My Science School

What made you set up Edprospective?

 Edprospective is a non-profit organisation aiming to provide access to elementary education and vocational training for the less privileged it has been a year-and-a-half since it was founded. Initially, we were only three people working at the organisation, which has grown since. We have managed to help over 250 people across the country. As for my role, I'm the co-founder and co-CEO. I ensure that all the teams such as the outreach team, and the curriculum development team, and the management team are on the same track.

How was it being a delegate at HPAIR?

 HPAIR stands for Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations. It is an organisation nun by students and faculty at Harvard University, the U.S. Every year, two conferences take place, one at Harvard and another in an Asian city. These conferences are forum for students to discuss with global leaders important international issues in fields such as geopolitics, technology, trade, etc. I was a delegate at the Harvard College Conference this year, and a notable thing was it was the first time they let high schoolers be a part of it I'm glad to be a part of this programme with a few other teenagers. I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of people in prestigious positions. It was a mind-blowing experience to learn from these high-profile people. I'm also selected to be a delegate at HPAIR'S Asia Conference 2021. I look forward to yet another amazing experience.

Tell us about your journey as an author.

My book "Indian Economics for Anyone" is targeted at those aged between 10 and 14. It was essentially a passion project because I really like Economics. But in India, we can pursue either Science or Humanities after Class XI, and in most cases, Humanities and Science are mutually exclusive. So, I was forced to pick the Sciences. Even though I took Science, I tried to keep my interest in Economics alive through projects such as this book, by participating in competitions such as the University of Chicago's Brattle Economics Case Competition, where I met a Nobel-nominated economist. I wrote this book to provide a re-high-school-level reading to help readers delve deeper into the subject.

What are the challenges you have faced?

To mention just one, when I was in Class or XI was involved in preparing for competitive examinations initially, I thought was on the right track. But soon I realised 1 was a multi-faceted individual who didn't like the idea of being tied down to one discipline, certainly not someone who sits 10 hours a day with textbooks. At the end of Class X 1 decided to quit my JEE preparation and invest my time in things I really cared about, such as my non-profit, and these passion projects. I decided I would move to the US for college because that way. I would have the liberty to do more than just study, initially a lot of people said I wasn't doing the right thing but I did not t worry about that too much i knew I’d doing okay if I stayed true to my sense of purpose. It was hard to make things work When did when I didn't have people who understood what I was doing or supported me but over time when I was making progress, people started understanding what I was doing and in the end, it all worked out well for me.

As a teen entrepreneur, how do you manage time?

Managing time is hard. I tend to have really packed days. Instead of working randomly all day, I try to maximise my efficiency by carefully structuring my schedule I feel good when I am productive. I try to save marginal amounts of time by making marginal changes such as typing instead of writing, listening to audiobooks when I work out planning my day when I write my journal the night before, etc. These changes save me a lot of time.

Lastly, what is the one problem that you want to address and what sort of impact do you want to create on society?

One problem I see is the lack of academic liberty for students. We still have a really restrictive system in terms of the subjects we can pursue, which ultimately restricts our career path. I think students should be provided the liberty to explore their academic interests and be able to carve out a path for themselves. We are making progress towards this goal but we still have a long way to go .That is what I want to do. I want to contribute towards a liberal education system.

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Tell us about the Iksha Foundation

The Iksha Foundation is a youth-Run non-profit with the objective of helping people facing various challenges in life Our organisation believes in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on poverty, gender equality and education We are currently working on the CovACTION Project. During these trying times it provides essentials such as rice wheat etc. to less privileged people and those who have lost their employment and families. Our project also has an outreach team contacting them later for other ways in which we could help them, such as providing them employment or a helping hand with their monthly expenditure we recently upgraded our project and included the provision of reusable sanitary napkins for women and educating them on sanitary health.

How did you raise Rs. 80.000 for this project? Did you expect this much?

We didn't really expect to raise Rs. 80,000. We had just aimed to raise as much as we could. Hats off to the team, including the founders and volunteers who worked hard to launch and support the project. A big thanks to our generous donors too. I take pride in stating that most of our volunteers range from 13- to 15-year-olds. It took just two months for these teenagers to provide essentials to about 600 people from 80 families, and proving that youth can be instruments of change.

Tell us about your team.

The Iksha Foundation was set up by three teenagers-Jigisha Hota, Kalvin Richards, and me- to reduce poverty and help the youth. We have a very diverse team working for us, consisting of about 40 volunteers in various departments from many countries including Singapore, Turkey, and Switzerland, and various States in our country. We try to inculcate humanitarian values in our volunteers and show them the path to make a difference.

What are the future plans for Iksha?

