Lara Rajagopalan: The Indian-American teen artist makes it to K-Pop band KATSEYE
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(January 7, 2023) In recent years, the global phenomenon of K-pop has undeniably taken the world by storm, captivating audiences with its infectious beats, dynamic performances, and charismatic artists. Notably, the craze for K-pop has reached even the vibrant and diverse youth of India, where a significant fanbase has emerged. Among the enthusiastic admirers is Lara Rajagopalan, a talented musician of Indian origin based in Los Angeles. Breaking barriers and embracing the K-pop wave, Lara has achieved a remarkable feat by securing a spot in the final lineup of the six-member girl group, KATSEYE. Launched by HYBE, the K-Pop entertainment company that gave the world BTS, KATSEYE is set to release their debut album in 2024.
Lara Rajagopalan
17-year-old Indian-origin Lara Rajagopalan, a musician based out of Los Angeles, started singing and dancing at the age of four. But she didn’t keep her talent restricted to just dance and music, and even tried her acting chops by making an appearance in NBC’s The Blacklist. That wasn’t all, she featured in Michelle Obama’s Global Girls Alliance video, and even participated as a model in Macy’s 2017 campaign and co-hosted the ‘Go Red For Women’ campaign for the American Heart Association.
It was in 2023 that Lara submitted her entry for the audition program – The Debut: Dream Academy – that’s garnered over 120,000 submissions, from which a final list of 20 contestants was meticulously selected. Of them, six made it to KATSEYE, which showcases a diverse lineup representing four different countries: the Philippines, the USA, South Korea, and Switzerland.
K-pop band KATSEYE
A huge fan of K-Pop, Lara was keen to make a mark in the world that justifies her singing and dancing talent. For someone who describes herself as “passionate, real and confident,” she was ready to take that leap and put herself out in the audition program that has now made her a finalist in the KATSEYE.
The six girls will be trained for a year, and their journey will be the subject of an upcoming untitled Netflix documentary series. Directed by award-winning filmmaker, Nadia Hallgren, the series is set to premiere in 2024.
“Each candidate is incredibly talented, dedicated, and driven, making this an exciting moment for music fans around the world,” John Janick, the chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M said in a statement.
K-pop’s global influence has transcended borders and cultural barriers, captivating audiences worldwide with its melodies, performances, and charismatic artists. This phenomenon has reached even the vibrant and diverse youth of India, as evidenced by the rising trend of Indian talents venturing into the K-pop scene. With artists like Shreya Lenka and Aria gaining spots in K-pop bands, the genre has become a cultural bridge, fostering a cross-cultural exchange that goes beyond geographical boundaries. The fusion of Indian and K-pop elements in these groups not only showcases the versatility of the genre but also underscores the universal appeal of music that speaks to the hearts of people across the globe.
In a fantastic blend of cultures and talent, Lara Rajagopalan, an Indian-American artist, has become a rising star in the K-pop world by joining KATSEYE. Getting ready to capture the hearts of K-pop fans with her singing and energetic performances, Lara’s journey shows the strength of following your dreams with passion, determination, and embracing diverse cultures. She is proof that pursuing your dreams knows no boundaries.
(July 11, 2023) As she began her career as an investment banker, Anushka Rathod noticed her friends, who were working as engineers, architects and designers, were saving up for the first time - and had no clue how to go about it. The would come to her with basic questions on personal finance and unaware of the content out there, Anushka would simply say, "Google it." However, the path to financial literacy would complex and full of jargon, too much for the layman to digest. Anushka decided to something about it, and began making short, funny videos that made personal finance more engaging and accessible to a wider audience. Today, the 24-year-old is a known name in the finance infotainment space, as she converts complex, often dry financial topics into entertaining videos. Her efforts have earned her over 5,00,000 followers on YouTube, and close to a million on Instagram. The Global Indian was also part of the delegation of India's top content creators who met with Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal, where she discussed challenges within the creator economy. She even teaches smaller hacks like, how to ensure restaurants don't inflate your bill. Her YouTube content is more in-depth, as
content is more in-depth, as she analyses various industries, discusses startup stories and talks about business developments around the world.
Now, financial literacy doesn't have to be a drag any longer. Anushka Rathod makes it all palatable - with videos like, "Do you want to buy a Louis Vuitton bag," where she breaks down the number of hours you would have to work to finance that splurge. These little parcels of know-how are her Instagram content - you can learn how to file your IT returns, or get a headstart on your child's finances.
