What is Forgotten 32, and how does it promote dental hygiene in rural India?

Forgotten 32 is an initiative founded by Aryan Kumar, an 18-year-old activist from Massachusetts. Through this program, Aryan aims to promote dental hygiene in India's rural villages. He collects dental supplies such as dental floss, toothbrushes, and toothpaste from local dentists in Central Massachusetts through emails and donations. Aryan then travels to poorer villages outside of New Delhi, where he educates underprivileged children about the importance of dental care in Hindi and explains how to use the supplies before distributing them to the kids.

What impact has Aryan Kumar's initiative, Forgotten 32, had on rural Indian residents?

Aryan's initiative, Forgotten 32, has made a meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of underprivileged children in rural India. By providing dental hygiene supplies and educating children about oral care, he addresses a pressing health issue and improves their overall well-being. The program has brought much-needed awareness to oral hygiene in areas where it was previously lacking, benefiting vulnerable individuals and communities.

How did Aryan Kumar start his journey to promote dental hygiene in India?

Aryan Kumar's journey began when he discovered the alarming lack of awareness about oral hygiene among people in India. Motivated by this revelation, he took the initiative to educate underprivileged children in the country about the importance of dental care. He reached out to dentists in Central Massachusetts through emails, asking for donations of dental supplies. With around 1,000 donations collected, he travelled to rural villages outside of New Delhi, spoke in Hindi, and taught children about dental hygiene before distributing the supplies to them.

What other initiatives has Aryan Kumar been involved in, besides Forgotten 32?

Besides Forgotten 32, Aryan Kumar is also the visionary behind "Enough is Enough," a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting social justice and combating police brutality and racism in Massachusetts. The organization boasts a membership of over 2000 individuals and has played a significant role in coordinating impactful Black Lives Matter protests across central Massachusetts. It has expanded its influence with over 30 chapters established throughout the United States, amplifying the fight for equality and justice in communities nationwide.

How has Aryan Kumar balanced his academic pursuits and his commitment to social initiatives like Forgotten 32?

Aryan Kumar believes that extracurricular activities are what distinguish him from his peers, even more than grades and test scores. Despite being a recipient of the US Presidential Scholar award, Aryan dedicates his time and efforts to initiatives like Forgotten 32 and "Enough is Enough." He is passionate about biology and will pursue his academic journey at Washington University in St. Louis. During the summer, he used his time to assist college students with their research projects to gain a deeper understanding of the field before finalizing his career path. Aryan aims to continue his involvement with Forgotten 32 while pursuing his academic ambitions.

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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Aryan Kumar: US Presidential Scholar promoting dental hygiene in rural India

(July 28, 2023) Shrewsbury resident Aryan Kumar, an 18-year-old activist from Massachusetts and one of the 161 recipients of the US Presidential Scholar 2022 award, believes that a single email could be the catalyst for a transformative program benefiting thousands of rural Indian residents. Through his initiative, Forgotten 32, Aryan aims to promote dental hygiene in India's rural villages. This impactful program not only addresses a pressing health issue but also showcases the potential of young Indian Americans in making a significant difference in the world. Aryan's journey started when he discovered the alarming lack of awareness about oral hygiene among people in India. Motivated by this revelation, he took it upon himself to educate underprivileged children in the country about the importance of dental care. To support his cause, Aryan collected essential supplies from local dentist offices and distributed them to those in need, making a meaningful impact on the lives of many vulnerable individuals. [caption id="attachment_23168" align="aligncenter" width="462"] Aryan Kumar[/caption] "I emailed a lot of dentists in Central Massachusetts to see if they would donate dental floss, toothbrushes and toothpaste to help,” he told MetroWest Daily News in an interview, adding, “We got around 1,000 donations, and I

an" width="462" height="661" /> Aryan Kumar[/caption]

"I emailed a lot of dentists in Central Massachusetts to see if they would donate dental floss, toothbrushes and toothpaste to help,” he told MetroWest Daily News in an interview, adding, “We got around 1,000 donations, and I brought them to India and travelled a few hour outside of New Delhi to poorer villages and spoke in Hindi to teach children about these things and explained how to use them, before giving them to the kids.”