The various factors that lead to poverty are what we aim at tackling lack of education unemployment, healthcare, climate change etc. The COVID- 19 pandemic has had an effect on people from different walks of life. The factors leading to poverty hove worsened and it's time we focused on improving them. As teenagers, we are enthusiastic and have a plan for cur foundation for the next 10 years. We hope we can help as many people as we can The most recent project launch was Project Ayushka, which aims at supporting senior citizens and COMD-isolated people by providing them the company of young minds

Why did you want to start this foundation, and why the name Iksha?

As teenagers with a global perspective/ the three of us observed the problems the world is facing, and felt we needed to do something about it. We found poverty was the root cause of various problems. It took us hours of video calls, midnight chai, and designing to finally set up the basic structure for our Foundation, which we are currently building on Iksha is the Sanskrit word for vision

What are your hobbies?

Model United Nations is one of my favourite hobbies. I have represented India on various international platforms, fighting for causes such as gender equality, eradicating poverty, fighting climate change, etc. These competitions provide a platform for me to voice my ideas and improve my public speaking and leadership skills. I am also passionate about karate, and currently hold a black belt it has provided me focus, discipline, and fitness throughout my life. ‘I’m pursuing piano at Trinity College London, and I am an avid reader I am a huge Harry Potter fan and love Kaz Brekker.

 

What prompted you to set up The Roadside Bookstore?

From a young age, I have been buying books from the famous roadside vendors of Fort. Mumbai, close to my school During the pandemic I continued reading numerous books bought from these vendors, but these vendors themselves were struggling to make ends meet due to the lockdowns. I came up with a system wherein these vendors could sell their books online at half the prices the big bookstores sell. I realised that people tend to buy products online due to the comfort of home delivery. And during the pandemic home delivery has become an asset for conglomerates to make greater profit. Therefore. I introduced the system of dropshipping, wherein a person could place their order on the website, after which the details would directly go to the roadside vendor. Consequently, they packed and shipped the books to the customers using shipping providers I had tied up with. This system has worked efficiently, as I have expanded the vendors reach from just small areas of Mumbai to more than 10,000 people per month from 40 different countries. I ideated this start-up also to help millions of booklovers throughout India. Rather than buy books at MRP from big stores, they now get books with at least 50 % off MRP, delivered straight to their homes. This is how The Roadside Bookstore came into being.

What is your role as founder & CEO of The Global Investing Forum for Teens (GIFT)?

My fascination for the stock market began at a young age. At the age of 10, I started investing in online stock simulators, which enabled me to explore the world of investing without risk. Gradually, under the guidance of my father, who is an investment banker, I started investing. With the seemingly promising markets of 2020, many individuals have ventured into investing, solely on the basis of speculation. With personalities such as Elon Musk tweeting about cryptocurrency, teenagers too have been investing without any fundamental understanding or technical basis. Witnessing the dearth of resources for teenagers wishing to learn about the stock market. I launched GIFT, along with a classmate, wherein we teach teenagers fundamental, technical analysis, and the principles of value investing, as financial literacy. Till date, we have had students from five countries, including India, the U.S., UAE, Switzerland, etc. utilise our articles, newsletters, and website. We are also organising talks from reputed traders and investors, and even hosting our own stock simulation competition soon.

Tell us about your consulting start-up MicroCurve Consulting, and the impact it has had.

MicroCurve is a social entrepreneurship start-up that I established alongside two teenagers from Delhi and the U.S. During the pandemic, high school and college students have struggled to get internships, and simultaneously, a lot of small businesses and MSMES (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) have struggled to transition to the digital age. Given that most of them had only physical stores, they needed to develop an online presence to sell their products, which required various services such as marketing, graphic design, and web development. We launched MicroCurve, a non-profit organisation that provides these services to MSMES, non-profits, and student-led organisations on a pro-bono (free of cost) basis, while also providing internships and and experience to numerous college and high school students. Starting off in April 2021, we have already secured 12 dients from four countries, while boosting their revenues by $600,000 and increasing their reach to 1,00,000+ people per month. We have provided internships to students from various IITs. and top engineering colleges in these months. In effect, we provide a long-term solution to the internship crisis while helping small businesses who cannot afford highly priced services.

You've been given the young entrepreneur award. Do you think entrepreneurship should be given more priority as a subject?

I have been awarded the Young Entrepreneur Award 2021 by the Indian Achievers Forum, Government of India. It is a huge recognition! And, yes, I believe entrepreneurship is a very important aspect of life. While running my start-ups, particularly The RoadSide Bookstore, I learnt a few important skills in life. While negotiating prices and rates with the booksellers, shipping providers, and payment services providers. I learnt the skill of diplomacy and negotiation. While solving more problems with my start-ups, I also learnt the Indian method of jugaad' or adjustment. I strongly believe entrepreneurship must be included in every curriculum One can learn various skills in life when one works with people at the grassroots level, who do these negotiations on a daily basis.

