THE NEW INDIAN

These are the new breeds of change-makers-entrepreneurs and professionals-who are accelerating their careers and reinventing themselves for the new age, using new consumer- driven innovations and giving their products and services a personal tweak. They have taken the new route because the trend excited them. It may be the surge of social media and technology advancement that is giving them the boost to reinvent themselves to stay future-proof.

As the play field has changed these trendsetters have embarked on to a new game. Corporate Citizens talks to some of these change-makers and trendsetters, who are making a real difference and putting in their commitment and motivation.

Climate Entrepreneurship

"We are at the pioneering days of a new millennium. The world is moving towards sustainability. And I want to see India take that opportunity and be the green energy capital of the world. And I want to play a part in leading India towards that goal."

Inspiring people to follow a sustainable lifestyle

Putting India on the global map of ‘sustainable living’ is Pune’s very own Prachi Shevgaonkar, a Climate Entrepreneur, Media Professional, and Founder and CEO, Cool The Globe - A citizen led app for climate action. Be it coming up with a simple yet revolutionary app ‘Cool The Globe’ or inspiring Indians to follow a sustainable lifestyle, she is taking the world by storm.

We all have that childhood dream to change the world, but who actually implements it when they grow up? Prachi, 24, does it! And she is doing it in style. “Dreaming big is the first step towards success,” smiled Prachi. The seeds of changing the world were sown when Prachi was young. “We were asked to write a letter to our future selves. In that letter, a young me had spoken about making an impact and changing the world. Ten years later, we were given the letter, and reading it was a wake-up call,” she said.

CHANGING TIMES

Things started falling into place when Prachi started asking the right questions and went on a quest to find solutions for the same. “One day, in my first semester of college, I did a simple Google Search - What is the biggest problem in the world today? That’s when climate change popped up. I was very surprised to see this. Because while global experts and scientists were talking about how climate change is one of the most pressing issues in front of us today, nobody around me was really talking about it. So, I started reading more about climate change, and the role I was playing in it. I learned that we only have three decades to avoid the worst effects of climate change. It troubled me. I wanted to do something about it, at least at my level,” said Prachi.

AN APP WAS BORN

The problem was right in front of her, now her only aim was to find the solution. “As change begins at home, we decided to reduce our GHG Emissions by 10 per cent every year. We started researching as to which activities of mine were leading to the most greenhouse gas emissions. And how could I measure it?,” she said. She added, “People these days know the calories in their food. In the same way, can we also track the emissions behind our actions? I realised that, to change anything, numbers are important, and I needed to measure them first. When I started measuring the impact of my actions, something interesting happened. My friends, neighbours, and relatives took notice. People would see me taking this small initiative at home, and ask if they could join too.”

All this while she was stirring a wind of change. “That’s when I started thinking about how I could bring global citizens, on this individual quest I had taken on. From this, the idea for Cool the Globe app was born,” she added. Cool The Globe is a free and citizen-led app for climate action. It helps individuals reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to a target. “And mind you, the app is ambitious and contagious, as it hopes to inspire 1 billion people to take small yet impactful steps towards climate change,” she said. And proudly informed, “After launching the app, we realised that the real work has only just begun. Through these citizen-led, grassroot campaigns, we were able to reach over four million people from around the world. Today, the app has 35,000+ users from 100+ countries, coming together to take action.”

While Prachi goes on sowing the seeds of sustainable living, she gets a lot of questions if this is a viable career and sustainable for youngsters to pick. “Acting on climate change is not just our responsibility; it is an opportunity as well. It is one of the best most thriving areas to invest in,” she said. The smile on her face and the number of lives she has touched resonate with her love for her profession.

GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS

Most countries have received their wake up calls of climate change and they are taking them seriously. So is our country. Talking about her ultimate goal, an ambitious Prachi expressed, “We are at the pioneering days of a new millennium. The world is moving towards sustainability. And I want to see India take that opportunity and be the green energy capital of the world. And I want to play a part in leading India towards that goal.”

- PRACHI SHEVGAONKAR,
Climate Entrepreneur, Media Professional, and Founder & CEO, Cool The Globe

Delivery Partner

"It is challenging but I enjoy it. We make people’s life that much easier. There are many who are kind and gracious and appreciate our service, so it balances out the tough moments."

Delivered at your doorstep-choice on demand

Twenty-eight-year-old, Yogesh Gaikwad, is a proud Zomato delivery partner promising you maximum convenience in minimal delivery time.

In these chaotic times, delivery personnel are the ubiquitous hands who take a few things off our hands. Whether it’s ordering in Chinese on a lazy Sunday afternoon, when no wants to cook or asking for fresh pizza for unannounced guests, the Zomato delivery partner is an indispensable member of a new-age eco system.

That his work is often underrated or simply taken for granted doesn’t seem to bother, Yogesh Gaikwad, the youngster who can be seen proudly zipping across the length and breadth of city roads for the last 1.5 years he’s been with Zomato. “It is challenging but I enjoy it,” he says quietly. “We make people’s life that much easier.”

Gaikwad shifted to Pune from his native place, Parbhani, to eke out a living in the city. Working on a farm isn’t the easiest way to earn a regular income and he was looking out for something else. Within a few days of coming to Pune, the Zomato logo and T-shirts that were a common sight didn’t escape him. A gig like this which gave him a decent average payout plus incentives made sense.

A few days of orientation, training and the helpful “buddy system” of having a few experienced delivery personnel alongside him helped him get the hang of things. Reading a navigational map wasn’t tough for this college graduate either. But the city traffic at peak hour, not to forget Pune’s unseasonal rains, aren’t that simple to negotiate. “It’s part of the turf and you get the hang of it,” he says. Besides, the camaraderie between Zomato personnel is palpable. “In case of a vehicle breakdown or an untoward incident, they will always help you out. The trademark red T-shirt and bag make us easily identifiable. We are part of a family,” he said.

What’s more, he says, he enjoys meeting new people and tuning into the buzz of all that’s happening around him. “And that’s why I plan on being here for some time,” he says.

Dealing with entitled, unreasonable customers is a regular thing. Patient and composed by nature, he isn’t unduly fazed by arguments. “It’s how you handle things that matter. Be humble and apologise if the parcel has leaked in transit. Most people respect the pressure we are under and let things go. Even if they don’t, I try to stay calm,” he says.

There are times he’s pulled up even when he’s not at fault. “Just the other day this customer lost his temper because I didn’t have change. He kept telling me it was my job to have change on me; I kept apologizing. In the end, he said sorry to me for yelling at me and even gave me Rs 50 extra,” he smiles. In other words, it’s nice to be nice. “But there are many who are kind and gracious and appreciate our service, so it balances out the tough moments,” he says.

Gaikwad doesn’t have fixed days off, but says he gets leave when he needs it. The hours on the road are daunting, but he makes sure to begin his day with some exercise and meditation. “It keeps me fresh and energised,” he says.

He has a simple request to make to customers. “We value your patronage. But city traffic is not in our hands. We have to obey the rules at all times. If possible, please cut us some slack on tough days. We are doing our best,” he rounds off.

