Radha Pandya: Taking forward the traditional art form of Bharatanatyam in the US
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(November 11, 2023) Kohl-rimmed eyes, with beautiful mudras, and nuanced facial expressions, there’s a story unfolding on the stage at Piscataway in New Jersey. The 18-year-old Indian American is bringing to life the story of Krishna, an Indian god, who helped protect Draupadi after her husband lost her in a game of dice. This is her 40th performance on stage, ever since she began learning the traditional dance art form of Bharatanatyam at the age of four. In these years, she has dedicated herself to honing a 3,000-year-old Indian dance, ensuring that the legacy of her culture is passed on through the generations.
“When we are growing up in America, away from our origins of India or other areas around there, I think we sometimes lose our connection with our culture,” said Radha, adding, “This is what keeps us tied to that… dancing and teaching this to young kids is a way of preserving this legacy, especially this super old and ancient dance form.”
A senior at Piscataway High School, Radha started learning Bharatanatyam in Greensboro, North Carolina with Veena Argade, and later with Priya Gopal. She later began training under Guru Srimathi Selvi Chandranathan, who trained Radha at Bharata Kala Nrityakshetra dance school in Piscataway. Her Guru got a glimpse of her talent even when she was a kid, and knew that she had the potential to make it big.
With over a million Asians that live in New Jersey, Indian Americans make up the largest ethnic group. And it’s this Indian community in New Jersey that has helped cement the tradition and infuse the culture and history of India in the natives.
It’s been rigorous training for the last 14 years for Radha, and is keen to carry the legacy of Bharatanatyam forward through her art. For her, everything comes alive as she takes the centrestage, and immerses herself in the art form. Growing up, she heard stories and now portraying those stories on the big stage, she feels honoured. Bringing to life the story of Krishna, she considers it a responsibility that she needs to uphold with dignity. “Performing this scene (protecting Draupadi) was very emotional because you are playing these different roles. You are playing the bad king, the good king, and then you are playing the woman who’s trying to save herself and her dignity. And then you are playing the saviour,” the Global Indian added.
At a time when most kids her age prefer dancing to Bollywood tunes, she wants to keep the tradition of Bharatanatyam alive through her performances. “For me, I have been wanting to do this forever,” added Radha, who says that her art form is completely different from what her friends have opted for. “A lot of them do Bollywood dances or things that are seen on TV and commercialized, but this is a completely classical dance, so it is a little different from what you normally see,” said the teenager.
In the last 14 years, Radha’s dance journey has helped her develop a greater appreciation for her culture and heritage. Radha, who is interested in pursuing the sciences in the future, and has also been part of the Princeton W.E.B Du Bois Accelerated Learning Academy, is keen to take the art form to the next level. Her love for Bharatanatyam goes beyond performances as she is also mentoring young students in the art form.
(January 25, 2023) When Sritej Padmanabhan's grandfather visited the family in the US, the teenager encountered, for the first time, the devastation caused by Parkinson's disease. A year later, at the age of 13, the North Allegheny student created an algorithm that can analyse videos of hand tremors and provide an accurate measure of tremor frequency to help diagnose Parkinson's disease, according to 3M. The teen innovator's algorithm landed him a spot in the top 10 finalists of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2022. Lack of access to quality healthcare Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder, which affects the nervous system and parts of the body controlled by nerves, causing uncontrollable movements and other symptoms that worsen with time. "Last year (2021) my grandpa was diagnosed with Parkinson's and I saw first how severe hand tremors can affect a person's ability to carry out daily tasks," the young Global Indian explained. "After research, I've learned that even in the United States, access to a qualified neurologist is a challenge for the rural population." [caption id="attachment_26882" align="aligncenter" width="344"] Sritej Padmanabhan[/caption] Although Sritej's grandfather was not lacking medical care back home in India, where he made frequent trips to his neurologist,
Although Sritej's grandfather was not lacking medical care back home in India, where he made frequent trips to his neurologist, his symptoms went unmonitored during his two-month stay in the US. Eventually, he had to return to pay his doctor a visit. Sritej, who had known even as a child that he wanted to be in the medical field, either as a neurologist or neurosurgeon, decided to create a solution. He began his research, convinced that being able to measure and monitor hand tremors could play a pivotal role in enabling greater access to quality medical care, especially among rural and underserved populations.
The telehealth solution
"I had always wondered if there is a telehealth solution," he said, in an interview, adding that misdiagnosis is common and that rural folk can't always make the trip to see a doctor as often as is required.
