(February 10, 2024) Dressed in a white outfit and traditional Gandhi topi, an army of about 5000 dabbawallas push through every nook and corner of Mumbai to satiate the hunger of over 200,000 Mumbaikars daily with home-cooked food for 125 years. This very lifeline of Mumbai inspired a Mumbaikar, who is now settled in London, to start DabbaDrop – London’s first plastic-free, waste-free and emissions-free takeaway. In just five years, co-founders Anshu Ahuja and Renee Williams have saved 2,03,370 plastic containers and prevented 2,500 kg of food waste from going into landfills through DabbaDrop.
“In the past few years, people have started ordering a lot, thanks to the arrival of food delivery apps. After having that food, we end up with a bin full of plastic. The packaging is very wasteful and greasy. You can’t recycle it. So, I wanted to find a better way to order in,” the Global Indian said in an interview.
Renee Williams and Anshu Ahuja
Zero wastage takeaway
Growing up in Mumbai with a Tamilian mother and a Punjabi father, food remained a big part of Anshu’s life. As a teenager whenever she stepped out to try some food, she would end up recreating the same in her kitchen upon her return. “This way I could continue to taste the flavours.”
However, after moving to London and working a high-pressure job as a TV producer, she would often end up ordering food. But the options for vegetarian food were very limited and the food always arrived in plastic containers. Keen to find a better way, she quit her 15-year-long stint in TV production to start Dabba Drop. It began with her reproducing her family’s recipes, packing them in reusable metal tiffin or dabbas, and delivering it by bike in the nearby areas of Hackney. She texted a handful of friends about the idea, and the first week saw six people ordering in, and later the number rose to 25. In just 18 months, DabbaDrop was feeding 300 people weekly across Hackney, Leyton and Walthamstow.
Eco-friendly delivery
One of her first messages landed in Renee William’s textbox, who was a restaurant event producer. Coming from New Zealand, she believes in nature and sustainability and instantly fell in love with the concept of DabbaDrop. “I loved the theatre of not knowing what was inside the dabba before I opened it, and the wholesome food and sustainability element really ticked all the boxes for me,” Renee said in an interview. In no time, the conversations between the two turned into how to make this idea bigger and better.
Offering healthy South Asian cuisine
They work on a flexible subscription-based system that allows people to sign up weekly or fortnightly, with a set menu for every week. They curate the mains, and customers can add the sides. “We cook all our dals, curries and subzi’s from scratch in our commercial kitchen, using 100% natural ingredients – vegetables, lentils, legumes, healthy fats, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Our handmade spice mixes are made fresh every week and everything is made in small batches,” reads their website. With DabbaDrop, Anshu and Renee wanted to introduce Londoners to Indian flavours and textures. “What we serve is not something that is easily available in a traditional Indian restaurant.”
“Our meals are vegan and South Asian. We want to follow the journey of the curry. This way, we are uncovering the history of Indians as they emigrated across the world,” added Anshu, who avoids wastage, thanks to pre-orders. The chefs cook for the exact amount of people who have ordered, as one dabba can easily serve two people.
The dabbas that serve meals from Japan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Kerala, Delhi, and Hyderabad are then mounted onto bicycles, e-bikes, and other emission-free vehicles for delivery in Zones 1-3 of London And the empty dabbas can be picked up during the next delivery. “We use everything that is reusable. We are constantly trying to improve our packaging. We want to leave a better planet for our kids,” added Anshu.
Dabbadrop has more than 2,000 subscribers and delivers food all over East London. They want to grow bigger in the future. They got £500,000 in their first funding round, which made the company worth £2.7 million. “We want to change the way London does take away,” said Anshu.
