Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveThe great Indian kickoff: Rising Indian footballers find a place in international leagues

The great Indian kickoff: Rising Indian footballers find a place in international leagues

Written by: Team GI Youth

(April 28, 2024) The craze of football is rising in India. Over the years, India has produced some amazing talent. Some got an opportunity to play in prominent foreign leagues, others got a glimpse of the big football leagues, albeit fleetingly. These upcoming Indian footballers have shown the roadmap to the kids of Gen X – to play in the big leagues in Europe or on foreign soil. Taking inspiration from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, these youngsters are taking the game to another level.

As the Indian national football team prepares for the World Cup qualifier match, Global Indian takes a look at these elite footballers, who have played in foreign leagues and have inspired the future generation.

Sarpreet Singh, 23, Bayern Munich

Starting his football career at 10, New Zealand-born Sarpreet Singh is an attacking midfielder. He grew up playing for local club Onehunga Sports, and even represented Auckland at the Australian National Futsal Championships, winning the Most Valuable Player award. Born to Indian parents – a Sikh father and a Christian mother – in Auckland in 1999, Sarpreet has a brother and a sister, who are currently pursuing their degrees. Well-known among Indian football fans, Sarpreet’s impressive performances attracted the attention of many top clubs.

Sarpreet Singh

At 21, Sarpreet became the first Indian-origin footballer to join Bundesliga, a professional association football league in Germany. Currently, he is playing for 2. Bundesliga club, on loan from Bayern Munich II, Sarpreet also represents the New Zealand national team. Although Sarpreet was on the bench for a few fixtures in 2020, after making a comeback, Sarpreet scored seven goals from 20 appearances and was the team’s second-highest goal-scorer in the season.

While speaking to the press during a media interaction, Sarpreet had mentioned that he didn’t believe it when he first received the news that Bayern Munich was interested in him. He expressed that it was a dream come true for him and he is learning as much as he is enjoying the game.

Ishan Pandita, 23, Lorca FC

Bengaluru lad, Ishan Pandita, created history by becoming the first Indian footballer to sign a professional contract with a Spanish La Liga club in 2016. Nicknamed as the Super Sub because of his ability to score late match-winning goals in the game, the 23-year-old Ishan Pandita has scored more than 80 per cent of his goals after the 75th minute.

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Ishan signed a one-year deal with Tercera Division Club Lorca. He played 26 matches and scored six goals and was the top scorer for the club in the 2019–20 season. After spending a term of six years in various lower-division Spanish clubs, he returned to India and signed for FC Goa ahead of the Indian Super League in 2020-21. However, surprisingly, he joined Jamshedpur FC ahead of the 2021-22 Hero ISL.

As a teenager, Ishan shares that he was juggling between swimming and football. He believes it was his stint in Spain that helped him transform into a better footballer. During an interview, Ishan had shared that playing for the Spanish FC was a learning experience for him. The exposure and facilities there brought out the best in him.

Shubho Paul, 20, Bayern Munich

The first Indian footballer to get a place in the Bayern World Squad in Munich, 18-year-old Shubho Paul from West Bengal scored a total of eight goals in 11 games for the U17 national side in his international career, in 2021. The footballer, who until a few years ago played barefoot and reached the training grounds on a borrowed cycle, started his career at the age of 15.

Before bursting onto the senior squad, Paul was part of Minerva FC’s youth squad for whom he played in the AIFF Youth league scoring 14 goals in 11 appearances, and this performance paved his way into the first team of Minerva FC. His performance in the youth leagues also earned him a call up to the U-17 Indian national team.

The news of his call up to the World Squad was emotional for his elder brother, Raju Paul, who left football 10 years ago due to family’s financial constraints. During an interaction with the media, Shubho shared that his brother gave up on his dream and took up a job as his family couldn’t afford both the sons playing football. Crediting his brother for his success on the field, he said that he only played cricket growing up, but his brother motivated him to think about football seriously, and took him to the coaches.

Ashiq Vithayathil, 25, CD Tablero

The Kerala-born 25-year-old defender left the country after earning a trial with Italian club A side AS Roma, where he played for the reserve team as a teenager. Currently playing for the Spanish side CD Tablero, Ashiq Vithayathil brushed shoulders with the likes of Edin Dzeko, Stephan El-Shaarawy and Francesco Totti in what was a “dream come true” moment.

