Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveShripriya Kalbhavi: Indian-American teen wins big at 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her invention

Shripriya Kalbhavi: Indian-American teen wins big at 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her invention

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(October 28, 2023) The ninth grader at Lynbrook High School in San Jose was in for a surprise when she won second place at the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Shripriya Kalbhavi has been working on her invention – EasyBZ for a while now, but had no idea that it would win her a spot at America’s biggest middle school science competition. The Indian-American teen will receive a cash prize of $2000 for developing a cost-effective microneedle patch that allows for self-automated drug delivery without pills or needles.

“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,” she wrote in a blog. For someone who has always been keen to contribute to society, she found her answer in science and research.

Shripriya Kalbhavi | Global Indian

Growing up, Shripriya was scared of needles and hated getting injections. It not only made her uncomfortable but also induced a sense of fear in her. She realised that many people, especially children, like her who feared needles had no solution other than being told they had to face their fears. “For me, it was not very fun to have a huge needle being stuck into my arm. It was uncomfortable and frightening, and I don’t think that anyone should have to deal with something that makes them feel like their pain, fear, or struggles are less than worthy of care.” Moreover, seeing This didn’t sit right with her and she decided to come up with EasyBZ microneedle patch, “which actively delivers medication to patients painlessly and can deliver doses over a long period of time.”

“Microneedles reduce the pain factor, while the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, along with an oscillating hydrogel, helps manage doses and actively deliver medication,” added Shripriya who was keen to help people who require long-term injections. “Such as kids with diabetes, by making their insulin therapy more convenient or something that could also benefit those who cannot take medications on their own, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s patients. Hypodermic needles can be a real pain. I really wanted to redesign this problem and help many people in the process. In addition, I also wanted to take into consideration the pain and fear aspect of it.”

It was in November 2022 that Shripriya started playing around with the idea of a microneedle patch that autonomously delivers medication using a self-oscillating hydrogel back. She spent hours researching drug delivery methods, hydrogels, and microneedle technologies. “Understanding how things already work and their limitations sparked new ideas for my project. Research guided me in designing the most effective prototypes.” However, she was still unsure of the materials that she could use to make the prototype. That’s when her mentor Dr. PJ Flanigan stepped in and helped turn her idea into a possible solution. “The summer mentorship is what really has allowed me to take my project to the next level. With the advice and help of my mentor, Dr. PJ Flanigan, as well as all of the 3M materials that have helped me put together my prototypes, I have been able to level up my project in terms of design, efficiency, results, chemistry, and more. With the help of a 3M scientist, I feel like my project has an even greater potential to help so many people,” she added.

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Published on 28, Oct 2023

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Anshita Mehrotra: Revolutionising hair care with Fix My Curls

(January 28, 2024) When she was just 19, Anshita Mehrotra, a student, was on a winter break at her Varanasi home. Having curly hair, she did a casual Google search on curly hair products that gave her empty results, and anything available was ridiculously expensive. She realised, in an epiphany, that curly hair is rarely represented in pop culture, media, or even on beauty racks on stores. The wide gap in the haircare market for curly hair was evident and Anshita decided she would provide a solution. Childhood Nostalgia As a kid, Mehrotra was very interested in pop culture, writing, reading and storytelling. She studied at Pathways World School Aravali, and she admits that this experience shaped her into who she is today. “I loved fiction books, diving deep into stories that were far off from my actual life, it was my way of relaxing. I initially thought I would grow up to write, and I did write a collection of poetry in college which I self-published later, titled ‘Love Comes Full Circle’ at 19,” she reminisces. At home on a college winter break she realised that she had no products for textured curls, or wavy Indian hair. “I realised

red curls, or wavy Indian hair. “I realised no one in our country saw curly or wavy hair as worthy of being taken care of, so I felt very strongly about it and began researching formulations. I took the semester off, and realised I wanted to make Fix My Curls much bigger than what I had initially thought,” she says.