Anushka's family ran their own textile business and for as long as she can remember, dinner-table conversations were always around finance and business. "My family is in textiles so our talk was all about fabrics and funding. That's how I became interested in business," she said. Her interest, however, lay more in analysing companies rather than in investing. "That brought me to finance and my entry point into the profession was as an investment banker," she explains. When she was around 16, she became interested in world economics, geopolitics and finance. "I was reading a lot about that, doing debates and stuff. When I was 18, I was introduced to stock markets and finance."
Growing up in a conservative household, Anushka's journey to content creation came with its share of trials and tribulations. "As I kid, I would hear that the woman's job is to look pretty," she said. "I was always worrying about what society wanted, about making decisions that were seen as 'respectable', and worrying about who was saying what." The decisions she made were always the ones that would bring her approval and validation. She managed to do this to some extent, but it was never fulfilling.
The struggle for self-acceptance
By the time she hit her teens, Anushka had trained herself to believe that her only duty as a girl was to look pretty, and she had failed. It robbed her of her self-confidence. "I would sit inside the house all day because I was ashamed of how I looked. I wouldn't go to social functions, I had no hobbies. I would just sit at home with my nose in a book - which my family would comment on also." Anushka has come a long way, from being scared to leave the house to sitting in front of a camera and being seen by millions around the world. She's still not fully at ease, she admits, but she perseveres, because the process itself gives her great joy.
One turning point came when she was in sixth grade. She was doing well in school and was featured in the local paper. "Everybody congratulated me," she recalls. "My grandfather wsa so proud he was calling everyone he knew to tell them to look at the newspaper that day. I was so proud of myself and for the first time in my life, I was happy," Anushka says. "But from that moment on, I began performing for approval. I gave up swimming, which I loved, because it would ruin my hair and my skin. Everything I did was for validation - for acceptance, really. But this is always short-lived. If I didn't achieve anything for a while, I would feel that void again."
"I wanted to do well in Grade 12 and make it to India's top university. All of it was to protect my image," she said. She studied all day, getting increasingly stressed out and finding no joy in what she was learning. And at the end of it, she didn't make the cutoff for the university of her choice.
Anushka was at another crossroads, forced to make a decision about her life. "I decided to go to a smaller university and spend some time learning who I am and what I like," she said. She could name one thing she enjoyed - reading. So, she read all the time, this time without guilt. "I wasn't reading for marks but out of interest." This is what led her to the stock markets and to finance. She also found good mentors who told her what to read and what workshops to attend, she learned investment strategies and how to invest in the stock market.
Making the unconventional choice
"I was reading entire stories of companies and their history with the stock market, then writing reports on them," she said. "I would participate in conclaves and conferences as much as I could." She enjoyed equity research so much she decided to go into investment banking. It was a big moment. Anushka took great pride in learning that she was the youngest person - and the only girl on the team. "I was proud of this but I didn't like the work. I loved research but I was spending my time working on Excel sheets," she says. "But I stuck with the job because people were proud of me."
[caption id="attachment_31791" align="aligncenter" width="601"] Finfluencer Anushka Rathod paves the way for financial literacy[/caption]
Finally, she mustered up the strength to quit, and around the same time, Covid-19 hit. Anushka had the time now to do what she loved - reading and research. That's when she found content creators on YouTube who were doing research and creating content. "I gave it a shot and I absolutely loved it," she says, describing her entry into financial literacy through engaging content. Her CFA exam was coming up and her old company asked her to rejoin but she "decided not to fall into that trap. I was genuindly happy now, doing what I was doing."
Making an impact as a content creator
Making videos for a personal social media account is all very well, but doing so for a living was a different matter. "But I didn't bother. You have to do the things you like," she says, firmly. By October of 2020, she was getting recognition for her videos.
Success had found her, she was doing what she loved and making an impact by bringing financial literacy to everyone. That's when she discovered the challenges of being onine. "Negative comments would make me cry for hours," she recalls. "I was always a people pleaser. If people criticised me I would delte the video. Then I thought, if i want to be a successful content creator, I knew I had to get used to the fact that people would criticise me."
