Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveSandy Khanda: Bridging gaps, building futures with Green Pencil Foundation

Sandy Khanda: Bridging gaps, building futures with Green Pencil Foundation

Written by: Amrita Priya

(March 6, 2024) After passing out of engineering college in 2018, Sandy Khanda could have either followed the conventional path of securing a job or pursue a startup venture, a common choice among many young enthusiasts, but he chose to start an NGO. Headquartered in Delhi NCR, his NGO, Green Pencil Foundation has quickly gained momentum, extending its reach in eleven states of India with a strong volunteer base of over 2,000 young volunteers. Together, Sandy and his team have touched the lives of over 20,000 individuals through initiatives that emphasise women’s empowerment, menstrual hygiene management, education for underprivileged children, and action for climate change.

Recognizing the global nature of many societal challenges, Sandy has also expanded Green Pencil’s operations to Indonesia and Iran. “In Indonesia, our outreach extends to various areas in Jakarta and the Papua province, which has the lowest literacy rates in the country,” he tells Global Indian. “With a presence in over 50 schools and underprivileged communities, we are committed to making a difference in remote locations, employing an inclusive approach that transcends borders and religions. Our initiatives also extend to certain regions in Iran” the social entrepreneur adds.

Sandy Khanda

Life’s transformative turns

Sandy was born and raised in a small village in Haryana, and witnessed firsthand the disparities and challenges faced by rural communities. When he moved to Delhi for education, his transition to urban life only heightened his awareness of societal issues such as gender inequality, poor climatic conditions, air pollution, struggles of marginalised populations and plight of kids growing up in slums of Delhi NCR.

Fuelled by a desire to instigate change, Sandy began his journey through grassroots activism, utilizing platforms like writing, teaching slum children, and organising protests to address pressing social issues, while pursuing engineering.

However, his commitment to societal betterment became even stronger following a life-altering experience – a near-fatal accident that left him in a six-month coma. Emerging from this ordeal with renewed purpose and gratitude, Sandy resolved to dedicate his life to serving others. Thus, the Green Pencil Foundation was born, with a mission to empower communities, break down barriers, and drive positive change across India and beyond.

Green for environmental advocacy, Pencil for education

The name of the foundation, Green Pencil, reflects its dual focus on environmental advocacy and education. ‘Green’ stands for addressing the pressing climate change crisis. The foundation advocates improved public policies for reducing carbon footprints, with an emphasis on a human-centric approach.

‘Pencil’ centres around education, particularly the foundation’s efforts to uplift underprivileged children and women. Through educational workshops covering topics such as menstrual hygiene management, mental health, and academic classes, the Green Pencil Foundation empowers individuals for a brighter future. “The primary sources of funding for our initiatives come from individual supporters and corporate social responsibility, enabling us to sustain and grow our efforts in making a meaningful difference,” Sandy says.

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Developing a global perspective

Apart from being engaged in his NGO, Sandy has remotely served as the national coordinator and community outreach manager at Atlas, a Brussels based political movement uniting people worldwide to create a freer, better and more equitable planet.

Sandy’s responsibilities encompassed coordinating community engagement to promote Atlas’ endeavours across India. “I was actively engaged in designing and executing comprehensive campaigns to advance Atlas’ principles within the Indian context. This entailed strategic planning, seamless coordination, and effective communication to amplify the organisation’s movements.” His involvement with Atlas provided him with a global perspective on societal issues, a perspective that has influenced the expansion of Green Foundation initiatives beyond India.

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Green Pencil’s meaningful projects

The youth-led NGO’s impact spans across major metropolitan cities of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Manipur, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Amritsar, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Bangalore.

The foundation is spearheading several meaningful projects. Through the ‘Periods of Pride’ initiative, it has conducted a thorough survey in government schools across India, uncovering critical challenges in menstrual hygiene management. The findings reveal prevalent issues including menstrual taboos, inadequate educational awareness, and limited knowledge about menstrual hygiene products, garnering wide attention.

Another project like ‘Slum to School’ aims to educate and enable soft skills development in slum kids to make them independent. “This project is running in more than 25 Indian cities in 11 Indian states to benefit over 3,000 slum kids,” shares Sandy.