What challenges have you faced in your journey?

While launching The Roadside Bookstore, I faced numerous struggles. My primary concern was that the vendors didn't have faith in me. I believe this is something numerous teenage entrepreneurs face while starting off People presume we're doing this for fun, or to enhance our resume. However, I genuinely had a passion to help these people, and I chalked a plan for them to earn their trust. I promised these vendors I would get 50 of their books, sold online within a month, which was more than their usual sales. I worked so hard to upload hundreds of books and market them to booklovers all over India that we managed to sell 100 books in just two weeks! Even with MicroCurve, I had to come up with similar plans to prove myself to my clients. I think getting people to have faith in me was one of my greatest challenges as a teen entrepreneur.

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You are the founder of YWB. Tell us about the organisation.

YWB (Youth Well-Being) is a youth-run non-profit organisation that works towards all aspects of well-being for the young. It's also an Indian Under-18 Organisation working towards youth welfare.

What inspired you to set up YWB?

This journey started during the pandemic when I came across a research paper on how intellectual well-being is necessary for one's growth. I also read about other factors people may not be aware of. After a lot of research, I found out that there aren't many organisations for the well-being of youth in India that speaks about such aspects. That is what inspired me to start YWB.

What would you suggest to young people who would like to start an organisation?

There may be discouraging responses from society because of your age. You may not be able to set aside enough time towards it. But if you are interested in making a change, you should try to overcome these problems. Start an organisation with a small crew comprising neighbours, friends, and family willing to join the initiative, and slowly build it up. Before that, read up and acquire as much knowledge as you can. I went through many research papers, articles, and a lot of books before I set up YWB.

What is your learning through this journey?

Leadership skills. Leading a number of people at a global level improved my leadership qualities. Reaching out to like-minded people has taught me that age, gender, and other factors don't matter. The important thing is to do what we can to make a change for the better.

Tell us about your music band PAUSE. PAUSE stands for Perform for a Cause. We are a band of young musicians. We perform at public venues, carnivals, etc. These are all free concerts, and we are funded by donations. The funds that we acquire through these concerts are donated to a social cause. With it, we helped differently abled girls who can't afford education.

What role does music play in your life?

I started learning music when I was three. Both my grandmothers and my father are musicians. I was professionally trained in Hindustani music and also Carnatic music. Slowly, I started learning Western and other forms of music too. My hobby turned into passion. I took part in a lot of music competitions as a kid. As I grew, I started using music as a way to spread positive messages to people who face challenges.

What kind of volunteering services do you do?

Recently, I started working with the gender equality forum of the United Nations. This forum works towards fixing gender-based problems in Mexico and Paris. The memebers work on the right to equality and present it to world leaders. I was also part of the young feminist programme, and a member of the decision- and policy-making panel on global health, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for women and young girls. I also volunteered as a public speaker for the Gender Equality Forum as an adolescent panelist.

What is the one change you want to see in society?

The cultural norms that affect people's health. Some of them are really meaningful, and I respect them a lot. But some of them are pointless. It is important for people to know the scientific reasons for these norms.

What are your hobbies?

Apart from music. I like art. I enjoy writing personal anecdotes and poetry. As singing is my main hobby, I enjoy songwriting, and set my poetry to music. I also like baking and public speaking.

What message would you like to convey to people?

That our well-being is very important. Whatever we like to do, be it singing, writing, or whatever, will lead to our well-being. We should do what we love, and use it to help people.

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What motivated you to start The Cinnamon Chat with Nethila?

When I started to help my dad with some work, I happened to interview a CEO. That was my first interview, and I decided to start a video channel, where I interview successful entrepreneurs and CEOS. I usually interview them such that the younger generation can have an idea of their ways of being successful. This channel is now The Cinnamon Chat with Nethila.

How many successful people have you interviewed to date?

I have interviewed a bunch of people, and have learned new lessons from each one. Each one is different from the other, and I gain a lot of knowledge from everyone.

What's your role as the brand ambassador of Child Action Lanka?

Many children don't have access to shelter, resources, and they live below the poverty line. They are less privileged. Being a brand ambassador of Child Action Lanka, I speak up for homeless children who require help.

What kind of challenges have you faced in your journey?

I am lucky I didn't face many challenges while preparing for my podcast, launching my academy, or while creating videos for my channel. When it comes to preparing for my videos, I use all kinds of techniques on my camera. Some could think my childhood is not being spent joyfully and that instead, I am working on my entrepreneurship. But I don't consider it a big hurdle, and just keep moving.

What are your hobbies?

I play badminton, tennis, and the piano. And I am crazy about building sets.

Who is your source of inspiration?

