Prathistha Deveshwar: The first Indian wheelchair-user at Oxford is striving for change
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(June 7, 2023) Pratishtha Deveshwar was just 13 when a tragic car accident left her paralysed down the waist. The sudden turn of events left her confined to a hospital bed for four months and subsequently forced her to spend three years bedridden. Returning to school was an impossible dream at first as her school wasn’t wheelchair accessible. Moreover, people around them had given their verdict that her life was over, asking her parents to buy her a shop in her hometown of Hoshiarpur in Punjab to at least earn a livelihood. But Pratishtha defied societal expectations and embarked on an extraordinary journey of education, empowerment, and advocacy. The Diana Award recipient is the first Indian wheel-chair user to study at Oxford University, along with being one of the youngest and most vocal disability rights activists in India.
It was a normal life for Pratishtha until October 2011, when owing to a spinal cord injury she was left paralysed. She woke up in the ICU days later to immense pain in her hands and chest but couldn’t feel anything below her waist. She was told by the doctor, ‘You will never be able to walk again.’ At that moment she felt her dreams, life, and aspirations had come to an end. She was later shifted to a normal hospital bed where she ended up spending the next four months. But due to the gravity of the situation, she was bedridden for another four years, until she decided to take charge of her life. Being written off by society, she knew the only way to get out of it was through the power of education. “People kept telling my parents to face facts and buy me a shop, so I might at least have a livelihood. Never mind what I wanted: career, marriage, travel; all these things were unthinkable according to conventional wisdom,” the Global Indian wrote in Somerville Magazine.
But her parents encouraged her to study as she worked with her teachers and friends to find a way to continue her studies. She finally found a system and worked hard to clear her Class 12 boards. “I always knew that I could overcome my situation only with education. So, after 12th, I told my parents that I don’t want to live inside the four walls of my home anymore; I deserve better. I applied to LSR, and got admission! That changed my life,” she told HT. However, it came with its share of prejudices as many people didn’t find logic in sending a wheelchair-bound girl to the university. “Those people just saw the wheelchair; they never looked beyond it to the contents of my mind or my heart. It was around this time that I first thought of advocacy not just for myself but for all people with disabilities – of which there are 28 million in India.”
LSR gave her the wings as for the first time she found a safe space to be herself, surrounded by a supportive community of women who encouraged her to share her story. This was her first step towards activism, and it started right outside the gates of her college in Delhi. She met people who wanted to listen to her story and share theirs. But it was one encounter that moved her the most. “A shopkeeper invited me to visit his shop and make it wheelchair accessible. All the alterations I suggested were completed within five days of my visit. This, I learned, is how activism works: by meeting people, listening to their stories, and telling your own, until you find common ground.”
Soon she began sharing her story at other DU colleges and slowly started getting more attention. She led to an invitation to speak at the UN, and it snowballed as she was then asked to join the Asia Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok and later in Nairobi. With each platform, she got an opportunity to create awareness which won her the Diana Award in 2021 for her activism for disability rights. This led her to the gates of Oxford University for a Masters in Public Policy, making her the first Indian wheelchair-user to study at Oxford University. “I realized that the cause of constant marginalization of persons with disabilities (PwDs) is the lack of inclusive policies, hence I opted for Public Policy. I want to come back to India to use the experience and knowledge by facilitating policy-level changes to improve the lives of PwDs,” she said.
Earlier this month , I had the incredible honour of meeting HRH Prince Charles, who commended my achievements so far and encouraged me to keep striving for success!
I am grateful to be the recipient of The Diana Award and thank every person supporting my journey! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HdLdg1lTUW
— Pratishtha Deveshwar (@iiampratishtha) June 29, 2021
It was at Oxford that her course reinforced ideas of activism that she had built up over the years. “I had expected Public Policy to teach me how to use the system to leverage change. It asked us to look beyond the numbers and create the right solution by empathising with the affected people,” she added.
The 23-year-old was honoured by the UK Parliament with the India-UK Achievers Award recently for her outstanding contribution to society. She is back in India and keen to share the things she has learnt in the last few years. “While I may be the first wheelchair-using Indian to attend Oxford, I don’t intend to be the last.”
