My Science School

He is the founder of Community Space One, an organisation working on sustainable development using space technology. A TEDX speaker, he's also the CEO of a project called CERES.

What does your organisation Community Space One do?

As the name suggests, it is a community of people working together to promote sustainable development using space technology. Sustainable development aims to save enough resources for the future. Our organisation works to find satellite data, process it and derive impactful results. For example, we participated in NASA'S EO Dashboard Hackathon where we worked towards making a time-lapse of the Mumbai Airport's pollution as the COMID-19 waves progressed. The analysis suggested that as there were fewer flights, the number of pollution factors had also dwindled. So, we could say that airports have a major role in pollution. My organisation has a few mentors who excel in their field and guide us. We also have technological enthusiasts who help in processing the data and giving a good output And finally, we have a unique team of change makers who drive the data and bring a change with social activities.

Why do you think awareness should be spread on sustainable development goals? Which sustainable development goals are you focussing on?

Sustainable development goals are the need of today's generation. I'm currently working on sustainable development goals number four and 15. They speak about quality education and life on land. In terms of reaching out to people, if the common person doesn't look at the things that create devastation in their lives, then we, the changemakers, make a move to bring it to their notice. It is today's youth who are the key to reaching out to people. They have the zeal to make a change since it is their future that is going to be impacted.

Share with us your experience of being a TEDX speaker.

When I was in Class VI, I was invited as a speaker. Since I was very young, I didn't have any clue about it. I was very fortunate to stand before all the experienced people. I was very proud to share my stage with Terence Lewis, a famous choreographer. It was a wonderful experience and a knowledgeable platform to learn.

Tell us about your project CERES and your role in it.

A study conducted 10 years ago said there was a relation between cosmic radiation and the growth of saplings. So we are working on this concept by sending a few saplings to high altitudes, about 30 to 40 km. and measuring their growth over time. We are also trying ways to replicate this on a large scale to gain the forest cover we lost. I'm the chief executive officer of this project. My role is to manage the research aspect of the project, focussing on space technology. I also look over the managing part of the project, i.e., cultivating strategic partnerships. Recently, we signed an MOU with the a government polytechnic for joint research and skill development.

What prompted you to get into space technology? I have wished to become an astronaut from a very young age. My parents gifted me a telescope, which I would say was the starting point for my interest in space technology. And participating in various competitions improved my knowledge and technical skills. But the main reason I clubbed the technical skills and my space interest was because of my mentor, a space system professor, who guided me

As a teen entrepreneur, how do you manage time?

I have always wished to have a system of homeschooling. Fortunately, this lockdown has given me ample time to concentrate on my studies as well as my external skills. This has made me manage time efficiently. I prioritise important work. I make sure I focus on my academics and external projects in a balanced manner.

What are your hobbies and future plans?

I read a lot of books and pen down my thoughts. In the future, I don't want to become a random engineer who works all day. I aspire to become a changemaker where I'm globally known. I would love to work in the United Nations as a proud citizen of India.

What is the one thing you would love to contribute to society?

I would like to work towards 100 % literacy and zero hunger. If we can combine these two policies, we can make Earth a better place to live in. I think this will improve the country's status too.

Picture Credit : Google

What prompted you to come up with Project Repeat?

Poor menstrual hygiene leads to multiple health complications, particularly among school girls in rural areas. It is also one of the key factors behind adolescents dropping out of school. Once we identified the problem, we decided to work towards a solution, and this initiative is a step in that direction. We started Project Repeat in 2020.

Menstruation is generally not discussed openly. So how did you do it?

Menstrual hygiene doesn't really figure as a point of discussion, especially in villages. Moreover, menstrual hygiene carries stigma in our society. But it is not so in my family. Maybe that inspired and helped me start this organisation. Girls in rural areas are initially reluctant to talk about menstrual hygiene. But gradually I'm able to talk to them and create awareness about that. In fact, they are actively joining Project Repeat.

What do you think are the qualities of a good leader?

Creating an open line of communication with your team members. I hear them out and in some cases I take their opinion too. Good communication skills and effective team work make your work better.