Anushka Rathod now lives in Bengaluru, and is also educating young people on the realities of living alone and managing their finances as they do so. "I'm one of the few lucky people who wakes up in the morning and decides what the day will be like," she smiles. The mornings are spent on research and talking to people for inputs. "I'm most passionate about my YouTube channel, where I dissect business stories. In the evenings, I shoot my reels and videos and spend the rest of the day editing," she explains. "Everyday is brand new, there is no monotony. It's a challenge to make a new video everyday - there are ups an ddowns, you have great videos an dbad ones, but just the energy and volatility is super exciting."
Takeaways
Advising young people on how to make a career in finance, she says, "If you're right out of college, do a CA or an MBA from a reputed university. There are other additional courses as well. Or, you can research industries and write reports, learn Excel modelling, network on LinkedIn and meet people from the field. These practical skills will help you get a foot in the door."
(July 12, 2024) "Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you, and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use." This quote by Steve Jobs resonates the most with Indian-American teen Naren Manikandan who at the age of 16 took it upon himself to find a solution for the growing issue of a lack of parking due to smaller driveways, narrow roads, and insufficient supply to maintain the demand in his neighbourhood. "Parking is a huge problem in Birkshires in Morrisville, North Carolina and I often heard my parents discuss it at home. That's when I realised that there are so many unused parking spaces that can be used efficiently to overcome the problem," Naren tells Global Indian. This led him to build Parkware, a parking solution for neighbourhoods nationwide that don't have access to extra parking lots and face severe restrictions based on city/town regulations and home construction. "The app connects homeowners with unused parking spaces with residents needing parking spaces for local events like parties, and birthdays," the 17-year-old reveals. [caption id="attachment_38601" align="aligncenter" width="457"] Naren Manikandan[/caption] Love
Hailing from Tamil Nadu in India, his parents, who are nurse practitioners, moved to the UK where Naren Manikandan was born. At the age of six, he and his family relocated to Tennessee in the US which he called home for several years before moving to North Carolina. "Obsessed with Lego while growing up, I always found myself building things. But once an uncle of mine introduced me to Quantum Mechanics which sparked my interest in astrophysics initially and eventually transformed into a love for computer science. I was intrigued that I could do so much with a computer," he says, adding, "I once tried to automate my blinds through my Arduino set. It was a fun project."
Growing up, he loved creating ideas, refining them, and eventually building them. It was online resources that came to his rescue and he learnt a great deal from them. "I also joined a Robotics team in school that helped me pitch ideas to businesses and developed speaking skills as well as creative thinking. Eventually, everything led up to Parkware - an idea I was holding onto for a long time," adds the rising 12th grader at Research Triangle High.
The journey of Parkware
He explains that in Morrisville the land is expensive, thus leading to smaller size homes with a limited parking space. "At times, we borrow parking spaces from friends but I wondered why we should restrict it to just friends. Before Covid, our community and neighbourhood hosted many events, and people would easily give their unused parking spaces to others. But Covid changed it all. We saw less sharing and fewer community events," says Naren, who values a strong sense of community. "It greatly helps the person organising an event. For me, it's a sort of public duty. It's not just about providing a solution but also helping neighbourhoods support each other."
[caption id="attachment_38602" align="aligncenter" width="698"] Multiple cars parked on the sidewalk in his neighbourhood[/caption]
Having seen the problem from close quarters, he knew that the neighbourhood was in dire need of a solution. It was in the summer of 2023 that Naren started working on Parkware, leveraging his programming knowledge to build the application. He began by asking neighbours on WhatsApp group chats about their parking woes and conducting surveys on parking needs. "This helped me understand the issue better and identify potential solutions. It was Airbnb's model that rang in my head while looking at this problem - this could be an Airbnb for parking. During vacations or office hours, many parking spaces are unused, so why not divert them to people who need them during those times?" he explains. By August 2023, he had the app ready to be tested in his neighbourhood and gather some feedback. "This year we got the opportunity to present it to the local government," shares the proud teenager.
Currently operational in his neighbourhood in Birkshires, the app is available on Android and iOS. "If you have an event coming up, you can raise a parking space request by providing details about the date, time, and number of spots required. People near the location will get a notification about the request, an can offer their free parking spaces," explains Naren, emphasising that it's an on-demand service. People don't need to list their parking spaces on the app; instead, they receive notifications through an event link shared by the event organiser. "You don't necessarily need to install the app. You can visit our website to create a link, and share it with your neighbourhood through WhatsApp or Facebook, which is later updated on the provider's end."
