Global Indianstory Global IndianStepping into big shoes: Indian teen innovators are taking the world by storm

Stepping into big shoes: Indian teen innovators are taking the world by storm

Written by: Team GI

(May 31, 2022) “Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.” These words of Theodore Levitt stand true for the brigade of Indian teen innovators who are helping solve the biggest issues, one problem at a time. From saving the earth to creating social impact, these new generation of precocious youth is solving the problems of today with ambitious, ground-breaking tech.

Global Indian turns the spotlight on five such teen techies, who are breaking the glass ceilings with their innovations.

Satyam Thakur

His trip to Delhi at the age of seven was his first tryst with air pollution. Finding hard to breathe in the capital, Satyam resolved to find a solution. This drive made him spent years researching, before he hit the jackpot with clay pots in 2019. Understanding that chemicals present in clay pots make them good absorbents of particle matter in pollutants, the teen innovator found a way to make a cheap filter out of broken clay pots that could be fitted over car exhausts or even upscaled to cover the factory chimneys.

Satyam Thakur

“This filter is highly eco-friendly. After the absorption of the pollutants the filter could be converted into a brick causing no harm to the environment. I made use of the broken clay pots that purify the water and make it drinkable and this filter can also be used in several other polluting endings like the one in vehicles,” says the Bengaluru-resident teen innovator who is currently pursuing bachelor’s degree in information sciences.

Follow Satyam Thakur on Linkedin

Vinisha Umashankar

“We have every reason to be angry. But I have no time for anger. I want to act. I am not just a girl from India. I am a girl from Earth and I am proud to be so.” These words of the 15-year-old innovator and environmentalist Vinisha Umashankar received a thunderous standing ovation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021. The teen from Tamil Nadu, who was the only school student to earn a spot among the finalists for The Earthshot Prize 2021, was invited by Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, to speak at the World Leaders’ Summit at the COP26 in November 2021.

Vinisha Umashankar with her solar-powered ironing cart.

At 12, the teen innovator started the idea of inventing a solar-powered ironing cart while accompanying her mother to deliver ironing clothes. Seeing six ironing vendors in her neighbourhood, she realised how charcoal burning is a threat to the environment. She found her eureka in solar power which effectively substitutes charcoal. The innovation won her the Children’s Climate Prize in 2020 helped her get a slot as a finalist at The Earthshot Prize in the Clean Our Air category in 2021. “I was happy that environmental innovations like a solar ironing cart got due recognition. It can play a crucial role in reducing environmental damage and climate change. I hope my innovation motivates students to innovate on products that could help protect the environment for future generations. I am happy that the solar ironing cart is my little contribution towards an ambitious goal,” she told Global Indian.

Follow Vinisha Umashankar on Linkedin

Anang Tadar

A chance encounter with a blind woman on his way back home in Nirjuli village of Papum Pare in Arunachal Pradesh, made Anang think deep about the challenges faced by visually-impaired people. This led the teen innovator to develop a device – Goggle for Blind, a smart goggle fitted with modern electronics and sensor which is capable of detecting the obstacles lying in front of the wearer. Based on the principle of echolocation – used by the bats – it alerts the wearer in advance of any obstacle in front of them. Moreover, it helps them to easily navigate around their environment without the worry of bumping into things or people.

Anang Tadar built Goggles for Blind.

“I did many testing with my prototypes in real life with blind people and they were very impressed with the product and they want the product to be available to them very soon. Right now, I am in the phase of developing the prototype into a final product. UNICEF, among the others, has assured help and support to my invention,” the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Ignite Awardee said in an interview.

Goggle for blind

Follow Anang Tadar on Linkedin

Akash Manoj

At 13, Manoj lost his grandfather to a silent heart attack. That’s when he began research in the space, and after three years of working in varied government and private labs, he came up with a skin patch that can detect a silent heart attack six hours before it happens. His innovation – which could revolutionise healthcare – has received clinical validation from the Tokyo University of Science, London’s Royal Society of Medicine and Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The patch work emits a small amount of positive charge, which attracts the negatively-charged FABP3 protein, a biomarker for heart attacks. If analysis shows an increased level of the protein, a heart attack is underway.

Teen Innovator | Akash Manoj | Global Indian

Akash Manoj built a device to detect silent heart attack.

