High in the AIR! CA topper Nandini blazed a trail in first try
Written by: Amrita Priya
(March 18, 2022) As a child, Nandini Agrawal had a burning desire to have her picture published in a newspaper. At age 19, her dream came true when she cleared her chartered accountant finals with All India Rank 1, that too, in her first attempt. The 20-year-old from Morena, who became an overnight star, created a record by becoming the youngest person to achieve the feat. “I could not believe my eyes and checked the result thrice. I was certainly not expecting rank 1 as I was unwell during the exam,” the CA topper tells Global Indian in an interview.
Nandini Agrawal, CA topper, 2021
A CA with B.com degree as well, she is listed in the India Book of Records for her extraordinary achievement. Currently working as an associate consultant with Boston Consulting Group, her brilliance has been a gamechanger. Each year thousands of aspirants appear for CA with a paltry average of just 10-15 percent qualifying. Since it isn’t a regular college exam, aspirants make multiple attempts to pass, investing eight to 10 years to clear three levels. Many give up post the intermediate or foundation level after multiple attempts but Nandini aced it perfectly in three-and-a-half years.
Victory over challenges
This is no mean achievement considering the fact that Nandini comes from Morena, a small town in Madhya Pradesh which didn’t have any facility for coaching CA aspirants like her. “After I cleared the CA foundation course, the first level, I wanted to join a coaching institute for my intermediate preparations. But neither was there any coaching institute nor any chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. If I still wanted coaching, it meant travelling to Gwalior (one hour away). There too, there were satellite coaching options without any in-person coaching facility,” says Nandini.
Without any mentor or strategies to crack CA intermediate exams, she travelled from Morena – the place that gets its name from “mor” (peacock) and “raina” (a place) to Delhi for in-person coaching, and stayed at Laxmi Nagar – the hub for CA aspirants. “I did not like the atmosphere – crowded, full of commotion and people eating unhealthy food. Within a few days, I decided to come back as it was difficult to focus and survive for nine months,” she says.
Risk taking with a different approach
Upon her return to Morena, Nandini decided to take the route of self-study. However, things took a pleasant turn when she came across youtube videos on CA preparations. “I made them my source of learning. Since it was pre-Covid, the culture to learn online was not popular. But I really liked it and took the risk of preparing differently. I am glad it helped me score AIR 1,” says an exuberant Nandini. A topper in her school and district, she always had a penchant for studies.
Dreams mattered
Amid her preparations, she also pursued Bcom from Ignou. Her elder brother, Sachin also prepared for CA with her. “He is also a rank holder – AIR 18 in the same year, it’s just that I was able to score more as I missed some Bcom classes,” says the doting sister. It was their mother Dimple’s dream to see both her children become chartered accountants. They have made her dreams a reality with their brilliance. Their father, Naresh Chandra Gupta works as a tax consultant, and owns a proprietorship firm in Morena.
Despite being unsure about what profession to follow as a child, Nandini was clear that she wanted to inspire millions. “I just wanted to be an inspiration for the nation, and see my name in newspapers. I had a fascination to be invited to functions as a chief guest, and honoured. I dreamt of being in such a position one day. All these dreams inspired me to study hard,” says CA topper.
Record breaking achievement
Her result, Nandini reveals, was a great surprise. “I was not expecting rank 1 as I had constant headaches, my BP was low. The doctor said it was due to exam stress. I was literally crying and screaming in excitement when I saw the result, my parents were crying in happiness too. For a week, the media thronged our home, and we barely got time to eat,” says Nandini.
Defying notions
“It’s a general notion that people from small towns do not have opportunities, so they cannot go beyond a certain point. I am happy to set an example that where there is a will there is a way. It gives me immense satisfaction that coming from a small town like Morena, I could achieve such success,” she beams with pride.
The brilliant mind also has a softer side to her – she loves dramatics, anchoring, dancing, reading and cooking. Looking into the future, Nandini sees herself as a leading finance professional who is able to strike the right balance between family, friends and work. “I want to travel the whole of India in the next few years,” she signs off.
