Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveMeet the girls who won Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023

Meet the girls who won Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023

Written by: Amrita Priya

(March 8, 2023) In her address at the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023 felicitation ceremony Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, president Droupadi Murmu showered praises on this year’s eleven recipients. The Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, also known as the National Child Awards, is India’s highest honour for exceptional achievers between the ages of five and 18, in innovation, scholastics, sports, art and culture, social service and bravery. “The country whose children are so talented is bound to reach great heights,” said the President during her speech. The youngsters also got the opportunity to meet prime minister Narendra Modi after the felicitation ceremony.

Global Indian celebrates the achievements of all the winners, and on International Women’s Day puts the spotlight on the five girls who received the prize, all of whom have climbed their own mountains to reach where they are today.

Anoushka Jolly

Innovator and social activist

This young innovator’s app, Kavach, spreads awareness against bullying. Anoushka Jolly was a victim of bullying for three years, an experience she describes as the “lowest phase in her life.” It was also a “turning point,” she says, which helped her “identify her life’s purpose – to stop bullying and help kids be happier.”

Indian youth| Bal Puraskar | Global Indian

Anoushka Jolly with the Prime Minister of India

Educational institutions, social organisations and experts have all stood by Anoushka in her endeavour – she also won a Rs 50 lakh investment on Shark Tank. “No one is born a bully; they are usually led into it in one way or another. We need to be open to hearing their side of the story, be empathetic and forgiving because sometimes peer pressure also leads them to bully,” she said in an interview with Global Indian. “However, the good thing is that we can always lead them back to being good,” remarked the Delhi girl.

Alana Meenakshi Kolagatla

Chess player

Ranked world number one in the U-12 girls’ category by FIDE (the International Chess Federation), Alana Meenakshi was described as a “distinguished chess player” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his congratulatory tweet. “Her successes in chess have made her shine in various competitions globally. Her accomplishments will certainly inspire upcoming chess players,” he wrote.

Alana Meenakshi with the President of India

“Kids should do something creative than just watching TV or spending time on mobile phones, she said in an interview with Global Indian, adding, “They should go out and play or, try some arts and crafts. Maybe, they should try learning a new thing like chess,” remarked the Vishakhapatnam girl.

Hanaya Nisar

Martial arts champion

The youngster from Kashmir has won great laurels representing India in multiple international competitions. Hanaya recently brought home a gold in the third World SQAY Championship held at Chingju in South Korea.

Hanaya Nasir with the Prime Minister of India

“I am honoured to receive such a big honour and also interact with the President and the Prime Minister of India,” she said after the award ceremony. “The award and interaction with such dignitaries are going to act as motivators for me to further excel in sports. I aim to make my country, Jammu and Kashmir and my parents proud,” she added.

Gauravi Reddy

Classical dancer

A prolific dancer from Telangana, seventeen-year-old M Gauravi Reddy has performed at various national and international events and is passionate about Indian culture. When she was twelve, Gauravi became the youngest dancer to be nominated to the International Dance Council (UNICEF, Greece) in 2016.

Gauravi Reddy with the President of India

Though the prolific dancer specialises in Kuchipudi, she can also perform other classical Indian dance forms like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathak and Manipuri. “It’s all because of my mother’s support that I have come this far. She has always encouraged me,” said Gauravi in an interview after winning the award. “There is nothing wrong with youngsters being inclined towards western dance forms but at the same time, they should not forget their roots and learn a classical Indian dance form as well,” she added.

Shreya Bhattacharjee

Tabla player

Twelve-year-old Shreya holds a record in the India Book of Records for playing tabla for the longest duration. The young artist received a gold medal at the ninth Cultural Olympiad of Performing Arts held in Singapore.

Shreya Bhattacharjee with the Prime Minister of India

The Assamese prodigy has received various honours and accolades and has emerged champion in the All-North-East Tabla Solo Competition, All India Pt Rupak Kulkarni Music Competition and All India Tabla Solo Competition. “I am very happy to receive the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Becoming a recipient has increased my responsibilities to take my skills to newer heights and reach out to audiences nationally and internationally,” she said in an interview.

