Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusivePM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardee Shreenabh Agrawal is a man on a mission

PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardee Shreenabh Agrawal is a man on a mission

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(January 31, 2024) Shreenabh Agrawal is a powerhouse of talent. His work, spread across diverse areas, stands testimony to that. Now 20-years-old, Agrawal has authored two books, wrote over 200 scientific articles in various publications, is an innovator who presented his work through seven research papers and a coder who has contributed to multiple projects. And all this is only one part of what he does.

His scholarly achievements aside, the youngster has positively impacted many lives with his extraordinary ideas. To top it all, he is the recipient of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2021, the highest civilian honour for children in India. “Physics, Quantum Technology and the latest developments in the world of Robotics and AI interest me the most,” smiles Shreenabh, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian.

Shreenabh Agrawal

Currently pursuing a degree at IISC Bangalore, a course which involves a comprehensive study of the subjects mentioned above, Shreenabh’s diverse interests is what makes him stand out among the rest. “Being presented an award by PM Narendra Modi was a moment of immense honor and pride. It reflected recognition for my contributions, particularly in the field of innovation,” says the 20-year-old. The experience further motivated him to pursue excellence in his endeavours and contribute meaningfully to the society.

He was presented the award for his achievements in the field of agriculture, which benefitted thousands of farmers across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Shreenabh’s innovation “Neer Setu farming” helped reduce the consumption of water manifolds leading to an increase in the productivity of crops. Both farmers and scientists lauded the innovation.

Books

His first book, “Thank you Modiji,” was published in 2015, followed by “A Young Explorer’s Journey of Science” in 2017.

“Currently, I am considering ideas for a third book,” informs Shreenabh, who has written over 200 scientific articles in Twinkle Star Magazine of the Hitavada, Science India Magazine, and Science Reporter. These articles covered a wide range of scientific topics and have been recognized in the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records.

His essays on Global issues have won awards at competitions organized by GOI Peace Foundation, Japan; NASA, Pendle War Poetry Competition, London, UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan, Korean Cultural Centre India, Embassy of the Republic of Korea; PRL-ISRO, Spaceport India Foundation, etc.

As a coder, Shreenabh Agrawal contributed to multiple projects. “I can code in Python, Java, C, Arduino, and Web Dev Languages. I am also proficient in Cloud Computing and Machine Learning. I have developed two open source projects as well,” says the multi-talented youngster, who along with a team of like-minded Math enthusiasts, also organized IGMO 2020, which is the world’s second-largest virtual math open.

Lock Bore Hole Protection

One of his inventions is the triple lock bore hole protection lid. He came up with this invention after coming across multiple reports of children losing their lives after falling into open borewells. Since 2009, at least 40 children have lost their lives after rescue operations failed.

“The Triple Lock Bore Hole Protection Lid was designed to prevent accidents and save lives by securing bore holes. The innovation aims to provide a robust solution to an often-overlooked problem, emphasizing safety and protection,” points out Shreenabh, who was moved by the gruesome and slow deaths of children.

As an innovator, he has published and presented his innovative research work (7 research papers) on reputed National and International platforms. He even represented India at the International Science and Engineering Fair, 2020.

Oldy-Goldy club

Among his humanitarian missions is the Oldy-Goldy club, which he came up with when he noticed the plight of elderly citizens who felt ignored and shunned by the society. “I visited 16 libraries and convinced them to allow their facilities to be used for a weekly life skills session. I requested the elderly citizens to make use of their experience and knowledge and conduct weekly sessions for children.”

Awards

He was invited to Tokyo, Japan, by the Goi Peace Foundation for an award in the international essay contest for his project “Oldy Goldy Clubs.” Adjudged first among participants from more than 162 countries, it was a significant achievement for him. He traveled to Sweden on being selected for the Elite Scholarship camp organized by IVL Sweden, which he describes as a truly life-changing experience. “These international exposures have enriched my perspectives and contributed to my personal and academic growth,” says Shreenabh, who also won the prestigious Princess Diana Award for humanitarian work.

His other awards and accolades include world rank one in International Youth Maths Challenge, nomination as Youth ambassador for Radio Chico Switzerland among others.

