cele AGENT dD | aA CONNECTIONS a ahd SaaSEAN stea liao lameelait Make a bold statement that turns heads everywhere with ERA, a fusion of time! ewellery and modern trends. Exquisitely crafted in 22 karat gold, this designer ion features uncut diamonds and precious Buy: ‘SHOP VIRTUAL ) ‘SHOP ONLINE AT CALL: +1(908)848-3308 Soe MALABAR NEW JERSEY: 1548 OAK TREE ROAD, ISELIN 08830, TEL: 752 283 0916 OLD & DIAMONDS CHICAGO: 2652 W DEVON AVENUE, IL 60659, TEL: 773 465 5755 eet eet etna OR nnn Rice TneItaar—And Two Recipesto Make It Great ‘The Perils of Social Media 2 a a" > “4 \ ql Rituparna Sengupta CONTENTS _ 5 CONTRIBUTORS RELATIONSHIPS SEEMA RECOMMENDS, 6 BEYOND LIMITS 62 Rekindling Lost Connections 96 Get, Set, Fit PIONEERS SEEMA TEENS. HOROSCOPE 8 TheDeuce Who Came Aces 66 ‘The Perils of Social Media 101 Forecast With Farzana 16 ‘MyJob Is Not to Fix Everything 70 The Binary World of Teens on the Planet’ ON THE 22 ‘Hey, We Deserve Representation. FOOD & DRINK COVER 26 Agent Mohan 76 Iftaar—And Two Recipes Everything She Touches... 30 Her Seasons of Success to Make It Great 36 Certainly Not Sari 80 Celebrating Her Husband's Legacy FEATURES 52 Green Fashion SEEMA BOOKS 58 It’s Time to Renew You. 86 Where Rhyme Meets Reason And Rest That Superwoman 92 Independent South Asian Within Publishing Houses 5 8Subscribe Now! leyouil tenitla.. www.Seema.com/subscribeSHARE/ LIKE/ TWEET/ US ON (@seemanctwork 0 @seemanetworks oO @seemanetnork ON THE COVER: /ANNJULA ACHARIA (PAGE 40) PHOTO CREDIT: DIVYA AKHOURI MEET OUR | CONTRIBUTORS FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SEEMA KUMAR (CREATIVE DIRECTOR SAJID MOINUDDIN DesiGn HB DESIGN EDITORIAL COORDINATOR ROHINI KAPUR EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE AHAD SANWARI werrers: ABHIJIT MASIH PRATIKA YASHASWI SWARNENDU BISWAS BINDU GOPAL RAO RASHMI GOPAL RAO SWETA VIKRAM SARAH KAPADIA NANCY AMON MABEL PAIS PALOMA JHINGAN FARZANA CONTRACTOR ‘BRAND PARTNERSHIPS, DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY ANJALI MANIAM ‘SEEMA™ ISSUE 04 APRIL 2022 EMPOWERING SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN GLOBALLY ‘SEEM KUMAR, FOUNDER ‘COPYRIGHT © 2021 SEEMA,JAYARAM, LIC SEBUACOM PUBLISHED AT PO, BOX 814, PENNINGTON, Nj 08534 ‘SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES: INFO@SEEMA.COM OR SEEMA.COM/ARTICLE/CONTACT.US TO SUBSORIBE WRITE TO SUBSORIBE@SEENA.COM ‘SPONSORSHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS, ADVERTISING, NEWSLETTER AND EVENT INQUIRES: NFO@SEEMA,COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ADVERTISING FNAL: ADVERTISE@SEEMA.COMEDIT | SEEMA SEEMA BEYOND LIMITS ‘SEEMA KUMAR, FOUNDER Carpe diem pril It’s a month of new beginnings, heralding the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere. Here in the United States, the days are getting longer and the weather warmer. And with that comes a feeling of being lighter wake up to the sound of birds chirping, and walk by ‘crocuses peeking through the thin layer of frost in the garden, The air feels clean and crisp and fills me with a sense of optimism. I know challenges lie ahead and that there are the dragons of fear, bias and prejudice to be slain, but lam ready to spring forward and seize the day. (Our April issue features many women who have done just that — seize the day, and the opportunity to makea difference in the world, to effect positive change and create aan impact for society that is bigger than personal victories. ‘Take our cover star, Anjula Acharia. A Punjabi git! from Buckinghamshire, UK, who is now living the American dream, An angel investor to numerous women-led billion dollar companies, Acharia has has been part of the impressive list of Billboard Int'l Power Players, Vanity Fair's Next Establishment List, and, ELLE Magazine's Top Women In Tech. She also is the brains behind the successful crossover of superstar Priyanka Chopra Jonas from Bollywood to Hollywood and to international stardom Firmly rooted in Bollywood, Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Acharia has successfully managed to combine technology and entertainment and sought and promoted talent in its different forms. I was particularly inspired by her commitment to to be a mentor to ‘women entrepreneurs and helping them succeed — the kind of person she lacked as a young entrepreneurPHOTO CREDIT, 51/28/78 «a0 herself, Her advice to other South Asian women is to be passionate and persistent and to not give up easily. Her goal is to catalyze success not just for one of us but all of us. That there is room for everyone to occupy the top! That said, you don't have to be at the top to make a difference. Sometimes the biggest impact is made from behind the scenes as the story of Tanya Mohan demonstrates. Mohan, who specializes in counterterrorism and conflict management, has been resolving these problems in different parts of the world. As a security analyst at the Threat and Risk Service unit of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) at the UN headquarters in New York, she heads a training unit responsible for an analytical course for UN personnel. In her stint with the UN, she has covered almost the entire globe, including the Asia Pacific region, Middle East and Africa. She says her story is testament to the fact that ‘women can do anything they put your mind to, and that international relations and strategy and foreign studies ~ traditionally male-dominated disciplines ~ can be fulfilling career paths for women, And that no field or discipline is out ofthe realm and so, if you are interested in something, just go for it! ‘As we welcome April and also mark important observances like Ramadan, Easter, Ugadi and the Tamil New Year, we are ready focus on family, rekindle connections, give to others and celebrate new beginnings. And we we are ready to spring forward and seize the day.PIONEER | SEEN g 3 2 Holding onto each other and fueling each other with their individual energiesThe DEUCE WHO CAME ACES Sirat and Mannat Kaur are the best-known twins in the modeling world ABHIJIT MASIHPIONEER | SEEMA any siblings have been successful in the modeling world. The Hadid sisters — Bella and Gigi, spring to mind. Then there is the brother-sister duo of Rosie and Toby Huntington-Whitley. Twins have been even rarer. There's the Ruth and May Bell from Essex, U.K; Ami and Aya, the pink- haired twins from Japan; the Paris-based Sabrina and Sarah Guessab; and Se Rim and Se Yeon Lee from South Korea. And back in the 2000s, India had representation in the form of Tupur and Tapareee eee ee ee “YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO FIT IN INTO ONE CULTURE OR ANOTHER,” MANNAT SAID. “YOU CAN JUST BE WHO YOU ARE, WITH ALL THE EXPERIENCES . THAT COME WITHIT. I THINK THAT’S ) WHEN YOU CAN BE COMFORTABLE WITH LIVING IN IS DUALITY.” “We never grew up thinking that you can do ‘work in the fashion industry”“I REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE, THE SCHOOLING WAS MUCH EASIER. SO WE DID NOT MISS CHANDIGARH SCHOOLS AT ALL. I MISSED THE CITY, THOUGH. I MISSED THE GARDEN IN OUR HOUSE. BUT WE GO BACK [TO CHANDIGARH] A LOT. MOST OF OUR FAMILY IS STILL THERE.” Chatterjee. The Chatterjee sisters were the faces of some of the best brands, and regulars on magazine covers and, fashion week shows. Once they went off the radar, there has been no noted twins representing South Asia Perhaps that has changed now with the arrival Mannat and Sirat Kaur, born in Chandigarh, raised in Miami and currently living in New York. The duo burst onto the fashion scene with a bang, with campaign for Marc Jacobs, followed by debuts on the New York Fashion Week, and being picked by Rihanna for Fenty ‘The twins took time out from their busy schedule during the New York Fashion Week to speak to SEEMA, describing how they got from Sector 17 in Chandigarh to the runways of the Big Apple. “Our dad is in the shipping industry as a captain in the merchant navy. He got a job here, and so we were all able to move to Miami,” Mannat said. The parents have now moved from Florida and now live in Houston, Texas. Leaving Chandigarh for Miami when they were just nine years old must have been tough Sirat, the more chatty of the two, recalled the shift, “I remember when we first moved here, the schooling was much easier. So we did not miss Chandigarh schools at all. missed the city, though. missed the garden in our house. But we go back [to Chandigarh} a lot. Most of our family is still there.” ‘Mannat, who was recently in India, plans to go back very soon, She explains what pulls them there:“We have our connections in India, and we actually try to visit at least once a year. That's what we've been doing since we were young, So we didn’t lose that connection. While in Chandigarh, the young Kaur sisters thought everyone around them came from the same culture, “The biggest shock for us when we moved here was that people don't look like us,” Manat said. "When. wwe were in Chandigarh, in India, obviously, you take it for granted that everybody has the same cultural background as you, and they understand certain values about your culture. Whereas here, I think it was, really hard to understand, though, that we're different, and people won't understand us. In the beginning, it was really hard to assimilate.” She expanded on their dilemma. “Obviously, the way that we would live in India, you can’t live the same way here,” she said. “It's just not possible. That's something that we had to work together with our family: How to live and try to find a good balance between both the cultures.” They decided the best way to do that was to hold on to their values, keep in touch with their upbringing and remain close to friends and family “You don’t always have to fit in into one culture or another,” Mannat said. "You can just be who you are, with all the experiences that come with it.I think that’s when you can be comfortable with living in this duality.” Growing up in India the Kaur sisters spent a lot of their free time in performing seva at the gurudwara and taking part in religious speech competitions. Fashion was not patt of theit world “It wasn’t necessarily something we were looking for or even knew was possible, especially growing up with Indian parents, growing up Indian,” Mannat said “We never grew up thinking that you can work in the fashion industry. You know, when that happened, it was a shock to both of us.” Sirat and Mannat's milieu shaped them and led them toward the bright lights of fashion, “We always leaned towards the creative side,” Sirat said. “Starting in high school, the people that we were surrounded with ~ all our friends ~ were all creative people, some of whom had their own clothing brands. So in high school, we started modeling for our friends, and posted those pictures on Instagram.” ‘Those pictures were fortuitously seen by a senior casting director in New York, which got them to the PIONEER | SEEMA ‘Mare Jacobs campaign. Manat described how the company of creative people helped them both: "By being friends with creative people who also knew others doing similar things helped. So when somebody was looking around for twins, or looking for brown people to cast in @ major campaign, our friends thought of us and reached out immediately. Their most satisfying career milestone is not a campaign, but a “cooler” project, as they described it ‘We found out that Rihanna teamed up with a popular magazine and chose 41 people that she thought were reshaping the culture across fashion, music, art, activism and female empowerment,” ‘Mannat said. Mannat, who is older than Sirat by a minute, also described their plans to go beyond modeling while still remaining in the fashion industry. ‘We have our own little places in the fashion industry already, and we feel comfortable just continuing finding different areas of the fashion industry where we might fit later in,” she said. “Even if t's not modeling, we've already been kind of finding other areas where we excel. I don't see myself leaving the fashion industry; it’s something that interests me, no matter if itis production, casting, or anything [else].” They are also considering setting up a modeling agency that promotes people who look like them and have similar backgrounds. They say they would like to create a space where people can feel accepted. If we were to ever start an agency that represents models, we would want them to feel the most comfortable being themselves and would just want to advocate the best as we can for those people,” Sirat said. Manat spoke for both of them when she gave their advice to newbies: “Once you believe, you can take the steps to get to the path.” ‘They realize that the obsession of the fashion world for twins is unlikely to wane anytime soon. This helps these twins, especially because they are also from coveted minority in the industry. “L think it helps people notice us more and helps. us to be seen more,” Mannat said. "We're more memorable that way. We definitely acknowledge that it's an advantage for us. The first few campaigns that ‘we were cast for were because we were South Asian twins.” They hope that trend continues.PIONEER | SEEMA ‘My job is not to fix everything on the planet’ Perhaps not all of it. But Priti Parikh is working to make sure her students can wrap things up PRATIKA YASHASWI sa teenager in India, Priti Parikh would follow her father, also an engineer, into slums and informal settlements as he worked to improve sanitation and water access for the poor ‘Today, Parikh, who has a PhD from the University of Cambridge, is the founder of Engineering for International Development (EFID), at the University College in London, and is recognized by Apolitical as one of the 100 most influential academics for government and policy-making in climate and sustainability. EFID advises policymakers and charities on sustainable engineering solutions for human development and well- being, especially in low- and middle-income countries in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, We sat down to chat with Parikh about her life's work and to learn from a woman at the forefront of technological innovations aboutPIONEER | SEEMA “THROUGH MY ONGOING FELLOWSHIP I WORK WITH COMMUNITIES IN VILLAGES IN AFRICA TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CURRENT AND FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS. MY INDUSTRY PARTNER, BBOXX, HAS DEVELOPED AND INSTALLED HOUSEHOLD LEVEL SOLAR PANELS TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY IN REMOTE SETTINGS” where exactly we stand on climate change. Tell mea bit about yourself and your career. Where did you grow up, and what was your journey into the field of sustainable infrastructure and construction? My parents moved from East Africa, to the UK, [then] to Gujarat in India where I did my schooling, undergraduate studies and early industry work. I then moved back to the UK 21 years ago. So in a way this journey instilled in me an interest in global challenges and the desire to explore why there are disparities in living conditions on this planet. Tsaw how difficult life was without clean water and sanitation and electricity. lalso saw how the provision of infrastructure (water, sanitation, roads, electricity, flood management) transformed living conditions. ‘The process also included a large component of engaging with local communities to make engineering solutions more sustainable. Since then there has been no turning back and now Lam heavily engaged in the field of sustainable infrastructure. Tell us a bit about Engineering for International Development (EFID). How did it begin, and what was your vision behind it? After working in the engineering industry for 15 years I joined academia where I noticed a gap in skillsin the sector. For example, undergraduate courses in engineering have been very technical and rarely focus on behaviour change which is so important while helping underserved communities adjust to new technology. | first developed an MSc program to train engineers in the development of solutions specifically for marginalized communities, and then founded and now head the EFID center at University College, London. Our mission and passion at EFID is to provide infrastructure to every person on this planet. Asa center, primarily we combine technical solutions that can improve human lives with social sciences to understand social- cultural acceptance of technologies. For example in my fellowship funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering and industry partner Bboxx Ltd, my team models electricityDr Priti Parikh stands before so n trends for people in use solar panels, But we combine this work with consumer behavior stud eople use appli nd what their future needs are likely to be so that the sec -an develop the right appliances and des Ve also provide evidence to governments and infrastructure communities. We do that through ween those services and the ‘There is a great deal of conversation around how women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change, and the role of their empowermentin dealing with it. Could you shed some light on this? ‘Women and girls bear the burden of poo: infrastructure and climate change. In settings such as slums and villages often they are the ones who are responsible for collecting water and cooking fuels, disposing waste water from houses and sourcing food. So women and girls are already more likely to face hardships, and climate change si adds another layer or dimension to it. For instance, with frequent flooding it takes longer to collect water and source cooki 1g fuel, It is often difficult for women and girls to quickly evacuate during flood events. Sanitation or the lack of it is hugely problematic due to the risk of violence near public toilets or open fields, especially during nights. With droughts when rural communities migrate to cities they find themselves in new settings where they are more vulnerable and this has an impact on safety and education of girls. One of the most heartbreaking things about climate change is that those who are perhaps least responsible for it are the worst affected — the poor living in urban informal settlements. What are some solutions you've come across to address this? Globally 50% of the population mostly in low and middle income countries are responsible for just 10% of the emissions. Most of the urban informal settlements are located in low- and middle-income countries, which are more vulnerable to climate change in spite of being low emitters. Millions of children in South Asia are being put at risk due to climate re storms, heatwaves and droughts. Unfortunately, ed events such as floods, vulnerable communities who are already struggling, to survive and access basic services are the ones most adversely impacted. Children living in those communities face being trapped in poverty, lack of healthcare and education due to displacement as a climate change. We have to act now to provide a safer and sustainable future for our children. ‘We are researching and advancing knowledge on. ‘water, sanitation and energy solutions which are climate friendly — which leads to lower emissions and improves the capabilities of communities to adapt to climate change. ‘Our research shows that access to clean water and sanitation services in slums not only improves health, education, income and housing conditions for families in slums but also enhances theirPIONEER | SEEMA “THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I FEEL OVERWHELMED, BUT THEN I REMIND MYSELF THAT IT IS NOT MY JOB TO FIX EVERYTHING ON THE PLANET. IT IS MY JOB TO TRAIN FUTURE STUDENTS WHO WILL BE LEADING PRACTITIONERS AND POLICYMAKERS” resilience to adapt to climate change. Our research on solar energy shows that households use of combination of clean and polluting fuels depending on financial circumstances. Transitioning those households to clean fuels will require a combination of technical innovation, targeted subsidies and engagement to raise awareness and change behaviors. What's in the future? What are you planning to work on? Are there any exciting opportunities coming your way? 759 million people lack access to electricity and 2.6 billion people are unable to cook cleanly. Some 2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely managed drinking water services, 4.2 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services, and 3 billion lack basic handwashing facilities. We want to a) develop partnerships with governments, private sector and chatities to fix this and b) create a future generation of engineers to continue this journey until the last person on this planet has access to basic services and can live a dignified life. How is developing engineering solutions for the poor, the worst-affected by climate change, different from designing for the mainstream? The main barrier for infrastructure is affordability because people have fluctuating and low incomes. ‘We need to come up with high quality and high performance solutions using principles of frugality. ‘The consumption patterns of those communities are different too. For instance, in East Aftica, despite the availability of LPG, many household revert to charcoal, citing that food tastes better when cooked on a traditional stove or use candles even with solar systems. Through my ongoing fellowship I work with ‘communities in villages in Africa to understand their current and future energy needs. My industry partner, Bboxx, has developed and installed household level solar panels to provide electricity in remote settings. They use a pay-as-you-go business model so that houses with. fluctuating incomes can afford to pay their energy bills. ‘This has scaled up electricity in communities that have never used electricity in their lives. This will also enable those households to transition to clean energy sources to reduce emissions from polluting fuels to address climate change. How does working in sustainable construction change you as an individual? Do you ever feel like you carry a huge burden because of the immense responsibility and the urgency to help people and the planet? ‘There ave times when I feel overwhelmed, but then I remind myself that itis not my job to fix everything on the planet. It is my job to train future students who will be leading practitioners and policymakers. We are not alone in this. As an academic, working with students is a joy, especially when I see them progress to top positions in the field. Lastly I make sure to be grateful and focus on the little pleasures in life — like a bar of chocolate,PIONEER | SEEMA ‘HEY, WE DESERVE Representation Shrina Kurani throws in her hat for the position of the first Indian American congresswoman from Southern California ABHIJIT MASIHPIONEER | SEEMA hrina Kurani, the daughter of immigrant Gujaratis, has made a name as an engineer, and a serial entrepreneur. Soon she also could be the first Indian. ‘American congresswoman from Southern California, Barely 30, Kurani, a Democrat, is taking on the incumbent, 30-year Republican veteran Ken Calvert, in District 41 of the state, which leans Republican. The Democratic Party of Riverside, California, is taking the fight to Calvert, who has been in office since 1993 from the old District 42. “We need representation for our community,” Kurani told SEEMA from her home in Riverside. "You can count on one hand how many representatives we have in Congress. That needs to change.” District maps have been redrawn in California, and District 41, which Kurani is fighting from, has been traditionally been a GOP district. However, she sees opportunity in the fact that a quarter of the voter base is Latino, Asian American or Pacific Islander. “So we have the ability to say, hey, we deserve representation,” Kurani said, "This has never had a female representative has never had a person of color representative. And so it's time.” Kurani’s district is located in Southern California, which has never had a female South Asian representative. If she wins, beating a host of other Democratic contenders, including former federal prosecutor Will Rollins, she could also become the first woman of color to represent the district on Capitol Hill. ‘What makes her eligible ~ and dis she stand up? Kurani responds emphatically, "Well, someone has to, right? Someone's going to be able to bring a fresh perspective, an an immigrant perspective, someone who has gone through what we've gone through, but also comes from our value background.” Kurani's parents immigrated to the US in the 1980s from Mumbai, Though her father had a degree in chemistry,he had to settle for a job as a pool boy. The days were tough, but he worked hard. Ultimately, his Mumbai ‘mettle and native business acumen came to the fore and he bought over the pool supply store where he worked. The family now owns over a dozen such stores. “L grew up in my parent's small business, We started off with just one store and my parents worked seven. days a week. My grandparents lived with us when I was younger, and they would take care of me, When I started growing up, I spent all of my days after school, and my summers helping out at the store.” She credits her father with instilling in her the sense of serving the community, since he himself showed her the way by getting involved pretty early on with the planning commission of the local chamber of commerce. He also ran for office for city council when Kurani was about 12 years old. She recalls being part of her father’s campaign. “That was my frst time getting politically involved ~ knocking on doors, making phone calls, and talking to members of our community and saying, Hey! You should vote for my dad, “Tm ready to flip CAAI’ is Kurani’s call to action now. She feels that there is a large majority of people that have a lot of fear and are misinformed. She acknowledges that there is the need to change a lot of things that plagues her district. According to Kurani, "The incumbent has sort of left behind the community. He is not supporting small businesses, he is voting against the environment, voting against health care, voting against all of these things that, are very important to the voters in our community. So wwe need to make sure that he needs to go, [one] who has, been in office for 30 years. Time's up, and it’s time to flip the 41nd district.” Kurani,a valedictorian in high school, earned her degree in mechanical engineering at UC Riverside, and ‘worked through school as an engineering consultant in energy efficiency. She has also worked on a design’ project for NASA's Johnson Space Center team in, Houston to design and test a heat rejection system for a lunar outpost in the Shackleton crater on the moon. She went on to get a master’s degree in sustainability in ‘Sweden, with a focus on climate change mitigation. Besides working over the past few years to start clean technology companies, Kurani has also been actively involved in helping underrepresented women entrepreneurs get access to capital. She states she realized “that the capital formation and capital industries across the US ate just kind of broken, and that alot of people are being left out of that both in terms of who's getting funded, but also who's doing the funding, So we were able to facilitate quite a bit of a capital to companies across the country.” A big part of, her focus is towards empowering and finding funding for women-led companies, people of color founders, and people who come from backgrounds that don’t traditionally have access to capital. Her political aspirations, wholeheartedly supported by her family, has been on the table for quite some time. It makes sense, given the struggles her parents endured to make a place for themselves, and for her and her brother Ravi. Kurani wants to be an instrument to change, as the same experiences are not cutting it for families anymore. Itis not enough. It is not acceptable to her. In her bid, she wants to throw light on the issues of good quality jobs, to ensure people have access to a healthy and a safe community. So the Kurani family is pitching in however they can: posting, texting, conducting baking sessions, writing letters... Her mother works the phone lines to garner support. Marius, her husband, is also an integral part of the support system. Kurani met him while they were on the same program while pursuing their master’s degrees in Sweden. Despite being built on the bedrock ofa close-knit family the campaign has faced problems, the primary ‘one being a dearth of funding, Kurani realized that finding funding for others was easier than getting people to donate for her own campaign. If you are