Sridevi Krothapalli: Indian-American teen brings joy to hospital kids through art magazine
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(August 11, 2023) Kahani, which translates to storytelling, has found its place in hospitals in Chicago and other parts of the US. A digital arts and literary magazine that’s distributed to children’s hospitals for kindergarten to middle-school-age patients is the brainchild of Sridevi Krothapalli who turned her passion for art into a project. Growing up, she was drawn to watercolours and would end up making art that comforted her. Over the years, her interest expanded into the realm of digital art and drawing, and in 2020, she turned his love into a student-led nonprofit Kahani. Three years into it, the 17-year-old made it to Teen Vogue’s annual 21 Under 21 list of changemakers, influencers, activists, and artists who are making an impact.
Sridevi Krothapalli
“My mission with Kahani includes helping distribute art and literary magazines for kids in hospitals across the USA to inspire creativity,” she said in an interview. The 17-year-old senior at Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA), who aspires to make a career in advocacy and healthcare, has always been keen to give back to the community and “help make an impact.”
The digital magazine with its vibrant artwork, engaging stories, and playful poems, aims to ignite creativity among children during their hospital stay.
“So, they can experience outside of the hospital that gives them the opportunity to engage with this art because that’s what it’s all about. Getting children to play their own role and honestly interpret it anywhere they are,” she added. For this Indian American teen, who originally hails from Telangana, kindness, and love have served as guiding influences, encouraging her to speak from the heart and inspire positive transformation.
In these years, Kahani has been distributed in hospitals across the US including Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, and Children’s of Mississippi in Jackson. The staff and parents permit patients to access the magazine through tablets, digital devices, as well as in-house closed-circuit televisions, and websites. The influence of Kahani at Riley Hospital for Children was recently highlighted by an Indiana CBS affiliate station. A hospital spokesperson remarked that the magazine serves as a wonderful illustration of children receiving support from individuals who may be strangers to them. Such literary and artistic content helps create an opportunity for normalisation in the hospital.
Published twice a year, the magazine consists of 20 pages that encompass a diverse array of artistic expressions including poetry, short stories, paintings, and photography. Accompanying the artwork are descriptive captions, and within each edition, there are thought-provoking journaling prompts. “We try to make it as artistically compelling as possible — the most fun things that we can think of and mostly interesting things that you’d see in a nature book. But instead, it’s made by students not so far away,” she told Chicago Tribune.
Witnessing many individuals in her family and community facing illnesses that required them to visit nearby children’s hospitals prompted her to develop a form of creative arts therapy and an initiative tailored to their benefit. Recognising the scarcity of resources crafted by students specifically for this hospital-bound population, she aimed to establish a student-driven endeavour — a collective effort where all the donated creations are the result of students’ artistic endeavours.
The teenager, who is an active member of IMSA’s arts and literary magazine, Heliotrope, produces Kahani with the help of half a dozen people that include her family, friends, and IMSA students. She serves as a designer, artist, and writer, and also oversees outreach and promotion.
Along with her passion for art, she is a physics pro who wants to make scientific discoveries that would make a difference in the world. Moreover, she was selected to attend the Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics. “By applying coding skills to physics-based projects in environmental engineering and tutoring other students in physics-oriented topics in my community, I realized my ambition to break the gender gap in the field of physics and mathematics,” she told Teen Vogue.
When she is not studying algorithms or working on Kahani, Sridevi loves playing tennis or indulges in filmmaking. Moreover, she holds the position of Regional Board President for the nonprofit organization International Youth Tobacco Control in Illinois wherein she coordinates educational events, establishes connections with fellow tobacco control organisations in the state, and designs informative infographics and digital posters addressing tobacco usage for school districts across the region. “Everything that I do falls under the umbrella of what I’m interested in — the umbrella of public health crises that affect kids’ well-being.”