The Foundation is working in coordination with Greenpeace India, the Indian branch of the global environmental group Greenpeace, a non-profit NGO, with a presence in 55 countries in a project called ‘Power the Pedal’. “This groundbreaking project focuses on providing bicycle training to hundreds of women, aiming to promote sustainable mobility and empower themselves in the process,” tells Sandy.

Green Pencil Foundation and Greenpeace India’s ‘Power to Pedal’ project provides bicycle training to women

Green Pencil’s Initiative, ‘One Home One Tree’ is aimed to influence people and encourage plantation drives to fight air pollution in metro cities.

The project, ‘Festivals vibes with needy tribes’ encourages people to celebrate festivals with needy people around them so that they feel special. “It gives the message of equality in the society,” the social entrepreneur remarks.

The project, ‘Pollution Se Azaadi’ advocates for a shift towards public transport and active mobility as effective means to reduce carbon footprints.

ALSO READ | Empowering change: Activist Sanya Sharma’s pursuit of a better world

Working to expand reach beyond India

Having tasted reasonable success in his efforts to make a difference in India, Sandy Khanda now aspires to extend his impact beyond borders by expanding Green Pencil Foundation’s programmes to various regions of South Asia. “We are working towards expanding Green Pencil Foundation’s footprint in South Asian and African regions with an aim to impact more lives,” he signs off.

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Published on 06, Mar 2024

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Champions of Change: Celebrating their triumphs in 2023

(December 27, 2023) Exceptionally talented young individuals committed to betterment of their communites have been rewarded for their efforts in 2023. They have pushed boundaries with their remarkable work over the years to make life around them better. These inspiring young minds serve not only as an example for aspiring youth aiming to do meaningful work for society but have also set a personal benchmark that they hope to surpass in the upcoming year. Their dedication to making a difference within their communities uplifts the spirits of the Indians and the diaspora. Global Indian celebrates their achievements. Shriya Bopanna Miss India America 2020, Shriya Bopanna who is also an activist, author, and on-air personality has been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Austin list of 2023, “I am honestly still shocked and incredibly grateful for making it to the list,” Shriya told Global Indian. “There is a certain amount of validation I feel in being authenticated and it has been a dream of mine to make it to Forbes 30 Under 30 since I was 16,” she added. The multi-talented change maker who also works as a project manager and business analyst at Accenture in the United States, looks at the Austin list

” she added.

The multi-talented change maker who also works as a project manager and business analyst at Accenture in the United States, looks at the Austin list as a stepping stone to eventually making to the entire North American list of Forbes. Right from her school days, Shriya Boppana had been passionate about advocacy, and deeply involved in raising awareness and funds for causes like anti-sex trafficking. She would do whatever it took to achieve her goal – show up at community events to hand out flyers, volunteer, do community service, and more.

Read Shriya' Global Indian story

Shrusti Amulya

The Maryland based teenager has been named a ‘Woman of Worth 2023’ by L’Oreal Paris for fighting food waste in America. The United States discards more food than any other country in the world. Approximately 31 percent (133 billion pounds) of the country’s overall food supply goes is wasted by consumers and retailers, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS). To address this problem in her community, Shrusti, a senior at Richard Montgomery High School, began the Rise N Shine Foundation.

[caption id="attachment_32864" align="aligncenter" width="485"] Shrusti Amula[/caption]

The youth-led initiative aims to tackle the effects of food waste through composting and food recovery programmes, and in the process – avert climate change. Shrusti has received many awards and recognition, apart from the ‘Woman of Worth 2023’ title by L’Oreal Paris.

Read Shrusti's Global Indian story

Uday Bhatia

It was in the spring break of 2022 that the then 16-year-old Uday Bhatia embarked on a school project. His destination was the village of Bichpuri in Uttar Pradesh, where he aimed to mentor 30 students on financial literacy and ways to earn a sustainable livelihood. Little did he know that this endeavour would profoundly impact the lives of the village residents. It all began when his students turned up without homework the following day. When inquired, he learned about the frequent power outages plaguing the area, lasting between 6 to 8 hours each day, making it impossible for the students to finish their assignments. “The only alternative they had was kerosene lamps, which I found was harmful due to the release of carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. Additionally, they posed risks of respiratory problems and eye irritation,” Uday told Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_32012" align="aligncenter" width="467"] Uday Bhatia[/caption]

Motivated by the discovery, Uday delved into research and found that an inverter costs ₹10,000, the amount equivalent to the average income of many households in the village. This pushed him to find a low-cost solution, which he did with an emergency inverter bulb capable of providing 10 hours of power backup. The ground-breaking invention, that has illuminated 5000 households till now in five states, earned him the Diana Award 2023.

