Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveYoung innovator Bhavya Sri Suravajhala is helping tackle the teen mental health crisis

Young innovator Bhavya Sri Suravajhala is helping tackle the teen mental health crisis

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(August 30, 2024) As a high school student, Bhavya Sri Suravajhala was witness to the increasing pressures faced by her peers, leading to anxiety, stress, and other teen mental health issues. Unlike many her age who would only wish they could do something about it and leave it at that, Bhavya swung into action.

The result was Adolescencesio — a platform that provides educational resources, mentorship, and mental health support to adolescents. “Adolescencesio was born out of a deep concern for the mental well-being of adolescents. It combines modern mental health practices with holistic and Ayurvedic approaches, ensuring a comprehensive support system for young individuals,” says Bhavya, founder and CEO of Adolescencesio, in a chat with Global Indian.

The young innovator is a Grade XII student at Amrita Vidyalayam, Puthiyakavu, Kerala.

Bhavya Sri Suravajhala

Adolescencesio

At Adolescencesio, Bhavya leads a dedicated team of over 20 members, who share her passion for supporting adolescent mental health. “Daily operations involve coordinating with the team, overseeing content creation, managing outreach programs, and ensuring the platform’s growth and sustainability,” informs the 17 year old, who also organizing workshops, awareness programs, besides providing resources to those in need.

She feels the mental health crisis among youngsters in India is a pressing issue. “With the increasing academic pressure, social expectations, and the impact of social media, many adolescents struggle to cope with these challenges,” points out the youngster, who launched Adolescencesio in 2022, with a vision to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive platform.

The journey has not been without its challenges— ranging from technical difficulties to addressing the stigma surrounding teen mental health. “However, resilience, adaptability, and the continuous support from mentors have helped me navigate these hurdles,” says Bhavya, for whom managing Adolescencesio alongside her academic responsibilities has been a challenging yet rewarding experience.

She even received letters of appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice, in 2023 and 2024. “It was a recognition of my efforts and contributions towards adolescent mental health, which further motivated me to continue my work with even greater zeal,” smiles the teenager.

Denmark born

Born in Denmark in 2007, Bhavya’s mother Renuka Suravajhala is an Assistant Professor/Research scientist at Amrita University while father Dr Prashanth Suravajhala is a Principal Scientist, Systems Genomics at Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

Bhavya had her primary education at Absalons skole, Roskilde (Denmark) after which the Suravajhala family moved back to India. Both Renuka and Dr Prashanth went to Denmark to do their PhDs (2004 to 2008) and subsequently postdoc that Dr Prashanth did until 2016. Bhavya has a sibling named Nirmala, who is 11.

Science researcher, COO & more

But Adolescencesio is just one part of Bhavya’s introduction. She is a science researcher, social volunteer, a passionate explorer and the Chief Operating Officer at TeenVisor, which provides a platform for teenagers to interact with industry experts and get timely guidance/mentorship.

As a science researcher, the teenager is currently working on a study that explores how the composition of tears is affected by emotions. “This research delves into the physiological and psychological connections in human behavior, a topic that fascinates me and aligns with my passion for psychology and behavioral sciences,” she informs.

In addition to her research, Bhavya is an active social volunteer, who organises workshops, awareness programmes and providing resources to those in need, through various initiatives.

As a passionate explorer, Bhavya is someone who is always eager to learn and discover new things, whether through travel, reading, or engaging in creative endeavours. “My curiosity drives me to explore different cultures, perspectives, and ideas, enriching my understanding of the world around me,” says Bhavya, who was honoured with the Little Shakespeare Award by the Biofootprints Foundation for excellence in literature, in 2021.

Atal Innovation Mission

With a vision to ‘Cultivate one Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators’, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) established Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India.

Bhavya was selected among the Top 100 in the ATL (Atal Tinkering Laboratories) Tinkerpreneur 2022 Program and later among the Top 21 in the Atal Catalyst Program, which was a testament to the innovative ideas she brought to the table.

Through workshops, boot camps, and continuous support from experienced mentors, she learned business planning, product development, and market strategies. “These programs provided me with invaluable mentorship and resources, allowing me to refine my vision for Adolescencesio.”