“It is a watch-like device that you wear around your wrist and place a patch near your chest. The non-invasive device will identify the alarm signal your heart is sending through a unique bio-electric system that I have developed so you don’t need a blood test at all,” Akash, who is the President’s Gold Medal recipient, had told in an interview. Akash is currently studying at a medical school in Prague, Czech Republic.

Follow Akash Manoj on Linkedin

Harshwardhan Zala

He was only 14 when he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth ₹5 crore with Gujarat government for finding a smart solution to diffusing landmines through drones. Outfitted with an infrared sensor, thermal meter and an RGB sensor with a 21-megapixel built-in camera, the drone can survey minefields, pick up the location of landmines, submit their findings to the base-station remotely and can also bomb landmines they spot.

Harshwardhan Zala is known as drone wiz kid

His device – EAGLE A7 (Escort for Attacking on Ground and buried Landmines as Enemy by Aerobotics7) — was tested at an army test field, achieving an accuracy rate of 89-93 percent. The teenager was also invited to visit the Google and Facebook offices as part of a private fellowship. The CEO of Aerobotics, the teen innovator is on a mission to make the “world a safe place.”

Follow Harshwardhan Zala on Linkedin

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 31, May 2022

Share with

ALSO READ

‘Bow’ down to Indian archery champ Vennam Jyothi Surekha who has 98 medals & counting

(February 27) Aiming high is what Vennam Jyothi Surekha excels at. So much so that the winning streak follows her everywhere. As a three-year-old, she learnt swimming. By five, she had a unique record - swimming five km across the river Krishna in Andhra Pradesh in three hours, 20 minutes and six seconds. With that feat, her name entered the Limca Book of Records (2002). But that was just the beginning of more glory. She took up archery at age 11, and today, she has competed in 25 national and 42 international tournaments (so far) with a whopping 98 medals, making her one of the top Indian compound archers ever. “I believe competition should be with oneself,” smiles Surekha, the archer who has taken the world of archery by storm, winning one championship after the other. The Arjuna awardee who was the youngest from South India to receive the award has immense belief. It helps her better her own record year after year, and perform with unwavering focus. [caption id="attachment_11543" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Vennam Jyothi Surekha[/caption] The latest feather in her cap was the gold she clinched at the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania, USA. “It was my first time at

rchery | Global Indian " width="532" height="709" /> Vennam Jyothi Surekha[/caption]

The latest feather in her cap was the gold she clinched at the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania, USA. “It was my first time at the Lancaster archery classic and I was happy to be on the podium. Everything was new to me. I had so many memorable experiences,” says the serial winner, speaking exclusively with Global Indian.

The girl who ‘shot’ to fame

Born in Ramanagaram, Challapalli village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh in July 1996, Surekha is the only child of V Surendra Kumar, and V Sri Durga, who have been huge motivational figures in her life. The first time she was introduced to swimming was in 1999, a suggestion by her parents. Swimming across Krishna river is a faint memory, though Surekha recalls her parents taking her to the river to practice before the final attempt.

She took to archery too on her parents’ suggestion. Given the lack of sports infrastructure in Vijayawada, the idea was to try another sport. “They put me into archery as they wanted me to represent the country at the international level one day,” beams the 25-year-old. She first trained under local archer J Rama Rao (2008-2012), then made her way to the Indian Compound Archery chief coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja, and has been training with him since 2013.

Focused precision

Schooled at Nalanda Vidya Niketan in Vijayawada, she did computer engineering (B.Tech) and MBA from KL University, Vaddeswaram, passing both with distinction. Now, totally committed to archery, Surekha’s numbers tell an exemplary tale of courage and success. With over 50 state medals (2008-2012), 60 national medals in the under-13 to senior national which includes 38 gold medals, 13 silver and nine bronze, she has made medal-winning a habit.

Silverware follows this focused archer internationally too – she won 10 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals, totalling 38. A shining star in Indian sports, Surekha has participated in five World Championship, World Cup (19), World University Games (2), World University Championship (1), Asian Games and others -- totalling 42 international tournaments. Most comfortable competing individually, she also participates in mixed categories too.

