Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveThe physics of desi vegan: PhD student Anjali Harikumar’s insta handle a boon for plantarians

The physics of desi vegan: PhD student Anjali Harikumar’s insta handle a boon for plantarians

Written by: Zara Xavier

(May 1, 2022) Her kale pancakes are the rage, her kuzhi paniyaram got 2.6 million views while her vegan rasmalai got 13k likes. Yet, the sprightly, irreverently funny vegan instagrammer Anjali Harikumar – or Beextravegant is actually a physicist by profession. Not your average deep-in-her-books kinda girl, though. Currently based in Grenoble, France, Anjali is a PhD candidate working at a government lab on nanophotonics. Beyond all manner of particles, Anjali took her proclivity towards particles of a more wholesome healthy gourmet nature with Beextravegant, that creates vegan Indian recipes. With 78.7k followers, 157 vlogs (and counting) oddly enough, the vegan physicist dabbles as a freelance videographer, sharing desi recipes on her love for all forms of plantains (yes bananas), all the while being inundated with tips on doing a PhD abroad!

Gourmet Expert | Anjali Harikumar | Global Indian

Anjali Harikumar, physicist and vegan instagrammer

The academically-inclined Anjali decided on stem as was expected for a smart student even though she wasn’t really convinced. “Now, I love it. The field I work in is so interesting with so much to do in it,” says the PhD student, who works on UV lamps and lasers, in an interview with Global Indian. After MTech from Amity Noida in 2018, the physicist-turned-vegan gourmet studied nanotechnology. “It is the present and the future, so much of everything we use today is controlled by nanotechnology. It’s something so small, literally intangible, but something so powerful,” the physicist explains.

Craving for vegan

From nano tech to ingredient sourcing, especially for a vegan, it was despite Anjali’s dislike for cooking! Admitting sheepishly that she couldn’t cook, her 70k-odd followers on instagram turn cliches on the head, as she is now an expert. Of course, her rebellious nature was also tamed when it was a matter of survival. “I never liked societal rules – how women were associated with cooking – thus I never wanted to learn. Then, I realised that it was a skill I actually needed,” Anjali laughs.

From Kerala, the armed forces kid was brought up across India – Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and even Jammu & Kashmir. “It was super interesting to be able to experience so many different cultures. It made me extremely adaptable,” quips the happy-go-lucky vegan physicist who does not find moving to new places daunting. Her, father, an Air Force officer, she feels, is the reason she is independent, speaks her mind, and is fearless. “I was able to start social media, endure hate comments, and persevere because of the confidence he gave me,” she adds.

Her mother, a teacher, instilled compassion and kindness in her which also led her to question her choices. It eventually led her to veganism. Her “super brainiac” younger brother, “is doing a triple major in computer science, mathematics and physics,” and she is grateful for the closeness they share.

The animal loving physicist, inspired by her mother, wanted to reduce animal cruelty, and spread awareness of being ethical towards animals.

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A post shared by Anjali | Vegan recipes 🇮🇳🇪🇺 (@beextravegant)

Thus began an odyssey of stutters and starts to learn cooking, and soon mastering it. Her first was a simple burnt rice and potatoes at university, soon she became a reputed vegan influencer – promoting vegan Indian food with incredibly simple and delicious recipes.

This was also the time the world over, people ventured into the kitchen during the pandemic-induced lockdowns, to reconnect with food. During the first lockdown, Anjali started an Instagram account featuring vegan Indian recipes – Beextravegant. “The West has a dominant vegan community, and thus the food is unfamiliar to Indians. I wanted to make classic Indian dishes vegan, and promote our culture too,” Anjali explains. With her PhD. thesis coming to a close, the amatuer videographer hopes to take her vegan lifestyle to a reel life too – Her vision is to start a YouTube channel, featuring recipes, editing hacks, and more.

Consistent and persistent in physics and the kitchen

“A vegan diet has so many benefits, but it can also be quite dangerous if it is not balanced,” cautions the vegan physicist who learnt from her own experience. Unaware initially, when she cut animal products from her diet, she lost a majority of her protein intake, along with essential nutrients found in meat and dairy. “I’d recommend cutting out animal protein with vegan replacements like chickpeas, kidney beans, and more. Also, take supplements of certain nutrients,” Anjali explains (with consultation from a nutritionist, of course). Any tips? Stressing on consistency, “Don’t feel pressured to turn completely vegan on the first day, it will take time, don’t beat yourself for slipping up,” she adds.