Nagpur boy

Born and brought up in Nagpur in December 2003, Shreenabh astonished his parents, Dr. Moujesh Agrawal and Dr. Tinu Agrawal, with his razor-sharp memory, creativity and unique abilities ever since he was a three year old. He could memorise and recount lengthy and complex scriptural passages and churn out stunning pieces of art.

“My parents serve as constant inspirations with their distinguished careers in shaping the younger generation by way of research, developing new products to simplify learning and mentoring,” says the youngster, who studied from Class 1 to Class 12 in an ICSE board school, Chanda Devi Saraf School and junior college, Nagpur.

While Dr. Moujesh Agrawal is a consultant for ICAD group of Institutes in Nagpur and a profound Mathematician who trains students worldwide for prestigious Maths Olympiads, Dr. Tinu Agrawal is a researcher and director of Prarambh Advanced Training and Research Centre.

Academics

As a student, he displayed his academic proficiency by securing the All India Rank 3 (99.2%) in his ICSE Grade 10 Board Examinations and All India Rank 136 in KVPY SA. In Grade 11 (ISC), he again scored 99% marks and went on to secure World Rank 1 in IYMC 2020.

“My interest in science sparked early on and was nurtured through various experiences,” says Shreenabh, who cleared the KVPY exam in class 11, which led to admission in the UG BS program at IISC Bangalore. He completed two online courses in Physics from IIT Kanpur. “These courses ignited my passion for physics and contributed significantly to my academic journey.”

He also won the title of Himalayan-2016 by acing the Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM), a scientific talent search examination held at IIT Delhi.

“My interests extend beyond academics,” informs the prodigy, who has won a gold medal in the IGEM competition, worked on robotics and AI projects with companies like Open AI and served as the Corporate Relationship Committee head for Pravega, India’s largest fest. “I’m inspired by the achievements and values of legendary Indian Scientists, which makes me strive for excellence in my endeavours.”

Daily routine at IISC Bangalore

His daily routine is a balance of rigorous academic commitments, involvement in extracurricular activities like leading the Corporate Relationship Committee for Pravega, and personal pursuits. “The experience at IISC has been transformative, providing a holistic learning environment and shaping my academic and personal growth.”

Future plans

Shreenabh Agrawal says his future plans revolve around research in Physics. “I aim to continue my pursuits in Robotics, Quantum Technology at world’s best labs as my summer internship projects in near future. Then, I would go for PhD while exploring opportunities for further academic and professional growth,” he informs.

Diverse interests

Beyond science, Shreenabh has diverse interests. “I enjoy exploring books related to finance, complementing my core subjects,” he says. Music too holds a special place. “I love playing the keyboard and exploring various genres.” Travel is another passion. “ I’ve had the opportunity to visit Tokyo, Japan, and Sweden for international awards and scholarship programs, both of which were life-changing experiences,” shares the youngster.

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Moujesh

March 2, 2024 8:25 am

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Published on 31, Jan 2024

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Tanay Jain: Upcycling textile waste to stitch garments for the underprivileged kids

(January 26, 2024) Up to 7800 kilotonnes of textile waste gets accumulated in India each year with pre-consumer waste making for a steep 42 percent, out of which 17 percent ends up in landfills. Seeing piles of wasted fabric stacked in corners of his dad's Kolkata-based textile factory (Onaya Fashions) led to the birth of the Onaya Foundation in 2018 with a mission to give textile waste a second lease of life. They upcycle discarded textile waste into garments for underprivileged children. "Till now we have reached out to 6000 children with the help of NGOs and have upcycled 5500-6000 meters of cloth," Tanay tells Global Indian. What began as donations by family members and friends to the underprivileged on special occasions grew during the lockdown when it opened its doors to the world owing to Tanay's vision of expansion. "We often visited orphanages during birthdays and donated clothes. But during the lockdown, we decided to open this idea to the world, where people could donate garments made from upcycled textile waste to the underserved," reveals the 18-year-old, who is studying B.Com (H) at Sriram College of Commerce. Conceptualised by his aunt Vandana Jain in 2018, the foundation expanded its

Sriram College of Commerce. Conceptualised by his aunt Vandana Jain in 2018, the foundation expanded its horizon in 2020 upon Tanay's behest. It began with making an Instagram page to invite keen donors. "They could contact us and we would find an NGO near their place, contact them, take details of the number of children, their age and sizes, and make clothes for them using the textile waste generated from my dad's factory," says Tanay.

