Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveJui Khankari: Forbes 30 Under 30 teen making AI accessible through her nonprofit

Jui Khankari: Forbes 30 Under 30 teen making AI accessible through her nonprofit

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(August 17, 2024) A summer camp at Stanford University was enough to ignite a passion for AI in Hinsdale Central junior Jui Khankari. However, the hunger to learn more was left unsatiated for the lack of adequate resources to fuel her interest in AI. This led the then 16-year-old to launch her educational non-profit, AInspire, a free resource for people of all ages to learn about artificial intelligence and its many applications. Run entirely on donations, the nonprofit has served over 26,000 students in 91 countries so far through virtual workshops, videos, and educational curriculum created by the Indian American teenager who was named among the Presidential Scholars of 2022. Now at the age of 19, she has found herself on the list of 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 for her work in the field of education.

“Khankari developed an AI curriculum adopted by 38 school districts as well as organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, National Science Teachers Association, Discovery Education, the White House, and the National Center for Women in Information Technology,” wrote Forbes.

Jui Khankari

Gravitating towards AI

For Jui, an Indian-origin girl from Illinois, her journey into artificial intelligence began when she taught Siri to pronounce her name correctly. After years of people mispronouncing her name in the US, she finally decided to take action when even her mom’s phone got it wrong. By making some adjustments, Jui succeeded in getting Siri to say her name the right way. This experience sparked her interest in AI, but her enthusiasm nearly faded as she found herself the only girl in various workshops. Jui said in an interview that she often had instructors performing coding for her, to the extent that she wasn’t learning anything. It was a frustrating reality for her and many young girls like her, as only 32 percent of the data and artificial intelligence workforce are female, according to the World Forum’s 2021 report.

In 2019, she decided to give AI one more chance, when she was selected for a camp at Stanford University with 31 other girls from other parts of the globe. The camp was a revelation for her as she understood that AI could be applied to health care, mental health, and energy optimisation. “Naturally, technologies that only affect women would be less likely to be developed if there aren’t women fighting for them to be developed. Men might have different agendas, or they just might honestly forget that this is something that we need. It’s a real need, and so that’s why I just really want to get more women inspired and empowered to enter the field so we can make our voices and our needs heard,” the Global Indian told a daily.

Jui Khankari | Global Indian | Indian American

Jui Khankari is currently studying at Stanford University

The beginning of AInspire

In February 2020, the Diana Award recipient founded AInspire to motivate and support young girls interested in AI, including her sister Neha. With the help of 11 young women from around the world, including classmates and friends she met at the Stanford camp, she developed new lessons and activities to enhance users’ understanding of artificial intelligence. AInspire also focuses on building the technical, interpersonal, and comprehension skills necessary for a career in this growing field. Although AInspire is primarily aimed at middle and high school students, Jui believes everyone should have a basic understanding of AI, as it is integral to every industry. This belief drives her commitment to keeping AInspire free and accessible to all.

Making an impact

Born to doctor parents, she witnessed them treating COVID-19 patients, which sparked her interest in applying AI to healthcare. She is now focused on developing AI to detect strokes and identify the bifurcation of the major artery supplying blood to the brain, aiming to enable early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. She has already tested two AI algorithms, and her research has demonstrated that strokes can be detected using AI. “Two million neurons die every minute that a stroke is left untreated. By reducing treatment times even by a single minute, this algorithm could reduce death and disability in stroke patients worldwide,” she said.

She has developed custom curriculum for underserved school districts in Chicago and community colleges in New Jersey, and collaborated with MKAI to deliver AI talks to business professionals. Her teaching experience spans workshops in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Marathi, reaching students from Bolivia to Bangladesh and beyond.

Jui, the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search winner and a computer science student at Stanford University, has ambitious plans for AInspire’s future. She hopes to partner with school districts to integrate AI into elementary, middle, and high school curricula. As for her own career, Jui aspires to become both a researcher and a physician, combining her passion for patient care with developing algorithms to advance healthcare.