Sritej Padmanabhan started out by analysing hand tremors using smartphones, videos and his computer. "I recorded 225 videos of simulated hand tremors from four family members," he says. He used Python and open-source software libraries, analysed and stored the videos and framed hand models. One platform, he found, could use machine learning to track finger movements. Sritej's algorithm uses the data from various platforms to calculate the frequency of the tremors. Users currently strap smartphones with devices called accelerometers to their wrists, which can measure vibration and movement.
[caption id="attachment_26881" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sritej with other students from North Allegheny school who participated in the Broadcom Masters[/caption]
The 3M experience
In 2022, he decided to make an entry into the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, also motivated by the idea of being able to work with his mentor, a 3M scientist, over the summer.
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is one of the most rigorous of its kind, with the top young talent competing for the $25,000 grand prize. "This year's finalists and honourable mention recipients feature outstanding innovations from young scientists, who submitted a one-to-two-minute video communicating a solution to an everyday problem in their community and the science behind their solution," according to 3M.
A Franklin Park resident, Sritej Padmanabhan is an avid participant in competitive robotics tournaments. He also enjoys chess and golf, saying, "Golfing involves an immense amount of focus and perseverance." Taking time out of his busy schedule, he makes the time to do community service, volunteering at local soup kitchens and visiting senior centers.
The wilderness is her office, Nature, a constant companion. The first Indian to win the coveted Wildlife Photographer Award in 2020 for her photograph on fireflies Lights of Passion (chosen from 50,000 entries from 80 countries) Aishwarya Sridhar’s entry held pride of place in the august halls of the National Museum of History in London at one time. For a girl who grew up in the hustle and bustle of Panvel, the outdoors entranced her as she pranced along with her father on treks – who as a life member of the Bombay Natural History Society instilled a love for wildlife in her. Spotting a colourful dwarf Kingfisher or awed at the luminous glow of fireflies flitting in the Western Ghats, Sridhar found the power of the medium, with a conservationist spirit. “Every day is a new adventure. I look forward to spending time in the wilderness,” says the preservationist, who cherishes all those moments in verdant landscapes but feels most fortunate to have seen a tigress training her cubs to hunt in the wild. Sridhar is also the winner of Sanctuary Asia’s Young Naturalist Award, the Princess Diana Award, and is a Jackson Wild summit fellow (considered the Emmy
mbay Natural History Society instilled a love for wildlife in her. Spotting a colourful dwarf Kingfisher or awed at the luminous glow of fireflies flitting in the Western Ghats, Sridhar found the power of the medium, with a conservationist spirit.
“Every day is a new adventure. I look forward to spending time in the wilderness,” says the preservationist, who cherishes all those moments in verdant landscapes but feels most fortunate to have seen a tigress training her cubs to hunt in the wild. Sridhar is also the winner of Sanctuary Asia’s Young Naturalist Award, the Princess Diana Award, and is a Jackson Wild summit fellow (considered the Emmy of wildlife filmmaking).
[caption id="attachment_13810" align="alignnone" width="1080"] An eagle clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar.[/caption]
The intuitive soul
This Global Indian is now working on a two-part TV series showcasing the survival stories of the seven endangered primates of India and the folk that protect them.
Each project engulfs Sridhar into a verdant world and its creatures. Straddled with a Canon 1Dx mark ii and Canon 5d mark iii, she sees wildlife with an intuitive soul. Queen of Taru, a film she researched, scripted and directed started off as a passion project in pursuit of the wild Bengal Tigress Maya in the forests of Tadoba, and her struggle of survival in a male dominated world. “After six years of tracking her, I finally gave her a celluloid salute. I learnt that animals are capable of strategy just like humans, and they are capable of feeling emotions, When I got to know that Tiger Queen of Taru would be airing on Nat Geo WILD, that felt fulfilling, I was grateful,” says Sridhar.
[caption id="attachment_13805" align="alignnone" width="1080"] A tiger in the wild.[/caption]
Art with a cause
Going into unexplored territory led her to Panje, a wetland she has been visiting since childhood. Witnessing a gradual loss of habitat at Uran, her connect with the local fishing communities helped her in research which she presented in a 14-minute documentary on DD. “The most interesting finding was that the so-called ‘illiterate’ (local tribals) know the value of our ecosystem and its role in our survival more than the educated who so easily give orders for destruction. The film and photo-story helped bring a Bombay High Court Order protecting Uran, thus saving the livelihoods of around 2,500 fishermen. The Panje wetland is now recognised as a satellite wetland, and will soon receive the status of a ‘conservation reserve’,” says the eco warrior, who is also an emerging fellow at International League of Conservation Photographers, working towards policy-level protection for the wetlands in Mumbai.