A ‘bull’s eye’ for the country

“Listening to the national anthem after winning golds at international championships has been the proudest moment of my life. It inspires me to take India further up in world archery rankings,” says the ace archer who comes from a simple farming family. Her parents and their struggles have inspired this archer, who was at one time among the world’s top 10. The fact that her father was a kabaddi player, who instilled a love for sports in her, has a lot to do with her chosen path too.

Her job at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited under the Group-A sportspersons category, helps her follow that passion, and she is ever grateful. A tough regime is involved - six hours practice, two hours of physical training daily.

Her first bow, a Hoyt Rintek bow will always be most special. Shooting or archery is a focused sport, thus yoga and meditation help her find the calm amidst the storm, while gym sessions help improve her shoulder strength and cardio. Often, she can be seen hard at work at the Sports Authority of India, Sonepat, among the best centres for archery in India.

Thankful to Khelo India, which supports budding archers with equipment and training, the archery champ loves the facilities at the Sai centres. Receiving the Arjuna Award has been the biggest honour yet. “Receiving such a prestigious award gives one recognition for one’s achievements. It also motivates me to bring more laurels to the country,” she adds.

Her medals tally grows

Looking forward to the world cups, world games and Asian Games, Surekha is confident that she will continue her medal spree. An inspiration for many, Surekha guides amateurs passionate about sports. “There will be hurdles, choices to make between sports, academics or anything else. Give your 100 percent in achieving something, and take the right decisions at the right time with the right people,” she concludes.

Her career graph:

Only player to have won 3 Silver medals in a single Sr World Championship.
Only archer to win 6 medals in the Sr World Championships.
She won the 1st ever individual medal for India in women’s category in the World Championship in 2019.
She is the only player with world top 10 rankings in compound archery in individual, mixed team and women's team – a rare achievement.
In 2018, the Indian archery women’s team secured its first ever world no 1 rank. Jyothi Surekha’s performance contributed majorly to this.
She is the first ever Indian compound woman to achieve 4^th rank in the world rankings.
Her 6 - medal tally in World Cups, 2018 is the best by an Indian compound archer.
She has a national record of 710/720 to her name.
Awarded with Krida Ratna Award by Akkineni Foundation, USA in 2014

Follow Vennam on Twitter

How India’s young environmentalists are batting for planet Earth

(May 14, 2022) The environmental change sweeping the world is occurring at a faster pace than previously thought, making it imperative that governments act now to reverse the damage being done to the planet. According to a study by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), over the last few decades, exploitation of our planet and the degradation of our environment has gone up at an alarming rate. With natural disasters striking us more often in the form of flash floods, earthquakes, blizzards, tsunamis, and cyclones, many environmentalists have positioned themselves as advocates of sustainability, determined to meet the climate crisis at humanity’s doorstep. Global Indian takes a look at young Indians who have been working on protecting this planet. Through their sustainability efforts across fashion, water conservation, waste management, education, policymaking and sustainable energy, these young environmentalists inspire and impact thousands of people around the globe. Soumya Ranjan Biswal, marine conservationalist Mangroves might appear to be merely coastal forests, but these rich ecosystems support the planet and living beings in many ways. From providing breeding grounds for fish to carbon storage, and protection against flooding, mangroves does it all. Despite this, the mangrove forests are under threat. Odisha-based 24-year-old environmentalist Soumya

ooding, mangroves does it all. Despite this, the mangrove forests are under threat. Odisha-based 24-year-old environmentalist Soumya Ranjan Biswal has been voluntarily growing intending to regenerate the mangrove forests along the 18-km-long beach stretch for the last few years. Locally called Rai, Harakancha, Sundari, Bani, Guan and Keruan, these plants are integral to the coastal habitat and livelihood of local fishermen.

[caption id="attachment_16618" align="aligncenter" width="591"] Soumya Ranjan Biswal[/caption]

The youngster is also working tirelessly to protect the threatened habitat of Olive Ridley turtles. From protecting eggs of the endangered species from predators to taking out cycle rallies to spread awareness among coastal inhabitants for safety of the sea turtles to cleaning the beaches for release of hatchlings, Soumya, fondly called Olly Boy, is doing it all. When the Odisha government agreed to have the Olive Ridley sea turtle as the mascot for the 2018 Hockey World Cup, that’s when the young environmentalist decided to hold their historic one month-long cycle expedition, paddling through coastal pockets of Rushikulya, Puri, Chilika, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore to create awareness about protection of the turtles.