The vegan physicist believes that, “failure is a stepping stone to success, be consistent and persistent.” Eight months after applying for a PhD, and two years of developing her vegan conversations on Instagram, it’s a mantra she follows herself.

Follow Anjali Harikumar on Instagram and YouTube

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Published on 01, May 2022

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Aditya Chaudhary: Indian teen’s innovative device can help turn thoughts into text

(October 15, 2023) Having spent all of his afternoons with his grandfather after returning from school, Aditya Chaudhary formed a beautiful bond with him. With working parents, Aditya would spend hours with his grandfather listening to stories. But chinks in the quality time started appearing when his grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and soon it advanced to a stage where he had difficulty in communicating and started imagining things. Being the primary caretaker, Aditya would see his grandfather struggle with communication and often wondered if there was a way that he could comprehend his grandfather's thoughts. However, that couldn't happen as he lost him shortly but the ache to do something for patients of Parkison's led the Delhi-based teen to come up with a solution in NeuroSight, a non-invasive headset that could help paralysed and neurological patients convert their thoughts into text. [caption id="attachment_33578" align="aligncenter" width="613"] Aditya Chaudhary[/caption] An innovation for the patients of Parkinson's "My grandfather's condition nudged me to think about other patients with Parkinson's. While I was always interested in STEM, it was after this that I started getting more interested in the neurological aspect, and it motivated me to start a startup Grey Horizon, a venture

ink about other patients with Parkinson's. While I was always interested in STEM, it was after this that I started getting more interested in the neurological aspect, and it motivated me to start a startup Grey Horizon, a venture into low-cost neuroimaging," Aditya tells Global Indian, adding, "We created a device NeuroSight that can convert thoughts into words."

In India, more than 7 million people currently suffer from Parkinson's and Aditya was keen to find a solution, that was low-cost and effective. The idea stemmed from his grandfather's condition, and for months, he did research to understand but it was in 2022 that Grey Horizon and NeuroSight came into actualisation. Aditya explains that the research behind neuroimaging has been happening since the 1950s, however, it hasn't translated into anything concrete that can be put into daily use. "However, Elon Musk's Neuralink is one of the breakthroughs that has happened in this space recently, however, it is invasive where you surgically implant electrodes in the brain that reads the data that your brain is firing. However, we wanted something non-invasive, portable, and in real-time. So, we opted for EEG and merge it with the AI and ML, and use the technology in the form of a headset," adds Aditya saying that while searching for electrodes for EEG, he came across many which costs between ₹30,000 to ₹1 lakh. "We decided to come up with our headset under the budget of ₹5000." With the help of the sensors and electrodes, it collects data from the patient's brain and relays it to an app used by the patient's family member or caretaker. "The data from imaginary cortex and visual cortex is mapped out on a graph, and try to read them through AI and ML in real-time."

It was in early 2023 that Aditya started working on the prototype, which is in the process of fine-tuning. "We are now working on getting the data converted into text in real-time - as in the same second that the thought arises in the patient's mind." He reveals that it began as a research paper - which won acclaim from The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences - and later turned into hardware with NeuroSight. Now, Aditya and his team are trying to take this a notch higher by converting thoughts into actions, using prosthetic/robotic arms. "We wanted to focus on functionality as well since you can't control your muscles in Parkinson's because of the involuntary muscle movement. We recently pitched the robotic arm at one of the innovation and science fairs. We are now looking for mentorship in regards to advanced research behind neuroimaging that can validate our technology and work with people who can help convert the hardware into a minimum viable product."

Personal setbacks led to the formation of a platform

However, it wasn't an easy road for Aditya as he had to face many rejections to reach where he is now. "I started late, and that's a regret that I have. I could have done much more, but it took me a while to figure out, and now I am putting the pedal on the gas and accelerating the progress," says the teen, who had a hard time figuring out the right opportunities during his school time.

Being the one who learned the hard way, he was keen to help aspiring innovators who, like him, didn't know where to begin. This led him to start Kalam, a platform to help students access meaningful opportunities where they can convert their ideas into innovations. "We started it as an opportunity access but now plan to see it as a Y-combinator for high school students where they can convert ideas into actual startups," says Aditya, who is keen to make "a genuine impact."

Though the NeuroSight prototype is still undergoing a handful of upgradations, Aditya wants the technology to reach the maximum people, once it becomes a viable product that can be placed in the market. Moreover, he is keen to expand the horizon by integrating the technology for gaming purposes. "You can control the gaming outplay with your thoughts. NeuroSight can move to other commercial aspects as well like mindfulness app," reveals the teen who is in talks with a bunch of accelerators pitching his ideas.