Her journey with AIM started with a simple idea — to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive platform for adolescents to talk about their mental health. “I wanted Adolescencesio to be a place where teenagers could share their thoughts anonymously, get support from peers and professionals, and access holistic mental health resources. The idea was clear, but making it happen was not. The breakthrough came when I learned about AIM,” she says.

AIM’s mission to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among young Indians resonated with Bhavya’s goals for Adolescencesio. The initiative was designed to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in students.

One of the most impactful parts of the AIM experience was the mentorship. Industry experts guided Bhavya, helping to refine her vision and offering practical insights into the mental health sector.

Atal Catalyst Program

The next significant step was the Atal Catalyst program with the Indian School of Business (ISB). This program taught the teenager all the essential business skills such as making business projections, identifying target markets, and perfecting her pitch to investors.

“Under the mentorship and guidance of Vinay sir from ISB and my AIM mentors, Adolescencesio was selected among the top 21 business ideas.”

Next came The Big PItch 2.0. It gave Bhavya the opportunity to pitch Adolescencesio to investors live and Adolescencesio was selected among the top 10 ideas for sponsorship by the DLabs Incubator association at ISB. This recognition not only provided financial support but also validated the potential and impact of Adolescencesio.

COO at TeenVisor

Thanks to AIM, Bhavya connected with other young entrepreneurs who share similar passions and goals. One exciting outcome is her current role at TeenVisor as the Chief Operating Officer, where she works on innovative solutions for adolescents with other young entrepreneurs.

“Whatever I have achieved so far would not have been possible without the guidance and blessings of Amma, Satguru Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, all my gurus, mentors, teachers, my school, my school principal, my parents, and my friends. They have stood by me throughout my journey.”

More recently, Adolescencesio won the 2nd place at the International Stogofest in Dubai, marking a significant achievement on the global stage. “We were the only team from India to have won this prestigious award, marking a significant achievement on the international stage,” smiles Bhavya, beaming with pride.

As a Tinker Champ, Bhavya had the opportunity to mentor and guide other young innovators, sharing her experiences and insights to help them realize their potential. “This role has been incredibly fulfilling, as I am able to contribute to the growth and development of future leaders and change-makers.”

Bhavya Sri Suravajhala | Adolescenscio | Young innovator | Global Indian

The Young Innovator is also COO at Teen Visor

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Bhavya aspires to further her studies in psychology or a related field in behavioral sciences and cognition. “My long-term goal is to expand Adolescencesio’s reach and impact, while also contributing to the field of psychology through research and practical applications.”

She hopes to implement awareness programs in schools and collaborate with NGOs and government bodies to create a global community where every adolescent feels supported and empowered.

Follow the young innovator on LinkedIn.

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Published on 30, Aug 2024

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Yash Aradhya: How this Formula 4 racer is vrooming to podium finishes

(December 22, 2021) He stood tall and proud as President Ram Nath Kovind gave him the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Awarded for his exceptional contribution to motorsports, Formula 4 racer Yash Aradhya has what it takes to surge past the chequered flag. Yash was just nine when he first began training, and now a decade later, he is at the threshold of a spectacular career. The 19-year-old, who is currently studying in the Netherlands, is among the new stars rising up in the world of racing. "It's such a great time to be in motorsports. A lot of new talent is venturing into it, and many new opportunities are opening up for us in India," Yash tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview. [caption id="attachment_8740" align="aligncenter" width="489"] Yash Aradhya at French Formula 4 2020.[/caption] The boy, who had a podium finish at the X1 Racing League, has participated in the 2020 French Formula F4. Born in 2002 in Bengaluru to an adman father and a homemaker mother, Aradhya's love for speed began when he was just six. "It was during a road trip from Bengaluru to Mumbai that I got excited about cars and speed. I remember my dad

participated in the 2020 French Formula F4.

Born in 2002 in Bengaluru to an adman father and a homemaker mother, Aradhya's love for speed began when he was just six. "It was during a road trip from Bengaluru to Mumbai that I got excited about cars and speed. I remember my dad explaining to me about horsepower and engines and it fascinated me. I was thrilled by the passion for speed, so at six, I started karting for fun," reminisces Aradhya.