Read Uday's Global Indian story

Oviya Singh

When Sadhguru recognised Oviya Singh’s efforts to spread awareness on soil conservation, the joy and elation of 12-year-old knew no bounds. “His acknowledgment in one of the Save Soil Campaign events and later, a mention of my name in the ‘youth in action’ section on his website, are recognitions that evoke indescribable emotions,” she smiled. The youngster became one of the youngest TEDx speakers in India last year, gaining recognition in India and beyond. The powerful public speaker has been using her gift of gab to motivate not just youngsters but also industrialists, public figures and government authorities to do their part in making the planet a better place through initiatives like soil conservation and other measures to enhance sustainability.

In 2023 she became the recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award that came with the opportunity of visiting the University of Oxford to receive the medal and the certicate in person. It was presented at the Global Peace Summit organised by the NRI Welfare Society in the UK.

Read Oviya's Global Indian story

Anya Gupta

In 2022, Boca Raton, a city in Southern Palm Beach Country, Florida, announced that October 14 would be E-Waste Day. It was a triumph for Anya Gupta, the pre-teen environment advocate, and her efforts to protect the planet by addressing the elephant in the room – e-waste. Mayor Scott Singer passed the proclamation, helping Anya spread awareness about the harm caused by electronic waste on the environment. Anya has gathered over 1,000 pounds of electronic waste through her e-waste collection drives, ensuring that the e-waste generated by Boca Raton’s 100,000 inhabitants is reused or recycled, rather than ending up in a landfill.

At just 12 years of age, Anya Gupta is creating a significant impact as a passionate champion with a mission to safeguard the environment. The young environmentalist is the founder of the non-profit ‘Pennies for Penguins’ which she started with the purpose of ocean wildlife protection when she was barely five. In 2023 she won the Everyday Young Hero Award by Youth Service America for her committment to finding her voice, taking an action and creating an impact in her community. She has beem proud to pave the way for other young people, inspiring them to find their voice and take action.

Read Anya's Global Indian story

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Budding Indian-origin scientists win big at the Regeneron Science Talent Search

(January 22, 2023) Proving President Joe Biden’s words, “Indian Americans are taking over the country,” right, several Indian-origin kids have been winning big at the Regeneron Science Talent Search every year. Also called the US’ Junior Nobel, several Indian-origin high school students have secured positions among the top-10 finalists at this oldest and most prestigious STEM competition, which discovers the most innovative of budding scientists. This year too, over 30 Indian-American students are among the semifinalists in the science competition. Inspired by compelling issues that cripple the pace of day-to-day life, these students have developed simple, unique, low-cost solutions, demonstrating their potential to become scientists and innovators for humankind. As these youngsters fight it to reach the top of the scoring board, Global Indian takes a look at the past Indian-origin students who won big at the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Neil Chowdhury An 18-year-old from Washington, Neil Chowdhury’s success in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 is inspiring. He finished fifth among the top 10 winners of the United States’ Junior Nobel in STEM and received a cash award of $90,000 for his project, “Modeling the Effect of Histone Methylation on Chromosomal Organization in Colon Cancer Cells", which is

90,000 for his project, “Modeling the Effect of Histone Methylation on Chromosomal Organization in Colon Cancer Cells", which is an innovative computational method of studying the role of histones implicated in colon cancer.

The project he submitted to the Regeneron Science Talent Search shows his findings that histone proteins cause changes to the way a long string of DNA loops and coils itself to fit inside the nucleus of a cell. Explaining the significance of his project, Neil had earlier said that by being able to simulate biological systems and develop models of 3D genome, it can help us to better understand the inner workings of the cells.