During this over-a-year-long journey, Naren had his moments of self-doubt and was constantly distracted by new ideas. "Being persistent was one of the biggest challenges. You can explore new things but it's equally important to stay focussed on something you are truly passionate about until you see some results." It was a sense of duty that kept Naren pushing forward because he knew the problem still existed. "There was a purpose driving me. I knew I could make an impact since it's an issue in my neighbourhood."
[caption id="attachment_38603" align="aligncenter" width="789"] Naren Manikandan pitching Parkware to the Morrisville Smart City committee[/caption]
Future plans
Ask him about the revenue model, and the teen is in two minds. "We could either adopt a commission-based business model where the organiser pays the provide for the parking spot, and we take a commission. Or we could position this as a community service project to help neighbourhoods, with the potential of local government involvement later on."
Naren plans to expand Parkware to cities and towns across the US facing parking problems. "As a community-based project, we can propose Parkware as a solution to local governments in cities with parking issues and potentially integrate it with any existing apps. Moreover, we can target committees and city planners looking for solutions," says Naren, who envisions the app being used beyond neighbourhood parking for events like sports games. "Often sports stadiums have expensive parking fees but nearby neighbourhoods have open spaces that could be used for overflow parking." Expanding to India is on his agenda, with modifications tailored to local needs. "I have a lot of connections in India, plus I visit it a lot."
[caption id="attachment_38604" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Naren presenting at the Emerge Conference after receiving 1st place in the Thinkubators competition[/caption]
With his eyes set on a major in computer science, Naren wants to continue building projects. Taking inspiration from the biographies he reads, he has realised "whether its apps or inventions or innovations, they are done by people who are exactly like you. Everyone starts from basics and nothing is unreachable. You can make a difference."
The teen, who practices Kalaripayattu, an Indian martial art, and also plays basketball, advices youngsters to stay focussed. "It's not a straight path, and don't expect it to be. But if you stay consistent you will get somewhere. Don't just keep looking at the results but also look at your progress. If you have a good purpose, keep going," he signs off.
(January 3, 2023) At the opening night of Brecon Festival Ballet this Christmas, an Indian took centrestage as the main lead in Nutcracker - the world's most popular ballet - to perform to packed houses in Wales. Amid the thunderous applause, he couldn't help but reminisce the time he first saw a ballet in a Bollywood film. And now six years later, the dream of performing ballet has come true for Delhi-born Kamal Singh. He had never heard of ballet ever until he watched a Bollywood film on his small television at his home in Vikaspuri on a balmy afternoon in 2016. A sweet twist of fate put him in the company of the Imperial Fernando Ballet School that changed the trajectory of his life and made him take those steps toward his dream. Then a 17-year-old, whose father is an e-rickshaw driver in Delhi, he was bewitched by the ballet dancers and wanted to try it for himself. Five years later, he became the first Indian to be selected to study at the English National Ballet School in the UK. [caption id="attachment_26066" align="aligncenter" width="574"] Kamal Singh is an Indian ballerino[/caption] The 23-year-old, who made it to the 2021 Forbes 30 Under
wp-content/uploads/2023/01/kamal2.jpg" alt="Ballet | Kamal Singh | Global Indian" width="574" height="718" /> Kamal Singh is an Indian ballerino[/caption]
The 23-year-old, who made it to the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30Asia list, fought not just social stigma but economic hurdles to make his dream come true. "Coming from a humble background, where I couldn't afford fees for ballet school to now performing in the UK, I am living my dream. Taking a leap of faith, knowing that I can back it up with hard work is what changed the game for me," Kamal tells Global Indian from London.
How Bollywood gave him wings to fly
Growing up, the family survived on his father's meager income that came from working two jobs - being an e-rickshaw driver in Delhi and making charpais (benches), Kamal believed for the longest time that he wasn't allowed to dream. "While growing up, I was obsessed with fitness and would spend hours running and training in local parks. I even learnt Gatka (Sikh martial art) for six years, and was a part of local jatha (group), where I participated in competitions," says Kamal.