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Published on 17, Aug 2024

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How Sri Nihal Tammana’s recyclemybattery.org has recycled 145,000 batteries, and counting…

(December 21,2021) Recycling batteries for a better future Recycle My Battery has recycled over 145,000 used batteries Every day almost 15 billion batteries are purchased to power everyday objects, most of which end up in landfills. In Edison, New Jersey, a seventh grader works tirelessly to rid the world of battery pollutants, aspiring to make the world safe from fires. Interestingly, his campaign also started when a fire at a waste plant in California caused million of dollars' worth of damage. When Sri Nihal Tammana read about it on his tenth birthday, he realised the culprit was a discarded lithium-ion battery. That became a clarion call for the 12-year-old to start a campaign to rid the Earth of used batteries. It galvanised the community, and like-minded children to begin collecting and recycling all types of batteries. Most importantly to save the planet. The little boy founded recyclemybattery.org which has grown exponentially since it began in 2019. Collaborations with Call2Recycle, today there are recycle bins in 200 US locations, and the non-profit is also working with US school superintendents, covering over 200 schools (200,000 children). [caption id="attachment_8698" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Recharge My Battery founder Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption] "I started to learn about

,000 children).

[caption id="attachment_8698" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Recharge My Battery founder Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption]

"I started to learn about all types of batteries, and how chemicals cause pollution when they end up in landfills, poisoning groundwater and damaging the ecosystem. I realised that our entire world is powered by batteries, and they are only going to be more widely used. I founded Recycle My Battery to address this," says the pint-sized TEDx speaker, environmentalist, eco-hero and Point of Light honouree.

His large, observant bespectacled eyes light up at the mention of science and sustainability. The winner of the NJ Governor’s Award and the Jefferson Award for his work, Nihal has a sensibility that defies his years.

The method to the research

The Woodrow Wilson student, Nihal researched on how to prevent batteries ending up in landfills, and it was a huge turning point that has been the guiding light that is slowly creating a change. "I started RMB to reduce the 15 billion batteries that are carelessly thrown away each year to zero. We have an amazing team of over 150 kids, and have achieved so much in the two years thanks to my team! We have recycled over 145,000 used batteries so far, and educated over an estimated one million people." Now, Nihal hopes to reach India with his campaign.

[caption id="attachment_8700" align="aligncenter" width="837"] Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption]

Always thinking ahead, partnering with Call2Recycle and Best Brains helped spread RMB’s wings across the US. Call2Recycle offered free battery bins while Best Brains helped right from initiation, advising on where to place battery bins in over 150 locations. Today, 145,000 used batteries have been recycled and the team has educated an estimated one million people on battery disposal, etc.

The 2009 March-born student has been STEM-inclined since he was a toddler, and thus math and science were his favourite subjects.

Infact, Nihal already had dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur even though his parents were concerned that he was too young to start an organisation. He started it, anyway. At age 10, news of fires and lithium-ion batteries put him well and truly on this path. His younger sister is in awe while his parents who work in IT, and are extremely encouraging, especially his father, "He kept motivating me towards my dreams. Without him, I wouldn't have started my organisation!" says Nihal. Nihal loves speaking to his grandparents in Vijaywada, India, and often regales them with his stellar achievements.

From recycle to spreading awareness

The TedX speaker admits sheepishly to being extremely nervous on the podium, and it took two months of practice to prepare for his TedX speech. The Eco-Hero awardee is a 12-year-old who has only just begun tackling world problems. With the help of more than a 145 strong childrens’ team, today RMB has placed more than 250 battery bins across the US. "We have also won 15 plus national and international awards," chirps Nihal.

The PEYA Award is what Nihal cherishes the most, One in a Million Award, NJDEP Recycling Award, Citizens Award, Nihal is thankful for the acclaim and attributes it to team effort, and the partners who supported his dream.