I look up to my dad. He is my mentor and teacher on all aspects of entrepreneurship. Another great inspiration is Elon Musk. I look up to him; I want to be like him. He is a great entrepreneur. His goal is to make trains that run on magnetic energy, which is only one of his brilliant ideas.

What change do you want to make in society?

I would like to educate children on entrepreneurship so they become successful at a very young age. I am launching an academy soon to teach kids about developing skills for entrepreneurship. I would like all young children to come forward and learn entrepreneurial skills.

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What is your role as a V-Force volunteer for United Nations Volunteers India?

As a V-Force volunteer, I have served in five campaigns since last year. These were related to youth, women empowerment, and Sustainable Development Goals. A major part of it was the 'Fight Against Corona campaign, which took place over a few months last year. We worked with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and NSS of the Indian government to support corona recovery in India.

What is Girl Up? What is your work as a member?

Girl Up is an initiative by the United Nations Foundation. Its aim is to spread the ideals of gender equality, and uplift girls and women by reinforcing their leadership and policy-making roles. I contributed in over 18 initiatives and projects under Girl Up in the last five to six months. The most significant one is definitely the campaign that commenced on Army Day 2021. A few veterans from the Indian Army, both male and female officers, were invited for the panel discussion on women in Indian Army and upcoming opportunities. After the session, we formed a decentralised community to assist young girls who aspire to be officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

What is StudoMatrix? What role do you play as its joint secretary?

StudoMatrix aims to provide holistic development to youth, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. It was set up during the pandemic last year. A lot of talent lies unrecognised in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities because not many opportunities are available for these bright minds. Over the last one year, through StudoMatrix we've reached over 25,000 students across 150 cities in India. As its joint secretary, I oversee the management, administration, and program ideation as part of the core team.

Tell us about your experience with the UN System Staff College and Peace Operation Training Institute, the U.S.

I've had a wonderful experience. I've completed over 550 courses offered by various prestigious UN Institutes such as the United Nations System Staff College, Peace Operations Training Institute, United States Institute of Peace, Ivy League Universities, etc. The courses have been on diverse topics, from sustainable development, health, and women's rights to human rights, peace keeping, good governance, administration, and international law. Recently, I was selected by the Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development of the UN System Staff College for a course on Climate Change and Paris Agreement, with the UN Secretariat, government officials, and other stakeholders from around the world.

What is your motivation behind spreading peace?

My motto is ‘The time to think was yesterday, today is the time to act’. We have spent a lot of time just talking, and with climate change knocking at our door, we have to act now. My aim is to make this world a better place to live in. Peace is very crucial for attaining sustainability since security and development go hand in hand.

What do you discuss in your meetings with Presidents, Prime Ministers, ambassadors, and other stakeholders?

I have had meetings with over a thousand stakeholders, including policymakers, Presidents, and ambassadors from around the world. We discuss a variety of topics such as upliftment of youth integration of artificial intelligence and education, sustainable development, policy coherence, climate change, and bilateral and multilateral relations.

Any memorable recognition for your work?

In 2017, I was awarded the AWWA Award of Excellence for my work in science and technology and community upliftment through sustainable development. This included transitioning barren land patches of Thar Desert into green science parks made up entirely of waste and recycled material.

If you get a chance to change one thing in the society, what would it be?

Our attention spans are getting shorter and we are becoming meaner, and I would like to change that. A lot of people, especially teenagers and young adults are blindly following random trends for the sake of looking cool. Also, we aren't very good listeners. Most of the time, we listen just to reply and not to understand, and this is one of the reasons for instability in interpersonal relations nowadays. With these issues addressed properly, society can progress as a whole.

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Tell us about your chance to visit NASA.

At school one day, I saw a newspaper on the floor. It featured the photograph of a girl and a rocket. Interested, I read the paper. It was about a girl who had gone to NASA after writing an examination for a company offering online tutoring services. Seeing that, I too wanted to go to NASA. When I asked my teacher if I could attend it she said yes. Those who were playing with me said it would be too big an achievement for me to think about. But from a very young age, I have always proven such people wrong. When someone says I can't do something. I always attempt to finish it. So I challenged my friends. I went home, used my uncle's phone to understand what the examination was about, and gathered all related information. Then I wrote it. It was the first online examination I ever wrote: it was a very new experience. I won the second rank in India, and a chance to visit NASA.

Did the win kindle your interest in Science, Maths, and Social Sciences?

If I remember correctly, these interests and the dream to visit NASA began when I was in primary school. The reason for that would be my teachers. At a time when students didn't have much access to mobile phones and other gadgets, my teachers gave me information they found on newspapers, television, etc. That's what kindles the interest in me. Not just these, I attend many competitions at school, including sports such as carrom, chess, and kabaddi.

