Angelina Arora: The Indian-Australian teen finds a solution to single-use plastic
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(June 28, 2024) A routine trip to a local grocery store made the then 11-year-old Angelina Arora committed to finding a better solution to single-use plastic. Seeing a huge number of plastic bags being carried out of the store made her understand their detrimental impact on the environment and led the Adelaide-based innovator on a quest to save Earth by finding biodegradable alternatives.
Having mulled over the possible solution for years, in Class 9 as a science project, she began experimenting with corn starch and potato starch to create a biodegradable bag, however, they dissolved in water. She then tried banana peels and other waste products, however, nothing proved successful. Her eureka moment came while sitting at a local fish and chips shop and staring at a pile of fish waste – including crab shells, prawn tails and fish heads. She packed a few kilos of the discarded shells and headed straight to her Sydney Girls High School science lab to start experimenting. Noticing similarities between prawn shells and plastic, she knew she could have found the answer. “I looked at prawns and thought what makes their shells look like plastic? Maybe I can take that out and use it some way and bind it to make a plastic-like material,” the Global Indian said in an interview.
Angelina Arora during an experiment
Making biodegradable plastic
A budding scientist, Angelina extracted chitin, a carbohydrate from prawn shells, and converted it into chitosan which she later mixed with fibron, a protein found in silkworms. “It’s the same protein that spiders use to make webs. It’s very sticky. When you mix it with chitin it produces a fabric that is flexible and strong and exhibits all the properties you want in plastic,” she added. The biodegradable plastic decomposes 1.5 million times faster than commercial plastics and completely breaks down within 33 days of its exposure to bacteria. Her success attracted the attention of scholars and scientists across Australia and even won her the NSW Young Scientist Award in 2016, the Innovator to Market Award in the 2018 and BHP Billiton Foundation Science and Engineering Awards. Moreover, she received the fourth grand award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, where the innovator competed against 1800 students from over 81 countries.
Angelina Arora with her biodegradable plastic
According to a new OECD report, only 9 percent of plastic waste is recycled globally while 22 percent is mismanaged. Though bans and taxes on single-use plastic exist in over 120 countries, not enough is being done to reduce pollution. And Angelina thinks that biodegradable plastic – which is low-cost, durable, and insoluble – is the need of the hour. She is keen to see every plastic in the world be made out of her biodegradable plastic. “While decomposing, this eco-friendly plastic made of prawn shells releases nitrogen which is very important for plant growth and immunity. Thus, it could be used for agriculture as well, and not just for packaging,” she said.
Contributing to the environment
The Flinders University student, who was the nominee for Young Australian of the Year in 2019, is hopeful that biodegradable alternatives like hers will contribute to cleaning up the environment, especially the ocean – a cause close to her heart.
Having started early, she believes the key lies in growing one’s own interests. “Doing your own research outside of school gives you the freedom to do what you really like and be creative, not for a grade. You grow interests, expand awareness and increase your curiosity,” she said, adding, “Plus it gives young people something productive to do for humanity rather than watching Netflix.”
Angelina’s invention shows how we can use scientific creativity and care for the environment to solve big problems. Her work highlights the need for sustainable practices and opens doors for future green technologies, inspiring more people to develop eco-friendly innovations.
(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.
(September 1, 2023) Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa's triumph, securing the silver medal at the 2023 FIDE World Cup, marks just the initial step for India. Not too long ago, Magnus Carlsen, the World's No. 1 chess player showered Indian chess players with praise, predicting that it's only a matter of time before India emerges as the 'foremost chess nation in the world.' Carlsen remarked, "I believe India is on the right track, and it's only a matter of time before it unmistakably leads the global chess arena." Although apart from Viswanathan Anand, who clinched the coveted crown five times, no other Indian has been challenged for the World Championship title, the rise of numerous young Indian chess players to the esteemed 'Grandmaster' status suggests a promising trajectory. This surge in talent hints at India's potential to capture numerous international trophies in the years to come. Global Indian takes a closer look at these young chess prodigies, who have impressively carved out their names on the international stage even at a tender age. Aditya Samant Meet the 17-year-old chess prodigy, Aditya, who recently achieved the prestigious title of Grandmaster (GM) at the young age of 17. Hailing from Pune, Maharashtra, Aditya's journey into
y achieved the prestigious title of Grandmaster (GM) at the young age of 17. Hailing from Pune, Maharashtra, Aditya's journey into the world of chess began when he was just 6 years old. His first taste of competitive play was at the National Under-7 Open 2013 tournament held in his hometown. Chess runs in Aditya's blood as his father, Sachin Samant, was also a passionate chess player during his college days. "My father used to give the positions to me and then we used to solve them together," the chess player said in an interview, adding, "Till I was around 2200, he was my trainer. Now I have started working on my own. Even he created opening files for me sometimes by looking at the database."
