Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveRecap 2023: Teen innovators making waves with award-winning solutions

Recap 2023: Teen innovators making waves with award-winning solutions

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(December 29, 2023) In 2023, a remarkable group of Indian teen innovators emerged, leaving a positive mark on the world with their groundbreaking inventions. These ingenious teenage innovators not only showcased their creativity but also garnered recognition and awards for their impactful contributions. Through their innovations, these young innovators have introduced practical solutions that address real-world challenges, proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact. From affordable medical devices to ingenious technological solutions, these Indian teen innovators have demonstrated that innovation knows no boundaries, inspiring others with their passion and dedication to making the world a better place.

Global Indian puts a spotlight on a handful of Indian teen innovators who made the right noise with their work.

Shanya Gill

Shanya Gill, a young innovator from California, was inspired to create an affordable fire alarm after a devastating incident. According to the World Health Organization, around 180,000 lives are lost globally each year in fire-related incidents. Shanya’s motivation came when a restaurant near her home in San Jose caught fire, leading to its destruction. This event made her mother more cautious, always urging Shanya to double-check the kitchen stove before leaving their house.

One day, while studying, the 13-year-old discovered the potential of thermal cameras to detect heat loss in homes during winter. Intrigued by this capability, she wondered if these cameras could be used to quickly detect house fires compared to traditional smoke detectors. Recognizing the possibility of saving lives with an early warning system, Shanya decided to pursue this idea. Her innovative fire alarm design recently earned her top honors and a $25,000 prize in a leading middle school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competition sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Society for Science. Proud of her achievement, Shanya expressed her commitment to continue working on projects that contribute to making society a safer place.

Shripriya Kalbhavi

Shripriya Kalbhavi, a ninth-grader at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, was in for a pleasant surprise when she won a second place at the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge. She had been working on her invention, EasyBZ, for a while without expecting it to land her a spot in America’s biggest middle school science competition, which won her a cash prize of $2000 for creating a cost-effective microneedle patch that allows for easy self-administered drug delivery without using pills or needles.

Shripriya Kalbhavi

Growing up, Shripriya was afraid of needles and disliked getting injections. This discomfort and fear led her to realize that many people, especially children like herself, had no solution to their fear of needles other than being told to face it. Motivated by her own experiences, Shripriya developed the EasyBZ microneedle patch, aiming to deliver medication to patients painlessly and over an extended period. “I am really passionate about making sure that everyone is comfortable with the medical treatment that they are receiving, and I really want people to have long-term solutions to their chronic conditions. With the EasyBZ microneedle patch, I have always hoped that people can receive painless treatment that accommodates their medical needs, whether it be children who have diabetes or adults who suffer from forms of dementia like Alzheimer’s,” the innovator wrote in a blog.

Aditya Chaudhary

Aditya Chaudhary, a teenager from Delhi, shared a close bond with his grandfather, spending afternoons together listening to stories. When his grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, their quality time suffered as communication became challenging due to the disease’s progression. Despite the loss, Aditya was inspired to create NeuroSight, a non-invasive headset that converts thoughts into text for paralyzed and neurological patients. Motivated by the desire to help the over 7 million Parkinson’s patients in India, Aditya turned his personal experience into a low-cost and effective solution, bringing Grey Horizon and NeuroSight to life in 2022. His innovation aims to bridge the gap between neuroimaging research and practical, everyday use.

Aditya Chaudhary

In early 2023, Aditya began creating a prototype for his invention, and it’s currently being fine-tuned. The goal is to make the device convert data into text in real-time, capturing thoughts the moment they occur in a patient’s mind. Starting as a research paper that earned recognition from The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, Aditya transformed the idea into hardware with NeuroSight. Now, he and his team are working to elevate it further by making it possible for thoughts to control prosthetic or robotic arms. “We wanted to focus on functionality as well since you can’t control your muscles in Parkinson’s because of the involuntary muscle movement. We recently pitched the robotic arm at one of the innovation and science fairs. We are now looking for mentorship in regards to advanced research behind neuroimaging that can validate our technology and work with people who can help convert the hardware into a minimum viable product,” he told Global Indian.

Rohan Kalia

Rohan Kalia, a 17-year-old Indian-American student at Wheeler High School in Marietta, began his journey to create a solution for early detection of glaucoma after a family member was diagnosed with the condition. Recognizing that glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, Rohan was motivated to find an affordable way to accurately diagnose the disease. His efforts resulted in the creation of EyePal, a portable device that boasts a 95 percent accuracy rate in detecting glaucoma. Rohan’s innovative solution earned him the prestigious 2023 IEEE President’s Scholarship, accompanied by a $10,000 prize.