(October 4, 2021) An Indian girl is hoping to change the unbearable plight of being in Colorado - through leadership, mental health awareness, and as a voice against sexual harassment. Even though it has not been even sailing for Jeeva Senthilnathan, the 18-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, she has persevered. Today, as a global teen leader, game changer and leader for the community at Parker, Colorado, Jeeva continues to inspire. Winner of the Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO) STAR Scholarship, the National Honor Society Top 24 Scholarship (the only student from Colorado), and lauded by the Nile Rodger’s We Are Family Foundation, the introvert is an activist at heart . The girl who ran for Parker Town Council, and a former council member at one time is now focusing on helping Afghans in the US seek asylum, and getting them to register to vote. Among her most fulfilling endeavors, is starting Privando, an organization that works to solve the deep-seated malaise when it comes to sexual harassment and the rape crisis in India. She researched on mental health used electroencephalography (EEG) waves to identify cognitive abilities, levels of motivation, and consciousness in teenagers. Inspired by the emergency blue lights boxes used on
ation that works to solve the deep-seated malaise when it comes to sexual harassment and the rape crisis in India. She researched on mental health used electroencephalography (EEG) waves to identify cognitive abilities, levels of motivation, and consciousness in teenagers. Inspired by the emergency blue lights boxes used on university campuses to create a gadget that creates a network for women to receive help in life-threatening or unsafe situations, Jeeva tells Global Indian, “We mobilized young women in India from village huts to city slums to build a coalition that would not only fight against such incidents, but also create a private network for victims to heal. Privando has been able to obtain $5,000, and is currently working on developing wearable technology: it has saved more than 1,000 women from human trafficking.”
Rooted in India
Her mother, a microbiologist from Chennai, and father, a software developer from Vellore, immigrated to the US in 1998. From Ohio, to Illinois, and finally Colorado, the Senthilnathans were in search of a job for her mother. Learning how it was to be discriminated due to race and color, her “very White school” lacked diversity. She was bullied frequently, and unable to cope, she developed hypothyroidism in second grade, was on medication, and battled depression in sixth grade. “I was quiet, known as the ‘goody-two shoes’ in school. I wasn’t good at public speaking as I lacked confidence,” she says. Taking the challenge head on, she started debating through high school, regardless of the brickbats, sneers, and laughs. Now, the bespectacled girl’s gentle smile exudes wisdom, “I worked hard on issues I cared about, and concentrated on no one but myself. I was my only competition.”
Today, she feels integrated (tied to her Indian roots) rather than assimilated (Americanized). Having parents that helped her believe, and persevere helped her change her circumstances, and life. She and her elder sister Lakshmi Priya saw their parents working long hours. “It helped me challenge myself. I understood the hardships they went through to give us better lives. I realized that I have to work hard to give meaning to my parents’ struggles. Now, I have decided to not work under anyone. I want to lead by becoming my own boss,” she declares.
Turning the spotlight on mental health
Working on mental health started in high school, and while working at Colorado State Capitol in state representative Tom Sullivan’s office, Jeeva saw states passing a legislation on students having to take off mental health days. This made her question America’s standard of education.
“My research became even more important after my greatest mentor, best friend and big brother Jai Rajagopal lost his battle against depression during my first run for office. I will always be thankful to Jai because he lifted me to greater heights unequivocally, and took good care of me in the most difficult times. My first government job was also because of Jai, and I will remember him every time I run for a new office,” Jeeva says.
Covid warrior
During COVID-19 Jeeva started a donation drive to provide oxygen cylinders and oxygen tanks to prepare of India’s third wave, with the Privando team. Jeeva also helped fund students from the High School Democrats of America with online training on larger campaign positions and winning strategies with 10 hours paid work with the help of a grant from Blue Future, an organization that helps mobilize young people to work on campaigns within America. “I took leadership to provide students a stipend while working for a state race – House District 44 in Colorado. I wanted to provide a virtual opportunity for students who needed experience for college applications,” she adds.
Speaking against gun violence while she was working on her first campaign with Simone Aiken (who ran for House District 44 in 2018), and at Tom Sullivan’s office, she explains, “The Extreme Risk Protection Order, also known as ERPO and Red Flag Law, was the legislation inputted to take away firearms temporarily from the mentally ill. The legislation was opposed by Sullivan’s Republican colleagues, though Republican Sherriff Tony Spurlock favored it, and stressed the need for the legislation to assist the police force.”
The PEO STAR Scholar at Littleton (Colorado), is using Privando to empower women, and is the only student in Colorado to be the National Honor’s Society Finalist, a Top 24 Scholar, for which she was awarded $5,625.
As part of the Global Teen Leader program, she worked with over 40 global teen leaders in the summer of 2021 and bounced off new progressive ideas. Jeeva formed a deep friendship with Malawian Chmba Chilemba, Youth To The Front Manager, and facilitator for the Just Peace Summit. “She is an inspiration – so sincere, working hard to solve child marriages in Africa. She DJs in her free time,” she adds.