(July 30, 2022) Little Abhijita was thrilled to receive an invitation last year from the Ministry of Culture on behalf of the Government of India to be one of the 40 youth icons in the theme song honouring Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav - 75 years of India's Independence. The junior high school student and author of three books became a part of the 'Mauka Hai' song released by T Series right before Independence Day 2021, along with other notable young Indians including Neeraj Chopra, Sonam Wangchu, and P V Sindhu. [caption id="attachment_20063" align="aligncenter" width="616"] Abhijita during her book launch at Oxford bookstore[/caption] The Ghaziabad-based novelist, who got huge recognition as soon as she published her first book at seven, tells Global Indian, "I started writing when I was just five. An Elephant's Advice, the first story I ever wrote, was about raising awareness to eat healthy food. My family appreciated it a lot." Encouraged by appreciation, she went on to write more such stories which later got compiled into her first book. From “no” to “yes” "Several publishers turned my manuscript down after learning about my age, questioning how a seven-year-old could write a book. Invincible Publishers finally agreed. They were
riting when I was just five. An Elephant's Advice, the first story I ever wrote, was about raising awareness to eat healthy food. My family appreciated it a lot." Encouraged by appreciation, she went on to write more such stories which later got compiled into her first book.
From “no” to “yes”
"Several publishers turned my manuscript down after learning about my age, questioning how a seven-year-old could write a book. Invincible Publishers finally agreed. They were reluctant too in the beginning but when my mother persuaded them to read the manuscript once, they said, 'Wow!" reminisces the youngster with a smile.
Impressed with the little wordsmith’s calibre, they agreed to a four-book agreement. Her non-fiction works, Happiness All Around, We Will Surely Sustain, and To Begin with the Little Things, combine stories and poems to encourage readers to live better lives.
The publishing house claims on the book's cover that "the writings have been left untouched so that the innocence does not get diluted" and adds that the title, cover design, and illustration ideas were all contributed by the young author.
Right after her first book released, the pandemic started. Abhijita made it a setting for her second book. She based the novella on her experiences during the lockdown, with characters that included herself, her parents, every member of her extended family, and the housemaid.
Three books and five honours
Abhijita is the great grand-daughter of acclaimed poets, Rashtrakavi Shri Maithili Sharan Gupt and Santkavi Shri Siyaramsharan Gupt. The youngster who showed interest in the craft on her own instead of being pushed into writing, seems to beautifully carry the legacy forward.
After her debut novel was published in 2019, Abhijita was recognised by the International Book of Records as the youngest author as well as the youngest author to write both prose and poetry at the age of seven. She also received the honour of Grandmaster in writing by Asia Book of Records.
[caption id="attachment_20064" align="aligncenter" width="772"] Abhijita with recognitions she received for her first book as a seven year old[/caption]
For her second book, she was recognised as the youngest author to create a non-fiction book on the Covid 19 pandemic, by both India Book of Records and the World Book of Records UK.
More books in future
“I am going to write many books in the future. When something is your hobby, you cannot stop doing it. So, I would carry on even when I become a doctor and have less time,” says the Ruskin Bond fan who aspires to be a good human being first and then a doctor.
Her determination to become a doctor is unwavering. “My dreams do not change rapidly because I am stuck to them,” says the youngster firmly. “When I was small, I used to think whether I should be a firefighter, scientist, doctor, or writer. But now I am stuck to one goal”. The standard four student at Presidium School has already begun reading fundamental biology books and watching videos about it, even though biology wouldn't be covered in her course curriculum for another two years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0lQHseMJB4
The little author is so drawn to her craft that if she has the urge to write, she can find the focus anywhere. She maintains two diaries, one in which she writes poems whenever an idea comes to her mind and one in which she writes stories. “Poetry has some restrictions like choosing a rhyming word. I am not able to express my feelings wholeheartedly. There is something still left, I feel and that is why I love writing stories more,” says Abhijita, who received the Global Prodigy Award 2021 along with 99 kids from across the world in Dubai.
Coping with homework, school, playtime, and writing is not difficult for this young novelist. “I find time easily as it is my passion. I’ve gotten used to it,” says the prodigy, who never shows her work to adults till it is perfect. Her books have been giving beautiful messages to children her age ending with some or the other lesson or moral.