(February 27) Aiming high is what Vennam Jyothi Surekha excels at. So much so that the winning streak follows her everywhere. As a three-year-old, she learnt swimming. By five, she had a unique record - swimming five km across the river Krishna in Andhra Pradesh in three hours, 20 minutes and six seconds. With that feat, her name entered the Limca Book of Records (2002). But that was just the beginning of more glory. She took up archery at age 11, and today, she has competed in 25 national and 42 international tournaments (so far) with a whopping 98 medals, making her one of the top Indian compound archers ever. “I believe competition should be with oneself,” smiles Surekha, the archer who has taken the world of archery by storm, winning one championship after the other. The Arjuna awardee who was the youngest from South India to receive the award has immense belief. It helps her better her own record year after year, and perform with unwavering focus. [caption id="attachment_11543" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Vennam Jyothi Surekha[/caption] The latest feather in her cap was the gold she clinched at the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania, USA. “It was my first time at
rchery | Global Indian " width="532" height="709" /> Vennam Jyothi Surekha[/caption]
The latest feather in her cap was the gold she clinched at the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania, USA. “It was my first time at the Lancaster archery classic and I was happy to be on the podium. Everything was new to me. I had so many memorable experiences,” says the serial winner, speaking exclusively with Global Indian.
The girl who ‘shot’ to fame
Born in Ramanagaram, Challapalli village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh in July 1996, Surekha is the only child of V Surendra Kumar, and V Sri Durga, who have been huge motivational figures in her life. The first time she was introduced to swimming was in 1999, a suggestion by her parents. Swimming across Krishna river is a faint memory, though Surekha recalls her parents taking her to the river to practice before the final attempt.
She took to archery too on her parents’ suggestion. Given the lack of sports infrastructure in Vijayawada, the idea was to try another sport. “They put me into archery as they wanted me to represent the country at the international level one day,” beams the 25-year-old. She first trained under local archer J Rama Rao (2008-2012), then made her way to the Indian Compound Archery chief coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja, and has been training with him since 2013.
Focused precision
Schooled at Nalanda Vidya Niketan in Vijayawada, she did computer engineering (B.Tech) and MBA from KL University, Vaddeswaram, passing both with distinction. Now, totally committed to archery, Surekha’s numbers tell an exemplary tale of courage and success. With over 50 state medals (2008-2012), 60 national medals in the under-13 to senior national which includes 38 gold medals, 13 silver and nine bronze, she has made medal-winning a habit.
Silverware follows this focused archer internationally too – she won 10 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals, totalling 38. A shining star in Indian sports, Surekha has participated in five World Championship, World Cup (19), World University Games (2), World University Championship (1), Asian Games and others -- totalling 42 international tournaments. Most comfortable competing individually, she also participates in mixed categories too.
A ‘bull’s eye’ for the country
“Listening to the national anthem after winning golds at international championships has been the proudest moment of my life. It inspires me to take India further up in world archery rankings,” says the ace archer who comes from a simple farming family. Her parents and their struggles have inspired this archer, who was at one time among the world’s top 10. The fact that her father was a kabaddi player, who instilled a love for sports in her, has a lot to do with her chosen path too.
Her job at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited under the Group-A sportspersons category, helps her follow that passion, and she is ever grateful. A tough regime is involved - six hours practice, two hours of physical training daily.
Her first bow, a Hoyt Rintek bow will always be most special. Shooting or archery is a focused sport, thus yoga and meditation help her find the calm amidst the storm, while gym sessions help improve her shoulder strength and cardio. Often, she can be seen hard at work at the Sports Authority of India, Sonepat, among the best centres for archery in India.
Thankful to Khelo India, which supports budding archers with equipment and training, the archery champ loves the facilities at the Sai centres. Receiving the Arjuna Award has been the biggest honour yet. “Receiving such a prestigious award gives one recognition for one’s achievements. It also motivates me to bring more laurels to the country,” she adds.
Her medals tally grows
Looking forward to the world cups, world games and Asian Games, Surekha is confident that she will continue her medal spree. An inspiration for many, Surekha guides amateurs passionate about sports. “There will be hurdles, choices to make between sports, academics or anything else. Give your 100 percent in achieving something, and take the right decisions at the right time with the right people,” she concludes.
Her career graph:
Only player to have won 3 Silver medals in a single Sr World Championship.
Only archer to win 6 medals in the Sr World Championships.
She won the 1st ever individual medal for India in women’s category in the World Championship in 2019.
She is the only player with world top 10 rankings in compound archery in individual, mixed team and women's team – a rare achievement.