Though you won the competition you were unable to visit NASA due to the COVID-19 outbreak. What happened then?

Once the examination results were out, I was told that I would have to provide the flight cost myself. I'm the breadwinner of my family, and do not have the money for that. But then, a few social workers offered to help by starting a fund. And so that need was met. After that a non-government organisation offered to pay for it. Since the flight cost was already paid, they offered to build a house for me since I live in a hut. I told them that I didn't want a house, and if they really wanted to help, they could build a public bathroom for my village since most houses didn't have one. So now, there are 126 bathrooms / toilets in our town.

You mentioned you're the breadwinner of your family. What work do you do?

I live with my mother and brother. My village Adhanakottai is famous for cashew nuts. I work at a factory that manufactures cashew products. In summer, I harvest cashew fruit.

What are your interests?

I read books, draw, play, and conduct tuition classes for students up to Class X.

What would you like to say to children who have big dreams but don't have the support to achieve them?

If you believe you can achieve your dream, you can do it. If there is a will, there is a way. If we can't do it, nobody can. To achieve our dreams, background, money, and status do not matter.

What course are you going to study after school?

I have just completed the academic year for Class XII. I have not yet thought about the course I am going to study.

How do you feel about supporting your family?

When someone imagines their work to be impossible, it turns impossible. When I want something, I put in my best effort. If I get it, great. If I don't, I am not bothered much.

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What do you like about nanotechnology?

All kinds of interests start with learning and research. I started with research myself. I started researching on the broad topic of our environment. I discovered that I was specifically passionate about sustainable energy resources, and through more and more exposure. I discovered nanotechnology. Nanomaterials are going to have an impact on every single field of work in the future, and I knew I wanted to learn about them on a more technical level. So I combined my interests in nanotechnology and sustainable energy. I think it's crucial to become strong in multiple fields of technology so you can intersect them to create game-changing ideas.

What is your mission? What action have you taken to get closer to it?

My mission is to end the global usage of fossil fuels. The amount of fossil fuels used by the world is huge, and we don't have much time left before we exhaust those fuels. Besides researching about this and educating myself, I want to build projects and do something about this problem.

Tell us about your journey as an author.

I have always loved writing. I love creating new things and putting my thoughts on paper, and I especially love fantasy. I started off by writing short stories. Those developed into chapter books of about a 100 pages, and finally, I ended up with novels. I love reading, and I love the impact that certain books have on me, and I wanted to have that kind of impact on my readers as well. I wrote my first Inovel when I was in Class III, and then in Class VI. I tried to get published another novel I had written, but got rejected by publishing houses and agents. I went back to the drawing board, wrote another novel in Class VII, and this one ended up getting published. It's called "Chronicles of Illusions: The Blue Wild", and it was released a few months ago.

You have won many awards. Which one is your favourite?

First of all, I don't think awards should define our success or happiness. I have won a few awards, but they don't define me. I think my favourite award would be my being given the second place for the national science fair because I got to help others. I worked on an intervention to decrease cellular screen time in middle school girls for about two years. I started off with my school science fair in Class VII which I won, and then I went to Regionals, where I didn't get through. In the next year, I got to Regionals once again, and got through to Nationals, where I got silver. It was something I was very passionate about. My result was decreasing cellular screen time in girls by two hours per day per person.

Who is your source of inspiration?

I have a few mentors who are my constant sources of inspiration. I am part of a programme called The Knowledge Society, where there are different directors for different cities. My director is lan Lockhart and he is absolutely incredible. He has helped me so much. I also look up to my dad. He is a huge role model for me and has given me many great opportunities that have shaped who I am today. And I have to mention my sister. She's only a few years older than me, but she's my best friend.

What are your future plans? Are there any projects you are currently working on?

I'm going to be building a prototype of the new solar panel I have been working on in a lab. This is exciting! I'm doing research on making better bioplastic. I'm also working on a sequel to my novel, and a children's book series on developing technology fields such as Al and nanotech. Emerging tech is going to play a huge role in the future, and children need to know about them earlier on. Speaking of the future and the next generation, I am going to be starting a podcast with my sister, for young people.

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How did you get into game-based learning?

Our brain captures things better when we play games, when we have fun. That's where the idea of using games for education comes in. We create 3D models in Minecraft a videogame series, and make leaderboards. Students learn better because visual learning helps them understand things better. During an unplanned session with my teacher in Class V, I learned about Minecraft, and when I went home, I saw its PC edition on my laptop. I remembered that my teacher had talked about it, and so I started playing. Later, my parents got me the educational edition, where I started building my lessons. Being able to see the problems faced by my peers in understanding concepts, and being able to change the educational routine of memorising to visual learning, I stumbled upon the idea of gamification.

You're just 14, but you have trained hundreds of teachers from other regions and countries as well in educational gamification using Minecraft and STEM. Tell us about that.

