Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveMaleesha Kharwa: The teenager from Mumbai slums who made it as a model

Maleesha Kharwa: The teenager from Mumbai slums who made it as a model

Compiled by: Charu Thakur

(June 25, 2023) “People say I live in a slum but I love my life! I hope to be a supermodel to help my family eat,” reads 15-year-old Maleesha Kharwa’s Insta bio. The teenager from Mumbai’s slum is already inching towards her dream as she featured on the cover of Cosmopolitan and is now the face of a luxury beauty brand Forest Essentials. This was all a dream for her who lived in a makeshift shanty made of sticks, but things took a turn for the better when American actor Robert Hoffman spotted her in 2020. Little did Maleesha know that the encounter was set to change the course of her life.

Maleesha Kharwa

It was in the spring of 2020 that Step Up 2: The Streets actor Robert landed in Mumbai for the shoot of a music video for which he was scouting for an authentic slum dweller. One of his friends told him about this beautiful girl living in a slum. That’s how he met Maleesha, then a 12-year-old with a “million-dollar smile” living on the streets of Mumbai. “I couldn’t believe she was in the middle of Mumbai living on the street yet nobody had discovered her. I came to realise this was because the Indian culture regards dark skin as unattractive. But I knew for sure the international beauty industry would see her differently, especially in tandem with her unforgettable levity and charm in spite of all else,” said Hoffman. What was meant to be a short trip ended up in a five-month long stay, owing to the lockdown and pandemic. Though the music shoot was stalled indefinitely, he knew he had found a gem in Mumbai.

In pursuit of stardom

When Robert approached Maleesha, she was living in a slum in Bandra with her family in a house made of sticks, which was often razed down by the municipality, and the family would rebuild it for the umpteenth time. When asked about her dreams, she revealed that she wants to be a model. Despite her situation, Maleesha dreamt big, and Universe somehow conspired to get her what she wished for. Then in sixth standard in a government-run school, Maleesha undertook odd jobs to make money. “Sometimes my family will go to TV and movie sets hoping to get picked as background actors. This is how I got interested in becoming a professional child model! There are many jobs like children’s clothing catalogues which I could potentially get cast in!,” she wrote on her GoFundMe page.

When Robert met her and realised her potential, he knew the next step was to speak to her father, of course, with the help of an interpreter, explaining to them the opportunity that had the potential to change her life forever. “We spoke at great lengths, so I could be sure they understood that modelling was neither a guarantee, nor something that could be counted on forever,” he told Better India, adding that after days of consultation, the family decided to let Maleesha give it a try.

The dawn of a new life

This gave Robert enough confidence to start an Instagram page, sharing Maleesha’s story. His goal was to help her connect with a supportive and reliable community of women who are trustworthy and professional. He wanted her to have a strong network of peers, influence, and accountability.

The story touched the hearts of many cheering her on, and soon earned her the moniker of Slum Princess, who now boasts of 332k followers on Instagram. While she found fame on social media, Robert had to figure out the legalities before letting her start her modelling career. “We began speaking to NGOs, the US consulate in Mumbai, entertainment figureheads, and unending voluntary consultants about how to craft Maleesha’s movement and the GoFundMe account for her ( which has amounted to $14,873 so far) in the most delicate way, considering her age and socioeconomic status,” he told the website.

Maleesha Kharwa | Robert Hoffman | Global Indian

Maleesha Kharwa with Robert Hoffman

The same year, she featured on the cover of Peacock Magazine, thus inspiring millions that “those who dare to dream often find a way to make them come true.” That was her big breakthrough, and soon more modelling projects starting lining up for the teenager. She even featured on the cover of Cosmopolitan‘s 26th anniversary issue in 2022. The money from the modelling assignments helped her rent a one-room flat in a tenement in Mumbai. “Earlier, we did not have proper electricity, we had to go far to fetch water but now we have a power connection, there is a ceiling fan, we have tap water,” she told a daily, adding, “The municipality would often demolish our huts but now we have a safer roof over our heads. My father is proud of me.”

Maleesha Kharwa on the cover of Cosmopolitan

However, Robert wants Maleesha to strike a healthy balance between modelling and leading a normal life, and has made it clear that her work hours would be limited. “Education would always come first, and that modelling stops if grades go down. Early on, it was decided that Maleesha would stay clear of pageants and mass-auditioning. In fact, Maleesha has yet to go to a single audition. Every job so far has come to her. The kid and her story are truly magic,” he added.

