Project Gyan," says Joy, who is now working with a team that looks into distribution and planning, maintaining the website, social media, and creating videos.

[caption id="attachment_16515" align="aligncenter" width="706"] Joy Agrawal at IIT Madras with his quadcopter[/caption]

With 1600 students now and a grant of ₹40,000 from Vicco Labs, Project Gyan is spreading its wings and has expansion plans in Central India. Things weren't smooth at the start - he found that many kids had no access to mobile phones. "Three-four students were using one phone to attend my classes initially. This made me understand the extent of the disparity. But with passing months, I realised they too had dreams, and given the practical exposure, they can work towards following their dreams," says Joy, who plans to make the study kit available globally for anyone to access.

Future plans

Joy, who is currently sitting for his board exams, has plans of pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science from MIT or Harvard and a master's in space system engineering. "Working with the UN is my dream. But at some stage, I would want to launch my start-up in space tech," says the teenager, who calls himself a "changemaker who wants to create an impact through Stem".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqoEmh6UUSk&t=80s

At 15, Joy is busy creating social impact, and the teenager advises youngsters to "not follow the herd. Instead, explore your niche. Don't replicate another person's journey. Do your thing and only then you will be able to make a difference." The teen changemaker, who firmly believes that sky is the limit, loves reading books, playing with his dog, and listening to music in his free time. "I don't need to unwind as I love every bit of what I do. When you enjoy your work, you never need a moment to take a break from it," concludes Joy.

Follow Joy Agrawal on Linkedin

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Tharaagai Aarathana: 9-year-old swims across the Palk Strait to raise awareness on ocean pollution

(April 13, 2024) "Are there any fishes in the water?" or "What's the depth of the water" were some of the questions that a curious 9-year-old scuba diver and eco-crusader Tharaagai Aarathana asked her father Aravind Tharunsri before starting to swim across the Palk Strait in the beautiful morning of April 3, 2024 at Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. Having waited out for 1.5 hours for the wind to calm down, she along with her dad and cousin Nishvik were ready to take the plunge in the calming water of the ocean. "I am comfortable with deep water, otherwise I get scared to jump into the water as you can touch the sea floor," smiles Tharaagai as she connects with Global Indian. Swim across the Palk Strait It's the first time that a father-daughter duo has swam across the Palk Strait together, clocking an impressive time of 11 hours and 30 minutes and securing a place in Assist World Records. However, their motivation transcends mere record-breaking; their swim is for a bigger purpose - to raise awareness about ocean pollution and environment conservation. Tharaagai was only three when she began accompanying her father to weekly beach cleanups and soon learnt about

urs and 30 minutes and securing a place in Assist World Records. However, their motivation transcends mere record-breaking; their swim is for a bigger purpose - to raise awareness about ocean pollution and environment conservation. Tharaagai was only three when she began accompanying her father to weekly beach cleanups and soon learnt about ocean pollution, leading her to take charge as an eco-crusader. Even during the 30-km long stretch between Talaimannar in Sri Lanka and Dhanuskodi in Tamil Nadu, the trio remained committed to their cause, gathering 6 kgs of plastic waste. "Every piece of plastic we spotted floating on the ocean's surface, we made sure to retrieve and stow away in the boat," recalls Tharaagai.

Enduring nearly 12 hours in the water is no easy feat, especially for a nine-year-old who was accompanied by her seven-year-old cousin Nishvik. "I have been swimming since I was three. All these years of water adaptation have helped me stay put for a very long time. With each challenge, I push outside my comfort zone and that's what I did with the Palk Strait swim too. At times, we have to face strong currents or daunting waves but we adapt to the challenges and face them," smiles the eco-crusader.

The 30-km swim

The journey began from Dhanuskodi after getting clearance from both the Indian and Sri Lankan governments. "We boarded a mother boat in the afternoon of April 2 to reach Talaimannar in four hours. The big boat provides essential amenities like beds, food, and restroom facilities. It also carries the support crew consisting of doctors, physiotherapists, and their assistants, two support swimmers, and a kayak," reveals Aravind, who is a scuba diving instructor. To ensure their safety, they were accompanied by a mother boat, a rescue boat, a backup boat, and a kayak.

Starting in the wee hours of April 3, Aravind, Tharaagai, and Nishvik, who were waiting for the weather to clear out, braced themselves for a long day ahead. "It's a non-stop journey without any breaks," explains Aravind, adding, "You can drink water or eat a banana or dates or nuts from the accompanying kayak." However, setting off before dawn had its perks as they had the opportunity to witness bioluminescence, (emission of light by living organisms), which captivated the two kids. "That's one of the things we love about night swimming," smiles the girl.

[caption id="attachment_37127" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Swimming across the Palk Strait[/caption]

Given their years of swimming experience, the duo didn't undergo any special preparation for the 30km swim. "We have been constantly swimming and gymming - for stretching to avoid any cramps during swimming along with some cardio," reveals Aravind for whom mental fortitude was equally important as he recognised the unpredictability of the ocean.

With decades of scuba diving experience under his belt, Aravind felt relatively prepared for the challenges. "Throughout the swim, I kept the kids motivated by engaging in small talk or plays so that they don't fell the fatigue. I kept them distracted so that they dwell on how far is the finishing line," he laughs. However, the final four hours proved to be the most challenging as they had to swim against the current. "If we stop swimming, the current would push us back. So, we kept moving forward despite the strong current," adds Tharaagai, who was welcomed by a cheering crowd at Dhanuskodi.

Swim for a cause

Aravind calls himself "a proud father" seeing his daughter create an impact as an eco-crusader. "Till now, she has collected 2000 kg of plastic waste from ocean and beaches," beams Aravind, adding, "More kids are getting inspired and joining us for future adventures to create awareness. The idea is that if my daughter can do it, everyone can do it." Aravind firmly believes that the future generation has the power to create change. "If we ask the government to stop manufacturing plastic bottles, it won't happen. But these young kids are witnessing the harmful effects of single-use plastic on the environment. In the future, one of them would ascend to positions of influence - be it Chief Minister, Prime Minister, or Forest Officer. That's when these efforts will truly matter," says Aravind.

An eco-crusader

The Chennai girl's love for water is a gift from her father who started adapting her to water when she was all of three days old. By the time, she was nine months old, she began floating and in the next two years, she was swimming like a pro. Her bond with water kept strengthening with each passing day, and at the age of five, she started training for scuba diving in shallow water.

[caption id="attachment_37128" align="aligncenter" width="562"] Aravind with daughter Tharaagai[/caption]

Growing up near the sea made her aware of the marine pollution and the plastic menace on the beaches. At a young age, she understood "how plastic and abandoned nets were adding to the pollution and affecting marine life." With some hand-holding by her father, she sat through awareness programs and training, absorbing every bit of information about endangered marine species, especially the Dugong (sea cow). "With 150 dugongs left in India, she decided to save them from plastic pollution. She is creating awareness among kids through presentations in various schools," says Aravind, who founded South India's first-ever scuba diving center Temple Adventures in Pondicherry in 2007.

His passion for protecting the environment has rubbed off on his daughter as the two are now working as a team of eco-crusaders. "Every week, we clean up the beaches and the ocean beds. I then segregate the plastic and send the one that can be upcycled to the recycling plant. While the other is taken care of by the government who dispose of it properly," reveals Aravind.

Tharaagai, who is being home-schooled, wants to be a scuba diver when she grows up. But the nine-year-old is currently enjoying her work as an eco-crusader and wants more kids to join hands. "I alone cannot clean marine plastic, everyone has to participate," she signs off.

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