Among the handful of Indians to play European football, Ashiq’s teammates call him “Thiago.” The Indian footballer, who has had stints with clubs in Germany and Italy as well, did admit his desire to play for his home team, Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters. During an interview, he had said that his game has always been aggressive and attacking the opposition goal, just like that of Kerala Blasters. He added that his training and tough conditions have trained him well to play for Kerala.

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Published on 28, Apr 2024

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Zooming past podiums: Indian-American Yuven Sundaramoorthy is racing’s new rising star

(August 5, 2023) Growing up, he loved watching racing sports on his TV. Recognising his love for the tracks, his father would take him to go karting parks and in 2017, Yuven Sundaramoorthy made a shift from karts to cars. While it has just been six years since then, 20-year-old Indian American racer has been making waves in the world of racing cars. And now, embarking on his journey towards the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the young racer has inked a deal with Abel Motorsports, providing him with a golden opportunity to experience the INDY NXT by Firestone action while steering the No. 57 Dallara IL-15. The racer is all set to team up with Abel Motorsports for three INDY NXT events in the upcoming calendar. "I’m really excited to get the call from Abel Motorsports to drive the No. 57 Dallara in the INDY NXT by Firestone Championship. The team has really been coming on strong lately and showing that they have the pace to compete, so for me, this really gives me an opportunity to show what I can do in this series," the Global Indian said during a recent press conference. Inspired to dream Born in 2003, to

has really been coming on strong lately and showing that they have the pace to compete, so for me, this really gives me an opportunity to show what I can do in this series," the Global Indian said during a recent press conference.

Inspired to dream

Born in 2003, to a young Indian-American couple in Wisconsin, Yuven was quite an enthusiastic child, who loved to be more outdoors than indoors. His family relocated to China and resided there for six years before returning to the United States, settling in upstate New York. When he was back in the US, the young racer would visit the go-karting parks, but shared that he didn't venture full-time into the sport until his teens. "I actually started fairly late compared to most racers my age. I didn't start racing cars until I was about 13 years old - which is still young, but many racers start before that age,” said the young racer.

However, the road wasn't an easy one. His parents had to walk the extra mile to support this young racer pursue his passion. "My dad had to make several sacrifices to get me on the tracks. He was in a corporate job, and to support me he quit his job. He would take me to various races and keep up with my schedule - especially when I was too young to go anywhere by myself. He had been my pillar of strength throughout my journey. My mother is still working hard to keep the finances going, supporting not just me but my entire family. I am pretty sure that I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents supporting and nurturing my dreams," the racer said during a recent interview.

But if you were thinking that racing is the only sport this champion excelled at, you couldn't be more wrong. Growing up, Yuven was a part of several teams at his school, and wouldn't shy away from taking part in various sports competitions during any event. Despite having a very busy schedule, the racer still finds time to indulge in other sports he loves. "When I am not on the racing track, I am always snowboarding. In fact, I am a snowboarding instructor, and love being up on the mountains," Yuven shared.

Going beyond his dreams

After shifting karts to cars in 2017, the young racer was quickly picked up by Pabst Racing. His real breakthrough, however, came in 2021, when he was moved up to compete at the Indy Pro 2000 Championship with Pabst Racing. In that season, the racer had three podiums and end up finishing 10th in the standings. Speaking about this change from karting to racing cars, he said, "The car that I am driving now is about three times heavier than what I am used to. I am very thrilled though, and hoping to make some progress soon enough. Communicating with my pit crew and driving instructor hasn't really been different from what I used to do. But I am having so much fun here. I am used to not being able to see more than two corners on the track, so it’s really great to be able to see the whole track from one spot."

Currently competing at the ongoing 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship with Exclusive Autosport and in the 2023 Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports, the racer is looking to broaden his horizon beyond his dreams. " I know the learning curve is going to be there switching to a bigger car with more power, but I think having the teammates I do with me at Abel Motorsports will help shorten that curve. I can’t thank S Team Motorsports LLC, One Motorsports Management, and OMP enough for their help and partnership in making this happen," he recently said after finishing the podium at Indianapolis.