ABOUT ZOMATO

Zomato’s technology platform connects customers, restaurant partners and delivery partners, serving their multiple needs. Zomato was founded as FoodieBay in 2008, by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah. They renamed the company Zomato in 2010. They became India’s first-ever foodtech brand to go public, creating history in the consumer internet market. With a presence in 16 countries, the Zomato success story goes from strength to strength.

- YOGESH GAIKWAD,
Delivery Partner, Zomato

Webseries Actor

"I believe that this is the best time to be an actor, and the OTT platform has changed the game for actors because there is no box office pressure. Thus the makers are more willing to experiment. In all departments, there is a flood of new talent."

OTT changes the game for actors

TOUGH CHOICES

Winner of the Filmfare OTT Awards and ITA Awards for best actor (series), Pratik Gandhi is synonymous with Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story. Introduced to theatre during his school years in his hometown, Surat, he had studied at an unconventional school - Pravruti Vidyalaya, where vocational subjects like agriculture, bamboo sculpting, and theatre were compulsory. In 2004, he moved to Mumbai, “With an engineering degree in hand and the hope to be an actor in my heart,”he said.

Working as consultant engineer with the National Productivity Council, Pratik, later also landed a job with a big corporate; however, he kept brushing up on his acting craft alongside. “In 2012, I got my first Gujarati film, Bey Yaar, which became a runaway success, a cult film in Gujarati,” he shares. His next, Wrong Side Raju, won the National Award for best Gujarati film in 2016.

It was then time to exclusively choose one of the fields. “My family and I came up with a collective decision that I had to take the leap of faith and get into acting as a career full time. Since 2016, I have been a full-time actor, and I’ve done around 10 Gujarati films, two Hindi films, and in 2020, my web-series Scam 1992 was released,” said Pratik.

EMBRACING THE NEW

“I believe that this is the best time to be an actor, and the OTT platform has changed the game for actors, because there is no box office pressure,” says Pratik. And adds, “Thus the makers are more willing to experiment. In all departments, there is a flood of new talent.”

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE IN TERMS OF WORK AND OUTPUT?

“There are many layers to a character. I enjoy playing characters that have complex human emotions. Scam 1992 is one of the biggest projects of my career. A lot went into the research as well,” said Pratik. Besides reading reference material, watching available videos, and discussing the detailed script, he also had multiple discussions with the writers and director, and people who were active in the investment business at the time. He learnt the technical aspects, and the jargon. “I did this because I not want to come across as if I was just saying the dialogues without understanding them,” he adds.

Pratik gives credit to his theatrical experience for helping him get into character with ease. “I don’t have any particular method to connect or disconnect with a character. I just feel the emotions, and I try to stay true to the character’s emotional graph, which helps me in my performance,” he shares.

SURREAL RESPONSE

Overwhelmed by the response to his performance and the compliments the team has collectively received from around the world, he smiles, “It was absolutely surreal! It was heartening that people have appreciated it and accepted it with open arms, with such a lot of love from everywhere. And there is a sense of ownership that I have seen in the audience. There is something about it that is so relatable to them, and they feel connected to it.”

He adds, “And for me, something very sweet has happened post, Scam 1992. All the actors from Gujarati cinema who have seen me grow as an actor and have seen my work say that my success feels personal to them. They feel someone from their family has reached such a level. That’s a different level of ownership that I am enjoying right now.”

WHAT LIES AHEAD

“I have always picked projects with my gut feeling, and I will continue to do so. So many OTT opportunities are now out there. Is the competition too much for OTTs now? Yes, absolutely, and it’s a good sign!” he quips.

INTERESTING OPPORTUNITIES

He reveals, “Following Scam 1992, I have been receiving numerous offers from mainstream Hindi cinema and web series. There are a lot of interesting lead characters that are being offered to me. I’m also looking forward to working with senior directors and other crew members, whom I can also learn from. The coming year looks extremely exciting.”

- PRATIK GANDHI,
Webseries Actor

EV Components Manufacturer

"With our innovations, we are enabling higher energy-efficient batteries and capacitors, which will smoothen up the transition, and also provide reliable energy infrastructure to remote localities and communities which do not get a continuous supply of electricity. This is our vision."

Powering the future

Electric Vehicles (EV) are the future. The heart of an EV is its battery. Which is why professions that center around making batteries and battery components are very much in demand. Amitej Rao, the founding member and head of product development at Cancrie, a clean tech startup, talks about the potential of battery component manufacturing in India.

EVs RUN ON BATTERIES

What is it that Amitej does at Cancrie? He replies, “We manufacture advanced nano-carbons, for energy storage devices, i.e., batteries and capacitors. It has been two years since our company was founded. I am a chemical engineer. At our facility in Jaipur, we manufacture nanocarbons at a sample level. One of our market avenues is Electric Vehicles. We are also working with other technologies such as lead acid batteries. Lead acid batteries are being used inside e-rickshaws and micro-vehicles. They are also used in invertor batteries. They are also used in solar applications for large scale energy storage systems. Another market for us is hybrid devices”.

TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL

Is there potential in battery component manufacturing as a career? Amitej strongly feels there is. “The world is transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy”, he says. “As per the Paris agreement, we have to limit our emission levels. The market demand for our technology will be fueled by this transition to clean tech. This is what the market is looking for right now. What we are doing at Cancrie is, smoothening this change with our technology. With our innovations, we are enabling higher energy-efficient batteries and capacitors, which will smoothen up the transition, and also provide reliable energy infrastructure to remote localities and communities, which do not get a continuous supply of electricity. This is our vision,” he adds.

THE NEXT HALF DECADE FOR INDIA

Is India on the cusp of change? Amitej has bet the house on it. “If you look at the next five years, India is going to be the manufacturing hub for the world”, he emphasises. “Everyone is keeping their eyes on our country. As an Indian company, it is our responsibility, to help make this transition to clean energy even more efficient. Everyone is shifting from fossil fuels to battery energy storage systems, and lithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles. We have manufacturers in India who are going to manufacture lithium-ion batteries at cell level in India. We envision that in the next five years, we have our own 4-5 tonne plant of nanocarbons, where we cater to battery manufacturers specifically as well as lead acid batteries. We also envision having our own device manufacturing facility where we will sell these hybrid devices to the vehicle manufacturers directly,” he said.

COST OF EVs

Aren’t EVs too expensive for mass adoption, though? “The most expensive component of an EV is the battery”, explains Amitej. “What drives the lithium-ion battery cost is the cost of the raw material. Cobalt, nickel and Lithium are three of the costliest metals as of now. We have done calculations. Dollar per kWh is the governing factor of how much efficient and cost reliable the project is going to be. We are decreasing the Dollar per kWh value by 50 per cent with our technology”, he says in conclusion.

- AMITEJ RAO,
Head of innovation, Cancrie

Elderly Care

"It is not only when our parents are in their 80s and 90s that they need help, but the process can start as early as when they are in their late 50s and early 60s. We should be conscious of age-related care, as it is a specialized field. It is a beautiful way of making their lives healthier and engaging as there is no greater happiness than seeing our parents fit, fine and happy."

