Will Rishi Sunak be a gamechanger for UK’s Indian students?
Written by: Namrata Srivastava
(October 27, 2022) The famed 10 Downing Street, which once ruled over the entire Subcontinent, is now home to an Indian family. After an audience with King Charles III on Tuesday, the youngest and richest Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak is set to take charge of the Great British Isles. Despite being relatively new to British politics, this economist played his cards right and in less than a decade went from being a Member of Parliament to Chancellor of the Exchequer and now the 57th Prime Minister of the UK.
Proud of his Indian roots, Sunak is also the first Hindu to take over the PM office. While he has much to sort out within Britain, the 42-year-old does recognise that good relations with India are important for the UK. Earlier this year, while addressing a gathering of British Indian Conservative Party members, Sunak had expressed his desire to change the UK-India relationship to make it a more two-way exchange that opens up easy access to UK students and companies in India. He greeted the crowd in Hindi with “Namaste, Salaam, Kem cho, and Kidda,” he said, “Aap sab mere parivar ho (You are a part of my family).” When questioned about bilateral ties, he responded, “We know the UK-India relationship is important. We represent the living bridge between our two countries. We are all very aware of the opportunity for the UK to sell things and do things in India, but actually we need to look at that relationship differently because there is an enormous amount that we here in the UK can learn from India.”
An immigrant himself, the Global Indian is of the opinion that young students must not be denied any opportunity for good education. And thus, he is not only looking to support India’s student mobility but also vice-versa. “We are all very aware of the opportunity for the UK to sell things and do things in India, but actually we need to look at that relationship differently because there is an enormous amount that we here in the UK can learn from India,” he said, adding, “I want to make sure that it’s easy for our students to also travel to India and learn, that it’s also easy for our companies and Indian companies to work together because it’s not just a one-way relationship, it’s a two-way relationship, and that’s the type of change I want to bring to that relationship.”
Currently, with a 96 percent student visa acceptance rate, about 1,65,000 Indian students have moved to the UK between 2019 and 2022 alone – making them the biggest student diaspora in the country. The Indian and UK officials are working closely to support student mobility and create better opportunities for Indian students to succeed in the global job market. Only last year, the two countries announced the India-UK Roadmap 2030 to pave the way for deeper collaboration between the two nations, allowing for more exchange of knowledge and ideas between institutions and supporting the two-way mobility of students, teachers, and researchers.
Despite the reassurances, experts believe Sunak’s impact on India-UK ties will be marginal at best. With Suella Braverman, who has been re-appointed as the Home Secretary, branding Indians as the largest group of migrants who overstayed in the UK, the mobility of skilled Indians to the UK could be a sticky point. It also remains to be seen how the Sunak government handles immigrants, who have extended the maximum period of two years allowed to international students to work or look for work within the UK.
(January 7, 2022) As a five-year-old, N Semmozhi would be immersed in sketching and painting for hours. Random drawings but immensely creative. An image in her head would be put to paper. Some made sense, others did not. Now 16, Semmozhi is one of those creative bees who has a rare quality of dreaming her painting, and then painting that dream. The teen content creator is self-sufficient, not dependent on parents for pocket money as her artwork has already made her an independent artist. She has six million-plus followers of her art page -- Art and Soul -- on Trell today. “Content creation is all about bringing your ideas to life. Sometimes we have something in our heads, but have trouble translating that on paper. My content helps me visualise what I see,” smiles the 16-year-old. For the girl with a penchant for imagery, an artwork is the representation of an artist’s soul. “From colour combinations, loose strokes of brush and little shades in the corners. That's what Art and Soul is about,” informs the youngster, in an interview with Global Indian. When art came a-calling Born and brought up in Chennai, Semmozhi was always curious with an enduring passion
s, loose strokes of brush and little shades in the corners. That's what Art and Soul is about,” informs the youngster, in an interview with Global Indian.
When art came a-calling
Born and brought up in Chennai, Semmozhi was always curious with an enduring passion for art. “My father realised my talent early, enrolled me in art classes. Art grows within you and I am the evidence of it,” smiles this 11th grader at Union Christian Public school in Chennai. Her mother is a chartered accountant and CFO at a hospital, and her father runs a garment chain.