Racing is in his DNA

Yash officially dipped his toes into racing at age nine. Seeing his passion, his father approached JK Tyres' head Sanjay Sharma for the national racing championship. "Hardy uncle (as we fondly call him) put us in touch with Akbar Ebrahim (the first Indian to race in the international circuits) and it was under him that my training began," recalls the 19-year-old whose ultimate goal is to become a Formula 1 racer.

At nine, he scored his first win at the JK Tyre MMS Rotax Rookie Cup 2012 by clinching second at the podium, which turned out to be a foundation for the forthcoming winning championships. "Graduating to the junior level was a different ball game as there is a speed difference and fighting for the top position was getting exciting and challenging at the same time. However, my passion to win helped me exceed everyone's expectations including my mentor after I won Formula Junior Series FLGB," says the Utrecht University student.

[caption id="attachment_8738" align="aligncenter" width="799"] Yash Aradhya with his mentor Akbar Ebrahim[/caption]

The win set the ball rolling for Yash who was soon nominated by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India to represent the country at Academy Trophy. It opened new opportunities for the teenager, and took him to Europe and Asia to race. With each passing year, Aradhya won more podiums and in 2019, he graduated from karting to car with the MRF 1300 National Championship 1600.

The run up to the podium

However, it hasn't been an easy run, especially since he came from a non-motorsport background though he found the perfect support system in his dad. "I knew that I wanted to be a Formula racer, and my dad helped me achieve my dream. He put me in touch with my mentor, helped me get sponsors who have put their faith in me. Despite being an expensive sport, my dad has gone above and beyond to make my dream come true," beams the Formula 4 racer.

With the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, Yash is the only teenager under 18 years to be awarded in the category of motorsports. "I didn't realise how big of a deal it was until I was standing in front of the President of India. The award means a lot to me and holds immense value," says Yash who still remembers PM Narendra Modi's advice to him. "He told me, 'This award is not the end. Take it as a beginning step, and continue to excel in the field,'" reminisces the teenager.

[caption id="attachment_8737" align="aligncenter" width="495"] Yash Aradhya with President Ram Nath Kovind[/caption]

The mettle to train

The boy from Bishop Cotton Boys School is completely focused on excelling now. Under the tutelage of coach Akbar Ebrahim, fitness coach Ramji Srinivasan and nutritionist Ryan Fernando, Yash is spreading his wings far and wide. He reveals that unlike other sports, racers don't get to train on the tracks every single day. "I do physical and mental training every day under the guidance of my coaches. However, we get only two days to test drive before the championships," says Yash, who is currently studying economics and business economics in the Netherlands and enjoying his stay in a new city.

Despite being one of the most expensive sports, Yash has found his footing, thanks to his sponsors. After racing in Formula 4 South East Asia Championship 2019 and the 2020 French Formula F4, he is now gearing up for his upcoming championships. "Currently, I am dividing my time between studies and training. These last two years were wasted, thanks to the pandemic. However, I am excited to get back into action," says the racer who loves playing tennis and swimming in his free time.

[caption id="attachment_8739" align="aligncenter" width="717"] Yash Aradhya training for championship[/caption]

Calling the recent times one of the most exciting times to be in motosporting, Yash feels lucky to be a part of it. "There are so many career opportunities right now in motorsports. The talent is getting recognised. I would say stay tuned for more," signs off Yash.

Follow Yash Aradhya on Twitter and Instagram

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Best of both worlds: Meet Vaibhav Mohanty – an accomplished scholar and musician

(January 25, 2024) At 15, when most kids were in school and still working on deciding their career path, Vaibhav Mohanty was already accepted to Harvard. By 2019, the youngster had graduated from the University with a master's degree in chemistry (theory) and a bachelor's degree summa cum laude in chemistry and physics. But, if you think he is just another brilliant nerd, you are wrong. The young scholar is also quite an accomplished musician - a composer, arranger, pianist, saxophonist, and music theorist, who has performed across the United States and on international stages. "I am passionate about music and science," shares the scholar as he connects with Global Indian, adding, "My current goal is to extend my physics-based theories of evolution to understand how molecular-level structural changes in proteins can induce changes in evolutionary fitness of viruses and cancers." A student of Harvard Medical School and MIT, where he is pursuing medical training as well as a second Ph.D. (in chemistry), Vaibhav is the recipient of the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. "It’s an honour. It will help me connect with several other scholars who are working in the same field as I am

ncers." A student of Harvard Medical School and MIT, where he is pursuing medical training as well as a second Ph.D. (in chemistry), Vaibhav is the recipient of the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. "It’s an honour. It will help me connect with several other scholars who are working in the same field as I am and gain so much more knowledge from them," he says.

