Global IndianstoryDr Cool: Dr AV Gurava Reddy is making India stand on its feet

Dr Cool: Dr AV Gurava Reddy is making India stand on its feet

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(May 5, 2024) Decades ago, when Dr AV Gurava Reddy got an opportunity to go to England to study Orthopaedics, his joy knew no bounds. The very thought of getting into a flight for the first time in his life had the young doctor all excited. But there was a hitch. He needed money to buy his ticket. Contemplating his options, an idea struck him and he wasted no time implementing it. He sold off his scooter and refrigerator. The next 10 years he spent in England, changed his life forever.

“I never dreamt I would go to England one day. At best, I thought I would be practising in my native place Guntur (in Andhra Pradesh) or somewhere nearby. Going to England was the biggest turning point of my life,” smiles Dr AV Gurava Reddy, the renowned Orthopaedic surgeon and Joint replacement expert, in an exclusive with Global Indian.

Dr Gurava Reddy

Dr Reddy, who is the Managing Director of KIMS-Sunshine hospitals in Hyderabad, has a rare distinction of performing about 4,000 plus joint replacements per year, one of the largest in Asia.

Patient-first

“Whatever little success I have had is primarily because of my patient-first attitude. I develop a deep bonding with them in the very first meeting and become their family member in no time,” says Dr Reddy, who has been recognised as “the leading physician of the world and top adult reconstructive orthopaedic surgeon in India” by the International Association of Orthopaedic surgeons, which is a rare honour.

Unlike many in his profession, Dr Reddy does not hesitate a bit when it comes to performing the most complicated and risky surgeries. “I take it up with complete and blind faith in god. When you want to do something passionately, the whole world conspires to help you,” says the 65-year old, widely regarded as a visionary in the field of orthopaedics and embracing the human side of health care.

One such surgery was of a young girl whose four joints had been damaged because of arthritis. “I replaced all four joints in 10 days. This was one of the most daring decisions I’ve ever taken,” informs Dr Reddy. This patient regularly sends greeting cards to Dr Reddy, who is well known to have taken several such bold decisions, which would often stump his team. “It’s all about having a positive attitude and the willingness to help the patient,” he says about his decision-making abilities.

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While each surgery takes about two hours, Dr Gurava Reddy completes the critical part in about 30 minutes. The rest is taken care of by his team.

Dr Cool

Dr Reddy, who describes himself as “pathologically optimistic,” says he doesn’t get bogged down by anything. “God has given me a very positive attitude that I never worry about any situation, including the complex surgeries. The only time I got depressed was when my daughter was not well, years ago. Otherwise, every day is a celebration for me,” says the first orthopaedic surgeon in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to use computer navigation system for total knee arthroplasty.

Dr Reddy, who has been felicitated with the “Distinguished Doctor” award by the British International Doctors Association in recognition of his pioneering work, has performed joint replacement surgeries on patients from Tanzania, Nigeria, Middle East and South Africa. He also performed the highest number of Buechel-Pappas mobile bearing total knee arthroplasty in the whole of India.

Collaborations 

Dr Reddy collaborated with CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) in conducting research to identify early bio markers to diagnose Osteo Arthritis of the knee and degenerative disease of the spine. He also collaborated with the University of Christchurch, Canterbury, UK on Stem Cell research for treatment of knee arthritis.

Dr Gurava Reddy | Global Indian

Besides, he is a visiting faculty at Badr-al-Sama hospital in Muscat and trains 10 post MS orthopaedicians in Arthroplasty fellowships every six months and hosts about 40 shorter term trainings from India and abroad. “We also have collaborations with several hospitals in the US and Germany for research and academic programmes,” informs Dr Reddy, whose hospitals are the only one in Asia to have been recognised by the International Society of orthopaedic centres, which is the most elite body in the field.

His Innovations  

Dr Reddy brought about several innovations in the field of Arthroplasty in the last two decades. He introduced the concept of bilateral simultaneous total knee replacement in India, which enabled patients undergo both knee replacements in the same sitting, leading to a shorter period of rehabilitation, which brought down the cost. He also introduced the bilateral staggered total knee replacement for the aged and those with comorbidities, where the knee replacement is done three days apart.

Among his other innovations is the rapid recovery protocol, a concept of having selective patients being made to walk within four hours of surgery.

Andhra boy

Born in Guntur in September 1958, Dr Gurava Reddy is the eldest of the three brothers. He was six months old when his parents moved to Bapatla after his father Dr Satyanarayana Reddy got a job in the Agricultural College and went on to become its Principal. His mother, Rajya Lakshmi was a home maker.

Dr Reddy studied in Sitaramaiah elementary school, which used to be run from a thatched hut. “When it rained, the school would be closed as the water used to leak and accumulate inside. There were no tables or chairs in the school, we used to sit on small wooden pitas and listen to the teachers,” smiles Dr Reddy, recalling the good old days.