Encouraging Indian women to embrace natural beauty

In a country that’s obsessed with fair skin, the metrics are alarming as India Fairness Cream and Bleach Market Outlook report revealed that the market is anticipated to grow six percent CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) by 2027-28. However, Maleesha is on a mission to encourage women, especially youngsters to embrace natural beauty. “I see beauty in everything. Many people think that only light skin is beautiful … I just think it is silly. It is not how I see the world. Beautiful faces are nice but beauty is more important on the inside. I love my complexion and I feel perfect. I am very happy that I can share the message that there is no proper rule for girls and women to follow. They can do whatever they want to do. I am happy that I can inspire other girls and tell them that they are special,” she added.

Maleesha’s story is one of hope and faith. From scraping for food to finally getting a chance to follow her dreams, the teen has come a long way. “My journey is proof that nothing is impossible…you just need to keep trying.”

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Published on 25, Jun 2023

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From winning championship at 9 to becoming a chess grandmaster at 17: SL Narayanan’s incredible journey

SL Narayanan was all of nine when the board game with 64 black and white squares grabbed his attention. It was at this young age that he learnt that the knight in chess moves multiple squares each time while the pawn moves forward one square. Such was his passion for the game that he aced it and won his first championship that same year. This taste of victory gave Narayanan enough drive to pursue the game professionally and eight years later, he became India's 40th chess Grandmaster at the age of 17. Cut to 2021, Narayanan is still making India proud at the international level when he recently finished second at the ChessMood Open in Armenia. The pandemic was a blessing in disguise for this 23-year-old who got enough time to improve his game. "I was very happy with my performance at the ChessMood Open. I played some quality games and was very happy to see the result of my work during this pandemic. It was my first visit to Armenia and I am glad I could keep a positive memory about the tournament. And this indeed motivates me to work even harder," he told Global Indian in an interview.

indian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Indian in an interview.

While the chess grandmaster is upping his game with every tournament but he had to overcome many challenges to reach the top.

A chance encounter with chess

Born in 1998 in Kerala, Narayanan was just nine when he first accompanied his mother to a chess tournament at her office and watched with rapt attention as she played the game. Sensing his curiosity, one of his mom's colleagues introduced him to the rules of the game. Intrigued by the world of chess, he returned to the tournament the next year with his mother and tried his hand. He managed to impress his opponent with his moves; he noticed the kid's potential and insisted his mother give Narayanan proper training. "Consequently, under the guidance of P Sreekumar, who was the former Kerala State Champion, I started my first lessons of the game. I learned the game in a systematic way and also started participating in district weekly events," he says.

[caption id="attachment_15245" align="aligncenter" width="486"] A young SL Narayanan up against top GM Parimarjan Negi.[/caption]

While Narayanan was mastering chess with each game, he would often ask his parents about his future in the game. The question of who would he become if he continued playing well often crossed his mind. "They [my parents] had one clear name to look up to - Vishwanathan Anand. Once I got to know about him through his games and news reports, I knew I had a role model," he adds. Soon, he fell in love with chess as it was the game's individuality that attracted him. "The rules are the same for everyone but you play according to your understanding/strategy and that's what made it colourful for me," says the grandmaster.

Nudging support from family

The 23-year-old is now among the top 10 chess players in India, and his career is testament to his family's support and commitment to the game. "My father was a government contractor but he quit his job when I started playing so that he could travel with me for tournaments," he reveals. His mother, who introduced him to the game, was among his biggest supporters as she was the sole breadwinner in the family for the longest time. The Grandmaster from Kerala also found support in his sister who gave up her dream of being a chess player in order to let him succeed. "My sister was also a very good chess player. She has participated in several national events and was the Delhi University zonal champion in 2017. We both trained under the same coach together for a while. However, my parents could only back one of us as our financial background wasn't great; one of us had to step back to pave the way for the other. Since I was a bit more talented and hard working, she decided to take a step back," adds Narayanan.

[caption id="attachment_15250" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] Grandmaster SL Narayanan[/caption]

The chess player's endeavours were not only supported by his family but even his school backed him. Narayanan studied at St Thomas Residential school till 8th standard and then moved to St Mary's Higher Secondary School to focus more on his game. Despite his hectic schedule, the 23-year-old was able to strike a balance between his studies and chess, all thanks to the support of his teachers.