[caption id="attachment_35462" align="aligncenter" width="548"] Tanay Jain[/caption]

In no time, the orders started coming in bulk, especially during the festive season. The contractual karigars stitch kurtas for boys and kurtis for girls at a nominal charge of ₹200. "We wanted to pay the marginalised karigars during Covid-19, especially when they needed an additional source of income," says the teenager, whose foundation has till now made multiple donations to 50-60 NGOs across West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. "We supply the karigars with textile waste which is mostly cloth patches and depending on their creativity and ingenuity, they make a kurta/kurti out of it." Tanay says that through the Onaya Foundation, the children at NGOs are getting to wear new garments on their birthdays, "something that wasn't happening before, and makes it special for them too."

The dream of being a social entrepreneur

Born in a business family, Tanay was witness to many dining table conversations that revolved around textiles. But seeing his family inclined towards serving society, he had decided at a young age that social entrepreneurship was the way forward. "I wanted to create an impact in the society through my work. However, I was too young to understand what I wanted to partake in until the lockdown happened, and I became more interested in the work that The Onaya Foundation is doing," says the teenager, whose foundation has made over 7000-8000 donations till now from their factory waste. "You can imagine the kind of textile waste that's generated from the factories that operate on a larger scale."

The positive impact

In the last few years, the Onaya Foundation has made a positive impact not only in the lives of underprivileged kids but the environment as well, especially in the times of fast fashion when a lot of textile waste makes it to landfills, thus causing environmental hazards. Their foundation looks into pre-consumption waste that is accumulated during the making of a garment. "Our idea was to start a cycle where the yarn or the fabric comes from nature and we give back to nature by upcycling textile waste. Moreover, we have also planted saplings and trees from the surplus funds we have received through donations," explains Tanay.

Started as the Katran Foundation in 2018, they have recently renamed it the Onaya Foundation. "The reason we have incorporated it under the Onaya Fashions is that it gives us a lot of resources to market it, create more impact, and formalise the structure. That's what we plan to do in the next two years," reveals Tanay, who looks into the marketing, awareness, and donation drives. His aunt, on the other hand, handles manufacturing and upcycling.

[caption id="attachment_35463" align="aligncenter" width="293"] Tanay with his aunt Vandana Jain[/caption]

Dwelling on the challenges that Tanay faced during the process, he says not getting enough donations was heartbreaking. "Also, creating awareness on textile waste and donations at a student level when people don't take you seriously was a constant struggle," he says, adding, "People often question your motivation thinking you are doing it for your CV. But since I had no inclination to study abroad and no external motive, people understood that it was of personal value to me," says Tanay for whom the entire experience has been humbling. "It has made me understand my privileges and how I can use them for the betterment of the society."

Sustainable fashion is the future

Ask if India is ready for sustainable fashion, the teenager says, "Things have improved in the last few years but it was difficult for us to spread awareness as people had no idea about textile waste causing environmental concerns." At the same time, he is happy that many companies are now championing the cause in the textile industry. "Some people are ready to pay a 20 percent premium for clothes that are sustainable than those that cause environmental hazards. At the same time, it's at a level where people are privileged. In a country like India, people have affordability issues as they care more about the price of the product than its impact. The kind of donations we are doing with The Onaya Foundation is done on a small level but when you look at the problem from a bigger lens, many people still cannot afford two meals a day in India, which puts a lot of things into perspective. I am grateful that the awareness is being spread but there is a long way to go," he signs off.