A saree for mother 

After completing his Intermediate from Arts College, Bapatla, he went on to do B.Sc. Agriculture from Agriculture College, Bapatla. He always excelled in academics. “I could not secure a medical seat so got into B.Sc agriculture. I got the medical seat in my fourth attempt,” says Dr Reddy, whose best academic performance got him a ₹1,000 scholarship from the institution. “With that money, I bought a saree for my mother. I still remember the happiness in her eyes,” recalls Dr Reddy.

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Though his father wanted him to go to the US to do M.Sc in Agriculture, Dr Reddy refused and enrolled himself in Guntur Medical College, of which he has fond memories. “I was doing everything except studying,” chuckles Dr Reddy, who used to be the captain of the college cricket team, table tennis team and also headed the college quiz team.

Dr Reddy’s mother harboured dreams of her son becoming a doctor. “I also used to like the doctor’s white coat and used to be fascinated by it when I used to watch my favourite movie stars wear them,” he says. But strangely what inspired him to become a doctor was a room full of tubelights. In those days when most people in Bapatla had candle bulbs, there was a doctor whose room was brightly lit, courtesy the tubelights. “Funny as it may sound, for me tubelights was an indicator of affluence and being wealthy. This served as an inspiration for me to become a doctor,” says Dr Reddy, who has four grand children.

Off to Pune & marriage 

After medical school in Guntur, Dr Reddy went to Pune for his post-graduation in orthopaedics from Sancheti Orthopaedic Hospital, one of the premier orthopaedic institutes in India. Around the same time, he married Bhavani, who was also doing her post-graduation from Pune. Her father Bhavanam Venkatarami Reddy served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and her mother was also a Minister in the state cabinet. “Though I got married in to a political family, we were both living a very frugal life in Pune. My salary was ₹800 and our house rent was ₹1200. But we managed to get on with our lives with so much happiness. This is an indicator that only money cannot buy happiness,” says Dr Reddy.

Among the many people he met in Pune was Dr Satish Kutty, who eventually recommended his name for studying orthopaedics in England. “It was in England that I learnt to take care of people, not as patients but as persons. I also learnt many new techniques in orthopaedics,” says Dr Reddy, who did his M.Ch. Ortho from the University of Liverpool and FRCS from London, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Back to India

Upon his return to Hyderabad, Dr Reddy joined the Apollo Hospital, where he worked for the next five years. Thereafter, he along with his co-brother, Dr. Bhaskar Rao (who is the chairman of KIMS Hospital now), started the KIM’s Hospital in 2004. Later, he started Sunshine hospitals and drove it towards the zenith of healthcare delivery.

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In 2021, Sunshine hospital’s major stake was sold to KIMS and the group is now called KIMS-Sunshine hospitals.

Busy schedule 

Dr Gurava Reddy’s work keeps him busy for almost 12 to 14 hours everyday. He wakes up at 5 am and begins his day with a game of tennis with his wife Bhavani. By 7 am, Dr Reddy is in the hospital. “I have breakfast in my car which saves me almost half an hour.  In between the cases I go to operating theatres and operate. On an average I operate 15 to 20 surgeries a day,” informs Dr Reddy, an active faculty member at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, UK.

Family time

It’s family time for Dr Reddy after he returns home from work. “I divide my time between my four grand children and play with them,” he says.

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In his early days, he would get calls even in midnight. But not anymore. “My team handles all the night calls now unless close friends or some VIPs face any emergency,” says Dr Reddy, who has performed surgeries on several top government functionaries and many from the film industry as well.

Book worm & Movie buff

A voracious reader, he loves biographies and comedy besides history books. He authored a book – Guruvayanam, a collection of his musings on life and even acted in a comical teleserial named Amrutham.Also, a huge movie buff, he enjoys romantic, comedy and adventure films, along with Telugu and Hindi music.

As a traveller, Switzerland has captivated his mind and soul. “I try to do two or three international destinations every year,” informs Dr Reddy, a hardcore Beatles fan. In fact, while studying in England, he travelled across Europe and visited all the places where Beatles had performed.

Dr Gurava Reddy | Global Indian

Future of medical field

Dr Reddy feels that a MBBS degree won’t be sufficient in the near future as doctors would need to have an expertise or a speciality. “The technology too is evolving and doctors need to keep themselves updated. Artificial Intelligence, robotics will play a key role in the medical field,” he says.

Giving back

He says a surgeon’s life is divided in four decades. “The first decade is learning, next is earning, then teaching and last is giving. I am now in my fourth stage,” says Dr Reddy, who has started a trust – Sarvejana – under which surgeries are performed free of cost to disadvantaged people, who otherwise cannot afford knee replacement surgeries. Dr Reddy has already performed over 100 such surgeries and plans to do many more in future.