While many in his place would have already set huge future goals for themselves, this humble champion believes in building his empire one stone at a time. Working on getting the techniques correct, the racer is focussed on setting short-term milestones to ensure his future victories. "My aim, right now, is to just work on my skills and improve. I want to explore my opportunities. I am very young in this career and have some room to move and various ways to guide my journey. So, I really want to see where I stack up," the racer explained.

Follow Yuven Sundaramoorthy on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and his website

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Ayush Gundawar: US Presidential Scholar making online tutoring accessible for free

(October 4, 2024) The first wave of Covid brought the entire world to a standstill, and changed the way everything functioned till then, including education. Moving from the vast spaciousness of classrooms to 17-inch laptop screens, students had a hard time fitting into virtual classrooms. Atlanta-based Ayush Gundawar was no different. Despite being someone who enjoyed learning, he felt deeply unmotivated. "Even my friends in high school dealt with the same emotions. That's when I realised if students like us who had access to academic support were having a hard time, how were students from disadvantaged communities dealing with this sudden change, especially when they had no access to extra resources like math tutoring? It felt unfair. And I was motivated to find a solution," the entrepreneur tells Global Indian. That's when the idea of LearnForsyth sprouted in Ayush's mind, and he soon got his non-profit registered. Initially, Ayush was the only tutor who began taking classes for the underprivileged students in his neighbourhood and simultaneously worked on building the website. "It took me months to code. Meanwhile, I also visited the local libraries pitching them the idea, and in return, they gave me articles for LearnForsyth. I even advertised

braries pitching them the idea, and in return, they gave me articles for LearnForsyth. I even advertised about the platform by putting up posters in local temples and churches," says the teenager, who has impacted over 2000 students across the globe through a network of 200 volunteering tutors - who are a mix of high schoolers as well as professionals.

[caption id="attachment_39720" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Ayush Gundawar was named US Presidential Scholar 2022[/caption]

Raised by software engineer parents who moved to the US in the early 2000s, Ayush grew up in a family culture that was cultivated around academics. "It wasn't just for better career opportunities but also to develop personality," adds Ayush, who enjoyed learning computers from a young age. His parents' careers acted as a catalyst in shaping his interest in computer science as young as ten years of age. "That's when I first learnt to program and was instantly hooked." This interest led him to make websites and applications as a teenager but it was in 2020 that he put his skills to the right cause when he started LearnForsyth, a non-profit that provides free peer-to-peer tutoring.

[caption id="attachment_39721" align="aligncenter" width="675"] LearnForsyth's tutoring session[/caption]

Ayush Gundawar, who has helped LearnForsyth grow from strength to strength in the last few years, calls it an enriching experience that has shaped him as an individual. "I have learnt a lot in the process. Seeing kids who were facing difficulties performing in their school are now performing well after enrolling in LearnForsyth has been a validation of sorts. The fact that I have used my skills to help improve human life across the globe has been so fulfilling," says the 20-year-old who is a researcher at Georgia Institute of Technology.

However, tiptoeing into the world of online education with a platform like LearnForsyth was equally challenging. Being just 16 at that time, the entrepreneur had to work a handful of jobs and internships to help get the seed funding for the platform, along with balancing his school with LearnForsyth. But moreover, growing his brigade of volunteers seemed like a mammoth task. "Initially, I was tutoring students for six-seven hours daily, but soon I started reaching out to high schoolers through newsletters and posters asking them to help to make a difference," says the entrepreneur who reveals that LearnForsyth teaches all subjects, and even helps students prepare for SAT and special projects like writing college essays.

Despite the hiccups, LearnForsyth came with its share of learning for him. From plainly working on the backend to mastering the design of the website, Ayush made technical progress in the last two years. Moreover, it gave him a chance to hone the leadership skills that he plans to put to good use during a corporate setup in the future. "Managing around 200 volunteers has helped me understand how to work with people in a way that they feel motivated," says the 2022 US Presidential Scholar. "The recognition has brought a big shift in me as an individual. I understood that there are so many like-minded people who are working to make the world a better place. Moreover, it has given me the opportunity to network with them."

