A math whiz, a social entrepreneur, a painter, a community volunteer, a philanthropist, a martial arts enthusiast – what not she is! 14-year-old Indian American Apoorva Panidapu, who is faster than calculator, is primarily known for her unmatched math IQ. A three-time recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, this Californian Indian of San Jose appeared in the NBC show “Genius Junior” and earned the nickname “Human Calculator”. With the belief, “Every single one of us, no matter what age, can make a difference in the world,” Apoorva volunteers as a teaching assistant for an elementary school, raises funds for the education of visually-impaired children in India, and sells her art works to raise money for underserved children in Africa.

We at Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel, catch up with Apoorva from San Jose to share with you what made her fall in love with mathematics and plunge into philanthropy, and how she juggles several various activities with equal zest for excellence.

How did you get nicknamed ‘Human Calculator’? Any other nickname you earned for your unmatched expertise in mathematics?

I got the nickname from Genius Junior, based on my performance in the show. In all honesty, I’m not a huge fan of the nickname. Although it is a fun name, I feel that I’m more than a calculator as my passion for math runs deeper than just calculations.

When and how did you fall in love with mathematics? Would you like to share something about your journey from a novice in math to a mathematical genius? 

As cliché as it sounds, ever since I was a kid, math was the thing that called out to me; it was a constant that I could always rely on to lift my spirits, to give me a challenge. I can spend hours and hours breaking down a problem, pulling it apart and putting it back together, in hopes of understanding what it all means. While some people view math as tedious, I view it as the favorite part of my day.

My exploration of mathematics stemmed from my ambitious six-year old self. While racing to finish first in one-minute times table exercises kept me entertained at first, it wasn’t long before I yearned for more. The rules of math that I learned didn’t satisfy me– where did that formula come from? How do these numbers work like this? While my teacher attempted to teach my classmates to learn to moderate their voices, I became interested in learning about a different kind of mod: modular arithmetic. I came across modular arithmetic in one of the books about numbers that I had found in the library. I, of course, didn’t quite comprehend and understand this concept, but this caused my excitement to increase at an exponential rate. And so, my journey into mathematics began.

Was ‘Genius Junior’ on NBC in 2018 your first TV appearance? Did it make a difference to the way you are recognized or treated in public or private gatherings?

Yes, Genius Junior was my first TV appearance. Occasionally, people will recognize me in public, but everything else was pretty much the same. However, it definitely has helped my art gallery and getting recognition in a positive way. It has also led to several invitations to speak at different events, which I’m very grateful for.

Recently, Evergreen Times wrote about you, “Apoorva is not your typical eighth grader; she wears multiple hats.” What other pursuits do you like and follow passionately? How do you manage to wear ‘multiple hats’?

I play first violin in the SJYS Concert Orchestra, participate in Speech and Debate tournaments, and attend martial arts classes. These activities allow me to collaborate with many different people with different interests, and at the same time I get to explore my passions. As for community programs, I volunteer as a teaching assistant for an elementary school in a low-income area of my city every week, helping them with math, English, spelling, whatever they need. I also tutor local kids in competition math and school math; all funds raised go towards the education of visually-impaired children in India. I am also an avid artist. I particularly like oil painting and sketching for my gallery www.apoorvaartgallery.com. I’m most inspired when I’m creating art to raise money for underserved children in Africa. I also enjoy speaking at events like TIE Inflect: The World’s Largest Entrepreneur Conference, Women In Tech: Future Leaders, and a few others. In order to make sure I give each of my activities enough time and commitment, I make sure I know what I’m going to do each day and manage my time accordingly. Making plans and lists has also been very helpful!

What earned you the President’s Volunteer Service Award three times? 

I love volunteering and being able to give back to the community. It has taught me so many things and I’m always looking for new ways to help out. If you’re in a position to help, there’s no reason not to. Use what you’re given to make a difference and help someone out. Any help and support is appreciated! Even if you cannot donate, take the time to volunteer in your community. There are many opportunities to provide a helping hand.

Congratulations on your winning the Spirit of Ramanujan Fellowship Award. What change for the better has this achievement brought to your life? I mean what this achievement means to you.

Thank you! I’m so grateful for their support and their help along my mathematical journey. I will be using the award to attend Canada/USA Mathcamp this summer. This initiative especially means a lot to me because the person who inspired it, Ramanujan, was such a brilliant mind. In fact, mathematicians are still struggling to understand his works. He has always been a role model of mine, as his hard work and persistence let him pursue his passion in mathematics even with all odds stacked against him.

Recently, you spoke at the International Women’s Day Conference. How the opportunity came your way?

I was invited to eBay by eWIT President Ishita Majumdar in late 2018 to kick off the Women in Tech – Future Leaders series. I had the opportunity to share my passions and talk about my art gallery. During International Women’s Day, I was invited again to auction a painting of one of my personal role models, Michelle Obama. I ended up raising $610 from the auction, and I also got to meet eBay CEO Devin Wenig who unveiled the painting. I’m very thankful for all of the support and encouragement I get from everyone at eBay, they are all truly amazing.

You raise funds to support visually impaired kids in India, using your gift in math and art. Can you enlighten us about the philanthropist in you? 

“Five-hundred and eleven, five-hundred and twelve, five-hundred and thirteen. We have raised over five hundred dollars! That’s enough for ten goats,” my fourth-grade teacher exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with joy. I cheered and clapped along with my peers, delighted that my small fourth-grade class was actually able to create change in the lives of people around the world. During the year, we all worked together to create bracelets, origami, all kinds of artwork to sell at the school’s family fair. All the proceeds would go towards buying goats for impoverished villages, and they would provide entire villages with milk, cheese, and butter. This class project has stuck with me for all these years, because it was the first opportunity I had to be part of something greater than my community.

After this initial wonderful experience of philanthropy, I wanted to do more to help children who don’t have access to basic necessities. So, I started working with Save the Children to try and help provide lifesaving support to children and families in Africa, especially children under age five, who are less able to withstand malnutrition and are susceptible to disease. It’s devastating that young children in Africa don’t have access to basic human needs like clean water, food, and shelter. Things that people in my community use without a second thought, these children are fighting for every day. Starvation is prominent in many areas, and a distressing 20 percent of Africa’s children do not reach the age of six. I wanted, needed, to attempt to help these children, because I couldn’t just stand by while children younger than me are forced to fight for basic human necessities.

Every single one of us, no matter what age, can make a difference in the world. Every single day, my charity teaches me something, every single person I meet helps me grow, and every single painting I create fills me up with more love. I have learned that the world is kinder than it seems, and I vow to continue creating art for charity, while encouraging others to also use their resources, networks, and gifts to generate good in the world.

What do you think about the gender disparity in STEM fields? Would you like to join the club of STEM advocates for girls in the US if given an opportunity?

Yes, I would definitely join a club that advocates for women in STEM. I think this gender disparity is so important to address and that we must encourage little girls to be whatever they want to be. Unfortunately, the number of girls in math competitions drops every year because of the pernicious stereotype that mathematics is a man’s field. You can also see this gap in other fields like technology and science. Everyone should have the basic human right to pursue their interests unfettered, since motivation, problem-solving, and strategy know no gender. We need to remind all children that there are no rules for gender and no limits to people’s aspirations. A student can adore cheerleading and be a calculus nerd at heart. If fashion inspires someone, it doesn’t mean that mathematics can’t too.

Who would you like to credit your achievements to? Yourself or someone else?

I think everyone who has ever taught me something has contributed to my learning and journey, especially my teachers and mentors. I remember someone once told me, “You can learn something from everyone.” I think what I’ve done so far wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t met the people I did or had the experiences I’ve had. For that, I credit my parents who have always motivated me and have helped me find opportunities to further my passions. They give me the independence to pursue what I love, but, at the same time, they provide guidance, support, and advice.

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A resident of Marietta in the US state of Georgia, Indian American Uma Lakshman is a data engineer by day and an activist entrepreneur by night. Multi-talented Uma, the Global Ambassador for Parenting 2.0, is actively involved in several non-profit pursuits. She kick-started SDNARI in San Diego to help the South Asian women in need before she laid foundation for Big Bangles Theory to create a niche market for handmade bangles from India and other countries. Trademarked in the USA, Big Bangles Theory is the culmination of her blend of compassion and entrepreneurship inspired by trekking in the Himalayas during her backpack trip through India. Uma is also a good singer, dancer and a poet.

We at Indian Eagle catch up with Georgia-based Uma Lakshman to share with you her views on women entrepreneurship, how to revive endangered handicrafts of India, how she seeks to impact the lives of struggling artisans through her socio-entrepreneurial venture, Big Bangles Theory and a lot more through a freewheeling chat with her at Travel Beats, a leading portal for Indians in America.

IE. How did you hit upon the idea of popularizing a certain type of Indian handicraft in the US? Did it happen one fine morning?   

It had been brewing in my subconscious self for until I realized it one fine morning.  Indian handicrafts have been in the USA for a decent period, but the thought of popularizing Indian handcrafted bangles with custom sizing in the USA is, indeed, for the first time.

IE. What made you pick Indian bangles and work towards promoting them thousands of miles away from India? 

Most of us express ourselves with our hands, and so do I.  Human hands are unique and reveal a lot about us. The book “Louder than words” by Joe Navarro sheds light on how our hands can give clues to what is going on in our heads. The bangles you wear to accessorize your look and complement your attires do say a lot about you.

I love physics and admire art at the same time. Being a social entrepreneur and a dreamer, I was in quest of something that could cater to both of my interests: science and art. It culminated in the inception of Big Bangles Theory, which combined art and science into a fashion revolution in the United States.

IE. How did the initiative ‘Big Bangles Theory’ start and gain momentum in USA? Did any difficulty or challenge come your way?  

I started a Facebook group initially not knowing where it would go. I wanted to keep it private until I knew what I wanted to do with it. I reached out to my friends and their friends and so on. We are thankful to many well-wishers including friends and strangers. We worked hard, being in front of people at shows. We had a kickstarter campaign launched and press releases. It took a lot of hard work to get the word out and to get my website up. It’s not over yet. SEO, social media marketing and other forms of marketing are in progress as well.

IE. What is the current scenario of Big Bangles Theory? Has it improved in comparison to the inception or the initial phase?  

Definitely, we are growing in popularity. Big Bangles Theory is recognized as the brand for bangles in the USA. We would though like it to go more viral. Hope someone out there like Oprah, Arianna Huffington, Ellen Degeneres will read this and reach out to us. More importantly, we want women to recognize Big Bangles Theory as their favorite destination to shop for the bangles that fit their wrists. Women came forward and said that they had almost given up on bangles due to size issues. It was the first time they wore bangles that they purchased from us. For the first time, bangles sized xxxs-xxxl have been made possible.

IE. Who are the target audience of your initiative? Only Indians in America? Or Americans as well? 

Big Bangles Theory is a global initiative for all women across the world. We would like to record every woman (and men too) their hand sizes on our website.

IE. What way do you reach out to the target audience with a treasure of handcrafted bangles from India?  