A beautiful mind

Born to Bidyut and Sangeeta Mohanty in Charleston, South Carolina - who moved to the USA in the early 90s - Vaibhav began learning piano at the age of four. "I wrote my first piece for solo piano in memory of a late elementary school teacher when I was nine years old," shares the scholar who loves watching old Bollywood movies with his parents. "Eventually, I began composing works for concert bands as well as chamber ensembles. I also performed in concerts as guest conductor for the premiere of my first symphonic work when I was about 12 years old." In fact, throughout and after high school, Vaibhav taught music at the summer SMAART programme of the Charleston County School District. Additionally, he taught music theory at a private music studio in Charleston as well.

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A post shared by Vaibhav Mohanty (@mohantymusic)

Vaibhav has earned national recognition for his large wind ensemble and chamber works, which have been published by esteemed entities such as JPM Music Publications (Missouri), Lighthouse Music Publications (Ontario, Canada), Radnofsky-Couper Editions (Massachusetts), and C.L. Barnhouse Publications (Iowa). His compositions are widely distributed and regularly performed in the United States and various parts of the world. The scholar is also an active jazz pianist.

A brilliant student, who has often been the youngest one in his class, Vaibhav started working on gaining his footing both in the music world as well as the scientific world quite early in life. But ask him how such an accomplished musician turned to chemistry and medicine, and he quips, "Music and science happened in parallel for me. One of the main reasons why I was motivated to pursue a career in medicine is because of my own experience of being hospitalised, when I was nine. It was a short hospitalisation, however, I still clearly remember how amazed I was by all the technology present around me, especially the scanners. But what really convinced me was a high school thesis project, for which I was trying to understand when should a pregnant woman take ibuprofen or any other types of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, and how can it negatively affect the embryo," shares the scholar.

[caption id="attachment_35437" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Vaibhav presenting the study he did for his senior thesis[/caption]

Speaking about his project further, Vaibhav adds, "So, I was doing very basic research using the chicken embryos, which were fresh out of the egg. I learnt that we can use different animal model systems to try and understand how this might have a negative impact on humans. That made me realise that I would like to contribute to this field and help people recover from illness or advise them through challenging times in their lives."

For a noble cause

After graduating from high school, Vaibhav joined Harvard University to pursue a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics, with a minor in music. "While at Harvard, I was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honour society as part of Harvard's Junior 24 and received a 2018 Barry Goldwater Scholarship for his physics research. As an undergraduate and master’s student, my published research papers spanned several interdisciplinary topics across the sciences and even music, including diffusion MRI physics, time-dependent quantum mechanics of graphene, and mathematical and geometrical models of voice leading in music theory," shares the scholar.

In 2019, the youngster received the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, which allowed him to pursue a PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Oxford’s Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics. "I must mention that it was one of the best experiences thus far. I got to work with the Condensed Matter Theory group with Professor Ard Louis to use statistical physics and spin glass theory to investigate fundamental properties of biological evolution," expresses the scholar, who earned his first Ph.D. (DPhil) in 2022, having submitted his dissertation titled “Robustness of Evolutionary and Glassy Systems” in under two years, at the age of 22.

So what next? "Right now I am quite busy with my research and hospital schedule at Harvard. I aspire to develop novel therapeutic approaches to combat diseases subject to evolution on fast timescales and to treat patients with such diseases. But, I want to continue my musical journey as well. I plan to perform around the US and other parts of the world," the scholar says.

Follow Vaibhav Mohanty on Instagram, Twitter, SoundCloud, and his website

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Making India proud: Meet the young prodigies who are finding solutions for global issues

(August 14, 2022) While people of the country were busy fighting over various problems, the youth have been working quietly behind the scenes, away from the noise, to find answers. In the last 75 years, India has witnessed many young minds who have played an instrumental role in finding the solutions to some of the biggest issues plaguing our society. From space technology to artificial intelligence, and environment to social issues, these innovators have earned global recognition in various fields. Global Indian puts the spotlight on five young prodigies, whose research and innovations are making a positive impact - not just in India, but across the world. Self-powered freezer to keep vaccines cool When he was 15 years old, Anurudh Ganesan invented VAXXWAGON, a portable refrigeration system to transport vaccines safely and effectively. The invention won him a slew of awards, including the LEGO Education Builder Award and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The VAXXWAGON runs on a "no ice, no electricity" system and is very cost-effective (less than $100). It can also keep the temperature consistent for several hours at a stretch. When he was an infant, his grandparents carried him ten miles in rural South India

rature consistent for several hours at a stretch.