Safe ways

That’s how Mehrotra started working on her product, Fix My Curls, whose main USP is specially-crafted formula meant for curly and wavy hair, which is also free from silicone, sulphates, paraben, waxes, mineral oil and drying alcohols, as they can worsen the dry, frizzy tendencies of textured hair. “We choose softer, balanced formulations that use butters, oils, and naturally occurring cleansing agents that are not as harsh as those in the mass market to care for our curly headed customers. With upto eight rounds of formulating per product, we take anywhere from 6-8 months to launch each product, to make sure we get it just right. We also pride ourselves on choosing ingredients from France, and Germany as well as locally sourcing from India when it makes sense,” says Mehrotra.

Growing together

Women all over the world are turning their problems into multi-million dollar businesses. “They are the ones who go back home and manage the house and get back up to go manage their empire. I especially admire women venture capitalists that are pushing the notion that women led ideas and businesses deserve funding now more than ever. My biggest inspiration would be my mother, Shaily Mehrotra, she runs Fixderma and has taught me some invaluable lessons on making sure product is king,” says Mehrotra.

Now, curly hair products are flooding the market, which Mehrotra sees as a positive sign. “I love it, in fact we encourage more and more brands to enter this space because it helps us further educate and grow the market,” she says. And while it’s not an easy journey, it’s worth it, she remarks. “Our once-niche segment is now thriving and gives our customers so many options and communities to feel like they belong. At the end of the day that is our goal, to give them a space where they feel good about their natural hair, curly, wavy, or coily,” she adds.

Building communities

She plans to make Fix My Curls a community-driven brand and says that she loves her customers and trusts their instinct on the product and what they should make as they move forward. “They drive the brand and have supported us immensely, so we look to make the product experience the best for them as we move forward. We also plan to begin our offline retail journey with salons and are present in Shoppers Stop branches across India currently. We also aim to make sure quick commerce is PAN India for us through BlinkIt and Swiggy Instamart so our customers never have to wait for the product,” she says. The brand has also begun their journey into the US market with the help of CurlsMonthly, a monthly subscription service that gives curly hair products from all over the globe to their customers to try before they buy. “We still have to properly set up distribution in the US but Amazon has been a great help in getting us there because they've made it incredibly easy to onboard and sell the product. We have also always made sure we are compliant, and our formulations are approved by FDA standards to be sold in the US. We aim to work much harder this year to reach that market the best we can,” she explains.

Learning lessons

Mehrotra usually takes challenges one day at a time and says that she has learnt the valuable lesson of worrying only about what is right in front of you, rather than worrying for the future as that is not here yet. Basic operational and supply chain challenges are most common in the personal care industry, and take time and consistency to move through, Mehrotra has learned, in her journey with Fix My Curls. “I have learnt many lessons, but there have been some that have stuck. Your gut will make some of the best business decisions for you, but knowing to listen to it is when it can be hard. Say no more often than yes. Don't work with everyone, it's not worth your time,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_35495" align="aligncenter" width="554"] Anshita Mehrotra, founder, Fix My Curls[/caption]

In her free time, Mehrotra loves trying new coffee shops, Pilates classes, tennis lessons with a coach, reading fiction fantasy books, and cooking. “I also love going on the hunt for authentic Japanese and Korean eatery spots in Delhi NCR with my friends,” she says. The 24 year old is taking giant strides in the cosmetic industry by catering to a niche that has been seldom explored and this reflects her business acumen that belies her age.

