Krrish Chawla: Stanford University student making clean air accessible
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(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 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.
(January 14, 2022) A teen with responsibility and accountability, her endeavours find solutions to global issues. Niharika Shukla was just 12 when she noticed how difficult it was for autistic children to pick up new skills. This was especially true for children diagnosed late with disability. Having volunteered for autism and learning disability support groups, the Indian teen mulled over it. Soon, she had her answer – a tool to diagnose autism spectrum disorder early, helping thousands. The 14-year-old student at Cumberland Valley High School, Pennsylvania, USA developed the Autism Diagnostic Tool, an artificial intelligence algorithm and device which uses auditory biomarkers and AI to diagnose autism spectrum disorder. A STEM believer, Indian teen inventor Niharika already has quite a few feathers in her cap at a very young age. Her work with AI was recognised by the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair, a Wisconsin-based organisation that showcases youngsters’ research talents. Shukla is a part of Girls with Impact, an entrepreneurship and innovation academy, a programme that equips girls with entrepreneurship skills. The student, innovator, researcher and inventor is also the 2021 Science Fair Grand Champion and Broadcom MASTERS Top 300. How to help those on the autism spectrum
What led Shukla to the invention was the close observation of children with ASD, and what late diagnosis acerbated. Children with ASD are bullied, self-injure themselves, have learning difficulties and a regression in abilities. “It felt wrong that children could be diagnosed with ASD as late as age 12, and not get the treatment they need,” Niharika Shukla tells Global Indian.
After close observation and research, she identified that characteristic vocal features, auditory biomarkers indicate the presence of ASD. “Using auditory biomarkers, I wanted to create a new test to diagnose ASD in children in a more accurate, affordable and quick way,” Shukla explains.
The device first uses microcontroller-based hardware to collect audio through an inbuilt microphone. The data collected from the hardware device is sent to the computer for backend processing, for voice-feature analysis, and after a few rounds of analysing the data, the device diagnoses autism spectrum disorder, with the final results sent by bluetooth, to a mobile app. The Indian teen inventor is currently working on improving her algorithm, gaining a deeper understanding of AI, and collaborating with mentors to bring her innovation to a wider audience. The young inventor is optimistic.
Most recently, Niharika received a scholarship to Karlie Kloss’s Technology and Innovation Camp, Kode with Klossy, to learn programming. Initiated by supermodel and coder Karlie Kloss, it offers free coding camps for girls aged 13 to 18 across the United States.
More inventions on the anvil
During the pandemic too, Shukla was busy. Observing that many faced problems with not being able to accurately measure health data at home, Niharika donned her thinking cap again. “You can’t visit the doctor during a pandemic, and I wanted to create a solution,” she adds. Her invention - HealthVitals, a low-cost, at-home health monitoring device checks pulse data, blood oximetry, and temperature, was introduced in 2021. “One can monitor their health and proactively prevent serious issues,” smiles the Indian teen inventor.
Love for microcontroller projects
Using microcontroller devices to solve problems, she explains, “Small devices that include microchips, memory and the ability to connect to external sensors and devices, one can programme microcontrollers to perform specific actions.” Niharika started puttering with microcontrollers during lockdown, working on many projects. “They could be anything, as big as my prototypes for HealthVitals, or something as small as an LED display screen for my room! Microcontrollers and sensor technology fascinate me - I see so many possibilities for this technology in the future!” the young scientist happily explains.
Fun learning science since childhood
Shukla fell in love with science at a very young age - grade one - when she would sketch designs of devices. The affair only embellished as she grew. “I loved science and technology. I see the ability to address issues in my community and help people! If there’s a fire in my town, technology is the first thing that alerts firefighters to save families. In many ways, science and technology are one of the most powerful and helpful tools of our generation,” the Indian teen says.
The apple, and the tree
Parents Bharti and Rajiv Shukla are IIT and Harvard alumni. Her elder sister, Neha invented a cap -- SixFeetApart in 2020 to ensure social distancing during Covid-19. All this has ensured that this brilliant "apple" did not fall far from the tree! While her sister Neha made her family proud being featured on the Nasdaq screen at Times Square for her innovation, Niharika is herself taking after this STEM family’s aspirations. “Neha motivates me because I see how her work directly impacted so many people. She inspires me! My sister and I are close, and we both lift each other up, and help each other stay motivated!” shares the little innovator.
