
Entrepreneurs Chaitanya Peddi, Jayant Paleti, and Rohit Chennameni.
Starting out

Meeting an unmet need

Rohit Chennameni., co founder of Darwinbox.
Breaching barriers

Chaitanya Peddi, co-founder of Darwinbox.
Entrepreneurs Chaitanya Peddi, Jayant Paleti, and Rohit Chennameni.
Rohit Chennameni., co founder of Darwinbox.
Chaitanya Peddi, co-founder of Darwinbox.
Published on 18, Aug 2023
Written By: Vikram Sharma
(May 16, 2022) Green, clean, sustainable, and carbon-neutral were some of the words that finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman used multiple times in her budget speech this March, underlining the importance that the government is giving to sustainability and decarbonisation goals. But much before India took the carbon-zero climate pledge, many Indian startups had already started working on ways to make the earth greener. Global Indian turns the spotlight on some green startups which have sustainability at the core of their value systems. Phool - Ankit Agarwal, Prateek Kumar Ever wondered what happens to the flowers offered to the Gods in temples and mosques across the country? Well, the floral waste mostly makes its way to either dumping yards or rivers in the vicinity, adding to the pollution. It was at one such ghat in Kanpur that Ankit Agarwal, a native and an engineering student, had an epiphany. That watershed moment changed it all and gave birth to India's first biomaterial startup Phool in 2017. [caption id="attachment_24463" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Ankit Agarwal and Prateek Kumar, the co-founders of Phool[/caption] The Kanpur-based startup accumulates floral waste from temples in Uttar Pradesh, including the biggest temple Kashi Vishwanath, averting 13 tonnes of waste flowers
Read More[caption id="attachment_24463" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Ankit Agarwal and Prateek Kumar, the co-founders of Phool[/caption]
The Kanpur-based startup accumulates floral waste from temples in Uttar Pradesh, including the biggest temple Kashi Vishwanath, averting 13 tonnes of waste flowers and toxic chemicals from reaching the river every day. The waste is then handcrafted into charcoal-free incense sticks and essential oils through 'flower cycling' technology by women from Dalit communities that the startup has employed.
Ankit, the founder of Phool, had said in an interview, , "Our products are handcrafted by women coming from the so-called 'lower castes. These are the women who have been looked down on and discriminated against for years. For them, repurposing flowers sourced from temples has an emotional quotient. It is something that makes them feel equal in the society, a job that gives them the respect that they deserve."
With three-fold growth in just two years, it has garnered interest from marquee investors, having raised $8 million in a funding round from Sixth Sense Ventures in April this year, which the company will use to scale up operations and ramp up R&D efforts to make animal leather obsolete.
Each year, Delhi is covered in a thick layer of smog during the onset of winter, courtesy, the unabashed stubble burning in areas of Punjab and Haryana. Delhi-based Vidyut Mohan is on a mission to cut through the thick haze with Takachar, a startup that's fighting climate change by transforming massive amounts of waste biomass into marketable products. Started in 2018 by Vidyut and Kevin Kung, Takachar turns agricultural waste biomass into usable fuel and fertiliser, while reducing air pollution.
[caption id="attachment_24467" align="aligncenter" width="761"] Vidyut Mohan, the founder of Takachar[/caption]
Takachar's technology reduces smoke emissions by up to 98 percent and has the potential to save a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year if scaled up. "I've always been passionate about energy access and creating income opportunities for poor communities," Vidyut had said in an earlier interview.
The green startup, which has worked with 4500 farmers and has processed 3000 tonnes of crops, has bagged The Earthshot Prize 2021, also known as Eco Oscars. The international recognition has put Takachar on the global map, thus making it one of the biggest green startups to look forward to.
🇮🇳@BiomassTakachar, Winner of The Earthshot Prize to #CleanOurAir have forged incredible new partnerships to scale their impact on air pollution in India pic.twitter.com/pyJGvyWC7R
— The Earthshot Prize (@EarthshotPrize) March 26, 2022
While pursuing a degree at Columbia Business School in 2013, Mani Vajipeyajula was aware of India's environmental crisis - much of which was triggered by non-recycled plastic. He knew he had to find a solution to the looming waste crisis plaguing Indian cities, and that germinated the idea of Banyan Nation - a startup that helps global brands use more recycled plastic instead of virgin plastic in mainstream products, thus enabling reuse in the manufacturing process.