(September 15, 2022) Alana Meenakshi Kolagatla was barely four when she first got the feel of the king, queen, rook, bishop, and pawn on the chess board. The child hardly had any understanding of the game, yet she was just about able to arrange the pieces in order. By the time she turned six, the chess prodigy began playing professionally. Success followed her everywhere ever since. Having won several locals, national and international championships — of which she admittedly has lost the count — Alana, now 11, has been making all the right moves. “I want to become a grandmaster as soon as possible," declares Alana Meenakshi, the World No.1 in the Under-11 girls' category, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_21903" align="aligncenter" width="483"] Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi, chess prodigy[/caption] Since 2018, Alana has taken the world of chess by storm with her consistent performance. She continued her winning streak with gold, silver, and bronze medals to the country's tally and went on to bag the Women Candidate Master (WCM) title when she played in Sri Lanka in 2018. “Sometimes when you're winning, you just feel you're winning and let go of it and end up losing the game
istent performance. She continued her winning streak with gold, silver, and bronze medals to the country's tally and went on to bag the Women Candidate Master (WCM) title when she played in Sri Lanka in 2018. “Sometimes when you're winning, you just feel you're winning and let go of it and end up losing the game or end up in a draw. I have never really kept track of how many games I won and lost,” informs the chess prodigy, who has travelled to Albania, China, Sri Lanka, Serbia, and Hungary among other countries for her tournaments, besides vacations. Her father, Madhu Kolagatla is a businessman, and her mother Dr Aparna Kolagatla is a scientist and a career counsellor.
A move in the right direction
The chess prodigy from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, who was also the world No 2 in the Under-10 category (December 2022) before she made it to the top, finds chess a very lonely game. “Sometimes you feel very bored, just like you're looking at 64 squares with 32 pieces. And if you don't enjoy what's going on, you don't understand what's going on,” says the chess mastermind. But at the end of the day, she says, the combinations and the tactics in the game are what draw her towards it. “People feel that chess is very hard to play and only smart people can play the game. But that's not true. If you play chess, you will become smarter. It's actually the opposite,” smiles the class VI student of Timpany school, Visakhapatanam.
[caption id="attachment_21904" align="aligncenter" width="616"] The young prodigy with all her medals and trophies[/caption]
Alana plays chess every day. “I need to work a lot to reach a certain level. I practice for about 8 hours a day. So usually it's like four to six hours coaching and then maybe two hours games and then two hours I work by myself,” informs Alana, who occasionally takes a break from the game when she is overstressed. When it comes to tournaments, her games last up to six hours.
So what does it take to become a professional chess player like her? “Hard work, talent, and seriousness. One should be willing to work a lot, even though sometimes it gets very stressful. Strategy and confidence will keep you going in the game,” feels this huge Potterhead, who has read all Harry Potter books.
She is now trying yoga and meditation to beat the stress. “My parents recommended it and though I am trying my best for the past few weeks, it feels boring sometimes,” she laughs. Before every tournament, she makes sure to check who she is playing against, prepare against them and make note of their weaknesses and strengths.
Alana’s achievements have made her parents and friends proud of her. “It feels great when family members and friends tell others that I am an international chess player and stuff like that. Parents, sometimes say I could have done better after a particular tournament,” says the prodigy, who lists her win in her first international chess in Sri Lanka as one of the major highlights of her journey so far.
Beyond the chequered world
Besides chess, Alana likes to play tennis. "I actually play tennis just for physical fitness, go swimming, and indulge in basketball once in a while," says Alana, who likes to watch all the action stuff on Netflix.
Ask her if she comes across children who love Chess, the Vizag girl feels that people should start playing chess because it develops intellectual skills, calculations, and quick reflexes. "People don't play chess because they think it's very hard and boring, but I don't think so. There are a few people who are interested in chess, who are around my age, plus or minus a few years, but many are not," says Alana, whose elder brother Dhruv is a tennis player.
What else does Alana like to do? "Fashion designing interests me but I am not very sure. I am still in VI grade so I have another three to four more years to decide," informs the champ, who like most kids her age, loves Dario for Wimpy Kid as well. She is a huge fan of Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, and Justin Bieber as well. Alana makes it a point to visit as many places as places while on a foreign trip. Recently, she was in Budapest where she visited the castle, Parliament, and many more places to understand its history and rich culture.
