YIF Alumnus Shines at Nawada International Film Festival 2026

YIF Alumnus Ravi Ranjan Kumar’s (YIF ‘23) shortfilm Katani Baad won BEST SOCIAL FILM at Nawada International Film Festival 2026 and was selected for several festivals such as SmallRig Awards, Kerala Short Film Festival 2025, Pune Short Film Festival 2025, and Darbhanga International Film Festival 2025.

Ravi from Jehanabad in Bihar turned his early curiosity into a lifelong passion for filmmaking. Growing up, access to quality education was a luxury, but he remained respectful of every opportunity he encountered. At Shoshit Samadhan Kendra, Patna, he earned the nickname ‘chota engineer’ for his knack for dismantling and repairing electronics. His interest in storytelling grew through school theatre, leading him to shift from acting to filmmaking. Ravi created two notable films, 'Zindagi Ek Deal' and 'Apun ka Cinema'. Apun Ka Cinema won Best Promising Director and the Best Short Film Awards at India Alive Short Film Festival 2019, the latter earning a Filmfare nomination for Short Film Awards 2020. Through the YIF, he expanded his perspective, and today, he’s a Junior Cinematographer at Quidich Innovation Labs, highlighting that passion can take you to places.

Rooted in personal experience and community stories, his recent short film, Katani Baad, powerfully captures the human cost of migration, celebrating resilience, love, and the strength of rural families.

“Katani Baad is inspired by my personal experiences and stories from my community, where migration is not just a choice but a necessity. Having witnessed the emotional toll it takes on families, I felt compelled to bring this story to life. This film is a tribute to the resilience of rural families who navigate the harsh realities of economic disparity while holding onto hope and love.

Through Katani Baad, I aim to spark conversations about the human cost of migration and the socio-economic structures that force such decisions. The story is not just about survival but about the strength of familial bonds and the sacrifices that come with it,” shares Ravi.

- Written and edited by Shahambare T (YIF ’17)

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Nanjangud Becomes India’s First Nagarsabha to Digitise Civic Data Through ‘Civinc’ Portal Incubated at 51���

51��� is proud to announce the launch of Civinc, a first-of-its-kind mobile application and online portal that provides information and contact details of municipal elected representatives and municipal employees in one seamless platform. The project was conceptualised by 51��� alumna Aishwarya Sunaad under the mentorship of Dr Debayan Gupta, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at 51���. The portal was officially launched today in Nanjangud, Mysore district, Karnataka, by Shri Darshan Dhruvanarayan, MLA of Nanjangud Constituency in Karnataka, at a special event in the presence of the Municipal Council along with Mr Vijaya, Municipal Commissioner, Nanjangud City Municipal Council (NCMC), and Ms Mythravathi BN, Assistant Executive Engineer (Environment), NCMC, who is also the government POC for the project.

The southern pilgrimage city of Nanjangud has become the first Nagarsabha in the country to digitise its civic data, paving the way for non-metro cities and towns across India to adopt robust technology and innovation to make governance efficient.

Civinc, a portmanteau of the words ‘civic’ and ‘link’, has been designed to give citizens direct access to the contacts of elected corporators/ councillors, ward-level department heads and municipal employees responsible for essential public services. Covering functions from sanitation and garbage collection to road maintenance, property tax, and building licenses, Civinc replaces opaque grievance portals with direct, transparent connections between citizens and government functionaries.

Developed by harnessing the power of data, technology, and rigorous research, Civinc leverages ward-specific QR code boards placed across the city, which citizens can scan to get in touch with municipal employees handling specific civic issues. Users do not need to download the app separately to raise their grievances. The platform also empowers users to contribute data or flag outdated information, and features a first-of-its-kind performance review for municipal employees, thus enabling greater civic participation and enhancing administrative accountability.

Shri Darshan Dhruvanarayan, MLA of the Nanjangud Constituency and the youngest member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, who took the initiative to enable the digitisation of his constituency’s civic data, said “Nanjangud is proud to lead the way as the first non-metro city in the country to digitise its civic data. Giving citizens direct access to officials who are responsible for essential services makes governance more transparent, responsive and efficient. This is a youth-led project and I firmly believe that we should work collaboratively with the country’s youth to conceptualise interventions to solve problems, which is how this project was deployed in Nanjangud. It is also essential for local administrations to adopt high-end technological solutions to address issues and administrative bottlenecks in order to improve everyday lives. Therefore, there is a need for young people to innovate governance-related solutions specifically. Nanjangud is happy to set an example for collaborative problem solving of this kind, and demonstrate how local administrations can move towards technological optimisation and citizen led partnerships.”

“The launch of Civinc is a moment of immense pride for us at 51���. It is a product of Aishwarya's deep commitment to address social problems leveraging technological interventions. I first met Aishwarya in my Foundation Course at Ashoka, where we encourage this spirit of cross-disciplinary thinking - seeing students turn this encouragement into something real is always wonderful. I am excited to see Civinc demonstrate how technology, guided by social insight, can transform governance and empower communities,” shared Debayan Gupta, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, 51���.

Sharing her inspiration behind developing the app, Aishwarya Sunaad, an incoming scholar at the University of Oxford said, “Civinc was born out of my desire to address everyday civic challenges that became even more apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic. The majority of citizens do not have clarity on whom to contact for which issue, and so civic problems continue to remain unaddressed due to a lack of civic participation. And why should the conversation on technology and governance be focussed only around India’s metro cities? It is imperative that we innovate to make India’s non-metro cities tech-enabled. My time at 51��� gave me the mentorship and space to bring this idea to life, allowing me to merge insights from social anthropology with the power of technology. This project reflects how interdisciplinary learning and collaboration can create tools that improve access, empower communities, and solve real problems in governance.”

The Civinc portal, which was supported by the Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP) at 51��� and the Mozilla Responsible Computing Challenge, was built wholly by students, with the end-to-end technology having been developed by Harsh Raj and Aditya Sinha, from the National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur under the guidance of Dr Debayan Gupta (51���) while the concept development, research, and government outreach was led by Aishwarya Sunaad with inputs from Dr Mekhala Krishnamurthy, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at 51���. Kishan MR and Nitish Kumar, postgraduate students, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), undertook rigorous fieldwork in Delhi between 2022 - 2025 to understand the workings of the Municipal Corporation and the status quo and obstacles of accessing civic data on the ground.

Built through the process of co-production, Civinc addresses the challenges faced by non-metro cities with under-resourced technological infrastructure and limited manpower by partnering with local governments to host, review, and maintain civic data at zero cost. With this scalable model, Civinc is now poised to expand across the country, helping more towns and cities improve governance and service delivery through technology-driven solutions.

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Reimagining Finance for the Margins: Swathi’s Path to Purpose

Swathi Pottabathini is a development practitioner and public policy enthusiast with over six years of experience working across grassroots development, state systems, and inclusive finance. Trained as a computer engineer, her curiosity led her to work with people and communities. She then pursued the Young India Fellowship and worked with Samaj Pragati Sahayog-a grassroots nonprofit in India’s central tribal belt. She went on to co-build GramHeet, an agri-tech startup supporting smallholder farmers, and later worked with the Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS), supporting the Government of Telangana in strengthening data-driven governance. At The/Nudge Institute, she led strategy and operations for two major programs: End Ultra-Poverty and Asha Kiran across six Indian states.

Currently, Swathi is pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration – Development Practice at School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University as a Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholar 2023-25. This fully funded opportunity covering tuition and living expenses is awarded to professionals from emerging and developing economies who are committed to advancing sustainable development. 

At Columbia, Swathi has embraced an interdisciplinary approach while deepening her expertise in impact investing, sustainable finance, and systems-level change. Through impactful client-based projects, she has designed climate adaptation toolkits for AllianceBernstein, developed a gender strategy toolkit for Enabling Qapital and conducted a market analysis for Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures during her internship with Village Capital. Beyond academics, Swathi has taken on the role of External Relations Co-Chair of the Columbia Impact Investing Initiative. She also represented SIPA at the 19th Global Public Policy Network Conference in Paris, where her team’s project on climate-resilient agriculture for smallholder farmers earned recognition as one of the top three globally. Her experiences at Columbia have not only sharpened her technical and strategic skills but have also deepened her commitment to reimagining finance as a powerful force for equity, resilience, and long-term impact.

Swathi will be graduating mid May, 2025 and we recently spoke to her about her beginnings, journey, and aspirations. Here is what she had to share:

Tell us about your background? 

I was born in Warangal and grew up in a multicultural environment across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This diverse upbringing exposed me early to different worlds, languages, and ways of life. I excelled academically in school, and many around me encouraged me to pursue a career in civil services. And, I embraced that ambition as well. However, I also had a deep passion for coding and problem-solving, which ultimately led me to pursue a B.Tech in Computer Engineering at COEP Technological University.

At COEP, my education extended far beyond the classroom. I took on leadership roles, serving as the Editor of the college's century-old magazine, participating in the core organizing team for our college festival, and helping to set a Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously solving Rubik's cubes (a record that was later broken, but remains a special moment for me!). During my engineering years, I chose unconventional paths; while many of my peers sought tech internships, I was selected for highly selective and fully funded programs like the Gurukul Fellowship in Dharamshala and the Interfaith Dialogue and Pilgrimage Program organized by the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. These experiences opened my eyes to discussions around leadership, ethics, and social change.

As I completed my engineering degree, I realized that a 9-to-5 job behind a computer screen was not where my heart lay and my ambition to pursue civil services remained firm. I found myself increasingly drawn to questions of equity, community, and systemic change—work that involved people, not just programs. Public service felt like a natural progression, but before diving into full-time preparation for the civil services, I wanted to broaden my perspectives, explore liberal studies, and deepen my understanding of the world I hoped to serve. Carrying many questions about development, leadership, and the kind of change I aspired to create, I applied to the Young India Fellowship in 2016—seeking a space where I could expand my horizons and find some of the answers I was searching for.

Your key takeaways from the YIF?

If there’s one thing the world demands today, it’s the ability to think critically and connect ideas across disciplines. At the Young India Fellowship, I had the extraordinary privilege to experience exactly that. Over the course of a single year, I found myself studying philosophy, cognitive science, leadership, history, gender, psychology, science, and art—day after day, class after class. Being taught by some of the finest minds in India—Urvashi Butalia, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Rudrangshu Mukherjee, AF Mathews, Devesh Kapur—felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Coming from a technical background, it was like stepping into a completely different universe of learning. One day I could be studying Gender, the next Public Policy, and the day after, Physics. It was exhilarating, disorienting, and thrilling all at once. Even today, I often think how powerful it would be if our education system introduced Liberal Studies during Grade 11 and 12—when young people are asked to make life-altering choices without first understanding themselves.

YIF wasn’t just about learning new subjects—it was about unlearning old certainties. As part of a norm-breaking exercise for one of our classes, I painted period blood on my shorts and walked across campus—something that would have been unthinkable for me before. It was deeply uncomfortable, but it forced me to confront how normalized shame and silence around menstruation were. Other classmates broke norms in their own ways: one reclaimed women's spaces by riding the last metro at night; others experimented with vulnerability by undergoing waxing. It wasn’t just about the acts—it was about questioning the invisible rules that shape our lives.

Some classes pushed me to think, read, and write in ways I had never before. Kunal Joshi’s Critical Writing class, with its relentless focus on precision and depth, taught me that every word must earn its place. For my final paper, I spent days wandering Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi, observing the chaotic dance of trade, and later compared it to Ima Keithel in Imphal, Asia’s largest women-run market. My paper, “Males, Mandis, and Missing Women Entrepreneurs,” was published in Final Draft, YIF’s critical writing journal—a small but meaningful milestone.

And then there were courses that changed not just how I thought, but who I was. Professor Kenwyn Smith’s Group Dynamics class cracked open the polished masks we all wore—we shared stories, sat with each other's vulnerabilities, and learned the rare art of holding space for others. Professor Mihir Shah’s Political Economy of India’s Development lit something even deeper within me. His grounded clarity and stories from the field made me realize that I didn’t just want to study policies—I wanted to understand how they lived, breathed, and struggled in real villages. So much so that I paused my civil services preparations and chose to work at the grassroots with Samaj Pragati Sahayog.

I could go on telling stories about every single class, every new lens YIF gave me. But if I had to distill it: YIF didn’t just teach me subjects—it transformed the way I thought about knowledge, leadership, and change. It taught me that real learning is interdisciplinary, uncomfortable, and deeply personal—and that to build a better world, we must first learn to see it differently.

Could you elaborate on the impactful work you have done post-YIF?

After YIF, I began my journey at Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS) in Madhya Pradesh, working on research and data management. I wasn’t tied to any one vertical, which gave me the opportunity to collaborate with different teams—ranging from Self-Help Groups to Health and Nutrition. What struck me most was how SPS was able to reach communities that many flagship government schemes hadn’t managed to. Outside of work, I spent my evenings with children from nearby villages—teaching them basic English, Math, and Science. Just before I left, I helped set up a small library for them. It remains one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done.

Later, I took a break to prepare for the civil services exams. But after narrowly missing the cut-offs a few times, I took a step back to reflect. That’s when I realized that there are many “means” to the same “end” I had envisioned: creating large-scale social impact. 

That realization led me to GramHeet, where I joined the founding team of an agri-tech social enterprise focused on improving incomes for small and marginal farmers. My role spanned everything from fundraising and pitching, to program design and field operations. Sitting down with farmers, understanding their day-to-day struggles, and co-creating solutions with the team taught me what it truly means to build with empathy. When we were named one of Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch, it felt like a shared celebration of everything we had built together.

I then worked for CEGIS with the Telangana state government’s Panchayati Raj Department to support data-driven governance for over 12,000 Gram Panchayats, helping improve service delivery and resource allocation at the grassroots level.

But one of the most formative chapters in my journey was my time at The/Nudge Institute, where I joined the Centre for Rural Development in a Strategy and Operations role. I had the opportunity to closely support two large-scale programs focused on ending poverty through sustainable livelihoods:

• End Ultra-Poverty (EUP) – a graduation-based model focused on helping ultra-poor households move out of extreme poverty through a blend of asset transfers, financial inclusion, coaching, and livelihoods planning.
• Asha Kiran – a program aimed at building supplementary livelihoods such as goatery and poultry for women in rural geographies.

Together, these programs operated across six states and aimed to reach over 50,000 households. It was a fast-paced, rewarding experience where I worked across project management, stakeholder engagement, and led special projects. A big part of my role involved cross-functional collaboration with tech, fundraising, impact, and finance teams. What I loved most was the flexibility to spend time in the field, speaking with didis about how our programs were impacting their lives in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. This kept the grassroots part of me alive, even while working at the strategy level. What I valued most about The/Nudge was that it encouraged systems thinking while staying grounded in community realities. It reinforced a lesson I carry with me always: real impact requires both scale and soul.

Could you share glimpses from your Journey at Columbia University?

Columbia has been more than just a school—it’s been a journey of transformation. Few places offer the kind of city-campus blend that New York City does, and Columbia has fully embraced it. In the MPA-DP program, I’m part of a close-knit cohort of 50 students from over 15 countries, where every conversation brings a new lens to the global challenges we’re all here to solve.

Inside the classroom, Columbia pushed me to sharpen both my thinking and skills. I immersed myself in courses like Impact Investing, Sustainable Finance, Corporate Finance, Systems-Level Investing, and Accounting. Through the school’s client-based learning model, I worked on real-world challenges: building a practical climate adaptation investor toolkit for AllianceBernstein, and supporting organizational strategy for Land is Life, an Indigenous-led network navigating a leadership transition.

Over the summer, I joined Village Capital’s Impact Investments team, where I led Argentina market analysis for Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures, supported due diligence for early-stage health equity startups, and built a 400+ company database for Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech program—giving me a front-row seat to early-stage impact investing.

Currently, I’m working with Enabling Qapital to develop a gender strategy toolkit that equips investors with actionable frameworks to integrate gender equity into decision-making. I traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, to pilot the toolkit with a leading local bank—an experience that reaffirmed how ready financial institutions are to embrace meaningful change when given the right tools.

Beyond the classroom, I sought leadership and practice. As External Relations Co-Chair for the Columbia Impact Investing Initiative, I helped organize events and deepen conversations on finance and social outcomes. Representing Columbia SIPA at the Global Public Policy Network Conference in Paris was another highlight—our project on index-based flood insurance was recognized among the Top 3 globally.

Determined to strengthen not just what I know but how I communicate it, I took a transformative course in Writing and Delivering Speeches. Being at Columbia also meant learning from not just professors, but from global figures like Maria Ressa, Joseph Stiglitz, and Hillary Clinton, who regularly spoke on campus.

But some of my most meaningful learning happened beyond classrooms. Over the past two years, my partner and I have driven over 20,000 miles across nearly 20 U.S. states—through Adobe Pueblos in New Mexico, the wide-open Midwest plains, winding Appalachian trails, and the glowing bioluminescence of Mosquito Bay in Puerto Rico. We witnessed America beyond its coasts—pausing in Great Lakes towns, tracing canyon edges in Arizona, and walking through communities where history, struggle, and hope coexist. Each journey taught quiet lessons—about belonging, inequality, and why inclusive development begins by listening deeply to people and places.

These two years coincided with a pivotal moment in Columbia’s history. In April 2024, the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on East Butler Lawn made campus a focal point of global student activism. Organized by student groups advocating for Palestinian rights, it sparked intense discourse, police intervention, and arrests. Witnessing the protests firsthand, I was struck by the power of student-led movements to influence policy and public dialogue, and the tensions institutions face in responding to urgent calls for justice.

The experiences I had at Columbia taught me to ask sharper questions, build across disciplines, and stay rooted in community—because that’s where real change begins.

What sparked your interest in impact investing? and how has your career evolved in this area?

My understanding of finance has evolved significantly over the years—from seeing it purely as a tool for profit to recognizing its power to drive meaningful social change. Like many, I once believed that working in development was the only way to stay aligned with my values. But during my time at GramHeet, an agri-tech social enterprise I helped build, I found myself grappling with a tough question: How do you stay mission-driven while building something financially sustainable?

That tension led me to Jacqueline Novogratz’s The Blue Sweater, which opened my eyes to the idea of moral, patient, and catalytic capital. It shifted how I thought about finance not just as numbers or markets, but as a force that, when used thoughtfully, could support dignity and equity. Since then, I’ve actively sought opportunities that sit at the intersection of finance and impact. At Columbia University’s MPA program, I furthered this exploration—designing a pilot with Enabling Qapital in Azerbaijan, supporting health equity investments at Village Capital, analyzing ESG and long-term risks with AllianceBernstein, and assisting Dr. Aniket Shah’s course on financing sustainable development.

Each experience has reinforced a simple truth: finance for impact isn’t just about good intentions. It demands rigor, intentionality, equity, and above all, humility. With roots in grassroots development and growing experience in sustainable finance, I hope to bridge these worlds by building models that are not only just and inclusive but also built to last.

What are your aspirations and future goals?

I aspire to reshape how capital flows so that it reaches the people, places, and problems often left out of traditional finance. Too often, those working on the frontlines of change like smallholder farmers, women entrepreneurs, or Indigenous communities lack access to finance that understands their realities. I believe capital should do more than chase returns; it should build resilience, equity, and dignity. Over the years, I’ve come to see finance not just as a technical tool, but as a powerful force that can either entrench inequality or unlock opportunity. My goal is to help design financial strategies that are inclusive, grounded, and built for long-term impact whether through gender-lens investing, blended finance, or systems change.

The Young India Fellowship at 51��� gave me the wings to fly. SIPA, Columbia University is helping me chart the course. Together, these experiences have shaped both my values and my toolkit. Ultimately, the change I want to create is simple but ambitious: a world where your zip code, gender, or income bracket no longer determines whether your ideas get funded or your future gets built. I want to make finance more just, more human, and more hopeful.

_______________________________________

A Young India Fellow, from the Class of 2017 and World Bank Scholar 2023-25, Swathi Pottabathini believes real change begins by listening deeply—to people, communities, and the land. She works at the intersection of finance and development, and finds joy in teaching yoga and making sustainable art.

- Written and edited by Shahambare T, Young India Fellowship

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EcoSattva’s Blueprint for Climate Resilient Cities: Local Actions, Global Impact

Urbanization, while a driver of economic growth, often places immense pressure on natural resources and public infrastructure. The Kham River in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar exemplified this challenge. Once a vital waterway, the river had deteriorated into a heavily polluted channel due to unchecked development and inadequate waste management. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, EcoSattva Environmental Solutions undertook a comprehensive river restoration initiative, combining blue-green infrastructure with community-driven solutions to address both environmental and social challenges.

This holistic approach has garnered national and international recognition. In 2024, the project was honoured with the St Andrews Prize for the Environment, acknowledging its innovative fusion of environmental restoration and social equity. The mission’s methodologies are now being considered as blueprints for similar initiatives across India, exemplifying how targeted, inclusive action can transform urban waterways into assets that benefit both nature and society.

Building on this success, EcoSattva entered into a strategic partnership with the Maharashtra state government. In January 2025, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Natasha Zarine Managing Director and Co-founder, Ecosattva signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to scale these proven restoration practices across the state.

We recently spoke to Natasha about her beginnings, entrepreneurial journey, experiences, and future aspirations. Here’s what she had to share:

How has your personal and professional journey influenced your environmental conservation mission?
Growing up around the farms of Rai, a village near Dahanu Maharashtra, I first saw the effects of unmanaged sewage and garbage polluting rivers, piles of garbage being burned where my friends, (who were the children of farm workers) lived, and trees being cut down along our roads. These issues only intensified over time, fueling my curiosity to find ways to fix them. My formative experiences with socio-economic inequalities and gender-based violence also strengthened my resolve to work for social and environmental justice.

With these goals in mind, I studied psychology, then law at Mumbai University, trying to understand human behaviour and the legal tools required to create change. Still, something felt missing and then the Young India Fellowship happened. YIF became a turning point for me—it rekindled my love for learning and supported and encouraged me to find solutions for real-world problems at the cusp of social and environmental issues. That spark led me to co-found EcoSattva Environmental Solutions, where we focus on transforming the environmental conditions of cities, towns and villages through systemic solutions for solid waste, ecological sewage treatment, sustainable green spaces and wetland restoration.

My journey started as a naturalist with the Andaman Nicobar Environment Team, and later, along with Gauri Mirashi, I co-founded The Center For Applied Research & People’s Engagement (CARPE) a non-profit company in 2015 and then EcoSattva Environmental Solutions Pvt Ltd to bridge gaps in India’s municipal & civic services impacting solid waste management, green cover management, wetland restoration and climate resilience. While policies like the MSW Rules of 2000 and 2016 set standards, and schemes like the Swachh Bharat Mission & Majhi Vasundhara build momentum, local governments often struggle with implementation. This inspired us to build scalable, data-driven solutions that train local governments, create entrepreneurs and empower the community, driven by our belief that real climate action requires sustainable, on-the-ground solutions that make policies work in everyday life.

How did 51���’s Young India Fellowship shape your approach to sustainable development?
YIF broadened my understanding of sustainability, emphasizing the value of interdisciplinary thinking and stakeholder engagement. This experience reinforced our approach and shaped EcoSattva’s mission to develop inclusive, data-driven strategies addressing environmental, social, and political dimensions of sustainability.

Consequently, we’ve standardized our adaptive solutions and used data triangulation for effective progress monitoring. Our app integrates these insights, offering municipal commissioners, district collectors, and practitioners a dashboard for transparent tracking and impact measurement. The app also allows us to share our BOTRAM(C) method with service providers like Divya’s Initiative India in Surat and McKinsey’s Delterra in Buenos Aires and Bali.

What are EcoSattva’s main focus areas?
At EcoSattva, we focus on:

Solid Waste Management
We address waste management with our BOTRAM method, a comprehensive six-step model that optimizes municipal waste collection, enhances resource recovery, integrates informal sectors, and emphasizes sanitation worker safety and community behaviour change. This approach has successfully transformed waste management across 14 cities in India and regions in Buenos Aires and Denpasar, Bali, delivering cost-effective, safer, and efficient waste systems. However, scaling this model further requires overcoming funding and political hurdles.

Wetland Restoration
Leveraging our BOTRAM framework, we’ve standardized the steps for restoring seasonal wetlands, including rivers, lakes, and ponds. Using our BOTRAM method, we’ve been able to bring life back to places like the Urali Kanchan Nala, Kham River, Kamal Talao, Aditya Talao, Unnati Sarovar, among others. Currently, we are drafting the District Climate Action Plan with a strong emphasis on wetland conservation and management.

Green Cover Management
Our green cover initiatives span ecoscaping, urban forests, riparian zone restoration, and hillside revitalization. We’re creating green spaces where people and nature can thrive together. Notable projects include the Mitthi Riverfront in Mumbai and a five-acre urban forest in Ludhiana, developed for YIF mentor Mr. Sachit Jain.

Could you tell us about your “Kham River Restoration Mission” Model that’s creating waves worldwide?
The Kham River (seasonal river) was once Aurangabad’s lifeline, but over the years, people see it as a gutter/sewer/nala. In an assessment we conducted, 64% of people didn’t know that the river existed and 62% thought it was a nala to carry waste. This shift in perception over the last few decades has erased the river’s true significance. Historically, the Kham River was essential, it supported an underground water system that still works today, There are 16 freshwater springs, a 400-year-old flour mill along its course and many monuments were built along the river bank. And the tragedy is that this isn’t just the story of the Kham River, but most seasonal rivers in the country.

The Kham River Restoration Mission represents a pioneering effort in collaborative environmental stewardship, driven by Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Municipal Corporation, Varroc Industries, the Cantonment Board, and EcoSattva Environmental Solutions. Our team’s work on the Kham River has created a model of urban resilience—integrating riverbank stabilization, waste management, and community involvement to transform neglected spaces into eco-friendly zones. From stabilizing banks and dredging, to creating a 5 km EcoPark featuring wetlands and reclaimed recreational areas, to building shared public spaces, like community-centred riverfront parks, combined with deep ecological restoration, socially integrated waste management and a city-wide cultural campaign. We’ve taken a comprehensive approach to managing waste by targeting critical “Garbage Vulnerable Points” and turning them into community-friendly spaces filled with native plantings and local artwork. The BOTRAM app has become an essential tool here, enabling real-time monitoring and data-driven decisions that keep the project efficient and transparent. Through our training initiatives sanitation staff across 42 wards, have received enhanced waste collection and material recovery skills. We’ve established three new recovery sites to support waste pickers, mostly women, with dignified, safe work environments and professional growth opportunities. This integration has encouraged social cohesion and empowered the community to adopt better waste segregation habits.

Education and cultural revitalisation campaigns are integral to the project, engaging schools through cultural programmes and involving local artisans to instil a renewed sense of civic pride and understanding of the Kham River’s ecological importance. The programme’s inclusion in the River Cities Alliance and recognition by the National Institute of Urban Affairs highlight its influence on regional watershed management and urban planning strategies for seasonal rivers nationwide. Continued stakeholder engagement, robust monitoring practices, and community-driven initiatives position the Kham River Restoration Project as a sustainable model for integrated urban river management, demonstrating significant progress towards environmental resilience and community well-being. It’s more than cleaning a river, it’s about reconnecting people to its heritage, purpose and potential.

Global Recognitions and Awards

The Kham River Restoration Mission was honoured with the WRI Ross Prize for Cities at New York Climate Week during the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2024. From 200 applicants across 148 cities across 62 countries, our work was showcased alongside finalists and prize winners like Oslo, New York, Buenos Aires and Fortaleza at Yale’s Hixon Center for Urban Sustainability, with plans for Yale to document and publish our journey as a case study for future climate professionals. in English and Hindi, underscoring how partnerships can drive transformative environmental change. Adding to this recognition, the mission has also won the prestigious 2024 St Andrews Prize for the Environment, celebrating our climate-resilient riverfront development, pollution control, waste recovery, and community engagement. Chosen from 125 global projects, this award from the University of St Andrews affirms our commitment to sustainable urban transformation.

What impact has EcoSattva had on local communities and the environment, and what were the major learnings from the Kham River Restoration Mission?
Our work on the Kham River has transformed both the local community and the environment. By restoring the river, reducing flood risks, and connecting thousands of households to waste management services, we’ve seen tangible benefits for people and nature alike.

Impact Highlights:

• 126 Cities, Towns & Villages impacted
• 95,000 tonnes of recyclables managed
• 259000 saplings planted
• 14 Wetlands systems impacted
• 365,000 livelihood days generated

Through these efforts, we’ve fostered cleaner waterways, greener landscapes, and stronger community connections. Achieving these outcomes required a comprehensive approach that balances ecological health, economic sustainability, and social equity. With stable partnerships, blended finance, and standardized, tech-enabled processes, we are laying the foundation for replicating this success in other areas.

How does EcoSattva achieve 90% waste recovery?
EcoSattva uses science and technology to drive real, lasting change in waste management and ecological restoration. Our in-house BOTRAM App, which powers data-driven waste management, has helped us reach a 90% waste recovery rate. We also use GIS to monitor projects like the Kham River Restoration, so we can ensure that every solution we implement is efficient, scalable, and resilient.

The BOTRAM approach, combined with strong community engagement, formalizes waste management systems and supports informal workers by creating dignified jobs. This way, we’re not only improving recovery rates but also fostering meaningful, sustainable change.

What’s next at EcoSattva?
At EcoSattva, we’re expanding our wetlands restoration along the entire length of the Kham River, neighbouring rivers, and local lakes and ponds. Our BOTRAM app is central to this scale-out plan, and we’re ready to train other district governments and organizations to replicate this model for a broader impact. The State Climate Action Cell has tasked us with developing a District Climate Action Plan focused on wetlands. This model will serve as a template to guide climate resilience work across other districts, addressing flood and drought readiness, sustainable agriculture, and improving waste management while strengthening governance. In restoring our wetlands, we are effectively revitalizing our districts, preparing them for future climate uncertainties, while simultaneously improving current health and environmental conditions.

To fully restore the 52 km Kham River stretch, we’re raising INR 100 crore, with INR 26 crore already secured.

I’m also exploring a partnership with 51��� to create hands-on learning opportunities through internships, placements, and research, and to train future environmentalists and entrepreneurs. We aim to leverage real data from our fieldwork for impactful publications, an area we often push aside due to our implementation focus. This partnership could drive not only practical solutions but also encourage new research to support sustainable change.

What’s your call to action?
Our call to action is to direct our attention to seasonal wetlands. They are ubiquitous and are key to preparing for the climatic uncertainties ahead. By focusing on wetlands, we strengthen essential services and fill critical gaps in governance and policy – all while keeping people at the heart of our efforts. To achieve this, we need the government to actively channel programs like Start-up India, Make in India, and PMKVY towards wetland restoration. This approach would address environmental issues, create green jobs, support local start-ups, and help meet SBM, MVA, and SDG goals in tangible ways.

For every ton of plastic recovered, we can create 10 jobs. Every acre greened creates 2 jobs and every kilometer of wetland restored creates 15 jobs. Plus, the savings from reducing health risks and disaster impacts would be immensely significant. Investing in our wetlands means investing in a resilient future for our communities and economy.

Tell us about the TEDxBoston Planet Action Summit.
The TEDxBoston Planet Action Summit panel at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory was an incredible experience for me. I got the invite after attending the “New York Climate Week” to accept an award for our project Kham River from the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities. Alison Sanders, who was on the organizing committee for TEDxBoston, approached me there and invited me to speak a month later at TED. At first, I was hesitant about travelling all the way to the US just for a TED talk, but Alison’s encouragement and my team’s belief in the exposure it would bring to the topic of wetlands and seasonal rivers convinced me to go for it.

At the event, I was one of 70 speakers from around the world, the only one from India and probably Asia. I shared visuals from the field and was candid about our failures and successes. From rewilding and regenerative practices to partnership and community engagement, highlighting how projects like ours can inspire global solutions to protect and restore our natural world. The audience’s positive response was incredibly encouraging. The event was full of brilliant minds—from indigenous leaders sharing timeless wisdom to scientists and innovators showcasing cutting-edge solutions. What stood out most was the diversity of ideas and approaches—every speaker and organization brought something unique to the table. Whether it was restoring ecosystems, rethinking how we align human and planetary health, or scaling impactful solutions, the passion and commitment were palpable.

Advice for aspiring environmentalists?
In India, there’s a huge scope for those passionate about environmental work, and we need to build an URGENCY to drive change on-ground.. Funding can be challenging and the attitudes of funders/partners can be difficult and painful, but there’s potential to build a fulfilling career—especially if you approach it practically. For example, using grants as catalyst funds, and harnessing Govt finances for on-ground implementation. The key is building relationships with government officers and aligning your work with their schemes, and then getting them to spend effectively.

