Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveMeet the Japanese, Hindi-speaking YouTuber who is strengthening India-Japan ties

Meet the Japanese, Hindi-speaking YouTuber who is strengthening India-Japan ties

By: Amrita Priya

(August 10, 2024) During a podcast with the Japanese Ambassador to India, YouTuber Mayo asked, “You have been sharing fun videos of eating pani puri and other street foods on social media. Why do you think it’s important for an ambassador to use social media and post cultural content?”

Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki responded with a smile, “Through social media, I can reach millions of people whom I don’t know. My wife and I both love India – its amazing diversity in culture and traditions. We want to use social media to express our love for India. And if someone who had no interest in Japan stumbles upon our content and becomes interested in our country, that’s all the better.”

His response echoed the thoughts that led Japan native Mayo to start her YouTube channel ‘Mayo Japan’ in 2018, shortly after graduating with a degree in Hindi. Today, the fluent Hindi speaker is one of the most famous Japanese YouTubers in India with close to three million followers.

YouTuber Mayo | Indian Culture | Global Indian

Strengthening India-Japan ties in her own way

Her videos, which showcase dance, food, pop culture, travel, and other facets of life in India and Japan, inspire fans in both countries to explore and learn about each other. Through her content, she not only entertains but also tries to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the cultural nuances that define each nation. Mayo views her YouTube channel as a bridge between the two countries, keeping both sides informed about the latest trends and events, and helping to strengthen the bonds between the two cultures.

Love for India and the taste of success

Inspired by her father’s deep affection for India and his passion for Himalayan climbs, Japanese national Mayo chose to pursue a major in Hindi at Osaka University. “My father said, study Hindi because India is a very interesting country and you should travel to India.” Mayo’s choice was also driven by a desire to learn a language uncommon in Japan. With a background in ballet, her love for dance naturally extended to Indian dance forms, complementing her study of the national language of India.

Following her graduation in 2018, Mayo secured a job at a consulting firm while simultaneously launching Hindi lesson videos aimed at Japanese viewers. The positive response encouraged her to expand her audience, eventually reaching viewers not only in Japan but also in India. It led Mayo to diversify her content to cater specifically to Indian audiences. “It took courage because I wasn’t very confident about my Hindi speaking ability back then,” she revealed in an interview.

A year after launching her channel, her subscriber counts skyrocketed tenfold to 50,000, after a video showcasing the festival of Holi celebrated in Tokyo’s Nishi-Kasai district, which hosts one of Japan’s largest Indian communities, went viral. Since then, Mayo has become a well-known figure in promoting Indian culture as a foreigner.

“When I visit India, I get recognised on the street several times a day,” remarked the YouTuber whose videos have generated millions of views. Apart from Mayo Japan, she runs two more YouTube channels – Ani Mayo channel and Learn Japanese with Mayo & Indu.

Challenging stereotypes

When Mayo creates videos about India for her Japanese audience, she makes a conscious effort to avoid stereotypes. Likewise, in her videos about Japan for Indian viewers, she strives to showcase a variety of perspectives, steering clear of stereotypical portrayals. Just as she dislikes the tendency to group diverse nations under the label ‘Global South,’ she is careful to avoid generalisations about India. “It’s a huge country with a variety of people. I don’t like to call India a developing or emerging country. Sure, there are people with low income in the country but there are billionaires as well,” she remarked.

Mayo believes that looking at a country without the lens of any stereotypes, gives a better view of its various characteristics.

YouTuber Mayo | Indian Culture | Global Indian

The positive side of India

The YouTuber keeps on travelling back and forth between Japan and India. “I have learned the importance of being assertive and hungry (to achieve) like Indians. For example, they are clever and tough at negotiating with their potential employers. They tell recruiters what salary and benefits they were offered from other companies so that they can create competition among their prospective employers,” she mentioned talking about one of the qualities she loves about professionals in India.