The annual nesting season of the #OliveRidley turtles at the Rushikulya rookery in Ganjam district has created a new record of over 5.5 lakh nests this year. We at OPSA very Fortune to Volunteer in this site for the Cleanup of this beach for the years along with team @dfobhmpr. pic.twitter.com/6zMY7FZ4Uq

— Odisha Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abhiyan Trust (@OdishaSeaTurtle) April 9, 2022

While the cause of Olive Ridleys is dear to Soumya, he has also been working to save sparrows, reviving dry water bodies in forests and keeping beaches plastic free. "As a coastal village boy, I've always been affected by ocean and beach pollution, high mortality rates of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle and mangrove destruction which have resulted in the occurrence of consistent natural calamities. This made me feel more strongly about issues like environmental degradation, climate change and its impact on the marine ecosystem." Soumya had said in an earlier interview. He was also a part of the We The Change campaign initiated by the United Nations in India.

Follow Soumya Ranjan Biswal on Twitter

Hina Saifi, clean air and renewable energy activist

Working with NGOs within her village in Meerut, Hina Saifi started to work on climate awareness after noting a lack of environmental awareness in her polluted village of Sisosla. From campaigning for solar-powered solutions to mobilising local communities to tackle air pollution through public campaigns, call for action and pamphlets, Hina has been associated with the 100% Uttar Pradesh Campaign and The Climate Agenda since 2018.

Manjil unhi ko milti h
Jinke iraade #bulandiya chhune ke hote h..!! pic.twitter.com/zVIUw9mzSt

— Hina Saifi (@HinaSai03267365) October 4, 2021

"I believe that if there’s public awareness, then we can improve the environment. It will happen if people are aware of climate-friendly behaviours and actions. This is why I want to work in the space of public awareness and mobilisation," Hina advocated during a press interaction. After she launched Suraj Se Samriddhi, a campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of solar power, Hina was selected as the United Nation Young Environment Champion last year.

Follow Hina Saifi on LinkedIn and Twitter

Berjis Driver, sustainable urban planner

An urban planner and associate member of the Institute of Town Planners India, Berjis Driver is working with the government to reduce disparities, improve accessibility and quality of life in cities. Berjis' expertise in environmental planning was important in understanding the relationship between Mumbai’s infrastructure and its environment. As an architect, he has been contributing to statutory urban policy and guideline preparation in Mumbai and Amravati.

[caption id="attachment_16619" align="aligncenter" width="695"] Berjis Driver[/caption]

A UN Youth Environment Champion, the environmentalist advocates that the urban cities' environment has been disconnected with the ecosystem. The norms on a per capita basis track back to the 60s and 70s and are not relevant to India today. He has been working to implement the basic benchmarks for green infrastructure, with rigorous control, in every city. "The promise of being able to reach out and scale up climate action, to learn the truth behind the origins and contexts of sustainability, help navigate it favourably, and to be able to safeguard the weakest in the face of climate change, is what continues to motivate me in this journey," Berjis shared during an interview.

Follow Berjis Driver on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

Archana Soreng, grassroots climate storyteller

A member of Odisha's Khadia Tribal Community, Archana Soreng is experienced in advocacy and research, and is working to document, preserve, and promote traditional knowledge and cultural practices of indigenous communities. Named by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, Archana amplifies and engages young people in transparent conversations about the climate emergency.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Archana Soreng (@archana.soreng)

A research officer at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Forest Rights and Governance Project in Vasundhara, Odisha, Archana opines that while the contribution in protection and restoration of nature and being the real guardians of the forest and warriors of the climate crisis of the indigenous people is immense, they’re vulnerable and on the verge of extinction as their rights over their forest and land are not recognised. The environmentalist notes, “Our ancestors have been protecting the forest and nature over the ages through their traditional knowledge and practices. Now it is on us to be the front runners in combating the climate crisis.”

Archana believes that the role the tribal communities have in climate activism and wants to protect the rights of indigenous people in the face of environmental destruction and land encroachment. "Time and again, it has been witnessed that investment in the land of Adivasi and Forest-dwelling communities have deprived them of their traditional lands, viable livelihoods and their socio-economic and cultural rights. Alienating them from their sustainable and their self-sufficient way of life, it puts them in a vicious cycle of poverty," she opines.