Rohan Kalia

Glaucoma, a progressive eye disease affecting the optic nerve, can lead to permanent vision loss if not detected early. During his research, Rohan discovered a significant disparity in eye care treatment worldwide and identified challenges in accessing glaucoma diagnosis and prevention, particularly in rural areas. To address this issue, EyePal utilizes a quality camera, a Raspberry Pi minicomputer, machine-learning technology, and a mobile app. The device captures fundus images, which are then sent to a mobile device for examination by a specialist. Tested on sets of fundus images, EyePal demonstrated an impressive 95 percent accuracy, providing a promising solution for accessible glaucoma detection.

Nirvaan Somany

A Facebook post about a denim requiring 1000 litres to water to be produced left Delhi-based teen Nirvaan Somany aghast. “I thought I was conscious of my water consumption but I was clearly wrong,” he told Global Indian. This led Nirvaan to start Project Jeans, a social entrepreneurial attempt aimed at mitigating the environmental consequences of denim by converting discarded denim into sleeping bags. “This led Nirvaan to start Project Jeans, a social entrepreneurial attempt aimed at mitigating the environmental consequences of denim by converting discarded denim into sleeping bags,” he added. The project led him to win the Diana Award and 2023 International Young Eco-Hero award.

Nirvaan Somany founded Project Jeans

Till now, they have collected 8000 pairs of jeans under Project Jeans and distributed more than 1000 sleeping bags primarily in Delhi, followed by Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. “We also sent our sleeping bags to Turkey and Syria to aid with their earthquake relief last year,” he revealed.

Indian teen innovators have truly distinguished themselves with their exceptional contributions and groundbreaking inventions. Their remarkable achievements not only demonstrate a keen understanding of global challenges but also reflect their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on society.

Kiara Nirghin

At the age of 13, Kiara Nirghin, an Indian-origin South African, endured a challenging period of hospitalization due to the dual diagnosis of Bilharzia and bacterial meningitis amid one of South Africa’s worst droughts. Confined and unable to attend school, Kiara’s profound pain sparked a transformative realization about the potential of the human mind. Reflecting on the power of knowledge during her TEDxPretoria talk, she envisioned utilizing this mental strength for productive purposes. This introspective journey led her to develop a groundbreaking solution for drought: a cost-effective “super-absorbent polymer” that enhances soil water retention. Kiara’s invention not only earned her the top prize at the Google Science Fair but also secured her a spot on Time’s 30 Most Influential Teens list.

Kiara Nirghin

In 2021, she collaborated with an international agricultural firm to introduce her groundbreaking product to the market. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize water conservation, ensuring the sustenance of crops during periods of drought and contributing to enhanced global food security. Reflecting on her approach, she expressed a mindset that envisions the world’s challenges as yet-to-be-paired problems awaiting innovative solutions.

Atreya Manaswi

Five years ago, when Atreya Manaswi was just eleven, he went on a fishing trip with a friend and the friend’s grandfather, who was a beekeeper. The grandfather shared a sad story about how he used to get lots of honey from his bees, but in recent times, the honey production had drastically decreased. This story deeply touched Atreya, inspiring him to start researching about bees.

Now, as an eleventh grader at Orlando Science High School, Atreya has been doing advanced research with the US Department of Agriculture and the University of Florida since he was 12. He created a new, eco-friendly, and affordable pesticide to help protect beehives from small hive beetles and varroa mites, which are major threats to honey production. Atreya also wrote a children’s book called “The Bee Story” to raise awareness about bees, the environment, and farming. Besides all this, he’s won several awards, including the Barron Prize 2023, and has spoken at international conferences supported by the UN and the World Food Forum.

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Published on 29, Dec 2023

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Making India proud: Meet the young prodigies who are finding solutions for global issues

(August 14, 2022) While people of the country were busy fighting over various problems, the youth have been working quietly behind the scenes, away from the noise, to find answers. In the last 75 years, India has witnessed many young minds who have played an instrumental role in finding the solutions to some of the biggest issues plaguing our society. From space technology to artificial intelligence, and environment to social issues, these innovators have earned global recognition in various fields. Global Indian puts the spotlight on five young prodigies, whose research and innovations are making a positive impact - not just in India, but across the world. Self-powered freezer to keep vaccines cool When he was 15 years old, Anurudh Ganesan invented VAXXWAGON, a portable refrigeration system to transport vaccines safely and effectively. The invention won him a slew of awards, including the LEGO Education Builder Award and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The VAXXWAGON runs on a "no ice, no electricity" system and is very cost-effective (less than $100). It can also keep the temperature consistent for several hours at a stretch. When he was an infant, his grandparents carried him ten miles in rural South India

rature consistent for several hours at a stretch.