Daily regimen of the young inventor
Her day during Covid 19 begins with online Zoom classes and reviewing coursework. “After a quick snack, I get into my work for innovation and STEM,” chirps the Indian teen inventor. Not just a science geek, Niharika is artistic too - she unwinds playing the piano. “I’ve been playing the piano for the past six years. I also enjoy painting, drawing, and reading new books,” adds the Indian teen.
Bharti and Rajiv Shukla are her biggest motivators. While Bharti works in management consulting for tech and government sector projects, Rajiv works in the space of finance and healthcare, thus their home conversations can be as complex as AI and ML or just simple as ‘what’s for dinner?’ The Shukla sisters have their parents to mentor them through their innovations. “We all worked together to create a little solar-powered car. My sister and I assembled the car, and my parents were so surprised to see it rev on a hot summer's day!" she laughs.
India is close to her heart
The Shukla family visited India just before the pandemic - warm summers with family, catching up with cousins and grandparents, and imbibing the culture.
Shukla now plans to follow her sister Neha and dabble into wearable technology, looking at personal safety and preventing child trafficking. “I’m also excited to learn more about emerging technology like artificial intelligence, gene-editing, nanomaterials through online resources, courses, and reaching out to mentors! I hope to partner with companies like UNICEF to bring my innovations to a wider audience,” says the pony-tailed science whiz.
(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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
"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.
(December 11, 2022) It was just to attend a rehearsal for the upcoming event that Padma Vibhushan, Pandit Birju Maharaj - one of the most eminent Kathak exponents - had come to Delhi that day. However, the events that unfolded gave the country a young and exceptionally talented Kathak dancer, Vriti Gujral, who is now taking this Indian classical dance form to the world. Impressed by the grace of then eleven-year-old Vriti, Pandit Birju Maharaj invited the young artist to perform during his show at the World Cultural Festival - a solo, seven-minute-long Kathak recital. [caption id="attachment_25245" align="aligncenter" width="479"] Vriti Gujral, Kathak exponent[/caption] The dancer, who is 16-years-old now, has since performed on various national and international stages and has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Global Child Prodigy Award. "I have been performing kathak for the past eight years. So, it is like a part of me now. It’s not that when I practice kathak only then I’m into dance, but I instead carry it into my everyday life. I have learned many things from the dance form, and it undoubtedly affects my life," the young Global Indian said during an interview. Born to dance Vriti's journey as a
instead carry it into my everyday life. I have learned many things from the dance form, and it undoubtedly affects my life," the young Global Indian said during an interview.
Born to dance
Vriti's journey as a dancer started at the age of six, when her mother enrolled her in a music institute. "My mother always wanted me to explore myself in areas beyond academics as well. So, she took me to an institute where they gave three classes - western dance, piano, and kathak. I liked the other courses, but I was fascinated by them when I saw dancers wearing ghungroo and performing kathak. That was precisely what started the spark in me. When I started learning it, I became more passionate about it. I began exploring other aspects of kathak, such as the chakras, footwork, and abhinaya," the young dancer shared.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tglveOAA2I
Soon, the youngster took to various stages and won the hearts of many maestros. However, it took a major turn in 2016, during the auditions for World Cultural Festival. Over 37,000 artists performed in Delhi during this festival, however, it was Vriti who grabbed the attention of Pt Birju Maharaj. However, all was not so rosy. The long rehearsal hours took a toll on the young dancer's health. But, Vriti was determined to brave all the odds. On the day of her performance, the dancer went on the stage with a bandaged blister, her feet throbbing in pain. "I remember my blisters were painful. But once I was on the stage, and the spotlight fell on me, I forgot all about it," she shared. Her performance at the Vasantosav festival ended with thunderous applause and earned her invitations to several other dance festivals.