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A post shared by Recycle My Battery (@recyclemybattery)

If STEM subjects bring a glint to Nihal's eyes, he is also a proficient artist, and has won national awards for his distinctive drawings, one of which is shared below. "I have loved art and drawing since I was little. It was super creative and fun to draw, and impress everyone. I drew frenetically just to pass time - 100s of drawing, and I have gotten many awards," says the achiever who seems earnest and adult in demeanour.

The boy who has received appreciation from New Jersey state senators Bob Menendez, Sam Thompson, Patrick Diegnan and Vin Gopal, and Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey, exudes a wisdom beyond his years, and is grateful for their support which has furthered RMB.

As other children were gaming or playing tag, Nihal went CEO hunting to ask for support. That came in the form of kudos from Kevin Kassekert, COO of Redwood Materials, among many others.

Experience and impact has already given Tammana the depth to charter new paths in his life. His research-minded proclivity takes him forward, "I tend to do research to learn more about the environment, waste management, and recycling! When I see the battery bin is full, I feel very proud that people are using the bins that we place," says Nihal who still has ample amount of schoolwork to do, his first priority. After that comes RMB work, and of course, research.

[caption id="attachment_8702" align="aligncenter" width="772"] Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption]

Busy increasing RMB's influence across the US, the 12-year-old was also hired to research on waste management by an Indian firm. "I was recently hired as the youngest research lead at the Delhi-based EnviroVigyan (started by a professor and some PhDs). I want to do more research to learn more about waste management now," he adds. He also blogs for them.

Higher goals, ahoy

Egged on in no small measure by parents in IT, Nihal now has a clear goal in mind - of studying at an Ivy League like Stanford, and learn about environmental science, business development, science, space science and math.

For budding STEM students, his advice is, "Always go after your dreams and never give up! Failure leads to success!"

Having the right mentors opened a whole world of learning and opportunities, and Nihal is grateful for the guidance of Professor Dr Madigosky, Call2Recycle ex-CEO Carl Smith and his dad who "has guided and supported me throughout my journey to bring down the 15 billion batteries thrown away each year to 0!" he smiles.

It's not all work and no play, with doodling giving him the space to rejuvenate, playing and developing video games adding some fun, yet on any given day, reading and researching touts all else.

[caption id="attachment_8696" align="aligncenter" width="541"] A doodle by Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption]

"I practice martial arts, and recently got my black belt in Taekwondo. I love to learn about space. My dream is to become a space scientist. I hope to learn lessons from space to help us improve life on Earth," says the boy who has his own YouTube channel Learn with Nihal, where he educates through videos.

"In my spare time I draw and have also won some national awards for my work. I like to develop and play games on Roblox with my friends," smiles the boy who recently came third at a school geography competition, the GeoBee.

The world is his oyster, and Nihal is already thinking ahead, about how alkaline batteries help grow corn (which even the author did not know), and, a hopeful wish, "I want to start another company that can develop clean batteries in the years to come."

Follow Recycle My Battery on Twitter and Instagram

Reading Time: 7 min

Karthik Ramu: The Indian-American revolutionising elder care

(October 18, 2024) In 2015, Karthik Ramu's life changed in a way that few teenagers could have anticipated. His grandfather, living thousands of miles away in Coimbatore, India, suffered a near-fatal heart attack. Karthik, at the time a high school student in North Carolina, found himself helpless, with no real way of staying updated on his grandfather's health. Despite living in a world of smartphones and wearable tech, the Ramu family, like millions of others, had no reliable system in place to track the health of their elderly loved one. This sudden realisation revealed a bigger problem: how can families, separated by distance and busy with their own lives, care for elders in a connected, real-time way? This personal crisis turned into a mission for Karthik Ramu, who at the age of 16, co-founded AmityConnect, a mobile platform designed to give families real-time insights into the health of their elders, no matter the distance. For the Indian-American, this wasn’t just about solving his family’s problem; it was about addressing the universal need for better elder care—particularly in a world where the elderly population is expected to double by 2050. "Seeing my grandfather suffer and not being able to do anything

able to do anything made me realize how out of touch we were with his health," said Karthik, who is currently pursuing BA from University of Virginia.