In 2018, the Indian archery women’s team secured its first ever world no 1 rank. Jyothi Surekha’s performance contributed majorly to this.
She is the first ever Indian compound woman to achieve 4th rank in the world rankings.
Her 6 - medal tally in World Cups, 2018 is the best by an Indian compound archer.
She has a national record of 710/720 to her name.
Awarded with Krida Ratna Award by Akkineni Foundation, USA in 2014
(September 13, 2024) When 19-year-old Josh Roy presented his AI-implemented solution for the genetic modification of whiteflies, at the 2024 TKS Focus Hackathon, it emerged as the global winner, beating over 400 competitors from 300 cities and 80 teams. His solution aims to combat the devastating impact of Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) on cassava plants, an essential food staple in the tropics, and address food insecurity. This groundbreaking project, validated by leaders such as the Global Head of Data Science at GSK, was showcased at London Tech Week 2024, which attracted over 45,000 attendees. It also earned Josh a scholarship to the prestigious Villars Institute's inaugural ecopreneurship program. Josh is in active discussions with researchers, NGOs, and technology companies to bring his solution to market and positively impact millions of lives. This November, the US-based youngster would be flying to West Africa to receive the prestigious Global Entrepreneurs Award. “I am due to collect the award in-person in the world's first entrepreneurship village in Akure, Nigeria, where the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu and billionaire Mrs. Folorunso Alakija would be present as guests of honour,” he tells Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_39224" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Josh
would be present as guests of honour,” he tells Global Indian.
[caption id="attachment_39224" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Josh Roy at the London Tech Week[/caption]
There’s more to Josh’s personality. A passionate musician and host of The CapitalTycoon Podcast, where he engages with successful innovators, he was also the first student in the UK to complete a music GCSE in tabla. 'Tabla is one of the main focuses in my life alongside entrepreneurship. If you think about it, the two go hand in hand, as both require the ability to think creatively,' he remarks.
Dabbling in AI-powered innovation, music and podcasting
The British-born innovator describes himself as ‘a design engineer at the intersection of business, tech, and product design’ and is passionate about creating solutions to make the world a better place. As the developer of AI-powered innovations, he also identifies as an AI ethicist and is working on an AI-powered tabla tutor prototype designed to train students at all levels, aiming to revolutionize tabla education.
When asked how he balances his academics, music and other interests he smiles, “I don't know if I balance it well, and I'm not sure I'm at the stage to offer advice on how to find balance in my work. As my mentor John Spence told me, "If you genuinely enjoy and are obsessed with what you're working on, that's what you should be doing." I believe it's this sense of enjoyment I get from these projects that keeps them from feeling tedious or time-consuming."
Josh looks at each aspect of his life as complementary rather than separate. For instance, he looks at his podcast as an avenue to explore new ideas while engaging with successful innovators who provide insights that often benefit in his own entrepreneurial ventures.
The Indian-origin innovator who was born and brought up in the UK, received training in Tabla by Kuljit Bhamra MBE. “My passion for the tabla offers a creative outlet that recharges me mentally, which is essential when juggling high-pressure projects,” he remarks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxT7frsjtE
He has chosen an alternative education path through The Knowledge Society (TKS), where learning is deeply integrated with hands-on, real-world problem solving. “This flexible approach has allowed me to dedicate time to all my passions,” he mentions.
Josh got the opportunity to enroll in the two-year TKS programme after bagging the Unicorn Scholarship, which is only awarded to 20 students annually. He ranked in the top 0.06% of the 31,298 students who applied in the most recent batch. Its acceptance rate is far lower than that of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Combatting Cassava Mosaic Disease to address food insecurity
It all started with an upbringing that focused on seva. Even before he turned 10, Josh started volunteering with food banksand distributing meals to underprivileged elderly people. This sparked his commitment to tackling food insecurity. While he was still in school, the opportunities to attend tech conferences opened his eyes to technology’s potential. Later, a few Hackathon victories fuelled his desire to work on the problem of food insecurity all the more, and he came up with the AI-optimized tool for the genetic modification of whiteflies - engineered to combat the devastating impact of Cassava Mosaic Disease that has potential to benefit35 million Nigerians.