She is grateful that Colorado Early College Parker (high school) helped her focus on important matters – she received college credits, an associate’s degree for a guaranteed transfer at Colorado School Of Mines. “I was given $2,100 per semester as a full-time student allowing me to pay for half of my bachelor’s degree when I transferred my courses at CECP,” says the mechanical engineering student.
Eye on the future
A voracious reader, Jeeva loves sitting in libraries, devouring books, or watching Netflix. The adrenaline seeker can be seen car racing in Colorado. Next on Jeeva’s to do list is to continue to spread Privando’s reach, finish an MBA and Juris Doctorate. “I have a dream to run for Congress once I turn 25, in the House of Representatives.” Solemn advice? “This world is an ugly place, and our earlier generations created a competitive lifestyle. Students trying to find their way should not forget to live life to the fullest. Make families, education, and being your own boss in something passionate a priority. Stop comparing, focus on yourself. I would love to guide anyone (jeeva4parker.com).
High goals for a girl whose mentors – former state representative Jonathan Singer, Emily Hiltz, and Lindsey Rasmussen instilled in her belief and purpose.
(June 12, 2022) A visit to Louvre - the world famous museum in Central Paris - is sure to leave any visitor spellbound. Purva Damani was no exception. As a 10-year-old accompanied by her elder sister Puja Shah into the sprawling museum, home to some of the best known works of art, the art lover couldn't take her eyes off the masterpieces on display. Keenly observing the exhausting display of artworks, it set her thinking passionately about arts and sculptures. Louvre had left a lasting impression on her mind. She followed it up with visits to the Brooklyn Museum of Art and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Kanoria Centre of Arts in her home town of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. This gave her the chance to dig deeper into the world of art, which eventually became a lifelong passion for Purva Damani. It gave birth to an idea called 079 | Stories – a pulsating art gallery in Ahmedabad, where art and culture is celebrated every day. [caption id="attachment_25668" align="aligncenter" width="422"] Purva Damani is the founder of 079 | Stories[/caption] "My gallery is a platform that brings art and culture together and makes it accessible for people. From young contemporary
422" height="628" /> Purva Damani is the founder of 079 | Stories[/caption]
"My gallery is a platform that brings art and culture together and makes it accessible for people. From young contemporary artists to modern masters of national and international fame and reputation, we have hosted multiple art shows. It is a space that caters to art, design and creativity," smiles Purva Damani, the founder and director of 079 | Stories, in a chat with Global Indian.
Gone are those days when only few people were art collectors. "With an increasing awareness about art among the younger generation, we see many young art enthusiasts investing in art, thus leading to a growing number of new art collectors," informs Purva.
A love affair with art galleries
Born to a jewellery designer mother and a businessman father in Ahmedabad in 1980, Purva completed her schooling from Mt Carmel Convent High School and graduated from the HL College of Commerce, Ahmedabad. But it was her annual visits to the US (being a green card holder) that introduced her to art at a very young age.
"Of course, the Louvre had left an imprint on my mind. However, my mother Ila Vasa and sister Puja, an avid art lover, played a pivotal role in igniting my passion for arts. I used to tag along with them to various museums and art galleries in the US," informs the trained Kathak dancer, who also did her diploma in marketing from the Ahmedabad Management Association.
After her post-graduation in 2003, Purva enrolled for a year in advertising and communications at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. "During that time, I worked in libraries and fashion stores and explored a lot about art," informs the 42-year-old, who never felt like settling in the US. "After travelling the world, I realised India is my true home with its rich culture, heritage and strong social bonds. I took the best out of the US and decided to settle here," the art lover adds.
[caption id="attachment_25669" align="aligncenter" width="703"] Purva Damani at her art gallery[/caption]
Armed with interpersonal skills coupled with a diploma in Human Resources and Marketing, she joined as a HR consultant in Mumbai before returning to Ahmedabad. Later, she married former national cricketer Kirat Damani, who is now the managing partner with AC Damani and advocates, a prominent law firm in Ahmedabad. However, art was something that was strongly etched in her mind.
Passion turned into profession
Personal tragedy had pushed Purva at her lowest in 2013 after multiple miscarriages. But that’s when she decided to bounce back and conceptualised 079 | Stories. "My idea to follow my passion gave me a new zeal to kick start working towards my goal. The thought of following my passion for art and getting into the art scene struck me while I was dealing with my postpartum depression," informs the art enthusiast.
While she did a thorough research, met different artists, understood their art and mediums and visited art galleries and museums, it was her family's support that propelled her into launching her own art space.