The young chess player's path to becoming a Grandmaster started to take shape at the 28th Abu Dhabi Masters in 2022. And in an impressive display of skill and determination, Aditya's FIDE Rating soared past 2500 points on the May 2023 FIDE Rating list, merely four months after his remarkable victory at the Abu Dhabi Masters. "I'm excited about enhancing my gameplay, diving into more matches, and giving it my all. At the moment, I'm planning to participate in maybe one or two tournaments before dedicating time to my upcoming board exams," Aditya said after the tournament.
Divya Deshmukh
During a press conference, the 17-year-old chess player was asked about her future chess plans. With a confident smile, Divya replied, "I don't really have any specific plans. My main focus is to continuously improve my game." That's the level of assurance radiating from this remarkable talent in Indian chess. Her journey with chess began at an early age, and her passion for the game shines brightly. By the time she turned 12, she had already secured an astounding 14 gold medals for India on the international stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QSiTABXeT4
Hailing from Maharashtra, this young chess prodigy clinched the title of National Women's Chess Champion in 2022. Adding to her impressive list of achievements, she recently emerged victorious at the Asian Continental Women's Chess Championship held in Kazakhstan. "I am very happy to win my maiden Asian women's gold medal," the chess player said after the tournament, adding, "In fact, this is my entry to the World Cup through one more route."
Nihal Sarin
At just 14 years old, he achieved an impressive Elo rating of 2600, securing his place as the third youngest player in history to accomplish this feat at that time. Nihal, hailing from Thrissur in Kerala, is the child of Sarin Abdulsalam, a dermatologist, and Shijin Ammanam Veetil Ummar, a psychiatrist. His remarkable abilities were evident from a young age, as he could identify the capitals and flags of 190 countries by the age of three. He also astounded many by memorising the scientific names of insects and plants during the same period.
The story of how his journey in the world of chess began is quite fascinating. To keep his son engaged during school vacations, his father introduced Nihal to a chess set, while his grandfather A. A. Ummar taught him the game's rules. By the tender age of seven, this budding chess enthusiast had already clinched multiple titles, including the Kerala State Championship in the Under-07 category, two Under-09 titles, two Under-11 titles, and one Under-15 title. "I want to play the best players of the world. I don’t know if I would be able to defeat them, but playing is something I can surely do," said the chess player who won the Gold Medal as part of the Indian team in the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2020.
Rakshitta Ravi
Achieving a remarkable 93 percent in her 10th board exams, Rakshitta Ravi's exceptional academic performance was closely followed by her attainment of the title Indian Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in 2019. However, the fact that her father, T.S. Ravi, is a former International Master (IM), made her achievement less of a surprise for those who knew her story. “My parents are aware of the rigors that come with the sport. They help me stay grounded and motivated. In fact, my coach, RB Ramesh sir has also been instrumental in helping me raise my game in the last few years,” Rakshitta said in a recent interview.
Recipient of the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievements in 2016, presented by the former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, this young achiever took her first steps on the chessboard at the tender age of two. Rakshitta's journey into competitive chess commenced when she was only four and a half years old. A significant breakthrough arrived in 2012, marked by her notable performance at the Asian Youth Chess Championships in Sri Lanka, where she secured a bronze medal. Swiftly following this triumph, merely a year later, Rakshitta claimed gold in the U-8 rapid blitz category at the World Youth Chess Championships in Dubai. "I have been working hard on becoming more consistent in the last one year and that has paid dividends. But, I do not want to compromise on my education as well, so I take time out to make sure I study," the chess player said.