The field teaches you much more than theory and policy. It shows you what works, what doesn’t, and what’s needed for sustainability, and then those learnings need to feed back into policy. My advice to aspiring environmentalists is to be ready to work on the ground. Even if you want to do policy-level work, start with implementation. The space is endless—whether it’s talking to people, starting a lobbying group, building products and services or using AI for monitoring. Find the issue that excites you, and work on solving it because there are endless problems out there. Focus on making an impact where you are, and don’t be bogged down by the magnitude of the challenges. One step at a time.

About EcoSattva

CARPE and EcoSattva focus on building inclusive and sustainable communities by delivering evidence-based, partnership-driven solutions to pressing civic challenges. Their primary focus areas include water body restoration, green cover management, and solid waste management—all aligned with their vision for a sustainable world.

Through their projects, they have undertaken efforts such as cleaning rivers and other water bodies, establishing eco-friendly sewage treatment projects, and offering sustainable solutions for green cover and waste management.

- Written and edited by Shahambare T, Young India Fellowship

51���

Reimagining Education in Northeast India: The STEP Initiative

Worrin Muivah has over seven years of experience working across development and corporate sectors in Europe and Asia. He completed his Master’s in Development Studies, specializing in Human Rights, Peace and Conflict Studies from the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University, in Hague, Netherlands on a fully funded scholarship from the Government of India. During his time there, he was selected as one of 30 global participants for the Peacemakers 2016 Workshop on “Migration and Securitization of Europe,” organized by Koc University and the University of Kent.

Before starting STEP, Worrin led marketing and outreach efforts as the Head of Marketing/Outreach and Senior Programme Manager at The Naropa Fellowship. His journey has taken him through diverse roles, from coordinating international leadership programs in Romania, Malaysia, and China with Leaders’ Quest, to managing a key political project in Northeast India with N-Sight Consulting, which played a role in a major state election victory.

Worrin has also worked with Amnesty International India in their “Undertrials Project” where he and his team successfully investigated the causes of excessive undertrial detention in the Indian prison system and campaigned for systemic change in the criminal justice system. They successfully published their findings in a report titled, “Justice Under Trial: A Study of Pre-trial Detention in India”.

We spoke to Worrin about his journey before and after the YIF, his entrepreneurial journey, future aspirations, and here’s what he had to share:

1. How has your personal and professional journey influenced your development work/ mission in the North-East? 

Growing up in Manipur during the peak of the armed conflict in the 1990s and 2000s was a challenging experience. It meant living with constant uncertainty and deprivation. Education, exposure, and even basic living standards were hard to come by. For many of us, including myself, there was no one to guide us. We stumbled through life, unsure of our goals and ambitions. My academic journey, as a result, was one of trial and error, driven more by circumstance than by choice.

Things began to change for me in 2013 when I received a full scholarship to study at the Young India Fellowship. For the first time, I understood what education could truly mean, how it could open numerous doors. That experience became a turning point, leading to opportunities to pursue higher education abroad on fully funded scholarships and eventually opening the way to a fulfilling career.

During the first COVID-19 lockdown, I had a moment of epiphany. I found myself reflecting deeply on my journey. It struck me that the only reason I had come this far was because of the opportunities I had been fortunate enough to access. At the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about the thousands of young people back home in Manipur and across the North-East who never get those chances. That realization felt like a call to action. I knew I had to do something about it. Opportunity, I realized, is not just a privilege; it’s a leveller. It has the power to transform not just individuals but entire communities. And so, I decided to dedicate myself to creating those opportunities for others, to help them see a path forward, to find the guidance I lacked, and to dream bigger than their circumstances. This has become the core mission of my work in the North-East.

2. What inspired you to transition into social entrepreneurship? 

Working with organizations like Amnesty International and Leader’s Quest has provided a solid foundation for my journey as a social entrepreneur. Since childhood, my parents and grandparents instilled in me the importance of helping others. Despite their poverty, they embodied this value throughout their lives. From a very young age, I knew my calling was to serve others.

These values significantly influenced my career choices. Amnesty International is an organization that upholds justice and protects individuals wherever justice, fairness, freedom, and truth are denied. Working at Amnesty opened my eyes to the systemic injustices in our society. In contrast, my experience with Leader’s Quest allowed me to engage with top executives of some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies. This exposure reinforced my belief that opportunities are the greatest levelers in our society. These experiences have been crucial in motivating me to start my own journey in helping others.

3. How has your own connection with the NE region influenced your approach in building STEP

Working with an organization dedicated to upholding fairness, freedom, and truth opened my eyes to how deeply entrenched inequities can strip people of their rights and dignity, especially those from marginalized communities. In contrast, my next job taught me how leadership and access to resources can unlock extraordinary potential. It showed me the immense power of opportunity—the difference it makes when someone has the right tools and support to thrive.

These two experiences couldn’t have been more different, yet together they shaped how I see the world. They reinforced something I’ve always believed: opportunity is the greatest equalizer. When people have access to the right opportunities, it can completely transform their lives. These experiences, rooted in the values instilled in me as a child and fueled by the conviction that creating opportunities for others is the key to building a more just and equitable world was the beginning of STEP.

4. As a leader with diverse experience, how do you approach collaborations and partnership-building in the development sector?

For me, it is crucial to understand the values and culture of the organisations we collaborate with and ensure they align with our own before taking the next step. It can be tempting to focus on short-term gains and overlook the bigger picture, especially in the development sector where funding is often a challenge. This is why we must remain steadfast in our convictions, values, and principles.

Adhering to these principles may not yield immediate benefits, but I guarantee it will serve you well in the long run and help your organization stand out from others.

5. What was the problem you stepped out to solve? How has STEP impacted the community in terms of bridging any cultural and socioeconomic gaps?

The world is undeniably unfair, but we cannot let this unfairness become an excuse for our lack of success. STEP's mission is to help students in the North-East navigate this challenging path. Education in the region has long lagged behind mainland India due to various circumstances and socio-economic disparities. From my lived experience, I realized how much of a difference it would have made in my life if I had access to proper guidance and opportunities while growing up. I am a testament to how opportunities can change one's life, and this is why I founded STEP: to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, the urban and the rural, and make quality education and opportunities accessible to all.

Since its inception in 2020, STEP has reached over 60 schools and colleges across Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya, conducting workshops on career development, personality development, and employability skills. To date, we have impacted the lives of more than 6,000 students.

Through our flagship program, the STEP Fellowship—now evolved into STEP Academy—we provide employability training to underserved indigenous youth and connect them with meaningful job opportunities. One of our proudest achievements is seeing one of our students accepted into the Young India Fellowship, the first ever from Nagaland to achieve this milestone in 14 years.

6. How do you measure the impact of STEP’s programmes?

Measuring success at STEP goes beyond numbers. While we receive consistent positive feedback from our workshops and employability sessions, real  success lies in the tangible changes we bring to people's lives.

Our first flagship initiative, the STEP Fellowship, was designed as a merit-and-means employability program for underserved Indigenous girls, many of whom were orphans or raised by single or unemployed parents. We trained two batches of 24 girls each, achieving a 70% placement rate, enabling these young women to secure jobs, supplement their family incomes, and improve their social standing.

Building on this foundation, STEP Academy was launched in September 2023, training and supporting a wider group of underserved youth. In just over a year, we have graduated three batches of 60 students. One of our Nagaland students became the first person from Nagaland to be accepted into the Young India Fellowship on a fully funded scholarship, setting a powerful precedent for others to follow.

Beyond our structured programs, STEP also runs a consultancy wing where we provide bespoke communication and personality development training. Through this, we have seen remarkable individual success stories. Notably, one of our students from Nagaland cracked the UPSC exam in 2024 and was allotted the IAS. Last year, another student from Manipur cracked the UPSC and was allotted the IRS.

7. How do you envision STEP fellowship and STEP Academy contributing to the long term development and growth of the NE region?

The long-term vision of  STEP Fellowship and STEP Academy is to bridge the opportunity and education gap between the rich and the poor, urban and rural areas, and the North-East and mainland India. For many in the region, leaving their hometowns for better education is simply not an option. As a result, they are often at a disadvantage compared to their peers in cities. Through STEP Academy, our goal is to make quality education accessible to them, ensuring that their aspirations are not limited by geography or financial constraint.

Over the last five batches of STEP Fellowship and STEP Academy, 70% of our students have come from tier 3-4 towns and rural areas. Despite their backgrounds, they have been taught by faculty members from some of the best universities around the world. Their location and their financial situation has not hindered them from receiving a world-class education. 

Looking ahead, we envision STEP Academy becoming one of the premier institutes, setting a benchmark for providing quality education in the North-East. We already work with some of the best faculty members, and our focus is to continuously improve and expand so that students in the North-East can access the best education, regardless of their social and financial standing, and achieve their full potential.

—------------

Worrin Muivah is the Alumnus of the Young India Fellowship, Class 2014 and he is the Founder and Director of STEP North-East. STEP North-East was founded in November 2020 with the aim to democratise quality education and make it accessible to even the remotest villages in North-East India.

- Written and edited by Shahambare T, Young India Fellowship

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51��� Graduate Leading Global Change through Innovation and Leadership

Ishan Pratap Singh, of the Undergraduate batch of 2024 from 51��� with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Economics and Finance and a concentration in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Strategy, was invited as one of the AI Champions for Common Good at the SDG Lab in Davos, Switzerland, held alongside the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum. He represented India at the SDG Lab, which was attended by many eminent figures from governments, corporations, multilateral organisations, and civil society.

Ishan was the youngest panelist and presenter at the SDG Lab. In the WEF Open Forum and along the Promenade, he interacted with notable personalities, including Mr. Richard Edelman while also participating in #IndiaAtDavos events and events hosted by CII.

Speaking on the experience, Ishan said, “At Ashoka and at Global Shapers, I was exposed to an interdisciplinary environment that made me highly focused on finding synergies between different silos. I headed six projects in the New Delhi Hub and continue to lead two of them, with one maturing into a non-profit organisation in its own right.”

Building on a theorem of Economics he studied during his undergraduate years, Ishan founded Cooperation17, a non-profit organisation focused on revolutionising decisionmaking and pursuing cooperation through the Fourth Industrial Revolution for the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). After writing about their mission in the Freiheitsindex Deutschland 2024 Freedom Index Germany 2024- he was invited by the SDG Lab to present on it.

“We are on a mission to ‘Make Trust and Peace Cool Again.’ We aim to shift the conversation from ‘You versus Me’ to ‘You and Me versus the problem’ using Artificial Intelligence and the methodology we are developing,” he explained.

Recalling his experience at Davos, he remarked, “With over 50 heads of state and governments joining the WEF Annual meeting and many events along the Promenade and in the entire city, Davos was not just where the global elite coalesced but where coalitions for changing the world—or rather, ‘Shaping the world,’ as the title suggests—can be created. My pitch was simple-: Don’t just say you want young people to speak—actually listen to them and support.”

Ishan expressed gratitude to his family, friends, and institutions that supported him. "I thank the SDG Lab Davos for this incredible opportunity, and my alma mater 51��� and DPS RK Puram for providing me with the education and tools as well as prompt support required to be able to launch something as crucial as this, at a time when the world needs it the most.”

In early 2024, Ishan was elected as the Curator of the Global Shapers New Delhi Hub, part of the World Economic Forum’s Under-30 network. At just 20 years old, he was among the youngest in the world to head a Global Shapers Hub.

-Ishan Pratap Singh is an alumnus of 51���, Undergraduate 2024- Bachelor of Science with Honors in Economics and Finance with a Concentration in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Strategy. He is the Founder of Cooperation17, a non-profit organisation dedicated to building cooperation for the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making trust and peace cool again. He is also a Curator of the New Delhi Global Shapers Hub, part of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum.

51���

The Journey of an Educational Advocate from Lagos: Nene Ibezim’s Story

Nene Ibezim is a dedicated advocate for educational equity and a current Penn GSE-UNESCO Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is pursuing her Master’s in International Educational Development. With over a decade of experience, Nene brings a unique blend of grassroots engagement and strategic oversight to her role as project officer at Global Schools, an initiative under the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, where she supports a network of K-12 educators and schools spanning 100 countries and over 1,350 program alumni. Nene recently was selected as a Lipman Family Prize Fellow (2024), a recognition celebrating leaders committed to the social sector and personal leadership development.

Nene’s journey in education spans impactful roles—from her early teaching days with ‘Teach For Nigeria’ (2018) in an underserved village to guiding 600+ fellows as a leadership development manager. Nene has also served as a ‘Teach For All Network Connector’, strengthening ties between participants and alumni across the Teach For All global network. She was one of the 16 teachers globally selected as an ‘Inclusive Education Fellow’ (2021) by Teach For All and the Oak Foundation. Her initiatives include the ‘Leading Kids Program’, which fosters leadership skills in children from under-resourced primary schools, and a pioneering virtual learning program for Slum2School Africa that integrates e-learning with community-based education. She was honored as one of the Top 100 teachers globally in the 2022 International Teachers' Olympiad by Surasaa and as the 2nd Runner-up in the 2023 Teacher Impact Awards, for her commitment to creating impactful change.

Beyond professional accolades, Nene is deeply committed to volunteering, dedicating her time to empowering underserved children in slums and remote communities with quality education, entrepreneurial skills, and psychosocial support. 

We recently spoke to her about her beginnings, journey, and aspirations. Here is what she had to share:

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Growing up in a small community on the outskirts of Lagos, I went to a public secondary school where overcrowded classrooms of 400 students and limited resources made learning a constant struggle. Everything changed in my final year when I won an academic competition hosted by Pyramid Educational Advancement (PEA) Foundation, a local nonprofit organization. The prize was a trip to the more affluent areas of Lagos, and what I saw there stayed with me—the stark contrast in educational resources between my community and wealthier neighborhoods was overwhelming. That experience opened my eyes to the deep educational inequalities around me, and it ignited a passion to make sure every child, no matter where they come from, has access to quality education. That passion has been my guiding force ever since, leading me to pursue a degree in Education and English and to dedicate myself to bridging the achievement gap for underserved children.

What were your takeaways from the YIF both personally and professionally?

The Young India Fellowship (YIF) was a transformative journey that deeply reshaped my perspective. One of my favorite courses was "Women, Society and Changing India," taught by Prof. Urvashi Butalia. The course was about exploring the women's movement in India, focusing on its history, politics, and the lived experiences of women. I had the opportunity to learn about the multifaceted nature of social movements and the intersectionality of caste, gender, and class.

One of the most impactful lessons was the value of embracing multidisciplinary approaches to problem-solving. YIF exposed me to a wide range of ideas, fostering a holistic understanding of complex challenges, which now informs my approach to work—whether I’m leading educational initiatives or designing programs for underserved communities. The fellowship also taught me the importance of collaboration and community-building, helping me create inclusive spaces where diverse voices are valued. Professionally, YIF has strengthened my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills, all of which I now apply to my work in educational advocacy and program development. 

What’s the mission of The Leading Kids Program, and what impact have you seen so far?

The Leading Kids Program (LKP) was born out of a deep desire to unlock the leadership potential of children in underserved public primary schools. Our mission is to empower these young learners with critical skills such as self-awareness, goal setting, leadership, and entrepreneurship, which are essential not only for personal success but for community development as well. Since our launch in December 2019, we have built a 12-week leadership development curriculum that helps children gain these skills through hands-on learning.

The inspiration for this program came from my experience as a Teach For Nigeria Fellow, where I saw firsthand the behavioral challenges many children in public schools faced. These children were often written off because of their environment, but I believed in their potential. Through engaging my own students as classroom leaders, I saw dramatic improvements in their behavior and learning. This realization—that the lack of leadership development opportunities was a root cause of many challenges in the classroom—sparked the creation of LKP.

Since we started, we’ve seen incredible impact. We have directly reached over 1000 students through leadership seminars across six public schools in Ogun State and enrolled 90 students in our 12-week leadership curriculum. What’s particularly exciting is seeing our participants, some as young as in primary three, representing their schools in external competitions—something that hadn’t happened before. We have also been thrilled by the personal stories of transformation. One of our participants, Bright Unata, had her essay published in a Teach For All e-book, while another, Mutmoinnot Abdul-Rofeei was selected as a HundrED Youth Ambassador. These stories are just a few examples of how LKP is raising young leaders who are not only excelling academically but also making meaningful contributions to their communities. Ultimately, our vision is to cultivate a generation of young leaders actively involved in civic engagement and community development, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive and lead.

How do you plan to carry forward the spirit of the Fellowship in your endeavors, and what change do you aspire to create in the world?

I am committed to carrying forward the spirit of the Young India Fellowship by fostering collaborative and inclusive leadership. My goal is to advocate for educational equity and empower communities to develop sustainable solutions to their unique challenges. I envision a future where every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Through initiatives like the Leading Kids Program and my work in education advocacy, I aim to contribute to creating equitable access to quality education, particularly in underserved communities. 

What motivated you to choose the IEDP at PennGSE?

My decision to pursue the International Educational Development Program (IEDP) at PennGSE stemmed from my desire to better understand and address educational inequities in resource-constrained environments. The program’s focus on nonprofit leadership and education in low-resource settings aligns perfectly with my work. The exposure to core courses such as "Education in Developing Countries" and "International Educational Development in Practice: Tools, Techniques and Ethics" has enhanced my understanding of global disparities in education and deepened my resolve to develop solutions tailored to marginalized communities. The program is also equipping me with the skills needed to lead impactful, sustainable educational initiatives.

Could you share your experience speaking at the UN SDSN Pre-Summit of the Future, New York?

Speaking at the UN SDSN Pre-Summit of the Future in New York was a pivotal experience for me. I had the opportunity to share insights from my work as an advocate focused on education for sustainable development. I discussed strategies for engaging students with sustainable development concepts such as hands-on learning, peer-to-peer learning and leveraging teachers’ learning communities. The biggest takeaway from the summit was the importance of education as a tool for addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and social justice. The discussions around Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) reaffirmed my belief that we must integrate sustainable development concepts into education to create more equitable and inclusive learning environments. The event also provided valuable networking opportunities, which I am leveraging to expand my work on sustainable education systems.

What reforms or changes at a policy level do you think are crucial in making education accessible and equitable for all?

At a policy level, we must prioritize a comprehensive approach that includes ensuring universal access to high-quality schooling, regardless of socioeconomic background or location, while empowering local stakeholders to meet specific needs within national standards. Investing in early childhood education and literacy programs lays a strong foundation for learning. Policies should also promote inclusive education by supporting programs that cater to diverse learning needs, such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Additionally, implementing robust monitoring systems to track the progress of educational initiatives in marginalized communities is crucial for ensuring accountability and effectiveness. Addressing the systemic inequities that hinder access to quality education will require both policy innovation and significant investment in education infrastructure.

_______________________

Nene, a Young India Fellow from the Class of 2024, is an experienced social entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working in the social sector and education industry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education and English Language from the University of Lagos, Akoka.

-Written and edited by Shahambare T, Young India Fellowship

51���

Building Connections Through Art: The Vision Behind The Abstract Room

Sankalp Sharma hails from the business city of Surat, thus enterprising comes naturally to him. Though he only partially realised his dream of playing cricket at the highest level by competing at the state level, he found a new passion in arts and entrepreneurship. As the founder of The Abstract Room, a global social community dedicated to creating unique experiences around cinema, literature, and other forms of art, Sankalp has sharpened his skills in event curation and management, community engagement, social media and art criticism. He also carries some professional experience in creative production, podcasting and screenwriting.

Academically, Sankalp has completed his Bachelor’s in Management Studies and Marketing from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, and then pursued the Young India Fellowship, a prestigious postgraduate liberal arts diploma from 51���.

When not juggling two full-time jobs, you can find him working out, or diving into obscure films and books! In conversation with us, Sankalp shares about his passion about storytelling, cinema and his entrepreneurial journey!

Upon feeling the lack of a supportive community to nurture my fresh interests, I started an online platform called The Abstract Room. A sanctuary for individuals like me, who have an urge to explore the profound impact of storytelling and a yearning to discuss them without inhibition or fear of judgement.

What inspired you to start The Abstract Room, and what has the journey been like up to this point?

Growing up, I was not exposed to quality storytelling in the form of cinema, literature, music or poetry. This led to my perception being that they were unimportant and something that one must keep in the periphery of their life. I lacked the ability to think critically and articulate my thoughts on the things around me. It wasn’t until my college years that I felt the need to become socially aware. Stories became a unique and accessible way for me to learn more about the state of the world, myself and my emotions, and that of others.

I felt the urge to share and discuss this newfound passion with others and sought avenues for the same. I discovered a glaring absence of spaces where people could come together, explore stories and discuss them. I found the existing book and film clubs and debating societies to be exclusionary in more ways than one.

The Abstract Room journey has been as remarkable as it’s been resilient. It started as a zero-investment venture and has sustained itself since day one, attracting a thriving community that spans over 3,100 people across 15 countries, from 15-year-old students to retired professionals in their 70s. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic as a purely online platform, The Abstract Room offered a safe space for people to unwind and connect through discussions on films, books, and art. Over the last 4.5 years, it has flourished into nearly 400 online events and more than 30 in-person events across Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Haryana, and Uttarakhand. Our gatherings have evolved from intimate film and book discussions to a lively mix of open mics, screenings, artist interviews, quizzes, jamming sessions, and educational workshops. What started as an online refuge has transformed into a vibrant, global community for art, conversation, and creativity.

How has Ashoka’s interdisciplinary approach impacted your entrepreneurial mindset?

Through the Young India Fellowship’s Experiential Learning Module, I piloted a new vertical of The Abstract Room, designing film-based workshops for school and college students to impart crucial skills and life lessons. With a dedicated team, a seed fund of 25,000 INR, and structured mentorship, we developed five impactful workshops, engaging over 600 students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds across three states. This hands-on experience not only provided me with an enterprising structure and solidified our approach but also earned us the ‘Best ELM Award’ for achieving meaningful impact and validating a model with promising growth potential.

What positive impact does your venture aim to bring to the community or industry?

The Abstract Room was born from a desire to create a space where people could come together to explore and discuss stories freely, without judgment. What began as a small, weekly online meetup has evolved into a vibrant, global community—more than just a platform, it has become a family. In an era dominated by doom-scrolling, shallow consumption, and fleeting attention spans, we invite our members to pause, reflect, and truly engage with art. Through a shared love for cinema, literature, poetry, and music, we have built a community grounded in empathy, curiosity, and self-expression.

We aim to provide a welcoming place where diverse voices are heard, complex topics are explored, and genuine connections are made. The Abstract Room encourages members to look beyond simple opinions or social media soundbites, cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation for different perspectives.

About Abstract Room:

The Abstract Room is a social community that welcomes anyone interested in exploring stories across various formats, including cinema, literature, and other forms of art. Operating on a membership model, as of August 2024, over 3,000 people have participated in their events, with more than 450 subscribing to their membership. Their offerings include film screenings and discussions, book discussions, open mics, conversations with filmmakers, and music appreciation sessions, attracting school and college students, professionals, and businesspeople alike.

Our motto, ‘Pause for Art’, reflects our mission to help people connect through meaningful conversations and the restorative power of stories. It’s a place for rest, insight, and growth—a community that embraces vulnerability, celebrates creativity and upholds ideals that we hope to see more widely embraced in the world.

51���

Unboxed Thinking: How Ashoka’s Liberal Arts Approach Shaped My Path

Gurasheesh Paul Singh, an 51��� alum, grew up in rural North Kashmir. His curiosity about himself and his roots led him to major in history and international relations. Although he didn't initially harbor any professional ambition in these fields, the freedom of a liberal arts education emboldened him to pursue technology as a career. He gained hands-on experience at 51���’s neuroscience lab under Professor Bittu before eventually starting his own company.

In conversation with us, Gurasheesh shared insights into his upbringing in rural North Kashmir, his journey through the fields of history and international relations, and how his experiences at 51��� have influenced his passion for technology and entrepreneurship.

What motivated you to start your venture, and what has the journey been like so far?
I realised early on that I wanted to be in control of the impact I have on the world and be free to work on things that excited me—finding something so tailored to an existing job felt unrealistic. So, the obvious answer was to do it myself, which aligned well with my penchant for making things. I could make things, and now I could make a living from making them too.

How has Ashoka’s liberal arts approach influenced your idea of entrepreneurship?
It was central to not getting boxed into a discipline or an ideology. I was attracted to Ashoka because of what it claimed to be before we—the first undergraduates—set foot on campus. Ten years later, I’m glad to report that it did indeed enable me to learn in earnest, not as a byproduct of seeking a vocation, which in turn allows me to lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

In what ways does your venture aim to bring about positive change in the community?
I hope it can meaningfully enhance access to energy, decarbonise energy, and generate employment along the way.

What advice would you give to Ashoka students or alumni who are aspiring to start their own ventures?
There’s a SpongeBob episode where they decide to become “entrepreneurs” after reading the “Fancy Living” magazine and observing how a guy is so rich he has a pool in his pool. “Fancy Living” may be reason enough for some, but having your own venture can be a vehicle for so much more. If you can recruit some core motivational forces in your life and channel them into your venture, you’re more likely to persevere when the going gets tough.

About Zool Energy:

Zool Energy offers a sustainable alternative to traditional fuel-based generators by providing backup devices that are cost-effective, silent, and lightweight. These innovative solutions are designed to replace high-emission, noisy, and cumbersome generators. Zool Energy's devices can be charged using the grid, solar, or wind energy, promoting cleaner and more efficient energy usage.

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Ashoka students and alums secure top scholarships across graduate schools

In 2023-24, over 150 students were admitted to top universities across the world for postgraduate studies. The Office of Post Graduate Studies worked with many of them for their admissions and scholarships from crème de la crème institutions including Harvard University, University of Oxford, London School of Economics, Yale University, University of Cambridge, University of Chicago, HEC Paris, Columbia University, and several others. We had students selected across academic domains including but not limited to Public Policy, Integrated Immunology, Economics, Business Analytics, and Psychology etc.

Anjali Madangarli, a student of Physics at 51���, has been awarded the prestigious Inlaks Scholarship to pursue her Master's degree at Leiden University, Netherlands. With a keen interest in physics, she will be embarking on an MSc Physics program, focusing on research in the field of cosmology. This scholarship will help her delve deeper into her passion for understanding the universe, and contribute to her dream of becoming a leading researcher in the field.

-Anjali Madangarli, ASP’24

Aditya Tiwari, majoring in Sociology and Anthropology, has been honoured with the Felix Scholarship. He will be pursuing an MSc in Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford. The Felix Scholarship is awarded to exceptional students from developing countries, and Aditya's commitment to understanding social structures and advocating for marginalized communities makes him a perfect candidate for this honour. His studies at Oxford will further his work in social justice and anthropology.

-Aditya Tiwari, ASP’24

Sanjna Kartik was awarded the Felix Scholarship for their graduate admission to the University of Oxford in Integrated Immunology. Her academic excellence, impeccable research work and dedication to understanding social issues through Biology got her admission to her dream school along with a 100% Felix scholarship funding

-Sanjna Kartik, ASP'24

Misha Singh, who majored in Advanced Biology at 51���, was awarded the Erasmus Mundus Partner Country Scholarship to pursue a Master’s in Neuroscience. She will be continuing her studies at Erasmus University, with a focus on interdisciplinary research in the field of Neuroscience. This scholarship will support her journey towards pursuing scientific research and global collaboration.

-Misha Singh, ASP'24

Samyukt Sriram, who majored in Economics at 51���, has been honored with the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship to pursue an MSc in Data Science for Business at HEC Paris. His dedication to economics and his passion for data-driven business strategies have earned him this recognition. This scholarship will support his goal of becoming a leader in data science and business innovation.

-Samyukt Sriram, ASP'24

Nene Onyedi Ibezim, an international student at Ashoka was selected to pursue a Masters in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Their outstanding dedication towards working for education-based non-profits in India and Nigeria earned them the Penn-UNESCO Fellowships for Developing Country Scholars. This scholarship will support their academic journey as they further specialize in creating education opportunities accessible to all.

-Nene Onyedi Ibezim, YIF ‘24

In only the second year of our partnership with the Havells family scholarship, Saina Suri, from the Economics and Finance department has been awarded the Havells Scholarship. She will be pursuing her Master of Science in Management at Wake Forest University. Her drive to explore finance and management, along with her academic excellence in economics, has earned her this scholarship, and she looks forward to continuing her journey towards becoming a business leader.

-Saina Suri, ASP'24

Alumni Section

Additionally, three of our alumni from the undergraduate program and the Young India Fellowship were awarded some of the most coveted full-ride scholarships. Kiran Sahani (ASP 23) received the McAll MacBain Scholarship to study Educational Leadership at McGill University. Fatima Khan (YIF 2018) is headed to study investigative journalism at Columbia University, having been awarded the Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship and Clinton Manoti, ASP’ 21 was awarded the Chevening Scholarship and will be joining the University of Aberdeen to pursue a graduate program in Data Science

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Bridging Disciplines: From Engineering to Health-Tech and Policy Reform

Karan Trichal is a young professional with a wealth of experience in healthcare consulting. Over the years, his work has taken him across diverse projects, from assessing the feasibility of introducing impactful health-tech products in specific markets with a clear need, to crafting go-to-market strategies, and even developing advocacy pieces aimed at driving policy reform. Outside of his professional life, Karan is an avid reader, an occasional traveler, and an amateur writer who finds joy in capturing moments of beauty through his journal and short stories.

Karan holds an integrated dual degree (B.Tech and M.Tech) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Pivoting towards liberal arts through 51���’s Young India Fellowship (YIF), he honed a comprehensive perspective on complex societal challenges. He previously worked at the University of Chicago’s International Innovation Corps program, assisting with strategizing the digitization of public healthcare service delivery in Uttar Pradesh. His mission is to harness his multifaceted background and experiences to drive meaningful change.

Karan is the recipient of the prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship (2024-2025), a highly selective, fully funded Master’s in Global Affairs program at Tsinghua University, Beijing. Schwarzman Scholars selects students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and academic excellence from across the globe. Karan is representing India amongst the ~140 students from 40+ countries.

We recently spoke to him about his beginnings, his journey, and aspirations. Here is what he had to share:

What drew you to the Young India Fellowship (YIF), and how has it influenced your career trajectory?

During my undergraduate years, I was just beginning to explore the world of arts and humanities when I first heard about the Young India Fellowship (YIF). As I browsed through the list of courses, the esteemed faculty, and the emphasis on academic and critical writing, I realized the programme offered a rich melange of academic experiences. I was also excited at the prospect of meeting peers from diverse backgrounds and learning from them—a unique value proposition of the Young India Fellowship (YIF).

The academic offerings introduced me to a new world where disciplines intersected beautifully. Courses such as “Totalitarian Century and the Ideology Seminar,” sharpened my critical thinking skills and provided a library of reading material that I still refer to today. Meanwhile, the critical writing course on the representation of madness was a fascinating segue into literature and art and their relationship with, and portrayal of, the world. Overall, the programme instilled in me the value of learning for its own sake—an enduring lesson that has stayed with me ever since.

The YIF has also had a profound impact on my career trajectory, offering exposure that allowed me to pivot in unexpected ways. Enabled by the Fellowship, I transitioned from for-profit consulting to working with social impact organizations and state governments on digital health initiatives. Later, I collaborated with impact-oriented startups and foundations investing in solutions to improve lives across countries. Reflecting on these experiences and outcomes from my time at YIF eventually encouraged me to apply for the Schwarzman Scholars program.

The Young India Fellowship has shaped me in many ways—some obvious, and others that I can’t even fully articulate!

What other valuable lessons and experiences did you gain from YIF that has molded you into the individual you are today?

Professionally, the YIF opened countless doors for me, instilling the confidence to pursue them fearlessly. It also granted me access to a network of individuals engaged in some of the most exciting and impactful endeavors. Through this network, I had the opportunity to contribute to development in Uttar Pradesh, where I worked with the University of Chicago’s International Innovation Corps program, spearheading the digitization of public healthcare service delivery in Uttar Pradesh, to strengthen the public health system through the introduction of technology. Spending time in the field – specifically in public hospitals in remote corners of the state – to develop training plans for health officers was reminiscent of the public policy and design thinking courses I took during YIF. This same network also led me to a role driving market entry and business development for impactful startups in African markets, where a documented need for the solution was clear.

Personally—and most importantly—I found some of my closest friendships through the program. These are people who have stood by me through lows, celebrated my highs, and helped me grow as an individual, grounding me in both turbulent and tranquil times. The totality of this experience has set me on a path of self-learning and intellectual growth, enabling me to engage more meaningfully with others and the world around me.

Could you elaborate on the impactful work you have done in the healthcare sector?

During my time with the International Innovation Corps’s Lucknow project, our mission was threefold: to assist in formulating and conceptualizing critical thought pieces around the digitization of Uttar Pradesh’s public health ecosystem; to draft a sustainable capacity-building strategy for public health professionals, ensuring a smooth adoption of digital health in the state; and to support the government’s efforts in implementing this transformation. This charter took our team across the state to more than 8 districts and 14 district hospitals to test the tools and strategies we came up with; meet prominent stakeholders in the state government; and work on strategic pieces that would eventually form the backbone of the digitization efforts in the state.

