Reva Srivastava: US Presidential Scholar making Kathak popular in America
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(February 4, 2024) It was 6 am when Reva Srivastava of Fermont received a confirmation mail on being named a 2022 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Unable to contain her excitement, the Kathak dancer jumped so hard in joy that for a minute her mom Anupama Srivastava thought that there was an earthquake. When the Srivastavas applied, they weren’t aware of the magnitude of the honour. Each year only 20 scholars are selected from a pool of 60 candidates nominated by the YoungArts program.
Reva Srivastava
An active participant in National YoungArts Week+, she engaged remotely with a young Odissi dancer and received mentorship from Bharatanatyam dancer Nadhi Thekkek. However, Reva didn’t feel getting the experience was any less because of it being online. Reflecting on this experience, Reva said in an interview, “She had a really interesting way of approaching your dance, which I hadn’t thought of. She really pushed us to show more than just the story that was being told, like how we were feeling because of the story, and to go a deeper layer.” It was her exceptional work ethic and commitment during National YoungArts Week+ that led to her nomination for the U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts award.
Love for dance
It all began with Reva’s mother Anupama who began learning Kathak at the age of 6 under Padma Shri Shovana Narayan in Delhi. But her relocation to the US post-marriage and the demands of work and family life put a stop to her consistent practice. But her daughter Reva’s fascination with dance prompted Anupama to establish InSyncKathak Dance School when Reva was only 6 years old. Recalling the inspiration, Reva shared, “There was something about the dance and seeing how happy it made my mom that kind of captured me at a really young age.” Speaking about her daughter Reva, Anupama said, “She made me a teacher. I was just a dancer.”
Reva with mom Anupama Srivastava
Learning from Shovana Narayan
Moreover, Reva has also received training from her mom’s guru Padma Shri awardee Shovana Narayan whenever she would visit the US, training primarily in the Lucknow Gharana style of Kathak. “I was so focused on what she was saying. She’s able to draw you in. And she was saying really complicated things. But the way that she explained everything was really helpful to me,” Reva added. However, learning from Shovana Narayan wasn’t too dissimilar to learning from her mom. Their teaching styles are almost similar, however, she could always see “a very clear separation” between her mom and guru.
Reva choreographed a solo piece to Taylor Swift’s Epiphany, depicting the experiences of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through dance, she portrayed the dedication of healthcare workers who assist others, witness loss, and resiliently continue to aid those in need.
Bringing positive change
While Reva’s future plans include attending medical school, she asserts that dance will always be an integral part of her life. “When I’m dancing, I’m not thinking about anything else,” she affirmed. Her creative abilities and artistic platform, she hopes, will contribute to positive change in the world. “I want to make art that inspires me and art that helps me stand up for what I believe and bring a positive evolution,” she added. Reva encourages young dancers to focus on building a strong foundation and technique, urging them to learn as much as possible from their gurus.
Reva, who calls yaman her favourite raga, says that she feels the energy of all of the positions, full orchestra, and the singer. ” I just feel it’s so much fun to dance to those pieces because you take that energy into yourself.”
Reflecting on her passion, Reva advises aspiring dancers to focus on their training and personal growth rather than comparing themselves to others.
(May 4, 2023) Punctuating the monotony of cricket-dominated narratives in the Indian sports scene are a few youngsters, who are picking the golf clubs instead of bats. The once exclusive, verdant golf courses are now teeming with eager, youthful aspirants, their eyes alight with dreams of becoming the next golfing prodigy. And one such rising star is Aadil Bedi, who is currently preparing for the upcoming Asian Tour event, followed by two more events of the European Challenge Tour. Described as the most promising young golfer in India by several experts, the young golfer finished tied-11th at the Kapil Dev Invitational Golf event recently, with a consistent score of 72, 75, 71, and 70. At an age when many kids play with plastic bats and balls, a four-year-old Aadil would accompany his father to the golf club and watch him play shots. During one such session, his father handed him the golf club to try his hand. “From that moment on, I was hooked,” shares the young golfer, during an interview with Global Indian. Today at 22, he is an upcoming name in the world of golf, with many medals to his credit. In 2018, Aadil became the youngest player
was hooked,” shares the young golfer, during an interview with Global Indian. Today at 22, he is an upcoming name in the world of golf, with many medals to his credit. In 2018, Aadil became the youngest player to represent India in golf at the Asian Games.