But setting up her art gallery had its own share of challenges - from finalising the design for the kind of art organisation she wanted to represent to setting up the module to the services offered. But after years of hardwork and conceptualisation, the art gallery was launched in 2018. For Ahmedabad, it was a whole new experience as the art aficionados were introduced to an art gallery, workshop space and an amphitheater, all under one roof.
Hosting multiple art shows, plays, musical events including jazz festivals and Sufi music, book reading sessions, pottery festivals and workshops aimed at reviving the dying art of mata ni pachedi – it soon became the most talked-about art galleries in Ahmedabad. In the following years, it hosted the works of artists including Paresh Maity, Jayashri Burman, Mizaffar Ali, Brinda Miller, Seema Kohli and the likes. From modern contemporary to multi-media to sculptures, the gallery has displayed a range of artworks, making a hit among the art aficionados. But why 079 | Stories? “Well, it is the STD code of Ahmedabad!” the art lover smiles.
Making art available to youngsters
Purva is on a mission to make art available to youngsters. "Respect for arts needs to be infused early and its relevance in our life needs to be highlighted," says Purva who believes India has always been a centre of art and culture and is part of everyday life. "All of us need to come together to support young upcoming artists. The awareness among the younger generation is paving the way for more refined art," says the mother of two who has plans to host more exhibitions.
“I want to provide a stable platform for mid-level, young and emerging artists. Promoting affordable art through exhibitions is what I intend to do,” says Purva, a certified healer who practices healing regularly.
[caption id="attachment_25671" align="aligncenter" width="626"] Purva Damani with her family[/caption]
Art has often been associated with the rich, and that the notion Purva wants to break. “That is precisely the reason why I am promoting more and more budding artists,” points out Purva, who is on the advisory boards for various institutes and NGOs and is regularly invited for panel discussions on art. Purva feels the art scene has evolved for the better over the years. "Earlier, very few people were art collectors, but that scenario has changed. Now we see more youngsters who are art enthusiasts, and the number is growing,” the art lover says.
He's one of India's top writers and journalists, currently a columnist in Mint, the former editor-in-chief of Open (back in the heyday of journalism in India), the creator of Netflix's hit series, Decoupled, and the author of three books - Serious Men, The Illicit Happiness of Other People and Miss Laila: Armed and Dangerous. Manu Joseph sat down with Global Indian at the Bangalore Literature Festival 2022 to talk about his life, a middle-class childhood in Madras, working his way through college and grappling with trauma at a time when society lacked the vocabulary to fully articulate grief. (January 4, 2022) Back in 2017, when Manu Joseph and I sat in the authors' lounge at the Bangalore Literature Festival – he had graciously granted me an interview - the first question came out of me in a rush - "What have you been through, Manu, to write something like The Illicit Happiness of Other People?" He only smiled, saying, "I can't think of anything in particular." Still, I was pretty convinced that such writing cannot come through merely observing sorrow in others, it’s impossible that the author had not experienced a journey of his own. But he wasn’t telling. Not
ible that the author had not experienced a journey of his own. But he wasn’t telling. Not then, anyway.
My answer came five years later, a few weeks ago in December, at BLF 2022, as we sat down together again for an interview with Global Indian. He's had a string of successes in the intervening years, including Netflix adaptation of Serious Men and becoming the creator of the very popular series, Decoupled. And this time around, Manu decides to speak, granting me a glimpse of depths that underly the master of satire. It's like being in a JD Salinger novel, Franny and Zooey, maybe – but one doesn't say these things to Manu Joseph, not unless you want him to make fun of you. Sure enough, he remarks a few moments later, "One kind of boring conversation is when people are quoting others, either to show what they have read or because they don't have an original idea. When you're sixteen, you're talking about what you feel."
[caption id="attachment_33491" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Manu Joseph[/caption]
Observations on grief
That sixteenth year was crucial to Manu’s life. Looking back, he knows it to be adolescence trauma, "but at that age, we had no labels. There was no such thing as depression of trauma. If you are sad, you make yourself happy. You just live. It was that kind of situation. That’s when a friend, another sixteen year old, sat him down one day and asked, “What we see around us, through our eyes, is not the real stuff.” The observation stunned him. Teenagers usually talked about cricket or girls; in Madras they spoke about Brilliant Tutorials. And he had never considered, really, that conversations could be like this, that this sort of thing can be spoken and that it can actually make sense.