Her journey of converting art from a hobby to a career has been exhilarating. Early this year, she started uploading artworks on social media with the handle “artandsoulby semmu” and within a couple of weeks, a video went viral. “Seeing social media’s potential, I joined Trell in July to create more videos on arts and crafts to share my passion with the world,” informs Semmozhi, quoting Pablo Picasso, “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life...”
[caption id="attachment_9388" align="aligncenter" width="271"] An artwork by N Semmozhi[/caption]
How she reached six million
With tips from masterclasses with content experts, Semmozhi was off to a flying start. Her followers kept increasing by leaps and bounds, and soon crossed 6 million. “I wanted my content viewers to create something similar (to her artwork) that is still uniquely theirs,” quips the creator-preneur, who confesses that initially she was scared whether she could pull it off.
Her art speaks for itself - From landscape painting to skyscapes to a perfect moon light painting to charcoal shading of stones lying on the seashore, she does it effortlessly. She can come up with lightning clouds, a 3-D chair and even a resin comb in a matter of minutes. “The pandemic only had a positive impact on me and helped me bring out my artistic skills. Online classes gave me sufficient time to hone my craft and the support from my family made it even easier to focus on my passion,” says the immensely talented content creator who calls herself a perfectionist.
Paying it forward
The first pay cheque is cherished, especially as a teenager. It was no different for Semmozhi. And no, she didn’t use it on gifts for family or herself. The 16-year-old donated her first earnings to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Covid relief fund. Not satisfied, she handed over her second salary too. The gesture was well-appreciated from all quarters more so as her contribution was personally accepted by minister for school education, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. “People of my generation are quickly becoming agents of change and am elated to actively be a part of this movement,” feels the teenager who says earning makes her responsible.
The eleventh grader aspires to direct innovative box-office reality shows in future. “Equipping the basic qualities of an artist and learning the hardships of making money in the course of my career has taught me that people with real skills need to be treasured and provided with opportunities,” says Semmozhi, a huge fan of reality shows.
[caption id="attachment_9390" align="aligncenter" width="498"] An artwork by N Semmozhi[/caption]
Interestingly, for her CBSE main board exams, Semmozhi opted for painting as her major paper. This despite her peers and other people advising against it. “I found it hard to cope with the drawing syllabus since it involved mural traditions, temple architecture, Warli Art and post-Mauryan trends in Indian art and architecture, caves and sculptures. Later, I realised that not only did it make me better at details, I also found an affinity to learn the most boring subject of all time -- history,” smiles Semmozhi, whose school provided her expert coaching as the only student who opted for the subject.
When not creating content, Semmozhi loves to dance and cook. “Becoming an artist has been my childhood dream but I do like to dance all my worries away,” signs off Semmozhi, whose favourite Global Indian is Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo.
(July 16, 2023) In a remarkable journey of passion and purpose, Kiara Ramklass, an Indian-origin South African, has made a significant impact on her community by using the power of music. Her social enterprise, Marimba Jam, has not only provided underprivileged learners with a means of expression through rhythm and music but has also become a catalyst for cultural and social harmony. Recognized as one of the 100 Young Mandelas of the Future, Kiara's journey with Marimba Jam has grown from a small school outreach initiative to a renowned organisation that enriches vulnerable communities with the joy of Marimba music in a post-apartheid South Africa. “We have a focus on nation building because in South Africa there is a huge disconnect between the privileged youth and the youth from underprivileged segments of society. We use music to bridge that gap,” said Kiara. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa8fAYwfMy4&t=83s A Cape Town resident, Kiara has already earned herself several accolades, including being named one of the ‘200 Young South Africans’ by the Mail and Guardian in 2023. Her organisation, Marimba Jam has broken a Guinness World Record and has received several awards - the Number One Youth-Owned Business at the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition
A Cape Town resident, Kiara has already earned herself several accolades, including being named one of the ‘200 Young South Africans’ by the Mail and Guardian in 2023. Her organisation, Marimba Jam has broken a Guinness World Record and has received several awards - the Number One Youth-Owned Business at the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards, first prize at the Investec Startup School Africa and the Billion Acts of Peace Award led by 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, where it was chosen from millions of acts of peace worldwide as one of seven finalists. As the winner of the Billion Acts of Peace Fellowship from the Peace Jam Foundation Kiara got the opportunity to participate in a one-year global fellowship.