His relentless efforts as a senior at the Advanced Math and Science Academy yielded remarkable results, benefiting thousands of children through his partnership with the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, which facilitated the distribution of dental hygiene supplies to those in need. However, the pandemic put a screeching halt to the plan. Not one to be fazed by roadblocks, the activist has plans in place, "My ultimate goal is to set up full-time medical clinics in rural India."

The recipient of US Presidential Scholars medal believes that more than grades, it’s the extracurriculars that distinguish him from his peers. “A high SAT score is impressive but a lot of people have that. I have a pretty high GPA, too, but I don’t think those are the separating factors. I think the separating factors for me were the extracurriculars I was a part of,” the activist added.

In addition to founding Forgotten 32, Aryan Kumar is also the visionary behind Enough is Enough, a non-profit dedicated to promoting social justice and combating police brutality and racism in Massachusetts. Boasting a membership of over 2000 individuals, the organisation played a pivotal role in coordinating impactful Black Lives Matter protests across central Massachusetts. Its significant influence has grown exponentially, with more than 30 chapters established throughout the United States, amplifying the fight for equality and justice in communities across the nation.

[caption id="attachment_23165" align="aligncenter" width="828"] Aryan leading the Enough Is Enough initiative[/caption]

With a passion for biology, Aryan Kumar is set to embark on his academic journey at Washington University in St. Louis this fall. Demonstrating his dedication to the field, he used his summer to assist college students in their research projects, seeking a deeper understanding and perspective before finalising his career path.

"I cold-emailed about 100 professors. I got three responses — one saying no, one saying they had retired, and one from Dr. Lynn Adler (from UMass Amherst). I spent a lot of time working with her and Ph.D. students on their projects, to see if I really wanted to do biology and if this was something I was cut out to do,” he told the daily.

Aryan has set a academic path for himself but at the same time he wants to continue to dedicate his time and efforts to the impactful initiative he founded, Forgotten 32, where he strives to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children in rural India by promoting dental hygiene and providing essential support.

Follow Aryan Kumar on Linkedin

Reading Time: 3 min

Umasri Pujyam: An NRI teenage crusader’s fight against pollution in Godavari

(May 24, 2023) The Godavari River, winding through the scenic Konaseema district, is a vital lifeline for its residents. Over time, however, pollution has been steadily chipping away at its vitality. Umasri Pujyam, a 15-year-old Memphis-based NRI, has been combating this very issue and has become the voice of the river, making waves in her passionate fight against pollution. In a short span of two years, the young crusader has already conducted over 100 river clean-up days in the Godavari, by bringing together volunteers from the local community to address the grim issue of water and plastic pollution and promoting access to clean drinking water for those affected by this existential threat. Even though she left for the US when she was just four, her ties to her native place (Ponnamanda village) have always been strong. It was the sight of the once-pristine Godavari river stretch near Razole in the Konaseema district that compelled her into action. "I found that river Godavari, which is central to the livelihoods of millions of people, is facing a range of threats, including water and plastic pollution," says the teenager, who is also worried about the impact of agricultural practices on the local environment

he local environment as her village Ponnamanda is largely agriculture-based. Moreover, explaining her mission, she said, "The heavy use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in farming has led to runoff that contaminates streams and rivers, further exacerbating the problem of water pollution. This made me take up the river cleanup and environmental protection mission."

Journeying to the Godavari River

Leaving the comfort of her home in the US, Umasri, who is currently studying in Class X, embarked on a journey to protect the Godavari's ecosystem, setting an exemplary model for youth across the world. From organising cleanup drives to rallying local communities, Umasri’s contributions towards reviving the river have been nothing short of extraordinary. She has transformed her journey into a movement, inspiring locals and authorities alike.

When she collected plastic waste from Godavari for 100 days, the act not just inspired the panchayat staff but also created a sense of responsibility among the youth. This led to the formation of ‘Youth Against Water Pollution’, an organisation that's raising voices against the water issues faced by the people of Konaseema.

[caption id="attachment_30314" align="aligncenter" width="662"] Umasri Pujyam cleaning the banks of Godavari river[/caption]

It was in 2021 that she began working on the mission while attending virtual classes. Since then, the movement has expanded and so has her outreach. Apart from her fieldwork in India, she is also creating awareness through social media.