"I had not thought about this before. It is a different genre of conversation. As you grow, you speak about different things and discover the different things you can speak about," he says. The friend had tried to have that conversation before, unsuccessfully, with several people. For a month, the boys had a series of intense conversations, pondering the meaning of life, much like his posthumously-described protagonist, Unni, in The Illicit Happiness Of Other People. The idea of a universal truth, of hitting on a magic formula that allowed you to see the why and how of everything, was intoxicating to a teenager struggling with yet-unnamed demons, who spent his time reading Rushdie and Hawking.
The pursuit of enlightenment
Manu calls it the most important thing, “Even today, it is most important thing that happened to me. It defined my character. Nothing changes your character but if it had 10 ways in which it could manifest itself, this was the early event that gave me direction. The idea that my reality was an illusion and that the true reality had to be pursued through ancient techniques made me immensely happy, partly because my life was not very good then and the idea that it was a part of illusion was fantastic. So, just like that, I believed deeply that there was something out there and a certain technique can help you get it.” It would go on to become the stuff of a very successful novel but back then, he says, “It was my life. It defined me through my twenties and influenced everything I did.”
Growing up with a journalist father and a very religious mother, Manu was 12 when he decided he was an atheist. Being middle-class meant being closer to the poor than to the rich, "I remember, all the rich people were called 'smugglers', it became another word for the rich," he says. "The rich were also supposed to be unhappy. I remember my mom saying things like, 'Look at that woman in the car, didn't she look unhappy'?" These were the ideas with which one grew up, where even ambition, which Manu says he never lacked, became an act of rebellion. "You want to be rich and you want to be happy but you still think that the wealthy are unhappy."
The power of misconception
Driven, Manu says, by “misconception,” he chose journalism, just as his father had done. He was supposed to study engineering, as all Indian boys his age were doing but picked literature in the end. “Misconceptions are so powerful, they give you direction. I had misconceptions about writing. And that saved me. If I had known too much, I would have tried to escape from the writing.” He was acting on intuition, “a subterranean knowledge,” as he puts it, which came mainly from ignorance. He had wanted to write for films but in his teens, as he discovered Salman Rushdie, Stephen Hawking, Wodehouse and Arthur Hailey, he decided he would write a novel.
“I did pursue filmmaking through my twenties but nobody I knew had the capacity to make films. But as I read, Western culture took over me. Also, I realised that I didn’t have to collaborate with anyone to write a novel, or need funds to finish.” In his mind at the time, it was all pretty straightforward – he would write a novel, it would be great and people would want to publish it.
It led him to a “very bad journalism course” in Madras Christian College. Circumstances weren't easy, financially speaking and Manu had to take care of his own fees. He was twenty by then and had no choice but to work. He liked the Indian Express and approached them, but was told that interns weren't paid. "I badly needed the money."
Catching a break
The answer found him. Someone walked up to him in the college canteen, holding up an ad by Magna Publications. "I don't remember this guy's face but if he had not shown me this, a whole string of things would never have happened," Manu recalls. He was interviewed by Ingrid Alberquerque and was given the job at Magna. He dropped out of college and moved to Mumbai. "From there, I jumped to Outlook." He went on to become editor-in-chief at Open the Magazine, until he quit in 2014, announcing his resignation on Facebook.
By then, he had already written two novels - the first, Serious Men, came in 2010 and won the Hindu Literary Prize and the PEN / Open Book Award and was adapted as a feature film by Sudhir Mishra. Two years later, in 2012, came The Illicit Happiness of Other People, followed by Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous in 2017. "I started writing my first novel in my early twenties," he says, dismissing the idea that he started young. "When you look back, though, it seems silly, you don't have life experiences to fill a novel. It's either light or pretentious or fake. But sometimes you just want to write it anyway."
It's a problem that most Indian writers face, Manu remarks. "We feel that the novel has to be grand, it has to be very important. I still have that problem." In fact, when he came up to say hello the previous day, he said, about writing another book, "Novels need worthy subjects."