[caption id="attachment_24468" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Mani Vajipeyajula and Rajkiran Madangopal, the founders of Banyan Nation[/caption]
"Recycling activities in India are mostly driven by market forces that are informal, illegal, and largely invisible. Banyan is innovating and integrating the informal sector and providing consistent quality recycling. By taking a complete value chain approach, we have developed innovative technologies that clean plastics to eliminate all potential contaminants. It is our mission to help brands sustainably ‘Make In India’ by replacing the use of virgin plastic with recycled plastic that is comparable in quality and performance," Mani had said in an earlier interview.
In 2021, Banyan Nation was recognised as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum for disrupting the recycling value chain via technology solutions that encourage source segregation.
@THubHyd's @rama14iyer checking out @Banyan_Nation at the India Innovation Showcase are @GES2017 #RoadToGES2017 #THub pic.twitter.com/FQK74Iz54h
— Banyan Nation (@Banyan_Nation) November 27, 2017
Did you know that India is the third-largest consumer of energy in the world, importing more than 80 percent of its fuel requirements while generating more than 350 million MT of organic wastes? And now India's first online marketplace for biofuels and wastes, Buyofuel is looking to change it all. They are attempting to meet the country's energy secure and meeting emission goals by substituting fossil fuel consumption with biofuel manufactured within India, from wastes generated within India.
[caption id="attachment_24469" align="aligncenter" width="740"] Kishan Karunakaran, the founder of BuyoFuel[/caption]
"We network with biofuel manufacturers so that people should be able to order biofuels right from their homes. We are trying to connect those pieces in such a way that the organic waste goes seamlessly from the source to the biofuel manufacturer who converts into biofuel. Then the biofuel is consumed by large fuel consumers who can access it easily. That’s what we are in simple words trying to do with Buyofuel," Kishan had said in an interview.
In 2017, Hemant Gupta, Amit Gupta, RK Misra and Naveen Dachuri united for a mission - to create a bigger impact on society. And they did with Yulu, a micro-mobility service provider that gives eco-friendly UMaaS (urban mobility as a service) which is a scalable solution for the first and last-mile commute options for citizens. It does not just focus on solving urban mobility problems but also addresses the rising air pollution and traffic congestion issues. Interestingly, it is the only company in the country, in the micro-mobility segment, operating with swappable solutions for EVs.
[caption id="attachment_24470" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Hemant Gupta, Amit Gupta, RK Misra & Naveen Dachuri, the founders of Yulu[/caption]
Working with InMobi in Bengaluru, Amit Gupta was irked by the constant traffic congestion during his commute between HSR Layout and Indiranagar. He remembered the success of bicycle sharing companies like Ofo and Mobike, which he had seen on frequent trips to China. He decided to start a similar venture, customised to suit Indian needs.
In March this year, Yulu raised $100 million to expand its business model and grab a larger pie of the growing last-mile mobility segment.
Reading Time: 6 min
(July 18, 2022) Stretched over 800 km, El Camino, the ancient pilgrim route in northern Spain is on the bucket list of every hiker. And it was no different for Sara Adhikari, the head of content at GiveIndia - the country’s largest online giving platform. So, when her sister, Louise suggested it, she jumped on the idea. However, the 64-year-old didn’t want it to be a walk of just self-discovery and bonding with her sister. She wanted to walk for a cause close to her heart. Deciding to raise awareness and funds for acid attack survivors in India, Sara, and her 62-year-old sister, recently finished their 800-km walk and were also able to raise over ₹5 lakh, which will go for the rehabilitation of acid attack survivors and help with their long-term medical treatment. [caption id="attachment_26952" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Sara Adhikari[/caption] On Sunday, June 26, Louise and Sara reached Santiago, 40 days after starting the trek. While their friends cheered the ladies as they uploaded wonderful pictures on social media, others generously contributed to the cause. As she connects with Global Indian, Sara remembers the emotions after she reached the finishing line. "I was relieved, elated, overcome, overwhelmed… all rolled into one.
Read Morectures on social media, others generously contributed to the cause. As she connects with Global Indian, Sara remembers the emotions after she reached the finishing line. "I was relieved, elated, overcome, overwhelmed… all rolled into one. And, for the first time, we are proud of ourselves. We were also blessed with sunshine in Santiago, where it rains 300 days a year," the hiker shares.
The 800-km El Camino de Santiago walk in Spain is one of the most ancient and longest trails in the world. Besides being adventurous and having the will to complete the journey, what was required was a lot of planning. After all, the walk would last for weeks! "I bought a couple of books to know more about the kind of training we should do, including people's accounts about walking the route and of course, a list of what little we could carry in our backpacks," says Sara.