Sridhar was selected to feature on My Place on Earth – a digital series by BBC Earth in 2021, and is ecstatic about the episode filmed online with some on-field content pre-shot by her. A self-taught photographer, her initiation with the camera began with her father showing her the basics. A course by acclaimed wildlife photographer Sudhir Shivaram added context, though she giggles saying, “every trick I have learnt is from YouTube and by experimenting.”
Even with filmmaking, Sridhar learnt by watching films on National Geographic, Discovery and Animal Planet. She has since self-taught, edited, presented, and directed an eight-part web series for World Wildlife Fund India. She also did a film for the state forest department and the Deccan Conservation Foundation on the unique and endangered wildlife of the Deccan Plateau. “During the lockdown, I ideated on inculcating the love for Nature in children using origami for WWF-India. I brought Nature indoors with the series titled Fun-Crafts with Aishwarya (digital),” says the shutterbug, whose series helped further with a collaboration with Discovery Channel. It partnered in another unique live show that focused on spotlighting endangered species in India through interesting conversations with India’s top wildlife photographers, filmmakers, and scientists. “I am one of the youngest presenters to have hosted a live show on Discovery,” says the girl, who loves to write poetry in her free time, no doubt inspired by her lush office.
Her upbringing has instilled a deep conservation mindset with focused hard work. “From the age of eight, I have explored India’s wilderness. My parents have always encouraged my curiosity, and raised me with a lot of outdoor exposure which helped immensely,” she says, thrilled that she finally has incredible mentors.
[caption id="attachment_13807" align="alignnone" width="1080"] A wasp clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar[/caption]
Believing staunchly in the power of self, her transition from photography to filmmaking was game-changing. “I never thought of becoming a wildlife filmmaker initially. As I got older, I knew I would never be happy at a desk. So, I chose mass media for graduation though Mumbai University doesn’t offer any filmmaking specialisations. It was daunting. But I worked on myself every day, and still do so,” says the filmmaker, who now wants to try filming with 360-degree VR.
A path peppered with milestones
Each award is a milestone leading her to the next. For instance, for the “BBC Wildlife Your Shot Competition, the pictures of a bonnet macaque alpha male, flamingos in Navi Mumbai and a baby lion-tailed macaque with its mother were winners. Each picture is special, and documents a moment in nature that is otherwise overlooked”, she explains.
A part of the award-winning podcasts Eyes on Conservation now titled Earth to Humans, by the Wild Lens Collective, connecting with natural history storytellers from around the globe enthuses her. “I hope to start my own natural history media outlet in India in the next decade,” says the 24-year-old, who is hugely inspired by award-winning filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert, whose Big Cats Initiative and films have her enthralled.
[caption id="attachment_13806" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Flamingoes of Mumbai, clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar[/caption]
Even though the pandemic has upended much travel, it is slowly opening up. Back to her wilderness address, Sridhar has some great filmmaking projects in the pipeline. She feels travel and Nature teaches one adaptability and patience. “With every animal/bird you photograph the strategy changes. You should be able to adjust to extreme weather conditions and be physically fit to get the maximum out of your trip. Being a Gen-Z kid, I expected instant gratification, but wildlife photography teaches you persistence. There may be times when you don’t see the animal/bird, and you may not get the photograph you have in mind, but it’s important to never lose your calm in these situations,” she advices.
Mother Nature has been her constant teacher, and she hopes humans learn to protect their habitats. “Whenever Nature gets hurt, she repairs herself and continues on. In the same way, I try to be positive and keep working hard,” she says.