He plans on making LearnForsyth accessible to everyone across the globe in near future. "I want people to access free tutoring and use it to their full potential in realising their educational goals," says the entrepreneur who plans on launching a startup in the tech space after a few years. Wedged between his passion for LearnForsyth and his studies, he likes to unwind by playing basketball with his friends and playing the guitar. Elaborating on the biggest lesson learnt in the last two years is the "accessibility" that online education has given to students across the world. "A student in Africa can access the same knowledge and education as someone in Asia. The accessibility is helping improve people's lives," says the entrepreneur.

Ayush Gundawar’s journey with LearnForsyth has been nothing short of transformative, not just for him but for the thousands of students whose lives he’s impacted. What began as a one-man initiative to tutor underprivileged students in his neighborhood has now grown into a global platform, offering free tutoring across subjects and SAT prep, all driven by a network of 200 volunteers. Ayush's ability to combine his love for technology with a genuine desire to make education accessible has proven to be a game-changer, especially in a time when students from disadvantaged backgrounds needed it the most. His work is a testament to how a single idea, fueled by passion and persistence, can create ripples of change across the world.

Follow Ayush Gundawar on Linkedin

Pallavi Sharda: On a trans-continental voyage of cinema and culture

(November 1, 2023) “India is a theatre of culture,” remarked Pallavi Sharda, who defied the odds to become the first Australian actress with Indian roots to successfully make her mark in Bollywood. The actress, who calls herself a ‘Roving Gypsy’ travels between Mumbai, Australia, the United States and the UK carving an impressive portfolio of Bollywood and Hollywood projects. The Indo-Australian actress is considered the first leading Indian-origin actress to make her mark on both the large and small screens in Australia. An alumna of the University of Melbourne, the actress had won the title of Miss India Australia as soon she was out of school. In 2015, she was named the ‘Queen of Moomba’ alongside late Australian cricketer Shane Warne during Melbourne's largest community festival, Moomba being organised in the city since 1954. [caption id="attachment_33825" align="aligncenter" width="746"] Pallavi Sharda[/caption] In 2019, Pallavi was named on the list of the forty most influential Asian Australians at the inaugural Asian-Australian Leadership Summit. Two years later in 2021, she received the prestigious Global Arts Award from Advance - the leading global network of Australians living overseas. “For me it has always felt a bit like I’m negotiating this ongoing tension between my Indian heart and my

Two years later in 2021, she received the prestigious Global Arts Award from Advance - the leading global network of Australians living overseas. “For me it has always felt a bit like I’m negotiating this ongoing tension between my Indian heart and my Australian brain. My struggle will always be finding the sweet spot, or that place where the two are in harmony,” she had remarked.

In the actor’s shoes

“Studying in Melbourne at a school with a strong performing arts focus. I always knew I wanted to be an actress and a dancer. So I harboured this secret dream for most of my childhood and young adult life,” she said in an interview.

With dedication, the actress went on to become one of the first South Asian women to establish a career across four continents and was lucky enough to make a film appearances in the Oscar-nominated Lion in 2016.

Her introduction to the world of Australian television came with her role in the ABC drama series ‘Pulse’, for which she received the prestigious Rising Star Award from the Casting Guild of Australia. Subsequently, she was signed for prominent roles in various projects, including the British period drama ‘Beecham House’, directed by Gurinder Chadha, the ABC Australia series ‘Les Norton’ alongside David Wenham and Rebel Wilson, the Warner Bros film ‘Tom and Jerry’, and the Netflix drama series ‘The One’, The 2022 American romantic comedy film ‘Wedding Season’ directed by Tom Dey has been one of her recent projects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oJN543mDv8

Pallavi’s parents discovered her love for dancing when she was very young and enrolled her into Indian classical dance classes when she was barely three. Today she is adept in Bharatanatyam and contemporary Indian dance apart from other dance forms.

“My dad used to love Bollywood movies and music, and our home life was filled with the sounds of Bollywood and classical Indian folk music. A lot of people don't realise that there's so much Indian music and dance that’s not Bollywood. I had this pan-Indian performing arts induction in the house. It was magnetic for me,” she said.

Growing up in an environment where her grandmother was a Hindi professor, her Hindi became good despite being born and brought up in Australia. The passion for various dance forms and ability to communicate in Hind led her to pursue acting opportunities in India. Although it took some time, she eventually secured substantial roles.