Preparations began months in advance. Sara joined a gym to train on the treadmill as much as possible. "If I wasn't there, I went out walking as many mornings as I could, sometimes with a friend to the lakes. But I never managed to walk more than about seven km. That worried me and Louise too - what if I couldn't manage the 20-25 km we would have to walk every day on the Camino?"
[caption id="attachment_26979" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Sar, with her sister Louise during the El-Camino trek[/caption]
The Bengaluru-based Sara is a former journalist who has worked with various leading publications such as Khaleej Times and Times of India. Her sister, Louise, worked in IT for 37 years and took early retirement about six years ago. Louise lives in Witney, Oxfordshire, with her husband and has taken part in triathlons, done challenges such as the Great Wall of China walk and a fundraiser where she walked 52 miles in 24 hours four years ago. The Camino walk was Louise's idea after she saw the Martin Sheen film called The Way.
After a few weeks of hiking trips in England, Sara and Louise were finally ready in May to start the challenge and headed to Spain. Sara’s two biggest worries before they started on the Camino were the fear of sleeping on the top bunk in hostels/dormitories along the way and how her feet would take in all the walking.
She didn’t have to wait for long to come face to face with her first fear. After the first day of walking, they were in a dormitory. Both of them got top bunks opposite each other. In the middle of the night, Sara had to get down and she slipped on the ladder, fell headlong, and hit the back of her head on the bunk. But it was nothing serious - except for a bump on the back of her head, which meant she couldn’t lie on her back for weeks.
On the second day, Sara had some blisters on her feet. However, with all her friends encouraging them on social media, she continued with her mission. After walking for eight days, Louise insisted Sara go to a health centre in the next town. "I was mostly limping the better part of 10 km. The doctor tested my legs and told me to go to a health centre every day to treat them." So Louise walked the rest of the 10 km on that day on her own and Sara took a taxi to the Albergue, where they stayed the night.
The following day too, Louise, walked the next 20 km while Sara walked to the health centre in Logrono and the doctor bandaged her well so she could start walking again. The hiker did join her sister eventually and they finished the rest of the journey together.
Most hikers describe life on the Camilo trail as 'walk, eat, sleep, repeat' - and each day was different for Sara and Louise. The stories of co-walkers' lives inspired the ladies a lot. "We met a newly married man, who had a chronic condition and suffers debilitating pain in his head which causes seizures. But that didn't stop him from walking 800 km alone. While he needed to visit the hospital a couple of times along the way, he didn't want to be bound by his family's legitimate fears of what could happen. He was greeted by his relieved teary-eyed wife when he walked into Santiago, bursting with pride at his achievement,” Sara shares.
[caption id="attachment_26982" align="aligncenter" width="550"] A picture of the beautiful countryside in the northern Spain that Sara shared on her Instagram[/caption]
The duo also met an American couple in their late 70s who were “walking very fast.” But when they slowed down to chat, Sara learned that the husband has dementia, but still wanted to do the Camino. "The wife never left his side," the hiker says.
"It was hardy,” says Sara on the walk, despite all the difficulties they faced. “Doing something for acid attack survivors was on the top of my mind,” she says. GiveIndia had launched a fundraiser for Chhanv Foundation to raise funds for acid attack survivors.
The hiker shares that researching and reading about incidents of cruelty that physically and mentally scarred women for life had deeply disturbed her a lot. “I wanted to create awareness for these survivors, who usually keep a low profile as they find it difficult to face the society that shuns them,” she says.
[caption id="attachment_26983" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Sara and Louise after finishing the El Camino[/caption]
Thanks to the generosity of friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, and others, Sara’s fundraiser for acid attack survivors has reached the target of Rs 5 lakh and people are donating even now. You too can donate to the cause here.
Reading Time: 7 mins
(March 24, 2022) As he made music with his friends in high school, it was clear that Anurag Shanker had a special talent. It wasn’t as a glamorous frontman, or an even more glamorous lead guitarist. He knew early on that his gift lay in composition and arrangement, to take a song and turn it into something people would want to listen to. While ideas were abundant, good execution was not. “I have never just been a guitarist or a composer,” says Anurag Shanker, today a reputed composer and music supervisor for Netflix’s The Fame Game. For him, the excitement lay in meeting new artists, about taking a song and expanding it to an audio production perspective. “I want to arrange their music and produce their songs,” says Shanker to Global Indian. He was first approached by the OTT giant back in 2020, soon after the pandemic began. “It was to do music for one show - The Big Day,” he recalls. A series about six engaged couples, the show takes a look at India’s multibillion-dollar wedding industry. “They needed someone to handle Indian-centric stuff that was culturally accurate, and also contemporary,” he adds. The Fame Game allowed Anurag to “place
Read Moren-centric stuff that was culturally accurate, and also contemporary,” he adds. The Fame Game allowed Anurag to “place some really nice indie music,” and that makes him a happy camper. One example is singer-songwriter Kamakshi Khanna's 2021 single Duur, which was featured.