[caption id="attachment_26068" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kamal Singh is English National Ballet School graduate.[/caption]
Financial crunches were the norm at home but his parents never pressurised him into chipping in through odd jobs. At the same time, his life was confined to the alleys of Vikaspuri. "I didn't dream big till I was 17." For someone who loved watching dance reality shows, and was often the first one to break into a dance at weddings, his love for dancing remained personal. Until a Bollywood film changed the course of his life forever.
At 17, he watched Remo D'Souza's dance film ABCD: Anybody Can Dance, and the ballet piece stirred something inside this then-teenager, who couldn't stop thinking about this dance form. Being a Sikh, Singh always broke into bhangra at every party or wedding, but the fluid elegance of ballet drew him in and he spent the next few days watching ballet videos online. "I had never seen something like this before. I vividly remember, at that moment I told myself that I have to do something. As if some energy was pulling me. Ballet chose me to be a dancer. Moving from bhangra to ballet, it was a turning point for me," he adds. This newfound passion led him to Imperial Fernando Ballet Company in Delhi. Founded by Mario Fernando Aguilera, a ballet dancer from Argentina, who starred as a choreographer in ABCD, the center seemed to be the perfect place to start.
[caption id="attachment_26069" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kamal Singh is the first Indian to make it to English Ballet School[/caption]
However, the dance school's fees were beyond Kamal's means as his dad was already working two jobs to support his family: ballet tuition was a luxury they simply couldn't afford. Aguilera, seeing the boy’s agility and flexibility (at the trial class), developed over years of running and stretching in his local park, knew that he had discovered an exceptional talent and wasn't ready to let go of a prodigy like him. He offered him a full scholarship. The rigorous training sessions were no cakewalk and Kamal had to give his 100 percent to make the cut. "I would train for 6-7 hours daily, as I had so much to learn. Most kids begin training at the age of four-five, while I was kickstarting my journey at 17. So, I had to cram all the knowledge into a short span of time. I had to prove myself and make sure that I was deserving to be at the ballet school."
From Russia, with love
Over the next three years, he completely immersed himself in the training, and his efforts paid off when he was accepted for a summer program at the historic Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St Petersburg in 2019, where he was cast as a soloist in a production called Gayaneh. For someone, who loved the Russian style of ballet, going to Russia was nothing short of a dream come true. "I was the first Indian ever to make it to Vaganova Academy, and those two months were life-changing. It was my first time outside of India, and I had to prove to myself and my teachers that I am worthy of it. Though those months were quite challenging, they also gave me the confidence that I can do well in ballet."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imi6rlZczIE
This confidence nudged him to apply for a Professional Trainee programme at London's English National Ballet School. His watershed moment arrived when he was accepted to the prestigious ballet school, making him the first Indian ever to achieve the feat. Being one among a pool of 10 talents selected from around the world, Kamal had a moment of pride. But the course's hefty price tag did play a spoiler.
Crowdfunding came to his rescue
A year-long course at the ballet school costs £8000, and he had to turn to crowdfunding to pay for his fees and other expenses. Fortunately, he found support from actor Kunal Kapoor, who is also the co-founder of Ketto, the crowdfunding platform. The actor used his star power and social media to spread the word on behalf of the young dancer. This prompted Hrithik Roshan to pledge £3000 to the fund. Within a few weeks, his fund reached £18000.
[caption id="attachment_26067" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kamal Singh during one of his performances[/caption]
"I couldn't believe that this was happening to me. It felt like angels were around me, and blessing me. Though studying in London was a dream, I had the initial jitters about how I will manage on my own. However, I found London people to be warm and friendly. And when I explored South Hall, it felt like I was right in India," laughs the ballerino.
Kamal is happy that his journey is an inspiration for many. "I just followed my instinct, and it has brought me here. I feel humbled if people are getting inspired by my story." But his journey wouldn't have been the same, had it not for his mentor Fernando Aguilera. "Finding a good teacher who believes in you more than you believe in yourself is so important." However, he also affirms that hard work and self-confidence can "beat any odds". "We often compare ourselves to others, without realising that we all have a different journey. And it's crucial to accept yourself."
The ballerino, who is currently touring in the UK on his Global Talent Visa, wants to perform across the globe. But his ultimate dream, when he has enough expertise and funds, is to make ballets on Indian epics. "I want to explore and express Indian culture through ballet." The last six years have moved Kamal from the streets of Delhi to the opera houses in the UK, and he believes ballet helped him blossom. "Old Kamal was small-minded. My thinking was limited to Vikaspuri, but now I feel I can do anything. Every day I am learning and evolving, and this has made me realise, anything can happen if we put our best foot forward," he signs off.
