Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveKevin J Patel: Indian-American climate activist leading the charge for a greener tomorrow

Kevin J Patel: Indian-American climate activist leading the charge for a greener tomorrow

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(October 11, 2023) “My activism doesn’t come as a choice. My activism doesn’t come as a hobby. It’s a survival tool for my community,” says Kevin J Patel, a Los Angeles-based climate activist, who is the founder of OneUpAction International, an organisation empowering marginalised youth by providing them with the resources they need to be changemakers. Being one of the youth voices on the climate crisis, Kevin currently serves as a 2020 National Geographic Young Explorer. It was at the age of 12 that a health issue led Kevin to become aware of the environmental damage caused by the many oil refineries in the surrounding area. He is one of the two million California residents who live within 2,500 feet of an operational oil and gas well and are prone to health issues.

Kevin J Patel

Born to immigrant parents who moved to the US in search of better opportunities, Kevin grew up in a space where they grew their own food. However, he lived in a community in South Central Los Angeles where food scarcity was common, and it was in his first semester of sixth grade that he became aware of the issue. “I realized my community wasn’t getting access to healthier foods; I really wanted to do something about it. I started teaching my peers to grow food. Many did not know that food comes from farms and they can grow their own foods,” he said in an interview.

However, things amplified in the second semester of his sixth grade when one day sitting in his classroom, he felt a sudden chest pain. He was fit, played sports, and had no high blood pressure, but ended up being diagnosed with arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart beats at an irregular rhythm. Confused, he started looking for answers as to why this might have happened to him and he found the answer in the location he lived. “South-Central Los Angeles was classified as a ‘sacrifice zone’ — places where residents, often low-income and/or people of colour, live close to freeways, factories, and oil wells. That’s where environmental inaction and damage have resulted in arrhythmia-stoking levels of smog. So, I started protesting. I led marches, petitioned government officials, and demanded climate justice from anyone who would listen,” he said.

While getting actively involved in activism, Kevin didn’t see many people who looked like him, especially in the youth climate movement. In 2018, more than 85 percent of staffers in over 2000 environmental nonprofits were white. This nudged him to start OneUpAction International in 2019 to create a platform for young individuals who were BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). “I consider myself an intersectional climate activist, and one of the millions of people across the world who are already victims of the climate crisis. I didn’t see a home for people like myself.”

Over the years, OneUpAction translated into more than just giving voice to BIPOC, it turned into an organisation that supports and empowers marginalised youth to become changemakers, and to tackle the climate crisis within their local communities for a regenerative future. “Now we’re an organization that is helping young individuals across the globe implement and accelerate solutions within their communities.”

Kevin, who is pursuing Political Science at Loyola Marymount University, has over the years collaborated with the community to create a one-of-its-kind Youth Climate Commission in LA County to amplify youth voices. “The power of young people is crucially needed. I also think we just need to intergenerationally work together to really make sure that we’re solving these issues.”

The young climate activist is into hiking and photography, and is keen to get more young people equipped with the resources like monetary aid, membership and all “to implement solutions and drive action within their communities.” “We need more young people at the table, and this is where OneUpAction is currently focused. Youth will drive the change our planet needs.”

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Published on 11, Oct 2023

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Krrish Chawla: Stanford University student making clean air accessible

(March 15, 2023) Being surrounded by nebulizers and inhalers during Diwali has been one of the core memories for Delhi-born Krrish Chawla while growing up in the capital. As someone who battled respiratory problems throughout his childhood, the 20-year-old was always surrounded by air filters to enhance his breathing. This propelled him to find a solution for many like him, who were facing similar issues. "Being curious as a kid, I was just 14, when I dismantled a purifier inside my home to discover a very simple working design. However, I was taken aback the moment my father told me about its exorbitant price. With a strong resolution that breathing pure air is not a luxury but a necessity — I decided to build one myself," the Stanford University student said. Being a science student, he was well aware of the operations of an electrical circuit and soon started experimenting with different prototypes. It took him 320 prototypes to finally come up with a commercially viable model - "with a focus on delivering maximum efficiency at the most economical rates." This gave birth to Breathify in 2018 - an air-purifying device with an innovative ‘Reverse Air’ technology. "My parents helped

"with a focus on delivering maximum efficiency at the most economical rates." This gave birth to Breathify in 2018 - an air-purifying device with an innovative ‘Reverse Air’ technology. "My parents helped me immensely during the initial days. With the help of my father, I was able to innovate and design a technology called 'reverse air'. It essentially reverses the components used inside the device to reach maximum filtering efficiency," he added. In simple terms, the technology reverses the direction of airflow, thus eliminating any scope of air-mixing with surrounding pollutants.