[caption id="attachment_21803" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Anurag Shanker[/caption]
This space is Anurag's forte, to create music that is “culturally relevant and which sounds cool,” he avers. A repertoire of prolific- acoustic, rock and folk music (he collaborated with the Manganiyars of Rajasthan, for instance), and a classical collaboration with sarod player Pratyush Bannerjee (among the foremost sarod exponents of our day) who played songs in eight ragas that Anurag produced with an electronic sound. “We have to bring in a new perspective without alienating either form,” says the classicist. Cross-culture collaborations are all the rage and the word fusion is, arguably, overdone. “Putting a raga together with a drumbeat is not fusion. You have to be sensitive about it,” says the traditionalist.
Anurag's sensibilities were shaped at home, expectedly, as the son of late Promod Shanker, former VP, Times Music. “Dad had a knack for discovering new artists. He discovered Indian Ocean and Jasbeer Jassi. That was very inspiring to me,” says the musician with an eclectic ear. Growing up, he would often find the biggest names sitting in his living room – he recalls Indian Ocean and the composer duo Ajay-Atul. “There were artists coming home to jam all the time,” he adds.
Having been in the thick of things often, he has lost his taste for jam sessions. “If I’m playing music or creating it, it has to be for the music. It can’t be an evening of frolic where the music is incidental,” he mulls. It also showed him, at an early age, what lies beyond the glitz of show business - he understood the hard work and determination that goes into life as a professional musician.
Training began early, and at age nine it was tabla lessons. “It’s the best age to learn an art form,” Anurag says. “Rhythm became very much ingrained in me. Also, Indian rhythms are so complex that after learning them, everything else is simple. If a jazz musician says to me, this is a 7/4 time signature, I’m unfazed by that,” he says.
[caption id="attachment_21779" align="aligncenter" width="707"] Live with Namit Das. Picture: Vaishnavi Suresh[/caption]
Those early years were routine, and the joy came later, when he began to jam with friends in high school. “I hit the ground running. I was making songs when someone who started along with me was still trying to figure out the instrument. That was a huge plus,” which led him to visiting studios with his father, watching people organise recording sessions and learning how to make artists comfortable.
When he came to Christ University in Bengaluru, Anurag joined the college's thriving cultural scene during his third year. And that enabled him to take his music more seriously. Slowly, work started - jingles and promos. He was also part of a band then, Caesar's Palace, which performed in Bengaluru. “It was just a fun idea which helped me discover myself,” and his talent for arrangement and composition was noticed, and suddenly creative decisions were under his aegis. The band did an EP too.
In 2009, the composer moved to Delhi to be with his parents but found his career stalling. “I decided the only place to get really fired up is Mumbai - such an exciting city,” he says. He left home in 2010, carrying precious wisdom from his father. “Don’t look for a break,” he said. It put paid to the idea of starstruck youth swarming tinsel town looking for fame. Instead, his father said, “That big break will never happen. The world just doesn't work like that. Learn not to depend on what is in the pipeline. Instead, have a good time, collaborate with people and make music,” lessons he took to heart, created a repertoire of diverse projects.
[caption id="attachment_21781" align="aligncenter" width="556"] The composer recording Kinnaram from Tamil Nadu[/caption]
A chance meeting with a friend from college (2010), Arfaaz Kagalwala, led to the formation of Slow Down Clown, an alternative outfit. The duo explored film work, like in Amit Masurkar's Suleimani Keeda. “We sent in a couple of ideas and they liked them. That was our first experience as composers,” smiles the composer whose wit and humour endears him to all. A web series, some film songs later, Arfaaz left for France. Anurag remained in Bombay - classical, folk music to film scores, and indie songwriting.