(November 29, 2022) 17-year-old chess grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who has conquered the world in the war of checkmates, has been conferred the Arjuna award 2022. In 2016, Praggnanandhaa (meaning 'delight of the intellect') became the youngest international master in history, at the age of 10 years, 10 months, and 19 days. The coveted ‘Grandmaster’ title that he earned later at the age of 12 made him the fifth youngest person ever to do so. Fondly called 'Pragg', the grandmaster defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen three times in a row in 2022, thus becoming a household name. The last of the three defeats was at FTX Crypto Cup in Miami, an international chess championship held in August. South India is overjoyed to see their young prince on the list of Arjuna Awardees, which was announced earlier this month. It has been 14 years since a chess player from Tamil Nadu has been conferred the coveted Award, the country’s second highest sporting honour. The courteous and down-to-earth champion told Global Indian in an interview: I started playing tournaments when I was very young but there is lots more to achieve. [caption id="attachment_24787" align="aligncenter" width="947"] Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa[/caption] Setting the benchmark Praggnanandhaa earned
Praggnanandhaa earned the title of FIDE Master at the age of 7, winning the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title in 2013. The champ went on to win the under-10 title in 2015.
In 2016, becoming a grandmaster required winning three ‘norms’. Praggnanandhaa achieved his first norm at the World Junior Chess Championship in 2017, finishing fourth with eight points. He gained his second norm at the Heraklion Fischer Memorial GM Norm tournament in Greece in April 2018. In June 2018 he achieved his third and final norm at the Gredine Open in Urtijëi, Italy at the age of just 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days.
Always a call or text away is the iconic Viswanathan Anand, India’s first chess grandmaster and a five-time world chess champion. The prodigy is associated with Anand’s WestBridge Anand Chess Academy.
Talking about Anand, Praggnanandhaa told Global Indian:
If I have a doubt, all I have to do is message him. It’s a very big opportunity for me to get guidance from him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvXgXqfyV1k
Praggnanandhaa's first coach was S Thyagarajan, who has trained his sister as well. “GM RB Ramesh became my coach after that,” he said.
Life and the chessboard…
Pragg is not the only genius in the family. By the time he was three-and-a-half, he would hang around watching his sister, female grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu play. Although chess was never a 'plan' per se, it seemed only natural that he would be drawn to the game.
Talking about his love for the game Pragg said:
It came to me naturally and became a part of my life.
The brother-sister grandmaster duo love discussing chess moves but their practice sessions remain separate.
[caption id="attachment_24781" align="aligncenter" width="1021"] Praggnanandha with his mother and female grandmaster sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu[/caption]
Always by his side, especially as he travels for tournaments, is Praggnanandhaa’s mother, Nagalakshmi. His father, Rameshbabu, a banker at the Tamil Nadu State Apex Co-operative Bank, takes care of all the details involved in managing the household’s two grandmasters. The class 12 commerce student at Velammal in Chennai gets support from his school as well.
My school supports me immensely and allows me to take leave to play tournaments and practice.
It hardly needs to be said that Praggnanandhaa rarely misses practice. “The duration might vary based on tournament schedules and exam timetables but I always manage to give it my time.”
Impressive journey...
Praggnanandhaa began traveling abroad for tournaments at the tender age of seven. "I have lost count," he says, pausing to think about it. "I have probably visited 30 countries." No matter where he goes, his focus remains unwavering, concentrating on one thing only – the game that he is there to play. There is hardly time for trivialities like sightseeing.
To emphasise this, Praggnanandhaa said:
My favourite place? Any place where the tournament went well becomes a good destination for me.
At 17, Praggnanandhaa has seen more of the world than most people will in a lifetime but is an undoubted homebody. He loves being home in India and whenever he has the time, likes to watch Tamil films. The typical boy-next-door in every other way, Praggnanandha loves Indian food more than any other cuisine and plays with one mission - To make his country proud.