Her award-winning social enterprise not just teaches but also has a band that performs across South Africa. The band has had the honour of performing for the likes of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Western Cape Government, the South Africa National Rugby Union Team, and the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation apart from performing at numerous events.
The rhythms of marimba
Marimba is an African musical instrument of the percussion family. It is like a xylophone and consists of a series of wooden bars of varying lengths. The instrument is played by striking the bars with mallets, allowing the performer to create melodies and harmonies by varying the rhythm, speed, and intensity of the strikes. Marimba is known for its rich and resonant tone.
The ground-breaking Marimba Jam syllabus are being used in African schools that wish to integrate marimba into their offerings. “We are to first to develop a syllabus that allows marimba to be the first African instrument to be taken as a subject in school,” said the 28-year-old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaoB00sMobo
Breaking world records and achieving recognition
In 2018, Marimba Jam achieved international recognition by breaking the Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Marimba Ensemble’ with the participation of 241 females between the age of eight and 23 on South African National Women's Day. Previous holders of this title included Australia with 108 players in 2016, and Zimbabwe with 222 players the same year.
The following year, the organisation represented South Africa at the prestigious Social Enterprise World Forum, showcasing its impactful work on a global stage at Addis Ababa.
Making a Difference
Marimba Jam actively supports community causes through Marimba Jam Cares to bring about social change.
As the Marimba Jams website states, “it’s built upon the ideology that music can act as a vehicle for social change,” following the organisations motto,” Finding Harmony in Community,” to connect youth of South Africa bridging the socio-economic barriers that divide them. The profit earned from every paid performance and workshop of Marimba Jam helps in supporting the causes of its NPO branch - Marimba Jam Cares.
It started when…
When Kiara Ramklass, was in grade 11, she was deeply moved by the plight of the underprivileged in her society. Recognising her talent for playing the instrument, marimba, she decided to utilize it as a medium for change. With the support of the youth development organization enke: Make Your Mark, Kiara started her initiative to provide marimba lessons to learners from underprivileged schools in her locality. Her efforts were acknowledged with the Amy Biehl Spirit of Youth Award in 2012, further fuelling her determination.
In 2014, when she was in the first year at university, both her parents lost their jobs. Kiara stated teaching marimba as a part time job to support her education. Her teaching skills were so much in demand that at one point of time she found herself teaching 15 batches of students a week while pursuing her full-time degree in film and media screen production at the University of Cape Town.
[caption id="attachment_31934" align="aligncenter" width="542"] Kiara Ramklass, CEO and founder, Marimba Jam[/caption]
Later, she was chosen for the Global Young Innovators Programme to participate in a seven-month course by Newable UK and Innovate UK. “I was awarded a grant of £10 000 to develop a new virtual reality app for the African Music Heritage project,” she said.
From small initiative to thriving social enterprise
Kiara's commitment to teaching marimba and her desire to make a deeper impact led her to formalise Marimba Jam into a full-time venture in 2015. Since then, Marimba Jam has flourished as a dynamic social enterprise, offering marimba lessons to thousands of learners in the Western Cape. The organisation also runs annual teacher training courses, festivals, and workshops, providing part-time employment to university students who want to be a part of the cause.
Held annually at an open-air theatre, the Marimba Jam Festival is a popular event. It not only provides Kiara’s students a platform to perform but also works as a fundraising event to continue with the organisations outreach programme – to provide weekly marimba band lessons at schools meant for poor children. “The underprivileged schools don’t have any access to music or art and culture. We invite students at such schools into private schools so that they can share and learn from one another. This initiative gives them the opportunity to unleash their talent,” Kiara says.
[caption id="attachment_31935" align="aligncenter" width="736"] Kiara with her students[/caption]
The Indian-origin musician and teacher was born and raised in Cape Town and is dedicated towards making a difference in a post-apartheid South Africa through the transformative power of music and social entrepreneurship.