Made of eco-friendly components, the air purifier is 99 percent plastic-free, uses a HEPA filter that can trap 99.97 percent of ultra-microscopic particles, and is available at ₹4230. "It is a simple plug-in-play operation, consuming 25-65 watts of electricity. The only maintenance is to change the HEPA filter," he told HT.

Being a teenager when he made the device, Krrish had to face many challenges, but for him, the prime struggle was to convince people about the simplicity of an air purifier. "I did several demos in front of people showing them the efficiency of my device. Since childhood, I was deeply inspired by minimalism. I believe that instead of incorporating a lot of complexity inside the machine, we should focus on a simple design to boost functionality," the Global Indian said.

The startup began with initial financial assistance from his father and later, he invested the profits from new orders. "I learned on Google through research and experimentation. The challenge was to understand the airflow and correct it as required,” he said. Breathify has till now helped improve the lives of over 48,000 people and has reached more than 12000 users in India.

Krrish, who is currently pursuing Computer Science at Stanford University, is an avid photographer and a national-level golfer. He is constantly striving for social upliftment, making positive differences in the world – a step at a time. A common aim of all his projects is environmental sustainability, which he hopes to achieve in the near future.

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Creating impact: Meet the 5 young Indian innovators driving change

(January 21, 2023) "Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things." These words of Theodore Levitt stand true for the brigade of Indian teen innovators who are helping solve the biggest issues, one problem at a time. From saving the earth to creating social impact, this new generation of precocious youth is solving the problems of today with ambitious, ground-breaking technology. Global Indian turns the spotlight on such young innovators who are breaking the glass ceiling with their innovations. Zain Samdani As a 15-year-old visiting India from Saudi Arabia, Zain Samdani had no idea that this family vacation was set to change the course of his life. A meeting with his partially paralysed distant maternal uncle left him “shocked.” In the era of technology, seeing his uncle dependent on others for every small thing was nothing short of a horror. That encounter nudged this robotics enthusiast and innovator to develop Neuro-ExoHeal, an exoskeletal hand rehabilitation device that utilises neuroplasticity and Azure technology to help patients with neurological damage recover faster at an affordable price. The innovation not only left Google CEO Sundar Pichai impressed but also made the 21-year-old win Microsoft 2022 Imagine Cup World Championship, which is

ly left Google CEO Sundar Pichai impressed but also made the 21-year-old win Microsoft 2022 Imagine Cup World Championship, which is considered as the ‘Olympics of Technology’ with more than 10,000 participants from 160 countries.

[caption id="attachment_17917" align="aligncenter" width="587"] Zain Samdani[/caption]

"Having been interested in robotics from a very young age, I started working with prosthetic designs in 2013. But I realised that a cosmetic prosthetic hand could cost between ₹1-₹2 lakh while a robotic prosthetic hand was available anywhere between ₹40-₹50 lakh. I knew that affordability was the key. But the meeting with my uncle only strengthened my passion to find an affordable solution," Zain told Global Indian. The earliest prototype made him one of the 16 global finalists at the Google Science Fair in 2016, and later the advanced version recreated the magic in 2019. "My uncle could feel the sensation on the very first day of using Neuro-ExoHeal. It’s something that otherwise takes weeks or months to achieve."

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Jui Keskar

India is home to 0.58 million persons living with Parkinson's disease, and Pune-based inventor Jui Keskar's abode was no different. Having seen her uncle battle the illness for the past nine years with incessant rounds to the hospitals, she was keen to help him. But how? The question gnawed away at her, until the 2020 lockdown came as a blessing in disguise for the teenager, giving her the time to dive into research and find a potential solution to helping her uncle. While scrolling through heaps of data on the internet, the innovator realised that the medication depended on the tremor history, and there was no device to measure them.

[caption id="attachment_20519" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Jui Keskar[/caption]

That was a turning point for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2022 recipient as she decided to develop a wearable device to measure tremors and analyse data to chalk out a customised medication for the treatment. After months of hard work, the innovator nailed the solution in JTremor-3D, a wearable device that enables the tracking of tremors every 1/10th of a second in a person's body, and stores the data in a Cloud database, which is then sent to the doctor after the information is processed. Embedded with sensors and accelerometers and gyro meters, this device helps in producing the data that can help determine the course of action for a patient.