Checkmate by challenges

Narayanan was quite young when he started learning from former Kerala State Champion, P Sreekumar and later trained under IM Varghese Koshy and GM Praveen Thipsay. But it hasn't been an easy journey from him as financial aid has always been a constraint. "Initially, I didn't get any proper training, opportunities or support to better my game despite being a strong and hardworking player. My parents took loans from several institutions to give me good training and help me participate in tournaments. If I had gotten proper training when I was young, like the players of similar age now get, it would have helped me create a strong foundation which I could build on," says the English Literature graduate from Mar Ivanios College.

[caption id="attachment_15246" align="aligncenter" width="1038"] SL Narayanan at World Junior Chess Championship 2016[/caption]

In 2016, the year Narayanan won gold in the Asian junior blitz chess championship, crowdfunding came to his rescue. "I was contacted by the social platform - Milaap after they came to know about me through one of the dailies. Later, they started crowdfunding and raised around ₹1.15 lakh which was indeed helpful for me. I believe crowdfunding is a reliable way to raise funds especially in a third world country like India," adds Narayanan.

He didn't find much support from the government either apart from the time when he became a grandmaster. "Since then I have not received any support from either the State or Central Government. Even when I went to one of the administrators, he ridiculed me and asked if chess was even a game; that was so disheartening," he reveals.

A journey worth remembering

Despite many challenges and setbacks, Narayanan has been able to pull himself through all of it for the sheer love of the game. From winning his first championship in 2007 to becoming a grandmaster, he has come a long way. "There have been a lot of thrilling moments in the journey with some tournaments working for me and others working completely against me. But I still enjoy the process of working on a game and the concept that builds the game."

[caption id="attachment_15247" align="aligncenter" width="601"] SL Narayanan[/caption]

For this Global Indian, chess is more than a game as he says it has helped him in shaping his character. The grandmaster is confident in the future of the sport and its players. "I could easily say that chess could help the young generation to instill in them life qualities as well as problem solving capabilities which will benefit them immensely," he signs off.

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Reading Time: 7 min

Terrific at terrible two: Toddler Anvi’s painting glory

(May 3, 2022) At two-and-a-half years, Anvi Vishesh Agrawal from Bhubaneshwar has become a celebrated artist with a coveted place in the World Book of Records, London for creating maximum number of paintings (72) by a toddler at such a tender age. With invitations like presenting work at exclusive art exhibition in Delhi to inauguration of childcare product stores, the toddler artist has also wrapped up a meeting with Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, happy to receive chocolates from him. In fact, when she was approached by Global Indian, the little artist thought it would be the chief minister again to discuss her paintings. Though cheerful, she was not ready to disclose much, saying “You are not Naveen Patnaik”. [caption id="attachment_16020" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Anvi, award-winning little artist[/caption] The October 2019–born also found a place in the India Book of Records when she was just one year and nine months old for her exemplary vocabulary of 42 Spanish words, and knowledge of all the 42 phonic sounds. “This is an ability that children can display at three years of age but not as early as 21 months,” says her educator mother Anuradha Dalmia, adding that by then Anvi also knew the

e India Book of Records when she was just one year and nine months old for her exemplary vocabulary of 42 Spanish words, and knowledge of all the 42 phonic sounds. “This is an ability that children can display at three years of age but not as early as 21 months,” says her educator mother Anuradha Dalmia, adding that by then Anvi also knew the names of 26 birds, and 42 animals besides having started her abstract art journey at the age of 9 months.

Mom – the pillar

Armed with training in Montessori education and child psychology, Anvi’s mother Anuradha is the director of Indian Public School Sambalpur, a venture started by her parents, and also the director at her own venture, Little Harvard preschool in Bhubaneshwar. A strong pillar of support behind the little prodigy’s achievements, she has given her daughter the “freedom to explore and test her own limits.”

“We could observe that Anvi was keen on painting since a very young age. She used to go to the garden, come back and try to replicate the patterns of the leaves on paper. She knew all primary and secondary colours by the age of 21 months, and also knew how to draw shapes by the time she was 26 months old,” beams Anuradha with pride.