(June 10, 2023) The global epidemic of drug consumption continues to cast a dark shadow, infiltrating societies across continents and leaving devastating consequences in its wake. What’s worse is it impacts the most vulnerable and stigmatised populations. In fact, according to he Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), between January 2021 and June 2021, about 1,150 youngsters aged 14 to 18 died from drug overdose in the US, and about 47 percent of adolescents started consuming illicit drugs upon graduation from high school. Trying to devise a solution for this pervasive crisis, is a young economist, Dhruv Gaur, who is delving deep into the study of drug use, homelessness, housing insecurity, poverty, and inequality through the lens of economic and epidemiological inference. The recent recipient of the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, Dhruv is working with various communities to raise awareness about the growing overdose epidemic and advocate for overdose prevention policy. An ambitious, pre-doctoral research fellow at Harvard University, the young economist is currently chasing the causes of inequalities in health and higher education in the USA. "I actively engage in studying the US overdose crisis, lending my expertise to the critical work of
"I actively engage in studying the US overdose crisis, lending my expertise to the critical work of generating research and shaping policies aimed at safeguarding individuals who use drugs from the perils of overdose and other drug-related harms," shares Dhruv, as he connects with Global Indian for an interview, adding, "I also play a crucial role in the maintenance and management of PreventOverdoseRI.org, a dedicated website specifically designed to combat the overdose crisis. I am determined to contribute to the collective mission of putting an end to the devastating impact of drug overdose in our community."
A curious cat
Even though Dhruv was born in the USA, the youngster shares that his family ensured that he grew up knowing and learning about his roots. "Both my parents are doctors, and they came over to the United States of America after finishing med school in India. I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where my parents were completing their medical training. We later shifted to a town in Northeast Georgia," says the young economist, adding, "I grew up around a very tight-knit and supportive Indian community. My parents were quite keen on instilling Indian values in me and my brother, so over weekends, they would drive us to Balvihar, which is a Hindi school."
[caption id="attachment_30931" align="aligncenter" width="637"] Dhruv with his family[/caption]
As brilliant as he was, the economist shares that he was also quite a curious child, who not only loved to learn new things but also to pass on the knowledge. "I loved to read, just about anything that I could get my hands on," he shares, adding, "During my high school years, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer at Balvihar as a teaching assistant. Little did I know that this experience would ignite within me a deep passion for teaching and mentoring. It was during those moments spent guiding and supporting others that I realised my aspirations to pursue a career as a professor. The impact of that experience has remained with me, shaping my path and fueling my dedication to education and the profound influence it can have on shaping lives."
A true changemaker
After finishing school, the youngster enrolled at Brown University to study economics and public health policy. Driven by the devastating overdose crisis plaguing his hometown, Dhruv became a part of the People, Place, and Health Collective, contributing as an undergraduate researcher. He actively published academic articles that shed light on crucial aspects of the crisis, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.
The economist also played a pivotal role in maintaining real-time data resources, serving as a foundation for Rhode Island's informed and evidence-based response to the overdose crisis. Through his dedication and contributions, Dhruv has become an instrumental force in the ongoing efforts to combat the overdose epidemic and promote effective policy interventions.
"I held the role of an outreach team leader and finance chair for Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE), an organisation driven by students that focuses on direct service and advocacy for homelessness. With HOPE, I led a dedicated night-time homeless outreach team every week, striving to address the immediate needs of individuals experiencing street homelessness and ensuring they are connected to essential resources. I also engaged in advocating for housing policies at both the city and state level in Rhode Island, aiming to effect positive change and promote equitable access to safe and stable housing for all," the economist shares.
The power of giving
But Dhruv's journey hasn't been all about books. In 2018, the economist made his mark on the television show Jeopardy! College Championship trivia tournament, emerging as the victorious contestant and securing a substantial prize of $100,000.