When he was an infant, his grandparents carried him ten miles in rural South India to get him his routine polio vaccination. When they finally arrived, they found the vaccines were useless after having not been refrigerated for an extended period.

Always given to questions and innovation, he recalls asking his father when he was five years old, about inventing a vehicle that doesn't need gas. The innovator didn't stop there. He went on to research the subject, learning everything he could about self-generating power. In keeping with this, VAXXWAGON works with "wheel-powered refrigeration". As the wheel turns, mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy and can keep vaccines cold for up to 16 hours after being powered for only half that time.

Follow Anurudh Ganesan on LinkedIn

Teen's answer to aircraft accidents

Back in 2019, Pravin Nagendran, a student of Biotechnology at Bannari Amman Engineering College in Erode, began working on a plant-based, flame-resistant alternative to materials like glass fibre. To minimise damage caused by impact, aircraft and other vehicles are built using a composite material, like glass fibre, to add tensile strength. The flip side is that they are flammable.

Working out of his lab in college as soon as the lockdown was lifted, the innovator developed a prototype, made by extracting nanoparticles from the ash of the plant, he told Better India. This came after one year of research, during which he worked with members of the faculty to identify a suitable biomaterial. They tested the material at high temperatures and found it completely resistant to fire. It is also biodegradable.

The invention won him third place from over 65,000 entries at the Defence Research and Development Organisation's contest, Dare to Dream 2.0. He hopes to commercialise it after he graduates from college.

The girl who has a planet named after her in the Milky Way

Growing up in Bengaluru, the city of lakes, Sahithi Pingali had come across many infamous incidents of the Bellandur, Arthur, and Agara lakes bursting into flames from the heaps of garbage around them. Worried about the pollution in the water bodies, the innovator came up with an award-winning paper – ‘An Innovative Crowdsourcing Approach to Monitoring Freshwater Bodies', and presented it at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Her work was based on the insights she had gathered through a lake monitoring app and a monitoring kit that she had created to collect the crowdsourced data on the issue. The 16-year-old not only won the second prize at ISEF 2017 but also bagged additional three special prizes there. The talented innovator was pleasantly surprised when the Massachusetts Institute of Technology partnered with ISEF and decided to name a planet in the Milky Way after her as a reward, making entire India proud. Sahiti is now a master’s student of management science and engineering, at Stanford University and has worked in several environment-related initiatives since then.

Follow Sahithi Pingali on Twitter and LinkedIn

Finding solutions for a better tomorrow

As a young kid, Arunima Sen was often in awe of her parents who spent hours working on various projects for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). That's how she developed an interest in the subject and started working on innovative solutions for global problems. When she was in grade 10, she was selected for The Junior Academy programme conducted by The New York Academy of Sciences, and that set her on the course of finding many solutions.

From measuring micro-nutrients in a person's body using strands of hair, to developing a method to save energy in high-rise buildings, the 20-year-old innovator has found a solution to every problem in most developing countries. A climate activist, Arunima is the recipient of several international and national awards — including the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, MPower Financing Women in STEM Grand Award, and the Distinguished Student Award from the New York Academy of Sciences — and has been named a 2020 Global Teen Leader of the We Are Family Foundation and one of the Mars Generation’s 24 under 24 Innovators in STEM and Space.

During an interaction with the press, Arunima said, "I am currently being mentored by professionals from Sidewalk Labs — an urban innovation company working to make cities more sustainable and affordable for all. Since the pandemic had brought many discussions and assignments to a halt, my friend and I are working to resume it soon."

Follow Arunima Sen on Twitter

A superhero for women

Shocked by the most gruesome ‘Nirbhaya’ incident of the country, Siddhartha Mandala, who was a 12-year-old kid then, had accompanied his mother for public demonstrations that followed. Deeply moved by the sordid event, the youngster spent the next four years creating a device to prevent molestation and rape. The gadget that he named ‘Electroshoe’ passes electricity to electrocute molesters.

The young innovator had not lost his patience in creating the device even when his prototype had failed 17 times and he had got electrocuted twice during the experiments. The footwear created by him can also send signals to the police, friends, and family using GPS. Influenced by his mother’s activism, Siddharth also started an NGO, Cognizance Welfare Initiative (CWI) to spread awareness about rape and its prevention. He is now a student fellow at the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Claremont, California. The youngster often visits dating sites, not to find a dating partner but to sell his device.