When he was an infant, his grandparents carried him ten miles in rural South India to get him his routine polio vaccination. When they finally arrived, they found the vaccines were useless after having not been refrigerated for an extended period.

Always given to questions and innovation, he recalls asking his father when he was five years old, about inventing a vehicle that doesn't need gas. The innovator didn't stop there. He went on to research the subject, learning everything he could about self-generating power. In keeping with this, VAXXWAGON works with "wheel-powered refrigeration". As the wheel turns, mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy and can keep vaccines cold for up to 16 hours after being powered for only half that time.

Follow Anurudh Ganesan on LinkedIn

Teen's answer to aircraft accidents

Back in 2019, Pravin Nagendran, a student of Biotechnology at Bannari Amman Engineering College in Erode, began working on a plant-based, flame-resistant alternative to materials like glass fibre. To minimise damage caused by impact, aircraft and other vehicles are built using a composite material, like glass fibre, to add tensile strength. The flip side is that they are flammable.

Working out of his lab in college as soon as the lockdown was lifted, the innovator developed a prototype, made by extracting nanoparticles from the ash of the plant, he told Better India. This came after one year of research, during which he worked with members of the faculty to identify a suitable biomaterial. They tested the material at high temperatures and found it completely resistant to fire. It is also biodegradable.

The invention won him third place from over 65,000 entries at the Defence Research and Development Organisation's contest, Dare to Dream 2.0. He hopes to commercialise it after he graduates from college.

The girl who has a planet named after her in the Milky Way

Growing up in Bengaluru, the city of lakes, Sahithi Pingali had come across many infamous incidents of the Bellandur, Arthur, and Agara lakes bursting into flames from the heaps of garbage around them. Worried about the pollution in the water bodies, the innovator came up with an award-winning paper – ‘An Innovative Crowdsourcing Approach to Monitoring Freshwater Bodies', and presented it at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Her work was based on the insights she had gathered through a lake monitoring app and a monitoring kit that she had created to collect the crowdsourced data on the issue. The 16-year-old not only won the second prize at ISEF 2017 but also bagged additional three special prizes there. The talented innovator was pleasantly surprised when the Massachusetts Institute of Technology partnered with ISEF and decided to name a planet in the Milky Way after her as a reward, making entire India proud. Sahiti is now a master’s student of management science and engineering, at Stanford University and has worked in several environment-related initiatives since then.

Follow Sahithi Pingali on Twitter and LinkedIn

Finding solutions for a better tomorrow

As a young kid, Arunima Sen was often in awe of her parents who spent hours working on various projects for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). That's how she developed an interest in the subject and started working on innovative solutions for global problems. When she was in grade 10, she was selected for The Junior Academy programme conducted by The New York Academy of Sciences, and that set her on the course of finding many solutions.

From measuring micro-nutrients in a person's body using strands of hair, to developing a method to save energy in high-rise buildings, the 20-year-old innovator has found a solution to every problem in most developing countries. A climate activist, Arunima is the recipient of several international and national awards — including the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, MPower Financing Women in STEM Grand Award, and the Distinguished Student Award from the New York Academy of Sciences — and has been named a 2020 Global Teen Leader of the We Are Family Foundation and one of the Mars Generation’s 24 under 24 Innovators in STEM and Space.

During an interaction with the press, Arunima said, "I am currently being mentored by professionals from Sidewalk Labs — an urban innovation company working to make cities more sustainable and affordable for all. Since the pandemic had brought many discussions and assignments to a halt, my friend and I are working to resume it soon."