In 2013, Anurag became one-half of the now-dormant guitar duo Bombay Acoustic People with Sankarshan 'Shanks' Kini, who was playing with Kailash Kher's ensemble at the time. Kini, he says, is an “all-round, holistic musician,” who was “so welcoming.” The Bombay Acoustic People toured India, entranced Shillong, also toured Europe. They began the warm and inclusive living room gigs long before they entered mainstream cultural discourse.
“That started out in Sankarshan's room. We would bring speakers and debut material for some 25 guests,” and the shows were instant hits with fans offering their homes. Those intimate sessions call for the best in a musician, he believes, “One can play loud electric guitar to already loud music. Yet, if you're playing a real acoustic instrument in a small room where people are paying attention only to you, that’s the true test of your skill and personal peace.” In 2014, Namit Das + Anurag Shanker came to be, and still active though in the middle he was also a part of another alternative outfit, Last Remaining Light, in Mumbai.
Working with folk artists is close to his heart. Accompanying his father to Mumbai's Western Outdoor studio in 2000, (now closed) where legends like Bhimsen Joshi and Abida Parveen would come in to record, he says, "Abida ji would walk into the studio and produce seven or eight hours of content at a shot. She just goes in and starts singing - Kabir for an hour, Punjabi folk for an hour. They were legends on the brink of something new. And simply to be in the presence of that spark - these are things that cannot be taught."
Producing at the core of his musicology - he has worked with the Manganiyar singers from Rajasthan including upcoming artist Peeru Khan, produced an album with sarod player Pratyush Bannerjee, the Urban Grooves Project series for Virgin EMI and a string of Indian music releases for a Bengaluru-label, Pragnya.
[caption id="attachment_21783" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Anurag with Manganiyar singer Peeru Khan[/caption]
At his home studio, he is busy working for an NGO, recording one folk song from every state of India. With 22 done, the collection will be presented on a website, where people can discover more about the song, its state of origin and the culture to which it belongs. “I have made so many friends and connections in the folk music community so this is my way of protecting our cultural heritage,” says the guy who can croon a mean tune.
The pandemic saw him long for the surrounds of Bengaluru, where he and his wife Malini currently live – an idyllic villa near Nandi Hills. “After living in cities all my life, I didn’t even realise this was something I needed,” he laughs.
Reading Time: 6 min
(May 15, 2023) Sridhar Laxman is the founder of Lucid Minds, a coaching enterprise that has catapulted numerous professionals and businesses into impressive success stories since its inception in 2011. The company, which began in Sridhar's bedroom with nothing more than a laptop and a phone, has played an instrumental role in shaping and guiding the growth trajectories of entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesses across various sectors and countries. Sridhar began his journey in an era when the business coaching concept was just taking root in India. "When I began, not many were aware or invested in coaching, however, over the years, the scenario has changed significantly," he recalls. His impetus to embark on a coaching career was kindled by personal trials and tribulations. "I faced numerous challenges in life and work," he tells Global Indian, recounting how these hurdles led him to hire a coach for himself, a decision that marked the beginning of his transformative journey. The profound impact of coaching made him delve deeper into the subject, eventually leading him to quit his high-paying corporate job and pursue his passion in coaching. Corporate success - and stresses Sridhar's early career was characterised by long, erratic working hours, which he
Read Moreng>Corporate success - and stresses
Sridhar's early career was characterised by long, erratic working hours, which he describes as thrilling yet extremely taxing. The toll on his health was substantial, prompting him to rethink his life choices. "I was also looking for more meaning and purpose in life. One thing led to the other and in my second corporate work decade, I got deeper into reading books on Buddhism, philosophy, and self-discovery," he adds.
As he ascended the corporate ladder, his role took him to different countries for meetings, training programmes, and conferences, which broadened his understanding of diverse cultures and people. He saw inherent greatness in every individual he interacted with, a revelation that would later influence his coaching philosophy.
[caption id="attachment_38697" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Sridhar Laxman[/caption]
Born in Haveri, Karnataka, Sridhar's early life was marked by frequent relocations due to his father's transferable job with the Life Insurance Corporation (L.I.C.). He completed his schooling in various cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Nagpur, and Chandrapur. He believes that these early experiences of change and exposure to different cultures played a crucial role in building his resilience.
His professional life began with The Times of India, followed by a six-year stint in advertising agencies such as Lintas, J.W.T. Contract, and Ogilvy. He also briefly worked in the dot-com era in 2000, before assuming marketing roles in companies like American Power Conversion, Mercury Interactive, Hewlett Packard, and Schneider Electric for the next 11 years.