This experience was as much a cultural immersion as it was a professional journey. Stepping into the nonprofit and social impact space was a steep learning curve, but one that brought invaluable lessons. More than anything, learning to collaborate with the government, visiting smaller towns in the state, and engaging with public health hospitals gave this work a depth that is often absent in the world of analytics and strategy. Speaking directly with the public health professionals—the intended beneficiaries of our interventions—added a weight of responsibility and purpose to the entire endeavor.

Given the novelty and scale of the experience, it’s no surprise that I walked away with more than a few key takeaways. One of the things that I look back at the most, while continuing to work in the development sector, is the complicated system in which we operate. Given the generally ambiguous nature of work and the layers of stakeholders to navigate, one can sometimes lose sight of the vision and mission in the mires of data, strategy, and stakeholder management. However, it is imperative to keep sight of the ultimate stakeholder – the people – and the vision – creating an impact – to keep soldiering on. Consequently, it is also important to be cognizant of systems and machineries larger than ourselves at play, making it important to strike a balance as to how much meaning we attach to, and derive from, our work.

What are your aspirations and future goals?

I aim to leverage my multidisciplinary background and expertise in healthcare to create meaningful impact in this critical space. Spending a year in China provides a unique opportunity to study an exceptionally efficient and highly digitized healthcare system. I am confident that the insights gained during this time can be applied to drive improvements in healthcare systems across other low- and middle-income countries. At a personal level, I aim to continue my journey of learning and growth by reading, experiencing, and engaging more – with China for this year, and the world around me in general.
—----------------
Karan Trichal is a Development Sector Consultant and Young India Fellow from the Class of 2021. He has over 3 years of experience in healthcare settings. His mission is to harness his multifaceted background and experiences to drive meaningful change.

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Empowering Tomorrow: Rahul’s Journey in Aging Research

Born into a family where resources were scarce, Rahul's parents instilled in him a love for learning that knew no bounds. His mother's ingenious solution to his thirst for stories - creating a small book from torn-out newspaper articles-sparked a lifelong passion for knowledge. Despite the limitations in his village, Rahul’s passion for education drove him to excel in his academics. Today, Rahul's journey has taken him to the forefront of scientific research, with accolades and recognition that speak to his tireless efforts. Rahul has received prestigious awards and scholarships, including a Gold Medal from the Prime Minister of India for being the University Topper at the National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat (2017), International Neuropsychology Fellowship Research Grant from British Neuropsychology Society (2019), Commonwealth Scholarship (2020) for his Master’s in Dementia Studies, South Asian Implementation Science Fellowship (2021) and has been recently awarded PhD Studentship by UK Research and Innovation (2024), the national funding agency investing in Science and Research, to pursue his PhD from the Northumbria University, United Kingdom. Yet, what defines him is his commitment to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. His research focuses on developing innovative tools to improve healthy aging in resource-constrained settings.

We recently spoke to Rahul about his humble beginnings, academic journey, research and aspirations. Here is what he had to share:

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I hail from Kodihalli, a small village about 70 kms from Bengaluru in Karnataka. Growing up, my father ran a provisional store, and my mother managed our home while helping him. Although we had limited means, I felt fortunate compared to many classmates who relied on school mid-day meals. From a young age, I had a passion for learning, and my mother encouraged it by creating a makeshift book from torn-out children's stories in old newspapers. I treasured those stories, reading them countless times.

My life took a significant turn when my mother convinced my father to enroll me in a private English medium school for high school. This new environment was filled with competition and opportunities, showing me that to achieve my dreams, I would have to move to bigger cities. I pursued my undergraduate studies in Bengaluru, followed by a master's degree in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and the Young India Fellowship, 51��� in the Delhi NCR region. Each step, from reading makeshift books to studying in different cities, has shaped who I am today. My passion for learning and my family's support have been my driving forces.

What inspired you to pursue a career in cognitive psychology/ neuropsychiatry, specifically focusing on dementia?

As a child in my 5th grade, I was fascinated by actor Vishnuvardhan's portrayal of a psychiatrist in the Kannada movie ‘Apthamitra’ (the Hindi remake is Bhool Bhulaiya). At 11, I decided to become a psychiatrist, unaware of the details. I used to be excited about the very concept of the brain, mind, and my interest in psychology grew as I watched DD-Chandana (a regional channel of DD National) phone-in programs and well-being programs about mental health, and read feature articles on the topic. Back then, mental health wasn’t a popular or mainstream topic, so rarely did anyone talk about stress or well-being. In high school, I read B.V Pattabhirao's books on NLP and deception, which further solidified my desire to pursue Psychology. I was convinced I would become a psychologist (I didn’t know psychologists and psychiatrists were two different things then). I used to write the same in slam books or when teachers asked what I wanted to become when I grew up. I think I am one of those few people who actually became what they had written in slam books in high school.

I pursued science in 12th, but was least aware and completely clueless about how to become a psychologist after this. After completing high school, I visited the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) with a friend, seeking guidance on becoming a psychologist. NIMHANS was extremely popular in my village because mental illness carried huge stigma and shame back then. But that was the only place I knew that was connected with Psychology. A chance encounter with a girl who counseled us set me on the right path. She asked why we were there and what we were looking for, and she gave us a proper roadmap about Psychology: what it means, how to pursue it, and what all I have to study. She said I would have to study till a PhD if I wanted to gain expertise in this subject. She also told me about a couple of UG colleges that I could apply to. That conversation left me with a strong impression that a PhD was what I had to pursue to complete this journey. I majored in Psychology from Surana College, took up internships in various places, such as small clinics, rehab centers, and nursing homes. I soon realised that I was not the right fit for therapeutic or clinical work. I was comfortable with research. I had difficulty comprehending various psychological theories in an objective sense, and many I couldn’t even relate to. Then came abnormal psychology and the biological approach. Myers in his book opens the topic with this statement: “Everything psychological is simultaneously biological.” I was super fascinated by this line. I had also witnessed how psychologists and psychiatrists approach mental health concerns differently, where one ignores biological aspects and the other the social and environmental aspects. I felt that if we need to address any mental health concerns, we need a holistic approach, and this traditional reductionist approach would be counterproductive. That’s how I found my true calling in academic research, particularly in Neuropsychology.

The holistic approach of Neuropsychology resonated with me, and I pursued my master's from the National Forensic Sciences University. Later, I joined the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) for a project under the Centre for Brain Research to develop a “Cognitive Assessment Battery” — a comprehensive tool to assess cognition and detect early signs of cognitive decline. This was a community project, and I was stationed in a small village where I administered our newly developed computerised assessment to more than 1,200 older adults aged 45 years and above, spending over 2,500 hours gaining valuable insights into aging, culture, and brain health. IISC gave me the opportunity to interact with many esteemed scientists and academicians in the field of aging, through which I gained a clear understanding of the current status, needs, gaps, and future possibilities around aging in India. I became well aware of the ground reality and advancements happening at leading labs in this field.

How has the YIF influenced your career path? Can you tell us about your YIF experience?

My supervisor at IISC encouraged me to pursue a PhD from International labs, but I felt unprepared. With no publications, weak writing and analytical skills, and limited knowledge beyond Neuropsychology and aging, I doubted my candidacy. It was my supervisor who suggested I join the Young India Fellowship (YIF) to upskill and network. Initially, I saw the fellowship as a means to improve my skills, but it turned out to be a life-changing experience.

YIF gave me a solid foundation in various subjects, boosting my confidence. It also freed me from fears of job insecurity and uncertainty, exposing me to diverse avenues for earning a living and skill-building opportunities. The YIF program's multidisciplinary curriculum allowed me to explore fields beyond my specialisation. It broadened my horizons and deepened my understanding of how different disciplines connect. The emphasis on critical thinking and building analytical skills sharpened my problem-solving abilities, equipping me for the rigorous analysis required in PhD research.

Classroom discussions and assignments were more than just academic exercises; they were opportunities to learn how to articulate my ideas clearly and effectively, a skill that has become invaluable in both my academic and professional life. Collaborating with peers from various backgrounds wasn't just enriching—it transformed my perspective and approach to larger issues, teaching me the power of diverse viewpoints. The supportive yet challenging environment of the YIF program was a catalyst for my growth. It boosted my self-confidence and empowered me to tackle complex challenges and present my ideas with conviction.

Post-YIF, my aspirations shifted from pursuing a PhD for its own sake to creating meaningful impact, as YIF removed the need for distant achievement. I spent two years refining my research interests, developing problem statements, and gaining experience in various methodologies. This journey helped me ace PhD interviews and approach problems from different perspectives. I began to see opportunities in places where no one else imagined and monetised my skills as a consultant for startups, guiding projects, and achieving a better work-life balance. My relationship with money changed, and I became more confident and self-assured. This transformation enabled me to present myself more effectively and eventually succeed in materialising my childhood dream.

How has your understanding of dementia changed over the years?

Spending over 2,500 hours interacting with older adults in a community setting at IISC was a grounding experience. It convinced me that I wanted to focus my career on aging research. In India, this is crucial as we have a large young and middle-aged population now, but in two decades, we will have one of the largest older adult populations in the world. Currently, India lacks sufficient policies and support systems for the elderly. Dementia is a significant issue that older adults will face, and I want to help India prepare for this challenge. However, I realised that my knowledge of quantitative methods alone was not enough.

Initially, during my academic journey in Psychology, I focused on specialisation through various internships during my undergraduate and postgraduate studies. This seemed essential until I attended YIF at 51���, where the interdisciplinary environment taught me the value of a broader educational approach. This shift showed me how a well-rounded knowledge base could enhance my expertise in Psychology.

Inspired by this new understanding, I ventured beyond traditional Psychology roles post-YIF. I worked on a project with Sangath in Goa, where I learned to handle a multicentric systematic review and metasynthesis of extensive data. Then, at NIMHANS, I worked extensively on mental health stigma and dementia. I developed and tested interventions using qualitative methods, conducted awareness programs, and learned effective implementation strategies for rural India. At Education Initiatives, I developed educational content to help children learn Kannada. At Fieldscope, I worked on transcription and translation projects. These experiences broadened my skill set and understanding of how different disciplines intersect. These experiences over five years have helped me understand dementia from biological, psychological, and social/cultural perspectives.

I also revisited clinical psychology, joining clinics like Manoshanti and Maayra in Bangalore as a visiting consultant. This enriched my practical experience and deepened my psychological acumen. This eclectic professional journey led me to Witmer Health Technologies, where I now work as a cognitive psychologist. Here, I develop tools and interventions to enhance employees' cognitive abilities and productivity. With a firm belief in the synergy of deep expertise and broad exposure, I feel well-equipped to make significant contributions in dementia research. This integrated approach, combining robust psychological knowledge with varied practical experiences, uniquely positions me to drive impact in cognitive health.

How has your work impacted Public Healthcare?

At NIMHANS, I've worked to improve how we view and treat mental health disorders at the community level. My efforts have helped create focused intervention programs and shaped public health policies, making mental health services more effective in primary healthcare settings. This work, in collaboration with the District Mental Health Programme, has positively impacted public health and well-being.

At IISc, my interdisciplinary research in cognitive neuroscience has deepened our understanding of how the brain influences behavior. We've developed a computerised assessment tool that's easy to use, even for people with little or no education. This tool is widely used in aging projects at both NIMHANS and IISc.

Some of my publications are still in progress, but here are a couple that have already been published in Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry, Asian Journal of Psychiatry, The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

• Accessing mental health care among people with schizophrenia: Data from an Indian rural psychiatric setting
• Behavioral Activation as an ‘active ingredient’ of interventions addressing depression and anxiety among young people: a systematic review and evidence synthesis
• Family Reintegration of a Homeless Person with Intellectual Developmental Disability (IDD): A Case Report
• Awareness and preferences of suicidal crisis support service options among college students in India: A cross-sectional study (under review)
• Cross-cultural adaptation of the Computerized Assessment of Information Processing battery (COGNITO) for an Indian longitudinal study on rural elderly (under review)

What innovations or advancements in dementia research are you most excited about?

Through my PhD, I want to lead research efforts aimed at transforming how India cares for its elderly population facing dementia. Despite global efforts and investments in dementia care and prevention, breakthroughs have been slow to come by. In the West, early opportunities to raise awareness and establish supportive policies were missed, resulting in stigma and inadequate support for those affected by dementia.

India, with its youthful demographic profile today, is on the brink of a demographic shift. In just a couple of decades, we will have more elderly citizens than anywhere else in the world. This presents a golden opportunity to proactively implement effective and sustainable strategies for preventing dementia, developing compassionate care policies, and training dedicated caregivers. My passion lies in creating a future where no one in India faces dementia alone or without dignity. I aspire to build a compassionate and supportive framework that empowers individuals affected by dementia and their families. I aim to pave the way for a society where elderly individuals can age gracefully and with the respect they deserve.

Rahul Kodihalli Venkatesh is a Neuropsychologist and Young India Fellow from the Class of 2020. He has over seven years of work experience in various community and laboratory research settings. His key interest lies in developing culture-free assessments for the early detection of cognitive decline and preventive digital interventions for the same. He has garnered the necessary quantitative and qualitative research skills to pursue his interest. He has worked on projects such as a longitudinal aging study and an anti-stigma intervention study. He has adapted a computerized neuropsychological battery and several attitude, knowledge, and behavioral scales for the Indian population. Currently, he is working towards the development of computerised, gamified interventions to enhance cognitive abilities based on neuroplasticity principles.

- Written and edited by Shahambare T, Young India Fellowship

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Dreams to Reality: A First Generation Graduate’s Path to Harvard

Hailing from Mukkudal, a village in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, Ashweetha’s story is remarkable in multiple ways. Her parents rolled beedis (local handmade cigarettes) for a living. She challenged societal conventions by pursuing education, ultimately becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree. Motivated by the struggles faced by the women in her life, she established the ‘Bodhi Tree Foundation’ to empower rural youth in realising their potential. Through her initiative ‘Penn Collective,’ she advocates for women's rights and equal representation of women in politics and leadership roles. For her work as the Founder and CEO of Bodhi Tree Foundation, Ashweetha has been awarded the Working Women Achievers' award and Chief Minister State Youth Award.

We recently spoke to her about her journey, her grassroot community organisations, the impact she has been creating and her recent admissions to Harvard Kennedy School, Here is what she had to say:

Let us start with your YIF journey and to where it has led you.

In my final term paper for "Shakespeare and the World," I wrote about the untapped potentials and unexplored emotions of the women in Othello. It was one of the very first courses taught at the YIF, and I believe that's where my journey started. The fellowship irreversibly altered my perspective about myself and the world around me. Each day spent there offered a chance for introspection, allowing me to dream, to be brave, and aspire more. It was also my first real encounter with the stark realities of social inequality.

At YIF, I learned to comprehend how entrenched the status quo (particularly poverty and culture) systematically marginalised people like me. Growing up, I never felt the weight of poverty or gender discrimination. I had been oblivious to the extent of these disparities, thinking that it was a norm to be poor and to be submissive as a woman. I had no point of reference until I went to Delhi. There, I grappled with questions of identity and gender and how they dictated access to opportunities.

At the fellowship, I felt a strong urge to go back to my village and help girls like me. I couldn't stand seeing their potential wasted. I realised that the only barrier standing between individuals like myself and reaching our full potential was an ‘opportunity’. So, I started the Bodhi Tree Foundation, to bridge the rural-urban divide by supporting local graduates to explore their potential by giving them access to life skills and career opportunities.

How did you go about finding your calling and committing to it?

My childhood memories are etched with my grandmother's mud-stained feet and my mother's calloused hands. My grandmother endured the hardships of modern slavery, toiling as a farm laborer for essentials like rice and shelter, while my mother spent her life rolling beedies (country cigarettes) to make ends meet. As a girl growing up in rural Tamil Nadu, I often felt invisible, constrained by societal expectations. Fortunately, I discovered the voices of Irom Sharmila and Helen Keller, in our village library. Their stories showed me that I could defy the limitations imposed by my gender and socioeconomic status. With unwavering determination, I pursued my education, becoming the first in my family to graduate from college.

One thing that stands out vividly from my childhood: I remember sitting alongside my mother and her friends with a beedi-rolling dhabba, cutting tobacco leaves. They would start work with chalk and broken glass bangle pieces drawing a grid, like a chessboard. A broken bangle piece would be placed in a square, for every 100 beedies, the bangle piece would be moved, and this process continued until the last square was filled. While I saw them achieve these everyday goals with deep commitment, I also listened to their stories of struggle – of poverty and debts, of discrimination and patriarchy, of violence and abuse, of choicelessness and hopelessness.

The discrimination they faced, the limitations imposed on them, and the struggles endured by the women in my life have deeply influenced the way I look at the world. Their hopes and ambitions have played a significant part in shaping my aspirations and my commitment to strive for a gender-equal world. Every day, I am reminded that I am standing on the shoulders of my grandmother, my mother, my sister and all the women who came before me who enabled me to dream beyond my circumstances and enable the life I live today – a life characterised by agency, choice, and freedom. Now, I am driven to pay forward the opportunities I've been given, empowering as many women as I can along the way.

How do you balance your commitment to grassroots initiatives like Bodhi Tree and Penn Collective with your involvement in global organisations like The World Bank?

I am currently a World Bank Consultant assigned to the Tamil Nadu Women’s Employment and Safety project – a USD 150 million initiative financed by the World Bank and my role is to facilitate operational engagement with the Government of Tamil Nadu. I believe that the lack of access to opportunity is failing so many people in our world. Fortunately, I got into the Young India Fellowship (YIF) program, and that one opportunity changed my life. I completed my fellowship in 2013, and in 2014, I returned to my village to start a non-profit, the Bodhi Tree Foundation, to support first-generation rural college-goers like myself who come from socially, economically, culturally, demographically, and historically disadvantaged backgrounds. Through a variety of foundation programmes, I have reached out to over 10,000 girls in the past six years, offering them the crucial assistance they need to follow their aspirations and change the world despite obstacles like poverty, broken homes, domestic abuse, and unstable upbringings.

I constantly asked myself, “How do we equip these girls to fight the invisibility that comes not only from being a girl but in many cases, being poor, being a person born into a marginalised caste, and being someone from a disadvantaged demographic?" These identities have the power to inform their life prospects, and their future is out of their control. When I think about what could happen if these girls get the right support system, it becomes very hard for me to reconcile.

These experiences at the Bodhi Tree Foundation was a major impetus to join politics because it cemented my passion for women in leadership positions. In March 2023, a friend of mine and I launched a women's collective called "The Penn Collective," which translates to "women’s collective" in Tamil. We realised that for women's issues to be recognised, women themselves must be acknowledged. To achieve this, we aimed to identify and eliminate barriers preventing women from accessing information, resources, opportunities, and support systems in political and public settings. This led us to form the collective.

Through The Penn Collective, we aim to empower women (including ourselves) to become strong political forces and compete for and win elections at various government levels, ultimately boosting women's representation in politics. We organised online and offline campaigns such as Engal Kalam Engal Kanavu (My Space, My Dream Campaign) and the Penniyam Pazhagu Series (Learn Feminism series), bringing together men and women to discuss topics like reclaiming bodies, public spaces, workplaces, and agency in marriage. Additionally, we conducted workshops on political and constitutional topics throughout the year.

Have there been moments when you felt discouraged or overwhelmed by the magnitude of the issues you're addressing, and how did you navigate those feelings?

When I feel discouraged or overwhelmed, I remind myself of the price of failure, the price of inaction. I find solace in David Whyte’s poem, “Start Close in” and anchor myself in the uncertain nature of life, which allows me not to take things too seriously. I also remind myself that within each of us resides both angels and beasts, and it's our choices that define us.

I deeply believe luck played a significant role in achieving my dreams, yet I view my life as a collection of chosen experiences leading up to this moment. The courage to apply to a top university and securing a scholarship feels like the culmination of those experiences. It's now my mission to leverage the opportunities I've been given to challenge the paradigms that perpetuate women's marginalisation in disadvantaged communities. I see it as my duty to ensure these women have every chance to integrate from margins into the mainstream.

What role do you believe storytelling plays in inspiring social change, and how do you use your own story to motivate others?

Growing up, I was always curious about my mother's and grandmother's lives—what food they ate, the clothes they wore, and how they celebrated festivals. Sitting with women in the narrow lane near our house, everyone rolling beedies for a living, I'd listen to their stories and wonder about my own future. Stories became my way of understanding the world.

Growing up amidst normalised discrimination, I became accustomed to being silenced, dismissed and ignored. The idea of men raising their voices or hands at women felt routine, a grim reality I accepted. Freedom, having a voice, and making choices were foreign concepts. It took time to realise that we're shaped by the reality we unquestioningly accept. Challenging these norms is a daunting journey, requiring an awakening. I aspire to instill the audacity to dream in the millions of girls like me growing up in rural India. Just imagine if even one of those dreams came true—the world would be a better place for everyone.

How do you define success in your personal and professional life, and how has that definition evolved over time?

As a first-generation learner, my initial drive was to prove to my parents that I could achieve something significant. This motivation guided many of my decisions—such as studying diligently for government exams, excelling academically, and striving for a life that would help my family rise out of poverty.

Growing up in a rural, impoverished Indian household, I witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by girls, often overlooked and denied opportunities for social advancement. I believe these experiences propelled me to envision a more equitable society where every child, regardless of circumstance, could access quality education and realise their potential. At the Young India Fellowship (YIF), my faculty and guest lecturers insisted on being socially responsible and made us believe we had to contribute to nation-building. I remember in the last class of our business class, Professor Rajiv Lochan encouraged us to think about what success means to us in our lives, whether it is money, fame, power or satisfaction. He also said none of these choices are bad. I believe it was the Young India Fellowship (YIF) that changed my definition of success and made me more aware of how my life could be made useful for others. My time at Bodhi Tree further solidified my commitment to promoting gender equality and women's empowerment across all walks of life—in the economy, in politics, in social and public life.

Personally, my experience as a consultant in the Tamil Nadu Women’s Employment and Safety Project was powerful because the project I worked on looked at women as potential contributors of economic growth rather than the usual approach the government takes with women’s projects as welfare ones. It helped me understand the effects of social institutions on development outcomes. It helped me to understand women’s issues like care burden, women’s safety, gender based violence, unequal pay, gendered jobs, social norms and biases against women.

A legislative panel on women's marriageable age in India in January 2022 featured just one woman out of 31 members, underscoring the glaring gender disparity in decision-making entities. Globally, data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women reveal alarming timelines for achieving gender parity in political leadership. This reality fuels my drive to ask, "What are we doing to advance women in politics?" The glaring gender disparity in political decision-making bodies only accentuates the urgency of my mission to empower women in politics and nurture the next generation of female leaders.

Maya Angelou's words, "Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women," deeply resonate with me. I am committed to supporting female lawmakers and aspiring politicians in their political journeys.

I firmly believe that democracy thrives when all voices, particularly those of historically marginalised and silenced women, are heard. I believe we deserve women who represent us, who represent our voices, our dreams, and our aspirations. These women exist and all they need is a support system.

Your future goals and aspirations

I dream of a world where every individual has the freedom and opportunity to live a fulfilling life. As someone who comes from a disadvantaged background, I am deeply committed to advocating for women, striving for a future where they hold 50% of all leadership roles, particularly in political spaces. I believe that empowering these women to rise and seize opportunities can catalyze profound global development and societal progress.

My journey towards a degree in public policy is not a direct one. It was shaped by a series of defining moments that illuminated my path forward. Now, I am certain that to enact change, I must deepen my understanding of public policy. I believe in a 'public policy' that truly includes everyone, and I am driven to transform the current system, which too often overlooks, invalidates, excludes, and dehumanises those it is meant to serve. I genuinely want to deepen my understanding of the complex developmental problems and learn how to solve them at scale.

I am aware that the path to politics comes with its challenges - entrenched patriarchal norms, a lack of support, and societal prejudices such as misogyny and sexism. These hurdles have only sharpened my resolve to build the necessary tools, resources, and networks that will enable me to enter and persist in the male dominated political system.

With a MPA degree, I hope to be equipped to advocate effectively for transformative change. After my studies, I am eager to jump into mainstream politics, committed to shaping a more equitable and just future. This isn't just my career path—it's my calling.

(Ashweetha is an alumna from the Young India Fellowship (YIF) class of 2013. She is an independent consultant working with NGOs and Government Departments, TED speaker, an Acumen India Fellow, G.P Birla Fellow, co-founder of Penn Collective, founder of Bodhi Tree Foundation and Social Worker. She most recently was a World Bank consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and was the second President of the Ashoka Alumni Association.)

-Written and edited by Shahambare T, Young India Fellowship

51���

Making Digital Infrastructure Accessible, Usable and Consumable

As a blind student, Shakul relied on screen-reading software to read documents. But they did not help him read mathematical equations. He struggled with math textbooks through college because they were not readily available to him. He kept asking himself, why is there no technology that is solving this problem for him?

"I did not plan on quitting my job in just six months to pursue a greater calling – but the mindset I built in these formative years at Ashoka gave me the confidence to take a risk."

At Ashoka, he along with his friends began a self-advocacy group called I-STEM. They were asking crucial questions such as how digital infrastructure can better accommodate students with disabilities. They wanted to improve it to make STEM education accessible, inclusive, and available for all.

With a focus on visual impairments, they organised initiatives for mentorship, upskilling, and recruitment. Since 2018, they have also been organising India’s first inclusive hackathon. As someone who has experienced all that was lacking in terms of accessibility in STEM, Shakul felt the need to develop I-STEM further. With his co-founders Kartik Sawhney, Sunil Choudhary, and Akashdeep Bansal, he expanded I-STEM into a digital accessibility company.

They develop solutions for making digital infrastructure accessible, usable, and consumable for all and work with organisations like UNFPA, IIT-Delhi, 51���, and the State Government of Washington. He believes that the community he was exposed to at the University was especially impactful and encouraged him to think critically and question.

He says “Ashoka does not train us to serve as employees but inspires us to be enthusiastic participants and take a risk.” The three years were well-rounded with an emotional connection with his cohort built on mutual peer learning, kindness, and support from the extended ecosystem – students, faculty, and co-founders alike.

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Fostering Global Impact: MJ Chungu’s Ongoing Commitment to HIV-Related Advocacy

McPherlain Chungu (MJ) grew up in Zambia to a single mother in a conservative society. Growing up amidst the AIDS epidemic, he recollects a time when they were going to someone’s father’s funeral, who had died of AIDS.

“On the way back from burying the father, the mother also passed away from the disease.”

With such gruesome memories from his childhood, MJ decided to help the community. Consistently topping his classes and being fluent in English allowed him to understand and translate policies to his local languages—Bemba and Nyanja. This made it more accessible to his people, particularly young people.

In the following years, MJ moved to Kolkata, India, after earning a scholarship to Oaktree International School to complete his International Baccalaureate degree. Here, he heard of 51��� through a Bangladeshi classmate and decided to apply. The beginning of the Ashoka experience for MJ came with several challenges. As the first international student, it took him a while to adapt to this new environment. However, in the coming weeks, his perception of the place changed.

He believes that Ashoka was the best educational experience he had. He says Malavika Maheshwari’s classes on Social and Political Formations were life-changing for him. The course allowed him to question everything: from society to gender roles, and religion.

"Prior to this, I had easily accepted the status quo of my society, even if it was harmful in some cases. Ashoka taught me to question; it provided me with the tools with which to analyze and understand the world against the backdrop of its various complexities."

After Ashoka, MJ pursued a master’s degree in international affairs and policy at the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID). He is currently serving as Technical Officer, of Stigma Research in the United Nations where he coordinates research, advocacy, and policy intervention work on HIV-related stigma.

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From 51��� to Naya Bharat Sunehra Amrit Kaal

Subrata Pandey is the founder of Punarnawa: Soul of Artistry, a social brand that serves as a representative platform for indigenous communities across India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Subrata has over 11 years of experience in the craft sector. Her vision is to create livelihoods for marginalised and indigenous communities from East and Northeast India using traditional skill-based practices.

She completed her undergraduate studies in crafts product design from the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design and then pursued the Young India Fellowship from 51���. In this interview Subrata Pandey, a Young India Fellow from the 51���’s batch of 2014 talks about her business Punarnawa: Soul of Artistry.

What was your motivation for starting this business?

I embarked on this journey right after completing my undergraduate degree. Fresh out of design school and at the age of 21, I had two dream job offers lined up, one of which I had already accepted. Little did I know that everything was about to change when I crossed paths with an extraordinary indigenous woman from the villages surrounding Rourkela, in the tribal district of Sundergarh.

These women worked as daily wage labourers, farmers, and housewives, yet their eyes were filled with a burning desire for something more. It was on January 26th, 2011, that our organization, Punarnawa Soul Of Artistry, was born. From that moment, there was no turning back.

"The invaluable lessons I gained as an Ashoka student have significantly enhanced my leadership abilities. They have not only bolstered my confidence as a social leader but also equipped me with skills that have greatly benefited me as an individual."

What is Punarnawa: Soul of Artistry? What sets Punarnawa apart from other businesses?

Punarnawa: Soul Of Artistry is a distinguished social brand that serves as a representative platform for indigenous identities from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, with a particular focus on Odisha and Northeast India. What makes us stand out is our fully indigenous collective, comprising 30 tribes and over 10 traditional communities, with women making up 85% of our members.

We began by providing skill training to these indigenous tribes, and what followed was an incredible journey that transformed into a movement. These women, despite lacking formal education, have not only acquired valuable skills but have also emerged as successful entrepreneurs and beacons of inspiration for their communities.

Our team of experienced senior women artisans act as master trainers, offering free skills training and support to any women who wish to join our organization in Sundergarh district around a few blocks. They are akin to the dedicated Aganwadi Didis who visit households, identifying individuals interested in working from home. Once trained by our skilled artisans, these women collect their kits from a central location in the village, complete their work, and deliver the finished products to the same point. They are then paid monthly.

What prompted you to apply to Naya Bharat Sunehra Amrit Kaal? What was the process like—from the first step to the last?

To our great surprise, we received an unexpected call and were subsequently interviewed and shortlisted. When inquired about the selection process, we were informed that their diligent research team had scoured India to uncover remarkable stories worthy of being showcased, to inspire the youth of the country.

What are some of the next steps that you are looking at?

The biggest challenge in the livelihood sector has always been funding. What we managed to achieve in these 13 years, we could have achieved in 5 years had we had the proper support and investment. Going forward we are looking forward to expanding our studio into an innovation hub and artist residency with boosting of both, tea, wildlife, river, art, culture, textile & crafts tourism. We have just launched our e-commerce store www.punarnawa.com where we aim to bring the work of the various indigenous tribes and create their identity in the global platform.

51���

Beyond the Horn: Exploring Masculinity and Self-Discovery in Children’s Literature

Farhan is a social impact consultant at Sattva Consulting. He has contributed to engagements across thematic areas of education, public health, gender equality, livelihoods, and climate change. He has a bachelor's degree in Applied Statistics and has pursued the Young India Fellowship in Liberal Arts with 51���.

His first book, The Self in Our Times, published in 2021 comprised a collection of seven stories, focusing on the themes of love, home, human connection and the uncertainty of modernity at large. He has published various fiction and non-fiction pieces on different platforms.

We spoke to Farhan about his latest book, 'A Rhino’s Horn,' and his inspiration for the unique theme of masculinity, as well as the development of the main character, Robbie.

Robbie's journey of self-discovery revolves around overcoming the lack of a horn. What inspired you to explore the theme of masculinity through this unique physical attribute?

I was quite drawn towards the symbolic potential of a horn given how it is often used as a means to dominate and intimidate in a rhino world. On one hand, it represented some of the most stereotypical aspects of masculinity, and on the other hand, the fact that the species of rhino are heavily poached only for their prized horns somewhere also revealed how we as humans perceive animals from a distance. I think the horn felt like a strong universal motif to convey how superficially we attach value to things and get carried away by conditioned beliefs. The lack of a horn also proved valuable in exploring the true nature of personal strength and how little it has to do with traditional masculine notions. Robbie’s journey was about recognising where this strength lies within him. I intended to nudge young minds to reflect upon their conditioning but without preaching any direct values, and I think a powerful symbol like a horn becomes an effective way to communicate such ideas.

The book subtly touches upon several themes like friendship, self-compassion, and the loss of a loved one, was there any specific personal experience that influenced these aspects of the story?

I would not trace the story to one particular experience but rather an amalgamation of episodes over many years. Like Robbie, I too possess a drive for perfection and it was also a tendency that developed due to a difficult childhood and experience of bullying.

I also recently lost my grandfather which taught me a great deal about the nature of grief and how it contributes to empathy and growth. My friendships have been some of the most intimate relationships I’ve made in my life. All of those elements somewhere came together and I think the act of writing this story became a point of catharsis in my journey. There was a sense of liberation in me when I finally finished the story.

Beyond the personal journey of Robbie, do you hope to convey any broader message to children on navigating through the complexities of today's world?