Senior citizens’ assisted living

The age-tech mode in India believes that the future of age-care and senior living is within the cosy comforts of one’s home. Unlike the Western world, which relies primarily on assisted living projects for the elderly, 99% of the elderly in India prefer to stay in their own homes during the formidable aging stages. With the doubling of the global elderly population, there is an economic and social understanding that the future of age-care and age-tech is within homes.

OPTIMIZING THE AGE-TECH ECONOMY

Saumyajit Roy, Cofounder and CEO at Emoha Elder Care, a pioneer in the age-tech sector, recognizes that parents, irrespective of age or health conditions, need specialised care and attention even before the onset of age-related criticalities. “It is not only when our parents are in their 80s and 90s that they need help, but the process can start as early as when they are in their late 50s and early 60s. We should be conscious of age-related care, as it is a specialised field. It is a beautiful way of making their lives healthier and engaging, as there is no greater happiness than seeing our parents fit, fine and happy,” said Saumyajit.

The Indian age-tech ecosystem has transitioned from the 2007-2008 real estate-focused senior living model, which continues its demands. However, Saumyajit envisages growth and market opportunity for elder care within homes. On the price points for elder care and as a business enterprise, Saumyajit highlights the entrepreneurial and business opportunity for the age-tech sector. “We are looking at one of the world’s largest elderly segments and a $ 15 billion aging market in India.”

He explains that while it is difficult to make the price a limiting factor for elders, there has to be a price for the services as they are a business enterprise, not an NGO. He has worked his price points at three levels that blend in domestic help and other trusted carers, along with their professional care services. With access to their App, their senior members can connect and engage through interactive online programmes and offline interactions within their member community.

Saumyajit calculates that even if a million elders sought a formal senior living system, it would translate to a revenue potential of Rs 30,000 to 40,000 crores. Cumulatively, the sector is fairly large, wherein the elder care market leverages a $ 7-8 trillion global economy. “These are early days; 12 years back, it was still at a very nascent stage but is gradually progressing with society gaining awareness of the age-tech sector, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid phases,” he said. They have till date, saved 400-450 lives as part of emergency services and post Covid seen an upward of 30 per cent compound annual growth rate..

CHANGING TRACKS

Saumyajit changed tracks from his 21 years of global corporate life across technology, real estate development, alternate assets – education, and healthcare growth, and found his calling within the senior care sector. It was in early 2019 when he conceptualised his vision for Emoha. He holds a B.Tech. (Urban Planning) degree from the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, and an MBA (Marketing and Finance) from ISB, Hyderabad, and has had a stint in geospatial technologies, primarily working in the UK, US, and the Middle East. He migrated back to India and worked in alternate assets helping several senior living education and healthcare players to expand their base in India. The path led him to associate with various industry groups, government task forces, committees, and 40-50 players involved in elderly care across the country. He currently co-chairs the CII Task Force on Senior Care and is the founding board member of the Association of Senior Living India. He was a founding member of Max India group’s Antara Senior Living before he took to entrepreneurship.

However, reality hit him when his mom, a school principal, and a very active person; was diagnosed with dementia 10 years back. “While professionally I was helping development within the senior care space, I was acutely observing how managing dementia challenged mom and dad,” he said. Saumyajit’s experience equipped him with the difficulties elders face in securing a quality life in India. It dawned on him that creating senior living assets alone is not the solution in India. He created a model based on his experiences, background, and training. He established a founding team with experience in geriatrics, psychology, clinical care, and healthcare for elders staying in their homes.

- SAUMYAJIT ROY,
Cofounder and CEO, Emoha Eldercare

Content Creating

"My regular videos don’t feel like work. They come straight from my heart and with the sole intent of entertaining people. Yes, at times there are branded videos with slightly restrictive briefs but all jobs have their pros and cons. While I create organic content to enjoy myself and entertain my people, I also like making branded videos to educate people and pay my bills."

Instagram is professionally rewarding

With 9,00,000 subscribers on YouTube and 6,50,000 followers on Instagram, the talented and bright Tirth Parsana is a popular content creator. Known for his cute looks, comic expressions and hilarious videos, he connects effortlessly with fans, especially the young and female variety.

FROM BEING BULLIED TO BEING RESPECTED

“I started my journey back in 2017,” Tirth shares, “because I really liked making videos. Coming from a small city, I was often judged for making videos, by my friends. My family used to be a little worried for me because they didn’t consider this hobby turning into a profession anytime soon. But, today, I am glad they are proud of me and are totally supporting my career. To be honest, when I look back at where I came from, I am really happy that the kid, who was bullied once for his hobby, is today looked at with respect and love for the same reason. I really hope this journey keeps going upwards and onwards!”

GETTING SERIOUS

Tirth was inspired to embrace this budding new profession when he realised that, what was essentially a fun and interesting activity for him, had the potential to turn into something deeper. “Making videos has always been fun for me and eventually I realised that it was a form of art through which I could express myself to the entire world. I realised that I had finally found my calling and I had to work towards excelling in this field.”

WORKING TO ENTERTAIN

Ask him about his work output and Tirth quips, “My regular videos don’t feel like work! They come straight from my heart and with the sole intent of entertaining people. Yes, at times there are branded videos with slightly restrictive briefs but all jobs have their pros and cons. While I create organic content to enjoy myself and entertain my people, I also like making branded videos to educate people and pay my bills!”

ADDING VALUE TO LIVES

Talk about work satisfaction and he reveals that he has unfortunately lost three accounts at 100k followers twice on TikTok and once on Instagram due to community guidelines. “I kind of lost hope for a bit, but my followers’ love for my content and me, is what keeps me going. Even while I’m giving answers to this interview, thousands of people might be watching me around the globe and would be laughing. That’s what makes every little effort worth it.” Tirth shares that when he re-started his Instagram account, four months after losing his third account at 100k followers, people texted him that his videos used to pop up on their ‘explore’ page out of nowhere and they used to watch them, forget their problems for a few minutes and laugh out loud. “It didn’t solve their problems but it did help them feel good and lift some weight off their hectic lives. That’s when I realised that I am adding value to people’s lives and that’s when I created my fourth account on social media which is my current Instagram account @ tirthrajparsana. My sole motive is to make at least a million people laugh every day,” he smiles.

LOOKING AHEAD

With this exciting new space only growing in leaps and bounds, Tirth too has big plans for the future. “Honestly, I have many goals for the coming years but some that I can list right now would be bringing influencer boxing to India, adding my element in the music industry, acting in films, building a great physique, hitting 10 million on YouTube and definitely breaking the internet!” More power to him, we say!

- TIRTH PARSANA,
Content Creator

Managing Funerals

"We help individuals plan and prepare for their final rites well in advance so that the day they descend to the other world, all their rites and rituals happen as per their wishes. For many families today, funerals are more than just burials, they are an end-of-life celebration, a remembrance. When it comes to that, they can count on us because we take care of every wish of the family and the deceased."