Awards received by Dr AV Gurava Reddy

Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Healthcare (coordinated by IMA, Govt of AP, Indo-Global)
Felicitated by Indo-German Orthopedic Foundation
“Top Adult Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgeon in India” award from Leading physician of the World, USA
“Outstanding citizen of Andhra Pradesh” by Indian Express Group
Felicitated with the “Distinguished Doctor” award by British International Doctors Association in recognition of his pioneering
Felicitated with the “Paul Harris Fellow” by Rotary International
Excellence Award by Delhi Telugu Academy, Ugadi Puraskar 2010 for contribution in field of medicine.
“Vocational Excellence Award” by Rotary International District

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Published on 05, May 2024

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Kolkata biryani with potato confit? British Chef Shaun Kenworthy is rewriting the rules of Bengali cuisine

(March 3, 2024) Chef Shaun Kenworthy’s career graph is the definition of going against the norm. While most chefs love the idea of travelling around the world, working with multiple brands across cuisines, once Shaun based himself in Kolkata, he was happy to travel across India doing what he loves best. With no plans of going back to England, in the near future at least. Oh Kolkata! Growing up in a town near Manchester, United Kingdom, Shaun worked as a pastry chef at some of the most happening restaurants and bars in London. He was voted one of the top ten pastry chefs in London when he was barely 25. In an exclusive with Global Indian, Chef Shaun recalls, “At that time, I was working with the restaurant Quaglinos in London – the usual 14 to 15-hour days where you barely get four-and-a-half hours of sleep; and you burn out before you are 30. I met Rohit Khattar of India Habitat Centre at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore, in the year 2000; an event attended by restaurateurs and chefs from all over the world. Rohit invited me to come to India for a couple of weeks in June 2000

attended by restaurateurs and chefs from all over the world. Rohit invited me to come to India for a couple of weeks in June 2000 and thereafter, with a few emails back and forth, in October 2000, I decided to come here and get out of London for a bit. I was the Executive Sous Chef for India Habitat Centre in Delhi. I had every plan of going back in a year; but one month prior, 9/11 happened and nobody was boarding flights. I also didn’t have a job to go back to.”

ALSO READ: Chef Lakhan Jethani brings Japan’s Shoji Ryori cuisine to India

He stayed back and happened to meet Priya Paul of The Park Group of Hotels. She asked him to join them as they were launching new hotels in Bengaluru and Chennai. “I joined the Park Hotel, Kolkata as Executive Chef and had a two-year contract, but they renewed it after one year to extend it for three more years. Those four years were brilliant; I was almost given carte blanche. I spent time in Chennai for the opening of the Park there, and in Delhi for the re-opening of their hotel. I was part of the renovation and relaunch of Flury’s, also owned by the Paul family, in December 2024.”

Here is where he made his mark in Kolkata. With no less a brand than the legendary Flurys; the tea room and patisserie that has been around since 1927. He recalls, “As a pastry chef they wanted me to revamp the menu. I even had Lord Swaraj Paul calling me from England, asking me not to change this or that dish on the menu. The entire Paul family was involved in the revamp.”

Chef Shaun left The Park in 2005. Somewhere along the way, he met Pinky, a model who he married in 2004. “When my time was up, we wondered whether we should go back to England; I also had offers in Beijing, Melbourne and Singapore. But I liked it here, so we stayed back.”

One Chef, Many Hats

That was sheer serendipity because it led to Chef Shaun getting consultancy offers, teaching assignments and setting up new hospitality brands. He says, “I have worked on more than 120 projects over the last 17 years – everything from small boutique properties to high end hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, patisseries, QSR venues and remote properties in places such as the Himalayas, Rajasthan, Kutch and cities across India.”

Chef Shaun was also briefly part of a restaurant called The Blue Potato in Kolkata serving modern global cuisine – which had Bollywood stars and international celebs like Ricky Martin and Antonio Banderas dine there. It shut down in two years because it didn’t have a liquor license. The British chef has also mentored many students, as the Director, Culinary Arts for IICM – the Indian Institute of Culinary Management across several cities. “Thousands of young people have passed through my hands and so many of my students have worked with me.”

Projects he has recently worked on include the premium segment property, Suryagarh, in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan and Rann Riders in Kutch, and Sitara, in the Himalayas. He says, “I like to work on places that tell a story of the region through the food, in a modern context. These places get lots of international guests, so the stories of the place must be retold through the local ingredients and traditions.” He likes taking on selected projects, some on turnkey basis; creating a brand-new all-day menu, masterclasses, pop-ups… “I like loads of variety – doing one thing is boring for me,” he says.

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The place still close to his heart and one Chef Shaun is still involved with since the planning stages over a decade ago, is The Glenburn Penthouse, which opened its doors in the middle of 2018. “We [Glenburn Tea Estate’s Anshuman and Husna-Tara Prakash] decided to launch an elegant, boutique nine-room venue. It stands on Russell Street overlooking the magnificent Victorian Memorial and the Kolkata maidan. Other than focus on the rooms, we host intimate, bespoke events with 20-40 people over dinner. We are open for lunch and dinner and offer a traditional ‘Full English afternoon tea.’ We also did curated menus for special occasions.”

Chef Shaun reiterates that he does not personally cook Indian food. “I play around with flavours and Indian ingredients, but the food I make is more European and modern. I have been using Bandel cheese from Kalimpong for more than 20 years now in my risottos and pastas.”