[caption id="attachment_33492" align="aligncenter" width="701"] Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Serious Men[/caption]
The ‘humility’ of screenplays
In 2020, he returned to screenplays, joining director Sudhir Misra for the Netflix adaptation of Serious Men. Then came Decoupled, with R. Madavan starring as the frank-talking Arya Iyer, whom haters were swift to label "toxic". Opeds were written about the show's ideology but it did become the second-most watched show on Netflix a mere three days after its release. "Many asparagus-eating friends have written privately to me to say they enjoyed Decoupled. I see that they are restrained in publicly sharing this view to appease the more delicate," Manu tweeted. Screenplay writing taught him, he says, to take himself less seriously. "There is humility in a screenplay that is not required in a novel. A novel does not require the inconvenience of humility. A novel need not try to reach out to you; it is often created in a pure state and waits for the readers to come find it. Also, a screenplay is simpler. I cannot take you inside the head of the character. Film writers will disagree but that is because they don’t realise that most of a literary novel is about characters thinking. In a film, generally, I can only say what I can show.
The process of screenwriting, in my adult life, and the sheer number of columns I write every year, has led to its own evolution. “I’m moving away from beautiful prose,” he says. “I used to be incapacitated by the beginning, the beginning of any kind of writing. I used to spend ten hours just to get the start of a column right. I must have been so full of myself. Today, I don’t mind starting even a novel with ‘She was having coffee’. I have no problem with that. I may not downgrade myself so much that I’ll ever start a novel with a recipe, but yes I’ll begin with an ordinary, unremarkable sentence.”
The process has led to its own evolution. "I'm moving away from beautiful writing," he says. "I don't mind starting a novel with 'She was having coffee'. I have no problem with that." There is a novel in the pipeline, he says, one that's different from anything he's done so far. "I'm not afraid of melancholy now. Even with Illicit..., I was holding back, afraid to go too deep. I don't mind deriving power now from something melancholic. I’m not responsible for your happiness, I’m not your dad, I’m a writer.”
The end of the pursuit
That moment with his friend, of discovering a new dimension to life itself, Manu says, was like “going through a slum in Madras and then suddenly finding yourself in Switzerland. I had escaped, forever.” He was the boy who was saved by hope so it’s a bit of a jolt when he says now, “I no longer believe in that. I don’t believe there’s something out there. I once believed that you can reach a state of being where you comprehend everything, I don’t believe that anymore. That search has done its job, it has defined my character.”
So, he has turned his focus instead to staying very fit, tapping into his ambition and all his ‘materialism of vanity,’ which he says is different from the ‘materialism of gluttony’. “I have complete disdain for mediocrity, especially in myself. If you’re lucky enough to be healthy, you can’t just let yourself go, you know? I can go to any length to do what is right for me.”
(June 29, 2022) It’s not just the altitude that makes a mountain mean. From the route to scale the summit to the unexpected weather turning the climb into a deadly expedition - many unforeseen hurdles can make the summit an impossible task. However, nothing could deter Hyderabad-born mountaineer, Satish Gogineni, from climbing not one but two mountains in a single day. Last month, Satish summited Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse — the first and fourth highest peak in the world - within 20 hours of each other, in one single expedition. This makes him the fastest Indian to achieve the double-summit, a feat less than 100 climbers in the world have managed. [caption id="attachment_26275" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Satish Gogineni[/caption] Connecting with Global Indian from San Francisco, Satish shares that he was preparing for the summit for some time now. "I summited Mount Everest (8,849 m) and Mount Lhotse (8,516 m). I have always enjoyed travelling to new cities within and outside the US, and meeting new people. This, combined with my curiosity to find my vertical and endurance ceiling pushed me to challenge myself. I was able to climb both the mountains in about 19-and-a-half hours," shares the mountaineer. Driven by
enjoyed travelling to new cities within and outside the US, and meeting new people. This, combined with my curiosity to find my vertical and endurance ceiling pushed me to challenge myself. I was able to climb both the mountains in about 19-and-a-half hours," shares the mountaineer.
Driven by adventure
Like most kids, Satish grew up playing sports, however, it wasn't a big part of his life. "My father worked as an engineer in BSNL and my mother worked at Dr BR Ambedkar Open University. Growing up, I remember I was a lot into cricket. I and my brother would play many sports, but we never pursued them professionally."
[caption id="attachment_26276" align="aligncenter" width="586"] Satish at Mount Everest's summit[/caption]
Academically driven, Satish went to Pune to pursue a bachelor's in engineering at the Maharashtra Institute of Technology, and later relocated to the United States in 2004. It was here that he reconnected with his adventurous streak. “I started taking part in inter-college sports activities. But soon realised that people here were much faster than I was. So, I started running about two to three miles every day. After moving to Los Angeles, I joined a running club as I didn’t have many friends to hang out with. In 2007, I ran my first LA marathon," shares the mountaineer, for whom there has been no looking back since then.