"Kids should do more something creative than just watching TV or spending time on mobile phones. They should go out and play or, try some arts and crafts. Maybe, they should try learning a new thing like chess," is her message to children her age.
(September 15, 2024) When 9-year-old Shreyovi Mehta decided to go on a morning stroll with her parents in the forests of Keoladev National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, little did she know that she was about to capture one of the most stunning photos that would earn her a runner-up title at the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Armed with her telephoto lens, she marched into the national park and found her perfect shot in two peahens standing opposite each other during a misty winter morning. [caption id="attachment_39250" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Shreyovi Mehta[/caption] The captivating photograph, titled In the Spotlight, got her a place in the Under 10 Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year category, organised by the Natural History Museum in London. The photo of the peahens surrounded by a tunnel of vegetation against a peachy dawn sky was selected from over 59,000 entries from 117 countries. "My heart is filled with immense joy and gratitude," Shreyovi wrote on her Instagram. The youngster, who calls the moment unbelievable, is proud to represent Bharat on the global stage. "India’s rich wildlife and heritage has been a source of endless inspiration, and I promise to keep working hard to bring more of
moment unbelievable, is proud to represent Bharat on the global stage. "India’s rich wildlife and heritage has been a source of endless inspiration, and I promise to keep working hard to bring more of it to you," she added.
The Grade 5 student at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad was in London last year when her mother bought her a ticket to visit the Natural History Museum. Sharing the trivia, she said, "Last year mom bought a ticket to take me here. Little did I know that this year I would be invited by @nhm_wpy to share the stage with the best in the field of #wildlifephotography Super excited to learn from the images that will be showcased at Wildlife Photographer of the Year in October 2024."
The BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, often dubbed the "Oscars of Wildlife Photography," draws more than 50,000 entries from 95 countries globally. Shreyovi's accomplishment not only showcases her remarkable talent but also brings immense pride to India, as she becomes the youngest Indian to receive this prestigious honor.
Taking inspiration from dad
It was her seasoned photographer father Shivang Mehta who inspired a very young Shreyvoi to pick up the camera. From a young age, she started accompanying her dad and found her passion in photography. In a short span, she developed a keen eye for detail and perfect timing which helped her capture the shot. When she saw the two peahens, she instantly recognised the potential of a great shot and soon ran to her father to grab her camera and take the perfect shot from a low angle.
"In this selection, you see species diversity, a range of behavior, and conservation issues. These images represent the evolution of the competition through the years, from pure natural history to photography that fully embraces representation of the natural world - the beauty and the challenges," Kathy Moran, chair of the judging panel, said in a statement.
Shreyovi Mehta calls her parents the wind beneath her wings who have always encouraged her to follow her dreams. "Even when they seemed too big for a kid like me. Your love and encouragement have been my greatest strength."
Future plan
It is on October 8 that her photo will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum’s prestigious exhibition, along with the work of the world's top wildlife photographers. "This is just the beginning! I will keep learning, improving, and striving to do even better. The journey continues, and I’m excited for what’s next! That’s Shreyovi’s promise."
After capturing India's national bird through her lens, she now aims to put the tiger - India's national animal - in the spotlight where it can be recognised on a platform as big as the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. "I will continue to practice so that one day even our national animal - the tiger gets the same recognition," she said.
Shreyovi's journey as a young wildlife photographer is nothing short of inspiring. At just 10 years old, she has already etched her name among the world's most talented photographers, with her breathtaking image of peahens captivating a global audience. Her deep connection to India’s wildlife, nurtured by her father’s guidance and her own passion for photography, promises a bright future. This is only the beginning for Shreyovi, whose talent and drive will undoubtedly continue to make waves in the world of wildlife photography.