Follow Tanay Jain on LinkedIn

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Filling the gap: These young Indian girls are breaking stereotypes in the world of STEM

(May 27, 2022) Many girls and women are held back by biases, social norms and expectations influencing the quality of the education they receive, leading to an under-representation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, and consequently in STEM careers. According to the recent UNESCO report Cracking the Code: Girls’ and women’s education in STEM, only 35 percent of STEM students in higher education globally are women, and differences are observed within STEM disciplines. Although, slowly but surely, things are changing. Many young girls are at the helm in STEM as deft decision makers and as harbingers of change. Global Indian takes a look at these young marvels, who are working tirelessly to solve several global issues. Priyanka Srivastava, NASA scientist Indian-American Priyanka Srivastava is among the nine Indians who successfully made NASA’s Perseverance Rover land on Mars. Although born in the US, Priyanka grew up in the lanes of Lucknow, completing her pre-university education at Mount Carmel School and BTech in electronics and communication from Punjab University. Later, she enrolled at the University of Michigan in the United States for higher education. [caption id="attachment_17271" align="alignnone" width="1017"] Priyanka Srivastava[/caption] Taking inspiration from her idol Kalpana Chawla, Priyanka was keen to become

the United States for higher education.

[caption id="attachment_17271" align="alignnone" width="1017"] Priyanka Srivastava[/caption]

Taking inspiration from her idol Kalpana Chawla, Priyanka was keen to become an astronaut. Despite financial struggles, her family was the wind beneath her wings who encouraged her to pursue her dreams passionately. It was during this time that she met Sunita Williams at an event and confessed how she (Williams) was nothing short of a Guru to her.

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Arunima Sen, innovator and designer

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[caption id="attachment_17270" align="aligncenter" width="662"] Arunima Sen[/caption]

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Rhea Jethvani, Edison Scholar

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[caption id="attachment_17269" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Rhea Jethvani[/caption]

The co-founder of her school’s first Hackathon Learnathon, where she held a workshop on basics of cryptography highlighting the importance of password encryption, Rhea plans to major in computer science. She is one of the 2022 Edison Scholars, a scholarship that’s given to 30 students to pursue STEM. During a press interaction after the scholarship was announced, Rhea said, “My pursuit of applying cybersecurity skills to help build a more resistant society is just beginning and I’m excited to protect my community from the evolving danger."

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Sahithi Pingali, eco-entrepreneur

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[caption id="attachment_17268" align="aligncenter" width="635"] Sahithi Pingali[/caption]

In four years, the coding enthusiast created the app WaterInsights and a testing kit to collect data from the sulfurous lakes. The project took her to Los Angeles in 2017, as one of the top finalists at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), at which MIT named the eponymous planet 34014, Pingali.

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Singer Purva Mantri gives a melodious spin to this year’s Navratri Garba song penned by PM Modi

(October 11, 2024) As Navratri festivities sweep across India, the cultural vibrancy of Garba, a traditional Gujarati folk dance and song brings people together in devotion and celebration. This year, the festival shines even brighter for young singer Purva Mantri, who got a unique opportunity to sing a Garba song penned by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Known as the 'Indian Shakira,' Purva's energetic and mesmerising performances have become a Navratri staple over the years, drawing thousands to her shows in the previous years. No wonder when the PM penned a song for this year’s Navratri, Purva was chosen to give her voice to his lyrics. PM’s lyrics, Purva’s voice In a heartfelt message shared on X, Prime Minister Modi introduced the Garba song he wrote, titled Aavati Kalay, as a tribute to Goddess Durga. The Prime Minister lauded Purva for her "melodious rendition" and recognized her as a talented artist who truly brought the song to life. Purva Mantri who is just back from a five-city US tour calls herself “blessed and honoured” to get the opportunity to sing on a song penned by none other than PM Modi. She recorded the track and shot the music

d Aavati Kalay, as a tribute to Goddess Durga. The Prime Minister lauded Purva for her "melodious rendition" and recognized her as a talented artist who truly brought the song to life.

Purva Mantri who is just back from a five-city US tour calls herself “blessed and honoured” to get the opportunity to sing on a song penned by none other than PM Modi. She recorded the track and shot the music video in just 24 hours. "This is really big for an artist and a citizen. I feel blessed. I am grateful and honoured to be part of this big track. I have tears in my eyes," said the Global Indian who has been involved with the world of music through stage shows, independent music and playback singing.

