YOUNG SUPER ACHIEVERS 30 Under 30
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HINDUSTAN TIMES, PUNE MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2019 06 ND ANNIVER SARY the power of2 2 2 YOUNG SUPER 1 ACHIEVERS Pune’s front-runners are young, dynamic 6 and dramatically altering the future-scape of the city, and beyond. On HT’s second anniversary, we celebrate the Punekars of tomorrow, delivering today. These are HT’s ‘30 Under 30’ super-achievers n the occasion of our secondanni- HELPING DESERVING versary, Hindustan Times, Pune, 4 5 brings to the fore 30 of our city’s STUDENTS FIND A FOOTHOLD super-achievers, all under the age of O 30. Independentin thought and 3 KULDEEP AMBEKAR,28 unconventional in attitude, they are driv- President, Students Helping Hand ing their careers with zeal and passion. From composing soulful music to breaking Who: new grounds in forensic accounting; from Kuldeep is studying law at MMC (Marathwada Mitra climbing up the world sports rankings, to College). He heads an NGO called “Students Helping embarkingon promising careers in the Hand” and works for the welfare of students from civil services… It’s an inspiring mix of tal- the drought-affected areas of Marathwada and ent, perseverance and passion. Vidarbha . The NGO provides two meals daily to approximately 800 students across Pune, free of cost. My inspiration: BUILDING TRUST USING Not any individual, but many people, including my family members, friends and social workers. Many TECHNOLOGY books have inspired me. My vision: 1 PRASHANT SURANA,23 Co-founder, Snapper future tech According to our survey, there are at least 3,200 students in Pune from the drought-affected areas Who: of Marathwada and Vidarbha. I want to make them A serial entrepreneur in artificial intelligence and independent and see them employed. 10 11 12 blockchain, Prashant believes that we are in the I unwind: “blockchain age” and blockchain brings trust to the Internet. Through his Snapper and blockchain By reading. I love to narrate poems on social issues ventures, he is seeking to disrupt the status quo of from daily walks of life. the Internet. “We are enablers, creators and adopt- My idol: ers, pushing the human race forward,”he says. I had grown up reading and learning about Ma- My Inspiration: hatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar. Whatever they I am inspired by the possibilities that are present on have done is stupendous. I want to become like Internet in ways to “trust” using blockchain. them. My Vision: Breakthrough moment: For the first time in history, money was made open My struggle in Pune without a single rupee in my source with bitcoin and blockchain, says Prashant, pocket. That inspired me to work for students from adding that his vision is to build trust using drought-hit areas. technology. What next? Breakthrough moment: To work for underprivileged students in every part The day Snapper was established and, from a firm, it of Maharashtra. We want to provide these students became my “family”. not only meals, but also hostel facility, library and all the things related to their education. What’s next? What I like about Kuldeep? Solving trust problems using blockchain. “Educating while we are innovating” and also, creating oppor- Over the years he has taken up many issues which tunities for everyone. are justified demands of students like parking problem of students, then providing free meals to What I like about Prashant? these students. This certainly creates a positive Prashant has definitely got this right. Snapper is on social impact on students. the right side of the technology curve and the fact - Prafulla Pawar, registrar, Savitribai Phule Pune that he is starting so early means that he will be University. looking at the future of technology as well as his own company and should be able to synchronise the two well. Blockchain is an enabler and he will have BRINGING ROBOTICS INTO to get the technology right as well as need domain expertise. The timing is perfect.” EVERYDAY LIFE - Vishwas Mahajan, serial entrepreneur 4 VIVEK SHOME,17 India team captain, ‘Olympics of Robotics’ FOR THE LOVE OF THEATRE held in Mexico City AND FILMS Who: Having just completed Class 12 from St Mary’s 2 PARNA PETHE,29 School, Pune, Vivek’s team won two gold medals - Actor, co-founder, Natak Company, Kaan The Clara Barton Award for Helping Hands, and the Drushti Mansa Musa Award for Fundraising at the Global Robotics event in Mexico City in 2018. Besides, he Parna Pethe rose to fame with Marathi films like has initiated a community service project, ‘VIRIDE’, Rama Madhav and Faster Fene. As a student at under which volunteers clean up and map the trails Fergusson College, she always believed in creating a of the hills of Pune. He is a