Watch Rashtriya Bal Puraskar felicitation ceremony on the President of India’s YouTube channel

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Published on 08, Mar 2023

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Indian American singer Sheherazaad releases mini album produced by Arooj Aftab

(April 14, 2024) In March 2024, Sheherazaad entered America's indie music scene as a leading voice for immigrants. Her mini album, Qasr, released under the label Erased Tapes, has been produced by Grammy winner Arooj Aftab, and contains poetic lyrics about marginalised genders and imagined homelands, with folk-pop synthesis and lively instrumentation. Speaking to Global Indian from San Francisco, where she is based, Sheherazaad describes her tryst with music as one that found its roots in a “fanatically art-centred, immigrant household” (more on that later). She is an Indo-American artist who is working on de-colonizing music and making a compelling case for the South Asian diaspora through her melodious vocals. Her debut record, Qasr, has been produced by Grammy Award winner Arooj Aftab, and released by Erased Tapes, a London-based independent label for experimental, electronic music. Music matters A “fairly introverted and very spiritual person”, Sheherazaad grew up in a very musical household and she was always immersed in the art form. “My parents are musicians and have a band that still gigs and my sister was a Kathak dancer. My grandmother was a concert producer, so there was music ever present – both playing but also acoustically. My mom

ehold and she was always immersed in the art form. “My parents are musicians and have a band that still gigs and my sister was a Kathak dancer. My grandmother was a concert producer, so there was music ever present – both playing but also acoustically. My mom would be doing her riyaaz or my dad would be playing keys or my sister would be like, tapping and doing her Kathak footwork on the hardwood floor, so I was always immersed in music,” she tells Global Indian.

Thanks to her South Asian lineage, Sheherazaad grew up listening to Lata Mangeshkar and RD Burman. She began training in Western styles, though, starting with a formal voice education in jazz and the American Songbook when she was just six years old. After years of singing Western repertoire, she stopped singing losing interest in the English language. However, in New York, she began following the likes of the Swet Shop Boys and met experimental Pakistani artist Arooj Aftab. She then relocated to California and trained under Hindustani classical vocalist Madhuvanti Bhide. Naturally the synergy she found in her family’s love for music, helped her charter her own path without any resistance that is typically associated with youngsters pursuing music as a career.

Collaborating with Arooj Aftab

In March 2024 she released her mini album ‘Qasr’ produced by Grammy winner Arooj Aftab where her poetic lyrics about marginalised genders and imagined homelands are given a boost with lively instrumentation. The album showcases contemporary folk-pop synthesis with five tracks and has been released by London-based independent record label Erased Tapes. “With Arooj, there was a shared acknowledgement, understanding, energetic impulse towards similar things and so much flow and ease with no need to second guess or overthink that it made it very easy,” Sheherazaad says, adding, “She also played some instruments on the album as well. She has been a mentor in terms of how to move the work through the world and she has been a role model.”

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Power of Music

For Sheherazaad, the process of creating music is as much about silence as it is about soundscapes. “I work in a lot of silence. I try not to listen to any music frivolously. I derive from nature entirely and necessarily and I study languages. I talk to native speakers, study poetry and watch stuff by myriad speakers to understand the stylistic ways of speaking,” she explains. The process involves a lot of study and the inclusion of several elements that aren’t necessarily intended to go together. “There is a lot of inner work involved in terms of coming to peace with reconciling or not being able to reconcile certain moving parts musically, and also in life,” she says. “That tension and those questions are funnelled into the music.” She also says that she does not really choose one way to describe how her music is, especially to make it conform to a specific genre. “I sometimes feel we need to but I don't have an answer.”

Crossing Obstacles

The challenges, Sheherazaad admits, lie in deciding where to share and perform the music, and locating audiences is always tough. “Sometimes when you create things that don't have a neat and tidy sort of industrial line and process of how to move it through into the world, you are left with facing this big unchartered ocean of possibility,” she explains. To her, the key is to see this is as possibility and abundance, rather than a lack thereof.

[caption id="attachment_37152" align="aligncenter" width="546"] Photo by Zayira Ray[/caption]

Another challenge is finding a classical or traditional sort of custodian of the more classical or traditional forms or a teacher, who would be able to sit with all of what I felt like at the time were the broken parts that needed so much direction.” In her free time, she likes to sit in silence, in nature, in the forest, near a body of water and likes reading a lot of South Asian diasporic literature. Her future plans are to keep building live sets that continuously reimagine the music in various instrumentation sort of formats. “And I am currently at work on my most ambitious and next project,” she signs off.