Cassava is a calorie-rich vegetable and the third-largest source of carbohydrates in food in the tropics, after rice and maize, making it an important staple. In African Cassava Mosaic Virus is a plant virus that infects cassava plants, causing mosaic symptoms on leaves and leading to significant yield losses in regions where cassava is a major food source. It is primarily transmitted through infected cassava stem cuttings and by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. When Josh came to know how millions of people in Nigeria suffer from food insecurity due to the Cassava Mosaic Disease, the AI enthusiast got drawn to solve a solution to the problem, and came up with an AI-driven gene editing solution for the genetic modification of whiteflies that cause the Cassava Mosaic Disease.
[caption id="attachment_39225" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Josh during the Villars Institute's mentorship programme[/caption]
Later, the week-long mentorship he received from ecopreneurs and scientists — pioneers in their respective fields — as part of his scholarship to the prestigious Villars Institute broadened his horizons. “With guidance from experts like Sofia de Meyer and Sofia Khwaja-Horekens, I've refined my food insecurity project, focusing on key stakeholders. Meeting people like the chief economist of Mars Inc. Bruno Roche and my mentor Jini Sebakunzi was an honour, and the experience deepened my connection with nature, and problems in its realm,” he says.
Work in progress
“The next steps involve collaborating with agricultural institutions in Nigeria and across Africa to conduct field trials of the modified whiteflies. This will help demonstrate the tool's effectiveness in real-world conditions. We are also working on partnerships with government bodies and NGOs to create awareness and ensure smooth adoption of this innovation. Once proven in field tests, scaling the technology will involve aligning with policymakers, farmers, and supply chain partners to ensure it reaches the 35 million Nigerians who stand to benefit,” tells Josh.
For the youngster, the goal is to not only combat CMD but to create a sustainable model that can be replicated across different regions suffering from crop diseases, ensuring long-term food security.
“My Father was my support for me from the beginning of my unconventional path and encouraged me going against cultural expectations by working to solve humanity's biggest problems through entrepreneurship or should I say, ecopreneurship,” he remarks.
Other projects
Josh has worked onother AIprojects like Project Dynamo while pursuing a consulting challenge with The Knowledge Society (TKS). “It's an initiative I launched to train NGO students in climate change problem-solving and systems thinking, partnering with SOS Children's Villages, India. This project also leveraged AI to translate educational content into regional languages, making it more accessible across diverse communities,” he informs.
Additionally, he has worked alongside Google for another TKS Challenge in AI-driven initiatives, for addressing problems like information overload that its employees face.
Josh Roy understands the importance of quality mentorship and has actively pursued it from business leaders.
Determined to reach out to John Spence, the Chairman of Karma Group Global, the youngster tried over 100 email variations until he successfully connected with Spence. “I was inspired by the experience he created at Karma so I was determined to get his mentorship for entrepreneurship. I tried 100 different variations of emails with trial and error as it was hard to find, until his personal hotmail email worked when I found it through a chrome extension,” he says.
This persistence led to a year and a half of valuable email exchanges, culminating in a phone call. “Since then, Spence has been reading my monthly newsletter where I update him and my other mentors on my personal growth. I consider him and his philosophies an influence in my projects and business endeavours. Persistence won at the end,” remarks Josh who loves speaking opportunities.
In addition to Spence, Josh has built strong relationships with other mentors like Kabir Mathur CEO and co-founder, Leen and Manoj Thacker, entrepreneur, and ambassador of Innovaud Swiss. He connected with Kabir during a family trip to Egypt and with Manoj through a friend's introduction. “Both mentors have been instrumental in guiding my journey, with Kabir even nominating me for The Diana Award and supporting my case for an O-1 visa in the US,” he says. Josh’s persistence to seek guidance have earned him mentorships that continue to shape his entrepreneurial path.
In the shoes of a mentor
One of the youngster’s moments of pride has been getting into the shoes of a mentor of 300 youngsters at Toronto in AI and gene editing for 1517 Fund's annual summit.
“I got the opportunity to mentor alongside a panel of 15 other mentors consisting of Zach Laberge (18-year-old founder of Frenter, who raised over three million CAD), Danielle Stratchman (co-founder, Thiel Fellowship) and Michael Patrick-Gibson (author of Paper Belt on Fire),” tells Josh adding, “I recall a Neuralink intern, Kyrylo Kalashnikov, attending the office hours I was hosting. Gaining exposure to some of the brightest minds in North America was both humbling and inspiring. It felt like they were the true mentors, even though I had the label of mentor for a day!”