an older candidate that has established networks of people, then everyone's writing them checks and rallying in their support,” Kurant said. [And here [ have to talk to aunties and uncles, dozens of times, saying, Hey, look, this is why this is important. This is why Ineed your support. This is why I need you to do this now and show that our community is strong, I have to convince our community to make them understand why this is so important, and why we need them to show up and show the strength of our community.” The nascent politician though is employing the latest tech in her campaign with the use of NET ( Non- Fungible Token). It is perhaps the first time that NFTs are being used in a political campaign as merchandise. It has been proving to be a great asset in reaching out to a new, digitally native population. “When we talk about who's not voting, it’s the younger people and its people of color,” Kurani explains. “So if we ‘can find ways to reach people in new ways, then I think it makes a huge difference, It takes hustle, it takes being resourceful and saying how can we get this done.” And if all that works out, it would mean the next desi candidate in Congress.PIONEER | SEEMA Bit et AGENT = MOHAN - When there's something wrong in your international neighborhood, that’s who you call ABHUIT MASI anya Mohan knows more about terrorist threats in most parts of the world than many spies. As a senior security information analyst at the United Nations Department of Safety and Security, her work is classified, but it certainly revolves around security threat information. She specializes in counterterrorism, and conflict management and resolution, a job not romanticized the way that of the CIA ot Mossad operatives are, though it is similar, Due to the nature of her work, an online search for Mohan only throws up a spare Linkedin profile. Unlike the norm, the profile conceals more than it reveals. Mohan told SEMA something about her work, within the boundaries of discretion, of course, The UN relies on her for information about active terrorist ‘groups and how and where they operate in the area she is focusing on. 1 go into the field and meet people, I get information, open-source information, because in the UN, we don’t do any other source of information,’ Mohan said. “Then [ advise the senior leadership, for example, where UNICEF mission is going, I look at the trends and the threats and present reports. It's very analytical, but at the same time, it involves a lot of fieldwork.” In more than 12 years stint with the UN, Mohan has covered areas all aroundthe globe. Moving east to west, she spent years in Manila, Philippines covering the Asia Pacific region. Then there was a four-year tenure in Somalia, then the Middle East, and for the past couple of years, New York. The only continent that she has not worked on is South America. ike to go in the field and I work in the remote areas,” Mohan said. “I can't get information sitting in an ivory tower, behind the computer. I've traveled extensively, like I was in Somalia for nearly four years and traveled all over East Africa. I worked on the main terrorist group there, Al Shabaab.” Born in an army home in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and raised in New Delhi, Mohan was drawn to strategic information analysis while completing her degree in political science, which included a module on international relations that covered the Cold War. With her family hoping she would join the Foreign Services, like most in the family, Mohan decided to follow her interest in international relations and conflict management. She joined the Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis, which is solely responsible for all India’s external affair policies, “Before I joined the UN [in 2010}, [ was working in the private sector and doing risk assessment analysis .. to counter the risks and threats from the private sector. So for example, ifit was a mining company trying to come and invest in a Naxalite-infested area in India or Nepal, we would study that region, study the threats and advise the companies what to do and what not to do.” In the private sector, Mohan worked in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Israel. Her portfolio proved. to be instrumental in landing her the UN job. She recalls the unexpected event that led to it. ‘One day, I was giving a presentation on South Asia and terrorism for the overseas security of American Council in Delhi, and the head of the UN Security was there,” she said. “He complimented me on my presentation and told ‘me that they just opened a position of an analyst in the UN. Please apply. She did. And after an interview by a panel of seven that lasted two hours, she was in. After training in New York, she was stationed in Manila to cover the Asia Pacific. She worked on the area for seven years, including stints in Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. ‘We learned that the girl with all that the dark Tanya Mohan with her parents Tanya Mohan going on a field mission in east Africaes PIONEER | SEEMA Tanya Mohan being felicitated by the Philippines army chief in 2015 information data, was also an artist. She isa classical Indian musician, who can can play the Dhrupad, dances Kathak, and has performed live with her mother, the famous Sufi and folk singer Deepmala Mohan. Discussing her mother and her ancestral home in Lucknow, the conversation moves to the town and its delectable cuisine. Something this writer grew up on during his time at boarding school, one that Deepmala Mohan also attended. The next few minutes were spent talking about Lucknow and the famous Khairabadi and Avadhi cuisine, which Mohan said she is pretty good at making, Temptation enough for me to shamelessly accept her invitation the next time I am in New York She also shares a story about her father, a 1971 war veteran who died last year. “My father was in the army, and he was my hero, ‘There is an emotional story about a Pakistani soldier who died in his arms during the war and gave him his wallet to send it to his family. My father tried for years. ‘Then, one day, my father met the editor of a Pakistan newspaper, and relayed the story. The editor published the story with the photograph and the wallet of the soldier and his wife. The family contacted my father, because they thought maybe the captain was missing in action, He had only been married for six months before he died in the wat. It was really emotional for my father. ‘The perils of war, the cost of which is borne by everyone, on both sides of the border, ike the story about the Pakistani soldier in a war fought 50 years ago, Not much has changed and we are reminded again today when we see buses carrying women and children to safety and leaving behind fathers and brothers to fight Russian aggression in Ukraine. Mohan’s days must be busier than usual now, but her job is more a passion. But she should have no problem, thanks to some solid preparation. ‘As she put it: “My parents are the ones that lam very thankful to, because they guided me to where I am today.”ituparna Sengupta “The many moods of RitupPIONEER | SEEMA Her Seasons of Success ‘SWARNENDU BISWAS ince 1992, Rituparna Sengupta has been enriching Bengali cinema with her screen presence. I do not know of any other heroine in the history of Indian cinema who has enjoyed stich a long innings of immense popularity. However, along with tremendous popularity many of her superlative performances have garnered considerable critical acclaim, too. Rituparna is one of the very few actresses in Indian cinema (including all languages) who can draw hhuge audience to theatres without the star power of a male lead. Iti rare feat in male-centric Indian cinema, which of couse isa reflection of India’s male- dominated society. Even in her late 40s she gave hits with almost unknown heroes, some of whom 15-20 years younger than her. SOUND, LIGHTS, ACTION! Her initiation into arts began at Chitrangshu, a cultural school which her elder aunt took her to. She studied there while also doing her regular schooling at Carmel High School, Chitrangshu exposed her to painting, dance, singing and clay-modeling “Though myriad incidents since my childhood have contributed towards shaping up my aesthetic sensibilities, my initiation into arts in a serious way began with Chitrangshu? Rituparna said. The vibrant cultural atmosphere at her home also increased her inclination towards arts ‘While doing her master’s in modern history at the University of Calcutta, well-known film director Prabhat Roy saw her performance ina television series, “Shwet Kapot” (White Pigeon, an adaptation of a Danish fairy tale) and picked to play the second lead in “Shet Patharer Thala’ Prabhat told her to mimic a noted actress, which Rituparna did well and bagged the role.I was impressed by her precise mimicking ofa different performer's voice so well, that too impromptu. It reveals great observation power an important quality for an actor. I realized that the young lady would go really far” he said. The film went on to win a National Award for Best Feature Film on Family Welfare. ‘Commercial success and critical acclaim of the film kick-started Rituparna's career in cinema She had to discontinue her studies to make time for her film projects THE ACTRESS EMERGES “Though she found commercial success early in her career but most ofthe films in which she acted during 90s are devoid of cinematic merit. In 1994, she also made the first of her multiple attempts to make an impact in Bollywood, but got only forgettable roles in inconsequential films. Infact, in her multiple attempts to make itbig in Bollywood only the romantic comedy Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh’ (2005) earned some critical and commercial success. She began seeking aesthetically and intellectually stimulating roles. Her first significant performance after “Shet Patharer Thala’ was probably in “Dahan’ (1997), in which she played Romita, a victim of molestation and marital rape, with sensitivity Her performance in “Dahan” (English title Crossfire) won her the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1998. Rituparna's sensitive performance in the film probably got serious filmmakers to pay attention to her as an actress. Since then, along, with roles in many crass films, she also did well in several critically acclaimed ones. Her nuanced and restrained performance in Aparna Sen directed “Paromitar Ek Din (2000) is high point in Rituparna’ career. ‘The film explores the love-hate relationship between a mother-in-law and her daughter-in- law through a series of emotional scenes. Her performance in “Paromitar Ek Din" can rank among one of the best performances in Indian The same year, she gave another powerhouse performance in “Utsav” (2000), directed by the te Rituparno Ghosh, The film comes across asa telling commentary on contemporary family ethos of middle-class India. In the film,“THOUGH MYRIAD INCIDENTS SINCE MY CHILDHOOD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS SHAPING UP MY AESTHETIC SENSIBILITIES, MY INITIATION INTO ARTS IN A SERIOUS WAY BEGAN WITH CHITRANGSHU” PIONEER | SEEMA Rituparna was paired opposite Prosenjit Chatterjee; one of the most popular stars in Bengali cinema, Rituparna and Proseniit are among the most celebrated hitsereen pairs in West Bengal’ film industry also known, as Tollywood. Together, they have given several hits over the decades. ‘Another highlight for Rituparna in 2000 was “Sasurbari Zindabad where she was paired opposite Praseniit. “Sasurbari Zindabad’ isan escapist entertainer with crude characterizations, with no pretension to cinematic excellence. It went on to become the biggest blockbuster of, its time in West Bengal’ film industry ‘Thus, in three different roles, her performances reflected her versatility, presaging the iconic stature that she would eventually get in subsequent years, BECOMING THE HERO Other significant Bengali movies in her soaring success graph during 2000-2010 include “Alo” (2008) achieved critical acclaim and commercial success; “Nishijapon” (2005), where she gave a very restrained performance of an apparently cheerful housewife harboring deep latent distress in her marital lif; "Anuronon” (2007), a sensitive film duvelling on interpersonal relationship between married couples; the feel-good “Chander Bari (2007); and the erotic thriller “Trishna’ (2008), where Rituparna played a negative role. In between, there were ‘many, many other commercial successes featuring her in pivotal roles By the second decade ofthe new millennium, Rituparna was not only among the most bankable actresses of, ‘Tollywood, but also emerging as an institution in herself, Heroine-oriented scripts began to be written that were totally centered on her. In many of them, the male leads played second fiddle to her ‘Cases in the point are “Charulata 2011” (2012), where she played an adulterous housewife in affair with a younger man; “Muktodhara” (2012), where she played a passionate reformer of prison inmates; “Teen Kanya” (2012), where she played a very unusual character (revealing more would spoil the film); “Mukti” (2013), where Rituparna played a school teacher having an affair with her young student A VERSATILE ACTRESS Srijit Mukherji (probably the most famous film director in the present-day Bengal film industry) directed her in "Rajkahini" (2015), a period film set at the time of India’s independence, where she played a foul-mouthed prostitute with a golden heart. Rituparna didn't hide her disappointment on not getting a National Award for her performance in theRituparna at the shooting of yet-to-be-released film, “Datta” which she is producing. Seen with her is Nirmal Chakrabarty, the director ofthe film. “DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS OUR INDUSTRY SUFFERED SETBACKS BUT WE LEARNED A LOT TOO. NOW THINGS HAVE STARTED LOOKING UP, BUT STILL IT WOULD TAKE SOME MORE TIME FOR US TO REACH PRE-PANDEMIC PHASE”i landmark films of her career during 2016-2020. “In *Praktan’ I was paired opposite Prasenjit Chatterjee after 14 long years but the films huge commercial success proved that our winning combination didn't lose its charm among Bengali audience’ Rituparna observed with satisfaction Her performance in “Praktan” (where she played