(January 29, 2022) Combating the bad guys in cyberspace and making the internet safe -- is a mission Srijan Kumar chose for himself. Fraudsters, troll armies, extremists or hate mongers -- the list of his adversaries is long. Over the years, the 29-year-old has built an arsenal of algorithms to take on the “moving targets” and counter them with precision. His adversaries may be smart but Srijan Kumar is smarter. Misinformation, hate speeches and coordinated campaigns, especially against minorities, women and authoritative figures in cyberspace triggered his cyber expertise. “I came across harassment and trolling on Slashdot and Wikipedia, where people were fighting about their stance on a topic and being nasty and abusive. Such harmful patterns had creeped into YouTube comments, Facebook groups, Reddit raids and Twitter firestorms as well. I asked myself, ‘What can I do?’” says Srijan, the assistant professor at the School of Computation Science and Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. The ‘Forbes 30 under 30’ was given the honour in science (2022) for his extraordinary work in social media safety and integrity. An algorithm to diffuse hate Cyber space expert Srijan’s algorithms detect, predict and mitigate dangerous content online and the bad actors responsible. "Sixty
ace Expert | Srijan Kumar | Global Indian Youth" width="563" height="527" />
An algorithm to diffuse hate
Cyber space expert Srijan’s algorithms detect, predict and mitigate dangerous content online and the bad actors responsible. "Sixty per cent have seen someone else being harassed online. See something, say something. Speak up when you witness anything bad online,” Srijan Kumar wants the world to do. The computer scientist has not only developed cutting-edge solutions for early identification, prediction and mitigation, he has created several AI, ML and data science methods to tackle fake reviewers on e-commerce platforms, innovated technologies to create smart and robust detection systems that bad actors and adversaries cannot fool.
Born and brought up in Ranchi, Jharkhand, “a nice small town,” cyber space expert Srijan saw both the good and bad side of the internet. Facebook was becoming popular just as he went for under graduation to IIT Kharagpur in 2009. “I saw first-hand, the wonders of global knowledge available with a single click. You might remember, phone companies charged 50 paise per SMS while FB messaging was free. So, I would talk to friends from school through FB and Google chat,” smiles Srijan, speaking exclusively to Global Indian.
Being the change he wanted to see
"I always wanted to create something new so I became a computer scientist. Never thought I would create new algorithms though,” quips the innovator of social network, natural language processing, multimodal (image + text) techniques to create next generation technologies that can empower safety, integrity and well-being online. “My name means creation,” he reminds us. In his early years, Srijan loved playing computer games, - Road Rash and Need for Speed. "My chacha (uncle) was a computer engineer. I wanted to learn how to create games and code,” recalls the Cyber space expert, who is also associated with investigating the social and technological factors that exacerbate the threats that harm others.
Growing up in the age of social media and having an Orkut account in high school, Srijan was particularly saddened by the toxic environment in cyberspace. “Online anonymity makes people worse. We can take steps to ensure that despite this, online safety is maintained,” feels Srijan, who went to the US for an MS and PhD at the University of Maryland (2013). He graduated in 2017. “People have to do due diligence before sharing anything that they come across. Most times, people share because they think it will be useful to others and they don't have bad intentions. But they should search and ensure trustworthiness before posting,” feels Srijan, a postdoctoral researcher from Stanford University – incidentally his “dream” school.
Learning to be true
Technology is equally responsible, feels Srijan, who was a visiting faculty researcher at Google AI before joining Georgia Institute of Technology in January 2020. “Hate is a strong emotion, attracting more likes. Such posts are boosted automatically by recommender systems. There is a need for a change in incentives of platforms. Instead of optimising for engagement (like shares, reshares), they should optimise for well-being. It should be part of the equation,” stresses the idealist, who is for a more societally-aware technology. The computer wizard says besides creating better algorithms, AI/ML systems for detection, prevention systems and early warning systems to flag harm and bad activities early, there is also a need to train people to be more aware and sceptical of online content.