Raising awareness

Umasri has also been instrumental in raising awareness about the hazards of pollution, not just to the river, but the overall ecosystem. Educational workshops, public awareness campaigns, and open dialogues have become commonplace in the Konaseema district, thanks to Umasri's initiative. She stresses the importance of sustainable practices and responsible waste disposal, emphasizing that change must start at the grassroots level.

For the last few years, she has been raising alarm against the untreated sewage and plastic - which is the key cause behind the river’s pollution. Moreover, Umasri has been guiding the locals on proper waste disposal and ways to reduce their impact on the environment and water sources. She cleans the river mostly on her own but often finds help from the locals in the form of volunteers. "I have collaborated with local officials and politicians including Amalapuram MP Chinta Anuradha and Razole MLA Rapaka to help work towards better environmental policies and conditions as well," the Global Indian added. This collective effort has removed tonnes of waste from the river, reducing pollution levels significantly and making a visible impact on the water quality.

In the pipeline

For someone passionate about environmental engineering and technology, she envisions the implementation of waste management systems and the introduction of eco-friendly alternatives to curb pollution. Besides, Umasri also aspires to engineer innovative and effective sewage treatment solutions that will help priortise access to clean water for all.

Her ultimate goal is to have a bright future for the villagers, wherein the health and prosperity of local communities are sustained. Umasri’s campaign is not just about restoring the Godavari River; it's about empowering the people who depend on it, building a better, sustainable future for them, and the generations to come. This dynamic young leader has shown that every small step matters.

Reading Time: 4 min

Steven Harris Ramdev: From WorldSkills victory to global mentorship

(Aug 9, 2023) It was a proud moment for Steven Harris Ramdev as he secured a medallion of excellence at the WorldSkills Competition 2022 in Aarau, Switzerland. Competing alongside 24 nations in the graphic design technology category, Steven showcased his prowess and emerged as one of the top four achievers. "The exhilaration of holding the Indian flag on that esteemed international platform was truly surreal. It was a dream come true," Steven tells Global Indian. The 22-year recent graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bengaluru, has moved to Abu Dhabi for his first job. "I've been appointed as a vocational trainer at ACTVET (Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training)," he shares. In this role, Steven is all set to mentor and refine the skills of the aspiring WorldSkills 2024 participants hailing from the country in the domain of graphic design technology – the very category that earned him a medal in 2022. “I am deeply grateful to the government of United Arab Emirates for providing me with this incredible opportunity and entrusting me with the role of training the next set of contestants,” remarks the youngster. [caption id="attachment_32476" align="aligncenter" width="709"] Steven Harris Ramdev during

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In this role, Steven is all set to mentor and refine the skills of the aspiring WorldSkills 2024 participants hailing from the country in the domain of graphic design technology – the very category that earned him a medal in 2022. “I am deeply grateful to the government of United Arab Emirates for providing me with this incredible opportunity and entrusting me with the role of training the next set of contestants,” remarks the youngster.

[caption id="attachment_32476" align="aligncenter" width="709"] Steven Harris Ramdev during the WorldSkills Competition at Switzerland[/caption]

The proud moment…

Ever since Steven discovered the image of Shweta Ratanpura, the first Indian woman to win a medal in graphics design technology at WorldSkills, he was inspired to achieve a similar feat. “I stumbled upon the image of hers holding the Indian flag in my college, finding it magnanimous, and feeling a deep curiosity to learn the story behind it.”

Intrigued, he delved into all the available information about the competition. Prior to that he had been unaware that graphic artists could also bring honour to their country, by participating like athletes in an international competition of such a large scale. “World Skills is the Olympics of vocational skills. It should be made more popular,” Steven says, emphasising that even after 50 years of its existence, the competition continues to need more publicity.

[caption id="attachment_32477" align="aligncenter" width="754"] Steven Harris Ramdev at the WorldSkills stage in Switzerland[/caption]

Impressive milestones

Always in a quest to outshine himself the youngster has won 155 prizes altogether in school and college, both in art competitions and other extracurricular activities. Although winning at World Skills is the highest achievement so far, his art has fetched him some extraordinary recognitions.