[caption id="attachment_39228" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Josh during 1517 Fund's office hour[/caption]
The migration story and future
Born in Tooting, London Josh hails from a family with roots in Kolkata. He was raised in Ascot for most of his life, as well as in Lambeth. His mother is a singer-songwriter who was born in London, and did schooling both in India and the UK. His father is a corporate professional who was born and raised in Kolkata. This March, the youngster moved to the US along with his father who got a new job posting. “I decided to relocate with him and pursue my entrepreneurial dreams in the US,” he says.
In the short-term, Josh’s priorities are clear and twofold: "Radical collaboration with agricultural engineers, scientists and farmers to refine and implement my solutions, ensuring credibility and scalability. Secondly, to earn my O-1 Visa that will allow me to better pursue my entrepreneurial endeavours in the US." He is happy that he received his OCI last month.
With prestigious awards, recognitions, scholarships and mentorship the youngster is confident of making his entrepreneurial dream in America come true.
A report by India’s centre for budget and policy studies found 71 percent girls reported doing domestic chores during the pandemic, compared to 38 percent boys. (January 11, 2021) While most girls her age were dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic, 22-year-old Devanshi Ranjan was helping marginalised girls in need. The winner of the prestigious Diana Award for her noble endeavours, this graduate of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, has been advocating for more investment in social causes -- gender and youth development since the Corona outbreak. The social activist, Devanshi implemented impactful, innovative initiatives to uplift marginalised groups in highly sensitive rural areas in India. “When the award was announced, friends and family contacted me after the ceremony and saying, “you’ve made it,” which didn’t sit well as this award is not the end. The Diana Award comes with a sense of responsibility to continue Lady D’s legacy. I’d like to work even harder to make a difference,” says the fervent feminist, who is currently director of operations for Ladli Foundation, USA, an international non-profit corporation in special consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC. The social activist has taught 1,000 children as volunteer for an NGO
ivist has taught 1,000 children as volunteer for an NGO as well.
From LSR to Project MicDrop
Born and brought up in Delhi, social activist Devanshi did her schooling in DPS, Vasant Kunj and went on to study at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi where she pursued a degree in BA (hons) political science (2021). Currently pursuing a one-year postgraduate diploma in conflict transformation and peacebuilding at LSR, Devanshi is determined. Her mother, a government school teacher and father, a second-generation police officer nurtured in her, a deep belief in social upliftment. “Public service was a part of my upbringing. However, the realisation of the daily traumas experienced by us (women) hit me somewhere around my first year in college. I realised how this violence is systematic, persistent, pervasive and entrenched deep within the psyche of patriarchal Indian society. This is something I could identify with, despite being privileged, so just think about the struggles of women and gender minorities from historically underrepresented and marginalised groups. This thought made me take up this cause,” shares the girl who loves cats, and feeds two strays daily.
Committed to addressing these lacunas, Devanshi went on to start Project MicDrop with her friends. “My friends Gayatri Ahuja, a current Young India Fellow and Diya Joseph, a JMC political science graduate and I wanted to catalyse individual awareness and collective action to respond to the crises during lockdowns. Project MicDrop aims to be an inclusive, intersectional initiative for discussions of feminism, gender, sex and sexuality. It acts as a catalyst and facilitator towards enabling women, trans and non-binary people to exert agency, freely express and take pride in their identities, and work to challenge prevalent societal norms by creating spaces for feminist discourse,” she tells Global Indian.
When statistics alarmed her
While doing extensive research about the state of a girl child in rural India, Devanshi came across statistics that alarmed her. A report by India’s centre for budget and policy studies found 71 percent girls reported doing domestic chores during the pandemic, compared to 38 percent boys. Access to a phone was also 11 percent greater for boys. “Girls are facing the burden of household duties, just to sustain themselves for a meal a day. They also have to take care of children because of overcrowding in families. I studied the increase in school dropout rates. The gendered impact of the pandemic put female students at risk of early marriage, early pregnancy, poverty, trafficking and violence,” she ruminates. This led the gender activist to work with girls from marginalised communities. She also joined NGO Tamana as a teacher volunteer, as part of the national social service scheme, an Indian government sector public service programme conducted by the ministry of youth affairs and sports, for the 2018-2019 intake. “In my tenure, I taught over 1,000 students with intellectual and developmental disabilities by engaging them in interactive activities and self-researched learning modules,” she reveals.