Mastering the art of live performances

For Purva who has been inclined towards music since she was a child, performing live during the high-energy nights of Navratri is an annual affair. With over 15,000 people attending her Garba and Dandiya nights in Surat each year, she has established herself as a dynamic voice in the music world. Reflecting on her journey, she shared in an interview, " My very first memory of performing during Navratri is from Rajkot when I performed at a proper ten-day Navratri event.” After giving multiple performances at Rajkot and Porbandar, the artist moved to Mumbai a few years back to try her luck, and started doing small events.

Her talent got identified by the founders of the band Bamboo Beats who hail from Gujarat. The Garba songs that she sang in collaboration with the band are very special to her because even after many years people dance to those tunes.

Despite the challenges of consistently delivering electrifying performances, Purva Mantri finds her energy from the audience. "The audience is my oxygen," she said. "When they come to see me perform, I think they should leave feeling it was worth it. Their energy fuels me, and even when I’m tired or jet-lagged, their positivity keeps me going." This connection with her audience has become her secret to sustaining high-octane performances throughout the festive season.

One of her most memorable experiences was during her first solo event in Surat. "There were around 15,000 people, and I got on stage with my own band for the very first time. After the show, an uncle who was in his 70s came to me with his grandson, and told her in Gujrati that his grandson calls her ‘Indian Shakiraben’. “I’ll never forget this line and it was very important to me because they felt that energy from there,” she remarked.

The global stage: Purvastic Tour 2024

While Purva has impressed Indian audiences for years, her recent Purvastic Tour 2024 took her talent to the United States. The tour, which kicked off in Atlanta, spanned major U.S. cities such as Dallas, Chicago, and Seattle, among others. Purva got an opportunity to showcase her indie music and her iconic fusion of singing with the Puneri Dhol. "Blending the Puneri Dhol with my singing has been a way to connect my Indian roots with a global audience. It’s thrilling to see how well it resonates," Purva remarked.

Purva carried her 27kg Puneri dhol to every city on her U.S. tour. It all started with an impromptu dhol act during a live show in Surat a few months back. She never imagined it would gain such popularity. “Playing the 27kg dhol while singing has become my USP,” she remarks. She gets calls from all over India to perform with it. So, she made it a point to carry it to the U.S. as well.

While performing she is so connected with the audience that she does not feel the weight of the dhol says the singer who wraps the strap of the dhol around her neck, so that it's well supported.

The power of positivity

Amidst the fast-paced music industry, Purva remains grounded, drawing strength from her father’s wisdom. "He once told me, “I know that you were meditating on stage. If performing is meditation for you, you will never fail. Just keep meditating like this.” Those words have stayed with her, and every time she performs, she remembers her father’s words and treats her performance as an act of meditation on stage.

Though the singer’s journey has been full of accomplishments, Purva acknowledges the challenges that come with it. "There is always a struggle. Even legends like Mr. Amitabh Bachchan continue to work hard to stay where they are. In this industry, you need to grow and adapt every day. But I love what I do, and my ultimate aim is to spread positivity and touch as many lives as possible."

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

Purva Mantri has observed that even audiences abroad connect with her due to this quality. Sharing an incident, she mentioned, “When I performed in New Zealand, several foreigners were also part of the event because they love our Indian culture. They went back home smiling and said, 'There are a lot of singers who come to Australia and New Zealand. But the positivity which you give on stage is different.’” Purva finds these comments as her accomplishment and inspiration.

Looking ahead: Tomorrowland dreams

With dreams of performing at Tomorrowland (one of the most popular annual music festivals in the world held in Belgium), Purva’s ambitions extend far beyond her current achievements. "They say when you perform at Tomorrowland, the whole earth moves. I want to see people dancing and jumping to my voice. It’s a big international dream that I am working toward," she said. In addition to her live performances, Purva is also exploring Bollywood playback opportunities.

As Purva continues to push the boundaries of her musical journey, her fusion of tradition and innovation, along with her infectious energy, ensures she remains a rising star in the Indian music industry and beyond.