Wait, that's not all... The following year, he returned to the Jeopardy! stage, capturing the attention of the entire USA for a profoundly heartfelt reason. Answering host Alex Trebek's Final Jeopardy question, Dhruv put his heart on his screen, writing, “We (heart) you Alex!”, showing his support for the host who was battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The gesture moved Alex to tears, and he could only manage to say, "That’s very kind of you."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BNH7UTaL-M
Seizing the opportunity to make a difference, Dhruv utilised the platform and the immense public interest to launch a national fundraising campaign dedicated to pancreatic cancer research and successfully raised over $100,000, leaving an indelible impact on both the fight against pancreatic cancer and the power of compassionate unity. "While I was at the show, Alex took a moment to visit the contestants in the green room. It was quite evident that he wasn't doing so well," shares the youngster, adding, "Later, when I stepped onto the stage, fully aware that winning the game was an unlikely outcome, I thought I could use this opportunity to support someone in need."
Interestingly, the economist grabbed the attention of well-known American television host, Ellen Lee DeGeneres, who called him to be on her show a few days later. Impressed by his efforts, Ellen too donated $25,000 toward pancreatic cancer research.
Miles to go
Currently, Dhruv working as a pre-doctoral research fellow alongside esteemed economists Raj Chetty, John Friedman, and Nathaniel Hendren at Harvard University. The young economist is focused on studying the profound inequalities that exist within the realms of health and higher education. Driven by an unwavering commitment to understanding the root causes and far-reaching consequences of severe marginalization, such as drug overdose, homelessness, and poverty, Dhruv aspires to pursue a doctoral degree in economics.
"Through my research pursuits, I strive to unearth valuable insights that have the potential to shape transformative policies, uplifting individuals from these challenging circumstances and fostering a society that is both equitable and inclusive. I aim to contribute to the collective effort of building a brighter and more just future for all," he expresses.
(October 4, 2023) 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 to the list," Shriya told Global Indian. "There is a certain amount of validity 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 changemaker 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. [caption id="attachment_33374" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Shriya Bopanna[/caption] In the world of pageantry 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. “Over time, these community spaces weren’t big enough for some of the initiatives and in college, I
om 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. “Over time, these community spaces weren’t big enough for some of the initiatives and in college, I stepped on the Miss India DC stage as an ambassador for the Save our Stars Foundation to raise money for an HIV clinic in Nepal,” Shriya says. This turned out to be a great turning point in her life.
Little did she know that she would end up participating in the competition and also winning the first runner-up title. “After that, I had no plans of competing in the nationals of Miss India America 2020 until some friends encouraged me to show up. I won completely accidentally – no training, no planning, no preparation,” says the youngster. “That crown catapulted me and my advocacy into the media limelight overnight and I got featured everywhere from ABC to the Wall Street Journal,” she says.
After her win in the Miss India-America contest, Shriya’s popularity caught the eye of producers at Fox 5 Plus/GTV who offered the youngster her segment on-air, Becoming a Voice with Shriya Boppana.
“My show has hosted popular voices from political candidates such as Deja Foxx of the Kamala Harris Campaign to Maria Thattil, Miss Universe Australia, all the way to Jared Isaacman of SpaceX’s Inspiration4, and reached more than six million households. My efforts in educating the public on gender-based violence got hugely successful,” Shriya says.
After doing a season of the show the youngster stepped down to work for Nickelodeon and AwesomenessTV in talent casting. By that time, Shriya already had more than twelve years of experience in theatre acting under her belt.
“I guess the opportunities that I got after winning the crown were a ripple effect of my win. I had only planned to do two things in life – acting and advocacy,” she says. The unplanned foray into the world of pageantry and subsequent win turned out to be a game-changer, helping her reach her goals more easily both in advocacy and acting.
“I received a lot of love, support, and attention from the media and audiences. I cannot thank everyone enough for consistently believing in me and providing me opportunities to grow,” she adds.
These days, Shriya has a nine-to-five at Accenture, while continuing to film season 2 of her Fox 5 Plus show with GTV. “I have incredible guests lined up for the new season, it's so exciting!" she shares
Acting - a passion
As a schoolgirl, Shriya was deeply interested in theatrical arts, musical and films. She has won awards for her performances in short films like Love is Louder, which was a semi-finalist at the All-American High School Film Festival. Shriya was also cast in a full-length feature film, Water with a Slice of Lemon, which debuted in DC theatres in 2018. In 2020, she starred in the Chinmaya Mission-sponsored short film, ‘Been on Sale’.