One other aspect that Mayo admires about India is the growing number of people who are comfortable speaking English, a skill less common in Japan. While she acknowledges that the concept of punctuality in India may differ from that in her native country, she also recognises that Indians tend to have greater access to the latest information and technologies from the United States compared to people in Japan.

“Indians have a big heart. They are more helpful towards strangers and accept outsiders more wholeheartedly,” she said. The YouTuber who works with the aim of strengthening Indo-Japan ties hopes that people from both countries will develop a deeper interest in each other, and develop greater mutual understanding and connection.

Follow Mayo on YouTube and Instagram

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 10, Aug 2024

Share with

ALSO READ

Environment activist Sagarika Sriram: Tackling climate change one kid at a time

(December 7, 2022) A young 17-year-old took centre stage whilst top leaders from across the world gathered to discuss saving the planet from climate change at COP27 in Egypt. Addressing her audience, the young environment activist, Sagarika Sriram, pointed out the youth’s perspective on sustainability and how youngsters can have their voices heard. Stressing how awareness must be raised in schools, her closing remarks pushed for the youth around the world to be heard when it comes to their sustainable goals, ending her speech with thunderous applause from the audience. [caption id="attachment_25081" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Sagarika Sriram, environment activist[/caption] "Do you know about the ripple effect?" Sagarika asked me, about 10 minutes into our conversation. "The ripple effect," she explained, "is the spreading results of a single action - like the ripples in the water. I think a single step towards saving the planet can have that effect, no matter if it is a big or small step. We need youngsters to get involved in this movement because we will be the first generation to face the horrific results of climate change. We might not have been the ones who contributed to climate change, but we certainly can be the ones

s to get involved in this movement because we will be the first generation to face the horrific results of climate change. We might not have been the ones who contributed to climate change, but we certainly can be the ones to slow it down."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhwFk4c7HU

Called an "inspiration to all young girls in her country and West Asia” by the U.N. Environment Programme, the Dubai-based Indian ex-pat has been able to inspire and motivate numerous kids to join the movement for a cleaner and healthier future for all. Her digital platform Kids for a Better World, which the young environment activist created in 2016 as a school project, has brought together nearly 100,000 young kids from around the globe who also want to fight climate change.

Motivated by nature

Growing up in Dubai, Sagarika learnt much more about nature from her parents. "As far as I can remember, my parents always motivated me to use and do environmentally friendly stuff. They were very cautious about using stuff that doesn't harm the planet and that has to be a symbiotic relationship," Sagarika shares with Global Indian, adding, "Also, I grew up with pets and that is also one factor why I am very sensitive towards environmental issues. My father and I used to have a compost garden and grow our fruits and vegetables. All these things have motivated me a lot."

When she was around 10-years-old, Sagarika came across news of a whale being washed up onshore as a result of an oil spill. As the environmental activist dig deeper, she discovered various articles about how human activities are affecting not just other animals, but nature in general. "Our actions were causing so much harm to the environment. I started learning more about climate change, greenhouse gases, etc," she says.

Action driven

The youngster, who was taking classes at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) for HTML, web designing, and coding, decided to take one step toward her sustainability goals. "For my final project for a web design class, I was asked to design a web page and I decided to make it about the environment. I wanted to use the skills I acquired towards something that could make a difference in people's lives,” the environment activist says. “I designed a basic website for Kids for Better World, which now has various sections to help anyone who wants to learn about climate change. I wanted children to work together with a goal of climate consciousness and teaching people about sustainability and climate awareness."

[caption id="attachment_25082" align="aligncenter" width="506"] Sagarika has organised numerous clean-up drives over the years[/caption]

The educative website offers various tidbits and fun facts about the environment and climate change to visitors. Kids can also earn points from the sustainable activities that they complete and use those points to redeem eco-friendly gifts. "The whole idea was to teach children the same way that I was taught. I was able to meet several incredible people through my work and associate my work with great organisations," says the environment activist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPWtMtGOs-s

Sagarika, who has organised numerous local clean-up drives and workshops for kids, believes that young people have to stand for the cause to prevent the impact of climate change. "I want to make a real change and contribute towards helping the planet revive. I just finished my final examinations and want to take a year's break to concentrate on the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, which will take place in the UAE," shares the environment activist as she signs off.