Bengali Cuisine, International Touch

Bengalis have, more so than Indians from other states, a proprietary approach towards their cuisine. Any criticism or experimentation is often taken as a personal affront. Yet, Chef Shaun has experimented with ingredients and techniques, as he says, “a million times.” To great success. Even the sacrosanct elements of Bengali food – the hilsa fish, mishti doi and the Kolkata biryani –have been modernised and completely transformed under his creative touch. As have puchkas, pani puri to the rest of us, kasundi or mustard paste and paanch phoron – the Bengali tadka medley. The famed sweets too are served in unrecognisable avatars. He says, “To make the Kolkata biryani, I broke it down into its four main components – rice, meat, potato and egg. I overcooked the rice, the goat was cooked overnight for 12 hours so the meat would just melt in your mouth. I served it with a potato confit and a soft-boiled egg. And topped it with crispy fried onions and a dollop of ghee because everyone loves them. Of course, people criticised it initially, but I told them to taste it first and not jump to conclusions. Similarly, with the hilsa, I serve it pan-seared alongside roasted arbi and green gondhoraj [the local lemon] Hollandaise sauce.” Chef Shaun has also served the much-revered hilsa as a mousse among other Bengali favourites turned upside down.

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Puchkas have been tweaked into various starters and dessert much before doing so became a trend. He recalls, “I like to experiment as the food is about telling a story. I’ve served puchkas dipped in white chocolate, or with crab mousse, a beetroot chaat, or Bengali sweets inside – in a million different ways really. I treat the aam papad or shoto as it is known here, as a fruit leather and play around with it as a glaze. The paanch phoron too is so versatile. Among desserts, which are the easiest to make for me, I made a mishti doi burnt basque with mishti doi and cheese; and served angoori rasmalai with little fruit pieces.”

ALSO READ: Bhupender Nath: Redefining modernist Indian cuisine through Tresind

Global trends according to him are moving towards innovation. He says in conclusion, “India is in a great position and there are so many inspired young chefs doing intelligent stuff with Indian ingredients. Look at Goa, five or six years ago, nothing was happening and so much has changed now. There are so many trendy restaurants in Goa and it is a melting pot of cuisines. A lot of chefs are also reviving regional cuisines and reinventing recipes that have been there for a long time.”

While travelling, Chef Shaun Kenworthy likes to eat at:

Yauatcha, Kolkata: Crispy prawn Cheung fun
Comorin, Gurgaon: Any and many of their small plates; I love the bheja fry
Ode, Mumbai: Yellow fin tuna loin with avocado pachadi
La Chapelle, London: For a good Sunday roast
Amazonico, Madrid: For the most incredible Brazilian rib eye steaks
The Canton house, Chinatown, Bangkok: Their dim sums are to die for

You can follow Shaun on Instagram here: Chefshaunkenworthy

Charithra Chandran: Bridgerton actress with big dreams and bigger purpose

(September 8, 2024) Known for her role as Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton Season 2, the British-Indian actress Charithra Chandran has now been cast as Miss Wednesday in Netflix's One Piece Season 2, a move that marks an exciting new phase in her career. Her other significant work includes appearances in Alex Rider, Star Wars: Visions, and How to Date Billy Walsh. Unlike many actors who struggle to break into the industry, Charithra’s path to stardom has been swift. Just two months after deciding to pursue acting, she had secured a role in Amazon’s teen spy series Alex Rider in 2021, and shortly thereafter, landed her breakout role in Bridgerton. Reflecting on this meteoric rise, she had acknowledged in an interview with The Guardian, “I’ve potentially had the biggest success, in my professional life, in the second thing I’ve ever done.” However, the actor dreams of even bigger opportunities. “I’m not saying I’ll never do anything grander than Bridgerton. I hope that’s not the case – and I have big ambitions. It’s just rather bizarre that it was the beginning of my career. I think it has really warped my sense of achievement,” she said. Tamil Nadu connection and Oxford education

ded her breakout role in Bridgerton. Reflecting on this meteoric rise, she had acknowledged in an interview with The Guardian, “I’ve potentially had the biggest success, in my professional life, in the second thing I’ve ever done.” However, the actor dreams of even bigger opportunities. “I’m not saying I’ll never do anything grander than Bridgerton. I hope that’s not the case – and I have big ambitions. It’s just rather bizarre that it was the beginning of my career. I think it has really warped my sense of achievement,” she said.

Indian Actor | Charithra Chandran | Global Indian

Tamil Nadu connection and Oxford education

The only child of two doctors from Tamil Nadu, Charithra Chandran calls her parents a ‘case of classic economic migrants’ who moved to the United Kingdom before her birth. Her endocrinologist mother and surgeon father separated quite early, and the actor has no recollection of their days together. At the age of six, she was sent to a boarding school as her parents were too busy with their careers but Charithra grew up being close to both.

“My parents are polar opposites. I always say I’m in the middle: less hard-working than my dad and less intelligent than my mum. But as a combination, it has enabled me to be high-achieving enough,” she mentioned.

Her education revolved around modern languages, and classical literature. Just like her fluency in English, she is comfortable in Tamil, and has played hockey and netball at county level.

After school Charithra Chandran had joined the prestigious Oxford University where – despite spending most of her time doing drama – she earned a first-class degree in philosophy, politics and economics.