Follow Arunima Sen on Twitter

A superhero for women

Shocked by the most gruesome ‘Nirbhaya’ incident of the country, Siddhartha Mandala, who was a 12-year-old kid then, had accompanied his mother for public demonstrations that followed. Deeply moved by the sordid event, the youngster spent the next four years creating a device to prevent molestation and rape. The gadget that he named ‘Electroshoe’ passes electricity to electrocute molesters.

The young innovator had not lost his patience in creating the device even when his prototype had failed 17 times and he had got electrocuted twice during the experiments. The footwear created by him can also send signals to the police, friends, and family using GPS. Influenced by his mother’s activism, Siddharth also started an NGO, Cognizance Welfare Initiative (CWI) to spread awareness about rape and its prevention. He is now a student fellow at the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Claremont, California. The youngster often visits dating sites, not to find a dating partner but to sell his device.

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Not so black and white: How photographer Akshat Bagla is making waves in NYC

(November 3, 2022) Photographer Akshat Bagla first arrived on the scene when he was 17 years old, as an Artist-in-Residence at his local chapter of the Rotary Club in Kolkata. He hasn't looked back since. After graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York, the now 23-year-old Akshat has been appointed as the Director of Photography for Differio, the world's largest gay menswear company. Akshat was 13 years old when he first learned from his cousin how to use a camera. As the family gathered around the dinner table, the cousins would spend their time taking photos of the food. "I thank my cousin, he's the reason I'm here," Akshat told The Daring. He and his camera were not easily parted after that and Akshat would take photographs of everything he could, from his friends to things he saw on the streets. [caption id="attachment_23761" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Akshat Bagla[/caption] Akshat's road less travelled Born in Kolkata, to a business family that distributes raw paper, Akshat was trained from an early age as the young scion, primed even as a child to take over the family business. The advent of photography changed all that. The moment of reckoning arrived when

trained from an early age as the young scion, primed even as a child to take over the family business. The advent of photography changed all that. The moment of reckoning arrived when he came home with his first set of images. "I put everything on the computer, and I saw the images. I was reliving the whole moment. I was looking at something I experienced but in the form of a photo, which I could cherish for the longest time," he told The Daring. "What got to me more than the camera and the medium itself is the whole idea of capturing a moment for eternity, you know?"

He did his best to photograph everything he could, going out into the streets as much as he could. Not that walking through the streets was easy. Akshat had grown up sheltered and his parents didn't fancy the idea of wandering around alone. When the pandemic started in March 2020, Akshat returned home to Kolkata. He would go out every day, waking up early to take photographs. "I explored so many areas, and I talked to more people than I ever did in the sixteen years of living there before."

[caption id="attachment_23762" align="aligncenter" width="708"] A photo in Kolkata by Akshat Bagla. Source: www.akshatbagla.com[/caption]

Answering the call to adventure

It was the start of a new life in more ways than one. The camera that always hung at his side emboldened the young man, helping him open himself up to the world. "It made me more outgoing and able to talk to anyone, anywhere," he said.

Being able to follow his dreams took some doing, especially at home. Still, his parents did come around to his way of thinking. The first turning point came when he was 17, when he was entrusted with restructuring and editing the priceless photo archive of The Rotary Club of Calcutta, which chronicles the institution's century-long history.

Studying at the School of Visual Arts only brought him more exposure, from working with the online presence of Indus Net Technologies to photographing bread for the NYC-based academy Bengingi. Akshat has also chronicled the Black Lives Matter protests and done Gay Pride photo shoots for Differio. He has also made himself a name as a re-branding expert.

[caption id="attachment_23763" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] A photo shot by Akshat Bagla in New York City. Source: www.akshatbagla.com[/caption]

Staying true to his roots

Black and white photography is all the rage these days, as it has been for a while. Not for Akshat, though. He prefers to lean into his Indian-ness, to celebrate the vibrance and colour of his homeland. "As a visual artist, I rely on our traditional affinity to colours," he said, in an interview with Outlook. "Cinematic fashion / food photography and rebranding - my two specialties - call for careful proportion between daring and comforting," he told Newstrack.

Bagla's bread photographs for Bengingi and the Gay Pride photo shoot for Differio have been hailed as works of art, although they stand as marketing campaigns. In America, Akshat honed his skills, learning to frame images from what he saw around him. At the BLM protests, where thousands gathered on the streets, Akshat would walk effortlessly up to people and strike up a conversation, before documenting them. "I'm trying to tell their story at the end of the day," he said.