The youngster, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, California, is confident of a good season ahead. “I recently had an injury, but I have recovered. I am training very hard to push myself to perform better at the upcoming tournaments,” shares the young golfer, as he discusses his personal life, training schedule, upcoming games, and much more with us.
Ascending the ranks
Crediting his dad for introducing him to the sport, the Chandigarh lad shares he had a growing interest in other sports as well. But it was golf that found a spot in his mind and heart. Born to two officers who serve in the Government of Punjab, discipline was a virtue he lived by. “My father started playing golf when I was one or two years old. Since my day school would get over by afternoon, my father would take me along to the golf club. He wanted me to be outdoors and do something productive, rather than locked up indoors,” the golfer shares.
Playing his first tournament when he was just six, Aadil shares an interesting anecdote from the event. “This was in 2007, and back then there weren’t many junior golfing tournaments in the country. There was an under-10 golf championship, organised by the Indian Golfing Union, taking place at the Chandigarh golf club and my father took me there. However, the organisers outright refused to let me play as I was too young. But my father persisted and they gave me one chance,” laughs the golfer, who although finished third-last in the tournament, was appreciated by several in the audience, including the organisers.
[caption id="attachment_19614" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Aadil with his father, Harinder Pal Singh Bedi[/caption]
While he took an instant liking to the game, it wasn’t until he was 11 years old that he started dabbling in other series. He bagged the first position during the 2011 Junior Order of Merit standings in the 7–10 age group, and later in 2013. The young golfer went on to win the All India Final at Coimbatore and Mumbai in 2013. At a young age, he was able to achieve a lot, and he credits his teachers for the immense support. “I had to travel a lot, and my school was very supportive,” says Aadil.
Golfing against the odds
One of the biggest wins in Aadil’s career came when he topped the SSG-BLR International Amateur Golf Championship in Singapore and the World Star of Junior Golf Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada – both in 2017. “There was no looking back after that,” quips the golfer, “Contrary to popular belief, golf is a very tough sport – not just physically, but mentally too. Despite putting in a lot of effort, we win so little in our career. However, that is what fascinates me the most about this sport.” The same year Aadil was awarded the Budding Golfer of the Year at the Indian Sports Honour Awards and was named the “Future Star Champion”.
In 2018, Aadil became the youngest player to represent the country at the Asian Games. While he individually finished T13 at the event, the youngster shares that it was a great learning opportunity. “It was a dream come true for me. Asian Games are held every four years, and one has to fall in the right age bracket to be a part of this prestigious tournament. I feel I was very lucky to be chosen,” share Aadil, “The trials lasted for six days, over two courses, which was very tough for me. But I was eager to wear the Indian blazer, and that kept me going. During the tournament, I met many big names, and just observing their game was quite a learning experience. I was just 17 then, so to be able to compete with established international golfers also gave me a lot of confidence.”
[caption id="attachment_19617" align="aligncenter" width="652"] Aadil with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma at the Indian Sports Honour Awards[/caption]
The golfer, who is gearing up for the next Asian Games and Korn Ferry Tour, however, did experience some hiccups during his journey. “Golf is an expensive sport. If you just want to play for fun, it is different, however, to make a career in it can be financially challenging.” Noticing his consistent performance, Virat Kohli Foundation took him under its wings. “They came in at the right time,” he shares. “They have played a very important role in my career, especially by funding my sport. I’m very grateful for their support.”
Gearing up for future triumphs
After winning some major titles in 2019 and 2020, including Bengal Open Championship, Aadil is pumped to represent India in several tournaments internationally. Recovering from a serious wrist injury, Aadil shares that while the pandemic was a tough time for the sports, he is looking forward to playing some good golf. “There were no matches in the last two years. I am preparing very hard to win as many titles as possible. I am a part of tournaments in Indonesia, Singapore, and Korea, taking place later this year. There is an event in Australia as well. Frankly, I will be playing about 10-12 tournaments by the end of this year,” shares the golfer, who was a part of the team that won the Mixed Pro Challenge recently.
As he prepares for his international championships, the young golfer is also managing his kinesiology classes. It was his curiosity to understand the human body better that led him to choose this path. “Kinesiology is a study of human muscles and their movements. It focuses on physiological, biomechanical, and pathological mechanisms of body movement,” explains the golfer, adding, “I am big into fitness and a staunch believer that one must take care of their body. Even as a player when I used to train, I would question each exercise to understand how it affected my body. So, I picked this field of study and it is helping me in my sport as well.”