Raunak Sadhwani
Raunak, the fourth youngest Grandmaster from India, achieved an Elo rating surpassing 2500 before even entering his teenage years. Just recently, he showcased his remarkable skills by maintaining an undefeated streak and securing the championship in the Masters group of the Serbia Open chess tournament held in Belgrade, where he competed among a formidable gathering of 233 participants. "Nothing in the world can beat the pleasure of winning strong tournaments. I am happy that I played some good chess and consider myself deserving of this title. I am happy that I can put our Indian flag on the top of this list of Serbia Masters. This is just the beginning, I will work harder and try to bring home more titles," the chess player said after winning the tournament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGOk_YpFkJs
Ranked as India's 13th player, this Grandmaster stands tall among the world's most accomplished chess prodigies in his age group. Crediting his parents for his success, the young player said, "As it is rightly said - behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believes first. So I want to thank my parents for their strong belief in my strength, and standing rock solid with me in my chess journey of highs and lows. I also want to thank Indian Oil Corporation, my coaches, and West Bridge Anand Chess Academy."
(November 15, 2023) Imagine being dubbed a ‘Kachra Wala’ while striving to keep your city's river banks clean. This was something that software developer and environmentalist Vivek Gurav faced. With a deep passion for environmental cleanliness, he weathered the initial backlash and founded Pune Ploggers. His community of volunteers engages in ecological rehabilitation through clean-up drives and plogging (combining jogging with picking up litter), and adopting rivers like Mula-Mutha, Indrayani, and Pawana in Pune for rejuvenation. What began as a modest initiative in Pune has blossomed into a movement spanning 32 cities across India with more than 10,000 volunteers, and has also expanded to the United Kingdom, impressing the prime minister of UK, earning the ‘Points of Light’ award and wide recognition in UK’s media. [caption id="attachment_34111" align="aligncenter" width="533"] Vivek Gurav[/caption] Pune Ploggers in the UK After completing his bachelors in computer science engineering in Pune, Vivek went on to pursue a master's in environmental policy and management at the University of Bristol in the UK. Undeterred by cold weather and snowfall, he extended his community-benefit efforts in the United Kingdom as well, and gradually got successful in establishing plogging communities in several cities of the UK with thousands of
anagement at the University of Bristol in the UK. Undeterred by cold weather and snowfall, he extended his community-benefit efforts in the United Kingdom as well, and gradually got successful in establishing plogging communities in several cities of the UK with thousands of volunteers.
Vivek's initiatives earned him the Point of Light award from the UK PM, leading to an invitation to 10 Downing Street. He met PM Rishi Sunak who showed immense interest in the youngster’s plogging initiatives. Reflecting on this journey, Vivek remarked in a speech “What made this small campaign transform into a global voice was the intention to make an impact. My purpose didn’t allow me to sleep, and keep my dreams confined to one location. I wanted to expand and reach out to as many youngsters as possible and build a community that would thrive on the simple idea of change making.”
The life changing journey
In 2014, Vivek moved to Pune from a small village of Maharashtra with aspirations to attain something big in life, oblivious of the milestones he would soon achieve in the sphere of community development. “As a village boy the first thing that caught my attention in the big city was the poor condition of Mula-Muttha river. It was filthy and looked like a drainage.” It stinked and the water was black due to the trash that flowed through the heart of the city. Vivek witnessed the same filthy condition of another river that flowed near his engineering college.
[caption id="attachment_34118" align="aligncenter" width="860"] Pune Ploggers Team[/caption]
“I come from a village where clean rivers flow. We can actually go and drink the clean river water. When I came to Pune I was disappointed to see that rivers of the city in such a polluted state,” said Vivek adding, “People from villages go to cities to study, to build their dreams but the problem in the cities is that people are not mindful enough about their natural resources.” This discovery compelled him start changing the scenario, one step at a time.
Initiating change
In his first year of college, he launched a cleaning drive along the littered river near his campus. To begin with he approached the local municipal council but encountered a blame game between residents and authorities regarding their responsibilities. Frustrated with finger-pointing on each other, he decided to take action on his own. Igniting his inner eco warrior, he started cleaning the river at five am daily, inviting friends to join. Over three months his efforts transformed the once filthy riverside into a clean and popular hangout spot for students. This became a powerful example of an individual initiative and team effort bringing about positive change.