Follow Akshat Bagla on Instagram

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From gully cricket to playing for India, Smriti Mandhana’s journey is remarkable

(July 15, 2022) India’s star opener, Smriti Mandhana, comes from a family of cricketers. The 26-year-old, who watched her brother play in district tournaments and would save his newspaper clippings as a child, has carved a glorious career for herself. Today, she ranks as the only Indian batter in the top ten list of women’s One Day International (ODI) player rankings. Moreover, she was awarded the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy for being the best female cricketer of the year, not once but twice - in 2018 and 2021. Even the BCCI named her 2018 Best Women's International Cricketer. [caption id="attachment_19302" align="aligncenter" width="683"] Smriti Mandhana, Indian cricketer[/caption] The left-handed batter has also been awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award for her accomplishments. "Proud to call myself an Indian. I still fondly remember the day I got the (first) chance to represent my country, a feeling beyond words," reminisced the cricketer in one of her tweets. Global Indian turns its spotlight on India's record setting player. Rise of a star It was in 2013 that her budding cricketing career took a quantum leap when she clinched two centuries in a one-day game. The Mumbai-born cricketer was playing for Maharashtra against Gujarat, scoring an unbeaten 224 in 150 balls in an under-19 tournament at Vadodara. She reached another milestone in

my country, a feeling beyond words," reminisced the cricketer in one of her tweets. Global Indian turns its spotlight on India's record setting player.

Rise of a star

It was in 2013 that her budding cricketing career took a quantum leap when she clinched two centuries in a one-day game. The Mumbai-born cricketer was playing for Maharashtra against Gujarat, scoring an unbeaten 224 in 150 balls in an under-19 tournament at Vadodara. She reached another milestone in 2016 by scoring three half centuries that led her team to win the Women’s Challenger Trophy. She became the tournament’s top scorer with 192.

Her international debut was in 2014 test match against England at Wormsley Park. In 2016, during the Australian tour, Smriti made a mark - scoring her international career’s maiden century. That year, she was the only Indian player to be named in the ICC Women's Team of the Year. She has been representing the country and displaying her excellent cricketing prowess in tournaments like the Women’s Cricket World Cup, Women’s Twenty20 Internationals, Women’s One Day Internationals and Women’s Cricket Super League.

[caption id="attachment_19311" align="aligncenter" width="704"] Smriti Mandhana with Indian women's cricket team members[/caption]

The year 2019 was a significant year for the ace cricketer as she became the youngest captain of India's women Twenty20 international squad for the three-match series against England, at the age of 22.

"Heartiest congratulations on yet another magnificent year in international cricket. Keep giving your best and keep scaling new heights," lauded cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, when she received the ICC Cricketer of the Year Award this year.

A Rajasthani girl raised in Maharashtra

Born to a Rajasthani family in Mumbai, she did her schooling at Madhavnagar. Seeing her father and brother play cricket at the district level, she was instantly attracted to the game during her growing up years. She would often accompany her brother to see him play, and knew that someday she would be scoring runs like him. It was her father who started training her for cricket. She was so good at the game that she was selected in Maharashtra’s Under-15 team when she was just nine. This initial nudge made her father confident that Smriti had a future in the sport. She soon started training under a junior state coach, Anant Tambwekar. At eleven, she made it to the Maharashtra Under-19s team.

Though she spent most of her time on the field, studies never took a back seat for the cricketer, who is a graduate in commerce from Chintamani Rao College of Commerce, Sangli.

Life other than cricket

Though the pandemic put a screeching halt on her game, the cricketer made her presence felt off the field with her popular talk show, Double Trouble. Featuring Smriti and cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues as hosts, the show gave an insight into the world of Indian sports stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbIzuZkma-U

The star cricketer, whose net worth is close to $3 million, calls her family the wind beneath her wings. Her father, Shrinivas, a chemical distributor by profession, still handles all her cricket schedules, while her mother, Smita, manages her diet. Apart from her glorious cricketing profession, she has also stepped into entrepreneurship with SM18, a café and restaurant in her home town, Sangli. However, cricket is something that is closest to her heart. "Whenever I go out to bat, my only responsibility is to look at the scoreboard and think what India needs from me at this moment," said the cricketer in an interview.

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