Her interest in performing arts has led to several achievements in the sphere of dancing as well. Shriya has competed nationally for her premiere collegiate Bollywood fusion dance team – Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Sahara, winning multiple trophies for her alma mater. As much as she likes competing, the youngster loves to organise events. She has been the youngest board member of the National Bollywood Dance Championship, Legends in the US. Her academic training in marketing helped her in taking up the role of the Public Relations chair at the non-profit, Desi Dance Network Inc for two years where she raised awareness about South Asian performing arts.
The multifaceted beauty queen
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Shriya majored in business administration with a double concentration in marketing, and leadership and organisational effectiveness with a minor in psychology.
At the CMU campus, her advocacy was in full swing. She worked for minority, religious, generational, and socioeconomically weaker communities to strive for equality on the campus against battles supporting sexual assault victims, LGBTQ+ members, immigrants, international students, and ‘everyone in-between’.
[caption id="attachment_29356" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Shriya at one of the Carnegie Mellon University's functions[/caption]
Always a good student and multi-tasker, Shriya has represented CMU as the vice president of communications in their chapter of the American Marketing Association and volunteered as the vice president of marketing for the Carnegie Mellon Business Association, and vice president of internal affairs for CMU Women in Business.
“I am in the midst of applying for an MBA programme with the aim to elevate my social impact organisation - ‘Becoming A Voice’ into an official non-profit,” she shares.
Continually striving to achieve new milestones, Shriya is preparing to apply for the role of the 13th official US youth over server to the UN. “With all my work with the UN Foundation over the years, I aim to contribute in the national policymaking on child rights and sexual safety if appointed,” she remarks.
Winning along the way
The youngster loves participating in contests. In 2018 she won the Deloitte Start-Up Case competition bagging the third position. She was the only CMU freshman chosen to compete that year. Along with her team members, Shriya took her BusyBus business idea into the world of real-time technology and was even nominated for Forbes 30-under-30 in the consumer technology category.
The multifaceted beauty queen also dabbles in the freelance design and marketing world when time permits. “I kick-started my content creation career after winning Miss India America and have partnered with many incredible brands like Amazon Prime, Bumble, Handshake, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Adobe, Tangle Teezer, Mugler, and Tommy Hilfiger to name a few,” she says.
Shriya moved to the US with her parents when she was just five and a half years old, but her tie with India is strong. “I visit India at least once a year for a month at a time, minimum. It’s important for me to stay in touch with my extended family,” she says. “I was raised in Indian culture for a good portion of my developmental years and find joy in mixing both the American and Indian identities as much as possible. Whether it’s the clothes, the media, the food, or the religion, I partake in all aspects of my daily life to keep my roots strong and home-grown,” the youngster shares.
Significant collaborations and initiatives
In 2021 Shriya Boppana joined the Obama Foundation and Michelle Obama’s Girls Opportunity Alliance partnership.
As STF Global Youth Ambassador advocating for girls’ rights, she teamed up with famous actress, Brooke Shields to raise awareness for sexual health education of girls for the #GirlsGetLoud campaign.
She has partnered with the popular beauty brand, Bobbi Brown, for their ‘Pretty Powerful’ campaign.
Shriya holds sexual assault clinics in partnership with Bachpan Save the Innocence in India. In their partnership, they have sensitized above 6000 individuals at more than 320 orphanages, schools, slums, and colleges with over 10 different programs like safe and unsafe touch, consent and puberty, digital safety, cybercrime, sexual abuse, and trafficking.
The Indian American youngster conducted light-hearted discussions about mental health and relationships, and self-health as a radio jockey on Radio Zindagi, reaching more than one million listeners in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Indo-Caribbean community.