(November 23, 2022) Every year since the time he was 10 years old, Soumya Ranjan Biswal has walked along the beach in Astaranga, weighted down by the big gunny bag slung across his shoulder, stopping to pick up empty bottles, plastic and all manner of trash that people have left behind. This is the young wildlife conservationist's way of doing his bit for each when thousands of Olive Ridley turtles wash up on shore. Earlier in 2022, Soumya, known fondly in climate crusade circles as "Olly Boy", was appointed among the first batch of the UN's YuWaah Advocates, who will serve as an inspiration for the Sustainable Development Goals. Global Indian takes a look at his journey. Improving Climate Resilence - For Marine 🐢 Breeding Ground! We at @OdishaSeaTurtle believe in Action than symbolic performance. Reviving a 2km radius polluted water body at Devi River Mouth. Join the mission! Together we can end the plastic pollution crisis👊🌊#OdishaCoast pic.twitter.com/VU6Y17WQGU — Soumya Ranjan Biswal 🇺🇳🇮🇳 (@SoumyaMarineWL) October 26, 2022 Breaking records In 2019, Soumya, along with Dilip Kumar Biswal, a junior from college, took a month to travel through coastal areas like Rushikulya, Puri, Chillika, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Balasore. Earlier that
In 2019, Soumya, along with Dilip Kumar Biswal, a junior from college, took a month to travel through coastal areas like Rushikulya, Puri, Chillika, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Balasore. Earlier that year, he even went on a 1200-km cycle trip to spread awareness about the Olive Ridley sea turtle. It was an extended follow-up to the 800-km ride he took in 2018, which landed both Soumya and Dilip a spot in the Limca Book of Records for the 'Longest Cycle Ride for Turtles'.
Along the way, Soumya and Dilip stopped at government-run schools to spread awareness among the children and their families, as well as among the local fishing community. Their trip was partly sponsored by the Forest Department and the two conservationists also sold toy turtles, made from coconut fibre by the women in Astaranga, to fund their way.
The arrival of the Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha is a matter of worldwide recognition and interest, as about half the world's population comes to the coast to lay their eggs. This is part of the mass nesting process, known by the Spanish term 'arribada'. Soumya and his friends even return at night, keeping an eye out for predators like dogs and jackals, which come for the eggs. Working in tandem with officials, Soumya collects at-risk eggs and shifts them to hatcheries to incubate and hatch in safety.
[caption id="attachment_24560" align="aligncenter" width="395"] Soumya Ranjan Biswas with an Olive Ridley sea turtle[/caption]
"The sea turtles return to the same spot after navigating thousands of miles of ocean, to lay eggs in this part of Eastern India," Soumya told EdEx Live. The turtles arrive in batches and pick their spots on the beach, digging holes with their flippers. Each turtle lays around 70 to 190 eggs before returning to the water. "If the turtles keep coming back to the same spot every year to nest, then they are doing well. But if they don't, something is wrong."
Mangrove restoration
In Astaranga village, where he's from, Soumya is working to restore the Bhitarkanika Mangroves, a 650km stretch in the Brahmani and Baitarani river deltas. Some 62 mangrove species are found in Bhitarknanika, which is home to a number of species including the saltwater crocodile, king cobra, over 200 bird species and of course, the Olive Ridley turtles, which arrive at the Gahirmatha Beach.
[caption id="attachment_24559" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Soumya at the Mangrove Nursery. Photo: Twitter[/caption]
Although the mangroves were designated as a 'Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and are a vital part of the coastal ecosystem as well as to the livelihoods of local fishermen, they have dwindled over the years. The mangroves, he hopes, will grow to provide a habitat for various animal and bird species.
India has a mangrove cover of nearly 5,000 square kilometres, according to the India State of Forest Report 2019. Although the mangrove cover in Gujarat has increased, the number of mangroves in Odisha has seen a steady decline over the years, caused by more land diverted for agriculture and prawn farming, encroachment and a growing population. Soumya works with a team of 10 villagers as dozens of saplings are planted, in black grow bags, in Astaranga beach. He has also helped set up a first-of-its-kind mangrove nursery.
Cleaning up the coasts
The intrepid duo has widened their scope of work, from the Olive Ridley sea turtles and the mangroves to helping save sparrows, reviving water bodies and keeping the beaches clean, whether or not the Olive Ridley is coming home to next.