Reading Time: 7 mins

Bug bounty hunter Aditi Singh: How ethical hacking earned her ₹70 lakh, & counting

(January 18, 2022) “One skill you want to master in this day and age, if you want to have an extraordinary life, is the ability to learn rapidly.” Business coach Tony Robbins inadvertently encapsulated the life of Aditi Singh, a self-taught bug bounty hunter with this quote. What started in 2017 as mere curiosity about cyber security has now led to such a high level of expertise that the Delhi-based ethical hacker received $30,000 (₹22 lakh) in 2021 to detect a flaw in Microsoft’s cloud system. She also earned ₹70 lakh in 2021, just saying. “With no prior knowledge of computer and coding programmes or languages, I was a mere novice exploring possibilities. After spending weeks reading and researching, I grew fascinated and knew I wanted to become a bug bounty hunter,” Aditi shares with Global Indian. In her zeal to hone her skills, the college dropout devoured YouTube tutorials and content on blogs to gain every ounce of information that she could lay her hands on. “My learnings have made me realise that you don’t need a degree if you are continuously working on improving your skills - these skills that have made me a bug bounty hunter earning

you are continuously working on improving your skills - these skills that have made me a bug bounty hunter earning lakhs,” smiles Aditi, who has found bugs in over 60 companies including Paytm, Ethereum, HP, and Mozilla.

The bounty is the bug, for Aditi!

The 21-year-old girl was in the news in 2021 for receiving a handsome bounty from Microsoft for spotting a bug in the cloud system. “I spotted an RCE (remote code execution) bug and informed the tech giant which took two months to check at their end if anybody had downloaded its insecure version. Only after confirming, they realised the security fault in their system,” says the bug hunter, who reveals that the developers should first download a node package manager instead of writing the code as this often leads to an RCE bug.

Born and raised in Delhi by an Anganwadi teacher mother and a clerk father, Singh comes from a humble background. However, it was her love for video games that kept her hooked on to the computer since childhood. “I remember spending so much time on the computer playing video games. Beyond that, I had no interest in it initially,” she says. However, things took a turn for this Notre Dame school student after she moved to Kota to prepare for her medical entrance exams. “I joined the Allen Institute in Kota to prepare. Though I was not inclined to become a doctor, I still wanted to give it a shot. However, destiny had a different plan as I soon started getting interested in computers and ethical hacking,” reveals Aditi.

Coming across an article on the internet, her curiosity was piqued. “The next few months, I lapped up every ounce of information I could find. If the dynamics of it intrigued me, I was equally excited about the kind of money that one makes,” adds the bug bounty hunter.

Her first real triumph came after she hacked into her neighbour’s wifi in Kota. “Months of reading and watching YouTube videos helped me do it, and it piqued my interest in bug bounty hunting,” says the self-taught ethical hacker.

Finding the path she was to charter, Aditi gave up on her parents’ dream of making her a doctor, instead enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in computer application at Indira Gandhi National Open University. Interestingly, she ethically “hacked” her way into her maiden job at MapMyIndia during her first year of graduation. “While going through several platforms, I found some vulnerabilities on MapMyIndia. I reached out to them and reported a bug,” says Aditi. They offered her a job as cybersecurity analyst even without her degree! She worked with them for around three years – with an eagle eye on cloud security, network security, and android security.

Needless today, she dropped out of college, and started working full-time. “I realised that I didn’t need a degree to get a job. I am a living example as I learnt coding and programming languages like Javascript from YouTube and Google,” says the cybersecurity expert.

The cyber world to cipher

While Aditi kept her day job, she continued learning about ethical hacking and bug bounty hunting. Who are bug bounty hunters? “They are mostly certified cybersecurity professionals who crawl the web, and scan systems for bugs or security flaws through which hackers can sneak in, and we alert companies. They are rewarded with cash if they are successful in finding a security hole,” reveals Aditi.

Spotting such bugs isn’t a cakewalk and ethical hackers need to be on top of their game to be eligible for payouts, she avers. “While many companies host bounty programmes asking bug hunters to report any flaws, some aren’t registered with bounty hunting platforms, and one has to individually look them up. But it’s important to inform them before you look for flaws. That’s the thumb rule I follow,” says the veritable bug spotter.

Bounty bug hunting continues

It was in 2020 that Aditi earned her first big bounty of $1,100 after she reported an OTP bypass bug in TikTok’s forgot password section. “It was a few months before TikTok was banned in India. I could change anybody’s password on the application, and this was a flaw that they couldn’t overlook. I earned around ₹82,000 for it," smiles Aditi.

Her next big bounty hunting came in March 2021 when she found a bug in Facebook’s cloud system wherein, she could hack into employees or developers’ systems. She earned a whopping $7,500 ( ₹5.5 lakh) for the bug. “I later found another bug and got $3,000 for it,” she adds.

But it was with Microsoft that she hit the jackpot after she detected an RCE in the Azure cloud platform in 2021, and became an internet sensation for earning $30,000 (₹22 lakh) for reporting the security issue. “The news went viral. It was like a validation that all these years of hard work was finally paying off,” says Aditi, who quit her job in 2021 to become a full-time bug bounty hunter.