Research by the cyber space expert has shown that counter speech - messages made that push back against hate messages, reduces hateful messages from spreading and new ones too. “People have the power to shape online narratives and the cybersphere, by participating in a civil manner and ensuring others do too,” feels the genius who says that as scientists, they have to be one step ahead of the attackers.
The boy who went to Delhi Public School, Ranchi, has created a depth of knowledge on cyber safety. A lot of his work is about understanding the evolving attack surface, identifying vulnerabilities of existing detection systems, developing creative ways to generate next generation systems. “Cyber-safety is also a people-problem. I also work on understanding the causes behind why people fall for misinformation, what the impact is and the interventions we can develop to mitigate damage. How can we involve humans-in-the-loop to overcome this crisis,” informs the cyber space expert, a recipient of the Facebook Faculty Research Award and Adobe Faculty Research Award.
His research has been used by Flipkart and even influenced Twitter’s Birdwatch platform. “They are two different research pieces and both are quite innovative. Fake reviews is a persistent problem on e-commerce platforms including Flipkart. People lose money and trust in the platform altogether,” explains the cyber space expert, who developed an ML system that uses the time series, network patterns and review text simultaneously to detect fake reviewers and fake reviews (Flipkart used in its fraud detection system).
Another piece of extraordinary work Srijan and his team investigated was if people can detect misinformation in the wild, such as while browsing Twitter. “Fact-checkers spend a lot of time manually identifying fake news but we found that they don’t get much engagement on social media. In fact, 96 per cent of messages that counter fake news come from ordinary users, which shows the power that ordinary users have in identifying and countering fake news,” says the cyber space expert. This work influenced Birdwatch, Twitter’s new community-based misinformation detection system.
Stopping misinformation in a pandemic
The pandemic brought along a tsunami of misinformation online. “We are dealing with a dual problem of pandemic and infodemic,” says Srijan. Appealing to platforms to step up their game, the cyber space expert has been working tirelessly to quantify and improve the robustness of critical cyber safety systems against smart adversaries.
His “Forbes 30 under 30” was a pleasant surprise. “It is a great community of innovators and change makers. It was really made possible through my advisors, mentors, collaborators and students, most importantly, my family,” smiles the computer whiz who conducted the longest study of anti-Asian hate speech during the pandemic.
Does he spend his day online? "Most work is happening online, so I am glued to the screen. Slack, Bluejeans, Zoom, Whatsapp -- all are lifelines now," adds Srijan, who likes to indulge in cooking to relax, though he admits he is not a great one. Time outdoors is a panacea to keep him from his screen, though!
Srijan's favourite Global Indian is Dr DJ Patil, “He is my dream mentor. His efforts to operationalise data-driven decision making across the U.S government, as the first US Chief Data Scientist, has been greatly inspirational to me,” gushes the cyber space expert, who is in awe of Patil's leadership in using data science for good. “I can relate to DJ Patil. Like me, he too did his PhD from University of Maryland after which he became a faculty,” he adds. He visits India once a year, though the pandemic has changed that.
Away from the weighty issue of cyber safety, the computer wizard likes to binge-watch light- hearted TV shows - The Office. For someone whose work has been covered in a documentary (Familiar Shapes), radio (WABE) besides CNN, Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch and New York Magazine, Srijan’s heart is in the right place, and he hopes others follow suit.
(December 2, 2022) 2022 proved to be a golden year for Indian boxer, Nikhat Zareen. The sports star, who started her journey as the only girl in Nizamabad's boxing academy, won several gold medals in various international boxing championships held this year, including Commonwealth Games, IBA Women's World Championship, and Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament. And on November 30, the pint-sized boxer was conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. "It’s an absolute honour to be conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award by the Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Gratitude to the Almighty for guiding me on my journey and to all those who shared it with me. Onwards and upwards!" the champion tweeted after receiving the Arjuna Award. [caption id="attachment_24916" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen receiving the Arjuna Award from President Murmu[/caption] Although there were several hurdles in life - from relatives and close family friends not agreeing with her choice of career, to facing a financial crunch to support her boxing - Nikhat held on to her dreams and emerged victorious. "I remember telling my father that someone had told me that boxing is not meant for girls. He
career, to facing a financial crunch to support her boxing - Nikhat held on to her dreams and emerged victorious. "I remember telling my father that someone had told me that boxing is not meant for girls. He told me, there is nothing one can’t do if they are determined," she shared with Global Indian during an exclusive interview, adding, "After I first stepped inside the box, there was no turning back. I knew boxing is what I wanted to do. My father supported me throughout my journey, encouraging me. Today, after I have won many medals, I feel that all the hard work was worth it. However, I have much more potential and a long way to go."