Follow Sagarika Sriram on LinkedIn and Instagram
Follow Kids for a Better World on Facebook and Instagram

Reading Time: 6 mins

Sudipti Hajela: Perfect passage to dressage gold at Asian Games 2023

(October 22, 2023) If there is anything that motivates Sudipti Hajela to perform, it’s the sight of the tricolour. So, when she was saddled up and ready to prove her mettle at the Asian Games 2023 — she had one good look at the Indian flag, fluttering high in the arena. It boosted her confidence and led her gallop to glory. “Something magical happens once I see our flag. It helps me keep my focus and motivates me into giving my best. Playing for India is the biggest motivation,” smiles Sudipti Hajela, part of the four-member Indian Dressage team that won the historic gold medal for India, speaking to Global Indian. The accomplished equestrienne, who trained hard for the Asian Games for last two years, says she woke up everyday with only one goal in mind — to put up a good show for India and clinch gold. “The four of us are very experienced riders and we have been training ourselves for a long time now. We were quite certain of a podium finish. I'm really grateful that we could all share this great historic win together,” says the 21-year-old, who is the youngest among the four. She accumulated

says the 21-year-old, who is the youngest among the four. She accumulated 66.706 points. Her entire family was present at the venue to cheer for her.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sudipti Hajela (@sudiptihajeladressage_2002)

Rigorous training for Asian Games

India’s participation in Equestrian sport began in 1982, with the Asian Games in New Delhi. Sudipti has been training overseas for the last 10 years including London, Portugal and Thailand as well. “For the last two years, I have been training in Fontainebleau, a town in France and an hour away from Paris,” informs the equestrienne. One of the biggest advantages of training in Europe is that equestrians can compete every single weekend at a National or International level, which is essential for improving their skills.

Sudipti was coached by Camillee Judet Cheret, who has competed in the Olympics for France. As a sport, it’s a thriving industry In Europe, where there is interdependence and facilitation between the horse, trainer, infrastructure and environment.

Living alone, she says, is challenging. “Right from the time I wake up, plan my horse riding sessions, fitness while attending house hold chores, managing everything on my own gets difficult,” she says but is quick to add that it even taught her a lot.

A life of discipline

Sudipti had completely dedicated herself to her training. “I was always away and always training. I missed all the festivals and other events as I could not come home due to my training. Years have passed like that. But all these sacrifices yielded results.” At the crack of dawn, the first thing Sudipti tunes into is “Hanuman Chalisa.” “I listen to it really loud and it fills me with positive energy. It’s a must for me everyday,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_33716" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Sudipti with Chinski[/caption]

Sudipti then sits down to do an in-depth analysis of her everyday performance and the ways to improve further. Post that, it’s time for some workouts with her trainer and then she is at stables.

Born in Indore in May, 2002, Sudipti started her equestrian journey early at age six year. Back then, it used to be a summer hobby. “I used to pester my father to take me to Indore’s famous Chhappan Dukaan where I would ride horses,” she recalls, of her initial days of horse riding. Her father Mukesh Hajela is a businessman.

First ride to victory

She won her first national medal in 2013, when she was 10. Indian cricket great Sourav Ganguly presented her with the bronze medal. There was no looking back since as she started taking her training even more seriously.

“Ever since, I have been training abroad, has the best coaches and great exposure,” says Sudipti who completed her schooling from Daly College, Indore. She says she was lucky to have gotten into Daly college, which supported her in every aspect, which helped her reach the level where she is today.