We adopted myriad ways like brand awareness campaigns, social media marketing and blogging. We took to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn with our mission and vision. We attended community events and communicated our initiative to the people there. Word-of-mouth marketing is the most effective way to reach out to more and more people in our target groups.

IE. How big is the market for Indian handcrafted merchandise in USA given the fact that Indian Americans make only 1% of the total US population?  

Though the Indian American population is very small, the love for bangles is universal. Maybe, one out of every 100 women will tell us they don’t care for bangles. We are okay with that; we know they will come around sometime. Most of these women had given up on bangles due to ill-fitting and size issues, which we have been able to solve.

IE. Have you made any celebrity or eminent personality wear Indian bangles in USA?  

It was a pleasant surprise for us to see Hillary Clinton wearing our bangles when she visited Atlanta during the presidential campaign in 2016. Our initiative was just 6 months old. Just imagine! Preity Zinta, a popular Bollywood actress, wore our bangles and showed it off to everyone. We have a huge following among the common people like you and me, and they are our biggest stars. We would love other celebrities known or unknown to come forward, endorse us and show it off.

IE. Undeniably, India has a colossal treasure of handicrafts from historic eras, tribal belts and rural backwaters. The beauty of Indian handcrafted knickknacks seems to be faded or lost in the glitz of urban lifestyle. What do you think (what’s your take on it)? 

I believe that most handicrafts had a functional purpose at the time they were created or originated. With changing times and with probably a loss in their relevancy to our current lifestyle, they might have been forgotten. But if we are able to gently bring them back in some or the way that befits our choices and lifestyle in the current era of fusion fashion, I believe they will never die out.

IE. How can we save the dying or endangered handicrafts of India, and push them into the urban landscape?  

Fashion fades in and out. But if we are able to find a way to design the handicrafts so that they have a functional value combined with artistry or a metaphysical meaning in our day to day lives, it will be accepted more into the mainstream lifestyle and fashion.

IE. Any other interesting information about your initiative ‘Big Bangles Theory’……    

Well! We are happy to announce the launch of Big Bangles Theory. We suggest and request women to get our sizing kit and register their bangle size at our site either by requesting the sizing kit, sizing app or simply measuring a bangle that fits. We refund the cost of the kit as a coupon that can be applied towards their purchase. We hope to also offer Bangle designing services in the near future for a nominal fee. We have launched recycled bangles from San Diego, woven bracelets from Columbia and the rest is all handmade in India. A lot more to come.

Travel Beats is a digital publication by Indian Eagle, a leading travel booking partner of Indians in the USA. Travel Beats represents the Indian American community and caters the latest visa, immigration, travel, and community news to them. We at Indian Eagle not only strive to make US to India travel cheaper but also celebrate achievements of Indians in America and give a shout out to noble work by Indian philanthropists / social entrepreneurs in the US.

The post Interview: Indian American Uma Lakshman Saves Dying Crafts through Social Entrepreneurship appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Born and raised in Mumbai, Dipti Mehta is a celebrated Indian American actress and script writer in New York City. Smitten by the bug of acting at a tender age, Dipti chose light, camera, action and stage as her career forte despite having a PhD degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Arizona. From All India Radio to Indian TV shows to Bollywood to Cannes Film Festival, Dipti Mehta has constantly reinvented herself during her uphill journey in entertainment. Among the several theater credits in her repertoire are Yatra, Penumbra, Bollywood Wedding, Far Away, I Dream of Hope, The Black List, Golden Boy, Virrudh, and Summer of 2017. She is one of the few creative artists who pursue philanthropy through passion. Dipti Mehta’s “Honor: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan,” a one-woman theater show, is garnering accolades across the United States.

Indian Eagle catches up with New York-based actor Dipti Mehta to share with you her journey from India to USA, her tryst with reality, her passion for acting, her creative work on mass awareness about sex trafficking, her life in Mumbai and career in the US through a scintillating interview at Travel Beats, a leading Indian American community portal.

IE. How did theater happen to you at a very young age?

The first stage play I was cast in happened to me when I was 6, and I had a blast. Then I was cast in school plays regularly. In the 4^th grade I was asked to direct a class play on Radha and Krishna. I enjoyed it immensely, and there was no looking back. I was too young to understand the word ‘calling’ then, but I discovered my passion, my calling and my forte when I was 6.

IE. You got trained in Kathak and Bharatanatyam while pursuing PhD in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Arizona. How did you balance the two different pursuits: fine arts and academics?

I was an international student at the University of Arizona. When you don’t have social obligations or your family, you have a lot of free time. Opposed to what people think you do have time as a PhD student and you can pursue your interests. And I couldn’t study 24/7; I needed some artistic outlet in my life to keep me sane. I had always wanted to learn Kathak but never had enough time while in Mumbai; so when I found out these classes in Arizona, I enrolled right away. I took lessons on Theater Jazz, modern dancing, Flamenco and Salsa alongside Kathak and Bharatnatyam. I was doing that just for fun. Still I am mostly a Bollywood dancer.

IE. Would you like to walk us through your journey from your career on stage to your debut film as a lead?

I did not choose stage. Rather stage chose me. It may sound a cliché. I was good at being other people but before I went to films I discovered radio. Once again you could say Radio chose me. I am very good at following up. So when the executive officer from All India Radio asked me to call her, I did. Then she asked me to write something and bring it in, well I did. That was how I became a regular artist on All India Radio, AM section until one day I found out radio jockey auditions for FM. I went for it and got selected. And then I was a regularly aired voice on FM. That opened doors to voice over and hosting big events. Then acting came my way. It was my goal to be a Bollywood actress. I tried to make it big in Bollywood but all I was able to do were some cameos. At one point I began to feel like my talent was not being noticed. That time I decided to move to New York. And the first audition I went for was a short film, which I booked. The second one was also a short film, “Life! Camera Action,” which ended up being a feature length film and getting me 3 awards for the best actress out of 11 nominations. Since then things have looked up. I do still desire to work in Bollywood films. However I will continue working in the United States until I am noticed and recognized for my talent in Bollywood.

IE. “Life! Camera Action…,” your debut film as a lead actress, was screened at several reputed international film festivals including the New York Indian Film Festival, and awarded in different categories. Even your work was critically acclaimed. Did your life change following the success of “Life! Camera Action…”?

The film’s success showed my success. I knew that I had it in me, but now the world knew. It made me grounded and confident. I got more offers from other directors who either knew Rohit or anyone else connected to the film or had seen my work in the film.  It does not mean that I don’t give auditions. I still do. And I still work hard on each project that is offered to me.  While my life changed and I started getting more work, I didn’t take success for granted. As they say, “yesterday’s success is today’s ego-trip”. I want to keep my feet on the ground; so I try my best to keep my work sacred. In that regard not much has changed about who I am as an actor.

IE. You have essayed multiple different characters, to say Priya in “Yatra,” Nisha in “Bollywood Wedding,” Reina in “Life! Camera Action…,” Krishna in “Penumbra,” and Gauri in “Victory”. Which character is very close to your heart? 

They are all unique and have something special about them. It’s hard to pick favorites. Reina was my first full-fledged role in my debut feature film, “Life! Camer Action…. Naturally this character will always remain special. Priya was based on a real person of flesh and blood who I know; so I connect to playing Priya in a more visceral way. Nisha was so much fun. Krishna was a complicated character that lived in the imagination of the other actor and she presented a unique challenge and so was very special. Gauri was the first character I enjoyed playing in a big Bollywood production with few of my favorite actors.  To be honest, they are all special in their own ways.

IE. Have you ever experienced ‘culture shock’ or socio-cultural differences while working with American actors, filmmakers or producers?

Not really. I had already spent some time here as a PhD student, so it was not like I was transitioning cold to the entertainment industry. People are just people, and I have been treated with a lot of respect and dignity on every set I have been on.

IE. Your one-woman show, “Honor: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan,” is winning hearts across the United States. Do please brief us about the story. And, how was the story seeded into your mind?

I moved to New York in 2009 and found that there was not much work for a woman of color. Diversity conversations were still only beginning in the industry. I am not one to sit waiting with my hands folded.  I had to take action. So I started writing a show. I have been a feminist all my life and write about women’s issues. Sex trafficking is an issue that I feel strongly about. The mystery around these women who are in red light districts intrigued me. I could not understand why prostitutes were bad women, and why red light districts were bad neighborhoods. So I figured I would write about them. “HONOUR: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan” is a coming of age story set in a red light district of South Mumbai. The show is an attempt to break social stigma around the people living in these areas. Rani who has just turned 16 desires a normal life, and ‘Honour’ is a heart-touching story of her attempts to change her circumstances.

IE. There are many books, films and plays on the gloomy lives of sex workers and the evils of sex trafficking. What distinguishes “Honor: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan” from the lot? I mean its exclusivity.

I would have to say its individuality. While there have been a lot of books, films and plays on the lives of sex workers, HONOUR is a unique portrayal of humanity that exists in brothels. In your question you have used the words “gloomy” and “evils”, HONOUR showcases the love, laughter, hopes and dreams that also reside in brothels. HONOUR is not judging these people, but merely trying to break the social stigma around them by softening the audience’s hearts.

IE. Many Indian women or brides on H4 visa find their lives in the US meaningless and insubstantial. Their misery and helplessness has been talked and written about in the media. What’s your take (view) on this issue?

The fact that they cannot work is really disturbing. In most cases these women are talented, intelligent and highly educated. To deprive them of the right to work is like taking away their soul from them. When one becomes dependent, one starts to lose the sense of self, sense of choice, freedom and the ability to be a meaningful contributor to the family and society. My view is that laws should be changed.  These women should be allowed to have choices and freedom to work. It would be so beneficial for the USA itself. I am surprised that the lawmakers don’t see the damage in not allowing talented, qualified Indian women on H4 visas to work in the US.

IE. You worked at All India Radio, acted in Bollywood films and appeared in Hindi TV shows. How challenging or difficult was it to create your identity as an individual artist thousands of miles away from India?

Markets in both countries work very differently. I had to learn the rules of the market here. I didn’t have any connections here. In India I had been working since I was a kid, and so things automatically came to me. I didn’t have to work hard to get jobs in India. Here I didn’t have representation for a year or so and then casting directors were still not aware of my abilities. Speaking of abilities and talent as Indians we are very expressive and culturally very big. One would think just scaling down would be an answer but that is not the truth. I would essay roles very easily in films of South Asian origin, but other projects were challenging. So I started studying and fortunately found some amazing acting coaches that I continue to study with. I am constantly working on my voice, my accent and my acting abilities. I think I still have a long road ahead of me.

IE. Would you ever like to make a film or stage a play on hate crimes against minority communities in the United States?

Now you got me thinking. Perhaps I should write about it.

IE. What makes it possible for you to pursue philanthropy through passion?

HONOUR did not start out as a philanthropic piece, but as the play developed I realized that I had to connect the dots. I reached out to ApneAap and met with Ruchira Gupta. I wanted to offer part of the proceeds to them and ApneAap is doing such amazing work. I am grateful to collaborate with them.  Yes, HONOUR makes it possible to pursue philanthropy through passion.

IE. It is said that an artist is never satisfied with himself / herself. Is it true about you?