Helping people manage funerals

Thirty years ago, famous Bollywood cinematographer, Sanjay Ramgude was working on the idea of life and death. During one of his visits to the Manikarnika Ghat of Varanasi, he saw a family preparing for a funeral. He could not stop but notice how stressed the family members of the deceased were regarding all the rituals and cremation rites. A thought crossed his mind, “At such an uncertain time when the family members are supposed to be bereaving in peace, they are instead caught up in sourcing and arranging the logistics, haggling with the vendors, and getting things ready for the funeral. Shouldn’t this period of one’s life be stress-free and relaxed? Is there a way to ease this process?”

SUKHANT IS ALL ABOUT ‘HONORING THE DEAD’

Years went by, and Sanjay pursued his passion for the camera. However, this thought never left his mind ultimately. He continued his research on how he could help families in their most uncertain times. Then in 2014, a discussion with a few friends led to the formation of ‘Sukhant’. Sukhant, which means ‘happy ending,’ came to life intending to allow one to have a dignified end just like one has had a dignified life. “We help individuals plan and prepare for their final rites well in advance so that the day they descend to the other world, all their rites and rituals happen as per their wishes,” shares Sanjay.

India is a diverse country with different castes, cultures, and religions – every religion has a different funeral process. Sukhant caters to all kinds. When a family calls, the company checks for their requirement and inquires on the type of interment they want, for instance, eco-friendly or traditional. Accordingly, all the arrangements are made. Everything is provided, from funeral and cremation samagri, to ambulance, to workforce, to well-versed priests (based on caste and religion), to proper documentation. Besides that, the company also helps with organ donation.

“For many families today, funerals are more than just burials, they are an end-of-life celebration, a remembrance. When it comes to that, they can count on us because we take care of every wish of the family and the deceased.”

PRE-PLAN FUNERAL SERVICE

One of the distinguishing features of Sukhant is their ‘pre-plan funeral service.’ Through this plan, the members of Sukhant can plan their funerals, to have a peaceful ending.

Sanjay notes that as families are shrinking and support systems are fading away, the Mumbai-based funeral management company assumes end-to-end responsibility for taking care of its members, who are mostly 70 years of age and above. For as long as they are alive, it celebrates their birthdays and anniversaries and connects with their neighbors, doctors, advocates, and caretakers. According to Sanjay, being personally invested in the process helps establish trust, since most of the members of Sukhant lead independent lives. They live in big swanky apartments. Their children have moved to faraway lands, have lucrative jobs, and lead busy lives. If anything unfortunate happens to the parents, they will need several hours of travel time to reach back. So, in their absence, the caretaker or the neighbor approaches Sukhant for help or assistance.

THE ROAD AHEAD

Sukhant Funeral Management has served over 5000 families so far. During Covid pandemic, it gave funeral services to around 260 families whose near and dear ones could not be with them during the last moments. Currently, the company operates out of Mumbai (Thane and Navi Mumbai), Pune, and Nashik. In the next 3-5 years, Sanjay wishes to increase the workforce from 20 to 200 and the member base to 5 lakhs. But, besides numbers, he wants to dedicate his life to helping families honor the departed soul properly.

- SANJAY RAMGUDE,
Sukhant Funeral Management

YouTuber

"It’s been a long journey, but certainly fruitful and laden with lip-smacking dishes. The way YouTube has changed people’s lives is simply outstanding. Right from consuming long videos to short and now to reels, people are hooked on this platform. Now the onus is on to the creators to create worthwhile content."

Spreading the fragrance of Indian food

Youtuber Kabita Singh’s videos scream ‘there is no sincere love than the love of food’, and with over 12 million subscribers on her channel, she is off spreading the true essence of Indian food across the globe. From posting her first video on November 2, 2014, with only three subscribers to currently 12.7 million subscribers, Kabita has undoubtedly made everyone fall in love with her simple yet scrumptious recipes. “Yes, it’s been a long journey, but certainly fruitful and laden with lip-smacking dishes,” she smiled.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Although Kabita was raised in Kolkata, she belongs to Uttar Pradesh and later moved to London after her marriage where she actually fell head over heels in love with food.“It all began at a young age when my siblings and I helped our mother in the kitchen. She guided me on how to make the sabji, and that has stayed with me.” Her recipes are wholesome, as she explains exactly how an Indian meal should be cooked with precise instructions – right from roti, sabji, dal, chawal, to salad, pickle, chutney, papad, etc, you name it and she showcases everything in her recipes. “This credit goes to my mother who once told me that everything we do in life is for food, hence it should be hearty and nourishing. I am just carrying forward our legacy.”

BORN TO BE A YOUTUBER

Many know her as a bigshot YouTuber, but Kabita started her career by venturing into the share market, and later she worked with ICICI and HDFC Bank. Kabita gives a lot of credit to how these organisations have moulded her. And with the number of videos and followers she has on her channel, often the hard work that went behind it goes unnoticed. “Shilpa Ruchandani, an artist, Youtuber, and friend from Pune, gave me the idea to start a YouTube channel. I had to start from scratch. I learnt how to shoot the videos, edit them, the importance of lighting, props and much more,” she said. She has been a one-woman army when it comes to her work where her husband Manish is her Rock of Gibraltar. Currently, she uses two cameras to shoot her recipes and her Director of photography (DoP) helps her with the shoot and rough edits, rest is handled by yours truly Kabita.

Success does not come easy. Some might give up easily when things don’t go their way, but not Kabita. “I had started this journey with a dream of becoming a content creator and spreading the fragrance of Indian food. Initially, I had only 4-5 subscribers, and for months, the growth was almost negligible. But still, I was happy that few people find my recipes interesting and helpful. I made videos after videos, soon I could see a steady rise. Finally, my 89th video of ‘how to make bread gulab jamun’ went viral, and overnight my channel got over lakhs of views. That’s when I realised hard work always bears sweet fruits of success” So, tell us about the logistics that are involved in making one video. Pat replied an enthusiastic Kabita, “The essentials are a tripod, lights, good quality camera, a mic for voice-overs and editing software.”

STIRRING FORWARD

All this has given her great work satisfaction. “My work allows me to wake with the brightest smile on my face. There are hundreds of comments on my videos saying how the recipe has benefited them and how happy they are to eat ‘ghar ka kahana’.” With 0.8 users in 2012 to 2.6 billion users in 2021, You- Tube has certainly taken the world by storm and given serval worthwhile and steady income to earn. And in the coming years, it’s going to grow even bigger. Agreed Kabita, “The way YouTube has changed people’s lives is simply outstanding. Right from consuming long videos to short and now to reels, people are hooked on this platform. Now the onus is on to the creators to create worthwhile content.”

We are not going to let this stalwart YouTuber leave without asking her secret to the success of her recipes. “Love,” she smiled as she signed off.

- KABITA SINGH,
YouTuber

Personal Shopper

"The idea is to be cost-effective and ensure you have the correct items to create as many classy looks as possible. We will then understand you, your lifestyle and comfort zone. Is there a style that you would like to stick to, or are you open to experimentation? Once we understand you well, the shopping gets easier. Most importantly, we get it right.The idea is to be cost-effective and ensure you have the correct items to create as many classy looks as possible. We will then understand you, your lifestyle and comfort zone. Is there a style that you would like to stick to, or are you open to experimentation? Once we understand you well, the shopping gets easier. Most importantly, we get it right."