Sudipti credits her horse Chinski for the victory. “We bond so well and that is the key in our partnership. I have been riding Chinski for last two years now,” informs Sudipti who bought the 16-year-old for the sole purpose of competing in the Asian games.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sudipti Hajela (@sudiptihajeladressage_2002)

Chinski’s story

It’s one of the best horses I have had,” she says of her horse. “My horse is everything to me. I love him with all my heart,” she says. After all, selective and specific breeding of quality horses is a niche aspect of the sport

She not only takes the best care of the stallion but feeds her and even gives him regular treats. “He loves carrots, apples and bananas. Both of us understand each other well,” says Sudipti, whose first ever CDI (Concours de Dressage) event was in Portugal a few years ago. This International Dressage event is recognised by the world governing body of equestrian sports.

Talking about her team, Sudipti says they are close friends as well. The four of us have really come together as a team. I could not have imagined having any better team mates than these three,” says Sudipti, who completed her schooling from Daly College, Indore.

[caption id="attachment_33717" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Sudipti Hajela and Chinski at the Asian Games 2023[/caption]

So what’s next ?

“I think the next goal for me is very clear, not to stop because post Asian games, sky is the limit,” smiles the equestrienne who has already begun preparing for the Paris Olympics 2024.

“Every athlete in the world have set their sights on Paris Olympics. I am excited for what’s coming in the near future. My training continues,” says the determined youngster, who is looking forward to make her presence felt at other national and international events as well.

Family support

Sudipti says her family has been the biggest support throughout. “My family and friends have supported me through thick and thin. In fact, two of my best friends even stayed with me abroad and were a constant support.”

Follow Sudipti on Instagram.

This 15 year old mountaineer is the youngest to summit Europe’s highest peak in 24 hours

(August 9, 2024) Padakanti Vishwanath Karthikey used to be a lazy kid, for whom being healthy was not a priority. But that was until the day he, as an 11 year old, accompanied his sister Vaishnavi on a trek to Mt Rudugaira in Uttarakhand. He trekked till the first camp but had to return due to Acute Mountain Sickness (ACD). Nonetheless, this experience turned his life around and sparked an interest in mountaineering. The 15 year old mountaineer has since gone on to hold three world records, and is the youngest person to summit Europe's highest peak Mt Elbrus in 24 hours, a feat he accomplished on India’s 75th Independence Day. “My mountaineering journey started because of my sister and I motivate myself to be better everyday. I want to be an inspiration for many people and also seek inspiration from them to do new things,” smiles mountaineer Vishwanath Karthikey, in a chat with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_38746" align="aligncenter" width="267"] Mountaineer Vishwanath Karthikey[/caption] Taking on the icy Mt Denali In his most recent expedition, the teen mountaineer embarked on an arduous journey up Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America, which stands at over 20,000 feet above sea level. He reached the

lobal Indian" width="267" height="475" /> Mountaineer Vishwanath Karthikey[/caption]

Taking on the icy Mt Denali

In his most recent expedition, the teen mountaineer embarked on an arduous journey up Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America, which stands at over 20,000 feet above sea level. He reached the summit, conquering both physical and personal obstacles along the way.

Karthikey started the Mt Denali expedition on June 10 and reached Anchorage the following day, where he spent the night and shopped for essentials. “We took the West Buttress route to the mountain,” says the teenager, who reached the base camp by June 15.

From there, he climbed for 4-6 hours straight and reached camp 1 where he and few other mountaineers pitched their tents, cooked food and melted ice for water. “We stashed our non essential items into the snow and marked the spot so that we wouldn't lose it. Our climb started again the next morning, and went on for around eight hours.”

Karthikey says it was a tiring journey as he had to pull his sledges too. “No pain, no gain, so we went on and reached the camp site,” says the three-time world record holder, who reached the summit by June 24.

Two days before reaching the summit, he was extremely dehydrated as he was not able to consume the water, which felt too hot while drinking, and also tasted foul to him. “Despite this and the low temperatures, I made it to the summit,” says Karthikey, who underwent strength, agility, stability, endurance and cardio training for this climb.

