At the edge of a field in rural Tamil Nadu, India, where the soil thrives with earthworms and colorful butterflies, Coppell High School junior Iniya Nandakumar learned her first lessons. 

Not in a classroom, but beside her grandfather.

Long before she understood policy or politics, she understood the land.

Iniya is the founder of Mann Nalam, an organization whose name translates to “soil welfare” or “soil prosperity.” Rooted in her grandfather’s legacy, the organization works to promote organic farming and support farmers’ rights in South India.

But Mann Nalam is more than a tribute, it is a continuation.

Her grandfather, N.S. Palanisamy was born in 1943 in one of Tamil Nadu’s most remote agricultural regions. Witnessing the exploitation of rural communities, he made a life-altering decision: he left his academic career to fight for farmers full-time. Palanisamy died in 2016.

He organized protests, advocated for subsidies, and eventually entered politics, winning a seat in the Tamil Nadu state legislature. Through it all, he championed organic farming, warning against the long-term harm of chemical dependency on both the environment and farmers’ livelihood.

This legacy lives through Iniya.

“My family consists of farmers, and I want to help them as my grandfather did,” Iniya said. “My grandfather is one of the reasons I want to continue advocating for what I believe is right.”

Iniya’s passion for supporting South Indian farmers is unique, as she is physically far from her grandfather’s homeland.

“Despite living thousands of miles away, she continues to carry his mission forward,” said Iniya’s father, Nandakumar Palanisamy. “His influence shaped her so profoundly.”

Through Mann Nalam, that influence has become tangible. The organization provides farmers with essential resources like funding, seeds, tools and even access to land, while also teaching organic farming practices. Its work is currently focused in rural areas of Tamil Nadu, including Ongur and Tindivanam.

“Organic farming systems were set up, and as a result, the fertility and structure of the soil improved significantly,” said Ehynia Arun, a Tamil Nadu-based Mann Nalam co-founder. “Farmers’ livelihoods were positively impacted.”

For many, the impact goes beyond economics.

“We resolve farmer inequality so they can passionately work, while growing organic produce,” said Mann Nalam co-founder Suryan Saravanan, a CHS junior. “It means a lot because agriculture is a huge thing in India that needs to be preserved.”

Iniya’s work does not stop overseas. In Texas, she is equally immersed in advocacy, interning under State Representative Cassandra Hernandez. Her approach is the same: listen, engage and act.

”Iniya is goal-oriented, forward-thinking and passionate about equality, justice and access to education,” Hernandez said. “At such a young age, she already understands the value of collaboration.”

What sets Iniya apart, Hernandez said, is not just her passion, but her initiative.

”When she wants to get involved with a group, she takes action.” Hernandez said.

From organizing and moderating a school board candidate forum to testifying at a State Board of Education hearing, Iniya steps into spaces where her voice can create change. 

She has been part of speech and debate since she was in elementary school to improve her speaking, knowing she wanted to advocate when she got older.

”She is fearless,” Coppell speech and debate teacher SunHee Simon said. “She invests time into improving herself, voluntarily asking me to help her articulate her points properly, something I do not see often.”

For Iniya, though, it always comes back to something simpler.

The soil.

Every time she returns to India, she visits her grandfather’s memorial, built by farmers who honored his lifelong dedication. There, she speaks with locals, listens to their stories and reconnects with the land that shaped her.

In many ways, Mann Nalam is an extension of those conversations: a bridge between generations, continents and ideas.

What began as a granddaughter listening in a field has grown into a movement rooted in purpose.

And like the soil she seeks to protect, Iniya’s work continues to grow quietly, steadily and full of life.

Follow @ananyanarala and @CHSCampusNews on X.