In his experiment, Neil tried to replicate the method of modulating the DNA’s physical formation using molecular simulations of DNA polymers and coded the simulation in Python, an open-source programming language. His experiment shows that a modification of histone proteins can help with colon cancer by causing changes in the folding of DNA strings. Neil is exploring DNA, the basic building blocks of life, and will use the money to help pay tuition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Pravalika Gayatri Putalapattu

Just 17 and already going places. Indian-American student Pravalika Gayatri Putalapattu won the seventh place at the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search. A resident of Virginia, Pravalika received a cash award of $70,000 for her project on real-time monitoring of laparoscopic surgeries. She designed a video-assisted program that uses machine learning to detect errors, if there is any, in surgical steps that doctors take in the operating room, so that a corrective measure can be taken immediately.

“My program was inspired by my cousin in India, who died of a preventable brain surgery complication,” Pravalika had shared during the competition, adding, "I wanted to create a tool that alleviates surgeons' stress and helps them perform better in the operating room.” Pravalika started working on Dynamic Operating Room Companion (also known as DORC) in July 2020 and her goal was to reduce the potential for mistakes in gallbladder surgeries. Using machine learning, DORC analyses live surgery videos and tracks the movements of surgical tools, such as the acceleration and velocity in use. DORC uses this info to flag potential errors.

Gopal Krishna Goel

This 17-year-old from Portland, Oregon secured the fourth position at the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021. A homeschooled math genius, Gopal made it to the top 10 for his research on mathematical properties of random matrices, for which he received a US$ 100,000 award. For his project, he made connections between two mathematical objects related to randomness and probability.

Speaking about his journey, Gopal shared during an interview that homeschooling gave him the opportunity to explore the areas of study he loved at his own pace. He also added that his father piqued his interest in physics and they started going through most of Halliday Resnick 2nd edition together.

The young scientist hopes that his work will aid in the search for the true nature of quantum gravity, more commonly known as “the theory of everything.” Gopal, who is currently pursuing his undergraduate in math, science, music, and philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is confident that the award-winning research will play a key role in the field of meteorology, nuclear physics, and quantum field theory. His research on the connection between randomness and probability.

Alay Shah

Among the top ten winners of the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search, 17-year-old Alay Shah from Texas finished seventh and earned a US$ 70,000 award for developing a possible low-cost alternative to MRIs. Through his research titled, Identifying Eye-Movement Patterns in Neurological Disorders to Assess Cognitive and Motor Function, Alay developed a tool to test eye movement as a low-cost, non-invasive method of quantifying deep brain function. He wrote the software, built the hardware, and conducted clinical testing on Dementia, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, and ADHD patients.

On knowing that injured footballers are immediately taken for an eye checkup to find concussion, Alay started working on the idea of using abnormal eye movements for accurate detection of several neurological disorders. During an interaction session with the media, Alay had shared that he is a big believer in project-based learning. He added that he took a look at the current eye tracking standard and he used a combination of a set of intelligent algorithms to redefine eye tracking at its core.

A resident of Plano, Alay has integrated into the device an infrared camera that uses the software he coded. The device also uses deep learning algorithms to analyze and interpret the data on pupil movement. He has already tested the tool successfully on 200 patients.

Indrani Das

Currently pursuing a degree in Chemical and Physical Biology at the prestigious Harvard University, Indrani Das took home the top prize of $250,000 for her winning project focused on brain injury at the 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search. By manipulating astrocytes, a type of supporting brain cell in an injury model, Indrani worked to promote neuron repair.

A contributor to neuron death is astrogliosis, a condition that occurs when cells called astrocytes react to injury by growing, dividing, and reducing their uptake of glutamate, which in excess is toxic to neurons. In a laboratory model, Indrani showed that exosomes isolated from astrocytes transfected with microRNA-124a both improved astrocyte uptake of glutamate and increased neuron survival.

Explaining her research, Das said that when Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke, or a traumatic injury affects the brain, the neurons, which are the main signal cells of the brain, are killed. Next, the supporting cells -- astrocytes -- that are supposed to nurture and protect the neurons, go awry and create a toxic chemical environment, poisoning the neurons.