The birth of Pune Ploggers
In 2019, after graduating, Vivek finally transitioned from recognising a problem, working for community around him to launching a city-wide movement—Pune Ploggers. Combining jogging and picking up plastic, a concept originating from Sweden in 2016, the campaign aimed to make a positive impact for the residents of Pune. Volunteers would pick up trash during their morning walk or jog, engaging in a dual purpose - personal fitness and environmental clean-up. “Since our inception in October 2019, Pune Ploggers has evolved into a global community with over 10,000 active participants, spanning four years of dedicated efforts,” Vivek shared.
[caption id="attachment_34119" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Vivek's plogging efforts in the UK[/caption]
Movement to the UK – dream come true
Vivek got so steeped into the cause of tackling climate change by managing garbage that he wanted to gain expertise as a climate scientist and environmental policymaker that he thought was crucial for his non-profit’s growing environmental initiatives.
With no funds and limited financial backing, securing a loan also proved difficult as the only asset that the family could project for guarantee against the loan repayment was a small farm land in the village.
As he had been trained as a software developer, his decision to study a master’s in climate science was also met with rejection from several universities, who said he had no prior academic exposure to the subject. However, the University of Bristol finally recognised his achievements beyond his engineering course and offered him a full scholarship. Vivek Gurav left his IT job and seized the opportunity. “Coming from a humble background with no financial support, securing full scholarship was a boon and strengthened my determination to mitigate the impact of garbage and trash on the climate,” he said.
[caption id="attachment_34114" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Vivek Gurav at BBC's studio, UK[/caption]
The cause inUK
When Vivek moved to Bristol for his studies in 2021, he went on to establish a plogger community there. “When thousands woke up early on weekends, gathering to pick up trash, their collective positive intentions became a powerful force for better environment,” the Global Indian said.
“Against all odds, I found myself in a foreign land, talking to climate scientists, conducting research, and expanding my knowledge. Last year, I undertook a remarkable journey, traveling to 30 cities in the UK in 30 days, facing challenges like snowfall. This journey expanded the plogging community with thousands of active ploggers in the UK.”
To reshape mind-sets, Vivek Gurav and Pune Ploggers team has introduced an innovative initiative called ‘Chalk of Shame’. “Using chalk, we circle cigarette butts and other such litter on the streets, and write sarcastic slogans to make people realise their shameful act,” he says. This creative tool became a nationwide phenomenon, garnering millions of views on social media. It not only tackled the litter problem but also fostered creativity and awareness. The Pune Ploggers community has further expanded its focus on solving problems and encouraging values like equality and diversity, allowing like-minded individuals to thrive in generating ideas and solutions that contribute to positive societal change.
Good intentions can bring change
What began as a small initiative in Pune expanded across 32 cities in India and several cities of the UK, with a significant presence in London. Vivek Gurav’s journey, from a small town to studying climate science, exploring UK as a climate activist, and establishing a global task force, stands as a testament to the power of intentions and the transformative impact of a small yet significant issue of litter management with the big goal of averting climate change.
(July 19, 2022) At 18, as his peers are busy trying to decide on a college, Souhardya De is the author of two books and has a long list of achievements to his merit. Mythology is his subject of choice, the teen from Midnapore wrote his first book when he was 13 years old - his debut novel, Scion of Suryavansh: The Ramayana was published in 2017. Two years later, he released his second, The Chronicles of Suryavansh: The Rise and Fall of the Suryavanshis. In 2021, he won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, in the art and culture category and is part of the prestigious PM-Young Upcoming Versatile Author (YUVA) Mentorship Scheme, a 75-member cohort of authors chosen from 16,000 applicants. "These honours only motivate me to bring a greater understanding of religion, spirituality, philosophy, and culture, especially among Gen-Z, through my writing," the prodigy says, in an interview with Global Indian. His accolades aren’t for his writing alone, however. He was also recognised in the Dettol Salutes Campaign for spreading awareness among his community during the Covid-19 pandemic, teaching them how to ward off infection. The talented young writer who has just graduated from high school will head off to
"These honours only motivate me to bring a greater understanding of religion, spirituality, philosophy, and culture, especially among Gen-Z, through my writing," the prodigy says, in an interview with Global Indian. His accolades aren’t for his writing alone, however. He was also recognised in the Dettol Salutes Campaign for spreading awareness among his community during the Covid-19 pandemic, teaching them how to ward off infection. The talented young writer who has just graduated from high school will head off to the University of Cambridge, where he has received a bursary for his UGCert in history.