What are your hobbies?

I have numerous hobbies that they consume all my free time. I love to cook, play badminton, tell stories, and sometimes I love to write poems and articles too. Usually, I love to focus on stuff other than studies. This allows me to manage both my studies and my organisation.

What are your future plans and aspirations?

My focus is simple-for periods to be spoken about openly by all instead of it being a taboo in our society. Project Repeat is now present only in Karnataka. My biggest goal is to spread awareness on menstrual hygiene throughout India.

Picture Credit : Google

You've just published "A Teenage Soul through Ebb and Flow, a collection of poems. What prompted it? What do you want your readers to take away from this?

Publishing a book was initially a wild imagination or a dream for me. I always wrote poetry because it served as an emotional outlet during any overwhelming situation. These poems allowed me to express my thoughts and emotions and reflect on experiences in that particular moment and were written with the idea that no on was ever going to actually read them. The fact that my friends or anyone I ever read a poem to connected with the incident / emotion I was trying to express was the first time I thought about sharing what I had written with the world.

My book represents the vulnerability and honesty with which one savours any beautiful or formative moment / emotion. It's a direct window into my soul but my hope for this book as a debut author is that whoever reads this book is able to find a piece of themselves in my words. Whether it's a stranger or a close friend, a 13-year-old or a 30-year-old, I hope they are able to find some aspect of their life in my poems because at the crux of our being, our souls  go through the same ebbs and flows at many different levels and fronts.

You have been writing poems since eight. How did that journey begin?

I don't really recall the exact moment when I started writing poetry, but it's the journey I would like to emphasize more on. It started with me reading poems in my school magazine when my attempt to writing in Class III was limited to rhyming 'cat, mat and bat. Gradually I developed admiration for poems in both English and Hindi. I became more of an avid reader than a writer of poems, and slowly after reading poems for about three to four years, I started writing again. I wrote in both Hindi and English, and two of my Hindi poems were published in a newspaper when I was in Class VII.

Over time with a stronger grip on the languages and enhanced ability to articulate my thoughts, I started writing again.

Also, shifting from Kolkata to Mumbai was a big transition in my life. That , and the lockdown were two milestones when I started writing very frequently.

How does writing poetry help you?

Poetry is a form of catharsis for me. It's an emotional outlet and is a way to capture a moment or a fleeting emotion I which cannot be captured through pictures and videos. It's quite funny how my brain works because during any overwhelming situation, instead of looking for a solution, my brain starts tying words into rhymes. This way, my 'emotional' side is able to rant all the thoughts out and then the 'rational' side comes into play and finds a solution. So by the time I finish a poem in 10-15 minutes, I've poured my thoughts out and also found a solution in the same poem.

With your involvement in community and volunteer work, and fund-raisers, it is clear you are socially responsive to issues. What prompted this, and has this changed you?

I've grown up in a family where I can proudly say that the values and ethics which have been inculcated are an integral part of me. I've always seen them give back to society in several different and unspoken ways. When I used to volunteer as a student-teacher, I realized that many times not only was I teaching the children, but they were teaching me various things. And this realization filled my heart because since then I have always followed the belief that no one knows everything but everyone knows something, and hence everyone has a unique way of value creation in society.

How do you manage time between your interests / concerns and academics?

It's never been difficult for me to actually manage time per say. We all have 24 hours and just knowing how to priorities and allocate it does the trick. My hobbies and creative pursuits are as important to me as academics, and I have always continued them parallel to my studies. The only difference is that sometimes I allocate more time to my academics and sometimes more to my hobbies and social life, and that's how I try to maintain a balance because both help me grow in different ways.

What are your aspirations?

I have been inclined towards finance, business, and economics since I've watched many people around me pursue these, and I believe I have a good aptitude for them. But I still look forward to exploring different subjects in the future. My dream would be to actually make a positive impact in whichever field I choose to pursue. I always try to create an environment of community, mutual upliftment, and positivity, and this is something I will continue doing regardless of where I go.

Picture Credit : Google