Anvi was given natural colours to experiment with in the beginning like beetroot mixed with flour, and the likes to create patterns. When it got ascertained that she is able to handle the liquid colours well without harming herself, she was introduced to market colours. “With the number of hours of exposure, and allowing to willingly practice, without any pressure; Anvi was able to reach this point,” tells Anuradha.

Born artist with a knack for experiments

Inquisitiveness and experimental persona of the little artist became evident when she started using many household objects to create interesting art pieces, much to the happiness and surprise of her elders. “When Anvi was gifted magnetic toys, she soiled them in colour, and rejoicingly informed, ‘magnet colour pulling’. In play, she discovered the non-brush form of painting. We later googled to find out that it’s a form of painting through which human geographical figures are created, and is quite popular abroad with people spending hours watching painters creating magic,” adds Anuradha.

Whether it was the water gun that was given to the toddler around Holi, or her mom’s hair dryer, or the icing cones for cakes being baked at home, or the kitchen wipers, Anvi applied basic science to create beautiful abstract paintings; analysing and experimenting on her own without much adult intervention. This led to stunning revelation by her parents, who upon some research found that similar forms of art with fluid colours were practiced by established artists across the world. “When she is painting, she doesn’t want to be disturbed, and even puts her play time on hold till she is finished,” says the doting mom.

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A post shared by Anuradha Dalmia 🧿 (@anuradha_dalmia)

She seems to have acquired her love for the art from her grandmother, who has been into Tanjore painting with some exhibitions in Bhubaneshwar to her repertoire.

The little artist’s father, Vishesh Agrawal runs Vibha press which has been printing the Times of India and The Hindu Bhubaneshwar editions. The Delhi branch of the press has found a place in the Limca Book of Records for publishing newspapers in 42 different languages.

In-born intelligence

The keen observations of the little artist are not just confined to her world of paintings but she is also perceptive about everyday things around her. “Since she is taken to the garden quite often to water plants, if lemons in the salad are left unused, she points out, ‘it takes one month to grow, we should not waste it,’” says the proud mother.

The gifted child is already proficient in the nursery syllabus orally and her vocabulary is “fantastic”, sometimes using untaught but relevant words in the middle of conversations, to the surprise of her parents. “Either this generation is very smart or she is picking up faster,” wonders her mother, quickly adding that the reason could be her mini library of 200 books that are full of illustrations. Reading four or five of them daily is a part of her routine, refusing to go to sleep if she has not finished the day’s quota. The toddler has the tendency of repeating her favourite sentences from the books and one of those as spoken by her favourite teddy character is – “I am not tired, let’s play instead.” She merrily uses different versions of it too like, “I am not tired, let’s paint instead,” making life interesting for people around her while being completely unaware of the accolades she has already earned!

Follow Anvi on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

Etro effect: Equestrian Anush Agarwalla’s historic win at Asian games takes the world by storm

(October 5, 2023) Anush Agarwalla is exactly where he should be now — on top of the world. From weekend joyrides on horseback when he was barely three to becoming a passionate and accomplished equestrian years later — Anush Agarwalla has galloped his way to glory. This year, he became the winner of India’s first-ever bronze medal in individual Dressage at the Asian Games 2023. “There is no better feeling than having a good ride. With Etro (his horse), I really felt like we were flying in the arena,” smiles Anush, speaking exclusively to Global Indian after his historic win. He scored 73.030 to finish third and claim his second medal at the Asian Games. [caption id="attachment_33359" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Dressage champion Anush Agarwalla.[/caption] Etro shines Anush says Etro, the nine-year-old stallion by Escola, whom he has been riding only since February, has a very strong character. “He just went into the stadium and was ready to shine. Etro knew that he was the centre of attention and that is exactly what he loves. Everything was in perfect sync and it was just unbelievable fun to ride him,” says the champ. Anush felt Etro’s amazing energy right from the time he entered

nly since February, has a very strong character. “He just went into the stadium and was ready to shine. Etro knew that he was the centre of attention and that is exactly what he loves. Everything was in perfect sync and it was just unbelievable fun to ride him,” says the champ.

Anush felt Etro’s amazing energy right from the time he entered the arena. “Our partnership is quite young. But the way he performed in Asian Games, I think he really grew out of himself. Etro was proud of himself when everyone around was clapping.” Since 1951, India has won only 13 medals in the Asian Games equestrian (including the dressage team which Anush was part of and which won gold). India had not won an individual medal in the sport ever.