Ladki padhao
At Ladli, the social activist aims to achieve gender equality, focusing on prioritising the concern of women’s health and well-being, especially in developing countries. It combats patriarchy, inequality, and gender-based violence. Having been part of Ladli for four years now, Devanshi’s work is focussed on three verticals: education and skill development, women’s empowerment and livelihood, and COVID-19 relief work. During the pandemic, Devanshi chose to focus on girl child education for a couple of reasons. “A girl child is more likely to drop out of school because women are viewed as a liability, not an asset. Women traditionally and even now are viewed as “paraya dhan”(other’s wealth) where the family they’re born in wouldn’t get anything out of them by investing in their education while a male child represents the continuity of lineage. Most hold such beliefs - urban, semi-urban or rural as patriarchy is deeply entrenched in Indian society,” she muses.
Breaking barriers, overcoming taboos
Given the fact that patriarchal notions are deep-seated in underprivileged situations where families struggle in a financially weak environment, it becomes difficult for children from those areas to have adequate resources to avail education. “Even if there’s the slightest chance for them to avail educational facilities, it always goes to the boys,” Devanshi mulls.
Along the course of her endeavours and studies, she has started replacing certain generic words she grew up hearing to those that aptly fit situations. “I don’t really use the term underprivileged – I’d rather use the words historically marginalised and under-represented groups. I also don’t like the term empowerment of women - the act of empowering someone is just reinforcing the saviour complex,” believes the social activist.
With her interests are centred around international development, gender and policy, Devanshi hopes to continue working, and pursue higher studies in international affairs and policy, with the intersection of gender. Binge watching on OTT, the movie buff loves watching romantic and comedy films with her mother and sister. R & B, classical and rock music are her other faves.
When not dedicating her time to social causes, the gritty 22-year-old enjoys reading political literature. “I also have a keen interest in learning about different languages and cultures. I have studied French for over nine years, and have swiftly picked up Spanish too,” she smiles.
Devanshi believes that it is important for the youth to constantly ask questions, and work towards finding solutions to causes they care about. “Amidst the pandemic, tons of youngsters started their own helplines and initiatives to help people in distress and the youth played a major role in creating change during COVID,” concludes the social activist.
(December 23, 2023) When most kids of his age were glued to cartoons on television, Shahan Ali Mohsin would watch motorsport racing. But his visit to the Indian Grand Prix changed it all for the teenager. Looking at the fast-speed cars, he knew he wanted to be on the track driving one. And now a few years later, he has become the first Indian to win the FIA Formula 4 car racing championship. The 19-year-old, who represents the Hyderabad Black Birds team, picked up the trophy at Madras International Circuit in Sriperumbudur, a town panchayat some 35 km away from Chennai. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shahan Ali Mohsin (@shahan_racing) It's nothing short of a dream come true for the teenager who has spent a considerable amount of his life on racetracks. It was in 2011 that he first visited Indian Grand Prix, and was determined to make a career in motorsports. Seeing his passion, his father Shahroo Mohsin, a shoe exporter based in Agra, did some research and soon enrolled Shahan at the Meco Motorsports Karting Academy in 2012. He adapted to it pretty soon. "In my first time driving a go-kart I
It's nothing short of a dream come true for the teenager who has spent a considerable amount of his life on racetracks. It was in 2011 that he first visited Indian Grand Prix, and was determined to make a career in motorsports. Seeing his passion, his father Shahroo Mohsin, a shoe exporter based in Agra, did some research and soon enrolled Shahan at the Meco Motorsports Karting Academy in 2012. He adapted to it pretty soon. "In my first time driving a go-kart I was already pretty fast. Mr. Ebrahim (Akbar Ebrahim) coached me over the years, which helped me learn racecraft. In the first year itself, I was in the top five. And by the end of my first year in the national championship, I already had a podium. By the second year I was already in the top three, and I was leading the championship for a brief while as well," he said in an interview.
The very next year, Shahan began competing in the Asian Rotax Championship. By the second season, he already managed a few podiums. At the age of 12, he won the Asian Championship's Micro Max category and even had his first race in Europe at the Rotax Grand Festival. "In 2018, I returned to Europe to do the Central European Championship. I got one podium, a second place, there. I did the Rotax Grand Festival in 2017 as well, finishing fourth that year," he added.
In 2018, Shahan faced a major setback while racing (Trofeo Andrea Margutti) in Italy when he felt a sudden pain in his ribcage. Upon his return to India, the MRI revealed a fracture in his left rib, which was caused by an injury in 2017 when he had a crash in the national championship. The injury kept him off the tracks for four months which Shahan describes as a difficult time. "I had to stay away from racing. I couldn't do anything. There was no gym, no fitness, which was very boring for me. But in the first race after the injury, I was already on the pace. And the second race after that I won," he revealed.