As a child, Sridhar showed a deep affection for animals and was known for his love for drawing, painting, and reading. "I was known for bringing home any pup I happened to see on the walk back from school," he recalls. His empathetic nature continued into adulthood, and he firmly believes that all transformation begins with awareness. "If you are fully aware of what you are doing at present, you are building your great future. Thus, awareness should always be a priority," he explains.
Choosing to leave his career and work on himself was a pivotal moment in Sridhar's life, leading him to realise his true potential and become a professional coach. Today, he is recognised as one of the top business coaches in India, providing entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals with strategies and guidance to enhance their growth. He also assists corporate leaders and business owners on their journey towards becoming highly effective, productive, and successful.
Sridhar believes that coaching is a robust process, and at the heart of it is self-awareness. He points out that the clearer a client becomes about their goals and how to achieve them, the more effective the coaching process becomes. "The feedback I received time and again in my corporate career was my ability to get people to think clearly. When evaluating a name for my business, I started with clarity as the value and the word 'Lucid' came to me. I worked on it a bit more, and Lucid Minds struck me as a good name for what I did," he explains.
The early years of Lucid Minds were challenging. Sridhar had to leave behind a corporate career of 20 years, filled with bright individuals and well-equipped office spaces, to start anew. But he persevered, investing in formal coaching education with the International Coaching Academy, International Coaching Federation, and the Centre for Transformative Coaching. "I am a Certified Professional Coach with the International Coach Federation, a graduate of the International Coach Academy, a Certified Deep Transformational Coach from the Centre for Transformational Coaching, and Certified in Hogan Personality Assessments," he states.
As Lucid Minds enters its 13th year, Sridhar, now a well-known business coaching expert, has had the opportunity to coach clients across 13 countries from various sectors like Information Technology, Pharma, Consumer Durables, Oil and Gas, Start-Ups, Financial Technology, Automotive, Rail, and Infrastructure Design. "My clients comprise C-suite leaders, founders, business owners, and other corporate executives. Except for the pandemic period, which was a challenging time across industries, my coaching practice has grown in strength by the year, and I am super excited about the work I get to do," he shares.
However, Sridhar acknowledges that running a bootstrapped business for 12 years is not without its challenges. "In the initial years, due to the lack of awareness of Coaching, it was hard to get sufficient work. I questioned my decision to quit a secure, well-paying job. There was also a sense of loneliness because I was used to working alongside people for 20 long years. However, the loneliness turned into much-needed solitude, and I am grateful," he recalls.
He has reservations about the platforms that aggregate coaches and offer them to potential clients. "In my view, business coaching is not something we can attempt to sell. Persuading, convincing, and selling coaching to vulnerable people can get them to sign up under pressure, not being ready to go through the coaching journey, and experiencing little or no growth, leading to a poor impression about Coaching as a service," he warns.
For entrepreneurs, he recommends taking time to understand oneself, as this will lay the foundation for success. "The more clarity you have about yourself, the more successful you will be. This might sound clichéd, but it's true," he insists. He believes entrepreneurs should focus on their strengths and not get bogged down by their weaknesses. "Work on your strengths. Every one of us is strong in certain areas. Identify them, build on them, and you will achieve success," he asserts.
Sridhar is also a strong advocate for continuous learning. "Learning is the key to success in the 21st century. With changes happening at a breakneck speed, continuous learning is the only way to stay relevant," he advises.
For businesses, he advocates a compassionate approach. "If you treat your employees well, they will treat your customers well. It's as simple as that. Profit is an outcome, not a goal," he says. In his experience, businesses that focus on their people and customers tend to be more successful than those that focus solely on profits. Teams must operate with high trust, a sense of belonging, and common purpose - this is the foundation of his work ethos. "Fairness, respect, and dignity, help build deeper connections and commitment towards goals," he says.
Looking back, Sridhar feels immense gratitude for the journey he's embarked on. "I am grateful for the learning and growth I have experienced over these years. I am thankful for my clients who have shown faith in me and my approach," he reflects.
In the years to come, Sridhar plans to expand his coaching practice and continue to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and organisations. He also plans to write a book on coaching, focusing on self-awareness and its importance in personal and professional growth.
When asked about his advice for aspiring coaches, he says, "Be authentic. Coaching is not about knowing all the answers but about asking the right questions. It's not about fixing the client but about empowering them to find their own solutions. Be prepared for a journey of self-discovery and continuous learning."
In closing, Sridhar shares a quote that he lives by, "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."
Follow Sridhar Laxman on LinkedIn.