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Penn Masala: From the White House to the Paris Olympics 2024, the boy band takes the world stage

President Joe Biden invited Penn Masala, the premier South Asian a cappella boy group to perform at the White House when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States last year. Mathematics student Raghunandan Raman, who serves as the current president of the band called it an “opportunity of a lifetime.” Penn Masala, the University of Pennsylvania’s boy-band composed mostly of Indian descent students, has gained wide recognition for blending Eastern and Western influences to bridge cultural divides through their music. This year, the acclaimed a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment) band performed at the inaugural India House at the Paris Olympics 2024. India House, a collaboration between the Reliance Foundation and the Indian Olympic Association, aimed to boost Indian athletes' performances, support national sports federations, and position India as a potential future host of the Olympic Games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AV5sbxwgb8 Conceptualised by Nita Ambani and her team, the India House in Paris showcased the rich legacy of Indian music and celebrating India in a grand style. In addition to music, it featured craft installations, yoga sessions, and dance performances. Penn Masala artists who have performed across the United States, in India and other locations of the world were thrilled about performing

featured craft installations, yoga sessions, and dance performances. Penn Masala artists who have performed across the United States, in India and other locations of the world were thrilled about performing during the most coveted sporting event in Paris.

Penn Masala

The boy-band is an evolving group composed of students from the University of Pennsylvania. The group's membership changes regularly as veteran members graduate and new members join through auditions. While most of Penn Masala's members are of Indian descent, the group has also had non-Indian members. During significant performances, the former members also join.

Founded in 1996 by South Asian students of the University of Pennsylvania, the band is recognised as the world's first South Asian a cappella group. It was established with the aim of creating music that crosses traditional cultural boundaries and reflects the experience of growing up with both Eastern and Western influences.

“It was formed by a group of four guys, who saw that a cappella was a big thing across college campuses, but a lot of music that they grew up listening to wasn’t being expressed in this art form. They probably questioned “Why not us? Why can't South Asians also be a part of this?” shared alumni Saaketh Narayan talking about how Penn Masala got started. “Back then, it wasn't cool to be Indian or South Asian. It took guts to do what a lot of art groups and the founders of Penn Masala did,” he added.

[caption id="attachment_38670" align="aligncenter" width="719"] A Penn Masala performance in 2016[/caption]

Although the group members have always been in their 20s, in its 28-year-journey, Penn Masala has managed to appeal audiences of all age groups while performing at biggest venues across the US and beyond. Apart from releasing 12 full-length albums it has also performed for the Indian Filmfare Awards, and for heads-of-state, prominent businessmen, and international leaders including Barack Obama, Henry Kissinger, Ban Ki-moon, Mukesh Ambani, among others.

The group also had a cameo role in the Hollywood movie Pitch Perfect 2, released in 2015. The movie received the American Music Award for Best Soundtrack.

The homecoming India tours

Apart from several domestic, Canada and UK tours, US-based Penn Masala has travelled to India multiple times. In 2006, the group celebrated its 10th anniversary with a tour of India. Their most recent tour to India was in May 2023 when they performed seven shows across Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. “It provided us with unique experiences. The love and adulation of fans was of next level. They made poems and art for us,” said one of the performers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8FGKCFYdlA

Balancing worlds

The loving audience sometimes tends to forget that the Penn Masala artists are at the university to study and that singing is just an additional activity for them. For all of them music is a great break from their academic rigour and professional aspirations – ‘an outlet to step away from the stress, hang out with an awesome group of guys, and jam’.

The current members Raghunandan Raman, Gaurish Gaur, Riju Datta, Venugopal Chillal, Ajay Kilambi, Prateek Adurty, Rohit Rajagopalan and Aryaman Meswani are all studying different subjects at the University of Pennsylvania but has music in common.

The current Penn Masala president Raghunandan was born in Bangor, India. His family moved to the United States when he was young. “I’ve been part of two worlds,” he remarked, “One American growing up in New Jersey and the other at home with my parents and family steeped in Indian culture, including music. Penn Masala combines both the Western and the Indian side of me, and I feel fortunate to be a part of this group and experience that.”

Like him, Penn Masala has had members who were born in India but raised in the US, as well as those who were completely born and brought up in the US. Regardless of their place of birth, Raghunandan's words resonate with all of them.