[caption id="attachment_39908" align="aligncenter" width="355"] Karthik Ramu[/caption]

A Crisis Turns Into a Mission

His journey towards launching AmityConnect began while he was still in high school, enrolled in a STEM-focused entrepreneurship program. This gave him the technical foundation to address a problem that was deeply personal as he firsthand saw how disconnected families can be from their elders’ health. He found that the available medical alert systems were outdated and notified families only after the emergency had occurred. This prompted him to find a solution that was better than the available resources.

Together with his classmate, Kushi, Karthik launched AmityConnect in April 2019. The app pulls data from a range of smart medical devices like Fitbits, Apple Watches, and Hexoskin sensors, and presents it to families in an easy-to-understand format. Through real-time updates on vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure, and activity levels, AmityConnect allows families to monitor their elders' health, regardless of whether they live across the country or across the world.

[caption id="attachment_39909" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Karthik Ramu with co-founder Kushi[/caption]

Building a Global Solution

As Karthik delved deeper into the elder care industry, he realised how urgent the need for solutions like AmityConnect was. The elder population in the US alone faces alarming health trends: 60 percent of seniors have two or more chronic health conditions. And with families increasingly spread across different locations, staying connected to an elder’s health can be incredibly difficult. AmityConnect's vision is to change that by giving families peace of mind and the tools to take proactive action when it comes to elder care.

In the summer of 2020, Karthik Ramu and his team partnered with Fitbit to provide smart medical devices to seniors and ran a successful beta test of AmityConnect with over 70 families and assisted care centers in Northern Virginia. The results were promising, and AmityConnect's user base quickly began to grow.

By 2021, AmityConnect had already reached over 3,000 people across the US, spreading awareness through social media campaigns and local events. The platform garnered attention, and in 2020, it was selected as a winner of the T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge, which recognizes young innovators making a difference in the world. Karthik and his team were named among the top 30 changemakers of the year, a distinction that put AmityConnect on the map as one of the most promising elder care innovations created by youth. Karthik was honoured as a Global Teen Leader by the We Are Family Foundation in 2021, also won the T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge and was recognised as one of the top 30 changemakers.

Rooted in Heritage, Driven by Innovation

The success of AmityConnect for Karthik isn't just about technology but also about his heritage and upbringing. As a first-generation Indian-American, Karthik feels a deep connection to the values of his Tamilian roots, particularly the importance of family and caring for elders. "The concept of respecting and caring for elders is deeply ingrained in our culture, and this definitely shaped how I approached AmityConnect," explained the 21-year-old.

Growing up in a household where both parents worked in the tech industry — his father is an IT consultant, and his mother assists in their family business — Karthik was exposed to technology from a young age. Yet, he was equally influenced by his parents' roots in Coimbatore, India. The duality of his Indian heritage and his American upbringing gave him a unique perspective, allowing him to innovate with a deep sense of responsibility toward family and community.

"I'm as close to my parents' roots in Coimbatore as I am to my Indian-American culture," the Global Indian reflected. His experience of growing up with both Indian and American cultures shaped how he approaches problem-solving. It helped him combine empathy with innovative thinking, blending traditional values with modern solutions.

Growing up in one of the fastest-growing immigrant communities in the US, Karthik is the perfect example of how Indian-American teens are making an impact by combining their rich heritage with modern innovation. For decades, Indian immigrants have made their mark in fields like technology, healthcare, and business, and Karthik, too, has merged his heritage with contemporary ideas, making him a bridge between two worlds.

Larger Perspective

What began as an idea to help stay up to-date with his grandfather's health became a platform for elder care that reached out to more families in the US. However, his goal has been to scale it globally. "There's still so much more we can do to ensure that families feel connected to the health of their elders, no matter where they are," he added. For him, AmityConnect isn’t just a business but a mission to change how families care for their elders in an increasingly disconnected world.