It has been a learning experience, because to teach others. I have to learn - how to be kind, understand how they leam, and teach according to their pace. Not everyone learns at the same pace, and I have to adapt to their speed. I also became more confident. I see the difference between the very first session I conducted, and the sessions I conduct now. I used to be very formal in those days, but now I am a bit more comfortable.

Girls are often questioned for taking up gaming. What are your views on that?

Initially, lots of people asked me why I played video games, being a girl. I proved them wrong by building these lessons and displaying them. When I saw that not many girls are into these fields, I started my own club, "Girls in STEM", wherein I taught them how to use certain tools not only to learn but also to create awareness that everyone can get into these fields. Games have nothing to do with gender. Everyone can game.

Have you faced any challenges so far?

I haven't faced many challenges except for the view that girls can't game. But I just ignored them. I wasn't silent. When I had to speak out my mind, I did, but calmly. I have never been rude, though. You must never give up hope and always strive for more. Your focus must be on reality.

You are a recipient of the Bal Shakti Puraskar 2018.

On January 25, 2018, I was given the award by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That day had a surreal feel to it. It was amazing to hear my name being announced and meeting him. I got it in the Innovation Category for creating lessons in Minecraft and making classrooms more interactive. I was also recognised for teaching several teachers in game-based leaming.

Many parents feel games distract children from studies. What are your thoughts?

Playing is not necessarily bad, but prolonged playing is not good. I set a proper schedule, where I dedicate ample time for studies, and time for playing as well. Priorities need to be set. Homework, extra-curricular activities, chores given by your parents come first. Then you won't be stopped from playing. Taking breaks is also important.

You run a video channel called Technocrat. Tell us about that.

I started my channel in 2019. I started posting tutorials on how to use tech tools. In my podcast "Each one Teach Ten: A Beautiful World of STEM", I invite people all over the world who use STEM tools to engage students in the classroom.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to set up an educational gamification start-up.

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You are the Youngest Author of Assam.

My book "How We Became Magnificent was published in December 2018; I was 10 years old then. It was for that book I was given the Youngest Author of Assam award by Assam Book of Records.

Tell us about your poem "Silhouette of Reality".

 I watch the news: saw lots of people suffering during the coronavirus pandemic then there's the issue of pollution... all these things were on my mind. I compiled my thoughts into a poem, and titled it "Silhouette of Reality. It highlights the darkness we face in life. It was published in a magazine and on online poetry platforms for young poets.

What does your company Clippers do? After

I received the award, I was invited to speak at a local high school on Children's Day. When I had a question-and-answer session with the students there, I got to know that many students were curious about this field. So I came up with a social media page called Literature on Screen, where viewers could read my work. When the pandemic hit, and classes went online, I created Clippers, a media channel. My first interview for the channel was with author Nandini Nayar, who narrated her journey in the field. Next was my first video interview. It was with a Nigerian educator, who was helping poor people across the world. She has donated mobile phones to many children and created free Mathematics videos for them. I have also interviewed a New York Times bestselling author. And then, I got the idea of creating a talk show.

What is your talk show about?

I realised that many children are achievers. So I made my talk show primarily for such children. For instance, one episode was with Namya Joshi, awardee of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, 2021.

Who is your inspiration?

Authors Arthur Conan Doyle, R.L Stine, and Enid Blyton. My father and grandfather are both authors, and I am inspired by them. I am also inspired by the young people I interview on my talk show.

What are your hobbies?

I started painting when I was three years old. I also love singing and reciting poems. I love typing too.

How do you manage your time?

Before classes went online, I had to write during the weekends. Whenever I got an idea for a story, I noted it down. But during the lockdown, I got a lot of spare time, so I was able to spend more time on writing.

What are your plans for the future?

I am close to publishing my second book "The Enormity of Time". There are more books to be published. I also have to work on the episodes of my talk show.

What do you want to tell young people like you?

If you all wish to do something, believe that you can do it. If there is a will, there is a way. If you have the motive to change something, you can do it.

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You’ve written two books. Tell us about that journey

I used to come up with small, fantasy tales when I was about two or three years old. The actual journey of writing a book started in 2020, at the beginning of the lockdown. I had a sudden urge to start writing, and in a few weeks, my first book “The Cousin’s Crime” was ready. Simultaneously, I started writing my second book, a non-fiction, “Why Ignore them?” It came out last June.

Tell us about your books

“The Cousin’s Crime” is a mystery with 17-year-old Krisha Batra as the protagonist. She is witty, fierce, determined, yet playful. There is a sidekick too, Aarav Batra, her brother. I drew his character from my own life, and I think most people will be able to relate to them. The story starts with the Summer Detective Contest, which Kisha wins and becomes an official detective. The story begins when Kisha witnesses a crime.