Following her passion
Vriti's perfection of mudras and flawless expression earned Vriti a scholarship from the Centre of Cultural Resource and Training (CCRT), India. In 2020, the youngster received the Global Child Prodigy Award, for her exceptional dancing talent in Kathak. A student of esteemed kathak exponent, Pandit Barun Banerjee, Vriti dreams of becoming a professional dancer, just like her idol Pt. Birju Maharaj, and take kathak to a level where today's generation can not only enjoy it but also aspire for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp77ohIOGcg
"I want to be a professional classical dancer and a choreographer. I aim to take the Kathak dance form to the biggest international stages. We know that the young generation finds it difficult to relate to kathak and thinks it’s boring. I wish to break these stereotypes and ensure that they relate to it as it’s our heritage, and we have to take it ahead," the young dancer said.
(July 23, 2023) When the wheels of the world came to a screeching halt in 2020, people saw themselves adapt to changes that the pandemic brought with itself. Amid the uncertainty and fear, a family in Bengaluru found that their 9-year-old son Surya has Type 1 diabetes. The news left his 12-year-old sister Divaa Uthkarsha shell shocked. "I had no idea what Type 1 diabetes was. My first reaction was he is just a child, how can he get Type 1 diabetes? I was shocked at my brother's diagnosis and my lack of awareness on the chronic condition," Divaa tells Global Indian. It was this knowledge deficit that prompted her to start Project Surya in 2021 to help create awareness and provide assistance to underprivileged children living with Type 1 diabetes. The initiative won her the Diana Award 2023. "It was a moment of pride because I have been putting my heart and soul into Project Surya. It is an inspiration and motivation to work harder and help more people and save more lives," adds the 15-year-old. [caption id="attachment_32064" align="aligncenter" width="726"] Divaa Uthkarsha is the founder of Project Surya[/caption] When life turned upside down In 2020, Divaa's life took a
wp-image-32064" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_1465.jpg" alt="Divaa Uthkarsha | Global Indian " width="726" height="662" /> Divaa Uthkarsha is the founder of Project Surya[/caption]
When life turned upside down
In 2020, Divaa's life took a significant turn when her younger brother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition where the body stops producing insulin. Fortunately, their doctor parents provided valuable support, guiding her to comprehend the complexities of the illness. The family as a collective took time to adjust to the new reality. "Eventually within a few months, he became independent and could manage himself," adds the teenager who accompanied her brother on all doctor visits. "I would ask them all sorts of questions and read the manuals and diet chart in detail to understand the subject. Previously, I thought diabetes only affected adults." Together, the family embarked on a journey of lifestyle changes, altering their diets and habits to accommodate Surya's needs. "It isn't just a lifestyle change but also takes a toll on mental health."
Having witnessed the challenges firsthand, Divaa gained a profound insight into the resources required and the considerable expenses associated with managing Type 1 diabetes. less privileged children lacking access to essential resources, knowledge, and proper healthcare facilities. This prompted her to contemplate the plight of the less privileged kids lacking access to essential resources, knowledge, and proper healthcare facilities. Motivated by her experiences, she founded Project Surya in June 2021, aiming to improve the quality of life for underprivileged Type 1 diabetic children residing in Karnataka.
The beginning of Project Surya
Upon joining the Future Leaders Program by 1M1B, which aims to cultivate one million young leaders impacting one billion people, Divaa embarked on her journey of conceptualising Project Surya. "After identifying our problem statement and target audience, we started working on our plan of action. We came up with solutions that were very effective, sustainable, and impacted Type 1 diabetic children in a significant way," adds the National Public School student.
Her journey in developing Project Surya involved a meticulous process of gathering insights through 30 interviews with key stakeholders, such as doctors, dieticians, and Type 1 diabetic children, alongside conducting over 500 surveys involving teenagers and ASHA workers. "It was through Samatvam Endocrinology For Science and Welfare Trust that we conducted online sessions, awareness workshops, Q & A sessions, and interactive counselling sessions with the help of an endocrinologist and raised awareness about Type 1 diabetes in a concise and scientific manner, covering essential aspects such as dietary considerations, the importance of exercise, and adjustments to insulin dosage when eating outside." Divaa discovered that many teenagers and ASHA workers lacked awareness and had misconceptions, often confusing Type 1 diabetes with general diabetes affecting older individuals." However, the sessions conducted by Project Surya helped dispel myths and equip them with the knowledge to manage diabetes effectively."