(November 5, 2022 ) Aman Anubhav lives in Sikahar, a village in the interiors of Gaya, the sacred city of Bihar. Nestled into the forest, the weather is cool all year round with the temperature difference between the main town and Sikahar varyies up to five degrees. “In the night it gets very dark here. So, I grew up watching lots of stars and constellations. My father became astronomy teacher, helping me understand the wonders of the natural science” says the teenager. The founder of DeuxStem, which teaches space science to the layman, Aman received his first smartphone only when the pandemic hit and classes were moved online. With it, his knowledge grew multifold over the next couple of years, so much so that Aman is already passing on what he has learned to the less privileged. During the pandemic, the family faced such dire financial constraints that Aman even had to quit studying at a private school and enroll temporarily in the local village school. Still, he persevered. Currently studying in Class 12 at Delhi Public School, Bodh Gaya, Aman educates people about physics, astronomy and aerospace through his website, social media and YouTube channel, has received appreciation
lass="size-full wp-image-23868 aligncenter" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Aman_image.jpg" alt="Indian Youth | Aman Anubhav | Global Indian" width="1213" height="926" />
Currently studying in Class 12 at Delhi Public School, Bodh Gaya, Aman educates people about physics, astronomy and aerospace through his website, social media and YouTube channel, has received appreciation from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and also from many other globally renowned organisations from the sphere of space science.
Apart from creating educational content, DeuxStem is working in partnership with International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC)that provides high-quality astronomical data to citizen scientists around the world, to make original astronomical discoveries and participate in hands-on astronomy.
Aman and his team have been identifying asteroids (small rocky objects that orbit the Sun) in collaboration with IASC. Two of the twelve identified asteroids are already under deep review of NASA. Deeply inclined towards the STEM subjects, Aman has also digitally developed 105 aerospace equipment designs, some of which have stood out in competitions and been acknowledged by specialists in the domain.
All about space
The sixteen-year-old student of standard 12, DPS, Bodh Gaya strives to deliver top class pedagogy in advanced STEM knowledge to the masses. “My purpose in starting DeuxStem was to put all my aerospace equipment designs, and research papers on modern physics, quantum physics, special relativity, general relativity in one place so that people can read them, and get educated.”
Within months of his initiative, he was thrilled to get an appreciation from NASA, European Space Agency, Ariane Group – an aerospace company based in France, JAXA Space Center, Japan, and astronaut Tim Peake,” he tells Global Indian.
https://youtu.be/IAPEjUQjghc
We also got a very good appreciation post from Canadian Space Agency. They even started following our organisation on social media and website. German Aerospace Centre (DLR) also acknowledged our efforts. This motivated us to create some more digital designs of aerospace equipment - Aman Anubhav
Developing aerospace equipment designs
“These days people want to go to places other than earth, and it is possible only with the help of aerospace equipment,” he smiles. Aman dreams big and doesn’t shy away from the work either and taught himself the basics of aerospace design.
As a reward, the Bihar boy has bought himself a new tablet, after having achieved so much with just a smartphone. “I was introduced to a smart phone for the first time during the Covid-19 outbreak, when my school classes shifted online. Before that, we were strictly not allowed to use them,” he says. Like any teenager, he spent his time playing games, watching videos and streaming films.
Aman explored aerospace through a game he had on his phone. “That’s how my passion for designing aerospace equipment developed,” he says. Although there is software available to create these designs, doing so requires a good amount of scientific knowledge. This he acquired through books and research papers from Springer, the German multinational publishing company, watching YouTube videos and going through relevant material available at MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW), a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. “It has some really good courses in aerospace dynamics - that helped,” he says. Aman also watched movies like Interstellar, Ad Astra and Martian.
[caption id="attachment_23873" align="aligncenter" width="839"] Aman Anubhav[/caption]
One of the designs that he is really proud of is a piece of equipment he has named Vyomgami. Derived from the Sanskrit word Vyom Shastra, the name means the scripture of aerospace. “Weather balloons are used to launch rockets to the upper atmosphere and then ejected there, helping the rocket take off without having to fight atmospheric resistance. That’s how it gets into orbit with very little fuel consumption.” Vyomgami is meant to facilitate this process.
The design of Vyomgami stood out in a competition organised by Spaceonova, an organisation that educates people about space and aerospace. He has also come up with solutions that he has named Rakshak and Pavana that can help achieve sustainable energy and clean climate.