In 2016, when Alyia Krumbiegel stepped out of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, she did so into a blaze of cameras flashing and reporters firing questions at her. This was Alyia's first ever visit to India and she "just wasn't prepared for the media frenzy. It was astonishing," she tells Global Indian. The first thing on her schedule was a trip to Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. She entered through the West Gate, originally known as 'Krumbiegel Gate' and thought, "Oh my God, I'm home. It was surreal. I felt this is where my life should be." Alyia's story - and her great-grandfather's obviously, is one of globalisation and multiculturalism that began far before these terms came into vogue. As India struggled under the British, a German man found home in Bengaluru, in a country that continues to love and treasure his legacy. During his lifetime, much of which he spent in India starting in 1893, he "landscaped his way," according to Alyia, over 50 gardens, tea and coffee estates in the Nilgiris and across the South. Alyia's legacy from her great grandfather, goes back to the late 1890s, to her great-grandfather, the famed landscaper Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, who gave Bengaluru its
Read Moregreat-grandfather, the famed landscaper Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, who gave Bengaluru its 'Garden City' moniker and who was behind the planning and creation of numerous parks, zoos, coffee estates and palace gardens. His name is still spoken among the royal families, from Baroda to Mysuru. As for Alyia herself, it was a twist of fate that sent her on a years-long journey to discover a rich and storied family heritage - the German landscaper who came to India during the British rule and left a mark that's still visible today.
[caption id="attachment_29781" align="aligncenter" width="382"] Alyia Krumbiegel[/caption]
"I'm a great believer in planets aligning," she tells me from her office in London, where she lives and was once neighbours with Shah Rukh Khan. Years have passed since we last spoke and Alyia has spent her time unraveling enough family history to fill a book. Which is exactly what she's doing, along with planning her next trip to India (the pandemic truncated her annual visits). She had grown up hearing stories from her grandmother and never thought much about them. In 2015, Alyia Krumbiegel was at a crossroads in her own life, "I had reached a pinnacle and was at a stage where there were more years behind me than ahead of me." She decided, almost on a whim, to Google his name for the very first time. "I remember taking off my glasses because I was so surprised," she laughs.
There was so much to see - the snippets from her grandmother had done no justice to the man, really. She also found an advertisement, posted by Richard Ward of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, trying to find Krumbiegel's descendants. The first thing next morning, she rang the house and left Richard a message. He called back 20 minutes later to say, "I can't believe it. I just cannot believe it. We have been searching for you for years." Alyia had found a renewed sense of purpose, "Learning I was a Krumbiegel, and what that meant, made me a different person. It reinvented my life."
Like his great granddaughter, Gustav Krumbiegel's journey to India was fraught with challenges and plot twists. A horticulturist in Hamburg, he was very keen to work at the Royal Botanical Garden in Kew and wrote to them, Alyia says, no less than 12 times before he was finally accepted. In 1888, he was offered a post at London's Hyde Park, where he tended to the rose gardens. Finally, he was granted entry to Kew, where he took care of the hothouse, and this is where, Alyia says, "our story starts."
[caption id="attachment_29782" align="aligncenter" width="354"] Alyia's father[/caption]
Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III of Baroda was, at that time, looking for someone to tend to the state botanical gardens back home. As he visited the gardens in Kew, he learned that Krumbiegel took care of the hothouse and promptly offered him a job. Three months later, Krumbiegel was on a ship to Bombay, from where he arrived in Baroda. "He wrote letters back to Kew in those early days, calling India a remarkable country and praising its rich, red soil, where everything grows, saying there was no need for a hothouse." Three years later, he sent for Kaite Clara and a couple of hours after her arrival in Bombay, married her.
Krumbiegel worked as the curator of the botanical gardens for the erstwhile princely state of Baroda, succeeding J.M. Henry. "He was asked to find spots for tea plantations in Cooch Behar," Alyia says. He also landscaped the gardens of the Sayaji Baug Zoo, designed the sunken gardens of the Laxmi Vilas Palace and laid out Baroda's polo fields. "He also designed water storage reservoirs, because he was very concerned with issues like water conservation. During that time, my great grandmother, Katie Clara, would teach the young princes German. How she had learned fluent German is a bit of a mystery to me because she was British." Krumbiegel also worked with the Government Botanical Gardens in Ooty and was responsible for the architectural redesign.