Follow Sheherazaad on Instagram, YouTube

Reading Time: 6 mins

Neeharika Munjal: Connecting young Indian professionals in New England through YIPNE

(April 16, 2024) After graduating from Boston University in 2022, Neeharika Munjal wanted to diversify her network and make connections within the Indian community in New England, USA, where she had landed a job. However, she couldn’t find a way to do this, as there was no organisation or platform dedicated to it. It gave Neeharika the idea for YIPNE, short for Young Indian Professionals of New England - a collaborative platform dedicated to professionals of Indian origin who live in the New England area helping them build connections through networking opportunities. Neeharika serves as the founder and CEO of the voluntary organisation, which has grown significantly in just two years of its inception, much to her delight. Basking in happiness of seeing it turn two, the 24-year-old shares her dreams with Global Indian. “I would love to see YIPNE to expand nationwide so we can create a stronger South Asian and Indian professional network in the United States. We have so many CEOs who are Indian here so it would be great to have them all in board and have many more young Indian professionals support each other and get inspired,” she says adding, “Since we have a massive

te a stronger South Asian and Indian professional network in the United States. We have so many CEOs who are Indian here so it would be great to have them all in board and have many more young Indian professionals support each other and get inspired,” she says adding, “Since we have a massive Indian population in the United States it would be great to see them all unite into one community and celebrate each other’s professional success.”

[caption id="attachment_37172" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Neeharika Munjal[/caption]

Neeharika Munjal works as an administrative supervisor at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England. The Boston University alumni is driven by two passions in life - working to enhance healthcare systems to ensure optimal and affordable treatment for all and promoting South Asian culture in the Western world.

YIPNE – quickly gaining recognition

Since its inception in April 2022, the voluntary group has seen immense growth, boasting over 6,000 members across Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Its initiatives have included a highly-attended networking event, drawing over 400 young Indian professionals in the New England area, and the launch of a YouTube talk series spotlighting community groups and individual success stories. It has also established a board of advisors comprising esteemed individuals from the Boston Indian community. "The team includes Dipali Trivedi, Yogita Miharia, Sanjay Kudrimoti, Dr Raju Singla, Dr. Rohit Chandra, Kamal Tiku, Dr. Chander Kapasi, Ranjani Saigal and Gaurav Jetly," Neeharika shares.

Additionally, YIPNE has successfully organised small meetups that consistently sell out. The most recent one was the Holi networking brunch. Another initiative that YIPNE launched is the “South Asian Small Business Saturday” which has been showcasing and supporting Indian-owned small businesses in New England, promoting their visibility and growth.

“Being able to emcee multiple events and organise events on a large and small scale and seeing many individuals build connections and get jobs/internships and other opportunities through the YIPNE platform has truly been a rewarding experience,” remarks Neeharika who did not expect her organisation to become so well recognised and create impressive milestones in such a short span of time.

YIPNE was recently selected to be a community partner at the India Conference at Harvard University which saw highly accomplished Indian-origin entrepreneurs and Bollywood actress, Karishma Kapoor as guest speakers.

[caption id="attachment_37200" align="aligncenter" width="751"] YIPNE's event which drew over 400 young Indian professionals of New England[/caption]

It started when…

Transitioning from student life to professional life, Neeharika felt lost and did not know how to navigate the real world. Owing to her extraordinary academic excellence she had graduated earlier than her peers. Although she was extensively involved with the Indian community, she wanted to diversify her network beyond that, adding a professional angle to it.

She came across a few networking organisations within her field and in the non-Indian groups in the Boston area, as well as community and charity organisations for the Indian community, there weren't any that catered to the need of professional networking for the youth of the Indian community in the New England area. “As an American-born Indian, it was important for me to stay in touch with my culture and network with other young professionals at the same time,” she remarks.

It was during a conversation with her mother about the lack of Indian professional networking in the New England area, that the idea of YIPNE struck. "After the conversation I had with my mother, the urge for such a platform got stronger. Immediately after that, I created a logo, and launched Young Indian Professionals of New England on Facebook in April 2022" she says. Neeharika never imagined that it would grow so swiftly. Initially, she thought even if just 10 people joined, she would make at least 10 new acquaintances, and consider it a successful initiative.