(July 8, 2022) Staying in a run-down hotel in Tripura, near the Bangladesh border, with very poor connectivity, Shivakshi Bhattacharya was surprised to receive an early morning call from Canada. Expecting it to be a spam call, she answered to hear a woman's voice at the other end, saying, "Congratulations!" Shivakshi was officially a Schwarzman Scholar 2023 - news she received with a shocked, "Are you sure?" Yes, they assured her, they were sure, she was doing "incredible work." At the end of July, Shivakshi will join a small, very elite group of Indians who have had the opportunity to do a year-long master's in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. "It's been a tumultuous journey," Shivakshi sighs, as she calls me on a rare day off. The 26-year-old lawyer has founded numerous organisations that work with women – something she began in 2014 - as a law student. Despite having doctor parents, she decided against a career in medicine herself, because she "wanted to be in the impact sector," she tells Global Indian. Today, she runs The Laali Project, teaching entrepreneurship skills to girls from rural areas. Shivakshi is also a campaign manager in Bihar for Prashant Kishore's IPAC, a heavy-duty assignment, it seems, for
ivakshi sighs, as she calls me on a rare day off. The 26-year-old lawyer has founded numerous organisations that work with women – something she began in 2014 - as a law student. Despite having doctor parents, she decided against a career in medicine herself, because she "wanted to be in the impact sector," she tells Global Indian. Today, she runs The Laali Project, teaching entrepreneurship skills to girls from rural areas. Shivakshi is also a campaign manager in Bihar for Prashant Kishore's IPAC, a heavy-duty assignment, it seems, for it keeps her days full. She has also spent two years as a Teach for India fellow in Tughlaqabad, Delhi.
As the founder of the Hunkaar Foundation, Shivakshi has been instrumental in providing rural women access to high-quality, affordable sanitary napkins, with a business model that helps them work towards financial freedom. Her first initiative, Make India Bold, worked with spreading awareness among schoolgirls on issues like sexual harassment and abuse, impacting thousands of students in rural Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Shivakshi Bhattacharya spent her early years in Nepal, where her parents were deputed. She returned to India in time for grade eight, "because of the political struggle schools were shut, buses were being burned and there were strikes."
Her moment of reckoning came on her first day of law school in Haryana’s Sonipat district in 2014. Not long after arriving at one of the country’s top institutions - home to one of the most elite student bodies - Shivakshi dealt with sexual harassment from a fellow student. She posted about the incident on the college social media page and found support among several women who faced similar behaviour by the same student. She decided to fight, becoming the first person to file a case since the school opened in 2009. "It's very sad, more so since it's a law school where you're supposed to create an open and safe space for students."
Shivakshi soon found that fighting a case, even in such a progressive and top-tier institution was a traumatic experience. Authorities were hostile, and as were her fellow students, including women. "People went so far as to ask if I was making a complaint to get attention." She recalls men walking up to her to remark, "‘Hey, Shivakshi, if we talk to you, will you file a complaint against us?' But this was the start of my journey."
The case was resolved, albeit unsatisfactorily, with the perpetrator being handed the minimum punishment. Still, the University decided to set up a committee to hear complaints of sexual harassment. And as she struggled against the system, Shivakshi decided to work with school children and spread awareness about how to counter the various ills that plague our society.
Make India Bold
Worn out but undefeated, Shivakshi Bhattacharya visited a friend's place in Madhya Pradesh, where the latter had contacts in educational institutions. During their morning rounds to visit schools, they discovered the whole gamut of issues, from bullying and neglect to abuse. With a framework of information behind her, she returned to Haryana for college and began working with the 139 villages that surrounded her University town, focusing on private and rural schools.
"The methodology varied but the problems were more or less the same – scandalous videos, sexual abuse, casteism and classism," Shivakshi says. Surprisingly, the caste divides were greater in private schools than in their rural counterparts. "I had a very biased picture, I assumed that there would be more caste-related problems in rural schools." Irrespective of whether the school was private or rural, most children had no idea what sexual harassment meant, how to detect problematic behaviour or how to report it. Most weren't even aware of the child helpline.