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Nikhiya Shamsher

A hospital visit for her project, Compassionate Clowns, changed Nikhiya Shamsher's life forever. She was just 14 when she saw a man who had had half his jaw removed due to oral cancer. Upon inquiring about him, the nurse affirmed that he was one of the few lucky ones to survive. Unable to get the ghastly image out of her head, she began researching on oral subject and found staggering statistics. Five people die every hour because of oral cancer, and India itself accounts for almost one-third of the cases in the world. It's the late diagnosis that accounts for high mortality rate.

[caption id="attachment_20379" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Nikhiya Shamsher receives Diana Award for Prince Williams and Prince Charles[/caption]

Perturbed by the condition of the patients, she found her eureka moment in QuitPuff - a diagnostic device that could help early risk detection of oral pre-cancer and cancer. Explaining the process of its functioning, the innovator told Forbes India, "It is a simple principle, it detects a biomarker present in the saliva, and changes colour. The more the biomarker, the darker the colour will be, which means the higher the risk of developing oral cancer." The device contains QuitPuff reagent which changes colour after an individual spits in it and heats it for 15 minutes. One can compare the colour to the colour chart to understand the risk stage. Priced at ₹38, QuitPuff has already been tested on more than 500 patients.

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Siddharth Mandala

He was 12 when the infamous Nirbhaya rape case shook the nation in 2012. People took to the streets asking for justice, and his mom was one among them. Curious about the protests and confused about the word ‘rape’, Siddharth Mandala joined his mom for one of the protests. After surfing the net, he understood the gravity of the issue and decided to do everything in his capacity to prevent sexual assault. This awareness led to the birth of Electroshoe, a small badge that can be clipped onto any footwear, or worn as a ring or pendant and can be easily activated during any threatening situation by pressing. “It pulls out two sharp pointers, mimicking the mechanism of a stun gun and pierces through clothing, and even skin to electrocute the attacker,” explains Siddharth. He took two years to build a working prototype and another three years to create a market-friendly product by interviewing over 500 women across India and California.

[caption id="attachment_15377" align="aligncenter" width="574"] Siddharth Mandala[/caption]

The 21-year-old reveals Electroshoe activates an alarm sound to alert nearby police stations and sends location to family members. “It can even sense angst in a conversation, and can raise alarm,” the entrepreneur told Global Indian. With a built-in solar plate, it recharges itself when exposed to sunlight. “The idea was that it should be something that women can carry with them easily all the time."

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Vinisha Umashankar

"We have every reason to be angry. But I have no time for anger. I want to act. I am not just a girl from India. I am a girl from Earth and I am proud to be so.” These words of the 15-year-old innovator and environmentalist Vinisha Umashankar received a thunderous standing ovation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021. The teen from Tamil Nadu, who was the only school student to earn a spot among the finalists for The Earthshot Prize 2021, was invited by Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, to speak at the World Leaders’ Summit at the COP26 in November 2021.

[caption id="attachment_17446" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Vinisha Umashankar with her solar-powered ironing cart.[/caption]

At 12, the teen innovator started the idea of inventing a solar-powered ironing cart while accompanying her mother to deliver ironing clothes. Seeing six ironing vendors in her neighbourhood, she realised how charcoal burning is a threat to the environment. She found her eureka in solar power which effectively substitutes charcoal. The innovation won her the Children's Climate Prize in 2020 helped her get a slot as a finalist at The Earthshot Prize in the Clean Our Air category in 2021. “I was happy that environmental innovations like a solar ironing cart got due recognition. It can play a crucial role in reducing environmental damage and climate change. I hope my innovation motivates students to innovate on products that could help protect the environment for future generations. I am happy that the solar ironing cart is my little contribution towards an ambitious goal," she told Global Indian.

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Shray Joshi: Helping companies build great brands through Good Peeps

(May 2, 2024) DTC brands, or direct-to-consumer brands, are on the rise. By cutting out the middleman and selling directly to customers online, they can offer unique products, build personal relationships, and control the customer journey. This booming market thrives on strong marketing strategies. A well-crafted plan, focused on building brand identity and utilizing data-driven digital channels, is crucial for DTC brands to stand out in a crowded space and convert interest into loyal customers. Shray Joshi, a first-generation Indian-American entrepreneur, exemplifies the drive and passion required to navigate the competitive world of wellness brands. Prior to founding Good Peeps in 2022, Shray honed his marketing and growth expertise at established companies like Health-Ade Kombucha, Cha Cha Matcha, and SIMULATE. This background, coupled with a personal journey to understand the connection between food and health, positions Shray perfectly to understand the unique needs of today's wellness brands. The Forbes 30 Under 30 is not only adept at building marketing strategies but also deeply committed to social responsibility, actively working to inspire and empower the Asian American Pacific Islander community. Growing up in San Diego, "the home of every single cool new product," the Global Indian recalls that "going to every

w.globalindian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Indian recalls that "going to every single grocery store and aisle shopping" was his personal form of therapy as a kid. At University in Boston, Shray Joshi wanted to study psychology and nutrition, driven by his own personal struggles with obesity. From there, he switched to biochemistry and nutrition. "I got to learn about what you're putting into your body and what it actually does to you," he said. "My research specifically focussed on learning how processed foods affect your body's microbiome and metabolism."