(February 24, 2024) Keerthana Seetharaman has harboured a deep passion for writing and getting her work published, for as long as she can recall. However, navigating limited resources and lack of knowledge of how to go about it, posed challenges. "I felt exhausted while searching for the right platform to publish my works," she shares with Global Indian. Recognising that many others might be facing similar obstacles, the Chennai-based youngster had established The Writing Arena Publishers in 2020, when she was just a 16-year-old. Building this venture during the pandemic brought her a sense of fulfilment and productivity. "Within the confines of this venture, I constructed my sanctuary of happiness, even in the face of negativity," she shares. [caption id="attachment_36094" align="aligncenter" width="583"] Keerthana Seetharaman[/caption] So far, The Writing Arena Publishers has overseen publication of 15 print-on-demand anthologies, each featuring contributions from teenagers or adults, depending upon the theme. Keerthana’s entrepreneurial initiative has garnered attention, leading to speaking opportunities at events hosted in schools and colleges. Moreover, she was recognised with a startup award from a Chennai-based organisation and also had the privilege of meeting the Governor of Tamil Nadu. These early accolades have fuelled the budding entrepreneur’s determination to continue
print-on-demand anthologies, each featuring contributions from teenagers or adults, depending upon the theme. Keerthana’s entrepreneurial initiative has garnered attention, leading to speaking opportunities at events hosted in schools and colleges. Moreover, she was recognised with a startup award from a Chennai-based organisation and also had the privilege of meeting the Governor of Tamil Nadu. These early accolades have fuelled the budding entrepreneur’s determination to continue excelling in the realms of creative writing and entrepreneurship.
In the world of writing
The engineering student found affirmation in her writing abilities last year when she was awarded a 'Gold Finalist' certificate for her entry in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, an international event organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society.
The 20-year-old is set to release her debut book of poems, titled 'Engraving Emotions'.
[caption id="attachment_36095" align="aligncenter" width="608"] Keerthana Seetharaman with Ravindra Narayana Ravi, the Governor of Tamil Nadu[/caption]
Learning from obstacles
Four years back when Keerthana had launched her publishing venture, she had formed a remote team. However, during the initial phases, the volume of submissions remained minimal, causing team members to gradually lose interest. Additionally, as time passed, their priorities shifted, and the venture experienced a temporary halt in its operations.
“There were times when I questioned my own knowledge. There were days when I felt like quitting and focusing solely on studies,” she says. “But my purpose pushed me to juggle these hassles and keep working,” she adds.
Finally, embracing a solopreneur mindset, Keerthana began working with numerous roles - editor, proofreader, compiler, marketer, and beyond. "Initially, it was exhausting, but I eventually got used to the workload," she says.
Recognising the challenges and time commitment involved in writing an entire book, which can often lead to loss of interest midway, Keerthana promotes creative expression through anthologies – as the writers in anthologies need to just contribute a chapter or two. “Nurturing students to become authors is a dream I aspire to share with the world," she remarks.
Publishing anthologies however, proves to be very time-consuming, as she has to deal with multiple writers and spend considerable time coordinating their contributions.
Giving back
Keerthana also helps less privileged students to follow their dreams of writing, through an initiative called Kanavugal Meipada (Dreams Come True). The organisation conducts writing competitions in government schools, and the best entries are chosen to be part of an anthology published by her venture, The Writing Arena Publishers. She also conducts sessions on mental health and wellness for these children.
“Entrepreneurship is not all about making money, rather about adding values to people’s life,” she remarks.
[caption id="attachment_36129" align="aligncenter" width="573"] Keerthana Seetharaman during an interaction at a government school[/caption]
At Chennai’s Sri Sairam Engineering College, where she is pursuing computer science and business systems, Keerthana is actively involved in a social work project called Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, spearheaded by the government. Along with her fellow students she conducts awareness programs in Poonthandalam village, one of the ten villages her college is assisting in achieving economic stability and independence.
An eye on future
The pre-final year student is also a member of the Professional Communication Society (PROCOMM), an initiative of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to improve engineers’ technical communication skills. Recently Keerthana has been selected to serve as a student chairperson of the society’s chapter in her college.
Looking ahead, Keerthana aims to carve a career path that integrates her degree in engineering and passion for writing.
(March 2, 2024) "I grew up in one of the poorest corners of Delhi - Shakur Basti. I spent my afternoons dancing to Bollywood songs and coding in the community computer lab. Through a series of scholarships, I became the first person from my community to go to a college in the US. In one generation, I went from Shakur Basti to Stanford," is how 27-year-old Manu Chopra addressed people in one of his speeches. The founder of Karya was one of the few people who was able to find a path out of poverty, but not everyone gets that chance. This very thought led him to start Karya, a not-for-profit enterprise, that brings dignified digital work to rural Indians, helping move them out of poverty. Every year, big technology companies spend a lot of money gathering information to teach their AI programs. But many people in rural India don't have the chance to be part of this work. Karya helps fix this problem by connecting these rural communities to opportunities in the tech industry. Explaining how this works, Manu elaborates, "Microsoft wants to make a language model in Marathi, one of the many regional languages of India. They reach
language model in Marathi, one of the many regional languages of India. They reach out to Karya to collect thousands of hours of speech data in Marathi. Karya takes Microsoft's big digital task and breaks it into micro tasks and we distribute these micro tasks to our workers in rural India via their smartphone." Apart from the employment, the biggest differentiator for these rural Indians is the pay. "We pay our workers 20 times the Indian minimum wage."