Believing that early intervention is key, Shivakshi and her team formulated different training modules - for grades one to five, six to eight and nine to twelve. The programme was a roaring success, almost instantly, with some 500 students in attendance for the first session. Over the next year-and-a-half, Make India Bold impacted up to 30,000 students in and around Sonipat district. "We started getting offers - the Shiv Nadar Schools reached out to us and we signed an MoU with the Haryana government that gave us access to government schools as well," Shivakshi says.
"Being able to talk to so many people who had suffered for years - the energy drove me. I kept knocking on people's doors, going to the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare every day for 15 days." It was a "bottom-up approach," starting with the students, and then moving up the ladder. In 2015-16, during an internship with the Ministry of Education in Kashmir, she gave training sessions to school principals as well.
Hunkaar Foundation
As she did the rounds of Haryana's villages, visiting anganwadis was a routine part of the agenda. Most were shut. In one village, Shivakshi Bhattacharya met seven women who had been shunned by the community for undergoing hysterectomies. "They were a group of about 28 women who had become destitute because they couldn’t bear children," Shivakshi adds.
It led her to consider working with menstrual health in rural areas, an idea that would become the Hunkaar Foundation. The organisation used a microfinance model and collaborated with a biodegradable napkin manufacturer, who helped bring in imported napkins from Korea, for ₹18 instead of ₹85.
After an early round of fundraising for seed money, the Hunkaar Foundation procured the first batch of sanitary napkins which were given to a group of seven girls, who had to drop out of school after they reached puberty. "We wanted to ensure some degree of financial independence for them," Shivakshi explains. The girls sold the napkins and cultivated a source of income, while the fathers and brothers couldn't object as "the customers were women and the girls didn't have to leave their homes." Her seed fund was returned in full six months later and was taken to the next village.
Staying true to her working model, Shivakshi sets up the process and then steps away. "I want to work on multiple things and besides, these projects belong to the people for whom I started them."
With 30 women across different villages, hundreds of girls have access to affordable, high-quality sanitary napkins. Another, unintended consequence was the restoration of anganwadis in Sonipat district. "When we first arrived, they weren't functioning at all." They filed multiple petitions under India's Right to Information (RTI) Act, to no avail. However, the children of the now-empowered women began using them as places of learning.
The Laali Project
Although emboldened by the success of the Hunkaar Foundation, Shivakshi Bhattacharya understood that menstrual health is one piece in a much larger puzzle. "I also understand that change is incremental," she remarks. "You can't walk in to a village as an alien and tell them to change the way they live. Instead, we enable them to create the change themselves."
So, The Laali Project was founded, aimed at bringing entrepreneurship models to students. The foundation works with 15 organisations and has also partnered with the Child Support Initiative, Nigeria and Unity Effect, Germany . "I made training a curriculum objective," she says. The training has a multi-pronged approach - menstrual health, gender sensitisation and sex education make up one module, social and emotional learning is the next. Entrepreneurship skills are a section on their own and include lessons on design thinking and soft policy skills.
The pilot project was run in collaboration with Goonj, a Delhi-based NGO that undertakes disaster relief, humanitarian aid and community development. "The founder, Meenakshi ma'am, helped me a lot," Shivakshi says. Before she logs off, she makes special mention of one of her most cherished outcomes: "Four grade nine students have their own organisation - a learning centre where they teach men about menstrual health. The founder was the shyest girl in class, afraid to even say a word when she first came in. Today, she's teaching men."
(December 8, 2023) When Surat’s Vinay Dharmik met ISRO chief S Somnath at a dinner hosted by the Embassy of India at Baku in Azerbaijan this year, he felt on top of the world. Being face-to-face with the ISRO chief, the heartthrob of the entire nation after the successful Chandrayaan mission, was a memorable experience. Vinay was at Baku, having earned the invitation to present his research paper at the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), following his award-winning solution in the field of aeronautical sciences. [caption id="attachment_34478" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Vinay Dharmik with ISRO Chief S Somnath[/caption] “The 74th IAC was organised by the International Astronautical Federation and hosted by Azercosmos. More than 5,000 delegates from 110 countries participated. During the conference, I interacted with astronauts and even had the chance to take selfies and get their autographs,” the thrilled eighteen-year-old said, during an interview with Global Indian. The cow-dung project Vinay, who is currently taking a gap year, had worked on a group project in school as part of ATL Space Challenge, an all-India competition launched by NITI Aayog, ISRO and CBSE. In his team project, he came up with a hypothesis about shielding astronauts from galactic cosmic rays, using an unconventional
ipated. During the conference, I interacted with astronauts and even had the chance to take selfies and get their autographs,” the thrilled eighteen-year-old said, during an interview with Global Indian.