Finding purpose in wellness

He was also focussed on his own wellness journey, and found that simply living better, eating better and moving around can solve most health problems. His fitness journey worked out so well that he was soon helping friends as well, working with them one on one, although he didn't know where his education and experiences would lead him, from a career perspective. "I was just getting healthy and helping friends do the same." At the same time, like most science students, he was drinking a lot of coffee.

His first turning point came through a friend in college, who introduced him to matcha, back before everyone was talking about it. "I fell in love with it. One part of wellness is health, and eating right. The new part is reducing anxiety and improving mental health. Matcha helped me reduce coffee and I was wondering why all of America wasn't drinking this product." So, he applied to every matcha company he could find, and ended up getting a job at Cha Cha Matcha in NYC, where he worked on digital marketing. From there, he moved to Health-Ade Kombucha, where he became the head of Digital and Growth.

After a few years of working in-house, Shray Joshi decided to try something new. "I got a lot of good advice, including that I was too stubborn to work at a corporate," he laughs. He began doing consulting instead, and found that the brands he was working with were "overly complicating marketing from an internal perspective." As the consulting business grew, Shray made the leap into entrepreneurship, founding his own branding company, Good Peeps. "There are so many agencies trying to offer playbook sales tactics. On the other hand, we are like, we won't work on 600 brands. We will work on four or five brands at the same time and go really deep with them. We will build those really great brands and tell really great stories in unique ways." They work with fast growing brands in the CGP industry, like Feastables, Chamberlain Coffee and Fly by Jing. "We work with these brands to plan retail and online strategies," he said. "Given our background as a team, we do good work from a branding, content and creative perspective, as well as performance marketing."

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Helping brands build demand

Responding to a question about whether brands should focus on retail or digital, Shray says, "It's super category and product dependent. If you have a high consumption frequency, then you want to be in retail. You can use digital to scale and help you win in retail. Other clients need to crush it on digital and also get retail distribution to clog up leaky buckets."

A strong online content marketing strategy is crucial to building demand. "For one, it's a good way of showing retailers that they want to have you on board," Shray explains. "You can bulid a strong community, make really cool partnerships and build a group of hardcore loyalists online. You can use that following to walk into a store and say, 'I have a bunch of people begging for my product, so you are going to want to stock it'." Big stores, he says, take on clients with a Direct-to-Consumer presence and also those with a strong online presence.

Telling the right story

"If you have a really good story to tell, then tell it. If you don't, then don't force it," Shray believes. Brands driven by Asian Americans who found companies that connect with who they are have good stories, he says. "But if you're like, finance-backed and you saw white space in the market, that's where you lean on product focus and brand marketing, not your personal story." As a bottom line, he refers to Post Malone. "Make stuff you like. Other people will end up liking it too."

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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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Neel Sethi: The boy who played ‘Mowgli’

(May 21, 2023) When The Jungle Book was released in 2016, the film became an overnight success. The realistic depiction of the animals and the lush jungle environment captivated audiences, creating a visually immersive experience. Based on Rudyard Kipling's timeless story, which has a universal appeal, the film adaptation grossed $966 million worldwide against the budget of $175 million making it one of the highest-grossing films of the year. The themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the connection between humans and nature resonated with audiences worldwide, contributing to its international success. Directed by Jon Favreau and produced by Walt Disney Pictures, it found success in tapping the nostalgia and familiarity associated with the book, the 1967-animated film and of course, the timeless story of the orphaned boy, ‘Mowgli’, who grows up in the jungles of India. [caption id="attachment_30231" align="aligncenter" width="838"] Neel Sethi in The Jungle Book[/caption] Amidst the grandeur of the creatures and beauty of the jungle Neel Sethi's portrayal of Mowgli as the only live-action actor in a computer-generated imagery (CGI) dominated film was widely praised. In his debut role, the then 12-year-old created magic with his powerful performance. Walt Disney Studios recruited puppeteers to give the debutant actor

aligncenter" width="838"] Neel Sethi in The Jungle Book[/caption]

Amidst the grandeur of the creatures and beauty of the jungle Neel Sethi's portrayal of Mowgli as the only live-action actor in a computer-generated imagery (CGI) dominated film was widely praised. In his debut role, the then 12-year-old created magic with his powerful performance. Walt Disney Studios recruited puppeteers to give the debutant actor partners to act with. “Those animals weren't really there, but they looked like they were,' Neel said in an interview, talking about his experiences on set.