Amidst the pandemic, he felt immense pride in the recognition he received for his artwork from none other than the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi. During the lockdown, he sketched two portraits of the PM in appreciation of his leadership and sent them to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) without expecting any acknowledgement. To his surprise, he received a letter from the PM himself, thanking him for the thoughtful gesture. The PMO also released a press statement appreciating his artwork, which resulted in numerous interviews on prominent media outlets, including radio, print, and TV channels.

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As an artist, Steven experienced another exhilarating moment when he emerged as the winner of an art contest hosted by TrueFan celebrity shout out app. His outstanding portraits of Hritik Roshan and Tiger Shroff secured him the top position in the competition. The icing on the cake was receiving video messages from the stars themselves, commending Steven for his remarkable talent.

Also, one of the most cherished moments in the youngster's life was being felicitated by then chief minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai and minister for higher education Ashwath Narayan for winning the various IndiaSkills competitions and getting selected as the final candidate to represent India at the WorldSkills. The recognitions that he has received for his accomplishments at various other platforms have made them unforgettable and special occasions for him.

Joy of art

Steven was captivated by vibrant posters, books, illustrations, and all things visually appealing from as far back he can recall. Anything that caught his eye was promptly recorded in his art book. "Translating the allure of what I found captivating into sketches brought me immense delight," he shares. His mother recognised his deep interest and natural skill in the arts, providing motivation along the way. She diligently documented every piece of art he crafted, nurturing his creative journey.

"I've consistently been someone who competes with myself. Upon completing each artwork, my immediate thought is always, 'What's next? How can I surpass this and create something even more remarkable?'" he reveals.

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A post shared by Steven Harris.R (@stevenharris.r)

Steven is indebted to his Guru, Sheshadri Mokshagundam who has been his teacher since he was a student of grade 4. “I look up to him not just a teacher who taught me art but as a guru of life” he says talking about the retired engineer who is the grandson of Late Sir Visvesvaraya Mokshagundam – the acclaimed civil engineer whose birthday is celebrated each year as Engineer’s Day in India, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

Steven is also grateful to his Pune-based mentor Satish Narayanan, founder director of Design Skills Academy and expert in graphic design technology for training him for the WorldSkills competition. He holds his alma maters NIFT Chennai, and NIFT Bengaluru in high regard.

“Everyone should be aware of WorldSkills, as this could lead to a greater number of Indian representatives. It's a prestigious opportunity that should not be overlooked. While winning can be challenging, even when you don’t you will still be gaining valuable experiences," he signs off.

Follow Steven Harris Ramdev on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook

Reading Time: 5 mins

From Rohtak to International cricket: Shafali Verma’s story sets the right inspiration for budding players

(July 13, 2022) She was quite young when she first stepped on a cricket pitch. Disguised as her brother, who was sick, Shafali Verma played at the under-12 national school championship and ended up winning the Player of the Match award. A first-class cricketer today, this Rohtak girl has carved a niche for herself in the world of cricket. The youngest Indian cricketer to play in an international match, Shafali was just 15 when she was selected to play at the Women’s 20 International Series. Interestingly, the teen prodigy became the youngest Indian half-centurion, while playing against West Indies during her debut series. Her first international series turned out to be a great one. Scoring 158 in just five matches, she became the player of the series, garnering lots of attention for her fantastic performance. [caption id="attachment_19206" align="alignnone" width="1049"] Shafali Verma, Indian cricketer[/caption] By 2021, the 2004-born Haryana girl had built a good repertoire - becoming the youngest player to represent India in all three formats of international cricket at the age of 17 years. Her brilliant performances earned her a place in the Indian team up for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup, to be held in New Zealand.

youngest player to represent India in all three formats of international cricket at the age of 17 years. Her brilliant performances earned her a place in the Indian team up for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup, to be held in New Zealand. Global Indian looks at the extraordinary journey of this brilliant, young player.