It is very true about me. I am always on the edge when it comes to improving my work, my character portrayal, scripts, etc. We just did some massive changes in our set and choreography this year. And there is more to come the next year. When I see myself on TV or in a film, I look for the areas of improvement in my work so that I can make it better the next time.

IE. Who or what inspires you to do better than the best in acting, filmmaking or script writing?

When I used to come first in school, my father would say, “The goal is not to come first by doing better than others. The goal is to compete with yourself so one day you might get 100% on that report card, and when you do, then it’s your job to see that so does everyone else.” My parents had a lot of faith in me. I am their life’s work and everything I do is to honor their memory, their life’s work. They are my eternal inspiration and strength.

Travel Beats is a digital publication by Indian Eagle, a leading travel booking partner of Indians in the USA. Travel Beats represents the Indian American community and caters the latest visa, immigration, travel, and community news to them. We at Indian Eagle not only strive to make US to India travel cheaper but also celebrate achievements of young Indians and give a shout out to noble work by Indian philanthropists / social activists in the US.

The post Interview: Award-winning Indian American Actress Dipti Mehta Pursues Philanthropy through Passion appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Kaanchan S Farkiya, an Indian TV actress, model and beauty queen who shifted to USA from India in 2005, brought honor to the Indian American community by winning the most coveted crown of Ms. Asian North America in 2016. A cultural and music-loving person, Kaanchan feels more responsible towards her community and committed towards society rather being lost in the glare of showbiz in India or USA. With an unshakable belief in Indian cultural values, she engages herself with community activities and services like food distribution at shelters for the homeless in and out of San Diego. She is also associated with California Community Colleges. In 2016, she bagged six subtitles including Mrs. Role Model of the Year 2016 and Mrs. People Choice 2016. Kaanchan has pledged to donate her eyes to an eye bank.

We at Travel Beats, a fast-growing Indian American community portal by IndianEagle, catch up with San Diego based beauty queen and social activist Kaanchan S Farkiya to share with you her views of women empowerment, socio-cultural difference, child trafficking in India, objectification of women in showbiz industry, her life in USA, etc. in the following interview.

IE: Winning an international beauty pageant is sort of empowerment for women. Do you feel empowered with the title “Ms. Asian North America” bestowed on you?

Absolutely, I am completely honored to earn the title “Ms. Asian North America” Queen. It’s a life changing experience. Every day when I wake up in the morning, it reminds me of my responsibilities and duties.

I have been getting tremendous love and support from people of different countries on my fan page. That makes me feel empowered with the title, and for the fact that I am on my way to make a difference in someone’s life, and it gives me a sense of fulfillment.

IE: How do you leverage your newly earned state of empowerment? I mean for what greater purposes….

We are all born with a purpose, and most of us have our own life goals.  My newly earned state of empowerment is not only helping me understand my perspective in life but also find out what those true significance and purpose are. I believe that whatever your goal is in your life, you have to be inspirational at the end of the day and I am trying to propel myself to a higher principle of life.

IE: It has been 10 years since you shifted to USA in 2005. How close are you to your roots? What makes you miss and connect with the things that you were fond of while in India?

Every culture has their own sets of values and I am proud to be close to my roots. According to the Vedas, most of ancient Indian traditions and rituals are based on science. It not only helps improve the lives of individuals but also forms a solid foundation & structure of our society. Also, I make sure that I represent my country as a good role model wherever I go.

I miss my precious moments of childhood. Watching my child growing every day brings back memories of my own childhood days and I am in regular touch with my parents back in India to relive those moments.

IE: Did you experience ‘culture shock’ due to socio-cultural differences between India and USA on initial days after you settled in San Diego?

Culture in US is very different from Indian culture. Every culture has some positive and interesting aspects, and I was mentally prepared to embrace this change.  I tend to adopt positive values and learn from adverse situations. I believe in improving and growing as a better person with the help of my experiences.

IE: How do you connect with the local Indian community in San Diego?

I think, networking is the best way to connect with any community. There are many local Indian communities in San Diego where I go to make a special appearance. I often represent Indian culture by doing fashion shows sponsored by different outfits and jewelry designers.

IE: You won a state level beauty pageant in India and became Ms. Asian North America in the United States. How different is the public outlook to this kind of achievement in USA from that in India?

I won the state level beauty pageant when I was a teen and right after that I started getting offers for TV serials and TV commercials. In India, I was more recognized as a TV artist. Now after becoming Ms. Asian North America, a much honorable title, I didn’t see much difference in public outlook. Only changes are that now I have fan followers on my Instagram and on my Facebook fan page as Kaanchan S Farkiya.

I am very thankful that I have been getting plenty of love and appreciation from my friends and fans in US as what I got from my family and friends in India.

IE: You worked in TV serials and commercial ads in India. In USA, you worked for child development as Vice President of Associated Student Council. How difficult was this career shift? Did you face any challenges during the transition?

Yes, of course it was a great change in my career. Indian TV Industry has quite different culture and I always loved everything about it. However, I never discussed to anybody about my previous career when I came to United States. Once, my son was born here and I couldn’t think of anything other than raising my son.

The position of Vice President gave me another chance to develop my intellect and I was recognized as a student leader which gave me strength to become voice for students and give back to our community. I loved both of my positons. I definitely got more work in terms of my duties as a queen now. Both careers made me understand about different societies and individuals. It was challenging however, my “learn every day from everything” attitude made my challenges easy.

IE: You were born and brought up in India. You are bringing up your only son thousands of miles away from India. How do you impart Indian cultural values to him?   

I was born into a family of nurturing and supportive parents who raised me for such values as integrity, responsibilities and gratitude. That’s why for me culture is most important for upbringing of children. It connects with your family when even you are away.

I always make sure that my son understands our primary language (Hindi). My son attends cultural and language classes weekly. My family and I spend quality time together and discuss cultural stories. I make sure that he understands importance of our rich ancient culture and heritage.

IE: These days, women are objectified in different walks of life, according to feminists. What do you think?

Objectification depends on individual’s beliefs and thinking. First, we should honor womanhood and should appreciate women’s mighty role, as the progenitor of life, as the wellspring of all virtues.

Second, every person has their own personality and dignity and they should be treated with all regards and respect whether they are men or women. As per my belief, both men and women are equal and they should get equal opportunities and it’s a fundamental human right.  It is also a required foundation for a harmonious, flourishing and sustainable world.

IE: India is still grappling with child trafficking and child abuse. How would you like to help India in its efforts to eradicate child trafficking and abuse?

Many organizations are working exclusively on the issue of trafficking in persons everywhere in the world. However, I would like to work proactively with NGO’s and connect with them to strengthen community-based child protection systems to prevent child trafficking and child abuse in India. I would like to create task forces, raise awareness in communities, and provide access to education.

It’s important to get support from trained government officials and local authorities. We need to increase the level of alertness among people and start more anti-human trafficking activities. Counseling to young vulnerable children, immigrants, and needy people can make them aware of the risks.

There should be combined efforts of community leaders, organizations and law enforcement agencies. Still, we need support from government leaders who can prevent child trafficking and abuse in the country by strengthening laws, policies and services. Improvement of organized action on trafficking worldwide and a staunch global data can help international organizations and governments to fight against trafficking completely.

IE: Any message would you like to give for today’s career women and ambitious girls?

My message to all women and girls is, “Believe in what you are and what you can be.” You only need to recognize your strength, learn from your mistakes, work on it and reach your goals.

Travel Beats is a digital publication by IndianEagle, a leading travel organization for Indians in USA. Travel Beats represents the Indian American community and publishes their news as well as stories. It also celebrates the achievements of young Indians and publishes features on philanthropists as well as social activists from Indian Diaspora.

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“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” That’s what 22-year-old Indian American philanthropist Anish Patel from New Jersey believes in. He formed Uplift Humanity India, a New York-based non-profit organization, in 2010. Since then he has been working for the rehabilitation of juvenile inmates and orphans in India. He and his team of young volunteers from across USA have been making difference in the lives of the underprivileged in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat with various educational programs. The story of what motivated the then 16-year-old Anish Patel to work for upliftment of juvenile criminals in India is truly inspirational.

Indian Eagle catches up with Anish Patel, the founder of Uplift Humanity India, to share with you his journey as a young philanthropist from USA to India, his rehabilitation programs and his milestones in philanthropy in the following interview at Travel Beats, a community portal for Indian Diaspora.

IE: We know the story behind the inception of Uplift Humanity India. What appealed to you so strikingly at the age of only 16 on a summer day in India that you formed Uplift Humanity India, a non-profit organization?

Anish: I don’t think there was one striking event; it was the realization that something needed to be done. As a kid, I used to travel to India every summer, so I was immersed in the culture and knew more about the social problems than most American kids. I felt a sense of responsibility – or duty – to do something. Most people are intrigued that I chose to work with juveniles and orphans. People were surprised; they would say, “Why work with kids who have committed a crime?” But that’s the very reason I wanted to work with that sector of the population. If no one was going to help them, how would they learn to improve and to be productive members of society?

IE: How supportive were or have your parents been during your journey as a philanthropist?

Anish: My parents have been very supportive. My dad’s an entrepreneur so he is familiar with the challenges of starting a business and growing it from the ground up. My mom is also supportive, but just like every mother, she gets stressed when she sees me working so hard late at night. It’s cute.

IE: What role do you play in the current functioning and projects of Uplift Humanity India?

Anish: I’m the CEO, so my role ranges from managing our day-to-day tasks to providing strategic guidance for our directors and volunteers. Sometimes I enjoy taking a step back and watching the team drive the strategy, other times I like to get my hands dirty.

IE: You have built a community of volunteers from across USA to work on your missions in India. How did you approach them to travel thousands of miles to India and convince them about your non-profit projects?

Anish: Looking back, one of the hardest things in the beginning was recruiting students to volunteer with us. It was challenging to gain the trust of parents – parents didn’t want to send their kids 8,000 miles away to volunteer for a few weeks. When we first started, we went and put up flyers in libraries, grocery stores, community centers, and even local coffee shops. It was the combination of that and social media that helped us find our first batch of our students to India. But marketing the program became much easier after the first year. After volunteers returned from the first trip, word just spread naturally. Students actively wanted to volunteer with us because they themselves wanted to make an impact.

IE: Who would you like to thank the most for the milestones you have achieved in your philanthropic pursuits till date?

Anish: I think my team. I don’t think I say thank you to them enough. We work so hard that at times we don’t stop to reflect back on all that we have done. I’m so grateful for the amazing team that runs Uplift. Whether they work in our admin team or are one our teachers on-site – each and every person plays a special role behind the success of Uplift Humanity.

IE: Over the past six years, 250 volunteers from USA participated in rehabilitation programs for over 500 juvenile inmates at the Indian centers of Uplift Humanity. What challenges or difficulties have you faced till date to make it possible? 

Anish: Funding is still one of the biggest challenges for us. We could do so much more with more funding. Every dollar that we raise goes directly to funding our education efforts in India. While funding is hard for every nonprofit, I think it is especially challenging for us. Our team consists mostly of younger individuals, and I think others are hesitant to donate to us because of that. They think we might be inexperienced. But I think our young team is the secret sauce behind Uplift’s success. Every person that works for us is so unbelievably smart, passionate, and hardworking. 