Preparation

The accomplished equestrian says the sole focus was on training for the big day. “I had some great coaches and we were constantly training. Importantly, I was happy with my horse. It felt good from the very beginning,” says the 24-year-old. Anush says he did not do anything special before the Asian Games when it came to preparations. “I don’t do anything special before any event in general because I just like to follow my daily routine and schedule. That’s what helps me best,” he says.

He believes that changing anything in his training schedule affects his performance. “When I know that I have done something differently or included something new, other than my routine, I start getting nervous. So I just try to keep everything the way it is,” he says.

The Team’s Gold win

On September 26, the Indian Dressage Team made history by winning a gold medal at the Asian Games, marking the first time in 41 years that India has achieved this feat. The team, consisting of Anush, Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda, showcased exceptional skill and teamwork to secure the coveted gold medal, marking a a significant milestone for India in the world of equestrian sports, particularly dressage, a form of horse riding where riders and their trained horse execute a series of precise movements.

[caption id="attachment_33364" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Anush, along with the Indian Dressage Team.[/caption]

Anush says the team was confident of the win from the very beginning. “As a team, we knew that we had good chances to win a medal. We had good results in the previous shows we competed at, which were also our qualifiers for the Asian Games. We knew if everything works out, we could win gold, but of course we were not 100% sure about it,” smiles Anush.

Still, hearing the announcement that the team won gold was the most amazing feeling ever, Anush says. “Everything worked according to our plan. All riders performed well, everyone was happy with the performance and it was just amazing to win the gold for the country.”

Anush’s family was present at the stands cheering for him. “My experience at the Asian Games has been exactly what I ever wished for. Besides my coach, my family was in the stands. I could feel their constant support which was overwhelming,” says Anush, whose phone didn’t stop ringing with congratulatory messages pouring in from friends and well-wishers from across the world after the win.

Born to ride

Anush Agarwalla, who was born in Kolkata in 1999, first sat on a horse when he was three-years-old. He would accompany his parents to the club. “Thereafter, I enrolled myself for riding lessons at the club. I was riding in the Tollygunge Club until the age of 11,” says Anush, who subsequently started to pursue his equestrian dreams in Delhi by training at OREA stables.

“I used to travel back and forth from Delhi every weekend because I shifted my trainers from Kolkata to Delhi. I had to complete my schooling in Kolkata but ride on the weekends in Delhi” recalls Anush, who completed his class 10 from La Martiniere, Kolkata. He then shifted to Sri Ram School, Aravali.

After finishing class 11, Anush moved to Germany to take the sport more seriously in 2017. “I realised that I was not at the level where I wanted to be and I would not be able to achieve my goals. That’s how the journey started,” says the horse rider, who trained with German Olympian Hubertus Schmidt.

Anush enrolled himself in the National Institute of Open Schooling and iOS to complete his class 12. “I was flying back and forth from Germany for my exams,” says Anush, who is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics from University of Paderborn in Germany. He is in his last semester and hopes to complete his undergrad degree by February next year.

In August 2022, equestrienne Shruti Vora and Agarwalla made history by becoming the first Indians to compete in an individual dressage event at the World Equestrian Championships in Herning, Denmark. He had also represented India in several international competitions, including the Asian Games 2018, where he finished seventh in individual dressage.

What’s next?

“My next goal is to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. I missed out on the Tokyo Olympics by just one spot so I hope to make it this time,” says Anush, who flew back to Germany immediately to begin training for his next milestone.

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Prajwal NH: The teen innovator creating social impact with affordable technology

(May 11, 2022) Having lived in the US in the early years of his life, Prajwal NH did struggle in the early days as he adjusted to life in India. Seeing potholes on roads and garbage on the sides of the streets was a jarring contrast to the spick and span highways of the US. But that didn't make him detest his surroundings. Instead, he took it upon himself to "solve these problems with affordable technology." The 15-year-old innovator, who has his name in the India Book of Records for being the Youngest Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate, loves "fixing" problems by marrying technology with ideas that help in creating social impact. "Social impact is at the core of everything I do. For me, every innovation should solve a problem on a larger scale. This vision led me to make many apps that are economical solutions to bigger problems like water scarcity or road safety," Prajwal tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_16334" align="aligncenter" width="866"] Prajwal NH[/caption] The game-changing moment The Chikmagalur-born moved to the US with his family after his IT professional dad got a transfer. Back then, like every kid growing up in America, Prajwal had dreams of becoming an

p-content/uploads/2022/05/prajwal-1-new.jpg" alt="Teen innovator | Prajwal NH " width="866" height="488" /> Prajwal NH[/caption]