The cow-dung project
Vinay, who is currently taking a gap year, had worked on a group project in school as part of ATL Space Challenge, an all-India competition launched by NITI Aayog, ISRO and CBSE. In his team project, he came up with a hypothesis about shielding astronauts from galactic cosmic rays, using an unconventional material that would hardly cross anyone’s mind - cow dung. This out-of-the box idea was chosen as one of the 75 ATL winners from across the country, which saw participation from thousands of school kids of India.
After winning the award, Vinay took a leap forward, delved deeper into his research and pursued hard to finally find an opportunity to collaborate with CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru and scientists from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai.
The innovative idea that involved cow dung, a material rich in cultural significance, showcased not only scientific promise but also highlighted the value of unconventional resources in interdisciplinary research. This led the acceptance of Vinay’s request by the two esteemed organizations to support and conduct further research on his award-winning idea.
[caption id="attachment_34479" align="aligncenter" width="739"] Vinay Dharmik at Baku[/caption]
While CSIR-NAL helped him in fabricating composites, BARC helped in radiation study, radiation blocking experiments and evaluation of the composites.
“I had sought guidance from CSIR-NAL for exploring the basics of composites, matrix and reinforcements, suitable binders, various resin systems, and fabrication methods in coming up with the fabrication of cow dung composites using an epoxy resin system,” Vinay remarked adding, “While they provided technical expertise, the experience was new for them too.”
When it came to evaluation of the radiation shielding efficacy of his composites, he turned to guidance from scientists of BARC in Mumbai.
With the help of BARC scientists Vinay was able to conduct further radiation studies. His dedication towards a cost effective solution eventually earned him an invitation to present his work at the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), a prestigious event held in Baku this year.
The Baku experience
When Vinay learned about the International Astronautical Congress, he submitted his research paper on the cost-effective, light-weight and effective solution of shielding astronauts from galactic cosmic rays, and was thrilled to get an invitation to present his paper.
[caption id="attachment_34508" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Vinay Dharmik with astronauts at IAC[/caption]
Travelling to Baku proved to be a milestone in the youngster’s life as it happened to be his first foreign trip and that too earned on his own merit. “At IAC I was appreciated for being one of the youngest presenters and the sole author of the research paper that I presented,” he said.
The experience at the IAC has further fuelled the Surat boy’s determination to break barriers of coming from a small town where there is lack of opportunities and support, and aspire towards his dreams. “I want to aid humanity to thrive as an interplanetary species by becoming an astronaut or an engineer,” he remarked adding, “I want to make space tourism and colonization more accessible to people.”
Grateful for support
Grateful for the support that he has received, Vinay remarked, “I attribute my success to the invaluable assistance provided by CSIR-NAL and BARC. Their support allowed me to take my research to new heights. I am especially grateful to Nitin Bhosale Sir from BARC, who has played a significant role in my journey, and guided me in coming up with the research paper.”
The collaboration with scientific institutions has not only honed his technical skills but has given Vinay loads of confidence.
The Surat boy looks forward to the fall of 2024 when he will be flying to the USA on a scholarship he earned to pursue Aerospace Engineering at the University of Miami. His achievements stand as a testament to the power of perseverance and the virtues of relentless dedication towards one's dreams.
(October 10, 2024) As her twenty-first birthday grew closer, Pareen Mhatre began to panic. An accomplished STEM student at the University of Iowa, Pareen would call her parents, who also live in Iowa City and cry, overcome with worry about her future in the US. This was back in 2021 and Pareen's life has since been an unending flurry of visa applications and waiting on tenterhooks for the next portion of her stay to be approved by authorities. This sounds like the life of any foreign student in the US, and the anticipated stresses of going from an F1 (student) visa to a coveted H-1B. Pareen, however, has lived in the US since she was four months old. A midwesterner through and through, Pareen is one of around 200,000 youngsters all facing self-deportation, and being compelled to return to countries of origin that are completely alien to them. This is the story of America's Documented Dreamers - the children of immigrant who have entered the country on long term visas like H4, L2, E2, who fell through the cracks in a work visa policy that has not yet taken them into account. So, instead of landing the internships and living
ternships and living her best lifeon campus, Pareen is familiarising herself with the proverbial alphabet soup of visa categories to be able to stay on the country she calls home.