IE: You have chosen education as the medium of rehabilitation as you believe that education is a right, not privilege. What kind of educational programs do you conduct to rehabilitate the socio-economically challenged children in India? 

Anish: We have several programs at Uplift. We first started with our life skills program, a curriculum in which we empower our students by teaching them skills like anger management, self-esteem development, how to deal with peer pressure, and other necessary skills. Through these skills, our students learn how to successfully assimilate back into society and be productive members of their community. We also launched our Academic Program this year, where we teach spoken English and provide vocational training. The Academic Program has quickly turned into one of the most important things that we do at Uplift. By teaching our students how to speak English, we’re providing them with the skills necessary to receive employment. 

IE: What are the parameters to measure the improvement of children at juvenile centers or orphanages during year-round academic programs or special summer programs? 

Anish: Everything must be measured. At Uplift, we regularly provide progress checks and exams to ensure that no child is left behind, and that our programs are as effective as possible. Our exams are both verbal and written, to ensure that our students are able to communicate the material they learned through a variety of ways. Every year, we update and make changes to our curriculum, innovating to make sure our programs are even more powerful. 

IE: Is there any special curriculum for the juvenile inmates and underprivileged children with learning or development disability? 

Anish: At this time, we don’t work with students who are disabled. We’ve been focusing our efforts to at-risk youth – kids who are either behind bars or in orphanages. We believe that the more narrow our focus, the more effective and targeted our programs are. 

IE: How do the US-based volunteers from a different socio-cultural background connect with the juvenile inmates or orphans in India? do they themselves undergo any training before traveling to India and work in the projects of Uplift Humanity India? 

Anish: We actually don’t provide much training to our volunteers. We allow our volunteers to be natural and unfiltered – it allows them to create these unforgettable bonds with the students. It’s really amazing. What people don’t understand is that these kids we are teaching are just kids. That means many of the same problems, like bullying or peer-pressure, that our students in India may face, are also the same problems that our volunteers face. One would think that these kids would not be able to relate to each other, but in reality, they are able to build such strong bonds. By the end of the trip, they are calling each other “bhai” and “bhen”, which really signifies how closely they have connected.  

IE: What happens to or becomes of the children after the educational programs are over? George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, an early 20^th century drama, reminded me of this question to you. In the play, an eminent professor of phonetics picked a girl from a slum and taught her the refined art of speaking and the gentle manners of a civilized society without thinking what she would do once the training was over. It was not possible for the girl to go back to the slum and live her previous life.   

 Anish: What is great about our programs is that we are constantly looking at the end goal, which is employment. We don’t want to just stop at education; we want them to ultimately find personal success and be productive citizens. Once we educate our students with the necessary skills, we work to bridge the gap to ensure they don’t revert to criminal activity as a source of income. In other words, we want to make sure that our students are able to find jobs right after they are released. To us, that is success.    

IE: Something about the future plans and goals of Uplift Humanity India.

 Anish: We’re constantly looking to expand. We’ve done so much in the past six years, but we have so much more to do. Our team gets so excited every time we launch a new program or a new city to work in. For us, we want to start working in more cities across India, and educate even more juveniles and orphans. Even though it’s not about the numbers for us, we’re constantly looking for innovative and sustainable ways to grow.

Travel Beats is a community portal by Indian Eagle, a leading travel organization for Indians in USA. Indian Eagle connects with Indian Americans and connects them with India through NRI news, editorial features and interviews on Travel Beats. As part of its CSR activity, Indian Eagle writes about philanthropists and social activists from the Indian community to promote their contributions towards community development, social progress and Humanity.

The post Interview: 22-year-old Indian American Anish Patel, Uplift Humanity India Founder from New Jersey appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

A first-generation Indian American in Los Angeles, Anisha Adusumilli is an actor, filmmaker and storyteller. An artist from a young age, Anisha is a known face in American film and television. Being a creative expressionist in singing and dancing, she chose a lesser-trodden path to carve a niche for herself. On completion of her business and theatre studies at the University of California, she took up acting and tasted success in it. Anisha’s journey from acting in Fox’s New Girl, CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NBC’s Heartbeat has hit a new track with her directorial debut, First Date, a short film.

IndianEagle catches up with Los Angeles-based actor and filmmaker Anisha Adusumilli to share with you her views of the first-generation Indians in America, her work experience with Americans, her memories of trips to India, women-related issues, socio-cultural differences, etc. in the following interview at Travel Beats, a thriving Indian American community portal.

IE: First Date is your first directorial venture. As the title suggests, the short film is about dating. Please throw some light on the story and what inspired you to work on it.

Anisha: It’s really a story about two people who begin dating knowing that they are already locked into get married. So there’s a certain freedom built in to the situation in that they can each truly be themselves from the get go instead of having to put their best foot forward and hope that someone will stick around as often happens in the modern dating world. It was inspired by my mother after she had put me on some Indian matrimony sites without my knowledge. And I kind of ran with the idea of a female character that had a closeted side of her personality that could only be exposed to the person who is meant to be her husband.

IE: Your directorial debut screened at Broad Humor Film Festival and Portland Film Festival this year. What was the public response?

Anisha: I think it’s misleading from the beginning. People don’t really know what to expect when it first starts, it seems like a nice evening between two mild-mannered individuals and then there’s an unexpected twist that happens pretty early on. So I think people are kind of shocked and then they start laughing and then it just becomes an enjoyable ride. Most people have been super kind and complimentary. And some can relate to the experience. I love it when I hear that. And then some just think it’s a little weird … like my mom!

IE: There are many dating apps and websites these days. Do any of them really help eligible bachelors with their quest for right life mates in the virtual world? (What do you think?)

Anisha: Definitely. It’s another way to guys/girls to meet people they might not ordinarily connect with. I think the key is to move beyond the virtual space and meet the real 3-D person. That’s the trap I’d say for a lot of the matches parents want to arrange for their kids…Potential partners seem so great on paper but getting along in person is a whole different story.  All parties have to keep their expectations realistic until some quality in-person time happens.

IE: Would you like to brief us on how the first-generation Indian Americans date in USA?

Anisha: It’s a mixed bag I would say. There’s the typical American culture way of dating – meeting through shared environments, mutual friends, or online dating. And then I think there’s the Indian side that some may be open to like conferences or parent introductions or other Indian networking events that people go to with a bit of the “I am keeping my eyes open for my future wife/husband mentality” that is drilled into us (mainly by our relatives).  At the end of the day most first generation Indians I know are actually very open-minded and understand our cultural expectations and looming deadlines that hang over our heads, but also know that finding a partner will happen when it’s meant to and how it’s meant to.

IE: Have you ever been to India? Would you like to share with us what you found the best or liked the most there? I mean what sticks to your mind even after return to USA. Something memorable about India…

Anisha: Yes I grew up going to India throughout my life – either for family weddings or various vacations. One of my favorite trips was when my family and I toured through Kerala. I loved seeing Munnar and the gorgeous landscapes there. Seeing the tea tree workers on the roadsides was really special. They were so sweet and friendly. That place is truly heaven on earth. It’s fun to get connected to my history; it awakens a huge curiosity and connected feeling within me.

IE: What cultural differences do you find between India and the Indians in USA?

Anisha: There’s a different sense of community I feel when I’m in India. Neighbors are like family or your neighbors literally are your family. They look out for each other more.  I actively try to create community here in Los Angeles with Indians in the business. It’s not automatic but it doesn’t exist automatically.

IE: What challenges or difficulties did you face while wearing the hat of a filmmaker for the first time? 

Anisha: Organizing all of the logistic details for my shoot seemed overwhelming before the actual day. Locations, hiring people, being camera-ready, etc. is a lot to manage but it’s doable. And I’ve learned that if you have great, competent people around it will all work out.  The challenges and hiccups are all a necessary part of the filmmaking process – makes for good laughs after it’s all said and done!

IE: You have acted in short films, theater plays and a few American TV series. What is more challenging and exciting to you: acting or filmmaking? I mean what gives you more goosebumps. 

Anisha: I love all of it. Every part I get is thrilling for me and helps me grow. I truly love filmmaking though.  It empowers me even more than when I am only acting. It’s my words, my vision, my blood, sweat and tears that has transformed into a finished product. It’s super rewarding and humbling because it takes a village. I would never be able to do it alone.  That collaboration gives me the goosebumps.

IE: Do you think that you are privileged being a first-generation Indian American?

Anisha: Absolutely. I honestly don’t know that I would have been able to devote myself 100% to a creative profession if I was raised in India. I probably would have followed in my parents footsteps and become a Doctor or maybe a teacher just because the profession doesn’t seem as accessible there. I’m so lucky for the opportunity and accessibility I have being a first-generation Indian American. It’s a really exciting time for us here and there’s a whole movement of stories being told all about it right now. And the best part is that we don’t have to wait for anyone to give us the opportunity – we can create everything ourselves and reach so many people through all of the different online media platforms nowadays.  I’m so happy to be a part of that.

IE: Have you ever experienced ‘culture shock’ while working with American actors and filmmakers? Or, your socio-cultural differences with them (if there is any) are natural to you since you were born and brought up in America? 

Anisha: No, I feel I am able to easily adapt to any cast and crew.  Cultural differences have never been a barrier; it usually just comes down to people’s overall attitudes. It is essential that people are positive and patient on sets. So much goes wrong, that you have to remain a team during the process. It gets hard when someone has a sour attitude – that’s the only shock I tend to experience on set. It’s supposed to be fun!

IE: Would you ever be interested to work in Bollywood, either as an actor or filmmaker or scriptwriter?

Anisha: Yes I would love to do all of those things! The more creative experiences I can have, the better!  I’ve also got to perform a big Bollywood musical number at least once in my life!

IE: Which Indian actors would you like to work with, if you ever make a film in India or a core India-related subject?

Anisha: I honestly don’t have a specific actor in mind. I would love to work with any talented actor who is super passionate about acting and loves the collaborative storytelling process. That’s it. Magic will happen if that spirit is present within an actor.

IE: There are many women-related issues in India and other developing countries. Do you play with the idea of making a film on gender violence, women empowerment or girls’ education for mass awareness?

Anisha: Yes. I have already been involved with a couple projects dealing with women-related issues. I acted in a PSA for SAHARA – a South Asian helpline and referral agency for abused women in Southern California and also narrated a documentary called ‘Mission Save Her – The Sandya’s Story – Project Save Her’ which brings awareness to human trafficking in India.  I personally would love to begin creating some sort of scholarship opportunities or program for young girls in India who are interested in exploring creative professions more in depth and provide some real-world training and mentorship opportunities for them.

IE: Who is / are your favorite among the Indian actors and filmmakers in Hollywood like Priyanka Chopra, Deep Mehta, Manoj Shymalan, Mira Nair, Kal Penn, Mindy Kaling, Irrfan Khan, Frieda Pinto, Aasif Mandvi, and Dev Patel?