[caption id="attachment_24917" align="aligncenter" width="616"] Nikhat with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi[/caption]
Despite winning so many medals, the boxer feels that she "cannot afford to take a break." Passionate and focussed, the 26-year-old boxer is training hard to claim many more medals for the country. "I took a short leave to visit my family in Nizamabad after winning the World Championship. But I am back at the training camp now. My next aim is the 2024 Paris Olympics. I dream of winning gold there for my nation," Nikhat said.
Humble beginning
Nikhat started her sporting journey in a town called Nizamabad, in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Participating in several school competitions, Nikhat was a junior sports star. The Indian boxer shares that her father is not only her biggest support but also an inspiration. “My father was also a sportsperson. He was working in Saudi Arabia, but when he got to know that one of his daughters is interested in sports, he left his job and came to India. Despite many people saying that I am a girl, and can’t box, my father constantly encouraged me and reminded me that the first rule of any sport is to not give up,” shares the girl boxing champ whose father mentored her early on.
[caption id="attachment_24918" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Nikhat with K. T. Rama Rao, MA&UD Minister, Telangana[/caption]
It took her just one year to prove her mettle in boxing. She won several state and national level championships and was inducted into the Sports Authority of India in Vishakhapatnam to train under Dronacharya awardee, IV Rao in 2009. With her hard work, Nikhat was selected to represent the country at the 2011 Women’s Junior and Youth World Boxing Championship in Turkey.
"I took a short leave to visit my family after winning the World Championship. But I am back at the training camp now. My next aim is the 2024 Paris Olympics. I dream of winning gold there for my nation."
“I defeated the Turkish boxer Ulku Demir, which everyone said was going to be very difficult as she had the support of the crowd. But frankly more than winning the competition, the greatest moment of that tournament was when India’s national anthem was played after I won gold. I was overwhelmed and that was the moment I decided that I will become a professional boxer,” she shares.
Not only was this the first win at an international tournament for the Indian boxer, but this was also the first time she sat on the flight. Just before leaving the country for the competition, Nikhat shares an amusing incident, “I have motion sickness, so I requested a window seat on the flight. I didn’t know that you can’t use those windows.”
Scaling new heights
After the Turkey win, there was no looking back for Nikhat. She won medals at various national and international events, including the 2014 Youth World Boxing Championships, in Bulgaria, the 2014 Nations Cup International Boxing Tournament, in Serbia, and the 2015 16th Senior Woman National Boxing Championship, in Assam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_TOjHM6sBU
However, in 2017 the champion’s shoulder snapped during an Inter-University Championships bout, forcing her out of the ring for a year. “As sportspersons, we are often told that injuries are a part of our journey. But, there is nothing more difficult than sitting out of the ring and watching compatriots do so well. I always found myself thinking about all those tournaments I could have been winning medals at. I was mentally down. Many people said that I was finished and had no chance of representing India again,” shares the Indian boxer.
But just when people were about to write her off, the girl boxing champ made a resounding comeback after winning gold at the 56th Belgrade Winner International Championship 2018. “Before that tournament, I remember I was determined to show everyone who thought that my career was finished, what I was made off. I practiced a lot and finished on the podium,” says the smiling girl boxing champ.
Winning the world
Currently at the national camp taking place at the Indira Gandhi Stadium as a flyweight boxer, she feels she doesn’t just need power. Explaining further, the girl boxing champ says, “(I need) speed to step in and out, duck, weave and throw punches. For any tournament, I do strength training – to convert strength into power. We also do cardio, and train in the ring.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeqVH6VfVcs
A foodie, Nikhat enjoys trying new things. “When I travel for tournaments, I hardly get time. I just keep training. However, whenever there is a chance of getting a break, I go out and eat with my team members. In fact, whenever I am back in Nizamabad, I catch up with friends over street food. Although, I have to keep a tab on what and how much am I eating,” shares the Indian boxer.
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Nikhat with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi[/caption]
Nikhat with K. T. Rama Rao, MA&UD Minister, Telangana[/caption]