(July 2, 2023) During the recent State Visit of PM Modi when Indian-American teen Riya Pawar sang the US national anthem at the Ronald Reagan Centre in Washington DC, the spectators were mesmerised. So was the prime minister of India who blessed her with his appreciation. Speaking about the experience, Riya said, “It was an honour to sing the nation’s anthem in such a prestigious setting, surrounded by individuals who are dedicated to strengthening the bond between the United States and India. I am immensely grateful for this incredible opportunity.” For being chosen to be a part of the efforts to bridge the cultural heritage of both the nations, was a big achievement for the multifaceted teen. The 16-year-old from Marlboro, New Jersey is not just good at singing but also in science and has keen interest in the world of pageantry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJBhNfo320E This year she emerged a winner at 2023 New Jersey Southern Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (NJSJSHS) for her talents in STEM. In 2021, the multi-talented teen got crowned as Miss Teen New Jersey and emerged one of the top five winners at the Teen USA India, the national competition, which saw participation of young girls
="auto">This year she emerged a winner at 2023 New Jersey Southern Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (NJSJSHS) for her talents in STEM. In 2021, the multi-talented teen got crowned as Miss Teen New Jersey and emerged one of the top five winners at the Teen USA India, the national competition, which saw participation of young girls from across the country.
Singer in STEM
As a student of Manalapan High School, NJ, the melodious singer is enrolled in the Science and Engineering Magnet Programme. The school conducts the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) - a Department of Defence sponsored STEM programme which is supported by the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and the US Office of the Secretary of Defense, to encourage high school students across US to conduct original research in the STEM fields.
Riya did not just emerge a winner at the 2023 JSHS in her state but also received a National Honourable Mention from the National Center for Women & Information Technology 2023 (NCWIT) in recognition of her academic and extracurricular achievements in the field of computing. “Recipients are selected for their demonstrated interest and achievements in academic aspirations, technical accomplishments, and exceptional leadership skills,” stated her school highlighting her achievement on its website.
[caption id="attachment_31575" align="aligncenter" width="514"] Riya Pawar at her school[/caption]
Over the past year, the singing talent had dedicated herself to the study of cyber security, driven by extensive research papers and current affairs on the rising rates of cybercrime. She successfully designed and developed a system aimed at safeguarding users from the most common cyber-attack. As a result of her outstanding work, Riya was granted a scholarship from the Academy of Applied Sciences, supported by the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Additionally, the teenager was awarded the first prize in the Computer & Technology category by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Greater Monmouth Chapter.
Straddling diverse fields
The Global Indian has been performing as a singer in big events of the diaspora since a tender age. She was the solo child artist in the history at Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) India Day Parade at Madison Avenue, New York City. Whether it is singing at temples or at the Indian Consulate of New York, Riya has enthralled huge audiences with her vocal talent.
The winner of 2018 Asha Bhonsle Karaoke Competition, and 2019 Pandit Jasraj Gaan-Nipun Spardha received the Youth Icon Award at the Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) 2022 Convention held in Atlantic City. The accolade acknowledged her exceptional accomplishments in various fields including beauty pageantry, performing arts, extracurricular activities, and academics. “Out of all Marathi teenagers residing in the United States and Canada, I was chosen as the recipient of this esteemed recognition,” she said.
[caption id="attachment_31579" align="aligncenter" width="535"] Riya after being crowned Miss India Teen NJ[/caption]
During the BMM's opening ceremony, witnessed by an audience of approximately 5,000 individuals, Riya's outstanding singing abilities stood out among many talented performers. She was selected to render the Canadian and Indian national anthems, showcasing her versatility. Furthermore, in a captivating performance alongside her mentor Hemant Kulkarni, Riya presented a medley of renowned Marathi and Hindustani classical songs, adding depth to the already extensive repertoire.
“Music is like my second personality,” the teenager said, adding” Lata Mangeshkar is my favourite artist and I look up to her as a benchmark of perfection. I also love Shreya Ghoshal’s body of work and get inspired by her.”