(November 5, 2023) Teen prodigy K Prisha is often addressed as "Dr Prisha" in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, and rightly so. The youngster has been honoured with not just one but three honorary doctorates for her spectacular achievements in yoga and social service — from the University of Jerusalem Medical College & Hospitals, Vellore (2019), Indian Empire University, Chennai (2021), and World Tamil University of USA (2021). [caption id="attachment_19534" align="aligncenter" width="511"] K Prisha, yoga prodigy[/caption] In 2018 and again in 2019, Prisha brought home the gold in the international yoga championships held in Mayalsia and Thailand. She’s also the youngest yoga teacher for the blind and has been certified by the NCPCR, government of India and holds 100 world records for a plethora of skills – yoga, swimming, blind-folded cycling, skating, ambidextrous writing, solving the Rubik’s Cube, Aqua Yoga, and more. Global University, Missouri, USA, recognised Prisha as the youngest person to hold the maximum number of world records. This little bundle of talent has even written a book, Yoga Indrae Seivom Inbum Peruvom, in Tamil, highlighting the benefits of the 5,000-year-old ancient Indian therapy to prevent and cure three common diseases – diabetes, asthma, and blood pressure. [caption id="attachment_19535" align="aligncenter" width="718"] Prisha's room-full of awards[/caption] Such is
ised Prisha as the youngest person to hold the maximum number of world records. This little bundle of talent has even written a book, Yoga Indrae Seivom Inbum Peruvom, in Tamil, highlighting the benefits of the 5,000-year-old ancient Indian therapy to prevent and cure three common diseases – diabetes, asthma, and blood pressure.
[caption id="attachment_19535" align="aligncenter" width="718"] Prisha's room-full of awards[/caption]
Such is her command of yoga therapy that people in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry flock to her for treatment and workshops. "Yoga improves immunity, stamina, and focus." I have been doing it since I was one-year-old, "Prisha tells Global Indian. It has helped her "get superpowers," she says, claiming she can "bend a spoon if I want by looking at it (telekinesis)." She’s so attuned to her senses and surroundings that she can ride a bicycle or cook blindfolded.
I can body scan for healing diseases and also make future predictions with the deep focus that I have attained from yoga and meditation - K Prisha
Teacher and healer who is sought by many
The youngster, who has an impressive collection of over 200 medals, awards, and certificates that she bagged in state-wide, national, and international competitions and events, teaches yoga every day to the visually-challenged. She has also been teaching the elderly in old age homes, and NCC cadets, apart from conducting numerous workshops for people from different walks of life. With her guidance, visually challenged students have found a drastic improvement in their eyesight. Schoolkids have also enhanced their focus, and the elderly and those who suffered from COVID-19 are able to lead healthier lives. One of her visually impaired students even went on to break a world record in yoga.
[caption id="attachment_19541" align="aligncenter" width="546"] Prisha with her visually impaired students[/caption]
It all started at home...
Yoga flows in the family. Since Prisha's mother, G Devi Priya, a lawyer by qualification and a yoga teacher by passion, was deeply seeped in it, the prodigy started showing interest in it when she was just one year old. She could do some asanas even before she could walk. The legacy starts with her grandmother, who is a professor of Yoga in Pondicherry. So far, Devi Priya has been her first and only guru, under whose guidance the teen has made extraordinary achievements.
Despite being a gold-medalist in law and MSc in naturopathy and yoga, Devi Priya has been completely focused on managing her multi-talented daughter’s schedules, travelling with her for workshops and competitions.
Her father, Karthik Rajendran, is a businessman and sports enthusiast who has inspired Prisha to excel in sports and martial arts like tennis and karate. At the age of seven, she participated in state and national level crossbow shooting and won gold medal in both. The multi-talented teen has a blue belt in karate and has won several competitions in it as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfkTKEO3Gz0
However, the love for yoga surpasses all. "I want to become a doctor of naturopathy and spread awareness of yoga throughout the world," says the teenager, who has been invited as a judge at the National Youth Festival conducted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and as chief guest to an event at Nehru Yuva Kendra, a Government of India entity. The youngster’s list of achievements never seems to end. She has been invited to several television programmes covering her extraordinary talent, and has been leaving people awestruck with her ability to instantly choreograph any dance number while possessing a great ear for music.