Indian Actor | Charithra Chandran | Global Indian

Transformative experiences

While her education at Oxford University shaped her personality, it was her gap year experiences that she describes as truly 'transformative.' She spent it traveling, working as a waitress, and serving in the constituency office of her local MP. These experiences ignited a passion for social justice, a cause she continues to be deeply committed to.

Upon graduating, Charithra Chandran was ready to start a job with an international consultancy firm, but couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn’t the right fit. So, she chose to take another year off before committing to a demanding 70-hour-a-week job. Then the pandemic struck. As she watched her parents head to work in their hospitals daily, she took action by setting up a food bank.

“This was the time I became introspective about what I wanted to achieve and what I would regret. I was like, ‘I have to give acting a go',” she shared.

Finally identifying where her interests are, she sent emails to acting agencies, and two months later, got signed for Alex Rider. Even before filming ended, she had got the role of a lifetime; in Bridgerton.

While considering herself lucky, Charithra Chandran believes that there is another side to her good fortune. “In getting signed to my agent, I was a beneficiary of the Black Lives Matter movement. Everybody took stock of how diverse their looks were and – whether cynically or beautifully – they were like, ‘Oh, shoot, we need more people of colour,’” she remarked.

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The 27-year-old is aware of the intersectionality of race in her industry. “As a brown actor, my experiences aren’t going to be the same as those of my white peers.” She understands that she would have lesser opportunities, and hence has a plan B ready.

From pleasure to purpose

Charithra harbours ambitions to make a difference in the lives of people in India. If opportunities in acting start diminishing, she plans to shift her focus back to her other passions. The Indian-origin actress has a dream of setting up a micro-community near her grandparents’ home in Tamil Nadu, where she aims to establish solar-powered factories operated by women who will share the profits. Her goal is to demonstrate alternative models for running businesses and communities, proving that profit maximization doesn’t have to be the sole priority.

“I believe life is divided into periods of purpose and periods of pleasure,” she remarked, “and my acting career is a period of pleasure.” However, the actress also views acting as a path that can intersect with purpose, especially when it conveys a positive message to society.

[caption id="attachment_39138" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Indian Actor | Charithra Chandran | Global Indian[/caption]

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A tale of courage: Droupadi Murmu’s accession to the Rashtrapati Bhavan entails a series of many firsts

(July 23, 2022) The first tribal leader, youngest candidate, and first head of state born post-independence - are just some of the terms which are now being associated with Droupadi Murmu. Winning by a phenomenal margin of 64 percent, the Adivasi leader from Odisha scripted history on July 21, as she became the 15th President of India. After four rounds of polling, where she received 2,824 votes, the former Governor of Jharkhand emerged victorious against Yashwant Sinha, the former Minister of Finance of India. [caption id="attachment_27266" align="aligncenter" width="550"] President Droupadi Murmu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi[/caption] Hailing from the Santhal tribe of Odisha, Murmu has a long and glorious political career behind her. Despite several personal setbacks, she kept working towards uplifting the marginalised communities, not just in her state, but across the country. Global Indian takes a look at the life journey of the next Indian President. Early years Born in 1958, in Uperbeda, a small village situated approximately 285 km away from Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneswar, Murmu was the only daughter among three kids. Inspired by her father, Biranchi Narayan Tudu, who was the chief of the village, a young Murmu would stay up late at night to study

rong>Early years

Born in 1958, in Uperbeda, a small village situated approximately 285 km away from Odisha’s capital, Bhubaneswar, Murmu was the only daughter among three kids. Inspired by her father, Biranchi Narayan Tudu, who was the chief of the village, a young Murmu would stay up late at night to study one chapter ahead of what was being taught at her school. The President, however, was not just good at academics. She was also an athlete, who won many medals in school competitions.

[caption id="attachment_27267" align="aligncenter" width="724"] President | Droupadi Murmu | Global Indian An old image of Tudu family. Droupadi Murmu can be seen standing second from right.[/caption]

After finishing her seventh standard at the Uperbeda Middle English School, Murmu moved to Bhubaneswar, where she completed her high school and moved on to pursue a bachelor of arts at the Rama Devi Women's College. Married soon after her graduation, she never let anything come in the way of her career. An ambitious youngster, Murmu's first job was at the Odisha State Irrigation and Power Department, where she worked as a junior assistant from 1979 to 1983. The couple subsequently became parents to two sons and a daughter.

In the early 90s, the family moved to Rairangpur, where Murmu worked as an assistant professor at the Shri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Institute.

A glorious political journey

As a teacher, Murmu took stock of the many social ills that plagued Rairangpur - such as high illiteracy, bad sanitation, and rampant health issues. Moved by the people's plight, the President took up voluntary teaching and worked toward educating kids from the most remote parts of Odisha. She entered politics in 1997, contesting in the local polls as a BJP candidate. She won, becoming Rairangpur's councillor. An able leader, Murmu would personally supervise the sanitisation work in the town, making sure that the drains and garbage were cleaned properly. An excellent orator in Odia and Santhali, Murmu's persistence and reputation helped many young kids, especially girls, get back to school.