Soothing lullabies pave the path of music
Born in New Jersey in 2006, Riya's musical journey began with her grandmother's soothing lullabies. From a young age, her grandmother's melodic voice became an indispensable source of comfort, as Riya would only stop crying when her grandmother resumed singing. This early exposure ignited Riya's passion for music even before she could utter her first words. Looking at her inclination her parents often played songs for her to listen at home and by the age of three she could sing hundreds of Marathi songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bjFFqgaYuw
When she turned five Riya started taking piano lessons, nurturing her fondness for melodies. At six she also started delving into the world of western singing, honing her skills through dedicated lessons. Three years later, at the age of nine, Riya embarked on the journey of learning Hindustani classical singing under the tutelage of Guru Hemant Kulkarni. A confident stage performer who has a knack for STEM, Riya nurtures dreams to fly high. “I still have a long way to go,” she says.
(November 23, 2024) Growing up near the sea in Mumbai, Ajay Sawant spent hours collecting shells as a child. He was in love with the ocean, and always wanted to give back to it. But little did that young boy know that years later, he would be recognised by the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) as one of their EE 30 Under 30 honourees for his dedication to educating coastal communities on the importance of marine conservation and climate resilience. "I was stunned because such recognitions keep you motivated and reaffirm that you are on the right path," Ajay tells Global Indian. He is among the 30 passionate and forward-thinking leaders from 19 countries committed to meaningful change. "It was a chance for me to reflect on my journey as a coastal kid who loved collecting shells and then aspiring to become a marine conservationist. It also makes me realise that every small step grows into something impactful. It also reinforces that my commitment to advocating for the ocean is equally important," adds Ajay, who is excited to connect with people who are creating an impact. This community is a valuable resource and I am excited about exchanging
ople who are creating an impact. This community is a valuable resource and I am excited about exchanging ideas, collaborating, and creating an impact.
[caption id="attachment_40542" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Ajay Sawant at Our Ocean Conference[/caption]
The 23-year-old, who is pursuing his bachelors in veterinary medicine, adds that such recognition also brings a sense of responsibility as there is no going back. "For me, it has always been a personal story as I have a special connection with the ocean."
Giving back to the ocean
Growing up near the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, Ajay Sawant loved spending hours on the beach and would often see driftwood, sea shells, and corals, the "treasures that the ocean brought with it." But over the years, he began noticing that the sea brought different gifts - "plastic bottles, tangled nets, and foreign things that didn't exist on the beach." That was Ajay's big moment when he realised that the ocean that he loved was under threat and he needed to do something about it. "My journey that began with collecting seashells transitioned to collecting plastic and soon became a larger cause which propelled me into becoming a marine conservationist."
However, he was keen to combine activism with art. Even as a child, art held a special place for him so when he saw plastic on the beaches, he wanted to create awareness through art. "Picking up plastic and converting it into art was my way of rebellion against marine plastic. Ocean gave me a lot and I wanted to give back to it, even if it meant taking small steps." He chose the path of artivism, using art for activism. "Art is powerful as it transcends languages and directly connects with emotions." Being a shy kid himself, he found art as the perfect means to express himself. "For many youngsters, activism can feel intimidating or inaccessible as not everyone is an extrovert. So I felt combining art with activism was a better way."
One balmy morning Ajay, who was creating art from plastic collected on the beach, met a person who introduced him to the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest. "I was intrigued and did some research. It's an organisation that educates and engages young people in ocean conservation through the arts." Despite trying for three years, he couldn't make it to the contest but he did end up earning the post of a young advisory council who would help grantees as mentors. "It was a turning point for me that changed the trajectory of my marine conservation journey."
His early days at the program introduced him to a pool of young people from across the world, all dedicated to mentoring the grantees funded by Bow Seat. He recalls a 16-year-old fellow from Mexico who creates sustainable plastic from seaweed, which he found inspiring. "This motivated me to do something for the ocean. Especially in a country like India, we have many young climate activists but not many ocean advocates. My journey was lonely but becoming a part of an organisation helped me connect with like-minded people who were particularly interested in working towards the ocean. Especially, since Bow Seat works in artivism, it was a perfect match for me," he adds.