I have come to realise there is so much wisdom in a child’s way of thinking. As an adult, I had to unlearn things to be able to write for children. It was quite a humbling experience to let your armour down and learn to speak the language we’ve forgotten over time. Adolescence is a turbulent phase for children, and Robbie’s journey was supposed to mirror the mayhem inside most young adults at this stage of life. They also find it increasingly hard to communicate the changes they are feeling internally and externally, often creating a rupture between them and their parents. I think such stories can help children acquire a comforting vocabulary to express their angst and alienation and realise where their self-worth really lies. I like how Bell Hooks put it; living should be rooted in a form of “love ethic that transcends fear”. I believe meaningful connections founded on love help children preserve their wise souls.

"This project became an exceptional collaborative effort with two of my wonderful YIF batchmates, Urbi Chatterjee and Sanmadi. K.R., stepping up to make this happen."

51���

Gaining Perspective: A Harvard Graduate’s Journey in Transforming Indian Higher Education

Karan Bhola, an alumnus of Young India Fellowship is a higher education institution-building professional, with experience across admissions, program management, outreach, communications, curriculum development and alumni relations.

Karan is presently the Director of the Young India Fellowship (YIF) at 51���. He previously led YIF outreach and admissions, while supporting outreach for Ashoka’s graduate and doctoral programs. He was the founding President of the 51��� Alumni Association. Through 9.9 Education, he worked on a project to establish India’s first university for the transportation sector and projects in online and blended learning. He worked with Deutsche Bank before moving to the field of higher education.

Karan is an alumnus of Harvard University (where he pursued a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration as a Fulbright Scholar), 51��� (where he was a Young India Fellow), and Loyola College (where he received an undergraduate degree in Economics).

In conversation with Karan Bhola, who returned to 51��� as Director of the Young India Fellowship, as he reflects on his own experience as a Fellow.

Did you expect to be working at Ashoka when you were a Fellow yourself?

I came to the Young India Fellowship (YIF) seeking direction, fulfilment and a better understanding of myself—as a former economics graduate and banker with multiple interests. The Fellowship, amongst many things, taught me the value of asking the right questions. The confidence the Fellowship gave me to pursue anything I wanted was the pivotal point that eventually pushed me to work across several facets of higher education. Everything I pursued after the Fellowship was because I was curious and excited about it. Not because I thought it would add something to my résumé. But now when I look back, my work in admissions and outreach, my work with professors, and on coursework—the dots seem to be connecting.

"The Ashoka alumni community’s greatest strength is that the answer to pretty much any question can likely be found within it."

Was it a conscious decision to stick to higher education?

There was no direction initially. But it so turned out retrospectively that I happened to be doing everything in higher education, more specifically experimenting with innovative models. I decided to pursue administration and governance in higher education. It was a clean slate and a very tough problem to solve. This allowed me to also be a ‘specialised generalist’. I was specialising in higher education but was a generalist to the extent that I could play different roles from different perspectives.

What was your biggest takeaway from Harvard?

I got some critical distance from both India and higher education during my course at Harvard. I read a fair bit on the history of Indian higher education, and gained a lot of comparative perspective. The overarching goal has been to make higher education administration aspirational as back, I was only 28. And it becomes difficult to be taken seriously in a nonstudent, non-faculty role. But there was a point of comfort, and it helped to have mentors within the institution and some of the core trustees.

It was fundamentally about putting my head down, knowing what the right thing to do was and ultimately letting the work speak for itself. In some sense, that journey of building credibility is happening. It is exhausting but it is equally exhilarating and gratifying.

51���

Fellow to Founder: Coming a Full Circle

Mahesh Jakhotia, a banker and venture capitalist turned entrepreneur, embodies the transformative power of education and mentorship. His journey started with an engineering degree from BITS Pilani, followed by joining the first batch of the Young India Fellowship (YIF) at 51���.

Joining YIF was a significant leap of faith for Mahesh. At that time, Ashoka resembled a startup in its early stages, where trust in the people and their vision was paramount. The program was backed by influential figures in India's economic and social landscape, including the founders of Infoedge, MakeMyTrip, the Dean of the Indian School of Business (ISB), and over 50 other prominent founders. The multidisciplinary, liberal arts approach of YIF, distinct from traditional business or engineering schools, further convinced him. The decision was also influenced by the fact that many of his batchmates had foregone significant opportunities to join the Fellowship.

After completing the Fellowship in 2012, Mahesh began his career in investment banking at Avendus Capital, where he was involved in VC/PE fundraising totaling about USD 1 billion for leading Indian tech companies. He also worked with Transit Capital, a VC fund that invested in companies like Ixigo, Truecaller, Healthifyme, Scandid, Zapr, and Transerv.

Transitioning from venture capital and banking, Mahesh took on an operational role as the founding member for Revolt Motors, India's first electric motorcycle by Micromax founder Rahul Sharma and expanded it across more than 20 towns and cities. He was also India head for Asia Innovations Group, a Chinese content provider. Under his leadership, the company became India's second most monetized content app in 2018.

In 2019, Mahesh founded Bijak, a leading Agri-Tech company in India. Bijak operates in over 28 states and 1500 regions and has raised approximately INR 250 crore from global investors such as Bertelsmann (BII), RTP Global, Sequoia Capital, Omnivore Partners, and Omidyar Network. Currently, he is venturing into new endeavors.

Mahesh attributes his success to three key lessons he learned at YIF and Ashoka: righteousness, knowledge acquisition, and empathy development. He views these pillars as essential for handling challenging situations in any business environment. Mahesh emphasized that empathy, in particular, enabled him to understand people, persuade them, and motivate them to reach their full potential. In conclusion, he highlighted that both YIF and Ashoka equip individuals with skills that can't be quantified.

Reflecting on his journey, Mahesh expresses deep gratitude towards 51���. He believes the University has significantly improved his life trajectory. Returning to Ashoka as a Founder, for Mahesh, is a way to help others gain the same benefits he did. For him, it's not just about giving back, but also witnessing the joy of others flourishing.

He encourages fellow founders and alumni to engage more closely with the university, through their time, resources, or presence. As a pioneer of the Young India Fellowship, Mahesh hopes to see more alumni join Ashoka as founders or contribute in other ways. This reinforces the legacy of an institution that has played a key role in their lives.

51���

From Source Code to Social Impact: Jairaj Bhattacharya’s Journey in Education Innovation

Jairaj Bhattacharya is the founder and CEO of Edtech Startup ConveGenius. A member of the founding batch of the Young India Fellowship, he is the first Ashoka alumnus to be a Founder of the University. He had also previously supported two Young India Fellows through need-based scholarships.

Jairaj Bhattacharya is on a journey to redefine how the next generation learns. Born and raised in Hyderabad, Jairaj says he felt free to explore only when he secured admission to the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad. He chose to make the most of it.

In the second year of his electronics and communications engineering course, he joined the robotics club and spent most of his time creating innovative software. It was during a business plan competition in college, that Jairaj demonstrated his software, Source Code. He was immediately approached by investors. But he was focused on studies and so, decided to sell his software to those investors. That was a game-changer.

Jairaj decided to create something that would be innovative and could solve ‘real problems.’ He quit his job in Singapore and joined the Young India Fellowship's (YIF) first cohort in 2010.

"YIF Curriculum enables one to think on every single aspect in life. You can apply what you’re taught in Ashoka to whatever you’re doing in life. It provides you with the skills important to be a leader and change maker."

It was at Ashoka that he learnt to absorb, appreciate, and respect different perspectives. Studying sociology, art, and history, helped Jairaj expand his thinking. Ashoka and the YIF proved to be catalysts in his journey as an entrepreneur. While at Ashoka, he started working on the idea of ConveGenius, a technologically driven educational enterprise aimed at providing education to children in the country. During the day, Jairaj was focused on his curriculum. In the evenings, he spent time with his peers and professors. That year, Jairaj built relationships that would last a lifetime. Founders at Ashoka became the first angel investors at ConveGenius.

ConveGenius, currently in 13 Indian states with 35 million users, witnessed exponential growth during the pandemic. Skill development, employability, and access to opportunity are the next areas he wishes to address. This is part of his vision of “marrying a problem statement which could create social impact, with the use of technology.” Jairaj believes his journey in Ashoka prepared him to be a leader and set an example for others. Today, Ashoka is more than an alma mater. It is a family he has been part of, as a student and now as the first Founder from the alumni community. He hopes to be part of this institution for many years to come.

51���

Ashoka Alumni: Paving the Way for Global Impact

"To all our esteemed alumni, you are more than just graduates of 51���; you are the best ambassadors that a young institution like Ashoka can ask for!"

These words from Venkat Eshwara, Pro-Vice Chancellor at 51���, resonate deeply with the spirit of our vibrant and growing community. Today, let us delve into the heart of Ashoka's Alumni Relations Office (ARO) and explore how it plays a pivotal role in fostering connections, engaging alumni, and building a network that spans the globe.

Connecting Across Continents

With over 5,000 strong alumni scattered across the world, the ARO takes on the crucial responsibility of keeping this diverse community engaged with the University. The geographical dispersion only adds to the richness of experiences and accomplishments that our alumni bring to the table. From bustling cities in India to far-flung corners of the world, Ashoka alumni are making a mark in a myriad of fields.

Building Bridges Through Communication

The ARO employs various channels to bridge the distance and keep the alumni community connected. Newsletters, emails, and updates on social media serve as windows into the University's activities, achievements, and developments. The traction on these platforms has seen a steady rise, with the Alumni newsletter's views increasing from 33% to an impressive 51% over the past year. This growing engagement is a testament to the shared sense of pride and involvement within the Ashoka alumni community.

Fostering Academic Excellence

51��� takes pride in its students' achievements, and the ARO plays a crucial role in showcasing them. From multiple admission offers received by Ashoka students each year to the impressive number of students from the inaugural undergraduate cohort now pursuing Ph.D., the ARO shines a spotlight on the academic prowess of Ashoka alumni. Many have gone on to secure postdocs and faculty positions in leading universities, contributing to the global academic landscape.

Alumni Council Elections

One of the key highlights of alumni engagement is the Alumni Council Elections, a democratic process that allows alumni to actively contribute to the University's growth. The 2023 elections, conducted via the Almashines portal, marked a significant milestone. With 1,009 alumni participating, representing a 21.39% voting percentage, the elections showcased widespread engagement across all batches. However, the ARO also observed a lower engagement among more senior alumni, signalling an opportunity for further connection and involvement.

As we reflect on the role of the Alumni Relations Office at 51���, it's clear that the bond between the institution and its alumni is not just about the past; it's a dynamic and ongoing relationship. The ARO acts as a bridge, ensuring that every member of the Ashoka family, regardless of where they are in the world, remains an active participant in the University's journey.

Together, alumni and the ARO are shaping a legacy that extends far beyond the campus, making a mark in the global landscape.

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YIF Alumna Honoured with the UN-SDG Women Global Impact Award

Amidst securing admission offers from esteemed global universities in the UK, Nainy proudly holds the UN-SDG Women Global Impact Award. This prestigious scholarship is awarded by the Exeter Business School to an applicant, who showcases expertise in women empowerment and articulates future aspirations dedicated to advancing gender equality. In our conversation, she reflects on how her academic journey at the Young India Fellowship at 51��� has been a crucible of learning and growth.

Nainy shares, “My educational journey is unique, strengthened with diverse experiences. From serving as a Teach For India Fellow to immersing myself in interdisciplinary learning as a Young India Fellow at 51��� and being a founding team member at the inception of Plaksha University, each step has propelled me forward in understanding and shaping global education.

Further reflecting on my journey, the year spent at 51��� stands out as a transformative experience. It transcended acquiring knowledge; it was about mastering the art of learning. This golden period fueled my desire for growth, driven by a curriculum encouraging my exploration across disciplines. Stalwarts like Prof. Aseem, Prof. Anunaya, the legendary Prof. Shobita Punja, and Prof. Rudrangshu taught and inspired a profound understanding of subjects ranging from ecology and art to history. We were always left awe-inspired!

At YIF, I discovered my potential to evolve continuously, a commitment that guides my life. The skills and insights gained resonate to date, shaping my approach to career decisions. Beyond academics, the fellowship offered unique experiences, forging lasting connections. The founders' vision exposed us to diverse industries, and the academic team provided an unparalleled support system. The strength of our alumni network is a testament to the enduring bonds and mutual support. My time at Ashoka reinforced the notion that success is a collective effort. It became a vital part of my growth, instilling the belief that dreams are attainable and the stars are within reach.”

Post-YIF, Nainy's professional trajectory led her to Nagarro, a leading IT consulting firm, where she assumed the role of a Marketing Specialist. This experience was integral in blending her management background with marketing acumen—preparing her for the challenges and innovations in the business world.

When asked about her plans for the future, she said, “As I embark on my MBA adventure, the lessons and experiences from my past remarkable educational journeys are my driving force. I am not just chasing a degree; I am nurturing a dream. I aim to refine my leadership skills, specialising in marketing, and stay agile in the dynamic world of IT and business. However, my mission extends beyond personal growth—I am deeply committed to empowering women. I aspire to pave the way for more women to discover their true calling, just as I did.”

(Nainy is from the batch of 2018 of the Young India Fellowship. She is a doer and a dreamer with unwavering strength and courage to pursue her dreams)

51���

The boy who dreamt beyond the stars

Aafaque R Khan distinctly remembers seeing four of Jupiter's moons through a telescope as a child. The episode made him curious. By the time he was a teenager, he had spent countless nights on the terrace of his Ujjain home, trying to spot star clusters and galaxies through his home-made telescope. "Perhaps that was when I started to dream about building bigger, better telescopes and becoming an astrophysicist," he says.

Over a decade later, Aafaque still has stars in his eyes and on his mind. A Young India Fellow (YIF) from Ashoka's 2014 cohort, Aafaque is currently a graduate student and Future Investigator (FI) on Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (NASA-FINESST) Grant at the University of Arizona. At an age when most of his peers are still settling into a professional role, he has already etched his name in history.

After all, how many can claim to have played a part in their country’s first – and so far, only – mission for the Sun?

Aafaque R Khan was one of the lead engineers in the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) project aboard Aditya-L1 (India's first solar mission designed and developed by ISRO). In layperson terms, he played a key role in building one of the major instruments on board the observatory – the telescope which will study the Sun's atmosphere.

Landing this role, however, may have been destiny. 

A mechanical engineer, Aafaque had planned to pursue higher education overseas. Having interned at Pune's Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) earlier, he reached out to the Centre for letters of recommendation. Instead, impressed with his dedication towards Astrophysics, the Centre offered him a job as a lead engineer for the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) project. The SUIT project is one of the primary 'payloads' or technological instruments of the Aditya-L1 mission. This is the first time full disk images of the Sun will be taken from space in the 200-400 nm wavelength range. These observations will help understand why the solar atmosphere is hotter than the surface. It will also help to keep a tab on the charged particles which can prove to be dangerous for satellites in space and satellite-based communication. 

Aafaque recognised opportunities like these don't come often. He was immediately on board.

"We (at IUCAA) were looking for young people with high aims for themselves and who could be trained on space projects. Aafaque came out as an obvious choice… He is very ambitious and hardworking. His excellent ability to work in a team and volunteer to take up complicated and leadership roles make him an exceptional personality. Aafaque would make every member of the team feel inclusive and unique. I vividly remember his flawless sailing through the ISRO system of working and contacting different stakeholders in the project," shares Durgesh Tripathi, Professor at IUCAA and the Principal Investigator of the SUIT project. 

Somak Raychaudhury, Vice-Chancellor, 51��� recalls, "I first met Aafaque when he was working on the design of the ultraviolet imager. I was then the Director of IUCAA and so, on a daily basis, saw how his work – and the whole project – took shape. A very innovative instrument was being built for India's first venture into Sun-watching from space, and Aafaque was keenly aware of his leading role in this innovation. He held together a team of young and talented people working on such an important instrument with teamwork, close interactions with other members, and his own brand of humour." 

From 2015 to 2019, Aafaque dedicated his efforts to leading the end-to-end design and development of SUIT with various teams at IUCAA and ISRO. As a systems engineer, he was not just responsible for design details and technical problem solving, but also project management funding and systems engineering. All this, while being one of the youngest in a team of seasoned professionals.

"While I excelled at handling the steep learning curve and navigated the technical challenges, it was my critical thinking, leadership and problem-solving skills that helped me establish myself as the bridge between the science and engineering teams," says Aafaque.

In 2019, Aafaque moved on from IUCAA to pursue higher education. He is currently in the fourth year of the Astrophysics PhD programme at Steward Observatory. His doctoral research focuses on advancement of UV detector technologies in collaboration with NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory and development of next-generation space-based astronomy missions. Aafaque is currently working on his next space telescope, Aspera, a NASA funded small satellite mission.

"When I first met Aafaque, I was struck by how involved he was with the SUIT project, and how much technical knowledge he had from working on it," says astrophysicist Erika Hamden. Professor Hamden is an Associate Professor at Steward Observatory and Director of the University of Arizona Space Institute. She continues, "He had absorbed so many best practices, typical challenges, and was able to share that knowledge readily when needed. Likely due to his incredible curiosity, he seemed to know everything about the (SUIT) project, even components he didn't work on. It was excellent preparation for all of his work in the lab here at Arizona, and we are really excited to see the instrument working in orbit soon!"

Looking back, Aafaque believes the YIF left an undeniable impact on his life. "The programme helped me develop the adaptability, vision and drive required to succeed in a highly-functioning team. The multidisciplinary education provided the ability to look at complex technical problems from different perspectives. Most importantly, YIF taught me that despite coming from a humble social and financial background, I can dream as big as I want and strive to achieve those dreams."

Professor Somak Raychaudhury mirrors our sentiments when he says, "Aafaque's journey inspires us to continue to shape young minds who dare to redefine the boundaries of possibility. Keep dreaming big, Aafaque. You have proven that even the sky is not the limit."

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YIF Chronicles: Gender, Leadership, and a Journey of Empowerment

Nehal Agarwalla (YIF’21) has received the prestigious Chevening Scholarship and is all set to be pursuing an MA in Gender Studies at SOAS University of London.

Along with that, Nehal has also received admission offers from some extremely distinguished universities abroad:

• Cambridge University, MPhil Modern South Asian Studies
• UCL, MA Gender, Politics and Representation
• University of Sussex, MA Gender and Development
• CEU, MA in Critical Gender Studies (Merit Scholarship)

When asked about her experience at YIF, she had much to say about her transformative journey. Nehal shares, “I came to YIF as a radical feminist and recent history graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College For Women. However, my year-long fellowship and involvement with the institution not only aided in the development of my academic understanding of gender issues but also transformed my perspective on issues of inclusivity and leadership. Professor Dwight Jaggard’s “Foundations of Leadership” course and Dev Tayde’s “Grassroots Community Service” were revolutionary in many ways. Though their pedagogical methods and course objectives differed, these courses taught me how to reconcile my social values with my passion to work towards gender justice.”

Chevening is a prestigious, fully funded scholarship awarded to individuals with leadership and networking abilities.

According to Nehal, other courses that profoundly affected her were “Women, Society, and Changing India” by Prof. Urvashi Butalia and “Ideology Seminar” by Prof. Simeon. Not only were they academically rewarding for her, but they were also mentally fulfilling. Throughout these classes, she engaged with abstract concepts like justice, equity, love, and inclusivity while understanding their systemic implications that helped her bridge the theoretical-practical divide.

A common phrase for the YIF programme is ‘the fellowship never ends’. Like many others, the “fellowship never ended” for Nehal. She worked as a teaching assistant alongside four distinguished faculty members. “Each time, being on the other side of the classroom provided me with exceptional joy as I nurtured my passion for teaching and discovered ways to give back to this community”, said Nehal.

Following YIF, she dedicated much of her time to historical and feminist research and advocacy. Throughout this research process, she says that she found herself returning to the teachings from her fellowship journey, whether it was her critical writing class notes or my experience working on the ELM project.

“As I move to the next chapter of my life, I am grateful for the amazing women and mentors who have shaped me. It was through my interactions with each of them that I learned the most, be it the strong community of 3000 people (non-binary/womxn folks) at LSR, my peers, or the faculty members and staff at Ashoka who work behind the curtains” said Nehal when asked about the journey that she is going to embark upon.

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Abhishek Lamba’s ‘AZADI’ wins the ‘Best Board Game’ at the 20th Games For Change Festival

YIF alums have made strides in different industries and disciplines, bringing together their learnings in many exciting ways. Abhishek Lamba (YIF’18) has combined the learnings they took away from YIF with their creative spirit. Their game ‘SHASN: AZADI’ has won the ‘Best Board Game’ at the 20th Games For Change Festival, New York.

“For most of my life, I struggled to find spaces where I could grow meaningfully. But at YIF, I found a space to approach education in a truly interdisciplinary manner. The academic discourse at Ashoka imbibed a rigour in me that I am grateful for even today.”

Since the fellowship, they have brought together their learnings in surprising ways. Post YIF, they worked with Memesys Studios with Zain Memon, co-authoring ‘SHASN: AZADI’, a board game about freedom struggles. It raised over $200,000 on Kickstarter and was the first board game ever to win the prestigious Games For Change Awards in New York.

AZADI is a political strategy board game where players play as revolutionaries, trying to free their country from the grips of tyrannical imperial powers. Bringing players face-to-face with systemic historical oppression, AZADI reverses the narrative across popular media where the oppressors are presented as heroes and instead tells the story of the oppressed fighting back.

There are no limits to Abhishek’s creativity. When asked about their other creative pursuits, they said, “I have also expressed my artistry by writing a poem daily. I have done so for the past four years to bring a sense of unimpeachable commitment, discipline, and rigour to my craft. My poetry has been featured on pages like Gaysi Family and the Queer Muslim Project.”

Combining their interests in game design, writing, and social work, Abhishek has created and conducted workshops for kids and adults. They have worked in organisations in Bombay as well as Goa in pursuit of creating replicable pedagogical tools to understand the concepts of ludology, science, and gender better.

Abhishek had wholesome things to say about their time at Ashoka. “Designing a curriculum for children during my ELM (along with Mehr Pasrich and Srishti Gupta), fiery classes with Prof. Dilip Simeon, and hours spent reading and discussing seminal political texts in the library with my peers; all my experiences in the fellowship were quintessential in laying the foundations for my authorship. YIF gave me a platform to explore and express myself in a way I never had, and as clichéd as it sounds—“reach for the stars,” shares Abhishek.

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Beyond Borders: YIF Graduate’s Pursuit of Learning Takes Her to Cambridge

At the end of her undergraduate degree, when most people find themselves confused and at crossroads, Arunita knew the kind of experience she wanted—one that would open her to new thoughts, people, and parts of herself that she was not in touch with. 

A backbencher in school, YIF had her reaching classes way ahead of time to get a seat in the front row. “The fellowship experience was true to its promise and gave me much more than I could ask for. It was here that I fell in love with academics. I learned to appreciate how an inclusive classroom allowed for a free exchange of ideas and healthy dialogue and how this can shape a person’s outlook on the world. I developed a hunger for knowledge, and I knew I wanted to study further and decided to pursue an LLB. This decision was a result of the affinity I developed towards the courses in Law we had at the YIF. (Fundamentals of Law, Law and Economics, Intellectual Property and Human Rights)” said Arunita as she looks back on her time at 51���. 

Arunita asserts that YIF helped her develop a critical lens that made law school an engaging experience and helped her interconnect various disciplines and ground legal statutes in real-world events. When asked about her future academic plans, Arunita said, “I wanted to widen and expand my knowledge further. With this aim in mind, I applied for a global master's program. I wish to continue my journey in academia and help equip the next generation with tools to develop multi-disciplinary thinking.”

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YIF Alum’s Odyssey from Engineer to Social Impact Leader

Ashoka alum Siddharth Premkumar (YIF'18) will be joining the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, in the coming days. Siddharth Premkumar lauds YIF for its crucial role in expanding his horizons and encouraging him to explore new avenues beyond his initial engineering background.

“YIF has undoubtedly been a tipping point in my life. I walked through the gates of 51��� as a young professional whose realm of possibility was limited to technology as just another engineer in my cohort. However, the exposure at Ashoka helped me to broaden my outlook. If you had mentioned during my engineering days that at some point I would be working in the fields of Chhattisgarh, implementing the Right To Education Act, I would have judged you and your suggestion and brushed both under the carpet for good reasons! But Ashoka gave me the courage to take the plunge and make that transition. Of course, this experimentation came with its share of failures. But the unwavering courage to try is still one I hope to hold close to my heart”, shares Siddharth.

Post YIF, Siddharth has worked across different industries. From helping kids dream about shooting for the stars and bringing inclusivity into their classrooms to supporting companies launch satellites into outer space, he worked as a social impact professional and a management consultant in the Aerospace and Defence sector.

When asked about his plans, he said, “I plan to start a new phase in my life, pursuing a Master's in Business Administration from the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. I am looking forward to this new journey—one that started in the busy streets of Bangalore but moulded amidst the hazy skies of Sonepat, with the next destination reading – Ann Arbor.”

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From Art to Policy: A Journey of Serendipitous Discoveries and Creative Interventions

Vishnupriya Rajgarhia (YIF'16), is an interactive artist, researcher and academic whose work explores the intersection of arts, education and policy. Rajgarhia was the only South Asian Research Fellow to represent the British Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale in 2019. She has exhibited her work globally, including at the London Met, Canterbury Christ Church University, KHOJ International Artists Association and India Art Fair. After completing a Masters in Fine Arts as a Levett Scholar at the University of Oxford, she joined the University's Centre for the Changing Character of War, where she worked as a Research Assistant to analyze changes in conflict using visual art techniques. Furthermore, Rajgarhia has won International and National Awards for her art and is currently a Consultant for India's G20 Presidency.

She has been featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. We recently spoke to her about her recognition, her field of work and her experience at 51���. Here is what she had to say:

What was your first reaction when you found out about your Forbes recognition? How are you feeling about it now, as you have had time to process the news?

My first reaction was disbelief. I was scrolling through my phone when I saw an email that said "Congratulations, you are on the Forbes Asia 30 under 30, class of 2023." Instinctively, I refreshed my email several times. I genuinely thought that it was a mistake or a scam. It was such a surreal experience for me and I did not know how to process it. I was not expecting to be at the receiving end of uncountable congratulatory messages. It was very overwhelming. I could not process that information itself let alone the reaction of other people. It has been over two months since I found out, and I do not think it has still sunk in. It feels good that my work has been recognised and people I look up to think that it is worth celebrating.

It has not been an easy journey, pursuing something that is not charted out for you. There has just been a lot of gratitude for certain experiences that felt very difficult, unnecessary and overwhelming at the time that they were happening. In retrospect, I have understood that if it had not happened, I would not have taken certain steps to reach where this has taken me. At the same time, this also feels like a starting point. You are on a list because you are under 30 and they recognize the work you have done so far. But for your contribution to remain relevant, you have to keep working harder, especially now because people are watching.

What were some of the key foundational experiences that helped you realize that you wanted to work at this intersection of art and policy?

I had not been introduced to policy or politics till I went to college. I had always been trained in art and was good at it. I won several competitions. I also won the Principal’s Award at school for eight years consecutively

and became the first and only student from DPS RK Puram to get a gold medal for art. So, I always knew that this was a skill I was known for. But continuing it after school was a different ballgame altogether.

My journey of landing at LSR, where I pursued my undergraduate degree in Political Science and History, was very serendipitous. When I look back at it, I realise that had it not happened, my life would have turned out to be very different. It was one of the lectures on International Relations where we were talking about the theory of complex interdependence. I remember distinctly wondering why can disciplines not be seen as complementary as opposed to contradictory. So that was the first time that the seed was sown in my head, and I was thinking about it a lot.

I was supposed to go to the UK for my master’s. I went to Ashoka instead. The way we learnt courses and displayed their learning outcome was very unique. We could do a slam poetry piece, an academic paper, a presentation, a painting or even start a company—the options were limitless. So, the way to look at learning from disciplines changed very firmly for me. Even then, I knew I wanted to work at the intersection of art and policy, however, I did not know how to articulate it.

When I went from my master’s to the University of Oxford, there was an incident that forced me to look at my identity differently. That unpleasant experience led me to start FreeTrade Museums, which is the world’s first live museum that connects citizens across five-plus states impacted by the same conflict. It focused entirely on intangible cultural heritage, so there was not a single object within it. That was the first time I actually worked in the domain of art and policy because I saw how certain projects when executed at scale, had the potential to bridge differences between countries.

How did your YIF experience contribute to your overall growth both professionally and personally?

I cannot think of a concise way of answering it. I was 20 years old when I went to the Young India Fellowship. Whoever I spoke to, told me that it was going to be an experience. I still had no clue what to expect out of it. It has now been close to eight years since I graduated and I feel immense gratitude towards YIF because it introduced me to some incredible people. It was all about unlearning things that you have been conditioned to believe to be very true.

The amount of love I received from my batchmates whenever I made an installation, a graphic novel, or an illustration, was so deeply nourishing. I remember my first National Exhibition was in January 2016 and close to 50 fellows from my batch travelled over two and a half hours just to come and see me there. I remember I had made a keepsake memento for everybody in my batch, a graphic novel called, ‘The Year That Was’. It comprised key experiences that all of us had at the fellowship.

Ashoka has been incredible, and I am grateful to be from the relatively earlier batches. The founders, faculty, and alumni have been some of the most amazing people I have interacted with. It is rare to come across something like the YIF, and it will be some time before there is another environment like this.

In what ways can art-based interventions play a role in policy discussions and decisions and how have you showcased it through the work that you have done?

I think art, as a sector, needs to be recognized formally in terms of its economic contribution to individual nation-states, the employment it generates and the way that it crafts a social fabric that acts as a unifying force for different communities. If we look at art and culture as a sector, that has a lot of potential, then it will be taken into consideration when policy decisions are rolled out.

This sector is only going to grow, especially when you have interventions like artificial intelligence coming in.

Art and culture are not isolated skill-bound sectors. These are things that have a lot to do with the person who is practising it. So, it retains a very unique part of what it means to be human. So these skills are only going to get more precious with time.

The way that I have tried to articulate it in my work is firstly through FreeTrade Museums which I mentioned earlier as well. Along with this, I have also developed a lot of curricula. One of them was called, ‘How to Think

Creatively’ because I believe that it is a skill that can be learned. I teach it at a fellowship. The other is called ‘Art and Entrepreneurship’ which I incidentally taught at Ashoka!

What is your creative process like? Does it change with space you are in or does it remain constant?

My work is very space-agnostic. Being an interactive artist, I tend to either make installations or create experiences, which do not always need a fixed space to work from. I feel that a space has the power to inform your behaviour in more ways than one—it can calm you down or it can agitate you. So, the space that I retire to when I am thinking about an idea is a closed room with good light, preferably. I keep a lot of Micron pens or black pens with a blank diary to doodle my way out of a mental pathway or a complicated thought. If it is early in the morning, or if it is late in the evening, there is usually a hot beverage. There is always music because it is good to dull the noises in your head when you are focusing on one thing.

At times you encounter situations that make you have an a-ha moment or a question that is not yet fully formed. If that inquiry is potent enough, it stays with you, and you keep revisiting it till it becomes an actual question, and then you attempt to answer it. So, my creative process has mostly been about these a-ha moments.

What is the one piece of advice that you would like to give to budding interactive artists?

Talk to me because I want more of you! There is such a limited number of interactive artists in India and I would love to see this field grow. So, if you are an interactive artist or you want to be one, please reach out.

(Written by: Saman Waheed, Assistant Manager at the Office of PR & Communications, 51���. She is a former Young India Fellow from the batch of 2022)

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Chamba Tsetan’s ASFL takes the lead in creating eco-friendly adventure sports events in Ladakh

Chamba Tsetan (YIF'19) hails from a small village in eastern Ladakh, not far from the border of China. Coming from a place where the resources are seemingly sparse, he remembers his early schooling involving only a rudimentary blackboard, carpet, and tent. Brought up in a nomadic, pastoralist family, he would frequently relocate and enroll in makeshift schools to complete his education. A national ice hockey player now, Chamba was introduced to the sport at SECMOL, an alternative school he joined in his 10th grade that emphasises sustainable living. As time passed, he found himself slowly growing to love the sport.

While ice hockey has taught him many lessons on sportsmanship, dedication and teamwork, it most importantly kindled Chamba's interest in the realm of sustainability. The effects of climate change have been deeply pronounced in Chamba's life. Due to global warming, there has been a considerable decline in snowfall as glacial ice has started to melt. This has had a direct impact on his career as a sportsman as the period for playing ice hockey has gotten significantly reduced. Moreover, as a resident of Ladakh, Chamba could never engage in an abundant lifestyle due to the perpetual dearth of resources. This scarcity has only become more acute as rivers are starting to dry up, fodder is running out for the livestock and there is a general decline in precipitation. With climate change affecting not only his livelihood but also his profession, Chamba recognised this pressing problem and wished to come up with a fix that raised awareness about global warming and sustainability while also combining his love for ice hockey.