the difficult role of an aggrieved and neglected wife with grey shades) and in “Ahaa Re” (where she played a cook in love with a younger chef), is nuanced enough to draw comparison to actresses like Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, THE SHOW GOES ON “The pandemic hasmit managed to dampen the spirit of the 51-year-old, ‘During the last two years our industry suffered setbacks but we learned a lot too. Now things have started looking up, but stil it would take some more PIONEER | SEEMA time for us to reach pre-pandemic phase’ Rituparna said, adding “I also acted in a few films during this period while adhering to all COVID protocols” During the pandemic, she starred in “The Parcel” (ovhich she also co-produced), and "Bansuri? "The Parcel” earned her the award for Best Actor Female in a Feature Film at the 10th annual Washington DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF). Many films featuring her are soon to be released. Besides being an actress, Rituparna isa film producer ‘who runs her own production house, Bhabna-Aaj- O-Kal), and isa Manipuri and Odissi dancer who has performed many shows in India and abroad, Rituparna recently acted and sang in “Phoolmati? a music video composed and directed by music director Bappi Lahiri, who died at the age of 69 on February 15. Ithas been three decades for her in cinema. But Rituparna still thrives, celebrating woman in an otherwise male-dominated industry. The many moods of Rituparna Sengupta N nua Mn SOME IMPORTANT AWARDS rt, 1998 - National Film Awardfor Best Actress or "Dahan;’at the 42nd National Film Festivalof India 1999 - Anandalok Puraskar for Best Actressfor “Dahan” 2000 - Anandalok Puraskarfor Best Supporting Actress for“AttiyaSajan” 2004 -BFJA~ Best Actress Award for “Alo” 2007 - Anandalok Puraskar for Best Actress for “Anuranan” 2013 - BFJA—Best Actress Award for “Muktodhara’ 2014 -Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress, for “Alik Suk 2017- Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress,for"Praktan”PIONEER | SEEMA Certainly Not Sari Sonya Singh is an entertainment reporter- turned-novelist who is all chuffed to release her forthcoming book, “Sari, Not Sari” ABHUJIT MASIH ingh is storyteller from Toronto, Canada who started out as an entertainment reporter before becoming a PR expert, then writer Her debut novel, "Sari, Not Sari? slated for release this month, has already generated buzz and seems like material for abig screen rom-com. The book follows the adventures of a woman trying to connect with her South Asian roots, and introduces us to a feast of food, family traditions and fun. Itis also an ode to Singh's own dating. experiences. Singh began her career as a broadcast television reporter for CBS, the first South. Asian hired on air for E! News. Raised in a small town, in Ontario, Canada, by immigrant factory worker parents, she grew up surrounded by a Caucasian culture. The author talks about how she retained her culture there eePIONEER | SEEMAPIONEER | SEEMA “I THINK THAT CERTAIN THINGS HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY AND IT DOES REFERENCE A FEW BOLLYWOOD MOVIES THAT I HAVE WATCHED” “There actually weren't lot of South Asian or Indian families, so my South Asian roots are really embedded in whatever we learned at home? Singh said. “My parents were really busy working and so we were kind of left to our own in terms of being able to teach each other what the culture was about” Singh and her two younger sisters learned to straddle both cultures and accept what was going on around them at a time being different wasn't cool. “When I look back at my South Asian roots, there really werent a lot in terms of planting those roots,” she said, "I think that happened. over the course of the last decade” “The title of the book was prompted by one of her younger sisters, the working title then being “Operation India” one that in hindsight makes the author cringe. “Lwas going to some Indian wedding party, and I looked at my sister, and she was wearing my sari. I said to her, “That's my sari you're ‘wearing’ and she said, ‘Sari, not sorry’ That is really how the name came about. Iti literally an ode to my sisters” All the chapters in the book start with a letter to Breakup, a company that masters the art of, yes, breakups. So did the idea for the book stem from personal experience and bitter relationship endings? Singh reveals that she has not gotten over some breakups, but admits that there is. no right way to break up with somebody. “If you actually loved somebody, it can be really difficult? Sing says. “I think that sometimes you can forgive the person, but it's really difficult to forget. I, unfortunately, have had to break up with several men in my life. ‘The best advice I ever got from an individual that I was dating was, just to be honest, and don't drag the person through something” Singh also suggests not ghosting the other person and to at least take the time to tell the person, to have the kindness to give the person closure. “Sari, Not Sari” is not entirely about breakups, and the melancholy that follows, but is about Manny Dogra, the beautiful and young CEO of the successful Breakup. She helps people manage their breakups while planning her own wedding and dealing with the loss of her parents. Speaking about herSonya Singh with her sisters book, Singh pulls offa few layers of the story that also touches upon some Bollywood influence. “My debut is very fast paced.” she said. “I think that certain things happened very quickly and it does reference a few Bollywood movies that I have watched” Accepting their own culture comes a tad late for most second-generation South Asian Americans, after the constant struggle of trying to fit in among friends or trying to cope with their dual identity. Singh's leading character, raised as an all-American girl kept away from her own heritage, is perhaps inspired by her own experience She recalls, “For me, personally, it's just in the last 10 years that I've really been able to understand how beautiful our culture is. When I was younger, I just sort of {took] the trajectory of anything that had nothing to do with being Indian. I didn't really understand, our culture and our traditions. I really wanted to look like my friends, [get] blue contacts, gray contacts. I remember scorching my hair to the point that I was trying to dye it blonde, and really chop it off” Perhaps there is a heightened awareness and pervasiveness of the Indian culture which makes it easier for her to own and adapt. Singh’s parents came to, Canada when they were 18 and 19 and tried to establish a place for themselves. Singh credits them for making it without any help, or nearby relatives, and taking care of the three daughters Inher book, Singh says, “Its every Indian parent's dream to see their child grow up and marry into another Indian family.” Singh’s advice to them: “Do not put that much pressure on your children. I'm not married, and both of my younger sisters are, and it doesn’t make me any less of a daughter or a sister or a best friend. And so I think that as the generations come up and, you know, start to make our own traditions, and we really hone in on having better relationships with our parents that aren't necessarily focused on marriage, things will change As for millennials with profiles on all the dating apps, like one of the characters in the book, Singh suggests they brace themselves from ugly breakups and heartbreak ‘A lot of times, those dating apps can cause a little bit of anxiety, alot of insecurity” Singh says, “You have to upload six or seven pictures of yourself. I can't even, sometimes find one picture. Their work is cut out for them and my advice is, afterall of that, just have fun with it and that’s part of the journey.” Change has been a constant in Singh's life. She has been a PR pro, entertainment reporter, a published author, and maybe a producer of a film adaptation of her book. For now, though, she is satisfied to just bask in the success of her first bookCOVER STORY | SEEMA. EVERY IA SHE TOUCHES... ... Anjula Acharia turns to gold. If in doubt, ask performers Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Lady Gaga, and unicorn entrepreneur Payal Kadakia ABHUIT MASIHPHOTO CREDIT O° AK COVER STORY | SEEMA njula Acharia wanted to be an actress while growing up in the nineties in Buckinghamshire, UK, but was dismayed to find little prospect for a brown girl in the field. ‘While she still had hope, she told her parents that one day she would be in America ~ in Los Angeles to be precise. She fulfilled her American dream, though she took a different route. Among other things, she is manager to actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas. “Lalways dreamed of being in Hollywood, which is funny, but I did end up being in Hollywood,” she says on a late evening video call with SEEMA. “I lived in LA for a long time. But the actual reason that brought me here was destiny.” She now lives in New York, having curtailed her travels after being infected with the coronavirus. When scheduling the interview, we had hoped to go beyond her association with Chopra Jonas, and focus on this trailblazer who is not just an entrepreneur, but has been behind many a successful women- led start-up. No matter how much you try to divorce her from Chopra Jonas, the superstar keeps popping back into our conversation. In fact, Acharia was chatting from the actress's home in New York after attending a get-together celebrating the South Asian nominees to the Oscars the previous night. For someone with no experience in tech or entertainment, Acharia seems to have had the right pitch every time, whether it be for music executive JamesCOVER STORY | SEEMA. Tovine, or Chopra Jonas, who was a stranger when she first met her “L don’t really have a pitch,” she says. “One thing I just know is that if you have a vision and an idea, which is groundbreaking, you have to inspire people to go along on your journey with you. The key for me is how can you inspire someone to want to go ona journey with you? Because ultimately, that’s what it is. They are investing their time and their energy and their money in going on a journey with you.” ‘Acharia describes her own journey. “Lwent to drama school and grew up wanting to be an actress,” she says. “But back then in England, it was really difficult to get roles, Everyone kept telling me I was going to be a poor actress and never get any roles because there were no roles for brown people. So I guess I just kind of decided to bea rich businesswoman instead.” The move to the US has indeed been a profitable one. Fresh off the boat, Acharia began her entrepreneurial journey through DesiHlits.com, a company that paired South Asian artists with Hollywood producers and created a fusion world of music. What is less known is that one of the most life-changing moments for the entrepreneur was meeting Jimmy lovine, the founder of Interscope Records. A meeting that was to last 15 ‘minutes went on for over four hours. “Meeting Jimmy, took me on a path which was very different to the one that I had planned for myself,” she says. “He introduced me to people like Lady Gaga, who then [let] me to expand her career across Asia. Then he convinced me to manage Priyanka. He encouraged me to invest in a company called ClassPass, which became a billion-dollar unicorn company... He opened up a whole world to me that I had not touched before.” Acharia’s work with DesiFlits and the connections ovine provided saw her bringing about collaborations between the best in pop culture, such as the one between Lady Gaga and Bollywood composers Salim-Suleiman, Acharia singles out the House of Gucci star's first Indian tour as her most satisfying DesiHlits project. She says, “I think the most amazing thing was watching [Lady Gaga] perform on a stage in Noida She came offstage, she held my hands and asked, How did Ido?’ And I was just like, ‘Oh, my Godt’ It was the moment that took my breath away.” The discussion comes back to her work with Chopra Jonas. Anjuula Acharia with Priyanka Chopra Jonas ‘When I met Priyanka,” Acharia reminisces, “she was very famous, very successful in India, She didn't have a plan to come to America. I changed the destination of ‘our flights.” Acharia argues that success is based on a meritocracy. Perhaps what Brian Epstein was for The Beatles and Peter Grant for Led Zeppelin, Acharia is to Chopra Jonas. Epstein and Grant helped make British bands popular across the pond here in the US, where they reached meteorical heights. Similarly, Acharia helped Chopra carve a niche for herself in Hollywood, and establish herself as no other Bollywood actor had done before. Growing up in the UK was not easy, and Acharia faced discrimination based on the color of her skin. The lack of South Asians where she grew up was challenging, leaving her feel isolated. Being bullied and called awful names did not help, but it prepared her for what she does now: putting her might behind women who look like her and have the same fire in theit belly. Now, Acharia is not just a manager to Chopra Jonas; she seems more like family, which was why our scheduled call was pushed ahead by 15 minutes. The two were catching up at the star's home in New York ‘Acharia gushes when she speaks about Chopra Jonas:“WHEN I MET PRIYANKA, SHE WAS VERY FAMOUS, VERY SUCCESSFUL IN INDIA. SHE DIDN’T HAVE A PLAN TO COME TO AMERICA. I CHANGED THE DESTINATION OF OUR FLIGHTS” Anjula Acharia with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and business person and marketing executive Bozoma Saint John “L got to tell you, she's just brilliant. I can put her in any room, and she will just be amazing. She's just a multi- hyphenate. She's a businesswoman, an artist, a creators she's just so many things. And I really spotted that in her when I first met her However, it took a long time for her to get a meeting with Chopra Jonas. It took a lot of stalking to get the actress's attention, and it must have been a serious pitch to convince a Bollywood actress on top of her game in India to move from movies to music ~ which was the proposal Acharia pitched, “Ifyou know her, you can press that button,” Acharia says. “I didn’t know to press that button when I met her. But I did ~ and it worked. Because she swims