Off her own bat

Daughter of a jewellery shop owner, Shafali has been playing cricket since she was just eight years old. The young cricketer was trained by her father, Sanjeev, who once aspired to be a cricketer himself. A strict mentor, Sanjeev devised a rigorous training schedule for his daughter. However, he would also give her a reward of ₹5 whenever Shafali would hit a sixer at the local ground. Recognising that Shafali could make an excellent cricketer, her father later made her join the Ram Narayan Cricket Club, Rohtak.

[caption id="attachment_19207" align="aligncenter" width="825"] Shafali Verma representing IPL Velocity at a match in Pune[/caption]

Crediting her father for her success, Shafali wrote on her social media, "I am who I am today because of my father. He has always been the most supportive and friendly dad in the world." But, her father wasn't her only inspiration. Not unlike other cricketers, Shafali too idolised one of the greatest cricketers of all times, Sachin Tendulkar. “The reason I took up cricket is because of Sachin sir. My family has just not idolized but worshipped him," she had once mentioned in a post.

[caption id="attachment_19208" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Shafali with her idol, Sachin Tendulkar[/caption]

The journey continues…

A alumna of Mandeep Senior Secondary School, Rohtak registered yet another record to her name becoming the youngest cricketer ever to play in the final of the World Cup. Owing to her game, the cricketer moved 12 places up in the ODI batting rankings, to a career-best 36th rank.

[caption id="attachment_19210" align="aligncenter" width="821"] Shafali with Indian women's cricket team[/caption]

The Indian cricketer, who is a right-handed batswoman, has played a significant role in bringing India a 2-0 lead against Sri Lanka in the ten-team league ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) 2022-25 which is in its third iteration. There are many tournaments on the bay and Shafali is in a good form to make a mark in all the matches ahead.

Even though she is quite busy, the sportsperson always manages to find time between matches and practice sessions, to connect with her fans through social media.

Follow Shafali Verma on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Reading Time: 5 mins

How language redeemer Shruti Rijhwani mines your language with AI &ML

(March 23, 2022) Humans aren’t the best at preservation. Case in point, the world as we know it. Now, fathom how a country like India, that had 1,100 languages, has lost 220 forever. That 20 percent is just skimming the tip of this nadir – Across the world too, the findings are concerning. Over 1,500 endangered languages will no longer be spoken by the end of this century. Or that of the world’s 7,000 recognised languages, around half are currently endangered. Language redeemer Shruti Rijhwani decided to address this lacuna, and preserve them. The Pittsburg-based coding whiz used algorithms to preserve languages like Hokkaido Ainu (spoken among few elderly Japanese), Griko (Italiot Greek), Yakkha (from Nepal and Sikkim) and Kwak'wala (estimates state only 200 speak it fluently in Western Canada). Way back in 2011, a young girl aspired for a career in technology. She was to travel to Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, for a BSc in computer science. There, she strengthened her foundation and ambled along to Carnegie Mellon University for an MS in language technologies, followed by a PhD in the same at the School of Computer Science. About to graduate in May 2022, Shruti Rijhwani

022, Shruti Rijhwani was awarded the Forbes 30 under 30 2022. Her metier was restoring lost languages using artificial intelligence and machine learning. In that, restoring world history. The Bloomberg PhD fellow first got interested in languages as a preppy research intern at Microsoft Research (2015).

[caption id="attachment_13118" align="aligncenter" width="522"] Shruti Rijhwani[/caption]

Now, busying with her final thesis, to graduate as a PhD, Shruti Rijhwani speaks from Pittsburgh to Global Indian, “My PhD thesis at CMU encompasses my research on developing machine learning algorithms to improve the accuracy of extracting text in endangered languages from printed books - those endangered. The books and documents in these languages do not have a digital format. My research works towards improving automatic digitisation using machine learning and natural language processing,” explains the traditionalist whose was honoured by Forbes in the science category.

A girl who loved computers

Brought up in Bengaluru, India, her parents and sister, while away from her, are a constant source of motivation. “I really miss my family in India,” says the language champion.

Not just her family, Shruti, misses her visits to India before Covid-19 hit, “I really miss the food – I always look forward to visiting my favourite restaurants in Bengaluru whenever I visit my family,” says the NLP expert.

For laymen, Shruti explains this quest into languages and tech that led her to becoming a research fellow at Microsoft Research then Bloomberg AI, publishing innumerable papers, to then getting consumed into the world of languages.