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Varin Sikka: The young innovator’s invention AirCat tackles carbon capture with self-sustaining tech

(October 30, 2024) Varin Sikka, a 16-year-old innovator, is advancing climate technology with his invention, AirCat, a Direct Air Capture (DAC) system designed to capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. AirCat addresses the high energy costs traditionally associated with DAC systems and has been in development for over three years. Sikka’s invention could play a pivotal role in climate change mitigation by offering a new solution to the ongoing issue of carbon emissions. Sikka’s journey with AirCat began in 2020 when intense wildfires near his home in California blanketed the sky in an ominous orange hue for weeks. "The wildfires brought the reality of climate change right to my doorstep," Sikka said. "Seeing it first-hand drove home the urgency of this issue." The fires had an immediate impact on his commitment to climate action, inspiring him to dedicate countless hours to developing a solution. He recognized that traditional DAC systems were often criticized for their high energy consumption, and he set out to create a more efficient alternative. [caption id="attachment_40111" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Varin Sikka[/caption] From Concept to Prototype Over the next three years, Sikka worked tirelessly to bring AirCat from concept to prototype, learning advanced math and science along

arin Sikka | Gloria Barron Prize | Global Indian" width="1024" height="768" /> Varin Sikka[/caption]

From Concept to Prototype

Over the next three years, Sikka worked tirelessly to bring AirCat from concept to prototype, learning advanced math and science along the way. "Teaching myself the technical aspects was challenging but necessary," he stated. Sikka attributes part of his progress to mentors and internships, which provided guidance and insight into navigating technical obstacles. "Having mentors who believed in my work was a huge help. They kept me motivated when things got tough," he shared.

AirCat’s primary advantage lies in its energy efficiency, which sets it apart from other DAC technologies. Unlike traditional systems, which often require large amounts of external power, AirCat is powered by the excess energy generated by wind turbines. "Many DAC systems require vast amounts of energy, which limits their feasibility," Sikka explained. "But with AirCat, the system essentially powers itself, allowing for net zero energy usage." By utilizing the power that would otherwise go to waste, AirCat provides a sustainable solution with minimal environmental impact. This self-sustaining approach has garnered attention for its potential to reduce the carbon footprint of air capture technology.

A Turning Point at COP28

In 2023, Varin Sikka took his prototype to COP28 in Dubai, where he presented AirCat to a global audience of climate experts. The event marked a significant milestone for him, as he shared his vision for AirCat at the Siemens Energy Pavilion. "Climate change isn’t a distant threat; it’s burning in our lungs, scorching our lands," he told the crowd, urging them to recognize the immediacy of the crisis. His call to action resonated with many in attendance, who saw AirCat as a promising tool in the fight against climate change.

The positive reception at COP28 opened doors for Sikka, including a potential partnership with Siemens Energy. Currently, he is working on scaling AirCat beyond the 3D-printed prototype to an industrial level. His goal is to make AirCat widely available and to deploy it in regions most affected by climate change. "I dream of AirCats helping reduce CO2 levels in developing countries where climate change impacts are most severe," he stated. This vision reflects Sikka’s commitment not just to technological innovation, but to using his work to benefit communities around the world.

Raising Awareness on Climate Solutions

Beyond AirCat’s design, Varin Sikka is passionate about raising awareness around the need for scalable climate solutions. He uses digital platforms to share the science behind carbon capture, often emphasizing the immense scale required to offset current emissions. In a recent blog post, he highlighted that removing the carbon we emit annually would require planting approximately 1.6 trillion trees, a scale that would occupy land equivalent to the size of North America. "It’s an overwhelming task," he wrote, "but it underscores the urgency of investing in technological solutions like AirCat." For Sikka, these calculations demonstrate the need for a multifaceted approach to climate change, one that includes both natural and technological methods of carbon capture.

While AirCat is currently focused on DAC technology, Sikka’s commitment to climate action extends beyond this single invention. He envisions a future where carbon capture becomes a routine aspect of industrial operations worldwide, integrated into energy infrastructures to reduce emissions. "We have the technology; what we need now is action," he emphasized. Sikka advocates for government support of carbon capture technologies, cleaner energy practices, and investments in renewable resources. His vision includes making DAC technology accessible and affordable, especially for developing nations where resources are limited. "DAC can’t just be for wealthy countries," he argued. "The places hit hardest by climate change deserve access to these tools as well."