Mt Elbrus

The journey began with two months of rigorous training, as Karthikey prepared to climb Mt Elbrus in 2022. In his first attempt, he returned from the lower camps of the mountain. “I was successful in summiting Mt Elbrus on my second attempt. It was a very special expedition for me as I summited it on India’s 75th Independence Day,” smiles the teenager who became the youngest in the world to accomplish it in less than 24 hours.

He describes the Mt Elbrus climb as a wonderful experience. “I got to meet many new people, my cousin was accompanying me and there were two more people of my age group,” he says.

However, it wasn’t always smooth. The mountaineers faced terrible weather conditions on this climb. “The wind speed was 40-50 km/hr with a -30 temperature. We weathered these conditions and reached the summit,” Karthikey recalls.

Within 15 days of this climb, Karthikey went on to climb two 6000 meter peaks, Mt Kang Yatse 2 and Mt Dzo Jongo. “It was exhausting but I managed and became the youngest person to do it within 72 hours,” says the class 11 student of Resonance Suchitra campus, beaming with pride.

The following year, he climbed Mt Kang Yatse 1 and once again became the youngest person to do so. He is also the youngest person from Asia to climb Island Peak in Nepal.

Hyderabad's teen mountaineer

Born October 2008 in Hyderabad, Karthikey studied in DRS kids till LKG and shifted to St Peters high school, Bowenpally from where he completed his class 10. “I was a below average student before starting mountaineering but after starting it, my scores increased immensely,” says Karthikey, who is the son of P Rajendra Prasad and P Laxmi.

He enjoys various sports and came in second at the state-level weightlifting competition and third in powerlifting.

Mountaineering

Karthikey’s mountaineering journey began at the age of 11. “My sister was googling something when she found out about mountaineering and shared it with my mother, who arranged a trek for my sister as she knew some mountaineers. I wanted to be part of it and convinced my parents to send me with her,” recalls Karthikey, who has also climbed the Friendship peak in Himachal Pradesh, Dzo Jongo peak in Ladakh, Nangkartshang peak, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Tereskol in Russia among others.

After his first climb to Mt Rudugaira in Uttarakhand, Karthikey went to NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering) for a 10-day adventure course, which only propelled his internet in mountaineering. It is there that he first experienced jumaring, rock climbing and rappelling.

Daily routine

Fifteen-year-old Karthikey is up by 4:30 am everyday and heads straight to the gym. “I directly go to college from the gym as my college timings are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. I study for about two hours in the evening and go to bed by 10 pm,” says the mountaineer. When he’s preparing for an expedition, he alternates between a 5km and a 10km run each day over the final month before his departure.

His plans are ambitious. “My next mountaineering expeditions include Vinson Massif, Antarctica’s highest peak, and Aconcagua, South America’s highest and then Mt Everest,” says Karthikey, whose ultimate goal is to join the armed forces.

The young mountaineer likes to do wave boarding, skating and playing games with his friends. “I don’t watch TV on a daily basis. I like to listen to Arijit Singh songs and 2000-2010s hits,” informs Karthikey, who also enjoys public speaking to motivate people.

With a relentless spirit and a commitment to pushing boundaries, Karthikey continues to pursue his dreams of scaling some of the world's highest summits, inspiring others with his courage and perseverance along the way.

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.

Follow Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani on LinkedIn and Twitter

Reading Time: 5 mins

Petal talk on sustainability: How Diana Awardee Sriya Donepudi’s Ankh recycled flowers