passionate debater and a balance between passion and academics. A topper tech enthusiast. in academics, she did her Master’s in Clinical Psy- chology while continuing to act in plays. The success My inspiration: of her role in Rama Madhav brought in more acting The way in which Reliance Jio has spread across the 13 14 offers and this soon became her profession. nation and provided inexpensive Internet access to My inspiration: millions. This has inspired me to work on disruptive technologies that bring change to the masses. People from different spheres who work hard, study hard, who are passionate and love their work inspire Iunwind: me a lot. I am motivated by those who show With an early morning trek up Vetal tekdi; swim- dedication and love for whatever work they do. ming or playing the piano. My Vision: My idol: Currently, I want to work as an actor in theatre/tele- Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and PayPal. vision/films. Also, I want to study Psychology. In He is a successful engineer and entrepreneur. future, I want to start a counselling centre. Breakthrough moment: My idol: Receiving a Lego Robotics Kit at the age of 12. I Actor Nimmy Raphael, who runs a repertory in spent days building and programming robots with Puducherry called Adishakti, is my inspiration. I love my new kit. It allowed me to enter the world of the work of Smita Patil and Nutan. I love and respect Computer Science and Robotics, and helped build the passion and ideology with which Sumitra Bhave my creative skills. works even today at the age of 75. The vision of my What’s next? father Atul Pethe and Mohit Takalkar inspire me. I’m headed to the United States for my undergradu- Breakthrough moment: ate studies and will be majoring in Computer There are many and they keep happening even now. Science at the University of California, Davis, where I There was a time when I was in Fergusson College, have been awarded the Provost scholarship. we used to be extremely active with our college and My vision: experimental theatre groups Aasakta and Natak Company. That phase where we were extremely To create a startup and inexpensive, interactive charged about experimental theatre was a break- technologies to spread Stem (Science,Technology, MAKING CREATIVE CHOICES My inspiration: audience on the opening night, sitting in seats they through moment for me. Engineering and Mathematics) across the world. FOR A PERFECT FUTURE My family and friends inspire me to try and reach had paid for, and responding to something that was What’s next? What I like about Vivek? my full potential every time I work on something. so ‘me’. VIRAJAS KULKARNI,27 I am acting in Mohit Takalkar s film Medium Spicy. Vivek was responsible for driving the robot design 5 My idol: What’s next?: Alok Rajwade’s film Ashleel Udyog Mitra Mandal is and engineering activities with his teammates. His Actor and founder, Theatron Entertainment Charlie Chaplin. A true auteur and his command over I’m working hard on my directorial debut. I’ve ready for release. It is our home production. I am initiatives in constructing the robot resulted in a Who: recently wrapped up a web series with my friend also hosting a reality show for television for the first high performing and capable machine that was all aspects of film-making. He wrote, directed, Actor-writer and director Virajas Kulkarni’s starred in, helped edit and composed music for all of Jeet Ashok, which featured Abhijeet Khandkekar, time and performing my play Amar Photo Studio. recognised and appreciated by the First Global Spruha Joshi, Shivraj Waichal, and Shivani Rangole. organisers. Vivek was also at the forefront of our theatre company is known for plays such as his films, and the combined result has been the What I like about Parna: Mickey, Anathema, Bhanvar, 202 Elina, So What, enviable repertoire of films that I always find myself The series combines the appeal of popular enter- fundraising activities, identifying corporates that tainment, but is presented in a way never before She is an empathetic human being. And, that is might be interested in sponsoring us, reaching out The case of Mistaken Identity and Incognito@56, going back to. among others. He wrote the script for Mrinal seen in the Marathi web space. what reflects in her work. She is one of the most to them, and following up until we got the funds. Breakthrough moment: sensitive co-actors I have worked with. I love this Due to Vivek and his team’s efforts, we were able to Kulkarni’s Ti & Ti, and starred in Hostel Days and I unwind: There’s nothing like a good book to quality of her. raise more than $25,000 in a few weeks’ time. Madhuri. He is also looking forth to his directorial When I wrote and directed my first play, ‘Anathema’, cleanse your creative choices.