Long way home
"I have been in constant fear for the past five years," Pareen said at the House Judiciary Hearing in 2021. "Over the past 21 years my parents and I have received help and love from this country but our hearts break when we think of my immigration status." Although the US is the only place she has ever really called home, she says, "I am treated as a foreign student, on par with newly-arrived international students." After the 'ageing out' in April 2021, she applied for the F1 student visa and spent the interim in the States on a B2 visitor visa, which didn't allow her to take classes or apply for internships.
Every year, the visa policy decides the fates of thousands, who are compelled to self-deport or if they stay on, do so as illegals. Pareen Mhatre is among a handful who have found an avenue to spread awareness and has also testified before Congress at a House Judiciary Hearing, hoping to shed more light on the size and scale of the problem. It's a forgotten part of the American Dream, where immigrants make their way to the US to build a better life for themselves, but don't foresee the impact it will have on their children. She and her family discovered Improve The Dream, an organisation started by Canadian Dip Patel, which acts as a platform for children of documented immigrants. Pareen has not allowed the fear of self-deportation to overwhelm her – she is a strong voice for Documented Dreamers, has testified before the US Senate, been named in Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 and made sure that her cause resonates among the political class.
A Midwesterner through and through
"What I know of India is purely from trips to see my grandparents. This is my home. I'm a midwesterner," she said, during her address." Pareen was four months old when she first arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her parents. Shortly after, they moved to Iowa, where they studied at the University of Iowa on student visas. Pareen's mother, Sampada Mhatre, holds master's degrees in German, educaitonal psychology and business administration and works as an instructional services manager at the UI College of Nursing. Her father, Girish Mhatre, has a master's in computer science and is a senior application developer for UI Hospitals. Their visa processes were handled by the University itself and Pareen was listed as a dependent on her mum's visa.
Growing up, Pareen was aware that wasn't a citizen, but didn't really understand what that meant until the time came. Iowa City was home in every way - "I learned how to ride a bike about a mile from my current home. I have attended kindergarten through high school in the Iowa City Community School District," she told the Des Moines Register. She learned to read at the Iowa City Public Library and when she grew older, became a volunteer there. She also volunteered at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and witnessed first hand the "top-tier care" that staff were providing. She represented Iowa City West High at STEM and student journalism competitions at the national and state levels, bringing home several individual and team awards. At school, she served as the newspaper's online managing editor and photo editor and as a member of the student senate for three years, as well as on the principal's advisory committee. Now, Pareen studies biomedical engineering at UI, a sector that is full of opportunities for great social change through the integration of technology and healthcare.
The Documented Dreamers
Interestingly, she is not alone even in this respect. A large number of Documented Dreamers are high performers and STEM graduates, many from Asia, born to parents who living in the US on work visas. "At least 10,000 Documented Dreamers are ordered to self-deport every year," says Dip Patel, founder of Improve The Dream. Pareen found a ray of hope when she discovered Improve the Dream, and has become an integral part of the platform since. And all the while, the Global Indian is fighting for the right to live in the country she has always called home.
As her 21st birthday approached, Pareen applied for an F-1 student visa, along with a B-2, which is 'bridge' visa for visitors. The latter wouldn't allow her to either study or work, but at least it would keep her there until her student visa arrived. And surprisingly, actually having grown up in the US could hinder her case for a student visa, because she is unable to show ties to her country of birth. Her F-1 visa did come through and she will remain in the US until she graduates, after which she will join the long queue of immigrants from around the globe waiting for a H-1B.
Stuck in limbo
The family did get in line for a Green Card in 2012, which also involves a decades-long wait that might not ever end. The wait for Indian nationals is anywhere between 39 and 89 years due to visa caps and backogs. The process has left Pareen struggling - "I have been diagnosed with clinical depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder," she said, in her hearing.