Person-ifying the shopping experience

Image groomer, Divya Bakshi is also a personal shopper. And lest you thought it’s an elitist concept that will cost you time and money, she’ll have you know the reverse is true. To say nothing of a well-thought out ward robe customised just for you!

Living as we do in an era of extended consumer options, and tight schedules, shopping for clothes and accessories is not everyone’s preferred pastime. On the other hand, some love it, but end up choosing the wrong stuff.

What most people do agree upon though, whether they’re a high flying corporate professional, a glamorous actor/model/influencer, home-maker or simply a teenager looking to discover their groove, a personal shopper like the elegant and knowledgeable Divya Bakshi will make sure you put your best foot forward, shod in well-fitting shoes, of course.

Lest you thought it’s an elitist, premium concept, you couldn’t be more wrong. “Looking good and dressing appropriately is for everyone,” says Divya Bakshi, founder-proprietor of Persona with Dee 2.0. “Whatever you do, whoever you are, our job is to ensure we stock your cupboard intelligently and within the budget given to us.”

A former flight crew, Divya’s experience in the hospitality industry, coupled with extensive travel and exposure to the art of dressing well, growing up as she did in a defense home, only added to her inherent aesthetic sense. “And so, I figured this is how I could combine my love for fashion with helping people out. Within no time, this was a proper, full-fledged profession,” she said. Based in Pune, she is approached by a plethora of people, ranging from people with money but no inclination and limited interest in fashion to those who love shopping for clothes, but have a tight budget to stick to. “Contrary to what one may imagine, this will end up saving you both time and money. We will ensure you don’t end up with repeats or an ill-fitting outfit that may have looked great on the model, but does nothing for you,” she says. “We are also sticklers for quality; sourcing stuff that lasts for years.”

First things first, though. A complete wardrobe analysis is in order. “The idea is to be cost-effective and ensure you have the correct items to create as many classy looks as possible. We will then understand you, your lifestyle and comfort zone. Is there a style that you would like to stick to, or are you open to experimentation? Once we understand you well, the shopping gets easier. Most importantly, we get it right. Our clients are thrilled and amazed with what we choose for them,” she smiles. “Please do note we choose items depending on their suitability and aesthetic appeal. In short, expensive does not necessarily equal tasteful. An oxidized neck piece that cost Rs 500 can end up looking better than something that cost over a lakh. It’s how you choose to put the whole outfit together that counts,” she says. “At the end of the day, you are supposed to wear clothes; don’t let the clothes wear you down. A little education is in order, but clients soon get the hang of it,” she says.

So, from flea markets and bazaars to popular departmental stores and high-end boutique, Team Divya will scour the length and breadth of the city to scout for just what you need: be it that classic white shirt, a pair of well-fitting blue jeans or an elegant shawl to pair with your clothes. And while they are at it, how can shoes, handbags and make-up be far behind? “We will also discuss at length how to put different looks together, how to team neutrals with a colourful scarf or style a white outfit. Tips on how to accessorize the same outfit to creating an entirely different impression for different times of the day. How to use make up that suits the weather, your skin and purpose. How colour blocking an outfit is a technique that can gradually be picked up, so on and so forth,” she stresses.

What’s more, it’s not just the women who come to her looking for change and a personal shopping experience, but also the men and teenagers. “I am particularly happy that even older people are taking their grooming and appearance seriously. They want to look their best for social functions, be it for a high tea or a Satsang,” she says. “And why not? To dress well is to feel good. It is my job to make sure you own just what you need to throw a look together in a jiffy.”

Her plans for the next five years? “To spread good taste far and wide, irrespective of the budget,” she rounds off.

- DIVYA BAKSHI,
Personal Shopper and Image Groomer

Salad Making

"From individual families to IT parks and offices, her menu-which she curates with her chef-is fun, eclectic and interesting. So be it kale and argula salad with wild rice and lemon dressing to a quinoa and chickpea patty salad to Buddha bowls featuring falafels and hummus to fresh juice blends, the creativity and experimentation are endless."

Readymade nourishing salads at doorsteps

Crisp flavours, tons of colour and good health. That’s the Salad Genie promise-served up fresh on a plate. Here’s chatting with Kalyani Rao, writer turned salad maker on the boundless prospects that healthy food can enjoy, especially wedded to creativity, panache and good ol’ wholesomeness. A committed writer by vocation, 35-year-old Kalyani Rao, nevertheless was just as famous among family and friends for the flavours of her cooking as the power of her words. Given her endless experimentation with ingredients and cuisines, and her ever-willingness to cook for loved ones, the demand for her cooking grew by leaps and bounds in the difficult days of the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown.

SIMPLE BEGINNINGS, STEADY GROWTH

And even as she chopped up salads, she would team them up with a healthy soup and healthy dessert-to much appreciation. And so, she started supplying salads professionally with the name Salad Genie. Initially centered around the upscale Koregaon Park area of Pune with just 5 to 10 salads a day, the brand simply went from strength to strength on the back of word of mouth. As of today, Salad Genie provides 50 to 80 salads a day, and is growing. What makes it even more exciting is that the salads are part of a meal that include a soup and some dessert.

Despite the fact that she’s not a trained chef, Kalyani’s multicultural roots and yen for travel, have given her a generous repertoire to draw from. So be it cold soups like gazpachos for the summer or filling pureed soups for the cool weather, her close knowledge of nutrition, have helped Salad Genie reach out to all corners of the city. “What’s fascinating to note is that it isn’t just the gym goers or corporate professionals who find value in carefully curated salad meals, but also those who hail from the more traditional areas of the city-such as the peths and wadas. Just goes to show the growing awareness and investment in good health,” she says.

Kalyani now has a team of nine, apart from the delivery guys who take her salad meals to all parts of the city. From individual families to IT parks and offices, her menu which she curates with her chef, is fun, eclectic and interesting. So, be it kale and argula salad with wild rice and lemon dressing to a quinoa and chickpea patty salad to Buddha bowls featuring falafels and hummus to fresh juice blends like orange-turmeric and salad to spinach and pineapple with ginger, the creativity and experimentation are endless. “At the same time, our focus never wavers from food that is tasty and wholesome,” she says.

Drawing from a menu designed for the forthcoming week and sent in advance to her clientele with options to choose from, the meals for seven days could cost anywhere between Rs 3 to 4 K.

...AND A TOUCH OF EDUCATION!

While the awareness quotient on healthy food has grown, Kalyani feels there’s still room for better understanding of what constitutes good eating. “As it stands, we tend to draw our inferences from the West. But fact is, India has a vast, deep and rich food culture of her own that is rooted in age old wisdom. Local, seasonal food needs to be appreciated too, for that is what is typically the healthiest,” she shares.

So even as she carefully sources the best ingredients, Kalyani is firm that providing unseasonal food is not what Salad Genie wants to do. “In short, if it isn’t mango season, I am not going to put in mangoes, even if they are available,” she points out.