The game-changing moment

The Chikmagalur-born moved to the US with his family after his IT professional dad got a transfer. Back then, like every kid growing up in America, Prajwal had dreams of becoming an astronaut. However, everything changed for him when he moved back to India for good after a few years. Seeing the pollution and the trash littered all across Bengaluru, he was taken aback. "Life in the US was quite different. But I think that moment shifted my perspective. I knew I had to find a solution. I didn't know how, but I knew I had to," says the Class 10 student.

Being someone who was fascinated by technology especially battery-operated toys as a child, he loved dismantling them to see what was inside and later use the components to create his DIY gadgets. "I think my dad played an influential role in my journey. He works for IBM and I would often see him work. Though I didn't understand much back then but it intrigued me," says the teenager, for whom a robotics class in his seventh grade turned out to be a game-changer. After taking YouTube tutorials for years, he found the perfect learning ground for programming and Arduino.

Creating impact with affordable technology

This learning led him to make the Fix Me app, a smart way to improve roads. "The idea of fixing the potholes stayed with me ever since I landed in India. But it was only in 2019 that I decided to take it seriously. Upon research, I found that 6000 accidents happen every year due to potholes, and among them 300 are deadly. I realised the process of reaching out to the government officials is tedious and hence, nothing changes," says the BGS National Public School student. The teenager understood the gap and came up with an app through which citizens of an area can send the accurate location of the pothole, reducing complaint time to under three minutes. "It's a digital petition that can be tracked and monitored. The government official has to upload a picture of the fixed pothole for the complaint to be closed," says Prajwal. The app was a winning idea – he won the Top 20 Innovators award at the ATL Marathon 2019. Prajwal is still in talks with the authorities to make this app more feasible for the citizens, after which it will be available on Android and iOS.

Around the same time, he was awarded 'Water Hero' by the Ministry of Jal Shakti for his innovation - Ultrasonic Integrated Smart Water Tap - that's economical and saves 5x more water. "The usual infrared sensor taps are not only expensive (₹5000) but don't work when exposed to sunlight and are colour sensitive. So, I decided to use the ultrasonic technology that kills bacteria and decreases the wastage of water, and made it for only ₹400," says the innovator who has plans of commercialising it soon.

2020 brought with it an international recognition for Prajwal who won the coronavirus app challenge from Massachusetts Institute of Technology US for his Covid-19 Aid app. "I started working on it even before the Aarogya Setu app was out. I wanted it to be a platform where people could report their symptoms, myths about Covid could be busted, and to infuse some positivity during uncertain times," says the innovator, adding, "MIT featured my app on their website."

Turning a teen entrepreneur

The same year, he dipped his toes into the world of startups with Cloud Attack under the mentorship of Bhavesh Goswami, the founder of CloudThat. Learning the nuances of entrepreneurship at such a young age has been a task for this teenager. "The concept of our startup is to help youngsters learn cloud computing by playing a game. Making anything fun makes it easier to grasp the concept. But it has been a lot of trial and error. Understanding the challenges and overcoming them has been the greatest lessons," says Prajwal who has gained experience in hiring, marketing, product development, and management in just two years.

With a startup to his name at the age of 15, he advices youngsters to "not wait for the opportunities. Instead, create them. Just start." The teenage entrepreneur, who is eyeing MIT for future studies, wants to create an empire of technology in India. "I want India to be the technology hub of the world. I want to create opportunities so that there is no more brain drain," says the boy who has found a great support system in his parents. Calling them the wind beneath his wings, he is happy to have been given a chance to follow his dream. "If I hadn't come back to India, I wouldn't have been this proud of myself. The return helped me find a mission in life," concludes Prajwal.