Yoga for a good life
The standard nine student of Meena Shankar Vidyalaya School, Tirunelveli, looks at her passion to teach yoga as a vehicle of the common good, so that even the vulnerable, like the differently-abled, can benefit and lead a wholesome life. Her dream is impressive — to adopt a village and teach yoga to everyone there.
[caption id="attachment_19546" align="aligncenter" width="712"] Prisha participating in a yoga competition, a few years ago[/caption]
In 2022, the golden girl of yoga had went to two international trips. She went to Malaysia for a 16-day workshop organised by the Malaysian Association for the Blind where she also conducted a four-day camp on yoga awareness. She also travelled to Dubai to receive the Global Child Prodigy award, which was conferred to 99 other youngsters from across the globe. "Until now I have transformed lives of more than 10 million people through free yoga classes," tells Prisha who hopes to transform more lives in India and abroad in the days to come.
(November 20, 2022) It was in 1903 that Rhodes scholarship, the educational grant to the University of Oxford, came into existence, thanks to Cecil John Rhodes, a British mining magnate, who is also the founder of De Beers - a diamond firm which until recently controlled global trade. The oldest and one of the most prestigious international scholarship programmes was initially established with the purpose of promoting unity among English speaking countries. However, it was revised over the years, and since the 21st century, citizens from all the countries made the eligibility cut. For Indians, the scholarship made inroads in 1947, and this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Rhodes Scholarship in India. "It is an opportunity to look back and celebrate the tremendous contributions to India and the world made by the nearly 250 men and women who have won the Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford over the past decades," said Elizabeth Kiss, Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford University, and CEO of the Rhodes Trust. 2023 Rhodes Scholars The Rhodes selection criteria are powerful and have remained largely unchanged over the past 100+ years. While the language goes back to the Rhodes Trust's founding documents, the ideas are as
le/scholarships-international/94455993/expanding-the-opportunities-to-win-rhodes-scholarship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saidElizabeth Kiss, Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford University, and CEO of the Rhodes Trust.
2023 Rhodes Scholars
The Rhodes selection criteria are powerful and have remained largely unchanged over the past 100+ years. While the language goes back to the Rhodes Trust's founding documents, the ideas are as relevant today as they have ever been - Nandan Kamath, national secretary, Rhodes Scholarships for India
Kamath, a lawyer by profession himself was a Rhodes scholar in 2000 and graduated from Balliol College at the University of Oxford. It was he who announced the names of the scholars who made the cut this year for the session beginning in 2023.
Vedanta Thapar: The final-year Physics student at St Stephen's College, Delhi University is interested in the physics and mathematics of complex systems as well as in the social issues connected to scientific research. At Oxford University, he wishes to study scientific computing and mathematical modelling with a focus on climate dynamics and policy challenges associated with it. Vedanta is a badminton player who grew up in Delhi.
Syed Muhammed Khalid: The final year English Literature student at St Stephen’s College, Delhi University holds an interest in the documentation of people's stories and movements. The youngster, who hails from Allahabad, aims to study about Indian Muslims in South Asia to get a grasp on the diversity within the community and how they respond to pressures on their identity. The literature student is involved in theatre and loves football.
Hansa Mukherjee: The final-year Economics student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University holds interest in researching social and behavioural interventions for improving women’s healthcare outcomes. The trained Odissi dancer is passionate about art history and graphic design.
Dr Kirtana Sivasubramanian: The scholar with an MBBS degree from Government Medical College, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai seeks to research the potential of genetic engineering to utilise the immune system effectively in treating diseases. She aims to explore fundamental concepts of T-cell Biology that might enhance immunotherapy for cancer and autoimmune conditions. The scholar is devoted to use primary research and innovation for making cutting-edge therapies accessible to all and would love to explore it more deeply at Oxford.
Daksh Walia: The final year Master’s student of Economics at Ashoka University is interested in studying labour economics with a focus on the determinants of female labour force participation in India. He aims to gain an understanding of the economics of climate change. Daksh plans to continue working on economic research at Oxford, while simultaneously pursuing his passion for studying justice and the social production of knowledge.