Pallavi’s parents are IIT alumni with PhDs in science and engineering. They had migrated to Australia in the 1980s before Pallavi was born. The actresses’ early years were spent in Melbourne’s suburbs. She did her schooling from Lowther Hall in Essendon, and started pursuing her LLB and BA (Media & Communications) along with a Diploma in Modern Languages (French) at the University of Melbourne when she was just 16 years old, and graduated with an honours.

Breaking into Bollywood

She commenced her acting career in Bollywood with a cameo appearance in Karan Johar's ‘My Name Is Khan’. Her subsequent role was in the comedy-drama film, ‘Dus Tola’, alongside the acclaimed actor Manoj Vajpayee.

One of her major Bollywood films has been Besharam in which she starred opposite Ranbir Kapoor. Talking about the film she mentioned “This film had the biggest release in the country with over 4,000 screens, the cast flew around the world, and I performed in Times Square in New York to promote it.” Pallavi has also acted in ‘Hawaizaada’ and ‘Begum Jaan’.

[caption id="attachment_33826" align="aligncenter" width="763"] Pallavi Sharda with Ranbir Kapoor in the Hindi film, Besharam[/caption]

Giving back

Pallavi passionately champions the cause of India-Australia relations and the reinforcement of intercultural ties between the two nations. The Global Indian is a frequent speaker on a range of topics including Asia’s literacy, fostering multicultural understanding, women's rights, and promoting genuine representation in the arts.

She has emerged as a versatile leader in the discussions surrounding Australian Arts and Culture and has curated events like Melbourne's White Night In 2019. Pallavi has been serving on the advisory board of E-Kutir, a socially oriented enterprise based in Odisha. The actress is a dedicated advocate for sustainable development, and lays emphasis on advocating for the elimination of fast fashion.

She has also taken on the role of an ambassador for 'OZ FEST,' Australia's largest cultural festival in India.

[caption id="attachment_33827" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Pallavi Sharda[/caption]

Bringing change through Bodhini Studios

The performing artist established Bodhini Studios as a response to her personal journey of realizing her childhood dream of acting on screen while facing the unique challenges of being an Indian-origin Australian.

It’s like a coalition of individuals from around the world who share common goals, uniting to reveal the often-overlooked and underrepresented narratives and viewpoints woven into everyday tales of people. The initiative works as a dynamic and thought-provoking platform for storytelling, dismantling barriers and amplifying the voices and presence of the intricacies found in diverse identities.

“The studio tries to rejuvenate stories that were once pushed to the fringes or reduced to stereotypes. It’s like a sanctuary for artists, providing a space to bring stories, identities, and emotions that have often been considered 'othered' into the mainstream,” the studio’s website mentions. “The primary aim is to foster intercultural understanding and empathy while celebrating our shared humanity.”

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Reading Time: 5 mins

Ishana Night Shyamalan: Carrying forward the family legacy with her directorial debut

(April 30, 2024) Following in the footsteps of her father, Manoj Nelliyattu ‘M. Night’ Shyamalan, Ishana Night Shyamalan also graduated from his alma mater, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Similar to her father's journey, the Indian American youngster has turned into a filmmaker. She started her career by working on music videos and short films before stepping into the world of filmmaking. The 22-year-old, recently released the trailer of her debut feature film, ‘The Watchers,’ which boasts of an impressive star ensemble including Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan, and Olwen Fouere. Scheduled to hit theatres in June 2024, ‘The Watchers’ trailer went viral soon after its release. In her debut feature film Ishana has worked on a horror-themed narrative, a genre that her father is renowned for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrhrNS0JFyg Influences in approach to cinema Although Ishana is deeply inspired by her father, she shared in an interview that a significant influence on her craft also comes from the works of Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. “I think like in my bones, I'm most inspired by Miyazaki,” she remarked adding, “Like I just think those have been the movies that throughout my life have moved me the most and

o comes from the works of Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. “I think like in my bones, I'm most inspired by Miyazaki,” she remarked adding, “Like I just think those have been the movies that throughout my life have moved me the most and they're very sacred things to me. So, in many ways, this was just like chasing the experience that I feel when I watch those movies, which is one of wonder and adventure and innocence in many ways.”

Wong Kar-wai, Hong Kong’s director, screenwriter and producer and Polish film director Krzysztof Kieślowski are some of the other filmmakers who have had an influence on Ishana’s approach to cinema.