[caption id="attachment_37180" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Neeharika Munjal and young professionals at the recent Holi Networking Brunch[/caption]

Love for the community

Born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts, Neeharika had always actively sought opportunities to connect with others of her heritage. During high school, she became involved with an organisation called Ekal Vidyalaya USA, dedicated to providing education to remote villages in India. As an Ekal Youth Leader, she led fundraising efforts and organised events, even contributing her own pocket money to provide lifelong education to children. "We often take education for granted, viewing it as an obligation, but in reality, there are children worldwide who long for an education but lack the means to access it," she remarks.

Neeharika is also associated with We Care Charity which helps people in need with compassion in the New England region and beyond and is a part of TiE Boston, a non-profit network dedicated to helping startups grow. As part of Saheli Boston, she works for the sufferers of domestic violence.

Health and management

When it was time for higher studies Neeharika chose to pursue health sciences with a minor in business administration and management at Boston University combining her interest in healthcare and business management. At the hospital where she works, she prioritises community engagement, striving to celebrate diverse cultures and enhance patient care. As part of the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) board, she emphasises the importance of understanding different cultural backgrounds to provide the best patient care for improved treatment outcomes.

[caption id="attachment_37174" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Neeharika Munjal at the Harvard Conference[/caption]

“Balancing my full-time job, running my own organisation, and staying active in the Indian community of New England gets hectic at times but by organising my day effectively and focusing on what matters most to me, I have learned to multitask,” the youngster remarks stressing on the importance of effective time management.

Awards and recognitions

For her community initiatives, the youngster has received numerous awards, including the Lokvani Magazine Rising Star of the Year award, the Miss Bharat Woman Empowerment award, the Indian Medical Association of New England Presidential Recognition award, and also a recognition from Ekal Vidyalaya.

In 2016 she was named in the India New England 20 under 20 list, and has been appointed as a youth brand ambassador for Mydream Entertainment's Miss Bharat New England.

[caption id="attachment_37176" align="aligncenter" width="545"] Neeharika Munjal[/caption]

Health and community

While she was studying at Boston University, Neeharika was part of the Partners in Healthcare club, Boston University India Club, and the Healthcare Improvement Inc, BU’s multidisciplinary student organisation dedicated to serving at the intersection of community service, clinical care, and healthcare reform.

Now as a healthcare professional, she is a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen of America Boston Chapter, a global non-profit focused on achieving gender parity in healthcare leadership, promoting career connections, and supporting the development of young professionals through groups like Tomorrow’s Executive.

Second anniversary of YIPNE

“As an American-born Indian, it was important for me to find ways to stay in touch with our Indian culture,” says Neeharika. “I am so grateful and blessed to have the community's support. The older generation here in the US have provided a foundation for the Indian community but it is up to us - the younger generation to improve and elevate our community,” she shares.

Neeharika’s parents Preeti and Manoj Munjal had moved to the US for their higher education in engineering and are now into commercial real estate and investing. “They are active members of the Indian community in Boston and have worked incredibly hard to reach where they are today. They have been extremely supportive of me. I am always thankful and grateful to them,” she remarks.

“Next month, we are hosting our second anniversary networking gala brunch event at the Treasury Restaurant in Burlington MA. This will be a high-end networking event filled with accomplished individuals along with elevated fusion Indian food,” she shares excitedly.” I cannot wait to see what we accomplish in the future and want to celebrate what we have accomplished so far,” she signs off.

[caption id="attachment_37181" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Young professionals at an YIPNE event[/caption]

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Follow YIPNE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Reading Time: 5 mins

Radha Pandya: Taking forward the traditional art form of Bharatanatyam in the US

(November 11, 2023) Kohl-rimmed eyes, with beautiful mudras, and nuanced facial expressions, there's a story unfolding on the stage at Piscataway in New Jersey. The 18-year-old Indian American is bringing to life the story of Krishna, an Indian god, who helped protect Draupadi after her husband lost her in a game of dice. This is her 40th performance on stage, ever since she began learning the traditional dance art form of Bharatanatyam at the age of four. In these years, she has dedicated herself to honing a 3,000-year-old Indian dance, ensuring that the legacy of her culture is passed on through the generations. "When we are growing up in America, away from our origins of India or other areas around there, I think we sometimes lose our connection with our culture," said Radha, adding, "This is what keeps us tied to that... dancing and teaching this to young kids is a way of preserving this legacy, especially this super old and ancient dance form." A senior at Piscataway High School, Radha started learning Bharatanatyam in Greensboro, North Carolina with Veena Argade, and later with Priya Gopal. She later began training under Guru Srimathi Selvi Chandranathan, who trained Radha at Bharata