Anisha: I appreciate all of them. They have paved the way and knocked down lots of doors for us following in their footsteps and creating our own paths. I have a special love for Mira Nair as her movies were the first Indian ones I saw when I was a little girl.  I also love all of the Indian females who are breaking through in Hollywood. I’m so happy for them and proud of them. They’ve been great role models and have represented us well, but there’s always room for more. I hope to be right beside them one day soon.

Travel Beats is a digital publication by IndianEagle, a leading travel partner of Indians in USA. IndianEagle connects with Indian Americans through NRI news, editorial features and interviews on Travel Beats. As part of its CSR activity, IndianEagle publishes stories of philanthropists, social activists and young Indians to promote their contributions towards community development, social progress and Humanity.

The post Interview: Indian American TV Actor-Filmmaker Anisha Adusumilli Tells Stories Globally with Passion appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“Even a small stone cast across the water can create ripples.” That is what 17-year-old Indian American Afeef Sheikh from Washington believes in. A crusader of literacy and young philanthropist, Afeef strives to make the best of technology for the benefit of humans, environment and the planet. One of the speakers at the 2016 TEDx Redmond, he is on a mission to help the needy and underprivileged children with learning materials across USA and developing countries including India. The US Department of Defense invited him to give a presentation on his cost-effective solution for amputees with rehabilitation challenges, which has fetched him several prestigious awards and titles at this young age.

IndianEagle catches up with Washington-based Afeef Sheikh, the founder of the Literary Crusade and the recipient of the 2016 American Junior Academy of Sciences Award, to share with you what keeps him on the go as a philanthropist, his views on the use of technology for noble purposes, and his inventions for the welfare of communities in the following interview at Travel Beats, a digital publication for Indian Diaspora.

IE.  Would you like to brief us about the Literacy Crusade and its mission?

Afeef Sheikh: On February 4th, 2015, I founded a global initiative, The Literacy Crusade, with the intention of promoting literacy and a thirst for knowledge among underprivileged children and youth. Through The Literacy Crusade, I have experienced the challenges and struggles that children face across the world, and have come to realize that education can break the cycle of poverty and transform lives.

The Literacy Crusade has donated over 2,500 books, notebooks, writing instruments, backpacks, and desks to schools, orphanages, hospitals, and libraries across USA, Africa, Syria, India, Nepal, and Pakistan to help disadvantaged, at-risk, and autistic children.  The initiative has funded school transportation projects in India, and sponsored annual tuition fees of needy children in Pakistan. Over 150 young readers locally have benefited from the classroom reading sessions.

The Literacy Crusade has empowered selfless individuals across the globe to make an impact in their local communities. We have appointed Global Champions in USA, Canada, China, and India. We also have a dedicated leadership team and student volunteer body at my high school. The Literacy Crusade has partnered with Project Launchpad, Hope Festival Foundation, and Sammamish Nourishing Network to increase its reach. Acknowledging these efforts, the SAMMI Awards Foundation recognized me as the 2016 Youth Spirit Honoree.

IE.  Who or what motivated you to initiate such a noble campaign only at the age of 16?

Afeef Sheikh: Newton’s law of inertia states that an object at rest stays at rest, unless acted upon by an external force. My external force came in the summer of 2012 (at the age of 13) when I had gone to visit my grandparents in New Delhi, India. I remember we had just had a very satisfying lunch at a popular restaurant and sat down in our car to drive back home. As I put on my seatbelt, I noticed a boy who could not have been more than a year younger than me. He had tattered clothes, dirt-covered skin, and a somber look on his face. He was probably homeless. Before I could react we began to drive away. As the distance between us grew, I saw his skinny hand reach out in our direction. I knew he wanted anything: food, money, a change from the difficult life he was living. As he slowly faded from sight, I made a promise to myself. No matter what it took, no matter who it was, and no matter how little I could do, I would reach back. On February 4th, 2015, I founded a global initiative, The Literacy Crusade, with the intention of promoting literacy and a thirst for knowledge among underprivileged children and youth.

IE.  You were recently invited to speak at the annual conference of the 2016 TEDx Redmond. How was your experience? 

Afeef Sheikh: Since I feel so passionately about The Literacy Crusade, I decided to share my journey and learnings at the TEDxYouth Redmond platform to inspire others. It’s a sense of purpose that created an energy boost not only for myself, but for the audience as well. Overall the experience was very engaging and fulfilling. I am motivated to give a TED Talk in the future.

IE.  What should be the ideal role of technology in human life or the welfare of human beings, according to you?

Afeef Sheikh: This era is called the ‘Age of Technology’. Today technology is present in every walk of our life, be it in business, education, communication, human relationships, transportation, banking, buying etc. It is helping us accomplish our daily jobs, and in performing better. Technology is adding value to our lives, and simplifying it. For the youth especially, technology has become an important tool in the education, social, and employment world.

While technology has transformed our lives enormously, it should never take us away for being humans. For instance, while email has become a common and quick way of communication, it can never replace the merits of face to face communication sealed with a hug or handshake. Technology has changed the way we interact, but it should not make us impersonal.

However, as the world is developing, technology is also changing. What works today might not be efficient tomorrow. Therefore, we have to learn to embrace new and emerging technologies.

IE.  You have donated books and writing materials to the orphan children of a remote village school in West Bengal. How do you reach out to the needy and evaluate their genuine needs? 

Afeef Sheikh: Tipligheri is a remote island village in the dense Sunderbaans mangrove forests of West Bengal, India. The only link between this village and the outside world is through small boats. The jungles are home to the famous Bengal tigers and crocodiles. Many of the children in this village have lost a parent due to the frequent tiger and crocodile attacks. Their first priority is survival, and access to educational materials is extremely limited. The Literacy Crusade partnered with Amrita-Seattle, a non-profit organization that works in West Bengal to deliver colored picture books and pencils to the children studying in the Tipligheri Primary School.

Perhaps the most gratifying moment was when you realized that your small effort has fueled the imagination of these children, and hopefully opened a window to a new world through the medium of books.

IE.  How do you raise funds to help underprivileged children with tuition fees and learning materials? 

Afeef Sheikh: Funds to date have typically been raised through generous donations by family members, friends, and community members. Initially when I started out I put all my personal savings to buy reading and writing materials. Through The Literacy Crusade Club at my high school, we are now planning to organize formal fundraising events. In the near future I intend to register my initiative as a non-profit organization so that we can receive contributions from companies.

IE.  You have designed a cost-effective alternative solution to help amputees with rehabilitation challenges. Please share a brief about your invention.

Afeef Sheikh: There are an estimated ten million amputees in the world. In the United States, over 185,000 amputations are performed annually and approximately two million people need prosthetics. Individuals who lose access to their upper limbs have their lives substantially changed and need assistance to cope with their new lifestyle. Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS) is the perception of sensations, often including pain, in an arm or leg long after the limb has been amputated. This syndrome is relatively common in amputees, especially in the early months and years after limb loss. Mirror therapy, a present method of rehabilitation, is estimated to be only 60% effective in upper limb amputees while also requiring expensive equipment and monitoring by a caretaker or technician.

I researched at the University of Washington to design a modern, affordable, effective and accessible alternative solution to address the rehabilitation challenges associated with PLS.  Using the power of emerging technology such as Augmented Reality (AR) coupled with open source software, such as Unity3D and Vuforia, and commonly used devices like cellphones and computers, the prototype can read muscle activity and create an onscreen image of a virtual hand in place-of the individual’s lost hand and can mimic basic hand movements through the use of an AR camera. Possible subconscious psychological benefits may include helping the brain reconnect with the nerves at the amputation site and alleviate unnecessary sensations.

IE.  How effective is the device for Phantom Limb Syndrome (PLS)? Has it been officially recognized?  

Afeef Sheikh: Due to legal restrictions of me being under the age of 18, the efficacy of this solution cannot be tested on human subjects. This system is currently being forwarded to qualified individuals who have the necessary credentials to test the solution on patients.

I have showcased my solution at several engineering competitions. Recognizing its potential impact in treating war injuries, the U.S. Department of Defense invited me to present my work at the National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium in Dayton, Ohio. This has given me with the necessary impetus to develop further.

I received the 2017 Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS) Finalist Award, along with first place awards at the 2016 Washington State Science & Engineering Fair, and the 2016 Junior Science & Humanities Symposium. Additionally, I have received multiple honorable mentions, scholarships, and science excellence awards including most innovative project for humanity.

IE.  You have also developed a business model to cut energy consumption in households. What is the potential of this energy-saving solution in the coming days? 

Afeef Sheikh: Protecting the environment is something that I care about deeply. Leveraging the learnings of my environmental engineering course, I developed a business model to advocate green behavior in the residential market through the use of Energy Service Performance Contracting (ESPC).

The solution aims to provide homeowners with a comprehensive all-in-one improvement approach, and energy savings without upfront capital expenses. It offers residential energy audit, and finance loans for energy efficient improvements such as air conditioning, lighting, windows, insulation, solar panels, and water conservation etc. Approximately 20% can be saved on annual utility bills, and over the 7 to 8 years that a typical family lives in a home, one can save thousands of dollars in maintenance cost.

The environmental benefits of this solution include reduced carbon emissions, reduced GHG emissions across the board, environmental preservation, protection of certain species (ex: polar bears), better waste management, and preventing air pollution as the energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels.

The model was showcased at the 2016 Imagine Tomorrow competition, and won first place in the McKinstry Built Environment challenge. The solution was found viable by the contractors and individuals in the field.

IE. What challenges or difficulties have you faced during your journey of literacy crusade, community work and technological experiments till date? How did you overcome them (if any)?

Afeef Sheikh: The biggest challenge probably has been in managing the demands of a highly rigorous academic curriculum at school (majorly comprising of Advanced Placement/ College Level courses), and the rest of the extracurricular activities (research, community outreach, student board leadership duties, internships, business competitions, rowing etc.). Along the way I have encountered many obstacles, and have tasted both success and failure. However, I learnt that I had the courage to step outside my comfort zone and take risks. Only when you push yourself beyond the limits of your physical capability, you can achieve extraordinary results.

IE.  Any future project or plan that you are eying on…

Afeef Sheikh: My immediate goal is to get accepted to a good college that offers a solid engineering and research program. This will nurture my desire to learn further, to connect with great minds who are contributing to our world in different ways, and encourage me to take risks and go beyond defined boundaries. I hope to build useful solutions in the future that can help in transforming lives.

Travel Beats is a digital publication by IndianEagle, a leading travel organization for Indians in USA. IndianEagle connects with Indian Americans and connects them with India through NRI news, editorial features and interviews on Travel Beats. As part of its CSR activity, IndianEagle writes about philanthropists and social activists from the Indian community to promote their contributions towards community development, social progress and Humanity.

The post Interview: 17-year-old Indian American Afeef Sheikh, the Literacy Crusade Founder in Washington appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Dr. Kakoli Mitra, a multilingual molecular biophysicist having Ph.D. from Yale University, is one of the leading Indian American philanthropists, social activists, environmentalists and innovators. She is the founder of CEO of Śramani Institute, a non-profit organization, which works to solve five major human-ecological challenges in India and the US. A noted name among the Indians in the Washington DC Metro area, Dr. Mitra has two decades of excellence in highly inter-disciplinary scientific innovation. She is a published author with several articles to her credit in some of the best science journals and a keynote speaker on existential sustainability, innovation and likes at many prestigious universities as well as institutions across the world.