Aditya, who calls himself a cinephile and a bibliophile, has a personal library of over 100 books that he has collected over the years from book markets. Along with innovation, storytelling is close to his heart, and an area that he wants to explore shortly.

The teen, who passed out of school early this year, is using this year to explore more opportunities before applying for MIT and the California Institute of Technology next year. "Engineering students have only one dream - to crack JEE. But I don't want to restrict myself and explore as many possibilities as I can. I am giving my all to leave a mark in the world of innovation," he signs off.

Reading Time: 5 min

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

Born with dancing shoes: Shreyah Mohanselvan is connected to her roots through Bharatanatyam

(October 29, 2022) She was on a summer break, waiting to start school again in a few weeks when she first received the news that she had been nominated for the US Presidential Scholars Award in the Arts. Chosen among students from 25 states, Shreyah Mohanselvan, a native of Tamil Nadu, was thrilled to know that the government recognised her passion for classical Indian dance forms that she had been learning since she was four years old. Aspiring to be a professional dancer someday, this youngster has attained outstanding prowess in five different dance forms including ballet, Bharatanatyam, and Odissi. [caption id="attachment_23543" align="aligncenter" width="597"] Shreyah Mohanselvan, Indian classical dancer[/caption] “Dance is not just my passion but a fascination for me. I gave in to my obsession with dancing at the age of four. I started with ballet at the New Albany Ballet Company and went on to learn Indian classical dance forms including Bharatanatyam,” Shreyah said to Travel Beats, an Indian American community portal. Undeniably, dancing is her comfort zone and favorite stress buster. However dancing is just the tip of the huge talent iceberg for this young Global Indian. A brilliant student, Shreyah Mohanselvan is equally talented in science

eniably, dancing is her comfort zone and favorite stress buster. However dancing is just the tip of the huge talent iceberg for this young Global Indian. A brilliant student, Shreyah Mohanselvan is equally talented in science and engineering. A recent graduate from Rice University in Texas, where she earned a degree in computer science, the dancer is currently working as a Product Manager with Microsoft.

Ballet to Bharatnatyam

Born to Mohanselvan Subramanian and Sumathi Mohanselvan, who immigrated to the USA from India in the early 90s, Shreyah would tap her feet to any kind of music even as a toddler. And so, recognising her talent, her parents decided to put Shreyah in a local dance class. However, while she was good at ballet, the dancer wasn't satisfied with what she was learning. It was her mother, who after sensing her curiosity to learn more, decided to take her to her first Bharatnatyam class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8fXyUu3TSk

The sounds of ghunghroo and taal mesmerised Shreyah from the get-go and there was no turning back. Over the years, the young dancer learnt not one but two major classical dances of India - Bharatnatyam, and Odissi. “The two dance forms have differences and similarities, and sometimes it is difficult to force the body to be true to both of these two conflicting dance forms,” she explained in an interview with City Scene Columbus.

Recognition comes calling

Shreyah, however, is not just a dancer, she is an award-winning dancer. The youngster claimed the first place in the Federation of Indian Associations of Central Ohio’s Indian solo dance competition for three consecutive years. She also has three first-place and two second-place finishes in the Vindhya Cultural Association in Columbus, a competition that attracts talent from all across the state.

In 2018, she was presented with a National Young Arts Winner Honorable Mention Award in Indian/classical dance. The youngster owes her nomination for the 2018 US Presidential Scholars Award to Carolina García Jayaram, President, and CEO of the Miami-based National YoungArts Foundation which is one of the partners for this National Recognition Programme.

No pain, no gain?

But, as they say, no achievement comes without pain. Throughout her school life, this youngster followed a very strict daily routine to stay on top of not just her dance practice, but also her academics. So much so that, while others her age were enjoying all kinds of junk food, the 20-year-old had a diet plan scheduled for her. "I always eat balanced meals to maintain my energy and stamina. Around the time of major rehearsals and performances, I pay extra attention to my diet and sleep to make sure I can maintain my focus and energy levels," she shared during one of the interviews.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3j7UaoMs88

A bright youngster, who also served as the student council president at her school, Shreyah has big plans for the future. Even though she is working full-time at Microsoft now, the youngster continues to practice every day early in the morning and wishes to start her professional journey as a dancer soon. Although her schedule can sometimes be exhausting, the young dancer believes, "If one is doing something she loves, she is already doing something amazing."