Carrying forward the legacy

“From making shorts, to going to Tisch, to becoming one of our top writer/directors on ‘Servant’ (TV series) to this incredible moment of #TheWatchers in theatres this summer… Ishana has always made me very proud. And even better than making a dazzling film, she is a wonderful person,” tweeted her proud father. He had immigrated with his doctor parents from Pondicherry to the USA when he was six weeks old.

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The New York University Tisch School of the Arts alumni graduated in 1992, adopting 'Night' as his second name during his time there. A blend of Eastern and Western influences in name extended to his three children, including Ishana.

Not the first father-daughter collaboration

It’s not the first time that the father-daughter duo has collaborated for a project. Ishana contributed to M. Night Shyamalan’s eerie Apple TV+ series ‘The Servant,’ as a writer and co-writer for 10 episodes and as director for six episodes. She also served as the second unit director for her father's box office hits, ‘Old’ (2021) and the recent ‘Knock at the Cabin’ (2023). Both the productions had topped the charts during their opening weekends.

While working with him, M. Night Shyamalan, Ishana, his middle daughter, inherited his knack and expertise for crafting suspense, thrills, and compelling drama. “The training from him has existed my whole life,” she remarked.

[caption id="attachment_37460" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Ishana Night Shyamalan at the sets of M Night Shyamalan's movie 'Old' (2021)[/caption]

For her directorial debut, Ishana adapted the screenplay from a novel by the Irish author A.M Shine who has written several literary horror masterpieces.

Talking about her adaptation Ishana remarked, “It’s a journey of suspense that hopefully leads into a feeling of wonder at the end. My hope is it’s an experience that plays on that sense of unease – then takes you to a bigger, wonderful place.”

Pursuing art to survive

Since she was a child Ishana was creatively inclined whether it was painting, ballet, poetry and even designing clothes.

“I’ve moved through different forms of art throughout my whole life and kind of later in life came to filmmaking. But there’s really been no other option in terms of my psyche – I’ve only felt that I need to be doing art to survive,” she remarked.

For nearly twenty years, Ishana and her family, including her siblings Saluki and Shivani, along with their parents Bhavna and their father, have lived in Ravenwood, a 1937 Georgian revival house nestled on a 125-acre estate in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Proudly, the father has also backed Ishana’s directorial debut through his production company, Blinding Edge Pictures.

Follow Ishana Night Shyamalan on Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

Divita Rai: The architect who contested Miss India pageant twice to be on Miss Universe platform

(October 9, 2022) Miss India Universe Divita Rai will have to wait a little longer to represent India on the Miss Universe platform. The annual global event which was scheduled to be held later this year has been shifted to January 14, 2023. It would be the 71st pageant in the world of Miss Universe to crown the winner of 2022 at New Orleans, Louisiana. Participants from 90 countries would be competing for the coveted crown that would be passed over by Harnaaz Sandhu of India, the current title-holder whose reign has been extended. [caption id="attachment_22779" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Divita Rai, Miss Diva 2022 will be representing India in next Miss Universe pageant[/caption] While every Indian is waiting for India to script history by two back-to-back wins, the pressure is high on Divita. To meet the expectations, and slay more when the days of wait have been prolonged, is something that she seems to have taken in her stride. If she wins, India would be the second country to win back-to-back crowns, after Venezuela. Pressure is good. To have people who have expectations from me gives me excitement to bring out the best version of me. More than the pressure, I

hat she seems to have taken in her stride.

If she wins, India would be the second country to win back-to-back crowns, after Venezuela.

Pressure is good. To have people who have expectations from me gives me excitement to bring out the best version of me. More than the pressure, I view it as an incredible opportunity to represent my country. How many of us get such an opportunity!

Divita said in a joint interview with Harnaaz Sandhu, the reigning Miss Universe who made India proud last year by bringing home the crown after a gap of 21 years.

[caption id="attachment_22780" align="aligncenter" width="936"] Divita after being crowned Miss Diva by reigning Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu[/caption]

The win would make Divita the fourth Indian beauty to get the title home, after Sushmita Sen (1994), Lara Dutta (2000) and Harnaaz Sandhu (2021).