Follow Archana Soreng on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

Neha Shivaji Naikwade, sustainable entrepreneurship

A mechanical engineer and co-founder of Parvaah, a youth cell working towards zero-waste initiatives, Neha Shivaji Naikwade, was among the 17 young climate leaders from across India who have done pioneering work in diverse sectors and fight against global warming, selected by the United Nations in 2020. She has worked extensively on policymaking and CSR initiatives through her corporate work and experience as a Policy in Action Fellow at Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC).

[caption id="attachment_16623" align="aligncenter" width="668"] Neha Shivaji Naikwade[/caption]

She currently works with the Climate Collective Foundation as a project manager where she helps develop and strengthen climate-oriented startups and early-stage climate-tech entrepreneurs. Through this programme, she will be supporting 50 exceptional early-stage young climate entrepreneurs in the field of circular economy, waste management, e-mobility, sustainable food technology, and sustainable tourism.

"I believe that in order to support mitigation, adaptation and resilience to our changing world, it is important to leverage innovation and technology to help understand and manage climate risk. Startups will play a key role in developing these new technologies and solutions." Neha had said during an interview.

Follow Neha Naikwade on LinkedIn and Twitter

Arshdeep Singh capturing the wildlife on his lens

The 13-year-old wildlife photographer from Punjab has been capturing the beautiful fauna on his lens. Singh scripted history by bagging the prestigious award Young Wildlife Photographer of The Year – Asia at the age of 10 for an image of two owlets peeping out of a pipe.

How Alina Alam’s “Mitti” gate empowers by employing 106 differently-abled in 17 cafes

(January 1, 2022) Alina Alam wears many hats. Entrepreneur, TedX speaker, Forbes 30 under 30, and Commonwealth Youth Award finalist. Winning awards is her zeitgeist — The NCPEDEP Mindtree Hellen Keller Award, the Microsoft Nipman Award, yes, the list is long and impressive. However, away from these accolades is a girl who cares and believes in the power of positive action. Bringing smiles to the differently-abled is what gives her immense joy, and if she can play matchmaker to some, then that’s all the better. Alam built Mitti Café to help people with disabilities join the workforce and compete with the best in business. Thanks to the café, there are people with visual and hearing impairments, Asperger’s and Down’s syndrome feeling the warmth of a life fulfilled. Today, Mitti Café has 17 outlets across India, and has served over 6 million meals. What’s more, the clientele of hip and happening youngsters love tucking into their favourites from the menu that is also in Braille. A café like no other, when workplace accommodation is a struggle for the differently-abled across India, the café and Alina Alam have blazed new trails by employing the disabled. The journey began at empowerment The girl

ull wp-image-9090 aligncenter" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2021/12/alina.jpg" alt="Global Indian youth alina alam" width="720" height="722" />

The journey began at empowerment

The girl from Kolkata was no doubt egged on by her HR executive father, and her mother who is a homemaker. Her siblings often help in her cafe activities. Her sense of compassion comes no doubt from being raised in a family where monetary aspirations were not important, a social purpose was.

When Alam, 29, started the cafe, her mission was to empower persons with disabilities by providing them opportunities to succeed. Looking back, Alam says that it’s been a many-splendored journey.

She was just 23 when she first thought of doing something different and socially relevant. Pursuing her master’s in development studies at the Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, a documentary film on Roman emperor Nero left her with no doubt on her path ahead. The film showed Nero treating prisoners of war with extreme brutality before large crowds as the guests watched in silence or enjoyed the spectacle. It disturbed Alam. “I felt that the problem was not Nero as I feel the world will always have people like him. The problem was with the individuals who treated others as inconsequential. What if I am one of the guests at Nero’s party? If something wrong is happening and you are not taking sides, that means you are on the side of the oppressor,” she tells Global Indian Youth.

She then skipped campus placements and volunteered for organisations in the disability inclusion space. “I was passionate about doing something for the disabled,” she says. While working with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled in Bengaluru, she saw what the differently-abled are capable of. “I understood that they have enormous potential but lack opportunities. They just need someone to guide and upskill them. What better way to reach out and connect them to the world than through food?” smiles Alam. Mitti Café was born, and the differently-abled got a new lease of life.