Follow Shreyah Mohanselvan on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 6 mins

Environment activist Sagarika Sriram: Tackling climate change one kid at a time

(December 7, 2022) A young 17-year-old took centre stage whilst top leaders from across the world gathered to discuss saving the planet from climate change at COP27 in Egypt. Addressing her audience, the young environment activist, Sagarika Sriram, pointed out the youth’s perspective on sustainability and how youngsters can have their voices heard. Stressing how awareness must be raised in schools, her closing remarks pushed for the youth around the world to be heard when it comes to their sustainable goals, ending her speech with thunderous applause from the audience. [caption id="attachment_25081" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Sagarika Sriram, environment activist[/caption] "Do you know about the ripple effect?" Sagarika asked me, about 10 minutes into our conversation. "The ripple effect," she explained, "is the spreading results of a single action - like the ripples in the water. I think a single step towards saving the planet can have that effect, no matter if it is a big or small step. We need youngsters to get involved in this movement because we will be the first generation to face the horrific results of climate change. We might not have been the ones who contributed to climate change, but we certainly can be the ones

s to get involved in this movement because we will be the first generation to face the horrific results of climate change. We might not have been the ones who contributed to climate change, but we certainly can be the ones to slow it down."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhwFk4c7HU

Called an "inspiration to all young girls in her country and West Asia” by the U.N. Environment Programme, the Dubai-based Indian ex-pat has been able to inspire and motivate numerous kids to join the movement for a cleaner and healthier future for all. Her digital platform Kids for a Better World, which the young environment activist created in 2016 as a school project, has brought together nearly 100,000 young kids from around the globe who also want to fight climate change.

Motivated by nature

Growing up in Dubai, Sagarika learnt much more about nature from her parents. "As far as I can remember, my parents always motivated me to use and do environmentally friendly stuff. They were very cautious about using stuff that doesn't harm the planet and that has to be a symbiotic relationship," Sagarika shares with Global Indian, adding, "Also, I grew up with pets and that is also one factor why I am very sensitive towards environmental issues. My father and I used to have a compost garden and grow our fruits and vegetables. All these things have motivated me a lot."

When she was around 10-years-old, Sagarika came across news of a whale being washed up onshore as a result of an oil spill. As the environmental activist dig deeper, she discovered various articles about how human activities are affecting not just other animals, but nature in general. "Our actions were causing so much harm to the environment. I started learning more about climate change, greenhouse gases, etc," she says.

Action driven

The youngster, who was taking classes at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) for HTML, web designing, and coding, decided to take one step toward her sustainability goals. "For my final project for a web design class, I was asked to design a web page and I decided to make it about the environment. I wanted to use the skills I acquired towards something that could make a difference in people's lives,” the environment activist says. “I designed a basic website for Kids for Better World, which now has various sections to help anyone who wants to learn about climate change. I wanted children to work together with a goal of climate consciousness and teaching people about sustainability and climate awareness."

[caption id="attachment_25082" align="aligncenter" width="506"] Sagarika has organised numerous clean-up drives over the years[/caption]

The educative website offers various tidbits and fun facts about the environment and climate change to visitors. Kids can also earn points from the sustainable activities that they complete and use those points to redeem eco-friendly gifts. "The whole idea was to teach children the same way that I was taught. I was able to meet several incredible people through my work and associate my work with great organisations," says the environment activist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPWtMtGOs-s

Sagarika, who has organised numerous local clean-up drives and workshops for kids, believes that young people have to stand for the cause to prevent the impact of climate change. "I want to make a real change and contribute towards helping the planet revive. I just finished my final examinations and want to take a year's break to concentrate on the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, which will take place in the UAE," shares the environment activist as she signs off.

Follow Sagarika Sriram on LinkedIn and Instagram
Follow Kids for a Better World on Facebook and Instagram

Reading Time: 6 mins

Meet Jainul Abedin, founder of India’s first reusable rocket startup

(December 9, 2022) Jainul Abedin’s name is similar to that of a great Indian icon – the late Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, or A P J Abdul Kalam, the former president of India and aerospace scientist who worked for DRDO and ISRO. In fact, Jainul was so fascinated by this similarity growing up that he developed a deep interest in rocket science and spacetech. In 2020, Jainul went on to establish Abyom Spacetech and Defence as a 19-year-old, during the year of his Bachelor’s degree in Physics. His vision was to build reusable rockets to prevent space debris and save operational costs. It has been working on developing ‘reignition liquid engine’ to make this possible. [caption id="attachment_25153" align="aligncenter" width="752"] Jainul Abedin at Department Of Space, ISRO Ahmedabad[/caption] “Blue Origin and SpaceX are the only companies in the world that not only enable the launch of the rockets but also their landing back to earth,” he tells Global Indian. There is no such organisation in India. Jainul emphasises this, saying, “India has been launching rockets since the 196Os but we are still using conventional rockets. These are single-use rockets as they cannot re-land on earth.” Abyom Spacetech and the