The girl, who has found bugs in 60 companies so far, has also received letters of appreciation from Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of California among others. “I found bugs in the websites of these universities. Since they don’t pay you like other companies, they send you a letter of appreciation,” adds Aditi.

On what she does with the bounty, the youngster smiles, “I go on trips to the mountains. Apart from this, I buy gadgets or subscribe to hacking tools,” adds Aditi, who uses the money to enhance her skills and talent apart from giving a lump sum to her parents. “I give it to them to invest. They are proud that I am doing great,” adds Singh.

A voracious reader, Aditi loves to curl up with a book when not hunting bugs. “I also love to play video games and travel,” says Singh, who has a younger brother and an older sister. “Our parents have been our biggest support system. They have always encouraged and supported us in our endeavours,” says the girl, who has her eyes on crypto companies next. “Crypto is the future and now I am learning tools that could help me get to the next level. It's all about evolution and upgrading,” she says.

As an ethical hacker, however, she offers a word of caution, “Learn and then earn. Gain knowledge about ethical hacking first, rather than focussing on money. Keep trying and don’t get demotivated if you don’t make money initially.” And be ethical, inform the company!

Follow Aditi Singh on Linkedin

Reading Time: 6 min

Haute & happening: These Indians have designs on world couture

(May 4, 2022) India’s rich tapestry of handloom is unequivocal. That it has entered the mainstream rungs of fashion, appearing on catwalks the world over just paved the way for desi fashion designers to make their mark in the world of haute couture. Today, many Indians are responsible for the embroidery, embellishments, and fabrics you see by prestigious fashion houses like Versace, Hermès, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Prada, Dior, etc. Many Indian designers and influencers, including Anita Dongre, Suket Dhir, Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia, Bibhu Mohapatra, Tarun Tahiliani, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, and Ritu Kumar, have carved a niche for themselves, in a very dynamic and cut-throat industry of haute couture. From wearable everyday pieces to luxe bridal couture, these Indians have made their mark on the fashion industry, representing India in a unique way. While some stick to traditional styles like sarees, lehengas, tunics, and churidars, others embrace updated aesthetics like tie-dye sweats, floral button-downs, and puff sleeves. Global Indian explores Indian fashion creators and influencers that are making their mark across the world. Naeem Khan, fashion designer Born in a middle-class family in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, fashion designer Naeem Khan hardly needs an introduction. His father and grandfather cultivated

Born in a middle-class family in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, fashion designer Naeem Khan hardly needs an introduction. His father and grandfather cultivated an early interest in textiles, as they both designed intricate clothes worn by royal families. Of his early passion for design, Khan has said, “It was built into my DNA. I watched my father design formal wear for India’s most influential people, and I knew that I would want to pursue a similar path.”

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The designer, who has styled several influential ladies, including first lady Michelle Obama, Queen Noor of Jordan, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, moved to the United States in 1978 to apprentice for legendary American designer Halston. “My knowledge of fashion and lifestyle is influenced by my time with Halston,” Naeem had said while being interviewed for the documentary film Halston.

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Khan spent several years after his apprenticeship continuing to work with Halston on freelance, going on to launch fashion house Riazee in 1981, a clothing label named after his mother that was carried in prominent American retail stores for about a decade. Today, Naeem is known for his intricately detailed gowns with sequins and beads, and is one of the most influential designers in the world of haute couture.

Follow Naeem Khan on Twitter, and Instagram

Megan Kothari, jewellery designer

During her travels to India, the New York-based jewellery designer, Megan Kothari would collect tribal jewellery, specifically big cuffs and statement necklaces, crafted by the Rabari community in Gujarat. That is where the journey of her label, Aaryah, began.

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Interestingly, even though she was born into a family of diamond traders, Megan didn’t want to pursue the same path. Instead, she chose to pursue her interest in fashion and started interning at the age of 15 in New York City. The designer earned a degree in international trade and fashion marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “However, after gaining invaluable experience in the beauty industry, it turned out that I did have an inclination towards designing jewellery; it became a form of self-expression for me,” Megan shares on her official website.

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Today, her designs are not only coveted by fine jewellery enthusiasts from around the world, she also received the ultimate celebrity stamp of approval when musician Taylor Swift wore the “Rani” earrings from her brand at the recently held Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Follow Megan Kothari on Twitter, and Instagram

Masoom Minawala Mehta, fashion content creator

One of the earliest influencers or content creators in India, Masoom Minawala Mehta, made history at the Milan Fashion Week-2022, by becoming the first-ever Indian creator to walk the runway as a showstopper. Hailing from a family of jewellers in Mumbai, she founded a start-up when she was just 19. As the start-up didn’t do too well, Masoom set up a fashion portal - Miss Style Fiesta in 2010, where she would give tips on current trends and fashion inputs.