Having found his calling in artivism, Ajay founded Generation Artivism in 2022 - a platform empowering young people to channel their environmental concerns through art. "I wanted youngsters to use art to convey complex issues like climate change, coral degradation, plastic pollution, or any other cause," says Ajay, who conducted workshops where participants created thought-provoking art installations inspired by beach waves. "Ocean pollution is a crisis that we can solve and art provides a powerful way for them to express themselves."
Generation Artivism works closely with Bow Seat, one of the largest youth-led creative arts programs for the environment. In the last two years, they have impacted nearly 5000 people through intergenerational art exchange and cross-art exchange. "It helps shift perspective as water or ocean means different to different people. We use such art exhibits to create awareness without being too preachy," says Ajay, who has conducted art exhibits in parts of India and Bali in Indonesia. "Our program is designed for critical thinking and problem-solving" says Ajay, who is also the President of Think Ocean Society.
[caption id="attachment_40544" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Ajay at High Seas Artivism Activity[/caption]
Inspiring youth to protect marine ecosystems
Think Ocean Society is a youth-led nonprofit based in Boston, which is currently active in five countries - India, the US, Cameroon, Uganda, and Nigeria - and works on all aspects of ocean conservation, ocean literacy as well as direct intervention. "We empower local people to take action for themselves by collaborating with regional organisations." In Cameroon, they have planted 5000 mangroves bringing a positive impact on biodiversity and return of fish species that had almost become extinct. "We involve young kids or marginalised women in plantation and restoration of mangroves. In India, we run a podcast on sustainability," reveals Ajay.
Promoting ocean literacy has been a priority for Ajay Sawant, who in 2022 began developing the Youth Action Ocean Toolkit. This initiative aims to educate young people about marine protected areas and inspire them to get involved in safeguarding these crucial ecosystems. The toolkit aligns with the 30 by 30 goal—also known as Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—a global effort to protect 30 percent of the planet's land and ocean by 2030 to ensure a sustainable future for life on Earth.
Funded by National Geographic through their $75,000 youth program, the toolkit showcases the impact of conservation on marine life worldwide. Ajay shares an example from California, where efforts revived a struggling marine ecosystem. "Fish were nearly extinct," he says. "Now, a decade later, fishermen scuba dive for sustainable livelihoods. It shows how marine ecosystems can recover with proper care."
Highlighting the role the local communities can play as the protector of their waters, Ajay says, "In Hawaii, community-based fishing areas help protect marine life. When fish populations decline, the community turns to a traditional practice called kapu, which limits how much fish can be harvested. Since reintroducing kapu, fish stocks have grown, helping the local community sustain their livelihoods."
Looking forward to a positive change
The marine conservationist believes that his generation is positively working towards fighting climate change. However, he feels the ocean is largely ignored. "Even SDG 14 - Life Below Water is the most underrated and underfunded of the SDGs. Moreover, land-based systems to combat climate change aren't working anymore. In 2023, trees and land absorbed almost no carbon dioxide. It is shocking as we have been working on land-based systems so much but it was the ocean that has been absorbing about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere. It is the best nature-based solution and we need to divert our attention towards it."
Sharing his plans, the young marine conservationist, who has till now reached 11,200 people through webinars, seminars, and workshops, reveals that he wants to empower young people to take action for their communities rather than indulging in direct intervention. "With Generation Artivism, I want to help young people find their voice in advocacy," says Ajay, who loves reading books and making cartoons. Ajay is hopeful about the future of marine conservation in India. "Change is happening but needs to be faster," he signs off.
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa[/caption]
Praggnanandha with his mother and 
Dhruv with his family[/caption]
Shriya Boppana[/caption]
Shriya at one of the Carnegie Mellon University's functions[/caption]
Shriya Bopanna[/caption]
Riya Pawar at her school[/caption]
Riya after being crowned Miss India Teen NJ[/caption]
Ajay Sawant at Our Ocean Conference[/caption]
Ajay Sawant[/caption]
Ajay at High Seas Artivism Activity[/caption]