, Radha started learning Bharatanatyam in Greensboro, North Carolina with Veena Argade, and later with Priya Gopal. She later began training under Guru Srimathi Selvi Chandranathan, who trained Radha at Bharata Kala Nrityakshetra dance school in Piscataway. Her Guru got a glimpse of her talent even when she was a kid, and knew that she had the potential to make it big.

With over a million Asians that live in New Jersey, Indian Americans make up the largest ethnic group. And it's this Indian community in New Jersey that has helped cement the tradition and infuse the culture and history of India in the natives.

It's been rigorous training for the last 14 years for Radha, and is keen to carry the legacy of Bharatanatyam forward through her art. For her, everything comes alive as she takes the centrestage, and immerses herself in the art form. Growing up, she heard stories and now portraying those stories on the big stage, she feels honoured. Bringing to life the story of Krishna, she considers it a responsibility that she needs to uphold with dignity. "Performing this scene (protecting Draupadi) was very emotional because you are playing these different roles. You are playing the bad king, the good king, and then you are playing the woman who's trying to save herself and her dignity. And then you are playing the saviour," the Global Indian added.

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

At a time when most kids her age prefer dancing to Bollywood tunes, she wants to keep the tradition of Bharatanatyam alive through her performances. "For me, I have been wanting to do this forever," added Radha, who says that her art form is completely different from what her friends have opted for. "A lot of them do Bollywood dances or things that are seen on TV and commercialized, but this is a completely classical dance, so it is a little different from what you normally see," said the teenager.

In the last 14 years, Radha's dance journey has helped her develop a greater appreciation for her culture and heritage. Radha, who is interested in pursuing the sciences in the future, and has also been part of the Princeton W.E.B Du Bois Accelerated Learning Academy, is keen to take the art form to the next level. Her love for Bharatanatyam goes beyond performances as she is also mentoring young students in the art form.

Reading Time: 4 min

Winning punches: Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen’s success story is unparalleled

(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.

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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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Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani: The ethical hacker representing India in international championships

(March 20, 2024) For someone who has been interested in cybersecurity since a young age, representing India at international championships in new-age Information Technology platforms was a surreal experience. The past few months have been very fruitful for Ahmedabad's Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani. At the High Technology Championship held in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, in September 2023, he secured a silver medal in Neural Networks. The same year in November, he clinched a bronze at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia, for IT Software Solution. The year 2024 also began on a high note as he emerged as a finalist at the Sports/Competitive Programming competition held in Kazan, Russia, in February. From a young age, Kirtikumar has excelled in cybersecurity. At just 15 years old in 2018, he received the title of 'youngest cyber security researcher' from World Records India for securing over 100 websites by identifying and reporting vulnerabilities in their web applications. That same year, his name was inscribed in the India Book of Achievers. [caption id="attachment_36726" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption] The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had

oads/2024/03/GI-6loQW4AACJVU-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani is an ethical hacker who represents India in new-age Information Technology international competitions." width="657" height="439" /> Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption]

The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had achieved a Top 32 rank at the World Cyber Games held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2019.

As an ethical hacker and Penetration Tester (PenTester), Kirtikumar has earned recognition and monetary rewards from major tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle for identifying vulnerabilities in their web applications.

Kirtikumar's interest extends to astrological predictions as well. “Anyone can check my predictions in the Astro World channel where I predicted actual dates or details about market crashes, earthquakes, election results, sporting tournaments’ results, and war which ultimately came true,” he tells Global Indian.