Decision to give second shot despite second-runner up crown paid off

Divita evokes hope because of her attitude to win. The Miss Diva pageant in which she was chosen to represent India in the Miss Universe competition was not her first rodeo. She had participated in the contest last year too and was placed third to Harnaaz Sandhu. Instead of basking in the glory of being the second runner up, she chose to push herself harder, and eventually the Global Indian got successful in claiming the Miss India crown, finally earning her chance to represent the country in the global platform of Miss Universe.

[caption id="attachment_22783" align="aligncenter" width="870"] Grand welcome of Divita when she visited Mangalore after winning Miss Diva title[/caption]

Serious about issues that plague society

Born in Mangalore, Divita moved to several cities across India due to her father’s job requirements. She soaked in valuable lessons of life learned from people from diverse backgrounds and cultures from a very young age, turning into a versatile and sensitive human being.

On the occasion of Dusshera 2022, Divita associated herself with child rights and visited a CRY centre at the heart of Asia’s second largest slum in Mumbai. She believes that her education has taken her far and is determined to work towards making quality education accessible to kids and motivate them to keep learning. Her concern for education of underprivileged kids comes from a very personal experience as her father had to overcome immense financial difficulties to complete his education.

[caption id="attachment_22781" align="aligncenter" width="842"] Divita at the CRY event on the day of Dusshera[/caption]

Other than education, the second significant issue close to Divita’s heart is women at work. In fact, she has been so passionate about the issue that as part of her final year thesis, as a student of Architecture she had chosen to research workplace culture for women. Deeply believing how imperative it is for merit to shine irrespective of gender or circumstances, her story is of gathering courage to come back well prepared, and rise above the fear of failure to achieve one’s goal.

A little background…

Until 2010, the top three contestants at the Miss India or Femina Miss India were crowned as Femina Miss India-Universe, Femina Miss India-World, and Femina Miss India-Asia Pacific (which was later renamed as Femina Miss Earth).

However, in 2010, a new contest, ‘I Am She - Miss Universe India’ was introduced to separately select India's representatives to Miss Universe. Later, in 2013, due to a change in the acquiring rights, the contest got renamed as Miss Diva.

The making of the diva

Divita attributes the title of ‘Miss Diva’, which she proudly holds, to her mother and grandmother. While growing up, her mom and grandma would dress her up as Miss India on several occasions, instilling a belief that she could be Miss India. As she grew up, the youngster realised that it is something that she would really like to pursue.

Navigating her way through the modelling industry and the world of pageantry was quite easy as she had found a support system in her family.

[caption id="attachment_22784" align="aligncenter" width="516"] Little Divita with her grandma[/caption]

She said in an interview:

Although my parents grew up with restricted dreams of what to pursue as a profession. My brother and I had the freedom to choose whatever we wanted to, but we were told to ensure that we put our soul and heart to manifest that into reality.

The Karnataka girl who now lives in Mumbai, pursued modelling and architecture from Sir JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai simultaneously.

PCOS cannot stop girls from reaching great heights

September happens to be the PCOS awareness month, dedicated to enhance education and advocacy of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – a hormonal disorder that affects one in five girls in India. Globally, 1.55 million women of reproductive age experience PCOS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KFhcsvGc0o

Divita has gone all out on several platforms opening up about her battle with PCOS, stating:

It's okay for women to go through this condition but it's important for them to talk about it.

She often finds its challenging to maintain a good lifestyle to prevent the health condition from aggravating. As girls undergo several bodily changes and mental health issues related to it, Divita stands tall as an example that one can achieve milestones despite odds.

From the Miss India’s history of international victories:

Reita Faria was the first Miss India ever to win any international beauty pageant. She was crowned Miss World 1966 in London. She became the first Miss World from not just India but from entire Asia.
Sushmita Sen is the country’s first Miss Universe winner in 1994.
India's appearances at the semi-finals of Miss Universe from 1992 to 2002 made it the first country of the Eastern Hemisphere to contest annually at the pageant for at least 10 consecutive years.
In 2010, Nicole Faria became the first Indian to win the Miss Earth pageant.
Six years after Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai's double wins in 1994 as Miss Universe and Miss World respectively, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra repeated the feat in 2000. Though some countries have had dual wins like these previously but since the year 2000 of India’s dual win, no country has won Miss Universe and Miss World in the same year.

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