As Karthik continues to redefine elder care, his story is not just an inspiration for Indian-American teens but for changemakers everywhere. In an era where the elder population is growing faster than ever before, Karthik’s work with AmityConnect couldn’t be more timely or necessary. His journey underscores how young people, empowered by their cultural roots and a drive for change, can solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

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Let’s build sustainable rockets, says teen changemaker Anushka Sharad

(May 25, 2022) Sustainability in space exploration is one of modern man's biggest dilemmas, drawing bright young minds all in pursuit of a solution. Among them is eleventh-grader Anushka Sharad. A NASA citizen scientist who has helped search for asteroids, the teen changemaker shows a gravity far beyond her years. She aims to bring scientific knowledge to peers with less access and open their eyes to the vast possibilities the study of science affords. She is the founder of seekinspace.com, a NASA Citizen Scientist, science communicator and an amateur poet. "Theoretical astrophysics and computational astronomy are my areas of study," says Anushka, a serious teenager with an approach that is far beyond her years. Thousands of rockets and satellites launched over the last fifty years leading to a sizeable accumulation of junk outside the earth's orbit, sustainable space exploration is one of Anushka's focus areas. Her interest is timely: The subject of space debris has entered mainstream discourse and in 2021, China found itself under criticism from NASA for "failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris." The reproach came after remnants from China's Long March 5B rocket fell into the Indian Ocean only to be met with stubborn

r space debris." The reproach came after remnants from China's Long March 5B rocket fell into the Indian Ocean only to be met with stubborn silence from those responsible. Another focus area is asteroid mining - rich in elements and minerals, asteroids are untapped resources. "Can we harness methods like 3D printing and look at options like asteroid mining to curb our pollution of the earth," Anushka asks, in an interview with Global Indian.

STEM awareness and a personal space odyssey

Recently, Anushka began her role as a Global Ambassador with the Women Tech Network. The community, based in California, promotes gender diversity in technology and connects professionals with top companies and startups. It is a culmination, of sorts, of her attempts to spread awareness on the diverse potential of STEM subjects. For, not one to restrict herself to a single area of study, Anushka delivers lectures on AI and machine learning to other students, hoping to help them understand how they work. She also visits schools to spread awareness on the STEM fields.

"Most students don't know how many career options there are in science. It's not just about physics and math or engineering as a career. There are many choices - technology, chemistry and biology to name a few. But students don't explore these options," explains the teen changemaker. "I have done the exploration and understand how much can be done. I must tell the others too," she tells Global Indian.

In August 2021, Anushka began seekinspace.com, where she publishes her articles and blogs. She is also a researcher with The Nebula Space Organisation, a research platform for students by students. Also associated with The Aurora Academic Journal, another student run venture that works with young researchers from across the globe, Anushka has written over 70 articles on astronomy. "I showed up on YouTube as well," Anushka says. "It's mostly for the AI sessions I conduct along with informative videos and opportunities in STEM fields."

Back to the beginning

"I knew I was made for science and it was made for me," Anushka remarks quietly. When she was in middle school, she got her hands on an encyclopaedia of science that covered an extensive breadth of topics. As she pored through them, her young mind was captivated by the idea that "We humans are made of stardust. We are the same as the cosmos. I am a cosmic entity," she smiles.

Inspired by idea, she studied more and more - always on her own, she says, "I have had no real mentor to guide me or even to point me in the right direction”. The pandemic hit and the country went into lockdown, leaving Anushka with enough time on her hands to continue her studies. She started reading every article she could find, watching videos and documentaries and making lists of books to read. She ordered the books online, building her "treasury of books," as she puts it. Writing articles to help herself analyse the information, Anushka discovered a flair for writing that she uses in her research papers, to write poetry and also, in her first book.