against the tide in everything that she does, and she had a genuine passion for music.” It almost took a year for the deal to finally crystallize and, when it did, it was done at the Monkey Bar in New York. After establishing Chopra Jonas in Hollywood through musical collaborations with Will. Am and Pitbull, and graduating to both tent-pole films and prime time TV shows, what are her next plans for Chopra Jonas? Acharia admits she has not mapped that out yet. “The sky's the limit,” she says. “I think anything andCOVER STORY | SEEMA. INVESTOR, ADVISOR, BOARD MEMBER TO A HOST OF COMPANIES. «© ClassPass-Fitness «¢ Hooked -Storyteling + Bumble (Blackstone) -Dating «# Bulletproof Coffee « The Muse—Job Search «¢ Health-ade-Kombuchs + Skinny Dipped Snacks © YUMI-Baby food ‘* FounderMade-Event management Gobble -Mealkits # The Well- Wellness + Joro App Sustainability # Pop & Bottle Beverage + Sprayology-Weliness «LP forseedcamp + Clubhouse Social media © LPfor 886 Ventures + Olipop - Beverage «© Mayvenn - Beauty Sonne everything's next, I think there's nothing she can't do. You never know which opportunities gonna be in front of you. So I don’t know what's next for Priy, any more than I know what's next for me. I just know that when the opportunity arises, well fix it” But she rattles off list of projects that are in the pipeline. There's Farhan Akhtar's “Jee Le Zaraa’ at the end of this year with Alia Bhatt and. Katrina Kaif, the TV show “Citadel,” helmed by the Russo brothers, best known for the last two action adventure Avenger films, and an upcoming, Hollywood romantic comedy, "Text For You.” Other than her artistic pursuits, Chopra Jonas is following Acharia into entrepreneurial ventures as well. “Obviously, we do some entrepreneurial things, too,” Acharia says. "She founded a company called ‘Anomaly, which is a hait-care brand, and she's also investing with me.” While known for her work with Chopra Jonas, ‘Acharia is a celebrity in her own right and a serial investor in Silicon Valley with an eye for ideas that make billion-dollar companies — as she did with Payal Kadakia's unicorn, ClassPass. Other notable ‘companies that she has been associated with are the dating app company Bumble, job search site ‘TheMuse, gourmet meal company Gobble, and online shopping platform The Hunt. ‘Acharia is now on the list of every person looking for investment in their startup project through her company A ~ Series Management & Investments She has been included on the Billboard's ‘International Power Players’ list and has managed to successfully bring technology and entertainment together in her personal portfolio, Like she did with ClassPass founder Kadakia, who ‘was on our cover in February, the lady encourages other women to pursue their dreams. ‘If you don't bet on yourself, why would I or anyone else?” This is what Acharia asked Kadakia, who approached her for investment. She then helped get ClassPass to be valued at over a billion dollars, This was one of her first investments, one which has surprised her most with its success. She explains why. “Probably because I've been on the longest journey with them,” Acharia says. “I was the first check into that company. I incubated them in my office. Who knew that they would become a billion-dollar company, sell to Mindbody? Yeah, I think that’s probably the biggest surprise.”Cec a “1 THINK, ULTIMATELY, ’M AN ENTREPRENEUR AS I ALWAYS WANT TO BUILD THINGS AND CREATE THINGS. I’M ALSO A TALENT SPOTTER, WHETHER THAT MEANS I SPOT AN ENTREPRENEUR OR SPOT SOMEONE LIKE PRIYANKA OR LADY GAGA OR WHOEVER”a Anjula Achavia shared her journey at an International Wom- ents Day event organized by the LIK Parliament As a limited partner in funds like Seedcamp and BBG. Ventures, Acharia’s advice to entrepreneurs on raising capital is simple: “Don’t try and raise money. Just talk about the journey that you're going on, and what you want to achieve and how you want to inspire. Just come at it as a passion and try and get people to come along on your journey.” Acharia has also encouraged Chopra Jonas to make her own investments in the past couple of years. Chopra Jonas has invested in Bumble, Apartment List, coding education start-up Holberton School, etc "She's getting heavily involved in different companies that we're investing in together,” says Acharia, and points out that the actress has a penchant for business and is a great sounding board for her. “She would always have such incredibly smart feedback for me. She has instinct, insight ~ and that has evolved into her saying, ‘Can I invest in that company or can I do that?” The angel investor has been God sent for many startups but what does it take to get her attention? ‘What should you include in your pitch deck to her? She tells me what she looks for in the companies that seek investment. “It is really about the founder first... the magic in the founder. When I think they have something special about them, then it's very much about what problem they're solving? ‘They don't have to have experience in that problem, It means they have a perspective. They're just... disruptors and they just figure things out So what is she? Investor, entrepreneur, business advisor or business manager? 1 think, ultimately, I'm an entrepreneur as I always want to build things and create things. 'm also a talent spotter, whether that means I spot an entrepreneur or spot someone like Priyanka or Lady Gaga or whoever. I just like to see talent and try and find the water to put on the seeds and help it grow. That's also an A PERSISTENT CLIENT ‘The moment Priyanka became a Guess git! lake me a Guess girl.” Priyanka Chopra Jonas had thrown the idea to Acharia while sitting in the Heathrow lounge flipping through a magazine that had the brand’s ad. Sure enough, Chopra Jonas became the first brown model for Guess. Perhaps it was to do with her being a mega superstar in India, which aligned well with the brand’s strategy for a country where it had opened its first store in 2005. Acharia laughs as she recalls the moment. ‘looked at her and asked, 'You are joking?’ and she said, ‘No I [am] not.’ And I said to her, ‘Priy, you are not blond-haired with blue eyes.’ And apart from Noami Campbell, all other Guess girls (Claudia Schiffer, Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton) have been blond, She just shrugged her shoulders and said, “I will be the first ‘When she gives me a job like this, I take it very seriously, and we made it happen,” Acharia adds. Excerpt from "Priyanka Chopra ~ The incredible story of a Bollywood star” ~ Aseem ChhabraCOVER STORY SEEMA Anjula Acharia with Indra Nooyi, former chairperson and chief executive oficer of PepsiCo Anjuula Acharia at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in 2020 entrepreneurial thing, Being an investor, you invest in early-stage businesses ot people. Most of my investments have been in people first. I think what excites me is the ability to do lots of things and do them well The project she is most excited about is her book, which she completed and handed over to her agent the day before we spoke. No, it’s not a memoir or a self-help book t's about two South Asian girls growing up in London in the nineties. t's really a time when music was the backdrop for what was happening in England for South Asians. Where we were mixing bhangra with hip hop, R&B and reggae, where South Asians created a sub-culture which ‘was a mashup of British and Indian cultures. So the book is set in the backdrop of the music of the time, a story about the fusion of cultures and then serves its own story within a wider story of ‘what's happening in England at that time. At SEMA, through our various platforms, we often bring the topic of South Asian sisterhood, or its absence, in our community. Acharia experienced the dearth of it while growing up, and in her initial days as an entrepreneur I didn’t have any female mentors and that was very disappointing to me,” she says. “I never found women wanting to help me; | felt that they just felt competitive. For me, [ have this deep desire to see women succeed,” she says. Indra Nooyi, the former chief of PepsiCo who ‘was on our cover this January, was in fact the first mentor who reached out to Acharia, then a stranger to her. Nooyi had mentioned to us about the importance of South Asian women banding together and helping pull each other up. Acharia paid it forward by helping Kadakia and many other women-led companies that she has funded. Acharia says she believes in creating more ‘opportunities to make the community bigger, so that the impact is larger and more opportunities spring from it. Madeline Albright, the former secretary of state who passed away late last month, had once said, “There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women. Acharia, through her investment portfolio that, consists primarily of women-led companies has perhaps built herself a stairway to heaven.“I DIDN’T HAVE : A ANY FEMALE : é MENTORS AND THAT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO ME, INEVER lent FOUND WOMEN z WANTING TO HELP = ME; I FELT THAT THEY JUST FELT COMPETITIVE. FOR ME, I HAVE ‘ THIS DEEP DESIRE TO SEE WOMEN SUCCEED”FEATURES | SEEMA Sustainability in fashion is no longer just a buzzword as brands focus on the environment BINDU GOPAL RAOFEATURES | SEEMA puoro CREDIT © eless pieces with zero OF | inability focuses on timeless Susta ntiums wastage ed Sustained but last ionger 1b Prodiced earmeng 8 maybe moy " espensive ustainability is an important area to focus on for the clothing industry There are efforts being made to adopt sustainable apparel manufacturing Sustainability is all about keeping it simple and classic and preserving our clothing for longer ‘Sustainability is not only about protecting the Earth, but also the people on it,” says Malika Mehta, co-founder and CEO, Style Island. ‘An important part of sustainable fashion production is, therefore, the people producing the clothes and we at Style Island truly believe this by supporting Sustainable Cotton Farming and all our products are environment-friendly. Also, we ensure the safety and security of our employees and artisans According to Ashwini Seth, founder, Dennison, "When we talk about sustainability wwe should also understand water footprint issues as everyone is more focused on carbon footprints. For example If we switch to hemp, we can reduce water consumption to one- third. To understand this better, for 1 kg (2.21b) of raw cotton we require approximately 10000- 20000 liters (2,600-5,300 gallons) of water, which gives you 700-750 grams (1.5-1.65 Ibs) of cotton fabric.” SLOW FASHION For a brand, sustainability is creating products in a way that leaves little to no negative footprint. There is no one way to make clothes sustainable. “At Posette, we incorporate slow fashion as a very important part of our business model * ~~ Sonia Sachdev, founder and business heav Posette. “We believe that sustainability lies in designing timeless pieces with zero or minimum wastage. We focus on sharp tailoring and high-quality garments that would last a lifetime, Also, most of our collection includes reasonless designs create using simple/ plain fabrics. This allows us to stock limited raw material and helps us with our no wastage motto.” ‘Meha Bhargava, founder and CEO of Styl Inc. adds, “At Styl Inc., we believe that the most sustainable garment is the one that is already i your wardrobe. Reuse and recycle your clothes in as many ways you can and don’t indulge in impulsive shopping, instead plan for everything you put in your cart. The crux of sustainability i to let go of excessive shopping. Hence, the most important trend to follow for that will be that of, having a cluster or a capsule wardrobe.” MATERIAL MATTERS Natural fabric like cotton is ideal and the most. used for clothing as it is strong, yet lightweight, ana breathes. Itis also easy to recycle and can quickly be turned into new garments. Hemp, organic linen created from flax plant, is highly versatile, easy to grow, and popular. It is strong and durable, absorbent, and can expel bacteria. “In sustainable wear, there are certain aspects. that need to be taken care of, like the choice of material, working conditions, and its impact on. the environment,” says Nitin Pamnani, co-founder, iTokri. “It is crucial to use organic or natural materials in which harsh chemicals are not used. Apart from production, repairing and redesigning, trending methods are applied by artisans in creating sustainable clothes. Redesigning and recycling of garments is in, which also means saving on raw ‘material and natural resources. Dyes procured from natural raw materials areud classic ng it simple ar sustainable in nature. Indigo is known as one of the ‘most natural dyes used in clothing, “Ahimsa Silk, Khadi, Kala Cotton, Muslin and Organic cotton are some of raw materials used in while manufacturing responsible fashion. Using the latest technology, bamboo, orange, aloe vera, and eucalyptus fibers are also obtained from the plants. to make sustainable clothing,” says Chetan Daruka, founder, Lotus Veda. PRICE FACTOR Sustainably produced garments may be more expensive but last longer, thus saving money in the long term, “However, with time we are witnessing that the clothes made using sustainable material are also ‘coming at par with regular clothes in terms of cost,” says Akhil Jain, executive director, Madame. "We believe our customers, and other customers as well, are aware of the environment and want to do their bit to protect it. Therefore, we only need to assure them that the clothes that we are manufacturing are sustainable and they will buy them. Also, once the demand for sustainable clothes increases, the prices will automatically come down and their market will become competitive.”TRENDING NOW People are also becoming more aware of where their clothes are coming from, whether the brand can be trusted, and if the manufacturing is done ethically. Ethical fashion should be both environmentally friendly and fair. Local production in fair facilities not only guarantees ethical working conditions but also reduces transport and the associated CO2 emissions. Pooja Monga, founder, Saltpetre, says, “the most sustainable clothes are the ones that you have been using for the longest time. New clothes that are