Don’t expect the voyage to be a cruise - we should focus on research and innovation rather than scores to help secure the true act for which humans are here - 'Development' - Aman Anubhav
Aman attended one of Asia’s largest Techfest, IIT Bombay Techfest last year. Amidst the many talented young minds, he got acquainted with Roshan Naidu a VIT student who is now the co-founder of DeuxStem, taking care of the operations part of it. He has also participated in CERN - European Council for Nuclear Research conference. "I got the opportunity to interact with Dr Steven Goldfarb from University of Melbourne working at ATLAS experiments for the launch of LHC (large hadron collider), Higgs Boson, Gravity & Graviton and particles & nuclear physics," he tells.
Finding asteroids
Talking about his partnership with IASC, Aman says, “It’s a not-for-profit organisation that enjoys sponsorship from well-known research bodies like NASA, International Astronomical Union, Catalina Sky Survey etc. to equip citizen scientists with knowledge of astronomy.
IASC get pictures of the night sky directly from NASA-controlled Pan-STARRS Observatory in Hawaii. “These pictures are like data of identifying asteroids, which is a technical and tedious process.”
[caption id="attachment_23875" align="aligncenter" width="950"] The process of finding asteroid in progress[/caption]
There are certain criteria to classify an asteroid. Since it involves processing an extremely large amount of data (several Petabytes per night are captured by NASA telescope), they send it to IASC, giving citizen scientists an opportunity to make original astronomical discoveries and participate in hands-on astronomy. In collaboration with IASC, Aman and his team have educated 85 people from places like USA, Pakistan, Morocco, Iran and other countries on astronomy, hand-holding them in identifying asteroids. The discovered asteroids are then put under deep review of scientists at NASA.
“It’s such a technical and tedious process that in close to three years, we have been able to identify just about 12 preliminary stage asteroids,” says Aman.
Out of those 12, two have qualified for the probational phase of study by NASA scientists. “The process of the preliminary stage asteroids getting categorized for probational review takes another six-to-10 months. Once NASA confirms after their investigation, we will get to name the asteroids we identified,” he says.
Aman is associated with Child Rights and You (CRY), and has raised funds to support the cause. He was also selected to the prestigious LaunchX 2022 a programme hosted by MIT to promote entrepreneurship and technology. "Just about 10 percent of students who apply for the programme get selected globally for this programme," says he.
Although the programme was scheduled offline at the University of Michigan, due to covid protocols it was conducted online. With a team of students from different countries, Aman developed a startup - SEDU which was a solution to teach teenagers about the importance of sexual knowledge and removing taboos attached to it. To facilitate knowledge in a fun way he and his team developed a physical board game and a web game. Through marketing and sale they got successful in generating $285 during the five weeks course and $500 thereafter for the business model, completing the programme with flying colours.
Life and role models
Aman comes from a humble background. His father, a farmer, is still trying to recover from the losses of the pandemic, after his business shut down. It was so hard on the family that Aman had to discontinue his studies at DPS and enroll himself in the village public school for a time. “When I was in class 9, it became difficult to continue studying at the local school so I was re-admitted to DPS,” says Aman. He aims for a PhD in Astrophysics, so that he can be a researcher from “the very start.”
The Bihar teen is deeply inspired by Google CEO Sundar Pichai and relates to him a lot. “His father had to spend a year’s salary to buy him the air ticket to send him to Stanford University in the US” remarks he adding, “I too cannot afford higher education.” Like his role model he aims to bag a scholarship from a good institution to take forward his dreams.
In his free time, the youngster likes going to the farm with his father and even enjoys helping his mother in the kitchen. “It’s not very conventional for boys to work in the kitchen where I live but my mother appreciates it,” says the teen who could barely converse in English until 2019. “It was after getting my phone that I immersed myself in listening to TED talks and podcasts, and from there I have picked up the ability and confidence to speak English,” he says.
The teenager is a good example of how to put technology to good use for enhancing one’s knowledge and personality, and that if there is a will, a lot can be achieved even when the resources are limited.