[caption id="attachment_27269" align="aligncenter" width="643"] President | Droupadi Murmu | Global Indian An old staff photograph of Integral School, Rairangpur. Droupadi Murmu is standing fourth from left[/caption]

A member of the Bhartiya Janata Party, Murmu was elected twice to Odisha's Legislative Assembly - in 2000 and 2009 - from the Rairangpur seat. In the Biju Janata Dal - BJP coalition led by Naveen Patnaik, Murmu even took care of the commerce and transport, and fisheries and animal resources portfolios. Between 2006 and 2009, BJP made Murmu the state president of its scheduled tribe's wing, during which Murmu worked extensively with the remote Adivasi communities, suffering from social and economical disadvantages. It was during this period that she was conferred with Nilkantha Award for the best MLA by the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

A tragic turn

Her professional career was flourishing. As she climbed higher in Odisha's politics, Murmu's life came to a sudden halt after she lost her eldest son, Laxman Murmu, in 2009. According to reports, the 25-year-old was found unconscious by his bed. Although the family rushed him to the nearby hospital, he couldn't be saved. About three years later, Murmu lost her second son in a road accident. "I was devastated and suffered from depression," Murmu had shared, during a 2016 interview with Doordarshan, "I spent sleepless nights after my son's death. It was when that I visited Brahma Kumaris, I realised I had to move on and live for my two sons and daughter."

[caption id="attachment_27270" align="aligncenter" width="639"] President | Droupadi Murmu | Global Indian Murmu family[/caption]

While she was still picking up the pieces of her life, Murmu's encountered another tragedy. In 2014, Murmu's husband succumbed to a major cardiac arrest, leaving behind an inconsolable wife. But realising that she had to take care of her teenage daughter, Murmu pulled herself together and continued her work towards the betterment of her community. She later became the National Vice-President of BJP Scheduled Tribes Morcha.

Road to Raisina Hills

After suffering through several personal setbacks, Murmu's life was slowly coming back on track. Impressed with her work for the socially and economically weaker communities in Odisha, the Government of India appointed her as the Governor of Jharkhand. The first female to be sworn into the office, Murmu took several hard decisions to protect the rights of the tribal community of Jharkhand. This included her refusal to approve the bill seeking amendments to the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, 1949.

[caption id="attachment_27272" align="aligncenter" width="632"] President | Droupadi Murmu | Global Indian Droupadi Murmu during her presidential campaign[/caption]

BJP-led National Democratic Alliance considered Murmu's name as their official candidate for the 2017 Presidential election. However, the party picked Ram Nath Kovind over her. In June 2022, Murmu was nominated by the NDA as their candidate for the 15th President of India. Sixty-four and still enthusiastic to work for the people, Murmu visited numerous states, including Odisha, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, and met the head of governments there during her presidential campaign. As many as 73 percent of Members of Parliament and 74 percent of Members of the legislative assembly, of 6,76,803 value, voted for the tribal candidate, who is set to be sworn in as the 15th President of India on July 25, 2022.

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Toy story: Suhasini Paul is pushing the boundaries of play

(February 7, 2023) Suhasini Paul is the first toy designer in the country to have her name imprinted on her work for Indian and global clients. She's also the force behind the immensely popular surprise toys found inside Kinder Joy chocolates, the creator of Chota Bheem promotional toys and merchandise and has been a toy expert with Snapdeal. And as far back as she can remember, making toys has been her passion, one that grew into an ambition and then a flourishing career. "I didn't have toys growing up," she says, in an interview with Global Indian. "I had Ludo, and Snakes and Ladders." Instead of buying dolls like other kids her age, her grandmother taught her how to make her own toys and create chalk sculptures. The first turning point came when she realised, she could "convert my ideas into products." "When you want to achieve something, the world conspires to help you," she remarks, paraphrasing Paulo Coelho. [caption id="attachment_34773" align="aligncenter" width="393"] Suhasini Paul[/caption] The first turning point She was an engineering student in Nagpur when the National Institute of Design started a toy design programme in 2002. Even in engineering college, Suhasini was doing birthday parties and

24" /> Suhasini Paul[/caption]

The first turning point

She was an engineering student in Nagpur when the National Institute of Design started a toy design programme in 2002. Even in engineering college, Suhasini was doing birthday parties and window displays for kids, earning her own money. Still, she had no idea that such a profession even existed. "I thought, this is what I have always wanted to do, really." She took the exam and got admission to NID, kickstarting her professional journey.

Suhasini began working with Frank Educational Aids during her diploma project. She decided on a topic that would help kids become more environmentally conscious and wondered if she could give them a gamified approach to imbibing good values. This led to designing two board games and two puzzles - which were launched in January 2006. "My first product was out in the market," she says.

Her "first success," Suhasini recalls, came a year prior. In 2005, when she was still a student at NID, she received a National Award, given to her by Narendra Modi, who was the CM of Gujarat at the time. "I was the only woman designpreneur - the award was for Designpreneur of the Year," she says. There has been no looking back since.

How does it work?

Suhasini designs for all age groups, from toddlers to teens. "My specialty is toddlers and pre-schoolers," she explains. She has over 300 toys in production and in the market. "It's all about the materials," she explains. "Toddlers become very active after 18 months of age, they begin to understand colours and basic shapes." These early stages of cognitive growth progress rapidly - "They embrace change, learn and understand very fast."