Road to Rhodes Scholarship
All 250 candidates, who have been selected for Rhodes Scholarship in past 75 years, have had to pass through a competitive application process. The selection process includes a thorough review of the applications before the finalists get interviewed by a selection committee comprising of experts and leaders from diverse fields. After the preliminary interviews, another round of interviews gets conducted to shortlist the final winners.
We are committed to raising funds to permanently endow more Indian Rhodes Scholarships so that more remarkable students from this great country can join and contribute to our global community - Elizabeth Kiss, CEO, Rhodes Trust
This year’s Rhodes scholars from India - Vedanta, Syed, Hansa, Kirtana and Daksh will be heading to Oxford University in October 2023 to join a cohort of more than 100 scholars from around the globe to pursue their fully sponsored postgraduate studies, becoming part of a strong community of people aiming to bring a positive difference to the world.
The applications for the 2024 Rhodes Scholarships will open in June / July 2023. More information about the Scholarship application can be found here.
Some of the Global Indians who have been Rhodes Scholars in the past:
Girish Karnad - The playwright, author, actor and director
Montek Singh Ahluwalia - Economist and policy expert who won the Padma Vibhushan award
Dr Menaka Guruswamy - Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India
Sagarika Ghose - The journalist, columnist and author who has written biographies of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Tanjore Ramachandra Anantharaman - One of India's eminent metallurgists and materials scientists
(July 12, 2023) It was in her third attempt that twenty-five-year-old Manju Bangalore won Miss Oregon USA 2023 title becoming the first South Asian woman to do so. The persistent and multifaceted youngster called the win, ‘the cherry on top’ because it gave her ‘a bit more platform’ to do the kind of work that she has been doing. Manju is a role model for young Brown girls in the US, not just as a pageant winner but as an aspiring astronaut, actor, model, activist, author and a non-profit founder who started Operation Period and Painting with Parkinson’s. The postgraduate student at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences in the US, will be proudly representing her state, Oregon in the upcoming 72nd Miss USA pageant, slated to take place in October in Nevada. Whether it is the world of pageantry, academics, extracurricular activities or her career, Manju has displayed consistent excellence, occasionally pushing her own boundaries. Her motivations are not solely driven by the desire to enhance her resume but stems from an innate inner drive to fulfil her purpose – personal growth and to make a positive impact on the community. [caption id="attachment_31812" align="aligncenter" width="689"] Manju Bangalore being crowned
Whether it is the world of pageantry, academics, extracurricular activities or her career, Manju has displayed consistent excellence, occasionally pushing her own boundaries. Her motivations are not solely driven by the desire to enhance her resume but stems from an innate inner drive to fulfil her purpose – personal growth and to make a positive impact on the community.
[caption id="attachment_31812" align="aligncenter" width="689"] Manju Bangalore being crowned as Miss Oregon USA[/caption]
Bagging five NASA and one White House internship
Before joining the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Manju graduated from the University of Oregon with a major in physics and minor in maths. An ambitious young woman who wanted a head start in her career, she was looking everywhere for internships. She ended up bagging not one or two but five NASA internships and one White house internship on science policy.
“Over the course of my five NASA internships, four of which were in the astronaut office, I contributed to propulsion research and helped design and build the cockpit displays of the Orion spacecraft,” she said. Talking about her White House experience she remarked, “One of my favourite memories was staffing a Hidden Figures screening for First Lady Michelle Obama.”
Finding inspiration in Kalpana Chawla
From the tender age of four, Manju aspired to become an astronaut. This dream had been sparked during a visit to the air and space museum in her locality. It was there that she had stumbled upon the remarkable story of Kalpana Chawla - the pioneering Indian woman who ventured into space. “Just seeing someone who looks like me doing this incredible thing made me feel like I could do it,” she remarked. Her strong work ethic and the trait of dedication and hard work comes from her parents, Phani and Geetha Bangalore, who migrated from South India and own and operate a seed-testing lab in Oregon
[caption id="attachment_31813" align="aligncenter" width="436"] Manju Bangalore at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences[/caption]
While she was pursuing her undergraduate studies at theUniversity of Oregon, she applied for hundreds of internships and ‘got rejected by ninety-nine percent of them’. Quite by chance she had come across NASA’s portal during her search and had discovered that there was an entire portal of NASA focused on internship. Like other applications she went ahead with applying there too without any high hopes. But to her immense joy, she was selected by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Later, her application to work at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy was accepted too. At the White House, she met astronaut Sunita Williams who guided her to land four more internships at NASA's Johnson Space Center, in the astronaut office. “I learnt quite a lot working on the cockpit displays of the spacecraft that will go back to the moon and then to Mars one day,” she shared.