Chamba created a niche space for himself at the juncture of sports and sustainability through his organisation, Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh (ASFL). The organisation was established in an effort to encourage sustainable behavioural changes and promote environmental responsibility through sports. The foundation conducted its inaugural trail running event, the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon in February 2023. It was called 'The Last Run' implying that this could be the last run on a frozen lake as the glaciers are rapidly melting due to global climate changes. The marathon brought together passionate runners from all over India and helped raise awareness about the depleting resources in Ladakh. ASFL received the Guinness World Record for organising the world's highest frozen lake half-marathon. Such an accolade helped provide coverage to Chamba's unique mission to raise awareness about climate change through the avenues of sports while simultaneously bringing winter tourism to Ladakh.

All participants were made to stay in local homestays and relish the native delicacies of Ladakh. The programme also inculcated eco-friendly practices such as a 'no plastic bottles' policy and carpooling. Chamba and his team also took the participants around Ladakh, showing them the Ice Stupas of Ladakh in an effort to raise awareness about the water shortage problem. Through the avenues provided by his marathon, Chamba turned his participants into sustainability ambassadors as he highlighted the ramifications of climate change. The participants responded with enthusiasm and many shared their own set of ideas on sustainability for future marathons.

An entrepreneur and changemaker at heart, sustainability has always been fundamental to Chamba. "The Young India Fellowship introduced me to an incredibly diverse and talented cohort. Conversing with them not only inspired many discourses about sustainability but also taught me so much about business and entrepreneurship", says Chamba. "The course Indian Ecosophy taught by Professor Aseem Shrivastava helped me understand more about the human-nature relationship", reminisced Chamba as he looked back on his YIF journey.

Committed to shaping his career in the social impact sector, Chamba was selected for the prestigious Mother Teresa Fellowship as a Young India Fellow where he received intense training as part of a talented cohort of established industry professionals in the developmental sector. The fellowship provided him with important lessons on mentorship, capacity building and community building that have played a prominent role in the establishment of his organisation today. An 18-month-long fellowship for 51��� graduates committed to working in the social development sector, the Mother Teresa Fellowship is a values-based programme that aspires to lay the foundation for future leaders who have a nuanced understanding of the confluence between social impact, society and self.

When asked about his future plans for ASFL, Chamba had a lot to share. An avid sportsman, Chamba wishes to inculcate a love for adventure sports and fitness in the youngsters of Ladakh. "We want to encourage students of local schools to participate in adventure sports such as mountaineering, hiking and of course ice hockey", shares Chamba. The ASFL has established the marathon as an annual event, with the next one in the month of August. Titled 'Rezang-la Full Moon Marathon', the midnight marathon is meant to honour the brave soldiers of India. Additionally, the organisation has also launched a month-long research project to understand water usage in Pangong. Chamba wishes to understand the questionable water usage practices that plague Ladakh and come up with a strategy to intervene and cultivate sustainable changes. He also wishes to expand on a global scale and collaborate with sports foundations across the world in order to organise the first-ever Ice Marathon Championship. With many more exciting plans in the books, Chamba wishes to make an even bigger impact in the space of adventure sports and sustainability.

When asked about what advice he would give to young and aspiring entrepreneurs, Chamba said that the key to a good entrepreneurial venture is that one must ensure that whatever they do, it must be something they are passionate about. "Impact will naturally follow wherever there is passion", asserts Chamba.

(Written by: Saairah Mehta, a second-year student pursuing Political Science and International Relations at 51���)

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Dancing through Disciplines: Soumya Bhaskaran’s YIF Story of Academic and Artistic Triumph

Alongside receiving admission offers from prestigious universities like the University of Oxford and the University of Western Ontario, Soumya Bhaskaran (YIF '18) is also the recipient of the prestigious 'Forte Fellowship' and the 'Cambridge Judge Business School Scholarship'. In our conversation with her, she recounts how her academic journey at the Young India Fellowship played a pivotal role in broadening her worldview and exploring various academic subjects and career choices.

“YIF happened when I least expected it. But, as I embarked on the exciting adventure, little did I know that the next year was going to be a transformative journey of self-discovery, intellectual exploration, and meaningful connections. While my Bachelor's in Business Studies formed the bedrock of my business knowledge, YIF's emphasis on interdisciplinary learning challenged me to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and seek solutions to real-world problems.

During the 'Foundations of Leadership' sessions with Professor Dwight Jaggard, as we exchanged stories and got to know each other, it became evident that the YIF community of 250-odd fellows was a melting pot of ideas, cultures, and aspirations where each one of us had something unique to contribute to the learning experience. From Professor Urvashi Bhutalia's thought-provoking lectures on gender, history, and socio-cultural change to Dr Mihir Shah's multidisciplinary approach to topics addressing water challenges and rural development, the fellowship gave me the tools to experiment, experience and learn from everything around me” shares Soumya.

Post YIF, Soumya worked with Great Learning as a Manager driving a team of senior consultants and Dr Reddy's Laboratories as an L&D Partner. Soumya is also an International-level Bharatnatyam dancer and attributes her success in her personal and professional life to the art form which taught her valuable lessons of resilience, discipline, and endurance.

When asked about her plans for the future, she said, “As I begin my MBA journey at the University of Cambridge, I carry with me qualities like resilience, empathy, and adaptability. I'm thrilled to be studying close to the 'Silicon Fen' alongside business experts. In this process, I hope to fuel my entrepreneurial ambitions.”

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Rohini Singh, YIF ’15 receives admission offers from the University of California, McGill University, Pratt Institute, Simmons University, and the University of British Columbia

Rohini is a development practitioner who has experience working in documentation, research, archiving, and administration with grassroots and arts-based organisations.

Reflecting on her YIF experience, Rohini shares, ‘YIF came into my life at a time when I was seeking an academic experience that would help me deepen my understanding of and engagement with the real world, something I found lacking in my undergrad. While the courses at YIF broadened my horizons and showed me how to critically engage with a wide variety of subjects, my amazing cohort of 200 Fellows helped me grow as a person by challenging my beliefs and the limits I had set for myself. 

From working in a village in Madhya Pradesh to working on Amitabh Bachchan’s Oral History interview to working at the intersection of design and social justice, I have found a path that is unconventional but one that serves me well. I am excited to begin my formal training in archiving, which I feel is a skill that has the potential to cut across sectors and create space for greater dialogue and engagement among people.'

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Ashoka Alum Chamba Tsetan established foundation creates Guinness Record for the highest frozen lake half marathon

Chamba Tsetan, YIF'19 established the Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh to promote environmental responsibility through sports and instill sustainable behavioral changes. Chamba is an Ice Hockey player, a changemaker, and an entrepreneur.

On February 20, 2023, the foundation made history by successfully conducting its maiden 21.99-km trail running event in sub-zero temperatures at 14,019 feet high Pangong Tso. The run was symbolic as it was organized to raise awareness about rapidly melting Himalayan glaciers. It was called “the last run” implying this could be the last run on a frozen lake as glaciers are melting rapidly due to global climate change. The event was registered in the Guinness World Record as the world’s highest frozen lake half marathon. The four-hour-long race started from Lukung and ended at Maan village on Monday, with no injuries reported to any of the 75 participants, as confirmed by Leh District Development Commissioner Shrikant Balasaheb Suse to PTI.

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#Bookmarked: Chronicles of adulting with cancer

Sanjay Deshpande is an alumnus of the Young India Fellowship, 51��� from the batch of 2015. He is a Brain Cancer Survivor and a learning designer who is passionate about mental health, queer rights and cancer advocacy. 

He is the lead author of “Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing”. The book is the result of a collaboration between Sanjay and his team of 11 other co-authors including Poornima Sardana (YIF ‘13), Piuli Roy Chowdhury (YIF ‘14), Thanisha Sehgal (YIF ‘15), Anuraag Khaund (YIF ‘19), and other non-Ashoka folks.

This book on ‘Adulting with Cancer’ is a collection of stories of people in the age group of 17-39 who recount what it is like to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age or become caregivers to those diagnosed and how they navigate their lives through such difficult times. Filled with raw, honest and vulnerable narratives of coping with something whose cause and outcome are mostly unclear, this book is an attempt to raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by Indian young adult cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.

What prompted you to come forward with a book sharing so many personal stories?

I got diagnosed with incurable brain cancer at the age of 29, on the day I landed on Harvard University’s campus for my Master’s program in September 2021. I had to move back to India immediately to get a life-threatening 7-hour-long brain surgery to remove the tumour they had found in my head. I had assumed that the journey from diagnosis to treatment would be the toughest. However, as there was a clear roadmap on what needed to be done, I was not really focused on the physical, mental and emotional challenges that would lie ahead. Right after the treatment, I spent three months at home recuperating and rehabilitating, literally learning how to use the left side of my body again. 

While thankfully I recovered pretty quickly, I was hit by a thousand bricks when I finally had the time to think about how to get back to living again. I was no longer the same person I was before being diagnosed with cancer, nor could I go back to a seemingly  “normal” life. I had to find a new normal. I struggled with so many challenges that were unique to my situation. Questions like should I go back to studying or finding work again, should I reveal my status to my future employers/partners, how to deal with depression, etc. loomed large over my head. I tried finding support groups, but unfortunately, most of them either had parents of pediatric cancer patients or partners, children or caretakers of geriatric cancer patients. There were hardly any young adults like me in these support groups. I found a couple of resources in the West, but they were not culturally aligned with South Asian/Indian situations. That is when I decided that there is such a huge gap in the cancer ecosystem that needs to be filled. So, if such a space did not exist, I would create one. 

I did not want to go the self-help way because there are already a gazillion books that exist that talk about how you can “manifest” good health or cure your cancer through “toxic positivity”. I did not want to write a book on the ”battle/fight against cancer” either, because it puts the responsibility of surviving/recovering on the patient when it may not be in their control at all. Therefore, I decided to conceptualize, write and publish a book that accurately represents what ‘Adulting with Cancer’ looks like, especially for those who are desperately looking for true accounts of people who are going through or have been through similar situations, and trying to find a way to move forward. 

The decision to use personal stories was to illustrate relatable situations people in the 17-39 age group with cancer might encounter. Lots of attention was paid to avoid sounding preachy and several disclaimers were provided to make sure people knew this is how a particular person dealt with a situation and it was not the only way to do it. I decided to have several co-authors because my treatment and situation did not cover all aspects of the cancer experience. I wanted to make sure we created a resource which would be relatable to as many young adults as possible. Hence, I decided that the book would be an anthology of raw, vulnerable and honest accounts of what living with cancer as young adults actually looks like.

What was the process of writing and compiling the book like? How did all the co-authors come together for this book?

I spent countless hours looking for co-authors who wanted to tell stories that matched the vision of the book. My editor and I put up social media posts looking for potential co-authors, even if they were first-time writers, as was the case with all the 12 co-authors of the book, including me. We followed a rigorous selection process from reviewing already written articles/blogs to discussing pitches and then assessing the drafts of their first chapter to see if it aligned with the larger vision and if it provided any value to a potential reader. I also had to review and help the co-authors decide what they could write about as well as give constructive feedback on all their chapters. This was a laborious process.

While I was doing all of this, I worked part-time as a Learning and Development Head at a Diversity and Inclusion firm. Along with it, I wrote the introduction, three chapters, all nine theme introductions as well as acknowledgements for the book which in total came up to 14,000 words. In retrospect, I have no idea how I managed to get all of this done just six months after a major brain surgery, apart from the sheer will to contribute to this community I was now a part of and the desire to leave a legacy behind. 

Were there any inhibitions/challenges that you faced while you were writing the book?

I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome while I started working on this book. I had no idea if I had what it takes to write well, let alone a book. Then I struggled with finding the right kind of co-authors who aligned with my vision and could add value to the book. I also faced several bouts of depression which made it very difficult for me to work for long periods of time. Being vulnerable, especially in such a public way, for perpetuity also scared me a lot in the beginning. However, I reminded myself of how much I needed to read stories that my co-authors and I were writing and that helped me push through all of these inhibitions. 

How did the name of the book, “Don't Ask Me How I'm Doing” come about?

People have asked me the reason behind what the title of the book means. We in the young adult cancer community are often asked ‘How are you doing?’ not because someone really wants to know but as a form of politically correct small talk or a conversation starter similar to ‘Hey! What’s up?’ Many do not really want to know what is truly going on. If we dared to actually respond honestly, say admitting that we are going through a rough patch or are having a bad day, we are met with shock, awkward silence, or are offered unwarranted advice. Most people instead expect us to respond with some version of ‘I’m good. How are you?’ Very few genuinely care to listen to what we have to say and make time for it. Tired of this fake pleasantry, I decided to name this book ‘Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing’. The subtitle, ‘Life, Death, and Everything in Between,’ encapsulates the breadth of our experiences. This does not mean the next time you meet someone who has or had cancer, you cannot ask them the question. However, do it only if you really mean it—when you honestly want to know how they are doing and have the time to listen, without interrupting or jumping to offer advice. Else, use other neutral conversation starters like ‘Hey! What’s up?’

What is one message you would like to give people living with cancer, who are struggling to find hope?

Life is a journey towards death. As they say, the goal is not to reach the destination but to enjoy the process. Everyone has an expiry date. We are just more aware of how close ours is than others. Hence, live your life with an urgency that you are on borrowed time, not unsure of what tomorrow brings or how long you will live. 

I strongly believe that like they say youth is wasted on the young, and health is wasted on those who aren't aware of their mortality. So go seize the day and do all that you want to do NOW. Do not procrastinate for some unforeseeable ‘future’. 

(Saman Waheed is currently an Assistant Manager at the Office of PR & Communications, 51���. She is a former Young India Fellow from the batch of 2022.)

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From Ashoka to Shark Tank: Sparsh Agarwal’s Tasteful Journey

The city of Darjeeling is globally renowned for its lush plantations and unique tea flavours. However, this international distinction and export domination can often come with a hefty price tag. In this interview, Sparsh Agarwal, an undergraduate student from 51���'s batch of 2019 talks about his family’s decades-old tea estate and how he brought it to a national platform such as Shark Tank India. 

Sparsh studied Political Science and International Relations at 51���, while also taking diverse courses across the board—from journalism to literature, to language studies and economics. Post this, he worked for Ms Yamini Aiyar at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. Currently, he is pursuing M.Phil. in International Relations at the University of Oxford, while also managing full-time. 

Why was your motivation for starting this business?

My family has been in the Darjeeling tea garden business for the past four generations. My great-grandfather was the one who acquired the first tea garden in the late 1960s, much before the huge capital started moving into the area in the ‘80s. For the last decade, however, the tea garden trade, especially in Darjeeling, has been undergoing numerous problems. Production has been going down, and the harvest period has been reducing because of the changing windfall and rainfall patterns. The export market, where Darjeeling tea is mostly sold has also become uncertain. In addition to this, socio-political turmoil has already been there since 2017. Consequently, most of the 87 gardens in Darjeeling have not been able to make a profit in the last 20 to 30 years. And, then in March 2020, when I was home and writing my dissertation, the pandemic hit; and that really just devastated us and the garden. The lockdown took place during Darjeeling’s two most valuable harvest seasons—the and. So, we were not making any profits and were barely breaking even (actually making losses!). When the lockdown came and hit us, it was just the last nail in the coffin. Somewhere around April then, while we were still in the middle of the lockdown, my family started considering selling off the tea estate altogether. 

My friends and I have always been very close to this garden. We used to often travel within the garden and spend our holidays there; plus, we are also quite familiar with the local community. In May 2020, I was talking to them about the estate’s problems; and how we were thinking of selling it off. It was them, then, who urged me to abstain and consider reviving it. One thing led to another, and a number of my friends started getting involved in different ways—some with the venture, some with the. My partner in this venture is Ishaan Kanoria, a student from the University of Bocconi in Milan. Another friend, Vardhan Shah from 51��� was also involved for a long period with the venture. 

What is Dorje Teas? What sets Dorje Teas apart from other tea businesses?

Dorje started off as an initiative to help But, once we realised that we have found a commercially sustainable model, Rajah (Banerjee, a tea estate owner who pioneered the organic movement in Darjeeling) pushed us. He said that we need to also think about the more holistic rejuvenation of the surrounding areas. As a result, Dorje takes care primarily of the commercial revival of the garden through the subscription model; and Dorje has partnered with the Selim Hill Collective (another entity that we have created) to work on the more holistic rejuvenation of the tea garden. Dorje then gets the money by selling the tea; and we channel that money towards initiatives focused on community building, community welfare, wildlife conservation, and spreading awareness about Darjeeling.

What really separates Dorje from other tea businesses is that no other tea garden owner stays at their own tea estate. Rajah was the last one who used to do that. Secondly, we are trying to bypass all possible middlemen to provide farm-fresh organic teas. All of the new-age tea brands that are coming up, say that they are removing middlemen. However, they are only replacing middlemen because, now, instead of selling to auction houses, we have to sell to these trade houses. 

Unlike other tea gardens, we also market and sell the and ; in an attempt to solve the profitability problem of the gardens. Even though there are other companies which have subscription models, no one has a subscription model like ours where we are providing all four different flushes throughout the year in a farm-fresh organic fashion. We also have two different subscriptions that we run. One is obviously for the traditional Black Tea that Darjeeling is famous for. The other one is also quite unique: it is for , the idea being that we provide the freshest possible green teas every three months to our customers. 

Finally, I feel that because of the partnership that Dorje has with the Selim Hill Collective, our aim is to have a radical reimagination of the space of the tea estate, to move away from the model of a commercially exploitable plantation towards that of a more just and inclusive garden. Dorje is hence, not just a commercial venture. It is a project directed towards creating a more sustainable and just reality for the community and the tea estate. So, a lot of the stuff that we are doing has a very strong eye towards the community. For instance, we have a webinar series called ‘’, which both spreads awareness about Darjeeling and creates spaces to have meaningful conversations about what can be done within the estate, by speaking to people who have that knowledge and expertise. 

Could you describe the business model?

The business model is very simple. We intimately work with one tea garden (my family’s), buy the produce in bulk from them, and then sell it via the subscription system, thereby averaging out the price. I should clarify that Dorje is completely separate from my family’s garden business. Unlike the garden which has multiple stakeholders, Dorje belongs completely to Ishaan and me. We have a partnership with the garden in which we are trying to sell their entire produce and unlike other new-age tea companies, which buy small quantities from a large number of gardens, our cost of production reduces exponentially. Along with that, because we are promising to sell the third and fourth flush; it goes down further. Of the 2100 rupees that we get, a portion goes to the tea garden to cover its cost and give them a just price. The rest is used to keep Dorje financially sustainable, and to sustain the activities of the Selim Hill Collective. 

Tell us about the people who are involved with Dorje Teas.

I started Dorje Teas with my best friend and co-founder Ishaan Kanoria. He is a former investment banker who also funnily enough got into 51���, but he also got a scholarship, so went to Italy to study. 

Dorje Teas is a community effort: the entire Selim Hill tea garden community is involved in it— from getting the ground ready during the drought season (December to March) to the ultimate packaging and dispatch. We have a great team that works on social media and marketing from Calcutta. There are family members who are helping in different ways. But the most important part of Dorje Teas is the Second Chance House and the Selim Hill Collective. The house is where we are based, and it is a moniker for what we want to do for Darjeeling. The collective is an amalgamation of eclectic people with the right sensitivities and sensibilities, who have passed through Selim Hill and Second Chance and who want to get involved in our mission. Currently, it comprises multiple friends from my time at Ashoka and even some professors. It is a mix of artists, lawyers, researchers, and consultants; all in all a motley group of friends who are all in this together. Our aim is to bring the World to Darjeeling and create something spectacular with the Collective. 

What prompted you to apply to Shark Tank? What was the process like—from the first step to the last?

A friend from Ashoka made me watch the show. I thought it was a joke, but honestly, the data about the viewership made me realise that this would be a game-changer for Dorje and Darjeeling. It started with a long-drawn application, followed by multiple auditions, and finally a very hectic five days of shooting in Mumbai. The actual pitch was on the final day. It was taken in one shot and lasted for two hours. To say it is adrenaline-inducing and hectic would be an understatement. However, my respect for show business has increased ever since. I always believed that Darjeeling is about show business, and now we have the national platform to put on that show. 

Now that you have raised significant funds, what are some of the next steps that you are looking at?

Dorje Teas is looking forward to working with Anupam Mittal, Vineeta Singh, and Peyush Bansal, and their experienced teams, in order to expand its presence rapidly, and reach the 100 cr target it has set for itself very soon. 

We are aggressively looking to scale on the following: 

• Targeting the HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, Café) segment and having all the major independent cafes in Tier 1 cities partner with us in the next 18 months 
• We have released Darjeeling’s first-ever range of , using organic green teas, and dehumidified botanicals, instead of essential oils. Through this release, we are looking to expand our footprint on marketplaces, and expand overseas. 
• We will be directing a certain amount of funding towards R&D. Our product was a product innovation which convinced Vineeta Singh to invest. Similarly, we will be launching innovative new products within the tea segment.

How has your experience of being an Ashoka student impacted the way you run your business?

I would go to the extent of saying that the moral and intellectual fabric of who I am has a very deep imprint of 51���—its red brick walls, the various professors, colleagues, students and friends. A tea garden is more than just a monoculture of tea; it has a lot of different aspects to it. One has to think about the local community, the environment, the economy, the politics, the society, and the marketing, and also be cognisant of our position in the globalised world we live in. So, in many ways, without Ashoka’s interdisciplinary liberal arts approach, it would have been very difficult for me to truly grasp the nuances of all these elements within the tea garden. I simply would not have had the “normative framework” (Prof. M.A.A Khan used to use this phrase quite a bit) to think about the overlaps between commerce, the environment, and the socio-political problems of the region. 

I am a very proud student not only of Ashoka but also of the Department of Political Science. This is especially because when I was there, I never thought that studying Political Science, IR and History would teach me how to run a venture. It is only now that I am realising just how important political science education is to running this kind of venture. There is such a wide range of courses, and they all teach you so much! 

There was one book that was recommended to me by a bunch of different professors at 51���; and ultimately, I read it. It is called The Leopard by Lampedusa, an Italian author. It is about the landing of Garibaldi in the 1860s. The leopard is the protagonist, and he has this really famous line: “If things are to remain the same, everything will have to change.” This kept coming back to me when we were trying to revive the garden. In many ways, it captures the foundational idea of this venture, and what we are hoping to achieve with it. So, I would actually thank all my professors for providing me with the foundation to be able to think about creating a venture like this. 

Dorje Teas is available on , , , and . 

(Excerpts from an earlier interview by Anushka Bidani, an ASP’23 at 51��� and a current interview by Saman Waheed (YIF’22), an Assistant Manager in the Office of PR & Communications at 51���.)

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Against All Odds: The Incredible Story of YIF Alum Shubham Rathore

When he was 11 years old, the weak financial condition of his family compelled him to migrate and work as a helper in a restaurant. There, he would work the entire night but was not paid any money. Instead, a meal was given to him in exchange for his work.  

“In May 2009 I was rescued from there in a rescue operation conducted by the local police and Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the organization founded by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi,” recalls Shubham Rathore, who graduated from the Young India Fellowship this year. But his journey to 51��� and beyond was not an easy one. 

After being rescued, he was brought to Bal Ashram, a local rehabilitation centre founded by Mr. Satyarthi and his wife. His first memory with Mr. Satyarthi is of an interaction where he asked me and other five new kids about our dreams for the future. 

“I had no idea about it at that time and he told us that life without dreams is meaningless, and asked all of us to think about what we want to become in the future. Once there, I began my education informally for three months and enrolled in the local government school. During this time, I became aware of my rights and learned to fight and raise my voice against the exploitation of other children,” he adds. 

The experience of his social education during rehabilitation, with an opportunity to interact with nearby villagers, raised his social consciousness and developed his leadership skills. This further translated into various efforts leading teams of fellow freed child labourers to raise awareness through activities like skits, singing songs, and speaking out on social malpractices like child marriage, girls' education, child labour, and caste-based discrimination.

“I also created a children’s group in my school which initiated dialogue with the local administration working on the basic issues faced by the school regarding drinking water, maintenance of classrooms, and the girls' toilet,” he recalled. 

Shubham went on to pursue Electrical Engineering at Laxmi Devi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Alwar. During his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, he remained active in college with various youth awareness activities which helped him further his leadership skills.

He says that one common issue which shaped his belief and understanding was the power and impact of social awareness, which is a crucial factor to achieve social justice. He also pointed out that there is a tremendous need to create social awareness in order to eliminate the gap between different strata of society and to stop exploitation and discrimination. 

“So after graduation, I became part of a national awareness campaign on child rights. During this period, I along with my team interacted with hundreds of youth in school and colleges and made them aware and urged them to break their silence… I also got an opportunity to address the ‘Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit’ in Jordan, where I urged all including leaders of businesses, Nobel laureates & eminent world politicians to ensure the implementation of child rights with a zero-tolerance approach,” he shared. 

Shubham then applied to the 'Young India Fellowship' programme at '51���' to enhance his leadership skills and also to study further with a well-rounded multidisciplinary approach. 

Shubham’s YIF experience has been amazing and there are three things that stand out:

1. Coming from a science and engineering background, I never got to study social sciences, history, economics, and polity subjects. At YIF, in a multidisciplinary curriculum, this was possible though it was basic and at the introductory level. 

2. The quality of YIF professors is the best, they are eminent personalities in their fields. Getting taught by them is something that has enhanced my domain knowledge and critical thinking. In addition to it, getting to interact with them during office hours, and having informal conversations, has helped me in getting clarity on my future path as well. Moreover, I also got mentorship support. For instance, my mentor was an eminent policy expert Prof Amir Ullah Khan.  

3. At YIF you get fellows from very diverse backgrounds, coming from fields about which you never heard before. This was a completely new exposure for me. I also found some of the best friends for the rest of my life, with whom I share my dreams and aspirations. I am also looking forward to working with them on some social initiatives.  

After YIF, Shubham wants to work for some time in the social sector. He has already got campus placement in a healthcare firm. In the long run, however, he wants to work on child rights. 

He says youth have enough energy and power to make our society safe and prosperous, lamenting that every hour somewhere or the other a child becomes a victim of violence. “It cannot continue to happen forever. I cannot accept this and therefore I urge the youth of the country to do something for the sake of protecting children and society to make a child-friendly nation and a child-friendly world,” he contends.   

“As an activist, I have participated in several campaigns and social initiatives. Throughout these, I have experienced the strength of awareness. Awareness about education in parents, and children; about good touch and bad touch; about child trafficking; about child marriage; and government welfare schemes. This had a tremendous impact on them in terms of breaking their silence against injustice and exploitation,” he points out. 

Shubham believes that awareness is the most powerful tool to combat child labour, and he hopes to be able to raise awareness of the people. 

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Ashoka Alum Lalchhanhimi Bungsut bags the Inlaks Scholarship for higher studies at Oxford

My Ashoka journey began the day I graduated from high school. During the ceremony, I walked the bittersweet path to my diploma and into an uncertain future. Officially knighted as a graduate, I took out my phone to capture the moment, only to find an email from 51���. Congratulations! proclaimed the first word. I ran to my mom and read the letter with her.

I was in, with generous financial aid too. The next few months were a blur of preparations filled with excitement and anxiety.

Nothing at 51��� came easy. Finding friends proved difficult, classes were daunting, and pandemic-induced online classes made studying much harder. I was lucky, however, to eventually find support systems through professors, classmates, and friends.

Over the three years I spent at Ashoka, I grew more confident in my ideas and thoughts, no longer second-guessing every sentence I spoke or every paragraph I wrote. I found people I could call friends through classes and the various clubs I participated in - from being a co-president of Farm Fresh, a core member of the AnthropoSoc, a member of the women’s football team, and a co-founder of the Northeast Collective.

Tired of pandemic academics, I decided to leave my fourth-year plans to opt for a job at the Centre for Pastoralism. For the past year, I worked as a content writer, editor of the organization’s quarterly newsletter, and eventually as the communications lead for the past few months.

Simultaneously, I was also able to undertake research projects through The Zubaan-Sasakawa Peace Foundation Grants for Young Researchers from the Northeast (2021-22) and an opportunity to contribute a chapter in “Food Stories from the Northeast”, a book edited by Dolly Kikon and Joel Rodrigues.

Meanwhile, I decided to apply to a few universities abroad and spent several hours every week writing and rewriting my statement of purpose. After settling on three universities, I was fortunate to get admission to my top choice - the University of Oxford - to do a Master’s in Social Anthropology.

The moment I opened the admission letter, it felt like the three years of trudging through difficult readings, essays, and classes had finally paid off. However, the letter was soon followed by a wave of disappointment. While I was ecstatic to be accepted, I knew it wouldn’t work out without external financial support.

In May, after two rounds of gruelling interviews, I was awarded the Inlaks Scholarship - a generous scholarship from the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation. I thought myself undeserving but was also overjoyed that I would be able to pursue my master's at Oxford.

My journey would’ve undoubtedly taken a different course if it weren’t for Ashoka and the people who made it a university and a home. I’m grateful to my professors, classmates, and most importantly the friends who taught me more than classes and readings ever could.

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Ashoka Alum Gurmat Singh Brar wins the Felix Scholarship to pursue M.Phil at Oxford

I clearly remember walking out of my first class at Ashoka back in 2017. At that moment, I knew I was in a special place. The openness, emphasis on critical thinking, and the professor’s ability to take us, first-year students, seriously as equals in the enterprise of seeking knowledge, made the classroom a remarkable space for intellectual inquiry. And I think it is these virtues that make Ashoka a great institution.

The great thing about a liberal arts programme is not just its freedom to curate one’s own degree, but also the way it treats a student as an individual. I arrived at Ashoka as someone who had a general interest in humanities, but because politics was never offered as a subject in school, I could have never imagined that I would end up studying politics at university.

It was during my first semester that I took a course on social and political formations, and I was just captivated. Then began a four-year tryst with the political science department. In my second year, I was elected as a student representative for the political science department and had a wonderful year where I had the opportunity to defend the interests of students at the beginning of the pandemic and during the shift to online teaching.

Ashoka’s community was warm and welcoming, and I am grateful to have forged friendships for a lifetime. I think it is impossible to excel academically if you do not have the support around you. More than the classroom, it was the gym, the Dhaba, and Fuel Zone where I had the best moments which will forever be etched in my memory. I was just lucky to have received empathy and generosity from people around me.

In particular, I will forever be indebted to my professors. I was lucky to have studied under some incredible scholars who were always encouraging and supportive. In fact, had it not been for the mentorship that I received during my ASP thesis from my advisor, I would never have had the intellectual courage to even think of imagining life in academia.

As I prepare for my graduate studies at Oxford, I am extremely grateful to life for these four years and everything that Ashoka has given me. I only hope that I am able to give something back to the world in the coming years. And above all, ensure that I abide by the values of intellectual freedom and public service that are core to every student associated with the university.

51���

Ashoka Book Tower: A Living Record of the Global Pandemic

No one who has lived through this era will ever get over the overwhelming emotions the pandemic has engendered—the trauma and helplessness of lives upended, felt by the entirety of the world’s population.

For the first time in modern history, humans—rich or poor, black or white, religious or non-religious—have been unsparingly affected by the exact same situation, at the exact same time. This book is a chronicle of this historic period. It is a documentation of compelling experiences of individuals living through an unprecedented global pandemic, to display how the human race as a whole struggled with a similar situation with each of us creating our very own coping mechanisms.

The motivation to write this book came from an earnest need to contribute and be active participants in the fight against Covid-19. Watching frontline workers risking their lives tirelessly and people everywhere stepping up to do everything in their capacity made us ask ourselves: how could we do our bit during this difficult time?

By documenting stories of innovation and coping, we aimed to give the readers the feeling that if the twenty people whose stories have been documented here could get through it, so can they. We wanted to bring to people, all of whom are dealing with the pandemic in their own ways, a wide range of emotional and physical struggles, documented in real time.

About the Book: Expertly put together by young intrepid authors Divita Aggarwal and Surabhi Sundaram, from their first-hand experiences at hospitals, crematoriums, migrant worker camps and vaccination centres, this is also a thorough, well-researched analysis of the impact the pandemic had on several industries ranging from education, aviation, business and cinema. Through its multiple stories of heroism and helplessness, fear and forbearance, hope and despair, A World on Hold provides an unsparing 360-degree view of the pandemic and the lessons it has to offer.

About the Authors: Surabhi Sundaram is a writer and video producer with an appetite for non-fiction. Her work predominantly includes reportage of human-interest stories and current affairs through the visual as well as the written form.

Divita Aggarwal is a published author and essayist. She started her writing career at the age of 16, with her debut novel, It Was Always You, published by Rupa Publications. 