A Future Beyond AirCat

"DAC can’t just be for wealthy countries. The places hit hardest by climate change deserve access to these tools as well." - Varin Sikka

Looking ahead, Sikka plans to introduce additional innovations to address the climate crisis. "AirCat is just the beginning," he stated. His approach combines scientific rigor with a clear vision for practical, large-scale implementation. Through AirCat and his ongoing efforts, Sikka is positioning himself as a key figure in the next generation of climate innovators. His work exemplifies the role that young inventors can play in tackling global challenges, and he remains committed to his mission. "Climate change demands our best efforts," he said. "I’m just trying to do my part."

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Voices from Ukraine: Young citizens Viktoria and Yevheniia share their thoughts on Modi’s historic visit to their country

(August 24, 2024)In the midst of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, PM Modi made a historic visit to Ukraine, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This marked the first time an Indian prime minister has visited Ukraine since the two countries established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago. The visit has garnered significant global attention, with many expecting the Indian prime minister to play a mediating role. Global Indian reached out to two young Ukrainian nationals to get their perspectives on Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine during these trying times of war. It's rare for Viktoria Burenkova to be in the audience. Typically, during big events or special occasions, she’s the one captivating crowd with her Bharatanatyam performances. As a regular performer at events organised by the Embassy of India in Ukraine, she was invited to attend Prime Minister Modi’s reception ceremony in the country. The Ukrainian Bharatanatyam dancer, who performs under the stage name Vijaya Bai, is passionate about the art form and teaches it in Kyiv, despite never having visited India. Meanwhile, Yevheniia Fedotova, a product manager by profession, spent a year in India as an ICCR scholar in 2017-18 and visited the country again last year. With a

eaches it in Kyiv, despite never having visited India.

Meanwhile, Yevheniia Fedotova, a product manager by profession, spent a year in India as an ICCR scholar in 2017-18 and visited the country again last year. With a deep passion for volunteerism, she is associated with an NGO as its vice-president, and has been voluntarily coordinating the Ukrainian parliament’s deputy group on inter-parliamentary affairs with the Republic of India. Based in Kyiv, she works for Convosight, an Indian multinational firm with headquarters in Gurugram.

[caption id="attachment_38941" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Viktoria (right) and Yevheniia (centre) during India's Republic Day celebration in Ukraine in 2022[/caption]

The young women who have deep love and respect for India shared their opinions and expectations about the Indian PM’s visit to their country during these tough times:

Viktoria Burenkova

Bharatnatyam exponent and teacher

“We face challenges every day because of Russia, but life goes on. We have to keep working and supporting our army because, honestly, what else can we do? Everyone here is affected, even if you are living in a relatively safe area. Your relatives and neighbours might be in the army, so you are constantly stressed. Shelling happens often, and one hears the air raid alarms five-ten times a day, depending upon the situation. Even when you are sleeping, you hear it, and you never know if the next bomb will hit your house. We don’t expect things to be fine anytime soon. The war impacts every aspect of life, including mental health.

When we watch the news, we see our soldiers. Those of us who have stayed back feel a deep sense of support for our army men. We are hopeful about the Indian PM visit because India possesses one of the world's richest and most profound philosophies. Every war is essentially a battle between good and evil, and the most important thing is to be on the side of good.

[caption id="attachment_38942" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Viktoria Burenkova[/caption]

As India is a spiritual country, we believe that by coming here, seeing what’s happening, meeting our people, talking to our President, and listening to his perspective, Mr Modi can play a significant role as a mediator in this situation by understanding Ukraine’s perspective. We truly hope for a positive outcome from this visit. We trust in India's Vedic system, knowing that India has the capability to discern what is right and wrong, and to align with what is just and moral."