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How golden girl Nikhat Zareen throws winning punches

(April 6, 2022) It was during a sports event in Nizamabad, Telangana when 12-year-old Nikhat Zareen was first told that boxing is not for girls. Today, the pint-sized girl boxing champ has won several gold medals in various international boxing championships and is regarded as one of the best in the sports. “I remember telling my father that someone had told me that boxing is not meant for girls. He told me, there is nothing one can't do if they are determined," shares the 25-year-old Indian boxer, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_14274" align="aligncenter" width="563"] Nikhat Zareen[/caption] “After I first stepped inside the box, there was no turning back. I knew boxing is what I wanted to do. My father supported me throughout my journey, encouraging me. Today, after I have won many medals, I feel that all the hard work was worth it. However, I have much more potential, and a long way to go,” adds the girl boxing champ, who recently defeated Ukraine's Tetiana Kob, a three-time European Championships medallist 4-1 to clinch a gold medal at the 2022 Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament. She had also won gold in the same tournament in 2019, making her the

� adds the girl boxing champ, who recently defeated Ukraine's Tetiana Kob, a three-time European Championships medallist 4-1 to clinch a gold medal at the 2022 Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament. She had also won gold in the same tournament in 2019, making her the only Indian to win two gold medals at the event.

Humble beginning

Nikhat started her sporting journey from a town called Nizamabad, in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Participating in several school competitions, Nikhat was a junior sports star. The Indian boxer shares that her father is not only her biggest support but also an inspiration. “My father was also a sportsperson. He was working in Saudi Arabia, but when he got to know that one of his daughters is interested in sports, he left his job and came to India. Despite many people saying that I am a girl, and can’t box, my father constantly encouraged me and reminded me that the first rule of any sport is to not give up,” shares the girl boxing champ whose father mentored her early on.

It just took her a year to prove her mettle in boxing. She won several state and national level championships and was inducted into the Sports Authority of India in Vishakhapatnam to train under Dronacharya awardee, IV Rao in 2009. With her hard work, Nikhat was selected to represent the country at the 2011 Women’s Junior and Youth World Boxing Championship in Turkey.

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“I defeated the Turkish boxer Ulku Demir, which everyone said was going to be very difficult as she had the support of the crowd. But frankly more than winning the competition, the greatest moment of that tournament was when India’s national anthem was played after I won gold. I was overwhelmed and that was the moment I decided that I will become a professional boxer,” she shares.

Not only was this the first win at an international tournament for the Indian boxer, but this was also the first time she sat on the flight. Just before leaving the country for the competition, Nikhat shares an amusing incident, “I have motion sickness, so I requested a window seat on the flight. I didn’t know that you can’t use those windows.”

Scaling new heights

After the Turkey win, there was no looking back for Nikhat. She won medals at various national and international events, including the 2014 Youth World Boxing Championships, Bulgaria, the 2014 Nations Cup International Boxing Tournament, Serbia, and the 2015 16th Senior Woman National Boxing Championship, Assam.

However, in 2017 the champion’s shoulder snapped during an Inter-University Championships bout, forcing her out of the ring for a year. “As sportspersons, we are often told that injuries are a part of our journey. But, there is nothing more difficult than sitting out of the ring and watching compatriots do so well. I always found myself thinking about all those tournaments I could have been winning medals at. I was mentally down. Many people said that I was finished and had no chance of representing India again,” shares the Indian boxer.

[caption id="attachment_14275" align="aligncenter" width="673"] Nikhat after winning the 2022 Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament[/caption]

But just when people were about to write her off, the girl boxing champ made a resounding comeback after winning gold at the 56th Belgrade Winner International Championship 2018. “Before that tournament, I remember I was determined to show everyone who thought that my career was finished, what I was made off. I practiced a lot and finished on the podium,” says the smiling girl boxing champ.

Winning the world

Currently at the national camp, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, as a flyweight boxer, she feels she doesn’t just need power. Explaining further, the girl boxing champ says, “(I need) speed to step in and out, duck, weave and throw punches. For any tournament, I do strength training - to convert strength into power. We also do cardio, and train in the ring.”

The boxer, who recently returned to India after her second gold at the 2022 Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament, is back to training hard to claim more laurels. “I took a short leave to visit my family in Nizamabad. My next aim is the upcoming World Boxing Championships and later the 2024 Paris Olympics. I dream of winning gold there for my nation,” shares the girl boxing champ.