51���

From YIF to German Chancellor Fellowship: The journey of Ashoka alums Rituj Sahu and Venugopal Rajamani

The GCF is a global leadership program that brings together decision-makers and thought leaders across six countries and gives them the opportunity to spend a year in Germany exploring and executing self-developed projects of socio-economic significance. The Fellows receive supervision and mentorship from host institutions based in Germany in carrying out their projects across domains such as politics, business, media, administration, society or culture.

Excerpts from an interview:

Let us start with your Ashoka journey and to where it has led you.

Rituj: Coming to 51���’s Young India Fellowship was a conscious decision for me. Before committing to a larger cause in life, I wanted exposure to alternate ideas and disciplines that break the stereotypical linear path to success and happiness. The Young India Fellowship took me on a journey of exploring possibilities. The deepest impact 51��� left on me was with respect to people. My roommate Mudra, for one, drastically changed how I viewed the world and infused in me a sense of appreciation for differences in perspective. After my life at 51���, I was working in public policy and advisory for social impact in food systems. The German Chancellor Fellowship happened soon after that.

Venugopal: When I arrived at 51���, I had just completed my Apprenticeship for Chartered Accountancy and needed a breather. Since I had always wanted to engage with philosophy, psychology and history academically, multidisciplinary liberal education seemed like a natural fit. My greatest learning from 51��� has been imbibing transfer thinking, that is when a learner's mastery of knowledge or skills in one context enables them to apply that knowledge or skill in a different context. It plays out all the time with Fellows at YIF. Another takeaway has been Professor Aseem’s course on Ecology and Global modernity which has had a lasting influence in the way I perceive the world. After the Young India Fellowship, I went on to do the Chief Minister’s Fellowship in Maharashtra working towards developing an integrated CSR framework for the state. Around the same time I started following early trends in ESG investments and that interest led me to the GCF.

How did you come across the German Chancellor Fellowship?

Venugopal: I first heard about the German Chancellor Fellowship (GCF) through my partner who was also a GCF fellow herself in the same year as I was. Moreover, Ashoka alums, namely, Monica Shukla, Varun Kashyap, Akshay Barik and Habiba Insaf, had also been awarded the Fellowship in previous years, so I knew about it. In fact, Akshay Barik helped abundantly and took several calls to answer my queries about the GCF program in great detail.

What are the chances of two fellows from the same batch of YIF landing up at the German Chancellor Fellowship at the same time?

Rituj: It was a sheer coincidence. After the fellowship, Venu and I had fallen out of touch and neither one of us knew that the other had also applied for the Fellowship. So when the final selection was announced, we were both in for a pleasant surprise. It was really great to have a YIF to count on and we supported each other throughout our time in Germany. In a way, the GCF helped us reconnect in Berlin and we’ve ended up becoming good friends.

How did you go about finding your calling and committing to it?

Rituj: In my professional life, I have always been on a path of consistent experimentation. It led me to discover that my true passion lies in marrying profit with purpose. I had been working in risk consulting and advisory and was slowly getting drawn towards Impact Investment. Working in that space after the Fellowship gave me a keener understanding and I knew I wanted to pursue it further. 

Venugopal: It is more about timing than anything else. I was watching some early trends and noticed that with time, investments were incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their decision-making. I realised then that it was a matter of time until financial auditors would be tasked with verifying and certifying how true these were. Given my vocation as a CA, it was a natural progression to arriving at this intersection of sustainability and finance. 

How has the German Chancellor Fellowship impacted your career?

Rituj: During the GCF, I worked with a German institution, Wider Sense GmbH, researching and documenting innovations in Impact Investment in Germany. Not only did I get an international exposure to the field, I could also update myself with technical skills in Social Impact Consulting. In addition at my host institution I was a part of the Diversity Task Force which was a great learning experience. Despite the pandemic, I was able to build an international network along with my peers, colleagues and other German Chancellor Fellows from different countries across different domains. Getting to learn from them about politics, culture, work and everything else was deeply enriching. Following the GCF, I will be working with the Rockefeller Foundation in their Asia team strategizing on grants and investments related to food security.

Venugopal: My project with the GCF examined the ESG and sustainable finance landscape in Germany and Europe with a focus on policy and regulation. In that process, my objective was to develop an index and understand what policy tools can catalyze financial systems to advance green and social finance. Going forward, I'll continue to work on ESG and sustainable finance policy in Germany, assisting national governments through international cooperation and technical assistance projects. 

Who should apply for the German Chancellor Fellowship and what would be your advice to them?

Venugopal: There are no defined parameters for who is an ideal candidate for the GCF. Recipients have been lab-scientists, lawyers, tech enthusiasts, policy professionals and has also included artists and musicians. One of the key requirements is that the applicant should work on a self-developed project that has the potential to foster Indo-German relations. 

Rituj: The GCF emphasizes on demonstrable leadership quality in its Fellows with a sense of impact beyond oneself. Those who have three to four years of work experience and are passionate about leadership, international development, and forming international bridges should consider applying. In addition the projects that one pitches should have research prospects in Germany. In terms of the application requirements, applicants are asked to find host institutions on their own to support their projects. Having a clear framework of one’s own motivations, ability and how your proposed project aligns with your professional and personal goals definitely helps.

Final thoughts?

Rituj: No matter where one is in the world, it is reassuring that there is a solid 51��� community with you. Consider Venu and myself for instance. I am glad to be able to give back to the community by sharing my own learnings with respect to higher education prospects and in terms of professional and personal development.

Venugopal: The alums of 51��� are going places. A testament to that fact is that a sizable 51��� community is now growing within Germany. Personally, I would love to support the establishment of a local chapter so that we can support and engage with each other in Germany. I look forward to growing with the community.

51���

Meet Arushi Aggarwal, YIF alumnus who is on a mission to uncover gender biases in medicine

Arushi is a fellow from the Young India Fellowship batch of 2018. Through her podcast With Her In Pain, she dissects medical history and explores how medical care can be more gender-inclusive.

“My podcast is an attempt to make information accessible, not just for women but across genders,” says Arushi, who is a theater artist and a communications professional. Her journey started from her own experience of medical care. Arushi had multiple misdiagnoses and negligence while she was ailing from chronic appendicitis and interstitial cysts. These incidents prompted her to dig deeper into the healthcare system and realized that this wasn’t a one-off incident but a reality for many women around the world. 

She believes that there is a serious gap in the knowledge and awareness of medical care relating to women. “Women’s pain is more likely to be brushed off because people including doctors believe that women exaggerate their suffering,” she says. “Many a time, with medical conditions, it’s difficult to pinpoint the lack of knowledge or awareness about diagnoses as directly relating to gender. This makes it harder for women to understand their own suffering as well as for society to provide adequate support to them.”&�Բ�����;

In her podcast, Arushi hosts eminent guests with expertise in various areas of women’s medicine as well as women who have themselves had traumatic experiences with medical diagnoses and treatment. While some episodes directly deal with conditions like ovarian cysts and urinary diseases, others question the socio-cultural understanding of women’s bodies. With Her In Pain serves as a repository of knowledge and brings a fresh lens with which to view gender in medicine.

Arushi credits her critical writing course at 51��� as one of her key influences. Critically thinking and writing about medical anthropology made her reflect on her own medical experiences as well as those around her. She also came to understand the need and importance of support from the community. While Arushi was battling with her symptoms, it was her batchmate and friend Vedhika Anoora, who guided her in finding the right treatment. Vedhika had also suffered from similar conditions and was able to provide more support than medical professionals. 

“Community and solidarity while undergoing such ailments is scarce because we don’t have adequate conversations surrounding it,” she says. The Ashoka community, in that sense, not only supported her through pain but also with the making of the podcast itself. She says that without volunteers and friends like her own batchmates Vedhika and Mihir Belgaonkar, the podcast would not have been possible. 

With Her In Pain is currently available to stream on Spotify with seven episodes now live. Meanwhile, Arushi says that she is tirelessly editing lengthy hours of recorded interviews. She hopes that the easy accessibility of her podcast helps women find comprehensive information about their conditions with a simple search on the internet. In the long run, Arushi aspires to set up a media platform of her own and produce content that can shape alternative narratives and change the way that we perceive the world around us.

51���

Bridging the gap between crypto and people

Melbin Thomas (YIF ‘13) is the co-founder of Sahicoin, a social platform for crypto users. Sahicoin recently landed $1.75M seed funding from Alameda Ventures, Better Capital, and other investors. In conversation with the ARO, he delves into what he’s been up to since Ashoka, his interest in the finance industry and what Ashoka means to him.

As a Fellow from the second batch of the Young India Fellowship, Melbin’s association with Ashoka spans for close to a decade. Reflecting on this journey, he thinks that the initial few batches defined the ethos of Ashoka and of YIF as a program. “The main thing that the Ashoka community fosters is participative decision making. This not only brings the community together but also gives incentive for Ashokans to be invested in the future of the University”, he says.

Melbin had completed his Bachelors in Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 2011, but was haunted by the feeling that something was missing in terms of what he had learnt in college and how the real world worked. That’s what led him to the YIF. “That and my passion to work in the football industry”, he jokes. Post the Fellowship, this passion led him to ISL team Bengaluru FC where he headed the Soccer Schools and played a key role in scaling it up to 1000 students within a year. He then worked with Digital Green, an agri tech non profit, on creating an Uber-pool solution for farmers in Bihar and Maharashtra. 

His journey in crypto and blockchain technology started in early 2020 while he was working with Teller finance, a crypto start-up. He witnessed first hand the impact of crypto and blockchain in disrupting the finance industry. He was also able to pinpoint the resistance in mass adoption of the technology. “I realized that one of the key issues was that it was complex and difficult to understand. There weren’t many tools that would simplify it for people”, he says. As he was pondering on this, he reached out to his batch mates from IIT Kanpur — Amit Nayak and Ankush Rajput who had also independently been building their own thesis for their investments. 

Sahicoin was born out of long conversations among the three founders on how they could make crypto accessible. “We realized that people only invest if they get trusted signals from within their network. Sahicoin is built on one simple idea: Simplify crypto investments by investing and learning from people you already trust.” He draws strong parallels between the crypto industry now to the internet boom of the mid-90’s and believes that the next generation of innovations is set to take place in this space. Sahicoin has raised $1.75 million in the latest seed round led by Alameda Ventures (FTX), Better Capital, and others. 

As a co-founder of not one but two start-ups, he believes that entrepreneurship is a journey not a destination. He believes that while an entrepreneur must have conviction in their ideas, it is important to seek feedback and build on it. 

He signs off with a note to aspiring entrepreneurs, “Once you decide to become an entrepreneur, it is a lifelong journey of learning, breaking down your own biases, and rebuilding from scratch. An entrepreneur cannot do everything on their own. A major insight over here is to build conviction in your team about your vision as well as inspire them to achieve their own dreams.”

51���

Meet Farhan Shaikh, the Young India Fellow who became a short story writer

Farhan recalls that his time at 51��� was filled with opportunities to access reality with a sense of wonder, stretch limits of empathy, co-learn with people from different backgrounds, and ground his perspectives about the complexity of life.

And what better way to exhibit this transformation than by publishing a book.

“When it comes to art and writing, I often take time to revisit these fellowship learnings and draw ideas from all kinds of diverse disciplines- science, literature, psychology, arts, philosophy and history among others. I think fellowship was an education in critical life skills that continue to be applicable across all kinds of subjects, and my writings are usually a means of exploration into unchartered territories. I’ve also learned to appreciate the power and limitations of empathy as my stories continue to delve into lives and experiences that remain distant from that of my own, yet bonded through a shared sense of humanity.

As I concluded writing my first book, I once again wondered what it means when we say fellowship never ends. And after some introspection, I finally got my answer. It is this personal spirit that somehow makes you stay close to your creativity, curiosity and empathy amidst all the uncertainty and grim struggles of everyday existence.”

Farhan Shaikh (Young India Fellow, 2019)

SYNOPSIS:

It takes a lifetime to understand where we end and the rest of the world begins. The Self in Our Times is a collection of seven independent stories that unravel both familiar and unfamiliar worlds of the 21st century. The reader is deliberately exposed to stories from vastly varied contexts, including indigenous cultures and traditional arts of Asia, urban cities of India, small towns of North America, and the migratory lives of the Horn of Africa.

By tapping into diverse character relationships, the narratives pursue a discovery of universal in the local and offer a souvenir of language to uncover the secret rhythms of words. Together, they contemplate on the meaning of home, loss, love, and the mysterious self in all of us. 

STORIES AT A GLANCE:

Birds Wake Me Up: Deeply inspired by the writings of Helen McDonald, the tale follows a young boy and his poignant relationship with birds, as he navigates adulthood, loss of home, and the essence of living in an ever-changing world.

A Movement Artist: Unravelling both eastern and western forms of dance, a young girl seeks personal identity and artistic fulfilment while her teacher suffers from a physical and mental breakdown.

Controller of Chaos: Mr. Bhatkhande is a traffic constable who has been regularly monitoring roads at a popular spot in the Mumbai suburban region for over a decade. Over the course of a single day during the outbreak of COVID19, Bhatkhande encounters a self-reliant transgender who challenges his notion of life as they wade through the ironically quiet streets of a bustling city to leave behind a life accustomed to chaos.

She was a Maiko: Otis, a wealthy German businessman, pursues a trip to Japan and gets involved with a teenage hostess whose performance and mysterious past offer him an opportunity to discover his own quivering sanity and a repressed capacity to love.

Your Orange Thread: Post a rift in marriage and announcement of the Brexit, a British photographer pursues making a passionate documentary in Lucknow and discovers her unique subject in a migrant artisan from Himachal Pradesh who is skilled yet distant from the timeless craft of his home.

I Live in a Nourishing, Cold Desert: A community of nomadic shepherds undertakes a gruelling migration journey to survive the increasingly cold winters, while two strangers contemplate on the beauty and meaning of stars through a common telescope. Revolving around the lives of an insomniac astrophysicist, a rising ice hockey player, and a young shepherd, the story explores shifting worldviews and a converging vision of home in the silent highlands of Ladakh that leads to nowhere but itself.

Sheltered Mirage: Having experienced a life of poverty and exploitation since birth, a displaced woman confronts the joy and burden of motherhood while searching a mirage of hope for her twin toddlers in the troubled region of Somalia. 

51���

From YIF to LSE to working in conflict-ridden Afghanistan: YIF alumna’s journey of championing women’s rights

Here is a story about an empathetic brave heart whose journey of working in a remote area of a conflict-ridden Afghanistan is at best, incredible.  

Chhavi Doonga, an alumna of the Young India Fellowship (YIF), class of 2015, while working with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) at their London office decided to take a plunge propelling her to take a job with the Foundation’s Afghanistan office. She was based in Badakhshan, a North-Eastern province of Afghanistan bordering China, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. She wanted to be where the action was happening.  

Talking about her experience, Chhavi said, “The decision to work in a conflict zone is not an easy one. There are high risks of living and working in Afghanistan, particularly as a foreign female, to your life and wellbeing. This also affects your family, who might not always understand this move. Yet I decided to go ahead with this because implementing programmes in conflict zones is some of the most challenging work in the development sector and therefore a huge learning opportunity.”&�Բ�����; 

I asked her the reason behind moving to Afghanistan from her comfortable job in London because this was not something many people would opt for at the first go. She had to go through a rigorous application and interview process but for her, it was all worth it.  

“I felt the need to learn more closely about the challenges of working on the ground. I wanted to get hands-on experience in implementing development programmes to better understand the nuances and challenges of this work,” said Chhavi.  And how did she manage with the change? 

She agreed that it was not a smooth sail. As opposed to the staff based in Kabul that afforded modern amenities, moving to Badakhshan meant living in a rural mountain economy with harsh geography and tough road conditions. “The region also was largely not electrified and faced seasonal food insecurity which affected our daily lives.” But she held on.  

Her experience in the country was transformative, to say the least. “Personally, I had to adapt to an orthodox culture which meant being hyper-vigilant about my conduct, clothing, and behaviour as the only foreign female in AKF’s Badakhshan office. Living under security threats meant highly restricted movements, extreme isolation, and unexpected security evacuations.  

“And, professionally, I learnt how the day-to-day programmatic work is enmeshed with the conflict in contexts like Afghanistan. This meant working in a highly complex socio-political context, which included weak governance, security deterioration, and volatility in community needs especially those living in extremely insecure areas.”&�Բ�����; 

Working in the development sector amidst a lot of insecurity is challenging but at the same time very rewarding. “Aga Khan Foundation does some amazing work in the Badakhshan area through its long term-commitment in the region, narrowing the gap in public service delivery. And for me, it was humbling to be able to be a part of this work and understand the nuance, empathy, and resilience that this work requires,” said Chhavi.   

She is resilient and fighting for equality comes naturally to her. She believes in an egalitarian society. While working in Badakhshan, she fought to provide a safe space for her female colleagues and created a network of support systems.   

Talking about that, Chhavi said, “Afghanistan, like many other contexts, is a male-dominated workforce. My female colleagues in that country were a huge moral support for me as I adjusted. As the only foreign female in the Badakhshan office, I was aware of my privilege and access to power within the organisation. And I wanted to use this to support my fellow staff. The office had 20 percent female employees, most of whom worked in some of the most isolated areas in the regions, who did not speak English, or did not get full access to education.  

“To put things in perspective, 90 percent of the population in the province lives in rural areas with lack of health infrastructure, inaccessible locations by road, and bitter winters. This makes working conditions very tough for anyone working on the ground, and especially for women who might not always enjoy the social freedoms available to men.”&�Բ�����; 

Troubled by the overall situation, in partnership with the female leadership in the region, Chhavi initiated a female employee support group within the organisation. Her primary thought was to convene a community between the women to be able to share and learn from each other the challenges, lessons, and strategies they use to work in highly remote and far away locations.  

“As I had access to the senior management in AKF global offices, I leveraged my position to bridge the gap that local female staff in Badakhshan office faced in influencing organisation-wide policy change in an organisation as huge as AKF. The Foundation’s leadership was very welcoming to this group and open to talking about the difficulties faced by the female staff,” said Chhavi.  

I applauded her. But fast forward to a post-pandemic world, how can gender equality be attainable in leadership in organisations and businesses? It is no secret that COVID-19 has negatively affected working women. The pandemic’s effects on women have been extremely disproportionate. There is of course evidence of a gendered impact of the pandemic in the arena of employment. As an individual who has worked in gender equality and advocacy, I wanted to know Chhavi’s response.  

“To achieve gender equality in leadership the public, private and social sector must work in partnership to create enabling conditions for gender parity in leadership positions. This can be done by creating safe and conducive work environments for women; supporting women’s movements; enabling women’s leadership in local climate sustainable solutions, and lastly investing in education for girls. Women often lack the financial resource, education, or equal social opportunities to access technology and we must work on all these levels to reduce the gender gap within the digital divide. Particularly in the post-pandemic world, we will need to do the extra work to undo the damage done by the pandemic on women’s security, health, and equal opportunities,” said Chhavi.  

Indeed, economies need to build back diversity if they are going to fully prosper in the long term in a ‘new normal’.  

Chhavi is a leader, an advocate of a more inclusive society, who is currently working as a Senior Program Officer, Resource Mobilisation & Asia and Pacific at Prospera International Network of Women’s Funds. Prospera is a network of 44 foundations or Women’s Funds that are based in about 40 countries and support and strengthen women’s and feminist movements globally in 150+ countries. 

She drives Prospera’s work in the Asia and Pacific region and leads a global institutional strengthening programme to support the resource mobilisation activities of Women’s Funds, particularly in the COVID-19 context. She said, “I am also driving Prospera’s work as a strategic partner to a global alliance working on the intersection of climate justice and women’s rights called GAGGA (Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action).”&�Բ�����; 

Her work speaks volumes. But did she always see herself working in the development sector? Chhavi laughed, “Not really, I studied literature in my undergraduate studies and thought I would play the role of a cool and pensive writer. But life had other plans, I guess!”&�Բ�����;  

We were at the end of the discussion and I was amazed by her work ethos and her dedication to bring change in her capacity when I asked about her time at Ashoka as a Young India Fellow. And she was all praises for the Fellowship. “At YIF, being in a network of peers, faculty, and staff that had worked internationally provided me with the tools to broaden the geographic focus of my work. It inspired me to do my master’s degree at the London School of Economics and in turn, opened a global platform of opportunities for me,” concluded Chhavi.  

As they say, the Fellowship never truly ends!  

Chhavi graduated from YIF in 2015 and started working as a Program Assistant at UNESCO, New Delhi before going on to do an MSc in Media, Communication and Development at the London School of Economics. She was at the Badakhshan Province for about one year before joining Prospera.  

Her humbleness and dedication are an inspiration. I have nothing but admiration for the tremendous work that Chhavi is doing towards a more just world. 

written by Shreya Chatterjee

51���

#AshokaBookTower – ‘Children’s Stories for Adults’ – Written by Anit Singh, the book addresses complex questions through light-hearted fairytales

Synopsis:
"Children's Story for Adults" is a collection of 10 lyrical short stories. Each story is set in a landscape of a dark emotion and the characters personify the ego as it tries to navigate the terrain. Partly narrative therapy and partly a foray into magical realism, the book contains a concoction of tales that break the barriers of subconscious, with its dreamlike weave and mythical quality.  In Butterfly Songs, a mischievous boy is changed when he witnesses the death of his friend and then tries to turn back clocks in a hope that time would also turn back. In Sweet Grapes, a reformed hunter tries to outwit a deadly tiger with the help of grapes. Well, Frog plays upon repetitions and patterns to look at a frog who's stuck at the bottom of a well and very happy, at least initially. The stories, like in every good fairytale, help the mind create a narrative that it can make sense out of and therefore go gently into a slumber, like that of a contented child. 

In conversation with the author, Anit Singh, Young India Fellow 2018-19 alumnus, 51���.

What inspired you to write this book?

I started working on these stories when the corona wave was just hitting India. Things were growing unpredictable, my partner was going through a transition in her job, and no one knew what would happen next. Eventually, she and I started discussing these questions. But, instead of approaching topics with no clear answers; I started telling her stories. These stories were about how I was feeling, what I was thinking about; and over time, they grew into a narrative, fairytale-like format; but a little bit darker and more ambiguous. Working on these stories really helped me deal with the fears of those days, and I thought they could perhaps help someone else too.

Children's Stories for Adults is a fascinating title. Your comment. 

When I was a kid, there was a gang of robbers that used to visit villages in the parts surrounding me. I often used to be terrified that they would come there and hurt someone. Then, my grandparents used to tell me traditional children’s stories; heroic tales where the hero wards off the robbers. They always used to calm me down. While working on this book, I realised that I am following a similar writing process. But I also realised that once we grow up, we do not really have these kinds of stories. We have fantastic books which deal with knotted social terrains, novels about famous people and their experiences; but not many collections of stories for adults which deal with complex issues while also bringing them solace. 

Was there any particular reason for choosing the animal world as the primary setting?

I think because I can relate and relay my emotions more easily through animals. When you are crafting a story around a person, you need to flesh out the character, give it a voice, etc.; and then the primary story becomes about that character itself. With these stories, I wanted the feelings of the events to be more important than the actions of the characters. For instance, there is a story about a frog in which the character itself is transitory--there is no one frog in the story, and that is the entire point! The frog keeps on dying and then there is always another frog which takes its place. I like that. What is important here is not the frogs but the feelings which they rouse in you. Plus, I think we, humans, are very intimately connected with animals, and different animals generate different kinds of emotions in people like bats rouse disgust, lions rouse courage or fear, etc. That is a very broad and interesting spectrum to play around with and use to capture emotions. 

Your stories are personifying animals and objects. Could you elaborate this choice?

I think this was not a conscious choice on my part but, everything that I wanted to communicate through these animals and objects required a certain level of personification and while writing it just became a natural part of the process. Plus, I was heavily influenced by books like Animal Farm and other writers who have done this before me. 

Any particular writers and stories that you were inspired by while working on this book.

When I initially discovered him during my school years, I was completely in love with George Orwell’s work. I have admired Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s work for the longest too. Jonathan Swift has also been a favourite fixture since childhood. Recently, I have been reading a lot of Arundhati Roy and Kazou Ishiguro. And I think, through certain kinds of amalgamations of these writers and their influences I have also discovered my own voice. I am not sure if it is A + B + C or A + B + C into my own X that has finally come together to create a unique style of my own; but yes, all these writers are certainly a part of it. 

Any insights you would like to share about the process of working on this book.

What I have learnt is that there is a space where the characters dwell alone, and there they keep on evolving themselves. Sometimes now, instead of consciously working on the stories, I just leave them; and when I come back I realise that the characters have already moved on and written their own stories; all that is left for me to do is to scribe them. That has worked really well for me. Instead of trying to force the story or certain plot points, I am giving it space and time and allowing it to go wherever it wants to go. 

Tell us about yourself. What have you been upto after the Fellowship other than writing? 

Currently, I am working as an L&D partner at Dr. Reddy’s. And it is a curious thing; because while I am in this space of learning and development, I often get the opportunity to ask people questions about which things are going right for them and which are not--and there are innumerable stories cloaked in their answers. I really enjoy that. Instead of going out of my way to find inspiration for characters, I have all these sources right in front of me.

Would you talk about how the whole YIF experience impacted your writing?

The YIF program provided me with a necessary pause. Just imagine: You’re in Sonepat, surrounded by acres upon acres of green farms--after some time, it almost feels like an island in itself. This distance and time away from the hubbub of my regular life allowed me to explore different philosophies and ideologies and think about them. Plus, there are so many different people on campus with their own stories and ways of looking at life. It is exciting to explore all these curious perspectives. 

I think a lot of these experiences influenced my writing and provided me with fodder for my characters and arcs. There was also an element of YIF which acted as the catalyst for my writing--because before YIF while I was still thinking about these stories; I was never writing them down. All the critical thinking and writing courses during my Fellowship really aided that process. They also made me realise that I express and think best through putting pen to paper; and that was a pretty significant realisation for me. 

What would you like your readers to take away from this book?

I would love it if they crafted their own stories. I believe that each one of us goes through a different experience in life; and our minds are great at narrativising those incidents. We all think: I grew up like this, there I was a hero, in that moment I was the villian, this was a failure, but that was an adventure, etc. The only requirement left is, perhaps, to create a few animals, sprinkle some sparkles and glitter, and voilà! we have a story. I would be very happy if this book inspires them to write their own tales. 

Would you like to talk about your current and future projects?

Right now, I am putting together a book in which all the stories would be about different islands. It would be set in a space of magical realism--something would be happening that would be extremely common for the habitants of that island, but extraordinary for the readers. So, for example: there is one island in which it is very normal that people’s thoughts are heard out loud by everyone. For them, there is no concept of having private thoughts. And then, one day, there is a person who finds a room in which people cannot hear his thoughts. What happens then? In this way, I am creating different islands; each with its own set of rules. I think I will probably just call it “Wonderful Tour of Anit’s Islands” or something. 

Anything else you would like to share.

I often think about the way most writers snatch away hours from their daily lives to write. You have a full schedule; and so you might wake up early or sleep late and steal that time to put down a few more words, and then come back to it later. Now-a-days, I wonder if this is perhaps a better process of writing than being a full-time writer; where there is a lot of pressure to write a certain number of words each day and to advance the plot...And as I said earlier, the story always takes its own sweet time. I am not really sure. But, I do think that this is a viable work-model for me to work on my stories in the coming times.

About Anit Singh: 

Three generations of Anit's family were constant migrants, scuttling across India on postings of their hereditary occupation- the army. As a result, the family became a reservoir of stories that were picked from all across the country and passed as a heritage to Anit. It was obvious that Anit would pick up a pen and craft the stories, floating in his blood. When he's not reading or writing stories, Anit works as an HR in Dr. Reddy's.

About #AshokaBookTower

The newly launched #AshokaBookTower campaign will showcase books written by our faculty, staff members, and alumni. The campaign aims to highlight the rich variety of subjects and intensive scholarship these books represent. An in-depth conversation with the author will also give a glimpse into what went into the writing of the book. This will be a recurring affair and will highlight some of the newest launches as well as the old collection. 

Do follow us on social media ( | | | ) to know more about the campaign!

51���

Ashoka alumna gets selected for the Indian Air Force

The exciting truth still has not sunk in for Vedika Gupta, the second Ashoka student to successfully earn a spot in the Indian Air Force (IAF). When asked why the Air Force, she said that she has a family background in the forces--but that is that. It was a fact, but not a major factor in her final decision. Vedika “was fortunate enough to sit in the cockpit of a Su-30 at the Jodhpur Air Base and, however cliched it sounds, ever since that moment, I knew I wanted to be a fighter pilot, an Air Warrior. Soon enough, I made it my mission to turn this dream into reality; and once one sets their minds to something, the sky's the limit.”

Vedika was part of the 2019 batch of the undergraduate programme at 51���. She has wanted to join the IAF since she was a teenager; and her experience as an Ashoka student has played a significant role in making her feel equipped and ready to grasp her dream. She said, “I was slightly more timid before I came to Ashoka. But, the kind of discussions that took place in its classrooms and the sheer amount of work I put into my research papers--it all played a role in making me more self-assured, and that in turn reflected in my Services Selection Board results. I did not feel inferior to anyone then; I felt like I had everything I needed to clear all the tests and to be selected to become an officer. My friends were also an inspiration to me. Everyone was so driven and passionate that it fuelled me up and I was always going, ‘How is the josh? High sir!’”

The process to apply and merit a seat in the force was an extremely rigorous one for Vedika. She had been trying since 2018; and in 2021, in her fourth attempt, she finally made it. It definitely was not easy to stay resilient in the face of repeated failures as she recalled, but “I guess perseverance pays off! Each time I did not make it, and saw my peers excelling professionally and academically, I felt stagnant and all sorts of doubts kept creeping in. I asked myself whether I was even made for this. I think what kept me going was the dream that the fourteen year old me had dreamt; and how every decision I have made in my life rested upon that dream. I am a sportsperson and if that has taught me anything, it is to not be a quitter. So, I was tenacious, because it was not a job I was after, it was a dream.”&�Բ�����;

The final list of July 2021 consists of 10 women in the flying branch, which Vedika feels proud and privileged to be a part of.

Towards the end of our interview, I asked her about her family and friends’ reaction to the news. “My mother started crying in the middle of a restaurant when she heard the news. My younger sister is a mixed bag of emotions because, while she is extremely proud of me, training does entail no communication for a year and a half. My father is beyond ecstatic--it is almost as if he himself is going to the academy again! All my friends are overjoyed and extremely proud of me. It feels surreal: to have wanted something for so long and to finally, get it,” concluded Vedika. 

Vedika is going to be serving for fourteen years (until 2036). After that, when she retires, she might choose to fly commercially and get into civil aviation; or she might pursue something completely different in line with her other interests in media--“who knows what the future holds!”

Written by Anushka Bidani, undergraduate student of English & Creative Writing

51���

Passion Vs Pandemic: Ashoka alumnus’ tale of triumphing during COVID times

With the rolling out of COVID-19 vaccine, the country is now slowly moving back to normal. However, it wasn’t the case a few months ago. India was one of the worst-hit countries in the world. However, like every problem is an opportunity to explore new possibility, Kunal Garg, a Young India Fellow introduced a unique innovation – Virowave!  

Virowave is a UV sterilisation device built under the aegis of Emuron which was founded in 2018 by Kunal alongwith his friend and business partner Vibhore Garg. Emuron is a product and services company providing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for Industry 4.0 and electric mobility.  

Kunal has always liked the idea and philosophy behind building great products. 

 He said, “Having worked in both startups and corporate, I realised that my inclination was more towards the culture fostered by startups. This led me to a quest for exploration, and I dabbled around various ideas from tech to fashion and realised that I had a knack for technology. At the time, I got good hands-on building products and after a few attempts on my own, I approached my distant relative Vibhore, who had 20 years of experience in both technology and management. He was also looking to start a new business, and together we started Emuron in 2018 with a simple proposition of building tech products.”&�Բ�����; 

Slowly they started approaching major manufacturing companies to know more about their challenges, and after a pursuit of almost 6 months, they bagged their first project with Whirlpool to deploy technologies to increase efficiency in resolving shop-floor issues. The project led them to understand the nature of the manufacturing business, and with time they built an Industry 4.0 platform that helps in the digital transformation of manufacturing plants.  

Kunal continued, “After gaining some initial momentum, we also started looking out for other avenues that are going to be a market disrupter in the upcoming years. One such field was electric mobility, which I believe is still where e-commerce was pre-Flipkart. We envision providing a suite of products that helps faster adoption of electric mobility. We knew that electric mobility is more of a hardware game and is a very asset-heavy business. We pitched this idea to Rupali and Vedant, who themselves were looking to venture into the space. They liked our idea and came on-board as full-time Director and Co-founder.” They brought with themselves manufacturing expertise in power systems and seed funding to fund our new initiative.  

But during this time, Covid-19 happened. From the very onset of the pandemic, we knew that it was going to be a long haul, and we were up for a financial crisis as our clients would like to cut their costs and put our projects on-hold.” They needed a new strategy that could help them stay afloat during the crisis and this led to Virowave.  