[caption id="attachment_34774" align="aligncenter" width="492"] Suhasini with a participant from one of her workshops[/caption]

'Play' is the most important part of a child's life, and has a pivotal role in "cognitive, motor and psychosocial, emotional and linguistic skills. It also plays a key role in raising self-confident, creative and happy children." "They improve their oral and motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They work on oral skills by blowing air through a straw and matching colours. Kids at that age need tangible, age-appropriate toys," says Suhasini, who has done programmes with NDTV explaining how toys can be introduced at the kindergarten and pre-school levels.

Suhasini sees herself as a bridge between the manufacturer, the parent and the end user. "And I need to make toys with high perceived value and the lowest cost possible. The design needs to be manufacturing-friendly, save on time and cost." Still, it needs to be something kids would want to grab off the shelf and since the "parent is the one buying it, the toy needs to appeal to them too. It's all about the materials, really."

The design process

It begins with study and observation. "I understand kids through their drawings, gather my insights and make a design direction," she explains. When the parameters are established, the work begins - sketching, concept and detailing.

These days, when she works with clients, Suhasini even designs the packaging. "It's a journey that begins from scratch and goes all the way till the product makes it to the market." It's an immersive process, more so because her husband, Sandip Paul, is also a noted product designer. "It's a way of life now. We talk about design all the time, even when we're going to bed," she laughs.

[caption id="attachment_34775" align="aligncenter" width="588"] An eco doll house: Credit: Suhasini Paul[/caption]

It's a material world

In 2009, Suhasini went to Germany to launch toys for a client and was invited to their factory in China. She ended up staying there for a month, understanding how to design wooden and bamboo toys. From there, she was invited to another company, in Thailand, this time, which specialised in rubberwood toys. "They removed the latex from the rubber trees and use the remaining wood to make toys," says Suhasini, who has been designing toys for them since 2010.

"It's a fully sustainable process from start to finish," she says. This includes the processes, packaging and even the brochures, and involves soy ink and recyclable paper.

Also in 2009, she was approached by the Italian confectionary giant Ferrero to be part of its Kinder brand. Kinderjoy, with its plastic, egg-shaped packaging that splits into two and contains a surprise toy is the company's most lucrative product in the last decade. Suhasini came on board in 2008-09, as they entered the Indian market. "I designed multiple toys for them." She has also done a range of sports toys for Disney and as an expert with Snapdeal.

Expert speak

Today, Suhasini's job also involves working with clients who want to create toys of their own, as the Indian toy industry began witnessing a historic boom. In 2014-15, the toy industry export was around USD 96.17 million and grew by 240 percent in 2021-22, when it was worth USD 326.63 million.

It means more players in the market and Suhasini's role has transformed from designing toys to making entrepreneurs aware of the industry and educating them. "Earlier, I had mainly international clients but we now have lots of projects from India as well. India is becoming more and more design savvy and the shift has happened in the last two years."

Everybody wants a show-stopper product and that's where Suhasini steps in, hand-holding companies, from suggesting names, creating a philosophy, logo and a signature product.

[caption id="attachment_34776" align="aligncenter" width="571"] A mini-drone designed in collaboration with Paul Sandip. Photo credit: Suhasini Paul[/caption]

The IoT world

"Everything is good in moderation," Suhasini smiles. "Everything has its pros and cons." It has however, led to the creation of IoT and tech-based toys. "I want to be a trendsetter always."

She calls toys the "basic hygiene of cognitive development." The question at hand, she explains, is always, "How will this help a child grow and also have fun? If you marry these two things together, your toy will be a superhit."

Follow Suhasini Paul on Instagram

Shattering stereotypes: Actress Poorna Jagannathan is paving the way for South Asian performers

(June 22, 2023) How many times, while watching a Hollywood movie or American TV show, have you come across a submissive, docile South Asian woman who exists solely to serve and support others? Often depicted as quiet, timid, and lacking individuality, these characters have over the year reinforced traditional gender roles and perpetuated the notion of South Asian women as passive and submissive. While the last few years have seen the rise of several actors, who are challenging these stereotypes and changing the common perception, Indian American actress, Poorna Jagannathan, has always worn her ethnic identity with pride in all the characters she played. The Never Have I Ever actress has been in the business for over two decades now, always portraying strong and fierce female characters. "When I saw the portrayals of South Asian women on film and television, they were really disappointing. They didn’t even come remotely close to the experience of who I was or who the women in my family or the women I’ve been surrounded by my entire life are," the Global Indian actress said in an interview, adding, "Acting is a game of snakes and ladders and if you're a woman of colour, let's

ience of who I was or who the women in my family or the women I’ve been surrounded by my entire life are," the Global Indian actress said in an interview, adding, "Acting is a game of snakes and ladders and if you're a woman of colour, let's just say there are a whole lot more snakes in the game. There's a lot of stereotyping, there's such a limited number of roles available to ethnic actors."