“I would just make it normal and pretend that’s it’s not a puppet. If it was a bear or a panther, I just thought to myself, it’s not a puppet. That made it a lot easier,” he remarked.

Impressing audiences with iconic debut

Selected from two thousand hopefuls during a worldwide casting search by Favreau and his team Neel stood out. Quite interestingly, he was not even looking for an acting assignment. His dance teacher had seen a flyer for the auditions and had suggested Neel to give a try. 

Director Jon Favreau revealed the details of the audition. “He was a little younger than we thought. But there was something that made me smile. Then he started doing martial arts. After the audition was over, he said, I do my own stunts. I thought, this kid’s having a good time and I met with his family.”

After his selection, the youngster underwent extensive training to prepare for the physically demanding role. He worked with a movement coach who taught him parkour and martial arts techniques to enhance his agility and coordination. The training was crucial for the scenes that required him to interact with the CGI animals and navigate through the jungle environment.

[caption id="attachment_30232" align="aligncenter" width="712"] Neel Sethi on the sets of The Jungle Book[/caption]

Sethi's dedication and enthusiasm on set despite the challenges of acting in a predominantly virtual environment, impressed the cast and crew. He formed a strong bond with director Jon Favreau and received his guidance throughout the filming process. “I didn’t know acting. He taught me everything I know,” Neel said.

Director Jon Favreau praised him for bringing the beloved character of Mowgli to life so memorably, and for his ability to imagine and react to things that weren't physically present during filming. “Jon actually got into the puppet sometimes and that helped me interact with them naturally,” Neel shared.

Life beyond ‘The Jungle Book’

After making a special place in the hearts of the audiences worldwide, Neel has continued to pursue acting. The same year in which The Jungle Book released; he lent his voice to the English version of the animated film The Guardian Brothers (also known as Little Door Gods). The film, originally produced in China, tells the story of two ancient Chinese deities who must save their town from a nefarious force. Sethi lent the voice to the character named Yu Lei.

[caption id="attachment_30233" align="aligncenter" width="899"] Jon Favreau with Neel Sethi[/caption]

In 2017, he appeared in a short film titled Diwali, directed by Raj Trivedi. The film explored the themes of family, tradition, and cultural identity through the perspective of a young Indian American boy – which Neel is in real life as well. Born in 2003 in New York City, the actor calls the place his natural habitat. “I was born and raised here. I love being here. I can see myself in New York and Los Angeles, that’s it,” he said in a recent interview.

Taking pride in cultural roots

Even while he loves living in the United States, he maintains a connection with his Indian heritage. His parents are of Indian descent with roots in Gujarat.

In interviews, he has mentioned his Indian background and expressed pride in his cultural roots. Sethi has mentioned celebrating Indian festivals like Diwali and expressed interest in learning more about his heritage. Taking a break from acting to study, he recently completed his degree in film studies and is now back on the lookout for acting opportunities. “I would like to work in challenging roles with famous actors,” the nineteen-year-old smiled while talking about his future.

[caption id="attachment_30234" align="aligncenter" width="806"] Neel Sethi with his parents and sister in a recent trip to Goa[/caption]

‘The Jungle Book’ in India

The film that won accolades for achievements in visual effects at the 89th Academy Awards, 70th British Academy Film Awards, and 22nd Critics' Choice Awards, got dubbed in Hindi. Child actor Jasleen Singh Chadda gave voice to Mowgli’s character. Famous actors lent their voices to other characters - Irrfan Khan to Baloo, Om Puri to Bagheera, Priyanka Chopra to Ka, Nana Patekar to Sher Khan and Shefali Shah to Raksha.

As the Japanese anime TV series Jungle Book had been very popular in India in the 1990s, Disney India also commissioned a contemporary recording of ‘Jungle Jungle Baat Chali Hai’ (the popular song of the series) and released it as part of the film's promotional campaign in India. Neel Sethi has been to India on a few occasions after that and has enjoyed a huge fan following in his country of origin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4qgAaxB_pc

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Kevin J Patel: Indian-American climate activist leading the charge for a greener tomorrow

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

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