But what makes it more interesting is, Kunal is a first-generation entrepreneur!   

He said, “Being a first-generation entrepreneur has its challenges. First of all, it was hard to convince my family to leave a lucrative corporate job to start on my own. Initially it was difficult but I found some good mentors along the way. I think it was just my passion for startups that got me started more than anything else.“ 

Kunal breaks down Virowave for the readers. 

 Virowave is a disinfecting chamber that looks exactly like a microwave but its goal is to kill 99.99% of bacteria and viruses, including the coronavirus from the surface of everyday objects. It can sanitise groceries, mobile phones, cash, masks, files - basically anything that fits inside, within minutes. The product is microbiologically tested for various families of bacteria and viruses. It comes in 5 variants – 28-litre, 54-litre, 180-litre, 330-litre and a UV Tower. The bigger capacity models are being used in malls, industries, and offices to sanitise clothes, food, delivery packages, files, etc. Currently, they are majorly exporting the product to Middle-East and South East Asia. 

Consumer electronics is an industry where product designing and manufacturing are still run in traditional ways and not much digitisation and automation is in place. This combined with a strict lockdown made it exponentially more difficult for them in terms of coordinating the supply chain, building prototypes, and then testing. They took special permissions from the District Magistrate to keep operating. Despite the extreme conditions, they were able to bring the product from concept to the market within merely two months.  

 “I guess my passion to build products that create value for customers is something that drives me the most but I did have a fair share of challenges. I found meditation and being in the moment to handle one day at a time to be most helpful during these times.”&�Բ�����;  

Kunal Garg is an alumni of the Young India Fellowship. After the Fellowship, he was also a part of the Centre for Entrepreneurship’s (CFE) Entrepreneurship in Residence (EiR) programme. Talking about the role Ashoka and CFE had played in his journey, he said, “Ashoka has an immense role in the journey. I think if it wouldn’t have been Ashoka, then I couldn’t have mustered up the courage to start.  

The Fellowship gave me confidence, a wide perspective, and the most important skill of critical thinking that plays a key role in my day to day work. It taught me how to deal with my not knowing than anything that I know. I still remember a quote from the Visiting Professor Kenwyn K. Smith – ‘You have enough skills to go out and make a difference in this world.’  And of course, I made some great friends who have stood by me during all the difficulties. The EiR programme from CFE helped me connect with some great mentors and manage my finances during the initial days.”&�Բ�����; 

It is never easy to start. There will always be challenges waiting your way. Sometimes you succeed and sometimes you fail. All you need is that passion to start and an idea you believe in.  

Kunal’s journey is an example for all the budding entrepreneurs who are passionate about starting their own. Since his college days he worked on a lot of ideas, faced a lot of challenges, and failures. But giving up was never an option. 

“Starting up is not a sprint, it is a marathon. As long as we are learning something new and creating value, everything is going to be fine.”&�Բ�����; 

51���

Rhodes to Oxford: Ashoka student’s incredible journey of learning, unlearning, and everything in between

The phone kept buzzing. Vighnesh Hampapura has just been selected for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. Naturally, the first question I asked was about how he was feeling. Vighnesh said, “It’s exhilarating! You know, I remember talking to my friend, Pratiti, in our first year about how the chances of getting something like Rhodes was so far and feeble. So it hasn’t sunk in completely – both the scholarship and the fact that I will be at the University of Oxford this time next year. I am also in a spirit of adventure, I think. How are the courses going to be there? What people will I meet? What new interests might I develop? And, simply, all the new directions life may take. Not knowing is very exciting!”&�Բ�����; 

This put a smile to my face. The overwhelming feeling of achievement might often be difficult to grasp. The process of finishing and waiting can often be nerve-wrecking! “There’s also some relief? The process of applications and selections was long and elaborate. There were three rounds of interviews this time after the review of applications. And what can feel better than finishing and prevailing?”&�Բ�����;

Well, what can be better than this? Vighnesh is the first Ashoka Undergraduate to be selected for Rhodes. What does this mean to him, I asked. He responded without missing a beat, “Isn’t it just chance that I’m the first Ashoka undergraduate?”&�Բ�����; 

“I am sure there will be many more, and as second, third, twenty-first, they will all be incredible as well! I think it’s really a feat that Ashoka has produced two Rhodes scholars and many, many brilliant people within years of its inception.”&�Բ�����;

But what inspired him to apply to Rhodes in the first place? His idea was originally to take a gap year, finish the translation work that he is presently doing, and simultaneously work on his graduate school applications. 

“But then I remembered the Rhodes scholarship and decided I would fill in just that. You see, Rhodes isn’t just the opportunity to study at Oxford, which itself is a bounty, but also a community of diligent and passionate people who work in various fields of human interest. Imagine the collaborations one can forge there! I also thought my interest in the project of a humanities education finds resonance in the ethos of the scholarship, and so I gave it a chance.”

It was one of such chances that landed Vighnesh at Cambridge University for a summer semester in 2019. Talking about his experience there, he said, “I did the Shakespeare and Renaissance programme at Cambridge. It was different from Ashoka in that we mostly had lectures with minimal student input. But there were ingenious courses. In the class with Vivien Heilbron, an Emmy-nominated Shakespearean, who taught us acting through The Winter’s Tale, I learnt new approaches to perform Shakespeare. I was yet again reminded how important literary criticism is to put up a play.

And then, in another course, we read Henry IV Part I alongside its historical sources, all refashioned by Shakespeare. It was like a playwrighting workshop. What was beautiful at Cambridge was the diversity of age: along with undergraduates were retired advocates, working doctors, carpenters. Age and employment weren’t obstacles for these people to read Shakespeare at a university. This is much like AshokaX, which may be the first such programme in India?”&�Բ�����;

Apart from his academics, Vighnesh has involved himself in many co-curricular activities at Ashoka. These activities have provided him a stage to express himself in myriad ways, and helped shape him as an understanding and overall, a fun-loving person. Speaking about his experience working for Ashoka’s Young Scholars Programme (YSP), Vighnesh said, “I was an Academic Counsellor at YSP. These are high school students who are coming in to have a peek into the liberal arts experience, which means we have to employ the pedagogy of our own classes in the discussion sections and workshop modules that we conduct. This can be a little tricky, you know, because they’re still used to their rote methods, and you’ve just learnt so much, and it’s tempting to impose ideas and stances on them! But you shouldn’t. So YSP was really educative, to begin from scratch and build the class up, listen to the class in front of you so that you know where and how to pitch the discussion. 

I also had the opportunity to design mini-courses for the modules, like Oral Lore is No Bore, which was about the idea of storytelling—from grandmother’s tales to Greek epics—that we would explore by performing oral lore. Or Refuge in Literature, where we used fiction to talk about refugees and nationalism, usually branched under politics or international relations. It was all great fun!”&�Բ�����;

He has also been an active member of many clubs and societies at Ashoka. “I don’t think there could’ve been another place where many of my interests came together as they did at Ashoka,” he said. 

He has dabbled with many clubs and societies over the years. “But maybe I should highlight the three key spaces. Sandhi, the languages society. I can’t forget the crazy debates and brainstorming we did there as we went through founding it, all with a passion for the various axes of language – linguistics, politics, culture, literature. I branched out somewhere in between to the literary bit, exploring its contours, in Epigraph, the literary society. This is the society in which I had the most investment, because it is also a personal project – to take the literary beyond the classroom, and without the pressures of coursework. And The Indian Choir is where I found a musical family. They are my favourite musicians, and orchestrating the Religious Rebels concert with them is one of my highlights at Ashoka.”&�Բ�����;

How does it feel to be at Ashoka now that you know your next stop would be the University of Oxford? I asked. His answer was immediate, “Being at Ashoka means that the sheer pleasure and importance of learning – of thinking about things, of recognising the complicatedness of our worlds – is valued. It nourishes a certain critical temperament that may make life confusing but all the more breathtaking.”&�Բ�����;

For him, Ashoka has been a place of comfort, a place where he has found many passions and opportunities, and a place he lovingly calls home. 

“You see, it was through Ashoka that I landed at Sahapedia. It was because of the financial aid the office of GESP gave – on top of the Cambridge scholarship – that I could make the voyage to attend the summer school.” His eyes lit up particularly talking about the English and Creative Writing department. “Again, so many things have come from here. Right from the second semester, Professor Arunava Sinha has been mentoring me, even sending a twenty-year-old as a literary journalist to Jaipur. A lot of my first questions were born in my research assistantship with Professor Rita Kothari. And working as the English representative under Professor Gil Harris means that one learns along the way what this major means. 

I must name the five professors who have had the greatest influence on me: Arunava Sinha, Madhavi Menon, Mandakini Dubey, Sharif Youssef, and Abir Bazaz. I owe the kind of reader and human being I have become to their existence. And as for the three incomparable human beings I have had the fortune of befriending at Ashoka—Shree Thaarshini Sriraman, Yashasvi Arunkumar, and Adit Shankar: I can only say thanks. They have patted me, fed me, warded off typhoons, stayed with me despite myself, and made me feel what it is to be loved.”&�Բ�����;

At Oxford, Vighnesh plans to pursue his master’s degree in nineteenth-century literature and comparative literature. “But I have two more weeks to decide, and that’s never good, you know? Choice makes one often confused. Whatever it will be, it’s literature for sure,” he said.  

And about his plans for the future, he is open to, as I quote him, “where the tide takes me.”&�Բ�����;

He said, “In a few years, I should be able to be researching, asking important questions about the way we live and narrate our lives, while simultaneously teaching people how to read, in all senses of that word. As long as that is happening, the more by-lanes I can travel, the better.”&�Բ�����; 

Speaking with Vighnesh, it appeared to me that the amalgamation of both learning and unlearning is what strengthens his prowess. 

We have come to the end of our conversation, and I asked him if he has any advice for his friends and juniors vying for the Rhodes Scholarship. “I think it becomes important to be able to explain why we’re doing what we do, and why it might be important. So there needs to be some confidence too. And for that, paradoxically, maybe we can be a little less serious about ourselves? 

To be very serious means that we want to make no mistake, say nothing that may be wrong, which isn’t possible, so it’s a failed exercise, and we lose our confidence. It’s better to be open to thinking rather than being right. I don’t think any Rhodes scholar including myself is some perfect mould of humanity, and thank god for that! There is another thing I have to say: that despite everything—passion, direction, hard work, sincerity—it may not work out at all, and that’s still fine. So we apply with all honesty, but again we don’t take it all too seriously.”&�Բ�����;

In the end, Vighnesh taught me that one must be able to have fun with the experience of applying because that experience alone can teach a lot. 

 Vighnesh Hampapura, currently pursuing ASP (Ashoka Scholars Programme) graduated with a Summa Cum Laude in BA (Hons.) English in May 2020. He is presently writing his undergraduate thesis on questions of identity and desire in the drama of the late playwright and Rhodes Scholar, Girish Karnad. He will be heading to the University of Oxford in 2021. 

51���

The Curious Young Mind: YIF alumnus’ journey from engineering to liberal arts to bringing environmental change worldwide

The first time I heard of Peeyush was while reading an article on  about his research on asphalt roads and city air pollution caused by it. The article intrigued me so much when I got to know that Peeyush was a former Young India Fellow, the batch of 2015. From Civil Engineering to Environmental Engineering to Liberal Arts and Environmental Policy to Chemical and Environmental Engineering – Peeyush’s journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. The  somehow intermingled beautifully and have resulted in his deep pursuit of being a changemaker.  

Peeyush was almost completing his MS in Civil Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly known as Virginia Tech, when he stumbled across the website of the Young India Fellowship (YIF). While at crossroads over whether to continue his “American Dream” and get a high-paying job, awaiting offers for his Ph.D., or take a complete turn and pursue Liberal Arts, Peeyush made a choice and opted for a road less taken.Talking about his transition, he said “I have found that transitioning between different streams of human knowledge that often do not overlap in their technicalities could be a challenging but certainly an enlightening experience.”

What an interesting statement this is! Peeyush continued, “As part of my undergraduate degree at VIT Vellore, I conducted research on artificial rainfall simulation applicable to the Indian subcontinent, followed by investigating the transport of influenza virus from floor to inhalation heights during human walking in an indoor environment, during research as part of my MS degree. I extracted great joy in carrying out scientific investigations in both these fields that were considerably separated from each other and aimed at solving different problems for improving the quality of human life. Then, YIF added the breadth that I needed in my scope of thoughts to be able to approach any situation or question from both engineering and humanities-related dimensions.”&�Բ�����;

What more inspiring for the readers maybe is to know that just about two weeks ago the Government of India has granted a patent for his invention of an artificial rainfall simulator suited to Indian subcontinent conditions! 

During his time at YIF, he was also able to attend Sciences Po in Paris for Graduate School in Environmental Policy. He said, “At this point, I felt I had a certain diversity in skillsets and sufficient maneuverability in thoughts that I needed to pursue my Ph.D. back in an environment-related technical discipline.”&�Բ�����;The exposure and learnings he received were unparalleled. 

Peeyush was among the eleven candidates picked from around the world to join the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. programme at Yale University, specialising in Environmental Engineering.  

At Yale, he conducted his Ph.D. research in the domain of analytical environmental chemistry with a specific focus on urban air pollution. He said, “Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk around the world and is estimated to annually claim six million lives. The mortalities are primarily driven by exposure to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (or PM2.5). Interestingly, a large (often dominant) fraction of PM2.5 is constituted by secondary organic aerosol (SOA) that is formed in the atmosphere from oxidation of gas-phase reactive organic precursors that are emitted from diverse anthropogenic and biogenic sources. 

Understanding the magnitude and chemical composition of these emissions is key to controlling air pollution. Therefore, my work within the domain of urban air pollution focused on understanding nontraditional sources of air pollution. It involved a combination of laboratory experiments and field measurements coupled with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation techniques some of whose methods I developed, and also data modelling of some of the most detailed emissions inventories in the world. Using Los Angeles and New York City as my case study megacities, I was able to show that, following decades of strict regulatory policies for combustion-based sources (e.g. motor vehicles) in developed megacities, we are now at a stage where non-combustion emissions are contributing more reactive organic gas-phase precursors to developed megacity environments than gasoline and diesel motor vehicles.”&�Բ�����;

Not just this, his research on asphalt roads and city air pollution has received rave reviews. I asked him, to talk about that research a bit. 

“One phase of my doctoral research focused on understanding gas-phase emissions from asphalt materials under different temperature and environmental conditions. We found that road asphalt, as well as, other asphalt-based construction materials such as liquid roofing asphalt and shingles, could emit intermediate and semi-volatile organic compounds that could oxidise in the atmosphere to form PM2.5. The magnitude of emissions changes with temperature, such that higher temperatures result in more emissions. Interestingly, we observed that road asphalt not only emits during a road paving (140 ⁰C) event, but also when at typical summer time pavement temperatures (e.g. 60 ⁰C), and these emissions could occur over long timescales, potentially exceeding the order of weeks. 

Our experiments showed that solar radiation significantly enhanced emissions from road asphalt which is important since most asphalt is used in outdoor environments. Furthermore, we estimated that the annual potential secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from asphalt materials is comparable to SOA from gasoline and diesel motor vehicles in Los Angeles. However, I should note that asphalt-related materials are only one piece of a much bigger puzzle related to the contribution of non-combustion sources to urban air pollution. Further details of this research could be found in our paper titled “Asphalt-related emissions are a major missing nontraditional source of secondary organic aerosol precursors” published in Science Advances. It has been covered by over 70 media outlets around the world to date.”&�Բ�����;

I was pretty sure that he has been asked this question multiple times, yet, I asked him about his inspiration behind applying to YIF. 

“My inspiration to join the Fellowship did not manifest over a short timeframe, but rather slowly intensified over the course of my engineering academic pursuits prior to it. While executing various scientific research objectives, I started to realise that problems that have a direct, and quite often, immediate impact on society tend to exist at the nexus of different disciplines (relevant example: engineering and economics/policies). One could surely approach such problems from their own specific dimension of understanding but would do so at the expense of acquiring the complete picture of the issue. I do not think that one person could be an expert in everything, but I realised that it could be incredibly useful for an expert in a field to also understand other fields to some extent. Hence, as a scientist, I became motivated to also learn about other subjects that could likely have a say in the final outcomes of my work. 

In the 5 years that I spent at Yale, my YIF training came to fruition in different professional pursuits including when my article on alternatives to economic growth was selected among the top-21 articles in a competition between approximately 1000 graduate students from 108 nations and 350 universities for the St. Gallen Symposium 2016, and when I received invitations to attend environmental sustainability-related summits at the United Nations and the World Bank in subsequent years. 

In retrospect, YIF certainly was the perfect programme whose training contributed to and facilitated these developments. One may also find it interesting to know that after tremendous deliberation, I made the decision to join the Fellowship standing at the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building in New York City on New Year’s Eve in 2014, staring at the glorious city in polar vortex winds at -25 °C. 

"I surrendered that life to move to Sonipat to pursue the Fellowship, and looking back, it was perhaps one of the best decisions of my life.”&�Բ�����;

2020 marks one decade of YIF. His advise to prospective students: “YIF is a place where you will each have your own tryst with such dimensions of human knowledge and perspectives that are incredibly interesting, yet probably remained elusive to you so far. You will begin to observe such nuances in the workings of the anthropogenic infrastructure, be it material or abstract, which you did not know even existed, or which many of you previously considered blunt consequences of the flaws in the human design. YIF will give you space to mentally expand your understanding of the world at your own rate, and in academic streams of your own choosing. It will elevate you to challenge what you previously accepted as conventional wisdom in areas ranging from art, to economy, to literature, to politics to mathematical reasoning and beyond. 

YIF is one place I know where you would have the opportunity to confront your own mental construction with which you have operated in the world and perceived its events, and via healthy discussions/debates, will receive the tools to chisel it as and where you see fit, or even entirely recast, while also learning from and influencing the vast pool of talent in your cohort. And all this would be in addition to extraordinary learning opportunities from the stellar faculty at Ashoka.”&�Բ�����;

He is not just a brilliant scientist but also a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, which was just conferred to him by the Japan Karate Association which is the global authority in this domain!    

We have come almost to the end of our conversation. Peeyush paused for a moment to thank Ashoka. 

"Ashoka helped me develop the ability to fearlessly question everything under the sun that I consider worth questioning." 

“Ashoka instilled in me an understanding that to make societal improvements, it is important to engage in constructive dialogues on issues even at the expense of one’s own comfort. However, I understand that this is easier said than done for most individuals including my own self. Ashoka gave me the inner strength and conviction to pursue this line of thought unyieldingly." 

Dr. Peeyush Khare, an alumnus of the Young India Fellowship has recently completed his Ph.D. and has now moved to the Paul Scherrer Institute/ETH in Switzerland where he will be performing laboratory experiments and investigations to tackle the air pollution problem in select Indian megacities as part of a formal scientific collaboration between the two countries. You can know more about him and his work . 

51���

Edunify – Ashoka alumnus’ EdTech startup makes school admissions easy by bringing all stakeholders together at the click of a button

Finding the right school for their children is always an uphill task for parents. From doing extensive research online to taking time off from work to visit schools physically, to filling up the applications and  providing necessary documents, the challenges are many for the parents. And with Coronavirus, things have become even harder this year. But almost like a ray of hope, comes Edunify!  

Talking about the inspiration behind founding Edunify, Harsh said, “Back in 2017, my partner, Yousuf and I had started an ERP company to help local businesses, including schools in Sitapur and Lucknow, file GST returns and manage their accounts. It was something that a lot of businesses were struggling with, due to the introduction of GST in India. While working with schools, we got to witness the problems that they faced firsthand, especially with the admission process.”&�Բ�����;

They realised that there was a dire need for a reform through digitisation of the application system.  

Harsh continued, “A majority of school management processes were manual and required a lot of physical effort and labour. On the other hand, parents ended up making repeated trips to multiple schools for admissions and had to stand in long queues.”&�Բ�����; 

And, this led to the idea of Edunify.  

The three of them held multiple discussions with schools and parents to understand the pain-points with the admission process. After settling all these, in January 2019, they launched the web platform  which was conceptualised as a scalable and straightforward solution to these problems.   

So what exactly does Edunify do, curious, I asked Harsh, still in need of some more clarity.  

He replied, “At Edunify, we help schools get digitised and increase their admissions by connecting them to prospective applicants online. Our web platform Uniform Application is India's largest school discovery and admissions platform with over 1.2 lakh schools listed on our website and 3.5 lakh+ parent visitors monthly. We are bootstrapped and profitable since the day 1. We have presence in 7+ cities including Lucknow, NCR, Dehradun and have partnered with eminent schools in the country such as La Martiniere College, The Asian School, Ecole Globale International School and Lucknow Public Schools, among many others.”&�Բ�����;  

Their platform Uniform Application is the primary offering of Edunify. It helps parents connect with schools online and enables them to select the best-fit school for their children. The platform acts as a matchmaker between a school and a parent. 

Harsh added, “Every month lakhs of parents come to Uniform Application to find the best schools for their children from across the country. Parents then put in their enquiries or apply for admission. We connect these parents to our partner schools in the cities we are operating in, depending upon which school fits their children the best.”&�Բ�����; 

Their business model is also pretty simple and of course, user friendly. Harsh said, “Our platform is free of cost for parents to find, search, compare and apply to various schools. We partner with schools and charge them for promotions, advertisements and connecting them with prospective parents to increase their admissions.”&�Բ�����;

During the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, when most startups have struggled to keep afloat, Edunify has managed to keep it up and running. I was surprised to learn this and naturally asked Harsh. He said, “While the pandemic did initially impact our operations, we were quickly able to bounce back from it when we realised there was a lot of confusion in terms of the admission process.  

During the COVID-19 lockdown, we helped both parents and schools navigate the admission process. Schools couldn't take applications offline so they transitioned online through our platform. Counselling was also conducted for parents who were uncertain about their child's future. We facilitated admissions worth Rs.4.5 crores for our partner schools during the lockdown by connecting parents with the right schools online.” Harsh was naturally beaming with pride. 

They are now planning to expand to 12+ cities and partner with 200+ schools by 2021. Their long-term vision is to become the go-to platform for all educational needs of parents and schools across the country and then expand their footprint internationally. 

Their work has been featured in many national media including ,  and , among others.

While we were almost at the end of our interview, Harsh paused for a while when the discussion turned towards Ashoka and the support he received from the Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE). 

“The Centre has helped me since the early days when I was an undergraduate student at the University and was working on my idea, while pursuing my studies. I received regular mentorship from the Centre and worked on my startup as part of the Entrepreneurship Capstone Project. After graduating I was incubated as part of the Entrepreneur-in-Residence programme which provided regular mentorship and guidance throughout Edunify’s growth journey and needless to say, this has been of tremendous help. For startups, guidance is as important as the financial support and I am just so glad I got that from my own university”- Harsh. 

Ashoka alumnus Harsh Karamchandani with two of his other partners Mohammad Yousuf and Haroon Beg, founded Edunify in Lucknow in October 2018 and since then, they are bringing reforms in the admission process. 

51���

Ashoka alumna wins New York Academy of Sciences’ Tracking Coronavirus Challenge

The announcement went live and simultaneously Esha received an email which adjudged the winner of the (NYAS) . Visibly elated, while wishes kept pouring in, Esha sat down for the interview. 

I asked how she was feeling and a thrilled Esha said, “I feel overwhelmed. I didn’t expect this, of course – not at any point throughout the process. It started out just as an opportunity to channel my energy towards something meaningful. The feeling hasn’t sunk in! It’s been over 2 weeks and I still haven’t been able to soak this up. I am hoping it will soon.”&�Բ�����;

The Challenge asked participants to design an effective syndromic surveillance network to better understand the current pandemic and/or prevent future Coronavirus outbreaks.  

Esha explained, “A syndromic surveillance network is one that is integrated well enough into society to be able to predict viral outbreaks before they happen and expand. We were given existing coronavirus-related data sets as well as access to other resources to better understand syndromic surveillance.”&�Բ�����; 

The Challenge began on May 08, 2020, with 60 teams participated from around the world. For round 1, everyone had to submit an executive summary and a presentation of their solution. From this pool of 60, 10 were shortlisted for a live pitch event with NYAS’ panel of judges. Each team was given 7 minutes to present, and then an additional 3 minutes for Q&A. The pitch event ended with a live audience poll where people who tuned in could vote for their favorite solutions. The team with the most votes got an additional 2 points for their final evaluation, and the second team got an additional 1 point.  

But Esha didn’t get any of the additional points! 

She said, “I went with the simplest solution I could think of and put all my time into making sure that it was premised on provable correlations, and then put in more time to make sure I was explaining it in the most concise yet accurate manner possible. When I was shortlisted, it was already more than I expected. Everything since then was just bonus.”&�Բ�����;

Additionally, the teams who were in the finals with her were mostly Master’s' and Ph.D. students specialising in Medicine or Public Health from all over the world. “I stood out against formally trained students, researchers, and academics, which is something I particularly cherish,” said Esha.
 

And it got even better!  

Esha did not have a formal STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) training and yet she won, thanks to her sheer perseverance.

But what made her apply to the Challenge in the first place? Esha said, “When I was in high school, my mother introduced me to The Junior Academy – a programme by NYAS. The Academy is a community of students, mentors, and leaders who are constantly trying to find solutions to the world’s STEM-related problems. I applied, and I got in. 

I then participated in The Academy’s Winter 2017 Public Health Challenge, which was to create an Ebola Survivor Observation System that could help survivors regulate their post-syndrome symptoms before they became detrimental. It was a team challenge, and we were the winning team. At the time, I was still pursuing a few STEM subjects.”&�Բ�����; 

Esha has always held a deep interest in and appreciation for STEM.  

She said, “I was originally going to major in Physics before switching to English and Media Studies.”&�Բ�����;  

So, what inspired her to participate was her very desire to dip her feet into the STEM arena again. She was more focused on the innovation part than the technicalities. The Challenge was about the same, too.  

Her solution SYNSYS is a syndromic surveillance system designed for the public and private healthcare sectors. The system exclusively uses public domain data in this iteration: from Google Trends, census data, and satellite data. These data sets and visualisations can be analysed and used to predict outbreaks before they happen, as well as compute high-risk areas so as to prepare resources and deploy them effectively.  

The system is split into two implementations: pre-emptive, and combatant. The pre-emptive system takes into consideration data from Google Trends. This works under the assumption that a majority of people are more likely to self-medicate if they fall ill and thus will want to search for their symptoms online to know what over-the-counter medication they should take. Any abnormalities or variances that are detected in real-time by the system will be flagged for analysis and scrutiny. This system will be able to detect an outbreak weeks before official diagnoses. 

The combatant system takes into consideration traffic and population density data from satellites. This works under the assumption that during the early phases of an outbreak, people will continue to operate per usual, and thus will travel and gather per usual. The information gained from traffic and population density numbers will be able to identify hot-spots and common travel routes, therefore allowing the delineation of high-risk zones. Resources can then be deployed efficiently to tackle the virus in those zones, not allowing it to spread further. 

Esha said, “This system provides a very sustainable and scalable approach to the problem of insufficient syndromic surveillance systems. It can be developed further to take into account flight and train data, private domain data from hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, as well as absenteeism data. ”&�Բ�����;

So what is her message to the prospective applicants for the Challenge, especially those who don't have any formal STEM training?  “

What I have found is that to tackle challenges like this one, what you need more than technical expertise is an interest in the challenge topic. When you are interested in solving the problem, it doesn't matter where your formal training lies, because you can use the techniques you have picked up over the years to critically engage with the challenge question in your own way,” Esha said. 

And there is no correct way to approach a problem, as long as you understand the problem - so that is where you should focus.

What an inspiring thing to say! 

For her solution, Esha is currently looking for ways to develop it into a working programme. She said, “The resources it requires are substantial, not to mention the technical expertise required to actually develop it.”&�Բ�����; 

We reached out to the New York Academy of Sciences about Esha and they were all praise for her. 

"Esha competed with teams made up of young people with training in public health and epidemiology. Esha, instead, drew upon a wide variety of other knowledge and skills to develop a strong solution to our Tracking Coronavirus Challenge. This shows the value of interdisciplinary approaches in problem-solving. We are very happy to have engaged with Esha over the last several years. With a variety of STEM programmes, the Academy is working to support bright and ambitious students like her. We wish Esha great success as she continues her studies. And we look forward to her continued association with the New York Academy of Sciences. "

- Chenelle Bonavito Martinez; Vice President STEM Talent Programs. 

We were about to wrap up the interview, Esha paused for a while. She is thankful to Ashoka for the platform and the interdisciplinary education the University has provided to her. She said, “Ashoka helped me primarily through its curriculum. I have taken 100-level Physics classes, STEM foundation courses, and a 100-level Chemistry class during my time here. 

During Monsoon 2019, I took a Media Studies course by Professor Maya Mirchandani called Disinformation, Rumor, and Propaganda in the Digital Age. We had a module on data extraction and mining, introduced by Professor Debayan Gupta from the CS Department, and how we could use those techniques to better engage critically with journalistic narratives.  

So STEM involvement hasn't just been limited to STEM classes - it's been pervasive through other departments as well. I think that's been the largest contributing factor from Ashoka: the fact that practices from all departments kind of flow together and blend with each other." 

She believes that all of this has been possible thanks to the liberal and interdisciplinary curriculum that Ashoka offers, and it makes her really happy to call this university her Alma Mater. 

Come January 2021, she will be heading to The New School in New York City for an MS in Media Management. “It’s a STEM-designated Master’s degree and I couldn’t be happier,” concluded Esha. 

Esha Datanwala is a recent graduate in English and Media Studies from Ashoka who did not have formal STEM training and yet provided a solution to the world’s deadliest pandemic.

To know more about her project, click .  

Esha has also been featured by NYAS.  to read the interview. 

51���

Twelve Ashoka students get selected for the prestigious Millennium Fellowship

Twelve students from 51��� have been selected for the prestigious  2020. The Fellowship, a collaboration between the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and Millennium Campus Network (MCN), is a semester-long leadership development programme that convenes, challenges, and celebrates student leadership for UN goals. MCN launched the Millennium Fellowship in 2013 and beginning in 2018, MCN and UNAI partnered to present the Millennium Fellowship, creating a robust global network of undergraduate leaders advancing UN goals.  

For the class of 2020, 15,000+ students applied from 1,400+ campuses across 135 nations. One of the toughest fellowships, only 80 campuses (just about 6%) were selected to host the Fellows for the Class of 2020.  I asked how they were all feeling given this was the first time Ashoka had been nominated. Looking at their excited faces, it felt the exhilaration never stopped. They were overwhelmed and humbled. Echoing the same, Naman Bhatnagar, pursuing Psychology and Entrepreneurship said,  

"It feels so empowering to be heard and to be recognised not for the weight of my past accomplishments but for the weight of what my team is trying to achieve. I am proud to be a torchbearer of Ashoka. I hope the next generations of Ashokans find it easier to spread our reach and impact even further."

 Nathan Narde, a prospective double major in PPE and Psychology agreed with Naman. "I am ecstatic to be selected for this coveted Fellowship and eager to convert the vision of my project to a reality,” he said.  For all of them, this has been a dream come true. Sanjay Sudarsan, second year in Political Science and International Relations, said, “I still cannot believe that I am a Millennium Fellow. I jumped in excitement when I read my acceptance email. I am definitely still overwhelmed by all the love and wishes that I have received from my friends and family.”&�Բ�����; Through the Fellowship they want to work towards their passion and make a change.  

“After a long time, I have felt a sense of unity with the like-minded people on campus. I am sure that through this Fellowship, I will be able to gain a platform in which I can contribute towards change in a sector that I am extremely passionate about education and inequality gap.” - Rohit Vasishta, Mathematics and Political Science major at 51���. 

Among them, Radhika Banerjee and Mohit Kumar have been selected as Campus Directors for the duration of the Fellowship. Radhika who is currently majoring in Psychology said, “I was extremely enthusiastic in applying but as the situation around the pandemic worsened, and it became apparent that we will not be on campus to execute our projects, I became nervous. My original project was to take place on ground and moving online thwarted those plans.”&�Բ�����; 

This is true for most members of the group. But, now that they have had some time to think through the situation, that they have started to realise what this opportunity actually means to them.  