[caption id="attachment_36316" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Manu Chopra, the founder of Karya[/caption]
In just two years, the AI startup has already helped 30,000 rural Indians earn ₹65 million so far.
Growing up, Manu was always interested in technology, and during his time at Stanford, where he studied Computer Science, he co-founded CS+ Social Good, Stanford's first student group focused on the intersection of technology and social impact. Upon his return to India in 2017, he joined Microsoft Research as a fellow to explore ways to tackle extreme poverty by giving the poor access to digital work. During this time, he travelled the length and breadth of the country.
"I expected it to be harrowing. Mainstream media (within India and especially, abroad) paints such a bleak picture of India, as if nothing good has ever happened or will ever happen in India. I expected to feel jaded at the lack of progress, to be disappointed at the lack of good work happening on the ground. Obviously, the opposite happened. Every single village I visited blew me away. The more I travelled within India, the more optimistic I became," he wrote on his website.
At 21, he began working for an AI firm, and during one of his field visits to a data company, he saw over 30 men hunched over their laptops. Upon striking a conversation, he learnt that they were earning $0.40 per hour for the data that was worth 10 times that amount. "I thought, this cannot be the only way this work can happen," said Manu, who was named in the TIME100 Most Influential People in AI. "The idea in my head was, what if we could bypass skilling? Can we give people a livelihood and money for skills they already have? What is the skill that rural India already has? Their language?" he said in an interview.
[caption id="attachment_36313" align="aligncenter" width="766"] Manu Chopra with the rural Indians working for Karya[/caption]
This led to the birth of Karya - which means work for dignity in Sanskrit - in 2021. He chose to use Indian languages to help rural India make more money. He teamed up with his manager at Microsoft Research, Vivek Sheshadri, who became the Chief Technology Officer.
They not only pay them $5 per hour, which is 20 times more than the minimum wage but also help them earn royalties every time their data is sold, which provides them a source of passive income. Right now, Karya focuses on gathering information in Indian languages that haven't been included much in the AI world. This data will be used to create AI systems in those languages that are not only accurate but also fair for everyone. Their work involves gathering written, spoken, and picture information in India's regional languages.
Creating an impact
"I genuinely feel this is the quickest way to move millions of people out of poverty if done right," he told TIME, adding, "Wealth is power. And we want to redistribute wealth to the communities who have been left behind."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrcHdWd_dCA
With Karya, Manu Chopra is not only fulfilling the important requirement for accurate data in the AI industry but also changing how much money data annotation workers make. In the last few years, big tech companies have shown keen interest in Karya for its data requirements. For instance, Microsoft utilised the startup to acquire regional speech data for its AI products. Additionally, due to biases in AI chatbots stemming from large language model inputs, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is collaborating with Karya to minimise gender-related biases in the data. Even Google is not far behind as it's relying on Karya to amass speech data across 85 Indian districts.
Manu Chopra's journey is proof that determination and innovation has the transformative power. Rising from poverty himself, he has broken the cycle and now aims to extend that opportunity to others. With a focus on providing dignified digital work to rural Indians, Manu seeks to empower individuals and communities, offering them the chance to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. Through his endeavours, he not only creates economic opportunities but also fosters a sense of pride and self-worth among those he seeks to uplift.
Sritej with other students from North Allegheny school who participated in the Broadcom Masters[/caption]
An eagle clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar.[/caption]
A tiger in the wild.[/caption]
Aishwarya Sridhar[/caption]
A wasp clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar[/caption]
Flamingoes of Mumbai, clicked by Aishwarya Sridhar[/caption]
Soumya Ranjan Biswas with an Olive Ridley sea turtle[/caption]
Soumya at the Mangrove Nursery. Photo: 
Keerthana Seetharaman with Ravindra Narayana Ravi, the Governor of Tamil Nadu[/caption]
Keerthana Seetharaman[/caption]
Keerthana Seetharaman during an interaction at a government school[/caption]
Manu Chopra, the founder of Karya[/caption]
Manu Chopra with the rural Indians working for Karya[/caption]