Follow Purva Mantri on Instagram and Facebook

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Being the Change: Kashvi Jindal is bringing a smile on the faces of the underprivileged in India

(November 30, 2023) Financial markets have often fascinated Kashvi Jindal. As a child, she would regularly hear her father, a hedge fund founder, talk about it. She would even ask him if the markets have gone down or up, without even understanding the concept of markets. Growing up, her interest in the financial world only expanded. But unlike many, she wanted to use the financial knowledge to give back to the society. It was this factor that led her to start Invest the Change and bring about a change in the society. "It's a project driven by the ambition to raise awareness and facilitate access to government schemes on a broad scale, ultimately benefiting as many individuals as possible,” informs budding entrepreneur and socialist Kashvi Jindal, in conversation with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_34363" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Kashvi Jindal[/caption] Invest the Change Launched in January 2022, Invest the Change was founded with the goal of promoting financial literacy among the lower income sections of society. "The initial plan was to help people understand the basics of saving and investing, so they could make better financial decisions and build a corpus for the long term,” says the 17-year-old. However, after conducting a few

the goal of promoting financial literacy among the lower income sections of society. "The initial plan was to help people understand the basics of saving and investing, so they could make better financial decisions and build a corpus for the long term,” says the 17-year-old.

However, after conducting a few sessions with people at the Skill Development Center in New Delhi, it became apparent to her that the concept of saving and investment was not as relevant to lower income groups who often have limited resources and struggle to make ends meet. "Instead, their financial distress usually stemmed from medical emergencies, accidents, or a death in the family. This realisation hit me more when a house keeping staff of my housing society passed away after an accident,” says Kashvi, who participated in the Wharton Global Youth Program and did a course in communication skills from Trinity College, London.

The incident spurred her to research and explore government schemes that could provide much-needed relief for such situations. "Consequently, the focus of the project shifted from financial literacy to creating awareness about government schemes that could offer a safety net during times of financial distress," informs the teenager.

Challenges

But building trust within the group proved to be the most daunting obstacle. "Many individuals were hesitant to share their personal details due to fears of potential deception," says the class 12 student at Heritage Xperientialschool, Gurgaon.

The underlying concern was that linking government schemes to bank accounts might expose them to fraudulent activities. For Kashvi, overcoming this hurdle involved persistent efforts to demonstrate that her intentions are sincere and focused solely on providing access to government-backed schemes that can genuinely benefit them. "Emphasising that these initiatives are designed to channel benefits directly to the participants has been crucial in assuaging their apprehensions," she says.

Kashvi believes controlling one's finances can actually bring a significant change in their standard of living. "There are a variety of financial instruments that are available for the help of the poverty stricken families but they are unaware of these government schemes. So I wanted to be the one to bridge the gap and guide them to those government aids." Over the next 2-3 years, the goal is to expand the project's footprint nationwide, ensuring its imprint is felt across the country. “While the current focus centers on select government insurance schemes, the long-term objective is to encompass a wider array of government initiatives, enabling individuals to avail the benefits rightfully due to them but often overlooked due to lack of awareness.”

She aims to achieve this with a mid-term goal, which involves building a network of dedicated volunteers who can effectively disseminate information and extend the project's reach within their respective communities.

Additionally, an app has been developed that provides detailed scheme information and eligibility checks, allowing the project to engage with economically disadvantaged populations on a larger scale, informs the teenager, who envisions working at a more strategic level, establishing robust systems and processes that can accommodate the project's growth.

Delhi girl

Born in Delhi, Kashvi lived in Mumbai for the first three years where her father Gaurav Jindal was working. The family moved to Gurgaon in 2009 and have been here since.

Kashvi’s interest in financial markets prompted her to take up Economics, Maths, Accountancy and Business Studies as her major subjects in Class 11 and 12. “The interest in financial concepts pushed me to take AP course on Micro and macro economics in my grade 10 and I scored perfect 5 on both,” smiles the teenager, who worked on a research paper on adoption of cryptocurrency in India, which got published in journal of student research.