Crowdfunding and Samatvam - the helplines
Project Surya has adopted crowdfunding as its approach, successfully raising ₹1,50,000 till now. "Additionally, we are receiving $5000 from a corporate based in the US. We are also in talks with corporates for grants and CSR funding," reveals the teenager. The initiative aims to support underprivileged children with Type 1 diabetes by donating both funds and insulin syringes to Samatvam, who then distributes them.
Despite government healthcare facilities not providing free insulin, Divaa, and her team stepped in to offer low-cost insulins to these children through Samatavam. Their goal is to raise more funds to provide insulin pens, a less painful alternative to syringes, further enhancing the quality of life for these young patients.
Despite being passionate about Project Surya, many questioned her credibility initially owing to her age. "The major stakeholders that I pitched my project to initially didn't believe me. As I was only 13, many thought that this was some school project that I would get over within a few weeks. But I had to convince them how passionate I am about the cause." Fundraising, too, posed difficulties as the appreciation for the project did not always translate into donations. "Initially not many people showed up at fundraising events but then we were successful when almost 8000 people were in attendance. Right now, we are looking at accelerating the funding of the project."
Throughout the two-year journey of Project Surya, Divaa has experienced both successes and setbacks, but she has come to realise the impact that even a small step can have on someone's life. A passionate individual who enjoys playing basketball and engaging in debates, she firmly believes in seizing every opportunity that comes her way.
The impact
With the vision of making a significant impact, Project Surya took a deliberate approach, focusing on one-on-one interactions and targeting a smaller support group of 100 diabetic families over the last two years. "Directly, we have impacted 150 children and indirectly, we have impacted so many people as these children educated other children and families, thus creating a ripple effect," adds Divaa. To raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes among the masses, the initiative organized rallies, school sessions, and engaged with ASHA workers. The result was far-reaching, impacting over 2000 students through sessions held in seven schools, and creating a Domino effect of awareness as volunteers initiated drives in their schools and ASHA workers spread the word in their community. Passionate about the cause, Divaa has actively advocated for insulin tax bans and the inclusion of Type 1 diabetes in the Disabilities Act, furthering her commitment to creating a positive change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faokCq8SsMM&t=2s
Looking towards greater sustainability, Divaa envisions implementing an "adopt a child" plan as a funding option for Project Surya, where individuals can commit to supporting a child's insulin needs for a specified period, ranging from 5 to 10 years or until the child reaches adulthood. Alongside, she plans to secure additional funds from corporates and continue fundraising efforts. "We want to provide insulin pens and more effective diabetes management resources to these kids because the resources they currently have are limited and painful."
With 95,600 cases of Type 1 diabetes affecting children under 14 years of age in India, Project Surya is determined to make a positive impact on these young lives. "From creating awareness where people under what Type 1 diabetes is, its symptoms, and the lifestyle changes they can make to keep it under check, we also focus on the mental health aspect where we talk about the stigma surrounding diabetes. The right approach and information can go a long way. And that's what we are doing," she signs off.
(August 10, 2024) During a podcast with the Japanese Ambassador to India, YouTuber Mayo asked, "You have been sharing fun videos of eating pani puri and other street foods on social media. Why do you think it's important for an ambassador to use social media and post cultural content?" Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki responded with a smile, "Through social media, I can reach millions of people whom I don't know. My wife and I both love India - its amazing diversity in culture and traditions. We want to use social media to express our love for India. And if someone who had no interest in Japan stumbles upon our content and becomes interested in our country, that's all the better." His response echoed the thoughts that led Japan native Mayo to start her YouTube channel ‘Mayo Japan’ in 2018, shortly after graduating with a degree in Hindi. Today, the fluent Hindi speaker is one of the most famous Japanese YouTubers in India with close to three million followers. [caption id="attachment_38766" align="aligncenter" width="462"] YouTuber Mayo | Indian Culture | Global Indian[/caption] Strengthening India-Japan ties in her own way Her videos, which showcase dance, food, pop culture, travel, and other facets of life
ps://www.globalindian.com/youth/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/YouTuber-Mayo-Indian-Culture-Global-Indian.jpg" alt="YouTuber Mayo | Indian Culture | Global Indian" width="462" height="585" /> YouTuber Mayo | Indian Culture | Global Indian[/caption]
StrengtheningIndia-Japan ties in her own way
Her videos, which showcase dance, food, pop culture, travel, and other facets of life in India and Japan, inspire fans in both countries to explore and learn about each other. Through her content, she not only entertains but also tries to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the cultural nuances that define each nation. Mayo views her YouTube channel as a bridge between the two countries, keeping both sides informed about the latest trends and events, and helping to strengthen the bonds between the two cultures.