In many ways, we are similar to India - our emotions, our traditions - and we have warm feelings for India. The Indians living here, despite the war, are so helpful, always trying to explain Ukraine’s perspective to others.

Viktoria attended the event with a few members of her dance school, Nakshatra. “All of us were truly honoured to be invited to such a high-profile occasion. Some of us wore saris while others chose the traditional Ukrainian dress, the Vyshyvanka,” she shared.

Yevheniia Fedotova

Social activist and project manager in a multinational firm

“I feel happy because this is the first time India’s Prime Minister has visited an independent Ukraine. There was a visit in 1982 by late Indira Gandhi, but that was long ago when Ukraine was still part of the USSR.

However, I am unsure whether Modi’s approach to peace in Ukraine aligns with the vision of the Ukrainian people. I worry that if there is a discrepancy between Modi’s peace efforts and Ukraine’s expectations, it might lead to significant disappointment on both sides. As I understand it, India is making mediation efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the war. We want peace too, but our enemy, Russia, is not a country that respects diplomacy or international order - it only understands power, particularly nuclear power.

India has strong defence capabilities and can speak to Russia, and Russia depends on India. However, Russia also has some influence in India, and unfortunately, that influence is not beneficial for Ukraine. Russia is a vast country with a large population and more resources than we have. India may give some preference to Russia, not because of any goodwill on Russia’s part, but because India cares for the safety for its own people.

[caption id="attachment_38943" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Yevheniia Fedotova[/caption]

To be honest, if there were no war and India remained friends with Russia, it wouldn’t bother me. But in these times, when Ukrainians - and especially the Indian students here - are under so much stress, it’s hard to accept that Russia seems more significant to India.

We have hope from Modi’s visit, but we are concerned that he might push for freezing the conflict. For Ukraine, freezing the conflict would mean we wouldn’t regain our territories, and our prisoners wouldn’t return home.

We want peace, but that peace must include regaining our land and bringing our people back from captivity. We are grateful for the humanitarian aid India has sent us. I believe that if Ukraine wins, it will set a strong precedent—that if a small country like Ukraine can reclaim its territories, it will set an example for India that its borders, as marked by the United Nations, will remain secure from any encroachment by China. India should be more invested in a Ukrainian victory.”

Love and expectations from India

Both Viktoria and Yevheniia are in their late 20s. As a dance exponent with an Indian stage name, Viktoria’s life is structured around Bharatanatyam. She started learning Hindi at the age of 18 and can speak a little in Telugu and Punjabi as well.

While Yevheniia pursued her bachelor’s and master’s in Hindi at the Taras Shevchenko University in Ukraine, and studied for a year at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan in New Delhi. Like Viktoria she holds a deep affection for India, having experienced the beauty of the country and its people. “I even defend India when friends criticise it, saying, ‘Look at how much oil India is purchasing from Russia,’” she laughs. “But that doesn't mean India is bad; India is a good nation, I tell them."

Like other young Ukrainians, both Viktoria and Yevheniia hope that world leaders, including the Indian PM, will understand their country's perspective and support their nation in overcoming the crisis without having to bow down.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Kanav Kariya: The Indian-origin entrepreneur in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list

(November 24, 2022) Like most Indian kids, Kanav Kariya too had an American dream. And taking the first step on the ladder, he enrolled himself in the University of Illinois for a bachelor's degree in computer engineering. Little did the Mumbai lad know that in a few years he would make it to Fortune's 40 Under 40 list. When he joined university, crypto was still an idea or a concept that people were speaking about at a few trading companies. But an internship with Jump Trading changed the course of Kanav's life, as he was promoted to the position of President at Jump Crypto in a few years. This journey from intern to president speaks volumes about Kanav as an executive and an entrepreneur. Ever since the company handed him the reins of its rebranded, 170-person digital assets division, Jump Crypto, "he’s overseen billions in investments in the crypto space and helped position the company as a major player in Web3," according to Fortune, who reveals that Jump Crypto invested in more than 100 crypto companies in the last one year. [caption id="attachment_24579" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Kanav Kariya has been featured in Fortune's 40 Under 40 list[/caption] From coder to trader