My second book is about the environmental issues faced by the world. I have listed nine issues being ignored, and need action. I have also suggested a few methods to solve these issues. While with the first book I hope to empower girls more, in the second, I want to try and tackle environmental problems.

You’re a content writer and an editor too.

I contribute content to an organization that puts mental health above everything else; it attempts to break the shackles of shame. My aim is to make the topic of mental health more inclusive. I believe that if mental health is fine, we can work more efficiently.

For a scientific magazine of the same organization, I write on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The research had to be deep for that. As months progressed, I got promoted. Recently, I took up responsibility for podcasts too.

Who is your inspiration?

I have different inspiration for different aspects of my life. My biggest inspiration includes APJ Abdul Kalam. Even when he was the President of India, he was so down-to-earth, so humble. Another person is Sudha Murthy. She is an author, and the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. She is humble as well. Also, multi-faceted Ellen Degeneres, who is amazing; she is aware of problems in her environment. She has started a variety of movements, including one for saving pandas.

What challenges did you face in your journey? How did you overcome them?

Time would have been a challenge, but, due to the lockdown, that wasn’t a challenge. The greatest challenge was staying consistent. Writing is a very long process; it can’t end in two or three days. So giving it a 100% in the beginning and getting lower won’t work. I’d like to quote singer Shawn Mendes, “You can’t get too comfortable and relax, because your world can flip overnight.” You have to remain consistent. And I can’t emphasise enough on reading. It doesn’t have to be a book; just about anything is fine.

What are your hobbies?

It may sound like a cliche, but I like to study Science and Mathematics. Especially about space. I can keep going on and on about space. Apart from that, I like to play the guitar. These are my most-favourite hobbies, which I can do every day. Sometimes I like to draw, but not always. Reading is my most favourite.

What are your future plans?

I don’t want to plan on anything. But I do love space and science, so I want to do something in that field. Above all, I want to become a good woman; be empathetic. All the women who inspire me are humble and simple. I want to be like that.

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How did your interest in robotics start?

When I was in Class VI, my school introduced programming to us. It was very basic so I wasn't satisfied. I went home, browsed about it and slowly started developing an interest in technology. I got into robotics, and tried building things on my own.

Tell us about your online video channel Tech Nuttiez.

When I was building things, I realised I could demonstrate my work to people in my age group. When I was in Class VII, I started my YouTube channel Tech Nuttiez. I got good support from viewers; I have over 100K viewers for my channel. I also put up DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects and tutorials.

You also write articles. Could you tell us about that?

The website Instructables is a platform for creators such as me. When I make a video, I parallelly create a written form of the same, and those go into Instructables. I have 200K views there.

What are the challenges you have faced?

Coping with studies is the biggest challenge I've ever faced. You need to do everything the others are doing, and you also have to do something unique. Managing is a difficult task.

How did you overcome these challenges?

You have to set your priorities right. Of course, your passion is really important, but you can't give up on studies because that is also very important. You just have to focus on both equally. We have a lot of time on our hands. We better not waste it.

Do you think that in a few decades the world will completely turn online?

Yes, I feel that the world will become much more advanced because we have grown positively on an exponential rate from what we were about 50 years ago. And, the change will get faster and better.

Do you prefer online classes over on-campus classes?

Obviously on-campus classes were better, but with online classes, people have so much time on their hands to do what they love. If you can cope with online classes, then they are better.

What are your other interests?

Gaming is another thing I love. I am trying to be a good reader. I love playing football.

Who is your source of inspiration?

In technology, there are many giants, such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerburg, Bill Gates. These people built their empire from a young age. When you have a passion, why wait to follow it when you can do it now?

What are your future plans?

I love content creation on technology. I do that already, and I want to continue that. I want to make technology a part of my living. I am not sure what sort of technology, but technology is going to be my life. Maybe app-building or robotics. I want to create a tech start-up.

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How did your journey of becoming an entrepreneur start?

At a very young age. My parents are in the business field, so I often got a glimpse of what exactly it was. I loved everything about owning a company. I would sit at the dining table and pretend to be a CEO. That dream has now become a reality.

When and how did you start your own company?

My company Start-upper is a weekly newsletter on start-ups, delivered to subscribers’ inbox every Sunday. We write articles such as “A start-up made a billion dollars”. The target reaches are obviously entrepreneurs, who won’t have time to pull out such articles from the Internet. We make it brief and informative. I founded it during the course of the pandemic. Within the first week, we had about 10,000 subscribers. We now have about 16,000.

Start-upper has been acquired. Did you expect that to happen?

When you’re starting a company, you need to have an idea of what you want to end up with. Start-upper sealed up drastically, and there was a need for an acquisition. I had a vision that we were going to have a merger.