Matters of the mind
An endurance runner, Satish has run 14 full marathons, including the world majors in Berlin and Tokyo. However, the road to the highest mountain in the world was full of hurdles. "Very unexpectedly, I lost my mother in 2011. That was a big shocker for me. I struggled through depression for about two years. It was a huge loss," shares the adventure junkie. But it was running that kept him going. "Everyone in the world has struggled through a loved one's loss. However, it is important to move on. While it was difficult for me, I kept myself going. I never quit running and with time I got more disciplined and organised," the mountaineer adds.
While he is a pro at it now, mountaineering was never on the cards. A chance backpacking trip with a friend changed it all for Satish. “In 2013, a friend invited me for a backpacking trip to Mount Whitney (4,421 m), which is the tallest peak in the US. I didn't like it at the time, because it felt like running two marathons simultaneously. But, later, I started enjoying the rush," shares the mountaineer. High on adrenaline rush, he returned home to watch many YouTube videos on ‘How to climb Everest’ till wee hours of the night, after being sleepless for several hours.
Tryst with mountains
Since then, Satish has climbed several mountains in the US. He has summited Mt Shasta (4,322 m), Mt Rainier (4,392 m) and Mt Hood (3,429 m). Interestingly in 2018, he also climbed volcano Iztaccíhuatl (5,230 m) in Mexico, and scaled it again in 2019 along with stratovolcano Pico De Orizaba (5,636 m) — the third highest mountain in North America. In June 2021, he summited Mt Denali (6,190 m) — the highest mountain in North American continent.
[caption id="attachment_26279" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Satish with another climber[/caption]
Passionate for the mountains, he trained rigorously for his Everest expedition with his friend. "I would run for about 60-90 miles a week. Apart from the endurance training, I had to prepare mentally as well, for which I practiced yoga regularly,” he adds.
Having climbed the world's tallest peak, Satish calls the experience “mentally challenging”. "The key is to stay focussed, because while it not the most dangerous mountain to climb, Mount Everest does test you in many ways. There are deadly crevasses, the Khumbu icefall, and the high altitude. So, the most difficult thing is to stay focussed on the task at hand at any given point in time. Also, I wasn't just climbing Mt Everest, but also My Lhotse, and for that it was important that to have a strong mind."
Happy to achieve the feat, Satish is all praise for his Sherpa, whom he calls his “biggest gift.” “Pemba, who was from the Makalu region, was the biggest blessing throughout the journey. He always double checked the safety and encouraged me at every point,” says Satish who plans to climb more mountains in the future.
(November 9, 2023) For the last 20 years, if there is one designer who has worked with the length and breadth of the rich canvas of weaves India has to offer – it is the iconic Indian designer Gaurang Shah. From reviving the Jamdani weave to his timeless work with heritage textiles like Ikats, Kanjeevarams and Uppadas, his name is synonymous with Indian weaves. Be it presenting traditional at Lakme Fashion Show, working on movies like Mahanati (or shows including the recent Made in Heaven where he dressed Radhika Apte and Kirron Kher for India’s Got Talent) or launching his label in New York, there is very little he has not done in the past two decades! His journey began at his father’s store (Indian Emporium) and today, he is rightly acknowledged as one of India’s premier designers who work with handlooms. [caption id="attachment_46601" align="aligncenter" width="646"] Designer Gaurang Shah gives new life to traditional Indian weaves by blending them with elements of modern couture[/caption] Revivalist to the core Gaurang’s story begins in his father's sari store, where he dreamt of reviving traditional handlooms. He recalls, “My mother's exquisite sarees were a constant inspiration. As a self-taught designer, I faced challenges but
s story begins in his father's sari store, where he dreamt of reviving traditional handlooms. He recalls, “My mother's exquisite sarees were a constant inspiration. As a self-taught designer, I faced challenges but I persevered. I made a significant impact by uplifting weaver communities in various regions, introducing new weaving techniques, and championing Indian weaves,” he tells Global Indian.
The designer embarked on his journey in the early 2000s, driven by a passion for creating exceptional Jamdani woven clothing and a deep desire to revive this fascinating weaving technique.