Kanav Kariya has been featured in Fortune's 40 Under 40 list[/caption]

From coder to trader

However, when Kanav moved to the US at 18, he had no interest in trading. It was something that he picked up in the US while studying at the University of Illinois. "Jump Trading has a research lab at the University of Illinois where we work on all kinds of stock and research programs. So, collaborations with professors and Ph.D. students and undergrads is common. So, I ended up interning there during the course of my junior year, and the crypto effort was just being born as an early project. It was just the five-six of us who would excitedly spin chairs and talk about crypto and we were building a crypto trading infrastructure. That's when I parallelly built my interest in both the fields - crypto and trading," he said on the SuperTeam podcast.

For someone who was gradually immersing himself in the world of trading, working in Jump Trading was a novel experience. "I was coming into an environment where there was a bunch of really smart people - it was by the virtue of grinding and picking things up that I learnt a lot. We were doing coding but we kept talking about trading," he added.

The crypto scene

Steadily, Kanav and his team members realised that building crypto was the real deal and that's when the crypto effort, which started as an intern project began taking on a form of its own. "When I came into Jump Crypto, I was working on building the trading infrastructures that allow these predictions and executions to go into the market. After a point, I was working as the quant to build the predictions and executions. After a while, as we got more involved in crypto, we realised the more exciting opportunities were in building crypto," said the Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_24580" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Kanav Kariya is the president of Jump Crypto[/caption]

Kanav's expertise in the field led him to become the president of Jump Crypto in 2021. "Jump Trading has spent decades focused on building the infrastructure for high-performance systems and technologies. We're bringing that muscle to crypto and aim to meaningfully contribute to the construction of the 'plumbing and the railroads' necessary for widespread adoption of crypto," the 26-year-old said in a statement.

And within a year, Kanav has made it to Fortune's 40 Under 40 list. As for future ambitions, Kariya tells Fortune that he wants Jump Crypto to be a “key infrastructure builder that is part of the furniture of the industry as it scales.”

Follow Kanav Kariya on Linkedin

Reading Time: 4 min

From winning championship at 9 to becoming a chess grandmaster at 17: SL Narayanan’s incredible journey

SL Narayanan was all of nine when the board game with 64 black and white squares grabbed his attention. It was at this young age that he learnt that the knight in chess moves multiple squares each time while the pawn moves forward one square. Such was his passion for the game that he aced it and won his first championship that same year. This taste of victory gave Narayanan enough drive to pursue the game professionally and eight years later, he became India's 40th chess Grandmaster at the age of 17. Cut to 2021, Narayanan is still making India proud at the international level when he recently finished second at the ChessMood Open in Armenia. The pandemic was a blessing in disguise for this 23-year-old who got enough time to improve his game. "I was very happy with my performance at the ChessMood Open. I played some quality games and was very happy to see the result of my work during this pandemic. It was my first visit to Armenia and I am glad I could keep a positive memory about the tournament. And this indeed motivates me to work even harder," he told Global Indian in an interview.

indian.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Indian in an interview.

While the chess grandmaster is upping his game with every tournament but he had to overcome many challenges to reach the top.

A chance encounter with chess

Born in 1998 in Kerala, Narayanan was just nine when he first accompanied his mother to a chess tournament at her office and watched with rapt attention as she played the game. Sensing his curiosity, one of his mom's colleagues introduced him to the rules of the game. Intrigued by the world of chess, he returned to the tournament the next year with his mother and tried his hand. He managed to impress his opponent with his moves; he noticed the kid's potential and insisted his mother give Narayanan proper training. "Consequently, under the guidance of P Sreekumar, who was the former Kerala State Champion, I started my first lessons of the game. I learned the game in a systematic way and also started participating in district weekly events," he says.