Having worked alongside stars including Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, Poorna's achievements have garnered recognition on multiple fronts. Goldhouse honoured her as one of the top 100 Most Impactful Asians in America for both 2021 and 2022. The actress has previously been recognised in Femina magazine's esteemed list of "India's 50 most beautiful women", ranking among the top 10, as well as Verve magazine's top 50 most powerful women in India.

The globetrotter

To call Poorna's childhood adventurous, would be an understatement. Born to Vasantha Jagannathan and G. Jagannathan, an Indian diplomat in Tunis, Tunisia, the actress grew up in various countries, including Pakistan, Ireland, India, Brazil, and Argentina. Sharing about how her travels have shaped how she views the world today, the actress said, "During my father's posting in Pakistan we were being followed around by the spies for the first year. One day my dad’s car broke down and he asked them to come and change his tire because he had no idea how to change a tire. They helped us and we became friends. I saw a lot of boundaries collapse early on and a lot of myths dissolve. I have an absurdist worldview when it comes to politics and it comes from my time there."

[caption id="attachment_40413" align="aligncenter" width="623"] Actress | Poorna Jagannathan | Global Indian Poorna and Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies[/caption]

And it was during these travels that the actress first fell in love with the art of performing on stage - something she didn't get a chance to do until later in life. "I was very young when I realised what joy it would be to be on the stage. I was always drawn to the idea of performing and what that could look like. However, I don’t think I got onto a stage until college. I was traveling all of the time and I didn't meet any actors or performers. I never understood what that life could be like but I had a deep desire to tell stories," the actress shared.

Wrestling with dilemma

After completing her studies at the University of Brasília in Brazil, the actress went on to earn her journalism degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Although she started began a Master of Fine Arts in acting at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, the actress' first job was in an advertising agency - an industry she continued to work in for 15 years.

[caption id="attachment_40414" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Actress | Poorna Jagannathan | Global Indian Poorna with USA Vice President, Kamala Harris[/caption]

"My journey through corporate America was fantastic - I always had the best accounts, the best bosses, and the best experiences. On the weekends, I would take acting classes and I noticed how I felt so different from my ‘perfect’ job. I was so different in acting class or when I was picking up a script, I felt so full of life force and I felt so depleted of it in advertising. I was good at advertising but I never wanted to get promoted," the actress expressed, "I didn’t want to excel, I couldn’t keep my mind off the scene I was doing on the weekend in my adult acting class. I felt, energetically, I was a different person. I couldn’t deny myself the life force and the joy while acting."

Living the dream

So, she decided to pick up smaller acting roles in various TV shows and movies to satisfy her hunger for performing in front of the camera. But, her big break came with her role as Dr. Maureen Bruckner, in Better Call Saul. "Of all the projects in my career, Better Call Saul was the most unexpected. The production crew was really going for a blonde California-type woman. But my agent remembered that I mentioned being able to speak Spanish and so that's the part I auditioned for. I said something about the diagnosis in English and then started speaking in Spanish. The part was unexpected but fantastic," she shared.

[caption id="attachment_40415" align="aligncenter" width="619"] Actress | Poorna Jagannathan | Global Indian A still from Poorna's play, Nirbhaya[/caption]

While the actress was enjoying working as an actress, an unfortunate incident in India pushed her to conceive, produce and act in the play Nirbhaya - based on the 2012 horrific Delhi gang rape and murder case. The play delved into not only the victim's story but also the real-life rape and sexual violence stories of the women in the show. "Her death was -- for me and so many others -- a point of no return. I realised that our silences make us complicit," the actress said during a press interaction, adding, "So I sought to create a piece of theatre to address an issue that has been silenced for too long." Nirbhaya went on to win the prestigious 2013 Amnesty International Award and was cited as "one of the most powerful and urgent pieces of human rights theatre ever made", by the Sunday Herald.

However, the actress' 'dream-come-true' moment came on the sets of Big Little Lies, as she came face-to-face with Meryl Streep. Speaking about her experience of sharing screen space with Streep, the actress said, "I haven’t quite processed it yet. The ladies were so, so profoundly grateful she had joined the show; she validated the existence of season two. I loved watching her fiercely protect her character and fight off any insinuation that she was the bad guy. I also loved watching her play with her dentures, and seeing how kind she was to everybody. Most of all, I was transformed by what you will see her do in episode seven. We spent a fair amount of time together, and I found out that she has a wicked sense of humour. Working with Nicole, Meryl and all the ladies of this show will remain one of the highlights of my career."

[caption id="attachment_40416" align="aligncenter" width="636"] Actress | Poorna Jagannathan | Global Indian A still from TV show The Night Of[/caption]

Having just finished playing the part of Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar in the critically-acclaimed show Never Have I Ever, the actress plans on pursuing her dreams of narrating unusual and unheard stories. "I think I finally have the guts to tell my specific stories. I come from a family of many, many dysfunctions and I rarely see that on TV. Also, since I am myself an immigrant and to see even more nuanced portrayals of immigrants. We are always on the margins; we are always invisible so trying to center those stories more. I am on the path to bring these stories to life through producing," the actress shared.

Follow Poorna Jagannathan on Instagram, Twitter, and her website

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