"I was intrigued with Stephen Hawking's The Grand Design," Anushka says. "He makes an argument against God, saying that there is no God and everything is natural," says Anushka. "I am a spiritual human being so I thought that if I want to understand God, I must read something against him. To me, it's about the power of nature."

The solitary observer

Always an observer, Anushka likes to spend her time in nature, paying attention the plants and animals she finds there. "I also like mountaineering," she says, describing many childhood vacations in the hills. "I climb the mountains and think, what is nature trying to teach me? What is it telling me? When I return, I recall those experience and try to understand what they were trying to tell me," she says. Hers is a life of observation marked by solitude, even at her young age. "Solitude is where I find my solace," Anushka admits.

Perhaps it was the solitary nature of her work but Anushka knew it was important for her to gain confidence and speak in public. "I began reaching out to students on Instagram and LinkedIn," says the teen, who is active on social media platforms. "I love connecting with students, especially when they are curious," says the teen changemaker.

Anushka visits CBSE and ICSE schools, organising sessions for students in Pune, where she lives. In October, she hopes to conduct her first session for adults as well, in collaboration with another organisation. "It will be a night camp like the one I had for students," she says. The night camp was her own first experience with a telescope, set up at the campsite beside a lake.

Science communicator

When her blogs and articles became popular among her family and friends, Anushka thought she might like to dabble in it. "I brought my skills in science and language together to be a science writer," says the teen changemaker. "As I understood more about astronomy, astrophysics, neuralinks, AI and machine learning, I wanted to find a way to unite technology and space exploration. Humans can't really travel through space but robots can. And I want to use my skills to be part of something like this, to create something that is bigger than me."

The road ahead

Currently in the midst of preparing for her SATs and IELTs, Anushka hopes to study abroad. "There are so many opportunities available. We get to research at a very early age, which is a big advantage," says Anushka. "India doesn't lack expertise but a bachelor's degree in astrophysics is hard to find," she says. "I also thought, if people like Kalam and Gandhi can benefit from studying abroad, why can't I? I want to study elsewhere and come back here to make an impact." The teen changemaker intends to remain in research, pushing the frontiers of what is known and what can be done, like "building sustainable rockets that are in keeping with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals," she suggests. "No matter what I do, my sole purpose is simply to serve humanity."

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Reading Time: 6 min

The physics of desi vegan: PhD student Anjali Harikumar’s insta handle a boon for plantarians

(May 1, 2022) Her kale pancakes are the rage, her kuzhi paniyaram got 2.6 million views while her vegan rasmalai got 13k likes. Yet, the sprightly, irreverently funny vegan instagrammer Anjali Harikumar - or Beextravegant is actually a physicist by profession. Not your average deep-in-her-books kinda girl, though. Currently based in Grenoble, France, Anjali is a PhD candidate working at a government lab on nanophotonics. Beyond all manner of particles, Anjali took her proclivity towards particles of a more wholesome healthy gourmet nature with Beextravegant, that creates vegan Indian recipes. With 78.7k followers, 157 vlogs (and counting) oddly enough, the vegan physicist dabbles as a freelance videographer, sharing desi recipes on her love for all forms of plantains (yes bananas), all the while being inundated with tips on doing a PhD abroad! [caption id="attachment_15908" align="aligncenter" width="521"] Anjali Harikumar, physicist and vegan instagrammer[/caption] The academically-inclined Anjali decided on stem as was expected for a smart student even though she wasn’t really convinced. “Now, I love it. The field I work in is so interesting with so much to do in it,” says the PhD student, who works on UV lamps and lasers, in an interview with Global Indian. After MTech from

ed on stem as was expected for a smart student even though she wasn’t really convinced. “Now, I love it. The field I work in is so interesting with so much to do in it,” says the PhD student, who works on UV lamps and lasers, in an interview with Global Indian. After MTech from Amity Noida in 2018, the physicist-turned-vegan gourmet studied nanotechnology. “It is the present and the future, so much of everything we use today is controlled by nanotechnology. It’s something so small, literally intangible, but something so powerful,” the physicist explains.