constructed for longevity of use, using low impact, minimal waste raw material and processes are essentially sustainable.” Another trend that slows the purchase of new clothes and disposable fashion is renting and sharing, In recent years, more and more start-ups, apps, and platforms help consumers swap and borrow clothes. So are you ready to give a green spin to your wardrobe? ral raw materials are fom a ‘sustainable in nature Dyes procured,FEATURES | SEEMA HAT SUPERWOMAN WITHINPIONEER | SEEMA ‘SWETA VIKRAM Then the pandemic hit, the storyteller, Ayurveda counselor, mindfulness coach, yoga teacher, and meditation guide in me was called in to help. Be it kids or adults, ‘mental health crises became of utmost importance. How do you support people's emotional well-being? ‘What are the best ways to strengthen immunity? How do you keep congestion at bay? How do you move your body if the gyms and yoga studios are closed? ‘Through articles, workshops, speaking engagements, and one-on-one coaching, I was able to share my work. September 2021 also welcomed my new book, “A Piece of Peace.” I was featured in the first, Ayurveda documentary with Dr. Deepak Chopra and other Ayurvedic experts. Along with others, Pfizer invited me to give a talk on the power of mindfulness, Ayurveda, and holistic health to theit team of medical professionals. Don’t get me wrong, two years later, I still am grateful for how my work has shaped up and the fact that people feel a connection and curiosity to holistic wellness, But I be lying if I didn’t admit that I miss having a little space to breathe and be silly. know that I am not alone. Research will tll you that women are exhausted and burnt out from the pandemic. Between focusing oon their career, taking care of children, managing elder care, managing home, starting families, launching businesses, returning to school... There is very little time left to focus on YOU and what brings joy. It’s important to own who you are. But remember that there are health risks (physical, mental, and emotional) involved when you ignore yourself. Because our diet, lifestyle, emotions, sleep, hormones, relationships, career etc. are al tied together. MEDITATE DAILY: I think of meditation as mental flossing. During the pandemic, the mind has been working nonstop. Fear, anxiety, self-told stories, depression, angst, sorrow, loss, joy, hope ... a gamut of emotions. It’s imperative to pause. When it comes to a crisis, we can't always control, what's happening in the world around us, but we can change how we react to it. It’s easy to get into a reactive mode, want to blame someone, and make up stories because that distracts us from what's really going on. Bringing the attention back to your breath helps. MOVE YOUR BODY EVERY DAY: I don't mean necessarily signing up for a 10K. Choose small steps and activities that interest you. Workouts offer ME-time. Some studies show that exercise can ‘work quickly to elevate depressed moods in many people. The Guardian tells us that a 2010 study saw participants put through eight weeks of daily yoga and meditation practice report a reduction in stress. And their brain scans showed a shrinkage in their amygdala —a brain structure responsible for fear and anger. Exercising even moderately boosts endorphin levels, and these feel-good chemicals protect our brains and bodies while reducing the risk of depression. Yoga can also help reduce stress, improve the quality of your sleep, lower anxiety, and increase the flow of creative juices. PRACTICE ABHYANGA: In Ayurveda, anointing oneself — from head to toe ‘with warm oil — is called abhyanga. Having a massage therapist anoint you with oil daily falls under the realm of impossible and unaffordable for the majority. This is where self-abhyanga comes in — a practice where you massage your own body with warm oil before taking a shower. It can be energizing, stimulating, and relaxing depending on the season and the oil you use. It lowers stress, improves your sleep, enhances the appearance and quality of skin, helps you sleep better and so much. EAT MINDFULLY Notice if your appetite feels low when you are stressed or if you find yourself face down in a pint of ice cream to cope. Do you pour yourself that third glass of wine on a Wednesday night because you have a deadline at work? Do you start happy hour at 3 p.m. on some weekdays? Ask yourself if you are hungry before mindlessly serving your plate again. Sit and eat slowly in silence. Chew your food. No arguments or debates at the dining table. Rely more on seasonal foods and try to eat according to your Ayurvedic dosha, DO ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING: ‘One of the great techniques for balancing and harmonizing our brain is the alternate nostril breath,known as Nadi Shodhana, which is very rhythmic, soothing, and grounding, Nadi Shodhana is excellent for not only releasing physical tension, but also for supporting a clear mind, enhanced tranquility, and stress reduction. You can read here about how to do it It’s important to be responsible and do what you need to do to provide for yourself and your family It’s equally important to make time for fun and what uplifts you. And no, this must be something that isn’t related to your career development or higher learning. For example, dancing is what brings me joy. It doesn’t matter whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, the human connection is a real part of balanced living. Whether you see people virtually or meet them in-person or do a phone chat, make sure to stay connected to your community. No one can do it alone, or should do it alone. It’s important for us and our mental health to feel supported, heard, and not isolated. Did you know that inadequate sleep is linked to chronic illnesses like Type 2 diabetes, obesity depression, heart disease, chronic inflammation, and a few others? Ayurveda has a great deal to say about how to support balanced sleep in general: get into bed before 10 p.m., and be awake latest by 6 a.m. Often, simple adjustments to routine, exercise, diet, and lifestyle habits can have a profound impact on sleep. It doesn’t mean lack of empathy or care, Boundaries don't mean abandoning people; they mean showing up with a wholesome attitude. Boundaries mean freedom. They help us own our personal and emotional space, so we don't show up depleted. Partners, children, friends and family will understand if you communicate what you need instead of lash out in frustration. This spring, le’s make a sustainable plan, so we can continue down our path with fervor and longevity instead of crashing and burning recurringly. “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud’ ~ Coco ChanelRELATIONSHIP | SEEMA REKINDLIN LOST Connections The pandemic has riven many relationships. Now it’s time to mend them RASHMI GOPAL RAORELATIONSHIP | SEEMA relationship is like a house. When a light bulb burns out, you do not go and buy a new house, you fix the light bulb. It is not an understatement to say that the coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives forever. Words like quarantine, self-isolation, and lockdown, once unheard of, became an intrinsic part of our lives. While official estimates peg the number of deaths at around 5.5 million, the actual numbers are definitely much more. Today, as the pandemic’s ugly tentacles recede, people are slowly limping back to normal life, But there's no doubt, that COVID-19 has changed our social life forever. Ithas altered the way we meet and greet people, the way we celebrate, and even the way we mourn. Most importantly, the pandemic has taught us the value of a home, loved ones, extended family, friends, and the fact about how fragile life is. CHANGES IN PERSPECTIVE Given the way coronavirus has upended our lives, it is not surprising to note that the pandemic has sparked. a change in the way we look at relationships and. our outlook on life. Now is the time to re-evaluate the relationships that matter to us; whether itis, with your own spouse, family or friends. Balancing work and family life amidst the chaos of everyone working from home, isolations and restrictions has definitely not been easy on anyone. Challenges like illnesses, job losses and tragedies have only added to the complexity. Hence, itis quite natural to have had arguments, negative interactions and being hurt in the entire process: Asa first step, review the relationships closest to you ~ that is, with your spouse and children. Take time to reflect on what could be wrong and what you can do to improve the rapport with your loved ones. Do not let stress get the better of yous instead, be calm and learn to communicate your point of view. Communication, mutual respect and honesty go a long way in cementing long-lasting relationships. Further, being empathetic and patient go a long way in weeding out negative vibes and instilling a positive environment at home, Remember to leave bygones as, bygones and be prepared to start on a fresh slate. RENEWING LOST RELATIONSHIPS Just like at home, Zoom fatigue and lockdowns have taken its toll on relationships with those outside. ‘With the lapse in communication, it is natural that some relationships have become frayed, with some even fracturing. Often, there is awkwardness when. you try to connect back. Reassess the situation and the importance of the relationship in your life, and make an attempt to get in touch. It could be the best and first step to revive the bond. Many a time it could have been a small misunderstanding, a rift, or an argument you never had a chance to resolve ‘once the pandemic came in. In such cases, there is a hesitation from both sides to connect. Being proactive helps. Even if it does not work, it can give you the satisfaction that you tried. MAKE THE FIRST MOVE If you feel it strange to pick the phone, try a text message and then take the next step. In extended families, choose to be more open on family WhatsApp groups: and then make a personal connection once you have built a rapport. Make an effort to meet over a coffee if you live close by, or invite them over for a meal. Such ‘occasions are the perfect excuse to have a heatt-to- heart conversation about past misunderstandings and miscommunications. Once the initial discomfort eases, it should be a smooth and fruitful meeting. One feels lighter after clearing the air, and letting go of the past and starting on a fresh note is definitely pleasant. Try to connect and meet up with common friends. Step out for a meal together and get talking. If you were part of a club or have played a sport together, organize a meet-up. Remember to be positive. Do not be afraid of a lack of reciprocation. Ifthe relationship matters, and adds value to your life, itis worth making the first move.LEARNING TO LET GO While it is important to make an effort with relationships that are fruitful and mutually satisfying, some others take a toll on your mental health. Itis imperative that you assess such connections and determine whether there was anything beyond time and distance that caused the relation to fray. If letting 0 of such relationships is what gives you peace and happiness, make that choice. Instead of dwelling on the past, move on, pursue a hobby or keep yourself ‘occupied with anything that gives you joy and contentment.THE PERILS OF SOCIAL MEDIA A teenager speaks from experience about what it can and cannot do for us - ‘SARAH KAPADIA teenager's life now revolves around social media, with around 90 percent of teenagers having their own accounts. It gives them the freedom to share ideas, opinions, and information by creating virtual networks and communities. Almost everyone on the planet now has a social media account, with around 45 billion users on social media worldwide.Social media gives teenagers the opportunity to connect with people across the globe and develop, their social life. In the past, apps such as Instagram and Facebook became a platform on which teens could share opinions and ideas freely. Whether teenagers are organizing fundraisers or donating to a worthy cause, social media helps them make a difference in their communities. Some social movements began when teenagers used social media to raise awareness about a problem. While social media might make adults feel more lonely, experts believe the opposite is true for teenagers. According to a 2015 study, even while kids have fewer friends than they did a decade ago, they nonetheless report feeling less lonely. However, teenagers are blinded by these platforms and fail to see the adverse effects they can have. While social media does give them a sense of belonging, the ‘mental and physical impairments that it brings along can be dangerous. Recently, researchers have found a link between depression and social media. Teens who use seven social media sites are more likely to encounter depression compared to those on only two. There is a personal and emotional connection built with these accounts. They are under pressure not just to respond swiftly online, but also to have excellent images and well-written postings, all of which can increase pressure on them, resulting in worry and anxiety. ‘The other perils that teens have to contend with are body-shaming, cyberbullying and plain old meanness. Receiving messages from your friends or even strangers saying horrible things about your personality and body can drastically affect one's self-esteem. Insomnia resulting from spending too much time on social media causes teens to lose sleep. Sleep deprivation can result in moodiness, a reduction in grades, a lack of physical activity and binge-eating, It has also known to worsen existing disorders such as depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Asa result, logging in to social media in the middle of the night can be hazardous to their physical well- being. Lack of sleep even has an impact on your immune system, While jealousy and envy are natural feelings, they may wreck havoc on a teen’s psyche if they compare themselves to their friends. Olivia Roderigo perfectly summed up every teens thought process through her song “Jealousy Jealousy.” All your friends are so cool, you go out every night In your daddy's nice car, yeah, you're livin’ the life Got a pretty face, pretty boyfriend, too Twanna be you so bad, and I don't