Fuelled by these experiences, Manju enrolled herself into the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences’ postgraduate programme. “The school hasn’t selected us by any means to go to space, but they are putting us through the training that’s necessary to one day go to space,” shared the happy youngster.
Operation Period and Painting with Parkinson’s
When Manju was 17, she started Operation Period to address menstrual disparities that she saw around her. The seed for starting this venture germinated in her mind when she encountered a woman in a medical store who was desperately in need of menstrual products but could not purchase them due to lack of money. Not only did Manju generously pay for her needs but came out of the store with the determination to do something about women like the one she met in the store.
Through Operation Period, the youngster has made a significant impact, distributing over 300,000 menstrual products worldwide and organizing events to raise awareness about menstrual health education.
She also runs a second non-profit, Painting with Parkinson’s, to help bring meaning through art to people like her father, who suffers from the disease. The non-profit provides free painting kits and organises free painting classes to people affected by PD. “I believe that art has the power to heal, and everyone is an artist and should let that light shine,” she remarked.
From science and service to the world of pageantry
The multifaceted youngster has been participating in pageants since she was in her teens. The Oregon resident had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts in the Oregon Teen USA competition, but she remained determined. In 2017 she had managed to get successful in the local pageant, Miss Benton County USA. When she entered her twenties and could no longer participate in the Oregon teen pageant, she set herself on the Oregon Miss USA competition. It took her three attempts to finally win the crown. Overjoyed with the fruit of her persistence she shared, “The months that have followed after winning have been the best months of my life.”
[caption id="attachment_31814" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Manju Bangalore at an event[/caption]
Multiple experiences on the pageant stage have given the Global Indian a unique perspective on what it takes to be a winner. “A beauty pageant obviously has a component of outward appearance, but also in those seemingly beauty-oriented competitions, they are still looking at how poised you are, how confident on stage you are,” she said adding, “I was by no means the tiniest person on stage; I am curvier, and none of that was held against me.” In fact, Manju thinks it helped her. “It showed that I am confident in my body and who I am. It has helped me develop a thick skin, to face and filter out the detractors.”
The Indian-origin American embraces and beholds her looks, her identity and her culture with utmost pride.
Wearing many hats
Manju has a knack for acting since her school days. Her stint in modelling and the world of pageantry led her to some good acting projects. She has guest starred on two television shows - Black is King, Depot and Animal Kingdom and is hopeful for more work on this front in future. Working inBlack is King was particularly special because she got an opportunity to work with Beyoncé, the American singer and songwriter. Recently Manju turned an author with her debut children's book, You can be all the things you want to be.
[caption id="attachment_31815" align="aligncenter" width="457"] Manju Bangalore with her debut book[/caption]
Born to immigrant parents, growing up Manju realised that the world is not an equal place. Instead of being bogged down by racism that she and her family faced, the youngster grew up with the sense of responsibility towards people who are looked down upon for being different. Manju is also a supporter of black and transgender rights and goes out of her way to support these causes. She looks at the Miss Oregon USA 2023 title to be a good platform to work on these issues.
An artwork by N Semmozhi[/caption]
An artwork by N Semmozhi[/caption]
Kiara Ramklass, CEO and founder, Marimba Jam[/caption]
Kiara with her students[/caption]
Prisha's room-full of awards[/caption]
Prisha with her visually impaired students[/caption]
Prisha participating in a yoga competition, a few years ago[/caption]
Rhodes Scholars 2023[/caption]
Manju Bangalore being crowned as Miss Oregon USA[/caption]
Manju Bangalore at t
Manju Bangalore[/caption]
Manju Bangalore at an event[/caption]
Manju Bangalore with her debut book[/caption]