She has always been academically inclined and been in top 5 percent of her class. “I have always tried to enrich myself outside of my academic activities by focusing on extra curriculars and sports,” informs the budding entrepreneur, who was also an avid swimmer but had to leave it because of certain medical issues.

Youth Platform

Invest the Change is not her only initiative. In the summer of 2020, she launched the Youth Platform, an initiative to inculcate communication skills, through self curated courses, in students who do not have access to opportunities to excel at the same.

During the pandemic, she noticed that the marginalized communities were facing significant difficulties in accessing education.“I saw my house help, who has two children and was struggling to support their education. I was deeply moved. I began tutoring them.”

During one of the study sessions, the children expressed interest in Kashvi’s preparation for a Model United Nations conference, which sparked the idea for a simple debating program. The program had a significant impact on the children's confidence and sparked their interest in learning more. “As they shared their experiences with friends, more children expressed an interest in participating. Their enthusiasm motivated me to create a more structured program, which eventually evolved into Youth Platform,” says Kashvi of how her journey in helping the underprivileged took off.

She feels the youth of today need to have a platform to be able to express their thoughts and opinions confidently and effectively to the audience, which will help in independent thinking and global citizenship. “Through workshops, I have been able to help many children gain confidence to express their emotions and thoughts. The Youth Platform has taught kids to articulate their ideas in a formal debate format, rather than arguing or fighting.”

Since 2021, she has guided 500 students across 10 NGOs. “At Youth Platform, we recognise that building a strong foundation is the key to empowering the communicators of tomorrow,” she feels.

Raising awareness

Of late, Kashvi has been conducting sessions focused on two main themes: raising awareness about various government schemes and assisting individuals in accessing them, and promoting financial literacy to help people understand the fundamental concepts of investing and saving.

“To date, we have reached approximately 3,000 individuals and facilitated benefits totaling ₹20 crore. By introducing these schemes to our audience, we have witnessed increased confidence among people, knowing that they won't fall into a debt trap during emergencies,” informs Kashvi.

For instance, there was a driver who had postponed a recommended surgery for two years due to financial constraints. However, after enrolling in the PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna), he was able to undergo the surgery and significantly improve his quality of life. “Additionally, we have witnessed cases where families, who lost their primary breadwinner, were able to receive insurance money to alleviate some of their financial distress.”

For both Invest the Change and Youth Platform, there are teams comprising passionate volunteers. “We find a volunteer whom we train and who can take things forward. The idea is to multiply the impact by creating self-sustaining groups,” she says.

Diverse interests

Kashvi is passionate about debating, MUN (Model United Nation) conferences, fitness, travel and photography. A versatile trader, she enjoys everything from The Palace of Illusions to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and People We Meet on Vacation.

“Music is my constant companion complimenting my diverse interests,” says Kashvi, who plays guitar and likes to watch Shark Tank, Gilmore Girls, Scam 1992 and Friends.

Follow Kashvi Jindal on LinkedIn

What's your Global Indian story? Write to us at editor.gi@globalindian.com

Across the metaverse: Chennai’s Sanchi Taleda one of 79 NFT artists to showcase her work at Times Square

(July 12, 2022) Sanchi Taleda was "beyond thrilled" and also, "a little confused," when she heard the news that her NFT was to be displayed in the Metaverse. Just like that, the 22-year-old artist found her name in lights, with her work, Quarter Past Midnight, splashed across a Times Square billboard on June 19, the opening night of NFT.NYC. She's one of 79 artists (and one of the youngest of the lot) from around the world to have their work showcased on the first night of the week-long event. [caption id="attachment_19157" align="aligncenter" width="604"] Quarter Past Midnight, by Sanchi Taleda. Photo credit: Instagram[/caption] A dose of (augmented) reality For one week, the young NFT artist was given access to cryptovoxels.com, one of the largest and most popular metaverse spaces. "It was very intimidating," she tells Global Indian. "I was one of the youngest artists among a group of people who had massive fan bases. I was wondering how I fit in there, to be honest, but it was an amazing experience." After the billboard display, her work was showcased at a virtual gallery, at an exhibition titled 'Figureglyphs', which dealt with artistic interpretations of the human body. "It was an augmented

midating," she tells Global Indian. "I was one of the youngest artists among a group of people who had massive fan bases. I was wondering how I fit in there, to be honest, but it was an amazing experience." After the billboard display, her work was showcased at a virtual gallery, at an exhibition titled 'Figureglyphs', which dealt with artistic interpretations of the human body. "It was an augmented reality setup, where people could walk (physically) through Times Square and use their phones to enter virtual galleries in the Metaverse.”