"As a friend would put it, this is my infinity stone - a chance to step out of my comfort zone and address the issues I am passionate about. I am absolutely honoured to be a part of this Fellowship. Moreover, getting selected as the Campus Director for Ashoka just adds to my excitement and fuels my urge to give the Fellowship and our team my best.” - Radhika

They being the first batch of Ashoka getting recognised for the Fellowship has made the success even sweeter. Atishay Khanna, majoring in Political Science and International Relations exclaimed, “I always had the vision and conviction that dreams could be achieved. Ashoka has always inspired me to fulfil my goals. This is a great achievement for the University and proves what a top class university it is. This University has always made me realise my vision. It has given a direction to my life to make the goals and dreams a reality.”&�Բ�����; 

But also a lot of responsibilities falls upon them for being the torch-bearer for the next batches of students. Aishwarya Sunaad, pursuing Sociology and Anthropology, and Economics seemed to nod, “There's a sense of responsibility to leave a legacy and set an example for the succeeding cohorts; to build a culture of empathetic problem-solving.”&�Բ�����; 

“It's an uphill task to fulfil the commitments of the Fellowship. But, it is a task certainly worth taking on.”&�Բ�����;- Nathan

The Millennium Fellowship Class of 2020 virtual Town Hall took place on August 12, on the International Youth Day. Mohit who is majoring in History and International Relations, as the Campus Director for Ashoka, on behalf of the Class of 2020, was chosen to address the galaxy of guests from the United Nations and a 1000 fellows from around the world. He said, “I was overwhelmed no doubt. I shared my journey from my village to 51���, and how my personal experiences have helped me to take up the project for the betterment of my society. I welcomed all the fellows to make connections, share ideas, and strive for their solutions together to make bolder social impacts.”&�Բ�����; 

As Campus Directors, both Radhika and �Ѵdz󾱳�’s duties involve taking regular updates on the projects of other fellows, taking regular training sessions for the team, making sure that the team is well looked-after in terms of their wellbeing, maintaining contact with MCN and UNAI and ensuring that the programme functions seamlessly overall.  

Their projects 

From bio-diversity to education of the visually impaired to waste paper recycling to mental health to safe period alternatives – their projects are as diverse as they as individuals are.  

Like Atishay here who is working on cleaning the Asawarpur water body which is significantly big in size and if they succeed, it could change the lives of thousands of denizen in the area. On the other hand, Aishwarya will be working on a policy model for instituting waste paper recycling units in universities in India while Rohit will be focusing on driving the education for the visually impaired people through audio calls during the pandemic. Tanisha Singh, a prospective Biology major and Psychology minor is working on Kintsugi, a student-run club at Ashoka focusing on issues of mental health and well-being. Sanjay will be working on a project called MUNtutor, which falls under UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 of Quality Education and is offering public speaking, debating and Model UN workshops mainly catered to empower high-school students. Naman is working with a team of three students of Ashoka to provide a free telemedicine platform which connects volunteer doctors with at-risk migrant workers currently facing barriers to healthcare while Anjali Dalmia, majoring in Sociology and Environment Studies is providing alternate solutions to menstrual hygiene. For the Fellowship, she will be working on The Project Amara, which is an organisation she co-founded along with her friends in 2016, while still being in high school!  

Divya Akanksha T G, majoring in Biology will work on her project RePack which aims to make a strategy to urge companies to change their packaging processes (substitute non-biodegradable products with biodegradable ones) and help them with the pooling of research to transition. �鲹��󾱰첹’s primary project idea at the moment is to set up a mental health support group, for people who feel isolated during a pandemic. �����ٳ󲹲�’s project is based on the immersion of social media in our lives, especially, among school children and how this immersion has had a host of negative impact on us. Sowmya Vaidyanathan, majoring in Literature and Sociology said her project is related to UN SDG 15 of Life on Land. Known as the Mythical Trees Project, it will be an accessible, open source online list of native flora in India, and how each plant species mentioned is connected to myth, folklore, legends and/or history. �Ѵdz󾱳�’sproject ‘Sarathi: The Guide’ aims to transform society by providing the best possible inclusive and equitable quality education to the children of his community.  

Every one of them is an inspiration!  

Their passion towards their respective projects and for making the society a better place is contagious. They have always wanted to focus on these projects and many of them felt that the Fellowship might just be that window of opportunity they were waiting for.  

Their future aspirations lie in their interest, of course. Some of them want to work in the development sector while others want to get into academia, public policy, while some haven’t figured it out, yet. But one thing for sure, they are a passionate group of people who are ready to thrive, no matter how hard the circumstance is.    

As we have come to the end segment of the interview, I asked if they would like to share anything, to which every one of them jumped into the praise wagon for Ashoka! From helping them realise their dreams to helping them meet people (professors, guests lecturers, alumni, staff members) and horizon their network, but most of all, they are happy that Ashoka provided them the strong platform they needed to base their ideas upon.  

Twelve students and one extraordinary journey – to be change-makers in society. Ashoka congratulates each one of them for this stellar achievement!   

To understand the global impact of the Fellowship, . 

51���

The Project Amara: Ashoka student’s social impact initiative – Safe Period, Safe Environment

“Every year in India, approximately 432 million sanitary napkins are disposed of by 13% of the menstruating population. On the other hand, innumerable menstruating women and girls who cannot afford this, resort to using ash, leaves, used gauge and cotton, paper, wood, and even dirty cloth”, says Anjali Dalmia, co-founder of The Project Amara – an alternate solution to menstrual hygiene.   

Anjali has been fighting to help women transition to more sustainable products for a very long time. It’s amazing to see how well-versed and passionate she is about the cause. Four years ago when she was still in High School, with four of her friends (Surabhee Arjunwadkar, Sayuri Deokar, Aahana Mehta, and Reva Patwardhan), she started , at DriveChange Learning and Resource Centre (DLRC) in Pune, with the sole purpose of addressing the environmental hazards caused by sanitary napkins and at the same time alleviating taboos surrounding menstruation.  

“Information and education are a big part of this process. Sanitary napkins are subsidised for menstruating women and girls, but at the end of the day, it traps them in a toxic cycle promoting hazardous products which poison the earth and their bodies,” Anjali adds.   The Project Amara has been raising awareness about healthier and more sustainable menstrual products such as menstrual cups, cloth pads, and biodegradable pads. Anjali goes on, “Till date, we have conducted numerous sessions in villages, slums, offices, schools and universities like Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, DoorStepSchool, Deep Griha, Ruby Hall Hospital and many more.”&�Բ�����; 

Anjali has been a nature lover, from a very young age. Her parents run a sustainable, alternate on a mango farm. She grew up in several places and groomed herself in different schooling systems in Delhi, Singapore, Bali and Pune. Anjali says, “Growing up in that environment gave me so much perspective. It not just allowed me to learn about people and places but helped to value them. My time at Green School in Bali was the first time I was that close to nature. Both, my house and my school were made completely out of bamboo without any walls or windows. I spent my time climbing coconut trees and planting rice; watching spiders weave intricate webs and cleaning-up beaches and river banks. 

Living in Bali, I realised that we are all an integral part of this vast and beautiful ecosystem.”&�Բ�����; She appreciates little things in life. “And what more can one ask for if one is close to the Mother Nature? It humbled me and helped me be level-headed”, continues Anjali.  With a thinking prowess like this, she is inspiring!   

Why menstrual hygiene one might ask? Anjali calmly questions back, “If not menstrual hygiene, then what?”&�Բ�����; 

The Project Amara addresses the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 – ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’. Anjali continues, “This goal looks at resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and access to basic services and a better quality of life for all. It explores the idea of doing more with less.” Through its work of promoting sustainable menstrual products, teaching people how to create their own cloth pads, implementing changes at an administrative level to remove sanitary waste, holding global sessions, and making information available in several languages, The Project Amara directly addresses goals 12.4 (responsible management of chemicals and waste), 12.5 (substantially reduce waste generation), 12.7 (promote sustainable public procurement practices), and 12.8 (promote universal understanding of sustainable lifestyles). It also addresses SDG 5 (gender equality), making women more independent and self-sustaining.  

The Project Amara holds small, personalised sessions with 20-60 women at a time to ensure the topic can be spoken about in an intimate manner to create the most impact. Their sessions are conducted in several local languages depending on the audience. Sessions are usually an hour long and are held with all demographics, genders, and ages.  Anjali says,

“Our goal is not to preach to the participants, but to learn and grow together. It is always a two-way conversation and we listen as much as we teach. It is important to listen and understand first, before anything else. We try to help the menstruating women and girls become as self-reliable as possible, whether that is by teaching them how to make their own cloth pads, or through the use of the menstrual cup.”&�Բ�����; 

Pad distribution in Kothrud, Pune  

Now on a more serious question, I ask her how she manages the funding of the project. She says, “The bulk of our funding, especially for product donations, comes from crowd-source funding. We are currently in the process of registering the initiative and plan to partly fund this project through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds in the future. We also earn part of our money through commission from selling products in our sessions. However, it is important to note that we are brand agnostic, and only sell/promote a brand based on our research and usage experience.”&�Բ�����; 

And not just this, she is also a full-time undergraduate student. “When I am at Ashoka, I manage this project through weekly Zoom meetings with my co-founders and teammates. Those who are at Ashoka, we meet physically. I set aside 5 hours a week (around 1 hour a day) to work on The Project Amara’s outreach (I mainly head the Outreach and Marketing, as well as conduct sessions and develop new session content) and an additional 2 hours to conduct sessions. On campus, I have conducted sessions with the student body multiple times, and once with the housekeeping staff.”&�Բ�����; 

This interviewer is in awe of her dedication and passion!   Currently, they are holding Zoom sessions to reach as many people as possible despite the pandemic. Anjali continues, “With our incinerator overflowing from masks and disposable safely gear, reducing the amount of sanitary napkin waste is crucial.”&�Բ�����;  

The Project Amara founders are all smiles for the camera!  

I ask if she has had any help from her friends and peers at Ashoka and she is all praise for Ashoka and her friends here. She says, “Besides the co-founders, sixty per cent of the Amara team is composed of Ashoka students. They help us conduct sessions and even during this COVID-19 period when we have online sessions, they join us to conduct sections. 

The Ashoka community has also been a great help in translating our sustainable menstrual product booklet in more than 10 regional languages. They have covered languages from Assamese to Telugu to Punjabi. And lastly, the campus organisation Ruhi helped us organise the session with the housekeeping staff on campus, and Aishwarya (a third-year student who runs ‘Ordinaire’) helped us organise the session in Asawarpur village.”&�Բ�����; 

During the COVID crisis, The Project Amara had done incredible work. They are going to various urban slums in the city of Pune, and distributing free cloth pads and menstrual cups to the women. They are primarily reaching out to SWaCH workers who continue to collect garbage even during the lockdown. The women are also given a helpline number to call in case of emergencies/confusions and pamphlets written in Hindi and Marathi (including images to accommodate those who cannot read) to explain how to use the products to their neighbours. We go for these cloth pad distribution drives nearly twice a week.  “The drives are being funded through donations from friends and family, who helped us raise more than 1.2 Lakh Rupees within a span of 4 days”, says Anjali.  

Pad distribution during COVID-19 in Karve Nagar, Pune  

Anjali says, “While the families are already low in income and although they are receiving free sanitary pads right now, this supply will eventually be stopped and the women will need to continue buying them on their own, becoming a huge financial burden upon them. Reusable products will also ensure that the sanitary napkins are not becoming a health hazard for the community living in close quarters in labour camps. Without a garbage disposal system in these camps, wherever the synthetic sanitary napkins are being freely handed, they are clogging drains, creating hazardous waste, and posing a serious health risk to the entire community. And most importantly, this initiative will help all women gain access to dignified ways of managing their menstrual cycles. 

In the past, our initiative has reached over 2,000 women.”&�Բ�����; The Project Amara aims to grow as a movement across India as well as wants to have an international presence. They want to create a culture that is period-positive and make sustainable menstrual products equally accessible to everyone. 

 “Our goal is to bring about period parity in India and make it 100% sustainable and equitable in the long term”, mentions Anjali.  

The Project Amara has been featured in , , and  among many more.  Anjali is extremely passionate about ecology and environmental issues and hopes to work majorly on these in the future, both nationally and internationally. She also dreams to open a university focusing on society and environment in India.  She ends the interview by sharing an anecdote. “It was during one of the sessions we were conducting in Asawarpur village that I had the humblest of experience. It was a gathering at a local temple when women who participated finally understood that period was natural and not dirty. 

Breaking taboos one woman at a time has been exhilarating for us! These women form a close community and they loved the idea of making their own cloth pads and were even curious about the menstrual cup! This resonates strongly with the belief of The Project Amara, that sustainability is not a privileged concept, and that sustainable menstrual products are for everyone.”&�Բ�����; Anjali Dalmia is a second-year Sociology major at 51��� who is providing alternate solutions to menstrual hygiene through The Project Amara. 

51���

YIF alumna wins prestigious 2020 Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The phone hasn’t stopped ringing and congratulatory messages keep flowing in for Kritika who has just received the news that she has been adjudged the global winner for the 2020  (CSSP). The CSSP is awarded annually for best unpublished short fiction in English or fiction that has been translated from Bengali, Chinese, French, Greek, Kiswahili, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan, Tamil and Turkish. The Prize aims to identify talented writers who go on to inspire their communities, and also develop literary connections worldwide.  

The award is a testament to her as a writer. She is overwhelmed and humbled. I ask her if the feeling has sunk in and Kritika says, ‘Winning the award is the best, most surreal thing that has ever happened to me. It has reinforced my old and beautiful relationship with writing in all kinds of ways. And, I still cannot believe that my short story was chosen from around 5000 short stories!”&�Բ�����; 

Writing is an adventure for Kritika. And, there is no surprise that the Pushcart-nominated writer always wanted to be a writer. Kritika echoes the noted Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie and exclaims, “I am one of those annoying people who always knew what she wanted to be - a writer!”&�Բ�����; 

She didn’t realise when she actually started walking on that path.  

She continues, “I was a text magnet since I learnt how to read. I wanted to read anything and everything I could get my hands on. And when I began to write, I learnt that writing is sheer discovery. Oftentimes we don’t know what we will write until we write it. That was it. I decided that I wanted that sense of adventure to last forever.” Kritika reminisces how she used to lock herself in one room and stare at the computer screen for hours in the hope of a powerful story that would at the end be worthwhile.  

Over the years Kritika has been influenced and inspired by many writers but her current favourite is Clarice Lispector. She was a Brazilian-Ukrainian writer who wrote in Portuguese. Kritika says, “I have read many of her work translated by Katrina Dodson. Lispector is one of the most fascinating thinkers ever, in my opinion.”&�Բ�����; 

She was shortlisted twice for the CSSP (in 2016 and 2018) and this win has been exhilarating. Her unpublished work  talks about a young Hindu woman who falls in love with a Muslim man and is caught up in religious and communal intolerance. Talking about her work, Kritika says, “This story is my response to the deeply polarised political climate in the subcontinent. It pains me to not really be able to recognise India as the country that I grew up in. There is only so much that I can do, as an individual and an artist, but it is my responsibility to do everything in my capacity to contribute to our collective struggle as a nation.”&�Բ�����;

She pauses for a moment on the other side of the Zoom interview.   

Her message to writers and students who want to make it big in the literary field is short and simple. “The only way to become a writer is to keep writing.”&�Բ�����;She has followed this mantra throughout her life. Kritika continues, “This has personally worked for me. I feel no number of craft lectures or books by fellow writers are useful when you have a blank page before you. You have to figure it out on your own.”&�Բ�����; 

Another important thing that she does is to keep herself grounded and often gives herself a reality check.  

“I always tell myself not to think that writers are the most important people in the world. They are not. They have one way of looking at the world and there are a million other ways to do so. In other words, I constantly remind myself: don’t romanticise what you do or who you are,” says Kritika.  

Echoing that, she further adds how the immediate responses from her closed ones have made her stay grounded. “My sister reads everything I write and she gives me great feedback but other than that, most of my family is thrilled that I have won the award but that’s about it. This has made me realise that many people will read my work and say good or bad things about it but many also won’t really care. And you know what, it is okay.  In fact, it is absolutely liberating to know that. It helps me not take myself too seriously.”&�Բ�����; 

She further adds, “It is because of having grown up in a nonliterary family that when I first started reading works of the great Russian writer Anton Chekhov, no one told me that I was reading one of the greatest writers of short fiction in history. I think the most genuine engagement with writers and writing happens when we de-sensationalise them.”&�Բ�����; 

While talking about this, I refer to one  of hers where she has talked about how she hopes this award would help "more people trust their daughters and their dreams” and what she would like to say to young women who are dreaming to make it big, Kritika says, “To all the young women out there, don’t pay attention to Netflix’s category called ‘Strong Female Lead’. If you are a woman then you are inevitably strong because strength is our basic survival mechanism.”&�Բ�����; 

Kritika is an inspiration to many in the world. Her eloquence and thought prowess is incredible but what is probably most likeable is her quest to cement her mark in the literary world and also her childlike honesty. “I am working on my first novel. And I cannot wait to finish it! But I don’t know how to finish writing a novel as I have never done it before. But hopefully, I will soon figure it out,” she says excitedly.  

Kritika was part of the third batch of the Young India Fellowship (YIF) and it was at YIF and Ashoka that she began to articulate her thoughts, her belief system, and her opinions and in her words “even my sense of self, as it were”. She is all-praise for Ashoka and Madhavi Menon, Professor of English who has personally mentored Kritika. “At Ashoka, I also met mentors such as Madhavi Menon -- a woman I greatly respect and love.”&�Բ�����; 

She says, “I had grown up in an obscure city with limited exposure to the Humanities. And then, all at once, I was somewhere in South Delhi, learning sociology from the noted sociologist Andre Beteille. My world suddenly opened up, you know. I finished grad school two months ago at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. But I know for a fact that, thanks to YIF, I will remain a student and ask questions for the rest of my life.”&�Բ�����; 

As we have come to the end of the interview, I ask if she would like to add anything else and Kritika says, “I want to end it with a quote of Clarice Lispector ‘she went on thinking, she understands life because she is not sufficiently intelligent to not understand it.’”

51���

YIF alumnus steps up in response to COVID-19

Parushya is from the fourth batch of the Young India Fellowship (YIF). Since March, he has made remarkable contributions towards COVID-19 relief measures by working with the Delhi Government. His work has helped to establish over 400 relief centres, which have provided ration to approximately 10 lakh people. He has also worked on a collaboration with Google to release a customised map with the locations of all relief centres across Delhi. He is also currently working with a taskforce for raising funds to tackle malnutrition in children from underprivileged backgrounds. His work with the Government is voluntary. 
Here is his story. 

What is he doing?

The start of the COVID-19 lockdown in India almost immediately led to a mass migration of labor from cities towards villages and towns. Research shows that less than 3 per cent of the migrants surveyed in Lucknow and Delhi have ration cards registered in the cities. A lack of food security coupled with the fear of hostile treatment and inhospitable living conditions prompted them to flee the towns they work in.  Parushya watched from his home as the Delhi Government did its best to mitigate the ill-effects caused by the announcement. The Government mobilised a network of 1,500 food delivery points, initiated ration schemes, and established over 60 additional relief shelters. He recognised the many ways that help was still needed and how someone with his background could contribute to these relief efforts.  A former colleague inducted Parushya into the Hunger Relief Team led by the Advisor to the Deputy CM. The team uses existing research on urbanisation to inform responses to different aspects of the current crisis. This is done through mapping and need-assessment.  

How is it being done?

Mapping public data sources essentially entails releasing information on emergency relief services in an easily accessible form. The map helps streamline last-mile delivery of cooked food and has been used by civil society organisations and the general public. People can also search for the nearest night and food shelters which has been incredibly helpful in coordinating relief efforts over helplines. The team further uses this data to model future relief work. This involves creating a flexible list of facilities available for the expansion of emergency relief measures. When the Government broadened its initiatives to provide dry ration to non-ration cardholders, it also became crucial to identify temporary distribution centres in the vicinity of beneficiaries. Parushya worked to create a proximity model that identified 400 schools which were within two kms of high demand areas. As recently announced by the Delhi CM, these schools have provided ration to approximately 10 lakh people. Extremely modest, Parushya constantly asks for it to be highlighted that the highest credit for this remains with frontline workers, administration, and volunteers working on ground. 

The Fellowship

Having graduated with a degree in civil engineering, the YIF was Parushya’s first leap into the social sciences. Engineering, according to him, did a good job of providing solutions – but did not teach one how to spot problems in the first place. A liberal arts environment was an ideal place to learn the latter. During the YIF, he worked on expanding his knowledge of the development sector. Additionally, he was also a Teaching Assistant for several courses, including Urbanisation taught by Prof. Partha Mukhopadhyay. “The opportunity to use my academic experience in studying the various facets of urbanisation and apply the learnings to an actual problem faced by the system is very rewarding,” he says. 

What next?

Parushya has also recently been commissioned into a taskforce established by the Delhi Government to tackle problems related to nutrition in children from socio-economically weaker backgrounds. During this crisis, many have been deprived of their regular sources of nutrition. The six-member team is working to ensure that government-approved NGOs have the necessary funds and resources to tackle this gap. Here too, his need-assessment and mapping skills are proving to be invaluable.  Several organisations and governments across states have replicated the mapping exercise. Chennai and Bengaluru, for example, have had their facilities mapped and released in the public domain. Google has also integrated their work directly into Google Maps – from where it can be accessed by everyone. Can an initiative like this become a best practice for crisis control in the future? “It’s too soon to tell,” Parushya says.  But people like him, working round-the-clock, intend to do the best they can to ensure that no one is left behind. 

Read more here:

51���

Ashoka student wins gold in international martial arts tournament

It was a very tough game. I participated in the World Silambam Championship, 2019, in Kuala Lampur in September in both the individual and group (with my team) categories. We won the gold in group performance. I won in the individual category, and was also declared the overall best player of the tournament. With over 30 teams participating from India (primarily Tamil Nadu), all states of Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the competition included some very experienced artists. 

I practice Silambattam, a form of martial arts. It is primarily a stick fight but ancient wartime weapons can also be used. However, my group and I, use only sticks, and the fight is typically demonstrated as a piece of performance at such tournaments. It is a very intense form of martial arts though.

Given that my group was in Madurai, where I grew up, and I was at Ashoka, we would send each other videos, improvise, and continue to fine-tune the performance on a daily basis. Performances have to be well-scripted and rehearsed to perfection. 

I have been practicing martial arts for eleven-and-a-half years now. I have been trained at the Simashan Institute of Martial Arts in Madurai and under Dr M Shahul Hamid. It is thanks to his coaching I have reached where I have.  When I started people thought I was just a soft spoken classical dancer who couldn’t handle martial arts, which requires bravery. My coach helped bring out the brave girl inside me. Even though he is very demanding, being a professor himself, he also has a very clear focus on academics for his students.

I chose the Young India Fellowship (YIF) as I thought it would really broaden my perspective. After completing my graduation from Lady Doak College and Mary Baldwin College (for six months) in the US, I had a quest to learn more, to upgrade myself in all ways possible. That is when I came across the YIF and after going through the course materials and approach, I knew this was the right next step for me.

After coming here, I am even more convinced – it is a very intense course but provides a range of opportunities. It is about the people and what we learn from each other beyond books, which makes it so unique. We get to know peers from various academic backgrounds, various performing arts backgrounds, who come together to collaborate, deliberate, and learn from each other. And everyone has a burning desire to contribute to society. If we allow this programme to transform us, it will prepare us for life.

Despite the intensity of the programme, I could continue with my martial arts. This is because of the faith Ashoka has in its students and the support it provides. The sports teacher was flexible enough to allow me to practice till 2 a.m. when required. I don’t know if all institutions would be so accommodative.

I am also a classical dancer and started learning Bharatnatyam as a child. I perform for academics at Ashoka every week as the curriculum allows for grades based on performance. I learn, internalise and demonstrate through performance. I never imagined I could have developed and performed dance pieces depicting Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophies.

I am also a Tamil folk dancer. In fact, my choreography has been incorporated by Mary Baldwin University – if a student takes a World Rhythm Dance class at the University, he/she needs to take a test on my choreography.

Ashoka made me realise that martial arts is a way of life. Earlier, I thought martial arts had to be practiced only 2-3 hours a day. But now I incorporate the philosophy in my life here. In an intense course, it is very important to prioritise. Just as in martial arts, you decide about where to attack the opponent and where not to, similarly, I have learnt how to utilise my time well – what to go behind, and what to let go, which battles to pick, and which to avoid. The need to focus, which martial arts teaches, makes more sense to me after coming to Ashoka.

After completing the YIF, I want to focus on preparing for the civil service examination. As well as work more with my NGO. I currently run a small outfit in Madurai where we go to multiple schools and orphanages in rural Tamil Nadu, using the money won in martial arts competitions, to help students understand arts beyond their education and books. We conduct workshops and competitions to motivate them and, in particular, the girls to help them move beyond self-limiting ideas. 

Sangeetha Nagarajan is a current Young India Fellow at 51���.

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Ashoka student research making internet snooping-free

I decided to focus on cyber security given the current gaps in the system. I began my research on this technology for my thesis as part of the Ashoka Scholar Programme in 2017-18. I wanted to explore how blockchain technology could be used for identity verification of websites and reduce snooping. 

Currently, the protocol widely used to secure communication over the internet is SSL/TSL certification. This basically means that when the “HTTPS” connection appears in the URL of a website, it has been secured through acquiring an SSL certificate. For instance bank websites would be certified. 

The issue, however, is that SSL certificates are issued by a third-party referred to as Certificate Authorities (CAs), and if a CA is compromised, this can lead to fraud. Once a browser accepts a malicious certificate, the information sent over that connection can be manipulated by the attacker. A well known recent incident is the issuance of fake certificates by the famous Dutch Certificate Authority DigiNotar in 2011 affecting internet giants such as Google, Microsoft, Twitter, and some governments too.

During my literature review on this topic, I came across Certificate Transparency – a potential solution developed by Google, currently applicable to browsers like Google Chrome. However, as we dug deeper, my thesis mentor Prof. Mahavir Jhawar and I identified that the measure developed by Google was reactive, coming into action only after fake certificates had been issued. 

We, instead, wanted to find a pre-emptive solution, which also gave website owners absolute control of certificate issuance, completely eradicating the possibility of single point failure of a CA. 

This led us to leverage blockchain technology to solve this problem. 

Why Blockchain? This is because in simple terms, blockchain is an immutable distributed ledger (list of records or transactions). By design, the information that is recorded on blockchain cannot be tampered with. Blockchain technology is decentralised in nature – there is no single authority in this system with no single point of failure. 

Using blockchain technology to solve the problem at hand meant understanding this technology in detail, along with developing a blockchain application as the solution (protocol). This was a huge learning curve for me, and coupled with developing a new protocol, seemed very challenging. 

However, with constant support from my mentor(s) at Ashoka, setting milestones at every step, and breaking the task into sub-tasks, I was able to accomplish my goal for the thesis. The protocol I developed was a working prototype of the approach on IBM’s Hyperledger Fabric (blockchain platform).

My first experience giving an academic presentation outside a classroom at a professional conference was a game changer. After I graduated in May 2018, I continued to work on the CTB (Certificate Transparency using Blockchain) project with my mentor. Once our work had reached a reasonable stage, we submitted it to an international conference in Singapore (November, 2018) and the paper was accepted.

I was intimidated at the beginning given the average age of researchers at the conference – most were doctoral students, post-docs and professors. There were a few postgraduate students. However, once I settled in, my presentation went very well. It was a great experience and a brilliant opportunity to gain comments from the blockchain community to further develop the research. I also had the opportunity to meet pioneers in the blockchain industry, including those who built the IBM Hyperledger Fabric. 

Getting funding from Hyperledger was a huge step and we have currently hired interns to work on this technology further. Once fine-tuned, implementation would be the next step. Hyperledger is an umbrella project of open-source blockchain platforms started by Linux Foundation with the support of companies like IBM, Intel, Cisco, VMWare. We applied for the , which provided funding to hire intern(s), and received it. I have had an incredible opportunity to mentor our interns to further work on the prototype and develop it into a fully fledged application. It has been really exciting to see the project grow and I am hoping that in the next few months, we would have an application that is deployable at scale. 

(To read further about our solution:  (CTB))

I currently work as a Software Engineer at a startup – Amuse Labs, located in Bangalore. I primarily work on PuzzleMe, an online platform for ‘Knowledge Games’ such as Crosswords, Sudoku and Word Search. Working in production at Amuse Labs has helped me understand software development, which has also deepened my understanding of blockchain development further.

I also decided to be a Teaching Assistant at Ashoka when I heard about the new course on Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies that Prof. Jhawar was offering. Teaching demanded that I further pick up new technologies as I had to have an idea of the platforms that students were using to build projects. While shuttling between Bangalore and NCR was stressful, it was also extremely gratifying. This wouldn’t have been possible without the great support I got from my team at Amuse Labs.

Ashoka opened up new horizons for me. From being part of the resident life team at Ashoka to every course project I worked on, it has been a hugely enriching experience for me. Most importantly, being a part of the founding undergraduate batch was a unique experience. There was always something to learn at every stage and from every interaction I had at Ashoka. I could not have achieved any of my research milestones without the kind of mentoring I received from my professors and the support I had from the university as a whole. 

Deva Surya Vivek Madala is the Ashoka alumnus who developed technology for making internet snooping free as part of his undergraduate research. 

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Ashweetha Shetty, Ashoka Alum speaks at TEDWomen 2018 in California, USA

As a girl in a poor orthodox community in a south Indian village, Ashweetha Shetty was constantly told that her birth was not celebrated and that she would be a liability to her family. The social norms prescribed for her identity silenced her dreams, thoughts and aspirations. But through the power of education, she became a first-generation graduate and had a chance to rewrite the possibilities for her life.

Click  to know more.

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From a village in Kalimpong to summer abroad in Paris

I am assuming that those of you who have heard or been to Darjeeling or Sikkim have probably heard of my town Kalimpong. But I am pretty positive that no one has heard of Durpin Gompa which is my village. It is about 60 households small and seated on a hilltop. In fact, my house sits right where the tip of the hill ends, next to a Buddhist monastery. Once a year that I get to go home, I witness a different world. I find a galaxy of time in a day to help my mother run errands and the small tuck shop that we’ve had since I was born, and stillhave plenty of time to staying idle. But that kind of laidback manner works for me because I have a two-way ticket. I am at home only for at best three months.

I grew content in the cradle of the mountains and the hills surrounding my village, in tune with the lullaby of my people, my friends, and my school close by. Moving out of that comfort unveiled the world for me. I came to see how I had grown too comfortable there. Too accustomed to it! It was 2006 when I was selected by an NGO to study in good schools at Dehradun, that I found an opportunity to be go further in my academic pursuit. I come from a place where going out of the town is still a significant deal, where schooling or even college for that matter risk being reduced to mere formalities - more out of routine than out of will. In fact, when I was in my 10th grade trying hard to make it to an International Baccalaureate school in Kolkata, I learnt that my best friend, whom I had fiercely competed with for the first position up to grade 3, failed his 10th grade because of bad company. Till day, I keep wondering how he would have turned out if he had received the same opportunities that I had started getting at the age of 11 - the year that I left for Dehradun for the first time. It’s not only him. It took my own sister two decades after I did, to leave home for the first time to go to Bengaluru.

Though I am four years younger than her, I had seen city life before her: Two years each of Kolkata and Delhi by college time. In fact, one of the reasons why 51��� appealed to me was its access to the city when my university guidance counselor first introduced it to me. A university close to city meant that my stories would still be of an interest back home like it was when I was in Kolkata. It meant that they could continue to imagine that my life here, close to the city, was telling of the fact that I was doing good and would eventually find more opportunities for even better things.

Fortunately, I did them proud. I was able to realize one of my aspirations last year. Around May, I met Vineet Gupta, former Pro Vice Chancellor of 51��� regarding the summer abroad programme. We met in his office and I told him I had got in to Sciences Po Paris summer school and had nearly all my visa procedures completed. But that I was one big step away from the making summer school happen - the fees. That was what the meeting had been for. My thoughts, before the start of the meeting, took me back to when I was applying for Ashoka and colleges abroad. I might have had an IB diploma with fair grades and CV to get into a decent US college, but I did not have the finances to take university education for granted. Two years ago, the full scholarship Ashoka offered me had made that seem possible. So, waiting outside his office that day, I was clinging onto a similar sense of hope for the university’s support.

The university kept its promise to me.  On 29 June, 2016, I took off for Sciences Po, Paris. I attended the summer programme and shared a lively class with a Singaporean, a Master’s student working at PwC London from Brazil, a philosophical French Moroccan, a shy Indonesian and quite a significant number friendly Mexicans and diligent Chinese. And Professor Dr. Sharbanou Tadjbaksh, was simply put, inspirational.

People back home were proud and curious to enquire how I had spent my days, the places I visited, the transport system, the weather. In other words, things which may appear seemingly mundane to us but of great interest to them. But I knew why. They were living abroad through me, in those briefs minutes of our conversation. They were glad I was both living and surpassing what they had imagined for me.

Therefore, I am sharing this story of mine today for a special reason: I become the epitome of possibilities for youngsters from far off places and they start enquiring about liberal arts and why universities would even be interested in sending students abroad under full scholarship. They grow more confident about leaving the town with a purpose to study and succeed. They start to take away bits of my story to graft their own dreams on it.

The writer is an undergraduate student at 51���.

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