From dust to dust

The name of the cafe is unique. “Mitti” n Hindi means soil. “The concept is that everyone belongs to the soil and, we all will return to the soil one day. So, everyone is equal,” she adds.

It has been a rollercoaster ride since 2017, but a very fulfilling one. “Entrepreneurship is challenging. I had zero experience and no capital,” she remembers. So, she put on a brave face, and went door-to-door in Hubli, Karnataka, with pamphlets written in bold, calling the disabled to join her with no bar on age, education or experience. Only one person joined her. “She almost crawled in,” Alam smiles. “I got positive strength, and the journey started with one staff who was wheel-chair bound,” she adds.

A café office in Hubli in a dilapidated tin hut infested with rats, slowly things started falling in place, and Alam opened the first branch at the BVB College of Engineering and Technology campus in Hubli in August 2017.

In four years, she has opened 17 cafés in Bengaluru and Kolkata. Not content, Alam also provides experiential training and employment to adults with physical and intellectual disabilities so that they can get gainful employment. The organisation also creates awareness about inclusion and disability rights.

With 106 adults with special needs managing Mitti Cafés, the chain has served over 6 million meals in just four years. “We have 16 cafés within institutions such as Wipro, Infosys, Accenture, Wells Fargo Cytecare Hospital,” adds Alam.

The café has self-explanatory menu cards printed in Braille, are disabled-friendly, with no compromise on ambience. Then, there is the warm smile of the staffers to put one at ease. One of the critical features of the café is the extensive training programme, so the cafés are able to compete with the best in the business. “Our training includes hygiene, culinary skills, sessions about prevention of sexual harassment, etc,” explains Alam, who schooled at Modern High School for Girls and did psychology at Sophia College for Women.

The girl who makes lives better

During the pandemic too, Alam has been on point. The MITTI Karuna Meals gave migrants and others sustenance, serving over 7.2 lakh meals with plans to expand to thousands more. Alam, also recently got married to a Mumbai-based entrepreneur. She recalls the many rejections early on for her venture so when she got a call from Deshpande Foundation under condition that she move to Hubli, she moved lock, stock and barrel.

On her first foray in Hubli, she says, “I learnt the best lessons of resilience through the struggles. I also got to meet Narayan Murthy, who visited our cafe. That is how the Infosys cafe happened a year later,” she says. The Kolkata born Alam loves crooning, and is a newspaper junkie, which helps her stay abreast.

Today, her exuberance is double - she would like to start the café in every major city, with plans afoot for an outlet in Hyderabad in 2022, and wants to follow it up with Chennai and Mumbai. “Then I want to take Mitti Cafe international,” avers the girl whose belief and conviction have created a legacy to a section of society that has finally got its own girl saviour.

Follow Alina Alam on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 8 mins

Racing to put Indian motorsports on the global map – Arjun Maini, Yash Aradhya & Karun Chandok

(December 31, 2021) The news of the first all-Indian team to compete internationally at the 2021 Asian Le Mans in February sent ripples of anticipation among Indian racers. The all-Indian driver line-up of Narain Karthikeyan, Arjun Maini and Naveen Rao came in fifth place, and spurred the racing aspirations of many. New technology, new drivers, and hopefully more corporate involvement are what we can expect in the future. We need to break away from cricket being sold as the only sport in India. - Gaurav Gill Of course, the memory of Formula 1 great Michael Schumacher wheel to wheel with Jean Alesi in a tarmac crunch to the chequered flag at the 1995 Europe Grand Prix, is still among the most memorable moments for racing aficionados, etched in many minds. Finally, India too has taken to a sport that is not cricket. Many youngsters are training, learning and being mentored to be the next Schumacher (or close), and it is a sign of the growing popularity of motorsports in India. Ten years after that 1995 scene, Coimbatore-born Narain Karthikeyan scripted history by becoming the first Indian to debut at Formula 1, inspiring the current generation to get behind the wheel

a 1, inspiring the current generation to get behind the wheel of a mean machine that can go insanely fast around a corner.
The adrenaline rush, blind cuts, and need for speed keeps every racer revving. However, the lack of sponsors and expensive gear often play spoilsport, thus nipping many dreams in the bud. Perhaps, this most expensive sport in the world is finding stable footing in India with a handful of young Indians revving up at the start line, and pushing the gas pedal on greater accomplishments.