At the same time, the team is all for experimentation with healthier options. From using jaggery and honey and coconut palm sugar for desserts to gluten-free options, the trick, she says, is not to cut out the sweet treats or baked favourites like sandwich bread, but to tweak them to include a touch of good health.

HIGH-FIVE

Thanks to the enthusiastic response and a committed team ready to raise the bar a notch higher, Team Salad Genie is looking to pull in Bengaluru and Mumbai into its healthy embrace over the next five years.

- KALYANI RAO,
Writer turned Salad Maker

Cloud Kitchen

"The sheer costs say it all. While it would take 18 to 20 lakhs to set up a regular restaurant, a Cloud Kitchen would need an investment of just 5 to 6 lakhs. This space is growing at the rate of 30 to 40 per cent per annum."

Cloud kitchen over conventional restaurants

“The apps and aggregators initialized the concept of Cloud Kitchens. The pandemic strengthened its foundations and the sheer convenience of it assured its future,” says Gaurav Gite, founder-director of Marrakesh, one of the pioneers of Lebanese food in Western India. A QSR, which is an equally strong Cloud Kitchen, the restaurant chain is reaching out to foodies across the board, thanks to its partnership with internet restaurant biggie Rebel Foods.

In 2007, food preneur Gaurav Gite started Marrakesh, the shawarma cum middle-eastern QSR, in Pune and Mumbai. As the food gained acceptance on the back of an increasingly well-travelled young audience, and the number of outlets mushroomed to 20 plus across the cities over the next decade, it was now time to look at the next big thing-apps and aggregators that made a virtue out of ordering food online. The year was 2017. “That’s actually when our forays into the Cloud Kitchen space happened,” shares the entrepreneur, also decorated with the Rising Foodpreneur Award at the Edge Maharashtra Achievers Award in 2018.

ASSET LIGHT, ADVANTAGE RICH

It was a nifty, exciting new model that was the most asset light and speedy reach to customers in nooks and corners -that did not need a new rented space. “This way you neither lost out on the customer. At the same time, you can exploit this versatile platform by giving the same people different options. So, we floated three cuisines namely The Noodle Canteen, Pune Bowl Company and Marrakesh on the same kitchen.”

With some help from Swiggy and Zomato, the concept grew steadily. To state the obvious, it gained momentum in the pandemic, what with consumer behaviour undergoing a sea change. “The lockdown was temporary. But something shifted forever. People realized the sheer amount of time one saves when you order stuff online, be it medicines or bread or even lunch. It saves you the time and hassle of travel,” he says. “Plus, you get to track your order without having to worry about whether the person at the other end of the line has understood your order. This is the sheer convenience of internet restauranting,” he says.

REBEL FOR A CAUSE

Post pandemic, Marrakesh’s presence in the Cloud Kitchen Space became even more assured thanks to its partnership with none other than Rebel Foods, the online restauranting biggie-the largest multi-million-dollar cloud kitchen restaurant chain in the world, operating over 400 cloud kitchens in 10 countries. As it happens, venture capitalists back the brands associated with Rebel Foods enabling them to bloom, grow and branch out. “We have around 11 spaces with them, 5 cloud kitchens of our own and 5 others with another platform called Kitchens. This allows us to reach out to Marrakesh fans across the board,” he says.

Given the sheer convenience of this model, cloud kitchens are here to stay. “This is not to say that the classic concept of dining out is going anywhere. It’s not. So long as human beings like to celebrate, bond and meet up, it will stay,” he points out.

That said, restaurateurs have to look beyond just the orthodox model of restaurants. “The sheer costs say it all. While it would take 18 to 20 lakhs to set up a regular restaurant, a Cloud Kitchen would need an investment of just 5 to 6 lakhs. This space is growing at the rate of 30 to 40 per cent per annum,” he says.

Since Cloud Kitchens work with on-demand delivery as their core job, all operations are focused on this single object. This means better efficiency and execution to say nothing of limited employee costs as you only need minimal staff to run this.

As per RedSeer Consulting, the Indian Cloud Kitchen market is set to be a $2 billion industry in India by 2024, up from about $400 million in 2019.

ENLARGING THE CLOUD AND ITS OUTREACH

It’s safe to say that the Cloud Kitchen space is a strong and wide entry point to other options in the hospitality space, be it QSR, retail, fine-dine or even feeding college fests. On his part, Gite is looking at projections of 50 more locations within the next financial year, across the length and breadth of the country and 140 over the next three.

So, yes, the future is in a Cloud but not in a shade!

- GAURAV GITE,
Founder-Director, Marrakesh

Agropreneurship

"VM Biofarms is a venture which experiments with sustainable living and regenerative farming and takes inspiration from mother earth. Today the farms produce all natural organic fruits, vegetables and dehydrated exotic spices. All products complement each other in one way or the other. We also produce our own Vermicompost to promote use of organic fertilizers."

Organic farming is need of the hour

Managing research and sales at VM Biofarms, experimenting with sustainable living and co-existing with raw nature, Shivdutt Mhase, passionately says, “We strongly believe in co-existence with nature and sustainable living. Quite frankly, as our motto says, IT’S IN OUR NATURE. Well, standing in my farms today, I am glad to introduce myself as founder and managing farmer for VM Biofarms.”

Experienced Business Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry, Shivdutt, started his venture in March ‘21. “Prior to this, I lived an awesome 13 years stint in some of the world’s top notch IT/cybersecurity organisations,” he said. And adds, “I believe, I was always connected to my roots. Which brought me back to my native village, when me and my family decided to start VM Biofarms.”

Shivdutt’s VM Biofarms is a venture which experiments with sustainable living and regenerative farming and takes inspiration from mother earth. Today the farms produce all natural organic fruits, vegetables and dehydrated exotic spices. The farm is indulged specifically in Kesar variety of Mangoes and Moringa leaf extract. All products complement each other in one way or the other. They also produce their own Vermicompost to promote use of organic fertilizers.

On what inspired him to leave a well-paid job and take on to an agropreneurial venture, Shivdutt says, “Working in corporate definitely gives a person, the financial stability, but is often mundane and fails to generate sense of responsibility and passion. I see a lot of passion in what I do and it is very satisfying too. Every appreciation from customer is very personal and gratifying.”

Shivdutt proudly says that he takes a lot of pride in working towards the mission to address two concerns of Indian farming – the dwindling fertility of soil due to rampant use of chemical fertilizers and secondly, the lack of storage facilities and shorter shelf life of farm produce.

On the future success of the agropreneurial venture he has embarked on, Shivdutt says that almost all the dehydrared food that they produce has an export market in Europe and US. “We are geared up in that direction and hope to create a name in these markets. Besides, there is a very strong push from our government on use of organic fertilizers, so our Vermicompost initiative will definitely stand up to the cause,” he said. Their primary work he said is to guide our farmer friends to follow regenerative and sustainable farming, which they will continue with the same passion.