How do you get business ideas?

I have many ideas, but pick only the ones that will work. The key that drives these ideas is reading. I read 10 to 15 business articles a day. It helps me decide what kind of ideas I should work on.

Who is your source of inspiration?

Primarily my parents. They are executives, and are very dedicated and hard working. After them, my inspiration would probably be Elon Musk. All his ideas are so innovative and unique. I strive to be him.

What kind of support did you get from your parents?

A lot of moral and financial support. I have many ideas, and always want to turn them into companies. And my parents never say no to any ideas. Whenever I give them an idea, they try to pitch in and advise me in the right way. I know a few friends who also have great business ideas. But comments such as “You’re too young for this” or “This is just a waste of time” from their parents stop them.

Did you face challenges because of your age?

I am 14 years old. A lot of people I meet with are at least 20. It makes you stop for a second and think, “What am I doing? I am 14 years old. I must be playing outside.” But I have to overcome that by saying, “This is what I want to do. Nobody is forcing me to do it. Pursue it. Don’t let it stop.” I am still the youngest member in the room. People do underestimate me sometimes, but nowadays student entrepreneurship is becoming a thing, so people are mostly used to it. Lots of teenagers have really good business ideas. Student entrepreneurs are always open to new ideas and marketing strategies, whereas older companies stick to old-school methods. When it’s your passion, you must never let people stop it.

What are your future plans?

I am working on Debater, a social debating app. I want to sell it, and make it more successful. In the future, I would be happy to look at private equity, venture capital, and investment banking. And I will still continue start-up on the side.

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How do you feel about receiving the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, the highest civilian award for those under 18?

When my name was announced, I was excited and overwhelmed. It was unbelievable! My parents were also elated. It is a dream come true. I received this award for both my app and my achievements in Olympiads.

Tell us about the app you developed.

It is Raksha, a women's safety app. I created this app since women's safety is a concern across the globe. I developed the app during the lockdown. The inspiration for this app came from my mother. She is a healthcare worker, and we care for her safety.

You have received various awards and accolades in Olympiads as well. Which is the most special to you?

I've been receiving awards for Olympiads since I was in Class II. But to me the most special one is the international first rank that I got in the National Cyber Olympiad last year. It furthered my interest in technology, eventually helping me develop the app. That was probably the turning point in my life.

You've also received the Silicon Valley Code of Honour award.

When I started learning programming, I wanted to challenge myself. If I just kept learning without a test, I wouldn't know where I stood. So I participated in the Silicon Valley challenge, conducted globally. The rule of the challenge was to create an app helping a social cause. After consulting my mother, I was inspired to create the Raksha Women Safety App. And I won the award.

You're also interested in public speaking.

My mother is an excellent debater, and she trained me. The credit also goes to my school. From Class I, I have been attending many debates conducted by my school. My first award motivated me to get my second, my second to get my third, and so on. It also helped me realise I had a knack for public speaking.

What are your plans for the future?

As a STEM enthusiast, I want to become a data scientist. I want to work for prestigious organisations such as ISRO, DRDO, etc.

What do you want to do for society?

I have been developing two apps. One is to help children from less privileged backgrounds. The app will help people donate books to such children. The other app focusses on mental healthcare. I have seen lots of people going into depression because of loss of jobs and such because of the pandemic. The app works on motivation.

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How did you interest in cooking begin?

When I was three-and-a-half years old, I started helping my mother in the kitchen. When I was five, I started a YouTube channel. The more I learnt to cook, the more I was interested in it.

You have created a record by cooking 172 dishes in an hour. What kind of preparation went into it?

I didn’t practice much; I only got 10 days for it. But only the ‘with-fire cooking’ part was hard. Fireless cooking was easy. So I cooked 150 dishes in 50 minutes, and in the remaining 10 minutes I cooked more and garnished the dishes.

Among the 172, which was your favourite?

The Caesar salad; it is made of fried bread, lettuce, and boiled chicken.

Are you planning for any more records?

I’m eyeing the Guinness Record. And I am not going to tell you what it is going to be!

Who do you go to when you need help?

My mother.

Who’s your favourite chef?

CNZ Burak is my favourite cook. He is a Turkish chef.

Which is your favourite cuisine?

Italian.

Your dream is to start a pasta kitchen. Why pasta?

Pasta is generally very expensive, but I want to make it affordable for everyone. Also, my favourite dish is pasta.

So, how is your pasta bar going to be different from the rest?

There are 350 types of pastas in the world, and I want to provide all the 350 types in my bar. In fact, I will be launching the pasta bar very soon.

What are your plans for the future?

I love travelling, and so I want to become a pilot. It has been my dream.

Will you continue to cook even when you grow up?

Definitely.

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