In the world of cybersecurity since the age of eight

At the age of eight, Kirtikumar's enthusiasm for computers became apparent as he immersed himself in activities like programming and gaming. One day, while playing Subway Surfers, he became intrigued by his cousin's method of obtaining unlimited coins in the game. This curiosity prompted him to indulge in extensive research, which led him to discover how to hack the game. By the time he turned 13, Kirtikumar had gained a thorough understanding of hacking tools such as remote access trojans (RATs). Fuelled by his curiosity in the subject, Kirtikumar kept on polishing his skills in the world of ethical hacking.

[caption id="attachment_36724" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Kirtikumar at the International High Technologies Championship 2023 at Veliky Novgorod, Russia[/caption]

Creating milestones

In 2018, at the age of 15, he won the Penetration Tester of the Year award at the United Kingdom based Cyber Security Awards ceremony with several well-known personalities in the field of cyber security as the judges. Kirtikumar also got recognised by the World Book of Records, and earned an entry into the Book of Achievers that year.

The following year Kirti became the youngest to win the Tech Savvy Award which led his interest in the field of science and technology even more, making him passionate in his endeavour to find solutions to vulnerabilities in web applications. “In 2022, I was the top security researcher on the Google Play Security Reward program,” he mentions.

Hacking for good

As Kirtikumar honed his ethical hacking skills further, he noticed that tech giants were publicly recognising cybersecurity enthusiasts for safeguarding their infrastructure by uncovering vulnerabilities in their web applications.

"Inspired by that I decided to leverage my hacking skills for the greater good, securing the internet for users by identifying vulnerabilities in the web applications of major tech companies,” he says. “When I shared the security threats with the respective companies, I was rewarded financially. Some organisations even sent me gift packs with exclusive merchandise printed with their logo and the words ‘security researcher’, as a token of appreciation,” he explains.

[caption id="attachment_36729" align="aligncenter" width="731"] Kirtikumar with Tennessee based cyber security evangelist, Dameon Welch[/caption]

Advancing from web security to browser security and Kernel security

After spending a few years in the field of web security, Kirtikumar yearned to learn something more exciting. “I decided to shift my focus to browser security taking inspiration from international security researchers, Abdulrahman Al-Qabandi and Eric Lawrence.”

After spending a couple of years mastering browser security skills, he again yearned to learn something new, and shifted his focus to Kernel security (errors of which lead to fatal issues on the PC). “I got interested in this subject by following Germany based senior security consultant, Patrick Walker,” says Kirtikumar.

With his dedication to learn advanced skills, expertise and accomplishments at such a young age, Kirtikumar has earned connections with international experts, and opportunities to participate in global forums on cybersecurity. Talking about Kernel Security, he remarks, “It is the most challenging realm of exploration for me because I love to try something tough which can push my boundaries to think out of the box.”

Also Read: Watch out for the cyber criminals: 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha upskills natives and foreigners

Endeavours in eSports

Kirtikumar has been into competitive eSports but decided to leave it in 2020. In 2019, he participated in the regional finals of the World Cyber Games in Seoul, South Korea, securing the seventh-place finish in the Asia Pacific Region, cementing his position among the top 32 players. He also competed in the Clash Royale League (CRL 2019) and ranked among the top players worldwide in weekly Grand Challenge finishers.

[caption id="attachment_36727" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]

“I left competitive gaming in 2020 after winning my last Paytm First Games. It wasn't helping me think outside the box; I was simply addicted to the game,” he explains. “Fortunately, I realised this at the right moment and began to dedicate more time to browser and kernel security research. I am pleased to have qualified for national rounds and to represent India internationally in these fields,” he remarks.

Academic brilliance

A former student of St. Stephen and Navkar Public School in Ahmedabad, Kirtikumar excelled in science and maths, earning a top 100 ranking in the International Math Olympiads (IMO) and National Science Olympiads (NSO) during his time in school. He also achieved a spot in the top 400 in the National Cyber Olympiads (NCO), as a school student.

Currently, the cybersecurity enthusiast is pursuing Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretaryship while working as an independent security researcher. “I aim to explore the intersection of finance and technology, merging my passion for both to create innovative solutions beneficial for traders,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_36728" align="aligncenter" width="527"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]

When the multitasker finds some time out of his hectic worlds of CA, CS, security research and international competitions, he loves to draw, write, cook, follow cricket, and solve LR/RC/CR on GMAT forums. Ever since he was a teen, he has been giving talks to aspiring security researchers and loves participating in such sessions to share his knowledge.

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