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[caption id="attachment_25153" align="aligncenter" width="752"] Jainul Abedin at Department Of Space, ISRO Ahmedabad[/caption]

“Blue Origin and SpaceX are the only companies in the world that not only enable the launch of the rockets but also their landing back to earth,” he tells Global Indian. There is no such organisation in India. Jainul emphasises this, saying, “India has been launching rockets since the 196Os but we are still using conventional rockets. These are single-use rockets as they cannot re-land on earth.”

Abyom Spacetech and the uniqueness of the idea driving it has brought Jainul recognition on coveted spacetech and aviation platforms like ISRO, IISF, DST, Aero India, and Toycathon. The innovator was also felicitated by Yogi Adityanath, the CM of Uttar Pradesh, for being the only spacetech entrepreneur in the state.

Game changing idea

Rockets become ‘unusable’ after the launch. But if there are reusable launch vehicles, they can be used later in other missions. Another benefit is of cost efficiency. With reusable rockets, the cost of space missions would reduce as space agencies would not be required to build a new rocket every time.

Apart from reducing the accumulation of rocket waste in space, ‘it can make space tourism viable for common people’. That’s a goal Jainul holds close to his heart. “We are not just working in the realm of launching the satellite into orbit but also working on space applications to help sectors like agriculture, meteorology and telecommunications become more efficient through the use of these space apps,” he says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNAtvaRrlm4

Abyom Spacetech and Defence has managed to get a few government grants through schemes like the Startup India seed fund. His startup is not only the first aerospace startup from Uttar Pradesh but the only one in the country working towards building reusable rockets.

Early start

The Uttar Pradesh boy had made up his mind to become an entrepreneur in the spacetech segment by the time he passed high school. “My urge to learn about space science was so strong that I went through every bit of learning material that I could access on the subject, whether it was books or information available on the internet.”

Coming from a lower middle-class background, he did not have funds to give wings to his dream. This is where social media played a crucial role. He started building connections with people who had similar interest or background in aerospace and rocket science. Today some of the top executives in his startup including the CTO are people with whom he connected on social media during the ideation phase.

[embed]https://twitter.com/AbyomSpaceTech/status/1557972045941526529?s=20&t=QHs7EGDFZ1L7N1BDKS15Bg[/embed]

To generate revenue for the startup, Jainul and his team entered the edtech market. There, they went on to educate some 2500 people in rocket technology and used the revenue they earned to work on their vision. “Since I am from a lower middle-class family, I studied rigorously to do well in academics.” This hard work paid off when Jainul managed government scholarships at different stages of his education. “I used that money as well in building the startup,” he says.

In 2020 Government of India opened the spacetech sector for private organisations. Across India, four innovators got selected to present their ideas to ISRO scientists.” Jainul was one of the four.

Since the pandemic was in full swing during that time, Jainul was invited to a virtual conference organised by the ISRO headquarters, to speak on ‘Developing India’s potential in the space sector’ along with the other three winners. “I was fortunate enough to discuss the ongoing problems in India's space industry on such a big platform,” says the entrepreneur, whose startup operates from the BITS Pilani campus in Hyderabad.

Making a mark

He has come a long way in just two years. ABYOM SpaceTech and Defence is supported by MCA, INSPACe, ISRO, BITS Pilani, I-hub, StartinUP, DPIIT, and Government of India.

Born and raised in UP’s Kushinagar, and briefly in Kolkata, the youngster finished high school and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Gorakhpur. Currently, he’s a master’s student at DDU Gorakhpur University.

“The entrepreneurial journey is a bundle of challenges and without resources or backing, it wasn’t easy at first,” he says. The innovator, who comes from a community of farmers, has seen many rejections already on his journey to find funding and technical support. “Wherever I went to pitch my idea, people did not believe that someone as young as me was trying to work on finding a solution to such a technical and challenging problem.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imsyisv_E74

He found recognition through a government scheme and has since been part of more than 45 national and international webinars, sessions, and conferences to brainstorm on problems faced in the field of aerospace. He has some published research papers to his credit.

Though the 21-year-old has managed to turn many heads already, earning both grants and recognition, he wants to further scale up his startup and diversify into other commercial products in the field of aeronautics and defence. “Abyom requires more funding and I am trying to get it from private players this time,” he signs off.

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