IndianEagle catches up with Dr Kakoli Mitra to share with you her insightful views on threats to human existence and possible solutions, increasing homelessness and food waste in USA, poverty and environmental degradation in India, how her organization works with tribal communities in India, how to prevent identity loss of immigrants and other such crucial facets in the following interview at Travel Beats, a digital publication for Indian Diaspora.

Share something about the mission of the Śramani Institute.

All over the world today billions of people face widespread poverty, disease & ill-health, environmental degradation, violence & unrest, and identity loss. At the Śramani Institute we call these the 5 Major Human-Ecological Challenges. We human beings have created these challenges, because of the way in which we have over-exploited the earth and certain human communities over the past few centuries. These challenges are all inter-linked. So to effectively solve any one of these major challenges in the long-term we must tackle all of them together. It is the mission of the Śramani Institute to generate and implement sustainable and equitable solutions that are effective in the long-term to solve the 5 major human-ecological challenges simultaneously.

Who or what motivated you to found the Śramani Institute?

As a child I attended a number of schools in different countries in Europe, North America, and Asia, having to learn each local language so I could keep up in class. What struck me was that even though the cultures and the Knowledge & Technologies (KT) of each of the communities we lived in were very different, we were taught pretty much the same syllabus in every country. Everywhere I went to school or university, we were taught to value and promote the culture and KT originating in Europe and North America, while disparaging other types of cultures and KT. Even though I come from India, a country that is home to the oldest, most scientifically advanced civilizations in the world, my people and our knowledge were disregarded as primitive, irrelevant, and unscientific in schools and universities in Europe, North America, and sadly, even in India.

Already in my teens I felt passionately that I had to do something concrete to counter this intolerance towards diversity and this unwillingness to believe in the capabilities of all human beings, regardless of their color. Alongside my training and service as a scientist (at Yale University, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NYU, etc.) and later as an Intellectual Property attorney, I conducted independent, scholarly field research to develop a comprehensive framework for what would later become the Śramani Institute. I found that just as we need genetic diversity to survive as living beings, we need diversity in cultures and Knowledge & Technologies (KT) to ensure our survival in the face of economic, environmental, and cultural changes and disasters. And so I founded the Śramani Institute in 2010 with the objective of revitalizing the KT of various communities, especially tribal communities, across the world and empowering innovators from tribal, rural, and urban communities to work together to use a diverse range of KT to solve the 5 Major Human-Ecological Challenges.

What challenges did you face during or after the inception of the Śramani Institute?

I have faced many challenges when and since I founded the Śramani Institute. The first was that I was a full-time attorney in the US regularly working 10-12 hour a day but that the fieldwork we were doing was in several states of India. Since I personally trained and oversaw my staff in India and initiated fieldwork with new tribal communities myself, I had to stay awake most nights videoconferencing from the US to India, devote all my weekends to working remotely with my staff, and travel to India whenever I could accumulate enough leave. So for several years I had been holding down two full-time jobs with little sleep and no down time. Every second was worth it though, because we were making significant long-term change in the lives of people who had been sidelined and neglected for decades.

The second challenge I faced was money. My objective was to develop our new methods, refine our innovative approach, and prove our ground-breaking concepts before approaching governments, foundations, and philanthropists for funding. So I saved every penny from my own salary and paid the salaries of my staff in India from my own pocket, set up community funds for the tribal communities we worked with, paid for our equipment, fieldwork and travel expenses, research and infrastructure costs, conference and workshop hosting costs, and the administrative fees. Eventually, when in 2014 I decided to devote myself full-time to growing the Śramani Institute in India and the US, all of the institution’s expenses came out of my personal savings.

My third challenge has been to convince those who believe disenfranchised communities can only be helped through the charity of governments, NGOs and individuals that these communities can in fact be empowered to be self-reliant and come up with their own solutions to have a higher Quality of Life. Gradually, as we show how remarkably effective the Śramani Institute’s approach is in the long-term, how significantly they can self-reliantly increase their Quality of Life within a few years and how much more cost-effective our approach is, people are becoming convinced of the possibility and benefits of our self-reliance based approach versus a charity based approach.

What role do you play in the current functioning of the organization? (Your responsibilities)

Since I founded the Śramani Institute in 2010, I have been and continue to be the principal driving force behind developing our novel framework, initiatives, methodology, innovations, and training programs. I have also been overseeing the legal and administrative matters of the institution in India and North America. In 2014, after I transitioned to growing the Śramani Institute full-time, I became its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). So in addition to my previous responsibilities, I am now also in charge of raising funds, increasing our visibility, and forging strategic partnerships globally.

How unique is the model / framework of the Śramani Institute as a nonprofit institution?

The Śramani Institute is unique because of the combination of the following three aspects of who we are and how we operate. First, we are a vertically integrated institution, in that we conduct our own research, perform our own analysis, and implement our own solutions. Generally, apart from governments and international bodies, like the UN and World Bank, most nonprofit organizations either conduct research (like research institutes), perform analysis (like think tanks), or implement projects (like many NGOs). Sometimes an organization might do two of these activities, but rarely all three simultaneously. The Śramani Institute is thus rare in sense that we collect our own data to conduct our own research, we perform our own analysis to interpret our data and generate effective solutions, and we ourselves implement the solutions we generate.

Second, inter-disciplinary, cross-KT innovation is a cornerstone of our institution. We not only promote the diverse innovations of the communities we work with, but we also develop our own innovations in projects and initiatives (like village revitalization), applied programs (like AVISH), and theoretical models and frameworks to anchor our grassroots work (like the Integrated Sustainable Economic Growth model and the Transformative Economics framework). When we innovate we use cutting-edge concepts and techniques from across disciplines (including science, economics, psychology, environmental studies, law, and anthropology/sociology) and from across various systems of Knowledge & Technologies (KT). We are experts at combining the strengths of different KT systems (tribal, rural, urban from different communities and countries) to generate new Hybrid Knowledge & Technologies (HKT) that can solve the 5 Major Human-Ecological Challenges. It is the Śramani Institute’s inter-disciplinary and cross-KT approach that enables us to generate effective, long-term solutions to the various problems we address in the field, solutions that are locally relevant and have global impact. It is our inclusive approach that makes our solutions relevant and applicable in any country in the world.

Third, sustainability is a core principle underlying our existence and work. Through AVISH we promote sustainable attitudes and behaviors not only in our own staff, but also in our clients (individuals, corporations, organizations) and the communities we work with. For us, being sustainable means treating all human beings equitably and being environmentally sustainable. And so the Śramani Institute strives to pay competitive, living (not minimum) wages to all of our staff, use biodegradable and responsibly sourced materials whenever possible, consume with minimal waste and pollution, and solicit the services of diverse and local craftspeople, farmers, and professionals for our institutional needs. We strive to lead by example.

Can you brief us about on AVISH?

We originally developed AVISH to train the staff of the Śramani Institute. Postgraduates from the best universities across India were applying for positions at our institution, because we offer challenging and meaningful career opportunities that really can’t be found elsewhere in India. These applicants were bright but many lacked the practical skills, stamina, confidence, out-of-the-box thinking, and empathy necessary to work with poor, marginalized communities at the grassroots level and help our institution solve the 5 Major Human-Ecological Challenges. AVISH enabled us to draw out the inherent strengths of our trainee staff so that within just a few short weeks they could become real-world problem-solvers, energetic, innovative and professional, and compassionate towards people as well as environment,.

Building on the success of AVISH in unlocking the potential of our trainee staff, we expanded the program so that it was at the very least able to improve mental and physical strength, increase self-confidence and cooperative participation, enhance performance, creativity, and innovation potential, and reduce anxiety, depression, and violent, unsustainable behaviors. We have developed AVISH modules for a variety of applications and clients. A few examples are the AVISH Community Empowerment module serving marginalized communities, the AVISH Performance & Leadership Enhancement module serving individuals, corporations, and organizations, and the AVISH Rape & Sexual Assault Prevention module serving educational institutions and communities.

Poverty is one of the ‘major human-ecological challenges’ facing humanity today. What is your approach on behalf of the institution towards mitigating poverty?

Poverty is indeed one of the 5 Major Human-Ecological Challenges facing a large percentage of humanity today. Unfortunately, many individuals and communities that are poor are also sick, victims of violence, living in degraded environments, and are in the process of losing their identities. Most of these people have been reduced to be living on charity. Perpetuating this dependence on charity has been a common pattern in national and global development efforts. Governments, NGOs, and individuals shell out hundreds of billions of dollars every year financing social welfare systems that provide free education, free food, free shelter, and other free commodities, keeping large numbers of communities indentured to the charity of others.

As I mentioned earlier, in our grassroots work with poor communities they tell us repeatedly that they want to take care of their own needs through their own efforts. They do not want their wellbeing to depend on the charity of others. So what the Śramani Institute does is to work with each of these communities to help them create a Sustainable Village Autonomous economy based on self-Reliant knowledge & TecHnologies (SVARTH, sva (self) + artha (economy)). In tribal villages we have had remarkable success, because when tribal communities have access to natural resources, they are astonishingly self-sufficient and innovative. Each tribal woman and man is skilled in 3 to 7 different professions, ensuring that even in a small village of 100 adults, there are doctors, pharmacists, architects, engineers, textile manufacturers, artists, advocates, resource managers, scientists, therapists, and other professionals. Thus, they are able to take care of their own needs themselves.

To measure the impact of our work we have developed a Quality of Life or Comprehensive Wellbeing Index. When individuals have a high Comprehensive Wellbeing score, they: (1) acquire relevant and practical education, (2) are rooted in their identities, (3) have equitable resources access, (4) engage in livelihoods and sustainable practices, (5) have opportunities and are treated with and treat others with dignity, (6) have access to basic amenities, (7) ensure good nutrition for themselves, (8) engage in effective health and hygiene practices, and (9) are safe and feel empowered in their civic and innovative capacities.

What have been the successes of your approach?

Our self-reliance based approach enables us to increase the Quality of Life or Comprehensive Wellbeing of a community by 300%-500% in a period of just 1-3 years. We have done an economic analysis on the cost-effectiveness of our self-reliance based approach as opposed to a charity-based approach. If a charity based approach were to be taken to ensure an increase in Quality of Life in all 9 aspects to the extent that the Śramani Institute is able to achieve, for a community of 250 families in India the cost of charity would be $3 million for just 3 years. This means that if the Quality of Life of this community were to be maintained for 10 years, the charitable donations would have to increase to $10 million, and so on. In contrast, for $250,000 the Śramani Institute is able to achieve an increase in Quality of Life in all 9 aspects within just 3 years, after which the community self-reliantly maintains and steadily increases their own Quality of Life without any further external costs. This is a savings of $2.8 million for a 3 year period, and a savings of $9.75 million over a 10 year period.