Craving for vegan

From nano tech to ingredient sourcing, especially for a vegan, it was despite Anjali’s dislike for cooking! Admitting sheepishly that she couldn’t cook, her 70k-odd followers on instagram turn cliches on the head, as she is now an expert. Of course, her rebellious nature was also tamed when it was a matter of survival. “I never liked societal rules - how women were associated with cooking - thus I never wanted to learn. Then, I realised that it was a skill I actually needed,” Anjali laughs.

From Kerala, the armed forces kid was brought up across India - Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and even Jammu & Kashmir. “It was super interesting to be able to experience so many different cultures. It made me extremely adaptable,” quips the happy-go-lucky vegan physicist who does not find moving to new places daunting. Her, father, an Air Force officer, she feels, is the reason she is independent, speaks her mind, and is fearless. “I was able to start social media, endure hate comments, and persevere because of the confidence he gave me,” she adds.

Her mother, a teacher, instilled compassion and kindness in her which also led her to question her choices. It eventually led her to veganism. Her “super brainiac” younger brother, "is doing a triple major in computer science, mathematics and physics," and she is grateful for the closeness they share.

The animal loving physicist, inspired by her mother, wanted to reduce animal cruelty, and spread awareness of being ethical towards animals.

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A post shared by Anjali | Vegan recipes 🇮🇳🇪🇺 (@beextravegant)

Thus began an odyssey of stutters and starts to learn cooking, and soon mastering it. Her first was a simple burnt rice and potatoes at university, soon she became a reputed vegan influencer - promoting vegan Indian food with incredibly simple and delicious recipes.

This was also the time the world over, people ventured into the kitchen during the pandemic-induced lockdowns, to reconnect with food. During the first lockdown, Anjali started an Instagram account featuring vegan Indian recipes - Beextravegant. “The West has a dominant vegan community, and thus the food is unfamiliar to Indians. I wanted to make classic Indian dishes vegan, and promote our culture too,” Anjali explains. With her PhD. thesis coming to a close, the amatuer videographer hopes to take her vegan lifestyle to a reel life too - Her vision is to start a YouTube channel, featuring recipes, editing hacks, and more.

Consistent and persistent in physics and the kitchen

“A vegan diet has so many benefits, but it can also be quite dangerous if it is not balanced,” cautions the vegan physicist who learnt from her own experience. Unaware initially, when she cut animal products from her diet, she lost a majority of her protein intake, along with essential nutrients found in meat and dairy. “I’d recommend cutting out animal protein with vegan replacements like chickpeas, kidney beans, and more. Also, take supplements of certain nutrients,” Anjali explains (with consultation from a nutritionist, of course). Any tips? Stressing on consistency, “Don’t feel pressured to turn completely vegan on the first day, it will take time, don’t beat yourself for slipping up," she adds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwOg1NOWinM&t=8s

The vegan physicist believes that, “failure is a stepping stone to success, be consistent and persistent.” Eight months after applying for a PhD, and two years of developing her vegan conversations on Instagram, it’s a mantra she follows herself.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

Eisha Yadav: On a mission to avert old-age loneliness and social isolation

(June 14, 2023) “Ignoring the well-being of the 103 million (elderly) population of India is no less a humanitarian crisis. Just as the children, the grandparents of the society deserve to have a better, rest of their life,” Eisha Yadav wrote, in her entry to the essay competition organised by US based India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) - a coalition of non-profit, philanthropic, and charitable organisations that mobilise people and funding in the United States to support meaningful causes in India. The youngster won the first prize and a cash award of $1000 to donate to a non-profit of her choice. “After doing a lot of research, it was clear that the team of HelpAge India were not only doing great work in the field of combating social isolation and loneliness of the elderly but also making sure that they don’t have to work in their old years, and have enough money to take care of their health.” says Eisha as she connects with Global Indian from California. The youngster donated the entire prize money to the organisation. That was in 2021. “We are still working together to this day,” she says with a smile. [caption id="attachment_31067" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Eisha Yadav[/caption] Personal

derly but also making sure that they don’t have to work in their old years, and have enough money to take care of their health.” says Eisha as she connects with Global Indian from California. The youngster donated the entire prize money to the organisation. That was in 2021. “We are still working together to this day,” she says with a smile.