[caption id="attachment_29786" align="aligncenter" width="266"] Alyia Krumbiegel with Jeetendrasingh G Gaekwad in Mysore[/caption]
A painting of Krumbiegel and a bust, both commissioned by the Maharajah are still in the Mysore Palace. In 1907, Krishanaraja Wodeyar, the ruler of Mysore, made him an offer and Krumbiegel arrived properly in the South, where he spent the remainder of his time in India. "He became a trusted associate of the royals and was the only man allowed the privilege of a handshake with the Maharaja," Alyia says.
The famed Brindavan Gardens, the landscaping of the Mysore Zoo and the palaces and Bengaluru's Lalbagh all bear the touch of G.H. Krumbiegel. In 1912, Krumbiegel became involved with the Mysore Horicultural Society and the Dewan of Mysore appointed him as an architectural consultant despite objections from Mysore's British Resident. Krumbiegel expanded Lalbagh, spending so much time there that he moved to the premises with his family. "He was the only superintendent to raise his family in the park," Alyia explains. He revived the Mughal style of gardening and introduced several plants that he brought in from England.
"Kew had a seed exchange programme, which great-grandfather started when he went to Baroda," Alyia tells me. In Lalbagh, where he worked another 'Kew-it', John Cameron, they scaled up the exchange. The duo obtained seeds from other countries and sent collections to Kew as well as to America. Varieties of mango, including the malgova and varieties of rice went to the United States from Bangalore. In return, he introduced the Rhodes grass, Russian sunflower, soya bean, American maize, Feijoa sellowiana from Paris, Livistonia Australia from Java and several other species. In Bengaluru, the tabebuia and the jacaranda, as well as the majestic rain trees that continue to line the Cantonment area, all bear testament to Krumbiegel's legacy. He was also among the group that founded the still active Mythic Society in Bengaluru.
[caption id="attachment_29789" align="aligncenter" width="504"] G.H. Krumbiegel at the Lalbagh Flower Show[/caption]
When World War II commenced, Krumbiegel was declared an enemy, by virtue of his birthplace, by the British. "He had embraced India and was very vocal about independence for the country," Alyia says. "The princely royals protected him when the British saw an enemy in every German."
On two occasions, Krumbiegel was thrown into prisoner of war camps by the British in India. His views against colonialism also resulted in him receiving a severe beating during his imprisonment. "The Maharajah of Mysore saved him from being deported as well." His wife, Katie, although she was British, was also considered a traitor for having married a German and for a time, Alyia says, "great grandmother and their daughters were under house arrest."
In 1952, Krumbiegel, who was then a consulting architect and an improtant advisor in town planning and horticulture died in Bengaluru. He was buried in Hosur Road, at the Methodist cemetery and a road located between two of Lalbagh's gates was remained Krumbiegel Road in his honour. In 2016, the grave was given a much-needed facelift. Krumbiegel House in Lalbagh remained standing as a ruin until its collapse in 2017, after which the state government created a replica of the structure.
Always on Alyia's hand is a gold gandaberunda, flanked by rubies and pearls, bearing the two-headed bird that is the royal insignia of the kingdom of Mysore. Now, it is Karnataka's state symbol as well. "it was a gift from the Maharaja of Mysore to my grandmother Hilda, when she turned 18," Alyia says. "When she died, I got the bracelet."
[caption id="attachment_29785" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Gold gandaberunda, flanked by rubies and pearls, bearing the two-headed bird that is the royal insignia of the kingdom of Mysore. Now, it is Karnataka's state symbol. Photo: Courtesy Alyia Krumbiegel[/caption]
Ever since her first visit in 2016, Alyia, who tries to return each year, has become a vocal voice for preserving Bengaluru's monumental and green heritage. One of the people she met along the way was Jeetendrasingh Rao Gaekwad, of Baroda, with whom she took a private tour of the Mysore Palace and tea with the queen mother, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.
"That was a surreal experience," she says. "We were sitting in the formal lounge of the palace, which was breathtaking. Then she came through, wearing a bright yellow sari and so graceful, she looked like she was floating, not walking. We had coffee and cake together and spoke of all the connections." She also visited the coffee estate in Chikmagalur that her grandmother had once owned and been made to give up when the British left India.
When she returns, the first thing she does is visit her great-grandfather's grave. "I like to arrive at half-past three in the morning so I won't be in traffic." Alyia describes Bengaluru with great familiarity. After breakfast, she heads to the Methodist Cemetery to place flowers on Krumbiegel's tomb. "Nobody ever touches it. I think they know that I left it there and they always make sure it's intact. Even if it's hanging by one string, it stays there."
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