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She follows a “principle of four” while creating content — ensuring that the content either educates, inspires, helps or entertains. From Dior to Hermès, and Jimmy Choo, Masoom’s feed is action-packed and always genuine. Despite moving base from Mumbai to Antwerp after her marriage in 2016, the influencer’s social media posts strongly promote her love for Indian designers.

Honoured to have walked Cannes with fashion that spoke for itself but I would also like to highlight the prep work involved in getting there which is a storyline in itself. Tap to read more about what I brought to the Cannes Film Festival 2021 https://t.co/Lhu5J32NE0

— Masoom Minawala (@MasoomMinawala) July 26, 2021

In her bid to help small designers tide over the 2020 pandemic, she started a series of short fashion videos where she personally curated lists of brands to pick for various budgets and occasions.

Follow Masoom Minawala on Twitter, and Instagram

Diipa Büller-Khosla, fashion and beauty influencer

A globally recognised face, Diipa Büller-Khosla has graced covers of prestigious fashion magazines like Conde Nast Traveller India, Brides, and Travel & Leisure. Having left India at 17, Diipa moved to Amsterdam to study law. Now shuttling between London and Amsterdam, with an Instagram following exceeding 516k, it’s safe to say that she is a heavyweight in the world of influencers.

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The influencer, who is also a mother of one, served as ambassador for brands like Estée Lauder, Maybelline, and Kérastase, and even walked international red carpets like Cannes and Venice. Her organisation, PostForChange, urges digital influencers to use their voice for various causes; she herself is vocal about fighting discrimination, something she has faced in the past due to her skin colour.

Follow Diipa Büller-Khosla on Twitter, and Instagram

Sheena Sood, fashion designer

A textile designer by professional, New York-based Sheena Sood’s label abacaxi celebrates diversity in all forms. Sheena began her career as an artist, studying visual art at Brown University and Central Saint Martins, often incorporating embroidery, beading and sequin work into her paintings. Soon after graduating, she developed print and embellishment designs for American label Tracy Reese before briefly moving to India to live with her parents.

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Interestingly, it was the bounty of textiles she had collected in her homeland that inspired abacaxi’s first capsule collection. In 2020, Sheena prepared for a full launch for spring, however it was quickly halted by the pandemic. Identifying a need, pivoted to creating intricate beaded and embroidered face masks that garnered attention from the likes of New York magazine. With that momentum, the label grew to include a full ready-to-wear offering, soaked in aqueous tie-dye prints and technicolour palettes.

Follow Sheena Sood on Twitter, and Instagram

Reading Time: 7 mins

Meet Lavik Jain, the eight year old who just published his debut novel

(June 22, 2024) Lavik Jain has always had a vivid imagination. Once, he imagined that pop star Justin Bieber’s favourite sweater went missing, then went on to weave a story out of it. This was the first time he had put his creative thoughts down on paper. It’s precisely this quality which makes the eight year-old one of India’s youngest and promising authors. “I noticed the pop star's frequent choice of sweaters and the idea ( of the missing sweater) struck me. I narrated it to my parents, who were surprised and encouraged me to write more,” smiles author Lavik Jain, speaking to Global Indian. This short story even went on to spark the idea for his first, recently released book Alexandrian Knights. [caption id="attachment_38331" align="aligncenter" width="449"] Lavik Jain[/caption] Alexandrian Knights After working on a few drafts, Lavik narrated the plot to his English teacher, who gave him some suggestions on how to make the tale more engaging. The entire experience made him realise how different people think differently. The story revolves around the unbreakable bond among four friends—Alex, Mike, Max, and Felix. Their friendship, characterized by unwavering support and loyalty, becomes a powerful force that helps them navigate and overcome the

re experience made him realise how different people think differently.

The story revolves around the unbreakable bond among four friends—Alex, Mike, Max, and Felix. Their friendship, characterized by unwavering support and loyalty, becomes a powerful force that helps them navigate and overcome the darkest challenges their adventurous journey throws their way.

“The way friendships are in India, Alexandrian Knights highlights the profound strength found in true companionship and the enduring power of human connections,” says the fourth grader of Pathways School, Noida.

Adventure world

What makes the book stand out is that it transports its readers to a world full of adventures, where anything a kid can possibly imagine, comes to life. “The colourful pictures and easy-to-follow story enabled readers picture the scenes in their minds as they read the book, making their imagination grow even more,” says Lavik.