It was in 2019 when Shahan turned 15 that he switched from karting to single-seater with MRF F1600, making him the youngest single-seater driver in India. "The transition was difficult, but I adapted to it in one or two races. You're moving from a kart of 80kg to a single-seater which is 500kg. It's a big difference. And then you have aero, suspension, etc. Plus, in karting, you've got 30bhp, and in single-seaters you have 140-150bhp. It was a big difference in terms of engine and power. Then there was the gearbox. It took some time, but I adapted to it. There was a lot to learn," he said in an interview.
Shahan credits his dad for the journey that he has been able to undertake in motorsports. The racer says that his dad always had a blueprint helping him navigate the course for the next few years. "He always had a plan, and he built me up from scratch. He moved me from the Indian national scene to Asia, then to Europe, and then to single-seaters," added the teenager.
For the next three years, he kept clinching awards that have cemented his position in the world of motorsports. In 2019, he was awarded Best Driver of the Year and in 2021, he won the Indian National Car Racing Championship followed by becoming the first Indian to race in the Indian Racing League in 2022. And now, he has become the first Indian to win the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) Formula 4 car racing championship.
The F4 cars, sanctioned by the FIA, are imported from France and are equipped with turbocharged Renault engines, allowing them to attain speeds of up to 250 km/hr. The Indian F4 Championship comprises a field of 12 drivers, including three from India, as well as representatives from various countries such as Australia, the US, Tasmania, England, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and a female driver from India.
"I have set a goal to make India proud by giving my best in the remaining races of the championship," Shahan said.
(April 22, 2022) Number whizzes, Dubai-based brothers Raghav and Madhav have turned numerals into more than just that, with their social endeavours. For them, it’s evident that charity begins with numbers! The brothers with roots in Chennai are not only maths wizards but dedicated philanthropists who have raised close to 40,000 dirhams as part of their philanthropic initiatives for Al Jalila Foundation (an initiative of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai) and Smile Train, Dubai (world's largest charity for children with cleft). They have other charity initiatives too. At just 12 (Raghav) and nine (Madhav), the genius prodigies also have a cartload of awards and accolades. “Not using the abilities that we have is useless. We have learned that we should use our talent for a noble cause,” says the older sibling Raghav in an interview with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_15387" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Raghav and Madhav, maths wizards[/caption] Since 10, and seven, Raghav and Madhav have been helping special needs students, the have-nots, and the pandemic saw them raise funds to help those affected. "Since we couldn't really meet face-to-face, we met people online to showcase our mental math abilities firsthand and raise funds," says Madhav.
Since 10, and seven, Raghav and Madhav have been helping special needs students, the have-nots, and the pandemic saw them raise funds to help those affected. "Since we couldn't really meet face-to-face, we met people online to showcase our mental math abilities firsthand and raise funds," says Madhav.
A big brother who showed the path
Raghav, who was felicitated by Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO, Al Jalila Foundation for his humanitarian efforts, has been conferred the coveted Hamdam Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for distinguished student 2020-2021. The then consulate-general of India to Dubai awarded him the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Award, 2020. A math wizard and Diana awardee, there is a depth to his talent and abilities. He represented the UAE national team in the IMSO Olympiad (Indonesia), and is among the top 5 in the Junior Mental Calculation World Championship held in Germany. Dubai Cares has awarded Raghav, the Young-Philanthropist Award in 2019.
Yet, of paramount importance is his dedication towards developing his mathematical acumen. Raghav took up an algebra honours course meant for seniors at the North-Western University at the Centre for Talent Development, US. Unsurprisingly, he passed with a whopping 92 percent, though still in grade six. The consecutive two-time gold medallist in the math Olympiad, UAE brushes off these brilliant accolades, as his interest lies in using his talent to help others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl6pVsFJTVw
Both Raghav and Madhav enrolled in UCMAS (a worldwide skill development programme promoting the universal concept of a mental arithmetic system) at age five. The course laid a solid foundation for their extraordinary mathematics skills. “There is one competition - Flash in UCMAS, wherein numbers flash on screen, and you’re supposed to add them quickly. In that style of competition, I am the flash champion in UAE,” smiles an excited 12-year-old Raghav.