(July 7, 2024) Clad in a rust and orange ghagra with jhumkas, bindi, and waistband as her accessories, 11-year-old Chennai-based Maya Neelakantan took on the stage of America's Got Talent, but with a twist - an electric guitar. The youngster, who seemed shy at first, left the judges and audience surprised as the "rock goddess" strummed her guitar to Papa Roach's Last Resort. The 100-second performance got the Indian-origin girl a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel. "You know what I love about this audition, you just weren't expecting this. You were so shy, and you're 10! And then you turned into, like, this rock goddess,” he said. Overnight, the 10-year-old became a sensation on the internet. Even Anand Mahindra, the chairman of the Mahindra Group, posted a video of Neelakantan on X, calling her a "Rock Goddess from the land of Goddesses." He tweeted, "Oh My God. Maya Neelakantan is only 10 years old. 10! Yes, Simon, she’s a Rock Goddess. From the land of Goddesses. We have to get her back here to do her stuff at the@mahindrablues! @jaytweetshah@vgjairam." Oh My God Maya Neelakantan is only 10 years old. 10! Yes, Simon,
The youngster is a student of famous guitarist and Berklee School of Music alumni Guitarist Prasanna, an Indian-American. Moreover, she has a YouTube channel that spans her rock and metal covers over the years. In 2022, she impressed Adam Jones, Tool's guitarist with her rendition of Tool's 7empest. Not only this, she even received a guitar as a gift from American musician Gary Holt.
A music lover, she was as young as two when she saw her dad play guitar at home, and instantly fell in love with the musical instrument. Ever since she turned five, she wanted to learn guitar and finally started playing it when she was six. "I started by learning my favourite songs with my dad and he taught me how to self-learn through YouTube videos and guitar tabs. Now, I'm able to learn any song by myself," she said in an interview.
The first time she ever played in public was at an ashram with 50 people watching, an experience she completely loved. It gave her the confidence to perform on stage for the very first time at America's Got Talent. "AGT was completely different because there were more than 1000 people there in the audience." The huge crowd did make her nervous backstage but once she started playing, she was at ease. "I started enjoying myself and wasn't nervous anymore," she added.
Over the last two years, she began learning Carnatic music from Guitar Prasanna, but has now moved to harder techniques. When the opportunity to perform at AGT knocked at her door, she trained hard for three weeks, and even sought advice. "Guitar Prasanna helped me in creating the song and I rearranged it in the end," she said.
Moreover, the youngster was coached by none other than the award-winning actress for the Netflix series Orange Is The New Black, Jessica Pimentel, for her movements for AGT. "She also helped me prepare mentally for the show because it was my first time on stage."
Making her debut on the big stage with the guitar gifted by Adam Jones from the American rock band Tool, Maya had nerves. "While I was playing on AGT, the two-minute song felt like 30 seconds," she said. But the cheering and standing ovation at the end of the performance made her feel like she performed for hours. "I was soaking up everything at that moment and now I fully understand why everyone says they want to go on stage again and again after going on the first time. I never experienced that before but now I want to continue performing on stage," she added.
Taking over a stage as big as America's Got Talent, Maya credits her parents for their constant support and encouragement. Thanking them for being the wind beneath her wings, she wrote on Instagram, "They are the ones who are behind the spotlight, sacrificing everything for me and expecting nothing in return. They always make me so happy & without them, I will not be able to follow my passion, meet so many incredible people and have the best experiences in life which is just like a dream!"
Maya, who calls Adam Jones, the guitarist of Tool, Gary Holt, the guitarist of Exodus and Slayer, Alex Skolnick, and Eric Peterson her idols, wants to create her own music by combining Carnatic music with Heavy Metal. "All these different genres activate different emotions for me and I want to mix them together. I feel that you have to really go into the music to enjoy it so I want to make music so that my listeners can go with me on a journey through the song," she said, adding, "So, that's the dream I'm working towards and all these events are bringing me one step closer to creating my own music. It could even turn out to be a genre unheard of."
Her groundbreaking performance that infused Carnatic music with heavy metal was proof of her technical mastery of the guitar which allowed her to seamlessly integrate the intricate rhythms and scales of traditional South Indian Carnatic music with the aggressive, electrifying energy of metal, creating a unique and mesmerising auditory experience. Her performance showcased her incredible skill and presented a fresh approach to music, blending different genres into a unified and innovative sound.
Abhijita with recognitions she received for her first book as a seven year old[/caption]
The young prodigy with all her medals and trophies[/caption]
Aman Anubhav[/caption]
The process of finding asteroid in progress[/caption]
Aman's village[/caption]
Aman's village[/caption]