In fact, his college years at Pragati Mahavidyalaya in Hyderabad were spent convincing weaver families to embrace change, travelling to the key weaving centres including Lucknow, Varanasi, Uppada in Andhra Pradesh and Kanchipuram. Today, he leads a team 800+ master weavers and 7000 artisans across 16 states, crafting exquisite weaves using the Jamdani technique, instilling the best traditions and skills, while pushing weavers in new directions
However, this journey was not without its share of challenges. “The most significant hurdle I faced was convincing traditional weavers to embrace change and have confidence in their craft’s adaptability. This required a delicate balance between preserving the essence of the traditional Indian weave and infusing it with contemporary elements,” he says.
[caption id="attachment_46602" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Gaurang with actor Taapsee Pannu[/caption]
Another substantial challenge was rekindling consumer interest in handlooms, which had somewhat faded into obscurity. Owing to their cost and maintenance, many women had moved away from handlooms. Their resurgence demanded a vibrant and compelling new look for handloom textiles, a task that was undeniably challenging but one, Gaurang successfully embraced.
Heart of the loom
At the heart of Gaurang’s work are the timeless Indian textiles. With each region having its own handlooms from silk to cotton, the designer’s fascination with weaves is deeply rooted in their rich history and artistic potential.
“Weaving is not merely a craft; it's a cultural tapestry that tells stories of tradition, skill, and creativity.” He has an affinity for the “exquisite” Jamdani weave, but also believes in “celebrating the diversity of India’s weaving heritage, from Kanchi silk to the rustic charm of Khadi, the sheer elegance of Uppada silk, the intricate beauty of Patan Patol and the timeless appeal of Benarasi silk. Each carries its own unique charm and narrative,” Gaurang explains.
What our Indian weaves do have in common is their ability to transform ordinary threads into wearable art. “They have the power to evoke emotions, preserve traditions and connect us to our roots,” he says. The key, he has learned, is to honour the roots of each textile as it is blended with accents of modern couture. “For example, we need to take the Kanchipuram silk saree or the Patola weave and then blend it seamlessly with contemporary elements,” he says. “It’s about embracing fusion and creating textiles that are not only exquisite but also relevant to today’s fashion landscape.”
In this journey, Gaurang is constantly exploring materials, and design elements. He also experiments with natural colours, celebrating the earth's palette and bringing artisanal diversity to the forefront. His distinct strength lies in his commitment to push boundaries while respecting India’s cultural legacy and adapting these weaves to change. The result is a transformation of weaves, where tradition meets modernity, and where Indian weaves continue to enchant the world.
The world is his stage
Having dressed some of India’s most celebrated women, Gaurang intends to create timeless silhouettes which are unique to the person wearing them. He shares, “When I designed handloom sarees for Vidya Balan, it was about capturing her grace and elegance, celebrating her love for traditional weaves. Seeing her shine on-screen and off in my creations was a proud moment.”
For Sonam Kapoor, it was all about pushing the boundaries of fashion while staying rooted in tradition. He worked with the actress to craft sarees that effortlessly blended contemporary style with timeless handloom craftsmanship. “Kirron Kher's vibrant personality resonated with the bold patterns and rich colours of our handlooms. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her and create ensembles that reflected her vivacious spirit,” Gaurang adds.
And then there are the brides. Each bride is a “unique canvas”, he says and adds, “I've had the privilege of helping them realise their dream wedding looks. It's a beautiful journey to create sarees that become a part of their cherished memories.” The designer is cognisant of the transformative power of fashion and how it can make every individual feel like a star. Little wonder that his pulse on the fashion scene has never ebbed.
New York calling
At his store in New York, the celebrated Indian designer offers a range of sarees and bridal wear to Indians abroad. What overseas Indians often seek from ethnic wear is a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, and who better than Gaurang to provide that?
He smiles, “They value the intricate craftsmanship and timeless beauty of sarees, anarkalis, and ghagras, but they also desire styles that can seamlessly integrate into their global lifestyle. This has led to the evolution of my designs, where I infuse traditional elements with contemporary aesthetics, creating ensembles that resonate with the NRI community's sense of identity and heritage while catering to their fashion preferences.”
Today the designer has also branched into the hospitality industry with his restaurant in Hyderabad serving cuisine from across the country. His goal for the future remains the same - to experiment with lesser-known weaves and techniques, to bring them into the limelight and contribute to their revival. He signs off saying, “My goal is to make our Indian weaves a sustainable fashion choice, crafting pieces that remain timeless treasures in the wardrobes of generations to come.”