[caption id="attachment_15245" align="aligncenter" width="486"] A young SL Narayanan up against top GM Parimarjan Negi.[/caption]

While Narayanan was mastering chess with each game, he would often ask his parents about his future in the game. The question of who would he become if he continued playing well often crossed his mind. "They [my parents] had one clear name to look up to - Vishwanathan Anand. Once I got to know about him through his games and news reports, I knew I had a role model," he adds. Soon, he fell in love with chess as it was the game's individuality that attracted him. "The rules are the same for everyone but you play according to your understanding/strategy and that's what made it colourful for me," says the grandmaster.

Nudging support from family

The 23-year-old is now among the top 10 chess players in India, and his career is testament to his family's support and commitment to the game. "My father was a government contractor but he quit his job when I started playing so that he could travel with me for tournaments," he reveals. His mother, who introduced him to the game, was among his biggest supporters as she was the sole breadwinner in the family for the longest time. The Grandmaster from Kerala also found support in his sister who gave up her dream of being a chess player in order to let him succeed. "My sister was also a very good chess player. She has participated in several national events and was the Delhi University zonal champion in 2017. We both trained under the same coach together for a while. However, my parents could only back one of us as our financial background wasn't great; one of us had to step back to pave the way for the other. Since I was a bit more talented and hard working, she decided to take a step back," adds Narayanan.

[caption id="attachment_15250" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] Grandmaster SL Narayanan[/caption]

The chess player's endeavours were not only supported by his family but even his school backed him. Narayanan studied at St Thomas Residential school till 8th standard and then moved to St Mary's Higher Secondary School to focus more on his game. Despite his hectic schedule, the 23-year-old was able to strike a balance between his studies and chess, all thanks to the support of his teachers.

Checkmate by challenges

Narayanan was quite young when he started learning from former Kerala State Champion, P Sreekumar and later trained under IM Varghese Koshy and GM Praveen Thipsay. But it hasn't been an easy journey from him as financial aid has always been a constraint. "Initially, I didn't get any proper training, opportunities or support to better my game despite being a strong and hardworking player. My parents took loans from several institutions to give me good training and help me participate in tournaments. If I had gotten proper training when I was young, like the players of similar age now get, it would have helped me create a strong foundation which I could build on," says the English Literature graduate from Mar Ivanios College.

[caption id="attachment_15246" align="aligncenter" width="1038"] SL Narayanan at World Junior Chess Championship 2016[/caption]

In 2016, the year Narayanan won gold in the Asian junior blitz chess championship, crowdfunding came to his rescue. "I was contacted by the social platform - Milaap after they came to know about me through one of the dailies. Later, they started crowdfunding and raised around ₹1.15 lakh which was indeed helpful for me. I believe crowdfunding is a reliable way to raise funds especially in a third world country like India," adds Narayanan.

He didn't find much support from the government either apart from the time when he became a grandmaster. "Since then I have not received any support from either the State or Central Government. Even when I went to one of the administrators, he ridiculed me and asked if chess was even a game; that was so disheartening," he reveals.

A journey worth remembering

Despite many challenges and setbacks, Narayanan has been able to pull himself through all of it for the sheer love of the game. From winning his first championship in 2007 to becoming a grandmaster, he has come a long way. "There have been a lot of thrilling moments in the journey with some tournaments working for me and others working completely against me. But I still enjoy the process of working on a game and the concept that builds the game."

[caption id="attachment_15247" align="aligncenter" width="601"] SL Narayanan[/caption]

For this Global Indian, chess is more than a game as he says it has helped him in shaping his character. The grandmaster is confident in the future of the sport and its players. "I could easily say that chess could help the young generation to instill in them life qualities as well as problem solving capabilities which will benefit them immensely," he signs off.

Follow SL Narayanan on Twitter

Reading Time: 7 min