Five months after winning the Bal Puraskar, Souhardya received the Colonelcy, the highest civilian honour from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, USA. He had won the Gold Award in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021, patronised by the Duchess of Cornwall.
Souhardya is also an elected member of the Royal Historical Society, University College London and the Royal Asiatic Society for Great Britain and Ireland. Closer home, he has been named the Most Promising Literary Talent 2022 by the Dainik Jagran Group.
Revitalising the glorious past
Already considered on par with the acclaimed mythological fiction author Amish Tripathi, Souhardya has just finished the manuscript on the life of freedom fighter Lal Pratap Singh, who showed great gallantry during the uprising of 1857 — a novella under the Prime Minister’s YUVA Scheme. "The fellowship was instituted last year by the Prime Minister, to encourage books on India’s unsung heroes to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav — 75 Years of Indian Independence."
"The plot primarily revolves around Singh’s resistance shown to General Campbell, who came to recapture Lucknow during that period," Souhardya explains. His books, Scion of Suryavansh and Chronicles of Suryavansh, are part of the Shree Ram Katha series that have been written in both English and French. His fourth book is in the process of publication by Rupa Publications. The talented writer is also a columnist of repute, with words in popular print and digital media like the Sunday Guardian, Scroll, Lokmat Times Zest, South China Morning Post, The Statesman, and Outlook Traveller.
[caption id="attachment_19479" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Book mockup of one of Souhardya's books prepared by Amazon[/caption]
"Winning the Bal Puraskar was a thrilling experience, more so because, as a civilian, I was able to interact so closely with the Prime Minister," Souhardya smiles. During the virtual award ceremony, the Prime Minister named him as an example, saying that only dreaming won’t do, taking action to fulfil those dreams is what truly counts in the end, and emphasised the importance of celebrating one’s roots. This is, in fact, the young author’s aim — to spread knowledge of India’s rich history and mythology through his books and columns.
The formative years
The only child of history professor Shakti Prasad De and Jayati De, who teaches history in school, Souhardya was naturally drawn towards historical monuments. He recalls growing up in West Bengal and visiting the state’s many landmarks, only to learn later that the stories of these historical sites are still waiting to be told. He was enchanted by anecdotes of ancient times and started exploring the idea of writing down lost and forgotten tales that he thought his peers should know. Souhardya also has his own podcast.
The best way to revitalise history is to present it through the realm of popular culture, in the form of cinema, books, and podcasts - Souhardya De
The wonders of history...
His parents’ resources played a formative and vital role in shaping the young author’s understanding, but Souhardya has done more than his fair share of hard work, more so because his focus is different from theirs. "My father specialises in modern Indian studies and I study ancient history," he explains. "At the moment, for instance, I’m researching education in the Indus Valley civilisation, to understand whether or not it had a centralised or vocational system." He also plans to visit the site, to add greater value to his work. "I’m a primary resource researcher," says the teenager, who has several research papers to his credit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkMAvDRrDVc
Always a voracious reader, Souhardya naturally turned to writing as a form of communication with the outer world. "When you read a lot, you develop an interest in writing like the literary greats," he remarks. His love for Victorian poetry shines through in his own choice of words. "I always wanted to put something out into the world, and developed my own writing style over the years through intense reading." As a kid, he preferred writing to doing anything else, even cutting down on his playtime to put his thoughts down on paper.
A Bengali at heart
No matter how much he accomplishes, Souhardya makes sure his standards are set even higher. He intends to return from the University of Cambridge after completing his studies and join the Indian Foreign Services, in the footsteps of Satyendra Nath Tagore, the social reformer, poet, composer, and writer from Kolkata, who became the first Indian civil service officer in 1863. Another inspiration, he says, is Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, the prominent lawyer and statesman who became the first Governor of Orissa and Bihar. Sinha was also the first Indian to become a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council and British ministry. "He happens to hail from Midnapore, like me," Souhardya smiles. Situated on the banks of the Kangsabati river, the historical city has played a powerful role in shaping the young mind.
Souhardya has also worked in the educational sector and is currently involved as a G20 Synergies Lead with an all-India students’ organisation called Studomatrix. "We are researching the educational patterns in India and how we can improve them, working in collaboration with Finnish and Swedish educational models," he says. He hopes to bring about change in the sector and believes that a career in the administrative services will help further his goals.