[caption id="attachment_31067" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Eisha Yadav[/caption]

Personal experiences and finding a purpose

The ninth grader’s choice of non-profit (HelpAge India) to donate her prize money and later get actively associated with them as a volunteer from the US stems from her personal experiences.

At 90, and until he succumbed to COVID-19, Eisha’s fiercely independent maternal grandfather lived by himself in his hometown, Raipur in India. “Earlier, when my grandma was alive and needed medical attention, they lived in a different Indian city. I could not help but notice, in both cases, how lonely and bored they felt, and how unprepared and lacking the society was to support the lifestyles of the elderly” she mentions.

After her grandmother passed away her grandpa became lonelier. “It was sad and heart breaking to see him struggle with loneliness and isolation. “Though he was active, it was difficult to find things to engage himself. “Back in the US, Eisha and her mother tried to look up for opportunities for some interesting hobby classes to keep him engaged. “There were hardly any good options,” she says. Even though he found love from family members, it was hard for him to feel happy and experience a sense of wellbeing because he felt very lonely and isolated.

“I felt bad about how, in such a big society, the elderly population suffers from loneliness,” she says. “The city he knew, loved and cared for so much was not able to support his wants and needs,” she adds.

During this time, she came across the news of the essay competition of IPA. “I thought it was a cool opportunity to put across the thoughts that were worrying me so much to people who cared. Winning the competition opened a lot of opportunities for me to do something about an issue I really cared about due to my personal experiences,” Eisha remarks.

Finding support

“I have a lot of support from the organisation (HelpAge India) and I really try to do what I can to make a difference,” she says. As a high school student there are time constraints but Eisha tries to give as much time as possible to the cause. “For most causes to get successful awareness is foremost. Once you can raise awareness, you can take the cause forward easily,” she says.

She has been spreading awareness on different platforms including presentation in the local mall in California. “Since I stay in the Bay Area, there is a huge population of Indian people with whom I can engage for the cause,” she says. “I am working with American friends of HelpAge India. We are working on new initiatives and helping in fundraising and supporting the prior programmes of the organisation,” she explains.

Way ahead

Born and raised in California, Eisha has seen US cities with adult service and recreation centres offering organized activities designed specifically for the elderly. Her paternal grandfather, who is retired from the Indian Army and now stays in Bengaluru, also enjoys good facilities and community centres.

“But it is something lacking in the city in which her maternal grandparents lived. They had boring and lonely lives,” she says. “My plan is to work with local establishments in India, one city at a time, and launch programs that mimic the US and Army community centres for elderly.

“As long as I can remember I have had a knack of solving problems in whichever way I could. I always strive to make my community a better place.” The youngster is grateful that her writing talent led her to an association with the India philanthropy Alliance. “That really got me into philanthropy. The fact that my ideas were recognised and I as a kid can make a difference in issues that I care about has got me going,” the fourteen-year-old student of Menlo School, Atherton adds.

HelpAge India reports:

31 percent of the elderly have fear of getting hurt in the locality due to frailty and bad infrastructure.
59 percent of elderly report abuse as being prevalent in Indian society.
Disrespect, verbal abuse and neglect were reported as the most common forms of abuse. Son and daughter in law are reported as the major abusers, and those other than the immediate family are major perpetrators of abuse.
46 percent of the elders were not aware of any abuse redressal mechanism.
79 percent of the respondents felt that their family do not spend enough time with them.
57 percent feel financially insecure because their expenses are exceeding their savings or income.