Love for India and the taste of success
Inspired by her father's deep affection for India and his passion for Himalayan climbs, Japanese national Mayo chose to pursue a major in Hindi at Osaka University. “My father said, study Hindi because India is a very interesting country and you should travel to India.” Mayo’s choice was also driven by a desire to learn a language uncommon in Japan. With a background in ballet, her love for dance naturally extended to Indian dance forms, complementing her study of the national language of India.
Following her graduation in 2018, Mayo secured a job at a consulting firm while simultaneously launching Hindi lesson videos aimed at Japanese viewers. The positive response encouraged her to expand her audience, eventually reaching viewers not only in Japan but also in India. It led Mayo to diversify her content to cater specifically to Indian audiences. “It took courage because I wasn’t very confident about my Hindi speaking ability back then,” she revealed in an interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odJpz1fFkjQ
A year after launching her channel, her subscriber counts skyrocketed tenfold to 50,000, after a video showcasing the festival of Holi celebrated in Tokyo's Nishi-Kasai district, which hosts one of Japan's largest Indian communities, went viral. Since then, Mayo has become a well-known figure in promoting Indian culture as a foreigner.
“When I visit India, I get recognised on the street several times a day,” remarked the YouTuber whose videos have generated millions of views. Apart from Mayo Japan, she runs two more YouTube channels – Ani Mayo channel and Learn Japanese with Mayo & Indu.
Challenging stereotypes
When Mayo creates videos about India for her Japanese audience, she makes a conscious effort to avoid stereotypes. Likewise, in her videos about Japan for Indian viewers, she strives to showcase a variety of perspectives, steering clear of stereotypical portrayals. Just as she dislikes the tendency to group diverse nations under the label ‘Global South,’ she is careful to avoid generalisations about India. “It’s a huge country with a variety of people. I don’t like to call India a developing or emerging country. Sure, there are people with low income in the country but there are billionaires as well,” she remarked.
Mayo believes that looking at a country without the lens of any stereotypes, gives a better view of its various characteristics.
[caption id="attachment_38768" align="aligncenter" width="512"] YouTuber Mayo | Indian Culture | Global Indian[/caption]
The positive side of India
The YouTuber keeps on travelling back and forth between Japan and India. “I have learned the importance of being assertive and hungry (to achieve) like Indians. For example, they are clever and tough at negotiating with their potential employers. They tell recruiters what salary and benefits they were offered from other companies so that they can create competition among their prospective employers,” she mentioned talking about one of the qualities she loves about professionals in India.
One other aspect that Mayo admires about India is the growing number of people who are comfortable speaking English, a skill less common in Japan. While she acknowledges that the concept of punctuality in India may differ from that in her native country, she also recognises that Indians tend to have greater access to the latest information and technologies from the United States compared to people in Japan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMz-YLgcjDY
“Indians have a big heart. They are more helpful towards strangers and accept outsiders more wholeheartedly,” she said. The YouTuber who works with the aim of strengthening Indo-Japan ties hopes that people from both countries will develop a deeper interest in each other, and develop greater mutual understanding and connection.
Zain Samdani[/caption]
Jui Keskar[/caption]
Nikhiya Shamsher receives Diana Award for Prince Williams and Prince Charles[/caption]
Siddharth Mandala[/caption]
Vinisha Umashankar with her solar-powered ironing cart.[/caption]
YouTuber Mayo | Indian Culture | Global Indian[/caption]