The brave characters and the beautiful visual setting of ‘Kuldhara’ make the readers feel like they are present right there with the knights, facing challenges and discovering new things. “It’s almost like watching a 3D movie. I have tried my best to add some sci-fi and adventure, but at the same time not compromised with the relatability quotient by showcasing the power of true friendships,” says the young author, who has generated enough curiosity to keep the readers engaged and read on to see what happens next.

Upon his return to India from the US in 2022, Lavik was captivated by the vibrant Indian culture, and he was moved by the genuine affection that people share with each other. “The newfound admiration for the culture and its people naturally inspired the setting for my first book.”

He says his debut book (Alexandrian Knights) is his humble attempt to explore his imagination and himself.

Grandma’s tales

As a toddler, Lavik would listen keenly to all the stories his grandmother told him. “It took me to a mysterious world of imagination. Those memories indeed have had a profound impact on me,” says the promising author.

His parents have always stood by him. His mother, Dr. Silky Jain, is a senior paediatric haemato-oncologist working as an Assistant Professor at Post Graduate Institute of Child Health Hospital, Noida, while Lavik’s father, Dr. Harshit Jain is the Founder & Global CEO of Doceree, a platform for programmatic healthcare advertising.

“They have always been the inspiration behind all my endeavours,” says Lavik, who actively participates in debates and recently got the opportunity to become one of the ‘sharks’ in a shark tank competition held at his school.

Lavik says his parents keep reminding him to keep practicing and learning, as with more experience and knowledge, he can create stories that are special and unique. “So, I keep writing every day and constantly think of new ideas.”

A global citizen

Lavik was two years old when the Jain family moved to the United Kingdom in 2018 after Dr Harshit took up leadership role at McCann Worldgroup, UK. The family lived there for a year and a half and moved to the United States in 2019, where they stayed for three years.

In 2020, Lavik’s father decided to establish his venture Doceree, with offices both in the US and India, and they moved back to India in 2022. “All this moving around has given me a chance to see how people live in different countries,” he says.

Globe trotter

Lavik has already travelled to 10 countries including Greece, the United States, London, Paris, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Switzerland, Ireland, Rome and Italy and says each place has its own unique story.

Describing his travel experiences, Lavik says in Greece, he learned about the legend’s sayings on the ancient gods and goddesses while in the US, he saw skyscrapers so tall they seemed to touch the sky.

One Christmas, he went to Norway and saw the beautiful northern lights and visited Lego Land, where everything adventurous one can imagine, exists. “London’s busy cobblestone streets were full of energy, Paris was sparkling with the Eiffel Tower and yummy pastries. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I saw amazing futuristic buildings and played in the desert sands. Switzerland's snowy mountains felt like a fairy tale. Rome was like walking through a history book with stories of kings and emperors.”

But right now, says Lavik, his heart is in India, as it is only in this country that all the colours, spices, and stories come together like magic.

Colourful culture

Back home, Lavik was immediately captivated by the colourful culture that he believes makes the country so lively. “The strong bond between family members here is truly inspiring. My family and grandparents are very close and always look out for each other. This makes me feel safe and loved,” says the author, adding people in India love to talk and learn about each other, which helped him understand their thoughts and imaginations, boosting his creativity.

What’s next

“I plan to introduce ‘Alexandrian Knights-Vol 2’ soon. In the new version, the shadow lord will become even more powerful, and Alex, Felix, Mike and Max will fight with him to save the world from being destructed by mysterious darkness,” informs the young author.

Lavik says right now, he is having fun figuring out what his interests, likes and dislikes are. But one thing he knows for sure is that he is very curious about who made the world and how the universe came into existence. “This is a big mystery that I and the world still really want to know. Maybe one day, when I'm strong enough, I'll even go to space to find out,” smiles Lavik.

What he reads

Lavik likes to read books by two of his favourite authors — Jeff Kinney and Ruskin Bond. “Jeff Kinney’s books are super funny, the characters make me laugh. Ruskin Bond’s tales are truly magical. Both make me feel like I'm in the story and this inspires me to write stories that make readers feel the similar way.”

His favorite books are Diary of a Wimpy Kid (by Jeff Kinney) and The Blue Umbrella and Roads to Mussoorie (by Ruskin Bond). “These authors have helped me love reading and telling stories even more,” says Lavik, who also enjoys dancing.

When he's not reading...

Lavik’s hobbies reflect the curiosity to know more about the unknown. “I certainly love writing, storytelling, traveling, reading, and occasionally dancing. Like my debut book suggests, I can watch anything and everything that’s sci-fi, supernatural, horror or full of adventure,” says the super talented child, who has also been a big fan of Marvel Entertainment.

Lavik’s friends often compliment him for his writing and believe in him. “My friends love it when I tell them about spooky haunted houses, amazing space adventures, and thrilling action scenes. Their encouragement makes me want to write even more.”