Follow Prajwal NH on Linkedin

Reading Time: 5 min

Innovator at 16: Aarav Garg’s app teaches youngsters about tech

(May 26, 2022) Making an impact has always been on teen innovator and entrepreneur Aarav Garg's mind. How, though? He dabbled with the question for a while and found the answer lay in his passion – technology. A self-taught innovator, Aarav understood the power of knowledge and was keen to spread it to thousands of youngsters - first, through his YouTube channel, and then through his startup, TechNuttiez. "Most teenagers wait until college to either do coding or innovating because it’s the norm. We are breaking that stereotype by telling youngsters that they can learn early if they want to do so," Aarav tells Global Indian. Founded in 2021, the startup has already spread its wings among teenagers who are keen to learn. "I learnt everything online, without spending a single penny. And now I’m making that possible for others by providing them a platform to learn and engage with," says the Class 11 student whose innovation has been written about in Austrian and British technology magazines. [caption id="attachment_17209" align="aligncenter" width="571"] Aarav Garg[/caption] The early love for technology His first tryst with robotics began at 10 when he was introduced to programming in school. "It opened up a new world

" wp-image-17209" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Untitled-design-4.png" alt="Teen innovator | Aarav Garg | Global Indian" width="571" height="571" /> Aarav Garg[/caption]

The early love for technology

His first tryst with robotics began at 10 when he was introduced to programming in school. "It opened up a new world for me and I immediately gravitated towards it. However, it was just a basic introduction," says Aarav. Every day after school, he would get on the internet looking for information. "Since my parents come from a non-tech background, YouTube became my learning tool. From dabbling in different programming languages to reading articles online, I learnt a lot," says the teen innovator, who built his first robot - the line follower - in the same year. It took him about a month to build.

"It follows a line on the ground as it’s mostly used in the manufacturing and storage industry. Companies like Amazon and Alibaba use them in their warehouses," says the TedX speaker.

[caption id="attachment_17213" align="aligncenter" width="757"] Aarav Garg working on one of his innovations[/caption]

A propagator of self-learning, he believes "there is nothing one cannot learn online." With innumerable videos and articles available online, there is no dearth of information but accessing the right information is equally critical. The thought led him to start his YouTube channel in 2018. "In the last few years, I learnt a lot about robotics and wanted to give back to the community of self-learning through my channel. My first video garnered over 130k views and that pushed me to generate more content," says the teen innovator, whose mission is to educate youth on technology.

Innovator to entrepreneur

Understanding its impact, Aarav wanted to scale it up, and in 2021, he launched his startup TechNuttiez - to bring together young self-learners under one roof. "We launched a mobile app on iOS and Android this February which has videos, articles, projects, interviews with budding entrepreneurs, and a monthly digital magazine that tells you everything you need to know about technology," adds the 16-year-old. His recent addition includes quizzes that help you earn "T-buck points" which can be redeemed at brands like Boat, Akudo and The Souled Store among others. "Our target audience is teenagers who are willing to self-learn. A lot of information isn't available on the internet, and that's where we come in - to bridge the gap."

[caption id="attachment_17211" align="aligncenter" width="724"] Technuttiez app built by Aarav Garg[/caption]

Calling this shift from a content creator to an entrepreneur "gradual", Aarav was keen to make a greater impact. "I wanted to convert my knowledge into a product that could be available to a larger audience," says the teen entrepreneur. The app has seen 2000 downloads from across 90 countries in the first three months of its launch. Currently, TechNuttiez has 20 teenagers working passionately in various departments like social media, content creation, marketing, and design. "Being in the initial stage, we’re experimenting and understanding the response to the app in order to shape up the product better," explains the teen innovator.

The future

Entrepreneurship is the course he has taken, but he calls himself "an innovator" at heart. This passion led him to design a pocket weather station in 2021, an innovation that earned him recognition from Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao. "It started with an idea to make a video on how to use a temperature sensor. It was later translated into a handheld device that provides accurate weather prediction. The innovation was successful and garnered attention in India and abroad," says Aarav who also made a giant SD card as a part of a contest for the website Instructables.

[caption id="attachment_17212" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Aarav Garg with Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao.[/caption]

Technology is the future, and Aarav wants more students to get a hang of it early in their life. That's why his startup has partnered with schools in Hyderabad to create awareness on technology. "We want to show them the potential in the field," says the teenager, who plans to either crack JEE or get admission into a US university. But his heart lies in building more startups when he grows up. "I think starting early has its advantage. It gives you an edge over others. There are infinite resources available, make the most of them," he advises. The teen innovator, who loves playing snooker and football in his free time, is excited to grow his product and help it reach its potential.

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