even know you AIL see is what I should be Happier, prettier, jealousy, jealousy All see is what I should be Tn losin’ it, all I get's jealousy, jealousy Co-comparison is killin’ me slowly A think, I think too much ‘Bout kids who don’t know me ‘This competitive mindset eventually leads to teenagers changing everything about themselves, from their wardrobe and their body language to their entire personality. In the process, they lose their ‘uniqueness and the idea of being the best version of themselves. Soon it will be like all the teens are clones of each other and the diversity of the world will be crippled, I mentioned that social media is great for socializing and bonding with others, though it is impossible for a teen to see the opposite person's facial expressions and true reactions while texting — leading to several misunderstandings. A genuinely funny or sarcastic comment is likely to get perceived in the wrong way and result in further repercussions. Many teenagers spend so much time online monitoring statuses and likes that they neglect to communicate with the individuals in their immediate vicinity. Teens who prioritize social media will frequently focus on the images they take to demonstrate how much fun they are having rather than really having fun. Because critical brain development happens during the teen stages of life, it is essential to be aware of the impact of social media, Too much nor too little of anything is good. I believe that teenagers have to strike a balance between social media and their other activities because it seems teens are being brainwashed and controlled by software. What was once a conflict in a movie is slowly coming to life with the excessive usage of these platforms How do we keep ourselves from being consumed by social media? A regulation on the time spent on it would, be the first thing to do. Try other activities that would make you happier, such as reading, painting or cooking. Second, unfollow people whose updates or messages bring you down. Third, remind yourself constantly that social media is not a representation of reality.TEENS | SEEMA OF TEENS If you are 13+, you are defined by your digital connections and identity ‘SARAH KAPADIA he digital world defines a network, to voice your opinion and a teenager's life, and it is connect with people around you ~ which impossible to envision a teen can all be achieved through the digital without a digital presence. platform. I often like to compare a teen's Being a teenager in the _digital life to a ship's crew voyaging modern world requires you to have through the vast seas.TEENS | SEEMA Around 95 percent of teens own a computer, smartphone, or iPad, Each of them spends around 9 hours a day on their devices, including 3 hours and 32 minutes on social media. Aside from that, guys spend an extra two hours playing video games, and 23 percent of students watch television while completing their schoolwork. These capabilities have not become an integral part of a teenager's life, with the most prevalent use occurring after school and before bedtime, Jumping back to the ship ~ the most important part of this vessel is the captain. I believe that social media steers the digital life of any teenager. Facebook for them is old news; they have found more innovative platforms that allow them to access more creativity. While parents might think social media is destroying their children’s personality and depriving them of experience, teens have a valid counter The developmental requirements of teenagers are well- matched to what social media has to offer: making friends, finding out their identities, and gaining social status by being “in the know.” For example, it is common for teenagers to experiment with several identities based on popular culture. ‘One of the most prevalent motivations for utilizing social media is to maintain existing friendships. As today’s teenagers mature, they see social media as a place to “hang out” online and interact with people who have common interests Consider the environment in which today’s teenagers are developing. Celebrities in the fields of entertainment, sports, and politics live their life in the spotlight. Ordinary individuals can become famous as a result of television, reality programs or a viral social media post. Schools, universities, news organizations, and businesses all have social media accounts. Social media has also played a great role in teen activism as seen in the Black Lives Matter movement ‘One of the most popular social media apps is Instagram. On the web, Facebook may have dominated social photo sharing, but on mobile devices, Instagram reigns supreme, The program allows users to shoot photos and videos, and then add a filter to them before sharing them with their friends. Teenagers are the ones that utilize the private texting option the most. Teens place a great deal of value and happiness in the number of likes, shares, and comments they receive on their postings. Next on the list is Snapchat, one of the funkiest apps used by teens today. It allows you to send self-destructing snaps, as well as video and text messages. This social networking site is jam-packed with features that teens love. You may use a variety of lenses, stickers, funny faces, and other features,to capture images. Send text or image messages to pals, or even call them using the app, and post articles about what you're up to. No one can go without ‘mentioning the famous TikTok, a platform that went viral overnight. Itis a video-sharing social network that allows you to post short videos. It primarily consists of teenagers lip-syncing to popular songs, but it also contains some original material, Some of our most famous celebrities such as Charli Diamelio and Addison Rae started their journey with TikTok For a teenager, the first mate is YouTube, while Spotily is the second mate. ‘Teenagers are more engaged than ever before on YouTube, the fastest-growing influencer and blogging community on the planet, According to a recent Pew Research Center study, 85 percent of teenagers say they use the site. You may use the app to watch and upload videos of various kinds. YouTube features channels that discuss science, education, ‘music, and even mental health, in addition to giving you insights into someone's life. Pewdiepie, a gamer, and Smosh, a creator of amusing short films that help kids to unwind after a long day, are two of the most popular channels among teenagers. Emma Chamberlain and Liza Koshy deserve credit for ‘making YouTube a welcoming environment for teenagers. Spotify is essentially a cool platform to listen to music and jam like nobody's watching, Ariana Grande, Billie Eillish, Beyonce, Rihanna, Eminem, XXXTentacion, Juice World, Conan Gray and Olivia Rodergio - Spotify gives the teenagers the latest and trendy songs by all the beloved artists. Another alluring feature is that the app auto-creates playlists for the users according to their search history, saving them so much time and effort. ‘The video games that teenagers are addicted to are like the rest of the crew according to me. Research shows that in comparison to all the time spent online, games come at the bottom. So, what is it about video games that so many teenagers enjoy them? To start, let's state the obvious: video games are played, and play is fun. However, in addition to adopting video games as a form of entertainment, teenagers may be engaging in something more complex. Teens are using video games to increase their well-being by addressing their psychological demands, whether they realize it or not, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Minecraft, Mario Kart, League of Legends and Tetris — all have importance in a teen's life. The digital platform is and always will be an integral part of a teenager’ life. Whether they use it to relax, create mind- blowing apps like 13-year-old Arit Roa, or change mindsets like the Instagram account Zenerations, the digital platform has a unique definition for each teenager.American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine is one of the most innovative and recognized ical schools in the Caribbean. Wi accreditations required for medical licensure throughout the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom, AUA plays a pivotal role in solving the world’s forecasted physician shortage. Our graduates are in high demand and have been placed in the world’s most prestigiou! hospitals. Start your medical journey today! GO.AUAMED.ORG/SEEMA2022ee = Ne ee | \ ONftaar is an exceptional experience for Muslims across the world. As part of religion and customs, many celebrate Iftaar, which is part of the meal that breaks the fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Still, the way South Asians celebrate Ramzan, another term for Ramadan, may not be quite the same way that people in the Middle East do. WHAT IS IFTAAR? Itis only during Iftaar that Muslims can break the fast that lasts the whole day. Iftar is essentially breakfast, a smaller meal, more of a snack, eaten before the evening prayers. The light meal fuels you after a long day of fasting without overwhelming you at a time the call for the evening prayer (Maghrib) occurs. Indus Iftar is similar to Arabic Iftaars, but Iftar may be a bit heavier with a light snack meal later on during the evening. ‘COMMUNITY AND TOGETHERNESS During the Holy month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world celebrate, During it, the practices include abstinence, going without food or water, negative thoughts or treatment of others, including abstaining. from abusive language or anything else that will sully defy the spiritual practices during that time. In other words, Ramadan is the month of willpower, reflection, giving to others and fasting from sunrise to sunset. In some customs around the world, Iftar is shared with friends, family and the community. While other customs demand that the main meal (the one that follows the iftaar snack) can be shared only with close family. While all Muslims partake in Iftaar, every country has different ways to do it. India's different regions buzz with activity and economic growth is seen during Ramadan. Iftar snacks and rations are often served free in mosques. Family and friends will break their fast together. Iftaar foods are also available at street markets where folks shop till late. In Iran, for instance, festive-style meals with others are not a custom. Instead, families have their Iftaar meal and their main meal in their homes. In Pakistan, everyone celebrates just before breaking their fast and then commencing evening prayers. Like India, Malaysia also has Iftaar street food available before the evening prayers. With Ramadan comes a special prayer reserved only for this time; it goes in coordination with Iftaar practice in Muslim communities. For example, you will find family and friends eating with each other, gathered around a table and getting ready for a large dinner. ‘There is a lot of preparation and work that goes into Ramadan. After the sun has set, the food is already prepared in advance, which allows for sufficient food even if more family and friends come over to eat Most importantly, during this time, many Muslims, share food with strangers and non-Muslims. This is one of the most common charity practices that is often rewarding, and it ensures that everyone has something to ea IFTAAR RECIPE SUGGESTIONS Families are very creative regarding iftaar snacks and the meals that follow. Iftaar, although a lighter meal, provides energy, protein and sustenance after the 15- hour fast. Some communities serve samosas (triangle crisp fried pastry with vegetable or meat filling). Beverages like soybean milk are often served, too. There are also fruit like dates and a drink of water or other fruit beverages. ‘While it isn’t heavy, itis a good way to ease your way back into eating without shocking your body.FOOD & DRINKS | SEEMA IFTAAR SNACKS TO MAKE AT HOME DATE TRUFFLE Datesare common inthe Middle Eastand South A andhave been cultivated for millennia Itisagreat sourceof energy (havinghealthier natural sugar) andarerrichinantioxidants. Best of al, dates are vegetarian and vegan-friendly,and undoubtedly an ideal ftzarsnackto breakthe fast. INGREDIENTS. + 2 cups of pitted dates + Lcup desiccated coconut + 1 cup of roasted almonds + 1 tablespoon of honey METHOD 1. Ina blender or food processor add all the ingredients (other than coconut) and blend it into a paste 2. Next, roll the paste into balls and coat it with the CLOSING THOUGHTS Ifeaarisanintegralpart ‘of Ramadan that also encourages closeness between communities, familiesand friends Wehope youenjaymakingoneofthese simpleand quickrecipes, coconut. Serve with water or other Iftaar snacks, or have it as is, DRY FRUIT MILKSHAKE Dried fruit isa rich source of energy and this fruit milkshake also gives you protein and calcium. INGREDIENTS + Almonds Pitted dates Figs Raisins Chilled milk (you may use a yogurt) METHOD 1. Blend everything together. 2. serve chilledFOOD & DRINKS | SEEMA ~~ Celebrating Her Husband's Legacy Barkha was the force behind the late Floyd Cardoz. Now she is stepping in front... MABEL PAIS “orking silently and steadily behind the scenes, Barkha Cardoz was partner, wife, and mother, and played business collaborator and chef to her husband, The late Floyd Cardoz was a pioneering, New York’s Indian-born American restaurateur, who won Top Chef Masters Season, 3 in 2011, wrote cookbooks, and was a mentor and philanthropist of note. THE CARDOZ SPICE LINE LEGACY Floyd's New York restaurants were known for food melding Indian flavors and spices with Western cuisine. Barkha Cardoz says, “Floyd...started making {garam masala for everyone with just a few spices so you can use it everywhere ~ in curries, of course, and Tve used it to make apple pie and Christmas cake.” Floyd Cardoz died in March 2020, shortly before he was to launch the Spice Line. He conceived the Spice Line in 2019. Barkha refused to let the project die with him. “This is his legacy,” she says, “It was his dream to get every person on the face of this Earth to have Indian spices in their kitchen cabinets. He just wanted everyone to love Indian flavors as much.as he did, He didn't get to do it completely. 