“I became interested in NLP after an internship at Microsoft Research in Bengaluru,” says Shruti, who then realised that many existing language technologies support a limited number of languages as opposed to being able to support the 7,000+ languages in the world.

“Many communities that speak endangered languages want language technologies that work well for their language, but it’s challenging. My project tries to build algorithms that work well for endangered languages in collaboration with linguists and endangered language communities,” explains the language redeemer.

At heart, a language expert

For Rijhwani, the primary technical challenge was that most state-of-the-art NLP methods rely on a large amount text resources, or data for ML – which endangered languages don’t have. “My research helps overcome a part of this challenge by developing techniques that perform well without much data,” she explains.

As complex as it sounds, the language redeemer breaks it down. “The algorithms take scanned images of non-digitised books and handwritten documents, automatically recognise characters, and produce digitised text. The recognition sees the algorithm looking at the shape of each character, and trying to match it to an existing pattern,” explains Shruti excitedly. While the recognition is not perfect, she has developed algorithms to automatically correct errors using NLP techniques through patterns that correct them.

Incredibly honored to be recognized on the 2022 @Forbes 30 under 30 list in Science!

✨*HUGE* thanks to my collaborators and mentors, @mulix, @anas_ant, @gneubig
✨More about my recent work: https://t.co/Qbum8a2qvL @ForbesUnder30 #ForbesUnder30 https://t.co/xfdWhMffXP

— Shruti Rijhwani (@shrutirij) December 2, 2021

Elaborating on NLP, the 29-year-old explains that it is broad name for technologies that enable the understanding of human languages by computers. “There are multiple applications - automatically translating text (eg, Google Translate), searching the web, or automatic question- answer. Some work I did early in my PhD builds NLP models for automatically processing entities in human language (like location and person names). Now, I am using NLP techniques to improve text extraction accuracy for endangered languages,” adds the PhD student who is grateful for her mentor Graham Neubig’s guidance.

Those early days as a research intern, at Microsoft Research inspired Shruti to apply for a PhD. “During two summers, I worked as a research intern at Bloomberg AI. I enjoyed both, it gave me a good sense of how NLP research works. It also brought about collaborations with researchers at Bloomberg, leading to published research papers,” she adds.

Creating a niche

The Forbes 30 under 30 reveals that she had a fairly normal childhood, grew up in a space where independence was respected. Though not drawn to science as a child, Shruti enjoyed computer programming. Now, graduating in May, deep in her dissertation, and a final project on improving text extracting from endangered language texts, she loves working in her beautiful office, writing code, doing data analysis, or talking with collaborators! “The environment at CMU is exciting for research as many students are working on diverse and challenging problems, so it’s fun to learn about and discuss different research ideas,” says the language restorer.

Shruti loves a challenge, Thus working on difficult research problems is hugely motivational. “I’m not afraid to run from a challenge. I enjoy taking up risky projects. I believe my projects have significant practical or real-world impact,” explains this student for life.

Her dream job predictably also involves being able to develop ML and natural language processing algorithms to solve large-scale and real-life or practical challenges. “I want to develop NLP models and techniques to expand technologies to more languages and tasks, supporting populations that don’t have access to them,” says the coder.

The adventurer behind the coder

All coding and no play is also not what Shruti prescribes to. “I love spending time outdoors: I often go hiking in Pittsburgh, there are so many amazing state and city parks. For a vacation, I’d go near the ocean as I love snorkelling and I’m a certified scuba diver,” says the language redeemer.

During Covid-19, Shruti discovered a talent for woodwork – even bought a few power tools, and ended up building multiple pieces of furniture and décor.

Her long-term partner is her constant source of support through school and now PhD. “He is incredible at helping me balance work and life, ensuring I take breaks and enjoy life outside of research,” reveals the ML and AI language whiz who wants students to enter stem, especially girls. “Science and stem research is awesome! It’s an exciting career, technologies are being rapidly developed and it’s a lot of fun to learn, and discover new things every day. It’s challenging no doubt, this direction, but it’s absolutely rewarding,” concludes the language redeemer.

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