Alexandrian Knights by Lavik Jain is available on Amazon.

Indian American musician SANJ blends classical Carnatic with R&B

(April 29, 2023) In the pulsating heart of New York, where music is as much the soul of the city as its towering skyscrapers, a new rhythm is emerging. It is a melody woven from the threads of two vastly different worlds, of ancient traditions and modern dreams. Indian American musician Sanjana Nayak, better known as SANJ, is bringing the East and West together through her music. Making waves with her new latest album 'Nightingale', the youngster's journey as a musician has been a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. However, her persistence and determination have helped her rise above her uncertainties, and produce some soul-stirring numbers. The Global Indian, who is trained in Carnatic music, believes her music pushes the boundaries of traditional fusion music, highlighting her creative ethos in a way she hasn’t tapped into before. "My music can best be described as R&B with sultry flows, intertwined with my Desi-Carnatic roots. I would say that my music is targeted towards those wanting to hear more worldly music that treads the cross-cultural balance of R&B and Bollywood, subtly and seamlessly. My music also highlights my creative ethos in a way I haven’t tapped into before," the musician said

mp;B with sultry flows, intertwined with my Desi-Carnatic roots. I would say that my music is targeted towards those wanting to hear more worldly music that treads the cross-cultural balance of R&B and Bollywood, subtly and seamlessly. My music also highlights my creative ethos in a way I haven’t tapped into before," the musician said in an interview.

Growing up with music

Born in Jacksonville, Florida to Indian parents, the musician moved around a lot from city to city - going from Richmond to Chicago. "Growing up, my parents were pretty strict about grades, social life, etc. But they were always supportive and pushed me towards becoming a better musician, which I’m really grateful for. I played violin as a child," she said.

SANJ grew up training in the Carnatic-style of vocals since the age of four. Bollywood music and bhajans were always playing in her house, especially when her grandparents were around. Her initial inspiration for truly enjoying music as both a listener and a musician was the soundtracks of movies like Veer Zaara and Devdas. "But on the other end, I also was inspired by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Mary J Blige, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Trey Songz, and Coldplay when I was young as well, and this helped me develop that duality of styles that you hear in my music now," SANJ informed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS89FXLigpE

But, her childhood was not all happy. "My suburb was almost 70 percent white back then, so it was tough growing up there for a while," she shared, adding, "I experienced a lot of racism and bullying, especially in my middle school years. I think these experiences shaped the pride I have for my culture now and the due diligence I put in to showcase it as much as possible from the perspective of a first-generation South Indian woman in the US."

Breaking stereotypes

While many South Asian kids her age were picking up STEM career paths, SANJ was pretty sure that she wanted to pursue music professionally even while she was in high school. Calling herself a 'rebel', the young musician believes that there is a place for South Asians in the fields of entertainment, art, and other non-STEM fields. She shared, "In fact, I think in the last year or two I’ve been seeing more and more of us come out of the shadows. I think it’s important to be in a line of work where you can support yourself and you’re not struggling daily to feed yourself, but I also think that it’s possible to pursue lucrative creative paths as a career if you put the work in. It’s also so important to not pursue a field just because other people are telling you to do so – your time, happiness, and untouched passions are not worth the sacrifice."

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So, soon after finishing her school, the youngster told her parents about her career choice. Even though they were quite supportive, there was one condition. "My family always supported my endeavours in music, as long as I could support myself. I’m lucky enough to have found a full-time role in advertising at Google, which helps me leverage my creative mind and network to successfully pursue my music career as well," she shared.

Blending traditions

In the months to come, SANJ worked in advertising strategy at Google, and by night, she's a vibrant performer lighting up venues across New York City. This balance was more than just a work-life equilibrium, it was a manifestation of her commitment to music. In her breakthrough EP ‘At Dusk’, the musician included the song ‘Cloudmind’, which was her take on experimental Desi R&B, and it did overwhelmingly well with over 300k+ streams across platforms. "TikTok mashups of my favorite trending music with Bollywood songs, and those also went viral. I kept up the mashups for about a year, and saw 10x growth across all of my platforms," the musician said, adding, "It was amazing to see the reception my community received, but also people outside of the South Asian community had towards this type of fusion music."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MADOCAH0y4

Talking about her new album, 'Nightingale', the musician said, "This album is an ode to my Desi R&B sound, including samples from Devdas and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, but also Hindi lyricism and Indian sounds that I crafted myself. I hope to be able to tour this album, and spread it to as much of the world as possible."

The musician plans on creating some amazing music for her audience going ahead. "Being able to incorporate that into Western music– it’s been a dream of mine. It’s what I’m going to continue to break boundaries in. This is just the beginning,” SANJ said.

Follow SANJ on Instagram and YouTube

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