1 can't sit quiet and let it go. Barkha launched Floyd's initial three blends of spices: garam masala, Goan masala, and Kashmiri masala on October 4, 2020, two days after what would have been Floyd's 60th birthday. In October 2021, Barkha and her business partners launched 3 more blends: Green Tikka Masala, Chaat Masala and Vindaloo Masala. $1 of every jar purchased goes to a charitable foundation. ‘The blends are available at FloydCardoz.com/spices Learn more about Barkha Cardoz at FloydCardoz.com/Barkha-Cardoz SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER TO BARKHA AND HER FAMILY Barkha says, “Floyd and I grew up with different religious upbringings: He was Catholic and I am Hindu. When we started our life together, we knew that there were holidays that were special to each of us, and we wanted to share the joy of celebrating them with our boys (Peter and Justin, now 29 and 24 respectively). So started the traditions of all holidays in the Cardoz home.” Easter was special to each of them for different reasons. Their sons loved seeing their cousins and having fun Easter egg hunts together. For Floyd, it meant the change of seasonal ingredients gave him so many new ingredients to cook with. His garden was now also ready for planting, and that brought him immense joy. Barkha Cardoz loved Easter because it signaled new life and the earth shedding cold and dormancy, and coming alive with color in the form of daffodils and tulips THEIR DAY STARTED WITH MASS. “It was then followed by the kids’ Easter egg hunt, baskets filled with candy and goodies, and a beautiful meal prepared with love by Floyd,” Cardoz says. “This centered around a fish and either a leg of lamb or a ham. ‘We would have asparagus and peas, fresh greens, potatoes, and other spring veggies. Dessert was my joy — to feed and to eat. I loved making cookies, fruit tarts, and mango mousse, which was an all-time favorite that all the young ones enjoyed.” Barkha and Floyd Cardoz (in chefaattire) at the Hawaii Food Fest in 2015.WHAT IS APU Laeee ec eae eC eo HME brand-new books, trending movies, Cie Le Se oe eee Unlimited satisfaction one low price Cheap constant access to piping hot media Protect your downloadings from Big brother Safer, than torrent-trackers 18 years of seamless operation and our users' satisfaction All languages Brand new content elec AvaxHome - Your End Place We have everything for all of your needs. Just open https://avxlive.icué i a é 8 eI 5 i ‘Slow cooked salmon with fennel corianderFLOYD AND BARKHA’S FLOYD’S SLOW- COOKED SALMON WITH FENNEL AND CORIANDER Salmonisagoodfishtoservetoalargegroup because it’s usually universally iked. However, overcooked salmon can bea disaster. Floyd first prepared thisfor Christmas dinner athishome forabout 4opeopleandit became his favorite method of cookingsalmonfor abiggroup. Serves: 12 Cooking time: About 35 minutes INGREDIENTS: + 1% Ibs/680gms center-cut salmon, 1% inches thick cut into 12 equal rectangles + Sea salt + Freshly ground black pepper + I small fennel bulb + 2 tablespoons salted butter, softened + Minced zest and juice of 1 orange + 24 thin slices garlic + 2tablespoons minced shallots + L tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger + Leaves from 3 tarragon sprigs, thinly sliced +L teaspoon coriander seeds, ground medium fine +L teaspoon fennel seeds, ground fine + 12 thin slices sertano chile (about 1 chile) + 3 tablespoons olive oil METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit 2, Season the salmon with salt and pepper FOOD & DRINKS | SEEMA EASTER RECIPES and set aside. 3, Remove and discard the fronds and the tough tops of the fennel bulb. Thinly slice the bulb and the remaining tender stalks, keeping them separate. Set aside, 4, Brush the bottom of a large Pyrex or ceramic dish with butter, Sprinkle the thinly sticed fernnel bulb over the bottom of the dish. Pour the orange juice over the fennel, Sprinkle salt and pepper. Sprinkle half of each of the following: orange zest, garlic, shallots, ‘ginger, tarragon, coriander and fennel seed. 6, Arrange the salmon in a single layer in the dish. Place a slice of serrano and a slice of garlic on each piece of salmon. Sprinkle with the sliced fennel stalks and the remaining orange zest, garlic, shallot, ginger, tarragon, coriander and fennel seeds. 7. Drizzle the olive oil on top. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap, 8, Bake the salmon for 25 minutes. Avoid cooking it until it turns opaque and the white albumen comes ‘out. Usually, when the salmon is done the plastic ‘wrap is realy tight and shiny and there's alittle mist on the underside. But if you don't see the mist, ust let the timer be your guide. 9, Remove the baking dish from the oven. Remove and discard the plastic wrap and serveFOOD & DRINKS | SEEMA BARKHA’S MANGO MOUSSE Floyd once confessed,“The first few tim ish). Butt friends'kis calledit “Aunty Barkha’s specialty ofthe house: Barkhamade this, sedhermerci jotacheF doz familyserves upt iatthey beg for. had created magic reir guests themany for Floyd Serves: 6 Cooking time: About 10 minutes / Inactive time: about 1 hour for cooling and 3 to 4 hours to set. future dishes, INGREDIENTS + Two 3-ounce/85 gram packages orange-flavored Jell-O + One cup boiling water + One cup room temperature water + 2to 2% cups diced ripe mango (or I cup defrosted frozen or canned mango puree) +L quart vanilla ice cream, slightly softened METHOD 1. Ina large bowl, combine the Jell-O and boiling water and stir until the Jell-O is dissolved. Add the room temperature water and stir to combine. Set aside to cool completely. (Make sure that the Jello-O mixture is completely cool before adding, the mango and ice cream, or the mousse will be dense. However, don’t let it sit so long that it gels and the mousse will become lumpy.) 2. If using ripe mango, puree it in a food processor or blender. You should have 1 cup. 3. When the Jell-O mixture is cool, stir in the mango puree, Gently fold in the softened ice cream until well incorporated, Transfer to a serving bowl, and refrigerate until set, 3 to 4 hours. 4, Spoon the mousse into cups to serve. Recipes: Slow-cooked salmon and mango mousse ~ Excerpted from Flavorwalla by Floyd Cardoz (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2016.re Te N r\\ ABOOKS | SEEMA Where Rhyme Meets Reason The top South Asian spoken word poets to listen to PALOMA JHINGAN uth Asia isa region of diversity with a peculiar cultural unity. Rich in history, languages, literature and philosophy, the region has explored humanity through religion, art, monuments, food, music, dance, and poetry. Increasingly, poetry today is becoming a striking method of self-expression. Spoken word poetry especially reaches out to a wide audience base and builds a powerful platform for artists to speak on various social issues through their own identities and experiences. WHAT IS SPOKEN WORD POETRY? It isa broad term that defines poetry intended for performance. It can contain elements of rap, hip-hop, storytelling, theater, along with jazz, rock, blues, and folk music. The main characteristics that encompass spoken word poetry is that it includes rhyme, repetition, improvisation, and word play. It can draw influence from music, dance, or other popular themes to connect with the audiences. Spoken word poetry doesn’t always have to rhyme, but certain parts can be rhymed to emphasize an image or give ita lyrical quality. WHEN DID PEOPLE START USING IT? ‘A majority of the American spoken-word poetry traces its origin to the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance, blues, and the beat generation of the 60s. It relied heavily on the African-American culture, which is rich in literary and musical heritage. The form of poetry then made its way to other parts of the world to places in South AsiaSOME SOUTH ASIAN POETS YOU LISTEN TO SHOULD DEFINITELY SIMAR SINGH “The 16-year-old founder and curator of UnErase has made ‘waves. His poems challenge how far we've really come with. gender equality and discuss themes like power structures, marital rape, toxic masculinity, the misogyny and normalized violence that still exist. One of his hit poems in 2018 was on the same topic. It is very well articulated and certainly provides some food for thought. DIKSHA BIJLANI This 22-year-old poet often makes her works based con personal experiences and thoughts, which are quite relatable. She has always felt that schools, and their systems leave less and less space for individual freedom. Her poems talk about current and important issues like mental health, politics, dissent against society and its institutions, the objectification of women, and so on.ISHMEET NAGPAL ‘You may have seen or heard the poem titled “Before You Commit Suicide ‘on some form of social media. The moving poem boldly talks about someone that is on the verge of doing so, and isa very, very powerful work Nagpal is also part of an NGO called Save The Children, which focuses on improving the lives of underprivileged children in India. Some of her other poems revolve around topics like gender issues, sexuality and mental health QAIS JAUNPURI Jaunpuri, who is a civil engineer- turned-founder of Aao Kahen Dil Ki Baat (a sharing program that allows people to share thetr secrets in public), writes defiant pieces that usually question social institutions and power dynamics. Along with that, he is also a part of the renowned theater group Jashn-E-Qalam Storytelling, His poems are typically performed in Hindi and Urdu, and are beautiful because of theit simplistic qualities, making them that much more impactful, aBOOKS | SEEMA BHARATH SAVITHRI DIWAKAR Bharath Savithri Diwakar is a Bangalore-based poet and storyteller. Not subscribing to gender norms, they speak about sexuality, mental health and body image issues. They were a mentor for India's first National Youth Poetry Slam and frequently featured in Airplane Poetry Movement events. After the success of their solo show Fluid, they recently performed at Spoken Fest in Bombay SABIKA ABBAS Abbas’s origin story stems from the unfair treatment of marginalized communities in India and the perpetual state of fear they live in. She uses, Urdu and Awadhi, instead of English, Her poems, which aim to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, are performed in public spaces. She emphasizes how in times of shared grief, especially in India, people can instill hope in one another by standing up for what is right. The 25-year-old Abbas, who is originally from Lucknow and now lives in Pune, has given a TEDx talk, “Challenging The Order of Patriarchy.HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THESE ARTISTS? In the digital age, it's very easy to find any of these poems online. To make them more popular and help them get the recognition they deserve, you can watch, like, comment and share it with your friends and family. This article is our endeavor to explore the South Asian spoken word poetry and highlight some thriving artists in the field.BOOKS | SEEMA INDEPENDENT SOUTH ASIAN PUBLISHING HOUSES It takes courage, integrity and nimble strategy to survive in the face of persecution and heavyweight competition. Here are five companies that have done it PRATIKA YASHASWI e'd never have books and the publishers who stand by them. And with South Asian publishing, rife with economic troubles, a dwindling readership and sometimes violence, the obstacles are great. In South Asia, the independent publishing world isa bloodbath — and for some the risks are more than just financial. To put out work that can truly change the world, publishers often have to stand up to authoritarian governments and violent religious factions, sometimes risking their lives along with the authors creating such work Take for example, “Naxalbari created by cartoonist Sumit K nar, which talks about the history of the Naxal movement in central India. While it was being published, Kumar was nervous that the book would be seen as propaganda and insisted that his publisher print it in the dead of the night so as to avoid an altercation with the police. As you will see in the stories below, some publishers in the five South Asian countries below have reason to worry for their safety It’s a career promising anxiety, stress and immense financial pressure — yet, they show up to work in spite of the myriad challenges involved, And the payoff? Books spark revolutions, cchange lives and open the world up across time and space. This World Book Day, let’s celebrate these heroes of our time.BOOKS | SEEMA ZUBAAN BOOKS, INDIA Zubaan books is a leading feminist publisher (an imprint of Kali for Women) putting out books on, for, by and about women in South Asia based out of New Delhi, India. Zubaan isa Hindustani ‘word meaning tongue, voice or language. Zubaan is synonymous with high-quality fiction by women in South Asia, both in translation and written in English, Additionally, they also publish titles in non-fiction and young adult fiction. If you want to ‘get your hands on any of theit titles, many are also available ase-books. SHUDDHASHAR PUBLISHING HOUSE, BANGLADESH Award-winning publishing house Shuddhashar is phenomenal. It has the rare mix of commercial success as well as a long history of moral courage. Several years ago, two of its authors, Avijit Roy and Ananta Bijoy Das, were killed during a wave Of violence against secular voices in Dhaka. Co- founder Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury himself almost didnt survive a brutal machete assault when the publisher’ office was attacked by radical militant Islamist group. Read their ‘magazines and blog in English, or order any one of their wonderful e-books in Bangla here. PAKISTAN: 4. Fa HOM at tISTORY, ZUKA BOOKS, PAKISTAN Pakistan’ literary publishing scene is due to reach its prime, so tll then, most Pakistani authors go to get published in their neighbor’ ‘more mature industry. One can imagine how underserved marginal voices, including those of ‘women's must be. But not on Zuka's watch, The ‘woman-led Zuika Books calls itself Pakistan's cultural resistance in the form of the written word. Earlier this year, Zuka made it into the shortlist of the UN Women award for its efforts to create more literary space for female authors. ¥ Lit : Issue 26, Issue 25, Issue 24, Body Climate Crisis PoiticalPoetyy —Poitics LGBTIQ+ \ (ae ‘anniversary - tesniar