The young blood

This October, the 23-year-old racer Arjun Maini became the first Indian to make a podium debut at the DTM Championship after claiming second place at the Norisring (Nuremburg) race circuit. “For me, it was a very special moment to be the first Indian driver in DTM and I am very proud of it,” tweeted Maini.

Arjun Maini, the Bengaluru boy started with go-karts when he was eight, thanks to his racer dad Gautam Maini, who once participated in the national championships. It was in 2011 that Arjun Maini made headlines when he won the Sahara Force India’s One from a Billion talent, and since then there has been no looking back for this lad.

If Arjun Maini is vrooming through unchartered territory with each of his races, his younger brother Kush Maini, too, is busy taking the legacy forward as he made his debut at the World Endurance Championship in Bahrain this year. Following the footsteps of his brother, the 21-year-old began his journey with the national karting championship before graduating to cars in 2015. In no time, he made waves in the European racing circuits by competing in the Italian Formula 4 championship, and British Formula 3 championship. However, it was this year’s Formula 3 Asian Championship where his team Mumbai Falcons did the unthinkable by clinching a third place at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. “The year 2021 Asian F3 Championship has not been the smoothest of rides, had a lot of engine issues throughout the campaign and some unlucky moments but all the credit goes to @mumbaifalcons who never stopped believing in my capability and we finished off the championship strong with a podium. A historic moment for Indian motorsports and it’s been a pleasure to be a part of it,” he wrote on his Instagram after the historic podium finish.

A universe of opportunities

If the Maini brothers found inspiration through their father, 19-year-old Formula 4 racer Yash Aradhya’s love for motorsport stemmed from his need for speed. The recipient of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, Yash’s passion began at nine years of age, and despite no family background in motorsport, the teenager dived into the game out of sheer love. “I started with karting and here I am,” the Bengaluru-born teenager tells Global Indian Youth.

Each year, new names crop up, and sponsors are at the heart of this expensive sport, and a deep bank balance too. “Motorsports is an expensive sport but I wouldn’t say the same anymore as opportunities are being given at the grassroot level. You have a chance of being picked up and taken forward as long as it’s backed by the performance that helps the sponsors and investors put their faith in you,” adds Yash, who has dreams of becoming a Formula 1 racer.

It’s been a decade since Indian racer Karun Chandok turned up the heat on the racing track in Formula 1, but new blood is now gearing up to test the waters by putting themselves on the biggest platform. It’s the plethora of opportunities that have made these youngsters confident of their skills and talent. “The new generation is quite lucky as there are so many opportunities for us in India, and the costs are low. We get the European standard of racing in India with European drivers coming in and giving us the best exposure and opportunity to prove ourselves and gain experience,” adds Aradhya.

Like Yash, Jehan Daruvala, too, was just nine when he found motorsports. Spanish Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso kept Jehan glued to the Formula 1 track as a child. Now, a decade later, like his racing hero, he is all set to knock the doors of Formula 1. At the cusp of achieving his childhood dream, the 23-year-old has come a long way. From excelling in karting championships across Europe in 2013 to transitioning to cars in 2015, he has proven his mettle time and again. So much so that he has found a fan in Arjuna Award-winner and racer Gaurav Gill. “Jehan is doing great at the world level in Formula racing,” says Gaurav Gill, who won the Asia Pacific Rally Championship thrice and Indian National Rally Championship six times.

The future is bright

It was in the early 2000s that Gill started competing at the national level, and in the past two decades, this 40-year-old racer has seen the Indian motorsport scene evolve. “Motorsport has evolved from being a hobby to a career sport especially after my Arjuna Award. The younger generation can now look at it being a full-time job/sport,” says Gill.

Gill, who calls motorsports an ever-evolving sport, is excited about the future. “New technology, new drivers, and hopefully more corporate involvement are what we can expect in the future. We need to break away from cricket being sold as the only sport in India. We see so many Olympians now, and I hope to see lots more motorsport engagement soon,” says the racer who has started his own school to groom aspiring racers to hone their skills.

As more and more Indian-origin youth foray into the world of motorsports, India is finally ready to get past the chequered flag once again in the international circuit. One race at a time.

Reading Time: 5 mins