Private coaching from world-renowned experts, both in India and the UK, Raghav even trained himself in advanced mental math abilities. "We would like to do more charity for causes like teaching visually impaired about astronomy," says Raghav.
The little boy genius
Madhav is an ardent fan of his older brother, and loves emulating him. The UAE national level first ranker in the Ignited Mind Labs Mental Math competition in 2021, he is also a national level gold medallist in the Mathematics Olympiad conducted by IOF in 2021-2022 (UAE).
With three awards in the UCMAS National Abacus Mental Arithmetic Competition 2019 (in visual calculation, flash mental calculation, and listening mental calculation in the junior 4 category), Madhav’s prowess follows closely behind Raghav’s. An international champion at the UCMAS International Abacus competition (Cambodia, 2020), Madhav also learned to spread his wings. The avid cricketer started training at the International Cricket Council Academy in Dubai at five. He won the ICC Academy ADIB Warriors U-7’s coveted One to Watch Award 2019. An exceptional talent as a stylish left-handed batsman, Madhav is determined to take the sport further.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMeqi409VQ
Fundraising through mathematics
The brilliant brothers, Raghav and Madhav set up the YallaGive campaign to raise funds for Al Jalila Foundation’s Ta’alouf (harmony in Arabic) programme which empowers children of determination (special needs kids) by equipping parents and teachers to develop necessary skills to hone potential. The pandemic saw them raise funds (online) by posting videos, and setting up virtual meetings asking mental math questions to potential donors – the better they performed, the greater the donors contributed. Raising 30,000 dirhams for children with Down Syndrome and autism, they facilitated scientific training for 73 teachers across 23 schools in the UAE in 2020.
Chain of Initiatives
Raghav and Madhav's math acumen is spectacular, and that has given them an impetus to use it to help others. Sponsoring the education of an orphan girl child in India, Raghav is also the Youth Ambassador of Water Alliance, and often conducts webinars to propagate handwashing techniques, and water conservation. As youth ambassadors of Smile Train, they bore medical expenses of children suffering from cleft in the MENA region.
Strong roots
“Learning something and developing talent is good. But using that talent for a noble cause is even better, so we figured out that we should do something good with the skills we have,” says Raghav thoughtfully.
[caption id="attachment_15390" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Raghav and Madhav[/caption]
Their father Sumanth Seshadri is head of compliance at Gulf Islamic investments. Their philanthropic urgings were nurtured by a charitable upbringing through generations with their grandfather helming a charitable trust in India as well. While Sumanth encourages and motivates his sons on charity, or specialised courses, and often brainstorms on ideas, their mother, Vedavalli, a Bharatanatyam dancer, guides them in studies, and life.
Shining bright
Not ones to rest on their laurels, Raghav is now keen on taking up astronomy, and wants to become an astronaut or space scientist. “I would also like to be an astronaut because I always like to follow in the footsteps of my brother,” Madhav smiles.
Child prodigies, medals, and 99-100 percent marks is a norm. However, all maths and no play is not what the brothers are about. They hold a brown belt (Kyu 3) in karate, and are set for a black belt test soon. They paint. Are religiously inclined - with the first prize (thrice consecutively) in the Bhagavad Gita chanting. Oh, and the Carnatic music students love reading. “I read many books regularly. Until now, I’ve read almost 100 to 200 books, I’ve won the voracious reader award in school too,” pipes the brilliant Raghav.
[caption id="attachment_15391" align="aligncenter" width="422"] Raghav and Madhav with parents[/caption]
Their interests and lives are a lesson in time management. “With careful planning, we manage time. We schedule plans early, and are persistent on what and when to do things. We put extra effort in whatever we do, with our whole mind in it,” enthuses Raghav as Madhav nods in affirmation. They study in Delhi Private School, Sharjah in class 8 and New Delhi Private School, Sharjah in class 5 respectively. For siblings of such stellar acumen and talent, their parents are their inspiration, even as world looks on in awe at their brilliant and well-rounded achievements.
Josh Roy at the London Tech Week[/caption]
Josh during the Villars Institute's mentorship programme[/caption]
Josh Roy[/caption]
Josh during 1517 Fund's office hour[/caption]
Raghav Krishna Seshadri Sumanth[/caption]
Madhav Krishna Seshadri Sumanth[/caption]
Raghav and Madhav[/caption]
Raghav and Madhav with parents[/caption]