The United States is grappling with increasing homelessness. Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Hawaii and New York declared emergencies over the rise of homelessness in November, 2015. Nearly 1 million people are living on the streets, according to a report by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. What’s your take on it? What are the possible ways the US can overcome or mitigate this problem, according to you?

The Śramani Institute is about to begin working with the poor communities in the US, at the outset in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. These poor communities include individuals and families living on social welfare and homeless people as well. Long-term poverty and homelessness severely decrease an individual’s optimism, willingness, and ability to rely on herself or himself. Often, in addition to all of the other material challenges these individuals face, they also suffer from severe depression. These factors, along with drug infiltration, gun violence, and disenfranchisement, tend to keep many of these individuals perpetually homeless and/or dependent on charity as well as social welfare.

We are entering into partnerships with local organizations in the Greater Washington, D.C. area to create self-reliant urban village economies in poor neighborhoods here in the US. The plan is to create self-employment opportunities in the food and health sectors in these neighborhoods, which not only solves the problem of food deserts (the reality that there are inner city regions in the US where residents have very limited or no access to quality fresh foods), but increases the health and disposable income of the residents in these poor neighborhoods. AVISH will play an essential role in instilling self-confidence, increasing healthy and cooperative behaviors, decreasing depression and violence, and enhancing the innovativeness and self-reliance of the poor as well as homeless individuals we work with. As we have learned from our work in India, people who are impoverished and homeless often just need someone to believe in them and provide them with real opportunities so that they can increase their Quality of Life with their own efforts. What I have outlined is a solid path to get out of homelessness and dependence on social welfare.

Environmental degradation is one of the key areas that the Śramani Institute works in. Food waste is one of the critical reasons for environmental degradation. Approximately 40% of food in the US goes to waste every year. Roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption is wasted every year. About 40% of food produced in India is wasted, according to the CSR Journal. How food waste affects the environment is known to us. How can India or US or both countries brave these odds to save the environment? (Your view)

Food waste is certainly a reason for environmental degradation. Unfortunately, however, other factors, including industrial and agricultural pollution, over-exploitation of natural resources, over-consumption of manufactured goods, the widespread adoption and use of unsustainable Knowledge & Technologies (KT), and marginalization of communities with sustainable KT, contribute more heavily to environmental degradation.

One of the reasons that tribal communities are leaders in sustainability is because they live in the lap of nature. They intimately understand and experience the consequences of unsustainable behaviors like resource depletion, food waste, and over-consumption; so they do not engage in these behaviors. Rural and urban communities have partially destroyed the ecosystems (forests, indigenous plants, animals, water bodies, etc.) that once used to exist where their settlements now stand. Thus, these communities are not intuitively connected to nature and hence don’t experience or see the environmental or social consequences of their unsustainable behaviors.

Food wastage occurs due to a combination of cultural, economic, and logistical aspects of rural and urban behaviors. It is a highly complex challenge that will need large-scale interventions to transform the way in which we think and behave. AVISH helps root individuals to themselves, to others, and to nature, thereby unlocking their unique potential to think, act, and innovate in ways that sustainably and cooperatively increase their own wellbeing, the wellbeing of others, and the wellbeing of nature. Thus, AVISH could be an instrumental tool in decreasing food wastage and other unsustainable behaviors worldwide.

The Śramani Institute has been working with different tribal communities in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and other states of India for the past 6 years. What is your experience of working with various tribal communities across India? What difficulties did you face (if any)?   

My interactions with tribal communities, no matter what state or country they are in, keep me grounded and humble. I am in awe of and continuously amazed at these remarkable tribal women and men, who despite the staggering challenges they face, are innovative, kind and ingenious. They have a fervent desire and an astounding ability to be entirely self-sufficient. I have undergone 25 years of education and training in some of the world’s most prestigious formal academic establishments and I have deep expertise in three entirely different fields (science, law, and economic development). But when I am in the presence of tribal people, I feel as though all of my accomplishments and accolades pale in comparison to their achievements.

I encountered one tribal man in his early thirties who can generate rain in a cloudless sky, build houses that withstand extreme weather with completely biodegradable materials, and knows how to locate nutritious tubers growing 8 feet below the ground. I met a tribal woman in her twenties who knows how to manufacture a compostable fibre that is stronger than synthetic industrial rope, knows how to make over 200 types of medicines for various ailments, and likes. She is her community’s chief physician. What is amazing is how different each community is. Each community has an entirely different set of sophisticated Knowledge & Technologies (KT) that they have been developing and using for hundreds or thousands of years. Every moment I get to spend with tribal communities I feel privileged to be able to learn so much from them.

Identity loss is one of the threats to humanity in the world. It results in cultural crisis. Does it exist among the young Indian Americans who were born in the US? To be precise, have you ever come across any instance of identity loss or cultural crisis in the current generation of Indian Americans? 

Identity loss definitely results in cultural crisis. But identity loss also results in all of the other Major Human-Ecological Challenges facing humanity today: poverty, disease & ill-health, environmental degradation, and violence & unrest. When we lose our identities, we lose our rootedness in ourselves, in other human beings, and in nature, and hence begin to think and act in ways that are unhealthy as well as unsustainable.

New immigrants all over the world face a stupendous set of challenges. They not only have to become acquainted with and find a way to make a living in a strange and new environment but also have to find a way to integrate themselves into their adopted society while retaining important aspects of their identities. These are very difficult challenges and I really think new immigrants try their best to balance all of these formidable tasks. It is not possible to keep all of your identity when you move to another country, not only because the people around you are different but also because the natural environment around you is different. Unfortunately, losing a part of your identity means you lose touch with the attitudes and behaviors (culture) and Knowledge & Technologies (KT) of your community. What I’ve noticed among Indian Americans is that in general they tend to remain in touch with their performing arts & culture, especially girls and women. But I don’t see Indian Americans being aware of or giving much value to the KT of their communities. Unfortunately, though, even in India I do not observe much awareness of the KT of their communities among young Indians in urban settings.

How does the Śramani Institute raise funds to execute the projects and reach the institution’s goals? 

I have been self-funding the Śramani Institute since I founded it in 2010, because I wanted to develop and test innovative new approaches. Since neither I nor my family is independently wealthy, this has been quite challenging. I essentially saved every penny I earned from my paying jobs to pay for community funds for the tribal communities, the salaries of my staff in India, our fieldwork and travel costs, administrative and legal fees, and all other costs we have incurred over the past few years. Since 2014 I walked away from my paying job to dedicate myself full-time to the Śramani Institute, so funding has become even more challenging. I am now using my personal savings to fund the work of the Śramani Institute in India and the US in this transition period in which we are gearing to scale up our work, in both countries.

We received a National Geographic Legacy Award for our tribal revitalization work in Tamil Nadu and I am very optimistic about receiving various grants that will enable us to scale up our work. Currently I am meeting community leaders and individual philanthropists to create awareness about our work and to hopefully receive sizable donations so that we can continue doing the innovative and essential work we have been doing.

Any landmark achievements in the journey of the Śramani Institute.…

Our biggest achievement is the successful creation of a new model for Integrated Sustainable Economic Growth that simultaneously revitalizes Knowledge & Technologies (KT) that can solve the 5 Major Human-Ecological Challenges, lifts impoverished communities out of abject poverty based on their own innovations and self-reliant efforts, and through AVISH inspires individuals, communities, and organizations to think, act, and innovate sustainably and equitably. The Śramani Institute’s approach is locally relevant with global impact and can be applied to all countries worldwide.

We achieved several other landmarks during our journey. I’ll just mention three here. We conceptualized and organized a ground-breaking conference on ‘Justice in Intellectual Property (IP): Incorporating Marginalized Voices into Mainstream Discourse’ at IIT-Madras, in Chennai, India. The Chief Justice of the IP Appellate Board of India was the keynote speaker at our conference attended by scientists, policymakers, lawyers, judges, scholars, tribal innovators, students, and professionals from across disciplines. We also conducted several successful outreach workshops and seminars in universities and organizations across India, Canada, and the United States in the past several years. And as I mentioned before, we won the National Geographic Legacy Award for our ground-breaking work in tribal revitalization in South India.

Would you like to give a brief about the future projects that you are eyeing on?  

We are expanding now in three directions. First, we will be working with several communities in Indian states where we have already been working: Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. We will also launch our tribal revitalization projects in other states of India like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. And we are embarking on urban village revitalization projects first in the Greater Washington, D.C. area and then in other parts of the US.

Second, we are approaching social investors to set up new concept Incubation Centers we call Sustainable Incubation Centers, which will serve as hubs to revitalize and commercialize tribal Knowledge & Technologies (KT), generate and commercialize new types of cost-effective and sustainable Hybrid KT for the benefit of communities worldwide, and offer AVISH workshops, seminars, and conferences to rural and urban individuals, corporations, and organizations in order to enhance performance, leadership, and sustainable innovativeness.

Third, we are going to launch our AVISH Rape & Sexual Assault Prevention programs on campuses to decrease the alarming rates of rape and sexual assaults at colleges and universities. We will be beginning in the Fall semester in universities in the Greater Washington, D.C. area.

Is there anything else you would like to share?  

I’d like to encourage people to go to our newly redesigned website www.sramani.org to learn about our institution and the innovative work we do. Our ability to do our ground-breaking work depends on generous donations and contributions. For individuals interested in making a tax-exempt donation in the US or India, I welcome them to reach out to me directly (donate@sramani.org). And finally, I thank you for taking the time to interview me and for giving me the opportunity to share with you our journey and work.

Travel Beats is a digital publication by IndianEagle, a leading travel organization for Indians in USA. IndianEagle connects with Indian Americans and connects them with India through NRI news, editorial features and interviews on Travel Beats. As part of its CSR activity, IndianEagle writes about philanthropists and social activists from the Indian community to promote their contributions towards community development, social progress and Humanity.

The post Interview of Dr. Kakoli Mitra, Washington-based Śramani Institute Founder and CEO appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“I was a common man, and I will always remain a common man. No amount of stardom will ever consume my soul. Money comes, money goes. Fame comes, fame goes. I believe every human being is a celebrity in their own right.” – A. R. Rahman. We at Indian Eagle fell in the mind of this touching quote while going through Atlanta-based author Reetika Khanna Nijhawan’s debut fiction Kismetwali & Other Stories published by Om Books International. Born and brought up in a north Indian town, Reetika worked as a flight attendant with Lufthansa Airlines, wrote for Elle Décor in Mumbai and then moved to the USA. Set against the backdrop of modern-day India, the fiction Kismetwali & Other Stories that is an octet of novellas portrays the lives of common men who struggle for survival and battle for betterment in some way or the other.

Indian Eagle catches up with author Reetika Khanna Nijhawan to share with you her childhood memories of India, her journey from India to Atlanta, her view on life of common men in the United States, etc. through a freewheeling chat below:

IE. Kismetwali & Other Storiesis your debut fiction. Who or what do you owe your newly found fame in the world of literature? Is it Fate or Karma?

Speaking of fame in the world of literature is a bit premature at this juncture! I equally credit fate and karma in bringing these stories to life. This book is dedicated to my deceased father who was an avid reader and a remarkable wordsmith. In him I found a mentor and an ally from the day he read the first poem I penned at the age of ten. Destiny brought us together, and as any author will attest, writing is hard work— that’s where karma kicks in!