In his free time, the young author loves listening to thumris and ghazals and enjoys playing chess. A true-blue Bengali, he immerses himself in the historical and cultural flavours of his state and, of course, swears by the joys of roshogolla.
(August 5, 2023) Growing up, he loved watching racing sports on his TV. Recognising his love for the tracks, his father would take him to go karting parks and in 2017, Yuven Sundaramoorthy made a shift from karts to cars. While it has just been six years since then, 20-year-old Indian American racer has been making waves in the world of racing cars. And now, embarking on his journey towards the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the young racer has inked a deal with Abel Motorsports, providing him with a golden opportunity to experience the INDY NXT by Firestone action while steering the No. 57 Dallara IL-15. The racer is all set to team up with Abel Motorsports for three INDY NXT events in the upcoming calendar. "I’m really excited to get the call from Abel Motorsports to drive the No. 57 Dallara in the INDY NXT by Firestone Championship. The team has really been coming on strong lately and showing that they have the pace to compete, so for me, this really gives me an opportunity to show what I can do in this series," the Global Indian said during a recent press conference. Inspired to dream Born in 2003, to
has really been coming on strong lately and showing that they have the pace to compete, so for me, this really gives me an opportunity to show what I can do in this series," the Global Indian said during a recent press conference.
Inspired to dream
Born in 2003, to a young Indian-American couple in Wisconsin, Yuven was quite an enthusiastic child, who loved to be more outdoors than indoors. His family relocated to China and resided there for six years before returning to the United States, settling in upstate New York. When he was back in the US, the young racer would visit the go-karting parks, but shared that he didn't venture full-time into the sport until his teens. "I actually started fairly late compared to most racers my age. I didn't start racing cars until I was about 13 years old - which is still young, but many racers start before that age,” said the young racer.
However, the road wasn't an easy one. His parents had to walk the extra mile to support this young racer pursue his passion. "My dad had to make several sacrifices to get me on the tracks. He was in a corporate job, and to support me he quit his job. He would take me to various races and keep up with my schedule - especially when I was too young to go anywhere by myself. He had been my pillar of strength throughout my journey. My mother is still working hard to keep the finances going, supporting not just me but my entire family. I am pretty sure that I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents supporting and nurturing my dreams," the racer said during a recent interview.
But if you were thinking that racing is the only sport this champion excelled at, you couldn't be more wrong. Growing up, Yuven was a part of several teams at his school, and wouldn't shy away from taking part in various sports competitions during any event. Despite having a very busy schedule, the racer still finds time to indulge in other sports he loves. "When I am not on the racing track, I am always snowboarding. In fact, I am a snowboarding instructor, and love being up on the mountains," Yuven shared.
Going beyond his dreams
After shifting karts to cars in 2017, the young racer was quickly picked up by Pabst Racing. His real breakthrough, however, came in 2021, when he was moved up to compete at the Indy Pro 2000 Championship with Pabst Racing. In that season, the racer had three podiums and end up finishing 10th in the standings. Speaking about this change from karting to racing cars, he said, "The car that I am driving now is about three times heavier than what I am used to. I am very thrilled though, and hoping to make some progress soon enough. Communicating with my pit crew and driving instructor hasn't really been different from what I used to do. But I am having so much fun here. I am used to not being able to see more than two corners on the track, so it’s really great to be able to see the whole track from one spot."
Currently competing at the ongoing 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship with Exclusive Autosport and in the 2023 Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports, the racer is looking to broaden his horizon beyond his dreams. " I know the learning curve is going to be there switching to a bigger car with more power, but I think having the teammates I do with me at Abel Motorsports will help shorten that curve. I can’t thank S Team Motorsports LLC, One Motorsports Management, and OMP enough for their help and partnership in making this happen," he recently said after finishing the podium at Indianapolis.
While many in his place would have already set huge future goals for themselves, this humble champion believes in building his empire one stone at a time. Working on getting the techniques correct, the racer is focussed on setting short-term milestones to ensure his future victories. "My aim, right now, is to just work on my skills and improve. I want to explore my opportunities. I am very young in this career and have some room to move and various ways to guide my journey. So, I really want to see where I stack up," the racer explained.