(February 10, 2022) Flower recycling is fuelling innovation and creativity - Incense sticks, herbs and flower-infused teas, potpourri, and much more. For the sprightly UNICEF ambassador Sriya Donepudi, these ideas struck a chord when she set out to finish her 10th grade project two years ago - to recycle the flower waste in Hyderabad. It then flowered into a movement giving local women sustenance, and the world an ecological philosophy too. Sriya, now a 12th grade student at Oakridge School, founded Ankh which recycles used flowers into organic products in 2020. A love for flowers egged her on, and her eco project won the Diana Award 2020. The then 15-year-old also rehabilitated the lives of women from economically weak backgrounds by recycling floral waste into products. “I used as many flowers as we could collect from events,” smiles Sriya. [caption id="attachment_10647" align="aligncenter" width="469"] Sriya Donepudi[/caption] The enterprising gene Born in Detroit, Sriya moved to Hyderabad 12 years ago. Her parents Venu and Swetha Donepudi, both automobile engineers, worked at General Motors and Ford in Detroit. “Their excellent work ethic inspired me to work hard as well,” says the teen who inculcated a desire to go beyond mere thought. It was

enu and Swetha Donepudi, both automobile engineers, worked at General Motors and Ford in Detroit. “Their excellent work ethic inspired me to work hard as well,” says the teen who inculcated a desire to go beyond mere thought. It was what made her ideate on Ankh.

The Donepudi's move to India was due to “her parents wanting to develop cars in India.” It saw the younger Sriya struggle as she learned to adapt. Seeing her parents, and her heritage helped her transition smoothly. Ankh began recycling floral waste from weddings, parties, and temples in and around Hyderabad - candles, distilled oils, incense sticks, potpourri were made by local women.

Looking back, her teachers, parents, and the CAS coordinator guided Sriya to success, thus catching the eye of the Diana Award panel. The Diana Awardee is thankful that her CAS mentor nominated her. In a short period, it became a huge success. Not only because of its ecological philosophy, but also because of its socially relevant structure - Ankh employed around 50 underprivileged women full-time, giving them the opportunity to make a living too.

[caption id="attachment_10648" align="aligncenter" width="701"] Local women making products from flower waste[/caption]

“There was this one girl who was only 19-years-old,” recalls Sriya in an interview with Global Indian, adding, “She stopped going to school after eighth grade, was married, and had a child. It amazed me how much she had to do at such a young age, yet she was still so hopeful and optimistic about the future.”

As an avid reader, Sriya’s love for ancient Egyptian mythology gave her the name Ankh – a symbol that represents eternal life, and its elements - Her Ankh in turn empowered women and helped the planet.

The pandemic was not easy

During Covid 19, sadly, Ankh has taken a backseat but Sriya hopes to restart soon. “Covid majorly affected Ankh. It was hard for women to work, and events had taken a hit, thus collecting floral waste was harder,” explains the Diana Awardee.

With growing climate concerns, the 17-year-old now wants to move forward with more sustainable products, and even help the Covid-stricken. “A dream of mine is to get into skincare, but I think that’s a bit too complex right now,” laughs the enterprising Diana awardee.

A meeting of minds

The award has given Sriya the opportunity to connect with like-minded and brilliant young people across the world, and also learn from them. “There was a girl from Trinidad and Tobago who works with autistic people, she was such an inspiration,” she recalls. Being in the midst of inspiring ideas and individuals, Sriya wants to be proactive on world problems. Now, the 12th grader (finishing her second year IBDP), contributes to the UN’s socially uplifting activities in school and does her bit as a UNICEF ambassador. Her aspiration is to study in the US, majoring in economics and global health.

Like other teens, the Diana Awardee loves a good read, or music, so much so that she even founded her school’s first-ever literature club. A movie aficionado, her passion is also watching and analysing films.

For Sriya, family is everything. “I’m close to my family. I learned everything from them - my parents and grandparents are truly my role models,” she says. Visits to her grandparents in Kotegiri is what she loves. “I can see what my mother’s life was like, growing up in Kotegiri, I love its simplicity and sustainability,” Sriya smiles.

While Ankh has been a life-changing journey, she stresses, “Purpose is what makes you human, that’s what I learned.” Advice to budding young social entrepreneurs? “Reflect, plan and reach for the stars. If you’re passionate, there’s nothing stopping you from getting what you want,” she signs off.

Follow Sriya Donepudi on Linkedin

Reading Time: 5 mins