Since January 2022, it’s been 11 months that they have introduced Vermicompost product “Vermi Mitra” in a bid to promote sustainable living and chemical free farming and gardening. Shivdutt proudly informs, “So happy to share that, as of today, we have catered to clients in over 14 states in the country and touched hundreds of plants in our endeavour. Big shout out to all our customers and special thanks to Amazon to make this happen and empower our reach.” He further adds, “It’s not a milestone, but definitely a reflection, that nothing is impossible, if there’s passion to do it.”

Shivdutt proudly says that their tagline “It’s in our nature” says it all. “In our fast pace lives these days, VM Biofarms is a perfect ecosystem where you can pause, absorb the goodness of nature and move on more rejuvenated,” he adds.

- SHIVDUTT MHASE,
Founder and Managing Farmer, VM Biofarms

Digital Marketing

"Anybody and everybody, whether it is the smallest of business, or its one of the largest companies in the world, they all need an online presence to stay relevant. There is always going to be opportunities for people who work in this field. Whether you are a content writer, creative designer, website expert or an SEO professional, there will be a constant demand for this in the future."

Social media marketing races ahead

Digital marketing is a field that has emerged in the last decade, but within a short span of time, it has taken over as the dominant form of marketing. Every brand worth its salt is on social media, and to market yourself on social media, you need a good Digital marketer.

DIGITAL MARKETING IN FOCUS

Digital Marketing is a very dynamic field. Shehnaz says “What you were doing six months ago may not be applicable today. What is constant is that there is and will be a great demand for it. Anybody and everybody, whether it is the smallest of business, or its one of the largest companies in the world, they all need an online presence to stay relevant. There is always going to be opportunities for people who work in this field. Whether you are a content writer, creative designer, website expert or an SEO professional, there will be a constant demand for this in the future. Even in the small chance that there will be AI that will automate digital marketing in the future, when you understand marketing, you understand human emotions, and to understand human emotions, you have to understand this space very well. There are different kinds of people using social media every day. The challenge is how to reach out to them. Only when you use it well is when you know”, she says.

CAREER BEFORE DIGITAL

Shehnaz started her career in the media with the Indian Express. “I worked in the editorial team”, she says, “Where I honed my content writing skills. That along with the exposure I got to the marketing side of newspaper publishing is what gave me the foundation, which I later built upon as a Digital Marketer”.

TAKING THE PLUNGE

So, what made Shenaz take the plunge? “It was around this time that there was an influx of social media with Facebook, Orkut, Whatsapp, Instagram and LinkedIn coming in. There was suddenly so much more to learn”, she quips. “With social media came content sharing. People started sharing posts, memes and videos with their families and friends. Around eight years ago, I felt that digital marketing is something that will take off very big in the future. Since I knew how traditional media works, and knowing the potential of social media, I started to learn about it. Then I did a three-month digital marketing course. Having a background in PR and marketing, made the transition to digital marketing a very interesting step”, Shehnaz adds.

BECOMING A SOCIAL MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR

“To be a digital marketer, you have to be familiar with terms such as Google Adwords, SMM. You have to know how to add keywords into your content to make it effective. It is important to communicate your points using 50-100 words”, shares Shehnaz. After understanding this, she started her own digital media marketing company called Boomerang.

SKILLSET REQUIRED

When Shehnaz started her company, she had a lot of interns joining in. When they asked what qualifications are required to be in this field, she asked them “Do you use social media?” They said yes. She replied, “That’s all you need. The rest of the things can be taught. The process, understanding the client brief, making a social media calendar for them, making sure that the website has good SEO, all that can be taught. But you understand the social media space. Which is why even an 18-year-old can work in a digital marketing company, as long as they have knowledge about trends, stories, reels, etc. It is quite easy for youngsters to join digital marketing and then learn while they are on the job.”

- SHEHNAZ CHAWLA,
Director, Boomerang Digital

Agile Coaching

"Agile transformation, enables organisations to be more reactive as well as proactive in some specific business areas, do more with less, and better serve the interests of their customers. To drive such a massive initiative, an organisation needs a dedicated and expert position-Enterprise Agile Coach plays a very important role."

Transforming agility at work

A SELF-MADE PERSON

Professionally, Dipti Trivedi, is unique combination of being an Agile Leader, with Agile Project Management capabilities and having Japanese Client Management experience with few global certifications. She has enjoyed great success in her professional life, but, on a more personal level, she says that she would love to become a celebrity and a global traveler and have a small farm house to spend her early retirement or all of the above.

A self-made person, Dipti Trivedi, holds a director level position-part of the engineering excellence group at Ness Digital Engineering. “Journey was interesting, with lots of twists and turns and great learning. With almost two decades of professional experience at a couple of MNCs, I work as an Enterprise Agile Coach today with Ness Digital Engineering, Navi Mumbai,” said Dipti.

Ness Digital is an Israel based Software Development company having a big clientele presence in Eastern Europe, North America, and offshore teams in India, across locations including Navi Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune.

AGILE TRANSFORMER ROLE

Agile transformation, says Dipti, enables organisations to be more reactive as well as proactive in some specific business areas, do more with less, and better serve the interests of their customers. To do it well, she adds, an agile transformation requires significant support, resources, and time, not to mention the commitment to stick it out when things get bumpy. “To drive such a massive initiative, an organisation needs a dedicated and expert position-Enterprise Agile Coach plays a very important role. I need to work with the senior leadership ship, align their team goals to organisation goals and track our progress towards the goal and make sure to make it to this journey interesting enough so that the team enjoys it,” she said.

THE SUCCESS MEASURE OF HER WORK

Always fascinated to work with people over PCs (personal computers) after her computer engineering almost two decades ago, Dipti says that during the initial days when she started her journey as a computer tutor and started teaching web technologies and databases, she knew and could feel some mismatch to her interest. “I slowly opted for the project manager role and started working with people. From there on no looking back, when destiny helped me land in Pune, for a small-town girl, in April 2003,” she adds.

Dipti Trivedi has earned many global certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Certified Professional (ACP) and got a good hold on the Software Project Management world. She said, “This knowledge helped me grow faster and get accepted by the IT industry. I was also a keen learner-headed L&D department in multiple MNCs-and this tenure helped to focus my career aspiration as a trained Coach.” She said that she again went for a formal Agile Coach certification.

“While working for a global bank as an Agile Coach, it helped me realise that this is a thankless job and one cannot do it if you do not enjoy what you are doing. One needs to be self-motivated in putting his/her own efforts,” she said.

Giving example from Bhagwad Gita, wherein Krishna says, “Do not expect anything in return, just give your best and have faith”, Dipti says that the success measure of her work is always counted when a person/ coachee themselves walk back to her and share in their own words, as to how coaching has helped them in their career succession to play the role better. “And that’s what makes my day, and I am happy with it,” she adds.

GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE

Going forward in the future, Dipti says, “Agile is a way of being, a way of living, it is very much a common sense and a core mind set. We are all human being and being agile is our way of life.”

With the absorption of information technology in the last one decade, Dipti said, “Leaving no stone unturned, technology has made its way as an integral part of our every business. Usage of computer technology is no more treated as an optional to survive or let’s say it is no more luxury to have it.” In a very similar way, “going forward, every business and product manufacturer will have to have Agile implementation. In an obvious way, to drive the Agile transformations, we need Agile Coaches and Agile Leaders,” she added.