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A foodie at heart, Nikhat enjoys trying new things. “When I travel for tournaments, I hardly get time. I just keep training. However, whenever there is a chance of getting a break, I go out and eat with my team members. In fact, whenever I am back in Nizamabad, I catch up with friends over street food. Although, I have to keep a tab on what and how much am I eating,” shares the Indian boxer.

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Lara Rajagopalan: The Indian-American teen artist makes it to K-Pop band KATSEYE

(January 7, 2023) In recent years, the global phenomenon of K-pop has undeniably taken the world by storm, captivating audiences with its infectious beats, dynamic performances, and charismatic artists. Notably, the craze for K-pop has reached even the vibrant and diverse youth of India, where a significant fanbase has emerged. Among the enthusiastic admirers is Lara Rajagopalan, a talented musician of Indian origin based in Los Angeles. Breaking barriers and embracing the K-pop wave, Lara has achieved a remarkable feat by securing a spot in the final lineup of the six-member girl group, KATSEYE. Launched by HYBE, the K-Pop entertainment company that gave the world BTS, KATSEYE is set to release their debut album in 2024. [caption id="attachment_35103" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Lara Rajagopalan[/caption] 17-year-old Indian-origin Lara Rajagopalan, a musician based out of Los Angeles, started singing and dancing at the age of four. But she didn't keep her talent restricted to just dance and music, and even tried her acting chops by making an appearance in NBC's The Blacklist. That wasn't all, she featured in Michelle Obama's Global Girls Alliance video, and even participated as a model in Macy's 2017 campaign and co-hosted the 'Go Red For Women' campaign for the

cklist. That wasn't all, she featured in Michelle Obama's Global Girls Alliance video, and even participated as a model in Macy's 2017 campaign and co-hosted the 'Go Red For Women' campaign for the American Heart Association.

It was in 2023 that Lara submitted her entry for the audition program - The Debut: Dream Academy - that's garnered over 120,000 submissions, from which a final list of 20 contestants was meticulously selected. Of them, six made it to KATSEYE, which showcases a diverse lineup representing four different countries: the Philippines, the USA, South Korea, and Switzerland.

[caption id="attachment_35104" align="aligncenter" width="829"] K-pop band KATSEYE[/caption]

A huge fan of K-Pop, Lara was keen to make a mark in the world that justifies her singing and dancing talent. For someone who describes herself as "passionate, real and confident," she was ready to take that leap and put herself out in the audition program that has now made her a finalist in the KATSEYE.

The six girls will be trained for a year, and their journey will be the subject of an upcoming untitled Netflix documentary series. Directed by award-winning filmmaker, Nadia Hallgren, the series is set to premiere in 2024.

THE ACE OF #HYBEXGEFFEN NEWGG DEBUTS TODAY... LARA RAJ DEBUTATION 🔥#LARA #DREAMACADEMY

pic.twitter.com/70k8FJB4WS

— ᓚᘏᗢthea⁶ (@larajgirl) November 17, 2023

"Each candidate is incredibly talented, dedicated, and driven, making this an exciting moment for music fans around the world," John Janick, the chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M said in a statement.

K-pop's global influence has transcended borders and cultural barriers, captivating audiences worldwide with its melodies, performances, and charismatic artists. This phenomenon has reached even the vibrant and diverse youth of India, as evidenced by the rising trend of Indian talents venturing into the K-pop scene. With artists like Shreya Lenka and Aria gaining spots in K-pop bands, the genre has become a cultural bridge, fostering a cross-cultural exchange that goes beyond geographical boundaries. The fusion of Indian and K-pop elements in these groups not only showcases the versatility of the genre but also underscores the universal appeal of music that speaks to the hearts of people across the globe.

In a fantastic blend of cultures and talent, Lara Rajagopalan, an Indian-American artist, has become a rising star in the K-pop world by joining KATSEYE. Getting ready to capture the hearts of K-pop fans with her singing and energetic performances, Lara's journey shows the strength of following your dreams with passion, determination, and embracing diverse cultures. She is proof that pursuing your dreams knows no boundaries.

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