IE. What motivated you to hold a pen and become a published author?

I have always reveled in the company of words. I cannot carry a tune, or wield a paintbrush with even a modicum of skill.  It was only natural for me to find creative expression through writing. To become a published author was never my intention. Perhaps, it was my destiny!

IE. You were a small town girl. You journeyed from a north Indian town to Atlanta. Does your personal life have any bearing on the stories of the book?

Indeed! The fiction evolved from my experience of growing up in India, and my subsequent travels abroad with my father, and as a flight attendant with Lufthansa. Several characters are inspired by the people I have personally known or encountered. Gyan, the cabdriver in Taxiwala, is a reflection of a hardworking chauffer in Mumbai. The sailor’s odyssey in the Shavewala maps my own journey around the world from Ketchikan, Alaska to Auckland, New Zealand.

IE. “As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport,” is one of the most popular quotes from William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Does your book contradict it?

Does man have the ability to influence fate? The optimist in me subscribes to the belief that the choices we make, like the characters in these stories, impact the future.

IE. Kismetwali & Other Stories tells the stories of common people of the working class the lowest reaches of Indian society. What made you pick up the protagonists from among the common men of India?

Growing up in an affluent family in India, I was accustomed to frequent visitations from providers of service, and purveyors of goods to keep the wheels of my ancestral home running smoothly. Unlike many of my peers, I was instructed by my parents and grandmother to treat every “servant” with respect. Being born into privation is not a reflection of one’s character or abilities, I was told. The doctrine of equality amongst all humans became ingrained in my mind, and allowed me to view the people at the lowest rungs of society’s totem pole without prejudice. As an expression of my gratitude for these industrious folks, I attempted to empower the common man, all the while creating the elements of a good story.

IE. You have been living in the United States for years. Have you noticed any difference or similarity between the life of common men in America and that of the same in India?

I see several connections and contrasts between the two countries I call home. Though I have never been a victim of social bias, there is a deep-rooted racial divide and xenophobia that continues to fissure pockets of the American society. This conflict reminds me of the animosity created by the caste system in India.

On the flip side, there is a common courtesy that is extended to everyone in the United States, irrespective of one’s job description. I wave in way of greeting to the garbage collector just as I would wave to my neighbor. Unlike India, words like “please” and “thank you” are in common parlance.

IE. Many Indians living at the bottom of economic heaps expect to find fortunes on foreign soils. Are they right or prejudiced to think so?

Bollywood often portrays the West as being a utopian land where all dreams come to fruition. In reality, success is a direct function of hard work and perseverance anywhere in the world. Though the Indians living frugal lives may succeed in discarding the social stigma—that comes with “inferior” pedigree—on foreign turf, reinventing oneself in an alien culture can prove challenging.

IE. The stories of the fiction seem to make readers believe in their will power and potential instead of posing their faith in destiny. Is it your main objective of having penned the book?

My objective is to draw the reader’s attention to the nature of human suffering and solace that is common to all, across social and geographic boundaries, and thereby establish a connection across contrasts. The tussle between fate and free-will, much like the ‘nature versus nurture’ argument in behavioral psychology, is unique to every individual. Encouraging people to alter the predestined course of their lives is the work of life-coaches and spiritual gurus. I am just a story teller. A kahaniwali!

IE. Would you ever like to write stories about Indian Americans who often find themselves stuck between their lives in the US and their longing for the root?

Jhumpa Lahiri reigns supreme in that realm! I may touch upon the angst of displacement through the voices of characters, but I do not see it as being the framework for my forthcoming works of fiction.

IE. Which places in India would you recommend to your American friends for a visit? Apart from Agra and the Taj Mahal… 

Rishikesh!

We congratulate author Reetika Khanna Nijhawan on her newly found stardom in the world of English literature and thank her for the open-hearted interview. We wish her all the best for her next book.  – Indian Eagle

About Indian Eagle

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The post Interview: Reetika Khanna Nijhawan, Author of “Kismetwali & Other Stories” appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“India on My Platter”, a unique food travelogue by Chef Saransh Goila, depicts his epic journey in search of various nuances of local cuisines from rural backwaters to barren deserts to freezing mountains. 28-year-old Saransh Goila, who is a TV host, food consultant and chef, has not only shared recipes of the dishes that he discovered but also vividly described the places that he happened to visit on the 20,000km culinary trail, in the book. Published by Om Books International, “India on My Platter” is a rare cocktail of Saransh Goila’s experiences from having steaming hot Murthal ke Paranthe to savoring street food in Delhi to using a bamboo hollow to cook dishes in Assam and cooking on a boat in Varanasi. Saransh is the face of two food and travel shows – The Spice Traveller and Health Challenge – where he shows how to make popular Indian dishes healthier. He discovered a food enthusiast in him the day he made the first jalebi for his family at the age of 12.  He tasted the first success as a chef when he won the FoodFood Maha Challenge in 2011, hosted by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and actress Madhuri Dixit.

Indian Eagle catches up with Chef Saransh Goila to share with you his passion for cooking, his culinary innovations, his discoveries of Indian food, and what motivated him to set off on the 20,000km food journey across India, through a freewheeling chat below:

IE. India is described as “unity in diversity.” Is there unity in the culinary diversity of India?

There is unity in the form of time we devote to plan our meals and cook them for sure. Also the amazing amount of love and dedication we cook, eat and feed with is pretty similar all across the country. So, yes there is unity in the culinary diversity of India.

IE. What motivated the chef in you to hold a pen and debut as author?

I felt there was a need in the market for fresh food content and a book that was not just about recipes by a chef. I wanted to express how I felt about food, travel and cooking as a Chef and hence came the idea of holding a pen and debuting as author. Also I love writing and reading as a hobby; so that helped!

IE. 20,000 km food journey across India is a real marathon which few chefs have undertaken till date. What set you on such an epic journey in quest of India’s culinary richness?

The journey was undertaken for ‘FoodFood’ channel’s Roti Rasta Aur India. I needed to find a way to get my friends to choose Varanasi over Venice and Gujarat over Geneva when they plan their next vacations. The idea was to connect the youth with the traditional Indian food. So, all thanks to FoodFood Channel that got me sponsors and made this dream journey possible! We strategically planned a 100 day nonstop road trip covering 25 states of India, to make a point that we were serious about documenting the culinary richness of India and showcasing it to the world.

This book captures the amazing experience I had while I travelled 60 cities in 100 days across 25 states. It is not just a chef’s but a boy’s spiritual journey. From a roadside truck stop to India’s biggest omelette centre, to a kitchen in Kullu—this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity made me cover it all. – Saransh Goila

IE. What difficulties or challenges came your way during the journey?

The journey was not a cake walk. “Sometimes I had to work with just one saute-pan, over burning coal with blunt knives”. Apart from production challenges, travelling 100 days straight by road was a physically daunting task. It takes a toll on your body. So the biggest challenge was to stay fit and happy and shiny for 100 days on the go. Also waking up every morning to a camera and travelling a distance of 200 kms every day is a crazy thing to do.

IE. Many Indian dishes owe their origin to the foreign invaders and rulers like the Turks, the Afghans, the Arabs, the Mughals, the Huns, and the Portuguese who left their culinary influences on the food culture of India. Which regional cuisine or cuisines are unique to Indian culture?

I would say there is a lot more to Indian cuisine apart from these origins. The culinary influences brought by the foreign invaders to India have added a lot to our regional cuisines like the cuisine of Lucknow, the cuisine of Mysore, the cuisine of Indore, and the cuisine of Agra over years. The Maharashtrian cuisine is definitely unique to Indian culture. Then you’ve communities like the Buniya and the Marwari who have retained the uniqueness of their cuisines. The country is filled with such local experiences right from Dogri cuisine in Jammu to Pahadi cuisine in Himachal to Andhra Thali in south.

IE. Each of the Indian states has its own cuisine and food culture. Even the taste of a single dish, to say Biryani, is different in different parts of India. What makes regional cuisines of India, according to you, unlike each other?

It depends on the way the people of different regions treat spices. Produce also varies from state to state but use of spices is what makes the real difference. For example, Panch Phoran is excessively used in Bengal just like garam masala is added to every curry in North Indian kitchens. That defines different tastes of a dish in different regions (even if it is similar to the other). Also the kind of rituals and festivals every culture has leads to different food preparations and eating styles in every Indian state.

“India on My Platter”is not merely about food and recipes. It gives us a rare glimpse into the psyche of the people, the region and the story behind a dish. The book shows us how vast a country we live in and how varied a culinary treasure we possess. It is a fitting tribute to the unsung culinary geniuses. – Chef Sanjeev Kapoor     

IE. Most foreign tourists sniff at street food of India for hygiene issues. Indian street food is a big market in itself. What do you think of it (your view)? How would you like to popularize our street foods among foreign tourists and convince them about the mouth-watering taste?

Well! I am known as #SadakChef. For me our street food is a matter of pride. It is one of the most amazing parts of the traditional Indian food culture. Foreign tourists also have street food culture in their own countries and they eat street food without questions (and anything on streets is not as hygienic as in restaurants no matter whichever country is). So I think the similar thought is true about our street food too. I can assure that Indian street food has evolved in the way it used to be served. You won’t see good street vendors serving food in an unclean surrounding these days. In Delhi, you’ll see many panipuri walas using gloves and using RO water. I would like to organize lots of food walks across India and promote them on YouTube. It is on my ideas of attracting foreigners towards Indian street food.

IE. Which Indian delicacies of your choice would you like to promote across the globe?

I am popular for my version of Butter Chicken which is called #GoilaButterChicken on Twitter. I would like to promote this signature recipe of mine across the globe along with a few of my versions of various Indian Street food dishes.

IE. You have achieved the distinction of hosting India’s biggest food travelogue show “Roti, Rasta aur India”, which made its way to the Limca Book of Records. Would you ever like to host such a show for Indian Americans in the United States?

Definitely! I have a few Indian American friends who just love visiting India every now and then to eat good food and they usually look for references. So there is a scope in the United States too. Also the Indian cuisine being served in America has improved a lot over the years. So if a Web or TV show falls in place, I would love to host and spread the food love among Indian Americans.

IE. “India on My Platter” is a rare book. It is equally endearing to foodies as well as travelers. How did you blend food writing and travel writing – two different styles – in the book?   

Thanks for asking this question! It was tough. My publisher Ajay Mago (Om Books International) and I brainstormed a lot how we would shape up a book with travel writing, pictures of food and recipes, which would appeal to both foodies and travelers, and that too at a mere 295 INR. The structuring was very important. We decided to blend recipes, travel writing and descriptions of culinary landscapes into what would come out in form of a unique food travelogue. Thus the idea of connecting food connoisseurs with not just recipes but different situations, places and facts that I experienced was actualized.

We congratulate Chef Saransh Goila on his newly earned stardom in the world of culinary literature and thank him for the open-hearted interview. We wish he would explore India’s hidden food landscapes and tell the world offbeat stories of Indian food culture in the coming days.  – Indian Eagle

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