High-performing children of documented immigrants are the only ones stuck in this limbo. Back in 2014, President Obama establised DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. However, this was designed only to help individuals who entered the US as minors without legal permission. They are given temporary protection from deportation and can work legally in the US for two years with the possibility of renewal. However, DACA failed to account for children of legal immigrants. As Pareen's mother, Sampada, pointed out in an interview, "We did everything right, and yet here we are."
In 2021, Pareen, who was in Washington to testify at the House Judiciary Committee hearing, meet with US Representative Miller-Meeks, an Ottumwa Republican. The efforts of activists like Dip Patel and Pareen Mhatre, along with political support, have resulted in the proposed American Dream and Promise Act of 2023, which will give people like Pareen some relief. It would allow people who moved to the US as dependents who have lived in the US for 10 years and graduated from a higher education institution, to obtain permanent residency.
Hope on the horizon
But all is not lost. The efforts of activists like Dip Patel and Pareen Mhatre, along with political support, have resulted in the proposed American Dream and Promise Act of 2023, which will give people like Pareen some relief. Pareen Mhatre has become a symbol of hope and resilience for immigrants in the US, who are constantly facing the threat of their families being torn apart after decades spent contributing to the country. She has channeled her anxiety into advocacy and continues to excel both as a student and as a mamber of her community.
(November 8, 2023) Monika Chandolu, a resident of Movva village in Krishna district in Vijayawada, got an impressive 95.4 percent in her 12th grade and qualified for the JEE Mains exam. She is confident of clearing her JEE advanced test and getting admission into a top institute. This wouldn't have been possible without the help of 16-year-old Greeshma Davu, an Indian American living in the suburb of Washington DC, who is helping many deserving students like Monika by providing financial assistance for their education. Greeshma is on a mission to empower underprivileged girls and is doing everything possible to help the girls get the right access to education, and it's her parents who are helping her in the process. She is assisting Monika in her pursuit of engineering education using Tata's Palleseva organization, which is located in Kaza village within the same mandal. [caption id="attachment_33957" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Greeshma Davu[/caption] "During a visit to my grandparent's hometown in India, I have learned about the dire consequences of inadequate education. Witnessing the lack of access to basic rights for women, I became motivated to make a difference through charity," she told a daily. While her parents have been the wind beneath her
quences of inadequate education. Witnessing the lack of access to basic rights for women, I became motivated to make a difference through charity," she told a daily.
While her parents have been the wind beneath her wings, she has been working hard to provide financial help to girls like Monika by working at Kumon learning centers, as well as working as an intern at the University of Virginia Neuro Science Lab. The concept of aiding the underprivileged by offering education took shape during her visit to India, where she saw distressing situations in which women encountered hardships because of their limited access to education.
In addition to her commitment to academics and sports, the teenager is also actively involved in charitable work through her non-profit organization, 'Care 4 Needy,' which extends its assistance to both Indian and American communities. 'Care 4 Needy' was founded in January 2022, with the initiative stemming from the vision of Greeshma's mother and founder, Srilatha Tata, along with her maternal uncle, Pavan Kumar Tata. Greeshma and her uncle, Anil Kumar Tata, serve as co-founders of the organisation.
This dual-pronged dedication to education and community service exemplifies their family's commitment to making a positive impact both locally and abroad through 'Care 4 Needy.'
Apart from charitable work, Greeshma has demonstrated her academic prowess by achieving the sixth position in the State Technology Student Association (TSA) conference, showcasing her excellence in this field. Simultaneously, she is passionate about sports and has earned a spot on the Junior Varsity Volleyball team at Rockridge High School, her former educational institution.
Furthermore, Greeshma is not only excelling in her studies and sports but also showing her commitment to social causes. Her goal is to provide sanitary napkins to women and teenagers in rural areas, and she has already managed to raise an impressive $20,000 in funds to support this vital cause. Her dedication to both academic and humanitarian pursuits is truly inspiring.
"Working at the National Institute of Health to support those suffering from lupus disease, Greeshma achieved recognition in the State Technology Student Association. With the guidance of her mentors Ravi Davu and Dr Prakash Bethapudi, she also published research on brain tumour identification," Greeshma's mother added.
Aadil with his father, Harinder Pal Singh Bedi[/caption]
Aadil with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma at the Indian Sports Honour Awards[/caption]
Shivakshi Bhattacharya. Photo: 
Vinay Dharmik at Baku[/caption]
Vinay Dharmik with astronauts at IAC[/caption]
Vinay Dharmik[/caption]