As an endnote, she says, “We help people build Agile Mindset, inculcate WoW (Ways of Working ) and from WoW to WoB (Ways of Being).”

- DIPTI TRIVEDI,
Enterprise Agile Coach and Director- Engineering Excellence, Ness Technologies

Transgender Justice

"We use art, literature, imagery, videos, and stories to tell the stories of our people. The work of art and literature is as important today as it was 20 years ago. People still carry transphobia, and families continue to reject transgender, non-binary children, so sensitization should not stop. We must continue fighting, keep our spirit up, and hold ourselves high."

Amplifying Voices of the Trans Community

Kalki Subramaniam wrestled with identity crisis for most part of her initial life. She would often run to forests to write. The tranquility of nature comforted her. She escaped from her loneliness in the lap of art, literature, and poetry. Soon, as she gained a sense of self, she realized there is a lot one can do with the freedom that comes with self-acceptance. Over the years, Kalki started paving the way for the underprivileged and often misrepresented transgender community

Being transgender today is still unreasonably hard, but it is far from hopeless – all thanks to her years of hard work and immense contribution. In 2014, when the Indian Supreme court verdict legally recognised transgender people, Kalki was one of the few activists who fought behind the scenes and lobbied strongly among the judiciary for social justice for the trans community. Today, Kalki Subramaniam, known to speak her mind unabashedly, is a famous transgender activist, artist, entrepreneur, poet, actor, and inspirational speaker. She is the founder of Sahodari Foundation – a pioneer in using technology, web 2.0, and art to empower the trans community. “We use art, literature, imagery, videos, and stories to tell the stories of our people.”

Her work stands out for several reasons but primarily for giving the transgender community equal rights and space. “The work of art and literature is as important today as it was 20 years ago. People still carry transphobia, and families continue to reject transgender, non-binary children, so sensitization should not stop. We must continue fighting, keep our spirit up, and hold ourselves high.”

THE CONCEPTION OF SAHODARI FOUNDATION

Kalki conceived the idea of Sahodari (which means ‘sister’) in 2008. Initially, it was just a magazine in Tamil with contributions only from trans people. After two years, it blossomed into an entire range of initiatives under a single umbrella. “We brainstormed on some innovative ways to work for the community. Volunteers across India joined a core team of five people. We consulted several organisations on how we could create an impact, and accordingly, projects were undertaken. Every decision was made with the intention of the long-term welfare of the community.” Within a few years of running, Sahodari has transformed hundreds of transgender lives from trauma and horror to hope and happiness.

As an activist, Kalki’s role has been instrumental in recognising the legal rights of the trans community. She has sensitised Indian universities and insisted that they offer free education to transgender people. She has also been one of the first to introduce a matrimonial website for people of other kind.

NO REGRET BEING ‘BORN THIS WAY’

They say, the more time one spends on Earth, the more regrets one accumulates. Kalki Subramaniam has none. She has used her experience, versatility, and wisdom to shift the tide. Is it daunting to wear so many feathers under one cap? “Sometimes! It gets too much. If I were only an artist, I would have brought many facets of the art forward, or if I were only a poet, I would have published many books by now. But I am happy with where I am and what I am doing–I think I have done enough justice.”

THE ROAD AHEAD

In the coming years, Kalki, along with her Sahodari Foundation, aims to work with more corporates as they come forward to fund projects. She wants to start an art and craft center for the transgender community and establish an inspirational museum where trans people’s contributions, milestone victories, and art and craft will be displayed. She wants to continue to support the education and livelihood of the transgender community.

- KALKI SUBRAMANIAM,
Transgender Activist

Online Lifestyle Coaching

"Looking at the statistics of disease and sickness today, more and more people are now open to the idea of investing in their health to prevent the onset of disease, suffering, and expenses that follow, and hence preventative healthcare is booming. The future of healthcare is preventative medicine."

Online consultation for health and fitness

Luke Coutinho enjoys a cult following as a holistic lifestyle coach. However, he is quick to banish any ideas of being a guru or healer. “I practice in the field of integrative lifestyle medicine and life coaching,” he states.

MAN ON A MISSION

“When one hears the word ‘medicine’, one immediately thinks of the pharmaceutical world, allopathy, chemotherapy, radiation, antibiotics and other drugs used by conventional doctors and medicine. I am not a practitioner of alternative medicine either. I am for integrative medicine, where doctors do what they have to do and the medicine I use is lifestyle,” he explains.

CHOOSING HIS PATH

His interest in nutrition started in college when he was part of IHM (Institute of Hotel Management and Applied Nutrition). His passion for nutrition and health saw him pursue a certified course in nutrition and fitness at GCTA (Gold Coast Training Academy, Australia). His entrepreneurial journey started with consulting patients and clients all across the country and then the globe. The more he consulted, the more he identified the gaps in people’s lifestyles affecting their health and wellbeing. “There is chronic illness everywhere which is only being suppressed with pills and medicines for short term relief but pushing the root cause deeper and deeper,” he explains. He realised how acidity, lack of hydration, constipation, and not sleeping well every night was common amongst every other patient he consulted. This drove home the importance of the need for guidance in helping people adopt healthy lifestyles. “When people do that, they automatically make better choices about their food, movement, sleep, and stress,” he says, adding, “One thing I’ve learnt is that miracles happen. There is always hope and there is always scope to change our lifestyles and live well.”

HANDHOLD THEM IN THIER JOURNEY OF MAKING A LIFESTYLE SWITCH

His work, at its core, involves consulting with people, with regard to their lifestyle and health, combined with personalised programmes to handhold them in this journey of making a lifestyle switch. “We have experts from the field of clinical nutrition, pregnancy care, kidney care, yoga, allopathy, and homoeopathy,” he shares. When a patient consult with him, a diagnosis of their condition is made, and a suitable programme is designed with an integrative team handling the condition.

WORK SATISFACTION

With success in building the immune system in individuals with cancer, using lifestyle medicine (food, movement, sleep, emotional detox, managing side effects of drugs, and so on), the number of cancer cases that Luke’s team handles has increased. “We have oncologists and cancer specialists referring clients to us to help the latter with their lifestyle, nutrition and health, while they continued to work with their conventional treatment,” he informs. It fills him with a deep sense of gratitude to see powerful testimonials of the benefits of an integrative approach towards recovery and wellbeing.

HEALTH INVESTMENT

Luke believes the future of preventive healthcare and medicine will require an integrative approach at the highest level. “Looking at the statistics of disease and sickness today, more and more people are now open to the idea of investing in their health to prevent the onset of disease, suffering, and expenses that follow, and hence preventative healthcare is booming. The future of healthcare is preventative medicine,” he affirms.

MISSION RECOVERY

He is committed to incorporate the vision of educating people and creating awareness about prevention and transforming lives. Luke’s goal remains to coach people into recovery and help them build immunity, to prevent diseases. He works to educate and teach the holistic way of living and to ensure less people have to say goodbye too soon to the people they love.

- LUKE COUTINHO,
Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine Expert