Where it began

It all began with a Discord group, where "they had put out a search for artists," she recalls. The young NFT artist had just begun sharing her work on Opensea, when she stumbled upon a call for artists put out by SearchLight.Art. To her, the chances of being accepted seemed so remote that Sanchi, acting almost on a whim, sent out a piece of work she had already completed. "Here I was, trying to understand how NFTs work and suddenly, I'm part of a gallery in the Metaverse and being told my art would be on a billboard in Times Square."

Back in 2020, Sanchi, who will graduate soon from the Measi Academy of Architecture, was given an iPad to help her with college assignments. "Instead, I got into digital illustrations," she says. "It was just fun for me, a break from college." She began researching NFTs and wondered if she could enter the space herself. She pleaded with her brother to get her a crypto wallet - "He did, but only after I had done my research," she laughs.

Seeking magic in the mundane

"Where do I find inspiration? It happens when I go walking through the streets, that inspires me the most," Sanchi says. An experienced swimmer, Sanchi walks to the pool every day, soaking in the countless, poignant vignettes that make up everyday life on the bustling streets of an Indian city. "One day, for instance, I saw a man yawning to himself and scratching his head. It was such a busy road but he was lost in his own world. It made me wonder what his life is like, what he has been through."

[caption id="attachment_19160" align="aligncenter" width="521"] Photo credit: Instagram[/caption]

The ideas take seed, she says, when she's actually in the pool, swimming. "That's my time to take stock of what I have seen, to understand what has inspired me." Her art itself, however, is unplanned - she begins with an idea and let it take form. "I don't always know what it will turn out to be," Sanchi remarks. It's an advantage, she agrees, to being a digital artist working with a tool like ProCreate. Here, she has greater room for spontaneity, vastly different to conventional art where usually, everything is planned to the last detail before it makes it to the physical canvas. "I simply allow myself to draw and as I do, find different ways to build on it."

Unassuming and even a little reticent – Sanchi is not given to words, preferring to let her art speak for her. And it does. Her digital artwork, all done at home on her iPad, is reminiscent (although she doesn't intend it to be), of the Surrealists. She simply smiles at the reference - she's familiar with their work Sanchi does not borrow, her work as an artist is deeply introspective, taken from everyday scenes in the streets of Chennai, where she is based. "I want people to look at my work and go, 'but what is she thinking'? Everyone who looks at my art should interpret it differently." The NFT artist mentions digital creators like David Shrigley, who has a huge following on Instagram. Although their work is nothing alike, "he makes you think and that's what I want to do as an artist."

Breaking the norms of architecture – and art

[caption id="attachment_19163" align="aligncenter" width="494"] Photo credit: Instagram[/caption]

Now in her final year at Measi, Sanchi has created for herself a way to think in abstract terms, producing work that is very removed from the conventional approach. Her friends, she says, became used to her huddling in a corner and scribbling away - "They all know I'm a little different," she smiles. "I would spend my days scribbling my own drawings instead of actually listening in class." She shied away from "the usual rectangles, squares and boxy designs," preferring to work with shapes like triangles. "My professor would ask me, 'How do you even think this way'? It took some convincing but, in the end, he told me that he likes my designs the best." At home, however, there is no need for convincing - her father, she says, is her biggest fan. "He even comes up with names for my work."

Sanchi, who is even toying with the idea of being an architect in the Metaverse, where she can give her abstract thinking full rein, intends to do her master's degree in the UK. It's the only place "which offers courses that bridge art and architecture. I want to be at that intersection."

Follow Sanchi on Instagram, Twitter and check out her work on Opensea.io

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